Anniversaries - Late May 1967.

Six years have passed since that day Joseph handed in his resignation and left the palace to be in Italy with Viola, and Clarisse hasn't seen or heard from him since. She was heartbroken, as any friend would be, but through their mutual friends Sabrina and Harry, and his parents, she got the odd update every now and then, letting her know that he was well. She even considered writing to him several times herself, sending it to his parents to pass on, but whenever she found time to sit down at her desk, between being a mother to her two sons and running a country with her husband, she would end up changing her mind. Realising it would probably be better not to write after all and to just leave him and Viola be.

But now, as she sat doing her make up at her dressing table in her suite, the suite she now shared with her husband, preparing to leave for her flight to London for Sabrina and Harry's tenth wedding anniversary celebrations that evening, she wondered to herself if he and Viola, would be there too.

"I wonder if Joseph and Viola will be there," Rupert said, as if he had read her mind, as he entered the bedroom from his closet.

"I was just wondering the same thing," Clarisse said as she averted her gaze from herself in the mirror to her husband as he stood by the bed, looking down, as he buckled up his belt. "I did ask Sabrina a few weeks ago if he was going to be, but she wasn't sure at the time and never mentioned it again so I don't know."

"They probably will be, but how are you going to feel seeing him again after all this time?" He asked and finally looked up at her while tugging his jumper back down around his waist. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I don't know really, I hope so," she said with a shrug and turned in her chair to look over at him. "I think it would probably be awkward, especially if Viola is there too."

"Well pay no attention to her if she is," he said while walking over to her as she got to her feet, "just remember you are there for Sabrina and Harry, to help them celebrate their anniversary. I'm just sorry that I can't be there myself."

"I know, but are you absolutely sure that you can't rearrange your plans to next weekend so that you can come with me?" Clarisse asked as she stepped in front of him. "I'm sure the prime minister would understand."

"He will understand yes," Rupert said as he stepped closer to her and snaked his arms around her waist as he continued. "But I have already had to rearrange twice before, I can't do it again."

"Hmm, I suppose not," she said while putting her arms up around his neck.

"Besides, it will give you a chance to let your hair down with your friends," he said and kissed her a couple times before stepping back, "and you don't want your old husband hanging around for that."

"Hmmm," she teased and smirked at him before turning to sit back at her dressing table.

"Anyway, do you no what time you will be back tomorrow?" He asked while taking a seat on the bench at the foot of their bed.

"Evening sometime, I have arranged to meet Sabrina for a bit of lunch to catch up," she answered and began to finish her makeup.

"Alright," he nodded and fell silent as he thought a moment.

Averting her gaze to him in the mirror, Clarisse smiled to herself, "what are you thinking?" She asked.

"How do you know I was thinking?" He said and looked up at her with a smile.

"Ahh, I can tell from the expression on your face," she smiled.

"Damn, okay," he laughed, "but alright, you got me. I was thinking."

"Oh, sounds ominous," she teased and watched in the mirror as he stood to his feet.

"Hmm, very," he smirked and stood behind her chair, placing his hands on her shoulders. "If you must know, I was thinking about making arrangements for us to go away, not next weekend, but the weekend after, just the two of us."

"You were?" She said and tipped her head back to look up at him.

"Yes I was, we can spend sometime together and relax," he smiled down at her.

"Sounds lovely," she smiled back.

"So, I'll make the arrangements then?" He asked.

"Yes," she nodded, "please."

"Okay, I'll do it while you are away," he said and bent over to kiss her a couple times.

"Okay," she smiled and lifted her head to look back in the mirror, watching him as he walked over to the door.

"I will let you finish getting ready now," he said and turned to smile over at her as she turned in her chair to look over at him, "come see me before you go, I'll be in my office."

"You know I will," Clarisse smiled and watched him walk out of their bedroom before she turned back to her mirror to finish her makeup.

Stepping from the elevator, Joseph made his way into the hotel lobby to head out for an early afternoon walk, a chance to unwind a bit before the celebrations began later that day, but seeing Clarisse stood at the check-in desk with two bodyguards standing close by, one of whom being Peter, and another woman, who he didn't know, stopped him dead in his tracks.

He had wondered if Clarisse would be there at the party, ever since Harry had told him about it months ago and now he had his answer. She was going to be there and she still looked as gorgeous as she did the day when they first met all those years ago in New York. But try as he might, he could not get the image of her face when he had walked out off her suite after giving her his notice from his mind. He knew he had broke her heart that day, hell he broke his own heart that day. A day that'll haunt him for the rest of his life.

"Joseph?"

Hearing her voice, his favourite sound in the whole world pulling him from his thoughts, say his name was like music to his ears and looking up to find her now facing him, standing a few feet in front of him, he smiled. "Hello!"

"Hello," Clarisse smiled as he stepped closer and kissed her cheek, "I wondered if you would be here."

"You did?" He said, surprised as he stepped back.

"Yes," she nodded, "it's so great to see you again."

"You too," he said, an awkward moments silence falling between them.

"How are you?" They both said at the same time and they both laughed.

"You go first," Joseph said, gesturing for her to continue.

"I'm okay," she smiled, "and you?"

"Yes, I'm alright too," Joseph nodded and looked up at the guards, bowing his head off acknowledgment to Peter, as he did the same, before looking back at Clarisse.

"Thats good," Clarisse said. "Well, I should get to my suite and call the palace to let them know I arrived safely."

"Of course," Joseph nodded and looked down. "I guess I'll see you at the party later then?" He said and looked back up at her.

"Yes, you will," Clarisse smiled, "I'll see you then."

Nodding, he watched her, the other woman and the two guards walk past him towards the elevators before turning towards them, his heart pounding in his chest. "Clarisse?" He exclaimed and watched as she stopped and turned back to him.

"Yes?" She said, giving him her gorgeous smile. The smile he had thought off often and had missed so, so much over the last six years.

"I just, well, I thought that it might be great to catch up a bit before the party starts this evening," he said, watching her, "and wondered if you would like to meet me in the bar about six for a drink."

"Oh, I don't know," Clarisse said. Her heart was leaping at the idea, she hadn't seen him for so long and would love for them to sit down together to talk just the two of them. But there was one thing stopping her. "What about Viola?" She asked.

"She's not here," he said, glancing down at the floor a long moment before finally looking back up at her. "We aren't together anymore."

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," she said softly.

"It is what it is," he said, shrugging slightly.

"I guess it is," she said and studied his face before nodding. "But okay, I'll meet you in the bar at six and I'll try not to be late," she smiled.

"You late? Never! Everyone else is simply early more like." He laughed.

"Indeed," Clarisse smiled, "I'll see you this evening."

"You will," he nodded and gave her a quick smile before he watched her, and her team, walk towards the elevators.

Turning, he continued on his way out of the hotel entrance for his walk, with a spring now in his step whilst Clarisse, made her way up to her suite to unpack and call home to let them know that she had arrived safely.

After getting ready, and Peters wife, Helena, doing her hair. Clarisse wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and made her way down to the hotel bar to meet Joseph. To say she was nervous was an understatement, but she was looking forward to sitting down with him and catching up.

Reaching the bar, and seeing Joseph sat at one of the tables by the window, Clarisse made her way over to him. "Joseph," she smiled and watched as he turned his head, surprised that she was on time.

Getting to his feet, Joseph couldn't believe how gorgeous she looked standing there in a beautiful knee length dress, and her hair done up into a layered chignon. "Hello," he said, finally finding his voice while stepping closer to kiss her cheek as she laughed.

"Hello," she smiled and watched as he stepped back to look at her.

Thanks for reading this chapter and remember, please do let me know your thoughts ;) it's very much appreciated.

Part 2 will be posted shortly :)