Storm – By Sadrmajles

The engine hummed through the humid black night, the city of Salem was going through an unusual heat wave. The air had been hot and sticky for the last week, and the conditions were ripe for a major storm. John drove the black Yukon, cutting though the night. As he look to his to his right he could see his beautiful wife sound asleep. He looked forward once more and then checked his review mirror in the back he caught a glimpse of the sleeping baby snuggle up in his blue blanket in his car seat fast asleep, like his mother. Johnathan was a god sent; he was such a quiet baby with a joyful disposition. John and Marlena joked that he was an old soul, so wise and gentle. John felt that his son had gotten that from his mother. His son was not only a peaceful baby but one that was responsible for bringing new meaning to his father‘s life. John thought about how much his life had changed in the last 18 months. In the last year in a half he had lost the love of his life, became addicted to drugs, became engaged to someone who he now loathed, had the love of his life return to him and got the chance to start all over again. In a quiet moment of reflection, he thanked god for bring Marlena back to him and Johnathan into their lives. With the back of his hand he stroked the outline of his wife’s face. She began to stir and with her open she asked in a rhapsody voice if they were home yet. John answer with a simple no and said that they were still a good 45minutes from their intended destination. Marlena looked into the back seat and saw that her little baby boy was still a sleep.

 

“ I’m surprised he’s not hungry” she said in a soft tone as look upon him.

 

“ The little guy like’s his sleep, much like his old man, if his hungry he’ll let us know.” John joked and Marlena smiled. Marlena leaned her head on John’s arm, soon after he moved it and wrapped one arm around Marlena with other on the steering wheel. That night they had drove 2 hours outside the city to a small burger joint they knew of, that had they best burger ever. They had once found it after a day at the beach, when Brady and Belle were both very young. John had gotten lost while driving back home. They stopped over to the to the little place, and ever since then it’s been a ritual of their to drive out of their way to get the juicy steak burgers. It had been long since John and Marlena had anyone else on one of their special burger outings, however Johnathan was a welcome addition. John joked he was welcome just as long as he didn’t steal his dad’s fries. Their car was silent, there was a content feeling in the silence, like life had lead them to the place both John and Marlena were searching for. It was a definite struggle to get them there, but worries and sadness had seemed to have past and now the happy couple were focused on making the most of their of their new chance on a life together and their new baby.

 

Cutting through the unlit darkness John made sure he did not surpass the speed limit, he was carrying precious cargo. With his arm still around his wife, he look down and saw that she had fallen back asleep. The was sudden beam of light, flash. John looked in his review and saw another SUV’s very bright high beams on. The light filled the once darken vehicle. John wasn’t the only one effected by the light Marlena soon woke up.

 

“ John what’s going on?” Marlena said rubbing her eyes, tiring to get them to make adjust to the shift of light.

“I don’t know, this jerk just put on his high beams” John said with great frustration as he started to drive more to the right to allow the other vehicle to pass on the two lane highway. The car just followed John to the right. “ Come on you jerk pass.” It was at that moment when two other unseen black SUV’s turn on their high beams, straight into John’s side mirrors, relieving to John this was not some pushy driver, this was an attack. John’s Yukon was being boxed in, with two large SUV’s on each side and one in the back . John knowing that if he wait anymore longer he would be in even more danger slammed on his brakes. Both his tires and the Jeep’s behind screeched as they came into the hard stop. John pulled up his parking brake and turn the steering wheel to it’s full capacity. Once in the other lane facing the opposite direction, he took his had brake off and pressed his foot heavily on the gas pedal. The SUV quickly picked up speed as it large engine growled from the pressure to perform it was now under. 60..65…. 70 …75…80.. The Yukon was quickly reaching full throttle. John was focused on trying to see the road ahead, as the wind broke on his car making a whooshing sound. Marlena was still quiet, she realized that someone was after them and their baby, if they were to make it out of this situation she would have to let John be in complete focus, and do what he did best and that was protect his wife and his family. It was a tense few seconds but it wasn’t long before the flash of three SUVs’ high beam light up ahead was seen. It was 6 light which meant there were another 3 block them. John looked in his review and the three SUVs from before were now following him close behind. The three in the front didn’t slow down and neither did John they were on a collision course.

 

“ John. John JOHN SLOW DOWN “ Marlena screamed knowing what could happen if he keep going. Johnathan sensing the tension began to cry very loudly in the back, adding to the chaos of what just moments ago was a peaceful and relaxing evening. It was moment later that John’s Yukon was blown with a sudden jolt from the back. Marlena scream. Johnathan cried louder, shrieking. The jolt forced John to control. Threshed, the Yukon swerved with a squeal from the back tires, push on to it’s side the vehicle kept moving, John unable to stop it in time , the jeep went into the ditch. Soon they were boxed in my all six, what now could be seen as, black Hummers. Systematically all the doors of all the vehicles opened and from each came out a man all dressed in black , totalling to around 24 dozen men. They surround the John and his family in their Yukon completely, John went into mercenary mode. They heard a crash, one these men dress in black had breach the rear window. John tried to start the car but it stalled. It was then they saw another flash of light and booming sound, however this was not the working of man , but one that had come from the heavens. Rain, rain began to pour down,.

 

“John, John their trying to get in.” Marlena said knowing that she was starting the obvious. Their baby’s scream were louder, his little face being flush of oxygen. Marlena trying to comfort her son unbuckle her seat beat and crept into the back seat to hold him. Close to her is where they both would feel comfortable. The pounding of the pouring rain could be heard on their roof. There was another set of crashes signalling that the back two windows had been breached. John quickly unbuckle his seat buckle and got into the backseat with his wife and son. He held them close protecting them from any broken glass as the back seat’s windows were broken into. Breathing in deeply, his heart raced . He took in Marlena’s embrace one more time, knowing the this situation was only worsening and that this could be his last time with them. It was just a little while ago when they were nearing home from a relaxing evening and now invaders had made the night turn for the worst. The window newly broken allowed the pouring rain to drizzle into the car. A hand crept inside forcing the door open behind Marlena. . The man dressed in all black grabbed Marlena who was still holding Johnathan, still crying in terror. She screamed as she was roughly pulled out of the Yukon, she clutched their baby and held him close to her, to protect him. John quickly followed and just as he left his car he punched the man in black with a fist that carried all his strength. The blow knock the man down. Lighting struck again as the rain began to pour harder. John’s entire body was wet within moments. Water entered his eyes cause them to blur in the darkness. Five men came and tackled John, John fought them as hard as he could. When he throw one punch and knocked some one down it seemed like two more were there to replace the fallen one. In the background, he could hear the screams of his wife and child, she call his name over and over again. The scream strengthen John and made him fight harder, but all hope was lost when John faintly saw Marlena still holding their young son put into one of the Black Hummers, by one of the men in black. She screamed his name once more, a scream that pierced his heart and made his eyes fill with terror.

“ MARLENA ” He screamed as he tried to run to the vehicle, but he was thrown to the ground as he tried to get close. He fought still on the ground, he was also dealt several more blows. The vehicle she and Johnathan were in speed away back onto the road and into the night. He was not going to give up, he got back on his feet, got the next man he saw into a head lock, twisted until he heard the crack. The man dropped to the ground when John release him from his grip. He attempted to do it again, however just when he was about to hear the snap, someone came behind him and put a clothe that covered his nose and mouth. John, knowing the effects of chloroform, held his breath, as he elbowed the one behind him, the man dropped but now there were rest of the men on top of him holding keeping the chloroform clothe on top of him. John was pretended to have breathed in the chloroform, close his eyes and fell to the ground on his owe standing. He figured they would take him to where they had just take his wife and child. He was dragged across the muddy wet floor he was thrown into the back of one of their vehicles. When in the car he heard a voice “ He is faking it.” The voice said, he felt a needle enter his veins. John became disorientated, the sounds blurred his eyes rolled in his head. John fought for control of his body, he needed to find his wife, he need to protect his baby. He was going to whatever it took to save them, however as much as he tried the drugs won as everything faded to black…

Stefano, I think it would be best if you came in here. Rolf said over the DiMera compounds inter com from the cold dark secret laboratory hidden in the basement that ran deep underneath the surface. Rolf was an as the comic books say an “evil genius,” who had devoted his life to two things. The first was mad science, crazy experiments and projects where he pushed the boundaries of science and pushed and the boundary of the human mind with mind control. He was proud of his life work. He had made countless people completely forget their past, the ones they loved most all for one person., his other passion, Stefano. Stefano was everything he wanted to be, strong, powerful, and mighty.

 

A moment later Stefano walked in. What is it, you stupid fool? Stefano was not the typed you wanted to see angry. A older European man, who was not in to fun and games. He was a man with thick husky built, black hair although he was now into his sixties, and of medium height. It was not just the thick accent or huskiness that made him so feared in the city of Salem it was his twisted sick mind. His cold soulless being, one that knew no love other than the love that he had for himself and his beloved Marlena. What you’re not happy to see your greatest soldier again? a deep voice said as it walked out of the shadows.

 

John. Stefano said surprised, there was something in John’s voice that Stefano had not heard in a long time. That cool coldness. Like a blast of wind in winter, the kind that left a chill in your body. The letal killer, his soldier was back.

 

The one and only, John, at your service, DiMera. John emerged out of the shadow fully. He was a man of statue. A whole six feet and three inches, eyes that matched the blue oceans, hair as a dark as the shadow he had emerged from, strong build and an even stronger killer. A man that Stefano had always believe to have been just like himself had he, John, not fallen in love. Ahhh, John, it’s good to see you again, but I believe I need to speak to Rolf alone for a moment. Stefano said confused by John’s presents.John light a cigerette and looked Stefano in the chillingly in the eye and said There has never been any reason for me to leave the room when you spoke why is it different now? It was true, as Stefano top soldier John had been privy to everything that went on in Stefano’s underground world.

 

“Because this is a matter that does not concern you, leave at once ” Stefano said coming off as his stern self in the face of the shock he was experiencing. And with that John as the soldier he had always been listened to his orders and left at once.

 

“ He is back, John the mercenary is back, Stefano ” Rolf said in an almost cheerful glee. “ I saw it, I saw it, it was in his eyes, their so cold. Our killer is back.”

 

Stefano was never the type of man that joked lightly, he was hot headed, vain and arrogant. And as he used and deceived people he felt a joy beyond words. It was the only happiness that he sought after in life; the pitiful downfalls of other, more over, the downfalls of his enemies. When it came to enemies Stefano Dimera had a long list, but it was John Black that stood alone at the top. Not only had John disobeyed him, but he fell in love with Dr. Marlena Evans, the only woman in the world who could ever bring Stefano happiness. What made it worst was that she had fallen in love with him, and spent much of their lives together trying to bring him down and his evil international organization. So it brought endless joy for Stefano to see John Black yet again in the palm of his hands again. This time was different. That palm would close into a clenched fist and crush John Black for good. And as for his wife and child ? Stefano had something purely evil in store for them.

 

“ Yes, he is back.” Stefano finally coldly replied which even sent chills down Rolf’s spine.

Beep… Beep …. Beep She could hear it, there were machines. Beep … Beep… Beep. She recognized the sound it was a monitor. A monitor, like the ones at the hospital. Beep… Beep… Beep… It was so difficult, she knew where she was, Salem University Hospital, It was the place she worked. It was the place she had given birth to Johnathan, the place where she had meet John for the first time. Johnathan? JOHNATHAN? Instantly worry came over her. Her baby where was he? Johnathan She tried to scream but nothing came out, it was all like a nightmare. The kind where you try to call out for help but nothing comes out when you open your mouth. AHHHHHhhhhh. She tried to scream out with everything she had, maybe a nurse would hear her. Nothing, not even a single sound. She opened the slits of her eyes, it was all white, the lighting blinded her as first. Waking up was so difficult. It was like being under water and drowning, trying to reach up to the surface for air but being held back. She tried to move her hand. A twitch finally. She was waking up. She decided to call out once more, for John, maybe this all was a bad dream. She envisioned her calling out John’s name and him holding their baby, telling her everything was ok.

 

“John” She said, her voice weak at first. “ John, are you there?”

 

There was no reply. It all hit her like a ton of bricks. They were in the car. John was driving, Johnathan was in back, sleeping, they were going home. The trucks, the men, the darkness. She remembered. Johnathan was crying, he was crying so bad, she tried to get to him, She punch and kicked trying to get to him. They held her back as they threw her and Johnathan into one their black cars. She still tried to get to him but they did not let her. It was soon after they entered the car that she felt the needle pierce into her back. Everything went black she felt light, dizzy, but she tried to fight it off. Her baby was crying her, she was not going to left him down. In one last great attempt she tried desperately to get to him. But the drugs were too strong, and too fast. She couldn’t make it. Her muscles just weren’t doing what they were told. He was crying, Marlena thought, my baby needed me and I could not even save him. A flood of tears came to her eyes, as she realized they were lost.

“ So, I finally meet Johnathan Black.” Stefano said as he lifted the small child out of the crib he was sleeping in. “ You are the pride and joy of your parents. A beautiful son, they must have said, handsome like his father, I bet your mother took you everywhere. And your father must of been full of pride as he brought you home from the hospital. John Black and Marlena Evan’s son.” Stefano continued “ I have done everything to keep your parents apart, to ensure you would have never happened. I failed, you are here now, but I am always the man to make the best out of any situation. That is why you, you Johnathan Black, will be the greatest tool to exact my revenge on your parents.” Stefano smiled.. “ Your mother thinks your dead, and your father doesn’t even know you exist.” Stefano continued as he brought the child closer into a cradling position, “You will be my son now, Cyrus Dimera. I will raise you to be a killing machine, just like I did with your father. And when the day comes, you will be the one to kill him.” The newborn was still sound asleep, with an angelic look, a look that was completely lost on Stefano. He would grow knowing nothing of the parents that loved him beyond belief. Denied his roots he would grow up to be a pawn. And when the day came that Stefano felt that Cyrus had become strong enough he would pit him against his father. It was an impossible task, John Black was lethal beyond any means, but Stefano saw it in two ways; Cyrus kills John, John is killed by son that was stolen away from him. Or John kills an adult Cyrus. A son that was ripped from his arms. The second outcome made Stefano almost laugh, I steal John’s son and instead of killing me he’ll kill his own son. Son kills father, father kills son, to Stefano it was a win win situation. And how ever lived would continue on with the pawn life. Maybe they will both die in the battle, even better Stefano thought.

 

It was past noon and John was still sleeping, he had been up late the night before. He lay in his bed and tossed and turned. There was something wrong. Something missing. He knew he had been up late but he didn’t remember much of the night, he didn’t remember much. There had been times when Stefano would erase his memory. Stefano had said it was for the good of the organization if John didn’t remember some things. In the past when Stefano would erase John’s memory he would feel fine; this time it was different, something was wrong. The very fact that John was doubting Stefano scared him. He had always been loyal to Stefano, but these thoughts keep creeping in What does he not me to remember, and why do I want to? Shut up John, he said to himself, loyalty to Stefano is always first, loyalty is the only thing a man has. Loyalty. And with that he went to sleep. He would remain Stefano’s loyal killer.

 

The midday sun came past the window, it was bright, and it seeped through into John sleep, causing him to stir in his slumber. He rolled over to his side grabbed hold of his wife and began to kiss her softly on the neck. He hoped that maybe she was awake too, her perfume was intoxicating, her silky smooth hair brushed against his face. Her skin felt like freshly bloomed rose petals. John’s hands instinctively began to cress her skin, moving up and down her body. He wanted to feel her, he needed to feel her. He felt her waking, and she began to giggle as he touched her more sensitive areas. He loved that laugh, that laugh, it was her, he loved her. “ I love you” John whispered into her ear. And as he did she disappeared.

 

John rose from his sleep looking for her, he throw off the covers. Frantic he scanned the room, where was she? She was a dream, You stupid fool she’s not real, she was a dream, she wasn’t real, his conscience shot back. She doesn’t exist. John let out a loud groan in frustration, “Fuck” he said under his breathe as he got up to go to the bathroom. She may have been a dream but his body thought she was real, and left him in a state of arousal.

 

***

 

It’s wasn’t much long after John showered and changed that he realized he was hungry. It was still only 12:30 and lunch should still be being served in the dinning room. Perhaps Stefano had a new mission for John, it wasn’t like John to sleep late into the afternoon, in fact it wasn’t like John to sleep much. He was not always like this, before his first kill he could sleep just as normal as any person. But it was the haunting scream of that first kill that kept him awake at night. It was not anyone heroic or noble that he killed, was a fellow pawn. John didn’t know much of the details of the other pawn. Nor did he care much. All John knew and needed to know that the time was that he had betrayed the Dimera’s. That was enough for the kill. John still remembered the sweat that dripped from his brow as he stalked his prey. The mission was simple enough. The pawn would not put up much of a fight, no that pawn had fallen. Fallen was stupid, it was a thing that idiots believed in, everywhere people were falling. Pawn’s do not fall. Even the term “ I have fallen in love” it was pitiful it admission defeat.

 

They were there, John could see them, it was past midnight. The street was dark and deserted, but that didn’t matter John was so ready to prove himself to Stefano he would have done it in a stadium full of people; like how the Gladiators did ancient Rome. Killing.

 

They walked he held her hand as she caressed his cheek. As John stalked unnoticed behind them. It wasn’t much long after until John came out of the shadows. He wrapped a cord twice around the pawn’s neck and pulled in the opposite directions with both hands. The pawn didn’t make a sound. “Good pawn, just accept.” John whispered into the pawns ear as his eyes went wide. John understood what he was doing, he was killing, he would wait to feel the life drain out and the body go weak. But it was her John couldn’t understand. How does one fall in love with a pawn? We are brutal killers and yet she loved one of us, John thought John could feel the man’s life seeping out of his body. The Pawn sunk limp his dead body no longer able to support his weight. She screamed out. John knew she wasn’t afraid of him, but afraid by the fact she had lost her Pawn. It hit John like a sack of bricks. She really had loved this man, and now John had his blood on his hands. John let go of the cord and the body dropped to the floor. She scooped him up in her arms and John ran back into the darkness. He ran until he could run no more, until his chest ache and his heartbeat was wild. It was the only time he ever ran after a mission. With every kill after that he grew stronger, more fierce, and darker. But it was at night when her scream would haunt him. Would there be someone who would replace him if he had ever fallen? Never to fall was the key.

 

***

 

John sat at the table in a lost in thoughts of the women of his dream, he hadn’t eaten very much before he was full. He just sat. I know her. She felt so real. Who is she? She’s fake, not real, now shut up, he scorned himself. John got up from the table. It was something to do. He decided to go back to his room, he hoped once there she would reappear.

 

As he made his way back to his room he heard the cries of a child, it wasn’t a child it was an infant. He had hear this cry before. He wanted to go to the infant. The cries of the infant were coming from a room far down the hall. John never was the type to walk around Stefano’s homes. To John all he needed to know were where his room, the bathroom and the kitchen. If Stefano wanted him to know more Stefano would allow him and John respected that. But for some reason he felt as if he should be the one to comfort this crying baby. Against his better judgement he pressed on, down the hallway to the room. It was a nursery. The child’s cries turn to squeals. John could tell by the cry that the baby was fairly young, a newborn. It shocked John, he never cared for a child, why should he care now. There was no one in room, John was instantly pissed off. Why is there not any one here for this kid? Why the hell do I care? Just leave this is not your problem he said to himself internally. But he still went on, he crossed the room and reach the crib. He looked down and saw the infant. A rush came over him, He grabbed the crying baby and brought the child to his chest. The child stopped crying, as John held the now silent baby, he was lost in confusion. He didn’t want to let go. He wanted to keep holding the baby. This was the first time John ever remembered holding a baby, but it didn’t feel like that. In the brief moment he held the young child he instantly thought of the woman of his dream. He saw her beauty reflected in the face of the young child. This is her child, this is her baby. John thought to himself.

It had been two days since Marlena remembered waking; and there was still no word of John or Johnathan. And whenever she asked about them people around her would try to change the subject. Ever since waking for the first time two nights ago Marlena had not slept again. She began to worry the nurses and doctors that were taking care of her. This was not some protest against there best wishes. She could not sleep, how could she when her child and husband were out there? Out There. Out there? Where? Where were they? Who had them ? Are they safe? it was these types of questions that continually ran through Marlena’s mind. The questions that kept her from sleeping.

 

Lexie walk into Marlena’s private room, Lexie could see Marlena was wide awake, but the room was completely dark. She sat up in her bed with a perfectly straight back, staring out the window, to the thunder storm that was going on. Marlena’s body seemed as if it was alert, but it was the lifeless stare in her eyes that signaled to anyone near that she was lost. Lexie was worried about her friend, but there was nothing to be done at the hospital. Nothing could help her. The only cure for Marlena would be to bring her husband and child back. But that was not an option that Lexie had.

 

“Marlena” Lexie spoke as softly as possible, “ Marlena, I have good news. ” Marlena’s head swung around in Lexie’s direction. “ They found John and Johnathan?” Marlena said clearly. Lexie frowned perhaps this was not the good news she really wanted to hear the most. “No,” Lexie continued, “You can go home tonight.”

 

Marlena looked back at the storm that continued. “ Home?” She whispered. “What home?” Marlena bursted into tears with the very thought of having to go home without her husband and child by her side.

 

 

***

 

Not long after did Marlena return home. She turned the key and entered a home that was completely dark. She turned the light switch that was near the entrance. Without thinking, she climbed up the steps to the second floor of the penthouse. And went directly to Johnathan’s nursery. Hoping that he would be fast asleep in his crib. John would be in his office down the hall. Everything would be right. Her family would be intact. But as she travel into Johnathan’s room there was a shocking silence. It was eery; when she got to his nursery she ran her finger’s over the name plate that hung over his door that proudly proclaim “Johnathan.” And slowly pushed the door open. She scanned the dark room before turning the light on. She walked across the room to his crib, the room was cold. She looked upon the empty crib and pick up his blanket. She closed her eyes and smelt the blanket. She could still smell him. She dropped to her knees and cried like never before. She clenched her fists and pounded the ground with all the power she had until her hands were bruised. She screamed and cried until her voice could no longer hold. Her breathing was erratic. After a short while it was no longer breathing, it was grasps for air. It was like she was choking. She felt like a child, a lost child.

 

***

 

It was late into the next morning when Marlena woke up off the floor of the nursery to the ringing of the phone.

“Hello?” Marlena said with a still shaky voice. It was Roman he needed to speak to her immediately. Marlena agreed

 

It was not much longer when Marlena heard a knocking at the door. She went to open the door. As expected it was Roman. He looked serious. And it was with that look that she realized all hope was gone. And she sobbed again and dropped into his arms. He walked her over to the couch and got her a glass of water. She would need it for what she was about to hear.

 

“Marlena,” Roman began, “ last night there were two bodies found near the out skirts of the city. A body of a man and an infant. The bodies were badly burnt. And there is no possibility of getting a DNA test…”

 

“…So, there is a chance that they are still alive” Marlena said believing in the words she spoke.

 

“ Marlena, I know how much you want to believe that they are still alive, believe me I know, but there are no reports of a man and infant going missing. I wish I could tell you John and your baby were safe but I can’t. Marlena they are dead.”

 

Marlena seized up, no tears. She sat still as her world came crashing around her.

The child was still so soundly asleep in John’s arms, which intrigued John. John with his muscular build, height and coldness intimated almost everyone he encountered. Everyone except Stefano and this young child. Put the kid down, was what his mind said. But he did not want to let go of this small child in his arms. With the baby in his arms he could feel the child pureness seep into his body. Just holding the baby made him feel a sense of relaxation. The small child began to stir in John’s arms. John began to bob on his feet gently. He did this without even realizing it at first. It made him feel awkward for caring for this child. The small child eyes began to open, and tear up.

 

“Shhh, shhh, it’s ok I got you.” John whispered to the child sensing the baby was about to cry. The building tears began to dry with those word. “There see, you got no need to cry.” The child look up at John. With his little eyes wide open. John stared back, and smiled. There was something familiar with those eyes. The color, he had seen that blue before. He had seen those eyes before staring at him, but where? Little did John know that the eyes that looked up at him were his own. His son had his exact same eyes. And now they were going to witness the exact same life as John had. His son, now Cyrus, was a pawn and just as his father, he would grow to be a murder. A killer.

 

There were footsteps coming towards the room from the hallway outside the room. John realizing he did not have much time to leave, kissed the small child on the forehead and gently placed the child down into the crib. And with that John disappeared from the room without anyone noticing that he was ever there. It was that ability to move about without notice that made him such a lethal killer.

 

——————-

 

“ We can not keep John, here for much longer. He will stick out like a sore thumb.” Stefano said to one of the key members of his underground association . “ He must leave, tonight; I have a mission for him in France, he must travel to Europe.”

 

“ I agree, the sooner John is gone the better it will be for the operation. But what about Marlena, what is to be done of her?”

 

“Roman, I need you to stay with Marlena. I need her to be with the public, grieving the lost of her son and husband. If she were to be absent now, people would begin to talk. Soon this story will fall under yesterday’s news. And when there is some other horrible tragedy to distract the minds of people in this city. Once everyone has forgotten about John and the infant, that is when I will finally take my precious Marlena to be mine forever. I will erase her memory of her family and the love she had for them. Everyone in her life will be erased including you, Roman”

 

“Ever since that whore slept with John, I have always wanted to get them back for what they had did, this is my perfect opportunity.” Roman revealed. “ Stefano, I want to thank you for your help in finally bringing down John and Marlena.”

 

“ So the day has come when a Brady thanks me for my services” Stefano smiled. “Eliana, bring John to me” Stefano said over the intercom.

 

It was not much later when John arrived into the room.

 

“John, I’d like you to meet, Roman Brady, Captain of the Salem PD.”

 

John and Roman shook hand.

 

“Roman, this is John. He is my mercanary, my pawn.”

 

Hearing those words brought a smile to both Stefano and Roman’s faces. They had their enemy in the palm of their hand. John was now a pawn, a puppet.

 

Stefano informed John that he would be on a plane out of the city and into Europe tonight there was a special mission that awaited him. And when he arrived their a messenger would give him all the information he need on the next hit. And with that John was off to his next mission.

The sun beamed through the windows and on to the bed where Marlena lay. She dreamt peacefully of John he was holding their child. They were in some sort of nursery. Marlena tried to get near the two, in her dream. As she did she began felt a great danger and in the dream called for John save their child from the evil. But her cries were not heard by John. It was as if John could not see Marlena. She screamed harder this time, in order to get his attention to save Johnathan. But John deaf to Marlena’s calls, and placed Johnathan into the crib before him. Just then John left ever so suddenly as if he was escaping. Marlena rushed to the crib to save Johnathan but the door to the nursery opened. It was then that Marlena woke up shaking. Her dream seemed so real. As if it had happened in real life. Someone has my child, Marlena thought. Two days had past since Marlena had received word that her son and husband were dead. She had not believed it for a moment. And she kept having the same dream of John holding their child and not saving him from the looming danger. Every time she had the dream it become felt more real.

 

The phone rang, it was Belle. She was calling to see if her mother needed any help today. For today was the funeral for both her father and baby brother. Belle had wanted to stay at the penthouse to be with her mother, but Marlena would not have it.

 

“ Why, Belle, are you so worried? Your father is coming home and he is going to bring your baby brother with him. I just know it.” Was what Marlena had once told Belle. It was when Marlena said things like that when Belle became most worried for her mother’s well being. She was worried that her mother would never be able to cope with the deaths.

 

The driver of the limousine called up to the penthouse informing he was ready and waiting downstairs to take Marlena to the funeral. Marlena told him she would be down in ten minutes. It was just then that she realized if she went to the funeral she would have accepted the belief that her husband and child were dead. But that was not what she felt deep down. Deep down she knew that if they were both dead their would be an uncontrollable ache within. But there was nothing. Nothing but worry for their safety.

 

John and Marlena spoke may a times about being soul mates and their connection that was beyond mortal feelings. Their love and passion transcend time and space, they were connect at their root, their core, their souls were intertwined, in this world and beyond. John had once told her a story about how ancient Greek philosophers once believed that the Soul fell from the heavens, into mortals. Once when the mortals had upset the Greek Gods. Zeus, angered, ripped their souls apart in equal halves and placed the remaining halves into other mortals. Ever since then the soul of each mortal would drive the individual to look for their soul’s other half in another mortal, their Soul mate. John had once said that the day he met Marlena he felt his soul could rest for it had found it’s other half; Marlena told him she had felt the exact same way.

 

If John was dead, I would know it, I can’t go to the funeral. It was then that she turned around and ran up stairs to fill her suitcase. It had hit her. If she was ever going to know where her husband and son were she would have to dive deep into John’s past. His past may provide clues as to where they were.

 

“Neil, it’s Marlena, I need you to get the plane ready.” Marlena spoke in a hurry as she call the pilot of the Black Bird ( John’s plane) “I’m leaving for Europe, today.”

She lay naked in his arms so peacefully sleeping. Which would have been excepted after a long night of love making. The soul mates were reconnected. When John made love to her he always felt a great deal of satisfaction afterward . It was his body’s way of expressing the love that his soul felt for her. She was the other half his soul had been rooming this Earth for in search of. Before he had meet her he was lead to believe for the longest time that he was a person born without a soul. He had committed so many killings without ever looking back. Never a smile on his harden face. It was when he met her that he felt another dimension of his being coming alive after being dormant for such a long time. It was with her he remember laughing in a real long time. It had been so long that when he heard the sound of his own laughter it almost sound foreign. She had awaken him and touched him a way that no one else ever had she was the only person that he could ever see himself being with. Every moment without her, left him with a pain so deep that it felt like an eternity in the hottest fires of hell. Her head was nestled on his chest. And he gently ran his fingers through her shoulder length blonde locks of hair. He didn’t want to wake her, he just wanted to feel her; her golden hair and her soft smooth skin. She was the picture of grace and charm. He could feel her waking from her sleep. And as she woke she lifted her head and looked upon his face and smiled.

 

“Good morning Handsome,” She whisper in a raspy voice.

 

“ Good morning Beautiful” He said back.

 

And with that their lips began to met. But just as their lips brushed ever so slightly John woke from his peacefully sleep to the sound of the telephone ringing.

 

“Damn it ” He yelled in frustration from being awaken from his pleasant dream about his mystery woman.

The phone call was from the concierge at the chateau for his morning wake up call. It was 7:30. And as arranged his breakfast was delivered shortly there after. He was staying at one of the finest hotel’s in France. Chateau Frontinac was an hour’s drive away from the city of lights, Paris. He had stayed here before and had got his pilot to call in the reservation.

 

His breakfast was rolled into his room. Two eggs sunny side up and a good helping bacon and hashed browns with toast. It was an American breakfast, none of that French crepe stuff. On the severing tray there was a newspaper. John wanting to past some time pick it up. It was the Salem Spectator. Apparently there was a funeral for a prominent business man and his young son. John opened the newspaper to the section in which the article continue and his world came crashing down. It was him. There was a picture of him with his arm around that woman that appeared in his dreams with a baby in her arms. He looked happy and so did she with smiles on both their faces. Clearly this picture had been taken in more happier times. His jaw dropped he looked closer at the child. And it hit him it was the same child he remembered holding not long ago in Salem. He readied the article absorbing every word. It explained how John Black and Johnathan Black ( the child ) had died earlier in the week, how the police were not talking, but foul play was believe to be apart of the events that lead to the death.

And that the wife of the man and mother of the small child was reported missing after she did not appear at the funeral. John’s jaw literally dropped. What does this all mean?

Marlena was now flying ten thousand feet in the air, without any one knowing about it. She got Neil to make sure that no one knew that she was on this flight. Neil had run missions like this before with John, for ISA missions. And he quickly came up with an excuse for the plane to make a trip to France. John’s plane was made by Airbus who’s headquarters are stationed in France. Neil would take plane to the hangers of Airbus for maintenance work. This would allow Marlena to a be a stowaway on her own plane. She didn’t not want anyone to know she was gone, she feared that if news leaked that she was searching for John and her son, the ones that had them would hide them in a new location, or worst, kill them. She had decided she would begin her search for the two men in her life in Paris. The city of lights was a favorite of Stefano DiMera’s; surly he was the man that was behind this strange mystery that had torn her family apart just when she believed everything was truly right.

 

She had her husband, her new baby who was a welcomed surprise. Marlena remembered how she believed that there was no way she was pregnant. She had only been back from being locked up in the DiMera castle for just a few weeks. And she was getting used to being normal for once. She enjoyed the fact she was with her husband again. But there was something distant about her. Perhaps it was not just her but him too, they were still in love by all means, but there was something lacking. Maybe it was the fact they were both sadden by the fact they had missed out on months, years, of being together. That the DiMeras were able to keep them apart.

 

Marlena remembered the night which Johnathan was conceived. John and Marlena were fighting. It was serious this time. Marlena was no longer able to control her anger at John’s affair with Kate.

 

There had been a tension in the house for weeks. John and Marlena hardly had spoken. And when they did it was about the children and nothing more. They had made love the night she had returned but not again since then. John and Marlena were both in the living room. John on his laptop and Marlena on the couch across from him reading a magazine. John wanting to break down the walls between them looked up from his laptop and stare at his beautiful wife and point blank asked.

 

“ What happened to us?”

 

“ What do you mean?” Marlena questioned back wanting to ignore the situation, still looking at the magazine.

 

“Us… You know.. John and Marlena. It’s like we are on autopilot we don’t talk or laugh anymore.” John explained

 

“ I don’t know what your talking about.” Marlena said trying to avoid the conversation.

 

“Sure you do. We used to just sit and talk for hours. And now there is nothing. And what about the…” John trailed off not really wanting to ask further.

 

“What about the what?… Sex?”

 

“..yeah”

 

Marlena began to feel frustrated and under her breath just loud enough so John could hear said. “ I don’t know, why don’t you ask Kate?”

 

“Excuse me?” John said.

 

“ Nothing.”

 

“ You said ‘why don’t you ask Kate’” John’s voice became louder

 

“Well if that’s what you heard…”

 

“Yeah that’s what I heard.” He said even louder.

 

“Good Great ” Marlena said matching John’s volume. She got up from the couch and was ready to run up stairs, she did not want to fight. She was almost to the stairs when John yelled out.

 

“ I just want to know what happened to us and you just want to run away”

 

“YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ? YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW ? YOU GAVE UP ON ME ” Marlena shouted at John looking back. It was then that the flood gates opened on all the emotion Marlena had kept inside of her these past months. As she walked back to him she explained “ I was trapped in a castle, by some lunatic and every day I prayed that you would find me that you would save me from the hell I was living in. But you know that don’t you? But what you don’t know is that the sicko gave us a live video feed of what was going on back home. I saw my home. I saw my family. And I saw you John.” John’s eyes widen at what Marlena could have seen. Marlena seeing the reaction in John face continued. “ Oh ya, that’s right, John, I was front row and center for all the disgusting shit that went on while I was away. I had to sit there and watch you, my husband, have sex with another woman. With that disgusting whore.” Marlena began so cry from the stress of all the raw emotions that had just been released from her. John feel silent.

 

“ I’m sorry… I didn’t know… Forgive me…” He felt a ton of bricks on his chest. He had played an active roll in the pain and suffering of his wife, his one true love. John knew Marlena had known about what happened between him and Kate, but to have to witness it was cruel.

 

“Forgive you!?” Marlena questioned, feeling it was not something she could do, she was still so angry. “How many times can I forgive you? How many times must I see you with someone else? You tell me that you love me, you tell me that you need me, and within that same breath you go and do something that you know will hurt me. How many times can you do that and still expect to be forgiven? You say it was the drugs, you say how losing me was difficult for you, you always have an excuse. Well this time I have an excuse too John, I’m human I’m not a saint, I can’t just turn a blind eye every time you screw up, John ”

 

“So what do you want me to do?” John said sincerely.

 

Marlena turned away. “… leave…” Marlena said softy with a tear in her eye. “ He won. Stefano won. I give up, John, I can’t love you anymore because if I do I’ll just get hurt. I can’t love you.”

 

John tears began to fall as his world came crashing down. “ You don’t mean that.” He reached out his hand to cup her delicate face. “ Don’t say that Marlena. Don’t say you can’t love me. If you don’t love me I’ll be dead inside”

Marlena moved her face. And closed her eyes because she didn’t want to face him for what she was about to say. “Leave John… We are over.” With that she walked up stairs. She made it to her room and collapsed on the bed and erupted in tears.

 

John watched her walked up the stairs and waited at the bottom of the steps until he heard the bedroom door slam shut. He walked out the door right after. He drove around the city with the radio blasting tried to drain out his conscience. He drove fast and wreck less. He drove up and down the city of Salem but somehow he end up at the pier. He got out of his truck and walked to the edge of the pier and stared at the water. John was alone with his emotions but he was not alone on the pier.

 

“You slut, it did not work ! ” John heard a man yell, he recognized the voice right away. It was Stefano. He hadn’t seen John and neither had the other person Stefano was with. “ John and Marlena are back together and all I have to blame is you, Kate.” John eyes widened and as he listened even closer. “ I practically gift wrapped John for you and you couldn’t even keep him.”

 

“Sorry, Stefano” It was Kate. “ Look, when we were set up the murders for Marlena I thought it would work. But she came back, you can’t blame me for that. I did my part. It was your men that had to keep her on the island. That is what we worked out. You would get Marlena and I would get John and more importantly Basic Black” John head spun with this sudden revelation, he always knew that people should not be easily but he was not excepting this.

 

Kate was out to destroy us all along, John thought as the truth sank in. In the shadows of the night he disappeared. Without Kate nor Stefano ever knowing he was ever there. He got back into his truck and drove back home. He was not going to let Stefano win. He was going to be with his wife, he was going to prove to her she was all that he ever needed.

 

He opened the door and ran up the stairs. He reached the bedroom door and took a deep breathe in as he reached for the knob. He could hear her crying on the other side. He opened the door and saw her on the bed laying down, in tears. She looked up and saw him. A part of her was happy he returned, happy he was with her, but the rest of her was still so angry with him. Once John had her eye contact he did not break it he stare right into her eyes and past into her soul as he walked across the bedroom floor. He made his way to the bed. Marlena didn’t dare speak for she had nothing to say. She knew what was coming and knew she should stop it if she was ever going to stand her ground but she could not, she kept with the eye contact. They kept it until finally John place his hands on Marlena face they both closed their eyes as John mouth captured hers…

 

The kiss was so passionate, it was hot and still tender.

 

Their lips broke and Marlena whispered “This is not right”

 

“What’s right is our love. And we can’t ever deny that again. Tonight, when I was gone I learned that Stefano and Kate had been working together to bring us down.” He said as he wiped away her tears.

 

“What do you mean?” Marlena questioned confused.

 

“ I’ll explain it all later, but right now all I want to do is prove my undying love to you. Marlena you are my best friend, you have always been the one person I could trust in this world. When everyone had abandoned me, you have been right there by my side, even after all that I hurt you, and I am truly sorry for the pain I put you through. Marlena, tonight and every moment for the rest of our lives I want to make it up to you. I need to prove my love for you. Let me show you why I know we are soul mates. Let me make love to you, Marlena.”

John passionately kissed Marlena again. This time the kiss was longer, pushed his body weight on top of Marlena gently so she would fall back on to the bed. He became to kiss her neck. Slowly he unbuttoned her blouse and for every button he left a kiss right down to her navel. He slowly peeled her blouse off her shoulders. John looked at his beautiful who was lying down in her black lace bra. Marlena looked right back at John there was no need for words. They both smiled softly. Marlena was ready now to take the lead. She meet John lips and pulled off his shirt. While in the kiss, John reached one arm behind Marlena’s back and undid the clasp of her bra and took it off her body. Marlena giggled softly at the fact that John made it seem to effortless, he was always so smooth. John cupped her face in one hand as he cupped her breast in another. Marlena pushed John so that he lay on his back. She kissed his lips then his chest and continued down until she made it to his jeans. She rubbed on his erection over the pants. Which brought a smile to his face. Seeing that he enjoyed this she decided to extend the fun. So she straddled him and began to slowly grind on him, moving her hips. While she did she undid his belt buckle and unzipped his jeans. She pulled off his jeans and boxers. His erection was in full view. She smiled, she loved seeing him turned on, it was so sexy. She kissed the tip of his penis and then licked the shaft. As she did she massaged his testicles, which were now heavy in John state of arousal. She pushed her breasts together as captured John penis in the middle of them and worked her way up and down his penis. Her lips found their way back to John’s penis and this time she sucked hard on his penis as she took him further into mouth. He moaned hard. While she was working her way up and down, John grabbed a hold of her hair, and pulled. Marlena liked this, it encouraged her even more.

 

John decided he want to kiss the lips below her navel; he wanted to taste her juices. Still holding her hair, John slowly pulled it lifting her head. He look at her and automatically Marlena knew that John wanted his turn. He kissed her lips as he gently placed her on her back. He kissed her breast while he rubbed on the nipple of the other. His lips made their way further down as he kissed right below her navel. Still kissing he undid her pants, He quickly pulled him off eager to move to the next step. He looked upon his beautiful naked wife and sighed as he smiled. He ran his hand over her breast again and then up her thighs stopping before he reached her center. He licked his index and middle and then thrusted them into her slit. Which made her grasp. And throw her head back in delight. Still thrusting with his fingers John placed his heavy tongue on to her clit. And wiggled it side to side. Licking up her juices in between. Marlena moaned as the pleasure raised. This continued for a few moments before she whispered.

 

“John, I want you in me.”

 

And he abided by her wishes. He held his erection and pressed the tip of his penis onto her clit and moved it place and forth. Then he slid his penis up and down her slit without ever entering her. Until finally he gently thrust his penis into her she, brought up her hips and meet his tempo. John didn’t want this to end soon so he worked his tempo slowly, thrusting gently into her body, feeling the heat of her body surround his penis tightly.

 

“ I love you, Marlena” He whispered, as he looked upon their two bodies in the act.

“ I love you, too, John”

 

And with that John moved up the tempo, Marlena followed along with her hips. His thrusts became harder and longer. Marlena could feel his large penis deep within her, to a point where Marlena began to feel pain. She didn’t want to stop. She enjoyed the pain as her body clenched up with thrust. John’s thrust started to become faster. Marlena’s body was taking a beating with John’s loving. Just when she thought she could take no more, John slowed down automatically sending Marlena into an orgasm. Her body trembled and her inside walls quivered and her hot juices flowed.

 

“Ohhh John.” She moaned. It was hearing that and feeling the hot changes within her body that sent John into his own orgasm. He thrusted hard into her as he erupted. He wanted to get his juices deep within her. His last thrust was his hardest, he called out Marlena’s name as he came. As he came out of Marlena he held her close and whispered. “ I love you more then you could ever know.”

 

There was a ringing on the plane, which sent Marlena straight out of her dream, it was the intercom the pilot needed to speak with Marlena.

ohn read the article and immediately his head began to spin. Who were these people? Who was he? And for the first time ever began to question his authority, the one and only, Stefano. What were the cryptic answers that this article held for John? It all seemed clear in the article; wealthy business man and his infant son found dead around the outskirts of the city of Salem the one had just left. There was a picture of the Black family. There were three children an adult son and daughter standing over him and the woman of his dreams seated next to him, with that same baby on her lap, the one he remembered holding not to long ago back at the DiMera mansion. All their faces were so bright and cheerful, even his own, that made him think that this wasn’t apart of a mission. This was real. “Do I have kids? Is she my wife?” Like any good spy he had paid attention to every detail, so it was almost right away when he noticed the two matching wedding bands. He looked at the child, and his heart torn, he longed to hold the child once again. It wasn’t long after that there was a knocking at the door.

 

“Go away.” John yelled

 

“Room service” A man yelled behind

 

“Yeah, go away.” He yelled again

 

“Sir, I have a letter from Stefano DiMera. I was told to give it to you immediately”

 

John opened the door angry at the man’s poor sense of timing and gave him a tip; he didn’t quiet know how much or if it was the right currency.

 

“Thank you, sir” the man said as he began to walk off.

 

“Wait” John said

“Yes, Sir”

“Where did this newspaper come from?”

 

“Hotel policy sir, we cater to the elite, so we make sure we provided them with the daily paper of their hometown.”

 

“Oh, well than thanks”

 

“It’s our pleasure, sir.”

 

With that John closed the door.

 

“The Salem Spectator, huh?” John mumbled to himself, as he placed the newspaper on the coffee table. He sat on the couch as he read what was in the envelope. There were three names- with three addresses, names of people that John was going to kill with the number 24; which meant he had twenty four hours to have the job done. With that John put his black leather gloves in his back pocket and left the suite, leaving the paper behind.

 

It was mid afternoon when he arrived at the first home, the man was alone. John came out of shadows and into the man’s office. The man was typing away on his computer at his desk; he didn’t even notice John walking up behind him, until he felt the grip of John’s hands on his face. Before the man could put up a struggle John snapped his neck. Coldly John closed the lid on the man’s laptop and grabbed it. Stefano may need it. It was off to the next house. This time there was a family, they were eating dinner. John did not want the man’s two kids to see, so he walked in unnoticed; he grabbed the man’s cell phone which was on the table near the front door and placed it in the master bedroom. John stood in the closet and called the cell phone. The man left the table and walked into the room to answer the phone. As he walked into the room John shot the man soundlessly with his gun. He always packed his silencer. By eight he was at his final house. This one was older. He was drinking whiskey, probably, and watching television all alone. He waited in the house until the old man got up to go to the bathroom. Once he did John poisoned his drink. The man would die painlessly in his sleep. John stayed until he saw the man return to his sit and finished drink, he was surely a dead man.

 

He was done for the night three kills in only half the time given. The reason why he did it so fast was that he was eager to get back to the hotel room, to the newspaper article. He walked back into the hotel room, and switched the lights on. Stefano was seated in the dark.

 

“Ah John, I see you’re done already”

 

“Yes, Sir, here I got you this from the first man.” John said as he handed over the laptop “I thought you may want it, just incase there is some information on there” He continued

 

“John, like always, you have done very well.”

 

“Thank you, Sir” John said as his eyes began to search for the article which he had left on the table.

 

“Is something the matter John? You look confused”

 

“No, Sir.”

 

“Ah, good John, because I was worried you were looking for this” Stefano said as he pulled out the newspaper from his briefcase.

 

John stared at him not knowing what to do.

 

“You know John; I assign you to role play in different lives from time to time. Once you were professor and another time a bank manager, but none of these lives are real.”

 

“Yes, Sir I know”

 

“And you know that these lives are fake and these people not real, merely actors.” He continued looking at the picture of the Black family in the newspaper article.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Very well then, I will be on my way. Expect your next assignment soon. And I’ll be taking this too.” Stefano said as he folded up the paper and placed it into his briefcase and started to leave.

 

“Wait.” John said just as Stefano opened the door.

 

“What is it John?”

 

“Who is the woman? The woman in the photo, the one said to be my wife.”

 

“How should I know? A common whore; forget about this, John.” Stefano said as he left the suite.

 

John took a deep breath in.

 

“I need a drink” He muttered

 

“Dr. Marlena Evans your room is already.” Said the concierge

 

“Black” Marlena said

 

“Sorry?”

 

“It’s Dr. Marlena Evans Black”

 

“Oh forgive me. Oh it says here that you are flying in from Salem.”

 

“Yes, you know the place?”

 

“No, not personally, but we do have another guest here from the same town.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“Yes, a Mr. Blake Holden. Oh perhaps I’ve said too much”

 

“Oh well the name doesn’t ring a bell, and don’t worry I won’t tell.”

 

“Thank you Madame, your bell hop is here.”

 

“Thank you. Have a nice evening.”

 

She walked down the hall with the bell hop to the elevator. The elevator dinged as it open and at the very same time another open. It was John, coming out of the elevator; John instantly turned his head around to see Marlena boarding the elevator. It was her, the dream lady, the article said her name was Marlena, but John wasn’t quite as sure. He was about to hit the elevator button to make the doors open so he could get a better look, but the doors had already closed by the time he reached the button. John realized he was probably just imagining it and that it was probably just some blonde that looked like her. He didn’t even really see her only from the back.

 

“Come on John, lets get you liquord up.” John said in his head. John passed through the front foyer on his way to the hotel bar.

 

“Monsieur, Holden!” The man at the front desk yelled. John kept walking a few steps until he remembered that was his name for now, Blake Holden.

 

“Yes.” He said turning back.

 

“This package is for you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

He opened it. It was all the necessary items; French passport with driver’s license and bank account with a 1.5 million Euros balance all under the name Blake Holden. There was also a set of keys. This time he was driving a black Jaguar S-type.

 

“A Jaguar, huh? Nice” John said quietly as he smile, the last time he was in Europe he got a Fiat Pailo, this was a defiant upgrade. It was all he needed and Stefano had provided it.

 

He sat down at the bar. And drank what he usually drank, scotch on the rocks. As he sat there his mind began to think of her again, and what Stefano said. “She’s not a whore. She’s a doctor. I know that it’s hard to get doctor as a part of your cover, it too complicated. Plus there was a family, with kids, kids are never involved, sometimes you get a wife but even that’s rare, women are too flimsy when it comes to kills.” John thought “But what if she is on the inside of the DiMera operation, what if she is a common slut?” John continued, with the drink held to his lips. “No! She’s not! I know she’s not” John argued back in his head as he shot back the rest of the drink down. “How do you know she’s not a slut? Because…” John questioned himself. He drew blank “Because I love her.” John looked up with a blank lost look on his face as exhaled. He never remembered ever thinking that about any one. He had told women he loved them, but that was just a way of shutting them up, sleeping with them or getting them to open up about information, but this time it was real.

 

Marlena was now in the Hotel suite, room 705.

 

“Thank you.” Marlena said as she tipped the bell hop

 

“Good night Madame.” He said as he left.

 

Marlena walked over to the balcony, she opened the French doors and was in awe over the beautiful view of Paris; the sparkling lights that twinkled in the night. She could not stay in her room she needed to be out there, looking for John. There was something about this place, this city; it was the closest she had felt to John since that night when he and their son were stole away.

 

“I have to get out of here.” She said to herself.

 

And with that she grabbed her purse and walked out the door.

 

She walked across the foyer and out to her car. She was quiet hungry by now, and decided she would go eat at the place where she and John had and dinner the last time they were here. It was than that John noticed the same blonde walking across the foyer. He dropped 10 Euros on the table and began to walk out after her. He made sure she did not notice him; she walked out to her car and John quickly searched for his, and began to follow her two cars behind. She got out at a little restaurant near the Eiffel tower. He peered into the restaurant from behind the glass window and saw the matride escorting her to her sit. It was her. He watched her in amazement; she was so beautiful, elegant and graceful, just as she was in his dreams. He hoped there would be on one that sat with her and there wasn’t she was all alone. No man insight, which made John feel a sense of relief.

 

John went into the woman’s car; he looked for anything that would help him. In it he found a slip; it was for the car rental; that was not important, what was important was that the name matched the article. Dr. Marlena Evans Black. This proved to John that she was who the article stated she was. She was Dr. Marlena Evans Black. She was his wife. If she were just another agent of Stefano’s she would have lost the identity. Identities, other than your original, were to only be used once. It was a joke of John’s for every identity he would have a woman, a woman that he would only use once. But he wanted her, not once but always. John got back into his car and parked just so that he could still watch her from inside and be close enough to her car. He was lost within her beauty, he watched everything about her, the way she swipe her hair back, how she held her glass as she drank. There was only one thing he was thinking, “I love her.” Of course had he not been so caught up in watching her, he would have noticed he had been tagged by another DiMera operative.

Marlena sat in the restaurant and held herself from bursting into tears. She watched the couple sitting across from her. She watched the man hold the woman’s hand; and all she could do was hope for a time when she could be with John and their family again. Every time she thought of John she thought of their son and refused to believe that they were died. It didn’t matter what anyone said to her, she knew they were alive. She knew because she keep telling herself that if they had died her soul would feel empty, she felt something; it was pain, pain over the fact they were apart from her, but her soul was not empty. She wanted to cradle her son in her arms again, feel his little fingers wrapped around hers. It was when she thought of her Johnathan that the tears she held back began to flow. The tears were born in her eyes and died as they leaped off her jaw line. She realized she did not fit in among these happy people. She was broken, pieces of her were missing, how could she eat? Or sleep? Or do anything productive if her son was not in her arms and husband by her side? And it was at that moment she felt extreme guilt for ever entering this restaurant, “I’m not happy and I don’t deserve until I find them, they need me.” She left enough money on the table as she left the place quickly. She got back into her car and started crying, she began to sob, not only for her missing son and husband but for herself because just as they were gone, she was gone too. She could not imagine a day without this overwhelming pain within her, it physically hurt to breathe she was crying so hard.

 

John watched her tears and all in his car. He did not know what to do. He wanted to hold her and make the tears go away. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and lay with her in his arms; give her whatever she needed to make the pain go away. He did not know the thing she needed most was him. And it was while watching, the beauty, cry that he himself felt tears rise to the surface. He began to shed tears. He was so confused, a soldier in tears? He felt so helpless watching her; her pain was his pain. Stefano would probably have had him terminated for this type of behavior. John decided to get out of the car and get to her, without thinking of course. He got out and walked towards Marlena. He did not know what he was going to say or what he was going to do once he reach the car but he kept walking. This was in contrast to the assassin who would have every last detail plan out before a mission. This time he was blindly walking into the most difficult mission of his life; he did not know that these steps towards Marlena’s car would be the first in a long battle against Stefano.

 

“He is going to her car” The operative whispered into a mic.

 

“If he gets to her you know what to do” The voice on the other end answered back

 

Just as John made it up to the back of her, car she started the engine and pulled out fast without looking, nearly hitting John. She was not thinking about driving all she wanted to do was get back to the hotel fast. John ran back to his Jaguar and speed after her. It was not much longer until the both of them made it back to the hotel parking. She quickly got out of her car and into the hotel. John ran into the foyer just as she got on to the elevator. As the door closed Marlena looked out to see a man running. “John?!” She shouted. But the door closed and she convinced herself that it was her mind playing tricks on her

 

“Marlena if you are ever going to find them you have to stay rational. John’s not here at the hotel.” She scolded herself.

 

John heard her yell his name and watched to see what number the elevator stopped at.

 

“7 got it” he thought as he hit the button for a new elevator. Luckily one was already waiting. John hit the button for the seventh floor and wished that the thing would just move faster.

 

Marlena got to her door, but with her tears still flowing she could not find the card that would open her door. She managed to find it after a frustrating search through her purse, and finally made it into her hotel room just as John got off the elevator. As he stepped out he heard the click of the of the door closing. And looked to see which door it was. She was in room 705. He got to the door and pressed his ear up against it. She got in and undressed quickly as she filled up the tub for a bath. John heard the running water and prayed that it was would cover the sound of him picking the lock, it did.

 

Marlena knew what she needed so she grabbed her laptop out of her baggage and set in on the bathroom counter and set a playlist of family videos. She pulled her hair up and got into the tub and turned off the tab as she began to watch her once happy life on the screen. By this time John had successfully made it into the hotel room and positioned him to she her and what she was watching. The bathroom had a tub in the middle with the counter on the back wall. All John had to do was make sure that the small mirror on the back wall did not catch him.

He watched her in her bath from behind; she was so beautiful, he wished he could see her full nakedness. He began to watch the video. He was there and so was she, she was holding that baby, and there was the older girl from the newspaper picture.

 

He saw himself walk through a door, of his home? He wasn’t sure where but that seem like a reasonable answer. She walked in through behind him, holding the baby so carefully in her arms. The baby was all wrapped up in a blanket. It made John smile seeing how mother and child were so perfect together.

“Welcome home, Johnathan” The older girl said.

 

Then it hit John; this was a home coming party for the baby, everywhere there was streamers of blue, and balloons in blue and white with a big “it’s a boy” banner hanging of the railing of the upper level. John smiled they all looked so happy.

 

“Oh look at what your big sister and big brother did you for you Nate. Lets just hope that Belle and Brady will be so kind when it comes to babysitting.” Marlena said looking down at the baby.

 

“Belle that’s her name” John thought, was he remembering something? He didn’t ask more questions he just continued watching.

 

“Any time mom, can I hold him?”

 

“Sure, honey.” She said as she handed the baby over to Belle

 

“Hey, Brady, you holding that camera straight, son?” He heard himself say.

 

“Yeah, dad don’t worry, everything is fine” Brady said from behind holding the camera.

 

The camera zoomed in on Nate in Belle’s arms and Marlena let out a happy sigh, as she smiled. They were the two babies that God had blessed her and John with. John smiled too as he watched them on the screen. It was something primal within him, he wanted to claim them. These were his children, their children.

 

Marlena watched closely remembering every last detail of the day. And as she watched her baby tears began to drop from her eyes again. Belle had handed Nate to John; John’s smiled was from ear to ear in the video, he was a proud new papa. He looked down at Johnathan and said, “Johnathan Black, captain of the football team, see it has a good ring to it.”

 

Marlena chuckled and John smiled as they both watched the screen.

 

“Yes, well before we start deciding his future in the NFL I think it’s time for Captain Black’s nap.” Marlena said as Nate was placed back into her arms.

 

“Aw don’t worry son, I’ll workout on some plays while you sleep, and we’ll practice after you wake up.” John said.

 

“Really?” She said smiling.

 

“Yes, really, all good players start training while there are still in diapers and on breast milk.”

 

“Ok then we better get that nap over with”

 

She gave John a quick kiss before she headed up stairs. The video stopped, Marlena and John continued to stare at the blank screen.

 

“Where are you John?” Marlena asked out loud, not knowing John was watching her.

 

“I’m here” John thought, wanting to reach out to her. It was at that moment John felt a cold cool barrel on the back of his neck. He knew it meant; someone had watched him. He had slipped up and now the both of them could be killed. John quietly raised his hands, to show he was not going to put up a fight. Any other time John would have would have fought back; but because she was here and still so unaware he did not want and harm coming to her. He got up and left so quietly with the man. With the gun still pointed to the back of his neck. They managed to get into the hallway without Marlena knowing. It was there that John snapped the operative’s arm; as the gun in his hand dropped to the floor.

 

“You’re going to get yourself killed for this woman.” The operative said as he looked into John’s eyes.

 

“This coming from a dead guy?” John spat right back as he griped the man’s hand and twisted it to the head to the side until he heard the snap of his neck. The man’s dead eyes still stared at him, as John let the body go. And for the first time since his very first kill he felt remorse. As he dragged the man’s dead weight into the stairwell, John found himself repeating over and over again. “It was either him or me.” He needed an excuse to the kill the man; he had never needed an excuse before. Something within him had changed. The door of the stairway had not even fully shut before John was headed back into Marlena’s hotel room. He went straight for the tub, where he expected to find her and finally reveal himself. He wanted hold her kiss her and wipe away the tears she carried and push away the pain in her heart. He got to the bath and it was empty and his stomach dropped. He thought that some other operative must have got to her while he was still in the hallway.“Damn it I screwed up!” He thought.

 

He got into the door of the suite bedroom and pushed it open. She was there on the bed startled, she jumped off the bed where she had lay, and looked at the shadowy figure that walked in the door and here the voice of a ghost.

 

“Marlena?” John asked in the darkest.

 

She knew it was him.

 

“John?” She said as she ran over to him.

 

She leaped into his arms and knew it was him. She smelt him and felt the rough stubble of his facial hair as she rubbed the side of her cheek against his. It was John he was back. She looked into his deep watery blue eyes and he felt lost in her hazel glow. She felt a great sense of relief and happiness. Their lips met, and both felt their worries were a thousand miles away. Marlena had her husband back and John had the woman of his dreams.

As they kissed John pulled one of the ends of the knot on Marlena’s robe. He knew she was naked underneath and wanted nothing more than to make love to her. He pulled the robe off her body well still kissing her lips and her neck. He gently placed her on to the bed, and placed his weight on top of her body as she wrapped her legs around him. John was still fully clothed as Marlena felt the coolness of the melt clasp of his belt on her mid section. It was not much longer after when John heard a movement outside of the hotel door and it stopped him in his tracks. He had gotten carried away; what he needed to do was to get them both out of the hotel room and fast.

 

“John what is the matter?” Marlena asked knowing that there must of have been a good reason for him to have stopped.

 

“Get dressed we need to leave now.” He said roughly, in frustration, trying to get his body to stop wanting her.

 

“John?” Marlena said confused wondering what it was that made him stop their reunion.

 

“Just do it; we have to leave now.”

 

Marlena quickly got her clothes on as John went into the bathroom and grabbed the laptop off the counter. It held something in it for him, memories, the videos; they were of his family and no matter what happened tonight he was not going to let them go. By the time John got back into the room she was fully dressed.

 

“There is someone at the door we have to go out of the window on the fire escape, down to the next floor and back in through the first vacant suite we find.”

 

They did just as John said and quickly too. It wasn’t before long that they were in the Jaguar speeding away.

 

“John why did we leave?” Marlena finally asked as she broke the silence.

 

“Because if we didn’t we would have been killed.”

 

Marlena’s eyes went wide. “Why?”

 

“Because I screwed up, I wasn’t thinking, all I wanted to do was be with you that I forgot rule number one- watch your back.”

 

“Rule number one?” Marlena was wondering if this was her John, the man she married or was it the John without a past.

 

“Yeah, watch your back or lose your head.” John said coldly.

 

“John are you alright?”

 

“Look babe I’m fine” John answered back

 

“Babe? You don’t call me babe, you call me Doc.” It was then that Marlena knew that there was something completely different in John.

 

And it hit John she was right; he did not call her babe, he called her Doc, she was his, his Doc. And it was then that a look of confusion went across John’s face. It was as if he was about to remember something but there was a block, he could not do it.

 

“John are you alright? I’m worried about you.” Marlena said as she saw the confused look on his face.

 

“Marlena… Doc, I don’t know, I don’t remember.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I don’t remember, Marlena, I don’t remember what we had, or if we had anything. All I know is that I’m connected to you, but why or how, that I don’t know.”

 

“Do you remember Salem? Belle? Brady? Johnathan?”

 

John shook his head no. “Nothing.”

 

“John, are you working for Stefano?” Marlena looked into his eyes desperately.

 

John solemnly answered. “Yes. I’ve killed 4 men in the last twenty four hours. The last was a DiMera operative outside your hotel door.” He did not know why he just told her the truth leaving himself vulnerable, but it felt right inside.

 

Marlena grasped, he was not her husband, he was the mercenary. She stayed silent not know what to say or to do.

“You must think I’m dirt.” John said, noticing her unease, believing that she would want nothing to do with him after his confession.

 

“No, I could never think that about you. I love you, John.” And it was those final four words that shook John to his core. He did not remember anyone ever saying that to him. He wanted to say those words right back to her but he did not know how. So he stayed quiet until he pulled the car off the road, putting it in park. He looked over at her, She was just as confused as he was about where they stood with each other. He did not speak he just leaned over and kissed her, if he could not tell her he loved her, he would show that he did.

 

Although he did not want to break the kiss he did. He realized it was time that he straighten things out. He had to come up with a plan, because with his recent defection against Stefano they were both in certain danger.

 

“Marlena, look, I don’t remember us.” He said as he looked over at her. And right away he could see the hurt look in her face. She tried to hide it but he could see it, he could still feel it, because of the connection that they shared. John felt himself hurting by the fact he could not remember. Whatever they had he wished he could remember, he wanted her to be happy, he wanted them to be happy. But for now he needed to fix the pain he just caused her. “But I do feel something, Doc, I know that there is something here I just don’t know what it is but I need to be close to you. I need to protect you, Marlena, because we are in real danger. Stefano is looking for me, and for some reason he doesn’t want the two of us together.”

 

“Stefano never has, John, since the moment we were together he has tried over and over again to break us apart. This last time he got everyone to believe that you and Johnathan were dead, except me I knew that you were live I could feel it, I could feel you, I could feel Johnathan.” And tears began to flow as she thought about her infant son; missing with out his parents. She reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of them as a family, and handed it to John.

 

“That’s Johnathan in my lap; we called him Nate for short. There is Brady and Belle, our two other children.” She continued as he stared at the picture. It was the same one published in the newspaper. “John, our son is missing and Stefano is responsible.”

 

John bit down on his lower lip. In one day he went from trained assassin to family man. He did have a family, even if he did not know who they were; he knew that he had to protect them. He had a son, a baby, his own flesh and blood, and it was at that moment that he filled with an immense sense of pride. He had to bring back his son to his mother.

 

“Can I keep this?” He said as he broke his stare on the picture and looked at Marlena. It was proof that he had a family; that he belonged, and he wanted desperately to hold on to it.

 

“Yes.” Marlena said as she smiled; although John was not the same, she knew that he still existed, that he was within this darkened man. And she realized then that even if he did not remember his past, she still loved him with her whole heart.

 

“Marlena, I saw Nate, I held Nate.” John confessed; he felt a great deal of pain in his gut over the guilt of ever letting his son go that day in the nursery at the DiMera mansion.

 

“Of course you have John. You helped deliver him.” Marlena said as she smiled.

 

“No, Marlena, awhile back ago when I was still staying at the DiMera mansion, I heard this baby crying. So I went up into the room and I held the kid, and he stopped crying. It was great. It was him Marlena. It was our son.” He said as he looked intensely at Johnathan in the picture.

 

“So he is alive?” Marlena asked with a glimmer of hope in her voice.

 

“Yes. But I should have saved him, it’s my fault he is gone.”

 

“No, John don’t you say that. Its not your fault he is gone, its Stefano’s.”

 

“Marlena, I’m sorry.” He first said looking at her. “I’m sorry” He repeated looking at the baby in the picture; at the son that he had failed. He needed to make it up to his son for letting him down, he needed to find him and soon.

“Marlena we have got to go.” John said as he turned the car back on and started to drive.

 

“Where are we going?”

 

“Stefano and his men were on to me ever since I found you earlier. I killed one of his men tonight, a sign of my disloyalty, Stefano will want me dead soon. Marlena, I don’t know why he wants us apart but he just does and I don’t want to lose you so promise me you will do exactly as I say, and I promise I’ll get your- our son back.”

 

“Of course, John.”

 

“Good. I need you to get in connect with someone you trust in Salem. Tell them that you are coming home, and for them to get a plane ticket ready; we can’t use any credit cards, and make sure that they don’t us your real name.”

 

“John, we have a plane”

 

“We do?” Surprised

 

“Yes, I had the pilot stay on standby.”

 

“Do you trust the pilot?”

 

“Yes, Ted has been with us for the last 10 years.”

 

“Perfect. Call the pilot tell him to get ready to go back to Salem. Tell him however that no one can know that you are flying back. It will be only him and you the whole way back.”

 

“What about you John?”

 

“I’m staying here.”

 

“No! I will not leave alone.”

 

“Marlena, I think Stefano has Johnathan here in Europe.” John revealed. “If Stefano wants to hurt us he is going to do what ever it takes. And since he has already got Johnathan he is going to make sure to keep that baby close to his side. And I know for a fact that Stefano is in Europe which makes me believe that Johnathan is here too. If you stay you will be in great danger. I know how to take care of myself out here. I will find our son and bring him back home to you.” Of course John had no idea of how to bring their son home but he was determined to make it happen.

 

“John I can’t leave you here. I need to be with you please don’t do this to us.”

 

“Marlena I can’t have you here. All I’m doing is putting you in more danger. If Stefano catches us God knows what will happen to us. I can’t have you get hurt because of my mistake.”

 

“John, I’ll be fine. I know you don’t remember but we have stood against Stefano before. We can do it again.”

John refused to answer. He wanted to protect her and keep her safe; she would not be safe by his side. He pulled over at the nearest exit and got out to make a phone call at a payphone, both of their cell phones were probably being controlled by now. He called up an other man that had once been in the DiMera organization. The man on the other end was a banker; he was clean now but still owed John a favor. This was just John calling in the favor. He needed a fake account, and as soon as it was created he wrote down the information; transit, branch, and account numbers. He said he would see the man in the morning to pick up the money that would be wired to him over night. He thanked the man and apologized for the late call. John went back into the running car where he had left Marlena.

 

“Do you know anyone that can wire us $10 000 Euros tonight?”

 

“Tonight? Why?”

 

“Because we need cash, and lots of it, right now our bank cards and transactions can get us caught. Even our cell phones are risks” He said as he flipped his phone out and broke it in two. “We need to get rid of anything that can trace back to us. So do you know anyone?”

 

“Yes, I know someone, his name is Roman Brady. He is a cop in the Salem PD.”

 

“Do you trust this Roman?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Okay call him. Tell him to wire 10 000 Euros to this account number. We’ll pick up the money tomorrow from a person I know.” John said as he handed over the paper that held all the account information. They both left the car as she went to the pay phone and called Roman explained everything. Telling him where they were and what she needed from him. He agreed to getting her the money and assured her it would be there tomorrow. She thanked him and hung up the phone. Of course she did not realize calling Roman was the most harmful move she could make.

 

“Good job” John said as they got back into the car. “I still have 300 Euros in cash. That can cover a full tank of gas, one night’s hotel and get us some food. It’s almost 3 am now we need to find a place to rest for the night.” He continued.

 

John drove to nearest hotel and checked in for a suite.

 

“Sorry, but you know how expensive Paris is; I could only afford a room with one bed tonight. We need to save some cash just in case.” He said as they reach the door of their suite.

 

“That’s fine.” Marlena said; she did not have any issues with sharing a one bedroom suite with her husband. She did not have any issues with sharing a bed with her husband. Of course this was not John Black; family man, this was John Black; trained killer.

“I’ll sleep on the floor.” John said as they entered their hotel room.

 

“No, you’ll sleep with me.” Marlena said implying much more than rest in her tone of voice.

 

“Marlena, I don’t think I could do much resting in that bed with you.” John said, implying that he wanted her body.

 

“I don’t want to rest, and I know you don’t want to rest either.” Marlena said as she looked deep into John’s eyes seductively. He was her husband and there was nothing more that she wanted to do then to be with her husband, physically. The air was thick and hot between the two of them.

 

“Are you sure you don’t want to rest?” John said staring back at her with the same intensity in his eyes.

 

“Yes, I’m sure.” Marlena said as she inched towards him just a bit.

 

“Good.” John said as he smiled thinking that he was going to give her the best sex of her life. And it was then that he forcefully grabbed Marlena, startling her, and kissed her lips lustfully. He pinned her body up against the wall, as he kissed her with his tongue hard pressed against hers, lapping against each other. He started to kiss her neck, and back to her lips. He was going to taste every part of her. He pulled off her shirt nearly tearing it, and quickly undid the clasp of her white lace bra, pulled it off her shoulders as he kissed her neck.

 

“Oh John…” Marlena whispered

 

He knew what he wanted; it was her and tonight she was all his. They were going to have it his way. He could feel his erection beginning to grow, as he saw the site of her topless. He cupped both breasts softly at first and than squeezed both hard as he played with them in his hands. He kissed each while still holding the other with his hand; he sucked and softly tugged on each with his teeth, as Marlena lean her head back on the wall. He smiled, he could see she was already so aroused and he had not even gotten to his best stuff yet.

 

He kissed her lips; once each side of her collar bone; down to between her breasts; then circling each one again. Next was right above her naval and then right below, as he came to her pants. He undid the button and slowly pulled down the zipper; looking up at her the whole time, with a grin on his face. He pulled on the pants just a bit and they fell to the floor, as Marlena kick off her heels.

 

“Matching, nice.” John said as he saw the white lace thong, that matched the bra that he had successfully over come.

 

John did not pull them down right away. Instead he got back up on his feet; and kissed her lips again. As he kissed her lips, with one hand between her legs he began to rub on her clit over top of the thong; which began to drive Marlena wild, she leaned her head against the wall and bit down on her lip. He grabbed both breasts and fondled them hard as the force pushed Marlena back up against the wall again. Then without warning he broke the kiss; dropped to his knees and pulled the thong from Marlena’s body. John was defiantly having her his way. He was still fully clothed and she was completely naked. He pressed his tongue hard against her clit and began to rub it with his tongue in all different directions. Marlena tugged on John’s hair, as she ran her fingers in his hair, with his head in between her legs. Marlena threw her head back and began to moan, she was near climax and he had not even entered her yet. John pressed his tongue in and out of her slit, he began to lick her, starting from her slit and moving up and pressing against her clit. It was not much longer when Marlena had her climax. She moaned as John began to lap up the juices that flowed from her body.

 

John could feel her body shaking from pleasure, he liked it. He was going to make her shake and climax even harder. John got back up on his feet as he kissed her lips and this time he drove his hard centre against hers, pressing into her as they kissed. Marlena could feel his manhood on her, and she took her opportunity to please him, as she began to rub on his erection with one hand. She started to undo the buckle over his jeans when he threw her wandering arms over her head and held them there, as he continued kissing her. They were having it his way; and only he knew what he wanted. Marlena grasped, John had never been this forceful with her before. John grabbed Marlena with both hands on her rear, and lifted her into the air. Marlena instantly wrapped both legs around his waist as he carried her onto the bed. Once he got there he let go of her dropping her onto the bed. He climbed on top of her body. Kissing her lips and all over as he pressed down on her body he wanted her to feel his erection within her, still with his clothes on. And she did, he nearly entered her too. Her wetness was all over the crotch of his pants. Finally he pulled off his shirt, as Marlena ran her nails over his chest. She had worried she would never get to be with her husband again, she was so happy to be able to feel his body again like this. John lay back down on her and kissed her; the weight of his body on top of her pressed her breasts against his chest. He grabbed hold of her and turned her over so that she would be on top. And whispered into her ear

 

“Pull them off.” He was ready to be just as naked as she was.

 

And with that Marlena began to kiss his chest with more kisses each a little further down, until she made it to his jeans. She straddled him as she undid the belt, the button and the zipper. With one hand Marlena grabbed a hold of John’s erection and pulled it out from under the clothes leaving it in full view. She pulled both his jeans and boxers off as John kicked off his shoes and socks. Although, she was ready to feel him within her, she wanted to taste him again before he did enter her. She began to stroke him up and down. After a few moments Marlena had him in her month and began to work up and down, sucking and licking. John was loving every moment of it with his head laid back on the bed, smiling. She was doing exactly as he wanted. She swirled her tongue on top of the head of his penis, and played with his testicles in her hand, rubbing them and toying with them. And finally she did what John loved the most, she held him entirely in her mouth. It had taken a few times but Marlena had finally mastered it. John groaned, as Marlena gave him deep throat. Clearly even the mercenary enjoyed their sex. John felt himself ready to explode, but he was not done with her body yet. So he sat up and cupped her face bring it to his as he kiss her lips, he could taste himself on her lips and it drove him wild. He threw her on her back as he climbed on top and entered her hard. Marlena let out a little scream as he entered her deep and hard. Hearing her scream made him even more with desire. His erection was as hard as a rock with her body. With each thrust Marlena thought she could not take anymore. She started to moan with each pump. She wrapped her legs over John and rocked her hips with each thrust to ease the pain and house him better. It helped but he was still thrusting into her hard.

 

“John!” Marlena said screaming in pain and pleasure.

 

Hearing her scream out his name only made him want to go harder and faster. There was a thumping sound; it was the bed being slammed against the wall with every thrust. This was rough sex, just as John liked it. Marlena dug her nails into John’s back all over leaving his back red with scratch marks. John drove deep into her; he loved the way her body felt around his penis. She was soft and warm, tight and wet. “No wonder you’re my wife” John thought as he kissed her lips again. It was while making love to her that he realized she was really as great as he imagined her to be in his dreams. John felt himself ready to climax and knew she was about to too, so he pulled out and turned her around so she was on all four as he entered her again. He thrust even harder than before; Marlena was in a mix of ecstasy and agony. His pumping hit right on her g spot and it was much longer until they were both on the verge of climaxing. Marlena bore down as she relished in the feeling of his penis tapping on her g spot. Her eyes were half open and her breathing was fast. His tempo was quickened even further, but he was not going to climax until he felt her tremble. It was not much long until Marlena moaned and pressed her body back against John’s as she climaxed hard, so hard she felt as if she was going to wet herself.

 

“mmm…. John… ahh.”

 

Instead her juices flowed down out of her and onto John’s cock as her body trembled both on the outside and on the inside where John could feel her most. His face was so focused, with sweat dripping all over his body; but as he felt her coming he smiled and finally let himself release into her. He took his time with his final few pumps; he drove deep and released his juices into her. He let out a moan and whispered her name with his final thrust.

 

The both fell on to the bed and were panting hard from their love making. John lay back and held Marlena in his arms as she placed her head on his chest. John began to smile and then his joy boiled into laughter. The laughter was contagious as Marlena began to laugh too.

 

“That was wild.” He said still laughing.

 

“It always is.” Marlena said still laughing too.

 

And it was then that John stopped laughing, he did not remember them making love before and it hurt him. John sighed and got up off the bed pulled his boxers back on, and walked to the window. Leaving Marlena on the bed wondering what had happened to break the mood.

 

“John, was it something I said?” Marlena asked as she pulled the sheet covering her naked body.

 

John did not answer her question; he just opened the window and took a deep breath of the fresh air that came through the window. She got out of the bed pick up his shirt and wore it, and smelt him through the shirt. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his back.

 

“Tell me what’s wrong, John, don’t shut me out.”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“John I know you, it’s not nothing. Tell me what’s the matter and we’ll get through it.” It was then that the worst thing possible came to her mind. “Were you with another woman?” Marlena asked holding her breath knowing that to John the mercenary women were casual and frequent.

 

“No. I wasn’t”

 

Marlena sighed it was a relief. “Then what is it John? You can tell me anything.”

 

John took and deep breath and turned around to face Marlena and looked her in the eyes as he began to speak. “Marlena I don’t remember us. I don’t remember us making love before, I don’t remember us as a family and I don’t remember our kids. It’s the not remembering that is killing me because even before I knew you existed I loved you.” Marlena’s eyes wided as John said those words. “I love you Marlena, and it scared the heck out of me, because I’ve never loved anyone before.”

 

“Oh John.” Marlena said as tears of joy began to fall.

 

“I want to protect you, I want to make you happy, I want to find our son, I want to be a family; I want us to be together, always. I love you Marlena with everything in me.” John released.

 

“I love you.” Marlena said back as wrapped her arms around John. John picked her up and this time place her gently back onto the bed and climbed in. They lay in the sheets wrapped in each other’s arms as they both drifted off into sleep.John and Marlena both slept contently wrapped in each other’s arms. It was as John started to drift into his deep slumber that he started to remember. He did not remember everything of his life with Marlena, but rather his dreams revealed a very special moment of it; the birth of their son. With all that Stefano had done to him there was still a great part of his subconscious mind that was connect to both his wife and his children, a connection that could never be broken.

 

The memory started; it was mid March when Johnathan was born. John remembered waking to the sound of radio on the alarm clock. The person speaking said that the forecast had called for a cool sunny day with showers at night, but that was not how the day played out. He shut off the radio before it woke Marlena up. She had not been resting well during her last trimester; he wanted her to enjoy the little sleep she got. She was nearing the end of the eight month, and the baby was due in another 2 weeks or so. April 3rd was the due date, Marlena and John both decided not to know the sex of their baby; they wanted to be a surprise.

 

John stretched as he quietly got out of bed. He looked over at Marlena who was still sleeping peacefully, he smiled as he looked down at her ever growing belly; it would not be much longer until they had another baby in the house. He headed into the bathroom, where he quickly shaved and showered. He was already late for work as it was; Marlena and John had been up late the night before planning out the nursery. It was almost done; there were just the finishing touches left. When John got back Marlena was awake sitting up on the bed, with her hands on her belly, smiling happily. She was just beautifully glowing throughout the pregnancy.

 

“You’re up” John said surprised.

 

“Yeah, I guess the baby realized you were gone, and decided they weren’t happy with their daddy being and started to kick me.” Marlena said.

 

“Aw honey. Try to go back to sleep, you need your rest.” John said as he walked over and kissed the top of her head. “Is the baby still kicking?” He asked

 

“Yes.” Marlena said as she took his hand and placed it in the spot that the baby was kicking against. And it was then that John felt the little bump against his hand, it was like magic; his baby was in Marlena, growing, living, and kicking within her frame. He smiled, he loved this; Marlena placed her hand over his and for a moment it was as if the three were connected in this touch. Life had a way of making the greatest moments feel the shortest and the worst feel like an eternity. And just like all great moments, this one did not last much longer, as he heard the ringing of his cell phone.

 

“Are you going to answer that John?” Marlena asked

 

“I don’t want to.” John answered truthfully with his hand still place on Marlena’s belly; he did not want to leave this moment of connection with his child.

 

“Don’t worry John, the baby and I will be here when you get back. So go answer that phone and get to work, you’re already late.” Marlena said smiling.

 

John took a deep breath in and out and went to answer his cell. It was his secretary telling him that the board meeting was about to start in 20 minutes with the Japanese design firm that was looking to bring their fashion accounts over to Basic Black. John said he would make it on time. And with that he kissed Marlena, and kissed her belly, telling both of them good bye as he dashed out of the room and out the penthouse.

 

He remembered getting on to the road and noticing the flurries that drizzled the sky. He turned on the radio to hear the traffic report: he needed a miracle to get to work in time for the meeting.

 

“Sudden winter storm warnings for the city of Salem and surrounding areas, 6- 12 inches of snow expected by late afternoon.” The radio announced as soon as John turned it on. “Odd that’s not what they said before.” He thought, but John did not worry about it too much, March always had crazy weather in store. His mind was more focused on getting to the meeting in time.

 

He made it to the meeting and it went smoothly, the Japanese firm was impressed by the designs offered by Basic Black and had decided to invest.

 

John went over to shake the hand of Mr. Tzceiro; he was the head of the Japanese firm.

 

“Perhaps, Mr. Black you will join us for some drinks after work, to celebrate this new deal between our two companies.” Mr. Tzceiro said as he went to shake John’s hand

 

“Oh, I would have loved to, however, my wife is pregnant and due soon, so after work my place is with her.” John answered truthfully, thinking of Marlena alone in the house. She had been on maternity leave since her seventh month when her doctor told her it was time to take it easy.

 

Mr Tzceiro smiled. “That is good, family is most important in life. I am quite impressed. I have three children myself; how many do you have Mr. Black?”

 

“Five” John answered without hesitation, in his heart Carrie, Eric and Sami, were as much his children as Brady or Belle. “My wife is pregnant with number six.” John continued.

 

“Wow, big family.”

 

“Yes, although we never planned for it, but we enjoy every moment of it.”

 

“Well here Sir, take this” Mr. Tzceiro said as he pulled a cigar from his inside pocket and offered it to John. “Congratulations.”

 

“Oh I could not accept that, but thank you.”

 

“This is the finest Cuban; for you to smoke after you’re wife gives you that new baby.”

 

“Thank you.” John said as he accepted the man’s gift.

 

With another account successfully under the control of Basic Black, John headed back to his office. The once clear window view that he was accustom to now was a white blur. The snow was coming down hard, and the wind howled against the window panes. John thought of Marlena as he stood at the windows that ran from the floor to the ceiling, wondering what she was doing. He wanted to be back at home; be just as they were earlier with his hand over her belly. He smiled as he remembered the feeling of bumping against his hand. He sighed and got back to work. He turned on his laptop. And started to work, it was not much longer when the lights shut off and John noticed that the wireless on his computer did not have a signal anymore, and the adapter on his charger was not working. He got out of his office only to find that all the power had been shut, only the emergency lights, powered by the building’s generator, were working. Then he heard someone say that the radio had noticed a black out over the city of Salem due to the storm. It was then that John left, he needed to be with Marlena. She was all coped up in the penthouse all alone, and now with no electricity. He rushed to the elevators; they were still working on the power of the generator. He got to his Yukon, and turned on the radio which confirmed that there was no power in the city of Salem. The highways and streets were riddled with pile ups due to this freak storm. John struggled to keep the car on the road and felt himself skid once or twice before he made it home. None of the street lights at the intersections were working, and all of them had been turned into a four way stop, which made the trip even longer. The fastest John dared to go was 20 miles per hour. The roads were covered in thick snow and ice, the visibility was poor, with snow and gusting winds. John finally made it to the apartment, and parked underneath. John was surprised by the intensity of the storm and how fast it had progressed. Of course an even bigger surprise was waiting upstairs for John.

 

“Marlena!” John shouted as he got into the house. The house was darkened with the power being out. He heard nothing but a deep moan from upstairs; it was Marlena. John ran up the top of the stairs and heard Marlena breathing in and out deeply as he ran to their room. He got into the room and saw Marlena sitting up in their bed, still breathing deeply.

 

“What is the matter, Doc?” John said with a worried look on his face as he got to her side.

 

“I’m in labour, John. My water broke two hours ago, just before the lights cut out.” Marlena moaned as she felt another contraction. After she continued “I called you on my cell, because the coreless phone is dead, but I could not get through. I called 911 and the dispatch said that all the ambulances and emergency services were out around the city attending other emergencies. I called kids and they are all at home safely, I didn’t tell them I was in labour. I just wanted to make sure they were okay.”

 

John smiled knowing that even though she was in the middle of giving birth to one child her other children were still first in her mind. “Well, I’m here.”

 

“We’re going to do this.” Marlena said as she smiled.

 

“No you’re going to do this; I’m going to try to help out.” John said jokingly.

 

“You better help mister, you’re the one who- ahhh” Marlena shouted out at the end in pain over a surprise contraction.

 

“Okay honey. I’m here; you just save your energy.”

 

“I guess this baby is not going to wait until the 3rd?” Marlena said with a light smile on her tired face.

 

“No, I guess not.” John said as he laughed a little. This was not how he envisioned his day when he woke this morning, but he was not disappointed. He only wished that he could have had more time with a pregnant Marlena. Both realized that this was the last baby they were going to have, and had relished in every moment of this pregnancy.

 

John stayed by her side the whole night, leaving only once, to get supplies; clean sterile sheets, a pack of water bottles, candles, towels, and finally scissors. The room was beautifully light with candles and it was just Marlena and John delivering their baby. The snow kept falling outside and the wind kept blowing; but inside both of them were focused on the delivery of their baby.

 

To pass the time in between contractions they came up with names for the baby. Marlena’s labour progressed nicely it was now a little pass mid night on March 17th as Marlena entered the last stages of labour.

 

“Lana, for a girl” John said as he read out the names from a baby book, reading under the letter L.

 

“No.” Marlena said

 

“Lance for a boy.”

 

“No.”

 

“Wow, we haven’t got any names for our baby yet. And you keep turning down each one I suggest.” John said. “We clearly don’t have much longer. So I’m going to read faster and you just tell me when to stop. Laura, Leigh, Lex, Lillian, Lindsay, Lionel”

 

“Wait, wait.”

 

“Lionel? I got to say Marlena it’s not my first pick.”

 

“No, no, not Lionel, Lillian. I like it; Lilly.”

 

“Lillian Black, Lilly Black, Lilly- I like it, too.” John smiled

 

“Good now lets get a boy name before we run out of time- Oh ahhh” Marlena threw her head back and settle for another deep contraction. There baby was going to be born where it was created, in their bed. “It’s time John. I need to start pushing” she informed John as the contraction ended.

 

“Okay, get ready then, and start pushing on the next one.” John said as he focused on the task at hand, helping to deliver this baby and keeping his wife as comfortable as possible.

 

Marlena smiled as she saw in John face just how determine he was. “I love you, John.”

 

“I love you too Marlena” he said as he leaned in for a sweet kiss, and as the kissed ended Marlena screamed out.

 

“Is it starting?” John asked, asking the obvious.

 

Marlena simply nodded yes.

 

“Okay hold my hand breathe in and push.” John said taking hold of the situation. He began to count to ten. “ …5 …6 ..7…8…9 …10” And as he reached ten Marlena breathed out.

 

“Okay Doc, take a few breaths in and get ready to push okay?”

Marlena looked at him and nodded.

 

Another contraction started and John counted again. “…10!” And she took another breathe out.

“I see the top of the head, Marlena only a few more pushes.” John exclaimed.

 

Marlena smiled, their baby was coming.

Another contraction start and John counted as he reached for the head.

 

“I SEE OUR BABY!” John shouted happily. “One more push Doc, just one more, you’re doing so good Doc.” Marlena nodded, she was feeling very tired and drained but she mustered up her last bits of strengths for this final push. She bared down as it started.

 

“Push push push push push” was all he could manage to say as he couched her on grabbing the little person that was coming out of her. With that last push the baby was out and in his arms as he heard the sequels of his baby in his arm, Marlena threw her head and relished in the sound of the cries. John grabbed the scissors and cut the cord separating mother from baby. John checked to see the sex of the baby.

 

“IT’S A BOY!” He yelled out in excitement.

Marlena threw her to hold her new baby, her son, their son. John placed the naked baby in her arms; she pulled him close on to her chest, on to her beating heart. And as the baby heard her heartbeat, he stopped crying. John placed a towel over their baby.

 

“Johnathan” She said softly looking down at her baby loving.

 

“Johnathan” John repeated confirming that would be their son’s name as he smiled.

He looked at Marlena and she looked back as him, both with smiles on their faces.

 

“I love you, Marlena.” John said looking into her eyes.

 

“I love you too, Daddy.” She said just before John leaned in for a kiss.

 

“So, Johnathan; let your old man have a look at you.” John said as he reached out to hold his son. Marlena gently handed him over to John. John wrapped the baby in the towel as he carried him. He was so delicate; John bounced a little as he held Johnathan. He stared at his son in amazement. Never had he been so happy. This was different then the birth of both Brady and Belle, although it did not take away from either, both of their births had be under different circumstances, this was different, in a good way. He examined his little fingers and toes, and saw that he had gotten his blue eyes and his head was still bald.

 

“He is perfect, Marlena, just perfect.” He said as he still stared at their son. John looked at Marlena, her eyes were closed but he could tell right away that she not asleep. And right away his gut turned.

 

“Marlena.” John said, not wanted to disturb her just in case she was resting. But he got no response.

 

“Marlena! MARLENA!” He screamed panic.

The bed was covered in blood. It was expected with the birth and the placenta, but the amount he saw worried him. It was a deep puddle of blood, much more then he remembered with the birth of Brady or Belle.

 

He placed Johnathan in the bassinette that was already waiting in their room. Marlena had wanted it there for the first few weeks after the after delivery. He rushed to her side.

 

“Marlena wake up.” Nothing, there was no response. “Doc, come on Hun, you’re scaring me, open your eyes, baby.”

 

John grabbed her hand and it was lifeless.

 

“OPEN YOUR EYES!” John demanded. The happiest moment of his life turned into the scariest. “Please Marlena, wake up” He pleaded this time. Tears began to fill into his eyes as a brief idea of his future flashed before him. Raising their baby without her terrified him.

 

John began to feel panicked as he felt for a pulse and lean in to hear a breath. Both were very faint and he saw her lips being to go blue, her body was pale, and so was her face. It was clear that she had lost a lot of blood and was fading fast. Her touch was cold.

 

It was then that John could take no more of the dream and woke up in a panicked sweat, breathing hard and deep. His eyes flashed open, and he was relieved to see Marlena still asleep with him in the bed. He felt her warm body against his. Marlena felt John’s movement in her sleep and woke soon after. She saw the worried look on his face.

 

“John, what’s the matter?”

 

“Your lips were blue, you’re skin was pale. You had just given birth but you were half dead.” John said in terror recalling his new found memory.

 

Marlena could tell he remember the night of Johnathan’s birth.

 

“You’re right, I did nearly die, but you saved me. You got the paramedics just in time before it was too late. I’m alive because of you John. You save me.”

 

Marlena hugged John reassuring him that she was okay now. He held her tight, breathed in her scent and tried to calm down. And hold on to the memory of Johnathan’s birth and their love.

John and Marlena got dressed and ready to leave the hotel room soon after they woke up. They had work to do, and that work meant finding their son. There was newspaper placed outside their suite door. Marlena picked it up as they left room, and her heart began to pound. It was John on the front page of the newspaper.

 

“John, look.” That was all she could say in her stunned disbelief.

 

He grabbed the paper from her hand. He was on the front page of this French newspaper, although John could not speak French fluently; he knew what the article entailed. There was a man hunt in the city of Paris for his alias, Blake Holden, for the murder of four people last night. Stefano had sold him out; he had gone to the police with not only the information about the death of the operative and also the death of the three other men he had killed the night before. He had gone against Stefano’s wishes and now he was going to pay the price.

 

“Damn it.”

 

“What is it John? Why are you on the front page?”

 

“Stefano wants me; he is setting me up to take the fall for the murders. In the past when I killed for him, he has made sure my name stayed clean and out of the police records. But now he has turned me in, he has informed them of those four men I killed. He wants me stopped and it doesn’t matter whether it’s his people or the cops are the ones that do it. Marlena we have got to get out of here quick.”

 

He grabbed Marlena’s hand and rushed out of the hotel and into the parking lot. Instead of going to his Jaguar, he broke into a parked cab and hot wired it. They could not drive the Jaguar around it could easily be traced back to him, it was too noticeable, they needed the cab. The cops would not check the cabs and neither would Stefano’s men.

 

“Sit in the back Marlena. I’m your driver today.” John said wanting to make his disguise as a cab driver as real as possible.

 

“John, if the police do you really think it is wise to steal a car? Why don’t we just take your car?” Marlena enquired confused as to why John would take such a risk.

 

“The cops are going to be trancing that car back to me, probably right now as we speak. Blake Holden, that’s the name that Stefano gave me for this mission, that’s the name that the car is registered under, and that iss the name of the man that the cops are looking for.”

 

“You’re Blake Holden?” Marlena question remembering the man at the hotel saying that there was another Salemite by that name staying there, all this time it was John.

 

“Yes, that was my identity for this mission, why?”

 

“It doesn’t matter, Never mind.”

 

“Okay let’s get going.” John said getting ready to put the cab in drive.

 

John pulled up to the bank, the account was already set and there was the 10 000 Euros waiting inside.

 

“Okay Marlena, go to the first teller, ask for Marc, tell him John sent you. He’ll know what to do.” John said as he parked the car and looked back at Marlena in the rear.

 

Marlena went into the bank alone and calmly did all as John said, even though underneath she was a bundle of nerves. She when to the teller and asked for Marc. The man can up to the front and handed her a briefcase, without any questions.

 

“Tell John we’re even.” The man simply said as he handed over the briefcase.

 

Marlena nodded and headed back outside in the cab where John was waiting.

 

“He says you’re even.” Marlena said as she entered the cab

 

“Yeah, he says a lot of things, but we’re not even close to being even. So did you get the money?”

 

“Yes, here it is.” Marlena dropped the brief case on the front passenger seat from the back seat.

 

“Good job.” John opened the briefcase it was all there 10 000 Euros. “Okay Marlena, were going to have to lay low for the rest of the day. Tonight I’ll go into the DiMera mansion; it is near the city boarder. I know that’s where Stefano is probably staying. And knowing Stefano he will probably be holding our son there too.”

 

“Okay so what do we do now John?” Marlena inquired about their next step in finding their son.

 

“We go to the park.”

 

“The park? Why the park?”

 

“Because it is the best place where we can lay low for the day. If we stay in the city there is a chance that we could get stopped by the police. And if we rush over to the DiMera mansion now will be stopped by his people miles before we make it. Plus the park is busy, if DiMera has someone watching us already, they won’t be able to make a move in such a public place.”

 

That was exactly what they did; they headed to the nearest park. They got out of their stolen cab; as they got out John went into the backseat and got Marlena’s laptop; the one he had taken from her room as they escaped the hotel the other night.

 

“Why do you have that?” Marlena questioned; a beautiful park in Paris- a laptop seem out of place.

 

“I was watching you last night” John confessed “I saw you watching the video on your computer. And I was hoping you had more of those on here” John said with an intense longing to know the family he thought he never had.

 

“Of course I do” Marlena smiled as she came to a picnic table and sat down. She could tell how much he longed to remember. “In fact I’ve got one you’d really like.” She said as she pat the bench motioning for him to sit next to her as she clued the video.

 

“Brady you got the camera ready?” John asked excitedly grinning from ear to ear.

 

“Yeah dad, everything is set.”

 

“Good, good, cause I want to get her reaction- she is going to be so surprised. Alright everyone I just wanted to thank you all for coming over – I know she is running a little late but I was just talking to her and she said she was entering the garage- so she should be up here any minute now.” It was a surprise party for Marlena to celebrate their marriage- life was better now- they were happier than ever before; Stefano had not torn them apart and John wanted to celebrate the good times with family and friends. The penthouse was packed with family and friends they held near and dear.

 

It was not much longer that there was a jingling of keys outside the door, as Marlena opened the door everyone let out a great big

“SURPRISE!”

 

Marlena stood wide eyed and shocked. She had not been expecting this in the least; it was all John’s doing.

 

John wrapped his arm around his wife. “Mrs. Marlena Evans Black- you make me the happiest man in the world, so this celebration is for you and us, I love you” John said just before he leaned in to kiss her lips. And there was an “awe” released from the crowd as they kissed “So were you surprised?!” John said in an excited tone.

 

“The second most surprised I’ve ever been” Marlena said smiling.

 

“Only the second most?” John said a little disappointed seeing as he had gone through all this trouble.

 

“Yes, the first most surprised I’ve ever been happen a little while earlier, and it’s the reason why I was late coming home from work…” Marlena said explaining her tardiness to both John and their guests.

 

John looked at her completely confused- he had no clue where she was going with this

 

“You see I had a very important appointment and I got back some life altering news…” Marlena continued.

 

“So what is it?” John asked perplexed beyond belief.

 

“Yeah! Tell us already!” Maggie yelled from the crowd and everyone let out a laugh.

 

“Okay, okay” Marlena said as she prepared to tell John and everyone else what her news was. She took a breath in and out. “John, I’m pregnant! We’re having a baby! Surprise!”

 

John’s jaw dropped as everyone else cheered. Soon his stunned faced turned a huge smiled as he took his wife in for an embrace.

 

“There you go again Doc, just when I thought our life, our love, was as good as it gets you go and make me ever happier.”

 

“Well, I believe you had a hand in this too.” Marlena said smiling placing a hand over her still flat belly.

 

“Doc, I love you”

 

“I love you too, John.” Marlena said just before they kissed, and all their guests cheered, as the video clip came to an end.

 

“We were really happy weren’t we?” John asked Marlena as he turned to face Marlena.

 

“Yes, we have a fairytale, an unbelievable life; we’re blessed in everyway imaginable. John, we have over come the unimaginable time and time again only to come out stronger then before. Our love has always been there throughout even when the fates had separated us. Even to this day, this moment, my love for you grows; I want you to know that even though you don’t have your memory of us- I love you and nothing will change that fact and I’m going to stand by you forever. ” Marlena said with such strong conviction.

 

John looked a her for a moment in silence, he did not quiet know how his life had changed, once he had been so alone, and now the thought of having this family and this beautiful woman beside him as his wife made him the happiest he ever remembered being. The cold exterior of the Pawn had started to melt by this woman’s touch. John looked at her and knew what he had to do- he kissed her lips as rain drops began to trickle down. Still in their kiss the clouds opened and poured out rain drops as the crack of thunder was heard in the distance. As the rain poured harder their kiss got more intense and passionate.