Title: The Wreckage
Author's Note: Special thanks to Genovia's Queen for working as the beta on this section and also for her recommendations. I must also thank Shakayla and MrsJosephElizondo for encouraging me not to give up on this story (because I tried multiply times) and for being a sounding board. All three of you ladies rock!
Summary: This story picks up at the end of the Independence Day Ball and will allow us a sneak peek into the years that passed in between the movies. Clarisse and Joseph will experience some happy times but also some trying times.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!but my original ideas
Rating: The rating is M but for future chapters and I will give fair warning at the beginning of those chapters.
As Joseph escorted Queen Clarisse to her suite after the Genovian Independence Day ball, he dismissed the guards as they exited the ballroom. Taking advantage of their moment of privacy, Joseph took Clarisse's hand and placed a gentle kiss to the back of her gloved fingers.
Tonight had been the best night Clarisse had experienced in a long time. After thinking the Renaldi line was coming to an end, her knight in shining armor came through for her just in time, delivering her wet granddaughter, and next heir to the throne.
Still holding her hand, Joseph opened the door to her suite. With a rapidly beating heart, Clarisse looked down at their entwined fingers then back up to meet his gaze.
"Would you care to join me?" Clarisse asked, her eyes never leaving his.
"I would be honored." He smiled and joined her in the suite. Once inside, a silence lingered for a few minutes as they stood staring at one another.
Clarisse still had adrenaline rushing through her veins. For the last two hours her emotions had been on a roller coaster ride, feeling as though she had not only failed the Renaldi name, but also failed as a grandmother. Upon hearing the sweet sound of Mia clearing her throat, Clarisse's heart leapt for joy and now she was still riding the wave of complete happiness.
With their eyes still locked on each other, Clarisse took a few steps, closing the distance between them before pressing her lips to his. Although the kiss was simple, both knew they would never forget the way they felt when their lips came together for the first time.
Joseph had been in love with his queen for longer than he could remember. He had dreamed of this moment for a long time but nothing could have prepared him for the way he actually felt when she pressed her body and lips to his. The moment didn't last long, but he would cherish the memory for the rest of his life.
Breaking the kiss, Clarisse pulled back. Her desire filled eyes searched his face for any indication he was feeling the same as she. What she saw both excited and frightened her at the same time. It was evident Joseph felt the same way and he was just as shocked by her actions as she herself was. With her hands resting on his chest, she spoke. Her words were barely above a whisper, "thank you, Joseph, for everything you did tonight to bring Amelia back to me."
He placed his hands on either side of her hips and drew her back to him as he whispered, "seeing your smiling face once again is all the thanks I need." His lips once again sought hers, this time the kiss was more heated. Thinking nothing else could surprise him tonight, he was once again taken aback when he felt Clarisse's tongue trace the line between his lips, silently asking for permission to enter; permission he gladly granted. As their tongues danced, he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pinning her body to his.
Just before things could get out of control, the queen in her reared her ugly head, reminding Clarisse she should not be kissing her Head of Security. She broke the kiss and rested her forehead against Joseph's while both caught their breath.
Joseph spoke before she could issue the apology he knew was coming. "I should probably go," he whispered. He closed his eyes and tried to etch in his mind the way she felt pressed against him. His eyes never left hers as he stepped away from her and walked backwards toward the door. Feeling the door knob pressing against his back, he eased his hand up and turned the knob as he said, "thank you for the dance tonight." He watched her nod as he slipped quietly out the door, leaving a smiling Clarisse staring at his retreating back.
The following morning, they took their seats next each other on the plane. Neither of them spoke a word about the events of the previous night. Charlotte and Shades were staying behind to make sure Amelia was settled and had proper protection in place before they returned to Genovia later in the week.
As the plane took off, Clarisse stared out the window and watched as her granddaughter, the next heir to the throne, became smaller and smaller as the plane soared away. As Amelia disappeared through the clouds, Clarisse allowed her mind to drift to thoughts of the man beside her. She knew they needed to talk but she wasn't sure what to say. Her actions had taken her by surprise and she had no idea how to express in words what she was feeling for Joseph. Was she just excited about Amelia accepting her role, or was it something more? She needed to figure it out for herself before attempting to convey her feelings and her actions to Joseph.
That night after Joseph had left, Clarisse was on cloud nine. Everything was going right for once, Mia had accepted her role as Princess, and her heart felt like it would burst after being thoroughly kissed by Joseph last night. There were a million butterflies fluttering in her stomach when he had left her standing, staring at his retreating form. It had taken her the better part of an hour to come down from her high before she could even consider turning into bed. Now, however she felt as if she were being tormented. Everything he did reminded her of that moment in time. The way his cologne teased her nostrils, the way he flicked his tongue out to wet his dry lips, the way he ran his hands along his thighs to smooth out his pants, the way his eyes closed as he was obliviously deep in thought.
Smiling to herself Clarisse looked over at Joseph, studying his face as he sat looking through the flight maps and itinerary. Taking in his features, getting so lost in her own thoughts she failed to realize that he was actually now looking at her.
"Are you alright?" He asked, smiling as she came out of her day dream.
"Pardon?" She asked, blushing knowing he had caught her day dreaming.
"I asked if you were alright." He said closing the file folder as he watched her eyes sparkle as the blush crept across her features
"I'm perfect" she said softly smiling at him before turning back in her seat
Joseph knew now was not the time to talk about the events of the previous night. That would have to wait until they returned home to the palace, but that didn't stop his mind from reeling through the events that occurred in her private quarters. Joseph knew he was in love with his queen. He had been for some time, but he wasn't sure if now was the time to tell her; he wasn't sure if the right time would ever come. Clarisse was under a ton of pressure and the last thing he wanted to do was add to her stress. His job was to protect her, not cause undue stress.
The plane began to bounce due to turbulence and they heard the Captain's voice come across the intercom instructing them to fasten their seatbelts as they would be flying into weather, just before the plane started to rock back and forth. Moments later, Joseph felt the left wing drop as he glanced outside he saw smoke billow past the window. He reached across her lap and tightened Clarisse's seat belt. He clasped her hand in his as the captain told them they had lost an engine. Fear spread across both their faces as the realization they may crash dawned on them. Clarisse could not stop the tears that slipped down her face as she looked out the window. She turned back to Joseph with wide eyes as she said with a trembling voice, "there's nothing down there but water."