Chapter Twenty

It had been twenty-four hours since the shooting and Natalie had hardly moved from John's bedside. Her family had urged her to go home and rest, but each time she refused with the claim that this is where she belonged. The girls were still with Jessica, and at Natalie's insistence were being kept in the dark about John's condition – at least for now.

It was well into the night and both Eve and Michael had gone home, leaving Natalie alone with John. She had spent most of the time just sitting there, staring at him as she prayed for him to wake up. But when that didn't work she decided to try talking to him. Moving the chair closer to his bedside, Natalie brushed the hair from his face and smiled down at him.

"I've never told anyone this – let alone you, but before Vegas I was attracted to you. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't stand you with your smug, arrogant attitude – but I wanted you. You came off as rough and dangerous, which was exactly the type of crowd I ran with in AC." Natalie sighed before continuing, "I was happy and in love with Cristian, but there was always this part of me that felt like I was out of place with him and with my family. I wasn't soft, caring and well-mannered like Jessica or my mom but instead was loud, reckless and sometimes just outright bitchy. That was the real me, but once I became closer to my family and fell in love with Cris, I forced myself to change. Figured I had to be like Jessica to be loved unconditionally – which was exactly what I was doing when you showed up."

Standing up she moved over to the window and turned away from where John lay. "But being around you reminded me of who I really was. I didn't have to be polite or caring, I could just say what was on my mind, and do what I wanted to. And having that freedom, seeing that side of me that had been hidden for so long, made me want you. Plus, you weren't bad to look at either." Natalie said with a light laugh before turning serious again. "And then Vegas happened and I tried to hate you – tried to think of you as the jerk that got my Cristian killed, but you were still there. When my family was telling me to let go or to try and be happy, you continued to let me feel whatever emotions I needed to. With you I could cry, laugh, or be angry – hell you even let me take shots verbally and physically at you. But no matter what I could just be me." With a sigh she turned back toward him. "That's why I fell in love with you. You never tried to change me or make me into a different person."

"Liked…. You… way… you…are." The voice was so soft and weak that at first Natalie thought she must be dreaming. But when she saw John struggling to open his eyes, Natalie's breath caught in her throat.

"You're awake!" Realizing that she had to get someone, Natalie rushed toward the door and began yelling for a doctor or nurse. Just before they ran in, she looked back at him and smiled, a few tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. Natalie opened her mouth to speak but suddenly unsure of what to say, she just closed her mouth and moved aside to let the doctors in.

The next few hours passed in a blur as John was taken off for various tests to ensure everything was fine. Both Eve and Michael had rushed back to the hospital to visit with him, so Natalie decided to head home and see the girls and fill them in on everything that had happened.

Sitting them both down, Natalie calmly explained that Cristian had been killed. She went into as little detail as possible, but made sure they both knew he would never be able to hurt them again. She also told that that John had been injured - again not going into specifics – but that he was all right and they could go visit with him. Despite their young age, both girls took the news well and quickly rushed to get dressed, needing to see for themselves that their father was all right.

After a quick breakfast, the three of them headed to the hospital and made their way toward John's room. At first the girls hesitated in the doorway, as if afraid to go but when John said, "I was wondering when I would get to see my girls." Both Sydney and Eve ran toward his beside calling out "Daddy!"

After reminding them that Daddy was still sore from his injuries, Natalie got the two of them settled in chairs and watched with a smile as they excitedly told John all about their two day sleep over with Brennan. They sat there talking to him for nearly a half hour before Sydney leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Daddy."

John smiled weakly, but was confused. "For what?"

"For being our daddy. You kept your promise and made sure the bad man would never hurt us. I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, too, Daddy." Eve piped in.

It was such a sweet moment that Natalie found herself grow emotional thinking of how close they had all come to losing John. The tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes, and looking over she noticed the same was happening to John. Luckily, Eve chose that moment to enter the room and Natalie quickly pushed the thoughts away. "I heard a rumor that my two favorite granddaughters were in here."

"Grandma don't be silly, we're your only two granddaughters!" Sydney said with a laugh as she went over to hug Eve.

"Well, that's what makes you my favorites!" Knowing that Natalie would want some time alone with John, Eve smiled at the two girls. "How about if I take you girls down to the cafeteria and get you some ice cream?"

Both girls were delighted with the prospect of ice cream before lunch and eagerly followed their grandmother out of the room. Once they were alone, Natalie moved from her place at the window and took on the seats vacated by the girls beside John.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been shot." John said with a small laugh, but then winced at the pain.

But the light joke had all that emotion stirring in Natalie and soon she was in tears. "I thought I had lost you. I really thought you were gone for good this time."

With effort, John leaned over and put his hand over hers. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I love you." After the words were out, Natalie looked up and met his eyes. "Almost losing you made me realize that I was lying to myself. I've always loved you and I never stopped. And I know I said we were over, but I was wrong. I want us to start over. I want us to be a family. God, I can't lose you again, please tell me it's not to late for us."

Both shocked and delighted by Natalie's outburst, John silenced her by bringing a finger to her lips. "It will never be too late for us. I love you, too."

One Year Later

Hearing the shrill BING of the timer, Natalie looked anxiously at John, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Ready!"

With tightly clasped hands, the two of them entered their bathroom and went over to the counter. Looking at each other one last time, they both looked down at the pregnancy test that lay there and then back at one another – their smiles wide.

It was positive.

Before Natalie even realized what was happening, John had pulled her into a tight embrace and captured her lips with hers. When they broke free he beamed down at her. "I love you so much, Mrs. McBain."

"And I love you, Mr. McBain."

Once again they kissed, but this time it was sweet and slow as if a promise of a new beginning for them as a family. One where all the painful memories of the past were simply… gone.