The old man was still looking at Stiles. He had a very stern face. The fire jumping in the drawing room grate behind him didn't help the image.

"Hi," Stiles said, managing a smile because he thought it was the most polite thing to do.

"Hello," the man paused. "Stiles Stilinski..."

Stiles blinked strangely at his name being spoken so sternly and directly.

"Roger Collins," the old man said in that stiff way of his, before anything more was said. "I'm David's father, and your great uncle."

"Great uncle?" Stiles asked strangely.

Roger looked suddenly downcast for some reason. He pressed the button, making his motorized scooter turn him back toward the fire.

"Your mother was my niece," Roger went on, back turned to him. "I loved her...very much."

There wasn't the slighest change in the stiffness of the tone, but the meaning wasn't lost on Stiles.

"I loved her too," Stiles said with a slight skip, finding he suddenly related to great uncle Roger very well.

"I should hope so," Roger replied with bland irony. "Forgive me if I sound ironic. I used to call your mother, kitten..."

"Kitten," Stiles repeated skeptically.

"Yes, Stiles Stilinski. For the love of your mother, I would do anything for you, except call you puppy..."

Stiles laughed in spite of himself, and when the scooter turned again, Roger was smiling very charmingly and agreeably. His entire manner had changed.

"Well thanks...Uncle Roger."

It still sounded odd to Stiles to acknowledge relatives he'd hardly been aware existed a few days ago.

"You're welcome young man," Roger said formally. "You know, its odd how things sometimes repeat in the most unexpected ways."

With that Roger steered the scooter over to a certain portrait hanging on the wall. The portrait was of a woman with brown hair in a tight bun. Her eyes looked very sad in a way, yet also fierce and proud. Her lipstick was blood red, and she was wearing a black business dress with a white collar.

Stiles was certain the business dress was something from by-gone years.

"My sister," Roger spoke, studying the portrait with something near reverence. "Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. She was the master of this house, and your grandmother."

Stiles almost jumped out of his sneakers at that, studying the portrait with a strange longing now.

"My...grandmother..."

"Yes," Roger said with a slight nod. "She was my dearest and only sister- my most fierce rival..."

Stiles looked at the old man with a question in his eyes.

"What about my coming here," Stiles paused, unsure of how to word what he would say for a few moments. "Makes you think...of the past? That's the impression you gave."

"A correct one," Roger agreed. "Your grandmother brought a woman named Victoria Winters to this house. She was David's governess when he was a boy. It turns out, she was also my niece, though I never knew it- and your aunt."

Stiles wasn't sure what to say. His mouth fell open slightly in that way of his.

"I remind you of her?" he asked somewhat confusedly. "Why?"

"She never knew her family," Roger said. "She grew up in a New York foundling home. While it may be true you knew of us Stiles, you- like she, have never actually known us."

"I guess I see what you mean," Stiles replied. "I'm here now. I am my mother's son, and I do want to know you."

"We want to know you too," Roger said with that agreeable smile again. "Now since we have met...Stiles Stilinski- do you have any questions?"

Stiles thought carefully, and a strange look came into his eyes.

"I do actually. I found a music box in my room. Obviously very old..."

Recognition crept across Roger's face.

"Josette's music box," he said simply. "Your Aunt Vicky accepted it as a gift from Barnabas Collins. I think it'll be in good hands with you, if you like it..."

"It plays nice music," Stiles explained.

"It does have a rather distinct tune," Roger agreed.

Stiles looked a little uncertain, and maybe even nervous suddenly. He was thinking of the ghost he'd seen. Should he ask about that?

He decided he probably shouldn't...

"I think I'll try to sleep again," Stiles told his uncle. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Stiles," Roger replied curtly. "Glad to have met you."

Stiles paused in the doorway of the drawing room and managed a real genuine half-smile this time.

"You too," he said.

oooooOoooooOoooooOooooo

Preview: In upcoming chapters, Stiles learns who the ghost could be, and meets the rivals of the family from the nearby town of Logansport: the Logan family. He soon learns the apparition and the Logan's may be connected in a way he doesn't expect.