Chapter 7

Joseph wasn't sure if it had been the warm shower or the fact that his mind was completely at ease now, that made him feel so much better. He rubbed himself over with the towel, then wrapped it around his waist. Coming to the mirror, he could see several places where blood was still trickling down the side of his head. He wet a cloth in cold water, and held it there several minutes.

After all that had passed, Clarisse lay safely in his bed, just through the door only several steps away from him now. As he waited for the bleeding to subside, Joseph pondered whether to tell her or not of the past few hours. Some others may pin it as being funny, but Joseph and several staff members had went through pure agony at her disappearance. He could feel a twinge of anger at her, and any other time he would have told her, he would have made certain she understood what caused his anger. Tonight however, felt different. Joseph knew she had not meant to fall asleep here, or maybe she did. In either case, he needed to know if she had good intentions; meaning she wanted to be with him.

"Joseph." It was the softest of voices, low and sweet. He looked up, opening his eyes to see her standing in the doorway. For a second or two, he wasn't sure what to say, or if anything needed to be said, he just wanted to look at her. The white she wore had a warm angelic glow that circled her whole body. Never had he seen her in that light. Her hair slightly messed, her eyes still quite sleepy; yet Joseph found her to be perfect.

"Joseph, you're bleeding?" Clarisse patted her bare feet across the tiles to him. She took the bloody cloth from his hand, lifting it to see the laceration across his the left side of his head. "Are you hurt anyplace else?" She knew her former head of security well, and it was seldom he had only one injury at a time. "This needs to be seen by a physician. It needs to be sewn up." Taking her right hand and placing on his cheek, she slowly pressed her lips to him. "Can my husband not speak?"

"I never was good at words after your kisses," Joseph finally managed to sputter out. She placed another kiss against his lips, drawing it out as long as she felt he needed it.

"My dear husband, you'll need to work on that. It seems you are in the position where you will have to do such things." Joseph nodded, and emitted a smile to her.

"Good. Now, are you hurt anyplace else?"

"No, I don't think so. Just a small accident downstairs. One of our guests had a little too much whiskey, and his last glass landed on me, and I landed on a table, then on the floor."

"So it wasn't you that got drunk?" Clarisse lowered her head, almost ashamed at what she had first thought. The smell had been overwhelming when she awoke, and she had been afraid Joseph had lost it.

"Oh, Clarisse...no love. No. The way things have been going for us, well it sure gave me reason to, but I never even thought of it... All I thought of for the past two days was you." When he saw the look on her face, he brought her into his embrace and held her there. His Clarisse, his wife, was finally where she belonged.

She didn't want to let him go. If time could stand still, then here is where she wanted to be. Clarisse had waited for this, as had he for the past several days. It wasn't their first embrace, nor would it be their last, but it was their first moments alone as man and wife. Nothing really had changed in the world. She had not changed, nor Joseph. It was in knowing the love and marriage they shared was wanted, and wanted equally on both parts that the change in each others heart occurred.

"As much as I want to keep holding on, I must see to our guests." Clarisse whispered. Joseph released his firm hold, yet still holding her at bay.

"Our guests are being well taken care of, I've seen to it myself. Security is at max, the guards are all posted, Shades was putting an end to the liquor flow, Princess Mia has been the perfect hostess, and the talks are to resume in the morning, as scheduled." Joseph rambled off, informing her that she was not needed, not by anyone other than he.

"Well, it seems there is only one thing I need to attend to then." Clarisse lay her head against his shoulder, staring at their reflections in the steam covered mirror. "My husband."

"I see. I like that idea. Just what are your intentions?" Joseph raised his brow, loving to toy with her.

"First, I'm going to have that cut attended to." She stepped back, noticing the bleeding had slowed, but still trickled in small drops on the white of the cloth.

"Then?" Joseph loved to watch her, and now as she took care of him, it made his heart grow stronger than it had ever been.

"We have a problem." He took her hand as they made their way through the door, and sat on the bed.

"Problem?"
"Yes...Clearly this room is not big enough for both of us." Clarisse motioned around her. "Mine is, yet your belongings are not in there. Or would you rather start fresh and have a new suite done for us?"

"You're absolutely right, that is a problem, and one I intend on doing something about. However we can't fix it all tonight. It'll have to wait, most likely until this whole trade agreement is dealt with."

"I do not intend on sleeping alone tonight..."

"My love, now that I have finally found you alone, there is no way I am ever losing you again." Clarisse smiled at him, leaning close against his strong arms.

"Since we are already in mine, how about I dress and grab a few things to take to your suite. It'll much easier for me than to move everything you need."

"Ummhmm," Clarisse agreed, knowing exactly what he meant. "I am awful hungry."

"You missed dinner love. However the kitchen is still bustling due to our guests. I'm sure they'll have no problem with fixing milady dinner." Joseph drew her in, pressing his lips to hers.

"Need help dressing?" Clarisse eyed the towel around his waist as he stood.

"My love, if you help me, our plans would fall to ruins like the Roman Empire." Clarisse laughed at him, and watched as he dropped the towel for her, teasing her.

"Maybe I could cut dinner short..."

Indeed she had cut dinner short, but only on account of Joseph's pain. His head throbbed, and Clarisse had insisted that the royal physician be called in tonight. Equally sincere, they said their good nights to the few guests still up at such a late hour, and headed to the private wing of the palace.

"Glass?" Clarisse stood dumbstruck as the physician pulled a rather large piece from underneath Joseph's skin. She cringed as the blood trickled, as if it pained her just as much.

"Joseph, I want you to know that I have pulled more foreign objects from your body than any other in this country," he said, dropping the object in a small plastic container, and raising a light to the area to study it once more.

"Well, I'm flattered for the honor," Joseph replied, trying to sound lighthearted as the pain escalated once more. "Clarisse, why don't you wait in the other room?" He had heard her deep breathing, and the slow moan that escaped her throat as another, yet much smaller, piece was pulled out.

"No. I'm not leaving you." She stood her ground, standing beside him as the physician explored his head once again. Joseph, quite shocked, was indeed proud of having her there, holding his hand.

"Joseph, I can't see any more, however that does not mean there are not any fragments left. It's always tricky when glass is involved, especially clear glass. I'm going to go ahead and sew this up. You're going to need to keep it clean and dry, of course. If the pain persists, or any bleeding, swelling, or if infection sets in, you let me know immediately." Joseph felt the first tug of a suture, and knew it would soon be over. He was quite tired, but more importantly, he was eager to be alone with her once again.

Standing beside him, Clarisse wondered how many times he had endured such things, and how many of those times were done on her behalf. She had not asked what had went on, nor who was involved, but somehow knew she was responsible for this. It tore at her soul. Someone had to protect her, she knew that. Would she feel the same had it been someone other than Joseph? No, probably not. She had always been partial to her head of security, this head of security.

She wondered if he would tell her, would confide in her. Clarisse had often wondered if Joseph told her the whole truth about things. Inside she knew he protected her, more than his job entailed. He did it out of love, and she knew that. He did it to protect her, to keep her safe, to keep her from worrying. She wasn't as fragile as Joseph believed her to be. That is why she stood there now, holding his hand, being strong for him.