| Having It All Chapter 1a (continued)
Father pulled his glasses off and put them on the desk. �It tells everyone that you and Vincent are going to be permanently involved and we all know that one day you will want a life that you and Vincent can�t possibly have together.� Catherine sat back in the chair and looked down at her hands folded in her lap. �I hoped you had started to accept my presence in Vincent�s life.� Vincent sat down on the arm of the chair once again and put his arm around her in a protective manner. Father considered his next words carefully. �Catherine you are a woman from above and your affair with my son will be over just as quickly as it started.� Vincent shook his head and looked at him again. �You�re wrong Father everything is different now.� The tunnel elder was immediately alerted by the tone in his son�s voice. �How are they different?� Vincent looked down at Catherine as if asking for permission for him to continue. She looked up at him and smiled slightly. Taking a deep breath Vincent looked at Father again. �Everything is different because last night Catherine and I became lovers.� Upon hearing this Father angrily stood up. �How could the two of you be so careless?� He turned away from them for a moment then rounded on them again after a moment. �Do you have any idea how this is going to complicate everyone�s lives?� Vincent stood up again. �Our lives are the only ones that we are concerned about right now.� Father glared at him. �Vincent this was a very big mistake you are just going to be the one who is hurt when Catherine moves on to her next conquest.� Vincent turned slightly and reached out for Catherine�s hand. She gave it to him and let him pull her to her feet. Looking at Father once more for a moment he looked down at Catherine. �I want you to go visit Jamie or go see Mary.� Catherine tightened her hands around his. �We should face this together.� Vincent pulled one of his hands free and placed his finger over her lips. �Remember you agreed not to argue.� Catherine knew that she was beaten. �All right I will go see Jamie.� Vincent wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her into his arms. �Everything will be all right, I promise.� She started to move back from his arms but he tightened his arms around her and tenderly kissed her. As they parted he released her. �Now go on.� She moved toward the steps very slowly. Just before she started to climb them she looked back. Vincent smiled encouragingly at her. �Go on.� She returned the smile for a moment then left the chamber. After she had left the chamber, Vincent swung around and pounded his hand on the table in front of him. �I will not allow you or anyone else to speak that way to Catherine!� Father stared at him for a moment. �Vincent, you have to be reasonable this is not going to work between the two of you.� Vincent stood up straight and started to pace. �Father, you have always told me that I could never have the type of relationship that other men have but last night Catherine and I proved that you were wrong.� Father snorted and sat down again. �As I stated before Vincent when she is tired of the secrecy you will be the one left hurt and alone.� Vincent stopped pacing and turned. �No, Father I will not be left alone Catherine pledged herself to me last night she is now my mate.� Father stared at him in disbelief. �You can�t be serious about that!� Vincent sat down in his chair. �I have never been more serious about anything in my life everyone in the tunnels loves and respects Catherine, you are the only one who refuses to give her a chance.� With that he moved toward the chamber entrance. As he started up the steps Vincent looked at his parent over his shoulder again. �Catherine is a permanent part of my life and you are just going to have to accept that.� Before Father could form a response Vincent climbed the steps and disappeared from sight Once he was alone Father sat at his desk shaking his head. At that moment, a female voice came just outside of the chamber. �He�s right you know.� The older man looked up as Mary entered and came down the steps. He quickly put his hands up to stop her from speaking again. �Please Mary, you don�t know what has happened.� She sat down beside him. �Yes, Father I do know what has happened between Vincent and Catherine, I was with Jamie when she arrived.� Father sighed. �Was she upset?� Mary stared at him for a moment. �Of course she was upset, what do you expect after the horrible things you said about their relationship?� Father sighed and rose from his chair. �Just another thing that he will blame me for.� Mary rose and came toward him. �Father, you can�t dictate to Vincent and Catherine what their relationship should be, they are adults and whatever comes from this relationship they can handle.� Father turned and looked at her pleadingly. �Doesn�t anyone understand that I am just trying to protect my son from being hurt?� Mary smiled tenderly. �Jacob you have always protected Vincent and loved him but maybe it is time to let someone else have that job.� Father would not be moved. �Catherine Chandler is just going to do more harm than good to him when she leaves.� Mary moved away from him and started to climb the steps. �Father, you have to accept their relationship sooner or later or you will risk losing Vincent permanently.� Father turned and stared at her. �What are you saying?� She smiled sympathetically. �If you force Vincent to choose between you and the woman he loves you are going to be the one who loses.� Father sat down at his desk again. �Vincent would never do that.� Mary folded her arms over her chest. �Don�t be so sure, he loves her and they will find a way to be together no matter what you or anyone else thinks.� With that she climbed the steps and left the chamber. At that moment, Vincent approached Jamie�s chamber. As he entered he noticed that Catherine was wiping her face. His heart broke when he realized that she had been crying. Jamie looked up at him sympathetically and rose from the bed. �I am going to see what Mouse is working on.� She quickly moved past Vincent and left the chamber. Once she was gone he moved over and sat down on the bed with Catherine. �Are you all right?� She nodded but refused to look him in the eyes. �Yes I am fine. How did it go with Father?� Vincent reached out and put his hand under her chin lifting her face until she was looking him in the eyes. �You are not all right, Catherine.� She sighed. �Don�t worry about it Vincent it�s not important.� He moved closer to her on the bed. �Catherine, you know that I can feel your emotions and I know that you were greatly upset by what father said about our relationship.� NEXT |