Cat could feel the sweat popping out on her forehead as she brushed her hair out of her eyes. She could hear Mouse pacing restlessly, muttering in a worried fashion to himself.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "Go..find..Father." she said slowly as she fought the urge to vomit for what felt like the one thousandth time in the last two hours.

"Ok good. Ok fine." Mouse replied softly and Cat sat back on her heels. She suspected she knew what was happening and why she had vomited every morning for the last two days.

A few moments later, she looked over. It wasn't Father...it was Vincent. And she hadn't even heard him come in. He could be pretty damn quiet when he chose to, despite his size and weight. It was the distinct slightly sweaty, slightly dry but definitely all masculine smell that had given him away. He knelt next to her on the floor, resting one large hand on her shoulder.

"Are you not feeling well? Mouse tells me this is the third day in a row you've woken up vomiting." Vincent said, concern written across his face. Cat wiped the back of her hand across her mouth.

"I'm fine. In fact..I suspect I know exactly what's wrong with me." she said, trying and mostly failing at trying to be sarcastic. Vincent raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Yeah..it's not anything nine months won't fix." she said with a shrug. Vincent blinked several times.

"Nine months? Then you think you are...?" He left the question hanging in the air and she nodded.

"Yeah." she said, leaning into him. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. Despite the fact that she'd chosen Mouse over him, he still had feelings for her. Deeply repressed feelings, but feelings none the less.

"Oh Cat...is this a good thing or a bad thing for you and Mouse?" Vincent asked, stroking one hand down her back.

Cat bit her lip, trying to hold back tears. "I don't even know, Vincent. I don't know.." She didn't want to turn into a big blubbering mess in front of him. Vincent merely nodded.

"I'll make an appointment for you with one of our doctor Helpers Above. And if you want to..get this taken care of..I'm sure they'll be able to help you out." Vincent reassured her and Cat frowned as she looked up at him.

"Taken care of? Seriously, Vincent..why would I do that to Mouse? What the HELL is wrong with you?" she said, smacking him on the arm. Sometimes he could be so clueless, but she tried not to blame him for that. Most men had bouts of stupidity from time to time and it was almost reassuring that he wasn't immune.

Vincent got to his feet and helped Cat to hers. "I'm sorry, Cat. I just...I really should not have said that." he apologized.

"Said what?" Mouse asked, coming back into the bathroom, wringing his hands in anxiousness.

"Nothing, sweetheart. He said he's going to get me an appointment with a doctor. Above. That's all." Cat reassured him. Mouse nodded.

"Okay good. Okay fine. Got work to do..lots. See you later, Cat. Vincent. Bring you lunch later..sweetheart." he said, smiling at her as he scurried out of their chambers to go do whatever important thing he had on his mind just then.

Once he was safely out of earshot, Vincent tipped Cat's chin up with one furry finger and he kissed her on the cheek.

"If this is what you want, truly..then I am happy for you." he told her, searching her eyes with his own.

"It is what I want..I think." she whispered, closing her eyes so she wouldn't have to see him staring at her so intensely. She knew she'd made the right choice but it was times like this when she wondered what it would've been like if she'd taken the other path, the one that would have led her to Vincent. She wondered if she would have been plagued with such indecision and doubt if she were bearing Vincent's child and not Mouse's.

Still..she loved Mouse. And she would love his..their..child. But she didn't want to tell him..not yet. Because she was still..at least according to her math..in the "danger zone" where she might still miscarry. And she couldn't bear the thought of having to tell Mouse that no, she wouldn't be having his (their..her brain reminded her) child after all.