Terry 

_________________ Impulse by Terry Bowers __________________ 

He paced the drawing room floor slowly. She had been gone for nearly five weeks, and in all that time, he'd not heard from her at all, not even a phone message to be passed on or a post card. He didn't know why he'd expected it to be any different, their relationship was not such that either needed to be in constant contact with the other. He knew she had other factors in her life, other interests outside those they discussed in this room on an almost nightly basis, interests she had neglected in recent years. That was why she was away, to maintain her certification in those other interests, to take continuing education classes so she would be current on recent developments and discoveries. He'd encouraged her to go.

The first few days he'd enjoyed the solitude and spent the time catching up on any number of things he'd neglected. But each night he found himself growing anxious as the time of her normal arrival neared. When he reminded himself she was away and would not be there that evening, he found himself growing restless and irritable. He put it down to a disruption in his daily routine but as the days stretched into weeks, he began to realize it was ever so much more than that. He missed the time spent with her, he missed their discussions and arguments,... he missed her. He began to think the weeks until her return would be an eternity.

Glancing at the clock on the mantle, he decided he still had time before she returned. She was due back by mid-evening this night. He was going to be on hand to meet her. Leaving the drawing room, he barely remembered to close the front door in his haste to leave.

He paced the drawing room floor, silently wondering if something had happened to detain her. He was barely aware of the conversation flowing around him, and tensed when the clock in the foyer struck the half hour. She should have been here long ago. The weather was not to blame and his worry increased.

Finally he and the others heard the front door open. He was closest to the drawing room doors and turned to see her enter, placing her suitcase on the floor as she began to unbutton her trench coat. She was beautiful. He felt his heart begin to beat hard in his chest and he suddenly understood why he'd been so miserable the past few weeks. He suddenly understood... everything, and what he had to do about it. On impulse he strode from the drawing room, into the foyer and over to her. Barnabas Collins gathered Julia Hoffman into his embrace and placed a firm, deeply meaningful kiss on her mouth. He heard her startled intake of breath, then she relaxed into his embrace and simply enjoyed the feelings he was sending through her.

When Barnabas finally released her, he captured Julia's gaze with his own as she struggled to calm her racing heart and keep breathing. He didn't need to say anything. The kiss, and the look in his eyes told Julia all she needed to know. She smiled, aware but uncaring of those who were gaping at the couple in the foyer. Barnabas' actions had taken them by as much surprise as they had her.

"How was the seminar, Julia?"

"Not half as interesting as my homecoming."

Barnabas smiled and Julia knew things would never be the same. 

Terry S. Bowers 
August 6, 2000