GIVE ME LOVE (by Ed Sheeran feat. Demi Lovato) - STRIKE

by Michelle

Only One Rose

by Michelle

※※※※※

The twinkling light of a sea of candles illuminated the large circular chamber. He was lighting the last white candle when a smile graced his unusual but magnetic face, and without turning around, he said gently:
“Do you like it?”

The one he addressed this question to was standing in awe at the entrance to the rocky chamber. Her hands were pressed to her chest as if trying to prevent her heart from beating too fast.
“Vincent, it’s… beautiful!” 

His smile widened, and he turned around to see her. His heart skipped a beat. She looked truly beautiful tonight - in her long white woollen dress, with sleeves covering her arms right up to half of her small hands. The dress was decorated only with delicately-crocheted roses, lining her low-cut neckline, her fine, sand-colour hair falling freely over her shoulders. The only piece of jewellery she wore was the crystal Vincent had given her on their first anniversary. It was peacefully resting on the lowest part of her chest.

Even after several years of knowing and loving her, his feelings never diminished in strength; his impression of her remained the same. The pure sight of her, the way her eyes lit up when seeing him, her smile which illuminated everything wherever she went, the warmth radiating from her so strongly… No, it would never change; his love would never change as long as he lived and breathed.

“I’m glad you like it,” Vincent said, profound joy colouring his voice. “Mary gave me some extra candles to use.”
He held his hand out to her. “Come, Catherine,” he added quietly.

A shiver ran down her spine when he spoke her name. The quiet, gravelly velvet of his voice had never ceased to stun and enchant her, ever since she had heard it the first time on that frightening night a long time ago. His face and hands may have been more like the one of a lovely majestic lion, but his voice mirrored his beautiful human soul, the heart filled with deep love and gentle care. Catherine smiled widely and accepted the offered hand gladly.

He led her to the maroon-coloured, wooden dining table, carved by some very patient and skilled hands a long time ago, decorated with delicate flower ornaments around its edges. A set of two antique, polished silver candle holders, with lit candles, was set in the middle of it. White China plates with golden rose patterns, medieval-looking copper chalices and the silver cutlery, accompanying them, were all set out for two. What made her heart stop for a moment was a single red rose, in a narrow white porcelain vase next to one of the plates.

She remembered the countless nights when she had found a single red rose on the balcony of her former 18^th-floor New York apartment when she still lived there. Roses had always been her favourite flowers, and Vincent knew it, but it always warmed her heart whenever he gave her one. She used to receive dozens of rose bouquets in her previous life, but none of them made her feel so warm inside, so valued, so cherished, so loved. There was something very personal about a single rose, like hearing, There is only one love for me…
Catherine stroked the rose gently and whispered, smiling. “Thank you, Vincent.”

It was almost impossible for her to look away from his gaze, as she always felt nigh on hypnotised by his look; she managed to say four simple yet meaningful words.
“Four years ago, tonight…”
Vincent’s eyes were full of warmth and love when he repeated after her.
“Four years ago, tonight…”

He took both of her hands into his and gently pulled her closer.
“Four years ago, the greatest gift of all has been given to me… A dream I had hardly dared to dream, the world of possibilities opened at my doorstep. My life was changed forever…”

Vincent’s voice faded with the last words. He didn’t want her to see it, but a sudden shudder went through him. Thinking how his dream had almost vanished into eternity, not even a year before, his emotions got the better of him.

Catherine noticed the slight trembling of his hands. “Vincent, are you all right?” she inquired with concern.
He smiled and shook his head lightly. “I am all right. I only remembered how I almost lost you, almost lost it all…”
His face grew serious again and… ashamed. “I will never forgive myself for not being able to save you sooner.”

Catherine gently caressed his cheek - it radiated warmth and comfort.
“But you did in the end, and that is all that matters.” She smiled at him, and her eyes tried to persuade him that it was indeed all right, that the nightmare they had to endure for almost a year had ended. After overcoming all the past obstacles, they were finally having a happy life - together.

He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly, leaning his face against the top of her head, breathing in the flowery, sweet scent of her hair. Catherine returned his embrace even tighter. She always thought she could get lost in his arms - willingly, though. It felt like the safest place in the world, where no pain and no harm could reach; she felt as if they became one being, with one heartbeat, and felt a slight ache whenever they broke apart. Inhaling deeply his musky scent, with a touch of candles and leather, she couldn’t stop smiling. 

Vincent was the first one to break the blissful silence.
“I have a feeling William will be quite unhappy if we let him wait any longer.”
Catherine chuckled and looked at him, amused. “I believe you are right. He said he was making a special effort with our dinner tonight, saying that you have something to do with it, too.” She raised her eyebrows teasingly.
Vincent’s smile almost resembled a grin - an expression of a rare feeling of pride in himself.
“I was a mere inspiration. All he needed was a few hints from some old cookbooks, which I borrowed from Mary’s bookshelves.” Suddenly, he got a little shy again. “It’s nothing like the fine dinners you were used to in your world, but still, I wanted to make it special… and I hope you’ll like it.”
Catherine smiled lovingly and replied with no hesitation.
“I am sure I would love it even if it was just that wonderful freshly-baked bread William is such a master at!”

Vincent smiled at her and thought again how incredibly lucky he was to have this woman loving him. After a moment, he reluctantly disengaged himself from her arms and set out to William’s kitchen, on the mission to pick up their dinner.

＊＊＊

Catherine watched him walk away, with a wide smile, and realised that she hadn’t been able to stop smiling for months. In the past, their love brought not only joy but also pain to both of them and a lot of tears were shed on both sides. But now that they could finally be together, everything seemed to have fallen into place, and to her surprise, it had been easier than she thought.

At first, Vincent was concerned she might miss her work for the D.A.’s Office, helping people, and that she might miss her friends Above. But soon enough, they both realised that she was truly happy down Below - looking after the tunnel people, sharing their life and daily tasks, spending time with them, sharing with them the joys and pains of their past lives. All of this gave Catherine a new purpose at the time when her body, but also heart, needed healing the most. She still regularly met her friends from Above and it took only a few months before she bought a brownstone at Central Park to share with Vincent as their second home. She opened her own legal practice, helping those who were overlooked, helpless or lacked the means to ask for help in higher places.

Where there is a will, there is a way, Catherine thought.

She felt truly happy herself; everything she ever dreamed of finally landed in her lap. Not a day went by when she wouldn’t cherish every single moment of happiness in her new life with the love of her life - the man who saved her and changed her in the best possible way anyone can be changed - by making her stronger, bolder, more empathic and wiser than she ever was before. Catherine loved him before she had even seen him, had only heard his voice, when he was nursing her after the terrible attack and her face was badly cut. Despite being scared when seeing his face for the first time, putting down the hood of his cloak to look at him closer, she realised there was nothing to fear. She looked into his eyes and knew that there was only goodness, kindness, wisdom and sheer beauty as she had never known it before. Vincent’s face reminded her of Aslan, the beautiful lion king from Narnia, with his warmth and knowledge of thousands of years, and the always-sincere eyes that could tell no lie, always caring and engaging, always deeply filled with love - for her….

Those almost nine months when they were forced to be apart during her kidnapping and then recovering were the most painful months of their lives. For Vincent, because he temporarily lost the psychic bond with her and was terrified for her life, desperate to find her - he then had to deal with her supposed death.

And for Catherine, because until the night on the rooftop, she was physically and mentally aching for his presence; for her desperate wish to reveal to him the most incredible and beautiful secret she hadn’t had the chance to reveal before. A terrible fear held her prisoner - that he would never get the chance to know if something happened to her…

The only thing that kept her alive in those two months after he found her, was only the, at first, unconscious thought of Vincent, the reality of being able to see and touch his lovely face again, and the hope to find their son and become a true family…

＊＊＊

“My lady, your dinner is served.”
Vincent broke the flow of Catherine’s thoughts by gliding into the chamber, smiling and carrying a large serving tray carefully.

She walked towards the table. Watching him at work made her face glow and she felt a blush burning her cheeks. Catherine didn’t know why exactly, or maybe she did but was too embarrassed to admit it - he looked very focused and in total command, while he was transferring a few covered bowls and a carafe onto the table. Focused and… attractive.

Yes, most people Above would very probably think her crazy for seeing him like this, but the truth was, Vincent was a man in every sense of the word - tall and strong, yet graceful in his moves. When protecting the ones he loved or the ones in need, his animal side made him terrifying and unleashed a brutal force. And yet, in reality, he was a gentle, pure-hearted, kind, generous, merciful and very passionate soul. There was an inexplicable charisma of peace and comfort surrounding him, and he was very charming. Moreover, Catherine truly loved the beautiful shapes of his leonine face. Ever since they shared their first real kiss, she’d felt an even stronger desire for his nearness whenever they were apart. They were like two magnets - almost impossible to pull apart and always pulling towards each other when separated.

Catherine sensed he must have read her thoughts by her blushing and smiled shyly, her eyes wandering from the table to his eyes and back.
“Well… let’s see what is on the menu, my dearest Lancelot."

“Lancelot was fatally flawed, destined never to find the grail.”
“Still, he was the greatest knight of all...”

His eyes smiled warmly, remembering their conversation from a long time ago when with a simple metaphor, she expressed what he meant to her, better than a hundred words would. And at the time of his greatest self-doubt, when he needed to hear it the most.

Catherine was a bit more composed now, and his gaze pierced her eyes. It was the same look she saw that day when he kissed her finger after she pricked it on a rosebush on her balcony. Back then, after a few intense seconds gazing at her eyes and lips, he pulled back as in apologizing for forgetting himself. That fire in those deep blue eyes, the look of wanting, longing… How she wished that night that the door knock right after hadn’t happened….

Vincent pulled a chair out for her and hinted to her to sit down. She accepted and took a seat next to him. He took the lid off the largest bowl, and the smell of beef broth hit her nose most delightfully. She closed her eyes and breathed in the delicious smell.
“The same one as the first time…”
Vincent smiled and his heart leapt, knowing she remembered. He poured some of the soup onto her plate.

Of course, she remembered. How could she forget her first stay down Below, when he brought her there, saving her life for the very first time? The beef broth was the first meal she had after waking up, after Father had treated her facial injuries. She had slept for almost a whole day. Vincent fed her then, with the patience and care she only ever received from her mother. Catherine couldn’t explain it, but already then, she felt something move in her heart. She knew that this man was someone who could be trusted without a doubt and believed every word he said.

Vincent picked up the carafe and poured some red wine into her chalice. They very rarely drank alcohol, not because it wouldn’t be possible to get it from the Helpers up Above, but because it wasn’t a habit down Below. Apart from Winterfest, Christmas and Thanksgiving, special food and drink indulgences played very little part among the inhabitants there. They enjoyed simple, yet hearty meals and drinks much more and felt grateful for it because they had all they needed. And Catherine learned to appreciate the taste of the clear, fresh water from the underground spring near the waterfalls, where they loved sitting with Vincent. The herbal teas he liked so much became a welcome part of her everyday life as well.

“Wine…” Catherine exhaled in surprise. She didn’t crave it, but in the past, she did like to have a glass or two regularly. As a mother of an infant though, alcohol was out of her menu. Now that she wasn’t breastfeeding anymore, it wasn’t such a bad idea.

Of course, he knew…

Vincent poured himself some wine, too and raised his chalice.
“To all the good and beautiful that is still to come, and to all those we love and are grateful to have in our lives,” he said, looking at Catherine warmly.
“To love, in all its beauty, shapes and forms,” she replied and took a sip without breaking eye contact with him.

Usually, they would talk while sharing meals, discuss the latest news from Above and down Below, talk about the books they read and classical music they listened to in the tunnels under the park. And of course, about Jacob. Jacob whose journey started in great pain for them, but who was now the reason for their indescribable joy and blessing. The little boy gave their already extraordinary lives a completely new meaning and value.

Tonight though, they ate in silence, while engrossed in each other’s eyes, feeling absolute peace inside, as words were never necessary to express how they felt about one another. It was always in the eyes and it was getting stronger day by day, month by month, year by year…

When they finished their dinner, Catherine suddenly rose to her feet.
“I almost forgot! Wait here,” she cried with excitement and a huge smile and ran out of the chamber.

＊＊＊

Vincent felt a new wave of warmth spreading around his heart. How beautiful she was in her excitement, how innocent in her thoughts, how brave in her actions… He still couldn’t believe he was worthy of such immense joy given through her and Jacob.

Out of anything else in the world, the last thing Vincent would ever have imagined was becoming a father. He, who was stunned, yet terrified of being unable to control his emotions when Catherine kissed him for the first time… Although at the same time, he felt he could burst with joy. He was terrified that if they ever become even closer, he might hurt her.

It took an almost tragic occasion when Vincent almost went mad and was on death’s door for Catherine to do the least expected thing and love him back to life, in a truly literal meaning… At first, he couldn’t remember it at all. But with time, as his memory came back, he could recall that moment perfectly: the way she was kissing him, as if she wanted to give him her last breath to keep him alive, or take his last one to die with him. The feel of her gentle touch on his body, their intertwined fingers pulling them closer than ever before. His racing heart, beating faster with every second, melting under her caressing hands. His growing desire for her and at the same time, growing fear he might do her harm, but tamed by deep feelings of love and joy coming across from her through their bond. And then the waves of indescribable excitement and bliss that followed…

No, he had not hurt her. He fell asleep and into oblivion from exhaustion right after, but he could remember now. Despite forgetting almost everything and everyone around him after it happened, for some time, she was the only person he remembered and lost no feelings toward her.

“Do you feel like a stranger with me?”
“No, not with you. You are the woman I love,” he replied that day and meant it with every single fibre of his being.

Catherine had been the truest constant in his life, ever since the day he found her. For years, he had been reading poems and stories about love, and yet, he could never totally grasp the strength of their meaning until he met his future wife. Then, all lines made perfect sense, and he knew that he was lost to love forever, to her love…

＊＊＊

“I’m back!” Catherine cried happily when she appeared at the chamber entrance again.

Vincent’s heart skipped a beat again - she looked like an angel in the candlelight. He let out a quiet sigh, and his eyes were drinking her in, trying to imprint a picture of every trace, every line, every bit of her into his memory. He had thousands of pictures of his wife stored there already, but there seemed to be ever more space there for her.

She approached him and handed him a small tin box. Her eyes were bright in sudden expectation.
“Open it,” she prompted him.
Vincent took the box and lifted the lid carefully.
“I was planning to give you this as a starter, but I got so caught up in your charm that I forgot,” she teased him.
Amazement lit up his face. “Caviar??”

Catherine smiled gently. “I remembered you telling me you were offered it at that Halloween party with Bridget O’Donnell, but that you were so stunned that you didn’t try any. I wanted to treat you to something special at least once. For everything you’ve done for and been to me… For all that you deserve… For all the courage, strength, poetry, music… For Jacob… For your love which, along with our son, keeps bringing me more happiness than anything I’ve ever known or could ever have imagined…”

The last words came out as a whisper, and her eyes turned misty. She wanted to tell Vincent so much to express how important and irreplaceable he had been to her, but still felt her words were not strong enough. They could not capture the intense and deepest love she felt for him, and Catherine was worried that whatever she might say, it would not do it any justice.

Vincent was deeply moved, profoundly shaken to the core that she remembered such a small detail. But then again, he remembered every single detail she had ever told him, too. All those details created a big beautiful stained glass window in his heart, that was the woman he loved with such passion and depth.

He embraced her tightly, stroking her hair and pressing a gentle but long kiss on the top of her head. As he pulled slightly back and looked into her big green eyes, Catherine saw a tear running down his cheek. She smiled, wiped it away, then kissed him gently on the same spot. She could feel a shiver running through him, a shiver of joy.

He smiled, and his moved voice was barely audible.
“It is you who deserves everything… so much more than I can ever give you…” His voice broke in the middle of the sentence.
His wife shook her head strongly.

“There is nothing, nothing in the world I want more than you and our son. The two of us sharing our love with him, raising him to be a good and honest man like his father is, making him happy… Vincent, I can’t imagine anyone else more perfect for teaching a child love, respect, honour, honesty, generosity and kindness than you…”

Catherine smiled and saw that Vincent’s eyes were full of tears again. She hugged him and gently stroked his long mane-like golden hair. He had suffered and endured so much for most of his life because of what he was, and it still wasn’t easy for him to accept that he did deserve all the good and beautiful that had come to him.

After a while, she pulled slightly back from him, gently wiped the tears from his face, cupped it with both her hands and kissed him. Coming out of his reverie, Vincent returned her kiss. The sensation of how his lips felt tingled her spine.

Catherine had kissed men before in her life Above, but none of them stirred this reaction in her. It was the lightest touch of his lips that landed on hers and only then it deepened, but it was truly meaningful and intense, spread a wave of warmth around her heart, and felt how much it meant to him. As their lips parted, his blue eyes gazed deeply into hers for a moment and then, with a blessed smile, Vincent embraced her again tightly, as if he was afraid that her petite frame might vanish any moment like a dream. He pressed his cheek to the top of her head.

Suddenly he raised his head and listened.
”What is it, Vincent?” Catherine asked, slightly concerned. But when she saw the corners of his mouth turning upwards, she relaxed.
“I think someone is missing you,” he said with mild amusement.
Catherine laughed.
“Well, like father, like son,” she said in a flirty manner, then added. “But I think he is missing us.”

Vincent smiled gratefully at her. The fact that he could feel not only Catherine’s feelings but also Jacob’s still amazed him. When he temporarily lost his bond with Catherine, he felt like the world crashed down on him. But later, with Jacob, it all made sense. Luckily, his bond with Catherine returned not long after they were reunited, and he found peace with himself again. It continued to fill him with immense joy and warmth.

“Catherine, you know I do love our son tremendously, but tonight, he will have to bear with Father’s hopeless attempts to teach him chess prematurely and Mary’s to spoil him with baby cookies. Tonight…” he paused and enjoyed the amused look on Catherine’s beautiful face. “Tonight, is ours, ours only…”

He pulled her closer again so that she could feel the warmth radiating from his stubbly face and his soft breath on her skin. The look she gave him was full of love and longing… She got lost in his arms again, willingly and passionately, as if leaving his embrace would snap a cord in her binding her to this magnificent being that bore no equal. She closed her eyes and breathed in that lovely familiar scent, with a sigh.

“How do you feel?” she asked dreamily.
“There are no words,” he replied quietly.
“Try one,” she smiled, with her eyes still closed, remembering the same conversation from the past. 
“Blessed…” Vincent replied with a smile and closed his eyes, knowing no truer words were ever spoken.

※※※※※

There may be many flowers in one's life... but only one rose.

- Unknown -

My Christmas/New Year creations from the 2023 season :)

 

Time Let Me Play

by Michelle

This story appeared first in the Treasure Chambers "Together Forever VII - The Truth I Will Always Know" onzine in 2023.

The late October night air was moist and sweet. Nestled at the end of a large forest stood a cosy-looking wooden cabin, orange and amber glow illuminating it from the inside. On the front porch, a woman was leaning against the wooden bannister, looking out into the darkness of the night. Her eyes were impatiently searching the mostly obscured road leading to the cabin. Then they wandered to the liquid surface in the distance, occasionally glistening in the moonlight when the moon came from behind the clouds.

“One day we’ll see that lake, Catherine, I promise you...”

She never let go of those words, not since he’d said them back then. Whatever the obstacles, they would manage eventually. He never told a lie, and that strengthened her belief that it would happen for them one day. She had believed for so long…

Her fingers started tapping on the bannister upon which her hands were resting. The excitement bubbling within her mingled with growing worry.
What is taking them so long? she thought while desperately hoping to hear the sound of an approaching engine. They were supposed to arrive half an hour ago… it was past midnight…

“At last!” she couldn’t help but cry victoriously when two beams of bright light appeared from the forest.

As the silver van finally stopped in front of the cabin, Catherine ran down the few steps from the porch, overcome with relief. The driver’s door opened, and Joe Maxwell got out of, stretching his arms above his head. He looked tired but content, clad in his favourite jeans, sweater and leather jacket, which he always sported in his free time.

“I was worried something happened to you!” Catherine said before she gave him a friendly hug. Joe chuckled and patted her on the back before they pulled apart.
”Let’s just say, you might have expected any problem while transporting a top-secret package to a top-secret location: you might get stopped by the police for a routine check; you could get stuck in traffic, as highly unlikely as it may be in the middle of the night, or a confused deer might decide it would be a grand idea to cross your path on the road just as you’d settled into a decent speed.”
He grinned then rolled his eyes in pretended disappointment before continuing. “But no, all we got was a flat tyre, luckily in the middle of nowhere, about fifteen miles away from here. So, nothing exciting that would cause me to pull my DA rank, sadly.”

Catherine chuckled, shaking her head. “Well, I’m sorry your pride was hurt but I’m glad you made it here in one piece. Both of you…” Her eyes glanced towards the back of the van.
“Yeah, I know… Go on, let him out of the cage,” her friend said with a warm smile.

As she stood at the van’s back door and put her hands on the handle, she noticed they were trembling.
It’s happening... it’s finally happening...
She felt the heat of excitement rise in her, and her heart beat faster. Slowly, she pushed the handle and opened the door, subconsciously holding her breath.

Only a small camp torch placed inside the van modestly illuminated the familiar figure that carefully stepped forward. Veiled from head to toe in his trademark dark cloak, Vincent appeared in Catherine’s sight.

“You made it…,” she whispered, her voice shaky. Their eyes locked for a moment, sharing all the feelings they had kept inside having hoped for this moment for so long.
Catherine looked around once more, assuring herself there was no one else nearby.
”Don’t worry, Cathy. There’s no one but us within at least twenty miles,” Joe said, with an encouraging smile. “That’s where the nearest campsite is.”

That erased the last worry from her mind, and she looked back into the van, nodding. She stretched her hand out in his direction, and Vincent accepted it with his heart beating in his throat. This was not Central Park. This was… freedom… at least for a long weekend.

As his feet silently hit the gravelly ground, he landed in his wife’s arms. His first moments in the world Above somewhere other than New York were something to celebrate together. The moment they had been dreaming about for years had finally arrived.

Catherine pulled back from him with glistening eyes. She took hold of his hands and made him turn toward the lake, shrouded in darkness.
”Can you smell it, Vincent? “ she asked quietly.

His sensitive nostrils took in a deep breath, enjoying the smog-free, crisp air of the wilderness. He could smell the water nearby and hear the gentle ripples on the liquid surface. The scent of the lake mingled with the sweet scent of the autumn grass. The sounds and smells were somehow familiar, but at the same time, it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The total absence of the city traffic noise and the quiet, occasional breeze wrapped him in a cosy blanket of comfort. He couldn’t help but smile blissfully, closing his eyes.

Catherine and Joe were silently enjoying Vincent’s first encounter with true wilderness when suddenly, the moon appeared from behind a cloud that had been hiding it until then. The maned man’s smile faded as his deep-set eyes saw the glittering lunar reflection on the lake that appeared to stretch forever. Shimmering and floating took another meaning for him as a shiver of amazement went down his spine.

“Wait until you see it in daylight,” Catherine whispered and gently squeezed his hand, moved by his emotional reaction to the scene before him.
"To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle," (1) Vincent remarked, still captivated by the glittering scene before him.

Catherine smiled and turned back to Joe, who was trying to appear as casual as always (and failing). She approached him with a bear hug.
”Thank you…,” she whispered into his ear, and he could feel her beaming smile.
”I want to hear all about it later,” he replied, then grinned. “Keep the dirty details for yourself, though.”
“Joe Maxwell,” his friend raised her eyebrows, laughing. “There’s a very comfy guest bed ready for you,” she added. “You can drive back in the morning.”
“Oh, no. I’ll be perfectly fine in the tiny but cosy (if I am to trust the motel manager) room I booked just past the campsite I mentioned. They are expecting me even at this late hour. There’s nothing a few bucks can’t fix.”
“But Joe, are you sure you can manage more driving tonight?” Catherine was worried.
”Radcliffe, have a little faith in your ex-boss!” he said theatrically. “Besides, where there are lovers on the scene, there’s no room for… spectators.” Joe winked, making his friend blush and Vincent chuckle.

After the last couple of hugs, New York’s District Attorney hopped back into the rented van and with a wave and a smile, he drove off again, soon vanishing in the darkness.

As the van disappeared, Catherine grabbed Vincent’s old worn leather duffel bag from the path, and her other hand reached for one of Vincent’s.
”Come,” she said quietly, her voice vibrating with joy. “Let me show you our home for the next three days.”
Vincent smiled at her, excitement and a sense of adventure rising in him like a tide. He took a deep breath and looked around one last time. Only then did he follow her into the cabin.

※※※※※

The purplish sunrise penetrated the cabin’s bedroom window on the first floor and fell onto Catherine’s face, soon waking her. She turned around and reached for the body she expected to be lying there. But Vincent’s side of the bed was empty. Only the still-warm and crumpled sheets he’d left behind reminded her that this wasn’t a dream - they were truly at her father’s cabin at the lake… together. A blissful smile appeared on her face.

She got up, ran some water over her face to freshen up, put a warm robe over her pyjamas and walked downstairs. She walked through the short corridor, reaching the sitting room, furnished in a simple but cosy style, and stopped, spotting him through the window. He was standing on the front porch, his eyes fixed on the lake before him and the morning sun, slowly climbing over the horizon. His cloak remained untouched in the bedroom upstairs.

If Vincent could have seen himself at that particular moment, he would have seen the early morning pink and purple glow of the sky and the just-rising sun over the lake reflecting in the sapphire blue of his eyes. It set them alight with a fire he had kept hidden deep inside his soul most of his life. Following his usual caution and apprehension, so significant and vital for a being who must never be seen by anyone Above, the vast open space of the water ahead and the forest paths around him should have made him nervous and overly alert. He should have been troubled about how easily he could have been exposed and potentially threatened by a lonesome wanderer or a group of tourists randomly roaming the area. He should have been afraid… but he wasn’t.

For the first time in his life, Vincent put his complete trust in fate and left it to her to decide for and watch over him. The trust he put in Catherine’s words, claiming that no one came anywhere near the cabin, especially at this time of year when the chill started creeping into the bones, that trust was enough for him. He owed it to her for all the sacrifices she had made for him. More importantly, whatever the possible complications, he owed it to himself.

He had envisioned this moment so many times in his mind that suddenly, it was almost impossible to believe this was not just another of his fantasies. All he was able to do was to take in the sound of the rustling colourful autumn leaves gently swaying in the trees, the smell of the lake and the vision of the soft ripples painted all over its surface, the calm, and the orange globe rising higher on the horizon, brightening the sky above more with each passing minute.

When he felt the gentle touch of an arm embracing his waist from behind, he smiled, without turning around.
”I hoped I could share this moment with you,” Catherine said quietly, and he could feel her smiling.
His arm snaked around her shoulder, pulling her closer. Only then he turned his head to look at her; the amber highlights in her long hair, conjured up by the first rays of the sun, enchanted him.
”So beautiful,” Vincent whispered, still smiling, and she knew he didn’t mean just the scenery before them.

”I was about to say the same,” Catherine replied with equal tenderness.
The moment when he looked at her, she was struck by the emotions in Vincent’s eyes. It wasn’t the first time he had seen the sunrise; their brownstone in New York witnessed many of those, always observed keenly by both from the safety of their bedroom French door. But this vast, wild spot of nature was visibly filling her husband with emotions he could only have imagined for so many years…

Her hand reached for his stubbly cheek, and her thumb softly wiped a small tear that had escaped his eye without even noticing it, catching him by surprise. He embraced her fully and rested his cheek on the top of her head.
”Thank you,” he whispered into her hair, unable to say more. His eyes were fixed on the sunny horizon again.
Catherine smiled and tightened her arms around his waist, knowing this moment would remain engraved in her memory and heart forever.
”My greatest pleasure.”

※※※

They were sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying their morning hot drinks: Vincent his favourite herb tea and Catherine a strong cup of coffee. They spent almost an hour on the porch, watching the sunrise, and the already chilly late October air made them long for something comforting along with their breakfast. They prepared and enjoyed some oatmeal, a few toasts and some fruit in companionable silence, filled with contentment. It was a rare occasion to have the morning entirely for themselves. In the past six years, they had always shared it with their sons, except for their anniversaries, when Grandpa Jacob and Mary more than gladly took the little ones into their care.

“I hope we can bring the boys next year,” Catherine said before taking another sip of her coffee. “It would be wonderful to spend the weekend here as a family.”
Vincent smiled and lowered his teacup.
“Jacob and Charlie will love it here,” he said then, not wanting to diminish her hopes, although not taking his luck for granted.
Her eyes lit up as she regarded him fondly. “I think it’s safe to say you do,” she stated.

There was no way he could deny the fact, hence his smile widened. It took him a moment to find his words as he took in the twinkle of her emerald eyes, a few strands of her sandy hair falling over her forehead, every line of the face he knew for years and yet never grew tired of seeing. It almost felt like he was brought back in time… to the time when he first fell in love with her.

”I love wherever you are, Catherine,” he spoke eventually. “But… yes, this place already holds a very special place in my heart.”
She smiled, hearing the tenderness in his voice. He didn’t have to say more; his eyes and the Bond spoke for him. Her eyes rested on his for a while, the magnetic pull between them as strong as ever.

When she finally managed to break eye contact and took the last sip of her coffee, she asked cheerfully:
”So, what would you like to do today? You know that if it was up to me, I would love to show you everything, but this weekend is for you, and I want to make sure you are happy and comfortable all the way.”
Vincent’s soft chuckle caressed her ears. Don’t you know I’m happy and comfortable by your side, wherever you lead me?
”I could not be any happier than I am now, being here with you, sharing this beautiful place, this moment in time,” he said. “There is one place, though…”
Catherine raised her eyebrows, her interest piqued.
”The glen… the one you told me about once… Is it far from here?”

The prospect of taking Vincent to her favourite childhood place in full daylight revived her childlike enthusiasm from her younger days.
”Not at all! If we set off now, we should be there in about fifteen minutes,” she replied with a beaming smile. “If we are lucky, we might even see some deer.” She covered his large hand with hers. “Oh, Vincent… It’s going to be wonderful!”

She got up from her chair, grabbing their empty plates to bring them over to the sink. He joined her, helping her to wash up, and couldn’t miss how her cheeks flushed from excitement. Catherine’s never-fading smile was contagious; Vincent found himself unable to stop smiling, as well. Is it possible it could really be so easy? Just walk out in the open without any danger lurking behind a tree?

After Catherine packed a few small food bits and a flask of fresh herb tea in a small backpack, warmly dressed, they were ready to go on their first adventure.
”Ready?” she asked as they stood on the front porch after she locked the cabin.
”Always,” he replied softly and put the hood of his cloak over his head. Then he took her by the hand.
They walked down the few steps and set out towards the forest.

※※※

Despite his usually calm and composed nature, Vincent felt slightly overwhelmed with emotion as they walked along the lake shore that morning. The sun was warming their backs and veiling the clear blue sky in a bright, golden haze. The air was far more light and crisp than he had ever smelled it before, filling his lungs with freshness and his nose with beguiling scents of various kinds.

“Are you all right?” Catherine asked midway to the glen, seeing the dazed expression on his face.
”As well as I have ever been,” Vincent replied with a warm smile, briefly squeezing her hand.
She didn’t need to say more; the look in his eyes gave her the satisfaction of a job well done... and promises to come.

They turned away from the lake and followed the path leading to the forest. Vincent’s free hand couldn’t get enough of gently touching everything within his grasp as they walked - the tall grass, still covered in dew in places, the rough tree trunks, the soft leaves on the branches. He touched a lot of trees in Central Park, but everything felt different here.
So this is what true freedom feels like...

“Strange… this silence,” he started after a while. “There is no traffic noise, and still you can hear so many sounds… It fills me with wonder and peace as I have never known.”
Catherine smiled. “My Dad loved coming here every year,” she said. “He said this place couldn’t be more different from New York, but even with the stillness around,  there is more life in a single tree branch here than on the whole of Broadway.”
Vincent chuckled. “Nature is the greatest energy reserve and artist. Nothing can stop her, neither disasters nor people’s carelessness.”

They walked for a few more minutes before they finally made it to their destination. The forest suddenly opened into a beautiful, sunny glen, surrounded mainly by spruces and firs. Vincent still remembered the vivid red colour of the leaves on maple trees they had passed by earlier. The image awakened a feeling of something magical in him, and seeing Catherine’s glen now was another miracle in his heart.

”Welcome to my paradise,” Catherine stated when they stopped at the beginning of the wide clearing.
In her mind, she travelled back to the summers when she used to spend time in their cabin with her mother and father. She was only a child, but the memories tied to the place were engraved in her mind and heart. The memory of the rich, vibrant colours of coral bells, catmint, and salvia added even more flavour to her nostalgia.

Vincent’s blue eyes were taking in the smooth waves of grass and lush shades of green in the trees. The corners of his mouth turned upward as he imagined little Cathy playing here many seasons ago.
”What?” Catherine asked, seeing his amused smile.
”I can see you sitting there, under that wide tree on the other side, dreaming about a prince on a white horse coming to rescue you,” he replied, the vision still vivid in his mind.
She smiled and squeezed his hand. “I couldn’t have known back then that my prince wouldn’t ride a horse but a subway car,” she remarked with raised eyebrows, making Vincent chuckle.
“I apologise for shattering your dreams, Catherine,” he said with amusement, then suddenly his face turned serious, and his eyes focused into the distance.

“What is it?” Catherine asked, lowering her voice.
”I’m sensing something… “ Vincent replied, but there was no fear in his voice, only curiosity. He pulled his wife with him behind the thick trunk of the nearest tree, and they both watched in silence.

Only a moment later, another living being entered the glen. It was tall, had four long legs, beautiful dark-brown thickening fur, and a pair of majestic antlers.
”Well, I never…” Catherine started but didn’t finish, completely in awe of the king of the forest himself, a gorgeous deer. The animal sniffed the air for a few moments, making sure that no danger was lurking hidden nearby. Then he buried his imposing head into the grass and started grazing.

For a few moments, the deer enjoyed his late breakfast but suddenly he turned his head in their direction.
”Don’t move,” Vincent whispered to Catherine, his eyes fixed on the animal. “He probably picked up our scent.”
They expected the deer to run off to safety, but to their surprise, he chose a different path and started walking slowly towards them.

Utterly enchanted, Vincent felt an inexplicable urge to act as his heart desired. Very carefully, he stepped out from his retreat and pulled down the hood on his cloak.
”Vincent…!” Catherine called after him with a strained voice… yet her worry was immediately replaced by fascination. It was not the first time she had seen him interacting with animals, but it never ceased to amaze her. She knew he would be all right.

The deer didn’t stray from his path, slowly but surely approaching the being ahead of him. Perhaps he wasn’t sure what being it was; it walked like a human, but it had neither a human face nor scent. Either way, he obviously decided the being didn’t intend to harm him and kept walking, his dark eyes focused on it.

It wasn’t until they were within a step away from each other that they finally stopped. A sudden warm breeze picked up in the air around them as Vincent, with a slow movement, outstretched his arm, intuitively reaching for the deer’s snout. Catherine held her breath when she saw the animal almost too obediently bowing his head a little, allowing contact with Vincent’s hand. Surely, this could only happen in fairy tales...

Yet she was proved wrong. This was truly happening, right before her amazed eyes, and Vincent was clearly enjoying the intimate moment with his unexpected friend. He couldn’t suppress a tender smile as his hand gently moved around the deer’s snout, savouring the soft feel of it.

As quickly as it had begun, the moment of magic ended. With a new, this time stronger breeze that made the trees rustle, the deer shyly pulled back, and after one last look at Vincent, he ran off, vanishing into the forest. The only proof of his presence in the glen just a few seconds ago was Vincent’s still-outstretched arm, slowly descending back to his side.

Catherine was with him after a few quick strides.
“How… how did you…?” she wondered, yet sensing an answer was unnecessary.
Vincent finally snapped from his reverie and looked into her widened eyes.
”I told him I know how the need to hide all your life feels,” he said and smiled. “I told him to enjoy his precious moment of freedom.”
“Time let me play and be golden in the mercy of his means,” (2) Catherine quoted quietly, with a melancholic smile. She entwined the fingers of her hand with his.
”And I am grateful for it.”

Seeing the genuine smile on his face and the sparkle in his blue eyes, she believed him.

※※※※※
 

He gently prodded the ambers around the fireplace. The flames and a few table lamps around the spacious sitting room cast gentle and warm beams of light, making shadows dance on the wooden walls and ceiling.  Vincent appreciated the fact that Catherine arranged the lighting around the cabin so that they could avoid using ceiling lights. Precaution was certainly one reason, but she also wanted to make Vincent more comfortable and not to feel so exposed through the curtain-less windows. Moreover, it felt more like home, more like the tunnels, and he settled into the environment quite comfortably.

They spent their second day with more walks in the forest and a brief picnic at the lake near the cabin, for as long as the autumn sun offered them its last warmth. Then they rested inside, at the comforting warmth of the fireplace, reading to each other in turns - Blake, Shakespeare, Wordsworth… Of course, they couldn’t leave out Fern Hill, a reminder of when their dream about getting away began long ago...

When Vincent got up again, and his eyes searched for Catherine, they found her standing at one of the large windows, facing the lake, now shrouded in darkness. Her still and quiet figure was much in contrast to the feelings her husband felt vibrating within her. He slowly approached her, embracing her from behind.
”What’s troubling you?” he asked softly, looking into the night outside.

Catherine’s hands reached for his arms, tightening the hold, though her eyes still lingered on the lake.
”I was thinking of how Dad would have loved seeing you with the deer yesterday,” she said with a sad smile. Even after years, the pain of her father’s loss still lingered inside her. “And I was thinking of you as a child… all those years of having to accept your limitations and the boundaries that the world set for you that you couldn’t cross. The knowing - at least back then - that you would never see the sun rise over the New York skyline, never see how the blue in your eyes mirrors the deep blue of a summer day sky, never see all the true colours of the flowers and trees that you had within reach…” She sighed. “It’s just so… unfair.”

A melancholic smile appeared on Vincent’s face before he put a gentle kiss on her temple, then leaned his face against it.
”I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel injustice in my heart, that I was robbed of so much because of no wrongdoing on my part, merely by my existence,” he replied. “I was born, I survived… and although it wasn’t easy, I learned to appreciate the life that was given to me, with all the love that I received as a gift along the way.” He whispered into her ear. “And I am grateful to my fate, for otherwise, I might have never found you on that April night…”

Catherine couldn’t fight a smile, closing her eyes for a moment. She turned around, unable to resist the urge to steal a lingering kiss. When she pulled back, he saw a tear glistening on her cheek.
”Do you ever think about how our lives would have been if our paths hadn’t crossed?” she asked as he wiped away her tear with his thumb.

”Sometimes,” Vincent answered truthfully. “We would have lived as we did until then, perhaps lived less dangerously… We might have met someone else who would help us grow, but…” He paused, sighing. “It is of no importance in the end. We needed each other, opened new worlds for each other and…” He paused again then poured all his emotions into the next thought. “We found love… so deep, strong and pure that no one and nothing could ever destroy it.”
“We turned impossible into possible,” Catherine added with a beaming smile, her hand resting on his heart.

Vincent covered her hand with his and agreed with a nod. She took his other hand.
”I think it’s time for bed,” she said enigmatically, little fires in her eyes shining bright.
He followed her with great pleasure.

※※※※※

“No way, Radcliffe! You’re pulling not one but both of my legs!” Joe exclaimed, almost dropping his coffee cup. “Vincent, the deer whisperer?”

The man who was the main topic of discussion only chuckled, tilted his head and slightly raised his eyebrows, as if to say, Well, why not?
”Joe, how long have you known Vincent?” Catherine asked, amused.
Her friend frowned, counting in his head. “Um, six years, kinda.”
”Exactly. And how many times has he surprised you with something you couldn’t technically explain?” she challenged him.

Joe opened his mouth to answer, but then his face fell in defeat. “Countless times,” he admitted. “I still won’t forgive you the fact that you knew Diana was expecting before I or even she knew it,” he said, looking at Vincent now.

Catherine laughed. “All right, but back to the point. It really happened, and it was beautiful,” she added with a beaming smile.
Joe shook his head and chuckled. “I leave you alone for three days, and you turn the world on its head.”
“You’re just jealous you didn’t see it,” Catherine teased him, with a grin.
”Well, I wasn’t invited, was I?” he teased her back but smiled. “Anyway, you should pack if you haven’t because it’s already eight, so we’ve only got about two hours until we can set out.”

Joe looked at Vincent, who was quietly enjoying the friendly banter. “Although, I don’t think you’ll need much time with your things, my friend. It’s Radcliffe who surely packed for a journey around the world.” He grinned.
”Vincent’s already packed. And as for me, a lady has to be prepared for all kinds of situations, doesn’t she?” Catherine joked, but then she put her coffee cup on the porch table, briefly kissed Vincent on the top of his head and walked into the cabin.

Both men leaned back in their wooden chairs, enjoying the last moments of peace before returning to the hustle and bustle of New York.
”Shame we can’t all drive back together,” Joe remarked then. “It would be a much more entertaining two hours, instead of me talking to myself in the driver’s seat while you’re stuck in the back.”
Vincent felt a brief pang of regret and worry - for Catherine’s safety when driving alone in her car. “Another flat tire might provide you with some amusement,” he said then, trying to cheer his friend up.
”Oh, please, not that again!” Joe exclaimed. “I hadn’t changed a tire in ten years before that, let alone on a van, and trust me, I can still feel every muscle in my body from changing that damned thing.”

Vincent chuckled and took a sip of his tea. They fell quiet again for a while.
”I’m surprised Father didn’t throw a tantrum or somethin’, Joe said eventually. “I was sure he would be against it.”
“He was, years ago, when Catherine planned this for the first time,” his maned friend replied with a smile, amused now at the memory. “But then he decided it was better to trust his son’s judgement more than his own temper and fear.”
”Yep, that sounds exactly like him,” Joe nodded. “However, I’m not sure about his trust in me; I clearly saw how white he turned when I said I would drive you in a van.”
Vincent chuckled, remembering the scene. “You can be sure that his trust in you is as unwavering as his love for chess,” he remarked, smiling.
”Thanks. I can live with that,” his friend replied with a grin.

“I bet you wished Jake and Charlie were here with you,” he changed the topic then. “By the way, to say they’ve missed you is an understatement.”
”We’ve missed them too,” Vincent replied, a fond smile appearing on his face at the memory of his two sons. “Catherine hopes we can do this with them next year.”

Joe nodded with a small smile. Both men understood without words that as lucky as they had been so far, anything could happen next time, and they had to be careful about promises for the future.
”Well, anyway, I’m really glad you made it and that you had a great time,” he added then, truly happy for his friend.
“So are we,” Vincent stated gratefully. “Thank you for making it happen.”

Joe wanted to say something to dismiss his merit in the whole matter, to say that anyone could have driven the van, but seeing his friend’s genuine happiness brightening his unusual features, he only smiled. The warm feeling in his chest, whenever he could do something for his best friends, was worth every trouble. Of course, he would never admit to it in words.

”Right,” he suddenly changed the mood and stood up, picking up the now empty cups from the table. “I better get these inside and help Cathy with the washing up or something, you know.”

Vincent smiled. Yes, Joe, I know... His eyes followed Joe until he disappeared inside the cabin. Then he looked back over the porch into the dark distance ahead.

He remembered the awe of the first morning as he and Catherine watched the sun rise over the lake. He remembered the scent of the grass, different during various parts of the day. He remembered the sound of the breeze, whispering in the trees, the colours of which reminded him of the most vibrant paintings from the past. He remembered the feel of the deer’s snout in his hand and the magic vibrating in the air at their encounter. He also remembered the mallards and black ducks roaming the lake every day, and the hawk he and Catherine spotted on the last day on their morning walk.

And above all, he remembered Catherine in the sunlight, her shining eyes revealing their true emerald colour, the fiery highlights in her hair, the pinkish blush on her cheeks every time they…well…

The colours, scents and sounds of everything around him had been recreated for him in these three days, giving the word life a different dimension.

Time let me play and be golden in the mercy of his means, Vincent thought, but it was worthwhile, it meant everything...

---

(1) Walt Whitman

(2) Dylan Thomas: Fern Hill