Cal's arm was looped around her. He pressed against her. His cheek rested on her hair. They hadn't started out this way; as they slept, they came closer together. The chill was worse. Rose shivered in her sleep, and instinctively, he heled her tighter. Awake, they never would have allowed themselves this kind of intimacy, but asleep, it was easy. There were no walls, no suspicions or distrust between them. They were just two people finding comfort.

Cal woke up first. He looked around, still shocked to find himself in the cellar. His eyes landed on Rose. He moved to wake her but stopped. Why bother? What was there to wake up for? Today, if in fact it was day, would be another endless series of empty hours. No sense starting before they had to. He closed his eyes. The emptiness pressed down on him, and Cal struggled for breath. Was this powerlessness? He'd never felt anything like it. The whole world was spinning out of control, and he could do nothing to stop it. Panic welled up inside him.

Cal held his breath, forcing it back to normal. He couldn't give in. He couldn't let himself be defeated. There had to be some way to regain control.

…..

"There's raisins in the bread," Rose said. "I can't imagine how that happened." She chewed thoughtfully. "It almost has flavor."

"I don't like raisins," Cal replied.

"Of course you don't."

"Do you want my bread?" he asked.

"You should eat it."

"I won't," he said, holding it out.

"This is hardly the time to cling to preferences," she said. She took the bread.

"We have to cling to something."

"There's always hope," she said. He gave her a skeptical look. "You don't rely on that much, do you?" she added.

"I don't think I've ever needed it."

"No, you wouldn't," Rose said. "I should've known."

The silence was awkward. Cal wanted to defend himself against her remarks, but what was there to say? Any protest would sound hollow. In most regards, he'd led a charmed life. Whatever his complaints, they hardly compared to most people's. Even he could admit that. Still, it had never stopped Cal from believing himself to be entitled to those things. Why didn't Rose believe that as well? Why did it seem as if she didn't quite believe it of herself either?

"I, um-" Cal searched for something to say.

"Is it all dried fruits or just raisins?" she asked.

"All, I guess. I don't like the texture. It's waxy."

"I don't like coconut," she said.

"Really?"

"It smells wonderful, but when you chew it-" She made a face. "I've never been able to stand it."

"Well. We're learning," he said.

"You could call it that," Rose agreed. "It feels rather like strangers making painful small talk as they get acquainted."

"Is that what you think we are?"

"Aren't we?" she said. "I know your name, and you know mine, but beyond that…" She shrugged. "I doubt we could answer questions about one another."

"You like dancing," Cal said.

"Yes. So do you."

"You like books," he said. "You spend a lot of time reading."

"And you don't."

"I read," he said.

"You read newspapers and stock reports," she said.

"Those are useful."

"So it literature," she said.

"Maybe. You like art."

"And you don't," she said. "Or at least, you don't have any taste in art."

"I've never had my tastes so insulted," Cal said. He almost sounded like he was going to laugh.

"You know, I've wondered what was going on in your head, but that's not quite what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Rose asked.

"I don't know."

"You could've asked me," she pointed out.

"Would you have answered truthfully?"

"Probably not," she admitted. "Would you have wanted the truth?"

"Probably not," Cal said.

….

The police found the van abandoned in a small town just outside Philadelphia. It was empty. They went over every inch of it but found nothing useful. They combed the area, but again found nothing. Percy, the lead detective, confided in another officer, "They could be anywhere."

"Sir, you don't mean that."

"I'm not sure this wasn't left here to throw us off," Percy replied. "They may have left the state, or they may just be a few town over. But in what direction?" He sighed. This case was getting worse by the hour. They had no solid leads, and for all he knew the couple was already dead. There had been two phone calls, but neither contained a ransom demand. This wasn't a typical abduction. It was well-planned, probably by a group. But why? Money didn't seem to be the goal, and if not money, then what?

Detective Summers leaned through the doorway. "Sir, we've just received word Hockley dismissed a foreman and roughly a third of the mill workers a couple weeks ago."

"Why are we just not hearing about this?"

"Apparently it was deemed irrelevant," Summers replied. "I sent some men down to talk to the mill staff."

"Of course it's relevant," Percy said, snatching his hat from the rack. "He made enemies."

…

Beth studied him apprehensively. "What did you say you were investigating?" she asked.

"A kidnapping, Mrs. Collins. Of your husband's former employer. I understand he was let go recently?" Percy sat casually, notebook in hand.

"Yes," she said. "It was a terrible, unfortunate business. John wasn't involved in what happened. He was a foreman, had been for years. He reported what was going on as soon as he found out."

"Yes, I've spoken to several others who say the same thing," Percy replied.

"That's why it was such a shock when he was fired. He'd done nothing wrong."

"You're quite certain he wasn't involved in the union activities?" Percy asked.

"John wouldn't get involved in something like that. He may have certain sympathies, but he knows the risks. He wouldn't jeopardize his job and his family like that."

"I'm sure you're right," Percy said. "Where is he? May I speak with him?"

"He has a new job," Beth said. "Up in Blair."

"Oh, really? That's a bit far away, isn't it?"

"It's only temporary," she said. "He was lucky to find it so quickly."

"Do you have an address or telephone number where I might reach him? This is just a routine interview," he said. "Your husband is under no suspicion. I just want to clear up a few matters."

"I don't have a telephone number," Beth said. "We don't have one. But I do have an address for the company. You just missed him, actually. He left this morning." She copied the address onto a sheet of paper and handed it to him. "You'll find him there."

"Thank you," Percy said. "You've been very helpful."

…..

"I don't like blueberries," Rose said. She sat against the wall, hands in her lap.

"Neither do I."

"Really?" she said. "I guess there is something we have in common."

"I told you," Cal said.

"That's rather minor though, don't you think?"

"It's a start," he said.

"Maybe."

"You don't have to have anything in common with me, do you?" he said.

"I didn't say that."

"You don't have to."

"I don't know," Rose said. "Maybe I don't."

"Am I so terrible?"

"You aren't my favorite person," she said evenly.

Cal leaned back, taking in her words. "Have I done something?" he asked.

"It isn't any one thing. Cal, we're just-You-" Rose struggled to explain.

"What? I thought I'd behaved correctly," he said. "I've been -"

"You've been polite and courteous," she said. "It's difficult to reproach you. You've followed the rules. All the girls I know are jealous. They wish they were marrying you."

"I know," Cal said, a hint of smugness in his voice. "So, what's the problem?"

Rose looked at him and sighed. "That. What you just did. Must you think so much of yourself all the time?"

"I wasn't aware I did," he said defensively.

"You must know."

"If I do, is that so wrong?" he asked. "I have a lot to be proud of. You admitted I'm more than eligible."

"Whatever attractive qualities you possess are lost in the shadow of your arrogance. Among other things."

"What other things?" he said.

"Cal, just let it go," she said.

"But I want to know."

"Do you really?" Rose asked. "We may die here. Do you want to die knowing what I truly think of you? Why not let the image remain? The two of us as a perfect couple."

"I thought it was real," Cal replied.

"How could you? Honestly, how could you think-" Rose stopped herself. "You never saw. I never let you see," she said quietly. "In some ways, it's my fault."

"How is it your fault?"

"I let you think I was happy," she said. "I let everyone think I'm happy, all the time, not just you."

"I don't want you to be unhappy, Rose."

"You sound like you mean that," she said.

"I do," Cal said. He moved so he was sitting next to her. "I care about you. I care about you a great deal. Ever since the first time I saw you, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. I had to meet you. I had to know everything about you."

"Do you think you know everything about me?"

"No," he said. "But I'd like to. If you'll let me." His hand touched hers.

"You almost sound like you mean that," she said.

"Rose, don't you trust me at all?"

"Actually, I do," she said. "This ordeal…I trust you more than I ever thought I would."

"I'm not sure that's saying much." Cal's mouth turned up slightly. "Especially considering I'm the only one here you know doesn't intend to hurt you."

"Don't you think it's bizarre two people who hardly know each other could be engaged?" Rose asked. "If this were a passionate, whirlwind love affair, it might make sense, but it's not."

"Is that what you want?"

"Does it matter?" she said. "This is what I have."

"You could've said no," he pointed out.

Rose gave him a look. "How could I? Even without knowing what's at stake, saying no was impossible. You make it impossible."

Emotions tumbled around inside him. Under any other circumstances, Cal would have been angry, furious even, but he wasn't. There was some anger, but mostly he was hurt. "I don't know how I could misjudge things so much," he said.

…..

Rose crossed and uncrossed her arms. "I'm sorry," she said. She wasn't entirely sure she should be; all she'd done was be honest, but the longer she watched Cal stare at the wall, his dark eyes heavy-eyes she now knew had flecks of gold in them-and filled with something she didn't recognize as either fear or anger, the worse she felt. Intentionally hurting people wasn't in Rose's nature. Not even Cal.

He glanced at her. "I may have been a little harsh," she added. "I just wanted you to understand how I feel."

"I understand," he said petulantly.

"I've been holding this in for so long," Rose went on. "I didn't think I'd ever say any of it, and with what's happening, I can't seem to hold back."

"I'm not angry," Cal said. "If that's what you're worried about."

"I wasn't."

"I've never hurt you," he said "I've never knowingly hurt you," he added, correcting himself.

"I didn't say you had."

"I wouldn't do that," he said. And yet, he wasn't sure. He rarely let his emotions overtake him. There was rarely a situation that couldn't be resolved quickly and quietly. Money smoothed over most things. Charm helped. Good looks and good manners. The promise of a coveted invitation or a helpful word put in to the right person. Cal had people to handle whatever he couldn't or didn't want to deal with. He paid them all to keep his life peaceful.

But Cal also knew what he was capable of. He knew the depth and ferocity of his emotions. He'd always been led by his desires. It was no different with Rose. What might happen if something threatened his getting what he wanted? What if someone got in his way? This situation didn't count. Their captors weren't trying to take Rose, at least, not in that sense. Cal knew how he'd respond to them. He already had. With anger. It was the simplest way. It blotted out all his other feelings.

If someone else came along, someone Rose preferred, however, there was no way of knowing what he'd do. Would it be the cold, detached approach he took with business, or would it be a white hot fury?

Cal looked over at Rose, and the only thing he knew for certain was he didn't want to hurt her. He didn't want to lose her either, but now the reasons were different.

"I probably wouldn't have taken no for an answer," Cal said. "I usually don't."

"That doesn't surprise me," Rose said.

"You're used to getting what you want too. We're both spoiled," he said.

"It isn't quite the same. I can't demand the world the way you can. It won't bend to me."

"Won't it?" he said.

She shook her head. "I may have some power, but mostly it comes from other people. My father. You. My name alone means nothing. Even if the money wasn't gone, it wouldn't be mine. I doubt it ever would be." She spoke softly, with no anger or coldness in her voice, only a weariness. "I don't want to live through other people," she said. "Their money, their names, their reputations. I want my own life."

"What about being married?" Cal asked. "It doesn't work that way."

"Why can't it? Why must my selfhood be swallowed by the man I love?"

"Love isn't marriage," he pointed out.

"I'm not interested in marriage then," she replied. "Not without love. I-I can't live that way. I thought I could."

"Rose, I want to marry you."

"Why?" she asked.

"I don't want to be without you."

…..

Rose shivered. She lay curled in a ball, arms wrapped around herself. Cal's jacket wasn't big enough to serve as a blanket, but it was all she had. He lay nearby, jaw clenched against the cold They'd been pretending to sleep for hours. After his declaration the conversation waned until finally, it faded out completely. Rose didn't know how to answer him. What was there to say? She felt empty. Purged. Everything she wanted to tell him had been told. She hadn't expected his response. He was so calm it was almost alarming.

Rose rolled over. She squeezed her eyes shut, begging for sleep, but it refused to come. She opened them. They faced each other, cold and tired, wrung out by everything that had happened. Cal looked so open. Without stopping to think, Rose moved closer to him. They were almost touching. She saw surprise in his eyes. "Aren't you cold?" she said.

"Freezing."

"We should stay close," she said. "We'll be warmer."

His eyes didn't leave her face as he put a hand on her waist. Rose felt its warmth through her clothes. He always seemed so cold; it was hard to imagine his touch could feel this warm. It was hard to imagine a person beneath his impeccable exterior. As she gazed at him, Rose didn't want to tell anything more about herself; she wanted to ask; she wanted to know what went on in his mind, who he was, really. The urge was startling.

Cal saw something flicker in her eyes. "I'm sorry," he said, lifting his hand. "I didn't mean-"

"No, it's fine," Rose said. She moved closer. There was barely any room between them now. Cal let his hand rest on her waist for a moment before pulling her to him. His arm curled around her; their bodies pressed together. Rose felt him breathing. He fought to keep from shivering.

"Here," she said, draping the jacket over him.

"No. You keep it."

"We'll share," she said.

It barely covered both of them, but it was better than nothing. Rose's head rested against his chest. His arms were tight around her, but his grip wasn't hard. She could move away, if she chose. She put an arm around him. He wasn't easy to hold. He was so much bigger than she was. Rose wasn't sure why she was trying, though she told herself it was to keep warm. It was partly true, but there was more going on. They both knew it.

Cal's lips brushed her hair. He paused, waiting for her to pull away, but she didn't. He kissed her, breathing in her scent. The top of her head smelled different from the rest of her. He didn't know how to describe it. "I like the way your head smells," he said, before he could stop himself.

"What? You do? My hair must smell awful," Rose said.

"It doesn't. You smell nice."

She hugged him tighter and closed her eyes. "So do you."

AN: Thanks to everyone who's been reading and following my stories! I promise I will start posting regular updates soon! I've been incredibly busy the past month or so, moving, job hunting, and the like.