A/N: Thank you everyone for reading the last chapter, I had this chapter ready to go so I thought I would just go ahead and post it :)

Also I just wanted to give you a heads up, this chapter has a small M rated scene in it.

xXxXx

Several Days Later.

Pulling back a moment later, Joseph rested his forehead against hers. "Rupert's going to kill me." He whispered.

"No he won't," Clarisse said, looking into his eyes "He doesn't even have to know." She whispered and kissed him, before they looked into each others eyes once again. "But if you want to leave, you can." She said and watched as he stepped back.

Reaching out, Joseph took hold of his Queens hand and brought it up to his lips. Placing a kiss to the back of her hand, he smiled "Why would I want to leave?" He whispered, stepping closer to her as he kept hold of her hand. Placing his other hand on her side, he looked into her eyes "But is this something you really want?" He asked, studying her face.

"Yes," She nodded "Yes it is." She said, reaching her hand up to cup his face as she kissed him. And as the kiss became more passionate, Clarisse moved her hand from his cheek to the back of his head. Gripping his hair in her hand a moment later, as she took a step back.

Breaking the kiss, Joseph looked into her eyes as they both tried to catch their breath. "Clarisse?" He whispered, feeling a tug on his hand he looked down a moment before looking back up at her as she began walking backwards. Seeing her biting her bottom lip, his arousal grew.

And as they made love in her bed, Joseph let his queen take charge, take control. Something she had never experienced before, but really enjoyed. Placing his hands on her thighs, he looked up at the woman who had stole his heart all those years ago as she placed her hands down on his torso, circling her hips.

Opening her eyes, Clarisse let out a small moan and rolled onto her back as she covered her face with her arm. Once again she didn't sleep a wink, she just couldn't get that man out of her mind. She kept replaying the last time they saw each other, the night they made love, over and over in her mind and she hated herself so much for it.

Dragging herself from the comfort of her bed, she jumped in the shower where she just stood under the water, letting it fall over her face as she cried, feeling guilty now.

Early Afternoon.

After spending sometime with Rupert, Clarisse decided to take a walk. And when she reached the point she wanted to be, she stopped and slowly turned to look back at her home, where she stood for a very long time, thinking over everything before returning back to the Palace.

Walking over to the sideboard in her office, Clarisse picked up the mail that had been left there for her on her return. As she looked through them, she sensed someone watching her, and knowing exactly who it was she just continued.

"Good afternoon, Joseph." She said, placing her mail back down as she turned her head to look at him over in the doorway.

"How did you know it was me?" He asked, taking a couple steps forward and closed the door.

"I just knew," She shrugged and turned to rest back against the sideboard as he made his way over to her, nodding slightly at her words.

"I hear Rupert isn't too good today?" He asked, standing in front of her.

"No, he's not." She said sadly, unable to look up at him.

"I am here for you, if you need anyone to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on." He said, watching her as she looked down between them.

"I'm tired, Joseph." She said quietly and finally looked up at him.

"Then why don't you go and get some rest, if anything happens I will come and get you myself, I promise." He said softly, watching her as she shook her head and looked away.

"I can't," She answered and slumped back against the sideboard as she took hold of her cardigan, wrapping it around herself as she folded her arms.

"Clarisse," He whispered softly, stepping closer as she looked up at him.

"I can't get you out of my mind, since you've been back my feelings for you have returned and I woke up this morning feeling so guilty." She said, tears escaping her eyes. "Why did you have to come back for?" She asked, feeling his hand on her cheek. "No, please." She exclaimed, grabbing his arm to stop him.

"Let me, please?" He whispered as he stepped ever closer, their eyes meeting.

"My husband is on his death bed, and all I can think about is you and our night together." She whispered, shaking her head as she looked away. "When Rupert told me he had given us his blessing, it felt like a stab in my heart." She said, averting her gaze to him as he stood watching her.

"I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have come back." He said softly, watching her as she put her hands up to cover her face as she began crying. "Come here you." He whispered, pulling her into his embrace as she tried to push him away, but gave in. Feeling safe in his arms, she let her tears fall.

After a few moments they pulled apart, where Clarisse watched Joseph as he reached past her to grab a tissue from the box on the sideboard behind her. Handing it to her, he watched as she mouthed a thank you and wiped her eyes before looking up at him.

"I'm sorry," She said, looking down at the tissue in her hands.

"It's okay, honestly. I know we have that past, and obviously it's hard with me being back here, but I am here for you if ever you need me." He said softly, watching her slowly look up at him.

"Joseph, I... I still love you. I have never stopped loving you, and now seeing you here and Rupert so sick, it's killing me. I'm torn." She said sadly, looking into his eyes.

After a moments silence, Joseph lent in and pressed his lips to hers as she closed her eyes, slowly responding to his kiss. Feeling his hands on her sides, she put her arms up and locked them around his shoulders. In her grief and confusion she let it happen, until a moment later she came to her senses and broke it off.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." He exclaimed quietly and stepped back as Clarisse put her hand up to her lips.

But before Clarisse had chance to answer, they were interrupted. "Mother?"

"Philippe?" She exclaimed and hurried out into the foyer with Joseph following as Philippe came hurrying down the stairs. "Philippe, what is it? What's the matter?"

Stopping, he looked down at her "It's father."

No words were spoken as Clarisse hurried to her husbands suite with Philippe, leaving Joseph stood at the bottom of the stairs. Rushing into the bedroom, they were greeted by the nurse leaning over the edge of the bed, checking his pulse. Slowly she looked up at her queen and her sons as they stood either side of their mother and shook her head. "I'm sorry," She said softly, her heart breaking as Clarisse broke down, grabbing hold of Pierre's arm as she fell to her knees, pulling him down with her as Philippe stormed out, slamming the door behind him.