The diner had been repainted; he recognized Cristian's touch in the murals depicting life in Angel Square. Well, an idealized version of life in Angel Square. He'd avoided this place on his visits back, not sure if he was welcome or not. If he'd been coherent he might have suggested they meet somewhere else, but there was no sense in changing the plan now.

Other than a couple ensconced in a corner booth and an older Hispanic man at the counter the diner was empty. The rest of Llanview must still be asleep. Rex and Kayla wouldn't be there for another half hour so he slumped down into a booth to wait.

His waitress, an attractive girl in her early twenties bent over to refill his coffee and as she did he noticed her nametag. "Jaime Vega?" he asked in surprise.

She straightened up and looked at him quizzically. "Yeah. Do I know you?"

"I know what you're feeling, John," Antonio said leaning across the desk, "I went through the same thing when I thought I'd lost Jaime. All that hurt translated right into anger and I wanted to make someone pay. But it won't help. Trust me."

John shook his head. "I knew you when you were a little girl. I knew your father. I worked with him for a while at the LPD." That didn't quite capture his relationship with the girl's family, but he felt it was the most neutral description he could give.

"Oh," she said smiling. "You don't live around here anymore though do you? I haven't seen you around."

"No," he said, "I moved to Philly about twelve years ago. So what's Antonio up to these days?"

"Actually he's getting ready to move back here," she said, "starting up a new practice. I guess you know he's a lawyer now." He nodded. "Anyway, he's still up in New York, but he wants to be closer to abuela, you know, my grandmother."

"How is she?"

She sighed, "She's okay. She's just getting older, you know. It's not any one thing in particular, but dad worries about her, so he wants to be close. Plus I'm here now at school and I think he'd like to keep tabs on me."

An impulse he could empathize with.

"And he wants to help my Uncle Cris out with this place," she added, "not that it's not running fine without him, but you know my dad."

"Yeah," he said. Antonio did have a slight control freak tendency. Not that he was in a position to cast stones.

"Hey!" she said, "My Uncle Cris is in the back right now, you want me to go get him so you can say, 'hi'."

Somehow he doubted Cristian wanted to say, 'hi' to him. "No, don't bother him," he said.

"Well what's your name? I'll tell Dad you came by."

"John McBain," he said.

Her reaction was immediate—her smile disappeared and she took a step back, looking at him again, reevaluating him with this new information. "Oh," she said, "you're John McBain." Clearly, she'd heard the name before. In what context he didn't really want to know.

And then just to prove that the situation could get more awkward a voice behind her said, "McBain?"

Jaime turned and stepped aside so that John had a clear view of her uncle. "Hello Cristian," he said.

"He killed your child!" he finally spat out. "How can you of all people- He killed your child and you are still defending him. Do you realize that? Do you realize that our baby is dead?"

"Been a long time," Cristian said. Neither one of them said how long. Neither one of them could manage to vocalize the fact that the last time they'd seen each other had been at Natalie's funeral.

"How you been?" John asked.

"Can't complain," Cristian said, "Yourself?"

"Okay."

Cristian turned to Jaime, "Jaime this one's on the house, okay?" Jaime didn't seem to agree with this assessment, but she didn't argue.

"That's not necessary," John protested for her.

Cristian smiled, "Kayla was in here last night with Rex. I got the impression you're gonna need a lot of coffee."

"Yeah," John said, not really comfortable discussing the situation with him.

"Kayla's really growing up," Cristian said sitting down across from him, "she has a lot of her mother in her."

"And it's more than skin deep," John assured him.

"Yeah," he said with a hint of a smile, "I got that impression."

They looked at each other awkwardly for a moment before John said, "Is there something you needed?"

"We've never talked," he said.

"Not sure what you think we have to talk about," he replied sipping his coffee.

"Seeing Kayla last night," he began slowly, "it brought back a lot of memories. Of her mother. And what I did."

"And?"

"I just want you to know," he said hesitantly, "I've never forgiven myself. For what happened that night. With Natalie."

"Hey," he said trying to sound cheerful as he walked through the door.

She was propped up in her bed reading, but put down her book and gave him a misty smile, "Hey."

He walked to her side and kissed her gently before sitting down. "How you doing?" he asked squeezing her hand.

She flashed that forced smile and shrugged, but he could see she was blinking back tears. "I'm getting through," she said in a scratchy voice.

He kissed her hand. He wanted to reassure her somehow, but there was nothing that was going to make this all right.

"How are you?" she asked.

"I'm okay," he said, "Kayla misses you. I was thinking I might bring her by tomorrow morning-"

Natalie shook her head. "I don't want her to see me here. This is going to be confusing and scary enough for her as it is, I don't want-" Tears slipping from her eyes cut off her words.

"Okay," he agreed.

They were silent for a moment before she hesitantly said, "Carlotta was just here."

"Really," he said softly.

"She told me," she said.

He had no idea how to respond, no idea how she would need him to respond, but before he had to decide she asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to get you involved," he said stroking her hand in the hopes it would help keep her calm.

"I kind of think I already am," she said with a harsh laugh.

"Carlotta shouldn't have come to you," he said trying not to let his voice betray how angry he was with Mrs. Vega for coming to Natalie at a time like this.

"That's not why she came," Natalie said defensively, "she came to see how I was and it just came out."

"You've been through enough," he told her, "she should have realized that."

"Maybe she realized I know what it's like to lose a son," she said.

He snorted, "I must have missed something because the last time I checked hers were both alive."

"She had to live through losing Cristian twice," Natalie said, "You know that. And now she's losing him again to prison."

"The difference is she'll get him back," he said, "They're only charging him with assault. He won't be in that long."

"Can't say I have either," John said.

"She did," he pointed out.

"I know," John said.

"And you never forgave her for that, did you?"

John clenched his hand tightly around his coffee cup. "I'm not going to talk to you about Natalie."

"I'm not asking you to," he said, "but it's been a long time and I was hoping you might be ready to put it behind us. It was an accident."

"An accident that ruined a lot of lives," John said.

Cris nodded. "Kinda like the mistake you made getting Natalie and I involved in that Vegas sting."

John glared into his coffee, afraid that if he had to look at Crisitan he would lose control of his temper completely. Finally he heard Cristian let out a heavy breath and say, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up. It wasn't the same thing." When John still didn't look up he rose and said, "I'll leave you alone. I just thought maybe after twelve years we could put it behind us."

John shook his head as he watched him go. He doubted he would ever be able to put it behind him.

It was a quarter after eight when Rex and Kayla finally arrived. Rex seemed more or less unphased by the early hour or the situation, but Kayla looked groggy and sullen.

"Hey," John said standing up to meet them, "how are you doing?"

Kayla grunted something that generally passed for a catch-all "good morning," "hello", and "fine" with her these days. She slid into the opposite side of the booth without ever really making eye contact. John sat back down trying not to let his frustration show. He'd given her the previous night, despite how reckless her actions had been because Rex was right, they both did need to cool off. But now it was morning and she was just going to sit there in silence again.

"So your uncle said you wanted to talk," he said slowly.

"I don't want to talk," she said glaring at him, "I said I would talk. To get him off my back. But that doesn't mean I want to be here. Let's just get this over with."

"Fine," he said looking at her expectantly.

Kayla continued staring at the table for the better part of a minute before she looked up at him in irritation and asked, "What?"

"I'm listening," he said.

"I don't have anything to say," she said, "I just assumed I was coming here for another lecture."

"That's not what this is about," he said, "I'm ready to hear whatever you have to say for yourself."

"Say for myself?" she snorted with a fire flashing in her eyes that looked so familiar, "Like you ever listen to what I have to say."

"Fine," he said, "we'll just sit here in uncomfortable silence. Is that what you want?"

"Yes," she said defiantly before looking back down at the table.

"Okay," Rex said rolling his eyes, "if both of you are going to sit here and sulk I guess I get to play mediator. So from what I can tell a lot of our current melodrama stems from you telling Kayla she couldn't see this guy… what's his name?"

"Mason," Kayla supplied.

Rex gave John an exasperated look. "Seriously McBain, didn't anyone ever tell you that telling a fifteen year old girl she can't see a guy makes him forty times sexier in her eyes."

"You don't know what you're talking about Balsom," John said.

"Enlighten me then."

"She tell you how old he is?" John asked.

"How old he is?" Rex echoed with a raised eyebrow, "No, how old is he?"

"Dad," Kayla groaned in protest.

"How old is he?" Rex repeated.

"Twenty-three," John supplied when it became apparent Kayla wasn't going to answer.

Water sprayed out of Rex's mouth. "Excuse me?"

"Don't take his side!" Kayla pleaded.

"Oh this is not about me taking his side," Rex said, "in fact, I'm even more pissed at him. Why is this guy still walking around and able to procreate? One snip, that's all it would take. Problem solved."

She groaned, "Do you have to be so graphic?"

"Yeah," he said, "because I remember what it's like to be a twenty-three year old guy. And trust me he's only interested in-"

"Sex," Kayla finished for him. "I know. Dad's already given me this lecture a thousand times. Clearly, that's the only reason a guy would be interested in me."

"It's not you," Rex insisted, "that's all twenty-three year old guys are interested in. Period."

"And you don't think I could tell?" she demanded, "you don't think I would be able to tell the difference between a guy that really likes me and one that-"

"Kayla," John tried to interject, "would you just listen?"

"I know you don't," she said turning to him, "you don't think I'm capable of deciding anything for myself."

"I think you're fifteen years old and there are some things that-" he said.

"That I should just leave for the grown ups?" she said standing up suddenly, "Maybe I should just get out of your hair."

"I sent Kayla home with Jessica to stay for a while. She doesn't understand what's going on and I just thought it might be easier on her."

He thought he caught tears forming in her eyes as she stood and fled from the diner. He tried to follow her and made it as far as the sidewalk before Rex yanked him backwards.

"I'm her father!"

"And you're also an idiot!" Rex yelled back. "You think this is really all about you not letting her see some guy? Damn it McBain, I convince her to talk to you, 'cause for some incomprehensible reason I want to help you out, and you just screw it up all over again."

"Well maybe that's 'cause I'm in the dark," he snapped. "You seem to understand it all so well. You say this isn't about Mason, what's it about then? What are you saying?"

"I'm saying if you're not careful she's going to wind up dead!" Rex hissed at him, "Just like her mother!"

Rex's words hit him like a punch to the gut and he stood there trying to regain his breath as Rex hurried after Kayla. Stunned he walked back into the diner and put down the money for his coffee and left. He found himself wandering the streets with no idea where he was headed until he found himself standing in front of the police station.

He stood on the sidewalk staring at the building for a moment. Strange how he'd practically lived there for years and hadn't been back since he left town. It was yet another place thick with Natalie. One of those quirky tricks of memory: he knew how many times he'd been in there furious with her, so frustrated he wanted to scream. But after all these years all the memories that came to mind were the happy ones.

"So how's your grandfather?" he asked, gladly putting aside the file he'd been looking at.

"For a man his age, who's had that many heart attacks, pretty damn good," she said, perching on the edge of his desk. "Though I think this one's kind of got him thinking. Well, it's got Renée thinking. It's got Asa irritated."

"About what?"

"About spending more time together while they can," she said, "Renée wants to retire."

"I guess that makes sense," he said. "Is BE going to take over The Palace?"

"Renée doesn't really want them to. I think she's afraid being part of such a large corporation it'll just get lost and it's kind of her baby. On the other hand, she'd like to keep it in the family."

"So what's she going to do?" he asked.

Natalie smiled at him nervously. "She asked me if I'd consider taking over."

"What did you say?" he asked in surprise.

"Well, I told her I'd think about it and I had to talk to you, of course."

"Is it something that you want to do?" he asked. She'd never shown any interest in any of the various Buchanan family businesses before.

"Well, she made a good case," she said, "I mean the Palace might be a little stuffy, but it seems like it could be fun and she said most of the place really runs itself these days. And it would make childcare easier because I'd be able to take the kids to work with me some of the time."

It took him a minute to catch what she'd said. "Did you say kids?"

She smiled slyly, "Nothing gets by you, does it Detective?"

"Plural?" he clarified.

"My grammar's not perfect, but I think so."

"Are you trying to tell me something?" he asked staring up at her.

She nodded as her smile widened into a grin. "I am."

"You're sure?" he asked eagerly.

"I saw my OB today. She confirmed it," she said.

He leaned back a little bit and looked at her. "So you must have already suspected?"

She nodded.

"How long?"

"Couple weeks now," she said ducking her head sheepishly, "I took a test on Friday."

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked taking her hand in his.

"Well I knew you were disappointed after that false alarm in February and I didn't want to get your hopes up until I was sure," she said with a shrug.

He shook his head in disbelief at this woman who still amazed him after all this time then he said, "Come here," as he pulled her into his lap and gave her a passionate kiss.

They were both so wrapped up in the kiss that neither of them heard the door open until Bo cleared his throat and said, "Don't I have some sort of interoffice fraternization policy that you two are violating?"

They separated and looked up at him like a couple of guilty teenagers.

"Sorry," John mumbled.

"Actually," Natalie said slowly, "you won't have to worry about the interoffice stuff much longer."

Bo groaned. "I know. Pa called me already."

"He did?" Natalie asked in surprise, "I haven't even told them I was accepting the job yet!"

"Yeah, like Pa waits for that kinda thing," Bo said with a roll of his eyes. "Well I'm sorry to lose you and if your new employers weren't family I wouldn't be letting you go so easily."

"Sorry," Natalie said sweetly.

"Don't sweat it," he said, "Good luck. Anyway I came in here to see if forensics had sent up that report on the Fischer case."

"Not yet," John said.

"Well I'll leave you two alone then," Bo said starting to step out of the office.

"Actually," John said stopping him as he squeezed Natalie's hand, "while we're giving you bad news, I'm gonna need some time off in…" He looked to Natalie to supply the timeframe.

"July," she said. "Family leave."

Bo smiled. "Family leave? So you're…?"

"Uh huh," Natalie said grinning again as John kissed her cheek.

"Well congratulations," he said walking over so he could give Natalie a hug and shake John's hand. "I'm happy for you two. Kayla excited about a new brother or sister?"

"We haven't told her yet," Natalie said.

"Well I'll leave you two alone," he said, "but congratulations again."

As he left Natalie caught sight of the open file on John's desk and sighed. "Not again."

"Last night," he said shutting the file, "Drunk and disorderly."

"He needs help not jail, John," she said, "Jail is half of what did this to him in the first place."

"I agree," he said, "but if he won't get help there's not a whole lot more I can do."

"I'll talk to him again," she promised.

"No you won't," he said.

"John-" she began.

"He's not you're responsibility," he said.

"I know that," she insisted, "but he listens to me."

"He also beats up strangers in bars," he pointed out, "he has a temper and call me crazy but I don't want you anywhere near him. Especially now." He wrapped his arms protectively around her stomach.