Several weeks later, Today is Christmas day.
After recent events everyone's preparing for a quiet family Christmas this year and after having to wear a sling for the last 4 weeks, Clarisse finally had it removed yesterday. And for a surprise for Clarisse, Joseph and the children arranged for Amelia to fly over for Christmas, arriving yesterday morning.
After having a shower, Clarisse slipped into a pair of pajamas, something she's worn everyday since coming out of hospital 2 weeks ago, then headed downstairs to find everyone waiting for her in the dining room for breakfast.
"Good morning Mommy," Olivia smiled while standing up and kissed her cheek as she stood beside her.
"Merry Christmas Grammy," Young Lily exclaimed and smiled when she bent over and kissed her.
"Thank you sweetheart," Clarisse smiled and kissed her again while putting her hands up, framing her face "Merry Christmas to you too." She smiled standing up straight and looked around the room "I see everyone's here." She nodded.
"Of course we are," Pierre smiled "We wanted to make this day special." He smiled and started getting her some breakfast as Erica grabbed her some coffee "So why don't you sit down and enjoy this day." He smiled over at her.
"Well thank you then," Clarisse smiled over at him then sat down next to her Dad.
"Everyone missed you at Midnight Mass last night," Her Dad, Harry said while looking at her "They would all love to see you today." He added as everyone stopped and looked at her.
"We will see," She shrugged and sipped her water.
"Ok sweetheart." He smiled and turned back to his plate.
"Here you go Mom," Pierre smiled while placing the plate down in front of her.
"Thank you," She smiled as he stepped back and Erica put her coffee cup down next to her plate "You really are spoiling me today."
"Of course," Pierre smiled and sat down.
After everyone ate, they all remained at the table talking as Clarisse sat quietly taking everything in while leaning on the table, her head down slightly.
"Well," Pierre said a short time later while checking his watch "We best head out for church." He said standing up "Mom are you coming?" He asked while looking at her.
"I know everyone would love to see you," Joseph said while leaning over to her a little as she turned her head to him.
"Well they will have to love on, I don't feel ready to go yet." She whispered while shaking her head and sat back in her chair.
"Ok Mom," Pierre said looking over at her as Lena stood beside her and gently put her arms around her neck, whispering something to her "We will see you afterwards then?" He asked as she just nodded.
As everyone made their way from the dining room Clarisse and Lena remained at the table.
"Lena," Joseph said while standing in the door as both her and Clarisse looked over "Come on, we gotta go."
"Okay, just coming." She answered while looking back at Clarisse "I love you Mommy," She whispered giving her a kiss and hug.
"I love you too sweetheart," Clarisse said watching her stand back and rush out the room as Joseph made his way over to her.
"Are you sure that you don't want to come?" He asked "We will wait for you if you do?" He said crouching down beside her as her Dad stood in the doorway.
"I already told you, I'm not ready Joseph," She snapped while looking down at him "Why don't you listen to me?" She said shaking her head and looked away as her Dad stood back out of view.
"Well how about some company then? I could stay home if you like?" He whispered.
"No you go, you and Pierre need to go and represent me as I can't be there, and apologize on my behalf." She said leaning forward and rested her elbows on the table again.
"Come on Clari," He whispered, about to put his hand on her arm but stopped when she stood up. Sighing he stood up "Alright, we will see you later then." He shrugged and walked out.
"Clari?" Her Dad whispered from the door "Are you ok?" He asked and watched her nod.
"Tell them all that I'm sorry I couldn't be there, won't you?" She said, watching him nodding "Thank you." She answered looking down at the table and started cleaning up as the maids came in.
"Ok butterbean, see you in a bit." He whispered, watching her for a second then turned and walked away.
After a few moments she headed up to her suite and stood staring at the Christmas tree, full of presents underneath ready for when everyone returned. Sighing deeply she slowly moved over and sat on the couch, where she sat back and closed her eyes waiting for the family to return, hating the fact that she couldn't go to church, for the first time since become Queen.
A short time later the family returned, with all the Grandchildren bouncing into the room making Clarisse jump and sit up in surprise as they giggled. Smiling as she noticed Joseph holding a beautiful Christmas bouquet, full of deep reds and greens.
"Who are they for?" She asked while standing up and looked over at the children itching to open their presents "Ok, you can open them." She smiled "Go crazy." She nodded and laughed a little as they all giggled with excitement, then she looked back towards Joseph.
"These are from your family at the Church," He smiled as she lent over, smelling them "They all understood to why you couldn't be there, and got this gift for you with a beautiful Christmas card." He smiled as she took the card.
"They all missed you Mom," Pierre said while looking over at her as he knelt down beside the tree and children.
"They all send their well wishes." Joseph added while watching her.
"Here we go," Erica grinned coming in with a vase full of water for the flowers "If you place them on the table Dad, I will sort them out." She said walking over to it.
"Ok," He said following her and started to help her arrange the flowers.
"I can do that you know?" Clarisse said while standing at the table, taking a couple flowers "I am fully capable of doing things." Not realizing Olivia, Her Dad and Joe's Mom, Isabella were all looking over at them.
"We know Mom," Erica whispered "I just thought you'd like to sit down and open the presents with your Grandchildren." She said looking at Joseph then back at Clarisse as some of the Grandchildren started looking over.
"Yeah Grandma," Arie, Erica's Son exclaimed as she looked over at him "Come and open presents with us," He smiled.
"Santa left some for you too!" Lily exclaimed and giggled.
Looking back at Joseph and Erica for just a second before putting the flowers back on the table and walked over to the tree, sitting down next to Pierre and pulled Lily onto her lap as she helped them open presents.
"Here you go Grandma," Aimie, Erica's daughter smiled, passing her a present "This one's for you." She smiled and knelt beside her as Clarisse took the present.
"Thank you darling," She smiled and looked down, reading the card to herself "Merry Christmas to the best Wife, Daughter, Daughter in Law, Mom, Mom in Law and Grandmother in the whole world, we all love you and are blessed to have you in our life's." She closed her eyes for a second as Joseph stood watching from the table.
"That ones from all of us," Arie whispered as she opened her eyes and looked at him while the family gathered around "We hope you like it." He beamed as she reached over cupping his cheek.
"Well I am sure I will if it's from all of you." She smiled as they watched her open it.
Lifting the lid of to find a charm bracelet full of charms, gasping as she slowly took it from the box, looking at it as Pierre took the box from her hand.
"There is a charm on there from all of us," He smiled and pointed to the one of the dog "Even Lexi," He smiled as she turned it over and noticed it had 'Lexi' engraved on the back.
"Well she is family too." She smiled up at Pierre then looked back down at it "Oh I bet I can guess who the Minnie Mouse one is from," She smiled while leaning to the side a little and looked at Lily giggling in her lap "Thought as much," She smiled and kissed the side of her head before looking back at it "Ok, who is the football from?" She smiled up at Arie then Harry.
"That would be me?" Arie smiled over at her.
"I'm the baseball cap Grammy." Harry, Olivia's son smiled.
"Well thank you darlings," Clarisse smiled over at them "I love them," She nodded while looking down, seeing a heart one she turned it over to see her birthday and wedding day date engraved on the back "And this ones from you I guess?" She asked looking over at Joseph.
"Of course," He nodded and watched her look down again.
"Thank you," She said taking another one in her hand "Pierre, is this crown on a pillow from you?" She asked while looking up at him as he shook his head.
"Nope," He answered while leaning over "I'm the rose." He smiled at her then found another one "I also got a P, for Philippe." He whispered as she took a deep breath, looking at it as he showed it to her.
"Thank you Pierre," Clarisse slowly nodded and looked up at him with tears in her eyes "Thank you so much." She said putting her arm up as he moved closer and kissed his cheek.
"You're welcome." He smiled sitting back.
A few seconds later she took another deep breath and carried on "So whose the crown from then?" She asked while looking up.
"That one would be mine?" Amelia smiled as she looked over at her.
"Thank you sweetheart," Clarisse smiled and looked back down "Who got me the C and E?" She asked while looking back up at everyone.
Smiling as he put his hand up "I got the C," Her Dad smiled "Well for your first name of course," He grinned and looked at Joe's Mom Isabella.
"And I got the E, well for Elizondo of course." She grinned and watched Clarisse look down at them.
"Thank you, to you both." She smiled and slowly looked up at them "Thank you."
"It's ok poppit." Isabella smiled, watching her look back down.
"Whose the Angel from?" She asked while looking around.
"From me and James," Olivia smiled "Because, you are an angel after all."
"Thank you darlings," She smiled over at them then looked back down at the charms "And the star?"
"Would be mine." Cara smiled "Because, well you are a star." She beamed.
"Thank you." Clarisse smiled "The horse?" She asked while looking back up.
"Me," Rose grinned.
"Thank you." Clarisse smiled looking back down "And I am guessing this dolphin is from my darling Ava?" She asked while looking over at her.
"Yeah," Ava giggled.
"Thank you darling." She smiled and looked back down "The snowflake?" She asked while looking back up.
"Me," Erica smiled "I know you love snowflakes and I saw that and knew I had to get that one." She smiled.
"Well thank you very much." Clarisse smiled "I love it, I love them all." She nodded and looked back down "Ok, so I have a teddy and ballerina shoes left?" She smiled while looking up at them.
"The teddy is from me," Aimie smiled.
"And I'm the ballerina shoes." Lena giggled.
"I thought so." Clarisse smiled over at them then looked back down at the bracelet "I love every single one of these, thank you so so much." She said softly while looking up at them "I will cherish this forever." She nodded.
"Glad you like it Mom," Pierre smiled as she looked at him "I hope I didn't upset you with the P?" He asked.
"Oh gosh no." Clarisse said shaking her head "I loved it, thank you so much." She nodded and looked down as Lily lifted the bracelet from her hand.
"Good I'm pleased," Pierre smiled while watching her wrap her arms around Lily while kissing the side of her head.
After all the presents were opened they headed down for their Christmas dinner before going back upstairs to Clarisse and Joseph's suite. And as the kids played with their toys, Pierre, Olivia and Erica sat talking, and Clarisse stood next to the table sipping her drink when Joseph stood beside her.
"What's that?" She asked, seeing a present in his hand.
"It's for you," He smiled while looking down at it for a second before looking back up at her.
"You already got me something," She said putting her glass down.
"I know, but this is just something extra." He smiled while handing it to her "Because I love you," He whispered as she closed her eyes.
Opening them seconds later she opened the present and opened the box to find a gold heart and key necklace "Oh you didn't have to," She whispered while looking at him.
"Of course I did," He smiled while stepping closer to her "I got it to remind you that no matter what happens you will always have that key to my heart." He added while watching her look down at it again.
"Well thank you," She said slowly looking back up into his eyes for just a second then looked away.
"I know things have been rough this last month, but please remember that I'm always here for you." He whispered.
"What you got there Mom?" Pierre asked and watched her turn slightly to look at him.
"A heart and key necklace," She said looking back down at the box as Joseph put his hand on her back "Please, don't." She snapped while turning and pushed his arm away as Pierre and some of the others saw.
"Clarisse," Joseph whispered, surprised at her actions and watched her put the present down.
"Please just don't.." She answered and walked away, over to the bedroom as Joseph started following.
"I will go," Harry exclaimed standing up as Joseph stopped and looked at him "Let me, please?" He whispered as Joseph nodded.
"Is Grandma ok?" Aimie asked.
"She's just tired darling," Erica answered as Aimie moved next to her "She will be ok in a few days, you'll see."
As Harry headed through the bedroom and over to the bathroom door, his heart broke when he heard his daughter crying.
"Butterbean?" He said softly and knocked on the door, looking up moments later when she opened the door "Come here sweetheart." He whispered as she stepped closer to him "It's ok," He soothed while wrapping his arms around her as she cried on his shoulder.
After a few moments they moved and sat on the edge of the bed, Harry watching as Clarisse wiped her eyes with a tissue.
"You know we are all worried about you," He whispered as she looked at him "And I know you can't talk to me, because you told me and I know you haven't talked to Joseph, as well you told me that too, but butterbean you really need to talk to someone and soon as you can't go on like this." He said as he reached over, taking her hand "You're going to end up sick and everyone is noticing the change in you, even your beautiful Grandchildren." He added.
"I know," Clarisse answered while looking down and started crying again "I'm just finding it hard for him to even touch me Dad," She cried.
"I know, I noticed, many times in the last two weeks." He whispered "Promise me you will either talk to him about it, or your Doctor, please sweetheart as I really don't want to see you getting sick." He said giving her hand a squeeze.
"I feel like I've betrayed him." She cried.
"No you haven't butterbean and he knows this, please don't think that." He answered, his heart breaking as he turned a little "Please?"
After sitting with her as she cried on his shoulder, making sure she was ok he headed back out into the suite.
"How is she?" Joe asked, jumping up.
"She's getting there." He said sitting back down "She will be out soon, she's just washing her face over."
"Ok." Joe answered, sitting back down.
"Where are all the children?" Harry asked while looking around the room.
"It started snowing so the grown ups took them outside to play in it, even though I get a feeling it was actually the grown ups who wanted to play in it more than anything," Joe's Mom, Isabella smiled "You should of seen how fast they moved out of here." She laughed a little.
"Bless," Harry nodded while slowly looking down.
"Did she say anything to you Harry?" Joe asked as he looked back up at him.
"What we talked about stays between us, I'm sorry." He said "But know that I can feel it in my heart that she will be ok soon." He nodded slowly.
"Thank you and I understand." Joseph said while watching him a second then sat back in the chair, waiting for Clarisse to return.
Only an hour later she still hadn't come out so Joseph walked over, slowly opening the door to find her laying down, walking in he pushed up the door and walked over to the bed.
"I thought you were coming back out?" He whispered.
Clarisse lay still, not turning to acknowledge him "I just want to go to sleep." She answered.
"Talk to me please." He pleaded as he sat on the edge of the bed behind her, putting his hand on her arm only to have her pull it away "Clari?" He whispered.
"I'm just tired." She snapped.
"Clari, this is really unlike you, I'm really worried." He whispered.
"Joseph stop...I don't want to talk about it, so please can we drop it now?" She said, covering her head with a pillow.
"Ok, I'm dropping it." He said standing up "The kids are all playing out in the snow, I know that they would love it if you came out." He said walking over to the door "But of course, we will understand if you'd rather stay up here." He added while looking over at her then walked out.
Slowly she removed the pillow from her head, tears pricking her eyes as she looked over at the door. Resting her head down on the pillow a second later before crying herself to sleep.