Several weeks later, today is Christmas Day.
A couple weeks ago they moved into their home, where they will be spending Christmas this year.
Awaking before Clarisse, Joseph slipped out of bed, slipping on his robe as he walked over to the window. Peering outside he couldn't help but smile when he saw Clarisse's present sat in the driveway with a bow attached to the roof. Grinning he turned back to Clarisse who still lay sleeping in their bed, slowly walking over he knelt beside the bed and placed his hand on her arm.
"Clarisse?" He smiled while putting his other hand up, brushing her hair out of her face "Wake up." He smiled as she began to stir.
Opening her eyes she smiled when she noticed him kneeling beside her "Good morning." She smiled as he lent over and kissed her "What time is it?" She asked and watched him looking.
"It's just gone 7." He smiled back at her.
"What?" She exclaimed "Why are you waking me up this early for?"
"Because I want you to see your present." He smiled while looking down and grabbed something from his pocket as she sat up "This is for you, I wanted you to have it now before the others awake." He smiled while sitting on the bed beside her.
"You're as bad as Lena, who, I'm surprised isn't in here yet." She chuckled and looked down while opening the present to find a key "What's this for?" She asked taking it from the box.
"It's out in the driveway right now, why don't you go and see." He smiled and chuckled as she got all excited and climbed out the bed rushing over to the window.
"Oh my god Joseph." She exclaimed when she saw the red range rover in their driveway.
"Do you like it?" He asked standing behind her and put his hands on her sides.
"It's beautiful," She smiled while turning back to him "But why get me a range rover?"
"Well you drive them so beautifully, and now you always seem to steel mine so I thought why not get you one for Christmas." He smiled "And did you notice you have your own number plate too?" He asked.
"No I didn't," She said turning a little to check, seeing 1QE on it, looking back at him with a smile.
"Stands for 1 Queen Elizondo." He smiled as she looked back out of the window at the car "And yes I know your Royal name is Renaldi," He smiled watching her look back at him "But that's your married name and I thought it suited."
"Thank you so much." She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a hug before pulling her head back seconds later "I must confess something."
"What?" He asked while wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her close.
"I too brought you one for Christmas, though it's not here it's at the Palace as there was no where to hide it." She smiled while moving one of her hands onto the back of her head.
"What color is mine? It best be black?" He smirked.
"Of course." She smiled up at him as he smirked down at her.
"Good." He said and kissed her a couple times, before kissing her slowly.
Arching her back a little while moving one of her hands onto his jaw, smiling against his lips just as Lena burst through the door taking them both by surprise, turning their heads to look at her.
"It's CHRISTMAS!" She exclaimed and ran back out the room as they laughed.
"Yes it is." Clarisse nodded and looked back at Joseph "Perhaps we should head downstairs now?"
"I think so." He smiled and watched her grab her robe, slipping it on as they made their way over to the door "We will continue that later on." He smirked while slapping her bum as they walked through the door, smiling as she laughed and looked back at him.
After breakfast was sorted everyone sat at the table, talking, laughing, all full of excitement.
"Who got the new car then?" Rose smiled towards Joseph then Clarisse as she sipped her coffee.
"That would be me." She smiled over her cup as she held it up, wrapping both her hands around it.
"Wow, it's a lovely car, you are so lucky." Rose smiled.
"Thank you." Clarisse smiled and looked as Joseph lent closer and whispered in her ear.
"Who gets your Rav4?" Rose asked and ate some of her breakfast.
"Well as I no longer need it anymore, you can have it if you like." She smiled and arched her back as Joseph ran her hand down it.
"Really?" Rose exclaimed and looked at her.
"Yes of course, if you want it then have it." She smiled.
"Wow," She exclaimed while jumping up "Thank you so much." She smiled hugging her tightly.
"You're welcome darling." Clarisse smiled while rubbing her back then watched her stand back.
"That's my Christmas present, thank you so so much." She said excitedly and sat down.
"So you won't want that horse we got you then?" Joseph asked and watched her mouth fall open.
"You got me a horse?" She asked.
"Yes of course, we noticed all the hints you have been leaving us." Clarisse chuckled and sipped her coffee.
"It's over at the Palace ready for whenever you wanna see her." Joseph smiled and watched her run out the room.
"Get dressed first young lady." Clarisse called out and watched her run back in.
"Of course, can I take my new car?" Rose asked.
"Well I still have stuff in there that I would still like you know." Clarisse said while putting her cup down.
"I know, but hey you are my Mom it's fine in there." She smiled and hugged her "It's not like it's going to a stranger."
"That is true, sure you can take the car." Clarisse smiled.
"YES!" She exclaimed while jumping back and ran out the room.
"I think she's happy." Lena smiled as both Clarisse and Joseph nodded "Can I have a car?"
"Oh." Clarisse laughed "You're still too young sweetheart, but when you are old enough we will get you one."
"Thank you." Lena giggled and finished her breakfast "Now that I've finished please can we go and open presents now?" She asked.
"Sure." Clarisse smiled while standing up.
"Help your Mother with the dishes first." Joseph added as they both stopped and looked at him.
"The lady of the house." Clarisse said leaning over and gripped his jaw in her hand "Says they can wait." She smiled and kissed him before laughing out as he pulled her on her lap.
"The lady of the house huh?" He asked while looking into her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Yes, the lady of the house." She smiled and kissed him as Lena stood waiting in the doorway.
"Come on, please." Lena smiled over at them as Clarisse stood up.
"And the Princess of the house has spoken." Joseph smiled while standing up and started following Clarisse as she put her arms back for him to take her hands as they headed to the living room.
"And the man of the house." Clarisse smiled while turning and walked backwards "Is looking very handsome this morning." She smiled and stopped walking.
"Why are you doing this to me for?" He said putting his hands on her sides and kissed her a couple times just as Rose ran in the room.
"I'm so excited." She exclaimed as they stepped apart and looked towards her "I will open the rest of my presents later." She smiled jumping up and hugged them again "See you later."
"Drive carefully Rose." Clarisse called out as she ran out the room.
"I will." She said grabbing the car keys and her coat and ran out the front door.
After opening several presents they decided to wait and open the rest after dinner, when Pierre, Charlotte, Olivia and her family were with them. After getting ready they headed to Church, popping into the Palace on the way home.
When they pulled up next to the Palace stairs Lena jumped out the car and ran over to see Rose and her horse as Joseph and Clarisse stood watching when Maxwell came down.
"Merry Christmas." He smiled as they both turned to him.
"Merry Christmas and hello again snowball." Clarisse smiled while watching Joseph take the small ball of white fluff from Maxwell.
"I take it she doesn't know about the puppy?" Maxwell asked while stroking snowballs head.
"No she doesn't." Joseph smiled as they all looked over at Lena as she stroked Rose's horses nose.
"Was she good last night?" Clarisse asked looking at Maxwell while stroking under Snowball's chin.
"She was crying for a little bit, but soon settled." Maxwell nodded.
"Ok, well thank you for keeping her here." She smiled and checked the time.
"No trouble." He bowed "Enjoy the rest of your day." He smiled and headed back inside.
Joseph watched as Clarisse turned to the Palace, standing with her arms folded letting out a sad sigh as Joseph put his arm out to her "Come here." He whispered as she came out of her day dream and looked at him.
"I'm ok." She whispered while unfolding her arms and stepped closer, resting against him as he put his free arm around her shoulders.
"Are you sure?" He whispered against her forehead, watching her lift her head.
"Yea." She nodded and kissed him as the puppy watched and reached up licking her cheek, making her laugh.
"See even snowball knows that there's something wrong." He whispered as she looked back at him.
"Honestly I'm fine." She said stroking snowball again while resting her head back on Joseph's chest.
"Ok Clari Bear." He whispered and kissed the side of her end.
"Anyway are you going to drive your new car home today?" Clarisse asked while looking at him "And I can drive this one home." She said while patting the bonnet of the car.
"If you like." He smiled and leant closer, kissing her as Lena made her way over to them.
"Aww who's this?" She asked while stroking snowball's head.
"Well, she belongs to you if you would like her?" Clarisse smiled at her.
"Wow, really?" Lena exclaimed and took the puppy from Joseph "Yes of course I want her." She smiled kissing the top of her head.
"Great," Clarisse smiled "Her name is snowball, but you can change it if you like." She smiled playing with Lena's ponytail.
"Thank you so so much." She smiled and gave them each a hug as Rose came over.
"Are you coming back soon Rose? Or are you staying here a bit longer?" Clarisse asked as Lena climbed in the back of Joseph's car.
"I will follow in about 10 minutes." She smiled down at her.
"Ok sweetheart." She said taking the keys from Joseph.
"See you soon." She smiled and trotted of on the horse.
"I will meet you back at the house?" Joseph said looking at Clarisse.
"You will." She smiled as he kissed her then walked off.
Climbing in the car as Lena giggled "She's so cute Mommy, thank you so much." She smiled.
Looking in the rear view mirror with a smile as she done up her seat belt "You're welcome." She smiled and started the car "You have your belt on right?" She asked looking back at her.
"Yes I do Mom, I'm not that silly you know." She smiled as Joseph sped up behind them and beeped his horn at them then drove past "He's showing of isn't he?"
"He is indeed." Clarisse laughed and started following him.
Arriving home they found that Pierre, James and Olivia had already made a start on dinner. And as soon as Joseph was in the kitchen he told Olivia to go and relax, taking over with Pierre and James, leaving the women to relax and talk.
After dinner and dessert the women went back to the living room with the kids as the men cleaned up the dinner things, joining them a short time later where they opened the rest of their presents. After which Joseph started putting all the rubbish in a black bag as Pierre and Charlotte headed upstairs for a little while.
After Olivia and her family left to go home, Erica called to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, followed by Cara. Leaving Rose to have a catch up with her sister, Joseph and Clarisse headed into the kitchen to sort out some coffee as Pierre came in.
"Hello darling," Clarisse smiled and looked down as she washed her hands "Is Charlotte ok?" She asked looking back up.
"Yeah she's just having a lay down, she's a bit tired." Pierre said grabbing a drink.
"I was going to say she looked tired at dinner." Clarisse said drying her hands and lent against the side as Joseph put some tubs in the fridge.
"Well hopefully she will get a good sleep now." Pierre said sitting at the table as Joseph sat down opposite him with a bowl of dessert "You can't be still hungry?" He asked with a smile playing on his lips.
"Joseph, I don't believe you? You had a big dinner as well as a dessert and now you're having more?" She said shaking her head and laughed as he nodded.
"Of course, can't let it go to waste." He smiled over at her as she moved closer to the table "Want some?" He asked while holding the spoon up as she sat down, taking the spoon in her mouth as Pierre smirked while shaking his head.
"Thank you." She smiled and nodded as he reached his arm over, placing his hand on her back.
"I think I'm going to go and lay down with Charlotte." Pierre said standing up "See you later." He smiled and walked out.
"And I think I'm going to go and have a bath." Clarisse said looking at Joseph "It's been a long day after all." She said standing up and pushed the chair under the table.
"I will be up in a bit." Joseph said looking at her as she walked over to the door.
"Ok, no rush." She smiled over at him then walked out.
After having a soak in the bath Clarisse slipped into her pajamas and dressing gown and came out to find Joseph laying on the bed in his pajamas while messing with his phone.
"What are you doing?" She asked while sitting on the bed beside him, facing the head board.
"Oh just deleting some messages." He said looking at her as she put her arm over his stomach, leaning on him gently "You ok?" He asked.
"Yeah I think so." She nodded and lent closer, kissing him.
"You know when we were at the Palace," He started while putting his phone down on the bed beside him as she nodded "You miss it don't you?" He asked while putting his hand up, brushing her hair back behind her ear "And be honest."
"I do," She nodded "A little." She whispered "I hated to admit it before, but I have to just get used to it." She said watching him as he cupped her cheek "This is our home now and I am enjoying it being just our memories." She whispered "Yes we have memories at the Palace, but that's shared with memories of Rupert, here is our own memories." She whispered as he nodded while lifting his head and kissed her several times, moving his hand down onto her neck as Lena came in.
Resting his head down with a sigh "What's the matter flower?" He asked as Lena stood by the bed with snowball.
"I just wondered if snowball could stay in my room with me tonight, I don't want her staying down in the kitchen it's freezing down there and she's only tiny and plus it's snowing." Lena said while putting snowball on the bed.
"Sure you can as long as you clean up after her." Joseph said looking at her as Clarisse looked down at him.
"Ok, thank you." Lena smiled and grabbed Clarisse's phone from the bedside table "I got to take a photo of you two like that." She smiled as they smiled for the camera "That's a lovely one." She said climbing on the bed next to them as she found it "See?" She said showing them.
"Yes it is, thank you darling." Clarisse smiled while taking her phone and looked at Lena "You look really tired too, are you feeling ok?" She asked while putting her phone down and brushed her hair back, feeling her forehead.
"I feel ok." She said moving and snuggled up to her "I may go to bed soon."
"Ok darling." Clarisse whispered while putting her arm around her shoulders as Joseph took her phone.
After a few moments she took snowball back to her room, leaving them alone.
"Now, where were we?" Joseph smiled and took hold of her hand as she lent over and kissed him while moving and straddled him on the bed.
Resting her arms on the bed beside him, placing her hands on the sides of his head as they shared a couple heated kisses only stopping when someone knocked on the door.
"Again?" Joseph laughed as Clarisse climbed off.
"Shh Joseph," She whispered and looked towards the door "Come in?"
"It's just me," Pierre exclaimed while coming in "It's Charlotte, she's gone into labor." He exclaimed while watching them look at each other.
"Are you sure?" Clarisse asked while climbing of the bed.
"Yep, her waters have broke and everything." He said nodding, trying not to panic.
"Ok, well have you phoned her midwife?" She asked as he shook his head "Ok, Joseph can you do that for me?" She asked as he nodded "The number is down by the phone in the hall."
"Ok." He said rushing out the room.
"You go back to Charlotte while I get dressed and I will be right with you." She said keeping calm.
"Ok, thanks Mom." He smiled over at her as she smiled back and watched him rush back out.
Quickly getting dressed she rushed out the bedroom and over to their bedroom, rushing in the door to find Pierre laying on the floor making her jump and gasp while putting her hands up to her face.
"Oh my god, Pierre." She exclaimed as Charlotte looked over at her.
"He saw me like this and fainted." She said looking back down while taking a couple deep breaths.
Looking over to see Charlotte on her knees "Now I see." She said rushing over and started rubbing her back "Ok, Joseph is calling the Midwife darling." She said as Joseph rushed in and stopped when he saw Charlotte the way she was, quickly turning around and hurried back out the room "Excuse me just a moment darling."
"No, please don't leave me." Charlotte exclaimed while grabbing her hand.
"I am just going out to see what the Midwife said, I will be right back, I promise." She said patting her hand and hurried out to see Joseph stood waiting "What did she say?"
"Shes on her way, but because the snow is coming down pretty fast it may take a while." He said as they looked at the door as Charlotte screamed out "But she's called an ambulance that should be here before her."
"Ok." Clarisse said nodding as Rose and Lena appeared.
"What's going on?" Rose asked.
"Is Charlotte ok?" Lena asked.
"She's in labor darling, now Joseph make yourself useful and go stay with Lena." She said and grabbed Rose's arm pulling her towards her "And you come with me." She said pulling her through the door.
"Oh my god, what happened to Pierre?" Rose exclaimed as Clarisse shut the door and rushed over to Charlotte.
"He fainted after seeing Charlotte like this." Clarisse said and started rubbing Charlotte's back "The Midwife is on the way darling."
"Oh good." Charlotte moaned and screamed out in pain.
"Um Mom?" Rose said as she looked down at her "There's something down here?" She said and watched Clarisse move down to the bottom of the bed.
"Oh dear." She gasped.
"Oh dear?" Charlotte cried "What do you mean oh dear?"
"Well those babies really want to arrive today don't they?" Clarisse said putting one hand on her hip and one hand on her forehead "Ok, Rose go and get lots and lots of towels."
"Ok." Rose nodded and rushed out the room.
Moving back beside Charlotte she started rubbing her back again "Darling those babies are coming, they don't want to wait for help and seeing though I've never delivered a baby before I am going to do the best I can." She said as Charlotte turned her head and looked at her.
"But?" She cried and screamed out "Oh my god I can feel it coming?" She gasped, trying to catch her breath.
"Ok darling," Clarisse said moving down the bottom of the bed "Yep, on your next contraction push as hard as you can darling." She exclaimed as Rose rushed back in "Great," Clarisse exclaimed when she saw the towels "Ok I'm going to have to deliver these babies, Rose when the first one is born I'm going to hand him or her to you, I need you to wipe him up carefully to clean him up a bit then wrap him in a clean towel. Can you do that for me?" She asked as Rose nodded "Good girl." She smiled and looked back at Charlotte "When you're ready Charlotte, push as hard as you can for me." Just as she finished speaking Charlotte started screaming really loudly and pushing as hard as she could.
Seconds later the first baby, a boy came out. Rose stared in shock when she saw that the cord was wrapped around his neck, nearly crying herself when Clarisse unwrapped it from around his neck.
"It's a boy darling." Clarisse whispered.
"Why isn't he crying?" Charlotte exclaimed "Mom?" She cried.
"He's just taking a little longer darling," Clarisse said cleaning out his wind pipe "Pierre was exactly the same." She said rubbing the babies back "Come on baby." She whispered as Rose covered her face, trying to stop herself from crying.
"Mom?" She whispered just as the baby started crying, smiling as she started crying and laughing with relief.
"See?" Clarisse smiled down at the baby as Rose rushed over "He's going to be like that now for the rest of his life, taking a few moments to respond to things just like his Father." She smiled as Rose took him from her and watched her move away and rest him down on a towel covering a changing mat as he screamed out while shaking a little "Now let's get this next one out shall we?" Clarisse asked while rubbing the bottom of Charlotte's back.
"Ok." Charlotte nodded while wiping her tears away.
Moments later she pushed a baby girl into the world, who, unlike her brother started screaming from the first second she was born. And as Charlotte cried while trying to catch her breath Clarisse quickly cleaned her up a bit and wrapped her in a towel as the Midwife came rushing in the room.
"Well I see I'm not needed now." She smiled as Clarisse looked up watching her rush over to Charlotte.
After a few moments Pierre came too and saw Clarisse hugging one baby as Rose hugged the other, updating the midwife with what happened with the first baby. Not long after the ambulance arrived.
"Ok, Clarisse said watching Rose carefully climb in the back of the ambulance "We will follow you." She smiled over at Charlotte "You did a great job today." She smiled as the Midwife checked Pierre before climbing out.
"Thank you so much, Mom." Charlotte nodded and looked down at the baby in her arms.
"See you in a bit." She said stepping back and watched the ambulance drive out of their drive "Right, I'm going to have a quick shower then we will head to the hospital."
"Ok." Joseph nodded and put his arm around her back as they headed inside "Because it's late though shall we drop of Lena at Olivia's?" He asked.
"Yes I think that would be best." She nodded and looked back at him.
"I will call them while you are getting showered." He smiled and watched her start to walk up the stairs.
"Ok." She nodded.
After dropping Lena of at Olivia's they headed to the hospital, being shown to their private room a short while later. Knocking and pushing the door open Clarisse smiled over at them.
"Can we come in?" She asked.
"Of course, come in come in." Pierre smiled as they came in "Thank you so much for what you done Mom." He smiled while hugging her.
"Anyone would of done the same, I'm sure." Clarisse smiled as they parted and moved closer to the bed "Which one is this?" She asked while brushing her hand over the top of the babies head.
"This one is the boy baby." Charlotte smiled and looked over to Rose as she passed the girl baby to Joseph "And Dad has the girl baby." She smiled back at Clarisse "Would you like to hold him?" She asked.
"Of course." Clarisse smiled and slowly took him from her.
"Do we have any names yet?" Joseph asked as Pierre moved beside Clarisse and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Yes we do." Pierre smiled and looked down at the baby in Clarisse's arms "This little ones name is Noah Philippe Rupert Renaldi." He smiled as Clarisse looked up at him "If that's ok?" He asked.
"Oh of course darling." She nodded as they all smiled at them "It's a beautiful name," She whispered while looking down "For a beautiful baby." She said raising her arm up and kissed his forehead while taking his tiny hand in hers "He's so beautiful, looks just like you when you were born." She smiled at Pierre.
"Thank you." He smiled.
"Now then, what's this little one's name?" Joseph asked as he stood beside them.
"This little one is called Jocee Rose Renaldi." Pierre smiled at them then at Rose as she gasped "Well it's in honor of you and Mom?" He said looking at Joseph then back at Clarisse "And for Rose because she did help." He smiled at Charlotte "It's her idea not mine so if you don't like it, blame her." He smiled.
"Hey." Charlotte exclaimed.
"Aww no it's beautiful." Clarisse smiled and lent over kissing Charlotte's cheek "Thank you so much, it suits her." She smiled at Jocee sleeping in her Grandfathers arms.
Just after midnight, Clarisse, Joseph and Rose headed home. Knowing that they wouldn't be able to sleep through all the excitement.