They got dressed, stealing glances at each other and smiling shyly like a couple of teenagers caught on the act. Nobody caught them but it still felt like… something naughty.

- And we still need to talk… - came Vincent's solemn voice.

- Way to break the mood, Keller, - Catherine tried to shake it off but then sighted, - but yes, we do.

Last night was magical. It turned into magical day and one more magical night to follow. But in no way it resolved all the unspoken things that were hanging between them – so they needed to talk it through.

They got cozy on a recliner again, Catherine's head resting on Vincent's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat…

- Catherine… - he felt reluctant to start such a touchy subject but he needed to, - you've asked me once if I have feelings for Alex. And I do.

He stiffened waiting for her to react to it, to show some signs of the pain this confession has inflicted on her. But none came. She trusted him to love her – apart from that she only waited for further explanations.

- Alex used to be a very important part of my life. She helped me through a very dark period of my life. And for that I will be forever grateful to her… and I will always be there if she needs me.

Again, Catherine didn't even flinch on this confession. She only whispered:

- Me too. If she needs me – I will be there too. I owe her for you.

Vincent raised his head to look at the night sky. How? How this girl could exist at all and why was he given a happiness to be loved by her?

- Catherine, about that too… Why do you have this complex for "owing" people? You owe nothing to Alex; you definitely owe nothing to me!

She set up on the recliner and watched him for a long time. She was trying to form words to explain that he was so wrong… about being so right:

- Vincent… I don't owe Alex anything out of the guilt that I got you and she didn't. I owe her a debt of gratitude for being there when you needed support. The same debt I owe JT. But it doesn't mean that I will go against myself or against us to pay that debt…

She collected her thoughts and continued:

- My mom… without knowing it… she contributed to changing your life… to this. But… I had nothing to do with it. I owe my mom me trying to fix it, to make it right… and I would go to a great length for this… but not as far as falling in love with all the victims of this terrible experiment. I love only you.

Catherine took his palm to her hands entwining their fingers:

- You've saved my life so many times. But so did Tess. So did Evan just recently. I love only you… And keeping your secret has endangered my life quite often so I guess you owe me just as much… so we're even on this front.

And before his guilt broke through her speech she followed up the latest statement:

- But I regret nothing! I chose to be with you, chose to protect you, to be protected by you… to keep you all to myself and not share you with a bunch of loud friends at parties… to have dates with you at my fire escape and your rooftop greenhouse… to lose my mind when I see you… to have your body burning only for me…

- Catherine, stop!

Vincent was breathing heavily, her words woke up that huger he could never to satisfy… never enough of her.

He touched their foreheads and said:

- Catherine, I promise… I vow my life to you. I will fight to make it a better life – for you, for me, for us… but till the day we win this fight… whatever I am, whatever I have… it belongs to you. From this day forth I am yours. Rule wisely.

Silence broke into the night. Their eyes were close so they could see better… their hopes, their plans, their future… no longer two different lives – one life.

- Catherine… dance with me.

And music was there to say what words could not fully express. The birth of a new star.

talenevertold.

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Take away paragraphs and you'll get the song. Close your eyes and try picturing Vincent and Catherine dancing... you know what it's like..

THE END

Author's Note:

I said it before - it was meant to be a one-shot. A gift to a friend.

If anyone is interested, the original story consisted loosely of chapters 1-4, partially chapter 5, chapters 10-11 and 14.

But then I got into writing it down and the story grew faster than I could conceal it with my words. I fell in love with characters and back stories I initially intended to use only as props... I had more ideas than I needed and I couldn't choose my favorite so I used them all... It just got bigger than one-shot... I'm not sorry about it.

And now it's done. As of now it's a headcanon, something I can see happening in the show... even though it won't. But now I lived through this little story and I like BatB a little bit more now - because now I feel like I shared something with it, something creative...

And now I will go and:

a) watch the latest episode (I was on a self-inflicted hiatus till I finish Cry Out)

b) I will re-read this story in one go trying not to flinch every time I will find a grammar mistake or a typo

c) I will read other BatB fanfiction - I already have my list

d) I will think of a new headcanon

Till then - thank you all for reading, for supporting, for waiting and for being positive about my writing =) You have no idea how much all of you influenced the outcome of this story just by being here. Thank you for it!