"You're not coming back with me are you?"

"I think it's pretty obvious that I'm not."

"Just making sure."

"Why did you have to come here?"

"I wanted to make sure you got here alright. Anyway, it's a good thing I did come along, otherwise I would never have met that charming lady."

"Joseph and I want you to stop flirting with her. She's an old woman and…"

"She's only 60 and it was her that started flirting with me. Josie and I have been getting along really well. I really think she might be the one."

"You know, Rupert, I'm beginning to think that you're incapable of finding love, you tend to change your mind quite often. Now I don't want you to go anywhere near that woman am I understood? Or you'll have to leave."

"You're going to kick me out of my own house?"

"It's not your house anymore, but if I feel the need to get rid of you, I will."

"Oh, fair."

"Now are you ready to sit down to dinner?"

"Yes."

"And there is to be no more flirting and I don't want you to breath one word of what happened with us to anyone."

"I told you I wouldn't tell a soul."

"Good then, come on."


Joseph and his mother were already seated at the dining table and there were delicious bowls of food scattered in the middle.

"I absolutely adore her, Joseph, she shall make a fine daughter in-law. Oh, here she comes now."

"Good evening," they all said to each other.

They sat down and began eating.

"So, Clarisse, my dear, how is my grandchild doing?"

"Oh, quite fine, thankyou."

"You know, I honestly never thought Joseph would settle down and find a nice girl to spend the rest of his life with, but he sure proved me wrong when he told me about you."

"Mother," he interrupted.

"Yes, I remember he used to spend every night in..."

"Mother."

"He had a lot of trouble trying to commit."

"MOTHER! I'll give you five dollars if you end this conversation right now."

"And then he met you."

Clarisse decided to interrupt, "Excuse me, every night in what?"

"Hmm? Oh, every night in…"

Joseph was giving his mother the evil eye. He thought it would be best if he kept her away from Clarisse.

Dessert came and Joseph and Clarisse watched in disgust as Rupert and Josie fed each other spoonfuls of cake. And they were quite aware of what was going on under the table, too.

"Mom, why don't you and I go for a walk outside?"

"I'd love to, dear, but I'm tired and all I want to do is jump in bed."

She excused herself from the table and walked towards her room, giving Rupert a seductive glance.

Joseph snapped Rupert out of his daze and said, "Would you like to go for a walk with me?"

"Sorry, old chap, but I really should be off home, I have some things to take care of. Why don't you and Clarisse go?"

"I uh…"

"It would give you a chance to catch up with each other."

"No, I think we'll just go to bed as well."

"Suit yourself. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

They watched him walk out the door, then walked into their bedroom and hopped straight into bed, "You know, Joseph, I think I'll just go straight to sleep tonight."

"Oh?"

"It's been a long day."

"Hmm…I agree. Goodnight sweetheart," he kissed her forehead and held her tight.

She suddenly opened her eyes and spoke, "What was your mother talking about before?"


Clarisse woke up the next morning feeling quite hungry, so she went to the kitchen and was shocked at whom she saw sitting at the table.

"Rupert, what are you still doing here?"

"Eating."

"I can see that, but why are you here?"

"I was invited to stay by a friend."

"Oh no."

"Good morning all," Josie smiled, entering the room.

Clarisse put her hand on her forehead, "Rupert, I think you should leave."

"Nonsense. Rupert is my guest and I expect you to treat him with a little respect."

"Yeah!"

"But what's Joseph going to say?"

"He's not going to say anything, I am a big girl and I can take care of myself."

"I think I'll go back to bed…"

She started walking back towards the bedroom, but took a stop off at the refrigerator along the way.

"I don't think that went well," Josie said.

"Don't worry, if I know her and I do, she'll get over it."


Joseph wasn't too pleased when he got up and found Rupert lying on the couch in his underwear with Josie in his arms.

"What is going on here?" He demanded to know.

"Oh, good morning, dear, we were just enjoying each others' company."

He stared at them while he made himself something to eat.

"Josie, I'm afraid I have to go now. I have to meet with the Prime Minister at two."

"Oh, I'll see you later."

She walked him to the door.

"Are you sure you don't want to be the new Queen of Genovia?"

"I told you last night, this was just a fling."

"But I think I'm falling in love with you. You're just the kind of woman I should be with."

"We only met yesterday."

"It only took Romeo and Juliet two minutes to fall in love."

"And what good did that do them? I'm sorry, but I don't want to marry you. Maybe in a few years time after we've gotten to know each other I might feel different."

"Can I call you sometime?"

"Sure, why not…"

She wrote her number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. He kissed her and farewelled her with an, "Until later."

He closed the door and hopped into the limo.

Joseph decided to question his mother, "I don't believe you. Since when have you ever had any flings?"

"I've been having flings since before you were born, young man!"

"What? I thought dad was your one and only."

"Oh, tosh! I had plenty of men knocking at my door before I met your father. Now, stay out of my business."

"Might I remind you that you are a guest in this house and guests don't invite guests to spend the night with them?"

"And might I remind you that I never approved of any of the 'guests' that you bought home to my house when you were younger?"

"Alright, you've made your point. Please don't say anything to Clarisse about that, I beg of you."

"Why didn't you say that before?"

"Because I thought it was implied."

"Oh."

"So please. No more talk of it?"

"My lips are sealed."


A/N: I think I am now updating twice on the weekend and not at all during the week.