Author's Note: here's the second chapter… I'm having a lot of fun with this one as well!
Thank you to my readers- addlogcon, Captain Weirdo, Clarisse Renaldi and Poppinswannabe! as well as anyone else who wants to read it! You all rock!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
Little Sean's christening was due to be held at the end of May, several weeks after Mia and Nicholas's return, and both Joseph and Clarisse were looking forward to seeing their family. They were not only attending the christening, but were also spending a few days with BJ and Lynn.
They flew into England a day before the christening, landing at the same airport as they had before, and were again met by BJ and Lynn.
"Sorry about all the extra luggage, but Clarisse decided to clean out all the baby stores in Genovia!" Joe joked as he and BJ loaded their luggage into the 4WD as Clarisse, who had heard the comment, rolled her eyes, but she knew that he was joking- in fact, he had been very touched at what she had done…
During the past few weeks, she had sent some small presents to Julie, mostly for the baby, although she had been a little concerned that she had be intruding.
"Nonsense," Joseph had been indignant when she had confided her fear to him. "You're the little guy's godmother, and everyone is thrilled that you want to be involved in his life… Besides, it's the godmother's duty to spoil their godson!"
"But the presents came from both of us, not just from me!" Clarisse added hastily, and he laughed, much to her confusion. "What are you laughing at?"
"Just that I've had to convince you that you really are part of OUR family, and you're suddenly worried that I'm going to be left out! But I am glad that the family- or most of them- have accepted you and Mia."
"Well, Mia and I are a package… just like you and I are a package to everyone else!"
"Yes we are, and everyone had better accept it!"
He was joking, but he loved the fact that she was insecure and wanted to be involved…
"No matter about all the extra luggage… are you two staying for the week?" BJ boomed, bring Joe back to the present, and he rolled his eyes- his brother could be so tactless… particularly considering that one time they had been there, Clarisse's son had been involved in a car accident, but Clarisse, however, was completely unfazed as she smiled brightly at her brother in law.
"Yes… hopefully there will be no emergencies, and I'm looking forward to spending some more time with you all…"
"Uh oh… the more time you spend with us, the more likely you'll want to escape… not that I blame you," BJ joked, and Clarisse only smiled, squeezing Joseph's hand as he helped her into the back of the 4WD, and he understood- as if she would or could leave… she loved them as her own family.
"If she leaves, I leave," Joe declared as he climbed into the front beside BJ. "I've spent too long trying to pin her down to give her up!" and they all laughed.
"I always knew you were a sly lady, Clarisse," BJ looked in the rear view mirror at her. "I thought Joe was planning hard to get, but since it was you…"
Clarisse was still laughing, Joe watching with a grin- she was usually treated with deference and respected, but she also loved being teased and treated with irreverence… it made her feel as though she was part of the family.
"Yes, I was the one being elusive… a Queen never gives in straight away to the man who captured her heart," she said in her best Queenly voice, and everyone laughed again as Clarisse met Joseph's eye and winked before continuing. "I just had to make him wait… sorry darling!" she called as he pretended to look insulted.
"I know you were playing hard to get, but did you have to do it for so long?" he complained, grinning, and Clarisse shrugged nonchalantly.
"I learnt my lessons well… and the rules…I never broke them…" but they shared a secretive smile- no one would ever know how many times, and how close they had been to breaking particular rules…
00000
Annie, Julie and Patrick were already there when they arrived; waiting in the dining room for lunch, as several servants took their luggage upstairs. There were also several other strange people there, who turned out to be Patrick's parents, and uncle, who was going to be the godfather, much to Clarisse's relief.
"About time you two arrived!" Annie joked, her feet up on the table as the four of them strolled in, and Clarisse made an instant beeline to Julie and baby Sean.
"I can see living in Hollywood has improved your manners," Joe said, raising an eyebrow at her, causing her to blush and take her feet off the table. "What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were filming your television show…"
"It's on hiatus for the summer… hey, maybe you and Clarisse could come and visit me in LA! I could you show you around…"
"Maybe," Joe said vaguely as he watched Clarisse sit down next to Julie and coo over the baby. "I can also see that my wife isn't going to be available for the next few days!" he joked, and Clarisse threw him a look before she turned back to Sean.
"He is so handsome… and he's grown a lot in the last month!"
"Yes he has," Julie smiled proudly down at her son, before standing up. "It's time for his sleep, but you'll be the first one to hold him when he wakes up."
"I'd like that…" Clarisse said with a warm smile before Julie disappeared out of the room, and Joseph sat down in her place.
"Well, you two are staying in the same room as before… I think we're going to have to make a permanent reservation for you soon!" BJ joked from the head of the table, and Joe quickly retorted with:
"Can you also put our names on the door? That's what we really want," as BJ grinned even more before changing the subject.
"Are you planning on going horse riding while you're here, Clarisse?"
"Yes… and I'm hoping to go for a longer ride this time!"
"Will you be joining your wife, little brother?" BJ looked at Joe with an impish grin.
"Probably not- as you very well know, I don't like horses… I'll just watch Clarisse," he looked over and grinned at her. "Although she had better not go too far," he added warningly, squeezing her knee under the table and she giggled in response, before BJ broke the moment with a cry of realisation.
"That's right, I promised Clarisse a few more stories from Joe's childhood, and I've managed to remember a few… " and Joe groaned loudly.
"Do you really have to?" he complained, and BJ smiled smugly.
"Indeed I do, Joe…, and I'm sure that your wife will be very interested in some of these stories…"
He looked beseechingly at Clarisse, who was severely tempted to smile, but kept her expression decidedly neutral.
"Just you wait, you traitor," Joe replied with a wicked grin.
Lunch was an uproarious affair, especially as BJ and Joe both told stories about the other, the stories getting wilder and wilder, and Clarisse had sore sides from laughing as they walked out into the main foyer, almost colliding with Ben, Carrie and their partners. There was instantly awkwardness and tension in the room, particularly between Ben, Carrie, Joseph and Clarisse, and there was a slight pause before Clarisse stepped forward with a warm smile, confident that everyone liked her, and not at all intimidated.
"Hello… Ben and Carrie," she said politely, and everyone, including Ben and Carrie, were surprised, and Joseph was also very proud of her- particularly when, considering there was no alternative, and everyone watching them, Ben and Carrie both greeted her civilly. If Clarisse could do it, so could he, he told himself firmly, but before he could do so, there was another knock on the door- it was the priest conducting the ceremony tomorrow.
"I'll be back in a little while, darling," Clarisse whispered in his ear, before disappearing with Julie, Patrick and his uncle, quickly followed by Lynn, the in laws and her daughters, leaving BJ, Joe and Carrie's husband standing in the hall.
"So, how are things in Genovia?" Ben sounded awkward as he asked, but at least he was trying, Joe told himself, so he could be civil as well….for his brother's sake, and if Clarisse could do it, so he could he…
"Everything's going well… we live out at the beach house now, but still travel quite a bit… and Mia got married last month… what about you?"
"The usual- work, family (soccer, ballet and concerts)… the usual, you know…"
Joe wondered whether the blunder was deliberate, everyone knowing that he hadn't had most of those experiences, or accidental… before he decided to give Ben the benefit of the doubt… as silence descended on the small group for 5 minutes.
"So, Joe," BJ said, in an attempt to break the awkward silence between Ben and Joe. "What are your plans for the rest of the week?"
"We hadn't discussed anything… why, do you want us to leave straight after the christening?" Joe mocked, and BJ laughed.
"No, just curious… you just wait and see what we've got planned for you…!"
000
After the short meeting with the priest, which was a quick run through of what was going to happen the following day, Clarisse decided to go for a walk, leaving Joseph to spend some time with his nephew and brother.
She was almost out the door when she heard someone call from behind her, and she turned to see Julie wheeling the pram towards her.
"Are you going for a walk?"
"Yes, your mother said she had planted some new roses in her garden, and I wanted to have a look at them."
"Can we join you?"
"Of course you and Sean…" Clarisse looked down into the pram with a warm smile. "Can join me- I'd love some company."
After helping Julie get the pram down the stairs, Julie joking 'Dad should really get a ramp for the house', the two of them walked slowly through Lynn's garden.
"So, how's motherhood?" Clarisse inquired after a pause, and Julie smiled radiantly at her.
"Wonderful- I love it, and I love spending all my time with Sean- I can hardly bear to leave him, and neither can Patrick…" as Clarisse smiled at the proud note in Julie's voice. "By the way, thank you for all those little presents you and Joe sent- I can tell you that they were all appreciated… and used!"
"I just couldn't resist sending a few things- after all, as Joseph reminded me, it's the godmother's responsibility to spoil their godchildren!"
"I can imagine Joe saying that!" Julie laughed.
"But thank you so much for asking me to be Sean's godmother- it really was very sweet, and it will be an honour…"
"My mother had suggested it, but I had also been thinking about it for a long time… but both Patrick and I were so excited when you agreed."
Clarisse blushed before they sat down at the garden seat together.
"Would you like to hold him?" Julie asked as she lifted him out of the pram, and Clarisse nodded eagerly as she accepted the small bundle, resting him on her shoulder, and Sean wriggled slightly before resting his cheek on her shoulder and settling down again, gazing at her with his big dark brown eyes.
"He's grown so much!" Clarisse commented.
"Yes, he's grown a little in length in the past few weeks, and he's gained weight… he's almost six weeks old now," Julie smiled happily. "So, what was it like when you had your boys?"
"I was so young when I had my boys… barely 20 when I had Pierre, and almost 24 when Phillipe was born," Clarisse said thoughtfully. "As soon as they were born, they had nannies to take care of them… I wanted to do it all myself, but protocol and my own busy schedule, as well as His Majesty, prevented me from spending time in the nursery, which is one of my biggest regrets," and she looked sad.
"You weren't allowed to look after your own children?" Julie looked shocked. "That's awful… and strangely old fashioned…"
"It wasn't that I wasn't allowed, but I wasn't encouraged to go into the nursery… and that was something that was in vogue in most upper class nurseries- but when they were sick, I was there, not matter what I was told…" She smiled proudly at the times she had stood up to the nannies, even Rupert, to spend time with her sick sons.
"Good for you," Julie said approvingly.
"Thank you… I even caught the chicken pox from Phillipe," she chuckled at the memory, and Julie joined in. "But," Clarisse continued, shifting Sean onto her other shoulder. "I am glad that modern young women don't like those archaic traditions- I'm glad you don't, and I'm sure that Mia will abolish those protocols when she has children… Actually, I'm rather envious of you younger women."
"I'm sorry… still, it's terrible that you were shut out of your own son's lives," Julie said sympathetically, and Clarisse shrugged carelessly, careful not disturb little Sean, who was napping on her shoulder, before she decided to put him back in his pram.
"It's all in the past now, but that's why I'm so interested in Sean…" she blushed again at the words, but she wanted to be honest with Julie.
"And we're both very grateful for your interest… and Sean is very lucky to have you and Joe in his life…" before she suddenly turned coy. "I… um… have a favour to ask of you and Joe… that is, if you don't mind…"
"What is it, darling?" Clarisse asked patiently, with a kind smile.
"Patrick and I have to go to London for the night, and we really don't want to unsettle Sean, so could you and Joe look after him tonight?"
"We would love to look after him!" Clarisse beamed with delight. "But what about your parents?"
"They've had plenty of babysitting opportunities, but I wanted you and Joe to spend some time with the baby."
"I'd love to," Clarisse smiled down at the baby. "It's been a long time since I looked after an infant, but I'd love to…"
"What about Joe?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine about it- he was always good with children."
"Yeah, he was always good with Annie and me when we were little, and we used to go to him whenever Dad said no to something, and we had him wound around out little fingers, well… figuratively, anyway."
"Yes, Mia was the same… he always had a soft spot with her, and he always believed in her when she was princess and Queen, never doubting her, and I really love that about him…" she smiled tenderly.
"I always wondered whether he would have been like as a father… I'm sure he would have been fantastic."
"Yes, I think he would have been a wonderful father- he was like a father figure to my sons, particularly Phillipe, and to Mia… but he was always good with any children."
"I also wondered why he had never married and had children of his own, but I soon realised when I heard about you…."
"I know this might seem egocentric, but he never wanted children unless… it was with me… and I feel guilty that I'm the reason he never had children," Clarisse confessed with a deep blush.
"I can understand why he didn't," Julie said bluntly, and Clarisse blushed even more. "But don't feel guilty about what my lovely brother and sister insinuated- he adores you, and I don't think he would have been happy with anyone but you," Julie said with a sincere smile, and Clarisse looked away, more than a little embarrassed.
"But before we give Joe the perfect husband of the year award, we should go and find him so that you can tell him that you're babysitting my 5 week old son tonight!"
000
When they entered the house, they met Joseph coming out, clearly on his way to look for them.
"There you two are- we were all wondering where you had got to!" he joked as Clarisse wove her arm around his.
"We just went for a walk in the garden to see where Lynn had planted some new roses… why, did you miss me?" Clarisse said in a flirtatious tone, and Joe realised that she wanted something.
"Maybe a little… but what do you want?"
"Well…" Clarisse began wheedlingly. "Julie and Patrick have to go to the city tonight, and she asked if we could look after Sean tonight…"
"Well," he stalled teasingly for a moment, before he saw the radiant look on her face, and knew it couldn't deny her what she clearly wanted.
"I already said yes, but… you don't mind, do you?" she looked at him, anxious, and he laughed-it was so sweet, and he really didn't mind.
"Alright… and no, I don't mind… it'll be fun."
"Great," Julie said enthusiastically as he lifted Sean out of the pram and headed for the stairs. "We'll bring his stuff over to your room very soon…"
"Stuff… how much stuff does a five week old baby need?" Joe looked confused as Clarisse laughed… but he soon understood when they met in their room 10 minutes later.
"A portable cot, a tub for his bath, blankets, clothes for tomorrow, a bag of nappies and essentials, and his bottle are downstairs to be warmed when needed," Julie said in an efficient voice as Clarisse smiled and Joe scratched his head. "He's just been fed, so it won't be for another couple of hours, and that's when you can give him his bath… and I think that's everything…."
"I hope so," Joe remarked, feeling a little overwhelmed but Clarisse wasn't at all fazed. "I just don't understand how he needs so much, he's only little…"
He was trying to joke his way out of it, but it was obvious that he was nervous, as Clarisse and Julie exchanged a knowing glance, and Julie tactfully decided not to comment.
"Here's our mobile number, just in case you need it, but I know you'll be fine… thank you again for doing this… see you tomorrow!"
Julie and Patrick left the room leaving Clarisse and Joe standing there, looking down at the sleeping little boy in his crib.
"So… what do we do now?" he asked, sounding dubious, and Clarisse smiled- he sounded nervous.
"Nothing- he's still very young, so he's only got a simple routine- sleeping, wake up for a feed, nappy change and bath, more sleep…" she said breezily, hiding how happy she was to be caring for him.
"But he will wake up during the night, won't he?"
"Yes, but don't worry, I'll get up to him… so we might as well go downstairs for now… we have this," she waved one of the baby monitors at him.
"I never thought I'd be using a pram, a cot, or bathing a baby…" before they realised that BJ had been following behind them.
"Neither had I," he laughed as Joe threw him a look. "So, are you two on babysitting duty tonight?"
"Yes," Clarisse said with a smile. "I hope you and Lynn don't mind…"
"Of course not," BJ grinned. "Julie's been dying to ask you… and I figured that Joe could have some fun…"
"Thanks a lot, little brother," he said sarcastically before they followed him out to the veranda, where the others were sipping drinks.
000
Two hours later, almost close to dinner, there were sounds of crying on the monitor, and Clarisse literally dashed up the stairs to comfort Sean, Joe appearing a few minutes later with a warm bottle.
"I think you might need this," he joked as he handed her the bottle, and she smiled warmly at him as Sean latched onto the bottle and began to suck, his eyes closing in contentment.
"He's so adorable," she cooed.
"Would you like me to warm some water so that he could have his bath?" he asked, and she smiled warmly at him.
"That would be great… thank you, darling."
After his feed, Clarisse gently bathed him, Joseph watching in fascination and then joining her, holding him in the water, before she dressed him in his sleep suit (which had the Genovian crest on the front), and rocked him to sleep in her arms, loving the baby smells of powder and soap.
"I guess you'll be annoying Mia for great grand children," he joked as he watched her, and she smiled as she felt Sean settle on her shoulder.
"No, I'm not that silly… I just can't help being maternal as I am… it's in-built…"
"And it's one of the best things I love about you," he said in a gentle tone, leaning over to kiss her, before she lay the little boy down in his crib. "Is he asleep?" he whispered.
She nodded, and they tiptoed out of the room, ready to join the others down in the dining room.
"Is the little guy asleep?" BJ inquired as they sat down at the table, and Joe nodded. "He should be asleep for a while, but you should be prepared for a midnight wake up call!" he chuckled.
"You keep up the jokes, BJ, and I'll bring the baby to you when he's crying AND has a dirty nappy!" Joe retorted- the quips weren't helping his nerves- he hadn't cared for an infant as young or as tiny as Sean, and he wanted it to go alright.
"He'll be fine, BJ," Clarisse suddenly spoke up, leaning over and squeezing Joseph's hand. "I'm more worried about me getting up at midnight… I haven't done this in years, and, knowing me, I'll probably sleep through his cries!"
Everyone laughed at the deprecating tone in her voice, and Joe squeezed her hand gratefully.
She checked on him again when they went to bed, and he was still peacefully asleep as, from the bed, Joseph chuckled.
"What?" she turned to look at him with an amused yet confused glance.
"You just look so funny, yet so cute leaning over his cot…" and she mock glared at him.
"Like I said before, once a mother, always a mother," she replied with a flip glance as she climbed into bed next to him and cuddled up to him. "I do love babysitting…"
"For now…" he said ominously.
00000
"How did it go?" Julie inquired when she and Patrick returned the following morning, and Clarisse exchanged a smile. Baby Sean had woken them up several times during the night, and Clarisse, as promised, had got up to him as Joseph, getting grumpier with every 'wake up call', buried his head under the pillow… However, it was close to dawn when he had woken up for the last time, whimpering, but by the time Clarisse had woken up completely, she realised that Joseph was nursing him, for the first time. She kept her eyes open, but stayed completely still as she watched the two of them, Joseph rocking and patting him, before he sat down in the chair.
"Don't tell Aunty Clarisse this, but you are a lucky little fella to have her in your life- she had a distant relationship with her own sons when they were young, but she was a wonderful mother, and I'm a little jealous (just kidding) of the attention she's giving you… don't ever forget that she's a lovely lady, and loves you very much… as I do…"
Clarisse pretended to be asleep when he returned to be, but she had been incredibly moved by his speech…. But she wasn't going to tell him that she had heard him…
"It went well," Joe said smoothly as Clarisse, secretly reluctant, handed little Sean back to Patrick. "Clarisse spent most of the night in bed, leaving me to do all the work!" he joked, grinning as he narrowly missed a swipe from his wife.
"Anyway, thank you so much for looking after him," Julie said gratefully. "We'd better get ready for the christening…"
"It's so quiet in here," Clarisse commented after they had left with all of Sean's equipment. "But I enjoyed it… didn't you?" as she walked over to their wardrobe to retrieve the pale peach suit, with an uneven hemline on the skirt, that she was planning on wearing.
"Yes, I did," he said honestly. "I enjoyed seeing the bonding between you two… although I didn't appreciate all the wake ups!" as Clarisse laughed.
"It would have been the same if we'd had a baby… and you can't tell me that you wouldn't have to up if that child had been yours!"
"Yes I would have…. And I know you were awake this morning."
"No I wasn't," Clarisse pretended to look innocent.
"Yes you were, madam… and you know that you were."
"I was," Clarisse admitted with a shy smile, tossing her suit onto their unmade bed, and wrapping her arms around him. "But I was so moved by what you said, darling…"
"It was the truth," he said sheepishly, before she leaned over and kissed him.
"Yes, he may be lucky to have me, but he's also very lucky to have you… just as Mia, Julie, Annie and Phillipe were all lucky to have you… you are a natural father, and I'm sorry that you never had children of your own."
"We've been through all of this, and you know whose children I wanted… yours… I honestly don't miss it at all… Like you said, I did experience fatherhood in a way… but you always meant more to me than anything else… do you understand that?"
"I do," Clarisse caressed his cheek gently. "I just don't want you to ever wake up and wish that you had had children of your own."
"I won't," Joseph said reassuringly, looking at her with wide eyes. "When I tell you the truth, I tell you the truth…" before he leaned over and kissed her passionately. "Now… haven't we got a christening to get to? I don't think it would be right if the godmother is late…"
"That's right…" Clarisse said dreamily, before she shook off her mood and hastened to get dressed… the godmother couldn't be late!