Disclaimer: I own nothing, don't sue.

Author's Note: I decided I should make up for the depressing content of my last one shot, so here you are—Jolie fluff (with a baby!). hehe Hope it balances out the scale!

Summary: Natalie believes herself to be pregnant with an imposter's baby, but John knows the truth. Will he tell her or her so-called dead husband the truth, or will his own selfish desires keep the truth hidden until it's too late?

Title: Unexpected Complications 5/?

"Your mommy is getting out of the hospital today," John said, smiling down at Cristina. "And we're going to make sure that you look beautiful when we go to pick her up."

Setting her down in the crib, John went to the small drawer filled with the baby clothes everyone had given Cristina.

"Hmm, what about this?" he said, picking up a small pink dress and carrying it over to the crib. He held it up and Cristina waved her tiny fists in the air at it.

John chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes." He carefully dressed her after checking her diaper and smiled at how beautiful she looked.

"Your mom is going to be so proud of you for being such a good girl these past three days." He smiled thinking of how easy taking care of the little girl he already loved so much had proven to be.

He had gone to the hospital for four or five hours each day to let Natalie spend time with her daughter, but other than that he had stuck close to home. Cristina had enough visitors to keep them occupied, and when everyone had left John had found that he loved being alone with her.

John reached down to place his finger in Cristina's tiny palm, and his heart swelled with love as she closed her fist around it. He smiled down at her as she cooed and brought her other hand into play.

"I can't believe how much I'm going to miss you," he whispered. He and Natalie had talked about things, and they'd decided it was best for the living situation to remain as it was for now. She and Cristina would stay at the carriage house while he stayed in his hotel room.

They didn't want to rush things, but John wished that they could have found another situation. He loved being with this gorgeous little girl at every possible moment, and her sleep schedule didn't bother him since it actually resembled his own. He knew that he would still be around Cristina a lot, but he also knew that it just wouldn't be the same.

John jumped slightly when his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, keeping his eyes on Cristina as he answered it. "McBain."

"Hey."

"Natalie," John said with no small amount of surprise. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just got released a little earlier than I thought. Can you come pick me up now?"

"We'll be there in a few minutes," John said.

"Okay, thanks." Natalie hung up and sighed. She had heard Cristina in the background, and she had also heard the pain in John's voice. She was almost sure of the cause, and she hated it.

"No problem," John said into the dead line and hung up. "Well, it looks like we get to go pick Mommy up a little earlier than I thought," he said, smiling at Cristina. He gently took his finger back and picked her up.

John almost laughed at the pout on Natalie's face as she sat in the wheelchair, but quickly swallowed it as she glared at him. "But I can walk! I don't understand why I have to go out in this stupid thing."

"It's hospital policy, ma'am. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, hospital policy sucks." She sat back in the wheelchair and crossed her arms over her chest, the pout intensifying. She looked so much like a petulant child that John couldn't hold in his laughter this time.

"What are you laughing at McBain?" Natalie snapped, refusing to look at him.

"Nothing," he said as his laughter died down. "Would this make you feel better?" he asked quickly, gently placing Cristina into her arms.

Her face softening into a smile, Natalie nodded. "Yeah, that helps a lot." She looked up at John. "Thank you, and I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"It's fine. I know how much you hate anything that makes you feel weak or helpless, but this will all be over in just a few minutes."

"The sooner the better," she muttered, returning her gaze to her daughter. "She looks so beautiful. Did you pick out her outfit?" she asked, looking back at John, who nodded. "Wow. Who knew that you had such good fashion sense?"

John looked pained as he asked, "Let's keep that little tidbit between us, okay?"

"I won't tell a soul."

"Pinky swear?" he asked, holding up his pinky.

Natalie smiled as she gently extracted one arm and hooked her pinky on his. "Pinky swear."

"All right. Now let's break you out of here, shall we?"

"I was about to pack all of her clothes and everything when you called. Do you want me to go do that now or later?" John asked. Cristina was settled and sleeping in her crib, and Natalie was sitting on her bed looking exhausted.

"Can you do it later? Right now I just want to sleep."

Nodding, John turned to walk to the door. "All right. Call me if you need—"

"John, actually I was wondering…" She bit her lower lip and looked down at the floor when John turned back around.

"Could you stay and just hold me? I'm a little nervous about being alone with her," Natalie said softly. "And I always sleep better when you're with me."

"I'd love to stay," he replied. "But you're going to have to be alone with her sometime."

"I know. I just… I don't want you to go yet."

John watched as she pulled the covers back and climbed into bed, turning on her side. He pulled his shirt off, draping it across the back of a chair and lifted the covers up, slipping into the bed.

Natalie sighed as he pulled her into his arms, and she rested her chin on his chest as her eyelids fluttered shut. With a deep sigh, she was asleep.

TO BE CONTINUED