Two weeks past and there had been no change in Joseph's condition. Clarisse had stayed with him the whole time, only leaving to freshen up and change her clothes, even though Mia had begged her to return to the palace to rest. Mia entered Joseph's room quietly, her eyes filling with tears as she watched her grandmother sleeping with her head rested by Joes body and her hand in his, they both looked so peaceful. 'Grandma' she whispered placing her hand on her shoulder. Clarisse instantly opened her eyes on her touch and lifted her head 'Wa…Mia' she said looking startled

'Sorry I woke you' she smiled

'Has something happened?'

'No, no nothing, oh grandma you look exhausted' Mia commented

'I'm fine sweetheart'

'No your not and I'm here to help you, you need a break from here' Mia began 'I have had Lily to clear my schedule today so that I can stay here with Joe while you go home, take a bath and get some rest'

'That's very kind of you darling but I'm fine here' she turned to face Joseph and rubbed her fingers over his hand

'Grandma it's not an offer, it's an order, there is a car waiting for you outside, Shades will take you home and bring you back once you have rested. A few hours is not going to make a difference, Joe is not going anywhere'

'I can't leave him' she said suddenly

'Why not?'

'Mia…I'm….scared' she broke down 'I'm scared if I leave him now, I will lose him forever and I couldn't bare that'

'Now you're being silly, Joe is not going anywhere and you will only be away a few hours' she smiled taking her hand in hers

'That will be long enough for her to get her claws into him again'

'Victoria?'

Clarisse nodded 'She holds all the cards darling, my time with him now is precious as I know that once he is awake and aware of his unborn child there will never be a chance for us. He is a good man, he will stand by her and be the best father any child could ask for, it's what he has always wanted, its what we both wanted' she cried 'I suppose I just feel if I leave now I have to come to terms with that reality. By staying here I can live in a dream of happy endings'

'If he love's you grandma you will always be in his heart'

'I can't compete with his on flesh and blood and I have no right to even try. He deserves to be a father, he was brilliant with your father and uncle while they were growing up and they both loved him too. I can't give him that but Victoria can, so even if he does love me, he wont be able to give up his only chance'

'I think that is for Joe to decide, you can't stay with someone you don't love because of a child, this is the 21st century now grandma, he can have the two of the most important people in his life if that's what he wants and that's you and his child. The question is will you be able to live with him and a his child from another woman'

'I love him, I would do anything to make him happy and I realise that now. I just wish I had realised it a lot sooner'

'You can't change the past grandma, but you can change the future, don't let past mistakes ruin your future'

'When did you become so wise' she smiled

'I had a good teacher…my grandmother' she replied smiling 'now please go home and get some rest, I promise I won't leave him at all and if anything changes I will contact the palace immediately. Besides do you really think Joe will want to wake up to see you looking so exhausted'

All right….but only for few hours' she gave in 'Thank you darling' she hugged her before turning to Joseph. She leaned over so she was close to his ear 'Joseph I am leaving now to get some rest but I will be back in a few hours, I promise' she leaned over and kissed his forehead 'I love you' she whispered before grabbing her jacket and leaving the room to head back to the palace with Shades.

A few hours past and Mia sat by Joe's bed reading a magazine when Victoria entered the quiet room 'Your majesty' she bowed 'If you don't mind I would like to have a moment with my…with Joe'

'I'm afraid that wont be possible'

'Have you been told to stop visitors visiting?'

'I am not permitted to explain myself to you'

'I bet your grandmother has something to do with this' she spat angrily 'Who does she think she is, she isn't even the Queen any more, she cant do this to me'

'She may no longer be the Queen of the country but she will always me, mine, Joe's and the people's Queen'

'And how do you think Joe will feel when he finds out she has kept the woman he loves and his unborn child away from him?'

'I suppose we will find out when he comes round and in relation to the woman he loves I think we both know that she will be here when he wakes'

'He doesn't love her anymore'

'I think you maybe deluded, sorry'

'You can't speak to me like that'

'Oops I just did, sorry'

'I have loved Joe since the first day I met him and if it hadn't been for your grandmother we would have been married by now. She had her chance with him, she had 20 years of chances but all she did was prove that she didn't want him'

'That's not true' Mia replied

'Joe thought it was, why do you think he came to live with me'

'Being Queen means you have to make a lot of sacrifices in life and grandma made the biggest sacrifice of them all, her happiness to serve her country. She has always loved Joe, she was just too scared to admit it, she didn't want to bring shame on the Royal family'

'So she was ashamed of him'

'No, no that's not what I am saying, you're twisting my words'

'She made her decision and now she has to live with it, she needs to let go of her dream and allow him to move on and be happy with his new family'

'No' Mia snapped

'He has a new family now' she smiled rubbing her stomach 'Joey junior is his future'

'I would like you to leave now please' Mia said she didn't want to continue this conversation as she feared she would lose her temper and that was no way for a Queen to behave, she had already said too much 'There is only supposed to be one visitor to a bed' she added

'You can't keep me away forever, I am part of him now whether you like it or not'

'Bet you did this on purpose'

'This was Joe's doing not mine, I just wanted to look after him, I didn't want children, not yet'

'Then why keep it?' Mia asked 'To hurt grandma?'

Before She could reply the door opened and Clarisse entered 'Oh here she is' Victoria said

'Mia what's going on?' Clarisse asked

'I was just explaining to Victoria that it is only one visit per bed, she was just leaving'

'And I was telling your granddaughter that you cant keep me away from him forever, I am carrying his child' she smiled 'I will always be part of his life and you cant change that'

'I am not trying too' Clarisse replied calmly

'Then why won't you let me be with him?'

'As you can see Mia has been visiting him and now I am back, once he wakes and more people are aloud around his bed, you will be more than welcome to see him'

'I want to see him now, I love him' she shouted

'All this shouting and arguing is not helping Joseph' Clarisse replied softly 'I too love him and I am going to stay with him until he has recovered from this, now please could you leave or do I need to get you removed'

'That wont be necessary' she spat 'but I will be back and when I am I will be back for ever' she added before leaving

Mia stood to face Clarisse 'I'm sorry grandma she just turned up'

'It's alright darling, as she said soon she will be in our lives forever so we had better get used to it'

'I don't like her, why did he have to go off with her'

'We can't help who we fall in love with darling, one day you will realise that'

Mia laughed 'He doesn't love her, he can't'

'Only Joseph can answer that' she smiled

'How can you be so calm, before you left you were so upset'

'I have had time to think and getting angry and upset about it wont help, I don't dislike the woman, I just dislike the fact she loves the same man that I do'

'What if he decides to be with her?'

'Then I will have to deal with it' she wiped at a loose tear 'That isn't something I can consider until it becomes a reality darling' she said as she walked over to the bed and placed her hand in his 'My priority now is making sure he wakes up and recovers, we have to remember why he is in this condition, he tried to take his own life and we need to find out why that was'

'Because of that woman' Mia offered

'We don't know that, I fear it was more to do with my rejection'

'But you told the world you loved him, that isn't rejection'

'Maybe it was too late and…' Clarisse stopped suddenly and stood still

'Grandma are you alright?' Mia asked

'My hand' she began 'he squeezed my hand, I'm sure he did' she smiled

'Are you sure? His eyes are still closed maybe you imagined it'

'Joseph' Clarisse moved close to his ear 'Joseph it's Clarisse, if you can hear me squeeze my hand' she said softly and then just waited and a few seconds later he squeezed her hand again 'He can here me' she smiled excitedly

'Shall I get somebody?' Mia asked

'Yes I suppose you should' she replied before turning her full attention back to Joseph 'Oh Joseph you don't know how pleased I am that you are back with us. You gave us all a scare' a tear dropped onto his face as he once again squeezed her hand lightly

Mia soon returned with a nurse 'So he is back with us is he?' the nurse smiled as she approached his bed 'Would you mind if I just take a look at him for a moment'

'No, no sorry of course not' she stuttered as she moved away from the bed leaving his hand go and taking Mia into her arms, hugging her tightly

'Joseph' the nurse called taking his hand in hers 'my name is Linda, I'm a nurse, can you here me' Joseph squeezed her hand lightly 'that's great, your doing well, right Joseph can you open your eyes for me'

Clarisse and Mia both moved a bit closer to observe but his eyes failed to open 'It's ok Joseph, one step at a time' she patted his hand 'You rest now' she added before turning to Clarisse 'It's good progress'

'Why can't he open his eyes?' Mia asked

'You have to remember he has been in a coma for a long time with none of his body working properly, it could just take sometime for his body to begin working again'

'But he will be alright?'

'Let's take each day as it comes but as I said it's good progress'

'Thank you' Clarisse smiled before making her way back over to the bed and taking his hand in hers once again

The following day Clarisse was sleeping curled up in the large soft chair as she had done for a number weeks now. It was late and she was exhausted, she sat hour after hour hoping and praying he would open his eyes and maybe even speak to her until eventually she fell asleep. Joseph flicked his eyes open and then shut again, then open again, it was the first time he had seen light for weeks and it took a few minutes for his eyes to accustom to it. Once his vision was a bit clearer she fixed his eyes on the woman sleeping beside his bed, she was just as beautiful now as he had always remembered her. Her hand was still in his holding it softly and he touch was so comforting. Tears began to slowly roll down his cheeks as he stared at the sleeping figure. He loved her so much and seeing her now only confirmed it once more. He stayed staring at her until she began to stir, he was careful not to squeeze her, she looked tired and he was enjoying watching her look so peaceful, it would be cruel to wake her he had thought. A few minutes later Clarisse stirred again but this time she opened her eyes to find Josephs looking back at her. She slowly moved and smiled 'Hello' she said softly, he didn't reply but just smiled back. That was the first time she had seen his beautiful smile for months and it made her heart beat faster. She moved a bit closer to him and noticed the tears on his face 'Hey' she wiped the tears away softly 'what are all these for?' Once again he didn't respond to her question just continued to maintain eye contact with her and smiled 'Are you in pain?' she asked 'If you are squeeze my hand' but he didn't squeeze it 'Is it me? Am I upsetting you? Should I go, oh Joseph I'm sorry I didn't even consider that I may be the last person you wanted to see' she said as she broke eye contact and began to pull her hand away from his but he squeezed her softly stopping her, she turned to face him again 'S..t..a..y' he mumbled quietly

'What was that?' Clarisse couldn't understand him it just sounded like a noise, she moved her ear closer allowing him to smell her beautiful familiar scent 'S..t..a..y' he repeated

Clarisse smiled 'You want me to stay, Oh Joseph' she cried as he squeezed her hand again and smiled as she sat down on the chair 'I thought you may have wanted me to leave, I'm glad you don't though'

'W..h..e..r..e…….a..m…I?' he managed to say a little louder

Clarisse stood once more so she could see him clearly 'You are in hospital in Genovia'

'Wh..a..t…..ha..pp…e.n..ed?'

'We were hoping you would be able to tell us' she replied 'The doctor's say you tried to commit suicide' she said sadly

Joseph blinked and lost his smile, as another tear escaped 'N o' was all he could manage to reply

'It's ok, we don't need to talk about that now' she stroked his head 'Let's concentrate on getting you better first' she smiled

He didn't say anything just closed his eyes and cried silently; Clarisse's heart was breaking watching him looking so vulnerable and allowed her own tears to fall.

A few days past and each day Joseph should some improvement, Clarisse stayed with him and he received several visits from Andrew and Mia, which cheered him up. His speech was progressing brilliantly and he was now able to speak more clearly and sit up in bed. 'Clarisse, you should go home, you need to sleep' he said softly as he squeezed her hand

'I am fine sleeping here' she smiled

'This is no way for a Queen to sleep'

'Ah but I am no longer a Queen remember'

'You will always be my queen' he pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of her hand gently 'Please go home and rest, I promise I won't run away'

'You had better not' she laughed

'So will you go?'

'I suppose a few hours wont hurt but then I will be back'

'What will the press think?' he joked

'Nothing that they don't already don't know' she replied

'Clarisse what do you mean?'

'They already know how I feel about you, so they will not question my visits' she said as she put her coat on

'And how do you feel?' he asked

She leaned over closer to him 'Do you really need me to tell you? I love you' she whispered

'And you told the press that?' he looked shocked

'You know I did' she said

'I did?'

'I told them in a press conference the day you left hospital and headed to Spain'

'That was ages ago' he commented looking more confused 'I don't understand, I didn't know'

'You did?' she said

'No' he replied 'You did that for me?'

'I only did what I should have done and what you had wanted me to do for years but then when I finally built up enough courage to do it I was too late. When I arrived at the hospital to see you the nurses told me you had left after the press conference so I assumed you had seen it and decided I was too late' a tear slipped down her cheek as she remembered back to that heart breaking day

'I didn't see any television or papers, Victoria took me straight to a holiday home in the middle of the country away from civilisation. Do you really think I would have left you if I had seen it?'

'I was so emotion and confused I didn't know what to believe' she admitted

'I would never have left if I had known, I know how hard that must have been for you and the fact you did it for me would have made it even more special. Leaving you was the hardest thing I have ever down in my whole life and being in the middle of know where, where I had no signal so I couldn't even speak to you nearly killed me'

'Is that why you took the pills?' she asked

'What pills?' he looked confused once more

'The doctor said you had consumed a large quantity of anti-depressants and alcohol, he said he thought it had been a suicide attempt…was it Joseph? Did you try to kill yourself because of me?'

He held her hand tightly with tears forming in his eyes 'I don't remember' he admitted 'I don't remember anything after speaking to Shades to ensure everything was in order for the coronation'

'How did you get to Genovia? You must remember that?'

'No, I don't…. I don't remember anything' he broke down and Clarisse instinctively took him into her arms allowing him to weep into her shoulder 'It's ok darling' she said as she stroked his back. She knew that if he could remember getting to Genovia, the likelihood was he wouldn't remember anything that happened between himself and Victoria either. After a few minutes Clarisse let him go and looked into his eyes 'It's going to be alright' she reassured him 'I am here, we will get through this together'

'I have put you through enough' he replied sadly 'You made the ultimate sacrifice for me by telling the world how you felt about me, knowing that you would receive some kind of backlash from the people of Genovia and parliament but you still did it for me and what did I do leave you here to face them all alone'

'You didn't know' she wiped his tears away softly

'No I didn't but that doesn't change the fact you had to deal with it all alone. You must hate me'

'Joseph' she cupped his face with her hands never breaking eye contact 'I could never hate you, I love you. I can't lie and tell you everything was alright back then because it wasn't, I was in a very dark place, I wouldn't leave my room for days, I thought you didn't love me anymore' she cried

'Never' he whispered

'I wanted to end it all' she admitted 'But Mia pulled me through, she has grown up into a fine young woman you know' she smiled through her tears

'Just like her grandmother'

'But even at my lowest, when I thought I had lost you forever and there was nothing to live for, there wasn't one single moment that I hated you, I couldn't even if I had tried. I have loved you for so long and never really told you how much you mean to me'

'I don't deserve you' he whispered as he closed his eyes and allowed his lips to touch hers softly for the first time in what seemed like months. She responded by making the kiss more passionate forcing him to part his lips allowing her tongue to explore his mouth as his did hers. All the emotion of the past month or so run through their bodies, both shed tears of joy and they held each other tightly never wanting to let each other go for fear this perfect moment would end. 'They finally pulled apart and smiled 'I have missed you' he whispered 'And I'm sorry'

'I'm sorry too' she replied as she kissed him again before laying her head on his chest as he placed his hand around her 'I love you Clarisse'

'I love you too' she smiled

They remained like that until a nurse disturbed them by entering the room. Clarisse slowly moved out of his arms and smiled 'Sorry' she apologised

'No need' the nurse smiled 'Joseph we will be taking you down for a scan shortly'

'I was just leaving anyway' Clarisse said as she turned to face Joseph 'I will be back later'

'You promise' he held her hand, he looked terrified

'I promise' she whispered as she kissed him softly 'I love you' she added before leaving the room.

Later that day Joseph had been down for his scan and had been moved to a side room on one of the main wards in the hospital. He was reading the book Clarisse had given him when the door opened 'Hello Joe' Victoria Smiled 'How are you feeling?'

'I'm getting there slowly' he replied

'I'm glad, I didn't know what to do with you, you were in a terrible state, I told you not to be so stupid with the drinking and the drugs'

'I don't remember' Joseph admitted 'I remember nothing, I'm sorry'

'You remember nothing, nothing at all?' she asked

'No' he sad sadly 'The last thing I remember was calling the palace when you went to the village to get a paper'

'I see' she smiled 'Do you remember what you did to me?'

'What did I do?'

'Oh Joe you made love to me, over and over it was wonderful'

'What?' he looked stunned 'No….no I couldn't have, I wouldn't' his thoughts immediately went to Clarisse, he couldn't have betrayed her, he wouldn't he thought

'Oh but you did' she smiled 'And I can prove it'

'You can?'

'Joe' she took his hand and placed it on her stomach 'I'm pregnant, isn't it wonderful' she beamed

Joseph pulled his hand away, he couldn't take all this in, not only had he betrayed the only woman he had ever loved but now he was going to have a constant reminder of his betrayal 'What have I done?' he placed his hand on his head 'Oh god what have I done? Why can't I remember, damn it' he slammed his hand on the bed

'Joe this is what you have always wanted'

'No…no.. it's not, I never wanted this, I longed for a child yes but only with Clarisse, I didn't want children with anyone but her'

'But she can't give you one and I can and I am'

'This isn't happening, please tell me this is a horrible dream and that I am going to wake up any moment'

'Joe I thought you would be pleased'

'Pleased no, no, no oh what am I going to tell Clarisse, what a mess!'

'Oh darling I wouldn't worry about her, she already knows'

'She does?'

'She has tried to keep me away from you, but as I told her I will always be part of you know and she cant do anything about it' she smirked

'Did you do this on purpose?' he asked

'What? Joe how can you even ask that?'

'Sorry, it's just I am trying to make sense of all this, I wouldn't knowingly hurt Clarisse I love her'

'Well if I remember correctly you told me you loved me too when you were making love to me'

'No…NO!' he shouted 'Get out, I don't want to hear anymore, I can't remember any of this, please get out'

'But I love you' she said 'and I am carrying your child, that must mean something'

'No I don't want this, I don't love you I'm sorry but I don't'

'What about Joey junior?'

'What?' he looked at her in disbelief 'No I don't want either of you, I can't deal with this'

'I will get you for this Joe, you can't pick me up, get what you want and then throw me to one side with a child in tow!' she spat 'You will pay for this'

'I'm sorry' he sobbed as he rocked back and for 'I'm so sorry'

'You will be' she shouted before leaving pushing past Clarisse as she entered the room to find Joseph sobbing uncontrollably and when she tried to comfort him he rejected her by pushing her away 'Joseph' she looked confused 'Joseph what's wrong?'

'You need to leave' he replied 'You need to go and give your time to someone who deserves you'

'You deserve me'

'No, no I don't, I have done such a terrible thing, it's disgusting, and I feel sick thinking about it'

'Victoria has told you has she?'

'Yes' he sobbed 'I don't remember Clarisse, I don't remember a thing' he swung his arm over the table pushing everything angrily to the floor making Clarisse jump, she had never seen him like this before 'How could I do that to you, I wouldn't do it, I know I wouldn't but she says I did and now there's a baby, oh god what have I done'

'You were ill' Clarisse offered an explanation 'You didn't know what you were doing, she may have taken advantage of your vulnerable state'

'Why are you finding excuses for me?' he asked 'why are you here with me after knowing what I have done? You should be shouting at me or cutting me out of your life completely, who could blame you!'

'Is that what you want?' she asked with tears in her eyes 'Look at me Joseph'

Joseph moved his red tear stained face top look at her 'Do you want me to walk away?'

'No' he broke down and she moved in to hug him 'then don't push me away'

'Why are you excusing my behaviour?'

'Because it is easier for me to deal with if I think it was her taking advantage of you and that you didn't really want her or enjoy it, can't you understand that' she cried as she held his face 'I love you and it breaks my heart to think of you being with another woman'

'I'm so sorry' he wept

'Listen to me Joseph, your ill and we are going to get you better. We have both made mistakes and we can't change them but what happens in the future is down to us now and I don't know about you but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to make love to me, for you to be there when I go to sleep and when I wake up. I want you to be there to hug me, hold my hand and accompany me as my lover to all the balls and public appearances. I want the whole of Genovia to know that we are a couple and that I love you. The question is what do you want?'

'I want you' he cried

'Then we mustn't let Victoria or the past get in the way' she kissed him softly 'I know a child is what you have always dreamed of' she began 'And I would never ask or expect you to give up on your child for me. I understand you will want to be part of its life and give it all the love it deserves but we can do that together'

'I don't want the child' he said suddenly 'that may make me a bad person but I only ever wanted children with you. I came to terms with not being able to have any a long time ago and I am happy with that as long as I had you'

'But it's not the child's fault Joseph'

'I know' he whispered 'But every time I would look at it, I would feel disgusted by what I had done, the baby will be a constant reminder of my betrayal to you'

'You may feel differently once the baby is born'

'I wont' he insisted but before she could reply they were interrupted by the door opening. Clarisse looked up and saw two police men enter 'Afternoon officers, what can we do for you?' she asked

'Ma'am we have be altered to an incident that happened a few weeks ago'

'What sort of incident?' she looked concerned

'We have received a complaint from a member of the public ma'am, a serious complaint, if you wouldn't mind we would like to talk to Mr Bonnell alone'

Clarisse looked to Joseph 'No I want her to stay'

'Are you sure sir?'

'Yes, anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of her, we have no secrets' he squeezed her hand and wiped his tears with his other hand

'Very well, Mr Bonnell we have received a serious complaint of assault and rape from a member of the public'