These characters do not belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney.Ok, so school started back this week, which means I'm not going to be writing as often, which is terrible. GOD! I hate compulsory schooling! Anyways, here's the rest of my story. Hope you enjoy. oh yes, this is a week later.

Clarisse woke slowly, Joseph was already awake and what she could tell from the hand undoing the buttons on her nightgown, he intended that she should be awake as well. She groaned a little in faint protest and hit his hand lightly.

"you shouldn't wake a lady like that, you cad!", she murmured, smiling faintly. Her eyes were still closed and he laughed at how relaxed she looked. A completely different Clarisse from a week ago. They had spent most of the week recovering from that terrible night. Mabry had been charged with attempted assassination, perversion of justice and attempted murder. He'd been found guilty at the trial, how could he not be? The press had stampeded the palace the days after it had happened but Mia dealt with them so well.

He shook of the thought of the last week, Mabry couldn't hurt her anymore. She opened her eyes and smiled at him, he grinned cheekily and winked.

"good morning, Sir Joseph", she laughed, touching his face gently.

"Morning, darling", he smiled, running his hand over her hip. She shivered at the sensation and closed her eyes, moaning involuntarily. He laughed at her and pulled her on top of him.

"is that an "ok" to continue?", he whispered as he kissed her neck.

"mmm, yes. You most defiantly have my permission", she smiled languidly.

"yes I think I have", he laughed, moving her night shirt further up her leg.

"but that is far enough", she teased, pushing herself off him and sitting up. She laughed at his very obvious confusion. He tried to pull her back to the bed as she reached for her silk night robe but she resisted him, smiling regally. He flopped back down and sighed a rueful, failing sigh. She raised an eyebrow at him and he put on his best pout. She shook her head and laughed disapprovingly.

"do not pout, I refuse to stay in bed on my birthday!", she laughed, tying the knot in her robe.

"oh yes that, I completely forgot about that, you've only been reminding me about it for ohhhh, let's say the last three days. Every single opportunity you got, I don't know how I forgot!", he laughed sarcastically.

"just making sure I get everything I want", she returned.

propping himself up on one elbow he watched her intently as she padded across the room to the bathroom.

He loved watching her, it didn't matter what she was doing- she was still fascinating.

He sighed again and laughed, she was back! In full regal, teasing, flirting force. He couldn't believe how much of a tease she could be, it was pretty unbelievable.

She always appeared so far away to others, almost void of emotion but all that had changed over the last few months. The whole country had been shocked to see their normally composed former-queen fall to her knees and scream as her husband was shot down. No one knew the rest, she didn't want them too and he understood why- it would make her appear even more vulnerable than she was. It was her brick wall, her safety net- her only protection. And It was what made her Clarisse. He had always seen her need for protection, her need for a barrier but sometimes he still found it hard to understand- even after 30 years of knowing her. He smiled gently, had it really been that long? He'd loved every moment of it. He frowned at himself, he was starting to act like an old guy!

Not happy with that thought, he jumped out of bed quickly and pulling on his housecoat made his way to the desk on the far side of the room and pulled out a small package wrapped in gold paper, it was only one of the gifts he had for her today.

He made his way to the bathroom and stopped at the door, trying to see through the steam his wife had a tendency to cause. He coughed a little and she looked up at him from the mirror, turning her attention grudgingly. He grinned slyly and waved the carefully wrapped C.D. at her, her face lit up immediately.

" is that for me?", she questioned coyly. He nodded and smiled his sly smile.

She waltzed across the room to him and tried to grab it but he quickly lifted it up in the air and away from her. He waved it in front of her face and again she tried to catch it, he quickly put it behind his back and winked.

"oh come on! That's not fair!", she moaned, pouting and stamping her foot on the marble floor.

"come back to bed", he requested.

"No! I can't!", she moaned, " ohhhh! Please give me it", she begged childishly.

"fine!", he laughed rolling his eyes, " pick a hand".

She tapped his left shoulder and he pulled It from behind his back. Empty, nothing! She tapped his right and he sighed in mock resignation and handed her the gift.

"wonder what this could be?", she smiled, undoing the ribbon.

"just one of the many presents I have for my beautiful wife on her birthday".

"mmm, many! Sounds very promising", she teased, letting her delicate fingers wrap the paper apart. "la Boehm". her face lit up further and he was really warmed by her reaction at such a simple present.

"oh Joseph, thank you! I needed a new copy of this", she grinned.

" I know, that's precisely why I bought it", he answered, " now will you come back to bed?", he continued hopefully.

"do you think I'm that easy?", she frowned mockingly.

"you are when you're drunk!", he quipped. She snorted and hit him playfully on the arm. She nodded, pretending to give up and he took her hand. She chucked the C.D. on the couch as they headed to their bedroom.

"my other presents better be good as well", she teased.

"trust me they will be", he smiled, clutching her hips and kissing her passionately on the lips.

"is this one of them?", she laughed, as she wrapped her arms tightly round his neck.

"oh no, this is a daily occurrence, my dear, you just have to say when".

Hope you liked, please r&r, I've posted a few more chappies. Hope you enjoy.

Yours,

M