He had not intention of getting involved in the relationship that was to become between the two of them. Frederic goes every night and meets her after she gets off from work.
Later in the novel, Frederic is wounded badly and sent to an American hospital where Catherine works. Here Frederic finds a part of him he has never felt before, the ability to love. In these scenes at the hospital it becomes extremely evident that Frederic loves Catherine. Their relationship blossoms during this time that Frederic is away from the front, and progresses into a passionate love affair. After Frederic's recovery, he must return to the war front. During this time, Frederic indicates his zealous love for Catherine. He is heavily distracted at war with his love for Catherine. The turning point of the novel is when the Italian forces become very disordered and chaotic after a massive retreat from the Austrians and Germans and Frederic is forced to shoot an engineer sergeant under his command. In the confusion, he is arrested by the Italian military police for the crime of not being an Italian. Disgusted with the Army, and facing death, Frederic decides he has had enough war, and dives into the river to escape. Frederic feels as if there is no meaning for the war anymore, and deserts the army for Catherine and to escape execution. After swimming through the river to safety, Frederic boards a train to reunite with Catherine. After returning the hotel where Catherine is staying, they escape to Switzerland, and plan to marry after the baby is born. When Catherine goes into labor there are complications, and the doctor attempts a Cesarean section. She and her baby both die in childbirth. To Frederic her body is like a statue. He has not yet accepted that death is the end of everything. As Frederic walks back to his hotel he has not yet found a way to say goodbye to her, seemingly lost forever. Frederic learns that when trust is put into something, such as his love for Catherine, it can easily be defeated.
