A/N: Sorry for the delay--I was having a mind block when in reality--I just wasn't ready to write what I thought it was time to write. So this came out instead. Hehehe--ya'll enjoy. Until next time--PCGirl.

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"Man, look at the size of that rock!" shouted Roxy as she began Natalie's manicure. "It's real, right?"

"Roxy!" laughed Natalie. "Yes, it's real."

"Does Johnny know how to pick 'em or what?" she beamed.

"Well, Meghan did have some help," she said as smiled at her daughter who was sitting in the chair next to her.

Meghan laughed, "Dad really had no clue what he was doing—I'm glad I came to the rescue."

They all heard the front door ding open and then shuffle of feet as Lauren came flying around the corner, "Let me get a look at this ring."

"Did everyone know about this except me?" asked Natalie as Jess came up slowly.

"Nah, Meghan just told me in passing last night. You know how much I blab—she couldn't trust me before that," she laughed as she went over and pulled a chair up next to Meghan.

They were all chatting—Jess asking how Meghan was liking fashion design when the door opened again and Lauren opened her mouth, "Uhm—excuse me. This is a private party—come back later."

"Lauren Victoria Brennan!" scolded Jess as the door closed again.

"Who was it?"

"It was Jamie," she sighed.

"Hold on Rox—I'll be right back," said Natalie as she stood up out of her chair and went to catch up with her. "Hey—Jamie wait up—ignore my niece in there—she somehow inherited my big mouth. If you want to wait until we're done though you can."

"No, it's ok—I'll just come back later," she said softly and began to turn.

"I heard you've got some pieces entered in Cris' next art exhibit—I'll make sure to come by and see them."

"Why do you care?" she snapped.

"Because I've always loved Cristian's artwork—he's an amazing artist and I'm sure you've inherited his gift. Plus with you being around Lindsay growing up you were always been around art—it's practically given that you'll have some talent."

"Why do you care about either of us? I mean you chose John years ago—why do my Uncle's paintings matter to you?"

"He was my first love, Jamie—I can't change that. Did you know I have a few of his pieces in my house?"

"Really?"

"Yeah," she said—she was sure none of the Vega's new about that—she'd always worked with Lindsay as an unknown buyer when she had purchased them years ago. "So you want to join us?"

"You wouldn't mind?"

"No—life's too short to hold grudges—and you should know something about the person before you make an opinion about them. You'd think with Lauren being a reporter she'd know that by now. So what do you say?"

"Sure," she shrugged and turned to walk back with Natalie.

Natalie knew the conversation they just had was long overdue but maybe it would have an impact on the relationship of the three girls.

Since she'd married with John she'd had very few conversations with Cristian—but still remembered the first conversation she had after she found out the truth.

Natalie walked down and took a seat at the window they'd given her--number 13—why such an unlucky number?

She sat down in the cold metal seat and waited—it was a few minutes before he came to the other side of the iron grate, sitting down but not looking her in the eye for a moment—finally looking up and she could see it—it really was Cristian, her Cristian, but what was she going to do? Go back to him when she still loved John—she'd made herself admit that though she was upset with him she knew she couldn't turn off her love for him just like that. Just like she never could turn her love for Cristian off—especially not now when he needed her.

She waited a moment before speaking, "It really is you."

"Yeah—though I don't feel like I'm the same person now."

"I'm not the same person either, Cris. Why did you think it was ok to keep the truth from me?"

"Because I knew I'd never get out of here—and I know you Natalie. I know you would wait for me and waste your life away for me. I'm not worth it."

A bit of anger boiled up inside of her, "You are too worth it, and shouldn't I have been the one to make that choice? Not you. Not John. What I do with my life is my choice, and if I wanted to sit and wait for you then I should have been given that option.

"Instead you two both gave me the option of mourning you again—I couldn't figure out why I didn't realize it was a complete stranger sleeping next to me and not my husband. Do you know how that feels Cris? To believe I let a stranger see me like you did—to touch me like you did?" she said, as tears filled her eyes and she tried to wipe them away but they returned.

He shook his head and whispered, "I'm sorry. I thought it was the best thing."

"It wasn't," she said as she took a deep breath. "Bo says he thinks they'll be able to get you out now that they know you were brain washed—but they still need to know who it was that did it."

"I think I know—I told Evangeline some of it when she'd come to visit me."

She shivered at the name—Evangeline had yet to meet the wrath Natalie had built up inside her, but it was coming—and if she was as smart of a lawyer as she claimed to be she'd run out of town before Natalie had the chance, "Good—you don't deserve to be in here."

"What do I deserve when I get out? Do I deserve you back?"

"I don't know," she shook her head. "I don't know what to do—I love you and John still, but differently and you both hurt me with this secret—each in a different way. But that doesn't change my feelings for either of you. Let's not look to the future right now—let's work on the present and getting you out of here and the help you need."

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Natalie had left the prison and driven home—letting her car drive nearly on auto-pilot. Almost to Llanfair she made a turn and began going to the one place she needed answers and get some of the frustration that was building inside of her. She gave a smile to the desk clerk downstairs and went straight for the elevator and pressed the button for the 4th floor.

She walked into the office despite the pleas of the secretary. She wasn't busy—it was an inside joke at the station that the woman really didn't have any clients—so Natalie knew she wouldn't be taking any of her time.

"Natalie," said a surprised Evangeline as she stood up quickly and tried to smooth the imaginary wrinkles out of her finely pressed suit—a move one usually did when nervous about a meeting that was taking place.

"Don't stand for me. I'm here today to talk to you as the wife of a client you are representing—my husband, Cristian Vega."

"I'm sorry you had to learn that way," she said with a tilt of her head. "My sister—she can be quick to react at times."

"Yes she is, and you are so not sorry so don't lie to me," snapped Natalie. "I visited Cristian today—he said you think you can get him out. How so?"

"I can't go into many details, but we have a clue as to what or who is causing the headaches. I'll see what I can do Natalie—hopefully I'll get him freed and you two can be together."

"Good. He doesn't belong in there."

"No, he doesn't."

"When did you start agreeing with everything I said?"

"I thought we were past the point of meaningless bickering, Natalie."

"We were—until you had your sister break into John's apartment and find something to split us apart. Now—we're just enemies again."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Me too. Listen—I have no reason to request this of you, but as my family has a large part of this town I feel I need to. We're grateful that you're going to get Cristian freed, but maybe once that is done and he's under the watchful care of doctors you should just quietly leave."

"Why should I do that? I've got a thriving law firm here."

"Really?" she said with a raised eye brow as she thought something else. "Let me put it this way then—I'm not sure who I'm going to chose yet. Cristian or John—but if it is John I chose I will tell you I'm not above fighting for what I want. You know that already, Evangeline. So save ourselves and him the hassle and just step aside gracefully."

"Who says John's not going to be noble and step aside for you to be with Cristian?"

Natalie smirked, it was a loaded statement, but she thought of the first thing that came to her mind as she turned and walked out of the office, "Nobility, my dear Evangeline, is highly overrated."

Evangeline did eventually slink out of town unknown—her sister in tow. Nobody, not even her best friend Nora heard from her after that. And it wasn't until years later that a single article with her name in it came about. Natalie still laughed at what the article detailed.

Natalie smiled at seeing her sister walk in and up the bar at Rodi's—they'd been so busy she didn't even realize it was lunch time. She was sure John and Nash would show up later—just late enough so that her and Jessica could gossip some before lunch.

The first thing she noticed was a smirk on Jess's face and a piece of paper she kept tapping on the bar, "What's got you so happy?"

"Read this," she said as she slid the paper over and Natalie opened it to see her uncle's handwriting scribbled in the corner. Jess, Natalie should enjoy this. It'll be in the gossip column of The Sun tomorrow. Todd.

A former semi-famous resident of Llanview was arrested yesterday at a Beverly Hills boutique yesterday after being accused of shoplifting andthen hitting the clerk when confronted about it.

The former resident in question was Layla Williamson—who has done few movies since she left here, most of them being flops or such small parts that if you blink you miss her.

When questioned as to why she did shoplift she said she was preparing for a role she was auditioning for later that day.

Her lawyer, and sister, Evangline stated she thought though her sister should have tried a different way to prepare for the role her sister is a gentle and quiet-natured person and was sure the assault charges would be dropped soon.

Natalie looked up from reading the last line at her sister's grinning face and just burst out laughing, "Oh God—so that's what she's up to these days? Getting her sister out of shoplifting and assault charges?"

"Guess so," she laughed as she saw John and Nash walking in together and grabbed the paper from her sister and putting it in her purse. "Hey—you two are here early," she grinned, as Natalie tried to control her laughter.

"Did I miss something?" asked John as he looked at Nash.

"You and me both. Want to share?"

"Uhm, no—it's nothing," said Natalie as she wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to look at John with a straight face but the laughter began all over again between both her and Jess.