Hey everyone, I just want to thank those reading this story, adding it to your follow and favourites list, and of course to bee-327 for leaving such a wonderful review on the first chapter. I am however going to see how this story goes over the next few chapters and if I feel like it's not getting much interest, I will be removing it. So please do let me know if you would like to see more of this story :) it is, and always will be, appreciated.

Thank you x

After having her hair and makeup done, Clarisse got into her long gold, sequined dress and jacket, and made her way out into the suite to find Joseph sat on the edge of the sofa, leaning forward giving Maurice a belly rub and fuss as he lay quite happily between him and the coffee table. Smiling, she watched them a moment before walking over to them. "Joseph, my love, you're meant to be getting ready," she said and watched as he lifted his head to look up at her.

"I know, but Maurice here wanted a fuss," he smiled and averted his gaze down to her attire as he sat up straight.

"Okay, so how do I look?" She smiled, giving him a twirl as he got to his feet and moved closer to her.

Smiling, he stood in front of her and put his hands up onto the tops of her arms before leaning in and pressing his lips softly to her temple. Resting them there for a moment before pulling back and looking into her eyes. "You look gorgeous, simply ravishing," he smiled, giving her a wink, "I wish we didn't have to be somewhere else soon, because I could quite easily carry you off to our bedroom instead."

"Oh behave you," she smiled contentedly up at him, feeling herself blushing as she averted her gaze down to his tie hanging around his neck before looking back up into his eyes. "Would you like me to do your tie for you?" She asked, needing a distraction. She knew not just for herself, but for her husband too.

Looking down at his tie draped down over his chest, Joseph smiled and looked back up at her. "Please," he nodded.

"Of course," she smiled while stepping a little closer to him and put her hands up to start doing his tie for him as his hands slowly slipped in the opening of her jacket and onto her sides.

"How are you feeling now?" He asked, and couldn't help but chuckle at the concentration on her face as Maurice got to his feet and padded over to sit on the floor next to her feet.

"Better," Clarisse smiled and looked up into his eyes briefly before looking back down at her hands doing his tie. "I think I just want today to be over with now. Then I can properly relax."

"Well not long to go and it will be," he smiled while smoothing his hands slowly up her sides under her jacket, "then we can come back up here, have dinner together, relax a little and pack for our honeymoon."

"Yes we can, and I can't wait," she smiled as she finished his tie and placed her hands on his chest. "There, all done for you."

"Thank you," he smiled as he looked down at his finished tie then back up into her gorgeous blue eyes. "You always do a better job than me."

"It's because I'm a woman, we always do the job better," Clarisse teased and smiled up at him as she took a step closer, so their bodies were touching, and slowly wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Mhmm, yes you do," he smirked, his arms wrapping around her waist under her jacket. Holding her close as they gazed momentarily into each others eyes. "Not just with ties either, you do a much better job over a wide range of things."

"Oh I don't know about that," she smirked and reached up to kiss him a couple of times before looking back up into his eyes. "Talking of packing, I have already picked out a couple of outfits to take, I just need to sort through the rest when we come back up later."

"Me too," Joseph smiled, amused over how quickly she changed the subject and smoothed his hands up her back under her jacket. "Have you managed to have a look at the swimwear Mia gave you yet?"

"I have, yes," she nodded, "a couple of them are suitable for me and will be going in the case, but one not so much."

"What do you mean?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Because it's a bikini. Why she ever thought I am the type of person to wear a bikini is beyond me," she said and shook her head as a smile spread across her husband's face, "don't be getting any ideas."

"Oh I don't know, I think you'd look rather beautiful, delicious even, wearing a bikini," he smirked and averted his gaze upwards, trying to imagine her wearing a bikini while sitting on the edge of the pool, her legs dangling over the edge, her feet dipped in the cool water, with her sunhat on, keeping the sun off her face, and a glass of champagne in her hand. "Oh yes, you would." He nodded.

"You would say that," she laughed, knowing exactly what he was doing from the expression on his face and playfully slapped the back of his shoulder. "Stop daydreaming," she exclaimed with a laugh.

"I can't help it, and I only said that you would because it's true. You would look absolutely amazing," he said with a chuckle before studying her face. "I'm sure though, Mia wouldn't have got it you if it would reveal too much like a lot of them do. She knows better than that."

"She does, and it is a modest one, I'll give her that," Clarisse nodded.

"Then I would definitely pack it because you never know one of the days you might feel confident enough to wear it," he said with a smile on his face.

"I won't be packing it no, I'm sorry," she said with a shake of her head, "bikinis are not for me now unfortunately. I'm too old and don't have the figure for them."

"Mmm, you most certainly do," he smirked mischievously and kissed her a couple of times before burying his face in, and nuzzling, her neck and making her laugh as he tightened his grasp around her waist.

"No, I don't," Clarisse laughed, her arms locking around his neck as she closed her eyes.

"Let your husband be the judge of that," Joseph said huskily against her neck, before kissing her on the sensitive spot below her ear, just as Maurice started to whine beside them.

"Aww, what's the matter, Maurice?" Clarisse smiled as Joseph reluctantly lifted his face from her neck and they both looked down at her dog while turning to him and trying not to laugh. "What's the matter?" She asked while bending over and putting her hands up, itching him behind his ears a moment. "Do you want some attention from me too?"

"I think he was letting us know not to get to carried away because we have to be downstairs in five minutes," Joseph smiled as he checked the time on his watch and walked over to the sofa, to grab his jacket from where it was draped over the armrest, before turning back to Clarisse and admiring the beautiful curve of her bottom as he slipped on his jacket.

"Oh you are a good boy, aren't you," Clarisse smiled as she rubbed her hands up and down the sides of Maurice's neck before standing back up straight and turning to her husband as he straightened out his jacket.

"Are you ready?" He asked as he walked back over to stand in front of her and reached out for her hands as she took a deep breath.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she nodded and closed her eyes as he leant closer and briefly pressed his lips to hers before pulling back and watching as she opened her eyes to look back up at him. "This is it Joseph, in one hour I will no longer be Queen."

"I know," he said softly and nodded. "Just remember I'll be there with you, okay?"

"I know you will be," she nodded, releasing one hand from his grasp and raising it up to cup his face. Brushing her thumb over his lips, removing the remnants of her lipstick, as she smiled up at him. "Thank you," she whispered and watched as he bowed his head to her one last time as his Queen.

"Come on, let's go down. We don't want to keep them waiting, not today," he smiled and brought the hand he still had a hold of up to his lips, kissing the back of it before they turned to make their way over to the door.

"Oh before we go," Clarisse said as they stopped and she turned to her husband, "can you unhook the bottom of my jacket for me when we get downstairs, please? I hooked it up so that I wouldn't trip over it on the way down."

"Of course, I will," Joseph said and they both smiled at one another before continuing out of their suite. "Come on Maurice, you have a part to play in this coronation too," he called out from the hallway and they both watched as he came bounding out to join them.

Stepping out and seeing her granddaughter across the landing from her wearing the gown she had worn many years ago when she was crowned Queen herself, Clarisse became overcome with emotion and her eyes filled with tears. It had all been kept secret from her, what her granddaughter would be wearing today for her coronation, but never in a million years did she ever think it would be that gown she had chosen to wear and she had never felt more proud of her than she did right at that very moment.

She had come so far, grown and blossomed so very much since they first met in San Francisco. She had spent as much time as she possibly could with her ever since, teaching her all she knew to prepare her for this day, and here she was now, about to become the next ruler of Genovia. And what a wonderful Queen she will be, she contemplated, trying her best to keep her emotions at bay, as they both made their way down the stairs and took their places. Ready for the crowning.

"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of Genovia, according to the statutes in parliament agreed on, and the respective laws and custom of the same? Will you, in your power, cause law and justice and mercy to be executed in all judgments?" The man said, as the crown was removed carefully from her grandmother's head and placed upon hers.

"I solemnly promise so to do." Mia replied while looking towards her grandmother and smiling as Joseph moved to stand beside her. Taking her hand lovingly in his.

"Genovia, the land I call my home, from the green clear summers to blossoming pear trees magnificent her mountains and seas, Genovia, Genovia, you're noble, proud and brave. Genovia, Genovia. Forever will your banner wave!" Everyone in the ballroom sang.

"Presenting Her Majesty Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Queen of Genovia."

"Your Majesty," Charlotte smiled as she appeared next to her stood with her son and Nicholas later that day at the after-party of Mia's coronation, and watched as she turned her head to her with a smile. "Sorry to disturb you, but do you have a moment?"

"Of course," Clarisse nodded and looked up at Pierre and Nicholas, "I'll be back," she smiled.

"Of course," Pierre smiled and watched as she and her former assistant weaved their way through the crowds across the ballroom to a quiet corner together. He wondered why on earth Charlotte had led her there for, but didn't ponder on it for too long when Nicholas asked if he wanted another drink.

"What's going on?" Clarisse asked her trusted friend as she stopped and turned to face her.

"I know this isn't really the place, what with you going away tomorrow," Charlotte said as she looked down and pulled an envelope out of her jacket pocket before looking back up at her former Queen. "But this came for you this morning, Your Majesty."

"Oh please, Charlotte, call me Clarisse now I'm no longer Queen," Clarisse chuckled and looked down at the envelope as Charlotte passed it to her with one hand and took her glass from her with her other hand. She knew exactly who it was from. She recognised that handwriting anywhere, but still, she opened it. Pulling out the folded piece of floral notepaper from inside, she unfolded it and her gaze sought out the bottom. To confirm her suspicions.

"Is it from..." Charlotte asked and watched as Clarisse nodded before folding the paper and putting it back in the envelope.

"Yes, it is," she nodded and looked back up at the younger woman as she extended her hand with the envelope in towards her. "Thank you for bringing it to my attention Charlotte, but I can't deal with this now. Can you keep it safe until I return from my honeymoon, please?" She asked while taking her glass back from her. "I'll deal with it then."

"Of course," Charlotte nodded and took the envelope back from her.

"Thank you," Clarisse said and averted her gaze down, watching as she put it back in her jacket pocket before averting her gaze back up to meet hers. "And not a word to anyone."

"Not even Joseph?" Charlotte whispered.

"Especially not Joseph," Clarisse whispered her reply and shook her head before taking a sip of her champagne.

"Of course, Your… Clarisse, sorry," Charlotte said, correcting herself, and bowed her head in acknowledgement as the former Queen smiled. "Heads up, Joseph's heading our way…"

"And what are you two doing over here?" Joseph asked as he stood beside Clarisse and put his hand on her back as she turned her head to look at him. "It's all very suspicious hiding out over here in the corner," he smirked.

"Nothing, my love," Clarisse smiled as she turned to face him and leant closer to kiss his cheek before looking to her former assistant, who bowed her head and quickly retreated. Knowing Joseph could, and would, read her like a book if she hung around long enough.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, watching Charlotte hurry away, before looking back at Clarisse, as she looked back up at him and nodded.

"Of course," she smiled and stepped closer to him, putting her free hand up onto his jaw while reaching up to whisper in his ear. His free hand instinctively going to her side. "I'm counting down the minutes until we can escape to our suite and finally be alone."

"Mmm, me too," Joseph smiled and took a sip of his champagne as Clarisse pulled back and looked up into his eyes. Her own eyes so full of desire for her husband. "Not that we can do very much until we have packed," he chuckled.

"Oh, how true is that," Clarisse smirked, contemplating his words for the briefest of moments, "come on, let's go mingle before I get carried away and I end up dragging you out to the gardens," she smiled cheekily as she turned to face the room, her husband's hand going to her back as she turned.

Leaning closer, Joseph whispered seductively in her ear as she took a sip of her champagne. "You can drag me anyplace you so wish, anytime, anywhere, just drag me away," he chuckled and pulled back to look at her face.

"It's tempting, of course," she nodded, "but Sebastian is on his way over," she whispered and smiled as he approached them. "Sebastian, good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty, Sir Joseph," smiled the Prime Minister as he stood in front of them and leant in to kiss Clarisse's cheek.

"Good afternoon," Joseph smiled as Sebastian stepped back from Clarisse.

"A little birdy tells me that you are both heading on your honeymoon tomorrow?" Sebastian smiled.

"Yes we are," Clarisse nodded, "all arranged for us by our granddaughter."

"Yes, I've heard all about it," Sebastian smiled and averted his gaze briefly to Joseph standing beside her, before looking back to Clarisse. "And I want you to know that I'll keep an eye on our new Queen for you and help her as much as I can while you are away, as I know you are worried about leaving her so soon."

"Thank you, Sebastian," Clarisse smiled.

"You're welcome," Sebastian nodded, "I am rather fond of her and am, therefore, only too happy to help."

"We appreciate that," Joseph smiled and smoothed his hand a little up Clarisse's back.