Turn About

Playing Games

She stared at the slamming door as her body shuttered with anger- no, not anger. Anger wasn't a strong enough word. Rage. Yes, that was what Natalie was feeling right now. Rage mixed with disappointment and resentment and… well, she wouldn't even go there.

Swiping back tears she straightened her back and threw back her red hair. So Brody wanted to play games, now did he, the voice in her head mocked, thinking of the gauntlet that he had thrown down, so like Marty. Well, she'd play. Only Brody didn't seem to realize that when Natalie Balsom played she didn't play fair.

Unlike her fair haired sister she had learned the hard way. Not only that, she had learned from her father and grandfather. Oh, she played the game well enough so that most thought that what she knew about being a Buchanan she had learned from her Uncle Bo that was how Asa and, now, her Dad had wanted it. She was the secret weapon in the Buchanan arsenal, and Brody and just unleashed it on himself.

Smirking slightly, she checked on Liam, then went into the bathroom, her plan of action already starting to take form.

It might not have been time for John to learn the truth when she was pregnant and tried to tell him, even though Brody had begged her not to for Jessica's sake and preyed on her fears for and of her sister, but now that the cop was marrying her sister he thought that it was time they came clean? Hell to the NO! She couldn't when she was marrying John, in part to cover his sorry ass, she was not about to let him steal everything away from her.

He wanted to play, well they'd play alright.

And she already knew who the winner would be….

Chapter 1

And so it begins...

John stood in the front vestibule of the Buchanan mansion uncomfortably, not only had he never really felt comfortable here, but he was investigating the man who owned the house and who would become his father-in-law in less than 24 hours. He knew there were better things he was supposed to be doing now, but he couldn't help but wonder why Clint Buchanan had all but ordered him here, worry about Natalie clear in his voice…

Clint closed the door of the room he had shut his daughter and her infant son away in, a rush of sadness over taking him. He knew what his actions would cost his other daughter, but damn it, this one knew too damned much about his recent misdeeds, not to mention the family secrets, that he had allowed himself to be backed into a corner by her. "Well, better her then that gold digger of Joey's," he muttered as he walked towards the stairs.

As he reached the top he took in the man standing not far from the stairs. A good man in all respects. A man who loved his daughter and their son. A man he would never have to worry about stealing from the family or whom he had ever thought the need to threaten with a shotgun when it came to his daughter, knowing, in fact that when he thought it time, he'd do the right thing.

Well, now, Clint Buchanan was going to, for once, do the right thing for his daughter. He was going to make sure that she got the man she had invested so much time and love into. Whom he knew loved her as well, but would let the same foolish pride that had sent his brother packing more than once lead him to leave what he wanted.

Given the choice this was the man his father would've chosen for a member of the family, and he had to admit he'd do the same.

Jessie, he knew, would move on to some other con artist with a heart of gold or man who just couldn't be who she wanted him to be, but this man would always be the one that Natalie would gravitate towards.

He knew what it was like to lose the love of your life and he silently promised to make sure that his daughter never felt that same pain as he took a deep breath, tugged on the bottom of his suit jacket and started down the stairs. His daughter's tear stained face as she begged for his help and smile as he gave into her and sided with her against his Jessie for once, clear in his mind as she had held the boy who would've carried his father's name had she had her wish close to her heart and muttered: "let the games began," as she sealed the deal with a kiss on her father's cheek….