Author's Note: The next chapter should be more cheerful… LOL... But this was fun as well...

Thank you to all my very loyal readers out there- tabby-fanny, Kristi-Julie, Captain Weirdo, Clarisse Renaldi, addlogcon, Poppinswannabe, VictoriaGrant- and everyone else who reads this… you all rock!

The Princess Diaries doesn't not belong to me at all!

After watching Pierre sleep for another half an hour, Clarisse and Joe decided to take the doctor's advice and headed back to the embassy.

"You should ring Mia and BJ to give them the latest news," she said as she sank down on the couch, relieved by the morning's events, but also exhausted.

"Did you want to speak to Mia?" he asked as he switched on his phone, and she shook her head. "I know that you may not feel like it, but I think it would make you feel better to speak to her- and her too, as she's been very worried about you."

Clarisse nodded, then smiled- he was right, she would feel better after speaking to Mia- after all, she was family. "Alright, I will."

After Joe briefly spoke to Mia, noting that she sounded a little down, he handed the phone to Clarisse.

"Grandma? How are you?" Mia sounded a little anxious, and Clarisse smiled, suddenly feeling a little better just at the sound of Mia's voice, and the obvious concern in it.

"Hello, darling… I'm fine… and you?"

Joseph watched her face soften as she talked to her granddaughter- when it came to her feelings, he was usually right. He had always enjoyed seeing the bond between them- very much like her bond with Phillipe- and he again wondered how different her life would have been how different she would have been, if she had had a daughter. It would have been very hard to live in an almost male dominated palace- she adored her boys, but a daughter was different to a son, and he suspected that she would have loved a daughter of her own, which was why she was so fond of Annie, Julie and Charlotte (feelings that were mutual). Maybe he would ask her…

They chatted for almost ten minutes, Joe discreetly disappearing into the bedroom, before he heard her say goodbye, and then come into the room with the phone.

"Why did you disappear in here?" she asked playfully, handing him the phone, and sat down next to him. "You know that there are no secrets between Mia and I that you don't usually find out about?" she teased, and he laughed, pleased that she definitely looked better after talking to Mia.

"True," he grinned. "But I just thought that you and your granddaughter needed and deserved some privacy."

"We didn't need any privacy- we just chatted about a few things, and Mia said to take as long as we want here, everything's fine there… although… I might have imagined it, but she sounded rather troubled on the phone…" she bit her lip thoughtfully, looking concerned.

"You weren't imagining it, I thought that as well," he added, before stopping for a moment, debating something, and then decided to ask her.

"Can I ask you something?" he sounded hesitant and bashful, and she looked at him, surprised at his hesitation.

"Of course, darling… you can ask me anything," she said gently, looking at him sweetly as he again paused for a moment.

"I was wondering… I know you adored the boys, but… did you ever want a daughter?"

She looked even more surprised for a moment, before looking away, thinking about something she hadn't thought about in a long, long time, and had long since accepted.

"You don't have to answer it if you don't want to," he said hastily, suddenly aware that it might be painful subject for her, before she turned her gaze back to him, a faraway look in her eyes.

"No, no, it's alright… it's just that I hadn't thought about the subject in a long time," she sighed. "Yes, I would have loved a daughter…"

"In your image, she would have been beautiful," Joe interjected with a tender look, and Clarisse blushed. "Big blue eyes, gorgeous strawberry blonde hair, captivating smile, kind, loving nature… wait, I'm describing you… but she could have had all of that."

"Perhaps… anyway, don't get me wrong, I do love my boys, more than anything, but having a daughter… it would have been so different… all the dresses, makeup and jewels…"

"That's why you were enjoying setting up Mia's suite?" he teased, and she laughed- she had to admit, she had enjoyed seeing all the clothes Mia had requested, and selecting the jewels for her…

"Most women love clothes and jewels, Joseph," she gave him an amused look, and he laughed.

"Is that a hint?"

"Maybe… but, anyway, a daughter… it was isolating being the only female in the palace for a long time…" she looked sad for a moment. "It was hard when Rupert said he didn't want anymore after Phillipe… but that was understandable, considering it took me almost three years to convince him to having a second child… so three was out.

But, life goes on, and I accepted it… I guess that's why I'm so fond of Julie, Annie and Charlotte… and especially Mia," she trailed off, feeling again the pain of never having a daughter.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to pry," he said quietly, and she turned to smile at him, resting her cheek on his shoulder for a moment.

"You don't need to apologise- you didn't pry, Joseph, and I'm glad I told you… I'm just imagining you as a father, to a daughter…"

"After I met you, the only daughter I wanted was a girl that looked exactly like her mother… you. Besides, with your two, BJ's four and Mia, I sort of experienced fatherhood."

"You did- Phillipe considered you his father (more so than his actual own), and Mia sees you as a grandfather, so yes, you have been a father…" she said softly, stroking his cheek for a moment.

"But a son, in your image… that would have been wonderful…" she smile dreamily, then shook her head. "We may never have had children of our own together, but we have each other and Mia…"

"And your nutty friends," Joe interrupted with a smile, and she chuckled.

"And BJ and his family… that's enough for me," she concluded, standing up.

"Now, speaking of my brother in law…" she paused, giggling at the title- she had never had had the opportunity to use it before. "As for BJ," she began again. "You can call him- send my love to everyone there… I saw a television show I wanted to see, so I'll give you some PRIVACY," she gave him a sly smile over her shoulder as she walked out of the room.

BJ was relieved at the news, and there was a silence on the other end as Joe could hear him telling the news to Lynn, before returning to Joe.

"How's Clarisse?" and Joe had to smile, touched at their concern for her.

"She's understandably relieved, but we're both very tired."

There was another pause on BJ's end before he spoke again.

"Do you still have that gift voucher we gave you as a wedding gift?"

"Somewhere… why?" he asked slowly as it began to dawn on him what BJ's suggestion might be. "I don't think I brought it with me."

"No matter, I'm going to change it anyway- maybe to seven nights… anyway, my idea is that after this crisis is over, instead of heading back to Genovia, maybe you could use this voucher to check in for a few days, just so Clarisse can relax and recover… you both deserve it."

"Hmm… that sounds like a good idea," Joe said, non committal, and BJ laughed on the other end.

"Good idea?" he repeated. "Good idea- it's a brilliant idea, little brother, and you know it! Anyway, I'll organise this voucher and send it over to the embassy- in your name."

"Great… the boys will keep it safe for me, and I'll surprise her with it when the time's right."

"Always the ladies man, aren't you, Joe... Although, we both know there was only one lady on your mind- the others had no chance!" BJ laughed. "Your wife is one lucky lady!"

"I'm the lucky one," Joe contradicted him.

"How was BJ?" Clarisse asked when he rejoined her on the couch.

"Fine… very concerned about you… I think you're the only one that he's been really solicitous about almost immediately… it's like he's on his best behaviour."

"But I want him to be himself around me!" Clarisse was horrified- she liked BJ and she didn't want him to act any differently around her- she had enough of it when she was Queen.

"No darling, he is himself around you- it's just that he's very protective of you, and is slightly awed around you as well- although he would rather die than admit it."

"So were you, in the beginning," she smiled sly up at him, before turning serious for a moment. "I just don't want your family to act any differently around me. I may have been Queen of Genovia, but now I'm Clarisse, your wife."

"They're not acting any differently around you, sweetheart- you've seen the best and the worst of the Bonnell family… and you, as a new addition, are part of the best…" he cuddled her close. "We won't mention the worst though…"

"Like you," she said cheekily, and he mock glared at her.

"Why you…" he began playfully as she stood up and raced into the bedroom, Joseph hot on her heels. "Just for that…" he continued as she turned to smile innocently at him, before he grabbed her and kissed her.

"You know," she began in a sultry voice as she sat down on the bed and reclined back on her elbows. "I'm not feeling quite so tired anymore…"

"Oh really?" he pretended to sound bored, but his eyes twinkled with mischief as she smiled knowingly at him as she reclined even further, and he laughed as he sat down on the bed next to her…

00000

When they arrived back at the hospital early the next morning, they found Pierre had been transferred out of ICU into a private room of his own, and that he was much more alert and less groggy, his head and shoulders raised slightly as he smiled at them.

"Good morning Mama, good morning Joseph," he said as Clarisse leaned over and kissed him on the forehead- to his surprise. While she had been Queen, she had rarely shown affection in public, but obviously her marriage to Joseph had changed all that… and he was pleased, and also a little surprised.

She smiled fondly at the expression of surprise on his face. "What's that look for?"

"It's just that you've never been that open about showing your affection for anyone in public… or anywhere, really," he said simply as she kept smiling, but his words had stung a little. It sounded as if he had blamed her for now showing him any affection, but she had wanted to, so much, but she a) hadn't been encouraged to do so; b) he hadn't invited it after the age of 8; and c) it was partly because her feelings, and ways of expressing them, had been partly frozen by her marriage to Rupert. But Pierre wasn't to know this, so she tried to forget the sting.

"This is the new me," she said with a smile as she sat down in the chair Joseph had offered her, before sitting down next to her. "So, how are you feeling?"

"Nothing from the waist down," he said bluntly as Clarisse silently reached for Joseph's hand. "But, otherwise, a bit sore in the chest- I think I might have cracked a rib or two as well."

"Have you seen the doctor this morning?"

"Yes, he came in before breakfast, told me what had happened, and said that he was optimistic about me gaining feeling back in my legs in the next few days."

"That's very good news," Clarisse said sincerely. "What really matters is that you're still alive… and we won't be leaving until you're on the mend."

"Thank you… I appreciate you being here," he said, looking a little vulnerable. "Still, I've also considered the possibilities of being in a wheelchair, and I think I'll be alright, although the doctor told me not to think about that."

"He's right."

Joseph stood up after a moment, knowing that Clarisse might not want it, but he wanted them to have some time alone.

"If you'll excuse me, I think I need my first cup of coffee for the day," he said, squeezing her shoulder encouragingly as he smiled at them, and then quietly left the room.

"Joseph's a good man… I never really appreciated it until now," Pierre said, looking at the door he had just exited through for a moment.

"He is- he's a wonderful man," Clarisse said proudly.

There was a small, slightly awkward pause between them, before Pierre sighed and turned his head to look at her, looking troubled.

"There's something I need to tell you… I probably should have told you at the wedding, but it was your day, and you were so happy… I also didn't know whether I should tell you or not…"

"You can tell me anything, Pierre, you know that," Clarisse said calmly, resting her hand on his arm for a moment. "What is it?"

"Well… this might be hard for you to hear… I had a talk with Father the day after we had that big fight…"

Clarisse stiffened, suddenly wary, but also very interested…

*********************

Pierre strode into his father's bedroom mid-morning the day after he had arrived and the morning after his massive fight with Phillipe and his mother. He had no regrets for what he had said, but he needed to talk to someone who would understand how he felt. Luckily, his father was awake when he came in, looking a little better, but Pierre wasn't fooled- it was only a matter of time- and he smiled slightly as Pierre sat down in the chair next to the bed.

"Good morning Pierre… what are you doing here? I though you were busy in your parish in Italy?" he said in a soft but still firm voice- even though he was dying, he could still sound like a King, and command everyone's respect.

"Good morning, Father," Pierre said smoothly, still a little intimidated around his father- he was the man he had idolised when he was growing up, and he still admired him now, despite their estrangement. "I just happened to be in the area, so I thought I would call in." It was a fib, but he wasn't going to tell him the truth- that he had been summoned there.

"I see," Rupert said, but the small smile tugging at the edges of his mouth told Pierre that he knew that he was lying. "You just missed your mother," he continued, sitting up as he fluffed a pillow up and leaning back on it.

"Hmm," Pierre said, not really wanting to think about her, and Rupert gave him a strange look.

"Anyway, I heard that there was some excitement last night," he said casually.

"Oh yes- Phillipe and I had a few words," Pierre said breezily, although he had been wondering how he could bring it into the conversation- he was confident that Rupert would be on his side after he told him the story. "What did she say about it… or tell you?"


"Your mother didn't say anything about it," Rupert said in a slightly sharper voice. "I found out about it from another reliable source… and I wanted to discuss it with you. What happened?"

He listened as Pierre, slightly surprised at Rupert's sharp tone, recalled the story, and he sighed at the end.

"I was right to behave like that, wasn't I?" Pierre looked at him expectantly, 100% sure that Rupert would approve… however…

"No, not really, son… What really irritated me, however, was disrespectful way you spoke to your mother…" he sighed, and sipped some water.

"I know it's very late in the day to say this, but I don't ever want to hear that you've spoken to her like that- ever again… she is your mother," he looked at him sternly, and Pierre was even more astonished. He had always thought that his father was, and always had been, indifferent to his wife- but now, he looked regretful.

"It's now, towards the end of my life, that I've looked back on my life and I do have regrets… and most of them involve Clarisse… I was never a particularly good husband to her, and I never supported her when it came to you… you really have been awful to her over the years, both consciously and unconsciously, and she's never deserved it… You and I are more alike than I realised."


"But she was always so much closer to Phillipe!" he protested, not liking the fact that his father was seemingly sympathetic to Clarisse. It wasn't that he didn't love his mother- he did- but he loved his father more, wanted his approval more… and he had always, in a little way, thought that Clarisse wasn't good enough for Rupert…

"Yes she is, but they're very much alike… and I suspect that she wanted to be close you too, but you never let her in… again, neither did I."

"I always thought you didn't like her."

"I did like her- I'm very fond of her, but we've always been so different… she was a beautiful, kind, slightly shy girl when we got married, but I didn't treat her right."

"You were busy," Pierre said defensively- this conversation wasn't going the way he had expected.

"Busy with work and women… I should have spent more time with her."


"Yes, you could have," Pierre agreed, now annoyed at his father. "Maybe, then, Joseph wouldn't have tried to move in!"

As soon as he had said it, he knew he had gone too far, judging by the look Rupert gave him, but Rupert just didn't have the energy to tell him off… in fact, when he looked at his father, he didn't seem particularly surprised.

"You're not surprised about him and Mother?" Pierre asked, shocked. "Why didn't you have him fired?"


"I tried to, once," he said with a weak smile. "But Clarisse wouldn't let me- in fact, she told me off about it- it was her decision, she said, if she ever fired him… But I couldn't have done it, even if I could have… he was the best guard in the service, and was very important to her."

"But…"

"No buts… I know what you said to him last night, and you owe him an apology…"

"But doesn't it make you mad that…" he couldn't finish the sentence.

"I really have no right to be angry," Rupert paused to cough, and then sip some water- this was the longest he had spoken in a while, but he still had things to say. "Besides, she always took her marriage vows seriously, unlike me… but he loves her like I never did."

"But she's your wife, and he's only a bodyguard, a completely different class to us…"

Pierre was aware that he was beginning to sound irrational, but he was angry at everyone, even his father, but especially himself… he was supposed to a priest, but he was acting like a child.

"Pierre, I'm surprised at you- you never liked the so-called class system when you were younger but now… you've changed your tune… He may be, as you say, 'only' a bodyguard, but he cares about her very much, and is very much in love with her, and she's in love with him too… I want her to be happy- it's the least I can do after all she's had to put up with over the years," Rupert said in a wistful tone.

"So you're saying that you APPROVE of this secret affair?"

"Pierre," Rupert said angrily, finally losing patience as he sat up and glared at him with the last of his energy. "I'm not going to keep repeating myself or justify my decision to you.

YES, I approve of their relationship they've been far more discreet than I (oh, and I don't think it's an affair); YES, I want her to be happy, and if it's with Joseph, than so be it; and YES, I'm actually pleased that it's Joseph- he knows her better than anyone. I would have thought that you, as her son, would want her to be happy!"


"I… I… I can't," Pierre stuttered, stunned at Rupert's speech.

"Well then, " Rupert sat back on his pillows with a tired look. "You will have to keep your mouth shut, although she probably knows your feelings on the matter… definitely so after last night… and she's probably very hurt…

All I can say is that you're going to have to accept Joseph as a permanent part of your mother's life from now on… I suspect that, once the period of mourning is over and Phillipe is on the throne, they will get married."


There was a long pause as Pierre, still angry, confused and guilty, stared at his feet, before there was a discreet knock on the door, and in stepped the King's personal assistant.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Majesty, but there are some issues that Her Majesty has asked for your opinion on…"

"It's alright, I have to go anyway," Pierre said lightly, standing up and pressing his father's hand warmly. "I'll be back to see you later, Father."

Rupert smiled, but there was a serious look on his face as he kept a firm grip on Pierre's hand and murmured:

"Remember what I told you."

Pierre smiled pleasantly to the assistant as he passed him the middled of the room, but he was occupied with what Rupert had said to him, and suddenly one thought came to mind: 'I will never accept that man as my step father or my mother's husband!'

********************

There was a long, shocked silence after he finished his story, such a long silence that Pierre, had been looking out the window, turned to look at Clarisse, who was reeling. She was looking away from him, aware that he was looking at her, but there were a number of emotions flitting across her face- anger, guilt, pain, relief, hurt and betrayal- while feeling all of those things and more.

She couldn't believe what she had just heard- her first husband, who had cheated on her, defending, justifying and ultimately approving of her relationship with Joseph, to their son, who simply didn't approve and didn't understand why.

She didn't how or what she was feeling, or at who- she should be furious and hurt and Pierre for keeping this from her (and what he had said about her), or at Rupert for never telling her himself, or spilling the secrets of their marriage… all the years she had felt guilty for loving Joseph, and he had known… It was so confusing- she was crushed, betrayed and devastated, but she knew she needed to think about it, and to talk to her husband- after all, it involved him as well.

"I'm sorry," she heard a voice say from in front of her, and she turned, with great difficulty, to look at him again, smiling, but she was also choking up as she remembered something else…

After the funeral, 2 weeks after the massive fight, Pierre had packed his belongings and had called into her study to say goodbye, clearly still furious at her and Joseph, as was obvious by his brief words: "I'll be back for Phillipe's coronation", and also by the angry look he had thrown at Joseph as they had passed each other in the study… only now, she realised, there had been hatred in his eyes as well.

"Thank you for telling me that, I appreciate it," she said simply, but unable to say anymore.

Just then, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder, causing her to jump slightly, before she looked up to see Joseph standing there.

"Hello… I didn't mean to scare you… How's everything going?" he asked jovially, although he had already sensed the tension and awkwardness in the room (hopefully it hadn't been present since he had left), as well as seeing that Clarisse was trembling slightly.

After another pause, Clarisse smiled as she stood up.

"Everything's fine… I've just realised that I need a cup of tea- it's now my break time," she joked in a fake jovial tone, not looking at Pierre, but Joe could tell that she was upset. "I'll be back in 15 minutes or so," she continued as she headed towards the door.

"Do you want me to come with you?" he followed her to the doorway, but she turned and shook her head.

"I'll be alright- Grant will come with me… stay here and keep Pierre company," she smiled at him, but he didn't see the smile- he saw an expression he had only seen a few times during his time as her bodyguard- a confused, troubled, almost crushed look, as if she didn't know how to feel… something was going on.

After seeing her step into the elevator with Grant, her face still troubled, Joe quietly stepped back into Pierre's room.

"So, Joseph," Pierre began a little nervously as Joe sank down into the seat recently vacated by Clarisse. "Would you prefer me to call you Joseph… or Joe, like everyone else?"

"Well… your mother calls me Joseph- she says she prefers that- but no one else does."

He didn't tell him that he actually preferred only Clarisse calling him by his full name, like his mother used to do.

"Alright…. Well, I'll call you Joe too."

There was a slight pause as the two men looked at each other- Pierre slightly nervous, Joe relaxed- both of them still remembered Pierre's behaviour years ago. Joe really wanted to get along with him, but he was also cautious, particularly as Clarisse was involved… she had been so hurt by him in the past that he wanted to protect her. Joe decided to break the silence when it grew too uncomfortable.

"So… how are you?" before he realised that the question had already been asked.

"Better- I can't remember much of the accident…"

"Which is probably very fortunate for you."

"I am a little concerned about whether I'll be able to walk again, but I'm sure most things will be manageable…" he trailed off, and Joe wondered whether that was why Clarisse was so upset.

"Where did Mother go, by the way?"

"For a cup of tea in the hospital cafeteria… but one of our security boys have gone with her…" before he decided to ask him what he had been pondering since he had come back into the room. "What did you and your mother talk about while I was out?"

To his surprise, Pierre looked away, looking troubled.

"You'll have to ask Mother about that, but she'll probably tell you anyway," and, for a moment, he sounded slightly jealous as Joe's eyes narrowed thoughtfully… he knew it, something had happened between them… obviously, something not very good, as Clarisse had looked so upset, and even Pierre was strangely sober, although he had always been like that… Still, he wouldn't learn anything from Pierre, so he decided to change the subject, to something less sensitive.

He was still thinking about what they could talk about, when Pierre changed it for himself.

"How's Mia?"

"Mia…oh, she's great…" before Joseph began talking about her- it was clear that Pierre was fascinated by his niece.

"I'm glad she's settled onto the throne so well… she seemed like an intelligent and confident girl when I met her… and she's quite a lot like Phillipe, isn't she?"

"She is a lot like him, and a lot like her grandmother as well," Joe chuckled proudly. "Yes, I thought so too… We're all very proud of her- especially Clarisse," Joe said quietly, and Pierre smiled.

"As well she should be… she's a very fine girl."

It was almost 45 minutes later when Clarisse finally came back, Joseph wondering where she was, and just about to go searching for her.

"There was a long line at the cafeteria," she explained as she slipped into the chair next to him. "It must always be busy down there… now," she said, resting her hand on Joseph's. "What did you two talk about while I was away?"

Joe watched her carefully- she seemed to be herself again, smiling and chatting to Pierre, but he could sense that something was wrong, and that she was still upset…

He looked from one to the other, as they chatted, and again wondered… what had happened between them?