Chapter 16

Natalie was in her hardest class, Criminal Justice, taking her final. She finished a bit early and handed in her test. Going out to the student lounge she got a sandwich and thought about all the changes in her life. In the past 9 months so much had happened in Llanview. She had given birth to a beautiful little girl she and John named Carmen. Willow had also given birth to a baby girl and she had named her Dionysus (Di for short). Isis was taking to being a big sister better then Willow and Rex had hoped. Natalie shook her head at Di's name though. Willow had a thing for goddess names.

Her and Willow were as close as sisters since that day on Llanview Mountain. They had actually given birth to their daughters the same day. Natalie had gone into labor and then 5 hours later so had Willow. The men joked that they were the twins instead of Natalie and Jessica, who had moved to Napa with Nash to run his winery. Jessica was blissfully happy and Nash was a real good guy so Natalie didn't begrudge her that happiness.

Natalie started to frown when she thought of the other things that had happened during the past months. John had found out that Spencer had been the drunken doctor that had operated on his father. Not only that but Spencer had almost taken over BE from Asa and Kevin. It was only through a miracle and some fancy talking by Layla Williamson of all people that had saved the company from hostile takeover. John immediately went to confront Spencer but Spencer had already cleared out. What John had found was even more shocking.

In a dingy little room down at the docks John had found Margaret Cochran alive and well and with a baby she claimed to be Todd's but couldn't have been. Unless she had the gestation period of an elephant there was no way that the baby could possibly have been Todd's. This had gotten Todd off fully for the murder. Willow had gotten evidence that proved that Spencer had been working with Margaret the whole time to frame Todd for her murder but no one knew where he was. You couldn't arrest someone you couldn't find, Natalie mused.

"Hey, baby." A voice said from behind her and Natalie turned around ready to blast the offender. She smiled when she saw who it was.

"Hey, John!" Natalie said to her husband who was holding their 2-month-old daughter. "What are you doing here?"

"Some one missed you," John said handing Natalie Carmen, who immediately grabbed a piece of Natalie's hair and started to chew on it. Leaning over the baby and giving Natalie a kiss on the lips he said, "I missed you too."

Natalie hugged Carmen and kissed her on the forehead. "You're so sweet, but why are you really here?" She said calling him on his obvious lie.

John grinned at her for a minute. He still marveled that she could read him so well. Looking at her holding their baby he was just as awed by her beauty as he was the first day they met. Giving birth had done nothing to take away from her figure, which was just as lush and sexy as ever. He was starting to get turned on just looking at her and he had to force his thoughts to more boring matters.

"John?" Natalie said in a tone that indicated that she had said it more then once.

"What? Oh yeah. I got called into work and the sitter couldn't make it." He said sheepishly. "I need you to watch Carmen. You're done for the day anyway aren't you?" He asked.

"Yeah but we were gonna spend the rest of the day together." Natalie said and put a pouting expression on her face.

John grinned at her expression and kissed her again.

"Ok, ok you convinced me." Natalie said laughing. "Just call if you're going to be real late."

John kissed her a third time and headed off to the station. Natalie watched him go and hitched Carmen up on her hip. Gathering her things she headed over to Willow's office. At least she didn't have to be alone, Willow and Rex always brought Di to work with them. They had set up a room as a nursery and pretty much worked from in there.

Willow sat in her chair watching Di. She couldn't stop watching the little girl. Willow didn't know it was possible to love someone so much so quickly. She was waiting for Rex to call. He was working on finding Spencer but they hadn't had much luck so far.

Willow thought about John, he was having a hard time with the fact the their father's killer was still out on the street. Natalie was helping him deal with it but Willow knew how much he wanted to catch Spencer. She knew how John felt because she felt it her self. She had never met him but Michael and Eve had told her so much about him that she felt like she knew him. That was the one thing that she truly regretted, that she had never been able to meet her father.

When it came down to it she had never really had a father. Her adopted father had died when she was 5 and it wasn't until RJ came into her life that she ever experienced that kind of love. At the thought of RJ Willow smiled. John and Michael just didn't understand. RJ wasn't citizen of the year that was for sure but he was loyal and when he loved someone he didn't go half way. He would do anything for those he loved, and that was a quality that he and Willow shared. Plus he was a lot of fun to be around, never a dull moment with him. Willow thought with a laugh.

"Willow?" Natalie called from the front of the office holding on to her squirming 2 month old.

"Back here." Willow called back a little more softly not wanting to wake Di. Reaching into the crib she stroked her satiny cheek and smiled.

Natalie walked in the room carrying Carmen, whom Willow had started calling Cammy, and smiled at Willow. "Hi," she said softly not wanting to wake up Di.

"Hey," Willow said happy to see her friend. "I thought you were taking finals today? Is John with you?" She asked wondering why Natalie was there and not with John or at school. Not that she wasn't glad to see her quite the opposite in fact. Rex wasn't letting her do anything strenuous because of her hard labor with Di. It was becoming quite irritating but she loved Rex for his concern.

"John had to work and I'm done with my tests. I was bored and I didn't want to go home yet. Mind if we hang out with you for a while?" Natalie asked. She didn't like being alone in the apartment any more then she had to. Plus her and Willow hadn't talked in a few days and she needed to talk to someone or she would go crazy.

"Sure. I could use the company. Rex still isn't letting me out in the field." Willow said exasperated.

Natalie laughed a little. It still amused her that Willow could kick anyone's ass but she still let Rex boss her around. It just showed how much Willow loved him but Natalie didn't expect her to listen to Rex for much longer. "My little brother still worried about you? The thing in the delivery room really freaked him out didn't it?" Natalie asked.

"Well he isn't so good around blood I guess." Willow said with a rueful smile. She had started to hemorrhage after delivering Di and Rex had literally freaked out. He had been a wreck and even after the doctors declared her well again he still treated her like she was made of glass.

"Oh it's not the blood that bothered him. It was the fact that it was your blood. Don't worry he get over it. Where is he anyway?"

"Oh he is out chasing a lead on Spencer." Willow said wistfully, obviously wanting to be out there with him.

"Speaking of Spencer," Natalie began just as Rex came in the door looking excited. "I think I might have a lead," he said.