Set one week before Joseph proposes in PD2.
For Tonight
"Joseph. I bet you're wondering why I asked you..."
"to your room at 2am?" He yawned.
"Well it was quite rude of me to call you here."
"Your majesty, I am on call. It is my duty..."
"Please, Joseph, nothing about duty tonight. I'm not in the right frame of mind."
She sat on the edge of the bed.
"Yes, your majesty."
"The truth is..." She started. Rising again and taking a step toward him. "The truth is that..." She stopped. Her brain a flurry of things she needed to tell him, to mend the heart that she had broken...to mend both the hearts she had ruined. She had rehearsed this moment since she retired to her suite. Over and over she had repeated: I love you. I'm sorry. I need you. I love you. I love you. I love you. But now, that he was here, leather jacket over black tee shirt, black pants and dress shoes he hadn't bother to tie, she couldn't make her mouth form the words. He was shrouded in shadows. The lamp by her bedside barely enough to see the curve of his cheeks.
She opened her mouth to speak again, and no sound escaped. Joseph took a step toward her. She, the love of his life. She, who made his world an easier place to exist within. She, who had broken his heart after 40 years of caring.
"Your majesty, what is it?"
"Joseph. Oh..." She softened, her queenliness fading like the ocean that retreats from the sand. He stepped into the light, dangerously close - his scent distracted her. She blinked hard, swallowed and grabbed his hand.
"Clarisse. I love you." She froze.
"I love you, too." He was in shock. "I do! That's what I wanted to say so desperately. You see, for tonight, I've given up on duty, and my obligations, and I know now that what I want, for the first time in my life, is love."