A/N: To everyone reading this story, thank you. To bee-327 and Chelsietx for taking time to leave me reviews. Thank you a million times over, I appreciate it so much! But where are the rest of you wonderful readers? I'm curious to know your thoughts :).

Here's the next chapter for you all. Please enjoy…

"Now, Clarisse, when did you first realise that you loved our brother?" Vee asked after a moments silence and took a sip of her drink as Joseph removed his arm from behind Clarisse's back and took hold of her hand in his, entwining his fingers with hers before leaning forward to take his drink from the table with his other hand.

"Oh goodness, it was I think, about twenty or so years after Joseph's realisation," Clarisse said, watching as he sat back comfortably in the seat beside her and lifted his glass up to his mouth, to take a long sip of his scotch as she continued. "I had been cooped up in my suite recovering from a fall, and he had been keeping me company as much as he possibly could when one day, it dawned on me just how I felt."

"You had a fall?" Juana asked in surprise, and both Clarisse and Joseph nodded as he lifted their entwined hands up to his face. To kiss the back of her hand before lowering them back down to rest together in his lap. "What happened?"

"Well we were taking a walk one day, like we did most days, and I wasn't paying attention where I was going, stupidly, and I ended up slipping down a steep bank," Clarisse said as Juana and Vee gasped in horror.

"Were you badly injured?" Diego asked, his heart beating a little faster at the thought of her falling and hurting herself.

"Not too badly, thankfully, just a sprained ankle and cuts and bruises all over my hands, arms, legs and embarrassingly, my bottom too. Because I chose that day to wear a summer dress, that obviously gathered up my legs as I slipped down and showing this one here," she said, glancing to her husband smirking beside her, "more of me than he bargained for."

"Ouch," Juana said and grimaced as Vee nodded in agreement with her.

"Had it been under different circumstances, I wouldn't have minded seeing your bottom," Joseph said, smirking at her. "Because you know how I feel about your bottom, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I find it fucking gorgeous."

"Joseph," Clarisse exclaimed, a blush creeping fast over her entire body as she turned to him in her seat and playfully slapped his arm with her free hand as Vee and Juana giggled.

"Obviously though, that day, my main concern was your safety and getting you back to the palace," Joseph said, becoming more serious, and leant closer to kiss her. Letting his lips linger against hers for the briefest of moments.

"Hmm," Clarisse replied with a mischievous smirk and looked over at his sisters. "To be fair, he was wonderful that day. We were miles from the palace and even though I had told him to head back to get help, or even to bring the car back for me because I couldn't walk, he wouldn't leave me. He insisted on carrying me all the way back, stopping for short breaks along the way. And then he stayed with me until the doctor arrived."

"Aww our brother, the hero," Vee smiled, watching her brother and Clarisse gaze at one another with such love. Admiration. It made her tummy flutter.

"He really was that day. He was my hero," Clarisse nodded and turned her head to rest on her husbands shoulder. "He made sure that I done as I was told by the doctor too, and rested my ankle. He got me anything I needed and kept me company, as I said before, as much as he possibly could. Nothing was ever to much for him, no matter how many hours he had worked. He was there for me. Then on day six, I think it was, we were out on the balcony that evening watching the sunset together when it hit me. I realised that I had feelings for him."

Hearing a knock on her suite door, Clarisse averted her gaze from the book she was reading and checked the time on her watch before turning her head to look over the back of the settee at the door. "Come in," she called out, wondering who it could be at that time of the evening. It was to early for Joseph, he would still be working, and it wouldn't be Philippe. Not yet at least. He had football practice after school and wouldn't be home yet. Or Pierre, he wasn't even in Genovia. So it wouldn't be him, and it certainly wouldn't be her husband. But before she could think anymore, the door slowly opened.

"It's only me," Joseph said, opening the door and stepping just inside her suite as a smile spread across his Queen's face. "I'm a little earlier this evening, I hope that's okay?"

"Of course, come in, come in," Clarisse smiled as she turned her head to look down at the bookmark resting in her lap and lifted it to put between the two pages of her book before closing it and holding it against her stomach while looking back up at him. "You knocked differently to how you usually knock, I was wondering who it was."

"I'm sorry," he smiled over at her as he shut the door behind himself and walked around to stand at the end of the settee that she was sat reclined on. "Good, I'm pleased to see that you're resting that ankle and keeping it elevated," he said, gesturing to her foot resting on a cushion at the end where he was now stood.

"Do I have much of a choice?" She asked with a small laugh as she watched her bodyguard and trusted friend move around the coffee table and take a seat in one of her armchairs.

"No, not really. Not if you want to get that ankle better and back on your feet as quickly as possible," Joseph smiled with a shake of his head. "I see that you are dressed in something other than pyjamas today too, that's good. Positive."

"Oh yes," she laughed while looking down at her chosen attire, a knee length pale blue summer dress. "It's still hot weather and I've got to get some use out of it. Even if it is wearing it around my suite."

"Well, you look very nice," Joseph complimented and bowed his head.

"Thank you," Clarisse smiled across at him before leaning to the side and setting her book down on the coffee table between them.

"Is there anything that you need?" Joseph asked as he watched her sit back up properly. "Pain relief? Or perhaps a drink?"

"No, not right now. I haven't long had some painkillers, and I still have some water," Clarisse replied with a shake of her head and gestured to her glass of water on the coffee table before folding her hands together in her lap. "I would just like some company."

"Well that's what I'm here for," he said and they both smiled at each other.

"How was work today?" Clarisse asked and slipped down on the settee a little. Trying to get a little more comfortable while her foot remained elevated.

"Busy as usual," Joseph said and relaxed back a little in the armchair he was sitting in while resting his arms on the armrests. "The King was his usual self again today."

"I figured as much," Clarisse nodded and averted her gaze across the room. Her thoughts momentarily drifting to far off places.

"Has he been to see you today?" Joseph asked and watched as she looked back to him.

"No," she said with a shake of her head and laughed. "You should know by now Joseph that he only ever comes to see me when he wants something from me. And there's no chance of him getting what he wants right now, not with my ankle the way it is, so there's no need for him to come to see me. Not that I'm complaining of course."

Nodding, Joseph momentarily looked down at the floor. He hated how the King treated her, always had done. They were married for goodness sake. She gave him his sons. His heir. And they ruled the country together. She stood by his side not only as his wife, but his Queen too. The least he could do was actually show her a bit more respect than what he does. But they both knew that would never happen.

"I am growing restless though, Joseph, having to stay up here all day, everyday, and yes, before you say anything. I know that I need to rest my ankle in order for it to heel properly, but I have been rather bored today," she said with a sad sigh and gestured to the book she had been reading when he first arrived. "There's only so much sleep and reading that one can do."

"I know, I realise it must be depressing not being able to do very much right now," Joseph said and Clarisse nodded. "I just wish that I could do more for-,"

"Oh no no, I wasn't saying that for you to do more," Clarisse said, interrupting him and softly shook her head. "You have done so much already. Which is much more than I can say about my own husband. And I appreciate that. I appreciate you and I always will," she said and looked down at her hands still resting together in her lap as she thought about all he had done for her over the years, but more so over the last week. Since she first hurt her ankle.

"I'm just feeling sorry for myself and wishing that things were different, that's all," she said quietly, surprised that she was admitting such feelings, but knew she could trust him and that it wouldn't go any further than that room.

"I understand," Joseph said softly, trying to think of ways that he could put a smile on her face when a thought suddenly struck him. "Oh," he exclaimed as she looked back over at him. "I know what will cheer you up."

"And what might that be?" Clarisse asked while resting her elbow on the back of her settee and rested her hand against the side of her head.

"How about we go out onto the balcony and watch the sunset?" He suggested. "I know that you enjoy that, and yes I know it's not the same as walking the path towards the pavilion, like we usually do, but at least we can still view it together."

"Yes, I would like that," Clarisse nodded and watched as he got up and grabbed her crutches for her before moving to stand in front of her and helping her to her feet. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure," Joseph said and followed her as she carefully led the way out onto her balcony.

After being sat together out on her balcony for a little while, Joseph turned his head to look at her across the table between them. "The colours of the sky are beautiful this evening, aren't they?"

"Yes they are," Clarisse nodded with a smile and turned her head to look at him. "It's very calming," she said with an uncontrollable shiver. Hoping, praying, that he hadn't noticed. Because even though she was feeling a little cold, she didn't want this moment, them sitting out on her balcony together and finally having some company after spending most of the day on her own again, to end. Not yet at least.

"You're cold?" Joseph said softly and quickly got to his feet before removing his leather jacket. "Here, have this. It'll keep you warm while we are out here, because we can't have you getting a cold too now can we?"

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly," Clarisse began to protest, but he'd already stepped closer to her and wrapped it around her shoulders before she had even realised what was happening. "Well, alright then," she laughed a little and looked down at his jacket for the briefest of moments before looking back up at him, "thank you, Joseph."

"You're welcome," he smiled and moved to sit back down in the seat he had been sitting in just a moment before as she watched him. Perhaps for a moment longer than she should have, but she couldn't pull her gaze away from him. Although she didn't know what, or why, there was just something different about him tonight.

Eventually, she turned her head to look back out at the sunset a moment before she found herself closing her eyes and turning her head slightly to the opposite side he was sitting, so he couldn't see, and took a deep breath. The musky and manly scent of his cologne that lingered on his jacket wrapped around her shoulders intoxicated her senses and her tummy fluttered. Something she hadn't felt for the longest time.

She tried to brush the feeling away at first, but she couldn't ignore them. Not when they were now so strong and she realised just how happy she was that he was there with her right now and how much she had been looking forward to his visits over the last few days. How happy he actually made her whenever he was around, or how much he cared for her, and had done for the longest time. It all suddenly made sense to her and just like that she knew.

She had fallen in love with him.

"Oh no," she whispered to herself and slightly shook her head.

"Yes, and you changed around me and you tried to avoid me for a while after that didn't you?" Joseph laughed as Clarisse lifted her head to look back up at him and smiled. "Which you soon realised was impossible to do." He laughed.

"Did you know by that point, Clarisse, that José loved you?" Vee asked.

"Oh yes, I did," Clarisse nodded as she glanced over at Vee then back up at her husband as she put her free hand up onto the top of his shoulder. Running the tip of her forefinger back and forth along his jaw as he tilted his head towards her with a smile. "I had known a while by that point."

Smiling, Vee watched them together a moment before asking. "And after that, José, did you know that she had fallen in love with you too?"

"Oh I did, it was hard not to know," Joseph said, looking over at her. "Everything changed between us, during the rest of her recovery she was quiet whenever I was around and she couldn't look me in the eye anymore either. Then as I said, once she was back on her feet, she tried her best to avoid me. Until she realised it was impossible, of course." He chuckled softly at the memory and turned his head to look at Clarisse smiling beside him. "I often caught her staring at me too, then when she realised I had caught her she would flash me her gorgeous smile. Like she's doing right now." He smiled.

"Aww," Juana smiled, looking from her brother to Clarisse.

"Even though we couldn't be together, something had shifted between us," Clarisse said, her eyes remaining on her husband, studying his face as he turned his head to take a long sip of his scotch. "We grew a lot closer and spent more time together. So much so that Philippe, my youngest son, had seen something between us that we didn't even realise ourselves."

"He always believed that we would end up together," Joseph said and rested the bottom of his glass down on his thigh as he turned his head to look back at Clarisse as she nodded and gave him a small smile. "And now, here we are," he smiled and moved his face closer, to kiss the corner of her mouth as she briefly closed her eyes.

"Yes we are," Clarisse smiled and watched her husband sit back properly in his seat beside her, "and we couldn't be happier."

"Well I'm so glad that you both got together, even if it did take you years," Vee smiled as they both looked over at her.

"Me too," Juana smiled. "And all the children are too. They all love you, Clarisse."

"Yes they do," Vee agreed and nodded. "But I gotta ask, how did you both manage to harbour your feelings for each other and remain strong and collected all those years. Knowing how the each of you felt."

"Yes actually, how? I would have found it really difficult seeing each other everyday for so so long and not being able to do anything about it," Juana said and took a drink of her cocktail.

"With great difficulty, let me tell you," Joseph chuckled, remembering some of the times that they very nearly did end up in bed together over the years, and turned his head to look back at Clarisse as everyone laughed over his answer. "It took some great restraint, didn't it?"

"Oh, it did," Clarisse smiled, thinking back on some of the memories like her husband was, and they shared a quick kiss before she so lovingly rested her head back on his shoulder while snaking her free hand around his arm. Their other hands still entwined together in his lap. "You're the reason behind my smile and you have been for so long," she whispered and smiled when she felt him kiss the top of her head.

"It's a true love story," Juana smiled as she watched her brother and sister-in-law together a moment, as he rested his head against Clarisse's, before taking another sip of her drink.

"Well, everybody, we have about an hour or so until the sun sets," Diego said and everyone looked over at him. "So are we ready for me to turn from host to DJ now and get this music started?"

"Yes!" Vee and Juana exclaimed together in unison as Clarisse and Joseph laughed.

"They say that the quickest way to a Spanish heart is dance, so yes. Let's get that music started," Juana giggled and put one hand up in the air above her head. Pointing her forefinger up towards the sky. "Because I'm in the mood for dancing."

"Me too, but first I'm going to go down to the bar and get us all some more drinks," Vee smiled as she got to her feet. "I'll be back."

"I'll come help you," Juana smiled as she got up and followed her sister.

"And I'm going to get set up," Diego smiled as he got to his feet and gestured to Pedro to follow him.

Pulling her hand free from her husbands, Clarisse leant forward for her drink from the table and sitting back she put her other hand up, to take hold of the straw as she began taking a drink of her cocktail through it. "Are you okay?" Joseph asked softly while turning to her in his seat and resting his arm along the back of her chair as she averted her gaze to him before lowering her glass and nodding.

"Yes, of course," she smiled and turned to him a little more in her seat. Her knee now resting against his. "It was nice looking back to the day I realised I was in love with you. It brought back some beautiful memories."

"Yes, it was lovely. I agree," Joseph smiled and watched her take another drink of her cocktail before leaning forward to place her glass back down on the table.

Smiling, she sat back in her seat and looked up at him while resting both her hands down on the top of his thigh. "What about you, are you okay?"

"Mhmm yes, never better," he nodded as she turned to face the other way, so her back was now to him, and after stretching her legs out along the seat in front of her and crossing them at the ankle, she slowly leant back against his chest. Smiling happily, he wrapped his arm around the front of her shoulder. "I love how comfortable you have become around them," he said softly in her ear while raising his hand up in front of her and slipping his fingers in the top opening of her blouse, to rest his hand on her chest under her blouse.

"I know, it's like I have known them for years," Clarisse said, resting her head back against his shoulder and smiled up at him. "They have been so welcoming, I felt instantly at ease."

"I'm glad," Joseph smiled and tipped his head forward to kiss her a couple of times as she put her hands up onto his arm resting across her shoulder. "It's what I wanted, for them to accept you and welcome you with open arms."

"Well they have certainly done that," Clarisse smiled and let out a contented sigh as they both turned their gaze to look out across the ocean snuggled in each others embrace.