8th October.
A lot has happened over the last several months, Clarisse and Joseph decided to sell their house in the village, stating it has caused nothing but bad luck since they bought it several years ago. Cara is still in America, no one knows if she will return or not. And after graduation Mia moved to Genovia full time and officially became Queen last month.
For the last two weeks Clarisse and Joe have been away for her birthday and their anniversary, returning late last night when everyone was in bed. And after having breakfast together this morning Joe shot off, leaving Clarisse to get ready.
After having her shower Clarisse stood in her closet, trying to find something to wear. Deciding on a pale-olive tie-front jersey cardigan, gold knitted tank top and black pants, topped off with her burberry flats and silk scarf. And once she was ready she headed downstairs.
Standing in her office doorway she couldn't help but smile when she saw Mia sat at her desk, watching her for several moments before stepping forward.
"It suits you, sitting behind my desk." Clarisse smiled as Mia's head shot up.
"Grandma." She exclaimed while jumping up "When did you get home?" She asked while rushing around to her, giving her a hug.
"Last night." She answered as they embraced.
"Did you have fun?" Mia asked as they stepped apart.
"We did, thank you." Clarisse smiled as she moved around and sat on the couch.
"You're looking amazing, and..." Mia said while moving back behind the desk "You are still on vacation time, so don't even think about trying to take over. Pierre and I have this all in hand." She smiled while sitting down.
"Good, I'm pleased to hear that." Clarisse answered while sitting back and crossed her legs.
"Oh actually, there is one thing you could go over while you have a free day?" Mia asked while grabbing a file and walked over to her "I drew up a plan for everything that's needed for the Halloween parade and party." She said stopping beside her and held out the file to her with both hands "I would like if you would look it over and see if it's okay? You know, since this is my first official public arrangement since the coronation. I want everything to be just right and would like you to be honest." She smiled "Then if any changes are needed, I can get it done before giving it to Motaz."
"I can certainly do that for you, darling." Clarisse smiled while taking the file "But I am sure everything is going to be okay and Motaz will love it." She smiled up at her then sat back.
"Thank you Grandma." Mia smiled while walking back over to the desk, sitting down behind it when Olivia and Pierre came in.
"Hey Mom." Pierre smiled as Olivia rushed over to her as she looked up.
"Momma, you're home." Olivia smiled, giving her a hug.
"Hello you two and yes we are, we got home late last night." Clarisse answered as Olivia sat back, but kept hold of her hand.
"Well it's good to have you back." Pierre smiled across at her.
"Thank you, darling." Clarisse answered and looked at Olivia a moment.
"Mia, it's time to go." Pierre said while looking over at her.
"Go?" Clarisse said looking towards them as Mia walked over to him "Go where?"
"Now we aren't going to tell you." Mia said while grabbing her coat "I told you, you are still on vacation time."
"Yes she's right Mom, we got this." Pierre smiled across at her.
"Okay, okay..." Clarisse answered with a shrug and sat back.
"You've been told." Olivia giggled as Clarisse nodded.
"I have." She smiled.
"See you later Grandma." Mia smiled and walked out with Pierre.
"Yes, goodbye." Clarisse said with a sigh and looked back down at the file.
"What's wrong?" Olivia asked while studying her face as she looked up "And don't say nothing because I know when there is something." She said reaching over and pushed her hair back behind her ear.
"I could never hide anything from you, could I?" Clarisse said while closing the file and put it on the coffee table in front of them.
"Uh no, and don't start now." Olivia smiled as Clarisse looked back at her.
"Fancy a walk?" Clarisse asked.
"Of course." Olivia smiled as they stood up.
After getting their coats on they headed out the door, linking arms as they began walking away from the Palace.
"So Momma, are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Olivia asked while looking at her as she remained looking down at the ground. "Okay, tell me about this holiday?" She asked as Clarisse looked back at her "Did you and Daddy have fun."
"Holiday?" She asked as they carried on walking "It wasn't really much of a holiday. We hardly left the hotel room."
"Well... it was your anniversary and birthday Momma, that is allowed you know?" She said with a giggle "Besides I thought that's what normally happens when you're away?"
"Olivia." Clarisse exclaimed while looking at her and watched as she started laughing "Besides it wasn't like that this time."
"Then what was it like?" Livy asked.
"Out of the whole two weeks we left the site twice, remained in the room most of the time, not doing what you think." Clarisse answered while looking at her "I think the most I got out of him this time was a small kiss on our anniversary."
"What?" Olivia exclaimed "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am." Clarisse nodded as they sat down on the bench "He didn't want to go anywhere, see anything and wanted dinner in the room. I managed to get him to go down for dinner on our anniversary, but that didn't even feel right."
"Oh Momma I'm sorry." Livy said as they looked at each other.
"Don't be sorry, it's okay." Clarisse said while looking across at the Palace while putting her hands in her coat pockets. "I know we've all been through so much, and I know that Rose's death hit him hard."
"I know, it's hit us all hard." Olivia nodded while rubbing her arm.
"I just don't know what to do anymore." She said looking at Olivia with tears in her eyes "I wake up every morning, terrified and thinking that today is going to be the day."
"What do you mean?" Olivia asked while looking up and seeing the tears as they escaped her eyes.
"That he will leave." Clarisse whispered and started crying.
"Oh Momma, that's not going to happen." Olivia whispered back while leaning closer and wrapped her arms around her, holding her close "I know he isn't showing it right now but he does love you, more than you think right now." She said softly as her heart broke into a million pieces.
After talking for a while they headed back to the Palace, when Lena arrived with her friend and started running towards them. Flinging her arms around Clarisse when she reached them, knocking her back a little.
"Oh careful Lena." Olivia exclaimed quickly grabbing Clarisse's arm.
"I'm sorry." Lena exclaimed while stepping back "I'm just so excited to see you home." She smiled and kissed her while wrapping her arms around her neck "I missed you so so much Momma." Lena whispered in her ear as she gave her a hug.
"And we missed you too." Clarisse smiled while wrapping her arms around her and smiled at her friend "Morning Lucy."
"Morning Your Majesty." Lucy smiled.
"Oh Lucy," Clarisse laughed as Lena stepped back.
"Lucy how many times have we told you, you don't have to call her that, you can call her Clarisse." Lena smiled at her then at Clarisse "Can't she Momma?"
"Of course." Clarisse smiled, leaving her arm around Lena's shoulders "Have you had a fun two weeks?"
"I did, sorta." Lena smiled at her "But I know the fun starts now you're home."
"Aww sweetheart." Clarisse smiled at her.
"Okay well me and Lucy are going to go and grab something from my room real quick, see you at the dinner tonight?" Lena said pulling a face when she remembered it was meant to be a secret.
"Dinner, what dinner?" Clarisse asked while looking at her then at Olivia.
"I'm sorry, I forgot it was meant to be a secret." Lena said.
"I can't believe you just gave it away." Olivia said while looking at her.
"Will someone please tell me what is going on?" Clarisse asked while looking at Lena then back at Olivia.
"We have arranged a family dinner here tonight for your birthday and anniversary, because well you were away on the day so we couldn't celebrate with you. We thought we would do it tonight instead." Olivia smiled and stepped closer "But If you don't want to Momma then we won't, it's okay." She whispered.
"No, it's okay." Clarisse said looking at her "I would like to spend time with the family, of course I want it." She smiled.
"What's going on?" Lena asked as both Clarisse and Olivia looked at her.
"Nothing sweetheart." Clarisse smiled while shaking her head "I will see you later darling?" She asked.
"Of course." Lena smiled and hugged her "Love you Momma." She whispered before kissing her cheek and stepped back "And I'm sorry for telling on the surprise."
"Don't be, it's okay. If you hadn't off I am sure someone else would of anyway." Clarisse smiled as Lena laughed "Now go and I will see you later."
"Of course." Lena smiled, kissing her before running off with Lucy.
"Sorry Momma." Olivia said while putting her arm around her waist as Clarisse looked back at her.
"Please don't be, it's okay." Clarisse smiled while looking at the Palace momentarily before looking back at Olivia while putting her arm around her shoulders "I'm quite looking forward to it." She smiled.
"Great." Olivia smiled as they began walking back to the Palace.
After coming back to the Palace Clarisse sat in Mia's office, going over the file she wanted her to check for her. When she was finished she stood in the window with her arms folded, staring blankly out into the gardens for several moments. Joining Olivia and some of her Grandchildren for lunch not long after.
"Here you are." Mia smiled as she entered the kitchen.
"Now Mia come on, I know this Palace is on the big side but if we aren't in the gardens, living area or in your office where else are we going to be?" Olivia teased as Clarisse choked on her tea, before laughing.
"You okay there Grandma?" Mia asked while grabbing her a kitchen towel and handed it to her.
"Oh yes, I am fine thank you." She said with a laugh and wiped the spilt tea "She is right though, you know that don't you?" She asked with a smile and looked up at her.
"I do and yes she is." Mia answered while grabbing some lunch and sat down beside her "Did you get a chance to go over the file?"
"I did, and I have left it on your desk." Clarisse answered while leaning forward, holding the cup in both her hands while resting her arms on the table.
"Thank you." She nodded while putting some food on her fork "And what did you think?" She asked while looking at her as Olivia looked over.
"I thought it was brilliant and I know that Motaz will too, he will most certainly approve." Clarisse smiled with a nod while looking at her "You did good, I'm proud of you." She smiled.
"Oh thank you Grandma." Mia smiled while leaning closer, wrapping her arm around Clarisse's shoulders as she kissed her cheek.
"You're welcome." Clarisse smiled while sitting back in her chair "So were you in on this dinner also?" She asked and took a sip of her tea.
"Uh...?"
"It's alright Mia she knows, Lena let it slip earlier on." Olivia said smiling.
"Oh..." Mia said looking at her then at Clarisse "I would say no, but I know that you can tell when I'm lying." Mia giggled "So yes I was in on it."
"Thought so." Clarisse smiled.
"Even Emma was in on it." Olivia giggled.
"Yes that's right, she was wasn't she." Mia said and laughed.
"My Emma?" Clarisse exclaimed "Surely not?" She asked in surprise and started laughing with Mia and Olivia before standing up.
"Oh Grandma, where are you going?" Mia asked before sipping her drink.
"I need to find something to wear for this dinner tonight and finish unpacking." Clarisse smiled while getting some more tea.
"Okay, I will let you go." Mia smiled over at her.
"Thank you." Clarisse smiled back and walked over to the door "I will see you all later on." She smiled and walked out while sipping her tea.
"Livy?" Mia said softly leaning closer to her.
"Yeah?" Olivia answered while looking over at her.
"Is Grandma okay? She isn't her normal self today?" Mia asked while sitting back.
"She's okay, she's just tired from the long trip home." Olivia answered and sipped her tea while keeping her eyes on her, watching as Mia nodded in agreement and ate some food.
Later that evening they all had a lovely family meal together before moving to the private living area where they all caught up some more. Joe watched Clarisse with Emma from across the room as he stood talking with Pierre and Shades.
"Shades." Clarisse said softly as she walked over to him and Pierre a short time later, carrying Emma. "Emma's fallen to sleep so I'm going to go and take her up to bed, okay?"
"Okay, thank you Clarisse." He said smiling.
"It's no trouble." Clarisse smiled and walked out, heading upstairs to put Emma to bed.
After getting her changed she put her to bed and stood leaning over her a moment before covering her over with the blankets and kissing her head. Turning she gasped in surprise when she saw Joe stood at the door. Seeing him put his finger to his lips she walked over to him.
"What's wrong? You scared me half to death." Clarisse whispered.
"I know I'm sorry, but I wanted to catch you before you went back downstairs." He whispered looking across at Emma then back at Clarisse "Can we go and talk in the suite?" He asked.
"Of course." She whispered and turned to look at Emma while walking out her room, pulling up the door behind them.
When they reached the suite Clarisse closed the door before turning to him before being taken by surprise as Joe stepped forward while putting his hands up to cup her face as he kissed her back against the door. Pulling back moments later, he watched as she stood looking at him in shock.
"What was that for?" She asked while turning her head to the side slightly, keeping her eyes on him as he stared at her "Joe?" She asked softly.
Unable to sleep Pierre headed down to get a drink, walking in the kitchen he turned the light on to see Clarisse sat at the table, scaring him as he jumped back with a gasp and put his hand on his chest.
"God Mother." Pierre exclaimed "I wish you wouldn't do that..." He exclaimed while taking a step forward "Mom? Are you okay?" He asked and watched as she began crying again "Mom what's happened?" He asked as he rushed around and wrapped his arms around her.
"He wants to leave." She cried, looking up at him.
"What?" He asked in shock, their eyes locking.
To Be Continued.