Chapter Twenty-Four: Conquest

It was finally time to let destiny run its course.

Victor leaned back against the door and watched Patty as she darted away from him, then swung around to face him. The confidence she had exuded just moments before seemed to be slipping away so quickly he wasn't quite certain he'd seen it. Her hyperactive energy, though, didn't change; it merely transformed into a nervous buzz.

"Victor," she said, "I've been thinking a lot the past few weeks."

"I've been drinking a lot," said Victor. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to continue, forcing himself not to make this any easier for her than he should. If she finally wanted to talk after stomping all over his heart, she very well could. But he wouldn't be of any comfort.

Patty looked toward the ceiling, then down at her hands, which she twisted together. "My aunt Phoebe died on Thanksgiving," said Patty. "No, wait, I shouldn't start there."

For his part, Victor felt like he had taken a blow to the stomach. He had liked Phoebe, in the little time he'd known her, and he had been there on Thanksgiving. God, was she dead when he had come over? He tried to recall the scene as best he could, but had trouble thinking of Patience's manner. But, she hadn't been upset, had she? He shook his head and swallowed the lump in his throat. Patty seemed oblivious to his internal debate, and continued.

"I have been so afraid of falling in love, Victor," she said. "With anyone. And when you came along I fell for you much more quickly than I would have ever thought possible, but I just couldn't admit it to myself. I was scared out of my mind."

She took a deep breath, and he could tell she was struggling to hold back her tears. But he was still battling with his own emotions, and felt almost dizzy with sensory overload.

"My dad died two years ago and I really miss him," she said. "It happened so suddenly. And I think it changed me. Made me afraid. I don't ever want to lose someone the way I lost him. If I were really with you, Victor, I could lose you." She swiped at her tears with the back of her hand. "And you don't even really know me," she said. "How can you want to marry me? And when you find out who I really am, how do I know you won't walk out of the door?"

"I know who you really are, Patty," said Victor, his voice cracking. The lump in his throat was swelling and he wasn't sure he'd get through this without crying too. "Maybe I don't know every detail of your life, or even your personality, but I know who you are."

Patty shook her head, and the tears came down even faster. Neither of them approached the other, though. "Even if that were true," she said, "it might not work. And I was really scared about that. I'm still really scared about that. But I was talking to my grandma tonight, and I found out things I never...Victor, she was scared too, and she gave up the love of her life. And I can't...I just..." She started to sob harder, straining to control her speech. "I won't do the same thing she did. I can't just give you up because I'm scared."

In three strides, Victor made it to Patty and pulled her into his arms, cradling her into his body as tightly as he could. She clutched onto his shirt, leaning into him, crying. Slowly, he sank to the floor, taking her with him.

"I'm not going to give you up that easily, Patty. We can get through life, even if we have to fight every step of the way."

Patty pulled back and he reached up, smoothing her hair away from her face. "You say that now," she said. "But what about a year from now? Or ten years from now?"

"No matter what happens," said Victor, "I'll love you until the day I die. You'll never lose that promise, even if the world comes to and end. Even if everything falls apart."

She kissed him, quickly, and pulled back, resting her forehead against his. "I love you too," she said. "I really do. And I don't want to be afraid anymore."

Victor nodded and leaned up and kissed her forehead before sliding her off of his lap and onto the floor. "Then you've got to try to have faith in us," he said, standing. "You've got to give us a chance." She looked up at him, eyes red and puffy, but didn't say anything. She just watched him go into his bedroom and come back out with the same ring box he'd had before. Slowly, he knelt back down next to her and took her hand.

"Patty," he said. "I meant everything I've said, every moment that I've known you. And if you really don't want to take this step right now, I can accept that." He opened the box and took a shaky breath. "But I'm going to ask you again right now. Will you marry me?"

Patty was breathing hard, still shaken from the crying, but she nodded her head. "Yes," she said, almost gasping the word and about to tear up again. "I will marry you."

Victor let out a sob that was half a laugh and took the ring from the box, slipping it onto Patty's finger. Then he kissed her as hard as he could. "Just promise me one thing," he said once he had broken the kiss.

"What?"

"Promise me that you won't give up on us either."

Patty nodded. "Yes, I promise. I won't give up."

And she kissed him again.

Patty woke up next to Victor and blinked at the harsh light coming in through the window. Sitting up, she leaned over Victor's chest and glanced at the clock; ten o'clock. She sighed loudly and flopped back against the pillow. Her mother was going to kill her once she knew Patty was safe. Reluctantly, she slipped out of the bed and began to gather her clothes off of the floor. Victor rolled over and groaned.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Home," said Patty. "I've been gone since yesterday night. My mother is probably going crazy."

"Call her and come back to bed," said Victor.

"If I do that you'll be dealing with her in person. She'll be over here faster than you can say 'castrate.'"

Victor chuckled. "Fine then," he said. "Can you come back tonight?"

"No, I'm working," said Patty.

"After that."

Patty smiled to herself and pulled her shirt over her head to hide it from Victor. "Maybe."

"I guess I can accept that answer." He sat up a little and Patty came over and gave him a quick kiss, which he tried unsuccessfully to prolong.

"I'll definitely call you to tell you how she takes the news," said Patty. "And to warn you if she decides to come after you."

"Thanks," said Victor.

Patty kissed him again and then pulled away, heading quickly for the door. If she didn't get out of there immediately, she'd never get up the nerve to go home. As it was she wasn't confident that she should be telling her mother anything, but she and Victor had both agreed that the sooner they told their parents, the better, especially since they had decided to get married so soon.

"I really don't want a long engagement," Victor had said at dawn, holding her against his chest, and Patty had quietly agreed, even suggesting elopement as the alternative to giving their parents' time to plan something too elaborate. Victor had told her that his mother would never forgive them, though, and so instead they had agreed to simply set a date as soon as possible.

"January?" asked Patty, and Victor had nodded, kissing the top of her head.

"See how well this is working already," he'd responded. "If we're this in sync about the wedding, then the marriage should be a piece of cake."

Patty opened the back door and crept into the house, wondering if there was even a slight chance her mother hadn't noticed she had been gone all night. Maybe she could just sneak up to her room and pretend she had just woken up. It was a Saturday, after all.

She took off her shoes and slipped as silently as she could towards the stairs, only to be stopped almost immediately by her mother's commanding voice.

"Patricia Halliwell," said Penny, and Patty turned to see her mother standing in the doorway to the living room with her arms crossed. "I have been worried sick. Where have you been?"

"I was at Grandma's house," said Patty. She stood up as tall as she could and looked her mother square in the eye. "And then I was at Victor's."

Penny raised one eyebrow and Patty tried not to cave in. "I see," said Penny. "And you didn't have the decency to call and tell me you hadn't been killed?"

"I...We..." Patty spluttered. "Victor and I are getting married. In January."

For the first time in her life, Patty thought her mother might use telekinesis to throw her across the room, and she braced herself for the inevitable blow. Instead, her mother said, "Have you completely lost your mind?"

"No," said Patty. "I think for the first time I'm doing something right."

Penny shook her head, nearly shaking with anger and frustration. "Patty, you're nineteen, and I know you think you'll all grown up, but let me tell you this instant, you are not ready for marriage."

"You may not think so, Mom," said Patty. "And who knows. Maybe you're right. But you've also been telling me for years that I need to follow my heart, and I finally am. Doesn't that count for anything?"

"Not when you're throwing your life away!" said Penny. "My God, Patty. I thought I had raised you with more sense."

"Please," said Patty, willing herself not to cry or yell. "Please, Mom, just try to be happy for me. Because I'm telling you right now, I'm marrying Victor, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

There was silence, and Penny looked as though she wanted to argue more. Instead, she said, "Fine, Patty. Do what you want. But I don't think any good will come of this." And with that, she stalked away towards the kitchen, leaving Patty alone.