None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Disney and Meg Cabot. I'm sorry it took so long, I just was finding it hard to write it, so if it's weak and you don't like I'll change it. Please R&R.

Clarisse and Joseph sat in the back of the limo in silence. She felt exhausted, every bone in her body ached. What she would have given to be wrapped in Joseph's arms in their bed right now. He risked a glance at her ashen face, she looked terrible and it was his fault.

"you shouldn't have come", he muttered, looking out the window.

"I had to come, Joseph. I couldn't bear being without you at this moment", she answered feebly.

"No, I shouldn't have let you, you look tired", he said flatly. His eyes were burning with what she could only assume was hate, something she'd never seen in his wonderful eyes before.

"I'm fine just let me be here…. For you", she said, reaching for his face and touching his cheek gently. He looked into her blue eyes-eyes you could get lost in. He wanted to get lost in those eyes right now. He could see the pain in them resurfacing, the pain he'd spent tireless years trying to get rid off and now he'd caused it to come back. He hung his head and sighed, he was the one hurting her now.

"you've not hurt me, Joseph", she whispered, reading his thoughts. Being able to do that was something that had been born from longing for him. She edged closer, pulling his head to rest on her shoulder.

"I'm just hurting for you", she whispered.

"I love you so much, Clarisse. Sometimes it's hard to breath", he whispered.

"I know, I love you too", she whispered as the car came to a halt in the middle of nowhere. He sat up straight as the door opened and Shades greeted him.

"Hey Joe, we're here", he muttered.

He turned to Clarisse and looked her in the eyes. The fear was utterly unmistakeable. She gripped his hand. He mustered up the strength to say it, even though it broke his heart.

"I have to go and….you can't come", he whispered.

"No! Please no, don't go, please", she begged. She was trying to push back the tears but they wouldn't stop, he removed his hand.

"Please my darling, it's better like this. I'll be back, I promise you", he whispered and with that he was gone. She huddled up on the seat, bringing her knee's up to her chin and cried. She couldn't bear to think what she would do if he didn't come back. It killed her to think about what could happen and he'd done it for her. He'd always done everything for her. She felt a sudden pang of guilt, everything always for her! She groaned at herself, how many times had she hurt him and how many times had he forgiven her? She slammed her hand down on the soft leather seat, angry at herself. The tears were falling now, harder than ever and she felt so alone. She had to go after him, at least this once. Full of resolve, she recomposed herself as much as she could muster the energy to do so and opened the car door. She breathed in deeply, willing the feeling of guilt to go away. She watched him, knowing his shadow anywhere, go through the door of the crumbling farmhouse and followed him and the men as quietly as she could.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o

Joseph squinted in the dark light. The room was damp and musty, it chocked him. He was dreading this, unusual for him to be scared of a fight but this was different. He could see the half-conscious Viscount from where he was standing. Slumped in a chair, he seemed to be rousing slowly from his drug- induced sleep. God, he loathed that man, he always had. They way he looked at her had riled him so much and now, now the need for revenge was all he could think about. He edged closer to him, thinking only of seeing this man punished for the pain he'd put her through.

The viscount woke, he rubbed his eyes again-surely he was dreaming. The room was swarming with men. All dressed in black, all brandishing guns. He rubbed his eyes again, oh he felt awful. The men were silent, deadly almost but he didn't move, just watched. One man in particular caught his eye. He was walking toward him, pistol in hand. His figure was unmistakeable, one he loathed.

"What is the meaning of this?", he bellowed.

"I should think that was clear", Joseph answered calmly.

"What!", he bellowed, standing up.

"I once told you that if any harm came to the queen, you'd answer directly to me", he said cuttingly. He was feeling nothing but hate for Mabry, he'd hurt Clarisse. He didn't care about being shot but he cared for her, for her sanity. She didn't sleep well, she wouldn't eat for fear of him. He couldn't let him play mind games with his wife anymore. He was torturing her mentally.

"I did not hurt her!", he breathed heavily. His face fuming with anger.

"No, but you shot me Viscount, which in turn affected her", he answered. The gun was now pointed at Mabry's head. The cool metal sent a strange feeling of fear through him.

" the fear is most defiantly in your eyes now, sir", Joseph whispered.

"No", he bellowed. He twisted Joe's hand round, sending the gun flying through the air. Joseph's fist hit his face immediately, sending blood everywhere. He was on top of Joe now, punching his face his nose cracked. Clarisse winced from the dark corner she'd slipped unnoticed into. Every hit she closed her eyes, the thumping wouldn't stop. Joseph had turned over now, the Viscount had managed to get the gun. He was twisting Joe's hands behind his back, aiming the gun at his head. Joe closed his eyes.

"Please forgive me, Clarisse", he murmured audibly. She opened her eyes at the sound of her name. She was horrified, this couldn't happen! It couldn't be happening. She was standing behind him and Joseph. Joe was shaking visibly, he was muttering her name-begging her forgiveness.

"Any of you move", Mabry growled to the room, " and your precious head of security dies!".

his men didn't know what to do, they could easily outnumber him but it would mean the death of Joe.

Clarisse would never know where she got the energy even when she looked back. She picked up the poker iron from the fire and slowly closed the gap between herself and Mabry. She closed her eyes and swung it. She kept them closed still, opening them only when she heard the thud of a dead weight hit the floor. Mabry was lying, blood trickling from a gash in his fore head.

Joseph opened his eyes and stared up at her. She was trembling now, she dropped the iron and fell to her knees beside him. He pulled her closer, she was sobbing now. He felt a sudden wash of relief that she'd been here. Joe looked up toward Shades.

"cuff him and clear this place up, we'll be out in a minute", he whispered. Shades and his men moved quicker than they ever had, understanding Joseph needed time with her majesty at that moment.

Clarisse gripped his shirt tighter, he rubbed her back, and murmured comforting sounds into her hair. Her fear was subsiding somewhat but what if she hadn't been there, she couldn't bear to think what might have happened. Everything was crashing around her now, her near loss too much too think about.

"I'm so sorry Clarisse, so sorry", he whispered. She looked up, into his beautiful eyes. They were clouded with guilt, a guilt which she understood but he didn't have to be sorry. She reached for his face, cupping it in her hands. He closed his eyes, crumbling to her touch.

"don't be sorry", she whispered through breaths, " don't ever be sorry for loving me but promise me Joseph, promise you'll never scare me like that again…..never leave me".

"I won't", he vowed. Reaching forward and taking her hand.

"I know, I trust you. do not ask forgiveness for something that wasn't wrong", she whispered. She moved forward and kissed his lips gently. A sudden rush of warmth came over her, a feeling of safety she felt in his arms. She pulled back and smiled.

"it's over now Joseph, all of it", she reassured. Squeezing his hand.

"I'll never leave you", he said, lifting her hand and kissing her palm, " I waited too long".

Did you like, sorry about it taking so long, it was just hard to write. Please R&R,

Yours,

M