Disclaimer: I own nothing, don't sue.

Author's Note: Well I was thinking about it and I realized that I haven't shown John feeling guilty in a while—so this chapter is a bit bittersweet because I had to add that in. Guilt makes John what he is, and goodness knows he'd be having an extra helping of it in this case.

Title: Unexpected Complications 6/?

"Hey, little one," John said softly, smiling down at Cristina. "It's time for you to eat, isn't it?" He gently lifted her from the crib. "Come on, I'll go fix your bottle."

He had woken up a few minutes earlier and come to check on Cristina to find her wide-awake and cooing softly to herself. He knew that he should go wake Natalie so that she could get used to the baby's routine, but he didn't, wanting her to get as much rest as possible.

John was quiet as he watched Cristina eat. Her beautiful crystal-blue eyes were firmly fixed on his and he found himself getting lost in them as she drank her bottle. He walked over to the white rocking chair in the living room and sat down, beginning to rock slowly.

I wonder if she'll have Cristian's eyes. The thought came unbidden, dashing the beautiful moment as the guilt rolled over him in dark crashing waves. He sighed and leaned down to brush a soft kiss across Cristina's forehead.

Maybe I should tell Natalie the truth. To be honest, there were a few reasons he hadn't done so and they were all selfish. He didn't think he could stand losing her and he had known with certainty that he couldn't stand losing the precious baby he'd started thinking of as his own weeks before her birth.

"None of that has changed," he whispered, gently brushing back a small strand of dark hair from Cristina's forehead. "I can't lose your mom, and I can't lose you either. You two are all I've got."

"John?" Natalie quietly padded down the few remaining stairs and walked into the living room, smiling at the sight of John rocking and feeding Cristina. "And just what are you doing?"

John smiled sheepishly. "Feeding the baby?"

Natalie couldn't help but giggle at his sheepish expression and she shook her head. "Aren't you supposed to be letting me get used to her routine and all that?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think that means letting me sleep through her feeding."

"I know. It's just—You looked so peaceful, and I know that you need your rest."

"Thank you, but what I need is to start getting up with her. May I?" she asked, gesturing to Cristina and the bottle.

"Oh, of course. She's almost finished but you can take over from here." He stood up and gently handed Cristina to her mother.

John smiled softly as he watched Natalie with Cristina. She was as perfect with her daughter as he had always imagined she would be, and he felt himself wishing that he could be with them every night this way… But he would do whatever Natalie asked of him, no matter how much it tore him apart inside.

Natalie looked up and smiled as she caught John watching her with the baby. Their eyes caught and held in an intense gaze for what seemed like an eternity before she finally broke the gaze, looking back down at Cristina with her thoughts racing.

"John?" she asked quietly after a moment had passed.

"Yeah?"

"I was just wondering… I mean, I know I said I'd like for us to take things slow but I was thinking—" She bit her lip and took a deep breath. "You're so good with Cristina and well… I've missed you a lot," she said softly. "I'd like to have you nearby and I think Cristina would too. So if you want to maybe you'd consider moving in?"

John was silent as he studied Natalie, trying to gauge her mood and the reason behind her asking. After a long moment he smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Natalie returned the smile and opened her mouth to speak, but Cristina chose that moment to finish off her bottle and began to fuss, calling her mother's attention back to her.

TO BE CONTINUED