Belle Black sat against the balcony that bound the upstairs hallway of her home.
Glancing down at her parents, she swiped at the small tears that had begun to fall, keeping her sobs hidden within her throat. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she rested her head against them, her blonde hair falling delicately past her. Her mother’s laughter continued to float upwards as Belle watched her parents.
John had pinned his wife down on the couch as he continuously tried to feed her strawberries dipped in a frothy bit of whipped cream. Her laughter got the best of her as she spit them at him every time he placed it upon her delicate lips. Her shrieks and giggles made Belle sob a little harder, not even noticing the presence of her brother standing behind her. Placing his hand upon her shoulder, she jumped slightly, looking up at him. Her bright cobalt eyes stared back at him, as he gently took her hand, and guided her towards his bedroom.
Sitting down on his bed and lightly patting the spot next to him, she placed herself cross legged on the plaid comforter. Reaching his hand up to wipe his sister’s tears, he opened his mouth to speak when Belle interrupted him.
“I’m fine,” she whispered, “I just … I just got done watching ‘Message In A Bottle.’ I can’t help it, the end kills me every time,” she said, putting on a faux smile.
Looking into her eyes, Brady shook his head as he placed his hand on his sister’s knee.
“Why do you think that after eighteen years lying to me is going to work? It didn’t when you were five. It didn’t when you were eight. It didn’t when you were thirteen, or sixteen … so what makes you think I suddenly won’t know when you are covering something at eighteen? I’m not Dad and Marlena, Belle. You can’t hide things from me. Now come on, what’s up?”
Turning away from her brother, Belle gazed out the window and into the horizon. The sun had begun to fade only moments before, the sky cast with hues of violet and orange. Getting lost in the skyline, her tears began to blur her vision as she gently swatted them away. Still not turning to look at Brady, she began to speak, her voice soft and frigid.
“Did you ever just sit and watch Dad with my Mom?” Belle asked softly. “I mean did you ever just look at their every move when they didn’t realize it? The way they look at each other. The way he holds her. Sometimes they’ll just be sitting there. Mom will be reading the paper and Daddy will be going over some business papers and he’ll just look over at her. She never notices and it’s only for a moment but my God, Brady … that look. It’s so tender. He just sits there and smiles at her like she is everything in his world. And the way he kisses her … he just … he treats her so delicately and so perfectly. Girls grow up hoping to fall in love. We all want that Prince Charming … the one who sweeps us off our feet. The one who would slay any dragon to rescue us. The one who will ride in on his white horse and ride us off into the sunset. And when you fall in love, you realize that it’s just a silly fantasy. These men don’t exist … it’s just the movies. But Daddy … Daddy is that man. He is the Prince Charming. The one who will save his wife just because he knows that nothing in his world will make sense without her. I’m so jealous of her,” she sobbed. She looked up into her brother’s eyes for the first time since the beginning of her monologue. She placed her head on his chest as he lightly stroked her hair. “I miss Shawn so much, Brady. I watch Mom and Dad and I just … I keep thinking about how it would be if Shawn and I were like that. I thought I would be able to do this.
I graduate in a month. I’ll be off to New York in three. I’ve been keeping myself busy. I’ve even picked up a few extra shifts at the hospital, but Brady, I can’t do it,” she cried. “What am I supposed to do?”
Sighing lightly, Brady lifted her chin, their eyes locking. “You take comfort in all you do have, Belle. You take comfort in the fact that you have a family who adores you and loves you more than anything in this world. That you have friends who would do anything to see you happy. Tink, I know how much you are hurting. But you have to understand that Shawn Brady is not the only guy in this world. There are going to be a million more of them. And if you and Shawn are meant to be, then you will find your way back to each other. Look at Dad and Marlena … look at Bo and Hope. You need to have faith in life. You need to know that things happen for a reason no matter what that reason may be. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s the truth,” he said softly.
Nodding her head, she wrapped her arm around her brother’s waist. “I know. I love you, Brade.”
Smiling, he kissed her forehead. “I love you too, Tink. Come on,” he said standing up, reaching out his hand to her.
“Where are we going?” she asked confused.
“To spend some time with our parents,” he smiled, as he pulled her off the bed, dragging her out of the room.
“John, stop it!” Marlena giggled, trying to release herself from his grip. “This is unfair and you know it!” Pursing her lower lip, she managed to free herself from his hold, moving to the side of the couch. Crossing her arms over her chest, she grunted, throwing a pillow at him. “I’m done playing with you. Didn’t you ever pass kindergarten? You know the year you learned how to share!”
Moving closer towards her, John smiled. “I don’t know, Doc, I don’t remember the past,” he teased, igniting a smile to cross her lips. “Now come on, I’m sorry. I promise, I will share next time. Do you forgive me?” he asked innocently, inching closer to her.
Trying not to give into him, she glanced the other way, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t know. You’ll have to make it up to me …”
Turning her face towards his, he lightly kissed her lips, a soft moan escaping her lips.
“Am I forgiven yet?” he whispered.
“No,” she mumbled, her eyes closed, “try harder.”
Grinning, he kissed her more passionately this time, weakening every sense in Marlena’s body. Giving into him entirely, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he gently lowered himself on top of her. Gently gliding her shirt upwards, his hands roamed the soft sensation of her skin. Placing his lips next to her ear, he gently whispered to her, his voice filled with sentiment and desire. “I love you, Marlena.”
“Mmm, me too,” she responded, her head arched against the arm rest. Feeling his hands begin to roam the rest of her body, she groaned softly, the feel of his touch nearly electrifying her. Even after seventeen years, his touch still knew how to drive her wild with desire. He lifted her shirt above her head carefully, gently cupping her breasts in his hands as he continued to kiss her. “John,” she moaned, “the kids are home …”
“They’re upstairs,” he mumbled, barely paying attention to her words. “Don’t worry about it …”
Getting lost in the feel of his touch, she soon forgot about the children. Bringing his face over to hers, she stared into his eyes for a moment before tenderly kissing him. Lost in only each other, they never heard the soft footsteps that had slowly descended the staircase. It was only until both Belle and Brady screamed in unison that John and Marlena parted from their obvious escape.
Pushing John off of her, Marlena grabbed the afghan that was on the back of the couch, covering her partially nude body. Crimson colored her face as she looked up at her children sheepishly.
“I am so sorry,” Marlena apologized. “Um, your dad and I, we … I …” Hiding her head in shame, she covered her face in her hands before finally looking back up. “I’m really sorry.”
“Do you want us to go back upstairs?” Brady asked, a sly smile crossing his lips.
“No, of course not,” Marlena replied, grabbing her shirt that had fallen onto the floor. She stood up, the afghan still wrapped tightly around her and turned to face her children once more. “I’m going to freshen up, I’ll be right back.”
Marlena jogged up the stairs, as Brady turned to face his father. “So Dad, what’s up?” he smirked.
John, who had remained silent the entire time, threw a crumpled napkin at his son.
“Shut up, Brady. You wouldn’t find this as funny if I had walked in on you with a girl.”
“But I must be smarter, because I wouldn’t do what you and Marlena were doing on the couch while my parents were home! Belle and I are sorry to have interrupted though.”
“I’m even more sorry we walked in on it,” Belle mumbled, glancing around the room.
An awkward silence filled the room as none of them made eye contact with each other. All embarrassed, they each took their own standpoint in the living room. Belle sat down at the mail table, consumed in the mail that lay upon the table. Brady stood at the balcony doors, a smirk on his lips as he glanced out over the city lights. And then there was John. He sat on the couch, engrossed in the hair on his arms, as he lightly ran his fingers through it.
“Wow, I can feel the tension in this room,” Marlena teased as she walked down the stairs, “I know what you walked in on was bad, but I guess I now know how to stun you all into silence,” she winked.
“Mom, Brady and I can leave you two alone,” Belle said quietly, “we really didn’t know … we’re sorry. We’ll just go out or something. Brady, wanna go see the new Richard Gere movie?”
Brady turned from the door and shrugged his shoulders. “Diane Lane naked? Sure, why not! Although I am not so sure I am into seeing breasts right now,” he mumbled.
Rolling her eyes, Marlena walked over to him and gently swatted his arm. “Shut up, Brady. Now look, your father and I are sorry. And we don’t want you to leave, do we, John?”
John looked up at his wife, a sheepish grin on his face. “Well …”
“John,” she warned.
“No, of course not. Come on and sit down! There’s enough strawberries and whipped cream for everyone.”
Raising her eyebrow in true Black tradition, Belle sat down on the couch and pushed the bowls away from her. “No, that’s okay. Brady and I know how *important* that stuff is to you. Really, are you sure you don’t want us to leave?”
“Yes, of course,” Marlena interjected before John could speak. “Now what’s up?”
Laughing at his earlier comment, Brady shrugged his shoulders, smiling. “Not too much. Belle and I were just talking and decided we wanted to spend a little time with you. What about you two?” Realizing what he had walked in on, Brady shuddered and laughed. “I’m sorry, I … I forgot.”
“Okay, how about we change the subject,” John interrupted. “So who saw Friends last week?”
Giggling softly at her father’s need to change the subject, Belle leaned back up against the couch. “They were so close to naming the baby, Isabella. My name is just so popular,” she gloated.
“But they didn’t,” Brady replied, “so I guess it’s not as popular as you tend to believe.” Sticking her tongue out at him, she moved closer to him. “Oh yeah? Well it’s better than Brady!”
Enjoying the banter between them, John wrapped his arm around Marlena’s waist as her head carefully placed itself on his shoulder. Finally speaking up, John interrupted them.
“You know, baby names aren’t exactly easy to come up with. I myself find it kind of offensive you don’t like your names,” he teased.
“I love my name,” Belle said softly, “it has meaning.”
“Yes it does,” Marlena replied, “you were an angel named for an angel …”
Brady looked up at Marlena and smiled warmly at her, reaching out his hand to hers. She squeezed it gently as small tears nestled in her orbs. Wanting to break the sense of sadness in the room, Belle spoke.
“Well, I know what I want to name my child if I have a girl. Wanna hear it?”
“As long as you’re not having a kid now,” John replied.
Rolling her eyes, Belle glared at him. “You need to be with someone to have a child and as you know, I am not. But thanks for rubbing it in,” she smiled as he laughed. “Okay, if I have a daughter, I am going to name her Joanna, after you,” she said softly, looking up at her father.
“What?” John asked shocked.
“Well, they always tell you to name your first born after someone really special to you. I have a lot of special people in my life, daddy. I have Mom, I have Brady, I have my other brother and sisters, but you … you have always been my hero. You teach me everyday that great people do exist. You show me that true love isn’t just some fantasy. Ever since I was seven, I promised myself that my first child would be named after you. Eleven years later, I still plan on following through with it.”
John wiped the tears that began to fall from his eyes and stood up, kneeling before his daughter. “I love you, Izzy. And I am so proud of you.”
“I love you too, daddy,” she smiled, wrapping her arms around her father.
“Okay!” Brady exclaimed, clapping his hands together. “Don’t I get to tell you the name of my first daughter?”
“You don’t know what you’re naming your daughter,” Belle responded.
“Oh contraire, little sister. I do know. Wanna hear it?”
“Sure,” Marlena smiled, wiping her tears, “it can’t be as sappy as that was.”
Smiling delightfully, Brady laughed. “Oh sure it can. Okay, as Belle said, you should name your child after someone who means a lot to you. Belle chose Dad because Dad was her hero. So for my daughter, I chose my hero … her name is going to be Isabella.”
“After your Mom,” Belle whispered.
“After you,” he said softly.
Belle looked up at him with wide eyes, her voice caught in her throat. “What?”
“You’re my hero, Belle,” he said, stroking her hair. “Ever since we were younger, you had so much love and desire for everything in this world. You wanted to see it all, you wanted to be it all. I used to admire you so much when we were kids. You had a spunk for life that I envied so badly. And then I went away for a few years … I didn’t see you but we never lost touch. You would write me these letters telling me all about life and as the days would pass, I would just get more and more proud of you. Spending every day with you for the past two years made me even more proud than I thought possible. You have been through so much Tink and you just never give up. You fight, you stay strong, you never give up …”
“I never give up because I have you,” she whispered, crying softly.
“You remind me a lot of my Mom,” Brady continued, “from what Dad told me anyway. And between the two of you, there is no one else, I would rather name my daughter after.”
“Brady, that’s beautiful,” Marlena smiled.
Turning to look at Marlena, Brady grinned. “I didn’t forget you …”
“What?” she asked confused.
“No one ever asked me what my daughter’s middle name was going to be … it’s Marlena,” he said tenderly.
“Brady, you don’t have to do that,” she whispered.
“I know that. But I figure, I should at least name her after the three most important women in my life. Marlena, I know you and I have had our moments … I know that a lot happened between us and I will never fully be able to make up for all I have done. But I want you to know that I do … I do love you,” he said gently. “And I would be honored if my little girl could have a piece of you with her always.”
“Brady, I’m honored,” she whispered. Letting her tears fall freely, she stood up and leaned down, hugging him tightly. “I love you.”
Staying that way for a moment, Marlena broke away, kissing the top of his forehead. She went and sat back down next to John, his arm once again wrapping around her waist.
“And you, Doc?” he asked. “If we had another daughter what would you name her?”
Marlena laughed. “No way. I am not having another child.”
“Yeah, I know you tell me all the time,” John replied, rolling his eyes. “I said IF …”
“Fine, fine. Okay, I would have to say … Jaclyn,” Marlena smiled. “I think it’s beautiful …”
“You know, my first girlfriends name was Jaclyn,” Brady said.
“Jaclyn Ryerson,” John laughed. “I remember her. What were you in, second grade? She would come here and follow me around the house. I think she liked me,” John winked.
“All my girlfriends like you,” Brady responded, annoyed. “Do you know how many times I have heard, ‘Oh Brady, your dad is so gorgeous. Too bad he’s married.’ It is really irritating.”
“I get that too,” Belle laughed. “My girlfriends are always like ‘Belle, your dad is hot! Do you think he’ll stay with your mom forever? If he doesn’t, can I see him?'”
Marlena laughed, turning to John. “You better not leave for me an eighteen year old.”
“Oh, I get it about you too, Mom,” Belle laughed. ” ‘Your Mom is Dr. Marlena Evans Black? Wow, she is hot. Belle, your mom is such a MILF …”
“What’s a MILF?” Marlena asked.
“I’ll tell you later,” John smiled. Leaning into her ear, he placed his lips upon them, whispering. “I think you’re a MILF …”
“That better be something good, Black,” she laughed, nipping at his lips.
Belle stared at them for a few seconds before Marlena finally noticed. Adjusting her attention to her daughter, she smiled at her. “What is it?”
“You two just amaze me,” she said. “Even after all these years, you act like you’re still as in love with each other as you were in beginning.”
“It’s because we are,” Marlena smiled. “I fall more and more in love with your father as each day passes. That’s what true love is all about.”
“That’s a fact,” John replied.
“So how come you don’t want another child?” Brady asked curiously. “I mean, if you love each other so much, wouldn’t you want another one? I know Dad wasn’t there when you were pregnant with Belle, so why not?”
“Yeah why not?” John nagged.
Marlena looked up at John, slapping his arm. “Thanks a lot, John. Besides, I’m forty-seven years old, I don’t even know if I can still get pregnant. I mean I guess, I can, there is nothing stopping me but I don’t know … Not to mention, I am way to old to get up at three in the morning for feedings. And labor … I am not going through labor again. Four times is way more than enough.”
“Technically, it was three,” John teased her.
“Oh shut up. You would not be able to make it through five minutes of labor.”
“Honey, if I could have a baby for you, I would,” he smiled.
“Because you don’t have to do it,” Belle laughed. “It would be great to have another baby around here, but I totally understand where Mom is coming from.”
“Oh, have you had a baby?” Brady joked.
“Do you think I would still be alive if I had a kid at eightteen? Daddy would have killed me by now.”
“That’s a fact!”
“Dad, why do you say that?” Brady asked. “You sound stupid.”
Marlena laughed out loud, covering her mouth to stifle her giggles. “Oh God,” she laughed, “thank God someone said something about that!”
“And the eyebrow thing also, Dad,” Brady laughed. “What is with the eyebrow?”
“Do you know Hope does the same thing?” Belle smiled. “Shawn and I would always talk about that … like if it’s something you develop in Salem after being here for to long.”
“That’s what you and Shawn would talk about?” Brady asked, scrunching his nose. “Wow, that’s exciting.”
“Oh you’re funny,” she exclaimed sarcastically. “And all that opera talk with Chloe is just so interesting. Blah blah blah.”
“You’re a brat,” Brady replied.
“And you’re a jerk,” she smiled lovingly.
John leaned over towards his wife’s ear and gently whispered in her ear. A smile lit up on her face as she stood up. “Well kids, I leave you to argue amongst yourselves. I’m going to go upstairs and shower. See you soon, Sailor?” she whispered to John, winking at him.
Both Belle and Brady shriveled their noses in disgust. “Gross,” they replied in unison.
Marlena only laughed, holding her hand out to John. “Coming?”
“Yeah … sure,” he grinned, grabbing her hand. Pulling her up the stairs behind him, her shrieks vibrated the hallways as Belle looked over to Brady.
“Were you serious about that Brade? About naming your daughter after me?”
“Of course, I was. Maybe I don’t tell you enough, but you are my hero, Belle.”
“And you are mine,” she whispered, laying her head on her brother’s chest.
“Do you really want another child that badly?” Marlena asked, as they reached the door to their bedroom.
“Of course, I do,” John said tenderly. “Look down at them,” John said pointing to Belle and Brady on the couch below. “How can you not want that all over again? I know you don’t want another baby and I do understand that. I just adore you and love you so much, Doc. And another child would only prove how much.”
A smile lit up on her face as she took his hand. “Well maybe we can try to have another child,” she grinned, “Under two conditions.”
“I’m listening …”
“If I get pregnant, you have to stop saying That’s a fact and stop raising that eyebrow of yours.”
“I think I can do that and that’s a fact,” he winked.
“John!”
“Hey, you aren’t pregnant yet, now are you?”
“Shut up and kiss me,” she smiled as she opened the door.
Pulling her to him, he kissed her passionately as they fell onto the bed, soft moans escaping Marlena’s mouth.
Belle looked over at Brady and laughed, standing up. “Think we should close their door?”
“Do you want to see what we saw earlier?” Brady asked.
“No way. Wanna go see that movie?”
“If we get to leave here? Definitely,” he laughed.
Pulling him up, they both walked out of the penthouse smiling. “I’ll bet you five dollars, it’s a girl,” Belle said.
“You wish. She’ll have a boy.”
“Five dollars …”
“You’re on,” Brady laughed, shaking her hand as they got onto the elevator.
The End
The Jarlena Journal 