First love to last

 
   Worried by Barnabas's strange behavior, Victoria decided to go to the town and find out what was it that caused his sudden change.
 As she got to the town, she heard of this new boss of Angel Bay.
"She's so much like her aunt, so business like but still so lovely woman."
She heard some old ladies talking.
"Excuse me?" She asked one of the ladies, "Could you please tell me how I could find this new boss of Angel Bay?"
"Oh deary, go to Angel Bay and ask her assistent when she is free for meeting."
"Thank you madam." Victoria nodded and kept walking.
She didn't need to inside to get to take a look of new boss, as black haired woman came out, followed by two very fine looking business man.
 "Yes, tomorrow morning." She heard woman saying, "8.00 AM, I will be here around 7.30 if you gentlemen want to come and have cup of coffee or something before we start."
Victoria froze, that voice and wicked smile couldn't belong to anyone else but Angelique herself.
 As woman finally turned her eyes on her, she quickly looked away.
"Excuse me for moment" She heard Angelique saying and got awful feeling as she came closer.
 "Good afternoon, Miss Winters, is it not?" Angelique smiled.
Victoria looked up into her ice cold eyes and nodded weakly, "Yes Ma'am"
"No need to call me Ma'am, Angelina Bouchard"
"Angelina?"
"Hm, Angelique Bouchard was my aunt.... It was so awful to hear her passing away."
"I'm.. Very sorry for your loss then. I didn't know her, but I didn't thought that she had family. I mean, in Collinsport."
"Well, she did."
"Yes, yes so it seems."
"Why are you outside of Angel Bay, Miss Winters?"
"I was.. I was coming to greet you. I've heard so much about you and I thought it would be polite to come and wish you welcome to the town"
Angelique laughed and lean closer, whispering with her cold voice; "I'm always welcome in my town, but if I was you... I would consider leaving right away before something awful happens."
Victoria winced and step back, "Angelique..."
"Yes.. But you will not tell that to these people if you value your life."
"I'm not afraid of death Witch."
"Oh yes, you are already undead. But I have my ways to torture Vampires to death."
"Please! Leave us alone!"
Angelique took hold of Victorias wrist, pressing her nails in Victorias pale skin.
Victoria winced again and tried to pull her hand free, "Please... I don't mean anything bad for you"
"You will leave this town Victoria, or you can only stand and watch as you lose Barnabas."
"Leave him alone!"
"Never. I loved him over two centuries, I will not give him up now. And he loves me. Somewhere deep down in that cold heart of his."
Angelique let go and turned around to go back to the business men who were waiting for her.
Victoria quickly run back to Collinwood.
Barnabas saw her in hallway, "Ah, Victoria. Where have you been?"
"I was... Just taking a walk."
"You look frightened, what happened?"
"N-nothing"
Barnabas looked suspicious but nodded then slowly, "Very well"
 Victoria watched as he walked upstairs and sighed. She couldn't remember when Barnabas had last time hold her in his arms or kissed her with his gentle, loving manner.
 Soon Barnabas came downstairs again, ready to go out.
"Where are you going?" Victoria asked.
"Just.. Taking a walk"
"But it's late, should I come with you?"
"No need my dear. I will find someone unfortunate to drink and will come back. You enjoy yourself." After saying this, Barnabas left.
  He felt quilty of lying to Victoria but he needed to take care of some unfinished business.
 As he came to Angel Bay, he entered Angeliques office.
Angelique who was getting ready to go back home, looked surprised to get this late visitor.
"Barnabas? What brings you here this time of the evening?"
Barnabas sighed and place his cane to her desk, coming closer to her.
"I do not know what you have done to me... But I want it end now."
Angelique looked perfectly confused, "I haven't have time to do anything for you. I sent you the letter so you came to meet me, that's all."
"Speak the truth snake! Why can't I stop thinking about you?"
Angelique laughed softly "Maybe it's because you still have feelings for me."
Barnabas took hold of her wrist and pushed her against the wall, "Why? Why have you done this to me?"
"Done what?"
"You've put a spell on me! I was perfectly happy with Victoria, my sweet Victoria! Now I cannot even kiss her without thinking of you!"
Angelique shake her head, "I haven't done anything. My back-up plan with Angel Bay keeps me busy for next month or so, I can't give you any better answer."
 She pulled her hands free and walked to the door, "Maybe that you already thought you lost me forever, made you realize I actually am your first love... Most likely also last."
Before she got out of the door, Barnabas pulled her back and kissed her.
Angelique blinked in surprise but kissed him back, soon relaxing in his arms.
When Barnabas finally pulled back and cathed his breath, he looked into her eyes and sighed softly, "I'm sorry"
"I'm not."
"I cannot do this Angelique... I have Victoria, I must-"
"Shh.." Angelique said and rested her head against his chest. "Don't fight against what is obvious. We are meant to be, my love... I can give you little time to get rid of her, then we can start all over."
"But-"
"No... Don't decide anything yet. Feel me and my love for you, love me back Barnabas. I need you to love me back."
Barnabas hold her gently and closed his eyes for while, "But it is so difficult... And I cannot forgive what you did to Jose-"
Angelique pulled back and looked into his eyes, "Really? If you can't forgive me, why you keep coming back to me?"
Barnabas sighed and looked away. They both knew why. He desired her. He had always desired her.
 Angelique took her handbag and shut the lights. "Come back to me when you're ready to start over Barnabas. Or I will come to you and make it happen."
Barnabas took his cane and followed her out.
As she locked the doors and turned away to go to her car, he called after her;
"Angelique!"
"What?"
"If... I'd love you once again. Would you perhaps release me from my curse?"
"Maybe..."
"Would you release Victoria as well? Only if I asked this as a favor?"
"If you loved me enough, maybe."
Barnabas nodded his understandment and watched as she drive away. He didn't want to let go of Victoria. He had finally got back his one true love, but Angelique was right about that she had been his first love. Did he still somewhere deep down in his heart wish her to be his last love as well? After all what she had put him through?

And so we meet again

 Week after Collinwood was burned to the ground, Barnabas was insisted to start rebuilding. Some of old rooms was saved but they needed to build big part of the mannor again.
  Elizabeth instead wanted to focus on getting business started again, now since Angel Bay didn't have their witch boss anymore. Somehow Barnabas still doubt that Angel Bay would be shot down only by death of Angelique. Knowing Angelique better than anyone else, Barnabas was sure she had made perfect back-up plan for her company in case if something happened to her.
 Before they had decided on anything, Willie brought letter for Barnabas.
 He opened the letter and read it through, his expression getting more and more pale.
"Barnabas?" Victoria asked in gentle voice, "What is it?"
Barnabas shake his head, "None of your concern my dear" He turned to look at Elizabeth, "A word with you Elizabeth, if you may?"
 Seeing his serious expression, Elizabeth nodded and stand up, following Barnabas to farter away from others.
  "For heavens sake Barnabas, what is it?"
Barnabas turned around and show the letter, "Angel Bay has invited me to greet their new boss."
Elizabeth looked at him eyes wide, "New.. Boss?"
Barnabas opened the letter and looked at the sign, "Angelina." He sighed and shake his head. "I swear to god Angelique didn't have children. Never. And this seems too obvious... She must have survived from the fire."
"I think you're over reacting Barnabas. She couldn't have survive. Didn't you say her heart shattered to pieces?"
"Yes, but would it be first time when she surprise us?"
Elizabeth didn't know what to say.
Barnabas turned around and walked away.
"Barnabas!" Elizabeth called after him, "What will I tell Vicky if she asks where you are?"
Barnabas stopped, "Tell her I am in town, taking care of business." then he left.
He remembered way too well Angeliques ability to survive most dangerous situations...

... Unbearable pain in his mouth, Barnabas stumble back to Collinwood. Heart broken, he fight back his tears on his way home. Sorrow of his beloved Josettes death and hatred he felt for Angelique, haunted him all the way from Widow's Hill.
 Once he got back home, he run to his bathroom, trying to see from mirror what was truly happened to him.
"No... " He step back from mirror, looking at his demonic hands again, trying to feel his teeth with his cold fingers.
Fangs.
His eyes got wide as truth hit him. He knew he had changed, but he didn't have imagined his fangs were so big, nor that his heartbeat was nearly gone.
 "Angelique Bouchard!" He walked around Collinwood trying to find her.
"Master, what are you looki-" Johnson stopped as he saw what was happened to Barnabas.
 "Bouchard, where is she?" Barnabas hissed.
"I.. I haven't seen her master.."
Barnabas narrowed his eyes, feeling irresistable need to kill that man "I'm very sorry." Barnabas said, piercing fangs into his neck and sucking him dry.
 When someone screamed, he let go of his dead servant and looked up.
"Where's Bouchard?" He asked from another maid.
"I don't know master... Please forgive me, I haven't seen her."
Barnabas could sense her fear, it still made him only want to kill her.
"Run" He said and looked away, trying to control himself.
"Excuse me?"
Barnabas growled and attacked on her, biting her deeply in her neck.
 As her dead body dropped to the floor, Barnabas looked around trying to see any sign where Angelique would be.
 That was when she came back home.
"There you are, Devils whore! Come here my dear." Barnabas growled and came closer.
Angelique stand still, watching him carefully. "You seem to have got all pleasure out of your new life my love."
"What have you done to me?! Change me back on this instant!" Barnabas said taking tight hold of her arms and pushing her against the wall.
Angelique smiled and kissed him, "Mm, how can you be so desirable even you're covered with blood?"
Barnabas hissed and step back. "Don't you dare place your wicked lips upon me!"
"Or what? You bite me?"
"Very gladly so, but I need you to release me from this curse and unfortunately you cannot do that if you are dead!"
Angelique laughed, "Make this easier for yourself Barnabas and learn to love me. We're going to spent eternity together."
"Never!" Barnabas pierced his fangs into her neck, causing her to cry out weakly in pain, but instead of tasting blood, he realized she got deep wounds with nothing in her.
 He back away from her, wathing as she covered her wound with her hand.
"How is this possible?" He asked in pure curiousity.
Angelique looked at him, "Well my love, I may be little different than other human beings."
"I have come to notice." Barnabas hissed, "But I doubt you will be able to survive everything."
"What you mean?"
Barnabas took nearest candle and got her dress on fire, watching as she screamed in pain and tried to tame the fire.
 He got distracted when someone knocked the door.
While he took quick look towards the door, Angelique had stopped screaming and she had disappeared.
"What?!" Barnabas looked around, looking for any sign where she was.
 Hoping deeply that she had been destroyed now, he tried to figure out how to control himself. Unfortunately his tries were useless, and he felt constant need to kill.
 Only three days later, he heard terrible noise from his door.
Opening the door, he saw that everyone from town was come to revenge him for his evil acts, but greatest shock was to see the leader of this group.
Angelique herself stand front of him, pointing him with her finger, "There's the monster!"
 Too shocked to fight back, Barnabas soon found himself locked into his coffin.
"Let me out! Release me! Let me out, I say!"
 Long after being buried to the ground, Barnabas still wondered how on earth Angelique was able to survive from the fire...

  As Barnabas now came to Angeliques office, to meet new boss of the company, his cold heart got heavy hit when he saw black haired woman with wickedly seductive eyes and blood red lips.
 "Come in Barnabas Collins. You're late." She said and pointed the chair other side of her desk.
Barnabas sit down. He felt like going back in time now as he saw her with black hair again.
"Angelina, is it not?" Barnabas asked narrowing his eyes.
Woman laughed, "I think you know who"
"Angelique Bouchard..."
"Missed me already my love?" Angelique asked, smiling sweetly.
Barnabas licked his lips and thought, "I do not answer this question."
Angelique stand up and came behind him, resting her hands to his shoulders.
"I heard what you said before you left me there to burn to death... You still love me, don't you?" She run her hand down his chest, caressing gently over his heart, "Say it... You love me."
 Barnabas looked down her hand, "Hm... Have we not have this conversation before?"
Angelique pressed her nails through his shirt, causing him to hiss in pain.
"Say it"
Barnabas looked up into her ice cold eyes. "If you heard me, you know the truth."
Angelique lean down looking his lips like she was going to kiss him, but she whispered against his lips, "I will not give up my love... Never."
He groaned as she pulled back and go sit down to her chair, smiling him seductively.
He stand up, "I must go... Victoria-"
"Barnabas, I killed your girlfriend before, I can easily do it again."
"She's vampire Angelique!"
"Little doll who's afraid of the sun. What would be better way to make day better than barbecue her in sunlight?"
Barnabas closed his eyes, "You really are back from Hell Angelique."
Angelique winked, "Anything for you darling."
Barnabas shake his head and left, knowing this was certainly not last time when he met her.

End is only beginning for something new

 Angelique was lost, unable to move or fight back anymore.
Fire ate everything around her slowly but surely.
 Barnabas knelt down front of her, looking at her with slightly sad look in his eyes.
He may have hated her, but did he truly want her to die? He couldn't deny that Angelique had made his life Hell on earth sometimes, but same way he couldn't deny that she had been his lover and given him great joy in time.
And right now, Angelique was his only connection to his past. Only friend he had left who knew who he truly was.
 "So this is how it ends... " He said calmly, gently turning her head so she would look into his eyes. "So quiet... As in sleep"
 Angelique watched him with teary eyes, not knowing what to say.
"There was a time, when I may have loved you... And we could have spend eternity together."
"We still... Can"
"You never wanted my love... You wanted to posses me."
"No.. I love you Barnabas"
"You cannot love, Angelique. That is your curse."
Knowing there was nothing else left for her, she was ready to sacrifice herself for that Barnabas would at least believe she was able to love.
 Breaking her hand through her chest, she pulled her heart out, offering it to him.
"Take it..."
Barnabas looked at her heart, not sure what he should do. Soon her heart stopped beating and cracked. Shattering into million pieces in her hand and she turned to look away.
 Barnabas run his finger on her cheek, causing her cracked face shatter where he touched it. He watched her for while, now remembering those happy days they had shared long time ago...

 ... Barnabas and his parents had just had dinner with some fine business men from town, and now his parents were resting in their room as Barnabas himself was free for the rest of the evening. So thrilled of his success of his family business, he wanted to share his joy with only person he knew would never get boring to hear from his life.
 He silently go to knock Angeliques door and could hardly wait for her to come open.
As she finally did come, he stepped in her room and pulled her in tight embrace.
"Oh my dearest, you cannot imagine how proud I am at the moment. So happy! I couldn't wait, I had to come tell you this."
Angelique was slightly surprised and hugged him back. "What is happened?"
Barnabas pulled back a little to look into her eyes. "Our business is doing so well I cannot even tell! I have got some very fine business men from town to support us as well, and my parents are so proud! Do you understand Angelique? It is wonderful!"
Angelique nodded and smiled him, "That's great. I'm really proud of you as well. You work so hard... "
Barnabas hugged her again, "We must celebrate this!"
"Of course we do. What you suggest we do?"
"Come to my room once my parents has fallen asleep. I will find us for some wine."
Angelique nodded again.
Barnabas kisses her forehead and left as fast as he had came, leaving Angelique there to think.
   Little later, as she had just came from bath and made sure her host family was sleeping, she go to Barnabas's room. Knocking carefully couple times before opening the door.
 Barnabas came to her and locked the door after she got in.
He offered her wine glass, "Here"
"Are you sure I should be drinking? What if-"
"Shh. We must celebrate."
Angelique smiled and took the glass, taking small sip.
"Do you like it?" Barnabas asked.
"Very much." Angelique nodded.
"Great. Come."
Barnabas lead her to sit down on his bed and told her everything what was happened that day.
She listened him carefully, sipping her wine and laughing softly to his jokes and weird expression.
Barnabas poured more wine to them, "I am so happy at the moment Angelique. I feel like I have got everything man could wish."
"But you have nearly everything man could wish." Angelique anwered.
"Yes, indeed I have." Barnabas nodded and took long sip from his glass. "Only thing I have not yet got, is marriage and own children"
Angelique looked at her glass and bite her lip. She had been afraid of this conversation for long time. "Have you... Met anyone interesting?"
Barnabas thought of this question and shake his head, "No. I haven't really thought about it lately. I was so focused on our business, I wanted to guarantee its success before worrying of responsibilities of marriage. And of course I have you to keep me company if I feel lonely. I have no hurry."
Angelique looked at him for while and drunk her glass empty, feeling alcohol already starting to affect in her.
Barnabas poured her more wine, "You know Angelique, sometimes I feel like I am already married when I spent so much time with you."
Angelique smiled, "Is that bad thing?"
"Not at all."
Angelique kissed him softly, "Sometimes I dream of that."
"Being married?"
"Yes... Could you blame me for that?"
"Of course not. Some day you will make great wife Angelique."
"We can play that I'm your wife."
"What a great play that is." Barnabas nodded, pulling her closer.
She accidentally dropped her glass and they both laughed for the accident.
"I guess, best to leave these out of this play" Barnabas said and placed the wine bottle and glasses to his bedside table.
"They play it wrong anyway." Angelique giggled.
"What? My glass played very well!" Barnabas said, acting shocked.
Angelique shake her head and placed her hands on his shoulders; "No, listen love, they both play it wrong... And that bottle was really too much."
Barnabas pushed her lay down on his bed. "How dare you? My bottle was great."
"Inside or out?" Angelique asked innocently.
Barnabas laughed and shake his head, "Alright, you win."
"Of course I did. What's my price?"
Barnabas kissed her gently, "I am"
"Then it's best price I could hope for" Angelique said and kissed him back, holding him close...

 .... Barnabas looked at the shards of her heart and closed his eyes against his tears for while. He surprised of his desire to try to wake her up. Try get her back to life. Something in him had died along with that wicked but seductive witch, and it ate him inside. Maybe she did love him once, maybe he should have marry her when they were still happy together. Maybe Angelique would have never become so cruel if he had loved her back as she dreamed. Opening his eyes again, he looked around. Fire would soon destroy all what is left of her and she would be gone forever, along with the house where he had once loved her.
 "Forgive me, my dearest... I wish, you find peace. Farewell, Angelique.. Collins."
He stand up and quickly left to find Victoria, fearing he would soon have no one left to love.
 As the fire got even closer of Angeliques lifeless body, pieces of her heart melted in heat, becoming one, and her heart started to beat again.
She took deep breath and placed weakly her heart in her chest.
"So you still love me... This isn't over Barnabas.. Far from over." She looked up, the house was going to break down any minute and she was too weak to run.
She walked to nearest window and broke the glass, carefully avoiding the flames she got out of the window and turned to watch as Collinwood burned to the ground.

Every fight has its solutions

  Angelique placed glass of blood on table and sit down. She looked out of window. It would be only matter of time when Barnabas would run to her begging her to make him mortal.
As her workers had found Julia Hoffman dead from the ocean, she knew she has his only chance left. Barnabas would want her to release him from her curse, and maybe there was part of her that would have want to give him what he wanted, but she knew she would lose him still. That didn't fit in her plans. She would have him again, some day. That day may be after hundreds of years, but she was ready to make a sacrifice for her love.
 While she waited him, she found herself drawn in her memories again.

... When it was Barnabas's birthday, his parents invited everyone to celebrate their son. It was going to be greatest balls in whole town and Angelique along with other servats, worked hard for these celebrations.
 Barnabas himself was nervous of about dancing in public, with many young women from town. He was used to dance with Angelique, knew how easily she moved, but he feared to dance with someone he wouldn't know at al.
Night before his birthday, he go find Angelique to seek comfort and encouragement from her.
 Angelique was already fallen asleep after long work day, so he entered her chamber and carefully sit down on the edge of her bed.
"Angelique... Open your eyes my dearest, I am in great need of your help.. Wake up Angelique"
Angelique opened her eyes tiredly, "Barnabas?"
Barnabas smiled to her gently, "I apologize I must wake you up like this, I know you must be exhausted... I need your help."
"My help? It midnight Barnabas, where on earth you need my help?" Angelique asked and closed her eyes for while.
Barnabas pulled her to sit up and kissed her forehead, "Angelique, I cannot dance with all those young women from town, I don't-"
"Shh.." Angelique kissed his lips lightly and looked into his eyes, "You are brilliant dancer Barnabas, you haven't make any mistakes for month or two."
"But I know you. It is so easy with you."
"You know I cannot join you in these celebrations."
"You can if you're not recognized"
Angelique got serious, "Barnabas no."
"Angelique you must be somewhere near so I can dance with you every now and then. Otherwise I wil be way too nervous and whole night will-"
"Barnabas it will be alright. We can practise whole morning, and I can come to see you when you have got yourself dressed and ready for balls. Then we can dance few minutes so you feel more confident and everything will be fine."
"No, I want you there. If you wear mask, no one will notice you are our servant."
"I don't even have dress for such celebrations, I cannot come. And if someone realize I'm servant, I may as well go and kill myself right away"
 Barnabas sighed in frustration. "You must come. I am able to find you dress and mask, it will be no problem."
"But if I'm not in kitchen helping other maids, they will surely get me in trouble."
"I will tell all other servants that you are sended to visit doctor. Then you will  have next day free as well and no one will bother us... Everyone thinks you are away, taking care of your health and I am here, dancing with mysterious beauty."
Angelique laughed softly, "You really enjoy breaking rules, don't you?"
Barnabas smiled, "Was that yes?"
Angelique sighed, "Very well."
Barnabas kissed her, "I swear you will not regret this. I will bring you dress and mask very early in the morning."
"Are you going to leave now since you made me unable to sleep?"
"My greatest apologies Miss Bouchard." Barnabas smiled, "I promise you I will take responsibility of my crime."
"You should." Angelique answered playfully.
"I will." Barnabas nodded and kissed her.
       Very early next morning they both got up and made a plan for the day. Barnabas brought her the dress and mask to wear and told her to come to his room when she was ready.
As he heard knock on his door, he quickly opened the door, letting Angelique in.
He blinked few times, totally amazed.
"Angelique..."
She smiled and took the mask from her face. "How do I look?"
"Like a goddess herself." Barnabas said, still bit distracted by her beauty.
"Thank you."
"Maybe... Maybe we should practise all dances through now and.. Go downstairs then."
Angelique nodded and settle down her mask.
Barnabas placed his hand on her waist and gently hold her hand, all of sudden feeling way too nervous to know right moves.
"Barnabas, look at me" Angelique said.
Barnabas kept staring down, and bite his lip when he stepped on Angelique's foot.
Angelique stopped and placed her hand on his cheek, making him look at her.
"Barnabas, listen to me. We're going to be there together.... It's just me. Don't worry about others now. Just us. Dance with me."
Barnabas nodded and try again, keeping eye contact with Angelique.
When she next time stopped, she smiled. "See, you didn't do any mistakes."
Barnabas got pale, "It is so much easier with you... What if I step on my partners feet? What if I forget something?"
"Barnabas calm down.."
"It is easy for you to say! You're only a servant girl, I have much greater meaning in these balls!"
Angelique stepped back, blinking few times her tears away.
Barnabas turned to look at her and stopped when he saw tears filling her eyes. As a maid, Angelique knew very well that she would get herself in serious trouble if she argued with Barnabas, but when their relationship got deeper, she knew she wasn't just simple maid. She was his lover, and Barnabas knew very well that if Angelique told his parents that he had fallen for his maid, he was in trouble.
"Angelique.. I am so sorry."
She stepped back as he tried to reach her.
"Please forgive me Angelique."
"Where you need my forgiveness... I'm just meaningless servant girl!"
Barnabas closed his eyes. "I beg you, forgive me. I shouldn't have say it. It is not true... You mean so much. You are my teacher, my friend, my dearest."
Angelique looked away, "I will join others in kitchen and do the work I was meant to do."
Barnabas quickly took hold of her hand, "No, you must join me to the celebrations, otherwise I will be so lost with myself."
Angelique gave him cold look, "That is not my problem. Enjoy your night master Barnabas" She turned to leave but he pulled her back into tight embrace and kissed her deeply.
Angelique who didn't have expect that, melted in his arms and kissed him back.
"Join me and dance with me tonight Angelique. We dance through the night, and I shall pay your great assistance back once come to my room and are alone."
  Collins family had joined to many balls before, but never before their son was shown any intrest for dancing and they hadn't forced him. Tonight Barnabas was made his mind to make his parents proud, and after couple first dance with Angelique, his parents certanily were proud of him. By this encouragement, Barnabas danced with few other girls, but made sure that Angelique stayed somewhere near by and danced with her always when he got chance.
  Later he stealed her to his room, and they celebrated privately until sun rise again...

 As Angelique now waited for Barnabas, she knew that the argument she will have with him won't be as easy as their very first one. She was still well prepared for this, and when she finally heard fast footsteps and rhythm of cane hitting the floor, she knew he had arrived.
 "I demand you to release me from my curse!"
 "You're late" Angelique said boredly.
Barnabas looked at the glass of blood, obvously desiring it. "What is this?"
"Only thing you drink these days"
"From where does it come?"
"No one you know... I promise." Angelique smiled, watching him drink down the blood hungrily. She knew their argument won't be easy, but she was ready for sacrifices in order to get this man front of her to fall in love with her.

Safe in his arms

  "If I can't have you my love... I'll destroy you."
Barnabas looked serious and pulled back, leaving quickly.
Angelique blinked and looked around her destroyed office. Everything around her now witnessed that Barnabas still felt something for her. If not love, then at least desire. And Angelique if someone knew that desire was one of the most powerful things in world.
 She touched her lips and recalled memories of what was just happened.
Yes, she did love every passing minute when Barnabas was in her office with her, but she still missed something more. She wanted to feel that gentle warmth of his embrace like he used to hold her in his arms. She wanted to have that silent, peaceful moment to just stop and relax against his chest, where she was safe and cared.
  Without noticing, she fell into her own memories.

 ... Angelique was polishing silver forks, knifes and spoons in kitchen very late one night. She had been working all day without any break, and she was looking forward to get into her room, change nicer clothes and go to sleep.
 "Bouchard!" She heard old Johnson calling her.
She sighed, "Yes? I'm still here."
Johnson came to kitchen, "Still polishing?"
"What it looks like? Are you blind already?"
"Shut your mouth Bouchard!" Johnson hissed, taking hold of her hair.
Angelique tried to make him let go and accidentally drop few spoons to the floor.
"Now you have to wash them again. And make sure this kitchen is perfectly cleaned when-"
"Hands off of her Johnson." Calm voice came from doorway.
Johnson looked over his shoulder and quickly let go of Angelique.
"Master Barnabas, I swear I-"
"Enough Johnson." Barnabas said. He was perfectly calm, very business like but still clearly unpleased with what he had just seen.
He turned to look at Angelique who was now trying to gather all she had dropped.
"Miss Bouchard, you may leave this duty to Mr.Johnson. I am in need of your services."
Angelique looked up to him, "I... Master Barnabas, with all respect, I promised you father-"
"I know." Barnabas nodded shortly, "I have spoken to him. You are commanded to come with me."
"Of course... As you wish"
Barnabas looked at the old man, "You finish work here."
Angelique hold back her laughter when she looked at Johnsons expression as Barnabas lead her out of the room.
 When they got to Barnabas's room, Angelique couldn't help but laugh softly for what just happened. Though she quickly covered her mouth and calmed down.
Barnabas smiled to her, "I missed your laughter."
Angelique felt her cheeks blushing slightly and looked down. "I have missed you."
Barnabas came to her and placed his finger under her chin, making her look up into his eyes. "I have been terribly busy lately, but I am never too busy so I would not think of you."
Angelique's heart started beat faster. This was one of those moments when she got totally fascinated by him, unable to resist his charms and she simply fell in love with him even more.
Barnabas could easily see through her in these kind of situations. Her heart was melted so easily for him. He smiled and pulled her closer, studying her eyes.
"You must be exhausted." He said.
"No... Not really."
"Angelique... Your eyes can hardly stay open. You must relax, sleep well through the night."
"But I-"
"Shh, my dearest. We need no words. Only each other."
Angelique smiled and nodded.
They undressed and lay down on Barnabas's bed.
Angelique loved to sleep in his room, besides that he was there with her, his bed was softer than hers, and room much warmer. She felt his arm embracing her against his chest. She snuggle against him and fell asleep.
   They were not slept long when Barnabas woke up for her restless moves and voiceless cries. He gently placed his hand to her cheek, caressing her face.
"Angelique... Open your eyes. It is only a dream. Wake up my dear."
She suddenly sit up, looking around. "Where is it?"
"Where is what? Angelique you were dreaming... Come here." Barnabas answered pulling her back lay down and hold her in his arms.
He kissed her forehead and waited for while so she calmed down.
"What was this terrible dream about?"
"Just nasty memory... Nothing else"
"About what?"
"About time when we were much younger."
"It must have been very terrible for you."
"Yes... "
Feeling a tear dropping on his chest, he hold her bit tighter and whispered to her ear: "Speak to me my dearest. I shall make those awful memories leave you be."
Angelique's whole body was shaking now, tears fall from her eyes like waterfall as she told her childhood terrors to him. How her brother was kidnapped, how her father was killed, how her mother ended up selling her to Collins family.
  Barnabas didn't loosen his hold of her even once. He hold her against his chest, letting her cry her pain out.
 "What has happened, has made you who you are Angelique. None of those terrible things should not have happen to you. You deserved better, but you still survived. And what a wonderful woman you have become. You are like a angel. Strong and beautiful."
They didn't sleep anymore but only hold each other, gently whispering loving words to each other. Still Angelique could recall that when su rise and they got up, they both were as happy as they could....

  Standing up from couch, Angelique took her jacket and left back home, leaving the office to cleaners to worry about. She took small mirror from her pocket and checked was her make-up alright, wiping one little tear from her cheek. She tried to smile to herself but put quickly the mirror back to her pocket when it was proven to be too hard right now and left to her car.