Part Three

Though he had sunk himself into that cold subterranean pool the moment he reached its side Vincent could still smell her essence on his hands. In fact if he ever removed the scent from his skin he would never erase it from his memory. It was honey and nectar and so very alluring that he wanted more of it desperately.

Yet what was he thinking of?

His face blotched with an embarrassment known only to him by a complexion that hid his pallor from others filled Vincent with shame. Whatever did Catherine think of him now? How ever could he look her in the eye again?

Even as he asked the questions he answered them… She had loved it, accepted it, had gone with the flow even though…even though…he was the other…even though his claws had bit into her skin, even though he had ruthlessly pushed her against the wall and even though he had…. Oh dear God how had he even had the courage to have placed his fingers…there?

He could still feel beneath his finger tips the shuddering of her body as their flesh had made contact…could still hear the moan that had erupted from her lips…just like…just like…that other woman in the park… earlier. And whichever way Vincent looked at it he could not escape the fact that Catherine treated so ruthlessly and that woman treated so tenderly had reacted of the same accord. Like they were one, the feelings and desire expressed to a man's touch had been the same. Yet he had come to the aid of women being raped, had seen them fight with tooth and nail to be free of their attacker. Even when their assailant had pinned them down even when he had his hands in the same area the women had not moaned in ecstasy then so what was the difference?

Head in hands Vincent bowed face to the water willing the ice cold to surround and cloak him to a numbness where he did not have to think anymore, where he did not have to seek answers anymore. Yet it appeared to have the opposite effect. Even as the cold light of day brought logic with it so too did the freezing temperatures of the underground world. And the logic was thus… No matter how hard and fast, how ruthless, how loving and tender a partner may be - when you loved that one you accepted it, took it for what it was - an expression of desire - of need and you revelled in its power with open hearted submission.

That's why Catherine had not recoiled at his attentions - be it he or the other she had welcomed him wholeheartedly. And amid the freezing waters Vincent's body swelled as a fresh heat filled him and he left the pool reborn… Reborn in the knowledge that Catherine would love him no matter who he was or what he was…she would love him unconditionally…and the acceptance of that fact filled him with the shining light of happiness.

Gazing out over the balcony wall the following day took on a new level of meaning to Catherine. Last night Vincent had come that close to loving her…she motioned with finger and thumb…he had almost successfully allowed himself to surrender to his desires. Desires that had become increasingly apparent over the past couple of weeks at an amazing pace.

'I have to go to him' Catherine whispered. She knew full well that she should be at work in half an hour, but also knew she could never give it the full concentration it deserved. 'I'd only be a mess all day' she pondered as she dressed with a flourish and left Joe a message of feigned sickness on his answer machine. And at the time when she should have been stepping into her office Catherine was actually half way to Vincent's chamber hoping against hope that he would not sense her approach and go running.

He wanted to do, oh how he wanted to do. Sensing her arrival with breathless anticipation Vincent found it only possible to sit behind his desk, grateful at least that solid oak would at least hide his impassioned state from her eyes if he stayed there.

She rounded the final corner as this thought was leaving his mind and he gasped aloud her name, "Catherine."

"Vincent." Now that she was there, before him all reason left her mind. They stared at one another swallowing convulsively unknowing what to do or say next. Despite herself a blush crept up Catherine's throat fusing her cheeks crimson. She turned aside hiding her face beneath a canopy of golden hair.

"You have nothing for which to feel ashamed." His voice caused her to look back. She detected sorrow therein.

"Vincent." She stammered. He waited for her to continue. He waited a long time. Words would not come. Finally he had to stand. His notorious capability for pacing called out to him, screamed at him to move. He walked to her ever mindful to keep himself covered with his cloak. He was much aroused. In fact he had been so all night.

Tenderly he pulled her into his arms "I'm sorry Catherine." He husked into the silken fronds of her hair. It was all he could find to say until he knew how she felt.

"You don't have to be sorry Vincent. I could have tried to stop you if I hadn't of been willing." Vincent held his breath at her words more so as she continued, "Do you know that what you did has a name?" He could visualise her smile…and smiled in response.

"No." He was silent for a moment and then went on, "Tell me?"

A chuckle erupted from Catherine as if she had been expecting this, she hugged him tighter, "Its called petting… its something two people do when they are verging on the experience of getting to know one another…better." She added impishly with suppressed laughter and then huskily "…intimately."

Vincent sucked in a breath. He blabbered, "I did not…that is… I shouldn't have…I mean I hadn't intended…" he paused before asking awkwardly, "Oh Catherine help me out here I don't know what I am trying to say."

Catherine smiled as a soft chuckle followed his words and pulled back taking his face in her hands. They looked at one another long and hard, eye contact humorous then serious "I love you Vincent. And I was not offended by what you did. In fact…" she laughed gaily, "I loved it." Then taking the bull by the horns went on, "So when can we do it again?" Her eyes twinkled mischievously and Vincent was thankful for that as he exhaled a long held breath. His Adams apple jumped convulsively before he could answer, Catherine wanted to press her lips there and kiss it. He couldn't find the words to string together and spoke his mind bit by torturous bit.

"You….would…consider….allowing…that…between…us?" His eyes were wide with wonder - and hope Catherine was pleased to see.

She hugged him closer and noticed for the first time his arousal. She paused before speaking - collecting her thoughts, choosing her words carefully. Smiling wickedly she had a sudden idea, tit for tat so to speak and she reached out to touch his pulsating length through the thick covering of denim as she spoke. Vincent jumped. He heard not her words &endash; felt only the impact of her hand upon him, the relief, the surge of joy &endash; the shame - the need - the yearning - the hunger that filled him at her touch. He tried to move away but this only caused her to hold him tighter. She was gripping him with the tips of her fingers. The eyes that looked into his were filled with laughter love and desire. Vincent was lost and only her voice returned him to the present.

"Enjoy it Vincent you need this now just as I did last night. If we went no further than just petting we could alleviate a whole lot of the frustration that we have for one another. Other people do it Vincent…please."

Whether to stay or go or to run and hide forever, Vincent was unsure but right at that moment he knew he would die if he could never feel her holding him again as she was holding him right at that moment. She was right it did relieve part of the frustration though he hungered for more. But it had to be enough. Perhaps with this between them they could be together without literally being together - that is as one - and he couldn't deny the joy he had felt at bringing her relief the night before.

He nodded unable to find his voice in fact he wondered if she had trapped it in her questing fingers. Perhaps he would never speak again. It would be worth it just to have her touching him so.

Leaning forward Catherine kissed him soundly on the lips and he knew a certain disappointment as her hand left his groin to meet the other behind his neck until her next words filled him with liquid fire. "Can you take me somewhere Vincent? Somewhere private where we will not be disturbed?" Her meaning apparent Vincent shuddered. Yes he could take her somewhere but he didn't think at that moment he could actually walk toward the place.

Yet Catherine understood. Amazingly she understood. "My poor darling I should have realised how difficult that might be right now. Would we have privacy if we stayed here?"

Wordlessly, still believing he may never speak again, Vincent nodded while untangling her regretfully from his body. Catherine watched him move around the chamber, he seemed to be searching for something. He found an unlit lantern and left the chamber with it only to return seconds later and reach behind a cabinet to pull from it a roll of heavy drape.

It was a curtain, obviously seldom used by the amount of dust that he shook from it. Catherine covered her nose and watched as he hung the curtain over his chamber entrance. Now she understood, she had seen this before when tunnel residents had wanted privacy. The unlit lantern placed twenty yards from the entrance was a warning that the chamber occupants did not want to be disturbed.

With suppressed excitement Catherine shivered. She wondered if she should move to his bed or something, but dismissed that idea the moment it formed as being too presumptuous. She might have in mind that petting would take them on to a deeper fulfilment but Vincent wouldn't necessarily follow through on that thought. She would have to lead him slowly. At this thought she turned to him feeling his eyes upon her. A yard apart they faced one another breathing heavily.

'This was it then.' One simultaneous thought. They each stepped forward meeting in the middle with arms reaching around each other to hug their bodies close. Lips met lips and moan followed moan as Vincent pulled Catherine down with him onto his bed.

Jamie despaired that Mouse would ever notice her as a young man should notice a woman. She didn't even know why she thought of him that way. He was childish but so very warm and affectionate - childlike again she presumed. He had a way about him that made you just want to cuddle him. And with that way he was good looking. Whatever - who could know why some people set the pulses racing when other's did not? Jamie only knew that when she looked at Mouse she dreamed of impossible things simply because those impossible things never occurred to Mouse &endash; ever.

Speaking to Brook about it one afternoon the other girl was sympathetic and tried very hard to seek a way to cheer her friend. "I guess the only way you're gonna make him notice that women rule the world is to bring him face to face with the fact." Brook laughed out loud by the expression on Jamie's face. She was perplexed.

"He's lived around women long enough to know he couldn't get by without them…well I guess he could actually but life wouldn't be quite so comfortable without female intervention." Jamie pondered, "What was you thinking of if anything different?"

"Well its true like you say he should have noticed the benefits women bring to his life, but on the other hand its also true that he can do without us. William cooks his meals and all Mouse is interested in is being able to find and make things. It's a difficult if not near impossible task to make him believe that he needs anything other than those things. Save perhaps someone to teach those things to, like a son maybe." Brook winked in Jamie's direction causing her to blush and stammer, "He'll have to notice women first before he can get a son of his own, besides he'll probably bypass that and teach one of the tunnel children. Come to that he seldom has the time to teach the tunnel children anything. The closest one can get to being with Mouse is when he has completed one of his gizmos and is proudly showing it off. I don't know Brook, maybe I'm just flogging a dead horse." Jamie sighed regretfully.

"Perhaps you should slip him one of those girlie magazines among the pile of his 'How To' magazines." Brook laughed heartily, "Oh I made a funny…put it among his 'How To' books… how to notice a woman…now that could be interesting…wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall when he finds that staring at him!"

"Brook!" Jamie exclaimed in stunned surprise then realised her friend had a point, "Do you think its possible?"

"What making him look at one?"

"No putting one there to start with?"

The two girls laughed heartily imagining this, "Where would we get one? I couldn't go and buy one, I'd be too ashamed!" Jamie cried.

"Me too! I don't know they aren't the sort of books that get trashed. Or if they do someone must always pick them up and take them home again. I don't know of anyone in the tunnels that reads them."

"And it's not the sort of thing we could ask of Father is it?" They burst into more laughter at the thought.

"Do you think it would work?" Jamie asked sombre for the moment.

"Giving it to Mouse?"

"Yes."

"I'm not sure. Its possible Mouse has come across them on his travels, he simply wouldn't be interested unless it's got something to do with gizmos." Brook answered sadly, "You're right it'll probably be like flogging a dead horse."

"Oh but there must be something I can do!" Jamie wailed, "Short of dragging him up against a wall and beating hell out of him."

"Gee he'd really notice you then." Brook giggled.

"That's what I mean." Jamie grinned. "I can't think of anything else, besides your idea of the magazine has been the first bright idea to come my way in ages. I can't think of anything better and Mouse does love reading."

"Perhaps you could write him a love letter?" Brook suggested.

"I thought of that. But I don't want to lay bare my heart until he knows I actually exist, except for my hands…hold this Jamie, hold that Jamie…I swear he hasn't noticed that my hands are joined to arms and torso, legs, body a head or even a brain!"

"Not to mention a pretty face." Brook added.

"Exactly!" Jamie drew a deep breath and let it go with a deep sigh, "I don't know what to do."

"Do you love him?"

"I guess so. But what is love if it's not returned? How can I know for sure when we have never spoken words of endearment let alone kissed?"

"I guess Mouse loves you in his own way. Its probably difficult for him &endash; he may have never been shown love as a child. Perhaps he doesn't know how to love. You might have to make the first move Jamie."

Jamie nodded, "I guess so, but that brings me full circle. Where on earth do I start?"

Catherine hugged herself tightly remembering the last few days as she stood on her terrace one morning overlooking the park. To think that just five short days ago Vincent and she had…well okay so they hadn't moved ahead as she had hoped, but they had certainly made one very gigantic leap forward in their relationship and that was all that matter. The rest would follow in time…just as long as it wasn't too much time.

Vincent had told her of Father's encouragement and Catherine could understand what had been behind Vincent's sudden change toward her. Even if he had come to her as that 'other' in the first instance, on the second and the following occasions he had definitely been himself!

Still Catherine balked at his education - being a peeping tom was one thing, but it could be dangerous. People didn't take too kindly to that sort of thing. Get to know that someone was observing others and Vincent could well find himself under arrest and the implications of that was a thought too difficult to bare.

Catherine could see the perfect answer of course, but being subtle along with it didn't quite go. She knew that if Vincent could watch some movies, some romantic movies and even better some 'hot' movies he would soon be educated enough to practice with her but how could she coax him into watching such a thing, especially while she sat alongside him?

The only other idea was reading material but did they have such things below? Catherine had never bought a girlie magazine in her life and no matter what she wasn't about to start now. Besides even if she did, wouldn't the cover alone make Vincent fling it away the moment he set eyes upon it?

So then if she was to do this, to educate him in this way he had either to watch the movie or read the literature or look at the pictures. But how on earth could she tackle it subtly enough so as not to make it obvious?

It needed a great deal of thinking about and Catherine made herself a cup of coffee, and sat with pen and paper at her table determined to work out a way to accomplish her task with impish enthusiasm.

Lying back on his bed eyes staring up at the ceiling Vincent let himself dwell on the last few days with Catherine. How could she touch him like that? How had she found it within herself to enjoy his body? It had been a marvel to him and would always be so that she had caressed his body with such ardour and such desire to do more than just touch. He had sensed it within her, this driving need to be one with him and he had wanted to comply oh how so, but he did not know the mechanisms of the way nor did he know if what he presumed to be the correct way would actually be welcomed.

He'd seen animals mating, dogs especially…and deep within Vincent felt that to be the correct way of things but it seemed too animalistic to expect the woman he loved to agree to such a position, besides he wanted to see into her eyes when they finally made love.

Vincent shuddered his heated body hardening instantly at the thought…what on earth was he going to do? Petting had relieved the frustration true but it had also been replaced by a driving - burning need for more, a hunger that would never be satisfied until they made love completely and utterly and even then he doubted that the fire would ever be put out entirely. He jumped from his bed and began his notorious pacing pummelling his heated flesh crudely not quite knowing what he hoped to achieve. He ached for the touch of her hands upon him bringing him relief while knowing all too clearly the futility of such an act, an act that would leave him hungry for more. How could he have ever of supposed that a deeper more intimate relationship with Catherine would bring him relief? It had in fact only worsened the problem.

He felt as though he was in a trap going around and around in ever increasing circles and never knowing the way out. He thought his head might burst trying to know what to do next, which way to move to bring comfort and peace to the desperate driving need of his body.

Just thinking about Catherine now took on new meaning a new realm with which to sink himself. When he thought of her his mind no longer conjured up her face, her laughing smiling eyes but rather her sleek silky thighs leading to the small expanse of hair that drew him like a bee to nectar with its fragrance of desire. Desire for him, only for him! Vincent growled, hurling the nearest item &endash; a book &endash; at the far wall. It did not make him feel any better but it did open his eyes to his plight. This was no good, this was absolutely no good, he had to know more, had to know how, had to know what move he should make next…had to had to had to…

He ran from the chamber flinging his cloak from a chair to around his shoulders in passing and headed above for the park…

Another evening &endash; and the wisps of an old day fading in the western sky saw Catherine leaning over her balcony watching the ant like figures scurrying home in the streets below.

Vincent was due in an hour's time, yet never had an hour seemed so long. She wondered what he might be doing at that precise moment and decided that she knew exactly what he would be doing. Pacing his chamber in anxiety for the hour to pass, or at least for a good deal of it until he could use up the rest by journeying toward her. There was a truth between them now that could not be denied. A truth Vincent was finding it harder and harder to ignore.

If he had thought that an intimate relationship with her however lame would stop his feelings of need then he was quickly learning that not to be so. In fact every little spark that flew from the merest of kisses set fire to a forest that could only be extinguished by complete satisfaction or it would soon consume him.

Each night they ventured a little further, but Vincent's gallantry always stopped him in the nick of time. Catherine found this aspect of their loving both cute and frustrating and ever predictable. She was finding that she couldn't completely let herself go to his tender ministrations for dread of his stopping suddenly and leaving her on a high.

She longed to let go. To show him how much she needed him completely and utterly all the way.

Last evening they had come closer than ever before, and Vincent had left in quite a hurry. Running away as per usual rather than face the inevitable. He had promised on his arrival that he would come to see her the following evening and Catherine knew he would come as certainly as the sun would rise the following morning. In fact these last few days she had probably seen more of Vincent than his family had…she chuckled…and that was probably truer than they knew.

Sudden images filled her mind. She shuddered unable to find the strength to relinquish the hold of her memories even if she had wanted to do. They stirred her true, fuelled her blood to dizzying heights but still she conjured them up willingly.

Vincent naked. Vincent gloriously, wonderfully naked upon her bed. In her bed, his face a picture of innocence, trust and wonderment to know that she desired him so. His body so new to her, so overwhelmingly beautiful that it made her cry was every bit as she had imagined during the past three years and more. How did he ever imagine that he was ugly? How could he ever believe he was a beast? He was beauty personified, gorgeous, glorious, a hunk from head to toe and she would know. She had lovingly explored every inch with slow and deliberate detail. And how she ached to join his body to hers, how she dreamed of those firm buttocks beneath the palms of her hands dancing to the melody of making love with him.

Didn't he know that it had to be?

Could they really get so close and not get burned?

The answer to that? No they couldn't for they had already been burned, over and over and over again.

Vincent's impeccable timing was another of his good points and at exactly twenty to seven he was reaching the park entrance when he heard the sound of the door opening and bobbed out of sight. Immediately the sound of voices he recognised brought him out of the shadows and he greeted the two women joyfully.

"Jamie! Brook! Have you had an enjoyable day above?"

The two girls looked at one another impishly before bursting into laughter. "You could say that Vincent." Jamie replied. P> "It was certainly very productive." Brook added with a giggle.

Vincent's brows rose and his lips twitched, "What have you two been up to?" He asked, "Nothing you shouldn't I hope."

"Nothing for you to worry about." Jamie quipped with laughter in her tone.

"And Father?" queried Vincent.

Jamie laughed out loud followed by her friend and confidante "Maybe it would worry Father, but its okay Vincent Father is the least of my worries."

Quirking one eyebrow, Vincent responded, "Oh?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact…" Jamie kicked around the dust a little wondering how much she should disclose. Though they had obtained what they had set out to find, she was still troubled by her intentions. "Vincent can I ask you something?"

"You know you can ask me anything Jamie." He replied softly his eyes warm and friendly encouraging her to talk.

"Do you think that Mouse will ever be the sort of man who would settle down one day?"

The question took him by surprise, not only that it was something he had never considered. Mouse was and always would be an overgrown child. All he ever needed was gizmos and materials to make more gizmos. Vincent's answer when it came was factual. "I don't think so Jamie. I can never imagine Mouse being responsible about anything let alone serious. Why do you ask?"

Jamie blushed as Brook giggled and Vincent instantly got the picture. "You don't mean…"

Jamie nodded hardly daring to look at him. Her feet were awfully interesting right now.

Tactfully as he could Vincent responded, "You deserve better than Mouse Jamie. I love Mouse we all do, but I can never visualise Mouse with anyone but that racoon. Arthur is probably the only creature on this earth that might know Mouse better than anyone, and that's probably the way Mouse likes it. I know the two of you are inseparable, but that's probably due to the fact that Mouse sees you as someone great for finding things with. You have to face facts Jamie and remember that somewhere out in the big wide world is really the man for you."

Vincent hated saying that to her but to his relief Jamie nodded and exhaled a huge sigh. "Thank you Vincent. Guess you just told me outright what my heart has been hinting at for too long. I love Mouse true, but I guess its 'cos I'm growing up and looking for husband material that I can't see further than Mouse right now."

"Father should allow you out more. I understand young women like you above are going to night clubs and discos, where they meet young men, but on the other hand where you live, your life down here with us, makes meeting someone from above rather difficult. Your loyalties will be torn and we might lose you to the world."

"Then what should we do Vincent? The tunnels are hardly the tunnels of love are they? Who is there to meet down here? We only have one celebration a year when the helpers gather with us, its awful having to wait till then only to find that there was no one suitable and have wait upon another year."

Vincent imagined that was so. "Perhaps you should get out more by offering to bring down the supplies from our helpers. These people have families, some of them I know have some handsome young sons, this might be a way for you to meet someone who will share your secret and keep it knowing how we all depend on that. Both of you," he looked to Brook, "are growing into beautiful young women, and the son of a helper would be approved by Father. Not that you need his approval but…"

Jamie grinned knowingly, "I know…but it would help."

"Yes it would help." Vincent smiled well remembering how Father had first been toward Catherine.

"Well then can you do us a favour Vincent?" Jamie pulled something from out of her jacket and handed it to him, "Can you take these back above and dump them?"

Vincent took what appeared to be glossy magazines, and glanced at the front cover of one of them. It had a photograph of a flashy car and a pretty woman on it. "What are they?" He asked.

"Oh just some reading material we thought Mouse might find interesting. But it would seem he won't be needing driving lessons after all." The two girls burst into laughter, "Thanks Vincent. Just dump them somewhere okay?"

Vincent nodded, then remembering the time and his delay he stuffed them inside his cloak and after bidding them good evening he made his way to Catherine's apartment.

There was a ring at the door, and Vincent was late. For a moment, for one awful heart stopping moment Catherine's mind went into overdrive connecting the two and she flung the door wide open. To her relief the doorkeeper rather than a tunnel member stood there but it was a few moments before his words registered.

"Pardon?" Catherine repeated, blushing.

He grinned at her, "Sorry to disturb you Miss Chandler but there is a parcel delivery in the lobby only we can't ascertain who its for. I know it's a problem but we are asking every person in this building to come down and look at the parcel and tell us if they know whom the sender is. It should only take a moment have you time?"

Catherine nodded, "Just let me take my keys and put on some shoes." As she pulled on her flats a quick look out to the terrace confirmed that Vincent still hadn't arrived. Catherine hurried out of her apartment as fast as she could. The sooner she got this done and returned the better. She wouldn't want to miss him.

Moments later even as Catherine had closed the door behind her Vincent arrived. The Bond told him that she had vacated the apartment, but also informed him of her anxiety and hope that she would soon be back. He decided to wait inside the apartment, lifting the latch on the door left unlocked for him.

Settling down at the dining table, Vincent felt the bulk of the magazines that Jamie had given to him and of which he had forgotten in his haste to be punctual. He withdrew them now, lying them flat upon the table in front of him, his intention to discard them in Catherine's rubbish bin later.

All the way over to the apartment his mind had been in turmoil in fact it had never stopped going around and around ever since he had left the evening before. Ever since he and Catherine had embarked upon the journey of intimacy they had grown nearer and nearer to the act of completion and it terrified him. He knew that it was now only a question of time or circumstance that would force him to make love to her. A lump caught in his throat rendering him breathless and the usual stirring in his loins whenever he thought of this subject began again.

He despaired of it. Was the intimacy between them just a stepping stone to the final act, or could it ever be enough? If only he could sever from his mind the animalistic acts that flew there the moment he thought of making love to Catherine.

He knew how humans made love. He'd seen them now. Not wanting to do so but drawn nonetheless, ever since his curiosity had got the better of him and he had allowed himself to watch lovers in the park, or perhaps on the streets. Always the man would lie upon the woman, her legs wide and wrapped around his hips, or with her forced up against a wall, but either way always front ward never backwards like a dog…or a cat…or a lion! Those ways were reserved only for the animals…were thought of only by the animals…were dreamed of only by HIM!

Vincent groaned wishing that Catherine would hurry, yet hoping that she would delay, torn between the two, knowing only that this night something would happen. It had to do, they needed one another so desperately, and he hoped that if Catherine could accept all his other differences then perhaps she could accept that too. The way inert to him to make love, the only way he could visualise as being right…for him.

Unaware, tears ran down his cheeks and fell onto the table below. He wiped them away and in so doing swiped open a few pages of the top magazine. His eyes widened in disbelief and horror at what he saw before him. Quickly he grabbed the magazine turning it back to its cover. How could this be? He had assumed it was a magazine on motor vehicles. Perhaps ones that showed how to repair engines. Perhaps one that taught a person how to drive, baring in mine Jamie's quip, although he had not been able to make sense of that. How would Mouse drive a car? Why would he want to do? More importantly where would he drive it?

Gingerly Vincent reopened the pages turning them slowly revealing the hidden photographs bit by amazing bit. To his avid gaze a bare foot would appear in the corner as he opened it, then a leg, a firm expanse of thigh, higher to a perfectly formed bottom and then! Vincent gasped, and shut the magazine at once only to open it again even faster. It couldn't be!

There before him a photograph of a woman bent over a chair her bottom bared to a man close behind her, and the unmistakable view of his penis buried deep inside her…from behind!

Turning the pages faster and faster, similar photographs met his eyes. Men and women in bed lying spoon fashion making love, men on top, women on top, men behind, men and women laying head to foot, their heads in the most incredible places. So it wasn't his bestial side that wanted Catherine so… It wasn't the cat in him that desired to take her that way… it was the man in him that wanted to posses the woman he loved and by the look on those faces it would be a very welcome way for her too. Elated Vincent pulled the other magazines toward him flicking through the pages faster and faster avidly drinking in the sight before him. His curiosity was roused to such a degree that he was forced to admit that his other self was in no way responsible for his hunger and from that moment on could never be blamed as wanting something abnormal. This way as lewd as it might look - as it might be, was still acceptable, humanly so. So the cat in him could not be held responsible for wanting to love Catherine that way. In effect the cat in him had died. And Vincent felt gloriously, gloriously human for the first time in his entire life. Still…

Vincent shut the magazine abruptly as he heard a key turn in the apartment door. Catherine was returning! Hastily he snatched the magazines up off the table, and rose to his feet. His first intention of stuffing them in Catherine's rubbish bin was now quite out of the question.

His eyes darted around the room, searching for a place to stuff the evidence, even as Catherine was pushing open the door to gain entry. There was no where he could put them…no where at all, but he had to get rid of them and NOW!

"Vincent? Where are you going?" Catherine couldn't believe her eyes, Vincent had appeared to whirl away from her apartment and out of the French doors the moment that she stepped into her home. She hurried after him, eager to stop him from leaving.

Outside on the terrace Vincent's eyes darted this way and that, he dismissed the idea of stuffing the magazines beneath the soil of a plant holder, besides there was no time. Desperate he sought the only way open to him. He tossed the magazines over the wall, sighing with relief to see them flutter to the street below. Usually he would balk at the idea of throwing trash onto the street, but the alternative would have grieved him more.

"Vincent? What's wrong?" Catherine asked fearfully.

His heart hammering wildly, Vincent drew in a deep breath in an attempt to steady it before he could face Catherine. Slowly he turned, "Catherine…" he spoke as softly as always, but Catherine could tell that his tone was sharper than usual and edged with embarrassment and shame.

"What is it my love? Are you unwell?" The concern in her eyes almost made him weep.

"No it is nothing. Don't worry." He looked at her anew. Her beauty had always dazzled him, but tonight he saw beyond even that. "I love you Catherine, and I have missed you so."

Her smile lit up the green of her eyes, and she went willingly into his offered embrace, "As I have you, and it's only been twenty four hours."

"Less. I was here until the dawn my love don't you remember?" His voice was teasing.

"How could I have forgotten?" Catherine smiled up at him remembering their night of passion that took them well into the early hours, going as far as they dared or at least as near to fulfilment as Vincent could allow.

"Where were you?" Vincent still needed time to steady himself. And those images blazed through his mind. It shamed him that if the circumstances had been different he would have liked to keep those magazines and studied them more fully in the sanctity of his chamber.

"I was beckoned down to the lobby. Someone sent a parcel to this building, but the label had smudged so badly that the name of the recipient was unreadable. They were asking who knew the person that had sent it to see if they could ascertain who it was to."

"A bit risky wasn't it? Anyone could say that they knew the sender?"

"I thought so too at first, but when a person finally stepped forward saying they thought it was for them they had to provide ample proof of knowing the sender. Along with that had to provide a contact number to ask the owner whom they had recently sent a parcel to. I'm pleased it wasn't me or I'd still be down there keeping you waiting."

For the first time Vincent uncharacteristically wished that had been so.

"So are you coming inside or what?" Catherine teased standing on tip-toe to bestow a sweet kiss to his lips.

"In a moment. There is something I must say to you Catherine."

Ominous, Catherine thought, noting his expression was deadly serious.

"Can we sit on the chaise?"

Catherine nodded taking his hand and sitting down with him, daring not to speak, knowing that he needed time to collect his thoughts for whatever it was that he needed to say.

"You know that I love you?" Catherine smiled. Yes she knew. She nodded, her eyes dancing with happiness.

"Catherine these past few weeks have been like a voyage of discovery for me. Your love is beyond anything I could ever comprehend. I am indebted to you from the bottom of my heart for the wondrous joy you have shown to me just by accepting me as I am."

Her eyes bright Catherine waited for him to continue.

"I didn't come here to say this tonight Catherine, but something assured me of the possibility as I waited for you. Don't ask me what, but suddenly I knew that we DO have a future together." He hesitated mere moments, gazing into her emerald green eyes, "I love you Catherine, and I want to spend the rest of my life waking up at your side. Catherine I am asking you to be my wife and telling you that I am ready to love you as a man should love a woman."

He gazed at her, his heart racing, frightened to the core when she said nothing. Nothing at all.

Deep in her heart Catherine was absorbing his words, cherishing them for eternity, her heart bursting with love and happiness, her womanhood clutching with wild, ecstatic, joyful desire. He wanted her! At last he wanted her, but not just as a lover but as his…wife!

Overjoyed Catherine stood, throwing her arms around his neck and raining kisses all over his face, "Oh Vincent!" was all she could utter, "Oh Vincent…. Oh Vincent…"

Vincent grinned, "I'll take that as a yes then shall I?" He murmured happily as her lips devoured his.

She pulled away just enough to answer, "A yes? Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes! Oh Vincent I love you so much!"

"So what shall I get you as a wedding present then Vincent any ideas?" Jamie smirked a few weeks later as the wedding arrangements were well under way.

The cat was out of the bag!

Tunnel gossip was rare with one exception…Vincent and Catherine. From the moment the marriage was announced wild speculation flew among the residents, and Jamie hit the nail completely on the head the first weekend Catherine had come to stay.

"I don't know what it was." Catherine had confessed to Jamie during a visit to the spa, "but one moment we were making headway with the final obstacle still to go and the next all of Vincent's fears and inhibitions simply melted away. It was almost as if the blinkers had been removed from his eyes."

After some discussion the blinkers were removed also from Jamie's and Catherine's eyes when Jamie revealed her plans for Mouse and Vincent's carting away of the evidence.

"Just what did those magazines contain?" Catherine had wanted to know, turning bright red when Jamie told her, and even redder when she thought of Vincent seeing them. Still they had certainly done the trick and Catherine owed Jamie a very BIG one!

Now as Jamie awaited Vincent's answer she decided to prompt him, "How about some 'nice' magazines Vincent?"

He glowered at her, "You go too far Jamie." He hissed.

Jamie laughed, "But not it seems as far as you did after reading them huh?"

With one large hand Vincent made to swipe at her but Jamie ducked, "Now, now Vincent, you know you have me to thank for your future and present happiness. And I really would like to know if there is something appropriate that I could buy you for a wedding present. So got any ideas?"

Catherine's laughter filled the chamber and both turned to see her enter, "I've just seen the perfect present for him Jamie as it happens. Come see. Oh no not you Vincent its to be a surprise."

Eyes wide with interest Jamie stepped to the corner of the chamber where by candlelight Catherine unfolded a piece of paper she had brought down from a book store above, "Its coming out next week. What do you think?"

Jamie started to laugh, harder and harder, leaving a perplexed Vincent staring at them, brows drawn together his heart giving anything to know what it was they were looking at.

"I think its perfect Oh Catherine…" The two women laughed heartily giving the odd look in Vincent's direction.

He was stood arms folded looking daggers at them and that only caused them to laugh harder still.

"Think we should put him out of his misery?" Catherine whispered to Jamie indicating her idea. She flattened the piece of paper advertising the new book and lay it down on the top of a cabinet, and then accidentally on purpose left it there. "I won't be long darling…I just need to speak with Mary about something." It was true enough even though it could have waited, but Catherine and Jamie were both eager to give Vincent some space.

Of course he noticed that they had left the piece of paper behind.

Outside in the tunnel Jamie and Catherine whispered together, "How long do you think it'll take him?" Jamie asked.

Catherine chuckled, "If I know Vincent…seconds."

"Wonder if we'll ever know if he's seen it." Jamie whispered as a loud roar came from Vincent's chamber.

"Does that answer your question?" Catherine grinned.

"Guess so." In peals of laughter the two women hugged one another.

"Come lets go order that book." Jamie suggested tugging Catherine away.

"You kidding? It's already on order. I couldn't resist it…" Catherine laughed harder still, "Let's take a peek shall we?"

Slowly the two women ventured back to Vincent's chamber grinning like crazy, their eyes dancing with merriment but filling with apprehension when they found Vincent standing and staring down at the piece of paper they'd left behind his face totally expressionless.

Perhaps she had gone too far, Catherine thought, as Jamie clutched at her hand feeling much the same way.

"Vincent?" Catherine enquired nervously.

He looked up suppressing a grin, but Catherine saw the humour in his eyes and sighed with relief. She smiled, walked toward him and placed her arms around his waist. "I love you Vincent." She told him sincerely.

Still trying to suppress his laughter, still trying to be serious, Vincent asked, "You wouldn't really shame me further would you by presenting this book as a wedding present and have me explain why to all our guests would you?" Catherine hadn't thought of that.

She looked up at his giving him one of her most mischievous smiles.

"Catherine?" 

"No she wouldn't do that Vincent." Jamie intervened. The couple looked toward her, and Catherine pursed her lips holding back her laughter knowing what was about to come.

"That's good." Vincent relaxed, only to tense again as Jamie went on, "Because I'm buying it for you instead."

"Oh no you aren't!" Vincent growled.

"Do that again…"Catherine hugged him close "I love it when you growl." Jamie giggled and Vincent was well aware he had met his match with these two. Nevertheless he wasn't going down without a fight.

"You'd better not Jamie!" Pulling from Catherine's grasp he edged toward the younger woman.

"Or what?" Jamie challenged. Catherine burst into laughter. Ever since she had moved into Vincent's world she had seen a new side to him and his family. They were always getting into mischief and always winding one another up for the sheer fun of it.

"Or I'll eat you!" Vincent darted forward.

Jamie burst into laughter. "Gotta catch me first." And with that she was gone with Vincent close on her heels.

Catherine doubled with laughter. Vincent wouldn't really eat Jamie, might tickle her to death though, if he could find her that was!

Catherine chuckled, how she loved being there. This was the family she'd never had &endash; this was the family she had always wished for, and soon she would have the husband that she had dreamed of for so long.

Everything was coming right…she and Vincent were perfect lovers, their first time had been all she had ever dreamed and more, and by the end of the week she would be his wife and they would begin their life together.

Catherine was so happy…so very, very happy, the radiant bride to be. And all because of one thing, all because Father had undone all his errors of years passed and allowed Vincent to be free to do as he pleased, to do as any normal man would do. To let his natural curiosity for things come to pass, to allow his son to explore and examine the way set before him without shame or embarrassment or the belief that he was different and had no right to do so.

A piece of paper fluttered to the floor at Catherine's feet and she picked it up smiling through a well of unshed tears of sheer joy, "I owe my life to you do you know that?" She asked the words thereon, "I owe my future to you for setting my man free to love." Taking the advertisement to her lips she kissed it, and then lay it down in her lap. Vincent would have no need of the book it was only the title that held meaning for him, for them…. Catherine traced the words lovingly…"Maybe I should buy a copy for Father though." Her eyes danced with merriment at the thought.

"Yes maybe you should." A husky, gravely, silken voice laden with love and desire came from the doorway. Catherine felt her body growing weak in response as she raised her eyes to the man she adored more than life itself.

"Then I think I will." Grinning, she went to him grateful to be enfolded in his arms - the place she loved to be most in all the world.

And as she moved to him the paper fluttered once again to the floor and settled at their feet. Both looked down at it grinning from ear to ear as they read the title of the advertised book once again.

It was perfect…just perfect… and oh so true…and thankfully because of it the man inside had been set free…because for a certainty…

"Curiosity Killed The Cat."