Thank you to everyone who reads this story and for those leaving me a review. You All ROCK! THANK YOU!

This chapter may be a bit dark for some, so be warned.

ooOoo

The following day.

Even though it was Sunday, her and Joe's lay in day together Clarisse was still awake early. Rolling over to snuggle with Joe, she lifted her head when she realized he wasn't in bed beside her. Checking the time to find it was only 6am she sighed and looked over his side of the bed again to see a rose with a note attached.

Grabbing it she twirled the rose around the tip of her nose while opening the note and read it to herself "Gone for a run, be back soon. I Love You x!" She half smiled and looked at the rose again before sitting up, grabbing her robe, slipping it on as she made her way over to the french doors.

Walking slowly out onto the balcony she noticed a bottle of water on the table, and as she stood next to the balustrade she noticed him running, smiling to herself when she realized he had noticed her standing on the balcony and making his way over to it.

"What are you doing up so early?" He called out below as she lent over, smiling down at him.

"I awoke to find the man of my dreams missing," She smiled while placing her hands on the balustrade while still leaning over "Did you enjoy your run?"

"I did." He nodded "And I'm sorry that I was missing," He smiled up at her as she giggled to herself.

"This is so Romeo and Juliet." She smiled.

Knowing it was her favorite Shakespeare piece, he decided to don a pose and look up at her "She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head As is a winged messenger of heaven Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds And sails upon the bosom of the air." He smiled up at her.

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet." She answered and watched as he started climbing up towards her "Joseph what are you doing?" She exclaimed.

"Climbing to my love," He called out and carried on.

Standing back as he climbed over the balustrade "What if you had fallen?"

"Oh relax," He smiled while stepping closer to her "I've done it lots of times." He chuckled as she looked up at him, sharing a kiss seconds later.

"Romeo, Romeo!" She smiled as they shared another kiss, before watching him step back and drink some of his water.

"I'm feeling really hot, I need to cool down." He said taking the lid of his bottle and knelt down in front of her "Take this and pour it over me?"

"Joseph that's silly,"

"Please?" He smiled up at her as she took the bottle.

"Very well," She laughed as she turned the bottle upside down and poured it over his face then watched him stand back up, shaking his head as she screamed out and put her hands up to cover her face making Joseph laugh "That wasn't nice." She exclaimed while looking back at him "You got me wet!" She said looking down as he took the bottle and put it back on the table.

"That was the plan," He smiled and kissed her "But your about to get a whole lot wetter." He laughed as she raised her eyebrow at him "I love it when you talk Latin to me." He grinned and took her hands "It drives me crazy with desire!" He smirked.

Lowering himself he flung her over his shoulder as she screamed out again and hurried into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

After getting ready they headed downstairs to the dining room for breakfast, finding Pierre, Amelia and Lena already down there.

"Good morning," Clarisse smiled as she hugged Lena.

"Morning Mommy," She smiled and kissed her cheek then watched her kiss Amelia and Pierre.

"Did you all sleep well?" Joe asked as he handed Clarisse a cup of coffee "Why don't you sit down and let me get your breakfast." He smiled as she sipped her coffee.

"Mmm, thank you." She nodded and moved sitting down next to Lena.

"We did, in the end." Amelia answered "I checked on Rose this morning,"

"How is she?" Clarisse asked and put her coffee cup down.

"Still pretty upset." Amelia answered and watched as Joseph put a plate of breakfast down in front of Clarisse.

"Thank you darling," Clarisse smiled up at him as he lent over and kissed her "And well, that's understandable." She nodded and looked at Lena "And how are you feeling this morning young lady?" She asked.

"Much better, thank you." Lena smiled at her then watched as Joseph sat down at the head of the table.

"You are aware that it made the papers though, right?" Pierre asked as they looked at him holding the paper up.

"I thought it would." Clarisse nodded, taking the paper "Maybe I should skip church this morning?" She said after reading the title and passed the paper to Joseph.

"Wouldn't that be running away?" Rose asked from the door as they all looked at her "In all the years I have known you, you have never ran away from anything, please don't start now." She said looking at Clarisse then walked over and got some breakfast as Joseph and Clarisse looked at each other.

"Are you going to be there?" Clarisse asked while watching her.

"I am," She nodded and got some juice.

"Then I will be there too." Clarisse smiled over at her as she looked over, and nodded back before moving to the other end of the table "Why are you sitting all the way down there for?" She asked as Rose looked down at them "Come and sit up here, where you belong."

"Come on sweetheart," Joseph said patting the chair and watched her stand up and move down closer to them "We're ok, aren't we?" He asked.

"Yeah of course," Rose nodded and lent closer to him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"That's my girl," He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"What's going to happen with Cara though?" Rose asked and sat back up as Clarisse reached over and took her hand.

"Well we are going to give her some space and see what happens," Joseph nodded.

"Ok," Rose nodded back.

When it was time they all left for Church, taking their places inside they knew that people were gossiping about what happened the day before. And after talking to Father John he stepped down and watched as Clarisse stood up before everyone to address the papers. Only as she got half way through she stopped and stared at the person at the back of the Church, realizing she was looking at someone Joseph stood up and looked down in case it was Roz, only he found Cara stood in the back.

She looked at him then back at Clarisse before turning around and ran back out the door, rushing over to Joseph Clarisse grabbed his arm to stop him from going as whispers filled the Church.

"I will go, you stay here." She answered and ran out the Church as everyone watched.

Walking down the pathway while looking around, when Shades caught her eye, indicating that she was there. Rushing over she came out the gate and saw Cara sat back against the wall crying with her arms wrapped around her legs.

"Thank you Shades," Clarisse whispered and moved crouching down next to her "Cara," She whispered as she looked up at her.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered as the tears fell down her face.

"Oh darling, I know." Clarisse answered and hugged her tightly for a moment before looking at her "Come on, let's get you home." She said helping her to her feet "Shades can you take us home then come back for the others?" She asked while opening the car door.

"Of course," He nodded and stood next to them as Cara got in the car, followed by Clarisse.

Once they got home Clarisse took Cara upstairs to her own suite and ran her a bath, as Clarisse sat waiting for her to finish someone knocked on the door. Walking over she got it to find Joseph stood looking at her.

"Hey," She said coming out and pulled the door up.

"What's going on?" He asked as looked at him.

"I think she's finally going to talk, so I'm going to stay with her a while and be there for her." She whispered while putting her hands on his chest.

"What about dinner?" He asked.

"Can you arrange for some to be brought up for us?" She asked and watched him nod "Thank you."

"It's ok," He put his hand on hers "Are you sure staying with her is going to help?"

Nodding slowly "When I found her crying against the wall, I saw how scared she actually is and for the first time in a very long time I saw her as a child." Clarisse whispered "And I can't get that out of my head, I need to be here for her Joe."

"I understand," He whispered and kissed her cheek "Make sure she knows that we still all love her?" He asked.

"Of course I will." Clarisse nodded and hugged him "I will be down whenever I can." She said as they stepped apart.

"Take as long as you need," He nodded and watched her walk back into the suite.

Sitting back down she wondered what she could say to her, when her bathroom door opened Clarisse stood up as Cara came out and sat on her bed.

"Feeling better?" Clarisse asked while walking over, slipping her shoes off and climbed on the bed beside her.

"I am," Cara nodded "Why are you being so nice when I told you before that I hate you?"

"Because I know you don't mean it." Clarisse answered "And I know right now you need a friend." She said putting her arm over and rubbed her arm with a small smile "I am here for you, you know that right?"

"But I brought shame on the family how can you still be so nice." Cara questioned.

"Because I know somethings going on with you, I can see it in your eyes and actions." Clarisse whispered.

"Well there's nothing going on." Cara answered.

"Cara," Clarisse said as she looked up at her "I see the same scared look I had once." She whispered as Cara looked away.

Sitting in silence for a few moments when someone knocked on the door, making Cara look up in surprise.

"Relax it's just dinner," Clarisse answered while climbing of the bed and headed over to the door, letting the cook bring the tray in and place it down on the table "Thank you." Clarisse smiled and saw him out "Finally, I'm very hungry right now, aren't you?" She asked while grabbing the tray and moved it over onto the bed.

"No," Cara said shaking her head and looked down.

"Come on Cara it's your favorite dinner and you need to eat something," Clarisse said climbing back on the bed and moved Cara's tray in front of her "Even if it's just a little?" She asked and watched her slowly nod "Great." Clarisse smiled.

Eating a little bit of her own dinner as Cara ate all hers, which made Clarisse happy and decided to try something, so slowly pushing her tray away she sighed.

"I'm not as hungry as I thought I was." Clarisse answered while looking at her "Cook sure knows how to fill me up." She chuckled and sat back against the pillows.

"Are you going to eat anymore?" Cara asked while looking at her.

"No," Clarisse shook her head "You can have the rest if you like." She smiled.

"Thank you." Cara nodded and moved her plate in front of her as Clarisse grinned to herself.

"Not a problem." Clarisse nodded and sipped her drink, letting her finish the dinner.

After 20 minute's of silence Clarisse looked over at Cara as she sat with her arms wrapped around her legs.

"What happened at your Mothers, Cara?" Clarisse asked and watched her tense up, realizing she hit a sore point "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to its just ever since you returned you've not been yourself," She whispered while reaching over and pushed her hair back behind her ear and noticed a couple tears escaping her eyes "Cara?" She asked.

"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me." Cara whispered and wiped her face with her hand.

"Why wouldn't I believe you?" Clarisse asked "Whatever you tell me I believe, I have no reason to not believe you." She whispered as Cara glared at her.

"My Mom didn't believe me, so why should you?" She shrugged and looked back at her knees.

"Cara," Clarisse started while moving a little closer "What happened, I promise whatever you tell me I will believe you." She said and watched as Cara started sobbing, reaching over she rubbed Cara's back trying to get her trust.

"My Mom's boyfriend attacked me and when I told my Mom she called me a liar." Cara finally whispered as Clarisse gasped, making her look back at her.

"Did he...?" Clarisse started to ask but stopped when Cara shook her head.

"No my little brother came home from school at just the right time," She answered and started crying "But when I told my Mom later she called me a liar, and that if I went to the Police they wouldn't believe me."

"So you kept it locked up?" Clarisse whispered as Cara nodded "Oh darling," She said and put her arms up, as Cara moved and cried on her chest "I can understand why you would do this, but you should of told us sooner."

"I couldn't," She cried "I was scared you wouldn't believe me like my Mom didn't," She sobbed as Clarisse held her tightly "I feel ashamed." She whispered.

"Oh sweetheart, you have no reason to feel ashamed, you've done nothing wrong." Clarisse whispered while rubbing her back and closed her eyes, just holding her close as she cried on her chest.

"Please don't tell Daddy," Cara whispered after a few moments.

"He needs to know." Clarisse whispered.

"He will kill him," Cara said shaking her head.

"He probably will want to do that but I won't let him," Clarisse whispered while putting her hand up and wiped away Cara's tears "I will tell him for you if you want me too?" She asked as Cara nodded "Ok," Clarisse nodded and pulled her closer for another hug, her heart breaking.

Staying with her for a while longer as she explained what happened a bit more and ended up crying herself to sleep. Leaving her not long after Clarisse headed to her suite, finding it empty. Grabbing her self a strong drink, downing it in one before pouring another then moved standing next to the table and pressed the call out button on the phone, dialing a number, waiting for him to answer as she turned and sat on the couch.

"Hey,"

"Where are you?" Clarisse asked.

"Out in the garden with Lena and Lexi, why?" He asked "How's Cara, is she ok?"

"I need to talk with you, can you come up to our suite, alone please?" Clarisse asked while looking at her hands.

"Of course, I will be straight there." He answered.

"Ok," She answered and put her hand over, hanging up and sat back in the chair a little while sipping her drink, waiting for Joseph to appear.

A few minutes later Joseph came in.

"What's going on, did she talk with you?" He asked shutting the door up and walked over, sitting on the coffee table opposite Clarisse.

"She did." Clarisse nodded while looking up at him as he put his hands on her knees.

"What's going on then?" He asked and noticed the hurt in Clarisse's eyes "Clari?" He whispered.

"She told me that her Mom's boyfriend attacked her, and when she told Gabby, she called her a liar." She whispered and watched Joseph sit back in surprise.

"What?" He exclaimed while jumping up when it finally sunk in what she had said.