| Until my last Breath By Sharon Holtz Chapter Three Note: This will be a Round Robin story between Dawn and Sharon "We hope you will enjoy our story" |
After Jacob sent a sentry to notify Peter, asking him to meet them in the Hospital Chamber, Jacob, Catherine and Vincent, stepped out into the tunnel main.
It was there they were greeted, with an unexpected surprise! Word had spread throughout the underworld, that Vincent had returned to the tunnels with Catherine, so all the tunnel residents had gathered to express their happiness she was all right.
After all, Catherine was a heroine to them. She had bravely delivered Vincent back, from the brink of his dark madness, and for that fact, and for many others, they loved her.
It was Mary, who first stepped forward through the crowd, and taking Catherine's hand in hers, she said, "How happy we are you have returned to us safely."
Thoughtfully, she then added, "I must say...after everything you have been through...you look wonderful!"
Smiling self-consciously, Catherine wondered to herself, if it was possible for Mary to know she was pregnant? But how could she? Catherine figured she was 4 months pregnant at the most. But she understood, some women seem to have radar when it comes to detecting another woman who's expecting. She remembered her Grandma Chandler had that talent. In fact, Catherine's Mom swore, Grandma knew she was pregnant with Catherine, before she knew it herself! Catherine's Mom had once amusedly relayed to a young Catherine, that all through her pregnancy, Grandma would say she was "Glowing"!
Back to the present, Catherine suddenly heard Mary reinforcing her earlier statement, adding, "Yes, you do look wonderful...just simply glowing my Dear!"
There's that word, "Glowing"! OH MY!
Thanking Mary, Catherine replied, "I do feel wonderful now...I was pretty frightened, and wondered if Vincent was ever going to be able to find me in that old desolate warehouse."
Looking up at her Knight in shining armor, she told everyone, "...But he did. In fact Vincent risked his life to save me tonight. I will be forever grateful to him for his bravery."
Returning her gaze, the look in Vincent's eyes said it all. He would have died trying to save her if he needed to, unaware at the time, he was saving his child's life too.
Sweetly Mouse chimed in, "Only fair Vincent saved Catherine, cuz Catherine saved Vincent!"
Gleefully laughing, Jacob said, "That's right Mouse, Catherine had indeed saved Vincent...when all the rest of our efforts had failed. She was able to help him."
Seeing how tired Catherine looked, Jacob turned to the crowd, and suggested, "Well, now that you have all seen Catherine is alive and well for yourselves, let's break up this celebration, and carry on. Let's give her some time to catch her breath."
Jacob then motioned to Mary, and discretely asked, "Come with us Mary."
Pleased to be singled out, she happily said, "Of course Father. Where are we going?"
Under his breath, Jacob said, "We will tell you all about it once we arrive at the Hospital Chamber."
Shockingly, she loudly began to say, "The Hos..."
Then remembering herself, she whispered, "The Hospital Chamber! Oh Father what's wrong?"
Irritatingly, Jacob repeated, "We will tell you there Mary!"
Tritely replying, Mary answered, "Of course."
Catherine nervously looked up at Vincent, as she realized Mary was about to be informed about their expecting a baby.
The look of assurance in his eyes as he looked back at her, was calming, and resignedly, Catherine thought to herself, "I suppose there's no point in trying to keep this secret, not below in this world, or back home in my world above. My God! What will everyone say? What will Joe and Jenny say? What will I tell them when they ask about the father?
Oh well, I will worry about that tomorrow, and just deal with one world at a time!"
Meanwhile, as they entered the hospital's examining chamber, Peter was there waiting. Gratefully, he enfolded Catherine in his arms and said, "Well Kiddo, you are a sight for sore eyes! I gotta tell ya, you put me through hell every time you go missing! Of course the first time, little did I know you were just down here recouping! I swear though, one more time just might kill me. I can't take much more."
Sweetly Catherine hugged him back and said, "I am sorry to be so much trouble. Thankfully, Vincent found me."
With a renewed faith in good conquering evil, Peter looked over at Vincent and assuredly said, "Never had a doubt in my mind that you would be the one to find Cathy! Even though the chief called out the FBI, and put all available men on the job, I still knew you would be the one to find her. I thank God your connection to Catherine was restored."
Turning to Jacob, Peter jested, "These two look great! I guess you jumped the gun sending for me to help examine them!"
Suddenly, a dreaded thought crossed Peter's mind, and he questioned, "Unless, there's some concern about internal injuries?"
Thoughtfully, Jacob replied, "Internal injuries? No, no, nothing like that Peter."
Wanting an explanation for Jacob requesting the portable ultrasound unit, Peter asked, "Then what do you need this machine for?"
Chiming in, Mary expressed, "I wondered the same thing!"
Knowing it was their moment of truth, Jacob began to relay some of the facts to both Peter and Mary. Carefully Jacob began, "Yes...it is true Vincent found Catherine via a connection from his emphatic powers, however...his bond is no longer to Catherine..."
Gruffly, Mary inquired, "Then to who?"
Seeing Jacob stammer a bit, Catherine felt maybe it should be up to her to explain the rest of the story. So tenderly she placed her hand over her tummy, and said, "Vincent's bond is now to his child."
Both Peter and Mary fell back a step, and with curiosity, Mary spewed in disbelief, "When could that have possibly happened?"
Gently Catherine explained, "The night I went to Vincent in the cave. He was slipping away, and...well the rest is very difficult for me to explain. But suffice it to say, I was able to reach the part of Vincent I knew still loved me. And now, well now, we are going to have a baby!"
Without thinking, Mary candidly observed, "Reached the part of Vincent indeed! Tis not difficult to figure that out!"
With shock, Jacob scolded, "Mary! Let's have some decorum shall we?"
Peter too in wanting to support Catherine's actions, said, "Yes please everyone, let's take this a step at a time. The kids need our support right now!"
Feeling badly about her comment, Mary apologized by saying, "Of course...please know you have my full support, I suppose my concern reared its head cynically, and for that I am sorry."
Nervously Catherine looked around at everyone, save Vincent, and said, "I meant reached through to a part of Vincent's heart! Please don't judge me by the extreme action I went to that night. I would have given my life to help Vincent if I needed to. And just so you all know, now that a pregnancy has resulted from our loving each other that night, I have no regrets."
Stunned, and excitedly shocked, Peter dazedly said, "My little Cathy is going to have a baby! How do you like that?"
Still putting it all together, Peter then made more of a statement rather than posing a question, when he said, "And so the ultrasound is to check on the baby?"
Nodding, Jacob concisely said, "Precisely."
Eagerly, Peter than said, "Let's get started then!"
Mary took Catherine, to help her get ready for the exam, and without any sign of judgment or excitement from Mary, Catherine had to ask, "Mary, are you thinking badly of me?"
Professionally, Mary replied, "No Dear, not at all, I merely have my concerns."
Admitting she was a tiny bit scared as well, Catherine replied, "Me too. But thanks to Vincent, I know I have the strength to face what comes."
Truthfully, Mary confessed, "That's what I am concerned about, I only hope Vincent has the strength to face this responsibility too. Understand he is still recovering. Well come along Dear, they're waiting on us."
Walking out to the examining table, Catherine carefully sat down, and suddenly she felt excited, knowing she was about to get her first glimpse of the baby growing inside of her.
Reaching for Vincent to stand by and hold her hand, she noticed he seemed to be excited too! With a smile in his eyes, he smoothed Catherine's hair from her cheek, and asked, "Are you comfortable Catherine?"
Nodding, she said she was, and as they looked into each other's eyes, they seemed to lend a peaceful perseverance to the other, dissolving away any feelings of isolation in their hearts. They were together once more, and Vincent swore, nothing would separate them ever again, especially now, since they have a child together to love.
Peter applied the gel, and after he warmed the transducer probe in the palm of his hand a little bit, he asked, "Are you ready to see how your little baby is doing?"
Before Catherine and Vincent could answer, both Mary and Jacob in unison, eagerly said, "Yes! We're ready!"
To which Peter, looked over at Jacob, and Mary, and curtly said, "I was talking to Cathy and Vincent!"
This caused everyone to laugh, and the two eager beavers stood embarrassed, but in truth, their eagerness did take some of the tension out of the occasion, and for that everyone was thankful.
Peter gently then ran the probe over Catherine's stomach, and anxiously, everyone looked at the monitor to see the baby's image.
No one was immune from the emotional moment, when it was clear, the baby was healthy and beautiful, and its development was going along normally.
Crying tears of wonder, Catherine looked up at Vincent to see what he thought. He looked to be spellbound as he watched, and with the awe of a child, he looked back at her, and said, "Now that I can see, I can better understand this tranquility the baby is emitting to me through our bond."
Tearfully she asked, "How do you like 'em?"
Shaking his head, he tried to express his feelings, but could not! Finally he said, "There are no words Catherine."
Though Peter was pleased with the baby's development, he was a bit perplexed by the baby's size. And so he questioned, "How far along did you say you were Cathy?"
Counting back, Catherine replied, "About 4 months."
Thoughtfully, Peter said, "The baby seems to be more like about five or six months in development. Of course he...or she, may be a large baby considering the Papa here."
Worriedly, Catherine asked, "But everything seems to be all right? I was so worried about the Sodium Pentothal injections they had given me."
With caution, Peter carefully relayed, "I won't lie to you, the FDA had declared it may be harmful to an unborn baby when interacting with other medical conditions, but the main concern is that it can pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Which obviously, is something we do not have to worry about at this time. We can do blood work on you Cathy after the baby is born to make sure it is totally out of your system."
But then happily, Peter switched gears and said, "So, but for now, just look! The baby looks fine to me, in fact he...or she looks perfect. What do you think Jacob?"
Stepping forward, he inspected the baby's image more intently, and in agreement happily said, "I concur..."
Then with a shakiness to his voice, he added, "...the baby does look perfect."
Proudly, Vincent sighed, "Yes...perfect, and beautiful, just like the mother."
And though his main concern was the baby's health, he was also pleased to see, the baby took after Catherine, rather than himself.
Feeling Catherine's grip tighten on his hand, he shared a look with her that said it all.
They were two happy parents-to-be, who could not hide or deny, they were also frightened to death!
Peter then cleared everyone out, so he could do a physical exam on Catherine.
And as Mary, Jacob and Vincent waited in the adjoining chamber, a nervous pall settled over them. Vincent paced and paced, and both Jacob and Mary exchanged anxious looks out of concern for the expectant Father!
Finally, a tortured Vincent turned to them and asked, "How long should an examination take? Do you think something is wrong?"
Sensibly, Jacob replied, "It hasn't been but a few minutes Vincent! Nothing is wrong! Try to relax!"
Irritatingly he stated, "I can't relax! What if carrying my baby is too much for Catherine to bare!"
In a reprimanding tone, Jacob asked, "Stop looking for something to worry about. Now what is it Vincent? What is really bothering you?"
Regretfully, Vincent revealed, "Why is it I cannot remember loving Catherine? It must hurt her that I have no memory of it, of any of it!"
Thoughtfully Jacob dreamily shared, "The memory is a curious thing...unfortunately for me not more selective, as there are a few trysts I would care to forget..."
Shocked by this revelation, both Mary and Vincent shared a look, before Mary said, "Father, really now!"
Realizing he may have revealed too much about his past exploits, Jacob tried to cover up by saying, "We should be talking about Vincent! How did we get off the subject anyway?"
To which Mary said, "It eludes me! So back to Vincent's issues..."
And so calmly, Mary suggested, "It will just take time! I am sure Catherine understands this. And you know...there are still other things that seem vague to you...but slowly they are coming back. Remember only just the other day, you recalled it was Father's birthday."
Nodding, Jacob jokingly added, "Yes...and we all know how monumental my birthday celebrations are becoming around here. Entirely too much fuss is being made over an old man like myself, only because I was born into this world, on a certain day of the year!"
Vincent looked directly at his Father and staunchly said, "As it should be Father. It was a monumental happenstance for us all."
Feeling humbled by his son's words, Jacob smiled a cock-eyed grin, and admitted, "You all did make me feel quite good that day, I must confess."
Jacob then referred back to son's setback, and with encouragement said, "Just give your self time Vincent...don't try to force anything...try to relax and give it time."
To which Vincent lamented, "I will try Father...however, I do hope it won't be long before my memory is totally restored. I want to feel whole again, because it is then, and only then, I can be totally there for Catherine! She will need to rely on me more and more in the future. In all actuality...she needs me so much right now. I feel as if I am letting her down."
It was then Jacob and Mary both noticed Catherine standing with Peter at the threshold, realizing they had overheard Vincent.
Sensing they needed some privacy, Peter, Jacob and Mary, politely excused themselves, allowing Catherine and Vincent some time alone.
Tenderly Catherine declared, "You have not let me down...you are there for me Vincent, and I rely on you for my very life. I needed you to save not only me, but also the life of our baby. And look, here we are. There isn't anything more important than that. The other things, well those are important too, but it will not be life shattering if they don't return. I will love you all the same...and I know you will love me."
Apologetically Vincent argued, "It doesn't hurt you that I can't remember the most intimate moment we ever shared between us?"
Truthfully, Catherine carefully said, "Maybe a little bit of me is hurt you cannot recall how beautiful it was..."
She then carefully asked, "...Vincent? Would you like me to tell you about it?"
Without speaking, Vincent hesitated a moment, before he shyly nodded yes, and so Catherine hugged him, as she gently told him, "Ok...I will tell you."
Reflectively, she began, "Once you realized it was me who came to you in the cave, you settled down and collapsed into my arms. Easing you to the floor, I became frightened by how weak you seemed, I laid over you, and listened to your heart, to make sure it was beating, because you were just barely breathing. I cried for your salvation, and screamed out your name. I managed to wake up a part of you, the part of you that cared for me. You peered at me through your lashes, and whispered, I love you, and I told you I loved you too, and didn't want to live without you. I believe it was out of your concern for me, you began to fight back, and it was then I could feel some of your strength return and you held me closer to you still. Boldly, I kissed you, and instinctively our passion took over, and we loved. Vincent I do wish you could remember, so you could dream of it too...the same as I do."
Sadly, Vincent asked, "You do dream of it?"
Lovingly, Catherine said, "Yes, yes I do, all the time."
Wrongly Vincent answered, "There was a time I could feel your want of me...But since our connection is gone...I have no sense of it. How I miss knowing you hearts desires. Catherine...I never thought we would lose what was so precious to us."
With compassion, she looked up at him, and said, "We didn't lose it, it is being shared, and I gladly relinquish our gift in honor of our baby. I believe he has it now instead, because he is more needy of it. Maybe after the birth, it will come back to us once again."
With a breathless sigh, Vincent replied, "Maybe it will."
He then teasingly noted, "So, you believe our baby is a boy Catherine?"
Laughing away the tearfulness, Catherine realized she had referred to their baby as a "He".
So rectifying her error, she confessed, "He or a She, but I suppose in my heart of hearts, I do believe this baby is a boy."
Holding his Catherine close, he promised, "I'll not tell you, and let you be surprised as you requested."
In the next couple of days, word spread quickly through the tunnels, that Vincent and Catherine were expecting a baby, leaving everyone to wonder and speculate...is there going to be a wedding?
To be continued in Chapter Four
Which will be written by Dawn Yzaguirre
It was there they were greeted, with an unexpected surprise! Word had spread throughout the underworld, that Vincent had returned to the tunnels with Catherine, so all the tunnel residents had gathered to express their happiness she was all right.
After all, Catherine was a heroine to them. She had bravely delivered Vincent back, from the brink of his dark madness, and for that fact, and for many others, they loved her.
It was Mary, who first stepped forward through the crowd, and taking Catherine's hand in hers, she said, "How happy we are you have returned to us safely."
Thoughtfully, she then added, "I must say...after everything you have been through...you look wonderful!"
Smiling self-consciously, Catherine wondered to herself, if it was possible for Mary to know she was pregnant? But how could she? Catherine figured she was 4 months pregnant at the most. But she understood, some women seem to have radar when it comes to detecting another woman who's expecting. She remembered her Grandma Chandler had that talent. In fact, Catherine's Mom swore, Grandma knew she was pregnant with Catherine, before she knew it herself! Catherine's Mom had once amusedly relayed to a young Catherine, that all through her pregnancy, Grandma would say she was "Glowing"!
Back to the present, Catherine suddenly heard Mary reinforcing her earlier statement, adding, "Yes, you do look wonderful...just simply glowing my Dear!"
There's that word, "Glowing"! OH MY!
Thanking Mary, Catherine replied, "I do feel wonderful now...I was pretty frightened, and wondered if Vincent was ever going to be able to find me in that old desolate warehouse."
Looking up at her Knight in shining armor, she told everyone, "...But he did. In fact Vincent risked his life to save me tonight. I will be forever grateful to him for his bravery."
Returning her gaze, the look in Vincent's eyes said it all. He would have died trying to save her if he needed to, unaware at the time, he was saving his child's life too.
Sweetly Mouse chimed in, "Only fair Vincent saved Catherine, cuz Catherine saved Vincent!"
Gleefully laughing, Jacob said, "That's right Mouse, Catherine had indeed saved Vincent...when all the rest of our efforts had failed. She was able to help him."
Seeing how tired Catherine looked, Jacob turned to the crowd, and suggested, "Well, now that you have all seen Catherine is alive and well for yourselves, let's break up this celebration, and carry on. Let's give her some time to catch her breath."
Jacob then motioned to Mary, and discretely asked, "Come with us Mary."
Pleased to be singled out, she happily said, "Of course Father. Where are we going?"
Under his breath, Jacob said, "We will tell you all about it once we arrive at the Hospital Chamber."
Shockingly, she loudly began to say, "The Hos..."
Then remembering herself, she whispered, "The Hospital Chamber! Oh Father what's wrong?"
Irritatingly, Jacob repeated, "We will tell you there Mary!"
Tritely replying, Mary answered, "Of course."
Catherine nervously looked up at Vincent, as she realized Mary was about to be informed about their expecting a baby.
The look of assurance in his eyes as he looked back at her, was calming, and resignedly, Catherine thought to herself, "I suppose there's no point in trying to keep this secret, not below in this world, or back home in my world above. My God! What will everyone say? What will Joe and Jenny say? What will I tell them when they ask about the father?
Oh well, I will worry about that tomorrow, and just deal with one world at a time!"
Meanwhile, as they entered the hospital's examining chamber, Peter was there waiting. Gratefully, he enfolded Catherine in his arms and said, "Well Kiddo, you are a sight for sore eyes! I gotta tell ya, you put me through hell every time you go missing! Of course the first time, little did I know you were just down here recouping! I swear though, one more time just might kill me. I can't take much more."
Sweetly Catherine hugged him back and said, "I am sorry to be so much trouble. Thankfully, Vincent found me."
With a renewed faith in good conquering evil, Peter looked over at Vincent and assuredly said, "Never had a doubt in my mind that you would be the one to find Cathy! Even though the chief called out the FBI, and put all available men on the job, I still knew you would be the one to find her. I thank God your connection to Catherine was restored."
Turning to Jacob, Peter jested, "These two look great! I guess you jumped the gun sending for me to help examine them!"
Suddenly, a dreaded thought crossed Peter's mind, and he questioned, "Unless, there's some concern about internal injuries?"
Thoughtfully, Jacob replied, "Internal injuries? No, no, nothing like that Peter."
Wanting an explanation for Jacob requesting the portable ultrasound unit, Peter asked, "Then what do you need this machine for?"
Chiming in, Mary expressed, "I wondered the same thing!"
Knowing it was their moment of truth, Jacob began to relay some of the facts to both Peter and Mary. Carefully Jacob began, "Yes...it is true Vincent found Catherine via a connection from his emphatic powers, however...his bond is no longer to Catherine..."
Gruffly, Mary inquired, "Then to who?"
Seeing Jacob stammer a bit, Catherine felt maybe it should be up to her to explain the rest of the story. So tenderly she placed her hand over her tummy, and said, "Vincent's bond is now to his child."
Both Peter and Mary fell back a step, and with curiosity, Mary spewed in disbelief, "When could that have possibly happened?"
Gently Catherine explained, "The night I went to Vincent in the cave. He was slipping away, and...well the rest is very difficult for me to explain. But suffice it to say, I was able to reach the part of Vincent I knew still loved me. And now, well now, we are going to have a baby!"
Without thinking, Mary candidly observed, "Reached the part of Vincent indeed! Tis not difficult to figure that out!"
With shock, Jacob scolded, "Mary! Let's have some decorum shall we?"
Peter too in wanting to support Catherine's actions, said, "Yes please everyone, let's take this a step at a time. The kids need our support right now!"
Feeling badly about her comment, Mary apologized by saying, "Of course...please know you have my full support, I suppose my concern reared its head cynically, and for that I am sorry."
Nervously Catherine looked around at everyone, save Vincent, and said, "I meant reached through to a part of Vincent's heart! Please don't judge me by the extreme action I went to that night. I would have given my life to help Vincent if I needed to. And just so you all know, now that a pregnancy has resulted from our loving each other that night, I have no regrets."
Stunned, and excitedly shocked, Peter dazedly said, "My little Cathy is going to have a baby! How do you like that?"
Still putting it all together, Peter then made more of a statement rather than posing a question, when he said, "And so the ultrasound is to check on the baby?"
Nodding, Jacob concisely said, "Precisely."
Eagerly, Peter than said, "Let's get started then!"
Mary took Catherine, to help her get ready for the exam, and without any sign of judgment or excitement from Mary, Catherine had to ask, "Mary, are you thinking badly of me?"
Professionally, Mary replied, "No Dear, not at all, I merely have my concerns."
Admitting she was a tiny bit scared as well, Catherine replied, "Me too. But thanks to Vincent, I know I have the strength to face what comes."
Truthfully, Mary confessed, "That's what I am concerned about, I only hope Vincent has the strength to face this responsibility too. Understand he is still recovering. Well come along Dear, they're waiting on us."
Walking out to the examining table, Catherine carefully sat down, and suddenly she felt excited, knowing she was about to get her first glimpse of the baby growing inside of her.
Reaching for Vincent to stand by and hold her hand, she noticed he seemed to be excited too! With a smile in his eyes, he smoothed Catherine's hair from her cheek, and asked, "Are you comfortable Catherine?"
Nodding, she said she was, and as they looked into each other's eyes, they seemed to lend a peaceful perseverance to the other, dissolving away any feelings of isolation in their hearts. They were together once more, and Vincent swore, nothing would separate them ever again, especially now, since they have a child together to love.
Peter applied the gel, and after he warmed the transducer probe in the palm of his hand a little bit, he asked, "Are you ready to see how your little baby is doing?"
Before Catherine and Vincent could answer, both Mary and Jacob in unison, eagerly said, "Yes! We're ready!"
To which Peter, looked over at Jacob, and Mary, and curtly said, "I was talking to Cathy and Vincent!"
This caused everyone to laugh, and the two eager beavers stood embarrassed, but in truth, their eagerness did take some of the tension out of the occasion, and for that everyone was thankful.
Peter gently then ran the probe over Catherine's stomach, and anxiously, everyone looked at the monitor to see the baby's image.
No one was immune from the emotional moment, when it was clear, the baby was healthy and beautiful, and its development was going along normally.
Crying tears of wonder, Catherine looked up at Vincent to see what he thought. He looked to be spellbound as he watched, and with the awe of a child, he looked back at her, and said, "Now that I can see, I can better understand this tranquility the baby is emitting to me through our bond."
Tearfully she asked, "How do you like 'em?"
Shaking his head, he tried to express his feelings, but could not! Finally he said, "There are no words Catherine."
Though Peter was pleased with the baby's development, he was a bit perplexed by the baby's size. And so he questioned, "How far along did you say you were Cathy?"
Counting back, Catherine replied, "About 4 months."
Thoughtfully, Peter said, "The baby seems to be more like about five or six months in development. Of course he...or she, may be a large baby considering the Papa here."
Worriedly, Catherine asked, "But everything seems to be all right? I was so worried about the Sodium Pentothal injections they had given me."
With caution, Peter carefully relayed, "I won't lie to you, the FDA had declared it may be harmful to an unborn baby when interacting with other medical conditions, but the main concern is that it can pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Which obviously, is something we do not have to worry about at this time. We can do blood work on you Cathy after the baby is born to make sure it is totally out of your system."
But then happily, Peter switched gears and said, "So, but for now, just look! The baby looks fine to me, in fact he...or she looks perfect. What do you think Jacob?"
Stepping forward, he inspected the baby's image more intently, and in agreement happily said, "I concur..."
Then with a shakiness to his voice, he added, "...the baby does look perfect."
Proudly, Vincent sighed, "Yes...perfect, and beautiful, just like the mother."
And though his main concern was the baby's health, he was also pleased to see, the baby took after Catherine, rather than himself.
Feeling Catherine's grip tighten on his hand, he shared a look with her that said it all.
They were two happy parents-to-be, who could not hide or deny, they were also frightened to death!
Peter then cleared everyone out, so he could do a physical exam on Catherine.
And as Mary, Jacob and Vincent waited in the adjoining chamber, a nervous pall settled over them. Vincent paced and paced, and both Jacob and Mary exchanged anxious looks out of concern for the expectant Father!
Finally, a tortured Vincent turned to them and asked, "How long should an examination take? Do you think something is wrong?"
Sensibly, Jacob replied, "It hasn't been but a few minutes Vincent! Nothing is wrong! Try to relax!"
Irritatingly he stated, "I can't relax! What if carrying my baby is too much for Catherine to bare!"
In a reprimanding tone, Jacob asked, "Stop looking for something to worry about. Now what is it Vincent? What is really bothering you?"
Regretfully, Vincent revealed, "Why is it I cannot remember loving Catherine? It must hurt her that I have no memory of it, of any of it!"
Thoughtfully Jacob dreamily shared, "The memory is a curious thing...unfortunately for me not more selective, as there are a few trysts I would care to forget..."
Shocked by this revelation, both Mary and Vincent shared a look, before Mary said, "Father, really now!"
Realizing he may have revealed too much about his past exploits, Jacob tried to cover up by saying, "We should be talking about Vincent! How did we get off the subject anyway?"
To which Mary said, "It eludes me! So back to Vincent's issues..."
And so calmly, Mary suggested, "It will just take time! I am sure Catherine understands this. And you know...there are still other things that seem vague to you...but slowly they are coming back. Remember only just the other day, you recalled it was Father's birthday."
Nodding, Jacob jokingly added, "Yes...and we all know how monumental my birthday celebrations are becoming around here. Entirely too much fuss is being made over an old man like myself, only because I was born into this world, on a certain day of the year!"
Vincent looked directly at his Father and staunchly said, "As it should be Father. It was a monumental happenstance for us all."
Feeling humbled by his son's words, Jacob smiled a cock-eyed grin, and admitted, "You all did make me feel quite good that day, I must confess."
Jacob then referred back to son's setback, and with encouragement said, "Just give your self time Vincent...don't try to force anything...try to relax and give it time."
To which Vincent lamented, "I will try Father...however, I do hope it won't be long before my memory is totally restored. I want to feel whole again, because it is then, and only then, I can be totally there for Catherine! She will need to rely on me more and more in the future. In all actuality...she needs me so much right now. I feel as if I am letting her down."
It was then Jacob and Mary both noticed Catherine standing with Peter at the threshold, realizing they had overheard Vincent.
Sensing they needed some privacy, Peter, Jacob and Mary, politely excused themselves, allowing Catherine and Vincent some time alone.
Tenderly Catherine declared, "You have not let me down...you are there for me Vincent, and I rely on you for my very life. I needed you to save not only me, but also the life of our baby. And look, here we are. There isn't anything more important than that. The other things, well those are important too, but it will not be life shattering if they don't return. I will love you all the same...and I know you will love me."
Apologetically Vincent argued, "It doesn't hurt you that I can't remember the most intimate moment we ever shared between us?"
Truthfully, Catherine carefully said, "Maybe a little bit of me is hurt you cannot recall how beautiful it was..."
She then carefully asked, "...Vincent? Would you like me to tell you about it?"
Without speaking, Vincent hesitated a moment, before he shyly nodded yes, and so Catherine hugged him, as she gently told him, "Ok...I will tell you."
Reflectively, she began, "Once you realized it was me who came to you in the cave, you settled down and collapsed into my arms. Easing you to the floor, I became frightened by how weak you seemed, I laid over you, and listened to your heart, to make sure it was beating, because you were just barely breathing. I cried for your salvation, and screamed out your name. I managed to wake up a part of you, the part of you that cared for me. You peered at me through your lashes, and whispered, I love you, and I told you I loved you too, and didn't want to live without you. I believe it was out of your concern for me, you began to fight back, and it was then I could feel some of your strength return and you held me closer to you still. Boldly, I kissed you, and instinctively our passion took over, and we loved. Vincent I do wish you could remember, so you could dream of it too...the same as I do."
Sadly, Vincent asked, "You do dream of it?"
Lovingly, Catherine said, "Yes, yes I do, all the time."
Wrongly Vincent answered, "There was a time I could feel your want of me...But since our connection is gone...I have no sense of it. How I miss knowing you hearts desires. Catherine...I never thought we would lose what was so precious to us."
With compassion, she looked up at him, and said, "We didn't lose it, it is being shared, and I gladly relinquish our gift in honor of our baby. I believe he has it now instead, because he is more needy of it. Maybe after the birth, it will come back to us once again."
With a breathless sigh, Vincent replied, "Maybe it will."
He then teasingly noted, "So, you believe our baby is a boy Catherine?"
Laughing away the tearfulness, Catherine realized she had referred to their baby as a "He".
So rectifying her error, she confessed, "He or a She, but I suppose in my heart of hearts, I do believe this baby is a boy."
Holding his Catherine close, he promised, "I'll not tell you, and let you be surprised as you requested."
In the next couple of days, word spread quickly through the tunnels, that Vincent and Catherine were expecting a baby, leaving everyone to wonder and speculate...is there going to be a wedding?
To be continued in Chapter Four
Which will be written by Dawn Yzaguirre
