Memories Of Her Father - Part 2.

Making his way down towards the King standing at the bottom of the staircase a short time later, Joseph shook his head, crestfallen that him going up to see Clarisse, to try and talk to her, didn't go as they had hoped it would. "Is she still in bed?" Rupert asked.

"No, she's up," Joseph replied with a shake of his head, "Elaina arrived just as I was leaving, to help her get ready for the funeral," he said as he stepped from the last step and stood in front of the King. "But she didn't want to talk to me, barely said a word, and I could see that she was getting upset so I didn't want to push her."

"I thought that would happen," Rupert said sadly and slipped his hands in his pants pockets as they began to walk slowly towards the main door together, "thanks for trying though."

"It's alright, I'll try and speak to her again later this evening," Joseph said as the butler opened the door for them, "I may have more luck then."

"Maybe," Rupert said and gestured for him to lead the way outside. "After you."

"Thanks," Joseph said as he walked through the door before stopping and turning to the King following him. "I wish I had been here though, I would have killed him for laying a finger on Clarisse and her poor father."

"I wanted too, the closest I got was punching him and knocking him out for a few seconds, but I had to try and remain calm for Clarisse's sake," Rupert said as they started walking down the palace steps towards the driveway. "She was shaken and trying to keep calm herself for père."

"I understand," Joseph said as they both stepped onto the gravel and began to walk towards his car. "I know you told me the basics of what spiralled that day before I went up to see Clarisse, but tell me does anyone know how the prime minister found out where we were in the first place to arrange for the photos to be taken?"

"Apparently, he knows someone who is friends with the person selling the lake house you were staying at for the weekend," Rupert said and continued walking, unaware that Joseph had stopped, "and they informed him, Henri, that you had arranged to stay at the place for the weekend, in the hope of purchasing it yourself, and going from what Clarisse had said to him on the Friday before you all left, he put two and two together."

"So it's my fault," Joseph said and watched as the King suddenly stopped and turned back to him. "I lead him straight to her."

"You weren't to know that Joseph," Rupert said as he walked back towards him standing a little way away. "We don't blame you either, so don't start blaming yourself now."

"Is he being charged for the attack on Clarisse, and for what happened to her father too?" Joseph asked and studied the King a moment as he nodded.

"He is, and he has tried to sell a story or two over the last week also but after what he's done to their Queen and her father, nobody is interested in what he has to say," Rupert replied and watched as Joseph looked across the drive a moment. Taking in everything he's been told.

Nodding, Joseph looked down at his car keys that he held in his hands a long moment before looking back up at the King. "If I had been here that day, he wouldn't be here now. That's for sure."

"I don't doubt that for a minute, Joseph, I really don't," Rupert said and stepped closer to him. "And this is probably going to sound bizarre coming from me, but I am glad you weren't here that day, because I know what would have happened if you had been." He said and watched as his wife's former bodyguard and lover raised his eyebrow. "Being locked up for killing that low life wouldn't have done you, or Clarisse any good at all. And even though she doesn't realise it right now, she will eventually, but she does need you, Joseph."

"How would you like me to do your hair for you?" Elaina asked as she looked in the mirror at her sister sitting in the chair at her dressing table.

Hearing her sisters voice pulling her from her thoughts, Clarisse lifted her head and looked in the mirror. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice hoarse and raspy from all the crying she had done over the last week. "What did you say?"

"I asked how you would like me to do your hair for you," Elaina said softly as she moved to stand beside her sister and looked down at her while putting her hand gently on the back of her shoulder, "up, half up or completely down, to try and cover some of the… your neck. To cover your neck."

"Oh, I don't know. I haven't thought about it, but I will be wearing a scarf to cover my neck so it doesn't matter," Clarisse said as she took a deep breath and looked down at what she had been holding in her hands resting in her lap, "just do it either way."

"Ok," Elaina nodded and glanced to her sisters hands before moving to stand behind her once again and put her hands gently on her shoulders a brief moment before leaning to the side of Clarisse, to grab the brush from her dressing table. "Is that the bracelet father gave you for your birthday this year?"

"Yes, it is," Clarisse nodded and rested one elbow on the armrest of her chair before resting her chin in her hand and closed her eyes.

"Just a little farther," Philippe smiled as he guided his ten year old daughter into the field next to their home. His hands were covering her eyes as he had a surprise for her, for her birthday, and she couldn't wait to see it.

"Père, where are we going?" Clarisse giggled excitedly as she put her hands up onto his hands covering her eyes.

"You'll see in a minute," Philippe said as he leant to the side, to make sure she couldn't see out through any gaps in his fingers, "you're not peeking, are you?"

"Noooo," Clarisse giggled and carefully shook her head. "How much farther though, père? I'm so excited I might burst."

"I can tell," he laughed and shook his head. "Only a few more feet."

"Ok," Clarisse smiled and let her père guide her the rest of the way. Trying her best to keep her excitement at bay.

"Ok, are you ready for your surprise?" He asked a moment later.

"I am, of course," Clarisse exclaimed and stood, surprised as he removed his hands from her eyes and her gaze fell on her gift.

"Happy birthday, bunny," Philippe smiled as he looked at his daughter staring in shock at the most beautiful horse she had ever seen.

"For... Me?" She finally asked while turning her head to look at her father as he laughed.

"Yes, for you," he smiled and gasped in surprise as she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," Clarisse exclaimed happily before kissing his cheek and hurrying over to greet her new horse. "Does she, or he, have a name?"

"Yes, it's a she and she's called, Lady Dusty," Philippe said as he walked towards them and watched as Clarisse lovingly smoothed her hand slowly up the horses nose and then back down again.

"That's a lovely name, suits her colour," she smiled and turned her head to look at her father as he stood beside her. "Thank you, père."

Smiling, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head as she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I love you, bunny."

"I love you too, père," she said and tipped her head back to look up at her père. The man she adored more than anything.

Brushing her sisters hair, Elaina looked back up in the mirror to find that she had covered her face with her hand and was crying once again. "Oh Clarisse," she exclaimed and quickly placed the brush back down on the dressing table before wrapping her arms around her and giving her a hug. "It's ok, it's going to be ok." She soothed, her own eyes filling with tears.

Later at the funeral, Clarisse took her place on the pew in the front row with her husband, two sisters and their partner's, Lyle and Justin. All their children and the rest of the family in the rows of seats behind them. The church was full with mourners, family, friends, all of whom had come to support them all as a family, and to pay their respects to a wonderful man.

"We are gathered here to say farewell to Philippe and to commit him into the hands of God," the priest said from behind the pulpit.

And just like she had done so many times over the last week, Clarisse drifted off into a dream. Feeling once again like she was in water. She was physically sat in that church with her husband and the rest of her family, but mentally she wasn't there. She felt detached from the world. She knew the priest was speaking, giving the sermon, but she couldn't make out what he was actually saying. It was all mumbled words in the distance.

"Here we are, one mug of delicious hot chocolate for my bunny," Philippe said as he made his way out into the backyard where his seven year old daughter was sitting in one of the garden chairs.

"Thank you, père," Clarisse smiled and watched as he placed it down on the table next to her.

Smiling, he gestured to the blanket covering her legs, "are you warm enough?" He asked.

"Yes I am," Clarisse nodded while picking up her hot chocolate from the table and took a sip.

"Good, good," Philippe smiled as he sat in the other chair next to her. "I wonder if we will see any shooting stars tonight."

"I hope so," Clarisse smiled confidentially as she placed her mug back down on the table and gazed up at the twinkling stars in the night sky.

"I can already see the big dipper," Philippe said as he gazed up into the sky, "and the flying horse."

"Me too," Clarisse smiled as she too gazed up into the night sky.

"Oh look bunny, a shooting star," Philippe exclaimed and pointed to it shooting across the sky, "did you see it?"

"I did," Clarisse nodded enthusiastically.

"Quick make a wish," Philippe smiled as he looked at his daughter and watched as she closed her eyes to make her wish.

"Wish made," Clarisse smiled and opened her eyes to look at her père. "I hope it comes true."

"Me too," Philippe smiled proudly at his daughter. "What did you wish for?"

"I can't tell you," Clarisse gasped and shook her head, "it won't come true if I do."

"That's right," Philippe nodded and watched as she lifted the blanket. "Are you ok?"

"Yes," she nodded and moved to stand in front of him before turning and climbing into his lap.

"Oh, you wanted a snuggle with your old père huh?" Philippe said and sat back in his chair, pulling Clarisse back with him as she lifted the blanket and covered them both over with it.

"Père," Clarisse said as she settled back against her father and looked up at the stars.

"Yes bunny," he said turning his head to look at her.

"You're not old," Clarisse said and put her arm up, slipping it around his neck.

"Thank you, bunny," Philippe said happily and kissed her cheek before looking back up into the night sky. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she whispered back, praying hard that her wish would come true. That her father, her père, would live forever.

"Let us now pray." The priest said, bringing Clarisse back to reality.

Sitting several rows back, Joseph watched, heartbroken, as Clarisse put her hand up to cover her mouth and began to sob uncontrollably. He wanted to go to her, hold her and be there for her, but all he could do was watch as her husband, the King, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace, comforting her as she cried on his chest for the loss of her père. Her best friend.

A stark reminder that she was never going to be his. Not fully.