Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing this story!

I can't apologize enough for the long delay in getting an update out. But here it is and I hope you all enjoy it.

xXx

9th January.

After getting showered and dressed Clarisse slipped on her shoes then sat and done her hair and make up. Slipping on her tailored jacket as she walked back out into the bedroom, stopping when she saw Joseph laying on his front, still sleeping.

Walking over to her dressing table she wrote a simple note 'Gone to work, will see you later!' She sighed as she signed it with a simple 'C' and looked towards the bed as she put the lid back on the pen. Standing up she walked over and placed the note in front of his alarm, leaning over she kissed the back of his head and slowly ran her hand down over his hair before stepping back.

Heading downstairs she checked she had everything and grabbed her car keys, driving herself to the Palace today instead of waiting for her driver.

Opening his eyes upon hearing a car door close, he lifted his head seeing her note then looked towards the windows as he heard the car starting. He quickly jumped out of bed and moved to the window, watching as she pulled out of the driveway and drove off down the lane towards the main road.

Putting his hands up onto his face while turning around, heading slowly back over to the nightstand. Picking up the note and seeing what she wrote, looking up as he shook his head and screwed it up in his fist, knowing full well what she was doing and he didn't like it one bit.


After Clarisse got some coffee and a snack from the kitchen she headed back to her office, pushing up the door as her Father came down the stairs. Seeing her door ajar he walked over and slowly pushed it open.

"Good morning butterbean." He smiled when he saw her sat at the desk "You're here early this morning." He said as she looked up at him.

"I know, I couldn't sleep." She said and sipped her coffee before looking down at her paperwork "I have a busy day, so I thought I would just come and start it." She said slowly looking up at him.

"I see." Harry nodded "Well I'm off for my walk, see you later?" He asked as she nodded.

"Sure. Enjoy your walk." She said watching him walk over to the door then she looked down at her paperwork in front of her.

He stood at the door for a few seconds watching her, then shook his head as he walked out, pulling the door up behind himself.

A short time later Charlotte came to her office, walking over to her desk as Clarisse looked up at her.

"Good morning." Charlotte smiled while placing the tray down on her desk "I brought you some more coffee and your post." She smiled handing it to her.

"Thank you Charlotte." Clarisse said taking the post and started going through it.

Watching her for a second before stepping back "Would there be anything else?" She asked just as the phone started ringing "Shall I get that?" She asked.

"Yes please." Clarisse said with a nod, not looking up.

"Okay." Charlotte said and answered the phone, hanging up moments later "It was just Motaz, he cancelled the meeting for today." She said stepping back in front of her desk as Clarisse looked up.

"Just as well, I'm finding it hard to concentrate today." She said looking back down.

"Oh..." Charlotte said and noticed Clarisse lift her head, looking over at her "Maybe you should take the day off?" She said, regretting the words as soon as they came out.

"Oh I could never take the day off... I will carry on regardless." Clarisse said and looked back down at her post.

"Okay..." Charlotte said, looking down.

"And yes, to answer your earlier question..." Clarisse said looking up at her "That will be all."

"Very well." She nodded and left, closing the door behind her.


A little after 7 Clarisse gave up for the day and headed home, being greeted by all her Grandchildren as she got out the car. Spending a few moments with them before heading up to the house and through to the kitchen.

"Good evening Mom." Olivia smiled as Clarisse looked up at her.

"Good evening." She said walking over to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of wine and poured herself a glass as Olivia watched.

"Bad day?" Olivia asked while looking back down as Clarisse drank some of the wine.

"Yes you could say that." Clarisse answered while looking down at the glass "Everything today just seemed to go wrong." She said and drank some more before looking at Olivia "Where's your Father?" She asked looking up at her.

"He's having a lay down." Olivia answered and looked down at the purse in her hands "Oh we are having a movie night if you want to join us?" She said looking over at her "Ordering pizza too." She smiled.

"Um..." Clarisse said looking over at her.

"Daddy said it was okay." Olivia answered with a smile "I will be back in a minute." She smiled and walked out.

Watching the door close before looking back down at her glass, drinking the last bit in there before pouring herself another one, taking a couple sips just as Joseph came in.

"I thought I heard your voice." He said watching her put the glass down as she noticed his wrist was in plaster.

"What happened to your wrist?" She asked looking up at his face as he stepped beside her.

"Oh..." He started while looking down at it, then back up at her "I broke it."

"What?" She exclaimed "How?" She asked.

"I was trying to fix the garage roof, and lost my balance." He said as she put her hands up to her face.

"You fell of the roof?" She exclaimed while lowering her hands.

"No just the ladder, spent most the day up the hospital." He said looking at her step back.

"What?" She exclaimed "You spent most of the day up the hospital and you didn't tell me?"

"Well we didn't want to worry you, you've been so busy lately." He said and watched her step back again.

"My husband has an accident and no one wanted to tell me?" She exclaimed "Why the hell not?" She fumed "I should of been told."

"Oh come on Clari, if we had of told you, would you of come to the hospital, honestly? Because lately I have felt that I need to make an appointment with you, we all have." He said watching her clasp her own face with both her hands "We are your family Clarisse, we shouldn't feel like this." He snapped.

"What did you just say?" She said lowering her hands.

"You heard me Clarisse, I am at breaking point... The others didn't tell you because I told them not to, I didn't want to worry you and while I was in the hospital the more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that you wouldn't of been there anyway."

"How dare you." She said staring at them "I would of been there so don't accuse me of that and not caring."

"Do you care? Look me in the eyes and tell me you care Clarisse." He asked.

"Yes I do care you should know that." Clarisse answered, never taking her eyes from him as he shook his head "Why are you shaking your head? She asked.

"Ever since we came home from Paris 8 days ago I have hardly seen you, neither has the family." He said shaking his head as she watched him "You have thrown yourself back into work, you haven't snuggled or touched me since we returned and in the mornings you are up and gone before I even wake, and tomorrow marks the first anniversary of Erica's passing, you are not the only one who lost her Clarisse but you are pushing me away again, your pushing our family away and I can't take this more..." He said looking down.

"What do you mean?" She asked watching him slowly look up.

"I love you, don't think I don't but I can't stand being pushed away by my own wife anymore." He snapped and slammed his good hand down on the counter, making her jump "Dammit Clarisse, stop pushing me away or risk losing me..." He said looking into her eyes "For good this time." He snapped, not realizing Olivia had walked back in.

"You wouldn't dare leave." Clarisse said never taking her eyes from him.

"You push me and I just might." He snapped back.

"Fine you no what, you want to leave then fine go right ahead." She snapped back.

"Excuse me?" Olivia snapped as they both looked at her in surprise.

"Olivia please go back into the living room." Joseph said as Clarisse turned her back to him, covering her face for a few seconds.

"No I will not." She snapped back and folded her arms as Clarisse turned around, getting really angry as she placed her hand on the counter "You can't seriously be thinking of leaving?" She asked looking at her Dad as he looked at Clarisse "And you..." She started while looking at her Mom "Can not tell him to leave...everyone is hurting right now... we've all been through so much this last couple years, you are meant to be the strong ones." Olivia said as they both looked at her "You can't just break up over this..." She whispered as a couple tears escaped her eyes, quickly wiping them as some of the family come in laughing and sat down at the table.

"What's going on?" Cara asked when she noticed Clarisse looking down and Joseph stood away from her, leaning back against the counter "Dad?... Mom?" She said as they both looked over at her.

"It doesn't matter." Joseph said shaking his head and forced a smile "Now what's that, that smells so tasty?" He said smiling as Olivia came over and hugged him before stepping back.

"It's a tasty pasta side dish to go with our pizzas later." Cara smiled and watched Olivia stand beside Clarisse, resting her chin on her shoulder as Clarisse turned her head to look at her and nodded before kissing her, then looked back at Joseph as he nodded with a smile.

"How's your wrist now Daddy?" Rose asked while looking over.

"Yeah it's good." He smiled as some of the Grandchildren came in, sitting at the table.

"Are you going to join us for our movie night Mom?" Cara asked.

"No I don't think so darling," She said sipping her drink as Olivia stood beside her and placed the side dish bowl on the counter.

"Oh come on Grandma, it will be fun." Olivia's daughter, Ava smiled over at her.

"Maybe another night, it's been a long day today so I'm just going to go and relax up in the suite." She answered while putting the glass down.

"Ok Grandma." Ava said smiling over at her then rushed out the room with her Brother and cousins.

"You should join us later, if you feel up to it." Olivia said while walking over to the fridge, looking back as the bowl smashed to the floor "What happened?" She said rushing over as Clarisse crouched down and started clearing it up.

"I knocked it over the edge by accident, I'm sorry." Clarisse said standing up and threw the towel filled with glass in the bin in anger before leaning over a little, tipping her head forward as she placed her hands on the counter.

"Mom..." Cara said looking over as Olivia stood back and watched Joseph step closer, placing his hand on her back.

"Don't.. Touch... Me!" Clarisse snapped while pulling back and put her arms up, holding her hands either side of her head as everyone looked at her in surprise.

"Clari." Joseph exclaimed as she covered her mouth with both her hands and started crying.

"I'm so sorry." She cried as he stepped closer, wrapping his good arm around her shoulders "I'm so so sorry." She cried on his chest as he rubbed her back.

"Come on." Olivia whispered to the others as they all stood up "Let's give them some privacy." She said looking back over at them as Joseph lowered his head, whispering something to Clarisse. Walking out seconds later she headed back to the living room with the others.

"It's alright sweetheart, everything will be ok soon, I promise." He whispered as she cried on his chest.

Lifting her head a few minutes later, studying his face as he put his hand up and wiped away her tears "I'm sorry." She whispered.

"You have nothing to be sorry about." He said taking her hand "Come on, let's go upstairs and talk about this properly?" He asked lowering his head, close to hers "Okay?" He whispered.

"Okay." She nodded as he kissed her forehead.

Wiping her face with her free hand as he led her out the kitchen and up to their suite, both sitting back against the pillows on the bed as Joseph put his good arm around her shoulders as she snuggled up to him.

"I'm sorry I didn't call and tell you." He whispered a few moments later "I know it was wrong of me, but honestly I did think that you wouldn't come." He added as she lifted her head and looked at him.

"I'm sorry that I made you feel that way, you are right I was pushing everyone away again and I know its wrong, but... I guess that's my way of dealing with things." She said softly.

"I know," He said nodding his head "But you don't have to anymore baby." He whispered as they looked into each others eyes.

"You're not going to leave me... Are you?" She asked sadly and looked down as a couple tears escaped her eyes.

"Look at me..." He asked and watched her shake her head "Clari bear... please look at me..." He whispered and watched her look up "I will never ever leave you, I was angry and shouldn't of said that, I'm sorry." He whispered as she started crying again and buried her face in the crook of his neck "Shh it's okay baby." He whispered against her hair as he rubbed her back gently. After a few moments, knowing she had calmed down a lot he lowered his head and kissed her neck a couple times.

Lifting her head, studying his face as he gave her a half smile while leaning in and pressed his lips to hers, smiling as she put her hand up and clasped his head, deepening the kiss just a second later.

As the kiss became heated, Joseph broke it off which, in return made Clarisse gasp and look at him.

"What's wrong?" She asked breathlessly.

"Swap places with me." He whispered between kisses.

"What?" She asked pulling her head back and looked at him.

"I want to touch you and I can't with this hand." He said holding his cast clad arm up as they both looked at it. Looking back at Clarisse as she giggled "That's not funny."

"Aww I'm sorry." She whispered and pressed her lips to his while putting her leg over, straddling him on the bed for a few seconds while undoing the button on her pants.

Moving she laid beside him on the other side, her head resting on his arm as they shared a heated kiss, tugging the shirt out of his pants and placed her hand on his side, digging her nails into his flesh as he bit her neck.

"Mmm Joe..." She moaned bringing her leg up, resting it on his hip while running her hand up and down his back, laughing a little as he slipped his free hand in the back of her pants and panties, cupping her bottom as they began kissing again.

Moments later she quickly undressed herself and helped him undress, laying back on the bed as she watched him lower himself on top of her. Kissing her as he rested his bad arm on the bed and moved the other down, guiding himself to her entrance. Entering her in one swift move, sharing a kiss as he placed his other arm up on the bed beside her shoulder and head, his fingers getting tangled in her hair. Bringing her legs up, resting them against his hips and her hands on his sides as they kissed slowly.

"I love you so so much." He whispered against her lips before lifting his head and looked down at her.

"I love you too." She smiled while moving her hands to his lower back, smiling as he began to thrust slowly.

Closing her eyes seconds later and biting her lip as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, trying to keep herself from moaning as he began thrusting harder and faster. Locking her legs around his hips as she moved her hands up his back, gripping the back of his shoulders as he made love to her. Moments later, each knowing that they were both close to the edge Clarisse met his thrusts, tipping her head back as she came, followed by him just seconds later.

"Mmm..." He moaned against the front of her neck as her head remained tipped back, still grinding against her a little.

"Oh my god." She whispered, resting her head back down and looked into his eyes as she unlocked her legs, moaning a little as he pulled out and crashed on the bed beside her.

"Well I didn't think that would happen today." He said turning his head to look at her.

"Neither did I." She whispered while turning her head to look at him, snuggling up to him as he smiled, both trying to catch their breaths.


A short time later Joseph headed down, walking into the living room as everyone looked at him.

"You are just in time." Olivia smiled while walking over to him "Is everything alright between you and Mom now?" She whispered.

"Yes, everything's fine." He said with a wink and put his arm around her shoulders, giving her a hug as he kissed her cheek.

"Good." She smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist, giving him a hug back.

"Now what am I just in time for?" He asked as she moved to stand beside him.

"We are just about to watch the movie." She smiled at him.

"Great." He nodded and sat down on the couch as Olivia put it on and turned the lights off. Making her way over to the couch, sitting down between Cara and Joseph.

A few moments later, Clarisse came in and stood beside the couch. Smiling down at Joseph as he smiled up at her then looked at Olivia.

"Room for another?" She asked as they all looked at her.

"Of course Mom." Olivia smiled and moved to kneel on the floor so she could sit next to Joe "Come and sit down here Mom." She said patting the space.

"Why thank you." Clarisse smiled and sat down.

"Glad you came down." Olivia smiled while kneeling in front of her "And glad you joined in with everyone too, and came down in your pajamas." She smiled and gave her a hug before sitting down on the floor in front of her "You don't mind if I sit here, do you?" She asked.

"Of course not," She smiled "But..." She said extending her arm out for her to take her hand, smiling as she did "We can't have you getting a numb bum." She smiled while looking at Cara as she moved along with a smile "Come sit here with me." She said looking up at Olivia as she stood up, moving and sat in the space between them, as they all laughed.

"Thank you Mom, I love you." Olivia smiled and wrapped her arms around her neck, giving her a hug.

"No, thank you." She said and kissed her "I love you too." She said as they parted "Now sit back and enjoy the movie." She said turning a little, tucking her legs up under her.

"Okay, you too." Olivia smiled as she watched her lean closer and kiss Joseph, then smiled at Cara.

"Glad you came down." He whispered while putting his arm around her shoulders.

"So am I." She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder and extended her arm around his waist.

Smiling as they spent the evening together as a family, something she had missed for a very long time.