Tuesday 14th February 2006.

"Happy Valentine's Day, my beautiful wife," Joseph smiled from the bedroom doorway with a breakfast tray in his hands and made his way over to the bed as Clarisse slowly pushed herself up.

"And happy Valentine's Day to you too, my love," she smiled up at him and watched as he placed the tray on the bed in front of her before leaning closer to kiss her.

"I'll be back," he grinned and disappeared out into the suite a moment before coming back in with a huge bouquet of red roses, a box of Clarisse's favourite chocolates, a neatly wrapped present and a card.

"Oh my goodness," Clarisse exclaimed and watched as Joseph placed the vase of flowers on the bedside table and handed her the rest of the items. "Thank you," she smiled.

"You're welcome," he smiled back and kissed her once again before moving around the bed, "sorry I couldn't make the breakfast myself, but I promise when we get home tomorrow I'll make it up to you and make you your favourite."

"You don't have too, it's fine," she smiled and watched as he sat down on the bed beside her. "I have a card and present for you in my case, I'll get them for you in a minute."

"Oh you didn't have to, you are all I need," he said, sitting back against the headboard.

"You're all I need too, but I still got you a little something," she smiled back at him and started to open her present as he placed his hand on her back, gently smoothing it back and forth. Putting the paper to one side, she lifted the lid to find a beautiful floral print silk scarf. "How did you know?" She gasped and turned on the bed to find him smirking at her.

"Are you kidding? I saw your eyes when you saw it in the shop the other day, I'm actually surprised you didn't get it yourself with how you reacted when you saw it," he smiled and watched as she lifted it from the box and slipped it around her neck.

"Oh I know, but I reasoned that I had too many scarfs already," she said and looked back at him.

"You can never have too many scarfs," he smiled while reaching his hand out to grab one of the ends between two of his fingers and pulled it gently.

"You're right, thank you my love," she beamed and reached her hands out to cup his face and kissed him, "I love it."

"After your reaction, I knew you would," he smiled, "anyway, shall we eat breakfast before it gets too cold?" He asked while reaching out for a slice of toast and took a bite of it.

"Oh yes, of course," she nodded and removed the scarf to put to one side.

"I love you, Mrs E." He said and watched as she turned her head to look at him.

"I love you too," she smiled and kissed him before turning back to the breakfast tray.

Later That Morning.

After getting ready for her day, Clarisse picked up the vase of roses from the bedside table and made her way into the suite just as Joseph hung up from a call. "Who was that?" She asked, stepping between two chairs and placed the vase down in the middle of the table.

"Oh just Gino, he wanted to know what time we were going to be at the restaurant later," he said, watching as she stepped back behind the chairs and put one hand on her hip and her other on the back of the chair. "I said about seven, is that okay?"

"Yes, sevens okay," she nodded and looked to find him smirking at her, "what?" She asked and smiled.

"I was just thinking how beautiful you look this morning," he smiled and reached out for her hand, "just like you do every minute of the day, now come here you."

"Joseph?" She smiled, allowing him to gently pull her to sit in his lap, "we have to leave for Victoria's soon."

"I know," he smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist and looked up into her eyes, "I just wanted to hold you a moment."

"Okay," she smiled and watched as he closed his eyes and rested his chin against the top of her arm. Savouring the moment she rested her head on his and averted her gaze to the roses while putting her hand up to cup his face.

"Well, I suppose we better get going," Joseph said moments later while smoothing his hand across the bottom of her back as he lifted his head. "Are you going to be alright driving Elly's car?" He asked as his gaze met hers.

"Of course I'm okay driving her car, I have driven it before you know?" She smirked.

"I know you have, but that was locally and I wanted to make sure you were comfortable driving it to Victoria's, because if you weren't then I was going to call Gino to let him know and he would have took us."

"Oh no, we can't let him do it today. He's been driving us around most of the trip," she said while standing to her feet and turned to him, "besides Elly's lent us her car especially for us to use today, so we are going to be using it."

"Okay, I just wanted to make sure," he smiled as she reached out for his hands and helped him to his feet.

"Please don't worry, I'll be fine," she said, cupping his face in her hands as she stepped closer to him, "or, are you worried because its me who's going to be driving you?" She asked.

"Oh no, I actually love it when you drive us places," he said, putting his hands on her sides and smoothed them around to her back.

"Good," she smiled and reached up to kiss him a moment before looking back up into his eyes. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to grab my coat then we can go."

"Okay," he smiled, watching the sway of her hips as she crossed the room and disappeared into the bedroom. He took a deep breath and wished for old times... times when she didn't hold back, when he could hold her and pursue all the desires of his heart. Letting out a sigh at the thoughts, he turned back to the table and picked up his wallet, putting it in his pants pockets before taking his coat from the back of the chair and slipped it on.

Coming back into the room moments later, Clarisse looked over at him as he stood doing up his coat buttons and smiled. "Ready?" She asked and picked up her handbag, making sure she had everything she needed before picking up the car keys.

"I am," he nodded and made his way over to her standing by the door.

"Good, then let's go," she smiled and opened the door.

Later.

Arriving at Victoria's sometime later, they climbed from the car as Victoria opened her front door to greet them. "Alysse, presto, vieni a vedere chi c'è qui?" Victoria smiled as she turned to look back into the house.

"Chi è, mamma?" Alysse said as she came into the hallway and stopped when she saw Joseph and Clarisse walking towards the door. "Nonno, Joey!" She gasped and began running towards them.

"Hello little one," Joseph beamed and crouched down to scoop her up in his arms, giving her a big hug as he stood back up.

"Mi sei mancato," Alysse beamed as she pulled her head back to look at him and kissed his cheek.

"Anche tu mi sei mancata," Joseph smiled and whispered in her ear, "che dici di Clarisse?"

"Anche tu mi sei mancato," Alysse smiled and leant closer to kiss Clarisse's cheek.

"Grazie," Clarisse smiled at her then at Joseph for help.

"She said, she missed you too," he smiled.

"Ahh well," Clarisse smiled and looked back at the little girl in Joseph's arms, "I missed you too." She said and Alysse giggled.

"Sorry," Joseph smiled and wrapped his free arm around Clarisse's shoulders, "we'll talk English now."

"No it's okay, I remember some words but I'm very rusty with the language," she said and looked at Victoria.

"That's okay," Victoria smiled from the doorway, "shall we go in."

"Yes, sorry sweetheart," Joseph smiled and made his way over to her, "hello," he said and kissed her cheek before walking inside.

"Hello darling," Clarisse smiled and kissed her cheek before following Joseph inside as he put Alysse down.

"Nonno, I want to show you my house," Alysse said as she took hold of Joseph's hand and looked up at him.

"Your house?" Joseph said as he looked down at her.

"Yes, her new dolls house that her daddy bought home for her yesterday, it's in the living room," Victoria smiled as Joseph looked up at her.

"Ahh I see," Joseph smiled and looked back down at Alysse, "let's go then, you show me your house."

"While she's showing you, I'm going to make the tea," Victoria said and laughed as Alysse dragged Joseph towards the living room door.

"I'll give you a hand," Clarisse smiled and watched as Victoria looked back at her.

"Thank you, it's this way," Victoria smiled at her and led the way into the kitchen. "I can't believe how much Alysse has dad wrapped around her little finger already."

"I know me too, but he loves it," Clarisse smiled and gathered some cups on the tray as Victoria filled the kettle, "he's really enjoyed it this past ten days, we both have."

"We have too, especially Alysse," Victoria said and looked up at Clarisse, "it will be so hard when she realises that you have returned to Genovia."

"I know, I was thinking that this morning," Clarisse said and looked up at Victoria, "but we will be back soon, and you are all welcome to us anytime."

"Thanks, we appreciate that," nodded Victoria.

"Alysse, have you remembered that you have a present for Nonno Joey and Clarisse?" Victoria said as she and Clarisse came into the living room moments later with tea and biscuits.

"I do," smiled Alysse, "I forgot."

"I thought you had," Victoria smiled as she placed the tea tray down on the coffee table beside the present and picked it up, "it's here."

"Grazie, mamma," Alysse giggled as she ran around to Victoria and took the present from her. "Here you go, Nonno Joey."

"Oh thank you, little one," Joseph smiled and knelt down on one knee as she walked back around to him.

"It's a photo of me, you, mamma and Nonna Clarisse," Alysse said, taking Joseph and Clarisse by surprise.

"That's right sweetheart, Clarisse is your Nonna," Victoria said as she looked down at Alysse and Joseph then looked up at Clarisse standing beside her. "If you are alright with her calling you that, that is?"

"Of course I am," Clarisse smiled at Victoria, "as long as it's okay with your adopted mum and Liliana."

"My adopted mum is perfectly okay with it, and Liliana? I don't care what she thinks," Victoria said as Joseph looked up at her, "yes, I know everything she's done to you both lately and as of right now I want nothing more to do with her." She said and looked at Clarisse.

"Oh darling," Clarisse said softly and wrapped her arm around Victoria's shoulders, giving her a hug.

"I'm just glad you are okay again and didn't give up on each other," Victoria said and watched as Joseph looked up at Clarisse.

"Me too," he said and smiled at Clarisse before looking down at Alysse. "OK, so how about I open this present now?"

"Yeah," Alysse exclaimed excitedly and watched as Joseph opened the present, the photo of the four of them together.

"Oh, I love it, thank you little one," Joseph smiled and hugged his granddaughter.

That Evening.

After getting ready for their last night out in Italy, Clarisse stood in the bedroom doorway while putting the scarf that Joseph had given her that morning around her neck and watched her husband as he stood by the table with the photo that Alysse gave them in his hands.

"Are you okay?" She asked and watched as he turned his head to look over at her.

"Yes," he nodded and looked back at the table as he stood the photo back down before turning to her. "You look beautiful tonight, like always," he smiled, complimenting her red lace overlay knee length dress.

"Thank you," she smiled and walked over to him, "but are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, of course," he said and turned slightly to look back at the photo a moment as she watched him, "I couldn't be better," he smiled and looked back at her.

"Well that's good," she smiled and stepped closer to him, snaking her arms around his neck as he put his hands on her sides.

"You know, I think that things are finally going right for us," he said, smoothing his hands around to her back. "We're together and happier than ever before, and how lucky are we to have the family we do?"

"Yes we are," she smiled as their eyes met, "we are very lucky."

"I love you," he said softly, averting his gaze down to her lips.

"I love you too," she smiled and closed her eyes as he kissed her. Pulling back a moment later, she looked back up into his eyes and smiled, "I better go get my jacket from the bedroom."

"Okay, I'll be right here waiting," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"I'll be back in a moment then," she smiled and turned to walk away but stopped when he grabbed hold of her waist, stopping her from leaving, "Joseph?" She laughed.

"Just one more minute," he said, turning her back to face him, "I just love holding you."

"Oh you do?" She asked, smirking as he slowly stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.

"Oh I do," he smiled, his desire for her growing as he kissed her once again. But hearing a knock on the door a moment later, they both let out a frustrated sigh as Joseph rested his forehead against hers. "That'll be Gino, picking us up to take us to the restaurant."

"I figured it would be," she nodded and pulled her head back to look into his eyes, "I better get my jacket this time."

"Yes, you better had," he said, reluctantly letting her go and started to walk over to get the door as Clarisse made her way over to the bedroom door, "you smell delicious by the way," he smiled and watched as she turned to him.

"Thank you," she smiled, walking backwards a few steps before turning and walking into the bedroom, pushing the door up behind her.

"Hey," Joseph said as he opened the door, "come in."

"Thanks," Gino smiled as he stepped in the room and closed the door behind him, "I know I'm a bit early."

"That's alright," Joseph smiled and slipped on his coat, "we're nearly ready."

"That's okay, there's no rush," Gino said and looked around the room, "where's Clarisse?"

"I'm here," Clarisse smiled as she come back into the room and watched as both men turned to her. "Good evening, Gino."

"Well hello there lovely," Gino smiled over at her, "are you ready to go?"

"I am," she smiled and looked at her husband as he walked over to her. "Do you have everything?"

"I do," he nodded and put his hand on her lower back as they walked over to the door.

"I see you like the scarf?" Gino smiled back at them as he opened the suite door and led the way out of the room.

"Oh I do," Clarisse smiled down at it then back up at him as she followed him.

"I'm glad, because it took us hours to find it because he couldn't remember what shop it was in," Gino said with a laugh.

"You did?" Clarisse asked and looked back at her husband as he closed the door behind them and they started walking towards the lift.

"It was nothing, it wasn't the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last time I spend hours looking for something for you either," he smirked.

"You've done it before?" Gino asked and pressed for the lift as they all stopped.

"Oh yes, years ago though," Clarisse smiled and turned to her husband, "he spent hours in a perfume shop trying to find the one I loved because he couldn't remember the name of it."

"Wouldn't it have been easier if you had just asked her?" Gino said and looked back at them as Clarisse put her hand up to cup her husbands cheek.

"It would have been, if it wasn't a present," Joseph smirked at him then looked into his wife's beautiful blue eyes, "I'd do anything for you," he smiled and kissed her.

Smirking, Gino looked at the lift just as the doors opened. "Lifts here."

Later That Night.

After having a lovely meal at the restaurant, Clarisse and Joseph returned to the hotel, and whilst Clarisse got changed into something more comfortable, Joseph poured them a drink each and put on the radio. But when she came back out of the bedroom a short time later, she found Joseph wasn't in the suite, but was actually out on the balcony.

Walking over to the door, she stood watching him a moment before finally speaking. "They're playing our song on the radio, would you like to dance?" She said and watched as he turned to her.

"I would love too," he smiled and walked over to her as she stepped backwards, allowing him to come back inside. Closing the door behind him, he took hold of her hand and led her into the middle of the room where he stopped and turned back to her. "I have missed dancing with you," he said as he stepped closer, keeping hold of her hand while wrapping his other arm around her waist as they began swaying slowly to their song.

"Me too," she smiled, putting her free arm around his shoulders and rested the side of her head against his as she closed her eyes, savouring the moment. But hearing him sigh a moment later, she lifted her head and looked up into his eyes. "What's the matter?"

"I don't know, we've had such a lovely time seeing Victoria and Alysse near enough everyday since we have been here, that I wish we didn't have to go home tomorrow," Joseph said sadly.

"Then let's not go home, let's stay," she said and watched as her husband raised his eyebrow.

"But we have already extended the trip once," he said, looking over her shoulder.

"I don't mean extend the trip again," she answered as they stopped swaying to the music and he looked back into her eyes, "I mean let's look for a house."

"What?" He said, his voice barely a whisper as he wasn't sure what she had said was real or if he had just heard her wrong.

"I said," she said and smiled up at him while putting her hands up, placing her fingers on his jaw, "let's stay and look for a house."

"That's what I thought you said," he said and looked around the room as he thought a moment before looking back into her eyes. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, of course I'm serious," she nodded, "I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't."

"But how come you changed your mind?" He asked, placing his hands on her sides.

"Not changed my mind as such, just made up my mind, that's all," she said and smoothed her hands down onto his chest, "a lot has happened over the last few months, Joseph. And seeing you with Victoria and Alysse, and how close you have become I want that to continue and for you to spend as much time as you can with them, and you can't do that from Genovia."

"But what about Mia and Pierre?" He asked, smoothing his hands around to her back.

"Pierre will be okay with it, Mia on the other hand will be upset at first, but I know that she will come round eventually." Clarisse said honestly, "and just think, if we moved here then you can be more hands on with the business and spend time with your sisters children, and their families too."

"That's true," he said, nodding slightly before looking back into her eyes, "but what about the house in Genovia? It's your dream house."

"I know it is, and it always will be my dream house, but we don't have to sell it just because we are moving here. We can keep it and that way whenever we do go back home we will have somewhere to stay. You know, for our privacy," she said, giving him a mischievous smirk.

"Oh that is true," he smiled as she giggled and looked down at her hands resting on his chest.

"But you don't have to decide right away, you have until tomorrow to think about it," she smiled and looked back up into his eyes.

"What's to think about?" He grinned as they gazed into one another's eyes a long moment before he kissed her.

"I'll take that as a yes then?" Clarisse asked a moment later as they pulled apart from the kiss.

"Yes, let's do it, let's buy a house," he exclaimed and locked his arms around her, spinning her around as she laughed out in surprise.

Now I can't talk Italian, so I am hoping that Google translate has served me well, fingers crossed, with what I wanted to say in this chapter. Haha anyway, here is the English translation.

Vieni a vedere chi c'è qui - come and see who is here.

Chi è, mamma? - who is it, mummy?

Nonno, Joey! - grandpa, Joey!

Mi sei mancata - I missed you.

Anche tu mi sei mancato - I missed you too.

Grazie - thank you.