Authors note: In my fanfic Vicki didn't have medical problem during the hostage situation and as you read you will see a few other changes I made. This is my fictional reality so I can do what I want with it! And I do! Heeheehee

I hope you enjoy it and all comments are welcomed! But please be gentle, LOL, this is my first "serious" fanfic.

The prologue takes place right after Natalie leaves John's apartment after the pissing contest between John and Jared

Prologue:

Natalie had left John's apartment and went home to think. Think about the huge mess her life seemed to be again.

Dammit, why did the one guy she thought she just might be able to move on with turn out to be her freaking uncle?! She shivered as a chill ran down her spine at the thought of how they had kissed before it was discovered he was a Buchanan.

Gross!

Just her luck!! Shaking her head as she entered Llanfair and went up to her room. And who the hell was he to tell her that being with John was a mistake?! Ok, she knew it hadn't been her smartest move ever ending up in bed with John, but she and John had talked about it. They both needed someone that night and they were there for each other. But it wasn't like it was going to happen again, they had both agreed on that. They also agreed that neither one had any regrets about that night.

And Natalie didn't. Not really. Well kind of.

Enough!! This wasn't getting her anywhere good. She was not going to think about this anymore! Not about Jared, not about John and definitely not about that night! It was over and done and there was no going back. So move on, girl!

Walking over to her dresser, she picked up her laptop and went and sat on the bed with her back against the headboard. Work was what she needed to concentrate on. Opening her laptop and clicking on the BE files that she had to go over for the next day, she settled in for the night.

Work was good, it took her mind off her troubles and let her feel like she was able to do something right for a change.

Chapter 1

New Years had come and gone and Natalie was working full time trying to avoid Jared at BE which wasn't easy with him now having a seat on the board. But she was trying, and when they did have to speak she tried to keep it simple and to the point. And definitely about business. Nothing remotely personal! And if the tone shifted that way, she made a quick excuse and got out of there.

Natalie had heard from Rex that Michael and John had went to Texas after Marcie, and she hoped they would have luck and bring her and Tommy back. But she was also kind of hoping thew would be back soon. Not that she wanted to start leaning on John again, hell, he had his own heartache to get through and it didn't make it real easy for Natalie that she hadn't cared for Marty at all. But she did care about John. She always would, she had accepted that but it didn't make it any easier. They had decided to be friends and right now she could sure use one.

Natalie and Rex had met up a few times for burgers and beers at Rodi's but she didn't tell him about the whole Jared incident. She really didn't need Rex busting her chops about that!

Gawd, he'd love that wouldn't he? Natalie tries to get over John and ends up almost hooking up with her uncle! He'd laugh his ass off if he knew. Shaking her head, she entered the kitchen at Llanfair after a long day at the office.

"I'm home." The words echoed through the empty house.

Sighing, she put her briefcase on the counter and headed to the refrigerator to grab a beer and see just what she could scrounge up for a meal.

"So what will it be tonight. Hmmmmmm. Left over pizza? Or will it be a salad that looks like it's seen better days? Hmmmmmm, decisions decisions. Pizza it is then." Grabbing the two pieces left, she snatched a plate out of the cupboard and proceeded to the island, pulling out a stool to sit on.

As she sat there alone, munching on her only real meal of the day, she sighed again. Now this is just so much fun. She now understood why her mom had said she didn't mind Natalie moving back home, that she loved having company. Right now she would give anything to be able to sit across from her mom and just talk. About anything. There were a few things Natalie needed to talk about to someone who would understand and just listen, not tell her what an idiot she was.

Just as she was about the grab another beer her cell phone rang. The caller ID showed it was John. Why would he be calling her?

"Hello?"

"Natalie, its John."

"John is everything ok? Have you and Mike found Marcie and Tommy? Are you ok?" For just a moment there was only silence on the line. "John?"

"We found Marcie. And Tommy is fine. Right now he's with Todd and Blair. I just wanted to let you know before you heard it on the news. Natalie, your mom was here when it all went down. She's ok and she said she would call you later and fill you in but I just didn't want you to worry for nothing."

"Wait a minute! Mom was there? In Texas? What the hell was she doing there? And what do you mean by "when it all went down"? What the hell went down? What happened?"

"Natalie take a breath! Your mom is ok. Vicki was in the diner when Marcie was holding Tommy, but Mike got her out. She wasn't hurt or anything. She's safe and she's ok. I promise." He then proceeded to tell her the events that lead up to Marcie's capture.

Natalie took the deep breath that John had suggested and tried to calm down.

"OK, ok. So she's not hurt. But what the hell was she doing in Texas?"

"Honestly I don't know, but I just didn't want you to see or hear about this and start worrying. Look she said she would call you, right now she's giving a statement to the police." Even over the phone Natalie could hear the exhaustion and worry that laced his voice.

"John, are you ok? Marcie and Tommy are all right though, aren't they? Mike too?"

"Yea, their all ok. But Marcie is looking at some serious charges. Crossing state lines with a minor, kidnapping, hell the list goes on." He heaved a hard heavy sigh and continued. "I'm going to stay here and try and get Marcie moved back to Llanview, and I know Mike isn't going to want to leave Marcie here so it'll be a while till I'm back."

"Of course. John if there's anything I can do please just let me know."

"Thanks. I should go, they're ready to take Marcie to the local PD and I want to stick as close as I can."

"John where in Texas are you? You never said."

"Sorry, we're in Paris. Paris, Texas. Look your mom is going to call soon and I know you'll feel better after you talk to her, just try and stay relatively calm until then ok?"

"Me stay calm? Of course. Why would you ever think I wouldn't be calm?" The sarcasm was obvious in her tone.

"Well Buchanan I seem to remember a few times you weren't all that calm which was usually followed by you doing something and getting into trouble and I'm not going to be close at hand to get you out. So just stay cool till you hear from Vicki is all I'm saying." He chuckled as he heard her huff of indignation.

"Yes sir, Mr. McBain. And John, thanks for letting me know, really. It means a lot."

"I know how you care and worry about your family, Natalie. And it was no problem. I'll get in touch with you again later."

"Please do. Bye John."

"Bye Natalie."

Natalie slowly closed her cell phone, almost reluctant to sever the connection. She sat there thinking of what John had told her and everything that had happened that she and the rest of her family had been clueless about. And she found her thoughts going back to John and what he must have gone through while Mike and Marcie were in that diner. As the thoughts swirled through her head they were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Hello sweetheart, it's your Mom."

"Mom! Oh Gawd! I just heard what happened! Are you really all right?"

"Natalie, I am fine. Really. John said he would call you and I take it he did. I just didn't want you worrying until I had a chance to call and explain things."

"Uhhhh Yea! And by the way Mom you have a heck of a lot explaining to do! Like what the heck are you doing in Paris, TX in the first place. And TEXAS?! Paris, TX?! It this the Paris where you've been hiding out while we all thought it was Paris, France?!"

"Natalie, sweetheart. We will discuss all of this when I get home. I promise."

"Oh you bet we will. And I'm not waiting until you decide to get back here either. Get ready Mom cause I am on my way to Paris now. And the devil going down to Georgia will have nothing on me! I am getting on the jet tonight and we will discuss all of this when I get there." Hanging up from her mother Natalie made a call to make arrangements so that the BE jet would be fueled and ready to go that evening.

"Mom, its time to have a heart to heart and straighten out a few things too." Natalie said to herself as she put her laptop back in her case and proceeded to pack for her trip to Paris, TX.