Dear friend

 Next couple days Angelique was way too busy with her work to even think about
her plan to get Barnabas back. She was stressed enough with all paper work and meetings, acting like new person to everyone, that she strongly considered to give Barnabas bit more time. She wasn't in mood for another fight yet, and knowing Victoria, she was too shy to even try to fight, letting Barnabas do dirty work.
  Though it seemed like she didn't need to give him more time, as he came to look for her late one evening as she was finishing her paperwork.
  Hearing knocking on her door, made her narrow her eyes and look up,
"Yes?"
She didn't expect anyone to be working anymore, and her only idea was that it could be cleaner.
 Instead, Barnabas walked in her office.
She couldn't perfectly hide that she was surprised to see him, but her sweet smile did trick for him so he didn't mention it.
 "Barnabas, what brings you here? And at this time... It's terribly late."
Barnabas sit down and looked down, "Yes... It is."
Angelique watchd him carefully, "Oh my.. Are you nervous?"
Barnabas looked up, "No, of course not."
Angelique raised eyebrow but left the subject anyway.
"Why are you here Barnabas? Missed me?"
Barnabas stand straight, looking around the office. "Perhaps."
Angelique stan up and walked behind him, wrapped her arms around him to caress his chest. "Say it... You did miss me."
Barnabas's eyes fell closed, "Hm, I did."
Angelique opened first button of his shirt and slid her hand under his shirt, "It's terribly late, I would hate to destroy my office again... Do you want to come home with me?"
 Barnabas blinked few times, unable to think so fast, feeling her warm hand caressing his chest. "I... No, I would not.. I can't."
Angelique pulled her hand away and go get her handbag, "Fine"
Barnabas looked at her longingly, "Where are you going?"
"Home." Angelique said coldly and shut the lights. "If you're going to sleep in my office, don't mess the whole place up."
Barnabas walked after her, "Angelique!"
"What? It's late. Other than you who spent days hiding in your destroyed manor, I  work all day long and I'm tired! I'm not in mood to hear your complaining of your miserable life and pathetic little girlfriend! I could give you so much more... a life, successful business and my love! And you give it all away for some stupid doll!"
Barnabas stood there, not really knowing what to say for while. Bitterness in her voice and her teary eyes had made him think.
Obviously she was still hurt, perhaps she was so lonely. After all, if he didn't count himself, Carolyn and Victoria, Angelique was only supernatural creature in Collinsport.
He sighed, gently calling her name.
Angelique stopped and turned to look at him, "What you want Barnabas? If you came here to tell me you can't leave your little girlfriend, fine. I kill her. Now let me go home, I'm tired."
Barnabas shake his head, walking towards her. "You shall not harm Victoria, Angelique. And I will not give you reason to. We can live in peace, without fighting."
Angelique blinked, "What you mean?"
Barnabas placed his hand on her cheek, "You could be better than this Angelique. I am aware it is partly my own fault, you have become like this... I am sorry."
Angelique was touched of his words. She hugged him, resting her head against his chest.
Barnabas blinked few times, slowly hugging her back, "We could be, partnes, in work. As you wished some time ago. We might work together."
Angelique looked up into his eyes, "We could?"
"Yes. You do work hard, some help would probably be welcomed. And our family needs job. It would be benefit for both, if we worked together."
Angelique pulled back, "But you're not going to leave Vicky..."
Barnabas sighed, "I am sure you would be able to find someone. You are beautiful Angelique, surely it will be no problem for you to find a man who will love you. And I will offer you, friendship. We were friends when we were children, we could be friends again."
Angelique looked angry, "No. If I can't have you, then no one else will have you either."
"Angelique, do not start this again"
"I don't ask your permission!"
Barnabas realized it was too late trying to talk her out of this. Knowing Victoria was in danger now, he quickly left in order to make sure she was safe.
 Angelique watched him go and get in her car, driving back home.
"You can run... But not hide."
She was willing to curse Victoria like she was cursed Josette. The fact that Victoria was a vampire, only slow her plan a little, but not stop it anyhow.
"Until two weeks has passed, she will be dead. There's no escape, her fate is what I said"
  As she now made her plan to kill Victoria, she remembered time when Barnabas indeed was her friend.

 ... By the time when Angelique was old enough to help other maids in kitchen, she spent her days working and learning how to cook and clean. She didn't have much time to rest, let alone find friends, but she was not only one who didn't have much friends.
 Her youngest master, Barnabas, had home teacher, so he didn't meet many children of his own age. He was well aware of that Angelique was somewhere near by, as his parents were agreed to take her with them.
He often run to look for her after his classes, not very often even got to see her.
 As he figured out that she was working in kitchen, that's why not to be seen else where, he decided to kidnap her.
He kept an eye on kitchen door very carefully, he didn't want others to see him.
As couple other maids came out of kitchen, he go and opened the door a little to look around. He saw Angelique washing plates and glasses.
Carefully looking around, he walked quietly behind her and took hold of her arms, forcing her to keep her arms behind her back.
Angelique let out scream and tried to see who has attached on her.
"Shh! It's me. I will take you out. We can play."
Angelique knew that voice. She stayed quiet and played along.
Before he got her out of the kitchen, one of the old maids came in.
Barnabas knew this nice old lady well enough to know that he could be able to get them permission to go out for while.
 "What on earth is going on here?" Old woman asked, trying not to smile, obiously knowing very well what was going on.
"Shh! No one can know I kidnapped her." Barnabas said.
Old woman laughed, "Well if that's so, then I will tell your parents Miss Bouchard felt ill and that's why is not working today anymore."
Barnabas smiled, "Thank you!" He let go of Angeliques arms and took her hand in his own, "Come on! I know a great place to play Hide and Seek."
Angelique nodded, following him out.
  They played many hours, until sun set and Barnabas's mother came to look for him. She was obviously not glad to find her son playing with maid.
"Barnabas, why is Miss Bouchard out with you? I was told she was ill."
Barnabas looked at Angelique who was totally frightened and then at his mother, "It was my fault mother. I wanted to play with someone, and I don't have any friends here. I kidnapped her from kitchen when she was working... I just wanted to play."
Angelique hold her breath, she was sure she was in trouble.
But when Barnabas's mother spoke again, she was obviously touched by her sons words, "Of course my dear." She looked at Angelique, "Miss Bouchard, now on you will have no work at weekends after breakfast. You are allowed to go out, if my son so wishes. Not alone. Am I understood?"
Angelique nodded, "Yes Mrs.Collins."
Barnabas smiled, "Thank you mother"
"You welcome. Of course you must have someone to play with. But this will be only so long until you find new play mates. When you find friends from town, Miss Bouchard will return to her original working times."
Barnabas looked at Angelique who seemed to accept her fate well, but he didn't want her to work all the time.
"But mother, she is my friend."
"She is maid. She works for you. It's good to be friendly, talk nice and be thankful of the work she does, she works well. But she cannot be respected in same level as you are."
Barnabas looked down, "Yes mother..."
"Oh do not be so sad Barnabas, of course you find other friends. Real friends."
"Yes, but I like to play with her. She has so many great ideas, and she understand me."
His mother looked at Angelique who took few steps back, afraid that she would be punished.
"Miss Bouchard, go to your room. I must speak with my son, alone."
"Y-yes.. " Angelique nodded and quickly walked towards the manor.
Barnabas run after her and took hold of her hand, "Thank you. I had really great day."
Angelique smiled a little, "Me too."
"Don't worry, I will figure out something." Barnabas said. "I promise"
"Barnabas we can't play anymore... Your mother is right."
"No. You're my friend."
Angelique smiled, "We will always be friends."
Barnabas nodded, clearly excited, "Yeah, we will be friends forever! I will figure out something, trust me."
"Alright... But I must go now."
"Okay. Goodnight!"
"Good night." Angelique hurry towards the manor, to her room.
Barnabas looked after her, hearing his mother coming to him.
"Barnabas, you must not-"
Barnabas turned around, "Why you want to always take everything I like away from me? I know the difference between right and wrong, but it's not wrong to have friends!"
His mother looked shocked. "Barnabas!"
"I like playing with her. I like talking to her. Why you have to make it so forbidden. She is maid, I know. But isn't that one of her duties, to make her host family happy? She makes me happy when we play. She has great ideas what to play, she knows many games I don't. It's fun."
His mother sighed, "Yes, it is one of her duties to keep her host family happy. But you must understand my fear, I don't want people to know you play with maid. You should have respectful friends, those we can be proud of. Children from honorable families like you."
"No one ever comes here! And if they do, I will hide her."
"Very well. You can play with her. But you must not take her from her work again. You have weekends to play with her, and if you must get her out during the week, you ask permission from me. Understood?"
Barnabas smiled and hugged his mother, "Yes mother. Thank you!"
His mother smiled, "Good. Now it is time to get back inside."
Barnabas nodded, started to run back home, hearing his mother laugh at him.
 Angelique heared someone coming and quickly run to her room.
She had stayed in hallway, listening what Barnabas and his mother talked, just now going to her room.
She was happy for that she was allowed to spent time with her youngest master, he was such a nice boy.
When she thought about it, he was very cute as well.
Slightly blushing for her thoughts, Angelique closed her door and sit down on her bed, thinking what they could play next time...

  Angelique sighed, she did miss their plays. Even she was grown up woman, she had to admit it was fun to play with him. He had been always seeking for adventure, big or small, as long as it was adventure. She had always had very wild imagination, which had been huge benefit for her when they were thinking new adventures.
 No doubt Barnabas would love to have another adventure with her.
She suddenly stopped and looked at the painting of Barnabas.
"Exactly..." She smiled, "We will have such an adventure waitig for us my love"