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The following month.
2 weeks ago they were told that Harriet had died, today is her funeral which Clarisse refuses to go to. Sasha and Jason also refuse to go, and after telling their Uncle he kicked up and accused Clarisse of holding them back against their will, forcing Clarisse to make an public announcement, defending her choice, along with Sasha and Jason's choice not to go.
She's had nothing but trouble from her Brother since Harriet's passing. She hasn't slept properly for a week, resorting to staying on the couch after Joseph fell to sleep. She's not eaten much either, everyone's worried about her and Sasha, who, since the truth about her father has come out, has been hiding away in her suite.
Joseph came into the suite after getting ready finding Clarisse sat with her arms wrapped around her legs, he slowly walked over and sat down next to her.
"Do you want some breakfast?" he asked, knowing what the answer is going to be and looked at her as she shook her head "Come on Clari, you need to eat something."
She looked at him "I'm not hungry." she snapped and rested her forehead on her knees.
"Ok." he answered while watching her, his heartbreaking.
After a while she stood up, gathered herself together and headed out the suite as Joseph sat watching. Heading down to her office, where she was joined by Pierre and Charlotte.
"Mom?" Pierre started "Are you sure you want to do this today?" he asked as she slowly looked up.
"Of course, why?" she questioned and realized what he was talking about "Just because today is the day it is, it doesn't mean that everything has to come to a stand still." she looked at Charlotte for a second then back at Pierre "Understand?"
"Yes." he nodded and watched her look back at the paper work, carrying on with what she was doing as Pierre looked back at Charlotte.
After a while Charlotte noticed Joseph and Sofia at her office door, trying to get their attention. She tapped Pierre on the shoulder and headed out to them, pulling up the door behind her waiting for Pierre.
He turned to see her leave then looked back at Clarisse "Excuse me a moment," he said standing up and hurried out the room, noticing she didn't even look up as he pulled the door up then turned to everyone "What's going on?" he whispered.
"We have a plan," Sofia whispered as Joseph motioned them to move away from the door.
"What's the plan then?" Pierre asked looking over at her office door then back at them.
"Well we all know she's not smiled for a while, she's down and well you get the picture." Sofia whispered as they all nodded "I'm going to go in with Ella, Dad is going to call me making out he's someone else, to which I will pass Ella to Mom, then slowly walk out the office while on the phone, then disappear before she sees and hopefully Ella, who never failed before will make her laugh?"
"That's the plan anyway," Joseph added while quickly looking towards the office door then back at them.
"Oh I like that," Pierre nodded.
"Lets hope it works," Charlotte added "It's horrible seeing her so down." she sighed.
"I agree." Joseph nodded and looked at Sofia "Ready?" he asked while putting his hand on the back of Ella's head "Are you ready too little one?" he asked and kissed the top of her head.
"We are ready," Sofia smiled "Ella wants her Grammy to smile, just like everyone else." she smiled at them "Wish us luck." she said heading over to Clarisse's office door, looked back at everyone else and knocked on the door.
"Come, In." Clarisse snapped while looking up, seeing Sofia coming in with Ella.
"Hey Mom," Sofia smiled while walking over to her "We just came to say hey and see how you are?"
"Well I am fine, busy though." Clarisse said looking back at her paper work.
"Ahh ok," Sofia asked while walking around the desk "What are you working on?" she asked leaning over a little.
"Oh some summer stuff," She said looking up "Was there anything else? I am very busy right now Sofia." she looked up at her.
"No," she shook her head as her phone started ringing "Take Ella a moment please," she said passing her to Clarisse and got her phone from her pocket "Hello?" she said slowly walking away.
"Uh, Sofia." Clarisse exclaimed while holding Ella and watched Sofia walk out her office, she quickly stood up and rushed over to the door "Sofia, aren't you..." she started but stopped when she realized she'd disappeared, Clarisse looked back at Ella "Does your Mommy really think I'm stupid?" she said walking back into the office and pushed the door up.
She went over and sat on the couch with Ella, sitting her on her lap facing her and watched as she started playing with Clarisse's necklace.
"What am I gonna do with your Mommy, Ella?" Clarisse whispered as Ella looked up at her "Your too young to understand and when you are old enough it would be forgotten about by then," she sighed putting her hand on Ella's head and brushed her hair back as Ella looked up at her with a smile, making Clarisse smile herself "That never fails." she smiled wrapping her arms around Ella and kissed her "Thank you darling," she said sitting back and took her hands kissing them both.
After a while Joseph came in and lent over the back of the couch, looking down at Clarisse and Ella as they both looked up at him.
"Here she is?" Joseph smiled putting his hand down and tickled Ella under her chin as she laughed.
"Yes, Sofia left her with me and disappeared." Clarisse said looking back at Ella "I'm not silly Joseph, I know what was going on." she said tipping her head back and looked at him.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean?" he smirked lowering himself a little and kissed her on the lips then looked at Ella "Do we?" he smirked.
"Well it worked, she made me smile." Clarisse smiled "See?"
"Good." he reached out for Ella "Let's leave Grammy to her work shall we?" he smiled lifting her from Clarisse "She is a very busy lady after all." he smiled holding Ella as Clarisse stood up and walked around to him while tugging gently at the bottom of her top and folded her arms "How are you feeling now?" he asked putting his free arm around Clarisse's shoulders.
"Could be better." she said putting one of her hands on Ella's leg and watched her "I'm sure Stephen will turn up later though so I need to be brave for Sasha and Jason." she shrugged a little.
"You don't have to face him alone, you know?" he said and watched her step closer, putting her hand on his chest.
"I know, but I need to." she looked up into his eyes "Does that make sense?" she asked.
"It makes perfect sense." he added "We are still gonna be here for you though, just in case." he added and kissed her a couple times as Ella laughed.
"Thank you." she said resting her head on his shoulder while taking Ella's hand.
"Right you," he said looking at Ella as Clarisse lifted her head "Let's say goodbye to Grammy for a while, shall we?" he asked looking at Clarisse "Call if you need anything?" he asked as she nodded, he gave her a quick kiss then headed out her office.
She stood watching them leave then moved sitting back at her desk, Pierre and Charlotte joined her again and they got on with their work that needed to be done. When they were finished Charlotte and Pierre left Clarisse alone in her office.
She stood looking out the window with her arms folded when the clock chimed out when it struck two o'clock, she looked over at it for a second and took a deep breath. She slowly walked over to her desk as Joseph stood in the door way and watched her pour herself a brandy and downed it in one. He slowly stepped back and walked away a few feet, trying to stay calm himself then walked into her office.
She looked over at him as she put her glass down "I knew you were there." she whispered and poured herself another brandy.
"Clarisse, drinking isn't the answer." he said slowly walking over and put his hand on hers.
"I know it's not, but it is the answer to get some courage you know?" she slowly looked at him "I am going to need it soon I am sure." she whispered.
"You don't need to drink to get courage," he whispered as she slowly looked up at him "You're the strongest woman I know," he added as she slowly shook her head and looked down picking up her glass "Clarisse," he whispered "You don't need that."
"What would you know?" she snapped looking at him "You have no idea what I am feeling in side." she snapped and downed her drink.
"Then tell me instead of shutting me out for christ sake!" he snapped back and watched her slam the glass down.
"I keep thinking I should of gone today, maybe Stephen is right?" she looked back at Joseph "Am I keeping Sasha and Jason here against their will? forcing them not to go today?"
"God no, and don't even think that you are, he's messing with your head Clarisse, don't let him get to you like this." he said grabbing her hand before she reached the bottle "Don't Let Him Do This To You, To Us!" He snapped.
She tried to pull her arm free but failed, and as Joseph watched she broke down in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her, as she slumped against his body crying on his shoulder.
After a few minutes they moved over to the couch, where they talked. An hour later, Jason knocked on the door and opened it as Clarisse stood up.
"Stephens here," he exclaimed as Clarisse ran her hands down her skirt and sorted out her top as Joseph stood up.
"Thank you, where's Sasha?" Clarisse asked and headed over to him.
"She's here." he said stepping out the way so she could see her.
"Ok," she stepped forward, putting her hands up cupping Sasha's face "You have nothing to worry about, I am here." she started.
"And me?" Joseph added as they looked at him.
"Thank you." Sasha slowly nodded as Olivia came in the hall with James and Lilly.
"What's going on?" she asked looking at them.
"Can you please take James and Lilly out into the gardens with the dogs and don't come back till someone comes to get you, please?" Clarisse asked.
"Ok," Olivia nodded and hurried out the hall, disappearing with the kids.
"Ok," Clarisse said looking around the hall seeing the guards "Don't do anything, just stay still I need to deal with him on my own." Clarisse said looking at her staff as they all nod.
"I'm not leaving your side," Joseph whispered.
"You need to, I will be fine." she cupped his cheek "I promise." she whispered and gave him a quick kiss "You need to go and open the door." she nodded towards the door and saw Stephens angry face peering back at her "Ok, I'm ready." she took a deep breath as Joseph walked over to the door.
"Aunt Clari," Sasha whispered while taking hold of her hand "I'm scared."
"Don't be darling," Clarisse looked back at her then at Joseph "Ok," they all watched as he slowly opened the door, as Sasha clung to Clarisse's hand.
Stephen stood still a moment then ran over to Clarisse, getting right in her face as a couple of the guards started to move forward Clarisse put her hand up to stop them.
"You selfish cow!" Stephen snapped "You are her sister and you couldn't even be there for her today." he snapped right in her face "Even forcing these two to not go!" he exclaimed as Sasha gasped, starting to shake.
"Uh excuse me?" Jason started, moving forward but felt Clarisse's hand on his chest "No he has no right to accuse you of that!" he snapped looking at Stephen "She didn't force us to stay here, we made that choice on our own."
"Rubbish!" Stephen snapped at him then looked back at Clarisse.
"You have no right to call her selfish either, she's way better than Mom ever was!" Jason snapped as Stephen glared at him.
"Leave him alone, he hasn't done anything wrong!" Clarisse snapped and watched as Stephen looked back at her "I'm not the selfish one Stephen, your sister was!" she exclaimed.
"Our Sister!" he snapped.
She laughed "I don't think so, shes nothing to do with me!" she exclaimed as he watched her "She is the selfish one!"
"Oh really? and how did you work that out?" he snapped.
"Well for one she kept a big secret from her family, only telling half of it!" she snapped "And then when it did come out it was me who had to tell her daughter who her father was!" she snapped "Do you know who her father is Stephen?" she asked as he shook his head "I will tell you then shall I?"
"Go On, Make My Day!" he snapped at her.
"Her father was my Husband..." she exclaimed as his face fell "Yes that's right, Rupert is her father!" she shook her head and turned a little to Sasha "I had to break it to her, then I have been there everyday since she found out picking up the pieces from her Mothers mistake, I have sat with her every night when shes been up crying, and where was her Mother?" she asked "No where in sight, so don't you dare come into my home and call me the selfish one!" they all watched as he backed down "Yeah you didn't like that did you?" she said watching him "What do you think of your lovely sister now?"
"I.. I." he started but stopped when he saw Clarisse shaking her head.
"Save it for someone who cares Stephen," she snapped "Now get out of my house, you are not welcome here anymore!" she pointed to the door with her free hand as Sasha still clung to her other hand "Get Out!" she shouted at him.
They all watched as he walked out, shutting the door behind him. Clarisse took a deep breath and turned to Sasha to find her crying, she stepped closer and hugged her tightly and rubbed her back when Shades moved over to them.
"Sasha?" Clarisse whispered while putting her arm out, placing her hand onto Shades arm, as he moved it over putting his hand on Sasha's back "Look Sasha?" she said watching her move and saw Shades stood there.
"I'm here now?" Shades said as she stepped forward into his embrace.
Clarisse nodded at him, then watched as he walked off up the stairs with Sasha and felt Joseph's hand on her back as Jason stood in shock.
"Am I missing something?" he asked as Clarisse looked at him.
"I will tell you later." Clarisse nodded and looked at Jason "Are you ok?"
He came out of his day dream and looked at her "Yeah I think so." he nodded "Did you really just do that?" he asked.
"Yes I did," she smiled cupping his face with her hands "He doesn't scare me." she smiled "Now can you do me a favor?" she asked and watched as he nodded his head "Can you go and let Olivia know it's ok to come back now?" she chuckled.
"Of course." he nodded and rushed off.
"Come on," Clarisse said taking Joseph's hand "I will update you with everything." she smiled and led him into her office.
After she told him about Shades and Sasha they stayed in her office for a bit, then he left to do a couple things as Clarisse wondered into the living room to try and relax, finding Jason telling the girls about what happened with Stephen.
"Wow Mom." Olivia exclaimed "Did you really do that?" she asked as Clarisse sat down in the arm chair.
"Of course," she smiled as Jason nodded "Someone had to do it." she smirked with a nod.
"That's pretty neat, I would of been well scared if it was me." Sofia nodded as they chuckled.
"Poor Sasha was and it wasn't even her in front of him." Jason said as they looked at him "Thank you though Aunt Clari," Jason said moving and hugged her.
"You're welcome." she smiled as they pulled apart.
"Anyway I'm cooking tonight," Jason smiled "I'm cooking curry for everyone else, but because I know you don't like it do you want me to cook you something else?" he asked.
"No no, curry is fine." she smiled "It's not that I don't like it, I do have it sometimes." she chuckled.
"She's right, she does." Sofia smirked.
"Great, so curry for everyone then?" he smirked while standing up.
"Indeed." Clarisse smiled watching him walk out then looked back at the girls.
"Where's Daddy gone?" Olivia asked.
"Oh I don't know actually, he said he had a couple things to sort out then disappeared." she said watching her.
"Ahh ok." she smiled.
They sat in the living room chatting for a while, then Olivia went up to her room as Sofia spent time upstairs with Ella and Greg. Clarisse finished of her paper work, and started heading out her office only to be stopped by Joseph holding a huge bouquet of mixed roses.
"Joseph." Clarisse frowned as he lowered them and stood smirking at her.
"I couldn't help it." he watched as she put her hands on her hips "Don't look at me like that either," he whispered while stepping in her office, pushing the door up and walked closer to her.
"What are you doing, buying me flowers?" she asked as he put his free arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him "They must of cost a bomb?" she asked smelling them then looked back at him.
"They are worth every penny, knowing they are your favorite." he grinned leaning to the side, placing them on the table then stepped back in front of Clarisse, putting both arms around her waist.
"Yes they are, but really you don't have to keep getting them me." she smiled putting her hands on his shoulders, snaking her arms around his shoulders "But thank you all the same."
"You're welcome, and well I know today is a hard day what with everything going on." he stopped looking into her eyes "I just wanted to cheer you up." he grinned while rubbing her back a little.
"Thank you," she kissed him then locked her arms around his neck, giving him a hug.
"There is something else." he added as she looked at him stepping back slightly "Here." he added while handing her an envelope "I managed to pull a few strings." he smiled while watching her open it and pull out what was inside.
"What's this?" she asked looking at them then at him.
"Well in just a few weeks is our first Wedding Anniversary, so the week before we will be leaving for a second honeymoon." he smirked as she gasped "I have talked to Pierre and he's going to take over again, then the week after our day we come home." he grinned putting his arm back around her waist "Two weeks in Bora Bora? you can't say No to that?"
She laughed "You can't, No," she smiled and looked at the tickets "Thank you." she smiled and kissed him a couple times.