Chapter 8: Scandalous Wedding

Author's Note: Hi everybody! Thanks to my dear Laura to be my fantastic beta:-) And thanks to everybody for the lovely reviews. So thanks to Zsulie, prettycrazy, The Velvet Top Hat, Captain Weirdo, maya12987, Kristine and to bluegirl-783. And there will be a lot of kissing scene just for you Kristine!:-)

"Now?" asked Joseph. "You mean…"

"Now, immediately." answered Clarisse.

"But…This is really what you want?" He barely could hide his smile.

"Yes. I know it's fast and strange, but in the last few hours my whole world turned upside-down. Suddenly I see everything crystal clear. My whole life was all about duty and responsibility. I was always the good girl. I was exemplary and good in everything, but now I want to live, want to live my life. I mean MY life. Not the life what others expects from me. I want to be happy, really happy first time in my life. I know I haven't lived at all, but now it's over. I want to live with you, wake up everyday in your arms, live a normal life in our own home, not in the spotlights with servants and journalists. I just wanna enjoy my life… with you. Is that ok? I mean this fast wedding and everything. Or you rather would like to have a real wedding, with a wedding dress and guests?"

"No… There's just only one thing I want… and it's you." smiled Joseph and kissed her again. This time she could completely enjoy the moment. Joseph gently pulled her closer and made small circles on her back, while he kissed her hungrily.

A few minutes later she smiled against his lips…

"This is so good."

"So are you feeling better?" asked Joseph with a smile.

"Definitely better. You're a real medicine. We should sell you bottled, I think that would be a huge success."

"What an idea." chuckled Joseph.

"Yeah, but I think I would keep all the bottles for myself… You know just for the rainy days." smiled Clarisse.

"All right… Oh Clarisse, I still can't believe that you'll be my wife. I think we should hurry up."

"Why?"

"'Cos I'm afraid you will change your mind, if you wake up." smiled Joseph.

"If I'm dreaming, I never wanna wake up. " laughed Clarisse "Oh, what was that?"

"We arrived." said Joseph "So what's the plan?"

"I will call the archbishop after everybody calmed down a little."

"Do you know it's nearly four o'clock in the morning?" asked Joseph with a smile.

"Yes, but the archbishop was always a bad sleeper."

"Really?"

"Yes, but now it's Showtime! " smiled Clarisse.

OOOOOOOOOO

As they stepped into the palace, Mia jumped up from her chair and ran to Clarisse.

"Grandma! Finally!" shouted Mia and hugged her. She was a strong girl so Clarisse nearly could breath.

"Mia…Mia please." tried Clarisse.

"What happened? Are you all right? Did he hurt you?... " she asked a hundred questions with one breath.

"I'm fine, don't worry. Joseph just arrived at the right time." smiled Clarisse and glanced at Joseph.

"I'm so happy that you're back in safe and sound. I was so nervous, I desperately tried to do something, but I couldn't. Oh grandma, I'm so relieved, you have to tell me everything…"

"Of course dear, but not now. We have a more important thing to do."

"Oh, yes you have to rest a bit after this horror." said Mia tolerantly.

"No, I'm totally fresh. Now we have to organize the wedding." smiled Clarisse.

"You mean your wedding with Joseph? So you still wanna marry him? Wow! That's so cool." smiled Mia. "But I think we can organize it tomorrow. What time will be the wedding?"

"As soon as possible…" answered Clarisse.

"Oh I see, so maybe on this weekend?" asked Mia.

"Now."

"WHAT?! Now? You mean NOW? But…but…" tried Mia.

"I want to marry immediately."

"Wow! I…I…"

"Relax dear. Just help me, alright?" asked Clarisse.

'Ok." smiled Mia, when Charlotte arrived in a hurry.

"Your Majesty!" cried Charlotte. She forgot about the etiquette and hugged the queen.

"Oh Charlotte. Please don't cry. I'm fine. Joseph saved me, and I have news for you." smiled Clarisse and lifted Charlotte's face up a bit. "We have to plan a wedding now."

"What?!" asked Charlotte.

"Yeah I know it's a bit fast and… I'll tell you everything later, but now I have to call someone." said Clarisse and went to her office.

"Is she really all right?" asked Charlotte when the queen disappeared.

"Yes… No…I…I don't know exactly." answered Joseph frankly. "She has a serious mood swings. When I found her in the first few minutes she always started to cry, then all in a sudden, she was full with life and wanted to marry me and start a new life immediately. I don't know what to think, but she seems so happy, and… and I'm over the clouds. So…"

"It's normal, Joseph. Don't worry." smiled Charlotte "She is a woman."

"A woman…"

"Yes like me. I always change my mind." smiled Charlotte.

"Oh I see. But…"

"Don't worry. This night was a shock, but I think she will be all right. Yes, maybe she is not quite herself, or… she IS herself now. I mean, maybe…no, I'm sure this is the real Clarisse. So, don't think about it, just marry her! "

"Thanks Charlotte." smiled Joseph and squeezed her hand.

A moment later Clarisse was back.

"Did you call him?" asked Joseph.

"Yes, we settled everything." smiled Clarisse. "He will be here soon."

"He was sleeping…" started Joseph.

"No, he was still up…"

"Are you sure the archbishop was up?" asked Joseph.

"Yes, he answered the phone." smiled Clarisse.

"After how many rings?"

"I don't know, twenty or thirty." answered Clarisse innocently.

"He was sleeping."

"No, no, he's just deaf in one ear."

"What?"

"Well, you would have to be deaf in one ear not to hear the phone ring twenty or thirty times."

"Ok. Ok. He'll survive it." laughed Joseph.

"Surely." answered Clarisse with a cute smile. "And now, go and change. We'll meet here in 30 minutes. That's enough time. Isn't it?"

"Of course." smiled Joseph and gave her a quick kiss.

OOOOOOOOOO

Exactly 30 minutes later, Joseph was in the hall with Shades waiting for the girls. Joseph was happy and excited, but still a bit worried, 'cos she could change her mind any minute…

But soon Clarisse finally arrived. As she walked down on the stairs, Joseph nearly could breath, she was so beautiful… Clarisse was wearing a simple white lace dress, which fitted perfectly to her body. She was like an angel…

"Oh my God! You're enchanting." smiled Joseph and kissed her when she finally arrived.

"Thanks… So are you ready?" asked Clarisse with a radiant smile.

"I can't wait." smiled Joseph too.

"Then let's go to the church. I think the archbishop is already waiting for us."

"I hope so." smiled Joseph and then walked out hand in hand.

"To the church?" asked Mia surprised.

"Why?" asked Charlotte. She was at loss.

"He's just killed someone an hour ago."

"Oh Mia. Don't be so fussy!" said Charlotte and grabbed her hand. "Let's go!"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The wedding was simple and magical at the same time. As they stood before the altar, the world seemed to slow down. They were in their own little world. Clarisse nearly could answer to the archbishops questions, she was lost… lost in Joseph's eyes…

"I pronounce you man and wife." said the archbishop finally. "You may kiss the bride."

That was the only sentence that they both heard crystal clear….

Joseph slowly stepped closer and kissed her gently on the lips…

They no longer registered the outside world… As the kiss deepened Joseph put his hands around her waist and pulled her closer… and Clarisse… she was lost in his kisses…

Mia and the others, include the archbishop was looking them with a smile. None of them wanted to wake the happy couple up…

Fortunately, a few minutes later Clarisse broke the kiss, 'cos she needed some air. As they suddenly realized the smiling people around them, they are both laughing… and a moment later everybody followed them.

They were happy, extraordinary happy. Everything was perfect.

Soon Joseph grabbed her hand and they started to walk down the aisle towards the door. Clarisse was smiling radiantly and Joseph… he was the happiest man in the world, Clarisse was finally his. The world couldn't be better…

But as they stepped out from the church, suddenly light blinded them, but that wasn't the light of the morning sun, that was flashlight. Flashlight everywhere…

As they slowly regained their sights, they realized that at least a hundred reporters were around them and they were asking questions…

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! It's true that somebody kidnapped you yesterday?"

"How could you survive it?"

"Your Majesty! Joseph was the one who saved you?"

"Did you really marry to your head of security?"

"Did you know that your new husband is a godfather?"

"Are you planning that Genovia will trade with guns?"

"How does it feel marry to the mafia?"

Questions and questions from everywhere. Clarisse was standing in frozen with Joseph, surrounded by the reporters.

Inside the church, Mia and Charlotte waited to stepping out into the morning sun, but as the doors opened, they were in a shock too.

"What's going on here Charlotte?" cried Mia.

"Scandal."

To be continued…

Author's Note: Thanks for reading, and now please review:-)