Return to the Night     

by Kimberly

Rated pg

"I need you to turn to, when I lose control, you're my guardian angel, who keeps out the cold"  - Elton John

Julia hastened downstairs to the drawing room, where Elizabeth Collins Stoddard appeared to be giving Barnabas a rigorous questioning.

"Oh..excuse me...I've-I've given Vicki a sedative, but-but she's asking for you...."

Barnabas Collins nodded and stepped forward.

"Thank you."

"No, Barnabas, she's asking for Mrs. Stoddard."  Julia said it with an air of authority.

Elizabeth was obviously upset; the seance had the entire household in a state of chaos.  Why was Barnabas being so evasive?  All of these facts, combined with Julia's disclosure that she is not Ms. Hoffman, but Dr. Hoffman- it would take a good deal of time to assimilate all of this new knowledge.

Barnabas watched his raven haired cousin leave, then approached Julia.  He was very concerned about Miss Winters.  Julia was eyeing him with a very satisfied expression.

"You're not going to let me see her, are you?"

"You are worried, aren't you?"  Her tone was one of delight.  Barnabas was bothered by this.

"And you are enjoying it!"

"You're always in such control, of everything, and everyone.  It's quite interesting to see you when you aren't."  Julia smirked with an air of defiance. 

As she walked away, Barnabas gasped.  "Have I been this evil, that even my closest comrades are delighting in my fear?" 

He was truly shaken.  He hadn't an ally in the world.  More troubling, he heard the rooster crow.  Dawn was upon him, and he had no time to reason with anyone.  How lucky mortals are..time was no restriction.  He knew his rest this day would be tumultuous. That night, Barnabas made haste arriving to Collinwood.  He requested Dr. Hoffman, but Mrs. Johnson informed him that Julia had been out the better part of the day. 

"Wasn't she caring for Vicki?"

"Vicki seems fine.  She can't remember a thing, but was told to remain in bed.  Julia has her sedated, and I was told to not disturb her."

"I won't trouble her then.  I believe I'll go for a stroll along the grounds.  There is a full moon tonight, and the sky is clear for stargazing!" he smiled. 

He was pleased to hear Miss Winters was well, but any interest he had in her had somehow left him. 

'She never cared for me...not as more than friend. Even when Devlin went missing, she still wasn't interested.'

`Where is Julia'...he mused...  "Julia." 

He spent the better part of the evening out by the fountain, looking down the drive, hoping for her return.  He was on the verge of panic, when he saw two pale headlights in the distance.  His heart leapt,  he longed to run to open her door and greet her, but he forced himself to remain nonchalant.  What he had contemplated all day was not something that could be rushed. 

At last, Julia approached.  Barnabas was immediately taken by her new look!

"Why Dr. Hoffman!  I almost didn't recognize you ."

"Oh?"  She said, toying with her new short hair style.

"Allow me to say how much I like your hair!"

"An impulse..one I shall regret, I fear."

"You seem to be, what is the phrase, changing your image completely!"

"Well if you are referring to the fact that I am no longer here under false pretenses, I only substituted lies."  Julia replied coldly.

"Well...it would hardly do to tell the complete truth, would it?" he smiled.

"Not without endangering you." she replied, even icier.

"Um...Thank you." he replied weakly.

Julia rolled her eyes and turned to go in.

"Julia...wait.  Your directness...seems to make me...perhaps..more devious than I am."

"Does it?"

He rapped his cane nervously. 

`My God', thought Julia, `could he be for real?'

Her sensible side replied `no.'  She sighed and turned.

"Julia wait.  I..." at this he dropped to his knees.

"Won't you listen...Julia do you enjoy torturing me...trust me, I beg of you."

"I would be a fool to." she laughed.

"The seance has changed me...you don't know the panic I felt-knowing that my secret may be exposed.  It's all clear now..only you can help me, Julia...cure me..if you cannot cure me, be with me..as my companion of the endless nights."

"I'm leaving, Barnabas.  I am done here, done with you."  She retorted, but he grabbed her arm.

"My life depends on you...more than that...I love you." he said quietly.

Julia felt a wanton pang in her heart, but she had been hurt so in the past.  She turned, and rubbed her chin with her kidskin leather wallet, considering the statement.

"I don't know." she simply replied.

"Oh Julia, help me like you did before, let us go back to the time we were friends, and worked together, only now, be my....lover....You were ready to save me then, surely you see my life depends on you."  He reached for her hand.

"Please, trust me."

"I'm trying to...I'm trying..."  She turned away, and fled to her room.

Later that night, Barnabas kept watch at Julia's window.  When the lights were dimmed, he waited a bit longer.

He transformed into a bat, and on the wings of night flew to her window...he entered, and reclaimed his human form.  He looked from the shadows, and saw her in bed. 

`Julia, how could I have been so blind?' he wondered, seeing her in the creamy satin gown she slept in.  He approached, and touched her cheek.  She awoke.

"B-Barnabas?"

"Yes it is I.  I want us to be together, forever, Julia."

"F-Forever?" she stammered.  He came close...he smelled of night, sandalwood, musk.  His dark eyes glittered in the moonlight. He kneeled at her bedside, and kissed her, deeply, the way she had always longed for him to.

"But, my darling, you must come willingly."  He stepped back.

"Come to me, Julia.  Come."

Julia, slowly, arose...she was lost in his eyes, far away. 

"I can give you peace, would you like that?"

"Yes."

"I can make you forget, do you want to forget?"

"Yes."

"I can make it all seem so far away....so far away?"

"Please....please..."  Julia leaned into his warm embrace, and found herself in a place that can only be described as home, at last.

The next morning at Collinwood, Mrs. Johnson's breakfast was left sitting cold in the plates of the family.

"I just can't believe....they eloped?"  Carolyn said.

"Typical of that pair.  They'd been so secretive all along as to what they were up to." Roger replied harshly.

"And only a note.  The nerve of them."  Elizabeth said.

"Funny thing...wonder why they picked Halloween night?" squeaked young David, as he bit heartily into his toast.

The end!

( I took liberties, as always, with the time line and Vicki's amazing recovery and memory loss...forgive me)