The afternoon sun was hot and a warm breeze made the pines on their island home move like they were dancing as Barney and Valancy reached their boat dock. He helped her out of the boat and did not let go of her hand. Valancy had hoped for a welcome home kiss like the first time that he had brought her to his island although he was leading her towards the Blue Castle. Just before they reached the cabin, he turned her towards the forbidden lean-to, Valancy hesitated at the door.

"Come with me." He whispered.

"No, this is your haven, I will not intrude on your own space again."

Barney leaned in very close to her ear and traced her neckline with his fingers.

"Valancy, no secrets between us from now on, I want there to be nothing between us. You are my own flesh and spirit in this world and whatever lays beyond it."

Going a little weak in the knees, she relented and followed him inside. The pearl necklace was still laying on the writing desk. Barney took it up and held it for a moment. Valancy knew that he was thinking about finding her letter last night and how it must have made him feel. He placed the necklace around her neck and his hands lingered there against her collar bone. She drew in her breath more loudly than she had meant to and he smiled. Caught up in his gaze, she awaited a hoped for homecoming kiss. He turned away and took up the manuscript that she had found last night which revealed his alias persona that she had always adored, long before they had even met. He took a seat at the small sofa in Bluebeard's Chamber and she took her place next to him.

"There's something here that I want to read to you. Do you remember the night that we slept under the pines on the far side of the lake and there seemed to be the whole universe of stars in the sky above us?"

His voice had reached that wooing tone that arrested Valancy's affection for him every time.

"I do, we imagined that we could reach out to them together and become a part of their place in the heavens too." She recalled.

"I was inspired then, there were thoughts that I wanted to say to you that would reveal who I am as Jack Foster for I know that no one in this world can recognize my writing better than you. Let me read those thoughts to you now."

He flipped through his document until finding the right page, a small heart had been drawn with pencil in the margin recognizing the passage that he wanted to share. Valancy braced. After all these years of dreaming and identifying with this distant man of nature, to actually be here, in love and hearing it from his own voice could overwhelm her completely. He began to read his words for her about a radiant existence of spirits out beyond where time has no sway and not even the darkest night can break their connection in the heavens.

Now, here was his true voice to go with all the passages in every one of his books that she knows by heart. Valancy could hear everything as he spoke his thoughts. The beauty of that night that they shared camping out in the woods, the hope that it brought to each and yet there was his feelings laid bare. He had been greatly affected by her believed heart condition and that they would not always be together. He wanted their bond to go on forever. Valancy felt a rush of tears come with her sadness and joy. She covered her face in her hands.

"Moonlight, don't cry now, I know. Like I said, it's hard for me convey anything that goes deep, except here in my writing. I want you to be the first to read this, my love."

He closed the manuscript and set it on a chair. He wiped away her tears with his own fingers and pushed her hair back away from her face. She looked intently into his eyes, took a deep breath then claimed her welcome home kiss from his eager lips. There was more passion in their embrace than ever before. Her lips were still tingling as he nuzzled into her neck and she fell back on the sofa cushions. If either had felt as though they could not breathe the night before, they couldn't seem to catch their breath now. The small lean-to seemed hot inside. Valancy kicked off her shoes. Barney took a hold at the small of her back to pulled her in closer.

A car horn sounded across the lake waters. The couple didn't notice it at first. The second time was even louder.

"Go — away." Barney growled into Valancy's left shoulder.

She began to laugh as she ran her fingers through his tousled hair.

"Let me guess..."

"My Father takes dinner early. How could I forget?"

"My lover, consider that we are a little distracted right now."

"A little, I say a fair deal more than a little, my girl."

Barney moved away from being over Valancy yet he did not release her. The car horn repeated. She smoothed out his shirt collar then got up and started for the door. He held her hand and stood up beside her.

"Wait."

He patted down her hair, placing a lock behind her ear caressing it and her jaw line. They kissed once more before stepping out together to greet Doctor Redfern.