You're alive.

 Angelique looked at the clock. She was getting restless to wait any sign of that Barnabas was still alive.
 Hearing someone knock the door of her office, she quickly opened the door. With heavy sigh, she saw just one of her workers.
 "What do you want?"
"Ms.Bouchard, I'm sorry to come here like this all of sudden and I-"
"Just tell me what the Hell you want!" Angelique hissed and sighed again, "I'm sorry... I'm just so tired. Come on in, sit down and tell me."
The worker man seemed to accept this excuse for her behavior and came in, smiling to her a little.
"It must be very stressing for you to work so much."
"Very." Angelique nodded and sit down.
"You need rest Miss. I'm sure your aunt wouldn't want you to get yourself so exhausted."
Angelique forced herself to smile. "Yes, thank you. I will keep few days free sometime soon. Now.. I'd like you to tell me what is it that brings you here."
"Oh yes, I'm sorry Miss. The workers, me as well, have been thinking....."
Angelique listened to his endless speech without really even focusing, she had more important things to think. When sun was about to set and bathed whole room with golden light, Angelique stand up.
"Thank you. I will think about all that, and now excuse me, I really have to go"
She took her handbag and left so fast the work man hardly realized what just happened.
  She get into her car and drive as fast as she could towards Collinwood.
 Tears filled her eyes as not welcomed thought filled her mind. What if Barnabas haven't succeed to save Victoria, and had decide to follow her to death?
 She would not forgive herself if Barnabas was now dead. She needed to see him. Maybe he was with Victoria, holding that girl lovingly like he once held her, but right now she didn't care about that. She needed to know he was alive.
  On her way, as she now thought how he used to held her so lovingly, calming memory washed through her mind.

 .... "Bouchard!"
Angelique closed her eyes not to get too angry and turned to see old Johnson, "What you want?"
Old man smiled, obviously satisfied, which meant nothing else but that Angelique was in trouble.
Angelique raise eyebrow and looked at the man with cold look in her eyes.
"What?"
"You are in trouble Bouchard, and for once you will be punished so well that you will not move for week."
Angelique took deep breath, thinking of past few weeks. She had not done anything wrong. She wasn't even seen Barnabas at least for a week.
"What makes you think that?" She asked fearlessly.
"Mrs. Collins was looking for you from your room, and she found this!" Johnson said showing the book Barnabas had given to her long time ago.
"This belongs to young master Barnabas... You have steal it from his room. You will be punished Bouchard, I swear you will!"
Angelique took the book from his hand and hold it tightly against her chest, "No! I didn't steal it.."
Johnson took hold of her hair, "Give that book to me Bouchard!"
"Never!"
"Fine then" Johnson forced Angelique on her knees and kicked her stomach, causing her cry out in pain. Still she refused to let go of the book.
 He kept kicking her for quite some time, before angry voice called him other side of the room.
Johnson turned to look at the doorway. "Master Barnabas. Good you are here. Bouchard has taken something that belongs to you."
Barnabas came closer and looked down to Angelique who still held the book against her chest.
"She did not take it. I gave it to her." Barnabas said and looked coldly to Johnson.
"You have beat down innocent woman Johnson. I will speak to my father about this. You go to your room now, your own punishment waits for you until night falls"
"But master Barnabas, I-"
Barnabas stepped closer to him, "Leave!"
"Y-yes, of course." Johnson nodded and left as quickly as he could.
 Barnabas looked after him until he was gone, before he kneel down next to Angelique.
"My dear... I'm so sorry."
Angelique looked down to the book for while, fighting back her tears and offered it to Barnabas.
He shake his head, "No. It is yours." He looked at her bruised arms and he knew she had bruises all over her now. Her lower lip was bleeding and her hair was messy but her eyes were not filled with tears because of pain. She was helplessly sad.
Suddenly Barnabas felt burning hatred towards old man who had beated her down so badly. He wanted to go and beat him like he had beated Angelique.
 He gently offered his hand to help Angelique back to her feet, "Come with me. I must take care of those bruises."
Angelique looked at his hand for while but didn't accept his help, she tried to stand up on her own.
Barnabas couldn't stand to see how much she suffered. She couldn't even move without letting out weak whimpers of pain.
"Angelique, let me help you. Please."
She shake her head, bravely trying to walk towards her room.
"Why don't you speak? Angelique, you must let me help you... You are hurt. I cannot let you suffer like this. Let me help you my dear."
She shake her head, focusing on trying to get into her room until she was simply too weak to fight against the pain and fall down.
Barnabas run to her and kneel down, "Angelique? Angelique talk to me my dear. Do you need doctor?"
Angelique shake her head, trying to stand up.
Barnabas couldn't take it anymore. He lifted her to his arms and carried her to his room, gently laying her down to his bed.
"No... No." Angelique tried to sit up, coughing blood.
Barnabas watched her in shock. She was in worse condition than he had even imaginated.
He gently push her back to lay down and wipe the blood from her face.
"Angelique... Please, let me help you my dear."
She looked at him weakly, surprising to see tears in his eyes.
"W-why.. "
"Shh." Barnabas placed his finger gently against her lips and kissed her forehead.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the simple fact he was there with her.
"Let me help you." Barnabas begged gently. "Let me take care of you."
She cough few times again, tasting blood in her mouth.
Barnabas hold his hand under her mouth, "Let it all out.. I take care of you."
He fight back his own tears as he watched her coughing blood and trying to catch her breath in pain.
 When she stopped coughing, she fell against the pillow and closed her eyes.
"Angelique?... Angelique?"
When she didn't react anyhow to his calling, panic took over him. He took her hand in his own and kissed it, gently shaking her hand to make her open her eyes.
"Angelique! Angelique, open your eyes my dear, open your eyes. Wake up.. Wake up my love!"
 Angelique let out weak sigh, tiredly opening her eyes.
"Angelique?" Barnabas looked at her like he'd seen miracle, gently placing his hand on her cheek. "Angelique, my love, you're alive... Thank heaven you are alive." He kissed her carefully, tear falling down his cheek.
Angelique kissed him back and looked up to him softly.
"Why.. Why are you crying?" She asked weakly, wiping tear from his cheek.
"I thought I lost you." Barnabas answered honestly. "Please, let me take care of you."
 Touched of how deeply he cared for her, Angelique nodded.
Barnabas kissed her forehead and go to his small bathroom, filling his bathtub with warm water before he came to get her.
He carried her to bathroom and helped her undress. His heart hurt to see how awful bruises she had all around her body.
 Gently bathing her, he wash away the blood from her before helping her out of the bathtub and dry her gently with towel.
He carried her back to his bed and took care of the bruises, feeling like knife hitting through his heart every time she winced and whimpered in pain.
 Finally getting all bruises taken cared of, he go get her silky nightdress and help her wear it.
"How do you feel?" He asked, gently caressing her cheek as she lay on his bed.
She opened her eyes, looking up to him lovingly, "Much better... Thank you."
He smiled to her, kissing her lips ever so lightly not to hurt her.
"That's good. Do you want something to eat? Or drink at least."
Angelique licked her lips and smiled weakly. "No than- thank you... I'm fine."
"Angelique, you need to have something. You need more energy to heal. Please, let me get something for you."
"No... Please don't.. Don't leave me"
Barnabas couldn't help but feel great need to hold her, protect her.
"Very well. Then let me call servant to bring you something."
Angelique nodded.
He called the servant to bring her something she can swallow easily, not too hot, nor too cold. Then he came next to her, holding her gently in his arms.
 The servant brought them fruit pudding. Barnabas feed Angelique until she shake her head to tell she had got enough.
He gently caressed her face and hair to help her fall asleep.
"Barnabas.."
He looked down to her, "Yes my dear? Are you in pain? Do you need something?"
"No... I.. I want to stay.. With you.." She said, hardly being able to keep her eyes open. "Please.. Don't let me go.."
Barnabas smiled to her, kissing her gently. "Shh my dearest, sleep. Rest now, I will hold you through the night. In morning everything is better... I keep you safe. No one will hurt you again."
She smiled to him tiredly, "I.. I love you"
Barnabas hold her tighter, careful not to hurt her. He wanted to tell her that same. He did care for her deeply. He strongly believed he was in love with her.
"Sleep my love, sleep."
Angelique blinked few times to stay awake and snuggle against him. Loving the fact he held her so tightly, protecting her from the world. Hearing his strong, calm heart beat, she finally fell asleep.
 Barnabas closed his eyes to relax. He never let go of Angelique. He woke up few times during the night when she moved while she dreamed, but he didn't let her go, and always she found her way to snuggle against him, calming down and falling back to peaceful sleep.
"I love you Angelique." He whispered gently, holding her protectively against him.
She moved a little but didn't wake up.
He smiled to her, closing his eyes again and let himself fall asleep as well...

 Angelique stopped her car front of Collinwood.
"Doesn't look any better now that it did few months ago." She said to herself watching burned building. Rebuilding hadn't got started well yet.
 She got in the saved part of manor and walked through the halls, lookig for Barnabas.
"Angelique!" Elizabeth called.
Angelique didn't even bother to stop.
Elizabeth run to stop her.
"Don't think your new hair color fools me Angelique, what are you doing in my house."
"Go out of my way old woman. I'm looking for Barnabas, not you"
"Barnabas and Victoria are out."
"Out?"
"They left this morning, they haven't come back yet."
Angelique felt her heart getting heavier. She run out of the building and get into her car, driving towards Widow's Hill.
Once she got there, she get out of the car and looked down from the cliff.
If Barnabas and Victoria died there, ocean had surely wash their ashes away already.
 "Looking for someone, Angelique?" She heard voice behind her.
She turned around, seeing Barnabas standing right front of her.
He had bad burning marks all around him. His face was burned quite badly, and he hadn't got blood for long time so he wasn't healing fast.
Angelique stepped closer to him, watching him worriedly but releafed he was at least alive.
"You're alive... Thank goodness you're alive." Her eyes was filled with tears as she hugged him.
Barnabas growled slightly in pain but soon hugged her back.
"You thought I was dead?" He asked, feeling her tears fall against his shoulder.
"I was so afraid Barnabas... I wouldn't have been able to live if you'd been gone.. I love you Barnabas. I love you!"
Barnabas closed his eyes. "I know you do." He gently placed his hands on her waist and pushed her back, careful not to push her over the cliff.
"What?" Angelique asked, looking into his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Victoria..."
"She's dead?"
Barnabas looked down, "No... But she will be if you don't take this curse away and help her."
Angelique looked shocked. Her worry disappeared and her hatred for this newborn Josette grow stronger.
"Never."
Barnabas looked at her, nearly begging her with his eyes. "Angelique, please. If you love me, you do this kindness and save her."
"Just so I could watch as she take you away from me?!"
Barnabas sighed. "No... "
Angelique looked slightly confused, but didn't give him chance to trick her again.
"I don't trust you... I don't let you make me believe I have chance, that you care about me."
Barnabas looked back, over his shoulder. Obviously somewhere where Victoria was.
"If.. If I promise to marry you, will you save her?"
Angelique looked at him eyes wide, "How stupid you think I am?"
Barnabas turned to look at her, pulled her closer and kissed her.
She hadn't expect that, blinking her eyes in surprise few times before kissed him back.
"If you save her... If you become the woman you were before. I will marry you Angelique. I will love you again."
"But you don't love.. Not now. You give rules that I have to live with so you love me.... I'm not stupid Barnabas. You don't love me."
"I did love you, when you was yourself... I did love you. And if I would get back that loving, caring, kind, sometimes so funny and sweet woman, I would love her. I would marry her... I don't deny, I might miss Victoria, but I would rather see her happy with someone else than see her die. I would be happy with my own wife, that kind and caring woman, who doesn't wish to hurt anyone."
Angelique listened him, considering carefully how true he might be speaking.
Barnabas kissed her lightly and turned away.
"If you choose to save her, follow me... In return, I will choose you. I will love you again." He said, difficultly walking back to the forest to take care of Victoria.
 Angelique looked after him, narrowing her eyes. If this was just a trick he could save Victoria to be with her again, Angelique had to have a plan as well how to get one step forward. She had to make a plan, and she had to make it so water proof that he would not betray this deal.