Author's Note: sorry for the false alarm, but this chapter ended up longer than I planned and I couldn't think... definitely drama coming in the next one!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
Rupert's 34th birthday the following month was a low key affair, as compared to his parties in previous years with a simple dinner party with family and some of his friends, precisely what he had wanted.
"It will probably be the last time you celebrate your birthday privately," Alexandra pointed out over dessert. "After January, everyone will want to celebrate with you!"
"Terrific, I can hardly wait!" Rupert said sarcastically, rolling his eyes in annoyance before noticing that Joseph was grinning at him. "Watch out little brother, you needn't look so smug- you're turning 30 in September and I'm sure Clarisse has planned something special for you... hopefully a big party at the palace and whereby I can embarrass you by giving a speech about our childhoods... boy, do I have some stories!"
"Which are usually told at a 21st not a 30th," Joseph argued calmly before giving Clarisse a sly smile. "And I'm sure my wife isn't organizing anything that will embarrass me, are you dear?"
"No," Clarisse said a sweet smile, although plans were under way for his surprise birthday party, although she suspected that it would be difficult to plan if he had an inkling that anything was going to happen.
"What DID you want to do for your birthday?" Isabel asked conversationally and Joseph shrugged.
"I hadn't really thought about it too much, but spending the day with Clarisse and the boys would be my ideal day," he grinned over at Clarisse sitting beside him.
"Sounds pretty dull for a 30th," one of Rupert's friends mumbled with a pretend yawn but, before Joseph could say in his defence of his wife and children, as well as his own personal preference for how he spent HIS birthday, Rupert quickly stepped in to diffuse the situation, sensing how insulted Joseph was about the mock joke.
"Whatever the birthday boy wants, is fine with us... now, we just have to decide what to get you for a birthday present."
"Not black clothes!" Alexandra inserted with a smile although, since Clarisse and the boys, he had been less inclined to wear the colour, but Clarisse secretly liked him in black and thought he looked sexy.
"HEY!" Joseph pretended to look indignant. "I don't were black all that much anymore!" by he knew his mother was only joking, quite a change for her and but she had mellowed somewhat in the past couple of years.
While he was growing up, Alexandra had always seemed like a distant, stern figure who had spent much of her time telling him off (especially when he was in his teens and early twenties) but now, as a husband and parent himself, he had a far greater appreciation of her and his father and that, despite them being King and Queen of Genovia, they had tried to be there for him and Rupert for most of their childhood, unlike Clarisse's parents...
"Maybe a little blue or red might help!" he added, meeting his mother's eyes, so much like his own, and she laughed openly at him, realizing that he finally felt comfortable enough to tease her gently, while showing her respect.
Clarisse, who had been watching the moment between mother and son, smile to herself- they had finally relaxed around each other and she was glad. She knew her husband had always been a little daunted around his mother (despite his quick tongue) but hid it well, and she knew the older woman had often despaired about him settling down, but now... they had finally connected.
"Well," Rupert said after a moment, oblivious to the bonding moment between mother and son. "I suppose I'll have to go bigger..."
"Bigger?" both Joseph and Clarisse looked puzzled.
"Bigger..." he affirmed with a grin. "You two gave me a horse when I was thirty, so I should probably return the favour..." before he trailed off, looking smugly mysterious and piquing Joseph's interest immediately, but he knew that he wouldn't discover anything until his birthday which, suddenly, seemed very far away...
00000
The summer that ensued was a bittersweet time for the royal family- bitter because it was the final summer with Henrik as King, but it was also sweet because it was the beginning of a new reign and a new direction for Genovia, as well as the two little boys who were the light of everyone's lives, spending almost as much time at the palace as at home. Rupert and Isabel went away for a few weeks in July, and Joseph and Clarisse were more than happy to stay home, especially as Clarisse wanted a break from flying, Joseph wanted to spend more time with the boys and Henrik and Alexandra loved playing with them. The boys had fun that summer- Pierre tearing around the yard on his tricycle and Phillipe, nearly sixteen months old, toddling after him, laughing with glee.
It was one of such afternoon in late July, with Alexandra and Henrik playing with them, when Clarisse watched them with a smile, again a little disbelieving that they were their boys and that she and Joseph had been together for nearly five years.
"You look thoughtful," she heard someone say in her ear, and she smiled broadly as she felt his arms weave around her waist and pull her closer to him. "What were you thinking about, Madame Renaldi?" he teased and she couldn't help but giggle at the name.
"I was just thinking... how wonderful it is that those two little boys running around are happy, healthy and ours, and that we've been together for nearly five years... this time, five years ago, we had only just met but were already developing a strong friendship..."
"While fighting our mutual feelings of attraction," Joseph added, also remembering that wonderful summer when their friendship and love simultaneously developed and blossomed, tempered somewhat by their fear of being discovered by Rupert and their respective families.. ..
"It still seems a little unbelievable to me too, but it's all true, my darling!" he held her closer, his chin gently resting on her shoulder and he smiled to himself- he too couldn't believe the boys were theirs and Clarisse, after nearly five years of marriage, was still head over heels for him as he was for her.
The boys were wonderful, he agreed silently as they watched Phillipe, with assistance, toddle eagerly after his brother- Pierre was still very much like Clarisse, but Clarisse and his mother had been right about Phillipe- he was looking more and more like his father, which pleased Joseph immensely although he loved both boys equally.
"They are cute," he agreed and she hummed her agreement, still firmly ensconced in his arms but her thoughts a million miles away, before he decided to take a chance and add: "Maybe it's time for us to expand our family?"
He was a little nervous about saying what he just said-maybe she didn't feel the same- but he was surprised when she smoothly turned around in his arms to meet his eyes full on, blue versus brown.
"Definitely... I've recovered from Phillipe's birth and I know it's sooner than we agreed upon, but..."
"I would love another baby," he said, gently resting his fingers on her lips to silence her. "But, as I've said before, it's up to you as you have to have the baby..."
"You are a surprisingly modern man..." she joked gently as he pretended to look modest. "But I know I'm ready and maybe we'll have a daughter this time, which I would love to see you handle..." she added teasingly as he nuzzled her neck.
"I would be fine," he pretended to sound indignant as she laughed heartily, knowing that he would be as soft as a marshmallow with any daughters they may have, as he was with her. "But I can just imagine what she would look like, she would be very image of you..." he smiled almost dreamily.
"And all of us guys..." he waved towards Henrik, Pierre and Phillipe while including Rupert in his words. "Would be definitely protective... and I would be almost impossible with you!" he added jokingly.
"We hope," Clarisse smiled gently, although secretly confident that the boys would welcome a new sibling, and also relieved that he wanted another baby as much as she did. "So...?"
"So?"
"So... how do we...?"
"As before, we wait and see- it will happen when it happens..."
"Although we could wait until Rupert is King..."
"True... however," he tipped her chin up to look into her eyes. "Neither of us would be too unhappy if it happened before then, would we?"
"No," she blushed deeply, already secretly excited at another baby and, looking into his eyes, she could see that he was too.
"But... I am wondering when Rupert will have a family of his own... not that I don't enjoy having free babysitters!" he joked as they sat down on one of the garden benches Clarisse had had installed the previous year. "Still... I don't like the thought of our boys being in line of fire, literally..."
"Darling, please, we've discussed this and, hopefully, neither of them will have to face being King..."
"I know... is Isabel ready for a family?" he looked at her questioningly, knowing Isabel had probably confided in her, and Clarisse regarded him calmly, not wanting to betray confidences but understanding his own fears.
"She does, but it's a matter between them... and Rupert doesn't need anymore pressure on him at the moment," she reminded him gently, and he nodded.
"I know, true and I promise I won't say anything... but you are very wise, even if you're only 27... or close to..." he teased before leaning over and kissing her, in full view of his parents, but he didn't care. He was proud of their relationship and enjoyed showing his family how much he loved her. "Sometimes I think that you're older than me!"
"Sometimes that seems the case to me as well," she teased, leaning over to kiss him lightly in return. "But I'm not the one who's turning thirty in September..." she added in a sing song voice as Joseph laughed, and was about o lean over to kiss her again before they were interrupted by Pierre and Phillipe crashing into their respective legs, wanting attention.
000
Much to their mutual disappointment, Joseph was away for his actual birthday, on a two day conference in Madrid, but he promise his wife he would be home the night of his birthday so that he "could celebrate at least some of my milestone birthday with my family!"
While Clarisse was disappointed that he wouldn't be home for much of the day (and she had asked him if he wanted her to come with him, but he insisted she stay home with the boys), she was also secretly pleased as it would be easier to set up for his surprise party if he wasn't there.
"But I will be looking forward to the presents" he teased almost beseechingly and she laughed, knowing what he was trying to do but not giving him an inch. The boys were 'giving' him a couple of new ties and a framed picture of the three of them- Clarisse had come across them asleep on the floor, Pierre lying beside Joseph and Phillipe on his chest, and she couldn't resist taking a picture of them- engraved with 'Happy Birthday Daddy!" She herself was giving him a silver, diamond encrusted watch with the engraving "Happy 30th my darling! C" on the back of the face, as well another set of her father's cuff links and matching tie pin. She couldn't wait to give them to him, although she suspected Rupert and Isabel would be giving him something bigger- something like a horse, an bar for his study, a boat... she had no idea...
The morning of her husband's birthday, Clarisse called him early, hoping to catch him, and he sounded delighted to hear from her, although he couldn't resist teasing, albeit lovingly:
"We only spoke last night, and we'll see each other tonight!" but he was thrilled she had called- she always made him feel special, as she chuckled softly.
"I didn't want your day to start without me wishing you a happy birthday... and surely it was a nice way to start your day?" she inquired coyly.
"It's an incredibly nice start to my birthday," he laughed. "Thank you, my darling, I love you for calling me and I can't wait to see you and the boys tonight!"
So, while Joseph spent much of his birthday in meetings, Clarisse was busy instructing her servants, as well as a few borrowed from the palace, on how she wanted everything set up. Joseph's parents had offered the use of the palace but she, knowing it would mean more to him if the party was at his home, had gently declined the offer.
By the time she left for the airport at 5:30, dressed in a red dress her husband loved, the guests had arrived and were gathered in the living room to wait the arrival of the guest of honour. Rupert was on lights, and he promised to have them switched off when he though they would be approaching the house, knowing how long the trip to and from the airport was.
Clarisse could help but chuckle excitedly as she sat in the car and watched the plane land on the tarmac, a few metres away from the car- she hadn't done this since Pierre was two weeks old and she hoped he would be surprised. She was hard pressed not to leap out of the car as he descended the stairs of the plane, and race into his arms (very undignified but what she wanted to do) but she remained calmly in the car, although her stomach was full of butterflies. After nearly five years, she was always a little nervous and excited whenever he returned from a trip she didn't accompany him on, and she was certain their private reunion would be worth it...
The butterflies increased as she watched his silhouette come closer and closer to the car before the door was opened and Joseph slid in with a small, tired sigh, clearly relieved to be home and, completely unaware of the other occupant in the car, laid his head back against the seat.
He almost jumped out of his skin when he heard a soft voice beside him murmur: "Surprise!" and looked, momentarily bewildered, at Clarisse before recovering quickly to beam lovingly at her.
"Indeed it is... a lovely surprise," he responded before sliding over the seat to wrap his arms around her. "A very lovely surprise," he repeated before kissing her gently.
"The last time I did this was when Pierre was a month old," she reminded him gently and she smiled, remembering how happy he had been then- Pierre had been a newborn, only two weeks old, when he had been sent, almost kicking and screaming, overseas and it had been the longest two weeks of his life, but Clarisse had surprised him by meeting him at the airport- and he was just as happy now.
"I know, and I've been thrilled both times, especially as you're the welcoming party!" he smiled before he kissed her again, this time with increasing passion as his hand cupped her cheek gently.
Clarisse's head began swimming as he deepened the kiss, marvelling again at how the man could reduce her to a quivering wreck with one kiss, but when she felt his hand drift down to her knee and rub gently while making it's ascent up her leg, she knew she had to put a stop to it before it got out of control and they arrived home.
She sometimes took Joseph's passionate nature and intense feelings for her for granted while finding them simultaneously exhilarating and frightening, but she could now remember that and, while a little frightened, she wanted to give into them, giving all of herself to his kiss, there were sixty guests waiting at home for them, and it wouldn't do to show up all flushed...
"Darling..." she began, his lips leaving her and moving towards her neck, almost oblivious to her.
"Sweetheart..." she tried again with a smile, resting one hand on his hand on her leg and the other on his chest and pushing them both away. "Romantic as this may be, and while love the way you make me feel..." she caressed his cheek gently, her smile broadening as she surveyed his breathless, dishevelled appearance, clearly disappointed that she had pushed him away. "Our evening has only just begun..."
"What does our evening entail?" he asked huskily, buckling the middle seatbelt and leaning back next to her. "Hopefully it's just you, me, a quiet dinner, dancing in the living room and an early night..."
"Nice," Clarisse smiled affectionately at him. "I wish I'd thought of that, but... your parents are looking after the boys and we're having dinner with Rupert and Isabel... how does that fit in your plans?" she asked smoothly, almost bursting over with laughter at the thought of the guests waiting at home to celebrate his birthday.
"Fine with me...but the early night may be a possibility?" he sounded hopeful and she laughed as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"You're incorrigible!"
The house was completely blanketed in darkness when he helped her out of the car and she laughed when he looked at her with a small frown.
"I gave the staff the evening off after they had prepared dinner..." she said glibly as she led him towards the front door. "So, the boys are at the palace, dinner is prepared and all we need to do is wait for Rupert and Isabel..."
"Sounds romantic..." he murmured before wrapping an arm around her waist as she unlocked the door. "It gives me an idea..." he added before she pushed his arm away with a laugh.
"Nice try, mister!" before she led him into the dark, silent house, Joseph reaching over for the light switch next to the door, before...
"SURPRISE!" he was suddenly inundated with a whole group of voices, quickly followed by the lights being switched on, and Joseph found himself surrounded by his family and friends, all beaming at him and suddenly Charlie shouted:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"