Ben's throat and mouth were dry. If she remembered only a few things, he could still be judicious with how he filled in the gaps in her memory, if he filled them in at all. That seemed like it would have been in line with Aldous' advice on the subject, based on the last conversation they'd had about it. But what if this was just the tip of the iceberg, and she started remembering more and more? Would she be angry at him for lying to her, if he was only lying to her to try and make her happier?

His breath caught at the word potion. He didn't take in the entire sentence right away, and at first thought she was talking about that potion — the one he'd bought for her, and that she'd actually used on him. If she remembered that, what more was there to talk about? That was the root of everything. Unless she was trying to figure out whether or not he remembered it, if she thought he was still being drugged. But if she remembered an argument...

I mean, why marry me at all if we disliked each other so? Ben chewed his lip and tried to figure out what he was supposed to say to that. He was convinced that she remembered the night they had eloped, and thought perhaps he didn't. He didn't want to commit either way. He wasn't sure how she would react if she thought all the cards were on the table, or what she might be capable of if she thought she was in control here. Melody could be dangerous when she felt trapped — he knew that all too well.

"We're in a better place now," Ben ventured.

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