It wasn't long after Chad's last visit that he asked Cordelia out on a dinner date. This time Cordelia actually found herself looking forward to it and had dressed up for the occasion. Through some warped logic she felt satisfied about the fact that Chad still would treat most other people as means to an end, and it enabled her to maintain an interest in him.

"You look dazzling today, my shining star," Chad commented when they met up.

Cordelia chuckled in response and Chad took it as encouragement to come on even stronger. Things got to the point where she had to lightly push against his chest and remind him that they had a dinner date planned.

Chad blushed at that.

"Ah yes, of course we do… Do forgive me for getting carried away."

"We'd better hurry so we aren't late for our reservation," Cordelia smiled. Chad always went for the fancy places.

"Naturally," Chad quickly responded. "Although I made sure to set aside a comfortable amount of time for our dinner."

Chad continued flirting over dinner and Cordelia was more than happy to respond in turn. It wasn't half bad, knowing that she'd get to ask him about all of his past manipulation once they were in a private space. Once they were done eating they drove to Chad's house.

Cordelia was holding on to his arm and snuggling up against him as they walked up the steps to the front door.

"I trust you'll allow me to pick your brain for a while?" she smiled.

"I'm not sure why you find my thought process to be so interesting,” Chad said. “There’s not all that much to it.”

"Of course, your thoughts would appear normal to yourself," Cordelia chuckled. "But I promise you that they're quite intriguing to me."

"If it’s that important to you, I suppose I’ll play along…" Chad unlocked the front door and motioned for Cordelia to step inside.

She already knew the place by now and made herself comfortable on the living room couch. Chad took a moment to prepare snacks and wine, during which Cordelia's gaze wandered idly across the room. How much did the interior cost? She was certain that the price of several of the items exceeded her monthly paycheck.

"Here you go," Chad smiled as he returned with a bowl of snacks and a wine bottle. He set the bowl - clearly expensive as well - down on the table and poured her a glass of wine. "Only the best for you."

"My, you're going to spoil me rotten," Cordelia snickered.

"Wouldn't that be a good match? A rotten girlfriend for a rotten man," Chad chuckled.

"Indeed. Now why don't you tell me a little more about your deviousness? I'm all ears."

“It would… help if you had more specific questions,” Chad said, clearly somewhat bothered by the prospect, although he was attempting to maintain a neutral expression.

Cordelia started with a few questions and once Chad was talking she followed up with all sorts of things. When had he first had a certain thought? How had he reached his conclusions? Had someone taught him certain forms of logic or did he put the pieces together for himself? Just what went through his head when he was actively manipulating someone? It was all fascinating to her.

Chad eventually grew tired of answering questions and elected to flirt with Cordelia instead. He’d told her a lot already but she wanted to know so much more and the mystery of how his brain worked only seemed to deepen the more she learned. She supposed that would have to wait for another day. Chad wasn’t exactly bad looking, so this alternative was hardly a terrible one. She snuggled up against him and they shared an occasional kiss. She eventually suggested they move to the bedroom. Chad of course had no objections.

After they were done Chad snuggled up to her under the covers.

"I'm still surprised you actually came to beg me for a second chance," Cordelia chuckled. "That being said, offering you one clearly was the right decision."

"Well, my world felt empty without you," Chad said. "It was like you took my heart with you when you left…"

"That's quite dramatic," Cordelia remarked. She rubbed her chin in thought. "I wonder why I had such a strong effect on you."

"I don't know," Chad sighed. "All I know is that I'd do anything for you. I know you don't feel quite the same towards me but… I still want to be with you."

"I think I like being with you," Cordelia said, and it was the truth. "Although I'm not sure whether that extends beyond physical aspects. I suppose I'm just detached, seeing how none of my relationships ever last."

"Let me ask you a question." Chad moved closer to her. "What drives you to destroy your relationships? Why do you try to break people's hearts instead of just leaving?"

The question gave Cordelia pause. Sure, she had wondered about it many times she sat crying in her apartment after a breakup, but she'd not found a good answer. Her first impulse was to move on to a different topic but she'd feel bad brushing Chad off after he had answered all of her questions in painstaking detail. She bit her bottom lip.

"Give me a moment to think on it."

"Of course," Chad smiled, placing an arm around her. "Take all the time you need."

Cordelia pondered the matter for a while, meeting Chad's gaze once in a while. Eventually she sighed heavily. Cordelia sighed. "Truthfully, I don't have a good answer for you." She rubbed the back of her neck. "It's like this unbearable itch you just have to scratch in spite of the consequences…"

"So you take enjoyment in testing people you're with and breaking them beyond the point of no return?" Chad was shitty in his relationships but he had to manipulate people to stay.

"No." Cordelia shook her head. "Enjoyment is the wrong word. I just," she trailed off and heaved another sigh. "It doesn't make sense, I know."

"So why do you enter relationships to begin with?" Chad asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"I enjoy being with someone," Cordelia smiled faintly. "Making memories and sharing physical affection… don't you also find those to be pleasant things?"

"I do," Chad smiled softly. He ran his fingers through her hair. "It just makes me wonder why you'd enter into a relationship when all you want to do is leave."

"It's not like that," Cordelia said. "I don't get that urge until after a while, and even if a relationship ends I can still relish memories I've created in the past."

"Is it a trust issue or have you always found it difficult to maintain relationships with people?" Chad asked.

Cordelia frowned and averted her gaze. "Who knows? I've been doing this for a long time…"

"You said that you drive your lovers off by causing a scene but back when you dumped me it appeared rather benign," Chad pointed out. "Did I misunderstand something?"

"Your case was different. I dumped you because you lost your edge and I grew bored of you," Cordelia explained. "But the developments that followed sparked some hope after all."

Chad smiled wryly. "Most people dump me because of that. Who would've thought the one I'd fallen for would leave because I tried to be decent."

Cordelia snickered. "I suppose that's a testament to the mess you got yourself involved with."

Chad smiled. "A mess I'm more than happy to call my girlfriend."