(Authors note 1: Please don't sue me for any and all copyrighted characters. All other characters that are not in the original story line belong to me.)
That night, Joseph is awaken by the slight click of a door closing and some foot steps from two people trying to be as quiet as possible. After a couple of seconds, he opens one eye slightly and sees that it's Merle and Tamera who are sneaking about. The two of them are over at Tamera's dresser, getting some clothes out. Seeing this, he just smiles and opens both eyes to get a better look. As he watches, he see's that there's no one else in the room. He then uses one of his powers to levitate himself out of his bed and float silently over behind them.
"You" said Joseph, scaring both Merle and Tamera and making them jump into the air. "do know that you both could be a little more quiet when there's a person sleeping here right?"
"Joseph." said Merle, turning on her heels and hitting Joseph on his good arm. "You know not to sneak up on people in the darkness and scaring them."
"Yeah, daddy." said Tamera, turning around and giving her father the sternest of looks. "You know better then that."
"Not my fault that you were sneaking around here as if you were trying to steal something. Other then my heart of course." said Joseph, with a small smile as he looks down at Tamera and lands. "Where do you think your going young lady?"
"I'm going to stay with miss Merle." she answered, making fists and putting them onto her hips.
"I thought that you were going to stay with me?" he asked, pretending to sound shocked at this information.
"Joseph. Your hurt." said Merle, stepping in between the two of them. "You can't very well take care of her all by yourself."
"Well, I can if you help me out some, Merle. Then I can do it. Please???" Asked Joseph, giving Merle big anime-ish puppy dog eyes.
"Yeah. Please???" asked Tamera, coming and standing beside Joseph and also gives Merle big anime-ish puppy dog eyes.
"Oh all right." said Merle, as she looks up at Joseph, then down at Tamera and laughs. "But only since you asked so politely."
"I knew that that would get you Merle." said Joseph, with a gentle laugh. "I always knew that the power of the puppy eyes would work. Always do."
"Well, I'd better leave you two alone so you can sleep." said Merle, as she gently hits Joseph in his good arm again.
"Talk to you tomorrow."
And with that, Merle leaves the room as Joseph helps Tamera switch over to one of his shirts that she's using as her p.j.'s.
"You want to know something daddy?" said Tamera, as she climbs into her bed.
"What?" asked Joseph, as he sits down beside Tamera.
"I think that you should get married." she said, as she lays her head down on her pillow and slowly starts to close her eyes.
"Got anyone in particular in mind?" he asked as he brushes a hair out of her face and smiles down at her.
"Yeah...*yawn* maybe miss Merle." said Tamera, and sleep finally over takes her.
"We'll have to see." said Joseph, as he gently leans in and gives Tamera a gentle kiss on the forehead. "We'll see."
He then gets off of Tamera's bed and walks over to his bed, he sits down and looks over at where Malisk is leaning against the wall.
::Hey Malisk, when you gave me those powers. Did you make sure to give me the power to regenerate any broken bones?:: asked Joseph, moving under the covers.
::Well yes. I did give you minor regenerative powers. But nothing that extensive. The only other thing that you can
do in cases like that is for you to use your telekinesis to straighten the bones and then use the regenerative power.
But you can't regenerate lost limbs or organs.:: said Malisk.
::No harm in asking, right?::said Joseph, shrugging.
::Right.:: said Malisk, sounding amused.
Joseph then lays down in his bed and he uses his telekinesis to fix his ribs by attaching the two pieces of ribs together with a slight, painful crack, then engages his regenerative powers. He then closes his eyes and falls asleep fairly quickly from the pain.
***************************
The next day, when Joseph wakes up. He finds Tamera asleep beside him again, with her head on his good
shoulder and her face nudged up against his neck as she takes in small breath's as she sleeps. After laying there,
and stroking Tamera's hair in a calm and gentle way, there's a gentle knock on his door.
"Come in." said Joseph, in a low hushed voice.
All of a sudden the door swings open and Hitomi steps in carrying a tray with three bowls, followed by Merle who's holding a vase for drinks and three cups. Hitomi and Merle then look over to Joseph's bed to see Tamera asleep on Joseph's shoulder, which causes them both to smile. Merle starts to put the three cups down and pours some juice into each, then sits down.
"Must have climbed in while I was asleep." said Joseph, in a small whisper and a gentle smile. "Didn't even feel her climb in."
"Well, you better wake her up since it's time for breakfast." said Hitomi, putting the tray down on the table and putting the bowls in front of each of the three chairs. "If you'll excuse me now, I gotta get going."
"Aren't you staying for breakfast, 'tomi?" asked Joseph, looking at Hitomi with a cocked eyebrow as she walks over to the door.
"Already ate with Van. Thanks for asking, though." she said, with a small smile and blushing as she leaves.
"Tamera." said Joseph, as he gently shakes her awake and waves at Hitomi as she leaves.
"Hmm?" said Tamera as she blinks her eyes open, and looks up at Joseph with sleep filled eyes. "Yes, daddy?"
"Time to get up for breakfast." he said, as Tamera sits up and looks around while nodding her head.
"Hi, miss Merle." she said, waving at Merle with a sleepy smile on her face.
"Hello Tamera." said Merle, giving Tamera a smile.
After a couple of seconds of wiping the sleep out of her eyes with her fists, Tamera climbs over Joseph and walks over to the table. A couple of seconds, Joseph gets up out of bed and walks over to the table with a slight hop to his step and sits down.
"I take it that you feel better, Joseph?" asked Merle, looking at Joseph as she watches him.
"Much better." answered Joseph, in between mouthfuls. "As it turns out, all I needed was a good long sleep."
"How come I have a feeling that that's not the whole truth, daddy?" asked Tamera, as she glances up at Joseph from under her eyelashes. "You were hurt really badly."
"Oh. It's the truth, all right." responds Joseph, he then mumbles something about it not being a little of the truth.
"Now finish your food, so you can go outside and play."
"Okey daddy." answered Tamera, as she finishes her food, getting up, she runs behind her hanging blanket to get changed.
"Hey, Joseph." said Merle, as she finishing her food that she brought.
"Yeah, Merle?" asked Joseph, looking over at Merle. "What is it?"
"I've been meaning to ask you. Why do you have that blanket across there for?" she asked, looking over at Joseph and pointing at the blanket.
"Oh that." answered Joseph, looking over at the blanket. "It's for Tamera. I figured that as she grows up, she'll need her own private place to change in without me seeing her."
"Oh." is all Merle can say for now as she glances over at the blanket.
A few minutes later, as Joseph and Merle continue thier talk, Tamera comes walking out in a nice blue and white dress that sets her eyes off almost perfactly.
"Now that dress, is the best one that I seen you in yet. Now turn around so I can see what it looks like on you from all sides." said Joseph, with a gentle smile.
"Thankyou daddy." said Tamera, blushing as she turns around to show it off.
"Now. You can go outside and play to your little hearts contentment." said Joseph, getting up from his chair. "But stay close to the building unless your with Hitomi, Merle, or any of the others."
"Yes daddy." said Tamera, as she skips over to the door, opens it, then skips out as she closes the door behind her.
All of a sudden, the door opens again, and Millerna walks into the room with her doctors bag. Upon seeing Millerna, Merle gets up and heads out the door with a gentle smile at Joseph.
"So how do you feel today, Joseph?" she asked, as she puts her bag down on the table.
"Better then I did yesterday." replied Joseph, as he sits back down in his chair. "And not as good as tomarrow, but who's keeping track."
"Really?" asked Millerna, unwrapping his ribs, then rewrapping them. She then takes Joseph's hurt arm and starts to unwrap the bandages.
"Yeah. It's pretty amazing what a little sleep can do for you." said Joseph, as he looks out the window and see's clouds floating by.
"What on gea?" said Millerna, in amasement as she finishes unwrapping the bandages.
"What's wrong Millerna?" asked Joseph, as he turns and looks up at Millerna.
"Y-your arm." she answered, taking a step back.
"Hmm?" said Joseph, looking down at his arm that's it mostly healed, leaving a crusty scab. "Damn. I knew that I was a fast healer but this is ridiculous."
"No wonder you feel so much better, Joseph." said Millerna, coming back over with a worried look on her face.
"You better make sure not to pick at that scab. Otherwise you'll get a nasty scar. At least now you don't have to
wear the sling anymore. Now let's take a look at that leg."
After a few minute both Millerna and Joseph are surprised to find that the leg is in the same condition as his arm is in.
All Millerna can do is look at Joseph in utter amasement.
"That's good news. I guess that that means that I can go outside then," said Joseph, getting up out of his chair and walks over to his dresser, and takes out one of his long sleeved shirts. "and relax some."
"Yes it does, Joseph." answered Millerna, shaking her head in order to clear it as she starts to put her things away while blushing. She then stops and looks at Joseph with a smile on her lips. "It's the doctors orders. Just be careful on how you move around."
"What are you doing today, Millerna?" asked Joseph, grabbing a pair of pants from his dresser drawer and puts both his pants and his shirt onto his bed.
"I'm staying around here. Why?" she asked, looking over at Joseph.
"Well. It's just that Tamera needs new clothes for travelling and for playing in." he said, as he looks over at Millerna with a smile. "And where as your a woman and everything, I was hoping that you could help me with getting her some. I got the money for it. Normally I'd ask Merle but it seems that she'd probably go for something light and open, knowing her. But, just so she doesn't get mad, I'll invite Merle to come along."
"I would be honoured, Joseph." answered Millerna, gently smiling as she goes back to putting the stuff away.
"Thanks. Now if you'll excuse me Millerna. I have to get changed." he said, smiling back at her.
"I'll come back in a few minutes, then we'll go." she said as she walks to the door, opens it, and then steps out,
while shutting it behind her.
Once Millerna's gone, Joseph starts to get changed. Two minutes later, when done getting changed, Joseph hears a slight creak from the ledge above his window, while fixing his shirt while looking into the mirror.
"So. You enjoying the sights, Merle?" he asked, without turning around knowing that Merle's hidden over by the window, but on the outside of it.
Just then, there's a small thump on the floor, followed by someone running across the floor on all fours. A couple of seconds later, a pair of tanned arms with stripes wrap around his chest from under his arms.
"How did you know that it was me, Joseph?" asked Merle, gently giving Joseph a playful lick on the cheek, then puts her chin on his shoulder.
"I know you too well, Merle." he answered, as he tilts his head towards her as a smile crosses his lips. "Plus, I'm psycic. You want to Join me, Millerna, and Tamera today?"
"Where are you three going?" she asks, as she licks him again.
"We're going shopping for new clothes for Tamera." he answers, as he grabs his belt and carefully puts it between him and Merle, while he's careful not to touch Merle in any sensitive areas.
"Why do you need Millerna for?" asks Merle, with a frustrated tone in her voice. "You could have just asked me be the one to go with you. Just the three of us alone."
"It's not that I don't trust you, Merle." Joseph said, as he turns to face Merle. "It's just that you'd choose something loose probably. Besides, I need someone who knows enough of clothes for girls then I do with me. It's just that I don't quit know what to look for. Not to mention that I will need you there for a second opinion."
"Okey. I'll come with you." said Merle, putting her hands behind Joseph's head. "But on only on one condition."
"Here we go. I should've known that there'd be a condition." said Joseph, looking down at Merle. "What is it?"
"You trust my judgement is all I ask." answers Merle, batting her eyelashes at him.
"I always trust your judgement Merle. There's one little thing: no open, breezy dresses for my daughter to wear."
said Joseph, with a stern look on his face.
"Understandable." said Merle, then she stands on her tiptoes and kisses Joseph on the lips for a full minute, then pulls away. "When do we go?"
"Once Millerna gets back." answers Joseph, smiling as his cheeks turn a slight red. All of a sudden, there's a knock on his door. "And that should be her now."
Joseph walks over to the door, and opens it to reveal Millerna standing there with a smile on her face.
"Are you ready, Joseph?" she asked, looking at Joseph. A couple of seconds later, she looks past him and see's Merle standing there. "Oh. Hello Merle. I didn't see you there."
"I know." she answers, as she walks up and takes Joseph's good arm.
"Well ladies. Shall we go and gather Tamera, then start the shopping?" asks Joseph and receives nods from them.
"Then, as a great wise man once said: 'Let us proceed with great haste to our steps and happiness in our hearts
and souls.'"
A few minutes later, Joseph, Merle, and Millerna walk through the doors leading outside into the bright sunshine.
"Now where is she?" asked Joseph, as he looks around. After a couple of seconds of looking, he see's Tamera
sitting over at the water fountain as she talks with some other children. He then starts to walk towards her.
"Tamera." he calls out.
"Huh?" said Tamera, looking towards Joseph. When she realises that it's him, she gets up and runs over to him.
"Daddy."
"Hey there, kiddo." said Joseph, as he kneels down on one knee as Tamera reaches him and hugs him around the neck. Merle just stands there and tilts her head to the left and looks down at the two of them. "You busy?" he asks when Tamera pulls away.
"No. Not really daddy. I was just talking to my new friends." She answers, and starts to tug on Joseph's hand and leads him over to the fountain, followed by Merle and Millerna. "Come on daddy. I want you to meet them."
"Whoa. Slow down, Tamera. I'm going as quick as my Lil ol' legs will carry me." said Joseph, trying to keep up and laughing the whole time.
"These are my new friends, daddy." said Tamera, as she introduces him to her friends. He then receives waves from all the kids and gives each of them a nod of the head.
"Okey Tamera. Now that you introduced me to your friends. Me, you, Merle and Millerna have a lot of things to do."
said Joseph, scuffing Tamera's hair. He then guides her out into the city.
"What are we going to do daddy?" asked Tamera, with a curious tone in her voice.
"We're going to get you new clothes." answered Joseph, smiling down at his daughter.
"Oh. But I don't need any new clothes daddy." said Tamera, grabbing one of Joseph's hands while Merle takes his other.
"Yes you do for playing and other things, Tamera." said Joseph, smiling down at her. "Besides it's better safe then sorry."
"Okey daddy." agreed Tamera, smiling a sweet smile up at him.
**************************
That night, upon returning to the room. Joseph and Tamera start unpacking their new clothes, with help from Merle.
Merle then goes to the side while Tamera is getting changed into her new pajamas.
"Joseph. Did today feel a little strange to you?" asked Merle, looking over at him with a confused look on her face.
"The air felt a little strange, if that's what you mean." answered Joseph, looking up at the ceiling. He then shrugs slightly. "Like it was going to rain oor something. But other then that, today felt fine."
"Besides that. I mean did you get the distinct feeling that something is going to happen?" she asked, as she bends down behind the curtain to help Tamera.
"Nope. Can't say that I did, Merle. Why?" asked Joseph, with a raised eyebrow as he watches Merle straighten up again.
"I'd just thought that I would ask. It seems to me that everybody is acting a little strange." answered Merle, as she looks down at the ground while Joseph turns around and puts some of the clothes into one of the drawers.
"How do I look daddy?" asked Tamera, from behind him.
"Hmm?" asked Joseph, as he turns around and see's Tamera wearing a long night gown that fits her little frame perfectly which causes him to smile at her. "That looks good on you Tamera. Now climb into bed and go to sleep."
"Yes daddy." answers Tamera, smiling at the compliment as she walks over to her bed and climbs into it. "Good night daddy. Good night miss Merle."
"Good night Tamera. And remember that you have a busy day tomorrow." said Joseph, and gives Tamera a smile,
then turns around and looks back at Merle. "Well. It's getting pretty late, Merle."
"Oh and daddy??" asked Tamera, as she's climbing into her bed.
"Yes, Tamera???" asked Joseph, looking over at Tamera with a smile on his face.
"Thankyou for buying supper for us." said Tamera, as she lays down onto her bed and pulls the blankets up under her chin.
"Your welcome, sweety." said Joseph, smiling some more. He then turns and looks back at Merle. "Like I said a minute ago, Merle. "
"Yes. Your right Joseph. I'll see you both in the morning." said Merle, and gives Joseph a kiss on the cheek. She then turns and walks out the door and down towards her room.
"Yeah. See you then Merle." calls out Joseph, as he closes the door and goes to bed, only to fall asleep a half hour later.
*********************
The next morning, Joseph wakes up to a slight weight on his bed. He opens his eyes a crack and see's that it's Tamera, who's climbing into the bed and under the covers as her nightgown brushes past Joseph's leg, then cuddles into Joseph's chest.
"Cozy Tamera?" asks Joseph, causing Tamera to start.
"Yes daddy." answers Tamera, as she cuddles more into Joseph's chest and falls back asleep.
"I wonder what today is?" asks Joseph, as he checks his watch and finds that it's February 14. "Damn, it's Valentines day.... Well, I think that I know what to do."
::Hey Joseph. If you don't mind me asking. What in the world is a 'Valentines day'?:: asks Malisk, from where he's proped up.
::It's a special day that we celebrate back on earth by giving the opposite sex gifts like: flowers, chocolates or other things.:: answered Joseph, as he wipes the sweat, caused from Tamera's body heat, off of himself.
::You people are weird.:: said Malisk, with a sigh.
::Sometimes we are. But only when in love.:: agreed Joseph, smiling.
A few minutes later, Joseph contacts both Van and Allen through thier dreams (shivering at the sight of Allen's dream), telling them to meet him in his room at noon.
********************
Later that day, there's a solid knock Joseph's door causing him to look up from what he's doing.
"Come in." he calls out, and looking over to the door.
"You wanted to see us Joseph?" asked Allen, walking into the room and is followed by Van.
"Yes, I did." answered Joseph, standing up. "I was thinking that we should do something special for our ladies today."
"Like what? But before you answer, where's Tamera?" asked Allen, looking around.
"She's outside with her friends. Now have a seat so we can talk." answered Joseph, and nods to the two extra chairs. Once Van and Allen are seated, Joseph tells them what he was thinking of doing for Merle and Tamera, he then suggests that they should do something nice for Hitomi and Millerna. "But it's just an idea on how to make them happy. Which in turn will probably make us happy."
"Not a bad idea, Joseph." said Van, turning back from looking out the window to look at Joseph.
"Hmm. I think that it's a pretty sound idea, Joseph." said Allen, while he's sitting across from Joseph. "I think we should do it."
*******************
That evening, Joseph, Van, and Allen are relaxing at the fountain, when they hear four cries of surprise.
"Sounds like they found the things we left in their rooms." said Joseph, sitting on the rim of the fountain while looking up at the clouds passing by.
"It seems that your right, Joseph." said Allen, with one foot on the rim of the fountain as he looks up to where Milerna's room.
"How long do you think that it will take them to figure out that it was us?" asked Van, as he leans against a nearby tree.
"Oh, I'd say about...." Joseph then looks at his watch. "Two minutes for Tamera. Maybe less."
"What do you mean Joseph?" asks Van, looking over at Joseph.
"Well. I've been telling her stories about fictional detectives. It seems that her favourites are Sherlock Holmes and Colombo." answered Joseph, looking over at the doorway with a small smile.
"I'm not going to ask." said Allen, shaking his head.
Just then, Tamera comes running out of the building carrying a toy teddy in her arms and a deep red rose in her left hand. After a couple of seconds of searching, Tamera see's Joseph and runs over to him. When she finally reaches Joseph and stops in front of him.
"Did you get me these daddy?" she asked, looking up at Joseph with big, round eyes and holding the bear closer to her.
"I sure did, sweety." answered Joseph, smiling down at his daughter. "Do you like them?"
"I love them. Thankyou daddy. Your the best daddy that I could ever have." she said, as she jumps at Joseph,
nearly sending them both into the fountain, and hugs him as hard as she can without hurting him.
"Your welcome Tamera, I knew that you would love them." said Joseph, hugging her back.
Just then, Joseph and Tamera hear two other voices which causes them to look over at Van and Allen, who are
being thanked by Millerna and Hitomi. Joseph just looks around for Merle and see's her standing to the side,
wearing the beautiful diamond necklace and holding the dosen roses that he got for her, while looking down at
Joseph hugging Tamera.
"Hello there Merle."said Joseph, smiling at Merle as he shifts Tamera to one side. As he looks up at Merle, he see's
that she's carrying the dozen roses that he got her and tears running down her cheek while looking right at him.
"What's wrong with you Merle? Don't you like them?"
"Yeah. What's wrong miss Merle?" asked Tamera as she climbs down off the fountain and walks over to Merle.
Upon reaching Merle, Tamera gently puts her hand into Merle's hand and leads her over to Joseph.
"Th-thank you Joseph. I l-love you." is all Merle can say before she runs and hugs Joseph around the neck and pressing her cheek to his. All the while, sobbing into Joseph's shoulder.
"Oh, Merle..." said Joseph, rubbing Merle's back. "Please don't cry. I did it because my love for you runs deeper then the roots of the most beautiful and ancient cherry tree. I also love Tamera as my daughter of course."
"Daddy's right, miss Merle." agreed Tamera, as she wraps her arms around both Merle and Joseph, and hugging them.
"Oh Joseph, please forgive me." said Merle, taking her head off of his shoulder.
"Forgive you for what?" he asked, as he puts two fingers under Merle's chin and turns Merle so she can look at him. "There's nothing to forgive for loving someone."
"I didn't know how much you loved me, for sure, until today. I thought that...." all of a sudden she starts to cry even more, as her words are lost to tears.
"Merle. No matter what, I'll always love you. Your the only one for me." said Joseph, as he looks into her eyes.
After a minute, Joseph leans in and kisses her fully on the lips.
********************************
That night, Merle, Joseph, and Tamera are sitting out on the patio, off of the room that Joseph and Tamera share,
looking up at the stars and talking. Merle and Tamera are leaning against a seperate shoulder.
"Lately, I'm glad that I was brought here." said Joseph, as he slings his arms around both Merle's and Tamera's shoulders.
"Why's that Joseph?" asked Merle, shifting her head so that she can look up at him.
"Well, if I wasn't brought here then I wouldn't have met you Merle and fallen head over heels for you. Also I wouldn't have been there to protect you, Tamera, from all the evils in the universe." answered Joseph, as he looks down at the two of them and smiling.
"Oh daddy. Your so nice." answered Tamera, looking up at her father and gives him a big smile.
"Besides your the only two women for me at the moment, that I truly love with all my heart." said Joseph and recieves kisses on the cheeks from both Merle and Tamera.
"I love you too, Joseph. And I also love you, Tamera of course. I want to become closer to both of you." answers Merle, looking from Joseph to Tamera and gives them both a smile.
Later that night, Joseph wakes up while leaning against the wall. He looks down and see's that both Merle and Tamera are also asleep, all the while breathing in time with one another.
"Hmm. Maybe I should put them to bed." whispered Joseph, stroking the hair of his two favorite women. All of a sudden, Joseph hears a small sigh of happiness from a balcony nearby. "Who's there?" he calls out in a sharp whisper.
"Just me and Van, Joseph." Hitomi calls back in a whisper.
"Umm, Van. I realise that your probably busy with Hitomi and everything, but can you come over here and help me?" asked Joseph, as he feels his shoulders falling asleep.
"Why? What's wrong?" he asked, from his belcony in a concerned voice.
"Well, I need help with both Merle and Tamera because they're both asleep one either shoulder. They're basically putting both my shoulders and arms to sleep." answered Joseph, sounding a little nervous.
"Oh. Now I understand." said Van, with a small laugh. "I'll be right over."
"Thanks Van." calls out Joseph, smiling slightly.
"Joseph?" Hitomi whispered over from hers and Vans belcony.
"Yeah, Hitomi? What is it?" Joseph asked, looking in Hitomi's direction.
"You okey???" said Hitomi, with a slight smile to her voice.
"Perfactly fine, Hitomi." said Joseph, chuckling to himself.
About two minutes later, Van comes walking out onto the deck wearing his usual pair of brown pants and red shirt with a slight bulge in his pants, giving Joseph a clue as to what Van and Hitomi were doing.
"So you need some help, Joseph?" he asked, looking down at the three of them.
"That would be really good right about now." said Joseph, being careful not to wake Merle and Tamera up.
After a couple of seconds later, Van picks up Merle while Joseph picks up Tamera. Joseph then leads Van into the room and uses his telepathy to tell him to lay Merle on his bed, only to recieve a dirty look from him.
::Don't worry Van. I'll be sleeping on the chair over there. Not to mention that you should know me better then that
by now.:: said Joseph, while he puts Tamera down into her bed and nods towards one of the chairs nearby.
::Besides, we could put Merle into Tamera's bed. But it's kind of small for the two of them. And Merle probably
won't like being away from here tonight. So just go ahead and put her in my bed.::
"Well, I guess your right about that, Joseph." agreed Van, nodding in agreement as he does as Joseph suggested.
::Don't worry Van. I'm not stupid enough to do anything of that sort.:: said Joseph, tucking the blanket under Tamera's chin as he glances over at Van with a small knowing glint in his eyes.
"Since you don't need me any more Joseph. I'm going back over to Hitomi." Van said, looking at Joseph with a slight sparkle in his eyes.
::Have fun Van. Looks like you need it.:: smiled Joseph, as he leads Van over to the door. ::And thanks again for everything.::
"My pleasure Joseph. Besides, your one of the best people that I have on my side." said Van, walking out the door and leaving Joseph in the room with Merle and Tamera on the beds.
That night, Joseph has a semi-restful sleep in the chair.
*****************************************
The next morning, Joseph's out in the courtyard practicing his martial arts at a relaxed pace. After a few minutes of practicing, his movements are getting quicker and more smoother. After each movement, there's a small streak of colored light, followed by the smell of roses. He gets so wrapped up in his workout that he doesn't notice that he's drawing a fair-sized crowd of children and adults. All of a sudden there's a shout of surprise which causes Joseph to come to the present and notices the crowd of people that's gathered.
"Wha...?" asked Joseph, looking around he see's the cause of the disturbance. The guards are breaking up the gathering of people.
"Are you Joseph, sir?" asked one of the guards, as he walks up to him.
"Yeah. That would be me." answered Joseph, nodding his head in agreement. "What do you want?"
"King Maximillian wishes to talk to you." answered the guard, nodding his head. "If you will just follow me." added the guard, as he starts to walk towards the main building.
"Sure. Just lead the way." answered Joseph, shrugging and he follows the guard. All the while he's keeping his mind open for any stray thought, just in case of an emergency.
Upon getting into the main chamber, Joseph see's that Van and Allen are also there.
::Any idea what's going on here, you two?:: asked Joseph, projecting the message at them instead of through out the room. Allen and Van just shake thier heads. Joseph then approaches the thrones in which King Maximillian and Queen Tabitha are seated, and bows to them. "How may I be of service to your Majesties?"
"Well Joseph, the reason we called you here for is of a simple matter." said King Maximillian, as he indicates both himself and the queen. "The reason is that me and my wife would like to make you a proposition that you may like."
"Which is, sir?" asked Joseph, looking up at the king and queen.
"We would like to make you a duke in this country, and a general in times of war." answered the king, as a small smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth. "Do you accept Joseph?"
"I-I don't know what to say, King Maximillian, other then that I would be honoured by such gifts." Stutters Joseph in amazement, and out of the corner of his eye he could see that Van is trying hard not to laugh.
"We'll have a celebration to commerate the momentous occasion in two weeks time." said King Maximillian, with a gentle smile.
"As you wish, my lord." said Joseph, bowing, then turns and walks out of the room.
Once outside, Joseph starts to walk to his room. Just then, Van comes up beside him.
"What's wrong Joseph?" he asked seeing the confused look on Joseph's face.
"Hmm? Oh nothing. Just thinking." said Joseph, glancing over at Van.
"About what? If you don't mind me asking." said Van, looking down at the ground while thier walking.
"Well. I'm thinking of asking Merle to marry me. But there's one small problem." said Joseph, stopping and looking at Van, who also stopped.
"Which is?" asked Van, looking at Joseph with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't know if you would give me permission to ask her, Van." answers Joseph, looking down at the ground.
"Joseph." said Van, coming over and places a hand on Joseph's shoulder. "You don't have to ask. I know how much you love Merle and vice versa. So my answer is yes."
"Really?" asked Joseph, looking up and see's Van nodding in agreement.
"I had a feeling that you'd ask me that, so I told Merle that if you asked her to marry you that she has my permission to say yes." answered Van, smiling at him knowingly. "Now you better go tell her the good news and do your proposing to her."
"Thankyou Van. Your a good friend." said Joseph, taking Van's hand and shakes it vigourously.
"Not a problem, Joseph. You've done so much for our cause, it's the least that I could do. Besides, your a friend and a hero." replied Van, taking his hand from Joseph. "Now get going."
With that, Joseph walks off to his room to see Merle and Tamera. Upon reaching the room, he stops and listens only to be met by giggles from Tamera, which causes him to briefly smile. He then puts on a straight face and walks into the room to find both Merle and Tamera at the table, talking with a roaring fire, blazing in the fireplace. When they hear the door to the room open, Merle and Tamera look over and see's Joseph standing there with a confused look on his face.
"What's the matter Joseph?" asked Merle, getting up and walks over to Joseph.
"Well. I have two peices of good news for the two of you." said Joseph, as he guides Merle back over to the table.
"What is it daddy?" asked Tamera, as Joseph and Merle sit down at the table.
"The first peice of good news is that in two weeks time, I'm going to become a duke." said Joseph, with a small smile.
"That's excellent news, Joseph." said Merle, taking Joseph's hand into hers. "I'm so happy for you. Now. What about the other news?"
"Well. In order for me to tell you the second peice of news, I have to get down here." said Joseph, getting out of his chair and kneels down on one knee in front of Merle, causing her to let out a little gasp.
"What are you doing, daddy?" asked Tamera, watching her father.
"Your about to find out, Tamera." said Joseph, glancing over at his daughter, then takes Merle's left hand and looks up at her. "Merle. Would you do me the honour of marrying me and becoming my wonderfull wife?"
"Wh-what?" asked Merle, stunned and looks down at Joseph.
"Will you marry me?" he asked again, looking up at her with a nervous look on his face.
"Y-yes, Joseph. I will marry you." answered Merle as she starts to cry and lunges into Joseph's open arms. "I've been waiting for a long time for you to ask me that."
"I know." is all Joseph can say before Merle leans in and kisses him passionantly on the lips.
"Yippy." Tamera shouts out in pure happiness, as she climbs out of her chair and jumps up and down excitedly while clapping her hands together. "I'm getting a new mommy."
End Of Part 5 By Rathorc Lemenger!!