Chapter 17

John and Natalie arrived home in the early morning after a long night at the hospital and the station. Michael had run all sorts of tests to make sure Natalie and the baby was all right. John insisted on waiting for the results and it took a couple of hours, then Natalie wanted to go to the station to give her statement. John had tried to get her to wait till later, later after she had some rest but she had insisted she wanted it over with, she wanted things done, she wanted anything having to do with Chris and her life before John done. John had driven home and tried to watch her to the best of his abilities while he drove, he was worried about her, so worried, the Louie stuff wasn't that long ago and he wasn't sure how she would be handling this so shortly after all of that. John knew it was killing her, everything was killing her inside, it seemed most of the people who claimed to have love her lied to her in some way, that or they just weren't there for her when she needed them. He thanked God he was thou, he was thankful that fate had brought them back together again. Back together so he could always take care of her, always make things right for her or at least try and make things right for her, try to keep her safe.

John led Natalie into the bedroom and he helped her change into her pajamas. Without words they got under the covers and he held her. Natalie's back was to his chest and his arms were around her tight. As tight as John could hold her, that was what he would do, that's what he would do for the rest of his life, hold onto her tightly and never let go. After a few minutes he could tell she still wasn't asleep and he pulled her back closer to his chest and spoke into her ear.

"I love you Natalie, I'm always going to be here for you, I'd never lie to you" John told her softly into her ear, reassuring her of his Love and of his devotion to her.

"Thank you" Natalie replied softly as she brought his hand that were resting on her belly up to her lips and kissed it gently. She settled into his arms and fell asleep.

Sometime around noon John was woken by the doorbell, he ran downstairs to stop the impatient person who was now knocking. Natalie was still asleep and he wanted her to continue to sleep. He opened the door and saw who the impatient people were.

"What can I help you with?" John asked both Clint and Kevin as they stood at the door.

"We wanted to come by and see if Natalie was alright." Clint told John.

"She's fine, have a good day," John said as he was about to close the door on them. Clint put his hand out before he could.

"John please, can we come in, we just want to make sure she doesn't need anything" Clint asked as John made a stern face and against his better judgment he let them in.

"She's a sleep and I don't want her woken up so keep your voices down" John told them as they walked into the house.

"Was she hurt, did you have her checked out by a doctor?" Kevin asked as John took offense with Kevin thinking everyone was stupid.

"Like I already said she's fine and so is the baby" John said looking at Kevin

"Baby? Is my daughter pregnant?" Clint asked as John turned his head and focused on Clint.

"Yes, I just assumed Jess would have told you. Now that you know how she is I'd like you to leave before she hears or sees you, she's been under enough stress, I'm not sure it would be good for her or the baby if she caught the both of you here" John told them as he made his way to the door.

" John, I need to ask you something before we go, what are your intentions for my daughter?" Clint said not meaning for it to come out the way it did.

"My intentions! My intentions!" John said loudly as Clint was starting to piss him off.

"Well you aren't really married, not with Chris still alive, actually Chris and Nat are still married" Kevin added as the both men saw the look on John's face.

" Not that it's any of your business but my intentions are to love her the same way I've been loving her, I don't need a piece of paper to tell me whether I'm her husband or not, cause My heart says I Am! Get out!" John said raising his voice more than he should have.

Clint and Kevin realized this wasn't working out the way they had planned, they had planned to come here check on her and tell her they loved her and that they were sorry for being jerks but John wasn't going to let them near her, he was watching over her and he wouldn't let anything or anyone hurt her ever again. Clint understood it, understood his commitment to her, to his Natalie. He actually admired him for it. Clint and Kevin left and Clint shook his head as they got in Kevin's car.

"We're just gonna have to show her," Clint said out loud.

"What?" Kevin asked confused

"Just drive Kevin, I have calls to make" Clint told him as Kevin drove

A few days went by and Natalie seem to be doing better, each night John had to hold her tight and reassure her that he would never do those things to her, never lie, never take her for granted. John went back to work and Natalie had still been feeling wiped out, tired, as if it had taken an emotional strain on her life, she also wasn't feeling well because of the pregnancy. She was putting on her makeup for she would be venturing out today, today for the first time since the night she found out Chris was alive. The night the man that she thought was Cristian kidnapped her. He was Chris but not the kind man she once fell in love with, not the man she loved once, once before she found her soul mate again, her love again, her John. She finished with her makeup and walked downstairs to leave the house when there was a knock at the door. She went over to it and opened it.

" Can I help you?" Natalie asked a deliveryman standing at her door.

"'Yes, Is this the McBain residence?" the man asked and Natalie's mind went to a place she was trying not to go to. She wasn't a Mcbain; she wasn't legally married to him. They had spoke about it and they would get married right after her divorce with Chris was legal. When she filed the papers her attorney told her it might take weeks before a judge signed off on them. She just was not happy about waiting weeks, she wanted her name again, It felt good to be a Mcbain, she wanted to be a Mcbain, not a Vega, not a Buchanan or even a Balsom again. Vega's were liars. Buchanan's they were money hungry and ambitious and she never felt like she fit in, and a Balsom, although she was one most of her life there were too many bad memories accompanied with being a Balsom. Mcbain, now just hearing it had made her smile, that's who she was, a Mcbain, that's who she was always meant to be. Natalie came out of her thoughts when the delivery guy spoke again.

"Excuse me, excuse me Ms. I have a delivery, can you sign here," The man said and he handed her a delivery slip to sign. Natalie signed it.

"What is it?" She said looking passed the man and seeing a very large box on the ground.

"It's your wedding dress," the man told her as he carried it inside

"Wait, wait a minute I.. I.." Natalie said as he cut her off her words after putting the box down on the couch.

"You're Natalie right?" he asked and Natalie nodded.

"Yes, it's yours have a nice day" the man said and he left.

Natalie sat on the couch next to the box and she started to open the box, curious and confused as to what was going on, she took the dress out and it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. It was an off the shoulders sleeveless dress. It was off white color and had a plunging V- neck. It wasn't to long or to short it was the perfect length.

She was still admiring it when there was another knock on the door. She went over to answer it taking the dress with her, there was yet another deliveryman, this time with flowers, lots and lots of flowers, the man and his helpers brought them in and behind the men she saw Jessica.

"What are you doing here? Do you know what's going on?" Natalie asked with confusion still evident on her face.

"It's your wedding day silly, now lets get you dressed" Jessica told her, as Natalie still was very confused.