First of all I want to thank my chum for all her help, if it wasn't for you, this wouldn't be done so soon. You're amazing, thank you so much!
Second, thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing, if you have of course ;)
xXx
6 weeks later.
Touching down in Genovia a little after eight in the morning, remaining on the plane whilst the guards unloaded their bags and Clarisse got Emma ready.
"There we go." Clarisse whispered while putting her back in the car seat, doing up the straps as Joseph stood beside them.
"Did you want me to carry her down?" He asked.
"No it's fine, you can carry the moses basket and baby bag though." Clarisse said and slipped her jacket on.
"Are you going to be able to carry her in the car seat down the stairs?" He asked as she just nodded her reply "Okay." He whispered and walked away.
Quickly putting everything in her handbag she checked she had everything as Rose stood beside her.
"Did you want me to take your bag?" She asked.
"Please darling." Clarisse nodded and handed her the bag before grabbing the baby blanket "This is just until we get in the car sweetheart, then I promise I will take it off." She said making sure Emma was ok then put the blanket over the top of the car seat so when they took her down, people couldn't get a photo of her.
Standing up a few moments later she checked to make sure it was ok to go down, then hooked her arm under the handle, heading towards the door as her pilot and crew stood at the end of the aisle.
"Thank you, you all did a great job as always." They bowed, she nodded her reply and stood in the doorway. Making her way down the stairs slowly as Joseph and Rose stood at the bottom waiting.
Heading over to the car, Rose jumped in and put her arm out for the car seat as Clarisse lent over a little, standing back up straight to climb in as Joseph stood behind her, when something caught her eye. Looking out at all the press, staff and other members of the public she noticed that no one was taking photos, they all stood with their heads down, hands together in front of them.
Looking back at Joseph before turning and climbed in the car, Joseph shut the door and moved, getting in the front with Maxwell. Leaving the airport moments later, heading back to their house.
Arriving at the house a short time later as Pierre came out the door, walking down to them as they got out the car.
"Hello," He said as Clarisse turned to him and gave him a hug "I got what you requested ready, it's all good to go." He said as they stepped apart.
"Thank you." She said leaning back in the car and got Emma from the car seat, standing back as Pierre took Emma's hand as Clarisse rested her on her shoulder.
"How did she enjoy her first flight?" He asked, running his thumb over her fingers gently as she closed her eyes "I think someone's tired." He nodded.
"Yes, I'm going to take her upstairs and put her down for a while." She said walking towards the house "And on the flight she was pretty good." She said "Excuse me." She whispered and headed up to her bedroom.
Bringing the bags in Joseph looked around "Where's Clari?" He asked.
"She's took Emma up to your suite." Pierre answered.
"Ok." He nodded, putting his hands on his hips for a second before walking back out.
After Clarisse had got Emma settled she came back out into the suite, seeing the urn with Erica's ashes in on the table. She slowly walked over to them as Joseph appeared.
"I put them on there as I wasn't sure where we were going to put them and I didn't want to put them somewhere without talking to you first, as knowing me, my choice would of been wrong." He said and watched her slowly lift it up.
"Ok." She said turning and walked over to the fireplace in their suite. Grabbing the photo of her and Joseph from the middle she tossed it onto one of the arm chairs as Joseph watched her the whole time. Raising her arms up she placed the urn on the mantel where the picture from their wedding once stood "It can stay there a while." She whispered.
"Okay." He said with a slight nod "Where's Emma?" He asked.
"She's sleeping in the bedroom." She whispered, not taking her eyes from the fireplace.
"Ok." He answered "Would you like anything to eat?" He asked while walking over to the door.
"No, I'm not hungry." She whispered and turned away, walking back through to the bedroom.
Sighing he headed downstairs, standing in the kitchen staring out the window for a short time before making himself some lunch. However once it was done he no longer wanted to eat it, so went for a walk instead. Having some alone time before Pierre appeared.
"Dad are you okay?" Pierre asked watching as Joe turned his head the other way.
"I'm fine." Joseph answered as he tried to dry his eyes.
"I'm so sorry Dad, we have all been concerned with Mom and the kids that we failed to make sure you were alright." He said standing beside him "I'm so sorry." He whispered, taking him into a hug, letting him cry on his shoulder.
"I'm just trying to be strong and be there for everyone." Joseph said moments later as he stepped back from Pierre.
"I know you are, and we all thank you for that." Pierre whispered as they started walking around the gardens "I know Mom is blocking you out, I know you weren't together when my Father died but I do remember she done that to you then and when Philippe died, though, this time she seems to be worse." He whispered as Joseph nodded.
"I am trying to be there for her, but she doesn't want me." He shrugged as they reached the fences at the end of the gardens "I just wish she'd open up to me, that's all I ask." He said resting his arms down on top of the fence watching the horses in the field behind their gardens.
"She will soon I'm sure, I know coming back here was hard for her, well you too of course." He added, resting his arms on the fence.
"You know what she did up in the suite earlier?" He asked as Pierre shook his head "She threw our wedding photo onto one of the arm chairs, putting the urn in it's place." He said as Pierre gasped "I know this has hit her hard, but to me that makes me feel that I don't even matter, that I'm a nobody." He said looking at Pierre as tears pricked his eyes.
"Oh Dad I am so sorry." Pierre whispered while putting his arm around his shoulders, rubbing his back as he cried again.
Returning to the house a short time later, Joseph stood in the doorway watching as Clarisse kissed Emma's palm, making her giggle as Shades knelt beside them. Slowly she lifted Emma from the bouncer and passed her to Shades.
As Joseph watched her fuss over Emma his heart broke that little bit more, pushing him over the edge shaking his head he turned and headed upstairs, not quietly.
"Who was that?" Shades asked while looking at Clarisse as she looked towards the door.
"Probably Joseph." She said looking back at him then down at Emma, kissing her hands again making her giggle.
After several moments Clarisse headed upstairs to get Emma's blanket for Shades to take Emma for a walk around the village, only when she walked into the bedroom she saw Joseph packing his stuff.
"Where are you going?" Clarisse asked pushing up the door.
"I just need some time alone." He answered throwing some stuff into his bag.
"You can't just leave me." Clarisse exclaimed and watched as he stopped and turned to her.
"Why not... You don't need me! And that's what a grieving person does isn't it? I mean you did it when Rupert passed away and Shades did it so now it's my turn." He answered turning back to his bag to continue packing.
"That's not true, of course I need you." She whispered and watched him zip up his bag "Joseph." She whispered while watching him grab his bag.
"Yes, you only need me to satisfy your needs, nothing else." He answered as she gasped.
"How dare you, you know that's not true." She whispered while shaking her head.
"Once it's over you curl up with your back to me." He said while walking over to her and put his free arm up, pointing to the fireplace "Do you have any idea how you made me feel when you just tossed our wedding photo from the fireplace? Like it doesn't even matter." He said as she shook her head "You made me feel that I didn't matter and that I wasn't needed, for weeks I have been trying to keep this family together it's nice to see my actions go unnoticed by you." He said stepping away and looked down while shaking his head.
"Well where was I going to put her ashes Joseph? I couldn't just leave them on the table," She said motioning towards the table "Or on the floor." She said looking up at him.
"I honestly don't mind them being there," He said placing his hand over his heart "But to do that with our wedding photo ripped my heart apart even more." He whispered as they looked into each others eyes "You block everyone out, but as soon as you are with Emma, it's like you're a different person." He said looking into her eyes as tears escaped his.
Shaking his head as he walked over to the door, opening it to see Rose and Lena stood at the end of the hall. Turning slowly back to Clarisse as she put her hands up to her face, putting them together as she prayed to herself he'd stay.
"Please Joseph," Clarisse begged while rushing over to him "I need you, please stay." She said through crying and grabbed his arm "Please." She whispered.
Pulling his arm free before walking out a few seconds later while shaking his head.
"Fine," Clarisse exclaimed while rushing onto the landing as he made his way down the stairs "You want to leave then leave." She answered as Pierre and Shades came into the foyer to see what was going on.
"What's going on?" Pierre asked as Joseph opened the front door and started walking out.
"Damn you Joseph, you can't do this to me!" Clarisse exclaimed as the door closed behind him.
Walking back into the suite, slamming the door behind her as she began crying. After a few moments Lena came in and slowly walked over to her, putting her arms around her neck as Rose stood in the doorway watching them.
"Is Daddy coming back Mom?" She asked as Clarisse looked up at her.
"I don't know darling, I honestly don't know." She said as the tears escaped her eyes.