The moonlight was bright against the cold window pane as it entered the dark bedroom. Once again sleep evaded her as Catherine spent the past few nights completely restless and wide awake. The minutes slowly turned into hours as she tried not to think about him but try as she might, he was the only thing on her mind since their worlds collided. Her shadow danced on the blank wall as she tossed and turned. Frustrated, Catherine closed her eyes but only saw one thing as images of Vincent kept flashing through her mind. She couldn't forget the way he looked at her the last time they saw each other as he laid on his hospital bed, his brown eyes pleading for her to stay as she and her partner walked out the door.

Catherine held the pillow close to her body, hugging it tightly as her tired eyes closed but it was still the same images that haunted her every night that prevented her from sleeping. Vincent lying motionless and covered in blood as EMT workers tried to revive him. She watched helplessly as his heart stopped and for a moment hers stopped beating. There were no words to describe the way she felt when she thought she lost him. When slumber came at last she welcomed it with open arms. Her head slumped onto the pillow as she finally drifted off and found peace of mind in her sleep.

The morning sunshine woke her from her much needed sleep and she placed a pillow over her face blocking the unwelcomed intrusion but then the blaring sound of her alarm disrupted her morning. Catherine groaned in frustration as she turned to her bedside drawer to press the snooze button and turned off the loud and annoying sound.

A strong but gentle arm pulled her back towards his body and she quickly succumbed to the warmth of his hold. He nuzzled his face on her neck and she giggled as his stubbles tickled her. "Good morning, sweetheart," he cooed in her ear.

Catherine turned in his arms and faced him. She traced his scar with her fingertip and he opened his eyes, which were brown and warm like the bright sunny day that greeted them. It was a morning routing she was very fond of and each day was better than the last. "Morning, hun," she whispered against his lips.

He smiled and kissed her lips. "I wish you didn't have to go to work today."

"Me too," she responded, sadly. "But I'll make it up to you tonight. How about dinner after my shift? We can go to your favorite restaurant then after we can watch your favorite show, the one with superman as a kid."

"Smallville," he grinned. "As long as you promise not to gush over him and how handsome he is," he said in a teasing tone.

"Oh please," she rolled her eyes. "As if you don't drool over than Lana chick. I see the way your eyes are glued to the screen whenever she's on."

He smiled sheepishly. "But there's only one woman who has my heart and that's all that matters."

"You're not even going to deny it?"

"Lana, she's cute but she can never compare to you. I have one kick ass detective girlfriend, who I love very much," he held her tighter against her body and rolled them over, pinning her under him.

Catherine tried to kick him odd but her efforts were futile as he wrapped her legs between his. "Vincent, don't you dare," she giggled dispute her situation ad her jade eyes playfully challenged him.

"I think you're enjoying this," Vincent teased as he grabbed a hold of her hand and placed above her head. "You're very beautiful and all mine," his brown eyes darkened as lust overcame him. He placed feather light kisses on her neck and she struggled underneath his weight not to give in to his temptations.

Try as she might, Catherine eventually caved in as he laid kisses down her neck. He gently sucked on her soft luscious skin just above her collar bone causing her to moan. She squeezed his hand as his kisses moved up her neck.

"Vincent," she moaned.

He paused and looked her in the eye. "I love you, Catherine."

"I love you, too."

Vincent kissed her lips and let go off her hand. She wrapped her hands around his muscular body and held him close. The kiss quickly grew heated and fervent as they both thrust their hips.

The sound of her alarm interrupted their much too short morning love affair. Catherine hesitantly pulled back and panted against his lips.

"No. No. No. Ignore it."

"I can't."

Catherine turned and reached for the her alarm clock. She pressed the snooze button to stop it but the alarm didn't stop so she pressed it again. Over and over she pressed the button but the noise continued to get louder.

Catherine opened her eyes and the bright morning sunlight blinded her. She turned to her alarm clock on the bedside drawer and turned off the interruption that ruined a perfectly good dream. She sighed as she turned back to her empty bed and hugged a pillow as she buried her face in it and she screamed.

There was a light knock on her door and Catherine looked up at that direction. She couldn't believe what she dreamt of as just how much affect one person had on her.

"Cat?"

"Come in, Heath."

The door opened slowly and walked in Heather, her sister, was nearly identical. She had the same green eyes that her older sister had and the same bright smile that can light up a room.

"Are you okay? I heard a noise, it was sort of muffled but I thought I'd check."

Catherine sat up and combed her fingers through her long and brunette hair. "I'm okay. Just had a dream."

Heather smiled and nodded. "I have class in an hour. Is it okay if I shower first?"

"Sure. I'm off today," Catherine answered. Her plans for a cold shower didn't pan out, ruining her already bad morning. "I'm going for a run."

BATB

The sun slowly disappeared over the horizon and the sky darkened. The hairs that covered his body from neck to toe disappeared and underneath his clothes he was human once again. He walked out of the darkened stables and into the cold winter air.

A chill went down his spine as he saw her in the distance standing by the rose bush she loved so much. He paused and stood completely still as she looked up at him. His senses were overwhelmed as the the breeze carried her scent and he inhaled it, creating goosebumps on his skin.

She blinked a few times to get a better look at him. "Vincent?" she asked.

He nodded his head and walked quietly to her. He removed his cape in one motion that was covered in hay from when he laid in the stables while waiting for the sun to set. Since the curse, he refused to be seen by anyone but his longtime servants maids as they were ever loyal and the only people he trusted in the world. He folded the garment and hung it on his arm. Her jade eyes captured his as he made his way closer, causing her heart to flutter wildly in her bosom.

"Catherine," he greeted her with a smile that everyone woman fell for.

"I have not seen you since the night before last."

The sound of her heart races, beating loudly in his ears. "I have been away."

"So I was told by my chambermaid Emma."

"I am here now," he reached for her hand and held it in his before raising it to his lips and kissing it. "My apologies if my absence has caused you any distress. I meant no harm and promise to make it up to you," Vincent smiled as he looked her in the eye.

Catherine returned his smile and gave him the rose she has picked earlier from the garden. The warmth of her hands covered his as she held them in hers causing him to shiver. Her touch was like no other.

"The rose holds no comparison to your beauty, Catherine."

Vincent opened his eyes as the sunlight made its way through the bedroom he shared with his best friend. He looked around and took in his surrounding with a smile on his face as he noticed the guest sitting by his bedside. The warm touch of her hands was always comforting. "Morning, Ma."

"Honey, I was just checking in. You were talking in your sleep."

Vincent wiped the sleep out of his eyes and smiled. "I hope I didn't say anything stupid."

"I was only able make out a name. Catherine, you kept repeating."

He smiled sheepishly. "I," Vincent started but drew a blank.

"You're secret is safe with me."

Vincent shook his head. "It's not like that. It was about Catherine but not her," he said more softly as he sat up on the bed. "Ma, do you remember the story Grandpa and Grams told us, about the beast and his castle?"

"Of course. You couldn't stop talking about it. At first you two were excited and then JT, it started to scare him. Do you remember how you thought it would be cool to turn into a beast? You talked about running free with the horses, grazing with the cows, fighting bears, racing with cheetahs and every other animal you could think of. It was all you would talk about."

Vincent laughed at the memories he managed to forget over the years. "Oh wow," he shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I said that?"

"Everyday for two weeks. You couldn't wait to grow up and turn into a beast. What does the story have to do with your dream?"

"Everything. That's what my dream was about. That Catherine in the story. The one my ancestor saved."

"Is that the Catherine you were thinking of?"

Vincent smiled sheepishly and shook his head. He looked away from the prying eyes of his mother and stared out the window. "You know she stayed with me all night in the hospital?"

"Yes dear and I'm very thankful that she did. It seems she's made quite an impression on you."

BATB

Vincent put on his light gray sweater with the word ARMY written across the chest, his favorite one even though it was faded and worn out. He sat down on the couch and put on his running shoes.

"Honey, are you sure you should be going out so soon? The doctor said to take it easy."

He pulled on the black laces, tightening the shoes before tying it. He looked up when he was done with both shoes. "I'm fine Ma. I'm just going out for a jog. I've been stuck in bed for three days."

"It was just two days and I still don't understand why the Army had you released so early."

"I already told you, they just wanted to make sure everything was okay. They ran some tests that the hospital couldn't. Besides, both doctors gave me a clean bill of health. I'm okay, Ma. Don't worry. You'll get wrinkles," Vincent teased and smiled.

"Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I will. Love you, Ma," he said as he kissed her on the cheek before leaving the apartment.

Vincent slowly went down the stairs and tested out his well rested legs. There were kinks or creak that warranted caution. He headed out the busy street of New York city without any hesitation or reluctance. He put his hood on before jogging towards Central Park.

The sun was brightly beaming down the cement path as people started to crowd the area, hoping to enjoy a rare sunny winter day. Vincent watched the crowd as he stretched his legs and noticed a brunette headed towards him. She immediately caught his eyes.

Vincent turned around and waited for her to pass him. He ran next to her and silently wished for her to notice him. They turned with the curve of the path as he ran beside her and she finally noticed the guy running next her.

Catherine came to a sudden halt causing people to bump into her. He slowed down when she was no longer beside him and jogged back to her. Still in disbelief, she stared at him. He was the last person she expected to see.

Vincent removed his hood and revealed the scar covering half of his face. He smiled at her and his dimples were difficult to miss. The sound of her racing heart slowly started to make it into to his ears. "I hope I didn't scare you."

Catherine tried to shake the image out of her head, of them on her bed kissing and just seconds short of making love if her alarm clock hadn't woken her up. She should have checked it before she went to sleep but she was too tired after coming home from a long shift at her precinct. "Surprised. Just surprised to see you," she answered as she tried to catch her breath.

"I saw you down the path. I hope you don't mind," Vincent spoke softly as he gazed into her eyes. He couldn't believe his luck.

It seemed they were more entwined than either had ever imagined. Out of millions of people in the city, twice now their worlds have come together. Maybe it than just a coincidence.

Catherine shook her head hoping to erase the images of her dream. The last thing she needed was to see him especially after the morning tryst she dreamt of. "This is unexpected. You're out of the hospital? Wait, of course you are. Sorry. I just didn't expect to see you here. You should be taking it easy."

"I can leave if you want," Vincent sad in a sad tone. He put his hood back on. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you," his brown eyes mirrored that of a sad puppy. "I'll let you go."

"Wait," Catherine grabbed his arm and stopped him from leaving. The last thing she wanted was for him to let her go. Crap, what the hell was she thinking? The dream wasn't real and Vincent wasn't her boyfriend though she wouldn't mind waking up next to him every morning. She shook her head in disagreement with her own thoughts. "I'm just very surprised to see you. I'm usually not like this."

"It's kinda cute," Vincent smiled and placed his hand inside the the front pocket of his hoodie.

Catherine blushed and her cheeks turned a bright pink. She covered her rosy cheeks and smiled shyly at him. "I'm glad you're okay, Vincent. For a moment there I thought I lost you."

"I'm alive because of you, Catherine. Thanks to you and your quick thinking. I guess I owe you one," he said more hopefully.

"I was just doing my job. Hate that you were caught in the crossfire. Horrible way to come back home. Especially after being deployed overseas. I can't even imagine what you've been through out there."

Vincent shrugged his shoulders. "Only doing my duty as a soldier but let's not talk about it," he said it nonchalantly.

"I'd still like to thank you, Vincent, for your services and sacrifices. I want you to know it's truly appreciated especially by law enforcements. We wouldn't be able to do our jobs here if you're not out there doing what you do."

Vincent nodded his head in response. In truth it was something he rarely talked about due the classified status of his missions. He took an oath to never tell a soul and it was one he abided throughout his military career.

"You don't want to talk about it," she replied to his silent comment.

"I can't," he simply answered with a shrug of his shoulders and looked solemn for a second. "It was nice seeing you, Catherine."

"Vincent," she said softly and gently placed her hand on his arm. She cautiously stepped closer to him and kissed his scarred cheek. "I'm really glad you're okay."

Vincent smiled as he looked at her. Just like in his dream, nothing could ever compare to her beauty. "Has anyone told you how beautiful you are?"

Catherine shook her head. She wasn't quite sure anymore about anything as he continued to gaze into her eyes.

"I'll be here tomorrow. Same time. I hope to see you then," he turned away from her and started to run through the crowds, leaving her to her thoughts of him and how he could make her heart race and flutter. He smiled to himself as heard the sound of her heart beating wildly in his ears.