Chapter 2

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Catherine was standing on the beach of their secret cove, looking at the waterfall. Vincent approached her from behind and wrapped his warm, powerful arms around her. She leaned back into his embrace, savoring the feel of his body against hers. A heat encompassed her body as she felt him lower his lips to nuzzle her neck and ear.

"Catherine"

She felt his warm breath against her skin as he murmured her name.

"Catherine, it's time to wake up." Vincent chuckled as he gently shook her. He didn't know the content of her dream, but he definitely knew the emotions it was generating. He enclosed her in a hug to aid in the transition from sleep to waking. One of the things he had learned about his new wife was that she was definitely not a morning person.

Catherine fought to hold onto the dream. For three long years she’d awakened to find her nighttime fantasies with Vincent replaced by the loneliness of her elegantly decorated apartment. As the last vestiges of sleep dissolved, tapping on the pipes penetrated her foggy brain and the realization of being Below, in Vincent's arms, caused her to smile and snuggle against his furry body. She didn't need to be asleep -- they were finally living the dream.

Vincent felt the shift in her emotions and marveled. This beautiful woman was his life, a love that he had never imagined possible. The fact that she loved him in the same way, that she had joined with him for all to see, was still astounding to him. Love and contentment surrounded them like a fluffy quilt as they lay in the darkness.

Waking together during the past month usually resulted in a period of gratifying loving, as did going to bed each night. Neither one seemed to be able to get enough of the other. A purr vibrated against Catherine as she began to kiss Vincent's neck and chest.

"Catherine, please stop," Vincent managed to say as he pushed her slightly away.

Catherine looked at him with surprise. She could tell that he was enjoying this as much as she was.

"Although I'd love to continue this, if you don't get to your apartment soon you’ll be late for your first day back at work."

Catherine fell against his chest with a groan. "Work! I don't want to go back to work. I want to stay here with you."

"I'd love for you to stay Below, but you know that you must go. You promised Joe. Besides, I must help Kanin and James in the new tunnels so we wouldn't be able to be together anyway."

"I know. It's just that it's been such a wonderful month. I guess the honeymoon is truly over."

"Never, my love." Vincent kissed her passionately. Catherine had read of kisses that curled the heroine's toes but had always ascribed the sensation to the author's imagination. Always, that is, until Vincent had kissed her for the first time. Toe curling, melting into arms of steel, swooning; she had experienced every romantic cliche in the book.

Vincent reluctantly released her and rose to dress for the day. Catherine watched with delight from the edge of the bed. She loved looking at his body almost as much as touching it. Her love and acceptance had gradually changed his self-image and he was becoming comfortable with himself. He still wore multiple layers of clothing in public, but was not so conservative when they were alone.

Catherine sighed and donned some old sweats for the walk to her apartment building. As they strolled hand-in-hand through the tunnels toward the threshold, Catherine thought back on the first time they’d made this trip. Vincent had brought her home after healing her wounds when she’d been savagely attacked. So many things had changed in her life, both Above and Below, since that fateful journey. It was strange to think how many wonderful events had resulted from such a painful episode. She had found the strength in herself that Vincent had seen. She had a meaningful job Above and a wonderful husband and surrogate family Below. Life was good.

At the threshold Vincent hugged her tightly and rested his cheek on the top of her head.

"We've parted here so many times before, and yet this feels strange."

"I know what you mean." Catherine leaned back to look in his deep blue eyes. "Be careful today and remember that I love you."

"And I, you." Vincent kissed her gently and watched her walk into the light which filtered down from Above. As she disappeared from view, his heart gave a lurch which was calmed almost immediately by the love she projected through the bond.

##

An hour later Catherine was surveying the stack of files on her desk and wondering again why she wasn't Below, relaxing by the Mirror Pool or reading to the children. Oh well, daydreaming wasn't going to make the stack any smaller.

"Welcome back, Radcliffe. It's about time you quit goofing off and got back to work."

"I'd say I'm glad to be back but..." Catherine indicated her desk. "What is all of this?"

After getting some coffee, they went to Joe's office where he filled her in on the cases she was being assigned. By the time she left his office she was fired up and back in the groove. She was totally involved in one of the files when she was interrupted by a knock on her office door.

Looking up from her work, she was surprised to see Jenny standing there.

"Jen, what are you doing here?"

"We had a lunch date?"

Catherine looked at her watch and was surprised to see that it was after noon.

"Goodness, I don't know where the time's gone." Catherine made a final note in the file and grabbed her purse.

The two friends were soon settled in a quiet booth at a nearby cafe. Jenny waited until the waiter had taken their order before pumping her friend.

"So, tell me everything. What's been happening? How's married life?"

Catherine laughed and assured her that everything was 'better than good, better than best' as Mouse would say. She told her of the honeymoon at the falls with Vincent. The feelings that she couldn't put into words shone from her face. Jenny was truly happy for her friend, and more than a little envious.

They talked about Catherine's house hunting efforts and the difficulties she was having with it. Trying to find a house she liked, with the privacy she required and access to the tunnels, wasn't easy. She had an appointment with the realtor that evening to look at one near her apartment.

As they ate, they discussed the happenings in Jenny's life during the past month. She and Devin had spent quite a bit of time together before he left, and Catherine was worried that Jenny had gotten serious. Jenny admitted that she did miss him, but she realized that she wanted someone more stable in her life. What she didn't tell her friend was that she wanted the kind of relationship that Catherine and Vincent had, and that was a tough standard to meet.

##

After an afternoon as grueling as the morning, Catherine made it back to her apartment with just enough time to change clothes before meeting the realtor. She was only a few minutes late when the cab pulled up in front of a large brownstone on a quiet side street not far from Central Park. Though the floor plan was fairly standard, three features caught Catherine's attention.

First, whereas most homes only had the main stairs that began in the foyer, this one had a back staircase that went from the third floor to the basement. This would allow Vincent to come and go without being seen by visitors in the house.

Second, the master bedroom had been placed on the top floor where it was well lit by skylights in addition to French doors leading to a large balcony. The balcony would get plenty of sunlight but was enclosed by trellises which obstructed it from neighboring view.

Finally, the basement area contained a wine cellar adjacent to the back stairs. If Catherine had calculated correctly, the wine cellar would be the closest area to the tunnels and would be the perfect camouflage for an entrance. The house was perfect!

Doing her best to contain her excitement, Catherine told the realtor that she would think about the house and contact her soon with a decision. She could hardly wait to find out if a tunnel access was possible. Deciding that it would be quicker to walk than wait for a taxi, she set off at a jog and was soon making her way to the threshold in her apartment building.

As she climbed down the ladder, she felt Vincent's hands on her waist. She turned as he lifted her from the rungs and enclosed her in an ardent embrace. His lips found hers in a hungry kiss. As he raised his head and looked into her eyes, she was glad that he continued to support her otherwise she might dissolve into a pool at his feet. She chuckled as she found herself thinking in romance novel clichés again.

"Tell me." Vincent's azure eyes sparkled. She’d had a very emotional day, and he’d finally had to partially close the bond to be able to get any work done. This evening he’d felt her excitement building and was curious as to the cause.

"I've found a house! Or at least I think I have." Catherine's face glowed with delight. "We just have to make sure that the tunnel entrance won't be a problem."

As they neared the dining chamber they ran into Mouse and Jamie heading in the same direction. Finding a vacant table, Catherine explained the situation to Mouse and indicated the location of the house on a city map. Vincent and Mouse pored over the map as Mouse muttered, "OK good, OK fine."

"Well?" Catherine asked impatiently.

Vincent smiled and nodded.

"Yes!" Catherine exclaimed as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged. She felt him tense at her reaction and unease flowed through the bond. In her enthusiasm she’d forgotten where they were. Vincent was still uncomfortable with public displays of affection, although he was getting better. She released him as if nothing were wrong and held his hand. Out of the corner of her eye she could see smiles on the faces of their friends. Vincent still didn't realize how much joy their love brought to the entire community.

"Wanna see? Show location." Mouse, unaware of the drama unfolding before him, was eager to show Catherine where the entrance would be. Many years ago, Vincent had found Mouse living in the tunnels alone. He had tamed him, taught him to speak and read and brought him into the fold of the family Below. Since that time, Vincent had been the most important person in Mouse's life, and "Vincent's Catherine" now shared that special place in his heart.

Catherine accepted the invitation. Even though his embarrassment was subsiding, she could tell that Vincent would like to leave the prying eyes of the dining chamber. Mouse took off at a trot, and they hurriedly followed. In slightly more time than the trip to her apartment building, Mouse stopped and pointed.

"Here."

Vincent and Mouse inspected the tunnel wall and discussed logistics. They estimated an access tunnel of less than 20 feet. As there were no pressing projects currently in the works, they figured it should take less than two weeks to complete the digging. Mouse would devise a door which would be invisible from both sides. Catherine explained about the wine cellar and how she thought the shelving could be used as a cover on the inside. They returned to the main chambers to get Father's approval for the project.

##

It was a Friday evening and Catherine reclined in the bathing pool, letting the warm water relax her tired body. The past several weeks had been so unbelievably hectic that this was the first time she’d had to unwind.

Her offer for the house had been accepted, inspections completed and closing finalized. Kanin's crew had finished the access tunnel in record time. Mouse's door was a great success; from the tunnel there was no indication of a door, and the wine shelves had been attached in such a way that the wall looked solid from the inside too. Spurred in part by her daily visits, the contractors were moving along quickly with the modifications and upgrades she desired.

Several weekends had been spent sorting and packing the things in her father's home. Some of the belongings would be sent to the new house, some of it moved Below, some to Helpers and the rest given to charity. Sorting through the 'things' was easier than sorting through the memories. Although it had been over a year since her father's death, it had taken this closing of his house for Catherine to finally accept that he was really gone. By each Sunday night she was both physically and emotionally drained.

Evenings were busy with packing her apartment and working on the various cases she had been assigned. Many nights had found her hunched over her files until the early hours of the morning.

The Martinez case had ended with a conviction today, and she was rewarding herself with a weekend of no legal work. She was trying to do too much and it showed in the bags under her eyes and the weight loss that she couldn't afford. Facetiously, she wondered if her haggard appearance had generated sympathy with the jury.

When she had returned Below this evening, Vincent had whisked her off to this private pool.

Vincent - just the thought of him helped her relax. He had been her mainstay through all of this. In addition to his duties Below, he’d been helping her pack and had even spent the weekends with her at her father's house. Each weeknight while she worked, he would read or write in his journal. Then, when she had gotten to the point where she could no longer concentrate, he would carry her to bed. Lying there, secure in his arms, she would drift off to sleep, her cares slipping away.

Regardless her exhaustion, the one activity she would not forgo was making love to Vincent. Out of concern for her lack of sleep, he had refrained from any advances. Touched by his consideration, Catherine explained that, in addition to enjoying it immensely, loving him also helped her relax. She didn't need sexual tension on top of everything else. Vincent had very generously obliged her in eliminating that problem.

These thoughts invoked the sensation of his hands and lips on her body, the silkiness of his soft fur against her skin, the feel of him inside her. As her erotic reverie heated her body, she heard the object of her desires enter the chamber. Looking at him through heavy-lidded eyes, she saw him smile as he placed the supper tray next to the pool and undressed to join her in the water.

"That's a mysterious smile," Catherine remarked as she moved over to make room for him on the ledge.

"I was remembering how afraid I was of my desire for you. How I worried that you would be frightened by the powerful passions I felt, that my constant longings would repulse you. And now I find, my love, that you are the insatiable one."

She laughed and then sighed as she leaned back against his muscular body. It was true, she couldn't get enough of this wonderful man who was her husband.

"It's all your fault," she teased. "If you hadn't been so damn stubborn and virtuous, we wouldn't have had to wait for three years, and I wouldn't have to make up for lost time."

He kissed her shoulder, moving up her neck to nibble her ear. Catherine turned in his arms, her lips finding his. Supper was forgotten as hands, lips and tongues explored. The two lovers once again made up for lost time.

##

"Jen, I don't know how to thank you." Catherine handed her friend a cold drink before collapsing next to her on the sofa. "I had forgotten how tiring moving can be. I don't know which is worse, packing or unpacking."

"Hey, it's the least I could do. Now I can go home to my new apartment and take a nice relaxing soak. Cath, I still can't believe that you’re letting me use the condo."

"My pleasure, believe me. You'll love the view - I know that I always did."

"Yeah, but I won't have your sexy guy to share it with."

"You'll just have to find one of your own, though he probably won't come climbing over the wall."

"My friend, if there were another guy like Vincent, I wouldn't care how he got on the balcony!"

"Unfortunately, or fortunately, I am one of a kind," came a low voice from behind them.

Jenny blushed as she turned to see Vincent standing in the kitchen doorway. Sensing her discomfort he continued, "But I appreciate the sentiment."

"See, I told you I wasn't the only one who thought you were beautiful," Catherine said as she went into his embrace. Poking him in the chest she teased, "Just don't start getting a swelled head about it."

Vincent's low chuckle sent shivers of delight through both young women. Jenny decided that it was definitely time to leave and gathered up her things. Giving Catherine a quick hug she whispered, "Just let me know if you'd like to borrow the balcony."

After seeing her friend out, Catherine and Vincent wandered through the house. With the exception of the new state-of-the-art security system, the new appliances in the kitchen and the plantation shutters which had been added to the windows to allow light while providing privacy, no changes had been made to the first two floors. Catherine's excitement grew as they climbed the stairs to the third floor.

This floor contained the master bedroom, bath and a library. The library was lined with shelves which were already well stocked with books, Catherine's glass egg collection, photos and odds and ends, some of which had come from his chamber Below. Two large desks were on one side of the room and the other contained a large, comfortable sofa and chairs. Lamps and candles where scattered around the room.

As they went from the library to the bedroom, he was astonished at how comfortable everything looked. Although he had always admired Catherine's taste, everything in her apartment seemed fragile, and he’d always felt as though his great bulk would break something. The furniture here was more substantial and homey-looking and wouldn’t have looked out of place in a chamber Below.

He had only a moment to admire the bedroom before he was pulled into the newly renovated bath. Since Catherine had had a new closet built to enclose the entrance to the back stairs, the bath had been enlarged to include what had been the old closet. He looked in amazement, not recognizing what he saw.

Catherine showed him the whirlpool tub that was big enough for two, even if one of the two was as large as Vincent. She enjoyed sharing the bathing pools Below and didn't want to give that up when they were Above. As he inspected the new shower enclosure, she pointed out that it, too, was large enough for two. Seeing his puzzled expression as he looked around the shower walls, Catherine explained that the strange-looking contraptions were multiple showerheads. They could be used one at a time or in conjunction with each other and could also be adjusted from a fine mist to a pulsating massage. Candles were scattered around this room too.

"Would you like to try the tub?" Catherine asked with a purr in her voice.

"It looks very inviting, but aren't you hungry? If I know you, you didn't stop for a proper lunch."

"I am hungry, but there really isn't anything in the house to eat, and I'm much too tired to walk back to the dining chamber. Besides, I was hoping we could stay here tonight."

Vincent smiled as he hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

"You draw the bath and I'll be right back."

Catherine lit the candles and was just easing into the warm water when Vincent returned to the bathroom with a tray containing a light supper. Catherine looked at the food in surprise.

"William packed a basket for us. He assumed you’d be too tired to cook."

He set the tray on a stool and joined her in the tub. Thinking back to a similar scene not long before he said, "And this time, you must eat something."

Catherine laughed, remembering the incident to which he referred. After eating, Vincent was startled when she turned on the whirlpool jets. Overcoming his initial surprise, he relaxed into the massaging action of the water and decided that this was very nice indeed.

After preparing for bed, Catherine led him onto the balcony. In this quiet neighborhood the sounds of the city were distant enough to be able to hear the crickets. They lay on the double chaise watching the moon and enjoyed the warm evening air. Eventually, Vincent could feel Catherine drifting off to sleep and carried her to their new bed.

Vincent woke as the dawn sun peeked through the balcony doors and the sound of birds filled the air. Rising carefully so as not to disturb Catherine, he went out onto the balcony. Even though he knew was screened from view, an innate caution held him back from the edge. Standing there, eyes closed and face upturned, he was soon bathed in the pink and gold light of the rising sun.

Sensing his absence, Catherine awoke. As she sat up in the bed and looked through the open doors; the sight he presented took her breath away. The new sun brought out the gold and red highlights in his flowing mane and the brightness seemed to emanate from his very being. Not wanting to disturb his reverie, she quietly padded to the door to drink in the scene before her. Perceiving her presence, Vincent held out his arm, and she slipped beneath to be enclosed in his loving embrace.

"To stand in the sunlight without fear, that's a dream I've had since I was a child." He looked down at her and smiled. "My amazing Catherine, you seem destined to make all of my dreams come true."

"Well, it's only fair. You're making all of mine come true."

Vincent shook his head and hid his disbelief behind a golden veil of hair. He tried to change the subject.

"I can feel that you’re happy to have a home."

Catherine sighed as she snuggled closer. "I'm happy to have a safe threshold between Above and Below. I'm happy to have a place where we can be together in the sunlight. But there's an old saying -- 'Home is where the heart is.' Vincent, wherever you are, that is my home. That is the only home I need."

As he scooped her into his arms to carry her back to bed, he whispered in her ear, "Welcome home."