Several weeks later.
Today is Christmas eve, and after having a crazy night with a sleep over with several of the Grandchildren, Joe told Clarisse to stay in bed while he sorted out their breakfasts. Only after several moments she couldn't stay in bed any longer, she had to go down and see what they were doing. So grabbing her robe she headed downstairs, walking through the kitchen door moments later.
"Hey... I thought I told you to stay in bed?" Joe asked as she stood beside him.
"I know you did, but I had to come and see what craziness was happening down here." She said smiling at him.
"Why are you still wearing your gown? You are meant to change Gramma before coming to breakfast." Lilly asked while looking over.
"Yeah Gramma." Harry added.
"Aww leave your Gramma alone, I think she looks sexy." Joe said smiling and looked at Clarisse while putting his arm around her back, kissing her cheek.
"Ewwww." Lilly, Arie and Aimie all exclaim together.
"Grandpa, Gramma isn't sexy." Arie exclaimed.
"Yea, she's our Gramma." Lilly said as Clarisse and Joe looked at each other.
"Well she's your Gramma too you of course, but she certainly is sexy to me." Joe smiled putting his arm up around her shoulders, as she smiled stepping closer and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest.
"I agree with Grandpa, Gramma is pretty." Harry said running over as Clarisse stepped back from Joe and looked down as he flung is arms around her, giving her a hug.
"Aww thank you Harry." Clarisse smiled down at him while putting her hand down on the back of his head, picking him up seconds later.
"Your only saying that because you want to be just like Grandpa." Lilly said while looking over as he went shy, burying his face in Clarisse's neck.
"Aww Lilly leave your brother alone." Clarisse said as Harry lifted his head "There is nothing wrong with him wanting to be just like his Grandpa, I personally think its cute." Clarisse said smiling at Harry then at Joe as he stood smirking to himself.
"Nana." Emma said as Clarisse looked down at her "My Nana," She said standing beside her and put her arms up "Up up Nana." She said.
"What about me?" Joe said holding out his hands to her and watched her shaking her head "Nope she wants her Nana." He said smiling.
"Okay, you don't mind Harry?" Clarisse asked and watched him shake his head "Good boy." She smiled putting him down, kissing his forehead before picking up Emma.
"I think someone is getting a little jealous." Joseph said standing close to Clarisse holding Emma, and watched as she shared kisses with her.
"I think so too." Clarisse said smiling and looked at him as he put his hand on her back, gently rubbing it.
"She's a Gramma's girl, that's for sure." Joe said rubbing Emma's cheek with his finger, then tickled her neck, making her laugh out "And her laugh is just too cute." He smiled, leaning closer, moving his hand from Clarisse's back to her side.
"Yes she is." Clarisse said smiling and looked at Joe as he remained looking at Emma. "Joe? Are you okay?" She asked as he looked at her "You looked far away for a moment." Clarisse asked, watching as he looked back at Emma.
"I'm fine..." He started while running his hand up her back, resting it on the back of her neck, caressing the side of it with his thumb "It's just when I see you with her it brings back so many memories of you and Erica, and today with all the kids and the noise in the house it just reminds me of when our kids were little." He whispered looking in her eyes as she studied his face before looking back at Emma. Putting his hand up a second later and brushed her hair back, pushing it behind her ear as she remained looking at Emma. "They grow up too fast." He said moving his hand back down her back as he rested his forehead on her shoulder.
"I know sweetheart." Clarisse whispered, holding Emma with one arm and put her other hand up on the side of his head while turning her head and kissed the top of his head as Emma played with her necklace. After a moment she turned to face him, putting her free arm up around his shoulders as he stepped closer, burying his face in the crook of her neck for a few moments.
"Is Grandpa okay?" Lilly asked as Joe lifted his head and looked over at them.
"I am okay sweetheart, don't worry about me." He said turning to the counter.
"Okay..." Lilly said smiling over at him then carried on with her breakfast as Clarisse rubbed his back with her free hand.
"Grandpa hug?" Emma said holding out her arms to him.
"Well that would make me smile for sure." He said turning back to her and Clarisse and took her from Clarisse "Thank you." He said smiling as Emma reached up and kissed him.
"Love you." Emma smiled giving him a hug.
"And I love you too." Joe said smiling and looked at Clarisse.
"She's a Grampy's girl too, you know?" She said smiling.
"Gramma?" Aimie smiled as she looked over at her.
"Yes darling?" Clarisse asked.
"Who is picking up Great Grandpa today?" She asked.
"That will be your Uncle Pierre," Joe said smiling over at her then looked at Clarisse "He and Charlotte are going to pick him up, take him for lunch then drop him off here." He said smiling at Clarisse.
"Ok, I can't wait." She said nodding with a smile "Well I best get into action, I have a few things that I need to do and then I am officially free." She smiled and kissed Joe before Emma "See you in a bit."
"Where are you going?" Lilly asked.
"You ask to many questions young lady." Clarisse said smiling as she walked over, and put her hands on the sides of Lilly's head as she tipped it back to look up at her "I am going to get ready, is that okay with you?"
"Yes." Lilly giggled as Clarisse lent over and kissed her forehead "Love you Gramma." She smiled.
"And I love you too, I love all of you." She said smiling around the Grandchildren "See you in a little while."
"Okay." Lilly smiled and watched her walk out.
After getting ready and having some breakfast Clarisse headed to the Palace, where she finished the paperwork and made a quick call to France. Seeing the door opening she looked up, and couldn't help but smile when she saw Joe.
Covering the phone "Come in, come in." She said and watched him walk in, closing the door behind himself "I will be just a few more minutes, I promise." She smiled and put the phone back up to her ear.
Joe smiled and sat on the couch, watching her for a few moments as she continued the conversation in French, he loved it when she talked using her native language, and loved it even more that even after all this time she still had the slight hint of a french accent. Sure many years ago when she had her boys and their girls it was stronger than it is today, but he still loved it all the same.
As Clarisse tried to end the call she looked over at Joe, smiling to herself as he looked like he was many miles away while flicking through a magazine that one of the children had left on the coffee table that morning.
"Oui, oui, je suis toujours là monsieur!" Clarisse exclaimed down the phone a moment later as Joe looked up and watched as she sat with her eyes closed, still holding the phone to her ear "Je suis désolé, beaucoup de distractions!" She said slowly opening her eyes and looked to see Joe smirking at her. "Oui, Joyeux Noël à vous aussi." She smiled "Au revoir, au revoir!" She said and quickly hung up with a sigh "Remind me, never too call that man again." She said standing up as Joe laughed.
"Long morning?" He asked, watching her walk over and sit down beside him.
"Yes, you could say that." She said putting her hand on his thigh and lent closer, kissing him "But I do feel much better now I've seen you." She smiled rubbing his thigh a little before he put his arm up around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. "I just have a few more things I need to do then I am free until after New Year." She said, wrapping her arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Okay, well I have to go into town to grab some last minute bits, I will meet you at home?" He asked and felt her nod her head "Okay, by the way I must tell you." He said turning his head and whispered against her forehead "You are incredibly sexy when you talk French." He smiled as she dipped her head back and looked at him.
"Aww..." She said smiling "Merci." She smiled reaching up, pressing her lips to his as she moved her arm up, placing her hand on the side of his head.
Smiling as she rested her head back on his shoulder and her hand on his other shoulder "I just wish I knew what you were saying." He said as they both laughed a little.
"I thought you knew French?" She asked while sitting up and looked at him.
"I do some words, but I can't remember all of them you know." He said moving his hand onto her side, gently caressing it as she smiled at him "I wish you would talk more French though, its your first language after all." He said watching her pat his thigh.
"I know, but those days are long gone." She said looking at him "But you can't say anything because Italian is your first language and you don't talk it anymore." She said and watched him smirk with a small nod.
"That is true, you got me then." He said laughing and put his hand up cupping her face "Will you be home late?" He asked, brushing her hair back behind her ear.
"No I won't be, I will probably be home by 3 at the latest." She smiled, biting her lip as he let his hand fall onto her chest, slowly roaming down over her breast "Ahha Joe." She exclaimed about to grab his hand, but was too slow and in one quick move he had her pinned on the floor, laughing below him. "You are a bad man Mr Elizondo." She exclaimed and started laughing as he raised his head, smirking down at her.
"Oh and here's me thinking all this time that you like a bad guy?" He asked and watched her look up at him "I thought that's why you loved me." He said teasingly between kisses, then nuzzled her neck as she started laughing again.
After a few moments the phone started ringing.
"I need to get that." She exclaimed trying to push him off but started laughing as he kissed her neck "Joe stop it, please."
"Okay, but it's you missing out." He said rolling onto his back and watched her quickly stand to her feet, stepping over him to reach her desk "Mmm look at those legs." He exclaimed as she looked back at him.
"Behave please?" She said unable to hold a laugh as she made her way over to her desk, grabbing the phone she composed herself "Hello, Queen Clarisse speaking." She smiled listening to the person on the other end "Yes, this is I Ambassador." She smiled with a nod and started having a conversation with him, jumping seconds later when she felt Joe place his hands on the tops of her arms.
"I will see you later, okay?" He whispered in her ear and watched her nodding "I love you." He whispered and kissed her cheek.
"I love you too." She whispered back and watched him walk out. With a sigh she sat down behind her desk and got into a very long conversation with the French Ambassador.
Later that day. Clarisse had just arrived home, later than she first thought. And after hanging up her coat she walked through to the kitchen to see that's where most of the family were.
"Well you do remember this is where we live?" Cara said smiling as she stood beside her and kissed her cheek.
"Yes, it's been a crazy day." Clarisse said and grabbed a glass of water before walking over and kissed her Dad's cheek "Welcome Daddy, sorry I haven't been here."
"Oh it's okay butterbean, don't worry about it." He smiled watching her sit beside him "You are here now and that's all that matters." He smiled as she sipped her water.
"Indeed." Clarisse said smiling at him and put her glass down "Okay..." She said looking around the kitchen "We seem to be missing some of the men?" She said looking towards Charlotte and Rose.
"They are down in the gardens." Charlotte smiled.
"Okay." Clarisse said with a small nod "I will go and get my coat and go down too see them I think." She said standing up.
"Why don't you wear Dad's hooded sweatshirt." Rose smiled while pointing to it hanging over the back of a chair "I'm sure he won't mind."
"I might just do that." Clarisse said with a smile as she grabbed it and slipped it on.
"Gosh it's huge on you." Harry, Clarisse's Dad smiled.
"I know, but it's so comfy." She smiled and walked towards the doors, walking out seconds later.
Heading down towards where all the men were, she stood watching them for a few seconds before slowly walking over to them.
"Here you all are." She smiled and stood with her hands behind her back as they all looked at her.
"Ahh the Queen is home." Pierre smiled as she stepped closer.
"Well I was wondering what happened to you." Joe said putting his arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head "Everything okay?" He asked.
"Yes, of course." She smiled up at him, unaware the others looked at each other quickly.
"Well as much as we enjoy your company Mom," Pierre said as she looked at him "I think we will take our leave and head inside." He smiled.
"Okay Pierre, thank you." Clarisse smiled.
"No trouble." He smiled grabbing his drink and headed up to the house with the others as Clarisse moved to stand between his legs, facing him.
"So..." Joe said watching her turn her back to him "Did you get everything finished?" He asked wrapping his arms around her shoulders as she lent back against him sitting on the wall.
"Yes, just." She smiled putting her hands up on his arms "I wanted to ask you, what was that about earlier?" She asked and slowly turned to face him, putting her hands down on his thighs.
"Do I need a reason to want my wife now?" He asked looking at her for several seconds before looking down.
"Joseph." Clarisse exclaimed in surprise and watched him look up "What's wrong with you?" She asked.
"I just..." He said shaking his head as she stood watching.
"Tell me, please?" Clarisse asked while putting her hands up and cupped his face as he looked into her eyes.
"I don't know why but, the magazine in your office... when I read a little bit from it, it didn't make me feel good and I got scared." He whispered.
"What do you mean? How?" Clarisse asked and watched him look down "What was in there Joe?" She asked.
"Ways to spice up your sex life... one of them was why not invite someone else into the game, so to speak." He said looking up as she gasped.
"And you thought..." Clarisse asked as he nodded "Listen to me Joe," She started while stepping closer and put her hands on his sides "First thing, that magazine wasn't mine, I had never read it, I believe it was Cara's, or it could even be Amelia's." She said looking into his eyes as he put his hand up and brushed her hair back "And even if it was mine, I wouldn't ever do that one because I really don't like the idea of having to share. You are enough for me, and I personally think we have a brilliant sex life without adding a third or fourth person." She whispered "Or do you not think this?" She asked "And be honest." She asked, looking into his eyes as he cupped her head with both his hands, pressing his lips to hers, pulling his head back several seconds later.
"Of course I think it's brilliant, I just got scared." He whispered.
"Okay then, but honestly Joseph you should know me by now." She said smiling as he nodded slightly.
"That's true." He smiled as she put her arms up, locking them around his shoulders "I love you."
"I love you too." She said smiling and closed her eyes as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
"Hey," He said lifting his head up a moment later "Are you wearing my sweatshirt?" He asked as she put her hands down on his thighs.
"I am, I hope that was okay?" She asked and smiled as he put his hands up and grabbed the hood, pulling it over her head.
"Oh of course, what's mine is yours remember?" He smiled "It actually looks better on you than it does me." He smiled, grabbing the drawstrings and pulled them tighter, making the hood close a little.
"Hey!" Clarisse exclaimed and started laughing as Joe smiled and laughed.
"Sorry I couldn't help myself." He smiled as she undone it and looked at him.
"I must say it sure feels weird seeing you at my level and not having to tip my head back." Clarisse smiled while stepping closer and wrapped her arms around his waist, smiling as he put his arms around her shoulders.
"I know, I was thinking the same." He smiled as his phone beeped "Hmm I wonder who that could be." He said grabbing it, reading the message and started laughing "It was from Rose, she says I hope that you two are behaving." He said smiling up as Clarisse as she laughed "Come here I want a photo." He smiled holding his arm up as she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his waist and rested the side of her face against his. Both smiling as he took a photo of them, and checked it out.
"Let me see?" She said smiling and watched him hold his phone out to her. Taking it she see the photo as Joe sipped his beer "Aww that's a nice one." She said smiling up at him.
"Indeed." He smiled, leaning closer and kissed her several times.
"Mom, Dad." Pierre called from the back door "Sure hope you are behaving down there?"
"Yes Pierre we are." Joe said smiling at Clarisse as she took a couple sips of his beer "What's the matter?" He called out while watching Clarisse.
"I just wanted to let you know dinner just arrived." Pierre called out.
"Okay we will be up in a bit." Joe called back, putting one hand on Clarisse's hip as she buried her face in the crook of his neck "Save us some." He called out.
"Okay." Pierre answered and closed the door.
"Dinner just arrived?" Clarisse asked lifting her head and smiled at him while putting his bottle back down.
"Yes," He said nodding with a cheeky smirk "Did you not see how many people we have staying for dinner tonight?" He asked with a laugh.
"Yes I did actually." She smiled, watching him.
"Good... now what's this, you drinking from my beer bottle?" He said smirking at her as he put his hands on her hips "That's so unlike you."
"I know, but I felt a little bit thirsty." She said smiling.
"Ahh okay... now, where were we?" He smiled putting his hands up, slipping them under the hood and cupped her face.
"Oh well I don't know..." Clarisse answered, getting lost in his gaze. Closing her eyes seconds later as he pressed his lips to hers.
Kissing her bottom lip while putting his arms down, wrapping them around her waist, as she slowly put her arms up, draping them over his shoulders, deepening the kiss he started before their tongues fought their own battles. Moving her hands to the back of his head several moments later and arched her back as he started kissing down her jaw and neckline.
"I think..." She whispered, feeling his lips kissing the corner of her mouth "We need to stop and cool down." She added, feeling his hands wondering over her back and bottom.
"Must we?" He asked softly, pressing his lips to hers in a deep heated kiss, one that resulted in him stepping from the wall, turning them around so she was now back against the wall "I get so lost in your kisses." He whispered, lifting her to sit on the wall and stepped between her legs, kissing her the whole time.
"As hard as I am finding this..." Clarisse whispered breathlessly, putting her hand up and pressing her finger to his lips "We must stop." She whispered, kissing him a couple times as he ran his hands up and down her thighs.
"God you're right." He whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. Looking into her eyes for just a moment before they shared another kiss.
After a few more moments they headed up to the house, where they sat down with the family and enjoyed some dinner. Once Clarisse had, had enough she headed upstairs, had a quick shower and got into her pajamas before laying on the couch with Emma snuggled up on her front.
After cleaning up the kitchen Joe headed upstairs to check on them, finding Clarisse asleep with Emma still resting on her front. Standing for a few moments, watching them with the Christmas tree lights being the only lights in the room, he couldn't help but smile before slowly walking over to them. But when Emma heard movement though she lifted her head and smiled when she saw her Grandpa standing beside them.
"Has Nana fallen to sleep?" He asked and sat on the edge of the coffee table beside them "Shall we go downstairs and leave her to get some rest?" He asked holding out his hands to her, smiling as she reached up for him. Only when he took her from Clarisse, she opened her eyes.
"I'm awake." She said looking up at him as he rested Emma on his hip.
"Are you sure?" He asked, moving to sit on the edge of the couch next to her, sitting Emma on the his lap as she sat up.
"I am." She nodded and checked the time.
"Okay, are you coming to midnight mass tonight?" Joe asked, watching as Emma climbed from his lap to sit back on Clarisse's.
"I am." She said with a nod and smiled at Emma "And we have this little madam in our room tonight... I hope that's okay." She said looking at Joe.
"Of course, Shades already told me he offered to do the night shift at the Palace." He said watching as Clarisse kissed Emma's hands.
"Yes... I think, even though he has Emma to enjoy Christmas with, he's still finding it hard that Erica isn't here." She said looking at Joe "I do too."
"I know, I think we all do." He said watching as Emma snuggled up to Clarisse's chest, burying her face under Clarisse's chin as she wrapped her arms around Emma's tiny body. "It will get easier, I promise." He whispered and watched as Clarisse nodded slightly before closing her eyes and kissed Emma's forehead before resting her head gently on top of hers.
Several hours later everyone, who went, arrived home from midnight mass. Clarisse watched as the kids disappeared through to the kitchen, slipping off her coat she put it over her arm and looked at Joe as he stood beside her.
"Are you coming for a night cap?" Joe asked putting his hand on her back.
"No I think I'm going to go on up, check Emma and call it a night." She said "You go on though, I will see you when you come up."
"Are you sure?" He asked and watched her nod "Okay, well I will only be a little while." He said with a smile and kissed her cheek.
"Okay, see you in a bit." She said smiling and headed upstairs, unaware that Joe was watching her.
Hanging up her coat she walked through to the bedroom, walking slowly over to the travel cot that Emma was fast asleep in. Leaning over she ran her hand gently over the back of Emma's head before pulling the blanket up a little more, smiling down at her as she lay sucking her thumb.
Joe stood in the doorway watching her for several seconds before walking over, putting his hands on her arms as she turned her head to the side.
"Is she okay?" He whispered.
"Yes, she is." Clarisse nodded and looked back down at her.
"Good," He said taking her hand "Then come with me, please." He whispered and gently nudged her to come with him.
"Where are we going?" She asked, watching him as he led the way out onto the balcony. "What's going on?" She asked as he closed the door and let go of her hand.
"I want to dance with you." He said smiling and grabbed the coat he had just put out there moments earlier, helping her on with it before slipping on his own.
"We have no music." Clarisse answered and watched him grab his phone.
"I know we don't really need music to dance, it comes from the heart most of the time." He said smiling up at her "But this time we do, I have it on my phone." He grinned and looked back down at his phone.
"I see." Clarisse said watching him before turning and looked out into the darkness.
Putting his phone down on the table, he looked up at Clarisse as she slowly turned around upon hearing the music.
"Could I have this dance?" Joe smiled, asking her to dance and quoting the song title at the same time.
"Of course." She smiled back as they stepped closer.
Wrapping one arm around her waist, as she put her arm up around his shoulder, moving her hand up onto the top of his back as he took her other hand, holding it out beside them as they started swaying slowly to the song.
"I love it when we dance." He whispered in her ear as he rested his cheek against the side of her head.
"I do too." She answered, closing her eyes.
Lifting his head back moments later with a small smile, watching as she slowly opened her eyes.
"Merry Christmas." He whispered.
"Merry Christmas." She smiled back, closing her eyes as he pressed his lips to hers.
Both coming to a stop as they shared a loving kiss, moving his hands up her back as she locked her arms around his neck, arching her back, pulling her head back moments later to look at him, but ended up looking around them.
"Oh look..." Joe said softly while looking around "It's snowing." He whispered, looking back at her as she looked at him.
"Yes... yes it is." She smiled.
Sharing another kiss just seconds later before finishing the dance.