Christmas Eve.
Rolling over, Joe expected Clarisse to be laying beside him, but was surprised to find her side of the bed empty. Climbing from the bed as he heard a noise coming from the suite, he quickly grabbed his robe and slipped it on while walking over to the bedroom door. Deciding to leave it untied as he stood in the doorway, watching Clarisse as she arranged some of the presents that lay already under the Christmas tree in their suite, before watching her stand and step back, taking hold of her cup from the table beside the couch and take a couple sips while staring at the tree.
"Good morning, beautiful." He said coming to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as she turned her head to the side.
"Good morning." She smiled and closed her eyes as he kissed her cheek "Sorry I wasn't there when you awoke this morning." She said looking back at the tree.
"It's alright." He smiled resting his head against hers as they both stared at the tree in silence for several seconds "What's wrong?" He asked quietly and watched her shake her head "Clari, what's wrong?" He asked again.
Sighing she placed her free hand down on his arms that were wrapped around her waist and turned her head to the side again "I was just thinking how odd it feels to have Christmas back here in the Palace, after having it at the house for the last few years." She said softly and turned to face him.
"I was thinking the same thing just last night." He said nodding and put his hand up, brushing her hair back behind her ear "But there is one good thing about it." He said watching her tilt her head slightly as he cupped her cheek "All the Children and Grandchildren are able to actually stay here, all under one roof." He smiled.
"That is true." She said nodding and watched him lower his hand to take her cup, putting it down on the table before stepping back in front of her "This year is going to be special, just because of that reason alone." She said watching him step closer and wrap his arms around her shoulders.
"I agree." He said nodding with a small smile as she stepped closer and rested her head on his chest while wrapping her arms around his waist.
After a few moments of standing in silence Joe lifted his head, making Clarisse look up at him while tipping her head back just slightly.
"What are your plans for the day?" He asked.
"Well I plan to have breakfast with the family, and then Rose and I are going out on a small horse ride around the grounds." She said smiling up at him "You're going shopping with Olivia aren't you?" She asked.
"I am indeed." He said smiling while nodding and lowered his head, kissing her several times before letting his arms fall loosely behind her.
"I wish we could just lock ourselves away for the day and not come out until we have to leave for midnight mass." She said smiling as they stepped apart.
"Me too." He answered while running his hand down her arm, taking her hand in his "But then the family, including Emma will miss you completely and will be lost without you." He smiled.
"True." She smiled and watched him kiss the palm of her hand.
"Shall we go down for breakfast?" He asked.
"I think we should." She smiled and watched him as he extended his arm out towards the door.
"After you, my Queen." He smiled as she raised her arm, cupping his cheek as she walked slowly past him.
"Thank you, my knight." She smiled and led the way from the suite.
After spending a couple hours out on their horses, they headed back to the stables. And as Rose mucked out her horses stable, after leaving him in the field to graze, Clarisse brushed down her horse in the yard.
After a short while Rose smiled as she crossed across the yard with a bucket of water as Clarisse looked up, smiling towards her before carrying on, only as she was about to start brushing her horse, Willow again, something spooked her, making her turn slightly and stamp her foot down, right on Clarisse's foot.
"Willow get off, get off, oh my god GET OFF!" Clarisse exclaimed while trying to push her off, gasping when she finally moved.
"Mom?" Rose exclaimed while rushing over, stopping beside Willow as Clarisse swore a lot to herself while clenching her fists together.
Looking up moments later, she saw Rose and Willow both stood looking at her "Damn it!" Clarisse exclaimed while unclenching her hands and stretching her fingers out as she closed her eyes.
"What happened?" Rose asked while grabbing Willow's reins.
"Something spooked her, and she stood on my foot." Clarisse exclaimed as Rose's jaw dropped.
"Let me put her in the stable real quick." Rose said starting to rush away with Willow but stopped when she saw Clarisse having trouble to walk "Stay there Mom, I will help you." She said and started to carry on when she saw Clark, the stable guy "Clark."
"Yep." He said walking over.
"Can you put Willow in her stable while I help Mom?" She asked handing him the reins.
"Sure, what happened?" He asked starting to walk backwards as Rose rushed over to Clarisse.
"Willow stood on her foot." Rose exclaimed while wrapping her arm around Clarisse's waist and took hold of her hand as Clarisse wrapped her arm around Rose's shoulders.
"Ouch." Clark exclaimed and hurried off with the horse, returning moments later "Here, let me help?" He said standing the other side of Clarisse.
"Oh no it's okay." Clarisse said and gasped as he scooped her up and rushed over to the wall, sitting her down on it "Well thank you." She said brushing the tears away from her cheeks.
"It's no trouble, besides it would of took you a long time to have got from there to here." He said standing beside Rose as she stood in front of Clarisse.
"Darling please can you take my boot off, I can feel my foot swelling and it's getting very uncomfortable." Clarisse said looking up at her.
"But I don't want to hurt you Mom." Rose said putting her hands up on her face.
"Oh you won't, I just need it off... please." Clarisse begged.
"I really don't want to hurt you." Rose said, her eyes filling with tears.
"Please?" Clarisse begged as her eyes met with Roses.
"Okay." Rose said softly and nodded while taking her place in front of Clarisse.
"Wait...I know this is going to hurt, but..." Clark said standing behind Clarisse on the wall and crouched down resting his arms either side of her "Grip my arms as tight as you need to, I don't mind."
"Oh..." Clarisse said and laughed a little "Thank you Clark, but I am sure that's not necessary." She said turning her head to look at him as Rose grabbed the boot and quickly removed it while she wasn't paying attention, which took her by surprise and Clark too, when she quickly grabbed his arms, digging her nails in, swearing to herself before looking at Rose as she stepped back slowly.
"Oh my god..." Rose exclaimed seeing how swollen her foot had become "Dad's going to kill me."
"He won't kill you." Clarisse said leaning forward to look at her foot then looked at Clark as he moved around to stand in front of her "Thank you Clark, and I'm sorry I hurt your arms."
"It's okay, honestly." Clark said while rubbing his arms and looked down at her foot "Wow."
"I think we need to get you to hospital." Rose said grabbing her phone.
"Oh tush!" Clarisse exclaimed "I just need to get home, put my foot up with a nice cold compress on it and it will be better in no time." Clarisse said with a small nod.
"Are you kidding?" Rose said looking at her "Dad's going to kill me already, and we both know he will go crazy if he finds out I didn't take you to hospital." She said calling Shades "So we are going to hospital and that's that.."
"Oh sweetheart, you worry..." She stopped when she heard her talking to Shades "Rose, please."
"Mom stop!" Rose snapped, taking not only herself by surprise, but Clarisse and Clark too.
"Okay." Clarisse said with a small shrug and looked at Clark "I guess I'm going to hospital then?" She sighed and closed her eyes while rubbing the bridge of her nose.
An hour later they were sat quietly in her doctors office, waiting for the xray results to come back. Both sitting in silence when Rose's phone started ringing, making Clarisse look over at her as she stared at the phone.
"Is that your Father?" Clarisse asked as Rose nodded "Give it here." She said holding out her hand to her.
"What are you going to say?" Rose asked while rushing over and handed her the phone.
"You'll see." Clarisse said answering the phone "Hello."
"Clarisse... what are you doing answering Rose's phone?" He asked.
"Because I know what this call is for." She said looking at Rose as she stood shaking a little.
"So its true then, you are in hospital?" Joe asked.
"Yes, we are just waiting for the xray results." Clarisse said closing her eyes.
"I see... And why wasn't I told of this?" He asked.
"Because I asked both Shades and Rose to not tell you until we had the results back." Clarisse answered and carried on before he could say anything "And please don't get mad at Rose, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't of even come to the hospital." Clarisse said opening her eyes.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because I was just going to go home and put my foot up with a cold compress on it." Clarisse answered.
"I see, well thank god she was there then." He said "I'm on my way over anyway, I will be with you in a few minutes."
"Oh you didn't have to come over." Clarisse said and noticed Rose's head shoot up.
"Of course I did." Joe said "I will see you in a few moments."
"Okay." She said and hung up.
"Here's coming here?" Rose asked as Clarisse handed her the phone back.
"He is." Clarisse said resting her head back on the bed and closed her eyes "The painkillers are working." She said half smiling.
"Oh good." Rose said putting her phone away "I'm glad." She moved to sit down just as the doctor came back in.
"I have your results back." He said watching Clarisse lift her head "Its just badly bruised."
"So no broken bones?" Clarisse asked and watched him smiling while shaking his head "Oh thank god."
"Yes, you've been very lucky this time." He said handing Rose Clarisse's medication "For now I need you to of course keep it elevated as much as you can, which I know will be hard for you, but Clarisse you need to keep off your feet as much as you can over the next couple weeks." He said watching her nodding.
"Okay." She said watching him motion to Rose.
"I gave Rose some pain medication that you need to take as directed on the box." He nodded "And I will see you back here in two weeks." He smiled as someone knocked on the door.
"Oh that will be Joe." Clarisse said sitting up, watching him as he walked over to the door and open it "See." Clarisse smiled.
"Hey." Joe said walking over and kissed her before looking at the doctor.
"Can I go home now?" Clarisse asked.
"If you promise to keep it elevated?" Her doctor said.
"Of course." Clarisse said with a small smile and nod.
"Then you can go home." He smiled "Just remember it's going to be extremely painful for a while, which when you step on it will remind you that you need to keep off your feet." He said looking at Joe.
"Okay." Clarisse said nodding as she turned on the bed and put her legs over the edge.
"You'd do anything to get out of cooking Christmas dinner tomorrow, wouldn't you?" Joe said smirking at her and laughed out as she playfully slapped his arm.
"You wait." Clarisse said smiling at him then at the doctor as his pager went off.
"I have to go now, but have a good Christmas and I will see you back here in two weeks." He smiled.
"Yes Doctor." Clarisse smiled "Have a good Christmas also." She smiled and watched him walk out. "Joe." She said looking down at her foot then back up at him as he wrapped his arm around her waist, rubbing her back.
"Yes?" He said looking at her.
"Please take me home." She said.
"With pleasure." He smiled, giving her a quick kiss before helping her off the bed.
After getting Clarisse settled upstairs Joe headed back down to sort out dinner and check on the family, as he made his way down the stairs he couldn't help but smile when he saw two familiar faces walking through the door.
"Grandpa!" Aimie exclaimed and rushed over to him as he crouched down and wrapped his arms around her, swinging her around.
"Hello sweetheart." He smiled stepping her back on her feet and messed up Arie's hair as he smiled at him "And hello young man."
"Hi Grandpa." Arie smiled as Aimie stepped back.
"Sorry I'm late dropping them off." Tom said as he appeared in the doorway "Had some car trouble this morning."
"Oh that's alright." Joe said hurrying over and took some of the bags from him "We've had a crazy day here too actually." He said walking over to the table in the foyer, putting the bags down before turning to Tom "How long are they staying for?"
"Well I wanted to talk to you about that, I was wondering if you could have them until New Year? I got offered a job for a few days but it will be over New Year."
"Yes that's okay, of course we don't mind." Joe said smiling at him then at the children as they stood watching.
"Okay great." Tom smiled and hugged the children.
Joe stepped back as they said their goodbyes, waving him off moments later.
"Where's Grandma?" Aimie asked.
"Grandma is up resting her foot, she hurt it earlier on." Joe said as they came in and closed the door behind them.
"Can we go and see her?" She asked.
"Of course we can, I know seeing you both will make her so so happy." Joe smiled as they made their way up the stairs.
Arriving at the suite moments later, Aimie and Arie ran into the bedroom, surprising Clarisse as Joe stood in the doorway, laughing. And as Arie sat on the end of the bed, Aimie climbed on it and snuggled up to her, where they spent the next half hour catching up.
"Okay you two it's time to go down now, so Grandma can rest a little." Joe said standing up.
"Okay." Arie said standing up and kissed her cheek "Will see you later Grandma." He smiled and walked out as Aimie and Clarisse shared a hug.
"Love you Grandma." She smiled and kissed her before climbing from the bed and ran out the room.
"You kept that quiet about them coming for Christmas?" Clarisse said watching Joe walk over and stand beside her.
"I wanted to surprise you." He said leaning over "If you need me, call my cell, okay?" He said and kissed her a couple times before walking over to the door.
"I will, don't worry." She said and watched him turn to her "Come see me in a bit so I don't go crazy." She laughed.
"I will don't worry." He smiled and pulled up the door.
Heading downstairs he found Arie and Aimie playing with Emma in the living room, smiling he lent against the door frame watching them for several moments when an idea popped in his head.
"Hey kids." He smiled as he walked over and knelt down beside them.
"Yes Grandpa?" Aimie asked as Joe pulled Emma onto his lap.
"Well Grandma's in bed with a sore foot, so why don't we, to cheer her up.." He smiled "Make her a cake?" He asked.
"Yeah!" Aimie exclaimed "I love that idea and I know Grandma will too." She said standing to her feet as Joe stood Emma on her feet "Are you going to help too Emma?" Aimie asked.
"Yeah." She said nodding.
"Great, let's go and see what magic we can do then." Joe said smiling as they headed to the kitchen.
After mixing all the ingredients together Joe put the cake in the oven to bake, closing the door as he turned to see how much mess they had made.
"How is it whenever we make cakes we always get covered in flower?" He said laughing "Mainly Emma here." He smiled as she gave him a cheeky smile.
"Grandpa, Grandma always says that the fun in baking is getting all messy." Aimie said with a giggle as he looked at her.
"That is true." He smiled and began cleaning up Emma.
"What are we going to do now Grandpa?" Aimie asked.
"Well how about we go and draw Grandma some pictures?" He asked.
"I like that idea." Aimie smiled, wiping herself down.
"Can I go and see Dad, Grandpa?" Arie asked as Joe looked up.
"Of course you can, you know where to find him?" He asked.
"Yeah, of course." Arie smiled and headed towards the door.
"I will come find you when dinner is ready?" Joe smiled.
"Okay." Arie answered and walked out as Joe watched.
After getting Emma cleaned up they headed to the living room where they drew Clarisse some pictures. And after the cake had cooked and cooled down Joe and the girls decorated it and took it up to Clarisse.
"Grandma." Aimie smiled as she rushed into the room "We have a surprise for you." She giggled as Emma came in carrying the drawings and Joe following, carrying the cake "We drew you pictures and made you a cake." She smiled.
"Oh how lovely, thank you so much." Clarisse smiled while watching Joe put the cake down to pick up Emma and put her on the bed with Clarisse and Aimie.
"For you Nana." Emma smiled as she passed her the pictures.
"Thank you darling," Clarisse smiled while taking them "Is this us sweetheart?" She asked looking at Emma.
"Yeah." She smiled.
"I love it darling, thank you." She said putting her arms up around Emma, giving her a hug as she giggled.
"And here is the cake." Joe said grabbing it then sat on the edge of the bed to show her.
"Aww 'We Love You Grandma/Nana.' Thank you." She smiled at Aimie and Emma "I love you too."
"I'm glad." Aimie smiled while hugging her.
"Where's Arie?" Clarisse asked as Aimie sat back and hugged Emma.
"With Shades." Joe said quietly and watched as Clarisse nodded a little.
"I thought he would be." Clarisse answered while looking at Aimie and Emma sat hugging, which made her smile.
After everyone had, had dinner and enjoyed some cake, Arie spent the evening with Shades, while Joe, Aimie and Emma sat up with Clarisse watching a disney movie in bed, being joined by Olivia's daughter, Ava and Lena a short time later.
Sitting on the edge of the bed beside Clarisse, Joe watched as she checked on Emma who was sat between her and Aimie. When she turned her head back to look at the tv, Joe gently gripped her chin and turned her head to look at him.
"What?" She whispered, looking into his eyes.
"Nothing, I just wanted to look at your beautiful face and kiss you." He whispered back before kissing her a couple times. "I love you." He whispered several seconds later, while looking into her eyes.
"Do you now?" She whispered back as he moved his hand onto her neck.
"Yes I do." He smiled and buried his face in the crook of her neck.
Looking over at her Grandparent's Aimie giggled as Emma, Ava and Lena all looked at her then at Clarisse and Joe as he sat back smiling.
"What's going on?" Lena asked, seeing Clarisse smiling at Joe while shaking her head.
"Nothing's going on." Clarisse smiled at her.
"Oh please!" Lena exclaimed and started laughing.
"They were kissing." Aimie giggled while looking at Ava and Lena as she gasped.
"I knew it!" Lena giggled as both Clarisse and Joe looked at them.
"Well Aimie you weren't meant to tell on us." Joe said with a laugh as Emma stood up between them.
"Sorry Grandpa." Aimie smiled at him.
"Honestly though..." Lena started as Clarisse grabbed hold of Emma, pulling her down onto her lap as she tickled her "No matter how old the pair of you get, you will always be a pair of love struck teenagers to us." She smiled while standing up.
"Well that's exactly how I feel." Joe said smiling as Clarisse looked up at him then at Lena as the film ended. "Okay time for bed."
"Oh, must we?" Aimie asked while kneeling on the bed.
"Yes you must." Clarisse said looking at her as Joe took Emma "If you don't, Santa won't come." She smiled as they all watched Aimie jump of the bed and run out the room "Wait a minute young lady." Clarisse called out and watched her stand in the doorway "Kiss goodnight, please?"
"Sorry Grandma." Aimie giggled while rushing over and climbed back on the bed. Quickly moving up to the top she sat on Clarisse's lap as she gave her a tight hug "I love you lots." She smiled and kissed her "Goodnight."
"I love you too, goodnight." Clarisse smiled and watched her climb from the bed as Joe passed Emma back to her.
"I will be right there." Joe called after her as she ran out the room.
After Clarisse and Emma had finished saying goodnight, Joe took her to Shades then saw to Aimie as Ava and Lena sat with Clarisse for a little while, only leaving when Joe returned.
Later that night, after Joe returned from midnight mass he arranged the Christmas presents under the tree. Unaware that Clarisse was stood in the doorway watching him.
"How was church?" She asked moments later and watched as he turned to face her with a big smile.
"It was okay, everyone was asking after you." He smiled while standing up "Now, what are you doing out of bed?" He asked while walking over to her.
"Oh I had to go to the bathroom and when I heard noises coming from here I thought it might of been one of the children, I was actually very surprised to see you sat on the floor by the tree." She smiled as he stood in front of her "You, I am afraid are going to have to wait just like the children." She smiled while putting her arms up, locking them around his neck as he locked his arms around her waist.
"Oh I know that." He smiled and kissed her several times "How's your foot?" He asked while looking down as he stepped back and held onto her hands.
"It's still sore." She said looking down, then back up at him as he remained looking down "Are you ready for bed?" She asked, smiling as he looked up at her.
"Nearly, I still need to arrange some of the presents and then I will be ready." He smiled and kissed the palm of her hands "So why don't you go and get comfortable and I will be there as soon as I can." He smiled about to kiss her but stopped, scooping her up in his arms instead.
"I could of walked you know?" Clarisse laughed as he walked over to the bed and gently rested her down.
"Oh I know, but you need to stay off that foot as much as possible... we want it to get better quick don't we?" He asked.
"That's true." She smiled "Go and get those presents arranged so you can come and keep me warm." She smiled while putting her hands up, cupping his face.
"Okay." He smiled and kissed her a couple times "Be right back." He smiled.
"Okay." She answered and watched as he hurried from the bedroom.
However, by the time he had finished she was fast asleep. So getting changed he turned off the lamp and climbed into bed beside her. Smiling to himself as she still, even though asleep, snuggled up to him. Kissing the top of her head he whispered three little words that have a big meaning.
"I love you."