HI Folks! To those who are still in the BATB (87) fandom, I am still writing this one and I wanted to call this chapter Caroline because we finally know her growing pangs. Anyhow, I am preparing this for CABB online Winter Fest 2021 in February and hope to finish in time. So if you do read this and want to leave a review I would like to hear it! If I don't complete another chapter before HAPPY HOLIDAYS! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Love-Carebearmaxi
A Wonderful Real Dream
Chapter 4
Vincent held his wife's hand aloft as they came to the dance floor for their anniversary waltz. On the count of four the children's small orchestra played a waltz by Strauss though not the Blue Danube. It was something that Mary knew her parents would like and taught the orchestra how to play. Catherine and Vincent whirled around the floor with no eyes for anything or anyone else except each other. Catherine did happen to wink at Tessa who was playing her heart out on the violin.
As they danced across the floor, Catherine felt she was floating. Vincent was such an accomplished dancer, but few knew about his skill. Catherine was glad of that because she knew that most women would swoon at the way Vincent was so light on his feet. It made total sense to her simply by the look of him. She loved those differences and had loved those differences between he and other men, and she also relished the similarities between he and other males. She was wife to both sides of him and mother of his children which made Catherine very, very proud.
Vincent looked at Catherine and as he swept by the children's orchestra he also winked at his granddaughter as she pursed her lips tightly together and focused on her music. Vincent gave her a look as if to say, 'you haven't memorized it yet?' which Tessa noticed and smiled at her grandfather nodding her head as if to say 'yes, sir!'
His gaze fell back to Catherine in her beautiful blue used formal gown. He remembered the first time she wore it. It was on the first Winterfest where he had invited her as part of his Tunnel family. That night there was tragedy as Narcissa was injured by Paracelsus disguising himself as their beloved barber Helper and friend whom Paracelsus killed.
Later, though, after all the candles' flames had been doused and everyone had returned to their chambers, he and Catherine stood alone in the Great Hall.
"Do you hear it, Vincent?"
"What, Catherine?"
"The music."
Vincent simply nodded and stared at his love.
Catherine still hearing the lovely waltz music in her head quietly asked, "Vincent?"
"Yes."
"Do you dance?"
He then went to her and took her in his arms and they swayed and waltzed to the same music playing in their heads.
It was a thrilling moment and one that Vincent, for sure, thought he had forgotten. All the memories from that time swept away by the tragedy that would happen only months later.
Catherine noticed his little smile and asked, "What's so funny, my love?"
He smiled and pulled her close and kissed her forehead.
"I was just remembering the first time we danced in this Great Hall."
Catherine shifted her head and looked up at him and smiled.
"I remember, too. The only music was what we heard in our heads."
They both put their foreheads together and shared a laugh.
Eventually the piece was completed. Vincent and Catherine bowed and curtsied at one another to formally end their dance together and stood applauding the children's orchestra who had accompanied so them so well.
Mary Margaret who was still applauding made the announcement that there was a five minute break for the orchestra and that there was still plenty of food and drink left.
"But save room for the anniversary cake that we women in the kitchen have been slaving over for the past two days," she said loud and proud.
She spotted her parents trying to sneak away and she called to them
"Mom, Dad, don't think of leaving! We need you to cut the cake!"
Catherine looked up at her husband whose arms surrounded her and held her close from behind. They both called to their daughter
"We wouldn't dream of it!"
However, as they returned to their table hoping that Caroline was still there and willing to tell them what was happening, they noticed she was no longer in the room let alone at their table.
Catherine sighed, "Vincent, where do you think she went?"
Vincent who knew his children very well said, "Let me find her. I know where she is. Wait here. I think she needs to talk to me first."
"Just like when she was a child. She always asked for you first."
"Don't worry. She is our daughter so she will have to tell you sooner or later," Vincent said kissing Catherine once again on her forehead.
"Don't be long. If I know Mary Margaret the cake is as big as you are. I can't cut a cake that size alone!" Catherine could not help but smile.
"Where's dad going?" Mary Margaret said as she swooped Mark Edward into her arms and onto a hip all in one motion.
"He went to find your sister. She was going to talk to us about something and then when it was time for us to dance she suddenly flitted away."
"That's Caroline all right. She never wanted to stay too long in one spot."
"Well, your dad says he knows where she is and that she needs him right now."
Mary-Margaret patted her mom's shoulder. She loved her mom fiercely and knew how much each of her children were special to her. Everyone seemed to understand this except Caroline.
Vincent went searching for his youngest daughter. Even as a little girl, Caroline suffered from Wanderlust. Vincent knew the condition to a certain extent but because of his limitations he had to grow up quickly realizing that his Wanderlust could only be quenched by words in books or by other people's tales of their travels. Catherine had provided much of that to him in that she had been all over the world and seen things only he had imagined from books.
He went to the Mirror Pool because he knew that was his daughter's favorite place. She would spend many an hour sitting there just looking at the stars. Unlike her father, she was able to see the stars for herself Above sitting in some small alcove in Central Park or lately sitting on her bed in her dorm at the college.
He found her exactly where he thought she would be. Caroline sat on the dusty ground in her overcoat, long skirt, and boots. Her knees were bent to her chest and she had her arms clasped around them. He stood there for a second seeing so much of her mother in her and knowing that Catherine and Caroline were really most alike. Not only in looks but in restless nature. Vincent had known that Catherine's restless nature had surfaced only after her accident and when she met him. Caroline's seemed to be inherent in her character.
He went forward and noticed that Caroline had heard his footfalls.
"Daddy?" Caroline asked without turning around because she knew instinctively it was her father.
"You always had the most acute hearing of any of our children," Vincent said with a smile. He came behind her and then took a seat beside her. He placed a quick touch on Caroline's clasped hands.
"I knew you'd find me. You always knew where I would be when I was not happy."
Vincent looked up at the stars himself and smiled. He then turned his head to look at his daughter.
"What makes you so unhappy, Caroline?"
Caroline turned her head to look at her father. Her eyes were red rimmed and wet. She then turned away and answered.
"I wish our family had a regular home. I know that we can always use mom's apartment Above if we really need it," Caroline said.
She looked at her father, but in his inimitable way which always brought comfort to most people, he focused on her and just sat quietly waiting for her to say her peace.
"I just want to come home and find my family waiting for me or at least not have to travel almost an hour tracking them down in the chambers Below. Also, I wish I could just say, "Mom, Dad I brought someone home from school!" without having to get The Council's permission or a preliminary warning to you and V.J., and Mary to a certain extent. I'm sure you understand, right daddy?"
"Of course, I understand. This was one reason why I was so reluctant to have children. For a long time, I never thought that I could marry your mother let alone produce a child. We have been very blessed your mother and me," Vincent said looking off in the distance and smiling in that soft way when memories flooded his mind.
He returned to the present time and moved closer to his daughter. He put his arm around her and pulled her close kissing the top of her head as he did when she was little and troubled.
"I wish no burdens on any of my children. I know this one is a difficult one, but it is a burden we all share. I always wanted to give your mother a normal life that's why I never pursued her as a normal man would for the better part of two years. We knew we were in love, but I could not say the words until I had reconciled with my dark side illness and thought all hope was gone for us. That she could go on without me."
"Oh, dad, you were so wrong," Caroline said lifting her head up from under her father's chin and looking into his sky blue eyes. "Mom could never live without you. She doesn't think there is anything abnormal with our family."
"She never has. Her acceptance, love, faith, and loyalty are fierce."
Caroline sat up straighter and looked sheepishly at her father this time.
"Daddy, would you mind if I went away for a while? I know I'm not to go to Cambridge until next September, but I thought maybe I would stay up there with my friend Alicia's family much sooner. Mom met her parents last year at a gala event. I'm sure she'll remember if you ask her."
"I know which one it was," Vincent nodded. "I would have to consult your mother. I know she would miss you terribly."
"I'm not so sure. Mom is extremely critical of me and she doesn't realize it. It seems that because I am the only daughter that looks exactly like her and named after my deceased grandmother that the bar is set higher for me."
"I have never seen that behavior. I know she's proud of all her children. You should really discuss this with her. It is between you and her," Vincent said and squeezed Caroline's forearm gently.
"Your mother loves you so very, very much. Her heart is so big that she accepted me, loved me, and gave me children. She protects me and all of us even those of her children who are Above. She protects everyone as best she can whoever is in her reach."
They sat in silence for a few minutes while they mulled through their own thoughts about their discussion.
Caroline changed her position and leaned on her arms looking directly into the Mirror Pool. She turned to look at her dad who looked at her back knowing that she had a question. He smiled at her when she smiled at him in her Catherine-like way.
"So, how did your waltz go with mom? Did Tessa make a face all the way through? I'm she played great, didn't she?"
Vincent smiled and looked away at his daughter's question. This was Vincent's way of blushing when a question became too personal from one or another of his children.
"I loved dancing/waltzing with your mother. I always feel like we're the only two people in the world when I have her in my arms," Vincent said.
"And Tessa?"
"Tessa looked exactly how you described her. She played beautifully, though. I think she was afraid your sister would give her kitchen duty if she hadn't played well," Vincent said laughing. We winked at her and hugged her when she was finished.
"How did Mary-Margaret get to be such a hard ass?" Caroline asked using a word that was rarely used by anyone in their family.
"Caroline!" Vincent exclaimed surprised at her use of the word. If no one could see a difference between Catherine and Caroline this would be it. Caroline's vocabulary had always been influenced by her encounters of the people Above. Caroline is an adult now, but when she was a child the arguments and the discipline that ensued could be heard for miles Below.
"Well, I'm sorry, dad. I just could not think of a better description of her right now. She's another one that's critical of me, and I don't know why? She was fortunate. She found a man who loves her and was able to have children. She picked up where Grandma Mary left off."
"Caroline, you really should discuss these questions you have with the person directly. I cannot answer for them either your sister or your mother. You may find that their behavior is not meant to be critical…just loving and caring."
They sat a couple of more minutes and then Vincent remembered.
"Speaking of your sister, she needs me to return to cut a large cake with your mother. So, are you ready to go back to the party now and see what all the fuss is concerning this gigantic cake?" Vincent asked smiling at her.
"Sure dad. I don't want to make Mary-Margaret any more angry with me than she already is."
Vincent rose and held out his hand to his daughter. Caroline took it and used it to rise off the ground. She brushed the dust from her skirt with the other one.
They started to walk toward the Great Hall when Caroline stopped and looked up into the majestic lion face of her beloved father.
"Did I tell you how much I love you, daddy?"
"Yes, but I always like to hear it," Vincent said teasing his daughter.
"I love you with all my heart and to the tips of my toes," she said clamoring for a hug.
Vincent smiled into her hair. "You haven't said that since you were a little girl."
"Still true, daddy."
"I love you, too, Caroline with all my heart and to the tips of my toes."
