Subj: Love's Familiar Face ch 11
Date: 6/5/99 7:00:05 PM Central Daylight Time
From: miranda

Chapter Eleven

"The moon is so beautiful tonight. I never tire of staring at it, even after all these years," Josette said to Barnabas as he held her in his arms. She was elated to see that Barnabas had returned to her time band so quickly. He bought her a new hope of being able to cure her vampirism.

"Soon you will be able to see the sun again. As soon as my friends devise a better way of passing back and forth between time bands, Julia can develop the serum from a sample of your blood."

The soft sea air reminded Barnabas of the happy times he spent with Josette prior to their would-be wedding long ago. "The family has asked me to move into Collinwood while I 'visit' here, but I'd much rather stay with you in the house by the sea that you rented. I could guard your coffin by day and make sure no one harms you."

"Barnabas, you know as well as I what a scandal that would cause," Josette said. "We really shouldn't alienate ourselves from the family. It would interfere with our plans."

Barnabas smiled to himself, "Not if we were married."

Josette pulled out of Barnabas' embrace and faced him. "Married?"

"We belong together. We always have."

"But what would everyone think? To them we have just met," Josette said.

"I do not care what anyone thinks. I only want to be with you," Barnabas said.

Josette smiled broadly. "Of course I'll marry you Barnabas. I've never been so happy. You make me feel almost human again."

"You will be soon," Barnabas said, "and we will be together for the rest of our lives, I promise."