Beauty & The Beast (Book 1)

91. Never Turn Back

(A/N: Season 1 Episode 22 -
"Never Turn Back")

Milltown was a quaint little town in the middle of New York City. One that looked plucked straight out of a 'Small Towns You Didn't Know Existed' review in some magazine.

There were pickup trucks with hay bales, market stalls next to the road, signs for an annual bake sale, kids with balloons, homes with the United States flag posted outside. Cowboy hats and friendly people.

"The latte was amazing," Cat smiles up at Vincent as they walk down the street, passing a mother and her son looking at some baked goods.

"Yeah." Vincent has his arm around her shoulders, enjoying the scenery.

"And a drive out of the city is always welcome," she sighs in contentment before she throws her empty cup in a trashcan in passing. "And who can resist rosy cheeked kids with cowboy hats?" She laughs and he start too, looking at the little boy she was talking about. "What are we doing out here?" she asks, smiling, holding onto him as they keep walking.

"Well, you always say how much you wish we could go on a normal date... and with meds still wearing off, there's no chance of me going agro just yet so...you know," he looks at a sign above them, "what better way than normal Milltown, New York? Population..." He looks around. "4 900?" Cat starts laughing at his thinking face. "Maybe?" He chuckles, shrugging.

They walk a few more steps and then he stops, bends down and picks a flower out of a bunch of flowers and hands it to her while he keeps walking, essentially stealing that flower and not giving a damn. He stops and kisses her before letting her drag him to the candy parlor she  spotted across the street.

"Wow, I know we're going for normal but is that stuff even edible?" he asks, eyeing the candyfloss with a skeptical wince.

"There's only one way to find out," she grins and shrugs.

He tries not to look constipated when he pays for just one.

Taking the stick from the girl who had rolled it, Vincent turns to Cat, the look in his eyes asking her if she's sure. She laughs a little and nods.
He pulls a piece from the balled up pillow candy and puts it in her mouth.

"Hm?" he hums in questions.

"Hm hm," she hums back and nods.

Vincent takes off another piece and puts it into his own mouth, chewing it like it's hot and making Cat laugh even more. The candyfloss melts on her tongue and she smiles up at him.

Vincent gives her a sticky, sweet kiss before he licks his lips, and stares at her happy, light face.
"I'm sorry this couldn't last longer," he whispers, one arm around her waist and one holding the candyfloss.

"We both knew that taking one little pill to suppress your grittier side was too good to be true."

"Yeah, one little pill that has one nasty side effect if I keep taking it," Vincent pulls off more candyfloss and eats it.

"I know you can't. And I would never want you to be hurt but - " She chokes and cuts off.

"But it's nice to dream for a few hours," he smiles sadly and she nods, agreeing with this. He kisses her again, slower, and more of a lament to the conversation they just had.

****

JT is busy checking blood samples when Vincent walks into the library, throwing his cap and jacket on the leather couch, before he lays down.

"You're not gonna believe this..." JT lifts his glasses to look in the lens of the microscope. "Kafka would be impressed."

Vincent groans tiredly and sighs, shifting so he is on his back. "Why? What is unbelievable JT?"