Four Leaf Clover – Part 17
Summary: Started from Trinity's challenge of J/N engaging in an affair behind the Evangeline's back. Enraged, she kidnapped Natalie and confessed to murdering Paul Cramer, Tico Santi – her husband – and Katherine Fitzgerald. She killed herself in jail. Jessica is sick of being an idiot and Antonio's controlling ways and is going to California for her graduate journalism degree. John and Natalie are going to buy a place together. Hayes killed the Screech family before he was caught by the LPD.
>>>>>
Natalie walked into the church with Jessica and her mother for the memorial service for the Walsh family. The funerals themselves were being held in Atlantic City, but the Llanview community wanted to remember them where Marcie and Ron had lived, and died.
"There's John." Jessica directed her sister's attention to the far corner of the church where John stood with Eve and his brother. "Are you going to go over there?" she asked when Natalie didn't move.
"In a minute."
"What's wrong?" Jessica asked as their mother melted into the crowd.
"John sounded weird on the phone just before." Natalie frowned and shook her head.
"What's wrong?"
"I guess he's thinking about Caitlin, but it's something else too."
"Like what?"
Before Natalie could answer John looked over and caught her eye. He didn't smile, given the circumstances, but he was obviously pleased to see her. "Come with me." Natalie grabbed her sister's hand and pulled her along.
Eve embraced Natalie in a warm hug, while Jessica spoke with John and Michael. "You all right, dear?" Eve asked as Natalie pulled back. Not taking the younger woman at her word, Eve excused them and walked them to an area with more privacy and again asked what was wrong.
Natalie turned and watched John interacting with his brother and Jessica and then turned back to Eve. "I know this day is really about Michael, but it's John I'm worried about."
"He never went to Caitlin's memorial and he's worried that he doesn't quite know how to support Michael right now." Eve understood and was touched by Natalie's insight into her son.
"Because he was still in the hospital," Natalie murmured, wondering what it had been like for him to be at Cristian's memorial back then. Then, coming so close on the heels of that was Haver. "There's more. Evangeline Williamson killed herself this morning."
Eve's lips pursed, John hadn't told her that.
"Whatever she was, John still cared about her."
"You love my son a great deal don't you?"
"I think I always have."
"Then he'll be just fine with you beside him." Eve squeezed Natalie's hands.
"Thanks, Eve." Natalie felt a rush of emotion at Eve's obvious approval, so different than her still stormy relationship with Carlotta Vega.
Eve put her arm around Natalie's shoulder and led her back to group. Natalie put her hand on Michael's arm and offered him words of comfort the best she could. Then Andrew was stepping to the front of the church and asking everyone to take their seats.
Natalie took John's hand and followed the McBain clan to their seats in the front row. Natalie looked around and was surprised to see Shannon McBain sitting with Rex, Jen and Riley. She gave a mental shrug and settled in close to John.
>>>>>
"That was a nice service," Natalie commented.
"Thankfully no one sang," John shuddered and put his hand over his eyes.
"You don't look so good," Natalie pulled John's hand off his face.
John raised an eyebrow and smirked at her comment.
"Seriously. You're pale and sweaty."
They were standing outside the church waiting for Eve and Michael to disengage from the crowd and drive over with them to Llanfair, which Vicki had opened up for the post-memorial gathering.
"Just didn't sleep much last night because of what happened at the jail." He shrugged off her concern.
Natalie slid her hands under John's suit coat and settled them on his waist, gently stroking him.
"You have something on your mind," he commented, the color coming back into his face as he settled under her ministrations.
"It's okay if you're upset about Evangeline and Caitlin. I got my stuff in yesterday. Your turn." Her blue eyes were clear and calm as he looked down at her.
John shook his head and smiled softly as he slid his fingers through her hair and cupped the back of her head. The stood silently together until Eve and Michael came out.
>>>>>>>
"I have a perfectly good hotel room," John grumbled as Natalie led him up the stairs at Llanfair.
"And your entire family is staying here tonight before they head down to Atlantic City. You'll get to have breakfast with them. Won't that be nice?" Natalie couldn't stop the chuckle that bubbled up at the disgruntled look on John's face.
"I can't sleep with you when both of our mothers are under this roof." John stood looking at her bed. "And on all those flowers!"
"Really, you can't? Well, then I guess you'll get a good night's sleep."
"I never get the last word." John flopped down on the bed and rolled over and eyed her. "Nice dress."
"Yeah? How about helping me out of it?" She presented her back to him.
John scooted to the end of the bed and grabbed the zipper of the slim black dress and slowly slid it down her back. "There you go," he said when he was done. Then he bust out laughing when he saw her affronted face in the mirror. He put his palms on her bare back and pushed the garment off her shoulders. His fingers slid around to cup her breasts and he pressed tiny kisses up her spine, under her hair and onto her neck.
"Better" He asked when he reached her ear.
In answer Natalie let the dress drop to the floor and kicked it aside and turned around and straddled him on the bed. Soft moans filled the room as they slowly kissed. John undid the hooks of her bra and she helped him pull it off and toss it aside. They stayed as they were, him caressing her bare skin, her still astride his lap stroking him through his dress shirt.
Eventually he lifted her and placed her on the bed and took off his clothes as she waited and watched. When he was naked, he glided his hand up her inner thigh and then teased around to her hips, which she lifted so he could remove her panties.
Then without words he settled over her and slid inside. She arched as his aching manhood filled her. Their love making was slow and intense. Cleansing. Words of love echoed in the room as they lost themselves to anything but the feel of their physical and emotional connection.
"I love you, John McBain."
John raised himself up and looked down at her. His eyes were wet with unshed tears and he brushed the hair that was sticking to her cheek aside. "Tonight we start our future, the past can't hurt us anymore," he vowed.