Chapter 36 : Talking it out-

DISCLAMER, i do not own Beauty and the Beast of course, this is just a work of fiction based on the characters and the show.

A/N : Another chapter so soon ? *sarcasm* I know I'll terrible, I'm trying ... But it's not easy ok ! Be patient with me !

To anyone that left a review, THANK YOU SO MUCH, you have no idea how much that means to me.

Here comes a shorter chapter though ;) now I'm off writing the next one !

Previously in ATW : Tess knows a lot, though she is not ready to meet Vincent yet she came over at Cat's to chat. Evan is still a double agent but for how long ? Muirfield got rid of Agent T and Evan is wondering how long he'll manage to fool them. Vincent does not trust Cat's doctor friend but is willing to keep an eye on him since he knows how much Catherine cares about the guy.

JT and Vincent found a new place but they still can't fully move in.

Shall we continue ?

"Sorry" he said with a shy smile when she opened the door, " I know I'm late …"

"It's fine, come on it, you must be so cold, why aren't you wearing a bigger jacket ?"

Because it burnt with the rest of my stuff when a bunch or super secret agents came to capture my roommate, he thought to himself. "It didn't seem so cold this morning when I left" he lied.

"You can put your stuff in my room" she said already back in the kitchen, "you know the way" she added, making him smile. "I'm almost done with dinner"

The evening went on nicely for the two love birds, the meal was delicious and the conversation light and fun. It was a nice change for JT. Yet deep inside he felt fake, whatever he was telling Sarah was either a lie or something far from important. It killed him not being able to be honest. But it was best for her sake.

On the outside nothing was showing though, his smile was lighting the room along with hers and both were laughing. She couldn't guess that there was so much going on in his life.

JT was wondering if it wouldn't be best to break up with her. But selfishly, or so it felt, he just couldn't. He was feeling so good whenever he was around her. She was always shining happiness, and she managed to make him forgets his problems, even for a short moment.

"Are you listening?" her voice woke him from his thoughts.

He looked back up at her, "sure"

"So?"

"So what?"

"So ... what do you want for desert?"

"Oh"

"Is there something wrong?" she asked taking his hand in hers over the table.

Her skin was so soft, so warm. He smiled, but this time it was clear it was forced, no matter how hard he would try to make it look real his mind was racing.

She caressed the top of his hand with her thumb, softly, hoping to comfort him.

"I'm fine really" but it didn't sound right.

Sarah did not insist, with time she had learn that JT was a rather discrete guy, and she did not want to make him feel pressured to open up to her, she was yet hoping it would come naturally at some point.

Getting up she announced "I feel like having some pie, I have apples, how about we make one ?"

This time his smile was genuine, how did this little woman manage to make all the clouds disappear in a second ? He did not know. "Good idea!"

He stood and walked around the table to get to her, near the kitchen counter. She put her hands on his shoulder squeezing a bit and jumped in surprised when he hugged her tight to him, her feet leaving the floor in the hug.

"You're a wonderful woman" he whispered in her ear before he broke the embrace.

Once she was fully back on both her feet she smiled and answered "I know" on a joking tone, making them both crack up another smile.

"Come on ! The pie now ! " she said clapping her hands together and focusing back on what she wanted to do.

Laughs were coming out of Catherine's apartment and it felt so good to hear hers. It was a good sign for their friendship, Vincent knew how important Tess was to Catherine and he was glad that she hadn't lost Tess because of him, though it didn't meant the tall Latina would welcome him as her BFF boyfriend anytime soon, he damn knew he would have to fight to be in her good graces, but in that precise moment it didn't matter.

He climbed up to the fire-escape to get closer and settle.

He had spent a few hours at the new place reading a book he had borrowed from JT. But tired of reading he had come over thinking Tess would be gone or soon to be.

Sitting on Catherine's fire escape he could hear the two women chatting and wondered if he should go for a walk, he didn't want to intrude so he tried to focus on the sound of the streets so as not to comprehend what the two women were saying, but just then his phone buzzed.

"I know right? What a jerk?" Tess said laughing.

"Well you sure know how to pick 'em" Cat mocked her.

"I'm not going to take lessons from you on picking guys"

Somehow this sounded a little less funny to Cat though she forced a smile, probably showing too much teeth.

Noticing her smile fading, Tess explained : "I didn't mean … sorry, … I don't know him, I can't say but … I didn't get a good impression so far. You have to admit, from where I stand he doesn't seem like the perfect boyfriend."

Cat could not object to that. She simply looked down a bit, and noticed the time on her watch. It had been hours they had been chatting, she hadn't notice and now was feeling guilty. Poor Vincent was probably waiting out in the cold for Tess to leave.

"Something wrong? ... It's about him, isn't it?" Tess sighed obviously annoyed.

Looking up at her friend she said in a low voice, almost apologizing, "he has nowhere to sleep … he is waiting for me to tell him he can come …"

"Waiting for me to leave ?" Tess asked.

Her friend simply nodded in response.

"I guess he kinda know you aren't really rooting for him … " then she added : "And I kinda told him you didn't want to see him yet so …"

"Yeah" she could have said that it was ok, but she didn't really feel like seeing the guy just now, and it was already almost midnight anyway. "I guess I'll meet him one day, but right now its late and this whole thing is too fresh" she explained gesturing with her hands, "tell him the coast is clear and I'll see you tomorrow."

Cat texted him quickly then hugged her friend goodbye.

When she closed the door behind her she sighed in relief. The evening had been surprisingly fun. Looked like the two friends were still in good terms, though she knew Tess would be protective of her and that meeting Vincent would mean to pass him on the grill. But one thing at a time.

She went to her room to wait for Vincent to come and was surprised to find him already sitting outside on the windowsill.

"I didn't listen to you chatting …" he said apologizing as he was opening the window. "I arrived just before I got the text but I didn't mean to spy on you."

He stayed seated outside, waiting for Catherine's reaction. She just chuckled, he looked so cute with his hands in his pockets, looking a bit embarrassed.

"It's ok, she just left" and after a short silence, seeing Vincent wasn't moving she added : "Come on in, it's freezing outside". She waked to him to grab his hand and help him inside. "And please close the window"

"Sure" he said before turning around to face her and hug her tightly.

A/N : Sooo ? Wasn't my best chapter lol, sorry about that. I said inspiration was getting back, let's say it's slowly coming back to me ok ? ahah !

Please leave a review though, I love to know what you like and dislike about my writing.