Author's Note: I am so glad that everyone is enjoying this story- all your reviews have been greatly appreciated. I've just noticed that this chapter is longer (rather than shorter) than the previous chapter!
Thank you to all my reviewers: Lady Luxembourg, Captain Weirdo, Kristi-Julie, addlogcon, Minerva M McGonagall and everyone else who reads them...!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
Downstairs, there were several fairly large boxes sitting on the kitchen bench, and both Joe and Clarisse each grabbed one to open themselves.
"Aha!" Joseph crowed triumphantly a few seconds later as he pulled a long, flat and brightly wrapped package out of the box, before smiling delightedly at his wife.
"How many are there in there?" she asked, fingering the bright wrapping paper before he looked back into the box.
"About three or four- including a big one… do you have any in yours?"
"A few, but mainly flat ones… and that one looks like another present," she said, pointing to a box nearby, wrapped in brown paper.
"Yes… but who would wrap a present in brown paper?"
They unpacked both boxes and discovered that, altogether, they had been given six or seven gifts in all shapes and sizes, and including an envelope or two and the box that Joe moved closer onto the table.
"I never realised how popular we were!" he joked before looking thoughtfully at the brown paper wrapped box. "But this one really intrigues me…"
"Open it then," Clarisse encouraged, and he ripped off the paper to reveal…
"What is it?" Clarisse looked at the red and grey box, puzzled, and Joseph only smiled as he ripped open the stapled lid, and reached in, pulling out… a bottle!
"It's a case of champagne and wine!" he grinned at her, and then found a piece of paper taped to the side of the box. He opened it, and read the note aloud:
"Enjoy your honeymoon even more with some of these! You might need it! Congratulations! Scott and the guys"
"Oh great," he groaned as Clarisse laughed. "I suspect that this was all Scott's idea… as if we'd be able to drink all of these!"
"They meant well, and I'm sure that they will take any bottles we don't need," Clarisse said soothingly before she reached for the flat package Joseph had taken out of the box first, and unwrapped it carefully, opening the note that was taped on the top of the box.
"Oh really," she laughed when she read the note, and Joseph looked at her curiously.
"What does it say?" She passed it over to him, and he had to chuckle when he read the note:
"These will go perfectly with the punching bag we're getting you for Christmas! James and Charlie"
Now very curious, Clarisse lifted off the lid of the box, pushing back the tissue paper to see, lying in the box… it seemed to be a red satin dressing gown, something very unlike what James and Charlie would choose, but when she held it up to admire it, the back facing Joseph, he burst out laughing.
"What?" she asked, confused at his sudden reaction.
"Turn it around, my love," he said finally, and she turned it around to see her name printed in white with the words, also in white, RAGING VOLCANO underneath. She looked at it for a moment, flabbergasted, before she burst out laughing as well.
"They are never going to let me forget that dinner, are they?" she complained as she tried the dressing gown on, twirling around playfully as he laughed.
"It suits you," he teased. "But I'm afraid that they probably aren't darling…" as Clarisse looked in the box again.
"But what do we have here?" she queried as she held up another, royal blue coloured, dressing gown, holding the back towards herself, and she started laughing when she saw what was written on it.
"What does it say?" he inquired, and she turned it around, still laughing, to show him… JOSEPH: TRAINER & HUSBAND OF THE 'RAGING VOLCANO'
"Those two are absolutely crazy!" he said in disbelief before he put his on as well. "I suppose that gloves will soon follow…"
"Probably for our second wedding anniversary," she added helpfully as she pushed another big box towards him, wrapped in silver paper.
"Let's open this together," he suggested, and they tore the paper off to see, on the box, a picture of a set of champagne flute glasses.
"Wow…" they said together before he opened the box and pulled out a glass… to their astonishment, there was another surprise in store for them- it seemed as if all six glasses had both their names engraved on them, as Clarisse gasped.
"These are so beautiful…" she murmured, before noting a little note in one of the glasses…
"We're sure you're going to have plenty of opportunities to use these! Love, Mia and the girls"
"Very thoughtful… I bet the girls and the guys got together to do this- champagne glasses and champagne… But," he added with a warm smile. "It is nice, and we will enjoy it."
The next present, another flat object which seemed to make them wonder if it was a book… but it turned out to be another wedding album.
"This is why we don't need anymore weddings," she joked as, together, they looked through the album… some of the pictures they remembered having taken, others they didn't…
"But what's this?" she picked up a disc with 'Wedding' written on it from the back slip of the album, and turned to Joseph.
"It looks like someone video taped the wedding, and then transferred it onto a disc… I think we should watch it…
"But after we finish unwrapping all these presents!" Clarisse joked happily.
BJ, Lynn and the girls gave them a gift voucher for a weekend in one of London's most luxurious hotels, causing Joseph to complain, jokingly, that he had never got as good a present when he was single.
"But would you have used the voucher if you had been given it?" Clarisse looked at him pointedly, and he grinned sheepishly.
"Probably not."
The final present was a beautiful silver photo frame with their names engraved on it, and there was a card attached.
When Clarisse read the small note in the card, she gasped and handed it to Joseph, who quickly scanned it… it was from Pierre.
"Congratulations on your marriage (for the second time) Joseph and Mother, and I wish you all the happiness in the world- and many more happy years together. Pierre"
It was stiff and awkward, but he was trying, and when Joseph looked over at Clarisse, to gauge her reaction as she hadn't said anything before, she was pulling out a bottle of the wine out of the box.
"I'll put this in the fridge to cool down, and then we can watch that DVD!" she said cheerfully, carefully turning away from him as she headed towards the fridge, and Joe decided to leave it for now.
0
"I'm going to have to show you how to use one of these," he pretended to grumble as he put the disc in the DVD player as Clarisse made herself comfortable on the couch. "All this technology, Clarisse, that you need to learn how to use…"
"I know how to use a CD player," she said, a little indignantly, and he chuckled when he remembered, in San Francisco, how hesitant she had been to use it.
"Alright, you can use that, but there are still other things… how would you cope if I wasn't around?"
"Luckily for me, you are around, and I hope that you will always be around," she replied as he sat down next to her, and he had to laugh as he put an arm around her shoulders, and pressed the play button on the remote control.
The disc started, and it was obviously before the wedding as an unknown voice off camera asked a beaming Mia:
"So… what do you think about today, Your Majesty?"
"Scott, obviously," Joe muttered with a grin before, on screen, Mia began speaking.
"I think it was a wonderful idea to have a second wedding, and I was delighted to be able to be involved in this one… I had no idea about the length and depth of the bride and groom's relationship until they got married last year… very sneaky of them… but I now have the full story…"
"Not all of it," Clarisse murmured and she could feel Joseph chuckling beside her.
"… But I can't think of anyone more perfectly suited to each other than these two- and I think it's fantastic and cute…"
"Cute?" Joseph repeated with a stunned look.
"…as well as beautiful that they are so in love, love each other so much and are so happy together… I'm only hoping that they may be willing to continue helping me in a voluntary capacity…" she smiled beseechingly into the camera for a moment, before laughing outright.
"But, congratulations Grandma and Joe! I am so thrilled that you're so happy together- that has been made abundantly clear in the past twelve months, and that's the only thing that matters to me… Love you both, and happy anniversary," she finished simply.
"Sweet," Clarisse murmured, wiping her eyes as the screen went black for a moment, before turning on again, with Scott in the frame, and Mia asking the same question that he had asked her.
"I'm really happy for them… last year was rather…." He struggled to think of a word, clearly a little uncomfortable being in front of the camera.
"...Surprise… it was a surprise to all of us, but we all knew that it was meant to happen… In fact, it was obvious to me when I first came here ten years ago, that Joe was crazy about Her Majesty…"
"Great," Joe groaned, burying his face in his hands, and Clarisse laughed as she rested her hand on his knee reassuringly.
"I've heard a lot of stories about them over the years- most of them unsubstantiated gossip- but Joe has always been a gentleman, never confirming anything, and making Her Majesty his number one priority… In fact, him not saying anything only confirmed how much he really cared about her… But I, and the rest of the gang, are relieved that he finally made an honest woman of her…"
Joe groaned again, his face still hidden in his hands- most of the speech was alright, but he always had to put his foot in it sometime- but Clarisse wasn't at all shocked- she was enjoying this!
"It was about time you two got married, and this second wedding is going to be amazing, especially as I am going to be best man this time… congratulations, again, and happy anniversary!"
"Scott is an interesting young man, isn't he?" Clarisse said when she finally calmed down, still remembering the comments he had made about her ring, and she looked over to discover that her husband still had his face in his hands.
"But," she continued as she gently forced his head up to look at her. "But… despite his supposed big moth, he is a nice guy, does his job very well, and you two are obviously very good friends… In fact, whenever you go missing from the suite, I usually know where to find you…"
"Yes, but he always speaks before he thinks!" he complained, and she massaged his shoulder gently.
"That's just part of who he is… but I think he's great, even though he gets a little tongue tied around me!"
Before Joseph could protest, James and Charlie appeared on the screen, both beaming happily, while their rather embarrassed wives stood in the background.
"Joseph and Clarisse- congratulations on your second wedding, and a very happy anniversary… We're sorry that we missed your first wedding, but we didn't know that you, Clarisse, would get married again!" James grinned.
"But," Charlie interrupted. "We are very glad that you invited us to this wedding, and we're having a great time! This," he grew serious for a moment. "Is what we always wanted for you, Clarisse- marriage to a man who clearly worships the ground you walk on."
Clarisse's hand squeezed Joseph's silently, and he knew what she meant.
"And Joe," James continued. "You are so lucky to have a lady as amazing as Clarisse…" as the real life Clarisse blushed deeply.
"Anyway," Charlie interrupted again, and James scowled at him slightly as Marion nudged him in the ribs. "We all thoroughly approve, and wish you all the happiness in the world… well, leave some for us…. Now Clarisse, your husband was a very good by last night…"
"Unfortunately," James muttered under his breath, before smiling into the camera. "But we will get you one day, Joe!"
Joe wondered how Clarisse would react but, to his relief, she was laughing when he looked over at her.
"You're not worried about them leading me astray?"
"Of course not, darling… I trust you, and you wouldn't let anyone lead you astray!"
The next few minutes of the tape were messages of good will from BJ and Lynn, Julie and Annie ('Thank you so much for the autograph… see, Joe, I got an autograph!" Annie said cheekily), and the rest of the palace staff all stepped shyly into the camera to extend their congratulations before…
"They're here!" someone called from the other side of the room, and the camera instantly focused on the main doors, which were thrown open a moment later.
"This is a little bizarre," Joe murmured as they watched themselves walking down the aisle to Clarisse's chosen song, before standing in front of a beaming James, and the ceremony began…
Neither of them could hear Clarisse's vows, and real life Clarisse cringed when she saw the on screen version of herself trembling slightly for most of the ceremony… her nerves were usually tightly controlled, so why would a wedding make her so nervous? Then again, it wasn't just any wedding…
"I don't understand why and how you could be so calm and collected, while I look like I'm going to shake myself to pieces!" she complained, turning to Joseph, and he laughed.
"You might find it annoying, but I found (and find) it very cute… you're always so reserved, and this was a change… I love you for it, and I hope it continues!"
"You want to see me be emotional all the time?"
"No… I just don't want to see you close yourself up again, and hide away all your feelings… you did that for a long time, and it's not healthy…"
"How can I close myself up again when you know me so well… besides, I like this about me too," she smiled happily as she slipped an arm around his waist, and leaned against his chest, before they turned to watch the tape again.
Despite Clarisse's emotions, it was clear to both of them that they were blissfully happy together and, for the duration of the ceremony, they only had eyes for each other… as far as they were concerned, no one else was there…
Clarisse laughed when, after they were declared husband and wife, Charlie stepped in front of the camera, pretending to hold a microphone, and whisper confidentially:
"Act now, and this could be exclusively yours for the taking… price on demand… Just think- exclusive shots of the remarriage of Joseph and Clarisse…!"
"Hmmm…." Clarisse said as the rest of the DVD was mainly of guests mingling, and leaving messages for the couple… even Pierre managed to smile, albeit rather stiffly, and say "Congratulations Joe and Mother!"… before the camera focused on the guests of honours.
"I didn't know they were taping us!" Clarisse said, surprised as the camera continued to keep their distance, but continued to watch them as they chatted to Mia, before quietly talking to themselves, Joseph's arm never moving from around her waist. It was almost impossible for them to be physically any closer to each other.
"That dress was lovely," Clarisse said quietly, admiring the style and design of the dress.
"It was absolutely gorgeous, my darling- you've always had a very good idea and good taste," he said with open admiration as, on screen, people began chanting for a speech.
"Oh gosh… I don't think… I hope that they didn't tape this… they did!" Joseph groaned again, burying his face in his hands as Clarisse patted his arm.
"It wasn't that bad," she began comfortingly. "In fact, it was quite good for an impromptu speech, and from someone who very rarely makes speeches!"
After the speech, it was time for their first dance, and Mia had been right- they had been so wrapped up in each other that they definitely didn't notice the others discreetly disappearing, the final shot of the DVD was of them dancing as the camera disappeared out the door…
"That was absolutely fantastic!" Joe said enthusiastically when the DVD ended. "It's just as well they recorded it because I can't really remember much about that day, except for you, and how you looked…" and she blushed as he leant over and kissed her.
0
A moment later, he stood up and walked over to the windows, gazing out at the cloudy sky pensively.
"The clouds are getting heavier, and it feels rather humid… I think it's going to storm later."
"I hate storms," Clarisse shuddered as she walked over to join him at the windows. "I don't know why, and I can't explain it, but I just don't like them."
"Yes, I know," Joseph joked as he put an arm around her. "As I recall, Phillipe wasn't too fond of them either! I can still remember the time the nanny came into the security room early one morning, hysterical because the young Prince had disappeared…"
"Yes, and when you had done a thorough search of the palace…"
"We found him having breakfast with you!" Joseph finished with a grin.
"He was a naughty boy for doing that," Clarisse chuckled sheepishly. "But I thought he had permission… but I did scold him after that incident… but when he came in at midnight, I didn't have the heart to make him go back to bed- he was only six or seven!"
"You don't need to justify it to me, sweetheart," he said before they both spied a flash of lightning in the distance as they continued to look out the windows.
She shuddered, huddling closer to him, and he chuckled fondly, understanding her phobia of storms.
"It's not funny!" she tried to protest.
"I know it's not, and I'm not laughing at you," he said hastily.
Just then, their attention was attracted back to the television when an 'exclusive from Elsie Kentworthy' came to their ears, causing them to move back towards their seat.
"We have confirmation!" Elsie was practically screaming with excitement as they sat down on the couch. "At last, confirmation from the palace- Her Majesty and Sir Joseph finally reveal what I have long suspected…"
"Yeah right," Joe muttered sarcastically as Clarisse waved to quieten him.
"Anyway… on the occasion of their first anniversary, they remarried in a quiet ceremony at the palace… According to other details, the Archbishop, a close friend of both, was presiding at the ceremony… although I have to wonder if he could do anything since it was a civil ceremony…
Among the fifty guests in attendance were close friends of the royal couple, the palace staff (wow!), Sir Joseph's brother and family… and there are rumours abounding that Her Majesty's eldest son and former heir to the throne, Pierre, was also there…
For an in-depth investigation on why and how Pierre is not our King, see tomorrow's show for all the exclusive details, including a trip down memory lane… as well as seeing what he's doing now!"
"That's not fair," Clarisse said exasperatedly as Joseph changed the channel. "That was such a long time ago- why can't they all just let it go? I was the one who stayed on the throne for another few years, with no complaints and Mia is an excellent ruler!"
She was getting worked up about it, and Joseph wondered whether she was really over it as she claimed to be.
"How do you feel about it? Are you still bitter?" he asked, and she sighed heavily as she looked out the window for a moment, before looking back at him. She had barely spoken about it to anyone- not even him-, or how she really felt about Pierre, but she sensed that he knew, or suspected something…
"I used to be," she began hesitantly. "For a long time, I was so angry at him, and for a number of different reasons- I wouldn't have been Queen for much longer, we could have been married almost immediately after his coronation, Mia may have had a private life… and Phillipe still might be alive…"
She breathed in and out after that tirade, but she did feel better- she had always wanted to let out her resentments out loud but, as per normal, she had kept it hidden and repressed for so long… A queen was never 'meant to lose it', even when she was personally disappointed and hurt by it….
"But," she continued after a pause. "Everything has worked out for the best… To be honest, I don't know what my feelings are towards Pierre… he is my son, and I do love him very much, but what he said to me, and you, and his behaviour… I do hope things will change, eventually, but I suspect that the damage has been done…"
There was a long silence between them before he plucked up the courage to ask a second question.
"Do you feel better, now that you've let it out?"
"A little," she said with a small smile. "But what do you think?" she turned to him with her direct blue eyes, and he sighed. He was in two minds about what he should say- as usual, he was always on her side, and always would be… but, he also didn't want her to give up on Pierre- he, along with Mia (and apart from his own family by marriage) were all she had left.
"Baby," he began hesitantly, hoping that he didn't offend her. "You know that I am always on your side, no matter what- and most especially in this matter- but… he was angry and grieving at the time, and you were the closest person he could lash out to… he is your son, and you are his mother, and that's never going to change… You've already lost one son, and I know you don't want to lose Pierre either, not matter what he did or said… which was hurtful, and I'm not making any excuses for him…
But… imagine if the estrangement became permanent- you and Pierre would both lose out on each other. It might not ever be the perfect relationship or the close one you shared with Phillipe (and now with Mia), but don't deny him- he is trying very hard to make amends…
All I'm saying is to give it time, and don't give up on him…"
Clarisse looked steadily at him for a moment, not speaking, and Joe began feeling a little apprehensive as the silence between them continued to grow… what if he had offended her?
Just then, she smiled.
"You're right… yes, you are definitely right… It's just going to take some time, and you're right- I don't want our estrangement to be permanent… Thank you, darling," she stroked his cheek affectionately for a moment. "I know that you will always tell me the truth."
"Even when you don't like it," he teased, and she laughed as she remembered the numerous times he had told her off, or told her something that wasn't exactly pleasant, but she had known that he was right.
Just then, there was a massive clap of thunder, and Clarisse almost jumped out of her seat in fright.
"I'd better get the car into the garage," Joseph said as he headed towards the door.
"Should I unplug the television?" she asked, wanting to help.
"If you want, but there are surge protectors on most of the electrical equipment here, so it's not necessary…"
Joe only just made it back inside before the rain, accompanied by thunder and the occasional flash of lightning, started pouring hard.
"What should we do now?" she almost shouted over the rain, and he shrugged.
"Watch some television with the sound turned up very loud!" he almost shouted back.
Almost as soon as it started, the rain eased to a steady, quieter shower, so it was unnecessary to turn the volume up on the television. They watched a show on it before Joseph stretched and looked at his watch.
"How about if I cook my famous spaghetti bolognaise for dinner?" he asked as he stood up, and held out a hand for Clarisse. "You can be my assistant, and maybe I'll even teach you my special recipe!"
"I don't know whether you would want me underfoot in the kitchen… I haven't really done that much cooking in a long time…"
"How long?"
"I cooked chicken soup for the boys when they were sick… and for you when you were sick… No, I think I might just help you wash up!"
"Then you can be my supervisor," he said as he chivvied her into a chair near the counter, and she leaned back, watching as he moved around the kitchen. He had just had the water boiling when he stopped and looked at Clarisse musingly.
"You look beat…" Clarisse laughed.
"Never tell your wife she looks beat or tired… it's bad for the image!"
"Alright, but you do look tired… why don't you go upstairs and have a shower?"
"But what about…" she began, looking around the kitchen, and he smiled as he came over and rested his hands on her shoulders.
"You can help me tomorrow… now go!"
"Are you bossing me around?" she teased as she headed towards the stairs.
"Absolutely!"
Twenty minutes later, she came back downstairs to find Joseph had set the table for two, candles sitting in the middle, and he was just about to serve up their meal.
Clarisse smiled as she watched him serve, and then held out her chair for her.
"Enjoy," he said jovially as he sat down next to her, and she smiled gratefully over at him.
"This looks… and smells," she added as she caught a whiff of the pasta. "It just looks wonderful…"
"Well eat up, so it doesn't go cold!"
0
After dinner, Clarisse sat back in her chair with a happy sigh.
"That was so good, I don't think I could eat another bite!"
"It's just as well I didn't plan any desert then," Joseph joked, and she laughed.
"But it was good- are you a really good cook, Joseph?"
"Yes… not to be egotistical, but I did do a course on cooking when I was a lot younger, and my family thought I would be a chef…"
"So, how did you end up becoming Head of Security for the Queen of Genovia?" Clarisse looked interested.
"I thought it might be good part time job… little did I know that it would become a full time job… and I mean full time!" he looked meaningfully at her, and she laughed, before pretending to look insulted.
"Are you insinuating that I was a full time job?"
"Not really…" he said reluctantly, and then grinned when she glared at him, before he realised the he was joking.
"So… is it time to do the washing up?"
"You really want to do this?" he looked surprised- he really hadn't meant to make her feel as if she had to do it, but it seemed as if she was genuinely enthusiastic about it.
"Of course!" she pretended to scowl at him. "I can't let you do all the work!'
Clarisse was surprised to find that she enjoyed drying up- Joseph insisted on doing the washing- and it was so much fun, particularly when she playfully flicked some soap at him, followed by flicking the towel at him,
"Hey! That wasn't very nice!" he looked slightly mock hurt, before he retaliated, blowing soap bubbles into her face…
They eventually both ended up slightly damp, and soap all over the floor.
"That was rather childish," Joseph pretended to chide as they cleaned up the mess, and she laughed.
"But, you have to admit, it was fun!"
"So… what should we do now?" he asked when the kitchen was finally clean, and everything was put away. Clarisse shrugged happily, before yawning slightly.
"I don't know… anything is fine with me…"
"But it looks like you need to have an early night…" he said as he guided her towards the stairs.
"But, what about you?" she looked at him anxiously as she started up the stairs and, when she turned, she was surprised to see that he was following her.
"I wouldn't mind an early night either!"
The storm had blown out to sea earlier, so Clarisse opened one of the balcony doors slightly before beginning to change, and Joseph was mock disappointed to see that it wasn't her 'magic' nightgown that she was changing into.
"No magic nightgown?" he teased as she climbed into bed next to him, and she smiled mysteriously.
"I may have brought it with me… but I think I'm going to enjoy this," she said happily as she snuggled up close to him and he wrapped his arms around her.
"So am I…." he said as they both drifted off to sleep…