A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I tried to make this chapter reiterate that the "quarantine" is really just Conrad's way to try and win Victoria over in case that wasn't clear. Also, I gave a mention of a storyline in convictrevenge's stories. If you haven't read them check them out. They're amazing!

"I got Mom some water with electrolytes since she won't drink the Gatorade. Do you think I should bring it up to her?" Charlotte asked.

"No, just sit it in the fridge. Dad will get it when she can keep something down."

"Not if he's sick."

"You're so dumb sometimes, Char. You should have been a blonde." He joked, tossing a blueberry at her. She stared at him a moment, unsure of what he meant. "Mom is so sick she can barely stand up. She sounds like she smokes two packs a day-"

"And looks like death." Charlotte added.

"Exactly. She's never had the flu. Everyone else already has. That's why we aren't sick-"

"-Except Dad."

"Dad said he was achey. He isn't sweaty or sleepy or congested or throwing up like Mom is."

"So Dad is faking being sick? I don't understand why he'd do that..." She stopped, suddenly aware of her fathers motives. "So this 'quarantine'..."

"Just another one of the many tricks up his sleeve."

"I don't know if that's creepy or romantic."

"With Dad it's a fine line." Daniel said with a laugh.

"I'll be back later. I'm going to the movies with a friend," Charlotte said before heading out.

A little while later, Conrad pulled a few DVD's from a bag.

"Where did you get those?" Victoria said, her eyes narrowing. She didn't believe Conrad's story about feeling sick but she hadn't figured out a motive yet.

"I have my reasons. I got a couple of romance movies. I know you like them."

"A Place In The Sun?" She asked, holding up the movie.

"It's still your favorite movie, isn't it?"

"How did you know that?" She demanded.

"We are still married, Victoria. Just because we've grown apart doesn't mean I forgot..." He let his voice trail off, hoping she wouldn't press him for more information. Honestly, he wanted to tell her that he didn't forget anything. He didn't forget the way she smelled or the way she felt in his arms. He didn't forget the deep roar of her laugh or the way her eyes grew darker when she was aroused. Every memory of her was forever engraved in his mind as if creating a shrine to her.

"Conrad, what's your end game?" She finally asked.

"My what?"

"I don't believe that you're sick. I don't know why, but you're committed to taking care of me. What is it you want? My vote? A governors ball? My participation in a documentary on us? What?"

"Why is it so hard to believe that I legitimately want you to feel better?"

"If you wanted me to feel better you should have listened when I said I didn't want the stupid vaccine!" She yelled, her voice cracking.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I thought I was protecting you and instead I made it worse..."

"You usually do," she scoffed.

"Get dressed. We'll take you to the hospital where they can get you feeling better in no time." He said, knowing she would give in to him.

"The hospital?"

"Yeah. You'll be out of there in no time. Probably just take some bloodwork-"

"B...bloodwork?"

"And one of those saline injections for dehydration. Although-"

"Although what?!" She shrieked her voice laced with fear. Nothing terrified her like hospitals.

"You've been so sick and haven't been eating. They might need to give you a feeding tube just until you can gain some of that weight back." He knew that she probably wouldn't need one, but he was enjoying having the upper hand.

Victoria considered his words carefully. She couldn't tell if he was lying but she was terrified to find out.

"No hospitals. Tell me what you want and I'll do it. Just no hospitals."

"So you're telling me that you choose to spend time with me..."

"Conrad!"

"I just want us to be on the same page, sweetheart." He said, knowing how much she despised his pet names for her.

"Yes, given the choice between you and my biggest fear, I choose you." She scuffed, crossing her arms. She moved across the room, pouring herself a glass of Brandy.

"Victoria..."

"Save it. Alcohol kills germs. Plus I won't be able to keep it down anyway so I might as well be sick from something I enjoy." She said, glaring at the sports drink her family had been pushing her to drink. She took a sip and regretted it the minute it hit her throat. She raced to the bathroom just in the nick of time.

"I tried to tell you." Conrad called from the bedroom. He couldn't help but smile to herself, she must have felt a little bit better because she was getting her spunk back. Luckily for him, the flu kept stopping her before she could lash out as much as she would have liked. He opened his mouth to ask if she was okay but heard her brushing her teeth. He took that as an answer to his unasked questions.

She slowly made her way back to the bed, sniffling into a tissue.

"Charlotte bought you some water that had electrolytes in it and Daniel brought soup home. Why don't you stay put and I'll get some?"

"Can you get me some aspirin, too? My head is pounding."

Conrad nodded as he headed to the hallway.

"Conrad?" She asked, stopping him in his tracks. "Thank you."

He felt like he was floating rather than walking down the stairs. He knew it wasn't right but he wished he could prolong her illness just long enough for her to realize that maybe, just maybe he wasn't such a bad guy.