Lots of Love,

Chapter Seven

"Christmas is approaching ladies and gentlemen.. and I would like to have this opportunity to propose a toast… for Genovia… for the Genovians… and for everyone else. Merry Christmas!" the queen exclaimed as everyone in the room raised their glasses, chorusing "Merry Christmas!"

Smiling around her guests, Queen Amelia set her glass down as she brushed an imaginary dust, accidentally knocking down her glass as it landed straight to the drummer, who luckily caught it bouncing with a decent amount of splashed wine.

Mia held her hands up on her mouth as she slowly looked down, "Everyone fine there?"

The drummer brushed himself as he looked to the queen, "Merry Christmas, my queen!"

The young queen blushed as the guests chuckled.

Clarisse chuckled as she rested her head against her husband's shoulders.

"Her clumsiness never rubs off isn't it?" he asked.

Smiling, Clarisse fixed her hair and mask, "Quite entertaining at some point and luckily it lessened over the years."

They averted their attention again to the young queen, as she spoke, "Now since it's past twelve and as tradition said… you may now take off your masks."

Mia started as she removed her, and soon people stared removing their masks. Laughing or making any reactions as the ballroom was once again, filled with music, joy and laughter.

Clarisse and Joseph looked around, seeing Victoria seated somewhere on the back beside someone both of them quickly recognized.

"Is that the boy who warned us about the Viscount and Isla?" Clarisse asked.

Joseph nodded as he added, "And the same guy who visited her early before we left Spain."

Clarisse looked at him then back to Vicky, observing how close the two were.

"I don't know if I should be worried but I think they're too close." Joseph grunted as he stood up, "I'll have a word with Victoria."

"Uh-Joseph wait.." Clarisse said as she stood and held his arm, stopping him, "I think I'll have a word with her-"

"Great idea, darling. And I'll talk to the guy." Joseph nodded as he walked towards his daughter.

Clarisse opened and closed her mouth as she just followed him. Not knowing it this is the proper time.

"Victoria…" Joseph called.

Victoria looked from her seat as she smiled, stood and hugged her father, "Merry Christmas, dad."

Julius awkwardly stood as he met Victoria's father's gaze, "Uh- er… Merry Christmas, sir."

Victoria looked at him then turned to her father, "He's Julius, remember? Well his Aunt is Lady Kelly and it seems he's invited as well.. Julius- well you know my father and my mother-ooh.. Merry Christmas, mom!" Victoria smiled as she hugged Clarisse.

Clarisse and Joseph exchanged glances as Julius gave them a nervous smile, "She- uh.. well she's finished a serving of mojito and five glasses of sparkling water… I- er.. I think she's drunk or-"

"Don't be silly, Julius.. I'm not drunk." Victoria said in her firmest tone as she smiled and blinked her eyes, "Just a bit tipsy…"

Joseph glared at Julius as the young man slowly cower. Victoria noticed this as she groaned, "He's a friend, dad.. He helped me a lot and I owe him a lot… Actually, it's rude if you look at him that way."

She whispered the last part as she moved to leave the ballroom, "I think I'll call it a night… goodnight…"

"Good night, Vicky." Clarisse smiled.

Victoria smiled as she felt her father move closer, hugged her and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, mi caria."

Giving her father a smile, she turned to Julius and asked, "Walk with me?"

Julius looked from her to her father, he said, "I- I'll go look for my aunt first.. Wait for me."

Victoria looked from him to her parents as she shrugged, leaving the ballroom that's now filled with tons of high and still normal people.

Joseph cleared his throat as he whispered to his daughter's friend, "You won't do anything.."

"Yes sir.. I promise." Julius quickly answered.

Resting his hand on the boy's shoulder, Joseph whispered again, "Keep that promise and stick it to your head. If something happened to her..." looking around, Joseph leaned in again, "... I won't hesitate."

Looking at the boy, Joseph added, "I'm sure my daughter told you about my diplomatic immunities.."

"Yes sir.. she did.. uh- in forty-six countries, as I recall." Julius nervously mumbled.

Patting the boy's shoulders, Joseph nodded, "You won't enter her bedroom."

"I won't sir.." Julius nodded.

"We have his talk. Now don't keep her waiting. Make sure she's fine and well." Joseph said as he let the young man go.

Julius nodded again as he thanked him and hurriedly left the ballroom.

Joseph turned to Clarisse as she smiled, shaking her head.

"You didn't threatened the poor boy's life, didn't you?" she asked.

Joseph looked at her as he shook his head, "I'll do that when he did something to Victoria. Now, darling.. dance with me?"

"With pleasure." Clarisse smiled as she accepted his hand and let him lead their way to the dance floor.

He rested his hands on her waist as she looked at him in his eyes.

At some point, he can't help but to admire her fringe hair.

"You look wonderful, mi reina." he said as he took her hand from his shoulder and kissed it, "You always are."

Clarisse smiled at his as she felt herself blushing like a teenager. She's used to complements for her years as a queen but for some reason, a word from her dear Joseph and she felt her legs getting weaker, her heart beating faster and her body getting flusher.

Grab yourself, Clarisse… you're still dancing in the ballroom.. she reminded herself as she felt Joseph's hands tighten around her wait.

He always knew how to help her even at the smallest things.

"You look as wonderful and dashing, mon amour." Clarisse smiled as she rested her hands on his cheeks. Blushing again as she looked around.

Joseph leaned in to her ear as he asked, "Shall we retire, my dear?"

Looking at him, Clarisse nodded, "I'll go greet Mia, then we can leave."

They stopped their dance as they walked towards Mia who's talking to Nicholas at their table.

"Oh- Grandma! Merry Christmas!" Mia smiled as she hugged her grandma. She turned to Joe and hugged his as well, "Merry Christmas to you too Grandpa Joe!"

Clarisse and Joseph exchanged at least seven 'Merry Christmases' to the other occupants of the table as Clarisse finally turned her full attention to her granddaughter, "We'll be calling it a night, my darling… it's a wonderful ball and a wonderful party. Now I hoped you know how to handle this till the end?"

Mia nodded as she smiled, "Of course grandma.. Now, enjoy the night and I'll guess we will all have a very late morning ahead."

Clarisse smiled as she kissed her granddaughter's cheeks and she and Joseph left the ballroom.


"You should really tell me what's happening to you, Carol… You didn't eat much, you're sick, you didn't drink a single thing on the party and every time I drag you to dance, you fell ill and dizzy. You know what? Stop the damn car and let me drive so I'll get you straight to King Gregor's Hospital. You're making me feel so worried… I'll shit my pants." Jesse groaned, clearly unamused when his wife chuckled.

"I would like to see that…"

Jesse groaned again as he leaned back on the car seat, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Carolyn looked to her husband as she smiled, "I'll tell you when we got home."

"So you know?" Jesse asked, getting livid.

"Don't use that tone on us Jesse Romero.. or else you'll find yourself alone on your majestic bed." Carolyn snapped as she parked the car, "Get in to your prestigious house. I'll sleep in this car."

"Don't be ridiculous, darling… You're sleeping nowhere but our bed and I'm sorry.. I know I'm overreacting but I'm just-"

"I'm pregnant…" Carolyn blurted, "I'm two months along.."

Jesse stared at her dumbfounded as he left his mouth open.

Carolyn looked at him as she felt teas coming down her eyes. Brushing it away, she said, "Say something please… don't turn yourself into a codfish."

Jesse closed his mouth as he opened it again, "Did I heard it right or I need to check with an otolaryngologist?"

"It depends on what you heard…" Carolyn said as she looked at him, "And before you make a drama… yes- you're going to be a father."

Jesse's hands immediately met her cheeks as his lips met hers.

"Goddamn woman… Why didn't you tell me? When did you- shit! I have a lot of questions." Jesse whispered to himself as he kissed her forehead.

Carolyn slapped his arm as she pouted, "I won't have you cursing near our baby, Jess."

"Sorry.. It's just.. gosh.. a baby? Does anyone else know? Why didn't you tell me sooner? How long have you knew? Wha-"

"Okay… okay.. darling. I'll answer one then we go to our home first. My car is hardly a romantic nor appropriate place to talk about our child." Carolyn chuckled as she stole a peck on his lips, "Merry Christmas!"


"Wait hold on! That pianist on the band- is your brother… and Mia's ex-boyfriend?" Blanche asked as she, Lily and Asana stayed at the bar, "Does the charmer know? I mean- he have this face that can compete with a bull staring at a red flag only that his focus is on the pianist so I guess he knows.."

Lily nodded as she smiled, "I told him since he asked me why Mia danced with a pianist.. you know after she danced with Joe, Michael cut in and boom.. he's asking with pure jealousy."

"Is this part of the 'making him serious plan'?" Blanche asked as she covered her mouth, realizing that Asana's sitting beside Lily.

Asana smiled as she took a sip on her drink, "I know a little about your plans but carry on… I'm not completely clueless."

Blanche and Lily exchanged looks as Lily said, "Well… the plan is to get the charmer a competition because honestly.. he's hanging around the palace while making his own way back to Mia's good graces and I totally have to remind Mia from time to time that he once cheated on her."

"Well… cheating is one of the unforgettable crimes. Especially if it's publicly known. How can Mia still have him around?" Asana asked.

Lily shrugged, "Something that has to do with love… Mia doesn't want to let him go and he doesn't want either, Mia wants him to be serious and asked for mine and Vee's help. Vee and I agreed that either he become a man who deserves Mia or someone else will be there to replace him."

"Well I don't know what you kids are exactly planning because if you want this charmer to stick his penis to just one vagina then making him feel jealous can either push him on doing that or get him in more trouble for stubbornness and stupidity, which both likely to happen when a boy is just as inconsistent as him." Blanche scoffed as she stood up to rescue a drunk Parliament member, "I'm too old for dramatic romances but I would like to watch a live one if it means a person can only have one show per decade."

Lily and Asana exchanged looked as the princess asked, "How old is she again?"

"No idea... I heard she's few months older than Mia's grandmother." Lily shrugged, "But she works like Charlotte… Gosh I suddenly miss her."

"I haven't seen Charlotte since we took off our masks.." Asana mumbled, "I haven't spoken to her in a while."

"Well we do rarely spoke these days… workaholic as always. I haven't seen Shades as well, I guess they also retired for the night." Lily shrugged, "And maybe I should too."

"Wait- me too… I'll just help Blanche carry Lord Crawley somewhere.." Asana said as she and Lily helped Blanche carry the man to his car which is waiting outside the palace.

Down the stairs, the three ladies looked away with disgust as the minister puked.

"Damn it… Merry Christmas indeed!" Blanche sneered as she and the two let the driver carry his employer inside the car.


"So can you? Spare some time so we can check the store that sells corndogs?" Julius asked as Victoria looked at him behind her door.

Victoria gave him a smile as she said, "I'll check tomorrow's schedule.."

Julius took her hands that are firmly planted on the door as he kissed the back of her palm.

"Merry Christmas Santana…" he smiled.

Feeling her blush creep from her neck to her ears, Victoria tried to hide it with a smile, "Merry Christmas Leslie."


"Good night, Mia." Michael bid as his lips touched her hand, making the young queen smile.

"Good night, Michael."

Amelia closed the door as she turned to Nicholas who just left the bathroom.

"Who was that?" he asked,

Looking at him with her 'queen look' as she said, "A friend of mine. Now I don't know what come to your mind but why did you shook Michael's hand like that? You almost broke his finger.."

"Well you seemed more concerned to him more than me." Nicholas scoffed, "Shall I start to panic?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Nicholas. Michael's, despite our past, remained to be my friend and I value the relationship we built for the last few years." Mia said as took away her pins.

"Yes.. it seems that you two formed a nice bond that it's very obvious on how close you two are on how you dance." Nicholas sneered.

Mia looked at him as she smirked, "Are you jealous?"

Nicholas looked at her, surprised as he shook his head, "I'm not."

Mia blinked her eyes as she looked at him, from head to toes, and shook her head, "Then you're not. Now, are you done using my bathroom or shall I also give you a tour to my wardrobe and see if any of my pajamas would fit you so that you can take a nice stay here while I try to get myself rid of this dress and sleep naked on the couch?"

"What a very unqueenly of you to say that.." Nicholas said.

Mia groaned in frustration as she rolled her eyes, undoing the ribbons and buttons of her dress as she slid it off her body.

Merry Christmas Mia… Merry Christmas.. she thought.


Feeling her warm body collapse to him, Joseph stared at the ceiling as he caressed Clarisse's hair.

He caught his breath as he felt her move to be more comfortable beside him.

"That was fun…" his wife breathed.

His wife…

He can't believe that almost everything became so peaceful after their marriage.

Well definitely he'll not expect things to turn out so quiet, especially with a teenage daughter around. Who would expect that there are very unproblematic teenagers like Victoria today? He felt himself blessed for having one.

A life with Clarisse will not get any better.. and for some reason.. the peace also makes Joseph feel so hesitant about the future.

The calm before the storm….

.quiet..

.serene..

.peaceful..

"Merry Christmas, Joseph.." he heard Clarisse breathed.

Looking to his wife, Joseph kissed her forehead and smiled, "Merry Christmas, Clarisse."


A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS! ENJOY YOUR DAY! STAY SAFE, HEALTHY, LIVE LIFE AND BE HAPPY! AND I HOPED YOU ENJOY THE DAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH!