A/N: Does anyone remember this story? LOL! It's been so long since I updated I hope you do. If not, here's a summary--Cris came back, John took the good guy approach and left to help Sonia in London. Natalie had to clear her head and went to London too--they met up, Cris found out and shot Michael. Jolie came back to Llanview, and Natalie decided she wanted to finish her degree at LU. Everyone on the same page? Good.
Thank you for hanging in to read the end of this story--I do hope you like it. And thanks to Manda for helping me with one name and Gracie for another name. Until next time--which story it will be, I do not know--Ya'll truly are the best! PCGirl.
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Five months later
John had taken the aisle seat, with Antonio beside him—Jessica and the rest of the Buchanan's filled up the entire row. She'd been so nervous this morning getting ready—worried that nobody would show up—nobody would care about her getting a degree. But she'd been wrong—every Buchanan in Llanview had shown up and the rest of the family that was living in London were also in attendance.
As 'Pomp and Circumstance' began playing everyone rose and turned to see the graduates begin to walk in. She happened to pause in front of him for just a moment as a row began filling up and he grabbed her hand—for a quick squeeze, the diamond pressing back against the palm of his hand.
He'd given her the ring last night—telling her he thought it was best to give it now—as in a few days they would be starting their life together somewhere else away from Llanview. He'd decided to stay with the FBI afterall, but instead he'd taken a training job at Quantico—teaching new recruits the basics of the FBI and just how to be a good agent.
He'd wanted to find some old associates that had left the FBI years ago like he did to become regular cops, but Natalie wouldn't have any of it. She said she prided herself too much to use him as a crutch, and as she began trying different precincts around the area they all saw what John knew—she was damn good at what she knew about forensics and more than one of them was ready to give her the job.
As he watched her walk across the stage and receive the diploma from her mother he couldn't be more proud of her than he already was, and wondered how he could have walked away from her in the first place.
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"You've been quiet since we got back from the party," said John as he watched Natalie fold and pack her clothes up in moving boxes.
"I've just been thinking."
She felt so stupid for not seeing the signs before—the naseau, the tiredness, the random cravings she'd been having while studying. She'd gone out this morning and bought the test—lied to John saying she needed hose for graduation today.
"What about exactly?" he asked as he sat down next to her on the end of the bed.
"How I'm glad you aren't going to be in the line of fire—not that I don't mind it, but at least I won't have to worry about being up late at night with our child while you are out on a case," she said as she looked at him and laughed at the confused look he gave her. "John—did you hear me?"
"Yeah," he said as he took in what she'd just said. "Are you—? Are we—? Pregnant?"
She just nodded softly as she took his hand and placed it on her flat stomach, "You're going to be a dad, McBain."
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Eight months later
Natalie felt a weight on the side of the bed then him softly touching her bulging belly. She stretched before opening her eyes and watching John just sitting there in amazement, "You do realize if he's not born within the next 24 hours I will be forced to try every old wive's tale until he's born—right?"
John just laughed at her threat, "He's quiet today."
"Yeah, he is," she said—realizing that for the first time in months his reaction to his dad's touch wasn't a swift kick to her rib cage.
"You want me to stay home? Just in case—."
"No—if I start having strong contractions I'll call the office and let them know you need to come home. Now go to work—TJ and I will be just fine," she said as he leaned down and gave her a deep kiss, then kissed her stomach before leaving.
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John threw his coat over the chair and then walked around to sit on the back edge of his desk as the classroom filled up. He enjoyed this—teaching new recruits how to become good agents in the field. Showing them the right way and wrong way to go about doing stuff—he had enough stories to share with them that they looked to him for approval.
There were a few in this class he could see great things for, and some others who he would be surprised if they even made it past their first assignment.
"Alright, let's get started," he said as the final few came in and took their seats. "Today they tell me I'm supposed to talk about staying focused on your assignment and don't let outside influences make you misjudge your next move."
"Like he has any problem doing that," chuckled on of the recruits—Pat Davis.
"Well, Davis—despite the fact you think you know everything about me I've made a few bonehead moves in my life. I'm sure you're no stranger to bonehead moves," he shot back and the young man got quiet.
"Even the best agent out there can screw up—slip up—put the people they are trying to protect in harms way, even put the people they love in harms way without even knowing it. The first thing you need to do is lose the cocky attitude of being a Fed," he said glancing directly at Davis.
"Nobody likes a cocky cop—especially not the bad guys. Cockiness can not only be seen as a sign of inexperience, but also a sign of vulnerability. So unless you don't care if your girlfriend lives or dies I suggest dropping the act before you get your first assignment," he said—suddenly images of Caitlyn going through his mind.
"Next thing—remove yourself from the outside influences. Yes you are protecting people, but more important you are doing your job. You might be doing an undercover operation and have a beautiful woman in your face everyday—but your job is not to score with her. If your manly need," he coughed, "is getting in the way of your job then maybe you shouldn't be in the FBI," he said as he turned around to look at his notes—a grin appearing on his face at the scene he'd just described.
"That sure sounds like you have personal experience in that department," laughed a voice from the doorway. John turned around to see another colleague and instructor, Doug, walking in the room and towards him. "But I guess ya'll will just have to wait to see if McBain is willing to share it," he grinned as he came to him and shook his hand then whispered something in his ear.
"Thanks," said John as his face lit up and he moved to grab his coat. "I've got to go—Doug will be covering the rest of this class and the classes for the next few weeks."
"You better hope he looks like her," called Doug as John reached the doorway.
"Yeah—I'll remind you of that statement when Erin gets pregnant," he laughed back and headed to the car.
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"Thanks, Mike. I'll let you know when we he's here," said John as he hung up with his brother. He smiled at the thought of his son, Thomas Joseph, finally coming into the world today.
His mind went back to what he'd been telling the recruits before he left. He'd tried to follow those rules—tried to do everything by the book and not fall for Natalie. Nothing had worked, even when he tried to do the right thing and put an ocean between them she'd unknowingly followed him.
That was one thing the recruits would have to learn on their own—despite their own good intentions sometimes you couldn't fight fate. John had finally given in to it and now he had the life he'd only dreamt of.