Five Years and Five Changes for Natalie Buchanan
Title: Five Years and Five Changes for Natalie Buchanan
Author: veracity
Characters: Natalie, various family and friends.
Ratings: G
Summary: Natalie's life after moving out on her own involved a lot of changes in just five years.
Notes: Written for womenlovefest.
The first year Natalie missed Jared. Holly hung on the banner with big red bows to keep it in place. Mistletoe was hung over the doorways, as expected, and the there was music playing in the hallway. Liam was laughing and bouncing on his grandmother Viki’s knee as various family members milled around the small space. The house definitely wasn’t Llanfair with all its finery, but it was a home that she made without someone else. Jared would have whooped and cheered. Of course, then she might not have Liam. Or maybe she’d have Liam but he wouldn’t be hers, like he was now. And maybe that wouldn't have been too bad.
During the second year’s festivities, John had Liam so the party was far more subdued. Her mom only stayed briefly, while Kevin and Joey were still in London. That was the night she got blind stinking drunk and cried herself to sleep because Jess was no longer around. Their relationship had been hard for so long, but not having the other half of her soul wasn’t easy either, especially with Rex living on the West Coast with his portion of the Buchanan fortune. Roxy had been the bright spot, and was still but she couldn’t keep the cheer year round.
By the third year, she was dating more often again. Casually, and Liam never met the men, but the loneliness had eaten away too long. This time she stayed at home and then left once John picked up Liam for the sleepover. The house had grown a bit too small now that Liam was running up and down the hallways, and the stairs were an unending nightmare now. It was time to move, but Natalie desperately wanted to give her son the stability she never had. Drinks out and her boyfriend’s spending the night left a little twinge of regret. Once upon a time, this might have been John but that ship had sailed and wouldn’t return since he moved to Port Charles.
On the fourth year, she was celebrating a wedding to man she mostly loved and tolerated. So he wasn’t as adventurous, fun, or exciting as the other men she had dated. He hadn’t lied like Brody. That mattered at a lot since the last time she had played house with a man, he had nearly destroyed her son in a desperate plea to hold on to someone. Now the husband would fill a role, give her son a chance at a day-to-day father figure, and maybe help alleviate the pains of single parenting.
As much as she loved Liam, this year had been rough with all the Llanview murders and deaths. She needed something happen to erase the gruesome pictures in her mind, especially Carlotta Vega’s; that would had left a hole because she could never erase the look on Cristian and Antonio’s faces. Pain and love, friendship and betrayal had all played across them and once they found the killer nothing had eased the hurt.
When the first anniversary of her marriage appeared, she was actually glad. With no great love match, she was content. Liam now had a baby sister named Emily, Jess was back at Llanfair to visit their mother after Niki’s appearance last year, and the new house was flat with lots of room to roam and play. Suddenly, there was more to be grateful for: there was love, warmth, appreciation, and a promotion to Detective after the previous one was found in Pine Valley, living with JR Chandler after a six week investigation of possible murder. Life was never dull in Llanview, that was for sure.
Suddenly the world was brighter. John had settled in with someone else and it no longer hurt. The pain was gone and her friends were here to celebrate. Liam sat next to Emily, keeping a close eye out. He would be the big brother, the ultimate stopgate. He would look out for her the same way Rex took care of her. Family mattered and ruled all. Finally it was one life to live and encompassed them all, including the bickering Senator and actor in the other room.
Author: veracity
Characters: Natalie, various family and friends.
Ratings: G
Summary: Natalie's life after moving out on her own involved a lot of changes in just five years.
Notes: Written for womenlovefest.
The first year Natalie missed Jared. Holly hung on the banner with big red bows to keep it in place. Mistletoe was hung over the doorways, as expected, and the there was music playing in the hallway. Liam was laughing and bouncing on his grandmother Viki’s knee as various family members milled around the small space. The house definitely wasn’t Llanfair with all its finery, but it was a home that she made without someone else. Jared would have whooped and cheered. Of course, then she might not have Liam. Or maybe she’d have Liam but he wouldn’t be hers, like he was now. And maybe that wouldn't have been too bad.
During the second year’s festivities, John had Liam so the party was far more subdued. Her mom only stayed briefly, while Kevin and Joey were still in London. That was the night she got blind stinking drunk and cried herself to sleep because Jess was no longer around. Their relationship had been hard for so long, but not having the other half of her soul wasn’t easy either, especially with Rex living on the West Coast with his portion of the Buchanan fortune. Roxy had been the bright spot, and was still but she couldn’t keep the cheer year round.
By the third year, she was dating more often again. Casually, and Liam never met the men, but the loneliness had eaten away too long. This time she stayed at home and then left once John picked up Liam for the sleepover. The house had grown a bit too small now that Liam was running up and down the hallways, and the stairs were an unending nightmare now. It was time to move, but Natalie desperately wanted to give her son the stability she never had. Drinks out and her boyfriend’s spending the night left a little twinge of regret. Once upon a time, this might have been John but that ship had sailed and wouldn’t return since he moved to Port Charles.
On the fourth year, she was celebrating a wedding to man she mostly loved and tolerated. So he wasn’t as adventurous, fun, or exciting as the other men she had dated. He hadn’t lied like Brody. That mattered at a lot since the last time she had played house with a man, he had nearly destroyed her son in a desperate plea to hold on to someone. Now the husband would fill a role, give her son a chance at a day-to-day father figure, and maybe help alleviate the pains of single parenting.
As much as she loved Liam, this year had been rough with all the Llanview murders and deaths. She needed something happen to erase the gruesome pictures in her mind, especially Carlotta Vega’s; that would had left a hole because she could never erase the look on Cristian and Antonio’s faces. Pain and love, friendship and betrayal had all played across them and once they found the killer nothing had eased the hurt.
When the first anniversary of her marriage appeared, she was actually glad. With no great love match, she was content. Liam now had a baby sister named Emily, Jess was back at Llanfair to visit their mother after Niki’s appearance last year, and the new house was flat with lots of room to roam and play. Suddenly, there was more to be grateful for: there was love, warmth, appreciation, and a promotion to Detective after the previous one was found in Pine Valley, living with JR Chandler after a six week investigation of possible murder. Life was never dull in Llanview, that was for sure.
Suddenly the world was brighter. John had settled in with someone else and it no longer hurt. The pain was gone and her friends were here to celebrate. Liam sat next to Emily, keeping a close eye out. He would be the big brother, the ultimate stopgate. He would look out for her the same way Rex took care of her. Family mattered and ruled all. Finally it was one life to live and encompassed them all, including the bickering Senator and actor in the other room.