A/N: Hey all! I just wanna say a quick thank you to you all for reading the latest chapter and an even bigger thanks to Chelsietx, bee-327, ClarisseMarie, and to the guest for taking the time to leave me reviews. It's much appreciated and always will be. Thank you!
Making his way into Clarisse's hospital room, Joseph watched as she lifted her head from the pillow to look over at him. "Hello my love," he said softly and closed the door behind himself before walking over to her lying in the bed. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Tired and still a little sick," Clarisse said and closed her eyes as he reached his hands out, to brush her hair back behind her ears before cupping her face in them and bending over to press a gentle kiss to her lips. "And my head is sore." She nodded ever so slightly and opened her eyes to look back up at him as he smoothed his thumbs over her cheeks.
"It will be, you took quite a knock to it when you fell," he replied softly as he pulled back a little and averted his gaze to the three steri-strips holding the gash on the side of her forehead closed before standing back up straight.
"I don't even remember falling," she whispered and rested her head back against the pillow as he sat down in the chair beside the bed and rested his arms on the bed next to her, his hands now holding onto her hand. "I remember getting up after resting a while, to go to the bathroom, and then coming back into the bedroom, but that's it. The next thing I know I'm waking up here."
"Do you remember seeing the time before you fell?" Joseph asked, his thumb rubbing gently over the back of her hand.
"No," Clarisse said with a small shake of her head. "Why?"
"Because we don't know how long you were unconscious for before I found you," Joseph said, the image of her lying unconscious on the floor at the forefront of his mind, and watched as Clarisse looked down at their hands briefly before succumbing to her emotions. "Hey, it's okay, my love. I'm here."
Getting to his feet, Joseph moved towards the table at the bottom of her bed and grabbed the box of tissues before moving back up to her. "Here you go," he said gently and pulled a couple of tissues out of the box for her.
"Thank you," Clarisse cried as she took the tissues from him and dabbed under her eyes with them. "I have well and truly ruined our honeymoon now."
"No you haven't, don't be silly," he said with a shake of his head and set the box of tissues down on the bed next to her as she cleared her throat and looked up at him. "You haven't ruined anything, my love."
"But I ended up getting sick and stuck in here, today of all days," she said tearfully and shook her head.
"I know, and I know it's not nice, being sick and stuck in the hospital, but I'm glad that it happened when it did and we managed to get you to hospital pretty quickly, and not later while we were in the air," Joseph nodded as he turned and sat on the edge of her bed so he was facing her, and while holding onto her hand with one hand, he reached his other hand up to cup her cheek. Brushing her tears away with his thumb.
"You're right," Clarisse nodded as she looked up at him. Realising things could have been a lot different had she become unconscious while they were in flight. "But what happens now? Obviously we were meant to be leaving to go home today but I don't think I'm going to be out of here by tonight, or even fit enough to fly home for at least a couple days?" She asked as Joseph rested his hand gently on the top of her shoulder.
"No you're not. The doctor said you may be out tomorrow or the next day, depending on how well you are and what the results say," Joseph said softly. "But when you are allowed out, you will still need to rest, with no physical activity for at least a week. So we won't be going home just yet, I'm sorry."
"Oh well that's just great," Clarisse said, becoming teary again and taking her bottom lip between her teeth a moment as she tried her hardest to suppress her emotions before looking back up at him and nodding ever so slightly. "What's going to happen, and where are we going to stay?"
"At Vee and Diego's place," Joseph replied softly as he moved his hand from the top of her shoulder back up to cup her cheek. To comfort her a moment as she cried. "They are currently on their way here, and when they arrive Vee and Juana are going to go to the house to pack the remainder of our stuff for us, because I didn't quite finish it before I found…" he said, trailing off with a small shake of his head, "then, once they are done they will take it all back to Vee's house. Where, once you are discharged, we will stay until you are well enough to fly home."
"Okay," Clarisse nodded as she raised her hand, to dab under her eyes with the tissue once again. "I just can't believe this is happening, or that I'm damn dehydrated," she said somewhat angrily as she lifted her other arm with the IV cannula in her forearm up in front of her a moment to look at it before resting her arm back down on the bed next to her. "I drank enough yesterday, just like I have ever since we first arrived."
"I know you have, but like I said this morning you're not used to this hot weather like I am," Joseph said as he reached his arm across her legs, his hand resting on the side of her blanket covered thigh. "And we have spent a lot of time in the sun since we arrived, especially yesterday when we were out on the beach practically all day."
"I'm sorry," Clarisse whispered, suppressing a sob as she shook her head. "I'm so sorry."
"You, my love, have nothing to be sorry for," Joseph said softly and raised his hands up to cup her face in them once again as he leant closer, giving her a quick kiss on the lips before lifting his head to gaze into her eyes while smoothing his thumbs over her cheeks. Brushing away her tears. "If anyone should be sorry, it should be me. Had I acted this morning and got the doctor out when you first said you were unwell, we might not be here now."
"You weren't to know that this was going to happen, neither of us did," Clarisse said quietly and studied her husband's face a moment. "I have had the most amazing couple weeks here, but what with everything going on with Esmée, and now this, I just want to go home, Joseph."
"I know you do," Joseph nodded, his heart breaking as she sat up in front of him and snuggled into his chest. Her hands going to his sides. "And we will soon, once you are better and fit to travel," he whispered and wrapped his arms around her. Holding her as she cried against his chest.
"Grandma will be okay, won't she?" Mia asked from where she was laid on her uncle's settee and tipped her head back on the cushion to look over at him sitting in one of the armchairs.
It was the early hours of the morning in Genovia, and she hadn't left her uncle's suite ever since he had broken the news to her about her grandmother being in hospital. She wanted to be there when Joseph did ring with an update. Not that Pierre minded, of course, it's not like either of them was going to get any sleep anyway, what with the both of them desperately waiting for news.
"Yes, of course she will be. She's a fighter and will be back on her feet before you know it," Pierre nodded.
"Yeah, you're right," Mia nodded as she put her head back how it was a moment before. "I was just worried as we haven't heard anything yet."
"I know, but as they say, no news is good news, right?" Pierre said, trying to be as reassuring as he possibly could. But the truth was he was worried too. It had been a good few hours after all since they had last heard anything from Joseph. But he reasoned, had something happened to his mother, they would have been told by now. Joseph certainly wouldn't have left them going that long without telling them.
"Tell me another story about grandma and grandpa, uncle Pierre?" Mia asked after several moments silence between them and tipped her head back to look over at him once again.
"What kind of story would you like? Funny or, just a story?" Pierre asked as he looked over at his niece and rested one of his elbows on the armrest on his chair and rested his hand against the side of his head. He was tired, but sleeping was the last thing on his mind right now. Not until they'd had news from Joseph.
"Any," Mia said, giving him a small smile. "I really don't mind."
"Alright, let me think…" Pierre said with a small nodding motion and averted his gaze across his suite to think a moment. "I have one. Did I ever tell you about the time your father, who I think was ten, or possibly eleven, at the time, wanted to bake mother a cake for her birthday?" He said while looking back over at her.
"No," Mia said with a shake of her head, "but do tell."
"Well this particular year for her birthday, I remember that mother hadn't been well for the few weeks leading up to it, and had actually been away for a couple of those weeks before her birthday. Only returning the day before so she could start the day with us, and so, knowing that she was still feeling under the weather, Philippe wanted to do something special for her and had roped Joseph in to help him…"
"Ahh Berta," Clarisse said as she hastened down the ballroom stairs and towards her assistant with her eldest son, Pierre, in tow. "Have you seen Philippe? I have checked his suite, my suite, the library, my office, even his father's office, AND the security office, all the usual places that he would usually be, but he's not in any of them. Actually, come to think of it, Joseph wasn't in the security office either."
"That's because they are both in the kitchen, Your Majesty," Berta smiled and clasped her hands together in front of her.
"The kitchen?" Clarisse exclaimed in surprise and averted her gaze across the ballroom for a fraction of a second before looking back at her assistant. "What ever are they, actually never mind. I'll find out myself. Thank you, Berta."
"You're welcome, Your Majesty," Berta smiled as she watched the Queen turn and make her way across the room with Pierre following close behind.
Making her way down the steps into the kitchen, Clarisse stopped in shock on the last step at the sight before her. There were bowls and pans piled high in the sink. Empty packaging all over the counter, and flour all over the table, her son, and Joseph.
"What on earth has happened in here?" Clarisse finally said and slowly stepped from the last step down into the kitchen as both Philippe and Joseph looked up at her from the other side of the table.
"Noo, close your eyes, close your eyes, mother, please," Philippe exclaimed and put both of his hands up onto the top of his head when he realised it was too late. She had seen what they were doing. "Oh, it's too late now."
"Would someone like to tell me what's going on in here?" Clarisse asked and folded her arms as she slowly stepped closer to the table. Watching Joseph and Philippe turn their heads to look at each other.
Looking back at his mother, Philippe smiled proudly. "Because you haven't been feeling very well, I made a cake for you, for your birthday," he said and slowly turned the cake stand around to show her the cake. "Joseph helped me obviously, and it was his idea to add the strawberries. Knowing how much you love them."
"Oh was it," Clarisse smiled as she averted her gaze to Joseph standing beside her son for the briefest of moments before looking back at her son and moving around the table to him. "This is really lovely. You have made my day," she said and put her hands up to cup her sons face in them. "Thank you, darling."
"You're welcome, mother," Philippe said and giggled as she kissed his forehead before pulling him in close for a hug. "Joseph helped me with the writing on the top, too. I tried, but it wasn't as good."
"Oh, I'm sure yours was just as good," Clarisse said and smiled up at Joseph from where she was hugging her son, "but thank you to you too, Joseph."
"You're welcome," Joseph smiled and watched as she stood back up straight.
Leaving her arm around Philippe's shoulders, Clarisse looked across the table at Pierre a moment as he stood smiling proudly at his younger brother, then she looked down at Philippe. "I think between you and Joseph, though, you are both probably wearing more flour than what's in the actual cake," she smiled. "You have it in your hair, on your forehead, cheeks. Everywhere," she chuckled and looked up at Joseph.
"I know we do," Philippe giggled as he looked up at his mothers closest friend and bodyguard standing the other side to him.
"Well, you could have told me," Joseph exclaimed with a cheeky smirk on his lips and reached his hands out to tickle the young Prince.
Laughing, Clarisse watched them together a moment before putting one hand out onto the table beside her while putting her other hand on her hip. "Okay, now, before we go to my office so that you and your brother can finally make a start on your homework," Clarisse said as everyone looked at her, "shall we all have a bit of this cake? Because I don't know about you, but I think it looks absolutely delicious and I really don't think that I would be able to wait until after dinner before having a slice."
"Yay," Philippe exclaimed and looked down at the cake. "I hope it will taste nice."
"I'm sure it will taste just delicious, darling," Clarisse smiled as she turned to walk over to the cupboard. "I'll get us some plates."
"And I'll get us some forks," Pierre smirked as he walked over to the cutlery drawer to get them all some forks before going back over to the table.
"And I will get the special cake knife," Joseph smiled and watched as Clarisse grabbed four plates from the cupboard before turning to him, "it is a special occasion after all."
"Yes it is," Philippe smiled and turned to his mother as she now looked at him. "I know we have already said happy birthday to you this morning, but happy birthday again, mother."
"Yes, happy birthday mother," Pierre smiled from across the table and watched as she looked up at him.
"Oh, thank you both so very much," Clarisse smiled as she walked back over to the table and set the plates down before giving Philippe another hug while kissing the top of his head. "I think this has got to be one of the best birthdays I have ever had. And I feel so blessed to have you both in my life."
"And Joseph too?" Philippe said as he looked at Joseph standing across the kitchen, then up at his mother.
"Yes," Clarisse nodded as she looked over at him and smiled. "And Joseph too, of course."
Smiling, Joseph walked back over to the table and turned the cake knife around, offering her the handle. "Because it's your birthday, you get to do the honours."
"Thank you," Clarisse smiled as she stepped back from Philippe and reached her hand out for the cake knife.
"Aww he really did love her, didn't he?" Mia smiled at the memory from where she was now sitting in the end seat of the settee, leaning against the armrest with her legs tucked up under her.
"He did, yes. But in secret, obviously," Pierre nodded. "Mother had no idea at that point how he truly felt about her. No one did."
"They were close friends by this point though weren't they?" Mia asked.
"Oh yes, they were certainly close friends by that point," Pierre said and nodded. "So to mother, and to everyone else, it was simply her close friend and bodyguard helping her son bake her a cake for her birthday."
"And not the man who actually loved her helping her son bake her a birthday cake," Mia nodded.
"Exactly," Pierre nodded. "Everyone in the palace, including father, knew just how close they were that it wasn't unusual for him to help us in some way."
"I remember the story you shared a few weeks back when he looked after you and father on his day off after the nanny was taken sick," Mia said as she watched her uncle nod.
"Oh yes, he always made time for us, no matter what was going on or how tired he was, he was still there for us," Pierre said thoughtfully and looked back at his niece. "The same can't be said about father, of course, but I'm glad we had Joseph, well padre, there for us and mother."
"I think that's really lovely and special that you call him padre," Mia smiled.
"Well he's played such an important part in all of our life's, and because I have more memories with him than I do with my own father, I thought it only right," Pierre said. "Not that I'm trying to paint my father in a bad light or anything, especially since you never got the chance to know him yourself, but the fact is he wasn't a very nice man, Mia. Especially to mother."
"I know," Mia nodded. "But I'm glad that she had grandpa and that he was there for her, and you and father too, of course."
"Me too," Pierre nodded as he looked across his suite.
"What was wrong with grandma?" Mia asked and watched as her uncle looked back over at her with his brow raised. "You said that she hadn't been well in the lead up to her birthday, I just wondered what was wrong."
"Oh," Pierre replied and shook his head. "I don't know, we never found out. Just that she wasn't well."
"Oh," Mia said, nodding slightly just as his phone started ringing.
Sitting up, Pierre grabbed his phone from the armrest of his chair and quickly answered it without checking the caller ID. "Padre?" He said, putting the phone to his ear.
"Yes," Joseph laughed. "You answered that pretty quick. Were you actually sitting on your phone?"
"Not quite, the phone was right here on the armrest next to me," Pierre said, putting the call on loud speaker as Mia got to her feet and walked over to kneel on the floor next to his chair. "Mia's here too."
"Mia? What are you doing up at this hour?" Joseph asked.
"Waiting for news, grandpa," Mia said. "How is grandma?"
"She's doing better," Joseph nodded. "All tests came back clear, so no damage to her internal organs, and she should be out tomorrow or the next day."
"Oh that is good news," Pierre said and closed his eyes, feeling instant relief as Mia briefly covered her face with her hands.
"Yes it is," Joseph nodded. "She still has the IV drip, though, and a gash to her head, but other than that she's going to be just fine."
"Grandpa," Mia said as she lowered her hands from her face and put them down on top of her legs. "Did they say anything about when she can fly home?"
"She isn't allowed to do any physical activity for at least a week, then depending on how she's feeling, we should be able to fly home then," Joseph replied. "But only if she does as she's told and actually rests. If not, we will be here for longer."
"Oh," Mia replied quietly.
"Is she there, or is she resting?" Pierre asked as he checked the time on his watch and tried to figure out what time it would be there in Puerto Rico.
"She's currently fast asleep," Joseph said, "and Mia, I know you are missing her. She's missing you too. But tomorrow maybe you can speak to her on the phone, if you have time too, of course?"
"Oh yes, I'll make time," Mia nodded as Pierre smiled at her. "Thank you, grandpa."
"You're welcome, Princess," Joseph said, half smiling. "Anyway, I'll let you go now so you can both get to bed, and please try not to worry now. She's going to be just fine."
"Thank you, padre," Pierre said.
"Yes, thank you, grandpa," Mia nodded. "Please tell grandma when she wakes up that we love her and are all sending her hugs."
"I will, of course," Joseph said, "oh, and Mia, thank you for sorting that thing out for us, we never got a chance to reply before. But thank you, we both appreciate your help."
"Anytime grandpa," Mia said as Pierre raised his eyebrow at her. Shaking her head, she looked down at the phone in his hands. "Thank you for letting us know that grandma's okay, we love you."
"I love you too. Goodnight to the both of you, and I'll speak to you tomorrow," Joseph said.
"Goodnight," both Mia and Pierre said in unison before they hung up.
"Well what a relief to know she's going to be okay," Pierre said as he set his phone back on the armrest and watched as his niece got to her feet next to him. "But what was that about? What thing did you have to sort out for them?"
"Nothing, it doesn't matter," Mia said with a shake of her head and smiled down at her uncle. "I'm going to go to bed now, but thank you for letting me stay in here with you while we waited for news."
"Oh anytime," Pierre said as Mia leant closer and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight," Mia smiled and waved goodbye as she made her way across the suite and opened the door before turning to him. "Love you, uncle Pierre."
"I love you too," Pierre said, smiling over at her.