Mia woke with a start looking around she noticed she was still in her bed and there was no sign nick had been there… "Oh it had all been a dream." Although her nearly drowning hadn't she saw the medication by her bedside table and she was still in her bathrobe. But where was Clarisse? She was there when Mia had fallen asleep. "No he can't be here… this can't be happening to me."

"GRANDMA!" She called out

"Mia… Mia what is it are you alright?" Joe came rushing in from her sitting room.

"Joe what are you doing here? Where is Grandma?" Mia demanded angrily

"Mia she is in her office. Is there anything I can get for you?" He asked worriedly.

"She isn't talking to Nicholas is she? I don't want to see him I don't want to talk to him and he is not to be in the palace and certainly no where near me!" She clarified. If he was the one to have hurt her and caused so much pain, then she had the right to tell him to leave….

"I'm going to go see her and tell him he can leave." Mia tried to get up only to find Joe pushing her back into bed.

"Mia if you go down there it will only turn out to be a mess. I will go get your grandmother and if your wish is for Nicholas to leave I will speak to her about it." He tucked the covers back over her lap.

"Fine but I make myself clear. I will NOT see him." She said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yes Mia." Shaking his head, Joe turned on his heels and left.

oOo

When Joseph and Nicholas had arrived home, the hour was late and Mia had gone to sleep. Clarisse had refused to wake her. So Joe had ushered Nick to a guest room, and returned to see Clarisse sitting in a large over stuffed peach colored chair in Mia's sitting room, looking positively irate.

oOo

Upon reaching Clarisse's office her heard her yelling. Pausing outside the door to hear what was happening.

"Nicholas I'm more than very disappointed. I'm outraged! I cannot believe you would fall ploy to your snake of and uncle's games. Mia is in love with you deeply and is now so heartbroken I don't know what to do for her. I thought you may have redeemed yourself with the speech at her wedding but no, you left without a word to anyone. Particularly her" She was losing her cool. Taking a deep breath she continued. "Then you show up at her coronation, and again not a word to her. Did you think that you could string her along and she would follow and then realize you don't love her?"

"I did not mean to fall in love with her, it just happened." He said desperately.

"You mean to tell me you love her too. Then explain to me why in heavens name to did you leave without speaking to her?" Anger and confusion hitting a point where all she wanted now was a cold drink of Sherry and a shoulder rub. This whole thing was so damned confusing. Not to mention ridiculous when you thought about it.

"I thought she hated me! Who wouldn't after what happened." Looking down into his lap, where he fiddled with the edges of his jacket. "Yes I did not mean for it to happen but it did. I think of her day and night and I'm dying inside because I know that I screwed up and pushed away the only woman I have ever truly loved and will ever love.

"Your are an imbecile and should be hung by your toes in the court yard." Now she was just angry. This was ridiculous. "Did you not see she loved you? One of the reasons she gave up marrying Andrew was because she truly loved you." She got out of her chair rather fast and stood up exclaiming "MEN!" Placing her hands on her hips. Ready to land blast Nick again.

Joe had heard enough the boy loved Mia and Clarisse was in no mood to trifle with. So it was time to intervene. Knocking on the door and entering, seeing a disheveled Nicholas in the stiff chair before his wife's desk and the woman he loved stern faced, hands on hips and ready to strike another blow to the poor young man sitting before her.

"Clarisse, Mia is awake and would like to speak to you." He said softly.

Taking on a calmer look upon seeing who had interrupted Her. "Alright. I will be up in one minute."

"Dear. Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Yes. Nicholas will you wait out side in the hallway please?"

Getting up with a silent nod, Nicholas walked out of the room without another word, shutting the door behind him firmly.

"How long had you been standing outside the door dear?" Clarisse raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"How do you do that?" He said crossing the room, he placed his hands on her upper arms and leaning in kiss her nose, He pulled back and smiled.

"What?' she responded coyly

"You always know" giving her a smirk

"Well you're my husband, best friend, and lover I always know when you are near…" Joe stopped her mid sentence pulling her into a hug and kiss.

"I love you Clarisse."

"I love you too Joseph." Resting into his warm embrace she didn't want to leave but knew there was a mess to be cleared up. "You said Mia was awake?"

"Yes, but I doubt she will be very happy with you for speaking with him. She mentioned that she will not be seeing him, also he is not to be in the palace." He said still holding her close, running hands up and down her back to help calm her nerves.

Pull back and looking at him seriously. "Hmm. She may be queen but I'm still her grandmother and I still have a say in things. He stays and they will talk to one another. It's the only way we will ever solve this mess."

"Mess?" she said pointedly

"Well what else would you call it? Mia nearly drowning her self and Nicholas hiding from the world and to top it all off Parliament is hounding me about our marriage we have met every week for the past month and a half. It is becoming too much for me. I'm not as young as I used to be." going from an almost angered tone to a drained one.

"Dear why did you not tell me about parliament? I'm your husband now and I can help you. I want to."

"Your are so perfect…" Kiss "I love you…" kiss "thank you…" Kiss "Well I think it's time I go see what Mia wanted."

"Yes but only for one more kiss."

"Just one more?" she smiled artfully

" For now but many more later." He teased, pulling her close once again. For a deep passion fueled kiss.

"Oh I look forward to that. Thank you dear." Clarisse laughed out.

oOo

Clarisse and Joe left her office expecting to see Nicholas waiting somewhere near by but neither could see him anywhere.

"NO he has gone to her room. Blast." Joe grumbled

"Clarisse come on!" Joe grabbed her hand and took off down the corridor. Running through the palace they nearly ran over several palace workers and Charlotte, leaving all in a state of bemusement at the fact those two were running and she be the former Queen. Upon reaching Mia's door Joe slowed to a quick walk pausing just in front of the door. " Dear catch your breath before you go in."

"No I'm fine." She was breathing heavily but she was too angry to stop. The fact that he would just go see Mia without asking was infuriating. She pushed open the door. She went directly to Mia's bedchamber door and pushed that open. Just to nearly get hit by a vase Mia was throwing in Nick's direction.

"Mia… Nicholas OUT! You get back in that bed. I will speak with you in a moment." She shouted at Nick then at Mia pointing a finger at Mia and then turning on her heels and followed Nick out of the room and shut it behind her.

"What in heavens name where you thinking? Did you not listen to a word I said earlier? Joseph show him to his room please?" Clarisse was trying her hardest to keep her temper but between Mia and Nicholas she was nearly losing.

"Your not supposed to lose! Find it!" muttering her mothers words like a manhantra. She turned on her heels again and was back in Mia's room.

Clarisse had only made it two steps inside the door when Mia started yelling. "I cannot believe you would even talk to him let alone have him stay here! You expect me to get over what he did to me by seeing him now. How dare you. You have no idea what I feel like inside. Well let me tell you BETRAYEL."

"Mia! There is only one way we are going to clean up this mess, and that is to confront the bloody thing. Now you will talk to Nicholas and you may be Queen but I'm still older than you and your grandmother and I say he stays." Taking a calming breath, it would not do to yell at her

"The two of you will talk in a civilized manner. Contrary to what you think and know I do know exactly how you feel I have lived with that feeling for 35 years! Now I'm happily married and it was because I bucked up and face the fact I loved the man who drove me nuts in every way possible. Now face the music Mia and speak to Nick."

" I can't it hurts too much. I love him." She collapsed to the floor burying her face in her knees.

"Mia… did you let him say anything to you before I came in?" Clarisse took a softer tone and sat down next to Mia

"No." she muttered against her clothing.

"Well my dear he does love you as much as you love him." She stated matter-of-factly.

"How do you know that? If he does love me that way why did he just leave me and not say anything?"

"That is something you need to speak with him about." Clarisse tired to comfort Mia with a gentle hand running up and down her back.

"You know I hate to admit when you're right. Especially in this situation. Because no matter how I feel and no matter what happened to me I know you have dealt with the same heartache."

"Yes Mia I have and I hate to see you go through this too." Clarisse wrapped her arms around Mia and pulled her into a hug. And they sat there is silence for quite awhile.

"Mia my joints are beginning to ache can we move to the couch?"

"Yeah well I need to get up and shower. I suppose he is here for dinner?"

"Yes and then I think you should talk."

"I will when I'm ready and right now I'm not." She admitted honestly.

"Alright. I won't push you. But you do need to talk to him."

"I know. Can we go away for a few days? I need some time to just think." Mia looked up at her grandmother.

"Well I suppose so. Where would you like to go?"

"Anywhere." She admitted

"San Francisco?"

"No to public." She said rolling her eyes

"Oh so more privet?" Clarisse said contemplatively "Well how about our beach house?"

"You know I had this funny dream about that."

"The beach house." Clarisse asked, raising and eyebrow

"Hmm. Well we can leave first thing in the morning. I have a few things to clean up here and then we will go for a few days alright." Sighing she got to her feet. "I think this is a great idea. We both need some time away well Joseph and I do to."

"Oh are you two arguing?"

"No parliament is getting in the way though."

"Oh I'm sorry I should be sitting in parliament now not you."

"No Mia you're not ready for them yet they are heartless, We are doing things together I will help you until you feel confidant enough to do things on your own."

Mia got up and kissed her grandmothers cheek "thanks" she said with a deep sigh and then headed for her bathroom to shower.

Clarisse left and headed for her office. Where she found Joseph sitting on the couch. "Hello dear." He said

" Well I think we are going on a vacation"

"Really? Where to?" he said smiling as he patted the cushion next to him

"The beach house" Clarisse said as she plunked down a little un-lady like, settling next to her husband.

"What about Nicholas?" Joe enquired.

"Send him there tonight. After dinner and tomorrow morning we will leave with Mia. I want them to talk soon. Mia seems to keep putting it off and the beach house is secluded enough that I think it will be plenty of privacy for us all."

"So I can have you all to myself for a few days?" he pulled her in closer and kissed her temple. As she settled in even closer to him.

"Yes for most of the time. We still have to help the two of them get through this. You know this reminds me of a certain couple I know." She said smirking at him.

"Oh really? Hmm I wonder who they could be?" rolling his eyes and letting out a bark of laughter.

"Joseph I see so much of myself in Mia and it frightens me! I don't want her to go through life not being happy. I hope this whole thing works out for the better and Mia really has the man she loves as I do now."

"I have faith in them. Love does things to the heart for reasons one does not know. And it always turns out for the better waited on love for so many years and now look at my reward I have you as my wife and companion for the rest of my life."

"I love you so much thank you for waiting for me."

"Wouldn't have done it any other way."

oOo

That night at dinner the palace was as quiet as it had ever been in years hardly a single word was said the tension in the room was so thick that the servants kept changing someone would bring in something and another time a completely different person would bring in the same thing.

"Well how about tea and coffee in ball room?" Clarisse suggested trying to break the silence.

"I'm a bit tired if you'll excuse me Grandma I will just retire for the evening." Mia got up from her seat, doing her best to avoid any eye contact with the man she loved but hated at the same time.

"Well it has been a long day for me too. Thank you for a wonderful dinner Your Majesty."

Both Mia and Nick excused them selves and went there separate ways Nick had only just unpacked his thing and was supposed to pack them again he was leaving for the beach manor in a few hours.

"Well that went well didn't it?" Clarisse said sarcastically.

"That was the most tense dinner I have ever had to sit through. It doesn't even compare to some that I had to sit through with you and Rupert." Joe dropped his napkin on the table next to his plate and leaned back into his chair.

"Yes well tomorrow will hopefully change things." She placed a hand on his knee.

"Do you think she will be upset that we had him come along?" Joe knew the answer but risked asking the question anyway.

"You know she will."

"Well shall we go have tea and coffee in our room?"

"What about those many kisses I was promised?" smiling at him coyly

"Oh they are so sweet with rasberry tea."

Joseph got up and held out a hand for his wife. She responded and they walked back to their suite in silence just holding hand and being close together was all that was needed.

oOo

The next morning Clarisse went to wake Mia and to let her ladies maids know as to what should be packed for her. It was still fairly early in the morning.

"Mia… Mia dear its time to get up! We have a few papers to take care of before we go."

"Hmm I thought we were already on vacation?"

"Well yes but I was only planning on being here and relaxing but since we are leaving there are a few papers that require your signature along with mine. I don't want to have to stress about them while we are gone, so come on dear lets get them done before we go. Come Mia Up! We only have about an hour."

"What! I haven't even packed yet" she said frantically jumping out of the bed.

"Taken care of." Clarisse reassured her.

"Alright give me few minute lets me get ready for the day and then I'll be down."

"Hurry dear." Clarisse left for her office and was there for only a few minutes when Charlotte came in.

"Your Majesty He has safely arrived at the beach house and your flight will be ready to leave in an hour"

"Thank you Charlotte. I would love for you to come, and please even in the office call me Clarisse."

"I'm sorry I'm just used to…"Charlotte began to flush.

"Charlotte you're a dear friend to me and to Mia. I need you this next few days. Mia and Nick are a wreck and playing mediator is a bit difficult. This will be a work free vacation no paper work or talking of paper work just relaxing and maybe a bit of match making." Clarisse smiled.

"Well but… I'd love too… but…"

"Good you better get ready to go we don't have much time."

"Alright."

Shortly after Charlotte left Mia arrived looking like she hadn't gotten much sleep. Slumping down in the chair across from Clarisse.

"Why so early?" she whined

"Because I want to make the most of our few days away from the palace. Did you not sleep? You look absolutely awful."

"Gee thanks. No I did not sleep I had too much to think about I think I may have just fallen asleep when you came in. or at least that's the what it felt like."

"Sorry dear but I thought we could get an early start also we need to get a few papers signed before we leave so that we do not leave any untied ends."

"Well let's get them done. Is Nicholas staying here or is he coming with us?"

Feigning that she did not hear what Mia had asked. Knowing she would not like the actual answer. "Hmm? Mia dear here please sign this one? It is regarding the French Prime Ministers ploy on lowering fossil fuels."

"Don't change he subject. I asked you if Nicholas was coming?" Mia said gruffly

"No Mia now please concentrate" Clarisse said leaning across the desk to handing Mia another paper. " Her sign this one as well."

Just as they where finishing up their work, Joseph entered smiling as he walked across the room kissed Mia atop her head and then moved to Clarisse. Whom he kissed on the lip's for a moment too long. Mia cleared her throat.

"Hmm I'm still in the room you two." She said sounding a bit aggravated

"Oh sorry dear." Said Clarisse blushing.

"Never mind are we ready to go. I can't wait to just be as far away from him as I can."

"Mia..." Clarisse began to try and console her….

But Mia cut her off with a raise of her hand, "No not right now, let's just go please."

Mia got up and walked out the room followed by Joe and Clarisse.