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"Oh, Barnabas! I couldn't keep this! It's like removing a sacred relic from a holy sanctuary."

Vicki was shocked that Barnabas had gifted her Josette's music box to keep on his insistence.

"Willie had told me that you loved playing it while I was away in Bangor, and I noticed your fondness of it in my presence. I think that it will suit you to keep it. Josette would had wanted you to have it. I'm sure of it," said Barnabas, admiring the way Vicki caressed the golden object.

Vicki's care-free smile brought him back to Josette's. He missed the conversations they shared in Martinique and Collinwood before that despicable Angelique ruined everything.

"I understand from Willie that you hardly visit the Old House anymore, and I blame my treatments for it. But then again, I could also attribute your absence to Mr. Devlin courtships, true?"

He nearly choked saying Burke's name.

Vicki blushed. "Well, you are correct about that. I have been enjoying my dates with Burke. She is such a good man, Barnabas, and treats me like a queen."

I can treat you like a goddess, my dear. "Then I have presented the perfect gift for a queen: the most perfect music box from the most perfect ancestor ever remembered at Collinwood."

Vicki gave him one of her endearing smiles and hugged him, setting the music box on the coffee table."Thank you, Barnabas. I will always cherish it. How are your treatments coming along?"

"They are coming along well, thank you. Has Doctor Hoffman mentioned them to the family and you?"

"Oh, no. She is a good doctor, Barnabas. Even when Mr. Collins tried to weasel information from her, she changes the subject and reaffirms that she can not violate doctor-patient confidentiality."

Perhaps Doctor Hoffman is capable of loyalty, thought Barnabas. "Vicki, I know that the treatments had kept us from conversing as much as we used to, but I would like to get back to the way things were before them."

"I miss our conversations as well, Barnabas," she said, raising his hopes, "but I have been rather busy lately."

"Oh? What have you been doing with your time?"

"Writing correspondences to different families in the Collinsport/Bangor areas. Since David is at Wyndcliffe, and no one knows when he'll be better, I have to keep working. Burke and I are going to need the money when we buy our house."

Barnabas' hopes lowered. "Our house? Vicki! Surely you are not considering living with a man unattached?"

"Of course not! Burke asked me to marry him at dinner. It was the most happiest moment of my life! And you giving me Josette's music box just made my engagement extra special!"

Inwardly, Barnabas panicked. She didn't wait for me. She betrayed me! No, no, not my sweet Victoria...Jeremiah Collins! Even he had reincarnated into Burke Devlin to steal my one true happiness from me. This can not be happening again!

"Marriage? Vicki, are you sure that you are ready for such a venture? Besides love, the institution involves compatibility and understanding on both spouse's parts of each other. Burke Devlin does not share your love for history, my dear, which may annoy him."

"But Barnabas, that is the beauty of our relationship. Our differences and our willingness to respect them will cement our love. We don't have to have everything in common, you know."

"But what about Collinwood? And Mrs. Stoddard and Mr. Collins? And me? Surely you will not abandon those who love and cherish your presence here?"

"Barnabas, I am not abandoning either of them or you. I will visit with Burke when I can. Besides, I already discussed it Mrs. Stoddard, and, as much as she will miss me, she encouraged me to be happy. I would like for you to be happy for me as well, Barnabas. Please say that you are happy for me."

Barnabas swallowed his bitterness and murmured, "I am happy for you."

She hugged him again. "Thank you, Barnabas! Once Burke and I has set a date, you'll be the first one to receive an invitation. I think I should continue with my correspondences. Shall I walk you to the door?"

"No, thank you," he said, turned from her. "I want to wait here for Doctor Hoffman, if that is alright?"

"That's fine. Mr. Collins and she would probably be in shortly. Good night, Barnabas."

She jumped from the sofa, with the music box in tow, not even waiting for Barnabas to kiss her hand.

"Good night, Vicki," he said, solemnly.

After Vicki disappeared through the corridor to her bedroom, Barnabas closed the drawing room doors, cursing himself.

This is an outrage! I can't believe Vicki had chosen Devlin over me! Jeremiah has once again stolen my Josette from me. Why did I delay eliminating him?Doctor Julia Hoffman, of course. Because of her, Vicki has chosen Burke as her husband instead of me. I should had killed that woman when I first suspected her, but my desire to become human again overrode my instinct to survive. But I still have time to woo Vicki. She is not married to Devlin yet, and I know that her love for Josette would stand above her desire to be Devlin's wife. But first, I need to go through with my plans for Doctor Hoffman...I mean...Julia.

However, Willie's warnings concerning Barnabas' plans for Julia began to haunt him. But he shook the thoughts from his mind and began waiting for his enemy.

At a quarter passed midnight, Roger and Julia came through the front doors, laughing.

"Did you enjoy yourself, Julia?" asked Roger, hanging up both of their coats.

After dinner and dancing, Julia convinced Roger to take a drive to the beach, where she also convinced him to walk in the sand bare-footed. Against his better judgment, he also sat on the sand with her, letting Julia sit on his jacket like the proper gentleman he was raised to be. They had a nice conversation about their deceased spouses, their lives, and mostly His relationship with David. Julia spent a good hour analyzing the father-son relationship although the son was not present, and convincing Roger that he needed to visit David and achieve a sort of peace with the boy. At the end, Roger stated that he would consider it.

"Dinner was superb, Roger. Thank you for the night out. I can't tell you how long it's been since I had such a wonderful time."

"You are welcome, Julia. I'm glad that your spirits were lifted. And speaking of spirits, would you care for a nightcap?"

He threw opened the drawing room doors, and fumbled for the light switch.

"No, thank you, Roger. It's really late, and I should go to-"

"What the hell?!"

Julia stood at the doorway, surprised and befuddled, as was Roger, as they gazed at Barnabas, sitting on the sofa, returning their gaze. Yet, his was a mixture of nonchalance and joy in ending Roger's time with Julia.

"Barnabas," said Julia, folding her arms, eyebrows raised, "why are you sitting in this room? In the dark? After midnight?"

"I needed to see you...Julia."

Julia eyes widened. He called me Julia. Why would he use my given name? I don't like this change at all.

"I was hoping to speak to you on a medical matter hours ago, but obviously...you were delayed," he answered, shooting a look at Roger. "Cousin Roger, do you think it is appropriate to keep a vulnerable widow out at an ungodly hour?"

Vulnerable? Julia thought, indignant.

"And do you, Cousin Barnabas, think it is appropriate to sit up in another person's drawing room, in the dark, at an ungodly hour?" countered Roger.

"Touché, cousin, touché," nodded Barnabas. "Now will you excuse us, Roger? It's urgent that I speak to Julia alone."

He said my name again, she observed, unsure exactly what to make of this.

"I'm sure that you can wait until tomorrow evening, at a decent hour, Barnabas," said Roger, poking out his bottom lip to control his anger.

"I was under the impression that doctors were available twenty-four hours a day. Isn't that correct, Julia?"

"Yes, that is true...Barnabas." She turned to Roger. "It's alright, Roger. I will see you at breakfast."

"I am looking forward to it, my dear. Good night, Julia...Barnabas," he murmured, and climbed the stairs.

Julia closed the double doors and leaned against them, facing Barnabas. "Alright, Barnabas. What do you want?"

"Is that any way for a medical professional to speak to her patient, Julia?"

Julia ignored his question. "And why are you using my given name?"

"Because it is your name, Julia. A very lovely, sophisticated name. It is so much better than 'Doctor Hoffman'."

"I know how lovely my name is, Barnabas, but why you are now deciding to take liberty with it?"

"Perhaps for the same reason you are taking liberty with mine."

"What do you mean?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Sit with me and I will tell you."

He gestured to the empty space next to him. Suspicious, Julia sat as close to the other side of the sofa as she could. Barnabas sat turned to her, his arm resting on the back of the sofa as if they were close acquaintance. Julia was turned to him as well, but braced herself for a chastisement and/ or an attack. Then she remembered that her crucifix was in her medical bag in her room.

"Now explain yourself, Barnabas," she demanded.

Barnabas took glances at her crossed, bare legs and answered, "I would like to apologize for my behavior earlier this evening. You are right. I have no right to forbid you to...to..."

Julia kicked off her heels, wiggling her toes. For the first time, Barnabas noticed that Julia's finger and toe nails were painted red. He never saw Elizabeth's or Vicki's fingernails painted. One of his previous victims had painted nails, but he never realized that women like Julia would paint their nails as well.

She noticed his curious stare at her feet and guessed his thoughts. "Painting nails is also a part of feminine cosmetics in this century and time, Barnabas. Continue."

He snapped his eyes away and looked at her face. "As I was saying, I have no right to forbid you to do anything. I also realized that...I relish your company. I don't have many friends or close companions, and...with Vicki being preoccupied with her new fiancé, Devlin...I feel more alone than I did in that coffin for nearly two centuries. I suppose that what I am saying is that...I would like to venture into a friendship with you. Would you consider becoming my close companion?"

Julia now understood his change of heart. Vicki had chosen Burke over him, and he is seeking revenge through the veil of friendship.

"Barnabas," she said, "you hardly consider me pleasant company. Even I hardly consider you pleasant company. For the past two months, you and I had no types of conversations about anything that wasn't related to Josette, Angelique, and other Collins-related topics. You never asked me anything about my life, my marriage, my work, anything about me. I am honestly sick of hearing about Josette, and how much you hated Jeremiah for marrying her although the both of them were under your late wife's spell. And most of all, I am sick to death of listening to you lament about what happened 172 years ago, and seeming to think that you are the only one who has ever lost someone they loved! Have you forgotten that I lost my husband? It hurts, I know. It hurts badly, but after eight months now, I am fine. I moved on as he wanted me to do. I survived. And, if you wish to do so, you can, too."

Barnabas didn't know what to make of this strange woman. He was angry for her tirade against him and his memory of Josette, but strangely, she was logical in her words. However, he couldn't allow them to influence his purpose.

"You are right, Julia. And after the way I treated you and showed distrust, you have every right to be suspicious of my sudden change of heart. I suppose that after being confined inside of a coffin-prison for nearly two hundred years, I have developed an anti-social demeanor and a bigotry to this new world of yours. I am willing to accept the ways of modern times if you will show me."

His hand slid over hers, resting on her lap. Julia flinched and got up. Barnabas rose as well, standing behind her. "What's wrong, Julia? Have I said something wrong?"

Julia turned to him. "The only reasons why that you are turning to me are because you lost Vicki, and most likely blame me for that, and you loathe my friendship with Roger. It all makes sense now. You would never have this 'change of heart' without it being about Roger and your fear of exposure, and now about you losing Vicki."

"Can a man have a change of heart, Julia?"

"Not if he has the heart of a monster," she answered, holding firm.

This woman is a formidable opponent. And much more reasonable than Angelique. "I understand that it may take some time to believe me, but I am more than willing to show you that I am sincere in the coming days. Until then, good night, Julia. I anticipate your visit on Friday evening for my last injection for the week."

He took her hand and kissed it, his amber eyes resting on her hazel ones in something that resembled...lust? And...she felt him lick the back of her hand, stirring her own desire within. Afterward, he bestowed a wicked smile upon her, and left for the Old House. As she fumbled to bolt the doors, Julia was unable to think straight. She knew that he was a monster, but...why was she wanting more of what he did to her hand?

Focus, Doctor Hoffman, focus! You know very well this is a trick. That man doesn't desire you. He has plans for your demise and you know it. You didn't cure him in time for him to claim Vicki, and you are consorting platonically with his enemy. You must be on your guard. You must speak to Nicholas!

"Did I hear you think my name, my dear?"

Upon hearing that wretched voice, Julia returned to the drawing room to see Nicholas Blair, impeccably dressed in gray as usual, making himself a drink.

"Don't you have any respect for anyone's property?"

"No. Would you like a drink?"

"No, Nicholas. We need to talk," said Julia, closing the drawing room doors again.

He toasted Julia, who rolled her eyes, and drank down his cocktail.

"Mmm. An excellent mixture," he mused, setting the glass on the bar. "Now, dear Julia, what is troubling you?"

"Barnabas is troubling me. I think that he has something planned for me. A fatal plan."

"He knows about me and our plan?" he asked, concerned.

"No, it's not that. Miss Winters is engaged to the another man, and Barnabas is not pleased that I am helping his cousin, Roger, with his son. Now, he ...he wants me to be his closest companion."

Nicholas stared at her for a moment, his eyes burning bright with a satanic gleam, and burst into a raucous laughter.

"I don't see the humor in this, Nicholas," fumed Julia, her hands on her hips.

"Julia, there is no problem at all."

"Speak for yourself!"

"Julia, use that beautiful intellect of yours: are you aware of the old saying, 'Keep your friends close, your enemies closer?"

"Why do I get the feeling that I am not going to like what you have to say?"

"Then you know what you have to do then, Julia. If Barnabas Collins wants you as a 'close companion', then become it. It'll be easier when you kill him. He would never suspect you of...stabbing him in the back. Right, close companion?"

"He's planning to kill me, Nicholas, and you want me to befriend him?"

"He won't do a thing. Remember when I told you that Josette's widowhood didn't stop him? He will still pursue Miss Winters, but he needs you to fill his lonely evenings until that happens. I only caution you to beware of his charms. If my Angelique could succumb to him, then you would be no different. Stay on your guard, Julia, and remember why you are here."

"I also remember telling you that I am not easily persuaded," she said.

"If that's the case, then why were you confounded by his lust for you?"

"I am not!" protested the doctor.

"If you're not confounded, then where are your shoes?"

Julia looked down at her feet, realizing that she has been walking around without her shoes for a while.

"Oh, go away, Nicholas! I need to go to bed!" she yelled, frustrated.

"Very well, Julia," he said, smiling knowingly, "good night."

He disappeared in his usual fashion, and Julia grabbed her shoes and ran up the steps, still bare-foot.

On Friday afternoon, Roger and Julia were coming in from their walk on the estate when they noticed Elizabeth and Vicki gushing over two dozen roses.

"What are those?" asked Roger, amused.

"Roger, these are roses," said Elizabeth.

"I know what they are, Liz. I am asking where did they come from?" he said, annoyed.

"They were just delivered before you two walked in," replied Victoria, beaming at Julia.

Julia noticed that both Elizabeth and Vicki were smiling at her. "Why are you two staring at me? Am I missing something?"

"Julia, these roses are for you," said Elizabeth.

Roger was no longer amused.

"For me?" asked Julia, shocked. "Roger?"

"I would had showered you with more than two dozen roses, Julia," he murmured. He had an idea on who probably sent them, but he would keep that information to himself.

"It came with a card, Doctor Hoffman," said Vicki, handing Julia the beautifully embossed card.

Julia read aloud. "'To the indomitable Doctor Julia Hoffman...from your...intrigued...secret admirer'."

"How exciting!" exclaimed Vicki.

"I wonder who it is," said Elizabeth.

"Indeed," grumbled Roger.

But Julia knew who it was who sent the flowers. Despite what she read, she hid from the three in the drawing room that the card actually read: "To the indomitable Doctor Julia Hoffman, from your intrigued patient, Barnabas Collins, esquire."

That evening, after receiving his injection, Barnabas wondered why Julia did not mention the roses he sent. It was obvious that she liked them from her reaction to Roger's roses.

"Julia?"

"Yes, Barnabas," she answered, dispassionately.

"Did you receive two, beautiful items in twelves this afternoon?" he asked, puzzled. If that bumbling servant of mine had forgot to have them delivered, he will have the caning of his life.

"You mean the roses? Yes, I have received them. It was surprising since I thought that you didn't like me. Or should I say because you hate me perhaps?"

"I was showing you that what I said the other night was true. I do have a change of heart about you," he said.

"Well, mine hasn't changed about you. I'm leaving now. I will see you on Monday evening," she said, heading for the door.

"Julia, wait!" he called out, jumping from his armchair.

She turned the doorknob, only for the door to be pushed closed by Barnabas behind her. They both stood there at the door, waiting for the other to say or do something. Barnabas made the first move. The perfume Julia wore enticed him to bring his face closer to the nape of her neck, inhaling the pleasurable scent. Julia closed her eyes, wrestling to get control of her sudden arousal.

"Do you intend to kill me now?" she asked, snapping them both out of their moments.

She turned around for an answer, facing him, looking deep into his beautiful eyes. In return, he loved her doe-shaped eyes, but fought to keep his own agenda by stepping away from her.

"Julia, I know that you do not trust me at this time, but I realize now that I trust you with my life. You kept your word for two months, and...I suppose that I overreacted concerning your friendship with Roger. And...you'll be happy to know that I have been chasing a delusion that has been dead for 172 years. I wish to move past the devastation I experienced...with your assistance."

Julia couldn't believe what he was saying. "You want me to be your psychiatrist, Barnabas?"

"I suppose I am. You helped many people with...mental instabilities. Not to say I am disturbed, but I can not let go of the past, and I need to do so."

"Well, I am shocked, but glad that you realized that. And Vicki?"

"What is she to me? She is engaged to another man," he said, with downcast eyes.

Julia couldn't help but to feel something for him although she was still skeptical. "Alright, Barnabas. On Monday evening, after the injection, we will begin your session. Good night, Barnabas."

"Will you have dinner with me tomorrow evening?"

Julia sighed. "If we are going to have dinner, then we should set some ground rules."

"Ground rules?" asked Barnabas, baffled.

"Yes, Barnabas. If we are going to be friends, then there has to be rules, due to our prior circumstances. If you do anything to jeopardize our new friendship with fits about my companionship with Roger and my assistance with his son, or do anything that will greatly disappoint me, our friendship will be terminated. Also, I need for you to be as open with your thoughts with me as I intend to be with you. Is that clear?"

"Whatever you wish, Julia. Take my hand as a sign of our new relationship."

Julia stared at his out-stretched hand, wondering whether or not she should take it. However, remembering her own agenda with Nicholas, and his encouragement to "keep the enemy closer," she reached out slowly. But Barnabas grabbed it, shaking it lightly. But then, he placed his hand over hers, caressing it. Her nerves jumped, and he smiled wantonly at her.

She snatched from him. "I have to go."

As fast as she could, Julia dashed for her car and drove off like a bat out of Hell. As soon as she pulled up to the main house. She stopped to collect herself.

What am I doing? I can't go through this. It's obvious to me and him that we are attracted to each other, and I know that he has some sort of plan to use that attraction. I have to be careful. I just got to be careful. If we're going to be 'close,' then I have guard myself like a reinforce wall. I can't let him seduce me, and I can't give in. Not after all of this time, I can't give in to him of all people.

Back at the Old House, Barnabas was quite pleased that he chipped at the "indomitable doctor." Yet, he was disturbed that he was more than eager to complete the seduction than he was in obtaining Vicki. He decided then to take her the next evening while he "poured out his heart and soul" to her sympathetic ears. He will have Julia's heart, mind,...and body while looking forward to having "his Josette" sharing his future with him.