Disclaimer: I do not own the show or any of the characters. All credit goes to the producers and the CW.

Chapter Eleven: Realization

May 15th , Six months Pregnant, A couple of months later

"Hey Cat, Its Heather. I have pretty big news. I am coming home for a few weeks. We have a lot to catch up on. I will be arriving Sunday. Please call me when you get this. Love ya!" Catherine erased the message making a mental note to call her back. Not that she was sure she would remember. She had believed that pregnancy forgetfulness was just an excuse, but she was learning know that it was very real. Along with crying for no reason, and being super uncomfortable.

It was only May and there was no way it could be as hot as she felt it was. She was irritable and she couldn't stand sleeping in the bed. Her back hurt and her stupid feel were swollen. Worst of all her belly was huge and she could no longer see her feet when she stood.

"Morning honey." Gabe said walking out of the bathroom.

"Hey," She said in an irritated tone. She sighed. "Sorry I am just...grrr." She said feeling bad. She had tried to treat him the way a wife should, but lately the task was exhausting and she was sucking at it.

"It's okay." He said giving her a kiss in the cheek. "Have you heard from Vincent?"

Catherine shook her head. She had seen him twice since the wedding. She talked to him almost every day, but he kept his distance. Not that she blamed him. Not only did she break his heart into a million pieces, she had not been very pleasant recently. Even Tess had stayed away, however Catherine was happy that Tess and J.T had officially started dating. At least something was going the way it should.

"Well I will have J.T give him another call. I can not leave for a week without knowing you will be safe." Gabe said. He pulled a shirt on.

"You know that just cause I am pregnant and your wife doesn't mean I can no longer take care of myself. I am still me." Catherine said. She had been patient with him, but he was starting to upset her. What was the matter with her? She had turned into a person she didn't recognize.

"I know. I just worry for you is all." He said. "Anyway I am going to look into homes while I am away in Colorado. Do you have any request?"

Catherine shook her head as she thought, "Besides the fact that I don't want to move?" Maybe it was for the better like he had said. She wondered if Vincent was serious when he said he would move with them. His life was here just like hers was.

"Hey, you okay?" Tess asked as she walked into the room.

Catherine looked at her confused. Somehow Gabe was gone and Tess was here. "Yeah, just lost in thought."

"I heard Gabe talking to J.T. Are you really going to move?" Tess asked. She had never thought that Catherine would sit back and let others control her. That is how it had been the past few months and it was both worrying and pissing her off. Catherine was never this person. She seemed like a robot. Maybe J.T was right. Maybe her being with Gabe was a bad idea.

"I suppose so." Catherine replied.

"Look Cat, if you don't want to go don't. Just because you are married to him does not mean he gets to tell you what to do. Where are you?" Tess said sitting on the bed.

"Tess, I am right here." Catherine was waving her hands over the bed.

"Physically? Yeah, mentally? No." Tess said. She stood going to the door. She turned to Catherine, "You need to get out of this house. Go to the city and find yourself again." Tess said then left.

Two days later

Catherine sat in the car with Vincent. He looked like he had gotten some sun. "Where are we going?" She asked him. He had not spent a lot of time with her in the last two days.

"You will see." He said sounding different. He had something about him. Something new. Something better.

After a few more minutes Catherine found herself in front of a little blue house. Vincent got out of the car, quickly opening her door. He took her hand, and lead her to the front door. "Vincent where are we?" Catherine asked.

"Home," Vincent said as he led her inside.

Catherine smiled as she looked around. It was cute. It was just a tad bit smaller than her apartment. He walked her past the living room and kitchen to the first bedroom. She could tell it was the master bedroom. He then led her to a second room. This one held a crib and a few other baby items. She walked in. "It's not finished. I want to paint it. I just need to know what color." He said.

She looked at him. "I haven't even thought about the baby's sex." She said feeling shameful. What kind of mother doesn't remember to ask the sex of the baby?

"Maybe we can do it when we get home. J.T has been looking into it for me." Vincent said. "Do you like the house?"

Catherine nodded, "Yeah, but Vincent what is this about? How are you affording this?"

"I have been doing odd and end jobs. Jobs that don't need a lot of personal information. They want a name and a number and that's all." He said excitedly. He had felt so accomplished with finally working again. Even if it was not exactly his dream job. He could see by the look on her face she was lost.

"I am making roots." He said. "I can't ever be normal Catherine. I can't have a normal Job like everyone else. I can't attend all the office parties and I can't tell the world I am alive. But I can't watch you be with him anymore. You fear I will leave you again. You fear I will hurt you again. I want you back. I never should have let you marry him. I don't care how ling it takes, I am not giving up. You said you can't trust I wont just up and leave, so I am making roots. Roots make it hard to leave." He said hoping he made sense. He was sure he repeated himself, but he was nervous. "I work odd and end jobs, and I built this home for us. I made roots."

"Roots." Catherine said. She didn't know how, but this made her want to cry. "Vincent I-"

"No, Don't say anything." He said cutting her off. "You need time to think on it. You need time to find you again. Between me and Gabe you have lost yourself. Find you, then you can make the choice. Find yourself, Then come home.

Catherine found herself standing in the middle of her old apartment. It was dusty and empty, but she had not felt so at home in a long time. This was the start of it all. Here in this living room was where she first started losing herself.

This was where she stood when J.T had told her she would move into the huge house with him. In this living room was where she had accepted Vincent was dead even when her gut told her otherwise. It was here she had agreed to date Gabe. It started here, and it was here she decided it was going to end. She had allowed Gabe to tell her she was going to pretend to transfer. She had allowed others to make decisions for her. Not any more, She was her own person. She was strong and independent. She had her own job to think about. She had a baby to think about. How had she let this go on for so long? She needed to get a hold of herself. Tess was right. She had lost herself, and thanks to Vincent, who suggested she come here, she found herself. It was just easier to let others make choices, but only she could make the right ones. Only she knew what was good for her. Now all she needed to do was find her voice again.

That night

Catherine paced the living room. She was so uncomfortable and irritated she wanted to cry.

"Whats wrong?" Tess asked as she, J.T and Vincent walked into the room.

"Nothing." Catherine snapped. She sighed frustrated. "I'm sorry I just..." Tears came to her eyes. She lost it. "I am just so done. It is hot, then cold. I am tired. I don't want to move to Colorado and I don't want to be married to Gabe. I can't find anything comfortable to wear and I want to make my own choices. I want my back to stop hurting. I want to see my stupid feet. It is uncomfortable to stand, but I am sick of sitting. I have to pee every ten seconds and my feet are so swollen I can wear my shoes." Catherine had to take a deep breath as the tears came heavier. "I want to be with you Vincent, and I am scared that our baby is going to come out looking like a werewolf." Catherine shook her head. She knew she was being unreasonable, but she need to say these things. "I want to take a bath, but I can't because I wouldn't be able to get out of the damn thing, and I really want to shave my legs, but I can reach!" She said, her voice getting high.

Vincent went to her taking her into his arms. She hugged him tights as he lifted her into his arms. He couldn't fix all her problems but there was a few he could.

He brought her to the bath room, sitting her on the edge of the bath tube. Her eyes were red from crying and she looked like she had just taken so mush weight off her chest. Vincent pulled off her shorts and threw them in her hamper. He found her razor and soaped up her legs as the water turned warm.

Catherine watched in silence as he shaved her legs. He was very careful not to cut her. How had she let all this happen? How had she let herself lose who she was, then allowed her brain to override her heart? Most of all how was she going to get out of this mess? She knew in this moment that she couldn't fully trust Vincent yet, but she was stupid to believe he would ever purposely hurt her. He was the Vincent she fell in love with. Not the one she had shot.

Before she knew it her legs were shaved, and she was naked in a warm bubble bath. Vincent sat on the floor behind her. He had his arms in the water rubbing her sore back. God she was so mad at herself. Why did she not note this sooner? Maybe she couldn't see it sooner. She had wanted to make Gabe happy, but she was just stupid to think it could work. Maybe it would have if Vincent hadn't returned, but Vincent had returned. Not only did he return, he is making roots.

Soon Catherine was dry and wearing a pair of boy shorts along with one of Vincent's long-sleeved shirts. How had she not thought of this before? She was actually comfortable. She looked at herself in the mirror. "I am sorry Vincent." She said.

She turned to see Vincent on the bed. "I have made a mess of everything. I have broken your heart, and now I will break Gabe's. I am awful."

"No you are not. You did what you thought was right. You had agreed to marry him. I left allowing that to happen. You didn't want to leave him just because I came back. You wanted to make it work. I understand that." Vincent said. "You can't beat yourself up for this. You are not the only one at fault."

"How is anyone else at fault here?" Catherine asked sitting next to him.

"I never should have left you. I never should have faked my death. My actions gave Gabe the opportunity to ask you out. My death is the reason you said yes. Gabe never should have let you marry him. He knows where your heart truly lies and it was selfish of him to go through with the wedding. We all made mistakes.

Catherine climbed over the covers. She was not sure if she believed what he said, but she did know she had to make all this right. She knew that she had a lot to make up for, But most of all she was glad she was back. She didn't realize she had lost herself, but now she was back, and she promised she would never lose herself again. She promised she would make all this right. Somehow.

I need the two to get married for reasons that will hopefully be clear in the next chapter. I want Gabe to come to the realization that he had pushed her. I hope you all enjoyed. Please leave reviews. Thanks :)