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ooOoo
Several weeks later. Today is the 1st of December, the start of a lot of Christmas celebrations happening in Genovia.
Amelia accepted her destiny, and together with Clarisse they presented her as Princess Amelia at the Genovian state dinner back in San Fransisco. She is spending Christmas at home with her Mom then will travel to Genovia to start her new life in the new year.
After getting ready Clarisse headed downstairs to start her day just as Joseph came through the main doors with Lexi. Who after seeing Clarisse ran over to make a fuss off her.
"Hey girl," Clarisse smiled while bending over "Did you enjoy your work with Daddy?" Clarisse smiled while stroking her back as she lifted her head to her "I take it you did then," She smiled.
"She did, of course." Joseph smiled over at her "Wow you are looking swell this morning?" He smirked while placing his hand on the table beside him and watched her look up at him.
"Pardon?" She asked.
"Looking swell today my darling," He smirked while shifting his eyes to her chest, and laughed as she looked down to see she was giving him the perfect view.
"Oh dear," She smiled while putting her hand up to her chest "What a shame," She laughed a little while standing up as he made his way over to her.
"You're looking very sexy this morning indeed," He smiled while looking her up and down as Lexi ran off.
"Behave Joseph," Clarisse frowned and started walking over to her office as he went with her and put his hands on her sides, making her laugh "Joe, please I am very busy this morning." She exclaimed as he turned her around to face him.
"Busy, how busy?" He smiled while walking her backwards and lowered his head "What I have in mind, won't take long." He whispered as she gasped and playfully slapped his chest.
"Joe, No." She said and tried to pull from his grasp "Joseph... Please don't." She said while looking at him as he slipped his hand under the bottom of her blouse "You are being very mean this morning." She said while managing to pull herself free and walked over to her desk.
"Me? You're the one who gave me that beautiful view," He teased while walking over and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"By accident, I didn't do it on purpose you know?" She answered while going through her messages that Charlotte left.
"I don't believe it was on purpose, you are wearing a loose fitting top after all, and I think you knew if you bent over that would happen." He smirked and started kissing her neck "You know what you do to me,"
"I do, and the answer is still no." She said putting her messages down "I have a full day and don't have time for this." She said and turned in his grasp "I'm sorry."
"Are you sure?" He asked as she placed her hands on his arms "I can go quick?" He smirked as she gasped.
"Joseph..." She whispered as he took her hands and slowly made her walk with him over to the couch.
"Clarisse..." He answered while sitting on the arm of the chair, making her stand between his legs as he started kissing her neck and jaw while he slipped his hands under the front of her blouse, smiling as he felt her arms wrap around his neck "That's it, your getting into it now." He smiled and carried on.
"You left me no choice," She whispered while closing her eyes.
A few moments later Joseph wrapped his arms around her waist, falling backwards taking her with him as she gasped and they both started laughing, kissing her again seconds later when they felt movement at the other end of the couch, making Clarisse jump, screaming a little as she stood up, followed by Joseph to find Cara looking at them while covering her ears.
"Cara, what are you doing?" Clarisse exclaimed.
"What do you mean what am I doing? What are you doing?" She said looking at Joseph then back at Clarisse "Ewww seriously?" She exclaimed.
"This is my office," Clarisse exclaimed "I can do what I like in it." She said while looking down and straightened out her blouse and jacket as Joseph stood smirking.
"More like who you want in it." Cara exclaimed as Clarisse and Joseph looked at her in surprise "Sorry, that came out wrong." She whispered and watched Clarisse finish sorting out her jacket.
"What are you doing in here, young lady?" Clarisse asked while looking up at her.
"Are you still wearing the clothes you went out in last night?" Joseph asked.
"What?" Clarisse said looking at him then back at Cara as she moved forward.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Cara exclaimed while going to get up, only to throw up over the coffee table.
"You were out drinking again, wasn't you?" Clarisse asked while putting her hands on her hips.
"Don't start please," Cara exclaimed while standing up and rushed out the room.
"What has got into her lately?" Clarisse asked while putting her hand up to her forehead and looked at Joseph.
"I don't know," He said looking at her "I will just go and get some stuff to clean that mess up." He said and headed out.
"Thank you," Clarisse whispered and headed over to her desk with a sigh.
"Good morning," Charlotte smiled while coming in and placed a tray on her desk as Clarisse stood behind it "I have your morning coffee," She said and pulled a face "What's that smell?"
"Cara threw up over my coffee table," Clarisse said looking at her as her eyes grew wide "Alright, what's happened now?" She asked while putting one hand on her hip.
"I'm not sure I want to tell you." Charlotte answered "Pierre is trying to deal with it."
"What's happened." Clarisse exclaimed as Rose came in reading the local paper.
"Whoa Mom, have you seen this?" Rose asked while looking up.
"Seen what?" Clarisse said while walking over and took the paper from her.
She stood in shock as she saw two photos of Cara, practically falling out of a club last night. Slowly she moved and sat at her desk while reading it as Joseph came back.
"What's that?" He asked while walking over to the coffee table to start cleaning it.
"Cara, falling out of the club last night." Rose said while looking over at him "It made the local papers."
"What?" He exclaimed while walking over and took the paper from Clarisse.
"Hey, I haven't finished reading that yet." She exclaimed and watched him walk away with the paper.
"I don't believe this." Joseph said a few moments later while looking up at Clarisse "Again." He said as she nodded "Rose has she said anything to you about why she's being like this?"
"No," Rose said shaking her head "Sorry Daddy, if she had said something I would of told you straight away."
"You're right, I'm sorry." He answered while looking at her then back at Clarisse.
"She's been acting weird ever since you both come back from visiting your Mom in England, Rose." Clarisse said looking towards her.
"Yeah that's right, she has." Rose nodded while looking at her then at Joe "I will try and remember if something happened while we were there."
"Yes, if you could." He nodded as Pierre walked in.
"Charlotte, can I see you for a few moments please?" He said.
"It's alright Pierre, I know." Clarisse said looking at him.
"You do?" He asked as she nodded "Oh you do." He nodded "Ok,"
"Well what happened?" Clarisse asked.
"I talked with your lawyer, he's on it." He nodded.
"Ok, thank you." Clarisse answered while putting both her hands up onto her head "It's not even 9am yet and this day is already stressing me out." She sighed "Charlotte, please go through what I need to do today." She asked while sitting down and took a few deep breaths.
"I will leave you too it," Rose smiled "See you later." She nodded and walked out.
"Me too," Pierre followed.
"See you both later," Clarisse said watching them head out of her office then looked at Joseph for a second before looking at Charlotte "Ok, go?" She said opening her diary.
"Ok, you have from now until 10 to sign as many papers as you can." Charlotte started and watched Clarisse nod "Then you have a meeting in Parliament, followed by lunch," She said looking down at her diary "You have a free afternoon, but your designer is coming over about 2 to check on the dress you are to wear tonight."
"And what is tonight?" Clarisse asked while looking at her as Joseph looked over.
"Remember, you are opening the new Genovian Theater?" She smiled "Everyone's going to be there, well accept baby Lily of course." She smiled.
"Of course, I remember." She nodded and looked back at her "Guessing Cara won't be there?" She laughed a little and rested her elbow on her desk with a sigh and rested her chin on her hand "Charlotte can you leave me and Joseph for a few minutes please?" She asked.
"Of course," Charlotte nodded and left.
"Joe?" Clarisse sighed while looking over at him "What are we going to do about Miss Cara?"
"I will go and talk to her when I've finished this." Joseph said looking over at her and watched her tip her head forward "Don't worry Clari," He watched as she lifted her head.
"How can I not worry?" She sighed with a shrug and stood up "Maybe I should go and talk to her, Woman to Woman?" She said looking towards him.
"What about your paper work?" He asked in surprise.
"It can wait," She shrugged "This is more important." She nodded.
"Well If your sure?" He asked and watched her nod.
"Very sure." Clarisse nodded and walked around her desk "If I'm not back in half hour, please come and find me." She whispered as he laughed and watched her walk out.
After having a chat with Cara, she headed down to her meeting with Parliament then had lunch with the family before heading up to relax a bit before her designer arrived to make sure the dress was ok. Half way through Joseph appeared, standing in the door way watching them for a few seconds before walking over.
Sneaking over he made her designer step back and slowly crept up behind her as she chatted away and grabbed her waist, making her jump and scream as he laughed a little.
"It's alright, it's just me." He exclaimed as she spun around.
"Don't do that to me." She exclaimed while placing her hand on her chest, trying to calm her racing heart "You scared me so much." She whispered while pulling a sad face as he stepped closer while crouching down a little and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Aww I'm sorry," He whispered and kissed her cheek as she put her arms up around his shoulders "I'm really really sorry." He whispered and kissed her shoulder.
"What are you doing here anyway, I thought you were out playing golf with Pierre?" She asked as they pulled apart.
"I was, till it started raining so we gave up, and then when we got home it stopped." He smiled as she laughed "Anyway, this dress really sets of your eyes." He smiled and looked towards her designer "Can you give us a few minutes, please?" He smiled as she nodded and walked out.
"What's wrong?" Clarisse asked as he looked back at her.
"Nothing, I just wanted to be alone with you for a few minutes." He said stepping closer "Dance with me?" He asked while putting one arm around her waist, placing his hand on her lower back and held her hand down with his other hand as she put her arm up around his shoulders.
"Do you really like this dress?" Clarisse asked "It's only for tonight, so I won't be wearing it again." She said looking into his eyes as he looked at her.
"It reminds me of a wedding dress." He smiled as she smiled "I can't wait for you to wear a wedding dress again, when will that be by the way?" He asked.
"I don't know," Clarisse whispered while tipping her head back a little and looked up into his eyes "When do you want it to be?" She asked.
"I don't know," He shrugged a little and buried his face in the crook of her neck.
"If you don't know, I don't either." Clarisse smiled while moving her hand onto the back of his head, and gave his hand a small squeeze with her other hand.
"I honestly can't wait until you become Mrs Elizondo again." He whispered against her neck, followed with a couple kisses.
"Neither can I." She said "But we may have to, Amelia is due here in the new year and with her training and everything I may not have time to plan a wedding." She whispered and watched him lift his head.
"Well let me plan everything then?" He asked "All you need to do is focus on finding a dress?"
"But?" She started and stopped when he kissed her jaw "Joseph?"
"I mean it Clari," He said lifting his head "Let me plan everything, just find the dress and I will do everything else and I promise it will be a wedding to remember." He grinned and looked into her eyes "Please, let me do this for you."
"Ok," She smiled "Ok you can plan it." She laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around a couple times, putting her on her feet a few seconds later "Just promise not to go over board."
"I promise," He smiled and dipped her, giving her a deep passionate kiss.
Leaving her with her designer a few moments later to finish making sure the dress was ok, he headed downstairs to get some coffee then sat in the living room going through all the papers.
After her designer left she headed to find Joseph. Seeing him reading the papers at the table she walked over, and placed her hands on his shoulders as he turned his head to the side.
"Hey you." He smiled as she lent over, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek "Have you finished upstairs now?" He asked as he sat back.
"Yep, she's just left." She smiled while looking at the paper "Were you serious about planning the wedding?" She asked.
"I was indeed," He nodded while putting one arm back, putting his his hand on the back of her thigh as she smiled against her cheek "Or don't you like the idea."
"I love the idea, but only do it if you really want to." She said and watched him sit forward and turn to her.
"Of course I want to do it," He said grabbing her arm and pulled her around to him as she laughed and made her sit on his lap "If it means you becoming my wife again then I will plan everything I need to get that to happen." He smiled while wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Ok," She smiled "Then do it." She nodded "And just so you know." She smiled while putting her hand up onto his neck "I can't wait to see what you plan."
"Neither can I." He smiled and kissed her a couple times as she stroked his jaw with her thumb "Ok, what date shall we do it?" He asked a few seconds later.
"I don't mind, surprise me." She smiled "But if you plan the honeymoon too, make sure I can have time away from here." She laughed as he smiled.
"Of course, I'm not that silly you know." He exclaimed and buried his face in the crook of her neck again "God I love you." He whispered and kissed her neck.
"I love you too." She smiled and watched him lift his head back "What?"
"I just remembered, did you get anywhere with Cara?" He asked while stroking her thigh.
"Nope, she didn't talk to me." She said looking into his eyes "I guess she's just going through a crazy stage," She said moving her hands to the back of his head "Let her get on with it and we will be here when she decides enough is enough." She said and watched him nod.
"I couldn't agree more with you." He grinned and hugged her as she buried her face in the crook of his neck, then looked towards the door as Pierre came in while looking at his book.
Looking up seconds later to see them hugging "Oh sorry, I didn't know you were in here." He exclaimed as Clarisse lifted her head and looked at him "I will leave you too it."
"No Pierre it's ok." Clarisse smiled while going to stand up but felt Joe's arm pull her back onto his lap "Joe stop it." Clarisse exclaimed while turning her head to look at him.
"You're alright," Pierre nodded and hurried out the room, hearing them laughing as he pulled the door up and turned to see Rose heading towards him "Where are you going?" He asked.
"I'm going to the living room, why?" Rose asked and watched him shake his head "Why not?" She asked and heard Clarisse giggling again "Oh."
"That's why," Pierre nodded.
"Maybe the kitchen may be better." Rose nodded and headed towards the kitchen.
"I will join you." Pierre nodded and followed her.
After dinner everyone got ready and as normal Clarisse was running a little late, rushing down the stairs as Joseph appeared in the foyer smiling at her as she rushed around.
"Will you slow down, they can't start anything until you arrive anyway." He said putting his hands in his pockets.
"I know, but I don't want to be too late." She answered while sitting down and slipped her shoes on "The concert is due to start at 8, I don't want to make them late starting."
"They said it doesn't matter if they run late." He said watching her stand up.
"Where are the children and grandchildren?" She asked while checking herself in the mirror.
"Already left," He smiled "You look fine, can we please go now? If you have finished rushing around of course." He chuckled as she turned to look at him.
"Yes, I have finished and yes we may go." She answered while walking over to the door.
"Finally," He smiled as they headed out the door, giving her bum a quick squeeze and laughed as she turned back to look at him "I couldn't help it, sorry." He smiled "It's the dress, it's so mmmm mmm mmmm." He whispered and kissed her hand.
"Behave Joseph," She whispered as they made their way down the stairs "I have no idea why we are whispering for, know ones around." She laughed while looking at him.
"I was wondering that myself." He laughed as they made their way over to the car.
A short drive later and they arrived at the theater, after the grand opening Clarisse mingled a bit with the VIP guests and members of Parliament as some took their places in their seats ready for the concert to start.
When it was time Clarisse and her family headed up to the Royal box to watch the concert, enjoying the whole thing from start to finish. And as the last song came to an end and the audience gave them a standing ovation Clarisse and Motaz made their way down to appear on stage with the Theater manager Ron, to make a speech and to thank everyone for being there.
"And now without further a do," Ron smiled "We have a special surprise as a thank you for attending tonight Your Majesty." He nodded while looking at her as the band started playing the Genovian Anthem tune.
Smiling as she looked at him, pointing behind them as the curtains opened to find Lena stood behind them, who on cue started singing, leading the song as everyone stood amazed, including Clarisse. Half way through the song she felt a hand on her arm, making her turn her head to see Joseph stood behind her, giving him a smile she turned back to Lena.
And after she finished singing, she got a bigger applause than the band, making her grin from ear to ear as she rushed over to Clarisse and Joseph who hugged her.
"Well done darling," Clarisse smiled while cupping her face and kissed her forehead before wrapping her arms around her shoulders and looking back at Ron.
"Oh I think we could go to one more song, couldn't we?" Ron smiled at the audience as they cheered then turned to the band as one member blew on a whistle.
As the band started playing a traditional Genovia party song, some of the audience formed a conga line around the ground floor, as balloons fell from the ceiling in the colors of the Genovian Flag, and being joined on stage by Motaz's and Clarisse's family, everyone was on their feet dancing away to the song. All smiling and laughing, having a great time.
And as they extended the song to go on a bit longer Clarisse along with the children, all held their hands up with a balloon in each hand waving them around, singing a long to the song, when she noticed the conga line Clarisse couldn't help but laugh and move to the edge of the stage waving at them and swaying her hips to the music. Then she moved further into the stage with Joseph, dancing around and laughing.
After the extended party was over everyone headed home, and after getting Lena to bed Clarisse and Joseph called it a night but just as they were about to settle the room phone started ringing. As Clarisse rubbed cream into her hands Joseph answered it, to find it was Shades. Hanging up a few seconds later he sighed while climbing of the bed.
"What's wrong?" Clarisse asked.
"Cara is home and drunk." He sighed while slipping on his pants.
"What? Again?" Clarisse sighed "I best come down with you."
"Oh no need to," He said while watching her climb of the bed and slip her dressing gown on.
"If she's drunk I am pretty sure she isn't going to want you to help her get changed Joe." She said doing up her robe "She's not a child anymore, she's a grown woman after all."
"True." He nodded and followed her out the room "What would I do without you." He smiled as she looked back at him.
When they reached the top of the stairs they saw Shades helping her up.
"Right come on you," Joseph said taking her other arm as she looked up "Thank you Shades."
"No problem." He said and watched him help her down the corridor.
"I can walk you know." Cara slurred.
"No you can't." He said helping her into her room, followed by Clarisse who pushed up the door.
"Oh look its the step mom." Cara exclaimed as Joseph left Clarisse to help her "When are you planning on Marrying my Dad?" She asked as Clarisse helped her get changed.
"Soon." Clarisse said while watching her sit back on the bed "Why?"
"Well," She shrugged "You've been together for how long?" She asked while looking up at her "And you still ain't married." She whispered "Or don't you want to get married?"
"Of course I do," Clarisse said while helping her into her pajamas "I'm not going to talk to you about this while you're drunk." She said.
"God, I hate you." Cara whispered and watched Clarisse step back once "Ooh touch a nerve did I?" She asked.
"No, you didn't actually." Clarisse said and watched her flop back on the bed "We will talk more about this in the morning young lady."
"You know..." Cara started while closing her eyes "My Mom said your just using my Dad." She whispered "Are you using him?" She asked.
"No I'm not." Clarisse answered and watched her close her eyes with a sigh.
"Well it makes me wonder, you've refused to Marry him for 9 years." Cara whispered.
After a few moments Joseph realized it had gone quiet in the room so he slowly pushed open the door to find Clarisse sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing Cara's hair back with one hand and rubbed her arm as they rested over her lap with her other hand.
After a few more moments Clarisse stood up, leaving a bucket by the bed and her lamp on she headed out to find Joseph waiting for her.
"Everything alright?" He asked "I heard what she said."
"Yeah, I know she doesn't mean it." Clarisse shrugged and started heading to her suite "You do need to talk to her Mom tomorrow though and find out what happened."
"I will don't worry." He said putting his hand on the top of her back as they walked into their suite.
He stood next to the bed as Clarisse climbed in and settled down, he couldn't help but frown. Climbing in beside her a few seconds later, he kissed her shoulder and snuggled up to her.
"I love you so much Clarisse, and I admire you too."
"Why?" She asked while turning her head to the side.
"Well she told you that she hated you, and you still sat with her and brushed her hair back, relaxing her." He whispered.
"Well she's a daughter to me, I don't care if she does hate me it doesn't change anything." She said and rested her head back on the pillow "She's still my daughter." She whispered and felt Joseph roll away from her back.
"Thank you." He whispered with a sigh and closed his eyes.
"I love you always Joe." Clarisse whispered.
Looking towards her, he smiled "I love you too." He smiled and snuggled back up to her.
"That's better." She nodded a little while putting her hand on his arm.