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

Janus staggered along the path to the palace, it was in partial darkness apart from a few lights and the only people around were two security guards at the gates.

Shades watched the young boy stagger up the road. He made his way outside. The boy stopped before him, he was breathless and tired looking.

"can I help you?", questioned Shades with an air of authority.

"I must speak with Sir Joseph", the young boy breathed.

"but", protested Shades, " it's 3am!no way. Speak to me!", he commanded.

"I refuse, it's about the Viscount". that caught Shades attention.

"come inside!", said Shades grabbing his arm roughly.

Janus had sat silently in the cold room for half an hour, Shades just could not get him to answer.

"you best answer", he shouted.

"I will answer only to Sir Joseph!", he sighed.

"fine!", shouted shades, slamming the door behind him.

"I'm going to get Joe!", he shouted, making for the lift.

"I'll go", Lionel jumped in. any opportunity to see the queen in nightwear….

Shades rolled his eyes, Joe would kill him for waking him let alone if he let Lionel go.

"no. thanks for the offer Lionel but I'll go".

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Clarisse moaned as Joseph kissed her neck, she was completely lost. Suddenly there was a loud knock on their door. Joe stopped momentarily and then continued.

"darling, the door?", she whispered.

"ignore it", he breathed.

It came again, this time louder.

"Joseph!", she laughed.

"I told you, you're imagining it!", he smiled.

"no you told me to ignore it!", she squirmed as he tickled her side. The knocking wouldn't stop and it was seriously starting to annoy Joe. He gave up. growling and placing a final kiss on his wife's forehead, he rolled out of the bed and pulled his silk robe off of her dresser chair. He tugged it on, tied the not and made for the bedroom door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!", he shouted. Clarisse wondered what was going on. She sighed, she was enjoying herself before being interrupted.

It was silent for a moment and then Joe came back into the room looking terrible. She studied him for a moment as he pulled on his discarded clothes.

"Joseph, it's 4am where are you going?", she questioned. He noticed the hint of fear in her rich voice. He would have to allay her before he left. He stayed silent and finished dressing. finding his shoes, he sat down on the edge of the bed and tied them. She tried again.

"Joseph?", she said rubbing his back gently.

"I need to go for a moment, don't worry darling-shades just wants me to check something", he smiled reassuringly. She wasn't sure if she should believe him but it wouldn't be anything major. He stood up and looked down at her lying on the bed.

"get some sleep, darling. I'll be back in 20 minutes", he smiled. Kissing her squarely on the lips.

"only if you promise to continue where you left off", she teased.

"it's a definite promise", he smiled and dimmed the lights in the room. She looked heavenly lying there. He'd risk anything for her.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Joe ran down the pathway towards the security block, shades found it hard to keep up with him, he was desperate to speak to the boy.

Joseph entered the dull room, he strained his eyes to readjust to the dim light. He was sitting behind the steel table looking very frightened. He looked up, his eyes startled Joe they were cold but pleading. What they were pleading for he was about to find out.

"speak", he ordered firmly, standing in front of him across the table. He intimidated Janus. He was tall and well built, he looked nothing like a man who had suffered Janus's handwork. Janus was silent for at least ten minutes, he'd lost the ability to speak. After a moment Joe began to lose patience. It was the middle of the night and he'd left Clarisse-promising to be back shortly.

"I said speak", he said raising his voice and leaning on the table. Janus tried, he couldn't. Shades could see Joe getting impatient and began to worry.

"I said speak!", he exploded, " you've had me dragged out of my bed, away from my wife at 4am and now you refuse to speak!". he slammed his hand down on the table, causing Janus to jump. The boy opened his mouth.

"name?", Joe said. Calmly recomposing himself.

"J- Janus Mechanee", he stuttered.

"why are you here?", Joe questioned.

"to apologise", Janus gulped.

"for what?", said Joe, thoroughly put out. Janus paused.

"for-for shooting you", he whispered.

It took a moment for it to register. He looked at the boys pleading eyes. He was burning with rage. He stood up and leaned across the table.

"what?", he growled.

"I was paid to shoot you", he whispered.

"by whom?", questioned Joe, desperately trying not to lunge at the man before him.

"Vi- Viscount Mabry", he said pleadingly. Joe couldn't help himself, he raised his fist and was about to punch the boy when he hear a voice.

"Joseph", she whispered. He lowered his fist immediately and turned. She was standing in the door way, her face pale. She had her arms wrapped around herself in a bid to keep warm.

"Clarisse, you should go", he said with a kind smile.

"No, Joseph. He's only a boy", she said indicating to Janus, " don't do something you'd regret". she said it all in a whisper, not angry but pleading with him. He knew she was right, he was a boy paid to do a job by a coward.

"you're right", he said weekly.

"get up", he said to Janus, " I'll spear your life if you take me too him", he said, picking Janus up and handing him some water, " you are now under prisoner of law of HRH Of Genovia", he continued robotically.

Clarisse watched him, grateful he didn't do something he'd later regret. He handed Janus over to Shades.

"janus", he addressed him for the first time, " I forgive you". Janus hung his head, the man had more heart than he'd expected.

"prepare the cars, Shades and all the men. We're going to pay the Viscount a visit," Joe said flatly.

Joseph approached Clarisse and stood before her. She smiled at him and took his hand.

"you done the right thing", she whispered.

"I know".

"I love you Clarisse", he said turning to the door. He knew what was coming, he wished she wouldn't but he knew she would.

"Joseph, I'm coming", she said grabbing onto his arm.

"No", he said turning back, " no you can't", he said staring into her eyes.

"please", she pleaded, "Please!"

"I- Clarisse…. no, I wont let you. I could lose you", he said, gripping her shoulder.

"and I could lose you- I could lose you Joseph", she whispered weekly. Her eyes were begging him, he couldn't do this to her. Leave her in agony while he found that wretch. He refused to do it to her- he'd never shut her out. He gulped and whispered gently;

"we cane even lose each other together."

We're gonna pay the Viscount a visit! Whooo.

Yours,

M