Several weeks later.
After going to his Brothers last night to watch a game and having one to many beers Joe ended up staying the night there. Arriving home early this morning he headed upstairs to find Clarisse fast asleep in the middle of the bed, laying on her side.
Getting undressed he lifted the sheets and climbed in behind her, kissing her shoulder while placing his hand on her thigh, smiling against the back of her neck as she turned her head.
"Good morning sexy." He whispered as she half turned on her back to look at him.
"When did you get back?" She asked.
"Just a few moments ago," He smiled and kissed her a couple times while running his hand up and down her thigh "I missed you last night."
"I missed you too." She whispered, turning fully onto her back while putting her arm up, resting her hand on the back of his head.
"I was surprised Lena wasn't here with you when I came in," He whispered taking hold of her hand, kissing her fingers.
"Well she's not here, she stayed at Olivia's last night." Clarisse smiled.
"Oh that sounds good, think of all the things we could do this morning." He smiled and kissed her slowly, raising his head a moment later, kissing Clarisse's inner wrist as she put her hands up on the sides of his head, brushing his hair back.
"Someones excited this morning," Clarisse smirked after feeling his arousal against her thigh.
"Of course, I really really missed you last night." He whispered between kisses, feeling her move one hand to the back of his head, gripping his hair.
"Joseph dear, I appreciate you being so kind and gentle with me over the past several months but I think its time we start making love like we used to." She said smiling up at him.
"You mean you want to..." He said with a smile.
"Yes that's exactly what I mean...I want you to take me rough again, I'm not a china doll you know?" She said with a chuckle.
"Are you sure? I mean I don't want to cause you any pain physical or emotionally Clarisse." He whispered as she gripped his head in her hands, making him lower is head.
"Joseph, please just do it already." She whispered in his ear.
"Really?" He exclaimed while raising his head, looking down at her as she nodded her head and bit her bottom lip "How can I refuse that?" He smirked, lowering his head and nuzzled her neck as she laughed out.
After getting showered and dressed Clarisse headed downstairs, leaving Joseph to sleep in. Getting some toast and coffee she headed to her office, finding Pierre sat staring at the desk.
"Morning darling," Clarisse smiled as she made her way over to her desk, standing behind it while putting her plate and cup down to find him still staring "Pierre?" She said slowly sitting down as he came out of his day dream "Are you ok?" She asked.
"Pardon?" He asked.
"I said, are you ok?" She said again, taking a bite of her toast.
"Oh yes, I'm fine." He nodded and laughed nervously while standing up "I just remembered something." He said and hurried out the room.
"Okay." She said watching him disappear, with a small laugh she slipped on her glasses and opened her diary, sighing when she realized she had a meeting with Parliament after lunch.
After drinking her coffee she checked the time, realizing that she hadn't seen Charlotte yet this morning. Worried she headed out of her office and headed up the stairs as Erica and Shades came through the door.
"Mom," Erica called out, watching her suddenly stop and turn to them "Where are you going?"
"To check on Charlotte, I haven't seen her yet this morning." She said coming back down the stairs as Maxwell came through the foyer.
"And you won't find her upstairs either, she's out in the garden," He said as they all looked at him "She seems upset this morning." He said looking over at Clarisse.
"Ok, thank you Maxwell." She smiled and looked towards the stairs to see Joseph heading down them "Hello you." She smiled as he walked over, putting his arm around her waist, placing his hand on her lower back as he kissed her neck "Did you have a nice sleep?" She asked as Erica and Shades stood watching them.
"I did, I was surprised to find you gone though when I did wake up." He asked, standing really close to her.
"Well the country won't run itself you know?" She smiled up at him "Now if you don't mind I have to go and check on Charlotte." She smiled and turned to walk away, stopping she turned back to Erica "You didn't need me for anything did you?"
"No, but are you ok? You seem to be walking funny." She said and watched her laugh a little.
"Um.. I went for an early morning ride this morning." She said trying not to laugh out as Joseph did.
"My very own cowgirl." He smiled over at her with a wink as Erica and Shades looked at each other then back at them.
"Behave," Clarisse whispered to him and turned to walk out.
"Ahh she is just too cute." Joseph smiled and headed towards the kitchen.
"I don't think I even want to know." Erica laughed and carried on to the living room with Shades.
Finding Charlotte sat staring at the roses Clarisse stood back for a second then stepped closer, making her presence known.
"Charlotte," She whispered while standing beside her, pulling her cardigan together at the front as she sat down beside her "Is something wrong?"
Wiping a stray tear from her cheek, she looked at her "I'm sorry."
Taking Charlotte's hand in hers "Charlotte darling, what's wrong I've never seen you like this before?" Clarisse asked in a soft voice while rubbing the back of Charlotte's hand with her thumb.
"I…I can't work for you any longer, I'm so sorry." She managed to say before her voice cracked.
With a look of confusion on her face Clarisse looked at her "I don't understand, why can't you work for me anymore?" She asked.
Not being able to look her in the eyes Charlotte instead stared intently at her feet "You'll hate me when I tell you." She said taking a deep breath and continued to look down at her feet.
Clarisse cupping Charlotte's cheek making her look at her "Charlotte you have worked for me for a long time and you are excellent at your job but more importantly you have become a part of this family darling, we would be lost without you. Please tell me what's bothering you?" Clarisse pleaded.
"I can't..." she said standing up and walked over to the railing of the gazebo staring out at the gardens "It's better if I just leave." She whispered while looking down at her hands.
"Charlotte I'm not going to let you leave here until you tell me what it is that is bothering you so much." She said from the bench where she was still seated.
Turning to face her she whispered "I'm pregnant, I didn't mean for this to happen but it did," She shrugged "It was one night of passion." She said looking over at her "You must know what that's like." She asked, watching her as she nodded in agreement with a small smile.
"Yes I do." Clarisse nodded again while watching her cover her face with her hands as she started crying.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered as Clarisse stood up and moved next to her.
Wrapping her arms around her as she cried on her shoulder "Darling this is great news! Why would I ever hate you over this?" She asked pulling back to look at her as she lifted her head.
"Because it's Pierre's." She said turning away from Clarisse as she gasped.
"What?" She exclaimed not taking her eyes from her "I'm going to be a Grandma again?" She asked softly.
"That's why I must leave, no one needs to find out about this…I have already caused you so much shame I can't imagine what the press will say if they ever find out." Turning back to face her "I am truly sorry, I will be gone first thing in the morning." She said about to walk away but stopped when Clarisse grabbed her arm, both staring at each other.
"You can't leave Charlotte," Clarisse said with tears in her eyes "You can't do this to me too, Please don't do this to me, to my Son." She begged.
Seeing her boss and friend so upset was not the reaction Charlotte had expected, she thought that Clarisse would be glad that she was leaving but instead she sat on the bench with tears now spilling on her cheeks. Charlotte moved back sitting on the bench beside her "What's wrong? I thought this is what you would have wanted?"
Looking up at Charlotte "How could you possible think that?" She asked but not waiting for a reply "Helen took Amelia from me and now you want to do the same. I missed Mia calling me Grandma, taking her first steps, seeing her first tooth, her first everything Charlotte I missed it all," She cried "I can't go through that again, it will kill me." She exclaimed.
"I'm sorry." Charlotte said rubbing Clarisse's back.
"Please promise me you'll stay, if not for me then for Pierre and your unborn child?" She asked.
"But the press…" She started before begin cut off.
"Answer me this Charlotte, do you love my son?" Clarisse asked looking her in the eyes.
"I do very much." She answered confidently.
"Then let me deal with the press, you worry about keeping yourself and my new Grandchild healthy and safe." She said as she hugged her.
Pulling back from the embrace "So you really aren't mad at me?"
"I would only be mad at you if you leave," Clarisse said looking into her eyes "Your like a daughter to me Charlotte, this is your home." She said putting her hand up and pushed a bit of her hair back behind her ear.
"I promise I'm not going anywhere," She said smiling at her as they hugged again.
Pierre stood back for a few seconds and watched as they pulled apart, smiling to himself when Clarisse put her hand up to cup Charlotte's cheek. Knowing that she had been told the news he stepped closer, clearing his throat as he slowly walked up the couple of steps to the gazebo, watching as they both looked towards him.
"Ahh Pierre," Clarisse said jumping up.
"I take it Charlotte told you?" He asked as she stepped closer and hugged him.
"She did," Clarisse nodded, holding him tightly "I'm so happy for you." She said pulling back a little and cupped his cheek "Congratulations." She smiled and turned to Charlotte as she stepped closer "One more thing before I leave you alone," She smiled between them then looked at Charlotte "You two have a lot to talk about I am sure, so why don't you go up to the lodge for a few days." She said looking back at Pierre "Don't worry about everything here," She said looking at Charlotte "It will all be ok."
"Are you sure?" Pierre asked as Clarisse looked back at him.
"I am very sure, the key is in my office." She smiled while rubbing both their backs and stepped back "Just one more thing," She smiled while running her hands down their arms taking hold of their hands "Can I tell Joseph?"
"Oh well I didn't want..." Pierre started before getting cut of by Charlotte.
"Yes that's fine, but please don't tell anyone else." Charlotte said as they both looked at her "Not until we have talked about this properly."
"Ok," Clarisse smiled and hugged them both "I completely understand." She smiled stepping back "See you in a few days." She smiled and walked away, leaving them alone.
Heading back to the Palace Clarisse couldn't help but smile, finding Joseph in their suite standing beside him as he read the last couple lines on the page in his book before looking up at her.
"What are you smiling at?" He asked, closing the book and put it on the coffee table in front of him before taking her hand.
"I have some news that I am very excited to share." She smiled as he took hold of her other hand, making her step in front of him "Joseph what are you doing?" She asked.
"I want you to sit on my lap." He smiled up at her.
"Ahh ok," She smiled down at him, while leaning closer, putting her hands on his shoulders as she straddled him on the couch "Is that better?" She asked with a smile while moving one hand to the back of his head and the other down on his chest.
"Much," He smiled, kissing her while wrapping his arms around her waist "Now whats your exciting news?" He asked, rubbing her lower back.
"We are going to be Grandparents again," She smiled.
"Oh really?" He asked "Who? Olivia?" He asked as she shook her head "Erica? Already?" He asked as again she shook her head "Please don't tell me it's Cara or Rose as I didn't even know they had a boyfriend." He exclaimed.
"Nope, it's none of them." She smiled.
"Not Mia?" He exclaimed as she gasped.
"Nooooo Joe," She laughed "That would make is Great Grandparent's if it was Mia, and I certainly don't want to be one of them yet."
"Oh thank god!" He said relaxing a little "Neither do I." He chuckled.
Smiling at him "It's none of the girls." She smiled and giggled as he looked at her while raising his brow.
"If it's none of the girls, that only leaves Pierre?" He said and noticed her nodding "But I thought?"
"I know, so did I." She nodded.
"Whose the Mom?" He asked, cupping her bottom with both his hands.
"Charlotte." She smiled.
"Wow, really?" He asked in surprise "I didn't even know that they were together."
"They weren't, it just sort of happened." She shrugged "And this needs to stay between us for now, they are heading up to the lodge for a few days to talk about it properly and I promised I would only tell you." She said looking into his eyes as she played with his hair.
"Well I won't tell anyone." He smiled kissing her a couple times.
"So now that we are going to be Grandparents again, I guess we better start behaving?" She said with a cheeky smile.
"Never," He exclaimed and nuzzled her neck as she laughed, tipping her head back.
After lunch Rose sorted out Clarisse's hair up in the suite before she headed back down for her meeting with Parliament. When they finished, an hour later they came out and stood talking for a little while before Joseph appeared, saying her goodbyes she walked over to him as he stood smiling.
"What's wrong?" She asked and kissed his cheek.
"Nothing, in fact I need to see you up in the suite for a few minutes." He smiled taking her hand "I have something for you." He grinned, kissing the back of her hand as they started walking down the corridor.
"What is it?" She asked while looking at him.
"You will see." He smiled back at her as she smiled back.
Meanwhile upstairs Cara and Rose headed into their parent's suite to look for Rose's phone.
"Ok are you sure that you had it in here last?" Cara asked while looking over Clarisse's make up table.
"Yes, when I was in here after lunch with Mom doing her hair." Rose said.
"Ok, well get on with it, she will kill us if she knew we were in here, even if we are looking for the phone you lost." She whispered, going to grab a pillow but stopped "What was that?" She asked looking at Rose across the bed from her, then both looked towards the door as they heard Clarisse giggling "Quick, hide." She whispered.
Both falling to their knees hiding under the bed as Clarisse and Joseph came into the bedroom.
"Joseph it's the middle of the day, the children are home." They heard Clarisse say, followed by a giggle as he walked her backwards towards the bed.
"Shh!" Cara said looking at Rose, laying still beside her, then looked as they stood right next to the bed, both their hearts beating so fast they were scared to breathe.
"Who cares if it's the middle of the day, it's never stopped us before." They heard Joseph say, then looked at each other as they heard the sound of kissing.
"Oh my god." Rose mouthed to Cara "We need to get out." She said going to move but Cara grabbed hold of her, stopping her.
"We can't," Cara mouthed back, grabbing her arm, both looking towards where they were stood next to the bed.
"Joe, stop." Clarisse whispered "We can't do this now." They heard Clarisse say while not taking their eyes from each other, before something caught Roses eye, she looked away to see only Joseph's feet stood by the bed, pulling a face as Cara looked over, tipping her head forward a little.
"Oh no." Cara whispered and quickly covered her face "We are in so much shit right now." She said turning her head to look at Rose to see her eyes widen "Rose?" She whispered.
"I feel sick." Rose whispered and nodded towards where Joe was stood.
Cara turned her head to see him kicking away his pants and boxers "My god!" She whispered and looked back at Rose as they heard Clarisse giggle again "I'm never gonna be able to look them in the eyes again."
"I'm going to be sick." Rose whispered.
"Mmm Joe," Clarisse moaned followed with a gasp and giggle.
"Floor swallow me now, please." Rose whispered while putting her hands together, praying and closing her eyes "My god please I beg you." She said as Cara tried not to laugh "Stop it." Rose said, punching her arm, making her gasp followed by them both freezing and locking eyes scared that they just got caught.
"She's going to kill us." Cara mouthed to Rose, and pulled a face when the bed started squeaking.
"Oh my god, oh my god." Rose mouthed, closing her mouth as she covered it with her hand trying not to throw up "I'm going to join the church and become a nun when this is over." She whispered, seconds later.
"Get behind me, there's a queue." Cara whispered as Clarisse's moans started getting louder and more frequent as the bed started rocking more.
"Oh Clari, you feel so good." Joseph moaned as he started going faster, both the girls gasped and looked at each other "Oh Clari..."
"Oh Joe...Mmmm." They heard Clarisse moan "Yes, Oh Yes!" She moaned.
"I'm com...Oh god!" Joe exclaimed collapsing on top of Clarisse as she gasped, trying to catch her breathe just as Rose's phone started ringing, as both the girls looked at each other under the bed with eyes wide and covering each others mouths with their hands.
"What's that?" They heard Joseph say, as the bed creaked a little.
"Oh that must be Roses phone, she was in here earlier sorting out my hair for me." They heard Clarisse say "Whose calling?" She asked and watched him look at the phone.
"Just Erica." He answered then started kissing Clarisse for a few seconds as Rose and Cara pulled funny faces under the bed.
Clarisse laughed out moments later as Joseph stood up, grabbing her hands he pulled her up to stand in front of him as both the girls looked towards where they were stood.
"Want to shower with me?" They heard Joe say.
"Okay." Clarisse answered with a smile, leading him into the bathroom, closing the door behind them.
"Have they gone?" Rose asked, still covering her eyes "Please tell me they've gone." She whispered.
Cara moved forward a little to check and make sure the door was shut, then grabbed Rose's hand "Come on." She whispered, both hurrying to get out from under the bed and hurried out the suite, bumping into Erica as they rushed down the hall.
"There you are, I just tried calling you." Erica said.
"We know." Rose answered, not looking at her.
Noticing that they both looked pale "What's wrong with you two? You look like you've seen a ghost?" Erica asked, looking between the girls.
"I'm going to join the church," Rose nodded, still feeling sick "They we going so fast I thought the bed was going to break and fall on us." She said slowly walking away.
"What's happened?" Erica asked while looking at Cara.
"You don't wanna know." She said and hurried after Rose.
Erica stood and watched them disappear into Rose's suite before she turned and headed back downstairs. Being joined by Joseph a short time later, as Clarisse headed to Rose's room to give her, her phone back.
Knocking on the door she waited for Rose to call out, but stood surprised when Cara answered the door.
"Cara? What are you doing here?" Clarisse asked, holding the phone with both hands in front of her.
"Um... I'm taking care of Rose," Cara nodded "She's feeling a bit poorly at the moment."
"What's wrong with her?" Clarisse asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Oh she just feels a bit sick." She said, trying so hard not to make eye contact so looked down at her hands "Oh is that Rose's phone?" She asked.
Looking down at it in her hands "Oh yes, she left it in my suite earlier." Clarisse nodded and looked back up at her "Can you give it to her for me?" She asked, extending her hand to Cara.
"Of course," She answered quickly grabbing the phone, still not looking up at her "I will tell her you called," She nodded quickly stepping back and shut the door.
Clarisse stood confused at the whole thing, but carried on to where she wanted to be.
"Mom," Erica called out while coming through the door.
"I'm over here." Clarisse said looking across the loft as she came into view.
"Hey, Daddy said you were up here." She said walking over "What are you doing."
"Oh just going through some stuff," Clarisse smiled at her as she patted the space beside her "Going through some old memories." She smiled, turning the page in the photo album.
"You sure have a lot of boxes up here." She said with a chuckle while reaching over and grabbed an album from the box in front of them.
"Indeed I do," Clarisse nodded while looking around then back at her as Erica giggled.
"You look so funny in this photo," She said pointing to it as Clarisse lent over "How old were you here?" She asked while looking up at her.
"5 I think." Clarisse smiled while sitting back with a small nod.
"I can't believe how Livy and I looked so much like you when we were younger," Erica said looking over at Clarisse.
"You still do." Clarisse smiled while reaching over and cupped her cheek.
"Thank you." Erica smiled back and looking back down at the album "Mom, can I ask you something?" She asked closing the album and put it back where she got it.
"Of course," Clarisse smiled closing the album she was looking through and put it back in the box beside her "You can ask me anything you want to darling."
"Thank you." She smiled and sat back in the chair "When you found out you were pregnant with me, how did you tell Daddy?" She asked and Clarisse looked back at her in surprise "What's wrong?"
"Who have you been talking too?" She asked as Erica shook her head.
"No one?" She asked "No I just wondered how you told Daddy that you were pregnant?"
"Are you pregnant?" Clarisse asked, catching a breath as she watched Erica nodding "You're pregnant?" She exclaimed, smiling while leaning closer and hugged her "Congratulations darling." She said kissing her and pulled back.
"Thank you." She said as Clarisse sat back, but left her arm around her shoulders.
"Um.. let me think a minute." She said trying to think.
"I was an accident, wasn't I?" She asked as Clarisse lifted her head to look at her.
Clarisse shook her head "Though we weren't expecting or planning to get pregnant again, you weren't an accident, you were a surprise." She smiled as Erica rested her head on Clarisse's shoulder "And I had just put your sister to bed when it suddenly dawned on me that I was late, only by a couple weeks of course."
"Was he there with you when you took the test?" Erica asked while lifting her head.
"No," Clarisse said shaking her head "He was out with his Brother." She said looking at her "After doing a test or two," She smiled "Actually, after three that all showed I was pregnant, I sat wondering how I was going to tell him, after all it was a surprise as we weren't planning at the time to have anymore and we thought we had been careful."
"Whoops." Erica smirked at her as Clarisse nodded slowly, biting her lip.
"Anyway," Clarisse said looking back at her "When your Daddy came home a couple hours later, I stood in the sexy lingerie he had bought me a few days earlier." She smiled "For our Anniversary actually." She giggled "I never got a chance to wear it on the actual day so I surprised him, and boy was he surprised." She smirked as Erica looked at her "Anyway, I was stood there watching him practically drooling over me, when I told him that he better make the most of me in it as in a few weeks it wouldn't fit me for a while," She giggled seeing his face as she closed her eyes.
"What did he say?" Erica asked while watching Clarisse as she opened her eyes.
"He asked me what I was talking about, and I went on to tell him that I was pregnant." She smiled "He didn't believe me at first, but when it sunk in he couldn't believe it." She giggled at the memory.
"What?" Erica asked, while watching her.
"I just remembered, he wouldn't leave me alone that night," She smirked at Erica "Wild passionate sex happened that night and if I wasn't already pregnant I would of ended up pregnant after that night I'm sure." She laughed.
"Oh my." Erica giggled.
"So anyway," Clarisse said looking back at Erica "I take it you haven't told Shades?"
"No, I'm a bit worried about telling him to be honest." She said while turning a little, bringing her legs up, tucking them under her "Being still married and everything,"
"Yea I know," Clarisse nodded "But your divorce should be coming through soon." She added while resting her arm over Erica's legs "But this baby sweetheart is the start of a new beginning, a fresh start with a new man." She shrugged slightly and looked back at her "Don't be scared to tell him, I think he will be very happy to learn he's going to be a Daddy." She smiled.
"Whose gonna be a Daddy?" Joseph asked as he walked over realizing that Clarisse and Erica were sat snuggled together on the couch "Well?" He asked as the girls looked at each other then back at him.
"You are Joseph, your going to be a Daddy again." Clarisse smirked as his face fell, making both girls burst into laughter.
"That's not funny as when I was coming in it actually sounded like Erica was saying what you said, it wasn't till I got closer I realized it was you." He said staring at them while shaking his head.
"It's me Daddy, I'm pregnant." Erica said while looking at him as Clarisse held onto her hand.
"Well thank god for that," Joseph chuckled while standing in front of them "Not that I would of minded of course," He smiled down at Clarisse as she extended her arm, placing her hand on the back of his leg as he lent over and kissed Erica "Congratulations."
"Thank you Daddy." She smiled while watching him lean over and kiss Clarisse "Well I best go and tell him I guess." She said standing up as Joseph sat on the edge of the couch, putting his arm around Clarisse's shoulders "Thank you Mom for the talk."
"Anytime sweetheart." Clarisse smiled as she lent over and kissed her and watched as she kissed Joseph.
"See you in the morning?" She asked as they both nodded then turned, leaving them too it.
"So that's what you've been doing up here is it?" He asked, moving on the couch a bit more.
"Not all the time," She said pointing to a photo album "Can you pass me that please?" She asked.
"This?" He asked pointing to it while looking at her as she nodded "Okay." He smiled grabbing it and passed it to her.
"Thank you," She smiled taking it with one hand while putting her other hand up onto his jaw, giving him a quick kiss "Before Erica came up I was going through some old family photos and through things that I had kept of the children's when they were younger." She smiled at him while opening the album.
"Ahh ok." He nodded while watching her "You were so cute when you were a baby." He smiled.
"Were cute?" She exclaimed while looking at him in surprise "So I'm not now?" She asked teasing him.
"Oh of course you are still cute, just now your sexy cute." He winked, giving her a kiss and smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you, your sexy cute too." She smiled.
"Thank you." He smiled against the top of her head as they went through the album.
