As the young couple climbed the porch steps toward the front door, Debbie looked behind her, and saw that it was already getting dark, the sun disappearing behind the trees, turning the sky into a caricature of intense orange and red. It made the surroundings look positively beautiful.

Andy swung the door open, and just as they walk in, they're suddenly attacked by balls…small red rubber balls which Shelly, Barry, Imogene and Vera were juggling to see who'd last the longest. Shelly won only because Imogene was getting bored, and decided to end the game by slowing rubbing one hand over Barry's crotch, causing him to lose concentration.

"Who brought up this bright idea?" Andy asked as he picked up the balls that Barry had dropped, and began juggling them in time with Shelly.

"We were looking for something to keep our hands busy. It was either this or an orgy. Vera chose this," Shelly explained, shrugging his shoulders, "Whaddya gonna do?"

The fireplace was raging with a full-bodied, crackling flame. Debbie dumped the wet towel on the empty chair in the corner, grabbed Andy by the hand, and pulled him into the living room toward the box of paddle rackets, handing one to him.

"How about you and I whacking a couple of balls around?"

"If you insist," he shrugged, taking the paddle racket and attempting to beat Shelly's score simply because he was bragging that he held the record, for the moment.

In the kitchen, Imogene and Barry had slipped away from the paddle-racketing and decided to help Ginny with cooking the dinner. Brandon was happily lying on his back in his cot in the corner, watching the variety of different shapes circling overhead. His laughing being very contagious as it kept a smile on his mother's face who couldn't help wondering how a simple toy could provide so much joy.

Standing at the water's edge with her arms around herself, Chris just stares at the calm of the water as though it might heal her from the dark moments in her past that were slowly creeping back into her mind after being suppressed for so long. It made her shiver just thinking about it. She knew Ginny felt the same way about coming back here also, well back to Crystal Lake anyway, and she began feeling guilty about it. Ginny never wanted to come back here, but Chris had wound her up about it so much, telling her that it'll make her feel better, that she eventually agreed to come.

Maybe I shouldn't've come back here either. Even though it's been two years, it still feels like it only happened yesterday. That feeling crawling back under her skin, the feeling of knowing that you were about to die and no-one would know what had happened to you.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the feel of strong arms enveloping around her slim waist, and she immediately jumps at the contact, having forgotten for a moment that she was at the cove with Nick.

"Hey," Nick whispered softly into her ear, "Don't worry, it's just me."

She shook her head, laughing a little at her jumping when there was nothing for her to worry about. She had Nick with her, "Sorry, I was just thinking…," and she didn't need to finish her sentence for Nick to understand what she meant.

"Come on, I've made us a small fire," he replied, pulling her gently toward its direction before they both sat around it, taking in the warmth as it was beginning to get a little chilly.

Nick took off his jean jacket, and places it around Chris' shoulders, noticing her embracing it before she looked at him, and softly said, "Thank you."

"No problem," he replied, picking up a handful of pebbles and started skimming them across the shimmering water. Moonlight glinted like little stars off the ripples. After an uncomfortable silence, Nick glanced over at Chris. Silhouetted by the light, Chris' profile was accentuated in all its vulnerability and sensuality. He put his arm around her, but felt her tense upon his touch. He wanted to kiss her to reassure her, but didn't.

"You know, I'm not sure I could live anywhere else," he said out-of-the-blue, "The nights here are always so peaceful and quiet. Beats the city nightlife hands down."

Chris didn't answer straight the way, causing Nick to look in her direction to find that she was staring out across the lake, toward the dark forest on the other side. She almost looked like she was in a trance.

"It's deceiving," she eventually replied, but she was still wasn't looking at him.

"How do you mean?"

She shuffled on the spot, trying to get comfortable as she answered, "The quiet can fool you. It fooled me. You can never be sure of what's out there."

Frustrated at the way she was acting, Nick stood up quickly and moved to the edge of the water, picking up handfuls of pebbles and skimming them again one-by-one.

"Why did you come back here, Chris?" He asked without looking at Chris who hesitated before answering him again.

"…To prove something to myself…to prove I'm stronger than I think I am."

"And, what about us?" He asked, this time turning around to see her reaction to his question.

"I'm here with you. Can't that be enough for now?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, forgetting about the pebbles, and returning to the warmth of the fire, but choosing to stand opposite Chris rather than sit beside her, "I don't see you for months on end, and when I do, you put this barrier between us. How do I break through?"

Chris sighed heavily, "I'm trying, Nick. I'm really trying."

There was momentary silence after she'd said that, and a few moments later Nick was sitting back down next to her, his arm back around her shoulders.

"What happened that night?"

Chris suddenly looked at him in shock and replied, "You promised me you'd never ask about that." He could tell in her voice that she was very distressed about the subject he'd brought up, and why shouldn't she be?

"After you left me that night, I didn't see you or talk to you again for a year. No-one would tell me anything. All I know is what the police had told me." He then leaned into her, "We have nowhere to go unless you let me in," he replied almost silently, "What happened?"

Chris gazed into Nick's eyes, and knew that it was about time she explain herself to him about what happened on that dreadful night…

After dinner had been made, set and eaten, Ginny, Debbie, and Barry were in the kitchen washing, drying and putting away the dishes while Shelly and Andy had retired to the living room to continue their quest of breaking the Guinness World Record.

Meanwhile, slouched on the couches, Imogene and Vera were beside themselves, finding the boys' endeavours very boring as Imogene yawned, and Vera was busy inspecting her nails.

"…One thousand twelve…one thousand thirteen…one thousand fourteen…What's the world record for this again?"

"I think you may have passed it several whacks ago, according to the Guinness Book," Shelly replied who'd given up his quest to break the record while Andy hadn't faltered yet and was still going strong.

Just then Debbie entered the room with a seductive look on her face, and waved at Andy's direction to get his attention, "I can think of a better way to use your hands," and with that said, she left using the other door which lead to the stairs and proceeded to climb them.

"Oh well, looks like the World Champ's gonna get his just reward," Andy replied rather proudly, throwing the racket ball into the box with the others, and quickly followed after Debbie, his bare feet tapping against the wooden floor.

"Wanna take a walk along the shore? It's a beautiful night tonight, and it shouldn't go to waste." Barry asked, putting a big smile on her face as she practically leapt from the sofa, and into his arms, "Oh you are so romantic, baby." She replied, which she followed with a soft kiss to his lips, "Let's go."

She then grabbed him by the hand, and led him to the back door, disappearing into the night, leaving Shelly alone with Vera, and Ginny finishing up in the kitchen.

"I'm gonna put Brandon to bed, and read my book for a bit. I'll see you guys in the morning. Goodnight," Ginny replied, carrying Brandon up against her shoulder as she heard them say goodnight too.

Once she'd vanished upstairs, Shelly looked around the place. Vera was the only other person in the room. They stare at each other, and then look away.

"I guess that just leaves you and me," Shelly pointed out, but it was followed by more awkward silence. After a short while, he produced a very determined look on his face, as though he was about to ask Vera something he has never asked a woman before.

"Vera…," he started rather sincerely, "you and I have had a chance to really get to know one another today. I like you…a lot, very much. I was thinking maybe," but he was quickly interjected by Vera, who stood up rather abruptly and stated rather firmly, "Don't say any more."

Shelly dropped his head, dejected and feeling like a total fool for thinking that someone like Vera would ever like a guy like him, but then she continued, "I'm going outside for a few minutes. We'll talk when I get back."

She turned away, and goes out the front door, her heels clattering rather loudly against the floorboards as she did. Vera ambled her way down the porch steps and when she reached the front walk, she surveyed the surroundings and breathed rather deeply.

Shelly, meanwhile, watched her stroll away through the window. His disappointment was sketched all over his face. He turned away, and moved over to the fireplace, looking into the blistering flame.

(CH CH CH AH AH AH) Unknowingly a dark, hulking figure approached the window from the outside, and looked through it at Shelly, watching as he poked aimlessly at the hot ambers, his back to the window, completely unaware of the lurking Jason.

Upstairs, Andy and Debbie were locked in each other's arms in front of the hammock, softly kissing each other before he chose to start nibbling on her ear, which he knew was one of her "soft spots" as she suddenly let out a soft moan which caused his blood to quickly head "south".

"So, how do we do it?" Andy asked when he gave nibbling on her ear a rest.

Debbie looked up at him deadpan, "Well, first we both take off our clothes, then you get on top of me or, if you like, I get on top of you…" she was silenced with a sudden passionate kiss to her lips before Andy backed off to reply.

"I know how to do it. I mean, how do we do it in the hammock?" He nodded in its direction, hanging there in the corner, almost mocking them somewhat.

Without saying a word, Debbie backed up a little so there was enough room, and proceeded to unbutton her blouse very slowly before allowing it to fall to the floor, revealing her ample breasts to him.

"Think you can figure it out?" She asked, backing away until the back of her legs hit the hammock.

"Yeah, I'll think of something," he replied, continuing to stare at her breasts as he approached, wrapping his arms around her and started fervently kissing her again…