Chapter 14

"You think that Verhoff will let us know if there is going to be an execution?"

Megan shook her head. "I will try to approach him, but he does have a grudge against Barnabas."

"So we keep Barnabas out of it."

"I might try to contact Cicely and the other children... they feel they owe Barnabas and Julia and may be able to help. But internal politics among vampires being what they are, Verhoff pulls more weight than Cecily and the children."

"Still, in your case, Verhoff might want to be generous. After all, he won and you lost. Richard was executed."

"Yes, he might be generous with me. But... well... There is a lot of nastiness in the man. I will also try to talk more to old time vampires, they ones who were enslaved by sorcerers. The trouble with them is that they do not wish to remember those times. They suppress a lot, because the memories were so terrible."

"I know what those memories must be like. I learned what the wizard did to his disciple. The probably did worse tings to their other slaves."

"So you can understand that they will suppress them and pretend that it was not so bad... Still, it might be worthwhile. to ask... By the way, you have not told Barnabas of this, have you?"

"Not yet. I do not want him to get any ideas about heroic sacrifice. Not yet. It might well be that we will have to think about it. But we are far from needing it now."

"Good. That's one thing less to worry about. Now, do you want to retrieve your kid from Amy?"

"You are not asking me to leave him or her where it is?"

"Well, it would solve some problems. Like you draining me when you need power. No, I understand why you do it. You cannot use your own energy because you need it for the baby. But it makes me hungrier, and it can get dangerous. Not yet. But I want you to be aware that I am not a bottomless barrel that you can tap any time you wish. You better not start any big project for a while. Unless you want Amy to deliver the child."

":No, it is my child, and I shall bear it."

"All right, go and pick it up."

"I was a fool." Adam said to Carolyn.

'You and me, Adam. Or rather it seems that I know even less than you about dealing with people."

"Still, I made a mess of things. I did not mean to... but well, whether you mean it or not does not change the fact that a U.S. Representative has been turned to stone."

Carolyn took a deep breath. "We both made mistakes. We are still growing up, Adam... Your upbringing left a lot to be desired, but so did mine. I never learned how to be a friend. Never learned how to deal with the people I loved. I was raised to be Collins, not a human being. A Collins does not go around humbling herself and explaining. We rule this town and our word is law... Good for handling servants. But no more than that. You are damaged, Adam. So am I."

"I was hurt. But when you came apologizing to me I turned you away. I had found my perfect woman, why did I need you for?

"So, what a sorry mess we are, aren't we?"

"Do you think that we may have a chance in spite of everything?"

"Yes. But we got to work at it. Are you willing to try? "

Adam took a deep breath. "If you think that I can finally grow up, then I am willing."

"So am I"

Roxanne and Derek's wedding was a rather small affair. They had not family, either of them, and few friends and acquaintances. Roxanne could call on Buffy, and Frank, and Derek could call on Xavier and Sandy. Then it was George, Barnabas, Zeb, Jessica, Amy, Megan and Angelique. Phillip had sent congratulations to the man who, born Elmer Urrey, had been thrust into a very strange world because his face had once been like Megan's former husband...

"Here's to you, Derek." George said. "I will not try to lie by praising you for virtues that you do not have. We know what things you used to do in the past, and still do if no one is watching you. No, don't protest. I will not believe a word of it, anyway." he grinned. "We all know what you are capable of, and in your attempts you have provided us with hours of innocent merriment. And some not so innocent. I would not recommend to you anyone as an investment counselor.. But I will recommend you for a friend, and as someone who, when the chips are down, can be trusted to come through. And if someone here deserves wholehearted happiness, it is you. Just try to forget your get-rich-quick schemes, will you? Most of them don't work, and some have... unpleasant consequences, as Buffy Torrance could tell, if she chose."

Buffy grinned. She had not relished that adventure, but now she could see the funny side of it.

Barnabas looked at Roxanne. She seemed composed enough, and did not betray her feelings.

Was he doing right in saying nothing?

And what could he say? That Roxanne was still hurt over the way that he had forsaken her? That she had come to gloat, to tell him that the could have had her, but it was now too late?

Buffy got up. "Derek, there is much that I could tell about you. Specially one episode, that in retrospect is hilarious, though it did not feel like it at the time. But I will not embarrass you. I will just say that when I first came I was all alone, and because my face was that of someone who had died violently not too long before, no one knew how to deal with me. Barnabas did try to help me, but I did not fully trust him. Derek, you were the first one who befriended me. And whatever your reasons for it, and what happened afterwards, I am thankful to you."

And so they went. Barnabas wondered. Was Roxanne aware of what she was getting in Derek? Was she able to truly appreciate him instead of being unhappy because he was not Barnabas?

He earnestly hoped so.