Choices.

 
  Couple weeks was passed since Angelique last time saw Barnabas. She was sure that he wasn't going come to see her anymore. Victoria has already got back home for sure, and Barnabas has been taking care of her. Thought of that Barnabas was doing everything he can to please Victoria, made Angelique jealous for sure, and she hated Victoria enough to kill her all over again, but she loved Barnabas. She knew Barnabas's happiness was up to Victoria, and if she wanted to do any good for him, she had to let Victoria live. At least Barnabas was thankful for her, which was way better than he hating her.
   Angelique called few of her best workers in her office, making a plan with them. She would leave Collinwood for while, travel around the world and create connections to her company in outside world, with hopes she could make her company even bigger.
 After this meeting, making sure her workers will keep things going while she's traveling, she left to pack.
Her house seemed already lonely with no lights. As she go inside, getting lights on and looking around, she came to think of Collinwood. Sure it was ruined when she last time saw it, but once it was her home too. Even her room was small and cold, she had liked living in Collinwood. And especially after her relationship with Barnabas had got deeper, she had spent a lot of time in his room which was huge and really warm, always really comfortable.
  She sigh and go to her bedroom, packing some clothes. She didn't hear that someone was knocking her door, until it sounded like her door was kicked really hard.
 She narrowed her eyes and go the door, opening it slightly, surprising more than little when she saw Victoria standing behind her door.
 "Why are you here?" Angelique asked coldly.
"May I.. Come inside?" Victoria asked with weak voice, still recovering from her burning wounds.
"Why?"
"I need to.. Speak with you"
"About what?"
"Barnabas.. His family.."
Angelique watched the girl carefully until step aside. "You have ten minutes."
Victoria came in and Angelique closed the door.
"You have lovely house." Victoria said, looking shyly around.
"If you came here to spy me and my ways to live, I may have to break your neck and sent you back to hospital right away."
"I'm sorry."
Angelique pointed the chair, "Sit."
Victoria sat down and looked at Angelique, who may be cold and cruel, and obviously not happy to get Victoria in her house, was still taken small tea cup and poured tea for her visitor.
 "They need job"
Angelique settle down tea cup front of her but didn't sit down to other side of table.
Instead she took cigarette from her handbag and light it up.
"I offered them job, twice. And they turn my offer down. Why I should do same offer again?"
Victoria sipped the tea and looked at Angelique again, "Please, they need money.. Collinwood needs a lot of work before it's.. like it was. And winter is coming.. They'll get cold without help."
 "I offered Barnabas money, a lot, but he didn't want it."
Victoria looked down, realizing that making deal with Angelique was more difficult than she thought. That even Angelique had done nice things to them lately, she still haven't got over her hateful attitude.
 Angelique blow the smoke towards Victoria and smiled to her sweetly, that made hair back of Victoria's neck stand up.
"You can go back to your host family, and sent my word for them. I don't pity them any more than I have always done. They refused to accept my offers before, I don't make that offer again."
 Victoria sighed, "Barnabas needs your help."
"Funny thing he didn't came to beg my help by himself, but sent you here. Knowing I may kill you when I see you."
"He doesn't know I'm here." Victoria said quickly.
Angelique narrowed her eyes, "Why not? What you're planning?"
"They have terrible money problems.. I overheard Elizabeth and Barnabas fight about it this morning. I thought.. If you could be so kind and offer them job, I'm sure they would be eternally thankful, and serve you well."
"I don't need more workers." Angelique smiled.
Victoria watched the Witch for while and realized one thing she hadn't try yet. Use Angeliques own hatred to get her idea to work.
"Would you think about it? What would be better than order them around all day long, like their family ordered you so long time ago? You was their servant! It's never been forgotten in their family. Now you could change it. You could get rid of that servant's low mark and make their family worship the ground you walk."
Angelique laughed softly, "Do you think I care what their family thinks. Whole town worship me."
"Angelique pleace! They need job. If you love Barnabas, why won't you help him?!"
Angelique gave her warning look and put down her cigarette.
"Shut your mouth little girl before I cut your tongue. My feelings for him is none of your business."
Victoria winced, quickly looking down. "I'm sorry."
 Angelique took hold of Victorias arm, leading her back to the door.
"This conversation is over, leave before I kill you."
As she let go of Victoria, her nails scratched few bleeding bruises on Victorias arm.
Victoria gasped sharply and looked at her arm.
"My bad. I'm sure Barnabas can kiss it to make it better." Angelique said bitterly.
"No!"
"Leave!"
"He loves you!"
Angelique hissed angrily, stepping closer to Victoria when the girl opened the door, running away as fast as she was able to.
  Angelique closed the door, taking deep breath not to go after Victoria and kill the girl right away.
She took another cigarette and go back to her bedroom to pack. She had just got into her room when her phone ring in living room.
"Someone will soon get hurt.." She sighed and go to answer the phone.
"What?"
"Miss Bouchard, excuse me this late call but there's a man waiting for you in your office, he said he has a meeting with you."
"What's his name?"
"I'll ask... . Sir, what's your name?.. Ah, alright.. Miss Bouchard, he is Collins. Barnabas Collins."
Angelique blinked few times. "Tell him to meet me at my house. Sent him here in taxi. Our company pays the bill."
"Yes, Miss."
Angelique hang up and go to kitchen, took glass of wine and sit down to wait. She didn't trust herself around Barnabas now, and if she got herself drunk, she wouldn't probably remember their meeting so well.
  Though it didn't take long from Barnabas to come.
Angelique drink her glass empty and fill it again before go to open the door.
"Barnabas. Come in."
Barnabas sniffed and looked rather disgusted.. "You've been smoking."
Angelique raised eyebrow. "Did you came to look after me am I behaving like good girls should?"
Barnabas narrowed his eyes, "You have been drinking as well. Haven't you?"
Angelique sighed, "Get out. If I wanted someone to look after me like little child, I would hire a nanny."
"I am not leaving." Barnabas said and stand straight. "I need to speak with you."
"About what?"
"Many things."
"Fine.. Do you want wine? I have your favorite."
"No I- " Barnabas stopped after hearing her words, "You do?"
"Of course I do."
"Perhaps one glass won't do any bad."
Angelique go to kitchen, Barnabas following her.
"Did you have visitors?" Barnabas asked.
"No, why?"
"This tea has certainly got cold already, I doubts it's yours."
Now Angelique remembered Victoria.
She quickly took tea cup from table and gave Barnabas wine glass, pouring some wine in it and left the bottle on table.
"Your beloved Vicky visited me some time ago.."
"Victoria?!"Barnabas asked in disbelief and obviously worried. "Why she was here?"
"Begged me to give job for your family." Angelique answered, sipping her wine and laughed softly, "She sure tried every possible way."
"Where is she now?"
"Probably back in Collinwood."
"No, she haven't been home all day."
"I don't know. Do you really think I care where she is going and when?"
"Of course not."
"Why did you came?"
Barnabas took a sip from his glass, "If I am to marry you, I insist that you move to live with me in Collinwood."
Angelique laughed, "No, you want me there because I'm rich. You want me to pay rebuilding of Collinwood."
"I did not come here to beg you to give me money. I came here to speak with a woman I am to marry."
"You won't marry me even in your worse nightmares."
"You are drunk Angelique."
"I'm not."
"Do not speak like a fool then!"
Angelique looked at him eyes wide. "I'm not a fool.."
"No, but you act like one."
Angelique looked away, "I'm going to travel."
"Where? When?" Barnabas asked sharply.
"Tomorrow morning. I travel in many places. Create connections to my company."
"When are you returning?"
"I don't know..."
Barnabas looked surpirisingly sad and slightly hurted.
"I see... You are leaving me."
"How could I leave someone, who has never even been with me?"
"It is why I came here. To be with you. Spent some time together."
"Like before?"
Barnabas smiled a little, "Yes, like before."

 .... Angelique was already fallen asleep after her long day of hard work when Barnabas came back home from his work.
He go through hallway quietly, right away down to servants part of manor, looking for Angelique. He knocked her door carefully few times before opening it, silently entering her room.
 "Angelique? Angelique, awaken."
"Hm.. Not now.."
"Angelique, wake up for little while."
Angelique sighed and opened her sleepy eyes. "What?"
Barnabas smiled to her, "Come to my room, it is nicer there."
"Why? I'm fine in here."
Barnabas lifted her into his arms, "I am in need of your ever lightful company."
Angelique laughed softly and let him carry her into his room and settle her down into his bed.
"What are you planning?" Angelique asked, wide awake already.
"I wanted to spent time with you." Barnabas answered, undressing before came to lay down next to her.
He moved her hair from her face behind her ear and kissed her forehead, "You look always so lovely when you're just awaken. So fresh, like rain after hot days. So soft, like silk."
Angelique smiled, "Did you practise that speech all day?"
"No, it came in my mind now."
"Beautiful."
"As you are." Barnabas said, kissing her lighty, pulling her gently closer.
Angelique snuggle against him, kissing him softly.
"Am I forgiven that I woke you up?" Barnabas asked.
"Yes you are. Many times over." Angelique answered, resting her head against his chest, listening his calm, strong heart beats.
  Ironically they were not tired anymore, but laying there in each others arms and talking lightfully was enough to help them to relax.
 Sooner or later falling asleep, and waking up next morning being perfectly ready for work...

 Barnabas smiled to this quick memory that filled his mind.
"Do you remember it?" He asked from Angelique.
"I do. I've often missed those times when I go to sleep alone, knowing I'll most likely wake up alone as well."
"The thought has come to my mind also, time to time."
Barnabas admitted, obviously feeling quilty of it.
Angelique drunk her glass empty and took the bottle, "Well, we can't really forget something that once made us so happy."
Barnabas looked at her, "Have you not drink enough for today?"
"Why I wouldn't drink more? It feels less bad to go to sleep alone when you're drunk. I thought Hoffman told you that."
Barnabas sighed, "I have much better choices to make bad feeling go away."
"You're only one who has a choice." Angelique said bitterly and took more wine.
"You are turning down the offer I have made for you." Barnabas said, "You do have a choice, if you'd want it."
Angelique looked at him eyes wide, "What you're saying?"
"I want to stay with you Angelique."
Angelique blinked few times in surprise. As much as she wanted to believe his words to be true, she was afraid of getting her heart broken again.