Chapter 18

Natalie took a seat on the couch and watched as Elizabeth stood several feet away looking around the apartment, she never met Natalie's eye's and Natalie gave her a few minutes to see if she would speak first but she didn't. Natalie pulled a throw pillow close to her and she started hugging it.

"Have you eaten?" Natalie asked while her chin rested on the top of the throw pillow

"Yes" Elizabeth answered short with an annoyed voice

Natalie thought maybe it would be best to clear the air a little, maybe speak about things and what was going on and then maybe they could be civil enough to get to know each other.

"Maybe it's a good idea if we talk about things first, you know what's going on with this court case and stuff. Then maybe we could get to know each other better." Natalie told Elizabeth as the girl stared anywhere but towards Natalie. Elizabeth finally focused towards Natalie and spoke still in an annoyed tone.

"Well I know all about the court case and what you are trying to do to my dad and I don't have any intentions of getting to know you better." Elizabeth said in a huff

Natalie heard the tone in her voice and she didn't like it, this kid, her kid was a spoiled brat, she thought about whether she should just put up with it so not to cause more aggravation or if she should put a stop to it now, the tone in her voice, the attitude, Natalie decided to hold off on saying something about the attitude knowing that she was probably just scared, scared about what was going on, scared because she didn't know Natalie, scared because of being in a new place with someone who was basically a stranger to her.

"I know you probably don't want to hear it but I'd like to tell you a few things, you don't have to talk to me or tell me anything but I'd like to explain things and then tell you a little bit about myself" Natalie spoke softly and patted the seat of the couch next to her for Elizabeth to take a seat but she didn't, she shook her head no and refused to, Natalie took a deep breath and began.

"I figure you're pretty confused right now, people are saying I'm you're mother and stuff, telling you I gave you up for adoption but I didn't. I tried my very best to keep you healthy inside me when I was pregnant and then ...well then I thought something was wrong with you and when I went to the clinic Dr winters told me you ...you.." Natalie wasn't quite sure if she should even be telling her all of this, Elizabeth did have a right to know, but when she got to the subject of them telling her she was dead inside her Natalie couldn't get the words out.

"That I was dead, I know, I know my dad told me all about what you are trying to lie to the judge about. But it wont work, you gave me away and now you just want me back, not sure why, but you want me back but I have a dad and I had a mom and I don't need you, I'll never need you, not ever" Elizabeth said as she stormed off into her room, she slammed the door before hurting Natalie with more of her words.

"You'll never be my mother, never, I hate you, I hate you" Elizabeth said as Natalie could hear her beating her bed with her fists.

Natalie sat on the couch stunned, she knew this wouldn't be easy and that it wouldn't happen over night but she wasn't prepared for this kind of rejection, to be rejected by the child she had hoped to get to know, the child that although they were apart for ten yrs the child that she loved. Natalie sat hugging the pillow while a tear fell from her eye. She knew what would make her feel better, John. John would know just what to say to make her feel better. She grabbed the phone and called him.

"Hey, it's me, I'm in a really bad place right now, she won't even give me a chance to talk and explain things, she doesn't even want to get to know me and now she won't come out of her room." Natalie told John on the phone as Natalie continued to sit on the couch with the pillow.

"you just have to give her time, she's sc--" John was saying as he heard Natalie drop the phone and run away.

"Natalie! Natalie what's wrong? Natalie!" John continued to say into the phone for a few minutes as she came back into the living room, picked the phone back up to continue to talk to him.

"I'm sorry, I got sick and had to run to the bathroom" Natalie told him

"Are you still feeling sick?" John questioned concerned noting she's been sick a lot lately

"On and off because of stress, I'm fine now" Natalie told him as she continued to speak with John and he calmed her nerves. They said goodnight a few hours later and Natalie locked up the apartment and turned off the lights. She walked over to Elizabeth's room and spoke to her thru the door.

"I understand you're scared and you really don't know me but I think if you give me a try you might like me. Maybe tomorrow we can do something fun and you can meet our family. Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning" Natalie said to her door

The next morning came quick and Natalie went out to the kitchen when she noticed Elizabeth's door still wasn't open. She walked by it and again spoke to it.

"You can't stay in there all day and all night for the next day and a half" Natalie spoke thru the door in a soft voice

"Oh! Yes I can" Elizabeth yelled thru the door

"You've got to eat and go to the bathroom sometimes" Natalie said, as she was about to turn and walk away into the kitchen for coffee.

"I'll make you breakfast, what ever you want," Natalie told her again thru the door but still no answer.

"suit yourself" Natalie said as she went into the kitchen to make coffee. A few minutes after that Natalie turned to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway.

"Do you have cereal?" Elizabeth asked and Natalie pointed to the shelf in the pantry with a few different cereals. Natalie got her a bowl, a spoon, and the milk. The two sat and ate their breakfast without any words spoken. After they finished eating breakfast Natalie started to clean up and she watched to see if Elizabeth would run off back into the room. She didn't.

"I didn't know if there was anything you wanted to do today but I thought it might be nice for you to meet your family and maybe even be officially introduced to my boyfriend John." Natalie mentioned to her still keeping a soft tone hoping Elizabeth would soften a little.

"You mean the guy with the long hair," Elizabeth asked

"Yes, that's John" Natalie answered as she wash the dishes in the sink from breakfast.

"Gross, I don't need to meet him," Elizabeth said making a gagging noise

"Well I think it would be good if you did, he and I plan on being married someday so that would make him your step dad, he would be part of our family." Natalie told her as she moved away from the sink towards Elizabeth who was still sitting at the table.

"I'm gonna tell ya again, you aren't my mom and you never will be, so he'll never be anything to me, nothing." Elizabeth yelled and stormed off into the room and spent the rest of the day in there. Elizabeth spent the next day and a half in the bedroom, only coming out for meals and to go to the bathroom, Natalie couldn't reach her not with her words, or with anything else for that matter.

Natalie's court case was not set to happen for a few months; the courts were extremely busy and even with Asa's pull they couldn't get the date moved up. Elizabeth came to visit every weekend where she proceeded to stay in the bedroom and only come out for meals, when she did occasionally come out she was bitter and nasty to Natalie. It had been eight weekends of this and it was really starting to affect Natalie, she was still getting sick here and there from the stress and emotionally she was a wreck.

Natalie was getting ready for work Monday morning after another horrible weekend with Elizabeth; she was putting on her makeup when she recalled their last conversation yesterday, actually Natalie's conversation with her thru the door.

"I know you don't understand things but... but all thou I really don't know too much about you, I still love you, you may not want to be but you are still a part of me and even when I didn't know you were alive I still loved you. You may not believe that I didn't give you up but it's true, I loved you when I carried you and if you could just give me a chance I could show you how much I still love you." Natalie told her thru the door

"No! If you love me so much than leave me alone, let me stay with my dad and my friends and stop forcing me to come here with you and your family. I hate it here; I hate you, all of you! I just want to go home and stay home." Elizabeth said to Natalie and then Natalie remembered how loud her daughters' crying was.

Natalie continued to think about that conversation and tears came to her eyes, she was making her miserable, sad and oh so miserable. Natalie came to a conclusion, she didn't want to see her this unhappy, she never wanted anything but happiness for her, and even with everything Dr. winters had done to her, he still took really good care of Elizabeth and he loved her. Natalie knew she had to find a way to let go, let go of the anger towards DR. Winters and let go of Elizabeth. It was what was best, best for Elizabeth. John walked in from out of the shower, he went over by Natalie who was standing in front of the mirror looking at herself, she had tears in her eye's, John went over by her and put his arms around her.

"Will you take me to AC today? " Natalie asked John

"Why?" John asked as he continued to hold her

"I need to see Dr. Winters" Natalie told him as he stared at her confused for a second

"Natalie, no! You're not suppose to be talking to him outside of court" John reminded her

"I have to, it's okay it doesn't matter anyways, I'm letting her go." Natalie said as a few more tears flooded her eyes and were released