HI Folks! I hope you have enjoyed this fluff. Here now is the conclusion of my little celebration of Vincent and Catherine's 30 years together. Thank you for reading and reviewing. I look forward to your comments. Love - Carebearmaxi

A Wonderful Real Dream

Chapter 6

The Great Hall was in near darkness except for the one lone candle burning in the center of the head table. Catherine and Vincent sat companionably together. Catherine lay against Vincent her back to him with her head on his chest. She looked up at the barely lit ceiling of the chamber with a smile on her face.

In similar fashion, Vincent sat with his long legs stretched out and leaning on a chair held Catherine with his head on top of hers. He could feel the press of her fingers on his forearm and once in a while she would kiss him there.

When she sighed heavily and contentedly, Vincent asked, "What are you thinking?"

Catherine smiled and said, "I'm thinking what a great 30th wedding anniversary we had."

"Surely that's not all your active mind is thinking of," Vincent importuned.

"You know me too well. My mind was just remembering all the celebrations we've shared in this room."

"Ahh…remember your first Winterfest?"

"Yes, how could I forget? It was a lovely party until Paracelsus reared his ugly head," Catherine remembered with a frown.

"My heart and mind dwell on afterward when the lights were out and the orchestra had packed up and gone back to their chambers."

"Like now," Catherine said with a chuckle.

"What other events can you remember?"

"Our wedding reception, the naming ceremony receptions…but most of all Winterfest celebrations," Catherine said. She continued to smile as Vincent picked up the litany after her.

"Mmm…" Vincent mused.

She sat up and turned around and looked at her husband. She still held his hand in hers.

"What's the matter, Vincent?"

"Unfortunately, my mind will wander to times when this place didn't hold good memories," he said.

"Oh Vincent, I know sometimes all one wants to do is remember the good times, but you must know by now that the bad memories pop up from time to time. I have bad memories, too, but I try not to dwell on them. I hope the last 30 years you have good memories?"

"The best memories, Catherine. I never thought I would have a life like this and it is times like these that I am truly thankful to the family who raised me and the family that you gave me," Vincent said. He saw Catherine's shining smile in the midst of the darkness and he could not resist bending forward with his unoccupied hand curving his thumb and forefinger under her upturned chin and kiss her.

Vincent pulled out of the kiss and watched as Catherine's eyes were still shut. She then opened her eyes and smiled her mischievous smile. She stood on her knees on the chair and placed her hands around her husband's neck.

"How I love you, Vincent," she said.

He held her tightly by her still slim waist and said started reciting one of his favorite Sonnets.

"'But love me for love's sake that evermore Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity," Vincent finished as Catherine had pulled back far enough to watch him as he recited Elizabeth Barret Browning's Sonnet 14.

"Vincent, I love that you chose that one on our anniversary. That was beautiful. You're beautiful," Catherine said.

Vincent blushed. Even after 30 years of marriage he still felt like his life with Catherine was still at the beginning even before they were married and started their journey in separate worlds. He looked up at her chuckling.

"Why are you smiling now?"

"Because I think I am the only one who can still get you to blush," Catherine remarked in an amused voice.

"I think you are," Vincent said chuckling.

They resumed their prior positions and then a memory sparked her to remember her first Winterfest and what happened afterward. She again turned around to look at her husband.

"Vincent, can I ask you a question?"

"What is it, Catherine," he said smiling remembering that same question from that long ago Winterfest. He loved playing along.

"Do you dance?"

This time instead of silently taking her in his arms for an answer. He quietly came close and whispered in her ear. "You know I do."

Catherine leaned into the vibrations that his breath and his voice caused. She quivered at the touch of his hand as it lightly stroked her shoulder. They breathed together and sighed.

Vincent being bold and wanting this special night not to end he said, "Let's dance in our chamber, wife."

Catherine laughed. "I thought you'd never ask."

They both rose from the table which had been cleared of the remnants of cake, food, and decoration. Catherine lifted the candle from the table and Vincent took it from her. He carried it to guide their way from the chamber. Before opening the doors which would blow both of them away from the draft, Vincent blew out the candle leaving it on a table next to the door. He hefted the doors open with his strength as the winds had changed direction during the late evening making it hard to open with just a push. Catherine stood there admiring her husband's great strength and look forward to his gentleness before they were done with their own celebration-just the two of them.

After closing the doors behind them and placing the restraining bolt across it, Vincent picked up the torch so they would not lose their way back to their chamber. Vincent could have picked his way in the dark and not missed a step but he knew that Catherine still had fears of complete darkness after all this time and so to reassure her he carried the light.

They made the trek back passing other families' private chambers and the nursery where the orphaned Tunnel children slept in the care of mothers and childless women who had learned at Mary's footsteps. They waved to Leyna as she had inherited Mary's spot as chief child caregiver. Soon after giving birth to little Catherine and returning to the Tunnels for good, Leyna discovered her own affinity for orphaned and abandoned children.

Finally making it past the chamber which was once Father's but now fulfilled the promise of being called a library, Vincent and Catherine were home.

Vincent placed the torch in the brace near the mouth of their chamber. Catherine lit one lone candle in its sconce on the table across from the bed. When the light hit the room, Catherine audibly gasped at what she saw.

Vincent with his acute hearing heard her sigh and strolled back into the chamber with a smile on his face. He watched as Catherine turned to him beaming.

"Lilacs and red rose petals? Where did this beautiful bedspread come from?"

"This is my gift to you. I asked the children what they thought their mother would like as a present. They answered this and that, but then it dawned on me that you never had a bridal bed."

"Well, we were past that when we did get married. We already had a child," Catherine said amused. "This is beautiful. I almost don't want to touch it."

Vincent smiled at her and silently coaxed her to reach out and feel it.

The bedspread was embroidered with an old fashioned lace applique in the shape of an "S". The coverlet itself was white satin and when Catherine ran her hand over the material she again audibly gasped at the softness. It does look fit for a new bride. I always feel that way, though. I have him and, at one time, I never thought I would have.

Catherine turned around after stroking the softness of the white satin disrupting the specific arrangement of petals and flowers on the spread. She walked toward Vincent and took his hand.

Vincent watched as Catherine's passion lit eyes found him. He let her take his hand and led him to their bed.