Chapter 20

The week went by fast and the day of Julia and Elliott's wedding was upon them. Vicki had her bridal party and received some very nice pre wedding gifts.

Carolyn bought her a set of luggage for her honeymoon. Julia had gotten her a day at the spa with a complete massage, facial and style for the day of her wedding.

Maggie has bought her a lovely bed jacket and a photo album and Mrs. Johnson had made a contribution of a basket of bath salts, powders, and perfume.

Vicki's mother gave her an envelope, in it contained her birth certificate with her complete name of Victoria Elizabeth Collins in the baby's name. Then the second paper was the deed to the house by the sea she had fallen in love when she was engaged to Burke Devlin.

Penny had brought a pair of shoes that would match her wedding dresses. The other girls from the town that Vicki had met and attended their weddings and engagement parties brought a sundry of things that would compliment the old house's kitchen make over.

She received toaster, pots and pans, dishes, glass ware, table cloths, comforters, towels, and bed sheets were among many of the other items she unwrapped.

There was a game they played, that for every ribbon she broke, was how many children she would have and much to Vicki's chagrin she had managed to break five ribbons.

Laughing she flushed as she thought of giving Barnabas five children. Carolyn cajoled her and then turned to her mother, "You will be a grandmother at least five times over mother."

Elizabeth beamed at Vicki then the night was over and with Penny and Carolyn's help, Vicki loaded up the Estate car and took the items to the old house.

Because Willie was with Barnabas, Elliott, Roger, and Quentin., Vicki had to let herself into the dark house. When she first entered she had the feeling she was not alone in the house.

"Hello? Josette?"

She called as she brought in the first load of gifts to set in the drawing-room. The familiar scent was not in the air so she was pretty sure the feeling of someone in the room with her was not Josette.

Moving to the light switch, she was glad they had gotten some electric in the house. As the house lit up, she was sure she had seen a dark figure in the dining room doorway.

"Hello? Willie?"

She was feeling a bit apprehensive as she moved slowly about the room. Carolyn and Penny entered the front door and carried the rest of the gifts into the drawing-room. Carolyn and Penny had laughed and chatting as they entered and it was the joy they brought with them into the house that made Vicki unease dissipate.

"Vicki! We were talking and we thought it might be a good idea for you to have Penny in your wedding! It would be Julia, Maggie, Penny, and me. We were thinking that you could get Barnabas to ask Quentin to partner with her. Penny said she could get a matching dress. So?"

Vicki feeling her unease and being distracted heard the 'So,' and nothing else. "So what?"

Vicki asked as she shook her head. "Vicki weren't you listening?"

Vicki flushed, "Carolyn, I am so sorry. I was distracted because I thought someone was in the house when I came in."

Carolyn sober immediately, and she uncomfortably looked around. "Did you see someone?"

Vicki shook her head, "I saw what looked like a dark shadow moving by the dinning room."

"Well let's call the police and have them come and check it out."

Vicki was still uncomfortable but this was her house and she knew Josette would not let anyone hurt her.

"Do you really think we should?"

Penny looked around at the antiques and the beauty of the house. "Yeah, I think you should. Let me call Chris, he will come out and check the place out.

" Penny moved to the newly installed phone and picked it up, as she did the front door opened and Willie, Barnabas, Roger, and Quentin entered the house.

"Well I see we came home in time." Penny turned to the men and smiled, "I guess I don't need to call Chris to come check out the house for an intruder we have all you men."

Barnabas was immediately concerned. "Intruder?"

Carolyn explained, "Yes, Vicki thought she saw someone when she came in to bring all the gifts from the shower."

Willie immediately began to search the area where Vicki thought she saw someone while Barnabas and Quentin went to look at the rest of the house.

Roger stayed with the girls as the men spread out to search. Barnabas entered Josette's room and was met by Josette.

"Oh Barnabas, there were strangers here in your house. I do not know what they wanted, but the one was evil. A woman with evil intent, she frighten me"

Barnabas frowned. "Do you know what they wanted? What she wanted?

Josette moved about the room, and was very upset. "She was as you were Barnabas and she wanted you. He wanted to take Victoria away from you."

The sound of the door to Josette's room opened and Josette disappeared.

Quentin entered the room and shook his head, "I did not find anything except for a broken lamp in your bed chambers. Did you find anything?"

Barnabas shook his head and moved to the hallway. Going into his bedchamber he found the lamp that Vicki had bought for their room and bent to pick it up.

"Vicki gave me this for our room."

He picked up the pieces of the lamp and put them in a trash bin. "Josette said there were people in the house, that one was an evil woman."

Quentin quirked an eyebrow and ventured, "Angelique?"

Barnabas shook his head, "She would have known Angelique, and she said the woman was as I was. Which could only mean one thing, she was a vampire."

Quentin crossed his arms and frowned. "And the other?"

Barnabas placed the last of the broken lamp in the trash and turned to look at Quentin, "She said he was here to take Vicki away from me."

Quentin followed Barnabas to the door and waited as he exited his room. "Do you think this has anything to do with the prediction that Vlad has come back?"

Barnabas looked around at the dimly lit hallway. 'I am not sure. We thought we had destroyed him with the injection. Apparently, we are not done with him or rather he is not done with us."

Quentin followed him to the top of the stairs. "Then we need to put more guards around the place until you are married and are gone on your honeymoon."

Barnabas agreed and as they came down the stairs Willie reported that he found nothing amiss or missing.

"Well whomever it may be they are gone now. I am going to hire some guards to patrol the area for a while."

Quentin said as they all moved to the drawing-room. "Oh Barnabas, we were discussing your wedding and well we thought it a good idea that Penny be in the wedding party and maybe if Quentin would, he could be in the party to escort her down the aisle."

Carolyn had brought it up with Vicki and she thought it was a good idea, and left it up to Carolyn to approach Barnabas. Quentin smiled, "I would be honored."

The week arrived without any more incidents and the day of the Hoffman Stokes wedding was upon them. Julia stood in her wedding dress in the dressing room of the ballroom and the photographer was snapping pictures of her and her bridal party.

As it happened there were more people invited to the wedding than they previously thought and the room was fast filling up. The Groom and his groomsmen were assembled at the front of the ballroom and the bridesmaids lined up in the rear of the room to await the bridal march to begin.

As the march began, Maggie entered first, then Carolyn, and finally Vicki entered and she smiled up at Professor Stokes and her eyes locked on Barnabas and held his gaze as she moved to the end of the aisle and turn with the others and watched Julia make her entrance. She cast a look at Elliott and found him entranced as Julia smiled and moved towards him.

He turned and smiled as Julia took her place by his side and they turned to peer at the Judge.

The Judge turned to the guests and said, "You all may be seated." The guests sat and the room grew quiet except for an occasional cough or scuffing of feet. The ceremony was very brief and soon enough the words "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Elliott leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on her lips and then they turned and the Judge introduced them to the room. "Ladies and Gentleman may I present Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Stokes."

The room broke into applause and they moved down the hallway to the end of the hallway where a reception area was set up. Vicki and Barnabas followed Elliott and Julia, then Maggie, and Professor Newcomb, one of Elliott's colleagues.

Finally the receiving line was complete with Carolyn and Professor Allen another one of Professor Stokes colleagues. Standing in the receiving line, the guests filed past the wedding party shaking their hands and coming to Professor Stokes and Julia to congratulate them.

The guests were then escorted to the east end of the ballroom where they were seated at a table. The caterers were bustling about to serve drinks and appetizers.

A small band was set up and was playing popular tunes. The reception was in full swing as Barnabas and Vicki sat at the guest of honor table, smiling and talking about the day and the events of Julia's marriage to Elliott.

"In one more week, we shall be wed and be on our way to the beautiful island of Martinique." He lifted her fingers and kissed them one by one. She smiled and held his gaze.

"Mrs. Barnabas Collins sounds wonderful to me."

He tipped her chin up and stared into her eyes. "I am the lucky one, I am so fortunate to have found you at last."

They rose and moved to the dance floor and together they danced, holding close to each other. They glided, turned, dipped and spun. Laughing and moving together they enjoyed the night.

From the balcony, once again, Radu and Gilda watched the couple. "She is very much like Elizabeta in the earlier days. Before the wars took their toll on her and she became so depressed."

Gilda was watching Barnabas with a sly wicked smile. "I rather like the man, he reminds me of Angelo."

Radu turned frowning, "Do not get ahead of yourself, my dear, he is merely to be distracted and slightly tasted nothing more."

The female formed a pretty pout and glanced around the room. "Oh Radu, you are such a bore sometimes, I wonder the master can tolerate you as he does. I will play nice with the little mouse, while you play with the boring female."

The evening ended with Barnabas and Vicki planning on spending the night together at the old house. Julia and Elliott were soon on their way for a brief honeymoon, so they could be back for Barnabas and Vicki's wedding.

The newly weds were wished well as they drove off and the rest of the evening was left for the wedding guests to enjoy the evening without them. Vicki made her excuses to leave and knew she needed to pack a small bag before going to the old house.

Moving down the long dark corridor going back to the main house she paused and turned to look around her. She thought she had heard a noise earlier, as she turned back once again; she came face to face with the man she had met before in the dressing room on the night of her engagement party. "

Oh! Are you lost again?" She peered at the man as he studied her.

He smiled and she felt a shiver travel her spine at the sight of that smile. "You don't belong to him you know. You belong to another and you know it Elizabeta."

His accent was a familiar one. It was the same accent she had come to fear when she was held captive in Vlad's castle. She stepped back from him, her eyes wide and fear edging her very core.

"Who are you?" She demanded with quiver in her voice.

"I am the one that will return you to Vlad." Vicki backed up and he reached to grab her arm. "No, you will hear me out. You may marry the weak one, but you will not stay with him. You will come to understand that you belong to our Prince Vlad. He gets what he wants and he wants you."

Vicki glared at the hold he held on her arm and then into his dark compelling gaze.

"You are wrong, Vlad is dead. I do not belong to him, I belong to myself and will marry Barnabas and be partnered with him. Now sir, remove your hand before I scream for help."

Radu smiled, released her arm bowed to her and step into the darkening shadows of the hallway. He had disappeared and she moved to lean against the wall.

Barnabas came rushing down the hallway towards her shaking form. "Vicki? Are you unharmed?"

Vicki looked at Barnabas and shook her head. "A man, he . . . he . . . said I was for Vlad and . . . "

Then she stopped and moved into his arms. "Oh Barnabas how did you know I needed you?"

He spoke softly into her ear as he held her close. "Josette told me you were in danger and I should come."

Vicki held to him and wanted to cry but held her emotions in check as she calmed herself. "Oh Barnabas, it was the same man who was in the dressing room on the night of our engagement party."

Barnabas escorted her down the hallway and into the main part of the house and to the drawing-room. "Tell me what he said."

He moved to get her coat and put it around her shoulders. "He said I was not for you that I belonged to Vlad. I told him, that Vlad was dead. He did not want to believe me. Oh Barnabas I was never so afraid as I was tonight. He had the same accent as Vlad."

George Patterson stood in the doorway and his demeanor was clear. He was not happy hearing his little girl was afraid. "What happened?"

Vicki looked up at her father. "There was a man who threaten Vicki in the hallway George. I will get Quentin and see if we can find him."

Quentin had joined George in the doorway. He had seen Barnabas with Josette earlier and saw his sudden departure and went to get George.

George moved to sit by Vicki on the sofa as Barnabas and Quentin moved out of the drawing-room doors. George held Vicki close and spoke softly to her.

"It will be ok Vicki I promise you, we will find this guy and he will be escorted out-of-town."

Vicki looked at George with tear filled eyes and this affected George in a way that told him, he loved his daughter.

"He said he was the one that would take me to Vlad, that I belonged to Vlad. Oh Poppa, it was so frightening when I was a captive in that country in his castle. If Julia and Barnabas had not come to rescue me, I fear I don't know what might have happened to me. The man was insane. He kept talking about being over 4 centuries old and I was his wife reincarnated. He was insane and was forcing me to play out a role in his insanity."

George held her close, "You have nothing to fear, I will make sure you are safe. You are going to marry Barnabas, go on your honeymoon and not worry about some crazy man. Do you hear me honey?"

She smiled at her father as he spoke the words most daughters expect to hear from their father when they were afraid and growing up. It was more endearing now that she knew who her father was and that even at the age she was he still wanted to protect her.

Quentin and Barnabas entered the drawing-room and looked to George. "We found no sign of him or his companion."

George nodded, "I will post a guard here to make sure she is safe tonight."

Vicki smiled at her father, "I was going to spend the night at the Old House."

Barnabas looked at Quentin then to George, "If you like I can put you both up at the Old House tonight."

George smiled and nodded, "That might be a good idea. Thank you Barnabas."

Elizabeth and Roger walked into the drawing-room with Carolyn and Penny behind. "What are you thanking Barnabas for George?"

Elizabeth moved to stand next to George and looked down to see Vicki was pale and looked upset. "What is going on, Vicki darling you look pale, has something happened?"

Quentin moved forward to the sideboard liquor cabinet and poured himself a brandy. "The party was crashed tonight by some mental patient and threatened Vicki. Barnabas and I have spent the last 20 minutes trying to find him on the grounds and here in the house."

Barnabas frowned as he thought a moment. "I think for the safety of the family you all should come to the Old House and stay tonight."

George nodded in agreement. "I think I could better protecting everyone under one roof and there are less rooms to worry about at the old house than here."

Barnabas agreed and waited as the occupants of Collinwood went to gather over night items. Then taking the estate car they drove to the Old House.

Willie greeted them at the door, "Um, Barnabas what is going on?" He held the door open as George, Elizabeth, Roger; Carolyn, Penny, Thomas, Jason, Mrs. Johnson and Vicki entered the drawing-room.

"Willie, there are guests staying tonight, why don't you take Carolyn and Penny up to the rooms, and have them help you get the beds ready for everyone."

George moved to the foyer table and lifted the telephone. "I am so glad you had this put in, I am going to call Chris and have him station a car outside Collinwood."

Willie, Vicki, Carolyn, and Penny moved up the stairs to the second floor and Vicki went to different rooms making bedroom assignments for the night. Moving with Carolyn and Penny, they made the rooms ready for occupancy. As they finished up with the room Elizabeth was going to use. Vicki turned to Carolyn and Penny. "Have you two decided on which room you would like to use?"

Carolyn went to the room that had been occupied by Millicent in the 1700's and Penny found a nice comfortable room next to Carolyn's.

Roger took Jeremiah's room, Quentin took Barnabas' room and George took the room across from Elizabeth's.

David was content in his room, which is where he stayed during the wedding with Willie entertaining him. Mrs. Johnson was put in Abigail Collins room.

As the house settled down for the night, Vicki and Barnabas took sometime for themselves in the drawing-room. Vicki sat on Barnabas' lap and laid her head on his shoulder. "Well it was not exactly what I had in mind for tonight, but it is just as nice. This house has not been so full since the original Collins Family lived here."

Barnabas smiled, stroking her hair from her face; he kissed her temple and spoke softly, "Maybe this is a preview of what is to come when we have our own family here."

Vicki nodded and played with his coat lapel. "I was thinking we should have three girls and three boys, what do you think?"

She looked at him with a coy smile h and her eyes were alight with the thought of their family living in the house. He lifted her chin and peered into her hazel eyes.

"Is that what you want my dear?"

She nodded, "I think six children would be perfect for the legacy we should leave behind."

He kissed her nose and spoke with tenderness, "Then I shall attempt to do what I can to give us six children."

This brought a delightful blush to her cheeks and he chuckled, "That is one of your most endearing qualities my love." She covered her mouth as she yawned and slid from his lap.

"I suppose we shall sleep in separate rooms tonight for the sake of convention, though I would feel more safe if you were in my arms for the rest of the night."

Vicki held him and walked with him up the stairs. "I think I would feel safer in your arms tonight."

They moved to Joshua and Naomi's room and entered the room. Vicki found her nightgown lying over the settee and the bed turned down.

"I guess we could stay together tonight and early in the morning, I could sneak down the hallway to Josette's room and pretend I slept there." She giggled softly.

He cupped her chin, "You are a little minx." She went to pick up her gown and moved to the attached bathroom that had just been completed.

"Yes, I know but only for you." She entered the bathroom and closed the door and Barnabas went to lay on the bed folding his hands behind his head. "Soon, we will not have to put up these pretexts he said to no one in particular."

As before Barnabas slept in his smoking jacket and on top of the blankets but holding Vicki in his arms. This felt right for them both and they knew that the date of their marriage could not arrive any faster.

Vicki awoke at the first light of dawn, pulled gently from Barnabas' arms she went down the rear hallway to Josette's room and crawled into Josette's bed, laying her head down on the pillow, she fell back asleep with a smile as she remembered how great it felt to wake up in Barnabas' arms.

Her dreams were soon interrupted at the sound of a soft knock on her door. Vicki pushed up in the bed and called sleepily, "Come in." Willie entered with a tray of food and a piping cup of coffee.

"Mrs. Johnson had breakfast ready but you did not come down so Barnabas told me to bring you up a tray."

Vicki smiled as he put the tray on her lap. "Thank you Willie. What time is it?"

He scratched the back of his head and looked around the room. "Oh its 10."

Vicki felt shocked, and she started eating her breakfast in a hurry. "I did not mean to sleep this late, I am so sorry. Has everyone left for Collinwood?"

Willie moved to open her drapes and paused, "Oh no, Sheriff Patterson wanted the family to stay here while he and some of the deputies went through Collinwood to make sure it was safe."

Willie moved back to watch her eat, "Your brothers and sister have left for school and Carolyn went into Bangor to pick up Penny's dress for your wedding. Barnabas said when you were ready he would go with us into Collinsport. There was something about picking up Maggie and her things to take back to Collinwood. He also said something about doing some shopping for the house?"

Vicki nodded, "I asked him if we could pick up some lamps for the different bedrooms and some dinnerware and silverware for the kitchen. I also wanted to get some new area carpets for the different bedrooms."

Vicki finished her breakfast and had noted Willie was in a far happier frame of mind since the updates were done to the house.

"Willie, do you think Barnabas is happy with the change in the old house?" She had asked him as she finished her breakfast and moved to take the tray downstairs.

Willie had stood at the sink of the more modernized kitchen and turned smiling broadly at Vicki.

"He was not sure how he was going to feel about it until it happened. Now, that they have installed the central air and heat, he has been a lot happier. We still have the fireplaces and we still burn the candles in some of the area, which I think makes him feel more comfortable. The biggest change has been the bathrooms and I know he is enjoying that."

Vicki smiled and left her tray with him. She had dressed casually so she could spend time in town shopping with Barnabas. Willie had loaded the dishes into the dishwasher and then went to get the estate car.

Vicki went in search of Barnabas and found him in his library. Moving to him, she kissed him lightly on the lips and smiled. "I think we are ready. So, do you think the family will be able to return to Collinwood tonight?"

Barnabas stood and enveloped her into his hold and kissed her more passionately. Wrapping her arms around his neck she smiled, "Hmm I think I like that."

He chuckled, "You do, maybe we should just stay here instead of going into Collinsport."

Vicki snuggled closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "I would not mind, but we do need to get Maggie and her things."

Barnabas kissed her forehead and broke the embrace. "Well maybe if we get our errands over and get back here, we could pick up here where we are leaving off?"

She nodded, "I like that even more."

They moved from the library into the hallway and walked to the front door, where Willie awaited them. The morning was fast drawing to an end and afternoon was upon them as they drove into Collinsport.

Willie found a good parking spot and the trio set off in search of updates for the house. They moved along the dock area looking into the storefront windows, Vicki was met by Rita Dunst that moved to hug her.

"I wanted to let you know how great it was to be able to perform at your engagement party. Mother was thrilled our business is booming thanks to you and Mr. Collins! We have gotten 30 new students and most of them were wanting to learn the waltz because they were so enchanted with the way you danced the waltz with Reg."

Vicki flushed at the enthusiastic compliments of Rita. "You are very welcome. I hope to see your family at our wedding on Saturday."

Rita could not contain her excitement. "We are so excited and look forward to it. Well I guess I had better let you go."

Barnabas shook his head. "With all that excitement, she is liable to explode." Vicki laughed, "She is certainly exuberant."

The three continued down the street, pausing to go into a shop and then to venture on. As two p.m. rolled around, the trio moved towards the Blue Whale where they met Maggie.

Going in to have lunch, they found a nice quiet corner table and ordered. Maggie seemed to glow with her own excitement.

"Joe has asked me to marry him! I think you two started something."

Vicki laughed and shook her head. "Maybe it's just love in the air for the town of Collinsport. When a lot of people get together and are happy lots of great things happen."

Maggie showed Vicki her engagement ring and beamed. "We are going to have a summer wedding. I hope you will do me the honor of being my matron of honor?"

Vicki hugged her friend and laughed, "Of course I would. Thank you for asking me."

Vicki sat back as Bob brought out their meals and looked at Willie and Barnabas. "I did not realize how hungry I was until the shrimp arrived."

Barnabas smiled indulgently at Vicki and took her hand and kissed her fingers. "Enjoy your meal my love, Willie and I are going to go and finish up the shopping and come back to get you and Maggie."

That is when Vicki noticed that Barnabas and Willie had not ordered anything more than a light appetizer.

She looked confused, "I thought we had gotten everything." Barnabas stood and leaned over to place a light-teasing kiss on her lips.

"No, not everything. Willie wants to pick out some more things for the kitchen. Considering you may be wishing to use the kitchen too, I am going to indulge him in this."

She watched him go and turned to sigh, "I feel so lost when he is away from me. I never realized the depth of my love for him until I was in that horrid place in Romania."

Maggie watched her friend then looked to where Willie and Barnabas disappeared out of the door.

"Then I guess we got to get you two married as quickly as possible so you can be found."

Maggie teased Vicki and got her desiree result. Vicki smiled and the lunch went by on a happier note. They sat drinking their ice-cold beer and waited for Barnabas and Willie to come back.