Restoration, Part 6
Date: 12/13/98
From: Krystina

Josette's Room, the Old House, several hours later

Angelique slowly opened her eyes, and tried to figure out where she was and what had happened to her. As her eyes became more acclimated to the candlelight around her, she gazed up at the anxious faces of Barnabas and Julia looking down on her.

"Julia!" exclaimed Barnabas, "thank heavens, she is coming around!! Angelique, my love, how are you feeling?"

"I think I am all right," Angelique replied tentatively. "What happened to me?"

"You fainted in the cemetery," replied Julia. "Barnabas brought you here and sent for me. You seem to be fine, but it is possible that you have just overdone since it is only a few weeks since you came out of the hospital."

"Hospital? Whatever do you mean, Julia?" asked Barnabas anxiously. "And how have you come to be here, Angelique? I despaired of ever seeing you again!!"

"Barnabas", Julia said, firmly pushing him toward the door,"I know you have many questions, but you can see that Angelique clearly needs her rest. As soon as I have made sure that she is all right, I will join you downstairs and tell you everything that I know."

"All right, Julia," agreed Barnabas reluctantly. "But Angelique, I promise I will be in to see you as soon as Julia says I can do so. I don't know what miracle has brought you back to me, but I thank the stars for it!!"

Angelique gave Barnabas a tired yet happy smile as he left the room.

*******

Old House drawing room, an hour later

"This is an incredible story!! So somehow Angelique did not actually die in 1841, rather her life force was brought through time and she awoke in that hospital last month!!" exclaimed Barnabas.

"That is what I have gathered from what Angelique told me," answered Julia. "You and I certainly know that almost anything is possible in this world, with all the adventures you and I have had."

"And Angelique is really going to be all right?" asked Barnabas.

"Indeed she is," said Julia. "I think her body has just been weakened a bit by her travel through time, and she also has had to adjust to being a mortal again--it has taken a toll on her system, but she is really very healthy overall."

"She is no longer a witch?? Then that means that she and I can live out our days together as a normal couple--if she will have me!!" said Barnabas.

"Of course she will--one thing I finally realized about Angelique is that she really did truly always love you, in spite of some of the things she had done."

"Julia, I am sorry," said Barnabas, "here I am going on about Angelique and I, and I am not giving much consideration for your own feelings."

Julia took Barnabas' hand. "Barnabas", she stated, "I came to realize long ago that you and I were better off being just friends. And Eliot and I are developing a warm relationship. I wish you and Angelique all the happiness you can find!!"

"Thank you Julia," Barnabas said, visibly moved,"you have always been the best of friends for me. And now, may I go see my dear Angelique?"

"Yes, of course," said Julia.

But Barnabas barely heard her as he bounded up the stairs.

To be continued...