Author's Note: this is a short chapter- it was originally going to be long, but I changed my mind… the next three are going to be fun!

Thank you to all my loyal readers- Clarisse Renaldi, tabby-fanny, addlogcon, Poppinswannabe, Captain Weirdo and anyone else who reads it!

The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!

It was a quiet trip back to the beach house, Clarisse falling asleep just outside Pyrus, but waking just before they arrived at the house.

"I can't believe you made those poor boys drive two hours in the middle of the night, after a big party!" Clarisse yawned as the limo drove up the driveway, before smiling at the faint sound of waves crashing on the sand. It was always such a pleasant sound, and she hadn't realised she had missed hearing it until she heard it again just now.

"But don't tell me you didn't want to get here as soon as possible," he retorted with a smile, noting the peaceful, happy expression on her face as she gazed out the window at the dark house, and she chuckled- he was right, she was happy to be back. "Besides, these guys were dying to do something- they had spent most of the night in the security room," he added, smiling winningly over at her, and she chuckled.

"Alright, you may be right- but, surely, you feel a little sorry for them?"

"A little- but they'll have a good night's sleep… I'm not going to insist that they drive back after dropping us off!"

"I should think not."

As it was after two in the morning, they left most of their luggage in the limo, and retired to bed, the security boys sleeping in the guest cottage.

"Yes," Clarisse sighed sleepily once they were settled in bed. "It is nice to be back here, and know we're going to wake up to the sound of the ocean…"

The next morning when Clarisse woke up, she was a little disoriented for a moment, before she realised that she could hear the sea, and she suddenly remembered that she and Joseph had made a 'midnight escape' (as Joseph had said with a sly smile when they were in the car) to the beach house.

"Are you sure you told Mia?" she had inquired as the car left, and he patted her hand reassuringly. "She seemed very involved with Nicholas when I saw them."

"Yes I did- remember when we weren't speaking, I organised everything, and Mia was the first person I spoke to… in fact, she was the one who suggested we 'make a dash for it', as she said, straight after the party."

She sat up and stretched languidly- as usual, Joseph's side of the bed was empty- before she padded over to the glass door leading out to the balcony, and stepping out on the balcony, taking a deep breath in… She adored the scent of the ocean almost as much of the scent of her beloved garden, but it would be hard to choose between the two when her garden was blossoming.

She was so very happy, but she once again wished that Phillipe had been alive to celebrate his daughter's engagement, and see how happy she was… She had felt several pangs of pain the previous evening, seeing Mia's happiness… it was partly because of the fact that she thought she wouldn't make it through a speech without tears that that she had asked Joseph to give the speech on behalf of Mia's family, although she had wanted him to do it anyway… It was a pian that would never leave, and that she would never recover fully from, but it was greatly assuaged by Mia and Joseph.

Just then, as she stared out at the horizon, she felt someone weave their arms around her waist, and she smiled as his goatee nuzzled her neck, tickling her.

"Good morning," she turned on the spot and wove her arms around her neck, giving him a warm smile as she did.

"Good morning?! It's almost lunchtime- you've slept half the day away, you lazy lady," he laughed before leaning over and kissing her.

"All thanks to you," Clarisse returned smartly. "I suppose you were up at the crack of dawn," she added.

"Not exactly- I was up at about nine, and had breakfast with those poor young men you felt sorry for last night. They've already gone back to town, but are coming back with another car for us… So, did you want breakfast or lunch?"

"Lunch," she said decisively, before a twinkle of mischief appeared in her eyes. "So… did you unload my, as you called it, 'tonne and a half' of clothes?"

"Yes, and doing so hurt my back," he groaned, pretending to prop himself up, wincing, before smiling. "But you have your task for the afternoon," he teased, but she shook her head, the mischievous twinkle still in her eyes.

"I don't think so, but I do have another idea…"

"Oh?" he sounded intrigued, smiling knowingly, but when she gave him a look and a smug smile, an eyebrow raised, he groaned, getting her meaning. "Not that movie… you've got to be kidding… that movie's almost four hours long!"

"Then it serves for you right for making fun of my clothes," she teased, smiling, and rubbed her cheek against his shirt. "But we don't have to watch it all in one sitting…"

"Alright, a little at a time," he said reluctantly. "But, before that, let's have lunch- I had the boys pick up something before they headed back."

After lunch, Joe sighed, looking slightly depressed as Clarisse slipped the disc into the player and sat down next to him on the couch, humming along with the theme song. Her enjoyment was obvious as the movie progressed, and Joe couldn't help but get a little interested, but Clarisse was well aware of him, and switched off the movie in the middle of a scene.

"Oh," he pretended to sound disappointed, but she chuckled.

"You don't need to pretend you were enjoying it, because I know you weren't, so I turned it off…" before she sighed. "I suppose I will have to go upstairs and unpack my clothes… Now that we're out here permanently, I'll only have to do it once."

"I'll even help you," Joe grinned as he followed her upstairs. "I'm just curious to see what made all those suitcases weigh about a ton," he added when she gave him a grateful look.

As it turned out, there wasn't as much to unpack as they had thought, and the unpacking didn't take too long, leaving them free to go down to the beach, again something Clarisse had missed over the last two months.

"A free afternoon," he sighed as they sat down on the sand.

"You make it sound as though we're busy all the time!" Clarisse laughed.

"Give it a few weeks, and you'll probably be up to your neck in wedding plans with Mia…"

"Thank goodness the wedding will be in a few months time, rather than in 3 weeks… last time was an absolute nightmare," she shuddered at the memory of everything she had had to do, and think about… Mia's wedding and training, Joseph's proposal, running a county, the threat of Viscount Mabrey…

In retrospect, now that she was happily married, retired, Mia on the throne and all threats vanquished, she was amazed at what she had managed to do while under a great deal of strain.

"I suppose Mia will ask us to attend a few more of those formal dinners, representing her," he mused uncomfortably- he couldn't forget the last time they had attended one of those dinners- he had been made to feel inferior, which led to him having an argument with Clarisse.

"Probably we will, but they'll have to finally realise that you and I are a package, and that I'm proud of you," Clarisse said, looping her arm through his, and leaning her cheek against his shoulder. She meant it- she was very proud of him, and they were a package, a pair, a couple- she wouldn't go anywhere without him.

"I can't believe Mia's getting married," she sighed. "I just wish…" before she stopped, and Joe realised that she was thinking of Phillipe.

"I know you wished he was there last night," he said softly, putting an arm around her shoulders. "I could see it…" he added when she gave him a surprised look.

"Even when we weren't talking?" she teased.

"I figured that was part of it when we had that argument, and then I could see it in your expression at times, even though you tried to keep it hidden… But he was there, in a way, as he was at the coronation, and he'll be at the wedding as well."

"We really should go and visit his grave again soon, I've neglected it dreadfully."

"I know that he would understand, and that he would prefer that you moved on, but whenever you want, we'll go."

"Anyway, I know that, no matter how busy we're inevitably going to be, we're still going to have some good times as well!"

00000

As Clarisse had predicted, the next few months seemed to pass by, full of plans and activities and, as Joe had foresaw, most of them involved Mia's upcoming wedding, scheduled for late April.

"We didn't want a summer wedding- we'd much prefer a lengthy honeymoon then… that's your special time, Grandma and Joe, and April seemed to work in with our plans perfectly," Mia explained when she and Nicholas came to visit. "Oh, and I must warn you, Grandma, you'll be spending a lot of time on the phone!"

"I'll even come into Pyrus if you really need me," Clarisse offered.

'What about me?" Joseph asked mock plaintively. "You've all forgotten about the poor neglected husband… watch out, Nick!"

"You can come along too," Mia said with a cheeky grin. "Grandma might need you," she teased, before Joe retaliated by throwing a cushion at her.

"If you keep being cheeky, young lady, you're going to be banned from the beach house!" he teased.

"You can't do that… I am Queen of Genovia," Mia replied equally as quickly, before they all laughed. "Thank goodness no one knows that you're here!"

However, despite their hopes that their house would remain a secret, and their intention to lead a quiet, normal life, a mini disaster struck a week later when the press found out where they were, to Clarisse's distress, and camped out in front of their gates. They only found out when Shades called in to check on them, and she almost burst into tears upon hearing the news, before excusing herself and disappearing as Scott made a phone call.

"I'm sorry about this, Joe," he said after he hung up. "But, Her Majesty is insisting that a security team is transferred here- temporarily- and I have to agree with her."

"So do I," Joe said with a sigh, although he was dreading telling Clarisse. She had finally relaxed without the presence of guards or cameras- it would be a nightmare for her to have to accept guards again.

"Again, it's only temporary," Scott emphasised. "It's only until the press settles down…"

Joe, once Scott had gone back to organise a team, went to look for Clarisse, and found her on the beach.

"I don't want to leave here, Joseph," she said passionately when he sat down beside her. "We got away from prying eyes at the palace, and now…" tears were brimming in her eyes- this was their home.

"I really dislike how they've managed to ignore us for so long, and now…they're trying to flush us out, like rats…"

"Don't worry, sweetheart, we're not going to be forced out of here," he put an arm around her comfortingly. "But Mia, Scott and I all think it's wise if we have some extra protection for now, so Scott is sending a team of men to stay in the cottage… not permanently," he added hastily when he saw Clarisse's look of horror. "But, honey, we're going to have to have it."

"Well… if Mia insisted…" Clarisse said with a deep sigh, more relieved that they didn't have to leave. "I just hope that the press won't make our lives too troublesome…" she trailed off, and then frowned. "I won't let them- this is our life!"

"They won't, Clarisse," he pulled her close and let his lips brush her hair. "I promise…"

000

Despite the fact that half the press was now camped out in front of the gates, as well as a team of security guards now residing in the guest cottage, Clarisse and Joe were still determined (and confident) to live a relatively quiet existence. They shared all the chores, washing, cleaning and cooking, doing it together, but Clarisse was growing in confidence in the kitchen, causing Joseph to comment:

"I can't believe how independent you've become lately- it's terrific!"

"As you know," Clarisse gave him a mock haughty look. "I've always been independent, it was just hard to be that in the palace… but it's lovely to be free, and this place… this place was always the type of place I'd wanted to retire to…"

They had plenty of walks on the beach, as well as swimming (not so much in the cooler months), and spent time in front of the open fire in the living room while, as Joe joked, having plenty of fun.

"It's about time we've had some fun!" and she rolled his eyes.

"I think we've had enough fun in the past two years."

"Two years?" Joseph pretended to look shocked. "Has it really been two years?"

"Yes dear, you know that in July we'll have been married two years."

"Oh yes, and this time last year… we were…"

"Others were, don't you mean?"

"Alright, others were finalising the details for the wedding- now everyone's getting ready to do it again! By the way, Scott wanted to know if we'd finished all that wine we got given last year?"

"Why?"

"I think they're planning on giving us another box for our anniversary," and she couldn't help but laugh.

Their quiet existence was often interrupted every couple of weeks as they received visits from Mia and Nicholas (who visited fairly regularly, as well as calling every couple of days); James and Charlie (who always came together, and almost as regularly as Mia, with their wives); BJ and Lynn (several times); as well as Sebastian and Sheila, Charlotte (who visited whenever Shades was on duty), Julie and Patrick, and Annie, who had been doubly successful with her auditions, causing Joe to quip:

"We sure are popular!" but they didn't mind all the visits from their friends.

But Pierre never came, although kept in touch sporadically, which hurt Clarisse a great deal, and Joseph knew it, but she never mentioned it, and he didn't press her. But, the house was usually full of fun whenever they had visited ('not that it isn't when it's just the two of us!' Joe said), especially when James and Charlie came to stay.

"I can't believe how domesticated you've become!" James joked when Clarisse brought the second pizza to the table- she had become quite a whiz at pizza making, doing it from scratch. "I hope these aren't too burnt!"

"Watch it, you, or you won't get any," she chided gently, taking off her apron and sitting down next to Lisa.

"Seriously, though, Phillipe chose well when he bought this place- it's great!" James declared. "I'm jealous- you've got a fantastic main suite, plenty of room downstairs, right near the beach, gorgeous view… can we buy it?"

"Oh no!" Clarisse looked slightly alarmed, even though she knew he was joking. "If the press can't get us out of here, neither can you!"

James laughed gently, touched at how protective and possessive she was of hers and Joseph's home.

"Alright, how about to rent?" he inquired teasingly, and she giggled.

"For ten thousand dollars a week!" she joked, and James looked horrified and then pensive.

"No thanks… Let's see… no, it might be easier to build a place just down the beach!" before laughing at Clarisse's look of surprise.

"No, I don't think James would do that," Charlie interjected. "He loves the call of civilization too much!"

"As if you don't!" James retorted, and Clarisse and Joe exchanged an amused look as the two men bickered.

"Honestly!" Lisa sighed during a pause. "The way you two fight, you two should be married to each other!"

It was always quiet whenever any of them left, but Clarisse didn't mind- she in fact preferred the peace and quiet- it gave her time with Joseph, and time to spend working on her garden.

Clarisse's garden, meanwhile, was progressing well- she had never done any of the physical labour with the palace garden, and while she had 'borrowed' two of the palace gardeners to help, she didn't hesitate to dive in and get her hands dirty, planning, digging and planting. With no pressure to have it completed within a certain time frame, she took her time, which helped when they to travel. But Joe, despite the fact he didn't particularly like gardening, helped when he could, as he could see that Clarisse's gardening was therapeutic to her, and it was something else that they could enjoy together.

"It's sweet of you to help, but I don't want you to hurt yourself," Clarisse said gently as they, covered in dirt, went inside to shower. "You can always just watch- I'm sure Charlie and James would support you in that adventure."

"While my wife is working hard, and covered in dirt? I don't think so- and I know that neither Lisa nor Marion would approve… but thank you anyway for your concern."

000

As Joe had expected, even though they were both retired, Clarisse was expected to perform some public duties, representing Mia, and Joseph, as her husband, was expected to accompany her. He didn't particularly enjoy most events (the only highlight being having Clarisse on her arm) - it was all so tedious, and he could fully appreciate Mia, and before her Phillipe's, abhorrence of these events.

However, to his surprise, the second round of dinners was different- he was much more confident and comfortable, and Clarisse, now understanding how he felt, was clearly determined to show everyone that she was proud of him, and more than happy to be with him.

The dinners were, as usual, boring, but Joseph tried to keep involved, and Clarisse, as always sitting beside him, appreciated it. After dinner, the men, while still pretending that he was inferior to them, cornered Joseph and tried to ask discreet questions about his marriage.

"She was always so quiet and demure when she was married to His Majesty," one man commented. "It's quite extraordinary to see how carefree she is now- you sure have done something to her…"
The other men chuckled at the comment, Joe smiling a little uneasily, but he had no intention of confiding in these men about anything to do with Clarisse, as it was none of their business… they seemed to be very much in the mould of Viscount Mabrey, and he couldn't trust them not to use whatever they heard to their advantage.

The women, meanwhile, were quizzing Clarisse on her husband, the questions coming quick and fast.

"How does he handle publicity?"

"Is he still involved with his former colleagues?"

"Does he like living in a suite?"

"Why did you get married?"

"Is it true that he was your bodyguard?"

She finally managed to interrupt, and she decided to answer the final question- the others were too rather personal.

"Yes, and one of the best I had, but he's now my husband, a gentleman, which he always has been, and I'm very proud of him."

It was unbelievable how curious they were, she thought to herself, but they couldn't deign to actually speak to him, before Joseph walked over, and she looped her arm through his, giving him an affectionate smile, before realising everyone's eyes were on them… it was an awkward moment, especially when they realised two things- the women were jealous because Joe obviously adored her, and the men were jealous because, when Clarisse looked at Joseph, it was clear she was head over heels for him.

Although some dinners weren't like that, most were, and when the evenings ended, Joseph and Clarisse were usually among the first to leave.

"The women are rather… full on, aren't they?" he asked after that dinner- most of them had tried to flirt with him all evening.

"I noticed you were popular," she laughed, confident that he was true to her. "It must be the earring," she tweaked his ear gently.

"I didn't want them to flirt with me!" he protested.

"I know that, darling," she rested a hand on his leg. "I'm not surprised, however- the women, or most of them, never really liked me- they all saw me as an interloper."

"An interloper- why?"
"They all wanted to marry Rupert, or have an affair with him (which, I suspect, most of them did), but when I cam along, they saw it as an intrusion, no matter that our marriage had been planned… Flirting with you is their way of getting back at me."

"But why don't they like me?" not that it really mattered to him- he didn't care.

"Because, my love, they don't understand how I remarried, to someone (according to their standards) inferior, and to marry for love… which we did," she leaned over and stroked his cheek. "People like that don't marry for love."

"Don't they think that people fall in love?"

"Not people like them- none of them married for love, or, if they did, the love disappeared long ago… We, to them, are an anomaly."

"Really?" Joe was fascinated by what she was saying- she may have been an outsider, but she knew them so well…

"Yes, and I'm glad you are- I couldn't bear being married to one of those men again- being married to one of them for nearly 40 years was enough," she sighed, looking out the car window for a moment, but it wasn't painful anymore- she had moved on. She smiled when she felt his hand rest on her thigh.

"It doesn't matter if they don't approve… the ones that matter, Mia, our friends and family and Genovia, do… surely, there are advantages to being married to me?" he inquired, confident of her answer as he massaged her leg, but could go no further.

"I suppose there are," she replied teasingly as she rested her head on his shoulder. "In fact, there are so many things that are good about marriage to you that I can't list them all…"

"But why don't we forget about those other people for now… we're the only ones that matter in our world… us, and Mia and our friends and family," he amended quickly. "Before you know it, we'll be back at the palace, getting ready for the wedding… and Mia slash Nicholas parties," he added with a sly smile- both of them had, with the others, started planning for the bachelor/bachelorette parties, and they couldn't wait for them.

"Do you think we should be a little easier on them?" she asked, feeling a little guilty, but Joe shook his head definitively.

"Definitely not- they did that to us, and now it's their turn to 'suffer'!"