Chapter 7: Are You Serious?

Author's Note: Hi evyrbody! Thanks to Laura to beta this for me, and was awake 'till down just to do it for me! Say everybody a big thanks to my dearest Laura! I love you!:-) Thanks to prettycrazy, bluegirl-783, Kristine, The Velvet Top Hat, OSUSprinks, Clarisse-Von-Trapp, Gabrielle, and to maya12987 for all the enchanting reviews! Here is the next part! I was up 'till night, just to write it!:-)

"Oh, my God!" cried Charlotte too. Fortunately she was a bit stronger than Mia and could stand on her feet.

"Calm down!" said Joseph quickly. "Everybody calm down!" He tried to wake up the princess.

Soon she opened her eyes, but she was still hysterical…

"Grandma…"

"Calm down Mia! That's NOT Clarisse's finger."

"What?!" asked Mia and Charlotte at once with surprise and relief.

"That's not Clarisse's finger. That was just a rude joke." said Joseph.

"Then who's finger is it?" asked Mia, she was still sick of the thought.

"I don't know, but…Oh damn it, the phone." said Joseph as he suddenly realized that Moreno is still in line. "That was a disgusting joke, Moreno," said Joseph with anger into the phone.

"Yes I know it, but that was… Hahaha…that was so funny. Hahaha." laughed Moreno.

"Well if you laughed enough, would you be so kind to tell me WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?" Joseph was shouting now.

"Please Joseph. We are friends. As I said, I just want to make peace with you. Look, you ruined my business, but I'll forgive you, and I'll cancel your debt." said Moreno.

"Go to hell!"

"Hey, I've just took you a generous offer, and you're speaking me like that? But never mind, just listen. I'll cancel your debt… for Clarisse."

"WHAT?!" Joseph couldn't believe his ears.

"Yeah, Clarisse will stay with me. She needs a real man, if you don't mind. So… You're free now."

"You…" started Joseph, he nearly could breath from anger.

"Don't have to thank me. Hahaha… And now I have to go. I don't want to keep her waiting. You know what I mean." laughed Moreno and hung up the phone.

"THAT BASTARD!" shouted Joseph and practically broke the receiver. "Now, I'm gonna kill him." he murmured, then started to speaking into his earplug.

"Peter?"

"Yes Sir?" asked Peter immediately

"Did you identify where the call from is?"

"Yes Sir. He is on a farm, what lies about 10 miles along from the palace."

"Right. Tell everybody that we're leaving IMMEDIATELY!" said Joseph.

"Yes Sir." answered Peter and broke the line.

"Right." started Joseph and turned to the girls "Now we have to go, 'cos we know where she is… Every minute counts."

"Can we go?" asked Mia.

"Of course not." said Joseph quickly and started to leave. "Don't worry. I'll bring here back in safe."

OOOOOOOO

Twelve minutes later Joseph and the team arrived in a hurry. The farm was a desolate place, so they had to take care with their footsteps and be silent. Joseph went stealthily to the door with a gun in his hand…

OOOOOOOO

Meanwhile inside the house…

"I think it's time for a little fun." smiled Moreno wickedlyas he stepped closer to Clarisse, who was still sleeping with bounded hand and foot.

"I don't think it's a good idea…" started Antonio.

"Shut up! I want her." said Moreno in an authoritative tone.

"But Joseph will kill you…"

"He won't find us. We are in the middle of nowhere." answered Moreno "Come on Sleeping Beauty, weak up!" he cried. He hit Clarisse on her face, when Joseph burst open the door.

"YOU BASTARD!" shouted Joseph and fired. A moment later Moreno collapsed on the ground. He was dead.

After the first shot, in a flash, the security team was in the house. They caught Antonio and the other two men, who hadn't time to react, 'cos everything happened so fast.

"Clear him up." ordered Joseph, then bent down next to Clarisse, who started to wake up. He quickly unbound her arms and legs….

"Joseph…" said Clarisse on a sleepy voice.

"Are you all right?" asked Joseph desperately and helped her into an up-right position.

"Yes… What… What happened? Where is he?"

"He's dead. It's over, Clarisse. It's over. You're in safe now." said Joseph softly, as he grabbed her hand.

"It was so…" said Clarisse and started to cry.

"Ssshh darling. I'm here." said Joseph and hugged her tightly "Clarisse… Clarisse, look at me…. Did he hurt you?" He was afraid of her answer.

"…No, just that slap right now. I… I was sleeping most of the time, and didn't even wake up, just once, when the sleeping injection's effect elapsed. Joseph…"

"Yes, my love?" asked Joseph immediately.

"Take me home. Please. Take me home." asked Clarisse softly.

"Of course. Come." said Joseph and picked her up.

OOOOOOO

Two minutes later they were in the limo, towards the palace. Clarisse was sitting in Joseph's arms with her head on his shoulder. Her eyes were closed and he held her tight. The private screen was up…

"Please forgive me Clarisse… Please forgive me." cried Joseph as he stroked her back. "It's my fault. Everything is my fault. Oh, my God. I wouldn't have survived if anything happened with you… I… I shouldn't have come to Genovia. I had no right to do it. I ruined your life, I ruined everything. You were right. My life is too dangerous for you. I…I can understand if you change your mind. If you don't want to marry me after all this… I'll stay, but only in the background… You can live your life and…"

"Joseph…" "And I will be just your bodyguard…"

"Joseph… I still want to marry you." whispered Clarisse with still eyes closed.

"I… What?" asked Joseph, as he looked at the woman in his arms.

"I want to marry you."

"Really?"

"Yes, 'cos when I was awake, the only thing I could think, was you. I knew if anything happened to me, you… I… I love you so." She was crying now.

"Oh Clarisse, how can I deserve you?" asked Joseph with a smile, when she slowly opened her eyes and finally looked at him.

"I don't want to live without you anymore." said Clarisse softly.

"Me neither." smiled Joseph and he gently kissed her on the lips... The kiss was slow and sweet, but a few moments later Clarisse pulled away from him.

"No, Joseph. You don't understand me. I don't want to live another moment without you. I wanna marry you now."

"What?!" asked Joseph.

To be continued…

Author's Note: Thanks for reading and now please review!:-)