No characters belong to me, just a few little ideas from my imagination. Characters property of Disney Meg Cabot.
Chapter 12 (Part 1)
They were settled into a routine so perfectly normal that Clarisse felt an overwhelming sense of jealousy against those who took such normalcy for granted; anger at those who tired of what they considered to be mundane.
They sat together in front of the window overlooking the ocean, just enjoying being together. Joseph dreaded broaching the subject of their return to Genovia, but there were things that needed to be arranged. 'Darling, we must talk about what we are to say when we return home.' he said; and as predicted, her skin paled.
'I guess we must.' she said finally; assigned to her fate as she always had been. 'So how do we explain this?' she asked him.
'I have a few suggestions. The first I know you will hate, but I wish to tell you nonetheless.'
'Go on.'
'We say she is the result of a fling between myself and a woman, that said woman left her with my sister, demanding she be given to me to bring up. It would however mean leaving Sofia here for a few weeks to make the story plausible.' he said.
'I don't know that I can leave her Joseph. It would kill me to be parted from her.' she said sadly as she looked down into her daughter's deep blue eyes.
'Or else we say she is the child of a relative who cannot cope and has asked us to raise her.'
'What else?'
'We say you adopted her. Say her mother abandoned her at the same clinic where you were having treatment for your illness and you formed a bond with her and decided to adopt her. This way you can bring her up as your own.' he said.
'So many things can go wrong with each of those scenarios.' Clarisse said sadly.
'We have to make a decision my love.'
'Either way one of us will lose out.' she said.
'No; we know we are her parents and we have the memories and the bonds formed here. No one can take that away from us Clarisse.'
'Can I have time to think it over?'
'Of course.' Joseph said.
'I do think this little one needs changing though.' Clarisse said to him; and he sighed.
'Very well.' he said; and she handed their daughter over.
Joseph had grown accustomed to changing their daughter, supervised by Clarisse. 'Rupert hated me to do such menial tasks as this. He was certain these jobs were for the nannies. I know it was tradition; and by Philippe I was used to it, but with Pierre...Joseph, it was pure torture watching nannies bringing up my child.' she said as she passed some talcum powder to him.
'You were barely more than a child yourself.' Joseph said.
'I love my boys so much, but I fear this life stole many moments from us.' she said as she helped Joseph secure the nappy. 'Your boys adored you, your granddaughter adores you and so does our daughter.' Joseph said as he lifted their daughter up to rest against his shoulder. 'And I adore you.' he said.
'And I you my dear Joseph.' Clarisse said. They kissed before Joseph settled Sofia in her Moses basket and switched on her illuminating globe, which began to play a light lullaby.
Joseph and Clarisse sat on the edge of their bed, watching as their daughter's eyes danced around to take in the coloured patterns glowing on the ceiling. 'I used to sing this to my boys.' Clarisse said.
'I remember. Even then my dear, I was always there..watching and listening. It was not just your boys who derived pleasure from your angelic singing.' he said.
'Joseph...' she said; blushing again at his praise. Joseph placed his hand at her neck, his thumb running back and forth along her jaw before he placed a gentle kiss to her lips. Their eyes met between their butterfly kisses and their hearts fluttered as their lips caressed softly and lovingly. Joseph's lips trailed down Clarisse's neck, stalling at her racing pulse as her arms wrapped around his neck. 'Joseph...' she said huskily. He kissed her lips lightly once more before moving to the other side of her neck. His kisses upon the delicate skin of her neck were causing her to let out soft moans of pleasure. She reclined, pulling him with her, his kisses not ceasing for a moment as she held him closely. 'Joseph?' she said quietly; and he stopped kissing to look into her eyes.
'My darling.' he said.
'Thank you.'
'What for?' he asked as his fingers laced through her blonde hair.
'I know we are playing a dangerous game, but I am so thankful to you for showing me what real love is.'
'I should be thanking you my dear, for returning the love of a lowly security guard.'
'Joseph, I married into Royalty. It was a life chosen for me. Who knows what I would have become otherwise? Never think for a moment that you and I are anything but equals.'
'Darling-'
'Joseph, I am so happy our paths led to each other. I am happy we are finally together and I am happy you gave me our beautiful daughter.'
'Whatever happens?'
'Whatever happens. When we found out I was pregnant, I was scared, but I promise you that I don't regret a moment we have shared. I need you to know that before we return to Genovia.'
'There is one thing I need us to do before we leave.' Joseph said.
'Anything.'
'I want to visit my mother's grave and I want you and Sofia to come with me. I would like her to know that I finally have the family she always hoped I would.'
'I wish I could have met her.'
'She would have loved you Clarisse...and she would have adored Sofia.' he said.
'I love you so much my dear Joseph.' Clarisse said as she caressed his cheek. His eyes darkened as he dipped to kiss her again; and passion soon descended upon the couple.
(Okay, so Clarisse has a difficult decision to make. I want to see what the readers of this story think she should do before I update.)