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.