"I never knew breaking up Seth and Jessica could be so tiring!" Natalie Balsom Buchanan exclaimed, crawling into her bed and closing her eyes with a yawn.
--------------------"Ben! Ben! Where's Jessie and Natalie, where are they?" Victoria Lord Davidson shouted frantically as her husband stumbled out of the house coughing. "Ben!" she said again, her eyes filling with tears as she took him in her arms. "Are you okay?"
He coughed. "I'm fine. We have to find the girls," he breathed, turning back towards the house.
"You can't go back in there! Let them go," she pleaded, pointing to the men.
"Sir, we'll take care of this. We cannot allow you to go back inside the house," said one, rushing past him as another emerged from the house holding someone in his arms.
"Jessica!" the mother cried out in joy, running to her daughter. "Jessie, you're going to be all right. You're going to just fine," she told her, her hands brushing through her long tangled blonde hair. "Jessie, did you see Natalie in there?"
She took a deep breath and frowned. "No, Mom, I didn't."
Viki's throat tightened as she stared back at her home. "No! We have to get her out! We have to save her!" she screamed into the cold winter night as she felt a blanket go around her shoulders. "We have to get her...." she cried again as she was pulled away.
--------------------"Natalie, we love you. You're going to get through this and you're going to be home before you know it," Viki tried to soothe her ailing child.
She clutched her stomach, hoping to keep down her tears that had been falling for the past week as her mother hugged her.
"Natalie," Jessica started but was at a loss for words. It was no secret she disliked her sister. "I love you."
The redhead was shocked by her sister's words. "I love you too"
"We're just a phone call away if you want some company," her step-father added, patting her hand.
"I know, and thank you, all of you," she told them, getting in the car. "Bye," she said shortly, her voice cracking as the door was shut for her and the car sped away.
Natalie stepped out of the cab and smiled. After all this time, she was finally home. "Home," she chuckled to herself. Her home had been burned down last January. Viki wrote to her telling her the house was being rebuilt. She promised it would be just like the original. "Let's hope," she said, walking up the porch. She took a deep breath. No one was expecting her. She wasn't supposed to be released for another three months, but she had been making remarkable progress. She knew as soon as she walked in those doors she would be pounded with questions, ones she didn't really want to answer but knew she had to. Sighing, she swung open the doors and stepped in.
"It smells the same," she thought as the aroma of Lois' cinnamon rolls filled the air. She carefully set down her bags and ventured farther into the living room. Finding her way to the couch, she sat down and waited. Sooner or later, someone would walk in. Sighing, she played with the fringe on her skirt.
"Natalie!" Viki's voice called out in joy to see her daughter. "Natalie, honey, why didn't you tell us you were coming back? We weren't expecting you until March," she declared, rushing over to the sofa to hug her.
"I wanted to surprise you."
"And you certainly have! How have you been? We haven't seen you since Thanksgiving."
"I'm good. I'm doing great, that's why I'm here so early. I've been released."
"Released? Oh my God, that's fantastic news! I'm so glad to have you back. Oh, and Jessie will be so happy you're home for Christmas."
"How is she?"
"She's fine. She and Seth are....nevermind."
"No, it's okay. I'm over that, I'm over Seth. They are what?"
"Engaged."
"What?! Since when?" she asked, a little shocked but happy nonetheless for her sister.
"Since a few weeks ago."
"That's great. I'm happy for them, really."
"Jessica will be so happy to hear that."
Natalie smiled. It wasn't a lie, she was happy for them, and she was over him, but a part of her still ached. Seth was her first love, but she knew he didn't love her anymore, and she was okay; still standing.
"Do you have anything left in Boston?" Viki asked, bringing her out of her daze.
"Nope. I'm having the rest shipped."
Viki sighed, and after a moment, hugged her. "I love you, Natalie."
"I love you too, Vi.......Mom."
"Well," Viki started, wiping her eyes. "Let's get you unpacked."
"All right," she agreed, standing up and following her mother to her room. Once inside, she sighed.
"It's a little different," her mother said.
"I wouldn't have noticed," she told her, unzipping the suitcases.
At a loss for words, Viki went over to her and started helping her hang up her clothes. After a few minutes they were done.
"Mom, if you don't mind, I think I'd like to be alone."
"Sure, honey, call if you need anything, anything at all, okay?"
"Okay," she said as her mother left. Nat flopped down on her bed. Although she was happy to be home, part of her still wished she was in Boston. At least there no one pitied her. She sighed. Her life had changed last January, and she had a feeling it was changing again.
"Mom?" Jessica called out later that afternoon, closing the front door to her home as she entered, taking her coat off. "I'm home."
"Jessie!" Viki exclaimed, entering from the living room. "I have great news."
"What is it?" her daughter asked in excitement, following her mother back to the living room.
"It's Natalie. She's home."
"What? Since when? I thought she had three more months."
"She's been released."
"Really? That's great. Where is she, I can't wait to see her."
"She's in her room. I think she's feeling a little down, she asked to be alone."
"Oh," Jessica nodded in understanding. "I'll go talk to her later, she did just get in and all. She needs time to rest."
"Yes, she does," Viki agreed. "I told her about you and Seth, I thought she might take it better coming from me, although it did kind of slip out."
She sighed heavily. "How did she take it?"
"Remarkably well. She's happy for you."
"Really?" she asked in disbelief.
"That's what she said."
"I'm so glad. I really didn't want to hurt her. It would've been terrible if we all couldn't get past this."
"Yes, it would have."
Natalie stood up and sighed. She had been in her room for the past three hours trying to figure out where to go from here. She felt like she had lost all control of her life, like her fate was being decided by her family. Taking a deep breath, she realized she needed her family right now. Exciting her room, she slowly went downstairs. Standing outside of the living room, she heard the last part of her mother and sister's conversation. She cleared her throat, announcing her presence.
"Natalie!" her sister said, surprised to see her. Although she had seen her since the fire, she was still amazed by how well the surgery had covered her scars and burns. Just by looking at her, you'd never be able to guess all that she'd been through.
"Jessica, hi," she said with a lack of emotion, excepting the hug that was gave to her.
"Oh my gosh, it's so good to see you. You look great. How are you?"
"I'm okay, considering."
She nodded. "Mom told me you've been released. That's such great news," she told her, leading her into the living room to sit down.
"Yeah, it is," she agreed with a sigh.
"I'm glad you're back for Christmas," Jess said, slightly changing the subject.
"Yeah, Christmas in Boston would have been pretty awful."
"Was Boston that bad?"
"No, no...it was great. I just wouldn't have been with my family."
"And we are so happy you are here with us," Viki interjected.
"So, Jess. I heard about you and Seth. Congratulations."
She smiled. "Thanks, Nat. Coming from you, that means so much to me."
"So when's the wedding?"
"Well, we haven't really set a date, but I'm thinking sometime around February or March."
"So soon?"
"Yeah. We really don't want to wait too long."
"I understand."
"Yeah," she paused. "I really wish I didn't have to, but I gotta go. I promised to meet Starr and Blair for lunch," she said, standing. "Nat, it's great to have you home."
"It's great to be home."
"All right, well. I'll see you two later," she said, waving to her mother and leaving.
Once the door shut Natalie sat there with her mother in silence 'till she heard the doorbell ring. At that, she stood. "It's for me."
"Who is it?" her mother asked curiously, standing to escort her to the door.
"A special delivery," she laughed, opening the door.
"Miss Buchanan?" a man asked.
"Yes, that's me."
"We...we, uh, have your dog," he said, a bit puzzled. Dogs weren't something he usually delivered.
Viki looked at her child for a moment in confusion. "I'll sign for it," she told the man.
"All right. Well," he said, pointing to the large cage next to him. "There it is," he told them, smiling slightly as he left.
"You--you have a dog?"
"Yeah. Dr. McDermint suggested it a few months ago. I didn't tell you at first, because I wasn't sure If I was going to take it. I hope it's all right," she explained.
"Natalie, honey, it's fine. Anything to help you is more than all right with me."
"Great," she smiled, bending down to free the dog from the cage.
"Here, let me," Viki said, opening the door as the golden retriever dog quickly ran out, glad to be free of the confinement.
"Mom, meet Shelby, my sight dog."
Natalie sighed. She'd been home for nearly a month now, but she still felt like a visitor in her home. Using this time to work with Shelby and get used to the house had been helpful, but it was time to venture out in to the real world for the first time since her accident. Her time in Boston had been spent primarily indoors, in the hospital, and Viki was way too over protective to let her go out so soon. Deciding to just go by herself, she left the house with Shelby, and headed towards Llanview University.
She smiled, coming into the student union after scheduling her classes, which would be starting later in the winter. She had been away from her studies for too long, and was looking forward to starting them up again.
Shelby navigated Natalie to a chair, where she sat. Although she wanted to go home, she knew she had to stay. Sooner or later, she would have to face her peers.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't little Miss Blind Buchanan herself, finally gracing us with her presence."
"Shawna," she stated blankly.
"And who's this mutt?"
"Shawna, I'm busy."
"Doing what?"
"None of your business," she snapped.
"Touchy, touchy," she said in her defense, pausing. "You really are blind. Can you believe what she's wearing?" she laughed to Mollie. "Maybe you should have someone pick out your clothes for you, that way, they'll at least match."
"That's enough, Shawna," a voice from behind said sternly.
She turned and looked, rolling her eyes and leaving with Mollie.
"Thank you, Cristian."
He was about to ask how she knew it was him, but didn't. "It's no problem. No one should be treated that way," he stopped. "How have you been?"
"Just peachy, considering," she said with sarcasm.
"I didn't mean.....," he started to explain.
"No. It's okay. I know what you meant. I'm doing okay. It's good to be back in Llanview, I guess. How are you? Did you work things out with Jen?"
He sighed and cleared his throat. "No, things with Jen didn't work out."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that," she said told him with sincerity.
"No, it's okay. She's with Al now."
"Really, wow. Things have really changed alot since I've been gone, haven't they?"
"You could say that."
"I mean, Seth and Jessica are getting married, Jen's with Al, I've really missed a lot."
"Yeah, you'll catch up though."
She smiled. "I sure hope so." She sighed, feeling her Braille watch. "I'd better get going before my mother sends out a search party."
He laughed. "I'll see you around."
"Yeah," she added, standing and leaving.
Natalie entered her home quietly, hoping not to be heard so she could go straight to her bedroom without having to talk to anyone.
"Natalie! I was so worried about you! Where did you go? Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?"
She sighed. "I went to Llanview University to schedule some classes. I didn't tell you, because there was no need to."
"Of course there is a need to tell me, you could have gotten hurt or something."
"I have a sight dog for a reason. I can't have someone hold my hand the rest of my life. I went, and I'm back in one piece. End of story, okay?" she said harshly.
"Natalie, you know that's not what I meant. It's just so soon, you just got released."
"Exactly. I was released, which meant they felt I was ready to come home and face the outside world."
"You're right," she added calmly, not wanting to fight with her daughter. "I over reacted. I'm sorry."
She sighed. "I didn''t have to be so mean either. I'm just really tired. I think I'm just going to go upstairs and lie down, okay?"
She nodded. "Okay, darling." Natalie started up the stairs. "Oh, wait," Viki called to her quickly. "A letter came for you."
"A letter?"
"Yes, it's from Boston, the hospital to be exact."
"Who's it from?" she asked, retreating back down the stairs.
"It's from a Mr. Devon Rowl," she said, handing it to her daughter.
Her heart skipped a beat. Devon had wrote to her, he had sent her a letter. She swallowed hard, trying to collect herself.
"Do you need someone to read it to you?" her mother asked, handing it to her.
She took the envelope in her hands. "No," she said quickly. "It's fine."
Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Alright," she said shortly, leaving her alone in the hallway.
Natalie sighed, holding the envelope tightly as she went upstairs to lie down.