"Its just me and you, its just us two"

She had fallen in love with him and she wasn't sure when her feelings toward him had changed, but they had for the better. It could have been when he was there with her as her husband was dying or when months later he held her hand as she cried about her youngest son's death. But it could have been when at events when she felt all alone, he was there gently pressing his hand to the small of her back as if saying to her, " I am here for you." Or it could have been when she was standing outside on her balcony on those warm summer evenings and he would be jogging the grounds and he would catch her eye and smile to her. Or it could have been when everything in the world was perfect and he said something witty and she would laugh like a child. But one thing was for sure, she had fallen in love with him.

Clarisse sighed as she moved from the loveseat by the fire to her balcony outside her bedroom overlooking the palace gardens. No matter what the season Clarisse almost always had a fire going. At nights it seemed to add some comfort to her large, empty apartment.

She had traveled all over the world and had stayed at some of the most beautiful places, in some of the world's most gorgeous cities but nothing took her breath away like stepping out onto her own balcony. It didn't just take her breath away because some lucky nights she saw a very handsome head of security out jogging the paths but the sights were enough to make her smile. Genovia, she had decided years ago was a very beautiful country. She had grown up in England and of course nothing would ever measure up to her homeland but Genovia was always a close second.

The country itself had very varied climates and landscapes. In the north, there were majestic mountains that provided the locals and expert skiers with challenging peaks and loads of snow in the winter. In the East during the summer were white sand beaches and resorts for people to stay in. The south part of the country was filled with small European style villages and vineyards. But the west of the country Clarisse had decided was the fastest growing with a few major to minor cities, that appealed to a younger, more hip crowd. Even though so much variety came in one tiny country Genovia had always maintained the pride and the charm of any other European nation.

The climate was also very different in Genovia then in most parts of the world. The summers were always hot and the winters freezing cold. But the springs and autumns were always the best times of year to visit Genovia. The weather also changed very frequently too. One day it could be 86 degrees, high humidity, and mostly sunny and the next it could be 65 degrees and raining cats and dogs. Clarisse had decided a long time ago that Genovia no matter what was never boring.

As the sun was setting Clarisse sat down on a comfortable padded bench on the balcony. The setting sun shone elegantly behind the mountain range. The gardens had been quiet for a few hours now that the workers had left. In the distance she could see the last of the vineyard workers leaving the fields to go home to their families. The sky was painted in streaks of yellow, gold, pink, and purple. The moon had appeared and Clarisse knew it would be a lovely night.

She walked over to the edge of the balcony and looked up and down the paths of the garden. The lights in the fountains and trees had just come on. A warm summer breeze caressed her face and she could smell traces of the sea that was only just over the mountain range. Since it had been warmer that afternoon she had opted to put on a white cotton dress seeing as how she didn't have any dinner appointments or events to attend tonight. She had already eaten dinner in the kitchen alone and came up to her rooms to relax for a little bit, something she rarely got to do. As she thought of things that made her happy, she had no idea that number one on that list was watching her from his balcony a few rooms down the hall.

The warm summer evening was ideal to be outside thought Joseph as he walked out onto the balcony. He had been for a run earlier around the palace grounds and had decided to sit outside for awhile.

Joseph couldn't remember a time when he hadn't loved living in Genovia. He had grown up in Spain and loved his home country very much. He came to Genovia in the first place with the United European Nations military services to train and learn how to protect the nearby countries in case of a world disaster. He had immediately fallen in love with what he saw when he was there and the country wasn't half bad itself. On the first day in the country the King Rupert and Queen Clarisse had greeted him and thanked him for serving and protecting their country along with the other soldiers. Joseph noticed the Queen right away. She was young and beautiful, but also in a way shy and timid. During the ceremony, the King talked the whole time and Queen Clarisse watched and nodded at the appropriate times. After the ceremony concluded he had walked up to the podium to introduce himself to their majesties. King Rupert, was talking to a higher ranking official then himself and Clarisse was next to him trying not to look bored. For some reason Joe thought that he would be nervous talking to people of such upper class but he wasn't. In fact it turned out, he was comfortable around them, as soon as the king was done talking to the other gentleman, Joseph went up and bowed to the both of them, introducing himself while he did it. Rupert cheerfully shook his hand and asked him about his various training. The Queen, Joseph noticed barely looked at him for the whole ten minutes that the King and him spoke. Before Joseph left the king mentioned something about a spot on the security team opening up. Joseph was half listening to the king as he bowed to the Queen and kissed the back of her hand. When he looked into her blue eyes he noticed something almost dream-like in them. After awhile he noticed that the Queen was looking away to her husband and Joe realized that the king was waiting for an answer as to if he would be interested in filling the position.

"Your majesties, Joe said looking from the King to the Queen, I would be honored to work for the two of you."

The King smiled his thanks and told him to be at the palace the next day to start right away. Joe was informed that from now on he would be living at the palace full time and would be needed day or night. As the two monarchs retreated to separate limousines, Joseph couldn't help but wonder how he had been so lucky as to get this job.

Joseph sighed as he was brought back to reality that had been almost 32 years ago, and in that time he had learned so much more than he would have if he had stayed in the military. He had watched as a young girl turned into the strongest and most loved Queen of their time. He had seen how to boys had turned into Princes. He watched as a wife lost her husband of nearly 35 years. He saw the pain of a mother, when she loses her youngest son. He watched as a beautiful happy woman, turn into what the papers called, "an ice Queen." He watched the happy times of her life and the worst. He knew when she was tired and when she needed someone to talk to. Even though she thought she did a good job of hiding her feelings, he could read her like a book. He had fallen in love with her thirty two years ago and had never had the chance to tell her.

He looked up to the sky as the stars and moon grew brighter and the sky turned black. He had always loved night, the calmness, and peacefulness it brought. Like tonight he often turned all the lights out in his bedroom and came out to just sit in the dark and think.

Joseph heard a slow love song being played not too far away. He looked in the direction of the music, already knowing before he saw it where it was coming from. She was standing out on her balcony a few rooms down, with the lights on in her bedrooms. The breeze was slightly blowing her dress around and was doing the same with the curtains by the door. Her profile was lovely he decided. Her hands were curled up under her chin as she looked out into the night. The last few bars of the song played and she turned around when it ended. She looked over to his direction, as if sensing he was there watching her, like always.

She smiled and waved toward him, and he caught his breath. He got up from his spot and walked to the edge of the balcony to get somehow, closer to her.

"Good evening Joseph, how are you?" she said, she didn't have to raise her voice as the night was quiet and they were not that far from each other.

He smiled, he loved when she called him Joseph and he would call her Clarisse, it was a routine they had fallen into when it was just the two of them.

"Wonderful at the moment, it is such a lovely evening," he said as she smiled one of those smiles he liked to think was just for him. "And how about yourself?"

For a split second her beautiful face fell, and then she looked up at him with almost every emotion mixed on her face.

" I am fine" and she forced a tight smile.

"Oh well that's good," he said playing into the game that she really was fine, "would you like to take a walk with me down in the garden perhaps?"

A smile came to her lips and her eyes seemed to sparkle in the dark, "yes I would like that very much, just let me change into something more suitable."

"You don't have to change, Joseph started as she stopped at the french doors and looked at him, "what you are wearing looks just fine," he finished.

"Oh," she could feel the blush creeping up her cheeks, "well thank you... um alright I will be down in just one second."

He smiled as he walked back into his room. How could she always do this to him, make him feel like he was flying and at the same time standing completely still. As he was walking out the door he grabbed a light jacket.

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They walked down the garden paths at times in silence and other times they couldn't stop talking. The white lights in the trees gave just enough light to see where they were going and still keep shadows around. The smell of the flowers was soft and delicate.

After they had walked for a few minutes they decided to sit on the edge of the fountain.

"It is a lovely night out, thank you for asking me to walk with you,"she smiled.

"I wouldn't go with anyone else," he watched as she turned her head to hide the blush on her cheeks and to laugh softly. He loved it when she laughed and tried to hide her feelings.

He gently placed his hand on her chin to turn her head to face him. She looked directly into his eyes and could feel her heart starting to beat faster. He was very handsome, she had decided, ever since she had known him, his head was shaved and in the later years had grown a mustache and goatee. His eyes were a light green mixed with brown and he had a small earring in his right ear.

"Clarisse," he said her name so softly she could barely hear it, "I have wanted to tell you for so long what I have felt about you, and I have a feeling you feel the same."

He heard her gasp but she didn't look away. " I... well... I don't... I mean I can't... she looked away flustered, she never stuttered her words and yet around him at times she couldn't help it. "Yes I think I know what you are talking about Joseph. When I am around you I feel how do you say it, walking on Cloud Nine?" He chuckled to himself, she was so goddamned cute.

"And I have wanted to tell you for so long because I hate being alone and being alone sucks."

He almost fell backwards he was laughing so hard. Rarely did he or anyone for that matter hear the Queen of Genovia use words like sucks or of that sort.

She looked at him with a questioning glance. "What" she said trying to understand why her usually well composed head of security was laughing so hard.

"Nothing sweetheart," he replied, "I have just never heard you use such a colorful vocabulary until now." She looked away almost embarrassed and then looked back at him as if not knowing what to say.

She didn't have to wait long because before she knew it Joseph had closed the gap between them and gently laid a kiss on her lips. At first she was so surprised she didn't even close her eyes but as the kiss continued she let her eyes close and let herself go to his kiss. Gods could he kiss. His lips are so soft, was the only thing she could think about. He took his hand and brought it to her thigh and gently rested it there.

She took her hand and gently placed it on the back of his neck trying to pull him closer to her. When they finally broke apart both in need of air they stared at each other for a second before she laughed a little out of shock and embarrassment. He brought his hand to the back of his neck and looked to the ground as he chuckled.

"Clarisse, he said " I can not tell you how long I have wanted to kiss you like that." He looked into her smiling eyes.

"And I Joseph, can not tell you how long I have waited for you to kiss me like that."