Hi everyone, just a quick note to thank you all for reading and for leaving reviews :) I really do appreciate the support.

Also wanted to let you know that I fancied a bit of drama/action (to keep things interesting, you know?) and come up with this storyline which will be spread out over the upcoming chapters. When you read it, please don't hate me ok? Please?


Sunday 17th February 2008.

Pulling up along side Pierre's car on the drive, Joseph shut off the engine and looked at Clarisse as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Well, I don't know about you but this last few days have been the most fun I have had in a long time and the most amazing too, getting to wake up to you every morning."

"I know, for me too," she smiled and looked into his eyes, "and now we are back to reality."

"Yep," he smiled while taking her hand in his and nodded, "and having to face Pierre after our little incident the other day."

"Oh gosh yes, I had forgot all about that," she said and covered her face with one of her hands before they both chuckled.

"Do you want me to come in with you so we can face him together?" He asked as she shook her head and looked at him.

"No, it's okay," she smiled and looked up at the house, "he'll be fine I'm sure, he has had a few days to get over it."

"Ok, well call me if you need me," he smiled as she looked back at him, "and have fun at Isabella's."

"I will," she smiled and leant closer to kiss him as he put his hand up onto the side of her neck, "see you this evening?" She asked after a moment and sat back as she opened her car door.

"Definitely," he grinned as she climbed from the car and got her overnight bag from the backseat.

"See you later then," she smiled and closed the back door.

Putting his hand up to her, Joseph started the engine and drove from the drive as Clarisse made her way up the porch steps and through the front door. Placing her bag down, she picked up her post from the sideboard and made her way through to the kitchen where Pierre was sat, looking up at her.

"Good afternoon," he said, and put the letter down that he was reading on the kitchen table. "I've not long made a fresh pot of tea, would you like a cup?" He asked.

"Please," she nodded and moved to sit at the table opposite him as he smiled and stood to his feet. "How was your weekend?"

"It was great, eventually," he teased while pouring her a cup of tea.

"Yes, about that," Clarisse began as she watched him, "I am sorry about what happened."

"Please don't worry about it, no harm was done," Pierre said as he turned and walked back over to the table, "me and Laura actually laughed about it later, so it all worked out in the end."

"It certainly did," she nodded and took the cup of tea from him, "and I'm glad we haven't scared Laura."

"Me too," he said while picking up his cup of tea and took a sip before looking back at his mother, "but what about you though? When I arrived home to find that you hadn't been here from the amount of post in the box, I figured, because I hadn't heard from Mia to tell me you were missing, you must have found a hotel or something?" He asked.

"Yes, actually we did," Clarisse nodded as she looked down at her cup momentarily before looking back up at him, "it was quite a nice few days."

"Good," he smiled and watched as she started rifling through her post. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

"I'm, uh..." she said, trailing off when she came across an envelope with just her first name on.

"What's that?" He asked and watched as she looked up at him while placing her other post back down on the kitchen table.

"I'm not sure, but it was hand delivered," she said and turned the envelope to show him before looking back down at it as she opened it and pulled out the card, "and to answer your question, I'm going over to see Isabella soon and then Joseph is coming over this evening."

"Ok," he said, watching as she studied the front of the card before opening it up and reading what was inside. Catching a glimpse of the front, he asked, "is that a Valentine's card."

"Yes, it is and it would seem that I have another secret admirer," she said and looked up at him, "and one who knows where I live," she added as she passed the card across the table to him.

"Oh dear," he said and took the card from her, "but then that's not surprising with you being who you are."

"I know," she said and picked up her cup of tea as she watched him read the card.

"Any ideas who it might be?" He asked and looked up at her as she sipped her tea.

"No, none," she replied and shook her head while placing her cup back down.

"Are you going to tell dad?" He asked as he passed her the card back.

"No," she said and shook her head while looking down at the card for a moment before tearing it up. "He knows I have admirers, he doesn't need to know that I got a card from one of them."

"Are you sure that's a good idea keeping it from him?" He asked and watched as she stood up and walked over to the bin.

"What he doesn't know, won't hurt," she shrugged, "besides I used to get a few when I was Queen and lived at the palace, and he never knew about them."

"Ok, that's up to you but I think it's a mistake not telling him, especially since it was hand delivered here," he said and took another sip of his tea as Clarisse walked back over to the table and sat down opposite him.

"Stop worrying, it will be fine," she smiled.

"I sure hope so," he said.

Later That Afternoon.

"How did your few days away with Joe go?" Isabella asked as she walked over to the kitchen table and placed two cups of tea down, one in front of Clarisse and one for herself.

"It was lovely, yes," Clarisse nodded and picked up her cup as Isabella sat down opposite her, "except for the first day when Pierre and Laura turned up."

"What? I thought they were going to Paris for the weekend," Isabella asked as Clarisse shook her head.

"They were meant to be, but Laura's passport had expired so they went to the lodge instead," Clarisse answered and sipped her tea before putting her cup back down on the table, "not realising we were actually there."

"Oh no," Isabella said, "you didn't all stay at the lodge, did you?"

"Oh no, me and Joseph let them stay there and we went to a hotel, but wait, there's more," Clarisse said while trying not to laugh.

"Oh no, what happened?" Isabella asked.

"Well, I really don't know what came over me that day but I started stripping while we were dancing, then in walked Laura and Pierre half way through," Clarisse said and started laughing with her sister. "To find me half naked."

"Oh my god, you weren't?" Isabella laughed and watched as Clarisse nodded, "how embarrassing, what did they say?"

"Not much, but Pierre wasn't happy at all," Clarisse said and wiped her tears of laughter away. "It was so embarrassing, but thankfully we didn't scare Laura."

"Well that's something," Isabella said and they sat laughing for a moment.

"But all joking aside," Clarisse said as she wiped another tear away from her cheek, "I quite enjoyed being with Joseph, and waking up next to him every morning instead of a morning here and there but it made me realise I do miss having him around all the time."

"So can a move for him be on the cards in the very near future?" Isabella asked as Clarisse took another sip of her tea before shaking her head.

"No, I'm not ready for that yet," Clarisse said and placed her cup back down on the table as Isabella gasped. "What is it?"

"You say that you're not ready to live with him again yet, but yet you obviously accepted this ring from him while you were away," Isabella exclaimed as she took hold of her sisters hand and looked down at the ring that Joseph had given her days before.

"I know I have, and he will move back in eventually it's just after everything that's happened things are going so well between us, I don't want to rush into it and ruin it," Clarisse said as she pulled her hand back and looked down at her wedding finger a moment before looking back up at her sister. "I know it sounds silly, us being married and living apart but it's working."

"It does sound silly yes, but if you are both happy with that arrangement and things are going great between you, which they obviously are, then don't change it," Isabella smiled, "just keep doing what's best for you."

"We are," Clarisse smiled while looking down at her cup a long moment and shrugged slightly, "besides, it feels different this way."

"What do you mean?"

"I think it's where we are having that relationship but living apart, adds a bit of spice to things," Clarisse said as she looked up at her sister, "and I feel different when we are together too, I feel more daring."

"I have noticed that actually," Isabella nodded, "suits you."

"Thanks," Clarisse smiled, "so tell me, how have things been here?"

"Oh they've been okay, Valentine's Day was hard with it being the first without Charles but Bea and Charlie made it special," Isabella said as Clarisse reached her hand out and took hold of her hand.

"The firsts are always the hardest, but they will get easier," Clarisse said softly just as the front door closed, "who's that?"

"Oh, that will be Charlie and Peter," Isabella said and sipped her tea.

"That's my name," Peter smiled as he entered the kitchen to find Clarisse sat at the table with Isabella. "Oh hello, I wondered who's car that was in the drive." He smiled and bent over to kiss her cheek.

"Hello Peter," Clarisse smiled and watched as he stood back up straight, "it's been a long time, how have you been?"

"Good, yeah," he smiled and walked over to the sink and poured himself a glass of water. "What about you?"

"Yes, I've been good too," Clarisse smiled as he walked back over to the kitchen table and sat down next to her. "Never better actually."

"That's good," Peter said and took a sip of his water. "I heard Mia's having a baby?"

"Yes she is, she's due in June," Clarisse answered while slumping back in her chair and looked at him.

"Well congratulations to you then," Peter smiled.

"Thank you," Clarisse nodded and looked at Isabella, "I'm looking forward to it, we all are but it'll mean I'll become a great grandmother when the baby arrives."

"Never," Peter exclaimed as Clarisse looked back at him, "you really don't look old enough to be a great grandmother."

"Oh aren't you sweet, thank you," Clarisse laughed as Peter smiled, "but unfortunately it's true."


Thoughts? Please please please let me know what you think.

Thank you ;)