Chapter 1

Barnabas, Julia, and Stokes had just returned from 1840-time travel and were tired. Liz asked if they would not mind coming to Roger's speech at the Collinwood

Society gathering. They said they would so Roger would not get mad at them. Barnabas asked Julia to stay at the old house tonight because he wanted her to

have a nightcap with him. Julia said okay, but she would need to call Wyncliffe to talk to the boss that was expecting her.

She told Barnabas to tell Liz she will be right down. She ran upstairs, took a quick shower, packed a bag with some toiletries because she could not remember

what was already there. She called her boss Dr. Alex who said they needed her back, because they have been having a high influx of patients and were running

out of space, and he wanted her back so they could decide what to do. Julia was anxious to get back to her work as a doctor of psychiatry and tend to her

patients.

After they returned to Collinwood Barnabas and Julia walked over to the old house. Once inside Julia ran her bag upstairs, took off her stockings and put her

slippers on and came back downstairs. Barnabas put the radio on which was playing mellow rock and mellow R&B. He also had two glasses which he filled with

Port. It was so relaxing to be able to listen to music which they had not had a chance to do while moving through time. Barnabas gave Julia a glass and then said a

toast. "Julia here is to you for being a true friend to me through our travels. "I do not know what I would do without you." Julia touched by Barnabas toast said,

"Barnabas I would like to toast to you allowing me to hang with you without killing me. I still dream of you trying to break my neck." They both laughed at that.

Then they both sat down in the chairs they always sit in and sip on their drinks. Julia said, "Barnabas this is so relaxing right now. I love mellow rock and R&B.

Soon as I get in my car the day after tomorrow, I am going to be jamming the radio!" Barnabas sat up in his seat and said to Julia, "Barnabas said "Julia it will be

fun for me too since I never have really listened to the radio. I love this kind of music. Julia, I am glad that you did not mind coming over for a nightcap. I know

you must be tired. I just wanted to apologize to you for the way I have treated you. I know I treated you unkindly many times, but I was just only looking at my

situation with my women drama and involving you with it that was also stupid, and not paying attention to your feelings. I hope that we can still be friends. I

know that I ruined anything between us. I would not blame you if you never wanted to see me again." Julia looked at Barnabas for a minute then said gently,

"Barnabas I am not mad at you. It was not your fault I fell in love with you, but you did let me know we could only be friends because of your other love interests.

If you are saying you were not thinking this way, and thought of us as more than friends, you had a funny way of showing it and I did not see that or feel that at

all, and I am not a mind reader." Julia continued. "I will say I don't know how you could have said you loved Angelique because she lifted the curse from you after

she killed your sister and made you a vampire. Then she made it so you could not love anyone else. You did not think I heard you saying that although she did not

hear it. I thought to myself, "well that is that. I can't do anymore here."

Julia continued. "When you took Angelique's side and I almost said my true feelings but you wanted to go outside and walk in the sun instead of hearing me, but

by that time I no longer cared. What was I supposed to do here Barnabas? I think this was the only time when I got a little mad and felt heartbroken. I thought to

myself, "why am I hoping for anything. And if you noticed I did not tell you to come back to our time, it was Elliott who persuaded you, because I just knew you

were going to stay and I wasn't going to talk you out of it." Barnabas was looking so embarrassed but trying not to, feeling like a fool. He had no comeback. Just

the realization of his behavior against Julia, he wanted to disappear.

Julia continued. "I tried to talk to some sense into you about Roxanne a couple of times but you didn't hear me. "When I asked you if Willie and I were right in

bringing Roxanne to the house, you never answered me, but you did tell Willie and me to leave the house while you mourned Roxanne. How do you think that

made me feel Barnabas? How do you think Willie felt Barnabas? You sent us away like we were your stepchildren. After all the times Willie and I have been there

for you, this is how you treated us. How do you think it made me feel when you asked me to go and tell Roxanne not to marry Trask? I almost became a vampire

because of Angelique, but you got me right in time but you had to go and be missing mourning how Roxanne had to die." Barnabas was now wanting to cry

realizing how he has treated Julia. She was only telling him however.

Julia continued. "I thought you would never find me when Angelique locked me in the dungeon. The first time you and the sheriff came, I was sleep. I tried hard

not to go to sleep. Barnabas, I did try to let you know after Roxanne and Stokes burnt in the fire, that you would not be the only lonely person with no love

interest. But again, you ignored me, or you did not pay me any attention. It was all about Roxanne and how you will never see her again, and how you will never

find true love. Now, how many times could I beat the dead horse named Barnabas?" Barnabas was looking further like a heel, with no adequate come back and

wanted to cry at his selfish behavior in his face.

Julia continued. "Barnabas I gave up on you a long time ago. But I said I would make sure nobody messed with you like Angelique and Nicholas and their hocus

pocus shenanigans. I also knew that if nothing else, you were not going to let anything bad happen to me. So, I just left it at that. All I was trying to do is get back

to our time in one piece, so I would never have to wear them uncomfortable clothes again ever in life, move on to Wyncliffe and be a doctor. I guess I can accept

that behind all your other love trysts, you had a spot in your heart for me. I appreciate that for all its worth but from what you were showing me, you could

understand how I would never have guessed."

Julia continued. "Now that we are back, Wyncliffe needs me now because we are having space problems. We have so many patients coming in we need to figure

out what to do, so I have to go back on Wednesday for good. Barnabas now that we are back, I know you want to start dating, maybe find a nice lady, just as I

want to get back to my life and a doctor and maybe meet a guy who would want to marry. But Barnabas I still and will always be your friend but we both need to

start finding some permanent happiness. There are plenty of young women out there for you and I think you hope Roxanne and/or Angelique come back. I can't

compete with that and I won't. There is a whole new world out there for me and I am ready."

Barnabas said, not knowing how to respond from this polite tongue lashing from Julia said with a sigh, "I guess I did forget you are a doctor in real-time Julia. I

don't blame you for wanting to no longer be around a man who was confused, selfish, and stupid." Julia thought. "Barnabas looks so sad, if I said I didn't want to

see him anymore he would start crying." Julia got up, took him and her glasses and put on the mantle and gently took Barnabas' face between her hands and said

gently and softly, "Barnabas I never thought you stupid, selfish or confused. That is not true Barnabas. But Barnabas regardless of whether I am mad at you or

not, I have to go back to work. It has nothing to do with you in thinking I want to get away from you. Don't feel that way. It's not like I am going to a new job. I

am returning to old my job, and I have a job to do. I will miss you and the family in that I won't be in the area for a while. Barnabas if I was mad at you and

wanted to get away from you, would I be here now?" Barnabas felt terrible but he said, "Julia I guess you're right. If you really hated me, you would not be here

now. I am glad of that Julia."

Julia continued softly as she still was holding Barnabas face in her hands. "As far as I am concerned about whatever happened in our time travel journey can stay

back there. I am just telling you sometimes you showed me I could never be more than a friend, particularly when I tried to tell you that you did not have to be

lonely. You didn't pay me any attention. Well I take that back. You did half ass apologize to me for ranting and whining about Roxanne. I just think my time is up

here, and there is nothing else I can do for you. You can walk in the daytime now and David is okay. My hurdle is going to be telling Liz tomorrow. She will be

freaking out for sure." They chuckled at that. Barnabas said, "Julia I am sorry for everything. I am not waiting for anyone to come back. I put your life in so much

danger for nothing and did not treat you right. Please believe me. The person I should have been more respectful towards has been put in my face, but I was too

blind to see."

They took another sip of their wine. Barnabas said, "Julia do you think I could come and visit you from time to time after your caught up?" Julia smiled happily,

"Barnabas yes you can come and visit I will give you my key and number. I will be a little busy at first but that does not mean you can't come. I will make you a

nice dinner. I can cook Barnabas."

Barnabas did not know what to say or do. He thought "I have abused Julia, stepped on her feelings, and here she is, pouring her heart out to me, and wants to

leave and never look back. Should I tell her I love her and will she believe me?" He said, "Julia I know you think I was not serious when I told you I could not be

without you. I know it didn't seem like it, that I only wanted you well because of the experiment but that was not true. I am sorry about that Julia." Julia smiled

and said, "Barnabas I don't care about that. I know what you meant and I didn't take it that way. I was glad you found me. I would have been a horrible looking

vampire, both times. But I will say the first time I cried for you was when Jeb made you a vampire and Quentin and I did not know what you were going to do,

and Willie and I were so happy to be in your face when you woke up back from helping Vicki and Peter."

Then a song came on the radio called "Baby Come Close (1970)" by Smokey Robinson (1970). Barnabas said, "Julia would you like to dance?" Julia said, "Sure. I

like this song by Smokey. I like R&B songs Barnabas and mellow rock and I like dancing Barnabas."

Barnabas took Julia in his arms and she put her arm around his waist and he put his arm around her shoulders and they danced close. They felt so good in each

other's arms. Julia laid her head on his shoulders and thought "I could dance with Barnabas all night." Barnabas thought, "Julia is so soft and pretty and she fits in

my arms perfectly." After the song was over they stayed in each other's arms, nobody wanted to move thinking both were comfortable as if they could fall asleep

that way. After a few minutes, Julia gently broke away and gave him back his glass and they sipped their port in silence for a minute.

Barnabas put their glasses up again and gently taking Julia's hand, and putting it between his hands like he used to and said, "Julia it will be weird you no longer

going to be in the area. You are also very beautiful tonight Julia." Julia put her other hand on Barnabas's chest like she used to and said, "Thank you Barnabas and

yes Barnabas it will be kind of weird. We have only been together for 4 years haven't we? Then she looked into his eyes, very lovingly and said, "I guess we will

get used to it, but it might take a minute though. Barnabas thought for a moment, "Should I tell her I love her?" Then he made up his mind. He gently pulled Julia

to him and kissed her on the lips.

Julia looked at him for a moment, they she placed her hand near his cheek and kissed him back. Then they took each other in their arms and kissed so sensually.

Barnabas said, "Julia I love you" and he kissed her again. Then Julia said while stroking his face, "Barnabas I love you" as she kissed him again so sensually and

put her hand up under his sweater, and started from his neck and ran her hand down his back to his backside, causing Barnabas to moan. He was feeling the blood

rush to where it had not rushed in a long time that he did not feel with Roxanne. Barnabas never paid any attention to Julia touching him, when discussing things,

but now he found himself trembling at Julia's touching him. Julia said, "Barnabas whatever happened in our time travels and real time can stay back there. I love

you. If you will give me a chance to prove to you, I will show you. I love you." Barnabas then said, "Julia I love you. I am sorry for how I treated you. Please give

me another chance. Can we be closer?" Julia thought to herself "Barnabas is looking at me to agree and what the hell, I might as well show him then he can do

whatever after that." To that question, Julia said, "What took you so long?" Barnabas lifted Julia up in his arms and took her up to his room. They began to slowly

take each other's clothes off kissing in between. At this time, Julia and Barnabas took their relationship to a whole new level and it was turning out to be

wonderful.

Julia said, "Barnabas I love you; I love you so much. I don't want anyone else." Barnabas had never had anyone love him like Julia. Barnabas said, "Julia you are

so beautiful. I love you. Please love me forever." Her lovemaking…OMG, she has been holding all this in all this time, and I was so stupid and did not recognize. "I

have a lot to make up for with Julia," Barnabas thought. Barnabas kissed and hugged Julia. "Julia I love you too. I want to make things up to you. Please don't

leave me." They kissed each other to sleep. Barnabas thought "Julia was put in my face to love only me. Then he fell into the best sleep he has had in a long time.

Julia was the first one to wake. She looked around for a moment to make sure she was not somewhere back in time. She looked at Barnabas sleeping peacefully

and she kissed him on the cheek. He woke up and took Julia in his arms and said, "Hello my love." Then they proceeded to get some morning delight on which was

wonderful, re-affirming their love for each other. After they woke a second time, Julia said, "Barnabas where do we go from here? I love you" she hugged and

kissed him. Barnabas almost started crying but he was cool. He said, "Julia I love you. I will never let you down. If it wasn't for you I would be dead again or

Angelique's husband. I have a lot to make up for." Julia sat up and put Barnabas's face between her hands and said "Barnabas you don't have to make up

anything. True love doesn't look back on pain and sorrow, true love only looks to tomorrow. If anyone should show up I can freely step aside and still be friends

with you. In the meantime, we can love each other and mean it. I mean it Barnabas" and she kissed him and hugged him. Barnabas did shed a tear.

Then she backed down and put her head on his shoulders and they laid there a few more minutes. Then Julia said, "Barnabas what will you do today? I probably

need to get moving, to go and get packing and deal with Liz." Barnabas sighed and said, "Well Roger wants me to come to work at the Cannery. I am trying to get

my mind right for it." Julia said, my boss and I need to discuss how we will get more space for Wyncliffe. I am going to see if we can get a clinic here. What do you

think of that Barnabas then I could live here with you? Would that be okay?" Barnabas wanted to cry that Julia would make it so she could live with him.

Barnabas kissed Julia on her cheek and said, "Julia I would love for you to live with me. I would love nothing better. I could take care of you too. I love you, Julia."

Julia kissed Barnabas and said, "Barnabas I know you would take care of me and I am letting you. But sweetheart I still need to work as long as I can. I love you

and want you to take care of me, by coming to visit me when you can and we have a nice dinner and go walking. I will love that. I will show you a good time. While

you come and visit I can be doing all I can to get a clinic here in Collinsport."

With that, they both got up, showered together, and went down to breakfast. Willie had cooked breakfast and left them some. He was on his way out. "Hi,

Barnabas and Julia. Welcome back! I left you some breakfast, I am going to meet the contractors on the electricity upgrade. Barnabas I will need to show you

some drawings when you get time." As Willie was leaving he thought to himself "it's about time Barnabas got smart about Julia. I love it! I love Carolyn also."

Julia heated up the breakfast and poured her and Barnabas breakfast on their plates. Julia said, "I may be working 12 hr days for the first month or so, but you

can still come on weekends if you want. I suppose I could come home every day once I start working for 8 hrs." Barnabas said, "Julia I would worry about you

coming here every day while working 12 hours or 8 hours. I would worry about you falling asleep. If we took turns I could come up every other weekend, or if you

didn't feel like it, I could come every weekend." Julia said, "Ahh that is so sweet Barnabas. We could take turns because I want to see Liz and everybody too. I will

just look forward to you coming to see me when you can. I love you, Barnabas." Barnabas did shed a tear, knowing that Julia loves him, and will do everything to

try to make sure we see each other. Julia got up and kissed Barnabas tear away and hugged him, then they finished breakfast and got ready to go. Barnabas said,

"Julia, will you stay tonight with me here and leave from here to go to Wyncliffe?" Julia smiled happily, "Barnabas yes I will leave from here. Want me to cook

dinner for us? I will make us a good meal and then we can chill and be together. Once I pack and have lunch with Liz, I will go get us some dinner." Barnabas was

overjoyed. "Okay Julia, I should be home by 4p or a little later. They got up from the table, hugged and kissed each other, then headed to Collinwood.