DRAGONJULS Storybook
Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: See Part One
Grace smiled as she watched the children canter about the paddock, they had been busy for
the past nine months becoming proficient on the back of a horse, or in the case of Lisa
the back of her beloved pony Diamond. She wouldn't change him for any of the horses that
Colin had offered her recently.
Jake had been given Ruby as a present for his eleventh birthday. Catherine hadn't been on the ranch at the time, but she made up for it when she'd arrived home, four months ago.
She was still struggling to move her left arm, but it was slowly responding and the therapist who came six days a week, said it would eventually be normal. The skin grafts had taken surprisingly well, her own bodies healing mechanism amazing her doctors. She had smiled at their faces on more than one occasion. Catherine was amazing for her recuperative powers, which no one could dispute!
The blindness unfortunately hadn't responded to treatment as well as they had all wanted! Her right eye had eventually cleared a little and she could see images and colours but nothing distinct, mere shadows. Her left eye where the main impact of the blow had occurred was totally useless. For anyone but Catherine she suspected the toll of the injuries would have certainly sent them into depression at the very least. Not Catherine Warriorson!
She had conceded the need for a dog to guide her around the ranch, especially if she left the confides of the house. Fortunately the dog ended up as much a part of the family as it did Catherine's lifeline to the outside world.
Turning to observe the porch Grace saw Catherine sitting patiently with the dog at her feet, she was stroking its ears. Grace could never work out if she did that to ease tension or because the dog liked it, either way it was endearing to watch. There was a serene expression on Catherine's face when she did this particular exercise with the dog.
Venturing out on the porch Catherine glanced towards the sound and her right eye tried to focus on the figure coming towards her. "Grace?" A strong vibrant voice asked.
"Yeah, wondered if you wanted tea before you set off with the urchins?" Her smile one of thankfulness Catherine was alive nothing else was important!
"No, thanks anyway, think I'll have one when we get back. I'm taking them to Cutters Ridge today, thought it was time they met Lucas and Adam." her voice quietly explained.
"Good idea, time they met the rest of the family." Grace often wondered what
went on in this woman's head, Catherine had never truly opened up to her even in the
months of agonising pain she'd suffered. Her solitary bearing of the pain and the
emotional turmoil it must have created was heart breaking to observe. There was nothing
she could do but be there for Catherine and that she did most willingly.
"Thought so myself, it's Lucas's birthday today."
That surprised Grace; she had never volunteered the information before.
"How are you getting to Cutter's?" Grace asked.
"Colin is taking us to the plateau and then, we will walk. He'll come back about two hours later, unless the weather takes a turn for the worse. He's not going to leave us on the Ridge, that's something I would do," she had a sad smile, a bittersweet memory obviously taking over her thoughts.
"Good Colin needs to take a look over at some of the fences." Grace had seen the sad expression; she also knew the memory that Catherine had invoked.
"Have you decided what to do about Colin?" Catherine asked her un-expectedly.
Grace moved towards the railing on the porch and sighed. "Not really."
"What do you want to do?" Catherine continued to stroke the dog's ears and listened intently for the answer.
"If you had asked me that six months or more ago I would have told you that Colin didn't picture in any frame I had available. Now, well he kind of pops up in them all. Strange really." Grace said slowly, almost savouring the words.
"Not strange, only love," Catherine supplied.
"You would know all about that." Grace looked at the tall woman who stood up at the comment, her black hair had grown to the nape of her neck, grey pronounced at the temples these days, and it gave her a rakish ambience. The burn marks travelling down the left side of her face now fading with the grafts. She was certainly a woman you didn't ever forget meeting. Then again, she had always been a force to be reckoned with!
"Yes I would, I just left it a little late to find out." Catherine quietly reflected.
"Its never too late Catherine." Grace said softly.
"Ah, how I wish you were right on that one Grace, how I wish." She sighed heavily and moved closer to the other woman at the railing.
"You know what's wrong with you Catherine?"
"What?" Catherine turned her sightless eyes on her friend, the ice blue gaze unable to focus.
"You're a hero and you refuse to believe it! There are people alive today who can vouch for that, kids close by that have a happy home and people who love them because of you. There are also numerous other kids who will benefit from the gift of the trust fund you set up in your son's name and they will never know that!" Grace challenged her friend.
"Hero?' Catherine snorted. "Get out of here Grace, whatever I am it certainly isn't that! I'm more like the old crock you put out to pasture because its useful days are over." Catherine snorted at the suggestion.
"Okay, have it your way but one day you're going to see it for yourself, bank on it." Grace said confidently.
"How about you're my hero Grace?" Catherine said quietly
"Ah, how you wish Catherine." Grace laughingly placed her hand on the other woman's shoulder.
"I might wish for something more maybe?" A wistful note clearly telling Grace it wasn't her Catherine was thinking about.
"In your dreams Catherine, alas I'm not your type. But I do wonder who is?" Grace watched the expressions flit across the battle scarred face.
"At the moment, I don't have a who." She stated blandly, knowing full well the lie she told.
"I think you still hurt too much at the moment to have a realistic look at what you need or want. But seriously, I didn't have you down as anything other than straight until Jace came along and blew that out of the window. Latency becomes you I might add." Grace chuckled at the thought.
Catherine wasn't sure if she should reply or not, when she did it surprised both women. "The only time I ever felt emotionally involved with another woman was with Maria in the prison, but we never took it to the physical plane, I doubt we ever would have. The other times I'd been with women were in a drugged haze they never counted. That was until Jace, it was different, oh so different." Catherine's voice held an awed quality about it as she spoke.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Grace offered her a shoulder to cry on if she needed it.
"No, not yet anyway, perhaps one day when it doesn't hurt quite so much." Catherine gave her a weak smile.
"Okay I can go with that. May I ask you one question?"
"Sure go ahead, you will anyway." Catherine smiled, her scar tissue tightening on the left side of her face, inwardly making her flinch at the feeling it caused.
"How do you feel about Jace? Now I mean?" Grace knew her words would it raw spots in Catherine.
Catherine mulled over the question and Grace sighed thinking she wasn't going to get any answer today. "Lyrics tell a story Grace, mine for Jace would be 'Forsaking Forever,' you know the one by Infinity?"
"Oh, so you do listen to the lyrics too? I often wondered. Now that paints it's own story. Pretty apt for your current situation." Grace laughed softly there was hope yet!
"Modern poetry to music Grace, perhaps I should buy a music studio? Would go with my scandalised image now wouldn't it, the drugs and drink, what do you think?" She laughed depreciatingly.
"I'll go with the modern poetry to music, but no, leave the music studios to the other's. Lady the only drugs you take now are for medicinal purposes and eventually that will stop." She closed her hand over the larger one resting on the rail; the lesson would be over soon.
Jace had been invited for coffee by James Thompson they hadn't seen each other since the party over six months previously, although they had talked on the phone a few times. It was going to be good to see him again.
Now, she watched the LA shopper's downtown at Starbucks, it was her favourite coffee shop in town. Her friend waving furiously at her from the window opposite caught her eye she, smiled widely at him in welcome.
Making his way over she noticed he wasn't alone, following closely behind but stopping to place their order was Paul Strong; her heart leapt when she saw him. He was her only fragile thread to Catherine.
"Hey Jace, how's life treating you?" James beamed at her and bent over to kiss her cheek.
"Good, I can't complain. What about you?" She smiled directly at him, pleasure evident in her eyes at his presence.
"Great, things have been very good, especially now that Paul is based in LA, he glanced over at his partner.
"I didn't realise Paul was going to be with you today?" She stated quietly.
"Sorry Jace, spur of the moment decision by him not me, I might add. When he knew I was meeting you, he got all-mysterious on me, and wanted to come along, so he was allowed. That, and I want to know what the deal is." He chuckled as Paul made his way over with three coffees of varying choices.
"Hello Paul." Jace held her hand out politely. He looked at it and smiled wryly.
"Guess I don't warrant the kiss on the cheek huh?" He laughed softly.
Jace looked surprised and blushed a little, having no answer for the man now seated opposite her.
"James tells me that your divorce came through last month, sorry to hear it didn't work out." Paul said, although his eyes didn't mirror the sentiment of the words.
Once again the blush spread over her cheeks, it was becoming quite annoying. "Yes, Peter and I split up six months ago, he was going to Europe for a year, so I guess it was a good a time as any to finish it. A clean break well, as clean as it gets with this little complication." She patted her belly, which showed the evidence of a pregnancy in the later months.
Paul and James looked at her; she looked like any young mother to be, healthy and presumably happy. The only reason to suspect any different was the semi-permanent sadness that looked out at the world from her green expressive eyes.
"Does he know about the baby?" This time James added to the conversation.
Sipping from her cappuccino, she smiled and nodded her head. "We decided that if I needed anything he would be there for me."
"But you don't need him right?" James supplied cautiously.
"No I don't need him, the baby and I will be fine. The position I have pays well and I can work from home initially. I have a very understanding boss." Jace smiled at her friend.
"He must be!" Paul said in surprise.
"Actually he's a she, and yes she is!" Jace laughed her eyes sparkling.
"How well do you know her?" Paul asked a little shortly, he hadn't liked the fact that someone else could be involved with Jace.
Jace and James looked at him in surprise. Paul noted their expressions and shamefacedly looked out of the window in embarrassment.
"If I didn't know better Paul, I would think you're looking out for my interests here, when did you take up being my protector?" Jace asked her interest piqued.
Silence stretched out for several minutes, eventually James broke it, "The lady asked you a question Paul?" This was totally unlike his partner.
"From the day Catherine couldn't." He finally replied and looked Jace in the eyes with a piercing stare.
Catching her breath, she almost choked over her coffee. "What? What do you mean?" She responded breathlessly. 'Catherine couldn't? What did that mean?'
"Jace from the moment you left Catherine, she has always know what you were doing. When you married, where you live, when you went to the gym. It was her way of being in your life but not, so to speak. Her prime motive was to see that you were always taken care of; she wanted your happiness above all else even at the expense of her own! She did it so well too, I bet you never knew she had a private detective around those first three months?" He explained mechanically.
"She had me followed? That's an invasion of my privacy!" Jace gasped out, angry with Catherine's tactics. Once again her mind taking a negative stance against her ex-lover instead of being happy she'd cared enough to do that. Her heart became heavy, she immediately wished she hadn't made the statement.
"She thought it for the best, she had to leave the country for a while and couldn't do it herself, not with any degree of success anyway. Don't be angry with her Jace, she loved you at the time."
His final remark bringing tears to her eyes, "You said Catherine isn't able or words to that effect, is she ill?" Jace answered him after gulping down more coffee.
James decided that the conversation, although interesting could do with a coffee refill for all of them. He held up his cup quizzically, and quickly went to the counter for the refills.
"She's not technically ill. She....how do I put this?" Paul frowned; he didn't want to sound melodramatic.
"Why not try the facts?" Jace gave him her full attention.
"The facts? Yeah, I could do that, how many months are you?" He eyed her swollen belly cautiously.
"Six months and don't worry this baby is staying put." Jace stroked her belly absently.
"Was it conceived on the night of the party?" He looked at her with interest.
Jace stared at him; he had hit the nail on the head. It had also been the night she had finally admitted the marriage wasn't going to work. Her thoughts as they made love had been on Catherine, it had been as if her mind was replacing her husband with Catherine's image. "Yes," she said in a subdued voice.
"I wondered. She was in an accident, a fire that night Jace. We thought we had lost her; she was a mess. To be frank, she still is in many ways." Paul punched out the details in a staccato voice.
"She was injured and possibly dying that night and you never told me? Why?" came the strangled response, tears now clearly making their way down her cheeks, they were uncontrollable. It would have been useless for her to try and stop them.
"She gave explicit instructions not to disclose where she was or anything about her. We carried out those instructions to the letter, especially once you were married and theoretically it didn't matter what happened to her." Paul shrugged, seeing the pain etched in the face opposite him.
"Where is she now? I assume you're visit here today is to tell me that? Not taunt me more," Jace choked out.
"Catherine has maintained her expressed wish that you are not to be informed of her condition or her whereabouts," he said slowly.
"Right, so what good is telling me all this if her wishes are sacrosanct with you?" Jace gave him an angry look.
"Because I don't agree with her now! Maybe while you were married, she was right to keep things from you. Now........ well now you need her as much as she needs you, maybe you might need her even more?" He smiled genuinely at her.
Taking his hand that was resting on the table. "Thank you." Her heart was surely going to burst with happiness.
"Hey don't thank me yet! You've got to get through to our stoic friend, who won't be easy." He winked at her, as she looked perplexed. "You have a couple of things in your favour though. Notably I have a visit planned in a few days to see her and a certain friend called Grace, who says hi by the way, who my dear Jace will get you the opening." He laughed at her tearstained face suddenly having the expression of a Cheshire cat.
"Grace? How is Grace? Is she married yet?" Jace spluttered out.
"Grace is fine, or was when I talked to her yesterday. No, she isn't married yet. She sends her love and says don't drown me in those tears you're so famous for," he laughed at her blush.
"She hasn't changed any then?" Jace gave him a tearstained glance.
"Guess not." He saw James making his way over with the second coffees.
"Good man James. Now Jace, we need to arrange for you to get time off work and make the trip with me; if that's what you want of course?" It never occurred to him that she might not want to go.
"Oh Paul, if I have to give up my job to go and see her I will. Not going isn't even a thought for consideration." It was something she wouldn't do for her ex-husband, but he hadn't been Catherine.
James smiled at the change in the stances of both parties. Great! Everything was going to be just fine, well wasn't it always in Tinsel Town!
Catherine found the trail down to the graves of her husband and son, easily enough, even if she couldn't see it properly.
Colin had pointed certain natural landmarks to the children, just in case he'd explained, as Catherine had snorted at her possible inability to steer them to the right spot.
She could feel that they were close by; she had always felt at peace when she came here, as if Adam and Lucas were willing it from their resting-place.
"Catherine there's a small fenced area behind this outcrop, is that what we're looking for?" Jake asked quietly, he had Catherine's large right hand in his left and Lisa's in his right hand. Catherine's guide dog Rio was in the weaker left hand, it was her way of trying to strengthen the annoying limb.
"Yes, that's it Jake. Do you want to go ahead and open the gate for us to go through?" She turned her sightless eyes on the boy at her side.
"Sure. Here Lisa, take Catherine's hand." He bounced off towards the gate.
"Will this make you unhappy again Catherine?" Lisa asked her in a small voice.
"No Lisa, it's time to let the past go! That's why I want you both to know about my family, you would have all got on marvellously I'm sure of it," she responded softly.
Walking slowly towards the fenced area, they went through the gate, the grass under foot springy and long she could feel it trail over her boots at the ankle. "Needs to be cut here I think."
"Can we do it for you?" Jake asked her eagerly.
"Why that's nice of you Jake, once a month, okay with you both?" she turned her head to the girl at her side, sometimes it was uncanny that either he or she would speak for them both and they never ever were wrong. 'Some kind of connection here!'
Silence descended as they shared the beauty of the small valley that held the family the children would never meet.
Jake was the first one to break the silence, which was not melancholy, just thoughtful. "Your husband was old Catherine!" the boy exclaimed.
Catherine for the first time in months laughed heartily at the arrogance of youth. "He wasn't that old! What must you think of me?" She was still chuckling as she answered him and he leaned forward so she could put her hand through his hair; it was a gesture she had often done when she had been restricted to her bed and they had the story hour together. That had reminded her painfully of the last months of her mother's illness as she had read to her mother and brother. Jake and Lisa now took turns in the reading session, now that she was no longer capable of the task or at least, what she was prepared to admit she wasn't capable of.
"You're not old? Are you?" This time Lisa asked the question.
"I'm older than you both, that is going to have to be your answer to that one," she smirked at them, her face tightening on the left side. The children had never commented or seemed afraid of her condition when she had finally come home four months ago, but the descriptions she had received from the nurses had left her in little doubt that her profile on the left side was scary to most people. Now, it was healing through skin grafts but it still had a way to go.
Rio the dog had been let off her harness so that she could explore in the close vicinity to her mistress. Lisa in particular loved to run around with the dog, it was a wonderful image to conjure up when the darkness threatened to overwhelm her.
"What did Lucas look like?" Lisa's curiosity overcame her promise to Grace not to pry.
"He looked, a little like Jake, dark hair but he had my blue eyes and his fathers smile, Adam had a very engaging smile, a little like seeing Santa Claus on Christmas day." Catherine was awash with memories of her son and husband and they were good memories, from the early days of her marriage.
"That doesn't make sense Catherine, how can a smile look like Santa on Christmas day?" Jake said disparagingly. 'Adults, did they know anything!'
Laughing again Catherine turned in the direction of the boy's voice and saw his dim outline. "Ah, well Jake it's all a question of imagination, and what do you think about when you imagine Santa smiling on Christmas day?"
"He looks all red and happy and makes people laugh." Lisa said chuckling at the thought.
"Exactly! Jake what about you?" Catherine tilted her head in his direction.
"He has a jolly face, all glowing and happy," he muttered.
"Well, that's how I think of Adam's smile," Catherine said quietly.
The time moved all too fast as they made their way back to the top of Cutter's Ridge, where a ranch foreman was pacing up and down. Catherine smiled as she heard the pacing, one thing for being all but blind was the increase in some of her other senses. She smiled as she approached her friend.
"Been waiting long Colin?" She smirked, knowing that he was probably turning red at the moment.
"No, no Catherine, quite the opposite in fact." He said lamely.
Walking up to him she placed her hand on his shoulder and whispered into his ear. "Liar, but thank you for caring." She walked towards the vehicle she could just make out a hundred yards in front of her.
He was certainly blushing now as Lisa commented on his red cheeks, Catherine had to put her right hand over her mouth to stop the laughter, she was sure her ranch foreman wouldn't appreciate it.
They all clambered into the vehicle and took off back towards the house.
Grace was excited, very excited.
Jace was coming; she would arrive at any time now with Paul Strong. They had both agreed, that now Jace wasn't married, it was no longer necessary to keep the truth from her! Catherine hadn't been in a condition to check up on Jace for months and when she had finally asked, they had been honest but not exactly factually in everything that had happened to Jace in the past few months. They had said she was well, which she was most definitely; pregnancy gave her a glow according to Paul anyway. They had omitted her divorce and well, the baby that was going to be up to Jace; as a matter of fact everything from here on in was entirely up to Jace.
This was all to do with love and what could only be described as the uniting of two old souls no matter what Catherine thought!
A vehicle was approaching from the West gate; it had to be them. Going onto the porch she waited with baited breath for the visitors to alight from their vehicle. Paul Strong was the first; he quickly went round to help the rather pregnant Jace Bardley from the car.
Jace saw her friend and a smile that simply made most lighthouses dim in comparison fix itself on her face. 'Yep, Paul had been right she was certainly glowing.'
Walking quicker than Grace expected Jace was suddenly flying up the stairs and into the older woman's arms. "Oh Grace, how I've missed you!" Were Jace's heartfelt words.
"Well, let me look at you Jace?" Grace finally extracted herself from the hug she had received from the younger woman. Turning Jace to face her, she noted the pink cheeks and the sparkling eyes and obviously the protruding belly that gave her very much the pregnant look.
Jace was a little embarrassed at the scrutiny and her cheeks coloured up at her friend's intense look. "You don't look so bad yourself?" Jace countered.
"Yeah, keeping up with those kids and not to mention Catherine, who I swear has decided she wants another crack at being an adolescent, keeps me going." She laughed.
Oh, how Jace had missed this simple pleasure of friendship with this woman. She had lost so much by being bitter and plain stupid!
Paul decided to make his presence know at this moment. "Well, ladies I know you have lots to talk about but just as a point of interest, where is our esteemed leader?"
Grace smiled at him, "Hi Paul, good to see you again. She's showing the kids, a special place in her heart." She hugged the man as Jace gave her a puzzled look at the statement. Grace had never missed much in her entire life, well, at least it never got boring she always thought to herself. "She has taken them to Cutter's Ridge and the family plot."
"Ah," was all Jace could muster.
"Right! Let's have some refreshments and get a plan into action; we haven't much time." Grace walked into the kitchen from the porch.
Her visitors followed closely behind her.
Sitting at the familiar kitchen table the young pregnant honey-haired woman reminisced; the place brought so many memories to her mind that tears began to fall before she even realised it.
Grace turned from her ministrations over making coffee and laughed happily. "That's my Jace, never could stop that river flowing could you?" Grace turned to Paul and saw him give the younger woman an indulgent smile. "Told you she would cry all over you Paul, was I right?"
"Yeah." He admitted as Jace wiped her tears and gave them a watery smile.
"What did I do in life to deserve you both thwarting Catherine?" Jace had wanted to ask this question for some time now.
Grace finally decided to answer. "You did what only you could do Jace, you loved Catherine wholeheartedly. She has never been the same since and it has helped her stay alive strange as it seems. Especially when you left her." Seeing the startled look in Jace's face, she gently touched her cheek in understanding. "She forgave you Jace, you helped her achieve something she thought she'd never experience, Love! For those of us who care about her, what's happening now goes beyond what Catherine wants, or what you want, it is just a matter of what the fates decide is our destiny, it's often difficult to define, if indeed we ever can. You just have to accept it and take what happiness it allows."
Jace considered what Grace had said and knew she had no tangible answer. "So what can I expect when I see her, not verbally but physically?" Paul had not divulged Catherine's state of health to Jace; he had hoped Grace would be better at that than he ever could be.
"Glad you asked, she's not the woman you met a year ago!" Grace looked at Jace shrewdly.
"Oh, I know that Grace, but come on has she grown two heads or something as drastic?" Jace returned Grace's gaze with a strong one of her own.
"You know something Bardley, you can be real impatient at times." Grace laughed at her friend.
"Yeah, well when it involves the woman I love, give me some slack okay?" Jace laughed at the teasing from her friend.
"Good call.' Grace laughed and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Catherine suffered severe burns to her head and left side of her body, skin grafts are working, but like everything it takes time. You can see the ravages of that battle on her left profile. Her shoulder was broken in several places and some sort of motor problem has occurred to her left arm, the therapist is working on that, it gets a little better everyday."
Jace had kept her face blank of any expression it must have been horrific at the time of the fire, what she must have gone through.
"I guess I can cope with that, is there anything else?"
"Yes." Grace turned a serious face to Jace's and pulled her unexpectedly into an embrace that made her shudder at the shear intensity of the emotion Grace was emitting.
"That would be?" Jace kept her eyes glued to her friend's.
"Catherine is blind. Well, to all intents and purposes she's blind!" Grace softly explained the final injury.
Jace hadn't heard that! No, she hadn't heard Grace say Catherine was blind. Not to have the light of recognition shine from those ice blue eyes; they were so much a part of Catherine! "It's not fair!"
"Few things in life are ever fair Jace, but she's alive and I for one will thank god for that miracle everyday of my life." Grace said emphatically.
Jace looked at Grace and their glances locked in a shared emotion. "You say she's blind to all intents and purposes, exactly what does that mean?"
"Catherine can make shadows out with her right eye, but her left is totally blind." Grace gave her the facts.
Nothing was said in the room for several minutes, each had their own thoughts and all had a certain Catherine Devonshire-Warriorson as the main subject.
"Do you want to leave?" Paul finally said.
"Leave?" it was a whisper from Jace. 'Did they think that Catherine being blind would change her mind? What kind of love was it that would shrink from a disability? No! This was her heart reaching out, it didn't matter if Catherine was blind, deaf and dumb, she was here for the duration, and her soul demanded it!
"Yes leave, before she knows you have been here?" Paul asked her again.
"I don't want to leave! I want to hold her in my arms and thank god, whichever one that might be! That she's still alive for me to even have the opportunity to be in her presence, to embrace her, eyesight or no eye sight!" Jace responded her voice gaining in strength at each word.
"You know you say the nicest things Jace." Grace finally rejoined the conversation smiling.
"Must be the Californian genes." Jace flippantly replied.
"Good to hear, you must tell Catherine that one, maybe she won't be so anti-Californians in the future, can't be good for a steady relationship." Grace chuckled.
Walking towards the window of the kitchen, she saw a vehicle approach, time to put on that tea. "Well Jace, I hope you're up to this, she's about to get home."
Jace watched as Colin got out of the Land Rover, with Jake getting out of the front passenger side; Lisa falling out of the large vehicle making Jace laugh softly, the girl was exactly as she remembered!
Her eyes saw the door of the rear passenger side open and a dog jumped out of the vehicle, then waited patiently by the door, it's very demeanour indicating that it was waiting for someone important. Then long legs encased in jeans slid out gracefully, a tall form appearing from the vehicle with ease. Jace watched, as the person she had resigned herself to never seeing again was now, so close, so very close. Jace noticed the stiffness to the walk; the reaching for the harness of the dog was obviously an effort. Jace's heart started beating faster, and she winced as she saw pain etched in the beloved face of the raven-haired woman. Yet there was a confidence about the woman that belied her afflictions, she walked towards the house without a care, Lisa taking her right hand and skipping along constantly chatting to her tall companion. Jake had fallen into step beside Colin as they strolled off towards the stables.
Catherine was getting closer and closer.
Grace came over and placed a comforting arm over Jace's shoulders and smiled at her. "Sit Jace, she will go to her study now."
"How do you know that?" Jace asked puzzled.
"Ah well, let's just say she always does and our Catherine is a creature of habit these days."
Catherine ambled into the main house along with Lisa, who was the only one to enter the kitchen, she looked around and her eyes met Paul's and she smiled shyly at him. Then, she saw Jace for the first time; the child gave a whoop of joy and hurled herself at the body before her.
"Hey, be careful Lisa, Jace is having a baby." Grace admonished the child, but smiled to take the sting out of the words.
"Jace, Jace you came back to us?" The child was starry eyed and she was crying. Gently cradling her smaller form close to her, Jace placed a tender kiss on top of the small head.
"Did you do what I said Lisa?" Jace asked the child with tears of her own now appearing.
Grace just swallowed rapidly at the words and the emotions
"Yes Jace, everytime she was sad I held her hand. But she needs to have a hug from time to time too," the child said innocently.
"Glad to hear that Lisa. Thank you for loving Catherine for me while I've been gone." Jace spoke into the little girl's ear.
"That's okay Jace, I love Catherine too." Lisa whispered into Jace's ear.
Grace made tea and got Catherine's mug ready. "Your turn to serve the boss I think Jace, you up for it?"
"Oh, yes I'm certainly up for that and more." Jace replied happily.
"Great, don't forget to put it on her right side or she will know it's not me immediately."
"Thanks Grace." She hugged the other woman and took the mug of tea, and smiled at Lisa and Paul as she left the room.
Lisa turned to Grace, "Will Jace be staying forever now Grace?"
Grace smiled at the child and glanced briefly at Paul, who shrugged his shoulders. "It's hard to say Lisa, Catherine and Jace had a disagreement and they need to work through it, just like you do with Jake."
Lisa turned to Grace in all seriousness and a twinkle entered her eyes. "Oh well Grace, she will be staying then, because Jake and I always make up."
"Well, it's not always that easy Lisa." Grace tried to explain that adults didn't always act logically.
Getting up from her chair Lisa went over to the kitchen door. "Yes it is Grace, because they love each other, like we all do." With that comment floating in the silent kitchen, she skipped out of the door towards the stables; she wanted to be the first to inform Jake of Jace's return.
Grace looked at Paul who was grinning broadly. "Guess she got that one right!"
Catherine stood at the window of the study, something she did frequently. The fact that she could not see out of it never deterred her; it just fuelled the need to be there more often. One day!
She never turned when the door opened and 'Grace' entered. Hearing the mug placed gently on the table, she sighed heavily and pondered her recent visit to Adam and Lucas's graves with the children; it hadn't gone to badly. Her mind pre-occupied with other thoughts, she never heard the loading of the CD player in the room, it was only the faint strains of a record she vaguely recalled filtering into her consciousness that alerted her to the fact that maybe it wasn't Grace.
"Grace?" The commanding voice that Jace loved spoke into the room.
Jace looked at the older woman as she'd entered the room and had to stop herself running over to her and apologising on bended knee, the months had not been kind to either of them in any way.
Jace after placing the mug on the right hand side of Catherine, walked over to the CD player in the room, pleased things hadn't changed!
Placing the CD she had brought with her in the player, she pressed the play button and waited for a reaction, it came swiftly.
"No." Jace answered and then saw the shift of the body away from the window and gaze sightlessly into the interior of the study. Jace saw the expression of disbelief; hope and sadness appear on the marred features of Catherine's still very beautiful face. This woman had captured her heart and only she had the key to allow it to feel happiness again.
Walking over to the other side of the desk, she approached Catherine as the music played the intro to 'I'm Here," by Infinity.
Jace placed a gentle finger on Catherine's lips as she tried to say something. "Please listen." Jace softly entreated her as she placed her smaller hand in Catherine's larger one.
You came into my life, not expecting anything, not wanting anything.
From the first day you challenged me, you offered me a world I never dreamed of.
At a distance your words pierced my heart, I feel your eyes protecting my soul.
You never cease to amaze, you are the life that I crave I'll always be here.
Never questioning the darkness I live, you tell me of the happier things.
As I task the demons to fight, will you fill my lonely soul with light?
There will never be enough words to describe this feeling inside,
When you whisper my name and leave doubt in the shade.
I'm here waiting for you until you want me too!
You never cease to amaze, you are the life that I crave I'll always be here.
With my heart in your hands, please keep it steadfast and safe.
I will let you teach me about love, if you let me follow my heart and that heart will forever be beside you!
Love will always touch my soul if you're there to follow me whole.
Be my light in the dark, let me be your love that makes you spark.
I'm here waiting for you, please accept it as true.
You never cease to amaze, you are the life that I crave I'll always be here.
The words of the song pounded deep in Catherine's heart. She flinched.
The song ended and Jace managed to stop Catherine from dropping her hand.
"Why did you come back? I haven't changed," Catherine said bleakly.
"No you haven't, but I have!" Jace said in earnest.
"I can't be what you want Jace, there are too many obstacles, especially now!" Catherine's face showing annoyance and frustration.
"Do you have any idea of exactly what I want from you?" Tears spilled down Jace's face, her eyes taking in the almost vacant ice blue eyes and the tense expression she saw on Catherine's face.
"Love, happiness, stability, no bad dreams. How's the husband?" Catherine responded gently, but her tone turned harsh as she mentioned Peter Adamson.
"Peter and I are divorced. It wasn't working." Jace admitted ruefully.
"I'm sorry, he seemed a nice guy." Catherine feigned solicitude.
"Oh Catherine, now I know your lying to me! Hades, you never talked to him except in anger. He helped me out of a situation I thought I couldn't handle, I should have had more faith." Jace simply said.
"What situation would be so bad you married a man you didn't love?" It was something she had wanted to know from the day she found out about the marriage; she was helpless to stop herself from asking.
"Hudson. She threatened to expose me as your lover."
Catherine expelled a sharp breath. "Obviously you wouldn't be happy with that situation and the circumstances knowing who and what I was?" Catherine finally said quietly. Her heart dropping at the thought that Jace had been ashamed of their relationship and association.
"No you don't understand! I just couldn't find you, all the avenues had been closed to me, what did it matter what I did with my life if you weren't in it! I used Peter to try to appease some of the pain, the pain I caused myself. I couldn't find you to tell you it didn't matter; none of it mattered, except my love for you. I'm sorry I hurt him and I'm sorry I hurt you Catherine!" Jace's voice was completely full of the pain and anguish she'd caused.
Catherine visibly paled at the comment. "I shut all the doors."
"You sure did." Jace let a tiny smile curve her lips; perhaps she had reached through to her.
"Where do we go from here?" Catherine asked, her eyes starring in her direction but for the most part unfocused.
"How about we start with friendship and see where we go from there?" Jace proposed tentatively.
"Is it going to be a long distance friendship?" Catherine wasn't sure she wanted the answer.
"Guess I should tell you one more thing before I answer that." Jace said slowly, her heart pumping hard.
"What is it?" Catherine cocked her head to the side and listened intently, her stance becoming anxious.
"You once asked me to consider helping you bring up two children if I recall?" Jace looked carefully at Catherine for any sign that her words were unwelcome.
"Yes, that's right." Catherine drawled.
"Well, how would you feel about it being three children?" She placed the right hand she held over her bulging stomach.
Catherine didn't know what to say, what to think, what to feel. Her hand was resting on the belly of her ex-lover, who was heavily with child, in fact it was moving under her hand. Her smile came un-consciously, the face taking on the expression of one being given a gift.
"What about Adamson, surely he will want some say in bringing up his child? Might be a little put out if he knew I would be influencing his son or daughter?" Her voice sounding harsh, particularly to her own sensitive hearing.
"Catherine, Peter knows I would take every opportunity to find you. He's too busy with his movies to be bothered with a child now anyway." Jace gently explained.
"What about later, will he want to see the child?" She wasn't convinced this was a good idea.
"I won't stop him if he does want to see the child, will that be a problem?" Jace held her breath.
Catherine pondered the question for a few seconds. "Guess not. I can always be away from home if he shows up."
Jace gazed directly at the woman she loved, knowing Catherine would perhaps never experience the gift of sight again, or probably never see clearly the child Jace would bring into the world, never see those beautiful eyes look at 'their' child in love and laughter. 'Catherine, one day I'm going to tell you how this child was conceived, because it's as much your child as it is mine even Peter knows that!'
"So, is it a yes?" Jace finally responded.
"I guess one more mouth to feed won't kill the bank balance." Catherine finally managed to say, her throat suddenly becoming very dry.
"Well, in that case to answer your earlier question. No! No, not this time Catherine, no more long-distance friendship for us. Let's face it my love; you get into to much trouble without me. I thought maybe I could get a job close by, any ideas?"
Catherine laughed heartily at the comment. "It's possible I know of a position which might suit you." A smile played around the lips of the woman's gaunt features, she had certainly aged. Jace now noticed the grey at the temples in her hair that hadn't been there the last time they had seen each other.
"Then you want us to try again?" Jace said hopefully.
Catherine considered the question, her hand delicately balanced on the swollen abdomen of her friend; Jace nearly panicked when Catherine took longer than anticipated over the answer.
Catherine relinquished her tentative contact with Jace and turned back towards the window.
Suddenly the left hand that was scarred from the fire, reached out and gently with little strength behind it, took Jace's hand in hers. Putting the hand to her lips, she kissed the knuckles reverently and a smile radiated from her face and a glowing light to the ice blue eyes as they looked at the smaller woman, not really seeing. "The X stands for Xianthos."
Jace chuckled, it had taken a year to find that out and what a year!
'Wonder what would have happened if she had learned that from the first day?' Catherine had said she would never reveal it unless she trusted someone implicitly, hadn't that been one of the first conversations they had ever had?
Now to make the woman at her side realise it wasn't just friendship she needed, but her love too! Jace had her work cut out on that front, but hadn't Catherine offered her trust again? That was certainly a bridge worth crossing; it was a journey she was more than willing to take. Something to strive for and they had lots of time to do so, hadn't she once said the one word to encompass her feelings, 'Forever'!
Her soul now firmly locked in place with the one at her side, she had finally defined her destiny and come home.
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