In short order, Natalie and John had everything packed up, and had Todd and Victor released from the hospital. Once they had gotten everything packed, John had insisted on getting on one knee to put the ring on her finger, and they both shed a few tears when it finally came to rest on her rightful finger. Shortly, they had headed to the lone airfield on the small island and they, along with Todd and Victor, were boarding the Buchanan jet, heading towards home and away from paradise. John and Natalie sat holding hands across from Todd and Victor, who were already trying John's temper.
Natalie found herself tiring as soon as the plane hit altitude, and she leaned into John's shoulder to be more comfortable. He put his arm around her, holding her left hand so they could both admire the ring as she relaxed. Victor audibly snorted.
"Watch it, Manning" John said without looking up.
"I didn't do anything" Todd whined.
"Sorry, reflex" John responded, "You okay?" he asked Natalie in a completely different tone.
"Great" she said, "We have to call your mom" she told him.
"That's assuming I live through your family finding out" he said.
"You don't want to call her" she teased.
"She's going to yell at me. I haven't called her in a while"
"Why not?"
"She's going to have questions and I'm not too proud of the answers"
"All that matters is the end"
"You actually said you'd marry him? After everything he did?" Todd asked her, "Are you sure you're not the crazy twin?"
"You know if it hadn't been for you, this would have happened a long time ago, and we might not even be here right now" she said.
"Still dumb" Victor said.
"I thought you guys didn't agree on anything" she said.
"Oh we don't" Victor said.
"With the exception of the mutual love for the kids and mutual dislike of McBain" Todd added.
"Just ignore them, I do" John said.
"You're not related, yet"
"Do I have to claim them as in-laws?"
"We'll work it out in the pre-nup my father will force down your throat" Natalie said.
"Can you blame him?" Todd asked.
"Doesn't matter. I can't take any of your inheritance anyway"
"Not going to stop him" Natalie said.
"Well, if that's all it's going to take-"
"Yeah, right" Victor said, "It would take a bolt of lightning to get Clint to change his mind about you"
"Well, then it's a good thing it's not his choice to make. Its mine and I don't care what either of you or my father has to say about it" Natalie said, then looked into John's eyes and said just to him, "I mean it. I choose you. I always will"
"Well, I recall once telling you that above all others you belong with me. That's always been true"
Gently, John leaned down and kissed her. The kiss was brief, but passionate enough to relay their feelings. When they came up for air, their foreheads rested on each other's, not yet ready to leave the kiss, and unable to resist, shared another quick kiss.
"Oh get a room" Todd complained.
That was enough to force John and Natalie to remember they were not alone. They looked back to the twins.
"Really? Cuz we can do get one, if you'd really like" Natalie said, motioning to the private bedroom that was in the back of the plane.
"Please no. I can live without that image" Victor added.
"Shut up" John told him.
The four of them cohabitated with each other for a while in amicable silence. If John and Natalie tried, they could forget Todd and Victor and enjoy the silence and comfort between the two of them. John went to whisper in her ear so the twins couldn't hear his appraisal of her.
"You look real pretty right now, especially in those shorts. You've got a fine pair of legs" he whispered, flirting. When she smiled and blushed, he kept going, enjoying her reaction, "I don't suppose you could keep them, not send that back"
"You see me enough anyway" she whispered right back.
He kissed her head, "You're right. I just missed all summer and the opportunity to see you in shorts all the time"
"There's still a few weeks left of summer" she told him, "And I know plenty of other ways to drive you crazy" she flirted right back at him.
He went to kiss her again, and although he would have loved to have her show him all the ways she could drive him crazy, he could hear Manning and Lord starting to mock them. When they came up for air, they were treated to the twins making kissy faces at the two of them, tongue included.
"I miss the days where you guys didn't get along" Natalie said.
"God help me with the two of you running around town. My job just got ten times harder."
"Don't tell me you got your job back. Not after you left it to go chasing around pointless leads in Port Charles" Todd asked.
"I did. Lucky for the two of you, there wasn't anyone qualified enough to take my place" John explained.
"It's been a hot mess. The drug circle came back, there's been murders over it" she said, "and the cops that haven't been trying to get with me are all in Cutter's pocket"
"Oh Cutter's involved?" John asked, "I will take pleasure in flushing him out and putting him in jail where belongs"
"Am I missing something?" Victor asked.
"Oh, Natalie and Cutter were getting it on for a while and surprise, he'd been two timing her" Todd explained.
"Oh, like McBain did?" Victor asked.
"Yeah, exactly like McBain did" Todd clarified.
"I made a mistake, and neither of you are in a position to judge me over that" she said.
"How much longer til we land? I want to see Blair" Todd complained.
"Did you tell Bo we were coming?" victor asked.
"Yeah, he knows, I'm sure he told Tea and Blair" he said, "I didn't tell him I was coming" he told Natalie, "and your dad never even knew you were with me"
"It'll be okay" she said, "He's going to blow up at both of us, but you know what? We don't have to go home with him, and eventually he's going to have to get over it, cuz he's going to have to claim you as a son in law"
"You have so much confidence that this going to be okay" he said, "He's going to be angry. He's going to call me names. That doesn't scare you?"
"We've been through worse, haven't we?" she asked, "Do you think they'll bring Liam?"
"I'm sure your Mom will insist on doing so if an argument arises" he told her.
"I hope she's been okay. She and my dad had a huge falling out before everything"
"My understanding is that they've tabled that to take care of Liam" John told her.
The pilot announced they were beginning to descend, and all four of them noticeably took a deep breath, preparing to reenter their normal lives.
"You ready for this?" he asked her.
"I've got you, that's all the backup I need" she said.
Once they felt the impact of landing and the plane stop, they began gathering their things, which were admittedly sparse due to the kidnapping, but John insisted on carrying the small suitcase that held Natalie's dress and the few items that Sara had given her while still in Guam.
"John-" she tried protesting once again.
"Natalie, you know what's about to happen, if you carry your bags, it's only going to get lost when you get ambushed from all directions"
"Maybe you're right" she said, "and you know how it turns me on when you act all chivalrous"
"I knew there was an upside for me" he teased.
"Seriously, you two, cool it on the coupleness" Todd whined.
"Yeah, some of us have wives we had to wait to get back to" Victor added.
"I'm getting really tired of telling you two to shut up" John said.
Todd and Victor went back to trying to ignore the two of them.
"You think they're bad?" Natalie asked, "My dad's going to be much worse"
"I know" he said, and pushed her hair back.
The pilot announced that they were at their assigned gate, and were free to leave. The four went towards the exit, but once they were just around the corner from where her family could see her, they stopped.
"What's wrong?" Natalie asked him.
"Can I ask a favor?"
"Of course"
"One last kiss before we go out there?"
Natalie brought one hand behind his head, pulling him down to her. She kissed him deeply, melting into him.
"Oh, I don't need to see this again" Victor complained, going around them.
"Bleh" Todd added, following his twin.
John and Natalie just smiled at each other.
"I love you" he said.
"I love you, too" she said, and kissed him again, "We're going to be fine. No matter what happens out there"
"I know, I just, I wouldn't blame you"
"No" she said, "We're doing this, and you're gonna prove yourself to me for a year, and then we're going to get married and be together forever"
"And you're sure that once you remember how awful-"
"You said you just wanted me to be happy. I've only ever been happy when I'm with you. So I guess you owe it to me"
He smiled and kissed her again. "Alright, I guess I've hogged you enough. There are plenty of people that want to see you"
"I mean it, you know. I'm holding you to this" she said, indicating her ring finger, "I'm not letting it come off this time"
"Maybe we should superglue it, just in case" he teased, as they started towards her family.
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea" she said, laughing.
As soon as Natalie crossed the threshold of the airport, she was engulfed in a hug from her mom, dad, and Liam. John smiled, looking on, unnoticed for now, as she reunited with her family.
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm so glad you're safe" her mother gushed, "we were worried sick, Bo looked for you night and day, Rex wouldn't stop either. Jessie wanted
to fly out, but I told her not to"
"I'm okay mom, I promise"
"Allison didn't get to you?" Clint asked, "Nothing's wrong? You're really okay?"
"Well, she did, and it was a little bit of a bumpy ride, but I got through it" Natalie said.
"Of course you did, that's what Buchanan's do" Clint said.
"Momma, I missed you so much" Liam said, "Grandma and Grandpa kept telling me you were coming back, I'm so happy"
"Of course I was coming back" she said, getting down to Liam's level, "I would never leave you for good, would I?"
"No, you wouldn't. I knew you'd come back for me" he threw himself in Natalie's arms, and she cried just a little at holding her baby boy again.
"Alright Liam, Mommy's got to hug one more important person"
"Natalie" Bo said, "I'm so glad you're okay"
"I guess I have you to thank for it" she said, as he embraced her, "John said you didn't stop looking"
"I never would have" he said, "but he deserves the thanks, he's the one who found you, took care of you"
Natalie just smiled and shed another single tear as she remembered how close she came to throwing the best thing to ever happen to her away. "Guess I was pretty lucky" she whispered.
"So, tell us what happened" Viki started, "What did Allison want? What happened to her?"
"Did she hurt you? Did she get put away?" Clint added.
While Natalie recanted the tale of her kidnapping, Bo and Liam noticed who was just now moving out of the doorway to the plane's entrance, moving two bags out of the way, trying his best to stay out the way of this family reunion. As Bo looked around him, he saw Todd and Blair in a corner, Tea and Victor in another, and Natalie engulfed by both her parents, he and his grandnephew hovering near her as well, it seemed incredibly sad that he was not partaking in the reunion. Silently, Bo made his way towards his friend, and Liam, ever watchful of what was going on around him, followed suit, staying quietly behind Bo.
"Hey" Bo said.
"Hi, Bo" John said.
John was aware that Liam was hiding behind Bo, but he actually found it kind of entertaining that Bo had yet to notice, and he was wondering when his son would make himself known.
"I didn't think you were coming" he said, though the question was out there.
"Yeah, there was a last minute change of plans" John said, smiling at Natalie again.
"So how long are you here for?"
"For good" John said.
"Daddy?" Liam finally spoke, and Bo jumped a little bit with surprise.
"Yeah, buddy" John said, kneeling down to Liam's height.
"Do you mean that?" he said, "You're staying with me and momma for good?"
"Yeah, I mean it. I won't leave you again"
With that, Liam flung himself in his father's arms, and John hugged him close.
"I missed you so much, buddy" John told his son.
"I missed you, too, Daddy" he said, "Momma's great, but she needs help sometimes" he said.
"Did she say that?" John asked, though he knew what Liam was about to say.
"No, but I can tell"
"I have no doubt of that" John said, "Did you have fun with your grandparents?"
"Yeah, but I'm excited to have fun with you"
"Me too, buddy" John, said.
John picked Liam up to resume talking to Bo.
"So you're coming back to work?" Bo asked.
"If you'll have me"
"Only until this guy's ready to take over" Bo said, tickling Liam.
"Momma says I can do whatever I want as long as I go to school" Liam said.
"That's right" John said.
"So, how'd you get her to change her mind?" Bo asked.
"I didn't. I'd just about accepted a fate of miserable existence, and she asked me back in the room" he said, "she has her reasons, I'm still not sure quite how it all happened, but she said yes"
"Yes?"
"She's wearing my mom's ring"
"You're getting married?" Bo asked, quietly.
"You and Momma are getting married?" Liam asked, loudly from where he was perched in John's arms.
The whole room turned to look at the little boy in the arms of his father. Natalie and John's eyes met, communicating the same thought. This was not how this subject should be breached.
"What's he doing here?" Clint said, and everyone could hear the anger in his voice.
"Dad, John's the one who found me" Natalie said.
"That played right into his hands, didn't it?" Clint said.
"Of course not. I never wished what happened to her, I never wanted her to get hurt-" John defended.
"You were hurt?" Viki asked.
"Yeah, but I'm fine now. Thanks to John" Natalie said.
"Typical, riding into the rescue. When you gonna leave this time?" Clint taunted him.
"Dad!" Natalie said, then threw a look at John.
He had the same thought. He turned to Bo, "Hey, take Liam out of here for a bit. No need for you to get thrown under the bus too" John said, putting Liam in Bo's arms.
"You knew?" Clint asked Bo.
"He couldn't compromise the FBI case" Natalie said, "you can't be angry at Uncle Bo" she told Clint, giving Bo the chance to make his escape.
"That's cute, save your uncle by shadowing your son from the type of man his father is" Clint told her.
"John is an excellent father, which you would know by now if you hadn't kept him away"
"I did that to protect you"
"I don't need you to protect me from John" she said, physically putting herself in front of John, needing his strength if they were going to win this battle.
"How many times have you been down this road, Natalie? Don't you ever learn from your mistakes?" Clint exploded.
"You're one to talk" Todd scoffed.
"Shut it, Todd" Clint yelled, "I mean it, Natalie. How many times can John leave you or hurt you before you finally figure out that's all he's ever going to do?"
"Will you listen to me for once" Natalie yelled right back, "yeah, John may have hurt me before. But I've hurt him, too, hell, I've been the one to drive him away before, but John has been the only man who has ever really loved me. And I love him, and nothing you can do will ever change that"
"Clint, she does have a point" Viki said, touching his shoulder.
"You knew?" Clint asked, "Was I the only one kept in the dark about this?"
"We knew what you'd do" Viki said, "And I knew John would take care of Natalie, because he always has"
"And he always leaves" Clint added.
"Not this time" John said, "And for the record, the only reason I didn't come back was the restraining order"
"And how can you possibly promise that? What good is your word anymore?" Clint said.
"I told him we had to stay engaged for a year before we could get married" Natalie said, "that, in addition to some other things he agreed to and stuff that happened, I know"
"My word might not mean anything to you, but I have no intention of ever leaving Natalie or Liam again. I missed my dad a lot growing up, and I'm not about to do the same thing to Liam. And I will sign whatever the hell you want me to if makes you feel better" John said.
"That means you won't get any money when you inevitably divorce" Clint said, sure that would change his mind.
John put his hand on Natalie's shoulder. This was what he truly hated about her father, and he knew she didn't like it either, how he was so sure of himself because he had money. "Well, Clint, that's what makes you and I very different people. I've never cared about Natalie's inheritance. Most days, I forget about it, hell, we lived in the Angel Square Hotel. And I know just as well as you do that Natalie put her inheritance in a trust, for Liam's college tuition and any other kids we might have. So go ahead, write the prenup, I'll sign it" he said, "As for divorce, well, I guess I take marriage a little more seriously than some people in this town, but I believe marriage is until death do us part, and Natalie can assure you, she made sure I meant that before she said yes"
"You bastard, you think you have all the answers, don't you? " Clint said.
"Clint" Viki said, "We owe our daughter's life to John, many times over. We should be thanking him" she reprimanded, "I do mean that John, we can never repay you. You've always taken such good care of Natalie when needed"
"Well, my actions weren't completely selfless, I did get Natalie back after all" he said.
Natalie smiled.
"You think that's going to change what happened?"
"I can't change what happened. I regret it, I've apologized to Natalie, and she's made her expectations of the next year crystal clear where me leaving is concerned" he said.
"You think you're taking the high road, don't you?" Clint scoffed at John, "You SOB, didn't even ask my permission to take my daughter's hand"
"Excuse me?" Natalie said, stepping out of John's hold on her shoulder, "How dare he not ask your permission to marry me? Are you fucking kidding me? I don't need your permission to do anything. I'm a grown woman, I have my own kid. I've been making my own decisions since I was ten, I didn't need your permission then, let alone now. You haven't been in my life long enough to think you seriously have a say in who I choose to be with. That is no one's choice but my own"
"What a shell of a man, hiding behind your girlfriend" Clint taunted.
"First off, fiancé" Natalie said, "John is twice the man you'll ever be" she said, finally reverting back to speaking.
"I think you got that backwards" Clint said, just as calmly as she did.
"No" she said, "because he knows me. Thinks of me as a person. He loves me" she said, "And you, you think I care about your blessing. You used me as a pawn in some twisted game you played with my life. You made my decisions for me. You didn't care to see me when you found out I was your daughter. Just up and decide to move here one day and bam, for the first time in my life, I have a dad" she said, "So you don't get to stand there and tell me I chose a lesser man than you because he lets me fight my own battles, because he acknowledges that I've been doing that my whole life. From where I'm standing, the one who looks small is you"
"Natalie, you know I never meant-" Clint started.
"I don't care what you did or didn't mean. What happened happened, and we can't change it now" she said, "I forgave you. I gave you another chance. Hell, I stood up for you when no one else did. Is this how you repay me?"
John placed his hand on her shoulder again, knowing what it must have cost her to voice those thoughts out loud to her father's face. She visibly relaxed when he touched her again. Thank God he was here, she had no idea how she'd ever manage to say this without John behind her. He was probably the only one who knew how she felt about what she'd just said, he read her like an open book, even if she didn't ever say anything, he always knew. Everyone in the room held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Clint knew he was backed into a corner, and he knew no matter what he said next he'd come out looking like the bad guy.
Finally, a brave soul broke the deafening silence.
"I think we've all had enough excitement for one day" Viki said, stepping between Clint and Natalie, "Let me be the first to say congratulations" she smiled at her daughter, and the two women embraced. When the broke apart, Viki continued, "John, I really can't thank you enough. I was so worried, once I heard she was with you, I relaxed. I know you two will be very happy"
"Thanks Mom" Natalie said, as John took her hand.
"Why don't you come to dinner tomorrow? So we can celebrate you coming home?" she asked, then turned to Tea, Victor, Todd, and Blair, "You're all invited as well"
"That sounds good, Mom" she said, "I don't even know what food is salvageable in my apartment right now" she added.
"Well, then that's settled" she said, "How are you getting home?"
"I think we'll find Uncle Bo and Liam" she said.
"Yeah, I need to talk to Bo about some stuff anyway" John added.
"Alright, we'll see you tomorrow" Viki said, "and I am truly happy you're here and safe and happy. The both of you"
With that, all parties departed, leaving Viki to deal with Clint.