Subj:FFL:Burning Embers Chapter 5
Date: 2/19/99 2:02:56 PM Central Standard Time
From: beverlylacroix

Home

Entering the double doors of the Old House, Barnabas had expected Willie to be waiting for him, not his *wife* and his and Laura's child, Jamie. Biting back the rage at seeing Roxanne in his home, what would at one time been his and Josette's home, he smiled and embraced his his pensive wife.

He could feel her already protruding stomach with the child she was carrying, his child.

"Roxanne, you look well," Barnabas whispered softly in her ear. In fact, she was positively glowing. The long midnight blue maternity dress she was wearing made her skin appear pure porcelain. Roxanne was
indeed a beautiful woman, Barnabas thought, but the rage, hatred and bitterness he felt for her would only allow him to glimpse the beauty of his wife.

"Barnabas, it is so good to have you home," Roxanne returned his greeting.

Barnabas could feel her fear in the stiffness of his embrace. Good, he thought. Best to not let her forget it.

"Roxanne, are my rooms prepared? I feel weary from the journey," Barnabas asked his wife gently.

"Roxanne, how are you doing?" asked Dr. Hoffman in very cold professional tones.

"I'm fine," Dr. Hoffman replied Roxanne quickly.

"Barnabas, come on, and let me get you settled," Roxanne said to her husband.

"Daddy!" Jamie said running to his father.

Barnabas caught the handsome lad in his arms, and embraced him as if he wouldn't let go. No one noticed the tears in the corner of his eyes.

"Are you going to stay, Daddy?"

"Yes, son, I am home for good," replied Barnabas.

"Jamie, why don't you go in the kitchen, and see if Willie will give you a cookie," said Roxanne.

"Willie gone," the toddler replied.

"Oh, goodness, what am I thinking," Roxanne said.

"Roxanne, you take Barnabas to his rooms, and I'll find Jamie a cookie," Dr. Hoffman said.

"Julia, you will see me before you go back to The Abbey, won't you" Barnabas asked.

"Yes, of course, Barnabas. You go get settled, you look weary, and I'll be up in a minute." Julia responded.

"Roxanne," Barnabas said upon entering the room, "are you in Josette's room?"

"Yes, I am, Barnabas," Roxanne said her voice trembling. Somehow she knew that Barnabas knew of her lewd and disgraceful behavior towards Quentin that night that Julia and Quentin had had that horrible fight. Things had never returned to normal between any of the couples since.

"Roxanne, would you like to go back to the house in England until your child is born? I know this place holds some unpleasant memories for you, or maybe not so unpleasant, but uncomfortable ones for others,"
Barnabas asked his wife gently.

Roxanne was stunned. If she didn't know better she would think that the monster in Europe had come home to the Old House. She heard the hardness and hate for her in his voice, although looking at him, he was nothing but kindness and concern.

"Don't you mean our child, Barnabas?" Roxanne asked.

"Oh, of course, that's what I meant. Now, please don't get upset, honey. I'm still not myself." Barnabas said.

"Oh, I know. I'm just emotional, because of my condition," Roxanne replies, lower lip trembling.

Barnabas walked over to her, and drew her into his arms, and held her into him in a tight embrace. Stroking her hair gently, he whispered soothing words, caressing words to her, until she stopped sobbing.

Desire for him coursed through her body, how could she have ever behaved so wantonly towards Quentin with his own wife in the house, when she was married to the only man she had ever loved, now maybe he would return her love.

Barnabas could tell by the responses of Roxanne that she wanted him, but he felt nothing for her, just cold hatred. As far as their child, the only child he would have ever claim as his own was Jamie, his and Laura's child. He would love Laura until the day he died a normal and natural death. Then his torment would end. The only thing that kept him living was Jamie, and one other thing, the revenge on the ones that
had taken Laura from him.

The knocking on the door caused them to break their embrace, and Barnabas was glad, because now he would draw Dr. Julia Hoffman into her destruction. Any happiness that she assumed that was hers, would never belong to her again.

Barnabas smiled a cruel evil smile as Julia entered the doorway...

Maggie was enraged at seeing Nicholas and Elizabeth enter the coffee shop, and they appeared so intimate. Maggie hated to admit it, but they were a strikingly handsome couple.

Maggie knew that Willie was not Willie anymore when he enjoyed the treat, but needed to get back to Collinwood and find Grant.

"Shane, what's so important about finding Grant?" Maggie asked.

By then Shane had rushed out of the coffee shop in a hurry. Maggie's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice...