I own nothing. I wrote this before I saw the episode where Natalie and Brody's wedding goes down in flames and Brody kidnapped another kid that wasn't his. Honestly, was I the only one who thought all this talk about Brody being such a good guy was a bunch of crap? Anyway, I decided Natalie needed some time to herself and asked an old friend to help her escape. Also the pilot is another old friend, but he's using his given name instead of his nickname.

-d-d-d-d-d-

Natalie Buchanan Laurence Vega Banks,almost Lovett, entered Llanfair through the kitchen with her son in her arms. She crept up the stairs to her room as quietly as she could. She didn't spare a thought as to how ridiculous she must look trying to be sneaky in her wedding dress.

"Shh, it's okay, Liam," Natalie quieted the baby as she put him down on her bed when he began to fuss. "Mommy just has to change, and then we can go. I know today's been weird and confusing, but I promise it's going to get better for us. We just need a little break."

Liam occupied himself by playing with his toes while Natalie took off her dress and threw it into a corner. One of her fondest wishes was to never see it again. She yanked the pins out of her hair, letting the intricate hairstyle Roxy had grudgingly put in her hair fall around her shoulders. Then she pulled it back into a ponytail. One trip into her closet had her outfitted in a tank top and track outfit. She was about to pick up Liam and sneak back out the way she came when the phone rang. She froze.

Her father was downstairs as he was still under house arrest and would pick up the phone. She had no doubts as to who was on the other end.

Her mother did not know how to give up.

Natalie looked at Liam, who was nodding off on the bed, and then slipped from the room and down the hall to the top of the stairs.

"….you talking about, Viki? Why would Natalie be here?...What do you mean the wedding didn't happen?...What? Well, I haven't heard a thing. …Viki, just hold on a minute. Natalie could have come in the back and snuck up the kitchen stairs. I'll check her room as soon as I put Ryder in the nursery. Stay with me."

Natalie quickly went back into her room and scooped up her sleeping baby. She listened at the door. She heard her father trudge up the stairs and go into the nursery before she slipped out of her room and back down the stairs. She was out the backdoor before the nursery door shut so Ryder could sleep, peacefully unaware that his aunt's life had just taken a nosedive.

Natalie was making her way towards her car when her brother's car came screaming down the driveway. She hid behind a tree and prayed that Rex and Shane hadn't seen her. She'd call them later.

"….car's here. She's probably inside," Rex was saying as he and Shane went towards the front door.

"Dad, Aunt Nat's gonna be okay, right?"

"I hope so, Buddy," Rex shook his head as he rang the bell and waited for admittance.

Once Clint let them in, Natalie darted for her car and strapped Liam in. Then she got behind the wheel and drove them away.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Victoria Lord Gordon Riley Burke Buchanan Carpenter Davidson Banks stared at Jessica in shock as they stood in the back of the church.

"I don't believe this," she said slowly. "How could you let it get this far, Jessica?"

"Mom," Jessica Buchanan Santi Vega Brennan Ford Wentworth began. "Please just listen to me."

"Listen to you? Listen to you say what? Tell me how this wasn't revenge for Brody turning to Natalie?"

"Mom, how could you think that?"

"How can I think that? Jessica, you had more than enough time to reveal the truth, and yet you continually remained silent. If Bree hadn't given that test to John, Natalie would be married right now."

"But she's not. Was she at the house?"

"No," Viki shook her head. "Your father didn't find her, but he did find evidence of her. Her wedding dress was laying in a heap in her bedroom. Rex saw her car when he and Shane pulled up. They think she snuck in and out of the house because by the time they looked again, it was gone."

"She's not at Roxy's," Bo Buchanan announced as he walked into the discussion between his former sister-in-law and niece. "But Roxy's staying there just in case Natalie shows up."

"What about her apartment with Brody?" Viki asked.

"I sent an officer over. There's no sign of her," Bo shook his head.

"What about the Palace or Grandpa's house?" Jessica put in.

"Renee hasn't seen her. I had Nigel go over Pa's house with a fine toothed comb. She's not there."

"What about the Minute Man or even the BE offices?" Viki asked. "It's a Sunday, the building would be empty."

"Got someone checkin' there, the hotel, and even the Banner offices," Bo nodded.

"And Brody?" Jessica asked tentatively.

"After taking a swing at John, he's sitting in the preacher's office icing the black eye Natalie gave him."

"John?" Viki ventured.

"He took off a minute ago when he found out Natalie was MIA. Did you talk to Clint?"

"We're fairly certain Natalie was at the house, but no one saw her go in or out," Viki shook her head.

"Great. What a mess," Bo shook his head. "I'm gonna call Highway Patrol and have them keep an eye out for her car. Maybe we can get a lead on where she's gone."

"Has anyone tried to call her?" Jessica asked.

"Roxy said she won't pick up the phone," Bo shook his head again. "And Rex hasn't gotten through either. I don't know if John's tried yet. I know Brody did."

"I should-" Jessica started as she began scrolling through her phone for her sister's contact.

"No, you shouldn't," Viki snatched the phone out of her daughter's hand. "You and I are going home so you can explain to your father, brother, and nephew why you didn't tell your sister that you knew that the man she was about to marry was not the father of her child."

"But Mom," Jessica protested.

"Now Jessica," Viki pointed towards the doors before she turned to address Bo once more. "We'll call if we hear anything."

"So will I," Bo promised.

Viki followed her petulant daughter out of the church.

-d-d-d-d-d-d-

Natalie tapped her thumb against the wheel nervously as she drove. She'd long since crossed the Llanview city limits and was headed towards Pine Valley and Corinth.

Her phone was blissfully silent for the moment, so she picked it up. She knew the person she was about to call was having some family problems of her own, but she were the only person she could think of right now.

"Hello?"

"It's me. I know it's a bad time. I know you just had a baby. I know your sister's under suspicion of murder, but I needed out of Llanview," Natalie rambled.

"How far out?"

"Out of the country if you can manage it," Natalie told her. "I have Liam with me."

"I figured. Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"I was lied to and betrayed. Now I just want out of my life for a few days."

"Okay. I can send you to my other sister until you figure things out."

"She's in France, right?"

"No. She moved last month. She's in Australia now. She and her family live in Sydney."

"I'll take it," Natalie said. "Just tell me where I go from here."

"Corinth," Rebecca said. "Find the old Alden mansion. Hide your car and go to the stables. I'll call and tell them you're coming, so they'll be ready for you. Nat, are you sure you want to do this?"

"I have to," Natalie said. "Becca, thank you."

"Anything for an old friend," Rebecca smiled. "Be careful."

"Always," Natalie promised.

-d-d-d-d-d-

Alex Masters checked his watch as he leaned back against the wall of the old Alden stables. He had to hand it to the WSB. No one would look for a federal agency installation under the old homestead of one of the wealthiest families on the east coast. He'd have to remember to ask Sean how they talked Cooper into selling the house to them.

Checking his watch again, he looked up when he heard the approaching car. He dumped his coffee and straightened up. All he'd been told was that the person he was helping was it was woman with red hair and would be toting a baby.

Natalie stopped the car and considered the older gentleman standing near the barn before she got out. He didn't look like a raving lunatic, but neither had Mitch Laurence the first time she'd met him. Rebecca had told her to call him Gage.

She questioned her sanity and her friend's as she lifted Liam out of his car seat and began her approach.

"You Gage?" she asked cautiously.

"I am," Alex nodded with an internal groan. Sean must have chosen his pseudonym for this little plan. He'd been the only one who'd ever seen that particular show, and he loved to tell Alex that he looked like the actor who had played John Gage. "What do I call you?"

"Billie," Natalie answered immediately, silently thanking Roxie for the woman's unending love of old movies. How many times had she heard it?

I shoulda called you Billie for that actress who played Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. Red hair and blue eyes, the both of you. What woulda been better?

"Alright, and your boy," Alex nodded to the child in Natalie's arms.

"You can call him Ben," Natalie said after a moment.

"That's a good name," Alex nodded again.

"It's for my uncle," Natalie said with a small smile.

"Okay then," Alex handed her an envelope. "This is for you. The plane's over by the old tennis court. It's a short walk down that trail. I need your car keys, so I can hide your car somewhere."

"It's all yours," Natalie handed the keys over. "Send them to Dr. Scorpio at General Hospital in Port Charles when you've hidden the car. She'll keep them for me until I come back."

"Deal," Alex nodded as he took them. "Anything else?"

"Send this to Roxanne Balsom at Foxy Roxy's Hair Haven in Llanview," Natalie put her cell phone in his hand. "I'll get word to my family that I'm okay another way."

"Alright," Alex agreed. "Make sure you do get word to your family. I'm sure they'll be worried about you."

"I will," Natalie promised with a shake of her head. The older man reminded her a little of her uncle/step-father. "Thank you, again for all this."

"Just doing a favor for an old friend," Alex smiled. "Have a good flight."

"Thank you," Natalie smiled at him before she took her leave of the older man. She found the airplane just where he said it'd be and boarded. An older blonde man was at the controls.

"Hi there," he smiled. "I'm Andrew."

"Billie," Natalie smiled.

"Take a seat and buckle up. We'll be airborne soon," the man smiled.

"Not soon enough," Natalie murmured as she sat down and made herself and Liam comfortable before buckling herself in. She looked out the window as the plane took off and sighed.

No turning back now.