This is for Quoth the Night, who wanted to see a high school reunion story. Something that takes place after Mia has been Queen, has been married to Nicholas, and has been in the spotlight long enough to garner the interest of gossips and tabloids. I took those ideas and wove them together with an idea I'd already had - but didn't know what to do with - for a post-PD2 story. QtN, I do hope I have done your idea justice; and to everyone else, I hope you enjoy reading along as well.

This is very different for me, and although I know where it's going, updates might come a bit slowly. However, I promise to keep working on it.

I don't own any of these characters, but you all probably knew that already.

"When are you going to get with the times, my friend?"

Joe eyed his grandson-in-law over the top of his newspaper and across the breakfast table. "I have The Times right here." He smiled. "The Genovian Times."

"Ha ha," Nicholas intoned. "I mean, one of these." He held up his phone. "I'll bet I'm reading the same thing you are, except the more current version of it."

"I am more interested in the factual version than the current one. Besides, I spent most of my adult life attached to and dependent upon all kinds of electronic devices. I am done with them now. At least, as much as is reasonably possible."

"But I have the world at my fingertips!"

Joe shifted his eyes to his wife and let go of one side of the paper to reach out to her. "So have I," he said smoothly, curling his fingers around her hand and bringing it to his lips.

Clarisse smiled at him. "All this charm oozing around the breakfast table isn't good for digestion," she chided good-naturedly.

"They say exercise is good for digestion," Joe said, arching his eyebrows suggestively.

"Mild exercise," she pointed out. "An easy walk, perhaps."

"For the more strenuous activities, I think one is advised to wait thirty minutes." He glanced at his watch. "What are you doing thirty minutes from now?"

"Oh, seriously?" Mia protested, putting her hands over her oblivious son's ears. She glared at Joe as Nicholas laughed. "Speaking of things that are not good for digestion – ew!" Then she shot a look at her husband. "And you! Not helping!"

"What? What, Mama? What isn't good for digestion?" Gregory twisted around to free himself of her hasty earmuffs and look directly at her.

Nicholas acted surprised. "Why? What did I do? I was merely talking about moving Joe into the twenty-first century. I didn't mention a word about…you know."

"No, but you laughed. You only encourage him when you laugh."

"Laughing keeps the heart young," Gregory declared as he popped out of his chair for the umpteenth time since breakfast had been served. "Do you know who says that?"

"Gregory," Mia sighed. "Please, please sit in your chair." She watched him take an indelicate chomp from a strawberry before bouncing around her to his great-grandfather. "I don't know how your little body digests anything at all, the way you turn eating into an aerobic activity."

With strawberry juice painting his mouth and making his hands sticky, Gregory climbed onto Joe's lap. "Does this count as sitting?"

"As long as you hold still so we can read the real paper," Joe cautioned, his attempt at sounding stern in no way intimidating the boy.

"Grandma says that."

"Says what?" Joe asked, already a conversational step behind.

"That laughing is good for your heart."

"It sounds like her."

"It does?" Mia interjected skeptically.

"Yes," Joe said. "And she's right."

"Of course, she is," Clarisse agreed, eyes twinkling.

"It sounds like very good advice," Nicholas added.

"You know what's good for laughing?" Gregory asked, looking at the nearly picture-less newsprint in front of him with disinterest. "The funnies."

"Also true. However, I'm not there yet," Joe said. "The sections of the newspaper should be read in a certain order."

"I think Joe Romero says that," Nicholas pronounced.

Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Believe me, there is a certain order to just about everything."

"But this is boring," Gregory argued. "Where are the funnies?"

"Right here," Joe said, tickling the boy's side so he squealed in a mixture of delight and exasperation. "You're kind of funny."

"Grampa! Stop! You know I don't like tickles!" He wriggled away and stomped off in protest to his father's lap instead.

"But it's good to laugh! You and Grandma say so!" Joe exclaimed. "Hey, get back here." He frowned as Nicholas and Gregory bent their heads over the phone. "Don't read that trendy news on that silly phone."

"I don't think anyone should be reading anything," Mia said pointedly. "It's breakfast time."

"Newspapers are part of a balanced breakfast," Joe countered. "Now phones, on the other hand -"

"Hey, we're feeding our minds over here, too," Nicholas said as Gregory's small, nimble fingers swept expertly over the screen.

"Is that so?" Mia leaned over and pressed a button on the side of the phone to turn up the sound. The perky music and cartoon-ish noises of a video game increased in volume until father and son were widening their eyes innocently.

"Um, it's an educational game?" Nicholas tried.

"It sounds like Angry Birds."

"Teaches geometry and analytical thinking?"

"No."

"Can we just finish this level?" Gregory implored.

"No," Mia said again.

"Aww!" the little boy and the big boy responded in unison.

Mia fished for support. "Grandma, aren't you going to banish them?"

Clarisse swallowed her tea in surprise, then gently placed the cup on the saucer. "Banishment seems a bit extreme to me," she admitted. "And technically, that's your decision now."

"Not the boys, the toys. And reading material in general." She didn't look at Joe, but he gave her a wounded scowl just the same.

"Well, it's only breakfast, and…" Clarisse trailed off as she read on her granddaughter's face the seriousness with which she regarded the matter.

"Don't you remember princess lessons? You wouldn't even let me put my elbows on the table."

"Oh, well, of course not! Elbows are never acceptable on tables," Clarisse declared while Gregory slid his elbows off the table top as inconspicuously as possible. "In fact," she spoke in what her family called her Queen Coming Out Of Retirement voice, "Mia is right. Everyone needs to put non-food items away right now."

"Thank you, Grandma," Mia said quietly but with feeling.

"Yeah, thanks, Grandma," Nicholas said with playful sarcasm.

"Yeah, fanks," Gregory said, his eyes reflecting the same twinkle as his great-grandmother's just a few minutes before, and his voice mimicking his father's teasing tone. He earned A Look from his mother.

"Alright, alright," Joe chimed in, folding up his paper. "Let's just talk and eat and be social together before the hassles of the day take us our separate ways, hmm?"

"A lovely idea," Clarisse said, casting a grateful glance his way. He caught it, and acknowledged it with a smile and a surreptitious wink. "Does anyone have anything to share?"

For the first time, silence descended upon the family.

"Oh!" Gregory excitedly shot his arm up in the air. "This morning, in the garden, I saw a really big worm. Then, a little later, I saw a bird eating a worm. I fink it might have been the same worm!"

"Nice," Mia murmured with a resigned sigh.

"That is news worth knowing," Joe said with a nod.

"I doubt it was covered in paper or electronic format," Nicholas concurred.

"Pity," Clarisse said, poking at her fruit as though she had lost a small part of her appetite.

"Well, I have news," Nicholas said. "Technically, it's not my news, but still."

"Does it involve Nature and the vicious relationship of predator and prey?" Clarisse asked warily.

"Actually, it sort of does. Mia's high school reunion is coming up."

Suddenly, Mia looked as though she regretted her determination to keep elbows, newspapers, and strawberry-sticky phones off the table. "I hardly think that's newsworthy."

"Sure it is. Ten years! It's a big deal for any alumna, but especially in your situation," Nicholas insisted. "Think of all the people coming back to discuss what they've done in the decade since graduation."

"He has a point," Joe said. "Not many of them will be able to say they helped broker a peace treaty."

"Or restructured the fiscal plan to ensure continued assistance for the orphanage in Pyrus," Clarisse added.

"Or gave a thousand speeches without getting sick," Nicholas tacked on with a wink.

Mia started to say something in the way of a retort, then sighed. "You got me there. I have to admit, that last one has been no small feat."

"Did Mama do all those fings?" Gregory asked.

"She certainly did," Clarisse answered proudly.

"I know somefing else Mama does."

"What does she do?" Joe prompted.

"She's the only one who can make my hair flat," he said with just as much pride as his grandmother. He pointed to the top of his head, where his unruly, dark brown locks were already starting to rebel against the product Mia had expertly applied.

"Also no small feat," Nicholas said.

Clarisse chuckled. "Mia's father had the same problem when he was five years old. He did eventually grow out of it."

"I remember," Joe reminisced. "Just in time for senior portraits, I believe."

"At least, we know there's hope." Mia smiled at her son and touched his cheek.

"I told her we should go," Nicholas interjected casually.

Mia, who had finally been coming out of the testy mood she had been in, straightened up in her chair. "Absolutely not."

"Why not? We'll be there anyhow to visit your mother and Patrick and Trevor."

"We will?" Gregory's eyes lit up. "When are we going to see Trevor? Tomorrow?"

"No, not tomorrow," Mia said.

"The day after tomorrow?"

"We're going in June."

"Oh." Gregory was quiet for a few moments – a long time for him – as the grown-ups watched the wheels turning in his head. "Is that next week?"

"In about a month," Joe told him. "In fact, I am meeting with Shades later this afternoon to discuss security for the trip."

Clarisse picked up her tea and half-hid her face behind it. "So kind of you to help while Shades is still learning the ropes in his new role as Head of Security," she said lightly.

"Yes, it's only been – what? – seven years now?" Nicholas said, partially shielding his own face with a slice of toast.

Joe glared at each of them in turn. "You're both very funny."

"Do you really fink so?" Gregory asked. "Because you're not laughing."

"You noticed that, eh?"

"I notice everyfing," Gregory assured Joe emphatically.

"Attending the reunion is completely out of the question," Mia said, redirecting the subject only for the sake of shutting it down once and for all.

"Is it?" Clarisse asked.

Mia stared across the table at her in shock. "Um, yes. Yes, it is."

"Alright, I was only asking."

"But why?" Nicholas persisted.

"Because it is, and for so many reasons."

"Name one," he challenged.

Mia took a deep breath. "Well, there's… I mean, there's the fact that… It's just…" She turned pleading eyes toward her grandmother for the second time that morning. "Grandma?"

But it was Joe who answered. "Security nightmare."

Mia pounced on it. "See? Security nightmare."

Nicholas was undeterred. "So was going to the outdoor winter festival last year so Gregory could get his picture taken with Santa, but you had no qualms about putting the security team on that."

Joe shook his head. "All those unidentifiable people in elf costumes..." He shuddered.

"I heard some nights, Shades still wakes up in a cold sweat," Nicholas told her.

"They weren't costumes," Gregory corrected. "That's what elves wear all the time!"

"My mistake, young prince," Joe said somberly. Then to Mia: "I vote for inviting Santa and his illustrious staff to the palace this year."

"Joe," Mia said, eyeing him significantly as Gregory gasped in delightful anticipation. "Santa doesn't come to little kids' homes until Christmas Eve. Remember?"

"Oh, of course," Joe said, a little alarmed at his faux pas. "I'd forgotten."

"That's true," Clarisse agreed. "Besides, part of the fun of it is going out and participating in all the festivities."

"I take it," Nicholas said to Joe, "it wasn't any easier being Clarisse's Head of Security."

"I was never bored, Nicholas."

"Alright, enough, you two," Clarisse reprimanded.

"And enough of the reunion," Mia stated firmly.

Nicholas gave it one more attempt. "But just consider –"

"No!"

The answer came out sharply, startling everyone. Gregory's eyes grew big and his chin trembled. Nicholas felt the tension in Gregory's body, and wrapped reassuring arms around him.

Mia was a little wide-eyed and tremulous herself. "I'm sorry, it's just…" She pushed back from the table and tossed her napkin on her plate. "Please, excuse me."

They all watched with concern as Mia bolted from her grandparents' suite. She was likely heading for her office, the place she retreated to more and more as her laidback, sunshine-y disposition was slowly chipped away by something she had yet to confide in anyone else, including her husband.

"Is Mama mad?"

"No, darling," Clarisse cooed to her one and only great-grandchild. "She's just under a lot of pressure."

"From what?"

"From life," Nicholas said heavily.

"It's not an easy job your mother has," Joe told him. "Not just anyone can do it." He reached for Clarisse again, this time to rest his hand on her shoulder and let his fingers caress her back. "It takes a very special person."

"Like Mama," Gregory stated confidently.

"Yes, and like your great-grandmother before her." Joe caught Clarisse's eye, and received a sad smile.

Nicholas patted Gregory's legs. "Why don't you hop up, little man? Let me go check on your mother."

"Can I come, too?" his son asked eagerly.

Joe gave Clarisse's shoulder a squeeze before returning his attention to Gregory. "I have an idea. Why don't you and I go on an adventure?"

"Really?" Gregory asked eagerly, not only resting his elbows on the table but leaning his full weight on them. "I fought you had to meet with Shades."

Nicholas gave a grateful nod to Joe before slipping unnoticed from the room.

"I do, but not until much later. Where should we go this morning?"

"Anywhere!" His enthusiasm waned as the memory of something entered his head. "Oh, but Mama said I had to stay away from the old boathouse because it's dusty and full of sharp, rusty fings. And the kitchen because I can't keep my fingers out of whatever the culinary people are making. And the creek because I fall in on purpose too often."

"Not the creek? But it looks like such a great day for catching minnows!"

"I know!"

Joe crooked his finger at the little boy, who hastened around to hear what secret intrigue his great-grandfather was undoubtedly going to propose.

"How about we go to the creek, and we don't tell your mother?"

"Joseph!" Clarisse admonished.

"What?"

Gregory appeared to not notice his great-grandmother's objection. "I won't tell! I'll go get my bucket and my net!" He was running then, as fast as his five-year old legs could take him, which was pretty fast. He skidded to a halt and spun around. "I almost forgot! I'll need my explorer notebook, too. And a crayon to draw what we find!"

"Don't forget your binoculars."

"Okay!" He was running again, and as he rounded through the doorway, he called over his shoulder, "And don't you forget the bird identity guide!"

"I won't," Joe promised. He stared after the boy for a minute, a little star-struck, before feeling the heat of his wife's gaze on him. "What?"

"If Mia said he's not supposed to go to the creek –"

"He's a kid! A creek is the perfect place for a kid to spend his summer." He stood up and kissed her forehead. "Besides, we have a bath tub in our suite. We'll get a change of clothes for him and Mia will never know."

"She will. First of all, they'll be different clothes. Secondly, we can't get his hair to stay flat, and it gets worse when it's clean."

Joe grinned. "That's true. The cowlick is a giveaway."

"She's just so on edge anymore. I wish she would tell someone what's bothering her. In the meantime, I hate to antagonize her."

"I know." He stood next to her, looking down at her with love and solicitude. "And I promise to try and keep him in pristine condition," he said seriously.

She bit her lip and looked up at him. "She will be alright, won't she?"

"She will."

"Do you think –"

"Don't speculate," he cautioned. "You'll only plague yourself with all the worst case scenarios, and it might turn out to be something quite small. Or at least, easily fixed."

She nodded. "You're right."

"Naturally." He ignored her withering look, pulling her out of her chair and into his arms. "How much time do you think it will take Gregory to gather up all those 'fings'?"

Before she could offer an estimate, Joe was kissing her. They sank slowly into the warmth of their fortifying love for all of about fifteen seconds, when the mood was broken by the sound of hyperactive feet running back to their suite. They drew apart and grinned at each other.

"I would say about that much time," Clarisse said.

"Then I have the meeting with Shades –" Joe added, the hurried footsteps getting louder.

"And then your audience with Mia so she can rebuke you for defying her orders –"

"And then our dinner with the Prime Minister and his wife. When will I see you alone again?" he said with a hint of a pout.

Gregory burst into the room, his arms full of things no self-respecting explorer would be without. "Here I am!"

"So you are!" Joe agreed, releasing his hold on his wife. "Shall we?"

"Bye, Grandma!" cried the happy boy on his way to the creek.

"Bye, darling! Have fun! And be careful!"

"Now, Grandma, which is it?" Joe teased. "You want us to have fun or to be careful?"

"Very funny."

"Grandma, you're not laughing either."

"That's alright. Your great-grandfather will. He thinks he's funny enough for the both of us."

They were almost out of sight, Gregory's chatter echoing through the hall ahead of Joe, when Clarisse called out.

"Joseph?"

He stopped in the doorway and turned. "My Queen?"

She walked over to the end table by the sofa and pulled out the drawer to retrieve the laminated birdwatching guide. "You forgot this." She carried it to him and tucked it into his shirt pocket. Then she straightened his collar and let her fingers trail down the buttons of his shirt. "I'm free for lunch," she whispered huskily.

He groaned a little, both at her touch and at the implication of her words. "What a coincidence. So am I."

"Grandpa? Where'd you go?" came a voice from an impressive distance down the hall.

"Right here." Joe gave Clarisse one more quick kiss, then she nudged him out the door.

In the sudden quiet, she tried desperately to keep before her the image of her great-grandson, laden with tools and toys and an uncorrupted zest for life, to stave off the worries she had for her granddaughter.

to be continued...