Disclaimer: I do not own DS, but Dan Curtis does. I only own the O.C.'s.
Chapter 2
The Anniversary Party for Quentin and Maggie was going very well that night. They had been married for 25 years. Everybody in the family was there. Except for both Roger and Elizabeth, who had passed away a few years ago.
Barnabas, along with his wife Julia, also along with David, his wife Hallie, and their son Jamison. Carolyn and her daughter Vicki. Her husband Sebastian was out across the country making a horoscope for a new client that wanted his advice. Mrs. Johnson was serving drinks to everybody. Presents were handed out to the married couple. Everybody was commenting on what Quentin and Maggie had received.
Quentin finally said "Now that everybody had given Maggie and I our gifts. It's time that I give Maggie hers. Maggie please close your eyes so that I can put this on you."
"This had better not be a gag gift that you pulled on me last year. Otherwise you will be sleeping on the couch this time." She told him jokingly and closed her eyes.
"Not to worry my dear. That is not going to happen this time. This is something that you are going to love. Trust me on this." He told her.
He pulled out the velvet box out of his jacket that he had worn into town. He then pulled out a necklace that was made of gold with a Blue Sapphire stone in the middle with diamonds around it. He then stepped back and told her to open her eyes.
She looked down at the necklace and told him that it was beautiful. "Quentin, where did you ever get something like this?" She asked him.
"I remember seeing and old picture of one of the member of the Collins family wearing something like this from 1897. I took the picture to the jewelers to see if he could make one for me. And he told me that it could be done in time for tonight." He informed her.
"Well then, I have a special surprise for you then. I want you to close your eyes, and not open them until I tell you to. And nobody say anything for when I bring in the surprise for Quentin." She told them.
She went and got Brian from upstairs and brought him into the living room. Vicki and Jamison were told to be quiet when they saw Brian come in by their parents. Maggie then went up to Quentin and told him he could open his eyes now. The anger was starting to show on his face.
"What are you doing here?! I thought you didn't want anything to do with us ever again when you left here!" Quentin yelled at his son.
"Well. It's good to see you as well Dad. I would have thought that your mood would have changed by now. Considering that we have not talked to each other in 3 years. I see that I was wrong. I only came here to be with my family again!" Brian yelled back.
"You're not going to stay in this house for another minute! I want you out of here now!" Quentin yelled back at him.
"Quentin! Brian! I want the two of you to stop this fighting right now!" Maggie yelled at both of them.
"Maggie's right. Brian can stay here for as long as he wants' to." David told him.
"David's right on that. You have to remember that my mother and Uncle Roger willed the house to the two of us before they died. And he can stay for however he wants' to." Carolyn reminded him.
Barnabas said to Brian "If you want Brian, you can stay with Julia and I for awhile, and leave when you want to."
"Thanks Barnabas. I'll think on that for the time being. I just want to be near mom for a bit though." He said to him.
"No problem with that. I just hope things work out for you." Barnabas told him.
Both Julia and Carolyn told Quentin that maybe he should to and try to calm down for a little while and then come back and to be with everybody. He agreed with that, but also said that he didn't want to see his son when he got back. With that, he went out the front doors and went for a walk.
Brian was looking at both Vicki and Jamison, and told them to give him a hug. They ran over to him and did so. They both asked if he had brought them gifts before coming home. He told them that he didn't have a chance to. But told them that if they behave themselves and went straight to bed, that tomorrow he would take them into town and let them pick out whatever they wanted. They agreed to that. They then went up to their room and went to sleep.
Julia went over to Brian and told him that the offer still stands if he changes' his mind. He told her that he would think about it. Mrs. Johnson asked him if he wanted anything to eat or drink. He told her just a quick sandwich if that was possible. She said that it would be ready in a couple of minutes. She left him and went to the kitchen.
"Mom. I should not of come back if I had known that Dad would still be angry with me. It's my entire fault that your anniversary is ruined now." He said.
"Nonsense. I'm glad that you came home. Your father will have to see that now you are going to be here, at least for awhile anyway." His mother said.
"Thanks Mom. I really needed to hear that, at least from you. I just hope you're right about Dad." Brian told her.
"I'm sure he will. Just give him time." Maggie said.
After that, Carolyn said that she was going to bed. Maggie told everybody that she was going upstairs as well. Barnabas and Julia were about to go out the door themselves when Brian called them back in.
"Barnabas, Julia. I need help on something." Brian told them.
Julia asked "What is it that we can help you with that Quentin can't do?"
Just then, Mrs. Johnson brought Brian his sandwich before he could say anything to them. He told her that she should get some sleep herself and that he would clean up most of the mess tonight for her. She asked him if it was alright, he told her that it was no problem. She turned and went to her room and she said goodnight to the three of them.
Brian asked "Julia, do you still have connections to Wyndcliff?"
"Why do you want to know that for, Brian?" Julia wanted to know.
"Please tell us why, so that we may be able to help you in any way possible." Barnabas said to him.
Brian went to tell them that since he'd turned 21, nearly 2 years ago, that he would have blackouts and would wake up the next morning not knowing how he got to where he was. Plus too, that his clothes were covered in blood, and a dead body next to him. He told them that somehow he had managed to get back to his apartment before the police, or anybody else saw him in his condition. What happened 2 night's age finally made his mind up that he needed to come home and find some sort of help for whatever was happening to him.
Both Julia and Barnabas looked at each other, not saying anything at first, but they had an idea of what it was. Julia told him that it's probably something that he's drinking too much alcohol, and also somebody is trying to frame him for the murders that are happening. He told them that he hasn't had a drink for 2 years. He also told them that he couldn't think of anybody that would do that to him. He then ate some of his sandwich. But stop after a couple of bites, and told them he hasn't really eaten any type of a real meal since this had started.
Julia told him that she might be able to help him without going to Wyndcliff. She then told him to get some sleep and he would feel better in the morning. If not, then she would help him. He first cleaned up a bit from the party and went to his room. Julia and Barnabas were getting ready to leave when Quentin came back. He was calmer now that he was back.
"Where did everybody go to? Did they leave because of the argument that Brian and I had?" Quentin wanted to know.
"Yes they did. But it was for the better that they did." Barnabas told him.
"What do you mean, Barnabas?" Quentin asked.
"Quentin, there is something that you should know about your son." Julia said to him.
"All I know is that he doesn't want to be involved with the family business. Instead, he wants to be a writer. I can't see that for myself. He's a Collins, not some hack writer. I know I was the same way back in 1897, and finally coming back home after my travels around the world thanks to the portrait of myself." He said.
"Yes, and you almost gave yourself away with that copy of your grandmother's necklace." Barnabas reminded him.
"But at least I was careful about how I did it for Maggie. I love her very much. Maybe I might consider listening to him in the morning after a goodnight's sleep." Quentin told them.
Julia told him "Quentin, you have to hear what we have to say about Brian. It's very important that you hear this."
"Alright, what is so important that I know about my own son that I already don't know about?" He said to them.
They told him about what has been going on with him for the past 2 years. How he would find himself having blackouts and waking up with blood on his clothes and a dead body next to him. Getting away before anybody had a chance to discover him. And with what happened 2 nights ago, finally made him come home to try to get help for himself. Quentin was shocked to hear this about his son. He was hoping that his Werewolf curse would not pass on to Brian. But then again, he had almost forgotten about Chris Jennings, his own descendant, and that he was suffering from it as well. Quentin was crying over this bit of news. He never wanted this for his son.
Barnabas and Julia said that they would try to help him on this matter. Quentin said that he wants' to help as well. He reminds them that if he had never killed Jenny, his first wife from 1897, Magda and Sandor would never have put the curse on him. They both told him that the three of them would help Brian the best that they can do. With that, Julia and Barnabas went home to the Old House to get some rest, and to start helping Brian in the morning.
Quentin was left alone in the living room, and was thinking about what has happened to his son. He then decides that he will make amends to him, and try to make up the past 3 years that has been absent between them. He went upstairs to go to sleep. He first stops by his son's room to see that he was sound asleep.
"I hope you have a peaceful night's sleep Brian. I don't want you to go through what I went through back in the past. One day, I promise, I will tell you everything about myself. Goodnight, my son." Quentin said to both Brian, and to himself.