Thinking back, as he lay watching her sleep in the morning light, Joe wondered how he'd managed to get her all the way back to the room without further incident. Miraculously, the guards had all seemed to have vanished, and he had ended up carrying her all the way. He glanced over at the clock and wondered how long it would be before she woke. She moaned a little in her sleep, screwing up her eyes rather like a mole, and he smiled. She was going to have one hell of a headache. His knee was seriously objecting to their late-night excursion round the garden and even later activities once he'd finally got her into bed. Not that it hadn't been worth it, he thought, a smile curling his lips. Careful not to wake her, he ran a finger down her cheek, raising an eyebrow in amusement as she smiled in her sleep. He lay back down on the pillow, turning onto his side so he could watch her, and sighed contentedly. This was the life…

They were scheduled to leave after lunch and, after the short drive to the airport, to fly back, arriving in Genovia in time for a late dinner. He tried not to think always in terms of mealtimes, but hey, he was a man. And anyway, given Clarisse's erratic habits it paid to have one of them to remind her to eat! Speaking of which… His stomach growled loudly and wondered whether he might be able to sneak out and get some food before she woke up. He hoped she wouldn't be in too foul a mood this morning. Clarisse with a headache was never pleasant, and this one, he mused with a shade of guilt, would be at least partly his fault. Maybe hiding out in the kitchen for a while might be the best plan?

Gently lifting her arm from his waist and turning her to lie back on the pillow, he eased himself out of bed. She stirred a little, and then turned back to snuggle on her side, tugging the blanket up over her shoulders to compensate for the sudden lack of warmth next to her. He smiled…she really was too adorable when she slept…

Slipping on a robe, he wandered into the large sitting-room area to find the telephone. Pushing the door to, so as not to disturb her, he picked up the handset. Immediately he heard a click and a secretary answered in what he presumed to be Norwegian. Her English, though, was impeccable, as he quickly discovered and he soon found himself connected to the Queen's private line.

"Good morning, Joseph, and how are you this fine day?" Her voice was light and almost innocent, but he could feel the cheeky grin that was clearly plastered across her face and the heavy sarcasm dripping down the phone line.

"Wonderful, thank you. It was a most enjoyable evening."

"Clarisse up yet?"

"Not quite…" there was a throaty chuckle on the other end, and he shook his head. "In fact, that was why I was calling. I imagine you have already taken breakfast?"

"Yes, I'm afraid we have Joe…can I call you Joe?"

"Of course."

"Joey?"

"Never twice."

She sniggered and he smiled in spite of himself.

"Maybe I can get a tray sent up to you?"

"That would be perfect…nothing fancy, just some toast would be fine. Oh, and make sure there's a large quantity of tea. I think we might be needing it…"

She laughed again, and bidding him a pleasant morning, hung up.

Meanwhile, Clarisse was beginning to stir. By the time he wandered back into the room, tray balanced carefully on one hand, gently closing the door with the other, she was fully awake. Her eyes, however, were still tightly shut. She stretched her back a little and, folding her arms on the pillow, lay flat on her front. Setting the tray down, Joe glanced at her again, wondering if perhaps he should risk waking her.

Turning back in the direction of the door, he slipped off his robe, blissfully unaware of the eye that was watching him mischievously from the bed. It flicked shut, and a giggle was successfully stifled as he slowly got back under the sheets and, lifting himself onto an elbow, leant down over her.

She felt a warm hand come to rest on her shoulder…

"Darling?"

She groaned a little and buried her face deeper into her arms. Time to teach him a lesson…

"Clarisse?" He stroked her shoulder, his hand running up to the back of her head, lightly smoothing down her tousled hair.

"No…"

He smiled, shifting down to lie next to her, his head resting on the pillow.

"No?"

"You heard. I think I'm dead…so leave me alone…"

Uh-oh, she was in foul mood with him. He decided not to push it and tenderly stroked her arm.

"Would you like a drink, my dear?"

Her eyes flashed open and fixed him with a stare that would have stopped traffic dead,

"Don't you think you made me drink enough last night!"

He cringed at her misunderstanding. This was not going well.

"I meant tea…would you?"

"No."

He sighed, as she turned back to lie face down in the pillow.

Little did he realise that she was desperately trying to stifle a giggle.

Leaning over her, he reached for the pack of aspirin that had been thoughtfully placed on the tray and, with a couple of clicks, had emptied two tablets into the glass of water.

She heard the little plinks and the fizz and smiled into the pillow. He really was too considerate. Cautiously, he leant over her, swirling the glass to make it dissolve quicker. He tried again,

"Darling…um, maybe you could try just a little bit of this medicine…I'm sure it'll make you feel better."

She groaned and buried her face deeper into the cotton pillow,

"I don't want it. I don't like that kind of medicine."

He shook his head. Really…this was getting stupid now. She couldn't still be drunk, could she? No….she'd been pretty much sober by the time they'd got back to the room. And she hadn't even had that much, not really. The funny thing about the red wine wasn't that it got her drunk quicker, but that it made her…he smiled to himself remembering how she'd almost jumped him in the corridor... no, this little hellcat definitely wasn't still drunk.

Trying desperately hard to retain his composure he tried again, leaning back over to set the glass down on her bedside table,

"So what kind of medicine would meet her Majesty's requirements?"

Knowing full well she wasn't going to get another line as good as that, Clarisse decided that maybe this little game had just about run its course. Very slowly, she turned over, and, placing her palms on his chest, guided him back down to the bed. His confusion was hilarious, but she managed to keep a straight face. Coming to rest against his warm chest, she ran a well-manicured finger seductively down his cheek. He gulped, and she smiled, raising an eyebrow,

"You're not sick at all, are you?"

She smiled, and, closing her eyes, gently shook her head.

"Good. I don't like you grumpy."

Her eyes flicked back open and she opened her mouth to begin her defence…but, wrapping two strong arms about her and pulling her down to join him, Joe soon put a stop to that.

A/N – OK, this isn't the last one…woohoo! There will be one more chapter about how they get home. Sorry this one's taken a while to get up – the next won't take nearly so long ;o) Please review – thanks!