As always, thank you to everyone for reading and to those who left reviews :) I appreciate the support.
xXxXx
Walking slowly into her office, Clarisse looked around before walking over to her desk. Standing behind it, she sipped her tea and sat down, her eyes on a photo sitting on her desk. One of her and Rupert in happier times, and as she stared she saw something she never noticed before. Reaching out she picked up the photo, bringing it closer to take a better look. She could see he looked sick, even though at the time the photo was taken she, like everyone else, including Rupert himself had no idea. Oh how their lifes have changed in the last year.
Hearing a knock on her office door, Clarisse looked up and quickly brushed away the stray tear while placing the photo back down on her desk "Come in." She called, picking up her tea. Taking several sips as the door opened, a tall figure appearing.
"Mother, father would like to see you now." Pierre said, watching her lowering her hands and placing her cup back down on the desk.
"Ok, darling." Clarisse nodded and looked over at her son. "How is he this morning?" She asked, standing to her feet and began making her way around to him stood at the door.
"There's no change," He answered, watching her walk over to him.
"I didn't think there would be." She said, stopping halfway across the room and watched her son take a step closer.
"Mother, are you ok?" He asked, watching her momentarily as she stared across at him.
Nodding, she continued over to him "I'm ok, did you have a nice talk with him?" She asked, walking out her office and turned back to Pierre as he closed the door behind them.
"Yes, it was interesting." He nodded, turning back to her "We talked a lot about fun times when I was younger, the birth of Isabella you know, happy memories."
"I bet he liked that," She said, slowly walking towards the stairs. "Are you going back to England now?" She asked, turning back to her son.
"No," He answered and shook his head "I'm going to stick around for a few days, if that's ok?" He asked, watching her look down at her hands as she put them together in front of her.
"Of course it is, you should know that." She said, looking up at him and watched as he nodded. Watching him for just a few seconds before she turned and made her way up the stairs.
Walking along the hallway, the walk she had done many times lately. It never got any easier, she was always greeted by the same thing each time. Reaching his suite, walking on in past the guards and through to his bedroom. Standing in the doorway, she watched her husband as he lay motionless in his bed. Closing her eyes for just a moment, before she finally took a step forward.
"Rupert," She said softly, walking over to stand beside his bed as he opened his eyes.
"Good, I'm glad that you're here." He said softly and patted the space on the bed beside him "Take a seat, stay awhile."
"Don't I always?" She asked putting her leg up, taking a seat on the edge of the bed next to him.
"You do, and I thank you." He nodded, reaching out to take her hand as she looked down. "I need to talk to you." He began and turned over a little, placing his other hand on top of hers that he had hold of.
"Oh, you do?" She asked, watching him.
"I do." He said, nodding. Taking a couple deep breaths "That day, why did you stay?" He asked, studying her face.
"What day?" She asked, watching him.
"The day I found out about you and Joseph? I was horrible to you, I was mean and yet you stayed." He said softly and watched as she looked down. "And I just wondered why."
"Do you not remember what I said to you before that?" She asked and watched as he shook his head. "You asked me why I stayed with you after you cheated on me all those years ago, and I answered with; I stayed because of the boys, because of my duty to our country, but most of all it was because even though you had cheated, I still loved you." She said, trying not to cry.
"You still loved me, even though I broke your heart and done something no man should ever do to the woman they love?" He whispered, and watched as she blinked away tears before closing her eyes as she nodded. "I hurt you Clarisse, back then and that day and I'm so sorry, I'm sorry for everything I ever done to you, and I pray that one day you will forgive me."
Looking up at him, she lent closer and brushed his hair back. Placing a kiss on his forehead before sitting back, and taking hold of his hand once again. "I already did," She nodded and looked up into his eyes.
Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed the back of her fingers as she watched "I love you so so much, Clarisse." He whispered, and closed his eyes as she pulled her hand free to cup his cheek.
"You're sleepy, why don't you get some rest and we can talk some more later." She said softly, tipping her head slightly.
"Will you stay with me, please?" He asked, opening his eyes and watched as she nodded.
"Of course I will." She said, standing to her feet.
"Thank you." He whispered, and watched as she turned to sit in the chair beside the bed before reaching out to take hold of his hand.
"I love you, Rupert." She whispered, seeing a small smile on his lips as he closed his eyes.
"For what it's worth, I wouldn't have told anyone." He whispered, drifting into sleep as Clarisse sat watching him.
Early Afternoon.
Sitting beside her husband, sharing stories of years gone by when a knock came to the door. Looking up, Clarisse watched as Rupert pushed himself up a little and looked towards the door.
"Come." He called, giving Clarisse's hand a small squeeze.
Opening the door, Shades stepped inside and looked towards his King and Queen. "You have a visitor, Your Highness. Did you want me to show them in?" He asked.
"Well, I don't..." Clarisse began, until Rupert put his hand up to stop her.
"I'm fine," He nodded and looked towards the guard "Please do show them in."
"Very well, Your Majesty." Shades nodded and stepped out the room as Clarisse looked back at her husband.
"You're to poorly for visitors, Rupert." She began, studying his face as he kept his eyes on the door.
"Ahh, Joseph," He began as Clarisse quickly turned her head to look towards the door "I wondered if it would be you, please come in, come in." He said, motioning for him to come further into the room.
"You sent for me, Your Highness, I felt like I had no choice." He said, looking over at him then at Clarisse "Your Majesty." He said, bowing his head as Rupert watched.
"Joseph," Clarisse said and looked back at Rupert as he looked up at her.
"Why don't you go, let me talk to him alone." Rupert whispered.
"Rupert, what are you doing?" She whispered as she lent over the bed, placing her hand on his arm.
"I know what I'm doing, please can you go and let us talk?" He said, looking into her eyes as she studied his face.
Standing up straight, she nodded "Very well." She said softly and looked towards Joseph before walking out, leaving them to talk.
Later That Afternoon.
As Rupert and Joseph talked up in his suite, Clarisse anxiously paced around her office.
"Your Majesty," Joseph said from the doorway, and watched as Clarisse stopped and turned to him.
"Clarisse, please." She said, watching him step in and close the door behind himself.
"I heard from news reports that he was sick, but never realized how sick he actually is until today." He said, turning back to her as she stood beside the back of the sofa in her office.
"Well he didn't want the full extent to be made public, hence why he's here and not in hospital." She said, placing one of her hands down on the back of the sofa. "Joseph, I'm sorry I didn't.."
"You have no need to apologize, Rupert has explained everything." He interrupted and watched as she looked down.
"I see," Clarisse nodded and slowly looked back up at him "What else did you talk about."
"Oh this and that," He began and watched her as she moved to sit in one of the arm chairs.
"What did he tell you, exactly?" She asked, looking up at him.
"That he discovered what had happened between us, and that he threated to tell the boys and the country what happened if you came to see me." He answered.
"I'm so sorry, I wanted to come and see you I really did" She said and stood to her feet.
"It's ok, your family comes first and that's right, so they should." He said, watching her walk around to him. "I completely understand, I'm sure I would do the same. But hey, I know it's six years late, but congratulations on the birth of Isabella." He smiled "I did wonder if she was mine, but when the first public photo was published I soon realised my wonder was for nothing. She's a mini Pierre and Philippe that's for sure."
"Yes she is," Clarisse nodded as someone knocked on the door. "Come in." She called while turning to the door.
Opening the door, Shades stepped in "Sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty. But I just need to give this to Joseph."
"That's alright," Clarisse said while watching him walk over to them and hand Joseph a file.
"See you tomorrow, boss!" Shades said and walked back out, closing the door behind him.
"What's that?" Clarisse asked, as Joseph looked at her "He just called you boss."
"Yes, Rupert has rehired me as your head of security."
"What?" Clarisse exclaimed in surprise.