After spending 5 week's with her Mom Clarisse came home to Genovia.
As she didn't want to wake Joe, Shades arranged for Paul to come and collect them from the airport. When they arrived back at the Palace, Shades helped her up the stairs with her cases and left them in the suite, she locked the door behind him then walked over to the bedroom door.
Walking over to the bed while stripping and climbed in next to Joe, with a yawn she put her hand on his side and kissed his shoulder as he lay with his back to her.
"what the...?" Joe said while lifting his head and put the lamp on
"shh its just me" Clarisse whispered
"Clari" he said turning onto his back his face breaking into a smile when he saw her "what are you doing here?" he kissed her a couple times "I thought you was going to call me when you was coming home?"
"I wanted to surprise you" she smiled while putting her hand on his torso "Happy Valentines day" she smiled
"well surprise me you did" he grinned while putting his hand up and pushed her hair back behind her ear "you look exhausted" he cupped her face and ran his thumb gently over her cheek bone then over her lips
she nodded "I am" she turned her head a little while closing her eyes and kissed the palm of his hand "glad I'm home though" she whispered "it's been a long few weeks"
He noticed the sadness in her eyes before she closed them and watched her for a few moments "glad your home too" he whispered as she lowered her head and rested it on his chest "try and get some sleep" he reached up and turned the lamp of "I love you" he whispered
"I love you too" she answered softly
He kissed the top of her head and felt her slowly relax, knowing she was fast asleep he too relaxed and fell to sleep not long after.
Joe returned after taking the girls to school to find her up and sat at the table in their suite having breakfast.
"well good morning" Joe smiled shutting the door behind him
"good morning" she smiled as he walked over
"did you sleep well?" he asked bending over and kissed her while putting his hand on the back of her head for a second and stole a bit of toast from the table as she smirked at him
"I did, but it wasn't enough really" she sighed and sipped her tea "how come you didn't wake me? I wanted to see the girls before they left"
"I figured you needed your sleep, and you can see them after school" he smiled moving and sat in the other chair "besides you looked very very peaceful laying there fast asleep"
"thank you" she smiled while resting her elbows on the table "you didn't tell them that I am home did you?" she asked and rested her chin on her hands
"no" he shook his head while looking up at her and noticed she was smiling at him "what?"
"nothing" she shook her head "just happy to be home and seeing your smiling face" she beamed
With that he got up and walked over to her kissing her a few times as she sat back in her chair he kissed her deeply while slightly tilting his head one way then the other, keeping the kiss going while putting his hand up cupping her cheek.
After a few minutes she put her hands up cupping his face and smiled at him.
"you haven't shaved?" she smirked while running her thumb over his lips
"no, I hope that's not a problem?" he asked with a cheeky grin
"no" she shook her head still smiling at him "I find it rather sexy, actually" she smiled and kissed him again while putting her arms up around his shoulders, losing her fingers in his hair
After a moment he lifted his head "before this goes any further, I must warn you that I have to be downstairs in a few minutes to help Shades" he smiled against her lips
"oh well you best go and help him then" she smiled bringing her arms down and left her hands on his neck while kissing him deeply
"you don't mind?" he asked
"no of course not, I know what your doing is protecting us so its ok" she smiled "besides we have tonight ahead of us" she smiled and kissed him a couple times
"that is true" he said standing up straight as she put one of her hands on the back of his leg "I love you Mrs Romano" he smiled down at her
"I love you too Mr Romano" she smiled as he bent over and kissed her
After a moment he left the room and she finished her breakfast with a smile. When she was finished she had a quick shower and got ready, she decided against doing her make up this morning and came out into the suite, with a gasp she stood still.
Finding a huge bouquets of red roses sat on the table, already in a vase she walked over and smelt them. Standing up straight while taking the card she noticed a box of chocolates next to them. And with a cheeky smirk she opened the card and couldn't help but sigh contently as she read the inside, while placing her hand on her chest an "awww" escaped her lips.
She smelt them again then checked the time, she grabbed her bag and headed off down the stairs and out to her car, driving of quickly she headed into town, returning a couple hours later. She quickly rushed upstairs to her suite to put the stuff she got in her closet, only when she walked in she saw Joe sat on the couch watching tv.
Walking over to him she smiled "I thought you was helping Shades?" she asked bending over and kissed him
"I was, that was hours ago though" he said smiling up at her "where did you go?"
"oh well I went into town" she said holding the bags behind her back "I had to do a couple things and I took some flowers to Philippe's grave"
"ahh ok" he nodded and raised his eyebrow "have you been shoe shopping again?" he smirked
"I may have" she smirked back
"you and shoes, how many does that make now?" he asked
"oh gosh, too many to remember" Clarisse laughed walking over to the bedroom "be right back"
She headed over to her closet and hid the bags, coming out a few minutes later and grabbed the chocolates.
"thank you for the flowers and chocolates by the way" she smiled standing next to him
he looked up at her "I didn't buy them" he smirked
"oh really?" she asked "must have an admirer then" she smiled feeling his hand on her thigh
"who is he? I will have words with him" he laughed as she moved, straddling him on the couch "god I am so glad your home" he said watching her put the box of chocolates beside them on the couch
"so am I" she smiled and ate a chocolate
he lent forward and kissed her neck while wrapping his arms around her waist "I really missed you" he whispered while sitting back and smiled at her
"I missed you too" she smiled taking a chocolate and held it against his lips as he opened his mouth she moved her hand away and with a laugh popped it in her mouth while moving her arm around his shoulders
"hey" he smiled "that wasn't nice"
"ok, I'm sorry" she said grabbing another one "I will give you this one, I promise" she smiled while moving her hand closer to him then pulled it back as he moved forward.
He quickly grabbed her arm with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist, as she started laughing he tickled her and brought her hand closer and took the chocolate from her fingers and tickled her some more while eating it.
"you are a little tease" he laughed while placing his hands on her back
she smiled at him "only for you" she whispered then started kissing him slowly while wrapping her arms around his neck
"mmm" he moaned while they kissed he lowered his hands down, groping her ass "you" he said looking at her "didn't even laugh?" he raised his eyebrow
"I know" she smiled "aren't I good?" she giggled and started kissing him again
After a few minute's Shades' voice came over his radio "Joe, are you there Joe?"
Clarisse looked at him with her eyebrow raised "where is that coming from?"
"that would be coming from my radio" he smiled and pointed to the coffee table behind her
she looked back seeing it then looked back at him "ok, hold onto my hand and I will reach back and grab it for you" she smiled as he took her hand
He watched as she reached back "mmm baby" he smirked cheekily as she sat back up straight
"what?" she asked looking at him
"just how you did that" he winked "kinda sexy" he smiled
"Joe are you there?" Shades' voice came over again
Clarisse pressed the button and held it up to her face "yes he is here" Clarisse smirked
"Your Majesty?" he said "what are you doing with Joe's radio"
"well he is here with me, and I wanted to answer" she answered
"ok, can you please tell Joe that I need his help with something down in the basement" he said back
"ok, will do" she smiled and looked at Joe "you are needed" she said between kisses then moved kneeling on the couch next to him
"sorry" he whispered while standing up and kissed her while stealing a chocolate
He popped it in his mouth while walking off and Clarisse sat laughing, when he left she flicked through the tv channels then gave up and headed downstairs. Seeing her office door open she headed over and stood smiling at Pierre as he sat at her desk.
"whats the matter?" she asked walking over to the table as she put her hands together behind her back when she reached the table Pierre looked at her over his glasses making her gasp
he took his glasses of "whats the matter?" he asked
she looked at him "its just you looked so much like your father the way you did that" she shook her head "I notice it all the time, but for that split second I thought he was sat at the table instead of you"
"oh" he answered
"anyway, sorry" she said watching him "whats the matter?"
"oh" he said looking at the paper work "just trying to work some stuff out"
"would you like some help?" she asked while walking around and stood next to him
"wait a minute" he said looking up at her as she looked at the paper work
"what?" she asked looking at him
"when did you get home?" he asked a little confused
"oh this morning" she smiled and looked back at the paper work while putting her hand on his shoulder
"welcome back" he smiled and put his glasses back on and stood up "you can have your table back now" he chuckled
"why thank you" she smiled moving and sat back in her chair and took the glasses that was resting on top of her head and slipped them on
"how do you manage to keep up with everything?" he asked sitting opposite her
"I don't know really" she answered "I guess because I have been doing it so long" she shrugged while looking up at him "besides, women are better at multitasking" she smirked
"hey" he answered with a grin as she laughed
After a while they had sorted all the paper work out, and decided to go for a walk around the gardens while catching up on personal things as well as Royal stuff, heading back sometime later just as Joe pulled up with the girls.
"Mom" Olivia exclaimed as she dropped her bag and ran over to them
"hey darling" Clarisse smiled extending her arms to her as she reached her, swinging her around a couple times while kissing her cheek then stood her back down
"when did you get home?" she asked as Sofia came over
"hey Mom" Sofia smiled as Clarisse hugged her
"I got home early hours of this morning" she smiled hugging them both together then stood looking at them "I have missed a lot, Olivia you have got a bit taller"
"yep" Olivia beamed
"you are both going to tower over me soon" Clarisse smiled putting her arms around their shoulders as they started walking towards Joe leaning against the car "please stop growing"
"sorry Mom" Olivia laughed
"and you young lady" Clarisse said looking at Sofia "you dyed your hair"
"Daddy said it was ok" Sofia replied "I would of asked you, but Daddy said not to bother you because you had a lot going on"
"I can't believe he let you" she shook her head as they came up to Joe "or the fact he didn't tell me about this"
"about what?" Joe questioned
"this" Clarisse said putting her hand on the back of Sofia's head
"oh that" Joe smirked "well it was that or letting her get her tongue pierced"
"oh well the hair suits me fine" Clarisse smiled as Sofia stood next to her and put her arms around her waist
"thank you Mom" Sofia smiled as Clarisse put her arm around Sofia's shoulders
"your welcome" Clarisse smiled and kissed her then wrapped her other arm around her shoulders giving her a hug "right you two, upstairs get changed and do your home work"
"ok" Sofia and Olivia smiled
Clarisse stood and watched them rush off as Pierre followed
"whats wrong?" Joe asked looking at the girls then back at Clarisse
she looked at Joe "oh nothing" she said holding her hand out "come on, lets go inside"
"ok" Joe smiled taking her hand then wrapped his arm around her waist, taking her hand with his "by the way, I thought maybe we could stay at our private home tonight? just the two of us, seeing though we haven't seen each other for 5 weeks and it is Valentines day" he said looking at her
"well who is going to look after the girls" Clarisse asked looking at him
"I asked Amelia and she's happy to, she knows Pierre and Charlotte are here and the guards if anything happens" he lowered his head and kissed her ear "think about it?"
"I don't have to" she smiled at him "if they are happy about it then lets go" she gave him a cheeky smile
"ok, I will let them know" he said then kissed her
"Clari" Joe called from the bottom of the stairs "dinner is ready"
"ok, I will be down in a minute" she called back
He smiled and headed back over to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses, pouring them a glass each and lit the candles, then turned of the lights.
"mmm" Clarisse smiled walking in "something smells yummy" she stood smiling
Joe looked over at her "thank you" he smiled as she walked over "hey your wearing the dress" he grinned putting his arm around her waist as he lowered his head and kissed her neck
"yes I am, and thats where its going to stay" she laughed pushing his hand away "at least till after dinner anyway" she smiled "I am starving"
"ok ok" he grinned pulling her chair out for her
She sat down as he pushed it back in, then he got their dinner. Afterwards they ate dessert then sat talking over the rest of the wine.
resting her elbow on the table while sipping her wine "I was thinking when I was getting ready, the last time I wore this dress was almost 16 years ago" she smiled resting her hand on the side of her neck
"oh really?" he asked while sitting back and watched her while thinking "indeed, you was I believe 5 months pregnant with Sofia?" he asked
"yes indeed" she smiled "I am surprised it still fits actually" she said looking down at herself "well the bust area is a bit tighter than before, but the rest fits fine" she smiled looking up and noticed Joe staring at her bust area "um Joe" she waved her hand
he looked up at her face "sorry about that" he chuckled "I think it fits just perfect" he grinned
"you would" she laughed and drank some more of her wine and stood up
"where are you going?" Joe asked
"right here" she smiled and sat on his lap while putting her arm around his shoulders "thank you for dinner" she smiled and kissed him
"your welcome" he smiled putting his hand up onto her neck as he kissed her "glad you made it home for the most romantic night of the year" he grinned
"Mr Romano are you saying that we only have one romantic night out of the whole year? and that being tonight?" she asked teasing him
"oh gosh no" he laughed "every night with you is romantic" he smiled and kissed her neck
"thank you" she smiled and looked down as he ran his hand down her chest
"there isn't anything wrong with the fitting of this dress" he smirked as he ran his finger along the outline of the dress, over her boobs "its very sexy actually" he smirked and looked up at Clarisse
"you would think that" she smiled and bit her bottom lip as he carried on running his finger along the outline "come on" she whispered taking his hand and stood up
She bent over and blew out the candles then led him from the kitchen and headed upstairs, where they stayed for the rest of the night.