Author's Note: I'm no medical professional (just watched too many medical dramas!) so most of this is just imagination, or what I've seen on medical dramas…
Thanks so much to all my faithful readers- Kristi-Julie, Clarisse Renaldi, VictoriaGrant, addlogcon, Captain Weirdo, Poppinswannabe- and anyone else who reads it… you all rock!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me
When Clarisse woke up the following morning, the first thing she was aware of was sunlight streaming in through the window, making the room seem almost like their en-suite at the beach house- but not quite.
The second thing she became aware of was that Joseph was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to her, and murmuring to someone on the phone, Mia probably. As she waited for him to hang up, she stretched and looked around the room, feeling relaxed, but Pierre was still on her mind- she hoped that he had made it through the night.
When he hung up, he stretched his arms upwards before turning to smile at his wife.
"Good morning sweetheart."
"Good morning darling," she replied as he bent over and kissed her softly. "How did you know I was awake?"
"Honey, we've been married for almost 14 months… or almost two if you count the second ceremony… and I know almost everything about you…"
"Not everything- you said I still surprise you," she smiled innocently at him, and he chuckled, knowing she was referring to last night.
"Alright, not everything," he corrected himself. "But I know most things about you, including how you wake up."
"Really?" Clarisse teased, turning on her side and leaning on her elbow. "Well… now you can tell me how I wake up."
"Alright… when you first wake up, you don't open your eyes, but you stretch, mumble something undecipherable under your breath, then turn on your side, usually to face me, although sometimes you are already in that position, and THEN you open your eyes. But it still takes you a little longer to wake up properly, but you're always at your most relaxed in the morning… and in the evening."
"You watch me sleep, and now you watch me wake?" she pretended to look annoyed, but really wasn't. "I doubt couples who have been married for 40 years do that… but it's so sweet, and I love that you do that… I don't know how you wake up, but I do know that you look cute when you're sleeping," she teased, sitting up and covering herself with a sheet (still modest, she blushed to herself) before leaning over to kiss him again.
"So…" she continued teasingly as he poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her. "Who were you talking to on the phone… your girlfriend?"
"Mia," he said and she stiffened, sobering up quickly from the light moments she and Joseph had shared as a wave of fear swept over her. However, she was much calmer than the previous day, particularly now knowing that Joseph would ride it out with her, as he usually had in any of her crises…
"Anyway, Pierre arrived in London last night, still in a coma, but stable…"
He paused as Clarisse let out the breath she had been holding- she knew that it would make it through the night, thanks to Joseph's positivity bolstering her spirits. "The boys from Genovia will be here in a couple of hours, and we'll be staying at the Genovian embassy in London- the ambassador is away- and we'll have a car at our disposal."
"Good," Clarisse said firmly, hiding her fear- she very much wanted to see Pierre, but she was also afraid of seeing him… what if he was unrecognisable? She was being silly, she told herself sternly, but she couldn't help it- she really didn't like hospitals, thanks to past experiences. She wasn't aware that Joseph had been watching her carefully until she heard him say:
"What are you think about now, Renaldi Bonnell?" he teased, and she smiled at the use of her surname. "Well?"
"Bonnell, thank you very much… I was just thinking about how silly I am, being afraid of seeing Pierre- I want to see him, but…"
"You're also afraid because you don't know what to expect when you see him," he finished her sentence for her, and she blushed, a little ashamed of herself.
"I know it's ridiculous, but…"
"It's not ridiculous- you've seen a lot of hospitals in the past, and I can understand why you're scared," he said sympathetically as he put an arm around her. "But I'll be there with you, all the way."
"And I'm happy that you will be… I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered, a sole tear running down her cheek, a little depressed now, before she sipped her tea and he kissed her hair gently.
"Anyway, Mia's expecting a call when we get to London…" and she chuckled.
"It's as if she's acting like our mother," she commented, but she loved that Mia cared so much. "I'm not complaining, though."
He laughed, and then thought of something else.
"Breakfast should be ready soon… but I really wanted to apologise to you for what Ben said yesterday," he was remorseful, annoyed and embarrassed, wishing he had spoken to them yesterday, before she smiled.
"I honestly can't remember what he said but, to me, they can be nasty as they want to me, just as long as they leave you and Mia alone."
"Funny, I was about to say the same thing," Joe mused. "But, seriously, I am sorry, but they can do what they like to me now- you are my number one priority, and you tried to talk to them, but if they don't want to like you, that's their problem."
She shrugged in response, not wanting to argue with him, and he was right- they were only grudgingly accepting her, so she was just going to have to accept their grudging approval.
"Yes, it's up to them now- I just wanted to get along with them, and not cause any more breaches in the family."
"Everyone else loves you, my parents would have, and I definitely do, so stop worry about them- you and Mia are here to stay."
000
Breakfast was a more merry affair than dinner the previous night, as Clarisse was making a big effort to be herself (and succeeding), and Joseph was prouder than ever, but everyone was still conscious of where Joe and Clarisse were going, and why. Ben and Carrie, possibly encouraged by their partners, were kinder than previously, but Clarisse didn't care- after the light moments of that morning, she was now beginning to focus on the trip and task ahead, becoming quieter as breakfast went on.
The security team arrived an hour later, and she almost burst into tears when saying good bye to the others, a sign that she was still upset about Pierre.
"This was supposed a fun weekend," she said when she reached BJ and Lynn. "All I wanted was to have a few horse rides, spend some time in the garden…"
"Clarisse," BJ said in an unusually gentle tone- like Annie, he tended to be a big mouth, but he was already solicitous around Clarisse. "You've still got plenty of opportunities to come back- this will give me the chance to think of some more stories of Joe as a boy…" he grinned as Joe groaned in the background.
"Just as long as Pierre recovers," Lynn added quietly.
"But you are so lucky to have your own limo," Annie broke the serious moment as she gazed enviously at the black care that was taking them to London. "This is the first thing I want to get!"
"Don't you have to have a job before you spend the money?" BJ teased, and everyone laughed as Joseph helped Clarisse into the car.
After waving goodbye, he walked around to his side but, as he passed him, he couldn't help but hear Ben murmur in an undertone to Carrie:
"Obviously there are material benefits to being married to royalty… Joe's really onto a good thing!"
For a moment, anger welling, Joe wanted to walk over and confront them over their rude remarks, but decided to leave it- Clarisse needed him more. So, pretending he hadn't heard a word, he waved again, before slipping into the limo.
"I wish this trip hadn't been cut short," she said as the car drove away. "For the first time since we first met, Ben and Carrie were actually there when we were… maybe you should have stayed with them."
"No," he said firmly. "My place is with you, has been for a long time, and that's not going to change."
"Thank you, that makes me feel better," she said as he took her hand and squeezed it gently. "By the way, I saw Ben talking to Carrie- did you hear what he said?"
"Nothing very interesting," he fibbed lightly, determined not to tell her.
000
It was a quiet trip to London, Clarisse holding his hand the whole time, but after a few kilometres, she had slipped on her dark glasses, indicating that she wanted to be left alone, even from her husband, and he understood completely.
When they made it to the entrance of the hospital, the press was camped out on the front lawn (clearly the news had been released), and the car headed down to the back entrance, as per Mia's instructions. Clarisse winced as the car drove over a speed bump, and touched her forehead.
"Do you have any aspirin, Joseph?" she asked, causing Joseph to become instantly concerned.
"No, but I think there's some in the back… why, what's wrong?"
"I've just got a migraine, and I want some aspirin," she replied, one hand still pressed against her forehead, her eyes (now that she had removed her glasses) closed in pain- she really hated these headaches.
"How long have you had it?"
"Since we left BJ's… I had the aura about half an hour ago, but you couldn't tell because I had my glasses on."
"Why didn't you say something before?"
"I thought I could manage without painkillers, but this one is really bad."
For a moment, he was in a quandary- she wanted to see Pierre, but he thought she should go and rest in the embassy, at least until the headache had passed.
"Do you want to bypass the hospital for this morning, and go to the embassy for a rest?"
"No, I do NOT!" she snapped at him, a touch of the former Clarisse in her voice. "All I want to do it see Pierre…"
She paused for a moment, suddenly feeling guilty as snapping her Joseph, and turned to him with a repentant look.
"I'm sorry, darling, I didn't mean to snap at you… you'll have to forgive me if I do that while we're here… I'm just stressed."
"It's alright, my darling," he said calmly, not at all fazed or injured at her sudden outburst, as the car slowed to a stop. She was under a great deal of stress, and he wasn't surprised that she had a migraine- she usually had them during times of stress- he had witnessed her having a few of them while she was Queen, and she had usually either kept going or had a lie down for an hour, something he thought she really should be doing now, but…
"I'm sure that, if we don't have any, there would be a chemist in the hospital," he said sympathetically, patting her hand, and then hopped out of the car to rummage in the boot.
Luckily Clarisse herself had packed aspirin, and after Joe had found some water, she swallowed two pills and smiled up him gratefully. "Thank you."
"My pleasure… but let me know if the headache gets any worse, because we will then be going to the embassy, no arguments," he growled playfully, and she smiled wanly at the concerned look in his eyes.
She looked around anxiously as she stepped out of the car, but there was no one around to take any notice of them, before she looped her arm through Joseph's, and the walked into the back entrance of the hospital. She kept her head down as they walked down the hallway to the elevators, and while the hallway was relatively people free, the people they did pass looked curiously after them, wondering who they were… a well dressed couple accompanied by two dark suited and sunglasses clad gentlemen… they must be very important!
000
Pierre was on the fourth floor, in the intensive care unit, and someone had obviously called ahead because the doctor was waiting for them at the nurse's station, and he led them down to a small, empty room down the hall.
"Your Majesty…" he began as he shook her hand, but she shook her head.
"I was, but I'm now Mrs Bonnell, and this is my husband, Joseph," and she stepped aside to let them shake hands.
"I'm Dr Tanner, and the doctor in charge of your son's case… may I call him Pierre?"
Clarisse nodded her agreement, before deciding to ask a question.
"Is he… Is he… how is he?" she asked calmly, hiding her anxiety well, but her head was pounding. She really should have done what Joseph suggested, and had a lie down, but she needed to know how Pierre was.
"As I'm sure you already know, he's been in an induced coma since the accident, but we now have a clearer idea of his injuries… In terms of smaller, minor injuries, he has some bruising and cuts, as well as a broken arm, but they will heal relatively quickly. We're not sure yet, but we suspect he may have a spinal injury, but we won't be sure until he wakes, as well as any brain damage… According to scans we did this morning, there is some swelling in the skull, due to the crash, but it should go down in the next 24 hours."
"What if doesn't go down?"
"We may have to operate to relieve the pressure, but our main concern is the spinal damage."
"What's the worst case scenario?" Joe asked, sensing that Clarisse wanted to ask, but couldn't.
"It's really too early to say, but… worse case… he may not walk again."
Clarisse gasped, shocked to her core, but still maintaining (or trying to) her equilibrium.
"Again, we're being a little too premature in worrying, as we still have a few more tests to run."
"Did the police give you any more details about the accident?"
"According to the police report, the car he was travelling in was side swiped by a car travelling in the opposite direction, then the driver lost control and rammed into a tree- Pierre's side of the car took a lot of the impact."
"Can I see him?" she asked in a small voice, showing her vulnerability for the first time, and Dr Tanner smiled understandingly.
"Of course, follow me."
He led the way back to the nurse's station, and stopped in front of a clear, sliding door on the right hand side of the station, before turning back.
"Don't be alarmed- all the equipment is necessary," he warned, sliding back the door and stepping in. Joseph started to step back, prepared to give Clarisse some privacy with her son, but she gripped his arm tightly.
"Don't leave… I need you," she said in an undertone, and he squeezed her hand reassuringly as they walked into the room. As the doctor had explained, the room was full of beeping medical equipment, but neither of them noticed- they only had eyes for the unconscious figure lying in the hospital bed, tubes sticking out everywhere.
Clarisse blinked back tears at the sight of her son lying, critically ill, in bed, but she pulled herself together as the doctor quietly slipped out of the room.
Letting go of Joseph's arm, she slowly made her way up to the side of his bed, and looked down at him. His face was almost as white as the pillow but, apart from a cut or two, and a bruise on his forehead, his face was remarkably blemish free… and she could again see the similarities with his younger brother.
"Hello sweetheart," she murmured softly, reaching out and taking his hand for a moment. "I'm glad you're still here."
After a moment, she heard Joseph walked quietly up to stand next to her, and she leaned against his shoulder for a moment, feeling nauseous.
"I know this is really inconvenient," she began, still staring at her son, but her head was swimming, the pain getting worse. "Particularly as we only just got here, but I think I'm going to have to do what you suggested… I really don't feel very well…"
"Of course, darling… we'll come back later."
After informing the nurses they would be back later, they, with their guards, made their way back down to the car.
"I feel so bad… I should be sitting there with him," she said as the car drove back out of the hospital, the press still at the main entrance, but she saw a few cameras turn in their direction as the car drove past.
"You will be able to sit with him, but right now, you need to rest… I still can't believe you soldiered on with a headache!"
"A Queen never has a day off- once a Queen, always a Queen," she quipped gently, but she was very relieved to get to their suite- especially the bedroom- at the embassy.
"Now you can have a good, long sleep," he said sternly as she took off her shoes and stretched out on the bed, Joe drawing the curtains across the windows.
"I will," she smiled sleepily, her eyes already closed.
"I'll call Mia and BJ to tell them we got here," he said, turning to look at her, but she was already asleep.
0000
It was well after lunch when she finally woke up, feeling rather groggy, but the headache had gone and she was hungry. After lying there for a few minutes, waking up properly, she slowly got up and walked out to the living room, where Joseph was watching television.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" he asked compassionately as she sat down beside him, and he muted the television.
"Still rather groggy, but the headache's gone… what time is it?"
"Almost four- you slept through lunch."
"I know, and I'm ravenous now… Should we have something to eat before going back to the hospital?"
"Honey, I don't think we should go back to the hospital until tomorrow morning… when you're feeling better," he added pointedly as she glared weakly at him. "You can argue all you want, but you've had a few stressful days, which had brought on that terrific headache you just had, and I think you should just rest tonight. I'm sure Pierre would agree with me- Mia and BJ did when I called them… So?"
"I see," Clarisse pretended to be annoyed but, in all honesty, she didn't think she was well enough to go see Pierre until tomorrow- Joseph was right. "Have you called the hospital lately?"
"Ten minutes ago and there's no change- he's critical, but stable, and they promised to call if anything changed. Now, what would you like for lunner?"
"Lunner?" she looked confused.
"It's a new word of mine- the combination of lunch and dinner… so?"
She looked thoughtful for a moment, and then smiled.
"Pizza."
"Pizza?" Now it was Joseph's turn to look confused. "You do realise that you'll have to eat it with your fingers?" he teased.
"Yes, I know that… I just feel like something simple… Do you think that the boys would go and pick one up?"
"Yes… and, even if they don't want to, I'll make them… no one denies my wife anything!" he growled but she knew that he didn't mean it- tough as he had been on them, he was also proud of them, and they respected and liked him in return. "I'll go and order them… But," he said sternly as he stood up and looked down at her, curled up on the couch. "While I'm gone, I don't want you to move a muscle!"
"Yes sir!" she saluted him with a smile, but didn't move- she was still too tired, and feeling drained- it had been a big day, seeing Pierre and the headache…
Once the pizzas (Hawaiian and meat lovers) arrived, she happily devoured two slices before she sat back, the remnants of her headache finally fading, and decided to broach the subject of the hospital again, even though she didn't feel like going.
"I feel… I heard Ben's comments if he had been his child… like I'm a terrible mother."
"You were never a terrible mother- you were devoted to those boys when you had the time (and you made the time), and Benjamin had no right to say what he said… honestly, I don't know what's going on with those two!"
"Maybe they're jealous and threatened by me," she said wisely.
"Oh no," Joe said- he had come to face several truths about Ben and Carrie in the past year- they may have been his brother's children, but he was really beginning not to like them- they had always been distant as children, and their relationship had cooled over the years…
They had visibly disapproved of his friendship with the married Queen of Genovia, and their disapproval had turned to dislike when they had gotten married. He would probably never know the real reason or the extent of their dislike, but he didn't care.
"They shouldn't be threatened by you- you are my wife, and surely they would want me to be happy… You even made the effort to try and get along with them, but they don't want it…they've made their choice, and that's it… you are my life, and I would like to see anyone try and separate us!"
"So would I!" Clarisse chuckled in reply.
000
After a simple dinner of the remains of the pizza and sandwiches, Joseph insisted that Clarisse go to bed.
"Why?" she complained. "I slept for almost five hours today, so maybe I don't need to go to bed early!"
"Nonsense, you do," Joe said, almost smiling- she was so stubborn at times, it was almost like arguing with a child. "Wait, I'll make you a deal- if you have a shower and go to bed, I'll give you a massage so that you can sleep easier."
She thought about it for a moment, and then beamed. "Deal!"
She was sound asleep when he finished his massage, but he still wasn't tired, so he decided to watch some television for a while but he wasn't concentrating on what he was watching- he was too worried. He finally gave up and went to bed, careful not to disturb a peacefully sleeping Clarisse, and he fell asleep almost immediately.
It was midnight when Joe's mobile rang, rousing them both from sleep. He quickly pick up, switching the light on beside him as he sat up, and Clarisse sat up as well, feeling apprehensive- a phone call in the middle of the night was never a good thing, she thought to herself as she listened to his side of the conversation.
"Yes… yes, I see… Right… We'll be right down."
He hung up, and sighed, wondering how much more she could take, and stalled for a moment, putting his phone back on the table, before turning to look at Clarisse, who was watching him closely, panic in her eyes.
"That was the hospital… Pierre's taken a turn of the worse, and they're going to be taking him in for emergency surgery… something about internal bleeding… but I said we'd be right down."
Clarisse sat there for a moment, still looking at him, before shaking her head slightly.
"Well, we'd better get down there, then," she said briskly, before climbing out of bed and beginning to dress. Joe got out of bed as well and dressed, but he was watching her closely.
"Clarisse… baby…" he began hesitantly before she interrupted him.
"Not NOW Joseph," she said sharply, her back to him as she, now fully dressed, walked towards the door, but again he wasn't offended. "Call for the car- I'll wait in the living room."
The trip back to the hospital was even quieter than the last but, thankfully, there were no press at the hospital, although the car went around the back as usual, and they hastily made their way up to the fourth floor.
While most of the area was silent, punctuated only by the beeping machines in each room, there was a flurry of activity in Pierre's room, nurses coming in and out as they prepared him for surgery. Joe and Clarisse stood awkwardly outside his room, watching the activity inside, before Dr Tanner came out and guided them back to the ICU waiting area.
"There is some internal bleeding that we need to fix, but we're more concerned about the growing pressure on his brain- he's at risk of brain damage if it continues, so we're going to drill a tiny hole in his skull to alleviate the pressure. We'll keep you posted."
They silently watched as several green clad wards men wheeled him out, followed by several nurses and Dr Tanner, through the waiting room and into the waiting elevator, doors closing behind the group.
There was a long silence as Clarisse continued to stand there, watching the elevator doors- she felt so helpless- before Joseph took her hand and led her over to a group of chairs near the television, and they sat down together.
"Clarisse?" he said gently- she hadn't spoken since they left the embassy, and she sighed heavily as she leaned against his shoulder for a moment.
"Fine… just worried… I'm sorry I snapped at you again- you shouldn't have to bear the brunt of my frustration."
"That's what husbands are for," he quipped gently, before spying a coffee machine near the elevators. "Do you want a cup of coffee?" She glanced the coffee machine, and shrugged.
"Yes… it's not tea, but it'll help keep us awake."
Tow hours later, it was after two in the morning (according to Joseph's watch), but there was still no news, which irritated Clarisse as she paced up and down the narrow waiting room, Joseph watching her.
"Sit down, sweetheart," he finally said, but she didn't stop for a minute.
"I can't… I need to know…"
"He's going to be alright," he said reassuringly, before he reached up and, tugging on her hand, forced her to sit back down next to him.
"You don't know that," she said stubbornly, but in a weak tone- Joseph was right, they had to think positively.
Finally, at half past three, Dr Tanner came into the room, but Pierre wasn't wheeled in behind him, and Joseph heard Clarisse gasp as she blindly reached for his hand.
"I'm sorry we took so long… we were very successful in stopping the bleeding, and the tiny hole (which is only temporary) has already alleviated some of the pressure. It still is a case of wait and see, but he's now more stable. He'll be in recovery until later this morning, so I recommend that you go home and rest."
000
It was still dark when they finally arrived back at the embassy, and Joe immediately headed towards the bedroom, but he was surprised when he turned and found that Clarisse hadn't followed.
"Clarisse?" he called as he turned on the bedroom light and, after no response, he was just about to investigate when she slowly walked in, sank onto the side of the bed and buried her face in her hands.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently as he sat down next to her, but she shuffled over, not wanting to be touched.
"When is this going to end?" she asked in a low, muffled voice, her head still in her hands. She had had enough- she had always been told not to feel sorry for herself, and to keep on going, which she had done, but at the moment, everything was threatening to overwhelm her. There had been so many happy times, especially when Mia had arrived and she had married Joseph, but, at the moment, all she could think about were the bad times.
"I'm sorry… what do you mean?" Joe was confused.
"I MEAN," she began quietly, lifting her head up, her eyes glittering- she was angry, but not at him. "Why can't I be left alone to be happy- I am so sick of problems that continue to happen…" her voice was getting louder and louder, and she stood up and began pacing.
"First, Rupert cheating on me during our entire marriage, Phillipe being killed, the various threats to the throne, and now this… why can I just be happy with you and Mia?!"
She was crying now, but still angry, as Joseph sat and watched her quietly. He wanted to soothe her, hold her and let her know that it was alright to be angry, but he knew that she had to vent, to let it out- she had been through so much in the past ten years, yet always been so calm and steady… Maybe Pierre's accident was the catalyst for her to let it all out, with him, and then move on.
"Why can't I… I don't think I can take any more of this… " Clarisse said agitatedly, continuing to pace. "I'm so angry that I could… scream… or throw something… or hit something hard!"
"Then do it," Joe said simply, standing up and facing her. "Hit me."
She stopped still for a moment, and looked at him, bewildered, her anger abating slightly.
"I can't do that to you… I'd feel even worse than I do now!"
"Then… throw something, anything," he encouraged. "There's no one here on the floor, and no one will hear anything… go on!"
After another moment of considering her suggestion, she picked up a shoe and randomly threw it, with surprising venom, out into the dark living room, where it hit the floor with a thud.
"Feel better?" he asked, smiling a little at the surprised expression on her face, as if she couldn't believe what she had done, before the angry, almost manic look reappeared in her eyes.
"Not yet…" before she became a whirlwind, throwing shoes, clothes and anything unbreakable into the living room, her face becoming less angry before… they heard a crash in the living room which, when Joe turned on the light, turned out to be a vase, the sight of which completely undoing Clarisse, causing her to run back into the bedroom and collapsing on the bed, no longer furious at fate, but a devastated mother. Joseph didn't hesitate to lie down beside her and wrap his arms around her, rubbing her back soothingly- he hated seeing her like that.
When she finally stopped crying, she looked over at him, her face red, and smiled slightly.
"I guess you didn't think your wife would get like this, did you, when you married me, did you?"
"Not really- but it was probably very cathartic for you getting so angry like that… and I didn't mind- I thought you needed it," he said, leaning over and caressing her cheek for a moment, before kissing her.
"Now… it's almost 4:30… how about we get some sleep… it's just as well I made you go to bed early," he teased as they changed and climbed into bed. The lights were off, and they were just drifting off to sleep when Joe remembered something.
"You know," he murmured sleepily. "You really are the raging volcano," and she chuckled in response.
0000
It was well after ten when they woke up the next morning, but Clarisse was feeling much better, both physically and emotionally, as she lay there for a moment, completely contented. She sighed, remembering what had happened only hours before with Pierre, then her outburst- ten years of frustration, grief and anger… she could only imagine the faces of her parents and in laws at her outburst… Joseph, however, had been unfazed- in fact, he had encouraged her.
"Good morning, my raging volcano," she heard a voice from across the room, and she sat up to see Joseph carrying a tea tray into the room. "How are you feeling this morning, my dear?" he inquired, sitting down next to her on the bed.
"Better… back to my normal self… I just feel embarrassed about my temper tantrum this morning… it was…"
"The headache and emotion… not apology is necessary, but I must remind you that you are happy now, and always will be, and if there are any more problems, I'm going to be there with you."
"I know… thank you," she whispered as he leant over and kissed her. "We'll have to go to the hospital this morning!"
There was still no change in Pierre's condition when they arrived, although the nurses were all optimistic he would wake in the next few hours. The press had now discovered where he was located, but the staff in the entrance weren't letting anyone in.
"I guess my imagination when wild last night," Clarisse admitted with a shy smile as they sat down in the hospital cafeteria.
"I know, your imagination tends to go a bit crazy at times," he teased, and she smiled at him, before he sobered up again. "… but it's understandable."
Clarisse fiddled with her plastic tea cup for a moment, and then looked at him.
"I was thinking about asking him if he wanted to come to Genovia for part of his recuperation… a lot of people may still not want him there, but he is, still, a Prince of Genovia… and, more importantly, my son."
"That's a very sweet idea, dear, and I think you should ask him, but I think you should also be prepared for the fact that he might not want to…"
"I know that," Clarisse said calmly. "I just wanted him to know that the offer is there."
Joseph smiled proudly at her- their relationship was still mending, and there might be things that had been said that would never be forgotten, but Clarisse was still, first and foremost, his mother.
When they went back upstairs, there was a flurry of activity, similar to the night before, in Pierre's room, and the doctor looked pleased when he came out to see them.
"His signs have stabilised significantly in the last 6 hours, and the pressure in the brain has gone down, almost back to normal… I think I can say, Mr and Mrs Bonnell, that your son has a very good chance of waking up in the next half an hour or so!"
"That's great," Joe said as Clarisse sat down heavily in a chair, more than a little faint at the news- he had been close to death last night, but now… there was hope.
Just then, a nurse emerged from the room.
"Doctor, he's coming around."
"Come on in," Dr Tanner invited and both of them followed him to the doorway. Joe was about to stop short, but Clarisse only looked over at him with a smile, and he knew that she wanted him with her.
There was a few people milling around the room as Clarisse and Joe huddled in a corner, but when there was a slight gap in the group, they could both see that his eyes were open, and he was looking around.
One of the nurses turned and waved Clarisse forward and, this time, Joseph stayed behind as she slowly walked towards the bed. When she was standing right next to him, he looked at her, and a tiny smile appeared on his face.
"Mama," he whispered, his voice still hoarse from the tube that had been down his throat, and she smiled in reply as she handled his hand for a moment. After a moment of smiling at her, he closed his eyes again. She stepped back to Joseph, and they walked back out to the waiting room, and the doctor joined them a moment later.
"He's gone back to sleep now, and he should be more alert tomorrow, so I would recommend that you go home for now, and we'll contact you if he comes around again."
They silently went back to the car, and they were on the way back to the embassy when Clarisse turned to smile happily at Joseph.
"He's going to be alright!"
"I told you," he teased, but he was more than a little relieved that Pierre was right- maybe her outburst the previous night was the turning point… hopefully no more bad luck would befall Clarisse for a while!