Another Surprise

Author's Note: I am happy so many people enjoyed my first BatB story. So to the request of my reviewers I decided to do this little sequel. I plan to write more about Rosie and Jacob, but this story ties more in with Devin and my OC Tasha, but there is also some Vincent and Catherine fluff. I hope you like it, and if you like, send me other ideas for adventures/mischief the twins can get into.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the BatB characters from the show. Also any music or familiar scenes will be given credit to the people who inspired them.

Rating: T for safety

Chapter 1: Family Get Away

It was late at night and along the dusty road drove a dark gray van with tinted windows. It had been a long drive from New York City and the commotion inside had died down about an hour ago. The driver looked in her rearview mirror to see her two children sleeping soundly in their car seats. The little boy was slumped forward with his chin resting on his chest, while the little girl rested her head on her stuffed rabbit and had her thumb in her mouth. The driver smiled and returned her eyes to the road.

"How are they?" asked the man in the passenger seat.

"Sound asleep," the driver replied. "It's a shame we'll have to wake them up. We're almost to the cabin."

"I wouldn't worry Catherine. They may not even wake at all when we arrive. If Jacob and Rosie remain asleep, I will carry them inside."

Catherine removed her right hand from the steering wheel and reached for her husband's hand. He took her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her hand. Catherine smiled as the soft fur on his hand brushed against her skin, and she felt the cool metal of her husband's wedding band. She took a quick glance at the matching ring on her own hand.

She could hardly believe that one-year ago she had been reunited with her beloved Vincent and their son Jacob, after being cruelly separated by an evil man named Gabriel for three years. The only thing that had kept her going was their other child, Rosemary. Then, by a miracle, they were able to find each other again, and Vincent had asked Catherine to marry him. She sighed.

"Something on your mind, Catherine?" Vincent asked her.

"Just memories," she replied, "So, are you ready for a full family weekend?"

Vincent chuckled. "I still cannot fathom how you persuaded Father to allow us to travel up to your old cabin."

"Our cabin Vincent. And I have my ways. I simply told Father that the twins wanted to have some time with their daddy after you got back from that repair job in the lowers tunnels. You men were gone for a whole month, remember?"

"Yes, and every day we would pray for the repair to finish quickly so we could return to our loved ones. I can still see the look on the children's faces as we returned."

~Flashback~

Vincent and the other men had just returned from the repair job in the lower tunnels. They had not planned to arrive until after dinnertime and decided to surprise their families. The men had even specifically asked the sentries not to report their arrival.

As Vincent crept closer to his chamber he clamped down on the Bond so Catherine would not detect his presence. He finally approached the chamber and peeked inside. Just on the floor of the chamber Jacob and Rosie sat playing with Vincent's old carousal. The children seemed to be having fun, but anyone could tell that they missed their dad.

Vincent smiled and, after quietly setting his duffle bag down on a chair, he stepped into the chamber. As soon as they heard Vincent step into the room Jacob and Rosie looked up and smiled ear to ear.

"Daddy!" they cried in unison and ran over to wrap their arms around their father's legs.

Vincent chuckled and reached down to scoop his children into his arms, his son on the left and his daughter on the right. The children screamed in delight and began hugging Vincent and telling him how much the missed him. They started talking at once about what they did while he was away and asking him all sorts of questions. Vincent had to sit down from being so overwhelmed.

"All right you two, one at a time. Your father is still tired from the long journey back."

"Daddy is you leaving again?" Rosie asked with a little pout.

"No Rosemary. The repairs are finished and I won't have to leave except to teach the classes."

"Yeah!" she cried and wrapped her small arms around Vincent's neck.

"Now," Vincent asked, "do either of you know where your mother is?"

"Right here love," a voice called from the entryway. All three looked up as Catherine walked in with a basket of laundry. She set it down on the bed and walked over to Vincent and the twins.

"Hi Mommy," the twins cried as Catherine hugged them. Then she leaned over and welcomed Vincent home with a kiss. It was short but Vincent knew it was one that was meant as both a greeting, and a promise for a more proper welcome home later. The twins made little gagging noises causing their parents to laugh.

~Flashback~

Vincent was brought out of his musings as Catherine pulled into the driveway. She parked the car and then Vincent followed to help her unload the car. He grabbed the bags while Catherine rushed to open the cabin door for him. They carried all the bags inside and set them down in the living room. Once that was done they returned to the car to retrieve the still sleeping children.

Catherine unbuckled Rosie from her car seat and lifted the girl into her arms. Vincent, on the other hand, was having some difficulty undoing the seatbelt from Jacob's seat. His claws kept fumbling over the buttons and it looked like he was about ready to shred the belt out of frustration.

"Need a hand?" Catherine asked as she walked over to her flustered husband. She handed off her daughter, repeated the process, and was able to retrieve her son from the car. She turned around and chuckled at the look on Vincent's face.

"Don't worry, not everyone can get it. It took me a few tries in the beginning. At least Maize didn't beat me over the head with a slipper when I couldn't undue the latch."

The comment made both of them laugh as they walked in. Once inside the cabin, they found their way into what used to be Rosie's old room. The last time the Wells family had come to the cabin Catherine had ordered another bed for Jacob and repainted the room. It was now suitable for both the little boy and girl. Catherine and Vincent placed each child into their bed. Catherine placed a kiss to Jacob's forehead before turning to Rosie's bed and repeating the action. Then she left the room.

Vincent proceeded to do the same when a small sound from Rosie's bed alerted him. The small girl had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.

"Daddy?" the young girl asked through a yawn.

"Shh," Vincent knelt by her bedside. "Go back to sleep."

The little girl closed her eyes and nestled down into her bed, cuddling her rabbit close. Vincent tucked the covers securely around her and placed a kiss to the top of her head. Then, making sure his son still slept soundly, Vincent kissed Jacob goodnight and turned to leave the room.

Catherine was standing in the doorway. Her heart melted at the sweet sight of Vincent tucking their children in bed. He joined her in the doorway to have one last look at the sleeping children. Catherine leaned back into Vincent as his arm wrapped around Catherine's shoulders. Then they shut the door quietly and turned their attention to the unpacked luggage. First they unpacked the food William had supplied them, plus a few ingredients Catherine had asked for personally. Once the food was put away they attended to the other bags. They placed the twins' bags outside their bedroom door and then carried their own bags to the master bedroom.

They entered the room and turned on the lights. The room still looked the same, with its cool gray walls and dark oak furniture. They each unpacked a weekend's worth of clothes and placed them in the walk-in closet. When they were done Catherine and Vincent noticed the clock read eleven o' clock and decided it was time to head to bed themselves.

Vincent changed into his usual nightshirt and pajama pants, and then quickly brushed his teeth.

"Looks like it will be a sunny day tomorrow," Catherine called from the other side of the door.

He rinsed out his mouth before answering. "It would appear so. I believe Rosie insisted on swimming in the lake, but I believe Jacob wishes to explore the hiking trails."

When Catherine didn't respond Vincent became worried. He opened the door and found Catherine had fallen asleep on the bed. He smiled as he walked over and removed his wife's shoes and coat. He gathered her into his arms and pulled back the covers before placing her in bed. Vincent couldn't resist leaning over and giving his Catherine a kiss to her cheek. Then he turned off the lights and joined his exhausted wife in bed, pulling her to his side and covering them with the blankets.