Subj: Love's Familiar Face ch 14
Date: 6/17/99 9:38:01 AM Central Daylight Time
From: miranda

Chapter Fourteen

Once again, Julia sat all by herself in the drawing room at Collinwood. She pondered how her life had dramatically changed since the time she met and fell in love with Barnabas Collins. She had given up everything for him: her career, her practice, her self-respect, and all for what? So she could move into Collinwood and play personal physician to the Collins family and amateur parapsychologist during Barnabas' many misadventures?

"Good evening, Julia."

Julia had been so deep in thought she was startled to see Elliot Stokes had entered the room. He had come by earlier by to visit. "Hello Elliot, is David quite through bending your ear?" she asked good-naturedly.

"Yes. I guess it's only natural that he have such an interest in the supernatural after everything he and his family have been through over the years." He sat down on the couch next to Julia. "You seem as if you are deep in thought."

"Barnabas and Josette have married," she blurted out not caring how jealous it might make her sound.

"I see. I guess I didn't expect that to happen until after she was cured from her vampirism. Was it a nice ceremony?"

"I wasn't involved," Julia replied. "I only found out by listening to the others talk in parallel time."

"I'm sorry Julia," Elliot offered.

Julia wondered to herself just how obvious her pining for Barnabas had been. Had even Elliot known of her feelings? "Well, it was certainly going to happen sooner or later. I guess, like you, I thought they would marry after Josette was cured," Julia covered.

"So what are you doing here tonight?" Elliot asked, deciding to change the subject.

"Just wasting time. There isn't much to do for me right now," Julia said.

Taking a chance Elliot said, "I'm afraid there isn't much going on for me right now either. Shall we waste the time together?"

Julia looked at Elliot for a moment in silence and then smiled as she replied, "Yes, I'd like that. I'd like that very much."

Elliot put his hand over Julia's and returned her smile.

Parallel Time

Time passed quickly for Barnabas and Josette. After marrying in a lovely moonlight ceremony Barnabas joined Josette in the house by the sea. They decided to take a real honeymoon after Josette was cured, but nevertheless they couldn't have been happier. The only bone of contention between them was…Angelique. Barnabas didn't share Josette's determination to destroy her. The thought of hurting Angelique seemed to be the strongest driving force in Josette's life. He could not understand why his love wasn't enough to make her completely happy and content. This was the very subject that occupied their conversation on the way to Collinwood this evening.

Outside the doors to the great house Barnabas hesitated before going inside. "Josette, we finally have what we have both desired for years. We are together, we are married, and thanks to Julia soon we will both be human. We can go far away from here and live out our lives together and Angelique will never be the wiser. Why don't we simply leave this place before Angelique and Quentin return from their travels?"

Josette breathed out slowly. She tried to understand Barnabas' lack of zeal for destroying Angelique. She mused that perhaps it was because he destroyed Angelique's double from his own time band that his desire for revenge was quenched. "We have spoke about this already, Barnabas, on more than one occasion. I will have my revenge on Angelique Bouchard. I wish you could understand why this is so important to me."

Before Barnabas could reply Josette knocked on the door and was greeted by Carolyn Loomis. A sick feeling wretched in Barnabas' stomach as heard a familiar voice coming from the drawing room. The sound of that voice told him that he would have no further chance of persuading Josette to give up her need for vengeance and leave Collinsport.

"Barnabas, Josette, please come in," Elizabeth greeted from the foyer. "Allow me to introduce to you Angelique and Quentin Collins." Exact doubles of the Quentin and Angelique that Barnabas knew so well
emerged from the drawing room.

"How do you do," Angelique greeted.

Quentin shook their hands, "I've heard so much about you both."

"Angelique and Quentin returned only yesterday, but we could not help sharing your story with them," Elizabeth explained.

"You might want to consider putting it down on paper," William said. "After all, it's not everyday that two people's namesakes from almost two hundred years ago meet and fall in love like their ancestors
did."

Josette smiled and made small talk, but a part of her remained focused on Angelique's every movement and word. It had been an eternity since she last stood in her presence, but something deep inside of Josette told her she was the same evil and detestable witch who brought nothing but sorrow into her life. Josette soon noticed what she wanted to see from Angelique, which affirmed her true identity. "Pardon me Angelique, but you seem to be staring at me."

"Please forgive me," Angelique said. "It's just that I feel I have met you before. Both of you actually. Is that possible?"

"I think not," Barnabas said. "I'm sure I would remember such a lady as lovely as yourself."

Josette flinched inwardly at Barnabas' flattering words, even though she knew he was only covering. All of her hatred and jealously suddenly began to boiling up inside of her and she felt as if she would burst. Despite her inner turmoil, Josette continued to put up a good front. She knew that she was in control now. In control of herself…and the fate of Angelique Collins.