Hey everyone, I just wanted to say a quick thank you to those reading and to bee-327 and Chelsietx for taking time to leave lovely reviews on the latest chapter. Appreciate it as always so thank you to you both.

"And we are here," Joseph smiled as they pulled up outside the gates of his sisters property a short time later. A beautiful mansion in the hills overlooking the city, with the ocean in the distance.

"Oh my goodness, look at this place," Clarisse said quietly, and Joseph laughed while reaching his arm out of his car window and pressed the button to call for them to open the gates.

"They've done well for themselves," Clarisse said and looked at her husband as the gates started to open.

"They have, and it's all down to their thriving businesses," Joseph said, looking to her then at the gates.

"You mean they have more than one business?" Clarisse asked in surprise.

"Yeah they have three. Well, at least they used too," Joseph nodded as they started to move slowly through the now open gateway. "When Diego and Vee first met, he had just one, then when they got married, they set up one together and then brought the bar about ten years ago. They built that up from nothing, and over time, they sold the other two of them to focus solely on the bar."

"That's amazing, good for them," Clarisse said as she looked out the front window at the house, garden, and drive.

"I am very proud," Joseph nodded.

"So you should be," Clarisse smiled as they parked up alongside the family's SUV and unbuckled their seatbelts.

"Okay, you wait right there, and I'll come open the door for you," Joseph smiled as he climbed out the car and hurried around to open the door for her.

"Thank you, my love," Clarisse smiled as she stepped from the car and put her hand up to briefly cup his face before turning back to the car and leaning in to grab her handbag from the footwell.

"You are most welcome," he smiled, eyeing her beautiful bottom as she bent forward. And briefly closed his eyes with a shake of his head. To banish any roaming thoughts. "Are you still feeling nervous?"

"A little, yes," Clarisse said as she stood back up straight and turned to him while looping the strap of her handbag over her shoulder and draping her blazer over her arm. "But I keep reminding myself that I'm with you, so I'll be just fine."

"Yes you will be," he smiled while stepping closer and slipping his hand up onto the side of her neck, "you'll be just fine I promise," he said and gave her a quick kiss before lowering his hand and stepping back, to let her past. "And also, remember, that everyone's going to just love you."

"Right," she nodded, the nervous knot that she'd had in her stomach suddenly tightened. This was it. They were here. There's no going back now. Taking a couple of deep breaths, she looked down at the ground as he shut the car door before they both moved around to the back of the car.

"There you are," Diego smiled from the main entrance as Joseph opened the boot to grab the gifts for his nieces and nephews before they both looked up at him. "We thought you had got lost."

"Me? Never," Joseph laughed as he closed the boot and locked the car before turning to Clarisse standing beside him. "Are you ready?" He asked softly, taking her free hand in his and bringing it up to his mouth to kiss the back of it as she nodded. "Come on," he smiled, and they began to walk hand in hand slowly towards Diego. Who was stood with open arms ready to greet them.

"Bienvenido," Diego smiled, patting Joseph's shoulder before turning to Clarisse as Joseph let go of her hand and placed his hand lovingly on her back. "Bienvenida," he said, stepping closer to her while putting a hand on the top of her arm. "The Puerto Rican sun certainly agrees with you," Diego smiled and lowered his head, to kiss her cheek, "you're looking great."

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled and put her hand up onto his shoulder as they kissed each others cheeks before stepping apart.

"Please do come in," Diego smiled and turned sideways, gesturing towards the entrance doors with his hand. "Everyone's excited to see you."

Leading the way inside, Clarisse stepped into the foyer and glanced around at all the beautiful decor before turning to Diego, who was following behind her, while Joseph made his way over to the sideboard, to set the bag of gifts for the children down.

"Hey everyone, they're here," Diego called out as he closed the doors behind them and turned back to Clarisse and Joseph, who was now making his way back over to Clarisse, just as all the children started hurrying down the staircase towards them.

"Tío José, tío José," Luna, Marie-Rose, Andre, and Luis all exclaimed in unison. Making Diego, Clarisse, and Joseph laugh.

"Aww, how sweet," Clarisse smiled and glanced up at Diego, now standing beside her before looking back in amusement as all four kids descended on her poor husband. "Is it always like this when Joseph comes to visit?"

"Always," Diego chuckled while looking at Clarisse, then back at Joseph. "Well they have certainly missed you."

"And I have missed them too," Joseph smiled happily before lowering himself to their level and pointing over to Clarisse. "But look who I brought with me," he said and watched as they all looked over to Clarisse.

"Hola," Clarisse smiled nervously and gave them a small wave.

"Tía Clarisse," Luna gasped, and they all hurried over to her as Joseph stood back up straight and looked at Diego.

"Where's Vee and Juana?" Joseph asked just as she and Juana entered the foyer with Juana's husband, Pedro.

"We are here," Vee smiled as Joseph turned to them. "Hola hermano."

"Valentina, Juana, hola," Joseph smiled as he walked over to them. "Hola Pedro."

"Hola," Pedro smiled and shook his hand before watching him move closer to his sisters.

"Hola José," Juana smiled and briefly closed her eyes as he stood in front of her and kissed her cheek.

"Come here, you," Vee smiled and raised her arms up as he turned to her, embracing him in a hug as Juana and Pedro looked over at the children fussing around Clarisse. "We have missed you."

"I have missed you too," Joseph said as he pulled back from Vee and turned slightly, his arm remaining around her waist. "Now, before I introduce you to Clarisse. May I have a quick word with you both?"

"Of course you can," Vee nodded as they moved away from the others while Pedro walked over to stand next to Diego. "What's going on?"

"Is everything okay?" Juana asked as she looked up at her brother.

"I know that she has met you and Diego before," Joseph said, looking at Vee then Juana, "but she hasn't met you, or the others, and she's been feeling extremely nervous about it all day. That's actually one of the reasons why we were running late. She felt apprehensive over the outfit that she had picked out to wear. And that was very unlike her. She's normally very confident in what she wears."

"Oh bless her," Vee said and looked over at her husband, introducing Clarisse to Pedro. "I am surprised to hear that she is feeling nervous, though, with her being who she is."

"Those people that she has met in the past are different, this time it's family. This is my family, not some member of Parliament, diplomat, or even the King or Queen of some other country," Joseph said as Vee looked back up at him. "And she wanted to make a good first impression with you guys as Clarisse Elizondo. Not Queen Clarisse Renaldi."

"Don't worry José, we're gonna make her feel welcome," Juana smiled and put her hand up onto the top of his arm. "She's part of this family now. She has no need to feel nervous."

"Yeah, Juana is right," Vee nodded in agreement.

"That's what I told her," Joseph nodded and turned to look over at the others a brief moment before looking back at his sisters. "Can you both do one more thing for me?" He asked.

"Absolutely," Vee said, and both she and Juana nodded in agreement.

"Whatever you want, hermano," Juana smiled.

"When you greet her, can you give her a hug. I know that will help settle her nerves somewhat." Joseph said.

"José, I can't hug her," Juana exclaimed and shook her head, "she's a Queen, it's only right that we curtsy."

"No, don't do that," Joseph said, shaking his head. "Remember, she's no longer Queen. And though there will be people that will still curtsy her whenever we attend future events and balls with her granddaughter, she wants to move on from that life now. So please, whatever you do, don't curtsy."

"Oh, now I'm nervous," Juana said, putting her hands up to frame her face in them as Joseph and Vee chuckled. "I'm not sure how I feel about that, I've been preparing my curtsy and everything."

"Honestly, you'll be fine. From the brief few moments I met her before, I could tell that she's a really lovely person. Very welcoming and warm," Vee smiled and rubbed her sisters back reassuringly before looking up at her brother, who was standing, watching his wife interacting with the children. "I can see in your eyes that you are nervous too."

"I am a bit, yes," Joseph nodded and looked back to his sisters. "She's really important to me, and it's important to me too that today goes well and that you all like her for who she is. Not as the Queen."

"Oh José, of course we are gonna like her for her. She's our sister in law now," Juana said as he looked to her. "And she very clearly makes you happy, and that makes us happy. So please don't worry."

"Thank you," he nodded, "do you want to meet her?"

"Uh of course," Juana giggled, and they began to make their way over to the others.

"Hey children," Joseph smiled as they all stopped and looked up at him now standing next to Clarisse. "There's a bag of gifts over on the sideboard with your names on, so why don't you take them into the lounge and open them," he said and they all gasped before hurrying over to the table to get the bag and disappeared of into the lounge.

"José, that's naughty you bringing them gifts," Vee said, trying to be stern but knew it was no use. No matter what she said, he would still do it.

"Did you bring my bag of popcorn?" Diego exclaimed and looked at Joseph as he moved his arm behind Clarisse to put his hand on her back.

"Oh, so you're the one who likes the pear popcorn," Clarisse smirked and nodded slowly as Diego looked at her.

"Oh yes, I do, I love it and would have it every day if I could," Diego smirked and looked back to Joseph. "So, did you?"

"Of course I did," Joseph smirked. "It's in the bag, that's now disappeared into the lounge with the children."

"Oh yes," Diego grinned while punching the air, making everyone laugh. "Thank you, man."

"Diego," Vee laughed and shook her head. "I can't believe you got him to bring you more."

"Of course I did. It's like the best popcorn ever," Diego smirked. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a bag of popcorn to retrieve before they eat it all."

"Sorry José," Vee smiled as her husband disappeared out through the door, "he's like a big kid."

"That's okay, I don't mind," Joseph smiled and turned slightly to Clarisse, still standing beside him. His hand still on her back. "Now, Clarisse, my love, this is Vee. You remember you have met her before," Joseph said as he looked to Vee before looking to Juana, "and this is Juana. You have already met her husband, Pedro, a few moments ago."

"Yes I have," Clarisse nodded and looked at Juana, "hello," she smiled and stood, surprised, as Juana suddenly stepped forward and embraced her in a hug while Joseph lowered his hand from her back.

"It's so lovely to finally meet you," Juana said, her voice a little wobbly, before stepping back. "I have heard so much about you over the years."

"We all have, of course," Vee smiled as she stepped closer to hug her brothers new wife a moment before stepping back. "Although José here never told us as much, we all knew just how much he liked you. When he spoke about you on his visits, his eyes would light up."

"And of course, it would show when he started missing you too, even though he wouldn't admit it was you who he was missing, we all just knew," Juana said, teasing her brother as she clasped her hands together in front of her.

"Yes, he turned into a right Mr Grump when he started missing you," Vee teased, averting her gaze to her brother. "More so on his last visit a couple of years ago. Even though he was here for three weeks, you could tell that he was desperate to head back to Genovia after only a few days."

"Oh my," Clarisse said and laughed a little while looking up at her husband standing beside her. His hand returning to her back. The both of them knew exactly to which visit she was referring to. Things had changed between them then, compared to previous trips to see his family. On his last visit, they were together, albeit secretly. But she'd had no idea that he had missed her that much when he was away.

"Yes, thank you, Vee, Juana," Joseph said and looked up at Clarisse as she, Juana and Vee, all giggled. "Anyway, that's my two sisters. Always teasing me."

"We're allowed too," Vee smiled and looked to Clarisse as she and Joseph looked back at her. "Come and I'll introduce you to my eldest three."

Smiling, Clarisse watched as she, Juana and Pedro, all turned to lead the way through the foyer before she looked up at her husband. "Are you okay?" She asked quietly.

"I'm fine, I'm used to it. They are forever teasing," he smiled while smoothing his hand up her back. "But I'm sorry they did that in front of you. Especially today of all days."

"Don't be sorry," she smiled as they began to slowly follow the others. "I'm just so pleased that they felt comfortable enough to do that in front of me. It makes me feel comfortable, too."

"I'm glad," he smiled happily as she bent her arm up in front of him and reached her hand up to cup his chin while glancing down to his lips. "I love you," he whispered, his hand smoothing around to her side, holding her closer to him.

"I love you too," she smiled and reached up to give him a quick kiss. "Even when you are being Mr Grumpy."

"Hey, what can I say? I missed you, especially on that trip," he smiled as she brushed the top of her fingers under his chin before lowering her hand. "A hell of a lot."

"I missed you a lot too," she smiled as he slipped his hand into hers.

"Come on, let's go meet the others," he said, flashing her a flirty smile and lifted their entwined hands up to his face, to kiss the back of her hand as they followed the others into the kitchen.

"Tío José," Lucia smiled and held out her hands to her uncle as he entered the kitchen with Clarisse.

"Mi Lucia, mi sombra," Joseph smiled as he let go of Clarisse's hand and walked towards his niece, and took hold of her hands. But as he stepped closer to kiss her cheek, he noticed something. Something she had kept from him. "Are you," he asked while letting go of one of her hands and pointed to her very obvious baby bump. "Are you pregnant?"

"Sí," Lucia laughed while putting her free hand on her bump as Diego joined them. "I'm six months."

"And you didn't tell me?" Joseph gasped in surprise and stepped closer to her, to finally give her a hug while looking over her shoulder at her parents laughing next to the countertop. "No one told me for that matter."

"We wanted to," Vee smiled and shrugged, "but Lucia made us promise not to."

"We wanted to surprise you," Lucia smiled.

"Well you have certainly done that," Joseph smiled as he pulled back but left his arms around her shoulders. "Do you know what you are having yet?"

"Yes, we are having a little boy," Lucia smiled up at him.

"Oh how lovely," Joseph smiled, giving her another hug, "congratulations to you and Carlos," he said, looking at his nieces husband standing behind her.

"Gracias," Carlos smiled and watched as Joseph closed his eyes while holding his niece tight.

"Hola," Lucia smiled at Clarisse, standing behind Joseph while still in her uncles embrace and put one hand up. "I'm Lucia," she said, and everyone laughed.

"Oh, yes, Lucia, Carlos," Joseph smiled while pulling back and turned to stand to Lucia's side. His arm remaining around her back. "This is Clarisse," he smiled over at her with such admiration. Such love. "My wife."

"It's nice to meet you," Carlos smiled.

"At last," Lucia smiled as she walked over to Clarisse, embracing her in a welcoming hug.

"Yes, at last," Clarisse smiled as the younger woman stepped back. "And congratulations to you both. It's such wonderful news."

"Gracias," Lucia smiled and looked up at her uncle as he moved to stand beside Clarisse.

"And Clarisse, this is, as you already know, Lucia, my shadow," he smiled at his niece before looking at Carlos, "and her husband, Carlos."

"It is really nice to meet you," Clarisse smiled and averted her gaze to two figures coming in front outside.

"Hola," smiled one of them as they made their way over to meet them.

"You must be Isabella," Clarisse smiled to one as they stood side by side next to Lucia. Her hair tied up on the top of her head in a messy bun. Wearing casual jeans and a crop top. "And you must be Ana," she smiled to the other young lady. Her hair tied neatly into side braids, wearing a cardigan, top, and trousers.

"Yes, that's correct," Isabella gasped, "but how did you know which was which? You have never met us before."

"Oh, your uncle has told me a little about you both," Clarisse smiled, and both the young ladies looked over at their uncle, "and I took a wild guess."

"Let me guess, you went straight in and told her that I'm the wild child, huh?" Isabella laughed as she walked over to her uncle and gave him a tight hug.

"Oh absolutely," Joseph laughed, wrapping his arms around her. "Hello you."

"Hello uncle," Isabella smiled as she stepped back from him and turned to Clarisse. "It's so lovely to meet you, the woman who made our uncle happy."

"Oh," Clarisse laughed and looked at Joseph as Isabella gave her a tight hug.

"Okay, Isabella, I know you like giving people tight hugs, but please please be careful," Joseph said anxiously and watched as his niece stepped back from his wife.

"Relax, she won't break," Isabella smiled and stepped aside as Ana came forward.

"Hola," Ana smiled to Clarisse before giving her uncle a hug. "Welcome."

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled as she averted her gaze to her husband. Watching him a moment before Ana stepped back.

"Well, I think that's everyone," Juana smiled and checked the time on her watch. "Dinner won't be ready for another hour yet. So can I get you both a drink while we wait?"

"I'm good, thank you," Joseph smiled as he looked at Clarisse and wrapped his arm back around her back.

"Just a glass of water for me, thank you," Clarisse smiled.

"You sure? We have lots of other drinks if you want something stronger?" Vee said as she looked over at them.

"Oh no, if I start drinking now, I won't make it to the bar later," Clarisse said, and everyone laughed.

"I'm the exact same," Juana smiled as she poured her a glass of water.

"Well, please make yourself at home," Vee smiled as Juana made her way over to them with Clarisse's glass of water. "Our home is your home."

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled.

Spanish words are taken from Google Translate, so if they are wrong, blame them ;)

Bienvenido - welcome (to Joseph)

Bienvenida - welcome (to Clarisse)

Tío José - uncle Joseph

Tía - auntie

Hola - hello

Hermano - brother

Mi - my

Mi sombra - my shadow

Sí - yes

Gracias - thank you