The following morning, Clarisse was awake early and couldn't get back to sleep. She liked the fact that Joe stayed with her but didn't no till the morning. She managed to get to the bathroom on her own, but when coming back to take some pain killers the doctor gave her she dropped them on the floor and couldn't pick them up, after trying for a few minutes she gave up with a huff.
Joe opened his eyes "whats wrong" he moved sitting close to her on the bed
"I dropped my tablets" she turned her head a little
"don't worry, I will get them" he said softly climbing of the bed and grabbed the bottle for her and took some out as she started crying "hey" he moved sitting on the bed beside her
"it really hurts" she cried looking at him
"I no, Pierre told me what happened" he nodded and handed her the two pills and some water
after she took the pills she handed him the glass back "thank you" she wiped her tears away "I can't believe this happened to me, I was being so careful"
"what happened with Sugar?" he asked
"something or someone spooked her" she said putting her good hand on her side softly "and she just threw me into the tree" she said closing her eyes "I need to get changed" she opened her eyes and looked at him "can you please help me?"
"of course I will" he whispered as he stood up "what would you like to wear?"
"oh just any of the pyjamas, as long as they are loose fitting as wearing these trousers and underwear are killing me" she sighed "they feel really tight right now"
"ok, let me grab you something and then I will help you" he said walking into her closet
"did anyone find Sugar? it wasn't her fault I hope they aren't punishing her" She said feeling upset
"they aren't don't you worry" he called out "Pierre is making sure of it" he said coming back into the room "how about these?"
she looked up and smiled "you bought me those" he nodded walking over to her "of course, those are fine" she whispered
He helped her get changed, rubbing some cream into her thigh and hip for her as he did and helped her back into bed, then let her get some rest by going to his suite to get showered and changed. When he came back he found that her Mom and Dad was in with her so he left them to it and headed downstairs to get some breakfast.
"Morning" he said walking into the kitchen
"hi Joe" Pierre smiled "How is Mom?"
"still pretty sore, but that's to be expected" he nodded grabbing some toast and coffee then sat back down "your Grandparents are up with her at the moment"
"yeah they arrived a little while ago, so I let them go up first" Pierre nodded "I wish she would of stayed in hospital last night though"
"I agree, but when does your Mother listen?" Joe replied
"true" Pierre chuckled a little "her horse came back last night"
"oh she did? that's good, Clari was worried about her, actually she thought Sugar was going to get punished but I told her that you are making sure she didn't"
"of course, Mom made it clear that it wasn't Sugars fault" Pierre said looking at him
"good" Joe said and sipped his coffee "where are Helen and Amelia this morning?"
"oh well Dad gave Charlotte the day of, because well Mom can't do anything so there isn't any need for Charlotte so she took Helen and Amelia out for the day" Pierre answered
"ahh that's good" Joe nodded "I know Clarisse is missing Amelia, but I also know that right now she doesn't want Amelia to see her like this" he said looking at Pierre "she has a few more bruises and her hip, thigh and knee has bruised real bad" he said sadly
"yeah the Doctor warned that might happen" Pierre nodded
"anyway" Joe said standing up "I have some security checks to do, so I shall catch you later"
"of course" he watched as he started walking out "Oh Joe"
he stopped and looked at him "yes?"
"thanks for staying with her last night" Pierre half smiled
"of course" he nodded then left
He went of to do what he needed while Pierre stayed in the kitchen, not long after Harriet arrived and went up to see Clarisse. Her father came down and left the ladies to it. He spent sometime with Pierre and they talked while walking around the castle. They all stayed for lunch then left. Pierre took the chance to go and spend sometime with his Mom, and they sat watching tv while chatting a bit when Joe came in.
"hey" Clarisse whispered seeing him in the door making Pierre look
"hey" he smiled coming in as Pierre jumped of the bed "I thought I would come see if you was ok or if you needed anything, but I see you got that covered" he chuckled looking at Pierre
"of course" he smiled
"well I see your ok and have everything so I will leave you both too it" he smiled "I will come back and check on you later on"
"no" Clarisse exclaimed as both Joe and Pierre looked at her "please stay, I have missed you today" she whispered
"yeah" Pierre said looking at Joe "you stay, I have a couple things to do anyway" he smiled walking over "just look after her" he patted his back
"I always do" Joe said watching him walk out, leaving the door open a little bit then he looked back at Clarisse "how are you feeling?" he asked climbing on the bed next to her
"like a million dollars" she chuckled then regretted it "must remember not to do that, damn that hurt" she whispered closing her eyes
"you no, I was thinking" he said looking at her as she kept her eyes closed "when you are feeling much better, maybe we could take a trip?"
she opened her eyes with a smile "i'd like that" she nodded
"good" he moved closer and placed a soft kiss on her lips then sat back "so you missed me today?" he asked taking her good hand and gently rubbed the back of her fingers
"I did" she nodded a little and looked at their hands
"well I missed you too" he whispered looking at her "you did scare me though, when Pierre told me last night then said you was up here" he stopped as she looked at him "why didn't you stay in hospital?"
"because I didn't want to" she answered "I wanted to be at home, in my own bed"
"please don't scare us again ok?" he asked
"I will try not to" she half smiled "I was wondering if you could do me a favour?"
"of course, anything" he smiled "ask away"
"could you maybe pass me my water and tablets, I'm starting to feel some pain again" she asked
"of course" he whispered and climbed of the bed "anything for you" he said walking around to her side of the bed
"thank you" she said taking the tablets then water as he stood next to her "thank you" she whispered as he took the glass back and rested it down on the bedside table
"is there anything else? are you feeling hungry?" he said watching her
"no" she shook her head "just sit with me a while, please?"
"of course" he smiled and moved around the bed, sitting back down next to her
They laid in silence watching tv for a bit when Joe looked at Clarisse he noticed she was asleep so he climbed of the bed, turned the tv off and left her to sleep again, he went to find Shades and done some security checks making sure everything was in order. On his rounds he bumped into Rupert.
"ahh Rupert" Joe started as he came over to him "I know this situation isn't the best and I know you still have feelings for Clarisse" the two men looked at each other "and don't want to let her go, which I understand, I would probably be the same, but I just wanted to say thank you for what you did yesterday, Pierre told me" he said looking at Rupert
"its what any man who loved his wife would of done" Rupert said watching him a second "you really do love her don't you?" he said putting his hands together behind his back "it's not just a phase" he asked
"oh hell no its not, I loved her ever since we we're young" Joe answered "you no that, I no she had a life with you and had two handsome lads together, but I still loved her deep down" he stopped "sorry we didn't tell you, you no that we had a history together, but you know we have been best friends since forever and she didn't want to risk losing me as a best friend" he sighed "and I didn't want to lose her either"
"but you let her go?" Rupert asked
"I had no choice in the matter, if I had a chance and knew what was going to happen I would of ran away with her" he nodded feeling sad at the thought "I would always protect her no matter what, maybe not as a lover but as my best friend and that's exactly what I done over the years" he said looking at Rupert
"indeed" Rupert nodded in agreement
"may I be as bold to ask why you won't give her up?" Joe asked
Rupert thought a moment "I just couldn't let her go, she still has my heart" he studied Joe's face "I know her heart belongs to you, I guess the whole time we was married it did but she still has mine and I am simply not ready to let her go completely"
"I understand" Joe nodded
"well you certainly make her happy, more than I ever did and I guess if I had of paid more attention to her this would never of happened and we would of been happy" He looked at Joe "I only have myself to blame" he nodded slightly thinking for a second "alright, whats her favourite colour?"
"pardon me?" Joe asked feeling a little confused as Rupert raised his eyebrow at him "ok, her favourite colour is Red, her eyes are Blue, she loves English Tea and cakes, her favourite piece of clothing is the dress that Amelia bought for her and was wearing the day she found out your son died, her favourite piece of jewelry is believe it or not is the necklace that you gave her after Philippe was born, she loves to dance" he answered "is that enough for you?"
"what does she want more than anything in the world?" Rupert asked without thinking
Joe thought a second "a daughter..." he suddenly realized something "that's why you won't let her go, isn't it?" he asked
"I beg your pardon?" Rupert asked realizing what he had done
"you won't let her go because she is still young enough to have a child and no that if she has one with me while you are still married... that's it, isn't it" he studied his face "you no while shes still married to you she will be safe and not let it happen and because you wanted another child with her and you regret having the operation" he asked "your jealous" He watched Rupert say nothing but walk away "running away, again!" Joe snapped after him
He couldn't believe the nerve of the man and knowing that he was angry he thought it best to go for a walk before going to see Clarisse again.
Rupert knocked on Clarisse's open door "may I come in?" both Pierre and Clarisse looked at him
"of course" Clarisse answered as he came in
"I just came to see how you was feeling" he walked over and sat by the bed
"still sore" she said looking at him "thanks for taking me to the hospital yesterday and helping Pierre"
"its ok" he said nodding and watched her a moment
"what?" Clarisse asked
"I wonder, if I could have a word with you alone" Rupert asked looking at her then at Pierre "please"
"Mom?" Pierre asked looking at Clarisse
"that's fine" she said looking at Pierre "come back in a bit ok"
"will do" he said walking out
"what did you want to talk to me about?" Clarisse asked
he looked at her feeling sad "I would do anything in my power to be with you"
"Rupert, don't you dare" Clarisse stared at him
"no let me finish, its not what you think" he answered her "I know Genovia will understand in time"
"what do you mean?" she asked
"you and Joe?" he asked "you really do love him don't you?" he looked as she nodded "after seeing him with you last night then earlier today, helping you and caring, I know I couldn't really and never did over the years" he said sadly and took a deep breath "this place is your home, and I would love it if you stayed here, your more of a Royal to this country than I am, you held it all together, better than I ever did or could" he said with tears in his eyes
"Rupert" Clarisse questioned
he looked down for a few seconds then stood up "the divorce, I will grant it you" he said looking at her "I have a meeting with my lawyer next week" he said walking to the door "so you and Joe can be happy together, finally" he looked back over at her "and get married" he whispered and left the room
"Rupert, wait" Clarisse called out but he didn't come back "damn" she whispered to herself "why do people do that when others are hurt" she wondered "for god sake"
"Mom" Pierre asked coming back into the room to see her crying "what is it?" he rushed over "is it the pain" he said grabbing the pain killers and glass
"no" she said looking up at him "its not that"
he looked at her confused "then whats the matter?" he said sitting on the edge of the bed
"its your father, where is he?" she asked
"hes gone for a drive, why?" Pierre asked "oh he hasn't upset you again has he?" he said looking towards the door "I will have to have words with him"
"no" she said shaking her head "its not that" she answered
"ok that's the second time you have said that line to me" Pierre said looking back at her
"well if you let me fully explain instead of interrupting me you will get more" she snapped "ok, sorry" she looked at him "I didn't mean to, its just he left really upset and I'm worried he may do something, he cried and I have only ever seen him cry once"
"what happened?" he asked
"he's granting me the divorce" she said looking at him
"wow, really?" Pierre asked
"yes" she nodded "and he seemed broken, which I understand" she said as a couple tears escaped her eyes "you need to find him, make sure he doesn't do anything stupid"
"ok" he stood up "I will go find him and make sure he's ok" he ran out the room bumping into Joe
"whats the rush?" Joe asked
"Joe" Clarisse called out as he looked towards the door
"Mom will explain" Pierre said and rushed off
Joe walked into the room "whats going on?" he asked walking over to the bed
"Joe, he's granting me the divorce but he left really heartbroken, Im scared he will do something" she said crying
"two people are better than one, I will go and help find him" Joe said rushing from the room
Moments later Helen appeared "whats going on? Joe just asked me to come and sit with you a bit"
"oh Helen" Clarisse started
She explained everything to her and they waited for news from Joe and Pierre. After a couple hours Joe came back and went to find out if anyone had seen or heard from Rupert or Pierre, no one had and Clarisse was still awake so he went to sit with her while Helen went back to her own suite.
Clarisse was just nodding of when the room phone started ringing, Joe jumped up and answered it and took the call as Clarisse sat looking at him.
seeing him hang up "was that Pierre?" she asked "did he find him"
"yes" Joe nodded "he's fine, he just needed some alone time but Pierre is going to stay with him the night at the summer house" watching as Clarisse sighed with relief
"oh thank god" Clarisse nodded as Joe sat on the edge of the bed "I wonder what made him change his mind"
"well we had a little talk earlier" Joe said taking her hand and looked at her "maybe that done it"
"what did you talk to him about?" Clarisse asked
"oh just this and that" Joe said keeping what he found out a secret
"maybe it worked" she nodded "but it doesn't matter, as once its been granted we can finally be officially together" she smiled
"and I love that idea" he smiled leaning closer to her and placed a soft kiss on her lips then sat back
"will you stay here again tonight?" Clarisse asked
"of course" he whispered
"thank you" she smiled