Chapter 4

Vincent is sitting on the fire escape, he is anxious; he raced right over, beating Catherine home. At least he is hoping he just beat her home, when in reality, he is really worried that she might have gone home with Michael. So he waits, determined not to leave and stay as long as it takes….

Fortunately it is not very long. Vincent hears Catherine at her door. She is not alone. He braces himself for whatever he is going to hear next.

"Thank you for walking me to the door Michael that was very sweet."

Michael is hoping for an invitation to stay…..He is about to be disappointed, because before he can respond Catherine hears Vincent on the fire escape…..growling.

"Do you have a dog?"

Catherine covers nicely.

"I do and he is not trained very well"….she knows Vincent can hear her…."He's been cooped up for awhile and I really should get changed and walk him, don't want any accidents in the house! Thanks for a lovely evening but I really need to go."

Before Michael can speak, he finds himself staring at the outside of Catherine's door.

"I'll call you next week about drinks!" He yells through the door.

"Sounds great!"

With those words, Catherine whips open the curtains and finds Vincent sitting on the fire escape steps, looking apologetic.

"I am so sorry, it was a reflex, I really didn't mean to growl at him."

Catherine sighs.

"You might as well come in."

Vincent gracefully comes through the window. Catherine can't help but admire his feline grace and subconsciously she compares it to Michael, who of course comes up short.

Vincent stands there staring at her; he has so much to say, but no idea how to start. He clears his throat but Catherine speaks first.

"Pour me a glass of wine; while I get out of this dress, if we are going to talk, I want to at least be comfortable."

Catherine heads to her bedroom, once inside she closes the door and leans back against it. Be strong! She tells herself, you are just going to talk to him…..only talk!

She changes her clothes and brings out a shirt and jeans for Vincent. She hands them to him nervously, reminded of their shared intimacy.

"I had these here, if you want to get out of that suit."

Catherine sits down on the couch drinking her wine while Vincent changes. She has slept with that shirt for weeks. So much that it doesn't even smell like him anymore it smells like her.

Vincent changing his clothes in the bathroom notices that his shirt smells like Catherine. He closes his eyes and savors her scent.

When he walks back out, his eyes go directly to Catherine. She is sitting on the couch, feet up, watching him.

He kneels down in front of her and places his arms on either side of her.

"I need to tell you something and I need for you to hear me out, can you do that?"

Catherine nods her head.

Vincent takes a deep breath.

"I love you."

At those words Catherine starts, and Vincent gently places his hands on her arms.

"You promised to hear me out."

Catherine settles back down.

"I know you may not believe me, but I have never stopped loving you. Catherine….. Even after I made you shoot me and even after I turned away from you in anger and confusion, you were always there, pulling me back.

I have made mistakes and for awhile I lost my way. I know I have some work to do to regain your trust. You have to believe me when I say I never want to hurt you again."

Catherine looking into Vincent's eyes believes him, this is her Vincent looking back at her, but that is here and now, she is afraid, afraid to open her heart to him again.

"Did you love Tori?" Catherine drops her head, afraid of his answer.

Vincent lifted her chin and looked directly into her eyes.

"No…..no I did not, and maybe that makes what I did worse. When she first kissed me, it caught me off guard and it took too long but I stopped her. After you shot me, well I had no reason to stop her, but after you were held hostage things changed. I could feel the difference in me when I was around you. When Tori was around I was agitated and on edge, not comfortable in my own skin. But when I was with you, I felt like myself. I knew that my reaction to Tori wasn't real. I tried to explain it to her, but I barely understood what was happening. She thought she loved me, but she was just afraid of being alone.

He stopped and took a deep breath.

"Before Tori died, I broke things off with her. I finally had the strength to push her away and feel something normal. Then she died and the fog lifted and once it did all I could think about was you. It is always you; my feelings for you are why that female beast had no affect on me tonight."

"Had no effect?"

"Yes, she was sent in to distract me, while the male beast was dealing with Sam and Dana. But she had no effect on me. When I touched her I knew she was a beast, but no matter what she did to try and distract me, it was easy to fight it. The male beast was shocked that it did not work. JT thinks it has something to do with the way I feel about you because apparently it's not normal for a male beast to resist a female. But for me it was easy I looked at her as a threat and that was it."

Vincent pauses to gauge how Catherine is taking all of it, her heart is racing.

"I'm scared; I want to believe you, but….

Catherine doesn't know what to say, her thoughts are jumbled.

"I need some time Vincent; this is all a little overwhelming."

Vincent stands up and backs away from her, after everything he has done he will not pressure her.

"OK…..Can I ask you something?"

"Yes"

"Why did you come back for me at the dance?"

Catherine thinks a moment, then answers.

"Because….. I love you too."

He starts toward her. But she stops him by putting her hands up.

"I love you, but I am not sure I can trust you."

Vincent hears her words and they go straight to his gut, he doesn't know what to say to her. He looks at her, at the pain in her eyes. Knowing he put it there, knowing he has broken her.

"I am so sorry Catherine…I will leave you alone….." He turns to leave.

"Vincent wait!" Catherine gets up off the couch. "I listened to you, now I need you to listen to me." She gestures at the couch for him to sit down.

"I said I am not sure I can trust you, but how can you trust me."

He looks at her confused.

"When you came back with no memory of me, of us, it was so painful. The whole time you were missing, I never gave up on you; I never stopped looking for you. I tried so hard to bring you back and it felt like we were almost there when Tori showed up. I knew she had an effect on you, and I knew how angry you were with my Father and instead of listening to you, and working with you, I pushed and put out ultimatums, I know that I am responsible for some of what has happened between us. I lost faith too Vincent, I should have kept fighting for you. I know the man you are and I should have fought for him, but instead I just walked away and let Tori win. I am sorry for that Vincent, I am sorry that I left you all alone."

Catherine is trying to keep it together. Vincent is staring at her.

"So what I want to know is, you say you love me, but do you trust me?"

Vincent without hesitation answers her.

"Yes"

Catherine is surprised by this.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know you, I know your heart. We may stumble and we make mistakes, but at the end of the day, I know you….. The woman I am in love with has the heart of a lion and the soul of an angel." Vincent smiles at Catherine. "Not the silly ones with wings, the bad ass ones, the warrior kind." He steps towards her. "She is the one who ran inside that ballroom tonight." He cups her face in his hands. "She is the one who was going to take on a beast for me tonight and that woman is easy to love and easy to trust." He holds himself still, looking into her eyes.

He can see the moment she forgives him. Catherine takes her hand and places it on his cheek, where his scar used to be. "You saved me tonight, instead of going after those beasts. You choose me."

"I will always choose you." He leans closer to her, waiting, silently asking permission.

Catherine closes the distance between them and kisses him. Tentatively at first, they stop, pull back and gaze at each other; Vincent's thumb gently caresses her cheek. He looks deep into her eyes and vows.

"I promise Catherine that will never change."

With those words, Catherine lets go and kisses him hard and that is all the encouragement he needs. He picks her up, she wraps her legs around his waist and he walks with her to the bedroom. He doesn't stop kissing her until he places her on the floor at the foot of her bed.

"Are you sure about this?" He tucks her hair behind her ear, and rubs his hands down her arms. He is giving her an out; he wants to make sure this is what she wants.

Catherine smiles and steps closer to him. She puts her arms around him and puts her head against his chest. She speaks softly, knowing he can hear her.

"More than anything." She lifts her face to him and he feels like he is staring into the sun, she is overwhelming, she is his everything.

He kisses her slowly, taking his time, savoring the way she tastes; she moans into his mouth and slides her tongue against his. His hands slide up her back, one of them behind her neck the other pulling her even closer, up to her toes.

Vincent is on fire, the scent of Catherine is everywhere, and he buries his face in her neck, deeply inhaling her.

"Take me to bed Vincent." Catherine breathes softly.

He takes off her clothing one piece at a time, unwrapping her slowly. She stands before him in her bra and panties. She takes off his clothes, his shirt first, running her hands up his chest and circling his nipples with her fingers, they stand at attention begging for her command.

She unbuckles his belt and unzips his pants, sliding them down; when she gets to the floor she stays there and runs her hands back up his thighs. His cock brushes against her face and she clasps him in her hands. She brings him to her mouth and almost brings Vincent to his knees. Her tongue flicks around the head as her hands cup his sack. She pulls him deep into her throat. Vincent holds her still trying to maintain control. Catherine growls and the vibration rockets up his spine and curls back low in his belly. He can't take anymore; he pulls her up and kisses her hard. She kisses him back, their tongues licking and sliding around each other.

He picks her up and lays her on the bed. He takes his time, settling himself between her thighs he kisses her neck, moving lower to her breasts. She arches up to him as he takes her nipple into his mouth. Her breath comes faster and he laves it with his tongue, her hips flex beneath him. He wedges his thigh against her core, she rides it seeking relief. But Vincent is nowhere close to letting her finish.

He moves over to her other nipple giving it the same attention. He moves lower, sliding his mouth against her navel. She looks down at him, he senses her gaze and looks up at her letting his eyes glow, and he can feel the answering rush of moisture on his thigh. He moves lower, burying his face in her center, he licks and sucks at her clit. Catherine arches up, her back bowing. Vincent runs his hands down her thighs, marveling in her strength. He is humbled by her trust in him. Her hips writhe and she is panting. He can tell she is close. Vincent comes up and stops himself right at her entrance. Catherine reached down and guides him into her; she cups his balls as he seats himself the root. Vincent arches his neck back, his beast is close to the surface, his eyes are glowing and his muscles are thickening. Catherine sensing Vincent's struggle, brings her hands up to his face and pulls him down to kiss him. She tames his beast and the man is back in control. He buries his face in her shoulder as he lets go and slams into her again and again, she lifts up to meet him stroke for stroke. He lifts her hips and pistons hard and fast. Catherine holds on panting in his ear, her tongue darts out to ring his ear and he is lost, he arches back and pours himself into her, as he lets go Catherine comes apart around him, milking him dry.

They lay there entwined, arms and legs. Both are trying to catch their breath, Vincent pulls out of her and she frowns at the loss of him. He smiles at her and scoops her up against him, curling himself around her. Her bottom is pressed against him and his hand is on her breast, not because he is trying to stimulate her, but just because it belongs there. He kisses the back of her neck and she nestles even further into him. He kisses her shoulder and falls asleep with a smile on his face.

Catherine can feel Vincent fall asleep. She knows they have some work to do, she knows that it won't be easy, but she also knows there is no where she would rather be, and he is finally home.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Vincent." She says softly as she falls asleep.