The Lies We Tell
Disclaimer: These characters are owned by CBS
and the CW network. I mean no infringement of any sort and am only using the
characters for personal enjoyment and for others to enjoy as
well!
DISCLAIMER: THIS FIC IS RATED M FOR LANGUAGE,
CONSENSUAL SEX, AND REFERENCES TO VIOLENCE. IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, SCRAM! IT IS
NOT MY JOB TO POLICE WHAT YOU ARE READING! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ IT, SCRAM!
I WON'T TOLERATE BULLYING!
#------
Chapter 4
1 year. It had already been a year. Vincent's anniversary was today. The day
she had chickened out and not told him he was gonna be a father. And everyday,
she regretted it.
Vincent Ryan Keller Jr, known to one and all as Ryan Chandler, had just
turned 4 months old. He had his mother's Hazel eyes and Brown hair. As much as
Catherine would have loved him to look like Vincent, she knew that Ryan's
resemblance to her was actually for the best. Then, no one would suspect his
true paternity.
Everyone believed that Evan was his father, and she let them believe the lie.
Evan knew he wasn't Ryan's father, but for some strange reason, went along with
Catherine's lies. He had a strong suspicion who Ryan's father actually was, but
had never voiced it. Nor did he actively participate in Ryan's life. Catherine
was a single mother to everyone who mattered.
After his marriage, Vincent had moved upstate. Catherine hadn't spoken to him
in a year. Not that he hadn't tried to get ahold of her. Oh, yes. He had called
her repeatedly. She never answered his calls. By ignoring him, Catherine figured
it would help her to let him go. Eventually, the phone calls had stopped. But
not before he left her one, last message. Catherine had listened to it so many
times, she had it memorized:
Catherine, I don't know why you aren't answering your phone. Obviously, you
don't want to talk to me. I just don't know why. I won't call you anymore, but I
will leave you with this. You were wrong.
No matter how many times she listened to his message, she couldn't figure out
what he meant about her being wrong. Wrong about what? All she had wanted was
his happiness. How was that wrong?
After Ryan was first born, Catherine had wanted so badly to call Vincent. To
tell him about the miracle that was their son. Instead, she had held their son
tightly against her chest, and wept because Ryan would never know his father.
From the first, Ryan was a sweet baby. He had a happy disposition, hardly
ever crying. He was rosy cheeked and had Vincent's dimples when he smiled.
Every time he did, Catherine saw Vincent.
Catherine thought of him more often than she wanted to. She wondered how he
and Alex were doing. Was Alex pregnant yet? That thought made her stomach twist
and knot. Ryan would have half siblings out there, and she would never be able
to tell him.
Even though he was still just a baby, Catherine dreaded the day when he would
ask her why his father wasn't around. Unfortunately, he would be asking about
Evan, not Vincent. She wondered if she would ever tell Ryan the truth. She
supposed that someday, she would have to show him his birth certificate. Only on
it, was his true father listed, as well as his true name. Catherine didn't know
if that was the smartest or the stupidest thing she had ever done. But, at the
time, she had wanted Vincent to be able to claim his son if it ever became
necessary.
#-------
Ryan was sleeping, and Catherine was finishing up the dishes, when someone
knocked on her apartment door. Drying her hands, she called, "Just a sec!"
Hearing only silence on the baby monitor, she opened the front door.....and
froze.
"Hello, Catherine..."
"V-Vincent! What are you doing here?" Catherine gasped out. Her eyes widened
and she blocked his view of her apartment with the door.
"I'm sorry I didn't call first but, you seemed to be ignoring all my calls.
Now, why would someone who claims to be my best friend do something like that?"
Vincent asked, an edge to his voice she had never heard before.
"I-uh.....I'm sorry. I've just....I've been really busy since you left,"
Catherine said, panic creeping into her voice.
Vincent chuckled darkly. "Have you? Well, its so nice to know that while my
marriage was falling apart, my best friend was too busy to answer just one
of my fucking phone calls!" he ended on a near shout.
"Please.....keep your voice down. Please!" Catherine begged. Vincent
tried to glance around her.
"Why? Am I interrupting a hot date or something?" he said sarcastically.
"Just....no. Just please keep your voice down," Catherine said,
panicking.
Vincent opened his mouth to respond, when a thin wail threaded its way
through the monitor. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "What the hell
was that?"
Catherine sighed, and backed up, allowing him to enter the apartment. His
eyes took in the baby swing and toys that were scattered about the living room.
He swung around to face Catherine, but she had disappeared into the other room.
From the monitor, he heard her voice, speaking low:
Hey there, baby. There's someone out there that you need to meet. Someone
very important to Mommy. So, lets dry those tears and get your diaper changed.
What do you say?
Vincent heard cooing, and Catherine's low chuckle. He glanced around the
room, but saw no pictures. Then, he heard her talking again:
Well, now. Is that better? All clean and dry now. What do you say? Ready to
meet Mommy's friend?
He heard more cooing, and then silence. Seconds later, Catherine's footfall
sounded on the floor. Turning to face her, Vincent was unprepared for the sight
that greeted him.
Catherine stood with a small baby in her arms. A boy, if the clothes were any
indicator. He judged the baby to be about 4-5 months old. Suddenly, his mind
stopped. He calculated the dates, and froze. Why hadn't she told
him??
Catherine watched as the gears turned in Vincent's head. When he froze, she
waited for the explosion. He stared at Ryan, his expression unreadable. Finally,
he spoke.
"Catherine......is he........why didn't you tell me?"
Catherine swallowed hard. "Tell you what?"
"When were you going to tell me about him?" he said, gesturing toward the
baby. Catherine blinked rapidly, and fought to keep her voice steady as she
tried to answer him.
"Why would I tell you?" Catherine said. She buried her face in Ryan's hair,
and silently begged his forgiveness for what she was about to say. "He isn't
yours." Lie #1.
Vincent stared at her. "Are you sure about that?"
Catherine met his gaze squarely. "Absolutely. Evan is his father." Lie
#2.
Vincent's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you."
"Believe what you want to. You aren't Ryan's father. "Lie
#3.
"Ryan?" Vincent questioned. Catherine froze. "His name is Ryan?"
"Yes. Ryan.....Evan Chandler." Lie #4.
"Why did you name him Ryan?"
Because I wanted him to be named after his Daddy. "I always liked the
name."
"And the fact that it is also my middle name isn't coincidental in the
least?"
"Nope. Just liked the name."
"You are a terrible liar," Vincent stated.
"Whatever, Keller."
Vincent stared at the baby again. His gut told him she was lying, but he
couldn't prove it. Instead, he made his way to the couch and sat down. Catherine
followed, propping Ryan on her lap. Vincent reached out, and stroked his finger
down Ryan's cheek. Immediately, Ryan turned his head, and started rooting around.
Catherine sighed.
"Is he hungry?" Vincent asked. Catherine nodded, and blushed.
"I-uh......I breast fed. Excuse me," she said, before standing up and heading
into Ryan's room. The last thing he heard was the static on the monitor when she
turned it off.
Vincent leaned back against the couch. Ryan was his son. He just knew.
But, how was he going to get Catherine to admit it?
#-------------
Disclaimer: These characters are owned by CBS
and the CW network. I mean no infringement of any sort and am only using the
characters for personal enjoyment and for others to enjoy as
well!
DISCLAIMER: THIS FIC IS RATED M FOR LANGUAGE,
CONSENSUAL SEX, AND REFERENCES TO VIOLENCE. IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, SCRAM! IT IS
NOT MY JOB TO POLICE WHAT YOU ARE READING! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ IT, SCRAM!
I WON'T TOLERATE BULLYING!
#------
Chapter 4
1 year. It had already been a year. Vincent's anniversary was today. The day
she had chickened out and not told him he was gonna be a father. And everyday,
she regretted it.
Vincent Ryan Keller Jr, known to one and all as Ryan Chandler, had just
turned 4 months old. He had his mother's Hazel eyes and Brown hair. As much as
Catherine would have loved him to look like Vincent, she knew that Ryan's
resemblance to her was actually for the best. Then, no one would suspect his
true paternity.
Everyone believed that Evan was his father, and she let them believe the lie.
Evan knew he wasn't Ryan's father, but for some strange reason, went along with
Catherine's lies. He had a strong suspicion who Ryan's father actually was, but
had never voiced it. Nor did he actively participate in Ryan's life. Catherine
was a single mother to everyone who mattered.
After his marriage, Vincent had moved upstate. Catherine hadn't spoken to him
in a year. Not that he hadn't tried to get ahold of her. Oh, yes. He had called
her repeatedly. She never answered his calls. By ignoring him, Catherine figured
it would help her to let him go. Eventually, the phone calls had stopped. But
not before he left her one, last message. Catherine had listened to it so many
times, she had it memorized:
Catherine, I don't know why you aren't answering your phone. Obviously, you
don't want to talk to me. I just don't know why. I won't call you anymore, but I
will leave you with this. You were wrong.
No matter how many times she listened to his message, she couldn't figure out
what he meant about her being wrong. Wrong about what? All she had wanted was
his happiness. How was that wrong?
After Ryan was first born, Catherine had wanted so badly to call Vincent. To
tell him about the miracle that was their son. Instead, she had held their son
tightly against her chest, and wept because Ryan would never know his father.
From the first, Ryan was a sweet baby. He had a happy disposition, hardly
ever crying. He was rosy cheeked and had Vincent's dimples when he smiled.
Every time he did, Catherine saw Vincent.
Catherine thought of him more often than she wanted to. She wondered how he
and Alex were doing. Was Alex pregnant yet? That thought made her stomach twist
and knot. Ryan would have half siblings out there, and she would never be able
to tell him.
Even though he was still just a baby, Catherine dreaded the day when he would
ask her why his father wasn't around. Unfortunately, he would be asking about
Evan, not Vincent. She wondered if she would ever tell Ryan the truth. She
supposed that someday, she would have to show him his birth certificate. Only on
it, was his true father listed, as well as his true name. Catherine didn't know
if that was the smartest or the stupidest thing she had ever done. But, at the
time, she had wanted Vincent to be able to claim his son if it ever became
necessary.
#-------
Ryan was sleeping, and Catherine was finishing up the dishes, when someone
knocked on her apartment door. Drying her hands, she called, "Just a sec!"
Hearing only silence on the baby monitor, she opened the front door.....and
froze.
"Hello, Catherine..."
"V-Vincent! What are you doing here?" Catherine gasped out. Her eyes widened
and she blocked his view of her apartment with the door.
"I'm sorry I didn't call first but, you seemed to be ignoring all my calls.
Now, why would someone who claims to be my best friend do something like that?"
Vincent asked, an edge to his voice she had never heard before.
"I-uh.....I'm sorry. I've just....I've been really busy since you left,"
Catherine said, panic creeping into her voice.
Vincent chuckled darkly. "Have you? Well, its so nice to know that while my
marriage was falling apart, my best friend was too busy to answer just one
of my fucking phone calls!" he ended on a near shout.
"Please.....keep your voice down. Please!" Catherine begged. Vincent
tried to glance around her.
"Why? Am I interrupting a hot date or something?" he said sarcastically.
"Just....no. Just please keep your voice down," Catherine said,
panicking.
Vincent opened his mouth to respond, when a thin wail threaded its way
through the monitor. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "What the hell
was that?"
Catherine sighed, and backed up, allowing him to enter the apartment. His
eyes took in the baby swing and toys that were scattered about the living room.
He swung around to face Catherine, but she had disappeared into the other room.
From the monitor, he heard her voice, speaking low:
Hey there, baby. There's someone out there that you need to meet. Someone
very important to Mommy. So, lets dry those tears and get your diaper changed.
What do you say?
Vincent heard cooing, and Catherine's low chuckle. He glanced around the
room, but saw no pictures. Then, he heard her talking again:
Well, now. Is that better? All clean and dry now. What do you say? Ready to
meet Mommy's friend?
He heard more cooing, and then silence. Seconds later, Catherine's footfall
sounded on the floor. Turning to face her, Vincent was unprepared for the sight
that greeted him.
Catherine stood with a small baby in her arms. A boy, if the clothes were any
indicator. He judged the baby to be about 4-5 months old. Suddenly, his mind
stopped. He calculated the dates, and froze. Why hadn't she told
him??
Catherine watched as the gears turned in Vincent's head. When he froze, she
waited for the explosion. He stared at Ryan, his expression unreadable. Finally,
he spoke.
"Catherine......is he........why didn't you tell me?"
Catherine swallowed hard. "Tell you what?"
"When were you going to tell me about him?" he said, gesturing toward the
baby. Catherine blinked rapidly, and fought to keep her voice steady as she
tried to answer him.
"Why would I tell you?" Catherine said. She buried her face in Ryan's hair,
and silently begged his forgiveness for what she was about to say. "He isn't
yours." Lie #1.
Vincent stared at her. "Are you sure about that?"
Catherine met his gaze squarely. "Absolutely. Evan is his father." Lie
#2.
Vincent's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you."
"Believe what you want to. You aren't Ryan's father. "Lie
#3.
"Ryan?" Vincent questioned. Catherine froze. "His name is Ryan?"
"Yes. Ryan.....Evan Chandler." Lie #4.
"Why did you name him Ryan?"
Because I wanted him to be named after his Daddy. "I always liked the
name."
"And the fact that it is also my middle name isn't coincidental in the
least?"
"Nope. Just liked the name."
"You are a terrible liar," Vincent stated.
"Whatever, Keller."
Vincent stared at the baby again. His gut told him she was lying, but he
couldn't prove it. Instead, he made his way to the couch and sat down. Catherine
followed, propping Ryan on her lap. Vincent reached out, and stroked his finger
down Ryan's cheek. Immediately, Ryan turned his head, and started rooting around.
Catherine sighed.
"Is he hungry?" Vincent asked. Catherine nodded, and blushed.
"I-uh......I breast fed. Excuse me," she said, before standing up and heading
into Ryan's room. The last thing he heard was the static on the monitor when she
turned it off.
Vincent leaned back against the couch. Ryan was his son. He just knew.
But, how was he going to get Catherine to admit it?
#-------------