Disclaimer: All characters are property of ABC/Disney. I'm just using them because even all these years later my brain can't shut off Jolie fics.
A/N: Hello again! So lately the muse has been writing continuations of previous stories, rather than finding completely new ideas to write. Parts of this one have been sitting in my drafts for a very long time (pretty much since I posted Because Nobody Should Be Alone On Christmas) I do hope you enjoy this-I've got a lot written, though I do have a few spots where I need to write more. Hopefully this won't take too long to finish up. Until next time-ya'll are the best-PCGirl.
Christmas 2012
Natalie stared at the Christmas tree and thought about how much had changed in the last twenty four hours. One minute she was packing up Liam's gifts to take home and give him the best possible Christmas even though his dad wouldn't be there, next she was locked in the storage room with John and finding out how much of the last four months had been a lie.
Today her and John tried the best they could to make it still a wonderful day for Liam. When her little boy had woken up and seen his dad-she hadn't been able to stop the tears. He needed him, and she was starting to accept that she needed John just as much.
Now that the day was finishing up they had to face the reality of what had happened. And decided to start this new reality by telling people the truth. Hearing the doorbell she glanced upstairs where she knew John was telling everything to Michael.
If he was here I'd want him to be one of the first to know.
That's what John had said, and she knew it was right, but still-by opening Pandora's box she wondered what the fall out would be.
"Hi Uncle Bo," said Natalie as she opened the door and gave him a hug and then Nora one as well.
"Hey. I saw John's car. Is everything ok with Liam?" he asked as he saw Rex and Gigi come out of the kitchen and make their way to the couch.
"Liam's fine. Him and Shane are visiting with Roxy now," she nodded. "John's upstairs on the phone with Michael. And that would be Jess," she said as the doorbell rang again.
"Merry Christmas," said Natalie as she greeted her sister with a hug.
"Hey. How is Liam? We missed him at Christmas earlier."
"He's fine. Come sit," she said as she motioned everyone to the couch.
"Thanks-by the way-is that John's car outside?" she asked and then watched him come down the steps without saying a word, just give a nod and go towards the fireplace.
"Yes. That's part of the reason I asked you to come over tonight," said Natalie as she took a seat on the ottoman and John kept standing behind her. "Liam didn't have a fever today. Some stuff came out last night when John made it back to town," she said as she looked back towards him. Taking a deep breath she kept going, "And after finding that out I couldn't look dad in the eye today. So, the three of us stayed here and enjoyed our Christmas alone."
"Ok. What's going on?" asked Jessica as she leaned forward, concern washing over her as to what brought them to this moment. When she'd seen Rex and Gigi earlier she knew something was up, but wasn't sure what.
Natalie picked up the restraining order that was sitting next to her and handed it to Nora.
"It's a restraining order-against John," she said, confusion on her face as she read over it carefully, surprised at the wording and suggestions it claimed of John's character.
"That was delivered to me in Port Charles three days after Natalie left the second time for London. Delivered by a BE courier," added John as he leaned against the hearth, his arms crossed.
Throughout the day his mind had gone through everything. The best way to present this information-the best route him and Natalie needed to traverse. They'd agreed that the people in this room now were the ones they wanted to tell in Llanview first. He was pretty sure their reaction was going to be the same as Michael's.
"He did what?"
John sighed, having to repeat it again, "Clint Buchanan had Natalie's signature forged on the restraining order. And then the letter as well."
"So all the reasons you've stayed away from Llanview for the last four months have been because of him? And not Natalie?"
"Looks like it," he said as he paced in the spare room he stayed in last night. "There's something else though."
Michael laughed, "What else could there be?"
"Wait-that's why you've been gone this whole time?" asked Rex as he looked at the paper as well. He knew John McBain, and though he'd been surprised when his sister ended back up on his doorstep in London after just visiting him earlier in the summer he'd been even more surprised when it seemed John had purposely decided to walk away from his entire life in Llanview at the drop of a hat.
"I thought if I was here I'd break it. That and the reason she went to London in the first place is all on me."
"But I didn't sign that. I never would have agreed to that. Not after my own childhood was kept from you all."
"You think your Dad did this?" questioned Bo, though he already knew not to put it past him.
"There's more," she said as she picked up the folded letter and read over it again before handing it over.
"That's not your letter," said Jessica as she looked over Gigi's shoulder and read it. "I watched you write the original letter. I read it before we handed it to dad to be delivered. That wasn't it. John-."
"I know," he nodded, feeling better that he had Jessica's support in this. "That was again delivered by a BE courier to me in Port Charles."
"So he's using BE resources to what-drive a wedge between you two? For what reason?" asked Rex. He'd hadn't understood last night how Natalie seemed to have forgiven John so quickly and brought him back to the house. Everything was making more sense now.
"Because that's how my brother is. If he feels you've slighted the family he goes after you with guns blazing. What can we get him on, Nora?"
Nora took a deep breath before folding the order up and placing it in her purse, "Forgery for one. If that's what you want, Natalie."
She sighed and ran her hands over her face, "I don't know. I do know that had the restraining order never happened John would have come back. That maybe the stress wouldn't have been so bad-," she said as she put her head down and wiped her eyes.
"Nattie. Hey," said Rex as he jumped up and sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into a hug. "I may be a Buchanan by blood now-but I'm a Balsom first. And so are you. I'm here beside you-no matter what."
"You would have thought he'd learned his lesson after the paternity tests," sighed Jessica as she joined her sister on the other side. "Whatever you decide I'm ok with. Both of you," she said as she looked behind her to John.
"First thing tomorrow I'm going to get this thing rescinded," said Nora as she leaned forward and patted Natalie on the knee.
"And John-your badge will be on my desk waiting for you in the morning," spoke Bo as he stood and shook the other man's hand. "Why don't we let you all get some rest tonight? When are you talking with your dad tomorrow?"
"Uhm, probably around lunch. I don't want Liam here-Jess?"
"I'll take him and Ryder somewhere for a couple hours. I know they miss each other. Just like I miss you," she said as she gave her a big hug before standing up.
"I think it's time to pick up Liam and Shane from Roxy," said Gigi as she jumped up and nudged Rex towards the door.
After the goodbyes were said John sat down on the couch and let out a sigh, "I could use a drink. You?"
"Definitely," she said as she went into the kitchen and came back out with two beers. "They took it all really well. I was sure Jess would side with Dad on this."
"He changed her paternity test to Brody. And what he did this time was a lot worse than that," he said as he twisted the cap off and took a long swallow.
Natalie nodded quietly, "So now what do we do, McBain?"
John tweaked his jaw and thought about what Michael suggested earlier over the phone, "Mike says we can come visit him, Marcie, and the kids for as long as we need to. Let everything here die down."
"I'm not running, John. He's not pushing me out of my home or my job."
"I know," he said as he leaned over and took her hand in his. "But he has this influence here. I like the idea of him being further than the other side of town-just for a couple weeks. Then we can come back-Bo will hold our jobs, I'm sure."
"You aren't one to run away from the problem at hand. Why now?"
"Because we need a neutral ground. For the last nine months I've had my focus everywhere other than where it should be. As much as there are fences that need mending here with some members of your family I need to mend the ones with you and Liam first."
Natalie sighed, "So the ceasefire is over?"
John nodded, "Fraid so, and it's helped me think through a lot. But I'm ready for a fight Natalie-not just with you but for you."
