Well school has been keeping me busy and I am too lazy to write stuff. So now I will make it up to you all with an uber long chappy. Just for you all.

Joe was very quiet on the way back up to the palace. Still contemplating over what Rhea had said, missing him. He did miss her too, but he was trying to remember why he broke up with her. Then it hit him. He was going to ask her to marry him, but that same day he had met Clarisse.

He remembered he had thought he loved Rhea, but really Joe never knew what love was. It was hard to explain this to Rhea. Joe knew he had hurt her bad. Thou never had he thought she still hoped he would come back. Maybe it is time to give up on Clarisse.

"Hey, you still single right?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"Rhea, do you really think you can win my heart?"

"I think your heart has been stomped on so many times by someone else, you would turn to me."

"Perhaps."

He entered through the palace doors, followed quickly by Rhea. Joe led her straight to the Queens office. Clarisse would not be happy with Rhea. False emergencies are not something one plays with.

Joe reached the office doors and knocked softly. He heard some shuffling then an officer was standing at the open doors. He bowed slightly and let them in. Joe waved the officer out and closed the doors. He looked up and for an instant straight into Clarisse's eyes.

Joe walked up to the queen and began. "This is Rhea Boetti, she caused the false alarm." He paused and with his eyes locked on hers he kept the queen calm. "Even so, she is here on business, and it is important that you speak with her now."

"Thank you Joseph." she said as calmly as possible. "Ms. Boetti, what business do you wish to speak of?"

Joe retreated to the corner of the room, but for some odd reason caught Rheas eye. She smirked slightly and walked up to the queen.

"You Majesty, I seek a place to hide. I wish that you allow me to hide here in Genovia for only a short period of time."

"Why do you need to hide?"

"I have been entrusted with a jewel that is wanted by many factions. It is the second of its kind." She pulled out a box and opened it. Inside was a rough edged blue diamond. "It is important that I keep it safe and secret."

Clarisse nodded and spoke again. "How long do you wish to stay?"

"Two weeks at most. I must keep moving if I don't wish to be found."

"Fine, Joseph?" Joe looked up. "You will be her escort. This is very important."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This way please, Rhea."

He escorted Rhea out of the room. It seemed like only seconds before Rhea burst out laughing.

"I never been in such a tense room and the expression you keep on your face! It's a wonder I even love you!"

"It is a professional area. One you of all should respect."

"Maybe, but for now, I don't."

It was silent for a few more minutes. He led her to the room she would stay in. Just before he opened the door. Rhea spoke again.

"She's the one you dumped me for, instant she?"

"Rhea, now isn't the time."

"I see the way you look at her, this sort of longing. Its actually kind of sad."

"How would you know? I had no expression during that whole time."

"I could see it in your eyes. So is she or is she not?"

"She is."

"I thought so. Well, good night."

With that Rhea entered the room and shut the door behind her. Joe called in two other officers to guard the door before he too retreated to his room. He just went to lie on his bed and stare at the ceiling. He looked at the clock with its large red numbers that spelt the time 9:00. He turned to sit up and opened the draw beside his bed.

He pulled out a small box and opened it. The pendent that gleamed back was a heart with two hands on it and a crown. The Irish love pendant. One he meant to give Clarisse many times. He took some gold wrapping paper and on the inside of it wrote down his poem. He sighed and wrapped the paper around the box.

Putting the box back into the draw, he stood up and went to his cabinet. Opening the glass doors he grabbed his knife. Joe carried it over to the bathroom and placed it by the sink. He went back to the cabinet and pulled out a flask of rum. Closing the doors he returned to the bathroom.

Joe rolled up his sleeves. On his left arm lay three scars. All straight lines and all one above the other. The scar closest to the elbow was the most recent. It had only finished healing the week before.

He took the knife out of its sheath and stared at the blade. Joe did not know why it called to him, or why he even had to cut himself twice more. Though in a sense he felt it released something from him. Possible the pain that he suppresses, maybe his depression.

Joe took the cool blade to his warm flesh. He let it slowly pierce the skin, the he pulled across, fast. The sudden pain was one he no longer flinched to. He looked at the blood that began to emerge. He held his arm over the sink to the blood would drop into it.

Whispering to himself, "By this blood, I love her." He let it drip.

Joe simply grabbed his cloth and stopped the bleeding. He poured some of the rum on it to sterilize the cut and simply wrapped the wound with a clean bandage. He took a swing from the flask and returned back to his room. He turned on some Jazz and sat down on his bed. He sighed and drank from the flask once more.

At 10:30 there was a knock on his door. He called the person to enter and she did. Rhea smiled down at his drunken appearance. He looked back at her and into her eyes. Imagined playing in the green. Too long had he played in the blue.

"Well. Isn't this a sight." She smoothly whispered.

"Indeed." He agreed though just barely through his mumbling.

Rhea walked over to him and he laid out fully on his bed. She smiled slyly and climbed up on top of his stomach. She sat there for a moment before she began again. "You know I bet I could whoop your ass right now."

Joe allowed hi head to fall down on the pillow. "Then why don't you show me."

Okay maybe it wasn't that long, but I tried. I really think ending it here will keep you wanting to see what's next. XD well I'll update soon.