Disclaimer: Well, I still don't own any of the characters (apart from Michelle and Tom).
A/N: Well, what can I say? If you don't understand after this chapter, it might be a while before you do, because I'm not in a habit of explaining my stories to great extent until it comes as part of the story, so hang around and wait, all will reveal itself in due course
genevra: Thanks for the review... thanks for making me laugh too!
LiarEpicteller: Impressive? i don't think i'd call it that good... but thanks anyway!
Charmed-angel4: I am continueing, glad you enjoyed
meggie-moo-has-fun: Yes, Letters will be finished, but not 100 sure when...didn't really realise anyone was still reading it, cos no-one reviewed
"You still love him don't you? After all this time you never stopped! God Natalie, it's been six years. Do you really think he'll be waiting for you?" Natalie and Michelle had in fact 'run' into Tom at Maccas. They were now watching Michelle as she was playing in the playground.
"I know he might have moved on, but I have to know. I have to go back Tom I don't have a choice. I have to see my daughter. I have to know how she's doing and what she's like and I have to see my sister. There's no choice."
"What about Michelle? What about you're other daughter? What happens to her? For all these years whenever she's mentioned him, you've never told her anything. You told her he had moved away and that you didn't know where he was. How is she going to cope with all this?"
"How's she going to cope? How am I going to cope? They all think I'm dead Tom. How are they going to feel when I walk through that door and they think that they're dreaming? How am I going to cope with the betrayal and hurt in their eyes? And what about Prue? What am I going to tell her? She's not even going to remember me. She's seven today Tom, seven! And all I'm going to be to her is a photograph that she looks at before she goes to sleep, if even that." Natalie was crying by now. "She wasn't even walking when I left, how do I explain to her why I went away? How I left her behind?"
Tom moved to comfort her, but she wouldn't be comforted. "You don't think I've thought through all this Tom? I can't count the nights I've stayed awake, trying to work out what will happen, what I'll say. I can't count the times I've found myself on the 'net about to book a plane and a bus home." She paused, to give make herself lower her voice, something else she had trained herself to do over all these years.
"And now you want me to forget all about it, after you told me that it might be possible to go back? That it might be safe for Michelle and I to return? Are you crazy? What do you want me to say Tom? 'Oh, Tom, how silly of me to want to return, I hadn't thought out the possibilities? Now that I think of them, how could I possibly go?' If that's what you want me to tell you, you're in for a big shock. Because the only time those words, or any words like those are going to come out of my mouth was just then." Tom tried to intervene, to cut off the rant that was about to come out of her mouth, but Natalie just barged ahead.
"Sure, it's nice to know you're trying to protect me, but I've had too many questions from Michelle about her dad, too much of missing the people that I love, too many sleepless nights without him and one too many missed birthdays and Christmas' to back out of this. The longer I put it off, the harder it's going to be for me, for Michelle and everyone else."
"If you're sure..." Tom caught the look she sent his way and restrained from shuddering. "Ok, I'll make some arrangements for you. Do you want someone to come with you, or will you be alright on your own?"
So that's how Natalie found herself outside the building that she had been dreading and yet wishing to enter for what felt like a lifetime. She walked up the stairs, happy that she had been able to convince Michelle to visit her "uncle" Tom so that she didn't have to deal with the small child's questions.
When she reached the top, she took a deep breath, rested her hand in her pocket and pushed open the large, double door at the top of the stairs.
"Can I help you?" A man in a black suit greeted her almost the moment she walked in the door.
What was it she was supposed to say again? Oh, right: "I would like to make a withdrawal." Quite simple really, but it had been a long time since she was first here.
The man led her down a corridor, to a small office, where he motioned for her to sit behind the desk. She gave him the necessary information, and before she knew it, she was alone again, with a box in her hand.
That box.
It had taken her a long time to choose, not because there was a large amount of choices, but because she was afraid of what this box meant.
A/N: Well, sorry to cut it short, but I'm not sure where else to cut the current writing. Sorry bout that. But I suppose you now have more to think about. Please review. It is always appreciated, and generally means I update sooner.