No words were spoken, Joseph simply stepped back and took a hold of her hand and began leading her off the dance floor and away from the reception. And as he led her away from everyone, to explain the 'when did you know' question his heart filled with pride. He had longed for this day for most of his life, and now it was finally here he couldn't quite believe it. If someone had told him this morning that he would be ending the day a married man, to the woman of his dreams he wouldn't have believed them. When he asked her to marry him and she said no it shattered his world and he planned on leaving after Mia had wed, but now here he was leading his beautiful bride away, to be alone with her and to be honest with her.
Feeling a squeeze on her hand she looked down at their entwined hands, smiling her tummy fluttered as she allowed him to lead her away from the crowd. Her life changed for the better today, she woke up this morning a single Queen and now tonight she will be going to bed a married woman. And the fact that she was finally able to love this man in public, and that he was holding her hand and leading her away from everyone excited her.
Smiling back at her, they continued on their way to her rose gardens, hand in hand.
Looking around, Clarisse found herself biting her bottom lip and placing her hand on her tummy as it fluttered with excitement. They had taken this walk many times in the past but as friends and now that they were married everything felt different.
Suddenly, taking Clarisse by surprise Joseph stopped and turned to face her. Still holding onto her hand in his left hand, he put his right hand up, cupping her cheek as they got lost in each other's gaze. Moving his head closer, Joseph smiled and watched as his beautiful bride closed her eyes. Pressing his lips gently to hers, he let it linger a moment while slipping his hand around to the back of her neck. And just a moment later he smiled and rested his forehead against hers while caressing the back of her neck with thumb.
"When did I know that I loved you?"
Clarisse simply nodded her answer, her eyes remaining locked with his.
"Do you remember the day you were trying on your wedding dress for the first time?" He asked, studying her face. "And I accidentally walked into the room, not knowing what was going on inside?"
"I do," she nodded "it was the first day we met, I remember you scared the hell out of me so how could I forget that?" She smiled as he nodded.
"You were stood before me in your dress, the light from the window behind you gave you that glow and you looked beautiful, you took my breath away. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Sure, I had seen pictures of you in the papers, and seen you from afar but seeing you in front of me like that, I couldn't help but fall in love with you that day, and then over time my feelings for you just grew stronger."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Clarisse asked.
"How could I? You were in your wedding dress, due to be married to the future King, we had only just met and believe it or not, I needed that job and I really wanted to live so telling you only to be killed wasn't my idea of being honest." He answered jokingly as Clarisse chuckled.
"I see your point," Clarisse smiled and put her hand up, cupping his cheek lovingly for a moment before lowering her hand.
"I wanted to tell you, I really did," He continued more seriously "but I could never find the right words and then on your wedding day, I wished it was me you were marrying." Looking into her eyes, he reached his hand up to cup her cheek "I even dreamt that I had told you and we had ran of together, living happily ever after... But then I woke up." He said, looking away momentarily as Clarisse put her hand up onto his and turned her head, kissing the palm of his hand as he looked back at her. "Seeing you with him everyday and knowing how you felt about him broke my heart."
"I'm sorry, I had no idea." She said softly while studying his face.
"Why would you?" He asked "I knew back then that we would never be together so I turned all my attention to gaining your trust, being your friend and making sure you were always protected. I made it my mission to make sure no harm ever came to you." He said softly while caressing her cheek with his thumb.
"And I can't thank you enough for that," she said, looking into his eyes. "I do wish you had told me, but understand why you didn't. I'm just thankful that you found the courage to tell me in the end, so we can spend the rest of our life's happy and together."
"Me too," Joseph smiled and put his hands up, cupping her face "I love you so much, Mrs Elizondo."
"I love you too." She smiled and closed her eyes as he kissed her.
Stepping back a moment later, Joseph turned back to the palace and took hold of her hand. Smiling, Clarisse put her free hand up, covering her lips as Joseph looked back at her.
"As we can still hear the music from the reception, shall we share a dance before we head back?" He asked and smiled as she turned her head to look at him.
"I'd love too." She smiled and watched as he stepped in front of her, wrapping his free arm around her waist as they began swaying slowly together "I'm really glad you came into my life all those years ago, Joseph." She said as they looked into each other's eyes "you helped me through a lot of hard times, you were my only friend and was always there whenever I needed someone. I really can't thank you enough."
"You don't have to thank me." He smiled and gave her hand a little squeeze before resting his cheek against the side of her head, enjoying their time alone.
After a few moments they stepped apart and Clarisse watched as Joseph walked over to one of the bushes and picked one of the roses before turning back and making his way back over to her. And after removing all of the thorns from the stem he handed it to her with a smile.
"Thank you." She smiled and took the rose.
"You're welcome," Joseph smiled and watched as she smelled the rose before looking back up at him and taking the stem in both of her hands. "We should head back soon, or they will come look for us."
"I know," Clarisse nodded and looked back over at the palace momentarily "but not yet." She smiled, looking back at her husband.
Smiling, Joseph once again took her free hand as they began walking towards the gazebo. "It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?" He asked, turning his head to look at her as she studied the area around them.
Nodding, she looked back at him and smiled. "Yes it is, it's very beautiful." Looking ahead, she pondered a question in her head. She had wanted to ask it for sometime, but never found the right words or time. And even though it was their wedding day, the question was still there, playing on her mind. "Can I ask you something?" She suddenly asked, surprising not only herself but Joseph too.
Looking back at her, he nodded. "Of course, you can ask me anything." He smiled as they took the two steps up to the gazebo.
Stopping, she watched as he moved to stand in front of her. "It's something that's been playing on my mind for sometime, and though today probably isn't the best day to ask such a question, but what you said about when you knew you loved me I'm afraid to say curiosity is getting the better of me now."
"What is it?" He asked, bringing her hand that he still had a hold off up to his lips, and kissed the back as she watched.
"Am I the reason why you never found that special someone?" She asked and watched as he averted his gaze back up to meet hers.
Looking away momentarily he pondered the question before shaking his head and looking back into his wife's beautiful blue eyes. Stepping closer, he wrapped his arms around her. "As you know I have had the odd girlfriend here and there, but none of them were you. I was more focused on protecting you than I was in dating, even though my brother did try to find me a wife, I just wasn't interested."
"But did you ever think about settling down and having a family?" She asked while putting her arms up, locking them around his shoulders as they continued to look into each other's eyes.
"I knew when I took this job that having a family wasn't an option, though that may sound harsh I was alright with that. Being born into a big family, which expanded a lot more when my brothers and sisters had children of their own, who I could spoil, spend time with on my time off and still return to the job I loved, protecting the woman I loved more than anything in the world. Even if she didn't know it." They smiled "I knew early on that I didn't want children," he chuckled "I mean, can you really see me as a father?"
"Yes," Clarisse nodded as she took hold of the rose stem in both of her hands behind his back. "I lost count over the years how many times I found you helping Pierre and Philippe with their homework when I was running late, or playing football with them, or even taking them out on a bike ride. Honestly, to an outsider who didn't know us, if they would have seen what I had seen over the years they would have thought you were my husband, and father to my boys." She said softly and watched as he glanced away. "You would have made a wonderful father, Joseph." She whispered and watched as he looked back at her. "I'm just sad that you didn't get that chance."
"Hey, come on now, I'm alright with it." He said and moved his hands up her back.
"Honestly?" She asked, looking into his eyes.
"Honestly." He nodded and kissed her. "Now, it's our wedding day so lets stop dwelling on the past and look forward to our future together." He smiled and kissed her.
And as he deepened the kiss he ran his hands up and down her back, making her laugh a little and arch her back. Placing one of her hands on the back of his head as she pulled her head back a moment to look into his eyes. "Thank you for saying yes today." She smiled.
"Thank you for asking me." He smiled and kissed her slowly, locking his arms around her once again.
Mmm her body felt so good against his.
Mmm his lips felt so good, so delicious.
Moments passed.
Clearing her throat, Mia watched as they pulled apart.
Looking into each other's eyes, both of them smiling. "No privacy." Clarisse whispered and put her hand up to her lips as they both turned to see Mia and Pierre stood looking at them.
"We've been busted," Joseph whispered in Clarisse's ear as he took hold of her hand.
"I think we have," Clarisse nodded with a smile. "How long have you been stood there?" She asked them.
"Long enough," Pierre answered and smiled with Mia as Clarisse and Joseph looked at each other.
"We are sorry to disturb you," Mia began as they both looked back at her "but this is your wedding reception and your guests are wondering where you are." She smiled and watched as they began making their way down from the gazebo.
"Well we were just about to return," Clarisse smiled and stepped ahead of Joseph as he let go of her hand and placed his on her lower back.
"Sure you were," smiled Pierre as he put his arm out to his mother as she made her way towards him.
"Honestly," Clarisse smiled again as she linked arms with her son and looked back at Joseph and her granddaughter as they linked arms.
"Hey does this mean I get to call you Joey now?" Mia asked and smiled up at Joseph as he laughed.
Shaking his head he looked at her seriously. "No, Joe."
"Well that's no fair, you marry my grandmother and you still won't let me call you Joey?" Mia teased as Clarisse and Pierre laughed. "Oh, I know!" Mia exclaimed, taking everyone by surprise. "What about grandad? Can I call you grandad?" She smiled at him as Clarisse and Pierre stopped and turned to them.
Pondering the question, Joseph nodded and smiled at her. "I would like that very much, Princess."
"Perfect, grandad it is then." Mia smiled and kissed his cheek before walking on ahead with Pierre.
"Are you sure that her calling you grandad is alright?" Clarisse asked while looking up at him as he moved to stand beside her.
Putting his arm around her shoulders, Joseph smiled and looked into her eyes. "Of course it's alright, it's more than alright, it's perfect." He said and looked up at them walking away. "I loved hearing it," he said softly and looked back at Clarisse as she put her hand up to cup his face. "I love you."
"I love you too," she smiled and they shared several quick kisses before continuing on back to the reception, hand in hand.