AN: So beasties are still alive..yayyy!..lol I'll keep writing, thanks for your reviews guys. Enjoy

Chapter 4: All is changed with time

Catherine sat on Vincent's sofa curled up in a throw blanket, Vincent had his air conditioner on extremely cold, as usual, he was always hot. Once she had got inside his apartment she headed straight for the shower, and after she got out she had put on one of Vincent's shirts. She knew once Vincent got back she wouldn't have that shirt on long so she didn't bother putting on anything else. She had made herself comfortable on the couch and turned on Netflix. She was flipping through movies trying to figure out what to watch. She eventually couldn't decide so she chose to catch up on TV and picked Scandal instead.

Catherine was nearly finished with an episode of Scandal when she realized Vincent hadn't come back yet. JT only lived ten minutes away and neither the corner store nor the grocery store was very far away depending on which one he decided to go to. So she definitely knew he should be home by now she called his cell and got no answer. She tried not to panic and think the worse. Maybe he got caught up grocery shopping she tried to convince herself. She decided once it is been past a full hour then she would worry.

That hour came and she tried his cell phone again, and again no answer. That definitely wasn't like Vincent, he had always answered her calls and if he couldn't he would at least text. Now she was starting to panic. She suddenly wished she had JT's phone number but JT was Vincent's friend she didn't really need to have it she didn't associate with him unless she was with Vincent.

It was going on hour two when her phone rang she thought it was Vincent but saw it was her mother.

"Hey mom"

"Catherine where are you?"

"I am at Vincent's why?" she asked hearing panic in her voice.

"I just got off the phone with his mother he has been in a serious accident and is at the hospital"

Catherine felt like time and space had stopped as shock took over her. She had thought she heard her mother wrong "what?"

"Catherine you need to get down to New York general now, it's really bad. Do you need me to come to get you?"

Catherine felt her hands starting to shake it took her several long seconds to find the words to answer her mom. "yes"

"I'll be there soon you just hang on OK sweetie"

Catherine hung up her phone just as tears spilled from her eyes. She let out a soft sob as she thought about possibly losing Vincent. She felt almost numb like she couldn't believe this was happening. She looked down at her shirt realizing she needed to change before her mother came. As soon as she stood up she felt weak, her knees almost buckled but she managed to keep herself upright.

"God this can't be happening," she said aloud as she walked into Vincent bedroom to grab some spare clothes that she often leftover his house.

She could barely get her clothes on as her tears blinded her eyes.

Please let him be ok please she kept thinking over and over in her head. Felt like an hour went by before the time Catherine's mom finally arrived it only had been twenty minutes.

"Mom, what happened?" Catherine asked as soon as she climbed into the front seat.

"Sarah said that Vincent was driving around a sharp corner and got into a head-on collision with a semi-truck"

Catherine gasped picturing it in her mind and more tears spilled from her eyes. A sob threatened to come at the back of her throat but she managed to keep it in.

"The doctors say he is in critical condition he hit his head and broke his leg"

"Oh my god" Catherine covered her mouth as they drove by the scene of the accident. Catherine could no longer hold back her sob she completely lost it seeing Vincent's car upside down and smashed up in a ditch. The semi-truck was smashed in the front and you could see it had caught fire at some point in time, police and a few firemen were left clearing the scene.

Vanessa tried to console Catherine as best as she could while she continued to drive.

"Catherine you have to be strong Vincent is going to be ok, you know he loves you so much he will fight to get back to you have to have faith OK"

Catherine nodded wiping away her tears, she tried to stop crying but the tears wouldn't stop she was so scared.

Catherine and her mom arrived in the emergency department waiting room where they found Vincent's parents. Vincent's mother was a lot calmer than Catherine was but you could see the worry on her face as well as his dad.

They all sat in the waiting room for hours, and along the way, Vincent's brothers William and Daniel and their wives showed up as well as Heather. They were pretty much quiet for the most part all trying to keep hope that Vincent would be OK. Everyone held Catherine's hand at some point in time she cried quietly on and off thinking about how awful her life would be without Vincent.

Finally, a doctor came out to give everyone some news. They all stood up holding hands hoping and praying for good news.

"We did all that we could but now it's all up to God and Vincent. He suffered a severe brain injury and we had to perform surgery to remove blood clots and also to relieve swelling. Unfortunately, Vincent's injuries are very significant and he slipped into a coma after surgery. After a few days of healing, we should be able to tell if he will make a full recovery. As of right now, he is in a coma, we are not sure when he will wake up and there is a very high possibility that he may not ever awaken just from the severity of his injuries."

Catherine felt fresh tears coming down her cheeks as she let the words of the doctor sink in.

"I need to see him, when can we see him," she asked. she knew if anyone could get him back it would be her.

"Vincent is in intensive care so he can only take a few visitors for a short time tonight once he gets moved to a recovery room he can have more visitors."

"Catherine why don't you let Vincent's parent go in first and then you can go in afterward the rest of us can just try later"

Catherine nodded to her mom as Mr. And Mrs. Keller followed the doctor to Vincent's room. Catherine's knees felt weak as she made her way back to a chair in the waiting room. Her mom and dad tried to comfort her as she put her hands up to her face and cried some more. Crying was exhausting her, her eyes burned from crying so much. She was tired yet she couldn't close her eyes she was too worried about Vincent she wouldn't sleep until she saw him. It was five in the morning and even with a tired mind and body not a drop of sleep could be had.

Vincent's parents spent a good hour or so with Vincent before they finally came out. Vincent's mother was crying she could tell by the way she looked Vincent wasn't doing to good at all.

"Catherine you can go on in now I think maybe you of all people can get him to come around you are the love of his life," Mr. Keller said to her as he patted her on the shoulder. He pulled his wife closer to him trying to console her as the rest of them watch Catherine walked slowly down the hallway towards Vincent's room.

Catherine's heart was racing, beating so hard and so fast she thought it would explode. She walked slowly towards his room her hands sweating and her nerves going erratic. Finally, she made it to the open door. She gasped as she took in Vincent's appearance. Her hands immediately went up to her face as she let out a sob and began to cry all over again. She made her way over to the chair at his bedside and sat down.

Vincent's face was swollen, he had cuts and bruises all over and a trach tube down his throat helping him breathe. His head was bandaged heavily with small spots of blood that seeped through on his bandages. He didn't look like her Vincent but she knew it was him from his hands. Hands that touched her so many different times and a thousand different ways. She looked down at them as she grabbed one and held it in hers.

It took her a long time before she was able to calm down enough to speak. Her voice came out sounding like it didn't belong to her it was low and stranded.

"Vincent please wake up I need you" she wiped away some more tears and continued "I can't lose you we still have so much to do and so much life to live. I can't live without you.."

Catherine begins to cry again rubbing her hand over his she laid her head down on the bed next to him and continued to cry holding his hand tightly.

"Please" she whispered. She knew he wouldn't wake up overnight she was a nurse she knew what she was facing but she hoped he wakes in the next few days at least.

Catherine hadn't realized she drifted off to sleep until a nurse came into the room to check on Vincent's vitals.

"I didn't mean to wake you" she smiled as Catherine lifted her head.

"It's ok" she half-smiled before looking up a Vincent. The sun was shining through the window and Catherine looked at her phone to get the time. It was nine in the morning so she did get at least a few hours of sleep.

"How is he doing," she asked the nurse.

"so far not much has changed but I think it's too soon to say if he will pull through yet"

Catherine nodded as she lightly squeezed his hand. After the nurse left Catherine stood and kissed him on his cheek. She needed to go to the restroom but didn't want to leave Vincent. She also wanted to check on everyone else.

Catherine stood staring at herself in the bathroom mirror as she took in her appearance. Her eyes were bloodshot red and her under-eye was dark from lack of sleep. Her stomach rumbled with hunger but she wasn't in the mood to really eat. When she made it back to the waiting room only her mother and Vincent's parents were still there. Catherine's mom was resting in one of the chairs while Vincent's mom was asleep in Mr. Keller's arms. He was the only one awake he seemed to be in deep thought he hadn't even noticed Catherine walked up to him and he slightly jumped.

"Catherine, how is he doing"

"he is still the same still too soon to say"

he sighed and looked down at his wife. "everyone is exhausted I should probably get my wife home for some rest are you going to stay for a while"

"I am not leaving at all"

"Catherine you are going to need some rest too, I'll be back later to watch him and you can get some rest then"

Catherine shook her head but said nothing. She had it through her mind already that she wasn't leaving his side. Catherine wakes her mother and told her she was going to stay and that it was OK to go home.

She then went back to Vincent's room after saying goodbye. She stared at Vincent taking in his appearance. His face still swollen and scratches covering his face she imagined him being in so much pain. She wanted to cry again but held back. She again grabbed his hand placing her face near his she kissed his cheek again.

"I love you Vincent please wake up for me" she whispered in his ear, of course, she got no response which she expected but she still felt the need to let him know she was there.

She made herself comfortable in the chair next to him she knew it would be a long road ahead for them.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Vincent had been in a coma for a month now although he healed from his scratches and bruises his brain was still not showing any signs of him waking anytime soon. His face wasn't swollen anymore and he was looking more and more like the Vincent everyone knew and loved.

Every day she was by his side until she had to go back to work and she would come right after work. She requested to be alerted for changes in Vincent while she was at work but so far none came. Every day she came and sat with him as long as she could she talked to him, prayed for him but everything remained the same.

Another month went by and still, Vincent remained in a coma everyone still had hope that Vincent would wake up soon. Catherine was desperate to get Vincent to wake up, even with family and friends around she felt so lonely without him. Vincent made up a huge part of her life he had been there since she was five years old. He was always there with her and now he wasn't it was hard for her to fathom.

She was affected the most by her loneliness at night so use to Vincent being next to her whether she was at his house or he was at hers. She missed having his arms around her protecting her keeping her warm. She could still smell the scent of him fresh in her head, still, remember when he kissed her goodbye that night.

At her house, she would see his things and reminisce and miss him even more. Lunch at work wasn't even the same she felt no need to order new exotic fruits if Vincent wasn't there to try them with her.

Catherine had been sitting at Vincent's bedside most of the day since she was off today. She had got Wendys before she came. While she sat she thought of all the ways to get Vincent to wake up. She grabbed an ice cube from her cup put it on the bottom of Vincent's feet to see if that would wake him up. That didn't work he never even moved. She tried a few things over the last few weeks including pinching him, tickling, and trying to shaking him awake. Nothing.

A nurse came in to bathe him so Catherine went for a walk and ended up near the vending machines. Her stomach had been feeling icky ever since she has that Wendys a while ago so she got a 7up to try to settle her stomach.

"Hello" she heard a voice say.

Catherine turned to see a handsome man standing behind her.

"Hi," Catherine said back she grabbed her soda moved out of the guy's way.

Catherine stood near another vending machine trying to see if they had something that would be easy on her stomach but she felt eyes on her. The guy who said hello to her was staring at her. She looked at him with a frown.

"Sorry I didn't mean to stare you are... Incredibly beautiful"

Catherine blushed "Thank you"

"My name is Evan what is yours?" he says holding his hand out.

She shook his hand seeing his facial expression change when he noticed her wearing a ring.

"Catherine"

"of course you are married," he says sounding disappointed

"engaged" she corrected him.

"So when is the big day"

Catherine's face saddened as she answered "not sure my fiancee's in a coma"

"Sorry to hear that I can't even imagine what you are going through"

"Thanks, it's tough but I am taking it one day at a time. I am hopeful he will wake up soon" Catherine turns back to the vending machine and buys a pack of saltine crackers.

"well see you around," Catherine said politely to the stranger as she made her way back to Vincent's room.

When Catherine returned to Vincent's room his parents were there.

"Catherine, how are you dear?" Vincent's mother hugged her

"I am doing ok"

Catherine could feel Vincent's mother studying her closely she furrowed a brow.

"what?" Catherine asks

"you look different," she says

"have you been getting enough sleep dear?"

"umm, I guess" Catherine answers. she knew she hasn't. Ever since Vincent's accident, it takes her longer to fall asleep and when she does get to sleep she only sleeps for an hour or two wakes up and again, and then has a hard to falling asleep again.

Vincent's mother examines Catherine's appearance further and then it's like a thought came to her mind. She smiles wide as if she realizes something.

Catherine was confused.

"What is that huge smile for?" Mr. Keller asks his wife.

"Oh nothing dear"

They sat for a few hours talking about everything and nothing in particular. They humored Catherine with stories of Vincent as a child some Catherine knew already but there were a few she didn't know and they gave her a laugh. Catherine hasn't laughed much in the last several weeks and it was nice to be able to.

When Vincent's parents took their leave Mrs. Keller waited till her husband was out of ear range before she whispered to Catherine " you have the glow, are you pregnant?"

Catherine raised her eyebrows in surprise "what! No, I can't be... I" she stopped in mid-sentence. She tried to remember her last period. She did remember she skipped a month but that wasn't unusual for her, they were irregular from time to time. She hadn't had very many symptoms either but she also was a nurse and knew better to think it wasn't possible.

Mrs. Keller smiled seeing the gears turning in Catherine's head "I thought maybe you knew already but I am not surprised you weren't aware. I know you have been so worried about my son you probably overlooked it but you are definitely pregnant Catherine."

"I..." Catherine stuttered unable to form a coherent sentence after taking in what she was just told. Her heart rate had climbed and her thoughts spiraled into a mixture of emotions she couldn't fathom all at once.

"It's OK everything will be fine we are all going to be here for you. Now we definitely have another reason to get our Vincent to wake up" she smiled she patted Catherine's shoulder. "I will see you tomorrow OK"

Catherine nodded her head almost in a daze. She had wanted to have a baby with Vincent before the accident but now that he was in a coma she was scared. She had always imagined that Vincent and she would go through this experience together. She just knew to hear the news that she was pregnant he would have been so excited. She imagined him hugging her and talking to her stomach as she got bigger, feeling the first kicks, then going to Lamaze classes and shopping for baby things and decorating the nursery now she felt even more alone. Even with her parents and Vincent's parents, she knew she would still feel alone in the whole thing without him. There would be a void there that nobody else could fill but Vincent.

Catherine stood up and walked closer to Vincent's bedside, brushed her thumb across his smooth cheek.

"Vincent I know you had to have heard the news, I might be... Well, I most likely am pregnant. It's what we always wanted. I definitely didn't expect it to happen so soon. I need you here with me" She said as she leaned in closer to him. "I want to share this experience with you. I want you to see your son or daughter please wake up soon. Please. I don't want to do this without you"

She kissed his cheek and then gave him a soft kiss on the lips before she sat down in the chair beside him and had a silent cry. She cried for Vincent she cried for herself and she mostly cried for their unborn child.

PLease ReViEw! :) :)