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~BATB~

This was an idea that popped into my head once so I decided to write about it.

Disclaimer:

I DO NOT OWN THE WONDERFUL CW SERIES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!

Though, I do have it on iTunes!

:^]

Keep Me Safe

Keiko Fujiwara

~Catherine's POV~

It's been almost five years since I last saw Vincent. Every once in a while, he's written and dropped a few calls here and there, but, eventually, over time, they stopped altogether. That was six months ago. My heart broke after a month of no contact. I seriously thought something had happened to him.

My father eventually ended up winning the case and everyone involved with Muirfield were eventually sent to jail. I tried calling Vincent to let him know he could come home but the line always went dead.

"Have you heard from him yet?" I asked JT as I walked inside the upper level of the warehouse.

"No…I haven't. Sorry, Cat." JT replied, walking over to me. He placed his hand on my shoulder and said, "He'll come home. Just have faith in him, okay?"

"JT, he could be dead for all we know! Someone could have gotten to him!" I exclaimed in a hushed voice.

"Cat, believe me, Vincent wouldn't let himself die so easily. He has you to keep him going—wherever his beastly ass is nowadays."

I rubbed my nose as I sniffed softly. I walked over to Vincent's old bed and asked, "How was he?"

"He was super well behaved, Cat. The moment you brought him over, he fell asleep like there's no tomorrow." JT smiled, handing me a juice box. "Ran out of beer…this is all I've got."

I laughed and whispered, "That's alright. It's probably a good idea I stay away from alcohol before driving this little guy home." I sat beside the small body sleeping on Vincent's bed and brushed his bangs from his face. My small movements forced him to open up his eyes and look at me.

"Hey there, sleepy head." I smiled.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetie, it's Mommy." I muttered as I picked him up in my arms.

"I had a good dream Mommy." He said as he wrapped his little arms and legs around my shoulders and waist.

"Oh? What was it about?"

"Daddy…I had a dream that he was back home again." JT looked at me as we both heard Tommy's explanation.

A tear dropped from my eye and I heard him say, "Is something wrong, Mommy?"

"No, sweetie...Nothing's wrong." I whisper before saying, "Why don't you go back to sleep? You still seem tired and I need to get you to bed soon."

"I'm not sleepy." He yawned before smacking his lips together. I felt his head find the crook of my neck as JT and I laughed at his tiredness.

"Thanks again for watching him; JT. Heather should be able to tomorrow. She decided to take the day off so she can spend it with her favorite nephew. Call me if you hear from him. Okay?" I said as I made my way to the door.

"Will do but I seriously think he'll call you before he calls me. That's what he's always done in the past. By the way, I think he'd be proud to know you haven't given up on him yet."

"I'll never give up, JT. I could never do that with this little guy in my life. He's so hopeful to meet his father someday and I'm not going to crush his dreams. Part of me worries if he'll be mad that I never told him about Tommy."

"I don't think he'll be mad, Cat. He'll understand. Besides, he's been on the run for nearly fifteen years. He should know that if you told anyone about Tommy—outside of your close net of friends and family—bad things could happen. Muirfield or no Muirfield. Trust me, he'll understand."

"I hope so. Well, I should go. Tommy will be cranky tomorrow if I don't get him to bed soon. I'll be by soon. Have a good rest of the week if I don't see you before then."

"You too, Cat. You too." JT replied as I left the warehouse. While I settled Tommy into the car, he slightly opened his eyes and said, "If Daddy is away so he can protect us, why are you sad about it, Mommy?"

"I miss him." I whispered before closing the car door next to Tommy. I walked to the front of the car and opened the driver's door before slipping in.

"Why do you miss him?"

"Because I love him, Tommy. You remember when Goldie, your fish, went to sleep and we had to send him back to the ocean?" I asked, remembering how I had to make up some story why Goldie had died.

"Yup."

"Do you remember that sad feeling you got when he left?"

"Yeah…" his voice fell.

"That's what I feel about your father, Tommy."

"Well he should come back soon so you don't miss him anymore." Tommy replied as I started driving away from the warehouse.

"It isn't that easy, Tommy."

"But Daddy should know he can come back right? His picture was on the TV the other day! The TV lady said he can come home, wherever he's at."

"I know, sweetie. I hope he does come home but you and I have to remember that Daddy might be at a place where there isn't a TV."

"No TV?! What place has no TV?!"

"There are lots of places, Tommy. Now, it's been a long day. I have to get up for work tomorrow so let's just enjoy a nice quiet ride. Okay?"

"Okay." Tommy replied and didn't say another word until we arrived home. Shortly before Tommy was born, Heather and I moved to a larger apartment because we needed an extra room that wasn't there in the other apartment. It took a lot of willpower to just leave one of the few places Vincent and I shared memories with—the fire escape. The newer apartment still has a fire escape but it just isn't the same without Vincent. Part of me worries he'll never be able to find us.

But then I remember that he has JT so he'll find us after confronting JT first. But, when will that be?

I carried a very tired Vincent Thomas (Keller) into his room and tucked him into bed. "Goodnight Tommy." I whispered as he looked at me with his half-opened yellow eyes.

"Goodnight Mommy." He muttered before closing his eyes. I kissed his forehead and left his room before cracking his door.

"Cat, I think it's time to tell Tommy that Vincent probably won't be coming back." Heather said, catching me off guard.

"I'm not going to do that to him, Heather. I can't tell you how I know this but I believe he's still out there somewhere—trying to find a way back to us."

"He doesn't even know he has a four-year-old son."

"I know but I kept Tommy's existence from him for Tommy's safety. If Vincent found out about Tommy, he'd try to come back even though he was still a wanted man when Tommy was born. If that happened, Vincent would most likely be arrested and Tommy would be taken away from me because of his slightly altered DNA."

"Sis…if the yellow eyes haven't given it away, then I don't know what will."

"And that's why I give him color contacts whenever he's around people who don't know who his father is." I said.

"Cat, Tommy is basically an exact mini replica of Vincent! How is it no one has confronted him of the strong resemblance yet?"

"Heather, Tommy's features have yet to completely develop. Besides, if you don't put a picture of Vincent next to him, you won't see a resemblance unless you know what Vincent looks like by heart." I said. "Heather, I'm tired. I'm not going to tell Tommy his father may never come back. That would destroy his heart."

"Whatevs. He's your kid. Not mine. Though, I still get spoiling rights tomorrow while you're at work."

"Remember, no onions. He can't stand the smell. Also, no nuts. He's allergic."

"I know, I know, Cat. It isn't the first time I've watched him before. Bed by eight if your home late. Got it." Heather replied as she practically pushed me into my room.

As she closed the door on me, I walked over and turned on the lamp. When we moved here, I purposely asked for the room with the fire escape. My sister doesn't know this but, almost every night; I step out and sit on the steps and think of Vincent. I suddenly felt a cool draft blow into my room and noticed a folded piece of paper. C-could it be? Could he really be here?! I slowly picked up the little note and unfolded it.

Fire Escape

I held my breath. Should I at least check? Should I dismiss it? I took a chance and popped my head out the window and looked to my right. I felt a huge smile forming on my face as I saw him sitting there, gazing into my eyes, with a smirk playing on his lips.

"Sorry it took so long." He said with a tired voice. "It took me a while to find a way back to the states."

I slipped out onto the fire escape and sat next to him. "You don't have to explain yourself, Vincent. I'm just glad you're home."

Before anything else was said, I pressed my yearning lips against his as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I could tell he longed to kiss me just as much as I longed to kiss him. As our lips opened and closed in perfect rhythm, I managed to pull him into my room as well as close the window.

I slightly pulled back, remembering there was someone he needed to meet. "Vincent…" I muttered. "There's something you need to know."

Before he brought his lips back to mine he uttered something like, "It can wait." But I was too tired and distracted to capture exactly what he said. I wrapped my legs around his waist as I felt him trap me between his body and my bed. His lips traveled up and down my neck as my fingers began twisting around in his hair.

I muttered is name again to try to get his attention but he continued brushing his lips against my throat.

Suddenly, a small voice caused us to stop.

"Mommy! I'm thirsty!"

~BEAUTY AND THE BEAST~

~Vincent's POV~

I suddenly stopped everything I was doing when I heard a little boy calling for his mother. I looked at Catherine and finally realized why she smelt differently. There was a new boy in her life which changed her scent slightly.

"M-mommy?" My voice cracked.

Catherine nodded and whispered, "Do you want to meet your son?"

My eyes widened as I heard her words. "M-my s-son?"

Again, she answered with a nod.

"W-why didn't you tell me?" I asked, partly hurt and confused to how she and JT hid something like this from me.

"Vincent," she cupped my face, "I wanted to tell you but I was worried for his sake." She looked over towards her door. "Tell me something, if I told you about him, would you have stayed where you were and continued to live on the run?"

I thought for a minute and understood her reasons. "You didn't want me to chance coming back and someone taking him away because of his DNA."

She nodded. "It would kill me if someone tried to hurt him. If not for him, Vincent, I don't know how I would have survived the past five years without you."

As I was about to ask her another question, the voice called out again. "Mommy! I'm thirsty!"

"Coming!" Catherine called out before I allowed her to slip off the bed from underneath me. "Come." She held her hand towards me. "Come meet your son."

"What's his name?" I asked.

"Well, we all call him Tommy but his name is Vincent Thomas Keller." She smiled.

"You gave him my last name?" I couldn't help but grin.

"Well, technically, his birth certificate says Chandler but I've always told him his true last name was Keller."

"I bet that's confusing for him."

"A little." She smirked as I shakily took her hand. I can't deny it. I was nervous to meet him. I was worried that he wouldn't like me since I was a no-show for the first four years of his life. She went to the kitchen, filled a glass with water and led me to Tommy's room. "Hey sweetie."

She handed him to glass and he thanked her before gulping the liquid down his throat. He gave Catherine the cup back and she patted his head. She placed the glass on a table beside her and scooped him up in her arms. "Tommy, there's someone I want you to meet."

"Who?" he asked with a tired expression.

She brought him closer to me and whispered, "Tommy, meet your father."

It took him a moment to process what she said and suddenly, his eyes beamed and he snapped his head towards her as if she told him he just received an Ice Cream Truck as a birthday present. "Really?!"

Catherine smiled and nodded. In an instant, Tommy leaped out of his mother's hold and wrapped his arms around my neck, catching me completely off guard as he exclaimed, "DADDY!" Of all of the possible scenarios I thought that moment could have gone, him bear hugging me was definitely not on that list.

His obvious strength surprised me as he was able to easily pull himself up and lock his legs around my stomach. "I knew you'd come home! I knew! I knew!"

I slowly brought my arms around his small body to hold him in place. Catherine smiled during the entire father-son reunion as she watched me gradually figure out how to act like a father.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Tommy asked, whispering into my ear.

"What?" I heard my voice say.

He placed his mouth really close to my ear and muttered, "Mommy missed you very bad."

Suddenly, I pressed my lips to his ear and whispered back, "You wanna hear a secret too?"

He pulled his head back and nodded, bringing his ear towards my mouth again.

"I've missed her too."

Suddenly, Tommy turned to look at Catherine. "Mommy, can I spend the day with Daddy tomorrow instead? I don't want my cheeks pinched by Aunt Heather like last time."

Catherine and I laughed as the boy touched his cheeks and Catherine said, "We'll see. It's getting late Tommy. You should have been asleep already. Come on, time for bed. This time, for real."

Before Catherine took him from me, I asked, "Can I put him to bed?"

"Sure." She smiled. "I'm going to go wake Heather. Okay?"

I nodded and she disappeared from the room.

"I don't wanna go to bed!" Tommy complained as I tucked him into bed.

"Think of it this way, kiddo, if you go to sleep now, you'll be able to be awake the entire day tomorrow."

"No nap?"

"I didn't say that," I laughed. "I'm just saying, the more you sleep tonight, the more you and I can spend time together. Deal?"

"Deal! Just one thing."

"What?"

"You're not going to have us spit on our hands and shake them like Uncle Jeet does, are you?" he asked, giving me a disgusted look.

I laughed, remembering JT and my old college handshake and replied, "Nah…that's an Uncle Jeet thing."

His lips formed the shape of an O before saying, "Goodnight Daddy."

"Goodnight kiddo." I ruffled his hair a little before leaving his room. I found Catherine talking with a very tired Heather as I made my way to the kitchen.

"See? I wasn't hallucinating." Catherine explained. "He's back."

"Okay…that's good. Glad you're home Vincent. Now that you've proven your point, Cat, I'm going back to bed. See you two in the morning." With that, she sluggishly walked to her room while Catherine and I laughed.

"She'll have a better reaction tomorrow." Catherine stated, subconsciously pulling me into her room.

"By the way, where did the name Uncle Jeet come from?"

"Well, Tommy tried to say Uncle JT but said Jeet instead. It sort of stayed afterwards."

I laughed, picturing JT as an uncle. Now that was something I have to see.

I couldn't help it when a wave of emotion overcame me as I realized I finally had everything I ever wanted—a family. And it was all due to that small vow I made fifteen years ago to keep Catherine Chandler safe at all costs. It's funny how things turn out. I realize, now, that it wasn't just me keeping Catherine safe. She was also keeping me safe. Muirfield was finally exposed and I can now live somewhat normally again. I know there will always be someone watching my back at every corner but that won't stop me from living my life again. I want to be the man who can provide for his family and that's what I plan on doing. Beast or no Beast.

"Catherine," I whispered as she closed her door.

"Hmmm?"

"Does Tommy…Is he anything like me?" I asked with worry. The last thing I wanted was for our child to have to face ridicule like I will now that I'm a free man.

"It's hard to explain…He has…transformed before but only when he thought I was in trouble. He was three when it first happened but he hasn't transformed fully since."

"What do you mean he hasn't transformed 'fully' since?" I asked, a little confused.

"Tommy, whenever he has a tantrum, he shows slight transformations. His nails would sometimes get longer and so would his teeth but other than that, nothing else happens."

"Ah." I said, understanding what she meant. "Well, I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on him as he gets older. I could tell he's pretty strong for his age."

"Yeah…something he also inherited from his father, among other things." She smiled.

"Who all knows about him?"

"My father, Brooke, Heather and my colleagues. No one else knows about him." She replied. "Come on, Vincent, it's late. We can play twenty questions in the morning. Okay?"

I nodded and she wrapped her arms around me afore bringing her lips to mine. Before we knew it, we were back to our positions when Tommy interrupted us. As I brushed my lips down her neck, she managed to lift my shirt over my shoulders before discarding it upon the floor. It was finally great to be wrapped in Catherine's arms again as she and I eventually melded our bodies together in perfect harmony.

"I love you, Vincent Keller." Catherine whispered as she pressed her lips against mine.

I gently pulled away and stared into her eyes as I muttered, "I love you too, Catherine. I love you too."

And our life together couldn't be any more perfect.

Keiko Fujiwara:

Not sure what to say about this chapter. I did like it for the most part but part of me thought it could be better. . Let me know what you thought!

Thank you so much for reading/alerting/reviewing/favoring Keep Me Safe. Unfortunately, I'm not planning a sequel for this one. But please be sure to read my other VinCat fanfiction Undercover Disaster if you haven't already!

Oh and if you didn't read the New Year's Eve one-shot, please do so! :D

Thank you and have a Happy New Year! :)