"John," said Rex as he let him in the house without another word. Gigi had called him while he was still at the hospital. He hadn't been pleased that John had come-wish the man would just leave his sister alone instead of continually coming in and out of her life like he was.

Despite his opinion of him he was the father of her children and he deserved to see Liam, "Before you see him-what are your plans, McBain?"

John sighed, he knew he was going to get the third degree on being here, and that he deserved everything, "I'm going to be here for my children-and for Natalie as well. I'm not leaving until after the baby is here and out of the woods completely."

"And afterwards you are going to go back to whatever life you have in Port Charles, right?"

"I-I don't know yet," he said, he'd been thinking about that since the drive from the hospital.

"Maybe it's better you just don't see Liam then. Better to not confuse the kid with all the showing up and disappearing again."

"You know Balsom," he said raising his voice and stepping into Rex's personal space, "I knew I'd get hell from Natalie's brother's on being here. I knew Kevin and Joey would rather I just head straight to the airport and never look back.

"But I thought you might give me a little slack-having had a child kept from you for all those years. And considering how sick Shane was at one point. So let me say this again-until the baby is here and out of danger I'm here-and afterwards if Natalie tells me to leave then I will. So get used to it-now may I please see my son?"

Rex rolled his eyes-it wasn't worth a fight and kept walking into the living room where Kelly was sitting on the couch watching Liam play on the floor, "Hey buddy-someone's here to see you."

John walked into the room and couldn't believe how much bigger he seemed than the last time he saw him. He kneeled down and watched his son's eyes look at him for a moment in confusion before getting up and walking over to him. Last time his walk was still slightly unsteady, but now that was gone.

"Dada," he said as he put his arms around him and John pulled him into a hug and stood up.

"I've missed you so much buddy," he whispered and turned away from the others in the room so they didn't see the emotions he couldn't hold back.

"Mama?" asked Liam as he squirmed back and the same blue eyes mirrored back at John's.

"She'll be home soon. She says she loves you-and I do too," he said as he gave him a kiss. He needed to get out of here-spend some time with his son without the glaring eye of the Buchanan's. "I'm going to take him for a bit-if that's ok," he said, angry that he felt like he had to ask for permission for time with his son.

"It's no problem," said Kelly as she got up and went to the doorway. "I'll get a bag together for you-he shouldn't need a nap, but might get hungry after awhile."

"Thanks," he said as he watched her walk away. "So what are we going to do today?" he smiled as he looked at Liam before giving him another kiss on the head and was again reminded how much had been missing from his life.

Natalie sat in the bed-she'd tried to rest, but kept thinking about John being here. She hoped he had a good day with Liam-that he'd remembered how much he had walked away from. Looking down at her growing stomach she felt the urge to suddenly talk to her unborn child, "You know your dad isn't a bad person, despite what your Uncle's may say-he just gets wrapped up into something and can only focus on one thing at a moment.

"I think right now his focus is you and your brother-that's not a bad thing. Mommy just has to figure everything else out," she said as she saw John walk past the window on his cell phone.

Sitting up a little she watched as he continued to talk on the phone for a few more minutes before coming in, "Hey. Did you two have a good day? Gigi called and said Liam was exhausted when you dropped him back off."

John smiled, "Yeah-we walked around and saw the lights at the stores, he still loves them. Then we went and played at the park and had lunch. He also helped me find a hotel to stay in for the time being-the girl at the desk absolutely loved him. I think we're going to have a lady killer on our hands."

"Yeah, we are," she smiled. "John-you don't have to stay if you don't want to."

He remembered what he'd told Rex, but she hadn't told him to leave-just gave him an out which he wasn't going to take. "I want to stay. I want to see this child born healthy. I'm going to be a dad again," he smiled.

"Liam's excited about being a big brother-he'll kiss my belly and say baby almost everytime he sees me," she said, as her eyes filled with tears. "I miss him so much, John. I wish I could just see him for a few minutes."

"I figured you did," he said as he pulled out his phone and opened up a video before handing the phone to Natalie.

Say hi mama, Liam, spoke John's voice in the background.

Hi mama. Hi baby. Love you.

The video ended with Liam blowing her a kiss. Natalie out of habit blew him a kiss back, and handed back the phone and received a kleenex in exchange, "Thank you, John. So what did Sam say when you told her you were going to be a dad again?" she asked, having to change the subject.

"Sam?"

"The phone call before you came in-I assumed it was her."

"Oh, no. We're not together anymore-that was Anna. Just told her I was taking a personal leave. Didn't have a return date. She understood-told me to tell you she hopes everything is smoother here on out," he said as he turned at the door opening and a doctor came in.

"Hi, Natalie-how are we feeling today?"

"Better-even more so if you tell me I can go home and not be on bedrest."

"I can promise one of those, but not both," he said as he looked at John, unsure whether to continue with him in the room.

"He can stay-he's the father," she said with a half smile at John.

"Your blood pressure is going down-that's a good thing. And the baby is developing just fine-she should be fine if we can make it to 32 weeks."

"She?" asked John. He was surprised Natalie had found out-she'd waited until Liam was born to find out it was a boy he figured she would do the same this time.

"I got scared when they brought me to the hospital and admitted me-I needed to know," she answered, knowing what he was thinking. "It's a girl," she beamed and then looked at the doctor. "So I can go home?"

"Yes, you can go home-but bedrest is still mandatory," he smiled.

"I have an almost two year old at home-do you know how impossible that is?" she laughed.

"That's what the dad is for-and other family. I'm going to keep you one more night and then we'll check you tomorrow morning and then you can go home to that little boy of yours," he smiled and left the room.

Natalie put her head back and let out a deep breath, "Everything is going to be ok."

"That's great-I know you want to call everyone so I'll let you go. See you tomorrow sometime?"

"Yeah-goodnight John," she smiled and reached for the phone to start making calls.

John smiled back at her and left the room. As he reached the elevator he watched a dark haired man come off holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Excuse me," he said, passing him and John heard the thick Irish lilt in his voice.

As John got on the elevator and looked up he wondered why the hell that man had just walked into Natalie's room and exactly what did he mean to her.