64 year old Clarisse stood looking at herself in the mirror, what people saw in her she'd never know. But here she was the day before her wedding to Peter, who she's been in a relationship with for the last 5 years. Brushing her hair back behind her ear she made her way through to her suite at the Palace, where she had lived most of her life.
Having been Queen since she was 19 years old after marrying King Rupert, with whom she had 2 son's, Pierre and Philippe with, sadly losing him after 10 years of marriage. Then even though she didn't get married again she had another child with her best friend and head of security, Joseph. They stayed together until their daughter was 5 then he moved on but kept in Clarisse and Isabella's life, they are still close even now and for sometime their daughter and Joseph's eldest daughter, Sophia wanted them to get back together and secretly wished it was them getting married tomorrow.
They tried for a long time to set them up together again, failing every time and then when Clarisse went public with her relationship with Peter all hopes flew out the window.
Grabbing her hair pin from the table beside the couch she screamed out a little as someone grabbed her around the waist, making her jump. Putting her hand on their arm she turned her head to see Peter laughing as he snaked his arms around her waist.
"That wasn't nice." She said rubbing his arm.
"I'm sorry," He smiled and kissed her cheek "I thought you would of been downstairs by now." He said as she turned around in his grasp "I came to see what was taking so long?"
"I was actually just coming," She smiled while putting her hands on his arms "Are the children here yet?"
"Yes they are," He nodded "Having breakfast, which I am beginning to wonder if they have food at their own places." He laughed a little as Clarisse put the pin in her mouth then put her arms up, twirling her hair around and attached her hair pin, holding it all in place as she smiled at him.
"I have been wondering that same thing for years." She smiled and patted his chest "Come on, I'm starving myself." She smiled as they headed out the suite.
Heading downstairs both grabbing some breakfast and sat at the table, joining in the chatter around the table with the children and Grandchildren.
"So Grandma," Amelia smiled over at her "Are you nervous about tomorrow yet?" She asked as Clarisse put her fork down.
"No not really," She smiled over at her as Pierre turned his head to look at her "Maybe later on it may start hitting me more, but right now I am fine." She smiled and sipped her drink.
"What about you Peter?" Pierre asked while looking at him.
"Oh no," He said shaking his head while taking Clarisse's hand "How can I be nervous when I'm marrying the most beautiful woman in the whole world," He smiled at Clarisse while resting his hand down on Clarisse's thigh while still holding onto her hand.
"Aww, so romantic." Amelia smiled as everyone watched Peter lean closer and kiss Clarisse's cheek "Young love?" She smiled.
"Indeed," Peter smiled "That's exactly how she makes me feel, very very young." He grinned as Clarisse gasped.
"Well you are younger than me so that doesn't count." Clarisse exclaimed as Amelia, Isabella and Pierre laughed.
"Only by," He said holding his hand up "4 Years my love." He grinned while leaning closer and kissed her as everyone looked the other way.
"Anyway, just because your getting Married tomorrow Grandma it doesn't mean I have time to waste here." Amelia smiled as Clarisse looked at her "As you always told me," She said moving and stood behind her while wrapping her arms around Clarisse's shoulders from behind and rested her head against Clarisse's "The country still needs to be run," She smiled and kissed her cheek as Clarisse let go of Peter's hand, putting both hers up and placed them on Amelia's arms "I love you Grandma, and I'm so glad that you are having the wedding here tomorrow." She smiled and noticed Peter's hand squeezing Clarisse's thigh "Ewww Peter, me and Grandma are sharing a hug here." She exclaimed and playfully slapped his arm as they started laughing.
"You've been told," Clarisse laughed and screamed out as Amelia grabbed hold of her and dipped her back, giving her a hug and kissed her cheek before sitting her back up as her hair pin fell out "Now look what you've done." She laughed a little while leaning over and grabbed the pin from the floor as Amelia stood laughing.
"Sorry Grandma," Amelia smiled while standing behind her "I will sort that out for you," She smiled and started brushing her fingers through Clarisse's hair and put it back how it was.
"Thank you darling," Clarisse smiled while tipping her head back and looked up at her.
"See you later," Amelia smiled and kissed her cheek before hurrying out the room.
"You two are really close aren't you?" Peter asked while putting his arm along the back of Clarisse's chair.
"Where have you been Peter?" Isabella asked then laughed with Pierre.
"Yes we are, since she's been apart of my life we aren't just Grandmother and Granddaughter, we've become best friends." Clarisse nodded while looking at Peter.
"I think that's really nice," He smiled and lent closer while rubbing her arm with his hand as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, making her laugh.
"Please you two," Isabella exclaimed "We are trying to eat breakfast here." She smirked over at them as Clarisse put her hand up onto Peter's chest making him sit back.
"Sorry," Clarisse smiled and drank some of her tea.
A short while later Clarisse stood in the main ballroom where their reception is going to be held, watching the staff sort out the place settings, blow balloons up and sort out other decorations ready for the big day tomorrow. Not knowing Isabella was watching from the door she slowly made her way over to her as Clarisse sighed and folded her arms.
"Mom," Isabella whispered as Clarisse came from her thoughts and looked at her "Are you ok?"
"Yes," Clarisse nodded and looked back at the staff doing their jobs.
"You're not having second thoughts are you?" Bella asked.
"Oh no," Clarisse said shaking her head while looking at her "Of course not." She smiled and put her arms up as Bella stepped closer and put her arms around Clarisse's waist "Just thinking about other parties we've had in here." She smiled and kissed the side of Bella's head as she wrapped her arms around her shoulders "And how different tomorrow is going to be." She let out a sigh as Bella tipped her head back.
"Is someone getting nervous?" Bella asked and lifted her head "Be honest." She smiled.
"A little I think now, seeing all this yes." Clarisse nodded and looked at her daughter.
"That's only natural," Bella smiled and kissed her before resting her head back on her shoulder "You have all of us to support you, you will be fine." Bella smiled and rubbed her back.
"I know and I can't thank you enough." Clarisse whispered against Bella's hair.
"I have always wondered why you didn't marry Daddy though." She said and felt Clarisse lift her head "Mom," Bella whispered while lifting her head and looked at her.
"I don't know," Clarisse simply answered and shrugged a little "I really don't know." She said looking at her as Peter appeared.
"Hey Peter," Bella smiled while stepping back as he stood next to them.
"Hello Bella," He smiled and looked at Clarisse "I was just wondering if my future wife would like to take a walk with me?" He asked while holding out his hand to her.
"Your future wife would love to, after she's been to the loo." She smiled "Be back." She nodded and walked out the ballroom.
Returning several moments later they made their way out the Palace for a walk around the gardens, hand in hand while talking.
"You know I can't wait till that day we leave here and live in our own place." Peter smiled while putting his hand on Clarisse's back as they headed back towards the Palace slowly.
"You want to leave here?" She asked while looking at him as she stopped walking.
"Yes, surely you didn't want to stay here once we are married." He said while turning to face her "This is your home of course, it's ours at the moment but once we are married I think we should find somewhere else to live." He said while putting his hands up on her arms.
"I always thought we would live here," She said softly "This has been my home since I was 19," She said looking at him.
"I know, and I think it's time for a change don't you?" He asked with a small smile "I mean you are becoming a Taylor tomorrow after all." He added and looked into her eyes "No longer a Renaldi, remember?"
"I know we've never talked about this Peter, but I always thought we would live here, if not in the Palace then in one of the guest houses." Clarisse said while looking at him.
"Maybe we should have talked about this before, I feel that we won't get any privacy once we are married and I want nothing more than to have that with you once you become a Taylor." He said while stepping closer and cupped her head with his hands while looking into her eyes.
"But..." She stopped as he lowered his head and began kissing her slowly, slowly unfolding her arms she placed her hands on his sides as he deepened it, breaking it a few seconds later "Can we at least talk about this a bit more after the wedding?" She asked.
"What's to talk about?" He said with a shrug "I strongly believe we should get our own place, somewhere we can both call home." He said with a small smile and took her hand "Now come on, we have a few things we need to do before lunch." He smiled as they started walking back and looked up as Pierre and Isabella ran over to meet them "Oh what now." He whispered as Clarisse looked at him in surprise.
"Peter," Clarisse whispered "What's got into you." She asked and looked at her children as they stopped in front of them "Hello you two, what's going on?" She smiled while letting go of Peter's hand.
"Mom, we have a surprise for you." Pierre smiled.
"I know he said he couldn't come but well he's here," Isabella smiled.
"Whose here darling?" Clarisse asked.
"Daddy," Isabella grinned as Clarisse looked past her as he made his way down the stairs.
"Joe." She whispered and ran over to him with a smile.
Pierre, Bella and Peter all stood watching as Joseph wrapped his arms around her and spun her around as she locked her arms around his neck then stood her down a few seconds later while talking to her as Bella made her way over to them.
"Is she really that close to him?" Peter said looking at Pierre.
"Yep," Pierre nodded while looking at him "Something you are gonna have to get used to." He said looking back at them as Clarisse put her arm around Bella's shoulders "Even though they we're an item once and had Bella, they have remained good friends," He smiled back at Peter "Don't worry though, that's all they are." He added as Peter looked at him for a second then looked back as Clarisse "Peter?" He said and watched him slowly walk off "Hmm." He shrugged and headed over to Clarisse, Joe and Bella.
A short while later Peter stood in the door way to Clarisse's office watching as she laughed with Joseph and touched his arm as he playfully stuck a sticky note to her forehead. Putting his hands in his pockets as he slowly stepped forward, making his presence known.
"Peter," Clarisse exclaimed while taking the sticky note from her forehead and looked down at it for a second.
"I will give you two some space." Joseph said and walked out the office.
"What's going on?" Peter said while shutting the door behind Joseph and made his way over to her leaning over her desk.
"Nothing's going on, Joseph was just helping me rearrange the seating plan." Clarisse said while sticking the note to the plan.
"What?" He gasped as she looked at him "That's meant to be our job, you know yours and mine, the bride and groom?" He exclaimed and took the notes from her hand.
"Peter," Clarisse exclaimed "He was only helping me because I got into a panic because I didn't know where you were and well, he always knows how to arrange things like this." She said while stepping back.
"It was meant to be our job though Clarisse," He said looking at her as she took a deep breath.
"I know," She nodded "Your right and I'm sorry." Clarisse whispered while watching him stand back.
"It seems you done it all without my help anyway." He said putting the other notes down and headed towards the door.
"Peter?" Clarisse whispered as he stopped "What's got into you?" She said while walking over to him as he slowly turned around.
"I'm sorry I'm just stressing about tomorrow, that's all." He whispered while stepping closer and hugged her "And seeing you stood laughing with him, doing our seating plan." He said as she lifted her head and looked at him.
"Peter, you need to understand that he was only helping me, he's my best friend." She whispered while looking into his eyes.
"I thought I was your best friend now?" He asked while cupping her face.
"You are, but he's my oldest friend who I didn't think was going to be here for the wedding," She said as he took her hand and led her over to the couch.
"Isn't having an ex at our wedding going to be a bit awkward?" He asked while sitting down next to her.
"Peter I don't see him as an ex, he's a best friend and Bella's Father." Clarisse said while looking at him "You knew all this and you were ok with it before." She shrugged a little as he grabbed her hand.
"I know, but I had never seen you two the way you are before." He said looking into her eyes "And it bothers me." He added.
"I'm sorry," She said looking at him.
"I don't like how you are around him Clari, you seem to be happier to see him than me." He whispered.
"Oh don't be silly," Clarisse answered "I really don't see the problem Peter, if you invited your ex I wouldn't act this way, I would be happy that she could be here and show that we've all moved on." She said looking at him.
"I haven't invited an ex," He said looking at her.
"That's not my problem Peter, I was just saying if she was coming I wouldn't act this way you are acting about me and Joseph, nothing is going on between us if that's what you think." She added.
"I still don't like it." He said while looking at her as someone knocked on the door.
"I'm sorry that our friendship bothers you, but just because it does." She said standing up "Doesn't mean I'm going to change it." She said walking over to the door "So please get used to it, or I really don't see this working."
"I beg your pardon." He said standing up as she opened the door to see Bella stood there "Not now Bella, please." He exclaimed as they both looked at him in surprise.
"You need to think about what I just said," Clarisse said and walked out the office while putting her arm around Bella's shoulders.
"Clarisse," He called out but watched her walk away "Dammit!" He whispered and sat back down with a sigh.
Later that evening Clarisse was up in her suite getting ready for a night out with her daughter, Granddaughter and Joseph's daughter Sophia, plus a few other people when Peter came up.
"Hey," He said while watching her walk through the suite "You look beautiful." He whispered as she stopped and looked at him "I'm sorry about earlier, I didn't mean to say all those things." He said while moving and stood in front of her.
"It's ok, have you thought about what I said? Is there still going to be a wedding tomorrow?" She asked.
"I just want to explain it a bit more," He said while taking her hands "I love you with all my heart but seeing you with him and so happy,"
"Peter," Clarisse whispered while putting her hand up, cupping his cheek "He's just a friend that's all."
"I know and I'm sorry," He whispered while kissing the palm of her hand then looked into her eyes "I really do hate fighting with you," He said.
"Oh shut up and kiss me," She smiled as he smiled and stepped closer, kissing her while wrapping his arms around her waist as she put her arms up, locking them around his shoulders.
"I really do love you, and can't wait until you become Mrs Taylor tomorrow." He whispered against her lips as she smiled.
"Neither can I." She smiled and kissed him a couple times while moving her hand to the back of his head.
"Do you really have to go?" He asked while grinding his hips against her, making her laugh a little "This is our last night together as single people after all." He whispered in her ear as she bit her bottom lip.
"I do, the girls are waiting." Clarisse answered as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
"Ok," He nodded and kissed her neck before lifting his head and kissed her on the lips "Then you must go." He smiled and slapped her bum as she made her way past him, making her jolt forward as she started laughing and turned back to him "See you tomorrow at the alter."
"Of course," She smiled while walking over to the door "Sleep well," She smiled and walked out, pulling the door up behind her taking a deep breath as she headed down to the waiting girls.
After a few hours at the bar with the girls Clarisse made her way outside to get some air, sitting on the bench thinking about tomorrow when someone stood next to her, making her jump and sat back while putting her hand on her chest.
"Joe, you scared me." She said as he slipped of his jacket.
"You look frozen," He said holding his jacket over her and watched her sit forward for him to put it around her shoulders then sat down beside her.
"Thank you," She nodded "I was getting a bit chilly," She said looking at him while holding it closed with her hand from the inside "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Isabella called for a ride home, I appear to be a taxi for you all tonight." He laughed a little as Clarisse smiled.
"Well thank you," She nodded and looked at some people walking past them.
"Did you have a great night?" He asked as she looked back at him.
"I did," Clarisse smiled "Thank you for asking."
"Your welcome," Joseph smiled "Where are you staying tonight? So I know where I am going."
"I am staying at the Palace tonight, that is home after all." She smiled at him.
"Ahh ok, just one stop then." He smiled at her.
"Indeed," She said looking at a crowd of people walking by then looked back at him "Thank you for taking time out of your night to come and pick us up." She smiled.
"Not a problem," He said sitting back and watched her turn a little "Clarisse, I know it's none of my business but are you really honestly happy with Peter?" He asked.
"What?" Clarisse exclaimed "What made you ask such a question?" She asked.
"Isabella, she told me about how he's been with you today." Joseph answered while sitting up to be closer to her.
"He's just nervous for tomorrow that's all and it didn't help how we were when he found us in my office," She said looking at him.
"We're friends, how does he expect us to act?" He asked.
"I know, that's what I told him." Clarisse nodded as Charlotte appeared.
"Ahh you are here then." She smiled as they both looked at her "I will go and get the others." She said turning around to walk back in.
"Charlotte wait," Joseph said while jumping up as she turned back to him "Can you give us a bit of time, just tell the others I'm not here yet or something." He asked "I need to talk to Clarisse about something." He whispered as Charlotte nodded and carried on.
"Joseph," Clarisse said as he sat back down next to her.
"Yes?" He asked as he put his arm around her shoulders, smiling as she looked up into his eyes "Clarisse I need to tell you something, and I need to do it before I regret not having the chance."
"Joseph, please don't do this." Clarisse whispered while standing up "I'm getting married tomorrow to Peter, I can't deal with this now." She said handing him his jacket back and walked away.
"Clari, stop." He said hurrying after her and grabbed her arm as she turned around to him "Just listen to me ok." He said and put the jacket back around her shoulders "What we had before, was special and meant a lot, and I know we broke up over some silly things, silly things that I never wanted to happen of course." He whispered while holding onto the hem of his jacket as they made eye contact "I have always loved you, and always will love you." He said looking up into the sky for a second as she studied his face.
"Joseph," Clarisse whispered as he looked back down into her eyes to see tears escaping his eyes "Joe, are you crying?" She asked while putting one hand up, cupping his cheek and wiped away his tears with her thumb, biting her lip as he kissed her thumb.
"I," He stopped while taking a deep breath, letting it out seconds later "It pains me to see you getting married tomorrow, Clarisse I still love you so much," He said looking down "And because of that silly fact, I have decided I won't be at the wedding tomorrow." He said looking up as she gasped "I'm sorry."
"But Joe?" She whispered and went to cup his cheek, feeling heartbroken when he pulled back "Is that what you really want?" She asked.
"Yes," He nodded "It's one of the hardest things I have ever had to do." He said looking at her "I'm sorry."
"Joseph, I..." She stopped as he grabbed her hand and kissed her palm again.
"I still love you, remember that." He added and turned to see the girls walking over to them.
"Here you are," Isabella slurred "Ready for home," She grinned.
"Someone's drunk." Joseph laughed a little as he looked towards Clarisse as she looked down while slipping his jacket off "Let's get you all home shall we?" He smiled while looking back at his girls.
After dropping them of at the Palace he headed back to his place with a heavy heart.
After pouring herself a glass of water Clarisse sat in her suite, everything running round her mind while trying to block it out and staring constantly at her engagement ring.
Finding herself knocking on a door a short time later, knowing she shouldn't be there but needed to do what she needed to do.
Answering the door Joseph gasped when he saw Clarisse soaking wet from the rain "Clarisse, come in, come in." He said standing back for her to come in.
"I won't stay, I just came to say.." She said looking up at him then slapped him across the face "I'm getting married today," She exclaimed as he put his hand up to his face "How dare you tell me you still loved me, you had plenty of chances before why now?" She exclaimed as he just looked at her.