Disclaimers: I own only Tara.

Dedication: This one is for Dana for giving me the idea about a certain little something… She knows what!

Recaps: Natalie recalled having a blackout after talking to a cute guy named Larry at Xanadu, then waking up in his bed wearing his T-shirt. She called John to come pick her up but didn't tell him what had happened. Then (after having STD testing done) she admitted to John that she loved him and was ready for another chance. They made love, and she soon found out that she was pregnant. She didn't know who the father was for certain. Then, 9 months into the pregnancy, she let the cat out of the bag. Natalie told him everything about Larry, then stormed out. About two weeks later John came to see her and told her he still loved her and would be there for the baby whether it was his or not. Then the baby was born. She was a little girl whom they named Tara Eve McBain. John assured Natalie that the DNA test wouldn't change how he felt about Tara. The nurse came in to take her for the DNA testing.

Previously

"I'm sorry, but Tara is scheduled for a DNA test?" John smiled encouragingly at Natalie as he handed the nurse the baby very carefully. They clasped hands as they watched them leave the room, needing each other's strength.

John's hands trembled as he looked down at the results. What was within wouldn't change anything he tried to tell himself. But in his heart he knew better. He looked down in the crib and watched Tara sleeping. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to see Natalie standing there in her robe. "What are you doing up? We're supposed to sleep when she does remember?" He nodded and held up the official looking envelope in his hands. "Results came in."

Her eyes widened and she let her hand drop. "Right." She searched his eyes, and something she saw in them scared her. "John?" He blinked back tears and making a sudden decision he slowly and deliberately tore the envelope to pieces. "I would love her just as much if I knew she wasn't mine," he whispered. "But I'm afraid that if I knew for sure she was another man's I wouldn't be able to give her the kind of father she deserves." Natalie reached up to cup his cheek, her fingers brushing away the tears that were now spilling as tears filled her own.

"John, I love you so much." She pulled him over to the rocking chair and he sit down. She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around him tightly, pulling his head down against her breast. She stroked his hair softly and kissed the top of his head fiercely as she comforted him. After a few moments he lifted his head so that their eyes met in an electric gaze, and he slowly leaned forward to capture her lips in a sweetly passionate kiss.

Two months later, Natalie and Tara were at the grocery store shopping for a romantic dinner Natalie had planned for John that night. She groaned to see the candles on an impossibly high shelf. She reached futilely for them anyway, stamping her foot angrily when it didn't work. Just then a familiar voice asked, "Which one do you want?"

Natalie's blood ran cold as she turned her eyes to see Larry standing in front of her. When he saw her, his face mirrored her shocked expression. "Natalie?" He tried to regain some semblance of composure as he said, "You know, you ran out on me that morning before I had a chance to explain." She crossed her arms over her breasts protectively. "Explain what?" He shook his head. "I know what you had to have thought when you woke up in my shirt. It wasn't what you thought though."

She looked confused. "What do you mean?" "You passed out at the bar, and I didn't know where you lived or anything about you other than your first name, so I brought you to my place. I wanted you to be comfortable so I put you in my shirt with the lights off. I didn't peek, Scout's Honor. Then I went and slept on the couch. The next morning I had gone to get some breakfast and when I came back you were gone."

Natalie let out a sound that was a mixture of joy and relief as she slumped against the basket, saying a silent prayer. "Larry, thank you so much. You have no idea how terrified I have been about this… I didn't even know if you or my husband was the father of my child." For the first time, Larry seemed to notice the baby in the basket and he came to get a closer look.

"She's beautiful," he whispered, watching Tara grab his finger with her fisted hand. He turned around, smiling. "Congratulations. I'm glad that I ran into you because I've felt very guilty for having left that morning. I needed to make sure you weren't in any kind of pain because of stupidity on my part, and I'm glad that I was able to put your fears to rest." He leaned in, kissing her cheek and walked away.

Natalie smiled, her heart overflowing with joy as she walked on air to the front of the store. She had some very exciting news for her husband…

THE END!