Chapter 4

Belatedly, Vincent realized there was someone else present and quickly stiffened, almost as if bracing himself. It was too late to hide now. Normally, he would have been more cautious, but his concern for Catherine had overridden his usual care.

Emily hadn't meant to speak out loud, but the sight of Vincent left her completely in awe.

"You really ARE tall!" she blurted out unintentionally as she craned her neck to look up at him.

Vincent stared down at the small woman and blinked in surprise. It certainly hadn't been the reaction he'd expected. He allowed a small smile as some of the tension eased from his body.

Next to Emily, Devin snorted in amusement and fought hard to hold back a smile of his own as his opinion of this interloper rose several notches. Most people tended to react with fear when first meeting his unique sibling. Even those who didn't usually couldn't hold back some comment about his claws, teeth, or intimidating leonine-like features. Oddly enough, one of the few things that had never bothered his brother was his height.

Though Vincent had several inches on Devin himself, there had been and still were tunnel residents who were taller. By remarking on the one attribute that had never truly set Vincent apart 'Emily' had unknowingly put his brother at ease. Devin found himself beginning to like her in spite of his natural skepticism.

The moment was interrupted though as Catherine suddenly began to sag, her knees giving way. In response, Vincent instantly swept her up, his voice betraying his concern. "Catherine!"

"I'll get Father." Devin offered. But Catherine's objection stopped him.

"No, please!" She protested weakly. "Just give me a minute." She wasn't up to a confrontion with the tunnel patriarh just quite yet.

"I'm a nurse." Emily piped in. "I can help!"

Catherine nodded her consent and the group quickly made its way to Vincent's chamber. Once there, he tenderly sat Catherine down on the bed and hovered nearby as Emily began to check her over.

Luckily, Catherine's pulse and respiration seemed all right. But the signs of stress were evidenced in Catherine's face; namely a pallid complexion and dark circles under her eyes. Emily also suspected another reason for Catherine's sudden weakness.

"When was the last time you ate?"

The guilty expression on Catherine's face and her refusal to meet Emily's gaze was all the answer she needed. "Catherine!" Emily cried, forgetting to hold her tongue once more. "Don't know you how important your nutrition is, especially now? Skipping meals is very bad for you, even dangerous!"

The moment she spoke the words Emily could have bitten her tongue off as she realized inadvertently she just revealed exactly how much she knew. Catherine's head jerked up and her gaze became anxious again as she met Emily's. But they both had forgotten the other occupants of the room.

"Dangerous?" Vincent echoed, his voice full of concern and curiosity.

Impulsively, Emily grabbed Catherine's hand reassuringly and spoke in her best nurse voice. "Tell him!" She urged.

Catherine quickly teared up and turned to her beloved. "Vincent, there's something I need to tell you…" she whispered softly as he came to embrace her.

Emily smiled, tearing up herself in anticipation at the tender scene she thought she was about to witness. But the other person the room took a firm hold of her arm and hustled her rapidly outside. Once there, he released her as he fairly bristled with hostility.

"Okay, lady! I want some answers and I want them now! Just who the hell are you?" Devin snarled angrily.

"I'm a friend of Catherine's." Emily stammered, trying desperately to lie. unfortunately, she'd never been very good at it.

"Bullshit! I saw the look on her face. She was afraid and Chandler doesn't scare easily. You know something that Catherine never told you!"

"I don't know what you mean." Emily hedged.

"Oh, really?" He continued harshly, folding his arms as he pinned her with another piercing gaze. 'Then maybe you'd care to explain that little scene?"

Knowing she couldn't keep up the charade, Emily sighed and gave in. "Catherine's pregnant."

Devin froze and a grin slowly began to spread across his face. "You mean…?" He broke off, glancing back in the direction of Vincent's chamber.

Biting her lip, Emily nodded frantically. Devin smiled immediately increased. 'Well, I'll be damned! Way to go, little brother!" he said softly. "So how do you play into all this?"

It didn't take much for Emily to recognize that there wasn't much point in hiding anything Devin. He was simply too perceptive and saw right through her "Okay, I tell you. But you're not going to believe me." She sighed.

Devin quirked an eyebrow as he bit back another smile. "What makes you so sure?"

"Father wouldn't!" She retorted before thinking.

Devin's eyes widened in shock as his smile disappeared. "Well, I'm not Father."

"Thank Heavens." Emily muttered and then winced as she realized Devin had heard her. '"Sorry. No offense." She apologized.

"None taken." He replied as his smirk returned.