The Same Last Name

A/N Okay, here is what you all have been waiting for! Please feel free to squeeeellllllllll!

Chapter 17

Everywhere she looked, she saw flames. Once her eyes adjusted, Catherine realized what she was seeing was literally hundreds of candles, placed on every flat surface. Soft music played in the background. A table was set up in the center, and a dinner set for two was upon it. Catherine could smell steak and potatoes, and her mouth watered.

Her eyes came to rest on the man standing next to the table. He was in a suit. In his arms, were a couple dozen roses. He smiled widely.

"Vincent..." Catherine breathed out. He approached her slowly, and held out the roses. Catherine took them, and inhaled their scent. Deciding to play with him, she batted her eyes coyly.

"Well, I was suppose to meet a client here. Have you seen him?"

Vincent caught on. "Well, it's amazing how fast someone will leave when they are offered enough money..."

Catherine smiled widely. "Well, since he's gone..."

Vincent chuckled. "So, Miss Keller, would you care to have dinner with a slightly stupid and slow witted person instead?" he said, as he crooked his elbow her way.

Catherine took the invitation, placing her hand in the crook. Vincent smiled, and led her to the table. Pulling out her chair, he guided her into it. She placed the roses on the table beside her. Vincent sat down across from Catherine.

"The roses are lovely. Thank you!" Catherine told him. Vincent smiled.

"They pale in comparison to your loveliness," Vincent told her. Catherine wanted to melt.

"My, but you are a sweet talker. Do you talk to all the ladies like that?" Catherine flirted.

"Only the ones I'm in love with," Vincent told her, point blank.

Catherine sobered. "Vincent, about that..."

"No! We aren't going to talk about that right now. There is time for that later. Right now, I want to enjoy this delightful meal with the beautiful and sexy woman that is sitting across from me."

"Yes, I think that would be delightful, Mr Keller."

As they tucked into their meal, each studied the other covertly. Their eyes clashed several times, and each time, Catherine felt the room getting warmer. She could swear that Vincent was undressing her with his eyes.

Vincent took in the perfection that was Catherine. From the first moment that she opened the door, he was lost. When he saw her in that smoking hot dress, his pants had tightened painfully. It took everything he had to stay where he sat, when his every instinct was to grab her and kiss her till they passed out from lack of oxygen.

Catherine was entertaining similar thoughts. Sure, she had seen him in a suit before, but that had been when they had gotten married. She had to admit, he definitely wore it well.

"So," Vincent started, breaking the comfortable silence, "Is everything to your liking?"

"Yes, everything is perfect. I can't believe you remembered..."

"That steak and potatoes is your favorite meal? Of course I remembered."

"This is wonderful. I can't believe you went to all this..."

"Don't say "trouble," because this was my pleasure."

"It's all delectable, really."

Vincent smiled. 'Perfect...'

Once they finished their meal, Vincent stood up and rounded the table. He held out his hand. "May I have this dance, Miss Keller?" he asked, as a romantic slow song started. Catherine smiled and took his hand.

Pulling her away from the table, he guided her to the dance floor. Vincent pulled Catherine close, and she laid her head on his shoulder. As they swayed to the music, they closed their eyes and breathed in each other's unique scents.

"You look so beautiful, Catherine," Vincent murmured against her hair.

And you look very handsome, Vincent," Catherine breathed out. Vincent pulled her even closer.

"Catherine, I was an ass. I should have told you from the beginning how I felt. I just didn't know how..."

"It's alright. I...haven't been honest either," Catherine divulged. Vincent pulled back to look at her face. His held a question. "I...lied before. I do love you. Truth is, I never actually stopped."

"Oh, Catherine..." Vincent inhaled deeply. Seconds later, his lips captured hers.

His hands twisted into her hair, guiding her mouth where he wanted it to go. Catherine willingly complied, her arms wrapped around his torso. Time held no meaning to them as they lost themselves in each other.

Finally, Vincent pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. His voice husky, he said, "I am so in love with you. I never knew it was possible to feel like this. We could live a thousand more years, and I'll still be just as in love with you as I am right now. You complete me, Catherine."

Catherine stared at Vincent, his words washing over her. She felt tears gathering in her eyes. "Oh...Vincent..."

"I know I have no right to ask you this, and I'll understand if you aren't ready," Vincent said, just before he got down on one knee in front of her. Catherine gasped into her hand. Vincent reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black box. Opening it, he revealed a beautiful diamond ring. "Catherine, I never got the chance to do this properly the first time, so I hope I can do this the right way now. Catherine Keller, you are the most beautiful, funny, unselfish, caring and nurturing woman I have ever met. I would be honored and humbled if you would agree to become my wife again. I promise you, I will spend everyday for the rest of our lives showing you how special you are to me. I will share everything with you. The good and the bad. I will never make you feel unloved or unappreciated. I will never go a day with out telling you how much I love you. Will you marry me, again? And this time, it will be forever."

"Vincent...yes..." she whispered. The tears that had gathered began to spill down her cheeks.

Standing up, Vincent pulled the diamond out of the box and slid it on her finger. Pulling her toward him, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. His fingers brushed against her cheeks, gathering the tears.

"Does it fit?" he asked quietly. Catherine stared at the ring.

"Yes. How did you know my size?" Catherine asked.

Wordlessly, Vincent pulled out his wallet. Opening it, he withdrew a wide gold band. He held it up to her gaze. It took Catherine a moment to realize what it was. Once she did, she gasped again.

"My wedding ring! You've kept it all this time?" she asked, wonder filling her voice.

"I have," Vincent told her simply.

"Can I ask why?"

"Because, after I came home and saw that sitting on the table, it hit me that I was desperately in love with my wife. I've carried it with me ever since."

"I thought that by leaving it behind, it would prove to you that I believed our marriage was over. I'm so sorry I behaved the way I did. It was the biggest mistake I ever made."

"You know what my biggest mistake was?"

"What?"

"Not going to the ends of the Earth to find you..."

"Well, Mr Keller. I can honestly say that you will never have to worry about me leaving ever again."

Pulling her into his arms once again, he said against her hair, "I'm counting on it..."

A/N Yay! Okay, the whole Alex deal will be covered in the next chapter. Was it worth the expectation? Review!