The Following Morning.
"Come on Lena," Joseph called from the foyer "We're going to be late." He said looking up to see Clarisse stood half way down the stairs "And how long have you been stood there?" He asked with a smile while fully turning to her.
"Not long," She smiled carrying on down the rest of the stairs "I was surprised to find you missing this morning." She said walking over to him "Why didn't you wake me?" She asked while standing in front of him giving him a quick kiss.
"Because you looked so peaceful." He smiled while watching her then looked at Lena as she skipped into the room and over to them.
"Morning Momma." She smiled and wrapped her arms around her as she stood to her side.
"Good morning darling." Clarisse smiled and kissed her forehead while wrapping her arm around her shoulders "Did you enjoy the movie last night?" She asked while looking down to see Lena nodding.
"Wish you could of come too." She said while looking up at her.
"Maybe next time?" Clarisse smiled while playing with her ponytail "Do you have everything?"
"I do." Lena nodded.
"No you don't," Joseph said as they both looked at him "You don't have your lunch."
"Oh yeah, be right back." She smiled and skipped away to the kitchen.
"I know I'm running a bit late, but would you like me to sort you out some breakfast before I leave?" He asked, putting his hands up, brushing a bit of her hair back behind her ear and cupped her face while looking into her eyes.
"No thank you, I can sort it out myself." She smiled while putting her hands up on his wrists "We don't want Lena being late for school, do we?" She asked.
"That is true." He smiled as he stepped closer, lowering his head pressing his lips softly against hers as she closed her eyes, kissing her slowly for a few seconds before breaking it off "I wonder where she's got to." He whispered and kissed her several times before smiling down at her while running his thumb gently over her perfect red lips.
"I don't know." She whispered while studying his face "Maybe we should call her?"
"In a minute." He whispered and kissed her again, smiling against her lips as she placed her hands on his arms, moving them up onto the back of his head.
"I think we should stop?" She whispered as he kissed her cheek "Or Lena won't get to school." She whispered while running her hands down his arms, taking hold of his hands.
"I agree." He added and watched her step back "You're so beautiful," He smiled, still holding onto her hand.
"Thank you," She smiled and looked towards the kitchen door "Lena." Clarisse called out while turning and rested back against the table while putting her hands down on either side of it.
"Yes Momma?" She exclaimed while skipping into the foyer and stood in front of her.
"Time for school." She smiled while leaning forward a little "Kiss me goodbye? And I will see you after."
"Ok." Lena smiled while standing closer and put her arms up around her neck as she kissed her "Love you Momma." She smiled as Clarisse wrapped her arms around her, lifting her of the floor for a second, giving her a hug as Lena giggled.
"Right you," Joseph smiled as Lena turned around in Clarisse's grasp "What's that look for?" He asked as Clarisse lent to the side a little and looked at Lena's face.
"Must I go to school? I want to stay here with you and Momma now that everything's ok again." She whispered.
"Don't worry sweetheart." Clarisse said resting her head against hers "We will still be ok when you return, I promise." She smiled and kissed her cheek as Lena put her hands up on Clarisse's arms.
"Ok." Lena whispered and turned, giving her a hug before stepping back.
"Good girl." Clarisse smiled as they all walked over to the door "I will see you later Lena?" She smiled after her as she headed down the stairs to the cars "And I will see you in a bit?" She smiled at Joseph as he stood outside the door and turned to her.
"Of course," He smiled while leaning forward and kissed her a couple times "Are we still on for lunch?" He asked while placing his hand on her side.
"Of course we are, and I can't wait." She smiled as he lent closer and kissed her again.
"Neither can I," He smiled while turning and walked away "See you soon." He said putting his hand up while heading down the stairs to the car.
Clarisse smiled as she stepped back and closed the door, heading to get some breakfast before heading upstairs. After she was ready she headed back down, grabbed some coffee then headed into her office, where Pierre was sat going over some paper work.
"Good morning darling." Clarisse smiled when she saw him and carried on over to her desk while sipping her coffee.
Raising his eyebrow at her "Are you ok?" He asked as she looked up while putting her cup down on her desk.
"Yes of course, why wouldn't I be?" She asked while slipping on her glasses.
"Just wondered." He smiled, realizing he had seen that look before and looked down with a smirk while shaking his head a little.
"Ok, so..." She started while picking up a file and sat down "What is going on today?" She asked, scanning over the file then looked up at Pierre as he lifted his head.
"Not much, it's just paper work again. Well, there was one meeting but they had to cancel because he got sick or something, Charlotte is trying to rearrange it." He said looking over at her as she looked back down at the file.
"I see," She nodded slowly while picking up her cup "An easy day then?" She smiled over at him then sipped her coffee as he nodded.
"Ok," Charlotte smiled coming into the office "Your Majesty, your here." She exclaimed.
"Oh Charlotte, please call me Clarisse," Clarisse smiled "Like we talked about before."
"Your right, I'm sorry." Charlotte smiled "It's good to see you here this morning."
"Thank you," Clarisse nodded "So did you rearrange it?"
"Yes I did." Charlotte nodded "It's now going to be a week from today." She smiled.
"Great, thank you Charlotte." Pierre smiled up at her as she looked down at him.
Looking up seconds later, Clarisse saw Joseph walking towards her with a huge bouquet of red and white roses and a smile across his face, standing up she walked around her desk to him.
"What are these for?" She asked while leaning over and smelt the roses as Joseph watched her.
"Well, we missed Valentines day yesterday so I thought why not surprise you with them today." He smiled while putting his arm around her waist, kissing her cheek before walking over to the table, laying the flowers down on it "And I also got you a box of chocolates." He smiled grabbing them from the inside of his jacket.
"Aww you are too cute." She smiled while taking them from him "Thank you," She smiled up at him while putting one hand up and cupped his cheek as Pierre stood up.
"You're welcome," He smiled while stepping behind her and wrapped his arms around her while kissing her shoulder, then tickled her and laughed as she turned sideways while lowering herself a little, grabbing his hands with one hand and placed her other on the table beside her as Charlotte and Pierre headed out the office.
Smiling over at them as Pierre pulled up the door, happy that they didn't even notice them leaving the room as they shared a heated kiss.
As Joseph wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close he smiled against her lips feeling one hand on his back and the other hand up on the back of his head "I have missed this, you, us, so so much" He whispered while looking deep in her eyes and kissed her a couple times.
"Me too." She nodded while pulling her head back just a little, clenching her fist in his hair.
"I've been thinking, and don't think I'm rushing you because I'm not." He started while looking into her eyes.
"I won't, what's wrong?" She asked, studying his face.
"How about, when you are ready we go away for a few days, just the two of us?" He asked.
"I like that idea," She nodded with a small smile "How about next weekend?" She asked with a smile "As I think this weekend should be all about family." She smiled up at him.
"Really?" He exclaimed and smiled as she nodded "Yeah ok, I will arrange it." He smiled "And I agree about the family weekend," He smiled "Now where would you like to go?"
"Paree maybe?" She smiled while stroking her hand up and down the back of his head.
"Yes I love the thought of going to Paree." He smiled and kissed her.
"Good," She smiled against his lips "So do I!" She added and kissed him.
Leaving a short time later, they left the Palace and headed to one of Clarisse's favorite restaurant out in the country of Genovia. When they arrived they were shown to a private table and handed a menu each.
"Thank you." Joseph smiled while taking his and looked at Clarisse.
"No trouble." The waiter smiled and looked at him before looking at Clarisse "What would you like to drink?" He asked as Clarisse looked over the menu.
"I think I will have a coke please?" Joseph smiled up at him as he nodded and wrote it down then he looked back at Clarisse.
"Um..." She said looking at the drinks menu.
"How about a glass of wine?" Joe asked as she looked back at him.
"Oh no, I don't fancy that." She said shaking her head "Maybe a lemonade with ice?" She smiled at the waiter as he wrote it down "Thank you."
"No trouble." He smiled "I will be back with your drinks." He smiled and walked away.
"When we have finished here do we have time to go phone shopping before going home?" Clarisse asked as Joseph looked at her.
"You want to go phone shopping?" He asked as she nodded.
"I do, I think it's about time I got back into the real world," She smiled "And to do that I need a new phone." She said looking at him.
"Of course we have time, don't worry." He smiled and took her hand "I'm so proud of you right now." He smiled, leaning closer and kissed the corner of her mouth as she put her hand up, cupping his cheek.
"Thank you." She smiled as the waiter came back with their drinks, two extra glasses and a jug of water "Ooh thank you." She smiled while sitting back and watched him put her glass of lemonade down.
"Are you ready to order or do you need a few more minutes?" The waiter asked while placing Joe's drink down.
"No I think I'm ready," Joe smiled and looked at Clarisse "How about you?"
"I am too." Clarisse nodded while looking at the waiter "Now I know it's been a while," She smiled while closing the menu "But do you remember what I have?"
"I do," The waiter smiled while grabbing his pen and paper "Chicken caesar wrap with salad." He said writing it down then looked at her as she nodded.
"That's correct, thank you." She smiled and watched him tuck her menu under his arm before she picked up her glass and took a sip of her drink.
"What about you, Sir?" The waiter asked while looking at Joseph.
"I will have steak, medium well, please." He smiled and closed the menu giving it him back as Clarisse put her glass down.
"Thank you." The waiter smiled and walked away as Joseph lent forward picking up his glass as Clarisse looked at him.
"Joe, I need to talk to you about something." She said watching him slowly looking at her "I have been putting this off for a couple days but seeing though it's going to be happening 3 weeks from today I can't hide it anymore." She said slumping back in her chair for a few seconds as he put his glass back down.
"What's wrong?" He asked and watched her sit up.
"3 weeks today, Pierre and myself, and yes I need to be in attendance, have to go to London for an important meeting with other royals from all around the world." She said looking at him with fear in her eyes "And though I am trying to get back into the real world, the thought of traveling again does kind of scare me." She whispered nervously.
"Well you don't need to be nervous, I am going to be with you this time." He whispered while leaning closer "I promise you I will be with you the whole time." He whispered in her ear then kissed her cheek.
"But..." She stopped when he cut her off by kissing her softly on the lips.
"Please don't worry, nothing will happen to you, I promise." He whispered while taking hold of her hand and placed it over his heart "I swear to you if anyone tries they will have to get through me and my team!" He added, looking into her eyes as she slumped a little.
"Thank you." She slowly nodded as he let her hand go, smiling as she put her hand up and cupped his cheek "I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too," He smiled leaning closer and kissed her softly again.
After a short while the waiter brought their lunch over, leaving them to enjoy their food as Clarisse took a bite of her wrap and noticed Joe was smirking at her.
"What?" She asked.
"You have some sauce on your face?" He smiled.
"Do I?" Clarisse asked while putting her hand up, wiping her face "Is it gone?" She asked putting her hand back down.
"No, let me?" He said motioning for her to lean closer while he put his hand up, wiping the corner of her mouth with his thumb with a smile "That's better." He smiled while sitting back and put the tip of his thumb in his mouth, enjoying the taste of the sauce he had just removed from his wife's face, taking a sip of his drink a second later and looked up to see Clarisse sat looking at him "What?"
"Nothing," She said, giving him a flirty smile.
"I know that look." He smirked over at her as she blushed and shrugged her shoulders while looking down while picking up her glass.
"I don't know what you are talking about." She said matter of factly and sipped her drink as he just smirked at her then shook his head with a chuckle.
Taking her hand a second later, smiling as she looked at him "It's good to have you back." He smiled and kissed her inner wrist as she bit her bottom lip.
"Are you ready to leave?" Joseph asked as Clarisse put her glass down.
"Nearly," She smiled standing up and lent close to him "Stay here and I will be back." She smiled, putting her handbag on the table in front of him and walked away as he turned, watching her disappear.
While she was gone he checked his phone, smiling when he felt her hand on the back of his neck a few minutes later, making him tip his head back to look up at her.
"Ready now?" He asked and watched her nod while leaning over and grabbed her handbag from the table, slipping her arm through the strap and pulled it up over her shoulder.
"Have you paid or do we need to do that on the way out?" She asked as she stepped back and watched him stand up.
"On the way out." He smiled slipping his phone in his pocket, lent closer and kissed her while taking her hand then led her over to the pay point.
After passing the waiter his card, he got distracted when an old friend came over to say Hello, standing there talking as the waiter waited for them to finish.
Looking at Joe and his friend, losing themselves in deep conversation she looked back at the waiter with a smile "What card is it?" She asked as he held it up "Ah ha, you can carry on." She smiled.
"Are you sure?" He asked looking at her.
"If you don't you will be waiting hours." She smiled while leaning against the counter.
"Ok," He smiled and put the payment through and handed her the pay point.
"Thank you." She smiled and put Joe's pin in before handing it back to him.
"Thanks." He smiled at her then watched as she turned back to watch Joe and his friend talking.
After a few moments Joe said goodbye and stood back next to Clarisse who now had her back to him, talking to the manager of the restaurant.
"Right I'm ready now." He smiled.
"It's too late, it's already been paid." Clarisse smiled while turning her head to look at him.
"You didn't pay?" He asked looking at her.
"No you did, but you were talking and we didn't want to disturb you so I put your pin in for you." She smiled.
"Should I be worried that you know my pin?" He asked with a cheeky smile while standing beside her, putting his arm around her waist.
"Maybe," She smiled and started laughing as he tickled her.
"No it's alright, I'm not worried." He smiled as she turned to the side and looked at him "I don't care if you go on a spending spree, you're worth it." He grinned from ear to ear as she put her hand up and patted his face a couple times.
"Ok, come on." She smiled "Let's go phone shopping." She smiled at him as he said goodbye to the manager and followed behind her they left.
A couple hour's later after returning from phone shopping both Clarisse and Joseph went and sat up in their suite, knowing Olivia had Lena at her place until later on. And as Joseph messed around with Clarisse's new phone to set it up for her she checked his phone.
"I can't believe you made me buy an Iphone," She said while turning around a little and rested her legs over his while leaning back against the arm rest.
"I know, and as I said you will soon get used to it." He said, not taking his eyes from the phone while putting one hand down on her legs, pulling them over a bit more so they were on his lap properly as she chuckled, shaking her head a little and carried on.
"What's your pin?" She asked while looking back at him.
"Pardon?" He asked while looking at her "You should know that already."
"I don't?" She said while looking at the phone then back up at him.
"Okay, I will give you a clue." He started "It's special to me for two reasons?" He smiled with a wink.
"Ahh I know now," She giggled and put it in "Thank you." She smiled and started messing around with his phone and went through his pictures "Joe?"
"Yeah?" He answered, not looking up.
"When you've set up my phone can you send some of the pictures off here to mine?" She said looking up at him "As there are some good ones on there that I want on mine."
"Of course," He nodded and smiled up at her "I will do that tomorrow." He said rubbing her leg.
"Thank you darling." She smiled as he looked up at her in surprise "What?"
"Nothing." He grinned and lent closer, giving her a quick kiss before sitting back and carried on.
After a while Clarisse gave up with going through his phone and sat watching him go through hers as someone knocked on the door, looking over as she smiled.
"Come in." She called out to see Olivia come in with Cara and Rose "Hey you three." She smiled "Did you get the text earlier? About this being a family weekend?"
"We did, hence why we are all here." Cara giggled while sitting down opposite them "The rest are downstairs."
"Great." Clarisse smiled and looked back at Joseph, who by the looks of it doesn't even realize that the girls were in the room.
"What's he doing?" Olivia asked while kneeling on the floor beside Clarisse.
"He's setting up my new phone," She smiled at Olivia while putting her arm around her shoulders.
"Finally," Olivia smiled up at her.
"Yep I know," Clarisse smiled "Finally."
"By the looks of it, you got an Iphone?" Cara asked.
"I did, only because your father made me." She smiled over at her then looked back at Joe who still had his head down, looking at the phone.
After a few moments Joseph looked up, and smiled when he saw the girls in the suite.
"Finally you notice." Olivia giggled.
"How long have you all been here?" He asked while looking at them then at Clarisse.
"Long enough," Clarisse smiled.
"Don't worry Daddy, we know how it is when you get a new toy to play with." Cara smiled while standing up.
"Oh please," He said looking down at the phone "This isn't the kind of toy I like to play with." He said as the girls gasped and looked at each other.
"Joseph." Clarisse gasped as they giggled.
"What? Don't Joseph me, you know you like it when I play with our toys." He smirked over at her as he chucked.
"We think that was a little to much information." Cara exclaimed as she looked over at them.
"I only speak the truth." He said his eyes never leaving Clarisse's.
"Anyway, Mom?" Olivia said looking at her as she remained looking at Joe "Are you coming down." She said looking at her as she stared at Joe unconsciously running her tongue across her lips "Mom, are you coming down." She asked again while walking to the door with the others, and looked back over at them.
"I think maybe we should leave them alone?" Rose smirked looking back over to see Joe kissing Clarisse's neck as she laughed out and he moved her to straddle his lap "Don't you?" She asked.
"I agree." Olivia giggled and hurried out the room with them.
When they headed downstairs they sat in the kitchen with Lena and the others, drinking tea while talking.
"Oh yeah by the way." Rose said looking over at Lena "You were right, they are going to be absolutely fine." She winked.
"I told you." Lena giggled.
"What's that about?" Pierre asked and sipped his coffee.
"Have you not seen Mom and Dad today?" Olivia asked with a smirk.
"Yeah, but... Oh I get it." Pierre nodded and looked at Lena then back at Rose, then laughed "It is great seeing them back to normal though, as in all honesty I was worried we would never get there again."
"So was I." Olivia nodded.
After a little while Clarisse came down while Joseph stayed upstairs, sorting out her phone. Just as she was reaching the bottom of the stairs, Erica and Shades came through the door both smiling at her.
"Hey just the person." Erica smiled over at her "Can we talk to you in your office please?"
"Of course you can." Clarisse nodded and led them through to her office.
When they were finished Clarisse headed back upstairs to talk to Joseph. Walking through the door she couldn't help but smile when she found him still on her phone.
"Joseph," She smiled while sitting beside him, resting her arm on the back of the couch while placing her hand on his shoulder "I need to talk to you about something."
"Hmmm." He answered, still looking at the phone.
"Joe," She said leaning forward and took the phone from him, placing it on the coffee table in front of him "That can wait, this can't." She said sitting back, and rested her arm back how she had it, with her hand resting on his shoulder "Now will you listen?"
"Yes, what's going on? Is everything ok?" He asked.
"Yes of course, though you may not think so." She said looking at him as he raised his eyebrow at her "Yesterday, when I was out having a walk in the gardens I accidentally caught Erica and Shades...together."
"Yeah," He said with a shrug "What about it?" He said looking at the coffee table for a second then back at her.
"They were kissing," She said, watching him jump up "Romantically." She added.
"He was doing what to my little girl?" He exclaimed while looking at her in surprise.
"Joseph calm down, she isn't so little anymore she is a grown married woman who can make her own decisions." Clarisse said smiling sheepishly at him.
"That's another thing Clari she is married!" He exclaimed while looking over at her.
"Well not for long she told me that they were getting a divorce, and haven't been together for half a year I would say." She said watching him as he rubbed his hands over his face, pacing the floor.
"Well I suppose you are right, she is a big girl now even if I don't want to admit it." He sighed as Clarisse stood up and walked over to him.
Wrapping her arms around his waist his back pressed against her chest she rested her head against his shoulder blade. Letting out a deep breath as he turned his head to look at her "Well she could have done a lot worse the second time around, and I would think that if he is good enough to protect your wife then he will be good enough for your daughter." She said looking up at him.
Turning in her embrace he softly kissed her lips "You're right I'm overacting, Shades is a fine man." Smiling while wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
"Of course I'm right darling" She smiled as she stood on her tippy toes to kiss him again "Now," She said stepping back, leaving one hand on his side "They want to talk to you, and are waiting in my office."
"What?" He said looking at her in surprise.
"Go on, they don't have all night." She smiled as he lent closer and kissed her "I will be here waiting." She smiled and watched him walk over to the door.
While she waited for him to return she had a shower and got into her pajamas, put Lena to bed and sat reading her book in bed. Just before 11 he returned to the suite and came through to the bedroom, pushing the door up.
"Are you only just finished?" She said closing the book and watched him slip his shirt off.
"Yep, we had a lot to talk about." He nodded removing his vest and walked into the bathroom.
"Is everything ok?" She asked while putting the book on the bedside table and slipped her glasses off, placing them on top of the book.
"Yep," He called out from the bathroom, coming out a few moments later "Just gave him the 'talk' and that if he ever hurt her, I'd kill him myself." He said sitting on the edge of the bed and removed his socks.
"The poor bloke." Clarisse couldn't help but giggle "By the way, when we were first married, did my father give you that talk?" She asked and watched him kneeling on the bed.
"He did, and I really didn't want to mess with the father of the most beautiful woman in the world." He grinned while pulling the sheets back.
"What are you doing?" She asked and laughed out as he grabbed her legs, pulling her down the bed a little.
"What does it look like?" He asked while pulling at her pajama bottoms to remove them, tossing them to one side seconds later "By the way, he gave me the talk again when we got together the second time."
"He did?" Clarisse asked in surprise as he lowered himself on her, kissing her neck while pressing himself down on her.
"Yep he did." He whispered against her neck as she tipped her head back, putting one hand on the back of his head "And when we were in Bora Bora on your birthday." He smiled "Our Wedding day." He grinned while lifting his head to look down at her "What are you smirking at?" He asked, kissing the corner of her mouth.
"Just you talking to my dad about me the second time around, I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall hearing that conversation." She giggled.
"Well it was just as frightening the second time around as it was the first time." He smiled against her lips.
"Mmm..." She moaned as he traveled from her neck down to the swells of her breast, undoing the buttons of her night shirt as he moved down her body.
Coming back up moments later, looking down at her as she rested her legs up against his hips, placing her hands on the top of his arms, smiling as he lowered his head and kissed her slowly for a few moments while starting to grind himself against her.
"Can you do something for me?" She whispered in his ear, smiling as he lifted his head and looked down at her again.
"What's that?" He smiled, brushing his lips over hers.
"I want you to take me hard and fast, it's been a while..." She said teasing his lips with hers "I want you to reclaim me." She added, not breaking eye contact while lowering her hands down his back, groping his firm bottom as he started kissing her neck.
"Your wish is my command." He smiled down at her as she giggled below him.