A/N I do not own these characters. If I did Jolie fanfic would be unnecessary because they would have good s/l's on the show. However since the Hack is head writer and can't write to save her life fanfic is necessary; hence this story.

Chapter 19

"I know it didn't mean anything and that you probably regret it" Natalie continued. She was hurt but not surprised, after all she was just Natalie Balsom no matter what some DNA test might or might not say. "I'm not asking you for anything or even expect you to do anything. Really you don't need to worry.

"No!" John said, shocked that she would ever think that. "That's not what I was going to say at all! Look I care about you, I mean I really care and I...I..." he trailed off, trying to figure out the best way to tell her he wanted to stay married to her with out scaring her off.

"You what?" Natalie asked close to tears. Hearing the emotion in his voice she really believed he cared for her. He hadn't said he loved her and for that she was thankful. If he had she would have known he was lying; that kind of love didn't exist for people like her.

John looked at her shyly and said a bit hesitantly, "I want it to mean something. I want you in my life Natalie." He paused and then said very bluntly, "Look I don't want this marriage to end; I want to be a real husband to you. After this is all over I don't want a divorce."

She stared at him in shock, "You don't?"

"No, I don't," he said trying to gage her reaction. He could see she was shocked, confused but he couldn't tell if she was ok with the idea. He hoped so, God he hoped so.

"But...but...even if I'm not a Buchanan you would still want to be with me?" She asked, still unsure. She knew she cared about John, that she was attracted to him. Was that enough to make a marriage work? She hadn't thought so in the past but now, in this moment in time, she wasn't sure what to think.

John smiled at her reassuringly, "I could care less if you are a Buchanan. In fact I kind of hope you're not."

Natalie silent for a long moment and then held her hand to her face and looked at her ring finger then at his hand and said very softly, "I don't want a divorce either."

He felt like he was going to jump for joy at those soft words. And when Natalie took his hand and intertwined their fingers he thought he had died and gone to heaven. "Thank you," he whispered and gathered her close to him. She snuggled into his arms and fell into a peaceful sleep, for the first time in a long time.

"Hello," John said as he answered his cell two days later. They had been some of the best days of his life, he and Natalie had been getting along great and after their talk she had been more open and trusting then ever. Every day he fell more and more in love with her and hoped that some day she would love him back. He could tell that she cared but that wasn't enough. He wanted her love.

"John, this is Bo Buchanan. Is Natalie around? The DNA results are back." Bo said. He was very pleased with the results; they were what he had been hoping for.

"Yeah, hang on," John said and then called for Natalie. She was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. He smiled when she poked her head out and looked at him. Holding up the phone and wiggling it he mouthed 'Bo' to her and she sprinted to him.

Natalie took the phone from John's hand and said, "Hello..." She was nervous, what he was about to say would change her life forever. She grabbed John's hand and squeezed, needing the contact to reassure her.

"Natalie?" Bo began, suddenly nervous himself, "The DNA results are back."

"And?" she prompted when he paused. This was killing her. The waiting was unbearable; she just wanted it over with so she could move on with her life. 'A life as Mrs. John McBain' she thought to herself, still in shock over how much she liked the idea.

"And they were positive. It's official you're my daughter as well as a Buchanan." Bo told her. "When this is over I would...I would love for you to come here so I can get to know you better. If that would be ok with you...?"

Natalie heard his words and felt her heart stop then start back up again. "So it was true, and Rex kept it from me for years." She felt betrayed and ashamed for feeling that way. Then she heard Bo's next words and made a sudden decision, "Yeah, I'd like that...Dad." she said softly, testing out the word. Having a father was a strange concept for her but she wanted try it out.

Bo about jumped for joy at that one word...Dad. Was there any better word in the English language? He couldn't think of one if there were. He was about to say something else when Natalie spoke.

"Do I...do I have any brother's or sisters?" She asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, you do. I have a 10 year old boy named Matthew and you're mother, Vicki Davidson has two sons Joey and Kevin and a daughter Jessica, who is you're twin as a matter of fact." Bo replied. Then knowing that this was a cell phone he said, "When everything calms down you'll meet the whole family. But right now you need to concentrate on clearing your name and getting your life back."

"Yeah. Look I should go." She said suddenly overwhelmed. She needed to think this out, process it all. It was as if she had walked into another person's life and was expected to know what to do.

"Yeah, Take care. And come home soon." Bo told her, now considering Llanview her home. He wanted all this to get over quickly and maybe that was selfish of him but he didn't care. As he was talking on the phone he didn't notice Asa come in and sit down quietly, listening to the end of the conversation. He jumped as he hung up the phone and Asa spoke.

"So is the little lady a Buchanan?" Asa asked.

"What? How did you find out about that?" Bo wanted to know.

"Money can buy almost anything my boy." Asa said arrogantly "Why the hell didn't you tell me that you slept with Vicki? How could you do that to you're brother?"

Bo looked down and then back at his father, "We were drunk and it just happened. I will not apologize for it now. And yes, Natalie is a Buchanan, she's mine and Vicki's daughter."

"Then why ain't she here? She belongs with her family!" Asa demanded.

"Because she is having so problems, it isn't safe for her to be here. Not to mention she has legal problems as well." Bo explained regretfully.

"Legal problems? Well then lets get the girl a good lawyer! The best money can buy!" Asa said and whipped out his cell phone and proceeded to call the most prestigious law firm in the country.

Natalie hung up the phone and handed it back to John, still clutching his hand tightly. When he dropped the phone on the couch, sat down, pulling her with him and hugged her tightly she wrapped her arms around his neck and settled on his lap. Burying her face in his chest she held on and just let the heat of his body comfort her. She didn't cry but she felt so lost.

"It's gonna be ok." John told her as he rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. He felt her pain and her confusion and wanted to do anything to make her feel better. But there was nothing he could do and that was killing him. He couldn't take away her pain or her confusion all he could do was hold her while she worked thru it.

As they sat there the cell began to ring again and John cursed under his breath. Knowing it was important he answered it. "Yeah?" he said.

"McBain, this is Vincent Jones. I have good news." Vince told him.

"What?" John wanted to know.

"Since Victor is really dead the contract against Natalie has been lifted. She is safe now." Vince announced.

John sat up straighter, shifting Natalie on his lap. "Are you positive?" he asked, needing to be absolutely sure.

"Yes."

John sighed, this was good news, but then it wasn't. "You know what this means, don't you?" John asked Vince.

"Yeah, but I'm positive you can think of a way to make things right."

"Yeah, I hope so." John sighed and then hung up the phone. Looking at Natalie he said, "The contract has been lifted. We can come out of hiding now."

Natalie smiled and hugged him gratefully. "That's great! I can go see Rex now!" Natalie exclaimed, forgetting about her torn feelings about what he had done. In her heart Rex would always be her brother and she loved him. They would get past all the other stuff; it would just take a little time.

John sighed again and hugged her tighter, "It also means I will have to lock you up in jail, Natalie. Remember they only gave you the reprieve because of the contract."

Natalie stiffened on his lap, suddenly remembering that fact. "I don't want to go to jail John! What are we going to do?"

John smiled at her words, She used the word we, not I but we and it made him happy to hear her say that. "We'll think of something. The FBI doesn't know about the contract yet so we have a little time."

Natalie thought about that a minute then said, "Since I'm not in danger from the mob any more can we go back to Llanview to figure it all out. I want to see Rex and get to know my family."

John simply nodded, like he had a choice. He couldn't deny her anything. "Yeah we can do that." He said.