...Continued.
After they arrived at the hospital, they was shown up to a family room which was being guarded by hospital security. When they walked into the room Pierre stood up, Clarisse rushed over and hugged him then moved and hugged her Mom as she cried.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you at the party" Pierre whispered
"don't be darling" Clarisse answered still hugging her Mom "it's alright Mom, we are here now" she whispered
Harriet came over and sat the other side comforting her.
"do the girls no what happened?" Joe asked looking at Pierre
"no" he shook his head "Sofia was in her room when I got the call and Olivia was fast asleep with James" he said looking at them "I thought it best not to tell them"
"ok" Joe nodded "best way for now, don't want them to worry"
"I agree" Pierre nodded
Not long after the doctor came to see them, breaking bad news. Each of them took it in turns to say goodbye to Philippe.
"darling" Julia whispered while looking at Clarisse as she stood with her arms folded looking in the window at him "Clari" she whispered again as she walked closer to her "everyone has said goodbye, it's your turn now"
"no" she shook her head "I can't" she said still looking at him as a couple tears escaped her eyes
"he's waiting for you" Julia whispered as Clarisse slowly looked at her "he's hanging on" she said blinking away a couple tears
"I will come with you" Joe whispered standing next to them as they both looked at him
Clarisse found herself nodding and slowly walked over to the door, Joe went to follow but Julia put her hand up onto his, he looked at her.
"let her go in alone..." Julia said and watched Clarisse through the window as she slowly walked over to the bed "she needs to do it alone" Joe nodded as Pierre came over and they each stood watching her through the window
Clarisse stood looking at him for a few minutes, trying to accept what was going to happen. She gently took hold of his hand while sitting in the chair next to the bed.
"Daddy" she whispered "if you can hear me, squeeze my hand" she waited for a squeeze which didn't come, she blinked back tears as she tried to find the words to talk "I know we have had our differences when I was growing up, but I am so thankful to you for accepting me back into your life" she whispered as a couple tears escaped her eyes "I am glad that we made up all those years ago, as having you back in my life has been one of the most amazing things to happen to me" she said starting to cry "you are the best father anyone could ask for and I love you so very much" she said wiping her eyes with her free hand "I just wish this wasn't goodbye, as I don't want to say goodbye" she whispered watching him as the nurse came into the room "saying goodbye is to hard so I am going to say see you, as I know we will meet again one day" she cried while covering her eyes with her free hand and stayed like that for a few minutes.
After a few minutes she sat watching him then lent forward "I don't hate you, I know even though we made up that you still thought I hated you for what you did, but Daddy, I don't" she whispered "you are my best friend and I don't hate you" she placed her other hand on his arm "I love you" she whispered while standing up and placed a soft kiss on his forehead then sat back down as the clocks hit midnight, around the hospital everyone was wishing everyone a Happy New Year.
Clarisse lifted her head and looked at the nurse for a few seconds then back at him and moved "Happy New Year Daddy, I love you" she whispered and sat back down as he gently squeezed her hand. She looked down and started sobbing a bit more "Say Hi to everyone for me, and give Philippe the biggest hug going" she cried as he squeezed her hand again "tell him I love him and miss him dearly" her heart breaking as he kept the squeeze going "we will miss you" she said putting her free hand up to her face "you can go now Daddy, just remember I love you" she whispered and cried while resting her head on his arm.
After a few minutes the nurse came over and checked his pulse "Your Majesty" Clarisse slowly lifted her head and looked at her "he's gone"
Clarisse looked at her for a few seconds then started crying "Nooo" she cried shaking her head "Noooo" she moved kissing his hand and fell to her knees next to the bed while still holding onto his hand
Joe looked at Pierre hugging Julia then walked in to the room and put his arm around Clarisse while helping her to the chair.
After a while they headed back to Harriet's, where they all sat in shock. Julia sat next to Pierre with her head resting on his shoulder, Harriet and Steve sat at the table and Clarisse snuggled up to Joe. All sat thinking and crying, not talking to anyone.
Just after 8am Sofia came down and saw them all sat in the living room.
"whats going on" everyone looked at her as Clarisse sat up "Mom?" she asked watching as she stood up and walked over to her
"it's Grandpa" Clarisse whispered taking her hands "he died last night"
"what?" she exclaimed "no, he couldn't of" she shook her head as Joe stood up "I was with him yesterday and and he was fine" she said stepping back "he couldn't of gone" she started crying
"oh darling" Clarisse whispered stepping closer and hugged her as she cried and Joe stood next to them putting his hand on Sofia's back as Clarisse started crying
"Mommy" Olivia whispered from the stairs "is he really gone?" Clarisse nodded as she turned and ran up the stairs
Clarisse looked at Joe "it's ok, I will go" Joe whispered and rushed upstairs after her
"he couldn't of gone" Sofia whispered looking at Clarisse
Clarisse nodded while putting her hand up and pushed her hair back "I'm sorry darling"
Sofia looked around the room and noticed Julia sat next to Pierre "Grandma" she exclaimed while rushing over to her
"it's alright darling" Julia whispered giving her a hug
Clarisse stood with her hands up to her face, praying as she cried. After a little while she went up to see Olivia and stayed with her a little while when Sofia came up and they sat talking on the bed for a bit. After Clarisse went to her own room while Sofia went downstairs.
"wheres your Mom?" Joe asked
"she's gone to her room" Sofia said sitting next to Julia "Olivia cried herself to sleep"
"ok" Joe nodded and stood up "be back in a bit" he said and headed upstairs
He checked on Olivia first then went to his room, hearing Clarisse sobbing as she stood in the shower broke his heart. He sat waiting for her to come out, when she did he stood up and as soon as she saw him she started crying again.
"oh Clari" he whispered while wrapping his arms around her
"why did this have to happen?" she whispered while looking up at him
"I don't no" he said looking at her "but I do no something though"
"what?" she said resting her head back on his shoulder as she cried
"you got to see him again before this happened, you haven't seen him since he moved here 5 years ago" he whispered "he told me yesterday that he had the best Christmas with both his girls, something he missed since moving here and he said that if anything happened to him after this he would die happy when the time came as he got to see you again" he whispered as she sobbed harder "I'm sorry Clari" he soothed while rubbing her back
After a while she stepped back and looked at him "I am going to try and get some sleep or something" she said moving over to the bed and pulled the covers back "hopefully I can"
"ok" he answered watching as she pulled the covers over, he moved and sat in the chair and just looked at the bed as she cried, his heart breaking.
After trying for ages to get to sleep she turned onto her back.
"Joe" she whispered
"yes" he said standing up and walked over to her "whats wrong?"
"will you snuggle with me?" she asked looking at him "I can't seem to sleep and I could really do with a cuddle" she whispered
"of course" he answered and walked around to his side of the bed and climbed in next to her "I'm sorry for telling you that earlier"
"its ok" she said snuggling up to him "it needed to be said I guess" she rested her head on his chest "thanks for telling me though"
"its ok" he whispered and kissed the top of her head
Within minutes she was fast asleep and when she rolled away from Joe a while later, he checked to make sure she was still a sleep then climbed out of bed and left her to get some rest. He headed downstairs where Julia was sat with Charlotte.
"how is she?" Julia asked
"she's sleeping" he said getting some coffee and came over sitting next to them
"I should be sleeping too but can't" Julia answered "Harriet and Steve have gone up to try to get some and Pierre is out with the girls and James"
Joe nodded his head "what about Sasha and Jason?"
"they went home" Julia answered "why aren't you sleeping?" she asked looking at him
"I can't now" he said looking at her "it's been the same for years"
"I see" Julia nodded
"how are you holding up anyway?" he asked looking at her
"well you no" she answered "I don't think it's hit me yet"
"I can understand that" Joe said softly
A couple hours later, Amelia arrived back from America and was told the news. She had a little cry then went up to Clarisse's room. She watched her for a second then climbed in next to her, knowing she was awake.
Clarisse opened her eyes and looked at her "I'm sorry Grammy" Amelia whispered and moved closer hugging her as they both cried.
After a while Clarisse came down and sat with her Mom for the rest of the day.
2 day's after Philippe's funeral Joe, Olivia, Sofia, Pierre, Charlotte and James are heading back to Genovia today. Clarisse is staying behind to spend sometime with her Mom. After everything was loaded into the car, Clarisse said her goodbyes to everyone and watched as they all got in the car.
"I really wish" Joe started while coming out the front door as everyone looked at him "you would let me stay here with you" he said standing in front of her
"you need to go back with the girls, they need to go back to school and need at least one of us there in case they need us" she answered putting her arms around his waist
"but I want to protect you" he whispered putting his arms around her shoulders "I can't do that if I am in Genovia"
"I know" she looked up at him "but Shades is staying"
"let us stay here with you" Joe tried again as he looked deep into her eyes
"the girls need to go to school Joseph, you no that" she answered
"but Pierre has already said he will take care of them if I stay here with you, you need me" he whispered
"Joe please" Clarisse answered while looking up at him "you need to be there with them in case they need you, I already told you this" she said studying his face "Pierre is taking over from me for a while so he can't look after them too"
"but who is going to look after you?" he asked
"I have Harriet" she whispered
"I'm not going to win this one am I?" Joe asked
"no" she shook her head "sorry"
"ok" he said sadly giving her a hug and held her close "I will miss you"
"I will miss you too, call me when you get home ok?" she said looking at him "no matter what time it is?"
"I promise" he answered and kissed her letting it linger for a few seconds before looking at her "I love you"
"I love you too" she answered as they walked over to the car, he took hold of her hand
"promise you will call if you need anything" he said looking at her as she nodded
"I promise" she said watching him get in the car
"bye Mommy" Olivia waved with Sofia
"bye girls, be good for your Dad ok?" Clarisse said as Joe couldn't stop looking at her "I will be home soon" she smiled at them as Joe took her hand "I promise" she looked at Joe "call me ok?"
"I will" he pulled her down to him and gave her a kiss "we love you"
"I love you all too" she said standing up straight as he closed the door "bye" she waved as they drove of
Harriet slowly walked over to her as she stood waving to them "Clari?" Harriet whispered as she looked at her "you didn't have to stay"
"I know" she looked at her "But I wanted to" she said folding her arms and walked passed her and over to her Mom "come on Mom" she said putting her arm around her shoulders "lets get some coffee" she said as they walked into the house
Harriet stood watching them and shook her head as she walked over and in the house, closing the door behind her.