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Several weeks later. The day before Clarisse's birthday and her and Joseph's First Wedding Anniversary. They originally planned on taking a trip away until Joseph had his heart attack, so they decided to remain in Genovia and take a trip later on when he's feeling one hundred and ten percent better.

After breakfast Clarisse saw Lena off to school with Olivia then headed upstairs to her closet with Ally, her second assistant and also Charlotte's sister. Requiring her help to find out an outfit for tonight's dinner that she must attend across town.

As they searched Joseph stood in the door way watching for a few seconds before clearing his throat, smiling as Clarisse looked up at him over her glasses, smiling herself.

"How long have you been stood there?" She asked.

"Only a few moments," He nodded while slipping his hands in his pockets "I just wanted to let you know I am just about to leave."

"Again? I thought you were staying here today?" She asked sitting up straight as Ally noticed the tone in her voice and kept her head down.

"I was, but I still have things that I need to do, I should be home before you leave later." He nodded.

"Ok." She answered and watched him turn and walk away, sighing as she looked at Ally "Okay." She started while watching Ally look at her "What else do I need to find?" She asked, her mind wondering away from her.

"Just your shoes now, Your Majesty." Ally smiled while jumping up "May I make a suggestion?" She asked.

"Of course," Clarisse nodded and watched the young lady grab a pair of dark blue heels and held them to the outfit that she had chosen a short while ago.

"What about these?" Ally asked "I think it would set the outfit off and will set the color of your eyes too." She smiled up at her.

"Yes I like that idea," Clarisse nodded and smiled "Thank you." She said watching her put the shoes with the other items they had selected.

"You're welcome." She smiled as Charlotte knocked on the door.

"Ahh good morning Charlotte," Clarisse smiled while jumping up and hurried over to her giving her a hug "How are you this morning?" She asked stepping back.

"I'm ok thank you." Charlotte smiled while walking in and sat down "I just came to see if you needed any help?"

"Nope, we've done it all." Ally smiled as Clarisse stood with folded arms.

"Yep, Ally has been a great help." Clarisse smiled towards Ally then back at Charlotte.

"Should I be worried? Am I going to lose my job?" Charlotte asked with an amused tone.

"No of course not," Clarisse smiled "I'm sure I can work something out to keep you both here when you return." Clarisse smiled.

"Really?" Ally asked in surprise.

"Of course, you are a hard worker and get on with everyone and anyone." Clarisse smiled.

"Thank you so much." Ally grinned and started putting bits of jewelry away.

"Oh, Pierre wanted you to call him today to let him know what time he needs to be here by." Charlotte asked while standing up.

"Ok darling I will call him in a bit." Clarisse nodded while checking the time "Nearly time for lunch I think, and then I will make a start on the piles of paper work." She sighed followed with a laugh "Any chance it will do itself?" She asked looking at both women as they shook their heads "No, I didn't think so." She smiled.

After lunch Clarisse headed to her office to make a start on her paper work, when Ally appeared.

"You're Majesty," Ally started while looking down at the phone in her hands as she walked towards her "Lena's school are on the phone." She said looking up at her.

"Oh," She said taking the phone "Thank you Ally," She nodded as she smiled and walked away "Hello, Clarisse speaking."

"Hello Your Majesty, this is Mrs James, Lena's teacher." Mrs James said.

"Hello Mrs James, is everything ok?" Clarisse asked while putting the pen down.

"I do apologize about calling you, we did try and get hold of Mr Elizondo but he doesn't seem to be answering, Lena isn't feeling well and wondered if you could come collect her." Mrs James asked.

"Of course," Clarisse answered while slipping her glasses off "I will be there as soon as I can."

"Thank you, see you soon." Mrs James answered.

"Bye," Clarisse said and hung up "Hmmm." She whispered to herself while standing up and made her way from her office seeing Ally stood sorting out the mail "Ally," She asked standing beside her "You wouldn't happen to know where Joseph is, would you?" She asked while handing her the phone back.

"No I'm sorry Your Majesty, is everything ok?" She asked taking the phone back from her.

"No Lena isn't very well so I need to go and collect her." She answered her mind wondering.

"Would you like me to go and collect her for you?" Lena asked as Clarisse looked at her.

"Oh no darling it's ok, I will go." Clarisse nodded with a smile and headed back in her office.

After getting her car keys Clarisse headed to Lena's school, pulling up in the car park she climbed out the car just as Mrs James came out with Lena, meeting each other half way.

"Thank you for coming Your Majesty," Mrs James said looking at her then at Lena.

"What's wrong sweetheart," Clarisse asked while looking at Lena as she stood beside her, not saying anything "Okay," Clarisse whispered looking back at Mrs James "Thank you for calling, I'm sorry you couldn't get hold of Joseph." She said as Lena took the car keys from her hand and walked towards the car.

"No trouble," Mrs James smiled as they both watched Lena climbing in the car and done her seat belt up.

"Did she say anything to you?" Clarisse asked while folding her arms and looked at Mrs James.

"She just said that she had a bad tummy," Mrs James answered.

"Ok, thank you." Clarisse nodded "Thanks for calling."

"No problem," Mrs James answered and watched her walk towards the car before going back inside.

As Clarisse climbed in the car she looked at Lena as she sat messing with Clarisse's phone.

"Are you going to talk to me now?" Clarisse asked while doing up her belt.

"No," Lena answered as Clarisse looked at her.

"Okay," Clarisse said watching her a few seconds then started the car "Let's get you home then shall we?" She asked as she reversed out the parking space.

The drive home was a quiet one, whenever they stopped at lights Clarisse checked on Lena who just sat playing with her phone. Pulling up outside the Palace a short time later, Clarisse undone her seat belt as Lena looked at her.

"I know I have talked to you about this before, but I think maybe we need to have another talk, don't you?" Clarisse asked and watched as Lena nodded "Okay," She said opening her car door "Come on sweetheart."

Clarisse held her arm out, putting it around her shoulders as she stood beside her. After locking the car they walked slowly inside, shutting the door as Rose was heading down the stairs.

"I was looking for you," Rose said "Why ain't you at school missy?" Rose teased while looking at Lena as she shrugged "Is everything ok?" She asked looking at Clarisse.

"Why don't you go upstairs to my suite and I will be up in a few moments," Clarisse asked as Lena nodded and headed upstairs slowly "Rose?" Clarisse said looking at her.

"What's the matter with Lena?" Rose asked.

"She's poorly, did you want me for something?" Clarisse asked as Rose looked at her "You said you were looking for me?"

"I was, I mean I am," Rose nodded "I need to talk to you about something? But it can wait." Rose said looking back at her.

"Maybe we can talk when your doing my hair later?" Clarisse asked.

"Yes that sounds perfect, thank you." Rose smiled "What time did you want me to come do it?" She asked as Clarisse folded her arms.

"Well I need to leave at seven, so shall we say quarter to six?" Clarisse asked.

"Ok, I will meet you in your suite then." Rose smiled.

"Great," Clarisse nodded "Thank you." She added and headed up the stairs.

Later that day as the family had dinner, Clarisse was up in her suite trying to get ready before Rose knocked. Slipping on her robe just as she knocked, checking the time Clarisse smiled and walked over standing in the bedroom doorway while doing up her robe.

"Come in." She called out and smiled as Rose appeared "Hello darling," Clarisse smiled while turning and walked through the bedroom and back into her closet, followed by Rose seconds later "I thought we could cut it in here?" She asked.

"Sure," Rose smiled and watched Clarisse sit down "Lena told me to tell you she's gone to her suite to start on her home work, and want's you to go say goodbye before you leave."

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled "Now while you are doing my hair I will go through the notes for tonight." She sighed.

"Ok." Rose smiled and made a start on her hair.

As Rose focused on Clarisse's hair she went through her notes but kept an eye on Rose in the mirror, sensing something was up.

"Ok, that's finished." Rose smiled at her in the mirror "Do you like it?" She asked while holding the smaller mirror behind her head.

"I do, like always." Clarisse smiled then sighed "And I just remembered you wanted to talk to me, didn't you?" Clarisse asked as Rose nodded "I am so sorry, I completely forgot." She said standing up and turned to her while checking the time "Well we still have time to talk now if you don't mind staying while I get dressed?" Clarisse asked.

"Of course not." Rose smiled and started cleaning away her things.

"Perfect then," Clarisse smiled "What can I do for you?" She asked.

"Well as you know I have been dating Ryan for a year now." Rose started.

"Wait, is this going where I think it's going?" Clarisse asked while holding her skirt in her hands.

"Yes, I hope that's ok that I come talk to you about it, I can't talk to Daddy as well, you know what Daddy would do." She said as Clarisse smiled "He will lock me in the tower until I'm at least 30." She sighed and looked towards Clarisse "And I'm not talking to my own Mom."

"Darling I have told you before that you can come talk to me about anything and everything, just as long as you feel comfortable about it then I am too." Clarisse smiled at her.

"Thank you." Rose smiled and watched her turn around so her back was to her and stepped into her knee length skirt while pulling it up under her robe.

"Ok, you can carry on." Clarisse smiled while turning around and looked back at her.

"Thanks." Rose nodded while looking down, still putting her things away "I know we had a class about this at school that explains it all, but back then I was really embarrassed and must admit I didn't really listen."

"I understand, Olivia and Erica were the same." Clarisse smiled over at her.

"This is a little embarrassing even talking to you about it." Rose whispered "If Cara still lived here I would probably talk to her, but seeing though she's 2 hour's away now, it just didn't feel right talking about it over the phone." She said slowly looking up.

"I understand that too, you don't have any need to be embarrassed though." Clarisse smiled towards her "In fact I am honored that you are coming to me." Clarisse smiled over at her.

Rose stood smiling, feeling a little bit better "Thank you." Rose nodded "I have a question, if I may ask?"

"Of course," Clarisse answered while slipping off her robe and took the hanger with her shirt on down.

"Does it hurt? I mean having sex? My friend told me that when she slept with her boyfriend that it hurt real bad and that she had bled afterwards." Rose asked while blushing and looked up at Clarisse.

Moving to sit down beside her and rested her shirt on her lap "First off all I don't condone sleeping with a man until you are married. However to answer your question if you and Ryan both really aren't ready, or both completely wanting to have intercourse, it just isn't likely to go well, it may very well hurt, you won't be as likely to enjoy yourselves, and no one will probably have a wonderful time. You can't just go through the motions and expect it to be phenomenal. There should be a comfortable progression leading up to intercourse, and you should feel comfortable. If you've been having other kinds of sexual and intimate activity beforehand with someone you care about and trust, and have already talked about sex specifically, you can move into intercourse without it feeling forced."

"But didn't you sleep with Daddy before you were married to him the first and second time?" Rose asked.

"Yes that's correct, in my defense though I had already been married." Clarisse said looking at her "Ok scrap the first bit I said, these days it doesn't make any difference anyway." She smiled as Rose laughed "That's not funny." She smirked as Rose continued to giggle.

"I'm sorry," Rose smiled trying to compose herself "Carry on." She smiled.

"Do you trust Ryan?" Clarisse asked as Rose nodded "And you both love each other?"

"We do, and we had talked about it before." Rose nodded "It's our one year anniversary in a couple weeks and we wanted to make it that extra bit special." She smiled at her.

"I can understand that." Clarisse smiled.

"Were you scared your first time?" Rose asked while looking down as Clarisse put her hand on top of hers.

"I was scared believe it or not with both partners." Clarisse answered as Rose looked up at her "With Rupert more so though because that was my first time, though it was painful to begin with it, it did get easier." She said with a nod.

"Why were you scared with Daddy?" Rose asked.

"Because it was with someone new, we had been dating a few months and he was my first after Rupert's passing, both men were very different, even though it wasn't my first time with a man, it was my first time with your Father and it was a bit more painful."

"Um..." Rose started and stopped when Clarisse put her hand up.

"You marry an Italian and then you will see why." She said and watched as Rose pulled a face then started laughing, followed by Clarisse.

"That was funny." Rose smiled as they both nodded.

"Listen to me though sweetheart," Clarisse started getting serious again "It's normal to be nervous, if you're with someone you trust and with whom you feel safe, you should be pretty relaxed, though it's normal to feel excited and antsy at the same time. You may just be nervous because you're doing something new, but it's also possible you or your partner aren't ready, you don't want to, or you aren't really with someone you trust or feel safe with. Trust your gut feelings, and be sure your heart and your head are on the same page?" She said patting her hand "Do not rush it, or you will regret it."

"I understand Mom, thank you." Rose nodded.

"Anytime," Clarisse smiled "Oh and use protection, please." Clarisse exclaimed.

"Of course," Rose smiled while leaning forward and kissed her cheek "Thank you so much."

"Anytime," Clarisse smiled and slipped her shirt on as Rose gathered up her things.

Walking over to the door Rose turned back "Mom?"

Looking over with a smile as she carried on doing up the buttons on her shirt "Yes darling?"

"You aren't planning to tell Daddy about this 'talk' are you?" She asked.

"Oh god no, of course not." Clarisse smiled "What we talk about stays between us, I promise." She smiled.

"Thank you." She nodded "Enjoy the dinner tonight and see you in the morning."

"Of course," Clarisse smiled and watched her walk out the closet "Oh Rose?" She called out and watched her come back to the door "Do you have your phone this time?" She asked with an amused look.

"Yes," Rose exclaimed "I do don't you worry," She giggled "I ain't making that mistake again." She said and walked away laughing as Clarisse laughed.

Checking the time she quickly done her make up, slipped on her shoes and grabbed her tailored jacket before rushing to Lena's suite to say goodbye then headed down stairs. Slipping on her jacket while looking down at her handbag, quickly checking she had everything she needed when Joseph came in.

"Hey," He said while shutting the door.

Turning to him "Are you just getting home?" She asked as he nodded "Are you wearing different clothes to what you left in earlier?" She asked while looking him up and down.

Looking down then back up at her "I am, I had an accident earlier with my drink." He said "Good job I had a change of cloths in the trunk." He nodded.

"Oh, ok." She said looking at him for a second longer then turned back to her bag "Oh Lena is up doing her homework, she wants you to go see her, she wants to watch a movie with you tonight I think." She said turning to him "And please don't tease her, she isn't feeling that great today, in fact she was sent home from school, which reminds me, they tried to call you?" She said raising her eyebrow "Where were you?"

"I was busy helping Henry with something, didn't know my phone had died till like half an hour ago." He said watching her turn her head slightly as Pierre came rushing in the front door, gasping for air as they both turned and looked at him.

"Sorry, late, laying..." He stopped trying to catch his breath "Try again, I was laying with Charlotte and lost track of time." He said putting his hands on his hips.

"That's ok, Did you want me to sort out your tie?" Clarisse asked as she started walking towards him.

"Please," He nodded "Thank you." He said and took a deep breath, letting it out as she started arranging his tie.

"No problem." Clarisse smiled up at him, smiling when she finished "All done." She said patting his cheek with her hand and turned to walk back over to her bag.

"Thanks." Pierre said and grabbed his phone from his pocket.

"Why was Lena sent home from school?" Joseph asked "You started to explain but then Pierre came in."

"Oh, she's not feeling well and please don't tease her tonight, she's really grumpy too." Clarisse asked while grabbing her handbag.

"What's wrong with her? Has she been sick?" He asked and watched her step closer while shaking her head.

"No, she became a young lady today." She whispered in his ear then stepped back as he gasped.

"Already?" He asked in surprise.

"Yes, already." Clarisse answered and checked the time "We best get going anyway, see you later." She said and headed over to the door.

"Ok, have fun." He called out as they walked out the door.

Grabbing some ice cream and snacks he headed up to see Lena.

After the dinner, Clarisse and Pierre headed home in silence. Pierre kept looking over at her as she stared out of the window, he was trying to get the guts to ask her what was wrong, knowing that she wouldn't tell him even if he did ask. When they stopped at lights he reached over and grabbed her hand, bringing her out of her thoughts and quickly turned her head to him.

"What's wrong?" He asked as they started moving again.

"Oh nothing, it's alright." Clarisse answered while looking out the front window again.

"Well you've been awfully quiet tonight, normally after these dinners you're very chatty." He said looking at her before looking at the road.

"I was just thinking, that's all." She smiled "I have a little bit of a head ache too." She added.

"Ahh ok," He nodded as they pulled up in front of the gates to the Palace "You do know that I am here if you want to talk to me about anything, right?" He asked as they passed through the gates.

"Of course." Clarisse nodded "Thank you."

"No problem." He smiled at her then back at the road leading to the Palace.

Waving him off moments later she slowly headed inside and up to her suite. Walking through the door she kicked off her shoes and walked over to the bedroom, finding Joseph and Lena sat up in bed still watching a movie.

"And what are you doing still up young lady?" Clarisse asked while walking around the bed and climbed on her side beside her.

"I was waiting for you." Lena said lifting her head from Joseph's shoulder and looked at her "I wanted to talk to you and to say a proper goodnight." She said snuggling up to her.

"I see," Clarisse answered and kissed the top of her head while rubbing her back with her hand "Did you both have fun?" She asked as Lena sat up between them.

"We have." Lena smiled at her.

"Good." Clarisse answered and watched her for a few seconds before looking at Joseph.

Taking a deep breath she looked towards the telly for a few moments as the film ended.

Gasping Lena looked at her "It's nearly your birthday isn't it?" She asked.

"Yes it is," Clarisse smiled.

"And your Anniversary." Lena giggled as Clarisse and Joseph looked at each other.

"Yes it is," Joseph whispered and looked down at Lena "Okay young lady, let's get you to bed."

"I want Mom to take me, I need to talk to her about something." Lena said looking at Clarisse.

"Ok, come on." Clarisse said climbing of the bed followed by Lena "I will be back in a few moments." She said looking at Joseph.

"Okay." He answered with a nod and watched her walk out after Lena.

Returning a short while later, she walked through the bedroom door to find Joseph had fallen to sleep. Sighing she turned the television and light off and walked through to her bathroom getting changed and ready for bed, returning moments later.

As she lay in bed she stared blankly at the ceiling, her heart breaking as she couldn't get certain thoughts out of her head. She wanted to wake him right then and there to ask him the question she should never have to ask, but decided not too as she really didn't want to get into an argument with him at that time of night.

Turning onto her side, she closed her eyes and hoped that sleep would find her and soon.