Chapter Text
When two broken hearts find one another sometimes they HEAL one another, protect and defend one another: and
love one another until the end of their lives. The ambush in Iceland, Reade nearly losing his life, and the birth of Natalia has
taught her to stop WAITING FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN-that waiting until life becomes EASIER SIMPLER, BETTER. Life is always
complicated. That unless the three of them learn to be happy RIGHT NOW, as one can run out of time if one waits long enough.
Reade has made it back to Nat and her after nearly a year, just as she'd decided that grieving him is fine but can she really stop
still and not live beyond that horrible day?
A random guy in the coffee shop invited her on a date one week ago and she decided to say no until Patterson provides a gentle
reminder: "Reade wouldn't-wouldn't want this for you, Tash. GOD; I say his name and...anyway-you know that yeah? Right, Tasha?"
Two days after her chat with her good friend she works up the courage to call Coffee Shop to say 'yes' when Reade reappeared..scuffed,
the light in his eyes was somewhat dulled but ALIVE! And she comes back to life herself-Natasha Zapata RENEWED. No man ever moved
her to this level of caring, for no other PERSON has she risked her life so many times. The guilt she felt from leaving him in that tomb of
collapsed stone (all alone) is wiped away (mostly) the moment he croaks 'Hey'; (His throat is abraded from months of the breathing tube
necessary to help him breathe after the damage to his back and ribs during the cave-in). "I'd do it again-no hesitation. Especially knowing
what I know now." He kisses the top of his sleeping baby's head.
Tasha's eyes well with tears watching her LAZARO-her Lazurus' big hands stroke their baby's back so gently, with so much love. Nat
lays on his stomach and she presses close to his right side: "I wish-" she starts to say when he stops her:
" Yo NO QUIERIA ESO, Natasha !" he says firmly, brooking no argument. "Only one could be saved and I chose YOU, the
way you always chose ME. I don't regret it and I never will. That's not what I wanted."
"I should have stayed- aunque tu no querias she insists. "We promised each other, and I DON'T CARE that you didn't want it-
WE PROMISED Reade!"
"What's important is that I'm here. We three ARE HERE. We beat the odds somehow-maybe it was our turn after so much heartache and strife
in our lives. I don't blame you; I never did and I'd like to drop it. I want to enjoy my family and heal, and be content...OK?"
"What ever you say- lo que tu digas ".
"No dog?" he asks breaking their comfortable silence.
"She won't have one until her beloved PAPI gets her one-she refuses."
" Celos -no need to be jealous!" he jokes