So now together they stood, overlooking the snow blanketed city, feeling a contentment, they both had sought.
And as Vincent gazed up at the moon, he shared, "There were nights when I would look up at the moon, and wonder if you were looking at it as well..."
And because Catherine had done this also, she with sweet surprise, responded, "I would do that too..."
And then Catherine added, "Do you think we could have been moon gazing on the same nights?"
To which Vincent looked back at Catherine, and with conviction responded, "I doubt it not..."
And it was then, Catherine thought of the book she wanted to give Vincent, and so she offered, "Come inside with me, I want to give you something."
As they entered, the fire burning within the fireplace provided a glow which warmed the softly lit apartment, and with a gracious nod, Catherine said, "Make yourself comfortable, I am just going to check on Noodles."
And so quietly, Catherine peeked inside her bedroom door, and saw how contentedly little Noodles was snoozing away.
And as Catherine quietly closed her door, Vincent recalled his Father mentioning Noodles as well, and so he quizzically asked, "Noodles?"
Upon realizing how funny that must have sounded, Catherine smiled as she explained, "Noodles was Mother Alcott's dog, and, since he needed a home, I adopted him! So Noodles flew home with Jacob and I..."
And then Catherine with a bit of a chuckle, corrected herself, saying, "...well, with your Father and I. Noodles happens to be a poodle, who looks alot like a dog your Father had as a boy, and he named his dog..."
Just as Catherine was in the middle of her "Noodles" story, the phone began to ring. But because she was in mid-sentence, she decided to let the answering machine take the message.
Well, it was Jennifer on the other end, and her voice could be heard leaving a scathing message pertaining to Vincent, saying:
"Welcome home Cath!! Call me ASAP! I can't wait to tell you about my plan to help you get over this Vincent creep! I know, I know you say you can't forget the jerk, but listen, I plan on keeping you so busy during the Holidays, with shopping, baking, crafting, AND partying...you won't even remember that 2-timing RATS name! And further more..."
Meanwhile, Catherine sat listening in horror, as she heard Jennifer spewing things about Vincent!
And so smiling an "I could just die!" smile, Catherine raced past Vincent, and quickly grabbed the phone, in an attempt to stop Jennifer from saying anything more!
And so Catherine anxiously said, "Jen, Jen I'm home, AND Vincent is here."
To which Jennifer incredulously asked, "Oh $#!&*#! Could he hear everything I just said?"
To which Catherine laughed, and said, "ALL of New York could hear everything you just said! I'll call you tomorrow OK?"
Because Jennifer was taken off her game, without argument, she let Catherine off the hook, but then excitedly demanded, "OK, tomorrow then...and Cathy I'll want to know EVERYTHING!"
Smiling Catherine promised, "All right Jen, BYE!"
After hanging up the phone, Catherine slowly turned to find Vincent attempting to hide his amusement.
To which Catherine embarrassingly said, "That was my friend Jennifer."
In reply, Vincent nodded, and raising only his eyes said, "Your friend Jennifer, sounds very spirited!"
Having to let go of her laughter, Catherine agreed with Vincent's interpretation of her pal, and said, "Yes, spirited is a great way to describe her."
And then Vincent said, "And...she sounds like a very good friend, she is worried about you. And I gather doesn't care for me very much."
Catherine sat back down, and warmly replied, "I have known Jennifer since we were kids, and she can be quite protective."
Thoughtfully Vincent spoke from his heart, as he repeated, "Protective, as am I. Catherine, I myself had thoughts during our separation, thinking our parting was perhaps for the best as far as you are concerned..."
As Catherine heard Vincent's words, she touched her heart, as she expressed, "After knowing everything now, why would you say that?"
Humbly Vincent bent his head, as he replied, "Because of who you are and who I am..."
To which Catherine lovingly said, "I think we are beyond questioning who I am or who you are. It's who we are...these past weeks are proof of it..."
Silently Vincent sat, as he, with a look, acknowledged he knew she was right, because he couldn't exist without Catherine either, and for them there was no other way but to be together.
Catherine then broke his gaze as she gathered up Wordsworth, and as she presented it to him, she said, "This is for you....I have written something inside."
Slowly Vincent opened the book, and so aloud he read:
To Vincent As you gave your treasure to me I give mine to you along with my heart... Forever yours Catherine
With his rich voice, raspy from emotion, he said, "I shall cherish this for all of my days."
Vincent then looked down once again at the book he held, and noted, "I see you have a page marked here..."
To which Catherine nodded, and said, "Yes...would you read it to me?"
Vincent flipped through to the page that Catherine had selected. With a smile in his eyes, a very pleased Vincent nodded, for he knew this poem well, and felt very moved and touched by her choice. He then read:
THE FORSAKEN THE peace which others seek they find; The heaviest storms not longest last; Heaven grants even to the guiltiest mind An amnesty for what is past; When will my sentence be reversed? I only pray to know the worst; And wish as if my heart would burst. O weary struggle! silent years Tell seemingly no doubtful tale; And yet they leave it short, and fears And hopes are strong and will prevail. My calmest faith escapes not pain; And, feeling that the hope is vain, I think that he will come again.
Catherine then thoughtfully said, "The way you read, it seems you give this poem new meaning."
Vincent, still looking at the words he had just read, humbly told Catherine, "I have read this verse many times over, however, still even I, found truths here anew tonight, and they have struck me in a deep place as well."
Catherine looked at Vincent, this man who made her feel as if she were in a fairy tale. For he had rescued her from the depths of a lonely despair, which only he could have freed her from, and in her eyes he was her Prince, her hero, her shining knight.
And he was here, as she dreamt of so many times, except now it wasn't a dream, it was her reality.
As Catherine sat within his embrace, Vincent laid his cheek upon her silky hair, and a smile came to his heart, as her fingers, entwined with his.
A feeling of absolute happiness enveloped him, and as he reached through their bond, he could feel her happiness mirrored his own, and could feel the healing of their once broken hearted spirits, become whole once more.
As he looked down at Catherine, happily for him, the fading Heavenly vision, that he so desperately tried to hold onto, had been restored. And he could once again look at this beauty, who truly found him beautiful as well.