Placing her hand flat on the door, just above the handle, where her other hand rested, she slowly closed the door to her suite. Her heart was racing wildly in her chest as the man behind her placed the ice bucket and two glasses down on her coffee table. It had been a long time since she shared her suite with anyone, and though the thought put a smile on her face, she also felt incredibly nervous. And now, leaving her hands where they were when she closed the door she took a deep breath and closed her eyes momentarily before turning to him as he poured them a glass of champagne each.

"Well I thought we would never get away," she laughed nervously as she stepped close to him.

"Me too," he smiled and looked at her. "Are you nervous?" He asked and watched as she put her hands up onto her face.

"Is it that obvious?" She asked and lowered her hands as she watched him slowly step in front of her.

"You have no need to be nervous," he said softly while taking hold of her hands. "We have after all spent many evenings together over the years."

"Yes we have," she said, nodding and looking up at him "but this is different, you have never stayed the full night before." Looking away, she took another deep breath as Joseph watched. "It's been sometime since I have shared my suite with anyone, and with it being our wedding night I can't help but be nervous." She said and looked back up at him.

"I know, and it's understandable." Joseph said, rubbing the backs of her hands gently with his thumbs "but if you are not ready for this then we don't have to spend the night together,"

"No no, I want to," she interrupted with a shake of her head. "I mean, I do want us to spend the night together... I just, I'm just," she hesitated and looked up at him as he stepped closer and put his hand up to cup her cheek "I want you to stay, here in my suite with with me, for the night. On our..." Feeling his lips press against hers she closed her eyes.

Moments later he pulled his head back and smiled as she slowly opened her eyes. "Shall I go and gather a few things from my suite?" He asked softly and watched as she nodded.

"Yes, I think you should." She nodded and smiled as he kissed her once more before stepping back.

"Alright, I will be as quick as I can." He smiled and walked out.

Smiling to herself, Clarisse turned and tried to think what she needed to do. "Tiara, that's right. Let's remove this tiara." She mumbled to herself as she put her arms up, fiddling with her hair to remove the tiara as she made her way through to her closet.

Slipping of her shoes, she put the tiara away before brushing her hair through. And once she was done she returned to her suite, taking a sip of her champagne she sat down and settled back. Looking around the room a moment, she stood back up and made her way over to the French doors leading to her balcony. Placing her glass down she opened up the doors and feeling the warm breeze she turned back to the ice bucket and Joseph's glass.

Returning to her suite a short time later, Joseph placed his bag down and looked around. Seeing his bride, their glasses and the bucket had disappeared he took one step forward before realising the doors leading to her balcony were open.

Standing in the doorway, he looked over to where she was sat on the two seater couch and watched as she took a sip of her drink. He noticed straight away that she had removed the tiara from her hair, that she had changed her shoes to a pair of slippers and she was sat with her legs crossed. Smirking, he shook his head and stepped out onto the balcony.

Looking towards him, Clarisse smiled and sat up straight. "Here you are." Motioning to the space beside her before pulling the shawl she had around her tighter and looked up at him as he grabbed his glass to have a sip of his drink. "I hope you didn't mind me moving to sit out here," she said and looked out into the darkening sky. "I often sit out here about this time, I find it relaxing." She smiled up at him as he sat down beside her.

"Of course I don't mind," he smiled and took hold of her hand, bringing it up to his lips as she took her bottom lip between her teeth. "I apologise I was so long, I was looking for something that I needed." He smiled and kissed the palm of her hand as her heart began to race and her tummy filled with butterflies.

"That's alright," she smiled and watched as he lent over her, placing his glass back down on the table before sitting back. "Hope everything is alright, and you found what you were looking for?"

"Everything is perfect, and yes." He nodded, looking up into her eyes "I found what I was looking for. Thank you." He said softly and looked down while slipping his free hand in his jacket pocket.

"Good," Clarisse smiled and took another sip of her drink while looking out into the sky a moment. Looking back at Joseph, she couldn't help but laugh when she saw he had got down on one knee. "Joseph, you are a little late." She giggled, only to gasp when she saw the ring he held out to her.

"This may not mean much to you, and you don't have to wear it." Joseph began while looking down at the ring as Clarisse studied his face. "But this ring belonged to my mother, she had wanted me to give it to that special someone, and yes I know that we didn't get engaged like I had hoped," he said softly and looked back up into her eyes. "But I would love it if this could be your wedding ring?"

"Oh Joseph, I would love too." Clarisse answered and smiled as she watched him look back down at the ring.

"Are you sure?" Joseph asked while looking back up at her "you're not just saying that?"

"Yes I'm sure, and no I'm not just saying it." She answered and turned a little to put her glass down on the table beside his before turning back to him. "It's a beautiful ring, and I would be honoured to have it as my wedding ring." She smiled and held out her hand to him.

"Thank you so much, you have no idea how much that means to me." Joseph said while leaning closer and kissed her before sitting back and slipping the ring onto her wedding finger.

"Oh Joseph, it really is beautiful." Clarisse smiled and watched as he kissed her fingers, just below the ring.

"I love you so much," Joseph whispered and reached up to kiss her on the lips before hugging her.

"I love you too," Clarisse smiled and watched as he pulled back a little. "Here," she began and grabbed both of their glasses. "Let's have a toast."

Taking his glass, he smiled. "To us."

"And our brand new future together, as husband and wife." Clarisse smiled as they clinked glasses and both took a sip of their drinks before sharing another kiss.

Moving, Joseph sat back in the seat beside his bride and put his arm around her shoulders as she snuggled into him and held up her hand to admire her new ring.

"Clarisse?"

"Yes?" She answered and raised her head to look at him as he continued to stare out into the sky.

"With everything that's happened today, I never got chance to ask when you asked me earlier but I just wondered when did you know?" He asked and turned his head to look at her as she smiled.

Smiling, she rested her head back on his shoulder "I know this is going to sound bad, because it wasn't as early on like you but it was the day I discovered you playing the piano, you had been apart of our life's for nearly 30 years and I had no idea that you could play until that day, or that you had put together your own songs."

"I remember that, and I can still to this day see your face when you appeared in front of me sat at the piano." Smiling he ran his hand up and down her arm as she raised her head to look at him. "Honestly, that was one of the best days of my life." He smiled and turned his head, to look into her eyes. "By the way, that doesn't sound bad, you were a married woman, a mother and Queen after all." He added softly as he put his hand up, brushing a bit of her hair back behind her ear before cupping her cheek. "But I did wonder if it was from then, because you changed around me. Sure, we still acted the same around each other but there was just something about you that was different."

"I was a woman in love," Clarisse smiled happily and studied his face. "You had let me sit on the stool with you as you played a couple of your songs, but then when you sang to me, and hearing your voice and seeing the way you looked at me, you made me feel like we were the only ones in the world and I felt amazing." She smiled and rested her head back down on his shoulder "how could I not fall in love with you that day." Lifting her head, she wrapped her arms around his arm and looked into his eyes "but back then of course I had no idea that you loved me." She smiled and studied his face.

"Well what could I say? I'm a master at keeping secrets." he chuckled and looked back at her as she smiled and looked away at the sky.

"Yes you are, and I do love that about you. Well," she said, looking back at him "not that you kept that one from me, of course, I meant all the others." She smiled.

Smiling, Joseph nodded as Clarisse rested her head back on his shoulder. "I knew what you meant," he whispered and kissed her hair before looking out into the sky.

"I think, if I'm honest," she began while raising her head to look into his eyes. "If Rupert hadn't walked in I would have probably kissed you that day." She whispered and glanced down at his lips.

Turning in his seat as Clarisse sat up, watching him. "Would you have?" He asked quietly.

Nodding, she put her hand up to cup his face "I believe I would have, yes." She smiled, studying his face once again. "Your voice captured my heart, and along with your sexy eyes I was lost in a world of not knowing what to do. After that day I wanted to tell you so much how I felt about you, but the more I thought about it and as you pointed out I was a married woman, with two sons and I was a Queen. And even though I didn't love Rupert as a husband or lover, I knew I could never act on my feelings and so I kept quiet. But now that there's no Rupert getting in the way, I'm free to love the only man I have ever loved." She smiled "At last."

Smiling, Joseph nodded and placed his hand down on her thigh while looking into her eyes, a twinkle in his eye. "At last my love has come along, my lonely days are over and life is like a song, oh yeah." He smiled, gently gripping her thigh as Clarisse lent into him, pressing her lips to his as she closed her eyes and wrapped one of her arms around his shoulders.

And as their kiss became more sensual Joseph ran his hand slowly up her thigh, and over her side as a moan escaped her lips. Pulling back they looked into each other's eyes. "What's the matter?" He asked as his breath hitched in his throat.

"It's just, it's been sometime since," she said breathlessly and closed her eyes. "It's been rather a long time actually, since I have... and..." and feeling his hand on her cheek she stopped and opened her eyes "Joseph?"

"I understand," he whispered and gently ran his thumb over her lips as his gaze remained locked with hers. "If you rather us stop, then we can. I won't push you into anything you do not want to do, that's my promise to you."

"Thank you, Joseph," Clarisse said, giving him a small smile before continuing. "I want our first time to be special."

"And it will be, when you are ready and not a moment sooner." He whispered.

Taking a deep breath, she rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Thank you, Joseph."

Kissing her hair, he smiled and rested his head on hers. "You're welcome, my love."