Disclaimer: Don't own any of the PD characters but totally own the situations they now find themselves in...

Author's Note: I know,I know you're shocked at how quick this update is right! Well with returning to work next week after the all-too-short summer I thought I might aswell post whilst I had the time. So, I treat you to a little party...


Fallen

part 17

Joseph didn't wake until well past lunchtime the following day. When he finally rose he found a note leaning against the coffee machine "Gone to the Gym."

He showered and dressed before taking his coffee and sitting in the garden. It was dull again outside; the sky was liberally spread with blue, the grey clouds quickly coming in to cover it.

He had hoped for some sunshine today, to take another walk with her to the beach. To watch as she removed her sandals and walked barefoot in the sand. The sway of her hips, the curve of her legs, the way her hands moved, the scent of her skin… it seemed everything about her had become erotic to him, every single thing she did caused his body to react to her, feelings he never thought he'd ever have again, thoughts he had long since decided were a waste of time. The bottom line was he wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anybody or anything.


It was in the garden Clarisse found him when she returned home, dropping her bag in the kitchen she crossed the gravel to the patio area and sat across from him.

"Good morning. Good workout?"

"It's afternoon but yes it was good." She smiled and pinched some of the croissant from his plate. "It's a little cool to be sat out here don't you think."

"Perhaps, your flowers may survive though."

"I don't dare to look at them yet, more rain predicted today."

"I guessed so. How far is the Gym?"

"Twenty minute drive, not too far, busy though. I had forgotten it was the school holidays and foolishly went for a swim, only to be joined by several mother's and young children a few moments later." She shrugged. "I gave up and lounged in the Jacuzzi pretending it was just as good for me."

He smiled warmly; the image of her in the Jacuzzi was a little too much… thank goodness it was cold out.

"You could have a pool here you know, plenty of room."

"I had thought about it, considered moving that wall and dividing the land up."

"You could even have your own Jacuzzi." He took another bite of his croissant.

"Maybe. Too much fuss now, I should have done it when I first moved in and the garden was still in need of a makeover." She stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"To get some of that coffee, would you like a refill?"

"Thank you." He handed her his cup and watched as she headed back indoors.

When she returned to the garden Clarisse found Joseph walking oddly across the lawn.

"What on earth are you doing?" She asked puzzled as she sat down.

"Mentally measuring… you could make it wonderful out here. Move the seating area over there…" he indicated with his hand. "Have the pool over here and sun lounges down this side."

"It sounds wonderful but far too much work."

He sighed as he returned to sit next to her. "Worth it though perhaps."

"Maybe I'll consider it next year in time for summer, but it will take time and money, I'd have to work the finances out for it." She took another piece of his croissant. "And your shoes are now very muddy."

"Ahh, bother." He glanced down beneath the table and heard her giggle.

"And you clean them yourself." She added.

"But of course madam."

"Ohh I picked you up something for this evening. A new shirt, I hope it fits, and is to your tastes."

"Well, thank you, I'm sure it will be perfect, nice of you to think of it."

"You're very welcome." She folded her hands in an attempt to stop herself from stealing the last of his pastry.

He shook his head chuckling. "Shall I go get another of those for us to share?"

"It rather undoes my hard work from this morning don't you think."

"Ahh, you look wonderful. Indulge yourself."

"Oh go on then, you've twisted my arm. But let's move inside though hey, I'm sure I just felt a drop of rain."


For the hundredth time Joseph fiddled with the cuffs of his shirt, Clarisse smiled as she watched him do it yet again.

"Anyone would think you are nervous." She teased.

"I am a little."

"No need to be, you look fine, the shirt fits doesn't it."

"Perfectly."

"Good." She had to admit it to herself she had selected well, the sight of Joseph in black trousers, a black shirt and dark tie had been enough to make her feel a little heady.

In fact, she mused, they complimented each other perfectly. Her dress was also black, the skirt had a wonderful flair to it and she was sure if she spun around too quickly her underwear would be on full show. A silk scarf of blues, greys and blacks adorned her shoulders. The pearls at her throat and ears were a mixture of white and dull grey, a blend that sounded so odd yet dazzled with her full outfit.

If they were any normal couple out on any normal date they would look good together. She rather liked the idea that they looked good together, despite her better judgement.

He twisted the watch on his wrist, the gold standing out even more with the darkness of his outfit, and once again caught her attention.

"Joseph, I wish you'd relax, you're putting me off my driving."

"I rather feel like I'm going on trial."

"Hardly, they don't know you, they won't judge you. I'm sure that, apart from Martin who can be rather astute, nobody will even recognise you…" she smiled.

"Hmm, I rather think the fact you worked at the Genovian palace might give them the incentive to pay attention when the country or its monarch is mentioned on the news."

"Perhaps, but even if they do recognise you they will be far too polite to mention it. Instead you will be seen as another Clarisse friend."

"Another?" he queried raising an eyebrow and turning to her.

"Almost there." She said quickly as they turned a corner. "Crash course… Mark's birthday party, he's 39 next week."

"Goodness, your sister doesn't look old enough."

"She isn't, she had him when she was only 20. Anyhow he's married, his second wife, no children."

"Wife's name?"

"Christina."

"Mark and Christina, right, got it."

"Alright, okay Rose's second child Julianne is 32, as you know has a baby girl, husband's name is Robert, lovely guy, really friendly, approachable."

"Julianne and Robert."

"Yes, and David is 30, unmarried, no partner. An artist, used to be bit of a free spirit, travelled widely and painted, earned as he went. Now he's a lecturer at the University in Brighton. I think he caught the train in earlier today."

"Mark, Julianne, David, children. Respective partners, Christina, Robert and painting."

Clarisse laughed. "You're too good."

"Louisa, grand-daughter. David is Clarisse's favourite."

"What? How can you tell?"

"The way you described him, plus he sounds a little like the rebellious Clarisse I've gotten to know."

"Well, how perceptive of you. Now…" She slowed down a little. "Martin is very funny, a tease, sarcastic at times. It's easier to go with his latest joke. And I think there might be a few of Mark's friends there but as I know none of them we meet them together."

"How wonderful."

She pulled the car into the driveway.

"How's my tie?" he said turning to face her.

She couldn't help but giggle. "Straight. Now then, an umbrella I think." Reaching into the back seat she grabbed her handbag and an umbrella. "Do you have the gift?"

"And the wine. You do realise I haven't been to a Birthday party with less than a hundred people for years."

"Don't show off."

"Hardly, I feel more conscious of myself tonight than I have at any of those elaborate functions."

"You'll do just fine. You can win anyone over."

"Anyone?" He said suddenly serious, gazing at her intensely.

"Yes, you're very charming in public settings, I think the spotlight naturally falls on you."

"I actually loathe being the centre of attention."

"And yet you handle it so well. Carry it so well; it must be all those years of practice. "

"Perhaps, it certainly did come naturally. Now you, you demand attention."

"How so?"

"I mean it in a good way, you shine, eyes are drawn to you."

She snapped her head back as he reached to touch her face. "We'll be the last ones to arrive." She opened her door and swung her legs out, opening the umbrella as she did so. "Wait there, I'll come round for you."

He did as instructed and waited for her; together they huddled beneath the large umbrella and quickly ran to the porch for cover.

"Well here we go." He murmured behind her as she rang the doorbell.

He felt her hand move back and squeeze his, it was over as soon as it had begun but it filled him with a sense of security. He was here with her; he was becoming part of her life.


Clarisse wandered into the kitchen after dinner to find Joseph happily chatting to Rose as they stacked the dishwasher. Silently she watched them from the doorway.

"Tell me does David still paint?" Joseph asked.

"Oh yes, I have a few of his works around the house actually." Rose replied proudly.

"You must show them to me, does he sell any?"

"Occasionally, he used to sell quite a lot, not so much anymore. I'm glad he finally settled down into the 'career' thing, but part of me wonders just what he could have achieved. We never stop worrying about our children I guess, just have to let them get on with it."

"Indeed."

"You have sons don't you."

"Yes, two, Pierre and Philippe."

"Are you close?"

Joseph was about to answer in the negative and then re-thought it. "Yes, I think we are, I recall how I was with my father and my relationship with my sons is a world away from that. I've not always been entirely open to everything they've suggested but I keep trying, especially since their mother died. Isabella always knew what to say in any given situation, I usually react first think later."

"Sounds familiar. Neither of them married?"

"Not yet no, Pierre is with the church, training to be a Priest."

"I never thought about the fact somebody trains to be a Priest, but of course they must. Silly to think otherwise." Rose closed the dishwasher. "Thank you for helping me Joseph."

"You're very welcome, thank you for a wonderful dinner."

"Oh I'm sure you've had much more extravagant."

"Ahh but rich food usually disagrees with me, any member of my staff will tell you…"

"He always stuck to the salad." Clarisse offered making her presence known.

"Yes, I always have the salad." He smiled warmly at her as she entered the kitchen.

"You seem to be doing a lot of that lately." Clarisse pointed out. "Helping with the dishes, careful your hands don't dry out. Rose dear I have been sent in search of more wine."

"Don't forget your driving." Rose handed Clarisse another bottle of white from the fridge.

"It's not for me." She smiled sweetly and turned around brushing Joseph's chest with her arm as she did so. "I do believe Martin is about to commence the dancing, always amusing, so don't hide out here too long the pair of you."

"Yes bossy." Rose interrupted before Joseph could reply.

Clarisse swept out of the room leaving Joseph staring after her, and Rose watching him do so.

"She doesn't mean to be so short you know, she's always been snappy."

"I don't mind it, in fact it was one of the first things I liked about her, she doesn't dance around subjects with me. Most people can't talk to me as a human being, she does, I like that."

"I can understand why."

Rose guided him forward until they were outside the lounge doors watching Mark and David clear tables and chairs away, Martin was gripping Clarisse in a bear-like hold and dramatically waltzing her across the room.

Joseph laughed next to Rose.

"Why did you come to find her?" She whispered.

He wasn't put out by the question, in fact he was perfectly comfortable speaking with this lady, he sensed some sort of understanding there.

"I needed to. When she left, well, I don't think things were really finished. She rushed away, we never really talked about it." He shook his head and leant against the doorframe, his gaze shifting from the dancing to settle on Rose. "You're wary of me?"

"Not at all, you seem perfectly genuine, it's plainly obvious to me that you are in love with my sister."

He said nothing in response but didn't break her gaze.

"But then I'm sure I don't know you entirely, certainly not like Clarisse does. And this is possibly the strangest situation I've ever heard of. I mean if I dwell on the fact I'm standing here talking to a…" she whispered the next word. "…King, then I will probably clam up. I keep pretending you're just Clarisse's date."

"Why thank you, I think that's more than she does. She focuses on the fact of what I am, every now and then she forgets and we have a few hours of wonderfully close friendship."

"But you want more don't you… of course you do…" Rose glanced across the lounge to the pairs, Clarisse was now teaching Mark how to waltz properly as Martin twirled his daughter around so quickly they both almost fell into the fireplace.

"What do you want from her?" Rose finally said. "Honestly."

"Honestly…" his voice was low, full of something Rose couldn't quite place, nerves perhaps, regret. "Honestly I want to marry her, to spend the rest of my life with her. But I know it will never happen, she will never agree to it. She finds it awkward just having me here tonight, having me stay in her house. She doesn't want to live in Genovia, she doesn't want to be followed and photographed and judged on everything she says and does. I can accept that, it doesn't make it any easier and I certainly keep telling myself I should leave now and get it over with. But I can't, I can't bring myself to leave her."

Rose mulled over his words for a few moments before responding.

"Don't give up on her just yet, I'm not saying she will change her mind, but perhaps the two of you will find a way. As crazy as it seems right now, let things settle and happen naturally. Don't give up."

"Joseph," Clarisse's voice was full of laughter as she called him. "Joseph they are killing me, come dance with me please and show them how it's done."

He nodded to Rose and smiling with pride made his way across the room to take Clarisse's hand.


The rain had returned when a little after one in the morning Clarisse slid behind the steering wheel of her BMW. She was giggling as Joseph climbed in next to her.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were drunk madam." He said as he pulled his seatbelt across his chest and locked it into place.

"I am most certainly not Sir, I had two glasses, nothing more."

"Count to five in German."

"Eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf."

"A-ha, now count down from five in French."

"Ohh damn it. Erm, cinq… quatre, trios… deux and un."

"Well done, you are safe to drive."

"Thank you, but your plan is defunct, what would have happened if I didn't know the language?"

"I would have given you a different test." Joseph lifted his hand to wave to Rose and Martin as they watched from the door.

Clarisse did the same and then reversed the car back into the rain swept street.

"I saw you and Rose deep in conversation, you seem to be getting on well."

"I told you, I like her, she's fun. I like them all, certainly more entertaining that some dull ball."

"And the deep conversation?"

"Well," he settled back in his seat glad he wasn't negotiating the tiny country lanes in the dark heavy rain. "She asked me just what I wanted from you."

"What? Goodness, I'm sorry, she had no right to do that, sheer nosiness."

"I don't mind, she's doing what a close family does, taking care of their relations."

"Yes but still she shouldn't have done that… honestly." Clarisse drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. "What did you tell her?" She finally asked, somewhat apprehensive about his answer.

She heard Joseph's slow exhale of breath, she dare not take her eyes from the road to look at him but she sensed him moving next to her, sensed him staring at her.

"I told her in all honesty that I want to marry you, to spend the rest of my life with you."

Clarisse's sharp intake of breath and odd swerve of the wheel was enough to confirm his words had hit her badly. He sat back in his seat fiddling with the watch on his wrist, staring out of the rain soaked window.

She said nothing in response; neither of them said another word for the remainder of the journey home.


Well I only hope you enjoyed reading that chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it :-) Please leave me a little note, and the next chapter will be here soon, I promise xx Rhonda