The Other Path ~ Season 1
By Thomas Mc

Author's Note: This episode will be very similar to the original TV episode with a few alterations due to Vincent's presence in their home when Tony appears at her door, but I hope you like it anyway. Because this story follows the original TV episode much closer than the others I wish to acknowledge Virginia Aldridge who wrote the original episode and the Beauty and the Beast Scripts and Transcription Project for the transcript that I used liberally throughout this chapter..

Everything is Everything

Catherine weaved her way along the crowded city sidewalk toward her car, her mind mostly engaged in studying the legal document in her hand. She paused at her parked car and searched in her bag for the key then unlocked and climbed in. Her mind still half on the legal document, she automatically checked her rearview mirror as she started her car. She paused a moment, as was her habit, to savor the feel of Vincent's emotional presence.

Catherine began to drive off when she heard a thud and a voice screaming. "Stop! Stop the car! My leg! Help!"

Catherine felt panic as she put the car in park. Forcing herself to remain calm, she leap out of her car and rushed to the back of it.

A young boy was lying in the street clutching his leg. "Stop! My leg!"

Catherine squatted down beside the boy, looking for signs of injury. "My God, I didn't see you. I'm sorry. How bad are you hurt?"

The boy responded. "My leg, I think it's broken."

Catherine gently placed her hand on the boy's shoulder. "All right, now be still now, I'm going to help you." She turned to the people who had gathered around them. "Would somebody please call for an ambulance?"

The young boy shook his head. "No, no ambulance. It hurts."

Catherine ignored his remark. "Is it just your leg?"

The boy nodded

Catherine gave him one quick reassuring nod. "All right, can you make it to the car? I'll drive you to the hospital."

The boy shook his head. "No, no hospital. Just don't touch me, lady!"

Catherine pulled her her hand away. "All right! What's your name?"

The boy responded somewhat reluctantly. "Tony. T-Tony Ramos."

Catherine nodded. "OK, Tony, I want you to tell me where you live so I can call your family, at least . . ."

Tony interrupted. "I-I don't have family, I don't have anyone. Please, just give me some money and I'll go to the doctor, lady, I promise, please."

Catherine frowned at the boy, a hint of suspicion forming in her mind. "I can't do that. You're hurt, you need help." She stood and turned to the surrounding onlookers. "Would somebody please call an ambulance?"

At that moment the boy reached into her bag that was sitting on the pavement next to her and grabbed her wallet out of it then jumped up and dashed away.

Catherine looked back, startled, and cried out. "Wait a minute!" She snatched up her bag and took off after the boy. "Come back here. Hey!"

She continued to doggedly chase him but lost him when he turned down an alley and disappeared.

~ o ~

Joe looked up as Catherine rushed through the front office door into the common area, he started to speak to her but she had already disappeared into her office.

He stopped at her door to see her riffling through her desk drawer. "How went the deposition?"

Catherine seemed totally unaware of his presence as she continued grumbling to herself. "That grubby little weasel ... If I ever get my hands on him again ..."

Joe watched her antics non-plused. "That good, huh?"

Catherine retrieved a thin black book from the back of the drawer. "I have to cancel all my credit cards before he charges me into bankruptcy."

Joe crossed his arms, a look of worry on his face. "You got mugged?"

Catherine looked up, a look of extreme annoyance on her face. "I was conned by a kid no more than 11 years old. He's lying in the gutter crying. I thought I ran over him. Then as soon as I get out to help him, he grabs my wallet ... and runs."

Joe leaned against the door jam with his head cocked and an indulgent smile replaced the look of worry. "Welcome to New York, Radcliff."

Catherine growled at Joe in response then flipped through the book. She picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Yes, my name is Catherine Chandler. My credit cards were stolen. I have to cancel them ..." Catherine rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Yeees, I'll hold." She turned her attention to Joe. "I am going to find that kid, Joe."

Joe shook his head. "Oh I wouldn't bet the family jewels on it!"

~ o ~

Catherine entered her brownstone to be met by Vincent after closing the door. He tilted his hed and opened his arms. She entered his embrace the released a contented sigh as she felt her tension melting away.

"Frustrating day?" Vincent inquired softly.

Catherine nodded into his chest as she responded. "A street kid stole my purse. I had to cancel all my credit cards." She sighed. "And I spent two hours replacing my driver's license."

Vincent simply tightened his embrace.

"Where's Edward?" Catherine inquired, looking around.

Vincent smiled and tilted his head toward the back of the brownstone. "He's in his carryall, in the kitchen, sound asleep."

The next second they heard a knock at the door.

Catherine raised her head. "Who could that be?" She queried as she debated for a moment on whether or not to answer the door. Finally, on the second knock she reluctantly disengaged herself from Vincent's embrace with a resigned sigh. "I guess I should see who it is." She went to the door then looked over her shoulder to be sure that Vincent was out of sight.

She opened the door with the security chain still engaged to find herself looking at the street kid that had taken her purse. "Hi, lady." The kid remrked.

Catherine could barely believe her eyes. "You!" She closed the door to take the chain off, then opened it.

The street kid looked up at her all sweet innocence. "Yeah. I found your wallet on the street. Guess it must have fallen out of your purse." He then boldly walked past her into the apartment and looked around. For just a moment she saw a look of envy and need flash across his face. "Nice place. You must do all right." He commented with a feined non-chalant air.

Catherine glared at the boy. "Where is my wallet?"

The boy remarked over his shoulder. "I don't suppose there's a reward?" He now turned and looked at her face and shrugged at what he saw. "That's okay." He handed her the wallet. His expression shifted to one of contrition. "I just want you to know I feel real sorry for what I did. You're such a pretty lady, it made me feel bad."

Catherine gave a snort of disbelief. "Oh, try again."

"It's true." The boy insisted.

Catherine just shook her head. "Do you know what I went through today? I just spent two hours getting another driver's license. I had to cancel all my credit cards."

"Well you should carry cash." The boy retorted as he sat down on the couch. "That's what I do."

Catherine shook her head in exasperation. "Yeah, I know. Mine!"

"Hey I had to eat." He shot back then seemed to withdraw inward just a bit.

All during this time Catherine had felt Vincent's sympathetic support humming softly in the background of her mind. At this point Vincent''s end of the bond moved to the foreground and at the same time she felt a second set of emotions as Vincent began echoing the boys emotions thru to her. The most prominent emotion was a terrible sense of loss and a deep feeling of loneliness and need. The bravado was only a very thin veneer that barely hid the other emotions and seemed to be on the verge of cracking at any moment.

Catherine paused to consider what she and Vincent were sensing in the young boy. Her expression softened a bit and she changed her tact. "And what else do you do when you're not staging phony accidents?"

The boy looked at her as his expression and emotions suddenly became defensive. "Said I was sorry." The defensiveness quickly faded as he forced the bravado. "Gotta admit, it was a pretty good act." He finished with a smirk.

Catherine's expression hardened as she pulled the door open. "Go!" She pointed through the door with her free hand.

Suddenly the bravado cracked and allowed a sliver of fear to show through. The boy was suddenly just a young unsure child. "I can't, I don't have anywhere to go."

Catherine's sense of the boy through Vincent let her know that the boy was telling the truth. But she wasn't yet ready to let him off the hook. "Oh, don't try the orphan bit. It doesn't work."

At this point the wall of bravado shattered as the boy began to cry. "It's true. My parents were killed in a car accident. I came all the way here from Chicago to find my grandfather, but he doesn't want me. He won't even see me!" This seemed to open the floodgates and the boy began to cry in earnest.

Catherine instantly shifted gears as she sensed the raw desolation in the child's heart. She kneeled down to the boy's level as her expression softened to one of concern. "What is your name?" She asked gently.

"Tony . . . I'm Tony." He responded through sniffles and a trickle of tears.

She cocked her head. "What you said doesn't make any sense. Why won't your grandfather see you? You in some kind of trouble?"

"I'm dead." Tony practically yelled back while a terrible ache joined the emptiness within his soul.

Catherine felt a flash of exasperation and quickly suppressed it. She placed her hands on the boy's shoulders. "Explain . . ." She requested sternly but softly.

Tony was momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift in Catherine's demeanor but he quickly recovered and began to explain. "Okay, it sounds weird, but I'm a Gypsy, lady, and when the Kris says you're marime, you're dead . . ." Catherine frowned at the hopelessness that accompanied those words. Tony swallowed and continued. ". . . Banished forever."

Despite the boy's truthful emotions, echoed to her by Vincent, Catherine had a hard time accepting what he was saying. "How could they do that to you?" She inquired indignantly. "Child abandonment is against the law."

"I have heard of this before." Remarked Vincent from the kitchen doorway. "A couple of years before you and I met, A young banished Gypsy girl, about Devin's age came to live with us for a short time. She told us that once a Gypsy is banished that person can never go back."

Tony looked up, at the sound of an unexpected second person, and found himself face to face with an impossible and very frightening apparition. Time seemed to freeze as Tony stared at Vincent in shocked silence. Then a hint of fear crossed his face and his emotions.

Catherine gave Tony's shoulders a gentle squeeze, drawing a small part of his attention from Vincent to her. "It's all right, Tony, Vincent is a friend. He won't harm you."

Vincent nodded at Tony. "Catherine's told me about you."

Tony's attention refocused on Vincent. "I-I've never s-s-seen anyone like . . . like you before." He managed to stammer out. A sense of wonder invaded the maelstrom of emotions swirling inside him.

Catherine stood up.

Vincent gave Tony a little half-smile and responded "There's never been anyone like me before."

Catherine stepped over to Vincent and put her arm around his waist. "He is also my husband."

Tony's eyes got very wide. "You . . . and him . . .?" His voice trailed off and he seemed momentarily bereft of speech as he took in the details, like sharp claws, long sharp canines and overall fearsome appearance.

Catherine nodded. "For several years now." She added as she looked up into Vincent's sapphire blue eyes for a moment.

At that moment the sound of a fussy child came from the direction of the kitchen. Catherine gave a short snort of a laugh. "And that is our son."

"M-maybe I should leave." Tony remarked as he took a step back.

"You stay right there." Catherine frowned and ordered sternly then her expression softened dramatically as she looked toward the kitchen. "I'll be right back." Her expression went to serious but friendly. "Then we will talk about your problem." She turned and headed toward the sounds in the back.

She disappeared around the corner. Tony stood there shifting nervously from foot to foot and sneaking glances at the more frightful aspects of the being in front of him.

For his part Vincent calmly stood there trying to look a harmless as a six and a half foot tall lion-man could. It didn't seem to help.

Shortly Catherine came back into view carrying a wriggling bundle and a baby bottle. She moved toward the sofa group near the center of the room. "Come over here, sit beside me and tell us your story." She suggested as she sat down in the love seat.

Despite himself, Tony was drawn toward Catherine though he kept a wary eye on Vincent. As he approached, Tony finally was able to see the face of the baby in Catherine's arms. It was the image of Vincent and Tony found the little lion-man cub nearly irresistible as he moved in to get a better look.

Catherine smiled up at Tony then spoke. "This is our son Edward. Come on, sit down. He won't bite. He hasn't got any teeth yet."

Tony finally sat down next to Catherine, never taking his eyes from the very unusual infant. Vincent sat in the large overstuffed chair across from them. He started to reach toward the infant then paused and looked up at Catherine. "Can . . . can I touch him?"

Catherine's smile widened. "Go on." She urged.

Tony touched the infant's furry arm and the baby shifted his gaze to Tony's face. The corners of Edward's mouth curved upward slightly. "He smiled at me." Tony remarked in a charmed voice.

"I guess that mean's he likes you." Catherine replied. After a few seconds she decided to move things along while Tony was still charmed by her son. "Now, you were going to tell us what happened to you. We're listening."

After a moment's hesitation, Tony dragged his eyes from the infant and began to speak. "My Grandfather's King of the Gypsies. My father was gonna be the next king, but my uncle set him up, framed him at the Kris." He glanced up at Catherine's confused face. "Well, that's a Gypsy trial." He shrugged and looked at Vincent. "They banished us all. My uncle's gonna pay for what he did. I've got proof." He finished with a combination of defiance and righteous indignation.

Vincent had sensed uncertainty in Tony and asked. "What proof?" He asked softly. Tony wouldn't meet their eyes. Catherine chimed in. "Tony, what proof?!"

Tony looked up, all defiance again. "Uh ... forget about it. Maybe this is all just a con, huh?" He glanced back and forth between Vincent and Catherine. "Look, let me sleep here tonight and then I'm out of your life."

Catherine set the baby bottle aside and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "You can sleep here tonight and tomorrow morning you can tell us the whole story. Then we will see what we can do to help resolve your problem."

Catherine showed Tony up to the guest bedroom and, after pointing out the bathroom and telling him good night, left him there.

An hour later Catherine and Vincent were in bed.

Vincent herd Catherine softly chuckle. "What is it that amuses you?" He inquired.

Catherine turned to face him. "It's Tony. . . He's lied to me, he stole from me and yet I can't help caring about him. He claims to be a Gypsy and puts on a brash independent front. I don't know how much of his story I believe, but through our link we both know his pain is very real. I feel that somehow he really wants my help."

"He's touched you deeply." Vincent observed.

She sighed deeply. "I suppose he has. If I could just find a way to get him to open up and talk to us . . ."

Vincent nodded his understanding. "He did make a small start. When he blurted out that snippet of his background he was telling the truth, for the most part, as he sees it. He was however holding something back as far as his proof was concerned." Vincent thought a moment. "The world of the Gypsies is a secretive one, closed to all gaijen, as they call outsiders. We have a Gypsy helper who may be of help to us if Tony will give us enough to go on."

~ o ~

Hours later Tony lay in the clean, comfortable bed in the well appointed guest bedroom. He was not asleep. In fact he was feeling out of place and quite restless. He finally got up, and tiptoed up the stairs and into the master bedroom. He paused and looked nervously over at the two still figures in the large bed. They did not move.

After a few seconds Tony quietly made his way over to the large dresser where he found a jewelry box. He reached out and opened it ...

"If you take the jewelry, Catherine will be very disappointed." The voice of Vincent emerged from the large bed causing Tony to nearly jump out of his skin. "You may even get enough money for it to get by for a few weeks ... but then you will be right back where you started. However if you go back to bed then tomorrow morning you will have a nice breakfast then Catherine and I will do our best to reunite you with your family."

Tony stood frozen to the spot in fear and uncertainty and stared at the barely visible bed. Then the glint of two deep blue pinpoints of reflected light appeared as Vincent opened his eyes.

After a second Vincent continued. "The choice is up to you. You are an intelligent young man." The reflected glint from Vincent's eyes went out. "I hope you will choose wisely." After that there was only silence.

Tony shook off his momentary paralysis and grabbed for a handful of jewelry then stopped. Vincent had not moved. Almost reluctantly he dropped the jewelry back in the jewelry case then glanced back at the large bed. With a resigned sigh, Tony returned to the guest bedroom.

After another restless hour Tony finally dropped off to sleep.

~ o ~

The next morning was spent discussing Tony's situation. Catherine found the talk annoyingly uninformative.

Tony didn't know where in New York his grandfather lived and didn't know how to find him without help. Being banished, he couldn't go to other Gypsies for that help.

"Did your father leave you anything that might help us find your family?" asked Vincent.

After several seconds deep in thought, Tony reluctantly pulled out a chain from under his shirt. Dangling from it was a round medallion. He stared at it for several seconds before he spoke. "My father gave me this before he died. It's all I have left of him!" He looked up at Catherine and Vincent, tears shimmering in his eyes. "If I lose this, I've lost everything."

"May I see that?" Vincent inquired.

Tony hesitantly held the medallion out at the limit of the chain. Vincent leaned in close and examined the medallion. "It's very old. It speaks of tradition." Then leaned back and nodded to Tony."That may be just what we need to find your grandfather."

Catherine now leaned toward Tony, eyeing the medallion that he still held out. "At least it's something to go on." She looked up into Tony's eyes and cocked her head. "May I borrow your medallion for a couple of hours?" At the look on his face she hurried to reassure him. "I promise you that I will return it to you as soon as I get back. Vincent and I know someone that has connections with Gypsies and she might be able to tell me where to find your grandfather."

Thirty minutes later Catherine entered a small shop run by a young black-haired woman. Her name was Maria and she was a Gypsy and a helper. She was currently talking to a male customer. "I'll take 25 for it. Not a penny less." After a pause the man nodded reluctantly then handed over the money and the two of them completed their transaction. The customer turned to leave and Catherine noticed a secretive smile cross the man's face as he passed her.

She looked up at Catherine and smiled. "Catherine! It's been a while."

Catherine returned the smile. "That man's expression sure brightened as he left."

Maria laughed. "He thinks that he got the best of me in the deal." She tilted her head and glanced at the door. "Actually, he ended up paying almost exactly what it was worth." She gave a snort and a shrug. "How is Vincent and that little baby of yours?"

"Vincent and Edward are both doing great. You should come by some time to see them." Catherine responded.

"I may just do that sometime soon." Maria commented. "Now, what can I do for you?

"Vincent and I have a small problem and we thought that you might be able to help us."

Maria nodded and canted her head toward the doorway to the back room. "Come with me." She led Catherine into the back of the shop and called out to a man examining a small collection of items. "Watch the front, Sal."

Sal nodded and stepped out to the front of the shop.

Minutes later Maria and Catherine were both looking at the old medallion as it lay on the small table between them and discussed Tony's situation.

Maria looked up from the medallion. "There is no doubt. This used to belong to Milo; so Tony would have to be his grandson."

Catherine looked up at Maria. "Then everything he told me was true."

Maria nodded.

Catherine frowned and shook her head. "Tony is just a boy. He has no one. How could his Grandfather abandon him like that?"

Maria looked Catherine in the eye, her expression tinged with a hint of sorrow, and responded. "In Milo's eyes his grandson no longer exists. It was a judgment of the Kris."

Catherine shrugged. "Well, couldn't Milo call a new Kris to hear Tony out?"

Maria sadly shook her head. "You don't understand our ways. Tony's father stole from his own family. That can never be forgiven."

Catherine responded with a strong hint of exasperation in her voice. "A boy's entire future is at stake here."

Maria merely shrugged. "What's done is done." She looked away as if ending the conversation.

Catherine sighed. "Maybe if I talk to Milo, I . . ."

Maria turned back with a serious, almost frightened, expression. "You'd never get to see him. Tony's Uncle Vic will make sure of that." She stared hard at Catherine. "Vic's a bad one. If he thinks you're trying to help Tony." Seeing the stubborn look on Catherine's face, she took Catherine's hand and looked eye-to-eye trying to drive home the seriousness of what she was saying. "Vic is very dangerous when crossed. I wouldn't put anything past him. It could get you killed."

Catherine stared stubbornly back at her. "I have to do something."

After a moment Maria relented a bit. I'll give you the address, okay? Just be very careful." She then wrote an address on the back of a piece of note paper and handed it to Catherine. "Please, just promise me that you won't try to take on Vic by yourself. He is not a nice person."

"I'll be very careful and Vincent will be close by if I need him." Catherine accepted the note gratefully. "If you hear anything helpful, will you give me a call?" She handed Maria one of her business cards.

Maria glanced at the card as she responded. "Yeah."

"Thank you." Catherine remarked then turned to leave.

"Just please be very careful." Maria called after Catherine.

~ o ~

When Catherine entered her apartment she picked up the mail from the floor and glanced over to see Tony and Vincent sitting on the couch. They were discussing points of Gypsy lore.

Tony looked over at Catherine. "Where's my medallion?" Brashness and worry warred for dominance in his expression.

Catherine was stunned by his abruptness. She dug into her purse where she has kept the medallion and gave it to him. Tony smiled with relief as he accepted it back.

"It was your grandfather's?" Catherine remarked.

Tony nodded, and then sighed as he placed the necklace around his neck. He then lifted it up, looking at it happily.

~ o ~

Later that night Tony was curled up on the couch and flipping through the pages of a book. Catherine returned from the kitchen with a glass of milk, which she set down on the table as she joined him on the couch. Tony put the book on the table and picked up the glass of milk.

Catherine glanced at the book. "Do you like Kipling?"

Tony shrugged. "I don't know him."

Catherine Laughed and picked up the book. "Why don't you read one to me anyway?" She handed him the book and smiled expectantly.

He held the book upside down and stared at the pages a moment. Catherine watched, a look of concern crossed her face. Tony shook his head and put the book down. "My eyes are too tired." He commented tersely.

Catherine's expression took on a hint of sadness. "You can't read, can you, Tony?"

Tony seemed to stiffen defensively. "So what!"

"So, how do you get through school?"

Tony responded with a, less than convincing, facade of unconcern. "Gypsies don't go to school. We teach ourselves everything we need to know. So why do I need books?"

Vincent, who had been quietly watching from his position in the loveseat, spoke up. "Books are wonderful things. They entertain you. They teach you and they give you new ideas."

The false bravado returned as Tony responded. "Well, I talk to people. I know life. I understand everything."

Catherine picked up the book and lovingly caressed the worn cover. "My father used to read me to sleep with this book."

Vincent chimed in. "In my youth, I too, often drifted off to seep to the same stories." He glanced at Catherine. "Then later after we met Catherine and I would sometimes read to each other from that book."

Tony cocked his head with a smirk. "No TV, huh?"

Catherine chuckled then, smiling, she opened the book and began to read aloud.

"In the high and far off times the elephant, oh, best beloved, had no trunk. He had only a blackish, bulgy nose as big as a boot that he could wriggle about from side to side. But he couldn't pick things up with it. But there was one elephant, a new elephant, an elephant's child, who was full of insatiable curiosity, and that means he asked ever so many questions ..."

Tony settled more comfortably as he listened to Catherine, his eyelids growing heavy as she continued reading. Vincent also settled himself in and listened as well.

By the time Catherine reached the end of the story Tony was fast asleep. She smiled down at him as she put the book on the coffee table. Vincent gently lifted Tony and took him to the guest room they had set up for him. Catherine and Vincent stood in the door a moment watching the sleeping boy. Then they returned to the parlor.

Once they were both settled on the loveseat Vincent spoke. "He has not had an easy life."

Catherine nodded. "Beneath the bravado is a very sad, frightened little boy. I can't imagine what his life is like. When I was his age, my big decisions were what dresses to wear." She sighed. "Maria helped me find his grandparents but she assured me that they won't see him. She also warned me that his uncle Vic was very dangerous."

Vincent shook his head sadly. "How can their hearts be so hardened?"

Catherine groaned in frustration. "If I could just talk to his grandfather, have him call a new Kris for Tony." She shook her head and looked sadly up at Vincent. "If they won't take him back into the family, I'll have to turn Tony over to child welfare for foster placement. I'm afraid that would just break his spirit."

Vincent looked back at the stairs. "He really needs to be with his family." He looked back at Catherine. "If that turns out to be impossible our friends below would be happy to take him in." His expression became determined. "His grandfather must be convinced. I will speak to him tonight."

~ o ~

Milo awoke with the prickly feeling that he was not alone. He glanced around and spotted the massive human shape barely discernable standing silently in the one of the dark corners of the room. "Who are you?' He inquired in a trembling voice. The dark shape stepped out of the shadows and Milo found himself staring at the frightening apparition that was Vincent. He sat up, startled by the frightening vision. "You a ghost?" He asked fearfully.

Vincent responded in a voice barely above a whisper. "Do not fear. I mean you no harm."

"Then leave me in peace." Milo responded then raised his shaky voice. "Vic ... Eva!"

Vincent again spoke in a quiet voice. "Please ... listen to me."

"Who are you?" Milo asked, fearfully.

Vincent responded with a hint of displeasure in his voice. "Someone who cares about your grandson. He needs you, yet you turn him away."

Milo's face clouded. "I-I have no grandson.'

"Yes, but Tony has a grandfather. He's a brave boy. He's come a long way ... alone and at great risk." Vincent responded.

Milo's voice seemed to waver even more. "It was the judgment of the Kris. He's dead to us."

"Is he dead in your heart?" Vincent inquired.

Milo's voice became even more unsteady. "It ... was the judgment, the law."

Vincent's voice took on a hint of disappointed scorn. "Is there no room in your law for compassion? Must the child be condemned for the deeds of the father? Tony wants only to prove that a great wrong has been done. You are the King of the Gypsies. Call a new trial; let him speak."

Milo cringed a bit. "It is dangerous to change what has been done to the dead."

Vincent loomed over the bed. "You have a chance to give a boy back his life and to right a terrible wrong."

Milo seemed to shrink into himself. "If the outcome is the same, I will lose everything."

Vincent's voice dropped and took on a more persuasive tone. "If Tony can change the judgment, you'll have your grandson back. Can there be a greater treasure?" Vincent backed away from the bed then seemed to vanish into the darkness of the room.

Milo stared into the now empty darkness, shaken to his core by what had happened.

~ o ~

The next morning, Catherine came down the stairs, dressed for work. She found Vincent in the kitchen fixing breakfast and Tony sitting at the table feeding little Edward. She smiled at Tony. "Good morning, Tony. You're up early."

Tony gave a cheeky grin. "Kid woke me up so I figured this would keep him quiet."

Vincent came out of the kitchen and set out a light breakfast. He and Catherine sat down to eat.

After a few minutes of silence Tony seemed to make a decision. "Last night ... it was nice." He smiled mostly to himself. "My mama used to read to me."

Catherine's expression turned sympathetic. "You must miss her terribly."

Tony's expression turned introspective. "Still with me in here." He thumped his chest with his fist. "Papa, too. I take care of myself. Being alone makes you tough."

Catherine's eyes glinted with sympathy. "Well, tough doesn't make the loneliness go away. I lost my mother when I was very young and I still cry for her sometimes."

Tony looked at her curiously. "Yeah?"

Catherine smiled back. "Yeah." She glanced at her watch. "Oh, Lord, I'm gonna be late." She jumped up and hurried for the door.

After she was gone, Vincent and Tony Cleaned up the dining room and kitchen. Then they sat in the parlor and Vincent began to show him some of the books that he and Catherine had both been fond of when they were his age. At the same time he was subtly teaching him the the basics of learning to read. Tony was so fascinated by the stories that he was barely aware that he was also learning the very basics of reading.

~ o ~

At the Ramos garage Vic was working on the engine of a car when Eva entered and called to him excitedly. "Vic! Vic!"

Vic looked up at her. "What, mama?"

"Something wonderful has happened!" She exclamed. "Your father is calling a new Kris for Tony." She turned and walks back to the doorway, oblivious to the look of displeasure that suffused his face. By the time she disappeared through the door his expression had turned to anger and there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Vic's friend Joe approached him with a worried look. "A new Kris?" Joe spoke in a low voice. "Vic, what if the kid can prove something?"

Vic shook his head angrily. "The kid can't prove nothing, Aw, the old man must be getting senile." Vic strode to the back of thge shop and hurried up the stairs. He had to talk to the old man.

~ o ~

Catherine was elbow deep in legal papers when her telephone rang again. With a sigh of exasperation, she answered it. "Catherine Chandler."

Maria's voice responded. "Do you know where Tony is? I've asked around; no one's seen him." She paused. "Vic is also looking for Tony. He has his bully's out searching."

Catherine sighed then smiled. "Don't worry, Tony is safe and sound at my place with Vincent."

Maria relaxed. "Oh, thank God."

"What is it, Maria? What's happened?" Catherine asked.

Maria responded excitedly. "It's some kind of a miracle. Nothing like this ever happened before. It's all over the streets. Milo's called a new Kris for Tony."

Catherine smiled. "Oh, that's wonderful!. Where and when."

"Tonight, eight o'clock, at the social Hall, 86th and Wilbur." Catherine was writing the information down as fast as she could as Maria continued. "He's got to be there!"

"We will be there." Catherine responded with conviction.

Maria's voice became wary. "And watch your back, Cathy. If Vic's got something to lose, he'll do anything to stop Tony from showing up."

"We'll be careful. Thank you, Maria." Catherine reassured her.

Maria smiled. Vincent would keep them safe. "Okay, bye."

At that moment Joe approached Catherine's desk. "Hey, Radcliffe, be a hero? Help me with these Martin briefs?"

Catherine shook her head as she grabbing her things to leave. "Oh, I'm sorry, Joe. First thing in the morning, I promise."

Joe took in the way she was rushing to collect her things, preparing to leave. "Hey, what's the big emergency?"

Catherine smiled apologetically at Joe. "I have got to give a little boy some very good news."

"The Gypsy kid?" Joe asked.

Catherine grinned and nodded then turned toward the door.

Joe smiled at her back as she rushed toward the elevator and remarked quietly. "Go get'em Radcliffe." He then turned and headed back to his office.

~ o ~

Catherine rushed into her home and looked around. "Tony! Tony?"

Vincent and Tony came down the stairs a moment later. Tony was carrying a children's book in one hand and a donut in the other. "You yelled?" Tony inquired with his usual cheeky grin.

The words came rushing out of her. "Listen, your Grandfather has called a new Kris, but we have to hurry."

"Where at?" Tony inquired.

"The Social Hall at 86th and Wilbur." Catherine replied. "But we don't have much time."

Vincent thought a moment. "We can travel faster below ground." He turned and led them down into the cellar. He approached the wine racks and pulled on it. Tony was astonished to see a section of the wine rack swing away, exposing an opening into a tunnel. The two of them followed Vincent into the tunnel.

~ o ~

Inside the Social Hall, Vic was arguing with his father. "It's time to start, Papa. What are you waiting for?"

Several of the other Gypsies were also anxious to get on with it and making their impatience known.

Milo scanned the group sternly the called out. "Quiet! Quiet down, quiet down." The room very quickly grew quiet and Milo continued. "My friends, we called this Kris to consider the case of Tony Ramos." He glanced at his watch. "He is only a few minutes late. We will give him a few more minutes."

Joe spoke up from his position behind Vic. "Why wait for the dead? No! I say, what's done is done."

"Right!" Vic chimed in.

An old Gypsy woman at the back of the room called out. "I say we wait, let the boy have a chance to speak."

Vic swung around and glared at the old woman. "Shut up! You shut up! Nobody cares what you got to say, woman!"

The room quickly degenerated into a general argument over the woman's right to have her say. Milo simply sat there quietly and watched them waste time arguing.

~ o ~

Catherine began climbing the ladder that led to the basement of the Social Hall.

Vincent bent down to talk to Tony face to face. "The truth makes you strong." He put his hand on Tony's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Go now."

Tony turned and followed Catherine up the ladder. They rushed through the basement and a few minutes later Tony and Catherine come through the door into the crowded meeting room.

Vic stared at them in surprise. How had they gotten past the men he had left outside guarding the entrances to this place?

Milo rose to his feet, smiling. "Come forward, Tony Ramos."

As Tony passed his grandmother, she hugged him, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. He continued over to stand before his grandfather. He glanced, briefly, at Vic, his face cold.

Milo looked kindly at his grandson. "Do not be afraid."

Vic plopped down into his chair, his face showing worry and anger.

Milo's expression turned serious as he continued to speak. "You are only a child, but you know how serious this is. You ... you know, if you lie to us here, you are no longer a Gypsy."

Tony straightened himself while marshalling his courage. "I don't lie. And my father didn't lie." He pointed at Vic. "He lies!" For just a moment his gaze held pure venom then he turned his gaze back to his grandfather. "Vic stole the money from the body shop and framed my father for it. He knew that if my father was banished, that he was next in line to be king."

Vic laughed though there was an edge to it. "Ha! Children got such wild stories, huh?"

Tony again faced Vic. "It's true. My father told me before he died."

Vic's expression became a smirk. "Oh, oh! I'm condemned by a ghost, huh?! I'm condemned ... Does this Kris take the word of a boy, a marime, over mine?" He shifted his gaze to Milo. "I call for a verdict, now."

There was general shouting. Then the old Gypsy woman's voice rang out. "Let the boy talk."

Vic called out. "Will you shut up?"

Milo addressed Tony. "Your word is not enough for the verdict. You must have proof."

Vic shouted out. "He ain't got no proof. He's got nothing. He's a liar!"

Tony's voice rang out defiantly. "I have proof ... a letter."

"Where is the letter?" Milo inquired

Tony pointed at Catherine. "She has it."

Catherine looked at Tony in surprise as she spoke to him. "Tony, I don't have any letter!"

Tony grinned at her. "In your purse. I put it there last night. I knew Vic would try and get it away from me if he found me."

Vic shouted. "Aw, she can't be heard here. She's gaijen. She's not even supposed to be here!"

Milo glared reprovingly at Vic then spoke to Catherine. "Come forward, please."

Vic shouted again. "She's got no right here."

Catherine stepped up next to Tony and whispered. "Where's the letter?" She was searching her purse.

Tony whispered back. "The side pocket; the one with the zipper."

Catherine found a piece of paper and pulled it out.

Tony took it from her and held it up as he spoke. "My father gave me this letter. He told me, on his deathbed, to bring it here, to clear his name and to punish the guilty." He lowered the paper and looked down at it.

"Dear Eric," He began. "I am writing you this letter because I am afraid for my life. Me and Vic stole the money from the body shop and we split it up."

Vic glanced back, in angry surprise, at Joe.

Tony continued. "We put some of the stuff in your house so that you'd get blamed. Now I think Vic's gonna kill me for my share of the loot."

Vic turned to Joe, his anger clear for all to see. "Fool!" He exclaimed.

"I didn't write no letter, Vic. You said nobody could prove nothing." Joe wined in response.

"No!" Vic yelled as he tried to hit Joe. Men in the crowd grabbed him and held him back.

Tony called out triumphantly. "Now you'll pay for what you did! You'll be marime!"

Milo held his hand out to Tony. "Tony, let me see the letter."

Tony handed the folded paper to his grandfather.

Milo opened it, looked it over and stared at Vic then Eva. His gaze returned to Vic. "Vic, come forward and read the letter which has condemned you."

Vic shook off the hands of the men who were holding him and walked reluctantly to his father. Tony moved away to stand by Catherine. Vic looked at the paper, which had nothing but scribbles on it. "No, no, it's nothing. It's just marks!"

Tony Looked up at Catherine and grinned. "I read pretty good, huh?"

Vic continued to stare at the paper, shaking his head. "No!"

The men at the table with Milo all pointed their thumbs down. Milo stared hard at Vic. "You were my son. Now you are no more." Milo shook his head sadly. "Now you walk in death."

The others in the room turned their backs on Vic and began to leave the room.

Vic began to plead. "No, please, Papa. No! No, Papa, please don't do this. No!"

Milo turned his back and two men escorted Vic from the room.

A short time later the room was empty of everyone but Tony, his family and Catherine. Tony hugged his grandmother, then walked over to Milo. "Grandpa ... I have something for you." He took off the medallion and looked down at it a moment. "You gave this to my father. He gave it to me ..." He looked up at his grandfather. "... and now I give it to you, so you have something to remember him by." He placed the medallion over Milo's head. Then they hugged.

Milo smiled at his grandson. "And one day you will give it to your son, eh, Tony?"

As Catherine quietly turned to leave, Tony called out. "Hey, lady." He walked over to her, smiling. "I owe ya ... and a Gypsy never forgets." They hugged. "Thank Vincent for me, huh?"

Catherine smiled at him. "I will. Maybe I'll see you around, huh?"

Tony gave her a cheeky salute. "Count on it." Then he turned and walked back to his grandparents. They hugged again as Catherine smiled, then left the room.

~ o ~

Catherine climbed back down the ladder to Vincent, who was patiently waiting for her. "It went well." He remarked

Catherine nodded. "Tony has a family again." Her smile turned a bit somber. "I think he stole a piece of my heart."

Vincent nodded his understanding. "And you will always keep a part of his. You helped him find his way home again, Catherine. No one could ever give a child a better gift." Vincent pulled her toward him with an arm around her neck and hugged her.

Catherine leaned into his embrace. "It came from both of us." She pulled back and looked up into Vincent's deep blue eyes. "And now I have a strong desire to hold my own son in my arms."

Hand in hand they walked down the tunnel toward their home.

The End (of episode 19)

'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.