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

Joe quickly made his way down the clearing, longing to see her. He slipped in quietly and she looked up from her place on the couch.

"hello", she muttered, a small smile playing at the sides of her mouth. He smiled back and sat down, kissing her fore-head lightly and pulling her into his arms.

"how are you feeling?", he questioned, guiding her head to rest on his chest. She raised her eyes up at him and let them linger on his face, studying him. He stared back, smiling slightly. She reached her hand up and ran it down his cheek, he closed his eyes marvelling at her physical power over him.

"better", she whispered finally, tightening her grip on his waist.

"I'm relieved at that", he whispered, running his finger through her hair. She smiled up, amused at his tenderness.

"yes, much better now that I've seen both of my boys I feel as if I can do this", she smiled, taking his hand and tracing the lines on his palm. He closed his eyes, relaxing a little from the tension that had enveloped him in the last few hours. He smiled at her dazed and tired, his head suddenly feeling heavy.

"you're tired", she stated quietly, snuggling tighter to him. He nodded his head gently and lifted her up into a more comfortable position. She sighed, feeling safer than she had in hours.

"sleep", he whispered, " you must be exhausted".

"Joseph?", she questioned, twisting her head up to look at him.

"hmmm?", he answered, quickly drifting.

"I love you", she barely whispered, still afraid anyone would hear them.

"and I love you too, Clarisse. God, I love you", he whispered, sliding down on the couch so that she was lying on top of him.

Clarisse watched him fall asleep, listening to his breathing. Was there anything he wouldn't do for her, she knew most probably not. She smiled gently at that, he'd never once left her or abandoned her - as much as she had pushed him away.

She soon felt her own head getting heavy, the events of the last 24 hours eventually taking there toll on her. She closed her eyes, the only sound she could hear was him, his breathing. The only thing she could feel was him lying underneath her, his chest lifting her light body every time he let out a soft breath and his strong arms encasing her cautiously. She felt consumed by him, the air she breathed, everything she felt was from Joseph. Everything she knew seemed to be Joseph. She drifted off, safe in the knowledge that whatever anyone ever done to her, he'd always be there to make it ok.

So, it was horribly short but it's just a linking chapter to present Genovia, with Amelia on the throne.

Yours,

M