Thank you to everyone who has read this story, and left me a review :) like always the support is very much appreciated.
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After tossing and turning most of the night, Clarisse angrily grabbed one of her pillows and placed it between her knees, trying desperately to get comfortable. Finding a comfy spot a moment later, she closed her eyes and tried her hardest to fall a sleep before getting uncomfortable, again.
Sitting down on the sofa in her suite, Clarisse's eyes remaining on the coffee table as the news she had been told just a short time ago tried its best to sink in. Looking up from the paper, Rupert watched her sat in her dazed state for several moments before folding the paper and putting it on the coffee table.
"Clarisse?" He said softly and watched as she slowly looked up at him before standing to her feet and walking over to the windows. "What's the matter?" He asked and stood to his feet.
"I'm..." She began, turning to face him as he come to stand behind her. "I'm pregnant." She whispered, looking into his eyes.
"What?" He exclaimed.
"The doctor, he um.. he confirmed it this morning, and he's certain I'm about 4 months along." She began and turned her head to look out the window, tears pricking her eyes.
Watching her, he worked out the dates in his head "The date we last... you know?" He dared ask, and watched as she nodded.
Looking down, she closed her eyes "My birthday." She nodded and slowly looked up at him.
"Well this is great news!" Rupert exclaimed and stepped closer, hugging her.
Opening her eyes, Clarisse placed her hand on her bump with a sigh. And needing the loo once again she decided to just give up trying to sleep and get up, and prepare for her day.
As she stood brushing her teeth, she stared at her bump in the mirror. Remembering how the news was a shock to not only her and Rupert, but to their parents, the boys and the rest of Genovia too. As having a then nineteen and a fourteen year old, a new baby was the last thing they wanted. But since they found out, Rupert has become a different man. He has gone back to how he was when they first married, and how he was when they had Pierre and Philippe.
Rinsing her mouth out, the niggling thought that the baby may not be his played in the back of her mind, just like it has everyday since she found out. She knew if the baby arrived in the next week then it would be Rupert's, but if it didn't, then they both know what that meant.
Later That Morning.
After having a short walk, Clarisse began making her way back, just as Rupert was about to leave. And seeing her walking back, he decided to stop and wait for her before leaving.
"Where are you going?" She asked, walking up to him.
"Just to a meeting, I shouldn't be too long." He said, kissing her cheek. "I will be back before you know it," He smiled and put his hand down on her bump "So don't go having this baby before I get home, Okay." He smiled up at her as she looked at him.
"Rupert, I had hoped to talk to you now." She said, watching his driver get out the car. "I know that we have talked about it before, but what if..." She said looking back at Rupert as he looked at his driver a moment before looking back at her.
"I know that you are still worried about all this," He nodded while putting his arm around her as they began slowly walking away from the car. "It will be ok though, I promise." He said, looking at her.
"I'm sorry Your Highness," Rupert's driver began and watched as they both turned to look at him "But if we don't leave now, then you will be late."
"Yes, I'm just coming." Rupert said, and looked back at Clarisse "I will see you when I return, we can talk more then. But please, in the mean time take it easy." He whispered and kissed her goodbye.
"I will try, but you know how quickly I get bored." She said, putting both her hands on her bump as Rupert hurried towards the car. "I may go for a lay down."
"Yes, rest is good." He said, smiling over at her "I won't be long, I promise."
"Ok." Clarisse said, and watched as he got in the car, driving away seconds later.
"Clarisse, my dear dear Clarisse?"
"Mother?" Clarisse exclaimed, turning to see her mother walking towards her "Mother it is you," She smiled and began walking towards her "What are you doing here?" She asked, embracing into a hug.
"Well what do you think?" Her mother, Victoria asked as they stepped apart "For the birth of my new grandchild, remember?" She asked with a laugh.
"Of course, it's just I'm surprised to see you, that's all." Clarisse smiled and hugged her mother once again "I'm so glad you're here though, I have missed you so much."
"I have missed you too," Victoria smiled as they pulled apart. Putting her hands up, she cupped her daughters face as they looked into each others eyes "Why don't we go and have some tea, while you update me with what's been going on?" She said, brushing her daughters hair back behind her ears as she nodded. Smiling, she lowered her hands "Come on, let's get inside." She smiled and wrapped one arm around her as they began walking towards the Palace.
Later That Evening.
Hurrying down the hallway, Victoria held tightly onto her necklace, stopping it from flying all over the place. Reaching the top of the stairs, trying to catch her breath.
"Rupert," She called out as she began hurrying down the stairs "Rupert!" She called again, and came to a stop halfway down as Rupert appeared. "Oh good," She said breathlessly while placing her hand on her chest, trying to catch her breath "You need to call the doctor, it's time." She said, watching him.
"I, uh..." He began, hurrying towards the stairs as Philippe and Clarisse's assistant appeared in the hallway.
"The doctor, Rupert." Victoria exclaimed, stopping him in his tracks.
"You both go, I will call the doctor." Isla smiled and watched as they both looked over at her.
"Thank you so much, Isla." Rupert smiled and hurried up the stairs towards Victoria.
Hurrying back to her suite, Rupert stayed with Clarisse until the doctor arrived then took his place outside the door with Philippe. Several hours passed, when in the dead of night the door slowly opened.
Jumping up, Rupert looked towards the door to see Victoria appear, carrying a tiny bundle. "He's here." He smiled, tears filling his eyes as Philippe stood up behind him.
"She, actually." Victoria smiled and watched as Rupert moved to stand right in front of her.
"She?" He asked in surprise and looked down at his new baby daughter.
"Yes, she." Victoria laughed while looking up at him.
"She looks just like her mother." He said, tearfully as Victoria placed her in his arms. "How is Clarisse?"
"Clarisse is good, the doctor is just checking her over to make sure she is ok." Victoria smiled as Rupert nodded, unable to take his eyes from his daughter. "Philippe, why don't you go and inform the staff that the new arrival is here safe and sound." She smiled, and watched as he nodded before walking away "Thank you." She said, and looked back up at Rupert "Rupert, Clarisse told me what happened..."
"Did she?" He said, looking up at her momentarily before looking back down at the bundle in his arms.
"She did, we talked about it a lot actually. And when this little girl arrived, there was no doubt about it, she is definitely a Renaldi. Yes, she looks like her mummy, but there is a lot of you in her too." She said, smiling as he looked back up at her.
"I know," He nodded and looked back down, moving to sit in one of the chairs. "This is our fresh start, a new beginning." He began, looking back up at his mother in law. "Things were rocky between us for a while, when it all happened. I wasn't nice, and I regret that, I hate myself everyday for the way I treated her..." He said, looking back down at the little bundle in his arms. "But I have changed, I hope she can see that and that I do love her."
"She does," Victoria nodded as Rupert looked back up at her. "She told me all the things you have done for her over the last several months, and I must say I am very impressed." She smiled, watching him look back down.
"She was worried about everything, more so about the fact of being a mother again. She thought she was past that stage, so it took a long time for it to sink in, that she was going to be a mummy again." Rupert said, gently brushing his hand over the top of his daughters head. "But when it did, she couldn't wait for this day to come." He whispered, taking hold of one of her tiny hands. "Mummy and daddy love you so very much," He smiled and kissed her tiny fingers "You're going to be one spoilt little girl, that's for sure."
Victoria watched as he sat talking to the small bundle in his arms for a moment before disappearing back inside to see Clarisse, leaving him alone with his daughter.
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A/N: Yes, she had a baby and I know a lot of people don't really like that idea because in the films she only had two, but this is an AU story and it is fiction after all ;)
Thank you for reading :)