Chapter 60

"Do you really think he might give his approval? After all I don't think he was too impressed with Jenny when he met her."

"It is not just Father that has to approve of something like this Catherine. A vote is taken by the Council, but it would be good to have Father on our side in any case. There is one other thing I am wondering if you have thought of in all this, Catherine."

"What would that be Vincent?"

"How your father might react to meeting me…"

She started to answer without even thinking, "Oh I am sure he will love you almost as much as I…" then she saw him spread his fur covered hands in front of her and she stopped for a moment. After considering her words for a bit, she said, "Vincent, look how well Jenny took to meeting you! If I tell my father how much I love you and how much you mean to me, I am sure he will be fine. I might even throw in the fact that you were the one that saved my life the night of the attack!"

"Catherine, about that…have you told your father that you are going to have a child?"

"No…don't you think that might be a lot to hit him with all at once?"

"I do not know your father, of course, but if you do not explain about the baby he would most likely conclude that as your fiancé, I would be the likely father."

"Would that be so bad Vincent? We did talk about that very thing."

"True, but having a son-in-law that looks like I do is one thing. What would he feel about a grandchild like this?" he questioned, gesturing to himself.

"Well we know this one won't Vincent, but I do want to have your baby one day too! I would be thrilled with a child that looks like you!"

"Catherine how can you say that?" he gasped.

"It's true Vincent! You are beautiful to me and I would love to have a son or daughter, or even both, that looks just like you!"

"But Catherine you know how limited my life is! How could you wish that on our child?"

"What limits other that living Above? I can tell you that isn't always so great! You have warmth, clothes to wear, food to eat, books to read! You in fact have had an incredible education! You have music and plays, as well as natural wonders that stir the soul. There are other children to play with. He or she will have two parents that love them as well as grandparents and an Aunt Jenny that will too. How could any child ask for more than that?"

Vincent couldn't help but sit there and marvel at the woman in front of him. All of his life he had bemoaned the fact that he was trapped Below, all the while yearning to be Above. Here in the space of a few minutes Catherine had shown him how selfish he had been and made him ashamed of not being grateful for the life that he did have. Once thing above all the others that she had said though, stood out to him. He had always felt the abandonment of being tossed out as he had been, unwanted and unloved. If he and Catherine did have a child that looked like him, that child would be welcomed into their family with all the love they had to give. No child could have a better start in life than that! "You are right Catherine. Although I do not know if it is possible for me to father a child, if we do have a baby of our own, it will be as loved and as cherished as the one that you are carrying now."

"Thank you Vincent! I knew you would understand. And this child," she put her hand on her tummy, "could have no better father than you!"

"When do you want to tell your father?"

"Well since this is Friday I will talk to him on Monday at the office and then how about meeting him that evening here for dinner?"

"Why not some time this weekend Catherine?"

"Because I am thinking that we will be busy with each other this weekend." She smiled and then asked, "You don't teach any classes on the weekends do you?"

"No, we allow the children time off of school just like Above students."

"So you could stay…" she trailed off suggestively.

To be continued….