Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. They belong to theABC network and the creators of OLTL.

Chapter 1

Natalie could barely contain her happiness over the return of her husband, Christian Vega. She had prayed that she would be able to have his arms around her again---to feel his love engulf her once again.

She sat down beside Christian at the Palace. She had to admit that she was surprised that he had agreed to have dinner here because he had hated the place with a passion before his "death". Christian draped a protective arm over her shoulders, and she leaned back into his arm.

"I love you so much, Chris. God, you have no idea what it's been like without you here with me. I've made such a mess of things. I…," Natalie said.

Chris put a finger to her lips to silence her. "It's okay, Natalie. Everything is okay now. You don't have to worry about anything now. I'm here."

Across the Palace, John McBain walked in with his arm around Evangeline's petite waist. Now that he knew that he wasn't responsible for Chris's death, he had convinced himself that Natalie no longer need him. Now he could devote himself to Evangeline. He looked around the room, and his eyes fell on a beautiful redhead—Natalie Buchanan Vega. What was she doing here? As if she felt his gaze on her, Natalie turned her head and met his eyes. She started to smile, but decided against it. Instead, her eyes filled with panic. Chris's eyes followed her gaze, and his face became clouded with rage.

Oh boy, John thought. Round two hundred. Christian Vega blamed him for everything that happened to him and Natalie. John watched as Christian clenched his fists, and Natalie attempted to calm him down.

"Maybe we should go somewhere else," Evangeline said when she noticed Christian.

"No, no. I already apologized to Chris. I'm not going to maneuver everything in my life to avoid him," John said.

Chris was getting up and taking quick strides over to John. "You have some nerve coming here. You take me away from Natalie, and then come to live in Llanview to torture my wife."

"That's not how it went down and you know it, Chris. Your cousin, Tico, wanted you dead. He's responsible," John said. "I already told you that I was sorry for getting you and Natalie involved in that mess, but it's over. I even left the FBI."

"It's over?" Chris laughed, "It's not over. Natalie had to grieve for me all alone."

"She wasn't alone. She had her mother and sister among others who love her, and they helped her grieve."

"Christian, don't do this," Natalie pleaded. This was awful. What would happen if Christian found out that she had been involved with John? Would he hate her as well?

"I think you need to calm down, Chris," Evangeline said.

Chris glared at John's girlfriend. "You know what he did. How can you stand to be around him?"

"It wasn't his fault," Evangeline said.

"What's wrong with you people!" Chris's voice began to rise. "He's a monster. He doesn't even deserve to live."

John was getting tired of this. He didn't even think as he put a hand on Chris's shoulder. "Okay, Chris. That's enough. You need to…"

Christian swung his fist and tried to hit John in the head, but John ducked and rammed into Chris. He punched him in the stomach, but it didn't seem to faze him. Christian rushed at him with his fists. Natalie tried to pull Christian back, but he accidentally hit her instead and sent her falling hard to the floor.

"That's enough-both of you!" Bo Buchanan yelled. He had just entered the Palace with his ex-wife, Nora, and their son, Matthew. Nora rushed to Natalie's side. The young woman was crying quietly. She brushed away her tears when she saw her uncle.

"I'm okay, Nora," Natalie said, but she could see that Nora wasn't convinced.

"Look what you did, Chris," Bo said. He pointed to his niece.

"Oh my God. I did that?" Chris went over to her. "I'm so sorry, Natalie. I didn't mean to….I didn't realize…"

Natalie shook her head. "It's okay. It was an accident."

" I was stupid."

John picked up some napkins from a table and handed them to Natalie. "Natalie, you're bleeding." There was blood on the side of her head. He wanted to wipe it away, but he didn't dare.

"I can take care of wife," Christian said angrily.

"Yeah, I can see that," John said sarcastically.

"Chris, let's just go home," Natalie said. She pushed herself up off the floor and took the napkins from John.

Chris nodded in agreement. "I lost my appetite anyway."

Natalie sighed and tried to hide just how upset she was, but John could see behind her mask. He saw her hurt. He had hoped that Christian's return would make it go away.

"Are you okay?" Bo asked her. He hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"I'm fine, Uncle Bo," she said. She smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. She gave Nora and Matthew a hug.

"Do you want to go to the hospital and get that checked out?" Bo asked, referring to the bump on her head.

"No. It's no biggie. I'm fine," Natalie said, "I love you.See you later."