x Christmas Day x
"I'll get it!" Called Joseph's sister, Beth, as she made her way over to the front door. Opening it she stood in shock for just a second "Clarisse, what are you doing here?" She exclaimed and motioned for her to come in "Come in, come in." She smiled and watched her walk through the door.
"I came to see Joseph, is he here?" Clarisse asked as she turned to her and slowly pushed the hood of her coat from her head.
"Of course he's here." She said looking at her, still in shock.
"Aunt Clarisse, you came." Bella exclaimed from the doorway before rushing over to her, smiling as Clarisse turned to face her "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas sweetheart." Clarisse smiled as they embraced into a warm hug.
"Are you here for my wedding?" Bella asked while pulling back "I would love it if you said yes?" She said grinning from ear to ear while taking hold of Clarisse's hands "Gosh you're cold, let's get you by the fire." She said gently pulling her into the living room with Beth following.
"Well that's still a week away, so we shall see." Clarisse answered while looking at Beth then back to Bella as they both stood smirking "What?"
"Actually it's today, we told Daddy that it was next week but surprised him with the news last night." Bella said grinning.
"Oh I had no idea." Clarisse answered "Well I'm afraid I don't have anything to wear."
"Oh tush, I have plenty that you could wear." Beth smiled "And as soon as you've seen Joe, I will take you up to find something." She smiled.
"That's a wonderful idea Aunt Beth." Bella said smiling "So, Aunt Clarisse..." She said as both Clarisse and Beth looked at her "Will you stay for my wedding?"
"Yes, will you?" Came a voice from the doorway, making all three women jump and look towards the door. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay Daddy." Bella said smiling while walking over to him "Please talk to her and make her stay for the wedding." She smiled and kissed his cheek "See you in a bit."
"Yes, I best get on too." Beth said smiling at Joe then at Clarisse "If you do decide to stay, come find me after Joe's finished with you and we will find you something to wear." She smiled while rubbing Clarisse's arm then walked out.
"I'm so sorry about them." Joe said smiling as he closed the door and walked over to her "What a lovely surprise though." He said and kissed her cheek "What are you doing here?"
"Well someone had left yesterday before I had the chance to give them their present." She smiled and took out the wrapped gift from her pocket "Merry Christmas." She grinned while passing him his gift.
"Thank you." He smiled "And I know that I broke the rules by buying you something, but you honestly didn't have to get me anything."
"You're welcome, and yes I did." Clarisse smiled as she clasped her hands together.
"Okay," He said nodding "I take it you know that the wedding is today?" He asked and started unwrapping the present.
"I do, Bella told me that she had told you last night." She smiled as his face lit up when he saw the gift she had bought him "I hope you like it?" She asked and watched him slowly look up.
"I love it, thank you." Smiling he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her shoulders "So will you stay for my baby girls wedding?" He asked.
"I would love too." Clarisse smiled while putting her hands on his sides.
"Great." He smiled and kissed her several times before pulling his head back and raised his eyebrow at her.
"What?" She asked.
"I just realized something, how did you get here?" He asked.
"Well I came on Genovia One and then I hired a car and drove myself here."
"What?" He exclaimed "Without a guard?" He asked.
"Yes," She said with a laugh "Without a guard."
"And why not?" He asked, still standing with his arms around her shoulders, trapping her so she couldn't move.
"Because my trusty body guard was here, you should know by now I can't really trust anyone else to protect me." She said smiling up at him as he started smiling.
"True." He smiled and watched as she gasped "What?"
"I just realized I didn't inform anyone I was leaving."
"Not even Mia?" He asked.
"Not even Mia." Clarisse answered as they stepped apart "Oh dear."
"Let me call her." Joe said grabbing his phone from his pocket and dialed her number while putting his arm around Clarisse's shoulders.
Seconds later she answered the phone "Merry Christmas Joe, this is a bad time can I call you back a bit later?" Mia asked.
"What's wrong?" Joe said looking at Clarisse as she put her hand on his chest.
"Well... oh nothing." Mia said.
"Amelia?" He exclaimed, taking both her and Clarisse by surprise.
"I don't like it when you use my whole first name." Mia answered while taking a deep breath "Okay.. we may have sort of lost Grandma."
"What do you mean sort of?" He asked smirking at Clarisse "She's either lost or she's not lost?" He added as Clarisse covered her mouth with her hand to stop a laugh.
"Okay she's lost, she wasn't in her suite this morning." Mia said "Pierre thought she might had gone for a early morning walk like she does sometimes but none of the team saw her leave this morning and the dogs are still at the Palace."
"Okay well try not to panic, but she's here with me." He said smiling at Clarisse.
"What? No way?" Mia exclaimed "I don't believe you."
"Honestly, she is here." Joe exclaimed with a laugh.
"I am here darling." Clarisse called out.
"Grandma, what you doing there?" Mia answered "Wait did you go without a guard?" She asked.
"Don't worry I have told her off about that already." Joe answered and lowered his head, placing a soft kiss to Clarisse's lips.
"Oh my god it's true." Mia exclaimed.
"What's true?" Joe asked.
"About you and Grandma... and before you say anything the maids know everything." Mia giggled.
"Merry Christmas Mia." Clarisse answered and took the phone from Joe, hanging up before passing it him back.
"You hung up on her." Joe exclaimed in shock.
"Yes I did." Clarisse answered and kissed him a couple times "Sometimes it needs to be done, you know?" Clarisse said smiling while putting her hands on his chest.
"Okay Joe." Beth said smiling as she came from her bedroom "Are you ready?" She asked with a bright smile.
"What have you done to her?" He asked and watched her laugh out while clasping her hands together.
"Oh dear Brother, I haven't done anything." She said looking over at him "When you see her, your heart will skip a beat." She said smirking "Clarisse." She called out while looking towards the door.
Both stood watching as Clarisse appeared and entered the suite. Looking towards her Brother Beth couldn't help but giggle when she saw his jaw had fell open at the sight of his heavenly Queen.
"I will leave you too alone while I go and check on Bella." Beth said smiling and walked out.
"So.. Do I look okay?" Clarisse asked while looking down at what she was wearing and slowly looked back up.
Taking in the sight of her stood in a beautiful deep purple gown, with a flowy chiffon skirt he couldn't help but smile and close the distance between them.
"You look," He whispered while putting his hands up to cup her face "Wow, you look wow." He said smiling as she looked up at him with a small laugh.
"Well thank you." She said studying his face "No one's ever used that word on me before." She smiled.
"I'm sorry, you look amazing, stunning, beautiful and just wow." He smiled.
"Thank you." Clarisse smiled as she tilted her head slightly "You look dashing in your suit." She smiled.
"Thank you." He smiled and pressed his lips to hers while still cupping her face.
Pulling back a moment later, he couldn't help but laugh as she slowly opened her eyes. However before either could say anything a knock came to the door.
"Come in." He called out as Clarisse stepped back.
"It's just me." Beth said smiling as she came through the door to see Joe stood smiling and Clarisse blushing beside him "What's going on?"
"Nothing is going on." He said slipping his hands in his pants pockets and smiled towards her.
"Okay, well Mother is downstairs and wants to see you." Beth said smiling as Clarisse's head shot up.
"Okay." He said turning to Clarisse "I will be back." He smiled as she nodded a little.
"Okay I will wait here, is that okay Beth?" She asked looking towards her.
"Why don't you come and see Bella with me?" Beth asked looking at Clarisse as Joe walked out "I know she'd love to see you."
"I would love too." Clarisse answered while gathering her dress to keep from stepping on the hem and followed Beth.
Heading downstairs Joe couldn't help but smile to himself.
"You wanted to see me Mother." He said walking into the living room.
"Yes I did, I have sat Clarisse at the table with you, I guess that is what you wanted?" She asked.
"Indeed." He said smiling "Actually while we are alone I wanted to ask you something..." Stopping when he saw her shaking her head.
"If it's what I think it is, don't bother as the answer is no." She answered.
"What?" He exclaimed "You don't even no what it was I was going to ask."
"The ring?" She asked and watched him nodding "See I knew and it's still No."
"Why?" He exclaimed.
"Because she's not the one for you, she's Queen for christ sake it will never work." Isabella answered.
"Mother I love her, always have and I always will."
"The answer is still no." She said shaking her head and moved to stand in front of him as he sighed "She's not right for you, she will break your heart and I don't want to see you get hurt."
"The only person who is hurting me is you." He answered, looking into her eyes "Why can't you see that she makes me happy, she came all this way today just to give me my Christmas present. We both have feelings for each other and yes we have been together for nearly 11 months."
"In secret though I bet?" She said.
"Yes in secret, but that's only because of who she is." He answered and moved away "I want her to be my wife, even if I don't have your blessing I am still going to ask her."
"That's fine, that's up to you. But you won't be doing it with your Grandmother's ring." Isabella answered coldly while looking towards him for several seconds before walking out.