Thank you everyone for reading and leaving me reviews, I know chapter 70 was a hard read and I am sorry for that. I do hope that you read this chapter though, so you get the rest of the story and to find out what happened next...

You may want to get a tissue or two for this part, I'm sorry x

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Continued.

Clarisse sat in the rocking chair by the window in the bedroom she shared with the man who told her several hours ago that he wanted to leave. Staring out the window, looking at the moon and the stars she kept playing over everything in her head.

"He wants to leave." She cried, looking up at him.

"What?" He asked in shock, their eyes locking.

"He told me that he wants us to leave, start a new life somewhere else." She cried while wiping her eyes and looked at him "How can I go now? Or anytime for that matter." She exclaimed.

"Are you sure that's what he said?" Pierre said while sitting down beside her and rubbed his hand across the top of her back.

"Yes, he told me that he wanted us to move to Switzerland, and he wants us to go today." She said looking at him "He said that he can't stay here anymore, to much has happened and he's finding it hard to stay."

"Well I can understand why he would want to go." Pierre said as she looked up at him in surprise "And what if you decide not to go with him? Will he still go?"

"Yes." Clarisse sobbed.

"Oh I'm sorry Mom... maybe he is right though?" He said softly.

"What?" She exclaimed and looked at him.

"This family has had nothing but bad luck for the last god knows how long, even though it is heartbreaking, maybe its what you both need... to move on and get away from here." Pierre said as his heart broke.

"But what about you..." She said turning to face him while putting her hands up to cup his face "Olivia, all my Grandchildren? Emma.. my beautiful Emma." She whispered sadly as tears escaped her eyes "And Mia, what about Mia? She's just took over as Queen, I can't just leave her now."

"Yes you can, she has me? I know you don't want to go because of us all but we can always visit you both, and you can always come back here for a visit. We could skype too and there's always the phone if you miss our voice." He said looking at her as tears filled his eyes "It will be hard to see you leave, but I really think you should go with Dad." He said while looking down, letting the tears fall.

"Oh Pierre." Clarisse whispered while tilting her head and watched as he slowly looked up into her eyes.

"I know it will hurt, but I do think you should go." He said as she cupped his face again "We will be fine, I promise. And Mia, if she needs anything then I am here to help her."

"Pierre, I can't just leave..."

"Do you love Dad?" He interrupted.

"Of course I do, you should know that." Clarisse exclaimed "With all my heart.." She whispered as tears escaped her eyes.

"Then go with him... you both deserve to be happy and this will give you that, I am sure of it." He said shaking his head "I will lay flowers at the lake for Rose and Erica, and on the grave for Father and Philippe every Sunday for you. And I know Lena probably won't want to go because this being her last year at school here, and that's fine too. She can stay here, we will look after her and make sure she's okay." He said as he began to cry.

"Oh Pierre." Clarisse answered as she too began to cry.

"I love you Mom and want nothing more than for you to be happy." He whispered as he wrapped his arms around her "And if that means seeing you go then so be it." He added while rubbing her back "It's time to let go." He whispered as she cried in his arms.

"Clarisse?" Joe said softly from the bed and watched as Clarisse turned her head to look at him "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yes." She said standing up and slowly walked over to the bed.

"Are you sure?" He asked as she knelt on the bed beside him.

"I've been thinking." She said with a nod while looking down, taking his hands in hers "About what you said earlier."

"Okay... And?" He said, watching as she closed her eyes while lifting her head, taking a deep breath.

"I think we should go..." She said while opening her eyes as tears escaped "I think we should go to Switzerland today, and spend the rest of ours life's together."

"Really?" He asked in surprise.

"Yes." She said starting to cry "I know it will be heartbreaking but I want to be with you. I can't lose you, not now." She cried as he let go off her hands to cup her face, wiping the tears away with his thumbs "I love you too much."

"I love you too." He whispered and lent in, placing a soft kiss to her lips before wrapping his arms around her shoulders, letting her cry on his chest.

"I've already packed us some stuff." She whispered as he too began to cry.

After very emotional goodbyes they left for Switzerland that evening.

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Christmas Eve.

After gathering up some logs for the fire Joe returned to see Clarisse staring at the Christmas tree.

"Clari, are you okay?" He asked while kneeling down by the fire.

Turning her head to the side slightly before turning fully to him "Sorry, did you say something?" She asked and watched as he threw some logs on the fire.

"I did, I asked if you were okay?" He asked while looking over at her.

"Yes, just thinking..." She answered while looking back at the Christmas tree.

After a few moments Joe walked over and stood behind her while wrapping his arms around her waist. Where they stood for a few moments before Clarisse turned to him and burst out laughing when she saw him in a Santa's hat and white beard.

"What do you think?" He asked "I got it down at the shop, I thought it would cheer you up a bit." He said smiling.

"You did, thank you." Clarisse smiled "I must say you look rather handsome with a white beard." She smiled "Is there something you're not telling me?" She asked.

"Perhaps." He smiled while taking her hand and led her over to the armchair "So why don't you come sit on my lap and tell Santa what you want for Christmas?" He said smiling as he sat down in the armchair, and watched as she turned to sit on his lap. "So are you going to tell me what you want for Christmas?" He asked while wrapping one arm around her back and placed his other over her legs.

"I don't want anything, except..." She said looking down with a sigh "Except my family." She whispered and looked up into his eyes as tears filled her eyes "And yes I know that they can't be here because of the weather, but it doesn't mean I can't wish for them."

"I know." He said while rubbing her thigh "I know and understand, I wish they were here too." He whispered as she snuggled down and rested her head on his shoulder "I'm sorry..."

"What for?" Clarisse asked while lifting her head.

"For asking you to leave with me." He answered and looked away "If I hadn't of been so selfish then we would be at the Palace with them."

"Look at me..." She asked "Joe, please look at me." She asked again, and watched as he turned his head to look at her "You weren't selfish, you wanted a fresh start, a chance to be happy and though it's still early days, we are getting there. It was hard when we first came here, and there isn't a day that goes by when I don't miss them all, but all the firsts are going to be hard.. and right now, though its hard that the family can't be here... there isn't anywhere else I would want to be." She said cupping his face "I love you so much and that will never ever change." She said and finished with a kiss as he wrapped his arms around her waist "Besides..." Clarisse smiled while pulling her head back a moment later and rested her forehead against his "At least we get to stay in bed all day tomorrow, with no kids jumping on the bed to wake us up, we are alone just the two of us we can do what we want." She smiled and watched as he pulled his head back.

"That sounds very... Mmm there are no words to even answer that." He said with a laugh and kissed her a couple times "I love you so so much."

"And I love you." She answered between kisses as he locked his arms around her waist, holding her close.

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Christmas Day.

"Nana..."

"Do it again."

"My Nana..." Emma giggled.

Slowly turning over, thinking she was dreaming she went back to sleep.

"My Nana, wake up... It's Christmas." Emma smiled as Clarisse slowly opened her eyes to see Joe holding her next to the bed "Merry Christmas Nana."

"Emma?" Clarisse exclaimed while sitting up "Are you really here?" She asked as Joe passed Emma to her.

"I'm here Nana, I love you... I love you." She said clinging to Clarisse as she clung to her and began crying.

"Merry Christmas Momma." Olivia said as she entered the room with the family.

Opening her eyes to see the family coming in, she couldn't help but cry even more.

"We missed you Mom and knew we had to see you." Pierre said as the Grandchildren all ran over to the bed "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Momma." Olivia smiled as Clarisse looked around the room at everyone.

"Did you do this?" She asked while looking up at Joe.

"Of course." He smiled while leaning over and kissed her "Merry Christmas my love."

"Thank you." Clarisse smiled while putting her hand up, cupping his face.

"Okay, let's get downstairs for breakfast so we can open these presents." Pierre said smiling and watched as all the Grandchildren ran out the room "See you downstairs?" He said looking across at Joe and Clarisse as she climbed from the bed.

"Yes you will." Joe smiled and watched them walk out.

"This has got to be the best Christmas gift anyone's ever given me." Clarisse said stepping closer to him and put her arms up around his neck "Thank you so much." She whispered and reached up, kissing him slowly as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Anything for you." He smiled as she pulled her head back a little.

"Wait, when did they arrive?" She asked.

"Yesterday morning." He smiled while putting one of his hands up, cupping her face "They've been hiding in town since they arrived." He smiled.

"Momma... we are doing pancakes, do you want some?" Olivia called from downstairs as both Clarisse and Joe looked towards the bedroom door.

"Yes please, we will be down in a moment." Clarisse called back and looked back at Joe with a smile before kissing him "Thank you, Santa." She smiled while stepping back and took his hand "Come on lets go down and get this Christmas started." She smiled back at him as she led him from the bedroom.

"With pleasure." He answered with a smile, closing the door behind him.

The End.

So that's it, New Beginnings has come to an end. It's been an emotional, but yet a good story to write and I want to thank everyone for reading, following, faving and reviewing. Also thank you so much to all those who helped along the way, I am sure if it wasn't for you this story wouldn't be where it is now and would be far from finished ;) It's all very much appreciated, Thank You So Much :)

Happy New Year Everyone, my wishes are that you all have a brilliant 2014.

Take care and thank you.

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