Hi Everyone! I just wanted to quickly introduce myself, my name is Gina. I usually write Dr. Quinn or Scarlet Pimpernel fan fictions and have several I really need to finish, but lately have become obsessed with Joseph and Clarisse after reading so many just incredibly well written C&J fan fictions on here, so I just had to try my hand at it too. Hope you enjoy, it will most likely end up being a pretty long story. Please leave me some feedback whether good or bad and thanks!

Whirlwind of a Journey

Chapter One

She stood there in the throne room yet again just as she had many times since that day a little over a month ago after Parliament had tried to force Mia into an arranged marriage, she stared intently into the face of the portrait before her as if she were somehow willing herself to discover the answers to her dreams she so desperately sought.

It was those eyes that seemed to call to her as if beckoning her through some unknown force, the same eyes that both her grand daughter and her beloved Phillipe had shared with the man staring back at her from the portrait. He had been King, her husband, and her best friend for so many years and although she had never been able to return his intense feelings of love, she had always known that he greatly cared for her and respected her as his equal. She might have been able to live the rest of her life in this way, never feeling anything other than gratitude and respect for her husband, if he had not insisted one day that she suddenly had to have a personal bodyguard by her side at all times and in walked Joseph, turning her life upside down, invoking feelings in her that were so intense and full of burning desire that left her breathless and longing for his touch so much that it used to frighten her. Joseph was everything to her now, from the moment they had first laid eyes on each other and been introduced, their heart and spirits had connected, sending them on a whirlwind of a journey that neither had ever expected but was oh so eternally grateful for. If only these horrid dreams would end now and leave her to the bliss of now belonging to her beloved Joseph in heart, body, and mind as she so longed to be with no intrusions of the past coming back to haunt her.

He watched her through the monitors in the security control room, easily sending Shades and Lionel away with some excuse; he studied her, almost transfixed by the expression in her eyes as she silently gazed at the portrait of herself, Rupert, and their two sons. Try as he might, Joseph could not rid himself of the feelings of hurt, jealousy, and pain that stabbed at his heart and plagued his mind every time he witnessed his wife coming back into the throne room to simply gaze at this family portrait. He knew it had something to do with the intense dreams she had been having but insisted on suffering in alone. He had tried many times since their marriage of a week ago, as they had naturally taken to sharing her bed and he had soon discovered her unrelenting terrible dreams that seemed shake her to her very core. He could not imagine what these dreams could be about that would frighten her to such an extent that she would wake up shaking and crying. Clarisse was the strongest person he knew and it broke his heart to see her like this. What had it been now, four dreams in the last six days? She would scream for him in her confusion before realizing that it had only been a dream, clinging to him as he whispered soothing words into her ear and her breathing would eventually calm as the tears fell. Only when he tried each time to question her about her dreams, she would pull away and beg him not to ask her right now, each time she seemed to withdraw a little bit more from him into this protective shell that he couldn't reach and end up exactly where she was now, staring into the face of the King as if he held some sort of power over her, forcing her back to him. And yet, how could that be? He knew Clarisse loved him with the same intensity that he loved her; he could see it in her eyes every time they touched or made love. If only she would open up to him about this and let him help her! Why did she feel the need to go through this alone when he was right there longing to ease her pain and be with her through everything, no matter what the cost. He would gladly lay down his life for her; it had never been about duty in all these years as her bodyguard, it had always been about her and this undying need to be fulfilled by her love. He had sworn in his heart and soul, to love, honor, and protect her for all eternity long before they made their vows to each other before God on their wedding day last week at the alter.

A soft knock at the door startled Joseph from his thoughts as Mia poked her head through the door. "Joe?" She called sending him a soft smile.

"Yes Princess?" He replied unable to keep from returning her infectious smile even though his heart was in such turmoil.

"I was looking for Grandma and ran into Shades and Lionel in the kitchen and they told me you were in here and actually I'm glad because I…I…needed to talk….and since I found you first…if you don't mind?" She was nervously wringing her hands together and suddenly realized she had been rambling but desperately needed some reassurance about the coronation that would take place tomorrow making her the new queen of Genovia.

"Take a seat, Princess." Joe replied as he stood and pulled out a chair for her to sit in.

"You really don't mind me coming to you with my problems, Joe? If you're too busy or anything?" She asked nervously suddenly stopping mid sentence as she noticed Joe once again closely studying the monitors, one in particular claiming his attention.

"I'm sorry, Mia. You were saying?" He replied as he tore his eyes away from the image of his wife being interrupted by Charlotte in the throne room. Joseph had always been amazed at how Clarisse could just close her eyes for a moment and then quickly transform from being Clarisse the woman who clearly felt so many things on so many levels to Queen Clarisse of Genovia who was a tower of strength and could handle anything with her diplomatic answers and ideas. As he mentally shook himself and forced his mind to focus on the young girl before him, he suddenly took in her appearance, the doubt and worry that clearly showed in her eyes, making her suddenly look even younger than she was to the man who loved her as his grand daughter, for she had stolen his heart in San Francisco just like her grandmother and had quickly wrapped him around her little finger.

"You're worried about her, aren't you Joe?" It was more of a statement than a question.

He wanted to deny it and just shrug it off as no big deal but stopped when he saw the love and concern in her expression, realizing it would be wrong to hide the truth from this wonderfully intelligent girl.

"I suppose I will always worry about her, I have for so long, it's just hard though when she won't let me help her. I know she is going through something right now, but I am afraid she insists on keeping it to herself." Joseph sighed and smiled sadly, glancing briefly back to the monitor that now showed an empty throne room.

"I know what you mean; I honestly don't know how she stays so strong and holds it all together all the time!" Mia replied wistfully as she gazed down at her hands, so unsure of herself at this moment.

"Is that what's bothering you, Princess?" Realizing just how hard Mia was being on herself as she tried to live up to becoming the new queen and all the expectations that were being placed upon her as she accepted this new role.

"Grandma is just so perfect, she always knows just what to say, just what to do no matter what the situation is. What if I can never be like that? What if I fail miserably and all of the people of Genovia end up hating me and think I am a terrible queen? I am so afraid of disappointing them, but even more than that I am afraid of disappointing her…and you. You have both worked so hard to make Genovia what it is and I don't want to mess that up! I don't want you both to feel like you wasted your time on me!" She spoke passionately, throwing her hands up in the air for emphasis and then dropping them into her lap and looking down.

Joseph had never been as touched by Mia's words as he was at that moment. "Mia?" He spoke as he gently lifted her chin hoping she would see the truth of his words. "Your grandmother and I both believe in you, we always have. She thinks you are ready to be queen and so do I. Just look what you did last week in abolishing that ridiculous marriage law?" He grinned. "If you weren't ready, you could never have done that. You got up there and spoke from your heart. You are a special young lady just like your grandmother, who in time will find your own way in handling things as a queen, you just need to have faith in yourself and let your decisions come from your heart.

A tear escaped down Mia's cheek, her hand coming up quickly to wipe it away. "That's exactly what she told me outside of the church when I was freaking out about marrying Andrew."

Joseph smiled. "She's a very wise lady sometimes, you know, must run in the family. Just don't tell her I said so or I'll never hear the end of it!" He winked.

"I won't, I promise." She smiled. "Thanks Joe!"

"Any time Princess!" He returned her smile and then suddenly cleared his throat, turning his attention back to the monitors as footsteps could be heard in the hall.

Mia got up to leave but then suddenly turned back. "Joe?" She called quietly to him again, regaining his attention.

"Yes Princess?" He replied.

"I'm not sure really what is going on with Grandma lately either, but I do know one thing for sure."

"And what is that Princess?" He asked.

"She's crazy about you, Joe! She's madly, head over heels in love with you!" Mia grinned cheekily.

"And just what makes you so sure about that?" He challenged playfully, unable to contain his delight.

Mia suddenly took on a very serious expression as she spoke. "Because every time she says your name, she blushes and her face lights up like she is on cloud nine. She gets excited and gives herself away because she starts talking really fast before she realizes what she is doing. She never did that before she married you, Joe." Then in a perfect imitation of Clarisse, she said. "And you know how Grandma always says that a queen must always be strong and remain in control of her emotions at all times in the public eye. Ha!" They both laughed audibly as Joseph stood and allowed Shades and Lionel who had just entered back to their posts.

"Gentlemen…I'll see the two of you later." Joseph murmured before placing his arm around Mia and heading out the door.

"Thanks Princess and thanks for being such a special grand daughter! Although….." He suddenly mused. "After tomorrow, I will no longer be able to call you Princess."

"Oh Joe!" Mia giggled. "You know you can always call me that, I won't mind, but you are the only person who can just as long as I can call you, Grandpa!" She added mischievously.

"I suppose it's a deal then, Princess." He let out a long dramatic playful sigh. "But you are the only one who can call me that, too."

"Deal!" Mia laughed.

To Be Continued……..