A/N: Here we go with the dark angst again. Sorry for posting so late. I had issues with my computer. Thanks once again for the comments.

Mia woke up, disoriented and shocked at the dark. Blinking several times, she finally remembered that she was in her grandparents' bedroom, but she'd been with her grandmother when she fell asleep, now she was alone. Looking at the clock, she frowned. They were only supposed to let her sleep for a couple of hours; it was now after seven p.m. Throwing off the covers, she slid from the bed and made her way out to the sitting room, fully expecting to find Joe and Clarisse, but she found no one.

Frowning, she moved further into the dimly lit sitting room and spotted a note on the table by the sofa. Picking it up, she recognized her grandmother's handwriting.

My darling, Mia,

I know that it is short notice, and that it seems a strange time, but Joe and I thought it might be best if we go now. We've decided to take a little honeymoon before we start our fight to change things. I hope you understand why we didn't wake you. You were so tired, and resting so peacefully, that we just couldn't bear to disturb you.

I talked to Charlotte before we left and made sure that she knew you were still in my suite in case something urgent came up. Everything else has also been taken care of, so don't worry. It will all wait until tomorrow.

Joe and I will call you once we've arrived at our destination. Forgive me for not telling you, but we want to keep the location a secret and don't wish for you to lie if questioned about where we are.

I love you my darling Amelia, always know that,

Grandma

Mia held the note, her mouth twisted in a thoughtful pose. What wasn't her grandmother telling her? There was more to this so called honeymoon than just a simple honeymoon before they fight parliament. Something had happened. Maybe the memories that had been stirred up the last couple of days had just been too much and Joe had felt his wife needed some time away? She shook her head, no there was more to it, but she would respect their privacy and give them the chance to have time away before getting the answers to her questions.

CnJ

Joe watched Clarisse as she slept. Her head tossed from side to side as a whimper escaped. Lifting the arm rest between them, he gently pulled her to him and caressed her back. "Shh, Darling. It's alright."

"Joseph?" Clarisse asked as her eyes fluttered open.

"Yes, mi querido." Joe gently combed his fingers through her soft hair.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" he asked, confused.

"I woke you."

"No, I wasn't asleep. I was actually just sitting here watching you sleep."

"Oh." She blushed slightly. Laying her head on his lap, she rested her hand on his knee. "Sing to me," she whispered.

Placing a pillow under Clarisse's head, Joe carefully tucked a blanket around her. Softly running his fingers through her hair, he quietly began to sing. As he sang, he hoped none of the plane's staff heard him. He didn't like for people to hear him sing. Heck, he didn't even want them to know that he could. As far as he knew, only Clarisse knew that he could, and that was how he wanted it to stay. Singing for his wife, well that was a privilege and an honor.

CnJ

Joe sighed as he leaned back against the soft pillows, his body sinking into the comfortable mattress. "I'm glad we're finally here."

"So am I. I'm not sure I can wait until morning to find out what's going on." Clarisse slipped her gown over her head.

Joe held out his hand. "Come here."

Clarisse climbed onto the bed, snuggling against Joe. "Mmm…"

"I know you're anxious, Darling, so am I, but we need to rest. We're both exhausted and in no shape to handle a crisis of any kind. A good night's sleep and then we'll get up in the morning, have breakfast and talk to Aunt Maria."

"You've always been able to keep me grounded." Clarisse titled her head back to look up at him. "Joseph, I know you're as frightened as I am."

Joe tucked her hair behind her ear. "I didn't mean for you to know."

"Why?"

"Because, you need me to be strong."

"You sweet man," she sighed. "You aren't my guard anymore. You're my husband. There is no need to protect me all the time. I want to know what you're feeling no matter if it's pain, fear or anger. I don't want just the happy stuff. I want it all." Clarisse kissed him tenderly then settled back against him.

Joe pulled the covers up over their bodies, carefully readjusting their position from sitting up to laying down. "I'll try. It's hard to break away from a way of life you've had for as long as I was your guard." Kissing the head that lay tucked under his chin, he let his eyes close. "Goodnight, Clarisse."

"Goodnight, Joe." She placed a soft kiss on his chest. "I love you."

"Te quiero, también, Clarisse."

CnJ

Mia frowned as she threw the locked diary down on the table in front of her. She'd been trying all night to get the darn thing open, and so far, had no luck what so ever.

She'd found the diary quite by accident while going through some old books in a small library that seemed to be hidden in an unused wing of the palace. She'd picked it up carefully and realized that it matched the one her grandmother had given her to read, only this one had a different type of lock. This lock was like the one on the diary her father, Philippe, had wanted to give her on her sixteenth birthday. The one Clarisse had given her in San Francisco.

Now, sitting in her chambers, she was completely frustrated. She'd tried every one of her grandmother's necklaces, but to no avail. None of them worked as the key.

"Darn it, Grandma." Mia grumbled. She knew this diary held the answers she was looking for, and the confirmation of her suspicion that Joe was the angel her grandmother mentioned in the diary she'd been reading. He had to be, Joe was the only one that made sense.

Picking up the diary she could read, Mia opened it up and began reading again. Maybe there was something she'd missed.

September 13th ~ I'm sitting here watching my little boy playing outside in the gardens. I can only watch him through the windows as I am not allowed contact with him. I can't believe my Pierre is now almost four years old.

I am once again going through the torment of being visited (as they like to call it) by Rupert each night. Or rather, being led to the hidden room where he is waiting for me. The only difference from the first time, is that we are left alone. I guess the act of conceiving the spare son isn't as holy as the actual conceiving of the heir apparent.

Although I am relieved that I don't have to go through the embarrassment of being 'visited' with the Archbishop and King and Queen in the room, I have to wonder how the second child will be treated. If his being conceived isn't as important as Pierre's was, will they also treat him as nothing but the extra after his birth?

And what does this mean for me? Does this mean that I will be allowed to nurse this child? To love him and actually be his mother? I don't know how to feel about this. I am so confused.

My angel, whose visits have been very rare for quite some time now, has started coming back at night. He always seems to just appear after I am returned to my room from the secret room. Looking at my wrists, and the bruises there, I wonder what he must think when he sees how bruised the rest of me always is.

I know now what he has always done after taking me from my room. The shock hasn't been as mind numbing this time as it was the first, so I am always conscious when he carries me through the secret passage way. He takes me to his chambers where he puts me into a warm bath to help ease the pain. He always seems to have one of my nightgowns and dressing gowns laid out waiting for me to put on after I finish my bath. How does he do it? And why do I not feel afraid of him? I know that he has seen me without clothes, and yet, I'm not embarrassed or frightened. Maybe because he has always been gentle and nothing more than – my angel.

September 20th ~ It's been a week since my last entry. I haven't been able. I was hurt very badly in one of the encounters with Rupert. He was drunk and very angry every time he came to the room. I didn't think that I was going to survive that night, or the nights following(the days were no better as I was locked in the secret room and left there for Rupert to take his anger out on me whenever he saw fit…which was quite often), but that night was mild in comparison to what happened last night.

I now know who my angel is. He rescued me from being strangled to death last night. I was already bruised and bleeding from Rupert's attentions and beatings the previous visits when Rupert decided to wrap his hands around my neck. I was so frightened, and I cried for him to stop, but he only began to talk in riddles, saying things that I didn't understand. I tried to get away from him, but he pinned me to the bed with his knees. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I saw a figure move behind Rupert and pull him off of me. Rupert went into even more of a rage and attacked the man, leaving me to curl up and cry as I watched them through blurry eyes.

Rupert was finally subdued, his aide dressing him then leading him from the room. I was trying very hard not to give in to the need to just pass out and give in to the darkness that had tried to claim me, but my eyes closed anyway. My angel's gentle voice called to me. I opened my heavy eyes and finally saw his face. Gentle, kind, with eyes full of concern.

He wrapped me in the sheet and lifted me in his arms. Closing my eyes, I let my head rest against his chest, knowing that I was finally safe.

I am now safely resting back in my room. I can't help but think about my angel and wonder what has happened to him. I know that he broke boundaries by what he did, and I know that death is the punishment for that act. How is it that someone I barely know is willing to give his life to save me, when my own husband tried to take my life? I don't understand.

Mia closed the book and wrapped her arms around herself. What kind of monster had her grandfather been? Now she knew why her grandmother had felt the need to lie to her. This also explained why her Uncle Pierre rarely ever spoke to his mother. The ringing phone brought her out of her thoughts and she realized she was crying.

"Hello," she answered, trying desperately to calm herself so she would sound normal.

"Mia? Darling, are you alright? Something hasn't happened, has it?"

"Oh Grandma." Mia sobbed. "I'm sorry."

"You've been reading the diary again."

"Yes." She gulped. "Grandma?"

"What is it, Darling?"

"Joe was your angel, wasn't he?" she asked, she had to know.

"Darling, we'll be back home in two days. I'll answer your questions then, all of them, I promise."

Mia understood that her grandmother didn't feel comfortable answering over the phone. "Alright, Grandma. Is everything alright?"

"That is another question I'll have to answer when we get home."

"Okay. I won't ask anymore questions. Just take care and tell Grandpa that I said hello."

"Grandpa?"

"Joe."

"Oh."

Mia heard the catch in her grandmother's voice. "Grandma? Are you alright? If you don't want me to call Joe, Grandpa, I won't. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Oh Amelia. It's alright. I cannot think of any other man more suited to be considered your grandfather."

"I love you, Grandma." Now Mia's tears were back.

"And I love you, too. It's late, you need to get some rest. Put the diary away, snuggle under your comforter and dream happy dreams of Nicholas."

Mia smiled. "I will, Grandma. Goodnight, see you soon."

"Goodnight, sweet girl."

Mia put the phone back in it's cradle and looked at the book sitting by her on the sofa. There was still more to read, and even though the things contained within the old pages were sad, she felt the need to continue to read.

"No." She shook her head. "I told Grandma I would get some sleep, and that's exactly what I'm going to do."