She looked away, defensively, automatically. As her eyes came to rest on the stage, she realised that she couldn't pretend not to have heard, and so nodded discreetly. To herself, or to Joseph she couldn't be sure. He was still looking at her, she could feel it, that familiar warmth of his attention caressing her cheek. Gingerly, she sat back in her seat, straightening her back, squaring her shoulders. He smiled at her movement, entirely aware of what she was trying to do. As he began to turn his attention back to the stage, she looked at him, and their eyes met.

She looked on edge, and he smiled cautiously, his fingers nervously caressing the velvet trim of the armrest. They both looked away the instant their eyes met, both focusing on the action on the stage. The music swelled, as Rigoletto's aria became more emotional, his voice soaring out over the auditorium. Clarisse swallowed, oblivious almost to the scene unfolding in front of her, far more caught up in her own drama. Could he have meant it? The look in his eyes had told her everything.

Joseph felt his fingers curling over the edge of the box, gripping the soft material as he fought with his emotions. He had known this evening would be difficult, just like it was always difficult…but he had always managed before. He could manage it again. He took a deep breath.

As the music grew soft and pensive, she heard the rough sound of his breath, her eyes catching the movement of his fingers on the hand rest. He whispered something, and she bent her head a little, not quite hearing him, still not looking at him.

He closed his eyes, again willing the strength to come,

"I'm sorry Clarisse, I shouldn't have said that…it was…"

He faltered, unsure of what it was, what he should say it was. She turned a little, her face now dangerously close to his, and looked at him in the gloomy light. His face was tense, his eyes half closed, seemingly with concentration. For a moment she was surprised, and wondered if he might be ill.

"…it was ill-timed and inappropriate."

As he finished, his expression still so serious and drawn, she felt that same longing as before, to slide her fingers down the nape of his neck and to press her lips to his cheek. But whereas that thought had before seemed so crazy and so concerning, now she found herself simply smiling. He looked utterly confused, but she decided that he wouldn't require long to figure it out. Taking a rather shaky breath she smiled again, her eyes lingering on his for a moment longer than might be considered polite. The air conditioning had finally begun to work its magic, and she shivered a little at the cool breeze. Twisting back to lean against the rail and look out over the people below, she laid her head on her now folded arms.

He sat there for a long while, just looking at the curve of her back, the gentle rise and fall as she breathed. Still she hadn't answered him, acknowledged his apology even. It was almost as if she didn't want to, didn't need to. He sighed deeply, surely this couldn't mean what he hoped? No. Of course not.

But the way she had looked at him. He was sure that she had understood. How could she not have? She shivered again, and for a moment he was broken from his dreaming. Reaching over to pick up his carefully folded jacket, he tapped her gently on the upper arm,

"Would you like my jacket?"

She smiled, her head still lying comfortably on her arms, and he made out a small nod in the darkness. Carefully, he draped the jacket around her, anxious not to crease her own clothes as he did so. As he pulled it up around her shoulders, he felt the gentle touch of her finger against the side of his hand. His intake of breath was audible, and she pulled the jacket around her. Smoothing his hand along the curve of her back, moving to sit back in his seat, he felt her shiver once again. Genuinely concerned, he bent down again, and whispered softly,

"Clarisse, are you alright? Shall I ask for something hot to drink?"

Her heart warming already at the obvious concern in his voice, she turned a little and looked at him. His arm was still draped casually across her back and was unconsciously smoothing comforting circles through the heavy jacket. Again their eyes met, and this time he saw it for sure. She smiled shyly, slowing lifting her head and coming to sit upright. As she did so, the jacket slid down her shoulders, and he moved to replace it,

"No…don't"

No longer did he look confused, only cautious, as if unsure. She turned to face him properly, and met his eyes. His arm still held her, and she slid a little closer. As the music washed over them and the lights from the stage flickered and flashed, he reached out and placed his other hand on her shoulder. Still she held his gaze, not quite believing that it was happening, not like this. He attempted a smile then too, and she felt her throat tighten at his nervousness. Reaching out, she placed her cool hand on his cheek, gently tracing the outline of his beard, her thumb coming to rest just below his lips.

"Joseph…"

He smiled properly now, and closing his eyes, tenderly pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her hands slid round his neck, and he felt her warm breath against his cheek. As his arms wrapped around her tightly, pulling her to rest against him, he realised that she was shaking as much as he was. After a moment or two, he pulled back slowly, and looked at her again, his heart fluttering a little at the thought of her in his arms.

"Clarisse?"

"Yes, my darling?"

He smiled, his question already answered.

Titling her chin a little, he dropped a gentle kiss to her cheek, then her nose, his lips then finding hers in the dark, caressing her teasingly at first, then ceding to a desire far too long suppressed. As they eased apart, her fingers found his and she lay against him slightly, her head coming to rest on his shoulder.

A slight movement at the rear of the box made her jump a little. It was the waiter, returning to collect their glasses. As he realised who it was, she felt Joseph begin to ease away, but she pulled him back, looping his arm around her,

"But Clarisse…."

She smiled, looking at him seriously, finally pressing the longed-for kiss to his cheek.

"No. I won't let you go now. Not ever."

He grinned, but understood well the seriousness of her decision,

"Really?"

"Really."

Again he smiled, raising an eyebrow and shaking his head ruefully,

"Oh dear…looks like I'm done for then…"

"You'd better believe it."