Firstly I would like to say thanks to everyone for reading this story, second I would like to thank LoveJulie35 and Clarisse Elizondo for both following and to CE for adding it to her favorites list. And thirdly I would like to say many many thanks to Veve, Clarisse Elizondo, Johanna-002 and Little Obsessions for taking the time to leave me awesome reviews :) It's all very much appreciated, THANK YOU!

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Walking into the suite early that evening, Joseph looked up and smiled across at Clarisse as she sat at the table. Closing the door behind him he walked over and lent down to kiss her cheek, only she pulled away. He stayed still for several seconds before standing back as Clarisse turned her head to look out the window.

"Clarisse?" He asked, putting the post down on the table in front of her as she looked up at him.

"Can you tell me again how you came to be here all those years ago?" Clarisse asked and watched as he moved across the room, and sat in one of the arm chairs.

"I told you, I'm a military man. I came looking for work, Rupert was impressed so he hired me." He said resting his arms on the arm rests while looking over at her.

Laughing just a little while looking down, and closed her eyes momentarily before looking back over at him "Are you sure? Or do you want to try answering that again?" She asked, turning slightly as he looked over at her.

"Clarisse, I don't know what's got into you but that's the only reason why I came here. I needed work..." He stopped when she put her hand up to stop him.

"Yes, so you've told me how many times over the years?" She asked and watched as he made his way over to her.

"What's got into you Clarisse?" He asked, and watched as she pulled out the envelope from under the magazine she had resting in front of her.

"Okay so it was the military? And not this letter then? Your best pal didn't bring you here? All these years it was in fact the military?" She asked, while slowly taking the letter from the envelope as he stopped and watched her as she began reading it out "Joseph, I will keep this short.. mainly because you already know the facts of how I feel about that man who is going to destroy my darling sisters life, so I feel there is no need to write about them in this letter." She paused to look up at him.

"Clarisse, I can explain." He said as she shook her head before carrying on.

"If, after any of the battles we are faced with each and every day I don't make it through, please will you go to Genovia to look out for my sister. I know it's her own choice, but I do feel she's making the worst mistake of her life and even though I have told her some of my feelings, she's still going ahead with marrying that man. And I know at some point it will end in tears and heartbreak, I just wish she would open her eyes now before its too late. Please take care off her for me, make sure she's happy and enjoying her life." She finished and folded up the letter, replacing it back in the envelope "My brother wrote this, my brother asked you to come here and protect me against Rupert and you couldn't tell me? Instead you told me for the last 40 odd years that you came here for work?" She asked and placed the letter back down on the table as he moved to kneel beside her.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." He whispered and watched as a couple tears escaped her eyes.

"Why couldn't you tell me? Why? What was the big secret? He was my brother, if he asked you to come here to protect me then shouldn't I have been told about this?" She asked, wiping the tears away as he looked up at her.

"He made me promise not to tell you why I really came here." He whispered, putting his hand up to cup her cheek and wasn't surprised when she pulled her head back.

"What do you mean he made you promise not to tell me?" She asked, trying to recall if she had read it in the letter and studied his face "He doesn't say that in the letter?" She asked as Joseph shook his head and took her hands.

"I know it's not." He said softly and looked up into her eyes as stray tears fell down over her cheeks.

"I'm having a hard time understanding all of this!" Clarisse said through crying and wiping away her stray tears.

"I know and I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I should off I know." He said as she glared at him "But he was my best pal, I promised him." He said as she looked down at their hands.

"You're my best friend, you were my brothers best friend... you're my husband." She said as they looked into each others eyes "And you've lied to me for the last 40 years." She whispered as he lowered his head, kissing her fingers as more tears escaped her eyes.

Standing moments later, Clarisse moved to stand by the window. Staring out at the sunset, trying to take in everything before turning back to Joseph as he stood watching her from the middle of the room.

"Were you ever going to tell me?" She asked and watched as he lowered his head.

When he didn't answer Clarisse shook her head and walked through to the bedroom, slamming the door behind herself.