Lanfair
"Mom," Natalie called when she didn't see her around. "Mom are you home?"
"I'm right here sweetheart" Vicki called pleased to see her. "Your not staying at John's tonight?" she asked.
"I am going over later. I needed to talk to you," Natalie said.
"What's wrong honey? Are you ok?" Vicki asked worriedly. She loved her children very much and the thought of anything happening to Natalie was very upsetting to her.
"I'm fine mom. Really." Natalie said quickly seeing the flash of panic that went across Vicki's face. "I do have a problem though."
"I'm glad you are ok." Vicki said relieved. "What is the problem you need help with?"
"I promised someone something and so I can't say too much but I will tell you what I can. Then maybe you can help me decide what to do." Natalie said.
"Ok" Vicki said "tell me what you can and I will try to help." Motioning for Natalie to sit down across from her Vicki leaned forward in her chair ready to help in anyway she could.
"Ok, this is going to be a little complicated so bare with me." Natalie said. She took a deep breath and started speaking. "About 6 months ago I found out some one was alive and went to talk to them. No one else knew that this person was alive and they asked me to keep it that way. This person has a family that loves them but they feel that if certain people find out they are alive they and their family would be in danger. I wanted to tell their family that this person was alive. They told me no and made me promise to keep it a secret." Natalie stopped to take a breath.
"Now it is months later, things are getting serious with John, at least for me, and it is killing me to be keeping a secret from him. I know he would not like me keeping this secret but I promised not to tell. This person was a very important person in my life along time ago and I think John has a right to know what the secret is. Also this person is in a place that is not so pleasant and if I tell John he might be able to help this person with their current situation. I want to do the right thing but I need to tell John. What should I do?" she asked.
Vicki was silent for a few minutes then said "Natalie I can't tell you what to do. But let me ask you this. Would telling this secret to John help this person or would it hurt them? If the answer is help then tell him but if the answer is hurt them or you are not sure then maybe you shouldn't say anything. If it wouldn't help or hurt the person then I do see any reason not to tell John. But remember you did promise not to tell and breaking your word shouldn't be taken lightly." She said. "My advice is to go to this person and ask them if you can tell John. That way you wouldn't be breaking your word and giving this person a warning about what you are going to do."
"Thanks Mom," Natalie said, "you have given me a lot to think about." She was going to go see Cris as soon as possible. Hopefully tomorrow because she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep lying to John. She got up to go find Jessica. They hadn't been spending much time together lately and she missed her. "Is Jessica upstairs?"
"Yes, I'm sure she would love it if you went up to see her." Vicki said happy that her girls were going to spend some time together. She looked at the clock and saw it was 11pm. "It's late so I'm going to go to bed now," she said.
"Good night mom" Natalie said giving her other a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I won't stay too long" she said, "I don't want John to get worried about me."
Natalie went upstairs and knocked on Jessica's door. "Jessica its Natalie" she called.
Jessica opened the door dragged her into the room and hugged Natalie. "I haven't seen you in days!" Jessica said. "What have you been up to? Where have you been? How are things with John? Have you told him you love him yet?" Jessica asked rapidly.
Natalie laughed and sat down on the bed with her legs crossed. "Slow down Jess." Natalie got comfortable and began talking. The girls talked about all that had been going on in their lives for the past couple of days for about an hour when Jessica asked "How come you aren't at John's right now? Not that I am not glad to see you." She hurriedly said.
"John is at a scene right now. There was a murder at LU."
"Oh my God!" Jessica said. "Was it anyone we know?"
"I don't know. John didn't say much before he left. Uncle Bo wanted him to do this case personally so I think there must be something more to it then just a simple murder." Natalie said. "Maybe you should go over there and get the scoop since you are a reporter for The Sun," she joked.
Jessica jumped up and ran to her dresser grabbing some clothes. "I think I will," she said heading for the shower.
"I was joking!" Natalie said loudly as Jessica shut the bathroom door and turned on the shower. She shook her head then yelled through the door to Jessica, "I am going over to John's now. I'll talk to you later."
"Ok, bye" Jessica yelled the door muffling her voice.
Natalie drove to the hotel and sat in the lobby talking to Roxy for about an hour before John came in. He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her back into him. "Hi, Baby." John said. Natalie turned around, flung her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
"Get a room!" Roxy said loudly from behind them laughing.
They broke apart and looked at her laughing as well. John grabbed Natalie's hand and pulled her toward the stairs saying to Roxy "Thanks, I think we will," and disappeared up the stairs. As they got into John's room Natalie asked, "So, who was it? Was the victim someone we know?" When John didn't say anything Natalie asked, "are you ok?"
John sighed, not knowing how much to tell her, he sat down on the bed bringing her with him. He was very disturbed by this murder. It was very unsettling to see that woman, who looked so much like Caitlyn, on the ground like that. He was silent for a few minutes then said, "Her name was Marsha Hunt and she was strangled but that's all I can tell you." John sat for another minute and said, "it was the strangest thing though."
"What?" Natalie asked.
"The victim looked a lot like Caitlyn, so much so in fact that I thought it was her for a split second when I first saw her." John said softly.
Natalie gasped in surprise. "Wow, that's intense." She said. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, it just took me by surprise." John said.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Natalie asked gently. This probably brought up some old issues for him and she didn't mind talking about Caitlyn, much. Sometimes when she was feeling insecure she imagined that he was still in love with her and not over her yet. No matter how much he showed her that he was with her there was an occasional doubt in her mind. Natalie supposed she would have doubts like that till John told her he loved her and so far he hadn't done that.
"It brought back the memory of the night she died." John explained. "It made me realize that if I ever lost you it would destroy me." He said looking into her eyes intensely. "When I was looking at the body it just hit me how important you are to me. I don't ever want to lose you or do anything that would make you leave me." John said feeling a bit foolish now that he had said that out loud.
"John, don't you know by now that I would never leave you unless you sent me away. I love you!" Natalie said passionately.
"Natalie I..." John started but Natalie was kissing him before he could finish. As their tongues mated desperately John's fingers deftly unfastened her blouse. Breaking the kiss she ripped his shirt apart, sending the buttons flying in every direction. John didn't seem to mind. In fact her actions caused his eyes to darken with so much desire that it made her tremble. He grabbed her and kissed her again, hard, fast, and desperate and trailed his lips down her throat, teasing her breasts through her lacy bra.
Natalie leaned back on her hands, her heart beating so hard she could hear it in her ears as John's finger slid inside the waistband of her jeans to unbutton them. She lay on top of the covers as he tugged off her jeans, and then rising to her knees she skimmed her lips over his wash board abs as her fingers found his zipper. A second later they were both naked and as she watched John lowered himself over her and kissed her roughly as he pressed her into the bed thrusting into her until they both shuddered in ecstasy. "Happy Birthday John" Natalie said sleepily. John was quiet for a few minutes then said "I love you too Natalie." When she didn't say anything he looked over at her and shook his head in amusement, she was already asleep. John lay there looking at her till he fell asleep himself.