Her sad eyes never wandered away from him as he tucked her underneath the blanket and made sure that she knew that he wasn't going to leave her as he removed his favorite boots before sitting on the edge of the bed beside her weary body. "I'm here for you, Catherine. Whatever you need, okay?"

Catherine nodded her head as she made room for him on her bed. "Just don't leave me," she whispered as she wiped her tears.

"Never," he answered as he laid down beside her. "I'll be here when you wake up."

Catherine slowly willed herself to move forward but stopped and hesitated. Vincent softly nudged her to move closer and hoped that she would not shut him out once again but he knew all too well what it was like to lose love ones and how much it hurt. There were mornings he didn't want to get out of bed and giving up was easier than trying.

"Let me be here for you," his deep voice echoed in the dim room save the moonlight that entered through the window.

Catherine looked up at him and met his concerned eyes. It was difficult to miss the sincerity in them as he held out his arm. With a slight hesitation, she slid in to his arm and laid her head on his chest. In an instant his heart swelled and raced as he held her in his arms. She listened carefully and closed her eyes as she felt safe and secure in his tight embrace.

BATB

In the distance there was a huge and loud roaring sound that scared young lady and her horse in the darkness of the forest. The booming noise cracked through the forest, echoing loudly, and shattering the quietness that surrounded them. The horse suddenly leapt and galloped with fear as it was frightened by the havoc the storm was creating.

Hoping to restrain her horse and get control of a harrowing situation she pulled on the rein. Instead of stopping the horse ran faster as another thunderous sound echoed through the forest. She slipped further off the saddle as she tried harder to stop her horse but the storm was brutal and continued to assault the earth beneath sky. The horse made a sharp turn between the trees causing the passengers to fall off and hit her head on the ground. It didn't take long for her eyes to shut as blood discharged from her wound.

Weakly and writhing in pain she opened her eyes to a dim room.

"You're awake," a deep voice by her bedside caught her attention.

She winced at the pain shooting though her body and groaned as she turned to the man who saved her from catastrophe that could have taken her life. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the candlelit room as her eyes remained on the handsome stranger who was gazing at her with remarkable hazel eyes that bore into hers.

Catherine stirred in her sleep and sighed in discontent as she tossed and turned caused by a dream that seemed endless as those hazel eyes looked into hers. What was it about this handsome stranger that she just couldn't take her eyes off? It was as if he was calling her back to a lull to continue the dream and finish something that hasn't yet begun.

Vincent hummed a song his grandma use to sing to him when he had nightmares as a young boy. It always helped him quell the fear and ease him back to a peaceful sleep. He continued to hum as he wrapped the blanket around her shivering body and watched as he waited patiently for her to wake.

Catherine opened her eyes as she felt an overwhelming sensation take over her body and just like in her dream she was met with striking hazel eyes. "Vincent," she exhaled his name and a shiver ran down her spine as his eyes pierced through hers.

"Morning, beautiful," he replied in his deep and husky voice as he turned over to his side and cradled his head underneath his arm. His favorite military issued jacket made his hazel eyes stand out even more. "I hope you slept well," he whispered as he listened carefully to her racing heart as he sought her hand that was underneath the blanket and placed his hand over it. Even with the thickness of the blanket he could still feel the warmth of her hand as his eyes never left hers.

Catherine steadied her breathing and hoped that her heart would follow suit. After last night she didn't expect much. The last man she trusted broke and shattered her heart to pieces. "You're a rare breed. A true one of a kind."

"I told you that I would be here when you woke up and I always keep my promises."

"Not just that. It's everything that you did to make me trust you even more," Catherine pointed at his jacket and the fact that he slept over the blanket as she slept underneath it.

"I would never take advantage of you or do anything to hurt you. I'm just glad you trusted me to stay with you."

"Thank you, Vincent," Catherine smiled and reached over, placing her hand over his scarred cheek. He embraced her warm touch and his head closer to her warm hand. "Does it hurt?" she asked as she traced his scar and he closed his eyes at the unfamiliar feeling of someone not judging his altered appearance.

Vincent shook his head. "It did but not anymore," he answered as he opened his eyes and he exhaled loudly as he met her kind, innocent, caring, compassionate, loving and every other words that were swirling in his head.

"Tell me," she whispered as she followed the scar up to his temple.

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything you want to tell me."

"My name is Vincent Keller," he smiled.

Catherine laughed softly. "Something I don't know about you."

"Like what?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Whatever you want to tell me."

"Like what? Where I was born? What's my favorite color? And what about you?" he smiled sheepishly.

"I was born here in New York and my favorite color is blue."

"I was also born here in New York and I don't really have a favorite color but if I have to choose one, green," he pointed at his jacket. "I wear a lot if it," he joked as he stared into her jade eyes. "There's really not that many interesting things about me. My life in the Army takes up most of my time but when I am home I'm usually helping out at Ma's flower shop. You met her."

Catherine nodded. "I did. Even had a bit of a heart to heart talk at the hospital while you were in surgery. You have a great mother, Vincent," she softly stroked his scar.

"She's not really my mother, not biologically but she helped raised me. Her and JT moved in with me and my grandparents after Uncle Bob was killed while on duty."

Catherine tried to hold back her tears. "I'm sorry," she whispered as she began to cry again.

"Why?" he gently wiped her tears with the pad of his thumbs.

"Because you never knew your parents," she said weakly as she remembered her mother.

"I did, somewhat. My grandparents and Ma made sure I never forgot them. They told me stories of them all the time. They met when they were kids, grew up and fell in love. My mother past away after my birth," Vincent exhaled sadly. "My father was killed while in action. He died for this country. He died a hero."

"I'm so sorry, Vincent," she managed to get out between tears.

"Don't cry," he whispered as he tried his best to wipe hear tears away but the look of sadness remained on their faces.

"Here I was crying over my mom and you never even knew yours."

"I had my Grams and Grandpa. At first it was just us three then it became a family of five. Now I have Ma and JT. I'm lucky to have them in my life. They all helped raise me to be the man that I am now. I'm very fortunate and blessed. I never saw it another way," Vincent smiled as he thought of his childhood and though it was much different from the other kids he grew up with, they were still one happy family. "I just hope that I'm making them proud."

"Of course you are," Catherine traced the smile on his lips. "You're a great man, Vincent. You're a hero. Any woman will be lucky to have you."

Vincent placed her hand over hers as she began to softly brush his scar with her fingertips. "I don't want just any girl," he confessed.

"Vincent," she whispered and tried to look away but couldn't.

"Do you a boyfriend?"

Catherine shook her head in answer.

"Are you married?"

"I would be a lousy wife if I was, considering I have another man on my bed."

"Girlfriend?" he joked.

Catherine giggled. "No."

"I'm single and your single. Tell me that you feel it, too and that I'm not crazy."

"You're not crazy but I," Catherine bit her bottom lip as she mustered the courage to not let her painful past get in the way of her future.

"What is it?"

"I don't know how to do this, Vincent. It's been awhile since I've been with anyone."

"You're not the only one," he admitted.

"A good looking guy like you?" Catherine teased.

His cheeks turned to a rose color. "I've never really been in an actual relationship."

"Wait. Never? Are you?"

"No," Vincent quickly interrupted her. "I just meant that after Grandpa and Grams past away I went through a rebellious phase in high school and well," he scratched his head and paused. He had a nervous look on his face as he remembered all the parties and girls he hooked up with before graduating and leaving for the Army. "I don't want to turn you off."

"You were like any other teenage boy in high school," she finished his thought.

"Yea and after high school I left for the Army. I didn't have time for a relationship and I was never in one place for too long. I met girls here and there."

"You can stop, Vincent."

"I blew it," he put his head down and looked away.

"No. You didn't, Vincent."

He ran his fingers through his hair as he slowly looked up. "Then let me take you out on a date."

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

Vincent smiled sheepishly. "Only if you say yes."

"I don't know, Vincent," she answered hesitantly as she thought about the heart break she suffered at the hands of the man she loved and trusted with all of her heart. "I don't think it's such a good idea.

"Oh," Vincent stared at her in shock. Completely disappointed at her rejection he put on his best fake smile. "I better go. I'll see you around, Catherine."

Catherine watched as he he turned away from her and sat up on the edge of the bed. Vincent reached down for his boots and quickly laced them up. He didn't waste any time getting up and walking to her window.

"Vincent, wait," she called out last second.

He slowly turned around to face her and placed his hands in his jacket pockets. "I have to go, Catherine."

"I don't want you to leave. Not like this."

"I can't stay."

Catherine sighed. "How can you be so sure about this? About us?"

"All I know is how I feel. I'm asking you out on a date because I like you and I want to see where this thing can go," Vincent answered as he walked back to the bed and sat beside her. "You said so yourself that you feel something, too. It's a risk but one I'm willing to take with you. If you want, we don't even have to call it a date. We'll do whatever you want. What's the one thing you want to do that you haven't done in awhile?"

Catherine hesitate before answering. "Since my mom died Heather and I haven't gone to Central Park and ice skate. We use to go all the time but now we avoid the place. It's just been too difficult."

"I can take you whenever you're ready. It doesn't have to be tonight or tomorrow but I do hope it's sometime soon. Maybe in a week or so."

"You'll do that for me?"

Vincent smiled before answering. "Of course. Just don't make me wait too long."

"I don't have any plans this weekend. If you're free, we can go then."

"Okay. But I really do have to go. I have a follow up appointment with the doctor."

"I can drive you on my way to work."

"Thanks, but it's the Army. It will be out of the way. Bye, Catherine," Vincent stood up from the bed and headed back to the window.

"Wait," Catherine stood up from the bed and walked to where he was standing. She stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek.

A smile formed on his lips. "What was that for?'"

"For staying with me last night. And you don't even know what time to pick me up for our non-date."

"You can tell me tomorrow when we go for our morning jog."

"But I," she started but was quickly cut off by him.

"I'll meet you tomorrow at our usual spot by the benches," Vincent replied before around and opening the window, letting the cold air in. He stepped out carefully and climbed out to the fire escape.

"I have a front door," Catherine called out as she stared out the window.

"I'm aware but I know you're not ready to introduce me to your sister."

Catherine looked away from him and stared down. As much as she wanted to let others in it was too difficult after everything she has been through.

"I won't hold it against you. Just know that I'll be here whenever you're ready."

Catherine smiled and nodded her head. Vincent returned her smile before walking away. Today wasn't such a bad day after all.