A/N: Only four more chapters to go. No angst in this one. Just a bit of loving.

Joe watched as Mia hugged Clarisse one last time before letting herself be led away. He knew that she didn't want to leave, but he also knew that she needed to go back to Genovia because her responsibility was to her country now, not her grandmother. Gripping Clarisse's shoulders, he kissed the back of her head when she leaned into him. "She's going to be alright."

Clarisse sniffed and squeezed his hands. "I know she will be, but I hate that I can't be there for her."

"I know that you do. I hate that I can't be there to make sure she's safe," Joe paused as he turned her around to face him. "But we have to have faith in those we've entrusted with her care." His finger traced down her nose then replaced it with his lips, placing a soft kiss on the slightly upturned tip. "Shades will take good care of her and Charlotte knows everything Mia doesn't about any situation that might come up. She's worked with you through just about everything I can think of that might happen."

Clarisse smiled up at him, then moved her lips to his in a soft kiss. "I know, and I do have faith in them." She shrugged as they wrapped their arms around each other and made their way back to their car. "I guess I just miss being the one there for her."

Joe opened her door and helped her into the car. "I'm going to fix this. I promise," he reassured her with a smile before closing her door and making his way around the car.

Clarisse laid her head back against the seat, sighing as she watched the last of the sunset's reds, oranges, and pinks disappearing into the muted colors of twilight. She felt Joe's hand caress her cheek and turned her lips into the palm, kissing it and then smiling when he sighed. "Take me home. I want to dance in the gazebo as the stars start to come out." She finally met his eyes with hers, knowing that they would be twinkling with their own stars.

"I can't think of a better way to spend an evening." Joe started the car and carefully made his way out onto the road that would take them back to their home. His pulse was slightly elevated as he let his mind dwell on holding his beautiful wife in his arms as the stars began to fill the night sky, while the moon began its ascent to rain its pale light over the earth.

"I can't believe we haven't heard anything, or had anything happen, in over a month."

"I know, Darling. I'm sure they're thinking that this will lull us into a false sense of safety." Joe shook his head. "I warned Mabery."

"I'm sorry I brought it up, Love." Clarisse squeezed his hand. "Just forget about it for tonight. I just want to be with you and not think about the bad things."

Joe squeezed her hand in return then placed their joined hands in his lap and continued the rest of the drive home in silence as he thought about how this night would end.

CnJ

Clarisse bit her lip as she stared at herself in the mirror. She hadn't worn this negligee since the night of their second wedding. Why she hadn't, she had no clue, but she thought that tonight seemed like the right night to wear it again. Pulling the matching robe on, and tying the sash about her waist, she picked up the beautiful shawl that had been Joe's mother's, a gift that he had given her years before when they had first been married. Slipping her feet into her slippers, she made her way outside, knowing that Joe was already waiting for her at the gazebo.

Joe lit the last lantern, made sure the table was set to perfection, then looked up to see his beautiful wife making her way up the path. God she was so exquisite. The shawl she wore made him smile, she had been wearing it a lot lately. He recognized the robe, and knew that the negligee underneath it was the one she'd worn on the night of their second wedding. He could feel his blood pressure rising as his temperature shot up, as well as another part of his anatomy. This woman was in his blood, in his soul, and after so many years, finally in his life completely. This ethereal goddess, that had fallen to earth, was his most prized possession and gift, and he intended to make sure she stayed that way for as long as they were given to be together.

Clarisse stopped in front of Joe and smiled tenderly at him and the starry eyed look on his face. "Joe?" she whispered, reaching out her hand to caress his cheek.

Rousing himself from his thoughts, Joe focused on her face. "Yes?"

"What were you thinking about?" Clarisse asked as she slipped easily into his waiting arms, her body molding against his as he began to sway them in time their song he was humming in her ear.

Joe stopped humming, but kept swaying their bodies around the gazebo floor. "I was thinking about you," he whispered as he rubbed her back with one hand, while caressing her hair with the other. "I was thinking about how lucky I am to have an ethereal goddess in my life, one that I'm going to love, cherish, and keep in my life for as long as I have breath to breathe."

Clarisse's lips trembled and her eyes flooded with tears as her husband spoke his thoughts out loud. She wouldn't agree about the goddess part, but she could agree about being lucky. She was the lucky one. This man, this Joseph – this angel – had saved her life with his tender ways and wonderful, loving heart. Wrapping her arms a little tighter around him, she kissed his chest as he started to sing softly in her ear.

"And I love you so, the people ask me how, how I've lived till now. I tell them, I don't know. I guess they understand how lonely life has been, but life began again, the day you took my hand. And yes, I know, how lonely life can be, the shadows follow me, the night won't set me free. But I don't let the evening get me down now that you're around me. And you love me too. Your thoughts are just for me, you set my spirit free. I'm happy that you do. The book of life is brief, and once the page is read, all but love is dead, this is my belief. And I love you so," Joe's voice trailed off as he continued to hum the mellow love song.

"Make love to me out here under the stars."

"Are you sure?" Joe tilted her head up so he could read the look in her eyes.

"I'm positive. He hurt me, but he didn't go that far."

"I know. I just want to make sure that you're completely healed. I don't want to hurt you."

Clarisse lifted her hand and cupped his cheek. "Oh, Darling. Still protecting me after all these years." She smiled. "I promise. You won't hurt me. Doc assured me that I'm healed. Just a little soreness in my ribs, but nothing to worry about."

"If you're sure. I'm perfectly happy just holding you and dancing with you out here under the stars." Joe caressed his thumb over her cheek.

Clarisse traced his lips with her finger. "I'm not perfectly happy, at least not dancing like this." Her blue eyes sparked with desire as she rubbed her body against his letting him feel her erect nipples.

"You're a vixen, you know that?" Joe breathed as he neared her lips.

"Only with you, my darling, only with you," she whispered just before his lips captured hers in a kiss that only served to fuel the fire that was burning through her blood. This was going to be a wonderful night indeed.