A/N: Hi everyone, I just want to say a quick thank you, as always, to everyone for reading the latest chapter of this story (and all previous chapters if you've only just discovered it) and an even bigger thank you to Mathisblu, Guest, danniso, Chelsietx and to the Guest for taking the time to leave me such lovely reviews for chapter 12. I really do appreciate them and honestly can't thank you enough for your continued support! It means the world to me. Thank you so very much.

My apologies it's taken a few days longer to get this one posted. My mood has been really low, and it's affecting my muse, so I apologise if this chapter is rubbish.

Here it is for you now, though. Please do let me know your thoughts when you've finished. It's much appreciated.

Anxiously pacing the foyer, Joseph checked the time on his watch for the umpteenth time before stopping a brief moment, to glance over at the entrance doors, before continuing with his pacing. He was waiting for his family to arrive, they were running very late now and the closer it got to the time the ceremony was due to start, the more anxious he was getting that they wouldn't get there. That they wouldn't make it in time to see him marry his best friend.

"What time should they have been here?" Pierre asked as he and his brother watched Joseph pacing the floor in front of them.

"An hour ago," Joseph replied and stopped to glance over at the entrance doors once again before shaking his head. Any moment now, he kept thinking to himself. Praying silently that they would arrive soon. That nothing terrible had happened to them on the way.

"Oh," both Pierre and Philippe replied in unison as Joseph continued pacing.

"Maybe you could speak to the Archbishop," Philippe suggested a moment later as Joseph stopped and turned to him, "have the ceremony pushed back, even if it's just by a little bit, so that it'll give them more time to arrive."

"Yes, I'm sure mother will understand," Pierre said as Joseph averted his gaze to him. "I know she wants them here just as much as you do."

"We all do," Philippe nodded, and Joseph looked back at him.

But before he could answer them, the main doors suddenly opened and everyone turned to look as Joseph's mother Mariana, father José and one of his sisters, Ana, and her husband, Javier, appeared. "You made it," Joseph exclaimed in relief as he hurried over to greet them. "But where's Alonso, Sofia, Alan and their little girl?" He asked while kissing his mothers cheek.

"Oh, they are just coming," his mother, Mariana, replied as Joseph gave his father a quick hug. "Because we are running so late, Sofia sent us up to let you know that we are here while she, Alan and your brother gets the baby and all the bits they need out of the car."

"Ahh, okay," Joseph nodded and kissed his sisters cheek before pulling back to look at her, "hello," he smiled and extended his hand out to her husband, Javier, standing beside her to shake his hand as his mother and father both stood talking to Pierre and Philippe a moment.

"Hello," Ana smiled, "sorry we are late. We had to pull over halfway because Elena needed feeding, and then just as we got back on the road she had an explosion in her nappy so we had to pull over again so that Fia and Alan could get her cleaned up and changed."

"Oh," Joseph replied and grimaced at the thought before looking over at his mother and father still standing with Pierre and Philippe. "Are you okay over there?"

"Yes, of course," Mariana nodded while turning to him with a smile, "I was just saying that you and these boys are dressed a bit formal for our dinner today."

"That's because, mother, it's a special belated birthday dinner we are having today, remember?" Joseph said while glancing over at Pierre and Philippe, and the three of them smirked at one another before looking back at Mariana. "I mean it's not every year our Queen turns forty, is it? And we gotta look our very best for the occasion."

"No, that's true," Mariana nodded, not thinking anymore of it as she looked down at the flowers she had brought with her in her arms. "Anyway, where is our lovely Clarisse? I have some of her favourite flowers for her." She said while looking back up at her son.

"Oh mother, that's a lovely gesture, but you didn't need to bring her anything," Joseph said as he watched her tip her head forward to smell the beautiful flowers. "Your presence was all she needed today, especially since you had already gotten her something for her birthday. Which she loved, by the way."

"Well that's good, but tush, of course we did. We missed her birthday party because we were out of town and now she's invited us all for this special dinner this evening, when she didn't have too, so it's only right that we bring her some of her favourites as a thank you," Mariana smiled up at him. "So where is she so that I can give them to her?"

"Well she's still upstairs getting ready," he smiled at that. At the thought of her getting ready into her wedding dress. Oh, he couldn't wait to see her. To see what she looked like in her dress. He already knew, however, that she would look gorgeous in it. "But if you put them on the table over there, I'll get one of the maids to put them in a vase and set them on the dinner table ready for her."

"Don't go forgetting then," Mariana smiled and walked over to the table, to set the flowers down on it before turning back to everyone else.

"I won't forget," Joseph smiled as he watched her a moment before looking over at the doors as the rest of his family appeared.

"Hello hello," Joseph's brother, Alonso, exclaimed as he entered the foyer while pushing the pram with their sister and her husband following behind. "We finally got here."

"Yes you did, and Ana has already explained what happened on the way," Joseph smiled as he hugged his brother before turning to his sister, Sofia, carrying her daughter in her arms. "I'm excited to finally meet my niece at long last," he smiled and kissed Sofia's cheek before looking at her daughter sleeping peacefully on her chest and placing his hand gently on her back. "She's so small."

"You wouldn't think that someone so small could make as much of a mess as she did in her nappy earlier on," Alonso said and shook his head as Joseph looked up at him with a laugh. "It's actually quite shocking. It's enough to put anyone off from having children. And the smell, wow!"

"I can't apologise enough for us being late, Joseph," Sofia said as Joseph looked back at her.

"You have nothing to apologise for, Fia. These things happen," Joseph said with a shake of his head and looked back down at his niece a moment longer.

"I hope that we haven't caused too much of an inconvenience by being late," Mariana said as everyone looked over at her. "I know that you said dinner will be at five, which is fast approaching, but you wanted us all here an hour ago for a catch-up and to get our bags up to our rooms."

"I know, but it's okay that can all be sorted out later, as long as you have everything that you need for the next hour or so?" Joseph said as he looked around at his family. Watched them as they all nodded. "Good, because I'm afraid to say that I got you all here under false pretences."

"What do you mean?" Mariana asked and burrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"There isn't a dinner?" His brother asked.

"Oh, there's going to be a dinner. Just not yet," Joseph said and smiled at Pierre and Philippe before looking back at his family. "There's going to be a wedding first."

"A wedding?" Mariana smiled happily and put her hands together in front of her. "Oh, how lovely."

"Who's getting married?" Joseph's father, José, asked.

"Oh my god," Alonso exclaimed, and everyone looked at him. "You're getting married."

"Who's getting married?" Mariana exclaimed and looked back at Joseph.

"Joseph, mother," Alonso smirked as she looked back over at him.

"Joseph's getting married?" Mariana exclaimed once again and looked back over at Joseph.

"Yes, that's right," Joseph said with a small laugh. "I'm getting married, mother."

"You're not?" Mariana exclaimed and put her hands up to her mouth in surprise.

"Oh goodness me," Joseph's father said in surprise and put one hand up onto his chest.

"Are you really getting married?" Sofia asked in shock as she gently rubbed her daughters back.

"Yes I am," Joseph nodded happily. "Sorry that I never told you until now, but we had to keep it hush hush. We didn't want it getting out."

"Well it certainly explains why he told us to wear our very best outfits now," Alonso smiled.

"Yes, it does," Sofia agreed and gently put her daughter in the pram.

"Who are you marrying?" Mariana asked, still in a state of shock.

"Oh. My. Good. God!" Alonso said slowly, and everyone looked at him. "Is it to who I think it is?"

"Yes, you would be right in thinking it's her," Joseph replied with a nod.

"Oh yes, brother!" Alonso exclaimed and punched the air as Joseph laughed at his reaction.

"Oh, no way," his sister, Ana, suddenly exclaimed, realising to whom they were referring to, and started laughing as she grabbed hold of Joseph's arm and studied him a moment. "Not Clarisse?" She whispered. "Is it… Clarisse?"

"Yes," Joseph nodded and laughed once again as Alonso and Ana started jumping up and down together excitedly. "Clarisse and I are getting married."

"You and my lovely Clarisse are getting married?" Mariana whispered tearfully, unable to quite believe it, as Joseph moved to stand in front of her and embraced her in a hug.

"We are, yes," Joseph nodded and pulled back to look at her as she raised her hands up to cup his face in them. "Are you happy, mother?"

"Oh I am, I'm very happy," Mariana nodded and lowered her hands from his face before turning towards the stairs. "I must go see her. Give her a hug and congratulate her, too."

"Later, mother," Joseph said as she stopped and turned back to him. "The ceremony will be starting shortly."

"Oh, of course, of course," Mariana nodded and watched as her husband moved to stand in front of their eldest son. "I will see her afterwards."

"Congratulations, son," José said and stepped closer to give him a hug. "I always thought you two should have been together, and now you are."

"Yes we are, and we couldn't be happier," Joseph said as they pulled apart, and his father hooked his hand up around the back of his neck. "Sorry I never told you before."

"Oh you don't need to apologise, we completely understand why you kept it quiet," José nodded.

"Thank you," Joseph said and looked around at all his family. "We would also appreciate it if you kept it to yourself for a few more days, too, especially since there are so many people who don't actually know about it yet."

"Oh relax, brother, the secret is safe with us. You should know that," Alonso smiled as he stepped closer to him and gave him a hug. "You're a dark horse though, you know that, right? Keeping this a secret from us for so long."

"Actually, it's very last minute. We only got engaged four days ago," Joseph said as his family all gasped in surprise.

"What?" Sofia laughed before becoming serious. "Oh Joseph, she's… she's not pregnant, is she?"

"Oh my god, is that why you are rushing to get married?" Ana asked. "Because you slept together, and now you have to do the right thing?"

"Come on now, leave your brother alone," Mariana exclaimed and looked at her daughters, "do you really think he would do that? That they would be that silly before marriage? Especially with Clarisse being a Queen? She has a reputation to uphold. It wouldn't be the done thing for her to go and get pregnant outside of marriage." She said and looked at her son before leaning closer and whispering. "She's not though, is she?"

"I know that it looks that way, especially with us getting married so quickly and I'm sure that once news breaks about our marriage there'll be plenty of other people asking the same thing, but I can assure you right now that she is not pregnant." Joseph said quietly with a shake of his head.

"Then what's the rush?" Ana asked. "You have only just got engaged for heavens sake. Why not wait a while before rushing to get married."

"Well, it's a long story to how this has come about, but one that I will have to explain to you all later on as I don't have time to right now. But please, in the meantime, just believe me when I tell you that we are marrying because we love each other and want to be together." Joseph said.

"We know, darling," Mariana nodded. "We have known for some years that you love her."

"And we couldn't be happier for you both," José nodded.

"Yes we are, we are really happy for you," Alonso smiled. "And who knows, I might even meet someone myself at the reception. Get off the single scene, too."

"Sorry to disappoint you, Alonso, but there isn't going to be many other people at the reception, and the only other single person who will be in attendance is Clarisse's younger sister, Isabelle, but you are to stay away from her. Do I make myself clear?" Joseph said as he stared across at his brother.

"Oh come on, I'm not that bad," Alonso laughed, and their mother shook her head.

"Joseph is right," Mariana said, agreeing with her eldest son. "I don't want you breaking her heart too, like you did your past girlfriends when things started to get serious between you. So you stay away from her."

"Alright, fine. I'll stay away from her," Alonso said and nodded. Knowing they were right. He had a fear of commitment. Something he thought his brother had, too, until today.

"Thank you," Joseph said and looked around his family once again. "Now the ceremony will be starting soon, so if you could all start making your way through to the ballroom, Charlotte will be there waiting to show you to your seats," he smiled while gesturing across the foyer towards the doorway leading to the ballroom.

"Okay darling," Mariana smiled up at her son. "Are you coming in with us?"

"I'll follow you in in a few moments," Joseph smiled and glanced towards Pierre and Philippe before looking back at his mother. "I just need to speak to the boys first."

"We will see you in a minute then," Mariana smiled and began to make her way across the foyer towards the doorway with her husband.

"You will," Joseph nodded, "oh, just to make you aware too that there are a few people walking around taking pictures to capture the day and some of them will be spontaneous photos, so can we try and have a smile on our faces at all times please. It's really important to us."

"We will, of course," Mariana smiled back at him.

"Thank you," Joseph smiled and watched as his family all made their way across the foyer a moment before he turned to the young Prince's standing next to him. "Now, you have both remembered what you need to do, right?"

"Yep," Pierre nodded before continuing. "When mother comes down and is ready to walk down the aisle, I come in to let everyone know and take my place beside you."

"Good," Joseph nodded and looked at Philippe. "And do you remember what you need to do?"

"Yes I do, too," Philippe smiled excitedly, "while Pierre heads into the ballroom to let you and everyone else know that she's ready, I stay out here with mother and offer her my arm to walk her down the aisle before taking my place beside you and Pierre."

"Good, good, that's really good. I'm glad you remembered," Joseph smiled and looked at Pierre. "And do you have the rings?"

"I sure do," Pierre smiled while raising his hand and patting his jacket, over the spot where the inside pocket was. "They are right here, safe."

"Brilliant," Joseph nodded and contemplated a moment. Trying to think if there was anything else that needed to be done when they heard Clarisse and her mothers voice approaching upstairs.

"Uh oh, mothers coming," Philippe whispered, "you're not meant to see each other before the ceremony. It's bad luck."

"Quick, you better get in the ballroom," Pierre said and pointed towards the doorway while glancing up the staircase as Joseph nodded.

"See you in there," Joseph said quietly before hurrying across the foyer and into the ballroom just as Clarisse and her mother began making their way down the stairs.

"Oh my," Clarisse exclaimed when she saw her sons standing at the bottom of the staircase. "You both look so incredibly handsome and so very grown up."

"Thanks, mother," Pierre smiled and looked down at her dress. "You look great."

"I agree," Philippe smiled as everyone looked at him. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you to you both," Clarisse said as she stepped from the last step and reached her hands out for her sons. Giving them both a quick hug before looking back at them. "You make me so very proud, I love you both."

"We love you too," Pierre smiled and watched her press a hand to her stomach while taking a deep breath. "Are you okay?"

Averting her gaze to her son, Clarisse nodded. "I'm just feeling a little nervous, but I'll be fine soon."

"If it's any consolation," Philippe began as everyone looked at him, "Joseph's feeling nervous too."

"Yes, he is. He doesn't like to show it, but we could tell." Pierre agreed, and his mother laughed.

"That's Joseph for you," Clarisse smiled and nodded. "Is his family here yet?"

"Yes, they are all here," Pierre nodded and watched her reach her hand out towards her mother while nodding.

"Then I'm ready," Clarisse smiled and took her beautiful flower bouquet that her ladies' maid had made for her with a selection of her favourite flowers from the palace garden from her mother and held it up to her face. To smell the beautiful scent she loved so much before looking up at her eldest son.

"Okay, I'll go and let them know," Pierre smiled and stepped closer to her, to kiss her cheek, before making his way across the foyer.

"I'll go on in, too," Béatrice smiled at her daughter. "But just think, the next time we speak, you'll be Mrs Elizondo."

Nodding, Clarisse took her bottom lip between her teeth at the thought and briefly closed her eyes as her mother stepped closer to kiss her cheek and give her a quick hug. "Thank you for everything you have done for me today."

"Oh my dear, you don't need to thank me," Béatrice smiled as they pulled apart, and she put her hand up to briefly cup her cheek. "See you in there."

"You will," Clarisse smiled and watched her walk away before turning to her youngest son. "Are you ready to walk me down the aisle, young man?"

"I am," Philippe nodded with a smile. "But are you ready?"

"I am, yes. Very much so," Clarisse nodded and watched as he offered her his arm. "Thank you."

Linking her arm with his, Clarisse took a deep breath before they walked across the foyer and into the ballroom together. She had been feeling really nervous up until this point, and even though all eyes were now on her as she made her way up the aisle towards her best friend, the moment she saw Joseph standing at the altar with his back to her when she first stepped into the room, all her worries and anxieties that she had felt throughout the day just melted away and she couldn't wait to become his wife. To become Mrs Joseph Elizondo.

Standing at the altar as their choice of entrance music played, Joseph's heart was in his mouth as he waited anxiously for the love of his life to take her place beside him. He wanted to turn around to look at her but was scared too. He was scared what his reaction would be like when he first lay eyes on her in her dress. 'Just another moment, and she will be right there,' he thought to himself as he briefly closed his eyes. Willing himself not to turn around. But temptation got the better of him, and he found himself turning to her.

"Wow," he said, his heart beating wildly in his chest at the sight of her, and watched her tilt her head ever so slightly as everyone laughed. "Sorry," he mouthed to Clarisse.

"It's okay," Clarisse replied and bit her bottom lip as she continued up the aisle towards him. Reaching the altar just a moment later, Clarisse let go of her sons arm and stepped closer to stand beside Joseph. Her heart raced, and her eyes closed as he leant closer to her, to whisper in her ear as his aftershave intoxicated her senses.

"You look gorgeous," he whispered and pulled back just enough to gaze into her sparkling blue eyes as she smiled. The smell of her perfume making his tummy flutter.

"Your Majesty, Joseph," said the Archbishop before watching them both turn to look at him. "Before we continue, is everyone here that you wish to be?"

"Yes, Lord Archbishop," Clarisse nodded as she linked her arm with Joseph's. "Everyone's here."

"Very well, we shall continue," the Lord Archbishop smiled and looked up as Clarisse and Joseph stole a quick glance at one another. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony."