It was taking too long. Precious seconds were passing by as they waited for the physician to appear at the palace. Fear gripped his heart as her breath became shallower, raspy, as if she was giving up. He almost sighed with relief as the royal doctor came into view, panting with exertion. He was thankful as he saw the paramedics with a gurney not far behind.

Doctor Dubois was at Joseph's side, grabbing the queen's wrist while the young men lifted her onto the gurney. An oxygen mask was placed over her mouth as they "hastened" to the ambulance.

"What were her symptoms before she collapsed?" Dubois asked in a heavy, French accented voice.

Charlotte answered frantically, stumbling over her words as she told him about the dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, and ultimate hysteria when she started to go down.

"It was as if she was trying to rip her clothes off! Then she started breathing heavily, and blacked out," she finished in a rush.

Joseph was silent as he rode in the ambulance on its way to Pyrus Hospital. Charlotte, two ladies' maids, and some of the security team were in a limousine behind them. He held on to Clarisse's hand as they poked IVs into her body and a sphygmomanometer around her arm. He found himself unable to look away when they cut open her shirt and placed electrodes on her chest; it was now deathly pale compared to its red tint it had only minutes ago.

Let her be alright, Joseph begged. He couldn't allow himself to think of life without her. She is a strong woman, she'll be fine…she must be fine.

Everything started to blur together once they reached the hospital. One moment he held to her hand as if her life depended on it; the next he was ushered out of the emergency room, pacing back and forth outside the room. Minutes came and went, then an hour, then two. It felt like a lifetime. Charlotte was seated on a bench, her hands in her hands, tears streaming down her face. Joseph wanted to comfort her, truly he did, but he couldn't bring himself to stop pacing, stop staring at the door, and stop cursing under his breath.

Finally, after what seemed to be a lifetime, the doctor came out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Joseph almost ran into him, and Charlotte leapt to her feet, standing next to them.

"Her Majesty had a minor heart attack, she's alright" he said quickly when Charlotte went pale. "She will need to be monitored here for a few days, then, if she is feeling better, she can return to the palace by the weekend. Here is a list of the medications she will be taking," he told the young woman as he handed her a slip of paper, "as well as a list of things she is not allowed to do."

Oh lord, a list of things she is not allowed to do? She will not be happy in the least, Joseph thought cryptically. Unfortunately, while her assistant had the written wishes of the doctor, he, himself, would have to enforce the "rules" so to speak. However, at the moment, he didn't give a damn if she argued, yelled, or threw something at his head…she was going to be okay.

He was brought out of his own musings when the doctor repeated his name for the third time.

"She wants to see you, Monsieur," he said again. Joseph's head jerked up at this and practically sprinted into the suite. What he saw made his blood run cold and his heart ache.