Eternity

deafheaven

"Come on Vincent!" Catherine laughed as she spoke and pulled her love through the largest crowd the Great Hall had ever held. The room was filled with rows of tables covered with gifts and birthday cakes.

"Where are you taking me at such a late hour?"

"I want to go the the park." Catherine had been planning this gift for months. She needed Mouse's help and to collect a favor from Kanin and Olivia from long ago.

Catherine guided Vincent towards the Delacort Theatre. She hoped the lunar glow and park's lamps would cast a magical light upon her gift. With Vincent's extraordinary sight she could only wonder at what he would see.

Suddenly clouds enveloped the sky's light and a blackout concealed the city. "I can't believe it Vincent!"

"Don't fear my love, we have all that we need".

"I know that," said Catherine somewhat dejectedly. "I just had a surprise planned, that's all. Oh well, it's all right. As Father says, even the greatest darkness is nothing as long as we share the light."

Catherine had wanted to sit on a bench in a back row to avoid any late night strollers, but now she couldn't find her way. As she stood still a strange sensation overcame her. Something was pulling her, something inviting. She guided Vincent along and miraculously brought them directly to a bench.

"How did you find this resting place in the darkness?

"I don't know, something drew me."

"Catherine, this bench seems...."

Catherine interrupted Vincent and said, "Warm! Maybe people were just sitting here."

"Perhaps, but I have no sense of anyone near."

"How can this be?" Catherine laughed as she asked.

"I don't know, but it seems our love works miracles. I feel as though we are loved by thousands Catherine, but I don't understand how that is possible. Our world is always welcoming new dwellers and helpers, but we remain a small community."

"I don't know Vincent, but I believe what we share is wanted, needed and loved by so many. Our love seems to radiate and touch hearts."

"Yes."

"I wanted to show you the statue. Our love is strong and powerful like Romeo and Juliet's, but our love is different. After twenty years of loving you, I only love you more. This is the difference." Catherine placed a small gift in Vincent's magnificent palm.

Vincent held the object and turned it over and over, feeling the shape of the sign for infinity and the engraving. "The symbol of eternity and our names, never ending. Oh Catherine, of course".

Catherine could feel Vincent's warm tears on her cheek. "Of course," Catherine whispered.

The lovers held each other. Vincent's cloak sheltered them from the pianissimo staccato of minute sleet. The glow of being loved, the ebony darkness and an eternal soul kiss with no beginning of one or ending of the other lead them into the land of dreams.

Soon the city's power returned and the clouds parted. The lovers opened their eyes to the sight of hundreds of roses. A circle of white roses entwined a circle of red roses surrounding the Bard's immortals, and roses of rainbow hues filled the circle and the statue's arms.

"Catherine, the colors are exquisite and the scents are so complex. How wondrous!"

Vincent drank in the beauty of his love's eyes and asked, "Forever?"

"Forever," Catherine answered. "The symbol is made from a spoon from my mother's silver spoon collection. I asked Mouse to melt the New York City spoon and engrave it.

I wasn't sure he would spell our names correctly."

Catherine and Vincent both laughed and Vincent said, "It wouldn't have mattered."

"No it wouldn't!" answered Catherine.

"What shall we do with the roses? We can't let them freeze."

"Don't worry. Olivia and Kanin arranged the flowers shortly before we left the tunnels, and we will take them Below. All of the vases are in their chamber. I thought our family and friends would like to find roses next to their chamber entrances in the morning.

"Catherine, when we were slumbering I dreamt of you".

"Vincent, I dreamt of you too"!

"It was summertime."

"We were together in the daylight."

"Is it possible that we can dream together?" Vincent asked incredulously.

"The miracles of our love never cease," Catherine said with wonder.

"We were sitting here."

"And people were approaching us."

"Most of the people were women."

"And there were a few men."

Vincent and Catherine looked at one another and said simultaneously, "And they were wearing t-shirts!"

~

 

This story was inspired by Moira. Thank you!

deafheaven