CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR

Catherine and Vincent spent the next couple of days just being together. They talked about a future neither were certain was feasible but was still wonderful to contemplate. A home of their own, finally free of Muirfield, a cure for Vincent's "condition'. Things they had no way of procuring, but which still fueled hope within them both. A pleasant fantasy. A life filled with friends and family, a rich and happy childhood for their son, love and fulfillment for them. Not by any means sure, but a mounting belief that together they could overcome all obstacles, they still had the ability to dream.

Vincent was stretched out on the couch, his head in Catherine's lap, his ear pressed against her belly listening happily to his child's heartbeat strong and steady. He had never known such peace and serenity, at least not for a very long time. Catherine's gentle hand smoothed his hair back from his forehead, her fingers tenderly tracing the scar on his right cheek, lingered trembling on his lips. He opened his eyes and looked up into hers, the breath squeezed from his lungs by the love he found pooled there in the depths. " I love you so much", she whispered, her voice soft and aching with emotion.

He sat up and faced her, letting everything he felt for her shine in his eyes. He hadn't been aware that he was capable of feeling so much at once. It jumbled together in his heart, everything good and right stirred into a solid love that filled him up and spilled out in his smile. He reached out and tucked a errant strand of hair behind her ear, letting his fingertips trail down her cheek until they reached her chin which he tipped up, lowering his lips tenderly to hers in a kiss that said more than verbalization ever could. The fact that she could say those words to him again after all that had happened, told him more about the strength of her feelings than the words themselves were capable of conveying. " And I love you more,' he said quietly against her lips, resting his forehead against hers, his eyes closed in contentment.

It was early afternoon, pale sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains casting long shadows across the carpet. Motes of dust danced in the brightest rays, the cut glass of the flower vase on the table, cast rainbows off its facets. It was quiet here at the edge of the world, and they could almost forget that a wider, wilder rush of life and humanity bustled around them. Swirled like water around the shores of their tranquil refuge. Outside the windows skeletal trees stood sentry against the coming winter, a silent barrier to the grey sky and roiling clouds. Inside a fire crackled in the hearth, and from Catherine's cup of tea emanated twisting fingers of steam, the heat blushing her cheeks prettily. Vincent watched the play of light on her features, thinking how beautiful she was. Had always been, but in this moment, her beauty was breathtaking and ethereal.

She was thinking much the same thing as she gazed at him over the rim of her tea cup. In the anemic glow through the frosted window, his face looked ten years younger, fresh and untroubled. Full of hope and promise, she got a glimpse of a Vincent unencumbered by the weight of his past, and he was beautiful. Laughter lightened the dark brown of his eyes, turning them almost golden and they held her gaze steadily. Their connection sizzled through their locked gaze, words unnecessary . Desire rose like flames, licking at the emotional tinder, burning and blazing through them both. They reached for one another simultaneously, lips searching to quench the fire, and instead fed it. Hands explored , caressed, adding fuel.

Vincent pulled her into his lap, wrapping strong arms around her, drawing her as close as was humanly possible. Lips finding the tender flesh of her neck below her ear, his breath ragged and hot against her skin, sending ripples of delight through her. Her arm around his neck, she buried her hand in his hair pulling his head closer, kissing his temple and sighing his name. He lifted his face, his eyes dark and smoky from the fire burning inside him, " I love you Catherine."

Trying to get her breathing under control, she smiled tenderly, cupping his cheek, " I love you too," she replied, " And as much as I would like nothing more than to continue this to its natural conclusion, I think we had better cool off a bit…" she chuckled at the chagrin in his expression, and dropped a smiling kiss onto his pursed lips. " I'm sorry love," she said with real regret, " but I'm afraid making love would be uncomfortable for us both at this stage of my pregnancy." He dropped his eyes from hers somewhat shamefully, and she tipped his face up with a finger under his chin until his eyes met hers, " Don't for one second think I wouldn't like to…in fact, that was just about the hardest thing I've ever had to say," she trilled a laugh, a blush staining her already flushed cheeks. " I've never wanted anyone the way I want you right now. Never loved another human being so much in my life. Vincent?" He looked up into her eyes, " I hope you know by now that you are my entire world. You're everything to me…you DO know that…right?'

He nodded, his eyes welling up with tears, " I know," he replied, " I can see it in your eyes…I hope you can see the same in mine? Feel it in my touch…hear it in my voice…Catherine, I have never known or loved anyone the way I love you, with this intensity or so completely. Like you truly are a missing piece to my soul. I'd be lost without you."

She sighed happily and laid her head on his shoulder, " that was very romantic,' she grinned against his neck, " If I had been standing up, my knees would have gone all weak."

He chuckled, some of the intensity leaching away, " In that case I'm glad you were sitting…getting you up off the floor in your condition might have required beastly strength."

" Nice," she pouted, " Well, that dispelled the mood," she grinned to take the sting out of the words, " But you make a valid point. Tess was right, I'm big as a house," she rubbed her belly thoughtfully, " This kid is going to be born full grown I think."

Vincent turned his head and kissed the tip of her nose, " You're stunningly beautiful," he replied stoutly, making her grin. He placed his hand over hers on her swollen stomach," Though I have to admit, he's going to be a big baby." He frowned a little, " Maybe we should discuss the possibility of a caesarean? I mean, as tiny as you are, you might be in for a difficult and prolonged delivery…'

" Well.." she replied with a grimace, " You're the doctor here…do you think it's necessary?"

" I don't know," he said, " Maybe we should have a pelvic exam, but it's not uncommon to have a caesarean when the fetus is large, and this boy is definitely that. We can elect to have it done, and if it saves you pain and causes less distress to the baby, it might be a good idea.'

" Well then, maybe we should discuss it with Evan next week when I go in for my exam?" She replied somewhat tensely.

He smiled, " Don't worry needlessly love," he said soothingly, " Both Evan and I will be there during the birth, not many women have two doctors who are so emotionally invested at their bedside. We'll make sure nothing happens to either of you, I promise you."

She nodded easily, relaxing marginally, " I know, I'm in good hands." She smiled and kissed him, " In fact, none better. Though I have to admit, I'll be happy when he's on the outside as opposed to the inside. He's heavy."

" I'm sure," he replied, " In fact, it might be a good idea if you go take a nap while I try and come up with something for dinner. You could use the rest."

She yawned as he was speaking, as though illustrating his point and she grinned sheepishly, " Yeah, maybe I will go lay down for a bit."

She slid off his lap and he stood to help her up, which took an effort on both their parts. He hugged her gently and gave her a kiss, sending her off to her room with a smile.

He was gathering ingredients for dinner when Catherine's phone rang. He picked it up and saw that the caller was JT, so he answered it.

" Hey JT," he said hesitantly, not sure how JT was going to react to hearing his voice on Catherine's phone.

" Vincent?" JT asked in surprise, " What are you doing answering Catherine's phone? Is she alright?"

" yeah JT, she's fine, she's just taking a nap," he replied with a slight edge to his voice.

" Are you at the house?" JT asked, not quite able to hide the mild suspicion in his.

"Yeah, I'm at the house," Vincent replied stiffly, this wasn't going exactly as he'd hoped.

" How long have you been there?' JT asked shortly, sounding a bit like a cop, and setting Vincent's teeth on edge.

" I've been here for six days…by INVITATION," he stressed carefully, keeping his tone mild, " Why do you ask?"

" Six days?" JT sighed in what sounded like relief, " And Catherine's been there all that time with you? You haven't been in the city?"

" Yes, she's been with me the entire time, hasn't been out of my sight, or me out of hers in that time, and NO I haven't been in the city…what the hell is going on JT?" he was exasperated with the third degree.

JT let out a deep sigh and then hesitated, " Look, I don't want to talk about this over the phone. I was calling to see if Catherine was going to be at home tomorrow morning. Actually I was going to see if she'd seen you, or knew where you were. I'm glad to know you're there. I have something I need to talk to both of you about….but not on the phone."

" You're being very cryptic JT," Vincent replied slightly annoyed.

" I know, but it's necessary. So, will you be around tomorrow morning?" JT asked.

" Yeah JT, we'll be here. What time are you coming?"

" I should be able to make it before noon." JT replied, " and Vincent?"

" Yeah?"

" I'm glad you're there. I'll see you tomorrow ok?"

"Ok," Vincent replied, staring at the phone in confusion when JT hung up.