EVEN WHERE PERSEPHONE GOES

After patiently listening to his Dad's explanation, the youngsterwas still adamant. "But, why can't I go with you?"

Vincent sighed, thwarted. He was very aware of Geoffrey'senthusiasm for this journey, and he couldn't find a gentle way torefuse him. The boy wanted so desperately to be included, immediatelyinterpreting it as a "family" trip -- how could Vincent turn himdown? How could he explain that this was not to be some sort of anadventure for him and Catherine, but a chance to be alone together.The word Catherine had used was "honeymoon" -- those Below did notindulge in such things as "vacations" or "getaways," and although theidea of a honeymoon was new and intensely appealing to Vincent, itwas understandable that the concept was beyond the comprehension ofthis child raised for so long in the Tunnels.

Vincent shrugged and replied, "Geoffrey...perhaps you should speakof this...with Catherine." He hoped she could find a way to explainit which would not hurt the boy, so recently adopted by them.

They'd been acknowledged as a "family" in the eyes of theircommunity for only a few weeks. And he knew that Geoffrey's questionwould be echoed by many others Below. What would Father and theothers think if they abandoned their son now, even for a few preciousdays? Vincent honestly didn't know how to explain it to anyone else,much less his son. But Catherine wanted this so much...and hecouldn't refuse her anything she asked, not when she asked for solittle.

As Catherine entered their common chamber, he looked up ingrateful relief. But Geoffrey turned to her before Vincent had achance to prepare her and blurted out, "Dad says you're going toexplore some special crystal caverns way beyond the Chamber of theWinds, but he says I can't come. Why not? I think it would be so neatto see 'em! Why can't I come, Mom?"

Catherine noticed Vincent's chagrin and understood intuitivelywhat had happened. Her sensitive spouse, in an effort to ease theconcern of their son over their extended absence, had unwittinglymade it seem as if the trip the two of them had planned was nothingmore than a sightseeing excursion. Of course, Geoffrey had probablyjumped to a few conclusions and was now excited about the prospect oftaking such a trip with his parents. What kid wouldn't be?

She walked over to the lovingly restored oak roll-top desk in thecorner and deposited her briefcase on it, using those few moments totry to compose herself and consider what she would say. But as sheturned toward her son, the youngster ran to her and threw his slenderarms around her waist, hugging her hard. Automatically, her own armsreached down to embrace him, and she glanced at Vincent in muteappeal. His eyes held no answers, only empathy.

"Sweetheart, come over to the loveseat with me." She took him bythe hand as they crossed the room to sit together on the cozy littlesofa. "I'm going to explain something to you. I hope you understandme, but if you don't, please don't be afraid to tell me, OK?"

Wide-eyed and solemn, the young boy nodded.

Catherine took a deep breath and plunged in. "Three weeks ago, twothings happened. Vincent, you and I pledged ourselves in an adoptionceremony before our whole family Below, as well as all those Helperswho came to witness it."

Geoffrey smiled in fond remembrance and nodded vigorously. "It wasgreat!"

"Yes, it was." Smiling, she ran her fingers fondly through hisbrown curls. "It was the beginning of our family, and it's a memory Iwill cherish always. You are a part of us now, and we are a part ofyou."

Catherine bent to press a warm kiss on Geoffrey's brow, and hesquirmed in pleasure. This was all so new to him...and sowonderful.

In tender recollection, her eyes misted as she said, "And therewas something else that happened that day -- my Joining with Vincent,and his with me. It was a different type of promise we made. Wepledged ourselves each to the other in a special way. It was aconfirmation of our Bond, of becoming one." She paused a moment, lostin the romantic reverie which seemed to overtake her whenever shethought of that magical fulfillment of their Dream.

Shaking herself -- wistfully aware of the tendency for herthoughts to drift in ...certain directions...whenever she consideredher Bondmate -- she began, patiently and gently, to explain things toher son. "It was different than the three of us becoming a family.Both are very special, miraculous events -- but they are separate anddistinct ceremonies. That's because the love Vincent and I bear foreach other is a different love than the one we bear for you. But bothare more powerful than any other kind of love, and I can't livewithout them, either of them. The two of you are the most importantpeople in my life. Understand?"

Geoffrey nodded, but how far did his understanding truly go?Catherine pressed on. "What Vincent was trying to explain to you, Ithink, was that we -- he and I -- plan to take a few days tocommemorate our special Joining, just the two of us. It's not meantto exclude you, for we never would exclude you from our lives. It'smore of a...a celebration between the two of us of the special wayour lives are now connected."

It was obvious from the stricken look he gave her that theyoungster did not comprehend the distinction she'd been trying tomake. "But...why do you have to go off alone, without me?" Geoffrey'svoice could hardly be heard as he whispered, "Don't you think I'mspecial enough to celebrate with?" His big brown eyes filled withtears and his lower lip began to tremble as his precious concept of"family" crumpled and splintered. An anxiety he thought gone forevernow rose within to mock him. No matter what had happened before theircommunity three weeks ago, he was not a part of anything real. Whatdid the adoption mean? He was still an outsider...still alone. Hewasn't really a part of them.

Catherine hugged him hard as she avowed, "You are my beautifulboy...always! I love you so much! Please, Geoffrey, please don'timagine we don't love you or think you're special. You are our sonand we are more happy about that than you can imagine."

Apology shining in her eyes, she smiled ruefully at Vincent. Henodded once, accepting the only decision possible under thecircumstances. Their relationship with Geoffrey was too new, toofragile to survive this challenge. Another time -- later -- theycould explain...could tell him that they wanted, needed the timealone together, then they would take that trip. But it was too soon.They really had no choice but to prove to him that he was trulyimportant to them, that his happiness was their happiness.

As she rocked him gently against her, she crooned, "All right,Geoffrey, honey. It's all right. You will come with us on ourhon...our trip. We never meant to upset you. Please sweetheart, don'tcry."

Vincent knelt beside them both and wrapped his arms around the twoof them. "We love you, son," he murmured, and kissed the boy'stousled brown curls.

Only very gradually did the boy respond and cease his weeping.Distrust had tried to weave its insidious way into his heart. But,finally, love overwhelmed it -- their love, and his.

_ _ _

Geoffrey was excitedly relating the details of their upcoming trekto his schoolmate. "It's supposed to be a really neat series ofcaverns filled with all kinds of crystals! Dad says that's where hefound the crystal that Mouse made into a necklace for my Mom. It'sgonna be so great to get to see it!"

Samantha sniffed, not willing to show how jealous she was aboutthis wonderful adventure her friend was about to embark upon. Sheknew she should be happy for Geoffrey, but she really wished someonewould take her on a trip like that! She never got to go anywhere!"Sounds nice," she grudgingly admitted. "But I thought Vincent andCatherine were supposed to go on this trip alone. How come you get togo along?"

Stung by the question, Geoffrey said, "We're a family. We doeverything together!"

Persistently, Samantha continued. "Well, I was reading a book Ifound in Father's library about weddings, and it says in there thatafter a wedding, the bride and groom go off on a 'honeymoon' -- akind of trip -- together. It didn't say anything about bringing kidsalong!"

Her flippant comment stopped Geoffrey in his tracks. He didn'tknow how to respond to this new bit of information. "Oh.... Canyou...um...could you show me where the book is, Sam? I'd...I'd liketo read it."

She stared at him incredulously. "Why would you be interested inhow to plan a wedding? You aren't getting married!"

He squirmed, embarrassed. "I know, but...I'd still like to seeit."

Samantha shrugged. "Sure. I know right where I left it. UnlessFather's stuck it back in a stack somewhere, I should be able to findit real easy."

_ _ _

Geoffrey put the book down and drew his knees up to his chest,clutching them with encircling arms. Alone in his chamber, curled upon his bed, he thought about what he had just read. Sam had beenright -- the book talked about this "honeymoon" thing, and madesuggestions for romantic places people could go after they gotmarried. It all sounded very "couple-ish." Obviously, Dad couldn'ttake Mom on a plane anywhere, to those islands or countries the bookmentioned. But thinking back to how his Dad had first brought up thesubject of the trip, he now realized that this was what he had inmind. A "couple" kind of thing. Not including him.

Geoffrey sighed, trying to figure this complex matter out. Yes,they were a couple, but they weren't like other couples -- they werehis Mom and Dad. They'd all just made a huge promise to be togetheralways, to be a family. Father had even used that big word he'd hadto look up afterwards to describe them: You are now an indissolubleunit, with one life, destined ever after to face your futurestogether. He supposed he might be in their way, a little, if theywanted to talk alone together or something. But he could always justgo to sleep early. They'd still have time to be alone then, wouldn'tthey?

Disappointment gnawed at him at the thought of missing the trip.He really, really wanted to see those caverns. He was torn about whatto do. His Mom and Dad had said they would take him, so why was hestruggling over the situation now? They'd promised, and they wouldn'tgo back on a promise. Would they be disappointed they couldn't goalone? But if they really wanted to go alone, why did they tell himthey'd take him with them? And if they went alone, who knows whenthey'd ever find the time to take such a trip again? Darn it! Why didlife have to be so tough!

Although it was late and he should have been asleep hours ago, hefelt an urgent need to talk with his Mom about this. Now that he kindof understood things better, maybe having another discussion wouldclear things up for both of them. He jumped up and decided he wouldtalk to his Mom now, rather than wait for morning when they might nothave enough time before she had to leave to go to her job Above. Heknew his Mom and Dad didn't go to sleep real early, so they wereprobably still up.

He softly padded his way into the corridor that separated hisbedchamber from their common family chamber, and was disappointedupon entering the larger space to see that no one was about. But heheard the low murmur of voices coming from their bedchamber. So, theywere still up. Great! Confidently, he strode into their privatechamber, an apology for still being up on his lips. What he sawforced the breath from his lungs, and he just stared helplessly, inabject embarrassment.

His Mom and Dad were still awake, but....oh, God! He finallyforced himself to look away. But even after he did so, the image ofthe two of them was imprinted behind his eyeballs. He shook his headto try to push that picture from his mind's eye, but it searedthrough him:

his Mom straddling his Dad's legs, her head thrown back, backarched and eyes closed, as his Dad buried his face against herbreasts, her arms cradling his head, holding him to her. All he couldsee of them was naked -- his Mom's back down to where the covers metit, the slender length of her arms enclosing his Dad's tawny head,his Dad's muscled, fur-covered forearms, the massive hands splayedacross her slim back so possessively. The voices he'd heard were not,as he'd first thought, engaged in conversation, but were murmuringnearly incoherent words of love.

Almost as soon as Geoffrey had entered the chamber, the gentlefootfalls intruded upon Vincent's concentration. As absorbed as he'dbeen a moment before in loving Catherine, astonishment shudderedthrough him as he realized they were no longer alone. His head cameup just as Catherine's snapped down and around, and two pairs of eyesstared in shock at the young intruder.

Geoffrey recovered his wits enough to blurt out, "I'm...I'ms-s-sorry!" He bolted from the chamber, shame, confusion andembarrassment plunging him into headlong flight.

"Oh, no! Oh...Vincent!" Catherine scrambled off the bed. "Icompletely forgot to lower the privacy curtain. Oh...."

Vincent rose in one fluid motion and lifted himself from theirbed. Grabbing for his cloak, he quickly wrapped himself in it andwent to her. He pressed a soft kiss upon her lips, silencing her. "Iwill find Geoffrey and speak to him."

Catherine reached for her robe, but Vincent laid a hand upon herarm, preventing her. "It's probably best if I go alone. I fear hewould be too embarrassed at this point to face you. Trust me, mylove. And...wait up for me?" He allowed himself one lingering kissbefore leaving her.

After he left, Catherine threw herself backwards onto the mattressas she exploded with an emphatic, "Christ! Poor guy!" But she wasn'treally sure whether she meant her lover or her son.

_ _ _

Geoffrey wasn't in his bedchamber. Vincent paused for a moment,listening intently, then followed muffled sounds which only he, withhis keen hearing, could pick up. He tracked them down several tunnelsuntil he came to a small chamber which served as an ad hoc study hallfor the children in that outlying corner of the Tunnels. There, in arock alcove, he saw his son. He was sitting with his legs drawn up,his chin resting on his knees. He looked up when he heard thefootsteps draw near, but turned away as his Dad approached.

Kneeling beside the boy, Vincent stroked the child's tumbledcurls. "Geoffrey...I apologize. We should have remembered to drop theprivacy curtain. You had no way of knowing you might be...walking inon something...private between your Mother and me."

A barely whispered "I'm sorry" wafted to his ears.

Shaking his head, the older man reassured him. "You have no needto apologize, son. You are allowed anywhere within our chambers. Youhave a right to expect that an open doorway means you are welcomeinside. It is we who owe you an apology."

Geoffrey risked a glance up at his Dad. He didn't appear angry atall, just concerned. "But...you were...." But he absolutely couldn'tcontinue. Blushing crimson, he dropped his head, face pressed to hisknees.

Gently, Vincent explained. "We were making love, Geoffrey. It's abeautiful, natural expression of our special feelings for each other,your Mother's and mine. There's nothing shameful in it. And there'sno reason for you to feel guilty."

The young boy mumbled, "But...I shouldn't have seen it."

Vincent nodded solemnly. "No, you shouldn't. But that was ourfault. There are some times when we need our privacy, but we shouldsignal those times to you. We forgot. We will not forget again,believe me!" His wry smile was discernable in his voice.

Realizing that he wasn't in trouble for barging in on his parents,some of the tension left Geoffrey's small frame. He took a deepbreath and again looked up at his Dad. Several things clicked intoplace at once. "That's why you and Mom wanted to take that trip tothe crystal caverns alone, isn't it?"

Vincent started at the sudden change in subject. Recoveringquickly, he admitted, "One of the reasons...yes."

Feeling that he now -- finally! -- understood what his parents hadbeen trying to tell him, the youngster protested, "But you neverexplained that to me."

Abashed, his Dad offered a gentle smile. "No. It's...notsomething...easily explained."

Thinking aloud, Geoffrey remarked, "And...if I went with you...youcouldn't...do...that."

"No. Not when camping." Vincent chuckled. "There are no...privacycurtains...that far beneath the Home Tunnels."

Geoffrey caught the joke. His Dad was joking about it with him?!Suddenly he felt much better. He doubted he'd ever erase the image inhis mind of his parents...together...but it really helped to knowthey weren't mad at him for seeing them. It was kinda funny, when youthought about it. But he didn't want to think about it too much!

His awareness complete now, the boy suggested, "So...maybe...ifit's OK with you and Mom...I'll just stay home this time?Maybe...maybe we could all go on another trip later on...and youcould show me the caverns then?"

Vincent nodded once in confirmation, then bent to kiss his son'sforehead. "That sounds like an excellent suggestion, Geoffrey. Wewill plan a special family trip when we return. You think about whatyou'd like to see, and we'll map it out later." He gazed at his sonwith new respect. "And...thank you."

Geoffrey was genuinely puzzled. "For what?"