Chapter 2
Author's Note: Hi Girls! I cannot tell you how happy I am about your heartwarming reviews. Really, I'm over the clouds. Thanks very very much.:-) So I'm sending a big hug to all of you, namely to Dedlock, Lady Luxembourg, Zsulie, Captain Weirdo, AlternativeRocker, addlogcon, Ursa, Liesel Meminger, bluegirl-783, Junora, beMMADfabulous, Tommys My 21, Kristi-Julie, potter-renaldi, JulieFan35, green dame, One Special Lana and to raisingdancer.Big thanks for Rach doing the beta thing. So here is the next one, and it's a special chapter. I've never ever enjoyed writing a chapter more than this one… I hope you will enjoy reading it.:-)
"My husband, of course, you silly little girl."
There was another pause for a moment. Everyone tried to analyze the situation. Charlotte was surprised and tried holding back her chuckling, while Mia was simply excited. And Joseph? He just sat there, holding her hand. He was completely sure that he was the one who was ill and not Clarisse. Maybe all the worrying had been a bit too much for him, and now he'd started hallucinating.
"I'm glad you are here darling," Clarisse continued, which brought him back to his senses.
"May I have a word with all of you?" asked the doctor with a meaningful look on his face. "If you will excuse us, Your Majesty. Just for a few minutes."
"Oh, of course. No problem," Clarisse answered hesitatingly. She would rather have told him 'No, I want to hear what you have to say,' but she was a bit too well bred for that, so she agreed. "Just go."
"Thank you."
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
A few moments later everybody was in Dr. Monroe's office, tiptoeing nervously.
"Well I think you are all a bit… surprised." the doctor started. "Her Majesty's injury is not serious, but it is more tricky than some. And I have to say, it's not a rare thing that after a head injury such as this, the patient starts mixing up situations, names, etc. It's a certain type of amnesia."
"Are you sure doctor?" asked Charlotte.
"Yes. And as I see the situation now, this is the only possible answer to Her Majesty's behavior…" There was a loud beeping sound. "Oh excuse me. The result of the test has just arrived. I will be back in a minute," he said and hurried out.
"Well," Mia said and started laughing. "There is another possible answer…"
"What do you mean Princess?" Charlotte looked at a loss.
"Grandma would be perfectly all right if…"
"If?" asked Joseph.
"…if you had already married her in secret."
"Are you joking?!"
"You married her, didn't you? Don't deny it!"
"No."
"Really?"
"I swear. But I wish I could say you were right," he answered frankly.
"So, then, if you are telling the truth—ok, ok! Don't look at me that way, save it for the Viscount. So, if you didn't marry her, that could mean two things. First, she thinks you are Rupert. I mean the king. The father of her children. Or, and this is the second possibility, she knows who you are and she thinks you are married to her now."
"I highly hope it's the second one." Joseph chuckled, just as the doctor returned to the office.
"Sorry that I've kept you waiting, but I have good news. The test is negative. So Her Majesty will recover soon, even though she is in a strange mental state now. She seems totally collected, but in her mind there are a few black holes and a lot of things are mixed up. So all I can recommend you is to just leave everything on her. No matter what she is saying, even if it's a totally nonsense thing, just go along with her. Her brain is already fighting with so many things as it works to heal, she doesn't need any more. So, if she thinks you are Her Majesty's husband," he turned to Joseph now, "then please play the role. I know it will not be easy, but she needs your co-operation. Can you do it?"
"Well, I will certainly do my best," Joseph answered, while trying to hide his smile.
"Thank you. Oh, and you can talk about her amnesia in front of her. She will obviously recognize the memory loss too, so there would be no point in denying it. Just don't confuse her," he said and turned back to the girls. "And I would ask the same thing from all of you. So if she--"
"We've got it Doc!" Mia grinned. "If Grandma thinks that I'm her mother, then I will read her fairy tales and make cookies. Got it. Don't worry."
"That's very… honorable, Your Highness."
"Or maybe I would steal Joe from Grandma," she whispered to Charlotte. "You know, mothers first!"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A few minutes later, after they had discussed the plan, Joseph returned to his 'wife'.
"Hello my dear." He smiled as he stepped in and closed the door behind him. He was in heaven. It was an indescribable feeling to say the words 'my dear' to her, and he was not able to stop smiling as he sat down next to her bed.
"Finally. I'd already thought you ran away," she teased and let him hold her hand.
"I hope that's just a joke."
"Of course," she giggled, her eyes smiling. "So what was the meeting about?"
"First he showed the results of the test you were given. Don't worry, it was negative. So that means you will recover soon. You may suffer a little memory loss, but nothing serious. It's just temporary."
"That's good to hear." She smiled. "What else did he mention?"
"He was a bit strict. We had to swear that we won't let you get up, or work from your bed. It doesn't matter how much you try to convince us otherwise."
"And you think you can keep me from it?" She challenged after a pause.
"But of course."
"Then let me warn you that you are in trouble sir, because I have my tricks." She smiled mischievously.
"Oh, ho ho! I have no doubts about that," he chuckled. "But I will be pitiless."
"Oh, alright. So that means I have to relax a few days, right? Can you stay with me?" she asked and looked up at him with those big blue eyes.
"How could I resist you?"
"Oh don't worry. You don't have to."
"If only you knew…" he whispered to himself, then continued aloud. "So then we can agree that I will pamper you for the next few days, and every wish of yours will be a command to me. Deal?" He smiled and kissed her forehead lovingly. Frankly, he was starting to get used to his role… quite fast if we say so. As for Clarisse, she was happy just to lean closer to keep contact with him. But when she tried to get up to kiss him on the lips, it was a bit too much for her. Her head throbbed suddenly, so she had to lay back.
"Ow!" She cried.
"Are you alright?" asked Joseph worriedly. "Your head?"
"Yes, it was the quick movement. Maybe I will just lie down for a few more minutes. Then I will try something simple, like sitting up." She chuckled.
"Just be careful, dear, ok?" he asked and looked at her so lovingly that time nearly stopped.
"Alright, I will. But I would rather convalesce at home. What did the doctor say, how long do I have to stay here?"
"Oh, I didn't ask, but I will do so now, if you want."
"Wait!" she cried, then softened her voice. "What if he says I have to stay? You know I hate hospitals."
"That's no problem. I will stay with you." He smiled and kissed her palm. "Is that ok?"
"More than ok."
"Good. Then I'll catch him and ask what he wants you to do. Do you need something from outside?" he asked and turned back.
"No, thanks."
"Ok, then wait for me, and don't try to disappear."
"I'll try not to do that," she teased.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
As Joseph opened the door, Mia nearly fell down in front of him. She was spying on them and had been leaning against the door.
"Are you alright, Princess?" asked Joseph. He caught her just at the right moment to keep her from hitting the floor. He wanted to rag her, but he was too happy to do that.
"Oh yes! Yes, Joe, I'm fine. How things are going?"
"It's like a dream – like being in heaven. But I'm also worried. You know, it's just a matter of time before she can remember again, and realize that I'm not her husband."
"Oh, don't worry about that; just enjoy your time with her. And when she regains her senses, we can just knock her out again! Ok, Ok. Just kidding."
"I truly hope so. But with you – people can never be sure."
"Yeah, that's right," laughed Mia. "But you can also count on me anytime. So tell me if I can help you with anything."
"Well, have you seen the doctor anywhere?"
"Yeah, he's just gone back to his office. Is everything alright?"
"Yes. I just want to ask him how long she has to stay in the hospital?"
"I hope she can go home soon… with her HUSBAND!"
"Yeah," chuckled Joseph. "So do I."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Fortunately everything was alright, so the doctor let Clarisse go home a few hours later, but only as long as she had medical supervision. That meant he would check on her often at the palace, but that was an acceptable compromise.
"I've told you that you did not have to pick me up. These stairs are like a mountain." She said lovingly as they reached her suite on the top floor.
"But I like mountains. And anyway, it's just another few steps… Here we are."
Joseph smiled as he gently laid her down to the bed and covered her with a blanket to keep her warm.
"Are you comfortable enough?" He asked while setting the bedding. "Because I can give you a few more pillows from the other room..."
"Oh it's fine, really. Please, don't trouble about me. But if you need them…" He looked surprised. "Oh don't look at me that way, just because I'm ill I won't push you out of our bed."
"You mean?"
"I don't want to hear any protests darling. You will sleep with me of course."
To be continued…
