A/N: There are song lyrics that go along with the later part of the chapter--I'm not putting them here because of rules (they don't rule, I'm saying it's in the rules to not use copyrighted song lyrics--hehehe) So if you want it with the lyrics either hop on over to the yahoo Jolie fic board or e-mail me and I'll gladly send you a copy. :) Until next time--PCGirl.
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"Good morning," he smiled as he watched her eyes flutter open. He was already awake, showered, and half dressed.
"Hey," she smiled sleepily from his bed before yawning. "Shouldn't you be at work?"
"I took a few hours off—tonight's the big night and I know you've got stuff to do at Crossroads before it opens. You nervous?"
"No," she shook her head. "It's perfect—everything is perfect and I don't see anything changing that," she said as he came and sat down next to her on the bed.
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"Where do these go, babe?" asked John as he walked in holding a box of miscellaneous items.
She left the box of glasses on the bar and walked over to see what he had, "Uhm—put it in the back corner near the sink—I'll rummage through it later."
"Yes, ma'am," he laughed as he continued through the back door.
A few moments later the front door opened and she scowled at who it was, "We're not open."
"Yeah, and when you do open I'm sure it won't be long," said Layla as she rolled her eyes at the rustic bar. "Who would pay money to come all the way out here when they've got Antonio's Capricorn?" she grinned evily.
"Is there a reason for your visit or did someone just let go of your leash and you went running?" asked Natalie, her arms crossed as she bit the inside of her mouth.
"I just had to come tell you the great news—Evangeline's at Statesville right now."
"Ooo. Yay," said Natalie sarcastically as she turned her back on Layla to work on something else.
"She's talking to Cristian—says there's a good chance she can get him out."
This time there was no Antonio or John in the room to keep her from smacking that damn smile off her face as she made a quick turn and walked from behind the bar and slapped her in the face so hard it stung her hand for a second.
"You bitch!" she yelled, causing John to run out into seeing them nose to nose.
"Hey—hey—break it up," he said coming between them. "Layla—is there a reason for this visit?"
"She's just blowing steam," said Natalie with a roll of her eyes. "She says the man in Statesville is Cristian."
"I'm not lying—and your boyfriend has known this whole time. Haven't you John?" she smirked at him.
"What are you talking about? John had a DNA test done—it showed that man was an imposter—he wouldn't keep something like that from me. You and your sister are grasping at any straw you think is left, and I'm seriously getting tired of it. Now if you'll please go—I've got a lot of work to do before tonight," she said as she turned around and went back to the glasses.
"Fine—but I'm sure it'll be a bust. But maybe you should ask John why he looks white as a ghost," she said and flipped her hair as she walked out.
After Layla left there was silence for a few minutes as John stood there watching Natalie work on putting away the glasses—her frustration level was building more and more as every moment of silence ticked by.
"The nerve of her," spoke Natalie as she slammed one down on the table. "I mean—she's not right John—you wouldn't have made me grieve Cristian all over again. John?" she said as she looked him straight in the eyes and for the first time since she met him she could read him like an open book. "Oh my God—please no."
"Natalie," he said softly.
She shook her head madly, "No. No. You wouldn't. You couldn't. He's not."
"Natalie."
She grabbed the glass and threw it at him, he ducked just in time, as she began screaming and crying at once, "GET OUT! GET OUT NOW!"
John didn't try to calm her down or explain anything, just did as she wished and turned and left her there—feeling alone in the world.
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"Natalie?" called Jessica as she walked into Crossroads, taking a step over the shattered glass. John had called and all he would say was she was here and she needed her sister. Jessica walked around the edge of the bar and saw Natalie curled up in the corner. "Natalie," she said as she rushed to her side.
"He's alive," she said, her face stained with tears. "My Cristian is alive and John knew this whole time."
"Oh sweetheart," she said hugging her tight. "I mean are you sure? How?"
"The DNA test—it showed the truth—John somehow knew and didn't tell me—I don't understand why though. How could he watch me grieve for Cristian again and still stand there and say nothing?"
"I don't know—did you ask?"
Natalie shook her head quickly. "I didn't—I told him to get out—after I threw a glass at him. I should have at least given him a chance to explain—not that it changes the outcome," she said with a slight laugh. "Leave it to me to jump before looking."
"We all do it. You want to push the opening back?"
"No," she shook her head. "I want something good to come out of today."
"Then let's get this place cleaned up and ready to go," said Jessica as her and Natalie both stood up and began figuring out what else needed to be done.
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John walked down the hallway and was almost to his door when he heard Michael behind him, "What is it Mikey?" he sighed.
"Hey—listen, I'm on call and just got a page so I don't think I'll make it to Crossroads tonight. Tell Natalie congrats for me and I'll be there tomorrow for sure."
"I don't think I'll be going either," he said as he walked in and Michael just stood in the doorway.
"What did you do?"
"It's nothing. I just—I made a promise to someone and it hurt Natalie in the end."
"Well, whatever the promise was—I'm sure if Natalie hears the whole story she'll find a way to forgive you—even if you might have been a shmuck for keeping it from her."
"Thanks, Mike," he said with a half grin. He doubted she'd forgive him so easily, but he knew one thing—he wasn't going to give her up without a fight.
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Natalie leaned back from the bar for a minute as Rex and Antonio both served drinks to the customers—they had others keeping check on Ultra Violet and Capricorn for the night—it was Natalie's night and they wanted everything to go smoothly.
The place was packed, and multiple patrons from before kept coming up to her and saying they were glad she reopened—they missed the atmosphere here that nowhere else around town gave them. She'd put on her best smile for them and the newcomers also, but Rex and Antonio both knew she was tired.
Something made her eyes go to the door as it opened and she sighed at watching him walk in—it must have been a loud sigh as Rex stopped what he was doing and began to go talk to him, "Don't. Not here—not now."
"Fine, but if he tries anything I'm all over his pig ass," he said quietly as he walked back to helping customers at the far end of the bar, keeping an eye still on his sister.
"Rex ready to take me out back and shoot me?" he asked as he shook his head and motioned towards the bottle of scotch behind her.
She shook her head as she reluctantly passed the bottle and a glass, "Drinking a little strong tonight, aren't we?"
He gave a shrug and long glance at her before pouring the amber colored liquid and then tossing it down before pouring a second—this time he just let it sit there for now. "It's busy tonight."
"Yeah, it is," she said giving a proud smile.
"I'm proud of you Natalie—you knew what you wanted and you got it—all by yourself," he smiled, before taking the second shot of scotch—drinking it slower, but turning it upside down this time to show he didn't want anymore.
"You helped me too," she said softly as she put the scotch back behind the bar. She went on helping other people, watching him come around the side of the bar and point to a beer—nodding that he could go ahead and get one.
He walked off to a corner table with his drink—he ignored the stares that both Rex and Antonio were giving him—but a few times when he'd look over his eyes would catch Natalie's and he could tell she just wanted him to leave. He was standing up to go when Antonio ran around the bar and over to where Jessica was sitting with Kevin and Kelly—pinning Nash against the wall.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here? You think you can just come back in here and Tess will suddenly pop out and run off with you again?" he mocked.
"Antonio stop. You're causing a scene," cried Jess as she tried to move his arm, but it didn't budge.
John looked at Kevin for a second and then both men went over and pulled Antonio off of him—Kevin taking Nash outside while John held Antonio back for a moment, "Nash is innocent in this—just as Jessica is. Your beef isn't with him—it's with me. You want to punch someone tonight? Try me."
The words were barely out of his mouth when Antonio's fist made contact with him and he saw stars.
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"Did you really have to egg him on in the middle of the bar?" she asked as she put antiseptic on the cut on his lip. "Hey, be still," she said as he jumped a bit.
"Sorry—but I could tell he was more upset with me than seeing Nash there."
"Yeah, well you did keep his brother from him for months," she snarked. "I'm sorry—I didn't mean it like that.
"No, it's ok—I know what I did was wrong."
"You never explained why you kept it from all of us."
"Cristian asked me too—I know that's not a good enough excuse, but he couldn't see you wasting your life away waiting for him to get out of prison. He wanted you to be happy. I'm sorry for keeping the truth from you," he said and waited for the silence to follow.
"Well, I should have been given the chance to make my own decision," she said as she finished putting away the first aid kit and slipped it under the counter of the back room.
She watched as John got up and put his hands on his hips—trying to find the best way to make an exit, "Why did you come here tonight anyways?"
"To see you on your opening night—."
"And tell you I'm not giving up on us without a fight," he said quietly as he walked past her and left out the back door without another word.