Chapter 16

Author's Note: Hi Girls!I wanna say thanks for all the enchanting reviews... This is the final chapter. Yes, that's the end. Big hug to Rach for beta this for me. I'm dedicating this chapter to all of you.

"Do not talk to me… ever!" Joseph said in a firm voice, then left the room.

The two women stood there in silence for a few seconds.

"Joe is very angry…"

"Yes. He is a bit more upset than I thought he would be, but I will take care of it. He just needs a little time to calm down," Clarisse said, her voice apologetic. "But right now we have to concentrate on our plan. So, Charlotte please make copies of those pictures, as many as you can. We have to be safe."

"Very well, Your Majesty," Charlotte answered. "And then?"

"Well, we have to find a few perfect caches to hide the photos, then we'll send our little -- let's call it an 'offer' -- to the Viscount, alright?"

"Of course. And… Your Majesty--Clarisse, I'm very glad you didn't get hurt. You had a narrow escape."

"Thank you Charlotte," Clarisse smiled and hugged the younger woman tightly. "Me too. I was a bit scared but you have to do what …"

"You have to do. Yes," sighed Charlotte. "But I must say that although it was very effective, I'm still shaking a bit!"

"Don't mention it. I was shaking so much, I could barely get my robe on," Clarisse laughed. "But after this, I really have to appease Joseph somehow…"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

So after about an hour of thinking, Clarisse decided she would spend the night alone and try to speak to Joseph in the morning. But she simply could not do that. She had to solve the problem immediately.

So she quickly headed to the security room, where were only Shades and Lionel were on duty. Her next try was Joseph's room, what was dark and empty. Then she went to the kitchen where she finally found him, but he was not alone…

"Oh Mia, darling!" Clarisse started because she was a bit surprised. "Would you mind if…"

"Oh Hello Grandma. Why don't you join us? I've just made hot chocolate for Joe and Charlotte."

"No, thank you, dear. I just popped in to… Joseph? Can I have a word with you in my office?"

"I'm sorry Your Majesty, but I'm busy," Joseph answered respectfully but also firmly.

"Oh. Ok." She was unsure. "Then perhaps a little later?"

"Well, I don't think so. But I will inform you if I have a little free time. And now if you will excuse me…"

"Of course, just go." Clarisse smiled weakly and let him leave.

"Wow Grandma! What did you do with Joe? Maybe you did not give him a pay raise, hm?" Mia asked with a naughty grin on her face.

"I think it's time for bed young lady," Clarisse said in a threatening voice. "Well?..."

"Yes. Yes, you're right Grandma. It's pretty late already," murmured Mia and she headed out quickly.

"Oh, Charlotte, this is harder than I thought." Clarisse sighed and sat down after Mia left them alone. "But wait a minute. He is not angry with you, is he?"

"Well, he thinks everything was your fault, and I just carried out your orders, you know…"

"Oh, I see. He is so fair even in a situation like this, too," sighed the queen with a dreamy look on her face. "I suppose that's one of the reasons I love him so much…"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The next day Clarisse woke up very early and dressed in record time, then she tried to catch Joseph for a private moment, but that was not easy, because he avoided her the whole day.

"How is it going?" Clarisse asked when Charlotte entered the office and closed the door behind her. She was extremely nervous.

"Well, it was…" Charlotte started in a sad voice, but suddenly she broke into a huge smile. "Fantastic! We've done it! We've done it! We've done it!" She was over the clouds.

"Oh, thank God!" cried Clarisse from relief. "Charlotte, you are fantastic!" She stepped closer and hugged the younger woman. "But you must tell me everything immediately."

"All Right. Well, I found Elsie in the living room - I was so relieved that the Viscount was not at home- so I just stepped in. Before she could start shouting at me, I made the first move. I just simply threw the pictures down on the table and she was speechless. You should have seen her shocked face. It was absolutely worth the price."

"Oh, I wish I could have seen it," Clarisse chuckled. "And then?"

"I said, 'We have twenty copies in twenty different places. So if you or your dirty brother tries anything to harm the Queen, he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Am I clear?'"

"Charlotte! You're the best!" cried Clarisse. "Ha-ha. Really! You're my guardian angel."

"I just want you to be happy."

"Thank you very much. I really need that happiness." Clarisse smiled and her eyes sparkled. "That reminds me. There is another thing left that I have to resolve. Wish me luck," Clarisse sighed and headed to Joseph's room.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A few minutes later, she was standing outside his room and after a deep breath, she turned the doorknob…

He was just finishing dressing when she stepped in.

"Joseph… Can I come in?" asked Clarisse as she closed the door behind her. "I have to tell you something."

"Don't start!" Joseph said and held up his hand. "I'm too tired. And I do not want to talk about this. Just go away -- please."

"We've done it," Clarisse said with a smile. "Charlotte showed them the pictures. They will disappear from our life forever! Joseph, do you know…"

"I don't care," he answered in a firm voice.

"But I do love you," Clarisse whispered and stepped closer. "Do you hear me?" Her voice was barely audible now. "I'm so desperately in love with you…"

"Please go away… Just… Just go away," Joseph repeated persistently, but his resolve was weakening moment by moment.

"I won't," Clarisse whispered and grabbed his arm gently.

"Please Clarisse…" Joseph spoke in a faint voice. Then he started shaking, because Clarisse leant in and kissed his ear gently -- it was like heaven – and he slowly started lost touch with reality.

"Hold me." She smiled and kissed his ear again.

"Please Clarisse. If you don't stop this, I can't… I cannot pretend anymore that I'm angry with you…"

"So are you not angry anymore?" She stopped and looked up at him.

"How could I be angry with you more than an hour? But you have to understand what you did was not right."

"So you can forgive me?" Clarisse asked with a smile and searched his eyes for an answer. "I would promise you anything…"

"I ask you only one thing."

"Anything. Anything at all."

"Just… Just don't do this again, ok?" The last bit was only a whisper. "I cannot lose you. I just cannot…"

"I won't let that happen. Never," whispered Clarisse when Joseph leant closer and kissed her. And soon, as the kiss deepened slowly everything went to its place, everything was perfect again.

A few minutes passed, then they slowly broke the kiss.

"That was our first real argument. Did you realize that?" Joseph smiled.

"Yes. And…" Clarisse said, but she started laughing and could not continue.

"What is so funny darling?" asked Joseph as he looked at her lovingly.

"It's… It's just I got off so easily. I mean I would have promised you something else as well."

"What?" Joseph asked and searched her eyes.

"I would have promised that I would marry you."

"Really?" He could barely hide his smile. "But, you said…"

"Yes, I know," Clarisse answered quickly. "Yesterday I made a huge mistake… but… I do not want to make another one," Clarisse said with a smile and she kissed him with her heart full of love… and confidence.

The End

Author's Note: I have a question: Can anybody tell me about the CJ deleted scenes on the PD1 double DVD Special Edition? I'm shaking...