Move Toward Tomorrow

by Catherine Maya

I remember my parents being in love. I remember Papa, and hisstrong presence that comforted me on nightmare filled nights. Mom wasalways there to talk to, or to give advice, or to help the friend ofthe friend who was in trouble. I don't remember much of themtogether; just that they loved each other beyond words.

I'm sixteen now and it's been eleven years since my life and myperfect world shattered. It took me this long to figure everythingout. To understand everything that my Mommy and Papa went through,years ago.

It started while Mom was still pregnant with me. Another attackof a madman's incessant pursuit to get to my father, done, as always,through my mother.

'Who are they? Why are they after me? Kicks? It doesn't matter.All that matters is getting away.'

Down the ramp. Turn left and left again.

'It seems like everyone's out to kill me. Why these men?'

Down the next ramp. Turn left.

'Why does it feel like I'm going in circles? Because I am! Getout, get out, get out!! Run, Catherine, they're right on you! Yes! Anelevator!'

"Come on. Come on." She paced while she waited for the doors toopen.

'They're coming! Close, come on, close!' The elevator doors closedas she pulled her hand-gun out of her purse. 'One floor to go!' Sheraced out the second the door opened. She practically flew throughthe front door of the building.

*****

Vincent stood quickly when he heard footsteps coming down theladder through the brick doorway. He was expecting her, but wasn'tquite prepared for Catherine to launch herself into his arms. "What'swrong?" He stroked her silky, dark-blonde hair and held hertight.

"I... I got into my car and I started to pull out and two menstarted shooting at me. I almost didn't get out." She allowed a fewtears to fall as she spoke.

He pulled her away slightly, to look into her face. "Are youalright? You're not hurt, are you?"

"No, I'm all right. I was just so scared, Vincent."

He tightened his grip around her and nuzzled his face into herneck. "Why?" His breath on her sent an almost comforting chill downher spine. "Why was it taken from us?"

"It will return, I promise you," she mumbled into his hair.

"I hear the sincerity in your voice, Catherine, but I can't feelit. I can't feel you! All I feel is emptiness."

The hot breeze against her skin was beginning to make her stomachknot up excitedly, the sexual tension building. 'Not here, not now!'she scolded herself. But at the moment her emotions were goinghaywire and logic had no control over it. "I'm the reason the bond isbroken." It was all her shallow breaths would allow.

"No, Catherine. You must not blame yourself. It's no one'sfault."

His breathing and words were starting to make her crazy. She hadto make him step away somehow, although she was sure she didn't wanthim to stop. She lifted her lips to his ear and whispered, "Vincent,I'm pregnant."

That did the trick. He pulled his head up quickly to stare intoher green eyes.

She nodded slowly. She wanted him to lift her into his arms and behysterically happy, but she knew it wouldn't be that way.

"Catherine... you're carrying a child?" He still couldn't graspthe concept.

"No. Not a child. Our child." She could see in hiseyes that he wasn't going to share her excitement just yet. "Icouldn't tell you. You've been through so much. I knew it would justhurt you more."

"I see the joy in your eyes, but I fear for the worst. No oneknows what happened to my mother. If this child is like me... "

Catherine couldn't take it any more. She wasn't sure what it was,maybe the knowledge of their child, maybe the longing for thepassionate embrace he didn't remember, but something made her launchherself into him and press her lips to his.

Both opened their mouths immediately, allowing their tongues tomeet against each other.

She wrapped her arms up around his neck and pulled herself intohim. His arms went around her back and waist as he pulled herupward.

They barely parted a few minutes later. Catherine brushed her lipsover his; waiting for the rest to come. Vincent began to regain hismind, to understand what had just happened. He pulled his head awayjust enough to look into her eyes.

"Catherine... "

Catherine put a finger to his lips. Her breath was almostnon-existent and a chill ran up her spine. "Don't. Please don't. Idon't ask for anything more than your love." She pulled her fingerdown his bottom lip. "Not your fear, or your concern for me." Shelinked her fingers behind his neck again and whispered as she ran herlips over his. "Just love me."

If she weren't right there, if her lips weren't touching his,Vincent would never have believed this could, or would ever happen.It was right. He knew it. Catherine was now carrying his child... andit was right. But he had to worry for her. 'Not now.' A voice toldhim. 'Catherine's right. Now isn't the time to worry. Right now, allshe needs is my love.'

"I love you," he told her softly and fit his mouth to hers.

They kissed slowly, deeply, and passionately. They savored everysecond of the moment they had both wanted to share since the night hefound her in the park. The kiss seemed to go on forever; the verything they both wished for.

When their lips finally separated they rested their heads on eachother's shoulders, panting, trying to calm their emotions. Catherinebrought her arms down and turned to face outward, her head stilltucked into his neck.

Vincent brought his hands around her and rested them on herstomach. He intertwined his fingers with hers when she set them ontop.

"Vincent." She breathed in his name.

"Yes?"

"Do you promise?" Her words had only a hint of love in them. Moreof a test to know what he would do in the years to come.

It took Vincent a few minutes of silence to figure out what shewas talking about and come up with the proper answer. "Yes,Catherine. Whatever comes... I promise."

Catherine smiled and sighed as she tucked her face into hischest.

"Father." Catherine called from the top of the steps to thelibrary. Vincent stood behind her, seemingly giving her strength.

"Catherine! Vincent! Come in and sit down!" Father ushered them inexcitedly.

"Actually, Father," Vincent started as he followed Catherine downthe stairs, "you may want to sit down."

Father suddenly became as serious and almost grim as Vincent andCatherine. He sat in a large red velvet chair and stared at his sonexpectantly. "You're going to shock me," he stated, waiting forconformation.

Vincent nodded slightly and spoke. "Catherine is pregnant."

There was silence for a few minutes while Vincent watched Fatherkeep his face as calm and blank as possible. Catherine sank into thechair next to him, waiting for any sign of a reaction. Vincent stoodbehind her, knowing that she too felt like a child about to bepunished for breaking the rules.

Father ran his hand over his eyes. "I feared this day would come.How long has it been?"

"I'm eight weeks along." Catherine looked away, waiting for theinevitable speech from Father.

"And you're keeping it, right?"

Catherine looked up sharply, a wide look of awe in her eyes. "Ofcourse."

"I would expect no less of you."

Neither Vincent or Catherine knew whether to take that as acompliment or an insult.

"Mary and I will monitor your progress to make sure there aren'tany... difficulties." Father rested his head in his palm. "You twohave made mistakes before, but this tops the chart."

Catherine looked away again, and shook her head with a role of hereyes, growing more and more impatient with Father's condescendingtone. Vincent's head snapped up, anger and amazement burning in hiseyes.

"No." Both Catherine and Father's eyes met his. "No, Father. Ibelieve this is one of those rare occasions when Catherine and I havedone something right!"

" Well, it's obvious neither of you intended for this to happen."Vincent and Catherine looked away in admission. "I knew this daywould come." Father started. "The day when you two would force painon yourselves of your own free will."

"Father, to deny me that pain is to deny me my humanity." Vincentknew those kinds of statements made Father nervous.

Father sighed, and leaned his head back. After a second he broughtit back down. "I'm not angry with you. I'm afraid for you. Both ofyou. Catherine especially. We have no idea what might happen to youif this child is... special." He tried to put it delicately.

Catherine reached up and clutched Vincent's hand on the back ofher chair. "Nothing will go wrong!" She sounded as if she wereconvincing herself instead of Father.

Vincent twisted his fingers with hers to reassure her. Or maybe hewas assuring himself.

"Look at reality, please, both of you!" Father's loss of patiencewas apparent in his voice. "Whether this child is physicallydifferent or not doesn't matter. It will have a unique chemistry. Youwill be in constant danger through your labor, Catherine, possiblyeven your pregnancy. Don't you see that?"

"I see it." Catherine began strongly. "But I will not surrender toit."

"You two are acting like stubborn children!"

"No." Vincent countered. "We're acting like parents who are moreafraid for their child than themselves."

*****

"Stay here tonight." Vincent tried to tempt her.

They stood at the brick doorway beneath her apartment building'sbasement.

"I wish I could. But I have an important case that I'm working on,and Moreno needs me. We're so close to winning." Catherine smiled ather accomplishment.

Vincent wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her intohim. "Promise me that you won't work too hard. Don't put too muchstrain on yourself. If anything should happen to you or the child, Idon't know what I'd do."

She smiled and tucked herself into his arms. "I promise. NOTHINGwill happen, but I promise. I love you." She kissed his highcheekbone.

"I love you." He breathed in the scent of her hair more than hekissed her. He set his hand on her abdomen. "And I love youespecially."

Catherine smiled and let go of him, backing away slightly. "I haveto go. Come see me tomorrow night on the balcony."

"Of course." Vincent watched her walk into the bright light thatfiltered down from the basement like the transportation for an angel;which to him was what Catherine was. She was an angel sent from theheavens to bring him everything his heart had ever longed for, butknew he could never have. His dream vision popped when he rememberedtheir previous conversation. "Catherine!" She stopped and turned."Your encounter today with the two men... "

"It's all right. I'll handle it." She climbed the ladder.

*****

As she walked through her apartment she turned on a selected fewlights. Catherine hit the large button on her answering machine.

"Hey, Cathy!" Jenny's voice replied from the box. "It's Jen. I'mreturning your call. Don't have a heart attack, I do that sometimes.You know, return phone calls."

Catherine smiled as she pulled out a nightgown for herself.

"Well, anyway, you said it was important. So... call me whenever.Bye."

BEEP!

"Hey, Radcliffe, it's me." Joe's voice was low and almostunrecognizable. "Listen, I need you to bust me out of this jointbefore I go crazy! Nurse is here! Gotta go, bye!"

She shook her head and smiled as she went to shut the light off bythe door. She stopped when an envelope was slid underneath it. As shepicked it up she laughed softly at Vincent's boyish insecurity abouther.

She opened the note and read it to herself.

*****

*****

*****

*****

Her breath shortened and her legs suddenly became weak as sheread. Someone knew about her pregnancy and wasn't about to celebrateit. The only person who fit that description was Father, and he wouldnever do something like this. No, somebody knew about Vincent and hisbackground.

Her body shook as she made her way to her bed. She covered hermouth with her hand to keep from the possibility of screaming. Hersmall puffs of breath made her sick stomach knot up. She pushedherself to the head of the bed and tucked her knees half way up. Shewrapped her arm around her stomach and clutched the note in theopposite hand.

"Kill it before it kills you." She read it over and over until thetap on the glass on her balcony doors distracted her. She leapt fromthe bed, yanked the door open, and took heaving breaths as she staredat Vincent wildly. She held out the note for him to read.

It only took him a few seconds to read it. He immediately boltedfor the edge of the terrace. "I'll kill him! I'll... "

"No! Vincent, no!!" Catherine clutched at his vest. "We don't evenknow who he is!"

"It's Paracelsus, Catherine!" he blurted out.

"Paracelsus is dead!"

"He isn't!" He began to pace wildly. "That's how I knew you werein trouble. Narcissa sent a message to me. She said she saw a child,somehow physically connected to both of us, in danger. Although thechild in her vision wasn't born yet."

"So how do you know it's Paracelsus?" She tried to beunderstanding of his paranoia.

"Who else? I don't know whose body we buried, but it wasn'tParacelsus. He's back! And he wants to see our child die at hishand!"

"Because of you." The revelation of the truth sent a spiritualpain through her.

"Exactly!!" He stopped pacing and stared at her helplessly.

She closed her eyes and sighed. She opened them again as shespoke. "I love you, Vincent. And I love our child just as much, ifnot more than you. But every time we face Paracelsus, you are hurt insome way. You lost yourself and your memory last time. Just think ofwhat extent he'll go to this time. If something should happen toyou... "

"What are you saying, Catherine?! Are you saying to give up thechild to him?!"

"No! Never! I'd die first." She narrowed her eyes at him, speakingto him through them.

After a few minutes Vincent shook his head slowly and his eyeswidened. "No. No!"

"I'm the key. If we can keep the child out of this long enough..."

"Catherine, no!! You're talking about sacrificing yourself!NO!"

"Vincent... " she choked back her tears, "I won't let you die! Iwon't let OUR future die! I won't!"

"You're sentencing yourself to death just by letting the thoughtinto your mind."

"So what are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to hide for therest of our lives?"

"No, but not to resort to this."

"He'll come tonight and take us. The child and I will be gone.Lost forever. If we run, he will run faster. Don't you understand?This is the only way."

"No! I will not accept that!"

"We don't have a choice. He has to be stopped." Catherine clutchedher stomach.

"Come Below tonight."

"I can't. I told Father that I wouldn't surrender to danger. Well,I will not surrender to threats either. We have to stop him, and Ican keep the child safe as long as it's inside me." She sighed andtucked herself into his chest. "We just have to wait this oneout."

"Then I will stay with you until dawn." His mind raced with thepossibility of her capture. It frightened him beyond words to knowthat his child was the newest target.

"Eventually," she stepped back away and pressed her hands againsther stomach, "I will be forced to go with him, you know that?"

Vincent barely nodded his blonde mane.

"The trick will be keeping all three of us alive." Catherine hadto smile at her responsibility for a third life. She dropped hersmile and her heart sank as she let the next sentence spill out."Vincent, he'll expect a quick rescue."

Their horrified eyes locked with each other and they simply staredfor a long while.

"How long?" His voice shook.

Catherine shook her head and shrugged, her eyes still wide. "Idon't know." She avoided his eyes as she spoke. "Until the babycomes... maybe."

"Catherine?" He touched her shoulder.

"I don't know!" She burst and tried to hold back the unrelentingtears.

Vincent immediately pulled her into his arms. He held her as sheopenly cried on his shoulder. He kissed the side of her forehead, andtwisted his hand against her stomach so his palm rested on thegrowing child inside. "Whatever comes," he breathed.

Catherine Chandler tossed and turned in Vincent's arms that night,unable to sleep. Too afraid to sleep. In the end exhaustion overruledwillpower. She drifted into a listless sleep.

The alarm clock woke her with a start. Her eyes flew open. Sheexpected to be in Vincent's arms or some unknown place underground.Instead she was in her own bed, in her own room, in her ownapartment. She sat up and let her face fall into her hands. She satthere for a few minutes before a feeling of nausea swept through her.She jumped up and bolted into the bathroom.

*****

'Allowing myself to be taken is the only way.' She told herself asthe elevator doors slid open, revealing the main lobby. She steppedout and toward the doors. 'No car today.' She had to take everyopportunity to be captured, it was the only way to keep Vincent,herself, and her baby safe, however twisted it might be.

She stepped onto the New York City sidewalk and glanced around fora taxi.

After stopping one, she climbed in and gave him directions to heroffice building. As she made herself comfortable in the backseat, shewrapped her arms around her stomach. 'What now, little one?' Sheasked the unanswering child inside.

She noticed that the driver suddenly went off course. 'This isit.' She prepared herself. 'Stay calm. Appear not to notice.'

The taxi stopped suddenly at the top of a hill in a back alley,allowing a man standing there into the backseat.

He was in his early twenties and dressed all in black businesssuit type clothing. He eyed her as he climbed in.

Catherine's eyes widened as he reached across her, opened thedoor, and shoved her out, sending her rolling down the cement.

*****

Her eyes opened slightly, just enough to see the circle of men andwomen around her. Her head was suddenly yanked back by the hair. Shewas wide-awake now.

It was obviously a man's fist around a clump of her hair. The gripwas tight and unrelenting.

"If we cut her open, do you think we'll find what the old man'shiding from us?" the man hissed. He pulled Catherine's head back evenfurther to look into his muscular, dirt-covered face. "Hey, lady, youtalk? Maybe you can tell us what's inside you. Tell us what he wantsfrom you. Or should we just find out for ourselves?" He flipped ajackknife open and flashed it in front of her.

"If I find out you pulled even one strand of hair from thatwoman's head, I'll kill you." An older, gruff man spoke from behindher. "Let... her... go!"

Catherine's head was shoved down to the dirt again. Eyes narrowedand glaring, she turned to look over her shoulder at Paracelsusstanding on a rock ledge a little ways from her. She turned herselfto face him, sitting up.

"Catherine," he smiled and sneered, "so nice to see youagain."

"Sorry I can't say the same."

"I'm guessing you know why you're here." Paracelsus kept his headhigh, making him seem superior.

Catherine began to work her way up. She got to her knees and wasabout to step up when a large hand shoved her back down. She heardthe draw of a knife and the intake of breath from the crowd. Shelooked up at the man, a huge gash now in his jaw.

"Do I need to spell it out for you?! If you touch her again, I'llkill you." Paracelsus growled. He held out his hand to help herup.

Catherine simply stared at it. She pushed herself onto her feetwithout help. "I'm guessing this isn't a social call." It wasn'tmeant as a joke, it just slipped out. "Seven months is an awfullylong time to keep someone prisoner."

Paracelsus dropped his hand, but his smile never faltered. "True.But then again, I don't intend you to carry for even a fulltrimester."

"Then why not let them kill me? Or better yet, you kill me. May aswell. You've already destroyed Vincent. Kill the child, kill me.Vincent will die without you even lifting a finger. A more logicalapproach would be to keep me here; you take the child and startfresh. Teach him to be everything you wanted Vincent to be. Raise himas your son." The thoughts made her sick, but she had to take hismind off killing her baby. "He? Interesting how you assume it's aboy."

"It is a boy. I can feel it." It was a lie, but it soundedgood.

"I accept that. As for raising him, it would be a waste of mytime. He'll be half mortal because of you. Not nearly aspowerful."

"Half mortal?"

"Admit it, Catherine. Vincent isn't exactly human."

"He is just as human as you are! No, he's more human than youare!" She had been told he wasn't human too many times to let thisone slip by. The rage in her voice was like a smack to his face.

Paracelsus smiled curiously at her. "Then again, he may just havethe spirit for it." He thought for a moment. "Strange, but a goodidea, none the less." He met her eyes. "It's too easy, I don't trustyou. Why would you suggest it? Me, the heartless villain, taking yourchild?"

"I don't want to die." She knew she was no good at lying, but shehoped he'd buy it.

"Come now, Catherine. You've never been one to plead for your ownlife. You're trying to spare your child. A noble quest. A goodattempt. And actually not a bad idea. Your bond is broken. Vincentcan no longer feel you. You will be easily kept hidden. It won't belong before you give birth. It's cruel, deceitful, and yet I stillobtain power. I like it. Thank you, Catherine for giving your childup to me."

Her blank face disappointed him, but he was glad he had rubbed hernose in the fact that her son would become the very thing his fatherfought against. Fully satisfied with himself, Paracelsus ordered hertaken to a separate room with a guard, one of the women. He chose ayoung girl, barely more than sixteen, to be Catherine'sguard/servant/nurse.

"And if one more person touches Ms. Chandler," he warned as hestared at the man he had cut, "that person will have no warnings.Just a slow and painful death."

The grumbles and murmurs of the group were soft as theydissipated. Paracelsus stepped up to Catherine's side. He took herelbow gently and began to lead her away; the young girl followedclose behind.

"You'll need medical care. Don't worry, I'm just as good a doctoras Jacob."

'Oh, well, that makes me feel so much better,' she thoughtsarcastically as she yanked her arm away from him. Her shockedbreathing had slowed to almost normal. A second wave of morningsickness knotted up her already sick stomach. Nothing came up, butthe nauseated feeling was almost unbearable. She followed Paracelsusreluctantly as he babbled about her carrying the child for only ashort period of time. She didn't care how or when the child was born,just that it was. She knew she could overcome heartache. Theheartache of not seeing Vincent for months. But losing her baby wassomething she couldn't overcome. She had to keep the baby alive atall costs. Vincent would save them in time. She knew it.

Paracelsus kept on his ramblings while they entered a room, andCatherine sat in an old, rotting rocking chair.

It would be simple for Vincent to find them. They were veryobviously below the city. Below the tunnels she knew. But Paracelsushad to have anticipated a quick rescue. Vincent would have to wait,make him think he had won this time. She was afraid for everyone butherself. And for some reason she still had this sense of sadness forthis man. She wished deeply that she were in Vincent's arms at thisvery moment. But instead, she was in Paracelsus' exiled territory.His followers were exactly as she had pictured them. Some older,evidently the original followers. The rest were kids; juveniledelinquents, homeless teenagers, and runaways with no one to turn to.The girl assigned to her looked new to his command. Catherine'sassumptions were confirmed when Paracelsus was about to leave, andturned back to the teenager.

"This is your chance, girl. Do well on this and you'll be part ofthe family." He left with a dramatic turn.

Catherine and the girl stared at each other for over a minute.

"So... " the girl started nervously, "what's your name?"

"Catherine." She watched the girl sit on the bed across fromher.

"Is there a shorter version?"

"Cathy."

"Cool. I'm Terry. Short for Theresa." She glanced around the roomnervously. "So, what are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Got no where else to go." Terry shrugged. "They take care of mehere."

"How long have you been on the streets?"

"Few weeks." She shrugged. "I was brought here about a week ago."Terry's long, straight, dark hair was almost invisible. As she turnedher face into the light, Catherine thought she could have a littleMexican in her. But it could have been a trick of the light. "Whatdoes he want from you?"

Catherine kept silent.

"You were saying something about a baby. Is it your baby that hewants?"

"Yes."

"Is it born yet?"

"No." Catherine barely whispered.

"Why does he want it?" she inquired.

Catherine sat there for a few minutes. She avoided the girl's eyesas long as possible. She finally brought her head up. "I'd like to goto bed. That's okay, right? I can sleep?"

"Oh... yeah, sure... sorry." Terry jumped off the bed and hoppedto the doorway. She watched Catherine ease herself into the cot."Cathy? Do you know who the father is?"

"Does it matter?"

"It's just a thing with me. My mom didn't know who my dad was. Ialways hated her for it."

"Yes, I know who he is."

"Will he come for you?"

Catherine stared at her in silence. To tell her, or not to tellher? If she said yes, who knows what this girl would do. On the otherhand, she wasn't exactly the best liar in the world. "I'm tired,Terry."

"Okay." She left solemnly.

*****

Terry had struck a soft spot in my mother's very open heart afew weeks later. She vowed that she would help this girl better herlife, knowing that she had potential.

I lived inside my mother for months, feeling every emotion shefelt as she lived in the dark home of her long time enemy. She waitedfor my father; sure that he would rescue her. Assuring Paracelsus hewould rescue her.

"Mr. Burch, it's been four months. I'm starting to believe thatwe're not going to find her alive," Manning told Elliot Burch's backfrom the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

Elliot whirled around, slammed his hand on his desk and pointedhis finger at the officer as he leaned across the desk and spoke. "Idon't care what you believe you'll find, just find her!" Hefell back into the chair and sighed as he rested his hands over theedges.

"What kind of relationship have you got with Catherine Chandler?"Manning let it spill out.

"We're friends! We help each other out!"

"Are you sure that's all?" He eyed his employer. "You wereinvolved romantically before, weren't you?"

"That was a long time ago, it has nothing to do with this."

"Are you sure you don't still have feelings for her now?"

"I'll always have feelings for Cathy. That will never leaveme."

"What else, Mr. Burch? What else do you want us to find, besidesher?"

Elliot went silent and stared out the window.

*****

Catherine slept peacefully. Something she had learned to do in thelast four months. She didn't toss and turn as much, mostly because ofher fully developed belly. She knew she was far too large for onlyfive months and Paracelsus, lately, had frequently told her how soonher labor would be. 'Any day now,' he would tell her with a hungrychild's eyes. Sometimes in the middle of the night she'd wake upscreaming for Vincent. She taught herself to keep quiet, knowing itgave Paracelsus pleasure to hear her anguish.

It was hot where they were and Catherine left her stomach exposed.She was asleep, but her senses went wild and she clutched the coldhand that ran over her unborn baby. The hand was thin, bone thin. Thefingers were long and the nails were broken and cracked.

Her eyes flew open, their green stealish color flooded with angerand fear.

She stared into the terrified face of her teenage nursemaid."Terry?" She let her tight grip ease as she sat up and watched thegirl shrink away.

"I'm sorry Cathy! I... I... I'm sorry!" She shrank into the farchair.

Catherine grunted slightly as she tried to light the candles nextto her bed. "What were you doing?" She asked groggily.

The light filtered through the room quickly. Catherine wiped hereyes to clear them. Terry's appearance immediately shocked her. Theusual bright and bubbly girl now seemed small and meek. Her dark eyesheld a horrified glaze that wouldn't blink away. Tears seemed to leakfrom every pore in her face.

"Terry, what happened?" Catherine was immediately focused.

"Cathy... it was horrible. I... I had to run." She choked out.

"What did he do to you?!!" Panic and anger burst from her voice.Immediately the blame was set on Paracelsus.

"He... he... " Terry stumbled with her words as she made her wayto Catherine, "he told me that... that I had been doing my job well.That... I had earned the privilege."

"Earned the privilege to what?" She encouraged.

Terry sat on the edge of the bed next to her friend. She glancedsideways at her and suddenly jumped up as if Catherine was terrifyingto look at. "He... he took me above, to a back alley."

Catherine's eyes widened in horror. Had that sick old man rapedher young friend? It made her sick to even think about it.

"For mon... months you've been telling me about this perfect guy.Your baby's father, and how he loves you and protects you." Shesobbed uncontrollably. "P... Paracelsus took me to the alley and wewatched two men try to rape a young girl. But some... somethingstopped them. Oh my god, Cathy!" She covered her face with her handsand wailed.

Catherine launched herself up off the bed and threw her armsaround her friend.

The girl cried on her shoulder for a few minutes before regainingher voice. "What's it like to love a monster Cathy?" she askedinnocently.

Catherine pushed her away. "What?!"

"Paracelsus said that the thing that stopped the men tonight isthe father. Is it true? It ripped those men to shreds with its barehands!"

"He's not a monster Terry! He is not! Everything I told you abouthim was true. He does love me. He does protect me. And I love andprotect him."

"But, what I saw... in the alley... "

Catherine fell back into the bed. "That Vincent isn't... "shefought with her words, "he isn't the one that I know. But in a way Ido. Do you remember me telling you about the bond?"

"Yes."

"Well, when Vincent loses control like that, a piece of me doestoo. Whenever one of us is angry, or frightened, or sad, we both feelit. Even if it's only for a second."

"He was so animal-like." Terry's tears were stopping finally.

"But that isn't his true nature. Please believe me."

She nodded slowly, reluctantly, the fear still in her eyes, butslowly fading.

"That's why you wanted to touch the baby, wasn't it?"

"You said it was okay before."

"Come here." Catherine smiled and motioned her over. She took thegirl's skinny hand and pressed it to her swollen stomach.

The child kicked and turned a couple times before settlingdown.

"Now," Catherine began as Terry pulled her hand away, "does thatfeel like the child of a monster?"

"No!" She shook her head excitedly. She loved feeling the childkick against Catherine.

"Then do you truly believe that Vincent isn't the creature you sawtonight?" There was silence and Catherine prayed that she'd sayyes.

"That's how he's gonna treat us when he finds you, isn't he? Liketonight."

"Unfortunately." She nodded.

"Why are you doing this, Cathy? Allowing yourself, allowing yourbaby, to be put through this, and then have Vincent rescue you. Whyare you allowing it? Why aren't you fighting?"

"Because Paracelsus has terrorized Vincent... and myself too manytimes. This was the only way we could have to upper hand." Shewhispered so no one would hear.

"And what if your bond isn't restored? Then you've just given yourchild up to a madman. Cathy, don't you see it? You have to getout!"

"I can't! Not now. Look at me, Terry. I could go into labortomorrow. Escaping is the furthest thing from my mind. I have to putmy faith in Vincent. I don't have any other choice now."

"Then I'm gonna push your luck." She grabbed her coat off thechair and turned back to Catherine. "He has to find you now, or elseyour baby is as good as dead! And I don't want him killing everyonedown here to get to you."

"Terry," she grabbed her wrist, "I'm down here to stop Paracelsus.Do you agree he has to be stopped?"

"Yes, but not that way!"

"There is no other way! This is the second time he has capturedme, and the second time he has almost killed me, along with Vincent.Vincent is the only one who can stop him. The only one whoshould stop him."

"I'm going to find him, Cathy. I'll bring him back here. We'llplay the rest by ear." She yanked her arm away and strode to thedoor.

"Terry, wait!" She watched her teenage friend step backcautiously. "He'll think he's being led to a trap. Give him this,"she pulled off her crystal necklace and dropped it into Terry's hand,"and tell him that death has no dominion."

Terry nodded excitedly and skipped out.

A hand slid across her stomach again. Again she grabbed it andpushed it away. Her eyes flew open to see Paracelsus over her. Sheinhaled sharply and pushed herself against the wall. "What?! Am Ireally that fascinating?!"

"Not you, exactly." He flashed a malevolent smirk.

"What do you want?" She demanded with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh, I just thought you might want this back." He held out a smallchain with her crystal attached to it.

Catherine snatched it away and wrapped it in her fingers as herfist tightened around it.

He mocked her in her own voice. "Vincent is the only one who canstop him. Tell him death has no dominion."

Her eyes snapped up to his. Her breath shortened and her heartbeatquickened. "Did you kill her?"

"What else could I do, Catherine?" He shook his head andshrugged.

She covered her eyes with her one hand and ran it down to hermouth.

"Life's full of little heartaches, isn't it?" He sighed as hebegan to walk out. Over his shoulder he whispered, "At least yourswill soon be over."

*****

She stood up slowly. 'Almost there.' She coaxed herself. They hadhit her on the back of the neck. They must have thought the blow hadkilled her. It only knocked her out for a few hours.

'Just a little bit further, Theresa.' She walked her hands acrossthe wall.

After a little ways she stopped. "I can't do this." She leaned allher weight onto the arm that walked her along the wall. Suddenly therock pushed back away from the rest of it, and Terry fell through thehole that opened up beneath her.

She fell into a rope net that tightened up around her in a tearshape. She fought against the net. Kicking at it only made her moretangled. She stopped finally and quieted long enough to hear a meekvoice call to her.

"Who's there?!"

"Let me outta this thing!" She screamed at the small man thatstepped into the light.

"What do you want?" His short blonde hair came into her view.

"I have to see Vincent! It's important!"

"Who sent you?"

"Cathy! Cathy sent me!"

"Cathy?" He eyed her.

"Yeah... um... Catherine!" She stumbled out. "Catherine sentme!"

"Catherine?!" He grabbed the rope next to him and lowered the net.He ran over to it and pried the top open.

Terry stood and shook the ropes off her feet and arms.

The man grabbed her upper arms and stared into her dark eyes."Catherine?!"

"Can you take me to Vincent?" She pleaded.

He let go of her. "Okay... good. Okay, fine." The man bounced andproceeded to lead her by her arm.

*****

"How can we know you're telling the truth?" Father insisted.

Terry reached at her neck, but found nothing but her own clothesand skin. "He took the necklace. Listen, Paracelsus found out aboutour plan. He thought he'd killed me, and he took her crystalnecklace, which was supposed to be my proof. Please come! She couldgo into labor at anytime! She needs you. Or your baby will beParacelsus'." She pleaded with the two men in front of her. "She toldme all about you." She turned her focus to Vincent. "About whathappened the last time you went up against Paracelsus." She stopped."That was it!! She told me to tell you that death has no dominion.She said you'd know what I meant."

Vincent leapt from his chair. "Take me to her!" That was all theproof he needed.

"Vincent... " Father tried to stop him, still not fullyconvinced.

"She speaks the truth, Father!"

Months of not seeing Catherine's face, not hearing her voice, notbeing able to feel her through the bond had started making him crazy.But it was actual fear that had been driving him over the edgelately. The not knowing of what Paracelsus had been putting her andhis child through. Not knowing if his child was even alive for monthsnow, worse not knowing if she was alive.

Everyone had supported Vincent, the children especially. Vincenthad pointed this out to Father one of the many nights he had sat onthe bridge over the River Of Voices, trying desperately to hear hers.Father simply smiled at his comment and began a discussion on theminds of small children.

*****

Vincent and Terry trekked steadily along the path of dirt and therock walls. The silence was almost deafening to both of them,especially Terry who had done nothing but talk for months.

Terry glanced sideways a few times, waiting for a conversationtopic.

Vincent's eyes never left the path, but in his eyes, she could seehis mind wandering.

The silence continued for a long time while they almost joggeddown the paths. After hours and hours of walking, Vincent quietlysuggested that they rest for her sake.

Being the strong willed, defiant girl Terry was, she kept her paceand narrowed her eyes at the road before her.

An hour went by before Vincent spoke again tentatively. "How isshe?"

Terry waited for a good response to come to mind. "She's...;she's... okay."

"Okay?" Vincent worked desperately to keep from asking whatexactly that meant. He found out he didn't have to.

"Vincent," Terry began reluctantly, "she's tortured. Sometimes Ithought she would die. She'd go on and on about you. She used to wakeup screaming for you. I had to keep her quiet."

"God," he shook his head, "I should have never let her dothis."

"Catherine swears by your plan, Vincent."

He was silent for a while. "The child?" The question was quiet andinaudible except for the fact that the tunnel echoed.

Terry smiled and sighed. "You know, Catherine lets me feel thebaby kick sometimes. I don't think I've ever felt something sostrong."

*****

The kick at her abdomen confirmed her thoughts.

"I know, little one." She ran her hands over the unborn childwithin her. "We knew he would come soon, didn't we?" She cooed at herbelly.

Vincent was near. She didn't know how she felt it, but she did.Maybe it was hope, or maybe the child had the connection, thereforeshe felt it. She never pretended to understand the bond, the strangeconnection that seemed immobilized because of the baby.

So many nights she lay awake, feeling his pain with him. This mustbe how he felt. Instead of him being the only one with the strongenough portion of the bond to feel her every second of the day andnight, she was the one who was forced to suffer through his pain andheartache with him, with no way to comfort him. But, in a strangeway, it comforted her to be able to feel him at all.

He must have found Terry. He must have found her dead and tracedher steps to here. That was the only possible explanation.

Terry. Poor, young Terry. She was never given the chance to gohome and straighten her life out. She really wanted to, but wasafraid her mother wouldn't accept her back. Catherine assured her,many times, that she would.

Catherine brought her head up to the doorway slowly as she feltVincent enter the large area, just beyond her room. It tookeverything in her to not run to him.

*****

Sand shifted beneath his boots as he entered the large open areaand stood in the middle. He examined the levels of rock stairways,climbing upward, above him, waiting for someone to advance.

"This is it." Terry announced and spread her arms wide.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." She rolled her eyes.

"Go and get Catherine then." Vincent called over his shoulder andkept circling himself.

Terry nodded and set out up the path to her room. Her attacker wasso quiet, she never heard him drop from the floor above. She felt hisarm wrap around her chest and pin her tight against him. The daggerwas set just away from her chin, and his vile breath slid across herface.

"Going somewhere, Terry?"

Terry struggled in his grip and yelled to Vincent.

Vincent got about a foot from them before he froze in hisspot.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll kill her." He looked Vincent upand down. "Shit! What are you?"

"Perfect." A voice behind Vincent answered. "Vincent, I trulyexpected you to come a little quicker."

He turned and watched Paracelsus step closer, followed by each andevery one of his followers.

"You thought you had killed me, didn't you?" Paracelsus sneeredand began to circle Vincent.

Vincent glared at him as he followed the circles he was makingwith his eyes. "What is it that you truly want from me? Why thisconstant torment?"

Paracelsus shook his head. "I just wanted you to be my son,Vincent."

"No!" He snapped. "That is not it! You want to take over thecommunity, and you want me by your side!"

"Why did you ask if you already knew the answer?"

"This is the third time you have captured an innocent woman andheld her hostage, completely willing to kill her. Not just anyinnocent woman, but Catherine. MY Catherine. Why must she suffer forme? This time you took my child as well. You've gone too far."

Paracelsus shifted to his other foot and stared curiously at him."Is that a threat?"

"Vincent!" Terry whined quietly.

Vincent glanced at her, then back at Paracelsus. "Let her go. Thegirl has nothing to do with this."

"Oh, but she does. Your Catherine sent her to find you. She's nowinvolved in all of this." Paracelsus watched him intensely, as iftrying to force him to think the same thoughts.

"Are you murdering children now, Paracelsus?"

"One more time, Vincent!" Each balanced his weight and stared intothe other's eyes. "Join me. Be my son, help me reclaim MY world."

Vincent shook his head slowly. "Never."

Paracelsus gave Vincent an evil smile. "Then the child will."

A low growl escaped Vincent's lips as Paracelsus drew theinevitable knife from above his wrist.

Terry immediately shoved her elbow into her captor's stomach,forcing him to release her. Bracing her fist with her other hand, sheshoved her elbow again into his face. She sped up the stairs towardthe room where Catherine was, leaving the sounds of the battle behindher.

She pulled aside the blanket that was draped over a bar as if itwere a door. "Cathy!" She called to her friend, and finally found herin the darkness.

Catherine stood up, completely stunned. "Terry? He said he killedyou." She hugged the teenager as she approached her.

"He just hit me over the head. He thought he had killed me,though. I was unconscious for a little while."

"Vincent?"

"I found him." Her words were confirmed as a deep roar reachedtheir ears.

Catherine looked toward the door as if expecting to see him there.A combination of feelings crossed her face. Fear, sorrow, hope, love,and apprehension drained the color from her face as she felt andheard Vincent's rage taking over.

Catherine and Terry stood for about ten minutes, just listening tothe sounds of the battle. Sudden silence fell throughout the tunnel.A sudden deep, low scream was heard, and then the piercing screams ofa huge group of people. Catherine squeezed Terry's hand slightly."He's coming," she whispered.

Terry ran out of the room to direct him to them.

Catherine heard Terry's voice calling to him. The blanket waspulled back again and Terry stepped in and to the side, allowingVincent inside.

Terry watched them stare at each other. Neither spoke, or blinkedfor that matter.

Catherine's arms fell limply at her side and she stared inapprehension as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Vincent stepped toward her hesitantly. He stared at her as if hehad just met her and was completely enchanted. "Catherine?" He heldout his hand for her.

She gently took it and laughed a little as a few more tearsspilled over. "We knew you'd come."

As if neither of them could bear to be separated for a secondlonger, they rushed into each other's arms. They ran their hands overeach other's hair, shoulders, and back, making sure they werereal.

Catherine's arms were tight around his neck, but his were gentlyplaced on her back. She knew he was being delicate with her, but toomany nights of dreams, and waking up in cold sweats calling to him tocome and rescue her, had taken their toll. She needed him to bephysically part of her. She needed his strong arms around her;pulling her so close she could barely breathe. She knew him, she knewhis fears. The only way she could get that closeness would bepersuasion.

"Some nights," she whispered with small sobs, "I'd be screaming toyou... and suddenly you were there. In the doorway, ready and waitingto rescue the child and me. And as soon as I stood to run for you,you would be gone." She closed her eyes and took in the feel of hissigh down her neck.

"I'm sorry." Vincent tightened his grip just a touch more.

That wasn't good enough for Catherine. She needed to be heldcloser than he had ever held her. She tightened her arms around himand made her sobs a little more apparent to his hearing.

Sure enough, he tightened her into him more and let his breathroll down her back. "I'm here now. I'm here now."

"Vincent... " she mumbled into his straggly blonde mane, "take mehome... please."

"Always." He literally swept her off her feet and into his arms,cradling her the exact same way he had the night he found her in thepark.

The crowd of followers cowered against the far wall, leaving theirdead leader and friends exposed in the center, as he emerged throughthe archway, but relaxed into amazement when he turned so thatCatherine was in sight. They watched him walk, with her in his arms,back out the way he had come.

Terry followed behind them in slight awe. Everyone had told her asa child that there was no 'fairy tale' ending. She was a dreamer. Shewould make up fantastic adventures and romantic tales for herself tolive by. Everyone had told her that her fantasy world would neverexist, not for her or anyone else. But here they were. Here was herproof. This couple lived her romantic fantasies. They were theultimate fairy tale, right there in New York City. A place a personwould never think something like this to be.

That night, as she pretended to sleep on the opposite side of thecampfire, Terry listened to the laughter and the awed sounds ofVincent and Catherine. Once in a while, she would open her eyes justenough to see Vincent's hand resting against his unborn child. Terrydrifted to sleep that night with her childhood dreams rekindled inher heart.

*****

"Are you sure about this?" Terry stared at the large brickapartment building.

"Terry," Catherine took the teenager's hands when she turnedaround, "just because she didn't know who your father was doesn'tmean she doesn't love you. It doesn't mean that she doesn't miss you,or worry about you."

Terry nodded slightly as she dropped her eyes. She startledCatherine a little when she threw her arms around her and hugged hertightly.

Catherine smiled and wrapped her arms around the girl. "Thank you,Terry."

"For what?"

"For protecting us."

"No," she shook her head, "thank you." Terry pulled awayand stepped back a little to stare at Vincent, Catherine, and thechild she watched grow within Catherine for months. "I want acamera!" She whined a little.

"We'll send you a picture of the baby." Catherine smiled at theteenager she had counseled like a younger sister.

"You had better!" She forced her smile through the threateningtears.

"You'll always have a place with us if you ever need it." Vincentwhispered with a smile.

"Thank you." Terry stared at them for a long time before huggingCatherine again. "Oh, Cathy!"

Catherine sighed. "Give her another chance, Terry."

Terry nodded and stepped away.

Catherine and Vincent watched the teenager walk up the old bricksteps to the door where she pushed a button for the bell. After a fewminutes the door opened to a woman in her mid to late thirties.

The woman stared at the girl for a minute, as if not believing herown eyes. Terry mumbled an almost inaudible, "Mama?"

The woman's voice peaked as she pulled her into her embrace. "DearLord... Theresa!"

Vincent put his arm around Catherine delicately and led her backinto the shadows as she brushed a tear away from her smile.

*****

"Mr. Burch, a call for you on line three." The woman secretary'svoice spoke to him through the speakerphone.

"Who is it?"

"She won't say."

"She?! I'll take it, thanks, Liz." Elliot hit a button on the boxand lifted the cord phone to his ear. "Elliot Burch," heannounced.

"Elliot?" Catherine's voice answered him.

"Cathy?!" He almost yelled into the receiver. "Cathy, is thatyou?!"

"Yes, it's me." Her voice was hoarse but she got her wordsout.

"Where are you?!" He demanded.

"I can't tell you. I'm safe, though. Stop searching for me. TellJoe that I'll be back to work in about a month. Do youunderstand?"

"No! What's going on?!"

"I can't tell you any more. I'm safe. Stop searching."

The dial tone sounded as she hung up the phone. Elliot put thephone back down and stared at it. "One of these days, Cathy. I'mgonna find out your secret."

She hung up the dial phone and spun around to face Vincent. Hisexpectant eyes met hers.

"Hopefully he'll stop." She sighed as she wrapped her arms justabove her large stomach.

He walked with her back through the back room of one of thehelper's restaurant. She took his hand as he started the lead down tothe basement.

"I want to thank Tommy. I'll catch up with you." She flashed him asmile and let go as she made her way up front.

*****

Vincent's hand rested on her large abdomen. He lay on his stomach,his head tilted toward Catherine.

She envied his ability to sleep in that position. It was slightlyuncomfortable having to lie on her back. 'Despite that, everything isperfect.' Everything felt perfect. 'Felt?' Come to think of it, thebaby hadn't moved at all today. She fingered the lacings at the neckof her nightgown. 'Oh well, nothing to get worried about.' At leastshe didn't think. Well, she had a check-up with Father tomorrowafternoon. 'The little one is probably just asleep.'

'I should sleep too.'

Catherine tucked her head against Vincent's and fell asleep.

*****

Her eyes opened slowly. She was peaceful; finally, there was peacein her life again. She glanced down and smiled at Vincent's handresting gently on her stomach.

The thoughts of the night before, just before she fell asleep,filtered back into her mind. Slowly, her eyes widened. Little bit bylittle bit her heartbeat quickened.

Vincent sat up instantly. "What is it? What's wrong?" He pushedhimself up swiftly to look into her distressed green eyes.

She wondered how he could have possibly known there was somethingwrong, unless... "The baby hasn't moved at all in the last 24 hours.I'm scared."

Vincent immediately leapt off the bed, dressed in seconds and spedoff through the tunnels.

*****

"Vincent, good morning!" Father greeted him cheerfully as he spedinto his chamber.

"Catherine needs help," he blurted out as he skidded to astop.

"What's wrong?" Father pulled himself up on his cane swiftly.

"She says she can't feel the child. She hasn't for a long while."He handed his father his black medical bag.

"How long?"

"The last 24 hours, she said." Vincent took his elbow to lead himfaster up the stairs and down the tunnel.

"Are you sure the child isn't just sleeping? It's possible."

"She's afraid. I think she'd be the first to know if something waswrong."

*****

"Catherine... " Father came down the steps and tried to keep hisvoice soft and calm.

"I can't feel it, Father!" She didn't look up from her handsrunning back and forth over the swell. She had obviously been cryinga little and was now trying to stop it, because when she spoke shesounded as if she were hyperventilating.

Vincent knelt next to her on his bed and clasped her hand. Hisother hand stroked her hair and pushed it away from her eyes as hewhispered things like, "It's all right. Everything's going to be allright."

Father went to the opposite side of the bed, and watched Catherinecling to his son. "Catherine, would you feel better if Mary and Lenawere here?"

Catherine nodded furiously as she fought to get her sobs undercontrol.

Without a word spoken to him, Vincent kissed her hand, let it go,and ran for the two midwives.

*****

Mary and Lena ran almost full speed into the chamber and headedstraight to Catherine's side. Mary grabbed her hand and stroked itcomfortingly.

"Lena, would you please assist me?" Father beckoned the youngwoman to his side.

Vincent, determined to look like he was being useful, followed herover to watch.

Father pulled out his stethoscope and fit it into his ears. Afterraising the hem of her nightgown he ran the instrument over thechild. After a minute his concentration deepened and he began pushingit into random spots.

"Jacob," Mary used this opportunity to use his given name, "what'swrong?"

"I can't find a heartbeat," he mumbled.

Lena's hands fluttered to her mouth as if she were about to besick.

"No! No!!" Catherine began to sob again; her voice was deep andhard.

"It's okay. It's okay." Mary repeated in a low melodic voice asshe stroked Catherine's flushed cheeks. She remembered what it waslike to lose a child.

Another minute of searching without success had made Fatherextremely nervous. He finally stopped in one spot and listened hard."I've got it!" he exclaimed triumphantly. "It's low and unsteady,though. Lena, go to my chamber, on the bookshelf you'll find anotherblack bag much like this one." He indicated the bag next to him. "Goand get it! Hurry!" He turned his attention back to his patient."Catherine, the child is still alive. But, I don't know what's wrong,so we're going to give you a cesarean. The child seems to be fullydeveloped, so there shouldn't be anything physically or mentallywrong with it. All right?"

Catherine nodded, still recovering from her shock.

Father look back to Vincent, who had begun to massage her footreassuringly. He set his hand in his son's shoulder. "Everything willbe all right."

"Hey... !" A young girl's voice called from the top of the steps."What's with all the rushing around?"

"Samantha," Father's head snapped up, "go take care of the youngerchildren. Mary and Lena are needed here."

"What's wrong with Catherine?" She was immediately concerned andeager to help.

"Go Samantha, quickly!"

The girl sped off in the direction she came from.

"Mary, would you get some extra candles and torches. Vincent,gather as many spare sheets and blankets as you can, and bring thesecandles closer to the bed."

*****

"Ma!" A little two-year-old girl called to Lena from the other endof the tunnel.

"Catherine, what are you doing out of the nursery chamber?!" Lenaalmost yelled at her daughter. She fought with herself and finallyrelented. She lifted her little girl onto her hip and ran as fast aspossible back to Vincent's chamber.

Black bag in one hand, and her daughter in the other, Lena swungaround the corner and into Vincent's chamber.

She almost threw the bag into Father's arms and explained as fastas she could. "I'm sorry. I was on my way back and somehow Catherinegot out of the nursery chamber. So I had to grab her. I'll be back intwo seconds, I swear!"

"All right, hurry!" Father encouraged.

As her mother spoke, little Catherine looked over at the occupiedchamber bed. She reached toward it with a slurred squeak of, "AuntCathy." She suddenly felt the pull of Lena rushing out. She squirmedin her mother's arms, trying her hardest to get down.

"No, Catherine!" Lena tightened her arms around the child.

When Lena returned, Catherine was laying stiffly straight on thebed. Sheets were tucked over, around, and under her to create a typeof surgical tent. Lamps, lanterns and a few spare candles were hung,or were set on small end tables inside the tent.

Lena made her way to Father's side. Vincent on the opposite sidewas trying desperately to help. Mary was up by Catherine, lightingscented candles to keep her calm.

"Ah, Lena, good." Father greeted her. He looked over the sheets tosee Catherine's face. "We're going to go step-by-step, but quickly.So try to stay calm. I've given you something for the pain, but Idon't have enough to completely numb you. So, just relax... "

"Peter! Has anyone called Peter?!" Her voice squeaked.

"Yes, I've sent Kipper with a message. He'll be here soon."

"Okay." She settled back into her soft pillows.

"All right," Father began, "we'll start with the incision." Heindicated to Lena to hand him one of his new instruments.

Mary pulled a chair up next to Catherine and began running herfingers through Catherine's dark blonde hair. "What color hair do youthink it will have?" Diverting her attention would be the best way ofkeeping her mind away from the pain.

"Blonde." She answered plainly after a small inhale of pain.

"And its eyes?"

"Blue." She smiled broadly.

"What do you want it to be?"

Catherine lay there in silence for a long time before slowingturning her head toward Mary. "Alive." Another sting of pain brokeher locked trance.

Mary ran the back of her hand over her forehead to soothe her."Don't think about that."

"How can I not?" she sobbed out quietly.

"Shh. Try to relax."

"My baby is dying inside me. And I can't stop it this time." Shechoked back her tears and as many of her fears as possible.

"All right, Catherine we can see the problem!" Father called toher. "Now I want you to take a few deep breaths and hold the lastone."

On Catherine's second breath she felt her hand being pulled upwardslightly. She never looked at it, or at its source. She didn't needto. She simply smiled, took her last breath, and listened for theirnext step. All she heard was Father's reassuring voice of knowledgeinstructing Lena.

"Lena, do you see?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'll hold. I want you to cut slowly and straight righthere."

"Now?"

"Okay, now."

Catherine suddenly felt a stifled sting. It lasted for about 5seconds. She let her breath out slowly as the sting subsided. She wasalmost oblivious to the weight that was lifted from her. SuddenlyVincent's breath slid over her hand.

"We have a girl, Catherine." There was a smile in his melodicvoice.

She laughed a little and suddenly felt Father moving his fingersquickly to stitch her up. It took her a second to realize that theroom was silent. "Where is she?!" Her head whipped back and forthbetween Mary and Vincent. "What's wrong?!"

Almost on cue, Peter, in his white coat and badge, rushed into theroom, followed by Mouse and Kipper.

"Brought Peter! What's happening?" Mouse inquired from thesteps.

Peter started toward Catherine until Lena grabbed his arm to stophim. "She's not breathing!" she shrieked a little too loudly; thebaby was dead weight in her arms.

Catherine's eyes widened and she jerked her head toward Lena,Peter, and her daughter, straining to see them.

"The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck!" Father called tohis friend. "It cut off the oxygen supply!"

"Does she have a pulse?" Peter took the child from Lena and rushedher to a nearby table.

"As far as we can tell." She followed him over and watched him laythe baby girl face up on the covered end table.

"Lena, get Father's stethoscope."

She did as she was instructed and glanced nervously between theunconscious child and a panicking Catherine. She turned her focus toPeter, who was frantically searching for the baby's heartbeat.

"She's breathing, but barely. I have to get her to a hospital,now!" Peter grabbed the child and wrapped her in the tablecloth. Hestarted toward the stairs, baby girl in his arms.

"No! Peter, no!!" Catherine's deep voice almost screamed to stophim. Her light green eyes glanced between him and her child. Theywere pleading, frantic, grieving eyes that locked with his. "Please."She whispered in a release of breath.

"I don't think that she has time, Cathy. I have to get her to ahospital right away." His eyes were still locked with hers.

Catherine complied with a slow, reluctant nod.

"I'll go with him." Lena volunteered and bounced up the stepsbehind the doctor.

Catherine stared after her baby girl, almost pleading to bring herback. She didn't even notice that Father had finished stitching herup. She didn't feel him bandaging her stomach. All she felt was thepanicked impatience of possibly losing her daughter.

Vincent kissed the top of her hand, then rubbed it gently,lovingly.

In an immediate reaction, Catherine pulled her other arm away fromMary and wrapped it around his neck. She tucked herself into hisneck, hiding in his sandy blonde hair. She cried on his shoulderuntil Mary pulled her back down.

Vincent reluctantly unwrapped his arms from their embrace. Heeased her back into her pillow, knowing that things would get worseif she ripped the stitches, but at the same time not wanting to lether go. Wanting to comfort the pain she felt. That he felt from hersince the cut of the umbilical cord. It was a strange combination ofpain and nothingness. The pain was Catherine's. That he could feel.But the nothingness had no owner. No name, face, or personality tomatch it.

A sudden thunder of feet broke his concentration. Children of allages piled into the limited space of the chamber. Catherine's handwas taken and pulled down slightly.

"Aunt Cathy, you sad?" Two-year-old Catherine noticed the tearsthat were still falling.

She tried her hardest to smile but it just didn't work. She chokedit back enough to talk. "I'm just very scared right now, honey. VERYscared."

"Here," Catherine handed her a handmade teddy bear, "hug Jeffrey.Feel allll better." She spread her arms wide, her speech patternreminding the woman of Mouse.

"Oh, that's the nicest gift anyone's given me, thank you." Shehugged the bear. "There, now I feel better." She handed the bear backas she wiped her eyes.

"K'I come with you?"

"No, honey. If you do, I might get hurt." Catherine supposed shemeant to climb up with her.

"Come on, Cat." Samantha took the girl's hand. "Come on, everyone,I think Catherine wants to be alone." Being the oldest in theparticular group had its advantages. She herded everyone out from theback. Before Catherine pulled her up the stairs, Samantha turned backto look at the woman lying on the slightly blood stained sheets. Shecouldn't comprehend what exactly she was feeling, but she knewCatherine was pregnant the last time she saw her, and now her stomachwas flatter and her frantic face wasn't well hidden.

Catherine knew Samantha saw it, so she didn't try to smile toreassure her. She simply watched her walk out, and Mouse and Jamiewalk in.

Jamie took Mary's place and crouched next to her friend. "Whathappened?" she asked tentatively as she watched Catherine start tosob again.

Vincent answered slowly. "We don't know if the child willlive."

"Oh, Catherine!" Jamie almost matched her friend's panickedface.

Catherine was grateful for the small hug she was awarded from heryoung friend.

The day went by, Catherine disregarded all advice from Father torest. She knew Vincent understood and felt what she was feeling. Thebond was restored. That she was sure of.

It was late. Vincent and Catherine were sitting together. She hadbeen able to sit up in bed, and Vincent was in a chair next to her.He pulled her into him as he described their precious child to her.How perfect she was. Of her inherited 'normal' beauty, like hermother.

The scuffle of feet on the top stair made Catherine and Vincentsnap to attention. Catherine's bottom lip quivered as she watched agrim Lena descend the stairs slowly.

Lena reached the bed and sat on the edge, starring sorrowfully atthe couple who clung to each other. She watched Catherine suck in thetears that already began to fall. She watched Vincent put a strongarm around his love, and set his jaw to keep a straight face. Lenastared at them, not wanting to say anything, not wanting to put themthrough the pain of this, but it would be worse if she didn't sayanything. She finally opened her mouth and allowed sound out. "We...we waited a little too long." Her voice was raspy and her stomachturned when Catherine broke out into an agonizing cry.

Catherine clutched at Vincent, keeping herself tight against him.There was no logic in her mind, she involuntarily screamed into him;it echoed through the room and down the tunnel. She felt Vincent pullher tight and secure into him. He tucked his face in her hair, andshe felt tears roll down from the top of her head.

Lena put her hand on her arm and leaned close to her. "Cathy,she's alive."

Catherine's head snapped up to Lena's and their eyes met.Vincent's head came up too, but not sure why Catherine's had.

"She's very sick. VERY sick. If we had waited any longer she wouldhave been dead."

"But," Catherine sobbed out her words, "but... she's alive?"

Lena nodded. "She's alive."

Catherine hadn't noticed she was holding her breath until shereleased it in relief. She was gathered into Vincent's arms again.She wasn't aware she was repeating the two sweet words to him as hekissed the side of her head. She clung to Vincent's gray vest as ifshe feared it would all be a fantasy if she let go.

*****

"Let yourself heal." Father and Peter told her. Catherine wasimpatient, restless, and whenever she told them that, they would tellher that they understood. How could they understand? Was it theirchild in the world Above that was dying without them? She couldn'theal until she knew that, above her, her child was safe. She knewVincent knew that. She knew that he felt it.

Somehow she got the feeling that everyone who had been with thechild, seen her, knew exactly of her condition, wasn't even tellingher parents the whole truth. Whenever she asked they would alwayssay, "she's fine", "she's perfect." Catherine accepted that for onlya day and a half before getting suspicious. Peter had managed to holdher at bay for three days until Catherine began making threats tojust go without them.

He opened the door of the special care nursery and walked her in."We put her under your name, but they're getting suspicious about herblood type. She can't stay much longer, it's too dangerous."

The clear plated incubator held a tiny, fair skinned, dark blondehaired, blue-eyed baby girl. She was still, attentive, but staring ather mother, pleading with her to get her out.

"She's not breathing on her own." He stated the obvious.

Catherine allowed one tear to fall as she ran her hand over thetop, avoiding the tubes and wires. "You know who I am, don't you?"She kept her eyes locked with the child's as she spoke. "What's wrongwith her?"

"I'm not positive. Her blood type is so irregular, I don't knowwhat's human and what's... " Peter stopped himself. "I have a theory,but... "

"Well, what is it?"

"Tracheomalacia. The only problem is it has only ever been seen inpremature children, and as far as I can tell, she is fullydeveloped."

"Hold on, just tell me what it is."

"It's an upper respiratory condition that results in theundevelopment of the trachea. A ring forms around it, preventing itfrom strengthening."

"Is it life threatening?"

"It's only a theory. I can't tell for sure."

Peter stared at the mother and daughter. "Catherine... " hestumbled a little with his words, "she was gettingbetter."

"WAS?!" Catherine snapped to attention.

"The... the milk you sent was helping, but... "

"But... ?" She urged him on.

"But, yesterday she started to take a turn for the worse."

Catherine starred at him wide-eyed. The anticipation in her eyesspoke for her, but words came out anyway. "How is she worse?"

"She may not make it." He let the words stumble out.

"What?! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Cathy, last night I would have bet you a million dollars that shewas going to be a perfectly happy, healthy baby. When she startedhaving trouble breathing again, Jacob and I thought it best to waitand see if she got better."

Catherine folded her arms across her chest. "Well, thank you everso much, Peter." Her sarcastic tone was harsh. "And I suppose Vincentknows all about this, and agreed not to tell me?"

"No! We didn't tell Vincent either, because we knew he would tellyou. We knew he would react the same way as you. Jacob and I werepositive she would pull through within the hour at the most."

"Oh, well, that justifies everything, now, doesn't it? Don't telleither of the parents and that way she'll get better! It makesperfect sense to me!"

Peter set his hands on her shoulders lightly as she sighed andrelaxed her tense muscles. "I'm sorry Cathy, I truly am. What can wedo to make her well? I've run out of medical answers, her blood typeis too unique. I don't dare give her any kind of drug."

"She needs Vincent and me, together." Catherine turned back to herdaughter.

"That's what I thought."

"Well," she sniffled a little and wiped a tear away, "how wouldyou get her out if they started getting too suspicious abouther?"

"I don't know." He admitted and shook his head. "You said that sheneeds you and Vincent together."

"Yes."

"Can you do it? Tonight?" he was tentative in asking.

Catherine glanced around the room nervously, searching for awindow of opportunity, literally and figuratively. She turned back toPeter. "She won't make it through the night if we don't do this, willshe?"

"No. No, she won't." His words were reluctant and his voicequivered.

She tightened her jaw and nodded. "I think we can do it."

"You do realize that when we take her off the respirator she'll bein danger?"

"Medicine won't save her. Not now." She sighed to keep the tearsback.

"You know," Peter put his arm around her and shifted so they wereboth looking into the incubator, "the day I met you, we were rightdown the hall. I was technically the first to hold you. Now you havea baby, and I was the second to hold her." He wrapped his arm aroundher shoulder, pulled her close, rubbed her shoulder, and kissed thetop of her head. "You grew up too fast for me, little Cathy."

"Do you think Daddy would be proud of me?"

"Oh, most definitely."

"And Mother?"

Peter hesitated a second. "You're happy, Cathy. It's written allover you. That's all she ever wanted for you."

*****

Obviously, I lived. Like you didn't guess that already!

Everything was perfect from then on. My parents were marriedshortly after I was well and brought home. Everyone was more thanhappy to welcome me. Right after the wedding ceremony, I had mynaming ceremony, where I was named after one of Shakespeare's mostfamous characters, and the woman who found my father when he wasabandoned as an infant.

*****

"We welcome the child with gifts. But first, we welcome the childwith a name. And I believe Catherine and Vincent have chosen it."Father turned to the couple next to him.

Each dweller's eyes turned to them and waited.

Catherine held the tiny child in her arms. She was backed intoVincent; his arm around her waist. "Rosalind." She announced."Rosalind Anna Wells."

"Presents!" Samantha exclaimed and ran to be first in line.

But Elliot Burch never gave up on my mother, even as sheproudly wore her Celtic wedding band. He insisted on knowing why shealways refused him. Five years later, he would get hisanswer.

*****

Joe watched the fourteen-year-old, dark-haired boy rush a sobbingfive-year-old dark blonde-haired girl toward him. The girl clung tothe boy as if he were the edge of a cliff. They were both dressed inslightly worn jeans and T-shirts.

Joe watched as the boy dragged the girl into his office. Heskidded to a halt and squeezed the girl's hand tighter. "We have tosee Catherine Chandler!"

"I'm sorry, I... "

"We have to!" He insisted. "Look, it's important! Please!" Hestruggled to form words. "Someone is in danger!"

"Whoa, hold it! Who are you kids, and who exactly is in danger?"Joe had made his way around to the front of his desk and held hishands up in front of them.

The boy sighed. "Please." He glanced down at the girl still cryingon him. "Just tell her that Kris and Ross are here. She'll seeus."

Joe glanced back and forth between Cathy's cubicle and the twochildren. He fought with himself and finally relented. "I don't knowwhy I'm doing this," he mumbled and opened the door. "Follow me."

Catherine's pen practically flew back and forth over her paper asshe deepened her concentration.

Joe approached her slowly, knowing how jumpy she was lately."Cathy, there are a couple of kids here to... " Joe was interruptedby the little girl's squeal as she ran into Catherine's lap.

Catherine's eyes widened as the tiny body slammed into her chair.The child grabbed at her knee length, red business dress as itclimbed onto her lap and clung to her. She looked down and moved thethin blonde hair away from the trembling child's face against her.The child's blue eyes stared up at her, horrified. "Rosalind?"

"Mommy." The girl mumbled and tucked into Catherine. She squeezedher so hard, any second she could become part of Catherine'sbody.

Catherine looked up to Joe, and Kris caught her attention. Sheused expressions as if to ask him: "What are you two doing here? Doyou know where you are?"

Kris shrugged. "We had to come see you!" he insisted. He lookedall around him at the eyes staring back, including Joe's. "Catherine,we have to talk!" He bounced.

Catherine, suddenly realizing she was part of a scene, stood,adjusted Rosalind on her hip, and grabbed Kris' hand. She dragged himthrough the sea of staring eyes, through the hall, and into theconference room.

She almost slammed the door behind her. She detached Rosalind andstood her next to Kris. If her daughter had not been trying to stopher tears, Catherine would have screamed. She paced in front of thetwo children as she scolded them. "You are not allowed to come here!"She pointed her finger at Rosalind.

"But, Catherine... " Kris tried to stop her.

"And you know better, Kris!" She kept up her pace as she raged."You couldn't just send a message, you had to just come here.Vincent, Father, and I have told you a thousand times to send amessage if you need me for something. That's the way it has workedfor the last seven years, did it suddenly change unbeknownst to me?Now," she stopped in front of them and dropped her hands on her hips,"what was so important that you came here to tell me?"

"P... Papa!" Rosalind wailed and threw herself at Catherineagain.

Catherine's mind began spinning with the possible things thatcould be wrong. She pried her daughter off her legs and knelt to beeye level with her. "What happened?" She held her upper arms tightand shook her gently.

"He... he wouldn't wake up!" she sobbed out.

Catherine's eyes widened in horror. Her head shot up to lock eyeswith Kris'.

He sighed and stumbled with his words. "He collapsed in class. Noone can wake him up."

She lowered her eyes as her mind raced. Rosalind threw her armsaround her neck, snapping her out of the trance.

Catherine shifted Rosalind onto her hip as she stood and ran tothe door. She pulled it open, and took a step forward, then a stepback.

Joe dropped his fist and stared curiously at the trio. "Secretconference?"

Catherine fought with herself for a half-a-second before speedingpast Joe, dragging Kris behind her.

"Cathy! Whoa, Cathy! Hold it!" He followed her back to herdesk.

Rosalind clung to her mother with every ounce of strength she hadat the moment as Catherine stacked her folders and shoved them intoher briefcase.

"Cathy, what's goin' on?" Joe watched her grab her coat and onceagain, drag Kris toward the door.

"I have some family problems at the moment." She grabbed her coatand purse and hurried out.

Joe grabbed at her arm to stop her as she stopped and turnedaround. "What's going on here?"

"Look, Joe. I probably won't be back for a while. I'm taking allof my work home; I'll do it there. But I have an emergency... "

"Mommy," Rosalind squeaked, "We have to hurry!"

"I have to go!" Catherine grabbed Kris' hand and spun around,leaving Joe standing there with the entire room staring at him.

*****

Catherine flew into the chamber, dropping things as she wentalong. First Rosalind on the stairs, then her briefcase and coat onthe large chair as she sat on the edge of hers and Vincent's bed.

She ran her hand over her husband's forehead, pushing away strayhairs in the process. The sight of his unconsciousness formed tears,but she sucked them back, remembering that Rosalind was on the stairsand Father was next to her.

"What's wrong with him?" She ran her fingertips over his prominentfacial features, never looking up at Father.

"I don't know." Father sighed and shook his head. "I don't know ifhe's going through another phase, or... " He stared at Vincent andset his hand on her shoulder. "I do know that he is stable for now.How long will you be here?"

"As long as necessary." Her eyes never left his face.

"Good." Father began picking up his equipment and loading it intohis bag. "When he wakes up, have him drink a lot of tea, coffee, anykind of hot liquid. Don't let him do any real physical activity."Rosalind stepped up next to the bed and Father put his hand on top ofher head and ran it down the her shoulder.

"What was it?" Catherine was determined for answers.

"He blacked out." Father explained quietly.

"Was there any reason for it?"

"Not that I can tell. But, Catherine, I should tell you... " Heglanced down at the child and began pushing her out the passage. "Whydon't you go find Mary and get your Papa some tea for when he wakesup."

"You're gonna say something interesting, aren't you?" Rosalindaccused him.

"To be honest... yes." Father smiled. "Go get the tea."

"Okay!" She bounced out.

He looked back at Catherine, and this time met her eyes. "Vincentdidn't want to tell you. He didn't want to scare you two. He's beendoing this a lot lately. Blacking out. It's very unpredictable. Hecould be fine one second and passed out the next. He goes into ashort coma, usually comes out of it within five minutes. Only, latelyit's gotten longer and more frequent."

"He never said anything to me!" She stated the obvious of hershocked face.

"He didn't want to frighten you. He thought he could handle it onhis own." Father shrugged.

"Did he?"

Father read her suddenly angry and astonished face and stoppednext to her as he left. "He wanted to protect you."

"Yeah?" Her eyebrows raised, she shook her head. "Don't side withhim."

Father sighed and patted her shoulder as he walked out.

*****

Catherine had sat in the wooden chair for four hours so far. Shewas working on some casework when Vincent began stirring in bed. Sheloaded it up in an organized file and switched to the edge of thebed. "How do you feel?" She asked as Vincent opened his eyes.

"Clearer." He set his hand on top of hers as he blinked away hisfuzzy vision. "Catherine, how long have you been here?"

"A few hours."

He nodded as he ran his thumb over the top of her hand. "I needyou here."

After a second of processing what he had said, she pulled her handaway and stood. "No." She whispered in a raspy voice.

"What?"

"You promised me seven years ago that we were in this together.That means we share everything... because we want to!" Shetried to suck in the welling tears. "How long have you been blackingout? A week? Two weeks?"

Vincent looked away, ashamed that she had found out his secret."Who told you?"

"How long?"

"A month."

"A month?" She repeated and began pacing wildly. "You've beenkeeping this from me for a month? What the hell were youthinking?!"

"I didn't want to scare you." He sighed and looked back ather.

"You scared me more today than you ever have in the last sevenyears! I get a visit from Rosalind today at work... "

"What?!"

"Because you passed out in class, and the CHILDREN you wereteaching couldn't wake you up! You scared our little girl more bydoing that!"

"I'm sorry."

"You should be!" She grabbed her shawl in a huff and threw itaround her shoulders as she sat next to him again. "You promised methat we would face our lives together. 'Whatever comes,' isn't thatwhat you said?" She tried to force back her tears. "I was so afraid!"She whispered. "I don't want to lose you. I can't loseyou."

Vincent stared into her sea green eyes. The eyes that locked withhis the very first time they saw each other, and countless othertimes.

He propped himself onto his elbows, then painfully worked himselfinto a sitting position. As she moved closer, he took her hands andkissed them both in the center.

Catherine collapsed into him with a sigh. 'Cheater!' she thought.'He knows that something like that just makes my heart melt. I can'tbe angry with him when he's romantic and apologetic.'

Vincent wrapped his arms around her tightly and laid his head ontop of hers. "You'll never lose me. Us, what we are together,that can't be lost. Nothing can even harm it."

Catherine tucked her arm around Vincent's waist. She smiled andlaughed slightly. "You are such a cheater!" she mumbled into hisvest.

Vincent brought his head down close to her ear. "It's a gift," hewhispered, sending her into a fit of quiet giggles.

*****

Four days. Four days of waiting for answers and unexpectedblackouts. For a while, Catherine felt each blackout coming on, andshe would invent an excuse to get Rosalind out of the room. After awhile she shut out the empathy completely.

Catherine stopped at the top step of Father's chamber. She stareddown at him blankly and descended slowly down the stairs. She settledinto the large chair next to him. Her eyes were sunken into purplecircles, and her cheeks were flushed. Her hair fell flat against herface, lacking its usual bounce. She examined Father's face. It wasfrozen with shock. She knew it was happening. Right here, right now.Her face remained blank, but her stomach twisted.

"How long do we have?"

"It could be any day now." Father chocked out, tears stinging hiseyes.

"Is there a treatment?"

"Vincent's chemistry is so different from our own, I don't knowwhere to even begin to look for one."

"We have to find something."

"Everyone is working day and night to help. But Catherine, pleaseprepare yourself and Rosalind. We all have to prepare ourselves." Hemumbled the last sentence.

Catherine pushed herself out of the chair and smiled. "Why?They'll find something, Father! We've been through things like thisbefore!"

"No! We haven't, Catherine! Vincent is dying! Right now! In hisbed!"

Catherine's breath caught in her throat and stuck there.

"His body is shutting down. Catherine, he's dying of naturalcauses. His life expectancy has worn itself out."

"He's FINE!"

"He's not!" Father stood the touched her shoulder. "When we foundVincent, we did not expect for him to live for a week! He has had aremarkably long life!"

"You're his father, and you're letting him die?! You can't dothat!"

"Catherine, I am just as devastated as you are. Believe me! But Ialso accept the fact that I'm doing the best that I can possibly do,and that may not be enough for Vincent."

Catherine studied his face as she forced her breathing.

"Go. Go, and take Rosalind. Spend as much time as you can withhim."

Catherine simply stood there starring at him, then finally turnedsolemnly and watched the floor go by as she walked back to herchamber.

*****

Catherine wrapped her thin shawl tighter around her handmadetunnel dress. It wasn't cold, it was summer in the world Above, but astrange cold dread filled her body. Her walk back to the chamber wasmore of a shuffle, but she stopped abruptly when a fear pushed itsway into her thoughts. 'It's just me,' she told herself, but a suddenburst of terror sent her running.

She slid into the chamber and down the metal stairs, meeting herfive-year-old daughter's side. "Rosalind?!" She bent to Rosalind'slevel and forced the child's shoulders to face her.

Rosalind's cheeks were tear-stained and flushed. Her hand shook asshe pointed at Vincent. "He won't wake up." She could barely get itout.

Catherine jumped onto the edge of the bed and put her ear to hischest as her daughter went on.

"We were reading, and he looked like he fell asleep, but he won'twake up."

Catherine closed her eyes and breathed heavily as Vincent's heartbeat lightly against her ear.

"Is Papa okay?"

'No!' Her heart screamed as she wept inside. "Yes, he's fine. Iwant you to go to bed now, it's VERY late."

"But..." Rosalind was thankfully cut off by Vincent's suddenconsciousness.

"Catherine... " She snapped her eyes back to Vincent's, and hereached up to push her hair back behind her ear. "I don't know howmuch more I can take of this. Something's happening to me." Hehesitated as her watched her blink away a threatening tear."Catherine, I think I'm... "

"Rosalind, time for bed!" Catherine jumped off the bed and guidedher to the next room.

"I don't want to go to bed!" Rosalind whined as she led her motherinto the adjoining chamber.

"Well, guess what, you have to." Catherine told hermatter-of-factly, knowing the usual argument by heart now.

"But what if a monster gets me while I'm asleep?"

"Well... " She lifted the blankets draped over the bed and peekedunder, "I don't see any monsters."

Rosalind sighed, deciding her next move. "But what if... "

"But what if the sky falls, Chicken Little?" Catherine pulled thecovers onto her chest. "The world is full of 'what ifs,' baby. Letsomeone else worry about them and you go to sleep." She stood,skipped up the stairs and to the door, where she stopped at herdaughter's words.

"But what if I fall asleep and never wake up, like Papa?"

Had she just heard her little girl correctly? She spun around andcrept back down the stairs. "What?"

"Mommy," she propped herself up on her elbows, "am I gonnadie?"

"Where in the world did you get an idea like that?" She sat on theedge of the bed, completely stunned and horrified.

"Father... and Papa." She stared innocently at her mother. "IsPapa gonna die?"

Catherine's brows furrowed in confusion and she narrowed her eyesat the girl. "Who told you that?"

"Nobody. But Father told you. If Papa dies, does that mean I'mgonna die too? What'll happen to us if he dies?"

"Rosalind!" She shouted and touched her daughter's shoulders tostop her.

"Nobody is going to die, all right? Not Papa, not you, and not me.We're all going to be all right!" She stood quickly to end theargument. She kissed Rosalind's forehead and straightened back up. "Ilove you. Goodnight."

"Mommy!" She grabbed Catherine's hand. "I think the sky isfalling."

Catherine stared into the serious deep blue eyes of herfive-year-old. Sometimes she hated the empathy between the three ofthem. Sometimes she wasn't able to lock up her feelings completely."Goodnight, Rosalind."

"Night, Mommy." She settled back into the pillow.

Catherine walked slowly through the doorway and into the singlecandlelit chamber. She stared helplessly at Vincent in the farbed.

He stared back and held out his hand to offer her comfort.

Catherine took it gratefully and curled into him. Her head restedon his chest, her one ear listening to his heartbeat.

They sat in silence for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms,remembering other times much like this one until Catherine spoke.

"It's not fair." She sniffed to keep back the oncoming tears.

Vincent held her tighter, trying to comfort her.

"It's not fair!" She shrieked softly. "They can't do this to usafter all we've been through, after all we've achieved!"

Vincent rocked her slowly, rhythmically.

"You know sometimes I have this urge to grab people on the streetand tell them what a gift life is. To tell them: I have had my fairshare of death; life is a privilege to you! All of you! You overthere, with your fancy car and lifestyle! And you with your blindnessto the beauty of this earth! Life is given fully to you! And youwaste it while the people who make a difference in the world die eachday!"

"Catherine!"

"They die because of people like you!!"

"Catherine, stop!" Vincent was sure he would leave marks on herskin, but he had to stop her from fighting against him. He rocked heragain and kissed the top of her head. "It's no one's fault. No one isto blame." He kissed her again. "Shh... we'll get through this, Ipromise."

Catherine laughed slightly. "We have lain like this countlesstimes. We have made countless promises to each other, all of which wehave kept. And the one night that our dreams seem to be crumbling,you make the one promise you can't be sure you can keep."

Vincent sighed, knowing he could start an argument. Instead heanalyzed her words. And for the first time, in a long time, theheartbreak that his death might bring to his loved ones scared him.He was dying, and he knew it was true only by the fear in her voiceand words. He rubbed her arm a bit and buried his face in herhair.

"Please don't give up hope, my love." He sent it so stronglythrough the bond that he knew she had to have felt it. It wasconfirmed when she rolled to be nose-to-nose.

"I don't know what to do." Catherine leaned her whole body closer,becoming part of his. "Sometimes I remind myself that there was atime when you weren't in life. A time when I never knew you. I can'timagine a life without you. It feels impossible now." She closed hereyes and sighed slightly. When she opened them again, she realizedhow close she was to him. It started her a little, and she tensed andpulled back. She relaxed again after she remembered that she wasmarried to this man. Her deja vu of the first two years of sexualtension between them flooded back for a second. The giddy feeling ofjust being near him, beginning to well up again.

Catherine sank back into the arms of the man she still consideredher lover. She put her forehead to his and concentrated on the bond.She had learned to channel herself, so she could work it by will.

Vincent nuzzled his face into the side of hers. He was tired. Heknew he would black out soon. He had to tell her that he loved her...right now! He had to tell her that he loved her just the same, justas purely, as the night he found her. He leaned up toward her ear andwhispered.

"Catherine... I can't imagine not being in love withyou."

A blackness enveloped him. Almost like falling asleep, but deeper,more like a cage.

Catherine's breath shortened and she felt him relax into thepillow. In a panic, she felt for a heartbeat, and successfully foundone. She pushed herself up to stare down at him.

The man that lay next to her used to be just as alone and lost asshe was. Then they finally found each other. They found true love inits purest form. But they also found danger, heartaches, and terriblesecrets. They had worked through them. Their dreams of a normal lifetogether had been reached to their potential. They were together,married, with a beautiful little girl. Everything had been soperfect. Why this? Why now? Why not someone else? Anyoneelse!

Catherine reprimanded herself for thinking such a horrible thing.But she couldn't seem to help it.

'Anyone else but Vincent! Please! What will I tell his daughterwhen she asks why her father can't read to her anymore? What will Itell her then?'

Catherine's thoughts drifted to the day they met. The first timeshe had spent with him. He had read Great Expectations to her. Laterhe had given it to her.

"Great Expectations."

Vincent was dying, a reality she refused to accept, although sheknew he wasn't getting better. What a perfect thing to read to himwhen he woke up. She could get a copy from Father's library.

No. It had to be that one. The same one he read to her.

That meant leaving him, leaving the tunnels for at least a half anhour. She didn't want to leave him for a second. But what a perfectgift to him!

'What am I being paranoid about? He'll be fine for a half an hour.He's always been fine. I'll go as fast as I can.'

*****

Catherine bounced into her apartment, and straight over to thelarge sea chest her father had given to her as a teenager. Theanswering machine caught her eye as she knelt next to her box. Therewere about ten messages on it, but she wasn't in the mood, and didn'thave the time to worry about what people thought of her disappearingagain.

She dug through the ocean of old toys and books that she had keptuntil she reached it. The novel's fragile binding shifted under herfingers and she made a mental note to be extra careful with it.

She lifted herself onto her bed as she stared at the inscriptionon the inside cover. She smiled and fingered it.

The ring of the phone made her jump, and she simply stared at itas it rang a second time.

She wasn't sure if she should answer it. She didn't want peoplethinking that she had disappeared completely again. She liftedthe speaker to her ear slowly as a voice yelled to her.

"Cathy?! Cathy?! Are you there?!"

"Elliot?" She glanced at her digital alarm clock next to her."It's midnight, why are you calling at this hour?"

"I've been calling during the day, but you're never there. Ithought I'd have more luck calling you late! Where the hell have youbeen?! I've been trying to get a hold of you for almost a weeknow!"

"I... I've been... " she fumbled with her words, "busy." Shedecided to keep going. "Ya know, lotsa case work."

"Don't even try to pull that with me Cathy! I've been calling youroffice everyday! I was sure Joe thought I was stalking you until Ifinally got it out of him that you just walked out four days ago!Now, where have you been?!"

"I don't believe you actually expect to get an answer, DAD!"

"Cathy, I have talked to everyone! No one has seen you!"

"Why do you care?"

"This is the third time, Cathy. The third time you've disappearedwithout a trace. Where do you go, Cathy?"

Catherine paused, not sure what to say and furious that he waspersistent. 'Go home.' A voice told her. 'Just go home and be withyour family.'

Instantly, Catherine slammed the phone back down on itscradle.

*****

The cell phone in his hip pocket rang and he reached for itimmediately. He knew better than to wait for even a second.

"Did you see her go in at all?" The voice on the other endasked.

"No."

"Are you sure you couldn't have missed her?"

"I've been standing here since 9 p.m. Since Jimmy went off duty.She hasn't come in or out."

"Fine. She's home. Go inside, keep track of her. I'll be theresoon."

"All right." He shut the cell phone and replaced it in his pocket.He sighed deeply and straightened his business suit.

*****

The elevator doors opened to a long hallway with red floweredcarpeting, standard for most apartment buildings. He stepped out ashe tried to remember her apartment number. He had to go to theright... and the very end apartment was hers.

He rounded the corner and caught the sight of a long trench coatand medium length, dark blonde hair flowing out behind a femalefigure as it passed through the doorway and down the enclosed stairs.Immediately knowing that it was her, he silently slipped in beforethe door could close.

He followed her down the flights of stairs, keeping a gooddistance and never making a sound.

He followed her down to the basement where he watched her pull apanel away from a section of the wall, revealing a small passagedownward. In awe he watched her climb down the ladder and pull thepanel closed with routine ease.

He snapped himself out of the trance state and launched himself atthe wall.

*****

Catherine, Charles Dickens in hand, leapt off the last rung of theladder and started steadily off through the brick passage into thetunnels. She was about ten feet away from the archway leading to thebasement when a voice from behind her whispered something completelyinaudible. Catherine froze and spun around. She squinted in the dimlight at the man as she inched closer. His awed face came into clearview, and her shock turned into horror as her stomach turned."David?" She was tired and the backs of her eyelids were beginning tosting but she couldn't mistake the face. He worked for Elliot Burch,one of his security officers.

"Ms. Chandler!" His wandering eyes snapped to hers as if he didn'texpect her to be there. He studied her petrified eyes and finally lethis wander down the tunnel again. "What is this place?"

Catherine was only a few feet away from him now. It took her asecond to gain her voice. "What are you doing here?!"

David found her eyes again and suddenly instinct kicked in. Hegrabbed her wrist and began pulling her toward the walkway. "Ms.Chandler, I don't think you should be here. This place looks like itcould collapse any minute."

"No!" She struggled against his grip as he pulled her through thedoorway.

He was partly up the steps when she yanked her arm away sofiercely that it pulled him off the ladder. "Listen to me!!"

"Catherine?"

She spun around, recognizing the deep, gruff voice. She heardDavid scream, and (out of the corner of her eye) saw him back intothe brick corner. "Vincent!" She ran to him and began pushing him outinto the tunnel. "Go! Go back, quickly!"

"I've got to tell him about this!"

Vincent and Catherine froze. Catherine turned her head back overher shoulder, followed by her body so it was as if she were blockingVincent. She charged at the man climbing the ladder and seized hismuscular arm. "No, you can't do that! Please, David!" Her voice wassteady and she tried yanking him down, unsuccessfully.

"Ms. Chandler! Mr. Burch is coming anyway!"

"Catherine." Vincent's panicked mumble was ignored.

"He'll find you anyway!" David persisted.

"No!" She tried to pull him down as he steadily climbed up.

"Catherine." Vincent was loud enough to be heard this time, andCatherine turned just in time to see his eyes roll back and his legsgo limp, sending him crashing to the ground.

Catherine sprinted to him and slid to her knees at his side. Shefelt for a pulse below his chin and found it. It was light, barelybeating against her fingertips.

*****

Father and Pascal were leaned over a poster-board, studying themarks and diagrams on it when small feet scurried their way in andhalted in front of the men.

Rosalind panted slightly, but her message was more important thanher breath. "Mommy and Papa!" she squeaked out. "They're introuble!"

Father came around his desk swiftly to talk to her. "How do youknow, Rosalind?"

"I know!!" she insisted.

Father never was one to question the bond the family shared, and(especially in Vincent's state) this time was no exception. "Whereare they?"

"By Mommy's basement," she announced, finally catching herbreath.

Father turned back to the man behind the desk. "Pascal... "

"Coming!" he responded immediately.

*****

She had sent her message. Her daughter knew something was wrong,she would take it from there. Catherine looked back down at Vincent,limp in her lap, and began running her fingers through his goldenhair. She rocked side-to-side slightly as she murmured words ofcomfort she subconsciously knew were more for her than Vincent.

After about ten minutes, she saw his eyes open to slits."Catherine?"

"They're coming." She smiled as she ran her hand over his oddlyshaped face. "Just stay with me a little longer."

Vincent reached up and mimicked her hand movements against hercheek. "I love you so much, Catherine."

"No!" Her voice became hard, but no more than a whisper. "I won'tlet you say goodbye!" She allowed a tear to escape.

"My Catherine... " Vincent ran the back of his hand over hercheek.

Her head snapped up at a scraping sound and voices above them."They've come for me."

"Go, Catherine."

"No! I won't leave you."

"You must."

"You wouldn't leave me." She clutched the hand stroking her faceand stared into his deep blue eyes. "Whatever comes." She told him,her voice strong so far.

"I love you, Catherine." Vincent reached up and brought her into ashort, but deep, kiss. Footsteps down the ladder broke themapart.

Tears spilled onto her cheeks and no matter how hard she tried tostop them they just kept coming. She took a couple short, sobbingbreaths. "I... "

"Cathy!" Elliot's voice boomed. Not comprehending the situation,he took immediate action. "Get away from her!"

The men behind him charged toward Vincent and Catherine on cue.Elliot grabbed hold of Catherine and pulled her away as the mendragged Vincent into the light underneath the basement above.

Catherine flailed and fought to free herself from Elliot's armsthat were wrapped around her tightly. "No!!" She screamed through hertear and her violent sobs.

"Cathy, it's me!"

"Let go!! No!!" She stopped just long enough to see, through thehairs that fell over her eyes, the men beating Vincent down.

One man kicked his stomach to roll him over into the light.Vincent's blonde hair fell off his face, revealing his beast-likefeatures. "Oh my god!" The one man, obviously the leader, exclaimedinvoluntarily. "Mr. Burch! You better come look at this!"

Elliot's distraction was enough for Catherine to break free. Sheshoved her elbow into his ribs and bolted to Vincent, never hearingBurch yell to her. She nearly fell over him, like a blanket, toprotect him. She stared up wildly at the men; daring them to come anycloser. Only Vincent's voice freed her of the hateful looks.

"Catherine... " She sat up to look at him; tears still streamingdown her face, "let me go." She shook her head slowly and mouthed a'no' as Vincent relaxed into the dirt floor.

Elliot approached her cautiously. He watched her fall into theman/beast's chest and come almost straight back up.

Catherine studied his face frantically. "No! You can't leave! Notwithout me! Please!! I love you, Vincent!" She seemed oblivious tothe men surrounding her and watching. "I love you! Come back to me!"Catherine's tears and sobs blocked her ability to speak. She fellinto Vincent as if she were a part of his body. She tucked her faceinto his shoulder and neck. She cried harder and harder as themoments passed.

The men and Elliot stood around the couple; confused, andfascinated. They spun around when an older man called from behindthem.

"Catherine!" Father stood wide-eyed at the scene. Catherine didn'tmove or speak, she couldn't stop her weeping. "Dear God," hewhispered at the sight.

No one noticed the five-year-old girl running past them until shecried out. "Mommy! Papa!"

Catherine's head instinctively snapped up. "KEEP HER AWAY!" Sherepeated it through her sobs until Jamie whirled around the cornerand snatched the girl up in her arms.

Rosalind screamed for her parents and kicked to get down. Jamiehad trouble holding her as she pulled her around the corner.

Catherine fell back into his chest, pulling at his clothes as shescreamed into him. "Do you hear her?! She can't live without you! Wecan't live without you! Do you hear her?!"

Father's shaky legs walked him slowly over to Catherine. Hereached down and grabbed her shoulder. "Come away, Catherine."

Catherine yanked her arm away and tucked close to her soul mate."No! I told him I'd stay with him, Father. I have to stay withhim!"

"Catherine... please." Father forced back the tears.

"He promised we'd be together forever. This was eternal! Do youremember that?!" She screamed into his chest. "We're eternal,Vincent!"

"Vincent will never leave you." Father choked out, his breathsbecoming shallow. "He'll never leave any of us. He'll always be inour hearts."

Catherine kept her cry as quiet as possible. She kept it downenough that she didn't scream again, she just wept until she had nomore tears left to express the pain.

After a few minutes, she leaned up to his face and covered hismouth in a kiss. Tears fell as she did, she could taste the saltysweetness of them as they seeped between their lips. "I will never,ever stop loving you," she whispered as Father helped her to herfeet.

Catherine and Father held each other up as they walked. For thefirst time, she looked up toward Elliot and his men. Elliot wasblocked by Mouse and James (one of the sentries). They walked pastthem, and towards the brick entrance.

"Cathy... " The familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

She looked into Elliot Burch's eyes with her own hateful, rageful,deep eyes. The hate and rage turned into shock and disbelief. Thereality of how everything had happened finally came to her.

She turned away from him, unable to take it anymore.

"Mouse, confine these men." Father ordered as he walked Catherineout.

*****

Her head bent over her knees, and her arms folded around her legs,Catherine rocked herself and cried. Her head came up slowly to seethe five-year-old whose hand rested on her shoulder. She pulled herdaughter into the crevice she had made with her body and rocked thegirl. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm sorry," she mumbled as she ran herhand over the dark blonde hair that fell against her chest.

Rosalind hugged her mother silently, feeling the pain, but notcomprehending it. "Mommy," she called in a whisper. Her mother was inpain and she needed to know why. "Where's Papa?"

Catherine looked into her child's eyes, the question making hercry even more. "I am so sorry."

"Where is he?" she panicked.

"He had to go away, for a very long time."

"But he's coming back, right?" Tears began to form in her blueeyes.

"No." It was almost physically painful to speak it. "No, he'snever coming back."

"Why not?!" she demanded.

"Because he can't, baby." Catherine tried to stop her tears. "He'sgone."

"But... " horror and disbelief covered Rosalind's face, "but hecan't be gone."

"I'm sorry." She cupped Rosalind's face in her hands. "I'm sorry."She pulled her into her body again and rocked Vincent's cryingdaughter.

They fell asleep in Vincent and Catherine's bed that night.

Catherine felt her hair fall away from her face. She opened hereyes slowly, taking in the figure of the man in front of her."Vincent." She mumbled as her vision adjusted. Her eyes flew opensuddenly and she stared at the man in complete shock. He walkedaround to the other side of the bed as she unraveled herself from herdaughter.

Catherine jumped into Vincent's arms, wrapping her arms around hisneck. She hugged him quickly, but rushed into his deep, waiting kiss.When he pulled away from it she rested her head on his chest. "Pleasetell me I'm not dreaming."

"I'm sorry for your heartache, my love." His deep voice forced herbreath to become shallow.

She looked up into his steely-blue eyes. "Are you real?"

"I am to you. That's all that matters now. That's all that hasever mattered. You must not forget that. I live inside you, thereforeI live."

"I want you to live with me," she told him almost as acommand.

He shook his head and brushed away her single tear with his thumb."I'm sorry." He sighed and avoided her eyes for a second. "Know thatI love you. I never thought any of this would happen." He met hergaze again. "I love both of you. You're stronger than I could everthink to be, Catherine. You'll survive this."

"I'm strong because of you. I can't survive without you." Sheargued as if it would bring him back.

"You're going to have to," he told her sympathetically. "Rosalindneeds you. She can't live without you. We've endured so much, mylove. This is just another milestone."

"It's our last milestone."

"No." He whispered and brushed a few falling hairs behind her ear."We're eternal... always. We'll be together again, I swear."

"I don't want to let you go."

He kissed her again and put his forehead to hers.

'If he's trying to make this easier, it's not working.'

He reached up and ran his hands through her hair that fell into asweep below her shoulder. "Though lovers be lost, love shallnot."

She tucked her face into his hair, getting the message. "And deathshall have no dominion." She wrapped her arms around his neck andburied herself in him.

They sat together for what seemed like forever before Vincentpulled back and unwrapped his arms. "Tell Rosalind I love her." Hegently took her wrists and pulled her away from him. He kissed herdeeply for the last time.

"No." She watched him stand up and let her wrists go as he beganto walk to the chamber entrance. "No, not so soon!" He disappearedinto the darkness of the tunnels.

"Vincent!!" She sat up in bed yelling after him. She had somehowended up on the other side of the bed from her daughter.

Rosalind rolled over and pushed herself up. "Papa?" Shemumbled.

Catherine turned her attention to the girl and sighed as sheclosed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. "Go back to sleep, Rosalind."She lay back down and pulled her daughter down with her.

*****

"I want to see him." Catherine sat in the chair next to Father andleaned over the arm toward him.

"Give yourself time. Are you ready for a confrontation with thisman?"

"I have to speak with him, Father. I have to work past it."

"All right. Take Mouse with you, just in case."

Catherine knew he meant 'in case he attacks you too.' ButCatherine was taking Mouse in case she attacked him. "Thank you." Shetouched his arm and wrapped her thin shawl around herself tighter asshe stood to leave.

*****

Elliot shielded his eyes as the door scraped open and a torch camethrough, lighting up Mouse's dark and despising face. He stepped tothe side, allowing Catherine through. Elliot glanced back at the menbehind him, then relented and met Catherine's blank, cold stare.

Their eyes were locked for a long time until running footstepscame around the corner and a tiny blonde girl slammed intoCatherine's side.

Two more people came around the corner, both slamming into theedge of the rock doorway. Both shouted to her with their hands out,beckoning her. "Rosalind! Come back here!"

"Mommy," she mumbled and clung to Catherine.

Lena pushed herself off the wall and put her hand on the head ofthe girl in front of her. "Go back home, Cat."

The seven-year-old scurried back along the path. Lena walked alongthe wall, meeting Mouse in the corner.

Catherine ran her fingers through her daughter's thin, wavy, darkblonde hair. She knelt down when she realized the child was crying."What's the matter, baby?"

"I... I woke up... you weren't there, and, and, and... Papa wasn'tthere," Rosalind watched her mother's eyes glance toward Elliot, "andyou weren't there... " She repeated and fell into her motheragain.

Catherine held her for a minute, and then pulled her away."Rosalind. Rosalind. I need you to be a big girl for me, okay? You'regoing to stay with Lena and Cat for a little while. I'll come pickyou up tonight."

"Where will you be?"

"Herefor a while."

"But... why do I have to go?!"

"Because I'm asking you to, Rosalind. I promise you, I will comepick you up tonight and we'll go home and do something together."Catherine straightened back up and turned Rosalind to the doorway."Now, go back and play with Cat for a few hours, okay?"

"No!" Rosalind whirled around and held onto Catherine's leg.

"Baby... " she pulled the child onto her hip, "please, just goplay for a while. I promise I'll come and get you."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Catherine nodded.

"And... and can we read when we get home... like we used to?"

Catherine forced a smile. "Of course we can." She hugged Rosalindtightly and set her down. "I'll be there in a few hours."

Lena took the girl by the shoulders and led her around the corner.She whispered, "Go find Cat," to her as she turned back next to Mouseand watched.

Catherine met Elliot's eyes again.

"I didn't know you had a daughter."

"No one does. Except down here."

"How old is she?"

"Five."

"She talks pretty good for five."

"Is that a compliment, Elliot? She has a wonderfully largevocabulary for her age. She can even spell a little. It's all thosedamn books that her FATHER read to her! That he won't ever read toher again!" She shook her head at him. "Do you have any idea how muchI would love for you to feel pain? The kind that rips your heart out?The kind that no matter where you go or what you do, you'll alwayshave that unbearable feeling? I want you to feel exactly what I'mfeeling right this second."

Elliot stepped back as she began to charge toward him.

"I could kill you! Right now!! Right here!!" Catherine pulledagainst the restraints of Mouse and Lena. She suddenly stopped,calming herself enough to know what she was doing and saying. Shethrew her head back and mumbled something like, "I can't forgivehim." She twisted out of Mouse and Lena's grip, and almost flew outthe door.

*****

"How is she today?" Father inquired as Lena approached him in thelibrary.

"She hasn't slept in three days. She doesn't eat, she doesn'tspeak. I'm worried about Rosalind. She's there alone with Catherine,and Catherine doesn't exactly seem to be in top mental condition. Theempathy between her and Rosalind has made a small problem for homelife."

"What do you mean?" He beckoned the young woman to a chair next tohim.

"Every time I go to give her food, she is staring at the pipes.Rosalind sits for hours everyday staring at the pipes, just likeCathy. She'll talk to us though. She'll eat. And after a few hours ofstaring she'll sleep or do something else. But the most Cathy does istwist the strings of Vincent's leather pouch in her fingers.

"It started to really scare me. So, Rosalind has been staying withme and Cat since last night."

"Have you spoken to Rosalind about Catherine's condition?"

"Every time I bring it up, all she says is that Cathy's waiting.I've tried to take her to see her mother, but she keeps saying thatshe can't and she won't tell me why."

"It was unwise of me to let her speak with that man so soon. Toosoon."

"Don't dwell on it, Father."

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Perhaps a visit home would do bothRosalind and Catherine good. See if being close can pull her out ofthis state."

Lena nodded her agreement, and stood to leave.

*****

"Cathy, how are you today?" Lena carried a tray of food in onehand and held Rosalind's in the other. She had convinced the childthat her mother would not be angry with her if she visited her.

Catherine was curled in a large chair, her legs were crossedIndian style and her arms were wrapped around her stomach. Her eyeswere fixed completely on the pipes and she showed no signs ofconsciousness except for when she blinked.

Lena set the tray on the table next to her and knelt to thefive-year-old's level when she tugged on her clothes.

"She doesn't even know we're here!" the girl whispered, and staredback with terrified eyes.

"Why don't you go talk to her?" Lena pushed the girl forward.

Rosalind swallowed hard and ventured forward. "Mommy?" She camearound in front of her. "Mommy?" She slowly reached out and touchedCatherine's leg. Rosalind was surprised and terrified to see noreaction.

She slowly climbed up into her mother's lap and rested her headagainst her heart. Lena watched, almost in awe, as Catherine broughther head down and rested it on top of Rosalind's, her eyes stillfocused on the pipes.

"Mommy," she spoke with a little more courage, "why won't you talkto me?"

"Catherine has to hear the message." It was barely a whisper butit came from Catherine.

"Why won't you sleep?"

"If she sleeps, she'll miss the message." Again, barely awhisper.

"Why won't you eat?"

"She has no food. And she can't leave until she gets themessage."

"Lena has been bringing you food."

Catherine didn't respond, as if she had shut everyone but herselfand Rosalind out, so others meant nothing to her.

"Who's sending the message, Mommy?"

Catherine brought her arms around her daughter and held hertightly as she rocked her. "Shh... Papa will be here soon. Don't cry,baby."

"Mommy, who's sending the message?" she tried again.

Catherine stopped rocking abruptly and focused her eyes even moreon the pipes.

Lena listened as at that exact moment the pipes went silent.

Catherine began rubbing Rosalind's arm. "He wishes he had hisroses with him. But he knows he can't."

"Whose roses, Mommy?"

"His roses!" She persisted. "Catherine and Rosalind. But he knowshe can't have them. He misses them. Very much."

"Rosalind, do you know who she's talking about?" Lena encouraged,coming around the pair to reach her eyes.

"Papa." Her words were more of a release of breath.

"He needs them to be strong and brave like they always were."Words spilled out from Catherine like a flood. "He'll never leavethem, just as Father said. He loves them more than anything." Shestopped as the pipes came alive again.

Catherine began rocking Rosalind again, quickly this time. "Youhave to go, Rosalind. You have to leave. Catherine has to be alone!"She pulled her arms away from Rosalind and wrapped them aroundherself as she continued to rock.

Rosalind jumped out of Catherine's lap, grabbed Lena's hand, andpulled her out the door.

*****

Days went by. Lena kept bringing food for Catherine, and no matterwhat she said, Rosalind refused to come along. A week had passedsince Catherine spoke to Rosalind and she hadn't made a soundsince.

Lena and Father sat together in his study one, of the many days.They were debating on what to do with Catherine in the state she wasin, when Jamie ran into the chamber, shoved a message in Father'shands, and raced back out.

Father looking completely confused, read the message slowly tohimself.

"Father, what is it?" Lena watched his expression changeslightly.

"Narcissa is coming up to this level... today."

"Do you suppose she knows about Cathy?"

"I wouldn't doubt it." He set the paper on the desk in front ofhim and looked back at her. "Come along, we'll go meet her."

*****

"Child." Narcissa called to Catherine as she made her way down thestairs and toward her. "Child, speak to me."

Catherine stared at the pipes still, but she twisted the string ofVincent's pouch in her fingers incessantly.

"He is no longer in need of your guidance." She sat next to herand concentrated on her face.

Her eyes never left the pipes as she spoke. "But I am still inneed of his."

"You must have faith in yourself. In your child."

Catherine tilted her head to look at the woman next to her.

*****

Rosalind picked up a thin children's book from the shelf andfingered it. She made her way past several other children to a chairin the corner.

She had curled herself into it and had the book open in her lap,when her head jolted up and she glanced around instinctively. Thegap, the nothingness of both her mother and father suddenly floodedwith feelings of hope, pleading, and anger.

Rosalind closed the book and threw it aside as she launchedherself off the chair and down the tunnel.

Cat and Mary, who had been watching, jumped up and went afterher.

Cat sprinted after her, calling to her over and over.

Mary walked, but quickly as she called back to Andrew to watch thechildren.

*****

"I know you can do it." Catherine's dead glare was fixed onNarcissa's face and she could feel it.

"You ask too much of me, child."

"Bring him back! You can do it, I know it!"

"No!" Narcissa's voice was hard and stern. "It is dangerous totrouble the spirits!"

"I don't care! Just bring him back!" Tears fell as she spoke."Please... please!"

Narcissa and Catherine sat in silence except for the heavingbreaths Catherine took to keep the sobbing to a minimum.

Lena and Father leaned against opposite sides of the doorway andwatched the scene unfold.

Catherine, knowing she had lost the battle, turned back to thepipes and began playing with the string again.

Rosalind bolted into the chamber and her arm was grabbed andpulled into the wall by Father, as Narcissa spoke.

"No! No, child! Don't go back! It will be a long time before youmeet him again. Let him go. Let him be peaceful. It's over." She knewshe was getting no response from her. She turned backward to thethreesome and beckoned to Rosalind. "Come, girl. Speak to her."

Father bent down and whispered in her ear as she ventured forward.Rosalind nodded and continued her descent to her mother.

Cat flew into the chamber and was immediately pinned to hermother.

Rosalind made her way over slowly. She shook with fear, but hersteps were confident that this was the right thing to do. She finallystepped in front of Catherine, trying to block her view of the pipes."Mommy," her voice was barely a whisper, "the nightmare is over."

Catherine's green eyes snapped down to her daughter's blue. Sheremembered saying that to Vincent, just after the first time hekilled Paracelsus, while he was in a trance-like state.

Rosalind tensed and she let out only a squeak of and exclamationwhen Catherine grabbed her shoulders and held her tightly againsther.

"You know that we loved you!" Her voice was hard, but not harsh."He would have done anything for you! He loved you so much! I'msorry, baby."

Just as quickly as she grabbed her, she let her go. She cupped thefive-year-old's face in her hands; she kissed her forehead and boltedout of the chamber.

Everyone watched her leave, then turned their focus to Rosalind,standing in the middle of the room.

"Everything's okay," she announced.

*****

Catherine walked almost robotically down the long staircaseleading to the catacombs. She kept going straight until she reached arock wall. She found the inscription on Anna Pater's tombstone andmoved to the left of it until she found the freshly carved messagenext to it.

*****

Vincent Wells

Protector and loved citizen

Loving father to Rosalind

And husband to Catherine

Catherine ran her hand over it as she sank to her knees and restedher head on the rock as she cried silently.

*****

Five years old when Papa died and my Mommy withdrew intoherself. It took her own words to him to bring her out of the griefthat formed the trance. Mommy was never the same after that. Nothingwas.

The loss of my father was hard on the whole community, butMommy had lost one of the two people she valued more than her ownlife. A piece of her died that night. The side that was too weak tolive without him. She was never cold or uncaring. But... strange.Angry, and grieving, and joyous all at the same time.

Nine months later my baby brother was born. He was bright andhappy, and I remember him looking a lot like Papa, Mom even named himafter Papa. But, just to add to my mother's grief, the baby died ofSIDS at three months old. Mom seemed untouched by this. Of course,she was sad she had lost her son. But it was as if she expected it tohappen, or maybe it was that she had already wept for his soul in adark and cold tunnel twelve months before. One would think, and somedid, that my mother would die from the loss of her husbandand son. But Mom was strong, and considered me to be thereason she kept going. I suppose because I am a piece of Papa toher.

She never got over her love for my father. She never eventhought twice about another man.

She refused to let my memory of him die. The painting of them,done by Kristopher Gentian, hung on display, unable to miss it if youwere anywhere near it.

I grew up remembering only the important snatches of him. Iremember him reading, non-stop to me, pouring literature into myeager mind.

Mom has tried to make me forget the night that I ran into thatpassageway and saw her crying over my father's body. It doesn't work.That image will stay with me forever.

I don't remember much of my parents together. But I remembertheir love for each other and for me, and I understand now thatthat's what keeps us moving toward tomorrow.