Part3
Later that day Catherine rose from the bed when she heard a commotion in the tunnel. She lifted the tapestry and was met by Father. Then she saw Mouse and Robert. They were carrying the stretcher that Vincent was lying on. "How is he?” Catherine asked. "I think he has a bad concussion.” Father told her. "But I won’t know anything until he wakes up. "When will that be?” Catherine asked. Father shook his head. "I have no way of knowing.” He told her. "He could be unconscious for a while.” Then he turned to Robert. "Put him here in their chamber Catherine wants to care for him.” He directed. Robert and Mouse nodded then carried him inside.
Once they were gone Catherine sat down on the side of the bed. "Vincent please come back I need you and our baby needs you.” She whispered. Father and Mary watched the sad scene from the entrance of the chamber. "Mary I fear that if anything happens to him it will destroy her.” Father whispered. Mary looked up at him. "I have the same fear.” She confided. Then they silently left them alone.
As the weeks went on Vincent was getting no better in fact he had started having dreams that tormented him. As he dreamed he felt as if he were falling. Then he came face to face with the angel from a previous dream. "Where am I?” He asked. "You are in your nightmare.” She stated. "Why am I here?” He asked. "That is only a question you can answer then she vanished.
The dream changed and Vincent saw himself and Catherine the cave beneath the catacombs. He watched with fear as he saw her enter the chamber while he was raging. "NO! Catherine you must leave!” He screamed but she did not hear him. Then he witnessed the most amazing events. He smiled when he thought that this must have been when they conceived their child. "Oh Catherine you were right I could not hurt you.” He stated as tears came to his eyes.
Suddenly the scene changed and Vincent saw Catherine in a hospital. He was horrified when he saw Joe lying almost unconscious. Then he heard Joe begin to talk. "Radcliffe please take this book it has some very important things about Gabriel.” He whispered. "All right Joe I will take it for you.” She told him. Then she put the book in her purse. Vincent shook his head as he watched this. "Catherine please do not take that book you will be harmed.” He pleaded. But he knew that she could not hear him. He followed her into the hallway where a nurse met her. Then he heard the woman tell her that she was pregnant. He saw the look of surprise and shock on Catherine’s face. She once again began to walk. Vincent followed her until he noticed that she stopped at a large window. He walked up beside her and saw that she was looking at the new babies. He smiled. "Oh Catherine I pray that our child is this beautiful.” He whispered. Then he followed her out of the hospital.
When they exited the hospital the dream changed once again. Vincent was shocked to find himself on Catherine’s balcony. Suddenly the door opened and Catherine walked out. She looked very concerned and worried. "I wish I could talk to you.” He stated as he watched her. "Oh Vincent I hope you will be as happy about the baby as I am.” She whispered. Then she turned around. "I have to go below and tell him now.” She commented. Vincent watched as she left the balcony and closed the door.
He was about to leap over the wall when he found himself below in his own chamber. He watched as he saw himself sitting in his chair quietly. Then he saw Catherine enter the chamber. "Are you all right Vincent?” She asked as she approached. "Catherine our bond is gone.” He whispered. "What?” She asked. Then Vincent watched himself rise from the chair. "Catherine I could always sense when you were coming to me and it filled me with great joy.” He told her painfully. "But tonight I had to wait for a sentry to tell me that you were here.” He added. "Vincent the bond will return.” She told him. "And even if it does not return we used it and maybe it is not need any longer.” Vincent sighed. "Then what is left for us?” He asked. Catherine smiled. "Vincent we have so many gifts waiting for us all you have to do is open your arms.” She stated. Then she smiled. "Open your arms.” She repeated. Vincent sighed and opened his arms. Catherine walked into his embrace and held him. "What troubles you?” he asked. Catherine hesitated then spoke. "It is nothing don’t worry.” She told him. When Vincent heard these words he stepped out of the shadows of the chamber. "No Catherine tell me what you wanted to that night.” He pleaded. Then he watched the scene change once again.
The next scene was at Catherine’s office she was talking to her boss. He was telling her that he would take care of the book for her. But she refused. Then Vincent watched as later in that day Catherine’s boss led two men to her. They grabbed her and threw her into a van. Then he saw her in a warehouse. She was groggy like she had been drugged. A man stepped out of the shadows and introduced himself as Gabriel. Vincent growled and ran at the man but before he could reach him the scene flipped again. This time Catherine was in a room that looked like a hospital room. She was very pregnant. She stood looking out the window. Then she lay down and fell asleep. Later Vincent saw her flinch in pain. She rose and a nurse came in and led her out of the room. Vincent ran out of the room and followed them.
He came to the delivery room where the nurse led Catherine. He watched as Catherine lay on the table and after a few moments gave birth to their child. He smiled when he heard the doctor say it was a boy. Catherine smiled and reached for their child but Gabriel took him. "Finish it.” He told the doctor. Then he left the room with the baby. Vincent watched as the doctor injected something into Catherine. He suddenly heard a noise above him. He ran to the roof and saw the helicopter take off taking their son away. Then he turned to see himself standing on the roof. Catherine came up to the roof and called his name. Vincent sadly watched the scene in front of him. He watched as he caught Catherine and heard her tell him about their son. Then he was horrified to see her die in his arm. "NO CATHERINE NO!” He cried. Then everything went black.
Vincent woke up breathing heavily and sweating he desperately looked around the chamber but found that he was alone. He was overcome with the sadness of the dream. He lay his head back down on the pillow and began to cry. Suddenly a very worried and frightened Catherine ran into the chamber. "Vincent darling what is it I am here.” She told him as she sat down. Vincent opened his eyes at the sound of her voice. He could not believe what he was seeing. "Are you really here?” He asked. Catherine smiled and nodded. "Yes my love I am here.” She told him. Vincent lifted his hand and touched the side of her face. "I thought that I had lost you.” He whispered. Catherine looked at him shocked. "No Vincent I am here with you.” She assured him. Then he looked at her. "Catherine is the baby all right?” He asked frightened. Catherine put her hand on his cheek. Then she took his other hand in hers and placed it on her stomach. "Yes Vincent our baby is fine.” She told him. When Vincent felt the fullness of her stomach that was heavy with their child he pulled her to him and wept.
After a few days Father determined that Vincent was well enough to get out of bed. He was sitting in his chair reading when Catherine came in. "Hello love.” She commented as she kissed him. Vincent put down his book and smiled. "Come here Catherine.” He told her as he held open his arms. She smiled and sat down on his lap. "Are you sure I am not too heavy?” She asked. Vincent smiled. "No my love you are not heavy at all.” He commented. "Catherine I love you so much.” He whispered. "When I had that dream the other day I was sure that I had lost you then I woke up and found myself here alone I felt so lonely.” He told her. Catherine lifted her head from his shoulder. "Vincent can you tell me what the dream was about?” She asked. Vincent nodded and sighed. "I dreamed that you were kidnapped by this man Gabriel that Joe has been looking for.” He began. "I searched for you for months but I did not have our bond to guide me so I could not find you. And when I finally did you died in my arms.” He whispered. Catherine lifted her head again. "I died?” She asked. He nodded mutely. "Yes you were murdered after having our son.” He told her. Catherine smiled. "In the dream our baby was a boy?” She asked. Vincent smiled at her and nodded. "Yes and I believe that our child will be a boy in reality.” He commented. Catherine smiled. "I would love to give you a son.” She told him. "Catherine it does not matter to me as long as the two of you are all right.” They spent the rest of the afternoon just holding each other.
A few weeks later it was getting close to Catherine’s due date. They had found out that Joe had arrested everyone involved in the Gabriel case and that he was now the new District Attorney. "I am glad that John Moreno agreed to tell the authorities everything.” Vincent commented as they lay in bed one evening. Catherine nodded. "Yes now maybe he can help save his reputation as being an honorable man.” She stated. "I hope you are right my love.” Vincent told her.
Then suddenly Catherine gasped. Vincent sat up quickly. "My love what is the matter?” he asked. Catherine breathed through the pain and smiled. "Well I do believe that this little one is ready to meet his or her parents.” She told him calmly. Vincent quickly rose from the bed and dressed. "I will go get Father and Mary.” He told her. Then he kissed her and ran from the chamber.
A few minutes later he returned. He was followed closely by Father, Mary and Devin. Catherine smiled when they entered the chamber. "Devin I was not aware you were back.” She stated. He smiled. "Yes I wanted to come meet my niece or nephew.” He told her. Catherine smiled and nodded. "How are you feeling Catherine?” Father asked. She was about to answer when another contraction hit. When it passed she relaxed. "I am all right.” She commented. Then Father turned to Devin. "Go and have Pascal contact Peter.” He directed. Devin smiled and ran from the chamber. Vincent sat down on the bed beside Catherine. "Father how long with the labor last?” He asked. Father shook his head. "I cannot be sure Vincent most first labors can last for quite a while.” He commented. Then Catherine spoke. "Vincent do you want to close the bond while I am in labor?” She asked. Vincent drew her into his arms and gently cradled her. "No my love I want to feel everything along with you.” He told her. She smiled and nodded. "All right I was just wondering.” She told him. About that time Devin ran into the chamber. "Peter will be here in an hour.” He told them. Father smiled and nodded. "That will be fine.” He commented. "Vincent I am going back to my chamber to wait for him call me if you need anything.” He told his son. Vincent nodded. "All right Father.” He answered. Then Father and Mary left the chamber. "Devin you can go get some rest.” Catherine stated. Devin smiled at her hint. "I will go see if Dad needs my help.” He told them. Then he left the chamber.
Once they were alone Catherine smiled up at Vincent. "I am very excited.” She told him. He smiled down at her and nodded. "So am I now you should rest.” He commented. Catherine slid down and lay back on the bed. "Will you stay here?” She asked. Vincent smiled and kissed her hand. "Of course my love I am not going anywhere.” He told her. "I will read to you if you wish.” He stated. Catherine smiled. "That sounds wonderful.” She told him. He picked up the book and began reading.
A few hours later Catherine’s labor pains were coming harder. "Cathy you are doing great now all I need you to do is give one more hard push.” Peter told her. She looked at him and shook her head. "I don’t think I can!” She cried. Vincent moved over and helped her sit up then he got behind her. She leaned back against him in his arms. "Catherine you are a very strong woman.” He whispered. "You can do this.” He told her. "I am here and I am with you now my love just one more push and we will see our child.” Catherine looked up at him and smiled. "Okay I will do it for you.” She told him. Then she began to push. Vincent leaned up with her and held her. "That’s it Cathy you are almost done.” Peter told her. She screamed out as the pain hit harder. "The head is crowning!” Mary exclaimed. Catherine relaxed for a moment then once again began to push. "Here we go keep pushing honey.” Peter cried. Then suddenly the sound of their child’s first cry filled the chamber.
Catherine smiled as she leaned back against Vincent again. "Oh Vincent our baby is here now.” She cried. "Yes my love.” He whispered. Then he leaned down and kissed her. Father smiled as he approached them. "I would like to introduce you to your son.” He told them. Then he handed the baby to Catherine. She took the baby in her arms and smiled at him. "Isn’t he beautiful Vincent?” She asked. She looked up to see Vincent crying. "My love what is the matter?” She asked concerned. "Nothing is wrong Catherine I am just so happy about our son.” He told her. She smiled. "Would you like to hold our son?” She asked. Vincent smiled and rose. Then he took the baby in his arms. "Catherine he is beautiful.” Vincent told her. She smiled at the beautiful scene of father and son together.
While this was going on Father, Mary and Devin left the chamber to give them privacy. Jamie and Joe met them in the tunnel. "So how is she?” Joe asked. Father smiled. "Catherine and my grandson are wonderful.” He commented. Joe smiled. "Jacob that is wonderful.” He told the tunnel elder. "May I go see them?” Joe asked. Father nodded. "Of course Joe go ahead.” He told the new District Attorney. Joe moved away toward their chamber. He smiled when he heard Catherine and Vincent talking. "May I come in?” he asked from the entrance. Catherine looked up at him and smiled. "Joe when did you get here?” She asked. "Jamie came to my apartment to let me know that you were in labor.” He commented. "I would like you to meet our son.” Vincent told him. Joe smiled when he saw the baby. "He is so beautiful.” He mused. Vincent smiled then handed the baby back to his mother. "Yes he is a beautiful baby.” Catherine told him. "So what are you naming him?” Joe asked. Catherine smiled at Vincent that is something you will have to wait to find out until his naming ceremony.” Catherine told him. Joe sighed. "Well I thought I would give it a try.” He teased. "Well I am leaving now so the two of you can have some privacy.” He told them. Then he left the chamber.
Once they were alone Vincent sat down on the bed. "Catherine I cannot tell you what this means to me that you have given me our son.” He told her. Catherine looked up at him and smiled. "I feel the same way.” She told him. "Our son is our miracle.” She stated. Vincent smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "Yes my love he is.” He whispered. They sat the rest of the time enjoying their son and thinking about what their future holds.
THE END
EPILOGUE:
A few weeks later everyone was gathered in the main chamber. They were there to celebrate the naming ceremony. "We have come here today to celebrate the child.” Father began. "We welcome the child with gifts so that he may learn the gift of giving. We welcome the child with love so that he may learn to love. And finally we welcome the child with a name which I believe Vincent and Catherine have decided.” Then Father nodded toward Vincent. He smiled and put his arm around Catherine. "Catherine and I first wish to thank you all for your love and support.” He told them. "We love you all.” Then he looked at Catherine. "We have chosen to name our son Jacob.” He stated proudly. Father smiled and embraced them both. "I am truly honored.” He told the proud parents. Then he turned and addressed everyone. "Now let us all move to the great hall for a feast.” He announced. Everyone clapped and they all left the chamber.
