Disclaimer: No cheese was used or harmed in the first scene—sorry if it comes off sort of cheesy.

A/N: Well thank you to all who have waited through a year's worth of other Jolie stories to get to read the end of this one. :) Until next time—thank you again, each review brings a smile to my face—PCGirl.

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Natalie watched the fire spreading and wasn't sure what she needed to do. Going back into the offices might not be safe at the moment. She saw the kitchen door and something made her go towards it and she heard Caitlyn following behind her.

"Running? What are you scared?" taunted Caitlyn as Natalie turned to face her and was shoved backwards and onto the ground.

"No," she said quickly and letting her fear begin to overtake her. She wasn't going to die like this—she wouldn't let herself die like this. "I'm sorry Caitlyn. I really am. I know you want John but it's too late—but if you give yourself time—."

"Geez you sound just like the therapists and my parents. Give yourself time—you'll get over John. Would you be able to, Natalie? Would you be able to move on and create a new life without the man you built your dreams on?" she asked as Natalie watched her pull out the matches again. That was when Natalie saw the red jugs in the corner of the small kitchen—the gas cans were in here and Caitlyn was going to kill them both.

Instincts kicked in immediately as she grabbed old the drawer for help up and grabbed the knife, "Don't Caitlyn. Don't throw away innocent lives on lost love."

"Too late," she said as she lit the match.

Natalie didn't know what happened next but she ran towards Caitlyn with the knife—stopping when it stabbed her. She began crying and just sat there next to her—between sobbing and gasping for clean air it was wearing her out as she heard sirens. She was almost unconscious when she thought she heard John shout her name outside in the Gym.

By the time he'd gotten to her she wasn't awake.

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Natalie woke up but kept her eyes closed—there was a weight on her stomach and as she moved her head there she felt his hair and began playing with it in her fingers. She opened her eyes to see she was in a hospital room and John had fallen asleep with his head on her stomach. "Hey sleepyhead," she whispered.

His eyes fluttered open and a half grin appeared on her face, "Hey yourself. How you feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine. The baby—is it ok?" she asked, suddenly worried.

"She's fine," he smiled as he touched her stomach gently and caringly.

"She? It's a girl?" she beamed.

"Yeah—they did an ultrasound and said they had a perfect shot to tell me the sex. I know we wanted to be surprised, but there's always next time," he smiled.

"No it's ok. I'm glad we know. How's the Center? Is it destroyed?"

"It's going to take a few weeks to clean up the mess left behind. What do you remember?"

"Caitlyn was there. She was crazy—she'd poured gasoline over a portion of the basketball court. I didn't want to go back into the offices so I went into the kitchen. I don't know what made me go there—she followed me and was ready to kill but both—I grabbed a knife for self defense," she choked on the words. "I'm sorry John."

"Hey. Shhh. Don't be," he whispered quietly and he pulled her in for a hug.

"She was so still—she didn't make it, did she?"

"No," he shook his head and watched her start blaming herself. "Don't start Natalie. Don't start blaming yourself over Caitlyn's death. She wasn't the same person as before."

"I felt bad for her—before Haver she had all these dreams she wanted to live out with you. And while he had her those dreams kept floating through her head—all she wanted was to be with you and be happy. Is that such a bad dream to have?" she asked as tears filled her eyes. "I know what she felt—I mean I had all these dreams I wanted with Cris and when he was first gone I thought none of them would ever happen. But they will—with you. If she could have only waited she'd find the right person that would give her dreams another chance."

"I know—it's ok though—she was so damaged I don't know if the rest of eternity would have helped her. Don't forget she was held hostage for years by a psychotic killer. The only person that was holding me hostage from living was myself. And that was over the moment I saw you," he smiled as he pushed her hair back and looked into her eyes lovingly. "I love you, Natalie."

"I love you too, John."

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"Are you ready?" asked John as he came over to the truck and opened the door for her and helped her out.

"Are you kidding me? I've been ready for weeks," she laughed as she bundled her coat a bit tighter as he put an arm around her and they walked across the parking lot to the Center.

It had taken them three weeks to clean up the Center and get it ready for opening—Natalie hadn't been allowed into it the entire time. Between John's suggestion that they take this time to finish moving to the house and Adrienne's insistence she had everything under control Natalie had been so busy the idea of possibly reliving the memories of the fire hadn't even come to her til they got closer to the door.

She looked back at the parking lot before they walked in and she saw all the children were standing in the Gym watching her. Some of the boys holding a sign that said Welcome Back Miss Natalie. "Well look at all of this—but this is your first day back also, right?" she asked as Adrienne came over to her side.

"Actually—it's not the Center's been open for a week, but John wanted more of you to himself. But—the kids did hold off on one thing," she said as they pushed her to the back end of the gym and into the game room.

"Well haven't played a game yet, Miss Natalie," said Adam as he walked up and handed her a cue stick. "We wanted you to get the first game."

"Oh guys—this is supposed to be your pool table to play on, not mine."

Adam and a few other boys shrugged, "Yeah. So?"

She just smiled, "Ok. Who's my first opponent going to be?"

"Me," whispered John as he helped her out of her coat and handed both of theirs to Adrianne. Natalie smiled—moments ago she'd wondered if memories of what happened would have an effect but they didn't. She'd forgotten about the fear and worry because of John and seeing all the children being happy she was back where she belonged.

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A few months later

John stood there beside Natalie's bed as she pushed, her hand gripping his so tightly it was turning white. He heard her give one last moan and there was a moment that the room was silent then he heard the small cry. He looked down at Natalie and tears welled in his eyes at looking at her. "You did it. She's here," he said softly as he kissed the top of her forehead.

"Daddy—would you like to come hold her?" asked the nurse over at the table that they'd cleaned her up and swaddled her in a pink hospital blanket.

He walked over and looked at the small bundle and became nervous—how was he going to hold such a small little miracle without hurting her. He took her from the nurse and just smiled down at the little girl. "Hey—I'm your daddy."

"So what's the verdict, John? Is her hair red or black?" asked Natalie as she sat there in a daze watching him.

He ran a hand over the soft fuzz on her head, "Red. Just like her Mama."

"Bring her here," she said as John walked over and placed the little in her arms. "Welcome to the world Meghan." As she ran a finger over her soft cheeks she couldn't imagine that she was holding her daughter. Some people never get to fulfill the dreams they have for their life, but for her and John all the dreams they had were just starting.