Subj: The Homecoming--Chapter 6
Date: 4/6/02 12:06:49 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Peggy Boone

As he slept in the bedroom at Elliot's Adam was awakened by sounds coming from where Barnabas was sleeping. He got out of bed and padded into the bedroom. He found him in the middle of a dream. He put his hand on his shoulder and began shaking him. Barnabas was repeating a name. It was "Josette." Adam turned on the lamp on the nightstand. He saw Barnabas open his eyes. "Are you all right?"

"What's wrong?"

"You were dreaming and talking in your sleep. Barnabas?"

"What?"

"Who's Josette?"

"She was someone I used to know. Why?"

"You were calling for her in your sleep."

That afternoon, Barnabas and Adam went back to Adam's. Barnabas made Adam wait in the car while he let himself into the house. He turned on the light and went down into the basement. He went to where the mirror had once been and went out of the house with a confused look on his face. He locked the door and went to where Adam waited for him. "What's wrong, Barnabas?"

"I went down into the basement and the mirror was not hanging where it had been."

"Are you sure?"

"I am positive."

The two of them got back into the car and went back to Elliot's. They both wondered what was going on at Adam's. The last
time Barnabas had been in the basement, the mirror was there. The phone rang at Elliot's. When he answered it, it was Julia wanting to talk to Barnabas. The two of them talked for thirty minutes. She just wanted to know how he was. When Elliot went out of the kitchen, Adam and Barnabas were talking about the mirror being gone from the basement. Elliot told them that he had gone into the basement and had burned the mirror to ash. "Do you think that it is over?"

"It could be."

"Should I go back home?"

"Why don't you close up the house and move into the Old House and stay as long as you want to?"

"I will if you really want me to. Are you going to call Julia?"

"No, I'm going to surprize her."

"Professor Stokes, I'm going back with Barnabas. Thank you for letting us stay with you."

"You're welcome."

Adam was still curious about who Josette was, but he supposed Barnabas didn't want to talk about her. Barnabas and Adam got into the car and drove to the Old House. When they arrived, Julia's car was nowhere in sight, but Willie's was. Barnabas opened the door and went in with Adam behind him. Willie had been in the bedroom when he heard the door open. When he went downstairs, he saw Barnabas in the drawing room. "Are you stayin'?" Barnabas nodded his head. When he asked Willie where Julia was, he told him that she was at Collinwood.

When Willie asked him if he wanted him to drive him, he told him he would walk. Julia was in the drawing room with a book on her lap, when there was a knock on the door. When Carolyn opened the door, she was surprized to see Barnabas. She put her arms around him and hugged him. He went into the drawing room. He didn't think that Julia heard him and Carolyn talking in the foyer. He sneaked over to the chair Julia was sitting in and put his hand on her shoulder. She jumped.

When she turned, her eyes were filled with terror. When she saw Barnabas, she jumped up from the chair, threw her arms around his neck and began kissing him. When Carolyn walked by the door, she found them in each other's arms. When he looked, he saw Carolyn standing behind him smiling at them. Barnabas asked Julia if she wanted to go for a walk and she told him she did. Whle she went upstairs to get her sweater, Barnabas talked to Carolyn. When she asked him where he was staying, he told her he had gone back to the Old House. He told her that Adam was at the Old House if she wanted to go see him. She went out the door. When JUlia went back downstairs, she and Barnabas went outside. "I'm glad you're back. I missed you so much."

"I know you did. I'm sorry I worried you."

Barnabas took Julia's hand and led her into the garden. "Why did you leave Elliot's?"

"I was afraid for you."

"Why me?"

"I was afraid that I would again be cursed and I didn't wish to hurt you. She visited me at Elliot's last night."

"Who?"

"Josette."

"Barnabas?"

"Yes, Julia?"

"I know what you asked Willie to do and I hope to get you to change your mind." He lovingly patted her hand. "I have lready changed my mind. I did after I saw Josette." Suddenly, he stood up. "What's wrong?"

"I wanted to see about something. Might I borrow your car?"

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I need to do this by byself."

"The keys are inside. I'll go get them for you." As he waited in the garden, she returned and put them in his hand. "Please be careful. I don't want to lose you again."

"You won't. I'll be careful." He then leaned down and kissed her. Barnabas drove to Adam's house. He parked the car, got out and went inside. He turned on the basement light and went down the steps. When he went over to where the mirror had been hanging, he saw it was indeed gone. He got back to Collinwood and went inside. Julia hurried up to him with a worried look on her face. He handed the car keys back to her. He looked down at her and spoke. "I believe it is all over, Julia." He
then took her lovingly into his arms.

Carolyn went to the Old House and knocked on the door. When Willie opened it, she asked for Adam." When Adam saw her, he smiled. "How did you know I was here?"

"Barnabas is at Collinwood and he told me."

Adam leaned down and kissed her. Willie tiptoed out and closed the door. Inside, neither Carolyn nor Adam noticed he was gone.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production