Subj: Consequences of Falling Ch. 18
Date: 7/16/01 12:23:04 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Nicole

People wish to be settled; only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

December 2, 1974, Constance's and Quentin's apartment, Noon

The high mid-day sun streamed into the room through partially opened drapes, illuminating every inch of the sparsely furnished bedroom. The moment light pierced the lids of Constance DuVane, she flew from the bed and closed the draped, turning day into pitch black night. She knew that she should make the effort to begin the day, but she had no urge to do so. Besides, Quentin had seen no need to awaken. She followed his example, curling herself into his side and attempting sleep once more.

It had been over two years since she had taken that fateful trip to Collinwood. It was two years since she had left, her secret exposed but Quentin Collins at her side. It was a fair deal in her mind. That was not to say that they always had an easy relationship, but fights were rare and brief. the fights did not really matter. Constance and Quentin hung together as if there was no one else in the world to turn to. In a few years, save a few people, there would be no one else.

The phone jarred Constance from her trance, the horrible reverberations ringing throughout the room. Quentin answered it and Constance conformed and contorted as he sat up in bed. "Hello," he mumbled, slowly but surely coming out of sleep. "Oh, hi Liz. Yes, we're well. We just returned from Greece last night...or was it this morning? No, no problem. Oh, that's wonderful. You want us to what? Well, I'll talk it over with Constance and get back to you. Is that all right? Good! Well, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Goodbye."

Constance sat up next to him, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. "What did Liz Stoddard want?" she asked through a yawn.

"Carolyn's engaged."

"That's nice. Too bad I don't care."

"Okay," laughed Quentin, "but she's going to be married on Christmas Day and she wants us to attend."

Constance groaned and fell further into Quentin. She did not want to go back to Collinwood, especially not to see Carolyn Stoddard's wedding. "How important is this to you?"

"They are still my family," he said. "I feel like I should be there."

"Then we should go," said Constance, the words almost choking her as she said them.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I don't want to go but I can't send you there alone. They'll chain you up in the basement and never let you leave again. I'll have to hurt people, Quentin, and not the fun way. You don't want that?" She waited for him to stop laughing before continuing. "Is Angelique still there?"

"Roger and 'Cassandra' divorced last year," said Quentin, amusement creeping back into his voice as he spoke. "A few days after the divorce was finalized, a woman named Madeline Rochelle moved into the cottage. She's blonde, blue-eyed, and the supposed sister of a world famous writer who recently married into the family. I'm fairly sure you know who she is."

Constance was angry. She did not mind is she and Angelique were to play sisters again. She only wanted to be warned ahead of time so that they could synchronize their lies. "So Angelique has moved into the cottage and we'll actually have to stay in Collinwood when we go. Oh, sister mine will be paying for that one."

"The west wing is still pretty much mine. You won't have to deal with anyone you don't want to, you know?"

"I know. I don't mean to be such a bitch, but I just don't like the place," explained Constance.

"It won't be so bad," Quentin reassured her. "We won't even be there a week. We'll be there three days, max."

Constance smiled and kissed him, pleased to have her way. "Do you think it's a shotgun wedding?" she asked deviously.

"No!" Quentin thought it over a moment and smiled concedingly. "Well, it might be a shotgun wedding. Liz did say it was a short courtship."

"No this could be interesting. For once, I'm going to be an innocent bystander in a major family disaster and I'll be able to watch it with the only person who really matters to me." Constance reached across Quentin and grabbed the telephone. "I'll call Liz if you don't mind."

"What's brought on this change of heart?" asked Quentin, his hand easing up her thin white shirt.

"Come on! No one can resist watching the carnage after a car wreck. And we get to see the actual event. I wouldn't miss this for the world." Constance clamped her hand over the receiver and turned back to Quentin, pleased to see her enthusiasm reflected in his eyes. "Your hand is so warm! I love it. But if you want me to sound sober with your cousin, you ought to remove it or she'll be hearing things I'm sure she hasn't heard in quite awhile."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.