Michael arrived at John's 20 minutes later and wanted to know what was going on. John looked more excited then Michael had ever seen him and was freaking him out with all his smiles. He was used to John frowning all the time and being moody.
"Ok, What gives? What's going on?" Michael wanted to know.
"Shh! I don't want to wake up Natalie," John said, "I am going to ask her to marry me!"
Michael's mouth dropped open and he gasped. "Your what? That's great!" He said slapping John on the back. "When?"
"Soon," John said, "I want it to be special and I need a ring."
Michael, still in shock at hearing that his brother was going to ask Natalie to marry him, nodded and then asked, "so what do you need Willow's help for?" A little hurt that John didn't need his help besides sitting with Natalie till he got back.
"I need her to help me plan the perfect moment to ask her and to help me pick out the ring." John said realizing that he had hurt his brother's feelings by automatically saying he needed Willow's help with out explaining why. "No offense little brother but you suck at picking out jewelry." John said with a small laugh.
Michael nodded feeling better. "Ok I get it. Have fun," shooing john towards the door. "Get going I don't have all day. By the Way what do I tell Natalie when she wakes up?" He asked knowing Natalie wouldn't be happy that John thought she needed someone to stay with her.
John opened the door, turned around looking at Michael, "I don't know you will think of something," then with a big grin he headed out the door before Michael could respond. "John!" Michael said to the closed door, then under his breath, "I'll get you for this."
John headed over to Willow's office thinking about what he was going to say to Rex. He didn't want Willow to be upset with him but he didn't want Rex to play his usual games with her either. Willow was his sister and he needed to protect her. In a way John wanted to be like Rex. No matter what Rex's faults were he was a great brother to Natalie. John hoped he could be as good of one to Willow. That didn't mean he wanted the guy dating his sister though. John sighed and shook his head, being a big brother to a sister was more complicated then it was with Michael.
When John got there he first looked in Willow's office, seeing she wasn't there yet, he went into Rex's office. Rex was looking through a file and jumped when John walked in. "We need to talk," John said ominously.
Rex sighed, he had know this talk was coming and decided to head John off at the pass. "I care about Willow very much, and I am not going to stop seeing he unless she tells me she doesn't want to see me any more," he stated in a matter of fact voice.
John nodded respecting Rex just a little bit more for standing his ground. "If you hurt my sister I will hurt you," John said, "I have only just found her but I love my sister and if I find out you are using her, or hurt her in any way, you will have to deal with me." John said in his most intimidating voice. "I remember what happened with Jen and I do not want a repeat with my sister."
"What happened with Jen is none of your business," Rex burst out then in a more subdued voice, "You don't have to worry. Willow doesn't like to get drunk all the time and she doesn't just hop into bed after one date. I respect her to much to treat her like that."
John nodded this time and asked, "so where is she?"
"She was feeling at loose ends so she decided to go to the firing range to get in some gun practice. She called a little while ago and said she would be there all morning." Rex told him. "She wanted me to come down too but I told her I didn't need the practice. I'm a crack shot." Rex said with pride.
John rolled his eyes and suppressed a shiver at the thought of Rex running around with a gun. He didn't like it but Rex had a permit to carry a gun John just hoped he never had to use it. He said good bye to Rex and headed to the firing range to find Willow.
The Firing range
Willow was deep in thought about a case she was working on as she fired shot after shot into the target. The case she was working on was her own kidnapping. She was getting close to finding out who did it but she was at an impasse right now. The nurses at the hospital couldn't tell her anything and though she had the name of the doctor that delivered her, he couldn't tell her anything because he was dead. Dr. Balsom was his name, and she knew that he was related to Rex and was Roxy's husband but she wanted to find out more before asking them about it.
As she pulled the target back she looked at it. Her grouping wasn't bad but she just couldn't seem to do it consistently. Willow couldn't figure out what she was doing wrong. She was usually good at most things but she wanted to be better at firing her gun. It might save her life one day. Rex had tried to help her but she just couldn't get it right. She was contemplating Rex and their relationship when she heard someone behind her. She just reacted, whirling around, and knocked them to the ground pointing her gun at the person's head.
John let out a surprised grunt as Willow spun around and knocked him flat on his ass. "Ow! What did you do that for, Will?"
"Oh! John, I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" Willow flushing bright red in embarrassment. "You shouldn't sneak up on me like that." She scolded, helping him up.
"You got to teach me how you did that," John said rubbing his sore bottom, impressed. Looking at her target he said, "not bad."
"Not so good either," Willow said, "I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I do it exactly like the instructor told me to but I can't seem to hit the target where I want. I am always off by an inch or 2. So how is Natalie? Is she ok? I am really worried about her. I was going to call her a little later. I didn't think she would be up yet. Where is she," Willow asked looking around.
"Natalie is fine, she is home sleeping. She was still shaken up about last night so I asked Michael to come over and stay till I got back. I didn't want her to be alone when she woke up." John said as he clipped a target up and ran it out. Taking out his gun he proceeded to shoot the target with perfect aim as Willow looked on in awe.
"How did you do that? Can you show me? What am I doing wrong? Please you gotta show me how you did that?" Willow said in a rush. "I'll teach you that move if you do," she tried to bribe.
John smiled and nodded. "Sure, it will have to be quick though, I need to do some stuff today." He showed her that her grip had been wrong and had been affecting her aim. He showed her how to hold the gun properly and after about a half an hour of practice she fired perfectly every time.
Willow set down her gun and gave John a big hug. "Thank you, Thank you so much," She said with a smile. "So why did you stop by anyway? It wasn't to help me with my aim."
"Actually I need your help with something," John said, a little embarrassed.
"Sure, with what?" Asked willow as she picked up her things and got ready to leave.
"I need help picking out an engagement ring for Natalie and a little advice on a romantic way to ask her to marry me." John said with a huge smile.
Willow squealed with happiness. "Your gonna ask her to marry you! I am so happy for you! You guys are perfect together." Willow said as she hugged him roughly. "Of course I'll help!"
John grinned at her exuberance. He was finding out that, though when they first met Willow had been shy and quiet, Willow was a bubbly, physical, young woman. She liked to hug a lot and while she wasn't a chatterbox she did talk a fair amount. What puzzled him was the haunted look that came into her eyes sometimes. He knew the look well; he had seen it in the mirror every day for 5 years till Natalie had come into his life.
When John had asked her about it once she had said it was nothing and brushed off his questions. He had told her about Caitlyn and their father hoping she would open up to him if he opened up to her. She did tell him about her parents but he didn't think that was what it was. He wondered if she would ever tell him why she sometimes got that look in her eyes.
Shaking off his gloomy thoughts John focused he attention back on the matter at hand. "I'm not sure what kind of ring Natalie would want," he said as they headed to her car. He had walked over to the firing range because it was very close to home.
"Well lets go see what they got," Willow said as they got in the car. "Natalie isn't a normal girl so a normal ring won't do. How much did you want to spend?"
John shrugged and said, "I hadn't really thought about prices. " Lets just see how it goes," thinking that he would spend as much as he had to make Natalie happy. He couldn't wait to ask her to marry him, though he was a bit nervous he didn't think she would turn him down.
Willow nodded and pulled out of the driveway. On the way to the jewelers they discussed romantic ways for John to pop the question. By the time they had reached the jewelers they had decided that John would prepare a romantic night on the roof of the Angel Square Hotel, as it held special meaning for both of them, and ask her then. They went in to pick out a ring. When they came back out John, who had spent more then he had ever thought he would on a piece of jewelry, had the perfect ring.
"So when are you going to ask her?" Willow asked excitedly on the drive back to John's place.
"Tonight," he said, "I have to set it all up so can you take her out and keep her busy till I'm ready?" At Willow's nod he grinned, "I need to pick up a few things from home then I am going to head over to the hotel." He glanced at his watch quarter after 12. Michael needed to leave soon so John wanted to get there as soon as he could.
When they arrived at the apartment Natalie was up and trying to find out where John had gone. Michael looked visibly relieved when John and Willow walked in. Giving Willow a hug and making plans for dinner later, he quickly left.
"I don't need a babysitter you know." Natalie said a bit irritated. Willow discreetly left the room and went into the kitchen.
"I know you don't," John said, " It was for my piece of mind. You almost died yesterday and I needed to make sure you were ok while I ran some errands. I need to go to work and for my piece of mind Willow is going to keep you company till I'm finished. Then I have something special planed for tonight." He said pleadingly.
Natalie didn't like the idea of being babysat but she could tell that John was afraid something would happen to her. She sighed and nodded,
"Ok, John. If it will make you feel better."
John looked very relieved and went into the bedroom to get a few things. With in minutes he had everything he needed packed in a duffel bag and was headed out the door, but not before giving Natalie a lingering kiss before he left.