Back at their room, Clarisse sat on the couch in front of the foyer and asked Joseph to order tea. Her feet were killing her; it has been ages since she went hiking and yet the doctor says the Queen is in good shape.

"May I?" Joseph asked her as he sat on the couch, looking at her feet, smilling. A grin appeared on her face. She smiled and nodded.

"Why of course you may." was her answer as he took her feet and placed them on his lap. Clarisse was sitting straight as he rubbed her sore feet. He smiled tenderly at her, trying to get her to relax but obviously she was hiding something behind her eyes; he felt it also in the way she was sitting straight on the couch, her muscles tensing everytime he'd reach the side of her foot, unconsciently going from her foot to her ankle.

"Don't you like it?" he asked, suddenly turning his head toward hers and notice that look of hurt that has taken hold of her face.

"Yes, yes I do, Joseph..." she answered him, smiling yet he felt her smile wasn't her natural smile.

"What's going on Clarisse?" he said, almost whispering.

"I'm... I'm tired. It has been a while since I climbed up a mountain..." She smiled again, hoping she would get away with it but of course she knew Joseph wouldn't buy it.

A soft sigh escaped her mouth as she pulled her head back and closed her eyes. A smirk appeared on Joseph's face and he continued to rub Clarisse's feet without asking question concerning what had just happened.

Gently rubbing her foot, he put one of her feet down on his lap and carefully brought his hot hands to her ankle, soflty peeling down hwe sock, until his fingers arrived near her toes and Clarisse would escape a small giggle.

"So Her Majesty, Queen Clarisse is ticklish under the foot... That's interesting." Joseph thought to himself, grinning. He lifted his eyes to see her face and exchanged a warm smile. Clarisse laid her head back again, closed her eyes and a few minutes later fell asleep, driven away by Joseph's touch. He left her there but went to the bed to get a pillow which he placed under her head so she would be more comfortable. Taking a blanket with him at the same time, he covered her foot before bringing it up, brushing Clarisse's body as his hands brought the blanket up, shielding her from any cold breeze that would come in by the slightly opened window. The scene reminded him of that flight to San Francisco, when he pulled that blanket up to cover her, her that was pretending to sleep while she'd enjoy the contact of his hand on her.

The sky above them was blue although there was a bit of clouds. The air around them smelled as if Spring was coming; Clarisse could smell the fresh scent of the roses, the daisies, but most of all, her eyes were captured by a big white place in the meadow and her nose played her tricks as she got closer to see that little flower she had never seen before; Edelweiss. She would have felt like running along the meadow to be a part of all nature's beauty. Clarisse swirled around and was facing Joseph who was carrying the basket in which they had brought food for a picnic in a park they've heard of but now that they've found that place, both new it would be the place for them to be. There was something about it that caught Clarisse's attention and yet she knew she's never been here before.

Arriving to a spot where Clarise had stop, Joseph knelt down and put everything in place so they could enjoy this outdoor lunch. She sat down and looked at him taking care of putting everything at its place. They had lunch in silence but would exchange several glare, once there eyes would lock and they'd get caught in the other's gaze, not willing to look anywhere else. The moment brought them closer, closer one to the other at a point where Joseph reached out his hand to cup Clarisse's cheek but instead of giving into it, she turned her head and blushed deeply. Not wanting to force her, because he was too, after all a bit overwhelmed with everything that has been happening since the last few days, he invited her to rest her head on his lap, saying he has a story to tell her.

"Once upon a time, here, in Slazburg, there was a man named Georg Von Trapp' Captain Von Trapp. He was a retired naval officer. He lived in a villa near the lake with his seven children. Georg Von Trapp was a widower, his wife, Agatha, had passed away a few years earlier. He called Nunberg Abbey to enquire help to look after the children because he had to travel sometimes. Answering his need, they sent a young postulant named Maria Kutschera. She was a very active young lady and it turns out she was befriend with the children after they've tried several to trick her, as any child would do in order not to have any new persons entering their lives. They grew very fond of her and her for him, even the Captain; particularly the Captain. It all happened during a dance... ... They decided to get married because they loved each other deeply and they would form a family."

'This is a nice story, Joseph' Clarisse told him after whipping away the few tears that had rolled down her cheeks. Joseph held her closer to him and kissed her forehead. With a fast movement he bent down to kiss her neck which got her to moan softly, the gesture making her hot suddenly. She looked up at Joseph who already had his eyes on her and she moved forward, closing the gap between them and placed her lips against his while her hand would strike his arm. Coming back to her senses, she pulled away which got Joseph to have a questionning look all over his face; he didn't understand what happened but most of all, why did she suddenly pulled away. Did she not want him?

'Clarisse, what's going on?' he asked her, just he he had done the day before.

"I'm... I'm tired from the hiking again. Perhaps it'll take me some days to get back into shape.' she told him.

'Clarisse, don't...'

'Don't what, Joseph?'

'Don't think I would buy this sort of comment after you do something that after only a few seconds brings you back to your senses and make you stop because you think it's out of character for a Queen to act like a married woman for Lord's sake!' he simply told her, daring to confront her.

She looked back at him, stunned by what she has just heard. Clarisse nodded her head from left to right, closing her eyes to make it go away and opened them again to find Joseph still looking at her directly but his gaze was now tender and he had his hand on her cheek, softly brushing her sking with her finger when he calmly said to her:

'Let me in, Clarisse...'

THE END