True to his word, Vincent left the tunnels early. He had promised Catherine that he would watch Mea so that Sue could have some time off. Catherine wanted to walk with Cilla to a nearby playground group at the community centre. Left alone with his other daughter, Vincent carried Mea around the house, talking, laughing and enjoying her company. Mea responded to Vincent's time and attention by pulling on his hair, and trying to put everything in sight in her mouth. Eventually she indicated hunger. Vincent fed her a light snack. It wasn't long before she settled down to a nap, giving her father time to catch up on some household tasks.

Nothing about his life disturbed him. Vincent's love for Catherine grew with every minute they spent together. He was not likely to ever forget the years apart, lost years never to be regained. In time, he allowed himself to stop the regret and guilt which bound him to a era when life seemed emotionally worthless. His family and the love they all shared pushed him towards a sense of accomplishment. The rediscovered love heightened his desire to live each day as a miracle. There were times when the dual life above and below felt tiresome. Neither place held any real pull on his emotions. The draw would always be that special place where Catherine lived. As long as she was at his side, he was content.

Generally, Vincent stayed out of the kitchen. Sue and Catherine had a good working relationship when it came to preparing meals. The long trip out west clearly taught him about some of his limitations. Other rooms in the house received what attention he could muster. He wasn't really skilled there either. Vincent was a wonderful father, husband, lover, poet and listener. He was open and engaging. There was nothing which the couple did not share or discuss together. They tried to keep respect for their differences from overshadowing the strength of their love.

Catherine discussed the possibility of creating a separate area because the girls needed a space of their own. The downstairs was large enough to accommodate any number of room changes. After discussion with the carpenter from below, Vincent set up some frames in their bedroom which would divide the master sleeping area into a slightly smaller room giving the girls their own space to sleep and play. Mea was too big for a cot. Her crib was put at one side of the room, Cilla at the other. The door was central to the room but opened into the master bedroom. Vincent installed a sliding door. There was a small window to the outside. In time he or someone more skilled would cut out a door into the hallway so that the children, as they got older, could come and go as they please.

It never bothered him that the girls wanted to share the family bed in the mornings or evenings. He welcomed their laughter, much as he had welcomed Jacob who often crawled into bed with him to share a book. How wonderful to get a second chance, he thought. He was putting the finishing touches to the sliding door when he heard the sound of Mea beginning to stir. He had put her down in Sue's room for her nap. Before he could get to the room, Catherine also returned from her walk in the park. Cilla's cheeks were rosy from the chilling wind but she was bright and full of laughter.

'I can see you had a good day.'

'Toy Daddy. Look.'

Vincent kissed his wife's cold cheek before bending down to see what Cilla had found. All the rituals of a family getting together after time apart were played out with delight. Each time he saw his wife even after the shortest absence, Vincent acknowledged the beauty of her, the joy he felt at her touch, the shining eyes so alive. He took his own eyes from Cilla for a moment to whisper 'I love you' to Catherine. Her smile and recognition of the moment lingered like haloed blessing.

Mea's insistent wail sent him scurrying to the room to pick her up.


Much later, with dinner behind them, Catherine and Vincent sat with the girls in the living room discussing plans for the future and the events of the day. Neither could be sure of what prompted a change in attitude. Cilla was on the floor playing with toys and Mea sat in her bouncer shaking a rattle poking out from the top.

'Did Jacob say where he would be tonight Catherine?'

'Yes, Cathy was taking him out to supper. She didn't say where.'

'I don't like what I am feeling.'

'Something is wrong. I just feel uneasy too.'

Vincent looked at his wife, worry lining his face. He stifled his initial desire to protect her from any possibility of fear or concern. She would call him on it immediately. She already sensed trouble anyway.

'I feel like Jacob is stressed but not directly in trouble. It makes no sense Catherine.'

'I am going to call him on his cell phone.'

Catherine got up immediately and dialed the number. Even before she heard his voice, the screams in the background were a clear indication of trouble.

'Mama, Cathy and I are safe. There is a confrontation and stand-off outside the restaurant. We're not in the direct line of fire and police are outside. We are just trapped here.'

'Keep me informed Jacob. Call if there is any change.'

'I will if I can Mama.'

Catherine relayed the information to Vincent. He jumped up.

'You are not going there are you Vincent?'

'I must. Our son is trapped. There is a way out. I will find it.'

Catherine knew that to try and stop Vincent would be futile. How many times in the past had she been in trouble and welcomed the sight of her protector.

'Be careful.'

'Will you be ok here? When is Sue coming back?'

'I can manage. She'll be back soon. Just go.'

Vincent swept her into his arms for a brief hug before grabbing his cloak and running out the door.

He was entirely fit but not a young man anymore. He sensed the direction of his son's whereabouts easily. It was quite a distance. Rather than running towards a subway tunnel, he bolted across the park to where Rob or Carl would be waiting for anyone going to the underground chambers. He had long since accepted Jacob's new venture. The two drivers had become indispensable and unique helpers.

Vincent had discovered Jacob's secret when he returned to Pater's chambers to visit his mother's body. He had gone there with a heavy heart. The first time he saw Coralee Winters, he was overcome with incredible feelings. Vincent felt he did no justice to her memory. It was his wish to make a return pilgrimage instead to let her know that he was doing fine and acknowledge the contents of her letter. The change in the chambers shocked him.

Vincent broke off his thoughts. The van was there. Carl was surprised but not unready to do whatever was necessary.

'Do you know where they might be?'

'Only the general direction. It sounded like a lot of activity was going on outside.'

'Maybe there is something in the news. Just a second.'

Carl turned on the radio and was immediately greeted with the news about the stand-off.

He used the GPS to locate the closest intersection.

'I'll get as near to it as I can. Police will have blocked off the streets. Let me know what you want to do.'

'You know how I need to enter below. Once we are closer, I will find my way. Go back to the house. Catherine is alone. I'll call if I need you Carl.'

'Will do.'

Carl got Vincent as close as possible to the activity. He drove right up to a police barrier before being turned away. A quick trip around the block allowed Vincent to spot entrances to the massive underground channels which ran below the bowels of the city. Vincent indicated an area where he would be fine and whispered a hasty thank you. The van pulled over, dropped off the cloaked passenger and then sped away. Vincent very quickly opened a grate and climbed down below the city. He took a minute to orient himself and adjust to the dark before moving toward the steady sound of his son's heartbeat heard at some intuitive level of his subconscious. A few twists and turns and he was quickly under the restaurant where Jacob was trapped.

He could hear all the sounds of the city raging above and yet the strong steady beat stood out starkly.

'Jacob, I am here, below. Know that I am coming for you.' Vincent realized that he would have to break a wall to get into the basement. He hoped it was made of mostly wood. Many of the old establishments were wooden structures with very little concrete holding them together. It wasn't tpp hard to break down a wall. The concrete was very granular, and easy to chip away. The hole which Vincent created appeared to open into a wine cellar. Vincent saw a thin beam shining and made his way towards it. As he neared the sliver of light, he realized it was emanating from the base of a closed door at the top of some steps. He imagined that the basement led down from the kitchen or a corridor near it. Keeping his back against the wall he mounted the steps slowly, listening for any sound. The door at the top opened easily. He kept the aperture to a very small crack. There was no light in the kitchen other than equipment timers. Flashing colours were reflected in the kitchen windows. Heavy breathing alerted him to the fact that people, probably staff were nearby.

He called out Jacob's name knowing it would be heard above the din outside.

Vincent moved back down two or three steps so that only his head would be visible at the level of the top step.

Within a few minutes he was rewarded by the sight of his son and daughter-in-law crawling along the floor toward him. He opened the door wide enough to allow them both to pass in. He held on to Cathy as they made their way down the stairs, knowing she did not have as keen eyesight. Her trembling body said much about the ordeal.

Once safely behind the wine rack again, he hugged his son before leading them through the hole in the wall.

'How far do we have to go Dad?'

'It is quite a distance. You and Cathy can go above and get a taxi or we can call Carl back.'

'Lets call Carl.' Jacob stood under a grate and dialed the number hoping the signal would go out. It did. Carl had not left the spot where he dropped off Vincent. Instead of returning to the house, he had called Rob and asked him to monitor the Brownstone. The relieved trio climbed back to the surface and hopped into the van.

'I am sorry I took matters into my own hand,' Carl said sheepishly. "I just had a feeling you would need me sooner rather than later.'

'You don't need to apologize Carl. I have my limitations when it comes to navigating the world above.'

'I thank you too Carl. Cathy is just about on her last leg. She couldn't have endured a minute more.'

Indeed, Cathy, who had been unable to stop trembling, was now sobbing with relief. Jacob held her close. He knew she would have to work out the horrors of the evening. Things did not end easily for his bride. She carried feelings well past the event, needing to process actions and reactions in a way quite different from Jacob.

The Central Park lights and the Brownstone were more than welcome sights. Sue who had returned home in the interim reached out to Cathy the moment they entered the door.

'Come along child. Let me set a bath for you and make some tea.'

The mothering was exactly what she needed. Father and son went into the living room. Jacob was tired but he knew his mother, an exceptional lawyer in her time, would interrogate him until she was satisfied that all was well. Much as he loved her, he glanced at Sue's retreating back, knowing that a bit of that mothering wouldn't go amiss for him too.

Catherine took one look at her son and abandoned all thought of needing to know. Plenty of time for that later. Jacob looked as if he had been through such an ordeal. She reached out her arms and drew him into a warm and comforting embrace. She met her husband's eyes over his shoulder just as Jacob's own tears of relief fell.

'I love you son. I am so glad you are safe.'