Hey guys! Thanks for all the reviews on my other fics! This is a stand-alone fanfic and is not in any way in relation to the other two PD fics I have done. I would personally like to thank the TV series 'Reba' for the inspiration of this one AND I would also like to thank DinosXGoXRawr for the title! I hope enjoy this new fic! Thanks.

The Darkest Hour

Chapter 1: The Discovery

"Clarisse, would you like to dance?"

Joseph asked his wife, who sat in her chair looking solemnly at her full plate. She hadn't touched her dinner. She never looked up at her husband; just shook her head no. Joseph thought it weird that his wife did not want to dance at a formal gala. She always loved to dance. Something wasn't right. She wasn't being herself lately. He would leave it alone for now; maybe it will just go away on its own. Maybe it was just a mood, or maybe it was that time of the month that he never liked to talk about. He decided to wait until they got to their own suite back at the palace to bring it up.

The ride back to the palace was awkwardly quiet. Clarisse didn't show any kind of emotion, she didn't reach for Joseph's hand; she didn't even look at him. 'What is wrong with her?' Joseph thought to himself. Joseph reached to grab Clarisse's hand but noticed that she had a tear-stained face. He didn't want to point it out and embarrass or possibly create and argument with her, so he just let it go, even though it killed him to see her like this.

When the limo pulled up to the palace, Clarisse again surprised Joseph. She didn't wait for the chauffer to open the door; opened it herself and got out, and without waiting for Joseph, walked right up the steps to their suite. By the time Joseph got into the building, Clarisse was nowhere to be seen. He went up to the suite and tried to open the door, but it was locked. He pulled out his key and opened the door. He walked in and yelled for Clarisse, but he heard no answer but heard the water running in the bathroom.

"She's just getting ready for her bath."

Joseph said to himself. But when she didn't come out for a towel, Joseph thought something was definitely wrong. He opened the bathroom door and found Clarisse slumped over the side of the tub. He ran over to her and pulled her up and saw that she had passed out. He shook her gently, at first, saying her name. When she didn't respond, Joseph became alarmed. He shook her more vigorously and started shouting her name. Finally, he had to smack her arm to get her to respond.

"Joseph, wh-what happened?"

"Darling, you passed out in the tub. Are you alright?"

Clarisse simply nodded as Joseph picked her up out of the bath, wrapped her in a towel and laid her on the bed. He began to dry her off, starting with her legs. He picked up one and ran the towel over it gently.

"Darling, is something seriously wrong with you? Are you ill?"

"Joseph, why would you ask something like that?"

"Clarisse, you haven't been yourself lately. Tonight I asked you to dance and you declined. You hardly ever decline a dance. You barely even touched your dinner, and now you pass out in the bathtub. I'm worried about, my love."

Joseph said, making his way up her legs and thighs and starting rubbing her stomach with the towel. He went in for a kiss, but Clarisse pushed him away.

"What is wrong, Clarisse? Are you not attracted to me anymore?"

"Darling, I am just not in the mood. Please, don't fuss over me."

Clarisse got up and went over to her closet, Joseph watching her every move. He noticed she was even walking differently. She didn't have that subtle sway to her hips like she normally had; that was something he missed. He loved watching her hips sway.

When he thought about it, lately she hadn't seemed very sexually attracted to him. They hadn't made love in at least 3 weeks. That was not something Joseph was used to. When they first married, he had to fight Clarisse off him, at night, that's all they would do; they wouldn't sleep until about one in the morning. Now, that's all Clarisse wanted to do was sleep. She never wanted to sleep; she was an active, vigorous, and energetic woman. Now she was her personality was cloudy and dismal. She was all the time gloomy and laden with sadness.

After she got her pajamas, which is something else she never wore to bed. She never wore boring pajama bottoms to bed, Joseph normally caught her wearing chic negligées that were clad in pink and bright colors, or black or brown with pink or neon green polka dots. Nothing boring.

"Clarisse, come here, darling. I want to talk to you about something."

"What darling?"

Clarisse asked climbing into bed beside Joseph.

"When we were in the limo, I reached for your hand, and I saw tears rolling down your face. Why have you been crying so much lately?"

"Darling, trust me, I have no idea. I just feel different."

"Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?"

Joseph asked scooting closer to his wife and snaking his arms around her.

"I can think of a few."

Clarisse said, kissing her husband for the first time in weeks. That was a kiss Joseph would never forget. Clarisse tasted like a mixture of strawberries, wine and champagne. All of which were served at the gala tonight; Joseph felt Clarisse's mouth open, welcoming his tongue as Joseph willingly entered. He pulled his arms tighter around Clarisse's soft, smooth body. Clarisse felt the excitement that Joseph displayed.

"Darling, hang on."

Clarisse said, getting up and locking the door. She got back to the bed and began to take off her top, and bottoms. That was a night Joseph will never forget.

That next morning, the two lovers woke up to a massive headache and sore limbs.

"Darling, do you remember what exactly we did last night? Why am I THIS sore?"

Clarisse asked, getting out of bed and going to take a shower. Joseph knew what she was doing, as she always took a shower either after waking up or making love, which in this case, were both. Joseph got out of bed, and went in the bathroom with her, but Clarisse told him no.

"Darling, I don't feel like it this morning. I am sorry. You can take a shower after I get done."

With that, Clarisse pushed him out of the door frame, and started her shower. At that moment, Joseph knew what was happening to his beautiful wife. He got on the phone with the Royal Family Physician.

"Dr. Henry? Yes, I was wondering could you please come and take a look at my wife? Something is bothering her. I think I have an inkling as to what it is, but I am not sure. Thank you so much Dr."

Joseph hung up as his wife was coming out of the bathroom.

"Darling, who was that?"

Joseph gave her a questioning look as he pointed to the phone.

"Oh on the phone? Oh just an old friend."

Clarisse just accepted it and continued getting ready. She didn't argue or press on to ask him who the friend was. Yes, something was very wrong.

Okay guys, that would be the very first chapter of The Darkest Hour. I hope you enjoyed it and if you have any requests or ways that you would like this story to go, please don't be afraid to either tell me in a review, or PM me. Thanks!