None of these characters belong to me, they belong to Meg Cabot and Disney. ENJOY! And thanks for all the wonderful reviews ! Shakespeare does not belong to me, surprisingly it belongs to him. Its out of Anthony and Cleopatra, by the way.

Joseph stared down at the lifeless body of the king before him. Cold and blue, Joseph could only assume he'd been dead for a good few hours. His lips were blue and his cold, evil eyes stared at Joseph from the bed- making Joseph feel very uncomfortable.

Clarisse stood at the edge of the bed with him, Philippe near by with the archbishop. Clad in her night robe, she was utterly emotionless - or at least it didn't show. Relief was coursing through her body, a strange sense of freedom evoking her. She watched the doctor as he folded the sheet over her late husbands face.

"a heart attack, your Majesty", he stated sorrowfully, bowing his head slightly. She nodded mutely, frightened her voice might betray her. She wasn't surprised he'd died, after all he never exactly took care of his health. But the sight of his dead body frightened her none the less. Still afraid, even when he was dead. In the beautiful morning light, his gross features making her convulse with hatred. She lurched forward a little, afraid she was going to be sick. She didn't stop to think, she ran to the bathroom - closely followed by joseph.

She bent over the sink, crying as the relief took over. Her stomach churned and she shook. She knew what she was feeling wasn't right by any standards. The thought that he couldn't hurt her anymore was so surreal, so unbelievable that she felt sick. She jumped as Joseph placed a hand in her shoulder.

"you're all right", he assured quietly, so the people in the room would not hear.

"Joseph…..", she cried, clinging on to him.

"it's over now", he murmured, pulling her nearer as he stroked her hair. Her tears got heavier, cascading down he cheeks and onto his shirt.

"Clarisse", he tried regrettably, " we should go back in there. You must be strong. Cry with me but pretend to miss him in public". she looked up at him, knowing he was right. Her face became stony and the tears quickly ceased as the façade slipped into place. She seemed to gain height as she straightened up, detaching herself from him.

"I-", she tried, but the tears quickly welled, making coherent speech impossible.

"later, we'll speak later, darling", he whispered, guiding her gently towards the door. She nodded slightly, and pulling open the door walked silently in.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Clarisse stood motionless as they lowered the casket into the dank earth of the family tomb. The relief still churning her stomach as it hade done in the last week that he had laid in state.

Joseph watched her from the side, observing how nothing seemed to faze her strange serenity. It was at that moment, he noticed how much Pierre and Philippe where like her. Their faces showed no trace of emotion, they stood tall and stoic. Hands clasped at their fronts, protectively flanking her like body guards. They had said little about their fathers death, seeming pretty indifferent to it all.

The archbishop uttered his last words and as the cameras focused in on her, they sent her emotionless face beaming around to the watching the world. Broadcasting the " ice queen". She couldn't remember feeling so out of control, so helpless. She felt the urge to scream become over powering, and she probably would have if it weren't for Joseph's calming presence suddenly hovering behind her, his had applying pressure to her back.

"your Majesty", he said softly, " the cars…. It's time to go". she turned to him, nodding slightly. He pushed his way through the guests, past the barricades and policia holding back the mourning subject. She nodded at them gracefully, taking into account the throngs of people turned out for their beloved kings burial. Joseph stopped at the limo and opened the door for her. she turned full circle, acknowledging the countries people again and climbed in as he slammed the door behind her.

He slid along beside her in the leather seat, keeping his distance but making sure she knew he was there.

"drive", he ordered gruffly to the driver in the front. She looked at him, the sides of her lips curling slightly. Reaching forward, she closed the privacy screen and sitting back, removed her veil quickly, discarding it on the floor. He remained staring out the window, but conscious of what she was doing. She sighed, lying back and closing her eyes. Relief sweeping over her.

"we can speak now", he said gently, turning to her.

"oh", she smiled gently, " relief Joseph, I've never felt relief like it in my whole life". he nodded understandingly, but he kept his distance - not quite sure what to do.

"it's surreal. I'm utterly indifferent to that fact he's dead " she paused, suddenly feeling terrible "is that wrong?". Joseph pondered her question for a moment, studying her face as he did so.

"no", he finally said, " I don't think it is, after all how could you feel anything for him." she smiled, glad he understood.

"I'm not heartless Joseph", she stated, reaching for his hand. He clasped their fingers together, noting how cold her hands were.

"Clarisse", he reassured lovingly, " I know that. You don't need to tell me". she smiled at him sadly, he didn't think it but everyone else did.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Later that evening, as he escorted her to her suite, they didn't speak. She was tired - the funeral reception had been long and disgustingly formal, making her quite exhausted. She sighed in the silent corridor, making it echo. He paused a little and then swooping on her shoulders, rubbed her neck gently - trying to release the tension.

"he made me like this", she suddenly whispered, emotion clinging to her throaty voice as she weakly pushed open her suite door.

"Clarisse…..", he tried, following her in without his usual invite and softly closing the door. She turned to him.

"this isn't me, I was never like this!", she suddenly screamed in frustration, " I was never like this! My parents sold me too him, for all I was worth. This is not me! I'm not cold, I'm not heartless - I do feel things. Why did this happen! I've lost my life Joe….I've lost my life.". she was aching all over and screaming words that had played in her head every second since the day she'd married him. They burned her, but god she needed to say them.

"I was so young Joseph", she whispered, falling to her knees. She wrapped her arms tightly round herself, sobbing ferociously. He quickly joined her on the floor and pulled her into his arms.

"it's ok, Clarisse. It's alright to lose it - to get angry", he whispered, stroking his hands through her hair. She clung to his shirt, her tears failing to cease as everything started to crumble. She lifted her chin and looked up at him, her face sticky with the drying tears.

" he can't hurt me anymore" she smiled, running a hand down his cheek "I'm free now".

"don't say things like that", he said darkly. She nodded, understanding his meaning.

"you'll never be free for me", he whispered, looking into her eyes.

"maybe one day", she said softly, cupping his cheek and kissing it lightly. He smiled gently, kissing her lips tenderly.

"Joseph...", she whispered, turning in his arms and into a feverish kiss. it wasn't a request, or a statement - it was just her worshipping him. she kissed his face, undoing his tie at the same time. he smiled, and deftly unzipped her dress, slipping it softly down her arms until it pooled at her waist. He lifted her from the floor, kissing her as he did so.

"the light...", she breathed.

"moonlight", he whispered, guiding her towards the bedroom. Everything was forgotten, her sadness and his desperation left behind.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o00o0

Clarisse moaned softly as he fell against her breathing heavily, resting his head on her chest. She ran her hand over his head, tightening her grip on his back . The room was dark, the only light seeping in was moonlight from the massive windows, making the atmosphere in the room eerily peaceful.

"I love you", he whispered in a barely audible, husky growl. She could feel sudden tears welling up in her eyes, unable to hold them back for much longer.

"I love you too", she smiled, pulling him impossibly closer still.

Joseph was shaking and he didn't know why. Perhaps it was the fact he'd just made love to the only woman he'd ever really loved - though it wasn't as if it was his first time. Perhaps it was the realisation she was willing………or the realisation she'd never be his.

"your trembling", she whispered, smoothing circles on his clammy back.

"making love to you has that effect on me", he answered, gripping her shoulder slightly as he turned them both, so they were lying on their sides. She still held him, not wanting to let go right away.

"I never knew I was that alluring", she laughed, snuggling into him.

"god only knows", he breathed, kissing her hair. He could feel her smile against his chest as he said it, knowing he'd given her a little relief if only for a short while.

"Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety: other women cloy The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies," he whispered, running his fingers through her damp hair.

"Shakespeare", she stated, smiling at his choice of words. She was feeling sleepy, the heat of the room adding to her drowsiness.

"yes, I felt it was appropriate, a little risky but appropriate", he laughed gently.

"joseph?", she whispered, pulling his arms tighter around herself.

"hmmm", he answered sleepily.

"I love you", she murmured, " you've always been there".

"I always will be".

Please R&R, hope you enjoyed!

Yours,

M