-Part 1-
Several months later.
Today is Clarisse's birthday, as well as her and Joe's 4th Wedding Anniversary.
Waking to the sound of the alarm Joe quickly reached over to turn it off in the hope that it hadn't woken Clarisse yet.
"Too late." She whispered, snuggling as close as she could to him, smiling as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry..." He said watching her tip her head back to look at him "Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary." He whispered between kisses as he moved his hand from her back, to her side.
"Mmm thank you." She smiled against his lips and ran her hand down his arm a little as she rolled on her back, closing her eyes "Remind me again, why do you need to be up so early for?" She asked turning her head to look at him.
"I told you, to go and get your present." He whispered, kissing her shoulder as she put her arm that lay between them, up and cupped his cheek as her other hand remained on his arm.
"Okay..." She said closing her eyes again.
"I promise I will make it up to you later." He whispered against her cheek, smiling when he felt her smile at his words.
"You promise?" She whispered, turning her head to look at him.
Nodding he put his hand up, brushing her hair back behind her ear before placing his hand gently on her neck "I promise." He smiled, loving how she looked in the mornings.
"Okay, then you can go." She smiled and closed her eyes as he pressed his lips to hers.
Letting the kiss linger a moment before kissing her a couple times while pushing the sheets down to climb from the bed, reluctantly he raised himself up to climb out as his arm remained around Clarisse's waist, enjoying the kisses she was showering his mouth with. Letting her hand run down his arm to his hand, she finally had to admit it was time to let him go. Doing just that she watched as he stretched out with his back to her as she lay, biting her bottom lip at the sight that she would never tire of seeing first thing in the morning.
After Joe had showered, dressed and left, Clarisse climbed from the bed and headed through to her closet. Going through her outfits and knowing she had a meeting this morning she finally decided on a red cardigan, white blouse, red silk scarf, black pencil skirt topped with black court shoes. After showering and getting dressed she headed downstairs to have some breakfast before heading to her office.
Meanwhile at the airport, Joe waited for Amelia to disembark Genovia One. Watching her walk down the stairs towards him he couldn't help but smile, she always reminded him of her Grandmother and how after a long flight, no matter how much she hated flying, she would always have a warm smile when she stepped from the plane.
"Boy I'm so glad that's over with." She said with a small laugh as she made her way down the stairs towards him.
"Good morning Princess." He said smiling as she stepped off the last step.
"Good morning Grandpa." She smiled as he kissed her cheek.
"Here, let me take these for you." He said taking her hand luggage "Is this all you have?" He asked motioning towards the waiting limo.
"Yes, I'm only here a week and well, most of my stuff is already here." She smiled as he opened the car door for her "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He smiled, watching her climb in. Shutting the door he walked around the other side, climbing in just seconds later.
Leaving the airport seconds later as Amelia checked her phone.
"Did you bring it?" Joe asked, turning to Mia.
"Yes I did." She smiled putting her phone on her lap and reached over to her bag, pulling out a red velvet box "It's beautiful, I'm sure Grandma will love it." She said passing it to him.
"Oh I hope so." He said taking it and rested it on his lap "It's exactly the same as the one your Grandfather had bought her the year before he died."
"If it's the same, why did you get it?" Mia asked while watching him look up at her.
"Because she lost the other one when the girls were babies." He said looking back down at the box as he slowly opened it.
"Awww I see." Mia said watching him for a second then looked back at her phone.
"I had never seen her so upset over a piece of jewelry before, given it was given to her by Rupert, she had lost many things in her life, but that broke her heart." He said looking towards her as she looked up.
"I can understand that." Mia nodded and watched him look back down at the box as he closed it "It reminds me of titanic's heart of the ocean." She smiled.
"Yeah I guess it is a bit like that." He said nodding while looking at her "Thanks again for bringing it with you." He smiled.
"No trouble." She smiled and looked down for a moment before looking back at him "Is Grandma okay?" She asked putting her phone away.
"How do you mean?" He asked, tucking the box in his inside pocket.
"Well I talked with Uncle Pierre a couple days ago," She said looking towards the front of the limo as she turned a little, to face Joe more then looked back at him "And he said she's changed."
"Well she has a little, I think after everything that has happened over the last couple years she woke up one morning and decided a change was in order, she looks at life differently now." He said nodding.
"I see..." She said nodding a little while looking at him "She's not heading towards a breakdown, is she?" She asked with a worried tone in her voice.
"Oh god no!" He exclaimed shaking his head then smiled "She isn't acting like someone who's heading towards a breakdown." He smiled "You have no worries Mia, she's just fine, I promise." He smiled.
"Okay." She nodded and closed her eyes while resting her head back against the headrest "Just going to rest my eyes the rest of the way, okay Grandpa?" She asked.
"Of course, you go ahead." He smiled.
"Thank you." Mia answered, trying to get comfortable.
Meanwhile back at the Palace, Clarisse had finished breakfast and headed to her office with a hot cup of coffee. Walking through the door she couldn't help but smile when she saw Charlotte leaning over her desk, going through a stack of paperwork.
"Good morning Charlotte." Clarisse smiled as she walked over and kissed her cheek "It's nice to see you so early." She said moving around to behind her desk "How are my beautiful grand babies this morning?"
"Good morning, Mom." She said with a smile as Clarisse looked at her "Your beautiful grand babies are just perfect, they kept me up most of the night actually."
"Oh no?" Clarisse exclaimed "You should of stayed in bed this morning then."
"Oh no it's okay, I don't mind being up early." Charlotte smiled and watched Clarisse as she sipped her coffee, holding the cup in both her hands "Oh and Happy Birthday and Anniversary." She said smiling.
"Thank you sweetheart." Clarisse smiled and watched as Charlotte passed her a piece of paper "What's this?" She asked taking it as she put her cup down.
"The email Motaz sent about the Halloween festival." Charlotte said watching as Clarisse slipped on her glasses.
"Okay." She answered quickly scanning it over "I will read it in a minute, tell me..." She said putting the paper down and started doing up the buttons on her cardigan "What's on the agenda for today?" She said looking down at her cardigan.
"Well you have the meeting with Motaz at one, then a meeting with Parliament at 2, which shouldn't take too long of course." Charlotte said looking through her diary "Then you are free." She said looking up with a smile as Clarisse sat down.
"Great, that sounds perfect." Clarisse smiled up at her then looked at her desk as she crossed her legs. Thinking she heard Amelia's voice she looked up "You know it's funny, I could of sworn I just heard Amelia's voice." She said looking at Charlotte as she looked at her.
"You did." Charlotte smiled and looked towards the door where Mia stood with Joe behind her "See?" She added while looking back at Clarisse as she looked towards the door.
"Amelia?" Clarisse said in surprise while standing up.
"Hello Grandma." Mia smiled as Clarisse made her way around her desk and rushed over to them "Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary." She smiled.
"Oh my Mia." Clarisse exclaimed and flung her arms around her shoulders, giving her a tight hug "What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Um... Grandma, I can't breathe?" Mia gasped and watched as Clarisse stepped back, leaving her hands on the tops of her arms "Thank you."
"I'm so sorry, I'm just so happy to see you." Clarisse smiled and hugged her again.
"It's okay, and to answer your question I'm here to see you." Mia smiled as they stepped apart "Only a week though."
"Well we better make the most of it then." Clarisse smiled taking her hand "Come tell me what's been going on." She said starting to lead her over to the couch and sat down "Tell me, how's your Mom?"
"Yes she's fine, everything's good." Mia said sitting down as Charlotte and Joe left them too it for a few moments "My studies are going good too." Mia smiled "I was wondering if you and Grandpa would be able to come to my Graduation next year?"
"We will see, I would love to be there of course but will have to talk to Grandpa about it." Clarisse said smiling "I'm so proud of you."
"Aww thank you Grandma." Mia smiled "I am loving this hair color on you by the way." She said looking her up and down for a second "Have you lost weight?" She asked.
"Yes actually I have and thank you." Clarisse said nodding while looking down "I have my very own personal trainer now, he keeps me in line." She said smiling as she nodded.
"Yes I do." Joe said standing behind the couch as both women turned to him.
"I was going to ask if it was you." Mia said smiling and looked back at Clarisse.
"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way." Joe said smiling at her then at Clarisse as she sat smiling at Mia "Anyway Mia, I put your bags up in your suite." He said and looked at her.
"Oh thank you Grandpa." Mia smiled back at him then at Clarisse "Well it's been a very long bumpy flight without any sleep." She said standing up "So that's what I'm going to do now." She said leaning over and kissed Clarisse's cheek while giving her a quick hug "I will see you later on."
"Of course darling." Clarisse smiled as Mia stood up straight beside her "It's so good to have you here darling." She smiled.
"Thank you Grandma." Mia smiled and headed towards the door "Have a great day." She said waving and walked out.
"Well, now that makes sense to why you needed to go early this morning." Clarisse smiled while smoothing her hands over her skirt and stood up "Thank you." She said walking over to her desk.
"It's no trouble." Joe smiled watching her then walked over to the door, just as Charlotte appeared.
Sitting down behind her desk Clarisse looked up, seeing Joe and Charlotte whispering a few words to each other before he stepped back and closed the door "What are you doing?" She asked.
"Come here a moment please?" Joe said reaching out one arm to her, and extended his other to the couch where she was sat just moments a go "I have something for you." He said standing beside the couch and looked over at her.
"Joe I have work to do... can it not wait?" She said standing up.
"This can't no, it's your present?" He smiled and watched her slowly walk over "By the way, I am loving this outfit on you today." He smiled "Good choice."
"Thank you." Clarisse smiled as she moved around and sat down "Just so you know though, you are my present... You really had no need to get me anything else."
"Oh tush." He said smiling as she looked up at him, watching as he sat down beside her "This is something I found just 3 days ago, I was very lucky to be able to get hold of this as he wasn't going to sell it to me, but when I told him it was for you, he gave in and let me buy it." He smiled taking out the red velvet box.
Seeing the box Clarisse gasped, knowing where he had got it from "My favorite jewelers in San Fransisco?" She said looking at him as he nodded "Oh my." She whispered.
"Happy Anniversary." He smiled handing it to her.
"Thank you sweetheart." She smiled while reaching up with one hand, cupping his cheek for a moment before looking back down at the red box.
He watched as she slowly opened the box, gasping she put her hand up to her mouth when she saw the blue heart shaped crystal pendant inside. Suddenly she found herself crying and looking at Joe as he moved closer and hugged her. After a few moments she pulled back and wiped her eyes.
"I can't believe it, it looks just like the other one." She whispered, staring at it while putting her free hand on her chest.
"I know it does, thats why when I saw it I knew I had to get it you." He said rubbing her back "And I know it will never replace the one Rupert gave you..." He stopped when he saw her shaking her head, reaching over, she put her hand on his that rested on his thigh.
"It's perfect, thank you." She said nodding then looked down at it as a couple tears escaped her eyes "Thank you so so much." She said leaning into him, placing a kiss to his lips before sitting back to stare at it once again. "I wish I had the courage to wear it, but I don't want to lose this one." She said closing the box and looked at Joe.
"Well that's understandable." He said nodding and watched her pass him the box "What's wrong?" He asked.
"Can you put it safe in the safe?" She asked, watching him take the box.
"Of course." He said nodding, still rubbing her back with his other hand.
"Thank you." She said wiping her eyes with both her hands and looked at him with a deep sigh "I still can't believe you found it." She said softly putting her hands down on her thighs while closing her eyes for a second.
"Are you okay?" He whispered, watching her open her eyes and look at him.
"I'm more than okay, sweetheart." She replied while nodding.
"Good." He said, smiling as she wiped her face again.
"Thank you." She whispered leaning closer and kissed him, letting it linger for a moment before standing up "I have your present," She said taking a second to compose herself before walking back across to her desk as Joe stood up and watched her grab a gift wrapped box from her bottom drawer "I guess after your gift to me, this doesn't seem so personal now." She said looking at him as he walked over to her.
"Oh Clari, anything you give is personal and means something to me." He said smiling as she handed him the box.
"Happy Anniversary." She said watching him unwrap the box, followed with a gasp when he saw what it was "It's the one you've been after for a while, I believe?" She asked and watched him nodding.
"It is, thank you so much." Joe said stepping closer and kissed her cheek before wrapping his arms around her waist to give her a cuddle as she put her arms up, wrapping them around his shoulders "I love it." He smiled kissing her neck "And will wear it with pride." He added.
"I had a small message engraved on the back too." She smiled as they stepped apart, watching him as he checked it.
"I love you always, love C x." He smiled looking up at her "Thank you." He said and kissed her before taking it from the box and putting it on his wrist "And now I can never lose track of time."
"No you can't that's true." She said watching him as someone knocked on the door "Come in." She called out and cleared her throat while turning slightly to see Charlotte coming in with a huge bouquet of roses of all colors.
"These just came for you." Charlotte smiled while walking over to the table, resting them down before stepping back and looked at Clarisse as she made her way over to them "I will go get a vase, be right back."
"Thank you Charlotte." Clarisse called after her before leaning over to smell them.
"Who are they from?" Joe asked as he walked over to her.
"I'm guessing you." Clarisse smiled as he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as she grabbed the card, reading it to herself she nodded "Yes, they are from you." She smiled as he swayed them a little.
"Of course they are." He smiled and kissed her neck as she rested her hands on his arms around her "Beautiful flowers for my very beautiful wife." He whispered against her ear.
"Thank you." She smiled and turned in his embrace "I wish I could spend the whole day with you, but sadly I have a couple meetings to attend first, but then... then I am all yours." She smiled and kissed him several times, only stopping when Charlotte returned.
As Joe watched her begin to arrange the flowers he couldn't help but smile, placing his hand on her lower back to get her attention as he stepped closer and kissed her cheek "I'm going to head and put this gift away and check on how things are going with security, if you need me call, okay?" He asked and watched her nodding.
"I will, thank you and I will see you for lunch?" She asked.
"Yes you will, of course." Joe smiled, unable to resist another quick kiss before walking out.
As he left and closed the door behind him, Charlotte stood watching Clarisse as she watched him walk out then looked at Charlotte, smiled then carried on with arranging the roses as Charlotte laughed.
"What's so funny?" Clarisse asked looking at her.
"Oh no reason." Charlotte smiled while shaking her head.
"Charlotte I can't help it." Clarisse said with a shrug before smelling a rose.
"I know, we all know." Charlotte smiled before she and Clarisse laughed together.