A BRAND NEW START By Dawn Yzaguirre
This is a resurrection story. Catherine comes out of a coma in Peter's house. Devin knows she is alive and he brings Vincent to see her. He takes her home to the tunnels where she is reunited with Jacob. But Diana comes back and still believing that Catherine is dead declares her love to Vincent. When he tells her that she is alive Diana plots against them. Will their happiness be ruined by Diana's plans?
Catherine awoke in a daze. She blinked trying to focus her eyes. When her mind finally cleared she looked around the room, where am I? She wondered. She finally found her voice and quietly called out, "Is anyone here?" When the man looking at her chart heard this he quickly moved beside her.
"Cathy honey did you say something?" Peter asked excitedly. She looked up at him and started to cry. Peter put his hand on her forehead and tried to calm her down. "Cathy you are alive." He told her. She looked up at him again and smiled. "Peter what happened to me?" she wanted answers to what was going on. "Honey when you get a bit stronger Joe and I will tell you everything." Peter assured her. She nodded sleepily and drifted off to sleep once again.
A couple of days later she awoke to the sound of male voices. At first she could not make out who they were. "Peter how long have you known that Cathy is alive?" One voice asked. Another voice broke in trying to explain. "Devin you have got to understand why we did this." Devin was very upset. He could not believe that they had put his brother through such pain and agony.
"Peter how could you let Vincent believe that she was dead?" Devin asked his voice brimming with anger.
"Devin we had to keep both of them safe." Joe interrupted. Joe had decided that until this whole thing with Gabriel was finished Vincent and Catherine had to be kept safe. This meant that they should be kept apart for the time being.
Catherine heard this conversation and yelled for Peter. Seconds later the three men burst into the room. "Honey everything is alright." Peter told her. She looked up at Devin and held up her hand. "Devin I am so glad to see you." She said smiling up at him.
"Hey Chandler you are certainly a sight for sore eyes." He said smiling back down at her
Catherine quickly turned to Peter and Joe and asked "Did you say that Vincent thinks that I am still dead?" she asked. Peter and Joe looked at one another nervously. How would they explain everything to her? Catherine brought them back to reality when she once again demanded answers. She was becoming more and more angry because they were not answering her. "Hey I asked you a question Peter!" she exclaimed as she tried to rise up in the bed. "Cathy please calm down." Devin implored as he lightly pushed her back down. She looked at the three of them with fire in her eyes. "I have to know if Vincent knows that I am alive." She insisted. Peter finally sat down beside her on the bed and smiled.
"Cathy you are right you have to know the truth." He told her. Joe looked over at Peter in astonishment. "Peter we cannot risk telling her everything right now." Joe told him. Catherine glared at Joe angrily. "Joe Maxwell you better tell me everything right this minute!" Catherine demanded. Joe looked down at her stunned. She had never been this forceful with him.
Peter and Joe looked at one another nervously. How would they explain everything to her? Catherine brought them back to reality when she once again demanded answers.
"Joe, Peter is right you should have told Vincent that Cathy is alive." Devin interjected. Joe was all of a sudden angry with Devin. He could not understand how this situation was any concern of Devin's. "Devin please stay out of this!" Joe shot angrily. Peter was stunned at Joe's attitude toward Devin. "Joe, Devin has every right to be involved in this he is after all Vincent's brother." Peter told the newly appointed District Attorney.
"Honey we have not told Vincent that you are alive." Peter admitted. Catherine could not believe what she was hearing. She could not understand why they would do this to the both of them. "Peter I thought that you cared about us." Catherine sadly said. Peter was taken aback by this revelation. He loved the both of them very much. "Cathy I do care about you both very much I just wanted to wait for you to recover before I told Vincent anything." Catherine understood what Peter said and forgave him.
"Radcliffe, we could not risk telling anyone that you are alive." Joe quietly told her. He could understand her anger toward them after all they had made a decision for her. She loved Vincent and could not bear that he would still be suffering the pain of her "death". "Joe I know that you did what you thought was right but it was not right." Catherine told him matter of factly. She wanted Vincent back in her life and she intended to accomplish that as soon as possible. "Cathy why don't you try to sleep now." Devin told her. "We will figure out how to tell Vincent later."
"Joe I know that you had my best interest at heart but Vincent is the man that I love and I want him to know that I am alive." She told her former boss. Joe was about to speak when Peter interrupted. "Joe I think that she is right we should have told Vincent the whole story from the beginning." Joe was taken aback by the fact that Peter was now agreeing that they had made a mistake in the decisions that they had made.
Joe tried to argue that they had made the best decision that they could at the time. But he quickly found that he was not going to win this argument. "Alright I guess that we did make some mistakes." He finally admitted. "But I do not see what it matters now anyway." Joe continued. The three other people in looked at him with confusion in their faces. "Why would it not matter now, Joe?" Catherine screamed at her friend. Seeing that she was getting even more upset Devin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder to calm her down. Joe knew that what he was about to say would not go over well. "Cathy I have made arrangements for you to go into the Witness Protection Program as soon as you have recovered." Joe told her quietly. Catherine was now even angrier than she had been before. "Joe that is out of the question I will never leave Vincent again!" She screamed as she rose up from the bed. The force of her anger made Joe step back.
"Cathy I am afraid that in this situation I know what is best for everyone." He told her when he had recovered from his shock. She looked at him with eyes burning in anger. How dare you do this! She thought. "Joe you are not in charge of my life." She retorted angrily.
Peter and Devin could both see that the situation was becoming more volatile. They knew that if they did not intervene these two friends might do permanent damage to their friendship. Peter broke into the conversation to calm everyone down. "Joe, Cathy is right she does not have to go into protective custody if she does not want to." Joe looked at him with confusion in his face. "Peter it is the only way to keep her safe." Joe argued. He could not understand why they were refusing to have her protected.
Joe finally threw up his hands in exasperation. "Alright I just thought that she would be safer." He said angrily. Catherine could sense his anger and quickly spoke to calm him down. "Joe I plan to go live with Vincent if he will have me." Devin was shocked to hear this from her. "Cathy I assure you that he will have you." Devin said as he placed a comforting hand on her arm.
Catherine knew that Joe only had her best interest at heart. She could not be angry with him about that. "Joe I understand your motives." She assured him. She quickly took his hand to show him that she understand and appreciated everything that he had done for her. "Cathy I just want you to be safe." He told her quietly. Devin could now see that the situation was calmer. He felt that he had to assure Joe that she would be safe with Vincent and his family.
"Joe she could not be safer than with my family." Devin told him. Joe nodded. He finally understood their arguments. "Alright I will cancel the request." He said smiling. She rose up into a sitting position and raised her arms to hug him. Joe smiled and bent down into the hug. "I will see you later I have to get back to the office." Joe said smiling. With this he turned and walked out the door. Catherine was happy that they had convinced him that she would be safer with Vincent in the tunnels.
"So Peter when can we let that man of mine know that I am alive and coming home to him?" Catherine asked excitedly. She knew that Vincent had to know soon. "I see no reason why we cannot tell him tonight." "Peter I can get him here tonight all I have to do is tell father what is going on." Devin told them. Catherine smiled at him as he left to go down to the tunnels. When they were alone she squealed with happiness as she hugged Peter.
When Devin returned below he decided that he must tell father that Catherine is alive. When he entered the chamber he found Father in his library. "Oh Devin I was wondering where you had gone." Devin smiled as though he had a secret. "Dad please sit down I have some wonderful news for you." Father was slightly confused. What could be the news that Devin was dying to tell him? Father thought to himself. "Dad you are not going to believe this but Catherine is alive." Father looked at his son in shock. "Devin that is not possible." He said in response. Devin shook his head "Dad she is at Peter's house I was just there visiting her." Father was truly shocked but something told him that Devin was telling the truth. "Oh Devin Thank God this will be over soon." Father told his son. Devin smiled and nodded. "I couldn't agree with you more." Devin told father.
"Devin how are you going to get Vincent to go to Peter's house?" Father asked. Devin thought for a moment and responded. "Dad didn't you say that Peter had some supplies for the tunnels?" Devin asked. Father thought for a moment then nodded. He could see what Devin was driving at. "Devin it might take some persuading to get Vincent to go Above." Father told him. Devin nodded and smiled. "Between the two of us I think that we can persuade him." Father smiled and agreed.
"Dad I am going to find Vincent." Devin told him. He was leaving when Father called after him. "Devin I will help you persuade him to go just tell him that I would like to talk to him." Devin nodded and headed for the falls to see if he was there. When Devin did not find him at the falls he went toward his chamber. There he stopped in the doorway and looked at his brother as he was holding baby Jacob. He could not get over just how much this beautiful child meant to Vincent.
When Vincent rose to place Jacob in his cradle he noticed Devin looking at them. "Devin I did not see you there." Vincent said as he sat back down. Devin came in and sat down beside him. "I was just watching you with your son." Devin told him. "I always get a kick out of seeing you with him." Vincent looked up and smiled slightly. "He is the only thing that has kept me sane these last six months." Vincent told him. "When I found him it was as if I was getting a piece of Catherine back." Devin looked down at his hands and smiled to himself. Oh Vincent you are in for a surprise. He thought. "That reminds me Father wants to see the two of us in his chamber." Vincent looked at the sleeping baby and then back at his brother. "Do you know what he wants?" Devin shook his head. "He just said that he wanted to see both of us." Vincent took a deep breath and nodded. "I will take Jacob to Mary and join the two of you shortly." Devin rose and walked out of the chamber.
When Devin reached Father's chamber he found Father deep in thought. "Oh Devin my mind was elsewhere." Father told him when he noticed him in the door. Father looked around to see if Vincent was behind Devin. "Is Vincent coming?" Father asked nervously. Devin smiled and nodded. Before he could answer Vincent walked up behind him. "Father, Devin said that you wanted to talk to us." Vincent told his father. Father nodded and smiled. "Yes Vincent I was hoping that the two of you would go to Peter's house and get those supplies that he has for us." Father told them. "Father does Devin really need my help?" Vincent asked. He rarely went above since the he had recovered Jacob and lost Catherine. He found that he had no desire to go above. He did not have Catherine above waiting for him at her apartment. Father new it was painful for Vincent to go above but tonight that pain would leave his son.
"Vincent I really need your help with this there are some supplies that are too heavy for me to lift alone." Devin told him placing a hand on his shoulder. Vincent just nodded in agreement. "What time would you like to leave for Peter's?" Vincent asked Devin. "I told him that you would come about seven." Father told him. Vincent turned and headed out of the chamber. "I will be with Jacob until then." He told them as he left. When he was gone Father told Devin, "I pray that when he sees Catherine again his pain will end." Devin came over and placed a hand on his father's shoulder. "Dad he has been in pain for so long I think that this will heal all his wounds." Devin told him.
About seven Devin and Vincent reached the secret door to Peter's house. Devin tripped the latch and opened the secret panel. They both stepped into the house. Peter came out of the bedroom just as they entered. "Devin Vincent I am so glad that you could come get the supplies for father." He stepped toward them and reached out for Vincent's hand. "Vincent it is so good to see you." Peter told his friend. "It is good to see you too Peter." Vincent told his friend. In her bedroom Catherine silently wept when she heard the velvet voice of the man she loved more than anything in the world. She smiled and thought to herself. Just a few minutes more my love and we will live our dream.
After a few moments of small talk Vincent was becoming very edgy. "Peter I do not mean to be rude but I left Jacob with Jamie and I need to get back soon." Vincent told him. Peter rose and walked toward his friend. "Of course my friend I will go get the supplies and something else that I want you to take with you." Peter told him as he headed for the bedroom that Catherine was in. When he reached the bedroom door he opened the door slowly and stepped in. When he emerged he was carrying some boxes and Catherine was on his arm and they walked into the living room.
By this time Vincent was pacing the length of the living room. He was feeling more uptight than before. He knew that it was a mistake for him to come here. Even in Peter's house the memory of Catherine was very strong. This made it very difficult for him to be here. He wanted to retreat to the safety of the tunnels where he could hold his and Catherine's son and have his memories of the woman that he loved more than anything in life. Devin could see his reaction and was growing concerned that he might run. "Vincent please calm down we will be home in a while." Devin told him. Deep inside Devin could not help but be happy about the surprise that was coming to his beloved younger brother.
Vincent was facing the window looking out into the night sky when he was about to respond to Devin. Just before he could speak he heard Peter enter the room and also a small gasp that made him swivel around. "Oh Vincent I have missed you these last months." She told him as she began to cry and slowly approached him. Vincent was stunned he did not know what to say. He was sure that he was losing his mind. This cannot be Catherine. He thought to himself. "I must be going insane." He said quietly as he stared at the woman that stood only a few feet from him. "You cannot be Catherine that is not possible." He insisted. She could understand his disbelief. She knew that he was in an emotional tug of war. "Vincent I know that it seems impossible that it is me but I promise you my love it is." She told him through her tears.
While they were watching this Peter spoke to Devin. "Why don't you and I go into the kitchen and leave these two alone for a while?" Peter asked as he led him from the room. As they left the room they looked back at the two people that they both adored and prayed that they would have a happy ending.
When they reached the kitchen and sat down at the kitchen table Devin began to shuffle nervously. "Peter I hope that she can convince him that she is Catherine." Devin told him. Peter placed a hand on Devin's shoulder and tried to reassure him. "Devin we both know them very well just give Cathy some time and Vincent will see that she is the woman that he loves and she has returned to him." Peter began to think of something. "I think that I am going to send a message and have Jamie bring Jacob up when Vincent and Catherine have accepted one another." Peter told Devin.
In the living room Vincent was finally sitting in a chair by the fireplace. Catherine had taken a seat a few feet from him. She did not want to rush him. "Vincent please talk to me tell me what you are thinking." Vincent was silent and looking down at his hands. He could not find the words to express what he was feeling. "Vincent my darling I promise you that everything I have told you is true." Catherine sobbed once again. Vincent was still sitting silently but he had raised his head and was now looking at her. "My heart tells me that you are Catherine but my head is screaming that it cannot be possible." He told her quietly. She knew that it was going to take some time for him to come to terms with everything. "Vincent I promise you that I am your Catherine." She tried to assure him again.
When she had spoken these words Vincent had suddenly brought his face up to look at her again. He was taken aback by these words that she had just spoken. He knew that very few people knew that he referred to her in that manner. When he spoke that name to her they were most of the time alone. Very few people below knew that he used this loving manner to refer to Catherine. He was suddenly not so sure. Could she be Catherine? Vincent thought for a moment then he gasped. She was Catherine! She had come back to him. She was here in front of him. And he vowed to himself that he would never let her go again.
All of a sudden he was sure of everything. He was overcome with emotion. He was sure now that this was his beautiful Catherine. She had come home to him. She had not died that night that he found her. Then to compound everything he suddenly found that the bond had returned. He could now feel everything that she was feeling. Vincent knew by these feelings that she was most definitely his beloved Catherine.
"Oh my God it is you Catherine!" Vincent cried as he rose and ran to her. He had to take her into his arms and hold her. She rose as he reached her and squealed with joy as he picked her up and swung her around. They were finally in one another's arms and together. They would never be apart again. Finally Vincent could not stand it anymore. "Catherine if I do not kiss you I will die right here." He told her as he held her tightly. She looked down into the face that she loved so much and the deep blue eyes that she adored. "Well my love you better kiss me we cannot have you dying on me when I have come home to you." She told him gleefully. With those words he captured her lips in the most passionate kiss that she had ever encountered. She was finally home with the man she loved more than life.
As they were locked in the kiss Devin and Peter emerged from the kitchen. They happily watched as their favorite couple reunited and came together once again. "Should we leave them alone again for a few minutes until Jamie arrives with Jacob?" Peter whispered to Devin. Devin who was smiling nodded and they returned to the kitchen.
When Catherine and Vincent finally parted he held her as if she would fade away. He swayed back and forth sobbing quietly as she clung to him. "Catherine I am afraid that if I take my arms away from you that you will disappear." He told her through his tears. She kissed his tears away and smiled. "Darling I am never leaving you again that I guarantee." She told him. They were so engrossed in the sight of one another that they did not even hear the secret door open as Jamie stepped into the kitchen.
"Catherine this is so unbelievable." He told her again. "I cannot quite bring myself to really believe it." Catherine smiled and nodded then she brought her lips back to his and she kissed him once again. When they parted again she slyly asked, "Do you believe me now?" Vincent was lost with these words he nuzzled her neck and sobbed once again.
"Vincent I love you." She sobbed. She was exactly where she belonged. She would never leave him again. She loved this man with all her heart and soul. She could not imagine any life without him now. "Vincent I want you to tell me everything that has been happening since I have been gone." She told him. He smiled and nodded. She was truly his beautiful angel and his miracle. "I promise you my Catherine that I will tell you everything." He assured her.
Finally he had to ask her how it was possible that she was here in his arms alive. "Catherine you died in my arms." He said with pure emotion in his voice. She could see in his eyes that he was in great pain just thinking about their separation. When Catherine heard this it broke her heart. She knew that they had been apart for far too long. "Vincent my love the doctor that injected me with the morphine was working for the government." Vincent could not believe what he had just heard. "But why would he do that to you if he was working against Gabriel?" He placed Catherine back on her feet and encircled her in his arms. "He had no choice he did not want to blow his cover so he had to do it." She told him. Vincent was even more shaken by this information. He could not believe that she had been put through that.
"When he gave me the injection he gave me just enough to make it appear to everyone that I was dead." She told him as she lightly kissed his cheek. "I took you back to your apartment and stayed there with you for an entire day." He told her sadly. "I could not believe that I had found you only to lose you again." She cried at the pain that this brought to Vincent. "Oh Vincent I wish that I had been able to let you know that I was alive." She cried as his arms tightened around her. "Catherine it does not matter all that counts is that we are here together now." He whispered into her ear.
"Catherine who found you?" Vincent asked. She looked up at him again and replied "I am not sure but Joe got their pretty fast." "Apparently I started to flinch when the doctor was about to start the autopsy." Vincent's grasp on her tightened even more. "Vincent I do not want to talk about this anymore." She told him. Vincent nodded and stared at his beautiful Catherine. "I will never let you go again Catherine I swear that." Catherine raised her head from his chest and looked up at him again. "Oh Vincent I will never leave you again." She stated as she began to cry again.
Just as they were getting lost in their tears again they were interrupted by a noise behind them. "I think that we have given you two enough time alone for now." Devin said teasingly. Catherine turned and smiled at the two men who had brought them together. "Well little brother I hope you enjoyed your surprise." Devin said as he approached the couple. "Oh Devin I do not have the words to thank you or Peter for this gift that you have given back to me." With those words he took Devin into a big bear hug. "Vincent when I found out that she was here yesterday I just had to bring her back to you." Devin told him. Catherine was crying harder at the sight of the love between these two brothers.
When Catherine approached Peter to thank him she noticed Jamie standing behind him. Jamie was absolutely stunned. "Cathy is that really you?" she asked pensively. "Yes Jamie it is me I have come home again." Just as Catherine got the words out of her mouth her eyes lowered to the cooing child in Jamie's arms. When Catherine saw her son for the first time since the night he was born Catherine could not believe her eyes. "Oh my God is that my beautiful baby?" Catherine asked as Jamie placed him into his mother's arms. Catherine took Jacob and held him close to her breast. She stroked his head and touched his face as her body was taken over by sobs of joy.
When Vincent saw this he came up behind her and closed his arms around her. "Catherine this is our son Jacob." He told her as she held the baby. "Oh Vincent he is the most beautiful child I have ever seen." She told him through her tears. "Hello my darling Jacob I am your mommy." She told her son as he looked into her eyes. Vincent thought that he would fall apart while looking at this beautiful exchange. "Vincent can we go home now?" Catherine asked. She looked up at him with a smile on her face and as he nodded. A few moments later they left Peter's house and walked into the tunnels. "I never dreamed that I would be here again." She told Vincent as they walked along. "Catherine it is my dream come true that you are here with me and our son." He told her lovingly.
When they came to the home chambers they found that the whole community had gathered to meet them. Everyone marveled at how good and healthy she looked. Everyone had questions about what had happened to her. Catherine gladly answered them. Then an hour later everyone was satisfied and they excused themselves. When they reached Father's chamber Vincent and Catherine entered and saw the old man smiling with tears in his eyes. "Oh Cathy I am so thankful that you have come back to us." Father said as he embraced her. "Thank you Father." She said lovingly. Just before they sat down Jamie entered the chamber and addressed Catherine. "Cathy would you like me to take Jacob and put him in his crib." Catherine looked down and saw that her son had fallen asleep in her arms. "Thank you Jamie yes would you please take him." Catherine said. Catherine kissed her son on the forehead and whispered to him, "Good night my darling baby I will see you when you wake up." With that she handed him to Jamie who left the room.
When Vincent and Father saw this exchange they both got very emotional. Catherine looked up into Vincent's face and saw that he had tears streaming down his face. "I love you Vincent." She told him as she dried his tears. Father finally found his voice again. "Catherine I understand that you want to live here with us." He began. "Yes father my home is now here where I can be with the man that I love and our son." Father smiled and nodded. "Well I do not see any problems with the council." He told her. "I think that we should have the meeting tomorrow evening to make things official." Father continued. Then he rose and said, "I am sure that the two of you would like to be alone I will see you both in the morning." As he finished speaking he rose and kissed them both on the forehead.
Then they left and were walking arm in arm toward their chamber. "Vincent I cannot tell you how much I love you." Catherine said. He looked down at her with love in his eyes. When they reached the chamber they noticed that Jacob was not there and that there was a note on the table.
Vincent and Catherine, I thought that you would like to spend your first night together alone. I will keep Jacob with me until tomorrow. You need a night off to yourselves. Welcome home Catherine.
Love,
Mary
"Well I guess Mary thought that we needed privacy even from our son." Catherine said as she smiled up at Vincent. She moved to Vincent and slid her arms around his waist. He looked down at her and once again captured her mouth in a passionate kiss. As he kissed her she felt his tongue exploring her mouth. She happily accepted this.
When they separated Vincent told her emotionally, "Catherine I will never let you out of my sight." She almost melted at the sound in his voice. "Vincent can we possibly go somewhere since Mary has Jacob for tonight?" she asked slyly. "Why Catherine I do believe that you are attempting to seduce me." He told her as he smiled seductively. "You better believe I am." She replied. She was so happy to be back in the arms of the man of her dreams. She wanted nothing more than to spend all her life with him. He once again kissed her. He could not get enough of this precious woman that meant the world to him.
When they finally parted Vincent left a note for Father and then took Catherine's hand and led her from the room. "Where are we going my love?" Catherine asked as they walked down the tunnel. "I thought that you might like to spend the night behind the water fall in our secret place. "Oh yes Vincent I would love to be there alone with you." She told him as she cuddled into his arm.
When they reached their secret place Vincent laid his cloak down on the ground. Then he walked to the other side of the chamber and retrieved the cushions that were stored there. Before they could settle down on the cushions they heard William's voice in the chamber. "I will be right back my sweet Catherine." She nodded and he descended to the lower chamber. "Oh Vincent I went to your chamber with some food for the both of you and found the note about you coming here." William told him embarrassed. "I thought that I would bring you this picnic dinner." Vincent took the basket and smiled at the cook. "Thank you William we will see you tomorrow."
When Vincent returned to the secret chamber he found Catherine lying on his cloak. "William brought us some food." Vincent told her as she rose to a sitting position. "Oh that is wonderful I am starving." She told him as she opened the basket. They ate some of the food and finished their evening meal. "Oh I have missed William's cooking." She told him as she finished eating. "Is that all you have missed my beautiful one?" Vincent asked with a smile on his face. "Oh no I have missed the children and Father also." Catherine teased. "Anyone else Catherine?" he asked again. "Well there are two other men that I have missed terribly." She finally told him. "What two men have you missed?" he asked teasingly. She turned toward him and entwined her arms around Vincent's neck. "The two men that I have missed the most are you and our beautiful baby boy."
"Oh Vincent I need you terribly." She told him as he began to kiss her again. She wanted him more than she ever thought possible. She started to caress him as she kissed him.
"Catherine please let me love you tonight." Vincent pleaded as he felt his desire rising inside him. She looked into his eyes and smiled. "Yes Vincent please make love to me now I have missed you." As they moved back toward the cushions they were lost in their passion. When he laid her down Vincent slowly removed Catherine's clothes. He marveled in the sight of her body. "Oh Catherine I have missed you." He told her as he began to caress her breasts. She moaned with pleasure as he played with her nipples. Then he leaned forward and took one nipple into his mouth. She moaned with pleasure as she felt the pleasure that Vincent was giving her. "Oh Vincent I have missed you." She moaned. After he had finished with her breasts he removed the rest of her clothes. "Oh Catherine your body is so beautiful." He told her as he rose to remove his clothes. Catherine put her hand up to his and stopped him. "Vincent I want to do that." She smiled shyly. He smiled down at her and dropped his hands. She worked diligently and soon they were both naked.
When they looked into one another's eyes they were suddenly lost in their passion. "Oh Vincent take me now!" Catherine pleaded. "Yes my beautiful love I will love you now." Suddenly their desire exploded as he entered her. She screamed in delight as she felt him. "Oh I have missed you Catherine." Vincent moaned as he rocked their bodies. "Vincent never stop loving me." She begged. "Oh never my Catherine you will never have to worry about that." Then their desires exploded and he sunk to her breast in exhaustion. "I have missed you terribly my darling Vincent." Catherine said happily as she stroked his mane. Soon they were both lost in their love for one another. They were then asleep and dreaming of their future lives together. When she awoke in the morning Catherine noticed that Vincent was not there. "Vincent!" she screamed. "Vincent where are you?" she was becoming very frightened. Then she heard someone entering back into the chamber.
"Catherine my love I am here." Vincent said as he ran to her side. Catherine grabbed hold of him. "Where were you?" she asked as she held him. "I was talking to Father for a moment." He told her as he calmed her fears. She moved back and looked into his face. "I got so frightened that you were gone when I woke up." She sobbed. "Darling I will never leave you Father just wanted to tell me that I would not be needed on a work crew this afternoon." When Catherine had calmed down she felt very ashamed of herself. "Catherine what is it?" Vincent asked. She could not bring herself to look at his face. "I never expected to react to your absence like that can you forgive me?" He took her chin in his hand and raised her face to meet his. "Catherine please never be ashamed that you miss me." He told her. She smiled when she felt his understanding through the bond.
"Catherine I miss you." He told her huskily. She giggled and once again they were lost in the feel of one another. When they awoke later Vincent rolled over onto his side beside her. Then he rose onto one elbow and looked down into the face of the woman that was the best part of his life. He slid his arms around her and they laid there in the glow of their love. After a while Catherine rose and attempted to get up. "And where do you think you are going?" Vincent asked playfully as he pulled her back down. "I was hungry for food this time." She laughed as he looked down at her. They spent the rest of the morning there reading, talking and loving. Their life was perfect.
When they returned to their chamber Father was waiting for them. "I am so sorry but Vincent you will be needed on a repair job this afternoon after all." Catherine looked disappointed. "Catherine dear I am so sorry but Cullen has come down with a terrible cold and cannot go." Father told her. "That's alright Father I understand." she replied with a smile. "Alright Father I will leave in a few moments. Father then left them alone. "Catherine I know that we were planning on spending the entire day alone together." He said sadly. "Vincent we have the rest of our lives to be together you have to go." She told him as she placed a hand on his cheek. "Besides I can spend the day with our son." She said happily.
When he was ready to leave they kissed passionately. "I will miss you my love." She said. As she moved back to break the embrace she felt his grip tighten on her. Then she looked into his face. "What is it Vincent you looked so frightened." She told him "I am afraid that if I leave that when I return this afternoon you will be gone again." She suddenly understood and gently kissed him again. "Vincent I swear that when you get back I will either be here waiting or with Father." He felt better when he heard her reassurance.
Later that day Catherine was sitting in their chamber nursing Jacob. She smiled as she looked down into his beautiful face. She could not get over how beautiful he was and that she was here taking care of him. She marveled at how this beautiful baby was her son. She caressed his skin gently and kissed him. He gurgled and babbled at her. She laughed as she rose to lie down with him on the bed. She held him as they both fell asleep. That is how Vincent found them later that evening. "Catherine I am back." He whispered. She was awake in a second. Vincent lifted his sleeping son and laid him in his cradle. "Oh I must have fallen asleep when I laid down with him." She told Vincent. "Well Catherine I must tell you that it was a beautiful sight to come home to." Vincent told her as he bent to kiss her. "I am dirty Catherine so I am going to change clothes and bathe." She smiled and nodded her head.
When Vincent returned a half and hour later he was greeted by the most wonderful and touching sight. Catherine was sitting in the rocking chair gently rocking Jacob to sleep again. Catherine was singing her grandmother's lullaby to him. Vincent stopped in the door of the chamber and watched this exchange. He was completely overcome with emotion. He started crying softly as Catherine sang. When Catherine crossed the room to put Jacob to bed she turned to see her soul mate crying. She walked over to Vincent and wrapped her arms around him. Catherine knew through the bond what Vincent was feeling and thinking. Catherine softly spoke as she comforted him. "Vincent darling do not cry please." Catherine pleaded. He sobbed hard trying to find the words. "I am just so overwhelmed that you are here." Vincent told her tearfully. He continued to speak as his voice shook with emotion. "When I heard you singing to our son it just overwhelmed me because it is something that I never dreamed would happen." Catherine stroked his back as he spoke then she moved back to look into his face. "Vincent I am here and you are stuck with me." She assured him.
Later that night as Catherine sat in their bed reading while Vincent wrote in his journal.
<><><><><><> The last couple of days have been the greatest in my life. I have been given the greatest gift that any man could ever receive. My life was going horribly until I was miraculously and joyously reunited with MY CATHERINE. When she was taken from me I thought that I would surely die. I had our beautiful son Jacob but there was a great emptiness in me that I could not ever fill. But then Peter and Devin restored that part of my heart and soul. I sit here now with Catherine in our bed. She is more beautiful than I could ever have remembered. I must agree with Mary who called her return a true miracle. I know that I am not dreaming but I am so afraid that I will awaken and be alone once again. I must see that this never occurs again. I can never live without Catherine again. She is my one and only love. No one could ever take her place in my heart. Thank You God for giving us another chance. I promise that I will not waste any time in making our relationship more permanent. <><><><><>
As Vincent read this last line he realized that he had to make this come true. He felt that there was only one thing that he could do. With this he rose from his chair and walked over to the bed where Catherine was reading. He sat down on the floor next to the bed. He took the book from her and laid it to the side of the bed. Then he rose onto both knees and gently took both of her hands in his. She looked down at him and smiled. "Catherine I love you with all my heart." He started. "You are my love and my life." She breathed very slowly and continued to gaze into the eyes of the man she loved more than life. Vincent continued speaking, "I am so thankful that you were given back to me." Catherine began to cry as she felt the truth of these words through the bond. She gently freed one hand and began to stroke his beautiful face. He continued to speak of the emotions he was feeling. "My love I can never live without you again." He told her as his voice quivered with emotion. She continued to smile and listen to the words that he spoke. "Catherine my darling one would you do me the greatest honor of my life and consent to becoming my wife?"
After he had finished speaking he noticed that she was shaking. He gazed into her face and saw the tears that were streaming down her face. When she finally spoke she answered his question. "Oh my love you have just made all my dreams come true I would be honored to be your wife." With those words he rose and lifted her into his arms. He then swung her around as they celebrated their future together. That night their loving was more passionate and tender than it had ever been. They were going to be together for the rest of their lives.
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