Title: How Two Boys Brought Them Together
Written: by Ancorns708 and Fuzzylove
Rating: M for future chapters
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They are property of Disney and Meg Cabot.
Summary/Warning: This story takes place before PD1 and shows how Pierre and Phillipe help bring Clarisse and Joseph together. Rupert is mentioned in the first chapter.
Author's note: This is a combined story written with Fuzzylove we have taken her story "Better in Time" and combined it with some new material. We hope you like the new version.
How Two Boys Brought Them Together
After searching frantically for over an hour Joseph came walking down the long hallway carrying her precious six year old son in his arms, his head was buried into Joe's chest. Joe had finally found the young prince crying out in his mother's greenhouse.
"Pierre what are you doing out here? He spoke softly as he approached kneeling in front of him so they could make eye contact.
"They don't love me anymore!" his sobs becoming more uncontrolled
"Who? Who doesn't love you?"
Looking up at Joe "Mommy and Daddy… they only have time for Phillipe" wiping his tears with his shirt sleeve " Even when it's supposed to be my time he always comes along and they leave me to be with him"
"Pierre come here" gathering the boy up he sat him in his lap "Listen to me, your mother and father love you very much but they also love Phillipe. Phillip is only three and he requires a little more attention than you right now because he is still a baby, but that doesn't mean they love you any less, do you understand?"
Pierre nodded his head
Standing up with the little boy in his arms making his way back to the palace "I bet if you tell your mom and dad how you feel, I bet they will understand you've given them quite a scare."
Lifting his head from Joe's shoulder "Am I going to be in trouble?"
"I don't know buddy, that's up to your mom and dad but I'll put in a good word for you if you promise me that you will never run away again? If you get mad and feel like you need to run away you can come talk to me and we will work out whatever it is."
Laying his head back down clutching his arms around Joe's neck he whispered "I promise"
Meeting Joe in the hallway she reached out taking Pierre from him hugging him tightly in her arms.
"Darling, are you alright? Where were you?"
"I'm okay Mommy"
Looking back up at Joe "I can't thank you enough for finding him and bringing him back to me" her eye brimming with tears of happiness, thankful that Pierre was safe and back home.
"Yes thank Joseph, we are forever in you debt" His Majesty said while extending his hand towards Joe
Shaking his hand "I was just doing my job sir…might I have a word privately?" looking over at Pierre who was now happy in his mother's arms
"Certainly, let's go to my office"
Stepping into the office shutting the door behind them "Your Majesty I'm not telling you how to raise your children but perhaps you might consider spending a little more alone time with Pierre, it seems that he is a bit jealous about having to share you and his mother with Phillipe all the time."
"How do you know this Joseph?"
"Well sir I found him crying the greenhouse and when I asked him what was wrong he confided in me sir." Joseph told the entire story to his King
Sighing slightly "I see. Thank you for the information Joseph, I'll pass it along to Her Majesty and we will try to figure something out. Joseph, I'm glad that you let him know that he can come to you, I fear that he and I have not bonded like a father and son should but I hope to change that."
"Just give him time sir, he will come around."
"Thank you again Joseph…for everything"
Two days later:
With Phillipe down for his nap and in the care of his nanny Clarisse had been playing trains with young Pierre when King Rupert entered.
"Pierre how would you like it if we went for a horseback ride down to the beach?"
"Can we go swimming?" he exclaimed
"Of course!"
His face turning sad "Can Mommy come or does she have to stay with Phillipe?"
Standing Clarisse took his hand "Mommy can come"
His face instantly lighting up at the thought of having both his parents to himself
"Come on let us get changed" Clarisse managed to get blurt out before being dragged out of the room and down the hall by her son
Turning the corner Pierre bumped into Joe
"Oh I'm sorry Pierre, Your Majesty I should have been paying attention."
"No worries Joseph we were the ones not paying attention" looking down at her son "he's a little too excited about riding down to the beach"
Squatting down to talk to Pierre "Well you have fun out there with you mom and dad okay."
Throwing his arms around Joe's neck hugging him "Thanks Joe" before he continued dragging Clarisse down the hall
After King Rupert had settled himself in the saddle Clarisse handed a giddy Pierre up to him, while the pair got comfortable Clarisse quickly mounted her horse and the three of them galloped off towards the beach. They spent the rest of the evening at the beach laughing, chasing each other around and swimming, arriving back to the palace in time for dinner.
After tucking Pierre in and reading him his bedtime story Clarisse entered their suite to find it empty.
"Rupert?" Clarisse called from the bedroom, when he didn't answer she walked over to the bathroom "Rupert?" She whispered softly while pushing the door open.
Gasping when she saw her husband lying on the floor, his lips blue, eyes open "Rupert?" She exclaimed rushing over, kneeling beside him.
After checking his pulse, realizing that he had died she broke down, putting her hand over his eyes to close them before leaning over crying on his chest while holding onto his hand.
As her sobs echoed through the old palace walls, Joseph realized something was wrong, very wrong. Rushing through the royal suite and over to the bathroom door he saw Clarisse crying on her husband's chest, getting on the radio straight away to call for the doctor.
Joseph knelt beside her, his arms around her tightly as she cried her staff gathering around trying to find out what happened. He managed to get her up and moved to her sofa, so the coroner could remove the body; her nanny arrived to take care of the boys for the night, until she was ready to see them.
After a while, there was a knock at the door. Clarisse didn't move so Joseph stood up and got it, finding out from another guard that Rupert's parents were downstairs and that her family was on their way over from England. He shut the door and headed back over to her to tell her the news, but she slowly looked up at him with tears running down her face.
"It's alright, I heard what was said" she said turning to look at the table beside the sofa picking up a photo of her and Rupert "today is our 7th Wedding Anniversary" she whispered trailing her finger across he picture.
"I know" Joseph nodded and watched her put her hand up over her mouth as she cried
After a few moments she put her hand down "how could this happen today?" she said closing her eyes and pressed the photo against her chest "I didn't even get to tell him the news" she whispered as Joe raised an eyebrow
"What news?" he said softly while sitting beside her
She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him "I'm pregnant"
"Oh Clarisse" he whispered while putting his hand on her back
"He will never know now" she said staring at the wall "I planned to tell him tonight, over dinner" she whispered as she started crying and moved, her head falling on Joseph's shoulder "why did I wait" she cried
They said nothing else, just sat as she cried on his shoulder.
The following days was hard for everyone at the Palace, they found out that they couldn't bury the King for another 2 weeks, and on top of everything else it put a strain on the Queen, she lost the baby she and Rupert had so hoped for, for so long.
Both families were on hand, being there for her and her young sons. Helping her arrange everything, her mother wanted her to go and stay with her for a few days in England after the funeral but she refused the offer, saying "a Queen can't run away, she has a duty to up keep now that the King had passed." and tried to carry on the best she could, not just for herself but for Pierre and Philippe too.
And today, as the rain fell around them, the priest saying the final prayers everyone stood still a few moments, then all walked of back to their cars. All except for one person, he remained standing guard as Queen Clarisse stood next to her husband's coffin, slowly lifting the veil that covered her face up over her hat and placed a single red rose on the top and whispered her own prayer.
"Mommy" came a tiny voice beside her while taking hold of her hand "I don't like it here" he whispered while looking up at her
Coming out of her thoughts she looked down at him "Ok Phillipe" she whispered blinking a couple tears away, trying to stay strong "we will go in a moment" she said opening her eyes to see her son looking at the coffin
"It will be ok Mommy" came another voice
Clarisse turned her head to see her eldest Son standing the other side of her "it's just us now boys" Clarisse whispered putting her hand on the back of Pierre's head while leaning down and kissed the top of his head "your my family now" she whispered while wrapping her arm around Pierre's shoulders
"I will look after you Mommy" Pierre said looking up at her while wrapping his arms around her waist tightly
"Thank you, darling" Clarisse slowly nodded and looked back at the coffin as Pierre still hugged her, and Philippe held onto her hand tightly.
All the time her Head of Security stood watching them, his heart breaking. Not only was he her loyal body guard he was her best friend, and knowing she needed a friend and knowing she would be there all evening if something wasn't done, he stepped forward.
"Your Majesty" he whispered while standing beside Pierre "maybe we should go home now?" he said softly as she slowly looked at him
"Yeah" Pierre added as Clarisse looked down at him "we don't like it here Mommy"
"Ok" Clarisse found herself nodding "let's go home" she whispered while looking back at the coffin "say goodbye" she whispered putting the veil back over her face
"Bye Daddy" both the boys whispered and started walking away slowly as Joseph stepped back and watched as Clarisse stepped forward putting her hand upon the coffin
"I love you" she whispered as the tears started to fall
She slowly stepped back and turned looking at Joseph "come on Your Majesty" he whispered extending his arm "let's get you home" he said watching her walk past, taking the boys hands as they all walked over to the waiting limo, to which Rupert's Mother was stood next to with her husband and her own Parent's.
"Clarisse, darling" Victoria, Rupert's Mother whispered while hugging her "everything will be ok soon, I promise" she whispered in her ear while still hugging her as a cousin of Rupert's came over
"Thank you, mother" Clarisse answered while stepping back, the boys taking her hands again
"Clarisse" his cousin Alice said softly putting her hand on Clarisse's arm "today has been a hard day, why don't you let me take care of the boys" she whispered as Clarisse looked at her "maybe they could stay with me a few days to give you a break?" she added
"I don't need any help or a break" Clarisse snapped "I am perfectly fine in taking care of my sons" she said looking at her as everyone looked at her in surprise
"Clarisse you have just lost your husband" Alice added "we only want to help you, you need someone to take care of you all for a few days"
"I am 25 years old, I can look after myself and my sons" she snapped while opening the car door and ushered Pierre and Philippe inside "we don't need anyone to look after us" she looked at Victoria then at Alice "I can manage just fine" she said looking back at Victoria "we will see you back at the Palace" she whispered climbing into the back of the limo as Joseph stood guard and shut the door before rushing around to the driver's side and got in.
They drove off, heading back to the Palace as Clarisse sat in the back hugging Pierre and Philippe as they all cried. Joseph kept an eye on them in the rear view mirror his heart breaking at the sight he sees.
~TBC~
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