*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much.

NATALIE:

My heart stops as John asks me the question I have been dreading for the last 7 ½ years. I'm not sure how to answer it. If I lie things will just get worse and if I tell the truth I have no idea what could happen. I rustle it inside my head trying to get back my heartbeat as John looks more intently at me and says, "Natalie."

"John," I say when I get the words out but that's all I can say.

"Natalie, is she my daughter?" he asks me again. "I have to know," he says.

"John," I say but still that is the only thing I can get out.

"Natalie, please," he says begging me.

I feel the tears in my eyes and I look at John through what seems like glass but it is the tears I am looking through. I have no idea how he knows. "John," I say as I choke on my words. "She is." I say it quietly but the truth is finally out. "She's your daughter."

"Natalie," he says as he wraps his arms around me. "Natalie."

"John," I say as I breakdown crying. I don't know why I am crying but I feel relieved. That has been a weight on my shoulder for 8 years. I cry continuously on his shoulder as he consoles me but I have a feeling this isn't going to last long. I think it is just the shock that has him so understanding.

We are interrupted when Callie walks into the room. I'm not even sure why she's still lurking around. She has been here since last night. I don't really care at the moment because what I just told John is a lot more important. "Ms. Morgan…." She says as she seems to be caught off guard.

I break the hug and wipe away my tears. "Yes, Callie?"

"I can come back if I am interrupting something," she says.

"No," I say. "What's wrong?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I am heading out."

"That's fine," I say. "Thank-you. Have a good day."

"No problem," she says before she exits the room.

Once she is gone John is out of the consoling mode and into a new mode. "And you couldn't tell me about her for 7 years?" he asks me.

"Actually 8 years," I say as if it matters. It's still too many years.

"Natalie, it's not the time to be a smart ass," he says to me. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because, John, I didn't. I couldn't."

"Yes you could. I deserved to know. It was my right as a father to know I have a child."

"John, I couldn't. You don't understand. It wasn't what I planned," I say. I never planned to keep Angelina. I was going to give her up until that last second after she was born.

"You weren't planning on telling me?" he asks.

"I wasn't going to keep her, John. I had to finish school and you had a career. I couldn't tell you. I didn't plan to keep her. I was going to give her up for adoption," I say honestly.

"But you should have told me. We could have worked it out together except you got selfish and decided to handle it on your own. I know I had a career and I know you had school but we could have made it work," he says with tears in his eyes.

"But you had your career. You wouldn't have been able to be a father. I did it to protect your job. You were at the height of your career, you were going to film a movie and then you were going into the championship picture. You didn't have the time to be a father."

"I wanted you to go with me but you selfishly broke up with me. You never even gave me the chance to be there. You have no idea what I would have done, Natalie. So you knew when I told you about the movie?"

"Yes," I say as I look down at the ground.

"So that's what you had to tell me that night?" he asks as he runs his hands over his head.

"Yes," I say. "It was."

"You should have told me, Nat. You should have told me."

"John, I couldn't you were so happy. I couldn't ruin your happiness. Neither of us were ready to be parents."

"But obviously 9 fucking months later you were ready. You could have told me even after you decided to keep her but you didn't. You didn't tell me when you should have but instead you act like a coward and run off to Pennsylvania and disappear. You never answered my calls. You could have told me then. Nat, you should have told me."

"I couldn't, John. I couldn't ruin your career," I say.

"Damn it, Natalie that is my child. You could have but you didn't want to. You are selfish."

"I'm not selfish," I say. I am not selfish. I did what I thought was best for all of us.

"You're not selfish? I got you pregnant, you ran and never told me but you're not selfish. It has been over 7 years.. 7 years that I have missed because you're selfish."

"John, I told you I did it for all of us. It was the best way to go."

"Lying was the best way to go? Are you fucking kidding me, Nat? So you were going to give her up for adoption? What happened there?"

He is upset and he has every right to be. This is what I wanted to avoid. This isn't how I wanted him to find out. I figured he would be upset but he is in a rage. "John, believe me I had every intention of giving her away. Then the day the lady came to take her I couldn't do it. I just couldn't give her away. She was too precious. I couldn't do it so the lady had to tell the adoptive parents in the waiting room they weren't getting the baby. I figured it was best if I didn't tell you because I didn't know what was going on in your career. You didn't need to be strapped down with a baby. I left West Newbury, came here, found a job and took online classes to get my degree. It was hard but I managed. I am sorry I didn't tell you but like I said it was better that I didn't."

"So you thought you could get pregnant and give the baby up for adoption without telling me?"

"Well, I told the agency I didn't know who the father was so they went on with the process but like I said I couldn't do it."

"So why didn't you call me up after you changed your mind and say, 'hey, john, I just had a baby and it's yours.' I would have been pissed that I missed 9 months but not as pissed as I am that I have missed 7 years. It's 7 fucking years? You couldn't pick up a phone and call me?"

"John, I'm sorry," I say. I feel guilty for not telling him. I feel bad for keeping it a secret so long.

"Natalie, you should have told me. I would have been there. I wouldn't have left you. It takes two to make a baby. I would not have let you do it alone. If you wanted to give her up you could have consulted with me and I would have agreed but I deserved to know. You should have told me."

"I know," I say realizing he is calming down. "I should have told you. I am sorry. Look I don't want to talk about it here," I say.

"Why because you're sleeping with your boss?" he asks.

"That and because I think this should be a private conversation. I can tell you more about her at the house. Just come with me to my home we'll talk there."

"Okay," he says.

We leave the hotel after I tell my front desk worker; Jay that I am not feeling well and taking a personal day. I leave him in charge. We drive to my house not saying a word to each other. I am sure we are both thinking of what to say. We pull into my driveway and I park the car. We get out and walk up to the door. My hands are shaking so bad I can't even unlock the door. John helps me and we're in the house. Angelina's dog Peaches comes running to the door barking at John. "Peaches, stop," I say as I shut the door. "The living room is this way," I say as I lead him to the living room. We are followed by Peaches but she has finally stopped barking at him. "Do you want a drink or anything?"

"Water would be fine," he says. I'm glad he's thinking about water because I am feeling that this is a good time for a big glass of wine to calm my nerves.

I get him a bottle of water while I pour myself a glass of wine. Who am I kidding I need the whole freaking bottle at this point. I grab the bottle and his water and head back to the living room. As I walk into the living room he is looking at pictures of Angelina on the wall. "I have your water," I say walking into the room and laying it down on the coffee table.

"Thank-you," he says. "She's beautiful."

"Thank-you," I say. "She looks like you."

"She does," he says. "What's her name?" he asks as we sit down on the couch.

"Angelina," I say. "Angelina Kate."

"Cute name," he says. "So you're drinking wine?"

"My nerves are shot," I say. "Want some?"

"No," he says with that smile, "I'm all right with water."

"So what do you want to know?"

"When is her birthday is a good place to start," he says.

"November 10th," I answer.

"Okay," he says. "And she's in 2nd grade?"

"1st at a catholic school down the street," I say.

"I see," he says. "Does she know about me?"

"No. I just told her things didn't work out with us."

"I see," he says. "So tell me about her. What does she like? What is she like?"

"Well, she likes to dance. She takes ballet and tap. She plays soccer but she's also very artistic. She loves to color, paint, draw whatever you name it she loves it. I'll show you some of her artwork later but she is really into arts and crafts. She loves animals. That's her dog," I say pointing to Peaches. "I got her for Angelina's 4th birthday. She does really well in school. Her favorite subject is math and science. She loves science. She wants to do something with science when she grows up. She can read very well and she is an overall nice little girl. She's determined and hardworking. She is a perfectionist in every sense of the word. She's us," I say.

"Wonderful," he says, "she likes science interesting."

"I thought it was too," I say. "Anything else?"

"How about your boyfriend, does he know?"

"Fiance and know what?"

"That I am Angelina's father," he says.

"No. No one knows you're her father. I haven't told anyone just my brothers. No one else knows."

"So what did you tell your fiancé?"

"I just told him that you didn't want anything to do with her and I moved down here to start a new life."

"So he thinks I am a deadbeat dad?"

"Yes," I say sadly.

"I wouldn't be a deadbeat dad if you would have told me I had a daughter. I missed 7 years of her life, Natalie."

"I know and I'm sorry. So what does all this mean now?"

"I want to be in her life. I want to get to know her. I want to be her father," he says.

I am not sure how I feel about that. That's a lot after 7 years. She doesn't know him. "John, are you sure that's a good idea?"

"A good idea to be in my daughter's life? Yes it's a good idea. She is my daughter. I deserve the right to get to know her and be in her life. I am her father. Not your fiancé," he says. He seems to make it clear that Max is not Angelina's father.

"Max never really took on the father roll until we got engaged," I say. "But yes you are her father. If you want to be in her life then fine. I can't deny you that. You have every right." I don't really have a choice. I can't keep him from Angelina. He is her biological father. He has a lot more money than I have and I am sure he can afford a much better lawyer than I could. I can't risk losing Angelina to John so I have to let him in her life. "But please just take your time. Don't rush this, John. I need to talk to Angelina."

"I want to be there when you talk to her. I am her father. We're doing this together," he says.

"And what about your wife?" I ask. I know he has a wife and from what my brothers tell me she's not a very nice person. I am kind of scared how she is going to react.

"I don't' care about my wife. She has nothing to do with this. This is between you and me."

"John, you're married. She's your wife. She's a part of it too."

"She doesn't need to know for now," he says. "I just wish you didn't keep her from me so long."

"I'm sorry," I say. "I know. I have her baby books if you want to look at them."

"Sure," he says.

I get her baby books and we start to look through them. I show him her handprints and her footprints. I show him her hospital bracelet and a lock of her hair from her first haircut. I show him all of her baby pictures. We're laughing and having a good time talking about all the times I've had with her. I even give him a couple pictures of her to keep since she is his child. We're laughing as I am telling the story of when Angelina ripped her diaper off and used the bathroom on the floor and all she could say was uh oh. It's one of my favorite stories. We are interrupted by the door opening. "Natalie," says Max. He walks into the living room and says, "what is going on?"

"Nothing," I say. "Just catching up with John," I say.

"I thought you were sick? I come home and you're here entertaining this guy?" he asks pointing to him.

"I think I'll be outside waiting," says John.

"Thanks," I say, "give me a minute and I'll take you back to the hotel."

As soon as John is outside Max says, "what is going on, Natalie? You took a personal day because you're sick and I come home and you're entertaining him?"

"Max, calm down," I say. "It's not what you think. We had a lot to discuss."

"What do you mean you had a lot to discuss? What could have been so important you invite him back to this house and leave work?"

"I can't tell you right now," I say. I don't' want to tell Max about John being Angelina's father. I want to tell Angelina first and I want to see how that goes before I say anything to Max.

"Right," he says. "What has gotten into you lately? Ever since you heard about these WWE people coming to the hotel you haven't been yourself. What is going on with you?"

"Nothing, Max. I've just been thinking about stuff. It's all about the past," I say. It is also a lot about the present and future too.

"Thinking about what? What could you possibly be thinking about?" He is pretty much yelling and I hate when he yells at me.

"Stop yelling," I say.

"Oh you don't want your friend to hear me yelling. I don't give a fuck about your friend. I want to know why my fiancé is home alone with another man. What the hell is going on, Natalie?"

"Would you just calm down? I told you we were just talking about something. There isn't a need to get so upset and yell."

"So if I was alone with Callie in my house you wouldn't be upset?"

"Why are you bringing Callie into this? And why would she be at your house?"

"I don't' know why is there a WWE superstar in yours?"

"I think this is different. John is my friend. We had some catching up to do. I don't think there is anything to be upset about. It was completely innocent."

"And why are Angelina's baby pictures out?"

"Because he wanted to see them so I showed them to him. Just relax. Why aren't you at work anyway?"

"I was but then I was told my fiancé was sick so I came to take care of you but you look perfectly healthy to me," he says.

"I am entitled to personal days," I say.

"I know but with another man? Don't you want to marry me?"

"Max, I do want to marry you. Just relax. Okay. I love you. John and I just had some things to talk about."

"Nat, I don't like him here. I don't like you with any other guys," he says.

"He's just a friend," I say. Max can get pretty jealous and he has a really bad temper. I don't really know why I deal with it but I still love him.

"Okay," he says calming down. "I'm sorry I get so upset."

"It's okay," I say. "Just stop overreacting to things so quickly. I love you, Max and I want to marry you. I just want you to stop getting so upset. Can you promise me that?"

"I promise. I'm sorry," he says. "I love you, Nat. I'm really sorry."

"It's okay," I say. "I love you I just want you to trust me. Can you do that?"

"I trust you," he says.

"Good because I trust you too," I say.

"Okay," he says as I wrap my arms around him. He leans down and softly kisses my lips. "Since we're both home how about we go upstairs for a few minutes?"

"I can't. I have to take John back to the hotel and then I'm going back to work. Sorry."

"It's okay," he says exhaling a big breath and removing his arms from around me. "I should go too."

"All right. I will see you later?"

"Yes," he says. "Bye," he says before giving me a quick kiss. Any other time I would be alarmed by his actions but right now I am more focused on John and Angelina but I do have a feeling something is off with Max. I don't have the energy or time to try to figure it out right now but I will. I grab my keys and soon John and I are back to the hotel. I set up a time for us to sit down and talk to Angelina and then sit down and talk to each other about what's going to happen because right now I have no idea. Our lives are about to change completely and that is all I know.

*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.