| Destiny of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Thirty-One Final Chapter _______________________________________ |
As Vincent led Catherine out into the tunnels, she, with her voice filled with laughter and excitement, asked “Vincent, where are we going?”
Stopping in his tracks, he turned to look down upon her, and replied, “I wanted you to open your gift from me tonight as well. Tis only fair after all, as I have opened my gift from you. It awaits you in my chamber.”
As she glanced back into the Hall wondering if they will be missed, Vincent questioned, “Would you rather return to the party?” And then with a deepened gaze, he asked, “Or shall we continue on?”
As Catherine answered with a yes so soft, it could barely be heard; Vincent continued leading them onward, toward his chamber.
Feeling as if they were the only two alive in the universe, Catherine was reminded of how she felt early on in their relationship. Spellbound with wonder, as she was living this fairy tale, with this most distinctive man in all of existence, and knew though it was unconventional, and unexpected, she had never felt so complete ever in her life.
As they neared his chamber, Vincent sighed, “It has been quite a Christmas Eve thus far.”
Thinking on all the occurrences of the night, the happy, the festive, and the stunning, Catherine agreed, simply saying, “Yes.”
As they walked along, through the vacant tunnels, arm in arm, silent themselves for now, treasuring this rare moment of being just them, in the background the sounds were still audible from the Great Hall, the music and the laughter.
Catherine then thought to ask, “You didn't forget to put Rolley's piano string under the tree, or Mouse’s electronic gadget?”
With a slight smile he replied, “They are under the tree Catherine, just as I had mentioned they were when you asked earlier.”
Realizing she was repeating herself, she apologized, explaining, “I just want to be sure no one is forgotten. That’s all. I suppose I am just so excited about tomorrow.”
Understanding the feelings of gift giving, Vincent commiserated with Catherine, by simply saying, “I understand...”
Suddenly Vincent stopped in his tracks, and in mid sentence as well, causing Catherine to ask what was wrong.
Vincent pushed her protectively behind himself, and asked her, “Step inside my chamber Catherine, I will be there in a moment.”
Not wanting to leave his side, she defiantly asked, “I'm not leaving you! What's wrong? Is it Paracelsus?”
With an affirmative nod, Vincent then turned and asked, “John?”
As John Pater stepped into the light, he laughed as he noted, “You could always sense my nearness, hmmm I wonder why that is?”
Referring to Catherine, he then noted, “You have a faithful comrade I see, willing to stand by you till the end uh?”
John Pater then thoughtfully added, “There is nothing to fear, not from me, not anymore.”
Vincent stood silent, as he let John Pater do the talking, and as John tipped his head to better hear the gaiety of the party which was echoing through the tunnels, he said, “Tis quite the celebration is it not?”
To which Vincent answered, “It is, much of the mood is due to the gift of the new tapestries, they have brought a lot of joy to the community, especially to Father.”
With a puzzled look, John Pater asked, “Is that right, even after he discovered they were from me?”
To which Vincent replied, “Especially for that very reason, and also because of your gift of the key. Father feels hopeful his dear friend has surfaced once more.”
As John let his guard down, he decided to open up what was in his heart, and so he revealed, “There are some areas in my life that are too late to change or rectify, however if I can gain an old friend’s forgiveness, then perhaps it shall be a Merry Christmas for this old fool after all.”
Stepping forward a pace, Vincent noted more than asked, said, "You always come to speak with me, when I sense it is really Father you wish to converse with once more.”
With a nod, John replied, “You are wise Vincent, but only to a point, you see, you own a place of value in this hardened heart as well as does Jacob, and as far as speaking with him again, well, perhaps one day I will.”
Stepping back into the shadows, he added, "For now, it is enough to know he remembers me as John Pater.”
And then he was gone. Standing stunned, both Catherine and Vincent remained for a moment, until Vincent was sure they were alone once more, he then turned to Catherine and said, “I believe, without any lingering doubt, John Pater is a changed man.”
Now that Catherine has witnessed his demeanor as well, she had to agree, and replied, “I could see it in his eyes, all his sorrow and regret.”
To which Vincent agreed, but then noted, “Yes though I saw the sorrow and regret as well, I heard a hopefulness in his voice...”
As Catherine contemplated on what Vincent had said, she replied, “Yes hope.” And with a diminutive smile, she added, “But only after you told him of Father's hopeful feelings about him.”
With a sigh, Vincent agreeably nodded, and then as he looked toward his chamber, he asked, “Shall we?”
As they stepped over the threshold, Vincent lit his candle on his desk, and as Catherine stood beside him, he presented her gift. With his blue eyes sparking in the candle light, he asked, “Please open Catherine.”
Pleasingly, she looked down at her present, which was wrapped in soft linen, and tied with a colorful twine. Knowing Vincent had done the wrapping she smiled to herself, thinking how sweetly done it was. As she unveiled her gift, she was taken aback! The craftsmanship and detail was stunning.
As Catherine looked up at Vincent, she told him, “They are beautiful, just beautiful.”
Genuinely he sanctioned, “They are a symbol of our bond, and as we have Cupid and Psyche standing guard over our private chamber here below in the tunnels, I wanted you to have them above in your world as well.”
Understanding the replicas, which are in their far off chamber, standing alone, awaiting their return, Catherine asked, “Will we ever go back there Vincent?”
In the words of his beloved Shakespeare’s’ Romeo, Vincent replied, “I doubt it not…”
Deeply they looked through each others eyes and into their hearts, knowing this Christmas Eve had brought them everything…everything. It was impossible to ask for more this night, and so their embrace conveyed how much they loved each other, with a renewed promise, they will never be alone.
Because of the time, Catherine heaved a regretful sigh, and said, “I hate to say it…”
Needing to say no more, Vincent offered, “I know it is time, I will walk with you.”
With a final embrace, Catherine entered her world, and as she hung up her last stained glass replica of the two perfect symbols of love on her apartment wall, she stepped back to better see them. They were beautiful! And though she needed nothing to help remind her of Vincent, and their love for one another, these pieces of art from his own hands, were just that and more. They were overwhelmingly symbolic of the very thing that was pure and good about them, which was the vision of the heart.
It was a destiny which Catherine had longed for, but until she met Vincent, did not realize it. But through her love for him, she arrived there any way, gaining a vision beyond the flesh, and a vision beyond the here and now.
Suddenly a feeling of melancholy came over her, because her perfect Christmas Eve with Vincent had ended.
As the falling snow drew her out onto her balcony, she stood as one amongst the snow flakes, looking out over the city she so dearly loved, when she suddenly turned, and asked, “Vincent?”
Stepping up from the shadows, he replied, “I promised your father I would see you returned home safely, and I wanted to keep my promise...”
Running into his arms Catherine said, “I am so happy you are here."
Catherine then leaned her head on his chest, and said, “I didn’t want our Christmas Eve to end.”
Tenderly he lifted her chin, and said, “Do not be sad our Christmas Eve has ended Catherine, for now it is the dawn of Christmas morn, and we shall have many more ahead of us to share.”
Feeling happier than either one could have ever dreamed to be; Vincent looked down at her and said, “Merry Christmas Catherine.”
And she to him in return said, “Merry Christmas Vincent.”
And as they stood together looking over the snow covered city, they spoke of the miracle of finding one another, and of all they overcame to finally be together, vowing their love was forever, and they would never ever be apart.
The End
: }
I hope you have enjoyed my version
of Catherine and Vincent’s story.
The liberties I had taken
envisioning certain aspects of their lives,
which were never touched on in the series,
were taken with the only knowledge I have,
my own view point.
In doing so,
I hope those who have differing views of life from mine, were still able to enjoy reading them.
I am sad to have reached the end of the Heart Series,
because I love Catherine and Vincent’s story,
they have inspired me,
and shall remain in my heart for always.
SHARON'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST CHAMBER
