Author's Note: I haven't updated this story since the fall of 2018. 2019 was a hectic and emotional year for me. I had a hard year. I was involved with two plays, trying to get my blog up, dealing with life issues, and having my sister stay at my place for the summer. I originally wrote this chapter in May but I am posting it now. I hope to write a few more chapters this week since I am on break. Let's make this happen!

Loyal readers, thanks for sticking with the story and sorry for not updating! Enjoy! There is a small easter egg I wrote into this chapter. Can you guess what scene and episode that is harked back?

"Vincent"

Vincent turned his head slowly around to look at the person calling him. That name! It seemed familiar somehow. He remembered being called by that name once before. In the same tone. In the same voice. As he tried to figure out when and by whom he was called by that name before, his eyes darted towards the woman who called out "Vincent". She looked somehow familiar, but Vincent couldn't remember who she was exactly. It was like a someone who felt familiar masked by the shadows in his mind.

"Sorry, does he know you?"

Tori's voice broke into his thoughts. It brought the brown-haired man back to the present situation. In front of him stood to a petite long haired brunette woman clad in a long dress. The woman turned her brown eyes towards him. They held so many emotions inside, something he has seen before. Those eyes! They weren't a mystery to him. Instead, they were familiar. The shadow in his mind became less hazy and started to take form, starting with those vibrant hazel eyes.

The petite woman still had her eyes on the man when she walked towards him at a slow pace. Cat started to speak in tones that matched the emotions found in her eyes: shock, hope, and longing.

"Vincent? it's you, isn't it? I've been looking all over for you, and you've been…"

Cat steadily stretched out her left hand towards Vincent's rugged cheek. Yet, it didn't reach its destination. Vincent noticed right away what was she trying to do and gently slapped it away from its target midway. When he did this, his hand came into brief contact with her arm. Although it was brief, it stirred sealed memories from the past. That touch! Somehow briefly touching this woman in front of him brought forth memories of her warmth and the feeling of her body. That shadow became less hazy, but it still confused him.

"Look, I'm sorry. But uh…" the dark-haired man started in a confused tone, "I don't know who you are. Have we met before?"

Aghast at his question, Catherine Chandler pulled her hand gently back. Has he forgotten about her? It was a possibility! When she was figuring out what happened to Vincent during the last couple of months, Cat did have a theory that he would forget everything about her if he was experimented on. This theory did come across her mind a couple of times. But, the words of uncertainty coming out from his mouth was like a small stab to Cat's heart. The petit woman wasn't ready for this to be the reality. It was one thing if someone else said Vincent lost all the memories of her. Yet, for him to confirm it in front of him was a different story: it was a lot more painful to handle.

The beauty stood in silence as she continued to stare in bewilderment at her beloved who forgot everything about her. Cat continued to gaze at Vincent as Tori - who Cat noted that this woman was Vincent's date for tonight - hastily grabbed onto Vincent's wrist, starting to pull him towards the closest exit. Before she disappeared with Vincent, Tori looked at Cat as she spoke to Vincent: "I'm sorry, hun. You don't know this woman. She is mistaking you for somebody else. Let's go and get some fresh air. Forget about this incident."

Tori, with Vincent in tote, seamlessly disappeared into the sea of people that were dancing to a jazz-like song. Katherine started to go after the couple when suddenly a pair of hands clasped onto her wrist. These hands immediately stopped her from pursuing the couple, which had annoyed her as this was her only chance in getting back her beloved. Annoyed, the petit woman turned her head to see who tried to stop her.

"Look Cat, you're my best friend," the voice softly spoke. Katherine first placed her eyes on the clasped hands. Then the pair traveled upwards towards the person who. Cat gazed as the person kept on speaking. "But, I don't want you to chase him. You will get hurt again. You don't even know what he is capable of doing now. He might even kill you!"

Cat was in shock. The person who was trying to stop her was less likely to stop her. It wasn't Gabe. No, it wasn't Vincent's best friend, J.T. It was Tess, her best friend. She was the one who was stopping Cat from trying to retrieve the love of her life. It was kind of odd it was Tess but she was supportive of Cat's relationship with Vincent. Tess even comforted her best friend during Vincent's disappearance. Yet now, things were different. The brunette didn't care about Tess's worries. She didn't care about getting hurt anymore. She even didn't care if she got herself into danger again. The only thing that Cat cared about at that moment was to be in Vincent's arms once more.

Angry at her friend's actions, Cat dashed in the opposite direction of Tori and Vincent. The petite woman had to come up with a different plan to find Vincent. A plan that didn't have her best friend know Cat's exact motives. But, her emotions were taking hold of her. Anger, confusion, shock, and sadness were becoming too powerful to control. The young detective let her emotions guide her towards a set of double doors. She pushed through the doors that led to an ascent foyer filled with a handful of people. They were too busy in their conversations to notice this beautiful woman running throughout the crowd and up the grand staircase.

Cat didn't know what to do. She let her emotions take over her body as she reached the top of the staircase. She then disappeared into one of the many hallways that were semi-lit by the natural moonlight streaming from the tall windows. The brunette was so focused on figuring out her emotions that she didn't notice that an olive-haired man was chasing after her.

Tori walked out that ballroom from one of the closest exits. Vincent's arm was still gripped by the redhead's hand as she hastily ran away from the dramatic scene that was unfolding. The woman wanted to get away from that scene as fast as she could before things got out of hand. Tori recalled the events that just happened moments before: A petite brunette - whom she knew as Catherine from various police reports - bumped into Vincent and claimed to be Vincent's lover. However, the redhead was adamant about one thing: she didn't want Vincent to remember Catherine at all. No, that wasn't allowed at all! Vincent was hers and hers alone. Tori wasn't going to let him go so easily.

The reason why was simple: She loved him.

The funny thing is that Tori didn't know exactly when she fell in love with Vincent. But, she knew that she fell in love with him during his stay at the Windsor Manor. I was hoping that he would also….

Yet, her hopes faded when she turned her eyes towards Vincent. Something was wrong with him. He wasn't the same when he was in the ballroom. Quickly, she called out to him in panic.

"Vincent, are you all right?"

The tall red-headed woman stopped next to a long glass door that led to an outside garden. The light of the moon full moon filtered through this glass window, lighting the area around the pair. It was here that she waited for his answer. Impatiently, Tori's bright green eyes bore into Vincent's brown eyes. Something was wrong. Something was changing. She could spot the change quickly: a foreign emotion found in the depths of his eyes that she hasn't seen before. Maybe a sense of recognition?

Yet, foreign emotion slowly disappeared from Vincent's eyes as he was brought back from the depths of his thoughts by her voice. "Yeah, I'm all right," Vincent answered shallowly. He didn't pay attention to her question. He was only focused on centering his thoughts and emotions by closing his eyes to breathe in and out. Vincent wanted the let go of any emotions or memories related to the petite woman whom he met moments ago. He was confused by her. She was someone familiar yet someone who was unfamiliar at the same time. Vincent wanted to let go of the memories of her to avoid further confusion and pain. But, it was impossible to do so.

This is my chance! Tori thought as she clasped the other hand onto his wrist. She looked into the pools of his vibrant green eyes as she nervously proclaimed something that was on her heart all night.

"Vincent, I love you."

With that, Tori steadily brought her lips to his and kissed him softly. It was a quick kiss as Vincent quickly realized what she was doing and gently pushed her away. He was confused by Tori's confession. Here was a woman that was pouring her heart to him. But, he didn't feel the same way towards her. He didn't care about her or her love. All he cared about was trying to figure out the woman in the ballroom. He wanted to forget about her but Tori's confession sparked something in him. A distant memory of a brunette woman, like the one he encountered moments before, confessing her love to him for the first time: around a table in a warehouse he called home for the past ten years.

Vincent continued to internally question himself to figure out who was that beautiful brunette that claimed to know him. Yet, the more he asked himself questions, the more confused he got. He couldn't find any answers. Oh, hell with it, he thought as he became more and more frustrated, I cannot forget her. I want to forget her, but it is hard to do so. There is only one thing to do and that is to...

The dark-haired man pulled out from Tori's grasp and started to walk towards the ballroom. As he started to walk a couple of steps to make sure he was out of her vicinity, Vincent turned around to speak to her. "I'm sorry but I cannot return your feelings for now. I have to go back. I have to find somebody." With that, he turned around once more and walked.

As Vincent started to walk back, he didn't notice that Tori bent down to pull a small vial out from a secret compartment in one of her high heels. "I'm sorry Vincent that it had to come to this."

Cat rested her head on a cool windowpane, closing her eyes to keep her emotions in check. He is here. After all this time and all the private investigating she did to find him, Cat was finally able to see him. Oh, how she longed to see his face. To hear his voice. To taste his lips once more. Yet, he didn't remember her. And what is more tragic is that the deep connection they developed before he disappeared seemed to be lost. At that realization, Cat steadily opened her eyes to let the newly formed tears flow.

"Catherine, are you here?" A soft male voice called out in the darkness that occupied half the hallway. But, the brunette didn't respond as she cried even harder at the pain of her heartbreak. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Cat instantly whirled her head to face whoever touched her. Could it be? The petite woman looked down at the hand and then guided her eyes up to the person's eyes. It was him! Her protector.

"Cat, I was worried about you. Tell me what is wrong. You can trust me. I won't hurt you."

Her protector was none other than Gabe. He has changed so much over the past year, Cat thought as listened to his offer and thinking about how he used to a year ago. Gabe used to hunt down Vincent for his selfish gains. Yet, after Vincent was kidnapped, the Assistant District Attorney changed from being the villain of her story to be the knight in shining armor. He kept on trying to repent the sins he committed by committing random acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. She knew that he was hoping that she could learn to love a man who shredded his monstrous past to create a completely human one. Maybe it was time to trust him and return his feelings. Maybe tonight was the night to do so.

Cat opened her mouth slightly, preparing to speak when a series of loud high pitched screams erupted from the floor below them.