Chapter 15: Ready or Not

Catherine's eyes wide with fear stared at the test until Tess finally shook her out of her trance.

"Cat," she says waving her hands in front of her face to get her attention. "According to this you are pregnant so what are you going to do?"

Cat opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She felt like she was about to hyperventilate her breathing became heavy suddenly and she felt like she was suffocating. She put her hands to her chest.

"Cat are you ok?" Tess asks noticing her best friend's panic-stricken face. "Oh no don't you dare start panicking Catherine Chandler. Just calm down it's not that bad maybe Vincent will be happy this time. You guys already have Ryan that's working out fine… right?" Tess says trying to comfort her best friend.

Cat sighs "Yes but Ryan has only been with us for not even a full day what if we can't handle it all"

"Cat you really need to talk to Vincent first I honestly think Vincent changed a lot over the last year his look on life is a lot different now. I mean look how quick he was to take Ryan in had that been Vincent two years ago that would have been a definite "hell no" so just talk to him first"

Catherine thought about it for a second then looked at the test in her hands "aren't these things wrong sometimes?"

"Cat are you serious, they are rarely wrong. They are 99.9% correct most of the time"

"You know what I want a second opinion I am going to set up a doctor's appointment just to make sure, this could be a false positive right?"

"Yes it could be but Cat you and I both know…" Cat cut Tess off

"…Then it's settled I won't tell him until I confirm it with the doctor"

Tess crossed her arms and smirked at her best friend who was in extreme denial "Cat"

Catherine held up her hand to stop her from talking about it more. "Don't Tess let's just get back to work"

After Cat washed her hands they both made their way back to their desk to finish working on cases. Every time Tess looked over at Cat she could tell she was thinking about it but was pretending not to. Tess would notice Cat staring off into space she would smirk and shake her head. She never has seen her friend in denial this bad before she found it hilarious. She knew that everything would be ok and that it would all work out. She just wished Catherine would see that too.

Hours later Vincent was on campus at JT's office filling out an application to get his license back. After he dropped Ryan off at school that was the first place he went. After the normal day he and Catherine had with Ryan, he knew that for them to keep their normal he had to step up and go back to doing what he loved the most.

"Now that the world knows you're not dead anymore it should be pretty easy for you to get your license back"

"That's good to know," Vincent says as he types away on JT's laptop.

"So what's it like to suddenly become dad overnight"

"It's not bad at all actually. Ryan is such a great kid"
"and how about Cat?"

"Catherine is fine as well she and Ryan get along great"

"So I've heard, Tess told me she came over this morning and saw your perfect little family" JT joked.

"Yes, and it was nice to hear her call us Kellers" Vincent smirked. "By the way, since Ryan came I've been thinking about asking Catherine to marry me"

JT's eyes widen "seriously?"

"Yes, I already know she is the one I don't want to be with any other woman but her. I might as well make it official. I got her ring this morning"

"Wow, you have really thought this whole thing out, haven't you? But how did you get the money?"

"I sold the boat house I have a couple of weeks before I have to move out but I am sure Catherine won't mind me moving in I practically stay there most nights anyway, with Catherine occasionally sea sick there it's a better choice."

"Dude I can't believe how things have changed so much with us. You have a girl I got a girl we aren't in hiding anymore. You're about to be married with a son, bet you didn't see this happening last year" JT joked.

"Definitely didn't, for the longest I was trying to figure out how to be with Catherine, and now that we are together everything is a lot clearer."

"Well you better not blow it this time Mr. Jekyll"

"I have no plans of ever hurting Catherine again in fact after I finish filling out this application and you call in that favor I am going to surprise her with a nice romantic dinner and propose"

"Well get to it man"

"Just so you know that means you and Tess are babysitting tonight" Vincent laughed

"Wait whoa! I don't know anything about babysitting kids"

"You and Tess might be parents soon you both could use the practice. Plus Tess had a bunch of nieces and nephews I am sure she knows something about taking care of a kid."

"Dude Tess and I just got together kids are not in our distant future. So you owe me big time you know that right"

"Yes I know I promise I'll pay you back somehow"

"You better," JT says with a smirk on his face.

Catherine and Tess were just coming from a witness house. They asked a witness more questions about her murdered husband. Something wasn't adding up Tess and Cat both felt the same way they were just trying to find the connection.

"Do you think she hired someone to kill him," Tess asked "because that's what I am leaning towards"

"I was thinking that too or maybe an affair gone badly," Cat says as she and Tess head back to the precinct.

"So we are definitely on the same page, I think she knows more than she is letting on her eyes were so shifty"

"You noticed that too"

"Definitely, something is up we have to keep an eye on her she may try to flee"

The rest of the drive back to the precinct was quiet Tess could tell Cat had a lot on her mind instead of asking her what she going to do she left her alone. The whole drive to the precinct Cat's mind seemed to be somewhere else she stared out of the window.

"Cat are feeling any better?" Tess asked as they got out of the car

"Not really I feel extremely lightheaded I have been trying to fight it," Cat says as she leans up against the car.

"That's it get back in the car I am driving you home"

"Tess no it's ok it will pass we got work to do"

"Cat stop being so stubborn and get back in the car. You can work from home the rest of the day I'll just call and email you with updates"

Cat didn't protest she couldn't if she tried soon as she sat down she laid her head against the door and closed her eyes to stop the spinning.

"You're probably lightheaded because you didn't eat enough"

"Tess every time I eat or even try I get nauseous. At least when I don't eat anything I am not puking my guts out"

"I hear you are supposed to eat small meals every so often throughout the day when you're pregnant"

Catherine sighed that word pregnant sounded all too real whenever Tess said it. She couldn't deny it anymore she knew she was pregnant her body had never been through anything like this before. Not even the stomach flu wasn't this unpredictable Cat moaned in agony she felt miserable.

"Oh god I am never having kids," Tess says she glances over at Cat she felt bad for her best friend. "Should I take you to the hospital?"

"No, I just wanna lay down I'll be ok"

Finally, Tess pulled up at Cat's apartment and helped her up to her fifth-floor apartment. Catherine was glad Vincent wasn't around she didn't know what to say to him yet.

"Cat I am going to get you some water you have any crackers?" Tess asked as she made her way into Cat's kitchen.

"I think so," Cat says as she walks her way to her room.

She lies down on her bed and closes her eyes again. Laying down definitely made her feel a lot better she heard Tess walk into the room and sit next to her on the bed. Tess racked some of the hair out of Cat's face. "I brought you crackers and water you should eat something"

"I will in a little while thanks Tess"

"Do you need anything else?"

"No I will be ok," Cat said finally opening her eyes to look at Tess.

"I am going to head back to work but you call me if you need anything, and I mean anything ok"

Catherine nodded "Thanks Tess"

"I'll talk to you later"

Cat lay there for a while until she felt well enough to drink water and eat the crackers Tess left for her. She didn't realize how hungry she was until she was almost done with the whole pack. Catherine hated that she had to leave work so early she wanted to stay and figure this case out with Tess. She looked at her phone and noticed a text from Vincent asking how her day was going. She replied back saying that everything was going fine. She then got up and got her laptop out of her bag in the living and started emailing Tess. Catherine and Tess both went back and forth for a while emailing notes and photos to each other about their murdered husband's case.

After about an hour that all too familiar nauseous feeling started to come back. Catherine sighed "Ugh! Not again" she groaned. She got up along with her laptop and took it to her bedroom so she could lie down again. Catherine lay on her side doing research on her computer trying to fight off her nausea nothing helped. Catherine felt it come up but got up too late and puked on the floor on the way to the toilet she also got some of her clothes. Cat was hating being pregnant already. After she finished puking she cleaned up the mess she made and then stripped out of her clothes to shower. She could barely stand in the shower she still felt nauseous and light-headed. She got cleaned up as best she could and quickly got out again so she could lie down.

As she tried to get dressed she got extremely dizzy only able to get on her underwear she laid back down everything around her was spinning. She closed her eyes again hoping that would help again and it did some. She pulled her blanket over herself and unintentionally fell asleep.

Vincent had just come from getting Ryan from school and headed to JTs to drop Ryan off for a couple of hours so he and Catherine could have a romantic evening together.

"Dad who is JT?" Ryan says as they walk their way into JT's place. Vincent smiled hearing Ryan call him dad he still wasn't used to it but he liked it.

"JT is my best friend, he is a cool dude you will like him"

As soon as Vincent opened the door to the gentleman's club Ryan was in awe like a kid in a candy store. He immediately ran over to JT's Xbox.

JT came walking out of his room just in time to see Ryan grabbing his Xbox controller.

"JT this is Ryan, Ryan this is my best bud JT"

"Nice to meet you, can I play this?" Ryan immediately asked.

JT chuckled "as long as you don't break it yes you can" Vincent turned on the TV and the game for Ryan.

"Well that will be easy babysitting for you, he'll probably play that the whole time he is here" Vincent laughs.

"Great" JT says sarcastically

"When are you expecting Tess?"

"Her and Cat are working some murder case she probably won't be here till six"

"That is great gives me enough time to make this dinner for Catherine I got to go to the market" Vincent turns to Ryan "I will be back to get you in a little while you be good for JT and Tess little guy"

"I will," Ryan says not taking his eyes off the screen.

Vincent went to the market to buy everything he needs to make a stir fry he was really good at making that and he knew Catherine would be impressed. Soon as Vincent got back to Cat's apartment he went straight for the kitchen taking out all the fresh vegetables he brought from the market a plus to being a beast he could easily pick out the fresh vegetables and fruits. Vincent texted Catherine while he cooked to see when she would be home he hadn't really paid attention to his surroundings and didn't even know that Catherine was right in the bedroom sleeping.

By the time stir fry was ready he check his phone again and still no reply. He started to worry. He decided to give her another chance to respond before he started to panic, he wanted to change his shirt into something nicer so he headed to the bedroom to change. It didn't take Vincent long to realize there was someone in the house with him as he made his way down the hallway he heard a heartbeat he knew all too well. As soon as he walked into the bedroom where she was laying on the bed sleeping peacefully. He frowned wondering what she was doing home so earlier. He walked over and kissed her on the forehead to try to wake her up she stirred slightly in her sleep but didn't wake up. Vincent thought of a good idea to wake her up he smirked as he climbed on the bed hovering over her. He started by kissing her on her neck. Then pulled her blanket off her only to realize she was bare his mouth dropped.

He smiled thinking she had planned to surprise him but fell asleep he continued to kiss her going lower leaving a trail of kisses down her chest to her breasts her navel and lower stomach. She moaned in her sleep but still wasn't fully awake yet so he kept going. He removed the only article of clothing she had on her panties.

Catherine felt everything Vincent did to her before her mind realized what was going on. She knew it was Vincent she could smell the aftershave he always wore but her mind didn't register that he was physically there. She thought she was dreaming and that what she was feeling was in her mind.

Vincent heard her whisper his name as he ran his hands along her smooth thighs. He parted her legs burring his face between them, he lightly stroked his tongue against the opening of her folds. She moaned as her eyes slowly started to open and she realized she was not dreaming. He continued to tease her with his tongue as she took hold of his hair. She mumbled something incoherent to Vincent as he feasted at her throbbing core. Waves and waves of pleasure stole Catherine's breath away she squealed every time his tongue lightly brushed her sensitive nub.

Vincent watched as her back arched and her thighs tighten on his head as he sent her over the edge with his hurricane tongue. Her sweet moans and panting were music to his ears he kissed his way back up her body as she came down from her orgasm. He kissed her navel and he paused when he heard that sound again all this time he was thinking that beating was coming from her heart but it was coming from her stomach. Realization kicked in when he placed his ear to her belly he was stoned shocked. Catherine sat up quickly as she watched Vincent's reaction she knew he figured it out.

"You're pregnant" he muttered.

Catherine nodded

"How long have you known, when were you going to tell me?" Vincent stood up and started pacing back and forth.

"I just found out today Vincent honestly I was going to tell you I just didn't know how or when yet"

He sighed and turned to her "How far along are you?"

"I don't know if I had to guess between four maybe six weeks, I don't know"

Vincent stood in place staring at Catherine his face hard to read from her point of view. Catherine wrapped herself up with her blanket as she got up and walked over to him.

"I am sorry," Catherine says grabbing his hand.

"Catherine it's not your fault it takes two but how could this happen? You're on the pill right?"

"Yes"

"You were taking them correctly"

"Yes Vincent of course"

He tried to think back to weeks ago he was a fugitive and the whole New York was looking for him and the mix made in hell Gabe was still alive. Vincent looked over at Catherine she looked troubled he could tell she was afraid of what he might say. She looked beautiful already she was glowing he couldn't be disappointed by the situation even if he felt like he should be. He knew how dangerous this could be and yet the thought of Catherine being pregnant with his child wasn't bothering him as it had in the past.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap at you this took me by surprise," Vincent says as he pulled her into his arms.

"It took me by surprise too I've been in denial about it for too long but with me getting sick the way I have there is no denying anymore" she sighed staring into his brown eyes

"So you lied. You were sick I knew it. Your heartbeat was off the charts when you walked out of here this morning. So Tess knows?"

"Yes but only because she suspected it and brought me a test" Catherine still wasn't sure about what Vincent thought about the whole thing.

"Catherine I am scared for you, what if this baby hurts you or you have complications. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you"

"Vincent I am scared too but this baby is ours it's part of you and me and I don't want to give up on our normal out of fear"

He smiled down at her gorgeous eyes "I want us to be happy so if this is what you want then I want it too" he says pulling her into a strong embrace. He heard her stomach rumble as he pulled away from her.

"Hungry?"

"I am always hungry but I don't want to eat I am tired of puking," she says as she turns to grab some clothes to put on.

"Oh no you don't," Vincent says pulling her back in his arms.

"I like it when you are in the nude" he pulls the blanket she had wrapped around her open. He shook his head as he admired her beautiful body. "I can't believe this is all mine"

Catherine smirked at his compliment wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his lips. When they broke away from their kiss he pulled her to the kitchen and sat her down at the table he had ready with the candles lit.

"So you are going to make me eat in the nude?" Cat teased.

"Yes. One because I want to stare at your beautiful body while I eat and two because I am not done with you yet" he says as he plants a kiss on her forehead and goes into the kitchen to grab the stir fly on the stove.

"Well if I am eating in the nude then I want you in the nude too" Cat flirted.

Vincent sat down the stir fry and immediately stripped out of his clothes with no hesitation and sat down across from her and piled both of their plates up with food.

"You know this is not how I pictured our romantic dinner going" Vincent laughed "in fact, I had everything planned out. We were supposed to be fully dressed of course but I like this improvise"

Catherine smiled as she took a small fork full of her food she dreaded getting nauseous again.

"You ok?" he asked noticing her slow eating.

"Yes, I just really don't want to get sick again. Your stir fry is really delicious though"

"I know it's been hard on you but you have to eat. You have to start with small light meals till you get through the first trimester I promise it's not like this the whole time."

Catherine nodded "So where is Ryan?"

"With JT and Tess for a while, we have the house all to ourselves"

"Well, I guess we are just going to have to make good use of that" Catherine says as she stood up and walked over to Vincent then straddling his lap. She claimed his lips and her hands grabbed a hold of his awaking erection. She pleasured him with her hands leaving kisses on his neck and chest. He groaned as the need to be inside her took over him and he could wait no more. He grabbed a hold of her hips lifting her up and brings her down on his hard member. They both let out a moan at the feel of each other making eye contact in a trance as Catherine slowly guided her hips up and down on his. Their pace slow at first as they savored the feel of each other. Eventually, the pace quickened their panting and moans filled the room as ecstasy taking over them. She whispered his name as she felt her insides contracting his every thrust pushed her more and more close to the edge.

"Cum for me baby," Vincent said in her ear he need her too cause he was not about to last another stroke. On command, he watched as her body arched and she fell apart in his arms. He came soon after locking his arms around her he stood up and placed them both on the couch in the living room.

"I love you some much Vincent"

"Why because I sexed you up?" he laughed.

"Yes and no" Catherine joked "I love just because you're you"

"Well I love you more," he says as gets up and digs into his packet off his pants. "I got something for you," says as he walks back to her and sits down.

"What is it?"

Vincent places a small velvet red box into her hand. Immediately Catherine's mouth drops as she opens the box with shaky hands. Catherine immediately gasped as she stared at the 2-carat princess-cut white gold ring. Catherine felt tears forming in her eyes.

"Catherine Chandler I love you more than life it's self we have been through so many ups and downs and still you are there supporting me and loving me, you are my everything and all I want is you. You mean the world to me I couldn't ask for a better woman to be my wife will you marry me and become Mrs. Vincent Keller?"

"Yes of course I will," Catherine said as a tear rolled down her cheek. Vincent slide the ring into her hand smiling proudly the ring he picked out was perfect it fit her perfectly and it looked beautiful on her hand. Catherine jumped into his arms kissing him deeply a few more tears escaped her eyes. He picked her up carrying her back into the room they share where they reconnected again they made love strengthening their bond and sealing the deal as eternal lovers.

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