Joseph stirred and woke, stretching as he got out of bed. His servant, Jonathan, knocked on the door to help his lord get ready for his trip.

"Good morning Jonathan," Joseph said as he slipped his arms into the black robe Jonathan held open for him. "Thank you." Tying the sash around his waist, he turned and asked, "Has everything been prepaired?"

"Yes, M'lord," Jonathan replied cheefully. "All is prepared for your journey."

"Has Lord Lance been awakened?"

"Yes, M'lord," Jonathan answered. "He is in his chambers."

Nodding, Joseph asked for Lance to be sent to him. "I will draw my own bath today Jonathan. Please see that Lord Lance is brought to my chambers as soon as possible?"

"As you wish M'lord," Jonathan replied, leaving Jospeh's cambers to get the young lord.

Presently, a knock came on the door. Joseph opened it and smiled to see the love of his life standing on the other side.

"Good morning," he whispered, pulling Lance carefully into his arms and dropping a kiss lightly on his lips. "Did you sleep well Angel?" Smiling, Lance nodded, laying his head gently on his husband's shoulders. "I take it you are anxious to get on the road, by the way you are shaking?" Joseph asked.

Looking at Joseph, Lance wrapped his arms around Joseph and hugged him, sniffing. "Oh Angel," he whispered. "Please do not cry. I want to remember your smiling face when I leave your farm."

"I...I cannot help it," Lance sobbed, holding on to Joseph. "I'm going to miss you so."

"And I will miss you too, but it is not like we will never see each other again," Joseph replied. "It will only be for a week."

"Ye...yes, M'lord," Lance replied softly, as he tried to stop his tears.

Tapping Lance lightly on the rear, Joseph looked directly into his eyes. "M'lord?" he questioned teasingly. Lance looked at Joseph, confused.

"I thought you were told you didn't have to call me M'lord unless we had guests?" Joseph asked. Looking around the room, he added, "Do you see guests in here Angel? I do not."

"Sor...sorry," Lance said, smiling.

"For that, I should..." Joseph began, then trailed off.

Bowing his head, Lance slid off his husband's lap and lay on the bed on his stomach. "I am ready to be punished...M'lord," he whispered, looking back at Joseph.

Smiling, Joseph stood and went into the bathchamber, leaving Lance alone on the bed. "I did not say I should punish you for the name slip Angel," he replied quietly.

A confused look on his face, Lance sat up. "I do not understand," he whispered. "What did I do to displease you?"

Laughing, Joseph closed the door, leaving it open slightly. "If you do not remember, then it does not need to be brought back up again."

"But...but..." Lance whispered, on the verge of tears. "What did I do wrong?"

"M'lord?" called the elder lord.

Lowering his head, Lance looked up againg shyly, the look that had captured Joseph's heart from the first time he laid eyes on his newest husband. "I...I am sorry...Joseph," he replied softly.

"Angel, it is alright," Joseph whispered, stepping back into the bedchamber. "I was only teasing you."

"Oh," Lance replied, embarrassed.

Dropping a light kiss upon Lances' lips, Joseph smiled down at him. Gazing into his eyes, he knew that once he climbed back into the coach that would take him away from Lances' parents' farm, he would break down into tears. He did not want to leave his Angel, but the business was calling. "I love you so much, my precious Angel."

Tears filling his eyes, Lance buried his head in Joseph's chest. "As do I you, my love," he whispered.

"I wish the week was not so long," Joseph whispered, wrapping his arms around Lance.

"I wish...I wish you weren't leaving me at all," Lance replied softly, the tears beginning to fall.

"If I had known the meetings and such would not bore you, I would gladdly take you with me. But, your parents are expecting you, and the business will keep me busy from morning to dusk."

"I...I know," Lance whispered, turning around and walking to the window. Looking out, the tears continued to fall slowly down his face. He loved Joseph so much and it was killing him to know that in a few short hours, he would be going away for a whole week. "I understand."

"Do you?" Joseph asked from where he stood. "I will try my hardest to return to you as fast as I can Angel. But, I will make no promises." Lance just nodded his head, sniffing back tears.

On the verge of crying himself, Joseph knew he had to either get out of that room, or have his Angel leave. But he did not want to send Lance away any sooner the he had to. Excusing himself to the bathchamber, Joseph closed the door, all the way this time. When the door latched, he walked to the far wall and slid down, breaking into silent tears.

Walking over to the bathchamber door, Lance knocked softly. "Joseph?" he whispered shakily. "Jospeh please don't do this. Please don't leave me."

Drawing his knees up, Joseph tried to stop his tears, or at least keep from sniffling; but to no avail. A few sniffles crept out and into the world.

"Jo...Joseph?" Lance called, tears falling faster. Not getting an answer, Lance ran to Joesphs' bed and fell on it, crying bitterly.

Hearing the muffled cries from within the room, Blake, who was on his way back to the kitchen to help with the morning meal, stopped outside Lord Josephs' chambers. Looking up and down the halls, to make sure that his new charge was not around, he knocked quietly on the door. "M...M'lord?" he asked, his voice obviously showing how scared he was of Lord Joseph.

Getting up and answering the door, Lance looked at Blake, who was happy to see his former charge.

"M'lo...I mean...Lord Lance," he started, smiling dispite himself. "I...I heard someone...someone crying. Is...is everything alright?"

"Ye...yes, Blake," Lance whispered, smiling at the young servant as he wiped his eyes. It was so good to see Blake, Lance thought. "I...I am just a little sad because Lord Joseph is going away for a whole week. I shall miss him terribly."

"He is leaving?" Blake asked, his expression changing to as if this were the first he had heard about it. "And you are leaving too are you not M'lord?"

"He is leaving on business," Lance explained. "I was due to spend this weekend with my parents, but will be gone the whole week as well."

Instantly filled with fear again, Blake bit his lip as scenes of what his new charge had done to him less then an hour before. And now that both Lance and Joseph were leaving, there was no telling just how often those scenes would happen again.

Noticing the expression on Blake's face, Lance was instantly concerned. "Blake, what is wrong?" he asked gently. "You seem distant, afraid somehow. Would you like to talk about it?"

Gulping, Blake whispered, "I...I do not know if I...if I am allowed to M'lord."

"You can tell me anything, Blake," Lance replied. "Do not be afraid."

Shaking his head and taking a step back, the young servant answered, "Lo...Lord Joshua...he...he said I...I was not to s...say anything..."

"About what, Blake? What's going on?"

Just then, Devin appeared at the door. Bowing to Lance, he then looked at Blake. "Lord Joshua is requesting you in his chambers, Blake," he replied.

"I...I...I have not finished my morning duties yet," he whispered, his voice matching the shivering of his body. "I...I..."

"Blake, are you sure you're all right?" Lance whispered. Something was not right, Lance could feel it. He hoped that Blake would share it with him, but Devin was insistent that Blake return to Joshua's chambers.

Realizing that the longer he kept Joshua waiting, the more angry he would be with him, Blake nodded his head in response to Lances' question. "I...I am alright M'lord," he whispered. "I am just still a bit sleepy."

"Promise me you'll not work too hard while I'm gone and get some rest, Blake," Lance replied softly, smiling at the young servant.

"I...I will try M'lord," Blake whispered, falling further and further away from the lively servant he used to be, to one that was shy, and distant.

"All right," Lance, replied. "I will see you when I get back then."

"Y...yes M'lord," the young servant whispered. "I...I hope you have a pleasant tr...trip." Bowing low, Blake backed out of the room, and turned to Devin. "Is...is Lord Joshua...is he upset?" he asked meekly.

Devin gazed at Blake, a smirk crossing his face. "Not yet, but I'd get there as fast as I could if I were you," he replied.

Lance looked from Blake to Devin, then back to Blake again. "What's going on?" he asked curiously.

"N...nothing M'l...M'lord," Blake whispered.

"Are you sure, Blake?" Lance inquired, sensing something was wrong.

Looking up at his prior charge, Blake felt his eyes begin to brim with tears. Oh how he wished he was still looking after Lord Lance, he thought to himself. He never lifted a finger in anger towards him in the few days he had been in the family. But close to the same amount of time that Blake had been watching over Lord Joshua, he had managed to hurt the young servant 3 times, and he feared that a 4th was coming. Quickly lowering his eyes before the first tear slipped, Blake nodded. "Yes M'lord, I am sure."

A strange feeling came over Lance, but he said nothing. "All right" Lance replied. "You better go and see what Joshua wants. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me. I will see you when I return" Lance added, hugging the young servant.

At once pulling away, Blake took a step back. "H...Have a good tr...trip M'lord," he said simply and left the room quickly.

Turning toward the bathroom chamber door again, Lance knocked. "Joseph?" he called softly.

"Y...yes?" came a quiet voice from within.

"I am told that Jason has the carriage ready. It...it's time for us to leave."

"I will be down shortly," Joseph answered, moving around the bath chamber. "Go get yourself settled. I won't be long."

"All right," Lance replied as he left Joseph's chambers and started down the hall. As he came toward Joshua's chambers, he saw Blake leaving Joshua's room, tears streaming down the young servant's face. He did not see Lance, as he walked slowly in the opposite direction. It was obvious that he was in pain. Slowly beginning to realize what Joshua had done, Lance knocked on his door to confront him.

"It's open," Joshua called from inside. When Lance entered the room, the older lord looked up from under the covers and smiled. Sitting up slightly, he said cheerfully, "Good morning Lance. Ready for your trip?"

Looking around the messy room, Lance narrowed his eyes. "Joshua, what happened? What did you do to Blake?" he asked quietly.

Smiling sweetly, Joshua asked, "What do you mean? I simply taught him his place within this household."

"You...you didn't...you did," Lance replied, an astonished look on his face. "How could you? How could you do that to Blake?"

Acting as though he didn't understand the young lord, Joshua cocked his head to the side slightly. "How could I do what to Blake, Lance?"

"You...you know what you did, Joshua," Lance stuttered. "I...I saw you." Instantly, Lance regretted his words as Joshua got up from his bed and stood in front of Lance.

"What you saw," Joshua hissed. "Was my teaching my servant a lesson. Joseph said I could punish the boy any way I saw fit."

"Not...not li...like that," Lance replied nervously, becoming frightened of Joshua's anger. "He...he di...did noth...nothing to de...deserve this."

"I will decide what is to a punishable offence for my servant and not you Lance," Joshua said, his anger starting to flare. "Blake is no longer your concern; so I suggest you stop worrying about his well-being and start worrying about your own."

"Jo...Joseph would not like this," Lance replied, as he backed away from Joshua, who continued to advance toward him. "You...you will...will not get away with this. I...I am going to te...tell Joseph what I...I saw." Lance almost reached the door when Joshua grabbed him.

"You keep your mouth shut," he again hissed. "Joseph does not need to be bothered with such things. He said I could punish Blake anyway I saw fit, and the way I saw fit was to bed him. And do you know why he was punished Lance?"

Tears springing to his eyes, Lance shook his head. "Ple...please...you're hurting me," Lance squeaked.

"Blake was punished because he stuck his nose where it didn't belong. He watched as Justin and I taught you how your husband likes to bed." Thinking for a moment, Joshua smirked as he said, "You did the exact same thing he did, sticking your nose where it didn't belong; and Joseph looks down upon invastion of privacy. Perhaps I should go tell Joseph what you did?"

His tears now falling, Lance tried to loosen himself from Joshua's grip. "N...no...no please," he sobbed. "Ple...please let me go. Jo...Jospeh is wait...waiting for me."

Tightening his grip, Joshua stepped closer to Lance, until he was right in his face. "I don't care if Joseph is waiting. Let him wait while I teach you a lesson about eavesdropping..."

"No!" Lance cried as Joshua dragged him toward his bed. "N...no...no Joshua, please," he sobbed, his pleas falling on deaf ears.

Throwing the young lord onto the soft bed, Joshua proceeded to tear the clothes from his back. He would have succeeded in removing all of Lances' garb had there not been a knock at the door.

Cursing, Joshua went to the door. "Who is it?" he barked.

"Bl...Blake...M'lord."

Opening the door enough for Blake to enter, a smirk crossed Joshua's face as Blake looked on in horror at the sight of Lance lying across Joshua's bed, crying.

"M'lord?" he asked quietly, taking a step towards Lance, then looked up at Joshua. "What...what is...what are you doing?"

"That, dear Blake, is none of your damned concern," Joshua replied. This is my chamber. I can do whatever the hell I please. What do you want?" Joshua inquired.

Lowering his head, Blake whispered, "Lo...Lord Joseph...he's waiting for Lord Lance. He...he sent me to fi...find him. I...I heard you two talking in here."

Turning to the frightened Lance, Joshua smirked. "You heard my servant, Lord Lance. Your husband is waiting for you. Don't want to keep him waiting."

Slowly getting up off the bed, Lance rearranged his clothing, the tears still sliding down his face. Blake went on ahead to tell Joseph that Lance was on his way to the stables. As Lance reached the door, Joshua grabbed his arm and spun him around to face him.

"Have a good trip Lance," he said, his voice dripping with covered hate. "And be a dear, have Blake return here before you leave."

"I...I am going to tell Joseph, Joshua," Lance squeaked. "You...you will not do this to Blake again."

Releasing his arm, Joshua shrugged his shoulders. "Very well Lance. Go ahead and tell Joseph. I'm sure your mother will just love hearing that you have stabbed a family member in the back."

Lowering his head, the tears falling faster, Lance turned and ran down the hallway, Joshua's laughter following him.