None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. I plan to move into 'present', but just bare with me. Thanks for the reviews, btw.

Joe sat up in the cool room, lying on the bed was doing nothing to calm him. He just wished she was here with him, where she would be safe, protected. She was damn infuriating, he'd told her not to be long but of course, she hadn't listened. He walked over to the window, desperate to know she wasn't hurting, desperate to let her know he was here for her.

Resting a hand on the wall he looked out onto the window, leaning on the flowery window seat. The sky was tinged with wonderful bright and reds, making him feel eerily alone in the near deserted consulate.

The anger in him was building. His desperation and need to make everything right for her was overpowering, his love and adoration for her over flowing.

"damn it!", he suddenly shouted, ramming his hand into the concrete wall. His knuckles split immediately, revealing raw flesh and fresh blood.

Clarisse watched him from the door, knowing this anger was most probably caused by her. He collapsed down on the window seat, head buried in his hands as crimson blood dropped from his swollen hand onto the plush carpet.

"Joseph!", she whispered, shock and fear playing with every fibre of her body. It carried across the empty bed chamber, reaching his ears like a whispered miracle. He looked up, tension leaving his body, the only thing remaining was the pent up exhaustion of that the previous sleepless nights had bestowed upon him over the last weeks.

"Joseph!", she repeated, kneeling down beside him, concern Cleary plastered across her tired face, " oh Joseph, I'm so sorry". he looked up at her gravely, admonishing her needless apology with his deep eyes.

"your hand", she whispered, lifting his bloody hand from his lap and holding it.

"I just needed to vent", he laughed lightly, trying desperately to make her feel at ease. His anger was something he never wanted his beautiful Clarisse to see. She frowned at him, evidently not happy with the way he was trying to make light of a grim situation.

"I'll clean this up", she whispered, standing up and making for the bathroom.

"Clarisse I-", he faltered, standing up and rubbing his other hand over his head.

"It's ok", she whispered, moving closer to him, " we all get angry. I don't blame you, in fact I understand you better than I understand anyone". He moved his hand up to her face in an adoring gesture, kissing her on the lips lightly. She closed her eyes, not caring if his blood covered her face, if it dripped on the carpet, if it stained her suit.

"my beautiful Clarisse……", he whispered, his voice low and husky with emotion. She smiled, holding his wrist as he touched her cheek.

"I'll never ever let you go, I'll never leave you", he continued, kissing both of her closed eyes. She smiled gently, opening them. She couldn't answer, words not able to say what she had to.

Her eyes thanked him instead, deep and oceanic and inviting. He lost himself momentarily in their beauty, in her beauty. The way she seemed to sparkle unnaturally when she was with him. She smiled brighter this time, bringing him gently back to the present, the stinging in his hand a harsh reminder of their predicament.

Joseph grimaced as she steeped his hand in the steamy water. He watched her face as she bathed his hand, much as he had done to Pierre a year ago. She smiled as she poured some oil onto the cuts and grazes- her dazzling beauty taking his mind off the pain.

"thank you", he murmured, flexing his hand as she drained the last of the water out of the marble sink. She kissed his cheek lightly.

"you're welcome", she smiled, rolling down the sleeves of her shirt and running her hands under the tap, " don't be so angry next time, I might have seemed calm but the sight of blood makes me terribly faint", she continued light heartedly. He laughed a little, feeling much better now she was back where he could watch her.

She glided into the bedroom, motioning him to join her as she sat down in the bed.

"you want to talk?", she questioned, lying down on her back and resting her head on the back of her hands. He joined mimicking her position so they were both staring at the intricately designed ceiling.

"no, I just needed to know you were safe and I'm angry about what this is doing to you………to us", he whispered, edging closer to her. She turned on her side at the same time, coming face to face with him, and just as if it was natural, her leg came to rest on top of his, pinning him down. He caressed it idly, running a cool hand up and down her thigh.

"I won't let anything happen to us Joseph", she said directly, " I love you , nothing can ever or will ever change that".

" I don't doubt that, it's just that I hate seeing you like this - so vulnerable, so volatile", he smiled.

"I'm a Trojan, Joey. I like a battle", she joked, placing her hand on his cheek in her intimate gesture she only reserved for him.

"you've had too many battles, my little Trojan", he whispered, turning in and placing a searing kiss on her palm.

She smiled, moving nearer to him, her kiss still shocking and thrilling him every time they kissed. Immediately he pulled her closer, his hand resting on her hip as he demanded more of her kiss. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her on top of him. His hands demanded permission to wander - she didn't protest, but kissed him mercilessly.

Her head became filled with him as it often did, everything he said, everything he done. His quips, his annoyances, the way he felt, the way he smelled. The way he made her feel like the most beautiful creature alive - the way he suddenly needed her. No Rupert, no Genovia, no world. Only Joseph, everything she needed and felt was Joseph.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Joseph held her close as her breathing evened out as he often did, her body pressed tightly against his in the blistering heat of the room. He didn't want to let her go yet, the way she felt against him was too heavenly.

The evening was only beginning but neither of them could move or rather, they didn't want too. She felt as if she was joined to him. Time had stopped, nothing was moving. The only sound in the room was the buzzing of the air conditioning and the beating of his heart against her cheek.

Joseph ran his fingers through her damp hair, twisting it gently in his fingers. She lifted her head from his chest and smiled at him from where she lay tangled in the silk sheets and then rested it back down again, exhaustion slowly taking over. He laughed lightly.

"I've tired you out?", he laughed, still playing with her hair.

"hmmm, you wish", she murmured sleepily. He knew she'd drift soon and he was quite happy with that, just lying here was enough.

She smiled languidly as she slowly drifted, everything that had been previously annoying her now forgotten in blissful hours with joseph. His arms wrapped around her were her real walls of protection - but no one would ever understand that.

Did you like, I hope you did !

Yours,

M