Light of the Moon - Father Project Piece
This story was written for CABB's Father Project, and is part of Winterfest 2018. You may also find it at that site. I wanted to put it on my blog as well in order to keep all my darlings in one spot for my own reference. All previously posted material will remain on the original posting website for as long as the hosting webmaster wants them to.
The Light of the Moon
By C. K. Armistead
Catherine was standing in the paved area just beyond the
park access tunnel, looking up at the sky.
It was a fine night, a bit cold, but not bitter. The skies were clear, and the stars were
visible, albeit faintly. The moon,
however, was large, bright, and full. It
seemed so close. It made the night
magical, full of possibility.
How she wished she could share it with Vincent. He was sleeping, healing from an injury
sustained in the lower tunnels on a pipe repair job. At
least it wasn’t because of me this time, she thought. All too often, it seemed, Vincent had been
injured when coming to her rescue. She
felt so bad about that. When Vincent had
been so ill, she had even spoken of it with Father, wondering if she might have
subconsciously gotten herself into trouble so that Vincent would come to save
her. It rattled her badly, and had
caused her to make a change in her job.
Father had been relieved when she told him of the change.
“Not just for Vincent’s sake, my dear,” he said when he saw
the look on her face. “I have become extremely fond of you, dear Catherine, and
I was beginning to be VERY worried about you.
Peter will also be overjoyed that you have changed your job, I am
sure.” He had looked her in the eye, and
said, “You must face it, Catherine, you have wormed your way into my stubborn
old heart, and I will worry about you just as much as I worry about
Vincent.”
He had hugged her then, and she had been glad to feel the
solace of having someone to be a father to her again. Peter did a pretty good job, but he was very
busy. Father was as close as a walk
Below, and always seemed glad to see her lately, she had to admit.
That had been several months ago, and she and Father had
remained fairly close, though she was afraid that every now and then her part
in the sudden appearance of needed supplies was suspected, and not always
strictly approved of. Oh, well. They were working on it.
Tonight, they were both relieved that Vincent’s injury was fairly
minor, and he would heal quickly if he got enough rest. Catherine had left Vincent’s chamber for a
while so that Father could have some time for necessary care, and for sitting
with his son. She had heard there was
supposed to be a lovely full moon tonight, so here she was to see it. “For both of us,” she whispered to herself.
She had left the door and gate open when she came out, not
intending to stay that long, so she didn’t hear Father’s approach until he was
very near. “The moon is indeed lovely tonight, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Yes, it is,” she answered, taking his arm to provide both a
little support, and to share a little warmth.
“How is he, really?”
Father smiled. “He’s
mending already. He’ll be fine. The moon was somewhat tragic for him when he
was a child, you know.”
Catherine smiled sadly. “Yes, I know. He told me that story. I still say the little girl was crying
because her father was driving away and leaving him behind in the park, not because
she was afraid of Vincent.”
Father smiled back at her.
“I believe you’re right. Children
always seem to find Vincent intriguing.
Even when he was a child, it was only those who were jealous of him for
whatever reason that teased him. None ever seemed to be frightened of him.”
“I decided to come see the moon tonight so I could tell him
about it, see it for both of us, since he couldn’t come up to see for himself,
but this is even better. Now I can share
it with you, too,” Catherine said, hugging Father’s arm.
“You have such a loving heart, Catherine,” Father said. “Don’t
worry about ‘offending’ me with your help.
I know that you supplement our shipments from helpers from time to time,
and I don’t mind. I am glad you use
discretion, though. I would hate for
anyone here to get the idea that you would finance whatever they decided we
needed. After that debacle with the
treasure ship, I’d just as soon avoid giving anyone the temptation to be
greedy.”
“I can certainly understand that, Father, and be assured, I
would never send down something that I wasn’t sure was necessary, even if it is
a bit ‘extra’ I always ask the other helpers what they’d do if they could do a
little more, and then I provide the means for them to do that little more,
that’s all.” She was so glad to finally
get this out in the open between them.
She really did love this sometimes gruff old man. He was really such a dear man, so devoted to
both his son and his world.
They stood looking at the moon a bit longer, and then
Catherine suggested that, as it was so cold, she should go see if she could
“score” some hot chocolate from William for them. Father chuckled and said, “My dear, I doubt
there is anything in his power to provide that William would ever refuse you. You have quite stolen his heart. You praise his cooking, and obviously enjoy
eating it, though I fear he will still say, and I might agree, that you are too
thin.”
Catherine ducked her
head, ignoring the fatherly concern for her health. Her weight was within
normal limits for her height, she was just built on the small side. “I
appreciate culinary skill where I find it, Father. Telling the chef you enjoy his cuisine is
only right,” she stated. “I’ll meet you
back at the library.”
She parted ways with Father at the branch in the tunnel
going off toward his library. They had
closed and secured the gate again, and waved to the sentry post on their way
by.
Jamie, who had sentry duty that night, smiled to herself as
Father and Catherine walked past. It was
good to see the two people who meant the most to Vincent finally getting along
so well. It made things more pleasant
for everyone. Besides, Catherine was
really good for Vincent. Good for Below, too, Jamie thought. She was a good Helper.
Catherine entered the library carrying a tray with two
steaming mugs of hot chocolate and a few of William’s prized molasses lace
cookies.
“Oh, my,” Father said appreciatively, “thank you for having
this lovely idea, Catherine. I’m going
to have to send you off for treats more often.
William NEVER sends me these cookies unless I beg.”
Catherine smiled at him over her mug of hot chocolate. “I
asked him what that absolutely heavenly aroma coming from his kitchen was, and
he said I had to try these cookies!”
They enjoyed their hot chocolate and cookies, savoring every
last sip and nibble. Catherine yawned as
she put down her mug. “Sorry,
Father. Guess I’m more worn out than I
thought,” she said.
“Nonsense, my dear,” Father told her, “you have had a long
day. Why don’t you go check on Vincent
and then go to bed? Let me know if he
needs anything.”
“I believe I will,” Catherine said, rising from her chair. “Good night, Father, and thank you. I love you.”
Father got a bit choked up as she leaned over and kissed his
cheek after those words. “I love you,
too, my dear. Sleep well.”
Father spent about an hour trying to read but instead
thinking about how much his relationship with Catherine had improved. He decided it was time to check on Vincent
one last time and then get some sleep himself.
The sight that met him as he entered Vincent’s chamber
warmed his heart. Catherine had
evidently fallen asleep sitting on the side of Vincent’s bed, and had slumped
over so her head was above his on the pillow, one hand on his hair, the other
on his chest. Vincent had shifted in his
sleep so that his face was turned toward her, and he rested one large hand
possessively at her waist.
Smiling, and certain that these children of his heart were
getting the rest they needed, he carefully removed Catherine’s shoes and lifted
her feet onto the bed. She shifted to
accommodate this, and Vincent’s hand moved to pull her a little closer to
him. Neither woke. Father grabbed the quilt folded at the foot
of the bed and carefully covered Catherine against the chill. He then doused all but one candle, and
tiptoed out of the room, grateful for having these two in his life. They had both taught him so much.
He smiled again to himself when he found himself wondering
when they would ask him about planning a joining ceremony.
He hoped they’d ask him to officiate. Who would have believed he could feel this
way two and a half years ago? Certainly
not him!
I’ve never been so
happy to be proven wrong. Brava,
Catherine! Father thought as he
drifted off to sleep.
The “all’s well” went out on the pipes from all the
sentries; William was snoring, and dreaming of tomorrow’s breakfast; Arthur was
curled up with Mouse in the Mouse Hole; Vincent was resting and mending,
Catherine by his side; and Father was in his chamber.
All was right with the world Below.
The End
Labels: BBTV, classicbbtv, fan fiction, Father Project
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