Chapter 73

Vincent almost stumbled backwards off the balcony at the sight he beheld. Embarrassed that he had witnessed this moment of privacy, he was puzzled when he sensed Catherine's amusement through the Bond.

She slid her dress over her head and walked to the balcony doors. "Enjoy the show?" she teased with a smile.

"That was for my benefit?" he questioned.

"Who else's?" she asked.

"But Catherine how did you know I was here? I am sure I made no sound."

Looking slightly perplexed at that, she said, "I don't know. I just some how felt you were here."

More might have been said, questions about the Bond starting to work both ways, but before any of that could happen, there was a knock on the door.

"Daddy's early," she sighed. "Wait out here and I will come and get you in a moment," Catherine instructed, and with a quick hug she reentered the apartment and went to the door.

Charles stood there smiling at his daughter when she said, "You're early Daddy."

"I picked up some champagne to celebrate your engagement and it didn't take me as long as I thought it would. Are you going to ask me in, or should I stay out here another few minutes to be on time?"

With a sigh she took him by the arm and pulled him into the living room, "Come in Daddy!"

Charles looked around and not seeing anyone else said, "So I beat your Vincent here?"

"No, he's out on the balcony. I just wanted one more chance to remind you how much Vincent means to me and how special he is."

"I remember it all from lunch darling, I am not senile yet. Now you better get him in here before your superman tries to fly away."

Shaking her head and wishing that her father was taking this a little more seriously, she motioned for Vincent to come inside.

Charles had put the bottle of champagne down on the coffee table and then started to follow his daughter towards the balcony. He had just gotten around her little pull out love seat when the two of them came in through the bedroom door.

He stumbled back against the couch in shock. His beautiful daughter was standing there next to a hulking beastlike creature! She was even holding his fur-covered claw of a hand! This had to be the Vincent she had been telling him about, but how could she love this…creature?

"Daddy, this is Vincent," Catherine introduced him.

Seeing the shock on Charles Chandler's face, Vincent was glad that at least there wasn't fear there as well, that was usual reaction to his appearance. He softly said, "Mr. Chandler, I would never hurt you or your daughter. You have my word on that."

When Charles still didn't say anything, or move, Catherine pleaded, "Daddy please!"

Taking a deep calming breath, Charles pushed himself away from the couch he had been leaning on. Slowly stepping forward he held out his hand, "Hello Vincent," he said as he steeled himself to shake the 'hand' of this 'man'.

"It is an honor to meet you, Sir," Vincent assured him as the shook hands.

Up this close to Vincent, Charles could see the intelligence in his eyes. Maybe he wasn't a 'beast' after all and just an unfortunate soul that life had dealt a hard blow.

"You know, Vincent, if Cathy hasn't already talked to you about it, the surgeon that worked on her scars after the attack could probably help you as well…"

"DADDY!" Catherine gasped.

"I know darling, and I'm not sure what Dr. Sanderson could do about the genetic abnormalities, but he is a very skilled plastic surgeon, as you can see by Cathy's face, and he could probably get you fixed up enough that you could go out in public."

"Daddy! Vincent is beautiful the way he is and there is no way I would want to change a thing about him!" Catherine protested.

"What do you say Vincent? I would of course be willing to pay for the operations if you don't have insurance," Charles assured him.

To be continued….