Subj: Love's Familiar Face ch12
Date: 6/10/99 10:43:04 PM Central Daylight Time
From: miranda

Chapter Twelve

Real Time

Julia intently watched the figures on the other side of the doorway. It was mesmerizing to watch all those familiar faces in parallel time, so much the same, but also so different. How odd to see herself in that room at times. Hoffman was so harsh and cold. Julia wondered if that was how people in her own time might see her.

Carolyn Loomis entered the room and greeted her mother. "I think it's absolutely wonderful!" she exclaimed.

"What is?" Elizabeth asked.

"Why Barnabas and Josette of course. Meetings here at Collinwood and falling in love, just like their ancestors. It was such a lovely ceremony last night. I can't believe they are married already."

Julia drew in her breath sharply. Barnabas and Josette married already? He didn't even tell Julia he planned to do this so quickly. Julia chided herself. Barnabas didn't need to clear his every action with Julia. Anyone would have known he and Josette would marry. It just came as such a shock that he didn't even wait until Julia and the others from his own time could witness the event.

"Good evening Julia." Angelique suddenly appeared beside Julia.

"Angelique!" Julia cried, unable to hide her surprise. "How did you know I was here?"

"Julia, really…I do have certain abilities," Angelique said good naturedly. "I have finished what you requested." Angelique held out a mirror with a long handle. "All you have to do is look into this and you will be transported in or out of the parallel time. The only condition is that you have to be inside of Collinwood or right outside of the front door when you enter or exit."

Julia tried to hide her nervousness that Angelique would overhear something said about Barnabas and Josette. "Thank you Angelique. I really appreciate your help. I was just about to leave. Why don't you come to the Blue Whale with me?"

Before Angelique could reply she distinctly heard Barnabas' name mentioned by the Carolyn in the room to parallel time and turned to attend to what was being said between Carolyn and Elizabeth. "It's just so romantic," Carolyn gushed. I wish Will and I had had a romance like Barnabas and Josette."

Fury overtook Angelique as her face hardened into a visage of pure hatred. "So this is the true reason for wanting me to create an easy way to enter and exit this parallel time at will!" she spat and raised the mirror above her head.

Before Angelique could bring it down against the wall, shattering it into pieces, Julia stammered, "Angelique! Please don't!"

Angelique turned to Julia with an expression of pure confusion. "Julia, don't you ever get tired of giving yourself, heart and soul, to this man and receiving nothing in return?"

"Barnabas is my friend," Julia reasoned, "and I also have my own motivation for examining this time, from a research perspective."

"Julia please!" Angelique said abruptly. "Who are you trying to fool, me…or yourself?" With that Angelique thrust the mirror into Julia's hands and stormed down the hall.

Julia turned her gaze back to the parallel time room. Who was she trying to fool anyway?