...Continued.

"what?" Clarisse said looking at him

"yesterday, you told me the tests was Charlotte's" he said "I asked her and she doesn't know anything about them" he said getting a bit angry "So whose are they?"

There was a moment silence

he stood up "I will ask again, whose are they?" he said watching Clarisse as she stood up

"they are mine" Sofia said jumping up "don't get mad at Mom, its not her fault"

"WHAT?" he yelled

Clarisse looked at Sofia "go to your room"

"no" she said standing between them "I won't leave you"

"Sofia" Clarisse said cupping her cheek "its ok, I will be fine" she looked at Joe as he stood looking at them in shock then she looked back at Sofia "I promise"

"but what if he hits you" Sofia whispered

Clarisse cupped her face "I promise you he will never ever hit me"

"but... how can you be sure" Sofia whispered

"because" Clarisse started while looking up at Joe "he knows that if he hits me he will lose me" she answered looking back at Sofia

"go to your room now Sofia, I will deal with you later" Joe said as she turned to look at him

"don't you ever" Clarisse started as she moved in front of Sofia "say that to her again" she snapped

"Mom" Sofia said a bit panicked

"Rupert used to say that to me when he was in a mood" she said looking him in the eyes

Sofia saw Joe clench his fist and she quickly moved between them "Don't you dare" Sofia yelled "you will have to go through me first"

"Sofia" Clarisse gasped in surprise then grabbed her arms pulling her back "what are you doing?" she asked "go to your room, I will come see you in a bit" she pointed to the door "Now" she said firmly

"But Mom" Sofia started

"NOW" she yelled then watched as she walked out slamming the door behind her

"first of, you lied to me" Joe said looking at her "then you kept that from me? don't you think I should of had a right to no?"

"no" Clarisse shook her head "what she tells me stays between us, if she wanted to tell you then that's up to her" she said folding her arms

"I didn't even know she had a boyfriend" he snapped

"well she doesn't now" she answered

"I can't believe this" he said walking around the room "shes 15, don't you think somewhere along the lines you should of told me this?"

"no" she shook her head

"and the fact that you lied to me and told me they was Charlotte's" he looked at her "that's our baby Clarisse" he said sitting down and held his head in his hands then looked at her "you lied to me, we aren't meant to do that, we aren't meant to have secrets"

"like you lied and kept a secret from me?" she answered as he looked at her "your best mates stag do?" she started "yes, he told me last night" he just looked down "yes the flirting, the touching" she shuddered "and you told me nothing happened"

"I wasn't the only one" he said standing back up

"shes a stripper Joseph" she snapped

"I'm not Rupert Clarisse, I'm not" he answered and watched as she sighed and sat down

"it doesn't matter its the fact you couldn't even tell me what happened, I had to hear it from your friend" she looked at him "I asked you and you said nothing happened" she shook her head

"you flirt too" he asked watching her "a lot actually"

"no I don't, the only man I ever flirt with is you" she snapped back "so don't even dare accuse me of that"

"if it bothers you that much, why did you sleep with me last night after you found out?" he asked

"because I tried so hard to push it to the back of my mind, then when this came up and you started talking about secrets, it came running to the front of my mind screaming at me" she said crossing her legs and looked at him "did you sleep with her?" she asked looking down for a second then back at him

"no" he answered and moved kneeling next to her "I would never ever do that to you, I promise you that" he said taking her hand in his "you are the only woman for me baby" she looked at him "I promise you that" he put his hand up cupping her cheek

"then what was all the flirting and touching about" she asked

"just a bit of fun, I promise" he studied her face

"it would make sense, I was away for 5 weeks when this happened" she said looking at him

"I would never do that to you Clarisse, as I said I'm not Rupert" he shook his head

"why did you tell me that they didn't have a stripper?" she questioned

"because that's what the groom wanted, so his wife wouldn't find out" he answered

"you mean, your wife" she looked at him with tears in her eyes

"please don't cry Clarisse, I promise you now on our daughters life's" he took her hands and held them to his chest "that nothing happened"

"please" she said pulling her hands free and watched him stand up

"how can I prove to you that nothing happened" he said looking at her as she stood up "Clari?"

"I'm going for a walk, we will continue this afterwards" she said slipping on her shoes "I need to think and clear my head"

"Clarisse?" he watched as she walked over to the door "I love you, you no that right?"

She looked back at him then walked out, he sighed and slumped in the chair. After a while he went to talk to Sofia then headed downstairs.

"Dad, have you seen Mom?" Olivia asked "I need to ask her something and she's not here and her cars gone"

"what?" he asked rushing to the door and looked then looked back at her

"whats going on?" Olivia asked

"nothing darling, why don't you go up and see your sister maybe she can help" he said grabbing his keys and the phone, calling for shades

"its her birthday dinner soon too" Olivia said

"I know, don't worry she will be here" he nodded "I promise"

"you called?" Shades said coming into the hall

"yes I need you to come with me" Joe said

"ok" he said walking over to him


Pulling up behind Clarisse's car, Shades got out and walked around to the drivers side.

"thanks Shades" Joe said handing him the keys while getting out the car

"no worries, but do you want me to wait a bit first in case she drives of?" Shades asked

"no it will be fine, and even if she does its not that far from the Palace" Joe answered

"ok, good luck" Shades said getting in the car and drove of

Joe walked over to the car and knocked on the window.

"let me in Clari" he waited and after a moment the doors unlocked, he climbed in and looked at her "I'm so sorry Clarisse" she just looked at him "I have talked with Sofia and she explained everything to me" he said looking at her as she nodded "I was just angry because she's our baby and is growing up so fast" he looked at Clarisse as she started crying

"I was only trying to protect her" she answered while wiping a tear away

"I know that now, she told me everything" he said looking down while reaching for her hand "I saw a scared girl tonight" he looked up at her as she looked at him "even though she was brave and stood up to me, when she was telling me everything I didn't see that strong girl who stood up to me" he whispered "I saw a scared girl and no matter how old she gets I will always do my best to protect her, Olivia and you" he said looking at Clarisse as she sat sobbing "Clarisse I'm sorry"

"I know" she nodded "I know you wouldn't do what Rupert done, I'm sorry I even asked" she cried

"its ok, I understand" he put his arm up as she moved closer and cried on his chest "I love you Clari and always will, I will never hurt my girls, and I would never cheat" he held her close "ever" he whispered

"you promise" she lifted her head and looked at him "its always my fear, ever since Rupert done it that you may get bored and move onto someone younger" she cried

"never" he said shaking his head "you are the only one for me and always will be, we are going to grow old together" he said brushing her hair back behind her ear "as living and loving you makes me feel like the frisky teenager men long to live with finding a younger bride"

Clarisse chuckled a bit "I love you" she lent closer and kissed him "sorry I asked such a stupid question, I guess fear got the better of me" she said resting her head on his chest

"its ok, I understand that" he whispered rubbing her back "no more secrets?" he asked

"I promise" she said looking at him for a second then rested her head back down

"I promise too" he kissed the side of her head "hey, I have an idea"

"what?" she asked sitting up

"how about we get the blanket out the trunk and lay on the grass watching the stars?" he said with a smile

"I would like that" she smiled

"great" Joe smiled back and got out the car, followed by Clarisse as he got the blanket and laid it on the grass where they both laid down on it

"it's beautiful" Clarisse smiled extending her arm across Joe's torso while resting her head on his chest

"it's more beautiful than I thought it would be" Joe said "I know you can see some stars from the Palace but this is wow" he whispered

"I know, it's amazing" Clarisse whispered back

They lay in silence for a bit when Clarisse sees a shooting star.

"quick make a wish?" she asked resting on her arm next to him

"ok" he thought a moment then smiled "made one"

"really?" she asked as he nodded "what is it?"

"that will be telling" he smirked as she smiled "but I will tell you" he took her hand and looked into her eyes "I wished that you and I will be ok"

"of course we will be ok" she moved closer "I promise your wish will come true" she whispered and kissed him while putting her hand up onto his jaw and moved it to the side of his head as he deepend the kiss while holding her close

"thank you" he smiled and kissed her a couple times "are you cold?"

"a little, yes" she nodded

"shall I get the other blanket or do you want to go back?" he asked

"the other blanket is fine, I don't want to go back yet" she smiled watching him sit up as she laid back on her back

"coming right up" he lent over and kissed her before standing up

He got the spare blanket and covered them over while laying back down next to her where she snuggled up with him.

"I was thinking" Joe said as Clarisse lifted her head and looked at him "Sofia is going to be ok in the big world"

"I know, she really surprised me earlier" Clarisse said "standing up to you"

"it reminds me how fast shes grown up" he said sadly

"I know, that is true" Clarisse whispered while resting her head back down "and Olivia is going to be 13 soon too, they have both grown up so fast" she sighed "its so scary"

"you are right there" Joe nodded and kissed the top of her head

They laid watching the stars again for a few minutes.

"Another shooting star" Joe smiled "your turn this time, make a wish baby" he grinned

she thought a wish then smiled "ok, made one"

"and what will that be?" he asked lifting his head to look at her

"I wished that my very sexy husband would make love to me under the beautiful stars" she smiled tipping her head back and looked at him

"oh that I can make come true" he chuckled putting his hand on her side as he turned onto his side and kissed her "but are you sure? we are out in the open after all?" he smirked

"I know we are and I find it rather exciting" she giggled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she kissed him

"ok then" he moved kneeling between her legs as she sat up

She pulled his shirt from his pants as they shared a deep kiss then she looked down as she undone his pants and pushed them down with his boxers, then quickly removed her panties before he kissed her onto her back.

As things started to get going and very heated between them on the hill, fireworks started going of.

"wow" Clarisse exclaimed tilting her head back

"our own fireworks" Joe giggled then looked back at her as she looked up at him "to mark your birthday I believe?" he smiled lowering himself and kissed her

"I believe so" she answered and kissed him back

as he started thrusting again he smiled against her neck "Happy Birthday baby" he whispered and kissed her


After a while they left the hill and headed back to the castle, knowing it was late and they both missed dinner. They stood in the hall kissing for a bit when Harriet came in from the kitchen.

"Oh I am sorry" she said looking at them "you are aware that your hours late for your dinner, right?"

Clarisse laughed and looked at her "I am yes" she smiled feeling Joe's hand on her ass

"I will go and get us some food to take upstairs, ok?" he asked as she nodded and he kissed her a couple times before walking off

Harriet watched as he disappeared then she walked over to her "its nice to see you have both made up, Sofia told me" she said looking at Clarisse as she couldn't stop smirking "ok, you have that look in your eye" Harriet gasped "where did you do it this time?"

"on the hill" Clarisse smirked full of excitement "oh it was so magical, under the moon and stars, it was amazing and we literally had our own fireworks too" she giggled

"oh of course" she laughed with her "I am really glad that you made up" Harriet smiled "you look so much better with a smile on your face" she grinned as Joe came back in "oh by the way, Sofia I think is waiting for you to come home"

"ok, thank you I will go and check on her" she smiled "see you in the morning"

"of course" Harriet smiled and watched them walk up the stairs

Clarisse went to check on Olivia who was fast asleep, she walked over and kissed her forehead before pulling the covers back over her, then turned her lamp of before walking over to the door, she looked back at her for a few seconds then walked out, pulling the door up behind her.

Then she went to Sofia's room and slowly opened it to see if she was still awake, and noticed she was laying with her back to the door, guessing she was a sleep she slowly walked over and sat on the edge of the bed

"Mom" Sofia said turning onto her back

"I thought you was sleeping" Clarisse said looking at her

"I couldn't not till I knew you was back home" she sat up "are you and daddy ok?"

"yes we are" Clarisse nodded "now its late, so get some sleep ok?"

"ok" she hugged and kissed her "I love you Mom"

"I love you too" she said kissing her cheek then sat back and stood up "goodnight darling and see you in the morning"

She left Sofia to sleep and headed back to her suite, and climbed into bed with Joe. Ate a bit of food while talking then they both snuggled down to get some sleep themselves.