Attn: I don't own the One Life to Live Characters. Though from the looks of the show no one seems to even know who they are anyway so it wouldn't matter if I did. I am getting no profit from the writing and distribution of this story other then the happy I get when people read my story and tell me so. (So all you readers keep that up!! LOL)

Chapter 11

John pulled up to Llanfair and noticed that the lights were all off. They must be in bed, though it was early.

Natalie was quiet when she got out of the car she too noticed that the house was totally dark. With John at her side she went up to the door and started to unlock it. As she swung the door open she noticed that there was a note on the table just inside the door. "How odd," she murmured to herself.

John heard her and instantly went on alert. "What? Something wrong?" he asked while he scanned the area for intruders.

Natalie shook her head and picked up the note. Opening it up she read it and then sighed. "They aren't here. Something happened to Antonio and they went to support Jessica. She and Antonio are really close. Heck they would probably have gotten married if Jess hadn't moved to London.

John nodded and relaxed now that he was sure there was no threat. He studied the interior of Llanfair as Natalie put down the note. It was big and formal, too formal for his taste though. The walls had a floral design on it that just screamed money as did the expensive furniture and accessories, but the place itself felt empty, almost oppressive even. He didn't like the idea of Natalie staying here alone though and he told her so.

She nodded in agreement. She felt a little better but she didn't want to be alone either. She opened her mouth to speak but John beat her too it.

"Why don't I stay until someone comes home?"

Natalie sighed in relief. "I'd appreciate it. I know its silly but I feel a lot better knowing you're gonna be here."

John smiled at her and said, "Ok lets get you to be. It's been a long day for you."

Natalie made no protest when he ushered her up the stairs, pausing only to ask which room was hers. Once in her room Natalie suddenly felt nervous. After all this was her bedroom and she really didn't know John that well. But the moment passed quickly and she said, "I'll go change." She went into the bathroom and changed into her pajamas. Coming back out she saw John seated on her window seat that was across from the bed.

He felt a little awkward to be in Natalie's bedroom but he didn't want to leave her here all alone. Pushing the feeling aside he looked up as she came out of the bathroom. She looked adorable, her PJ's had little kitties on them, and her gorgeous red hair was put up in a loose ponytail. All in all she looked much younger the 24 years she actually was. He smiled at her to reassure her, "I'll sit here while you sleep till your family comes back."

Natalie nodded getting into bed. She clicked off the light but could still see John by the moonlight. He was staring out at the darkness before him so she could only see his profile. He seemed to be frowning a little. She sighed to herself as she realized how weird this situation was. Here she was in bed with an incredibly good looking man in her room and they weren't doing anything. With another sigh she closed her eyes to try to get some sleep. After about 10 minutes she finally slipped into slumber.

John turned from the window and looked at the sleeping woman in the bed. She was snoring slightly and he grinned a little. She looked so peaceful while she slept. When she was awake Natalie always had this energy about her, like she was about to bolt into action at any minute. But now she was still, her face relaxed and calm. He felt something in him shift at the sight.

More than an hour later Natalie sat up in bed screaming. John rushed over to her and took her shoulders in his hands. "Natalie! Its OK its Ok, You're safe." She stopped screaming then and looked at him.

"John?" she said then started crying. She clung to him burring her face into his chest as she sobbed. "Oh God it was so awful. I was dreaming that guy shot you. It was horrible. There was blood everywhere. Then Carlo there and he kept saying he was going to kill me. God! It was..." she started sobbing again.

John held her close to him as she cried. His heart clenched at the sight of this strong woman breaking down in front of him. After a while Natalie calmed down enough that he pulled back and brushed the hair out of her face. Her eyes were swollen and her face red but she was still beautiful. He didn't think there was ever a time when he would think that. "Ok now?" he asked softly.

Natalie nodded and laid back down. When John stared to get up she grabbed his hand, holding him at her side. "Stay with me?"

He immediately knew what she was asking, "You sure?"

She nodded just needing someone to hold her, needing the comfort, that feeling of safety that she got when John held her.

At her nod John kicked off his shoes and shed his top shirt, leaving him in just his slacks and wife-beater. He lay down beside her and pulled her close, her back to his chest with his arm around her stomach. "Go to sleep," he whispered to her softly.

Feeling much better with his strong arms surrounding her Natalie relaxed and closed her eyes. It wasn't long before she was lulled into a peaceful sleep listening to John's steady breathing.

Carlo sat in his car watching Llanfair. 'It looks like my precious wife has got her self a boy toy' he thought to himself. He wasn't angry about it at all. In fact the idea pleased him immensely. He had been planning to pay his little woman a visit this evening, had in fact created the very problem that took the rest of the residents out of the house. But this might be better.

Now that he knew that John McBain was important to Natalie he had a weapon against her. If things didn't go as he planned he could use McBain to convince her to see things his way.

He raised his binoculars and looked into Natalie's window. Seeing the couple sleeping in each other's arms he smiled again and continued to watch them, planning his next move.

Bo stood outside of Antonio's hospital room talking to Rex. It was late, after ten, when he got the call that Antonio had been found beaten in angle square. Jessica was in with him now, Vicki talking to Cris and Carlotta. He sighed, after what happened at Rodi's he had hoped someone would have stayed home with Natalie. He was glad though that she wasn't totally alone. According to Natalie's bodyguard John McBain had decided to stay with her after finding the house empty.

It seemed to him that John and his niece seemed to have somewhat of a fondness for each other and he couldn't be happier. John was a fine man and a good cop and, well, Natalie was a great woman, a strong woman. The two would definitely suit.

"Do you know who did this?" Rex asked, not aware of what happened to Natalie at Rodi's.

"No," Bo confided. He debated on whether to fill Rex in about the incident with Natalie yet b ultimately decided he needed to know. "Look Rex there is something you need to know."

Rex was instantly on alert, Bo's tone was cautious and his face serious. "What?"

"There was an attempted robbery at Rodi's earlier tonight. Natalie was there." Bo informed the younger man.

"Is she ok? Did he hurt her? Why didn't you tell me before now??" Rex questioned, incredulous that Bo would not tell him something like that.

"She is fine. John McBain is with her at Llanfair." He paused and sighed, "I didn't tell you before because it was so crazy here with what happened to Antonio and then John decided to say with her..." Bo flushed slightly then went on, " Ok I also thought maybe the two of them would like some privacy."

Rex blinked a minute, shocked and stunned. Then as Bo's last words sank in unexpected amusement rolled thru him despite his concern for Natalie. "You were setting her up? Trying to get them two together?"

Bo shrugged a little, " I know its not like me to interfere but I can tell John really liked her and well... Natalie likes him too. I just want to see her happy. After all that's happened she deserves some happiness more than anyone I know. I think John could give that to her."

Rex chuckled a little at Bo's uncharacteristic matchmaking but he agreed with him. Natalie DID deserve to be happy more than anybody. "If you keep up with this kind of thing I might have to start calling you a girly man," he teased then got serious, "Are you sure she is ok?"

"She's fine. I promise. She wasn't hurt. She actually is the one who took down the guy. The idiot didn't take off the safety on the gun. Plus John is with her now just incase."

Rex nodded, satisfied for the moment, "I'll wait till the morning to go see her then. Most likely she is sleeping now. I don't want to wake her up."

Bo nodded and turned back to look at Antonio. 'Who would want to hurt you Antonio?' he thought to himself, 'And why?'

To be continued...