Disclaimer: I do not own Beauty and the Beast. They belong to the wonderful writers that created their world which we had a brief glimpse into. Thank you.
A/N: This fic was written several years ago for my own posterity. I know many of you are waiting for me to update "Reunion 2" and "Same Side of a Different Coin". Please don't despair. I'm currently working on both and promise to update one or the other soon. But in the meantime, I thought this might peek some interests, so here it is.
&&&&&
Mothers
Chapter 1 – Strange Encounters
Catherine woke to the sound of men's voices at some distance. "We'll get him this time. That guy of ours was sloppy the last time." Her mind swirled trying to make sense of the words. Get who? Last time?
"Yeah, he should never have tried to go to an outside source for help. Good thing we managed to snag that tape before the cops got there. Then we probably would have lost him for good, especially with this dame involved and all." The men's voices slipped away.
Catherine had the sudden awareness that she was the 'dame' and 'he' was Vincent. Fear surged through her and she sat up with a jerk. The world around her swam in an unfocused blur for a moment. When the cloud at last lifted, she found herself in a cage. She was lying on a very small cot and staring through iron bars at the tiled ceiling. She touched the back of her head gingerly. What had happened? The last thing she remembered was returning to her apartment building after testifying against Gabriel's botched attempt at kidnapping her. The case had not taken long and the judge had taken her word as gold. All of Gabriel's men, along with him, were locked up and from the look the judge had given her, they wouldn't be out for a very long time. But yet here she was in a cage with a small toilet and even smaller sink.
The men's voices were returning slowly and Catherine held her breath, hopping they had not realized she was awake. Slowly and very causally she rolled her head in the direction of the voices. Parting her eyes ever so slightly she could see an open door some twenty paces away. The floor was concrete and the walls bare, and so the voices had carried from outside.
"Well, maybe the professor can get something out of this one, especially since she has a bun in the oven. The old one either can't or won't talk. He's pressured her for years with no success."
"I wouldn't criticize the Prof, if I were you. He has a way of finding out stuff..." The voices trailed away again and Catherine was left with an incomprehensible muddle of information. Professor? Old one? Talk? Trying to clear her head she sat slowly up on the side of her cot. Talk--she knew that one at least. They wanted her to talk about Vincent. That would never happen, she swore silently. No matter what torture they might do to her, might threaten her with. She would never reveal her beloved to these monsters. Never let them destroy his world.
With all the craziness of her life the past three weeks, she hadn't had the chance to spend the quality time she needed with Vincent, to tell him she carried his child. She was quickly regretting the even inappropriate opportunities to tell him. And now without their bond, he would not even know she was missing for some time. How long had it been anyways? Hours? Days? She rubbed the sore on her head, considering. No, it could not have been more than a few hours, her head still hurt after all. She resolved then to immediately begin examining her options for escape.
She sighed and raised her eyes to examine the room. To her astonishment, across the room from her own cage was another. The far side of the room was dimly lit, but she could see a form lying in the fetal position on another cot. 'Strange, it reminds me of Vincent.' Long golden hued hair lie on the pillow and the person was covered with a tattered dark blanket. Both hope and fear raged inside of her, fighting for dominance. Another glance around the room assured her they were alone. Both logic and emotion told her this could not be Vincent, but irrationally she stood and took only a step to the bars, for the cage was tiny.
"Vincent?" Her whispered voice carried just enough to reach the others ears. At first the form barely responded, only lifting its head slightly. She tried again. Perhaps he was drugged, she mused. "Vincent, it's Catherine." The form rolled over now and sat up on the bedside. Catherine's hope faded. Even in the dimness, she could see the person was much too small to be Vincent. The form continued forward and melted slowly into the light. Catherine caught the gasp sharply in her throat, before it could escape. That face, those eyes, the claws. She was looking at nearly a mirror image of Vincent. But this was not Vincent. It was a woman. Catherine could tell by the well-maintained shape of her body. But she could also see the gray strands of hair that lined her face, which made her think the woman was quite a bit older than Vincent.
The woman did not come completely to the bars. The soft rattle of chains behind her made Catherine realize the woman was unable to come to the bars. The woman watched for a long silent moment. Cocking her head sideways in an all too familiar way, she examined Catherine. She glanced at the open door and seemed to listen. She faced the doorway and at last spoke. "You mustn't speak to me. They are watching, but I do not believe they can hear us. Speak softly and do not look toward the camera."
Catherine did not move, but let an eye stray upwards to a black camera mounted near the ceiling. She got the hint. Even if those that watched could not hear, they could still tell if they were talking or even read their lips. Catherine made an all effort to scowl at the camera. Across from her the woman smiled ever so slightly, but it was warm and gentle. "I am Kira. I suppose this isn't your idea of a holiday." The woman's voice was soft and grainy; much like Vincent's it soothed her.
Frowning once more at the camera for good measure, she went back to her cot and hid her face behind honey hair and hand. "No, it's not. I'm Catherine."
Kira spoke softly as she made her way back to sit on the edge of her own cot. "Catherine, may I ask you something?"
"Of course." She already felt so at ease with this woman. Perhaps it was because their predicament was the same. Or perhaps it was because she reminded her of Vincent.
"You were not startled by my appearance. Why?"
The question was simple, but her heart pounded loudly in her ears. The woman seemed genuine, but what if it was a trick? What if they were trying to trick her into revealing Vincent's whereabouts? Catherine heard her beloved's voice in her head. 'Trust your heart Catherine. What does it tell you?' "Your appearance is not so strange to me. I have met another like you." She almost whispered it, afraid the room might be bugged.
Across the room, Kira trembled. It took all her strength to remain seated. She wanted so badly for knowledge. Her world for more than thirty years had consisted of this very cell. She knew every crack and crevice, the strength of every bar within her reach, and the exact length of the chains that bound her. At first her captors had ran test after test on her, some very painful and intrusive, others not so, and then as if they had gained all they wanted had left her untroubled. The memory of the innumerous tests made her suspicious of nearly everyone who was near her. So by nature she had become suspicious when they had brought in the young woman, thinking she was some sort of trick. But when Kira had looked into the young woman's eyes, searching them for deception she had found none. "Another?" She breathed the word as though it might destroy the frail thin string of hope that was growing inside her.
Catherine heard the pain in the word and admonished herself for thinking the woman a trick. She looked up slowly trying to see into the dimly lit corner where Kira now sat, a golden cascade of hair shielding her face from the camera. "Yes, another. His name is Vincent. I thought you were him at first." There it was said. So, her captors now knew her beloved's name. Now they could torment her with the knowledge. She was treading so dangerously close to giving away too much.
Kira could sense the tensions inside her 'roommate' grow. Suddenly she sat straight up and placed a warning hand to her mouth. A moment later voices came into Catherine's hearing range. Here they came, she thought, they would now bombard her with threats of exposing Vincent. The frown she had used early was now back but it was more intense for beyond it she pressed all her courage to the surface. A fat, stumpy man with dark hair and sweaty palms entered, and just behind a taller man with graying hair and lined features followed.
A low growl emanated from Kira's cage. Ignoring her, the two men stopped before Catherine's cell. "I hope you've been comfortable, Miss Chandler. I know the facilities are not what you are used to, but I thought you might enjoy the company." The man flicked a casual hand toward Kira.
Catherine scowled. "You realize this is kidnapping and imprisonment."
"The thought had occurred to me. Don't worry. Your boyfriend should be joining you soon enough. And if not..." He gestured to Catherine's swelling belly. "You have someone else I'd like to meet."
Catherine involuntarily stepped back from the cage door. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
The man seemed less than convinced by her act. "Miss Chandler, it would be who of you to cooperate. After all, all we need is your baby's genetic material. And it does not have to be alive for that." Catherine's blood ran cold inside her. They wouldn't. They couldn't. Would they?
The 'no' escaped her lips before she could stop it. "You see, Miss Chandler, we have no real interest in you, only your child. We would like it to come to term, but if you insist on being uncooperative..." He left the thought unfinished for emphasis.
She would do anything, short of exposing Vincent and his world, to protect her child. "What do you want of me?"
The tall man sneered, pleased that he had convinced her into cooperation. "Nothing, you are both bait and snare. We will see how much your protector will give to save you." The fat man leered at her uncomfortably long. She had the distinct impression, he was not the most pleasant to be around. The tall man turned then to Kira. She snarled in response, showing her long white fangs. "As for you my dear, I suggest you behave yourself. I know you have a high tolerance for pain, but perhaps your new friend does not." Kira's eyes were filled with both fury and restraint. She looked past the men at Catherine and her growls subsided. "That's better. Ekkard will take your blood now. I suggest you cooperate." The tall man nodded in Catherine's direction.
Catherine realized as Kira's door was unlocked, that this was probably usually quite an ordeal and that she was now being used as leverage against this woman as well. With a sudden astonishment, she suddenly realized that this woman, this stranger she only met a moment ago, was protecting her, just as Vincent would have done. She could see Kira's fists clench tightly into balls as a syringe filled with her dark red blood. Kira stood with a dignified air, her chin held proudly. She was making sure they knew she did this by choice.
The man, Ekkard, stepped away cautiously, as though she might strike out. "Thank you, my dear. Perhaps, we can at last be friends." The door locked, just as Kira surged forward, tearing hard against her bonds. The roar she let loose would have challenged any of Vincent's. The tall man seemed unconcerned with her and left them. Kira turned and collapsed beside her cot. For a long time she did not move.
Catherine was becoming concerned. She paced her cage and turned her back to the camera. "Kira? Kira, are you alright?" The silence was deafening, panic grew inside her. "Kira?"
At last, a low answer came. "I am alright." The phrase was almost a question.
"Who was that? And why did he take your blood?"
Kira never faced her but spoke into the cot's cushion. "He is Professor Gene Decker, a madman who thinks that he can create a child from me. But he needs a male's blood to complete his project." The word stung the air like acid rain. Catherine was beginning to understand. They wanted to clone this woman, but wanted a male. For that they needed a male. Surely they meant to use the child for some malevolent purpose or twist its mind to their own desire. She shivered at the thought, that Vincent could have been raised by a madman. Though, Vincent was inherently good, he could have been twisted in his innocent youth to believe lies.
Catherine was fairly sure that they were not being listened too. Surely Kira would know. And if they had heard the earlier conversation, they would have called Vincent by his name. "Why did you do that just now? Why did you protect me?" The silence was longer this time and Catherine began to think that this conversation felt more and more like the ones she shared with Vincent.
At last the response came and it made the hairs on her neck stand straight up. "Because, you have seen my son."
&&&&
The whole community had been searching for Catherine now for nearly a week. Everyone Below and Above were combing the city like an army. Vincent, himself, had only slept in snatches of minutes. After the encounter with Gabriel, who had been captured thanks to a particularly alert security guard, Vincent had believed that things would surely return to normal. Catherine had pushed herself hard, making sure that everyone, including Marino would be locked behind bars for a very long time. She had succeeded without falter.
Vincent had swelled with pride as he heard the news through the pipes. He had expected Catherine that evening and had even gone to wait at her threshold. But she had not come. Believing she had perhaps fallen asleep, exhausted after her ordeal, he had went to her balcony. But no lights had shimmered within and no answer had come to his gentle tapping. With much sadness and puzzlement he had returned Below. When on the next day no message and no Catherine came, he went again to her balcony. Still no life stirred within her apartment.
Puzzlement had turned to worry then and an alert went out among the community. Father constructed and directed the largest search he had ever done. Vincent had been touched by Father's response, but still Vincent went Above. He ventured to her balcony often and stared through the French doors into the living space beyond, willing her to be there, waiting. But she had not reappeared.
One evening, nearly six weeks since Catherine's disappearance, Vincent stood looking at his half reflection in the door with the first signs of dawn creeping into the sky behind him. Gently, almost absent mindedly, he touched the handle and the door gave way. He stood aghast. Why would Catherine leave her balcony door unlocked? And then he thought this through more thoroughly. Why should she lock her door? After all it was inaccessible from the street and only he attempted the climb. Slowly he stepped through. The place seemed unlived in for some time, but it smelled of Catherine's sweet scent. Taking in a deep breath, he tried once more to find the bond somewhere inside him. But still there was nothing. Oh, how horrible that nothingness was. Why couldn't he feel her? Why couldn't he know where she was?
He walked slowly, almost reverently through the apartment, touching the things Catherine cherished, and begging for some sign from their bond. Dawn was creeping in and he turned to go. But something near the door had caught his eye. The sliver of light from the outside hall had caught a square piece of paper in its light. Vincent lifted it gingerly from the floor, afraid he might be intruding to read it. But there was no name on the outside of the paper and he longed so desperately for any knowledge of his Catherine. Longing easily won out over logic and he flipped it open. Inside in a firm hand was printed:
Come for Catherine
1664 37th St.
or she dies
Vincent felt the roar grow in him. Elation and fury rose together in him, crowning in a horrific crow. Tucking the paper into his shirt, near to his heart, he flew from the balcony and into the tunnels.
"No! Absolutely not, Vincent!" Father blocked his son's path to the steps.
"I must go now, Father! I cannot wait until dark! Catherine needs me!" Vincent had only meant to reassure Father that Catherine would be home soon, that he would find her now. But he did not intend for Father to restrain him until dark! That was madness! He couldn't wait that long. What if something happened to her between now and then?
"Vincent, you're not thinking this through. The note was obviously sent to entrap you. You will be no help to Catherine captured or worse dead." Father's cold logic bit into Vincent's brain like an ice pick. Vincent roared in frustration and knocked a pile a books from a nearby table, sending them flying.
"What do I do then! I cannot just sit here and wait for the world to grow safer for me, when it means it may become more dangerous for Catherine!" Vincent leaned heavily on the old wooden desk, striving for control.
Father's cool voice echoed in the chamber. "We can plan, Vincent. We can plan."
Catherine turned uneasily. She could not get comfortable with her abdomen swollen as it was. Even now she could feel the flutter of life within her. She had had to give up her nice suit for a dingy nightgown. The pants had become far too tight for her to wear and she had pleaded with the doctor, who came frequently to examine her, to fetch her something more comfortable. The doctor was a middle aged man, who obviously owed their captor something. He spoke very little with the two prisoners and looked shamefully away when Catherine shot him a painful look. But Kira did not seem to fear him and so Catherine had been not so hesitant either. She trusted Kira implicitly, much as she did Vincent. The two had become very close in the past weeks and Kira starved for knowledge of her son. And when she found that each time Catherine mentioned Vincent's name there was a surge of love, she was pleased.
The two women had worked out a form of hand-signals to alert when someone was coming and an all clear sign. They were small movements unnoticed by the ever watchful eyes of the camera.
Catherine's daily examination was over and Kira had cooperatively given another vial of blood. Catherine had wondered blandly if the woman would run out. Of course she had given several vials herself, but not as frequent.
As the world outside grew dark, Catherine grew more restless. "Kira?"
"Yes, Catherine."
"How did you and Vincent get separated?"
There was a long silence. "That is a long story."
Nether woman faced the other, but spoke quietly across the dreary room. "We don't seem to be going anywhere." That forced a smile to her face. If she'd been with Vincent it might have even evoked a laugh. Kira felt the slight lift in her companion's spirits and wanted to keep them there.
"Shall I give you the abbreviated version?"
"If you wish." Catherine wanted anything to distract her mind from her surroundings. And talking about Vincent was the best way. Besides she really wanted to know.
"There was...a crash. My mate, Leedon, Vincent's father, died in it. He was protecting me, shielding me from the debris. It..." A long silence ensued and Catherine felt a bit shameful for bringing up such a painful memory. When Kira began again her voice was a bit stronger. "He died. I was alone and heavily pregnant. Luckily we had managed to mask most of the crash on the way in and none of the locals seemed to be too interested. I had to get away though before those hideous sirens got closer. But I would not and could not leave my mate behind..."
As if on cue, the building came alive. Sirens wailed and the lights flashed. Voices cried out in horror. Shots were fired and feet ran on the hard pavement. The tall man, Catherine had come to know as Decker, the man Ekkard, and the doctor, Catherine had never learned his name, entered and locked the door behind them.
Ekkard carried a riffle in one hand and shoved the doctor towards Catherine's cage with the other. "Do your duty doctor, or I will."
The doctor fumbled in his pocket for the syringe and the vial of morphine. Kira charged her bars, roaring and fighting with all her might. Catherine stared at the doctor in shock as Ekkard went for the keys that hung at his waist. As he placed the key in the door, the doctor's voice came out timidly. "No." Kira fell quiet but her body still trembled.
Decker turned from his position at the door. "What did you say?" Both disbelief and rage fought for dominance in his eyes.
"I said, no. I won't do it. I won't kill that woman and her child. I won't!" The doctor's defiance was shocking but obviously not unprepared for. Ekkard raised the riffle to his shoulder.
"Come now doctor." Decker came forward and placed a hand on the man's trembling shoulder. "You're not thinking right. Think of your family."
The doctor stopped trembling and for a moment Catherine feared he had reconsidered. But instead the man pulled himself to his full height, which wasn't much, and faced down Decker. "I am thinking of my family."
Decker stepped away from him. "Have it your way." Catherine gasped as the riffle sounded. It was deafening in the close quarters.
"Only one left." Ekkard muttered.
"Then you'd better save it, shouldn't you, just in case that thing makes it this far." The noises outside drew the two men's attention to the door and the hall. Catherine stealthily turned the key that still hung in her door, unlocking it and pushing it open just slightly. Then she and Kira exchanged a look and they both understood. This was going to be tricky. How was she going to get the keys from one cage to another without making a sound? One wrong move and one of them could die. A roar reverberated in the hall and Catherine took advantage of it, tossing the keys as hard as she could. They barely made a sound as Kira caught them. Kira quickly began to unfasten the chains.
The roar came again, closer now. Catherine wanted to cry out, but bit her tongue until Kira had the keys in her door. Catherine could contain herself no longer as the roar came from just outside. "Vincent!" The door swung open, Kira sprang, the gun cracked, Vincent roared as the tile above him shattered. "Vincent!" Catherine cried pushing open her door. Oblivious to the bloody scene at his feet as Kira slashed Ekkard's throat with her claws, his eyes filled only with his beloved, he charged in. "Vincent watch out!" They had forgotten Decker. The man swung round, a filed syringe in hand. But Vincent caught the hand and snapped the wrist. Decker cried out in pain, dropping the syringe to the floor. Pushing him aside, with no more care than a mountain would give the wind, he rushed to Catherine's side. "Are you alright? Have they hurt you?"
Catherine fell into his arms with a sigh of relief. "No." Her voice was thick with emotion. She wept into his shirt front. "Oh, Vincent."
He clutched her close, suddenly aware of her swollen belly. He stepped back slowly and looked down. "Catherine?" His question was full of wonder.
"Oh, Vincent. I've been wanting to tell you so badly. But not here, not-" Catherine gasped as she saw the blade flicker in the light. Vincent spun round to see the blade fall from Decker's hand and the blood gush from his throat. He did not even see the body slump to the floor as his eyes transfixed on the woman. The golden hair tumbled well past her shoulders, which were broad and powerful. But it had been her hands that had caught his attention, furred and clawed.
About that moment Mouse sprang into the door. "Vincent..." He stopped, his mouth dropping at the sight of the woman before him. Slowly he withdrew his eyes and focused on Vincent. "Vincent find Catherine. Okay good, okay great. Time to go. Police. Sirens."
Vincent stepped up beside Kira and their eyes met. He opened his mouth to speak. "No time to talk. Go now. No time, no time." Mouse hoped emphatically from one foot to the other.
Catherine stepped up between the man she loved and the woman she had come to admire for her years of torment. "Mouse is right, we can't stay here. Vincent, please."
The sound of Catherine's plea snapped Vincent back into reality. "Yes, follow me." Taking hold of her hand, he led his beloved from the room that had consumed nearly six weeks of her life. Catherine caught Kira's hand in an iron grip. The last thing she wanted to do was to loose Vincent's mother after all the torture she had endured in the place. But there was little chance of loosing Kira; she matched Vincent's stamina as well. In fact, it was Catherine who ended up being dragged along. But it was not long before they were in the staircase and the building was only four stories in height. Mouse plodded along ahead of them, perhaps being a bit of a scout. Before long they had entered the basement and slipped through an open storm-drain. Only then did Catherine realize they were surrounded by nearly thirty tunnel-dwellers and helpers. All were sturdy men, except for Jamie who had insisted on coming along.
The people stared in awe at the creature that hung to Catherine, with a supportive hand beneath her shoulder. Vincent was still all business. "We must get some distance between us and the building. Mouse, close up the entrance."
"Done." Mouse resounded and retreated back the way they came. The others flowed ahead of the three companions that clung to each other as though one might vanish. Vincent still all business pressed them on, but his mind whirled with questions. After about a hundred yards, there was a small explosion behind them. They halted and waited for the pad of feet behind them. They all breathed a sigh of relief when Mouse rushed past them. "Hurry. Father worried about Catherine." Then Mouse disappeared around a bend ahead.
"What a strange child." Kira mused.
Catherine laughed. "You don't know the half of it."
Kira looked past Catherine at Vincent, her son. He was watching her with unabashed interest. There had been days, months, years she had believed him dead. Now to stand less than a foot from him was almost too remarkable to believe. Catherine opened her mouth to introduce them, but a gentle squeeze of Kira's hand made her silence. Kira faced him. "Hello, Vincent. I am Kira. Do you know who I am?"
Vincent stared at her in wonder. He had never thought this possible to stand beside someone, who was not different than him. Perhaps because of who he was he remembered. Or perhaps it was instinct that told him. Or maybe it had been a fleeting thought that had took sudden form. "My mother."
Kira stroked his cheek softly. "Yes, I am." Vincent felt as if he might melt beneath that touch. How warm and soft it was? How loving? Tears streamed from the woman's blue eyes and she turned away.
Vincent touched her arm, a bit awkwardly. "What is it?"
She turned slowly, her face stained with tears. She sighed. "You just look so much like your father." At that Vincent's eyes lit up with anticipation for the knowledge she held.
Catherine blinked. "That's strange. I thought he looked like you."
Vincent chuckled softly and the two women wondered for what reason. He answered their unasked question. "It is strange to me, that my appearance is discussed as common place as though I were normal."
Kira blanched. "You are normal, for my son. But come, we should get your poor Catherine somewhere warmer before her toes freeze off."
Catherine had begun rubbing her bare toes against her calves, quite unconsciously. "I'm sorry, my love." Vincent quickly wrapped her in his cloak and lifted her from the cold stone floor. Catherine sighed as she nuzzled down into his warmth.
Kira smiled softly. "You chose well, she is a brave one."
Vincent's small smile widened into a grin. "She is at that." Vincent led them on, his heart contented. His companions' joy swelled as well and Catherine's contentment was so great, she slept. It was the first time she had been comfortable in weeks and her joy had finally given way to exhaustion. Kira followed her son silently, her heart full of regrets and longings, but over all was joy.
The tunnel-dwellers came out in a throng, gathered in and around Father's library. They parted as Vincent entered. Relief passed their eyes as they looked on Catherine and then astonishment flooded them as they looked on Kira, who was still half-hidden by Vincent's great bulk. Father pressed forward from the other side of the crowd. "Vincent!" His eyes were first for his son and then for the bundle he carried. "Catherine? Is she alright?" His skilled hands stroked her forehead softly.
"Yes." Vincent breathed the word like it composed all the heartache in the world. "She's fine, just a bit tired, I think." Father was about to tell the others to leave and that all was well, but Vincent's voice caught his ear again. "Father, there is someone I would like you to meet." Stepping sideways, Kira came into full view. Father felt his knees tremble. "This is Kira, my mother." The audible gasp that came from the room and the way Father paled showed the enormity of these words.
"Your mother?" Father felt his knees begin to give way.
Kira came forward as he swayed and caught him gently. She looked from Vincent to the man, knowing he had just been called him 'Father'. She smiled softly at the graying man, and Father was immediately reminded of Vincent. "You are the one that has kept my son safe all these years?"
Father was unable to answer, his voice lost somewhere in his throat. Vincent smiled broadly and answered for him. "He is."
Kira's response was swift and warm; she hugged him silent tears streaming her face. "Thank you. Oh, thank you. Words could not express the love I have for you." At first Father was unsure and then as her words filled his ears, he wrapped his arms around her. The love that filled the room was palpable.
Vincent gasped audibly with the force of it. "I could not have imagined this moment in my wildest of dreams." Catherine stirred slightly, opening her eyes to the welcome sight of Vincent's parent's embrace. Vincent smiled down at her, his eyes filled and overflowing with joy.
"And how do you feel, my dear?" Kira stroked Catherine's cheek.
Catherine snuggled down into Vincent. "Oh, much better."
Kira chuckled softly. "That was not what I meant."
"Oh, I'm fine. In fact, I've never been better."
Father had caught the undertone of Kira's voice. "Is something wrong with Catherine? I thought you said she was fine."
Vincent stiffened a bit. "Nothings wrong exactly." He glanced around at the still present crowd.
Father got the notion quickly. "All right everyone. We must let Catherine and our new friend rest. Go on, now. Jamie, if you'd be so kind as to see if William has anything warm in the kitchen, and bring it to Vincent's chamber."
Jamie nodded and scurried off toward the kitchen. Vincent led the way through the winding passages to his chamber. He could not bear to release his beloved yet and so he set her warmly in his lap. Kira sat beside her son. There was still wonder in her eyes at finding her son alive and well. Father poured them each a cup of tea. Its hot liquid warmed Catherine all the way to her toes.
Father took his seat across from them. "Now, tell me what has happened."
Vincent was flustered. He wasn't sure how to explain this himself. "Well, uh...Catherine perhaps you should explain, if you are feeling up to it."
Catherine smiled warmly up at him. "Vincent, right now I could fly if you asked me."
"Please, will someone tell me what is going on?" Father bristled with frustration.
Catherine sighed. She had hoped to tell Vincent in private, but she was obviously not going to have that opportunity. "Father, I am pregnant. A good six months." She turned and gazed into Vincent's deep blue eyes, answering his unspoken question. "It's yours Vincent."
&&&&
A/N: Hope you enjoyed and of course if you did don't forget to review. My love of this TV series has recently been resparked since the DVDs were released. I devoured the first season already and am eagerly waiting season 2's release. Won't that just be wonderful!