This is about to end! Here's the last chapter. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 10

After the hypnosis sessions, both Vincent and Catherine were convinced that they had shared different lives together, and that this is the reason they met in this present life and the reason their souls recognized. Cat was even further: Vincent underwent all the process to become a beast because somehow he knew this was his destiny in this life, as it had been in the other ones after he accepted that damn deal. He had to become a beast, losing almost all his humanity as the only way to be able to pay for his debt, and to protect the woman he loved.

-Vincent…There's only one way to solve this forever…and you know what this way is.

-I'm not going to let you die. – He said achingly and looking at her unable to believe what he was hearing.

-You have to! It's the only way you'll become human again, and maybe we can share other lives together free form that horrible fate. I know you did it because you loved me, but it wasn't fair for you. I don't want to be with you if it means you have to sacrifice yourself.

-I said I'm not going to let you die.

-You will have to… eventually. If you really love me, if you really want to end this eternal nightmare we are into, the next time you have the chance to save my life…you won't. If you do, I'll never be with you again. Understand?

Vincent petrified. The only woman he had ever loved and the one he did everything for wanted to die to set him free from what he did centuries ago, and he knew he'd never be able to do it.

-You're not going to force me to see you die, to see life escaping from your eyes… You know I won't… even if it means you are not going to be with me.

-And then what? Another life together in misery and pain, trying to find out what we did wrong to deserve our fates? Vincent, listen to me: You have to.

She turned her back and held the pillow. He embraced her from behind and put his lips against her ear:

-I'm sorry…this time it isn't going to work… I can't…

And he left feather kisses on her shoulder before he tried to sleep.

Catherine herself didn't know what she was asking for, maybe being sure that death will come her way in a shooting, or working in a case, that it will be quick and with no pain. She could have never imagined she would have to undergo a terrible, long and painful illness.

The day she was given the news she had bone cancer Vincent wasn't with her at the doctor's, in fact, he didn't even know she had been feeling ill lately.

-How bad is it? – She asked.

-Terminal.

-How is it possible I didn't even notice? – She asked not believing yet what she was being told.

-It's not the usual thing, but it happens. You came here because your body ached and this is my diagnosis. You can ask for another opinion, but I don't think it will be different.

-How long do I have?

-I can't tell…may be six months, may be four… I really can't tell.

-Is there any hope if I receive therapy?

-Fifteen percent people with a bone cancer at this stage survive with therapy, it's not much.

Catherine, who had been strong throughout all the conversation, drop a tear. Her pain was not because of her illness, she had made up her mind she would have to die young to provoke all the events that usually prevent her from dying. The deal. Vincent knew what he had to do to save her, he always had. If she followed a treatment, he would inevitably learn about her illness and would do what he had to.

-And if I refuse therapy…

-You'll die in a terrible pain. It would be a really bad decision. Your condition won't improve. You're going to feel more tired every day, your pain will increase, and in a couple of months we may have to induce a coma to relieve it… believe me… therapy is the only choice.

Catherine left the hospital feeling guilty and sicker that when she entered it. How would she tell Vincent? How would she stop him from becoming a beast and kill more people just to bring her health back? He had said it some nights ago: He wouldn't let her die.

When she went into the kitchen, he was sitting by the counter, reading the paper. He thought she had gone to work and was glad to see her back so soon.

-Catherine! – He said smiling as he saw her coming into the place. – How is it you're back so soon?

Catherine held his hand and carried him to the sofa, which made him feel a bit uncomfortable as she only did this when she had to talk to him.

-Vincent… I didn't go to work today.

-And… where did you go? – He asked feeling that he wouldn't like the answer.

-Remember I told you some days ago that I was feeling tired and my whole body ached?

He nodded.

-I went to the hospital to do some analytics… I went to look for the results today.

-Catherine… You're scaring me… What are you trying to say? – In the bottom of his heart he knew, as he had heard in his other lives: The moment will come…

-It's cancer.

He jumped from the sofa and started to move nervously around the place.

-Vincent, calm down please, you're not helping.

-Don't worry, Catherine. I'm not going to let you suffer, we both know how this could be solved.

-No! No! No! Vincent! We have already talked about it.

-No! You talked about it! What do you want me to do… do you really think I'll watch you die and do nothing?

Catherine stood up too and went to the fireplace, where he was leaning his arm in a painful face palm showing that he thought everything was lost.

-There are possibilities of overcoming the cancer, Vincent. There are treatments…

He interrupted her:

-I'm a doctor, Catherine. There is no treatment that will cure you…the only thing you'll get will be sickness and pain.

Catherine embraced him and he pressed her tiny body against his and rocked her as she cried:

-Let me do this, Vincent. Respect my way to live my life or to… leave it. Please.

He was crying too, like a child, sobbing and shaking, pressing her head against his chest:

-Catherine, please…

-No…let me try to solve this or die if there's no solution, but save us from living our whole life, all our future lives, under the pain of uncertainty. If you really love me… you will. You'll take me out to dinner before I sign for the hospital to get treatment…You'll take me to dance…will you?- She said while looking at his eyes, both crying. –I need you now, Vincent. Will you be by my side?

He simply nodded. That night they did as she asked for: they went to have dinner together, and they danced at a nightclub till she felt tired and wanted to go home. Vincent could feel the beast claiming to be set free, asking for the blood he required to end this, but he managed to control it. This was something he had learnt the last time he was kidnapped. He learnt to control the animal inside him and let it out when he decided, not the other way round. His temperature raised, and his eyes turned yellow, and his claws were almost there… but he resisted. For her. He had to do it many times in the process. He almost gave up a couple of times.

The days in the hospital were bad, but the nights… oh the nights were so hard. It was the time when the beast was fiercer, more eager to get out and kill, and he had to use all his strength to prevent this from happening, whereas he held Catherine's hand with his own.

He had seen the strange shadow surrounding him, and he had heard his voice telling him to stop this suffering now. He ignored it… and every time he did, Catherine got worse, until no treatment was valid. The first weeks she could go back home from the hospital, he took her and cared for her at night, when she got up to throw up he would hold her hair, which she was losing so quickly… His heart ached so much…He would cry when she was asleep and in many occasions he almost let the beast out, but she kept asking to let it happen … to stop the pain of their souls forever. And he did. Then she had to stay in hospital to calm her pain.

In less than two months, Catherine had lost all her beautiful black hair and was wearing a pink bandana covering her head. She was more beautiful than ever. That day she asked the doctor only one thing, as she could see the worst part of the illness coming. She wanted to go home just for a couple of days, before she couldn't stand the pain anymore. The doctor injected her some drugs to allow her to be carried home in a wheelchair by Vincent. He had prepared a surprise party for her with all her friends. When they opened the door, dozens of balloons came down from the ceiling and all the people who mattered were there. She wanted to stand up to embrace everyone but she couldn't. JT had put some happy music to be able to stand the moment. There were candles and tiny lights all over the place. Tess couldn't hide the tears coming to her eyes when she saw her friend. She had been with her in the hospital, but she was so much worse than the last time she saw her that it made her cry. She kissed her and hugged her until Gabe took her to a corner of the room.

-You're gonna make her cry… again. Calm down, please. Be strong... for her.

They danced and joked and drank, and finally they all went home to let the couple alone as they saw that the girl couldn't stay awake for long. Catherine asked Vincent:

-Mmmm… you haven't asked me to dance yet… you rude boyfriend.

He came to the wheelchair and took her in his arms. She was as light as a feather, which made him terrible, but he wasn't going to cry, not tonight. Vincent carried Catherine upstairs to the roof top where they used to meet. He had lit some candles and put some beautiful tiny lights all over the place. He took out his mobile from his pocket and their song, the song of their first kiss, surrounded them, Catalyst, by Kyla LaGrange. He carefully put her feet on his own and let her lean her body against his. They started to dance slowly, and they kissed as they had done so many times before. She leaned her head on his chest and smiled. She could die right now and it would be for good, to save the soul of the only man she had loved in her life. He leant his forehead against her. How would he stand life withouth her... How would he be able to go on living? Vincent noticed she was very tired and when the song ended, he took her downstairs and put her in bed.

The next day he took her to hospital again. He knew something she ignored. That day she will be sedated to allow her body to stand the pain as nothing else could be done. When she was again in bed, he sat by her side and took her hand:

-How are you feeling? – He asked in sorrow, his eyes unable to hold tears.

-I'm OK, Vincent. I don't feel any pain.

-I'll be here by your side in case you wake up, OK honey? – He was fighting really hard not to cry as he knew he wouldn't see her again awake. He didn't want his woman to carry with her the image of his crying eyes. She caressed her face ever so softly, and kissed her cheeks, and her closed eyes, and her lips. She opened her eyes for a while and said:

-Vincent, please, don't let all this suffering be in vain. When the time comes, let me go forever. Promise?

He took her hand to his lips and kissed her palm and her fingers. Then he closed his eyes and nodded unable to speak.

This was the last time he talked to her, or ever saw her awake. JT, Tess and Gabe came and went from the hospital so as not to leave him alone. They saw him move around the hospital, banging his head in despair against the walls, crying, sleeping over Cat's chest. One day, he was suddenly waken up by the most terrible sound he had ever heard…the sound of silence. He had leant his head over her chest as usual to be as close to her as possible, as the sound of her heartbeat relaxed him and helped him to sleep. Now it had stopped. And his own heart stopped for a while before he could shout for the nurses and the doctor to come. JT came into the room at the same time, as he had come to be with his friend for a while before going to work. He had to take him from Cat's bed where he was crying and embracing her dead body, helped by two nurses and he had to be finally sedated so that the doctors could certify Catherine's death.

Many years later, two young women were talking at a doctor's while waiting to be attended. A small child, a girl, came crying to her mum:

-What's the matter, sweetheart? What happens? – Her mum asked her lovely princess.

-That boy… - she cried while pointing at a kid who came running towards the other woman. – He pulled my hair…

-Come on, sweetie, he was just playing, wasn't he? - She asked while looking at the boy, who was scared.

The woman next to them looked at the boy and said:

-Vincent! Is it true? Go and say sorry.

The girl's mum said to her:

-Come on, Cat. Go talk to him. You can be friends.

Then Vincent went to Cat and looking at her eyes, he simply said:

-I'm sorry.

And she smiled. And then they both were playing together until their mums entered the doctor's. They had been talking a lot and it turned out they were living quite close, in the same building, their children even attending the same school. When the girl's mum was about to leave the place, she asked the boy:

-Vincent, would you like to come home to play with Cat some time?

And Vincent smiled feeling the joy of his soul recognizing Catherine again.