Tuesday 25th December 2007.
After a busy and tiring couple days in Italy, both Clarisse and Joseph arrived back in Genovia together yesterday and at Mia's request, who still doesn't know that they are actually back together, they both stayed, along with several others, at the palace last night. And after a restless night and knowing that her granddaughter would soon be up to wake her if she didn't get downstairs soon, Clarisse climbed out of bed and began preparing for her day.
Leaving her suite a short time later, Clarisse couldn't keep the smile from her face when she saw Joseph walking towards her. "Well hello you, Merry Christmas," she said, watching him walk up to her.
"Merry Christmas to you too," he smiled and stepped closer to kiss her cheek, letting it linger a moment before pulling back, "how did you sleep?" He asked.
"Oh I didn't sleep much at all, it was hard to rest knowing you were right down the hall," Clarisse answered as she folded her arms loosely. "What about you?"
"I didn't sleep much either and I gotta say it felt odd being back in that room," he said and studied her face a moment.
"It did for me too," she said while smiling up at him as he smiled back and looked down at her cardigan.
"You're wearing the cardigan Vicki, Beppe and Alysse got you for Christmas," he said and looked back up into her eyes.
"I am," she nodded while looking down at her sleeve, "it's lovely, cosy and warm so of course I'm going to wear it."
"No no, of course you are," he said and smiled mischievously while putting his hand up onto her shoulder and lovingly smoothed his thumb over an area on her neck, "I was just surprised that's all. I expected to see you wearing a polo neck or a scarf or something, like you did yesterday," he smirked.
"Well I figured it's faint enough now that people wouldn't know that it was there unless they actually knew about it," she answered while glancing down a moment before looking back up into his eyes with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "so why hide it?"
"That's true," he smiled and leant closer to whisper in her ear, "I must say that I absolutely love this new daring side to you."
"Thank you," she smiled up at him as he pulled back and looked into her eyes, "anyway are you coming down for breakfast? I think we better go show our faces before Mia comes looking for us."
"Yes, in a minute," he said and nodded, "but listen, I'm glad I caught you before you went down."
"How come?" She asked and watched as he pulled out a box from his pants pocket.
"This isn't one of your presents, but I wanted to give you this now while we finally have a moment alone," he said while handing it to her and watched as she slowly opened it. "I had planned to give it to you at your place last night, but well that fell through when Mia asked us to stay here." He chuckled.
"Oh god," she gasped and clasped one hand to her mouth, recognising it straight away.
"I was going through some of Victoria's bits that I had forgotten I had last week and came across this necklace that you gave her for her last birthday. I thought you might like it," he said and watched as she nodded a couple times before looking up at him with tears in her eyes.
"I would love to have it, but are you sure that you don't want to keep it, as a keepsake?" Clarisse asked and looked back down at the necklace sitting in the box.
"Of course I'm sure," he nodded and watched her a moment, "I want you to have it."
"Oh thank you," she said sadly and stepped closer, giving him a hug.
"You don't need to thank me," he said as she stepped back, "you were her best friend and I know that she would have wanted you to have it anyway, I mean it's no use to me, I am a man after all," he said and watched as Clarisse laughed through her tears.
"Yes, that's true," she smiled and looked back up at him, "I would like to wear it today, can you put it on for me?"
"Of course I can," he nodded while taking the box from her and removed the necklace as she turned her back to him. "There all done," he said a moment later and watched as she turned back to him.
"You know I still think of her all the time," Clarisse said.
"I do too," he replied and watched her as she looked down at it resting on her chest, "but hey, no more tears okay. It's Christmas Day, we need to be happy and cheerful and jolly, and merry."
"Oh I am all those, believe me," she said and stepped closer while putting her hands up to cup his face as he slipped his hands under her cardigan and placed them on her sides, "I know you said that this wasn't one of my Christmas presents but it's as good as," she said, studying his face, "and I can't thank you enough."
"You're welcome," he smiled and closed his eyes as she reached up to kiss him a long moment where, he smoothed one hand up her back under her cardigan, to hold her body against his while smoothing his other hand down to cup her bottom. "Ooh, how I love this sexy bottom," he said, giving it a small squeeze and laughed with her as she tipped her head back.
"Now who's being daring," Clarisse laughed as she stepped back, "remember we still need to be careful."
"I know I know, I just can't help it when I'm with you," he smiled and lowered his head, giving her neck a quick kiss as she giggled.
"Come on you, behave," Clarisse smiled as he stepped back and looked into her eyes, "we better go down before we end up getting caught."
"Yes, I think we better had," he said in agreement and nodded as they began walking down the hallway. Reaching the top of the stairs a moment later, Joseph placed his hand on her back and leant closer to whisper in her ear, "I'll make it up to you later."
"You promise?" She said and turned her head to look at him as they began walking down the steps.
"Oh I do promise, yes," he winked and watched as she smiled before looking down the stairway.
"Good," she replied and continued down the stairs as they both laughed.
Early Afternoon.
Standing at the window in the palace living room, Mia watched as Joseph and her grandmother pulled up in his car outside and sat talking for a moment before climbing from the car as Mia quickly hid behind the curtain so they couldn't see her.
"Who are you hiding from?" Pierre asked as he entered the room to find his niece hiding behind the curtain.
"Grandma and Joe, they just got back," Mia said as she turned her head to look at her uncle as he moved to stand behind her and looked out of the window too. "How long has it been since you got back from dropping Laura at home and said you see them sat parked up outside the palace gates?"
"About half hour ago," Pierre said and looked back at his niece as she looked back out the window to continue spying on them, "and you know that your grandma doesn't condone spying."
"Oh I know," Mia said and turned away from the window as her uncle moved to sit down on the sofa next to Nicholas. "It's just I'm so sure that there's something going on between them, I just wanted to see if they gave anything away."
"Mia I told you, if there is something going on between them then they will tell you when they are ready," Nicholas said as Mia sat on the arm of the sofa and looked down at him, "but would it be such a bad thing if there is anything going on?"
"Well no, of course not. It would be amazing if they are back together," Mia said as a thought struck her. Smiling, she looked across at her uncle sitting on the sofa beside her husband, "uncle Pierre?"
"Yes, Mia," Pierre said and smiled up at her, knowing exactly what she was after.
"You are still staying at the house with grandma, right?" Mia asked and smiled cheekily at him.
"I am yes, but just because I am it doesn't mean that I would know if anything was going on, and even if I did know I still couldn't tell you," he said, hoping that she couldn't tell he was lying like his mother could.
"And why not?" Mia asked.
"Because it's not my place to tell you," Pierre said and watched as she looked away, "now let them be, and like Nicholas has already said, if there is something going on they will tell us when they are ready."
"Oh I suppose you are right," Mia said, admitting defeat.
"Right about what?" Clarisse asked as she entered the room with her husband and sister, Isabella, following.
"Grandma," Mia exclaimed and jumped to her feet as everyone looked at her.
"Why do I get a feeling you were talking about me?" Clarisse asked and looked at her sister as she walked across the room to sit down next to Pierre on the sofa.
"Not talking, merely wondering," Mia answered, knowing she couldn't lie to her grandmother.
"Mia," Pierre said and watched as his mother looked over at him.
"Alright, you was wondering what?" Clarisse asked as she clasped her hands together in front of her, already knowing what she was wondering from the look on hers and Pierre's face and looked back at her granddaughter.
"Well we,"
"You," Pierre interrupted as everyone looked at him, "you were wondering."
"Alright, fine, I," Mia said and looked back at her grandmother, "I was wondering..."
"Yes," Clarisse said after several seconds silence and watched as Mia glanced at Joseph standing by the fireplace before looking back at her.
"Well I was wondering if anything was going on between you and Joseph, because well, you seem to be closer than you have been over the last couple months, and a lot happier around each other too," she said nervously while watching her grandmother look over her shoulder at Joseph.
"Ok," Clarisse said as she looked back at her granddaughter and nodded, "because you asked, yes there is something going on."
"What? Really?" Mia exclaimed in surprise, shocked that her suspicions had been correct, and watched as Joseph moved to stand beside her grandmother and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Yes, really," Clarisse said and turned into Joseph's side while wrapping her arms around his waist as she looked up into his eyes a moment before looking back at her granddaughter, "we agreed to give things another go but for the time being are living apart."
"Um... why?" Mia asked in confusion.
"Because we have spent so much of our life's already living together, either for work or being together, that we agreed we need to work on our relationship while living apart to begin with," Clarisse said honestly, "to see how it goes."
"I see," Mia said and nodded, watching as Joseph smoothed his hand along Clarisse's arm before continuing, "well I think it's great news," she exclaimed and hurried forward, hugging them both.
"So you're not upset that we never told you before?" Clarisse asked as Mia stepped back.
"Yes, I wish you had been honest from the start, but I'm so happy that you are both working things out that, that doesn't matter," Mia smiled and hugged her grandmother again, "honestly, I am so happy for you."
"Thank you, Mia," Clarisse said and watched as Mia stepped back and looked over at her uncle.
"You knew, didn't you?" Mia asked and watched as Pierre nodded.
"I did yes," he smiled, "but like I said, it wasn't my place to tell you."
"And I get that," Mia smirked and looked at Joseph, "so, does this mean I get to call you grandpa again." She asked and watched as he looked at Clarisse.
"It's up to you," Joseph smiled and looked back at Mia, "you can call me anything you like. Whether it be Joe, Joey or grandpa, I really don't mind."
"Well since you have been there for me right from the start, and grandpa is my favourite name for you," Mia smiled, "I'm going to go with grandpa."
"Aww," Clarisse said and watched as Joseph stepped closer to Mia while putting his arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head.
"Ok, princess," Joseph laughed as Isabella stood up and moved to speak to Clarisse.
"Um, grandpa, why do you still call me princess?" Mia asked as she looked at Joseph.
"Well like you with calling me grandpa, princess is my favourite name for you," Joseph said.
"Aww," Mia said and stepped closer to hug him a moment before stepping back. "So, if you aren't currently living together, then where are you staying when you visit?"
"A hotel for the time being, because as you know tomorrow I fly back to Italy to help Gino with the business but then in the new year I will be looking for a place to rent," Joseph answered while putting his arm around Clarisse's waist.
"Why don't you stay here at the palace, or one of the cottages for a bit more privacy," Mia smiled before frowning, "or would that be to weird?"
"It will be Mia, yes," Joseph nodded, "but thanks for the offer though."
"It's alright, anytime grandpa," Mia smiled and watched as her grandmother looked lovingly up at Joseph.
Early Evening.
Sitting in one of the armchairs in the living room, Mia watched as her uncle and aunt came back in to join them with a box of chocolates and a tray of drinks. Placing the tray down on the coffee table, Pierre handed them out before sitting down in the other arm chair as Isabella placed the box of chocolates down and sat on one end of the sofa beside Joseph.
Sipping her drink, Mia averted her gaze to her grandmother. She was sat on the other side of Joseph, snuggled close to him with her legs tucked up on the sofa and she was whispering something to him while stroking the side of his beard with her forefinger. It had been a long day, she knew everyone was tired but she had one more thing she had to do.
"Ok," she suddenly said, pulling everyone from their thoughts as she placed her glass down and stood to her feet. "I know that everyone's exchanged presents, but I have one more gift that I have to give."
"And who might that be for?" Clarisse asked as she watched her granddaughter walk over to the fireplace and pull out an envelope from behind a picture frame on the mantelpiece. Realising what it was, and what it was about to reveal she smiled and nodded knowingly.
"Uncle Pierre," Mia smiled as she turned back to them and walked towards her uncle.
"Me?" Pierre exclaimed in surprise and leant forward, placing his drink down on the coffee table and sat back to take the envelope from her.
"Yes, it's just a little something extra for you," Mia smiled and moved to sit back in the armchair as Nick came and sat on the arm of her chair, "I hope you like it."
"Oh, it's from you so of course I'm going to like it," Pierre smiled as he opened the envelope and pulled out the card inside. Looking at the front of the card a moment and opened it up as a picture fell out into his lap. "What's this?" He asked and picked it up to look at it as Isabella gasped after catching a glimpse of the picture.
"Well what does it say in the card?" Mia smiled as Joseph and Clarisse glanced at one another then looked back at Pierre.
"Merry Christmas! Thank you for being such an amazing uncle, but I know that you'll make an even better great uncle next Christmas." Pierre read out before looking up at Mia as she sat smiling at him. "What? Am I missing something?"
"Look at the picture," Mia smiled as Clarisse giggled and buried her face behind Joseph's shoulder. "What does it look like?"
Looking down at the picture, Pierre studied it a long moment when the penny suddenly dropped. "Are you... pregnant?" He asked while looking up at his niece and watched as she nodded. "Really?"
"Yes, I'm fourteen weeks," she smiled and laughed as he jumped up and hugged her.
"Congratulations, Mia," Pierre exclaimed as he stepped back, "this is excellent news."
"Thank you," Mia smiled and watched as Pierre reached out and shook Nicholas's hand.
"Congratulations, sweetheart," Isabella smiled as she stood beside Mia and put her arm around her shoulders.
"Thank you, aunt Isabella," Mia smiled as they hugged.
Later.
Hearing a knock on her suite door, Mia looked up from her book and called out for them to enter. "Come in," she smiled and watched as Pierre came in, "hello, I thought you left ages ago?"
"No, I've been speaking to Shades and just saw mother and Joseph off," he said as he moved to sit down in one of the armchairs.
"Yeah, we just said our goodbyes a little bit ago," Mia said as she looked down at her book and closed it, keeping it in her lap as she looked back up at her uncle. "I know you already knew, but isn't it great that her and grandpa are giving it another go?"
"It is, they are meant for one another," Pierre nodded, "and thats actually the reason why I'm up here now."
"I don't understand," Mia said with a small shake of her head.
"Is it ok if I stay here again tonight? As I really don't fancy going home if Joe is staying over," Pierre said and watched as his niece smirked.
"Oh I get you now, and of course," she nodded, "just stay in the room you stayed in last night."
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," Pierre said, relieved that she said yes and tipped his head back as Mia laughed at his response.
"You are quite welcome, uncle Pierre," Mia smiled.
Thanks so much for reading and remember, please do let me know your thoughts on this (or any) chapter. Your feedback is, and always will be appreciated :) thank you.