It's Christmas day, Clarisse's favourite holiday of the year. Although this year will be different in so many ways, it being the first without Philippe but being Amelia's first. The first not being with Rupert, but her first real Christmas with Joseph as a secret couple. And the first since she was a teen that she gets to spend it with her Mom, Dad and her sister and her family.

Clarisse spent the night in Joe's suite, secretly. Not that it mattered as most of the staff had gone home for the holidays and Rupert had gone away for the holiday's, so they was glad to be spending sometime alone together. Even Helen knew about them now.

Clarisse stirred feeling a hand on her side and with a smile she laid on her back "Merry Christmas" she smiled up at Joe

"and Merry Christmas to you too" he whispered between kisses "I have something for you" he said grabbing something from behind him and held it out to her as she sat up "I hope you like it?" he asked moving and sat beside her

moving back against the headboard she smiled taking the gift "I have yours but its in my suite" she smiled at him "I have no idea why I didn't bring it here with me last night"

"I can think of a reason" he chuckled

"hey" she gave him a cheeky smile then looked down at the gift unwrapping it seeing a Gold Heart Locket "awwww"

"have a look inside" he beamed watching her take the locket out and open it

"Finally, forever" she whispered then looked at him "aww I love it, thank you" she lent forward and kissed him "I will wear it today" she smiled and sat back

"here let me help you" he said helping her put it on "I am glad you like it"

"I don't like it" she said taking hold of it as he moved sitting next to her again "I love it" she smiled at him then snuggled up close as he put his arm around her shoulders

"good I am glad" he kissed the side of her head as she rested her back against his arm and side and took hold of his hand "there was something else" he tilted his head looking at her as she played with her necklace

"what's that" she asked day dreaming

"well the other day, when we was in your parent's house" he whispered grabbing something from his drawer next to him

"yes, which part" she said tipping her head back looking at him

"when we was in your room" he smiled giving her a quick kiss

"oh yes" she smiled lifting her head back up "what about it?"

"well I asked you something, but you didn't answer me" he said

"you did?" she asked tipping her head back again

"I did" he replied smiling at her

"I am sorry" she turned onto her side "would you like to ask me again?"

his eyes traveled down her body as she lay next to him then made eye contact "I love it when you lay like that, on My bed" he grinned

"oh you do?" she smirked then stopped herself "wait though, I missed it the other day I am not going to miss it again" she smiled "what did you ask me?"

he chuckled "ok, well" he started and looked her in the eyes "I will start of with what I said to your father after he asked me a question" he smirked as she raised her eyebrow at him "I said, one day I would love to marry your daughter" he nodded "I intend to treat her right and love her with all my heart"

she remembered "oh yea as he asked you if you intended on having kids with me" she giggled

"yes that's the bit" he answered "and then I said, so what do you say? a little while later" he said looking at her as she looked at him with a confused look

suddenly it hit her and she sat up "oh my god" she said looking at him

"I no we can't right away, but when we can that's all I want to do Clari" he said opening a box and handed it to her

"wow" she said taking the box and looked at him "oh my god I remember you asking me that now, but I then at the time remembered the window" she said looking down at the ring "yes" she said slowly looking up at him "when the time is right and I am no longer married, I would LOVE to marry you" she moved and kissed him

"you have just made my Christmas" he said kissing her again "thank you" Clarisse chuckled

"wait, so me not being in your bed didn't make your Christmas" she said messing around

"aww you are to cute" he chuckled "of course that did, but this just topped it" he moved closer to her

"oh" she said taking the ring out the box and handed it to him to hold "attach it to my necklace so it will remain close to me" she smiled at him "please"

"with pleasure" he grinned and attached it to her necklace, then took hold of it moving it down the chain and rested it next to the locket as Clarisse looked down at his hand as he rested it against her chest "beautiful" he whispered as he kissed her.

After breakfast, Joseph drove everyone to church for the special Christmas service. Then as everyone mingled Clarisse, Pierre and Helen went around to place some flowers on Philippe's grave. After a few minutes because it started snowing Helen and Pierre walked back to the crowd of people talking in the church leaving Clarisse at the grave.

"Clarisse" Julia whispered standing next to her and put an arm around her back

she looked at her "hi mom" she smiled then looked back at the grave as Julia gave her a half hug "it's harder than I thought it would be" she said looking at her

"come on, lets go for a walk?" Julia whispered and they started walking off as Joe stood watching.

After a little while the crowd started to disappear as Joe still stood guard and kept Clarisse and Julia in view when Pierre came over.

"Joe" he asked as Joe looked at him "have you seen Mother?"

"yes" he nodded "she's talking with her Mother" he said looking towards them

following his gaze "ahh ok" he said standing next to him "is she ok?"

"I think" Joe started looking at him "she misses Philippe more than what she thought she would" he looked back over them

"ahh I see" he nodded and noticed they was heading back to them, both Joe and Pierre stood in silence till they reached them "are you ok?" Pierre asked

Clarisse nodded a little then looked at Joe "please take us home now"

"of course" he nodded and looked at Pierre "are you and Helen ready?" he asked

"yep" Pierre nodded and noticed the ring attached to the necklace but didn't question it yet

"ok, lets go" Joe said extending his arm to Clarisse as she started walking towards him and Julia followed

After a short drive back to the Palace everyone sat down to dinner and desert, by the time it was over Clarisse was feeling a whole lot better. She had a good catch up with her sister Harriet and got to know her children a bit more, everyone exchanged presents and they learned about the ring Joe had given her that morning. Rupert even came home earlier than planned and joined in with them for the sake of Pierre and Amelia.

After she put Amelia to bed for the night, Clarisse went to see Rupert for a few minutes then returned to her suite, sitting alone thinking when someone knocked on her door.

She walked over and opened it seeing Joe stood there "come in" she stood back for him

"are you ok?" he asked looking at her as she shut the door behind him

"not really" she sighed stepping closer to him and put her arms around him as she rested her head on his chest "he wont give me a divorce" she sighed

"what?" he asked putting his arm's around her shoulders

"he said he still loves me and can't let me go yet" she said lifting her head up and looked at him with tears in her eyes

"oh hey" he put his hands up cupping her face "don't worry, it will all work out in the end I promise" he kissed her then wrapped his arms around her shoulders as she rested her head back on his chest

"I hope so" she sighed then lifted her head looking at him "was you seen coming here?"

he shook his head "no, so if you want some company tonight I am free" he smiled and she half smiled back "that's better, I hate seeing you sad"

"thank you I would love the company" she said taking his hand "and if you don't mind sharing a room with me and Amelia, then you are free to stay" she said looking at him

"I would love to" he kissed her nose

"thank you" she smiled and locked the suite door