IN DAYLIGHT AS ONE
by Linda Mooney
VI- The Second Day
They lay sleepily in each other's arms as the sky began to change from black to gray, and the first tentative rays of dawn made patterns on the bed. Catherine moved slightly to nestle against Vincent's neck. His roughened hand lightly stroked her shoulder and back, the claw-like nails raising goosebumps. She felt his contentment and knew he bathed in her fulfillment.
"Tell me what you're thinking," she barely whispered.
He moved slightly to kiss the top of her head. "My world of darkness is like a dream to me now. The sun is no longer my enemy. Your world is no longer a threat. I have stood in daylight, unafraid, because of you."
Catherine ran a hand across his softly furred chest. "We must go back tonight. Tomorrow is Friday and we can't take the risk of someone coming to the lake for the weekend and discovering us." She rolled out of the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.
Vincent watched the movement of the sun across the sheets, lost in thought. He was torn by conflicting emotions: On one hand he wished to remain at the lake with Catherine; Winter would soon cover the cabin in thick snow; the lake would turn to ice and in all respects they would be as alone as the last two people on earth. Yet, he also wanted to take her back to the comforting peace of the tunnels. There he would call a gathering of all the family and Helpers and before them he and Catherine would pledge their love.
The sound of the shower running broke his concentration. Knowing a warm bath would clear his head - groggy from lack of sleep - he slipped out of bed. Catherine was rinsing the soap from her face when he drew back the side of the curtain. Without waiting for an invitation, he joined her.
** Catherine was doing something she had been wanting to do for a long time: Vincent was sitting with his back to her while she combed the tangles from his still-damp hair."May I make an observation?" she said. The tilt of his head told her she had his full attention. "I've been thinking of how we were going to work around the living arrangements. I need to keep the apartment as my bridge between the tunnels and my work. The answering machine will take any calls I get when I'm away. After I'm finished with my job Above, I can come Below for the evenings and weekends."
"The tone of your voice tells me you had these arrangements predetermined a long time ago," he teased.
Catherine blushed. "They were...part of my dreams." She bent over to kiss the warm part at the top of his head and started to go back to her task when Vincent grabbed her wrist. The face he turned to her was expressionless.
"Catherine, you and I have been skirting an issue that we must address."
She dropped her eyes. In a small voice she replied, "Yes, I know."
"I'm talking about children."
"I realize that. I haven't been avoiding it without reason."
"Then you have been seriously thinking about...the problem."
Catherine reached out to tenderly smooth his bangs, choosing her words carefully. . "You know that I want children more than anything. I want your children. But I realize there's a risk involved. I want Peter to run tests on both of us. I want to be absolutely sure nothing can go wrong. But... if there is a problem . . . " She took a deep breath. His dark blue gaze warmed her, reassured her. "If there is a problem, there's always adoption. I don't know, we'll figure something out. But in the meantime, until we find out whatever the tests have to say, I'll be responsible for... I'll make sure I don't accidentally... Oh, damn, Vincent! You know what I mean!"
He chuckled softly and kissed her hand. "That solves our problem for later. What about our problem now?"
Catherine toyed with the brush. It had not truly occurred to her there was a remote possibility that she could be pregnant now. The idea was both frightening and wonderful. "I have no answers for now, Vincent. We'll just have to wait and see. But as soon as we get back to New York, I'll go see Peter about some protection."
He sighed and laid his head in her lap, both of them lost in thought. Catherine was glad the topic of children had finally been broached for she had long known how much Vincent loved children and she just prayed Peter could give them news that would put a happy ending on their own personal fairy tale.
"Hey," she perked up, tapping him on the back with the brush. . . "it's a lovely autumn day. Let's go enjoy it while we can."
Vincent smiled at her and together they left the cabin to enjoy their last walk in sunlight together .