The elegant blonde sat staring out of the plane window, trying hard to drown out the stewardess issuing the final landing commands.
To Marlena, it was like the teacher in those Charlie Brown cartoons, droning on and on in that terrible monotone.
To be honest, it probably wasn’t the stewardess’s fault that Marlena was irritable. That sole honor had to be given to Marlena’s now ex-husband, Roman Brady.
She knew when she married him that as Salem’s top cop, that she would be in for many sleepless nights and worry over him. That was fine and life was okay.
Until the children came along and she insisted that the twins and her stepdaughter Carrie needed to have him there, safe and sound.
Roman refused and the strain on the marriage was fatal. So much so, that when Marlena issued her final plea, Roman refused to hear and walked out on not just Marlena, but their children.
The divorce was hard, dividing their friends and family into two camps.
For Marlena, the hardest loss was her father in law. Shawn Brady was the world in Marlena’s eyes and to see him side with his son after hearing him for years saying that Family was the only thing that mattered tore her apart.
So much so that she threw herself into the children and work, disregarding her own health.
Her best friend Laura Horton saw this however and soon as her physician, ordered a vacation for Marlena, as far from Salem as possible.
“In fact, I just came back from the most wonderful place. Marley, you’re going to love it.”
“I sure as hell hope so Laura, you’ve got me going half the world away from the twins.”
Laura sat on the sofa across from her friend. “Marley, you need this. For months, you’ve taken care of the children, the patients, the friends who call and take but never give.”
She smiled. “However, THIS friend is issuing something that I hope you’ll take to heart. You NEED this and besides, the children can stay with me or Alice or Caroline.”
Laura winked. “Besides, look at it this way. Go on holiday and there’s a good chance you can have a vacation romance. Flirting is good for the soul.”
“Like my soul needs a good flirt.” Shaking her head in disgust at the idea, Marlena turned her attention back to setting her watch to Alamainian time and tried to keep her mind as light as possible.
“No children, no patients, no friends.” Her eyes went huge. “Nobody but me.”
John Black threw his briefcase into his convertible and slammed the trunk.
His own family again threw his good intentions back into his face no less and in his anger, a realization had come to him. He didn’t “HAVE” to stay with Alamain Industries.
Thanks to his mother Isabella, who had died when he was a little boy, John had more money than God and could go on his own.
So it was with that knowledge that he laid the law to his half-brother Lawrence and Aunt Vivian and left the Alamain Compound.
Marlena walked out of the local café with her large ice tea when she heard a man’s voice scream for her to watch out.
Spinning around, she saw the car coming straight for her.
John came flying across the street and tackled her, avoiding the car by mere inches.
“Sir, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see. I was trying to find St. Charles Avenue.”
John waved him off. “I’m alright.” He turned his attention to the young woman he saved. She was lying face first on the concrete, he yelled for someone to call an ambulance, just in case.
“Are you alright?” She rolled over and with wide hazel eyes, she whispered as she focused on the handsome face above her. Dark brown hair and a blue that she couldn’t quite describe, but decided on their being almost sapphire blue eyes that she could have drowned in. “You.”
She shook her head. “What did you say?”
He leaned over her, cradling her face in his hands. “I asked if you were alright.”
Marlena could only nod weakly. “I’m fine.”
She suddenly glanced to the left and broke into a laugh. “But my ice tea is dead.”
Hearing that giggle made John start to laugh. “Lie still until the ambulance comes.” She was about to protest when he interrupted. “Please, I’d hate to think I caused you additional injury.”
Marlena was about to protest when she saw the worry in those blue eyes.
“Okay, okay.”
“Mr. Black?”
He looked up from the magazine he was idly flipping through to find the Doctor with his damsel in distress. “Yes?” As he stood up, they came to him.
“She’s in perfect health, as she told me herself.”
John grinned. “She’s psychic?”
Marlena smiled back. “No, I’m a Physician, actually a psychiatrist. Some say it’s the same thing.”
She held out her hand. “Dr. Marlena Evans.” He covered it with his own. “I’m John Black.”
As she listened to the doctor give her instructions on filling her prescription for the antibiotic cream for her cuts and scrapes, John watched with a protective eye.
She turned back to face him. “Well now my knight in shining armor, your duty is done and I’m heading for the taxis once I hit the drug store.”
John shook his head. “Oh no your not.”
She blinked. “Pardon me?”
He waved his hand. “You’re NOT being left here to wait on a taxi.”
She balled her hands into fists, he was cute and all, but just who in power died and left him in charge of her. “And just WHO the hell are you to tell me what I can and can’t do?”
He took her left hand and unclenched it, detaching the prescription. “I’m someone who is concerned about a tourist in his fair city.”
She yanked it back. “Well thank you Mr. Tourist Board. But I can handle myself!”
Rolling his eyes, he saw no other option. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her with him.
“Oh come on, it’s not that bad.”
She glared at him. “Want to try saying that to me again and this time not be so damned snarky?”
John choked on his beer. “Excuse me, I’m not the one being snarky, Miss Stuck-up.”
Marlena threw the napkin at him. “I didn’t ask for this.”
John leaned forward. “I’m doing this as it was my fault that you hit your head on the ground and got cuts and bruises. I’d feel terrible if something were to happen as a result.”
Marlena raised an eyebrow. “Something like what?”
John threw up his hands. “Something like you had an relapse or something, I’m not a doctor I don’t know what could happen to someone as a result of something like this.”
She closed her eyes. “Well you’ve babysat me now for close to two hours. I think it’s safe to let me go back to my hotel room.”
“No.”
She blinked. “Say again?”
“No, you’re not going to your hotel room. Until I feel better, you’re coming to stay with me.”
He reached across the table and brushed her bangs away from her face.
“I’m not taking No for an answer.”
She threw up her hands. “I don’t know you, and frankly I’d rather stay in my hotel room.”
He shook his head. “You’re going to get to know me so smile nicely and get your purse. We’re going to swing by your hotel, get your things and go back to my home.”
“Serial Killer.”
His eyes widened. “Pardon me?”
She smiled sweetly. “I said this is going to be such a thriller.”
”Don’t entertain here much huh?”
John laid her suitcase near the closet of his guest room. “What makes you say that?”
She shrugged. “I dunno, the cobwebs or maybe the dust bunnies the size of shih-tzus?”
John turned to face her. “I don’t care that you aren’t happy right now. But suck it up and get comfortable. I’ll be back to check on you in a bit.”
She groaned. “If I’m a good girl daddy, will you read me a nigh-night story?”
He squinted and counted to ten. “Simpering doesn’t suit you Doc.”
“Ignorant and rude does so get out so I can get dressed.” She glared at him. “You’re making me stay so you get to see the real me.” Letting out a growl, he shook his head and left.
“But honey, I knew you didn’t love me, you forgot to kiss me goodnight!”
Un-puckering her lips, she began to change her clothes.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?”
John woke up disoriented in front of the fire and found Marlena staring at him sleepily indignant.
He had come to sit here to try and get her out of his head, somehow falling asleep to visions of her smiling at him. Now, he’s woken up by someone who resembled that very angel from his dreams, but the vision in front of him was distinctly mad.
“I asked you a question.”
He fought the urge to laugh. “It’s my house. Doc, don’t you remember?”
Her eyes were vacant for a moment before shaking her head. “Yeah yeah I did. Problem with sleeping in a strange bed on top of jet lag. I get disoriented.”
He chuckled. “Sure ya do. Right, good answer.”
She made a face. “Be that way.”
He came out of the chair and caught her by the waist. “Don’t go away mad. Come sit with me.”
“Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly.”
He studied her for a moment. “Do you think I’m a spider?”
She nodded. “A very dangerous one to someone like me.” She laid her head back against the couch, allowing the fire to warm her.
She assumed it was the fire, she didn’t want to acknowledge that the warmth could be from the man beside her.
But he was determined to make her aware of him. “Why am I dangerous to you Doc?”
She turned her head slightly to face him. “Because coming out of a long term relationship and meeting you is a risk I can’t take right now.”
He leaned forward to brush her hair away from her face. “I think you can and you will.”
“Awfully confident aren’t you?” She opened her eyes to look at him as his fingers wove through her hair, his touch was like electricity running through her and she allowed it to course through her as she slowly drifted away again.
John’s last conscious image was of Marlena nuzzling into his arms as he too drifted away.
Marlena squinted at John coming towards her as she listened to the rings while resting the cordless phone to her ear.
“Hi Caroline, it’s me.” She smiled. “The trip is well.”
She watched John come to sit beside her with a smile as she admired the way his skin glowed with its suntan.
Before her mind could wander further, she smiled and tore her attention from John’s legs. “It’s been quite the trip.”
Caroline smiled, watching her grandchildren playing with Carrie. “That’s good. You certainly do deserve the time away honey.”
Marlena swatted John’s hand from hers. “What does Shawn say?”
Caroline sensed trouble and so deflected it. “He’s Irish and stubborn.”
Marlena reached over and grabbed John’s wrist to check the time. “So same news, different day.”
John listened to the conversation, reconciling what he heard with what Marlena had already told him. About Roman, how his father was treating her when it was his own son that was in the wrong and her life in Salem.
He watched as she spoke with the children, loving how her eyes lit up when talking to her babies.
“Momma loves you all so much, Sami honey please be good and let Grandma comb your hair.” She laughed. “I know it hurts sometimes, but if you let her put cream rinse in your hair, we wouldn’t have any problems.”
“Honey, we have to go now. Roman’s here to pick them up.”
Marlena tensed up. “Okay. I’ll let you go Caroline. Thank you again for watching over them for me. I should be home within a few days.”
As she hung up, she looked at John. “I’m ready to go now.”
He grinned and took the phone. “Okay then, lets go.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You’re forgetting something.”
He paused. “Like what?”
She reached to the chair beside where he had been sitting. “Try your shirt!”
Their hands connected and she pulled it away. “Can’t have you getting sun burnt.”
He stepped forward and caressed her cheek. “Somehow I think my new friend, Dr. Marlena Evans would take care of my sunburn.”
“Oh you think so do you?” He lowered his lips to hers, his hands sliding down to pin hers against her sides. “I know so.”
Their tongues met and John felt her melt against him and he felt her hands slip out of his to come around his neck. “What are we doing?”
She looked sleepily at him. “I don’t know, but I don’t want you to stop.”
He searched her eyes and found the desire building in their depths. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I want you.”
She was laying on her stomach as his hands roamed over her, sliding along her spine before coming to come to rest against her round bottom then made the return trip to her shoulders.
“Marlena?”
She let out a soft sigh, which only made him want her more. But he wanted to prolong this, wanting to have them both nearing the edge. That was why he brought out the massage oil.
He lowered his lips to her ear, slowly sucking on the lobe before whispering into it. “Turn over.”
As she did so, she wrapped her arm around him and brought him on top of her.
“Make love to me.”
As she said it, Marlena couldn’t believe that they had come so far so soon. That a week ago, they had met and now…
Now, she couldn’t imagine life, as she knew it without this man.
“Ooh you smell so good.”
She lifted her eyes and smiled at the compliment as he entered her and it was as if she had been made only for this man. Everything felt so right as she tightened her grip on him, her legs sliding up to trap him in her silken embrace.
As she arched her back giving him more room to take her, John found himself drowning in her and while he remembered her saying to Caroline that she’d be returning to Salem in a few days, he allowed himself the illusion of having her forever.
“You look lovely.”
She stood at the top of the stairs to allow him to drink her in. “I wanted to be perfect for you.”
John watched as she spun around to show him all sides of the gown he had picked for her.
Her hair was partially pinned up, the sides and back allowed to flow down in soft ringlets. The gown was soft white chiffon with tiny-jeweled straps. It was warm enough to avoid a shawl, but he had purchased one in the chance of a chill.
He helped her down the steps and wrapped his arms around her to kiss her.
“If I let you continue, I’m not getting to eat and no offense, while I love being in your arms and in your bed, I need food more at this point.”
“I knew that it was the éclairs you loved more than me, admit it, you were just using me.”
She nodded and began to laugh as he claimed her mouth for a kiss. “Yeah, I’ve used you for the chocolate. Though I must say, you kiss pretty good for someone that I’ve just fallen in.” She paused. “Fallen in what Doc?”
She shook her head. “Say it Marlena.”
She shoved away. “Can’t say something that I don’t know is true.”
He stepped forward, trapping her against the wall as he pinned her face between his hands.
“I can say it because unlike YOU, I know it’s true.”
He kissed first her forehead, then eyes and then lips. “Marlena, I love you.”
She smiled. “Gotcha.”
He froze. “What?” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I was NOT saying that first.”
As he began to laugh, she continued. “I’ve known that I’ve been in love with you since the night you called me Miss Stuck-Up.”
He shook his head. “Will I ever get used to the way your mind works?”
She grinned. “Stick with me for the next 50 or so years and maybe just maybe.” She poked him in the chest. “IF you play those cards right, I just might let you in on how my mind works baby.”
“What say you and I go home and I let you persuade me into getting into a hot bubble bath?”
Marlena’s smile faded as the voice behind her boomed. “Why aren’t you going to introduce me to your little friend brother?”
John closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Sweetheart, this is my brother Lawrence.” He opened his eyes. “And this is his wife Katerina, known to family and friends as Carly.”
Staring at him, Marlena muttered under her breath. “So much for bubbles.”
As Carly pulled him away, apologizing to them about interrupting their time, Marlena looked at John.
“So that’s your brother?” She shivered and John spoke. “Yeah, half.” He took her to their table.
“Older?” Again he nodded.
“Be glad your only a half brother honey.” He looked up. “Why?”
She grinned. “Two reasons. One, I wouldn’t love you if you were like him. Two, while I joked that you were a serial killer when you made me come with you.” He nodded. “I think he IS a serial killer. John, he gives me the creeps.”
He draped his arm around her and nuzzled her ear. “You and me both honey.”
“Where is she Laura?”
She finished signing the file entry before addressing her friends ex.
“She’s on holidays, you know that because your children are staying with your parents.”
He shook his head. “Don’t play games Laura.”
She stood up. “I think you’ve mistaken me for you. Roman, if anyone’s played games its you. You don’t want her but by god, you don’t want her to have a life away from your all mighty ego.”
He sneered. “Oh like you care.”
Laura’s eyes began to flash. “I do care, because I saw how broken hearted she was when your sorry ass left her. She started working overtime to make sure that once she had your children fed and safely in bed, that she didn’t have to be home in the bed that she shared with you.”
He didn’t miss a beat.
“Oh go to hell, I didn’t come here to be lectured by you Dr. Horton.”
She sat back down. “Then why the hell are you here?”
He headed for the door. “Because I wanted to know where she was.”
Laura had the last word. “Ask your parents.”
Roman got to the jeep and put his keys in the door just as the bomb counter hit 000.
“Did I tell you to stop?”
She chuckled and continued to rub her hands over his back. “Well no, you didn’t.”
She lowered her lips to the spot between his shoulder blades.
“But I want the front of you, my hands are tired of rubbing the knot in your back.”
He smiled and brought her hands to rest around his waist. “Admit it, you just want me to make love to you again.”
She chuckled. “You say that like it’s a bad thing to want your body baby.”
He turned around and as she laid back against the back of the lounger, he hovered just inches above her. “No, it’s not a bad thing because I’m just as crazy about you. However, there’s plenty of time for that later, we’ve got things to do.”
They left just as the phone rang..
Laura hung up the phone just as Abe walked in. “Well did you get a hold of her?”
She shook her head. “Apparently the front desk said that she had just gone out for some last minute sight seeing. They said that they’ll be waiting for her the moment she comes back to give her the news about Roman.”
He nodded and sat down. “Have you slept at all Abe?”
He shook his head. “How could I do that Laura when my best friend was blown up.”
She paused. “The family must be devastated. Those poor children.”
He nodded. “The twins will never really know their father and Carrie, well she never really had him even when he was here.” He lifted his eyes. “I know it’s bad form to speak ill of the dead, but he’s taught me one good lesson. To always be there for your family.”
Laura nodded. “I went home and kissed Abby doubly harder than usual.”
Abe checked his watch. “I have to go back to the station. Could you let me know when Marlena checks in?”
Laura nodded. “I certainly will.”
As her office door closed, Laura said a quick prayer that when Marlena heard the news, she didn’t feel like it was her fault. She loved her friend dearly, but the one thing that bugged her most about her was the enormous heart that made her take on more than needed.
“Please let her be enjoying this time away.”
The water was heavenly as he pressed her against the side of the hot springs.
As he lowered her head to rest on her arms, he continued to plunge into her, his hands coming around her to cup her breasts in his hands while his lips came to nip at first her neck then her earlobe.
Drowning in the sensations, being thankful that he was holding her up because she was feeling light as air, Marlena remembered how they had come to this secluded spot.
He had told her that they were going sight seeing and they had, at first.
He showed her the ancient church where his parents were married, where there was a myth that if you were a first time visitor to Alamainia and stood in the chapel, you would marry your true love within a year of that visit.
“Trying to hint at something there Black?”
He draped his arm over her shoulder and nuzzled her neck.
“Did you hear me asking Evans?”
She grinned. “Well no, but there had to be a particular reason WHY you told me that story.”
He pulled her to him for a kiss. “Well, don’t all women love happy endings and romance?”
Laughing, they left the church and he pulled her off to the side. “Come with me.”
“Doc?”
She shuddered and lay limply against him, allowing the water to hold them both up. “Yes?”
He gently turned her to face him and smiled at how drowsily content she looked. “We should go.” She smiled and put her arms around him. “You can take me anywhere you want to go sailor.”
He lowered his lips to hers and smiled. “That’s good, because I’m taking you home.”
As she smiled and went ahead of him, John’s mind began to go into overdrive.
“I wonder, does she realize how wonderful that sounds to me?”
He watched her climb out of the springs.
“I never had the need to have someone in my life and now, she’s here and I’m going to lose her in a couple more days.”
Her voice called him out of his reverie.
“Hey sailor, I love the idea of going home with you, but you really need to get OUT of the water.”
To her amazement, he blushed. “Your right, let’s go.”
They came back to the house and John played the messages.
“Hey Marley, it’s Laura. When you get this message honey, please give me a call. I’m in the office until 9 tonight doing some paperwork, but believe me it’s important you call.”
Worried and thinking it was the children that had Laura calling her, Marlena held on to John and began to dial.
“Hello Laura Horton.”
Marlena looked up at John, who laid a hand on her cheek. “Laura, it’s me.”
“Oh thank god you called. I thought Abe was never going to leave me alone. Marley I hate to be the one to do this, especially with the holiday going so well.”
”Is it the kids?”
Laura paused. “No, honey the kids are fine. But it’s Roman. There’s been an explosion.”
“Was he hurt?” She looked at John, a pang for what was once hurting her heart at a time of great happiness. “Is he in University Hospital?”
“Marley, he’s dead.”
;John watched her pack with a worried eye.
“Are you sure about this?”
She looked at him.
“I’m positive. I can’t do this alone and I’d really love for you to be with me.” She paused, her blouse in mid fold. “I know it’s a lot for me to be asking of you and we’re just beginning our relationship and I don’t really want to impose on you.”
He came around the side of the bed and turned her to face him. “I love you.” He smiled. “I heard you say that you love me too. So my accompanying you to Salem is NOT an imposition and it’s a chance for me to meet your children and see just what makes my lady tick.”
She swatted at him. “Have I told you just how incredible you are?”
He paused and shook his head vaguely. “Not in the past 2 hours.”
He smiled. “I know what you think of me and I love you. That’s all that matters right now, along with getting you ready.”
She nodded. “What about your packing?”
He gestured to the door, where his suitcase was already waiting. “I did it while you were on the phone.”
She began to laugh, feeling guilty. “What am I going to do with you?”
He drew her to him for a hug. “Everything I hope. Now finish packing.”
He watched her sleep with a smile as he reached over and played with a stray curl.
“It’s going to be alright, I’m not leaving you.”
She sleepily opened her eyes and adjusted her position so that she was in his arms. “That’s good, cause I don’t want to lose you either.”
They came through the terminal hand in hand as Marlena began to search for Laura.
“MARLENA!”
She froze as Carrie came towards her. “Pumpkin, I’m so sorry.”
“I know, but at least Dad didn’t suffer. The autopsy told us that much.”
Carrie stopped and smiled at John. “Welcome to Salem Mr. Black.”
Marlena smiled. “Carrie, how did you know?”
The young woman smiled. “Laura told me to expect a surprise who was coming with you.”
She turned her attention back to the stunned John.
“You treat my stepmother properly or you’re going to have half of Salem against you. She’s very loved you know.”
John smiled, feeling relief wash over him. “I can see that.”
Carrie gestured towards the doors. “I brought your car and I’ve been told that you’re to be brought straight to the Pub.”
Marlena’s eyes widened. “Oh Carrie, no.”
Her stepdaughter’s eyes twinkled. “Oh Marlena, yes.” She winked. “By orders of himself, you’re to be coming to the Pub.”
Marlena began to laugh. “Your accent is getting much better.”
“MUMMY!”
Marlena knelt down in time to be bombarded by her two toddlers. “Hello there!”
John and Carrie stood off to the side, allowing the trio to be reunited. “I missed you Mommy.”
Marlena smiled at her son. “Eric, I missed you too.” Samantha pouted. “What ‘bout me?”
Marlena grinned. “Oh I missed you too.”
Eric saw the other fellow beside Carrie and came over. “Who are you?”
Marlena turned around and smiled, drawing Eric back to her side. “Eric and Sami, this is my friend John. I met him while I was on holidays.”
Eric smiled shyly. “Hi.” Sami grinned. “Hi.”
John knelt down and charmed both children by pulling a quarter from each of their ears.
“I thought that I’d heard your voice. Welcome home Marlena.”
Marlena stood up and came to the embrace of her former mother in law. “Caroline, I’m so sorry.”
She broke the hug and studied her friend. “How are you?”
She smiled, but Marlena could see the sparkle wasn’t there. “I’m okay. TRYING at least.” She patted Marlena’s cheek. “It’s just so good to have you home.”
“I agree, it is good to have you home.” Marlena turned to see Shawn coming out of the kitchen. “You’ve been missed Lass. Things aren’t right when you’re not here to put things into perspective.”
Marlena nodded, eyes dropping to the floor.
“Poppa blamed Marlena for divorcing Dad. He felt her place was at his side.” Carrie explained to John, who was watching the exchange. “He didn’t seem to want to see what his pig-headedness was doing to her.”
John nodded. There was something about Shawn Brady that was unnerving him, but he couldn’t figure it out.
He looked up in time to see Shawn and Marlena embracing. “Now that’s a miracle.”
“Caroline told me that I’d find you here.”
Marlena turned and smiled. “This is where Roman would come and think about things. It was where he taught me to fish.” She looked back at her hands. “This is where I decided it was the best place to come and say goodbye.”
John came off the last step and stood beside her. “Doc.”
She looked at him. “I need to say goodbye not just because of him, but it was the best way to start my future.” She faced him. “I don’t know where we’re going to end up, but I wanted no ghosts.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “There are not going to be any ghosts. I promise you.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “For the past is past, the future we know not but only the present can be called our own.”
He lifted her chin to face him with a finger. “What was that for?”
She shrugged. “It’s the Irish by osmosis that’s coming out in me.” She paused. “Or is it out of me?”
He laughed. “Well it’s time to take you home, cause I don’t think I like that side of you.”
John woke up the next morning to find two faces staring at him in the guest room.
“Hi there.” Sami broke into a smile. “Hi.” She nudged Eric, who smiled too.
John sat up and gestured for them to climb up on the bed. “What brings you here so early?”
Eric smiled and scooted to sit beside him. “Mommy said that we had to wake you up so we could go.”
“Go where?”
Marlena peeked in. “We’re taking you to the park. The twins think you’re too pale and that any friend of Mommy’s has to learn how to play soccer with them.”
He squinted. “What about Mommy, does she know how to play soccer?”
Eric shook his head and Sami made a face. “Nope.”
“Mommy doesn’t play soccer, is a good goalie though.”
Eric continued to whisper helpfully. “She don’t cook either.”
Marlena let out a moan. “Enough sharing, go get ready.”
As they scampered out, Marlena came to sit on the side of the bed.
“Thank you.” He smiled and brought her hand to his lips. “For what?”
She tilted her head. “For being here, for loving me and for making me smile this morning.”
He pulled her to him. “I will always do that.”
“You know what, it’s my turn now.”
Marlena looked up from her spot on the blanket. “Turn now for what?”
John watched the twins playing on the swings. “For this. Allowing me to be part of this family.”
She rested her head on her hand. “As long as you’re with me, you’re going to be part of my family.” Her eyes grew serene. “As you’re part of my heart now.”
He leaned in to gently tug on her lips only to break into a laugh as Eric announced. “Eww you kissed Mommy. That’s gross.”
They sat up so that the twins could sit up on their laps. “Eric m’boy one day when you’re older, you’re going to LIKE kissing girls.”
Marlena chuckled as Eric shook his head. “No think so.”
Sami was off her mother’s lap like a shot. “UNCLE ABE!”
She dragged him back with her as Marlena and John began to pack up the picnic things.
“Uncle Abe, this is John.”
The two men looked each other over and Marlena found herself feeling uneasy over the growing tension..
“Shawn told me about you, I just wanted to say hello.” John nodded, looking at Marlena before taking the offered hand. “Doc’s told me a lot about you too, she said that you’ve been an amazing friend and I hope that in time, we can be friends too.”
The other man smiled. “I hope so too.”
Marlena let out the breath she was holding and hugged her friend. “Thank you Abe.”
“No, I want John to tuck me in.”
Marlena smiled and looked at John, who seemed almost shell shocked. “You do?”
Eric nodded and suddenly seemed worried. “Is that okay Mommy?”
She smiled and leaned over to kiss her son. “That’s just fine, isn’t it John?”
He nodded, overwhelmed that Marlena’s kids welcomed him so quickly. “That’s great slugger.”
As Marlena left the room, she listened to John and Eric telling stories.
He found Marlena standing in front of her dresser. “Doc?”
He laid his hands against her shoulders and looked at their reflections in the mirror.
“What is it lady?”
She laid the brush down and laid her hands over his. “Marry me.”
Smiling at the reflection in his eyes, she turned around. “I’m not letting you get away. John, you’re too perfect. My children adore you, everyone is starting to like you and I love you. I can’t see a life without you in it.”
He came away from her and went to sit on the end of the bed. “John?”
She knelt down in front of him. “You’re mad. Oh I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said.”
He laid a finger against her lips. “I’m not mad at all.” He slipped his hands under her robe and removed it from her. “I just thought that if there was going to be a proposal, that it would be me.”
She stood up and straddled his hips. “Well then I take it back and you can let me seduce you.”
He laid his hands across the bed. “Go ahead and have me.”
She finished undoing his buttons. “I intend to do just that.”
He rolled over and pinned her under him, his hands roaming up and under her short nightie.
“I think I want to take this into the shower.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Okay, now who’s seducing who?”
He drove into her, keeping in time with the water pounding over them.
She had one leg wrapped around him for support as his lips plundered her leaving her weak and arching her back to allow him more room.
His hands squeezed her breasts together, his lips lavishing kisses on first one, then the other before continuing downwards.
Feeling weightless, she stretched upwards as he continued down, his fingers entering her
Her hands slipped into his hair, trying to focus his attentions to her throbbing center.
His tongue suddenly left and she let out a moan that he stifled with a kiss as he reentered her.
He turned her to face the wall as he continued his assault, leaning her back against him, his hands roaming over her skin as they began to climax together.
As the water began to cool, Marlena whispered into his skin “Welcome to Salem.”
John sat staring into the evening sky and was lost in thought as Marlena crept behind him and wrapped her arms around him.
“Hello, where are you?”
He turned his head to lightly kiss her cheek. “I’m right here.”
She smiled and came around to stand in front of him.
“No, I mean when I came outside. John, you were a million miles away.”
She laid her hand on his cheek. “Sweetheart, talk to me.”
He bit his lip. “I’ve been trying to figure something out and I felt that I could do that best outside where it was quiet.”
She nodded. “Okay. So were you able to do that?”
He paused. “Not really.” He patted the seat beside him and she joined him. “I have to tell you something and I’d like for you to stay quiet until I finish.”
Worried, Marlena did as she was told.
Shawn Brady wasn’t sleeping either, sitting in the quiet of the pub and feeling like a man with the noose around his neck, the edge of fear and the unknown washing over him as he stares at the trap door that would open at any minute.
He knew this time would come, just never expected it to be this way, this soon.
He lost one son horrifically but to see his other son walk in with Marlena of all people brought it all home. Isabella’s son, THEIR son was in his life and he was obviously in love with Marlena.
“The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.”
“What are you trying to say John?”
He turned to face her. “I’m saying I know that man, Shawn Brady. But I don’t know why.”
Marlena shook her head. “I don’t know either. But it does explain the look he gave you when you were sitting down with Sami in your lap and Eric sitting beside you.” She lifted her eyes. “John, it was like he was scared. Shawn’s never scared.”
He stayed silent, unsure of where to go next.
“I think the best thing to do would be to talk to him John, ask him if he had ever been to Alamainia and if he knew your family.”
He nodded and then smiled. “Have I told you that I love you tonight?”
She shook her head, her smile nearly as bright as his own. “Nope.”
He snapped his fingers. “My bad.” He grinned. “Come here you.”
As she came to stand in front of him, he pulled her closer. “I love you so much.”
Shawn was still sitting there when Caroline came down the next morning.
“I owe you such an apology.”
Worried, she came to sit with him. “Apology for what?”
He looked up. “I’m a hypocrite and I treated the woman I love like crap for her affair years ago that produced a wonderful young man.”
Caroline reached out and laid her hand over his. “Shawn, that was a long time ago. You haven’t been a hypocrite.”
He pulled his hand away and stared at his wife. “I have. Caroline, I had a brief affair while I was away at Sea. It was basically a one nightstand and I regretted it ever since. I went to confession with Father Marco and confessed all to him and ever since I have tried to be a good father, husband and provider that I could be.”
She blinked. “Why are you telling me this now?”
He froze. “Because that one night stand created a son.”
John couldn’t sleep so he climbed out of bed, careful not to disturb Marlena.
Patrolling the penthouse, he came back upstairs and checked on the children.
Sami was curled up on her side, arm draped over a ridiculously overstuffed rabbit John had given her that she promptly named JB in honor of the person who gave it to her and she had kicked off her covers.
Covering her up, John leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Sweet Dreams Princess.”
Going to the next room, he found Eric sitting wide-eyed in the corner of his room.
“Buddy?”
Eric was still silent and so John went down to the little boy’s eye level. “What is it Eric?”
Shaking his head, the little boy still refused to talk.
“Was it a bad dream?”
Eric watched John warily. “Been having those a lot haven’t you?”
John smiled and grabbed the bear on the bed. “I know that I’m not your daddy, but I do know that as long as I’m here with you and the girls, I will always be here to talk to and to help you, if you want me to that is, help beat up those bad guys under the bed.”
He was rewarded by a smile from the little boy and a hug. “Now, what do you say about getting back into bed and trying to sleep?”
Eric whispered into his neck and John smiled as he hugged the child back.
“I promise that I will stay here with you.”
“Welcome home.”
She looked up from her files and smiled. “Thank you Laura, come on in.”
Doing as requested, Laura came and sat down to face her friend with a huge grin. “Well?”
Marlena raised her eyebrow. “Well what?”
Laura smiled and crossed her legs. “Girl your smile has never been this bright and you’re more at peace. I wanted to know, heck the whole hospital wants to know, what’s he like?”
Marlena shook her head, fighting the urge to laugh. “I do NOT kiss and tell.”
Laura waved her hand. “Uh huh sure.” She looked at her friend. “In all seriousness, are you alright?”
Marlena laid her pen down. “I’m fine with all of this. While it’s terrible how Roman died, it was something I figured would happen. Someone with a grudge against him took him out.”
Laura nodded. “Of course, it helps that you have John to lean on.”
“Of course it does. He’s amazing and I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
Laura nodded. “And of course I have the perfect place for you to introduce him to everyone.”
“So you’re the new man in Marlena’s life.”
John turned around and looked at the young man who was smiling at the twins. “Hey monsters!”
“UNCLE BO!”
John stood up and smilingly held out his hand. “So you’re the famous Bo Brady.”
Marlena came into the Pub and found Shawn looking shell-shocked.
“What’s wrong?”
He lifted his head. “Oh thank god you’re here Lass.” He stood up and drew her into a bear hug.
“Shawn, what’s wrong?” He stepped away. “It’s Caroline.”
Sitting down, Marlena’s eyes widened as Shawn began to explain the history that led to creating the man she loved more than life and the explanation to Caroline that had led to her leaving the Pub.
“Shawn, I’ll go find Caroline. But you need to talk to John.”
Shawn shook his head. “I can’t do that. How can I explain to him that I wasn’t there and why?”
“Try from the beginning. Simple as that.”
Marlena and Shawn turned to find Bo and John, each holding a twin by the hand.
Standing up, she came and kissed the twins. “I’m going to find Caroline.”
The driver behind the wheel of the Volvo had been spending time at the Cheating Heart for most of the day and had lost track of time when Dave sent him out. Taking a look at his watch, he realized that he had to hurry to catch the kids at School.
He was reaching for his cell phone when he turned onto Main, his eyes were off the road for a moment, but it was enough to plow into Marlena’s B.M.W and sent it traveling for an additional 50 yards.
John and Bo were about to hear the story when the crash roared through the Pub like a locomotive.
Shawn kept the children in the pub while Bo and John came outside to check it out.
They arrived just in time to see Marlena being placed on the stretcher
“How is she?”
The Paramedic looked at them and shook his head. “If you’re a praying man, pray.”
He didn’t know how long it had been that he was standing by the ICU window, time having seemed to stop from the moment they came into the Trauma Center, after they had spent frantic minutes following the ambulance that carried Marlena safely within it.
Bo phoned the Pub, alerting Shawn as to the status of Marlena’s health. Shawn promised that upon the arrival of his sisters Kim and Kayla, he would send the girls to the hospital to help him.
“And John.”
Shawn banished the unspoken words from his mind. There would be plenty of time to have that conversation.
“Pop what about Mom?”
Shawn shook his head. “She’s off running errands. As soon as I can track her down, I will send her as well.”
Caroline turned towards her old friend Alice and shook her head. “How in the world do I get this out of my head? He said such horrid things when he learnt about Bo. To then turn around and spring on me this?”
Alice looked up from her cup of tea. “I don’t know dear. All I know is that you love Shawn and he does you. This has seen you both through so much.”
The phone rang and Alice paused to answer it. “Hello?”
She went as white as the china cup in her hands. “Certainly, just a moment Shawn.”
Worried over her friend, Caroline ignored the fact that it was her husband on the line. “What is it?”
“There’s been an accident.” Alice lifted her eyes to look at her friend. “You need to go to the hospital.”
Images of Roman’s dying came back to assault her mind, this time with Bo playing the role of dying martyr. “Who?”
Alice seemed close to tears. “Marlena…”
John didn’t know what time he had come to the chapel, but by the aches in his legs from kneeling, he knew it was longer than mere moments.
“God, I haven’t believed before and haven’t felt the need to talk with you as I should. But I need this, it seems to be more urgent and more important than anything I have had in my life. I need this girl to live so that I can love her and have her be my wife.”
He looked around the chapel. “I adore her more than life and she makes me feel at peace.” He came to pause on the statue of Madonna and child.
“I never really had my mother, we both know that I sure as heck never had a father. Leopold never loved me as he did Lawrence, didn’t know at the time that it was because he knew I wasn’t his, not biologically.”
Shawn stood at the doorway to the chapel with his head bowed, listening to his son tell of his life with Isabella’s husband Leopold and sister Vivian.
“Marlena has given me light, in her love and also through those amazing children of hers.”
He dropped his head, to wipe his tears.
“I can’t lose her now. Please don’t do this to me, and to those precious babies.”
Shawn watched as Kim and Kayla talked to their mother, who still refused to even look at him.
He stood up to find Bo watching him. “Want to talk about it?”
Shawn blinked. “About what?”
“Why Ma’s looking determined not to look at you and you’re looking not so hot yourself?”
Bo came and plopped himself on the waiting room couch beside him, an amused look in his eyes. “Anytime you’re ready?”
Shawn raised an eyebrow. “If I didn’t know our history boy, I’d swear you were a changeling.”
Bo grinned. “But you do know our history so Pop spill it before I have to go drag it out of Ma.”
Shawn looked at his son. “In a nutshell, I had an affair…more like a one night stand. It had been while I was on duty and it was on shore leave that I met Isabella.”
Bo looked solumn. “Okay.”
“However, what I didn’t know for the longest time was that from that came a son.”
Bo’s eyes widened. “Okay, what are you going to do about it?”
Shawn was about to speak and caught sight of not just the doctor coming from surgery, but also John coming back from Chapel.
“I’m not doing a thing as he’s here in Salem now Bo.”
Bo’s eyes followed Shawn’s and his eyes were like saucers. “JOHN?” r32;
Kimberly and Kayla Brady were sitting with Caroline and Bo was just on Shawn’s left as he cleared his throat. “Pop’s got something to say.”
Shawn thanked his son. “Could you grab John for me?”
As they came back, Shawn began his speech.
“I had hoped to have a little more time to get my thoughts together. But with Marlena’s accident and Roman’s dying, it’s taught me to seize the moment so to speak when needed and tell it as it is.”
Everyone nodded and Shawn continued. “There’s no beating around the bush. I made a mistake and cheated on your mother. It was one time, while I was on a weekend pass while in the Navy. We had been stationed just off the coast of Alamainia and I met the most lovely woman. I was lonely, missing your Ma and Isabella stole my heart.”
He looked at John, who was silent. “I never knew about you lad, until I received a letter from your Mother’s lawyer many years ago.”
Kim spoke softly while gazing at her new brother. “Why didn’t you tell all of us sooner?”
“I thought that it was too late for me to be intruding into his life.”
Kayla looked at John. “Your too quiet.”
John smiled. “Past is past, never to return. The future we know not and only the present can be called our own.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what to say, but it’s nice to know the reason why I knew you.”
He looked at Shawn. “I went into her safe deposit box when I was 21 and heard this tape of a man singing. I never knew who he was, but when I came to the Pub with Marlena and heard you.” He looked away.
“When I heard you speak, I didn’t know why but you sounded familiar.”
“I sang for her on her birthday.”
Caroline looked pained, listening to this exchange and walked away from the family.
“I wish you would wake up sweet girl.”
Caroline brought Marlena’s hand up and cradled it with her own.
“I need your wisdom here now.” Caroline squinted. “Shawn’s got a new son. It’s your John.” She let out a chuckle. “Try to get away from the Brady’s and we bring you back in.”
Bo stepped away from the door and met Kim and Kayla coming down the hall. Thinking quickly, he intercepted his sisters with a simple command.
“I don’t think it’s time for you to see Marlena.”
Peeking around her brother, Kayla quickly agreed and left with Bo and Kim.
“Well?”
John looked up. “Well I have a family now.” He blinked. “But I don’t have Marlena.”
Shawn came and sat with him. “You will have her back. The doctors said that they managed to fix all of her injuries John.”
He nodded. “I hope so.”
“Hey pretty lady, it’s me.”
John came and sat beside the bed, watching Marlena laying so still amongst the hospital wires and machines. Her head swathed in bandages due to the surgery required to drain the pressure off of her skull.
This was a normal routine of theirs, he would come in early after sleeping for a few hours, bringing her fresh flowers and would tell her about the world that while it was going on without her, seemed to those who loved her, to be missing something special.
The spark that was her.
Finally one afternoon, he ran out of things to tell her about and his frustration finally got the worst of him and he began to yell about how unfair it all was that he was living without her.
He lifted his eyes and froze, something about Marlena wasn’t right. But he couldn’t figure it out.
It dawned on him, it was her eyes.
She was awake and trying to focus.
Bringing her hand to his lips, he watched her from over her knuckles. “Doc? It’s John, I’m here honey, oh I can’t believe that your finally awake!”
She blinked and tried to focus. “Wha..what..what happened?”
He leaned over the railing. “You were in an accident honey. A car broadsided yours and well lets just say that its been a rough few weeks.”
“Few weeks?”
He nodded. “Uh huh, you’ve been unconscious for 5 weeks.”
As he began to explain what she had missed and what had transpired, she listened quietly, here and there smiling at the various escapades of her babies and the family she adored.
“There’s something your not telling me sweetheart.”
He lifted his eyes. “I can’t fool you can I?”
She shook her head. “What is it?”
“I found out who my father is.” He looked at their hands intwined, silent for just a moment. “Doc, Shawn Brady is my real father.”
He was expecting so many reactions from her, but not what she did.
“I knew there was a reason why you reminded me of him.”
She sleepily blinked. “You both have such a strength about you. You love your families and would do anything to keep them safe.” She reached out and ran her hand across the stubble of his cheek. “You’re a safety net in that no matter what we try, your there to protect us.”
He laid his hand over her own. “Oh lady, I missed you so much.”
“And I missed you too.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “I can’t believe that I missed five weeks.”
He leaned forward, his face coming to rest on his hands as he stared into her eyes. “Well honey, we’re going to have the rest of our lives to make up for those missing weeks.”
She smiled. “I’m holding you to that.”
“Remember now, you just got out of the hospital.”
Marlena waved her hand at him. “I’m not four, honey. I do know to rest.”
She chuckled at him. “I love you but you are WAY over protective.”
He rolled his eyes. “Well you loved that about me before.”
She leaned over to rest on the armrest. “John, I still do. But you wanted me to come do this. You should have known that I would want to go roam all over the place.”
He pulled into the circular driveway. “I did but I just want you to be careful while we go looking at the house okay?”
She cupped his face in between her hands. “Okay.”
As John looked around the house, he had to admit that it was beautiful and certainly big enough for the twins, Marlena and himself plus any other children that could come along.
“Well?”
He turned to find Marlena sitting on the stairs with a smile on her face. “Well what?”
She waved her hand, cutting him off before he could express himself fully with a smile on her face.
“I know what your asking, John and I love this house.”
John came and knelt on the step below her. “Good, so I should make the offer.”
She nodded. “Yeah I think you should make the offer.”
John was walking along Salem Place when he ran into his brother.
“The great and all knowing Bo Brady is SHOPPING?”
Bo made a face. “Oh please I had to run into YOU here?” John laughed.
“I could crack off a similar comment for you too Brother John. ”
Bo looked down at the package in his brother’s hand. “Oooh and what’s this?”
Before John could react, Bo snatched it out of his hands. “Oh a diamond, but John I only just met you. I’m more a sapphire person.”
John took it back. “God you really are a little brother.”
He checked the box and the ring. “It’s for Marlena.”
They walked to the Java Cafe. “I should hope so.”
“Should hope so what?”
They turned to find Marlena with Bo’s wife Hope. “BA, I’m waiting hope so what?”
John turned to Bo. “BA?”
Bo shook his head. “The initials of my first and middle names.”
Hope sat down. “Nah, BA for Bad Ass.”
As the girls started to laugh, Bo rolled his eyes. “No Respect.”
“We have to thank you John.”
He looked surprised. “For what?”
Marlena grinned and clamped her hands over his ears. “Don’t make him get an ego, I have to LIVE with him!”
Hope chuckled as John caught Marlena’s hands. “Before I was so *rudely* interrupted. I just wanted to say thank you for bringing that smile back to Marlena’s face, where it belongs.”
John peered at his lady. “Yeah, it is a rather pretty smile.”
Bo checked his watch. “Speaking of pretty smiles, Hope we have to go get ready to meet your parents.”
Hope nodded and Marlena asked them to send Doug and Julie her regards.
“We’ll do.”
“So how does it feel to be part of such a loving family?”
John looked at her then at their hands intwined. “It’s pretty amazing. I know that Caroline’s still.”
Marlena turned to face him. “Caroline’s lost Roman and learnt that Shawn had an affair.”
John nodded. “I know.” She shook her head. “No you don’t.”
As they headed to the nearby park bench, Marlena filled him in on a troubled part of his family’s past.
“Come on in, I’ll be ready to serve you in just a second.”
Caroline froze when John spoke. “That’s okay, I’m not here for food.”
She turned and studied the young man.
He was very similar in build to Bo and Roman, had Shawn’s sense of family and his own sense of right and wrong. She assumed his midnight blue almost black eyes were a gift from his mother, but his overall aura was proof enough.
This was Shawn Brady’s son. “What are you here for?”
John felt like a school boy in trouble with the principal. “To talk to you.”
Shawn met Marlena coming down the boardwalk, a twin holding each hand.
“And ay, it’s a fine day when I see three of the most loved people in my family coming to the Pub.”
Sami smiled. “We coming to see you!”
He grinned and scooped her up. “I know.” He leaned over to kiss Marlena’s cheek. “What’s brought you this way Lass?”
She looked solumn. “John’s with Caroline.”
“It’s not you, I don’t really know you outside of Marlena.” She looked up. “But you have to understand John.”
He looked at the steaming mug of coffee in his hands. “I do.”
He looked up. “Shawn hurt you when he said those things when he learnt about Bo. It would seem like he’s forcing you or making you be the reverse now.”
Caroline nodded. “Something like that.”
She cleared her throat. “It’s going to take some work, but I’d like to become friends.”
“Take her up on it lad, Caroline’s a very good friend to have in a jam.”
They turned to see Marlena, Shawn and the twins standing in the doorway.
“She’s quite the lady.”
Marlena smiled as they headed back to the car. “Caroline is amazing.”
John paused to turn Marlena to face him. “I was going to say the same about you.”
As they kissed, John brought his arm with his watch and cringed. “Doc, we got to go.”
Dazed, Marlena could only stare at him. “Go where?”
“The observatory?”
John nodded. “You’ve brought me here to the deserted observatory…why?”
He brought her to the front row of seats. “Sit here and look up.”
Doing as requested, Marlena didn’t see John kneel in front of her.
“One night, when you were in the coma, I sat in my car and stared up into the stars. Didn’t know how long I was doing it for. But in the vast space and the darkness, I came to realize one small but important thing.”
She felt his hand cover hers and she lowered her head to look at him.
“Doc, I love you so much and couldn’t imagine a life that didn’t have you and the twins in it. I have everything in the world now.” His eyes welled with unshed tears. “Or would have, if you will answer me one thing.”
She nodded wordlessly.
“Doc, will you marry me?”
Her hazel eyes sparkled as brightly as the constellations above them as she nodded happily.
“Yes, oh John. I love you so much and would love nothing more than to be your wife.”
She watched him take from the pocket of his jacket a tiny orb, looking like a miniature asteroid and withdraw an elegant diamond in a platinum setting.
“Written in the stars.”
She looked up from watching him slip the ring on her hand. “Pardon?”
He drew her hand to his lips and gently kissed the ring, swearing fidelity to this one soul for the rest of his life. “Our love, we’re written in the stars. Meant to be.”
Listening to him speak on forever after, Marlena remembered that one sentence of his and knew what she would have engraved on his wedding ring.
A taste of breath, a kiss sweater than honey r32;Your eyes in a misty dream a million miles away
John smiled as he ran his hand over her back, it all worked according r32;to plan and he had the girl.
She agreed to marry him and all it took was .. was..
He couldn’t remember because of what Marlena was doing to his ear.
And in my ear you whisper my name
He couldn’t breathe. “Yyyeeesss?
Just like in some old news flash r32;From light years ago
Marlena looked him in the eyes and smiled. “I love you.”
Van Dyke’s on the slide trombone r32;Through the smoke of the party room
He drew her tighter to him and claimed her lips. “So you should my soon r32;to be wife.”
Your teeth like the ivory coast r32;Start singin’ my favourite song r32;And it happen’ to be mood indigo
It was a dream he turned into a plan when she was lying in the hospital r32;bed and all it took was help from Bo and Hope to set it into motion.
Mood indigo r32;I just go weak when I hear mood indigo
“Hello Earth to John.”
He looked to find himself standing alone and his fiancée was laughing.
“I know we’re only JUST engaged, but honey it’s not been enough time for you to IGNORE me.”
Could last for weeks until I decide to wake up r32;Take off my make up
He came to stand in front of her.
“Love, I promise you that there is NO way I could ever.”
He ran his hands over her arms, smiling at her slight shiver. “EVER ignore you.”
Holding on to my heart
“See that ring on your hand?” She nodded. “I love it.”
He grinned that boyish grin.
“This means you own my heart and soul. We’re forever and that’s a fact NOBODY can deny.”
Smokin’ them downhill
She checked her watch. “I want to dance with you till the sun comes up.”
He kissed her. “It’s sunrise now.”
In a room number thirteen r32;Tryin’ to stretch my luck again
John woke up and smiled as the hand he was running down Marlena’s right r32;arm came to land on the elegant ring he placed there the night before.
Down the corridor your footsteps echo against the wall r32;My man of mystery, my date with infinity
“Try and take my ring off me and I’m going to hurt you.”
He looked down and found a sleepy pair of hazel eyes attempting to be remotely r32;menacing.
Butterfly kissing her nose, he fought the urge to laugh.
“I told you once on, it was never coming off.”
She nodded. “Okay, just checking.” She raised up on one arm.
“Newsflash, you’re stuck with me.”
Tonight I’m gonna sacrifice, for the first time in my life r32;Make it all come back to me, like an old forgotten dream
Feeling her legs closing around him like silken chains drawing him closer into her, it was all John could do not to drown in the sense of her.
He watched her as the passion overwhelmed her and he found himself wondering one thing.
“Can I not fall in love more than I am with you now?”
Van Dyke’s on the slide trombone r32;Through the smoke of the party room r32;Your teeth like the ivory coast
“Hey Doc?”
She snuggled closer. “What?”
He lifted his head slightly and gazed at her. “Have a question for you.”
Start singin’ my favourite song
She nodded. “Fire away.”
And it happen’ to be mood indigo
“Don’t answer me NOW..”
She waved her hand. “Get ON with it Sherlock!”
Mood indigo, I just go weak when I hear mood indigo
He leaned over, laying slightly on her and looked her in the eyes while his hand searching for the one wearing his engagement ring.
“I want us to have a baby.”
Marlena was sitting with her files around her on the desk when he approached her.
Carefully to avoid making noise, he crept closer to the target.
She was lost in thought as she transcribed her notes that she didn’t see his hands r32;raising up towards her.
Suddenly, without warning she spoke.
“If you value your hands attached to your wrists John, you will NOT be trying r32;what I think you’re trying.”
She turned around. “I’m NOT ticklish.”
Sulking, he sat down on the steps. “How did you know I was coming?”
Marlena grinned. “Genius, I saw you in the reflection of the picture frame.”
She went and joined him on the steps. “Baby, it’s a good thing I’m making good r32;money at the hospital, cause right now if you were a PI and we had to live on your r32;salary, we’d be starving.”
They laughed.
“Well then wife to be, I suggest you get back to work and I’ll go and make some phone calls.”
She drapped herself over him. “Nope.”
He chuckled and pulled away slightly. “What’s with making like an octopus?”
She nibbled on his earlobe. “Octopus, hmm…that’s not what you called it last night when we came home from the most wonderful experience of my life.”
He nodded. “Laundry night?”
She swatted him. “Try again.” She waggled her finger. “YOU asked me to marry me.”
He nodded. “Yeah I did.” She did a move that had his eyes nearly roll back into his head. “Oh Doc.”
She smiled. “Gotta go back to work now.”
His blue eyes snapped back into focus. “Wha?”
She threw her hands up. “Got to keep my husband to be in the style he’s accustomed to.”
As she stood up, he lunged for her and began to laugh as she started to squirm, pleaded to be let go.
“Nope, we’ll be broke and contentedly oversexed.”
She laid a hand against his chest. “We have to talk.”
He sensed a seriousness in her and so grew solumn. “Okay, about what?”
She stood up and went to the couch. “This morning’s little chat.”
He nodded. “What about it?”
She hesitated. “John, we’ve only just gotten engaged and we knew each other such a short time. Do you REALLY want to be a father right away?”
He nodded. “I love you and want to be a father to OUR child, watch your body change and know it was our baby growing inside of you. That our little piece of immortality was..”
She held up her hand. “Lovely words but John, you haven’t even been alone with the twins yet.”
He shook his head. “So what does that have to do with any of it love?”
She grinned. “Because this lovely little piece of immortality that you’re selling me on honey grows up. From an infant comes a toddler and you need to be aware of just what kind of havoc they can bring into an orderly world.”
“So you’re saying that you don’t want a baby … our baby?”
She lost her heart over the sadness in his eyes and thought she better back track and fast..
“Oh honey no. What am I saying however, is that you need to spend some QUALITY bonding time with Eric and Sami.”
He raised an eyebrow, looking boyishly hopeful. “So you’re not saying No?”
She started to laugh, slumping over into his lap. “No, I’m NOT saying no.” She gazed up at him. “However my darling, YOU just might be after time alone with the twins.”
He snapped his fingers. “A piece of cake.”
She grinned and straightened up. “Oh yeah, remember you said that.”
“MOMMMY!”
Marlena turned around from putting her files in her briefcase. “What Sami?”
She smiled a beguiling grin. “Can we come to the hopital with you?”
Marlena knelt down. “Hospital Sami.”
She nodded. “Yeah, dat’s what I said.”
Marlena hugged her. “Mommy has to go into the hospital for a meeting. I’m going to be there for a long time and so I can’t bring you like I did the last time. BUT.” She grinned and tidied her daughter wayward curls.
“But JOHN is going to stay here and watch over you and Eric till I come back.”
Sami looked about as skeptical as Marlena felt. But a promise was a promise.
John came in and Sami came to him. “John?”
He gazed to Marlena, who shook her head and shrugged. “Yeah peanut?”
Sami tugged on his pant leg, so he knelt down. “What is it honey?”
“You going to stay with us?”
John smiled. “Yep, you and me and Eric.”
Sami thought this over. “You watch us.”
Again John nodded refusing to look at Marlena, who was watching this with amusement. “Yep you see, we’re going to be a family when I marry your mommy. So I wanted to spend time with you and Eric.”
Sami nodded and smiled. “Okay.”
As she threw her arms around John, Sami said his name again.
“What honey?”
She lifted her face from his neck. “Who be watching you?”
Marlena began to laugh harder. “Be back in a bit.”
John sat winded on the floor and wondered the age old question.
How in the world could two SMALL people be THAT energetic?
He played dolls, tea-party, read stories, fingerpainted, played nurse to Sami’s poor doll when Eric popped her head off, just because he could. Played DOCTOR to Eric because Sami didn’t like his reason for popping the dolls head off and so bit him and all of that was just in the first 3 hours.
Now six hours later, he had them fed, bathed and sitting in front of the tv to watch a tape of Veggie Tales.
As he sat looking dazedly at his future step-children, the phone rang.
“Hello?”
He smiled as Marlena’s voice came across. “Hi, it’s me. How’s it going?”
“Oh it’s going great.” He prayed his voice didn’t betray him.
“Liar, want me to come home now?”
He began to laugh. “Would you please?”
She hit the elevator button for up. “Consider it done.”
“Well?”
He lifted his head and propped it on his hand. “You were right.”
She smiled and lifted her head from the back of the couch. “Of course I was.” She began to laugh. “John I know them, lived with them all their lives.”
He played idly with a strand of her hair. “So what are you trying to say?”
Marlena smiled. “Get used to them first and THEN we can talk about a baby of our own.”
He looked defeated for a moment and Marlena knew how to make him feel better.
“Doesn’t mean that we couldn’t practise a little bit first.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Dr. Evans, are you trying to seduce me?”
She grinned and finished undoing his shirt. “You betcha big boy.”
“I want this done and I’d prefer that they not know the ID of the donor.”
John nodded wearily, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“Mickey, it’s MY money and I want to be able to do this.”
He closed his eyes, remembering the explosion that had wiped out not only the Brady Pub, but Bo’s boat as well.
The day started out perfectly, waking up in Marlena’s arms and quietly talking about their future.
He almost had her pinned down to a wedding date when the door softly crept open to reveal two little faces, who flew to the bed for help to climb up.
As they happily chattered to their Mom and him, the phone beside John’s side of the bed began to ring.
72 hours later, here they were and part of his wanting to help was the fact that it was his history that was destroyed.
“John?”
He looked up and found Carrie standing there with an expression of concern so like Marlena that he smiled and gestured for her to come in.
“Hey Punkin!”
She smiled and he blushed. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I feel responsible for all of Marlena’s kids and I always wanted to call a daughter that nickname.”
He held up his hand. “I know, I’m rambling.”
She grinned and sat down. “It’s okay. Learning that your part of the Brady Clan is kind of overwhelming. I should know, I only became aware of the legacy when I was found and brought home with my Mother.”
There was companionable silence then suddenly Carrie’s head shot up.
“The mystery financial donor for Uncle Bo’s boat and the Pub …. John, that’s YOU!”
He grinned. “You tell and I’ll get you. Like you said learning I’m part of this is way, WAY overwhelming. This is just my way of helping out the family.”
Carrie smiled. “Why won’t you tell them then that you’re the financial wizard giving them the money?”
John shook his head. “I don’t want them thinking that here I come and throwing money at them to boot. I know how badly your grandmother was hurt by learning about me and punkin, I want her to like me.”
“She does like you.”
John blinked. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
She grinned. “Well then, let’s go check out the rebuilding and see.”
“Now this is a sight I’m glad to see.”
Marlena turned around and peered down. “You sir, are a pervert.”
John grinned. “You love me.”
She began to come down off the ladder. “I do?”
He pulled her to him for a kiss that teetered on the verge of being obscene.
“Oh yeah, I do love you.”
“Have you two set a wedding date yet?”
Marlena and John pulled away to see Shawn coming in with Sami on his shoulders.
“No… Doc’s waiting till the moon is in its proper orbit.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Actually I’m waiting until John’s head stops spinning and ITS in it’s proper orbit.”
Grinning, Shawn smiled. “Well I think that you should make an honest woman out of her son. After all.”
Marlena quickly lunged forward to scoop up Sami, conveniently stepping on the older man’s foot. “Oh I’m sorry Shawn.”
As Shawn nodded and accepted her apology, Sami distracted John.
Watching them together made Marlena smile as she breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m not quite ready to have him hear this. Especially not from my father in law, the town crier.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t love Shawn, but he loved to hear and TELL stories.
But this surprise wasn’t his to tell.
At least, not yet.
“Come on Peanut, tell me where Mommy went?”
Sami grinned at the man who held her on his lap. “Uh huh … Mommy go bye.”
She winked. “Mommy go SHOPPING!”
John groaned. “She’s as bad as her Mom as to keeping secrets.”
Letting down the wriggling toddler, John watched her go and checked his watch.
“Doc, where are you?”
“You’re sure about this?”
Michelle Bader grinned. “Marlena, I had it run twice. You’re very pregnant.”
She closed her eyes. “After ALL the talking about waiting, it had to happen.”
Michelle looked up from the chart. “You’re not happy?”
Marlena blinked. “Oh I am, but just am totally stunned.”
Michelle nodded. “I take it wasn’t planned.”
She took a deep breath. “John and I agreed to wait until AFTER our wedding.”
Michelle, used to the reactions of her clients spoke gently. “Well this is a wedding surprise.”
She grabbed her jacket. “More like a wedding oopsie-daisie.”
Walking around Salem Place, Marlena came to stop in front of the new maternity shop “Ladies Awaiting.”
Admiring the display in the window of the shop, she was checking the time as on her way from the hospital, she had made a phone call to a friend who worked there to make a special gift.
“THERE YOU ARE!”
She turned and found John bearing down on her, worry in his eyes.
Smiling she came forward. “Hi Honey.”
He shook his head. “No way, not going to work. Where in the world have you been?”
She checked her watch. “Wait right here, I have to go pick up the reason why I’m here.”
Curious, he did as requested.
“A shower gift?”
She shook her head as she handed over the bag. “Go sit down for this.”
“Honey, I’m too big for this.”
“Read the logo on the front.” She grinned. “I bought everything in two.”
He blinked as he turned the shirt around to read the logo.
“If you think I’m cute, you should see my ddd … Daddy?”
Marlena grinned. “Open the second box.”
Opening the box, he found a stuffed Gund Stork carefully cradling two stuffed cherubs.
“Oh my god.” He looked up and raised an eyebrow. “You’re preg…”
She began to laugh. “What the hell is with the stuttering?”
He lunged for her, smothering her in kisses. “How, when.”
“You ask who and I’ll hurt you.”
He reared back, hands up as if in a please don’t hurt me gesture.
“Yes, we are pregnant and that’s not all. Michelle told me something else.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Since Identical Twins run in my family and I am a twin, guess what we’re having?”
His eyes widened. “Oh no.”
She grinned. “You betcha … the afternoon you spent with the twins, double it by TWO baby.”
“Twins.”
She peered closer at him. “Oh you don’t look so good honey.”
“Well you’re probably all wondering just why it is that I’m up here.”
Bo shook his head. “No we’re not. We KNOW that you just like hearing yourself talk Pop.”
Shawn bowed graciously. “That’s the pride and joy of being a parent, being insulted by your youngest. Bo, keep this up and I’ll pray that Hope has quadruplets.”
As everyone laughed, John whispered into the ear of Marlena. “Twins.”
As she began to laugh, Shawn beamed.
“This night is about family. Just a few short months ago, the family hit the darkest of dark spots. Marlena and Roman divorced, the pub burnt down and now here we are. Proof that we can survive anything that life throws at us.”
“Amen.”
“Now, the pub is rebuilt. Thanks to the help of our mystery donor.”
Caroline’s eyes closed. She had a suspicion as to whom it was who helped.
“We learnt that John is my son.”
A murmur went through the crowd at that little piece of news.
“Bo and Hope are expecting their first baby AND John has asked Marlena to marry him. But we don’t know when.”
“Sooner rather than later.” She nudged John.
“I just wanted to say that Family is the all important thing.”
As the cheers went up to celebrate the Pub re-opening, John stepped forward.
“I’d like to make a correction to Shawn’s.” He paused at the reaction and changed his mind. “Pop’s speech.”
Shawn practically glowed. “While Hope is pregnant, we’ve learnt that she’s not the only Brady lady in waiting. That beautiful lady I’m going to marry is also pregnant.”
The cheers grew louder. “And if I chose to BELIEVE the sparkle in Doc’s eyes when she told me this news, we’re having twins.”
“HOWEVER, I don’t believe her cause she’s blushing now and she hardly EVER blushes. So it’s safe to think it’s one baby.”
The laughter continued and John came to her side. “YOU DOG!”
He ducked her playful punch. “Babe, I love you but you are a LOUSY joker.”
She draped her arms around him. “Kiss your fiancée, make me happy.”
He gently claimed her lips for a kiss, teasing her mouth with his tongue.
“That I can do.”
Well I just heard the news today
“So has it sunk in yet?”
He gently kissed the side of her head as she lay against him.
“It’s never going to fully sink in.”
He brought her hand up so they both could look at her engagement ring.
“We’re going to be parents, you and I.” Marlena nodded.
“From this moment onwards, we’re going to be responsible for a little piece of r32;immortality.”
It seems my life is going to change r32;I closed my eyes, begin to pray r32;Then tears of joy stream down my face
He walked around later that night, unable to sleep with the millions of random r32;thoughts running through his head over the baby.
Not the baby … THEIR baby.
With arms wide open r32;Under the sunlight r32;Welcome to this place r32;I’ll show you everything
He had bonded with the twins and with Carrie, so much so that he would r32;do anything to keep them happy, safe and loved.
But they weren’t really his … this baby was.
From growing up feeling unwanted by the Alamains, to learning of Shawn, r32;he felt like a ship at sea being tossed from one side to the other.
This child was never going to feel that way; he’d make sure of it.
With arms wide open r32;Well I don’t know if I’m ready r32;To be the man I have to be
But what if he couldn’t do it. Couldn’t pull off all the good intentions?
I’ll take a breath, take her by my side
He came back to their bedroom and found Marlena fast asleep.
We stand in awe, we’ve created life
He carefully moved the covers away and laid a hand on her still flat stomach.
With a smile, he laid his cheek against her stomach and began to quietly talk to the little being that to its daddy was already the world.
With arms wide open r32;Under the sunlight r32;Welcome to this place r32;I’ll show you everything r32;With arms wide open r32;Now everything has changed r32;I’ll show you love r32;I’ll show you everything
“And that’s already the wonderful start.”
He peeked up to see Marlena watching, a faint smile on her lips as she watched this exchange.
With arms wide open r32;If I had just one wish r32;Only one demand r32;I hope he’s not like me
She straightened up and beckoned to him to come and lay his head on her lap. As she stroked his hair, she quietly corrected him on that request.
“You’re the most loving and wonderful man I know. This child is going to be showered with love, attention and the knowledge that with you behind it, he or she can reach for the stars.”
He shifted and looked up.
As she cradled his cheek with her hand, she smiled. “You’ve said what you wish for it, let me tell you what I wish for our baby to be.”
I hope he understands r32;That he can take this life r32;And hold it by the hand
“As long as he has a woman by his side who’s just as incredible as you are, he will.”
And he can greet the world r32;With arms wide open
“WATCH OUT!”
Marlena had to clamp her eyes shut to keep from laughing at John’s overprotective streak that seemed to come out at the WORST possible moments.
“John … John!!”
She stopped suddenly and he panicked. “WHAT?”
She grinned. “Breathe baby, we’ve still got several more months to go.”
She laid both hands on his face and claimed his lips for a chaste kiss.
“If you’re like this at three months, I think we’re going to have to scrape you off the ceiling at 9.”
She grinned and ran her hand through his hair. “Have I told you just how sexy I find you with that vein popping in the middle of your forehead.”
As she doubled over laughing, John rolled his eyes. “Will you grow up!”
She shook her head and straightened up. “Okay, I can be serious.”
Looking at John she fought hard to keep control.
“No I can’t. YOU be serious, I’ll be insane.”
As they hugged, John checked his watch. “Are we finished shopping?”
Marlena glanced at the bags in his hands.
“I dunno, did you leave ANYTHING in the Baby Store for the other parents to be?”
John made a face. “I can’t help it. I want OUR baby to have everything.”
She pulled out a glove. “In some cases honey, we could have fallen under the old saying… Less is more.” She glanced at it. “John, our baby may not like baseball.”
He glared at her, his hand to his chest. “What did YOU just say?”
She grinned. “Yeah, scary as it may be. Honey, a child of yours just may not like baseball.”
Grabbing for her hand, John smacked it. “I oughta wash your mouth out.”
She pulled for his lapels. “I can think of much more better things you could do with my mouth than dousing it with Ivory soap.”
With some effort, he pulled himself away. “We have to go to Church.”
She grimaced. “Want to tell me why we’re doing this?”
He hugged her. “Because I’m going to marry you and we’re doing it in the family church, which means…”
She rolled her eyes. “Which means that I have to listen to Father Tim …. AGAIN!”
“He’s not that bad.”
She grinned. “He is so, why do you think I keep tapping my foot.”
“Cause you’ve got rhythmn?”
She playfully punched his arm. “No, cause he’s long WINDED!”
He tugged on her hand. “Let’s go bright eyes!”
“No more.”
She laid the bags just off side of the door. “John, if it means avoiding another session with Father Tim, I’ll make you a deal. We elope NOW!”
John chuckled. “No.”
Carrie looked up from her book. “Hey guys, how went the Father Tim inquisition?”
Marlena tilted her head. “I’m all for sneaking out of the whole shooting match.”
John wrapped his arms around her. “She’s not doing that. It went fine punkin.”
Carrie smiled. “Chelsea had to leave and I was here to drop something off for you from Grandma, so I volunteered to stay until you guys came home.”
Marlena smiled. “Thank you honey. I hope the twins were okay?”
Carrie grinned. “They were great. However, I think John should be the one who opens the gift.”
John slipped off his leather jacket. “Oh you do?”
Carrie’s eyes twinkled. “Oh I do and as a matter of fact, she specifically said it had to be you.”
Marlena shrugged at his glance her way and went to sit down as John came to sit with Carrie.
“Somehow it’s more fitting that this comes to you and your baby instead of Bo and Hope’s. r32;For so long, you’ve been without your history that this is just a small piece of legacy.
Caroline
“Well I know it’s not cooking utensils, cause we all know Doc can’t cook.”
She waved her hand. “Regular comedian. Open the box John.”
Removing the wrapping paper, John carefully extracted a wooden cradle, that was obviously very old and yet extremely well made.
Looking up to Marlena, John saw her in tears.
“It’s the Brady family cradle.” Carrie saw Marlena leave the room for a moment.
“When Grandpa and Gran were expecting my father, they didn’t have anything and so he wanted to do something special. He had already started saving for this christening gown that he knew she had her eye on. But for his special gift for the baby, he created the cradle.”
John looked to the cradle, spell bound.
“All of the Brady babies have been rocked in it, cept for me.” Carrie grinned. “So by this, I think it’s safe to say that Gran’s finally accepted you into the family John.”
He nodded. “Carrie, could you do me a favor and tell Marlena I’ve gone out for a few minutes?”
Carrie grinned. “Sure.”
Kissing his future step-daughter, John left the house.
“We’re closing.”
John grinned. “Well that’s okay cause I’m only here to say thank you so much for the gift.”
Shawn smiled then disappeared into the kitchen, leaving her and John alone.
“Well we wanted to give your baby something, after all we’ve given Bo and Hope’s baby among other things, Bo’s baby blanket and baby book.”
He nodded. “Carrie explained the history of the cradle to me, I’m so honored.”
Caroline came around the bar. “Well it should be us who are honored.”
John shook his head. “You’ve lost me.”
Caroline studied him more closely. “I don’t think I have. John, we know who the mystery donor was. You didn’t have to do it.”
John looked at his feet. “Yes I did. I wanted to give something to you both to help get you back up on your feet. I didn’t want you to feel obligated because I had the money. I wanted …”
“You wanted to do something without my biting your head off right?”
He grinned. “I didn’t say that.”
Caroline waved her hand. “Oh please, I know who said it. But it is true.”
She gestured him to sit down. “John, I have to apologize.”
He shook his head. “No … no you don’t have to do anything of the sort.”
She glared. “Don’t interrupt me son!”
He held up his hands and took a sip of his tea, his blue eyes twinkling. “Okay Mom.”
“I made a mistake, not wanting to see what a wonderful young man you are. I chose to see the fact that Shawn had cheated on me.” She examined the towel in her hands. “But I realized that I was in no position to argue with him as I did the same to him a few years later, unbeknownst to all of us.”
She held out her hand. “I’d like us to start over again.”
He nodded. “I’d like that too.”
“Hey, who turned out the lights.”
Marlena’s voice came from all around him. “I did once Carrie took the twins over to her apartment.”
As he watched, she slowly lit a candle.
“What is all this?”
She smiled. “This is my way of having a quiet night alone, just the two of us.”
He laid his jacket down. “Oooh this is good.”
She grinned and came to stand in front of him. “I thought you’d like this.”
She undid the buttons of his shirt. “Especially after making amends with Caroline.”
Slipping it off his shoulders, she kissed the hollow of his throat.
“Hey, why are you having all the fun?”
She peeked up through her bangs. “Because you haven’t attempted to undo anything of mine yet.”
He twirled her around, sliding one hand around her shoulders while the other worked on the zipper of her dress. “Oh I think I can fix that.”
She shivered as the cool air hit her skin. “Oh I bet you could.”
His hands began to slip off her camisole. “Well if I’m not mistaken, you DID say that you could think of something better to do with your mouth than having it washed out with soap.”
She nodded and buckled against him as his hands played with her breasts. “Well then, I think you should tell me.”
She turned to face him, her hands roaming over his skin.
“I think I’d rather show you.”
Undoing his belt, she began to walk backwards towards the couch.
“It starts with you and I.”
He nodded. “Uh huh and then what?”
She smiled. “I sit here like so.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
She tugged on his pants, allowing him to step out of them. Admiring the way he looked with the candle light flickering behind him, she smiled seductively.
“Ooh I think someone’s in the mood for a little game.”
He leaned forward, the palms of his hands on either side of her. “I’m always up for indoor games.”
She laid back on to the couch. “Then I suggest you take it from here.”
His hand trailed over her skin, lingering on first one breast then the other before his lips began to follow.
His lips paused on her still flat stomach for a moment before his blue eyes looked up at her.
“You’re carrying my child.”
She grinned. “I know.”
He laid his hand where his lips had been. “I get to watch you grow and swell with our baby.”
His fingers moved down lower, slowly slipping inside of her.
“You belong to me and I belong only to you.”
Feeling shaky, she could only nod.
“Say it Doc.”
He slipped off of her, his lips mere inches from where his fingers had been.
“I’m yours as … as …”
He stopped from what he was doing. “Finish it Marlena.”
“As you are mine.”
She raised up on her elbows. “I want you here.”
Wrapping her legs around him, he leaned forward to claim her lips. “Close enough?”
He plunged in further, each thrust driving her that much closer to the edge. “Now?”
She nodded and pulled him with her. “I love you.”
“Where are you?”
She came back from the kitchen. “Went to get this.”
As he watched, she laid the tray in front of him. “I’ve always wanted to do this.”
Pushing him back against the pillows, she took a strawberry, lathered it up with whipped cream and looked at him for a moment before straddling his hips.
“What are you doing?”
She grinned. “Finger painting.” She paused. “More like berry painting.”
Making circles with the cream, she then lapped at it pausing only to check his reaction.
“Want me to stop?”
She took his nipple into her mouth and he felt like he was drowning in her. “Nnnooo.”
She smiled. “Good, cause I’m not finishing my painting.”
By the time she got to the end of his feet, John felt absolutely weightless, held in place only by the weight of his fiancee.
She then returned to his lips and he could taste himself on her own lips.
Rolling her over, he carefully pinned her so that they were joined in one body, one soul and one heart beat.
“So when will the two of you be married?”
Marlena lifted her head from John’s shoulder. “Soon I hope, I want to be able to see my feet.”
Hope looked up from John’s notes. “Girl I know that feeling.”
Bo patted her hand. “Honey, you have lovely feet.”
She gestured to Bo. “See I have to take HIS word for them cause I can’t SEE them.”
John made a face. “How does the week before Christmas sound?”
“Deck the halls with my fat wife hahahahahahahaha” Marlena glared at him. “Nope.”
He grinned. “But you aren’t fat, your pregnant and very rubinesque.”
Bo groaned. “Nice, tell her that and HOPE’s going to want stuff like that.”
Hope looked at him. “I already think I’m very sexy in this condition so you can go stuff it Brady.”
He hugged her. “I agree.”
Leaving the women alone for a minute, John had to ask Bo a question.
“Want to be my best man?”
Bo’s answer was cut off by the laughter of Hope and Marlena. “I’d love to.”
“Well that’s great, Bo’s your best man and Hope’s my matron of honor.”
They looked at each other. “Deck the halls with pregnant wives….”
John rolled his eyes. “Have you noticed their humor gets more warped as they get further along?”
Bo nodded. “Yeah, but what can we do?”
Hope smiled as Marlena draped her arms around John. “Don’t know bout you little brother. But I intend to love this lady for the rest of my life.”
My name is John Black and I love the woman I’m going to be marrying in less than a week more than life, she’s totally my heart and soul.
But the one thing I can’t understand is just how my heart and soul has mood swings that go beyond the normal mood swings of a pregnant lady.
“No, don’t even attempt to say it’s the baby’s fault.”
Marlena began to laugh as she came back into the living room with the glass bowl and a glass of ice cold ginger ale. “I wasn’t going to. I wanted the popcorn. However, YOUR baby wanted the ice cold soda.”
“MY baby?”
He grinned from the sports section. “Why is it Doc that when it’s something YOU want you’re going to say it’s MY baby?”
She chuckled and placed the bowl on the table between them. “Because, when the baby’s good of course it would be MY child. Bad things, well it’s yours.” She began to laugh.
“So funny face, have you finished packing for our honeymoon?”
She nodded. “I did, which is why I came downstairs to take a celebratory break of popcorn and drink.”
She tilted her head. “But instead, seeing you …. well I just have to do something before I explode.”
She stood up and he smiled. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”
She walked around the coffee table and came to sit with him, tossing the paper out of his hands. “This!”
Claiming his mouth, the kiss left him feeling surprisingly weightless.
“Doc?”
She pulled away from exploring his earlobe and smiled. “Yes?”
His hands began to roam over her back. “Tell me this is the pregnancy hormones?”
She raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“The sudden swings in your libido.”
She began to tickle him. “Oh so your complaining about my libido, seems you weren’t too unhappy last night when I did a certain trick.”
His hands caught hers and he flashed her a smile. “Oh I wasn’t. But I just want to know if it is because I’m beginning to enjoy this side of you.”
She lowered her face so that they were mere inches from each other. “Trust me, this is all you baby.”
As they looked at each other, John suddenly froze. “Oh sh ..”
Her eyebrow raised again and he smiled. “I didn’t say it so I don’t have to pay the jar.”
She sat up and grinned. The jar was her idea that came about when she caught Eric sitting on the stairs one afternoon with a shoe off. It had a knot and he let out a very loud and distinguished Damn.
She held up her hands. “Did I say ONE word?”
He cupped her face. “No, you didn’t.”
The phone rang and Marlena answered it, allowing John to go disappear for a moment.
“Great, I’ll be by later on to pick it up.”
John reappeared as she hung up the phone. “The reason WHY I was cussing is that I bought you something that I wanted you to have BEFORE the wedding.”
She smiled. “Honey, I have you and our baby. That’s MORE than enough gift for this girl.”
He made a face. “Oh puhleeze. I know just how much you love presents.”
Handing over the little box, he smiled. “I saw this and I just knew this had to be yours. Now open it!”
Curiosity now on overdrive, she did as she was told to.
Her eyes found his and welled up with tears. “Oh John.”
He grinned. “I saw this and I knew it was you. The two babies represent this baby and a child in our future.”
“Future?”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Oh yeah, didn’t I tell you? Once I marry you, we’re going for the long haul. I can see us in our porch swing, rocking with TONS of grand babies, you with white hair laughing and enjoying the fact that it’s us on the swing.”
She smiled. “I like that.”
He reached for the cameo on it’s delicate chain. “Actually it’s supposed to represent the three graces from mythology but Doc, this necklace is absolutely perfect in representing the perfect, unexpected graceful joy of a family. MY family.”
“OUR family.”
He checked his watch. “I have to go out, but Doc could I please put this on you?”
She stood up. “I’d love you to.”
As she lifted her hair, she felt him slip the chain around her neck followed by a gentle kiss on the nape of her neck.
“I’ll see you when I get home.”
She nodded. “Where are you off to?”
“I have to go meet Abe and discuss all of his co-best man duties.”
She nodded. “Be careful.” She reached for her purse. “Hey, where are you off to?”
She grinned. “I’m off to pick up YOUR wedding ring.”
He paused. “I thought it was ready when I picked yours up?”
She reached for her purse. “Well, it WAS. But I had them do something to it so it needed to go back.”
He grabbed for her overall straps and pulled her to him for a kiss. “Okay, so first one home …”
“Greets the other with just a smile, yeah yeah.”
As she began to laugh, John dropped to his knees and addressed the slight swell he knew was there.
“As for you, behave and try not to act up in the store like your Mother does when SHE sees things she wants okay?”
As she laid her hand on his head, Marlena smiled. “John, you’re weird.”
He grinned and kissed her stomach. “Nah, just in love with my soon to be wife and our baby.”
She came sauntering out of the jewelry store and found Abe waiting for her.
“Marlena, you have to come with me.”
The panic shone in her hazel eyes. “Why?”
Abe was non-committal, wanting her to stay calm for herself as well as the baby.
“There was an accident. I had to come and get you.”
“John, I have an idea.”
His head didn’t move. “What’s that?”
She leaned over the railing of his hospital bed and ran her fingers over his arm. “Elope.”
His hand reached out and covered hers. “No.”
She bit her lip. “Honey, it’s either we elope someplace warm with the kids OR I marry your rather sorry looking butt here in the hospital chapel.” She fought the urge to laugh.
“And since half the hospital has seen your big ol’ butt thanks to the various shots you’ve had, I would think you’d love to elope with me.”
“Not when I’m like this Doc.”
She rested her chin on the railing. “Honey, the doctors have said this is temporary.”
She withdrew her hand and laid it against his heated skin.
“Until we have a reason to think anything LESS than positive, I know that when our baby is born the first wondrous thing she’ll see …”
“HE’LL see.”
She grinned. “It will see, is it’s daddy’s beautiful blue eyes. The very same blue eyes that I fall in love with every day.”
“Doc, we have to face facts.”
She nodded. “John, you were attacked by a man with a grudge against Abe, he threw a firecracker to scare Abe off of a case that he and Bo are watching over. I’m just so grateful that it was only a firecracker.”
“Doc, we’re going to have to face a fact.”
She laid her hand against his lips. “When and IF they come to tell me that you can’t, then we’ll face the fact that we just may be facing a world for you without sight. But I KNOW that is something we’re not going to face.”
“I love you without reason and with sight or without, I’m not leaving you.”
She watched as John let out the breath he was holding. “I just needed to hear that.”
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek just as the door opened. “Right on time.”
“Who’s right on time?”
“Carrie’s brought a wheel chair, you see my love … you’re coming with me for yet ANOTHER reminder of just how lucky we are.”
“We’re going to Disneyland?”
She helped him get up and into the chair. “No smart ass, we’re going to see someone.”
“Marlena, this is going to be a little cold.”
She took John’s hand in hers and smiled. “Not a problem Kelsey, please just get at it please.”
“Get at what?”
Marlena smiled. “Just listen.”
As their baby’s heartbeat filled the room, Marlena glanced to the big man, who was silenced by that wonderous sound.
“If you won’t keep faith and fight with me for your sight, remember this. In a few months, this little person will make you want to see.”
With a little help from Dr. Bader, John got up from the chair and kissed Marlena. “Thank you.”
“How is he?”
She shook her head. “Dad, I’ve given him everything and anything to hold on to while he’s fighting this.”
“BUT?”
“But he’s discouraged. It’s understandable but I don’t want him to lose faith.”
Shawn reached out and laid his hand over hers. “Honey, as long as he has you, the children and this baby, he won’t.”
Marlena smiled and nodded. “Well, why don’t you go sit with him while I go check on when I can take him home?”
Shawn hugged her. “I’ll do that.”
“Well how are you, you big baby?”
John turned his head slightly. “BO?”
Bo made a face and sat down. “Yes old boy, it’s your little brother Bo.”
John smiled. “How come your here, I thought you said you hate hospitals?”
“I did, especially when a family member is in one.”
“So why are you here?”
Shawn paused at the doorway, listening to his sons.
“I’m here because while I know your natural impulse would be to brood over this accident and what you think you’ve lost, we’re here for you and we’re going to make sure that Marlena doesn’t run herself ragged taking care of you you big overgrown drama queen.”
“Bo, go bite me!”
Bo crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh no, I think not.”
He smiled. “Besides Marlena says you taste like Chicken.”
“Do you see feathers?”
“Bite me.”
“Oh no, I think not.”
They broke out laughing. “Bo, I want to ask you something.”
“Sure, fire away.”
“It’s a two parter and you don’t have to unless you want to.”
“Why sure Rhett, I’d love to go steady with you.” Bo tried to duck John’s fist.
“Seriously, I’d love for you to be my best man when we get around to rescheduling the wedding.”
Bo grinned. “I’d love to.”
“Second, I would be honored if you would be our babies godfather.”
Shawn held his breath.
“No bro, the honor would be all mine.”
“Is everything alright in there?” Marlena tried to glance past her father in law to be.
“Oh aye lass, everything is fine. But I think you and I should go get a juice.”
“Whatever for?”
Shawn gestured to the window. “The Brady brothers are plotting mayhem.”
As she peeked in the glass, a smile spread across her face.
“Thank you Bo.”
The family was in chaos and it was all to the stubborn streak of its r32;newest member, who was refusing to see his pregnant fiancée.
She on the other hand was plotting ways to be with him.
“How in the world can he heal if he won’t let me and our baby be with r32;him?”
Marlena stopped in front of the hospital door and found John deep in r32;discussion with his dad.
“I don’t want her wanting to be with me out of pity.”
Shawn nodded. “Lad, she loves you. There is not another man in the world who could make her sparkle the way YOU do. Face that and let her r32;help…”
He saw her standing at the door, her hand gently covering her belly. He r32;saw how pale she was, how dark the shadows under her eyes were.
John thinking that Shawn left thanks to the silence in the room, called out.
“Pop?”
She looked terrified, shaking her head as if to say. “Don’t tell him!”
“Let her help you. Lean on her lad. You’re going to be married and r32;parents. You two need each other.”
He saw her head softly drop and Shawn ached for her, knowing that she r32;was silently crying.
“I don’t want her pity!”
“She LOVES you.” Shawn shook his head. “Have you decided on where you’re going to be staying?”
John’s hands began to play with the blankets. “No.”
Shawn saw Alice and Maggie lead Marlena away.
“Lad, I’m not a book learner. I learnt from example and once I learnt r32;something that was it, I KNEW it. Which is why I’m going to say this. r32;When someone loves you the way that she does you, she’ll take you on ANY form she can.”
John’s lifeless eyes looked up as he searched for his father. “That’s pity!”
“That’s love!”
Shawn leaned forward. “What are you going to do, stay away from her r32;forever?”
Before John could speak, his father continued. “What about when the babe r32;is born?”
The nurses came in, wanting to get John ready for another visit with the r32;doctors.
“John, I want you to remember.”
Defiantly he nodded, dismissing him. “Yeah I know, she loves me.”
“You want to know something John.” Shawn watched his son go. “Right now, I don’t think she even likes you.”
“Hell I don’t think I like me either, so she and I are even.”
Shawn came in to her office a few minutes later and found her lost in thought behind her desk, hands protectively folded over her belly.
“How are you lass?”
She turned her head. “I feel like my soul is dead. Each day, I come and r32;stand by his door knowing that the moment I stepped in, he’d run me off r32;and that’s killing me.”
Shawn’s eyes grew worried. “Lass, you need to think of the babe. My r32;son’s ..”
She blinked. “Your son sir is a pain in the ass. No if ands or but’s r32;about it. As much as I love him, right now I want to quite cheerfully r32;rip his head off.”
“He’s scared Marlena.”
She turned the chair so that they were face to face. “Newsflash so am r32;I!”
“I’m scared that he won’t be able to see, I know how important vision is r32;and to be without it, how closed in the world then seems. I’m scared r32;he’ll turn inward and let what makes him HIM die. I can’t fight this r32;battle alone, I won’t. He wants to keep me away and eventually I WILL r32;stay away.”
She dropped her head. “But I love him Shawn.”
He came around the desk and pulled her up on to her feet.
Cupping her chin, he made her look up.
“Lass, then you FIGHT him. Make him see sense.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
Marlena made a face as she looked at her guitar that she had Shawn go r32;dig out of the attic at the Pub for her.
Shawn came up behind her and smiled. “You’re doing this so the claim is staked. He KNOWS what your willing to do for him.”
She shook her head. “That I’m willing to make him go tone deaf?”
The door opened and John let out a bark. “I don’t WANT any dinner.”
“Oh that’s good sir, cause I’m not here to give you food.” She closed r32;her eyes at how squeaky she sounded.
“Then what are you here for, because I don’t need a bath or my hair and r32;nails done sorry.”
Marlena sat down. “Oh no sir, Hospital Policy is that all CRANKY r32;patients have to have a hospital buddy sit with them so that they don’t r32;do bodily harm to themselves.”
“Pardon me?”
“Dr Evans insisted that I sit with you. She said that you’re the most r32;stubborn ornery pain in the ass patient that we have.” She giggled. “No r32;offense sir.”
“None taken.”
“She said that you need around the clock buddy watching, since she can’t r32;be with you.”
“Why?”
Marlena stuffed her fist into her mouth. “Because she said you’d rip her r32;head off and feed it to the Salem Fish.”
“She did WHAT?”
“Oh yeah.” She was killing herself from keeping the laughter inside. r32;”But can I tell you something?”
He nodded. “Sure.”
“For a three headed Cyclops that acts like a bull shark smelling blood, r32;your not as bad as Dr. Evans says you are.”
“When I find the good Dr. Evans, I’ll…”
“You’ll what Sir?”
“Never mind.” His head bowed.
“She’s already gone for the evening. She wasn’t feeling well and had r32;been crying or so said one of the nurses as I came down the hall.”
She felt guilty saying that, but she wanted to make HIM see how badly he r32;hurt her.
“Oh I forgot.”
“What?”
She picked up the guitar. “She asked me to sing you this song.”
Baby, I’ll be there r32;To lift you up r32;I’ll dry your eyes r32;Oh, when you cry
Marlena watched his eyes close and continued to sing on.
“John, what do you think our baby is going to be like?”
He grinned, drawing her closer to him. “I think healthy, charming, good looking and smart.”
When you’re alone r32;And nobody’s there to take you through the night r32;Oh, when nothing’s right
She watched him laying against the pillows and knew that as still as he r32;was, he was remembering their life together, short as it was.
Call out my name r32;Oh, don’t be ashamed to say you need a hand r32;I understand, baby
He remembered how he treated her the night the Doctors told them that r32;the swelling hadn’t gone down and it could be a few weeks more. He tore r32;her apart.
Sometimes the night can be so dark and cold r32;No one beside you r32;And no one to hold r32;Hold on, hold on
She watched him closely and continued to play, praying that each word r32;she sang managed to break the wall.
When you cry r32;I will dry your eyes r32;When you fall r32;I’ll lift you up high r32;You just reach r32;For these arms of mine r32;I promise they won’t let you go r32;And I’ll make you smile r32;When you cry
“How do you know you’ll be mine forever?” She turned to face him. “I r32;know because I love you. Love can beat anything put before it.” She r32;stepped to him. “As long as you and I believe in it and each other.”
John heard the guitar stop and then be replaced by Faith Hill singing r32;the song his buddy had been singing.
“Hello?”
You’re always strong r32;Always got a hand to lend to someone else r32;Don’t need no one else r32;What about those times r32;When that heart inside is crying out for love r32;For someone, baby
Marlena stood out in the hallway, doubled over with tears streaming down her face.
Someone to lean on when the tears start to fall
Shawn had come to check on how things went and was horrified to find r32;Marlena crying.
Lean on me I’ll see you through it all r32;Just hold on, hold on
“Shawn, I thought that I could do this. The plan sounded perfect and was r32;going perfectly but I can’t fight for this anymore. I need him to want r32;it too. To be willing to say that yes I’m weak and I need you!”
When you cry r32;I will dry your eyes
She didn’t know that he was listening from the partially opened door.
When you fall r32;I’ll lift you up high r32;You just reach r32;For these arms of mine
“You know, I’m glad this happened now BEFORE we were married because I couldn’t bear to know that the moment for that vow of richer or poorer, sickness and health was broken, he’d bail out and I’d be left alone. r32;Better it happened now before I became his wife.”
I promise they won’t let you go r32;And I’ll make you smile r32;When you cry
“Lass, let me take you home.”
She dried her eyes and was about to agree, when he called out for her.
Hold on to me r32;When you’re not feeling strong r32;Hold on, baby, hold on
Her words were like a knife. “No. You think about what I sang to you r32;tonight and we’ll talk about this all in the morning. Good night John.”
When you cry r32;I will dry your eyes
The sunrise found Marlena sitting alone in her office when there was a r32;knock at the door.
When you fall r32;I’ll lift you up high
Getting up, she found John sitting there being accompanied by Shawn.
“He didn’t.”
Shawn nodded. “I got the call about 6 and I had to come help him.”
John shook his head. “Talk about me while I sit and stew on this.”
You just reach r32;For these arms of mine, baby
Shawn reached down and cuffed his son on the back of the head. “Show r32;manners you heathen!”
John grinned. “Hey, a few weeks of self pity and you’re all ready to get r32;slap happy. Not fair Pop.”
Shawn blinked. “He’s all yours lass. Ask him to show you his trick.”
Curious, she looked down. “What trick is that?”
He held out his hands and she took them, kneeling down to be face to r32;face with him.
I promise they won’t let you go r32;When you cry
She shook her head. “I cried the last month away John. What more could r32;you possibly do to me and to us that would make me cry more?”
He didn’t answer the challenge; instead he reached around and undid the r32;bandages.
“JOHN NO!” She lunged for him to try and stop him. Instead, she found r32;two blue eyes staring at her and he was smiling.
When you cry
Her hands were shaking as she reached out to lay a hand on either side r32;of his face. “You … you can see?”
He nodded. “Dr. Chelby came to see me last night after my “BUDDY” left r32;and did one final test. It was all cleared up, but he asked me to keep r32;the bandages and drops in one more night. I wanted you to see so I asked r32;Pop to help me.”
When you cry
“All this time I wasted, threw away because I was scared you’d stay only r32;out of pity. Doc, could you ever forgive me?”
Oh, baby r32;Yeah
“You can’t bail when you think the going is rough. John we’re supposed r32;to be a team!”
He leaned forward. “Doc, will you forgive me?”
She smiled. “Stop flashing those baby blues. Yes I forgive you. God only r32;knows why though, I really should be bouncing your ass down the street r32;for your copping that attitude of yours!”
He claimed her lips with a kiss. “How about bouncing my ass home?”
She pulled away. “Say again?”
He pulled the papers out of his pocket. “I’ve been cleared for duty r32;Ma’am.”
Snatching them from John, she let out a squeal. “This can’t be real.”
He nodded. “It is and I am and so we’re going to be going home … NOW!”
She patted his cheek. “Play nice wise guy.”
He helped her to stand up. “Nah, I like when we play dirty.”
She turned the chair around. “Remember that sentiment because once I r32;can’t see MY feet, you’re not seeing the Nooky Train for a long time.”
Marlena lay quietly on the couch, a petulant look on her face as she surveyed the silent house around her.
“Well baby love, it’s just you and me.” She laid her hand on the lump where her baby slept peacefully on. “I don’t know about YOU but I’m totally bored.”
She raised herself up and checked the time on the stereo.
John had gone to drop Eric and Sami off to Shawn and Caroline’s so that Marlena and he could finish the last minute arrangements for the rescheduled wedding, which was NOW scheduled for a precious 48 hours away.
Getting up from the couch, she grabbed the stereo remote and pressed play.
She was sashaying around the living room through Dancing Queen and was just coming back from the kitchen with some ice water when she heard the first notes of Mama Mia.
I’ve been cheated by you since I don’t know when r32;So I’ve made up my mind, it must come to an end r32;Look at me now, will I ever learn?
John was coming to the door when he paused, hearing the music reverberating through the windows.
I don’t know how but I suddenly lose control
He rolled his eyes, a smile playing at his lips. “Oh god, not the Abba CD again.”
Getting the key to go inside, John remembered what Dr. Bader said at their last visit. That expectant mothers go through mood swings and what was once weird was going to be the norm for awhile.
THAT John understood and was willing to accept. His love’s taste in music, well that was up for some serious debate.
Coming inside, he quickly placed his jacket on the chair and went to sit on the steps going upstairs so he could watch this floor show.
There’s a fire within my soul
He bit his lip to avoid laughing at Salem’s most prominent psychiatrist singing into the remote, dressed in a sweater and leggings.
Marlena lifted her hand and examined her engagement ring and imagined the band that was soon going to go with it.
Just one look and I can hear a bell ring
“Abba?”
Turning around, she froze and did a double take as she saw John sitting there, the eyebrow raised and waiting for an explanation.
One more look and I forget everything, o-o-o-oh
“What did I tell you about playing Abba around the baby?” He rose off the steps with a playful menace and approached her.
Blushing, she shook her head. “I can’t be expected to remember. I mean after all, I *AM* pregnant.”
He grinned and laid his hand on her stomach. “Yeah, yeah you are that.”
She wrapped one arm around him. “Love me?”
He squinted. “Absolutely.”
She wrapped the other around him, allowing him to lead her back to the couch. “Love the belly?”
He looked down and stopped. “Oh yeah, I love the belly.”
He claimed her lips in a tentative kiss. “I love it so much, that I want to play hooky with you the rest of the afternoon in bed. What do you say to that offer?”
“Your on Ace.”
“No!”
She chuckled and slapped his hand. “Lay still.”
“Why are you doing this again?”
She nearly lost it. “Because I can see YOUR feet no problem like this.”
“Do you have to be sitting on my legs?”
She turned slightly. “Why, you got a problem with this?”
“Yeah, you’re driving me nuts!”
She tweaked his big toe and continued her ministrations.
“Keep this up and what I’ll do to your feet will ensure that you can’t explain to the boys.”
John closed his eyes and began to count to ten.
“Doc, how did we go from making love to you rubbing my feet?”
She shrugged and smiled sweetly.
“Cause when I wrapped my legs around you, it was like caressing sandpaper.”
He pulled her off his legs and pinned her carefully under him.
“Sandpaper?”
She wiggled under him in a challenge. “If the grit fits, wear it.”
His fingers began to roam. “Oh yeah?”
She caught one finger and drew it into her mouth. “Uh huh.”
“Any other sayings that you want to quote at me?”
She felt him enter her and smiled. “If it walks like a duck…”
“That’s it, no more quotes. ” He claimed her mouth with a kiss.
He claimed her mouth with a kiss before pinning her hands above her head.
“Tell me?”
John smiled, lacing his fingers with hers. “No.”
She grinned and nestled her head into the crook of his neck. “Please?”
He shifted in bed, tucking the cover in around her. “It’s silly.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Doc, you really are getting better with that you know.”
She laughed. “Thank you, now play nice and tell me. What do you wish?”
He kissed the side of her face. “I wish that for you and I in 50 years, we’re together and alive. Healthy and with tons of grandchildren.”
She smiled. “That’s not corny at all.”
He shook his head. “Not finished yet.”
She laughed. “Thank you, now play nice and tell me. What do you wish?”
He kissed the side of her face. “I wish that for you and I in 50 years, we’re together and alive. Healthy and with tons of grandchildren.”
She smiled. “That’s not corny at all.”
He shook his head. “Not finished yet.”
She nodded. “Then finish.”
“Above all the grandkids, I want to be able to look at you and feel the way that I do right now. That when you smile, I feel such a peace and I love you so much.”
She kissed him. “Well I love you too and I can’t wait to grow old with you too and love you as much as I do now.”
Letting out a yawn she nestled closer. “However, I’ve been told I need a nap.”
John smiled and wrapped his arms around her. “Best idea Junior’s had all day.”
Sleepily she shook her head. “No Abba was the best idea he had.”
“Good night Doc.”
She smiled. “Okay, okay.”
“You look lovely.”
She turned around and smiled as Carrie came towards her. “Thank you sweetie girl.” As they hugged, Marlena looked around. “Where’s Austin?”
Carrie grinned. “He’s with John.”
Marlena nodded and her eyes caught sight of something sparkling on Carrie’s hand. “No!”
Carrie nodded. “Yes, yes we are.” She held up the engagement ring for Marlena to see.
“We wanted to wait until the reception tomorrow to tell you. We wanted to have the spotlight on you and John before we announced it.”
“So you showed Marlena the ring?”
She nodded as John came to join them followed by a smiling Austin.
“You knew?”
John nodded. “I went with Austin to pick it out when I went to pick up the wedding rings.”
Marlena playfully punched his arm. “Good thing I love you cause keeping a secret this wonderful makes you a DOG.”
He kissed her cheek. “Woof.”
As the laughter rang out, the hours till Salem’s fairytale holiday wedding began to dwindle to a precious few..
The blonde stood quietly in the corner of her bedroom, eyes wide at the commotion around her.
“Guys, it’s not as if this is the first time I’ve been married.”
Laura nodded from her spot on the suitcase. “No, but it is the first time to John.”
“The ONLY time.” Marlena playfully glared at her friends.
“Want to tell me WHY you’re packing everything plus the sink?”
Maggie turned slightly. “Did you see how pregnant you are?”
Marlena turned to the mirror. “I’m not due until nearly June.”
Maggie wagged a finger. “Can’t be too careful you know.”
Carrie appeared and smiled. “Ssh, not around the children.’
As they hugged, Marlena laughed.
“She’s not a child anymore. She’s going to be an old married lady soon.”
As the women ooohed and aahed over that news, Carrie looked to Marlena.
“Sami is in the hallway, she’s wanting to surprise you.”
Marlena beamed. “Well I love surprises, so bring her in.”
The little girl came in, swinging her hoop of ivy and tiny white roses in one hand and dragging her little muff in the other.
“Oh Samantha, look at you.”
She smiled back. “Hi Mommy.”
She looked like a little doll in her dress of deep red velvet with white tights, her normally straight blonde hair was in ringlets that bounced on her shoulders.
Marlena peered closely at Carrie. “How did you get her to stay that tidy?’
Carrie smiled. “Sami, show Mommy what is in your change purse.”
“Oh no.” Marlena shook her head. “Carrie, you bribed her?”
Carrie held up her hands. “No, I didn’t. JOHN did.”
As the laughter died down, Marlena turned around to her friends and smiled.
“Time to get ready.”
~*~*~
“Love is patient.”
Abe’s eyes clamped shut as John let out yet another. “HOW MUCH LONGER!”
“Love is kind.”
He reached for the pillow and swatted John as he paced past.
“And if love doesn’t sit his ass down, the bride’s going to be without a groom. John, relax!”
John glared at Abe, checking the list for the umpteenth time.
“I want this to be perfect. This is the ONLY wedding I’m having partner!”
Abe waved his hand. “Yes, I know. The whole world KNOWS this. But you need to sit down and breathe.”
John grinned. “I just can’t believe in a little while, it’s all finally going to fall into place here. I’m getting the girl.”
Abe smiled. “And the family and a baby.”
John nodded and Abe dug into his pocket for the ring box. “Buddy, nobody deserves it more.”
As the two men indulged in a few moments of testosterone bonding, Bo came in and waved a hand in front of his face.
“God if Marlena smells cigar on you, she’s going to kill us.”
John blinked. “Relax.” He stood up and Bo saw John was still in jeans and a shirt
“Pregnant ladies can’t stand that smell and I’m about to go have a quick shower before I get all duded up in my tux.”
He paused. “Plus I have to stick the mistletoe in the button holes of my vest.”
“What the hell for?”
Abe grinned at Bo’s reaction. “Scary enough I asked that same question.”
John interrupted. “Mistletoe, so that when she starts to help me take off my clothes later, I get kissed.”
Bo made a face. “Sneaky bro.”
John grinned. “Some call it sneaky, others call it planning ahead.”
~*~*~
“Oh Marlena.”
She turned around and smiled. “It’s not too much is it?”
Maggie and Laura approached her and smiled. “Not at all, in fact it’s perfect.”
Being that it was her third wedding and she was also very pregnant, Marlena had chosen to go with her normal style, simple and elegant.
Her hair was pinned up with tiny diamond clips and the gown had tiny delicate straps while the bodice had been embellished with a beautiful re-embroidered lace with subtle pearl and clear sequin detail.
Her friend Janae had designed the gown with the baby in mind, using detailing around the bodice to make sure that she made an elegant expectant bride.
“John is going to love you in this.”
Maggie winked. “Already proved he loves her in less.”
As the trio laughed over that remark, Carrie reappeared.
“I have a present for the pregnant lady.”
As she saw the tiny but long velvet box, Marlena’s eyes widened. “The man stops my heart.”
Laura winked. “More like the long velvet box did.”
As she opened it, Marlena found a floral vine made of platinum from which there hung tiny leaves and flowers made of diamonds and nestled in there as well was a matching pair of diamond studs
“Yep it’s the box .. definitely the box.”
As she looked up, Marlena looked to her friends. “Guys, I need help.”
Carrie grinned. “Got to have friends.”
Marlena looked around the room and her smile was equally as bright as the jewels at her neck and ears.
“Yes, yes you do.”
~*~*~
“Nervous.”
“No”
He smiled. “Yes you are.”
“No, no I am not.”
“Are too.”
John glared at his best man. “Abraham, so help me.”
Abe shrugged. “Learnt NEVER to get involved with Brady brother fights.”
~*~*~
“Oooh Mommy pretty!”
Carrie grinned and knelt down to her sister’s side. “Yes she is. Mommy’s lovely.”
Shawn came and joined the group. “And it’s now time to get you to the church.”
Marlena smiled and looked around. “Okay, I’ve got everything and our flowers are waiting at the church. So let’s go.”
Shawn shook his head. “Not so fast. We have one more thing to do.”
“And that is?”
Shawn smiled. “You and I are going separately from the others. Their going in the limo.”
Marlena shook her head. “How are we going?”
Shawn winked. “You’ll see.”
~*~*~
The jingling of the bells caught John’s ears and he smiled from his spot on the chair, his speech to Marlena in one hand.
“Showtime.”
~*~*~
“Lass, may I be so honored as to help you out of the carriage?”
Marlena was nestled safely in the blankets and smiled. “I’d love it but Shawn, I feel like a sardine.” She began to laugh. “Actually yeah please, I’m getting overheated.”
Slipping her hand into his own, Shawn helped her down the steps and was enchanted at Marlena, wrapped in a voluminous white cape who’s hood was covering her curls, framing her face that was tinged with light rose from the cold night.
“Are you ready?”
She looked past him where Carrie, Maggie, Laura and Sami were standing in the window, waving.
“As ready as I will ever be.”
~*~*~
Instead of traditional wedding music or Christmas tunes befitting the holidays, the guests were treated to music specially commissioned by John for this long awaited event.
Caroline was sitting with Eric, who was dressed in a tuxedo that was chosen, as he wanted to be dressed just like John.
Alice was sitting in for Marlena’s parents who sadly had been snowed in and who sent their love amid promises from both John and Marlena that they would have pictures and video sent to them ASAP.
As the church staff began to light the candles around the altar, John came out with Bo while Abe and Austin rolled out the carpet for Marlena and the attendants.
“This is it.” John nodded. “Yep and I can’t wait.”
Sami came out first, charming the guests as she came up the aisle and stopped to stand just in front of John with a look in her little eyes he knew well.
“You look too cute punkin.”
She pursed out her lips and gestured for him to kneel. “Yeah?”
As he did, she burst out into a smile and lunged for him, to the amusement of everyone.
“You be my daddy now, okay?”
Thrilled by that request, he stood up with her in his arms. “I would be honored to be your daddy now.”
Contented with that answer, she went to Caroline and sat on her other side.
Carrie came out dressed in the gown chosen for the bridesmaids, a simple red silk gown similar in style to Marlena’s without the delicate detailing.
Carrie was met by her smiling Austin half way down the aisle and they gave everyone a hint of what was to come for them in a few months at their own wedding.
Laura and then Maggie came down the aisle, Laura escorted by Bo and Abe bringing down Maggie.
The music changed to a softly sweet tune played by harp and flute and John’s smile couldn’t have been any bigger as he saw the two most important people in his life standing there.
Well three, if he counted the tiny soul safely growing within Marlena.
Marlena stood beside Shawn, a smile playing on her lips as he whispered into her ear.
Suddenly she turned her attention to John and it was as if her hazel eyes were shining only for him.
~*~*~
“I’ve never been one to believe in miracles but yet here I am, standing in front of you and our family. Lady, I will love you and be yours for all my life. In good times and in bad, I will make all your sorrows MY sorrows and by god, all your joys MY joys.”
Marlena smiled as he continued.
“I will be a good father to our baby and also be the best father I can be to Eric, Samantha and also to Carrie. In the past few months, I’ve come from being one to being part of the most amazing family and lady, I have you to thank for that.”
He drew her hand up to his lips. “For that and so many gifts, I thank you and hope that in time, I could give as much to you.”
Marlena began to cry and so with a smile, he reached out to dry her tears.
“From this day on, I promise that with a ring of precious gold with no beginning and no end, that as long as it encircles your finger, my love will forever encircle your heart.”
He again brought up her hand to his lips, this time to kiss the ring that now bound her to him.
Marlena smiled as he reached out to dry her eyes.
“I love you so much that at times it has felt that my heart would burst. John, I have watched you with the twins, and the family and have been so overjoyed to see that you finally have no need to be restless. That your finally at home.”
She paused and her eyes grew shadowed. “We’ve learnt the meaning of true love, the meaning of being a team thanks to many things. But the trials led us here, to this point in time and have managed to make this all the more sweeter, this time and place.”
She held up his ring. “This perfect circle, made from precious gold with no beginning and no end forever binds you and I. As long as it encircles your finger, my love will forever encircle your heart.”
As she slipped it on, she smiled.
“The night that you proposed to me, at the observatory, you said something that stuck with me. That made me know that I had to have it inscribed on the inside of your ring.”
She smiled at the bewilderment in his eyes. “Our love, we’re written in the stars, meant to be.” She drew his hand up, cradling it safely in her own.
“I never believed in that more than I do at this moment. I will grow old with you, laugh with you, weep with you and rejoice with you. I cannot wait until the day when I can watch you with this child and children to come and hear them say I love you Daddy. I love you beyond reason, beyond time and for that and so many gifts, I love you.”
The rest of the wedding went in a blur for both of them and it wasn’t only Marlena who was grateful for the videotaping that John had ordered for this.
This wedding had been meant as a celebration of love and family, it succeeded in that fact. It was a loving family that encircled John and Marlena and that love shone as brightly as one of the candles that surrounded them.
“It gives me the greatest pleasure to happily pronounce you Man and Wife.”
John turned to the Priest and nodded, making Tim smile as he announced.
“And to introduce for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. John Black.
“Happy Doc?”
She lifted her head from his shoulder, her eyes sparkling from the combination of being married, at peace and the candles that were lit all around them.
“I finally am Mrs. John Black, I’m carrying OUR baby and I adore you.” She winked. “Yep I think I am more than happy. I’m totally contented.”
She froze. “Correction, I’d be totally contented but I need one more thing for that.”
He smiled. “What is that?”
She leaned in close and whispered into his ear. “You … alone.”
He smiled and turned his head so that he could claim her lips. “That I can fix.”
“Not so fast hot shot.”
They broke apart and found Bo grinning. “You have a surprise to give her.”
John’s lip curled into a sneer. “That’s the most LOUSIEST timing little brother.”
Bo nodded, his smile infectious. “That’s what little brothers are for.”
John began to walk past him, his grip tightly on Marlena’s hand.
“I thought they were for using as a coat rack. But if you say so.”
“Oh come on, one little clue?”
He shook his head. “No, now sit here.”
She rolled her eyes. “Excuse me?”
He leaned over and claimed her with a kiss that silenced any further complaint.
“I said in my vows to this beautiful lady, that she had given me so much. But I also knew that there was something else that we had to celebrate today and that is this beautiful lady’s birthday.”
Marlena’s eyes widened and she glared at Laura, who was laughing.
“I did NOT tell him.”
He smiled and with his hand, cupped her chin and drew her attention back to him.
“I’m not revealing my sources, outside of one small clue. Their safely stuck in Colorado.”
Marlena’s pout made everyone laugh. “Thank god for snowstorms.”
He kissed her hand. “Lady, I love you and with the help from our friend the pianist, I just wanted to sing a song from the heart as my birthday gift to you.”
I like to see you in your cotton dress r32;Early in the morning with your hair all a mess r32;Oh baby, that’s what I like about you
I like the funny way you wrinkle your nose r32;I like the color that you paint your toes r32;Oh honey, that’s what I like about you
Marlena began to shake her head. “This is from the heart?”
And you know that I love you r32;I’m so proud to be your man r32;And I love the way you love me too r32;Just the way I am, that’s what I like about you
It’s funny honey, but I swear it’s true r32;I love every crazy little thing you do r32;Oh darlin’, that’s what I like about you
I like it when you start to sing along r32;And you got nothin’ but the radio on r32;Oh mercy, that’s what I like about you
“Enough … stop the pain!”
Marlena lunged off the chair and planted a kiss on him.
“Oh come on now, you’re a big boy and your not supposed to pout.”
John peered at her from his spot in the limo. “Am not pouting.”
She grinned. “You are too and I’m sorry. As much as I find you incredibly sexy and the sole owner of my heart, I simply know for a fact that you can’t sing.”
He shook his head and looked out the window.
“It was the thought that counts.”
She nodded. “Oh I know that and while I agree with you, before you sulk the ENTIRE way to the hotel, I will say it was a lovely thought.”
He looked skeptical and she nodded. “No one ever did what you did for me before and I loved it.”
She hit the privacy window. “So much so, that I’m going to give you a gift of my own right here.”
His blue eyes lit up. “Really?”
She scooted back against the side of the limo. “Uh huh.”
With a little boy grin, he came towards her. “Are you sure you can handle it?”
She nodded. “With you sailor, I can handle anything.”
She waited until he was half way towards her and let it rip
A cross between a movie star r32;And a hero in a book r32;Romeo comes struttin’ in r32;And everybody looks r32;’Cause he’s just got that special thang r32;That everybody needs r32;And everybody wants him r32;But not as bad as me
The driver just rolled his eyes as the belly laugh came through the privacy window.
“Are you ready?”
She laid her hands over his own. “Yeah I am.”
She felt his lips at the nape of her neck as his fingers undid her blindfold.
“Okay and now you can look.”
He had stepped to her side so that he could see her reaction and the wide eyes said it all.
“Oh my … “ She glanced to him, tears in her eyes. “Oh John.”
“I bought this chalet when I finally heard those magical words, that you would marry me. I wanted a holiday home for us.”
“In Canada?”
He cradled her face in his hands. “In Canada, where in time the kids can learn to ski, where at night when their in bed, I can come downstairs in front of the fire and make love to you on the bearskin rug and where my family can fill this house with laughter.”
She smiled. “I like that.”
He smiled in return as her arms draped around him. “And I love you.”
He nodded. “Happy wedding night Mrs. Black.”
She shivered as he turned her around and began to undo her dress.
“John, there’s no fire.”
He kissed the side of her neck. “Oh yes there is.”
She felt him against her bare skin. “I didn’t mean you. I want a fire in the fireplace.”
He turned her to face him. “You want a fire, I want you. Let’s guess who wins?”
She reached down to his belt. “I love games, did I ever tell you that?”
They laid face to face, his fingers roaming over her bare skin as he watched her smile.
“What’s that for?”
She winked and her fingers roamed lower under the sheet. “For the simple fact that I’ll win this game. I can last longer than you.”
He bucked under her touch, pinning her against the pillows and under him.
“Oh think so?”
She slipped her hands around his neck, pulling him down to her lips.
“Know so.”
Keeping most of his weight braced over her with one arm, his free hand grazed up her one leg coming to pause just at the higher part of her thigh.
“Want to wager on this bet Doc?”
She kept silent as his fingers began to enter her, allowing her body to writhe.
“Come on lady, put your money where your mouth is.”
Hazel eyes grew amber as her hands took on a life of their own and swiped his hand away so that he fell on top of her.
“No, I want you where your hand is. I want you inside me.”
The stalemate went on for several heartbeats, until she softly but hoarsely spoke. “John, I want you to make love to me.”
“John wake up!”
He opened one eye and found his wife looking way too perky for someone who only went to bed approximately 10 minutes ago.
“What time is it?”
She turned slightly and she smiled. “8”
He slumped back against the pillows. “Call me at 12.”
She tugged him back up to a sitting position. “Come on, I want to go for a walk.”
Getting no response from him, she gave up. “God your lazy.”
She enjoyed the walk and pausing as she was feeling tired, sat on a nearby rock to check the time.
“Guess what baby mine, time for us to go back to wake your lazy daddy up.”
She turned too quickly, her boot catching on some ice that had been hidden by the light snowfall from the night before.
Falling, she hit her head against the side of the rock she had just sat on to check the time.
He lost track of the time, trying to search around the grounds of the chalet to find her.
All he knew was that he SHOULD have been with her as she went exploring, he SHOULD have gone with her.
He shouldn’t have let his pregnant wife go out alone and this fact was killing him.
“Doc, baby please be alright.” He felt tears coming. “Baby, I’ll find you.”
She was feeling so cold; she knew that she needed to get moving.
But she was so sleepy and as if with a mind of their own, her eyes closed again unaware of the snow falling again around her.
John could hear the search parties all calling in on his walkie-talkie, all telling him to come back to the house.
But he had to go on, had to find them.
It was only as the darkness fell that he was about to give it all up and it was at that moment when he saw her.
The crimson of her coat caught his eyes and as he ran for her, he let out a scream.
“MARLENA!”
She was lying face down as he came running to her side.
“Doc?” He turned her over carefully. “Baby, it’s John.”
She was so pale, her breathing was so slow that he had to strain to r32;hear it when he placed his ear close to her lips.
He began to shake as he dug for his walkie-talkie in his jacket pocket. r32;
“I found her and we need the medics NOW!”
Lying the radio down, he took his heavy wool jacket off and wrapped it r32;around her.
It was at that moment that he accidentally brushed her hood off of her r32;and he saw her head wound.
“Oh no, your not leaving me lady. I love you and I want you and this r32;baby of ours to fight. Do you hear me? Marlena, please fight baby!”
The ride to the local hospital was like a nightmare to John and the r32;fact that he had managed to make it there in one piece was a blessing r32;considering he had one eye on the road and the other on the tiny speck r32;that was the helicopter rushing Marlena for medical attention.
He sat quietly, head in his hands as the noises of the emergency trauma r32;center washed over him.
“Mr. Black?”
He looked blurrily up and found a nurse standing there with quiet eyes.
“My wife?” She shook her head. “No, they’re still working on her. But r32;in times like this, I find it helps those that wait if they spent some r32;time in the Chapel.”
He shook his head. “No, I want to be right here when they come out of r32;there.”
She nodded. “Fair enough, but I just wanted you to know it’s there when r32;you feel like giving a little extra prayer her way.”
He gave her a halfhearted smile. ‘Thank you.”
Everything was fuzzy and the stillness was scaring her.
Opening her eyes, Marlena found herself sitting in a chair in the r32;corner of what appeared to be a hospital room.
“Hello?”
Getting up from the chair, she felt annoyed at the fact no one was r32;acknowledging that she was calling.
Tapping one on the shoulder, she let out a gasp when Roman turned r32;around.
“You’re dead!”
“Could never fool you.” He smiled. “And hello to you too Doc.” He shook r32;his head. “Yes I’m dead.”
Tears came to her eyes. “What’s going on?”
He shook his head. “It’s not what you think.”
She raised an eyebrow. “How the hell would you know what I think?”
She turned around and shrugged her shoulders. “Tell me, what’s going r32;on?”
He pulled her back to her seat. “Honey, your not dead.”
Her eyes were wide. “Then how am I seeing you?”
“Honey, you’ve had an accident.”
”Pop, it’s John.”
Shawn Brady let out a chuckle. “That’s the shortest honeymoon on r32;record. What happened lad, you get blocked or something?”
John felt a pain in his chest and he hoped that his voice didn’t betray r32;him.
“Pop, I wish it was that simple.”
Shawn’s smile faded and he turned away from watching the family.
“What is it lad?”
Nothing could have prepared him for what John had to say.
“It’s Marlena. There’s been an accident and it’s not looking too good.”
“An accident?”
He nodded. “Yes sweetheart. You were outside and exploring around the r32;chalet. You slipped on some ice.”
Her hand as if under its own control went to her forehead. “I hit my r32;head.”
He blinked. “Yep you hit your head.”
She gestured towards the bed, where like little ants the nurses r32;continued to fight for her to stay with them.
“How?”
He looked at his hands. “It was snowing and when you fell and hit your r32;head, honey you became hypothermic.”
“My baby?”
He couldn’t and wouldn’t lie to her. “Honey, I don’t know.”
She shoved at him. “What do you mean you don’t know?” Her pretty face r32;curled into a sneer. “You know EVERYTHING, don’t you lie to me now and r32;say that you don’t KNOW.”
He quietly allowed her this. “Marlena, I don’t know because I don’t r32;know. I haven’t been told what your fate is. In fact, I’m here just to r32;keep watch over you until they make the verdict.”
She sneered. “Awfully convenient. You didn’t care about me before you r32;blew up and they give YOU babysitting duties?”
He pinned her against the back of the chair. “Listen, I KNOW that your r32;hurting and I would do anything and give anything to take it all away. r32;But I can’t and you just have to sit and wait.”
”All they have said is that I have to sit and wait.”
Shawn was scribbling things on a notepad. “Have they let you see her?”
John shook his head. “No, the last thing I saw was when they had her r32;wrapped up in blankets. Pop, I couldn’t even tell where they ended and r32;Doc began.”
“Lad, I’m flying up there.”
John felt the tears washing over him. “Pop, I can’t ask you to do r32;that.”
Shawn gestured for Bo and Caroline. “I know you can’t and that’s why r32;I’m coming. You can’t be alone at a time like this. So, I’m passing the r32;phone to Caroline and she’s going to talk to you while I pack. I’ll be r32;there soon, just hang on.”
Marlena stood inches away from John, who was looking more in pain as r32;each second passed.
“Can’t I touch him?”
Roman shook his head, which earned a glare. “I hope to whoever’s r32;listening that you get to stay in purgatory forever.”
“Yeah, well this is fun for me too, watching you moon over HIM.”
He stepped forward. “Just for spite, I hope I get reincarnated as your r32;baby.”
She made a face and whacked him with a nearby pillow.
“Now is NOT the time to be spouting off about reincarnation to me.”
Their argument was cut short by a familiar high-pitched wailing that r32;had Marlena shaking her head. “Oh no!”
Moving closer, she found her fear confirmed, as the monitor was flat r32;lined…
John had to be restrained as the nurses and doctors came flying into r32;her room.
“SHE’S MY WIFE!”
They closed the door and John was left standing in front of the glass r32;in the door watching as his life was held in the balance.
Sinking to the floor, he covered his face in his hands and began to r32;cry.
“Fair enough, but I just wanted you to know it’s there when you feel r32;like giving a little extra prayer her way.”
Lifting his head, John saw the doors to the Chapel were open and he r32;knew what he had to do.
“I’ve only seem to come to you when I need help for Marlena. But now we r32;have a new player in this. I could lose her and our baby. I can’t lose r32;them.”
“I’m not leaving him. Do you GET that past those blockers that you call r32;ears?”
Roman turned away from listening to the man praying and wondering if he r32;would feel the same if the situation was reversed.
“Roman Augustus Brady!”
He glared at her. “Marlena, I know you don’t. The WORLD knows you r32;don’t.”
She felt close to tears. “I don’t want to leave him.”
He pulled her to him. “You won’t leave him.”
>From the safety of his arms, Marlena caught sight of a little boy r32;watching her from the chapel door.
“Roman, let go.” She shoved at him. “God you were never this clingy r32;before. Let GO!”
Breaking the hold, she went running after the little boy.
“Hey wait a minute!”
He stopped and turned around, his lips in a pout and it was as she r32;gazed into his eyes that she froze.
Those eyes were unmistakable as was the air around the child.
“Who are you?”
He tilted his head. “Colby, who are you?”
She knelt down and broke into a smile. “I’m someone you’re going to r32;meet.”
John was dozing while Shawn kept watch and as the doctor came into the r32;waiting room, he nudged his son.
“Mr. Black?”
John nodded. “My wife?”
He smiled. “We finally have her stabilized and she’s resting r32;comfortably. She sustained a concussion as well as a case of mild r32;hypothermia. Her temperature is back to normal, but we’re still going r32;to be monitoring her for the next few hours because of those.”
He nodded and suddenly his smile faded. “What about the baby?”
“Well as you may know, a rapid drop or increase in temperature would r32;cause great harm to a fetus, but we’ve got the baby on a monitor as r32;well and the heartbeat is still strong and steady. The obstetricians we r32;have on your wife’s case seem to think that the baby due to the not r32;excessive amount of time she was out there and the layers of clothes r32;Marlena had on kept the baby safe.”
John felt such a sense of relief that he burst into tears as he looked r32;at his father.
“They’re going to be alright Pop!” Shawn engulfed him in a bear hug. r32;“Aye lad!”
John got himself under control and looked back at the doctor.
“Could I see her?”
The doctor smiled. “She’s sleeping and from the looks of you two r32;gentlemen, I think you both could use a good meal and a few hours r32;sleep. So why don’t you head out and be back here bright and early for r32;a test I’d like you and Marlena both to be awake for.”
“What test?”
“That was your test to decide if I wanted to stay with you Roman?”
He smiled. “Colby wasn’t a test. They wanted you to see a final reason r32;for you to stay where you are. As John’s wife and the mother of not r32;just our twins, but also a few other little souls.”
He leaned forward. “I wish you nothing but joy Doc.”
Marlena opened her eyes and found the room engulfed in flowers, Shawn r32;looking out the window and John carrying on a conversation with an r32;enormous Teddy.
“Practicing honey for when the baby is old enough?”
John’s face turned and lit up. “Your awake!”
She smiled. “My head hurts.”
He came to the side of her bed. “So it should. Lady that was quite the r32;shot you took. I almost lost you.” He laid his hand on her stomach. r32;“You BOTH last night.”
She smiled sleepily. “I saw our baby last night.”
John looked at Shawn. “You saw …” He got choked up. “You … you did?”
She nodded. “Honey, he has your eyes and spirit. You’re going to love r32;him.”
He leaned forward, silencing her with a kiss. “I already do.”
Shawn slipped out of the room. “John, I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head. “For what?”
“I left you sleeping, I never told you where I was going.” He silenced r32;her again.
“It was an accident and once we get you out of here, we’re going to r32;resume our honeymoon. This time someplace with NO ice.”
“Woohooo, you me and the beach baby!” She began to laugh just as the r32;doctors came in. “Ready for the test Marlena?”
She peeked at John. “If Daddy is.”
Bewildered, John nodded. “Sure. What’s the test?”
The doctor smiled. “The ultrasound.”
As their baby’s heartbeat rang out loud and clear, John sat dumbfounded r32;with tears in his eyes.
He looked dazed at Marlena. “That’s the baby?”
She reached up and dried his eyes. “Yep, that’s your son.”
The doctor blinked. “Dr. Evans, did you already know the sex of your r32;baby?”
She tore her attention from John. “Sorry?”
“Did your doctor back in Salem already tell you the sex of the baby?”
Marlena gazed at John with a wondrous smile.
John turned to the doctor. “It’s a boy?”
The doctor nodded and Marlena winked. “I had a little divine r32;intervention.”
“Thank you for coming to be with him Shawn.”
He grinned and brought his daughter in law’s hand to his lips. “Where r32;else would I be when my own son and daughter in law need me?”
He laid his free hand on her stomach. “Besides, I got to be introduced r32;to my new grandson, Colby is it now?”
She nodded. “Colby Michael Brady Black.”
He smiled. “A fine name for a young man with a strong heart.”
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “You be careful now, I want you r32;back in Salem in a few weeks in one piece okay?”
She smiled and John spoke from the doorway. “That’s a promise I’m r32;making sure she keeps Pop.”
He made a face. “Like you made such a good job of that before the r32;accident lad.”
As Shawn left, John followed him.
“We need to have a proper chat and we will once we come home.”
Shawn nodded. “But in the meantime, I want to say thank you so much for r32;being with me through all of this Pop. I couldn’t have done this r32;without you to help me.”
Shawn beamed. “It was my pleasure.”
Marlena watched them from the doorway and thanked two special souls.
“I’m never leaving again.” r32;
I suppose I should be happy, I mean who wouldn’t be in here floating around being fed on demand, BUT there are some limits that just should NOT be pushed and this other occupant in my tiny quarters is crawling on my last nerve.
My name is Colby Michael Brady Black and I’m not good at sharing.
“Move over.”
That voice is enough to make me kick the wall in frustration.
“Hey!”
Marlena smiled and rubbed her side. “I love you Colby but kicking me is NOT the way to let me finish your quilt for your crib lovey.”
John came in from the kitchen. “You okay here honey?”
She smiled. “Uh huh, your boy is being kind of annoying.”
He sat beside her and grinned. “Why is he MY boy when he’s annoying?”
She leaned forward and claimed his face with her free hand. “Cause he’s just like you.”
Kissing quickly, he broke away. “I’d love to discuss this more, but I have to go meet Brian to pick up our surprise.”
Marlena glanced to the French doors, the twins playing happily unaware of their present at the breeders.
“Are you going to take them?”
He shook his head. “Nope, I’ve picked out the puppy and it’s already and waiting.”
Marlena grinned. “Their going to love this, thank you honey for thinking of it.”
He smiled and grabbed for his leather jacket. “It’s me who should thank you for this Doc, I have it all. A family, an amazing wife, a brand new home and baby on the way, it’s such an amazing feeling for me and the only icing that could complete this cake is a dog.”
She nodded. “Well then, you get going and we’ll see you two when you get back.”
Ignoring what Mommy said about a puppy, I turn my attentions back to this intruder with the voice that is like the electric blender Mommy uses to make fresh orange juice.
“You move over.”
I do a barrel roll and shake my head.
“I’m cramped as it is.”
“You NEVER move over. I’m gonna tell Mommy.”
I roll my eyes, unimpressed with her little attempt at a threat.
“The last time you ‘told’ Mommy something, you kicked her in the back. It made her mad and she thought it was ME that did it. I don’t like it when she’s unhappy. Stop being a brat and move over.”
The little brat moves slightly more to the left. “That’s it, though. I can’t go any further.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I lean back and stretch out a little. It is really cramped in here. And hot.
I don’t see how we can stay in here much longer. Not unless Mommy makes the room grow bigger, but she doesn’t like how big it is already. At least, that’s what she says.
She rubs her head and pauses. “So what do you think we’re going to do today?”
Before I can answer the light appears. “I dunno, but now it’s TAG time.”
Marlena adjusted the earphones to wrap around her stomach and found the penlight.
“Sorry guy that it’s not Daddy doing this, but he’s off getting the surprise for your brother and sister.
“What’s a sister?”
I roll my eyes in annoyance at the intruder. “Sami, now SHUSH!”
“Hey Doc, I forgot my pager.” John stopped and his eyes widened. “DOC!”
She grinned. “I wanted to see what was so fascinating that keeps you doing this night after night.”
He came down and knelt beside her. “The fact that our boy is so quick.”
She ruffled his hair. “Yeah right, admit it Black, it’s a male bonding thing.”
He claimed her lips with a kiss that she sank into. “Yeah you’re right. It’s male bonding, Black style.”
She smiled. “When you’re good, you’re good and now you have to go.”
He snatched the penlight from her hands. “My toy.”
Marlena began to laugh. “Oh Colby, you’re going to have to learn to share toys with your Daddy.”
“I like the sound of Momma’s laughter and the fact that Daddy can get her to do that.”
I curl up and reach out my hands. “What you doing?”
With the wisdom of being here first, I look at the intruder. “Imagining how big the world out there is.”
Marlena was reading a book when the phone rang. “Hello Black residence.”
“Marlena, it’s Sabyn.”
Worried, she sat up. “What is it?”
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad.”
Marlena’s hand went instinctively to her stomach, curling protectively over the spot she knew Colby was. “Then why are you calling?”
“We discovered something in your last set of ultrasound and sonograms.”
“What?”
John was loading the puppy and it’s traveling essentials into the jeep when his pager went off.
Brian noticed it on the driver’s seat and called to John. “Her Majesty is calling.”
John smiled. “It’s probably to remind me to stop and pick up her ice cream.”
Brian picked it up and read the message. “Uh no, it’s not.”
John closed the door and came to his friend. “What’s it say?”
Brian turned the pager’s display to John and allowed him to read.
“Come home please … Dr. Bader called.”
John roared into the driveway, ignoring Brian’s complaints of whiplash r32;from going well over the speed limit.
“Stay in the car with the Dog!”
As he slammed his door, he could hear his friend talking to the air about with that winning personality, John should be a sponge.
Running into the house, he found Marlena waiting for him with her hands r32;in her lap.
Hesitant, he stepped into the living room. “Doc?”
She looked up and was totally solemn as he knelt in front of her.
“Honey?”
She took a deep breath and asked him one question.
“Where’s the Dog?”
His eyes widened and he began to talk to himself.
“I get this cryptic message from my extremely pregnant wife that her OB r32;called.”
He got up and began to walk around the room, hands jabbing at invisible r32;foes as he continued his conversation with himself.
“Considering my wife’s honeymoon predicament of being nearly dying due r32;to exposure, I panic with this pager message to get home. SO, I put the r32;Dog AND Brian in the car, race home.”
His hands flew up into the air. “Now, how the HELL I managed to get here r32;without a ticket being issued is beyond me, leave the sidekicks in the r32;car to come flying into the house and the light of my life has the NERVE r32;to ask me where’s the DOG?”
Marlena watched this with amusement clearly etched across her features r32;as she propped her chin on her hand and watched him go.
“Colby and company, you’re witnessing a first. Your father, who has seen r32;more than his share of trouble, strife and ordeals has finally cracked.”
John turned around, eyebrow raised. “Come again?”
Marlena stood up and came towards him. “Now that you’re finished your r32;speech to the nation. Can I explain WHY I needed you to come home?”
He nodded. “Yeah I think you should. Doc, why the hell would you send a r32;message like that and scare me?”
She nodded. “Yeah, that was a kind of off message. But I did NEED you r32;home.”
Walking away from him, she continued.
“Sabyn called and she alerted me to a potential problem in the last r32;ultrasound and sonograms.”
He turned white. “What kind of problems?”
She bit her lip. “How do you feel about multiples?”
He looked totally bewildered. “Orgasms?”
She rolled her eyes. “Pervert.” She broke into a smile.
He sank into the sofa. “Doc, you’ve lost me.”
She began to laugh. “Apparently so.”
“Okay honey, you’re laughing so this news from Sabyn isn’t bad. So want r32;to try to tell me without a riddle or a question just what she said?”
“How strong are you?”
He paused. “What did I just say to you, lady?” He leaned forward to face r32;her.
“NO MORE RIDDLES!!!”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m not asking a riddle. I need r32;to know.”
“I’m strong enough to put up with this train of thought, strong enough r32;to carry you upstairs last night and strong enough to adore you. Now r32;kindly answer me?”
She butterfly kissed his nose. “Did I ever tell you just how much I love r32;your nose?”
“MARLENA EVANS BLACK!”
She pulled away. “Okay fine, ruin my fun.”
She squinted at him. “Sabyn told me that she saw two babies.”
He flew off the couch and looked at her as if she was the light socket r32;and he was the fork. “WHAT?”
“Two, you know the number after one.” She began to laugh. “John, she r32;said we’re having two babies.”
“Twins.”
She nodded. “Yes, that’s what two babies in a womb are called.”
He shook his head. “Yes, yes. But we’re having TWINS?”
She got up and went to the fireplace. “Do I really have to slap your r32;needle to get you up to speed?” She looked around the room. “John, I r32;thought you’d be happy and you’re just a broken record.”
“You know I was a twin, I’m the mother of twins and there was a r32;possibility that we’d have twins of our own.”
She looked tearful. “Aren’t you happy?”
Before he could answer, Brian’s head came around the front door.
“Is it safe?”
Marlena’s eyes took a distinctive cool air. “No, but come in anyways.”
“Honey, I’m …”
She held up her hands. “Save it. I told you happy news, YOU took it like r32;a dork.”
After sending Brian off with apologies, John came outside and found Marlena sitting on the swing watching the twins getting introduced and acquainted with the dog.
“Can I apologize?”
She looked at him. “I don’t know. Open your mouth and give it a try.”
He looked at his hands. “It’s not that I’m not happy cause honey I am ecstatic.”
He reached out a hand to lay against her stomach.
“We’ve created two little pieces of immortality here lady. I’m overwhelmed and kind of feeling like a little boy at Christmas.”
She turned to look at him. “I almost lost you and Colby.”
He paused. “I mean when we thought it was ONLY Colby. Now, I have you and him and now another little soul to call MINE.”
She was quiet and he raised an eyebrow. “Say something Marlena.”
“There are times like now that I’m spellbound by you.”
He smiled and brought her head to rest on his shoulder. “I love you Doc.”
“John?”
He kissed the top of her head. “What?”
“We need to think of a name for your daughter.”
He shifted. “A daughter?”
She nodded. “Yes, you’re getting to have your son and daughter.”
He grinned. “Well, I think for her we’ll wait to be introduced.”
She smiled at his joy in the situation. “Sounds like a plan.”
He wrapped his arms around her and watched Eric and Sami with the puppy.
“I’m going to be a father to a daughter, who looks just like her Mommy with a smile that lightens my heart, a laugh that makes me feel air light. She’ll have blonde hair that was kissed by the sun and hazel eyes that glow like.”
“Blue eyes.”
He blinked. “Who’s dream am I talking here, mine or yours?”
She lifted her head. “Oh it’s YOUR dream but I want our daughter to have your blue eyes.”
He grinned and kissed her quick. “Ok, your hair and MY eyes.”
She snuggled closer. “Works for Me.” r32;
“C’mon, tell me where you’re taking me Doc!”
She giggled from behind him. “Is that a WHINE I hear from you Black?”
He tried to turn, but she smacked his hands back.
“Well that first question wasn’t.”
He rubbed his hands. “But this is. Doc that hurt!”
She began to laugh. “My hero is a wimp!”
He spun around and hugged her. “I love you Doc.”
She pushed him away, a playfully stern look in her eyes. “I’m still not telling you where I’m taking you.”
He rolled his eyes. “I hate surprises.”
She grinned as she threw his keys to him. “Get in the car hot shot.”
Shawn grinned at Bo. “Don’t you dare laugh Pop.”
He bit the inside of his cheek. “Well, that is rather kind of a pretty shade on your eyes lad.”
Bo grimaced. “Well Hope said she’d be here to watch Sami but she’s running late.”
“And so you’re.”
Bo closed his eyes. “Yes I’m the tackling dummy.”
“No, that’s for Eric. For your niece, you’re her make up dummy.”
Bo gritted his teeth. “Please Fancy Face, let our baby be a boy!”
He opened his eyes. “I can handle boys.”
“Who says I want a boy?’
He shook his head. “Cause no self respecting son of Bo Brady would do this!”
Turning around, Bo made Hope burst out laughing.
“This is not MY idea of a good time.”
Marlena leaned over and smiled. “Well it IS mine.”
He grimaced. “Doc, I said I was sorry about reacting about the twins.”
She shrugged. “Well I accepted the apology honey.”
He turned around. “Well then what in the blue hell do you call this?”
She squinted at him. “My warped sense of humor?”
She climbed out of the chair and came to him.
“I seem to recall the man I married promising to share good times and bad, sickness and in health.”
John held up his hands. “I did do all that.” He grimaced as he looked down.
“But I did NOT, anywhere in the marriage vows promise this.”
She playfully made a fist.
“If I have to carry two little butterballs inside me, then by them as my witness, YOU are going to endure this for r32;the afternoon.”
She poked him in the sympathy belly. “Suck it up Soldier Black.”
Hope handed Bo another cleansing cloth. “So want to try explaining it to me?”
“Ma and Pop have Eric and Sami for the afternoon.” She nodded. “And?”
“Eric’s sleeping, has a bit of a cold and so it was Sami and as she was kind of by her lonesome, I thought that I’d entertain her a little.”
She squinted. “Judging by her heavy hand, I’d say you did a LOT.”
He examined himself in the mirror. “She’s got a fine career in making up the girls on the corner.”
He ducked his wife’s hand. “Hope I’m kidding!”
“You have such a cute waddle.”
He glared at her. “Oh please. How much longer?”
She pulled out her arm. “I dunno, my watch broke.”
At his glare, she shrugged. “Don’t blame me. YOU bought me this watch.”
He slumped into the chair. “I want to go home.” He caught her hands.
“This isn’t funny anymore honey.”
She raised an eyebrow and began to laugh. “Honey, I can’t just take this belly off you know. I still have a few more to go. So you can make it for another.”
His moan cut her off. “Ah no way.”
“Oh isn’t this precious. Nice gut you have there big and do I mean BIG brother.”
Marlena grinned and Bo laughed for a few moments, enjoying John’s discomfort until Hope interrupted. “Does Mary Kay ring any bells honey?”
It was John’s turn to laugh.
“So what did you do to make her mad John?”
He propped up his face in both hands. “Hell if I know. SHE said it was going to be a fun outing. Didn’t tell me it wouldn’t be ME having any fun.”
Mike appeared. “Are you ready to take off the belly John?”
“Does the term like right NOW mean anything?”
Marlena grinned. “So much for the hands on modern father to be route.”
Mike smiled. “John come with me and Hope, Sabyn said she’ll be ready to see you two in five minutes.”
Marlena grinned. “I’ll wait right here honey. Don’t worry, where they take the belly off isn’t going to hurt … MUCH.”
As they watched him leave, Marlena turned to Bo. “What’s this about you and Mary Kay?”
“So are you ready for part 2?”
He watched her from the corner of one eye. “I don’t know. What are you planning to slap on me now?”
She leaned over. “Just a kiss for being a good sport.”
“No.”
He grinned. “Why not?”
She gestured to herself. “Look at how big I am.”
He stepped forward. “That’s not what I see.”
She moved around the bed. “I’m as big as a whale and there’s NO way that we’re going that route buddy boy.”
He moved quicker than she planned. “You made me look like a goof and now it’s my turn.”
“Can’t make me look any goofier than I am now dear.”
He caught her and the motion knocked them both to the bed.
His hands began to roam under her sweater. “You love, are not goofy.”
She felt on fire as his hands removed the layers of clothing and his lips moved over skin that felt too tight.
His lips rested for a moment on her stomach and as he gently blew a pathway back to her breasts, she could hear him softly murmuring.
“What are you saying?”
His hands entwined with hers. “I’m saying that I can’t believe how beautiful you are. Everything about you is glowing and I find you so …”
She raised an eyebrow. “Careful buddy.”
He grinned and lifted himself so their faces were inches apart. “I can’t find the word to describe how perfect you are.”
She smiled. “Have I told you just how much I love this.”
“What?”
“The skin on skin feeling of you on top of me.”
Listening to Marlena explaining to him, John pressed close against her, molding his body to hers, his stomach flat against her.
“Well if you like this so much, we will never again buy pajamas.” He grinned as she began to laugh.
“Doc, I mean it. Flannel has nothing on just how incredible the softness of your skin is.
His hand traveled up her side and moved to cover her left breast.
“I love the feel of your breasts, the mixture of firm and soft now that they’ve gotten bigger.”
He rubbed his thumb over her nipple, enjoying watching it come to attention before his mouth covers her right breast.
“Oh John,” Marlena groaned turning towards him.
His tongue swirled around her nipple, tasting her slightly salty skin.
Taking a gentle bite and John was rewarded with a loud groan and her arm tightening around him, keeping him firmly in place, NOT that he had any single intention of going anywhere as it was.
John grinned as he watched Marlena’s reactions to his tongue roaming over her skin.
His ministrations were rewarded with a loud groan as he nibbles here and there before her arm reaches for and her fingers tighten into his hair, keeping him exactly where he was.
John felt her shuddering and softly began to murmur words of encouragement.
Straightening up, John began to slowly extend out on top of her, beginning to suck on first one breast and then the other as he shifted slightly to carefully settle into her.
“I want you.”
“Baby, we don’t need words for you to tell me that.”
John grinned, knowing by how wet she was just how turned on she was.
She grinned and pulled his lips to hers, her tongue probing deep inside his own.
John inhaled his wife, tasting the mints that she had been eating earlier and smelling the light herbal shampoo that she had showered with that morning and he almost began to laugh at the thought of his being able to find her in a crowd by the smell of this shampoo.
The kisses seemed to have an intensity that grew with each one, a current that surged through them both as John rolled over so that she was now on top of him.
His hands slid down her back to come to rest against her bottom as he tried to pull her completely into him.
As she stretched out and watched as their hands intertwined, she whispered into his ear. “Do you have any idea just how safe I feel when we’re alone like this?”
He writhed underneath her as she stretched out, her hands coming to rest against his calves, his groan telling her just how much he loved that position.
She leaned forward, her breath tickling his ear. “You like that don’t you?”
He let out a groan and his hands began to get a life of their own as they moved for her nipples, rolling them and earning her a smile as she gasped.
“Don’t play games, you know I do.”
Her fingers roamed over the stubble on his jaw. “Honey, if I asked a favor, would you do it?”
His eyes drifted open. “Depends.”
She raised an eyebrow. “On what?”
“If you promise not to stop moving that way.”
She leaned over and lightly trailed her tongue along his ear. “I promise.”
“Okay so what’s the favor?”
She rubbed her breasts along the stubble, loving the electricity. “Keep the beard.”
“Honey, you were tired.”
She glared at him, reminding him of Samantha. “I don’t care. I’ve never fell asleep during sex.”
John laid the tray on the dresser table and came to hug her. “Honey, it’s ok.”
He reached out and dried her eyes with his thumb. “Stop laughing at me.”
He shook his head. “I’m not. Honey, you’re almost 8 months pregnant and it would have to happen sometime. Lord knows how much you’ve tired ME out with all the …”
He blushed. “ACTIVITIES that you’ve come up with for our bedtime hours.”
That earned a soft smile that burst into a full-blown Marlena grin when he continued.
“Honey, you totally broke the mold on sexy pregnant women.”
The phone woke up Marlena, who had John leaning on her shoulder.
She remembered falling asleep with the tray of snacks between them.
“Hello?” She adjusted the phone with one hand while shoving the snoring away from her.
“Marlena, it’s Bo.”
She was instantly on alert. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Hope. We were at home finishing the packing for our move to the lighthouse when she just collapsed.”
“Where are you two?”
“University. I phoned Mom and Pop but I need you and John to come too.”
She began to shove at John. “We’re on our way, hang on.”
John got out of the elevator first, followed by a worried Marlena.
“Pop?”
Shawn turned from watching a stony faced Bo and came to them.
“Oh am I glad you’re both here.”
Marlena watched father and son embrace and looked past them to Bo.
Slipping past her husband and father in law, Marlena went to him.
“Let her do this lad.”
John nodded wordlessly and went with Shawn.
She laid her hand on his shoulder. “Hey you.”
He stopped playing with what he had in his hands. “Hey Marlena.”
Sitting down beside him, she tilted his head. “Any word?”
He shook his head. “No, she’s still in surgery.”
“What exactly happened?”
Taking a deep breath, Bo began to explain and it was obvious each memory from the past few hours was killing him.
“She was sitting there and had been saying that she was sleepy. I joked with her saying that she was just trying to get out of the packing and I was taking no excuses.”
She looked down and saw that what he had been playing with was a delicate gold chain, upon which were three familiar things, Hope’s wedding rings and her tiny gold cross.
“Has anyone been to talk to you?”
He chuckled grimly. “Just the nurse who told us all to sit here.”
Marlena bit her lip. “Bo, she’s a fighter and she’s going to come through this.”
Bo exploded. “They wouldn’t let me be with her Marlena. Dr. Bader said that she was fine, the baby was fine and they were perfect. What the hell is going on?”
Marlena shook her head, catching John’s eyes. “I don’t know.”
He turned stormy eyes to his sister in law. “Could you find out?”
Marlena nodded. “That I can do.”
Caroline lifted her eyes to the statue. “I don’t claim to be a wise woman, all I know is tied into the little world that is my family, friends and life. But this I can’t understand. Please watch over Hope and my grandchild.”
Kim and Kayla came flying in, hugging first Shawn, John and then Bo.
“Do we know anything yet?”
The other two shook their heads, but Bo spoke. “Marlena’s gone to find out for us.”
Her hands went to her mouth as the tears filled her eyes.
“That can’t be right.” She looked from first Michael’s eyes to Craig’s, both confirming what the specialist told her.
“Right now in layman’s terms, you’re telling me that the only reason that they’re in the operating room is to save the baby?”
She shook her head. “Did any of you think to tell her worried husband?”
Mike shook his head. “Marlena.”
She saw Kim coming towards them. “Marlena nothing.”
Walking away quickly, she heard Kim’s worried voice calling for John.
“Doc?”
She stared upwards and refused to turn around.
“Do you ever wonder as to how fate decides things?”
John stepped further out into the inky blackness. “No, I can’t really say as I have.”
Marlena shrugged. “I have and it surprises me that someone, some THING unseen can suddenly with the prick of a finger say Okay you’re it you die and nothing can be done or changed to prevent a thing about it.”
He reached for her and froze as she turned around to face him.
The life seemed to have been drained from her eyes and it made him want to cry.
“I spoke to the doctors John.”
He nodded. “Kim told me. But honey, why didn’t you come back to us?”
She began to shake, unable to speak. “Doc?”
Wrapping her in his arms, John pressed his lips to her cheek just as Kayla appeared.
“John, the doctor wants to see all of us.”
They arrived just shortly after the doctor.
“How’s my wife, how’s fancy face?”
Marlena laid her head on John’s shoulder, ready to hide her eyes.
“Mr. Brady.”
He shook his head. “Sabyn, you’ve been Hope’s doctor all the way through this, why are you being so formal?”
She cleared her throat as she looked for Mike and Craig.
“Bo, I’m so sorry to have to be the one to tell you this.”
The gasps from Caroline and the girls made Marlena begin to cry.
“Hope suffered from a subdermal aneurysm.”
Caroline looked at the young woman, noticing Marlena’s eyes.
“Did she suffer?”
Craig spoke. “No, no she didn’t. Bo said that she was saying that she had been tired and simply fell asleep. There had to have been no pain if any.”
Marlena lifted her eyes and looked at Bo while asking. “Is she?”
“She’s in recovery. Bo, we’ll have to discuss some issues.”
He shook his head. “Issues?”
“Technically, Hope is dead. We’ve run tests from the moment of arrival here in hospital that have indicated that she’s brain dead.”
“Nnnoo.”
He nodded. “Bo, I’ve had several of the specialists on staff look over this and their in agreement. Your Hope died the moment she closed her eyes this afternoon.”
Shawn laid his hand on his son’s shoulder. “What about the babe?”
Craig looked to Hope’s cousin for that.
His voice was equally crackling with emotion. “Bo, you have a son.”
Bo began to cry. “But I want my Hope back.”
“You knew didn’t you?”
Marlena turned around from the nursery window. “I did.”
“But you never told.” She shook her head. “I’m not on Hope’s case and so wasn’t allowed to until Mike, Craig and Sabyn came to tell Bo.”
John shook his head. “I can’t believe she’s gone.”
Marlena turned back to the window. “He’s never going to know her John.”
John came to the window to see his nephew.
“He will Doc, we’ll make sure of that.”
Marlena laid her hand on her stomach. “Not in the important ways. He wont know what it’s like to be held in her arms and cuddled.”
John understood and drew her to him. “Honey, it won’t be his mother but it WILL be his Aunts, Uncles and his Horton and Brady grandparents. We’ll make up for what he lost tonight.”
“But it isn’t enough.”
John nodded. “I know, but right now there is someone who needs us a little more.”
She nodded. “Let’s go see Bo.”
Marlena stood quietly watching the young man storm around her.
“Bo, you have to do this.”
He spun around. “I do NOT.”
She closed her eyes, reminding herself when in pain, people strike out.
“I know how much you miss her, we all do but that’s NO reason to be going and hating an innocent child. That’s not fair.”
“No Marlena, not fair is that child’s mother dying!”
She crossed her arms over her own bulge. “Bo, I know that your hurting but there’s no need to scream at me. I didn’t do anything to you.”
He sank into the couch. “Marlena, I know that you mean well and I love you but I will NOT go to that hospital and see that child. I can’t do it.”
She came to sit beside him only to have him freeze at her touch.
“Bo, maybe it would be better if John came to talk to you about this.”
He shook his head. “It would be better if you left, because to be really honest when I see you looking like that.”
He gestured to her stomach.
“All I see is my fancy face and how happy she had been at the check up.”
She stood up. “Fair enough. But you’re going to have to give permission for one of us to pick up the baby Bo. He can’t stay in the nursery forever.”
He looked absolutely drained. “As far as I’m concerned, he can.”
John looked up as Marlena came downstairs to the family.
“Doc?”
She shook her head with eyes welling with tears. “How can he not see?”
Worried, he got up and came to her. “Honey?”
She bit her lip. “He doesn’t want that child, doesn’t want to see me. John he said that as far as he’s concerned, that poor baby could stay forever in the hospital. He blames that baby for Hope.”
John’s brow furrowed. “He can’t be serious.”
Bo’s words were like ice. “Oh I can because it’s true. If she wasn’t pregnant, there wouldn’t have been a strain on her body, she wouldn’t have had the aneurysm.”
“Bo, that’s not what the doctor said.” Marlena was cut off by his stare.
Shawn looked at his youngest son. “Lad, there’s no need for that tone. We know that you’re hurting here. But realize that we’re.”
Bo turned his attention to his father. “We’re what Pop, we’re here for you and we know what you’re going through?” He laughed. “No, no you don’t.”
“Wrong I DO know.”
He looked to Marlena. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “No, your not mister hothead. You want all of us to hurt just as bad as you do right now. When all you want is to curl up and die, to make that raw pain overwhelm you so completely that it obliterates everything around you, drowns out the world and that in the end that your heart stops.”
“Marlena, please.”
She glared at him. “I was trying to be nice upstairs because I didn’t want you to be any more hurt or upset.”
She shrugged. “You know what, fuck that because as usual when you hurt, you drag us all down with r32;you.”
She stormed out and Bo quietly looked at his brother. “You better get her.”
John nodded. “In that state, we could be in trouble.”
He tilted his head. “Nice going little brother. I’ve never seen her get that upset that she’d actually cuss.”
He had a suspicion that he would find her with the baby and sure enough, he was right.
“Doc?”
She shook her head. “It’s normally against hospital policy, but Mike intervened for us. We can bring the little guy home and Bo can dowhatever the hell he wants.”
He knelt beside the rocking chair. “Honey?”
She looked at him. “John, I have to do this for Hope.”
He looked at his nephew. “Okay, just for a few days.”
She was about to protest when he laid his finger against her lips.
“You’re due to give birth to OUR twins soon, I won’t have you running ragged for this little guy when our two are going to need you. Capisce?”
She nodded and looked at the baby. “Loud and clear Captain.”
The morning of the funeral found Salem in the middle of the worst rainstorm in years.
Marlena was up early, getting not just the twins but the new baby ready to go. John woke up a little while later.
Shawn and Caroline were getting the pub ready for the reception afterwards. Kim went to the airport to pick up Doug, Julie and Hope’s Uncle Steven Olson.
Kayla was at the funeral home, making the last few arrangements while Bo slept in the middle of their photo albums, the television droning on a test pattern from Bo falling asleep during his watching their home movies.
“Doc, I’m really not liking this idea.”
She turned around from overseeing the twins eating their breakfast. “Why?”
He came around the island to wrap his arms around her. “Because for one, your very pregnant and two I don’t want you to catch a cold out there in the rain.”
She smiled. “Its okay for YOU to catch a cold but not me?”
He nodded. “Yeah, do you have a problem with that?” She smiled. “I’m not four, I am a big girl.”
“I know that lady, but I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
She smiled. “It’s not going to. One scare in this pregnancy was enough for this girl.”
She turned to face him. “I am going to the service. The twins and the baby are going to be at the Pub with our new Nanny, who I convinced to start for us today.”
He smiled. “You did?” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “What’s her name?”
Marlena smiled. “Her name is Chelsea and John, she’s wonderful.”
He gently kissed her. “No, that would be you.”
At that cue, the baby began to cry. “Oh your definitely your dad’s little boy cause nobody has that timing down pat.”
Marlena went to scoop up the baby. “Don’t listen to Uncle John honey, he’s just cranky.”
Bo woke up with a jolt and a crash as his beer bottle hit the floor.
Looking down, he saw the pictures and realized he had been dreaming again.
Hope was dead and that child….
“Our child Bo.”
He spun around to find her staring at him, a frown marring her delicate prettiness.
“How could you turn your back on our baby honey?”
He blinked twice, each time hoping he wasn’t hallucinating. “Hope?”
She nodded. “Yes it’s me and it’s time that we had a little talk.”
John sat on a chair at the pub staring at the baby.
“What’s wrong?”
John squinted. “I don’t know, but he’s not like Bo.”
Caroline smiled. “I think that’s cause personality wise, I think that he takes after Hope.”
“Which is a good thing because I don’t think the world is ready for two Bo’s.”
Everyone turned around to find a clean shaven Bo.
“What happened to you lad?”
Bo smiled. “I had a little talk with an angel.”
“So you’re really here to pick him up?”
Bo blinked. “Uh no, see it’s like this. I’m here to have an affair with my sister in law and unfortunately you’re here so how do you feel about watching?”
“Ew that’s just sick.” John rolled his eyes.
“To think you’d take advantage of a poor woman who can’t even see her ankles.”
Marlena came downstairs. “Why not, you did last night.”
She smiled. “Hey Bo.”
He grinned as John kissed her. “Hi beautiful.”
“As for your snotty comment lady, I’ll have you know that I didn’t hear a complaint out of you at the time.”
“That’s cause you were too busy enjoying it.”
Bo made a face. “Oh that’s too much information, I hope your not corrupting my boy with that trash talk.”
Marlena grinned. “No, we stuffed his ears with tiny cotton balls.”
He smiled. “That’s good.” He hugged her. “How much longer?”
She looked at her belly. “Hopefully soon, I can’t handle John anymore.”
Bo nodded. “I heard from Ma.”
“She’s pregnant and it’s my first and I can’t help being worried.”
Marlena leaned forward to Bo. “Anal.”
Bo grinned. “Got that right. It’s against the law for a Brady to be that bent out of shape.”
Marlena nodded. “Totally, it’s just absolutely wrong.”
She turned to go upstairs. “I just hope you teach the young master upstairs that its best to be laid back.” She doubled over.
“Doc?” The men rushed to her.
She shook her head, waving them away. “Cramp.”
The men exchanged glances. “You sure?”
John turned to go into the library. “I’m getting the book.”
She gritted her teeth. “Get that book and I’ll divorce your sorry ass.”
Bo’s eyes widened. “What book?”
“What to do when you’re expecting.” She straightened up. “He bought it after I had that accident.”
She smiled. “See I’m fine.” She began to go upstairs.
“So did you finally come up with a name for the little bit?”
Bo nodded as Marlena came back with his son. “We’d decided on Shawn Douglas for Pop and Hope’s dad.”
Bo suddenly paused. “Little bit?”
Marlena rolled her eyes. “Eric named him.”
John began to explain how Eric met the baby when he was eating a donut in the kitchen at the Pub.
“They had some regular and some of those small donut ball things and Eric smiled as he heard us saying that we had to call him something and so he said and I quote my boy. “He’s not a full donut like this see Daddy. He’s a little bit.”
“This proves it, our family is insane.”
Marlena went back upstairs for the last of the baby’s things with a snort of laughter.
“You needed PROOF?”
She returned a few moments later. “So you two coming to the fundraiser?”
John’s eyebrow shot up. “You’re going?”
Bo looked at his son. “You seemed surprised.”
“Well yeah, aren’t you the one who said tuxedos were overrated straight jackets for the social elite?”
Bo shook his head. “No, that was you. This charity was Hope’s dream and I intend to come.”
Marlena bussed the baby and Bo. “I’m glad.” She turned again and gritted her teeth. “I’m going to go start getting ready, so we’ll see you there.”
John turned to Bo. “Do you need a ride?”
As the Brady boys talked, Marlena stood at the top of the stairs out of eye sight of the men and bit her lip. “Please not now, don’t do this babies.”
“I am really proud of kid brother.” John did up his cuff. “He’s handling this well.”
Marlena quickly turned on the tap to cover over the sound of her whimper, as she reached for her dress watch and began to count.
“Did you say something honey?”
She straightened up and was apparently examining her reflection when he came around the corner into the bathroom.
“I said I think so too.”
He came to stand behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders. “You look lovely honey.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
John looked her over. Dressed in a beaded evening gown with tiny straps, her hair pinned up and diamonds in her ears and at her throat, his wife certainly looked a million bucks.
“Oh would you look at the time, we better go.”
He caught her arm. “Not so fast.”
Fear hit her. “Please don’t have guessed.” She nodded. “What?”
“I just wanted to say I love you and if you feel too tired, let me know and we’ll come home okay?”
She patted his cheek. “You bet and I love you too.”
She leaned into kiss him. “Now lets go hot shot.”
“Honey, the idea of the express lane is to be fast.”
He opened the door to Tuscany. “But your pregnant.”
“And that means what you drive like a turtle on it’s last legs?”
He turned her to face him, laying his hand on her stomach.
“I don’t want anything to happen to the three of you.”
She covered his hand. “We’re 8 and a half months along. Too late for anything to happen and so stop fussing please?” She adjusted her wrap. “Your worse than Janae.”
John grinned. “I can’t be worse than Janae.”
Marlena smiled. “Listened to the answering machine lately?”
Michelle appeared. “That’s cause we want to make sure that our momma to be is happy and healthy and on schedule!”
She hugged her friends. “And also cause Janae can’t wait to be a godmommy.”
“Yeah I can’t.” Janae appeared on cue, dressed in a deep purple silk strapless evening gown.
“Where’s your date?”
She waved her hand. “Creep wouldn’t get out of the tub. Told him if he preferred his rubber duck over me, the relationship is over.”
“Frees her up for babysitting duty.”
Marlena bit her lip. “Exchanging one big baby for two little babies huh J?”
Michelle’s eyes twinkled as she spoke. “J believes in going big or staying home.”
With their laughter ringing, the foursome went into the restaurant.
“Hey Michelle Ma Belle.”
She turned. “Don’t let the wife hear that, she’ll hurt you.”
He joined her at the bar. “Have you seen Marlena lately?”
“Hey Ricky, where’s the wife?”
John turned to see Janae coming towards him. “Well Fred, I was asking Ethel here if she’d seen Lucy because I hadn’t.”
Marlena had joked once that when she finally did go into labor, it would look like a scene from I Love Lucy due to the combination of John and Janae worrying over everything. Which got the other three referring to themselves as Ricky, Fred and Ethel to Marlena’s Lucy.
Maggie appeared. “Oh John thank goodness.”
They stood up. “What?”
Maggie grinned. “Relax, she’s just asked me to tell you that she’s up next for her speech. She thought you’d be worried.” She winked. “Glad to see your not.”
The trio looked at one another. “Nah, we aint worried.”
Maggie nodded. “Yeah right. Anyways go sit down.”
Marlena stood up at the podium and began to give her speech.
John leaned over to Michelle. “Does she look alright to you?”
Michelle was about to speak when Janae leaned over earning from Michelle a sharp. “Yes we noticed it.”
Janae held up her hands. “Don’t bite my head off, Bo wants the salt.”
Marlena was halfway through her speech when another hit.
Clenching her left hand into a fist, she continued.
“The reason that we’re here is to ensure that the memory of my sister in law and our good frie.” She paused and began to mentally count in mississippis.
“Our good friend Hope is never forgotten as we build this children’s wing in her honor.”
Michelle nearly choked at the looks on John and Janae’s faces.
“She NEVER stutters on a speech.”
John glanced to Janae. “She was having cramps earlier.”
Michelle peered closer to Marlena. “John, her hands.”
“SO..” She winced at her high pitched voice and cleared her throat. “So please give generously to ensure the wonderful legacy of Hope Williams Brady. Thank you.”
John saw the fists. “There’s something wrong there.”
As the guests applauded, Marlena smiled and stepped away from the stage.
The trio watched her leave with Maggie to talk to the bigwigs.
“Have you seen my wife?”
Janae and Michelle shook their heads. “Didn’t we already have this conversation?”
John scratched his head. “I don’t like this. She only makes fists when she’s scared.”
Michelle nodded. “She wasn’t scared about this speech, she practiced it on J and I over and over and over.” She stopped and looked around the room. “I wonder where she is.”
Marlena sat in the ladies room, her head on her arms as she counted softly to herself.
Peeking up at the clock, she straightened up. “Why can’t I ever go to term?”
John rounded up a search party for his wayward wife.
“Guys I’ve got the keys so she can’t go far.” They nodded and each went looking for the very pregnant lady.
Maggie came into the bathroom and found Marlena softly weeping on the chair.
“Hey what’s wrong?”
Marlena looked at her. “I can’t get up.”
Maggie knelt in front of her. “Why not?”
Marlena bit her lip. “Because I’m in labor and my water broke and I don’t think we can get to the hospital in time for this.”
Maggie nodded. “Can you stand up?”
Marlena shook her head. “No, that’s why I’ve been here for the past 20 minutes. My contractions are around 6 minutes apart.”
Maggie’s eyes widened. “Okay, we’re going to get you out of here.” She helped her up. “Lean on me okay and we’ll get you to John.”
Marlena began to smile when another contraction hit, sending her into tears.
Maggie looked for the chair. “Okay, so tell you what. You stay here and I’LL go get John.”
Marlena whimpered. “Okay by me.”
John was beginning to worry when he saw the red flash coming for him.
“Call off the dogs, I found her.”
John blinked. “Where?”
Maggie began to tug on his arm. “No time to explain, just come.”
“Sami and Eric were in the hospital, why couldn’t you two just wait and let me have you there?”
She caressed her tummy and was rewarded by another kick.
“I get it, this is payback for all those baby genius tapes I made you listen to is that it?”
She was about to stand up when the bathroom door flew open and in came Maggie and John.
“Doc, oh honey why didn’t you tell me you were in labor?”
She wrapped her arms around him. “Because this was so **OW**.”
“Because it was important and I knew you needed to be here.”
Crumpling against him, John scooped her up. “We’re out of here.”
“How we doing back there.”
Marlena’s voice sang out loud and clear. “How’s a vasectomy sound dear?”
John turned the corner and Michelle started to tell him about speeding.
“What’s with that type of talk?”
Janae tried to support Marlena’s head. “Because when I’m done with this, your having the next and when we THINK of where you’d give birth, you’ll want one!”
She sat up. “I can’t DO this anymore!” She burst into tears.
Bo stood watching the family as they all trickled in waiting for word.
Bowing his head, he quietly asked for a little divine intervention for her and the twins.
“Stick that in front of my face just ONCE more.”
Michelle chuckled. “Told you John, she didn’t want ice chips.”
Janae grinned. “I know what she needs and its name is Epidural.”
Marlena swatted at her. “No it’s called Sledge Hammer!”
She tried to lay back down. “Knock me out and call me when it’s over.”
John looked at the only other two who she wanted with her in the labor room.
She sat up. “Do you know what the one good thing about my keeping shut about this is?”
The three shook their heads. “What?”
“No freaking video cameras.”
The nurses fought back laughs as the trio started with their “I thought you had one.”
Suddenly the laughter stopped when the doctor appeared and asked for them to leave.
John stood by the door. “There has to be something wrong. I mean we told them that as the father I was to be in there.”
Michelle laid her hand on his shoulder. “They probably didn’t want you in while they examined her. I mean it does get kind of squeamish.”
John nodded. “Besides it’s probably like the saying goes. It aint a party until a baby or two pops out.”
“Okay are we ready to welcome these two into the world?”
John nodded and Marlena turned her head. “We can’t!”
He blinked and supported her. “Why not?”
She began to push. “We don’t have her name.”
He smiled. “Your right.”
She fought so hard and they were given their first glimpse of the boy who stole his Mother’s heart from their first meeting.
“He’s okay?”
John smiled at the doctor’s simple “Yes.” And practically floated over when he was asked to cut the cord.
“Hi Colby.”
The doctor turned around and began to help the second twin.
“Hey Doc, how does Alexandra Nicole sound?”
“Huh?”
He came back to help her. “For Lexie and Nick?”
She smiled as she heard their daughter let out a screech. “That’s perfect.”
Colby was not happy and was letting everyone know this.
“He’s searching for something.” The nurse smiled and gathered him up.
“For the ride upstairs young man, I think it’s okay.”
Laying him beside a sleeping Alexandra, Colby’s cries soon stopped.
“Welcome to the world little ones.”
“So are you still miffed about the old man and the rubber ducky?”
John glanced to his friend, who was smiling nearly as brightly as he was.
“Oh hell no, he can keep his rubber duck, I helped welcome to the world two wonderful little people.”
Michelle smiled from the other side of John. “Pretty amazing huh?”
Janae nodded. “It rocked.”
“Come on Doc!”
Marlena came in putting her earring on, a look of mock exasperation on her face.
“Excuse me Mister I’ll just get my suit on while I let my wife dress four small children and get herself ready for an important family event.”
He pulled her to him and grinned. “Okay a thousand pardons my lady fair. Would it help if I tell you just how gorgeous you are and that the baby twins are sleeping with the older twins watching TV waiting for us?”
She smiled. “Yeah it would. But I think that a kiss from my handsome husband would do me more good.”
As he drew her to him for a hug, she grinned. “It’s hard to believe that almost two years have gone by since I went to Alamainia.”
He watched her adjust his tie with amusement shining in his eyes.
“And I saved you.”
She grinned. “Actually I think it more along the lines of we both saved each other.”
He moved away to get her necklace. “And now.”
She turned so that he could slip it on for her. “And now you have a whole new family, a family who loves and in the case of four particular children, who worship the ground you walk on.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What about you, wife?”
She reached behind her to wrap her arms around his waist as he pressed his lips to her exposed neck and shivered with the contact.
“Me?” She felt him nod. “Well that’s easy.”
He turned her around. “Oh is it?”
She winked. “I simply adore you.”
He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go, their anniversary party is going to start.”
The Brady children had come to the realization after the birth of the twins and Shawn Douglas that the next big family event was going to be the 40th anniversary of Shawn and Caroline.
With a grin, John smiled. “For a monumental occasion like that, we need to throw them a party.”
So with the help of Marlena and his sisters, he organized a party that was code-named “Fairytale” in case of nosy parents or little children who could spill the beans.
Forty years.
Forty years. Five kids.
Forty years. Five kids. Five spouses of kids.
Forty years. Five kids. Five spouses of kids. Nine grandkids.
John stood at the top of the second floor landing and looked at the photographs that Marlena insisted on bringing out of the family.
First photo was of Roman as a baby, John remembered listening to Marlena and the others saying that the slicked back hair wouldn’t have lasted five seconds before the curls would re-emerge.
Another shot was of John, with arms thrown around Shawn and Bo.
Kim had taken it as they all stood in the middle of the Pub’s construction mess, totally covered in dirt and paint.
Marlena had laughingly said upon seeing that photo that the only way she could id them as Brady’s was because it was the teeth and eyes that really their only identifiable features.
He grinned over the memories and softly spoke “God, that was a good day.”
Next came the wedding pictures.
Kimberly was slim in her wedding picture.
Years of being a mom to two totally overactive kids and an ISA Commander have kept her that way.
Their latest family portrait was gorgeous with Andrew and Jeannie spilling all over them in their backyard. John had to admit that it really was a sweet photograph.
Next up he saw an old photo of Hope, when she was in her late teens and dating Bo.
He had only known her for a short time before she had to leave them all too soon.
But for the time he did know her it had felt as if she’d always been there.
Kayla and Steve’s wedding photo always brought a smile to his face.
She smeared as much cake as she possibly could over his face, and Caroline caught the moment on film.
Poor Steve looked so shocked, and Kayla’s head is thrown back in glee, Brady blue eyes sparkling.
A photo a little further down the wall shows the same mirth in her eyes as she holds her Stephanie for the first time.
The girls protested that Caroline wouldn’t approve, but Bo insisted and so the picture of Bo and Hope smoking cigars and looking like a gangster and his moll were displayed.
That was a fun night or so it was said.
It was for Bo’s twenty-fifth birthday and from what John was able to get out of his little brother, they went out to enjoy the seven deadly sins: pride, sloth, gluttony, alcohol, nicotine, dirty dancing and lust.
When John called him on that, Bo shrugged.
“So a few overlapped, we didn’t care. It was a great night.”
There was a great photo of he and Marlena on the porch swing at their new house, snuggling and talking softly.
He didn’t know that it had even been taken.
His eyes roam over the portraits of the four remaining children and their families and the blue eyes catch the final shot, one that Marlena had commissioned for the party.
It was of his own little brood and as he remembered his and Marlena’s conversation at home, he smiled.
John trailed his fingers on the glass of the photo. “We have come a long way.”
As John stood there smiling at it and giving off the aura of a man blessed and happy with his life, he felt slender arms wrap around his waist and a warm, soft body cuddle up behind him.
John laid his hands on top of hers and squeezed them.
“What are you looking at?”
“My family.”
“Good looking crew, too.”
She kissed his shoulder blade before sliding around in front of him.
“You sound surprised Doc.” He chuckled before bending down to kiss the girl.
“You smell good.”
With a twinkle in his eyes that she’s come to know means nothing but trouble, he began to sniff her neck like a puppy does, moving up and around her ear, sniffing it too.
Marlena laughed, struggling against him. “John, stop that tickles!!”
After a few heated moments, he pulls back, loving the look of a thoroughly kissed woman on her face and lips. “Did that tickle?”
Calmly, she reached up and removes a smudge of her lipstick from his lips.
“Nah, I’m used to you by now.”
“Good,”
As he smiled, he pulled back and looked at his wife.
“Wow”
She paused. “What’s that for?”
She grinned. “You saw me in this when we left home John.”
Her dress was so deep green it’s almost black.
John realized that it’s only when the light hit it just right that you can see the color in it.
A long green, cream and burgundy patterned scarf wound its way around her neck and trails down her back.
“I know, but sometimes like now it’s like I’m seeing you for the first time.”
He notices how her hair is beautifully arranged, framing her features softly as he simply shrugs. “You look gorgeous, baby.”
She laid her hand on his cheek. “Keep at it and I just might let you take me home sailor.”
A discreet cough breaks the mood as they turn to hear Bo.
“Um, are you kids ready?”
Watching the elevator, he calls up the stairs. “We’ve just got the signal, they’re here.”
Quickly, John steals another kiss, taking time to enjoy it.
“Okay, Drill Sergeant, we’ll be right down.”
Taking Marlena’s hand in his, he winks as she bursts out laughing.
“Come on, darlin’, let’s go. We have a party to go to.”
John stood quietly watching the family mingling with the assorted guests.
A smile played on his face as he watched his parents, remembering the applause they had received as they walked into the Penthouse Grill.
Shawn was in a tuxedo, his vest a claret red that matched Caroline’s gown perfectly.
His hand on the small of her back as they talked to Alice Horton, Mickey and Maggie.
Turning slightly, he saw Carrie dancing with Austin lost in their own little world.
Kayla and Steve were sitting quietly while Shane was making Kimberly laugh over some small thing.
John searched for the older children and found them in various spots around the room.
He knew that Shawn D plus the littlest twins were fast asleep in a room downstairs with Chelsea.
Marlena appeared and a slow smile came over his face as she grinned.
“No way.”
She nodded. “Yep, you can’t run away from me forever Black. You DO have to dance with your wife.”
Laughing, he took her hand. “Let’s go bright eyes.”
Each of the children and their spouses had in turn gone to make a little speech for a video to be given to Shawn and Caroline.
John had been the last to go, simply because he wasn’t sure yet what to say.
Now he was and he felt as nervous as a first day at school child as he takes his turn in front of the camera
“I’m not even sure where to start. I know that ‘thank you’ isn’t enough. You’ve both given me so much in such a short time. I’m always overwhelmed at your generosity and the love that seems so endless for all of your children.
“Never once have you ever made any of the spouses feel any less important in your lives than your own flesh and blood. For me, you’ve opened up a whole new world, for which I will be eternally grateful. You’ve given me the things I never thought I would have. And Caroline, you opened your home and your heart to me as if you had known me forever.
“I celebrate this day with you, my only regret being that I wasn’t around earlier, for your thirtieth. But, rest assured, I’ll be here for the rest, and I hope that when you are celebrating your seventy-fifth anniversary, we’re all surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
“The only thing left to say is I love you both.”
John walked over to the bandleader to speak to him for a moment.
Marlena watched him slip the leader a hundred dollar tip to be rewarded with one last song.
John looks at his brothers in law and orders them to grab their girls.
As he slips his arm around Marlena, she smiled. “John, forty years from now, when we’re dancing on this same floor, I’ll look around at all our kids and grandkids, and realize that we made decisions tonight that made a difference.”
He grinned. “And here I thought I was merely going to a party.”
She swatted at his chest. “I’m being serious.”
He nodded. “Okay, what’s the decision that you made tonight sweetheart?”
“Its not really a decision, more like a declaration of fact.”
She pauses for a moment, a smile on her face as she hears the opening strains of The Way You Look Tonight before she turns back and continues her train of thought.
“The twins are four months old, the older twins are nearly five.”
He nodded. “Yep.”
The smile faded. “Oh no.”
She grinned. “Yep.”
He shook his head. “You can’t be.”
She nodded. “I CAN be and it’s all your fault.”
He drew her to him and grinned. “You say it like it’s a BAD thing baby.”
She nodded. “It’s not bad at all, cause with the power of love that we share John, anything is possible.”
He smiled a slow smile. “And so our story is just beginning.”
The End
What I had with John was a thunderstorm. It was full of lightening and wind and drama and passion.
The Jarlena Journal 