A couple weeks later.
As the alarm buzzed Clarisse reached her arm over to turn it of before snuggling back up to Joseph as he opened his eyes.
"Time to get up." He whispered and kissed her forehead.
"I know, but its still too early." She whispered as he laughed "Just 5 more minutes, please."
"We had this yesterday," He said rubbing her back "I know you need to get up earlier than what you used too, but you're the one who wanted to move here, remember?" He asked and watched her lift her head.
"I know, you don't have to remind me." She smiled as he lifted his head and kissed her while moving his hand to the back of her head.
"But remember we only have two more days here before we go to Erica's for the arrival of her baby." He smiled as she nodded and kissed him back.
"I know I can't wait." She smiled and rested her head back on his chest with a sigh "I have missed them all so much." She whispered.
"Me too." He whispered as she lifted her head "Right, come on," He said rubbing her back "We need to get moving or we will be even later." He smiled and watched her sit up.
"Ok, I'm moving." She smiled and climbed out the bed, walking into her bathroom.
After getting showered and dressed she headed downstairs to find Joseph already ready and cooking them breakfast as Lena finished of her homework. Being joined by Rose a short time later, all having breakfast together.
"When do you leave for America?" Rose asked as Clarisse finished of her coffee.
"2 days." Joseph smiled over at her "Are you coming too? I know Olivia is."
"Am I going?" Lena asked.
"No I'm afraid not sweetheart, you have school." Clarisse said while looking at her.
"Then where am I staying?" She asked in surprise.
"You are going to be staying with Charlotte and Pierre, remember you said that you'd be happy to help them with Noah and Jocee?" She smiled.
"Oh yeah." Lena giggled.
"Can I come if it's ok?" Rose asked.
"Of course you can, I'm sure she'd love to see you too." Clarisse smiled.
"Great." Rose smiled and finished of her breakfast.
A short while later Clarisse headed into the foyer to get her bag ready and slipped on her coat as her driver pulled up in the driveway.
"Right," Clarisse smiled walking back into the kitchen while doing up her coat "My driver is here so I will say goodbye." She said and kissed Rose and Lena "I will see you later on," She smiled and stood next to Joseph and as he looked up at her she put her hand on the back of his head "Lena has dance after school, remember that." She smiled and lent over "Or she won't be happy with you." She smiled and kissed him a couple times as Lena and Rose smiled at each other.
"I won't." He smiled while putting his hand up, brushing her hair back "After I've dropped Lena off I will pop in the Palace." He smiled and kissed her again.
"Yes, you do that." She smiled while standing up straight "See you all later." She waved and headed out the kitchen and towards the front door.
"Clari, wait." Joseph exclaimed while rushing into the foyer after her as she turned to him.
"What's wrong?" She asked and watched him stand in front of her, pushing up the door.
"I just wondered tonight if I can get Rose to watch Lena, maybe we could have a date night?" He smirked as he stood really close to her.
"Really?" She asked and giggled as he moved her, pinning her back against the door "Yes, I would love a date night." She smiled.
"Good." He smiled and kissed her slowly for a moment then stepped back "Have a good day." He smiled and walked away as she stood in surprise, putting her hand on her chest.
"Yes, of course." She whispered and nodded while turning and headed out the door slowly.
Stopping on the porch she looked back at the door then shook her head before heading down to her driver, leaving moments later.
Once she was at the Palace she sat down with Ally to go over a few things and to find out what she had planned today. Settling down to start her paper work a short time later, but just as she got started someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." She said looking over the top of her glasses to see Pierre coming in carrying a car seat "Pierre." She smiled taking her glasses off and stood up as he made his way over to the desk.
"Morning Mom." He smiled and kissed her cheek before putting the car seat on her desk.
"Aww Noah." She smiled undoing the straps and lifted him from the seat "Where's Charlotte and Jocee?" She asked while resting Noah on her chest.
"Just coming, they bumped into Ally." He smiled "Will you be alright with him for a moment?" He asked.
"Of course." Clarisse giggled and watched him walk out "Silly Daddy." Clarisse smiled as Noah stretched out his arm "This is no good, I can't see your face like this." She smiled and moved him, cradling him in her arm "Much better." She smiled while taking hold of his tiny hand and kissed his fingers as she walked over to the couch in her office.
Moments later Pierre came back in, watching them for a few moments before moving and sat beside them.
"He looks just like you did when you were his age." Clarisse smiled back at Pierre as she rocked from side to side a little.
"I know, I keep checking the photos to make sure." He smiled as Clarisse laughed.
"Here we go." Charlotte smiled coming in "This is your Grandma's office." She smiled down at Jocee as Pierre and Clarisse looked over at her.
"She knows who her Grandma is by the way." Pierre smirked at Clarisse.
"What do you mean?" Clarisse asked while looking at him then Charlotte.
"Whenever she hears your voice she responds." Charlotte said while putting the car seat down by the sofa next to Pierre "See she's smiling."
"Ahh no, that's just gas." Clarisse smiled down at her as Pierre undone the straps and lifted her from the seat, resting her on his lap.
"It's not Mother." Pierre said in a serious voice as Clarisse looked at him in surprise, both smiling seconds later "I'm going to give them a tour in a bit, would you like to help?"
"Oh they will love it and of course, I would love too." Clarisse smiled while leaning over a little and kissed Jocee's fingers as she smiled a little, opening her eyes to look up at her Grandmother "You have your Mother's eyes, don't you darling?" Clarisse smiled down at Jocee then looked up at Pierre and Charlotte as they smiled down at her.
"When do you leave?" Pierre asked.
"In 2 days, but now knowing that these beautiful babies are home it's going to be hard to leave." She smiled and looked down at Noah.
"Aww well they will be here when you return." Charlotte smiled.
"That's true." Clarisse nodded while looking up at her "Though when Erica has her baby I will probably want to stay there." She laughed.
"That's true too." Pierre smiled.
After a short while Pierre and Clarisse took the twins on a tour of the Palace while Charlotte rested, but when they got half way through Ally came running down the corridor to find them.
"Ally, what ever is that matter?" Clarisse asked.
"It's Joseph, he needs to talk to you." Ally said while holding the phone up, trying to catch her breath.
"Pierre take the phone a moment," Clarisse said watching him take the phone in his free hand then she passed Jocee to Ally "I will take this call then we will carry on." She said rubbing the back of Jocee's head before taking the phone and walked away into her old suite.
As she took the call Pierre and Ally stood waiting in the halls, looking towards the door when she came out moments later.
"Is everything ok?" Pierre asked as she walked back over to them.
"Yea, but I have to leave." Clarisse said "Joseph is on his way to get me, Erica has gone into labor so we are heading to America now." She said kissing Pierre's cheek, then Noah's as he slept on Pierre's chest "Ally can you please clear my diary until further notice?" She asked and kissed Jocee's head.
"Of course." Ally nodded.
"Call me when you get there so I know you arrived safely and keep us updated." Pierre said watching Clarisse rush down the hall.
"We will." She said calling back and hurried down the stairs.
Shortly after take off, even though everyone was excited Clarisse managed to drop of to sleep. Waking several hours later, quickly lifting her head as Joseph looked up from his book.
"Are you ok?" He whispered and watched as she turned her head to look at him and nodded, smiling he looked back at his book as she slowly looked out the window.
"Something's wrong?" She whispered moments later, looking back at Joseph as he looked up from his book.
"What do you mean something's wrong?" He asked and closed his book.
"I don't know, I can't explain it." She whispered as he turned to her and took her hand "I just get a horrible feeling that something's wrong." She said "Somethings tugging at my heart and I don't know what." She whispered.
"I'm sure everything's fine." He whispered and lent closer, kissing her cheek.
"Hey Mom, you're awake." Olivia smiled while standing beside their seats.
"I am." Clarisse nodded and forced a smile.
Noticing the forced smile she smiled back and moved over and sat back down in her seat beside Rose as Joseph watched Clarisse turn in her seat and stare out the window.
Arriving at the airport several hours later, they all remained on the plane while the guards checked to make sure everything was safe and loaded their bags into the waiting SUV's. Leaving the airport a short time later they headed to the hospital in silence.
And as Rose and Olivia called home to let them know that they had arrived safely Clarisse and Joseph headed up to the ward. In the lift however Clarisse slowly slipped her hand into Joseph's as he looked back at her. Stepping of the lift they made their way to Erica's room, only to be greeted by Scott's parents.
"Your Majesty." His Mother, Val exclaimed while jumping up and looked back at her husband, Peter as he slowly stood up.
"I'm so sorry." Peter whispered and watched Clarisse and Joseph look at each other before looking back at them.
"What... What do you mean?" Clarisse asked as Joseph put his arm around her back.
Watching as Olivia and Rose appear behind them he took a deep breath as Val started crying "Erica... She's gone." He whispered looking down.
"Gone?" Olivia exclaimed and watched as Peter started crying "What do you mean gone?"
"She passed away a little while ago." Came a voice behind them, making everyone turn around to see Scott, his eyes red from crying.
"I think I'm going to be sick." Clarisse whispered while covering her mouth.
"No?" Olivia whispered "She couldn't off." She said as Clarisse rushed away to the loo, followed by Val and Rose "She can't be dead."
"I'm so sorry." Scott whispered and watched as Olivia and Joseph went after the ladies, not caring that it was the ladies he needed to be with his wife.
Standing in the doorway seeing Rose and Clarisse hugging each other tightly as Val rubbed her back, slowly stepping forward as Rose opened her eyes, seeing him standing beside them.
"Mom?" She whispered "Dad's here." She cried as Clarisse stepped back and looked at him.
"I knew something was wrong." She whispered through crying as he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her, crying together.
After a short time they went to see the Doctor who explained everything to them, then took them to see her. Leaving them to have some privacy where they both broke down again. Returning to the ward an hour later.
"Would you like to see the baby?" Val asked.
"What did she have?" Clarisse whispered, her heart breaking.
"A little girl." Val whispered and took Clarisse's hand as she led them to see the baby.
Standing next to her crib in the baby ward several moments later, Val slowly lent over and lifted her from the crib, turning to Clarisse and Joseph, passing her slowly to Clarisse as she cried.
"Oh she's so beautiful." Clarisse whispered, letting a couple tears fall as she brought her tiny hand up and kissed her fingers.
"Did..." Joseph started and stopped, taking a deep breath as Clarisse turned to him "Did Erica see her before she died?" Joseph asked.
"She did," Val nodded "She had a cuddle too."
"So she knew she had a girl?" Clarisse asked while looking at Val.
"She did, she had a name for her and everything." Val whispered and lifted the medical note card from the crib handing it to Joseph.
"Emma Clarisse." He whispered as Clarisse closed her eyes, breaking down again while raising her arm up, softly kissing the top of Emma's head.
"It's what they both wanted and had talked about it for the last several weeks." Val whispered "There is something else," She started as Joseph looked at her whilst Clarisse kept her eyes down on Emma, pressing her tiny fingers against her lips while swaying a little "She can go home today." She whispered as Clarisse looked up "I have talked to Scott and I wanted to talk to you about it too, I know you've just had a big shock but I can take Emma to mine for a few days, give you time to take in this news." She whispered as Clarisse shook her head.
"No," She whispered as tears escaped her eyes "Thanks for the offer Val, but she's coming home with us." She said looking back down at Emma.
"I understand, I am however just a phone call away if you need me?" She offered and left them alone with Emma and headed back to the others.
"She looks just like Erica." Clarisse whispered as she gently passed her to Joseph.
"She does." He nodded and looked up at her "Are you sure about taking her back with us?" Joseph whispered and put his free arm around her shoulders.
"Along with Arie and Aimie, they're all we have left of our beautiful baby." She whispered while looking into his eyes, as a couple tears escaped her eyes.
"I understand." Joseph nodded and kissed the side of her head.
After they got baby Emma ready they left, following Val and Peter to the house. As Joseph called everyone back home to let them know what's happened, Clarisse fed baby Emma while sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery.
Standing in the doorway watching for a few moments before walking in and closing the door up behind him "That's everyone called." He whispered while pulling a chair up closer to Clarisse and Emma "I called Tom too, he and his parents are going to head out tomorrow." He added as Clarisse looked at him "For Arie and Aimie."
"I see." Clarisse nodded and rested the side of her face against the top of Emma's head as she gently rubbed her back.
"He would like to take the kids back to Genovia with him after the funeral." He whispered while reaching his hand over, rubbing the back of Emma's head.
"Maybe that would be best, get them into a rountine back there." She whispered, keeping her eyes closed.
"Yeah that's what he said." He whispered while watching them.
Opening her eyes she slowly edged forward and stood up, walking over and gently placed Emma down in the crib. Covering her over with her blankets as Joseph stood beside her.
"She didn't even get a chance to bond with her." Clarisse whispered while stroking the back of Emma's head.
"I know." He whispered while rubbing her back, stopping when she nudged him away "Clarisse, please..." He whispered as she turned to look at him as someone knocked on the door.
"Mom," Olivia whispered while pushing the door open "Scott's sister has just arrived with Arie and Aimie."
"Thank you." Clarisse whispered wiping her face, looking down at Emma before turning and walked towards Olivia, heading out as Olivia and Joseph looked at each other.
Sighing Joseph shook his head and walked over to Olivia "Thanks for letting us know."
"It's ok." Olivia nodded and headed downstairs just as Clarisse gave Arie and Aimie big hugs.
"Grandpa." Arie exclaimed and rushed over to him, giving him a hug, followed by Aimie.
"Where's Mommy?" Aimie asked as Joseph lifted her up as everyone looked at each other.
"Grandma?" Arie whispered while taking her hand.
"Come here, come on?" She whispered and led the way through to the kitchen with Joseph following, still carrying Aimie.
"What's going on?" Arie asked as Clarisse sat down and put her arm around his waist.
"Mommys gone to heaven." Clarisse started as Joseph sat down, sitting Aimie on his lap.
"Oh." Arie whispered and looked down.
"Do you know where that is?" She asked.
"We do," Arie nodded "She would talk to us about it, that's where her Brother is."
"She's with her Brother?" Aimie asked as Clarisse slowly nodded, a couple tears escaping her eyes.
"It's ok Grandma." Arie whispered while putting his arms around her neck "Philippe will look after her." He whispered as Clarisse started crying "He won't let her get lost or hurt again." He whispered as Clarisse pulled back, cupping his face with her hands.
"When did you get so grown up?" She whispered between crying and wrapped her arms around him again.
"She's an angel now Grandma." Aimie whispered as she climbed from Joseph's lap and moved over to them.
"That's right, she is." Clarisse whispered while pulling her onto her lap, wrapping her arms around her.
Joseph watched as she hugged them both, his heart breaking into a billion pieces.