Thank you everyone for reading and a bigger thank you to those who took the time to review ;) Y'all Rock!
Also thank you to my chum for her help with this part ;) you're the best!
xXx
Today after a week in hospital Joseph is coming home.
Clarisse couldn't sleep most of the night through excitement, and after having her shower she stood in her closet wrapped in her towel, wondering what to wear on this wonderful warm day. Deciding on a white summer knee length dress with a flower pattern all over, topped with a red crop cardigan and red peep-toe wedges.
Once she was dressed she headed down to find most of the family there. Having breakfast together before she headed back upstairs to tidy up the suite a bit more, even though it didn't need doing.
"Mom," Olivia whispered from the door.
Looking over she smiled "Hello Darling, is everything alright?" She asked putting the pillows back on the bed.
"Yea, what are you doing?" She smirked while walking over to her.
"Just changed the sheets, and cleaning a bit." She said turning a photo frame on the bedside table a little then looked at Olivia with a smile.
"But it doesn't need doing," Olivia exclaimed while looking around then looked back at Clarisse as she walked through to her closet "You're nervous, aren't you?" She asked while standing in the door way.
"Now why would I be nervous?" Clarisse asked while turning to her.
"About Daddy coming home?" Olivia smiled over at her "It's Okay to be nervous you know? That's normal." She asked while watching her brush her hair.
"Well your wrong, I'm not nervous at all." Clarisse smiled at her as someone knocked on the suite door.
Olivia smiled as she watched her put the brush down and walk out, following her as she made her way through the bedroom and into the suite to get the door. Answering it to find Maxwell stood smiling.
"Just wanted to let you know that I'm ready to go when you are?" He nodded.
"Ok, thank you." Clarisse smiled "Give me two minutes and I will be there." She smiled as he nodded and walked away.
Heading downstairs moments later, leaving with Maxwell to go to the hospital as the rest of the family stayed home. Arriving a short while later he escorted her to Joe's private room then stood guard on the door with his personal body guard.
"Good morning!" Clarisse smiled while shutting the door as he looked over.
"Hey you." He smiled "I was wondering when you were going to get here." He said looking her up and down as she made her way over to him, bending over with a smile giving him a kiss before stepping back and sat down beside him while putting her handbag on the floor beside her chair.
"Are you trying to give me another heart attack?" He asked with a smile as she looked at him.
"No, of course not." She said shaking her head as he reached over and took her hand.
"I was teasing you, from what you are wearing." He said bringing her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of her fingers as she tilted her head a little "You look beautiful my Clari bear." He smiled.
"You haven't called me that since Livy was little, I always loved it when you called me that." She smiled.
"Well from now on you will hear it a lot more." He smiled over at her "I promise."
"Okay," She nodded and watched him take a sip of his water "You always made me feel so special when you called me that," She said crossing her legs and rested her elbow on the arm of the chair, resting her chin lightly on her fingers as she looked at him "Felt like a normal couple instead of Queen and her Duke." She said as he looked over at her, as the Doctor entered the room. Clarisse smiled at his greeting and even more so at her impatient husband knowing how eager he is to leave the hospital.
"So Doctor can I leave?" He asked.
"Well, I would really like to…" The Doctor started.
"I won't sue you, if that's what you think. I'll sign whatever you'd like, just let me go home." He pleaded.
"Here's my best offer, I won't make you stay in the hospital but you have to get a nurse and let me keep an eye on you until we get your strength back." The Doctor said.
"Don't worry we will be happy to have a nurse at the palace and you can stop by anytime." Clarisse smiled as she squeezed Joseph's hand knowing that he would protest.
"Great, then you are a free man Mr Elizondo." The Doctor smiled.
"About time." He said signing the forms.
After his bodyguard grabbed his bag they left the hospital and headed back to the Palace, with the help of the guards they managed to get him upstairs to their suite. Slowly walking in they found that the family had decorated the room with a giant Welcome Home banner, cards everywhere and a giant one from all the Grandchildren.
He couldn't help but chuckle as he read a couple cards as Clarisse thanked the guards for helping and saw them out before turning back to Joseph.
"It's good to be home." He nodded while looking around as she walked over to him.
"Well," She smiled as he looked at her "It's good to have you home." She smiled and watched him sit down "Is there anything you need?" He asked as someone knocked on the door "Come in." She said looking over to see who it was.
"It's just us, can we come in?" Olivia smiled as she pushed the door open.
"Joe, it's up to you?" Clarisse whispered looking at him as he nodded.
"Of course you can all come in, I have missed you all." He said as they made their way in the suite.
Joseph spent the next few minutes hugging his Grandchildren as Clarisse stood watching, smiling the whole time.
"No Erica?" Joe asked while looking up at Clarisse and Olivia.
"No, she couldn't get back yet." Clarisse answered "She did try though."
"She did call to see if you were home yet," Olivia started as they looked at her "She said she'd call back later." She nodded slowly.
"Not to worry, she's started a new life now after all." Joseph whispered while looking down and hugged Lilly as Clarisse and Olivia looked at each other.
After a little while they left him to get some rest.
"I think I'm going to have a lay down." Joseph said standing up and headed into the bedroom with Clarisse following.
"Ok, while you are doing that I'm going to head out to the drugstore before it closes." She said watching him stand in front of her.
"You have plenty of time, why don't you come lay with me and update me on what's been going on?" He said taking her hands.
"As much as I would love to do that, I can't," She sighed "The store closes early today so I need to get there and get your medication." She said stepping back and walked over to her dressing table.
"Ok, are you having Maxwell drive you?" He asked as she grabbed the car keys from the drawer and her handbag.
"No, I'm going to drive myself." Clarisse nodded "I won't be long."
"I will prefer it if you had Maxwell drive you." Joseph said.
"And I much prefer to drive myself," She smiled over at him "Now don't do anything silly while I am gone," She said walking over and kissed him "See you in a bit." She said turning and headed over to the door "Go and have a rest, I will get you your favorite ice cream while I'm there." She smiled and walked out.
He chuckled and moved, sitting on the edge of the bed to slip his shoes off before turning and laying down as Clarisse headed downstairs.
Walking out the front door she realized that the family were out the front playing football and messing around, smiling as she headed down the stairs as Olivia walked over to her.
"Where you going?" Olivia asked.
"Oh just to the drug store to get your Dad's medication." She smiled while slipping her sunglasses on.
"Great, I will come with you if you can wait a couple minutes so I can get my bag?" Olivia asked as Cara walked over.
"Sure," Clarisse nodded and watched her rush away before turning back to Cara.
A few moments later Olivia returned.
"Ok, let's go?" Olivia smiled as they started walking over to her car.
"Pierre," Clarisse called out while turning to him "Keep an eye on your Dad for us while we are gone?"
"Will do." He nodded and watched her turn back to her car.
"Livy, remind me to get your Dad's favorite ice cream." She said looking at her as she pressed the button to open the doors, only it didn't open her car "Hmm." She said looking down at it then back up at Joseph's black range rover.
"Um, Mom?" Olivia giggled "You realize that you just unlocked Dad's car right?" She smiled as she stood next to her and looked at the keys "You picked up the wrong keys."
"Oh..." She said looking down at the keys.
"Did you want me to run up and get your car keys?" Livy asked while looking up at her.
"No it's alright," She said walking over to the door "We will just go in his."
"Yes!" Olivia exclaimed while rushing around and climbed in the car as Clarisse fastened her seat belt "I have always wanted you to drive this car." She smiled while looking down and fastened her belt "Then again so has Daddy, he will be so proud." She smiled up at Clarisse.
"I hate it already," She said starting the car "It's so big." She said as Livy giggled "Now what are you laughing for?" She asked looking over at her.
"Oh no reason." She smirked over at her.
"Oh Livy, behave." Clarisse whispered while opening the windows and started reversing.
"Me behave?" Livy exclaimed as Clarisse laughing "You're the one that started it." She smirked over at her as they started driving down the driveway.
"Don't blame me Missy!" Clarisse exclaimed while shaking her head.
After a short drive they pulled into a parking space and got out, walking through the doors of the drugstore moments later as Clarisse took her glasses off and placed them on the top of her head. After getting Joseph's medication they had a look around, grabbing a couple things before going up to pay.
"Oh I just remembered something, stay in line." Clarisse said and hurried off.
"Mom?" Olivia gasped watching her walk away.
After moving up one space she looked down the aisle as Clarisse bent over, grabbing something and started hurrying back to Olivia in the queue, putting what she grabbed in the basket before grabbing her purse from her handbag.
Looking down Olivia gasped and looked back up at her "Oh my god Mom, what are you doing buying them?" She whispered feeling a blush spread across her cheeks "First of all Dad has just come out of hospital and second I'm pretty sure you don't need them anymore." She whispered as Clarisse laughed "And as far as I know you've never used them before." She gasped shaking her head as Clarisse looked at her.
"And how would you know?" She said raising her eyebrow at her.
"Next Please?" Called the cashier, nearly dying when he saw His Queen was next.
"This is so embarrassing," Olivia whispered while putting the basket on the counter and watched her take her card from her purse.
"Oh what's so embarrassing?" Clarisse asked her then looked at the cashier with a smile as he put the stuff through and packed it into a bag for them "Besides they aren't for me, they are for Cara." She said putting her hands on the counter in front of her.
"What are you doing buying these for her, why can't she get them herself?" Olivia whispered.
"Oh well you know she gets embarrassed to get this kinda stuff." Clarisse smiled and passed her card to the cashier "Thank you." She smiled.
"No problem," He smiled at them.
"Can we please drop it now?" Clarisse asked looking at Olivia as she nodded "Thank you." She smiled and signed the receipt.
"Did you just sign that as Mrs Joseph Elizondo?" Olivia asked while taking the card from the cashier "Thank you." Olivia smiled with a small nod as Clarisse grabbed the bag.
"Thank you." Clarisse smiled and walked out with Olivia following "And yes I did."
"This is so cool, you finally changed your name." Olivia smiled handing her the card back and took the bag from her "When did you do this?"
"A few days ago." Clarisse said putting the card away "I just need to go and get some ice cream from next door." She said putting her purse away.
"Ok," Olivia smiled as they started walking "I still can't believe you've changed your name... wait so if you did it a few days ago, Daddy doesn't know yet?" She asked as Clarisse shook her head "That's so cute." Olivia smiled as they headed next door.
Coming out several moments later they got back in the car, and as Clarisse checked her phone Olivia went through the bags, with a chuckle.
"What's funny?" Clarisse asked while looking at her over the top of her glasses.
"Well," Olivia started "You and not even being embarrassed about buying these condoms for Cara." She said with a small laugh as Clarisse looked at her.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about." Clarisse laughed a little as Olivia looked out the window "At least she's using protection." She said as Olivia looked at her.
"That's true," Olivia nodded "Though they don't always work."
"That's true also," Clarisse said putting her phone away "Ok, shall we head home?" Clarisse asked while starting the car and fastened her seat belt.
"Yes before the ice cream melts." Olivia smiled at her as she put her glasses back on.
"Let's go then." She smiled and looked back over her shoulder as she started reversing out the space.
Reversing out slowly as she looked the other way, jumping when Olivia exclaimed "Mom your gonna..." Stopping as the car backed into a parked car, making them look at each other.
"Uh oh!" They both exclaimed.
Moving the car forward back into the space before turning the engine off, taking the keys out as she opened the door and climbed out to see what damage had been done, walking around to the back of the car as she put her glasses on the top of her head again.
"Uh oh Mom you dented Dad's car." Olivia said as she stood next to her, bending over a little to check the damage.
"Whoops," She said standing up straight as the owners of the other car returned "I'm so sorry, I accidentally backed into your car." Clarisse said checking the road was clear and crossed over to them with Olivia.
Standing next to them as the couple stared at her in amazement "Oh you did?" The husband managed to say.
"Yes," Clarisse said looking at him "You have a dent too." She said looking at the car.
"Oh is there?" The husband said standing beside her seeing the dent "Oh I wouldn't worry," He said shaking his head as Clarisse looked at him "It's perfectly fine." He nodded with a big smile while looking back at her "I will soon sort that out." He laughed.
"Are you sure?" Clarisse asked looking at him then his wife as she nodded "I feel so bad though."
"Oh please don't, it's just a dent," He said "It's like falling over and grazing your knee when you were a child."
"Okay." Clarisse said with a small smile and nod.
"Please don't worry about it, it's fine." He nodded, not taking his eyes from her.
"Ok then thank you," Clarisse smiled as Olivia grabbed her arm pulling her back a little "Thank again." She smiled quickly turning and walked back over to her car, getting in and locking the doors behind them as they started laughing.
"Let's get out of here and quick." Olivia said looking at Clarisse as she started the car.
"I couldn't agree more," She said doing her belt and carefully reversed out again, driving off seconds later "Let's just keep this to ourselves for now."
"Which bit? The weird man or the dent?" Olivia asked while looking at her as they stopped at the exit of the car park.
Looking one way then the other before quickly driving out the car park and onto the main road Clarisse laughed a little "Both, both things stays between us, because one if Joe finds out I dented his car, his pride, his baby... he will hit the roof and two, if he finds out about that weirdo," She said looking at Olivia quickly before looking back at the road "I won't ever be allowed out on my own ever again."
"Agreed," Olivia giggled.
"Thank you." Clarisse smiled as they carried on home.
Arriving home a short time later, Olivia headed off to mess around with the family again as Clarisse headed inside putting the ice cream away before heading up to the suite, just as the nurse was coming out the bedroom and watched her grab her bag.
"You're leaving? Oh, no, that's not good." She said looking at the nurse.
"I've been fired Your Majesty." The nurse answered her as she gasped.
"Fired? No, you just started." Clarisse said with a questioning look.
"Not fired, darling. Just not needed." She heard Joe call out from the bedroom.
Walking into the bedroom "Not needed? What are you talking about? Of course she's needed. We need her." Clarisse said standing next to the bed.
"Oh, no. I'm actually feeling pretty perky today." He said rather cheekily.
"Joseph! I swear you can't just fire your nurse." She scolded while putting her free arm up towards the door "What is your Doctor going to say when he finds out?"
"Oh tush." He said looking up at her as she let her arm drop down.
Shaking her head as she looked back over at the nurse standing in the door "I'm sorry for your trouble, You've been wonderful and if he gives you any problems you come find me." Clarisse said and looked back at Joseph "Here are your meds, and you will do as you are told." She said firmly and walked out back into the suite.
Later that evening Clarisse headed back upstairs to find Joseph watching a film while sitting up in bed, pushing up the door before turning she walked over and stood beside the bed as he looked up at her.
"Are you ok?" He asked while turning the tv down.
"Yes, are you?" She asked as he put his arm out, placing his hand on the back of her thigh "Are you taking your medicine?"
"Yes I'm great, better now for seeing you." He smiled "And yes I have, of course." He nodded as she lent over and kissed him.
"Good," She smiled as he rubbed the back of her thigh a couple times "I'm going to have a quick shower."
"Ok," He nodded and watched her walk into the bathroom before turning back up the tv.
By the time she had finished he was fast asleep, she couldn't help but smile, happy that he was back and home where he belonged. Turning the tv off, she knelled on the bed beside him and took the remote from his hands stopping when he stirred and looked at her.
"I must of nodded off." He said lifting his head as she sat back.
"I think you did." Clarisse nodded while turning her feet under her as she looked at him "I'm so pleased that your home." She whispered as he looked at her.
"So am I." He said putting his arm up, smiling as she snuggled up to him and extended her arm around his waist.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again do you understand?" She said tilting her head back and looked up at him.
"I promise." He smiled and kissed her a couple times.
"I love you."
"I love you too Mrs. Joseph Elizondo." He chuckled as she sat up placing her hand on his chest and looked at him "Yes Livy told me," He smiled "And I love it."
"Good," She smiled and snuggled back up to him "Good night my love."
"Good night my Clari Bear." He smiled against her forehead as she closed her eyes.