AN: Again, I must apologize for the slight hiatus. I hit a massive writer's block on this chapter, and I couldn't figure out where to go with it. But here it is, at long last, the final chapter! Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 8: Test of Friendship

"So… That's everything."

Catherine sat back. She felt exhausted but she had finally done it. After all those years, after all the excuses and cover stories and secrets, she had finally told her friends about her other life.

There had been questions, some she was happy to answer and others that Peter had to explain because she hadn't been present, but now all she could do was let the information sink in. Though she hoped it wouldn't be too much longer.

"So… All this time, you've been protecting some secret community underneath the city?" Nancy asked, still trying to make sense of it all.

"And despite all these people living there, no one has ever heard of it, or even known it was there?" Jenny added with an equally skeptical tone.

Catherine nodded. "It was made for those who can no longer live Above. There are many reasons. Some cannot find work or have been abandoned. Many are victims of terrible crimes, unable to seek justice for the wrong done to them." She turned to look at Joe. He'd been the one who'd been quiet throughout the whole thing. He'd interject a few times when Gabriel and Moreno had been brought up, but otherwise he'd kept his thoughts to himself.

It was his silence that bothered Catherine the most. She knew that look on his face. She'd seen it many times when they had worked together. It was a look Joe got when a particularly troublesome case was bothering him. One that made him question what he had been taught, and what he believed was right.

It was Nancy's hand on hers that drew Catherine back to the conversation. "I wish you'd told us sooner. It sounds like such a wonderful place."

"It is, it truly is." Catherine smiled. "I wanted to tell you all, to share that part of my life. But I hope you now understand why I couldn't."

"In a way but…" Jenny was hesitant, conflict clear on her face. "I guess I can't totally blame you for it. Though I'm still a little mad you had this mystery guy on top of this secret world of yours. You know it's law that all men must be screened by your friends?"

"Believe me Jen, I wanted nothing more than for you all to meet Vincent," Catherine said with a slight laugh in her voice. "Though I admit the idea of all of us getting together over lunch wouldn't be possible, at least, not at our usual spots. I couldn't even take him on a weekend getaway to my family's cabin back then."

"That wasn't your fault," Peter interrupted. "We were all too protective of him. Sometimes I wished I'd been around more to help with that."

"Peter."

"Now Cathy, we've already been over this, and we've already used up a good portion of the night," he added, turning towards the group. "Plus, I imagine it's about time for you to be getting back. It has been over an hour since you were with your baby, am I right?"

"Peter, how did you–"

The elder man chuckled. "Honey, you're not the first I've seen with that look. Your mother wasn't very good at hiding her discomfort either."

Catherine felt her face flush. The conversation had taken a little longer than expected. Already she felt the uncomfortable pressure in her breasts as the time passed for her baby's nightly feeding. She had thought delaying a little longer would be fine. Sadly, both her maternal instinct and the Bond were telling her that she needed to get to her son very soon, making the pressure she felt unbearable. She was only glad she had chosen to wear one of her Tunnel gowns inside of her Above attire.

"You're not leaving now, are you?" Joe pressured. "I've still got some questions."

"Really Joe, we've asked enough questions for one night; the rest can wait," Nancy butted in. Having two children herself, she knew the particular nature of her friend's discomfort was rather embarrassing. "Cathy needs to get home, and we should be heading out ourselves."

"It's alright, and this actually might be for the best." She turned to Peter and he gave an approving nod. "I know it's late, and you still have more questions, but I think they may best be answered if you were to come with me."

Joe gave a skeptic look. "What do you mean?"

"In addition to being allowed to tell you of the Tunnel Community, you've all been invited to come Below," Catherine explained, "and meet my family."

Of course, Jenny and Nancy were a mix of shock and thrilled. They were eager to see this strange subterranean world and to finally meet Catherine's mystery man. Joe, however, kept a more stoic attitude. He of course wanted to see all this for himself. The truth of it was that he still had a hard time believing all that Catherine claimed. Sure, it certainly answered some of the questions surrounding his former partner's life, but apart of him had a hard time accepting it.

An entire community living below the city of New York without anyone knowing about them. How would that even be possible? Then there was this mysterious Vincent. The way Catherine had described him. It was just, well, it was more something out of a science fiction movie. A man with the face and hands of a lion? Was she serious? And because of these differences, it not only prevented him from being accepted into society; it was also what allowed him to save Catherine on multiple occasions.

But how could he allow some vigilante to just take the law into his own hands?

One thing he knew was that Catherine trusted him. He could never break that trust, yet he also couldn't stand by while the law was all but blatantly ignored. As the group got up to follow Peter, Joe made a decision.

He just wasn't sure if he would be able to bring himself to arrest his friend's husband.

XXX

There wasn't much talking. There was just too much to absorb to ask anything.

Nancy and Jenny were in awe of the Tunnels. It was a completely different world. The carved stone pathways, some that formed naturally over the years. Then there was the old world feeling. Even Joe hated to admit that it was rather impressive. They met a few of the residents as they entered into the main hub. Some of them Joe thought he might recognize from when he used to visit the local shelters.

Meanwhile, Catherine was having trouble walking. Her breasts were becoming incredibly sore, making the walk almost unbearable. She could feel her shirt beginning to dampen when Mary appeared. She made a quick introduction before Mary explained that Vincent awaited Catherine in their chamber with their baby. Catherine quickly apologized, promising she would rejoin the group in Father's library before the two ladies hurried down another tunnel.

"I hope Cathy will be okay," Jenny whispered as the group continued on their way.

"Don't worry," Nancy assured her. "Just apart of being a mother."

"Still, that woman practically carted her off. I just…"

Nancy laughed. "Jen, when you have a baby and start breastfeeding, you'll understand or risk soaking several shirts and bras." Jenny blushed and gave her friend a small shove despite her poor attempts at hiding a snicker herself.

"Well everyone, we've arrived." Peter gestured for them to enter.

One-by-one they filed their way into the study. The first thing that met their eyes was the mountain of chaotically organized books. Their attention was only recaptured at the sound of a gentle voice. They turned to find an elderly man at a table reading a children's book, sitting in a patched chair. His graying hair made the glasses on his nose stand out, giving him a kind grandfatherly appearance, which was only enhanced by the two small children seated on his lap. Their focus was rapt up in the story, their twin golden heads following along.

"Me gobbling up human beans! This I never!" the old man proclaimed in his best voice, which sounded much like a bad British accent. "The others, yes! All the others is gobbling them up every night, but not me! I is a freaky Giant! I is a nice and jumbly Giant! I is the only nice and jumbly Giant in Giant Country! I is THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT! I is the BFG."

The little ones laughed. "Grandpa, you silly," the girl giggled.

"What you means, girl? I is having no idea what you is talking about," he replied, doing his best to remain in character.

"Nice to see you haven't lost your sense of humor, old friend."

Father looked up to see Peter with three unfamiliar faces. He set the book aside, asking the children to stand so he could greet their guests. He took up his cane, the children following behind him as he walked over to the group.

"Peter, I am glad to see you were able to bring our guests, though you're rather late."

"My fault, I'm afriad. We lost track of the time, but I hope you'll still humor us with a visit."

"Yes well, not much choice, is there?" Father turned to address the others. "Thank you all for coming. Catherine has spoken highly of each of you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Father, the patriarch of our community."

"Joe Maxwell, and this is Nancy and Jenny. It's nice to meet you." Father shook each of their hands in turn.

Suddenly, Joe's eyes widened. "Hey! I know you," he stated. "You were the old man who'd asked if anyone else had perished in the boat explosion during the Burch investigation."

"I see you still remember me, Mr. Maxwell." Father said. "Though we were never formally introduced, we've met once before, a brief encounter, but one I shall not soon forget."

"Oh yay! The McCarthy blacklist doctor we arrested few years back. That was you?"

"I'm sure you have many questions, but you've all walked such a long way, and must be tired," Father interrupted. "Please, have a seat, and we can all be better aquatinted."

"Uh, forgetting something?" Petter chuckled as he indicated toward the two sets of blue eyes peeking out from behind Father's coat.

Looking down, Father smiled. "Well children, didn't you want to meet these nice people?" he asked gently. "You pleaded countlessly and it is well past the time when all the other children have gone to sleep."

Peter leaned closer to Catherine's friends, whispering, "The twins aren't usually so shy, but given they were worried about your visit, it's understandable."

"Why would they be worried?" Jenny asked. "We've never met them before."

"Jen…" Nancy placed her hand on her shoulder before saying, "They-They're, I think they're Cathy's."

Jenny took another look at the children. In that moment she saw the similarities. The hair color may be blonde and they both had eyes of blue, but both faces were all Catherine.

Joe was shocked as well. Despite his prior knowledge of Catherine's pregnancy and the abduction of her son, he had never officially met her children. He had tried to ask Catherine to bring them along to their meetings but she always refused. He walked over to Father and crouched down so he was eye level with the children.

"So… I guess you're Jacob, huh?" he asked, earning a nod from the boy.

"How you know my name, mister?" he asked, his little lisp making the girls awe.

Joe chuckled. "Well, you don't know me, but I know you because your mom used to work for me. And I was in charge of the rescue mission when you and your mom went missing."

"Oh! You helped Aunt Tasha find us when the bad man took me and Mommy," Jacob replied.

"Yeah, that's right. Sorry I didn't get there sooner, though I heard you were very brave," Joe added. "Your mom told me about how you protected her. And she said that you made sure your sister was safe when the bad guys came." Then he turned to the other child. "So I guess that makes you Rosie, right? Gotta say, you sure do look a lot like your momma, little lady."

Rosie bowed her head to hide behind a curtain of hair. "Th-Thank you Mr. Joe."

"Oh my, she's precious!" Nancy whispered to Jenny. Her friend nodded and together they walked over to join Joe. "Hi there, I'm Nancy."

"And I'm Jenny. We're very happy to meet you both."

"Hi." The twins remained behind their grandfather.

"Children, why don't we let our guests sit down so we can all get to know one another better?" Father suggested. He was amused how they clung to him but it was staring to make him unbalanced, and his hip was acting up from the strain. "Peter, why not see if we can have some refreshments. I believe William is still up."

"Good idea." However, as Peter was making his way out, Peter yelped and jumped back. All eyes turned as a gray blur ran across the floor.

"What is that?!" Jenny screamed.

Father stood, his face red, and shouted, "Confound it! I told that boy a million times he needs to keep that thing on a leash!"

Joe searched the room when a raccoon hopped up onto the table. "Everyone get back!"

"Someone do something before it bites!" Jenny screamed.

Jacob and Rosie only laughed. "Sillies. Don't be scared," Rosie said. She moved away from her brother to approach the table. She held out her small arms to the raccoon and called, "Come here, boy!"

Without hesitation, the raccoon leapt into her arms. Rosie stumbled a bit before successfully cuddling the critter to her chest as if it were a large cat.

"Whoa, kid, put that thing down before it gives you rabies!" Joe warned, ready to jump should the creature harm the child.

"It's quite alright, Mr. Maxwell, he's harmless," Father said as he walked to his granddaughter's side. "This raccoon is a companion of one of our residents. Unfortunately, as you can see, the boy does not keep him on a leash."

"You mean that thing is a…pet?!"

Almost as if summoned, a young man with sandy blonde hair tumbled in with a frightful look on his face. On his shoulder was another larger, and slightly older raccoon. "Sorry Father, but…" He spotted Rosie cradling the raccoon. "There you are!"

He shuffled over and wagged his finger. "Naughty Pip. Know better than go without Mouse. Not suppose to leave Mouse, remember?"

Father sighed. "Just keep a better handle on the kit next time, Mouse." Mouse took the raccoon from Rosie and placed him in Mouse's arms. "He nearly gave our guests quite the scare."

"Guests? Oh! Catherine's friends." He turned around and took note of the three strangers. "Come see Catherine, yes? Sorry. Pip young, Arther's brother. Not good staying still. Not like Arthur. Needs more training. Promise, much better next visit."

"N-No problem," Jenny said, eyes never leaving the raccoons. Nancy remained behind her, keeping her distance. Neither one could believe that this young man had not one but two raccoons perched on his shoulders.

Mouse smiled. "Okay good. Okay fine." Then he left as soon as he came in.

After the excitement, everyone joined Father at the table. Peter managed to get some muffins and coffee from the kitchen, returning with Mary in tow. She tried to take the children to the Nursery but they refused, wanting to wait for their parents. Thinking it wouldn't be too long before Catherine and Vincent arrived, Father allowed it, to which Jacob and Rosie planted themselves on his lap. However, they fell asleep within the first few minutes.

They then spent the next twenty minutes with introductions and question answering. Father gave a brief history of how their world was founded. Joe had been surprised to learn the founder had also been behind a hallucinatory drug ring his department had tried to bust in the past. Joe wanted to ask more questions, but Jenny and Nancy were too quick in their own questioning. His curiosity to know more the way in which people were able to live without being detected kept him from speaking up.

"So you see, without our Helpers and the rules we've established, we would not be able to live apart from the world Above," Father finished.

"It's just all so amazing," Jenny said. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."

"It is a lot to ask, but I do hope we can trust all of you to keep our secret," Father added. "Surely you can understand why we must insist."

"You certainly have my word," Nancy stated. "This place is too important, and just incredible. I wish it weren't so late or I'd ask for a tour."

"Yeah, it is a little late," Jenny noted. "Speaking of late, shouldn't Cathy have been back by now?"

"Ha. You know Radcliffe, always running late," Joe teased.

"Still, I'd didn't think she'd be this long. Where is she?"

"I'm right here, Jen." All eyes turned to the top of the stairwell. Jenny being closer could make out two figures standing at the entrance. One was Catherine, smiling before turning to the person a few steps behind her.

Jenny couldn't help but shiver. The person at Catherine's side remained in the shadows, but she could see that the person wore a cloak to conceal their face. The scene reminded her of the frightening dream she'd had in which Catherine had been enveloped by darkness. She watched as Catherine tried to coax the other person forward with no luck. She whispered something before walking over to the stairs.

As Catherine walked down, it could be seen she carried a small bundle in one arm. "Sorry about that," she apologized. "My little man was more hungry that I thought."

Father chuckled, careful not to wake the children. "Reminds me of Vincent at that age. Once he started eating properly, it was as though there was never enough to sustain his appetite."

Jenny and Nancy were the first to rise as Catherine approached to give Father a side hug. They couldn't see the baby's face past the blankets, and Catherine cradled him so close, it was like she was purposely trying to hide her child.

Meanwhile, Catherine was smiling at the sight of her older children sleeping on their grandfather's lap. She also noted how uncomfortable Father looked, though he tried not to show it. "Sorry Father. Vincent and I will take them back to our chamber after everyone goes home."

"Not to worry, my dear. Nothing I can't handle." He chuckled through a grunt. "By the way, where is Vincent? I thought the two of you were coming together?"

"He's here, he just thought it might be easier if everyone met our youngest son first," she explained, giving her bundle a gentle pat before turning to address her friends. "I tried to convince him otherwise, but he's as stubborn as ever." She couldn't help the smirk as she felt her husband's response through the Bond.

Catherine then looked at her friends before saying, "Would you like to meet the newest addition to my family?"

Nancy was the first to move. She approached her friend's side and peered down at the tiny being. She gasped, unable to believe the sight before her. The babe was more like a kitten that a newborn child. The flat nose and furry face, and the thick patch of hair atop his little head. She looked to Cathy, noting the mother's pride and the tiny hint of worry; the hope for approval as her friend took in her child's unique appearance.

"Oh Cathy…" Nancy looked once more at the baby. The tiny one yawned and blinked his eyes before turning to look right at her. Nancy was frozen. For a baby so young, his gaze was intense. He had piercing emerald eyes like his mother, capturing her full attention.

"Would you like to hold him?" Nancy nodded as Catherine placed her son into her friend's arms.

Nancy's motherly instincts took over as she gently cradled the baby. Tears sprung to her eyes. "He's perfect."

The statement made Catherine release the breath she had been holding, tears stinging her eyes as she watched one of her closest friends coo and fuss over her baby.

She looked up to see how Jenny and Joe would react. It seemed that curiosity had finally overtaken them at Nancy's statement. Jenny crowded around to get a better look at the tiny baby.

"Oh my!" Jenny gasped. "Wow! I mean, Cathy, just… Wow!"

"I do hope that's a good wow, Jen," Catherine teased.

"I just, I… I-I just don't know what to say," she said. "Help me out here, Nance."

"Oh Jenny, don't be mean. How can you not just adore such a sweet little baby." Nancy brushed her finger over the baby's nose. She turned to Catherine with a smirk. "You owe me several play dates, you know?"

"Anytime, just make sure to let me know when you and the kids are in town."

Nancy nodded before looking down at the baby again. "What do you think? Would you like to meet my kids, little…little, umm…" She quickly looked to Catherine for help. "Uh, what's his name?"

"I'm afraid the parents have yet to reveal that," Father interrupted, beaming with a a mischievous smile. "We have a tradition where a child born Below is given a Naming Ceremony. The community brings the child gifts and then the parents announce the name. Until then, the name is kept secret, even from grandfathers."

"Oh how fun! When is it? I'll make sure we'll all be here for it. Oh, of course, if it's okay to bring my family?" Nancy looked at Father pleadingly.

"We're having it a week from tomorrow," Catherine stated, knowing already the Council approved Nancy's family. "We wanted to wait for the whole family to be there. I'm already in trouble with my sister-in-law for having the baby before she got back from her honeymoon."

"Wait, sister-in-law?" Jenny turned on Catherine with a playful smirk. "You telling me your mystery man had a brother and you didn't let me know first?"

"Sorry Jen." Catherine chuckled. "Though, to be fair, I don't think you and Devin could last five minutes without killing each other."

She then turned her focus on Joe, but to her surprise, he was nowhere to be found.

"Hey, where's Joe?"

XXX

Joe couldn't stop moving. He didn't know where exactly he was going but he couldn't stop. He encountered no one in the strange tunnels, but Catherine had told him of the sentries who watched for intruders. He didn't really care though. He just needed to be alone for a moment. His thoughts swarmed like a hornets nest. He couldn't think straight.

Voices ahead alerted him that he was no longer alone. Joe looked up to see a man and woman with a young boy. The man's face looked familiar. Before he could figure out how, something bummed into his leg. Looking down, Joe caught sight of a little blonde girl running past him. She couldn't be much older than Catherine's twins.

"You get back here!" A woman with the same blonde hair came, and looking around three months pregnant, running around the corner. She spotted Joe first. "I'm so sorry, sir. I hope my daughter didn't cause any trouble."

"N-No problem, miss." Another person came around the corner. He instantly went to the woman, placing a hand on her shoulder and hip.

"Lena, let me get her," he said gently, the hand on her hip moving to her swollen belly. "Father said you should rest, remember?"

The woman, Lena, laughed. "Nothing I can't handle, but if you insist, go chase her down." After stealing a kiss, Lena turned to Joe and said, "Sorry again," before disappearing back down the tunnel.

The man turned to Joe. "First time Below, huh?"

"Yeah, how'd you…"

"Suit's a dead giveaway, man," the stranger said, "and you don't seem to know you're way around. What brings you Below?"

"Seeing an old friend," Joe answered stiffly, hoping he didn't sound conspicuous. "But I really need to be going."

"Hey Rollie! Isn't it past this little lady's bedtime?" someone called in a teasing tone, cutting Joe off.

"Thanks Kanin. I'm coming." The man then turned back to Joe. "Sorry, that's my cue. Her momma will kill me if Cathy stays up any later." With that he walked down to the family Joe spotted earlier. The man was handed the blonde girl from before. He said something Joe couldn't hear before tossing the girl up into the air, earning laugh from the toddler.

Joe quickly sidestepped down the other tunnel during the distraction. He wasn't sure how long he had walked when he heard a loud, thundering sound. He followed it into a large cavern where, to his surprise, he found himself staring at a massive waterfall. He couldn't believe his eyes! How could something this extraordinary be beneath New York City?

Joe walked to the edge of the waters and found a large rock to sit on. He needed time to absorb everything.

There was so much to take in, but the worst part is that he couldn't even take the time to fully enjoy this strange world. Perhaps back in his earlier days as an ADA he would've been able to appreciate the mystery of this place. However, he was now the District Attorney for the Borough of Manhattan, and he had a job to do.

He had just learned that many of the people living down here were hiding from the law, the law he had sworn to uphold. Catherine's own husband was guilty of murder. How could he not report this? How had Catherine not reported this years ago; how had she kept this all a secret?

Now she was asking him to keep that same secret. He cared about Catherine, and he wanted to protect her. But how could he consent to this?

"What am I gonna do?"

Joe startled. Something had made a sound. A skipping rock, perhaps? He turned around, his hand began reaching for his gun, only for him to recall that Catherine had made him leave it at home before their meeting. Not wanting the other person to think they had the upper hand, Joe adjusted himself to a defensive position.

Joe looked closer into the shadows. Something moved. "Alright, who's there?"

"It's me." Joe relaxed as Catherine came into view. She was alone. "How'd you find me?" he asked.

"Sentries spotted you on the pipes," she explained a little too quickly. "Gotta say, little surprised you made it all the way to the Falls." She walked over to the side until she stood at the water's edge. "This is one of may favorite places Below."

"Yeah, I can see why." Joe felt an awkward silence fall over them. "Look, I umm… I'm sorry for rushing out like that. I just, I mean… Everything you've told me, everything I've seen. Then your kid– Wait! I didn't mean it like–"

Catherine held up her hand. When she put it back down, Joe could feel the tension in the room. He walked up to her side. Neither one of the spoke nor looked at each other for several minutes.

Joe finally couldn't take it. "Look, Radcliffe, I…"

"Joe, I get it. What I'm asking of you, it's a lot," she said firmly, "but please, I need you to understand why it is so important that you do."

"This place is pretty amazing," he admitted, turning his gaze back to the Falls. "Sure is saving a lot of people from the streets, but… But you said yourself, lot of them are hiding from the law, the law I sore to uphold when I took office. Not to mention I find out one of my best ADA's knew about it, and kept it secret for over three years. Don't forget throw in a vigilante who took out a lot of criminals, but still killed them. I can't just let that go."

Catherine sighed heavily. "This is exactly why I never wanted you to know. What I was afraid of happening if you found out the truth."

Her words stung but Joe knew she was right. Now he knew why she'd always been so secretive about her private life. Why she never spoke much about her new life after he learned she was alive. But he could never have imagined this.

"Cathy, I... I can't just take a backseat this time," he tried to argue. "You think I wanna be the bad guy? What-What do you want me to do?"

"I'm asking you to keep our secret," she pleaded, trying to make him understand. "Think about what you'd be doing. If you expose this place, you'd take away these peoples' home, their very lives. They'll be back on the street with nowhere else to go."

"There's shelters."

"Don't give me that! You and I know the system isn't perfect. We've both been in the field, myself more times than I probably should have. I've got the scars to prove it. But this place is the only thing keeping everyone here alive where the laws up there have failed them."

"Cathy, we have the laws for a reason," Joe countered, finally turning to look at her. "Now, I'm sorry it hasn't always worked out, and hell knows I've seen the system fail countless times. Look what happened to you! You got kidnapped and nearly killed twice because a highly-influential crime boss, not to mention biggest drug trafficker on the East Coast managed to get the police department in his pocket. When the voters put me in charge, I swore I wasn't gonna let what Moreno did happen to me. I've been doing all I can to uphold the law. And now here you are asking me to keep quiet about all this, going against everything I stand for?"

"And what do you suppose will happen to my husband, Joe? If you expose this place you expose him to the world," Catherine argued. She turned with such a deathly glare in her eyes that Joe had to take a step back.

"It won't be the same for him. I've seen what happens when he's been seen Above, Joe. He's been beaten, abused; treated like some kind of wild animal because no one up there will accept him. I've watched glory-seeking scientists rob him of his humanity in some righteous pursuit of science. Time and again he has had to protect everyone, sometimes at the cost of taking a life because Above has shown him nothing but madness and blood.

"There have been so many times our two worlds fought to keep us apart. I tried to convince myself that all the limits were worth it, even to where I almost stayed apart from him forever because I knew the danger he'd been in if he and the Tunnels were ever discovered. And now… I just got him back. We have a family, we have a life!"

Catherine took a moment to compose herself. She rubbed her sleeve over her eyes before speaking. "Now we risk loosing it all. I've lost him too many times to count; I won't loose him again. I will make damn sure that nothing will separate my family again."

"The law is the law. I can't change that," Joe pleaded.

"You'll have to arrest me. I'm just as guilty, if not more so." Catherine squared her jaw as she stepped nose to nose with him. "Every one of all my cases traces him, remember? Each time I filed false reports. I claimed I never knew who saved me, never saw what happened, all my information from an anonymous source. Do want to add 'aiding and abetting' and 'accessory after the fact' as well? Because I've done that too!"

Joe flinched. She was right, she had broken the law too. What was worse was that Catherine had been a law enforcement officer at the time. She had to give full statements of all her cases. Instead, she could be facing charges of misprision of a felony for assisting a criminal avoid detection, arrest and prosecution. She'd be lucky to get the three years and a fine, but given everything else, who knows how long her jail sentencing would be

If he went ahead and reported this, the people would be forced back out onto the streets, if not jailed for those who were evading the law. Then there was the children to consider.

He thought about the little girl and boy he'd seen before. If there were more children down here, then all of them would need to be taken into foster care. Then there was also Catherine's children.

With Cathy locked up, they'd probably be sent to foster care with the other children. Well, the twins might because they looked normal, but her baby? Joe still could not fathom that such a child could be real. To think that was a human baby, Catherine's baby no less. How was this even possible? Some genetic deformity or birth defect? He just couldn't grasp this child looked the way he did. Joe thought again of Catherine's older children. They had looked so, well, they looked normal. How could it be that those children were completely normal while the baby was more like an alien life form? And if that was only a baby, then what did that say about the father?

But still, despite all that, he couldn't just ignore it all. Could he?

Joe's thoughts were swarming around as he fought for what needed to be done. He looked up to find pleading green eyes staring into his own. A pain of guilt cut him as he looked at her. Part of him hated that he was having these thoughts, but how was he supposed to react? He knew he couldn't tell her the truth because she would never forgive him. But to ask him to accept something like this, on top of everything he learned; it was all becoming too much.

"Cathy, I…I…" Joe let out a deep, mournful sigh. "I can't. I just…can't."

"What are you saying …"

"I'm saying is that I can't take all this," he confessed. He turned to meet her with a cold eye. "This isn't something I can just turn a blind eye to. By law, this whole place should be shut down, even with all the good it's done."

Catherine felt a chill creep into her. Her fears were becoming real. Every word was like a blow, and it only furthered the danger Catherine knew would come in all this.

"However." Catherine looked up in surprise. "Even I know the rules have to be bent sometimes," he said. "Cathy, right now I can tell you I won't be saying a word about it. I haven't seen a lot, so there's not much to say even if someone asked."

"Joe?"

He sighed, choosing his words carefully. "If word got out the District Attorney was covering up a whole underground city, it'd get the public in an uproar. You know people only care about headlines."

"So… What will you do?"

"I… I need time, Cath." Joe turned to here then. The pain in his eyes was awful. "Safe to say you were right all along. This kind of secret isn't one for someone in my position. So I'm gonna step back. As far as I see it, this is all just a bad dream, a ghost story. And as far as the world up there is concerned, Catherine Chandler is dead and buried. So she'll stay that way, even to me."

Catherine didn't know what to say. It all sounded perfect. The people of the World Below would remain as always, and Vincent would be protected. But then why did Joe sound so grim as he spoke? What wasn't he telling her?

"This is where we part ways, kid."

"What?"

"Just point me the way out, and I'll not bother you again," Joe said. "I'll go back to my old life. The one where you died and your case remained unsolved. I'll have to cut off ties with Jenny and Nancy too, so everything will be like none of this happened."

"Joe, you can't mean–"

"It's gotta be. I can't let something like this go, at least not right now. You knew it from the start. I was gonna loose you either way. I'd rather it be on terms where we can still be somewhat friends."

"Joe…"

He gave a forced chuckle. "Hell, who knows? Maybe we'll meet again. Like years down when I'm retired and don't have to worry about blowing your secret." There was a ghost of smile on Joe's face. "It's funny but… I always did wanna meet the guy who managed to catch your eye. Guess I still got some waiting to do."

Catherine's eyes flashed back toward the Tunnels. "You still… I mean, if you wanted…"

"Noway Radcliffe. Best I leave now. After all, I can't arrest someone I've never seen, right?"

Catherine was holding back the tears. He was really going through with this. Joe had always been the one to follow the rules. There were times where she had to twist his arms just to even bend them a little. Now he was throwing it out the window. Though at what cost?

But Joe just smiled. "I-I'm sure gonna miss you."

Catherine took a breath. "I'll show you to the exit."

They walked in silence. Joe kept his gaze on the ground, keeping Catherine in his peripheral so not to get lost. He wanted to make sure he didn't see anything else. When they arrived, Joe turned around while Catherine tripped the circuit to open the door. They stepped through and stopped just outside the park entrance. It was time to say goodbye.

Unable to help herself, Catherine slipped her arms around him, trying not to cry.

Meanwhile Joe was gripping her tight. He hated to do this, but what other choice did he have? Sure he could probably keep it all secret. He could hang it all, walk right back to that strange library, meet Cathy's husband and have a good time, maybe even become "Uncle Joe" to the kids.

He hugged her one last time. Turning slightly, he whispered, "Goodbye Catherine."

Just like that, he stepped out into the night, never looking back.

Catherine didn't know how long she remained there. She didn't even notice as Vincent stepped from the shadows behind her. He eased her back into the tunnel, pressing the lever to close the secret door. All the while Catherine could not turn her gaze away. She didn't resist as she was taken into her husband's arms, finally allowing herself to cry.

Vincent's heart broke for her.

He had been there all along, of course. He was the first to see Joe run from he room. Not wanting him to get lost, Vincent tracked him, keeping in the shadows so not to startle the man. However, when he had found him hiding in the Chamber of the Falls, he had every intention of confronting the man. Only Catherine appeared behind him, and told him to wait while she spoke with her friend. He never imagined that the night's events would lead to this.

When Catherine had no more tears, she moved so her cheek pressed against her husband's sweater. She inhaled his familiar musky, candle smoke scent. IT calmed her though her heart still ached at the loss of her friend.

"I am truly sorry, Catherine," Vincent whispered into her hair. "I wish… I wish there was something…"

"Don't." Catherine moved to look up at him. "Joe made this choice. I have to respect it." She nestled herself back into his embrace. "He won't reveal our secret."

"I see why you felt he and I would have been friends," Vincent continued. "Though we may never officially meet, from what I saw of him tonight and his past deeds that helped us in more ways then he'll ever know; he would have been a welcomed friend to our world."

"Maybe it will happen," Catherine replied optimistically.

Vincent held her a little tight for a few minutes longer. Finally, he spoke, "Come. We must return to the others before they worry further."

"Jenny will give him hell tomorrow," Cather stated, letting her husband lead her back toward the library. "May take all night to convince her otherwise. Might need Nancy's help, if she isn't the same once we tell them. Hoe much you wanting to bet Father will probably never stop worrying about whether Joe will tell someone?"

"He may worry. It's been his greatest fear for anyone who learns of our community. But I know we can trust that our future is secure for now. And as you've said"

"Whatever happens. Whatever comes." Catherine slowed till she and Vincent stopped. Her eyes were still wet with tears, but she was finally showing a hint of a smile.

Vincent pressed his forehead to hers. Waves of love and strength passed through their Bond. For now, they would not worry. It had been with a heavy heart that Joe had left their circle, but Vincent was grateful he had done it out of protection for someone he cared deeply about. For the woman he had never stopped loving.

Thank you, Joe Maxwell. I do hope we meet again one day… And on that day, we may call the other…friend.

The End

AN: It's over! I wanna thank CosmicHorse for helping me finally put this baby to bed.

I do think I should explain, as I imagine a lot of you might be disappointed I had to cut out Joe. I just couldn't see him being apart of the Tunnels while he was DA. Watch enough Law and Order and you see what the District Attorney has to be burdened with. So sadly, Joe had to part ways, but he saw it that he either cut himself out of Catherine's life to keep her safe, or put the law first and loose her forever.

I do hope you enjoyed this story. As always, reviews are lovely, and thank you for letting me share my stories with you.