Chapter 21

A month had gone by when John and Natalie decided to have a short engagement; they wanted to get married before the baby was born. They had decided they didn't want a big deal of a wedding so they planned on going to the courthouse in a few days, they asked just a few family members to attend and it would be simple. Simple, they didn't need it to be more than that, they knew how they felt for each other and was the important part.

Natalie sat in the chair in the living room waiting for Jessica to arrive, it would only be a few hours before they met John at the courthouse and made it official. as Nat sat she couldn't help but wonder what life was going to bring her, she already had everything she ever wanted, she had John, she was having his baby. She felt the sadness come over her but she fought it, fought it hard. She knew something she thought she might never have or at least not for a very long time, her daughter, her Elizabeth, she had spoken to her once or twice on the phone over the last month an although it seemed like a start the girl still didn't want to have anything to do with visiting her or spending any actual time with her, it saddened Natalie to think that she was growing up and Natalie still couldn't be a part of it, it sadden her to think she was having a baby well, actually two babies but John didn't know, she was keeping it a secret. These two babies were to be Elizabeth's siblings and Natalie was upset to think that she might never let herself take the time to be part of a family with brothers and sisters, take the time to be a part of Natalie and John's family. Natalie remembered how nice it was once she realized how much her family loved her even Kevin. It was an amazing feeling and she again hoped that Elizabeth would someday want to be a part of that, a part of their lives. She heard Jessica at the door and she came out of her thoughts, she called for her to come in and Jessica did.

Jessica came in and they talked for a little while until it was time to get ready to go over and meet John at the courthouse.

John arrived at AC and knocked on Dr. Winters door, John was impatient so he knocked again quickly, John was in a bit of a rush, the train got him into AC a half hour late and now he had barely enough time to try and convince Elizabeth to come to the ceremony at the court house with him. Dr. Winters answered the door and was shocked to see John there.

"Detective Mcbain, how can I help you?" Dr Winters asked and John wasn't sure how to judge his tone.

"I need to talk to Elizabeth" John told him and the Dr's face was filled with a mixture of confusion and mistrust. Before the Dr could ask why Elizabeth came to the door.

"Hey, what's going on?" Elizabeth asked when she saw John

"Elizabeth, I came to see if maybe you'd like to come back to Llanview with me, Natalie and I are getting married in a few hours and I know it would mean a lot to her if you were there." John asked her and the girl looked confused, she almost looked like she would say yes when Dr winters answered for her.

"Elizabeth's busy today, she can't go" Dr winters said and Elizabeth looked at him

"No, I'm not!" Elizabeth told her dad defiantly and he gave her a stern look back. Elizabeth backed down a bit.

"He's right, I'm busy today," Elizabeth said and John could have sworn he heard a bit of disappointment in her voice.

"Are you sure, cause I could have someone, maybe Natalie's dad bring you home afterwards, you might have fun, it's only going to be a few family members so it won't be overwhelming" John said and he saw her face again get a optimist look

"Oh, and I think Natalie may want to tell you about the baby" John told her and she got a real curious look on her face

"Ha! Don't tell me she's gotten herself knocked up again out of wedlock" Dr winters said arrogantly as both John and Elizabeth turned and couldn't believe what he had the nerve to say.

"Excuse Me!" John said as he was took a few steps closer to the Dr when Elizabeth stepped up and spoke.

"I think I'd like to go. I wanna go dad," Elizabeth told them Elizabeth went inside to get ready and left John and her dad on the stoop by themselves.

John approached Dr winters quietly with a bit of a smirk on his face.

"If you ever talk about her like that again, and in front of her daughter you'll have to deal with me." John told him as he got in his face. Dr winters didn't say anything and then John backed up as he saw Elizabeth come out the door with her stuff.

"Don't worry dad, I'll be fine, I'll be back late or maybe if it's alright, if I feel like it I'll stay over" Elizabeth told her dad and she kissed him goodbye, John could see Dr. Winters steaming but he didn't do anything to make a scene or stop Elizabeth from going. John and Elizabeth went to the train and john looked at his watch, it was going to be close, he thought. John and Elizabeth were silent for a long time on the train when John asked her a question.

"What do they call you?" John asked as he turned to face her.

"What, what do you mean, they call me Elizabeth?" she asked confused

"I mean for short, Liz or Beth?" John asked

"They don't call me anything other then Elizabeth, why?" she asked

"I see.. It's just... Elizabeth is ...so formal, you sure they've never called you Liz? You look like a Liz, Elizabeth is a little stuffy." John told her with a smirk

"How about we call you Liz or do you like Beth better?" John asked her trying to get her to open up a little bit.

"I really like Elizabeth" she told him and turned to look out the window of the train

Forty-five minutes later they were running off the train and down the block to the courthouse.

Natalie stood in the Judges chambers with her family, John was already thirty five minutes late and she couldn't reach him on his cell phone. The judge was getting impatient and so was Asa, he had already had a fight with Clint over Natalie leaving the poor bastard referring to John cause he was so late. The judge walked over to Natalie who looked beautiful in her cream-colored short simple dress, her belly stood out a bit but and she looked beautiful. The judge told Natalie he could only give John five more minutes when they all looked up when they heard him come into the room running. John stood for a few minutes trying to catch his breath and get some words out.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm late" John said and looked over to Natalie

"Well, ya better be Mcbain, now can we get on with this?" Natalie told him as she walked closer to him

"Just a minute, I have a surprise for you" John said as he held up a finger and then he opened the door and Elizabeth walked in.

Natalie saw her walk in and her heart melted, her eye's got teary and she was speechless. Her daughter had come here and at her own free will, and John, he had brought her here, here for her, for this day. She wanted to go over and hug both of them when the Judge cleared his throat and told them he needed to be somewhere. Instead of going over and hugging Elizabeth she smiled at her.

"Thank you for coming, I'm glad you're here" she told her as she took a spot standing across from John as the Judge said a few words. Rex made his way over by Elizabeth and stood next to her without words to try and make her feel comfortable, he made a few weird faces and she warmed up to Rex instantly.

The Judge said the few important words legally marrying them and then he left. Natalie and John kissed softly. Everyone congratulated them and then Asa and Renee informed them that they had a small dinner party waiting at the Palace for them.

Everyone had gone to the Palace for the party and Natalie looked at Elizabeth who was off in the corner talking to Star. She seemed different, Natalie thought. Relaxed, she seems to be having a good time. John came up behind her and put his arms around her, she leaned into him.

"Thank you" Natalie told him softly as he nibbled on ear and she laughed.

"I didn't do anything that warrants a thank you, but later I'm sure you'll have a reason to thank me" John said joking as he continued to nibble on her ear.

"John, there's a room full of family here" Natalie reminded him while she laughed

"I know but we just got married, this is the only day I'm aloud to be this frisky in public" John told her as he started to kiss the back of her neck

"And in front of my dad?" Natalie said as she laughed. John laughed too, and then after a few moments he noticed she was staring at Elizabeth in the corner.

"Why don't you go over to her?" John whispered in her ear

"Not yet, she's having so much fun I don't want to spoil it for her" Natalie told him as she turned in his arms to look into his eyes. She touched his cheek with her hand

"I can't believe you did this, I can't believe you brought her here, I can't believe she's actually here. I love you John Mcbain, how did I ever get along in life without you" Natalie told him as she pulled their bodies together and kissed him, as john was pressed up against Nat's body the babies kicked.

"They kicked, did you feel that?" Natalie asked as she put his hand on her stomach.

"They Huh?" John asked joking

"You know what I meant, the baby, the baby kicked" Natalie told him covering up the fact that she was hiding. Natalie looked away from John briefly to see Elizabeth approaching them.

"Hey" Elizabeth said as she approached them

"Hey, are ya having a good time?" Natalie asked and Elizabeth shook her head yes

"If it's alright, I'd like to call my dad and tell him I'll be staying the night, if that's okay, I can stay with one of the Buchanan's, I know it's your wedding night and all." Elizabeth told Natalie and her eyes teared up again. Natalie looked at John.

"Call your dad and tell him you'll be staying with us" John told her as he looked at Natalie and she mouthed a Thank You. Elizabeth smiled at Natalie and turned to walk away and make her call to Dr. Winters but before she walked to far she stopped and spoke.

"I think I'd like to be called Liz" she said and then smiled at John as she walked away.