Holly watched wordlessly as Roger danced over the grill. Black smoke rose into the air, filling it with a heavenly aroma. It reminded her of when they were first married. He so wanted to impress her that he would often make them dinner. She tugged on her lower lip with her teeth.

"Alright, it's ready" He declared.

Holly produced two plates, and filled their wine glasses again, noting that the bottle was nearly empty.

"Not to worry, I brought more." He grinned.

"You really did come prepared, didn't you?"

"I came expecting a romantic weekend, so yes, I brought champagne, and wine, and even bubble bath for the hot tub"

Holly contorted her mouth at the thought. "Well, you'll just have to wait for Jenna to try them out." She handed him a plate and watched as he put their food on it. "When did you say she is due again?"

"Tomorrow some time. I'm not exactly sure when" He licked sauce off of his thumb after handing her the plate. "Hopefully Dr. Ed can see the humor in this situation when he arrives. What are the odds that we'd book the same house for the same weekend getaway"

Holly noticed that his cheeks pinked a bit. "You're lying." She growled.

Roger set his plate on the table and took his seat. "About what?" There it was again, his tell.

"You may be able to fool the rest of the world but not me. When you lie you blush ever so lightly. I noticed it when we were first dating, or should I say when my father paid you to be my escort."

"Holly, I'd have dated you without Stanley's interference. I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize that you were the girl of my dreams."

Holly took a sip of her wine and sighed. "Girl of your dreams huh, I'm nobody's girl anymore."

"You'll always be a girl to me, Holly"

She wanted to be angry at him. She knew he was lying to her, yet she was actually enjoying his company, and their conversation.

The two ate in near silence until Roger broke it.

"Do you remember that concert in the park?" Roger asked.

It was Holly's turn to blush. "I made a fool out of myself. I wanted you to take me right there on the blanket. I didn't care who saw us, but you stopped me and rushed me home to mother." She shook her head.

"Well, what you don't know is your father warned me not to deflower his little girl."

Her laugh echoed in the cavern. "Well, at some point you didn't listen. Blake is proof of that." She leaned in and stared at him. Her smile fell.

"What?" He questioned, tracing her arm with his pinky. She quickly pulled it away.

"It's Blake. That's how you knew where I'd be. Oh Roger, how could you? How could she? I thought we were getting along so much better. Oh, how stupid can I be?" She threw her napkin on the table top.

Roger stretched into his chair. "You're right. This is all by design. Every time we've run into each other by accident has been by design. Even this weekend, it's all my doing."

"What is your end game Roger?"

"Why are you always so suspicious of me? Certainly, you remember how much I enjoy the chase. Perhaps that's what I'm doing. Perhaps I'm chasing you."

"In case you've forgotten Roger, you're married and more importantly I hate you!" She turned around and looked out at the ravine. It was turning cooler, her flesh had goose bumps. She wrapped her arms around herself for her robe wasn't keeping her warm.

Roger stood and came up behind her. He wrapped his arms around hers, clasping his hands at her waist.

"You don't hate me, Holly. You just think you do."

She spun around, her face inches from his. "No Roger, I don't just think it, I know it, I hate you. You raped me. You let me go to prison when you faked your death. You tried to take my daughter from me! You caused Rita to lose her baby, and those are just the things I can remember!" Her voice carried, the noise from the house below subsided the louder she got.

"Don't forget I kidnapped you and chased you through the jungle. Then there is that moment when Dr. Ed dropped me from the side of the cliff." He looked over her shoulder, and pulled her into the middle of the desk. "Just in case you get any ideas. I'm older now, I don't think I'd bounce"

"Roger, I don't see any humor in this. Why can't you just leave me alone? Let me get on with my life? I love Ed." She put the tip of her thumb to her mouth. "At least I think I do. Why do you always have to ruin things for me?" She turned to face him again.

"Holly, I am not trying to ruin anything for you. I'm trying to make things right. Don't you see. If we're together, if we show Chrissy that we can be a family then she won't need Ross. We can convince her, together, that she can do better."

Holly inhaled and exhaled audibly. "So, this is what it's about again. Just like when you asked me to marry you the first time. I was secondary to your beloved Christina. Get to Momma get to daughter." She began pacing the deck. "I'm sorry Roger, but I will not play second fiddle to anyone again, including my daughter."

Roger looked wounded. "Holly, you wouldn't. Chrissy is all grown up now. If you were to marry me again why it would be like what it was supposed to be in the first place, just the two of us."

"You're forgetting something very important, Roger"

"What Holly? What can I possibly be forgetting?"

Holly went to him and lifted his left hand. He smiled for a brief second and then realized she was showing him his wedding ring.

"Not that I think a band of gold would stop you. It never did when we were married. Neither vows nor symbolism mattered much to you."

"You're right, they don't, but you do, and I don't want to see you get back together with that middle class drunk of a doctor again."

"Oh Roger…." He didn't let her finish her thought. He pulled her into him, wrapping one arm around her waist. His mouth explored hers deeply. At first, she tensed. He slowed down, and in return was greeted with a response from her. He released her for only a moment. He looked into her eyes. They were filled with need, not anxiety or anger. He let go of her waist. She didn't flee. He grinned lasciviously.

He maintained eye contact. His hands went to the sash on her robe. With nimble fingers he untied the knot and allowed it to fall. Holly's robe opened. His intake of breath was sharp. "You are just as beautiful as the first time I made love to you." He whispered. She tried to cover her mid-section with her hands, but he grabbed her wrists to stop her. "Don't." He kissed her from her jaw to her collarbone. "I want to see you." He continued a trail from her collar bone to her breasts. He then dropped to his knees, where he continued the exploration South. Looking up for any sign of distress or force he stopped for a moment. She groaned, he giggled. He held her hips, she held his shoulders. She felt her knees go weak. Her scream of unadulterated ecstasy could be heard echoing in the cavern below.

Roger felt her knees give out, he held on tighter. "Easy" He mewed. He guided her to the chaise lounge and sat on the edge. He pulled her on top of him. He nibbled her ear and felt parts of her body that had been closed off to him for so long. He gasped when he felt her hands on his belt buckle. He arched his back to allow her room to maneuver. Soon she unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. He grabbed her hands, kissing the fleshy part of her thumbs as she crawled upwards on him.

Before he allowed her to sink down onto him, he held her hips again. He looked into her eyes. "Only if you're sure." He didn't want there to be any regrets. He was answered by glorious envelopment. He loosened his grip on her. He closed his eyes and breathed her in. He wouldn't last long at this pace. He tried to slow her down, but she held his arms to his sides. She was in control. This was Holly's rodeo, and she was in charge. Like her, he threw his head back and cried out when he was spent. She slowed down then, but didn't climb off. She lay her head on his shoulder and lay completely still and quiet.

They lay there together as the sun went down. He rubbed her back through the silk of her robe. His legs were falling asleep but he didn't care. When she finally pushed off of him, she did so wordlessly.

She pulled the glass sliding door open and disappeared inside. She didn't turn a light on, she just disappeared into the void. Roger waited to see if she would return. When she didn't, he stood and closed his pants, and tucked in his shirt. He went to the door and leaned on the jam.

"Holly" He called out, but got no response. He moved through the house stealthily. He was suddenly on high alert. What did he think was going to happen? Was he worried she'd do herself harm? Or was he worried that he'd round a corner and harm would be done to him? He shoved both thoughts from his head.

"Holly" He called out from the bedroom door. He heard the shower running. He breathed a sigh of relief.

He returned to the living room. He poured himself a glass of champagne and sat on the love seat, waiting for her to return. On the coffee table he noticed a book. "It can't be" he said breathlessly, picking it up. His finger traced the gold lettering on the front, and the ridges on the spine. It was the poetry book that she carried the first day he met her. He laughed slightly.

"Oh Holly, you always did like the romantics."