None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. Hope you enjoy.

Clarisse and Joseph lay in bed in contented silence too awake too sleep, too aware of what had happened. She looked up at him, sensing how tense he was. He hadn't said anything yet well not to much detail anyway, she decided to be more courageous than she felt. She toyed with the idea for a moment, not wanting to push him, they had only been married for 8 months and already something like this had happened. He was staring at the ceiling, hands underneath his head, his face was angry looking, the look of revenge in his eyes scared her, it had for the last 2 months.

"I know it was him", she whispered, unsure of what type of reaction she was prompting.

"what?", he asked a little taken back.

"I know-I know it was Mabry. I knew the night of the ball when he looked at me, I knew he'd go to any lengths", she stated.

"oh", he said, not sure of how to deal with this. He wanted to deal with it on his own. The police had been told the viscount had a vendetta against Joe but they had no leads and no evidence, they hadn't given up looking for him.

"Joseph, talk to me. Don't brush me off", she whispered softly.

"I'm not, there's just no need to worry, it's pointless", he said, trying not to brush her off. She frowned, she wasn't going to give up.

"Joseph! Stop it, do not treat me like this, I seen you nearly die", she said. She pulled herself from his grasp and sitting up, her back towards him.

"Clarisse!", he said gently sitting up and gripping her two shoulders.

"please, my darling! Do not worry yourself, I shall deal with it", he said firmly, kissing her bear shoulder. She turned in his arms and kissed his lips firmly. He lay back down and she rested herself on his chest, she ran her finger over the tiny star shaped scar on his chest. It had been nearly 2 months now and the Viscount hadn't been seen anywhere. The security was with them constantly and it was taking its toll on both of them. She had lost more weight than ever and he was worrying for her more than he had in all his life.

"I'll find him Clarisse, I promise you, I'll find him", he smiled gently.

"I trust you", she smiled, " do you want to go for a walk?"

"yes, my darling.", he laughed, " is this what we are reduced to, to be alone- lying in bed or acting like Vampires".

"yes, I suppose it is-until they find him", she smiled, making her way to the edge of the bed.

"or we could just stay here and make love?", he whispered in her ear.

"I'd like that", she returned coyly.

"I know you would", he laughed and proceeded to tickle her sides mercilessly.

"I missed tickling you", he shouted over her giggles.

"I missed you doing it", she laughed. Suddenly for a moment she felt as if everything was normal again. Joe was protecting her-as always.

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"I refuse to stay in this lair anymore!", shouted the frantic Janus. " I'm leaving, I don't care if I get caught. I cant take it any more". the young man paced around the dark, circular room, waving his hands about and shouting at the horrid man before him.

"maybe if you had been on target", Mabry said calmly, "then he would be dead and we would not be here!"

"maybe of you didn't want the queen we wouldn't be here in the first place!", cried Janus in dismay.

"calm down dear boy", said the Viscount, "at least wait until morning to leave. We can discuss this when you're thinking straight. Goodnight but first I need a nightcap", he said making his way toward the kitchen.

Janus had an idea.

"No, no Viscount, please I'm sorry I do not know what possessed me to say I was leaving. It was silly. Let me get your whiskey, you got to bed-I'll bring it to you", he said sincerely.

"ahh, my boy. Nice to see you've redeemed yourself. You're seeing sense!", he said turning in the doorway.

Janus hurried toward the small kitchen and lifted the whiskey off the shelf. He poured the golden liquid into a crystal glass and pulled a small bag of white powder out of his jacket pocket. He'd just remembered he had the sedative with him. Why was he suddenly feeling guilty, he didn't know-he just knew he needed to tell someone what he had done.

He dropped the white powder into the class and stirred it carefully, making sure the spoon did not hit off the glass and make a noise.

He walked carefully through the kitchen into the dark den again.

"I'm sorry Viscount. I was being so stupid. Here's your nightcap", he smiled, handing the detestable man the glass.

"thanks, my boy. You best get to bed", he said, taking his first sip of the fine malt. Janus nodded and turned on his heels, he'd come back in an hour.

At 11pm janus crept out of the bed and made his way to the den. The fat lump was slumped in the chair, snoring like a pig. Janus smiled wryly.

"fat lump", he muttered. He lifted the ring of keys from the table where the Viscount had sat them and made quietly for the door. He'd be in prison before the Viscount woke.

what did you think? hope you liked it. please R&R,

yours,

m