2005

Throughout their entire five-year relationship, Joseph had done his best to redeem himself to Clarisse. He made sure he was always ten minutes early for their dates, he'd always call and ask how she was if he didn't see her during the day and he always made sure he looked his best when he knew there was a chance of seeing her. Joseph wanted to show her he was ready to settle down - ready to be married - yet as he dance with her in the ballroom one night, he realised that what was on his mind wasn't on hers at all.

He wasn't angry about being refused marriage, he felt sad. After five years of good behaviour it was apparent she still didn't trust him. All the sucking up in the world obviously wasn't going to rid Clarisse of the anger she'd been carrying for the past twenty-four years. She hadn't mentioned the pregnancy scare for the entire time they had been together, but Joseph was almost certain it still plagued her mind. He believed this is why she turned down his marriage proposal, because she still held a grudge. It would explain why she'd barely allowed him to touch or even kiss her over the past five years.

Feeling heartbroken and insecure, he went to see her the following morning in her office. She'd been staring off into space for so long that she didn't even notice he'd entered the room.

"Answer me this," he asked, voice shaking with nerves, "Why did you say you forgive me, when it's obvious you still resent me?"

Surprised he had actually come to see her, she was lost for words.

"I walked the naked mile for you. I earned your forgiveness and you still don't forgive me. I've been killing myself trying to please you and make sure your happy, trying to prove to you I'd make a good husband."

Clarisse stared open-mouthed as he walked up to her and pointed his finger directly at her face, "Remember when you said I was on my last chance? Well now you're on yours," he staggered to the door, walked out and then slammed it behind him.

Two days later...

"Congratulations!"

The whole town chorused as the newlyweds walked down the steps of the church smiling and waving. Joseph held his new wife's hand tight in his to make sure she didn't change her mind and run away, she seemed genuinely happy as she stepped into the limousine still waving at the crowds. Loosening his grip on her hand, Joseph entered the car as well and told the driver to go. He then put up the privacy screen and turned to Clarisse eager to start questioning her, "What made you change your mind?"

Looking down at their entwined hands, she smiled, "I've been thinking about us all night and all morning, I decided that you were right and I hadn't really forgiven you. I spent so many years hating you for what you did that I completely forgot about all the good things we've done together. I think now I'm finally ready to move on and accept that what happened in the past should stay in the past."

"And it only took you twenty-four years to realise it."

"I really am sorry for how I've treated you." she whispered, angry with herself for not having had the maturity to forgive and forget about it.

Joseph held her chin, pressed his lips to hers and for the first time in years, she didn't back away. It was nice, Joseph thought, to finally be accepted.

Two hours later...

"Grandma," Mia shouted from outside the door to her grandmother's suite, "I know you said it's polite to be twenty minutes late, but you've been in there over an hour, we have to leave for the reception now!"

"Oh how did I go without this for so long?" Clarisse gasped, not even registering the feint yelling coming from the other side of the door, all she could think about was the 150 pounds of naked man moving around on top of her. He was almost as good as she remembered, after many years it was practically expected that he'd be a little slower, but nevertheless he catered for her needs and then achieved his own before collapsing from sheer exhaustion. Only then did they hear the shouting coming from outside the door.

"How long have we been in here?" Joseph puffed.

Clarisse's eyes widened when she looked at her watch, "Gosh, it's been over an hour! We were supposed to be at the reception fifteen minutes ago!"

Joseph raised his eyebrows, "Sorry, my fault. I know we only came in here with the intention of changing clothes, but as soon as you pulled your zip down and I saw that gorgeous body of yours, I didn't want to wait a minute longer."

Suddenly in a rush to get out of there, Clarisse smiled and threw on the dress she'd originally been wearing, then tried her best to fix her "mysteriously" messed up hair. A few strands still hung loose, but she would fix them in the car.

Joseph took a little longer to get himself ready, he was still exhausted from having done most of the work just a few minutes ago, "I do believe my stamina is deteriorating."

"Nevertheless, I got what I wanted," Clarisse gloated, fixing his tie, "twice."

A short embrace left Joseph confused about whether he was supposed to put on his pants, or take them off. Mia banging on the door brought him back to reality and he was dressed within seconds. After checking their appearances one more time, Clarisse opened the door.

To her surprise Mia fell forward and almost knocked her over, "Ahh! Finally! I've been knocking for ages, why didn't you answer?"

The newlyweds blush at each other and held hands, "We didn't hear you," Clarisse replied.

"And why did you say you were going to get changed when you're obviously wearing the same dress?"

Joseph was panting slightly from earlier, "We are terribly sorry, princess."

"What could you have possibly been doing in there all this time?"

Mia looked inside the room and saw the crumpled sheets laying on the bed, "Oh gross, now I'm beginning to wish I hadn't pushed you two together. Yuk! Couldn't you have waited three more hours?"

She walked away as disgusting images of her grandparents started running through her mind. Joseph leaned his head out the door and yelled, "No we could not," before taking Clarisse in his arms and giving her what would be the first of many kisses to come.

Finally everything was resolved - he was forgiven, she was happy and thanks to Mia they both had the fairytale ending they always wanted.

Yay, actually finished it sort of on time. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Hope it wasn't too much of a disappointment that I've decided to end it here. You guys are gonna love my next story if I ever finish it.