Disclaimer: Don't own. Never did. Never will (apart from Michelle and Tom). Yes, I couldn't come up with a funny disclaimer.
A/N: Well, what can I say? If you don't understand who Natalie is 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
Kimmy: Well, not knowing about what side your on, the bet should be resolved during this chapter
Karatemastr: Well, sorry that it doesn't make sense, but thats all the info I could put in without revealing identities totally in that chapter.
genevra: Ok, so I think I already emailed you as to your review, but can I say, that A- I love your long reviews and everyone else could try doing them that way too and b-my purpose in life seems to be making my friends laugh aswell!
Charmed-angel4: I hope this chapter stops you being confused...
She had sat for some time after the man left, running her fingers around the edge of the box, and found the indent from when she had dropped it. At least that was how it was supposed to appear.
She changed the locks on the front to their pre-arranged number, remembering that if she got it wrong, an alarm would go off down in headquarters, although no-one else was supposed to know this. Natalie double-checked that she had the correct combination, and pressed on the indent while opening the catch.
The box opened, and she did a quick check that everything that was supposed to be there was present. It was, and she shut the top, relocking it as she did.
'This is going to be okay.' she told herself. It had to.
Natalie was rather amazed at how fast everything had been worked out. She had to hand it to Tom. Less than 24 hours after telling him she wanted to go home, she and Michelle were on a 22-hour flight over the Pacific Ocean, complete with passports that they hadn't had the day before. They were sitting in First-Class, with the big seats and other bonus' that came with it. If she hadn't been nervous about the impending reunion, Natalie would have enjoyed herself, living the high life. However, she was nervous.
She glanced at Michelle. The small girl had insisted on having the window seat, and then promptly fallen asleep. Natalie had debated whether or not to move her, and decided that she wanted to see the scene below her so much that she had. The window seat also gave her added privacy.
She reached into her handbag, pulling out the box. In their haste to leave, she hadn't had a good look at it. Some of the more important stuff had been removed and she would get it later.
She opened it, and removed a pile of photographs. The top-most was now well worn, with two girls, aged about five and seven smiling at the camera. A bit further down in the pile, there was one of a young man and woman, smiling at each other oblivious to the photographer. And the most recent, which was now about six and a half years old, a baby lay in a cot, sleeping peacefully.
"Mummy, why are you crying?" Unbeknown to Natalie she had begun crying and Michelle had woken up.
"I'm just thinking baby-girl."
"Did the photos make you sad?" Michelle was oblivious to the pain her mother was going through.
"Yes." Natalie made to put the photos away, but Michelle was quicker than she had counted on.
"Who's this Mummy? Why did this baby make you cry?" Natalie knew that there would be a time to tell her the truth, but now was not that time. She was saved from answering by the waitress coming past and asking if Michelle wanted a juice. She wanted an apple juice, please.
"Who's this with you Mummy?" This question was worse than the last.
"Honey, you know how you're always asking me to tell you about your dad?" Natalie took a deep breath as Michelle nodded. "Well, that's him."
"Why are you looking at a picture of him Mummy? I thought thinking about him made you angry?" Natalie had to hand it to the kid; she was a very insightful six-year-old.
"It does, but not because I'm angry at him." She sighed. "It's complex honey." Which meant that she didn't want to talk about it.
"Ok Mummy. I'm sure you'll explain it to me when I get my big teeth." At Michelle's school, having big teeth meant you were all grown up. Michelle had only lost two baby teeth so far.
Michelle fell asleep again soon after. It had all been part of Natalie's grand plan from the night before. She had involved the small girl as much as possible in the packing of her gear for the trip, trying to tire the girl out so she would have time to think on the plane.
She once again opened the top of the box, and looked under the photographs. There was a small baby jumpsuit, and a card. She'd forgotten about the card. She wondered if her sister had realised it was missing. Natalie knew she should have left it behind, but at the time she couldn't bring herself to do so.
She shook herself from her reverie. It didn't matter any more anyway. At the very bottom of the pile was a washed blue chesty-bond. She remembered then why she had placed it in the box in the first place. It was to serve as a reminder to who she really was. To help her distinguish between the two people she had been.
All of a sudden she had an urge to go to the bathroom and put it on underneath her dress. However, that wasn't something that Natalie would do, and for the next few hours she would still be her. The upper class student who's family had deserted her when she had fallen pregnant to a no-hopper who left her at the first sign of commitment, never keeping up with the child-support payments. So now she had to work, mainly accounting at the local riding school. She only occasionally rode, generally when someone had to cancel a lesson, and the horse was free and so was she.
Natalie regretted not being able to afford to teach Michelle to ride, but she hoped that one day that would change.
It looked like that day would be sooner rather than later.
They were taxiing into terminal when an announcement came over the PA. "We hope you enjoyed your flight with us today. We hope to see you again soon but until then, whether you're going home or just visiting, please enjoy your stay in Adelaide, the gateway to the Barossa."
Home This was where she belonged. Or she used to. Natalie may not, but Claire certainly did.
A/N: Well, yet again, what do you think? I've been busy lately, and I'm not sure how much of this chapter makes sense. Email is found, as always here. And as always, I'd love your input!