Hi Folks! This is the second fiction inspired by my bingeing on BATB over this past weekend. This is to introduce what happened after Catherine was returned alive to her love Vincent. It also introduces their children. Please R &R if you read this. I appreciate all comments. Thank you to all my usual readers. I am inspired by all. Love - Carebearmaxi

A Wonderful Real Dream

Catherine awoke with her head pleasantly lying on her husband's hairy chest. She noticed some of the white hairs mixed in with the gold and red ones. She smiled as she touched them. She kissed the hairs and Vincent rustled in his sleep. His chest expanded wide has he exhaled deeply lifting Catherine's head. She smiled as she had been waking this way for most of the last thirty years since they had married after the birth of Jacob and her return to life.

Vincent felt his wife's kiss on his chest. She had awakened him for most of the last thirty years this way. Even after all these years, her touch on his skin was still electric to him. She gave him delicious tingles wherever she touched him. What was so amazing was that he could feel through the bond that he did the same for her.

A little over thirty years ago, Vincent fought his last battle with his dark side. Catherine had saved him and loved him in the that dark cave. Once she had done that Vincent, the gentle, kind, loving Vincent, had been victorious. Miraculously, then or soon after they had conceived a child. However, this newfound peace caused a loss of he and Catherine's bond. It did return, though, nine months later when Catherine gave birth to Jacob, their eldest child.

There had been complications in that Catherine had been involved in a very complicated case and was kidnapped and gone from him for all of her pregnancy. Gabriel the head of the malicious multi- layered crime syndicate was eventually killed, Jacob returned to his parents who had been miraculously reunited a few months before.

Catherine had been very ill from malnutrition and constant drugging. However, Jacob had been declared healthy and perfect upon his return. Jacob was returned thanks to new Helpers Joe Maxwell, Catherine's boss from the DA's office, and Diana Bennett the police investigator that Joe had employed to find Catherine and Vincent's son. It was a great shock (as always) to finally see why Vincent had been such a secret and Joe was always leery of Vincent because of his unusual physical characteristics; but, in time, as Catherine had grown more happy being with Vincent and her son Below, Joe finally accepted that Vincent was truly Catherine's everything. Diana had fallen under Vincent's spell many months before while the investigation into Gabriel's syndicate, Catherine's kidnapping, and Jacob's finding continued.

Back to present early morning, Vincent stroked his wife's back as her head lay on his chest.

"Catherine," Vincent spoke in a husky still sleepy voice.

"Yes," Catherine simply acknowledged.

"Do you remember what today is?"

"Of course, I do, silly," Catherine playfully answered back holding him close to her with her one arm flung over his massive chest. She squeezed him as best she could. Vincent was a large man and Catherine had always been petite. The years had been kind to her and her beautiful face was still lovely now in her early 60's. She leaned up to look at Vincent's sleepy face. She had always likened him to a sleepy kitten when she watched him wake. As time had matured him, his face took on that of a majestic older stately lion. However, to Catherine this was her husband's face and there was nothing unusual or abnormal in that.

"So, I expect all our children will be here," Vincent said.

"Invitations for the party went out to all five including, of course, the two that live here Below," Catherine acknowledged.

Vincent looked over at the armolu clock sitting on the mantel in their chamber. He, personally, had an instinctual clock; however, Catherine felt more comfortable having one in their chamber. Although she had come to live primarily below with Vincent she still had responsibilities has a Helper and a participant in the world Above. As Vincent had pointed out a long time ago, she was a woman of both worlds.

"It's only 6:30 am," Vincent announced throwing his head back onto his pillow.

Catherine turned her head to acknowledge her husband's announcement.

"I'm sorry to have woken you. I knew it was early, but I didn't think it would be this early," Catherine laughed as she kissed his chest one more time. Laying her head, once again, on his chest she plied his chest hair with her fingers twirling it gently. She stopped has Vincent's hand came and stopped her.

"You know what that does to me, Catherine, when you do that," Vincent said knowing his wife wanted something-that something especially-as today was their 30th wedding anniversary.

"Then you know why I'm doing it," Catherine whispered as she scooted up their bed and kissed her husband good morning.

They then conducted their own celebration of 30 years of wedded bliss-alone.

Jacob Wells, Vincent and Catherine's eldest child at 30 years old, looked again at the invitation for his parents' wedding anniversary. He was currently a professor of World Literature at New York University. He had inherited the reddish gold coloring of his father as well has his strong muscular build when he hit puberty. Other than those few physical attributes, he was all Catherine with green eyes in a round face with a big smile. Jacob was extremely smart and had been accepted into college when he was 17. At 21 he began to teach Above and Below while studying for his Masters and then research for his Doctorate. He was given his Doctorate in World Literature at the age of 28 and had been teaching now for two years at Columbia University.

His childhood had been wonderful. He loved his parents very, very much and they had both influenced his life immensely. Another person who had weighed in his own advice and experience into Jacob's life was his paternal grandfather for whom Jacob had been named. Being the eldest of five children born to his parents, the position and responsibility also rounded the person whom Jacob became.

Jacob's girlfriend, Taylor, lived with him. He had not had the opportunity nor the desire to introduce her to his parents. Taylor, of course, knew of them and had seen the pictures of his more usual looking members of his family which made her naturally curious as to what she had been missing. As their relationship continued and grew, Jacob was desirous of making Taylor his wife which, therefore, would encompass her becoming acquainted with all his family.

Jacob called his next younger brother, Jonathan, who at 27 was a younger almost identical replica of Jacob.

"Hey, Jonathan, it's Jacob," greeted Jacob on the line. "Got a minute to talk?"

"Well, I'm about to do rounds but sure I think I can spare a minute. Is this about mom and dad's party today?" Dr. Jonathan Wells, ER doctor extraordinaire responded.

"Yes. It is."

"You are going, right? It's a command performance. Mom would never forgive you if her oldest son decided not to show."

"Yes. I'm going, but..."

"You want to bring Taylor, right?"

"She's getting curious about dad and our other siblings," Jacob half whispered into his phone. Jacob could hear Taylor in the other room preparing for work. They would both be leaving soon as they both taught at NYU.

"Send a message down to them and ask. I'm sure they are curious about her as well," Jonathan advised his brother.

"Sounds like a plan. I had thought of that, but I was not sure if this would be the best time for me to introduce her to them."

"I can't think of a better time because all our family will be there as well as the extended family. No one is missing this party. It will be bigger than Winterfest!" Jonathan exclaimed.

"Thanks, brother. I will see if I can get a message through Mary-Margaret's husband. He's coming up to advise me on adding onto my living room."

"See ya later, Jacob," Jonathan saluted as he hung up the phone.

Jonathan Wells, only three years younger than his older brother, was influenced by his parents and his grandfather, Jacob, in another way. He became a physician. At 27, he was just starting his internship at St. Vincent's Hospital coincidentally where his father had been found 70 years before.

Jonathan did not have a girlfriend and did not have time for one. Medicine was his life. He felt he had been raised in the best of both worlds. His mother whose wealth had always been used as a Helper when needed and his father's wisdom and wide knowledge of all things experiential and fantastical. To Jonathan, the Tunnels were both experienced and a fantasy. He was primarily raised Below, but they all had access to a regular house on a regular street with regular items like television, game systems, etc.

Unlike his elder brother and father, Jonathan was not as introspective. He was more of an outgoing sport; however, he was an avid reader as is most of the Tunnel family. Books to him were important but different books than Jacob. Science had always been fascinating for him and so at an young age he spent many years under the tutelage of his grandfather who appreciated Jonathan's quick and agile mind for scientific facts and research. Jonathan's desire to be a physician seemed to be the normal outcome of this love of science as well as his love for his grandfather and his patriarchal role in the Tunnels.

Jonathan quickly ran to catch up with his medical students whom he was teaching for the next six weeks in their ER rotation.

Mary-Margaret Wells Brubecker gathered her three children and husband Bruce so they could get breakfast in the dining chamber next to the kitchens. Mary-Margaret was the third child of Catherine and Vincent's and the eldest daughter. Mary was only 24 but she had married at 16, had her first child at 17 and then two others followed in subsequent years. She lived Below with her husband of 8 years and was a teacher like her father as well as a planner, so the anniversary party had been her idea as well as her plan to gather all her siblings together along with the extended Tunnel family.

Mary-Margaret was named after Mary who had essentially become their grandmother after wedding their grandfather late in life and Margaret, her grandfather's first wife, and someone who had become special to her parents in her short lifespan Below. She had met her husband, Bruce, when his parents had become part of the witness protection program. Assured that no harm would come to the Tunnel family, Joe, or Uncle Joe, as she called him had attained council permission for Bruce's family to live Below.

Bruce was two years older than Mary-Margaret but since they had grown up with each other since he was 10 and she was 8 permission for them to marry at 18 and 16 had been more easily given than in any other situation. Plus given Mary's somewhat softened feral appearance, The Wells' and The Brubeckers knew any other chance for Mary to marry and maybe have children may have been an impossibility.

Mary-Margaret was her father but as a female. Of course, Catherine's genes tamed the lion-like appearance to be mainly a whimsical flat nose with a hint of a snout and the cleft in her mouth somewhat matching a deep cleft in her chin which was all Catherine. Jonathan, Mary-Margaret's older brother was her special guard growing up and he was always in awe of her just like he was of their own father.

Mary-Margaret and her father were decidedly happy that none of her three children with Bruce resembled her or their grandfather. All three were decidedly usual looking. However, the resident sky blue eyes and reddish gold hair were the only things Wells' influenced.

"Let's go get breakfast. It's going to be a long day with Grandma and Grandpop's party tonight," Mary-Margaret announced as she rushed her children from the chamber.

"I forgot, love, I have to go above for some materials for your brother's living room expansion. I can eat first, though," Bruce all dark hair and dark eyes said as he kissed his wife.

Mary-Margaret smiled as she pulled her red hair back in a ponytail. "You will be back in time to at least be a part of the celebration. Your mother will be there."

Bruce who always had had an extraordinary relationship with his parents replied, "Of course. I wouldn't miss this party for the world."

Caroline Charlotte Wells was the second daughter and elder twin sibling of her brother, Vincent, Jr. Caroline and Vincent, Jr. or V.J. as he was called had both recently turned 21. Caroline would be finished with college shortly and would be going onto Harvard Law School in the fall of 2021. Caroline spent much time Above at school and always rebelled against her Tunnel family as well as her family unit's responsibility. She was the apple of her father's eye, but Vincent was never been sure how not to spoil her over his other children and constantly had a hard time punishing her when she would have those times acting out her rebellion. He would, however, for the all of the community's as well as his own family's safety. Caroline's mother prayed that one day she would understand how special her heritage and privileges are.

V.J. on the other hand was being groomed as next head of Tunnel Council and community. His father had inherited all the responsibilities when their grandfather passed late last year at the age of 90. One item that had come to light with his grandfather's passing was the age at which he had helped create this community. Blacklisted due to the Communist which hunts in the early 1950's, Dr. Jacob Wells, late 20's maybe early 30's, entered this community and helped formed it to be a safe haven with governing rules and organized network of Helpers and Dwellers.

Growing up, V.J. understood at an early age that he may not be accepted if he showed his face Above. So on those nights when his father was feeling restless and his mother was not up to the long journey above after a busy day, he and his father would walk the in the dark of Central Park or climb onto the buildings and enjoy their special time together.

His mom had mentioned one time to him that sometimes, if she waited Above for them, or in their private home for them, it always took her breath away to see her husband and their identically looking son walk home.

"Your older sister resembles your dad, too, and it is extraordinary. However, you V.J. are so extraordinary that God could create an exact replica of your beautiful father through me."

"Mom, I think that if you wanted to know how scientifically that works, you ought to speak to Jonathan. I'm sure he knows the answer."

V.J. laughed to himself when he thought about that conversation now at 21 years old as at 10 years of age he had not realized what his mother's comment meant.

Both children were the spitting images of their parents: Caroline (named after her maternal grandmother) had always been a diminutive version of Catherine and V.J. was a miniature version of Vincent, Sr. Their Uncle Joe, as all five Wells children affectionately addressed their mother's special friend from Above, called them Cathy and Vincent's mini-me's as the resemblance was so prevalent.

V.J. knocked on the doorway of his parent's chamber.

"Come in," Catherine said as she watched her large lion like son walk into the room carrying a message.

"Good morning, mom," V.J. said as he kissed her cheek. "It looks like Caroline is not coming to your party tonight."

"What!" Catherine exclaimed appalled. "That's not going to happen if I have to go up there and drag her down! She promised your father and me that she would be here. I can't believe she would let your father down like that."

"Catherine," Vincent said emerging from the adjoining bathing chamber dressed in his bathrobe. "Did you say that Caroline is not coming to the party tonight?"

"Yes, love, that's what is on this note from her," Catherine said as she showed the note to her husband.

"Morning, dad," V.J. greeted his father.

"Good morning, son," Vincent returned to his youngest son encompassing him in a manly embrace.

"I knew you would be disappointed. You had told all of us that it was a command performance and very special," V. .

"Yes, it is," Vincent mused as he tried to read between the lines of his youngest daughter's note.

"She's not in trouble, is she? Do you think?" Vincent asked.

V.J. lowered his eyes and surreptitiously looked at his mother who was about to go on one of her fuming rants as they used to call them when they were children. Their mother could expound for hours on why something was wrong or right. V.J. chalked it up to her having once been a practicing attorney with some trial experience.

"No, it's just Caroline being Caroline," V.J. interrupted before Catherine could start on her rant.

"I'm sure that's what it is. Well, I'm going to the college and making sure her butt is down here even if I have to get a court order to do it," Catherine said determinedly.

"Catherine, please," Vincent tried to calm his wife by holding her close while looking over her head to his son.

"V.J. get a message to Caroline through one of your brothers or Bruce. I think he told me the other day he was going Above to get materials for Jacob's living room expansion.

"Sure. I will see what I can do," V.J. said as he left his parents' chamber in search of someone who could help him contact his errant twin sibling.