Standing beside her granddaughter, Clarisse sipped her drink and looked back at the dance floor. Pierre was dancing with Charlotte, and Joseph was dancing with Lady Jerome. And as she watched him, her husband dance she still couldn't believe that they were finally married. It had been a beautiful day, one that took an amazing turn and one she would never forget.

Looking at her granddaughter stood beside her, Clarisse smiled and placed her hand on her granddaughters arm to get her attention and when she looked back to her grandmother, Clarisse motioned for her to follow. Moving over to a quiet spot of the party, they sat down side by side, facing the dance floor.

"I just wanted to make sure that you were okay?" Clarisse began and placed her glass down on the table in front of them as she turned in her chair, tucking her foot behind her ankle.

"Of course I'm okay, sure I'm sad that I didn't get married today but I'm relieved too." Mia answered, looking at her grandmother.

"You accomplished something amazing today, darling," Clarisse began while taking hold of Mia's hand in both of hers. "I'm so very proud of you, and so is everyone else." She said while looking around everyone before looking back at her granddaughter.

"Thank you, grandma." Mia smiled, looking at her sat beside her.

"You're welcome," Clarisse smiled "and now at least you can find your own husband in your own time, without it being arranged."

"That's true, and I'm so glad about that. Not that marrying Andrew would have been a bad thing, it's just we never really had time to get to know each other properly before our wedding." Mia said and sipped her drink before sitting forward and leaning on the table in front of her. "I still can't believe he agreed to even help us."

"He's a gentleman that's why, and whoever he does marry in the future will be lucky to have him as her husband that's for sure." Clarisse smiled as Mia looked back at her.

"Yes they will be," Mia nodded in agreement and watched as her grandmother sat forward, also leaning on the table.

"Have you spoken to him since we got back?" Clarisse asked, looking at her granddaughter.

"Yes, we sat and talked about what happened. We thanked each other once again and then when I left I noticed Lady Elyssa sit down at their table." Mia said, looking back at the dancers "and now they are dancing." She smiled as Clarisse looked over at them.

"They seem to have taken a fancy to one another." Clarisse said while watching her granddaughter.

"Yes I think so too, and good for them." Mia said while sitting back and looking down at her hands resting on her lap "I'm happy for them if they do get together, like I'm happy for you and Joseph." She smiled.

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled as Mia looked back up at her. "I wanted to talk to you about that actually."

"Uh oh!" Mia exclaimed and started laughing.

"It's nothing bad, I just wondered how did you know?" Clarisse asked.

"Are you kidding?" Mia exclaimed and watched as she shook her head. "Well just like everyone else that knew, the secret smiles to one another, the closeness between you, the looks... You know the list goes on, and on." Mia smiled.

"Was it really that obvious?" Clarisse asked, looking into her eyes.

"Not at first, when we first met it wasn't. But over time it was, yes." Mia nodded and watched as her grandmother looked back across at her husband. "I do remember this one time, not long after I moved back here after my graduation I had seen an intimate moment between you both." Mia began to explain as Clarisse looked back at her "I believe that you thought no one was around, and I'm sorry I watched, I know you don't agree with that but I couldn't move. When I saw you cup his cheek and run your thumb over his lips as he held onto your other hand it brought tears to my eyes. Neither you or he had confirmed anything between you, but seeing you both that day I knew. I knew there was love between you. And then when I left I ran into uncle Pierre on my way back to my suite and after telling him what I had seen he explained that there had been many moments like that over the years, but nothing could ever come of them because you had a duty to your country, and me. We both hoped that once I was married and Queen you would finally 'hook' up with Joseph, but then today with what you said about losing the man you ever really loved and with the events at the church and with Joseph leaving I knew I had to do something." Mia said and reached out for her grandmothers hand. "I'm sorry for watching that day, and I'm sorry for stopping you from being with Joseph sooner."

"Oh tush!" Clarisse exclaimed and looked back at her granddaughter "you have nothing to be sorry for, darling. I did what I had to do out of love, and what I believed was right. I'm not royal by blood, you are, being Queen was your destiny and I had to do all I could in my power to make sure the crown stayed within the Renaldi family. And I knew Joseph was leaving, it broke my heart when he told me he was. I knew I was losing him, but I couldn't just abandon you." She said softly and reached her hand up to brush a bit of her granddaughters hair back behind her ear. "Even though today you proved to me that I needn't have worried. You are strong, just like your father and I'm so so proud of you." She whispered as a couple tears escaped her eyes.

"Oh grandma," Mia whispered and lent closer, hugging her tightly as she closed her eyes.

"I'm alright," Clarisse said softly while sitting back a moment later.

Grabbing a napkin, Mia passed it to her grandmother as she studied her face "are you sure, grandma?"

Taking the napkin, Clarisse nodded and wiped her eyes. "It's been an emotional day."

"Yes it has," Mia said and lent closer "I'm proud of you too, you know?" She whispered in her grandmothers ear before sitting back.

"How so?" Clarisse asked and held the napkin in her hand, up by her mouth while resting her elbow on the table in front of her as Mia took hold of her other hand.

"You stood in front of all those people and asked Joseph to marry you, even though you knew he was leaving. It was risky and you took that chance, not many people would do that." Mia said and watched as her grandmother looked down at their joined hands resting on her lap. "I'm glad you did though, you deserve a happy ending after everything." She said softly as Clarisse looked back up at her. "Oh my god grandma, I can't believe you are married!"

"Neither can I," Clarisse said, laughing with Mia. "But I'm happy, I'm so very happy." She smiled.

"Good!" Mia nodded and lent closer to hug her. "And we are happy too."

Pulling back, Clarisse smiled and put her hands up to cup her granddaughters face. "I love you, darling."

"I love you too, grandma." Mia smiled as they shared another hug.

Returning to the table with her granddaughter a short time later, Clarisse smiled as she placed her hand on Joseph's back to get his attention. "We're back," she smiled as he turned his head to her as she lent forward and placed her glass down on the table.

"Good, is everything alright?" Joseph asked and watched as his beautiful bride stood back up straight beside him.

"It is now," she nodded and took hold of his hands in hers. "Mia and I had a good chat."

"Have you been crying?" He asked, letting go of one of her hands to cup her cheek.

"I did get a little emotional yes," she nodded "but I'm okay now, so it's nothing to worry about. I promise." She smiled.

"Alright," he nodded, undecided and worried.

"I saw you and Pierre talking earlier, is he okay? He looked pretty serious." She asked and moved to sit down.

"Yes, he's okay." He answered and pulled a chair closer, sitting down beside her.

"Mother, do you want another drink?" Pierre said while standing beside them as they both looked up at him.

"No thank you, Pierre. I'm alright for now." She smiled and watched as he smiled and put his hand down on Joseph's shoulder.

"Dad, what about you?" He asked, looking down at him as Clarisse gasped.

"I'm alright too, thank you Pierre." Joseph smiled and looked up at him a moment before looking back at Clarisse as Pierre walked away. "And before you ask, that's what we were talking about."

"Really?" Clarisse asked in surprise.

"Yes, he explained that when Mia said about calling me grandad he started thinking about it, and as he called Rupert father, he wanted to try with dad and I said that's absolutely fine and that if he didn't want to, or wasn't ready yet then I would understand. But I think we are doing well, don't you?" He asked while leaning closer and rested his arm along the back of her chair.

"Yes you are," she smiled at him. "And that makes me so so happy. Hearing him call you dad, and Mia call you grandad, I never thought I would see the day."

"Neither did I," Joseph said, studying her face. "I love you."

"And I love you too," she smiled, leaning closer and kissed him.