Please remember, this is what needs to take place after the radio drama is settled. How Angelique is healed and whose bride she turns out to be is still a determined goal, but in my farcical thoughts for The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows, she would have been with Milligan, until I realized how much longer and further I could take this. Barnabas was an obsession. Sky Rumson? No. Not good enough for our beloved Witch, and our beloved Witch she will remain. There is no reason, to me, that "Bewitched" could be on the air at the same time from 1964-1972, and meanwhile Witchcraft was "wrong" in almost all terms on Dark Shadows. SILLINESS! Angelique Bouchard deserves better than to renounce her powers, and if I find more evidence that she is the daughter of Andre Dupres, I'll try and make up for that as well. In any case there was a time in 1897 the man who is her husband, as shown here, wanted her, and... She wanted him. So perhaps one date to appease Sir Simon Milligan, but what man, after his throes of immortality, does she truly have chemistry with? No, not Barnabas. Someone much more deserving of her, and her much more deserving of him.

And of course, to the woman of "higher class", who was always her friend regardless of a difference in status; Josette Dupres... the point is they will be friends again in The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows, some day... somehow.

The Cost of Friendship

Our trustable servant and friend was correct, my water had broken. Barnabas and I had been in a reverie and that was shattered now as I was helped to my feet and... I was suddenly awash in a release of fluid that splashed around my ankles. Looking down, the three of us breathed heavily.

My husband held me at one arm, and our butler at the other.

My voice quavered, "Barnabas... I have only just realised something..." my glance turned up to him from the floor and his expression was agape, "In all of the lives we've shared together? I have never given birth before."

His head tilted with that loving worry over me I hadn't seen in so long, "Oh, my dear... my dearest Josette. I..." he paused. I could hear him about to promise no harm would come to me as he had done of old and thought better of it. His eyes were on my feet as he breathed in, then an appreciative smile glimmered through as his gaze met mine again, "Would it help for you to know that... I haven't either?"

We all smiled at this but my own smile became enjoyable laughter. Even Wadsworth had a very low chuckle and muttered something rewarding to Barnabas.

"Now, madam. Trod carefully," cautioned our butler as we all walked together to the foyer.

"Can you manage the stairs, Maggie?" Barnabas asked.

"Yes, I only... I need to remove my slippers," I explained, "they're soaked."

"Is madam sure she wouldn't prefer quarters in hospital?" Wadsworth inquired.

"Yes," Barnabas repeated, "are you sure about that?"

"Quite sure," I exhaled, holding on to the railing and kicking off my cloth slippers. "That room has been kept for me through six generations," the weight upon my middle intruded on my thought, I could feel her wanting to come out so I addressed that, "and our little lady was born in this house before. She might as well be again."

Besides, in our strange immortal state there were issues about which no standard clinicians of mortals could provide. In this magic there were considerations of health even Julia couldn't establish, as well as she'd studied vampires. Angelique knew more about what was happening.

Before I could place a toe on the first step, the front door swung open with a cold breeze, then shut and we all turned around. It was Willie, rubbing his hands from what presumably was a chilly evening. Having taken his wife to the train station to go on a trip she'd been planning for months, Willie Loomis wore a welcoming grin which fell away at the confusion of seeing us in what was obviously an awkward moment.

"Hey... there. What's... what's happening, Maggie? What are you all doing?"

"Madam's water has broken, Mr. Loomis," said Wadsworth.

Willie's face, youthful as ever, dropped in concern, "Oh... oh, my, I... what, what..." Willie was stuttering again, but I concealed a smile as this was the proper reason to cause it, "what can I do? Whad'yah need... from me?"

I held the banister, "Remember what I asked you before, Willie. Go to the lighthouse. Bring Angelique here."

He stood there blinking, still hoping I wasn't serious about it, the fingers on both hands coiling together, folding to his lips in fret and acceptance, "I... ah... ah.. All right... All right, Ah'll do it. Ya'd think with 'er powers she'd known already what's goin' on... or have some telepathy about it or somethin'."

"That's as may be," I remarked, "but remember we agreed. We all agreed it was all going to work this way. It has to work this way, Willie. You have to find her and bring her here. I want Angelique to help."

Willie exhaled irritably but I knew it wasn't aimed toward me, just this situation he hated to be a part of. He didn't trust her. This was another test for him above all others. Re-zipping his coat he no longer questioned me and opened the door again but Wadsworth called out, "Do be careful, Mr. Loomis."

This brought an appreciative grin to Willie's face, releasing its tension as his hand rested on the knob. He looked back and said, "I will, old friend. I will."

Stepping out with determination, the door practically slammed behind him. Good. That was his statement of proof he was going to do this for me. I turned to face the stairs again and grunted, "Ugh... all of this and I have to relieve everyone's concerns. You think it was bad enough I've remembered all of who I was in so many lifetimes..." and then I took a step upward and stopped, listening to my husband.

"Would you give it up, Maggie? Are you unhappy?"

"Don't trifle with her, Sir," Wadsworth cautioned, "this stress is considerable. She may say what she needs to unburden herself."

I held the railing, taking another step and smiling. Inwardly I thought, "God bless that damned Better Homes & Gardens. Photographing this place and publishing enough copies so this butler could find half of what he needed to help us. If I hadn't seen that in Dr. Hoffman's office I might not have had so many memories triggered when I was there."

I climbed the steps with my two helpers behind me. If I lost my balance they were there and I knew I'd be safe. My bare toes felt the carpeting at each step. I had to reach my bedroom. I had to give birth to our baby there. Almost tripping over my long skirt I lifted the folds of it and kept going. At about the top step I could hear the men behind me. Reaching the landing I gasped.

Barnabas looked up at me from two steps down, "What is it, Maggie?"

"It can't be..." I gaped at him, "a contraction... already?"

Behind Barnabas, on a lower step, was Wadsworth leaning to the left of him, expressing, "Mademoiselle, the realms of the supernatural are hardly in league with any standards of expectation."

That was certainly correct. I hadn't given birth in any of my lifetimes and now I was doing so as a creature of the half-light; a vampire who already broke most of the usual rules, being little affected by sunlight. I walked forward, opening the door and finding my room as aglow of lit candles as I'd ever found it. My fellows strode in and I reached the pole of the bed to brace myself and turn about, "Is it prepared, Wadsworth?"

"I am no shirker, madam. All is laid out for your appointment. I wasn't sure you wanted the blankets but all is ready for... your needs."

I switched my position and looked. The blue linens were folded back in a triangle and I grabbed at them to climb in. So much terrycloth and wraps were laid out underneath, I briefly wondered if the weight of them was too much for the mattress to be upheld. That man did his job and did it thoroughly. I stretched out and felt the cushioning and... It was cozy.

The two men stepped forward and Barnabas took the bedclothes, laying them down over me and sitting beside me on the bed, asking, "Tell me what you need, my darling, please, tell me."

"I... we need time, of course, that is all. It's going to be a while and..." I looked up at our butler.

"Yes, madam... moiselle..." Always a pause he made between madam and moiselle. That inside joke never left him.

"Go to the main house at Collinwood and tell them what's going on."

Our friend nodded as if in relief. Turning on his heel he exited the room but left the door open.

Why did that open door make me feel naked?

Shuffling steps on the stairs and all was silent minus the breathing of my lover and I. What had Barnabas prayed? I needed those words again as his cheek had pressed along my stomach and I rested my back to the pillows and the headboard 9 months ago?

Let what I endow here give us our little one back, and in doing so, give Sarah the chance she never had; to grow and become a woman herself.

Yes, it was all coming to fruition now. And... another tightening down below my center. I inhaled sharply. It wasn't painful yet, but it was extreme. Catching me off-guard, I grabbed my husband's arm, squeezing hard for support.

"Maggie? What's wrong? What's happening?"

I finally breathed out, letting go of his arm, lifting myself up in bed and shouting, "Nothing! Nothing is happening, Barnabas! I'm only starting to give birth, that's all!"

His eyes widened and a smile began to form as he faced me, "More fire coming out, my Kitty?"

Scowling I felt another contraction and just about flung out the words, "Oh, if you tease me right now, Barnabas Collins I am going to slap you!"

He reached down and brought my blanket a little higher, then looked into my eyes, "... do you promise?"

SLAP!

I'd slung his head to the right. Barnabas absorbed my strike upon him. His face was turned at the hearth flames now, then to the floor and he was still smiling as he slowly tilted his damned winsome expression back towards me, "I distracted you, didn't I?"

With a burst of laughter, I finally understood, "Yes, you did!"

The warmth of his grin reached me back to my senses. Holding my left arm in his right hand he ventured, "May I kiss you... mother of my child?"

Air flew into me and I uttered, "Don't speak too soon."

My gentle dearest didn't wait for permission any longer and pressed his lips to mine. For one beautiful minute we were at peace again and those hands were clutched at my jaw line, fingers resting below my ears and then our tongues collided, slinking within to share what moments we had left before I was made to bare this experience on my own.

"No," I heard his mind call out, "let me understand what's happening, my Josette. I shall bear it with you."

We kissed, glided through to each other and I thought back to him, "That will do no good, mon doux amour, I need you to keep strong for us."

I heard the hinges creak and knew Wadsworth had come back, but who on Earth was with him? I remember Victoria had offered to help but would she have been at the main house or in her own home tonight? Steps thudded and echoed up the stairs. In the open doorway I recognized the blonde and brunette duo striding forward to be helpful and I was curious.

"Maggie?" they almost said in unison and then Carolyn continued, "what do you need? What can we do?"

"Oh, well... Vict..." and then I gasped again feeling that same pull to my muscles down below.

Carolyn splayed out her hands in a wild context, "Hot water! We need sterility here!"

Oh, dear... God... I thought to myself. Barnabas smiled. He heard what was in my mind.

"As the ladies can view here, I already have that prepared." Our butler gestured to a table near the fireplace where two large basins were placed as the steam rose from them. And he had thenerve to call himself humble. A miracle worker was what he was!

"Um... okay... that's settled," Carolyn stated, "now-"

I gasped again and pushed Barnabas away so that he stood up immediately as I threw off the blankets and waved the girls to reach me, asking them to remove my underwear. Not the brightest move in the world as Victoria alone would have been the better person to address for this specifically. She lifted my skirt, found the article and began to pull. I was able to lift my hips up, helping her in this endeavour, but what happened next? Carolyn took one look at the mess I had down below that I am sure was distasteful, though I couldn't see, and swooned to the floor in a dead faint.

Great.

After Victoria took off my garment and flung it under the bed to go unseen for the time being, she pivoted over to see Carolyn who was in a heap on the floor, Barnabas just having gotten down to kneel over her. Victoria did likewise and began patting her cheek in order to wake her. I wondered why she would even bother. It might be just as well that Carolyn was out for the count at this point. Couldn't they let her sleep it off? I'm guessing Mrs. Muir and Miss Stoddard never had any detailed discussions about the former's giving birth. No surprise from Carolyn Muir. She may well have understood that such tales to her own children being born would make our Carolyn Stoddard more seasick than those sailing stories they kept churning out at the publishing house.

As these irritable thoughts flooded through my mind it dawned on me that I was becoming more impatient with each passing minute. Is that a standard for women in the throes of childbirth? Apparently. And why was I even asking? Another pull came to me. Mmmmph! Oh, our little one was getting as impatient as I was!

As I started breathing heavily I noticed the wind outside was making itself known. Then a flash of light struck against all the windows and in a state of habit I decided to start counting. I got up to eight before I heard the thunder crash. Ohhh, if Angelique and Willie are out in that...

No. I could hear the door open and shut quickly as an argument was in full force. Willie, please don't bait her, I thought, she's been through enough!

"I wasn't asking for your opinion, Mister Loomis. I was telling you to stop demanding for me to hurry ahead when I was rushing through that stormy wind already."

"Well, that's just fine. For all I knew it was a pleasant enough evening until I was sent out to come an' get'cha. Ya didn't warn me that a storm was brewing up so fast. Can't your kind predict the weather 'er somethin'?"

"Yesss," I heard Angelique almost growl, "and I did tell you it was going to be difficult to get here when we left the lighthouse. Why do you think Quentin was working his fingers to the bone getting a dry wick? It was raining earlier today while we were cleaning the fuel spout and trying to fix that broken window. If he doesn't get it lit those three ships coming in are going to split their hulls on the damned rocks cluttering up the shoreline!"

Oh my, I thought, while watching Barnabas, Victoria and Wadsworth carry the defeated Carolyn to the settee and resting her head on a cushion, my old friend finally found that spark again. She'd been so subdued, but I suppose looking after a lighthouse in whatever self-reliance was necessary, she'd finally come to understand what she'd agreed to in marrying old mutton chops. They both had to endure the loneliness that entailed, the independence required in such a responsibility and conquering that feeling of being forsaken. Lighthouse keeping was demanding work and on the outside it could seem a romantic blessing, but on the inside it had its qualms.

Not to mention the fact they had to rely on gas now, not electricity. That was the agreement they shared; doing things the old fashioned way. When a child was born to them they were allowed to update the technology of the lighthouse, but not before.

Then, I remembered what Sarah told us the last time we spoke to her. Angelique was pregnant, and pregnant with one feisty Collins. She had a right to be in a foul mood. I was blessed, I knew. I was having Sarah. Whether Caleb had settled in all the help he brought us as a ghost and about to be born into our family again was a measure of uncertain wonder. Another heave on my innards gripped me for a minute. As it subsided I grinned, "Yes... Caleb... you salty old devil... always helping us to the last... you aren't coming back to us this way from an accident. You chose your new mother. You chose Angelique. I know your sense of humour. It's far more extreme than mine could ever be."

More steps on the stairs and there she was, again in such alien attire to how I once knew her; denim trousers instead of a long skirt, bandana over her head rather than the old fringed cap, a scarf, a basic blouse and now she was rolling up the sleeves of it. The room went silent. Willie stood in the doorway as she stepped forward and uttered just above a whisper, "How are you, Josette?"

My face began to beam as I knew the time had finally come to find peace among us all, "I'm about to be a mother... old friend."

And so? I'm working on it, I'll try to get the rest out to you all when I can. Thanks for being there, everyone. All should work out, I hope and even more romance to come after. Blessings.

Oh, and nice commentary is appreciated as always. :) It's finding the people who wanted this that after so many months since last October (2013), I'm finally getting good sleep again. Thank you.