Chapter 14

Several days later, Catherine was in Father's chamber and looked up in surprise as Dr. Peter Alcott came in. Hesitantly, he approached her. "Hello Cathy."

"Peter!" Catherine cried, her eyes filling with tears at the sight of the man who was almost her second father. Jumping up, she ran over and hugged him fiercely.

"Cathy! It's so good to see you." Peter replied, blinking back a few tears of his own.

"I came to see Jacob ostensibly, but I was really hoping to see you. Cathy, can we go somewhere and talk?"

"Okay." Cathy agreed, picking up little Jacob and guiding Peter back to Vincent's chamber.

For the next hour, they talked. Cathy knew that Vincent had been trying to protect her from the past, but now she felt ready to hear what Peter had to say. Though she knew the bare details, Peter filled in the missing parts for her, telling Catherine how the Chandlers had arranged everything after her supposed 'death'. He then went on to relate how he had been confronted by Catherine's old friend turned D.A. Joe Maxwell with the evidence of the videos of Vincent seized from Gabriel's lair. Peter had been forced then to tell Joe about Catherine's relationship with Vincent. Oddly enough, Joe insisted that Gabriel must have slain Vincent and their child as well. Frankly, Peter hadn't bothered to contradict him. After their first meeting, Joe refused to talk about it anymore, declaring the matter closed. The only thing Joe would say was that the videos from Gabriel's lair had been "accidentally" destroyed in the course of the investigation. He threatened Peter with a contempt charge if he divulged anything that he knew about the investigation.

Catherine breathed a sigh of relief, glad their secret was still safe. Mentally, she blessed Joe for his kindness and wished him happiness.

"So what happens now?' Catherine asked.

"That's up to you, Cathy. I can call Reginald, tell him you're awake..." Peter offered.

"No!" Catherine replied emphatically. "They were never my family and still aren't. Peter, don't you realize what I've been given; the chance to start over, to wipe the slate clean and make a new life, here below with Vincent and little Jacob."

'But are you sure, Cathy, that this is what you want?" Peter had to ask one last time.

"Oh yes, Peter. I've waited my whole life for it!"

"Fine." Peter agreed, his mind finally at ease. "I'll inform the Chandlers that Catherine Chandler passed away without ever regaining consciousness."

"Thank you, Peter." she said.

"You know, Cathy." Peter replied. "Charles and Evelyn would be proud of you."

Catherine smiled, gently kissing Peter's cheek in gratitude.

Suddenly, Peter shook himself, remembering the errand that had brought him below.

"Good grief, Cathy! I was so caught up, I almost forgot! I have some things of yours that I thought you might like. It's not much, just a few things I managed to save for you. But,I thought now you might be ready for them."

"Oh, Peter!" Catherine cried. "You don't know how much it would mean to me!"

With the help of a pair of the sentries, Peter brought below a trunk Catherine instantly recognized. It had belonged to her namesake, her maternal grandmother Katherine O'Hara. It was a beautifully carved cedar chest handed down in the O'Hara family for several generations. Catherine had put it into storage after her father's death. Now she was glad to see it, like a long lost friend.

The contents brought joy as well as a few tears as Catherine faced her memories. There were old family photos, childhood mementos, and even several books Vincent had given her over the years. But it was the two items at the bottom that moved her the most. One was a baby blanket her own Grandmother had knitted. Instead of small animals around the border, her mischievous grandmother had created a blanket with one giant duck in the middle, even putting a squeaky in the bill for good measure. It had been one of Catherine's greatest childhood treasures. The other was a traditional quilt her grandmother had made for "Catherine's future" she said. Her grandmother had packed them away in the chest, promising Catherine would one day need them. After her father's death, the chest had become too painful to look at, a daily reminder of all the things she and Vincent would never share. Cathy had put it into a storage locker in her building, unable to bear the sight of it. Now, she pulled them out happily, placing the blanket on Jacob and the quilt on the bed.

It certainly made the chamber fell more like home.

Vincent returned to the tunnels, tired but elated. It had taken him nearly the whole day to find what he wanted in the crystal cave. It had taken several more hours and a little cajoling to get Mouse to make the finished product. Only his assurance that it was the most important thing he'd ever asked and the promise that he could trust the task to no one else had gotten Mouse to put aside everything and complete what Vincent needed.

As Vincent returned to the chamber, he was surprised to see the trunk in the room.

"What do you have here, Catherine?" he asked curiously.

"It's a trunk of some things I had stored away. Peter brought them to me." Catherine replied gently.

"Peter?" Vincent answered, experiencing a bit of trepidation. "He was here?'

"Yes." said Catherine, bracing herself. Since the moment she had laid eyes on the blanket and quilt, Catherine had been planning this conversation. She knew in her heart that this was her home and she wanted to spend the rest of her life here. Now she just had to convince Vincent to share it with her. For the past two weeks, they had renewed their love and pledged their devotion to each other. But Catherine had realized she wanted more. Though it might seem greedy, Catherine wanted to belong to Vincent completely in all the ways that she should and could. She could only hope he felt the same way.

"He brought these things to me, Vincent. The blanket and quilt were from my grandmother. She gave them to me for when I started my family."

Jacob gurgled happily, wrestling playfully with the bright blanket and squealing with joy as he found the squeaky.

"Did she?" Vincent asked curiously, quickly becoming fascinated by the sweet warmth that was reaching him through their bond.

"Yes. The quilt is very unique, Vincent. Do you recognize the pattern?" Catherine inquired.

"I can't say I do." he answered back, delighted but mystified.

"It's a wedding ring quilt. It's meant to be put on the marriage bed of a couple. It's supposed to bring good luck." she offered hopefully.

Vincent's eyes widened in dawning comprehension and he could barely contain his laughter to get out the next sentence.

"Catherine, are you asking me to marry you?" he chuckled.

"Yes." Catherine replied, confused and a little hurt by Vincent reaction.

Vincent's shoulders began to shake and he began to roar with laughter. His canines flashed as he continued to laugh long and heartily, his breath coming in a gasp. Finally, he was forced to sit on the bed, completely overcome by mirth.

Beside him, Catherine teared up and turned away. Feeling her reaction through their bond, he quickly went to her, seizing her and kissing her long and thoroughly.

"What's so funny?" She demanded in irritation a short time later, still breathless from the kiss but soothed for the moment.

Reaching into the pouch he always wore; Vincent drew out a piece of cloth and carefully unwrapping its contents. There in the center lay a lovers' knot ring of braided gold topped by a tiny perfect crystal.

"It isn't a diamond, Catherine." Vincent offered. "But it is from my heart."

"Oh Vincent." she sobbed, 'It's beautiful. But why were you laughing?"

"Because all day I've been rehearsing a speech, thinking about all the ways I could tell you how much I love you; trying to think of just the right way to ask you to marry me. It's just like you to be one step ahead of me."

"I still haven't gotten your answer." Catherine said, moving very close.

"I haven't gotten yours." Vincent replied.

"You didn't ask yet." Catherine reminded him.

"Do I need to?' he whispered, taking her into his arms.

"No." She replied softly. "And you already know my answer."

"And you know mine." he added, as he lowered her gently to the bed.