The following day, Sunday 2nd July and Ella's Christening.
"Good morning" Pierre smiled heading into the dining room
"Morning" Sofia smiled up at him "Jason was just telling us about what happened last night, was you there?"
"No, what happened?" Pierre asked while grabbing some breakfast and sat down
"Your Mother Pierre, done shots with Sasha, Amelia and I last night" he smirked "Never seen her doing that before, she seemed to enjoy herself"
"Oh really?" Pierre answered while looking at them "What about Joseph? Where was he?"
"He was there too, just not doing the game" he chuckled
"And he didn't mind?" Pierre asked
"Nope, not one bit" Jason smiled and sipped his coffee
"What are you doing calling him Joseph anyway? it should be Dad again now" Sofia smiled teasing him
"Oh yes of course" Pierre smirked at her "Sorry madam" he sipped his coffee then looked back up "Has anyone seen the love birds yet today?"
"No, but they had ordered breakfast earlier" Sofia smiled at him "I have no idea if they are gonna make it to the Church today"
"Oh they will don't you worry about that" Pierre said looking at her "You know what Mom is like she wouldn't miss Church if she was home, and I am pretty sure she wouldn't miss it today either"
"True" Sofia smiled
"Are you sure I look ok?" Clarisse asked turning to the side as Joe looked at her
"Once again" he smirked as she looked at him "You look beautiful" he chuckled as she turned the other way "What's wrong now?"
"I don't know" she shrugged "This dress seems a little tight" she turned back the other way
"It was probably all that drink and food you had yesterday" he smirked as she shot him a look "Will you just relax?" he grabbed her hand and made her step closer to him "The mirror isn't going to change how you look you know" he said while looking up at her while placing his hands on the back of her legs
"I know that" she said putting one of her hands up and straightened out her shrug "After the honeymoon then I am going on a diet" she sighed looking at him as he laughed "It's not funny, why are you laughing for?"
"I am laughing because that's rubbish" he grabbed her hand and made her sit down on one of his legs while wrapping his arms around her waist "You don't have to go on any diet, you are perfect as you are" he smiled at her
"But.." she started and stopped when he kissed her "Joseph..." he stopped her with another kiss
"Please just listen to me" he gave her a little squeeze "You do NOT need to diet" he kissed her a couple times "You are fine as you are, End of" he smiled as she moved her arm around his shoulders
"Ok, I won't diet then" she sighed while shaking her head and heard foot steps coming down the stairs "Ahh" Clarisse smiled while standing up as Sofia and Olivia looked up at her
"You are alive then" Sofia smirked as Clarisse kissed her cheek and took the car seat from her "We were worried you wasn't going to make it today" she smirked watching as she put the car seat on the table
"And miss this special day?" Clarisse looked back at her while holding onto the car seat "Never" she smiled and looked back at Ella "She is just too adorable" she smirked and kissed her forehead
"Do you not have a hang over?" Sofia asked while checking her cell "Hannah does"
"Ahh well I do believe Hannah drank a lot more than I did last night" Clarisse smirked as Joseph stood next to her and put his hand on her back
"Yes that may be true, but a little birdie tells us" Sofia and Olivia smirked at them as Joe looked over "A certain Queen done a number of shots last night"
"That is true actually" Clarisse smiled down at Ella as Joseph chuckled "Oh by the way" Clarisse turned a little to look at the girls "Thanks for setting up the suite last night" she smiled at them
"Aww anytime" Sofia smiled and watched her turn back to Ella "Did you like it?"
"Of course I did" she grinned to herself "It was very romantic"
"Indeed" Joseph smiled
A little while later they was on their way to Church, after the main service the Officiant who married Joseph and Clarisse the day before, Christened Ella, with Pierre as her God Father and Olivia and Amelia as her God Mothers. After the service everyone mingled a little in the Church. Clarisse deep in conversation when she noticed Karen and her Mom, she excused herself and headed over to them.
With a smile she stood next to them "Hello"
Lena smiled in return "Hello"
"Hello Karen" Clarisse smiled as Karen nodded
"It's alright, I know you know" Karen whispered
"Alright, I did wonder" Clarisse nodded a couple times
"I am sorry I didn't say anything to you the other day" Karen replied
"Oh don't worry" Clarisse shook her head "It honestly doesn't matter"
"Can I just say, I am not trying to steal anything from you, in fact I wished he wasn't my father"
"Really?" Clarisse exclaimed
"Of course, I never even knew him" Karen replied "He didn't want to know me when I was born, so I have no father" Clarisse and Lena looked at each other then back at Karen as Pierre stood next to them
"Hi" he smiled and whispered something in Clarisse's ear then looked at Karen "You're Karen, right?" he said looking at her
"Yes, how did you know?" Karen asked
"Well I have seen a photo" Pierre replied "I would tell you my name but everyone in this town knows it" they chuckled and wondered off talking
"I hope you don't mind us being here?" Lena asked as she and Clarisse moved and sat down at the back of the church for some privacy
"Oh of course not" she turned a little and crossed her legs "It was a surprise when I got your letter but yet from what you told me doesn't surprise me, I kind of knew it was going to happen at some point" she said looking at the people at the front of the church then back at Lena "I guess that's why you left the Palace?"
"I had to" Lena looked back at her "Rupert made me" she looked back at the people "I am so sorry Clarisse" she looked down
"Don't be sorry Lena, you did nothing wrong" Clarisse watched her look back up "Karen said a few days ago that she was born in Spain?"
Lena nodded "Indeed, after Rupert and I talked, I left and headed back home to my parents" she looked at Clarisse "It was him who wanted it to be a secret"
"I guessed it would be" Clarisse looked away for a second then back at her "You mentioned in your letter that Rupert told you he fathered another girl?"
"He did" she answered
"You know its funny, I wanted so much to have a girl with him" she sighed looking down "I know I nearly had one, as you know" She looked back up as Lena nodded "I had two Heirs, I wanted at least one Princess, but it just never happened" she sighed again "Before Rupert and I officially ended it I had learned he had, had an operation so he couldn't have children anymore" she looked back up "Though it turned out to be a lie now, knowing he had Karen and this other girl"
"He wanted to keep it a secret as not to hurt you though Clarisse" Lena replied as Clarisse looked back down
"I don't understand why it didn't happen though, people thought we didn't have an intimate relationship and that we hadn't slept together for at least 15 years" she looked up "It was a lie, it was more like 5"
"I know remember, I was there?" Lena answered
"I know" Clarisse nodded "People kind of guessed you know, and we didn't want to correct them" she sighed again "Sadly it just wasn't to be" she slowly looked up at Lena "Do you know who the other girl is?"
"I do" Lena nodded and looked back at her "You know her, but when you find out please don't push her away Clarisse, it wasn't her fault" she whispered "And when you find out some other stuff you will understand and accept it, I know you and I know you will be there for her" Lena smiled
"Who is she?" Clarisse asked while looking at her again
"I can't tell you, you have to find out by other means" she looked around the room then back at her "But she is in this room"
"What?" Clarisse looked around everyone in surprise, and sat frozen as her heart started racing faster and faster "Oh god"
"What's wrong?" Lena lent forward and put her hand on her arm
"Please Lena tell me it's not Amelia" Clarisse looked back at her
"What in heavens ever gave you the idea it could be Amelia" Lena whispered
"Well she was born when Rupert was still alive, and she's the only other one who looks like a Renaldi in this room" she looked around everyone again then back at Lena
"I can tell you right now it's not Amelia, this girl is lucky she got more of her Mothers gene than her fathers"
"Oh thank god" Clarisse exclaimed while putting her hand on her chest and closed her eyes
"Aunt Clari" Sasha exclaimed making her jump and open her eyes "Did I scare you?" she asked
"You did" Clarisse sighed "It's alright, what's wrong?"
"I just wanted to let you know we are all heading back to the Palace now, you coming?" Sasha asked
"I will meet you there, I'm going to go and see Philippe's grave first" Clarisse replied as Sasha lent forward and grabbed her hands "Which reminds me, what kind of shoes are you wearing?"
"Flats, why?" Sasha replied
"Swap with me" she sat taking her heels off "If I am walking home, my feet may just die after last night" she chuckled as Sasha slipped her shoes off and handed them to her "Thank you" she smiled taking them and handed her the heels
"No worries" Sasha smiled slipping them on
"See you back home" Clarisse smiled slipping her flats on
"Alright Auntie" She smiled and lent forward kissing her cheek
Clarisse smiled watching her walk away then she looked back at Lena "Thank you for telling me anyway Lena"
"Oh you're welcome" she smiled "And the other stuff will all come out in good time"
"Thanks" Clarisse stood up "Take care and see you soon" she smiled and left
She headed out to the grave as everyone made their way home, except for Joseph who stood back and left her to it for a while then made his way over and put his hands on her shoulders as she tipped her head back looking up at him.
"Are you ready?" he asked
"I am" Clarisse nodded and slowly stood up, stepping closer to Ruperts grave patting the headstone a couple times then turned to Joseph "Take me home"
"With pleasure" he reached out his hand for hers as they headed out the Church gates
On the way home, Clarisse told Joseph everything Lena had told her. When they got back they went and got changed then headed down into the garden where everyone was sat talking and messing around.
"Ahh we was beginning to think you had got lost" Sofia smiled while watching Clarisse pick up Ella
"Me lost?" she laughed "Not likely" she smiled while sitting down "I know this town so well I could walk around it with my eyes closed" she smiled resting Ella on her chest
"That's what I said" Sasha smiled "Oh you know what" she looked around "We should go out tonight, have a girlie night out"
"That's a good idea" Amelia smiled "I'm in" she looked at Clarisse "What about you Grams?"
"Yeah come on Aunt Clari" Sasha smiled
"No no" Clarisse smiled while gently rubbing Ella's back "I'm having a romantic night in with my Husband" she smiled
"Oooo Husband" Sofia giggled "It sounds so weird hearing you saying that again"
"It felt weird actually" Clarisse laughed "But no I will pass this time, maybe next time" Clarisse smiled
"I wish I could come with you" Sofia sighed while looking at Ella
"You should go" Greg added as they all looked at him
"That's it Greg you tell her" Sasha smiled "Come on Cuz" she pouted "Please come out tonight"
"Yeah you go and enjoy yourself" Greg smiled "I will look after Ella"
"Are you sure?" She asked
"Of course" he kissed her "Go out and enjoy yourself" he nodded
"Alright then, thank you" she hugged him then sat back "I'm in"
"YAY" Amelia and Sasha exclaimed
"I'm in too" Jason smiled "If that's alright?"
"Of course it is Bro" Sasha smiled hugging him and stood looking at Clarisse "So when do you guys go on honeymoon?" she asked
"Tomorrow" Clarisse smiled
"Ooo and where are you going again?" Jason asked
"To the Dominican republic" Clarisse smiled
"Wow" Jason exclaimed "Lucky" he grinned
"Very" she answered as Ella started fussing "I think someone may be hungry?" she asked looking up at Sofia
"Yea" Sofia nodded while standing up and lifted Ella from her "I will be back" she turned heading inside
"I feel empty now" Clarisse laughed
"Aww don't worry Auntie I will give you a hug" Sasha laughed while kneeling next to her and gave her a hug
"Aww thank you" Clarisse laughed while wrapping her arms around Sasha's shoulders
"Do you feel whole again now?" Sasha smirked up at her
"Oh I do thank you" Clarisse laughed as Amelia and Jason giggled
A little while later everyone ate, then as the gang got ready to go out Clarisse and Joseph brought all the glasses, plates and other stuff that needed to be washed up in and put it in the dishwasher.
"What did Sasha want to talk to you about earlier?" Joseph asked while watching Clarisse wash her hands
"Oh she wanted to know if she could stay here for a little while as she didn't want to go back home yet" she answered while drying her hands "I told her that was ok"
"Ok" he smiled and watched her put a lid back on something "I can't wait till tomorrow" he grinned moving and washed his hands
"Neither can I" Clarisse smiled putting a couple things in the fridge and grabbed a couple strawberries and slowly walked over to Joseph while putting one in her mouth
"Can't wait to get you alone for two whole weeks" he smiled and kissed her as she stood next to him
"It's going to be so romantic" she smiled up at him and fed him a strawberry "Oh I just remembered something" she walked over to the door and watched Olivia and Marla messing around in the pool "Marla" Clarisse called out as they stopped and looked over at her
"Yea" she called back
"Just wanted to know, are you staying again tonight?" she asked
"If that's ok?" she answered
"Of course, I will just call and check with your parents, ok?" Clarisse smiled
"Ok" she smiled back
Joseph chuckled while walking over to Clarisse "I'm surprised she isn't living here yet" he smiled stepping behind Clarisse as she dialed the number
"I know" she put the phone up to her ear as Joseph kissed the back of her shoulder "Ahh, No you don't" she turned putting her hand on his chest and pushed him back "Wait" she smirked at him as Marla's Mom answered the phone
After a few minutes she hung up, and was taken by surprise as Joseph pushed her back against the wall while kissing her. A few minutes later Jason came in.
"Oh sorry" he turned as Clarisse and Joseph parted "I didn't mean to"
"It's alright" Clarisse chuckled with a blush and got some coffee
"Is it ok to look now?" he asked
"Of course" Joseph smirked while sitting down and watched him turn around
"You look handsome" Clarisse smiled and sat down next to Joseph
"Thanks" he grinned back "Actually Joseph I just wanted to ask you something, if that's alright?"
"Of course, shoot" he smiled while putting his arm around Clarisse's back
"Well, I've not had a chance to get to the shops yet, but I just wondered if you happened to have, you know" Jason blushed a little as Joseph looked at him as Clarisse sipped her coffee "In case I hook up with someone" looking at Clarisse as she choked on her coffee "Are you ok?" he asked
"Yea" she said wiping her chin as Joseph chuckled "Sorry, it just took me by surprise that's all"
"That's alright" Jason answered while looking back at Joseph "You never know"
"That is true and no I don't, we don't use them anymore" He answered as Clarisse choked on her coffee again
"Joseph" She exclaimed as Jason smirked
"What?" he asked while looking at her as Jason blushed "It's the truth, we don't have any need for them anymore" he chuckled as Clarisse sat blushing
"That's not the point" she looked at him then covered her eyes with her hand as Joseph looked back at Jason
"Try Pierre, he might have some" Joseph nodded
"Thanks" Jason smirked and laughed while walking out
"You can't tell people that" Clarisse gasped while looking at him
"Oh relax" he smirked and nuzzled her neck as she laughed "He isn't going to tell anyone" he whispered and kissed her neck again then looked at her "By the way I wanted to ask you, is Jason gay?" he whispered
"Um.. I don't know, why?" she asked while resting her arms on the table
"Well some of the things he does, and going out on a ladies night, is kind of weird" he whispered
"Hmm" she thought about it "I don't know, I have never given it a thought before" she drank some of her coffee
"At least you got to drink that bit" he chuckled as she looked back at him and laughed
After all the gang had left for their night out, Clarisse and Joseph headed up to their suite where they stayed for the rest of the night.