A.N- Even though I've still got one more exam to go, I thought I would be nice and update sooner. Seeing as you were all on your hands and knees begging me...

Chapter 6:

"Would you like me to get you a chair?" the nurse quietly asked Clarisse.

They had been standing in the middle of the room for some time as Clarisse tried to come to grips with what she was seeing. Joseph's appearance had come as quite a shock to her.

He was lying on a bed in the middle of the room, with various tubes and needles inserted into his arms. He looked so pale that if it weren't for the machine checking his heart rate, Clarisse would have thought him dead. She could barely see his chest rising and falling from his shallow breathing as it was heavily bandaged. Apart from his bandaged chest, his entire upper body was bare and Clarisse marveled at his obvious muscular strength at the back of her mind. However all her concentration was going into keeping her emotions at bay as she stood in the room with the nurse.

"Your Majesty?" she heard the nurse quietly ask.

Looking into her eyes, Clarisse could clearly see the woman was concerned. She attempted to smile but felt it wasn't very successful or convincing.

"Yes, a chair would be lovely", she told the nurse, instantly seeing relief cross her face.

The nurse let go of Clarisse's arm as she pulled a chair up beside Joseph's bed, but took it again to help her sit down.

Now that Clarisse could see Joseph up close, she could no longer hold back the tears. She let them overflow the rims of her eyes and flood down her face as she reached out and carefully took his hand in hers. She heard the nurse shuffle beside her so turned to look into her eyes.

"Please..." she pleaded quietly. Pleading for her to leave them alone but also for the nurse to keep what she saw to herself. Clarisse was afraid her tears were showing the nurse too much.

"I'll ask that no-one disturbs you", the nurse promised as she bowed slightly. Clarisse could see the glint of tears in the woman's eyes as she looked at her again.

"And I won't speak of this to anyone, Your Majesty, you have my word", she whispered as she backed out of the room.

Just before she went out the door, Clarisse gave her a tear stained smile of thanks, glad the woman understood. Smiling back, the nurse quietly closed the door leaving Clarisse alone with Joseph in the still room.

As Clarisse looked down at Joseph, all that could be heard was the quiet clicking and beeping of the many machines that were hooked up to him. She stared intently into his face as she clutched his hand with the hand of her one good arm.

"Please Joseph...wake up", she whispered. "I can't go on without you".

She waited but when she received no answer, she sighed, bowing her head to rest it on their clasped hands.

"How long will he remain unconscious?" she asked herself, too afraid to even consider if he would wake up at all. It seemed she was just getting over one tragedy when the next arose. First Rupert, then Phillippe, now this. She wondered how she could still go on.

"Clarisse...?" his voice broke through her thoughts, even though it was barely even a whisper. Her eyes shot up to see a pair of dull eyes watching her.

"Oh Joseph!" she exclaimed with a sigh as she pulled his hand up to her face. Holding it close she looked deep into his eyes.

"I was so worried I was going to lose you", she whispered, letting fresh tears fall down her face.

Joseph brushed some of the tears away with his hand and then, smiling, opened his arms wide as Clarisse lent down, resting her head on his shoulder. She was careful not to touch his chest in case it hurt him, as she couldn't bear seeing him in pain. He carefully wrapped his arms around her as much as he could, as the needle's restricted his movements.

"I'm sorry for not getting to you sooner Clarisse, I could have stopped him from hurting you", Joseph murmured.

"Don't say that Joseph, you almost died for me! How can you say you could have done better?" she asked him.

"You saved my life, I couldn't ask for more", she whispered, relaxing in his arms.

Joseph didn't reply.

As Clarisse was being held in his arms, she knew that now was the best time to tell him her secret as it could possibly be the last time they would be alone together for a long time. Leaning back slightly, she rested her head on the top of his arm as she looked into her face.

He smiled at her but then frowned suddenly as he traced a finger around something on her cheek. She touched her own face with her fingers and looked at him questioningly.

"What is it?" she asked feeling the healed over cut on her face. She shuddered as she remembered the pain of when the man had cut her.

"That bastard has carved a heart into your face", even though his voice was barely above a whisper, Clarisse could hear it was dripping with anger.

"Please lets not discuss him, not now". She murmured, trying to forget the whole ordeal. "I want this moment to be about us, Joseph".

She looked into his eyes pleading with him to let it go.

He squeezed her hand.

"Us?"

"Yes, 'us' Joseph...I love you", Clarisse whispered as she pulled his hand up to her lips to gently kiss it.

Joseph moved his hand around to the back of her head, as he gently lifted it off his shoulder to kiss her lightly on the lips. Moving her head back again she looked into his eyes that were boring into hers.

"I love you too, Clarisse, more than you'll ever know", Joseph whispered as he bent forward again and kissed her.

Her heart felt as if it was bursting with the love she felt for him and she found herself crying again. She snuggled up to him the best she could from her sitting position and laughed quietly.

"You must think I'm a complete mess, when I constantly cry in your arms", she murmured.

"No, my dear. Just human", she heard Joseph whisper.

She smiled as she closed her eyes. Even though she wasn't very tired, she was content to stay in his arms as he gently stroked her hair, for as long as she could.

A.N- Oh wasn't that just lovely...yeah I enjoyed writing this chapter. There is still a little more to come but its probably only one more chapter. Hope your liking it so far and as always, please review. I will thank all reviewers properly in the next chapter. Thank you again. The next update may take a while... :(