A/N: Joe starts to put a few pieces of the puzzle together. Only six more chapters to go.

Clarisse slowly blinked, her eyes trying to adjust to the orange glow that filled her room. The head resting near hers, on the pillow, made her smile softly with love. Turning her head, she placed a soft kiss against the balding crown, a soft sigh filling the still air of the room.

Joe sat up, his tired eyes filling with their old familiar twinkle as they met the tired, but beautiful and vibrant, blue ones. "Hello, my love," he whispered as he leaned forward, his face stopping only inches from hers.

"Joseph." Clarisse whispered. Turning her gaze from Joe, she looked at the warm figure of her sleeping daughter snuggled closely to her.

"She wouldn't leave you. I tried to get her to go to bed, and this was the compromise." Joe whispered as he moved to sit on the side of the bed, his hand caressing a soft tendril of hair from Clarisse's face as he joined her in watching their daughter sleep. "She reminds me so much of her mother."

Clarisse looked back at Joe. "She reminds me of her father." Grasping the hand that rested near hers on the bed, she smiled. "She's the best of us."

"Yes, my love, she is," he agreed quietly before touching his lips to hers. "Joey would have been just as wonderful."

"I always hoped so. I don't think my heart could have stood him rejecting us because he couldn't understand why we had to leave him behind."

"I believe that he would have accepted the consequences of our life. I can't imagine a child coming from you having a mean spirit." No sooner had Joe said the words, than it hit him. She had been the savior of the Renaldi line, someone didn't want that truth being revealed and had purposefully made sure that it seemed as though her sons had the dreaded family curse.

Clarisse watched as the different emotions played across her husband's face. "Joe, what is it?"

Joe collected his thoughts and brought his attention back to his wife. "I can't believe I hadn't thought of that before. You were the savior, Clarisse. The boys didn't have the curse. At least Philippe didn't."

"Joe? What are you talking about?" Clarisse's mind was still a bit hazy. "I don't understand."

"Darling, think back. Philippe never hated you, he never had that same fiery anger that symbolized the curse, not until Rupert died." Joe's voice dropped. "Clarisse, someone didn't want it known that the curse was gone."

"But, you said at least Philippe didn't, what did you mean? If the curse was gone, then Pierre shouldn't have been like he was."

Joe sighed, "I don't think Pierre has the curse, Rissee." He chewed on his bottom lip as his brain continued to connect the now clearly visible lines from over the years since Clarisse had entered the palace. "I'm not even sure there ever was a curse."

"But, the King…"

"That's just it. Think back to Edward. Did he ever remotely resemble a man with a curse? Did he ever go insane when he lost his temper?"

"Oh god, Joseph. Did he know?" Clarisse's brain was perfectly clear of its fog, and the implications of her husband's words were staggering.

"I don't know. I don't believe he did, at least not until after the boys were born."

Clarisse closed her eyes. "Do you think the Baron and Viscount are responsible for this?"

"I know the Viscount wasn't involved at first because his father held the title, and the old Viscount was a good man. The Baron on the other hand, his father was just as evil as his son is, so I think I'll start my investigation with them."

"Joe," Clarisse clasped his hand, her voice just above a whisper as she felt their daughter starting to stir against her.

"What is it?" Joe lowered his voice as well.

"The queen, dig into her past."

"I will." Joe nodded. "I had already thought she might have been involved. I never did like that woman. There was always something a little off about her."

"I know." Clarisse whispered just as two aqua eyes blinked up at her.

"Madre?" the soft voice, still a little gravely from sleep, asked.

"Yes, Love. I'm alright."

"Oh Madre," the girl cried as she wrapped her arms around her mother, careful not to hurt her.

Joe caressed his hand over his daughter's silky hair. "I told you she would be alright." He smiled at Clarisse as she held their daughter as best she could.

"I'm fine, Darling. Really I am." Clarisse reassured the young woman and placed a tender kiss on the top of her head. "It's still early, why don't you go crawl into your own bed and get some rest, hmm?"

Looking from her mother to her father, the young woman nodded. "Alright, Madre." She looked around just realizing that her niece wasn't in the room. "Mia?"

"I shoed her back to bed when she woke up and came back in here." Joe smiled at his daughter. "She obeys a bit better than her aunt."

"Padre," the girl said exasperated.

"Go to bed, mi pequeña." Joe returned her kiss and patted her head as she leaned over and kissed Clarisse.

"I'll see you later," she whispered then quietly slipped from the room.

"She's your daughter." Joe shook his head.

Clarisse raised an eyebrow at him. "My daughter? And just why is she my daughter?"

"Her looks, Rissee, her looks." Joe answered, his tongue tucked firmly in his cheek.

"Joseph." Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Just lay down, Darling. But beware, I'll get your for that."

Joe laid down carefully on the other side of the bed. "I look forward to it."

Clarisse kissed his head. "Joe?"

"Yes, Darling?"

"Are we safe?"

Joe draped his arm carefully across Clarisse's stomach. "Yes, we're safe."

"Sleep then." Clarisse whispered as she once again kissed the balding crown of the head laying against her shoulder. "I love you."

"Te amo," he sighed, finally letting himself slip into a restful slumber, knowing that they were protected well beyond anything anyone could think to try if they wanted to get to them.