Ever Afters
Set right before Colson's arrest. John didn't lie when he told Evangeline he spent the night working, he just failed to specify where.
Part One
The soft persistent rapping at the door brought Victoria Davison out of her deep slumber as she quickly gathered her robe about her and padded down the stairs. John McBain stood on the other side of the door feeling foolish, yet not knowing how else to proceed. He was releasing Kelland, they at least had the right to know. He refused to acknowledge that voice in the back of his mind that persistently brought Natalie's name to the forefront. She was probably asleep anyway, he just wanted to make sure Matthew was safe- that's all.
Viki opened the door with a yawn. "John?" She peered out into the darkness.
"Sorry to wake you, Mrs. Davison." John apologized, standing in the threshold. "Kelland's off duty. Just wanted to let you know I would be taking his post."
"Come in, come in." Viki ushered him inside, out of the cool night air. "Have you heard from Bo? I tried to wait up for his call but I'm afraid that I'm not quiet the night owl that I used to be."
"He called." John acknowledged, and seeing the questions at the tip of his hostess' tongue quickly tacked on, "But I can't really say anything else. He just wanted to make sure Matthew had an officer on him."
Viki was tempted to ask John how he got wrangled into such a position when normally Bo would have given the job to someone a little less high on the food chain, but she bit her tongue. Having a sneaking suspicion that it had more to do with her red headed daughter than her nephew. "Well it was very kind of you to volunteer, John."
John didn't rebuke her assessment of the situation. "Well I'm not getting much sleep these nights, not with the Killing Club murders. I figured this might be a better use of my time."
As if a cool draft had blown in the room, Viki shivered, clutching her robe tightly. "I must admit that I have been rather concerned about Natalie's safety. What happened at Carlotta's diner was too close of a call in my book."
"Mine too." John nodded, trying not to remember the kick in his gut he felt when he saw the mass of red hair lying over the oil vat. He stood for a moment, shifting his weight before heading to the door. "Well I'll just keep watch out here then. Sorry to have waken you."
"Absolutely not! It is far too cold out there. You stay in the house, there are apples in the kitchen if you get hungry, and Natalie and Matthew rented an assortment of games and DVD's which is no doubt why the library doors are closed. " Viki gestured with a nod of her head to the white double doors leading to the library. "Jessica used to do the same thing, they think that if I can't see the mess then I won't know it's there."
John returned Viki's smile, understanding why Natalie was so head over heels for her. She was a great lady. "Thank you, Mrs. Davison."
Viki nodded, heading up the stairs. "Good night, John."
He listened as Natalie's mother padded back to bed, and her door shut with a decisive click before running a hand through his hair. "Never gonna learn." He muttered darkly to himself, not sure why he had suddenly volunteered to play guard dog, or more accurately sure of the cause but denying it. Sighing he pulled back one of the white pocket doors and smiled to himself.
Natalie was asleep on the couch; she was sitting upright with her head leaning against the back, her red hair a stark contrast to the green fabric. Nestled on a throw pillow on her lap was Matthew, feet pointing towards the TV, game controller still in his slumbering fist. John moved to cover them, a surge of unfamiliar sentimentality coming over him. He had just gathered the blanket from a nearby chair when Natalie's spoke.
"I'm not asleep." She commented; eyes still closed.
"Well you're giving a pretty good imitation of it."
"Mmm..." Natalie forced her eyes open, the blue all the stronger due to her rest, like twinkling sapphires. "Couldn't stay away?" She teased lightly.
"Bo called." He replied.
"I heard."
"Don't think he'd be to thrilled with you letting Matthew stay up past his bedtime."
"Who said I let Matthew stay up past his bedtime?" Natalie challenged. John raised an eyebrow, and gestured to their surrounding, two glasses of half drank milk with pieces of Oreo cookies floating around, a bowl of popcorn, an untouched plate of apple slices, and a leaning stack of rented DVD's and video games ready to come crashing to the floor. "Okay," Natalie admitted with a shy smile. "So maybe I let him stay up a little later than usual but last time I checked that's what cool older cousins get to do. They revoke bedtime."
John sat on the sofa across from them, the distance necessary to reign in images that flashed in his head. Too easily his mind had jumped to a surreal future, that it could be them, their son, or maybe a daughter with red hair, in a house much smaller but filled with as much love. And those daydreams, those fantasies were dangerous, because they led to hope. And it couldn't happen. John wouldn't let it.
"I know that look." Natalie smiled, knowingly.
"What look? There was no look." John replied in a rush, panic rolling in lest he be discovered. And then what could he do? Tell her... never. It was just a fantasy. They couldn't be together. It was too dangerous. She already held too much of his heart.
"A huh." Natalie nodded, trying to keep a straight face. "And that wistful look in your eyes right now was... what exactly?"
"There was no wistful look."
"Right." Natalie smiled. "Just a trick of light? Or I was obviously hallucinating..."
"I'd buy the hallucinations." John replied with a dry sense of humor.
"Funny." Natalie rolled her eyes, fighting off the urge to throw something at him. They sat in silence for a moment before the tension became to great and Natalie spoke again. "Its nothing to be embarrassed about, John. To tell you the truth I was thinking the same thing."
John's mouth suddenly went dry. "You were?"
TBC