As they entered the apartment, Noodles looked up from his dog bone and perked right up when he saw Vincent. Leaving his treat, he excitedly pranced up to him for attention, to which Vincent bent down to pet him, saying, "Ah Noodles."
Catherine smiled as she watched Vincent with Noodles, and shared, "I think he has settled in quite nicely...he seems happy."
To which Vincent agreed, saying, "I believe so."
Since Noodles received his petted reward, he took his dog bone, and retreated to plop on top of Catherine's bed to chomp away.
Vincent then stood, and stepped closely to Catherine, and as his powerful frame towered over her, he asked, "How was your day Catherine?"
As the sound of his voice took her breath away, Catherine softly answered, "It was quite a day, but before I get into all that..."
Catherine then motioned to the fire, and asked, "Shall we?"
To which in response, Vincent held her gaze, and with an easiness, he removed his cloak.
As Catherine took it from him, she draped it over the chair, and while her back was still to him, she took a moment to gain her composure! Yes, even though they have been through so much for each other this past month, being near him, was still so new to her, and knew she must be blushing.
And so as she turned around, she saw a look within Vincent's eyes she had not seen before, thinking he had never looked this assured, as he did tonight.
With a hint of a tremor to her voice, Catherine offered, "I have some tea steeping along with a dessert...I thought we could enjoy it by the fire."
In response, Vincent simply nodded, and offered, "Allow me to stir the embers."
To which Catherine smiled, and responded, "Nice, and I'll get the tray."
As Catherine stepped into her little kitchen, to prepare the tray, she nervously knocked over a teacup, prompting Vincent to come in to see what was wrong, asking, "Are you all right?"
Humbly, Catherine smiled, and shook her head embarrassingly as she said, "No I am not!"
She then took a deep breath and said, "I feel like a jumble of nerves tonight. I am afraid that I am acting like a young schoolgirl."
As Vincent righted the china, he turned to Catherine and thoughtfully said, "Catherine..."
So as Catherine turned to look up at him, Vincent lovingly expressed, "We have been through much, and our emotions are still healing. And if truth be told, I felt the same way earlier, but suddenly when I saw you, my nervousness vanished. Tonight, our bond has given me strength Catherine."
To which, Catherine in reply, shared, "And tonight, our bond has left me weak."
Protectively, Vincent brought Catherine to him, and as he rested his head on hers, he assuredly said, "Then lean on me, together we shall travel this uncertain road, lending our strengths to one another."
Upon hearing Vincent's words, Catherine shook the tears from her voice, as she said, "Well let's try this again shall we?"
As Catherine placed the china on the tray along with the pie, Vincent took the tray from her hands, to which she responded, "Thank you, I will bring the tea pot..."
As Vincent walked out into the living room he asked, "Shall I set it here?"
To which Catherine agreed, saying, "Yes that would be perfect, then we can sit by the fire."
And after she moved the books over to make room for the tray, Catherine noted, "Your book Vincent."
Apologizing with his whole heart, he replied, "I am sorry I left my cherished gift behind Catherine..."
To which Catherine kindly said, "Maybe we can blame it on Noodles. I think he needing to go out, was a bit of a distraction, causing us both to forget."
And then Catherine efficiently said, "So to avoid a re-occurrence, I'll just put it by your cloak right now."
So after Catherine put Wordsworth by his cloak, Vincent thanked her, and she then poured and offered him his tea, saying, "Here you are Vincent, I hope you enjoy it. It's a blend I just picked up from China Town the other day."
Vincent accepted the china from her hands, and as he sipped, he said, "Mmm, yes very good."
Vincent then glanced at the flames, thought for a moment, before he shared, "Last night...Father was awake, waiting to hear if we had reconciled, and was very pleased to hear we had. He felt responsible for how your visit had transpired...and for Mack's crudeness... "
And then Vincent with downcast eyes, stated, "...and though I haven't gotten a clear picture of all Mack had said..."
Subtly Vincent then looked upward to see Catherine looking downward, biting her lip, in an effort not to smile.
Vincent then carefully continued, "...I have the sense since what Mack said has been discredited, perhaps I'd rather not know exactly what he did say. Would you agree with my assessment Catherine?"
Because Catherine was originally aghast by Mack's verbiage, thinking back, she kinda marvelled at his colorful litany of redundant alternative words and phrases he came up with!
And so because Vincent asked, lending a bit of humor, Catherine truthfully responded, "Maybe it would be for the best to just let it go, BUT...if what you are really asking me is to repeat what he had said, truthfully, since I have never heard his caliber of sensory slang before, I am not sure I could if I wanted. Mack does have a talent for the suggestive vernacular!"
Because Catherine lent humor to the subject, Vincent himself felt relief, and happily said, "Then upon your recommendation, consider what ever it was Mack had said, never to be discussed again."
With a smile, Catherine replied, "Good then, end of story. And please try to convince Jacob he has nothing feel responsible for."
And because his Father asked when Catherine might be visiting the tunnels again, Vincent informatively said, "I shall try, however I believe you may be more convincing than I...perhaps upon your return, you can visit, and speak to Father yourself after Thanksgiving."
To which Catherine kindly replied, "About Thanksgiving Vincent, actually, all my plans have changed. Dad is now staying with Peter down in Florida, and my friend Jennifer has plans with her family now."
As Vincent expelled a thankful sigh, he then asked, "If you haven't any alternative plans, perhaps you might consider spending Thanksgiving with me...with us...Father is most anxious for you to visit again."
In response to Vincent's invite, Catherine beamed as she replied, "I'd like that."
Pleased to hear Catherine would not be traveling, and they will spend the Holiday together, Vincent thankfully replied, "Wonderful to hear Catherine."
Excitedly, Catherine then pondered, "Hmm, may I bring something?"
To which Vincent replied, "You may, although not necessary Catherine."
As Catherine considered some options, she asked, "How about a pie or two, or three or four?"
With a chuckle, Catherine noted, "I don't even know how many people there are in the tunnels Vincent! How many pies should I bring?"
With a tip of his head, Vincent assured Catherine, a pie or two is plenty, and would definitely be enjoyed by the tunnel community.
And then he added, "Sweets of any kind seem to vanish quite quickly, and the children will especially enjoy the desserts you bring. And speaking of the children, they will be happy to know you will be spending Thanksgiving with us. You made quite an impression on them."
Catherine smiled a smile of wonderment as she said, "Those children, Vincent. They were all so beautiful, so sweet, and oh so bright! It is clear they have been showered with love. Meeting them affected me so, and I can't wait to see all of them again. I believe little Seth may have stolen a piece of my heart! Awe, those two missing front teeth..." And lovingly she laughed as she envisioned his little face.
Catherine then sliced the pie, and after putting a piece on a plate, she offered, "Here you are Vincent."
And just as Vincent accepted the plate, Catherine anxiously said, "Oops, before you eat that...wait, I forgot something..."
As Catherine rejoined Vincent, she held up the can of whipped cream, asking, "Would you like some?"
To which Vincent nodded, and then shared, "This confection is not one we enjoy very often."
And so Catherine squirted on the topping, and thoughtfully said, "You know my family doesn't either...usually just on Holidays and special occasions..."
As Catherine noticed Vincent, enjoying his last bite, she offered, "Maybe I should bring some whipped cream too!"
To which Vincent, replied, "I am sure the whipped cream will be enjoyed by all. Especially the children..."
Well after seeing how much Vincent himself enjoyed the sweet cream, Catherine giggled to herself, as she privately thought, "Especially the children uh?"
So as Catherine re-filled their tea, they happily sat talking and it was then Vincent with heart, asked again about her day.
And because it was such a tragic topic, Catherine hesitated, before she thoughtfully told Vincent about the sad death of a client she was to represent in court that day.
And Catherine shared how she wished, more could be done to fight crime in the city, and wished she, herself, could be doing more!
Catherine then noted, "It's up to the D.A. to find Mr. Benjamin's killer now. And though I didn't think so at first, I believe they will."
And then Catherine conveyed how she had been struck by the committed demeanor, of the assistant D.A. a guy named Joe, and his sincere "We'll get 'em" attitude, who would be overseeing the case.
Yes, it seemed as though this Benjamin case, had erupted something inside Catherine, and she could feel a change within her heart, wanting to pay homage to her beloved city somehow.
Catherine then hesitated a moment more, before she, for the first time shared with anyone, that she was beginning to feel that a career change would be the only way to serve her growing need to better the world.
As Vincent sat listening to Catherine, he heard the passion in her voice, and so he urged her to follow her heart.
Thoughtfully, Catherine then explained the one thing holding her back, was her Dad. And she knows it will be very hard on him, once he hears of her desire to move on, changing her career direction.
Sincerely Vincent replied, "Being the loving father he is, he will understand with time."
Knowing what Vincent said was true, she realized she was becoming more and more driven to do this! Now all she needed was the courage to make this change she longed for.
Then, as the rising sun peaked, and began to shine through the glassed windowpanes, they realized a new day had dawned.
And though he hated to leave, Vincent stood, and put on his cloak, and as he and Catherine embraced, they said their sad goodbyes, and he promised to return again.
It was then Vincent tipped his head as he suggested, "Since you have a reprieve from your work schedule, perhaps you would like to visit Father today."
To which Catherine excitedly said, "I would love that."
And then Catherine curiously, asked, "Do you think I should come through the park, or the way Jacob showed me, down through the basement of my building?"
With a smile in his eyes, Vincent tried to imagine his Father climbing down those rungs, and asked, "So Father revealed the basement entry? I cannot imagine him climbing down that ladder..."
To which Catherine confessed, "I must admit his unsteadiness, did make me a little nervous, but he did it."
Nodding in wonderment, Vincent said, "Father is full of surprises. And yes Catherine, you should enter through the basement's threshold, and I will be waiting for you."