This part is going to be a sad one, so you may want to get your box of tissues ready just incase they are needed. I know I needed them and I wrote it.
xXx
Two months later.
After spending a romantic night together at their house, Clarisse has just awoken to the sound of Joseph humming to himself in the bathroom. Smiling she climbed out of bed and walked over to the door, slowly pushing it open to see him stood in front of the sink, shaving. Folding her arms she watched as he ran the razer over his jaw then swished it in the sink, before repeating the action.
"Someone's happy this morning." Clarisse smiled as he looked over while lowering his hand, and put the razer on the side beside the sink.
"Of course I am." He smiled as she made her way over to him "Even though last night was all very spontaneous, I got to wake up beside the most beautiful woman in the whole world." He grinned "Alone in our amazing home, how can I not be happy over that?" He said watching her as she stood between him and the sink. "And yes I know I get to wake up beside you everyday, but some how this morning felt different."
"Maybe because we are alone? But I'm happy you're happy, because I am too." She smiled while putting her hands on his sides and reached up, kissing him softly as he put one arm around her shoulders. Putting one arm up around his shoulders and placed her hand on the back of his head just seconds later, as he deepened the kiss while pressing her back against the counter.
Pulling back moments later, Joe couldn't help but laugh "You have shaving cream all on your face now." He smiled while grabbing a towel.
"I don't care." She smiled up at him as he wiped the cream from her face "We will have to try and be spontaneous more?"
"I agree to that." He smiled while putting his arms around her shoulders.
"Good." She smiled while wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I wish I could spend the whole day with you, but I know you have a meeting this morning..." He whispered and kissed her a couple times.
"Yes, and you have golf with Shades and Pierre." Clarisse smiled and watched as he raised his head.
"Oh I completely forgot about that." He said looking into her eyes.
"I thought you had," She said smiling "Will you have time to drop me off at the Palace before you have to leave?" She asked as he lowered his arms, putting his hands on the counter behind her.
"I have time of course, I need to pick Pierre up from there anyway." He grinned as she moved her arms and locked them around his neck "God you're so beautiful this morning." He smiled as she raised her eyebrow "Well you are beautiful every minute of everyday of course, but this morning you're even more beautiful." He smiled while running his hands up and down her back.
"Must be all the love." Clarisse smiled and laughed out as he lowered his head, and nuzzled her neck for several seconds before looking up at her.
"I love you." He whispered against her lips before kissing her slowly.
After having breakfast together, Joe sat at the head of the kitchen table reading the paper as Clarisse sat beside him thinking over a few things to do with the meeting while holding a cup of coffee in front of her, her elbows resting on the table, deep in thought. Several moments later, sensing her looking at him Joe raised his head, looking over at her and watched as her lips turn up into a bright smile.
"What?" He asked, smiling back while folding the paper and placed it on the table in front of him while taking hold of her hand, holding it against his lips.
"Nothing really," She said smiling as she put her cup down "I just love to look at you, you are very handsome after all." She smiled while pulling her hand free and cupped his cheek.
"Aww well thank you." He smiled leaning closer while putting his hand on her back "I love to look at you too, beautiful." He smiled while running his hand down her back "I love you." He said kissing her as she wrapped her arm around his shoulder, sliding her hand onto his neck.
"I love you too." She smiled and kissed him several times while closing her eyes. Sitting back moments later she sighed while checking the time and took a few more sips of her coffee "I guess we better get moving." She said and watched as Joe checked the time.
"Oh yes, I think so too." He answered as they both stood up "Do you have everything you need?" He asked while pushing the chair under the table.
"I do." She answered while walking over to the dishwasher, putting her cup inside before turning it on. Standing back up she turned to Joe as she done the one button up on her shawl cardigan.
Leaving the house moments later, they made their way to the Palace. When after parking the car they headed towards the stairs as Joe put his hand on her lower back, making her turn her head giving him a sweet smile. Walking through the door seconds later, both smiling as Pierre turned to them.
"Oh hey, I was just about to call you." He smiled and put his phone away "Good morning."
"Good morning Pierre." Clarisse smiled as she slipped of her coat "How are you this morning?" She asked as he walked over to her.
"Good, I'm good." He smiled kissing her cheek "You?"
"Yes," Clarisse smiled with a nod "I'm feeling great, thank you."
"Good." He smiled and looked at Joe "You ready to go, Dad?" He asked.
"Yea, but what about Shades?" Joe asked as he stood beside Clarisse, putting his hand on her back again.
"Oh he's not coming today, something came up." Pierre answered and watched as Clarisse looked at Joe.
"Nothing serious I hope?" She asked looking back at Pierre.
"Oh no, it's all good." Pierre smiled and made his way over to the door "See you later Mom?"
"Yes, you will. Hope you both enjoy golf today." She smiled.
"Oh we will, don't worry." Pierre said laughing as he opened the door and turned to them "Dad I will see you outside." He said laughing and walked out.
Both watched as he pulled up the door, then looked at each other as Joe slipped on his jacket before sharing a kiss or two.
"You better go." Clarisse said while reaching up, cupping his face as she ran her thumb gently over his lips to remove her lipstick "Enjoy your golf and I will see you this evening?"
"Of course." He smiled and kissed her a couple times before walking out.
Sighing Clarisse turned and headed to her office, where she got straight to work on the paperwork that awaited her. After her meeting she sat going through some post and her messages before going to get some coffee.
Walking through her office door a short time later, she sipped her coffee as the phone started ringing. Standing behind her desk she looked at the phone while putting her cup down, and as the prerecorded message that Charlotte recorded started playing Clarisse picked up a letter, hearing the beep she looked up as Cara's voice rang over the phone.
"Mom, are you there?" Hearing the tone of her voice Clarisse put the letter down "Mom please I beg you pick up." Cara exclaimed down the phone as Clarisse reached over and grabbed the phone.
"Cara, what's wrong?" Clarisse asked.
"Oh Mom, it's Rose... she's been in an accident, you need to come..." Cara exclaimed and started crying "It's not looking good, please come."
"Where are you?" Clarisse asked while quickly standing up.
"Down on Tulip Way." Cara answered "Please hurry."
"I will be there as soon as I can, darling." She answered while moving around her desk, and hung up before hurrying over to her purse. Grabbing her keys and jacket she rushed out her office and over to the door.
Jumping in her car she sped from her parking space, buckling her belt as she drove on a straight bit of drive leading to the gates, which she sped through just seconds later, passing Shades as she did. Knowing that something must be wrong, Shades, who was sat in his car just inside the gates, started following her.
Coming up to Tulip way Clarisse could see all the police cars, ambulances and even a fire truck blocking the road. Speeding down towards the scene two police officers put their hands up to stop her from driving any further. Coming to a stop she flashed her lights at them to get their attention.
Realizing who was rushing towards them, they started running towards her as she opened her window.
"They've airlifted her to hospital, Your Majesty."
"Okay, thank you." Clarisse answered and reversed back across the road.
Speeding back the way she came, she drove straight past Shades without even realizing. Doing a U turn he was quickly back on her tail, both arriving at the hospital a short time later. After parking her car she rushed towards the entrance, where she noticed Shades running towards her.
"Shades?" She asked, coming to a stop.
"I knew something must be wrong when you sped out the gates, what's going on?" He asked while putting his arm around her back, guiding her through the doors.
"Cara rang and said Rose had been in an accident." She answered quietly as they rushed towards the front desk.
Seeing who was stood before her, the receptionist gave them the floor number and watched them rush towards the lift. Going up in silence, only looking at each other when they heard a scream as the doors opened.
"Cara?" Clarisse whispered and rushed onto the floor, with Shades following.
Looking down one way of the corridor before turning to look the other way, Clarisse stopped and put her hands up to her face when she see Cara crying on her knees with the nurse and Doctor stood in front of her. Feeling like things were moving in slow motion she started stepping forward before hastening towards her as Cara looked up.
"She's gone Mom..." Cara cried as Clarisse looked up at the nurse and doctor, who didn't need to say anything, their looks gave the answer she didn't want. "She's gone." Cara cried while looking back down. Sinking to the floor beside Cara, Clarisse pulled her into a hug. Clinging to each other as the tears slipped down both their cheeks. How could the world be so cruel to take yet another child from her? What had she done to deserve this punishment? Burying her head in Cara shoulder she could no longer hold back the grief that was ripping through her body. Her chest constricted and breathing became almost a chore as she tried to rationalize the reason as to why this was happening to her again.
A couple hours later.
After talking with the Doctor, Shades drove them home, leaving Clarisse's car at the hospital to be picked up later. When they arrived home Cara walked slowly and in a daze into the living room as Clarisse informed Charlotte and called Olivia to break the news to her.
After she was done she walked through to the living room and stood watching Cara for a few moments as she sat staring at the table, and as her heart broke even more Clarisse tried calling Joe again. But with it going to answer phone again, she left another message asking for him to call her as soon as he got the messages.
Looking over at Cara, Clarisse slowly walked over and sat down beside her, gently rubbing her back.
"Why did they call me for?" Cara whispered as Clarisse looked at her.
"What do you mean darling?" Clarisse asked, seeing the tears escaping Cara's eyes as she looked up at her.
"They called me, apparently because I was on her last called list, they called me." Cara said softly while looking back at the table "Why did they do that? I never wanted to see her hurt, if anything I would of loved to have had the chance to remember her being happy, not covered in blood and laying on that cold wet floor." She said closing her eyes as she started sobbing.
"Oh my darling." Clarisse whispered as she lent closer to her, wrapping her arm around her shoulders and pulled her to her, kissing the top of her head as Cara cried on her shoulder again.
After a few moments Cara looked up at Clarisse "Can I stay here tonight? I don't want to go and stay at the house where all her stuff is." She said sadly.
"Of course you can stay sweetheart, I will send Charlotte over later to get you some stuff?" Clarisse asked as Cara nodded and rested her head back on Clarisse's shoulder "Okay darling." Clarisse whispered as she put her hand up on the side of Cara's head, gently brushing her hair back.
"I think I'm going to go and have a shower, get out of these clothes." Cara said moments later while sitting up.
"Okay." Clarisse whispered while reaching over and pushed a bit of her hair back behind her ear before cupping her cheek "Go and have it in my shower and put a pair of my pajamas's on while I have the maid set up your old room?" She asked and watched as Cara nodded and stood up.
"Thank you." She whispered while folding her arms and walked out slowly, still looking down as Clarisse turned and watched her.
After asking the maids to get Cara's room ready Clarisse and Charlotte sat in the living room as she tried Joe again, getting his answer phone once again she left another message to call home as soon as he gets it and hung up with a sad sigh before calling Olivia to check on them and Lena.
As she hung up from them she heard the front door closing, both her and Charlotte looked at each other before standing up as they walked through the door, laughing.
Stopping in his tracks, Joe looked at Charlotte, as she stood with her hands together, looking down. Looking back at Clarisse. "What's going on?" He asked, stepping closer to Clarisse.
"I tried calling you?" She whispered looking at him "There's been an accident."
"What kind of accident?" Pierre asked, seeing Charlotte slowly looking up as she closed her eyes "Mom?" He said softly while looking back at her.
"It's Rose..." Clarisse said looking at Joe, reaching out for his arms "She was in an accident..." She whispered and watched as Joe put his arms up to stop her.
"No..." Joe interrupted.
"She didn't..." Clarisse whispered as Joe shook his head, stopping her.
"No... don't say that..." He said, begging her not to finish.
"I'm so sorry." Clarisse whispered while shaking her head, tears escaping her eyes as he stepped back.
"This can't be happening... She was fine this morning." He said watching her step closer to him "Don't!" He snapped and walked out.
"Joe, please." Clarisse cried while putting her hands on the back of the chair to support herself as Charlotte rushed over, wrapping her arm around Clarisse's back "Please?" She called out as Pierre stood the other side.
"I will go talk to him." Pierre said softly while rubbing her back.
"No... I need to go." Clarisse finally answered moments later, while wiping the tears from her face. Taking a deep breath she made her way over to the door, putting her hand on the door frame she stopped for a moment while looking down, closing her eyes.
"Mom?" Pierre asked and watched as she slowly looked over at him.
"I'm fine." She said nodding while lowering her hand, I just needed a moment." She said and took another deep breath before walking away.
"I can't believe this has happened again." Pierre said turning to Charlotte as she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to comfort him.
"Neither can I." She whispered as he buried his face in the crook of her neck while wrapping his arms around her.
Walking through the suite door Clarisse saw Joe stood by the fireplace staring at the last family photo that they took together at Christmas. When she closed the door she gasped and stepped back in surprise as Joe raised his arms, swiping them across the mantel, sending all the photos smashing to the floor in anger.
"Joseph!" Clarisse exclaimed while hurrying forward "Stop it!" She screamed while grabbing his arm, pulling him away. Managing to get him to turn around she put her hands up, framing his face as she cried "Please stop it." She whispered, looking into his eyes "I know you're angry, but what good is doing this going to do?" She whispered softly, while stepping closer and slowly wrapped her arms around his shoulders, trying to get him to calm down.
A few moments later, he put his hands on her sides as she raised her head, looking into his eyes "I'm so sorry I walked out like that, you are grieving the loss of your daughter as well and it was selfish for me not to be there for you when we need each other the most." He whispered as she moved one hand to cup his cheek again, gently rubbing her thumb under his eye to wipe the stray tears away.
"Shh.. It's okay darling." Clarisse whispered, never taking her eyes from him.
With tears streaming down his face, he looked into her tear filled eyes "Why is this happening to us...again?" He asked before burying his face in her neck.
Wrapping her arms tighter around him she let her tears fall gently to his shoulder "I don't understand it either...I just don't..." She couldn't continue as grief gripped her body.