A/N: I want to know how the stupid IIC got into my head and twisted my idea for the ending of this story into their own sick version. Sigh. I've tried my hardest to de-cheesify this and wish now I'd posted this last year, and not now. If you are completely confused you won't be after the end of this chapter. Please believe me when I said I HAD THE IDEA FIRST! ;) Until next time—I think there's 1 more chapter, maybe 2—PCGirl.

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Natalie felt the side of the bed and sighed that it was empty—it meant it was time to get up and head to the center in a few minutes. She'd been enjoying the past week they were closed for the holiday's—but tomorrow they opened back up and she couldn't wait to see their faces when the kids saw the new pool table.

She looked at the clock and was shocked to see that it was nearly noon. A note sat on top of the alarm clock and she reached for it, and then put her arm back under the warm blankets—the apartment was just a bit too cold for her at the moment.

Hey Babe. You looked so peaceful I turned your alarm off and figured you'd get up when your body was ready—you need to take it easier for you and the baby. Call me when you get done at the Center and we'll take some stuff to the house.

John.

She smiled at thinking of the house her and John had closed on just a few weeks ago—it started with a trip out to Adrienne's and her unyielding comments about a house that was up for sale right around the corner from her. Natalie finally gave in and went to see what it looked like and fell in love with it immediately.

They had called Mac and he had agreed to let them buy back the pool table at Rodi's and put it in there—he said a table with that many memories for them deserved to be with it's rightful owners. She smiled at remembering Adrienne's husband Greg and John put it together last weekend—and then realized that if she hurried then maybe her and John could get a game in tonight after they moved stuff over there.

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Natalie pulled up the Center and pulled her coat tighter to brave the December air. A white car and the delivery van were already in the parking lot. Maybe the car belonged to one of the guys with the delivery company or it was Adrienne's sisters car—she'd said last night her sister was in town and she might borrow it to come down to work today.

She walked in and across the basketball court to see the men finishing up in the game room, "Hey—how'd you get in?"

"A co-worker of yours let us in. You must be Natalie," said the older man as he wiped his hand down and shook hers. "I'm Chuck."

"Hi Chuck. Sorry I'm late—my husband thought it was my best interest to sleep in today, he just didn't know how long I'd sleep," she said as she touched her stomach protectively.

"It's no problem. We're actually about to finish up here—we'll let you know when we leave."

"Ok, I'm going to my office—just call my name from the door entering the office area and I'll come see you out. Thanks so much again for doing this during the holiday period."

"No problem, the kids deserve this."

"Yes they do," she smiled and turned. When she got to the offices she was surprised to see the hallway light was off, "Hello? Adrienne?" she called as she flipped on the light. The hairs on her neck stood up, but she had no clue why as she continued down the hall and realized they were empty.

She went into her office and picked up the phone to call John to let her know they were almost done, but heard a noise outside in the hall. "Hello? Who is there? Adrienne? Susan?" she called out, thinking maybe it was another counselor that was there with her. Somebody had to let the men in. She heard the door open again and went out in the hall way, "Who—?"

"Sorry, ma'am. Didn't mean to scare you. But we're finished up here—we'll let ourselves out," smiled Chuck as he gave a brief hand wave and she watched the door close behind him.

She walked back to her desk and looked around—something was off and she realized her wedding picture was gone. "You are being paranoid, Natalie," she said as she grabbed her purse and picked up the phone to find it was dead. "Paranoid or not—I'm outta here," she said as she got her car keys out.

The basketball court lights were out—maybe Chuck turned them off as he left by accident. As her feet it the ground she realized she was stepping into something wet. She leaned down and took a sniff with her fingers—gasoline.

As she stood back up she finally saw the figure standing in the middle of the gym, "Stop—I've got a gun," she said as she fumbled with her purse—hoping they'd believe her. A match suddenly lit and the eerie shadows danced across the face just well enough for Natalie to see who it was. "Caitlyn."

"Maybe next time you decide to terminate an employee you should get their keys first," she laughed.

Natalie wished she could see her face better—but she was too scared to turn back and hit the lights—she could tell from her eyes she was gone—a shell of a person that John knew before. "What do you want?"

"The same thing I've always wanted—John," she said as she blew out the match and then lit another. "I'm sorry you won't get to see the children's faces tomorrow when they see the new pool table. But wait—all they will be seeing is a pile of smoldering ashes," she said as that match went out also.

"Maybe if they are nice they'll name the new Center after you—the poor pregnant woman who died on a cold day in December."

"So you think that John is going to take you back if you get rid of me?" asked Natalie, the hate in her words masking for the most part the fear that was bubbling up inside her—she prayed the baby couldn't feel the fear also.

"Of course he will—because I'll be there to pick up the pieces of his once again broken heart."

"John doesn't want anything to do with you—don't you see that? You tricked him—you got his guard down and all these demons rushing back into his mind just so Haver could kidnap me. We've done the whole fire thing once Caitlyn and we know who he saved."

"He saved me too though—or are you too blind to see that?" she asked, her voice shaking with rage.

"Who did he save first though? Who?" she screamed as she watched Caitlyn flick the lit match and a wall of fire quickly began to grow around the basketball court.