By: Ancorns708

Rating: M

Summary: This is a challenge issued by Veve she asked for role reversal so this is AU and a little OC. I say a little because I'm going to try and keep their personality's and habits the same as in the movie but I'm sure I will stray at some point.

Author's note: Thank you to everyone who has stuck by me on this journey, I appreciate all the reviews, favorites, follows and reads. I checked my traffic stats earlier and this has become my most read story so thank you so much for taking the time to read it. You have no idea how much means to me.

What if Things Were Different

Chapter 7

After the first three day of their honeymoon Clarisse found herself waking Joseph up in the middle of the night just to make love. She couldn't get enough of him and how her body responded to his, she ached for his touch and when she couldn't have it she thought she would die from the desire that coursed through her veins.

The weeks since their return had been busy and stressful on both of them. They had her coronation and then the annual Easter celebration along with the running of the country which consumed much of their day but they still found time in their schedules to be with each other. Often seeking the other out in varies places around the palace.

The couple had been married for six weeks and had finally established a pattern to their day. They normally had breakfast in the suite, and then Joe would head to the office while she spent most of her time working with local charities, often meeting for lunch in his office, followed by more meetings, dinner and then finally retiring together. However this morning Clarisse found herself in the bathroom, sick to her stomach. This wasn't the first time, it had been happening every morning for the past week and now she was finding herself sick in the middle of the day. The smallest things unsettled her stomach now.

Knocking on the door "Darling are you alright?" Joe asked

"I don't know" she replied

Opening the door he walked in and sat beside her in the floor "Do you want me to call the doctor?"

She nodded her head as he rubbed his hand up and down her back "Let's get you back to bed while we wait for the doctor to arrive."

Once the doctor arrived he confirmed her suspicions with a simple test.

Joseph who had intended to stay but had to leave due to a meeting that couldn't wait, but as soon as it was over he rushed back to the suite to find Clarisse asleep in the bed. Crawling in behind her he draped his over her side causing her to roll onto her back.

Smiling up at him as he placed a light kiss on her lips "Hi" she said still drowsy

"Hello yourself beautiful" he said kissing her again "What did the doctor say?"

Setting up in the bed with her back resting against the pillows she took both of Joseph's hands as he moved to sit facing her. "Well I think you need to call a press conference" she said showing no emotion on her face

"Clarisse, why would I do that? You aren't seriously ill are you?" he said with worry and concern both in his voice and on his face

Finally smiling she said "no, I'm not seriously ill but I am pregnant."

Jumping off the bed he exclaimed "You're pregnant! Really?" as he pulled her off the bed spinning around with her in his arms before standing her back on her feet "Really, I'm going to be a daddy?"

With a smile that reached her ears "Yes you are going to be a daddy!"

"I have so many questions… when did this happen? When are you due? When can we find out if it's a boy or a girl? Oh my goodness I can't believe that I'm going to be a dad"

"Well I'm glad you are excited" she said looking at him with amusement "and to answer your questions my best guess is it happened while we were on honeymoon although if you ask me the honeymoon still hasn't ended" she said cupping his cheek kissing him "I'm not entirely sure, we need to have a sonogram first, but I would think around the first of December, certainly before Christmas." She finished

"Well when can we find out the sex?" he asked

"About that…I was hoping that it could be a surprise." She said smiling sheepishly at him

"You really don't want to know?"

"I don't think so; I think it will be nice to find out when I can hold him or her for the first time."

"Alright, if you don't want to know then neither do I" he smiled at her sweetly but soon his smile and eyes turned seductive as he whispered in her ear "I suppose I should make good use of any free time I have then." As he planted kisses along her neck walking her back the bed.

Clarisse had been confined to bed rest for the last two months of her pregnancy because her body kept trying to go into early labor. Joseph had kept her from going stir crazy, he made sure that she and his baby were his number one priority. He ran down to the kitchen to fetch her whatever crazy food she was craving regardless of the hour, he rubbed her swollen feet, he even helped her shave her legs when she became too big to do it herself, but the thing she loved most was that every night before going to sleep he would rub lotion across her bump while talking to the baby. Sometimes he would tell "peanut" stories of his childhood, others he would lecture peanut for causing Mommy so much heartburn or tell him or her that they should be nice and not kick Mommy so hard because they were bruising her ribs, all of which brought her immense joy.

Lying in bed Clarisse stared up at the ceiling as she once again could not sleep she had been having cramps on and off for the past hour but thought it was just a false alarm yet again. Feeling the need to use the bathroom Clarisse managed to roll out of bed but when she stood upright a gush of water ran down her leg.

"Joseph?" she said getting no response from the sleeping form in the bed "JOSEPH! Wake up" she yelled

Rolling over he looked at her doubled over holding onto the edge of the bed "Clarisse? Are you alright?"

"No…I think my water just broke" she said between deep breaths "call the doctor now!"

Jumping out of bed he phoned the doctor and rushed back into the bedroom helping her back into the bed as they waited for the doctor.

"I still can't believe it." Joseph said lying beside her, and put his arm over her under the covers.

"No, neither can I really we are going to be parents in a few short hours." Clarisse smiled at him.

"I know, it only seems like last week we were getting pregnant," he smirked up at her as she smiled and reached over for her glass of water.

Taking a couple sips and put it back on the table "I know, time sure fly's when you are enjoying yourself." she laughed and looked back at him as she rubbed her belly.

"That it does," he smiled while watching her bite her bottom lip hissing as another contraction moved through her body "You're so beautiful Clarisse," he smiled while reaching up, cupping her face as they shared a couple kisses and whispered words of love to each other Joseph put his hand up on her bump joining hers.

Laying on the bed, crying and holding her bump with one hand and gripped the pillow with her other. Joseph knelt down beside the bed taking her hand "I have called your doctor again and he is on the way." He said leaving out the part about him begin stuck in traffic while he watched as she closed her eyes while tipping her head back.

"Thank you," she cried moving her head forward with a scream, scaring Joseph.

"Do you need anything?" he asked as she shook her head trying to do her breathing.

After a few minutes Clarisse stood up, leaning over the bed while rocking herself forward and backwards as Joseph started to panic.

"Joseph" Clarisse snapped "Something's wrong," she cried.

Joseph panicked and looked around for the phone "I'm going to go call your ladies maid then the doctor again okay?"

Grabbing his arm as he turned to leave "Please don't leave me," she whispered.

"Clarisse" he said taking hold of her hand "I need to call the doctor again, I will be right back okay?" he said while looking at her "Okay?" he asked again as she nodded and let go of his arm.

He quickly rushed over to the door, coming back a moment later.

"Okay, Joseph I need you to be strong for Clarisse okay?" the doctor said

"Alright" Joseph replied and nodded his head while keeping his eyes on his queen.

"What is Clarisse doing right now?" Dr. Payne asked.

"She's standing leaning over the bed, she's crying and rubbing her bump." he said.

"Ok, I need you to help her on the bed for me, can you do that?"

"Sure," he said putting the phone down and moved over to Clarisse "You need to lay on the bed darling," he said helping her lay down "It will be ok, I promise." he whispered and held her hand with one hand and grabbing the phone with the other "I'm back." he said.

"This baby is coming," Clarisse exclaimed and screamed out while squeezing Joseph's hand.

"Ahhh CLARISSE!," he cried as she rolled over onto her side.

"Joseph?" Dr. Payne said "I need you to do something really important for me okay?" he said.

"Ok," he said and watched as Clarisse rolled back onto her back.

"Ok, I need you to put the phone down, don't hang up just put it down and check the area and come tell me if you see anything, okay?" he asked.

"You mean you want me to check the area where the baby is coming out?" he exclaimed as Clarisse screamed again.

"Yes, I do." Replied Dr. Payne.

"But that's…I really don't know if I want to see her like this..." he stopped as Clarisse grabbed his hand.

"Joseph listen, this baby is coming, do you want to help your wife or not?" she asked.

"Yes, but..." he whispered "Ok, I will go and check." he said to Dr. Payne putting the phone down and took Clarisse's hand again, looking towards her lower body "he wants me to check you down there," he said looking back up at her "to see if I can see anything?" he exclaimed

"Right now Joseph," Clarisse cried "I don't really care what you do," she screamed while gripping her bump with her other hand and closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered letting go of her hand, took a deep breath and moved towards the bottom of the bed.

Taking a deep breath he helped her remove her underwear, and checked to see if he could see anything. With a gasp he stood up and hurried over to the phone.

"Doctor?" he exclaimed while turning the other way as Clarisse screamed out again "I can see something, I think the baby is coming."

"Ok, I thought this would be the case." He said "Ok Joseph you need to continue being brave as it appears this baby isn't going to wait for me to arrive, which means you are going to have to deliver the baby yourself, do you think you can do that for your wife?" he asked.

"Um..." he said trying not to panic as Clarisse rolled onto her side again and gripped the sheets "Yeah I can," he finally said " I have her ladies maid Nicole with me now" he finished.

"Good," Dr. Payne smiled in relief "Ok, I need you to send Nicole to and get some towels for me okay?"

"Okay," he said turning to Nicole he relayed the message as she hurried off to grab some towels and came back a moment later "she back." he said into the phone.

"Okay, now I don't want you to hang up, just rest the phone down on the side so I am here if any problems occur," Dr. Payne said as he was trying to maneuver through traffic "You will need to help your wife to deliver this baby soon, now when the baby is born if she isn't crying, check to make sure the baby is breathing and check her mouth to make sure there isn't any gunk or fluid in there alright?"

"Alright" he nodded taking everything in while keeping an eye on Clarisse.

"Then I want you to wrap her up in the towels okay?" he asked "To keep her warm, I promise that I'm not that far away and should be with you soon"

"Hurry" he said "Anything else?" he asked.

"Just make sure you come back to me if you need help with anything alright?" Dr. Payne finished

"Okay" he nodded "I will go look now."

"Okay," he said.

Joseph put the phone down and moved over to his wife, as she gripped his hands he looked at her all the while trying to keep his cool.

"Where's Dr. Payne?" Clarisse screamed through crying.

"He will be here soon, I promise." he said watching her close her eyes and move onto her back "I'm just going to check you now, okay?" he said as she nodded and watched him move down "Whoa"

"What?" Clarisse cried.

"The baby is really coming now." he said looking up at her as he went pale.

"Don't you dare pass out on me now, Joseph." Clarisse cried as another contraction ripped through her body making her scream and grip hold of the sheets, not noticing him springing into action.

"Keep pushing darling" he called out.

Seconds later she gave birth, and as Clarisse lay crying trying to calm down Joseph with Nicole's help done as Dr. Payne had instructed him and nearly started crying himself when the baby started screaming, making Clarisse lift her head to see him wrapping the baby up in a towel, cradling her in one arm he rushed over to the phone.

"Dr. Payne" he exclaimed "She's here," he smiled down at her in his arm.

"Her?" Clarisse exclaimed and rested her head back down while putting her hands up onto her head as she cried.

"That's great news, you done a brilliant job." he smiled "I'm very proud of you,"

"Thank you," he smiled and looked towards the door as the good doctor came running in the room putting his phone back in his pocket " the doctor is here now" he smiled as the doctor came over and took the baby to examine her as Joseph moved to sit on the bed next to his wife.

"Thank you Joseph" Clarisse smiled up to him.

"Oh," he chuckled while taking her hand in his "It was nothing" he said looking at her

"It was something you just delivered our first born and the heir to the throne" Clarisse said with tears in her eyes.

Hearing a loud commotion coming from the sitting area they looked up to see Olivia rushing into the room and up to where Clarisse was "I got here as fast as I could" she exclaimed

"How did you even know?" Joseph asked

"I called her Your Majesties… I hope you don't mind" Nicole said from the corner

"Not at all and thank you for calling her" Clarisse said

"If you don't need anything at the moment may I be excused? I need to go gather something's from the nursery that you will need tonight."

"Of course and thank you for your help tonight" Joseph said as she curtsied and left the new family.

Dr. Payne walked over holding the new bundle handing her to Clarisse. "She practically perfect in every way" he said after giving them some brief instruction he finished by saying "I'll be by in the morning to check on you but if you need anything please call" as he walked to the door Joseph walked with him to the door shaking his hand and thanked him for coming, even though the doctor insisted that he had done little when it came to delivering the child.

"What are you going to call her?" Livy asked while kneeling on the bed next to them.

"Oh," Clarisse said looking up "We've been too wrapped up to pick a name." she said looking at Joseph

"Well we haven't discussed names since we didn't know the sex" Livy sighed "So how about?" she said looking at them both, and then at the baby for a second before looking at Clarisse "Michaela Elizabeth" she smiled "After Daddy sort of?" she smiled.

"Yeah," Clarisse nodded while looking at Joseph "I like that," she smiled as Joe leaned over and kissed her.

"Um I am here you know?" Olivia exclaimed as they parted and laughed "Thank you," he smiled at Olivia "I like that name too."

"Yeah," Clarisse nodded while looking down at baby Michaela in her arms "The name suits her, don't you think?" she asked.

"Yes it does." Joseph smiled while moving and sat on the bed beside them putting his arm around Clarisse's back.

"Right" Olivia said as they looked at her "I'm going to leave you three to get some rest," she said putting her arms out to hug Clarisse "Congratulation sister she is beautiful, she will make a wonderful princess."

"Oh, do you have to." Clarisse sighed.

"Yes" Livy said "I'll be in my old room and if you need anything you call me and if not I'll come by in the morning after breakfast"

"Okay" Clarisse said sadly and kissed Livy goodnight

"Good night my darling niece" she smiled then kissed the top of baby Michaela's head

"I'll walk you out" Joseph said turning to look at Clarisse "I'm going to run to the kitchen for a snack would you like something?" He asked

"Maybe some ice water and crackers" she said

"I'll be right back" he said

Returning a little while later to find Clarisse feeding baby Michaela, she looked up as he put the moses basket down next to the bed then climbed gently beside her.

"Beautiful." he smiled as she looked at him for a second then looked back down at Michaela.

With a smile she looked back up at him "she is so beautiful"

"She looks like her mother" he whispered kissing her temple

"And her father" Clarisse smiled.

"I'm so proud of Clarisse, you done a brilliant job tonight." Joseph said as Clarisse looked back at him

"I'm proud of you too," she whispered as he lent closer and kissed her softly before looking back down at Michaela

Joe reached over and took baby Michaela's hand in his "I love you so much" she whispered and watched Joe leaning closer and kissed his daughter's fingers.

"I love you so much too Clarisse," he said looking back at her as she smiled "I love you too Princess." He said as he lent over and kissed her on top of the head before wrapping his arms around his new little family as Clarisse dozed off with the baby now laying sound asleep on her chest, both girls wrapped securely in the arms of the one man who would love them both forever.

~The End~

Special Author's Note: I really wasn't sure about this story when I started it but now that it has come to an end I can honestly say that this is my favorite story, that I have written. I do apologize that wasn't "super-hot" but I like the fairytale that it has become. I hope that you all have enjoyed it as much as I have. Don't be surprised if I decide to write a sequel or even another chapter in the future but for now this is the end. If any of you have suggestions for how this story might continue I would love to hear them. ~Ashley X