Thanks to all of you who read this story to all who's follow, favorite, and all those who leave reviews.

I want to apologize for the time it took me to do an upload but something happened to me and "shook" the will to write. I know I have not left reviews on the fantastic stories that have been published but in the coming days, I will let my reviews.

I hope you have fun and tell me what you think.

Kisses

Maria

- C/J-

The only sound was the waves against the boat. And true to be told, the sound was frightening. It was the third night spent at sea. The water began to run out, already had little fruit ... and despair began to take care of everyone. Little by little, the liana's and ropes who firmly held the raft, began to give way. For the first time in nearly two months, this unlikely group remained united. No one was immune to the fear of his own death, and all fears hovered over the raft.

The moon was the only light and all eyes roamed the sea in search of a sign of life, of hope. Paul sat on the edge of the raft and left his feet in the water. Agnes looked at him with concern but said nothing.

"Have you noticed that the raft is being undo?" Paul asked without taking his eyes off the water. Joseph laid his head on Clarisse's lap and closed his eyes. Paul just said what he had found but the exhaustion was such that he did not answer. Clarisse wiped a tear. Michael and Silvia slept in the cabin.

"I always thought I was going to die from old age, surrounded by beautiful young women, no offense Agnes and sitting on the throne of Genovia!" Said Harry.

"Over my dead body, Harry! Over my dead body!" Said Clarisse. Joseph, Harry and Agnes laughed.

"This is stupid! Really stupid. Where we are, all alone, in the middle of the ocean, hopelessly trying to remain alive and, in our home land, the dear Viscount Mabrey is free to do as he pleased. I'm completely terrified at the idea that he might try anything against Amelia."

"He's not that stupid Clarisse. Kill us, he can make that seems like an accident, but if something happen to Amelia… Let's just said it is very suspicious! The Renaldi… Ho…"

"What's the matter, Joseph? Are you alright, dear?"

"I'm feeling very… Dizzy. Help me up, please."

Joseph turned aside and got to his knees. Clarisse tried to help him but failed. Joseph put his hand on the mast, and when he stood, collapsed and fell to the water. Clarisse screamed and tried to grab him but Agnes grabbed her. Paul stared at the water and call Joseph. The screams wake up Michael and Silvia and they left the cabin, trying to understand what was happening.

"Joseph! Let me go, Agnes!"

"No Clarisse."

"Let me go! Joseph! No!" Clarisse was desperately trying to loosen up the arms of Agnes and Paul grabbed her too.

"Are you crazy? Get off me! He's drowning! Joseph!"

The black water despaired Clarisse. Silvia sobbed in Michael's arms. Harry looked at Clarisse and threw himself into the water and in the next seconds, they just heard the Clarisse cries of despair. Harry came to the surface to breathe and plunged again. More than a minute later, he returned to the surface with an arm around Joseph's neck.

"Help me. I felt something hit me in the legs." The relief that everyone felt was quickly replaced by fear that if Joseph had drowned. Clarisse and Paul pulled Joseph out of the water. Michael and Agnes helped Harry. Paul tried to see the pulse of Joseph but in vain. Clarisse was crying uncontrollably.

"Please, Joseph, breathe! Wake up, love! Please." Michael knelt beside Joseph and began to make him chest compressions. Clarisse bent his head slightly back and, after five compressions covered his nose and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"One, two, three, four, five ... Come on, Joseph! One, two, three, four, five! Breathe! You're gonna leave our Queen alone?" Said Michael and after eight attempts, Joseph coughed. Michael turned him immediately aside so he spit water. Clarisse did not know whether to cry or smile.

"Joseph! Oh my God! Thank you, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you God!"

Joseph knelt and kept coughing and spitting water. The commotion among the group was huge. Harry smiled but remained quiet. Michael knocked on Joseph's shoulder.

"Joseph, you know how to attract attention. You were gonna give a heart attack to our Queen!"

Joseph was still unable to speak but smiled, carefully he sat down and pulled Clarisse to his lap. She kissed his lips lightly, put her arms around his torso and laid her head on his chest, under his chin. There no need of words, he was alive and in her arms. Now the tears could run at will ... They were tears of joy! Paul hugged protectively Agnes, Michael sat next to Harry and held out his hand. Harry looked surprised but gave him a handshake. Clarisse released from the Joseph hug and went over to Harry. Joseph was looking in astonishment and upset.

"Thank you, Harry! I will be forever indebted to you." And she hugged him. Silence returned to the raft. Silvia began to cry and even Agnes wiped a tear. Joseph was about to reach a level of memorable anger when Paul spoke.

"This time you left everyone speechless, Harry!" Clarisse returned to be with Joseph.

"What was that hug for?" Joseph whispered angry.

"It was Harry who shot to the water to save you, Joseph!"

"What? Harry ..." Joseph was interrupted by Agnes cries.

"Look ! There!" Agnes was almost hysterical pointing to the horizon.

"What is it? What is it?"

"There! Don't you see?" Agnes entered the cabin, opened the chest and took out a flare and fired it into the air.

"No! What are you doing?" He asked Michael.

"There is a boat! Are you blind?" Agnes asked indignantly.

"Oh my God! She's right! There's a boat!" Said Clarisse. Everyone stand up and the raft start to shake.

"Down, please. Or we all fall into the water."

"A boat… I just can not believe it." And Silvia start crying AGAIN!

"Damn hormones!" Said Agnes and smile.

"Should we shoot the second flare?" Asked Paul.

"Why not?"

"Wait please. What if they are too far from us and don't even see the flares?" But then, the ship used a flash light to say, in morse code, they had seen the request for help.

"We will be rescued! Thank you God!" Clarisse kissed Joseph and cuddle him.

"I think we should try to keep our identity secret as far as we can. We do not know who they are and we can not risk ..." Joseph was getting very worried. Suddenly be saved no longer seemed like a good idea. And if they're pirates? And if they recognized Clarisse and try to abduct her? All scenarios passed through Joseph's mind.

"You're right. And what do we do?" Paul asked.

"I do not know. We can say that we were doing a cruise and the boat shipwrecked. If they let us use the phone, I'll call my brothers and stayed in Spain until we recover and return to Genovia. What do you think?"

A chorus of "Good idea" ended the matter. Ten minutes later, a boat came to the raft.

"Good evening. I'm Lieutenant Vega, from the Spanish Royal Navy. Are you all right?"

"Yes we are, Lieutenant. Thank you very much. My name is Joseph Romero..."

"De Bourbon! I recognized you, Sir. I am Antonio Vega. My father is Head of the Royal House of His Majesty King Juan Carlos."

"Antonio! I did not recognize you! You were so small the last time I saw you in the palace."

"Time passes quickly, sir. But let me take you to the ship and communicate that we found you ..."

"No! Please Antonio, our identity can not be revealed until I can ensure the safety of the queen."

"I regret to inform you Sir, but the current king of Genovia declared the death of Her Majesty the Queen, for more than a month ... I'm sorry, Sir." Clarisse has remained behind Joseph and never said a word. In fact, Joseph was the one who spoke. The rest of the group remained silent.

"Lieutenant..."

"Anthony, Sir. Please." Joseph smiled.

"Antonio, we would like to be able to take a shower and eat something. Then, if possible, we could all sit down and talk."

"Of course, Sir! I'll take care of everything."

The group was received by the crew with joy. Antonio Vega took them immediately to the rooms.

"Sir, in half an hour I came to pick you up, to take breakfast. Is it acceptable?"

"Of course, Antonio!"

The group remained silent until they were alone, then they all, simultaneously, released a laugh.

"Our dear Viscount will have a heart attack!" Silvia said.

"I can not wait to be home."

"Neither do I, Clarisse! Neither do I. Now let's all take a shower and find ourselves here in half an hour."

In the solitude of the rooms, they all cried. Almost two months later, they were back home ... Back in those whose heart was grieving for them ... a nation that mourned the loss of a Sovereign that made Genovia to become a prosperous and respected country by all foreign nations. But above all, they returned to face a man who sent them all to death and proclaimed himself king! Although for different reasons, all were afraid to return home. Silvia and Michael were going to be parents, Paul was completely in love with Agnes and she reciprocated the feelings, Harry was caught between feelings ... Ruth's death still haunted his nights, Agnes no longer bother to hide her feelings for Paul and Clarisse hug left him speechless and unable to pretend to be disgusted. Clarisse was still a beautiful woman, with a body that could do the traffic stood still and he was not made of iron. Clarisse could not help thinking of Amelia, Pierre and Charlotte. Joseph feared above all, all the changes that would be in their relationship.