None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. I really, really try to avoid using bad language because I really don't like it, but I felt this chapter would be really weak without it, so please forgive me. thanks for the reviews.

Pierre made his way to his fathers office, fists clenched, eyes dilated with fury. He'd leave alright, but first he'd put Rupert in his place. He gripped the handle of his fathers study, and paused for a moment wondering just what he intended to do. What was he going to say, what was he thinking? He shook his head, full of childish resolve and pushed the door open.

Rupert looked up as he came in and grunting, returned to his paper work.

"you heartless bastard", Pierre said venomously, striding towards the desk. Rupert looked up, a cocky smile pulling at the side's of his mouth and his eyes glinting with a strange anger.

"hmm, let me guess, your precious Mama's not in a good way?", he sneered, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his broad chest.

"monster, how could you. Have you seen her. You're a monster, a fucking monster", Pierre screamed, the shout reverberating off the oaken panels. Rupert merely sneered, his pale face contorting in some perverse pleasure. Pierre watched his reaction, hate building up inside him. Suddenly his brain lost all control and he flew across the desk. He heard a crack as his fist came into contact with Rupert's nose, sending blood flying everywhere. His eyes glowed with fiery anger as he threw his son of him, Pierre's head smacked of the book shelf and it fell over sending first editions everywhere.

"you little imbecile", Rupert shouted, picking the half-conscious Pierre up by his shirt collar, " don't you ever dare think you can speak to me like that. You're worse than that whore of a mother of yours!", he said bitterly, pulling back his fist, preparing to hit Pierre again. Pierre grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut in preparation for the blow- it never came.

He risked opening them after nothing had happened and looked on Joseph, holding his father against one of the panels. Joseph's face was contorted with anger, hovering in front of the rather timid looking Rupert.

"Calm down, Rupert", Joseph whispered, menacingly. Rupert looked towards Pierre, his eyes still dancing with insanity and then back to Joseph.

"put me down", he demanded, unable to evade Joseph's strong grasp.

"don't go near him", Joe warned, tightening the grip on his neck. Rupert nodded as much as he could.

"and how dare you ever call Clarisse that", he continued, continuing to tighten his grip, cutting off Rupert's air supply further. Rupert nodded again, his eyes suddenly becoming dull and black. Joe let him down and he slid along the bottom of the panel, landing with a thump on the floor. Joseph made his way over to Pierre who was leaning on the desk, clutching his lip to stop the blood seeping out.

"come on", he said gruffly, pulling Pierre in the direction of his apartment.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Pierre sat at the table as Joseph attended to his battered face. He had received little blows but Rupert had a powerful fist. Mother could tell you that, he thought bitterly as Joseph stuck iodine on his cut. He flinched and bit his lip.

"what did you go and do that for?", Joe questioned, refilling the basin with hot water and dipping a clean piece of cloth into it.

"I wanted to hurt him", Pierre answered distantly. Joe nodded in recognition, but looked him straight in the eye.

"I thought I'd taught you better", he said simply, his face revealing little emotion.

"what?", Pierre questioned, cut-up by Joe's disapproval.

"don't ever use your fists to settle an argument", Joe continued, bathing his face, Pierre looked up at him.

"he deserved it and don't preach to me, Joe", Pierre shouted, stinging as Joe smothered his cut in iodine again. Joe shook his head but remained calm, the last thing he needed right now was an argument with Pierre.

"look Pierre, all I'm saying is don't be like him. Don't be violent. The pen is mightier than the sword", he said softly. Pierre looked at him for a moment, admiring Josephs ability to stay calm. He realised at that point it was Joe who had bore most of the brunt. Joe adored Pierre's mother, that much was obvious. He knew they'd been having an affair since he was a child but he'd always taken it for granted. He knew it must be killing Joe to see the woman he loved like that.

"you're right Joe", he whispered, realising his mistake, " but don't you want to kill him for doing this to her?", he continued, the frustration showing on his battered face. Joe paused for a moment and then bent down to his eye- level, crouching before him.

"Pierre, when you love someone, as much as I love your mother, you'll do whatever it takes to save them, but if they wont let you…..", he trailed off, swallowing the lump in his throat, " if they wont let you, there is nothing you can do. She won't let me, I cannot do anything. I could pack him with punches, I could stab him- god how many times I've wanted to but it would hurt her and that I cannot do. I cannot hurt your mother, she's too precious to me". Pierre stared at him for a moment, taking in his deep words.

"I don't understand her", he sighed. Joseph nodded his head again and then said;

"I didn't, at first, but think about it Pierre, it's all she's ever known. You remember when you were 12, that summer we went to the beach", he recalled. Pierre nodded, remembering that evening vividly.

"that was when I understood your mother. I had loved her for years but I never really understood why she didn't leave, but after that night, when we made love for the first time I understood- she will never escape honour or duty, she's excepted it, so must we." Pierre looked at him, his eyes glazing over.

"she was forced into this life, a life that does not do well by someone as beautiful or as idealistic as your motherbut it was drilled into her, god she tried to fight. Before you were born, afterwards, but eventually she succumbed to the inevitable".

"go back to her Joe, I'll be fine here" Pierre mumbled after a little while. Joe nodded his head slowly, secretly desperate to return to her.

"are you sure?", he question, opening the door and turning back to Pierre.

"yes, Joe- I'm going to finish packing, the thought of getting out of here………", he trailed off, lost in his thoughts. He couldn't quite believe he was leaving home so quickly, even if it was for the best as his mama insisted, he still had his doubts.

Hope you liked, it was Joe and Clarisse free which is a little annoying, but hey it had to be done!

Please R&R,

Yours,

M