Conrad couldn't help but enjoy watching Victoria pace the distance of the balcony. He shouldn't get pleasure from her discomfort, but the idea that she was so panicked over discussing their relationship struck him as funny. And adorable in a way only she could pull off.

"Remember the show Daniel used to watch, we just have to pretend like they did."

"What show is that, my dear?"

"The one Daniel thought was funny. I despised it."

"That narrows it down, darling."

"They had a whip and kept saying 'not good enough' until the two pretended that they had talked it over. Why don't you ever pay attention?"

"Well you've paid such close attention I didn't think my attention was needed," he joked. He couldn't help but crack a smile at the glare he received.

"This is all your fault, you know!" She snapped. She couldn't believe he was making such a mockery of this situation. They had been held hostage by their daughter. More than that, it was freezing outside and Charlotte had purposely only given them one blanket.

"Do tell me how this is my fault."

"This whole thing stemmed from some immature deal you made with our daughter. You made her think that we were getting back together!"

"No, we made her think that. I certainly didn't have myself pinned against that wall when she walked in. "

"Don't be crass." Victoria said, running her hands across her arms. She tried to be subtle about it, but like always, Conrad immediately noticed the most minute details.

"Are you cold?" He said as he got closer to her.

"No." He ran his hands over her arms. Touching her skin sent a chill through his.

"My God, Victoria. You're like ice!"

"Conrad, I said I was fine."

Conrad quickly grabbed her, scooping her in his arms. He ignored her protests and quickly removed her strappy sandals, throwing them into the pool below.

"Conrad!"

He carried her to the chair, forcing her to sit on his lap as he removed his shoes. Luckily, she was confused enough not to fight him as he removed his socks and put them on her feet. He put his oxfords back on.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking care of you," he said as he threw the blanket over the two of them. Underneath the blanket he pulled her closer, running his hands over her exposed skin in a desperate attempt to create friction. Victoria tried to remember the last time Conrad had gone to such extreme measures to take care of her, but they didn't exactly have a life or death type of lifestyle. She couldn't help but question if this side of him was newly developed or always waiting for the chance to emerge.

"What are we going to tell Charlotte?" She finally whispered as she let her head cozy itself into the crook of her neck.

"Same thing I always tell her. That I love her mother very much and would do anything for her." Victoria sat upright, stunned by his revelation.

"You do not tell her that!"

"Of course I do. Why do you think we have our Halloween tradition?"

"To torture me!" She practically yelled.

"Victoria, don't you get it? You've been so desperate to bond with Charlotte and all this time she's been trying to bond with you over me." He hadn't meant to let everything spill out, but he didn't understand why she was making it so difficult. Charlotte wasn't trying to punish them by locking them up. She was trying desperately to repair them. Charlotte, with her pure heart could see beyond what they had both become. It was as if she was polishing a rock, determined to make everyone see the diamond hidden underneath.

Victoria sat in silence, replaying the conversation. She didn't know what to say to Conrad. She didn't know what to say to Charlotte. She didn't even know what to tell herself anymore. She wanted Conrad, she always had. But she was too scared, even in their early relationship to give herself to Conrad. She had often said that she didn't think she could love anyone. But if she were being honest, she could risk discovering that her mother was right. That no one could love her.

She let both options ping pong back and forth in her head, each idea fighting for control of her actions and emotions. Conrad had a sense that she was debating her next move by the way her body seemed to tense and relax over and over. Eventually her eyes got heavy, and Conrad's hands through her hair propelled her into a deep, sound sleep.

Even after he knew she was asleep, Conrad let his hands run through her hair and along her body. It was a slim chance, but he couldn't give up on the hope that his contact with her would slip into her subconscious.