After the meal had been eaten, and while waiting for space to clear up for everyone to have some pie, Natalie found herself outback in the DeSoto backyard. Everyone else was playing in the living room, Chris watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade rerun and Grandma Mary insisted on helping Jo Anne and Roy clear the plates.

"I stand by what I said." She barely glanced behind her when John came out. "You really do look nice."

"Thanks, John. And I meant by what I said. You look rather dapper." She glanced up at the tree that was starting to turn all sorts of colors. "Soon it will be winter."

"Huh?" He looked over at the tree. "Yeah, Christmas is coming up. You know I never did appreciate Thanksgiving."

"I don't care for the symbolism that they have me teach the kids. We all know that the Whites brought death wherever they went. But the only thing that I adhere to is the belief in thanking someone. Being thankful for what has been given and what has been done. I appreciate you and your Station helping me out of that tree."

"Yeah, how did you get up there anyway?"

"I climbed up and then I fell down."

"Are you a witch?" He asked.

"A witch?" She turned so suddenly to look at him. "What gives you that idea, John?"

"Well, I don't know." He shoved his hands in his pockets, looking away from her. "I just thought that, well I don't know, Natalie. It's just something that some of the guys were laughing at me for."

"Uh huh. I'm just me, John." She reached up and instead of touching his hair she flicked him in the ear.

"Hey, what you doin' that for?" He drawled out.

"Because, it's fun." She smiled at him.

"Well, don't do it again." He rubbed his ear. "It hurts."

"Why do you think I did it?" She nudged him and then turned back to the tree. "I like their tree. I wouldn't want to get stuck in it."

John laughed slightly and Natalie was relieved when he remained silent.

"Where do you stand with me?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"From what I hear you went through a lot just to get me here. Trading your shift with someone else, showing up at my classroom just to ask me here. Why did you decide to do it, John?"

"Because, I, I don't really know why. You seem so, perfect."

"I'm far from perfect."

"To me you're perfect." He came to stand in front of her. "You have a wonderful sense of right and wrong. You help people. Children adore you, I wish that was something I was good at."

"I'm sure you're good at it. You seem well versed with Chris and Emily."

"Maybe one day but not right now." He said.

Natalie didn't say anything, just looked up at him with a quirk of her lips. She waited for him to make the next move, hoping that it would be a conversation that was more pleasant than the one they were having.
John sighed. "I would love to take you out to a nice dinner."

Natalie lightly grabbed at his jacket and smiled at him. "I don't like going out to dinner. I prefer to stay home and enjoy the sanctuary of my garden. But I would like to go to the beach and walk in the tide. I like collecting sea shells."

"Oh, uh, well, maybe we could do that some day. We will won't we?"

Natalie nodded. "If things keep up the way they are, I'm sure it will happen."

That was when Grandma Mary stuck her head out of the back door. "It's pie time, you two. Are you going to come on in?"

Natalie dropped her hands and turned to the older woman. "Yes, ma'am, we are."

"Where is your family, I would think you would be spending that time with them."

"Uh, well, it's kind of hard to explain." Natalie said as she and John followed her into the house.

The children were set up around the table with their pieces of pie while Jo Anne was serving up three more plates.

"Well, are you going to answer the simple question? Why aren't you with your family during Thanksgiving?" Grandma Mary asked bringing everyone's attention to Natalie.

"Because we don't celebrate it, not since I moved to LA County. Besides around this time of year they are getting the property ready for the coming snow that usually show up around the first of December. They just had a major storm up there."

"Still a shame your couldn't be with them."

"Not a shame, no. I got to spend time with a gentleman who rescued me, and his friend's. Plus I am helping a little girl that needs stability. You see, my father and mother were foster parents. They go out of their way to help people. They raised me right. Instead of thinking of myself I was taught to always help others."

It was as if the air was let right out of the house. All eyes were on Natalie as she stood in front of John who was also looking at the top of her head with astonishment. She smiled up at him but otherwise didn't instigate contact with him.

"John, you didn't have to follow us all the way here." Natalie said as she walked towards her front door.

It was edging on to night by the time that they had actually gotten back to her place. Jessica had a plate of cookies and was excited to go ahead and eat them when they got into the house.

John stood on the porch as Natalie turned on the porch light. "It's what a gentleman should do, right?" He asked, his hands in the pockets of his sport coat.

"I have to get inside and get Jessica ready to bed." She then glanced at the neighbor's house.

John had followed her gaze, seeing the living room light on and a figure standing at the window obviously watching Natalie. "Are you going to be okay with them as your neighbors?"

"They haven't tried anything, yet. They only have her on supervised visits over here. If they have fought today I'm not aware of it. Usually the Diego family can hear them fighting from up here."

There was a chilly air that brushed by her shoulders. It caused Natalie to shiver slightly and run her hand over her upper arms.

"Hey, I have been meaning to ask. Shouldn't you still be in the cast. You broke your arm in that fall."
She looked down at her left arm. Natalie seemed to be thinking about the answer to his question, biting at the inside of her lip.

"I guess I heal faster than normal. It was my first major break in my life, no pun intended. Course up on the farm, I have dealt with horses, cattle and Reindeer…"

"Reindeer? You have Reindeer?" John could not believe what he was hearing. Reindeer, really?

Natalie laughed, the smile brightening her face. John couldn't help but smile down at her.

"My family is unique. I suppose that is what I'm saying. My father, mother and three older sisters live out on the family property since, oh I don't remember. They do a lot of community things. They live near a ski resort called Winter's Edge, they own the largest cabin up there. And Christmas and the holidays are always so magical during this time of year. They make feasts for families that wouldn't have a lot."

She smiled up at him again, those blue eyes really getting to him now. They were so blue that even in the little light that there was out on that porch he could see them almost clearly.

"I want us to go out." John finally spoke the words that had been playing around in his head.

She again smiled. "You know I have responsibilities now, with work and now a little girl under my roof. I can't go out on my own right now."

"The beach sound okay? Just a picnic? You did say you wanted to go there."

"Well, if you don't mind a six year old tag along, I don't have a problem with that. Give me your number and I'll call you."

He'd already planned on this, he had his number written up on a piece of paper in his pocket. John gave it over to her willingly.

"But can I have yours?"

"No."

John couldn't help but drop his mouth open. Natalie, though on the other hand helped him close his mouth with the simplest touch of her hand.

"But I promise I will call you." She said, her thumb caressing his cheek.

"How can I be sure that you're not pulling my leg?"

Natalie grasped the back of his head and pulled him down towards her. Then as suddenly as that action was, John was well aware that Natalie was kissing him, her smooth lips pressing up against his. Then the feeling of his fingers raking through his hair was enough just to have his legs buckle slightly at the knees.

The zing alone was something John would never forget.

"I promise I'll call you, John." She pulled back. "Goodnight, John. Drive safely." She said before turning back to the front door and letting herself in.

It took a lot of effort not to break down the door and go after her. The thumping in John's chest matched his steps as he headed back to his Bronco.

That Thanksgiving Kiss was going to be one he would hopefully never forget. o far it had been an almost pleasant day.

The End

A/N: Well there's that story. I hope you guys liked it. One more story with Natalie and John to go for this thee part series.