Much Ado About Everything
By Thomas Mc


Chapter 12 : The More They Stay the Same

Rebecca felt a strong sense of nostalgia as the cab pulled up before the old brownstone. As children, she, Nancy and Cathy had spent a lot of time in that home. The owner had been a very close friend of Cathy's parents. In college, after Jenny had joined their group, it had become a favorite hangout for the four of them. Now the place belonged to Cathy. It had been years since the last time she had been here. That had been when the four friends had met here to celebrate Cathy passing the bar.

As they mounted the steps, Rebecca again thought about Naomi's assertion that Vincent was a lion-man. Even more puzzling was the way both Nancy and Cathy had reacted to that declaration and her own alien remark. The whole idea was so absurd. At the same time her mind kept wandering back to the wild tales that had been going around since college, and the many discussions they had engaged in, about the Central Park Creature. It was supposed to look like a cross between a lion and a human. Cathy had always been the most skeptical of the four. Jenny had been most inclined to believe that there might be some substance to the stories. Rebecca and Nancy were unsure but tended to side with Cathy on the subject.

As they entered the still familiar brownstone parlor, Rebecca's attention was drawn to two children playing together over near the fireplace. A second later her knees got wobbly and her purse hit the floor. Her chin would have hit the floor too if it could have opened that wide. Both children turned and, with big grins, began toddling unsteadily towards them. One of them really did look like a cross between a lion and a human. As Rebecca stood there, her mouth hanging open, Cathy knelt down, scooped both of them into her arms and gave them both a shower of kisses and hugs.

After a few seconds Catherine looked up at Rebecca. "These are my other two children, Jacob and Jennifer. And for the record, they're twins."

At that moment Naomi hollered out. "Daddy, we're home!"

As Catherine gave Naomi a reproving look for yelling in the house, a very sexy, very male, voice that sent a delicious tingle up Rebecca's spine came down from the direction of the spiral staircase. "I know, honey. I'll be down in just a moment."

Rebecca finally closed her mouth as her attention had now shifted to the, very large, heavily booted, figure coming down the stairs. Then his hands came into view on the handrail and she blinked as she took in the clawed furry hands that matched those of the half-lion child embraced in Cathy's arms. As he approached the bottom of the stairs and his face came into view, Rebecca's jaw again fell open and her eyes nearly bugged out at the sight. Then she blurted out, "My God, Cathy, you married the Creature of Central Park!"

Naomi giggled as she rushed into Vincent's arms. Vincent swept her up as he chuckled at Rebecca's surprised comment. Nancy also giggled as Catherine, with a quick laugh responded. "As a matter of fact, Becky, I did."

"Good afternoon, Rebecca." He again spoke in that incredible voice that went right through her making her knees go weak again. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Catherine has told me so much about your adventures together." The creature set Naomi down and Cathy was immediately deep in his embrace. "Welcome home, Catherine." He told Cathy softly, his voice fairly caressing her name. Rebecca felt overwhelmed by the obvious love that radiated from the two of them.

Vincent and Catherine moved towards the sofa group as Naomi took charge of the two toddlers. Vincent spoke to them. "Come join us. I am dying to get to know the fourth musketeer." With a chuckle, Nancy began guiding a still stunned Rebecca over to the sofa as Vincent and Catherine settled in the love seat.

For the first couple of minutes, Rebecca could only stare, speechless at the honest to goodness Creature of Central Park, come to tangible life and seated with his arm around Cathy not six feet away from her. Meanwhile Nancy related a very humorous version of her first meeting with Vincent. Finally Rebecca emerged from her stunned state and, after a few conversational forays by Vincent and Catherine, soon became comfortable in his presence and joined in the conversation. Rebecca found herself moved to tears as she finally learned the full story of what had really happened the time Cathy was mugged and disappeared for ten days. She was also very moved by the story of Vincent's birth and the eventual reunion with his mother.

~ x x x x x ~

It had been six months since Jenny's wedding and life had pretty much returned to normal. Catherine was back on domestic law cases. Joe was complaining about the excessive workload and the lack of sufficient staff. Diana was on the trail of a serial kidnapper. The import/export company that Sammy was now working for had been growing and had relocated to new offices in the World Trade Center towers. The twins were growing like weeds. Father and Vincent's mother were becoming very close.

Catherine was digging through a file cabinet when Joe came up and started digging through another cabinet, all the while grumbling unintelligibly under his breath. One of the few words she could catch was 'damn cockroaches'.

"What's up, Joe?" She asked.

Joe shook his head. "I thought we would get a little bit more of a respite after we busted up the Geonelly gang."

"What happened?"

"Three suspected pimps and five low level drug dealers turned up dead this morning and word on the street is that someone is trying to take over the vice industry in the city." Joe shoved the drawer shut. "I should have known it was too good to last."

Catherine shook her head as she headed back to her desk. Just as she sat down her phone rang. "What now?" She muttered as she picked up the receiver. "District Attorney's Office, Catherine Chandler speaking."

~ o ~

Catherine checked her watch as she began cleaning up her desk. "Leaving on time for a change?" Joe inquired as he came out of his office with his coat on.

Catherine glanced at Joe in surprise. "Actually I have an appointment to see Doctor Peter this evening. Looks like you're getting ready to leave as well." She shot back.

Now it was Joe's turn to look surprised. "Sammy and I also have an appointment with Doctor Alcott this evening." Now Catherine was curious. She was supposed to be getting the results of her semi-annual check-up, although she was wondering why Peter had scheduled it for after office hours.

Joe thought a moment. "As long as we all seem to be heading for the same place, you're welcome to ride with Sammy and me."

A few minutes later Joe, Sammy and Catherine arrived at Peter's office. It was after hours and the office was closed but Peter was waiting at the door for them. Catherine was surprised when she sensed, through her bond with Vincent, that he was already inside and very curious.

Peter sat all four of them down in his office.

"What's up, Peter?" Catherine asked.

"I got both of you in here because I got both of your reports back from the lab this morning." Peter paused as a grin spread across his face. "Sammy your test came back positive, Cathy your blood test came back positive as well."

Sammy and Joe jumped up and hugged each other. Catherine blinked twice before she caught on. A half moment later Vincent also caught on. "I'm pregnant?" She blurted out as Peter's grin got wider. "You both are." Peter confirmed grinning from ear to ear.

~ o ~

Just as Vincent and Catherine arrived back at the brownstone, accompanied by Joe, Sammy and Peter, the phone rang. Catherine dropped her things on the coffee table and grabbed the phone. "Chandler Residence."

"Cathy, it's Jenny." Responded the familiar voice.

"Jenny." Catherine immediately brightened. "What's up?"

"James just got a big promotion. They have put him in charge of the entire New York Division. We will be moving back to New York at the end of the month."

"That's wonderful. Congratulations. By the way I have some news as well." Catherine paused dramatically; glancing at Joe and Sammy, then threw in her bombshell. "Sammy and I are both pregnant"

Sammy got on the kitchen extension and there were the usual giggles and exclamations as they all talked about their good news. They exchanged some gossip and Catherine told Jenny that she would be on the lookout for a good apartment for them. Then Naomi came down stairs, quickly caught on to what all the excitement was about, and joined in on the celebrations.

Joe and Vincent stood there in the parlor grinning at each other in amusement over the girl's antics and their own good fortunes.

~ x x x x x ~

Two weeks later Catherine lay propped up on the examination table as Peter pointed out various features on the ultrasound screen image. "I would say based on this, that everything is developing normally and that you are at about 13 weeks."

Catherine chuckled. "At lunch today, Sammy told me that you told her the exact same thing when you did her checkup yesterday."

"It's true. Right now I would say that it's a horse race, who will deliver first." Peter grinned as he shut down the machine.

"I'm not quite sure, but I think you just compared me to a horse." Catherine glared at him, the corners of her mouth twitching as she tried to suppress a laugh.

"Only in so far as, being healthy as . . ." Peter shot back as he wiped the jell off of her.

~ x x x x x ~

One and a half weeks later, Catherine was on the phone to Jenny. "I found you and James an apartment."

"Oh Cathy, that's so wonderful of you. James and I have been too busy the last three weeks to even look. Where is it?"

"It's a three bedroom on the fourteenth floor of the same building you were living in before."

"The Central Park West building?" Jenny asked.

"That's the one." Catherine confirmed. "I know that it's larger than you need but I can guarantee that the rent is reasonable." Catherine elaborated with a grin. Since she owned the building, it was not an empty guarantee.

"Actually it might be a good thing at that." There was a pause then Jenny continued. "We just found out yesterday that I'm eleven weeks pregnant." She laughed. "I guess after hearing the news about you and Sammy, I just couldn't stand to be left out of all the fun. The next six months should be interesting."

There were the usual squeals and giggles as they both talked and gushed about their good news. Catherine told Jenny that she and James could move in right away as soon as they arrived in New York since the apartment was fully furnished."

~ x x x x x ~

Joe watched Catherine as she passed through the office on her way back from lunch. The last few weeks she had been wearing baggier than usual clothing. After she had settled in, he called her into his office.

As she entered, Joe closed the door, and she looked at him curiously. "What's up Joe?"

Joe sat on the edge of his desk and smiled. "You know, Radcliffe, you won't be able to keep this up much longer if you want to keep it secret." Joe cocked his head. "Or have you already found out it's a girl?"

Catherine shook her head as she shrugged. "No, we don't know yet. It's just the last time I took a long leave, I came back with a daughter. If I take another long break, everyone will assume that I'm pregnant again. I was waiting as long as I could and hoped I could come up with a better story."

Joe thought a moment then suggested. "You could go ahead and leave it unexplained like last time, then if it's a boy I could always just say that you were on a special assignment." He chuckled. "Either way I think you should start your leave soon before the reason becomes too obvious."

"You're right, Joe." She looked down at herself then shrugged and grinned back. "I guess I had better go ahead and schedule my leave pretty soon."

"Good, I've got you scheduled to begin your leave of absence after next week."

~ x x x x x ~

Catherine, Jenny and Sammy had gone on a shopping spree together, looking for baby stuff. Now they were loaded down and hungry. They spotted a nice restaurant across the street and headed for it.

Thomas Johnson was having lunch with Misty when he spotted Catherine and two other women entering the restaurant together. The second thing he noticed was that all three of them were wearing very loose fitting clothing. The third thing he noticed was the store names on the bags they were all three carrying when the hostess seated them at a table next to his.

He shifted his chair over and glanced at the three of them. "Good afternoon 'Miss' Chandler . . . ladies. Looks like you've had a busy morning."

Catherine replied. "Hello, Mr. Johnson." She indicated the other two women. "These are my friends, Jenny McClendon and Sammy Maxwell." She grinned at him. "Girls, this is Thomas Johnson, reporter and general pest." As Misty shifted into the empty chair at their table, Catherine added. "And Misty Johnson."

Greetings were exchanged then Thomas continued. "So, 'Miss' Chandler, are you on another undercover investigation, like the last time, or is it something different this time?"

Catherine smiled back. "It all depends on the outcome, Mister Johnson." Misty giggled at the puns being exchanged between her husband and Catherine.

"Well I'll be curious to hear how it all comes out." He shot back with a knowing grin.

As the waiter showed up to take Thomas and Misty's orders it was decided to combine the two parties at Catherine's table.

~ x x x x x ~

Catherine was well into her sixth month, and Catherine, Vincent and Vincent's mother were in Vincent's old chamber talking about the upcoming big event. Catherine was talking. "Peter did an ultrasound yesterday. He told me that everything is developing normally and there's no doubt that it's a boy."

"That's wonderful." Elder Jennifer gushed. "Any ideas for his name yet?"

Catherine replied. "We have ideas, but . . ."

They were interrupted when Vincent suddenly became very alert. "Did you feel that tremor?" An instant later they were all aware of a very light sprinkle of dust drifting down from the ceiling.

"What could have caused that?" Jennifer asked nervously.

"I'm not sure." Vincent replied. "It was very faint and it didn't feel like anything I have ever experienced before."

They were interrupted by a flurry of urgent messages that were flying through the pipes. Jennifer was not very conversant in pipe code and only got about a third of the message. "Cave-in . . . south . . . injuries . . . What happened?"

"There has been a massive cave-in at the south end of the maze." Catherine responded. "There were a few minor scrapes and bruises suffered by a couple of sentries that were stationed in the southern end of the home tunnels." She paused. "Two more reports of cave-ins near the southern border of the home tunnels."

"Is that what you felt?" Jennifer asked.

Vincent shook his head. "No, cave-ins that far away would be too faint for me to feel. What I felt was more sudden, more of an impact than the kind of rumble created by a cave-in."

"Is there any danger for us here?" Jennifer asked.

Vincent placed his hand against the nearest wall and closed his eyes for a few seconds. The ground feels stable; there aren't any more tremors. I think we're safe but I would like to know what happened." He paused to listen to the pipes. "We're getting reports of some type of explosion somewhere near the south end of Manhattan." He grabbed his cloak. "Why don't you head up to the brownstone? Maybe you can get more news on what happened. I need to go to the south end of the tunnels and check on the damage." He swiftly exited the chamber.

~ o ~

Vincent entered the brownstone parlor that evening. The television was on showing an image of the World Trade Towers. Joe and Sammy Maxwell were also there. "Have you heard what happened?" He asked as he approached Catherine.

"The best we can tell from the news, someone set off a huge bomb in the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center." Catherine replied. "They think it may be a fertilizer bomb like the car bombs used in the Middle East." She shook her head. "There is still a lot of confusion and the speculation is all over the map but it is beginning to look like it was a terrorist attack."

Joe asked Vincent. "How are things below?"

Vincent responded. "The damage was minimal in the inhabited areas of the tunnels. There were some jangled nerves among some of those living along the southern edge of the home tunnels but no real injuries. The tunnels south of around Canal Street however are in pretty bad shape."

Joe shook his head. "I have a feeling that this is only the beginning."

~ x x x x x ~

After a relatively uneventful pregnancy Catherine went into labor. As before, Vincent was there to hold and support her through the delivery, lending his strength to her both physically and over their bond. This time it was much quicker and easier than the first time and soon she delivered a healthy baby boy. He was the image of his father, right down to the hair and eye color. Catherine snuggled back against Vincent as they admired the new addition to their family. Elder Jennifer was ecstatic, tears trailing down her cheeks as Catherine and Vincent allowed her to hold her second grandson.

Two days later, Sammy went into labor. By the third hour it had become obvious that something was wrong and when it was determined to be a breach, her baby was delivered by cesarean. Afterward Doctor Peter told her that there was a possibility that she may not be able to carry any more children. Joe assured her that it made no difference. She had given him a beautiful baby daughter and, most importantly, he had her as he wife. Life was good.

~ x x x x x ~

Two weeks after Sammy's baby was born, they were in Catherine's brownstone parlor. The parlor was packed and spilling over into the formal dining room. Only friends and family in-the-know were present for the joint naming ceremony for Sammy's daughter and Catherine's son. Standing in the small cleared space near the fireplace was Father, Joe and Sammy with their infant daughter, and Catherine and Vincent with their infant son.

James and his very pregnant wife, Jenny, were perched on the spiral stairs with Catherine's other three children. James looked around at the diverse group and wondered where they came from. He recognized a few, like Elliot Burch and his wife, as well as Doctor Peter Alcott, but most of them were unknowns that were dressed more like street people than anything else. He suspected that they were part of Catherine's mysterious network of contacts. Then there was Vincent, little two-year-old Jacob, and the new infant in Catherine's arms. A year-and-a-half ago he would have denied that anything like them could even exist. Now they were just a normal part of his life that had taken many strange turns since he first met Cathy and Jenny.

Father finished the introductory part of the naming ceremony, then Vincent spoke up. "We have named our new son Charles, in honor of Catherine's father, in the hope that he will grow up to be as good a man as his grandfather was."

When it was their turn, Sammy spoke for her and Joe. "We have named our daughter, Elizabeth, after Joe's mother. His parent's have left us a high standard to live up to. I only hope I can do half as good a job as Joe's mother did."

The ceremony was over and everyone was checking out the two infants as they exchanged comments. James glanced down at his wife, sitting on the step directly below him next to Naomi. He leaned forward and spoke to Jenny. "I really did like that little celebration. Would you like to do the same thing for our daughter after she's born?"

Jenny looked over her shoulder at her husband of just short of a year. "I would love it." She responded enthusiastically.

~ x x x x x ~

A month later Jenny's daughter was born. And the next week her daughter was introduced to the world in a ceremony that had begun in the tunnel world that James was still unaware even existed.

James looked around at the huge family room of Jenny's parent's house, where they had decided to hold their daughter's naming ceremony. Jenny's family was enthralled by the custom when she had explained it to them. Both of James sisters were also there with their families. They too were fascinated with the concept of holding a celebration to introduce the newest member of the family to all their friends and relatives. Jenny's other best friend, Nancy, was also there with her family.

Catherine stood up before the group and began the ceremony. "It has been said that the child is the meaning of this life and the happy outcome of a loving marriage. Today we celebrate the child, this new life that has been brought into our world." Catherine's eyes swept the room, then settled upon Jenny and James and their infant daughter. Jenny held the baby cuddled close to her chest her eyes shimmering with emotion. Standing beside her was James, pride and love writ large upon his face. "We welcome this child with love, that she may be able to love. We welcome this child with gifts, that she may learn generosity. And last, but not least, we welcome this child with a name." She extended her had toward her friends. "James, Jenny?"

James was the one to speak. "We have named our daughter, Rachel, in honor of her mother's, mother's, mother, that died in the madness that was Germany during the Second World War. From tragedy, her family has learned strength and compassion. Traits we hope to instill in our daughter as she grows up."

Jenny looked up to see tears in her mother's eyes.

As friends and family took turns congratulating the newly expanded family, Catherine gazed speculatively at James McClendon, sitting next to Jenny and holding their new daughter. Sometime soon they were going to have to introduce him to the tunnel community. It wasn't right or fair to expect Jenny to keep such a big secret from her husband. Maybe she could suggest that they do it at the next Winterfest, which was coming up very soon, when the whole community was shown in its best light.

Catherine smiled to herself, then she looked around at all her friends with their families. Finally she looked at her own two daughters over playing with other young children and thought about her two sons at home with their father. No matter what else happened in this world, life went on and, within her own circle at least, love always seemed to triumph in the end.

THE END


'Beauty and the Beast' and its characters are owned by Witt-Thomas Productions and Republic Pictures. No infringement on copyrights is intended. This story is presented merely for the enjoyment of fans. Original concepts and story elements may be used by other authors as long as appropriate credit is given.