A/N: I give a virtual cookie to anyone who reviewed! Especially Arwen1995, Clarisse Renaldi, JulieFan35, blue-girl783, Just Reading08, SmilesMC, thegirlinthegrayscarf, tengland, and the three anonymous reviewers, one of which is unnamed completely. I am happy to hear that I didn't totally bomb at writing Clarisse, but we'll see how this chapter goes...

And There was Love

Chapter 2

kateandharvey

As Clarisse entered the room, she had to admit to herself that she was a bit nervous. Joseph was always the one taking care of her, and helping her, and comforting her... What would she do now that the roles were reversed? She was trying to be quiet as she closed the door behind her, half of her hoping that he was asleep by now. When she turned from the door, and saw him laying there... He looked so weak, and so unhappy. It was the worst she'd ever seen him, and she almost lost it. "Clarisse."

She sighed, smiling at the sound of his voice and sitting in the chair beside his bed elegantly, like a queen should. "Joseph."

His half open eyelids were enough to signal to her that he was still tired, and shaken up. He reached out for her hand, and she willingly put her hand into his. He held it tightly, holding it close. He swallowed thickly, and looked at her with sympathy. "I'm sorry I woke you."

Her eyes widened, and she let out a chuckle. "You're sorry?" She questioned with disbelief, "You're sorry? Joseph, I'm so glad you called me! If you hadn't..." The air grew thick with the unspoken thoughts. "Well, anyway, I'm glad you did."

"When can I go home?" He asked her.

She smiled, "Tomorrow. And I will be taking care of you."

He smiled back, but shook his head, "I can find someone else to take care of me. I don't need you having to worry about the head of your security, and..."

"I will be taking care of you, myself. And you will let me..." She paused hesitantly for a moment before adding, "And you know that you're more than my head of security." She wasn't exactly sure when her hand had found its way to his cheek, but both suddenly became aware that it was.

"And you're more than my queen." He whispered. Their eyes burned with an intensity that was unknown, and their faces inched slowly together. She had almost lost him, and he had almost lost her. They needed this... Their lips were just an inch apart, almost touching in the most intimate of ways, and Clarisse pulled back abruptly. She smiled, sighing. "We'll have to think of some things to do while you're stuck in bed all day."

"Clarisse..." He tried to talk to her.

But she continued, "We could play a game, a card game... We could watch a movie... We could talk..."

"Clarisse..."

"I know! I can ask Mia what we could do! She'd know... She's always been great with ideas... Yes, that's what I'll do, I'll ask Mia..."

"Clarisse!" He yelled, and she stopped immediately, staring at him like a dear in headlights. "Stop."

"Stop what?" She questioned innocently, knowing it was a weak way to go about the situation. She prayed that Joseph couldn't tell how heavy she was breathing, and how nervous she was.

But he couldn't call her on it, because the doctor entered the room. "Well, Your Majesty... Mr. Joseph here will be staying over night. You are welcome to stay, of course, but if you wish to return to the palace-"

"-No, I will be staying." She immediately agreed to stay, forgetting the incident that had just happened. She couldn't avoid Joseph forever. And she wouldn't do it while he was ill. This was important to her... Joseph was important to her...

"Alright then, I will make sure a bed is prepared for you, Your Majesty, and-"

"-No." Clarisse shook her head, "I can stay here," She patted the uncomfortable chair she was sitting in, "It'll be alright. No need to take accommodations away from someone in need."

The doctor opened his mouth to offer again, but didn't want to be rude to the queen. "Alright, Your Majesty, if that is what you want. I'll arrange for a pillow and blanket to be brought up to you as soon as possible." At Clarisse's nod, he left the room.

"Clarisse," Joseph began, "You don't want to sit in that chair all night, trust me. It just looks uncomfortable."

She smiled, "I do trust you, but I'm not leaving, and I'm not sleeping in a bed that someone else needs more. I don't have any other option but this chair, now do I?"

Joseph smiled at her. "You're too giving for your own good. And you're stubborn, too!"

"Hey!" She exclaimed, very un-queen like, and smiled at him. "I am not stubborn."

He nodded, "You are." Before she could reply, he continued. "Do you remember the first time I told you that?"

She didn't have to think for a second. "I do, but I don't care to talk about that day."

Joseph's eyes scanned her over. The upset look on her face was enough to make him feel sadness for himself, too. "It was just a little scar, Clarisse. A few stitches, and a little scare... A small price to pay for keeping you here with me."

She cast her eyes downward as he spoke, thinking about the horrifying day that had almost cost Joseph his life... She remembered the screaming as the shot went off, and the sheer terror that ripped through her as life seemed to go in slow motion, the bullet flying at the speed of light towards her... And she remembered Joseph, watching his body fly through the air, and in between her and the bullet. As it fell to the ground, limp. She could still hear the screaming in the room as it seemed to drown out her own, and running towards him, the blood oozing out from his body like water came from a faucet.

Trying to lighten the mood a little, Joseph smiled, "Do you remember the headlines the next day?"

She nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes... I do recall my favorite article to be by Samantha Godsend."

Joseph smirked, "The one where we were secret lovers, and had secretly gotten married? And the shooter was a hit man who I'd hired to kill you off, correct?"

Clarisse laughed, "Yes! And that you'd felt guilty last minute and stopped the bullet."

They laughed together as Joseph continued, "That was a good one, but my favorite was by Channel 16." Her brow furrowed, and he explained, "We had an affair while Rupert was still alive, both of the boys were mine, and you had killed Rupert off so we could be together... The shooter was a friend of Rupert's who'd found out, and tried to take an eye for an eye."

The chuckled, and as the happy atmosphere slowly dwindled away, Clarisse took Joseph's hand in hers again. "I really am glad that you're alright, Joseph."

He smiled lightly, "Come here." He whispered, opening his arms to her.

Slowly, and a little hesitantly, she stood up from her chair, and leaned down to hug him. The feeling of his arms around her was indescribable... Immediately, the tears sprung to her eyes, and rolled down her cheeks. Her arms tightened around him, and she buried her face into his neck. "Hey... hey." He whispered, pulling her away by her arms gently to see what he expected- tears on her cheeks. Brushing them away, he smirked at her, "Queens don't cry..."

She laughed, and slapped his arm playfully. "And Heads of Security don't wear anything but black, but there's a first for everything, I suppose."