Disclaimer: Still not my characters!

Author's note: This is it. The absolute end. The monstrosity is complete. I hope you all enjoy, thank you so much for reading. There's more gushing from me at the end.

I had the beginning and end of this chapter in my head, almost from the moment I started this piece (a long time ago) but I got very stuck in the middle, which I'm still not thrilled with.

"Okay, what am I forgetting," Natalie said tapping her foot anxiously.

"Nothing," Kevin assured her.

"Oh!" she said, "I can't imagine she'll go through everything in the fridge, but there's more milk in the freezer if you need it. You know how to defrost it?"

"Yes," he said, not pointing out it was the third time at least she'd asked him that.

"Okay and if she gets fussy usually if you walk around with her it helps. And sometimes if you sing-"

"You haven't heard Kevin sing," Kelly said smiling from the sofa where she sat holding Kiara.

"Would you just get her out of here?" Kevin said rolling his eyes good-naturedly at John who was standing to the side, amused at the whole situation.

"I'm trying," John said sounding somewhat helpless.

"And seriously, Kevin," Natalie continued, "wash your hands because-"

"Natalie," Kevin said firmly, "I've been a father, remember?"

"I know, but preemies are more delicate-"

"As you've told us over and over," he reminded her.

"Go on!" Kelly said brightly, "You two have a great night. We'll be fine!"

"Okay," Natalie said walking over and bending down to kiss her daughter. "Give Mommy one more kiss. I love you!"

"Bye!" Kevin said when she didn't move immediately. "Before I have to call and ask Renee to move your reservation to a later time."

"If you need anything call," Natalie pleaded.

"I promise," he said.

"You have my number?"

"Of course I have your number."

"And John's?"

"Yes. And the Palace and the pediatrician and the police…"

"This is a bad idea," Natalie said bringing a hand to her forehead, "I can't leave her yet."

"I know it's hard," Kelly said sympathetically, "but you need a night off. She's almost three months old."

"But I just got her home," Natalie argued.

"Three weeks ago," Kevin pointed out.

"But-" whatever she had been about to protest she was interrupted by John.

"Okay you," he said grabbing both her arms from behind and scooting her towards the door, "we're going."

"Thank you!" Kevin sighed opening the door for them, "And don't bring her back too early or we'll just send you out again."

"Have a good time!" Kelly said as John pushed Natalie through the door.

"Hey, by the way, no defiling my couch!" Natalie called back to her brother over her shoulder. "You two are working!"

"Natalie honey!" Renee said greeting them as they entered the Palace dining room. "You look beautiful! How's the baby doing?"

"She's great," Natalie said glowing the way she always did when she talked about Kiara.

"Well bring her by to see your grandfather and me sometime," she said patting Natalie on the shoulder. "How are you, John?"

"Can't complain," he said, "I'm sorry if we're a little late."

"Oh, don't worry about that," she assured them, "that happens when you have a baby at home." She motioned for one of the hostesses to take them to their table.

"You do look amazing," John told Natalie as they settled into their chairs.

Natalie smoothed her hands self-consciously over the front of the blue satin dress Jessica had convinced her to wear. "The dress has gotten a little tight," she said.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," he said smiling at her, no doubt noting that her cleavage was decidedly more pronounced than it had been the last time he'd seen her in that dress.

She blushed, "Well you clean up pretty good yourself."

"Yeah?" he said looking down at his suit uncertainly. "It was real nice of your brother to arrange this."

"Yeah," she said wistfully, looking off into space for a moment before suddenly grabbing her purse. "I'm going to run to the ladies' room for a sec."

John eyed her suspiciously. "Or you can just call Kevin from right here."

She looked guilty and let go of her purse. "I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?"

"A little," he admitted, "but I figure everything you've been through, you're entitled."

"You know, I swore I wasn't going to be one of those paranoid mothers. I just… you know, I think about how close we came to losing her…"

"I came pretty close to loosing you too," he said looking into her eyes to intensely that she blushed again and looked down at the table. "I know what you mean."

"And what am I complaining about anyway?" she said, "I get to have her with me all the time." John had gotten into the habit of bringing lunch over for them every afternoon and stopping by after work most nights, but he admitted he would have preferred more time with them. He just didn't want to push Natalie beyond her comfort zone.

Natalie opened her purse and began rummaging through it. John expected her to pull out her cell phone but instead she retrieved a key on a battered Buchanan Enterprises keychain. "I was going to put this in a box and wrap it up all nice… but I haven't gotten around to it and I want you to have it," she said handing it to him.

"Is this-?"

"It's a key to the carriage house. I want you to know you are welcome to come anytime. Really. Four in the morning. We're usually up," she said with a laugh.

"Thanks," he said hooking it on to his other keys, "this really- it means a lot."

She looked around them, "You know, like you said, it was nice of Kevin to do this and everything, but he kind of missed the mark."

"How so?" John asked furrowing his brow.

"Well it's just not us, is it? The fancy restaurant, the fancy wine, the fancy food. I'm not saying I don't enjoy getting dressed up or seeing you dressed up, but this just isn't really our thing?"

"I just wanted tonight to be special for you," he explained.

"Wait," she said raising an eyebrow, "I thought Kevin arranged this."

"He did," he said smirking guiltily, "but I may have been a consultant on the matter."

"Since when do you consult with Kevin?" she asked.

"There was a middle man involved," he said.

She thought for a moment, "Uncle Bo?"

He shook his head, "I have incriminated enough people already."

"Well it was very sweet," she said taking a sip of her wine.

"All the same," he said, "if you want to get out of here after the appetizer and go some place else, that's fine with me."

"Can we have dessert instead of an appetizer?" she asked mischievously.

"We can do whatever you want," he said smiling at her.

"Except go home?" she verified.

He looked at his watch, "No, I'm required to have you out for at least another two hours."

They wound up at Rodi's, a little overdressed but feeling much more at home. "Hey Nattie!" Roxy said staggering over from the bar, "How's it going?"

Before Natalie or John could answer Roxy looked around them and asked softly, "Hey um… did you guys forget something? You know, kinda pink and squirmy and weighs about the same as a bowling ball?"

"Kevin's watching her," Natalie explained.

"Whoo," Roxy said in relief.

Natalie grew quiet as they sat down. John reached over the table and took her hand, "You okay?"

"Yeah," she said softly, "I just-" she glanced uneasily back towards Roxy.

"Roxy really did forget you at home when you were little, didn't she?" he asked.

She nodded, "I don't know if she really forgot so much as… I just don't want Kiara to ever feel that way—alone. Like she's an inconvenience. I guess maybe that's why I go overboard a little bit."

"Believe me," he assured her, "she won't ever feel that way."

"Hey guys," Michael said walking up to their table, "um… you look… overdressed."

"We just came from the Palace," John explained.

"Ah," his brother said, "listen, I want to thank you two."

"For what?" Natalie asked.

He leaned over their table conspiratorially, "Because I'm here meeting one of the nurses from the NICU who took care of Kiara. You know, I came by everyday to check on her, we got to talking…the concerned uncle thing plays real well."

"Glad we could help you out," John said giving his brother an amused look.

"There she is," Michael excitedly, "I'll see you guys later."

As he practically skipped off to join a petite brunette Natalie turned to John. "You know, John, I never apologized. I know I caused a lot of problems between you and your brother and-"

"Hey," he cut her off, "you weren't the one who caused them. We were all involved. And it's all behind us now, so let's not worry about it-"

"Excuse me!" a loud voice said, "Where is my godchild?"

"She's at home with her Uncle Kevin," Natalie said as Rex pulled a chair up to their table.

Rex seemed to ponder this for a moment, "You think you can trust him?"

Natalie smiled remembering exactly how little trust she'd shown Kevin earlier that night. "I think so," she said.

"Hey Natalie! John!" Adriana said coming up behind Rex, "Rex was just telling me all about Kiara. I think she has him wrapped around her little tiny finger already."

"Hey!" Rex said defensively, "Can I help it if I'm a sucker for beautiful women?"

"Well she is beautiful," Natalie said.

"I'd love to meet her," Adriana said.

"I'll take you over there sometime," Rex said eagerly.

"Sounds great," she said. "Oh there's Duke!"

As she left their table to meet him, Rex turned to Natalie holding up two fingers, "I am this close."

Natalie shook her head as he left to mingle elsewhere. "Is it me or are our brothers using our daughter as a tool for picking up women?"

He nodded, "They are."

"Okay, you two," Jessica scolded as she approached their table, "you're supposed to be at the Palace."

"How did you know about that?" Natalie said tilting her head back to look at her sister.

"Kevin told me," she said.

"Ah," Natalie said, "well we went to the Palace, but then we escaped. Just wasn't... us."

"Well as long as you're having a good night out," Jessica said slinking off to join Antonio.

"Why does everybody in this town always show up at the same place on the same night?" Natalie pondered out loud.

"I don't know," John said, "but it does kind of make it hard to have a quiet night out together."

"Yeah," she mused, "next time let's have a quiet night in together. You can steal some bad movies from Michael, we can sit on the couch and eat ice cream and popcorn…"

"Sounds great," he said not able to stop his mind from wandering to the other things that could be involved in a quiet night in together. "In the meantime, I think the table's open," he said nodding towards the pool table, "you up for a game?"

She shook her head, "Not in this dress. If I lean over a pool table I'm pretty sure I'm gonna pop out of the top of it."

He made a show of considering this, "Well, I'm not saying I wouldn't like to see that, but not with quite so much of an audience."

"No," she reiterated.

"You up for a walk?"

"That I can do," she nodded.

It was a clear Spring night, though still a little chilly. John draped his suit jacket over Natalie's bare shoulders. They made their way slowly through Angel Square and up to the roof of the hotel.

"Well, I have to admit it's been nice," Natalie said looking at the view. "Despite all the anxiety over leaving Kiara, everyone and their brother bugging us… getting to spend some time with you, I forgot how nice it could be."

"Yeah?" he asked sliding an arm around her waist.

"Yeah," she said smiling at him.

"Well, I have to admit I got some help on this," he said.

"On what?" she asked in confusion.

He ignored her question and continued. "'Cause the last time I tried this I made a mess of it. And you scolded me, and rightfully so, because you said no woman would want it the way I did it. And it occurred to me that I really have no idea how women want these things. So I asked around, got some pointers…"

"John, what are you talking about?"

He stepped away from her, turned to face her and dropped to one knee. And that's when she noticed the small velvet box in his hand.

"John?" she asked trembling as it began to sink in what he was doing.

"Now this isn't traditional," he said prying open the box, "Because I figured, you know, we're not traditional." He held up a white gold ring with a vibrant blue sapphire flanked by two small diamonds. "And I don't know anything about jewelry, but I saw this and it reminded me of your eyes and-"

"It's beauti-"

He held up a hand to stop her, "Okay, one thing they all told me is that you were supposed to shut up and let me do this."

"Okay," she said clapping a hand over her mouth as tears started to build in her eyes.

He cleared his throat. "Natalie, I have loved you for a very long time now. Long before I could say it; before I even knew it, I think. And I know I've put you through hell and I know that we seem to go from one crisis to the next, but I also know that I can get through any crisis as long as I have you. And I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. With you and Kiara. Holding you and doing everything in my power to make you as happy as you have made me," he paused and swallowed, "Natalie, will you marry me?"

Tears streaming down her face she squeaked, "Can I talk now?"

"Yes," he said taking a deep breath.

"Yes," she said nodding vigorously.

"Yes?"

"Yes," she repeated dropping to her knees in front of him. "Yes," she said grasping his face in both hands and bringing his lips to hers.

"Hold on," he said fumbling to get the ring out of the box. "You're supposed to let me put this on your finger."

"Sorry," she giggled wiping her eyes and letting him take her hand in his.

After sliding the ring onto her finger he kissed her hand softly, looking up into her eyes. Their eyes locked for a moment, losing themselves in each other before one of them lost their balance and knocked into the other and they tumbled to the ground in a heap of laughter and kisses and tears of joy.

When they finally made it back to the carriage house Natalie was relieved to discover that everything there had gone smoothly. "She fell asleep about an hour ago," Kelly explained, "she's such a good baby. She's really just a little angel."

"She is, isn't she?" John said. Kiara was the 'angel' Kelly was referring to, of course, but John couldn't help thinking how much her mother was too. Smiling contentedly Natalie leaned against his side and he put an arm around her.

"See," Kevin said to his sister, "you were able to leave her with us and have a nice night out and nothing disastrous happened, did it?"

Natalie started to shake her head 'no' but John nudged her and said with feigned concern, "I don't know, show him what you did to your hand."

"Oh yeah," she said extending her left hand with the new ring sparkling on it, "look what I did to my hand!"

Kelly let out a short squeal and took Natalie's hand to examine the ring more closely.

"I don't get it," Kevin said, "what's wrong with it? Is it hurt?"

"Kevin!" Kelly said swatting him playfully on the arm, "the ring!"

"Oh the ring!" he said realizing the significance of it.

"I'm so glad you went with the sapphire!" Kelly gushed.

"Wait," Natalie laughed, "did you know about this?"

"I told you I got some advice," John explained, "I talked to your mother who got Jess involved who talked to Kelly…"

"No secrets in Llanview, apparently," Natalie smiled.

"Well congratulations," Kevin said hugging his sister and then reaching for John's hand, "you two deserve to be happy."

"You really do," Kelly said hugging them both, "and if you need any help with wedding arrangements, baby sitting, anything, give me a call."

"We will," Natalie assured her.

As the door shut behind them Natalie turned to John and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a passionate kiss. She broke away a moment later and said, "I'm sorry, I want to check on Kiara real quick." She started up the stairs before turning and adding, "You can come, if you want?"

He followed her into their daughter's nursery and watched her lean over the crib, kissing her fingertips and touching them gently to the sleeping baby's face. She looked over at him and saw the look of amazement on his face. "What?" she whispered.

"It's just… the two of you… it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

She moved over to him, wrapping herself in his arms without taking her eyes of Kiara. "Sometimes I can't believe this past year really happened. And that in the end… it all ended up so perfectly."

"I don't deserve either of you," he said, "but I am going to enjoy every minute we have."

"You haven't experienced 3 am feedings," she joked.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said kissing her cheek. For a long moment, unaware of any passage of time they stood there together, watching their miracle baby's chest rise and fall.

"John," Natalie said eventually, leaning back against him, "how'd you like to stay and kiss your daughter 'good morning'?"

"I don't know," he said tightening his arms around her, "do I get to kiss her mother 'good morning' too?"

She twisted in his grip to give him a sly smile, "I sure as hell hope you weren't planning on waiting till morning to kiss me."

"Oh I definitely wasn't," he said as he brought his lips down to hers.

"Right answer, McBain," she murmured as the kiss deepened and they made their way down the hall to the other bedroom.

The end.

Author's note #2: So something strange happened just now… there are tears in my eyes. I would love to believe that's due to my amazing writing, but I know it's not. It's that this is over. And I'm relieved and I'm glad to have it out of my head and into cyberspace so I can move on to other things… but I'm kind of sad too. I'm not generally a very sentimental person, but this is possibly the longest thing I've ever written (may I have the sense not to attempt a fic this long for a VERY long time. Or ever for that matter) and definitely the longest thing I've ever finished and it is just amazing to me that anyone would want to read this much of anything I've written.

So I can't thank you all enough. All of you who gave me feedback, but really just any of you who have read this far. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.