Hi everyone, thanks so much for reading and leaving me a review :) I appreciate it.

Here's the next chapter for you all, enjoy!


Friday 28th March 2008.

Slowly awaking from a dream, Clarisse opened her eyes and remained on her side for several more moments, simply listening to the early morning birds, before rolling onto her back, where she realised she was actually alone. Climbing from the bed, she slipped on her robe and walked over to the balcony door, where she found Joseph stood looking out over the back garden of the property he's renting, while sipping his tea. Smiling, she stepped out onto the balcony and walked over to him.

"Its a beautiful morning," she said softly as she stood behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist as he turned his head to the side, "isn't it?"

"It was," he nodded while looking back out at the garden and placed his free hand on hers that were clasped together against his torso, "but it just got a hundred times better." He smiled and turned his head back to the side, "how did you sleep?"

"Quite well," she said while tipping her head back slightly to look up at him, "just a shame I woke when I did, I was having such a lovely dream."

"Oh you were?" He said as he turned to face her and leant back against the balustrade while slipping his free hand in the opening of her robe and placed it on her side as she stepped closer to him, "what was it about?"

"It was a naughty dream," she said while putting one of her arms around his shoulder, placing her hand on the top of his back while taking the cup of tea from him with her other hand and took a sip.

"Oh it was? Well I hope it was about you and me?" He smiled while slipping his other hand under her robe and onto her side as she nodded.

"Yes, of course it was," she smiled and watched as he tipped his head back and laughed. "What's so funny?" She smiled and watched as he lifted his head to look into her eyes.

"You're not as prim and proper as you make out, are you?" He said and watched as she leant to the side to place the cup on the table before moving back to the position she was in seconds before.

"Well you should know," she smiled and leant against his body while putting her other arm up around his shoulders and clasped her hands together behind his head, "you have known me long enough after all."

"Yes, yes I have," he laughed while smoothing his hands from her sides to her back as he buried his face in the crook of her neck a long moment before raising his head to look back into her eyes. "And that's one of the things that I love about you, how you can be so prim and proper to everyone else, but only a select few get to see your naughty, sassy side."

"Mmhmm," she murmured and closed her eyes as he buried his face in the crook of her neck once again.

"And I'm so lucky you're mine," he whispered against the spot below her ear while smoothing both of his hands down to cup her bottom, making her laugh in the process. Lifting his head, he smiled, "shall I go and make a start on breakfast?"

"No," she exclaimed and shook her head while stepping back.

"No?" He said in surprise and watched as she reached out and took hold of his hand.

"Yes, no," she smiled and watched as he stood up straight. "I'm not ready for breakfast," she said while stepping closer and put one of her hands up to cup his face as she reached up to kiss him a couple times, "well not yet anyway," she said while looking up into his eyes before kissing him once again and leading him back into the bedroom.

Later That Morning.

Pulling into Clarisse's drive, Joseph shut of the engine and looked at her as she undone her seatbelt and pulled her handbag onto her lap. "If you go on up and unlock the front door, I'll grab your overnight bag and get the post for you, if you like?" He said while undoing his seatbelt.

"You don't have to, I can get it myself," She smiled and looked at him.

"I know, and I'm not suggesting you can't," he said as their eyes met, "I just wanted to help, that's all."

"Alright, well thank you," she said while leaning closer and kissed him before they both climbed from the car. "Are you stopping for tea?" She asked as she closed the car door and walked around to him.

"Not now, I have a couple errands I must do this morning but I will be back for a spot of lunch before we go car shopping this afternoon," he smiled as she looked up at him, "now go and get the front door unlocked and I'll meet you up there in a minute."

"Alright," she smiled and started to walk away while lifting her handbag up and began rummaging about inside to look for her house keys.

Grabbing her overnight bag from the boot, he closed it up and began walking across the drive when he noticed Clarisse had stopped walking. Stopping himself, he raised his eyebrow and watched her a moment. "Is everything alright?" He called out and watched as she turned to look at him.

"Yes, just looking for the keys," she said and looked back down at her handbag when she found them, "ah ha, found them."

"Alright," he laughed and watched as she turned back to the house. Averting his gaze down, he watched her as she walked towards the porch and his heart skipped a beat at the sway of her hips. God he loved that woman more than anything he thought to himself as he continued his walk to the Mail box.

Standing in the front doorway with her arms folded loosely, Clarisse watched as Joseph walked up the porch steps a moment later and stood in front of her. "I think you are going to have to sort out your handbag soon," he smirked and popped the bag down just inside the door as she stepped back.

"Oh I know, I keep meaning to do it but I always end up getting distracted," she smiled and watched as he handed her the post, "thank you for getting this and bringing my bag in for me."

"My pleasure," he smiled and watched as she placed her mail down on the sideboard before moving to stand in front of him. "Before I go, you have remembered we are going to Pierre's house for dinner tonight, haven't you?" He asked while placing his hands on her sides and smoothed them onto her back as she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"I had forgotten," she nodded and smiled up at him, "thanks for reminding me."

"You're welcome," he said and kissed her a couple times before they stepped apart. "I'll see you about twelve thirty?"

"Yep, I'll be here," she smiled and watched as he stepped back out onto the porch.

"And remember to call me if you need me, okay?" He said, looking back at her.

"I will," she smiled as he nodded and made his way down the steps, "see you later."

"You will," he smiled back at her and continued to walk over to his car.

Later.

Hearing her doorbell ring, Clarisse placed the book that she had been reading down on the sofa beside her and stood up. Making her way through to the hallway to answer the door, she was surprised to find Peter stood there in front of her.

"Peter, hello," she said and stepped back to let him pass, "come in."

"Thanks! I won't stop," he said while stepping into the hallway as Clarisse closed the door and turned back to him. "Isabella told me yesterday that you were involved in an accident, so I thought I would pop round and make sure you were alright?"

"Yes I was," she nodded and folded her arms, "but a month ago."

"Oh, sorry I didn't realise when it was," he said and put his hands in his pants pockets, "I've been in America visiting my kids."

"Oh yes, I remember Isabella mentioning that now," she said and watched him a moment, "are they well?"

"Yes, they are quite good," he nodded, "sorry, but are you alright? I mean after the accident?"

"Oh yes," she nodded, "I was quite lucky to walk away with just a badly bruised hip, sprained wrist and a few cuts and bruises."

"Oh that's good news," he nodded and looked back up at her, "that's really good news."

"Yes it is," Clarisse nodded.

"Listen, about what we spoke about before, on isabella's drive," Peter said and watched as Clarisse nodded.

"Yes, what about it?" She asked.

"I just wanted to make sure there was no hard feelings between us? While I was in America I realised that I shouldn't have told you how I felt, and actually felt stupid for telling you."

"Don't feel stupid, I'm glad you could be honest," Clarisse said, "and of course there's no hard feelings between us."

"So, we can still be friends?" He asked.

"Of course," she nodded and watched as he smiled.

"That's great," he said when someone knocked on the front door. "Well I better get going and leave you too it."

"You don't have to, that'll only be Isabella and Bethany and they won't mind you being here," she said and moved closer to the door to answer it.

"Oh, hello," Bethany exclaimed at seeing Peter stood in the hallway then looked at Clarisse, "well hello you," she smiled and stepped closer and kissed her cheek before walking into the hallway and turning back to her.

"What are you doing here?" Isabella asked as she stepped closer and kissed her sisters cheek before looking back at Peter.

"I just popped round to make sure Clarisse was alright," Peter smiled at her then back at Clarisse, "and now I'm going, thanks for the offer of staying but I'll leave you ladies to talk."

"Alright," Clarisse smiled as he walked out the door, "goodbye," she said and closed the door behind him before turning back to her sister and cousin, who were both stood smirking at her. "What?"

"You are a bad bad girl," Bethany smirked while pointing to Clarisse's neck, "answering the door with that on your neck, and while Peter was here too."

"Oh god, I completely forgot about that," Clarisse exclaimed as her hand flew up onto her neck, "well that would explain why Peter gave me a funny look, and Mrs Harris looked horrified when she popped my parcel round earlier."

"Mrs Harris?" Bethany said and glanced at Isabella before looking back at Clarisse, "is that the one who doesn't know you and Joseph are back together, even though she lives next door?"

"Yes, that's the one," Clarisse nodded as she began walking over to the stairs, "I will be right back."

"Okay," Bethany smirked and looked up at her walking up the stairs, "shall we go and make a start on the tea?"

"Yes, please do," Clarisse called down to them and disappeared into her suite.

"She's getting a scarf, isn't she?" Isabella said as she looked at Bethany.

"I think so, yes," Bethany nodded and they both walked through to the kitchen.

"That's better," Clarisse said as she came into the kitchen moments later with a scarf hanging around her neck.

"Tell me something," Bethany said as she placed the tea tray down on the kitchen table and looked up at her cousin as she walked over to her, "why do you allow Joseph to give you a love bite for if you are going to hide it with a scarf all the time? And don't say it's because you are a respectable lady, because you are not. You are a bad bad girl." She smirked and looked at Isabella as she giggled, smirking she looked back at Clarisse as she began to speak.

"Because, well..." Clarisse said, stumbling to come up with an answer. "I think it's because I have always done it, because I had to when I ruled and feel that now maybe at my age I shouldn't have one. So therefore, I hide it."

"Then why do you allow him to do them?" Bethany laughed.

"Because we get caught up in the moment, you know how it is," Clarisse said and took a seat at her kitchen table.

"Yes I do, it's a moment, well a time of pure love shared by two people who are crazy about one another. It doesn't matter how old you are, don't be embarrassed about having one," Bethany said and sat down next to Clarisse as Isabella sat opposite her. "I totally get though that you would have had to hide them when you ruled, but you don't anymore. So be a bit braver than what you have been, be a bit more daring and show the world, well Genovia at least, that you two are back together and are still crazy about one another."

"Oh we will one day," Clarisse laughed and looked down at her cup of tea as she put her hands around it. "But not yet."

"Alright," Bethany shrugged and picked up her cup of tea and took a sip.

"So, what are you doing this afternoon," Isabella asked, "you mentioned on the phone that you were busy this afternoon."

"We are going car shopping," Clarisse said and took a sip of her tea.

"For you, or is Joseph getting a new one?" Isabella asked and watched as Clarisse nodded.

"For me," Clarisse said, "I miss my independence and going where I want, when I want."

"Oh good for you, getting back in the driving seat," Bethany smiled and looked at Clarisse as she placed her cup back down on the table. "What kind of car are you getting, something small this time or are you sticking to a big one?"

"Oh definitely a big one," Clarisse nodded as she looked at her, "I prefer a big car."

"And there's us thinking that size didn't matter to you?" Isabella gasped and started laughing.

"Oh it does when it comes to cars, the bigger the better," Clarisse smiled and looked at her sister while raising her cup up to her mouth, "and besides I lied before, size does matter." She said and they all laughed.

"My my," Bethany laughed as they both looked at her, "you really are becoming a bad girl aren't you?" She smirked.

"You can blame Joseph for that," Clarisse smirked and drank some more of her tea as Isabella and Bethany laughed.

Later That Evening.

Coming into her suite after getting ready, Clarisse looked at Joseph sitting on the sofa and smiled. "Does this look alright?" She asked as he looked up and took his glasses off.

"Oh yes, you look absolutely stunning," he smiled and stood to his feet as she walked over to him and kissed him.

"Thank you," she smiled and looked down at the papers in his hands, "what's this?" She asked.

"Oh a news article Charlotte sent me," he said and handed it to her, "the press have finally caught on that we are back together."

"Finally," she laughed while looking down at the papers in her hands and smiled at the photo of them showing a rare public display of affection while looking for cars that afternoon. "We will have to take this and show it to Pierre."

"That's what I was going to do," he smiled and watched as she handed it back to him before walking over to the armchair and lifted her coat from over the back of it. "Are you ready to go?"

"I am," she nodded while putting one of her silk scarfs around the back of her neck and tucked it under her coat as he tucked the papers inside his jacket pocket.


Arriving at Pierre's house a short time later, they climbed from the car and began walking up to the front door as Joseph checked his phone. "Just had a text from Gino," he smirked and looked up at Clarisse, "he says, I see that they finally discovered out about one of the best couples ever being back together. It's only taken them four months, well done."

"Yes," Clarisse laughed and knocked on the door, "but then that's nothing compared to us managing to keep it a secret for thirteen years before."

"That's true," he said and looked back at his phone before putting it back in his pocket, "he also sends their love."

"You'll have to reply later, let them know we will visit them soon," Clarisse said and watched as the door suddenly opened, "hello," she exclaimed.

"Hello," Pierre smiled and stepped back for them to enter, "come in, come in and welcome to my new home."

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled and walked through, kissing his cheek in passing.

"Shall I take your coat?" Pierre asked.

"Thank you," she said while removing her coat, but left her scarf where it was, and handed her coat to him.

"Go on through, Laura's just setting up the table," he said and gestured to the dining room.

"Alright," she said while taking hold of Joseph's left hand with her left hand as she passed by him and led the way through into the dining room. "Good evening," she smiled as Laura stopped what she was doing and looked up at them.

"Good evening," Laura smiled and walked around to welcome them.

"Dinners nearly ready," Pierre said as he came into the dining room, "but can I get you a drink while we wait?"

"Mommy," Rebecca said from the doorway and watched as everyone looked at her.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry about this," Laura said as she hurried over to her youngest daughter, "what's the matter darling?"

"I can't sleep," Rebecca said as Laura hugged her.

"Okay, come on I will take you up and read you another story," Laura said as she stood back up straight and looked over at Pierre, Joseph and Clarisse. "I won't be long."

"Do you want me to do it?" Pierre asked as he walked over to them.

"Or, I could do it?" Clarisse said as she looked across at her son and Laura then down at Rebecca.

"Are you sure?" Pierre asked.

"Yeah, I would love it if Clarisse read me my story," Rebecca smiled as both Pierre and Laura looked down at her.

"That settles that then," Clarisse smiled and walked over to them as they stepped apart, letting her pass through and out into the hall. "I won't be long."

"Alright," Laura said as she followed them out into the hallway and watched as Rebecca took hold of Clarisse's hand as slipped off her shoes at the side of the stairs and they began walking upstairs. Coming back into the dining room, Laura smiled, "your mom is just amazing."

"Yes, she is," Pierre smiled and kissed the side of her head while wrapping his arm around her shoulders before looking back at Joseph. "Anyway, can I get you a drink dad?"

"Yes please, I would love one," Joseph smiled.


Coming into the kitchen a while later, Clarisse smiled at Laura, "she's fast asleep."

"Oh thank you," Laura smiled at her and watched as she sat up on one of the kitchen stools. "Hopefully she will stay asleep this time."

"It's no trouble," she smiled while crossing her legs to the side, "I had the same trouble when Pierre and his brother were younger, they would always sneak down whenever we had a party at the palace."

"Yeah he mentioned that, he's told me a lot about what he used to get up too with Philippe," Laura smiled across at her. "And all I can say is, how did you manage ruling a country and look after two young boys at the same time?"

"Oh it was different then, I had to have a lot of help, not because I wanted that of course but because I was forever away and out of town most days I had no choice," Clarisse said, remembering when the boys were younger.

"That must have been hard?" Laura said and watched as Clarisse nodded, "I hate working a full shift at the hospital and being away from my girls."

"It was extremely hard, I missed so much of their life's because of that," Clarisse said.

"Oh dear," Laura said and watched her a moment. "She was actually meant to be at her dads tonight, but he called me this afternoon to say that he has come down with a bug so couldn't have her."

"Oh no, that's not good," Clarisse said, "where's Rosie though? I didn't see her upstairs when I took Rebecca up."

"Oh she's at a friends house, one of her friends is having a birthday sleepover," Laura smiled, "so she's got several kids sleeping over."

"Oh gosh, her poor mom," Clarisse said.

"Yeah, rather her than me," Laura said and they both laughed. "Anyway, can I get you a drink?" She asked and picked up the wine bottle from the ice bucket.

"Please, I would love one thank you," Clarisse said and looked around the kitchen, "where are the men anyway?"

"Oh Pierre's got Joe outside to help him with something or other," Laura smiled while grabbing a wine glass from the cupboard and poured her a glass of wine.

"Ah I see," Clarisse said as she looked back at Laura, "I thought it was a bit quiet in here." She said and they both laughed.

"There you go," Laura smiled and leant across the counter, handing her, her drink as Joseph and Pierre came back in.

"There you are," Clarisse smiled and gasped when she saw a bottle in Joseph's hand, "you're not meant to be drinking."

"I'm not, it's an nonalcoholic beer," Joseph smirked as he walked over to her and handed her the bottle, "see."

"Yes," Clarisse said while looking down at the bottle then looked up at him as she handed it back, "just checking," she smiled and closed her eyes as he gave her a quick kiss.

"I knew you would," he smiled and took a sip of his beer.

"So I see you guys were out picking a new car this afternoon," Pierre said as he stood beside Laura and watched as they both looked up at him.

"Oh you have seen the article then?" Clarisse asked and took a sip of her wine as Joseph pulled the papers from the inside of his jacket and handed them to Pierre.

"Yes we did, Charlotte sent it me," he laughed and looked down at it, reading out the headline. "Back together, but living apart?" He read and looked up at them, "remind me again, why are you still living apart? I mean haven't you just spent the last week over at Joseph's place?"

"Yes I have, and it was wonderful spending that time together," Clarisse nodded as Joseph put his arm around her back, his hand on her side as she continued. "And we are still living apart because it's working for us at the moment, things are going really well but we still have a few things we need to work on."

"But does that mean that it's going to be like this now, I mean that's it you're gonna stay together but you will just continue living apart forever." Pierre asked.

"No, not forever. We will live together again at some point but right now we don't want to rush back into it in case it all goes wrong," Joseph said as Clarisse looked up at him.

"But it won't though, will it? I mean yes you have had your ups and downs, but it won't go wrong again, will it?" Pierre said and watched his mom look over at him as Joseph kissed the back of her shoulder.

"That's what we are working on, as well as our trust towards one another, which obviously is a big part of any relationship," Clarisse said as Laura nodded.

"Okay," Pierre nodded and looked back down at the article as Laura checked the dinner.

"Dinners ready," Laura smiled a moment later as everyone looked at her.

Later That Night.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Pierre said as he helped Clarisse with her coat.

"About?" Clarisse asked as she turned to her son and straightened out her coat.

"Asking you when you and dad were moving back in together," Pierre said.

"Oh it's okay, and yes I know that you are worried about it, about me," Clarisse said as she reached her hand up to cup his cheek, "especially after what happened at the beginning of the month, but I am okay. We are okay and we will live together again one day."

"I know that you will, but it doesn't stop me worrying about you living on your own in the meantime," Pierre said.

"Oh so that's what this is about? Me living on my own now you are over here," she said and looked up at him as he nodded, "ok listen, darling, I know you are worried about that but he's still taking care of me, and even though we are living apart at the moment all I need to do is call him and he'll be there for me," Clarisse said and reached up to hug him. "Now please stop worrying."

"You're right, I'm sorry," Pierre said softly as Joseph came into the hallway with Laura.

"It's fine," Clarisse said and kissed his cheek as they pulled apart.

"Okay, call me when you get home so I know you got there safe," Pierre said and watched as Clarisse nodded.

"We will," Clarisse smiled and turned to Laura, "well Laura, it's been a lovely evening. Thank you to the both of you for such a wonderful dinner, we must do it again and soon."

"Definitely," Laura smiled as Clarisse stepped closer, giving her a quick hug before kissing her cheek and stepping back.

"See you for lunch on Sunday?" Joseph asked as Pierre opened the front door.

"Yes, we will be there," Pierre smiled as he nodded.

"You better be," Clarisse smiled back at them.

"We will, we can't wait," Laura smiled as Clarisse and Joseph moved towards the door.

"Neither can we," Joseph said while putting one hand up to them and his other hand on Clarisse's back. "Goodnight."

"Yes, goodnight," Pierre smiled and watched as they walked out of the door.

"Is Pierre alright?" Joseph asked as he and Clarisse walked over to the car.

"Yes, he's just a bit more worried now that I'm living at the house on my own after what happened earlier in the month," she said and watched as he looked at her while pressing the button to unlock the car.

"That's understandable," he said as she nodded and they both climbed in the car. "I am too."

Waving, they pulled out of Pierre's drive and headed back to Clarisse's, where once they pulled up and Joseph had turned off the engine, Clarisse turned to him. "Now that we are home there's something I need to talk to you about before you go back to yours," she said and glanced into the backseat before looking back at him, "join me in the back?"

"Okay," he said warily and watched as she opened her door before he turned to open his and joining her on the backseat a moment later, he watched as she tucked one foot behind her ankle.

"Can you text Pierre for me, let him know that we got here safe," Clarisse said while putting her hands together in her lap.

"Okay," he said and pulled his phone from his pocket. After sending Pierre the text, he put his phone back in his jacket pocket and looked at Clarisse sitting beside him, "now what is it you need to talk to me about?"

"Peter came over this morning and it reminded me that I spoke to him the night I went to isabella's, the night I had my accident," Clarisse said as she looked at him.

"What did you speak to him about?" Joseph asked while putting his hand down on her thigh.

"Well what you had said to me the night of isabella's party, about him having a thing for me, got me thinking, so I asked him if he was the one who had sent me the flowers," Clarisse said.

"And, was it him who sent them?" He asked and watched as Clarisse nodded.

"Yes it was, you were right, he does like me, has done for a while and he had planned to ask me to dinner when you showed up," Clarisse said as she rested her head back on the headrest. "Then this morning he came over, and asked me if I was ok after my accident."

"What?" Joseph exclaimed and turned his head to look at her, "that was a month ago."

"I know," Clarisse nodded, "apparently he's been in America, I remember Isabella telling me a couple days after the accident, but I find it odd how he disappeared the day after my accident and then shows up now."

"That is odd," Joseph agreed, "if he likes you like he claimed, surely he would have checked to make sure you were okay the day after, before going to America, and not a month later."

"Exactly," Clarisse said and lifted her head as she placed her hand on top of Joseph's hand resting on her thigh, "I don't like thinking it, but it made me wonder if it was actually him who caused my accident."

"Peter?" Joseph asked as he looked at Clarisse.

"Yes," she nodded, "I don't want to think that of him, but I find it suspicious."

"Hmm, yeah, I see what you mean," Joseph nodded as Clarisse rested her head back on the headrest once again, "I know that the police are doing all they can to find out, linking camera footage and so on, but if I find out it was him I'm going to go crazy."

"I know you are, and I think a few other people will too," Clarisse agreed and watched as Joseph turned slightly in his seat to face her.

"Why didn't you tell me before, that you spoke to him that night?" Joseph asked while taking hold of the bottom of Clarisse's scarf.

"With everything that's been going on it slipped my mind, and as I said it was only when he showed up this morning I remembered," Clarisse said and watched as he looked down between them.

"And did he say anything about that night, this morning?" He asked and looked back up at her.

"Just that he was sorry about telling me how he felt, and that he realised while in America that he shouldn't have told me," Clarisse answered.

"Ok," he said, thinking a moment before looking back at her, "please try not to worry. We will find out who it was, and if it turns out to be him he's going to realise that that was the biggest mistake of his life."

"I know, but that's what worries me. He's Charles' brother, if it was him, after everything that we've done for him," Clarisse said and shook her head, "I can't even think about it being him."

"I know, but listen," Joseph said as Clarisse looked back at him, "don't worry about him, if it is him he didn't worry about you being hurt did he?"

"No," she said and shook her head as Joseph put his hand up to cup her cheek.

"There you go, just don't give it anymore thought until we know for sure, and then we will deal with it," he said softly.

"Okay, thank you," she said and leant closer to kiss him before resting her head on his shoulder. "Do you want to stay tonight?"

"Do you want me to stay?" He asked while resting his head on hers and watched as she took hold of his hand.

"What do you think?" She smiled and started fiddling with his wedding ring before looking back up at him.

"I think you do," he laughed and watched as she looked back down at their hands, "okay I will stay," he said as she looked back up at him and smiled before leaning closer to kiss him.