A/N: Wow. This is it. This story had reminded me of how much I loved writing this couple. And just how much I loved this couple in general. It also helped me remind me how much I enjoy watching ME act. I haven't watched a lot of him since they destroyed John on GH. But I can now say I really like Finn. He's quirky-and a complete dork. LOL.

And though he will never read this I want to give a thank you to my husband, who has been my beta reader for this story. I wrote out the final scene a couple weeks back as we were driving somewhere and then read it to him. As I got to the last line he smiled and said it was perfectly Jolie. Ya'll enjoy-I do have stories to finish, and I promise you'll get your Joliday fic in December. Until next time-you truly are the best-PCGirl.

Natalie took a look around the room to make sure it was good before closing the door behind her and going into the kitchen. It'd been two weeks since John got shot, and one week since he moved out of ICU. Things were getting back to a new normal-Michael had left to go back to Seattle, saying they would come home for Christmas. And Craig had left as well—back to the Albany field office.

Aaron. Aaron was going to stay. Bo had come by the other day and asked John to be the new Police Commissioner. She'd watched John think for about two seconds before saying no. That he hated the politics and bureaucracy of the job-that for now he would help manage Rodi's while he recovered. He suggested Aaron for the job, and he accepted it.

John's recovery was going to take place here-in their home. When they'd bought the house there was a small room off the kitchen that was going to be John's office. But after he left it had become a catch all of stuff. She'd fixed it up now-with a twin bed and dresser, just until John could maneuver stairs better.

"Liam, are you ready to go over to Mark's?" she called up the steps and heard him begin to run down. "I should only be gone 30 minutes-just long enough to get your dad home."

"Cool," he said as he went to the door and opened it to see Aaron helping a slow-moving John up the side walk. "Dad," he shouted, running at him full speed before Natalie could tell him to be gentle.

She saw the impact and the grimace John made, but then turned it into a smile, "Hey buddy."

"Grandma Roxy said you got shot. Are you ok?"

"Much better now," he said with a smile. "Where are you off to?"

"I was going next door to Mark's so mom could get you. Can I still go?" he asked, looking back at his mom.

"Sure," she said as he took off across the lawn and she watched him get inside their neighbor's house. "You ok? That was a pretty bad hit you just took."

"I'll be fine," he said as he kissed her on the cheek and they kept going in.

"I was coming by for a visit when they gave him his walking papers. He was ready to get home so I brought him on. You got him from here?" asked Aaron after John got to the couch.

"Yeah, thanks boss," she grinned. "I'll see you in a few days."

"See ya," he said and left.

Natalie sat down on the couch beside John, putting her head on his shoulder, "At least we know Liam was worried about you. When I told him you were in the hospital and that's why you missed the camping trip he didn't say much."

John nodded as he turned his head a bit to kiss the top of hers, "I'm going to make it up to him. I'm going to make a lot up to both of you."

"You still ok with the idea of not being a cop right now?"

"Definitely," he said as he sat up some so he could look her in the eye. "I've done enough chasing of bad guys. I just want to focus on us, Liam, and my recovery. If I add something else to that one of those is going to fail-if not all three. I didn't come back for that to happen."

"I know. I just want you to be happy."

"I am, Natalie. Being here with you and Liam—that's all I need."

John leaned back onto the outdoor couch and watched the stars, Natalie nestled in beside him. It had been six months since the gunshot and recovery was almost over-he still had moments of pain, especially if he tried to do too much too fast. But for the most part he felt like it was back to normal.

Thinking of the next step he shifted some, looking up to the back of the house to see if the upstairs light was still on.

"You ok?" asked Natalie. "You've seemed antsy tonight."

"No, I'm good," he said as he played with the ends of her hair.

"I can talk to my boss-you know, if you are bored with just working at Rodi's. Aaron will get you back in the department."

"What I said to Bo in the hospital was true-I am perfectly content with what I have going on right now. I've done enough sleuthing and investigating. And I know the department is in completely capable hands with you running forensics and Aaron running the rest." John knew it wouldn't be forever, that a case would come up that needed his help. But for right now he was fine with where he was at.

"Oh, ok. Hey John?"

"Yeah?" he said, as he caught the trail of a shooting star and made a wish.

"Is everything ok with you and Liam? I thought I saw a look between you two at dinner earlier. Did you two have a fight I didn't know about?" she asked. She'd known it would be difficult for Liam to suddenly have a second authority figure in his life. And him and John had argued a couple times. But it had been small stuff-homework and bedtime-she just felt like something else was going on tonight.

John laughed as he saw the upstairs light go off and got up off the couch, "Why do you keep acting like the other shoe is about to drop?"

"Well, except for me being pregnant with Liam this is the longest our relationship has ever lasted," she said as they walked in and started cleaning up for the night.

"Nothing is going to happen-no ghosts, no secrets, no ulterior motives. I promise," he smiled as he made sure the back door was locked and went to the living room to check the front door as well.

As they made their way upstairs he let her lead, smiling that she had no clue the plan him and Liam had set up tonight.

"Goodnight sweetie," she said as she peeked her head into Liam's room.

"Night Mom. Night Dad," he said.

"Night buddy," said John as he gave him a wink and closed the door. "He's a great kid. Have I ever told you how well of a job you did with him?"

"Yeah," she smiled and gave him a kiss. "And now he's got both his parents he'll be even better."

"Hopefully so," he said and saw the box on the bench at the end of the bed. "What's that?"

Natalie turned to see where John was motioning to. "Oh-I didn't pull that out. Maybe Liam did. It's my memory box," she said as she sat down beside it and pulled it open. "It's stuff from our relationship from before-memories I wanted to keep. I told you about it."

"Oh yeah," he said, feigning innocence that he hadn't sat in that same spot earlier reminiscing. "What's in it exactly?"

She pulled each item out and said it softly to herself, noting there were new items in the box-items she hadn't seen since they happened.

Your phone number on a Rodi's napkin

Are you setting me up McBain? Hustling me?

It's a good table. You didn't think I'd give it up that easy, did you?

Here's my number. Maybe you'll use it sometime.

I will.

A train ticket from AC to Llanview

What's going to happen?

We'll see what happens

A note to meet you on the roof.

I just- don't want this night to end.

First of all, there's going to be a lot of other nights. And secondly, this night is far from over.

Plane ticket to Bangkok

You're just going to end up slowing me down.

Exactly.

A grocery list of some sort

Yeah. I mean, we'll-we'll still be friends

Yeah. You think we can?

I'd like to.

My 'Dear John' Letter

I don't know what the hell we've been doing the last few years, but above all others you belong with me.

You going to take your shot?

Right now

Liam's first sonogram

A bright spot. It's like a shining star on a dark night.

The plane ticket to bring him home from Michigan.

Liam is my son.

Yeah. He's your son.

And yours.

Congratulations. It's a boy.

St Jude

St Jude is for lost causes.

Really?

Yeah, he's supposed to make the impossible possible.

Big job.

And St Dwynwen

She made a wish to ask God to look kindly on the hopes and dreams of true lovers.

As Natalie looked back up at John she saw him just standing there, leaning against the door frame to the closet. Her eyes were filled with tears, as she realized how much they had. How many moments they had shared in love or pain.

John walked back into the closet and grabbed the small black box him and Liam had set there earlier, out of sight just in case. "You know. There's one thing not in that box. And I'm kinda glad because I don't want it to be just a memory," he said as he kneeled down in front of her.

"I love you, Natalie. I have for fifteen years. That moment at Crossroads-I knew I was in trouble because I couldn't just go through the motions with you. Afterwards you tore down every wall I'd ever put up. And when I put up more you just knocked them over like they were nothing.

"That box holds a lot of good moments, but it's not all who we are. It's not always been perfect because that's not who we've ever been. You can't have light without darkness. And we've had plenty of both.

"But out of all that darkness we created this light-and he's down the hall right now. You once called him a bright spot, a shining star on a dark night. And he his, but so are you. You are my bright spot, Natalie. It's been you that has pulled me out of the darkness every time.

"Will you marry me?," he asked as she watched him open the box and saw his mother's ring shining back at her through the tears. "Please say something."

She struggled to come up with a reply, "You are my light too. Because whenever I open my eyes from the dark it's you that is there. So yes. I'm yours-always."

John slipped the ring on her finger and knew it would be there forever this time. Standing up he put his hand out and pulled her up as well, his hand pushing her hair out of her face before crushing his mouth against hers. This was what he had dreamt of for so long. No demons. No secrets. Just them. All that was left was the dreams they had to chase.

Two months later

Michael walked onto the roof of the Angel Square Hotel and couldn't help but smile. When Natalie had called him eight months ago and told him John had been shot he'd really thought that was it. That his brother would be gone before he got on the plane.

But instead he was standing there in the middle of the roof looking up at the stars. "You couldn't ask for better weather."

John grinned, "A lot better than a tornado. Huh, Mike?"

"How does the couple that is actually normal end up with a tornado and the couple whose relationship is a tornado end up with perfect weather?" he questioned.

John shrugged, "Just lucky I guess. I can't believe we finally made it to this moment. I really thought we'd missed our chance, Mike."

"Want to know a secret? So did I," he grinned and then looked around.

Gigi and Marcie had tried to spruce the place up a bit earlier, just some string lights and a few flowers, before heading to Rodi's to get the reception ready. He wasn't surprised when John and Natalie said they wanted to get married up here-it made complete sense-it was their place where they could just be themselves. And though their relationship was anything but simple, their wedding would definitely be.

Seeing Jessica get to the top of the steps he smiled, "How is our bride?"

Jessica beamed, "Ready for her groom. I told Liam to wait a few minutes before bringing her up."

Natalie took a deep breath as she looked at herself in the mirror they had set up in the room. This was it. She was finally going to be Mrs John McBain.

They were doing it their way this time-small, intimate, and a place that meant so much to them. If they could have gotten away with no guests they would have.

Instead they compromised—Jessica and Michael standing up for them. The rest of their friends and family waiting for them at Rodi's to celebrate.

It would have been more, but the rooftop was small, and they couldn't find a way to say yes and no to people without causing a fight.

It had already caused one when she said she didn't want Clint to walk her down. She knew the two men would never been on the same page of anything, so she scrapped the idea.

It seemed almost kismet that it would be Liam walking her down the aisle, so to speak, and to John. He had been there for the New Year's Eve wedding-not born, but present. And like the other two weddings she was holding a secret from John. But this time it was a good secret-she was pregnant and couldn't wait to tell him tonight. Maybe they would get their little red-haired girl after all.

Hearing the knock on the door she opened it to see Liam standing there, in his suit, "So are we going to do this or not?" he asked, putting his hand out to take hers, and she had a memory of John saying that to her in a dream.

"Yeah," she said as she wiped tears away. "You look so handsome."

As she walked out in the hallway and to the bottom of the stairs leading to the roof she looked down at Liam who was just staring at her in awe, "What is it?"

He just smiled at her, "You look pretty."