Thank you all for your wonderful review and comments - they are greatly appreciated and feed my writer's soul!!

Below is what will be the final chapter (maybe - lol) at least for now. The muse is toying with some ideas for future chapters; but I have another Princess Diaries story that I'm co-writing and an idea for a Voyager story percolating as well.

Enjoy!!

Chapter 5

Clarisse stirred slightly in his arms. She looked up at the man who now shared not only her heart and soul, but her body as well. "Hello."

He kissed her forehead. "Hello."

"Did you sleep any?" She asked.

"With a beautiful woman in my arms, how could I not?" He opted against mentioning the dream.

"I wish I could stay all night with you." She admitted.

"I know you can't."

There was a long silence as they both contemplated the implications of what had transpired between them along with what that could possibly mean for them in the future. Finally Clarisse turned in his arms and kissed him as her hand slowly threaded through the sparse hairs on his chest. She could get used to spending the nights in his arms. She broke the kiss and looked down at his face in the fading moonlight. "Penny for your thoughts."

Joseph's hand tangled in her hair and pulled her back into the kiss. He loved the feel of her soft curves as they melded into his masculine frame. There was something utterly perfect about how their bodies fit together. This close he could feel her chest expand and contract as she drew each breath; could feel each vibration as she murmured her pleasure; and the increase in the beating of her heart. He ended the kiss with a slight tugging on her lower lips. "I have only two thoughts at the moment. Shall I receive a penny for each?"

Her smile radiated. "You drive a hard bargain, but I'll agree to your terms."

Joseph gave her a quick kiss before answering. "First, I'm thinking about how much I want to make love to you again." To emphasize his point, he let his hand slide down her back and over the curve of her bottom.

Before she could answer, he continued. "And, second, I was thinking I'd like to buy the world a Coke."

He could feel her merriment at his statement rumble through her body. "Why is that so funny, my dear?"

"I'm afraid I don't follow."

"It is yet another of the slogans from Coca Cola. There was a commercial where they were singing that they'd like to buy the world a coke to bring happiness to everyone. When I think about how much happiness that beverage has brought about over the past few days and hours," he added thinking about consuming the beverage from her body. "I just want others to experience that same type of happiness by experiencing the real thing."

Clarisse's heart was full. Full of love for the man that she knew loved her so intensely; full of gratitude for this brief reprieve that fate had given her from a duty filled life; and anxiety over what the future would bring for them. Her hand caressed his face with all the tenderness she felt deep in her soul for him. She whispered. "I may not be able to stay the night; but I can stay a bit longer." In further answer, she moved so that her body completely covered his.

Joseph's hands slid over her body, pulling her as close as possible. Clarisse demonstrated her affection by anointing him with kisses. Tender, moist lips touched his forehead, his eyelids, even the tip of his nose. His breath caught when she nipped his earlobe before sucking it into her mouth; her uttered "mmmm" was a full, rich sound that resonated into his mind – a sound he wanted to never forget. "Clarisse…" He wasn't sure if it was a plea to stop or to continue.

Clarisse moved lower, enjoying the way the whiskers from his mustache and goatee felt against her lips. Nestled in the middle, she found the softness of his mouth…a mouth she had come to fully appreciate in the past few hours. Her tongue traced the fullness of his lips before gently demanding entrance into the warm cavern. Their tongues battled for dominance as the kiss deepened; bodies moving together in an effort to increase their touch as much as possible. Clarisse broke the kiss, her breathing was labored and her voice low and husky. "Give me your hands, Joseph."

Although he hated to stop caressing her, he complied without question, something about her tone made him believe it would be in his best benefit to comply. There was a fleeting thought that made him smile inwardly. 'Who was he kidding? He would follow her command even if it led him to certain death.' There was something about this woman that had held him captive to her from the first time he had laid eyes on her. He let his hands skim up her body before bringing them to rest on either side of his head.

She clasped his hands in hers and raised them above his head and then resumed the kiss with the same intensity at which it had been stopped. Unable to use his hands, he devoted himself fully to the kiss to show his love and adoration. The kiss was passionate and filled with need. The need to make up for the time lost in the past - the time they weren't sure they would have in the future; the need that suffused your entire being in the desire to be fully possessed by another; and the need to quench the growing fire deep within one's soul.

Joseph lost himself completely in the feel of her kiss branding his soul as her body moved suggestively against his. He was totally entranced with the woman that had emerged over the past few days. He thought he knew her well; but apparently she still held surprises and secrets that he had to uncover. His need was growing with each passing moment but he was totally under her spell and at her mercy.

Clarisse was overwhelmed by her feelings for Joseph and the way she was shamelessly taking control of their lovemaking. She had, on occasion, been this aggressive before but it was certainly not the norm. She wanted…no needed to feel him inside of her again. There was an utter contentment and peace she had experienced – one that she had never felt before in her life. She needed Joseph to complete her – to make her the woman she was destined to become. Only he could do that for her. He possessed the stubbornness to stand up to her when she was wrong and the courage to love her even though her situation made it almost impossible. He brought out the best in her while still allowing her to be simply herself.

Moments later their bodies became one. He heard her whisper his name in response and he wondered how he would ever let her go again. His hand was joined with hers again and they lay there very still, just focusing on the feel of being physically and emotionally one body. Finally, their dance began with Clarisse taking the lead. As the dance progressed, she felt the blood coursing through her body setting each nerve ending on fire. Unaccustomed to dealing with so many sensations at once, Clarisse was having trouble keeping the tempo steady. Joseph was fanning the flames higher and higher. Things were moving quickly and she realized that she didn't want it to end this soon.

Joseph felt her still. He placed a kiss on her neck. He could feel her pulse racing. "Clarisse? Are you alright?" He was concerned as it took several moments for her to answer.

"I…I just don't want it to end." She admitted.

Using his strength and size advantage, he gently rolled their bodies until she was under him. "Then let's slow things down a bit and make the moment last, shall we?"

Clarisse closed her eyes, though her body was still in a heightened state of arousal, Joseph's kisses were creating a calming effect. She focused on memorizing the feel of his body against hers. His strong hands clasping hers – hands that guided her through crowds and kept her safe; the strength in his arms that were always ready to catch her when she fell and to hold her up when the pressure around her threatened to make her crumple under its significant weight; the sprinkling of hair on his broad chest that provided a delicious friction when his body moved against hers; and strong thighs that moved so well with hers whether they were walking in the gardens, dancing in the ballroom, or sharing this more private liaison in his suite.

They maintained their connection as they shared whatever touches and kisses possible with their limited movements. The passion between them steadily grew as the coils within them grew taut with need, threatening to overwhelm them. Sensing they were getting close, Joseph asked. "Would you like to take the lead again, my dear?"

Clarisse smiled up at his handsome face and nodded. They held onto each other tightly as he rolled them so she was once again on top. He watched, mesmerized, as she pushed against his chest to bring herself upright. The moonbeams streaming through the window cast her in an ethereal glow and Joseph was certain there was nothing more angelic under the heavens. Clarisse clasped the hands he offered and used them as support as she began to lift and then lower her body. Her back arched as her head fell back allowing the sensations full reign of her body once again.

"Merde, woman." Joseph offered through clenched teeth as he surveyed the exquisite lines of her body.

Moments later the culmination of their love washed over them accompanied only by the tightening of clasped hands and whispers of love and adoration escaping from the depths of their souls. Clarisse fell forward into Joseph's waiting embrace. "That was…"

"the real thing." Joseph finished for her.

She smiled and kissed him. "Indeed."

**C/J**

Forty eight hours later the lights of Pyrus came into view from the windows of Genovia One. The voice of the Captain on the intercom broke the silence in the main cabin. "We will be landing in about twenty minutes, your Majesty. Please prepare for landing."

Clarisse fastened her seat belt and stole a look across the aisle at Joseph. He had been unusually quiet during the voyage home. They hadn't really talked about what life would be like when they returned home. She had spent the last night in San Francisco in his arms and they had used their bodies to say what they could not. They would need to talk about it; but she wasn't sure at this point what to say. They loved each other – of that there was no doubt. But what to do about it…therein was the real question.

She sighed deeply and turned towards the window. They would figure this out; but it wasn't going to be today. She closed her eyes and remembered…

Joseph stood and stepped across the aisle. Tenderness washed over him as he saw her smile in her sleep. She was so beautiful. He would miss watching her while she slept. He had only been privileged to do so twice, but he treasured each moment. He gently touched her shoulder. "Clarisse, we've landed."

He watched as she stood and straightened her suit – the Queen had returned home. He hoped that Clarisse would not forget the moments they shared. As she moved towards the door, he couldn't help himself. He called out quietly in an almost desperate voice. "Your Majesty?" He needed reassurance. He hated himself for his weakness; but that's what she did to him.

Clarisse turned and saw the doubt and fear in his eyes that she knew was hidden just below her queenly façade. She touched his cheek and answered his question the only way she could to reassure him without saying more than she could at the moment. "Always…Coca Cola."

The End….for now.