Hey everyone, just want to thank you all for reading and to those taking time to review :) I can't thank you enough for that, I really do appreciate it. Here's the next chapter for you and I'm sure it's what you all wanted ;) although, trying to write how it played out in my mind was harder than I thought it would be. I have tried my best to get it how I see it, but hope you all enjoy it anyways :)

Also, I have included some of the words to the song It's Your Love by Tim McGraw in this chapter and just want to state that the words and song do NOT belong to me. I'm merely using them as they fitted in with the moment they are included in.

Thank you and ENJOY ;)

x-X-x-X-x

Monday 9th October 2000.

Standing at the bottom of the grand staircase, Joseph went through a couple security issues with Shades when one of the Queens new ladies maids came hurrying through with a tea tray. Passing the clipboard back to the younger guard, he turned to her as she looked up at him and smiled.

"Is that for Her Majesty?"

"Yes, sir," nodded the maid.

"Well I'm just on my way up there to see her now, so I can take it for you if you like?" He asked and watched as she looked at him wide eyed "it's okay, I can assure you that you will not get in to trouble for not taking it up yourself."

"Are you sure?" The maid asked nervously as Joseph stepped before her.

"Of course I'm sure, we are old friends and I know that she wouldn't mind at all," he said and smiled "and I'm her head of security so you can trust me to deliver it safely."

"Alright, well thank you then," she finally answered and allowed him to take the tray from her.

"No, thank you," he smiled and began his journey up the stairs "have a good afternoon."

"Thanks, you too," smiled the maid as she watched him disappear before turning to Shades, who stood going over the notes on the clipboard at the security desk by the door.

Moments later Joseph was at the Queens suite, he knocked but when he didn't get any answer he balanced the tray as best as he could and opened the door. Stepping inside the room he discovered why he hadn't got any answer when he knocked. The Queen, his oldest friend was daydreaming. She was sat at the dining table in her suite, her back was slightly arched with one foot tucked under her seat, her other outstretched under the table in front of her and her elbow was resting on the table. Her arm was up, her hand curled around a pen tucked under her chin supporting her head and from the look in her eyes she was a million miles away.

Walking over to the table, he carefully placed the tray down "Clarisse," he said softly and began pouring her some tea as she averted her gaze to him.

Realising she was no longer alone she quickly sat up straight and put her arm down "sorry, I was a million miles away."

"I thought you were, somewhere nice I hope?" He asked and lent closer, placing her cup of tea and saucer down on the table in front of her.

"Yes, of course" she nodded, smiling up at him "I was sunbathing on a beautiful beach somewhere."

"Sounds lovely," he smiled and sat down in one of the other chairs at the table.

"It certainly does," she nodded, stirring her tea with a sigh "we can all but dream."

"We can indeed," he said, watching her "in all honesty is everything alright?"

"Yes," she nodded "I was just thinking about Amelia and her lessons."

"Ahh, I see," he said and folded his arms on the table in front of him "and how is she doing with them?"

"Quite well actually," she nodded and looked over at him "it's just a shame that it's been a week since she found out about all this and we haven't had a chance to spend any time together as grandmother and granddaughter, instead it's been Queen and Princess."

"Well one day over the next week why don't you make it where it's just the two of you, as grandmother and granddaughter? I'm sure she would enjoy that, you could tell her about her father." He said and watched as she looked away a moment.

Nodding, Clarisse looked back at him "you know, I think you are right we need a day to get to know one another without any mention of lessons. Not today though, today we dance," she smiled "are you still helping me?" She asked and picked up her cup of tea.

"Of course I am," he smiled and watched as she smiled across at him then sipped her tea "I wouldn't miss this lesson for anything."

Early Afternoon.

"Ahh, here's the hotty himself," Shades smirked as Joseph approached the security desk.

"I beg your pardon?" Joseph asked, raising his eyebrow as Shades continued to smirk.

"Oh leave him alone, it's not his fault," smirked Stephen as Joseph looked at him.

"What's not my fault?"

"Melissa, she's got the hots for you big time," Shades said, unable to keep the smirk off his face.

"Who?" Joseph asked.

"Melissa, the Queens new ladies maid," said Stephen and smiled "she thinks you're a stud."

"She wants me to set her up on a date with you," smirked Shades.

"What?" Joseph exclaimed and laughed "I'm old enough to be her father."

"She's twenty five," said Shades as Joseph's face fell.

"It's worse, I'm old enough to be her grandfather," Joseph exclaimed.

"Age is just a number, Joe," Stephen said "there are fourteen years between me and my wife."

"In this case there are a lot more years between us," Joseph said, looking at him then at Shades "it wouldn't work."

"Whats wrong with that? She likes an older, more mature man Joseph," smirked Shades "your luck is in mate, so shall I let her know it's a yes for the date?"

"NO!" Joseph exclaimed "don't you dare!"

"Oh go on, it'll be fun," said Stephen.

"I'm not interested in going out on a date with her or anyone else, so don't you dare," Joseph snapped and looked at them "now I'm going to go and help the Queen with today's lesson, when I return later I don't want anymore talk about dates, got it?"

"Understood," nodded Shades.

"Loud and clear," said Stephen.

"Good, now get back to work," said Joseph before turning and walking away from them as they looked at one another.

Later That Evening.

Pacing her suite, Clarisse's mind was in overdrive with what happened after Amelia's dance lesson earlier today. Once her granddaughter had left to go home, she and Joseph shared a dance, something that they haven't done together for a long, long time and now every time she thought about it her heart would race. Every time she closed her eyes she could see his arm reaching across in front of her to turn the music back on, she could still hear those six words he whispered to her right before he took hold of her hand to lead her away from the desk, pulling her gently to where he had danced with Amelia just a short time before.

"You've been wearing black too long."

"Oh Joseph, what are you doing to me," she whispered to herself and once again looked towards her door.

Several times over the last hour she had looked at her door, wondering if she should go and see him but every time she thought about them dancing together her legs turned to jelly. This time however, her heart raced but her legs didn't betray her. She knew it was now or never so taking a deep breath she left her suite and made her way to Joseph's.

Reaching his door a moment later she raised her hand to knock but noticed it was slightly ajar, and stepping closer she could hear the faint sound of him singing. Pushing the door open just a little, she stood and listened to the words a moment.

"Dancin' in the dark, middle of the night

Takin' your heart and holdin' it tight

Emotional touch, touchin' my skin

And askin' you to do

What you've been doin' all over again.

Oh, it's a beautiful thing

Don't think I can keep it all in

I just gotta let you know

What it is that won't let me go."

Biting her bottom lip, she pushed open the door a little more to find Joseph sat shirtless on a stool with his back to her and his guitar resting in his lap. She had heard the song before, but hearing Joseph singing it gave it a whole different meaning. So tilting her head, she continued to listen, falling more in love with him with every word.

"It's your love

It just does somethin' to me

It sends a shock right through me

I can't get enough

And if you wonder

About the spell I'm under

It's your love."

However, sensing that he was being watched Joseph quickly turned around to see Clarisse peering through the gap in the door. Their eyes met, but only for a moment before she hurried back to her suite. Sighing, he grabbed his shirt and followed her whilst slipping it back on.

Walking through the door without knocking took her by surprise and she spun around to look at him and seeing him stood with his shirt on, but undone her heart skipped a beat. Walking slowly over to stand in front of him, she put her hand up and placed it on his bare hairy chest causing a breath to hitch in his throat. Looking up into his eyes she whispered "tell me again?"

"Tell you what again?" He asked huskily as she looked down at her hand still placed on his chest, her fingers toying with his chest hair.

"Tell me what you said earlier on, right before we danced?" She said softly and looked back up into his eyes.

Realising what she was talking about, he nodded and moved his head closer to whisper in her ear "you've been wearing black too long."

Biting her bottom lip she put her arms up, wrapping them around his neck as she stepped closer and kissed him slowly. Leaning her body against his, she melted when she felt his arms wrap around her waist, holding her against his hard body.

Breaking the kiss a moment later, Clarisse looked up into his eyes and whispered "make love to me Joseph."

Putting his hands up, he cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes "Not if its going to be a one night thing, you know how I feel about you and that I want to be with you."

"It doesn't have to be a one night thing, I want this too, I want you," she whispered, feeling his hands slide down her arms "I want to be with you, I want us."

"You do?" He asked and watched as she slowly nodded.

"I want us to be together again, I want us to make love every night," she whispered while putting one had up to cup his face lovingly "like we used too."

"Like we tried to do, some nights it wasn't possible when I was on duty or when we were apart," he whispered and turned his head, kissing the palm of her hand.

"Yes, well, like we did most nights then," she said, looking up into his eyes as a blush crept over her body "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," he whispered and kissed her several times before looking into her eyes "are you absolutely sure?"

"I'm absolutely sure," she nodded and reached up to kiss him one more time before he finally scooped her in his arms and carried her through into her bedroom.