uthor's Note- here is the next chapter, sorry it took a little longer than expected....
Thank you to all my loyal readers- you all rock!
The Princess Diaries does not belong to me.
When Joseph disappeared out of the room, Clarisse wondered what was going on, but when she turned to look at the others, to see if they knew anything, their quick change of expression from anticipation to neutral confirmed that they were all in on the surprise. It was simultaneously infuriating and sweet that she was the last to know- infuriating because everyone knew and was gauging her reaction; yet sweet because Joseph had obviously gone to a lot of trouble... She could have been insulted and hurt that she was left out, but she was also touched at their protectiveness and far more curious at what her husband had planned- it obviously had something to do with his mysterious trips to the other house....
"What's going on?" she looked around in confusion, but no one (not even Annie or Mia) said anything, or even met her eyes. Before she could say anything more, she heard footsteps in the hallway.
"Could my lovely wife please close her eyes?" she heard him inquire from behind her, and while she rolled her eyes at his request, she did as she was told. Now she couldn't see anything, but her hearing compensated for this- she heard a lot of whispering and giggling, a murmured "Awww...." before someone hushed the speaker, Joseph making his way through the group, before she felt something heavy and warm placed in her lap.
"Now you can look," she heard him say as she felt him sit down next to her again, and she thought she could detect a smug note in his voice... She waited a few seconds before opening her eyes, and the first thing she saw, as she looked around, was that everyone was smiling at her, or what was on her lap, and she looked down to see a small brown and white bundle sitting there, trembling as it looked around anxiously, it's small floppy ears flopping around before it looked pleadingly up at Clarisse.... Joseph had bought her a puppy for Christmas- a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel- and it was begging for a pat or cuddle, but she couldn't... She was also aware that everyone else was still silent, waiting to see her reaction, which was irritating, but she kept her eyes on the little animal in her lap, not knowing how to feel....
After a moment, she realized that the poor little thing was still shaking out of fright, and her heart went out to it- it was the opposite of Maurice, but... maybe changed was good, she concluded as she held out her hand for the little dog to sniff, to capture her scent. The puppy sniffed her hand for a few seconds, a little hesitantly, before licking her and wagging it's tail.
"She likes you," Julie said from beside her, and Clarisse smiled vaguely as she patted the soft silky fur as the puppy relaxed across her lap, before she realized something.
"She?" she looked across at a nodding Julie before she looked around the room with a small smile. "I suppose I should be angry at all of you for keeping this from me... Especially you," she shot a mock annoyed look at her husband, before smiling down at the tiny puppy. "But, since she's so adorable, I really can't be angry...."
She continued to smile down at the dog, her heart softening even more- she wasn't Maurice, but she was sweet... at the thought of Maurice, however, she suddenly felt a sharp stab of grief as she recalled that he had been the last puppy she had received, and her eyes filled with tears.
"Excuse me," she murmured quietly, handing the dog to Annie and quickly making her way out of the room, not wanting anyone to see her tears.
The roasts for Christmas dinner were sizzling away in the oven as she poured herself a glass of water and stared out to the ocean, the grief subsiding.
"Are you alright?" someone asked from behind her, and she whirled around to see Joseph standing there, looking concerned. "Don't you like her?"
"Oh no, no no- it's not that," Clarisse said hastily, hearing the hurt note in his voice, and hastening over to caress his cheek. "She is beautiful, and I love that you gave her to me... I just remembered Maurice as a puppy, that's all..."
She looked away for a moment before gazing back at him with a warm smile, fully appreciating the effort he had gone to. "So, this explains why you always seemed to be sneaking down to the guest house..."
"Yes, the boys looked after her for nearly two weeks, but there were times when I was worried you would be outside when they were walking her..."
"Hmm... I may have come investigating if I had heard barking!" she mused before smiling at him again and weaving her arms around his neck as she moved closer to him. " But I DO love your present- it was very thoughtful of you, my love, and..." she added, almost lip to lip with him. "I am glad you didn't listen to me... thank you...." she breathed before she kissed him long and passionately.
She hadn't thought it was a long kiss (although she usually lost track of time whenever Joseph kissed her) but she was suddenly aware of someone watching them before she heard them pad back into the living room, reporting loudly:
"It looks like all is well in the kitchen, and Joe is getting an extra Christmas present from his wife!"
"Damn that Scott," he groaned as he pulled away from Clarisse and threw an annoyed expression in the direction of the living room. "I'm going to have to speak to him...."
"No, don't do that, dear... I actually found his comment quite apt," she replied, an amused smile playing on her lips. "Is she the last of the presents?"
"Not quite... there are a few more to open, but they're not necessarily for you..." he trailed off and she nodded understandingly- she had put away all of Maurice's belongings after the accident, so she knew the new dog would need some essentials. "Shall we?" he offered his arm to her with a grin, and she accepted it with a responding smile.
When they re-entered the room, Clarisse spied a small pile of presents on the floor where she had been sitting, and she pretended to look surprised as she sat back down on the couch beside Julie. "Not more presents!"
"Yep... but they might not be for you..." Annie teased as, on the floor next to her, the new centre of attention played with some abandoned wrapping paper.
"Or Joseph, I assume, although he apparently received an extra gift from me,"Clarisse, tongue firmly in cheek, said as she looked pointedly at Scott, and Joe almost roared with laughter at the dumbfounded expression on his face, before he turned his attention back to Clarisse.
"So," Annie said after she had unwrapped all the dog associated presents. "The next question is..."
"When's lunch?" BJ joked as, amid the laughter, she glared at him.
"NO... although it may be a pertinent question... but what to name the puppy?" she nodded to where the subject in question was back on Clarisse's lap, a tiny pink collar around her neck, lying contentedly as her new mistress, stroked her gently. "I like Brownie- especially since she is brown and white!"
"What about Annie?" Julie giggled as her sister turned to glare at her. "What? It is a popular dog's name!"
"Sandy?" Scott suggested with a grin. "After all, she will be living at the beach!"
The list got progressively longer and wilder (even Ben and Carrie contributed a name or two) as Clarisse sat back and listened quietly, before hearing a name she liked... Instead of interrupting the circus around her, she bent down and murmured, close to the puppy, "Shelley" hoping that she would react, and she did, instantly turning to look at Clarisse, her small ears flopping around a little. "Hello Shelley," she repeated in her almost inaudible voice, and Shelley wagged her tail as she licked Clarisse's hand again.
"I don't think we need to debate anymore names," Joseph said loudly with a smile- while he too had been listening to suggestions, he had also been watching Clarisse bond with her new dog. "I think Clarisse may have chosen a name for her."
"Ooh, what?" Annie burst out as everyone turned to Clarisse, who was blushing, and she threw a look at Joseph before saying: "Shelley."
"Aww..." Annie said as Shelley, sensing that she was the centre of attention again, wagged her tail happily. "That is such a cute name..."
After a moment's silence, BJ stood up and clapped his hands together.
"I know it's usually traditional to make toasts AFTER meals, but I thought I'd do it beforehand... yes, while I REMEMBER," he shot an amused look at his brother, who only grinned. "But, I'd just like to thank Joe and Clarisse for being fantastic hosts and hosting a terrific day- it's what Christmas with family is meant to be... I think we should do this every year!"
"Oh no!" Clarisse looked mock horrified before laughing. "No, I didn't mean it- it's been wonderful having you all here, and we both hope you come out again soon...."
"Just not too soon or too often!" Joseph added with a grin.
000
The week between Christmas and New Year passed by very quickly, aided in part by the fact that BJ, Lynn, Annie and Julie stayed for a few days after Christmas.
"We should do this every year!"" Mia joked when they left after a long and fun Christmas dinner, and it was Joseph's turn to look mock horrified but Mia was undaunted.
"Actually, next year will be special- you'll have a great grandchild to spoil!"
Clarisse thoroughly enjoyed the time she spent with Joseph's family (she always had)- it was so much different to her own- and she often found herself torn between little Sean and Shelley, although Annie was showering her with attention.
"I had better check your luggage before you leave," Joseph joked on their last night there, two days before New Year's Eve- Clarisse's charity function was the next night, Annie had to get back to L.A and the others had to get back to work. "Just in case you try to smuggle Clarisse's Christmas present out of here!" Annie wasn't offended, however, and just laughed at his comment.
"I don't think that will be a problem, Uncle J.... Shelley may love all the attention, but when Aunt C is around, she's like a little magnet, sticking to her side like glue!"
"That's true," Joseph grinned over at Clarisse sitting beside him, Sean napping on her shoulder and Shelley snuggled up next to her- they really had bonded. "I can see that I've been pipped at the post yet again... number three in her heart..." He was only joking, knowing how she felt about him, but Clarisse looked slightly worried as she turned to him, quick to correct him.
"That is definitely not true... Sean is my number one great nephew and godson, Shelley is now my number one dog, and you..." she reached out with her free hand to squeeze his. "...Are my number one husband!"
"So I must be your number one brother in law!" BJ joked, lightening up the moment, and Clarisse laughed openly at him.
"Yes, unless you have other brothers you haven't mentioned!"
She was a little sad when they left the following morning, but she knew it wouldn't be too long until they visited again, or vice versa, and baby Sean was coming to stay for a few days in a month or so when Julie and Patrick went away, something Clarisse was looking forward to.
"Next time I visit, I might introduce you to my new man," Annie smiled mysteriously before climbing into the rental car.
"Next time we visit, maybe you could send the plane for us," BJ hinted with a broad grin and Joseph groaned as Clarisse laughed.
"It's definitely going to be quiet around here," Clarisse said thoughtfully as they walked back into the house after waving the cars off.
"FINALLY- some peace and quiet," Joseph cheered as Clarisse bent down to pick up and cuddly Shelley.
"BJ and company aren't all that bad- in fact, they're quite fun."
"Are you saying I'm not fun?" he pretended to look insulted.
"No, darling- you are fun, but Annie, Julie and your brother are so exuberant and outgoing.... even Julie was letting herself go this time, even though she's usually so quiet..."
"Yes, Annie was always dramatic, bringing chaos wherever she went, just like my brother, but Julie is more like you, quiet and reserved... but strong as well..."
"Different as they are, I'm very fond of all of them... well, we might as well watch a DVD to fill in the next couple of hours... I'll finally be able to snuggle up to you again..." she beamed over at him.
"As Shelley will snuggle up to you," he ribbed gently as she settled on the couch, but he was only joking.
"I'm just worried about her being here alone tonight...."
"She's going to be fine... we'll only be gone a few hours, and she'll be perfectly happy in the laundry with her box, toys and food... But it's so sweet that you're worried about her- you know, if we ever have to go travelling for more than a day, she can come too!"
"That's good," Clarisse looked relieved. "So, what shall we watch... 'The Sound of Music?" before she burst out laughing at his expression.
0
The charity function was being held a hotel half an hour away from the beach house, and Clarisse was pleased to see that the press were there- the charity always needed more publicity.
"I'm afraid I may not be spending much time with you this evening,"she admitted as they approached the hotel, but Joseph didn't look too worried.
"I suspected as much- James and Lisa will be there, so I'll be fine and keep well out of the spotlight... Tonight is more about you anyway...."
"Why?" Clarisse asked innocently, and Joseph realized she didn't know that she was being honoured tonight for her years of dedicated work- she was never just a figurehead for any of her charities, she worked very hard for all of them, attending as many functions and meeting as she could.
"Oh... it's just that it's the first time in a long time that you get to show off your glamorous side.... and you do look glamorous tonight," he smiled proudly over at her- she was wearing a black evening dress which, while had a straight neckline at the front, revealed a little of her back, as well as some of the jewellery he had given her. "But I did think that black was an inappropriate colour to wear to events," he added teasingly.
"It was, but Annie convinced me otherwise,"Clarisse said with a smile. "Besides, I don't see you complaining when I wear black!"
"You won't, and you never will!"
As Joseph had expected, Clarisse was surrounded for most of the evening- she had been genuinely surprised when, on entering the ballroom on Joseph's arm, she discovered that she was the guest of honour, but when she turned to confront Joseph, he had already slipped away...true to his word, he was going to stay well out of the spotlight tonight.
"I see you've left your wife to bask in the glow of everyone's admiration," James teased when Joseph finally found him on the other side of the room. "Not that she doesn't deserve it, but YOU might get into trouble for leaving her alone in her moment of triumph!"
"Not that you wouldn't enjoy seeing Clarisse tell me off," Joseph retorted with a grin. "No, she knew that I was planning to stay in the back ground tonight- tonight is all about her... Anyway, I though Charlie and Marion were coming tonight...."
James' face suddenly fell.
"They were, but Charlie isn't well again..." he paused for a moment, weighing something up. "Can I tell you something, Joe... only, you can't tell Clarisse, just in case I'm wrong..."
"What is it?" Joe was curious, but he suspected that James had the same feeling that he had about Charlie...
"I just have the feeling that... that Charlie isn't getting any better."
"I know, I have the same feeling, but he always sounds so cheerful and upbeat whenever we talk to him..."
"Yes, he's the same with us... but still...." he trailed off and the usually jovial James momentarily looked sad before seeming to shake off his mood. "But he definitely wouldn't want us thinking about that tonight, on Clarisse's special night... or even tell her or Lisa about it...."
"No, and I won't be telling her about it either."
"Speaking of, she was really surprised when she came in before... you managed to keep it from her?"
"I almost let the cat out of the bag when we got here, but no, she didn't know....but she deserves it..." he trailed off as he watched Clarisse mingle among the crowd, noticing that she looked younger and lovelier with her hairstyle and dress... When their eyes met, she didn't look annoyed as she smiled radiantly at him- she was happy... and definitely in love....with him....
"Wow, she looks wonderful," he murmured to himself as, beside him, James laughed.
"Don't tell me you're falling in love with your own wife?" he joked before becoming serious. "But, seriously, she does look fantastic- marriage to you must really suit her..."
Before Joseph could say anything, the room was called to attention as the chair woman presented a blushing Clarisse with her award before Clarisse disappeared into yet another crowd of well wishers.
"I think you're definitely going to get into trouble now," James chuckled impishly.
"Yes, I know you're going to like that," Joe retorted with a grin before someone spoke beside him.
"No, he's not going to get into trouble," and the men turned to see Clarisse standing next to him, beaming happily and holding her framed award. "You both knew about this didn't you?" she asked as she slipped her arm through Joseph's and snuggling up close, to Joseph's relief- she wasn't annoyed.
"We did," he admitted. "I forgot about it until I almost let slip in the car... but congratulations," he added warmly, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. "You definitely deserve it, sweetheart."
"Yes, congratulations," James piped up as Lisa joined them. "My favourite part of the evening was when you came in, very, very surprised!"
"Yes, I was very surprised," Clarisse looked meaningfully at Joseph for a moment before looking around. "Where are Charlie and Marion? I thought they were going to be here tonight?"
"They were going to be here," James said smoothly. "But then, Charlie thought that him being here might detract attention from you.... So, to change the subject, what are your plans for New Year's Eve?"
"Something quiet and simple," Clarisse said with a smile.
"Now who's being unsociable?" Joseph teased and she laughed before retorting cheekily:
"Not unsocial, just sensible... but you're not complaining, are you?"
James just laughed at the two of them.
"You pair really are one of a kind!"
000
"A quiet New Year in is exactly what we need," Joseph agreed the next afternoon as he lit a fire in the fireplace. "Dinner, a few drinks and a move... maybe we''ll be able to make it to midnight!"
"At least I look forward to New Year's Eve now," Clarisse replied as she curled up on the couch, Shelley the puppy stretched out in her lap. "While I was married to Rupert, it always seemed to be a chore... he always had balls on New Year's Eve, and, of course, I was expected to be the hostess...." she trailed off, remembering a particular New Year's Eve she would always remember....
0000000
New Year's Eve balls had become a ritual in Pyrus- everyone who was anyone was invited, and Rupert personally greeted each guest, Clarisse at his side and the boys usually in the crowd somewhere. Clarisse always kept her features pleasant, even smiling as she greeted people, but she was usually longing to be in bed, particularly when she and Rupert weren't speaking. When they were first married, she had enjoyed the glamour of the evenings, dancing with Rupert and the other men, and the lovely dresses she wore... As she got older, however, she started to view New Year's Eve with indifference, wishing they were over sooner than they actually were, particularly once Rupert began to openly flirt with their women guests there...
Tonight was no different, but Clarisse didn't care her heart was becoming increasingly occupied by someone else... someone who was standing only a few metres away... Just the thought of his proximity to her made her heart race, and she was usually flushed when another member of parliament asked her to dance.
Thankfully, the dance was relatively short and, seeing that no one else was asking her to dance, she calmly snuck out onto the balcony to look at the stars, more than a little relieved that her compulsory dances were over, and she didn't have to make conversation anymore... Her ideal New Year celebration would be dinner, a movie and few drinks with a certain Head of Security... her heart belong to him, and he knew it, but their relationship was still a secret... they hadn't even kissed....
"There you are," she heard a voice from behind her, and she turned to see the man in question, Joseph, her shadow man, walking towards her, clad as always in black... Much as she loved him in black, she wondered what he would look like in colours...
"I wondered how long it would take for you to realize I was missing," she said with a shy smile as he joined at her at the edge of the balcony.
"Less than twenty seconds, although it took me a few minutes to get through the crowd... I see that the guest list has grown even more from last year," he joked and Clarisse smiled with him, her heart beating faster at smile. "So, despite the increased number of guests here, are you having a good evening?"
"Not really," Clarisse said honestly after a moment's inner debate- she could pretend she was enjoying herself, but he knew her too well. "Personally, I would rather be in bed... the New Year has never symbolized anything significant for me- it's just the beginning of another year in the same routine...."
"For someone still reasonably young, you have so little hope," Joe said softly, sad that she seemed to be trapped in a golden cage.
"Reasonably young?" she teased gently, smiling at him before she stopped smiling. "But, surely, you wouldn't understand why I feel like this... a husband who constantly cheats, our two children grown up, everything is so ordered and regimented...."
She was beginning to sound depressed, so Joseph stepped closer and almost timidly rested his gloved hand on top of her gloved hand, startling Clarisse but, to his surprise, she didn't move her hand away.
"What would your ideal New Year's Eve be?" he asked in a low voice, trying to ignore the building tension between them- it had been building for a long time, but only now was threatening to spill over.
"Dinner, a movie... a midnight dance out among the stars..." she trailed off dreamily. "I only need the man..." she added, giving him a sidelong glance before staring straight out into the black garden.... Not too subtle, Clarisse, she cursed to herself.
"Sounds romantic," he replied, a little confused- he wanted to kiss her, and she seemed to invite intimacy, but still... she was married and Queen.... He vacillated momentarily between the choices before deciding to bit the bullet and follow his heart....
"Clarisse," he murmured huskily, half hoping that she wouldn't hear him, but she immediately turned to him with an expectant expression on her face.
"Clarisse," he repeated, reaching out and gently tou8ching her cheek, which coloured underneath his glove.
"Yes, Joseph," she said softly, unconsciously moving closer to him, her eyes sparkling happily as, inside, the muffled sounds of people down to midnight drifted out to them.
Joseph wanted to say something, something significant and profound, but he instead leant over and pressed his lips on hers... softly at first, but then with increasing passion as he wrapped both his arms around her, pulling her closer to him....They could be caught, he thought dimly, but he didn't care... all he cared about at this moment was that she was kissing him back just as much as he was kissing her...
Clarisse completely gave into it, and in the fuzzy recesses of her mind, she realized that this was their first kiss.... and she loved it! She never wanted it to end....she was head over heels for Joseph, and she wanted the whole world to know....
When they finally broke apart (Joseph more aware of the nearness of the ballroom and other people), Joseph almost wanted to run away, stunned at his audacity... kissing the Queen of Genovia... he could certainly be fired for this... but Clarisse was surprisingly calm, although somewhat breathless, as she kept a firm grip on his arm, not letting him leave, not that he wanted to...
After a moment's pause, both of them trying to sort out their emotions, she smiled almost sexily at him.
"I think we may have missed the stroke of midnight," she finally said. "Happy New Year, dearest Joseph," she touched his face with her hand, loving how close they were.
"Happy new year... my darling Clarisse," he almost whispered the words, and her eyes filled with tears at the tenderness he seemed to be exuding. "Did you have a good evening?" he added in a more light hearted tone, and she chuckled, still glowing from the kiss.
"I did... and I wish... I wish this could last forever..." she trailed off and sighed. "I had better go back inside... Rupert will be looking for me."
0000000
"We don't need to do that anymore!" Clarisse smiled triumphantly, gently pushing Shelley aside so that she could stand up and walk over to Joseph. "There's just one thing I want to know," she added as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "After you kissed me... did you want to run away?"
"Yes," he said after a moment. "Not because of you, but because I was so stunned that I had been forward enough to kiss the very married Queen of Genovia...imagine if we had been caught, particularly with me holding you so close and so tightly...."
"I wasn't complaining then, and I'm certainly not complaining now," she teased, chuckling, before he leaned over and kissed her gently. "Are you trying to start the celebrations early?" she teased again and he had to laugh.
"No, but speaking of starting celebrations, we could always open one of our many bottles of wine!"
"Good idea," Clarisse agreed, scooping Shelley up in her arms, tickling her tummy "And while you do that, I'm going feed little miss here!"
While they had been planning on a very quiet night in, with one of Clarisse's now perfected roast dinners as well as several bottles of chilled wine, they had also decided to dress up, just to make things a little more special.
"Our own private dinner party- for two!" Joseph had joked when they had decided on it, but he didn't mind.... in fact, after the last couple of months, he preferred it.
After Clarisse had fed and played with Shelley for a little while, and settled her down for the night in the laundry, she went upstairs to shower and dress, and discovered that her husband was already dressed and pouring two glasses of wine.
"Are you trying to get me tipsy tonight, Joseph?" she inquired with a grin as she sipped some of her wine before collecting what she needed for the shower.
"Of course... you've seen me make a fool of myself with alcohol, so now it's your turn!" he gave her a sly grin and she had to laugh. "Besides, tonight is the night you always wanted, so we might as celebrate in style!"
"Alright," Clarisse agreed with a smile in her eyes. "I could never resist you... I'm just wondering what else you have planned for tonight...."
"You'll just have to wait and see...."