The Same Last Name
Disclaimer: This is an original piece based on a book of the same title by
Kathleen Gilles Seidel. No copyright infringement is meant and all rights for
Beauty and the Beast characters belong to CBS and the CW Network.
DISCLAIMER: THIS FIC IS RATED M FOR SEXUAL CONTENT, LANGUAGE, ETC. IF YOU ARE
UNDER 18, SCRAM!!! IT IS NOT MY JOB TO POLICE YOU!
#------
Chapter 7
All day, Catherine stewed on what she had heard Vincent and Alex discussing.
Were they in a relationship? Is that why he was talking so freely? Admittedly,
he hadn't really said much, but Alex didn't seem like a stupid person.
Yes, she hadn't been ready for marriage and a baby at 18, but she had tried.
Vincent was the one who was standoffish and distant. Every time she had tried to
include him, he withdrew further into himself.
Realizing she was overthinking everything, she tried to go about her day as
if she hadn't been eavesdropping on their conversation. She fixed machines,
watered plants, checked in new people, checked out ones who were leaving, and
generally tried to forget their conversation.
Catherine had just come back from lunch when she saw Alex approaching her.
Catherine forced a smile. "Did you need something, Miss Salter?" she asked
politely.
Alex got right to the point. "Can we go someplace and talk?"
Catherine's eyebrow raised. "Of course. Follow me," she said, leading her to
a small gazebo. They sat facing each other, Catherine with an expectant look on
her face. Alex didn't disappoint.
"Let me be frank with you, Cat. I know about you and Vincent. He's told me
everything. I must say that taking off like that and abandoning him was selfish
and childish. You've made him feel so guilty about all the mistakes that were
made, that he can't even have a fulfilling adult relationship."
Catherine gasped. "Since we are being so frank with one another, let me tell
you some things. First off, my reasons for leaving were my own. Yes, maybe it
was childish, but I made the choice to leave because I wanted him to have
a chance to have a real marriage with a woman that he could love. I'm not
delusional enough to think that Vincent ever loved me. I knew our marriage was
because of the baby. When we lost her, I lost of piece of myself. Secondly, he
has every right to feel guilty, just as I do. We both made mistakes. He isn't
faultless and neither am I. Thirdly, I was 18 years old. My mother had
just passed away a couple months before. My father started drinking to forget.
That is how I met Vincent. He was one of the doctors taking care of my dad."
Alex's eyes widened, but she said nothing. Catherine continued, "I came home
and found my father dead. He had shot himself in the head. Vincent wanted to
protect me, to take care of me. I wasn't in a good place. What happened between
us was mutual and I don't regret it. I do however, regret all the pain that
happened before and after. If Vincent feels guilty, he has every right to. I
feel guilty still, too."
With that, Catherine got up and walked out of the gazebo. She felt tears in
her eyes, but held them back. She wouldn't give that woman the
satisfaction of knowing how much it all still hurt.
#----------
Catherine ran to her apartment. Shutting the door, she collapsed against it
and wept. How dare she!!! That woman had no idea what their
marriage was like. She hadn't lived it. At the time, Catherine thought setting
him free was the best choice. She wanted him to get on with his life, damn it!
Why could no one see that!?
Deciding a hot shower was just what she needed, Catherine stripped. Stepping
under the hot spray, she felt the heat wash over her. Unconsciously, her hand
followed the cesarean scar that was still a light rose color against her pale,
white skin.
She stood there until the water turned tepid, and reluctantly she turned it
off, and stepped out of the shower. Drying quickly, she was wrapping the towel
around herself when she heard a knock on her door. Wondering who it could be,
she called, "Who is it?"
"It's Vincent."
Vincent? Dear God, had Alex gone back to report or something?
"Um...just a minute."
Quickly, Catherine snatched a robe that was nearby, and pulled it on.
Fortifying herself, she pulled the door open. Vincent looked her up and down, and
she swore she saw his eyes darken. However, he composed himself, and said, "Can
I come in?"
Wordlessly, Catherine stood back and allowed him entrance. He walked past
her, and stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. Catherine gestured toward
the couch. He took a seat. His eyes flickered to the low end table, where
several letters sat. He took note of the fact that Catherine still used Keller
for her last name.
"What can I do for you, Vincent?"
"We need to talk."
"About....?" Catherine hedged.
"Us," Vincent said simply.
"Vincent, there is no "us" anymore."
"I mean, the us from before."
"So, talk," Catherine replied.
Vincent ran his hands through his hair. "Did you leave because you were
unhappy? Did I make you feel like you weren't wanted?"
Catherine dropped down beside him. She took his hand. "No! You never made me
feel unwanted. I thought I was a burden on you. I left because I thought you
deserved better than what you had."
Vincent shook his head. "No! You were never a burden. God, Catherine, if
anyone felt like a burden, it was me! You didn't ask for anything that happened.
I got you drunk that night. I allowed it to go too far. I
forced you into a marriage with an almost complete stranger. I took
advantage of you."
Catherine reached up, cupping his cheek. "I never felt that way. I loved our
baby, and I-"
"And you loved me."
Catherine gasped. How did he know that?
Vincent continued, as if he could read her mind. "I knew almost from the
beginning. You tried so hard to please me, to do what you thought I wanted. You
started opening up again. You started laughing and smiling again. At first, I
thought it was because of the baby. But then, I realized it was because of
me..."
Catherine was floored. She hadn't thought that he had known. She thought she
had hidden it better.
"I felt the worst at night. I had no right to use you like that. You turned
to me out of love, and I just wanted you for your body. I couldn't help myself. I
mean, I was always attracted to you, but you just seemed so young."
"Vincent...."Catherine breathed out. "I never felt used."
But, he didn't seem to be paying attention anymore. Obviously, these were
things he had kept hidden all this time. "And then, you just left. You wouldn't
have done that if you didn't love me. We could have talked about it, worked
things out."
"I know. I knew it then," Catherine told him.
"Do you know why I was so distant during your pregnancy? I felt like a heel
because I had knocked you up. I saw you everyday growing bigger and bigger with
our baby, and I felt guilty as hell."
Catherine pulled his face up to her eye level. Their eyes clashed, her soft
hazel ones and his dark brown ones. "It's in the past. We can't change it, but
we can move past it."
Vincent pulled her closer, until their foreheads touched. "You are so
forgiving. Why are you so forgiving?"
And in that moment, Catherine realized the truth. She still loved him. She
had never stopped loving him.
"I'm surprised you even kept my last name," he said, gesturing toward the
table. Catherine didn't want to admit that at the time, it had just been simpler
not to change it. Now, with age she realized that she had been holding on to the
last vestige of her marriage.
When Catherine didn't answer, Vincent met her eyes again. All was silent in
the room, except for their mixed breathing. Unconsciously, Catherine leaned in
closer. With a soft groan, Vincent's lips met hers.
At first, it was tentative, a simple brushing of lips. But then, it deepened
and lengthened into something more powerful. Vincent's arms went around her,
pulling Catherine even closer. She melted against him, her arms wrapped around
his shoulders.
Gently, he nudged her robe open, and his hand slipped inside. As his hand
surrounded her breast, Catherine moaned. Vincent looked at her, his eyes
darkened with desire. Wordlessly, he asked her a question.
"Yes...." she breathed out. She was lifted into the air, and he carried her
to her bedroom. Setting her down on the bed, he knelt between her legs. "Tell me
you want this Catherine. Tell me...."
Instead of answering, she pulled his shirt over his head, and reached for the
tie of her robe. But Vincent was already there, pulling it apart. As he parted
her robe, his eyes took in her body.
"God Catherine....you are such a beautiful woman. You always were....."
"Then show me..."
Clothing was discarded and bodies were explored. Vincent took his time
relearning Catherine's body, following the deeper valleys and curves. Catherine
explored his chest and abs, moving lower, grazing her fingers over his erection.
Vincent growled. His fingers explored her warmth, making her cry out his
name.
When she was ready, Vincent entered her slowly. Her walls closed around him,
and he sank to the hilt. Catherine gasped and pulled him tighter. Suddenly, it
felt like 5 years hadn't passed. Everything was so simple. He was her husband
and she loved him.
The room grew hot as their bodies slammed together. Time lost all meaning.
Catherine stiffed and shouted his name. Vincent followed seconds later,
collapsing on top of her. Catherine pulled him close, and rubbed her hand along
his spine.
Moments later, Vincent pulled himself up and looked down at Catherine. He
traced his hand lightly over her face. He chuckled.
"What?" Catherine asked, a grin on her face.
"Nothing....just after all this time, it still feels the same."
"Well, we aren't strangers."
"I know. It's just......" he broke off, a question on his face.
"Hey. We are both adults. Obviously, we both needed this," Catherine
stated.
"Yeah.....yeah....." Vincent agreed. He pulled Catherine against him, and
they both got lost to their thoughts.
#------
Disclaimer: This is an original piece based on a book of the same title by
Kathleen Gilles Seidel. No copyright infringement is meant and all rights for
Beauty and the Beast characters belong to CBS and the CW Network.
DISCLAIMER: THIS FIC IS RATED M FOR SEXUAL CONTENT, LANGUAGE, ETC. IF YOU ARE
UNDER 18, SCRAM!!! IT IS NOT MY JOB TO POLICE YOU!
#------
Chapter 7
All day, Catherine stewed on what she had heard Vincent and Alex discussing.
Were they in a relationship? Is that why he was talking so freely? Admittedly,
he hadn't really said much, but Alex didn't seem like a stupid person.
Yes, she hadn't been ready for marriage and a baby at 18, but she had tried.
Vincent was the one who was standoffish and distant. Every time she had tried to
include him, he withdrew further into himself.
Realizing she was overthinking everything, she tried to go about her day as
if she hadn't been eavesdropping on their conversation. She fixed machines,
watered plants, checked in new people, checked out ones who were leaving, and
generally tried to forget their conversation.
Catherine had just come back from lunch when she saw Alex approaching her.
Catherine forced a smile. "Did you need something, Miss Salter?" she asked
politely.
Alex got right to the point. "Can we go someplace and talk?"
Catherine's eyebrow raised. "Of course. Follow me," she said, leading her to
a small gazebo. They sat facing each other, Catherine with an expectant look on
her face. Alex didn't disappoint.
"Let me be frank with you, Cat. I know about you and Vincent. He's told me
everything. I must say that taking off like that and abandoning him was selfish
and childish. You've made him feel so guilty about all the mistakes that were
made, that he can't even have a fulfilling adult relationship."
Catherine gasped. "Since we are being so frank with one another, let me tell
you some things. First off, my reasons for leaving were my own. Yes, maybe it
was childish, but I made the choice to leave because I wanted him to have
a chance to have a real marriage with a woman that he could love. I'm not
delusional enough to think that Vincent ever loved me. I knew our marriage was
because of the baby. When we lost her, I lost of piece of myself. Secondly, he
has every right to feel guilty, just as I do. We both made mistakes. He isn't
faultless and neither am I. Thirdly, I was 18 years old. My mother had
just passed away a couple months before. My father started drinking to forget.
That is how I met Vincent. He was one of the doctors taking care of my dad."
Alex's eyes widened, but she said nothing. Catherine continued, "I came home
and found my father dead. He had shot himself in the head. Vincent wanted to
protect me, to take care of me. I wasn't in a good place. What happened between
us was mutual and I don't regret it. I do however, regret all the pain that
happened before and after. If Vincent feels guilty, he has every right to. I
feel guilty still, too."
With that, Catherine got up and walked out of the gazebo. She felt tears in
her eyes, but held them back. She wouldn't give that woman the
satisfaction of knowing how much it all still hurt.
#----------
Catherine ran to her apartment. Shutting the door, she collapsed against it
and wept. How dare she!!! That woman had no idea what their
marriage was like. She hadn't lived it. At the time, Catherine thought setting
him free was the best choice. She wanted him to get on with his life, damn it!
Why could no one see that!?
Deciding a hot shower was just what she needed, Catherine stripped. Stepping
under the hot spray, she felt the heat wash over her. Unconsciously, her hand
followed the cesarean scar that was still a light rose color against her pale,
white skin.
She stood there until the water turned tepid, and reluctantly she turned it
off, and stepped out of the shower. Drying quickly, she was wrapping the towel
around herself when she heard a knock on her door. Wondering who it could be,
she called, "Who is it?"
"It's Vincent."
Vincent? Dear God, had Alex gone back to report or something?
"Um...just a minute."
Quickly, Catherine snatched a robe that was nearby, and pulled it on.
Fortifying herself, she pulled the door open. Vincent looked her up and down, and
she swore she saw his eyes darken. However, he composed himself, and said, "Can
I come in?"
Wordlessly, Catherine stood back and allowed him entrance. He walked past
her, and stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. Catherine gestured toward
the couch. He took a seat. His eyes flickered to the low end table, where
several letters sat. He took note of the fact that Catherine still used Keller
for her last name.
"What can I do for you, Vincent?"
"We need to talk."
"About....?" Catherine hedged.
"Us," Vincent said simply.
"Vincent, there is no "us" anymore."
"I mean, the us from before."
"So, talk," Catherine replied.
Vincent ran his hands through his hair. "Did you leave because you were
unhappy? Did I make you feel like you weren't wanted?"
Catherine dropped down beside him. She took his hand. "No! You never made me
feel unwanted. I thought I was a burden on you. I left because I thought you
deserved better than what you had."
Vincent shook his head. "No! You were never a burden. God, Catherine, if
anyone felt like a burden, it was me! You didn't ask for anything that happened.
I got you drunk that night. I allowed it to go too far. I
forced you into a marriage with an almost complete stranger. I took
advantage of you."
Catherine reached up, cupping his cheek. "I never felt that way. I loved our
baby, and I-"
"And you loved me."
Catherine gasped. How did he know that?
Vincent continued, as if he could read her mind. "I knew almost from the
beginning. You tried so hard to please me, to do what you thought I wanted. You
started opening up again. You started laughing and smiling again. At first, I
thought it was because of the baby. But then, I realized it was because of
me..."
Catherine was floored. She hadn't thought that he had known. She thought she
had hidden it better.
"I felt the worst at night. I had no right to use you like that. You turned
to me out of love, and I just wanted you for your body. I couldn't help myself. I
mean, I was always attracted to you, but you just seemed so young."
"Vincent...."Catherine breathed out. "I never felt used."
But, he didn't seem to be paying attention anymore. Obviously, these were
things he had kept hidden all this time. "And then, you just left. You wouldn't
have done that if you didn't love me. We could have talked about it, worked
things out."
"I know. I knew it then," Catherine told him.
"Do you know why I was so distant during your pregnancy? I felt like a heel
because I had knocked you up. I saw you everyday growing bigger and bigger with
our baby, and I felt guilty as hell."
Catherine pulled his face up to her eye level. Their eyes clashed, her soft
hazel ones and his dark brown ones. "It's in the past. We can't change it, but
we can move past it."
Vincent pulled her closer, until their foreheads touched. "You are so
forgiving. Why are you so forgiving?"
And in that moment, Catherine realized the truth. She still loved him. She
had never stopped loving him.
"I'm surprised you even kept my last name," he said, gesturing toward the
table. Catherine didn't want to admit that at the time, it had just been simpler
not to change it. Now, with age she realized that she had been holding on to the
last vestige of her marriage.
When Catherine didn't answer, Vincent met her eyes again. All was silent in
the room, except for their mixed breathing. Unconsciously, Catherine leaned in
closer. With a soft groan, Vincent's lips met hers.
At first, it was tentative, a simple brushing of lips. But then, it deepened
and lengthened into something more powerful. Vincent's arms went around her,
pulling Catherine even closer. She melted against him, her arms wrapped around
his shoulders.
Gently, he nudged her robe open, and his hand slipped inside. As his hand
surrounded her breast, Catherine moaned. Vincent looked at her, his eyes
darkened with desire. Wordlessly, he asked her a question.
"Yes...." she breathed out. She was lifted into the air, and he carried her
to her bedroom. Setting her down on the bed, he knelt between her legs. "Tell me
you want this Catherine. Tell me...."
Instead of answering, she pulled his shirt over his head, and reached for the
tie of her robe. But Vincent was already there, pulling it apart. As he parted
her robe, his eyes took in her body.
"God Catherine....you are such a beautiful woman. You always were....."
"Then show me..."
Clothing was discarded and bodies were explored. Vincent took his time
relearning Catherine's body, following the deeper valleys and curves. Catherine
explored his chest and abs, moving lower, grazing her fingers over his erection.
Vincent growled. His fingers explored her warmth, making her cry out his
name.
When she was ready, Vincent entered her slowly. Her walls closed around him,
and he sank to the hilt. Catherine gasped and pulled him tighter. Suddenly, it
felt like 5 years hadn't passed. Everything was so simple. He was her husband
and she loved him.
The room grew hot as their bodies slammed together. Time lost all meaning.
Catherine stiffed and shouted his name. Vincent followed seconds later,
collapsing on top of her. Catherine pulled him close, and rubbed her hand along
his spine.
Moments later, Vincent pulled himself up and looked down at Catherine. He
traced his hand lightly over her face. He chuckled.
"What?" Catherine asked, a grin on her face.
"Nothing....just after all this time, it still feels the same."
"Well, we aren't strangers."
"I know. It's just......" he broke off, a question on his face.
"Hey. We are both adults. Obviously, we both needed this," Catherine
stated.
"Yeah.....yeah....." Vincent agreed. He pulled Catherine against him, and
they both got lost to their thoughts.
#------