Welcome!


Thank you for stopping by.

I invite you into my story, into the lives of Michael and Natalie, and their experience with The Boys. This story has been kicking around in my head and my heart for some time. I'd like to think that this particular story, while obviously a figment of my imagination, describes something that could actually happen without hurting any of the players involved.

This story is now complete.

The story starts here. Just keep clicking on "Newer Post" at the bottom of each chapter to progress through the story.

To read any chapter, see the archive at the right. You can click on the ARROWS to get drop-down menus under each month.

Thanks to everyone who shared feedback and thoughts, both on the site, and via e-mail -- you encouraged me to continue the story. You all made this fun.

Faithful Forever,
Hathor
TheGoddessHathor@gmail.com

Epilogue

The doorbell rang. Michael told Natalie with a grin, “Write your note later. Right now, go rinse your face; your guests are arriving.”

Natalie went upstairs to her room to pull herself together. She couldn’t believe it. She knew they were good guys – at least everything she read about them told her that. She also experienced their generosity first-hand. She just couldn’t wrap her head around everything they’d done for her. Her. A virtual stranger. A fan, sure, but a nobody to them. She shook her head, and went into the bathroom to dry her eyes and touch up her makeup. Can’t let my guests think I’m still sick. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she went back to her room to change out of her walking clothes, and into faded jeans, and her softest turtleneck sweater.

From downstairs, she heard the chorus from the a capella version of “her song”. With a puzzled look on her face, she looked down on her dresser. The CD was there, where it always is when it wasn’t in her player. With a puzzled look on her face, she went down the stairs, and headed for the living room.

“Michael, when did you make a copy of my – ” She broke off, staring at the sight before her.

Standing in front of the fireplace, flanked by the two floral arrangements, were Jon, Richie, David, and Tico. They were looking gorgeous in black tie, and each was holding a single red rose. With tears in her eyes, Natalie went to Michael. He led her to the couch, and helped her sit. She couldn’t tear her eyes away.

By the time they finished singing to her, Natalie was crying. Richie, Dave, and Tico each came to Natalie in turn, presented his flower to her, kissed her cheek and said “Welcome home.”

Jon hung back, wanting to go last. He knelt in front of Natalie, took her hand, and put it over his heart. He gently put his own hand over her heart. He said to her, “Natalie, you have touched my heart. It’s only fair that I touch yours. Welcome home.” He kissed her gently, and pulled her into a hug.

Over Jon’s shoulder, Natalie caught Michael’s eye, and mouthed, “Thank you.”

THE END

Chapter Seventeen: Home

The procedure was a success. The doctors were cautiously optimistic about Natalie’s chances for recovery. She had to stay in ICU for a while, with absolutely no non-medical visitors. The flowers didn’t stop coming, however. They just accumulated on a table set up in the hallway outside her door.

Finally, after 6 weeks in the hospital, Natalie was strong enough to go home. Her doctors were now very optimistic about her prognosis, and were encouraged by the test results. She was told to take it easy, but she could slowly resume normal, low-key activities.

Two weeks after returning home, Natalie was walking her neighborhood, seeing signs of summer all around her. Trees and flowers were in full bloom, bees were buzzing around the honeysuckle, and the birds were singing their happy songs. Natalie looked around at the beauty in her world with fresh eyes. She kept her walk short, as she still tired easily. Michael had a small “Welcome Back” celebration planned he said – just a few friends – and she wanted to be sure she had energy for that.

When she got back to her house, she saw Michael was waiting in the driveway. He’d come to take care of everything for the celebration while Natalie rested. He wouldn’t tell her the details, just that he had some friends of hers coming over to welcome her home.

“How’s it going, beautiful? I’m so glad to see you up and out,” he said to her, kissing her cheek.

She returned his greeting with a hug. “I’m fantastic. Still a little tired, but so very grateful to be tired. I still don’t trust that everything will be OK, but I’m trying to believe. Thank you for everything. I’m really looking forward to this afternoon. Who’s coming?”

“It’s a surprise,” Michael said with a wink.

A horn behind them made them jump. A florist’s delivery van had stopped in front of her house, with two guys in the front seat. A twenty-something kid leaned out the window.

“Hey, are you Natalie?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“Well, we’ve got some flowers for you. Hang on.”

Natalie looked at Michael, who shrugged. The two of them approached the van as two guys got out. The delivery guys went around to the back of the van, opened the door, and pulled out two huge floral arrangements: red roses mixed with pink snapdragons.

Natalie gasped. “Oh, these are beautiful! Who are these from? Is there a card?”

She let the two deliverymen into the house, and directed them to put the arrangements in the living room, on either side of the fireplace hearth. One of them handed her a card, a thick ivory envelope, and Michael walked the pair out.

Natalie’s name was written across the envelope in a bold handwriting she recognized from the note that was with her CD. Her new heart was pounding in her chest. She sunk into one of her overstuffed chairs as she opened the envelope. She pulled out a beautiful “Thank You” card, not unlike the one she sent all those long months ago, and opened it.

Our Very Dear Natalie:

Welcome home, sweetheart! We wish we could be with you, but know our thoughts and love were sent along with these pretty posies.

Thank you for inspiring four rather ordinary men to do an extraordinary thing.

Thank you for being so brave, so genuine, and so, well, you. Let us give you some of our words – they’re yours forever, babe. Whenever we sing them, know we will be thinking of you.

I'll be here for you ‘til Kingdom come … I'll be there for you, these five words I swear to you … A penny for your thoughts now baby.

Faithful Forever,
Jon, Richie, Tico, David


Michael came back into the living room, and stopped cold. “Natalie, what is it? Are you OK?” He rushed to her side. “Do you need me to call the doctor?”

“No, I’m OK. Michael, this card is from the Jovi boys. Look at this. What do they mean, that I inspired them to do something extraordinary? What did I do? What did they do?” She looked into Michael’s eyes, and saw something there. “What did you do?”

Michael told Natalie everything.
... About Michael putting his personal note in the cards she sent.
... About the band arranging for the concert
... About Patti coming to the hospital every day.
... About the source of the flowers that were always in her room.
... About keeping Jon in the loop on what was happening.
... About Jovi Air coming to the rescue when MedFlight wasn’t available.

With tears in her eyes, Natalie looked at Michael, and said, “I think I need to send another card.”