Alright a couple things, firstly I want to say thank you to tengland2 and Honkytonkangel for reading and commenting on the last few parts. But one BIG THANK YOU to tengland2 for all your help this last few days, you are the best! I honestly don't think this part would be here at all if it wasn't for all your help, so THANK YOU!
And second I have used a few words/lines from the 2nd movie, it fitted well so I added them. Also I have used a few words/lines from a song by Jordin Sparks. None of these belong to me, they were just used because they, to me fitted well! If you wanna know the name of the song its called Battlefield and I believe it sometimes fits Joseph and Clarisse perfectly.
Anyway I hope you all enjoy this next part, thanks again to everyone reading and commenting.
ooOoo
Sometime has passed, It's 2 week's after Clarisse's birthday and a week before Amelia take's over the reign. Everyone's been really busy making sure everything goes of without a hitch.
In fact they have been so busy, Clarisse hasn't spent much time with Joseph, not that he has minded. Knowing soon they would be spending all the time in the world together he accepted it. However this morning, he was awoken in the early hours due to Clarisse accidentally kneeing him in his back as she slept.
And loving the fact he finally got to 'be' with her, he lay awake for the next few hours just listening to her breathing beside him. After returning from the bathroom just after 6 he noticed she had moved and was mostly over his side of the bed, with a smirk he climbed back on the edge of the bed, laying with his back to her and with a smile he closed his eyes.
Not long after she stirred and moved, snuggling up to his back while putting her arm over his, he could tell she was waking up but stayed still and just enjoyed the moment, something he realized he had missed lately, her being close to him. And after a few minutes she rolled away from him, hearing her sigh as she climbed out of bed.
As she walked into the bathroom he rolled over onto his back and watched her, listening for the shower to go on he climbed out of bed and walked over to the bathroom door, pushing it open as she stood brushing her teeth he slowly walked over and stood behind her.
"Hello," he smiled.
"Hey you," she smiled in the mirror and put the tooth brush back in her mouth, moving it to the side "Did I wake you?" she asked and carried on brushing.
"No," he shook his head while putting his hands on her sides "I have been a wake for a while, just listening to you breath." he smirked as she pulled a face in the mirror "It was amazing," he chuckled while moving his hands down and slipped them into her pajama bottom pockets as she held the tooth brush under the tap.
"You thought me breathing was amazing?" she asked leaning forward and rinsed her mouth and grabbed her towel "You are weird sometimes," she giggled.
"No, well yes of course because if you weren't breathing you wouldn't be here," he chuckled as she patted her face with the towel "But I meant it was amazing, just laying with you." he whispered.
"Ahh I see now," she smiled and put the towel back down as he moved his arms and wrapped them around her waist "Joseph I have to get ready," she whispered while putting her hands on his arms.
"I know, but I have missed you." he said pulling a sad face while resting the side of his head against hers "We still need to celebrate your birthday too," he added.
"I know, but we can't yet." she answered while putting her hand up cupping his face "And I have missed you too," she said turning in his grasp "But soon I promise, I will be all yours." she smiled while putting her hands on his chest.
"And I can't wait," he whispered between kisses "God your beautiful in the mornings," he smiled as she looked up at him "Actually," he said lowering his hands, cupping her bottom and lifted her up resting her on the edge of the sink while standing between her legs"You are beautiful every second, of every minute, of every hour of every day." he smiled as he put one hand up, pushing her hair back behind her ear.
"Joseph stop creeping," she whispered as he lowered his hand onto her chest.
"Me, Creeping?" he exclaimed "Never," he laughed as she smiled at him "I just want to spend some time with you, that's all?" he asked while resting his hands on her thighs while looking down.
"I know," she watched him a second and took his hands "And we will soon, I promise." she locked her fingers with his as he lifted his head "I promise," she nodded and lent forward, kissing him for a moment before looking into his eyes "Now are you going to let me get in my shower?" she asked.
"Ok," he nodded and helped her down of the side "Want some company?" he asked with a cheeky smile.
"No," she exclaimed playfully slapping his arm as he walked out the bathroom laughing.
She stood smiling to herself for a few seconds before getting in the shower, once she was done she wrapped herself in a towel and headed into her closet to get ready while Joseph jumped in the shower and got himself ready.
After she was ready she headed downstairs for breakfast, taking it to her office to get a start on the paper work. However half way through she heard Amelia and Pierre exchanging words from the hall, making her look up and walk over, slowly opening the door they both stopped and looked at her.
"What's going on?" Clarisse asked as Amelia quickly put the paper behind her back.
"Nothing Grandma," she smiled nervously at her as Pierre nudged her arm.
"This isn't a school playground you know?" Clarisse said stepping closer and extended her arm "Give me that paper," she said looking into Amelia's eyes.
"Um." Amelia whispered and slowly gave it to her "I'm so sorry Grandma, I really really am." she nodded and took a couple steps back as Clarisse watched her.
Looking down at the paper she gasped as Joseph appeared "In my office now?" she said looking at Amelia as she nodded and walked into her office.
Clarisse headed back over to her desk as Amelia sat down and Joseph came in shutting the door behind him, making his way over to the desk as Clarisse started reading the paper.
"I'm really really sorry Grandma," Amelia whispered while watching her look up.
"Your a week away from becoming Queen of Genovia and you don't think that the press will be following your every move?" she asked slamming the paper down on the desk in front of her "I need for you to go somewhere for awhile, just DON'T LEAVE THE PALACE, unless its on fire. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" Clarisse said looking at her.
Amelia nodded and left the room as Joseph moved standing in front of the desk.
"Come on Clari," Joseph said "She's young and in love and honestly I don't see this being any cause for concern," he said pointing to the paper "It will all be forgotten by tomorrow you will see." he said as Clarisse sat looking at him.
"Joseph she was caught coming out of a hotel early hours of this morning with this young man," she said looking at the paper then back at him "With NO Body guard I might add!"
"She's in love, you remember what that is don't you?" Joseph asked "It wasn't all that..." he stopped as she put her hand up for him to stop.
"Can you find Sasha and Shades and send them to my office right away?" Clarisse said looking at him.
"Let me speak with Shades, alone?" Joseph asked while watching her.
"No," Clarisse snapped.
"Let me talk with Shades Clarisse," he said again while looking at her.
"Get them now and together, I want them here together, No stops along the way, No phone calls, No radio transmissions that you can't find them," she said standing up and put her hands on the desk in front of her "I want them both here, NOW!" Clarisse snapped "You have 5 minutes to get them to my office," she said sitting down and slipped her glasses on.
He watched her for a second then shook his head while walking out as she sat reading the paper, a while later both Sasha and Shades came to her office, knocking and waiting for an answer.
"Come!" Clarisse snapped and watched them both come in "Sit." she said nodding towards the seats opposite her.
When they sat down Shades pulled something from his jacket pocket and held it in his hand for a moment as Clarisse looked at it knowing what it was straight away, her anger rising.
"I think you know what this," Shades said handing it to her then sat back.
"Are you out of your mind Shades?" Clarisse exclaimed "Giving this to me one week before the coronation? You are the Head of the Royal Palace Security, the Royal Family Security and Amelia's primary bodyguard," she shook her head "By going to get her you were doing your job, which had you been doing properly in the first place, she either wouldn't have been there alone or been there at all," she paused just long enough to catch her breath "The fact that Amelia slipped from the Palace and got past the press in her own car shocks me." she added "You are her primary Shades and you weren't there with her!" she said looking at him then at Sasha while shaking her head "I suppose you just had to go and help him?" she asked.
"Yes, I did as I knew Shades couldn't do it alone and he certainly couldn't involve any of the other security or household staff over this situation." Sasha answered while not taking her eyes from her Aunt.
"You still have a lot to learn Shades." Clarisse said looking back at him "Let this be the only set back you make," she quickly looked at Sasha then back to Shades "You, I admit do your job brilliantly so let this be a lesson learned." she said with a small nod "You may leave." she watched them stand up "And take this with you," she said handing him his resignation back which he doesn't take so she tore it up and put it in her bin as they stood looking at her "Go," she said watching them as they turned and walked out.
When they walked out into the hall they saw Joseph waiting for them to come out and started heading over to the door, but Shades stopped him.
"She wouldn't take my resignation, actually she tore it up right in front of me." Shades said as Joseph looked at him quickly.
"I can't believe that you would do that, let alone think about it the week before the most important day of their life's," he said looking at him as Shades dropped his gaze "Apart from myself there is NO one I trust more with the lives of my family than you, Shades!" Joseph exclaimed as he looked back up.
"I'm sorry," Shades said and watched him shake his head while walking in the door way of Clarisse's office.
Clarisse looked up to see him stood looking over "You can come in," she said looking back down "But close the door behind you." she said not looking up.
He stepped in and closed the door behind him, then walked slowly over to her desk as she slowly looked up.
"What did he say to you in the hall?" Clarisse asked as he stood in front of her desk "I know he said something to you, so don't tell me he didn't?"
"Yes he did tell me something," Joseph nodded "He just told me he had given you his notice and that you tore it up," he nodded as she looked at him.
"Ok," she nodded "I thought you taught him better than this, You and I both trusted him? you in particular with my life when you couldn't be with me," she shook her head while walking over to the window while folding her arms "How dare he even consider resigning this close to the coronation." she whispered.
"Maybe he done it because he thought that's what you wanted?" Joseph asked as she looked over at him.
"Why would I want him to resign over that?" she asked while looking back out the window "Do any of you know me?" she shook her head.
"Of course we know you, it's just sometimes..." he stopped as she glared over at him.
"Get out Joseph," she snapped.
"No," he answered and watched her turn to him.
"I said, GET OUT!" She snapped and watched him walk out, slamming the door behind him as he left.
With a sigh she headed back over to her desk and slumped in the chair. Then got on with the paper work, trying to calm down, leaving not long after for a meeting with Parliament.
When he knew it was clear Joseph headed up to see Amelia, knocking on her suite door and waited. A moment later she opened the door.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
"Sure," she said walking away and left him to close the door "Where is she, still downstairs?" she asked while sitting on the couch, putting her legs up and covered herself with a cushion.
"No," he said shaking his head and sat on the coffee table in front of her "She doesn't know I'm here either so this stays between us, ok?"
"Won't that get you into trouble?" she asked while looking at him then looked down.
"Mia, look at me?" He whispered as she slowly looked up "You know she was just concerned about not having a guard with you and with it being so close to the coronation fear took over her, like it did me when I saw the papers." he said as she just looked at him "Please don't you ever do that again, don't go any where without your security of some kind, If you want to drive yourself fine, but you will have a tail behind like we do." he said watching her look back down "And you will NOT upset your grandmother AGAIN." he exclaimed as she looked up to see him give her a small smile "Ok," he said "Or she may lock you in the tower next time." he smiled as she gave a small laugh "We were just concerned Amelia that's all," he said taking her hand "We want the best for you after all,"
"I know," Amelia nodded "Thank you Grandpa," she moved to the edge of the sofa and lent forward giving him a hug "I'm sorry I scared you both."
"Don't be sorry, you've learned your lesson now." he said as they parted "I would still stay here though just in case," he chuckled while standing up as Amelia nodded.
"Don't you worry I will be staying here," Amelia said watching him walk over to the doors.
He smiled back at her then headed out the suite leaving her to think about what he said.
Amelia stood behind a pillar in the throne room watching her Grandmother as she stood staring up at the wall, with her hands clasped together behind her back. She knew she had to step forward soon before Clarisse sees her hiding, but she couldn't bring herself to move. She just stood watching her for as long as she could get away with.
"Can she do it?" Clarisse whispered to herself as Amelia looked around the room for any sign of anyone else being in there with them then looked back at Clarisse as she let go of her hands and moved them to in front of her "Oh come on Clarisse, pull yourself together of course she can do it." she said shaking her head while looking down then slowly looked back up at the painting on the wall "I know we didn't get on very well, but I wish you was still here now." she sighed "Helping our Granddaughter take over together,"
With that Amelia looked down for a second then slowly walked over to her "Grandma," she whispered as Clarisse looked at her.
"Amelia you scared me," she said turning to her "Have you been here for long?" she asked as Amelia smirked and nodded "Ahh, so you heard me talking to myself then?" she asked.
"Yes," Amelia nodded "I'm afraid so." she turned to face the painting and smiled up at it "I know he's telling you that I can do this Grandma," she said turning her head to look at her "Have a little faith in me, please?" she asked while watching her turn back to the painting too.
"I do," Clarisse nodded while looking at her for just a second then back at the painting "Parliament however aren't so sure." she added.
"What?" she looked at her in surprise "I guess because of my paper appearance?" she asked as Clarisse nodded and looked at her.
"That's exactly it," Clarisse whispered with a nod and turned to face her.
Amelia studied her face for a few seconds then looked back up at the paintings, moving her gaze to the one next to the one of her Grandparents to her Father and Uncle "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." she smiled looking at Clarisse as she smiled at her "There are five hundred and fifty years of Renaldi's on these walls and I will be up there next to my Father." Amelia smiled while looking back up at the painting of her Father.
"Spoken like a true Queen," Clarisse smiled at her.
"I will do this Grandma," Amelia said while looking back at her as she moved next to her "I will prove to them I can do this, and to you." she whispered as Clarisse wrapped her arms around her shoulders as she stood behind her.
"You don't have to prove anything to me darling, I know that you can do this." Clarisse whispered and kissed her cheek "And," she started as Amelia turned her head slightly "I am sorry for the way I talked to you earlier, I acted on it as a monarch and not a Grandmother and for that I'm sorry." she said resting the side of her head against Amelia's.
"It's Ok Grandma," Amelia whispered while putting her hands up onto Clarisse's "I understand, I would probably be the same if it was the other way around." she said closing her eyes "I am sorry for not taking a guard with me though,"
"It's ok darling, lesson learned and you know never do it it again," she said looking at her as she nodded "What's wrong?" Clarisse asked.
"Do you think Grandpa and Father would be proud if they were here now?" Amelia asked.
"They don't have to be here to be proud, they are still here in spirit." she smiled as Amelia opened her eyes "And are with you all the way." she smiled and hugged her tight.
"Thank you Grandma," Amelia whispered.
"Anytime darling," she smiled resting her head against hers again.
They stayed standing looking at the paintings for a while in silence.
"Right," Clarisse said stepping back "I still have a few things I need to do," she said putting her hand on Amelia's back "Are you coming or are you staying here?" she asked.
"I'm going to stay here, if that's ok?" she asked looking back at her.
"Of course, lock up after you and please make sure those dogs don't get in here before you lock the doors." she smiled "Thanks to Lily and James that happened once." she giggled while turning and walked away "I am here if you need me darling," Clarisse called back and turned back to her when she reached the door.
"Ok Grandma, thank you." Amelia smiled over at her then turned to the paintings again.
Clarisse stood watching her for a few moments then left her to it, she went to find Sasha and Shades to talk to them about something then headed to find Pierre to spend some time with him and sat going through some old family photos. When it was dinner time Clarisse walked into the dining room to find everyone but Joseph.
"Wheres Joe?" she asked moving down the table as the girls looked at each other.
"He said he had a couple things he needed to sort out, but will be back later." Charlotte answered.
"Oh, Ok." Clarisse said sitting down in her chair as dinner was served.
"Don't worry Mom, he will be back." Olivia smiled.
"It's not that," Clarisse said shaking her head while resting her elbow on the table and put her hand on the side of her neck "I wasn't exactly nice to him earlier," she said looking at her then looked back at her glass.
"Oh," Olivia answered while looking at Sofia.
"Don't worry Grandma, he will be home soon." Amelia smiled down the table at her.
After dinner Clarisse headed to her office to finish some last minute things, only when she sat at her desk she noticed 3 pink roses. She couldn't help but laugh a little through smiling while picking them up to smell them knowing who they were from.
After a few moments she headed up to their suite, finding Joseph sat at the table waiting.
"Hey," she smiled as he turned to watch her close the door "I'm sorry,"
He stood up as she walked over "I'm sorry too," he said watching her stand in front of him while smelling the roses "You found them then?" he asked.
"I did," she nodded while looking up at him and put one hand up cupping his face while reaching up to kiss him.
"Did you and Mia make up?" he asked as she stood back down and moved her hand to his chest.
"We did," she nodded "We need to talk," she said while taking his hand and led him to the couch.
"Ok," he said taking a deep breath and sat down next to her.
"I have talked to Shades and we agreed to work something out," she said looking at him "Mia and I talked a little also, everything is fine between us now." she smiled at him "Which just leaves us?" she said looking at the flowers in her hands.
"Uh huh." he said watching her and put his hand on her back "I'm sorry for everything I said earlier, for upsetting you and making you snap at me." he whispered as she looked at him.
"I'm sorry for snapping too, you were just trying to help and I took it out on you," she said moving a little "Your the best husband anyone could ask for," she said looking into his eyes "Always on hand to help, protecting us from everything and anything." she said putting the flowers on the coffee table "Putting up with my moods even when I don't mean to be," she said looking back at him.
"Oh come on, your not that bad." he smiled while rubbing her back "Dance with me?" he asked while standing up as a song came on the radio.
He smiled as she took his hands leading her to the middle of the room, putting his arms around her as she put hers up around his shoulders, swaying together and not breaking eye contact, as the song ended Clarisse rested her head on his chest while moving her hands down his arms, coming to a stop when they reached his elbows.
At the next song Clarisse listened to the words of the song, and looked up at him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"The words of the song?" she said looking towards the table "Doesn't it remind you of us?" she whispered while looking back up at him "I heard it the other day and thought the same then," she half smiled as he started nodding.
"I thought the same thing too actually," he lowered his head and kissed her a couple times and kept his head down, whispering in her ear "We could pretend that we are friends tonight, And in the morning we'll wake up and we'll be alright, Cause baby we don't have to fight, And I don't want this love to feel like." he smiled at her as she nodded.
They shared another kiss as they carried on dancing slowly, Joseph deepened the kiss while dipping her back a little as she moved one hand up onto the side of his neck, leaving the other on his arm, breaking the kiss a few moments later and stared into his eyes as the song carried on, on the radio.
A battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield,
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
I guess you better go and get your armor...
I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for (what are we fighting for?)
He whispered something to her in Italian, then lowered his head again kissing her as she moved her other hand up onto the other side of his neck, framing his face as she lent back just a little making him lean forward slightly.
Looking into his eyes on the next part of the song, and ran her hands down his arms again going all the way down to his hands on her back, taking hold of them while not breaking eye contact.
I never meant to start a war
Don't even know what we're fighting for
I never meant to start a war
Don't even know what we're fighting for
As the next song came on Clarisse kissed him not realizing Joseph had let go of her hands. In the seconds that followed he had scooped her up in his arms and carried her through to the bedroom, kicking the door shut with his foot as she kissed his neck.
"Lock the door baby," he whispered while turning slightly for her.
She quickly locked the door "Ok, done." she nodded.
He rushed over to the bed standing her down where they quickly undressed each other, scooping her back in his arms he lay her down and quickly moved, kneeling on the bed between her legs he lent over, placing a hand on the bed beside her shoulder, staring into her eyes for a few seconds while lowering himself pressing down on her body and kissed her slowly while moving his other hand down on her knee slowly moving it down her thigh as he started kissing her neck she dipped her head back a little as a moan escaped her lips.
"Ti Amo baby," Joseph whispered against her neck then lifted his head to take her lips in another slow kiss.