None of these characters belong to me, they belong to meg Cabot and Disney. This is the ball, it's gonna be fun! Yeah!.

Please R&R. thanks. I make a reference to the argument with Viscount Mabry and Joe in the second movie.

Clarisse and Joe were sitting at the top table with Amelia, Sebastian Motaz and all the members of parliament. The room was full of Genovia aristocracy, counts, dukes…. The list was endless. Josephs mind had started to wander when he felt a cool hand on his thigh which brought him right back to his senses. It was Clarisse's of course but she was pretending she hadn't noticed. In fact she was talking to Sheila Motaz and facing away from him but her hand was still caressing his thigh. She stopped talking and leaned back in her seat for a moment, scanned the dining room with her eyes and then leaned towards him and whispered in his ear;

"Joseph, is this the only way I can keep you're mind from wandering?", she question, moving further down his leg.

"oh, my darling there are lots of ways you can keep me awake", he mumbled, raising an eyebrow earning himself a rich laugh and a tap on the nose.

"just one more course and then you can dance me to exhaustion!", she laughed, returning to Sheila.

The dinner over, all the guests retreated to the vast ballroom. Dripping with the strong scent of lilies and evening air, it reminded Clarisse of that night so long ago. When she knew her marriage was over. Her arm was locked in Josephs as they entered behind Mia and Sebastian to the royal march. God! How she hated this part of the ball's, when everyone was scrutinizing her and commenting but it didn't show-it never showed. She appeared to be just as confident and airy as always.

They stopped in the middle of the ballroom and Joseph took her in his arms. Holding tightly onto her waist he pressed her to him and the orchestra struck up. They waltzed around the ballroom with perfect timing. Her dress swayed beautifully and they both looked so elegant, so like they always did when they danced over the years and it started to dawn on all the people in the room. Just how long had the queen and her head of security been in love? They didn't seem to care though, every person in the room liked Clarisse and they were happy for her and Joseph.

Joe kissed her cheek lightly and she smiled while he lead her around the dance floor.

"I love you, Clarisse".

"I love you too, Joseph", she smiled and let him spin her around.

They were still dancing half way through the night, lost in conversation about there trip to san-Francisco when someone tapped Joe on the shoulder.

"hmmhm", coughed the Viscount.

"viscount Mabry", said Joe in his huskiest, scariest voice. Unnerving Clarisse a little.

"I was requesting this next dance from your err", he paused sized Clarisse up and down and continued " your err wife or is it "your girl"?"

She tightened her grip on Joseph. The viscount always unnerved her, he had sometimes looked at her that way and made her feel very uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry", growled Joe menacingly " but my "girl" is busy at the moment dancing with her husband and as much as I'm sure you'd like to be in my position you're not, so I'd advise you make yourself scarce, sir - or I'll carry out the threat I made to you that day in the barn, Viscount."

He quickly twirled Clarisse away, holding tightly to her waist. At the edge of the dance floor he stopped and walked her out to the terrace. He walked over to the bench and sat down motioning her to sit next to him. She hesitated;

"what happened just now, Joseph?", she questioned in a whisper.

"he was rude to me the day Mia inspected the guards when I went to find her. He was rude about you and I threatened him with my diplomatic immunity. That's all," he smiled at her as she sat down next to him. She turned away from him, her back facing him.

"I didn't like the way he looked at me, you know", she admitted, timidly. She felt strange, as if she couldn't face him. He understood and moved up behind her. Pressing her back to his chest he gripped her shoulders and whispered in her ear;

"I know you didn't neither did I . I don't trust the man. I've see him with you before and I've seen him look at you but a lot of men look at you like that and I understand why. You're very attractive and full of life. You're a good looking woman Clarisse, you can't deny that but they don't get to be married to you and those who make you uncomfortable will have to kill me first to get to you. It's always been that way, it always will be", he whispered.

He rubbed her back and neck with his hands, making her shiver. He kissed her neck and shoulders and pressed her tighter to him.

"and that is a promise Clarisse."

They sat quietly, out of view of the ballroom for a good few minutes. She lay against him and he kissed every inch of her neck and back, making her feel tired.

"we should go back now Joseph, as much as I'd rather stay", she sighed.

"I know, darling. You're right and anyway we want to make sure you get you money's worth out of that dress and so do I", he teased.

"ha, I thought you intended it to be lying on our bedroom floor".

"oh I do, that's why I want to make sure you get your monies worth!"

"Joseph, thank you for making me feel better", she whispered seriously as they re entered the ballroom.

"anytime, Clarisse, anything for you."

Did you like? Please R&R. another ball chapter and then I don't know what but I'll think of something.