Chapter One

She stood on the large balcony that overlooked the large lighted lake. It was beautiful at this time of night, so surreal and in that moment everything seemed perfect, not only the scene before her but the life she had, it all seemed to finally work out for her in more ways then she could ever imagine.

The feel of strong arms coming around her waist made her inhale deep as she closed her eyes for a second and just reveled in the touch that was his. With his mouth just inches from her ear he whispered.."its so beautiful tonight, just like you" he placed a soft kiss below her ear and it did things to her body, i mean hell these last few months her body wasnt even her own when he was near, its like he possessed it, he possessed her..

His name was Michael McBain and as of six months ago he had come crashing into her life, literally and nothing had been the same since. Who would of known that a small fender bender on her way to work would lead into this? He was more than anyone could ask for, absolutely gorgeous with short brown hair, hypnotic blue eyes, not to mention he is compassionate, caring and a doctor to boot..

Their relationship moved fast, she felt so comfortable with him and that was saying something especially since she was never really one for relationships but with him it was different and in such a way that she had a hard time understanding it herself.

They had moved in quickly, yet again another thing she never saw herself doing and yet here she was and the thing that was even more surprising is that she had wanted it almost as much as she had wanted him..

She had finally gotten her fairy tale, the one she had wanted but never thought would be for her but it was and nothing would ever be the same.

#*#*#*#*#*#*

Laying in bed wrapped up next to him after what could only be described as yet another mind blowing sexual romp, she laid sated and smiling as he stroked her back softly with long fingers..

"its been a nice weekend" he said as he continued to run his fingers up and down the small of her back...

She picked her head up from his broad chest and smiled.."Nice? More like amazing" she said honestly as he grinned.."do you really have to head back to the hospital tonight" she said with a hint of sadness to her voice as he brushed some of her hair from her face..

"You know i would want nothing more than to just lay with you here" he said as he leaned in and kissed her forehead and then he sat up as she sighed and watched him get out of bed, seriously she could stare at his body forever as he began to get dressed.."Im gonna have some time off soon, maybe we could go somewhere, just the two of us" his words peaked her interest as she sat up now, taking the blanket with her as she covered her naked form..

"Really?" she said with a widening smile..

"really" he grinned as he finished getting his scrubs on.."we could go out to the cabin"

"keep going" she smiled even bigger as he walked over to her..

"You have no idea how enticing you look right now Natalie" he said as he ran his fingers through her hair..

"well you could show me again" she beamed..

"you know you may be the death of me" he shook his head and then leaned down and took her mouth in a very passionate kiss that left her wanting and needing but it was over too soon and he was stepping back.."You should get some sleep, i will call you during the day"

Natalie fell back onto the bed and let out a frustrated groan.."I would much rather you sleep with me"

"Oh i do believe we wouldnt be sleeping" he grinned as he pulled the blanket up and over her body as she looked at him.."Get some sleep, i will try and see if i can get out early tonight" he kissed her forehead once more and then he was leaving as she laid there, she couldnt help the gitty school girl smile on her face as she laid in bed but she quickly fell into a very comfortable sleep..

Michael made his way outside to his black Audi, man he loved that car, not only was it sleek and as sexy as a car comes but man could it go fast, he grinned as he unlocked the door but something caught his attention and for the first time in almost three years he felt an uneasiness come over him as he stood there aware that he was no longer alone..

"Nice car" a deep male voice said behind him and he turned slowly, a look of shock on his face as he stared at the man in front of him, the same man he had been avoiding.."You never seemed the type for some flashing car" the guy continued as he walked closer to him..

"what the hell are you doing here John, how did you find me" he said a bit defensively cause this wasnt just any random guy, this was indeed his brother John and someone he honestly didnt want to see..

"Is that really any way to greet your brother" John said as he ran his hand on the sleek car and then stopped right in front of his brother..

"Listen" Michael began nervously as he looked over at the townhouse and then back at John, it wasnt lost on him as he cocked his head and looked at the townhouse too and then smiled..

"wow are you actually playing house with someone" John smirked as he shook his head..

"I have a life here ok" Michael said defensively..

John laughed.."Yeah apparently so" he looked back at the townhouse and then at his brother.."a girl?"

"John why dont you just leave" Michael snapped angrily..

"Oh this is priceless" John clapped his hands some as he walked over to his brother.."Your just trying to fit in here, really?" he said with amusement..

"what do you want John, i left to start over, to find some normalcy" Michael said with an exhausted sigh..

"Normalcy? By doing what? Living some pretend life" John said with a loud laugh..

"Could you keep your voice down" Michael said nervously as he looked at his brother and then his cell began to go off and he looked at it and then back at his brother.."what is it that you want John, i have to get to work" Michael looked at his phone again..

John rolled his eyes.."You know i never understood your fascination with them and now i know you have just gone crazy" he said sarcastically..

"Fine im crazy then, can you leave now" Michael said as he stood there and fidgeted..

"leave but i am just getting comfortable here" John grinned.."Lanview has quite the tone to it if I say so myself, it seems a bit mundane but im sure i can shake it up a bit" he grinned and then Michaels hands were on his collar as he yanked him close..

"You will not harm anyone here, do you understand, this is where i want to be" Michael said with gritted teeth as John smiled with amusement..

"You really are quite territorial arent you brother" John said as he shoved michael back and fixed the collar on his shirt..

"Listen i dont have time for this and you will leave or...or" Michael said angrily..

John put his hands up in defeat.."fine fine, have it your way, pardon me for wanting to catch up with my brother but if you dont have time for me"

"I dont, now leave or i swear John" Michael said seriously..

"You really need to lighten up brother" John said as he turned from him and began walking away as Michael stood by his car but then John stopped.."You know Father isnt going to be happy" John continued and then he began whisteling as he walked down the street and then quickly disappeared into the darkness as Michael stood there breathing heavy, his cell phone went off again and he looked at it..

"shit" he huffed as he opened his car door and got inside, he would deal with his brother later, i mean seriously what kind of trouble could he possibly get himself into? Michael shook his own head, he knew the answer to that but thankfully there were rules in play for that and even thought John was one reckless son of a bitch, he wouldnt go against those rules, he just wouldnt!

Natalie slept in her bed, her mind drifting off as she rolled on her side but a sound caught her attention and her eyes shot open and then she got the weirdest feeling as if she was being watched and so she quickly sat up in bed and at the foot of her bed she saw someone standing there, her heart raced as she turned for the lamp and turned it on but when she looked back all she saw was her empty room as she looked around..

She took a deep breath and ran her hand through her long red hair, lack of sleep was definitely starting to play with her mind, she quickly shut off the light and laid back down, her eyes closed as she drifted back off to sleep..

Her alarm clocked blared as she she groaned and hit it with her hand until the loud buzzing ceased and her eyes opened as she groaned, shit, time to get up already, it was nearly six am and so she climbed out of bed and headed to the kitchen to make some coffee..

Natalie had only been in Lanview for three years, she had been born and raised in Atlantic City, the daughter of one Roxy Balsam and sister to Rex Balsam. It wasnt the easiest of childhoods, her mother was what one would call a non-proactive mother, she had had a horrible alcohol problem for most of her childhood and not to mention her gambling addiction had nearly tore the family apart if it hadnt been for her aunt and uncle who had yet again came to their rescue, this time instead of paying off Roxys debt they offered her something more, a chance to start over and surprisingly enough Roxy had accepted.

They had all headed to lanview, it was the start they all needed. Natalie being twenty one at the time and work becoming harder and harder to find it was a welcoming chance for them all.

Her aunt and uncle had helped to buy Roxy a nearby motel, something to help her get onto her feet and also build the stability she needed, Rex had finally started his own PI business and well natalie had decided to go back to school, hell she didnt want to be a bartender the rest of her life, no.. what she had wanted more than anything was to get into forensics and so she did with the help of another Uncle, one who was now the Commissioner of the Lanview Police Department, and so natalie began the long journey to becoming one of lanviews forensic techs.

It had been a long and hard journey but with the help from her family she was soon coasting through school with a 4.0 Gpa, and that was nearly three years ago..

Natalie sipped her coffee as she read the local newspaper that her aunt and uncle owned, the Buchanan Tribune, a very well respected paper of Lanview, the sound of knocking got her attention as she looked up and the the sound of voices outside the door, ones she knew all too well and with a smile she headed to the door..

"it is a free country you know, i forgot i had to ask your permission" the male voice said as Natalie got to the door..

"seriously dont you have some old lady to swindle or someone else to rip of" the female voice said as natalie opened the door to see her best friend Gigi and her brother Rex standing there bickering like an old married couple, Gigi pushed past her and went into the townhouse.."God your so infuriating" Gigi huffed towards Rex.

It was amazing how the two of them werent even a couple yet they couldnt seem to stay away from one another, apparently the statement about a thin line between love and hate was very much at play here..

"Well good morning to you too" Natalie said as Rex came in and immediately went to her fridge and opened it.."No, by all means make yourself at home"

"Your brother seriously needs to get a life" Gigi huffed..

"Oh please i think that " Rex began..

"seriously you two it is like way too early for this" Natalie said as she grabbed her coffee cup..

"wheres mr dark and mysterious?" Gigi grinned some as Rex pulled out Orange juice from the fridge..

"at work" natalie smiled..

"You really need to get some more food in here, this is pathetic" Rex said as he began grabbing out lunch meat and making a sandwich for himself, natalie rolled her eyes at him..

"well next time i go to the store i will make sure and buy for you" she said sarcastically and then she looked back at Gigi.."what brings you around this early"

"Oh you know, same old, same old" Gigi began nervously..

"she stumbled across some information about your new boy toy" Rex said with a bunch of food in his mouth..

"he's not my boy toy Rex, he's...he's...well" natalie began with a shake of her head and then she looked at Gigi.."I thought you said you were going to back off, his past can stay in his past"

See this is what happens when you have a worried best friend who cant seem to help but find out why people dont like talking about their past, It didnt bother Natalie too much that Michael never mentioned his life before Port Charles or even mentioned his family, I mean natalie had been there done that, no one is perfect..

"well i wasnt snooping" Gigi began as rex looked at her and she glared at him.."I was just doing some research" she brought her attention back to natalie..

"she was snooping" Rex grinned as he sat at the table..

"seriously this is none of your business" Gigi huffed at Rex..

"Like hell its not, this is my sister were talking about here" Rex said defensively..

"Ok..everyone just calm down ok" natalie said as she looked at both of them and they shut up..She took a deep breath.."anywho i changed my mind ok, im sure his past is in the past for a reason" Natalie walked across the kitchen with her coffee cup in hand..

"see i told you, ignorance is bliss" Rex smirked..

"what? Ignorance?" Natalie said in shock as she looked at her brother who just shrugged his shoulders..

"Listen what i think your idiot brother is trying to say natalie" Gigi began as she rolled her eyes at Rex.."Is that were just worried thats all"

"and i told you already, there is nothing to worry about" Natalie sighed.."so he doesnt like to talk about his past, alot of people dont"

"yeah like serial killers" rex said sarcastically as they both shot him a dirty look.."what? Im just being honest, why dont you just tell her what you found out"

"Im trying to but you wont stop budding in" Gigi said towards Rex..

"Listen i didnt even ask you guys to do this ok, he's a good guy, i mean he is a doctor for gods sake" Natalie laughed nervously..

"nat its just strange ok, i mean i get it, he is like uber hot" Gigi began as Rex snorted and rolled his eyes.."but its just weird, i mean the way you two met and now all of this" Gigi waved her hands around the room..

"You know if i remember correctly you were the one telling me to lighten up, and so i met a great guy" Natalie huffed as she sipped her coffee..

"and you moved in with him after a week and he is just so, so..." Gigi began..

"Perfect" Natalie said quickly as gigi looked at her..

Gigi softened her eyes.."Exactlly" she walked over to her friend.."No one is that perfect Nat"

"I am" Rex grinned and Gigi ignored him..

"so now he is too perfect" Natalie said sarcastically as she went to walk past Gigi..

Gigi put her hand out and stopped her.."Just hear me out, please and i swear i wont dig anymore"

Natalie took a deep breath as she stood there.."Fine but make it fast, i gotta get to work", Now she was annoyed, she hated that Gigi just couldnt be happy for her..

Gigi looked at Rex then at Natalie.."Oh just show her the damn picture" Rex said sarcastically and natalie felt her stomach twisting already, honestly she didnt know if she wanted to find out any information after all, she was happy with michael and she wanted to keep it that way..

"You really are irritating" Gigi said towards Rex and then she pulled a large manilla envelope out of her purse and looked back at natalie.."You may want to sit for this"

"I think id rather stand" Natalie said with increasing anxiety, Gigi looked worried and well that made Natalie worry..

"Just...here" Gigi pushed the envelope at her and natalie took it and looked at it and then at Gigi, she slowly began to open it and inside was a picture, but not just any picture, a newspaper article with Michaels picture on it, Natalie looked at it and her heart immediately relaxed...

"see i told you, so he got an award for hard work and dedication" natalie said with relief..

"Nat look at the picture and then look at the year" Gigi said as natalie rolled her eyes..

"i think your just trying to find anything wrong about him" Natalie said with a shake of her head..

"Just humor me then, please" Gigi said with concern and Natalie sighed as she looked at the picture again.."that was taken almost ten years ago"

"so?" Natalie said as she stared at the picture..

"and you dont think that is weird, i mean he told you he was twenty five, right?" Gigi said with wide eyes..

Natalie looked back at the picture as she sighed heavily..."He lied about his age", i mean frankly it could be worse..

"I dont think your getting the big picture here Nat" Gigi began..

"Oh for god sakes spit it out woman" Rex stood now as Natalie looked at him.."he looks exactlly the same ten years ago, like he hasnt aged"

"Listen just cause the guy lied about his age and apparently has good genes" Natalie began with a shake of her head..

"thats more than good genes and since when are you ok with lying" Rex rolled his eyes.."You know what dont answer that, the big thing here is" Rex began..

"Listen i think you both are hopped up on way too much caffeine, i think that your over reacting" Natalie began as she looked at them, i mean this was just silly now..

Gigi looked at Rex and they shared a strange look..Gigi looked back at natalie.."Natalie listen we think there is more going on here then meets the eye ok"

"Your boyfriend is a night walker" rex blurted out..

"a what" Natalie said in shock as Gigi rolled her eyes..

"seriously rex" Gigi huffed..

"fine, fine...one of the dead, the living dead...a vampire" Rex said sarcastically and for a moment Natalie just stood there and then she looked at Rex and Gigi, and before they knew it she was laughing and hard.."Oh great so now she is crazy too"

"I told you this was a bad idea coming at her like this" Gigi shook her head..

"You guys can not be serious" natalie said as she looked at them.."You find one picture and this is the conclusion you come up with"

"Nat listen i wouldnt of believed it myself if" Gigi began..

"Do you even hear yourself, a vampire? Seriously this isnt Twilight or something" Natalie put the picture down and shook her head..

"Told you she wouldnt believe it" Rex said with a smirk..

"Listen i enjoyed this little conversation but i really have to get ready for work" Natalie rolled her eyes..

"Nat im being serious here" Gigi said with wide eyes..

"and so am i, ok... listen he lied about his age for whatever reason, i just really cant believe i am having this conversation with you right now, i mean i thought you were happy for me"Natalie said with annoyance..

"I am Nat, im just...im worried" Gigi said with concern..

"Your worried that i am dating a mythical creature" Natalie raised an eyebrow and Gigi sighed as she looked at Rex who just shrugged his shoulders..

"hey i say if she wants to date dracula" Rex began sarcastically..

"He's not a vampire ok" Natalie said with annoyance as they looked at her.."I think you guys really need to go, right now" she said honestly as they looked at her..

"Nat dont do this ok" Gigi said softly..

"You are giving me no choice Gi, i mean come on this is low, for both of you and if you dont mind i gotta get ready for work" she began to walk out of the kitchen.."You can show yourselves out" she said as she left the room and Gigi looked at Rex..

"I told you we should of done it my way" rex shook his head..

"Yeah ok your way would of gotten us arrested" Gigi snapped at him as she stormed past him and grabbed the envelope..

"Hey your the one who wanted to run all the way over here and give her the news" Rex began as he followed her to the door..

Gigi spun and looked at him.."Hey you were all for this!"

"that may be true but still, vampire talking over coffee isnt probably the best way to go about this" Rex shook his head..

"yeah well im not done with this, im not, im gonna get more information on him" Gigi said as they stepped out of the townhouse.."are you with me or not?"

"did i mention my middle name is Slayer?" rex smirked..

Gigi quickly punched him in the arm as he winced.."just shut up rex" she huffed and they both took off..

Natalie couldnt help her laughing as she got ready for work, seriously Gigi and Rex had apparently lost their minds, Vampires, god what would they think of next and with that she quickly finished getting ready..

By the time Natalie got to work she tried not to think of what Rex and Gigi had told her, honestly they had way to much time on their hands if all they could do was worry themselves about her life. Gigi had texted her quite a few times apologizing and natalie knew she couldnt stay mad at her long but it did sort of bother her that Michael had lied about his age, not that he didnt look good, great actually at however old he was, but why lie about that, it just seemed silly..

At nearly noon she was knee deep in files that swarmed her desk and so when she heard a knock on the door she jumped slightly only to see the doctor himself there.."Hey i hope i didnt bother you, i just got a moment" he began as she stood and pushed all of her strange feelings aside as she smiled at him..

"You never have to apologize for coming by" she said as she reached him and he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her hard, it was almost a strange hug, different then the others..

Slowly he pulled back and smiled at her as he brushed a piece of her hair back..."we should go away" his words caught her off guard as she looked up at him..

"Im sorry what? Where?" she said with wide eyes..

"You remember how we were talking about taking a trip, we should, i could put time in now" he said with a hint of urgency in his voice that she tried to ignore..

"you want to go away, now?" she said with a bit of shock..

"Yeah i know its sort of last minute and all" he began..

"I cant just go away, i mean i would love to but" she began and his lips fell onto hers, kissing her passionately, urgently, holy hell how could she think with his lips on hers, slowly he pulled back and she stood there breathless..

"Just like a week, we could go anywhere" he said with a smile..

"as enticing as that sounds i just cant" she began as she looked over at the paperwork on her desk..

"Im sure it will be waiting for you when you get back" he grinned as she looked back at him..

"why the sudden rush to go somewhere" she couldnt help but ask and he seemed a bit caught off guard by her questioning..

"Im not rushing, just wanted some alone time with you" he smiled and she couldnt help the flush that came over her skin..

"well im all up for alone time and all" she said as she glanced back at her desk, why did she suddenly feel so nervous with him, damn Rex and Gigi for making her doubt him..

"I mean if you dont want to" he looked crushed as he stood there..

"its not that i dont want to" she said as she walked from him and he just watched her.."I just" she began as another knock was heard on her door and next her Uncle Bo was walking in, he stopped when he saw Michael..

"Oh im sorry i didnt know" Bo began as he looked at them.."Doctor Mcbain" he said politely to Michael..

"Just call me Michael" he said a bit uncomfortably..

"Not interupting Uncle Bo, what can i help you with" Natalie began, suddenly she was grateful for the disruption..

Bo looked between her and Michael and apparently Michael got the hint.."I should head back" he said quickly..

"yeah listen we can um, talk later?" Natalie said with a nervous smile..

"sure" Michael said softly as he walked up to her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead and then he turned for the door, he nodded at Bo as he left..

"I really didnt mean to interupt" Bo began..

"Your not, so what can i help you with" Natalie brought all of her attention back to her Uncle..

He sighed and ran his hair through his thinning hair.."I need you to look at something" his face was etched with discomfort, it made her antsy..

"ok, whats wrong" she said with hesitation, it wasnt often that she saw her uncle that way..

"we found a body last night, by the pier" he began and her insides tightened as she swallowed hard..

"a murder?" she asked even as excitement began to build in her, being in lanview the crime rate was really low, i mean hell even as a forensic tech she barely dealt with the dead at all and now this, well needless to say she was a bit excited..

"Come on i'll show you" he said as she followed him out of the room...

By the time they got to the morgue Natalie was shaking with excitement, part of her felt bad that it had to take someone being dead to envoke this kind of reaction but this was her job, her calling, Bo talked to the morgue tech as natalie stood in the cold unfeeling room, wow this was surreal..

The tech walked over to a wall with doors on it and he opened one as natalie went and joined her uncle as the tech pulled out a drawer which held a body that was in a body bag..

"You ready?" Bo asked her as she nodded her head and then he pulled down the zipper to reveal a young girl, maybe mid twenties, she was beautiful with long blonde hair, her skin now white and cold, she was naked as she laid there, it literally was the first time natalie had ever seen this up close and personal, except for school but those cadaviers were not victims of murder..

"can i?" Natalie asked as she looked at her uncle and he shook his head yes as she used her gloved hands to look at the body and then something caught her attention, something on the girls neck and she moved in closer, a gasp leaving her throat as she saw the two perfect pin point puncture wounds.."Cause of death?" she said as she inspected the body..

"Blood loss, complete and total blood loss" Her uncle said as she glanced at him with wide eyes...