Hey guuuuys! Ok so I know I already have an unfinished fic on the go and I do fully intend to finish it, but what can I say, I go where the inspiration takes me! And right now its giving focus to good old Joe and his fabulous, if slightly disfuntional family!

So here goes! Dont think it needs much introduction, hopefully it will all make perfect sense.

Usual schpeel, I own nothing cept the trials of my imagination!

"Its good to be home." Clarisse sighed as she and her husband of four weeks, stumbled through the palace corridors, seemingly unable to keep their hands off each other as their grips caused a tip of balance into various things.

"We could be anywhere and it would be home when I'm with you!" Joseph whispered between kisses as his hands crept underneath her jacket, causing her to arch her back into him before they suddenly thrust themselves apart, straightening themselves out just before Mia and Charlotte arrived on the corridor.

"Hey! You're back!" Mia grinned as she pulled them both into a tight hug. "Sooo how was the honeymoon?"

Both Mia and Charlotte smirked at the sudden blush on both Clarisse and Joseph's face as they battled not to make eye contact with each other let alone anyone else!

"Oookay so! I have a meeting with Parliament so I'll have to catch up with you two newlyweds later, Charlotte will fill you in on your messages, or rather fill Joe in seeing as though he's been bombarded lately!"

Joseph frowned as Mia skipped away, before turning back to Charlotte who was looking at him apologetically. "I'm sorry to say its true Joe! Your...son has been calling almost daily, your grandchildren have left numerous messages on your phone, and email and your...ex wife has been, rather vocal herself."

Joseph sighed and glanced from Charlotte to a confused Clarisse, she had known about his family for quite some time but neither had ever spoken about it openly.

"No Charlotte I'm sorry I, should have called them myself to explain I was just a little caught up in everything, I'll handle them and really I'm sorry you had to deal with them...particularly Evelyn I'm afraid she is very...vocal!"

Charlotte nodded and excused herself, leaving Joseph to sigh and take Clarisse's hand in his as they walked a little more soberly towards their suite. "I'm sorry darling I'm ashamed to say I had quite forgotten about my family and...their reaction to this."

"Joseph, dont be so hard on yourself, I'm sure they understand."

"Maybe so but I should have afforded them the respect of a phonecall, well, maybe not Evelyn, that battleaxe can find out anyway she wants im only sorry I missed the look on her face but...James, he's my son I should have told him!"

Clarisse paused as they stepped inside their suite, pulling on his hand to force him to turn towards her. "Stop beating yourself up about this. Now, realisation has hit me that these people are now my family, so the next step would be to contact them, then of course I would like to meet them sometime."

Joe smiled at her attempt to make him feel better, and enveloped her in his arms, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "I dont deserve you."

"Shut up! Now call your son, before you overthink it!" Clarisse kissed him firmly before slipping out of his arms and heading out towards the bedroom to change.

Joseph sighed and took a deep breath, dropping onto the sofa as he reached for the phone, without thinking he pressed the 'speakerphone' button and dialled the long distance call to England.

As the dial tone rang, unbeknownst to him Clarisse had slipped back into the room, and was leaning against the doorframe behind him, just watching...until the sound of a young woman's voice met their ears.

"Hello?"

"Molly?" Joseph asked in confusion as he sat bolt upright.

"Well well, if it isnt dear old Grandpa, you sly dog you!" Came the laughing reply from Joseph's twenty-two year old grand-daughter.

"Yeah yeah, is your Dad there?"

"Yeah he's just on his mobile with Alex, so you'll have to make do with me for a few minutes I'm afraid!"

Clarisse smiled as Joe laughed and shook his head. "Its nothing short of a pleasure kiddo, so you ok?"

"Hungover to hell, girls night out last night, bad move! But enough about me, whats new with you, besides giving us all the shock of our lives!"

"Thats actually why I'm calling! To beg forgiveness for not telling you!"

"Oh we all knew Grandad...well not about the wedding until it was in the paper but we knew really...although the look on Grandma's face when she saw the article was priceless!"

"Well aslong as you dont all hate me?"

"Would we ever! Oh! Dad's here so I'll pass you over, see you soon yeah?"

"Definately sweetheart love you!"

"Love you too Grandad!"

Joseph smiled at the hushed conversation between his son and grand-daughter before his sons voice could be heard more clearly.

"Hey old man!"

"Hey, look James I'm sorry its taken so long to call you and tell you all this but its just been so busy and..."

"Woah! Woah just, take a breath Dad! We were shocked yes, we wanna railroad you for not calling yes but, theres no need to be so defensive we arent mad at you! We're happy for you! Really, although the kids decided you cheated them out of a party so they'll be cashing in on that soon!"

Joseph and Clarisse aswell, couldnt help a laugh at this before Joseph continued. "Well actually Clarisse and I have just come to the realisation that we are in fact all one big happy family, she would like to meet you soon, hopefully we can get over to England at some point soon!"

"Yeah great! Molly is in fact bouncing up and down in glee at that suggestion and I'm sure the boys will be thrilled too."

Clarisse smiled at the laughter coming from her husband at this moment, the way he looked as if he could see his family in his minds eye right now.

"Well I'll see what I can do and call you with the details at some point."

"Excellent! Look, sorry dad but I'm gunna have to go get back to work before that eldest son of mine wrecks my business!"

"Oh ho! Left Alex in charge of the garage have we?"

"Only for an hour, but I'm sure he'd destroy it in seconds! Talk later Dad take care!"

"Yeah bye James, send my love to Beth and the boys will you?"

"Will do! Bye!"

Clarisse stayed hidden from view for a long moment as she watched her husband sitting in silence. Speaking with his son and grandaughter had put a sparkle into his eyes, it hid his guilt at not having seen his family in a long while, and yet none of them blamed him, in fact it was quite the opposite, they adored him, they were proud of him.

"Well that wasnt so hard was it?" She laughed as she moved back into the room, coming to stand behind him as she bent down and slid her hands over his shoulders and down his chest.

"Went better than I thought I must admit."

"Did you honestly think they'd be mad at you?"

"They sort of have a right too dont you think."

"I think, you think too much."

"This coming from you!" He laughed as she smiled and dropped her forehead to his shoulder briefly, before kissing his cheek.

"Darling, they've clearly seen the bigger picture here, they arent mad at you for not involving them in the wedding, because I can honestly bet my life on the fact that I'm sure they're just happy, that you're happy."

Joseph smiled and reached up to take one of her hands, lifting it to his lips to kiss it softly. "I really cant wait for you to meet them, they're going to love you!"

"Oh I hope so darling...I really hope so."

Soo? Anyone wanna review? It would totally make my day!

xXx