Chapter 26

"Catherine we don't know how I came into being! All I know is that I was born and I survived. But if I am a genetic anomaly or a scientific experiment, how could I ever consider having children? They could be born looking like me!"

A dreamy look came over face and with a smile, she said, "Oh Vincent I could just picture a tiny version of you! That would have to be the most adorable baby ever!"

Once again Vincent was stunned at Catherine's reaction to this topic. In the deepest secret place in his heart he did dream of having a child. But in his dream, the baby had always looked 'normal', hopefully taking after his or her mother, because Vincent had never encountered anyone else that looked like him.

"Even if that were true Catherine, where do you think I would find a woman who would want to have my child?"

"I believe there is that one special person that was meant just for us and when you find that lady I am sure that she would be overjoyed to have your child. In fact, if you want the truth, I wish this child I am carrying was yours!"

For Vincent the shocks just kept coming that night, as Catherine had closed her eyes to picture a child that looked like him. The emotional response he had felt within himself was one he had never allowed himself to believe would happen. To have a woman as breathtaking as Catherine say that she would wish to have a child of his! But at least he could understand why Catherine might wish that in her current situation she was carrying the child of a man she didn't know, a man capable of all sorts of violence. He at least was a known entity even looking the way that he did. As always, Vincent's first instinct was to help in anyway he could so he told her, "Catherine if you do decide to keep the baby and raise it you can count on me to be of any help that you might need."

"Thank you Vincent, I am sure that if I do keep the baby I will need all the help that I can get."

Vincent could tell that Catherine's heart had already made the choice her head had not yet admitted to. He promised himself that he would be there for her whatever she needed as she raised this child. He would even face Father and the council if Catherine wanted to move Below to have her baby.

Smiling at her, he said, "Catherine if that is the path you choose to take I am sure that you will be a wonderful mother."

An odd look came over her face and then a peace that told him her head and heart had caught up with each other. I never thought about being a 'mother'! All my thoughts so far had just been about the baby. My own mother died when I was only ten so I hope that I will have enough to draw on to be a good mother to my baby."

"Remember if you need any advice I am sure that Mary and Olivia would be happy to help you."

"I'm sure that I'll need all the help that I can get."

With Catherine's admission of her intent to keep and raise the baby something happened clear across town and even though it was past midnight her phone began to ring.

"I'm sorry Vincent I should answer that. People don't usually call this late unless it's important or an emergency."

Vincent nodded as he watched her get up, cross the room, and pick up the receiver. "Hello?" she said.

"Oh my god Cath! When did you get pregnant? How in the world did you let something like that happen? Are you going to get back together with Tom even though you broke off the engagement? And when the hell were you going to tell me about all this?" Jenny Aaronson demanded all in one breath.

Her heated questioning of Catherine had been loud enough for Vincent, with his excellent hearing, to hear every word.

Catherine couldn't help but smile at her good friend's tirade. Maybe knowing Jenny as long as she had was why the connection Vincent claimed to have with her hadn't come as such a shock. Jenny had been getting premonitions for as long as Cathy had known her, and they were usually right on the money. However, on this one she was only half right.

"Calm down Jenny! I haven't known about it very long myself and there will be no getting back together with Tom. He's not the father."

"Oh really? Then is it this new 'mystery guy' that has come into your life?"

To be continued….