Giving this story another shot, Hope you all enjoy it and I will update when I can, so please be patient. I really do hope that this time this story will stay up, but right now my writing confidence is really low, so we shall see.
xXx
New Beginnings: Stealing Cinderella.
Summary: It's a year later and everyone's getting ready for Lena and Leeson's wedding next weekend.
A/N: I got the idea to write this sequel when Clarisse Elizondo recommended I listen to the song Stealing Cinderella, sung by Chuck Wicks :) Thank you so much ;)
I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it :)
xXx
After getting showered and dressed, Joseph headed down to the kitchen. Walking through the door he was surprised to see Clarisse sat at the table with Olivia and Lena, going over some wedding plans. Smiling he walked over and kissed Clarisse's forehead.
"Good morning." He smiled at her before turning to walk over to the counter "And good morning, girls." He smiled while looking back over his shoulder.
"Good morning, Daddy." Lena smiled over at him then back down at her planner.
"Why didn't you wake me?" He said looking at Clarisse as she lifted her head and smiled over at him.
"Because you looked so peaceful." She smiled and looked back down at her planner.
"I see." He nodded and poured himself some coffee "I'm surprised to see you here so early." He said looking across at Olivia and Lena.
"Well we are going over some last minute details and making sure everything works okay." Lena smiled over at him "With it being only a week a way now, I'm getting more and more nervous." She added as Clarisse reached over, rubbing her arm gently.
"You will be fine, don't you worry." She smiled.
"Thank you Momma, I just hope you are right." She answered as Clarisse smiled at her.
"She's right you know, you will be just fine." Joseph smiled as they all looked over at him "Have you all eaten?" He asked.
"Yes we have," Clarisse smiled while slumping back in the chair and pointed towards the tub on the counter "There are some English muffins left if you fancy one of them?" She smiled as he smiled back at her.
"Thank you." He grinned, their eyes locking momentarily before he watched her sit back up at the table properly. Sighing a content sigh he got to sorting out some breakfast.
As he sat eating his English muffin and sipping his coffee, he listened to the conversation three of his girls were having about the wedding and he couldn't help but think back when Lena was a baby, and Clarisse was planning her first birthday.
As Joseph sat feeding baby Lena her breakfast of scrambled eggs and small bites of pancake he couldn't help but listen to Clarisse, who was talking to Livy about everything that needed to be done before Lena's birthday party that evening.
"Livy, I need you to make sure all her presents are wrapped in paper NO bags because the paper is more fun for her open." She said while going over her planner.
"Okay Mom, anything else?" Olivia asked while making a note and watched as Clarisse looked up at her.
"Yes, I need you to also be here at 4pm to set up the cake."
"4pm, got it." Livy said marking it in her planner.
Looking back at baby Lena, Joseph couldn't help but smile "Geez Lena.. if your Momma is this crazy over your first birthday, I can't imagine how she will be when you get married." He smirked then frowned "No wait, you can't get married, I forbid it." He laughed as Lena cooed.
Lifting her head, Clarisse looked up at Olivia before glancing over her shoulder at Joe "I heard that Joseph!"
"I meant for you to hear it darling." He smirked as she turned and looked at him "I saw her cake in the kitchen this morning and seriously its bigger than most wedding cakes and there are two of them! A big one and a mini one. Why does she need two cakes? Honestly, she is just a baby. Do we really need to go all out like this?" He asked, even though he knew she would win.
You could have heard a pin drop as Clarisse and Olivia both looked over, staring at him. "Are you being serious Joseph? Of course she needs all this. She only ever has one first birthday."
Holding his hands up he knew he had been out numbered "Okay okay." He smiled "Is there anything I can do to help then?" He asked, lowering his hands.
Looking at the list before Clarisse pulled out a bag of balloons from a box "Yes actually there is, you could blow these up?" She smiled, holding out her arm to him.
His eyes widened when he saw the label "1000 balloons? You want me to blow up 1000 balloons?" He exclaimed and watched as Clarisse laughed.
"Well not by mouth silly," She smiled as he walked over, taking the bag "I ordered a helium tank, and it should be arriving any minute now." She said while smiling up at him as he looked down at her, with a raised eyebrow.
Thinking back on how Clarisse had always made sure that the kids and even the grand kids first birthdays were something special he smiled and looked over at the table to see them packing up.
"You're finished already?" He asked as Clarisse looked over.
"Yes, for now." Clarisse smiled as Olivia walked around to her.
"I need to go and pick up Leeson's sister and husband from the airport, but we will carry on later." Lena smiled as she walked over to Joe, giving him a hug as Olivia hugged Clarisse.
"I see," Joseph said as Lena kissed his cheek before stepping back "Well we will see you later then?" He said smiling as Lena smiled and hugged Clarisse as Olivia moved around to Joe.
"See you later Daddy." Olivia smiled, giving him a hug then stepped back and looked at Clarisse "By the way Momma, are you sure you don't want to join us tonight?" She said as Clarisse pushed her chair under the table.
"Oh yes, it will be fun Momma." Lena smiled as Clarisse looked up at her.
"I'm not going, I'm going to have a quiet night in with my Joe. You all go out and have fun, we can have fun on Monday like we planned." She smiled while putting her arm around Lena's shoulders as she put her arms around her waist.
"It won't be the same without you." Lena said as Clarisse kissed her cheek.
"You can go out with them if you want to, I don't mind." Joseph said smiling as Clarisse looked over at him "We can have the dinner another night."
"Nope, we will go out as planned on Monday darling." Clarisse said while looking at Lena.
"Aww okay Momma." Lena said and gave her a hug "We will see you later then?" She said while stepping back.
"Yes you will." Clarisse smiled and watched as they grabbed their handbags "Drive safely."
"We will." Olivia smiled "Bye, love you both." She said as she walked out the door.
"We love you too." Joseph called after them as Clarisse stood beside him at the counter, placing her planner on the side in front of her "Are you sure you don't want to go?" He said wrapping his arm around her waist as she looked at him "I honestly don't mind if you do."
"No, I want a nice quiet night in with my husband." Clarisse said while turning to face him, smiling as he rubbed her back "Unless you don't want my company?"
"Oh of course I want your company." He smiled and lent in closer, kissing her several times as she slipped her arm around his waist "Just one thing though." He said while lifting his head, looking into her eyes.
"What's that?" She asked as he lowered his hand, running it over her bottom and resting it on the back of her thigh as she smiled.
"I think you've forgotten we are baby sitting Tommy and Emma tonight." He said as she gasped and nodded "You had, hadn't you?" He said with a laugh as she nodded again.
"I did, yes." She said and laughed as he buried his face in the crook of her neck "Oh well it won't be so quiet then, but at least I get to spend it with you instead of going out and getting drunk." She said and watched as he raised his head.
"That is true." He nodded and looked into her eyes as the kitchen door swung open.
"Grandpa, Nana." Emma exclaimed and hurried over to them.
"Hello darling." Clarisse smiled while turning and lifted her up, giving her a hug while kissing her cheek then watched as Joe pulled her onto his lap.
"I'm so excited about staying here with you tonight." Emma giggled and hugged Joe.
"We're excited too." Clarisse smiled while running her hand over the back of her head and ponytail.
"Okay..." Shades said while coming in "All her stuff is in the hall." He smiled and grabbed a bottle of water before walking over to the counter and stood facing Joe and Clarisse.
"Okay, thank you Shades." Clarisse smiled and watched as he sipped the water and looked at her "Just make sure you protect the girls tonight, that's all I ask."
"Don't I always?" He smiled as she smiled and nodded "Thanks for watching Emma though."
"It's no trouble." Clarisse smiled while leaning on the counter and looked at Joe and Emma "What time are you picking her up tomorrow?" She asked while looking back at Shades.
"Maybe about 4, if that's alright?" He asked.
"Of course, she can stay here for tea if you like and we can drop her off after?" She asked.
"Yeah that sounds good." Shades smiled and looked at Emma as Joe made her giggle "Okay Emma, I'm going now." He said.
"Okay Daddy, I love you." She giggled as Joe tickled her.
"I think that's all I'm going to get," Shades smiled and started walking over to the door "See you tomorrow." He smiled.
"Yes you will." Clarisse smiled and watched him walk out. Looking back at Emma and Joseph as she rested her arm on the counter beside her "Right Emma, I have to pop into town to get a few bits do you want to come with me?" She asked.
"No, I'm staying here with Grandpa." She said looking at her then back at Joe "That's okay, isn't it?" She asked.
"Of course it's okay." Joe nodded as Clarisse smiled at them.
"Okay, I will see you in a bit then." Clarisse smiled while walking over to the other counter and checked to make sure she had everything before turning back to them "See you when I get back." She smiled and walked out.
Arriving home later that day, Clarisse placed her bag down on the table in the foyer and walked through to the kitchen. Seeing Joseph stood at the stove she couldn't help but smile.
"Mmm something smells delizioso." She said looking at the table "What's this, a checked table cloth, candles, some wine?" She asked while leaning over and picked up a glass as Joseph watched her lift it to her face, smelling the contents "Yes, wine." She nodded and took a sip while walking around to him "Fresh bread, with..." She said looking around the room "Soft music in the background." She added while looking back at him and put her glass down "All very Italian."
"What else?" He asked putting his hands on her hips, pulling her closer as she she giggled and put her arms up, locking them around his shoulders.
"Where are Emma and Tommy?" She asked, tilting her head a little.
"Watching a film." He smiled and kissed her several times "You were gone a long time?"
"Oh I know," She said stepping back and watched him turn back to the stove "I was helping over at Lena's house."
"Have you much more to do now?" He asked while reaching for her glass, taking a couple sips before putting it back down on the side and lent in, kissing her.
"No not that much, though I am sure something else will pop up soon." She said watching him check the spaghetti and stir the bolognese "Mmm, that looks good."
"Here, try this?" He said holding up the spoon in one hand, and his other under the spoon and watched as she took the spoon in her mouth while closing her eyes "Good?" He asked.
"Oh yes, that's good." She nodded with a smile and opened her eyes as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders "I can never make this as good as you." She smiled while stepping closer, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Ahh I have my secrets." He smiled at her as she tipped her head back, looking up at him.
"I knew you did." She smiled and giggled as he lowered his head, kissing her neck.
"Why don't you go and get Emma and Tommy while I serve." Joseph smiled while lifting his head.
"Okay, be right back." She smiled and walked through to the living room.
Once she returned with the two grand kids they sat down to dinner and dessert.
After everything was cleared away and Emma and Tommy were in bed, Joseph poured himself and Clarisse a glass of wine, then went out onto the back porch, where he had sent Clarisse a little while ago. Smiling he watched her for several moments before she lifted her head and looked back at him.
"I knew you were there." She smiled and watched him move around to stand beside the porch swing she was sat on.
"I knew you knew." He smiled putting her glass on the table beside her "I brought you another drink." He said moving to the other end of the swing while sipping his drink.
"Are you trying to get me tipsy?" She asked with a cheeky smile as he looked at her with a devilish grin "Take that as a yes then."
"Of course not." He smiled and lifted her legs up and sat down, resting her legs back down on his lap as she sipped her drink "Tommy and Ems are out like a light."
"Good." She smiled and closed the book she was reading, putting it on the table beside her "I wish you hadn't of sent me out here though, I would of cleaned up the dinner things."
"Nope," He said shaking his head while turning a little, resting his arm along the top of the swing and his other hand on the front of her leg "I wanted to do it, hence why I sent you out here... to relax." He smiled.
"Okay, well thank you." She smiled at him as he began caressing the side of her leg "Can you believe our baby will be married this time next week?"
"I know, It only feels like yesterday we brought her home." He said while looking over at her as she sat up, leaning closer to him.
"I'm glad you changed your mind though." She said softly as he wrapped his arm around her, rubbing her back gently "I hate to think about her going home with strangers."
"I'm glad I did too." He said studying her face "Do you remember that first night with her there?" He asked and watched as she nodded with a smile.
"I do."
Standing in the bedroom doorway, Clarisse watched as Joseph walked around the suite, trying to calm baby Lena down. Stepping forward, he noticed her and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, I was trying to take care of her without waking you." He said watching as she walked over and put her hands up to take her from him.
"It's okay, I wanted to try and leave you to it, but it got to much." She said taking Lena and rested her on her chest, gently rubbing her back "Shhh sweetheart it's okay." She whispered and kissed the top of her head as she started calming down.
"I think she hates me, she's done nothing but cry since I brought her out here." He said watching them together.
"She doesn't hate you," Clarisse said while looking over at him.
"She does, shes knows that I was going to let her go home with strangers and shes getting me back." He said standing beside them, putting his arm around Clarisse's back and his other, his hand on Lena's back.
"See that's why, she's just upset." Clarisse said looking at him with a smile "She will forgive you soon enough." She smiled and rested her head on Lena's gently.
"I hope so, it breaks my heart when she cries." He said softly.
"And she soon forgave you, she became a Daddies girl straight after that." Clarisse smiled at him.
"Yes, she did." He nodded and watched her sit back.
"I think I'm going to go in now, I'm getting a bit chilly." She said while standing up "Are you coming?" She asked and picked up her book.
"I will be in a minute." He said and watched her lean over.
"Okay, don't be too long." She smiled and kissed him before grabbing her drink and headed inside.
Watching her walk in and close the door behind her, he stood and walked down into the garden, where he stayed for a little while.
Once all the doors were locked up and the lights were off he headed upstairs, finding Clarisse reading in bed. Smiling he walked over and climbed on the bed beside her as she looked up.
"Hello," She said smiling.
"I love it when you sit in bed reading." He smiled and kissed her a couple times while taking the book, tossing it to the side as she looked at him in surprise.
Moving down the bed Joseph grabbed the back of her knee and pulled her down with him as she giggled in surprise. Putting one leg over hers, resting it on the bed between her legs as they began sharing a slow kiss.
"Wait wait..." Clarisse exclaimed a moment later and watched as Joe lifted his head "Are you feeling okay?" She asked, pressing her hand to his forehead.
"I have never felt better." He answered in a husky voice and began trailing kisses down her jaw and neck before lifting his head, looking into her eyes, realizing she still had her glasses on "No need for them." He smirked while removing them.
"Are you sure about this?" She asked, watching him put her glasses on the night stand "I mean..." She gasped as he moved and rested his body down on hers, taking her lips in a hungry kiss as she locked her arms around his shoulders.
Moments later however they were interrupted by Tommy crying. Sighing Joseph buried his face in the crook of her neck.
"I'm sorry." She whispered and watched as he lifted his head "I better..."
"Yeah it's alright," He said rolling off her "I will be here waiting." He said and covered his face with his arm.
"Okay." Clarisse said while watching him then climbed of the bed.
Going to check on Tommy and to get him settled took longer than she had hoped and by the time she had returned to the suite, Joseph was fast asleep with the book she had been reading resting on his chest. Walking over she removed it and put it away, turned his off his bedside lamp and kissed his forehead before walking around and climbed into bed beside him. Laying on her side, she watched him for a little while before sleep consumed her.