The Other Path ~ Season 1
By Thomas Mc

Author's Note: As before I wish to thank those responsible for the Beauty and the Beast Scripts and Transcription Project without which it would have taken me many frustrating days to recreate some of the dialog from this episode.

Masques

Vincent chuckled to himself as he caught a hint of Catherine's annoyance. Something about her costume must be giving her difficulty. She had insisted that Vincent not see her or her costume until she was ready. He paused at the sound of the doorbell and glanced over at the little video monitor that showed a view from the front door camera. It showed a bunch of children in Halloween costumes. He walked to the door and grabbed up the bowl of candy from the small table by the door. After just a moment's hesitation he gave a shrug and opened the door.

Vincent was greeted by a chorus of, "Trick-or . . . oooh . . . wow . . . cool . . ." by the suddenly wide-eyed children.

Vincent looked down on the awe struck children with a half smile that didn't quite show his fangs. "Don't you all look just great!" Then he held out the candy bowl. "Happy Halloween."

The children suddenly recovered and each grabbed a handful of the candy, some of them saying a quick thank-you as they dumped their booty into their bags. Then they all turned as a group and started down the walkway toward the brownstone next door. One little girl turned back to Vincent as she reached the bottom of the front steps. "Thank you."

Vincent smiled as he replied. "You're welcome."

The little girl's eyes got huge and she gasped as she caught sight of his fangs. She blinked twice, smiled shyly, turned and ran to catch up to her friends. She barely missed running into Charles Chandler coming toward the front steps. He was dressed up in a Civil War Confederate officer's uniform complete with saber. Charles paused and glanced with an indulgent smile at the retreating children.

Vincent's smile got wider as Charles came up the steps. "Hello, sir, Catherine is still getting ready. She should be down shortly."

Charles stepped through the door looking Vincent up and down as he closed the door. Vincent was dressed in his best Winterfest clothes. Charles grinned. "You look a lot like my son-in-law but it's hard to tell with that elaborate costume."

Vincent laughed at their yearly Halloween joke. Vincent's normal Halloween costume was to simply go as himself.

At that moment Catherine's voice could be heard calling from somewhere up-stairs. "I'll be ready in fifteen minutes."

Charles dropped his hat and gloves on the coffee table and sat down, or more precisely tried to sit down. His saber made the attempt a little difficult, but he finally managed to get himself arranged. Charles grinned at Vincent as he sat in the chair across from him. "I suppose Jacob is below telling ghost stories to the children."

Vincent chuckled. Memories of him and Devin then later him and Catherine sitting among the rest of the children soaking up Father's Halloween stories floated through his mind. "Just like every year that I can remember."

~ o ~

About twenty minutes later Catherine came down the main stairs dressed in an eighteenth-century ball gown. The two men stood as she reached the bottom of the stairs and spun around to let both of them take in the full affect of her costume.

Charles smiled as he remarked. "Whoa!"

Vincent chimed in as he approached her. "Well, a bit more than fifteen minutes, but well worth waiting for."

Charles responded. "Defiantly worth the wait."

Catherine smiled and commented as Vincent put his arm possessively around her. "Isn't it wonderful?"

Charles nodded. "Beautiful." He took in the sight of Vincent and Catherine standing together and smiled. "You both look fantastic. Well, you don't know how happy I am that you let me talk the both of you into this. I know how much you both love her books."

Catherine responded. "Vincent is really looking forward to meeting Brigit O'Donnell, and so am I."

Charles swept his arm indicating the door with a courtly bow. "Then I suggest we be on our way."

~ o ~

After a short ride, with a cab driver that kept looking at Vincent in his rear view mirror, they arrived at the apartment building where the party was being held. They rode up in the elevator with several others who also noticed Vincent. Though they noticed him, they all assumed that it was an elaborate Halloween costume. Some even complemented him on it. As the elevator door opened Catherine donned the white owl mask that she had bought on a whim when renting her costume.

They got off the elevator at the penthouse and presented their invitations to the butler, his face was completely painted blue with two antennae bobbing over his head, and joined the rest of the partiers. Charles turned to Catherine and Vincent. "Now don't be shy about leaving me to fend for myself. I'm not so old that I don't remember how romantic these affairs can be and I know how you two like to stay out the entire night together on Halloween. Also remember that a lot of your old friends are going to be there tonight so be careful."

Catherine smiled at her father. "We're going to this party to be with you as well."

Charles smiled back at her. "Have I told you how beautiful you look?" He sighed as a hint of remembered sadness crossed his face. "Sometimes you remind me so much of your mother."

Vincent tightened his arm around her ever so slightly as Catherine responded. "I miss her too, Daddy."

Charles smiled at them both. "I have my memories and I have you. And you have Vincent. I think that we were two of the lucky ones."

After a moment of companionable silence the three of them looked around the room. The masked musicians were playing an unfamiliar tune. The crowded room was filled with guests dressed in a wide assortment of imaginative costumes. Catherine spotted Zorro, an Arab with his belly dancer, a vampire and numerous other people and creatures of fantasy.

A waiter approached the three of them. "Champagne? Madam? Sirs?"

Each of them took a glass as a silver knight came toward them. "Charles, is that you? Hi." The knight turned to Catherine. "Surely, not Cathy?"

Catherine responded. "Hi, Mr. Brennan."

Brennan took her hand and kissed it then turned toward Vincent. "And who is the Beast escorting his Beauty?"

Before anyone could respond, Marie, a co-worker from her father's firm called out as she approached. "Cathy!"

Catherine turned at the sound of her name. "Marie, you look wonderful."

Marie responded. "You do too."

Catherine then spoke to Marie's escort. "Hi, Jeff."

Jeff responded. "Hi, Cathy. You meet Brigit yet? She's a remarkable woman."

Catherine shook her head. "No. we just arrived."

Marie remarked. "Jeff's taken a tremendous interest in her cause."

Brennan spoke up at this point. "Cathy, would you like to meet Brigit?"

Catherine put her arm around Vincent's waist. "That's one of the reasons that we came."

Escorted by Brennan the three of them approached a woman in a dark green ball gown and wearing a dark owl mask similar to Catherine's,

Before they could be introduced, a man stopped them and indicated the saber that Charles was wearing. "Hold up there. Let's have a look at that."

Brennan spoke as Charles handed over the saber for inspection. "I'm terribly sorry, Charles; Thomas Cavanaugh, here, is one of Brigit's bodyguards."

Thomas responded as he handed the sheathed saber back to Charles. "No offense, sir, but there have been threats . . . orange men, croppies."

Charles looked at Thomas puzzled. "Croppies, did he say? I'm afraid I don't understand."

The woman in the dark owl mask approached the group. "No reason you should. It's from an old war; an Irish Catholic uprising against the British and their protestant allies. The rebels had short-cropped hair, you see."

Catherine frowned. "That was what, 200 years ago? That's a long time to remember a haircut."

Brigit shook her head, a hint of sadness in the shape of her mouth. "We, Irish, have long memories. My father taught me all the songs about the brave croppy boys when I was still in the cradle." As she spoke she kept glancing at Vincent.

Charles nodded to Brigit. "I stand instructed. I'm afraid history was never my subject. Most of what I did learn, I managed to forget."

Brigit responded with a shrug. "Forgetting is a trick Ulster could stand to learn."

Brennan interrupted. "Charles, there's Samantha; she'll never forgive me if I don't take you over to say hello."

Charles nodded to the rest. "Duty beckons." He moved off with Brennan, leaving Catherine and Vincent with Brigit.

Brigit smiled at Catherine. "I like your mask. I wrote a story about an owl woman once, just a little fable for children."

Catherine smiled back. "For children of all ages, I read it just last year and I loved it."

Brigit cocked her head a bit. "Did you now? Well, it's not easy to find, that one."

Catherine leaned into Vincent with a soft smile. "It was given to me by Vincent. You have a real gift. I only wish you wrote more children's stories."

Brigit's smile turned sad. "I wish I could. There are darker things than ghosts in Ireland now . . . and you can't hear the fairy music for the gunfire." After a moment Brigit glanced around at the noisy room then her frown softened into a wisp of a smile. "Would you like walk with me out to the balcony where we can talk?"

Vincent replied. "We would like that."

Brigit started toward the balcony doors then stopped as Thomas started to follow. "There is no need to shadow me so closely, Thomas, I'm sure the balcony is perfectly safe." Thomas barely nodded and reluctantly backed off as Brigit, Vincent and Catherine passed through the doors out into the large penthouse balcony.

Brigit kept glancing over at Vincent as they walked toward the outer balcony wall. There she stopped then she turned and looked Vincent straight in the eyes. There was a look of open wonder in her eyes that could be seen even through her mask as she spoke. "Extraordinary! You look as though you might have ridden with Cú Chulainn, or sailed with Theseus."

Vincent smiled in response, his sharp canines barely peeking out. "Only in my dreams . . . and sometimes in books like yours. Your writing has helped me through some dark times. You've touched me, made me think. I just wanted . . . to tell you . . . to thank you."

Brigit looked up into the night sky. "The night has a special magic to it, don't you think? This night, especially."

Catherine responded with a hint of a smile for Vincent. "For us, it does. Especially Halloween."

Brigit looked at both Catherine and Vincent standing together then spoke. "In the old religion they call this night Saowen. It's a night when the walls between the worlds grow thin and spirits of the underworld walk the earth." Her gaze centered again on Vincent. "A night of masks and bale fires when anything is possible and nothing is quite as it seems." She gave Vincent a knowing smile then turned and looked out over the city. "Your city . . ." She paused and removed her mask. "It has its own magic as well: the lights, the towers, listen to it." Her smile again became a melancholy frown. "In Derry, the night has a darker music; bombs . . . gunfire . . . the screams of dying men."

Vincent leaned against the railing beside her. "Yet, you always returned."

Brigit looked up at him. "Oh, I've thought of leaving, but Derry's my home, and whatever else I might be, I'm still a Bogside girl, me fathers daughter, and me husband, Ian's, widow."

Catherine leaned against the railing on the other side of Vincent from Brigit. After a second's silence Catherine spoke. "When you wrote of Ian in '300 Days,' I almost felt as though I knew him. You made him live again with your words."

Brigit sighed as she again looked out onto the city. "It's been two years since he got into that car, and not an hour has passed that I haven't spoken of him . . . written of him, thought of him."

Vincent responded his voice full of sympathy. "We're sorry if we have awakened painful memories."

Brigit nodded and continued to stare outward. "Oh, it hurts . . . it hurts . . . but it's such a sweet pain. Ian and I were born six streets apart and, yet, in different worlds. A stiff-necked orange man and a croppy girl from Bogside we were. Daft enough to fall in love, but not so big a pair of fools that we thought he could live in my world or me in his; so, we tried to create a new world that we could share together." She looked down at her hands on the railing. "Well, you know how that ended. It could have been me you know. There are times . . . I wish it had been." Brigit turned to face Vincent and Catherine. "Me father used to tell me of New York when I was just a little girl. He came here a dozen times, never quite legally, of course, raising money for the cause, collecting for the widows and the orphans . . . and the weapons to make more of them. He always promised that one day he'd take me across the ocean with him . . . one day." She looked down a moment as a wave of sorrow washed over her then continued. "Me father cast me out. It t'was three years ago . . . my wedding day. He came to the church, called me a traitor and an orange man's whore. I've not seen him since. By rights, I ought to hate him."

Vincent shook his head. "You have no hate in you, only grief."

Brigit shook her head. "Aye, how can you hate the man who taught you what love meant?" She shivered.

Vincent frowned in concern. "You're cold."

Brigit shook her head. "Cold? No. Why it's not but a brisk fall evening, but I'd borrow your cloak if you're willing to lend it."

Vincent cocked his head sensing a sudden determination in her. "My cloak?"

Brigit nodded as she glanced from Vincent to Catherine and back. "Thomas and the others, they'd give their lives for me, and I love 'em for it, but sometimes I want nothing more than to just get away from them for a few hours."

Catherine frowned. "They're only trying to keep you safe."

Brigit shook her head. "Oh, I'm sickened unto death of safety. I look at the city, and I want to touch it, to walk its streets, meet its people, and listen to its music. I want to see all the things my father told me of and I can't." She looked earnestly into Vincent's eyes. "Can you imagine how that feels?"

Vincent and Catherine glanced at each other then they both responded. "Yes."

Brigit's looked at the doors into the penthouse with the same determination that Vincent had sensed in her soul. "To hell with the risks!" She looked at Vincent and Catherine and seemed to stand just a bit straighter. "Sometimes we must leave our safe places, Vincent, and walk empty handed among our enemies."

Vincent and Catherine glanced at each other, sensing the other's feelings through the bond, then without a word Vincent whipped off his cloak and put it around Brigit's shoulders. They both moved aside leaving the way open for Brigit.

Brigit gazed a moment at the doors then turned toward Catherine and Vincent. "Will you leave this safe place and walk empty handed with me?"

Vincent bowed his head to her then looked into her eyes. "We would be honored to walk with you."

Catherine glanced at Vincent then spoke. "Brigit, why don't you and I leave by way of the elevator and Vincent can meet us at the front lobby door?"

Vincent responded with a grin and a nod. "That is actually a good idea. Those inside will think it is Catherine and I that are leaving."

Brigit looked at Vincent quizzically then nodded and pulled the hood over her head. After another quick glance at Vincent, Brigit and Catherine headed through the balcony doors and calmly work their way through the crowd inside.

Charles glanced up when he saw the pair making their way toward the elevator then he frowned. Who was that wearing Vincent's cloak and where was Vincent? At the same time a man dressed as a pirate was watching Catherine and started toward her as she and Brigit stepped into the elevator. He rushed to catch up with them but the elevator doors closed before he could reach it. He jabbed the call button hard in frustration cursing quietly. At the same time another man dressed as a clown started heading for the emergency stairwell.

After observing all this Charles mumbled to himself. "Something very strange is going on here. I wonder what she has gotten herself into this time?"

Vincent climbed over the balcony railing and quickly made his way down the side of the building to the ground in the alley then walked around to the front of the building. Brigit and Catherine came out of the front doors, nodded to the doorman, and looked around. Vincent stepped away from the side of the building to meet them. "Are you ready?"

Brigit lowered the hood and moved forward taking hold of his offered left arm. At the same time Catherine took possession of his right arm. They crossed the street and headed into the park.

Just as they were entering the park the clown came out of the front doors and looked anxiously around. He spotted part of Catherine's gown just before she disappeared behind the bushes lining the path. He took off heading for the spot where she had disappeared. Just as he reached the other side of the street the pirate came out the front doors and, after a brief moment on indecision took off for the spot where the clown had just disappeared.

~ o ~

Catherine, Brigit, and Vincent had been strolling along one of the many foot paths in central park for several minutes talking about their surroundings and about Brigit's home.

Brigit looked over at Catherine on Vincent's other arm. "How long have you two been together?"

After a moment Vincent answered. "We have known each other since childhood. We have been married for several years now."

Brigit nodded then got quiet for several seconds. Finally she continued. "I'm beholden to you, Vincent and Catherine. You cannot know what this means to me." Her eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze shifted to Vincent. "Or perhaps you can at that." She cocked her head slightly. "Will you be telling me of what magical realm you come from?"

Vincent looked down at her in surprise. "What?"

Brigit stopped walking, turned to face them, and backed up a step to look at Catherine and Vincent. "I have been watching you since the balcony. The love you two feel for each other shines in your faces. It reminds me so much of what Ian and I had." She cocked her head a bit to the side. "It's in your eyes. It's in your smiles; the way the corners of your lips turn up ever so slightly when you look at each other. It's in every subtle shift and twitch of your faces." Then her gaze centered on Vincent. "Aye, and that is the rub, Vincent. It's in every subtle movement of your face. Things far too subtle for any type of mask." She paused and tilted her head the other way. "I do not think that is a mask . . . I think that is the real you." Her glance flicker over to Catherine's face that showed surprise with the barest hint of fear then returned to Vincent, a hint of a smile now on her face. "Am I not right?"

For a couple of seconds there was a stunned silence then Vincent opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Catherine hugged Vincent even closer then finally she spoke. "You are not wrong . . . you see my husband as he really is."

Brigit's eyes went wide. It was one thing to suspect but quite another to have it confirmed. "Saints preserve us. It really is like a fairy tale from the old country." She shook herself. "Where do you come from . . .?"

Then Vincent suddenly held up his clawed hand and looked up with a very alert expression on his face.

Brigit's expression turned to confusion. "What is it?"

"Someone is coming." Vincent glanced back in the direction they had come from. "We are being followed." He glanced back at them then faded into the shadows among the trees.

Alarmed, Brigit looked up the path in the same direction that Vincent had looked. Catherine took her arm and started leading her in the same direction that they had been going.

~ o ~

Vincent waited quietly in the shadows behind a corps of trees. Very soon he spotted a man dressed as a clown slowly advancing up the pathway. He stopped moving just before reaching Vincent's location and pulled out a gun then continued forward his eyes scanning the trail ahead. As the clown came abreast of the trees Vincent sprung from his hiding place knocking the gun from the man's hand as he threw him against a tree. With a grunt and a thud the man fell to the ground unconscious.

Moments later Catherine and Brigit came running up to Vincent and looked down at the man on the ground.

Catherine knelt down and pulled the mask from the face of the clown. She looked up at Brigit. "Do you know him?"

Brigit nodded, a look combining sorrow and distain on her face. "Aye, I know him. He and his sort I've known all my life." She shook her head. "Michael McPhee is his name. He's one of the boys . . . a good IRA man."

Vincent glanced back down the path and once again quickly faded into the shadows behind the trees. Brigit glanced over at the trees in surprise then their attention was drawn to a man dressed as a pirate that was jogging quickly up the path. He stopped next to the two women and looked down at the unconscious man.

"What the hell?" The pirate squatted down checking the unconscious man for a pulse. He then stood up and addressed Catherine. "Brigit O'Donnell?"

Catherine replied. "You have the wrong person."

The pirate looked back at her suspiciously. "I was told that Brigit was wearing an owl mask and I saw you leaving the party." He then glanced over at Brigit a look of uncertainty flashed across his face."

Catherine responded. "The information was correct but your assumption was not. Brigit was also wearing an owl mask."

Brigit added with a hint of a smile. "All owls look alike by night."

Catherine again looked down at the unconscious clown. "I guess we better call the police."

The pirate spoke. "No need, actually I think I can handle it from here, thank you."

Catherine cocked her head. "You?"

The pirate took out a badge and showed it to them. "Donald Pratt, Interpol."

Catherine responded in surprise. "Interpol?"

Donald switched his attention to Brigit as he .replied. "My apologies, Mrs. O'Donnell?" Brigit barely nodded and the pirate continued. "We received a tip that an attempt would be made on your life. I was supposed to stay close by you, but unfortunately you left the party before I could make contact."

As the pirate had been speaking Catherine was getting a strong feeling of caution from Vincent. Something about this man must not feel right to him.

Donald reached down and picked up the gun that had fallen to the ground and wrapped it up in a handkerchief. "Evidence, have to be thorough." He turned his attention to Catherine. "We'll drop you off back at the party. No reason why everyone's Halloween should be ruined."

Catherine responded. "Oh no, I'll see this through. As long as the masks are coming off, I'm with the District Attorney's office."

The pirate looked at Catherine in surprise. "Are you? Well, this is a night for surprises. If you'll keep an eye on sleeping beauty here, I'll go bring my car around."

Catherine shook her head. Vincent didn't trust this guy and she trusted his sense of people. "There is no need Mr. Pratt. I have already sent an associate to call the police. They should arrive here very shortly."

Donald turned an angry glare on Catherine then he was pointing the unconscious man's gun at them. "In that case we had better move quickly."

With a roar, Vincent again sprang from the shadows and threw the pirate against the same trees. His unconscious body landed next to the clown. Catherine quickly retrieved the gun then turned toward Vincent as he spoke. "That man was not telling the truth. He was consumed by a seething hate and I think he intended to kill both of you."

Catherine nodded. "Vincent, go find a telephone and call Henderson. Tell him where we are and what happened. Then I think you had better make yourself scarce until after all this has been dealt with. We can meet up later when it's safe." Vincent hesitated. Catherine could feel his worry for her and shook her head. "Don't worry about us." She waved the gun. "You know that I can take care of myself."

Vincent nodded then embraced Catherine while stealing a quick peck of a kiss. "Just be careful, Catherine." Then he ran off moving at a speed that left Brigit staring after him in surprise.

Catherine quickly checked both men over for more weapons. Besides his very sharp cutlass, she also found another gun on Donald Pratt. She also found a hotel key with the name of a hotel printed on the plastic fob on the clown. Just as she placed the gun and sword behind the stand of trees, well out of reach of the two men, the clown shifted slightly and groaned.

Catherine glanced down at the man and remarked. "He's coming to."

Michael shifted painfully and groaned again. His eyes fluttered open and he looked puzzled up at the two women. After a couple of seconds he struggled painfully into a sitting position. "Where? Oh." He blinked and placed his hand over the side of his head. "Oh, my head hurts something fierce."

Brigit's eyes flashed her anger as she spoke. "You ought to be grateful it's still attached to your shoulders, Michael McPhee."

Michael struggled to his feet noticing the gun in Catherine's hand before responding. "Don't take that tone with me, woman. You know I wouldn't harm you. Damn it all, it was Sean himself who sent me."

Brigit responded angrily to him a hint of tears shimmering in her eyes. "And am I supposed to care? He made it quite clear he does not have a daughter."

Michael shook his head then groaned and blinked at the pain the action had caused before responding. "He's dying, girl; there's not much time left to him. He wants to see you again. He sent me to you."

Brigit responded blinking back tears of anger and frustration. "Aye, that he did with a gun in your hand! My own flesh and blood! What did I ever do to make him hate me so?"

Michael looked back at her in surprise. "You've got it all wrong, girl; it wasn't you I was after. It was that fella that was with you. The fella in the black hood and lion head."

Catherine stared back at Michael in surprise. "What? Vincent?"

Brigit glanced at Catherine then shook her head. "He was a friend."

Michael responded angrily. "A murdering orange man is what he was. We had the word, girl. It's Sean they're after, and they don't have a lot of love for you, either." His voice took on a slightly pleading tone. "I was to keep you safe and bring you secretly to your father."

Brigit shook her head in disgust. "Your hatred has blinded you to even the simplest truth."

Catherine gestured at the other man, still lying unconscious on the ground. "There's your assassin. Vincent is a friend. He came to the party with me."

Michael glanced down, really looking at the man. His eyebrows shot up and his face twisted with hate. "Jamie Harland; you murdering Orangeman." He drew back his foot aiming for a kick to the downed man's head.

Moving quickly, Catherine shoved Michael back as Brigit shouted at him. "Stop it! Just stop!"

Catherine shook her head at such hate. "Don't bother yourself, He'll stand trial and pay for his crimes."

Michael continued to glare at the pirate. "He'll pay for his crimes when I put him in the ground."

Brigit shook her head. "It's no use, Catherine. You can't talk sense to them, to any of them. It's like a sickness now, and there's not a drop of human decency left in the lot of them."

Catherine shrugged and shook her head. "I think we will all wait here until the police arrive. Let the court sort this out."

Michael shifted nervously at the mention of the police. He turned to Brigit. "If you turn me over to the police you will never be able to find your father." He glanced at the gun in Catherine's hand.

Catherine held up the hotel key that she had found on Michael. "Oh, I think that I may be able to figure out where Brigit's father is hiding."

At that moment they became aware of the sound of approaching sirens. Michael quickly glanced around looking for any avenue of escape. Seeing none he again looked nervously down at his own gun then up at Catherine's determined face. From the look he saw there, he had no doubt that she knew how to use it and wouldn't hesitate if she had to.

~ o ~

Catherine and Brigit were standing out in front of the hotel as the paramedics brought Brigit's father out and loaded him into an ambulance. Catherine sensed Vincent's presence and looked up at the roof of the building. Vincent was there looking down at her. She smiled up at him and then turned her attention to Brigit. "Tomorrow, I can arrange for you to stay with your father at the hospital if you like."

Brigit nodded.

Catherine paused looking down at the ground then looked back up at Brigit. "Brigit, you know that . . ."

Brigit jumped in before Catherine could finish. "There are warrants out on the man, and he must be arrested? Yes, I've lived with that since I was six years old. We won't have much time together, not even 300 days. But we must take what we're given, 300 days, a few months . . ." Brigit sighed then smiled at Catherine and the two women embraced.

As the ambulance and police car pulled away Catherine turned as Vincent stepped up to her. Catherine hooked her arm through Vincent's elbow then looked over at Brigit who was gazing sadly after the retreating ambulance. "Brigit?" She turned back in response to her name. "The night is still young and I think it is time that we took advantage of this special night, when the walls . . ."

Vincent jumped in. "When the walls between the worlds grow thin."

Brigit looked back at Vincent and cocked her head. "And spirits of the underworld walk the earth." She smiled softly then looked up at the night sky. "Tis indeed a wondrous Saowen night, is it not?"

Vincent gazed at Catherine for a long moment then finally nodded his head. Glancing up the street he spotted a horse drawn carriage. He took Brigit's elbow in one hand and Catherine's in the other and started toward it. "Shall we go for a ride?"

Catherine smiled at him. "I would love to."

Brigit resisted momentarily. "I would not want to intrude."

Catherine responded with a smile. "We want you to come with us. You did say that wanted to see the city."

Vincent jumped in. "It would be my honor to escort both of you lovely ladies."

~ o ~

The female carriage driver looked up at in surprise at the two owl women, one dark and one light, escorted by a powerfully fearsome lion-man, that were approaching her. She had seen many unusual things around the park since she took over her grandfather's carriage business but this certainly topped them all. She shrugged and put on her best professional smile as they stepped up to her.

The lion-man spoke in a voice that sent nearly erotic shivers up her spine. "We would like to hire your carriage for the night. Is that possible?"

She quickly recovered her composure and looked over the trio appraisingly, making a quick decision. "I normally go off duty at midnight, but I think I can do that for tonight."

Once they were seated in the carriage Catherine asked her. "What is your name?"

She responded. "My name is Charlie." She pointed to the old dappled tan and white horse. "And that is Spock." She grinned at them. "My grandfather was a big Star Trek fan."

Vincent responded, indicating the two women in turn. "This is Catherine, and Brigit." He paused then nodded to her. "And my name is Vincent." Vincent dug into a pocket and pulled out a wad of cash that he had grabbed from the petty cash jar before leaving their brownstone. "Will this be enough for the night?" He handed it to Charlie.

Charlie blinked at the cash in her hand then nodded her acknowledgement. "That is more than enough." Then she inquired. "Where do you want to go?"

Catherine smiled and responded. "Everywhere. This is Brigit's first time in New York. Take us on a tour of the city."

Charlie smiled in response. "The City it is." She faced forward. "Get-up Spock." The Carriage pulled away from the curb as Charlie shoved the cash into a small lock box mounted to the seat beside her.

~ o ~

For the rest of the night Charlie did her best to show them her city at its very best. She knew Manhattan like the back of her hand and she drove the three of them to many of the more spectacular and beautiful places as well as some of the quietly romantic out of the way corners of the city.

As the first hints of morning light appeared in the sky Charlie stopped at a park along the East River where her passengers could sit on the park bench and watch the sunrise come up over one of the bridges that spanned that waterway. While her magical trio had watched the sunrise, she watched them with a contented sigh. It had truly been a wondrous night that she would long remember.

As Vincent, Catherine and Brigit sat together in companionable silence on a park bench, they marveled at the beautiful sunrise. Just after the sun cleared the horizon a jogger came along the path. With a start of surprise, the jogger stopped, staring at them, and gave a startled exclamation. "What the . . . ! Geez! You gave me a real scare. Hey man, Halloween was yesterday."

The three of them glanced at the Jogger as he turned to continue down the path then looked back at each other. Vincent chuckled. "He's right. Halloween is over."

Brigit sighed. "I suppose that means it is time to return to the real world."

Catherine and Vincent stood up then Vincent offered his hand to Brigit. "Shall we go?"

Catherine added. "Come on. We'll drop you off at your hotel and tomorrow at lunch I'll pick you up and take you to see your father."

Brigit accepted Vincent's hand and stood up. She grinned at Vincent and Catherine. "Thomas and the other's will be very cross with me for sneaking off like I did." She cocked her head a bit and her grin got even wider. "But this magical night you both gave me was well worth it. Thank you both."

Vincent nodded. "It was our pleasure." He swept his hand toward the street and the two women preceded him back to the carriage. He handed each of them up into the carriage and then took his seat across from them. Brigit told Charlie the name of her hotel and then the carriage pulled out into the street.

~ o ~

After they dropped Brigit off, Vincent switched over to sit next to Catherine then leaned toward Charlie. "How about one more circuit of the park and then you can take us home?"

Charlie smiled at them. "It's fine with me. You paid me very well for my time, and I'm in no hurry."

Vincent gave Charlie the address of their brownstone and Charlie headed the carriage back toward Central Park. Charlie glanced back at the Vincent and Catherine a couple of times and grinned. They were far more interested in each other than in the scenery around them. Charlie chose a route through the park with the least amount of traffic to give the couple a little bit more privacy. A little while later she pulled up before the, fairly nice, brownstone at the address that Vincent had given her. She glanced back to see Vincent and Catherine kissing and smiled to herself. After a minute Catherine and Vincent broke

"Here we are folks." Charlie announced.

Catherine glanced over at the brownstone then smiled impishly. "Then I guess we will just have to continue this at home."

Vincent chuckled as he stepped down. He held his hand out to Catherine. "Shall we?"

She giggled as she took his hand and stepped down. Then, after glancing up at the bright morning sky, she turned toward Charlie. "Thank-you, Charlie, for that wonderful tour last night. We all had a great time."

Charlie smiled back at them. "I think I enjoyed it just as much as you did." She tipped her top hat. "You have a good morning." Then she pulled out as Catherine and Vincent entered their home.

The End (of episode 5)

Notes :

Cú Chulainn is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle,

The Bogside is a neighborhood outside the city walls of Derry, Northern Ireland.

'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.