Fanfic: The Secret
Title: The Secret
Rating: T (for language)
Fandom: Princess Diaries
Movie/Quote: Singin' in the Rain (#5)
“I can't get her out of my mind.”
“How could you- she's the first dame who hasn't fallen for your line since you were four.”
Summary: Big brother arrives for a chat with Joseph
Disclaimer: Princess Diaries belongs to Meg Cabot & Disney. No infringement is intended.
“Etienne, what are you doing here? I thought you were still in Djibouti” Joseph's hoarse voice was muffled by the oxygen mask, but his surprise at the unexpected visitor came through loud and clear.
“My baby brother almost buys the farm, and you don't think I'm going to be here? Do you really think so little of me?” He didn't wait for Joseph's response, but continued on, “No, wait, don't answer that. You do. Otherwise you'd have some kind of plan to notify me in case of an emergency. If it wasn't for some woman at the palace, I wouldn't even know you were injured.”
“Some woman?”
“Clarissa, I think she said...”
“Clarisse!?!” Joseph grabbed his brother's arm and struggled to sit up, rasping in air in deep, panting breaths. The steady beep of the heart monitor was accelerating with every passing moment.
“Jeez, Joe, calm down! Do you want me to get kicked out of here?” Etienne helped settle his brother back against the pillows, pressing the button on the hospital bed to raise Joseph to a seated position.
“What did you say to her?” he hissed.
“Nothing. She told me there was an accident; that you were burned when a car bomb exploded. And I told her I'd be there as soon as I could. That was it.”
Joseph visibly relaxed, the tension draining out of his muscles as his heartbeat slowed back to normal. “Thank God.”
“Oh, shit,” Etienne said with realization, “she's the one, isn't she? The one you never stop talking about in your letters. The one who doesn't give you the time of day.”
The silence from the hospital bed was all the answer he needed.
“So tell your big brother all about it.”
“I don't know what to do. I can't get her out of my mind.”
“How could you? She's the first dame who hasn't fallen for your line since you were four. She's the forbidden fruit.
“In more ways than one.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Joseph pressed his lips together tightly. He couldn't say it out loud. What Etienne had guessed was bad enough- he couldn't be allowed to know the whole story. Not to mention that a doctor or nurse could walk into his room at any moment, and then where would he be? He was sure that his days on earth would be numbered if the King ever found out.
What he had momentarily forgotten was his elder brother's persistence. Time and distance had strengthened the siblings bond, but Etienne's calculating stare made Joseph feel like a little boy again.
“She's married,” Etienne ventured, watching his brother closely for any reaction. “That's it, isn't it.”
Joseph let the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He nodded.
Etienne clapped him on the shoulder, reassuringly. “Well, that's not so bad. I mean, of course, you wouldn't break up their marriage, but there's still a chance, right? That she might not be married someday?”
Joseph remained silent, shrugging his shoulders half-heartedly. At that moment, the TV show that had been playing in the background went to a news break, the volume rising accordingly.
“In royal news today, Queen Clarisse christened the newest ship in the Genovian Navy today, her first public outing since the car bomb explosion that nearly took her life just one week ago...”
“What the fuck!” Etienne exploded. “Joe, what the hell are you thinking?!?”
The door opened and a nurse stepped partially inside. “Sir, if you can't keep your voice down, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”
Etienne held his arms up in the position of surrender. “You're right. I'm sorry,” he placated, “it won't happen again.”
She looked him up and down, evaluating his sincerity, before muttering, “See that it doesn't” and shutting the door.
Etienne began pacing the length of the room. “You're in love with the Queen, who is also your boss, and is married to the King, who is also your boss.”
“Thanks for the recap,” Joseph muttered, irritatedly. “I wasn't aware...”
“Don't get smart with me, young man!”
The brothers stared at each other and then burst out into simultaneous laughter. Unfortunately for Joseph, his lungs were still quite damaged from smoke inhalation and a spate of coughing resulted. When he'd finally calmed, his brother looked at him, apology written all over his face.
“Sorry... I didn't realize I've turned into Dad.”
“S'ok,” he rasped.
“Joe, what are you going to do?”
“Resign.”
“Are you serious?”
Joseph nodded. He tried to explain with as few words as possible. “Need knee replacement. No promises I can still work. Better for everyone.”
“Not better for you, Joe.”
Silence was the only response to Etienne's statement. Finally, he gave up waiting.
“I'm your next of kin, and I'm on leave until we get this straightened out. So don't think this is the last time we're going to have this conversation.” He waited a few moments for Joe to protest, and when he heard none, he continued, “Now where would be a good place near here for me to stay?”
“My place.” In response to Etienne's quizzical expression, he answered using small phrases, the physical and emotional toll of their conversation having exhausted him. “Not at palace. Apartment in town. Call Charlotte. She can bring keys.”
“Charlotte is someone at the palace?”
Joseph nodded, eyelids shuttering as he drifted towards sleep.
“OK,” Etienne agreed, “You get some rest, and I'll see you soon, little brother.”
The beeping of the machines was his only response.
Rating: T (for language)
Fandom: Princess Diaries
Movie/Quote: Singin' in the Rain (#5)
“I can't get her out of my mind.”
“How could you- she's the first dame who hasn't fallen for your line since you were four.”
Summary: Big brother arrives for a chat with Joseph
Disclaimer: Princess Diaries belongs to Meg Cabot & Disney. No infringement is intended.
“Etienne, what are you doing here? I thought you were still in Djibouti” Joseph's hoarse voice was muffled by the oxygen mask, but his surprise at the unexpected visitor came through loud and clear.
“My baby brother almost buys the farm, and you don't think I'm going to be here? Do you really think so little of me?” He didn't wait for Joseph's response, but continued on, “No, wait, don't answer that. You do. Otherwise you'd have some kind of plan to notify me in case of an emergency. If it wasn't for some woman at the palace, I wouldn't even know you were injured.”
“Some woman?”
“Clarissa, I think she said...”
“Clarisse!?!” Joseph grabbed his brother's arm and struggled to sit up, rasping in air in deep, panting breaths. The steady beep of the heart monitor was accelerating with every passing moment.
“Jeez, Joe, calm down! Do you want me to get kicked out of here?” Etienne helped settle his brother back against the pillows, pressing the button on the hospital bed to raise Joseph to a seated position.
“What did you say to her?” he hissed.
“Nothing. She told me there was an accident; that you were burned when a car bomb exploded. And I told her I'd be there as soon as I could. That was it.”
Joseph visibly relaxed, the tension draining out of his muscles as his heartbeat slowed back to normal. “Thank God.”
“Oh, shit,” Etienne said with realization, “she's the one, isn't she? The one you never stop talking about in your letters. The one who doesn't give you the time of day.”
The silence from the hospital bed was all the answer he needed.
“So tell your big brother all about it.”
“I don't know what to do. I can't get her out of my mind.”
“How could you? She's the first dame who hasn't fallen for your line since you were four. She's the forbidden fruit.
“In more ways than one.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Joseph pressed his lips together tightly. He couldn't say it out loud. What Etienne had guessed was bad enough- he couldn't be allowed to know the whole story. Not to mention that a doctor or nurse could walk into his room at any moment, and then where would he be? He was sure that his days on earth would be numbered if the King ever found out.
What he had momentarily forgotten was his elder brother's persistence. Time and distance had strengthened the siblings bond, but Etienne's calculating stare made Joseph feel like a little boy again.
“She's married,” Etienne ventured, watching his brother closely for any reaction. “That's it, isn't it.”
Joseph let the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He nodded.
Etienne clapped him on the shoulder, reassuringly. “Well, that's not so bad. I mean, of course, you wouldn't break up their marriage, but there's still a chance, right? That she might not be married someday?”
Joseph remained silent, shrugging his shoulders half-heartedly. At that moment, the TV show that had been playing in the background went to a news break, the volume rising accordingly.
“In royal news today, Queen Clarisse christened the newest ship in the Genovian Navy today, her first public outing since the car bomb explosion that nearly took her life just one week ago...”
“What the fuck!” Etienne exploded. “Joe, what the hell are you thinking?!?”
The door opened and a nurse stepped partially inside. “Sir, if you can't keep your voice down, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”
Etienne held his arms up in the position of surrender. “You're right. I'm sorry,” he placated, “it won't happen again.”
She looked him up and down, evaluating his sincerity, before muttering, “See that it doesn't” and shutting the door.
Etienne began pacing the length of the room. “You're in love with the Queen, who is also your boss, and is married to the King, who is also your boss.”
“Thanks for the recap,” Joseph muttered, irritatedly. “I wasn't aware...”
“Don't get smart with me, young man!”
The brothers stared at each other and then burst out into simultaneous laughter. Unfortunately for Joseph, his lungs were still quite damaged from smoke inhalation and a spate of coughing resulted. When he'd finally calmed, his brother looked at him, apology written all over his face.
“Sorry... I didn't realize I've turned into Dad.”
“S'ok,” he rasped.
“Joe, what are you going to do?”
“Resign.”
“Are you serious?”
Joseph nodded. He tried to explain with as few words as possible. “Need knee replacement. No promises I can still work. Better for everyone.”
“Not better for you, Joe.”
Silence was the only response to Etienne's statement. Finally, he gave up waiting.
“I'm your next of kin, and I'm on leave until we get this straightened out. So don't think this is the last time we're going to have this conversation.” He waited a few moments for Joe to protest, and when he heard none, he continued, “Now where would be a good place near here for me to stay?”
“My place.” In response to Etienne's quizzical expression, he answered using small phrases, the physical and emotional toll of their conversation having exhausted him. “Not at palace. Apartment in town. Call Charlotte. She can bring keys.”
“Charlotte is someone at the palace?”
Joseph nodded, eyelids shuttering as he drifted towards sleep.
“OK,” Etienne agreed, “You get some rest, and I'll see you soon, little brother.”
The beeping of the machines was his only response.