Lady of the Balcony

by Clairisant

FEEDBACK: Would love to hear both good and bad feedback but please try to be kind and constructive.

CREDITS: A special thank you to my beta readers Qupeydoll and Pricilla

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place before "The Watcher."

To the lady of the balcony,

My name is Elizabeth Faber. Although you do not know me, I feel that I have come to know you and your love. I live in an apartment across the way from you and have spent the last two years watching you and your love meet. The relationship that the two of you have is very special and I have felt very privileged to share it with you even though you did not know it. Please do not be alarmed about getting this letter, I do not wish either you or your love… oh, how I wish I knew his name. I know your name, my dear Catherine, because you have been in the newspaper so often with your job, but I have wandered from my story.

What I had started to say was that I wish neither you nor your love…oh, I can't keep calling him that even though I know that he is your love. So, if you don't mind, for this letter I will call him Vince. You see he reminds me very much of my husband who has been gone from this world for thirty years now. Vince was kind and gentle as I am sure your love is and my Vince was very handsome just as your love is also. So if you don't mind I will refer to him as Vince from here on. And again I have wandered…old minds tend to do that, my children…but I mean you and Vince no harm, Catherine, just the contrary, in fact; I wish to be of help. I know that there must be a special place that Vince lives because he could not live in this world of suspicion and hate and I would like to help the people of his world.

When you read this letter I will already have left this earthly world to rejoin my Vince. How I wish that I could have met the two of you and spent time getting to know you. I think I would have enjoyed the conversations that we could have had and I have to tell you, dear Catherine, that I find your Vince very handsome! If I had been fifty years younger I might have tried to turn his head, but no, the two of you are so in love that he would never look at another. I remember the night that you lit the balcony with candle light and both of you were dressed in your finest clothes. You gave each other gifts. I only saw that his gift to you was a necklace and yours to him was something to wear around his neck also. How I would have loved to have seen what you had given each other, I am sure both gifts were very beautiful and given with so much love! How I envy you the love that you share! How rare it is to see a love like yours! I am glad that you two have each other.

Again my mind has wandered from what I had to say to you. This letter should have been delivered to you by my lawyer and you should be reading it together. I still wish I knew his name! My entire estate, such as it is, will be given into your hands, Catherine, to help the people that Vince lives with. They must be good and generous and caring people, because he is, is he not, my dear? Please use this meager amount to help them in anyway you can. The two of you and your love for each other have given me so much joy over the last two years! This is just a small way to thank you for showing me that there is still love in this world, like the love my Vince and I had so many years ago. A love like that can conquer all odds just to exist! I wish the two of you all the best and many happy years to come. I only wish that I could be around to share them with you as I have during the past two years.

With all my love,

Elizabeth Faber

Catherine looked up from the letter she had just read aloud to Vincent and into his amazed eyes. "I don't know what to feel first!" she said as she looked uponher love and smiled.

"I know what you mean, Catherine. Shock that she knew about me and did not report it to any kind of authorities. Invaded that she watched us for two years without our knowing about it. Amazed that she saw the love that we share from even that distance, wonder that her she called me Vince after her husband, amusement that she would have tried to take me from you, gratitude that she thought to help people that she did not even know, and love for someone who could accept and bless us with such kindness," Vincent said to her.

"Why do I continue to be surprised that you know exactly what I'm thinking and feeling?" Catherine laughed, cuddling into Vincent's arms on the balcony where they had met to read the letter from the wonderful stranger. "There is another letter here from her lawyer, let me read that to you too."

Dear Ms. Chandler,

Enclosed is a letter from our client, the late Mrs. Elizabeth Faber. She left instructions with us to deliver it to you upon her death, which occurred three weeks ago. Her will named you sole beneficiary and you have only to come into our office at your convenience to collect. The contents of her apartment have been sold and included in the amount of the settlement that has been left to you. She did ask us to enclose this photo taken of her and her husband Vincent Faber on their wedding day. Once taxes and other fees have been taken out of the estate, the amount that will be passed to you is $3,472,093. She told us that you had instructions as to what to do with this money in the sealed letter she had left with us to deliver to you.

Condolences at your loss,

Gruber and Sons Attorneys at Law

Catherine looked up into Vincent's stunned face, knowing just what he was feeling at that moment. "How in the world could anyone call three million a meager sum?! Think of all the good this can do for those Below!"

"No, Catherine, think of the harm it will do! Remember when the gold was found on the ship?"

"But much of that strife was over who found it! This time the money is a gift and will be used only to help."

Vincent quietly pondered her words before he spoke. "What can this money give us that we do not already have? We have enough food to eat, and clothes to wear, we have books to teach the children with, and the love and companionship of a close-knit community."

"What you say is true, Vincent, but many of those things would not be possible without your Helpers in the world Above. Think how the money might help them, and with it they could give even more aid to your world. Father is always short on supplies for the hospital chamber even though I know Peter does all he can to help. This money could buy penicillin and other needed drugs."

"You are correct, of course," he replied after a pause, then continued, "Even so, there is so much more money there than any of the things you mentioned would take."

"Yes, but what about setting up a college fund for the children that want to go to university? Think of Geoffrey learning to be a doctor, Samantha a writer or poet, and Eric a…well, whatever he wants to be."

"A lawyer like you, Catherine. That is his desire," Vincent informed her.

Blushing slightly, she dropped her head at the compliment. Speaking to try and cover her embarrassment, she said, "There are also many here Above that could be helped. Why not open free medical and legal clinics for those who cannot afford to pay for such things? It would also be a future source of employment for the children when they graduate with their degrees."

Shaking his shaggy head slowly back and forth, Vincent said, "Catherine, you never cease to amaze me! Those are goals not even Father could argue against. With you overseeing these funds, we can be sure they will be used wisely."

"Vincent, I don't want to be the sole administrator of this money! Many Below still view me as an outsider and wouldn't approve. I think there should be a committee to oversee it. I would suggest some long-time Helpers like Peter and Mr. Smythe, and members of the Council too. Father, of course, and maybe Mary or William."

"Catherine, no one Below considers you an outsider!" Vincent raised his hand when she started to protest. "Not even Father. There was a time he saw you as a threat to our world, then as someone who would devastate his son emotionally. However, since the cave-in and your help when Mouse was 'detained' by Burch's men, he has revised his view of you. In his eyes now, you are a valued Helper. Plus, since you helped give Margaret and him that final week together, he might even be changing his opinion on his son's feelings of love for a wealthy socialite topsider."

"I pray that is true, Vincent, but the fact remains, I'm not a part of your world as I would be if I were living Below. I don't know everything needed and who would benefit most at any given time. With a committee to oversee the funds, it would be much more wisely put to use."

"All right, Catherine, I can see your point there, but I never want you to feel that you aren't a part of my world. Because truthfully, since the night we met you are my world."

"And you are mine, Vincent. I wish I could make you see that!"

Vincent knew that conversation would only lead him to insist that she had a life Above waiting to be lived, but knew it would only cause him pain and his Beloved stress. Instead, he led the conversation back to the money. "When would you be free to come and talk to Father and the Council about this?"

She sighed, knowing that he was once again trying to avoid the awkward conversation of her place in his life. If there was only a way to make him see that she would give up everything to be with him! But anytime that conversation got very far, he either ran to the lower levels of the tunnels to hide away for days on end, or he would send her away from him. So to keep the peace or to keep him from running away, she simply answered his question, "Since it's already Thursday, could we do it this weekend? I have a light caseload and could come Below both days."

"If the Council meets Saturday morning after breakfast then the rest of the time could be used planning what to do with this gift."

"Yes you're right, Vincent, we mustn't lose sight of the fact that this money was a gift, a gift of love."

"Of love, Catherine?"

"Maybe I should have said 'for love,' but I think both are true in this case. Mrs. Faber was a witness," Catherine giggled a bit and added, "Some might even say a spy to our love, but she gave the money out of the love in her heart. She saw in us the same love she had with her Vince. I wonder if he was as handsome as you…"

"Catherine! I am not handsome! This face inspires fear in others!"

"Yes, Vincent, that's why you're a favorite of all the children Below. Why they love you so fiercely! They're afraid of you…"

Shaking his head in denial of her words, he argued, "The children have gotten used to me."

"Of course, Vincent…just the way Eric did the first time he saw you! I remember the wonder in his eyes as touched your face. Something I had never even had the courage to ask you."

Vincent actually blushed at her words and typically looked away from her. She, however, didn't want to let yet another opportunity like this pass her by. Placing a finger under his chin, she lifted his head and turned him to face her. When their eyes met, she asked, "Vincent, may I touch you?"

He was stunned. Utterly speechless. Vincent truly didn't know what to say. Her voice held such intensity. He had no idea what she was asking for and therefore no idea what he would be allowing by saying yes to her. She could have been asking for something as innocent as her hand touching his cheek, but he could feel the desire burning deeply inside of her. Could she be asking for much more than what Eric had wanted? Was her true meaning to touch him in the most intimate manner imaginable? And if the truth were known, he had imagined Catherine touching him in such a way even if he knew it would never happen…

His thoughts were interrupted when she took pity on the turmoil she saw in his eyes. "May I touch your face, Vincent?"

With a sigh of relief at her clarification, he smiled sheepishly for what he had been thinking and said, "Yes, Catherine."

She approached him slowly as if not to scare him, but that was odd because he had given her permission. Another oddity he noticed was that even though she expressed her desire to touch him, her hands were clasped behind her back. The gleam in her eye was the last thing he saw before she stopped almost nose to nose with him.

Vincent had bent his head down so she wouldn't have to reach up so far; that made her true plan even easier to accomplish.

"Catherine, what are you doing? I thought you were going to touch me?" he inquired, sensing the nervousness within her.

"Yes, Vincent, I am, but I didn't mean with my hands…and remember, you gave me permission!" she said, as a kiss landed on his forehead. It was quickly followed by two others placed above each eye, the second of which almost landed on his eye since he was trying to straighten up. Her hands quickly came from behind her back to link behind his neck, preventing his further escape. She proceeded to place quick little kisses down his furred nose and, when he dreaded that his mouth would be next, she switched to one cheek and then the other.

He was so stunned at this turn of events that he didn't think to offer any protest. Just when he was sure his mouth would be her next target, she placed a kiss just under his left ear and then trailed a line of kisses along his jaw, over his chin, and onto his other ear.

For the first time since this ritual began, she paused. Pulling back slightly, she still held him in place with her hands. Meeting his unsure glance, she said, "Vincent, you must know that I want to kiss you. The last time I did was to thank you for caring for me after my father died. This time, I'd like to really kiss you, but I don't want to presume if that's not what you want."

"Catherine, I have dreamed of you kissing me, and even of me kissing you, but I always thought the reality was impossible. However, you seem intent on shattering every impossibility in my life and making them a reality."

"Does that mean I have your permission to continue?" she questioned softly.

"You not only have my permission, but I might even find the courage to respond."

"You're the bravest person I know, Vincent."

"Not in matters of the heart, Catherine."

"Be brave, my love, there's nothing to fear," she whispered as she brought her lips within a breath's width of his.

He groaned at her pause and her lips curved in a triumphant smile just before she placed them on his unique feline mouth.

The kiss seemed to go on forever once it started and, truthfully,Vincent hoped that it never would end even though he knew that wasn't realistic. Nonetheless, this was an experience he would remember all of his life.

When Vincent didn't pull away from the kiss, as she had almost expected him to do, Catherine took that as encouragement and snuggled closer in his arms. At that action, Vincent finally took action himself. His arms came up around her and he pulled her into his embrace. Her sigh of pleasure told him she approved and as if to prove it, she began to urge him to open his lips so she could deepen the kiss.

Her tongue found the cleft of his upper lip and Vincent gasped at the sensations that caused. Catherine backed away just far enough to see his face and when she saw the wonder there, asked softly, "Did you like that?"

"Oh, yes, Catherine! Do you think you might do it again?"

"Anywhere and anytime you'd like me to, my love," she answered him.

"Now?" he asked tentatively.

With a light giggle she quickly moved back into his strong arms. Her tongue immediately found the spot that had pleased him so and she explored it leisurely, much to Vincent's delight.

His groan of enjoyment allowed her access to his mouth and her eager tongue invaded! Her first thought was that he tasted so good, and then she wondered what it would be like to explore his canines. Even knowing that they were probably dangerously sharp, her inquisitive tongue reached out to caress one sharp point.

At that, Vincent did pull away. "Catherine! This isn't wise!" he protested.

"Vincent, I'm not hurt, and even if I was, it would have been my own fault for not being careful."

"But I don't want to ever cause you any hurt, even if it is involuntary, Catherine!"

"Vincent, people suffer a dozen small hurts every day and don't stop doing what they need to do. I don't think I've ever had a day at the office that I didn't get a paper cut or bump into something that was left where it shouldn't have been. Every day I wear heels that cause my feet to hurt by the end of the day, but I do it because they look good. So if I happen to get a scratch or scrape when we are exploring each other, I will recover, I promise you!"

"Catherine, how did you get to be so brave?" he asked with a rueful grin.

"I had a good teacher," she told him tenderly and then gave him a tight hug.

"It's late and you have work in the morning. I should go, Catherine."

With a reluctant sigh because she knew he was right, she asked, "Could I have one more kiss before you go?"

Vincent groaned and answered with a shy smile, "Catherine, I would love that also, but it will make it all the harder for me to leave if we do."

"I think you know by now that I would have no objection to you staying, but even as far as we've come tonight, I don't think you're ready to go any farther yet…are you, Vincent?"

"My definition of impossible has been altered so many times since the night we met, that although I would normally say it was impossible for us to go beyond this new level in our relationship, I am sure you will prove me wrong yet again."

"Vincent! I do want to make love to you, have a life with you, children with you, but only if that is your desire as well! I would never force you into something you didn't want!"

"I know this, Catherine, and I have dreamed of those things too, but how can I ask you to live that kind of life with the restrictions it would involve for you?"

"It's simple, Vincent, you ask me and let me be mature enough and wise enough to have considered all that before giving you my answer."

The look that came over his face was priceless and if the subject hadn't been so important to her, she would have laughed out loud.

Vincent had suddenly realized that it really was that simple. He had been treating Catherine like she was a child and he the parent that knew what was best for her. Even though he admired and respected the talent she had to do the work she did, in their personal life he hadn't been affording her the same consideration. He dropped his head and said softly, "You have given me much to think about tonight, Catherine. I will see you Saturday morning at your threshold." Turning, he was over the edge of the balcony and heading home before either of them realized he had forgotten his good-bye kiss.

Catherine smiled at the night sky. She would've liked that kiss, but loved that he had been so flustered by her words that he had forgotten it.

The next day both Catherine and Vincent practically floated through their day.

In the DA's office, her fellow workers noticed the smile Ms. Chandler was wearing, but only Joe and Edie had the boldness to say anything about it, although both approached their inquiries in different ways. Edie simply demanded all the "juicy details," while Joe teased her about taking "happy pills" and asked if she had any left over. To both of her none-too-subtle friends, Catherine just smiled and went about her work.

On the other hand, in the tunnels Vincent's continual smile was causing a sensation. Oh, sure, you could see him give a smile to the children when they had done something well, or hiding one behind his hair or hand when Mouse was once again caught doing mischief, but he rarely ever smiled widely or laughed out loud because his fangs would show. Today it was as if he'd forgotten that would happen. Everyone was treated to a full toothy grin and they all knew that only one person could have caused this happiness in their friend. It had to have something to do with Catherine.

All the tunnel residents were overjoyed to bask in the glow of Vincent's happiness. Everyone, that is, except Father. He was very concerned about what had put the smile on his son's face. He was sure he knew who had put it there, but Vincent and Catherine had been seeing each other for almost two years now and he had never been smiling like this before! Father tried all day to find a time to talk to Vincent alone, but everyone seemed to want to be close to Vincent while he was in this mood, so Father was thwarted in his plans.

Vincent did find time during his day for some quiet contemplation of the realization he had come to the night before. Catherine had been right. He had been the one putting all the limitations on their relationship - those limitations ingrained in him by Father, never tested but always believed. Yes, there had been a couple tests in his youth; Lisa and Devin sprang to mind. He hadn't let go of Lisa when she pulled away and had scratched her badly with his claws, and an even younger self had struck out at Devin in anger, scarring his cheek forever.

He had learned to control his anger and now only lashed out to defend himself or others. So why then wouldn't it stand to reason that with the mental disciplines he'd developed over the years, he could learn to control his desires the same way so as not to hurt Catherine? The problem was the only way to test that theory was to put her in danger's path. What if he was wrong and couldn't control his desire? His greatest fear was hurting Catherine, but she believed that he would never do that. His mind was awhirl with all the questions that had no answers. Then he remembered his own words to Catherine, "one either moves towards or away from it, there is no other direction." Vincent resolved that with Catherine's help, from this day forward he would move towards love!

After the decision he had made,Vincent knew that he couldn't wait until the next morning to see Catherine. Not only didn't he want to wait, but he also knew that his well-meaning family and friends would want to spend time with Catherine as well, and this needed privacy.

Glad that the arrival of fall was shortening the days, Vincent landed on Catherine's balcony less than an hour after she got home from work. He could tell by her emotions that she had already changed out of her work clothes and had eaten. Because she wasn't expecting him, she was settling in for a cozy evening at home.

His tapping on the glass doors brought an immediate leap of joy to her heart and she hurried to fling open the doors. "Vincent! I wasn't expecting you! Has something happened?" she questioned with a worried frown creasing her brow.

"Actually, something has come up…may I come inside to talk with you about it?"

Catherine stood there stunned for a moment. This really must be something big! Vincent never came in - she could only remember two times and neither of them had been because he wanted to. Realizing that he was waiting for her answer, she backed up to allow him to enter. "Of course, you can come in, Vincent! Would you like to sit down? Can I get you something to drink? Water? Tea? Coffee?"

He stopped her babbling with a gentle hand on her arm. It was clear he was calmer than she was about having him in her apartment. "Catherine, if having me inside makes you uncomfortable, we could talk on the balcony."

"No!" she exclaimed, and then with a nervous laugh continued, "It's just that I've wanted you to come in for so long and now you're here asking to come in and I have no idea why…"

"It is something important, but nothing for you to be nervous about…or at least, I think not…"

"Now you have me even more curious."

He led her to one of the two couches that flanked her fireplace and, after making sure she was comfortably seated, sat down close to her. Taking her hand in his large furred one, he started to speak. "Last night you gave me quite a lot to think about, and throughout the day today that is what I've been doing. You were right in the fact that I've been the one who has not let our relationship go forward and that is wrong of me. We are in this together and we should be making those decisions that way. I know that you believe our relationship should move forward and that I could never hurt you. After much thought I would like us to slowly and cautiously do that, as long as that is what you want too."

"Vincent, we have already started down that road together with the kisses that we shared last night. I do have the entire weekend free, so we can spend as much time together as you like."

"Could you stay Below the whole weekend?"

"I could, but your chamber hardly provides any privacy, Vincent."

"I know of a place we can go to be alone…" he admitted hesitantly.

"That sounds fine then. Shall I come down tonight, or wait until morning like we planned?"

"I would like some time to prepare the chamber. Could I stay for a while here with you and then we could meet for breakfast, talk to the Council, and when that is all settled we could…be alone…"

"Vincent, the plan is fine, but I don't want you to feel that we have to progress at any certain speed. We can go at whatever pace feels comfortable to you."

"Thank you, Catherine. While I am not without theoretical knowledge, I still must learn what pleases you."

"And I must learn what pleases you as well, Vincent. Remember, this is uncharted territory for both of us."

"But you have had other lovers, Catherine."

"Yes, two, but neither of them put together meant as much to me as you do, Vincent. I want you more than I've ever wanted anyone, love you more than I have ever loved anyone. I want to spend the rest of my life with you!"

"Even not knowing what the future could bring, you really do mean that, don't you?"

"Vincent, none of us know what the future might bring. No one is promised a tomorrow, so we can only make the most of the todays that we are given."

He simply held open his arms and she went into them happily. They would have a future together, both of them were sure of it. They held each other for quite some time without saying a word, and then Vincent reluctantly withdrew, saying that it was getting late and he should go. Catherine walked him to the balcony doors, promising to see him for breakfast. With the briefest of kisses he was gone.

Catherine went inside to pack for her weekend Below. Seduction was foremost on her mind.

The next morning Catherine was up early and, after making sure she had everything she would need for the weekend, she headed for the basement of her building. Moving the boxes that concealed her own personal entrance to the tunnels out of the way, Catherine dropped her bag down and then carefully started to climb down the metal rungs. Before she reached the last one she felt Vincent's hands at her waist and he lifted her away from the ladder.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she turned in his arms and gave him a fierce hug. "Mmmm, you feel so good," she told him.

Trying to conceal his blush behind his curtain of hair, Vincent murmured that she did as well.

Backing out of his arms slightly, Catherine wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his head down to meet hers. "I want my morning kiss, please," she insisted.

With a tender smile, Vincent gladly complied. As the kiss ended he sighed and said, "I don't know how I've lived without your kisses for as long as I have, Catherine. I was a fool!"

"No, Vincent, not a fool. You just didn't know what you were missing. Believe me, before this weekend is over I hope to show you some other things you've gone too long without."

Blushing once again, he replied, "I am looking forward to that, my dear Catherine. But right now we are expected for breakfast, and if we want William's vote on your ideas, we'd better not be late!"

"Then we should hurry!" she agreed with a laugh. Taking his hand and reaching for her weekend case, she found that Vincent had already picked it up with his other hand.

They arrived in the dining hall and were cheerfully greeted by everyone but Father. He still hadn't had a chance to talk to Vincent about the change he'd seen yesterday and now here was the person he was sure was the cause of the problem at his side.

Last night at dinner when Vincent had told them he and Catherine had something they wanted to present to the Council, his worry had gone into hyper drive. Then, to make matters worse, Vincent had left right after dinner to go Above. Father had tried to wait up for him, but having had almost no sleep the night before and on top of a day of worry, the stress had taken its toll and he'd fallen asleep in his chair somewhere around 2am. He awoke this morning stiff and sore, but had no time for a soak in the hot springs if he had any hope of talking to Vincent before the specially called Council meeting.

Unfortunately, when he'd arrived at Vincent's chamber he found his son had already left to meet Catherine. So, there he sat watching everyone greet their favorite couple. Father could tell that speculation was running high as to what this meeting was about.

After going through the line for food, Vincent and Catherine joined Father's table. He could see something about the two of them had changed. They were more at ease with each other than he'd ever seen them before and yet there was a new tension in the air as well. Father was afraid to speculate what it could all mean.

Thinking that he would have some time after the meal while William supervised the clean-up to talk with Vincent and Catherine, Father was once again thwarted when he heard William ask Olivia to take over for him so he could leave for the meeting.

Because they were all so eager to learn what Vincent and Catherine had to say, everyone gathered quickly in Father's study. Once everyone was seated, Father, who had remained standing, said, "Since Vincent and Catherine called this meeting and I have no more idea what it is about than any of you, I will turn the meeting over to them now." He sat down and waited with dread for what was about to come.

Vincent took the floor and announced, "Two days ago, Catherine received two letters that we want to share with all of you. When she is done reading them we would like to tell you of a plan of action that we've come up with. Catherine…" He took his seat as Catherine stood with a file folder in her hands.

She read the letters aloud and then while they were still trying to take in the news of the amazing windfall, Catherine started to explain the plan she and Vincent had come up with for the money. "So you can see all the good this money could do for both our worlds. Even though Mrs. Faber had said the money should be used for Vincent's world, he and I feel that there is more than enough to benefit both Above and Below."

When Catherine stopped speaking and sat down there was a moment of stunned silence, and then it was as if everyone started talking at once.

William said, "It will be wonderful to be able to help our Helpers!"

Cullen remarked, "The idea of a free medical and legal clinic will be a great asset to the world Above."

Vincent replied to him, "And give our children a place of employment as well."

Mary observed, "The money will certainly be useful when we need medical supplies. I know Peter does his best for us, but this would take a lot of strain off of him."

Pascal added, "I am happy that Catherine wishes to share the responsibility for the funds with all of us."

It seemed that everyone had something good to say about the news except Father. When the room had fallen silent all eyes turned to him as the only one who hadn't commented. After a few moments of continued silence, Vincent asked, "Father, is there a concern you didn't see addressed?"

Jacob Wells sat there for another full minute before speaking. He had been as shocked as everyone else about the news and it had actually taken some time for him to clear what he'd been expecting to hear from his mind. But now he wondered if an engagement announcement or Catherine's request to move Below might have been less disruptive to his secure little world than what had really happened. Finally, he spoke. "While there is fear that this money could become like the treasure ship Mouse discovered, it seems that Vincent and Catherine have thought of safeguards to keep that from happening. The idea of scholarships for our young people to go to university, if they so desire, is a wonderful one. However, the more comings and goings we have from the tunnels, the greater our risk of exposure."

Catherine spoke as Father paused to draw a breath. "Vincent brought that up as a concern as we were discussing this, and our proposed solution would be to look for a multi-story building for the free clinics. The top floors could be used as apartments for the students and then we could create a private tunnel entrance in the basement of the building. That way no one would see anyone coming or going."

Everyone waited for Father's reaction and didn't relax until he said, "Yes…well…I guess that could work if you could find the right building."

The sigh of relief at this response was almost audible. Vincent shared a smile with Catherine that everyone but Father missed seeing. The rest of the group had already started speculating on how the money could best be put to use. Father, however, had been keeping an eye on his son and Catherine. All the planning for this money could have been what had kept Vincent Above for so many hours over the last two days, but it certainly did not explain the smile Vincent had been walking around with!

Talk turned to who would be on the committee to administer the funds and once again Vincent explained that he and Catherine had considered this subject. Since Catherine's name was known to the law firm dealing with Mrs. Faber's estate, it was only logical that she be on the committee. They also wanted to suggest Peter Alcott. Added to that, they felt that there should be three tunnel residents to fill out the group. With five there would be no ties if things needed to be put to a vote, and since the money had been designated for Vincent's world they felt that the largest contingent be from Below.

It took very little discussion for the Council to decide that along with Father, Mary and Pascal should be the other two on the committee. Catherine and Vincent both suspected that this was Father's way of giving the Pipemaster something other that his beloved pipes to focus on. William had been willing to serve, but at Father's suggestion of Pascal, he quickly decided that he would be too busy with Winterfest coming up in just a few months to be able to take the time away from his kitchen.

Pascal looked a bit dazed to find himself on the committee, but when Mary and Vincent added their urgings that he was needed, he agreed. Catherine then laid out the plans and said that she would take care of letting Peter know he would be on the committee too.

Father reminded Catherine that the tunnel group needed to see whatever building was being considered for purchase for the clinics. She said she would remember and Pascal recommended that they take Mouse along when looking at any property to determine the best tunnel access.

As Father was about to protest at the young man's unsuitability for such an important task, Vincent spoke up saying that this would be a wonderful learning experience for Mouse, and that he would also be there to help with anything that was needed. Seeing Mary's smile of approval to this new duty for Mouse, Father remained quiet, reassuring himself that if Vincent was there to oversee things, it should be okay.

Once everything had been finalized and William and Pascal had drifted back to their duties, Father looked at his son and said, "Vincent, there was something that I've been meaning to talk to you about. Could you please stay for a while?"

Sensing Catherine's disappointment to this further delay to their time alone together, Vincent still knew that if he didn't talk to Father now, the elder man might come looking for him later or have him sent for. It would be worse to interrupt what might be going on then than to delay it a bit longer now. "Catherine, if you will wait for me in my chamber, I'll be along as quickly as I can."

"All right, Vincent," she said as both she and Mary rose to leave the study.

"I'll walk with you, Catherine. I'm going that way as well."

The two women were well out of earshot before Father spoke. "Vincent, I know you're in a hurry to leave, so I'll come right to the point. What is going on between you and Catherine?"

"What do you mean, Father?"

"I've seen a change in you in the last few days, Vincent, and I'm sure it has something to do with Catherine. Tell me."

"We are moving cautiously forward in our relationship, Father."

"And what exactly does that mean, Vincent?"

"Father, I am an adult! When and if I need advice, you can be sure that I will consult you."

"Vincent, if you are contemplating a…physical relationship…"

"Father! Whether Catherine and I have a physical relationship or not is a personal matter! Now, if there was nothing else, Catherine is waiting for me."

Vincent got up and started out of the study when Father called after him, "I will see you for dinner, Vincent…"

His son paused at the top of the stairs and just turning his head, looked Father right in the eyes and said, "No, Father, you won't. Catherine and I are going to be away until tomorrow night. I will see you at breakfast on Monday."

"Vincent, that's not wise!" Father protested to his son's retreating back. Vincent just kept on walking. Father knew this was all Catherine's fault! Vincent had never been this defiant before Catherine entered his life. He would certainly have a good long talk with Vincent on Monday…if it wasn't too late by then!

Vincent could feel Catherine's agitation as he approached his chamber. He could tell she was worried that Father would change his mind about their time together. He needed to reassure her that nothing would get in the way of their love ever again. Vincent was determined to do his best to fulfill all of Catherine's dreams.

"Are you ready to go, Catherine?" Vincent asked as he entered his chamber.

Catherine had been too worried about what was going on to sit quietly; she had been pacing when Vincent came in. Hurrying over to him, she was enfolded into a comforting hug. "Oh, Vincent, I was so worried that Father was going to send you off on some emergency work detail or have some project that only you could do that just had to be done this weekend!"

"No, nothing like that. He was just concerned that I've been smiling too much lately."

"Huh?" She lifted her head from his chest to ask the question.

"It seems that since Thursday night I've been smiling much more than usual."

"Oh, you have, have you?"

"Yes, and Father wanted to know the cause. Well, actually, he assumed you were the cause, but he wanted to know what had changed to cause me to smile more."

Catherine giggled. "And what did you tell him?" she asked.

"I explained that our relationship was moving forward."

Wincing, she said, "I bet that didn't go over very well."

"He did seem concerned, but I told him when I needed advice that I would ask him for it."

"Ohhhh…I bet I'll get blamed for that one!"

"Blamed? I don't understand…"

"If you worded it to Father the way you just did to me, it sounded like you were trying to tell him to basically 'butt out and mind your own business'!"

"Ah…then my point did get across," he said with a smile.

"Vincent!" Catherine couldn't help it, she had to laugh at the mischievous look on her beloved's face.

"What?" he tried to ask innocently, but the chuckle that went with the question gave him away.

"Nothing…just that I'm proud of you for standing up to him! Now, hadn't we better get going before someone comes looking for you?"

Just as she finished speaking, Mouse came into the chamber and said, "Okay fine, Vincent. Come and see now!"

The crestfallen look on Catherine's face told Vincent just how disappointed she was that Mouse had come in. She knew that he was one of Vincent's favorite people and that he wouldn't say no to whatever it was that Mouse wanted him to see. Sadly, she was right. She heard Vincent say, "Thank you, Mouse, Catherine and I will come and see now."

Taking Catherine's hand and picking up both her bag and his with the other, Vincent said, "It's part of our getaway that Mouse was helping with, Catherine. Here Below we never go somewhere without letting someone know where we will be. You never know what emergency might come up. I thought that having Mouse be the one to know where we will be would still give us the best chance of not being disturbed."

She smiled gently at him. "Thank you for the explanation, Vincent, I want to get used to your ways."

He smiled at her in return, hoping she was implying that the reason she wanted to learn the way things were done in his world was because maybe, just maybe, she was thinking of living Below herself.

They walked in silence for a time, until Vincent shifted the load in the hand that wasn't holding hers. It was as if she noticed for the first time that he was carrying both their bags. "Vincent, let me help you with those! There's no reason for you to carry all that by yourself."

"The weight is nothing, Catherine. I can manage it easily."

"I'm sure that you can, Vincent, but I don't want you to treat me like a helpless flower, I want to carry my own weight."

"Catherine, because of who I am, there is so very little that I can do for you. Allow me to at least do what I can."

She stopped dead and faced him with just a bit of anger in her voice; somehow she had to convince him of how wrong he was! "Vincent, you give me so much! Comfort when I'm sad, support when I'm weary, a shoulder to lean on when I'm weak, companionship when I'm happy. You take me to fantastic places like the whispering gallery, the mirror pool, and the chamber of the winds. We attend concerts both under the park and the ones that the children put on. We also go to their plays, as well as sharing Elizabeth's art on the painted walls, and I've never been to a party Above that can come close to comparing to Winterfest! We share a love of poetry and literature, and above all that, you've given me a gift far beyond anything anyone else has ever given me!"

Softly, Vincent inquired, "Your crystal?"

With a gentle smile Catherine told him, "While I cherish it above any other piece of jewelry I have, that's not what I was referring to."

"The only other things I have ever given you were books, Catherine."

"Not those either, Vincent. The gift that I was speaking of was more precious than any of those things combined…"

Both of them had forgotten Mouse's presence until he interrupted the tender moment by saying, "I know what it is!"

They turned to face the eager young man and both asked at the same time, "What is it, Mouse?"

"It's love! Right, Catherine?!"

Her smile told both males that Mouse was right even before her words did. "Yes, Mouse, it is love."

"I knew that!" he exclaimed happily, then continued earnestly, "Asked Vincent once what love was…still remember what he said!"

"What was it, Mouse?" Catherine asked, eager to learn what Vincent's definition was.

"He said," Mouse took a deep breath and tried to lower his voice to sound more like Vincent, "'For me, Mouse, it was the end of my aloneness.'"

A furred finger came out to capture the single tear that slid down Catherine's cheek as she reacted to what she'd just heard. "That was beautiful," she said, but it wasn't clear if she was speaking to Vincent, or Mouse, or to both of them.

"We should continue on, Catherine, we still have a way to go," Vincent told her.

She nodded her agreement and, with her hand once again tucked into his, they continued on their way. After nearly an hour of walking, Vincent stepped into an open area from the passageway that they had been traveling along. He watched as Catherine took in the sight before her and as she turned and hugged Mouse. "Thank you, Mouse!" She knew that it had to have been Mouse that had done this, because Vincent had been with her since before breakfast, with the exception of the short time he had been with Father.

The blushing boy stuttered, "Wanted to help! Vincent my friend…you my friend too, Catherine!"

Before them was a table set for two with candles just waiting to be lit. Her normal thoughtfulness made her ask, "If this is for us? Where is Mouse going to eat?"

He grinned at her shyly and replied, "Have food with me. Knew you would want to be alone. Mouse go now! Have fun!" Mouse scurried off just as his namesake would have done.

"Oh, Vincent, are you sure we should let him go off on his own?"

"Yes, Catherine. Mouse knows these tunnels as well as I do and he will be fine."

"But shouldn't we have asked him to join us?"

"Catherine, he knew when I asked him to set the table for two that I would want to be alone with you. Does that thought make you uneasy?"

"Not at all, Vincent! If you only knew how often I've wanted to have time alone with you here Below!"

"I did know, Catherine. I'm afraid that it was my own unease that would not allow that to happen."

"I'm so glad that has changed! Do we really have until tomorrow night all to ourselves?"

"Yes, Catherine, and hopefully, if all goes well, we will have many more such times."

"I hope so too, Vincent, but what do you mean 'if all goes well'? Is this some kind of test?"

Vincent took his time in answering. He held out her chair and lit the candles before taking his own seat, finally saying, "Not a test really, but more of an experiment. I have something that I want to ask you. If this time together proves I can…I mean if we can…I…ummmm…need to know that I can…Catherine, I'm so afraid that I will hurt you!"

"Were you trying to say, if you can 'have sex,' or if we can 'make love,' or that you can 'pleasure or satisfy me'?" At his nod Catherine went on. "Vincent, don't you know by now that I have complete faith in you? There are three reasons: first, I know that you would never hurt me; second, our Bond would tell you right away if you did and you could stop; and third, I'm a grown woman, able to let you know if anything is bothering me in the least little way. As for the other things, even if we aren't able to have sex in the 'traditional' way, there are other ways to make love that are just as pleasurable and satisfying. Vincent, I want to share everything with you! Sex is just a small part of it…don't get me wrong, it's a very nice, fun part of it, but I could live without it, if that is what we discover tonight. However, I can't live without you, nor do I want to, so please tell me what you wanted to ask me before things go any farther."

"But Catherine, I know you are a woman of strong desires. I can feel that in you. How can I ask you to live without that aspect of a relationship?"

"Vincent, my strongest desire it to have a life with you! Even if it turned out that we could have nothing more than we have right now, that would be enough! I just want us to explore every avenue to see where it will lead us. But ultimately, there are other ways to please each other than intercourse if that proves to be not an option for us. So won't you please trust in our love for each other and ask me what you were going to?"

"I do trust in our love, Catherine," he told her as he got up from his seat.

Catherine had been hoping that Vincent was going to ask her to move Below. Hopefully, into his chamber, but at the very least into one of her own so they could spend more time together. When he went down on one knee next to her and reached into his vest to pull out a small jewelry box, she was stunned speechless.

Opening the box, he took her left hand into his and asked, "Catherine, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Inside the box was a ruby and diamond ring. Catherine could only stare at it a moment before her gaze returned to his beautiful face. "You bought a ring?" was all she could think to say.

"No, this was the ring Father gave to Margaret on their wedding day. When she was Below that last week of her life, she saw how we felt about each other and she gave the ring to Father to give to me. She said it was for whenever I was ready to propose to you."

"Father knows you are asking me to marry you?!" she gasped.

"No, after Margaret's funeral he gave me the ring and told me what she had said. I kept it hidden away until last night."

"Oh, Vincent!"

"Catherine, you haven't answered my question!" He looked up at her, his hair for once completely away from his face - his dear sweet face that was full of anxiety.

Tenderly cupping his cheeks in her hands, she smiled tearily and said, "Vincent, I would love nothing more than to be your wife and someday hopefully the mother of your children!"

"Children?" he asked, startled at the very idea.

"Yes, Vincent, don't you want children?"

"Catherine, have you thought about what kind of children I could have?"

"First off, I think about our children, not yours or mine, and secondly, yes, I have! I stood and stared at Elizabeth's painting of Father holding you as a baby and dreamed of our child looking just like you. I know that no matter how many times I tell you that I find you beautiful, you don't believe me. But I defy you to look at our child, when he's born looking just like you, and tell me he's not beautiful!"

Vincent could tell that Catherine wasn't seeing him right then, even though she was still facing him. Her eyes held a faraway look and the tender smile on her lips told him that she was picturing their child in her mind. "You really have thought about this, haven't you?" he questioned in wonder.

"Yes," she said simply.

"Then if that is what you want, Catherine, I will try my best to fulfill your dream."

"Vincent, this has to be both of our dreams. A child shouldn't be brought into the world with only one parent wanting him or her."

"Having you in my life was my dream, Catherine. Marriage and a child is so far beyond that dream as to almost be incomprehensible!"

"Then why don't we have our lunch so we can begin to make the incomprehensible come true?" she asked with a gentle smile.

Vincent nodded and opened the picnic basket by the table.

They finished the cold lunch William had packed for them rather quickly. Both seemed eager and a bit nervous about the afternoon and evening ahead, if their lack of conversation was anything to go by. Vincent told her that Mouse would return when they had gone to take the picnic things back.

He offered his hand to help her to her feet and threw her a teasing grin when he reached for her bag only to find she already had picked it up. "We have another hour walk, Catherine, are you sure you don't want me to carry that?"

"I'm sure, Vincent, but thank you for the offer," she replied politely.

They walked for a while in silence until Catherine thought conversation might ease their nerves a bit. "I was pleased at how well the Council reacted to our plan this morning. I thought there might have been more resistance to it all after what happened with the treasure."

"I think that our forethought in what we presented was enough to show everyone that would not happen again. Father seemed very pleased with the scholarship part of the plan."

"Yes, and I saw a twinkle in his eye when the free clinics were brought up. He can envision the tunnel children working there long after he is gone. Father has always been a visionary, it shows so clearly in this world that he created."

"He respects you as well, Catherine. I know it took him a while to admit that, but he considers you one of us now."

"One of the community is one thing, but will he accept me as a daughter-in-law?"

Vincent stopped walking and turned to face her with a shy smile. "I'm sure he will, Catherine. I think it is me that will take some time to believe that this is real."

"It is real, Vincent, and we have a wonderful future together ahead of us!" she told him, hugging him tightly.

Having had only hugs since the beginning of their relationship, Vincent was now ready to move beyond that safe place. Backing out of her hug slightly, he placed a fur-covered finger under her chin and lifted her face. Lowering his head, he gently took possession of her lips. The kiss was brief and sweet, but it was the first one that he had initiated on his own and Catherine was thrilled about it.

Her sigh of pleasure encouraged him to bend his head again and claim a second kiss from…his fiancée! Would he ever get used to the thought that Catherine was going to become his wife? "I love you, Catherine," he whispered softly against her lips.

"I love you too, Vincent, but we'd better keep going unless this is where we're stopping for the night."

"No. It's not much farther now, but this isn't it."

Taking his hand once again, she started off in the direction that they had been going. "Then we should keep moving," she urged.

"Yes, Catherine," he responded with a toothy grin at her eagerness.

They reached their destination less than twenty minutes later. It was actually a nice-sized chamber with a bed, dresser, table and two chairs. There were candles placed all around the room and Vincent began to light them so they could save their lantern for the return trip.

Catherine placed her bag on the bed and then lifted Vincent's there as well. She was surprised at how heavy his was. When she mentioned it, he explained that most of the weight was the food he had brought. "You know how William insists that you can never have too much food on a journey."

"I didn't even think! And there I was going on about carrying my own weight when you had a pack that heavy!"

"Catherine, you have to know that our definitions of 'heavy' vary greatly!" he admonished as he approached and began to unpack the supplies from his pack.

She sighed and rolled her eyes at him, saying, "You should have at least told me to shut up!"

"Catherine! I would never do that!" he protested.

"I know! But there are times that you should!"

Whether he agreed and didn't want to say so, or he didn't agree and just thought she wouldn't listen to any argument, Vincent instead changed the subject. He pointed out where the necessary facilities were and said that there was also a hot springs nearby if she wanted to take a bath later.

With a rueful grin at his successful change of topic, she placed her hand in the middle of his chest and with a seductive voice asked, "I hope it's big enough for two?"

Blushing slightly, he admitted that it was.

"Vincent as much as I want to make love with you, if you're not ready we can wait. I mean, we've waited this long. Would you rather wait until we are married?"

"While I was raised on Victorian literature and by a father with ideals firmly planted in the last century, I know that couples no longer wait for their wedding night to consummate their love for each other."

"That may be what others do, but I'm asking what you would prefer, Vincent. I want this to be special for you!"

"Oh, Catherine, don't you know that nothing could be more special to me than the mere thought that you could desire me?"

"Then let me show you just how much I do desire you," she suggested, moving her bag and his, which now just contained his clothes, to a nearby chair.

Turning back, she found that Vincent had already turned back the covers on the bed. With a smile she stood before him and asked, "May I undress you, Vincent? Or would you rather do that yourself?"

He looked her in the eye and slowly said, "Catherine, I don't know if you've thought about it, but you must realize that there are differences about me that you haven't seen…"

She put up a hand to stop him. "Vincent, unless you have a different number of something I don't know about, I can assure you that I have thought about what you look like under all those layers of clothing. With your hands to go by, I'd guess that you have a lot more body hair than average and I have to admit that I can't wait to run my fingers through it. Was there anything else I should know about?"

"No, that was what I was referring to."

"Then my previous question stands," she told him and patiently waited for his decision.

It actually did take a minute for Vincent to decide. This first time was so special that he knew he would remember it forever. All he had to do was to choose what memory he wanted.

Finally, he spoke. "Catherine, I'd like you to undress me, if you will allow me to do the same for you."

"I would love that, Vincent!" she answered him as she reached out and began to undo the laces of his vest.

Even with the reassurance of her words, Vincent still couldn't stop the feelings of trepidation from filling his mind. 'What if she takes one look at my body and runs away screaming? Okay, Catherine is much more refined than that, she wouldn't run away screaming. But she might be sickened…or laugh…or cry…'

"Oh, Vincent!" Her gasp broke into his thoughts and he realized that she had his vest off and his shirt open to his waist.

"You're even more beautiful than I dreamed you would be!" she whispered.

He tested their Bond for the truth of her words. It wasn't that he thought Catherine was lying, but maybe she was being kinder than she needed to be. But what he found astonished him. She was telling the whole truth! She really found his body beautiful! "Thank you, Catherine."

Somehow she knew he wasn't thanking her for the compliment. "For what, Vincent?"

"For being the incredibly generous-spirited person that you are."

"I learned that from you, Vincent. You wouldn't have liked the person I was before we met."

"I'm sure that's not true, Catherine."

"Yes, it is. I was all about me back then. You are the one that taught me it was so much more rewarding to put others first!"

"It was something that was within you all along, Catherine, you just needed something to bring it into the open."

"And I'm so glad that you did," she told him and started to slide his shirt off of his shoulders and down his arms.

When it hit the floor, she reached for his belt, but he stopped her hands and guided them to her sides. Gently touching the buttons on the blouse that she wore, he asked, "May I?"

With a breathless little sigh, she nodded and said, "Yes, please."

Slowly, carefully, and with a face full of wonder, Vincent unbuttoned her blouse. Catherine hadn't wanted to frighten him with some of her most ultra sexy lingerie so instead had chosen something simple yet beautiful. Her bra was the lightest shade of blush, almost exactly the color of her skin, and made of delicate lace and satin. She had thought a lot about front versus back closures, finally choosing the front one because she wanted to watch him take it off of her. Catherine figured he would have no experience in the workings of either style and as an added bonus, with the front closure, she could help him.

Realizing her blouse was on the floor with his shirt and that Vincent was just standing there staring at her, she asked, "Is there anything wrong, Vincent?"

"I'm afraid I'll rip it since I can't see a button or hook or…"

With a finger on his lips she told him, "The clasp is hidden behind the satin rose. You just twist it and lift."

Since she did nothing else to help him, Vincent took a step closer to see if he could find what she had described. Carefully following her directions he soon had two parts in his hands rather than one. Slowly drawing them away from her skin, he stared in fascination at the flesh he'd uncovered.

"Catherine, you're so beautiful!"

"Thank you, Vincent. I want to be as beautiful in your eyes as you are in mine," she told him lovingly, and stepped closer to do something she had dreamed of for a very long time. Her nipples had hardened from a combination of the cool air in the chamber as well as the desire generated between them. Pressing herself close to him in a hug, she was finally able to run her nipples through the fur that covered his chest.

"Oh, Catherine!" he moaned at the feeling this created.

"I know," she sighed. Reaching for his belt, this time he didn't stop her hands. Instead he just watched the fierce concentration on her face as she worked to free the complicated mechanism.

As his belt hit the floor, he did stop her as she started to undo the snap on his jeans. "Boots, Catherine," he said and, sitting down on the edge of the bed, he removed them as well as the thick pair of socks he always wore.

Catherine saw that she'd been right. His feet were very much like his hands, although it seemed that the fur was lighter there, maybe because of the constant rubbing of his socks and boots. However, that wasn't important right then. Getting him out of the rest of his clothes was. Encouraging him to stand, she again reached for the snap on his jeans. This time nothing stopped her and she quickly moved to unzip them.

Vincent closed his eyes as she slid the jeans down his legs. This was the final test. Would his beloved Catherine find his differences too much to take? Would this be the end of the dream? Her voice interrupted his doubts. "All right, Vincent, it's your turn now."

His eyes snapped open as he tried to figure out the meaning of her words. Testing the Bond, he found her as aroused as she had been, but with a light layer of amusement over the top of it. Was she laughing at him? Before his doubts could take hold any stronger than they already were, Catherine said, "I've undressed you, now it's your turn to do the same to me…" She paused before continuing, "unless you want me to do it for you?"

Stepping out of the material gathered around his feet, Vincent at last put his fears aside. Catherine accepted him for who he was and actually seemed pleased with his differences rather than worried by them.

Gently pulling her into his arms, he told her, "No, Catherine, it would be my pleasure and delight to finish undressing you." So, carefully and with great reverence, he did just that.

When she stood before him in just her lace panties, he took a deep breath before continuing. Ever so slowly he hooked a finger in at each hip and with great care not to scratch her with his nails, he lowered them until she could step out of them. Once again standing, Vincent looked at her and said softly, "Catherine, you are more beautiful than any of the females in any of the art books in Father's library!"

"Vincent, you've never seen another nude woman?"

"Once, Devin managed to keep a Playboy magazine hidden from Father for about a week. All the boys had a chance to look at it, but I preferred the art books."

"But never a live woman?" Catherine had heard the story of how Lena had offered herself to Vincent, but none of the details. She only knew that he had turned her away, but not how far Lena had gotten before that.

"No, Catherine, only as children, when we all used to bathe together, but then my hair started coming in and Father thought it would be best if I bathed alone."

"Well, you may look…and touch to your heart's content, Vincent. I freely offer myself to you."

"As I do to you, Catherine," he said as he took her hand and led her to the bed. Pulling back the covers, he allowed her to get in first before lying down next to her.

Catherine noticed that he didn't put out any of the candles or pull the covers up over them. She was glad that he seemed to be losing some of his shyness. With a smile, she tenderly reached out to caress his face and place a kiss on his lips. "What would you like to do first, Vincent? I want this to be very special for you."

"You need to tell me what pleases you, Catherine. Remember, this is all new to me."

"Vincent, we'll learn together what pleases the other. Now, I'm sure as well-read as you are, you have some things you want to try. When you're alone late at night and you're thinking of me…what do you think of doing?"

His eyes closed as he remembered all those nights that he'd dreamed of her, nights that no one was supposed to know about, but Catherine seemed to. Could it be that…"Catherine, did you have nights when you thought of me too?"

"Oh, so many, Vincent! Now tell me what you want, my love."

"May I touch you, Catherine?" he asked with a slight hesitation in his voice.

"Yes my love, anywhere in any way. You may explore all you like."

Vincent's hand came to rest on her shoulder. After receiving a nod from his beloved, his hand moved almost reverently to cup her breast. Catherine's indrawn breath almost had him withdrawing until he felt the rush of desire through the Bond. As his wrist rested under her breast he could feel her heart rate speed up.

Emboldened by her reaction, Vincent trailed his thumb over her nipple. Catherine gasped and arched up on the bed. Her moan of, "Oh, Vincent!" was all he needed to tell him he'd pleased her, but he also had the rush of passion he felt from her through their Bond.

Through glazed eyes she looked up at him and said, "Vincent, will you suck on it?"

"Would you like me to, Catherine?"

"Oh, yes!"

With a tender smile at her, he lowered his head to take her hardened nub into his mouth. The feel of his lips around her flesh was better then she had ever imagined in all her dreams, but when he tentatively ran his tongue over her nipple, Catherine lost all control! She flew apart in his arms. Her orgasm not only rocked her world, but Vincent's as well. Never having experienced anything like that, Vincent was unprepared for the reaction of his own body.

Catherine felt the shudders convulse through Vincent's body moments before she felt him spill his seed on her thigh. The dazed look on his face almost made her smile, but she restrained herself before it could appear on her face. She just knew that if he saw her smiling about him losing control like that he would think she was making fun of him.

Capturing his sweet face in her hands, she was quick to reassure him. "Vincent, it's okay! I would have been amazed if something like that hadn't happened! For heaven's sake, you barely touched my breast and I came!"

"Catherine, I would hardly call taking your…ummmm…putting your…"

"Vincent, its okay to say 'nipple.'"

"I know, Catherine, it's just difficult after all this time to voice things like that! But having your…nipple in my mouth was much more than 'barely touching' you!"

"For us, maybe, Vincent, however, I have to tell you that in the past it has always taken a LOT more foreplay than that before I was ready for sex. But with you… well, all you have to do is look at me and I'm ready for you!"

"It has always been my fear that I couldn't please you like the other lovers you've had."

"Vincent, there have been only two other men. Steven when I was in college, and I broke that off because I had outgrown him, and Tom, who I was engaged to at the time of the attack. I broke that off because he was too controlling and domineering. Even though I hadn't admitted it to myself at that point, I also think you were a part of that decision."

"How so, Catherine?"

"I had finally met a gentle, caring man who put others ahead of himself. Neither Steven nor Tom knew how to do that. Your kindheartedness spoiled me for anyone else."

"There was Elliot Burch…"

"At first, I was attracted to that part of his personality that wanted to please me. But I realized it was just a ploy to gain control of me. When it came to a choice between his career and me, I came in second - not once, but twice. Vincent, you are the only one I've ever met that didn't have a hidden agenda for me."

"That's not true, Catherine. I secretly dreamed of one day having you as my wife."

"Yes, and it took you almost two years to admit that! Tell me, Vincent, why do you want me to be your wife?"

"So I can love and cherish you and take care of you!" he declared with sincerity.

"I rest my case!" she exclaimed.

Vincent couldn't help but grin at her comment. "Always the lawyer, my Catherine."

"And don't you forget it! If you try and get out of marrying me, I'll sue you for breach of contract!"

"I think we might have a bigger problem than breach of contract if you took ME to court, Catherine." Vincent actually chuckled at the thought.

"Well, if you keep your promise to marry me, we'll never find out, now, will we?"

"I will, Catherine, I will," he promised.

"Good. Now that's settled, why don't we retire to the bathing chamber and clean up a bit?"

Vincent agreed with a shy nod.

Careful not to spread the mess to the bed, the two of them got up and walked hand in hand to the bathing chamber. Catherine sighed as the hot water enveloped her. "Oh, this is heavenly! How did you find this spot, Vincent?"

"Devin and I used to explore the tunnels as children. We found this place one time when Rebecca was with us and she was the one that said it would be perfect as a getaway for couples. She told Father, and after he finished yelling at Devin and me for taking her places that we shouldn't have, he settled down and had it checked out. Everyone agreed about Rebecca's idea and they all helped to furnish it. It has become a favorite place for married couples that want time alone and as a honeymoon spot."

"Or as a perfect place for lovers to sneak off to?"

Hanging his head, he replied, "I wouldn't know about that, Catherine."

She snorted and rolled her eyes at his blatant lie, but decided to change the subject in any case. "Vincent, will you let me wash your hair? It's always been something I've wanted to do."

His head popped up and with a startled look in his eyes, he asked, "You have?"

"Yes, your hair is so wild and beautiful, just like you! I've longed to run my hands through it and when I've had shower fantasies about us, I've dreamed of washing it."

Vincent gulped, "Shower fantasies?!"

"Come on now, Vincent! Are you going to stand there and tell me that you haven't had a thought or two about us bathing together?"

She had done it again! Delved into his deepest desires and read his secret thought about the two of them together! He couldn't count the number of times he had thought of sharing his bathing chamber with her. "Yes, Catherine, I have thought about it," he finally admitted, because he wanted there to be nothing but honesty between them.

Catherine smiled at him and moved close with the bottle of shampoo in her hand. "Well then…may I wash your hair?"

"Yes, Catherine, anything you want," he replied, stepping deeper into the pool so she could more easily reach him.

Pushing down slightly on his shoulders, she urged him to duck his head under the water to get his hair wet. When he emerged and sluiced the water and hair out of his eyes, she was ready to begin. Pouring a generous handful of shampoo, Catherine started working his hair into a lather.

The sensual feel of her hands in his hair this way made him moan. No one had performed this task for him since he had been four or five years old, when he'd been deemed "old enough" to do it for himself. How could he have ever guessed that the feel of his beloved Catherine performing such a simple act could be so intimate?

She worked and played at her task for several minutes before she indicated that she was ready for him to rinse. Again coming up out of the water and pushing his now very tangled hair out of his eyes, he discovered Catherine ready with another bottle.

"More shampoo, Catherine? I think my hair is clean now."

"No, Vincent, this is conditioner. It helps to remove the tangles and makes your hair easier to manage when you comb it."

"That sounds like something very useful." Then he laughed and added, "I can never get a comb through my hair, and usually pull out a brush full every time I wash it."

Catherine applied the conditioner to Vincent's hair and once again the sensual feeling of her touching him in this manner caused him to react. If he had been able to think clearly, he might have realized that this application was taking even longer than the shampoo had, but that was not the case. It wasn't until Catherine moved around in front of him and started trailing her conditioner-slick fingers through the matt of hair on his chest that a coherent thought intruded in his mind. "Catherine, I usually don't have problems with that hair tangling…"

Sighing, she replied, "I know, but I just love to touch you." She brought her body close and rubbed herself against the evidence of his arousal. "And it seems that you don't mind it either…"

Stepping back in embarrassment, Vincent said, "Catherine, shouldn't I rinse now?"

"Yes, Vincent, why don't you do that."

"Then, maybe I could wash your hair for you?" he asked, thinking that at least that way he would be behind her and she wouldn't be able to see the reaction he had to being this close to her when they were both undressed.

"Mmmmm, yes, afterwards…" she answered.

"After what, Catherine?"

"After we make love."

"You want to make love here? In the water?"

"Yes, unless you have your heart set on our first time being in a bed?"

"Whereever you would like is fine with me, Catherine."

"This hot water is so sensuous…moving around us almost like a caress…"

"Then here it shall be, my love."

"Rinse your hair first, darling," she advised.

When he was standing in front of her again, Catherine moved closer until she was pressing her body against him. His erection was captured between them, and as she placed her arms around his neck, she felt him grow even harder.

He quickly started to apologize. "Catherine, I am sorry! I don't seem to be able to control myself any longer when I am around you!"

"Shhhh," she whispered, pressing a finger over his unique lips. "You have no need to apologize, or for that matter, any need to control yourself when you're around me. At least, not when we're in private. This might not be an acceptable sight in the middle of the family tunnels."

"Not to mention giving a certain tunnel patriarch a heart attack."

"Yes…well…let's not mention Father right now. What I was trying to tell you was that I like the fact that you have this reaction to me!" Catherine told him, as she let one hand slide from around his neck to slowly stroke down his chest and then firmly take hold of his manhood.

He couldn't control the jump this caused and saw Catherine smile at that response. As his legs began to tremble in reaction to the desire in her eyes, he said, "Catherine, I think I need to sit down."

"I think that's a wonderful idea, Vincent," she said, as he moved towards the ledge carved into the side of the bathing pool. She followed along with him and stunned him when she sat down on his lap straddling his legs. His shaft was still trapped between them and her core was open and vulnerable in that position. Catherine took his hand and placed it on her breast. She encouraged him, "Touch me, Vincent, please, touch me!"

Drawing air into his lungs, something he seemed to have forgotten to do since she'd sat down on his lap, Vincent did as she asked. He even brought up his other hand so he could caress both her breasts at once.

Catherine arched her back at the sensations this caused, giving him full access to her body. After a pleasurable time of caressing, he lowered his head to take one of her nipples into his mouth. This time, there was no hesitation in using his tongue. Vincent remembered her reaction to the first time and wanted to see if it would happen again.

This time, however, she was a bit more in control of herself and only moaned out his name. When he switched breasts to see if that made a difference, he felt Catherine squirm a bit on his lap. It was as if she was trying to get even closer to him, but he didn't see how that was possible unless she wanted to be inside of him. Then it dawned on him…she didn't want inside of him, she wanted him inside of her!

This realization caused Vincent's manhood to swell even more. Looking deeply into her eyes, he asked, "Guide me, Catherine."

She smiled gently at his lack of confidence; it was so hard to believe that a man as innately sensuous as Vincent was had so little self-assurance. Taking his hand, she guided it down her body until their joined hands brushed his erection. Before he could react with the embarrassment she knew that would cause, she quickly moved his hand even lower. He resisted a bit when he realized what she intended, but Catherine kept a firm hold on his hand.

"I want you to touch me," she told him, placing his hand between her thighs.

"There, Catherine?" he sounded so unsure.

"Yes, I want you to feel how wet I am for you. That isn't just from the water around us, it's from the feelings you create in me. Men may have a harder time hiding the evidence of their arousal, but women are just as affected."

Slowly and oh, so carefully, Vincent took her at her word and began to stroke this most intimate area on his beloved. He allowed Catherine's sighs and gasps to guide him as he tenderly explored. When his thumb found her clit for the first time, Catherine gasped and shifted on his lap. The shift caused his middle finger to slide inside of her.

Vincent instantly started to apologize and withdraw his finger when he felt Catherine's hand on his wrist.

"Please don't, Vincent! That feels wonderful. Feel how wet I am for you…imagine how it will feel when your…" Catherine knew Vincent wouldn't be comfortable with her world's terms for his manhood, so she chose the one he would be most familiar with from Father's medical textbooks, "penis is inside of me."

His groan told her that he was taking her at her word and imagining just that. Because he was distracted with his thoughts she was able to move up and down a few times on his finger before he realized what she was doing.

"Catherine, my nail could hurt you!" he protested.

"Vincent, don't your nails soften in water when you're taking a bath or washing your hands?"

It was as if a light went on in his mind! What Catherine had just said was the "truth beyond knowledge" that Father had spoken of that time he'd gone to deal with Paracelus! The lies Paracelus had told him about his birth were just that, LIES! As Catherine had so eloquently demonstrated, the intimate area of a woman was very wet and the womb would be even more so. His nails would be very soft, especially after months inside there. It would have been impossible for even a baby with claws to tear his way out!

However, even as world-shaking as that realization was for him, this was neither the time nor the place to dwell on it. He would be happy to tell Catherine about it…later. For now he had more important things to do.

Vincent suddenly beamed at her, but before she had a chance to ask why, he was kissing her deeply and passionately. It was a quantum leap from the last kiss he had initiated, but Catherine certainly wasn't complaining! His tongue invaded her mouth and began exploring as if he had every right to. Catherine was thrilled beyond belief. If he became an expert kisser with as little practice as he'd had, she could only dream of what their sex life would be like in the future!

His finger inside of her had taken up the same rhythm as his thrusting tongue. Catherine was quickly gasping for breath, finding it hard to draw air into her lungs. She finally had to pull back from the kiss so she didn't pass out.

Crying out his name, Catherine came as Vincent held onto her so she didn't fall off of his lap. This time he had been a little more prepared for the overwhelming emotions flooding through their Bond and he had managed to control his own reaction.

As Catherine recovered from her second orgasm an odd look came across her face. She'd been feeling things she never had before, but until a feeling of nervousness assailed her, she hadn't realized they had been from Vincent. She was feeling what he was feeling through the Bond! With an astonished gasp, she asked, "Why are you nervous, Vincent?"

When Vincent opened his mouth to deny it, Catherine shushed him with a finger on his lips. "Vincent, I can feel what you feel…almost as if we're one…" she repeated the words he'd spoken to her long ago.

"I'm sorry, Catherine, I guess I let my guard down."

"You mean that I could have been feeling your emotions all along, but you've been blocking them from me?"

"I didn't want to burden you, Catherine!" he protested.

"Vincent, don't you know by now that I want to share everything with you?! We will have a long talk about this later! But right now I want you to relax and make love to me."

"Catherine, I don't think I can do both of those things at the same time!"

"All I meant was that there's nothing to feel nervous about. This is the most natural thing in the world between a man and a woman." She smiled tenderly at him and lightly kissed his furred nose.

Slowly trailing her hands down his body, she stroked his erection back to full power. Then, standing, she carefully began to lower herself onto his shaft.

The first contact of the head of his penis with her intimate folds was more than Vincent had ever imagined it to be. With a groan, he flung back his head and closed his eyes, letting the sensations wash over him.

Catherine slowly lowered herself on him watching his face the entire time. She was experiencing everything twice! As she enjoyed the feeling of her lover inside of her for the first time, she was also feeling all the emotions of Vincent's first time with him. His eyes popped open and he stared at her as he felt the overriding joy coming at him through the Bond.

There were so many things bombarding both of them that for a moment they just wrapped their arms around each other and held on tight.

"Oh, Catherine, I never knew!" he exclaimed, when they parted enough to look at each other.

"Vincent, I don't think anyone could be ready for something like this!"

"I'm so sorry that I didn't believe this was possible for us!"

"I'm just glad you found the courage to learn the truth!"

"Wasn't it the cowardly lion in 'The Wizard of Oz' that couldn't do what he had to do until he found his heart?" At her bemused nod, he went on, "Catherine, you are my heart! Loving you is what gives me the courage to do everything!"

"Oh, Vincent!" she sighed and hugged him close once again. The "L" word had never been spoken between them before. She felt that at long last all the barriers that had ever been between them were finally coming down. Cupping his beautiful face between her palms, she smiled and said, "Make love with me, Vincent."

And he did! Catherine had been right about Vincent being a quick learner. As they made love both of them took turns leading the other where they wanted to go. Vincent helped her to move up and down on his lap as he pressed his face between her breasts and nuzzled.

Catherine had a hard time concentrating on the wonderful feeling of making love with him the first time once he started that, because the fur on his cheeks and nose was tickling her. She tried to squirm away from the object of this torture, but Vincent held her firmly to him. He had never felt as free to be this playful with Catherine before and the experience was almost as exhilarating as making love to her.

She had never laughed through an orgasm before, but like she had told Vincent earlier, this was uncharted territory for both of them. Her only regret was that this time she had wanted them to come together.

Vincent sensed this regret in her as he felt his release begin. Pulling her close in his arms, he whispered in her ear, "We are, Catherine, we are!"

Catherine realized he was telling the truth when she felt his body begin to tremble, but the truest evidence was the kaleidoscope of colors that burst upon her senses as the two of them held onto each other for dear life.

It could have been minutes, hours, or even days later when she was at last coherent to speak. All she really knew was that she was safely and securely held in Vincent's arms. Barely able to lift her head from his shoulder to look into his face, Catherine nonetheless had to see his reaction to her question. "So, Vincent, what did you think of your first time?"

The rumble that started deep in Vincent's chest surprised her a little until he threw back his head and let loose a full-throated laugh. Catherine had never heard this magical sound before. Oh, sure, she'd seen him grin and an occasional smile, there had even been rare occasions when he let loose a bit of a chuckle, but never this full-body laugh! There was nothing she could do but join in.

When he could draw a breath without starting another round of laughter, Vincent finally said, "My beloved Catherine, if I had but known how glorious loving you would be, I never would have denied us so long."

"Oh, my love, I swear it will only get better as we learn from each other!" she promised.

"I don't know that I could survive that!" he chuckled.

"You will my love, you will," Catherine told him, then added, "I don't know about you, but I sure could use a nap. Will you join me?" Rising from his lap, she stepped out of the water and held out a hand to him.

Vincent was still a bit hesitant to stand before her naked, but as he rose from the water he told her, "Catherine, if I don't dry off first, our bed will be very wet."

She handed him a towel with a smile and said, "Why don't we dry each other off?"

"Because if we did that, my dear Catherine, we would not get that nap you desire."

"Hmmm, well, napping has always been overrated!" she replied, approaching him with a second towel she had picked up.

Vincent had been right, drying each other off had led to other things, but at least this time they were actually in bed after making love again. Their nap had only been delayed an hour or so.

Catherine's tummy woke her with a rumble that told her it had to be past dinnertime. But when she woke to find herself in Vincent's arms and realized it had not been another dream, she knew that food could wait a while longer.

During the next twenty-four hours they explored their newfound physical relationship, learning ways to please the other and a few other secrets along the way. Vincent discovered that the backs of Catherine's knees were extremely ticklish and delighted in tormenting her with that knowledge. To Catherine's delight they both found out that the bottoms of Vincent's large hairy feet were as ticklish as the backs of her knees were.

No one had ever really attempted to tickle him before, except for the occasional child who quickly realized that it was no use. Their little fingers couldn't penetrate the numerous layers of clothing he always wore. The fact that his feet were ticklish had come as a surprise to Vincent, and Catherine didn't know whether she liked the startled look on his face when he discovered it, or the pleading look he gave her as he begged her to stop tickling him more.

After dinner on Sunday, Vincent reluctantly told her they should head back. Catherine had work in the morning and he had promised to have breakfast with Father.

"Vincent, do you want to tell him privately about our engagement or should I be there to protect you?"

With a teasing grin he asked, "What do you think he'll do to me, Catherine? Beat me with his cane until I change my mind?"

"He might…" she teased back as they walked towards the home tunnels hand in hand.

"I'm pretty sure he won't attempt that, my love. If he didn't do it to Devin and me for some of the pranks we pulled while growing up, then I think I'll be safe."

"All right, but remember if worse comes to worst, you can out-run him!" she laughed.

Vincent joined in and agreed.

They also discussed wedding dates on their long trip and even though both felt that Winterfest would be a wonderful choice, neither wanted to wait four months to be husband and wife. "Two months, Vincent! That's all the longer I'm willing to wait. Anything that can't be planned in that time isn't important enough to wait for!"

"Two months…that would be some time in October. Is there any particular date you had in mind?"

Catherine stopped dead at the mention of October. A strange gleam came into her eyes and she asked, "Vincent, do you trust me?"

"With my life! Catherine, you know that!"

"Then yes, Vincent, there is a special day in October that I want to be married on!"

He could tell from the feelings coming to him through the Bond that she was very excited about her plan. The thing that puzzled him was the feeling of apprehension he was also sensing. Was she afraid to marry him? But how could that be after the wonderful weekend they had just spent together? He knew that doubts and worry could eat away at what they had fought so hard to gain so he felt he had to find out. "Catherine, are you afraid to marry me?"

"Oh, Vincent, no!" After a pause Catherine continued, "You sensed my worry?" When he nodded sadly, she sighed and explained, "Vincent, sometimes our Bond is misleading because you only get my feelings and not the thoughts that go with them. There is nothing more in all the world that I want than to be your wife and someday the mother of your children. What you sensed was a bit of worry about how you would react to my idea for the wedding, and I wanted to think it through a bit more before I presented it to you, but I don't want you worrying either. I know how much you long for sunlight and that is what I want to give you as a wedding gift!"

Vincent could see the excitement in her face, but he didn't understand what she meant. Then he realized she was probably talking about the gifts couples usually gave each other on their wedding day. "Catherine, are you talking about a trip to your parents' cabin for our honeymoon? The trip that Father vetoed the last time you planned it?"

"No I hadn't actually been thinking as far ahead as our honeymoon yet, but that is a good idea!"

"Then how were you going to give me sunlight?" he questioned with his head endearingly tilted to one side.

"I want us to be married on October 31st…" She paused.

He nodded his agreement to the date, still not understanding the rest.

"On Halloween…"

"Yes, Catherine, I know, but I still don't see…"

She interrupted him to add, "At noon…"

"That still doesn't…"

Once again she stopped him, this time by saying, "In the middle of Central Park!"

Vincent shook his head; surely he hadn't heard her correctly! "Catherine!"

Placing a finger on his lips she said, "Before you protest, Vincent, hear me out. What could be more perfect? Everyone could come in costume; passers-by would think it was a play or something. We can both have all our friends there, and best of all…I will get to see you in the sunlight!"

"Catherine, you know what Father will say! The danger! The risk!"

"Whose wedding is it, Vincent? I know how important Father is to you and I love him as well, but this will be our day! I want to give this to you! With everyone in costume you'll be safe! Heck, we can even have photos taken for an album!"

"Photographs!? Of ME, Catherine?!"

"Yes, Vincent, wouldn't they be wonderful to show our grandchildren some day?"

"Grandchildren? I still haven't gotten used to the idea of us having children yet!"

Contritely she looked up at him through her bangs and asked, "Are we moving to quickly for you, Vincent? Should we put the wedding off until Winterfest after all?"

"The date of the wedding is not what has my head reeling, Catherine. It's the time and location!"

"Vincent, if I can find a way to convince Father that the time and place are all right, do you really have any objections to them?"

"Catherine, to marry you outside in the sunshine would be more wonderful than any dream I have ever dreamed!"

"Hooray!" she exclaimed and pulled him close into an enthusiastic kiss to seal the bargain.

When they parted both were breathing heavily. Vincent took a deep breath and said, "We really should be on our way, Catherine, it will be quite late when we get back as it is."

"All right, Vincent. Will you come up to the apartment for a while when we return?" she asked as they started walking once again.

"Catherine, it will be nearly midnight!"

"I know, but I want to say a proper good night to you…"

"You can say a 'proper' good night to me at your threshold," he admonished with a grin.

"Okay, sue me! I'd like to say an improper good night!"

"I would like that too, Catherine, as long as you aren't going to be too tired for work in the morning."

"Let me worry about work, Vincent. Being with you is worth any loss of sleep."

They walked in silence for a time, both lost in their memories of how their relationship had so recently changed. As they drew close to the home tunnels Vincent spoke. "I will tell Father of our engagement at breakfast and deal with his reactions throughout the day. Will you come Below so we can make an announcement at dinner?"

"Yes, and maybe by then I'll have a plan ready for talking him into approving our time and place for the wedding."

"I will help with that in any way I can, Catherine, just let me know what you need."

"I will, my love."

A short time later they reached the threshold beneath her apartment and parted for the time it would take them to reach their destination separately.

On her trip up to the apartment Catherine had time to think. It was the first moment she'd been apart from Vincent since learning he'd kept his side of the Bond closed to her all this time. 'How could he have done that?' she wondered. 'Didn't he know that I wanted to share everything with him?' A quiet despair began to creep into her heart. The only conclusion that she could come up with was he simply didn't feel he could trust her with his emotions.

Vincent, on his solitary climb to the balcony of Catherine's apartment, felt this feeling of despair from her. As she had pointed out earlier, he didn't know what thoughts accompanied the feeling, but he did know it had something to do with him. 'What could have caused this in the short time since we parted? At this time of night she shouldn't have encountered anyone on her way to the apartment. So what then had changed since we kissed on her threshold?'

He landed on the balcony lightly for such a large man and peeked into her bedroom. She wasn't there. Entering through the other set of French doors, he found her slumped on the couch crying. Her jacket was still on, but she hadn't even turned on the light. Luckily his vision was such that he could cross the room to her side without it.

Falling to his knees beside the couch, he placed a tender hand on her back. "Catherine, what is it? Tell me," he urged.

Lifting her tear-streaked face, she looked at him forlornly. "Vincent, why did you hide yourself from me in the Bond? Didn't you trust me?"

"Catherine, no! I always knew I could trust you, right from the first! When Father kept telling me to tell you nothing about our world, I knew even then that I could trust you with our secrets. I've always trusted you!"

"Then why?"

With a heavy sigh, he allowed himself to sit on the floor next to her before he answered, "It was myself I didn't trust, Catherine. I felt our Bond from the first and knew that I would come to love you as I do now, but Father's teachings ran deep. I knew that a life of love with a woman, any woman, was not for me. I didn't want to burden you with my feelings of love for you when you didn't feel the same."

"But what about when I did realize that I loved you? Why didn't you tell me then?"

Their eyes met, hers full of pain and questions, his full of worry and shame. His gaze dropped as he hung his head. "Catherine, the feelings you had for me were so new. I had never felt anything like that before. I wasn't sure what to do. It was just so new. Also, I was unaware that the passion and desire I felt for you was 'normal.' I had thought those feelings were…'animalistic.'"

She was quiet for a time thinking over what he had said; when she finally spoke he could still hear the hurt in her voice. "Vincent, all that aside, I guess I still don't understand why you didn't feel you could let me sense when you were worried, or happy, or lonely…" she trailed off.

"Because if I had let you feel those things from me, but not the others…you would have wondered if I didn't have those feelings for you."

"I see…" she said slowly.

"Do you, Catherine? My love for you was never a question in my mind, but the other, more intense feelings were something no one ever talked about to me and so I believed that they were 'unnatural.'"

"And because I tried so very hard to keep you from knowing that I had 'those' kinds of feelings for you, I was contributing to that belief. I'm sorry, Vincent, I didn't know. If I had, I would have made you aware of how much I desired you!"

"I know now, Catherine, and that's all that matters!"

Sitting up on the couch, she wiped her tears away and smiled at him. "Let's make a vow to each other never to keep our feelings from the other ever again!"

"Yes, Catherine, I promise you that!"

She happily threw herself into his arms that opened automatically to her.

As their kisses became heated, Vincent reluctantly backed away a bit to say, "Catherine, I should go. It's late…or rather, early, and you have work in the morning."

"I'm much more worried about you facing Father alone than about my workload, Vincent."

"In either case, we should both get some sleep."

"I can't wait for the day when we no longer have to part to do that."

"We wouldn't have to wait until we are married for you to move Below, Catherine, if you don't want to."

"Why don't we wait and see what the reaction is to our announcement tomorrow night? We can talk more about it then."

"All right, my love," he told her, and with one last kiss he was gone.

After Vincent left, Catherine made her way slowly into the bedroom. As she began to undress for bed, she noticed the light flashing on her answering machine. One of the messages was from Joe Maxwell, telling her that the Coolie deposition had been changed to 8am. She groaned knowing she would have to be up an hour earlier than usual to be ready for it.

The other six messages were from Jenny Aronson asking…no, demanding to know what 'monumental event' had occurred to Catherine that weekend and why, she, as Catherine's best friend, hadn't been let in on it?! Cathy laughed as each message got more frantic and demanding. She couldn't wait to see Jenny's face when she told her that she was engaged! And wait until Jenny met Vincent!

Making a mental note to call Jenny the minute she could in the morning, Catherine planned to invite her friend to lunch to tell her the news.

The next morning Vincent went to Father's study wanting to tell him about the engagement in private rather than in front of everyone at breakfast.

Father took one look at his son when he entered the room and knew it was too late for his abstention lecture. Sometime in the last two days his son had become a man. All he could do now was pray everything had gone well. Since he hadn't seen Catherine, he had no way of knowing if she was all right, but surely Vincent wouldn't be so calm and at peace if something bad had happened. Needing to know, he got right to the point. "Good morning, Vincent. I trust Catherine is well today?"

Vincent paused a moment, probing the Bond for Catherine's feelings before answering Father. He could tell she was tired from their late night, her feet were bothering her a bit from the long hike, but under all that she was blissfully happy. However, all he said to Father was, "Yes, Father, she is well."

"I gather that your relationship has moved forward?" the elder man probed.

"Yes, Father, it has. Catherine and I became lovers on our trip, but not before I had asked her to be my wife."

"Your WIFE?! Vincent! You know you can't…"

"Father! I know our marriage cannot be legally recognized in Catherine's world, but we want our family and friends to know that we wish to share a life together. So whatever we are, be it partners, mates, or husband and wife, we will be joined!"

"I see. You seem to have thought this through. I can assume then that Catherine said yes to your proposal?"

"She did. Even now, she's wearing Margaret's ring."

A soft and far away look came into Father's eyes and after a time Jacob Wells looked up at his tall son and said, "I hope that you and your Catherine are as happy as Margaret and I were during that last week, Vincent."

"Thank you, Father, I will do my utmost to see that Catherine is always happy and well."

"I'm sure you will, my boy! Now have the two of you set a date yet?"

"Catherine is coming to dinner tonight and we would like to announce our engagement then. After that she and I would like to talk over plans with you here in your study."

"That sounds like a fine idea!" Father approved and the two of them made their way to the dining hall to have breakfast.

Everyone felt the need to stop for at least a moment at their table to speak to Vincent after his time away with Catherine. They all knew something had happened and hoped for some details. They were disappointed. Neither Father nor Vincent were forthcoming about anything other than the work details for the day. The two of them shared a secret smile, knowing that everyone would find out what they so desperately wanted to know at dinnertime that evening.

Cathy and Jenny had been playing 'phone tag' all morning. Cathy had called her friend to invite her to lunch. Jenny had been on her way to work so Cathy had to leave a message. When Jenny got the message, she called Cathy to accept the invitation only to find her in a meeting. Cathy laughed out loud when she read the note Jenny had left with Edie to 'meet me at the usual place, usual time, but don't be your usually late self!'

Whether it was because everything just seemed to be going her way that day, or that sooner or later it just had to happen, Cathy was right on time for her lunch with Jenny. This was the same person that had every intention of grilling Cathy until she gave up all the juicy details of what had happened over the weekend. However, the moment Jenny spotted Cathy coming towards her down the sidewalk with a spring in her step, she knew!

"Oh, my God, Cath! You 'got some' this weekend, didn't you!?" Jenny questioned loudly while Cathy was still several feet away.

Blushing furiously as she narrowed the space between them, Cathy suggested. "Why don't you say that just a bit louder, Jen…I don't think they heard you in the lower East Side!?"

"Sorry, Cath, but I'm just so happy for you! I mean, it's been a long time…hasn't it?" Jenny demanded, not embarrassed in the least.

"Yes, but all of New York doesn't need to know about it!"

"Okay! Okay! Geesh! If it was some kind of national secret you shouldn't be going around with that goofy grin on your face!"

By the time they were seated in their favorite café Jenny was insisting on 'knowing everything!' They placed their order and Cathy could no longer hold her friend at bay. "I know that I've never mentioned Vincent to you, Jenny, but I had made promises to keep him and his world a secret."

"His world? You make him sound like an alien or part of some kind of secret society hiding from the rest of humanity!"

"You're more right than you know!" Cathy admitted.

"He's an ALIEN!?" Jenny squealed.

"No, you nut! The other part of your guess." Taking a deep breath, Cathy went on. "Because of the way Vincent looks, he has to stay hidden from the rest of the world. The people he lives with are his family and friends. Each of them has his or her own reason for being there, but they are all fiercely loyal and protective of each other."

"So why are you telling me all this now?"

"Well, if you're going to be my maid of honor, you're going to have to know."

"Your WHAT?!" Jenny shouted.

"Well, if you don't want to…I guess I could ask Nancy…"

"Don't you dare! I was just shocked! Here it is the first time I've ever heard about this guy and you're already talking about marrying him! When did you meet him? Where, if it comes to that? I mean, if this place is so secret, then how did you find it?"

"When I was attacked two years ago, Vincent was the one who found me in the park. He took me to his world, to his Father who is a doctor. They took care of me and nursed me back to health."

"Those ten days you were missing?"

"Yes. Vincent was the one who showed me how worthless my life had become and how I was wasting it away. That was why when I got back I started changing things."

"This guy must be pretty special!"

"He is, Jen!"

"So, he's deformed in some way? You did say it was his looks that made him hide away from the world…"

"Yes, it is his looks, but he's not deformed! He's beautiful! And I would give anything if I could convince him of that!" she stated earnestly.

Jenny looked deeply into her friend's eyes and understood what a delicate situation this was for Cathy. She simply asked, "When do I get to meet this fiancé of yours, Cath?"

"I'll need to check with Vincent, but soon. Hopefully, some evening this week if you have a night free?"

"Sweetie, for this, I would cancel a meeting with the President himself!"

"Sure!" Cathy laughed along with her friend.

"Okay, so when is the wedding going to be?"

"Late October. We are going to announce the engagement to his people tonight and afterwards we'll have a meeting with Father to talk over our plans."

"Why do you sound nervous about that? Is his father an ogre? And what about his mother? You've never mentioned her."

"Vincent was raised by the man he calls Father. He was abandoned as a baby, so no one knows who his real parents are."

"Well, if Vincent is as great as you say, does it do me any good to hope that he has a brother?"

"He does have a brother, but Vincent and Devin are nothing alike. Devin is Father's natural son, there's no blood relation between him and Vincent at all."

"Darn!" Jenny sighed.

The girls finished lunch chatting about Vincent and the wedding. Cathy was still careful to tell Jenny very little about Vincent's world. She knew she would have to get Council approval for Jenny to become a Helper and that needed to wait until after she met Vincent.

Vincent could feel Catherine's frustration mounting throughout the day. The only break seemed to be around lunchtime when he felt her happy and content, and at times very amused. He could tell that the frustration had something to do with both work and him. As the day wore on, the feeling became more and more pronounced. All he could think was that she had so much work to do that she might be late getting home for their date. Then around 6:30pm there was an explosion along the Bond. He knew she wasn't in danger, but she was certainly very upset about something!

"Radcliffe, this case is right up your…"

Catherine looked up to see Joe Maxwell approaching her desk with a file in his hand. Slamming down her pen, she barked, "No! No! No! I've been here nearly twelve hours already today and I have a date tonight! Nothing is going to keep me from that! Not even a case right up my alley!"

"Listen, Radcliffe, there's no need to get so upset! Take the file home, study it when you have a minute. You can start the interviews tomorrow," he offered magnanimously.

"Joe, you weren't listening! I have a date tonight and I'm going to be late as it is! So you just take that file back into your office and bring it to me in the morning just like this conversation never happened!" she insisted as she grabbed her briefcase and coat and brushed passed him on the way towards the door.

"Really, Radcliffe, you know that a romantic life will cut into your work!" he called after her.

"Yeah," she said pausing with her hand on the door, "And if you don't like me cutting back to a sixty-hour work week, then I can always quit!"

Holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender, he begged, "Okay! Calm down Radcliffe! Geesh, you'd think I was a slave driver or something!"

As Joe watched her retreating back his heart was heavy. This sounded like it might be a serious relationship for her and that would mean the end of any hope that he ever had that she might one day look his way. Who was he kidding? Even though she worked like a plow horse when she was there at work, Catherine Chandler was still a thoroughbred through and through and too good for the likes of a back-alley kid like Joe Maxwell.

All he could do was hope that this guy made her happy and be there to pick up the pieces if he didn't. Joe would have to find out who he was, so if he did let her down, he could put the hurt on him!

Catherine and Vincent arrived at her apartment at the same time, although by different doors - she used the front door and he the French doors from her balcony. They met in the living room and after a quick kiss Catherine looked at her watch and said, "I know I'm running late, but I thought we were going to meet in the basement?"

"I felt your agitation through the Bond and was worried, Catherine."

"Oh, that was just Joe trying to give me a new case as I was leaving. I told him where to stick it!" she laughed as she headed for the bedroom to change clothes.

"Catherine! You didn't?!" he protested.

"I sure did!" she called out as she stripped off her business suit and reached for an outfit more suited to Below. "I told him to put it…back on his desk 'til tomorrow morning!"

She heard Vincent's deep sigh of relief from the next room as she slid her feet into a comfortable pair of loafers. "Okay, I'm ready to go. I'll meet you downstairs!" Catherine told him as she hurried past him, pausing only to place a quick kiss on his cheek.

Still stunned at these casual gestures of intimacy from Catherine, Vincent was standing in the living room unmoving as she turned off the lights and locked the door behind her. Shaking himself out of his trance, he hurried out to the balcony and over the side.

Vincent was slightly out of breath when they met up a few moments later. This told Catherine that he had rushed more than usual to arrive at the same time as she had. They shared another quick kiss and then hurried towards the dining hall.

When they arrived it was clear the meal was well underway. Quickly selecting their food from the serving table, Vincent saw that there were two seats for Catherine and him between Father and Mary.

They had hardly sat down when Father rose and held up his hands for attention. The room full of people quickly quieted down and soon the only sounds that could be heard were those of parents feeding the youngest children. Everything else had stopped as they waited to find out what Father had to say.

Jacob looked at Vincent and Catherine to see if they wanted to make the announcement themselves, but both nodded for him to go ahead. Clearing his throat, he began, "As you all know, when Catherine first came into our lives I wasn't very approving, but since then I've had many dealings with her and I have come to respect and admire her. In fact, I have actually come to look on her as a daughter."

When Father paused for dramatic effect, Jamie couldn't resist throwing out a sarcastic question. "So are you about to tell us that you're going to adopt her?"

The laughter that filled the room wasn't in answer to Jamie's comment, but instead it was in reaction to the look of consternation on Vincent's face. As he looked at his son, even Father had to join in the merriment.

Just as the crowd was quieting down and Father thought that he would be able to finish his announcement, Samantha's young voice could be heard above the silence. Ever the romantic, she had seen the flaw in the proposed event. "But if Father adopted Catherine, then she and Vincent would be sister and brother and they couldn't get married!"

This protest set off the laughter once again but there was a speculative gleam in several pairs of eyes as they noted Catherine and Vincent's shared smile at the comment.

When the room started to buzz with conversation he knew that if he didn't step in it could be a very long while until everyone settled down enough to listen. Raising both hands in the air had no effect until Vincent stood up next to him and quietly said, "Excuse me."

It might as well have been a shout for attention; the result on the room was instantaneous. Everything stopped and not a sound could be heard. Vincent quietly went on to ask, "Father, will you finish your announcement now?"

Standing up straighter and clearing his throat, Father said, "Thank you, Vincent. I should like to, if everyone is ready to listen."

There were a few nods around the room, but most everyone had recognized it for the rhetorical question it had been.

"Even though I wouldn't mind at all having Catherine as a true daughter, the reality is just as wonderful. Soon she will be my daughter-in-law!"

It took just a moment for the information to be processed and another for it to be explained to the younger children, and Mouse; then the cheering started. No one seemed willing to leave the dining hall until all of them had a chance to congratulate the happy couple. Everyone had questions for them, from 'How had Vincent proposed?' to 'When would the wedding be?'

Vincent and Catherine answered what they could and explained that the date was still to be decided. When most seemed satisfied with the answers that had been given, Vincent asked if they could adjourn to Father's study. Father, of course, agreed, and Catherine asked if Mary, Jamie, and Mouse would join them.

Mary made a pot of tea and after the six were settled Catherine began to speak. "Vincent and I do have a date in mind for the wedding, but we wanted to talk with all of you before we made it known to everyone. The one and only thing that Vincent lacks in this wonderful world you've created here, Father, is sunlight, and I've thought of a way to give him that gift on our wedding day."

"Oh, that would be marvelous!" Mary exclaimed. "How would you do it?"

"Yes, how, Catherine? This sounds very dangerous already!" Father interjected before Catherine could answer Mary.

"Everyone at the ceremony, with the exception of a few guests of mine, will be aware that other than attending our wedding, their only focus is to keep Vincent safe."

"You still haven't told us…"

Vincent would never normally interrupt anyone who was speaking and this was especially true when the person in question was his father, however, he also needed Father to be aware that this wasn't just Catherine's idea. "Father, Catherine was only explaining the safety features first because she knows how protective you are where I'm concerned. But you need to know that even though the original idea was Catherine's, I am in total agreement with her choice for our wedding."

"All right, Vincent, that is noted, however we have still not been informed of what this choice is."

"We want to be married in Central Park at noon…on October 31st," Catherine told him.

"Oh, that's perfect!" Jamie exclaimed. "With everyone in costume, Vincent will be perfectly safe!"

"Better than good. Better than best idea!" Mouse added.

Silent tears were sliding down Mary's cheeks and Vincent being Vincent, he was the first to notice. "Mary, what is it? What's wrong?" he asked, squatting near her chair and taking her hand in his.

Her free hand reached out to caress his cheek and a tender smile peeked through the tears. "Nothing at all, my dear boy! I was simply overwhelmed at how Catherine's love for you has given her the courage to find a way to give you something I always wished I could!"

"Mary!" Father gasped. "Surely you can't mean that you approve of this ludicrous plan!?"

"I not only do, but I also hope that there is a way I can help with any arrangements that need to be made! I'm sure we haven't heard all their thoughts on things, what with all the interruptions. You can be sure that you two will have no end of volunteers to help. I know for a fact that William has been planning your wedding feast for over a year, and Rebecca designed a special candle just for the event almost as long ago!"

"WHAT!?" Father shouted as Vincent and Catherine shared bemused glances. They had been thrilled at the response to their engagement, but to discover that their friends had been secretly planning for this event for months left them both in awe at the show of support.

"I can't believe this!" Father sputtered.

"I thought you approved of their marriage!" Jamie protested.

"I do! However I do NOT approve of this location!"

"I am sorry, Father, but the choice is really not yours. Catherine and I will take every precaution that we can, but ultimately this is what we both want," Vincent quietly but firmly told his father.

Catherine looked Father directly in the eye and said, "Father, I love Vincent with all my heart and want to give him this gift. We will do everything in our power to keep him safe!"

"We'll help Catherine, Father! Vincent my friend!" Mouse added in the silence that followed Catherine's statement.

Looking from one hopeful, expectant face to another, Father's gaze came to rest on Vincent's last. He could see how very much this meant to his son, so even though he still had reservations, Father nodded his head and said, "All right, as long as everyone is aware to be very watchful! I guess it would be okay."

Standing and grabbing the elder man into a bear hug, Vincent told him, "Thank you, Father. Your approval means a lot to us."

Once that had been settled, Mary began to wring her hands. "Oh, my dears! Only two months to plan! We must get started right away! First we'll need to notify all of the Helpers, and everyone Catherine wants to invite, then we'll need costumes for everyone. Have you chosen your attendants yet?"

Catherine was the first to answer her. "Yes. I want my friends Nancy Tucker and Jenny Aronson. Jamie, I was hoping that you would consider being my third bridesmaid?"

Jamie immediately got misty-eyed, although she tried to hide it by wiping her eyes on her sleeve. She replied, "I'd love to, Catherine! Thank you!"

"Wonderful!" Mary exclaimed, then turning to Vincent she informed him, "That means you will need three as well, Vincent."

"I am going to try and contact Devin, and for my other two I am hoping that Pascal and Mouse will agree to stand up with me."

Mouse's eyes widened at this honor and he could only nod eagerly since he was too choked up to talk.

"Well, I'm sure Pascal will agree as well, Vincent. I just hope Devin can be found, if he's out globe-trotting, your letter might not catch up with him," Father stated.

Vincent admitted that was a possibility and said that he would come up with an alternate just in case.

"I'd like Eric to be our ring bearer. It's too bad that little Cathy is too young to be our flower girl."

"Do we really need a flower girl with the wedding being outside?" Vincent asked.

"Good point!" Catherine told him. "Now the only position that needs filling is Father of the Bride."

"I assumed that you would ask Peter to stand in for your father," Vincent replied.

"Actually, I was thinking it was much too big of a job to be filled by one person." Standing, Catherine walked over to Jacob Wells and said, "I thought maybe you and Peter could both walk me down the aisle. Would you, Father?"

"My dear child, I would be honored to, but are you sure you want that? With this cane, I would just slow you down."

"It's taken us this long to come to this point in our relationship, the extra few minutes your speed would add to the ceremony won't matter at all."

"Then I would be pleased to do this for you, Catherine," he answered.

Father was a bit surprised when she bestowed a fierce hug on him, but he was happy to return the gesture. He was a bit flustered to find himself almost ready to shed tears, so to cover this up he blustered, "Yes, well, we should get back to the plans!"

They talked for another hour until no one could think of any more to add without consulting others not there. As the group was breaking up, Vincent said he would like to stop by the Pipe Chamber before he and Catherine went Above. Catherine smiled and agreed as she anticipated the look on Pascal's face when Vincent asked him to be in their wedding.

The two of them discussed the best way to try and contact Devin so he could be there for the wedding as they walked along. Knowing that the cabin he and Charles were living in was very remote, Catherine suggested that they try a telegram first. Vincent smiled and agreed, although he admitted he had no idea how to go about doing that. Catherine promised to show him as soon as they got to her apartment

Pascal was alone and hard at work when Catherine and Vincent arrived. He grinned and told them that the news of their engagement was the reason for the heightened amount of chatter on the pipes that night.

"That is the reason we came to see you tonight, Pascal. Well, actually there were two reasons. We thought you might like to be the one to spread the word that we have settled on a date for the wedding." At Pascal's eager nod, Vincent went on to inform the Pipemaster of their plans. Pascal's eyes got wider and wider with every passing piece of information. By the time Vincent stopped speaking, he was almost hopping up and down in his excitement to spread the news.

"And everyone will wear costumes?"

"Yes," Catherine assured him with a grin.

"Wow!" he exclaimed, pulling out his pipes in preparation to send this all-important message, but Vincent reached out a hand to stop him.

"Before you do that, Pascal, there was one other reason we stopped by. I wanted to ask you if you would stand up with me in the wedding?"

Pascal stood there utterly speechless. His eyes became suspiciously bright and Catherine wondered if he might actually start crying.

After several minutes of silence Vincent gently prompted him, "Pascal?"

"Oh! Sorry! I would love to, Vincent! I've always looked on you like a brother! Are you going to ask Devin too?"

"Yes, if we can reach him in time. Catherine is going to help me send him a telegram."

"That should do the trick then! It'll be good to see him again, it's been too long."

"Yes, it will, and we should be going to do that now."

"And I need to send out the wedding announcement!" Pascal said eagerly. He was already tapping out the news as Vincent and Catherine walked away.

When they reached Catherine's apartment she gave Vincent a pad of paper to write out his message to Devin. Telling him she would put on a pot of tea while he worked, she left him alone in the living room. Vincent smiled and thanked her.

By the time she came back he'd composed a short message. Taking the pad from him, Catherine read it over to see if she had any questions before calling it in. She grinned when she saw he hadn't told Devin they were getting married, only that he needed to talk to him about a matter of great importance.

She called Western Union and paid for the telegram with her credit card, then joined Vincent on the couch for tea. Catherine cuddled close to his side as they put their empty cups down. She had something important to ask him and she was just a bit worried over how he would feel about it. "Vincent, I was hoping that one night this week I could invite Jenny and Nancy over here to meet you…"

"That would be fine, Catherine. I look forward to meeting your friends," he answered calmly.

"You do?" she asked, raising her head to look into his face.

"Yes, Catherine. I know how much they mean to you and would be glad to meet them."

"That's great! I'd like to ask the Council about Jenny becoming a Helper too! I know she would love it, and with her being in the publishing business, I'm sure she and Father will get along. Nancy, on the other hand, I'm not sure about. Since she has a husband and children that won't know about you and Below, I don't know how much she could do."

"Catherine, they don't have to be Helpers for me to want to know them."

"I know that, Vincent, but I do think that Jenny would love to be one."

"When do you think we would meet?"

"I'll call them both tomorrow morning and see when their free." She got up from the couch and returned the tea things to the kitchen. When she returned to the living room she reached out her hand and invited, "Are you ready for bed, Vincent?"

With a shy smile he nodded, rising to take her hand and follow her to the bedroom.

Vincent still felt a bit out of place in Catherine's apartment because he had only been inside a few times. He was unco