Part 4

"Joseph, Joseph is my name." His words were barely audible, but they didn't need to be loud for her. She would have heard him across the city. She straightened herself up, flashing him a smile.

"Well Joseph, what do we do next?"

"We do? I have to say I like the sound of that Clarisse."

"So do I."

"I guess we have some choices to make. I know you love being Queen, Clarisse. I don't want you to have to give that up for me. I could not stand to be the cause of such waste. I have enough to make up for now."

"Joseph, from the moment I saw you, I knew you. I just felt that you were a part of me. Neither can I be without you. Not now that I have found you, and you are in my life. You make me feel so...so alive again. When you look at me I know you care about me, about Clarisse, not just about the Queen of Genovia. You're right, I do have to go back there. No matter who I want to be, I am the Queen. I cannot let down a whole country. I'll never see you again, will I?"

He studied her features as she spoke. He listened carefully to her, sure that he was the first to ever do such a thing. He had to fix this. Somehow, he had to right their situation.

"Clarisse, we are in a most inappropriate situation, espically for falling in love. Things have happened so quickly, yet so strong. I cannot see myself without you in my life again, but I cannot see a way to right things between us."

"Joseph if I have learned anything at all being Queen, I have learned that there is always a way...We just have to find it. Are you willing to find it with me?"

"Yes, oh yes, my love."

She leaned into him once again. She had found where she belonged. She wasn't about to give up on it now.

Meanwhile, back at the palace:

"Andre! Andre! Ah there you are." King Rupert bellowed down the halls of the castle. He detested modern equipment. Picking up a phone was too easy for anything. Yelling was good enough for his father, and it would be good enough for him as well. It showed strength, and most of all, it got attention.

"Yes, sire?"
"I have arranged for the cash and it should be here within the hour. I am weary over giving these scum any weapons of any kind. However the cargo is on its' way to the port, and they have informed me that it should arrive by nightfall. I need you to call this number and confirm both, and enquire about Clarisse. Ask them when she will be let go. I also need your men to secure the area around the docks where we are to meet with the cargo. I want every precaution taken."

"Yes, your Majesty. I'll get to work right away. You are not planning to meet with them yourself are you?"

"Yes."
"It is my job to inform you of the danger."

"Yes, yes I know. I have to go. They asked for me. This whole mess is my fault Andre. I will go."
"As you wish. Then I better get extra security."

"Bring her tonight, at the port, pier 9, you'll see us," a husky voice barked over the phone.

"You said nothing about taking her anywhere. You assured me she was to stay here until given the order to take her back to the palace."

"You just do as you're told. Besides, if everything goes right, you'll not have to bother with her anymore, and you'll have your money. Just be there, 11pm." The line clicked.

Joseph turned to see her sitting anxiously on the end of her chair, knowing it was about her.

"They want me to take you tonight. Apparaently something has been arranged."

"Are we going to go?"

"I'm afraid not to love. These men are not men you want to cross. I have to think about this."

"What's there to think about? I know I have to go back. After all, what would we do? Run off and get married. I'm already married, and Rupert will not put up with me running off. I have to return Joseph, but you, you can go. Just leave tonight. Take your money and live well." She could hardly believe she had said those words. She had found the love of her life, and now she was telling him to leave.

"How can I live without you? I can hardly breathe when you are in the other room Clarisse. Tell me how I can survive continents away from you? I can not. Do you really want me to leave?"

"Oh, Joseph, you know I don't. What choice do you have? Stay here and know we are so close, and yet so very far away? I don't think it's a good idea for me to know where you are. I have duties, and they do not include you, as much as I'd like for them to."

"Very well Clarisse. I'll make sure you are safe before I go."

They sat together, not speaking just holding on to what could have been. Two days together out of a lifetime was more than most people ever get. These two days would have to sustain each other for the remainder of their lives.

"Joseph, I can't."

"What love?"

"I can't go back. I want to be with you. I can't go back to a husband I don't love, and have his children for heavens sake."

"Clarisse, as much I love to hear you say that you want to be with me, I can't let you. I can't let you just give up all that. You are needed. Clarisse, if you love me, you will return to the palace. You will live with your husband, and you will bare his children. You will be a most amazing Queen of Genovia. You will do all this with me in yourheart, safely tucked away. I will be there when you need me. I will be there always."

Joseph held her tighter as she tried to control the hot tears forming in the corners of her eyes. He knew he had said the right thing. He knew he had to let her go. He loved her.

Was anyone counting on Joseph being her captor? Please visit my homepage for some PD sillys. -crtjester