One Night Stand – By Selena

Marlena sat in a corner booth in the back of the Brady Pub with a million thoughts running wild through her head and with the words “Congratulations Ms. Evans. You’re going to have a baby” sounding over and over in her head. Her head started to spin and before she threw up, she laid her head on the table as another set of fresh tears began to trail down her already flushed cheeks.

She jumped slightly when she felt a soft touch on her shoulder. She looked up with tear filled eyes and looked into the friendly eyes of another young woman who also had a warm friendly smile.

“Hi, I noticed that you look a little upset.” She stuck out her hand. I’m Isabella.”

Marlena quickly swiped at her tears and tried to gain some composer and shook the other young woman’s hand.

“Hi, I’m Marlena. I’ll be okay. Just got some majorly shocking news I so wasn’t expecting to get today.”

“Are you okay? Care to talk about it? People say I’m a very good listener” Marlena gave her a weak smile.

“No… not really, but I’ll survive. I don’t really don’t feel like talking about it. I really just want to be by myself to absorb the information I got today. I really have a lot of thinking to do. ” Tears began to form in Marlena’s eyes.

Isabella handed her a few tissue from her purse. Marlena took them and smiled. “Thanks”

They sat there for a few moments before Marlena completely lost it.

“GOD…why am I crying over this? It’s not a big deal. Women do it all the time well not what I did, but they have ba…I so can’t even think straight.” Isabella sat quietly as Marlena to cry again and even harder. “Why am I crying…oh well, I mean… it’s just not every day that you go to the doctor for what you thought was a cold only to leave the doctor after finding out your pregnant which you thought you only had the flu. The worst part, this baby is the product of a one-night stand. What do you tell the child when they grow up asking about their father? I don’t know what he looks like, what his name was.

The only thing I remember was going to a party with my best friend and then waking up naked, with a pounding headache in some really nice fancy hotel room. ” Isabella’s jaw dropped at Marlena’s sudden outburst and Isabella was trying not to seemed shocked at the information she just blurted out to her, a complete stranger. “I knew I shouldn’t have gone to the dang party. But noooo…Hope had to talk me into it. All I wanted to do was stay in my apartment, cuddle up on my couch with my warm flannel pj’s and just study for my medical exams I had to take. I can’t be a doctor and try to raise an infant, toddler, a child all by myself!” She rubbed forehead brushing the falling tears off her face.

“I’m so sorry.” Isabella laid her hand on Marlena’s for comfort.

“Thanks, but it is so not your fault. I should have known better. I usually, no I mean I do have a level head on my shoulders.”

“We all make mistakes and some wrong choices sometimes.”

“Yea, but not something this big. This is not something that will just go away in 9 months after it is born. I have to care for, set morals, provide everything for this child for the rest of its life. I can’t do that if I can’t study and make the grades to get into medical school.”

“What about the father. Won’t he help you.”

Marlena laughed. “I guess you didn’t hear me earlier as I was rambling on and on. I got pregnant with a one-night stand. I have no idea what the guy’s name was or even if I remember what he looked like. I was so smashed. I had way too much to drink…”

Isabella placed her hand onto of Marlena’s “Oh my God. Marlena, he took advantage of you. He knew you were drunk and he took advantage of your drunken state and had sex with you. You can report that to dorm officials and maybe they can I don’t know do something about it.”

“How can they do something about it. I don’t have a description of what he looks like. I am sure he was drunk also. Everyone was drunk as a matter of fact. I do remember that much. We probably just got lost in the moment, the music was probably a song that…well here ya go, I am all knocked up!” Marlena flopped her head back down on the table crying. She lifted her head and wiped her tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to unload all my problems on you. I don’t usually tell strangers my problems. Especially something as stupid as getting pregnant with some John Doe at frat party.”

“It’s okay. I’m not going to judge you. I just noticed that you looked really upset when I walked in and usually when people are upset, talking about it sometimes makes them feel better.”

“Thanks, and I am okay. Really I am. So you go back to whatever you were doing when you walked in and saw poor pitiful me sitting over here crying in my clam chowder.”

“I am supposed to be meeting my boyfriend, but he’s late.” She looks at her watch. “As usual. He is never on time.”

“My last boyfriend was late all the time too. Then one night I was the one late showing up for a date, which was so not like me, and I found him making out with my best friend in the backseat of his car. In my driveway of all places! Well, she’s my ex- best friend. They would sure get a kick out of me now. Pregnant and not knowing who the daddy is. Thank heavens they are all the way on the West Coast in California.”

“Thank is so awful.” Isabella had her hand on her chest unable to fathom something like that happening.

“Yea, my life is just like one big soap opera these days. Welcome to The Days of my Life.”

“Yea it sounds like something you’d watch on those soaps.”

“Listen, thank you for the nice little chat. I do feel better. I…I… I’m not the kind of girl that sleeps around. This was by pure accident and if I was sober, it would not have happened. So, can we just keep this between us. I wouldn’t want it to get around that I’m easy, when I’m not.”

“Oh sure, yea no problem. I won’t say anything. It’s not my place to anyway. If you ever need anyone to talk to, I live across the street with my boyfriend’s sister and I go to Salem U.”

“Thanks. If my best friend, not the one I caught with my ex, but Hope, she’s been my best friend since we were in diapers. We actually enrolled here in Salem U together because we can’t stand to be apart. We do everything together. But, if her ears aren’t available for a listen, I’ll be sure to look you up.”

“Great!”

Isabella’s head turned when she heard the bells on the pub door chime. Marlena began gathering her stuff.

“There’s my man now.” Marlena looked up quickly, then back down and continued to gather her things.

“Thanks again, Isabella. I’ll see you around. I really got to go.” She gave Isabella a quick smile, glanced at Isabella’s boyfriend again without even making eye contact and out the door into the quite streets now not knowing what her future held

He watched the beautiful long legged blonde walk out the front door of the pub. He continued to watch her walk across the street and down the sidewalk until she disappeared from his view. She seemed somewhat familiar. She didn’t look up at him so he didn’t get a good look at her face, but there’s just something about her. He shook the thought out of his head. He thought to himself though that she must be new in town and wonder what a beautiful classy lady like that was doing here in a small town like Salem. He defiantly would like to run into her again. Maybe show her around the town. He continued to day dream about taking the blonde to all these really cool places, when he felt quick slap on his forearm bringing him out of his thoughts.

“Hello!” He turns his attention to the red head in front of him. “Hey there handsome” He placed a quick kiss on her cheek.

“Hey sweetheart.” He took her hand and led her over to the back booth.

“Where were you just then?”

“Huh. Oh, um I was at football practice.”

“No not then, just now. You were a million miles away. I called your name several times.”

“Oh I was just thinking…I mean, that blonde, she must be new? Do you know her?” He asked.

“I just met her. Here name is Marlena. By the way she was talking, yea, I think she is new or at least this is her first semester here. She and her best friend I think just transferred here. I didn’t ask from where, but I think I remember her talking about the west coast. I remember hearing some of your friends talking and describing two new Cali girls that just transferred here from UCLA about 10 weeks ago. She fits the description I guess.”

“OH that’s one of those California girls?” She gave him a look. He quickly thought of something to say “Oh oh.no no… I wasn’t thinking anything like that. I was just wondering…well I mean.” She smiled as he stumbled over his words choosing carefully what to say to not upset her. “Well Bo you know, my best bud is talking, dating or seeing whatever you call it her best friend. I guess. He said that Hope, I think her name is, is one of the girls that just transferred here with her best friend.” He looks back in the direction of the pub door. “So that’s that other girl. Bo said she looked really hot from the picture Hope showed him.”

“That’s Bo dating one, but lusting over the other”

“He said she was hot and my golly she sure is…” He was still looking at the door.

“Excuse me?!?!” Isabella said a little loud elbowing him in the stomach. She was getting ticked off that her boyfriend was daydreaming about another girl right there in front of her.

*~

Marlena flopped down on the couch in her apartment with a heavy sigh. She leaned her head back trying to piece anything from that party together. A name, a face something that would help her remember who it was that she slept with at that party and got her pregnant. She closed her eyes and thought back to the party she went to about 8 weeks ago.

~*flashback*~

Marlena and Hope walked into the frat house. It was like all heads turned. The two new chicks arrived and every guy wanted to be with them and every girl wanted to be them. They were both wearing a nice pair of leather pants. Marlena had on a really flattering fitted red, low cut, three quarter sleeved wrap shirt. Showing just enough cleavage to make the guys mouth water. Her hair was swept up in a loose French twist. She looked around at all the pairs of eyes on them and immediately wanted to turn a run.

The music was blaring and people were practically yelling just to talk to each other. Hope handed Marlena drink. A few guys came up to them wanting to dance, Hope turned them all down. ‘Thank God’ Marlena thought to herself. She hung by Hope’s side not letting her out of her sight.

“Hope, I really don’t want to be here. I think I might call a cab and head back to the apartment.”

“Oh no girlfriend” Hope pulled Marlena back to her side. “You keep your face buried in those medical journals almost 24/7 You are gonna take a much needed break have some fun!”

“Hope!” Marlena said sternly as Hope wondered off dancing with a few guys.

Marlena looked around the room at the all drunk individuals dancing thinking to herself that she really needed to get out of there because they are so going to be hating life in the morning. She grabbed a cup from the table and gulp down her drink and headed off for another.

“Excuse me. Can I have another cup of water?”

The guy smiled and poured her another cup. “Thanks!”

She gave the guy a smile and he nodded his head as she walked off looking for Hope. She chatted with a few people she knew from some of her classes. But they were beginning to get a little tipsy as was she. She sipped on her ‘water’ not knowing that it was not water she was drinking. She got another glass of ‘water’ by now she was feeling pretty good. A few guys asked her to dance and her beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol danced with them. An hour later and many… many glasses of ‘water’ later Marlena was smashed. She was laughing at the guys who were hitting on her, giving her some really cheesy pickup lines, and dancing with them.

Marlena stumbled forward into the arms of really cute, nicely built guy with a hard rock chest. She looked up into his eyes. They were the purest of blues. Marlena wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Careful their pretty lady. We wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself tonight.” He spoke and his voice was so masculine and soothing.

She looked up at him with lazy eyes “You sure are one handsome fella.”

He laughed “and you sure are one drunk beautiful lady.”

“Aww, you’re just saying that cause your just as drunk as I am.”

“Yea, you’re probably right but… You are a very pretty lady.” She cocked her head to the side looking at his very masculine features.

“You wanna dance?” She asked pressing herself against him not really giving him a choice to say no.

“Well, when you put it that way.” He pulled her out into the middle of the room and pulled her closer to him. The music played in the background and the beat took control and their bodies moved with the music perfectly. It was if their bodies were molded to fit together.

Marlena lifted her head off his shoulder. She ran her hands down his chest and over his muscular arms. Then back up to wrap around his neck. She tightened her hold around his neck.

“You play sports?”

“Excuse me?” He asked not able to hear her over the music.

Practically yelling at him. “I said, do you play sports?” She started running her hands down his chest again and over his shoulders, back down his arms. “I mean you’re just way to built not to. So I was wondering if you play any sports.”

“Actually I do. I play football but I also workout as much as possible. Got to stay in good shape for all the young beautiful tanned beauties around here, ya know” He ran his hands down her back finally resting them on her lower back.

“Who me…puhleeze.” She blew his comment off “Ya know, you also have some really gorgeous blue eyes. They are like the color of the sky.”

“And your quite drunk since our conversation has turned to my eyes being the color of the sky. How about I call you a cab. Do you know your address?”

“Um…of course I do. It’s…um.” Marlena scratched her head. “Well, uh…let me just find my friend Hope and she call tell us.” She went to walk off and lost her balance.

“How about I just take you back to my place. We’ve both had way too much to drink tonight, but I think I can find my way back to my place.” She nodded as he helped her out the front door trying to steady both her and himself.

Once outside he looked over at her puffing a piece of hair out of her face and started laughing.
“Do you know where you live?” She asked him as he looked both ways down the street and then back to her still trying to blow the hair out of her face.

“Uh…not really but look” A cab was driving up. “There is our carriage now”. Marlena looked at him and mouthed “carriage” Her head really began to swirl, she looked into his eyes before they climbed into the awaiting cab and before he even got the door shut, she passed out her head in his lap.

~*end flashback*~

Marlena held her head in her hands rubbing her temples. “Ugh, why can’t I remember?!”
She sat back “Good one Evans, real good one. All you can remember is his muscles and his sky blue eyes. Do you know how many blue eyed muscle guys go to this college?! Tons!” She threw her hands up in the air and let them flop down beside her. ” There has to be something else I remember about him.”

She closed her eyes trying to put herself back at the party, back in his arms back dancing with him. His face was a blur. But his voice, the way he spoke to her, it was so soothing. Maybe if she heard his voice again, she would know. And then if the voice matched the eyes then she’d know who it was that she fell into bed with at that frat party. She would know who the father of her child is. But, when she found out what was she going to do. What would she tell him?. What if he had a girlfriend, a wife. All these what if’s. For now, she needed to concentrate on finding her mystery man with the piercing sky blue eyes and the incredible masculine body.

Marlena was sitting in the living room on the phone with a few medical journals laying across her lap.

“Thanks Isabella for checking up on me. Yea, this week has been pretty tuff especially with Hope not around much anymore because of her new man.” Marlena closed the books in her lap. “What am I doing tomorrow night? Uh…nothing that I know of why?” Her face lite up. “A football game? Oh yeah I love football. What time does the game start?” She flips through a Parents magazine that she picked up at the store this past week. “Ooooh, so your boyfriend is the star player. The macdaddy, huh? Oh what’s his name um John Blue or something like that?” She laughs “Well I knew it was some color. So will I finally this time get to meet him? How many times this week did you say that I’d meet him and he never showed or I left before he showed up? What a loser! I’m so just kidding, just kidding.” The microwave in the kitchen beeps. “Alright, well I gotta go, my dinner is ready. I’ll see you Friday at around 6? Okay, great see you then! Bye!” Marlena hung up and she smiled to herself at all the things that Isabella had done for her in the week that she’s known her and how close they have gotten with Hope not being there to lend Marlena an ear.

Marlena grabbed her magazine and headed into the kitchen to eat her microwave dinner before settling in for the evening and do hours and hours of study for an upcoming medical exam she had.

*****
Friday night Marlena stood in front of her floor length mirror studying herself. She ran her hands through her hair and under her eyes fixing her make up. She stopped what she was doing when reality hit her again like it’s been doing lately and she ran her hand down over her still flat stomach. “I won’t be in these jeans to much longer.” She closed her eyes again trying to put a face or a name with the blue eyed mystery man she always saw when trying to think about the night at the party. “I know if I looked into those same blue eyes that I see in my dreams, then I’d know. I just know I would. I just wish that.”

Before she could finish her thought , the doorbell rang. She quickly buttoned her jeans, smoothed her shirt down, fixed her hair a bit more, and re-checked her make-up. She grabbed her purse and jacket before heading out the door to meet up with Isabella to head off to the game.

Once at the game Marlena looked around. “Wow, this place really does get into their football.”

Everything was decorating in the school colors. A band was playing and fans were yelling and cheering for their teams. Football in California was almost taken for granted. It was a given there would always be a game. People hardly ever showed up. So this atmosphere really excited Marlena and almost made her want to get into the school spirt and join the cheerleading squad. Something she had to quit do to the lack of participation from school sponsors. And then again, reality slapped her in her face again when a young mother walked past her with her baby cradled in her arms.

Isabella was introducing Marlena to some of her and her boyfriend’s friends.

“And last but not least, this is Bo.”

“Bo? I know Bo or should I say I heard all about a Bo.” He raised his eyebrows at Marlena.

“How do you know about me?” He asked her quite curious.

“Oh, you’re all my best friend talks about.”

“Your you’re… Hope’s friend?”

“Best friend” Marlena corrected him. “We’re more like sisters than friends though.”

“So you’re the other hot California chick that the guys are talking about and that Jo…” Bo looked over at a not so amused Isabella. “Oh, you’re the one that I’ve heard so much about.”

Getting nervous that people are talking about her and her condition. “What do you mean talking about me? What are they saying?” Marlena looked at Isabella with a panicked look.

“Oh it’s all good. Believe me, it’s all good. Just stuff from Isabella” Marlena looked over at her. Bo was giving Marlena the look over. She was beginning to get uneasy. Isabella slapped him on his arm.

“Would stop that. She isn’t a piece of meat to be drooled over. And if I’m not mistaking, I think your very head over heels in lust with her best friend.”

“Izzy, you know how I am. I am just kidding with you guys.”

“Excuse me, but I’m not a guy thank you very much.” Marlena placed her hands on her hips.

“Oh no, that you certainly aren’t” Bo pointed out winking at her.

Isabella sighed and grabbed Marlena by the arm. “Come on Marlena, Bo is well, just a typical guy.”

“Yea and you love me cause if you didn’t, you would have dumped John a long time ago.”

“You take one, you have to take the other. John comes with Bo, and Bo comes with John.”

“Yep, that’s right. You can either take us or leave us.”

“You guys sound like Hope and I. We are inseparable except as of late, I hardly ever see her.” Bo looked the other way. Marlena smiled. “But as long as she’s happy, I’m happy.” Bo smiled. Marlena stepped up closer to him. “But, you hurt her, you answer to me and deal with me. You don’t want to get on my bad side. Cause it ain’t pretty.”

Isabella stiffed a laugh as Bo packed away from Marlena holding his hands up.

“Yes ma’am. No problem.” He saluted her.

Marlena nodded her head. “Good!” She turned her attention back to Isabella trying not to laugh.

Isabella grabbed Marlena’s arm. “Let’s go watch the game.”
Isabella pointed out her boyfriend to Marlena. Marlena laughed as John turned around and waved at them.

“That’s so cute!” She looked at Isabella who just smiled and got a dreamy look in her eye. “Oh. you are SO in love with him.”

“I am. I don’t know what I’d do if anything were to happen to us. Right now, he’s my rock.”

“How long have you two been dating?” Marlena turned her head back to the game, popping a piece of popcorn in her mouth. She noticed that number 69, Isabella’s boyfriend, was looking back up at them again. But Isabella wasn’t even looking in that direction.

“Oh, for about a year now. He’s so sweet. He considerate. He’s like a knight in shining armor always there to rescue the damsel in distress. He’s so caring. Not to mention he has like the best looking body. OH MY GOD his arms are huge.”

“Oh, so it’s all about the bod, huh?”

“No…no…no it’s just a bonus though. He’s got the most gorgeous sky blue eyes you’ve ever seen. I could stare into his eyes for hours.” Marlena jerked her head to look at Isabella. “His eyes say so much about him. It’s like you know what he saying with just one look. What’s that saying they say ‘the eyes are the window to the soul’

Marlena swallowed hard and looked back out over the field. She shook her head trying to rid the thoughts about Isabella boyfriends possibly being the guy she…no it’s not. It’s not him. From what Isabella says, he is in love with her. He wouldn’t do that to her. He wouldn’t do that whole one night stand thing.

The game ended with Salem U winning. The crowd cheered and yelled for their team. They crowd filed out of the stadium and into the streets celebrating their victory.

They waited out by John’s car for him to shower, get the run down about tonight’s game from the coach and chat with some young boys who had already made him their hometown football hero.

“I can’t believe that game was that close.” Isabella said her voice full of excitement. “And my guy made the winning touchdown” Marlena looked up at her and smiled and went back to checking out Isabella’s boyfriends Mustang.

“Calm down girl.” Bo said nonchalantly. “You knew they’d win. They always do.”

“But he caught the winning touchdown!” Isabella jumped up and down like a silly little school girl.

Bo rolled his eyes and stuck his hands in his pockets.

Marlena strolled over and had been talking to a few other girls from her class when Isabella called her over.

Isabella took his arm and turned him around. “Marlena this…”

Just as he turned around to finally meet her, Marlena, who wasn’t watching were she was walking, stepped right into a huge pot hole in the gravel. She stumbled and twisted her ankle and began to fall forward. Her hands instinctively flew out in front of her. Grabbing the arms of the closest person. The person instantly stuck his arms out to catch Marlena just in time to prevent her from falling face first onto the rough gravel. Marlena hands gripped his arms to give herself support and try to regain her composer. He made sure she had her wits about her before he let her go. “Thanks” she said before covering her face with her hands and turning around quickly.

“Are you alright?” Isabella asked her voice full of concern.

Marlena didn’t look up or turn around. “Oh my God. I am so embarrassed.” She dropped her hands and leaned her head back looking up at the sky.

“Hey pretty lady.” Marlena slightly jumped at his voice. “Are you sure you’re alright. It looked like you twisted that ankle pretty bad.” He placed his hand on Marlena’s lower back

Marlena turned around looking down at her ankle. “Nah, I think it’s fine.” She took a step forward losing her balance. He caught her again.”

Okay so maybe it does hurt just a little.”

“Here, let me take a look at that” He bent down and gently moved her ankle. “Here lean on me.” Marlena leaned towards him and placed her hand on his back. “Does that hurt??” She looked down at the back of his head.

“Nah not really.” He moved her ankle the other way causing her to jump from the pain. “Oh that hurts!” She shouted.

She looked down just as John turned his head up to look at her. Hazel locked on blue.

“I think it might be sprained” He said finally looking into the blonde beauties eyes really making eye contact with her for the first time that night.

They stood there for what seemed like forever just staring into each other’s eyes. Marlena’s eyes widen as he slowly stood up in front of her. Her hand was still on his arm for support, his was still on her back supporting her. Marlena blinked a few times as the tears began to form in her eyes. A memory flash in her head of the blue eyes. They stood there staring into each other’s eyes.

“John?” She softly spit out. She looked down when another memory flashed in her head “Oh my God! It’s you” She placed her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from getting sick.

Concerned, Isabella stepped up beside John. “Hey you alright?”

Marlena looked at her then back to John, back to Isabella. She quickly yanked her hands off John’s arm like she had been burnt. He still had his hand on her back supporting her.

“Oh my God.” Marlena said again realizing that John, Isabella’s guy, is the guy she slept with. Isabella’s boyfriend is the father of her baby.

“Marlena?” Isabella asked growing more concerned over her friends paling completion.

Marlena sort of gained her composure and looked at Isabella then over at John. ” I…I… I’ve got to get out of here. I think I’m going to be sick.” She turned and ran away before anyone could stop her.

“Marlena!” Isabella yelled after her. Isabella looked at John as he watched Marlena run off flagging down a friend to catch a ride with.

“What was that all about?” Bo asked walking up behind John and Isabella.

“I’m not sure.” Isabella looked at John who was standing there trying to gather all the images and memories running wild in his head. He looked up in the direction that Marlena ran off in. John stood there silent for a few more seconds. Both Bo and Isabella were becoming concerned.

“It’s her.” He softly said looking at Isabella then back in the direction Marlena ran off in.

“What?” Isabella asked just standing there watching the different expressions that were flashing across John’s face. She was concerned, but choose not to pry knowing that he would eventually tell her cause their relationship is based on trust and honesty. They don’t keep secrets and they tell each other everything. Or so she thought.

The next morning Marlena jumps out of bed running unstable into the bathroom and empties that contents in her stomach. She leans back on the wall behind her and pulls her legs up to her chest. She buries her face and begins to cry remember what happened last night at the game. She finally found the mystery guy who just happened to be her new best friend’s boyfriend.

“Oh my God…why? Why me?! I am so sorry Isabella. “She talked as if she was standing there in front of her. “I had no idea he was your boyfriend” She rubbed her eyes and shook her head. “Someone please wake me up from this horrible nightmare.” Reality hits again. She throws up the rest of last nights’ dinner. “I sure ain’t eating spaghetti again anytime soon. “
She slowly gets up, splashes her face with cool water and looks at herself in the mirror. She tries to straighten her bed head, rubs the sleep out of her eyes and then just stares at herself in the mirror.

“Girl, when you screw up, you screw up good girlfriend. How could you have been so irresponsible and stupid!?”

She sighs and heads back to her bedroom still talking to herself.

“You’ve been here in Salem, for what maybe 2 and half months. You are doing so good in all your classes. Straight A’s, teachers’ pet. And what, you go to one stupid party, thank you Hope for that, and you get totally smashed.” She flops down on her bed. “Then wham…8 weeks later, Congratulations Ms. Evans, you’re gonna have a baby!” She lays back and places a hand on her stomach. “Then double whammy, you’re pregnant with your new best friend’s boyfriend.” She covers her face with her hands. “Oh God kill me now!”

She lays there and cries, curses herself, and tries to come up with ways to tell Isabella that she slept with her boyfriend on a one-night stand.

“Guess what my new best friend, surprise your boyfriend knock me up!” She lets out a bitter laugh. “Oh yea, just head straight to the point. Just get one good stab right in the back and get it over with.”

She rolls over on her side and looks down at her stomach, rubbing it protectively. “I can tell you this one thing for sure, baby of mine, I am going to be the best mommy I can. I’m gonna love you. I’ll get you anything and everything your little heart desires. I may have screw this up, but I will never ever regret having you. I may not be with your daddy, but I’ll love you with everything that’s in me. I wanted children, I just didn’t imagine I’d get one like this and without being married to your father.” She stops and thinks about John. “Oh I so hope you have your daddy’s crystal blue eyes.” She smiles, then her face turns to a frown. “Oh gosh how am I going to tell him about you oh, I ain’t, I just can’t tell him. We don’t even know each other. I didn’t even know his name when I slept with him. Worse than that, he is so in love with Isabella. He’s that star football player. What would his friends think when they saw him toting around a diaper bag and pushing a stroller? He’s the Mr. Man on campus. They would rag him so bad. He’s got a reputation to uphold oh and what will this do to mine? I can just hear the people now ‘Look, here she comes the easy one. Be careful, she’s fertile one, you’ll be a daddy before you can even say ‘final exam’.

She laid there silently for a few more minutes thinking of how she’s going to tell him and Isabella about the baby or even if she will ever tell him about the baby.

“You I know you probably don’t remember me but, I’m the one niter from the frat party a month or so ago and guess what…You’re gonna be a daddy! Congratulations! Here, have a cigar.”

She rolls her eyes when she hears the doorbell ring. “Why can’t people just leave me alone. I so hate to be around people when I have something big like this to deal with.” She slaps the bed and gets up and hobbles over to the mirror. She gives herself a quick look over. She straightens her wrinkled clothes and runs a brush through her long blonde hair. “This is as good as it gets, for now.”

The doorbell rings again.

“Hold your horses I’m coming!” She flings the door open “Some people around here do like their beautiful sleep!” She looks up and about chokes. “Isabella!” Then she looks to the left of her “John?! Is it? Wha…what are you two doing here this early in the morning?”

Isabella laughs. “Girl, it is so not early. It’s like almost lunchtime.” She walks into Marlena’s apartment with John right behind her. Marlena and John look at each other for a few seconds longer than either had wanted. They continue to have a conversation with their eyes when they hear Isabella speak.

“I’ve tried calling you last night after you ran off” Marlena looked at John one last moment then quickly turned her attention Isabella. “Are you alright?” Marlena nodded “I’ve been calling you all morning and when I didn’t get any answer, I kind of began to freak out thinking that something might be wrong with you or the.”

“You got to be kidding me!” She runs her hand thru her hair and cuts her eyes toward John who hasn’t stopped staring at her since he walked into the apartment. He was beginning to make her feel real uneasy. “I must have been real tired and in a major deep sleep to not have heard the phone ring. Or oh that’s right, I turned the ringer off the other day when I was studying and just have never turned it back on. I didn’t want to be interrupted.” She lied, but they both bought it. She was really not wanting to have to talk or explain why she ran off like she did last night right now at this moment.

“How’s you ankle?” John spoke startling Marlena out of her thoughts.

“Huh..um..wha…oh my ankle?” She lifts her foot up. “Great! See.” she turns her ankle and a sharp pain shoots thru her ankle up here leg and makes her loose her balance. John quickly grabs for her. “Okay, so I lied, it’s not good. It actually hurts pretty bad.”

John laughs and helps her over to the couch.

“Do you think you need to go to the emergency room?” Isabella asked walking over to them.

“Nah…I don’t think it’s that bad.” She sits and begins to try and make circular motions with her ankle. Pain shoots through it again. She looks up at John and he can see the pain in her eyes.
“Here let me take a look at that?”

“No really, it’s fine.” He sits on the coffee table in front of her and lifts her leg up into his lap.

John rolls the bottom of her flannel pj’s leg up a bit so he can look at her ankle. They make quick eye contact and then John looks back down at her ankle. “Nice bruise you got there.”

Marlena smiles “That happens to be my best one yet.”

He begins massaging the bruised area. Marlena giggles. John looks up at her with a smile on his face.

“I see you’re extremely ticklish” Marlena just smiled at him.

Marlena flinches and yanks her leg out of his hands when he hits the sore spot.

“Looks like you just got a really bad sprain and bruise here. Nothing to really worry about. You just need to keep some ice on it and try to stay off it as much a possible. You’ll be back to normal in a few days”

“I’ll go get you some ice to put on that ankle and some aspirin for the pain.” Isabella said heading toward the kitchen.

An awkward silence fell between them.

“Are you studying to become a doctor or something?” Marlena asked her ankle cradled back in John’s masculine hands.

“Nope, not at all” He looks back down at her ankle. He softly runs her finger tips over the bruise on her ankle. “Actually, I’m working on a business major.”

“Oh. Then how do you know some much about bruised or sprain ankles? “

“Being a football player, you know these things.”

“Ah I see.” They made eye contact and Marlena quickly looked away.

“You’re not much on conversations are you?”

“No not really.” She looked towards the kitchen wanting Isabella to come back so she’d feel a little more comfortable.

“Why not? Izzy says when you two get together you talk for hours and hours about anything and everything.”

“We just talk about girl stuff. Like, clothes, make up hot guys.”

“Oh well then, I am a topic you two discuss? Am I not?” She gave him a look “I guess I fall under the ‘hot guy’ category” He flashed her a million-dollar smile that made her melt. He gave her a quick wink. She flashed him a matching million dollar smile “Oh yeah we talk about you ALL the time.”

” I knew it. I am so irresistible”

“HA please don’t fatter yourself. You are one egotistical male!” She tried to remove her foot from his lap and he tighten his grip. “Let go of my leg, you .”

“You… you what?” He said getting a look of pure evil in his eye.

“Don’t you dare!”

“What? Don’t I dare do what? What did you call me earlier?”

“I called you a sweet charming young man.”

“That isn’t what it sounded like to me.” He began tickling her foot.

Marlena busted out in giggles. “Oh please stop. I am So ticklish!” She started laughing really hard.

“I know, that’s what I’m doing it. Now, what kind of male am I again?” John said moving closer to her tickling her more causing her to scream with more laughter. Marlena was laughing so hard she was having trouble catching her breath to speak.

“John stop! Please stop!” Marlena had tears rolling down her face. The more she begged, the more he tickled her. John was leaning over her his face inches from hers.

“Your laugh is like…” John had a dreamy look in his eye. Marlena stopped laughing, John moved from in front of her and plopped down on the couch beside her. Marlena let out the breath she was holding. “Dogs howling!” He burst out in a fit of laughter.

Marlena slapped his arm. “You dog!”

She got up on her knees right beside him with her hands on his arms ready to tickle him. Their faces mere inches from each other again. John grabbed her hands slightly pulling her towards him more. Marlena lost her balance and fell onto John. Her chest pressing against his. His arm wrapped around her back. She laughed when she fell in his lap, but before she could attack him he brushed a stray hair off her forehead out of her eye and tucked it behind her ear.

“You really have a beautiful smile. You should smile more. You don’t wear a frown as well as you wear a smile.” She was getting lost in the ocean of his eyes and they were moving slowly towards each other. Marlena looked down at John’s lips then back up into his eyes. John placed his hand lightly on the side of Marlena’s face and stroked her cheek. A crash come from the kitchen doorway interrupting the moment. John and Marlena quickly pulled apart Marlena’s hands were still on John’s chest. His hand fell from her face to her knee. They turned their heads a saw Isabella standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

Marlena quickly removed her hands from John’s chest and brushed his hand of her knee and rushed over to Isabella.

“Hey, what happened. Are you alright?” Marlena stood in front of Isabella with her hands on her arms.

“Uh yeah, I’m fine. My hands were slippery and I dropped your glass of water.” Isabella looked down at the shattered glass at her feet. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey don’t be. It’s okay. It was just an accident.” Marlena bent down.

“Don’t do that. You can cut yourself.” Isabella bent down and started helping Marlena gather the shattered pieces of glass.

John came up behind Marlena. “Izzy, you be careful honey You might cut yourself.”

Marlena stopped what she was doing. She looked up at John and saw true concern in his eyes for Isabella. It was like what was about to happen a few moments ago never happened. Marlena got up and brushed past John rushing into the kitchen. She looked back over her shoulder and caught John watching her.

“Marlena are you okay? “She didn’t answer him. “You didn’t cut yourself did you?” He walked over to her and grabbed her hand. Marlena’s hand was tightly gripped. She yanked her hand out of his grasp.

“No, I’m fine.” She snapped at him. He flinched a little at her tone.

He grabbed her hand again and pried her fist open. Red blood covered the whole palm of her hand.

“Marlena, this cut is pretty deep. It looks like you might need some stitches.” He guided her over the sink.

“No I don’t think I do. It’s not really that bad.”

John gently wiped off some of the blood to get a better look. “It also looks like there is still a piece of glass in your hand.”

Isabella stood back watching John and Marlena. For some reason she was becoming slightly jealous of John’s concern for Marlena. She knows that’s John nature is to help, but there was just something else. Isabella didn’t miss the looks they were giving each other earlier either. She also heard them laughing and saw how close they were when she walked back in the room. She wasn’t about to let some new girl come between her and John. Especially not her new friend Marlena who has a major problem, she’s pregnant with a total strangers’ baby. She thought for a moment. Maybe she’ll just have to let John know about Marlena’s little secret and that will totally change he’s outlook about her for sure. He’ll think she’s the kind of girl that sleeps around. That has always been the type of girl he never wants to get involved with. Or at least that’s what he told Isabella.

Isabella walked up behind John and wrapped her arms around him from behind and looked over his shoulder. “That does look pretty bad. Maybe John and I should drive you to the ER and let them stitch it up for you.”

“You guys. I am fine. I’ll just go put some medicine on it and wrapped it up and I’ll be good as new.”

Marlena walked out of the kitchen.

“You know, that cut did look pretty bad. I think I might go help her bandage it up.” John tried to walk away but Isabella tighten her grip around his waist.
“I’m sure she’s fine. She is big girl ya know.”

“Yea I know that, but she did cut herself trying to clean up your mess.” John took her arms from around him.

“Marlena walked back into the kitchen. “Okay, I think I need to go to the ER” She had turned ghostly white.

John hurried over to her and catch her before she fainted.” I think she fainted.”

Isabella thought to herself. ‘Nah really!’ She walked over to John holding Marlena. “Maybe she fainted because of the sight of her or blood or maybe.” She stopped.

“Or what?!” He asked.

“Oh nothing. Let’s just get her to the ER.”

*~

John and Isabella were sitting the waiting room waiting on Marlena.

“What were you going to say earlier. Why else do you think Marlena could have fainted.”

“Oh it’s nothing. It’s just in condition and all.” Isabella cut her eyes over at John.

“What condition? Is she sick or something?” Concern evident in his voice.

“Well Um I can’t tell you.”

“Why? If she’s sick or something then maybe we can help her.”

“What’s with all the concern? You hardly even know her.” Isabella turned and faced John.

“She’s your friend. What wouldn’t I be concerned. Plus, if there something wrong with her, I just wanna help. You know me.”

“Yea I do, unfortunately.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Isabella was about to respond when Marlena’s doctor came over to them.

“You’re here with Ms. Evans?”

John stood up. “Yes sir. I brought her in. How is see, why did she faint on us like that?”

“Well I am sure it was the sight of her own blood and that fact that she told me she hasn’t really eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. Sometimes that can get to people and with her being pregnant.” Isabella watched the expression change on John’s face.

“Excuse me. Did you say pregnant?”

“Yes, she fainted because she is eating for two now and she needs to eat and drink so that the baby will get all its nutrients and vitamins and with her not eating, and the sight of her own blood, it just got to her and caused her to faint. But she’ll be fine. Just make sure from now on, that she eats and gets a lot of rest. She’s gonna need, you both are going to need it when that baby gets here. Now I need to get back in there with her before she thinks that I have ran off with her test results.”

“Sure thing Doc.”

“Thanks for letting us know what’s going on. We were really concerned for her.” Isabella linked her arm through John’s.

“You had every right to be.” He slapped John on the back. “She’s gonna be okay. You just make sure you take care of her.”

John nodded. “Yes, sir. I sure will.”

Isabella turned to John a little ticked. “Why did he keep addressing you with all the information on how to take care of Marlena. It’s like he thought you were that baby’s father or something.”


~*flashback*~

John opened the door to the hotel room. He kicked the door closed and walked over and laid Marlena down on the bed and removed her shoes. Marlena softly moaned. John stood back watching her sleep peacefully. He was drunk, but she still was the most gorgeous woman he had ever laid eyes on. He would love to have a girl like her in his life, in his arms every night for the rest of his life. She was classy, even five sheets to the wind. Her hair covered her face. John sat down on the bed beside her and brushed the hair of her face. Marlena reached up and grabbed his hand.

“Hey sleeping beauty.”

She gave him a lazy smile. “Where’s my kiss?”

“Excuse me?”

“If I’m sleeping beauty then that means I must be woken with a kiss from.”

John leaned down a softly placed his lips on hers. They deepened the kiss. Marlena wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down on her. They broke the kiss and John caressed Marlena’s face as they gazed into each other’s eyes. John lowered his mouth to Marlena’s again and kissed her hard and passionately. Marlena’s hands were working feverishly on the buttons on the front of John shirt as his hands were caressing almost every inch of her body. Marlena broke the kiss and pushed his shirt of his shoulders. She ran her hands down the front of his chest. She looked up into his eyes as John tugged on the knot that was holding her shirt together. He slowly slipped one side of her shirt of her chest and shoulder. He leaned down and started planting soft kisses on her newly exposed skin and back up her neck.

Within minutes they both were fully naked, wrapped in the silk sheets making mad passionate love to one another. Not really caring that they won’t remember or that they will most likely regret it in the morning.

~*end flashback*~

John looked over at the courier door as it creaked open. Marlena stepped into the waiting room. John turned his head towards her reality slapping him in the face when hazel locked on blue. No words had to be spoken. Their eyes were having the conversation that neither one of their mouths were wanting to speak. In that moment they both knew that their lives or the life of Isabella, will never be the same.
Page 6 of 46Marlena had managed to avoid both John and Isabella successfully for about a month. She hadn’t seen or talked to them since the day they brought her back home after they took her to the ER for her cut hand. They both called, and they both stopped by…separately. She didn’t answer the door, and she defiantly didn’t answer the phone. She just let the answering machine get it. Isabella left the usual message “Hey Marlena, it’s Isabella again. Just calling to check up on you. Give me a call, K?” and John’s were usually all the same too. “Marlena, it’s John, I really think you and I need to talk… Please call me.” Always short, sweet and to the point. She didn’t want to talk to them especially John because she knew by his actions and some of his comments he knew about her being pregnant and she didn’t want to talk about it. Especially not with Isabella around. That conversation needed to be spoke just between she and John.

Marlena went to class and then straight home every day. She didn’t socialize with anyone. Hope couldn’t even get Marlena to venture out of the apartment. Since it was Hope you got her in this situation anyway. If it hadn’t been for Hope making her go to that party, this wouldn’t have happened.

Hope had been keeping her up to date with all the latest gossip around compass.

“And Chrissy slept with Charlie. And you know Charlie Big Mouth and he don’t know when to shut up. And now the whole campus knows how easy Chrissy really is.” Hope laughed. Marlena smiled. “How many guys at this school has she slept with now?! “Hope put her hand on Marlena’s knee. “OH and John and that girl he had been dating, your friend Isabella, well there is tension in the camp.” Marlena perked up with sudden interest. “Seems that for about a month now, ever since he found out or you think he found out about you being pregnant, they have been seen arguing constantly. Haven’t been seen together much. He’s always hanging with his guy friends and doing guy things. She’s been mopping around saying her life is over, Ya know, playing the victim in the whole thing.” Marlena rolled her eyes. “Drama queen. What did you ever see in that girl anyway?”

“Hope, she is really nice. When I found out I was pregnant. “Hope looked down. “You were nowhere to be found and I needed someone to talk to. I was at the pub and she was the first friendly face. So..”

“Look Mar, I’m so sorry. But I am so here for you now.”

“I know. And it’s okay. I’m glad you and Bo are hitting it off so well. I just wish I could find me a guy like him.” She puts her hand on her stomach. “But until this baby is born, I don’t think the guys will find me to attractive. And then they aren’t going to want a girl with baggage.”

“Marlena, don’t talk like that. You’d be surprised at how some guys step up to the plate.”

The doorbell rings. Hope hops up off the couch.

“That’s probably Bo. We’re going to that party out at the beach.” Marlena opened her mouth to say something. “Save it, I don’t want to hear it. I know when enough is enough.” Hope walks over to the door.

“Hope we didn’t come all the way out here for you to be partying every weekend. What’s gotten into you? You have changed. What happened to the girl that always wanted to be a cop. Bringing down all the low life scum out there.”

Hope opens the door. “Bo!” She greets him with a quick kiss. Her eyes widen as she looked over his shoulder. John!” She looked back at Marlena who looked like she was about to throw up.

Marlena jumps up off the couch and runs over to the door.

“John what are you doing here?” She looks at Bo. “Oh Hi Bo! How are you?”

Hope grabs Bo arm as she walks out the door. “You ready?”

“Hope please.” She was pleading with her eyes for her not leave her alone with John.

“Mar, you’ll be fine. Besides I think you two really need to talk.” Marlena gave her the eye.
“You have to do this. He knows and he wants to talk about it. So, it’s now or never girl.”

Marlena and John watch as they leave. John looks at Marlena.

“How’s your hand?”

Marlena looks down at the little scar. “It’s good. Thanks for taking me to have it stitched up.”

“Your welcome. It was no problem. So how’s the ankle?” He looks down at her feet.


“It’s good to. That was a pain. I sometimes think I still the limp walk going on.” They laughed and grew silent.

Finally John spoke up. “Um Have you eaten dinner yet?” He asked her trying to get her to look at him.

“No, I was just going to order something really quick.”

“Well then, um, can I take you out to eat and maybe we can talk?”

Her stomach began doing flip flips and she looks down at her apparel. “Well, I…I’m not really dressed to be seen in public.” She looked down at her sweat pants and oversized t-shirt. She messed with her sloppy ponytail on top her head and pushed her glasses up.

“I think you look absolutely stunning.” She looked up at him. A smile spread across her face.

“Thanks, but if that’s some kind of pick up line, it’s horrible.” He laughed like a little school boy asking his crush out for the first time. “Oh where are my manners. Please come in.”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He stepped inside. She closed the door. They made eye contact. They stood there awkwardly for a few moments.

“Well, um let, um let me go get changed.”

John watched Marlena disappear down the hall. After tonight nothing is going to be the same in their already complicated lives.
Page 7 of 46John and Marlena walked into a small cafe a little off campus. They were greeted by the waiter who took them to their table and took their drink order.

He hands them their menus.

“What are you having. I bet your hungry” John said looking at Marlena over his menu.

“Nah, not really.” Actually she won’t be able to eat a thing knowing of the conversation that’s ahead of her.

“Well your gonna eat. I’m not going to have you getting sick on me and fainting again so let’s see.” He scans over the menu for something that would be good for her to eat.

She smiled behind her menu at his genuine concern for her health and well-being.

“Okay so maybe I’ll eat a little something.”

“So, what will it be? The hamburger, or maybe a big slice of pizza, oh or maybe the juicy chicken sandwich…”

“Or maybe just a salad.” She sat her menu down.

“A salad?! That’s rabbit food. You need to eat more than that.”

“I’ve got maintain my figure ya know.”

“Yes I know how you women are. But for at least the next 5 or 6 months, you’ll be eating for two and that baby needs to get all its vitamins and nutrients just as much as you do.”

“Look, I know you mean well and all, but what makes you think I am pregnant? And even if I am or was, the baby is my problem to deal with. And I’ll deal with it the best way I can. So what exactly did Isabella tell you? That I sleep around? What that I am easy and I just can’t say no to a quick roll in the hay??”

“Well actually she didn’t tell me anything. It was your doctor. When we took you in after you fainted from cutting your hand. He came out and started telling everything or what to and not to do.”

“For one thing, he had no right to tell you about my pregnancy and second of all, if making sure I eat and take care of this baby is all you are wanting to do then, I’m outta here because I don’t need a babysitter to make sure I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I’m a big girl.” She stands up to leave and her grabs her arm.

“Marlena, please don’t leave. I’m sorry. I won’t do that anymore I promise. I’m sorry. I can get a little over protective sometimes. Especially when I care about the someone. ” She sits back down and he lets go of her arm. “Your doctor just assume that since I brought you in, that the baby was mine.”

“He still had no right, you being this baby father or not.”

‘Well, I think we do need to discuss the baby.”

She looks up at him. “Why? It’s not any of your concern.”

“Oh I believe it is and you know it is too.”

The waiter came to take their orders interrupting their conversation. They gave the waiter there orders and then sat there quietly neither really wanting to continue the conversation they were having before they were interrupted.

John stood up and extended his hand. “May I have this dance?”

Marlena looked up at him like he was crazy and then looked around the cafe.

“This isn’t the kind of place where you can dance and this most defiantly isn’t the kind of music you dance too. This is a cafe and I don’t hear any dancing music.” As if on cue the music changed and another couple got up and moved to the middle of the cafe.

He help Marlena out of her chair. “Wild crazy cafe by day, small romantic cafe by night.”

“You planned this didn’t you?” He flashed her a smile.

He took her hand and guided her to the middle of the cafe. He pulled her closer to him and stuck his other hand out for her to take. She smiled and reluctantly took his hand as he moved their hands up to rest on his chest. His other arm slide around her back as she slid her other hand up his arm to rest up on his shoulder.

We’ve been friends for a long long time
You tell me your secrets and I’ll tell you mine
She’s left you all alone
And you feel like no one cares
But I have never failed you
I’ve always been there

They moved closer to one another as the words of the song spoke the words they couldn’t.

You tell your story
It sounds a bit like mine
It’s the same old situation
It happens every time
Can’t we see it oh maybe you and me
Is what’s meant to be
Do we disagree

Marlena looked up at John.


What if I told you what if I said that I love you
How would you feel what would you think
What would we do
Do we dare to cross that line between your heart and mine
Or would I lose a friend or find a love that would never end
What if I said

John pulled Marlena closer to him and wrapped both his arms around her. She wrapped both her arms around his neck. They looked into each other’s eyes as the words of the song said what exactly what they were both feeling inside. John kissed the top of Marlena’s head. They leaned in closer together dancing with his cheek on hers. John closed his eyes taking in the scent of her perfume. He could feel the slight roundness of her stomach against his.

She doesn’t love you oh it’s’ plain to see
I can read between the lines of what you’re telling me
He doesn’t hold you the way a woman should be held
How long can I go on keeping these feelings to myself

She laid her head on his shoulder. He ran his hands up and down her back.

What if I told you what if I said that I love you
How would you feel what would you think
What would we do
Do we dare to cross that line between your heart and mine
Or would I lose a friend or find a love that would never end
What if I said

Oh we’ve both had our share of loneliness
So who’s to say that we can’t have a little happiness
And if I found that in you
It would make my dreams come true
Or would you walk away
Hear what I have to say

Marlena pulled back and looked into John’s eyes. They were saying to her what the final words of the song were saying. She leaned her head against his face. His lips on her forehead. He slid his hand down to rest on her slightly rounded stomach. She smiled as tears began to form in her eyes. She placed her hand on top of his.

What if I told you what if I said that I love you
How would you feel what would you think
What would we do

Do we dare to cross that line between your heart and mine
I’ve always wondered from the day we met
What if I said
What if I said
What if I said

When the music stopped they stood there for a few moments. John wrapped his arms around Marlena hugging her tightly. He still had his hands on her back as she stood there her head down wiping her tears. She was embarrassed to be crying. It was just a song and it was just a dance. But they both felt something happening between them and it wasn’t just that they created a baby together. It was more. It was something neither of them could describe at the moment. Everything that was happening with them right now just felt right. She looked up at him and hugged him, When she opened her eyes she loosen her arms from around his neck. She had noticed that the whole cafe was staring at them. Marlena become uneasy and John could feel the slight terrible in her body.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” He leaned down to try and look in her eyes. He wiped a few of her tears.

“Why are they looking at us like that?”

John looked up at the people with their eyes fixed on them. Maybe they were seeing from a distance what was happening between them. Two people beginning to fall in love or at least two people who had very strong feelings for one another.

Then from across the room they heard someone clear their voice rather loudly. They slowly turned their bodies in the direction at which the sound came and Marlena felt her knees get weak. John held her more tightly to reassure her he wasn’t going to let her fall or leave her right now. Marlena dropped her arms beside her, John’s never left Marlena’s waist. She looked up at John then dropped her head on his chest.

‘Well…well…well what do we have here?” The voice was full of bitterness and pure jealousy.

Isabella starts clapping her hands. “Bravo. Nice floor show. Why don’t you two get a hotel room already.”

Marlena was tempted to say ‘Been there, done that.” But she wasn’t going to sink to Isabella’s level. So she bit her tongue and let John take care of this.

John rolled his eyes. He whispered to Marlena “I’ll take care of this. You go back to the table.” He rubs her arms as he talks to her. “Isabella is my problem. I’ll deal with her. I’m just sorry she’s going to want to take this out of you when it’s all my doing.”


“What’s with all the whispering?” Isabella said coming closer to John and Marlena.

People were starting to stare at the threesome.

“Maybe we should take this somewhere where we can all discuss this like adults.” Marlena spoke to both John and Isabella.

“Why not here. Are you afraid to air your dirty laundry?”

“Actually, not. I just wouldn’t want you to be totally humiliated if something was said here in public that would destroy your little world.”

“What could you possibly say that could destroy my little world?” She mimicked Marlena.

“You know Isabella, I’m sorry. But this is not what you think. And I don’t really want to do this with you right here or right now.” Marlena tried to brush John’s hands off her waist but he wasn’t letting go.

“What do you think I am thinking? And why not do it now. We are all here. What’s the chance that we will all be in the same place at the same time again. Cause after tonight, I never want to see either of you again.”

Marlena spoke more to herself than out loud. “Well good cause I don’t want to see your smug red-headed 80’s frizzed out hair self anymore either.”

“Isabella, Marlena and I are here trying to have dinner. We have some important thing to talk about and at this moment, they don’t include you. So please leave now before we all say or do something we’ll all regret.” John put himself in between Marlena and Isabella.

“Why are getting between us John. Do you think I’m going to do something to your precious little Marlena?”

“John, I can fight my own battles. She seems to want to take this out on me more than she does you. So, just move aside and let us handle this.” Marlena tried to push past John, but he wasn’t moving. “John please move!” She tried to sound forceful.

“Sorry, ain’t gonna happen.” He turned around and pushed Marlena back slightly. “Please, just go sit back down at the table.” Marlena planted her feet even more firmly on the ground and looked up into John’s eyes. He saw that she wasn’t going to back down from this confrontation with Isabella.

“Yea Marlena, you might want to sit this one out. We don’t want you to get hurt. You might ruin your perfectly done hair and makeup. Or you might end up hurting that bastard baby of yours. I wouldn’t want to do that. I mean, it is the innocent victim in all this.” John turned glared at Isabella.

“You know Isabella, I never you could be so hateful to someone you called friend. And calling a innocent child a bastard is pretty low. I wouldn’t even call my worst enemy’s child that!”

“Friend? She hasn’t been my friend since the day I saw her trying to come onto you while you were simply trying to be a friend and make sure that she wasn’t seriously hurt when she twisted her ankle. She mistook kindness for something else.” Marlena sucked in a very heavy breath and started counting from 10 to 1 very slowly in her head.

“What makes you think it was her coming onto to me? Maybe I was coming onto her. Have you ever thought of that?” Isabella stepped back and her smirk faded.

Marlena stepped up not able to hold her tongue any longer. “Oh, what happened to the tuff little Isabella who was ready to bash my head in for taking her boyfriend. Does the truth hurt?”

“Why do you even want to be with her? She’s pregnant. Do you really want to be with someone who’s already been with another guy? I actually feel sorry for that baby having you as a mother. If she isn’t responsible enough to use protection when sleeping around. What do you think she’ll be like as a mother to a helpless child? And you want to be with someone like that. What does she have that I don’t?”

Marlena placed her hand on her stomach. Some of what Isabella had said hit her. What if she wasn’t a good mother. What if she wasn’t responsible enough to raise a child. Isabella was right about her not being responsible, but she wasn’t going to let Isabella get the satisfaction of knowing that she had gotten to Marlena.

“She’s got a lot more class than to try to trash talk to people who are just trying to have a nice peaceful dinner. And why the hell not I hear she’s great bed.” Marlena about choked. “Isn’t that what you’ve been going around telling people? That she’s an easy catch. What was it that Hope told Bo was written in one of the bathroom stalls, in your handwriting I might add.” He looked up like he was thinking.” Oh yeah, ‘for a quick roll in the sack call Marlena at 800-IMA-SLUT’ Marlena gasped.

“You little bitch!” Marlena was trying to push past John, but he was holding her back.

“Hold on wait I ain’t done.” Marlena stepped back, crossing her arms and glaring at Isabella over John’s shoulder.

Isabella had lost her tuff girl exterior when John started exposing all her little dirty deeds.

“You’ve gotten awfully quite Isabella. You don’t have anything else to say?” Marlena said looking up over John’s shoulder.

“Yes as a matter of fact I do. I guess the one about Marlena’s baby being conceived on a one night stand encounter hasn’t gotten to you yet?”

“Yep, heard about that one too.”

“And you still would want to be with her even after she’s been with a total stranger? She could have some kind of disease or something.”

“Well for one, I’ve been to the doctor seeing as that I am pregnant so that means I had a few tests ran. And I honestly think if anything else besides a positive pregnancy test came back, they would have most defiantly have let me known by now.” Marlena still stood behind John with her arms crossed.

Marlena clapped her hands causing John to jump a little. “Oh sorry honey.” She linked her arm in his. “Well, now that we’ve only just begun to finally hit the hammer on the head, and this conversation is SO not over. It’s actually long over do, but I see that our dinner has arrived and I would really like to eat it before it gets cold, So if you’d like, you can leave now. Plus, when I get hungry that means my baby is hungry.” She smooths down her sun dress so that Isabella can see that she is actually showing signs of a pregnancy. “And you don’t want anything to happen to my bastard child now to do? You would have live with the guilt for the rest of your lonely life. So why don’t you mosey on along and go find some other couple who just wants to be alone and try to ruin their dinner.”

Isabella looked at John and then back to Marlena then back to John again. He was trying to hide the smirk he had on his face.

“This conversation is so far from over.” Isabella turned on her heel and stalked out of the café full of rage. John wrapped an arm around Marlena’s waist pulling her to him. She looked up at him and gave him an annoyed look. Seeing that she wasn’t too happy at the moment, he quickly let her go and escorted her over to the table. He made a mental note to not get on her bad side. Marlena sat and looked out the café window watching Isabella.

Isabella was right, this conversation was far from over and Marlena was just waiting for the right moment to shatter Isabella’s little world.

It was a mighty long silent ride back to Marlena’s apartment. John locked the door. He quietly shuts the door behind them and places her keys on the table by the door. Not really sure what to do. He stands there by the door watching her.

“Are you hungry? You didn’t even touch your food.” She turns to him not really hearing him. “Do you want me to go get you something really quick from somewhere around her.” She shakes her head ‘no’.

She slowly walks around the couch. She picks up a baby magazine, then puts it back down and heads toward the kitchen, then stops and leans her head against the wall. He takes a few steps toward her wanting to make sure she’s alright. She slowly turns around and faces him with tears streaming down her face and her hand on her stomach. He stands back not really knowing what he should do. He wasn’t about to let anything happen to her or the baby.

“Marlena?” She looked up at him. “Honey, are you alright?” She falls to her knees.

He rushes over and kneels down beside her. “Marlena, what’s wrong. Are you alright? Is it the baby?” He puts a hand on her hand over her stomach. She doesn’t say anything. She begins to rock back and forth. “Honey, you’ve got to talk to me.” He was getting worried.

She finally spoke. “Isabella was right.”

“What?”

“I’m going to make an awful mother.”

“Oh no you aren’t. You’re going to be a wonderful mother. Don’t let anything she said get to you.” He tried to pull her in his arms.

She moved out of his arms. “No she’s right. I am so irresponsible. John I got pregnant. We slept together once, with no protection and I got pregnant. We were also very drunk. How responsible is that?”

“There you go, we were drunk we had no idea what we were doing.”

“That doesn’t excuse anything.” She gets up. “For Pete’s sake, I didn’t even know you were my child’s father for like almost 3 months. I didn’t even remember sleeping with you!” She walks over to the couch. “I slept with one of my friend’s boyfriend”

“We didn’t know who each other was. You weren’t even friends with Isabella when we slept together.”

“Oh that makes me feel so much better knowing that we didn’t even know each other and I that didn’t deliberately stab Isabella in the back.”

He walks over to her and stands behind her with his hands gently massaging her shoulders.

“Marlena, what’s done is done. We can’t erase the past, we can only move forward from here.”

“Where is that we can go from here?”

He turns her to face him. He lifts her chin up to look him in the eye. He wipes away the tears that were falling down her flushed cheeks.

“Well, we just take this one day at a time and let whatever this is, just go where it wants to go. There’s no need to rush into anything.” He turns her around and wraps his arms around from behind and slides them down to rest on her stomach. She leans back against him. “I’m not saying that we have to make this work because of this baby, but I’d like it to work for more selfish reasons.” she places her hands over his. “I’m not wanting to be with you because of this baby, that’s just a bonus. I want to be with you cause, I really think I am totally falling for you.” She covers her mouth with her hand. “The first time I saw you leaving the Brady Pub I thought ‘my God what I would do to have a lady like that.’ You made such an impression on me and you didn’t even give me the time of day. You walked right past me and didn’t even acknowledge I was even there. I thought you were very confident, smart, you had a good head on your shoulder and you were sexy as hell.” She laughed. “Then I saw you sitting in the stands at the football game. You were like I don’t know, you just had this glow about you.” Marlena started to blush. “Like you were some kind of angel sent down from Heaven. I can honestly say that I now believe in love at first sight cause girl, I think I have wanted to be with you from the very first moment you past me at the pub.”

“John you can’t say that. We are just really getting to know each other. How can you say that when we haven’t even had a full beginning to end conversation? You don’t even know what my favorite color is.”

“Pink.” He kissed her neck.

“Okay well that’s easy cause that’s pretty much every girls favorite color.”

“And I must say that you look damn sexy in pink.” He kissed her shoulder.

“Hmm I’ll have to remember that. You don’t know what kind of music I like to listen too.”

“All kinds. You like it all. You can’t just pick out one particular type music or song. You like top 40 for the beat for dancing, but you like county for the words and how they tell a story.”

“Your pretty good at this.”

“I ask lots of questions.”

She turned around. “Oh really, who?”

“Someone that’s probably knows you better than you know yourself.”

Marlena smiles. “Hope. Remind me to kill her later.” She pouts. “Well you don’t know what kind of ice cream I like to eat and that I’ll be craving at 3 in the morning during this pregnancy.” John laughed.

“And are you craving that kind of ice cream now?” She nods ‘yes’. “And if I go get it for you and after you eat it, will you promise to be a good girl and go to bed and get your beauty sleep?”

She puts a finger on her chin thinking. “Um, uh huh I will but only if it’s fudge royal and that you promise to stay with me tonight and hold me all night long.” She wraps her arms around his neck.

He takes his face in his hands and plates a soft kiss on her lips. “I think I can promise that. That’s one promise I wouldn’t even think about breaking.”

She pulls him back to her for a deeper more passionate kiss. She pulls back leaving John breathless and wanting more.

“Good! Now there’s a store right down the road and I expect you to be back with my ice cream in 15 mins.” She turns him around and places her hands on his back as she pushes him toward the door. He opens it and turns to say something to her only to have her give him a quick kiss, push him out the door and shut it in his face. He shakes his head and laughs. He can hear her doing the same on the other side of the door.

“Oh, she’s going to drive me insane.”

Her hearing what he said.. “And you’re going to love every minute of it. “She yelled from the other side of the door.

“That I am that I defiantly am.” He said to himself leaving to go get Marlena her fudge royal ice cream so he can get back and hold her all night long like he promised her.

*Marlena is heading into her seventh month. John and Marlena have grown closer as a couple. Spending more and more time together. They stay up late into the night almost every night talking for hours about their childhoods, their interests what they want in the future and what they want for their child. If they weren’t together, they would talk on the phone until John got silence from the other end and he knew that Marlena had fallen asleep. John was at Marlena’s apartment more than Hope was.
She spent most of her time with Bo giving John and Marlena their alone time. They would always lay cuddled on the couch until either one of them fell asleep. Which was always Marlena. They watch a movie with her head in his lap with him playing with her hair until she fell asleep. Then he would gently pick her up making sure not to wake her and take her to her room a tuck her into bed. He kissed her forehead, then stand back gazing at her before leaving her little notes on the pillow beside her.
They would usually say things like ‘how happy he was to have her in his life’ or ‘how he can’t wait to spend the rest of his life with her.’ Some of the times he’d tell her that he couldn’t wait to look into the eyes of the child they had created together. Those usual got to her. She would think about all the times he has reassured her that he would never leave her to raise their child alone. Sometimes when they laid cuddle together, he would just lay a protective hand on her stomach. They could be watching a movie or just sitting there talking. It didn’t matter, he just wanted to feel the little life they had conceived move. He was amazed about the whole baby growing in Marlena and then feeling it kick and move around inside her.

John and Marlena were laying together on the couch watching a movie or at least he was. Marlena had been asleep since the moment they laid down on the couch and she snuggled up to John and got comfortable. Marlena was half draped across John’s body, her one arm flung across his chest and her leg wrapped around his. Her pregnant belly was resting on his. He was making small circles on her arm with his fingers, the other hand like always was resting on their baby.

Marlena jumped a little when a car exploded on the movie. She moaned and snuggled up closer to him. He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms tighter around her.

John was so focused on the movie that the movement on his stomach was passed off as hungry pains. He felt it again and this time he felt Marlena jump in his arms. Her hand went immediately to her stomach. Her eyes shot open, a lazy smile spreading across her lips.

“Oh my God, did you just feel that?” She sat up a little and rested her elbow on his chest.

“I’m sorry. Maybe I should have finished off your dinner too then my stomach wouldn’t be growling.”

“That wasn’t your stomach you big doof.” She slapped his chest. “That was the baby!” She grabbed his hand and put it where the baby had last kicked.

“That was the baby?” She was beaming. “Wow, that is so amazing! That’s our baby moving in there!” He sort of leaned down and talked to Marlena’s stomach. “Hey in there. It’s your daddy! I can’t wait to finally see your little face. I hope you have your mother’s beautiful smile.” He looked up at Marlena who had tears in her eyes.

“This is your mommy speaking and you had better have your daddy’s eyes and be on your best behavior. I don’t want no wild little munchkin running around.” John gave Marlena a look.

“Don’t you think you’re being just a little too harsh right now?”

“Oh no no…Mr. Black. You are so not going to be a softy and let this child run all over you!” She grabbed his collar. “You got that?”

“Yes dear.” He whispered down at her belly. “But what mommy doesn’t know want hurt her will it?” He smiled back up at her and before she could say anything he planted a kiss on her unsuspecting lips. The baby kicked again. “That’s our baby! But we need to work on the timing okay kid?” He laid his hand on her cheek and kissed her again. They had their hands on Marlena’s stomach discussing about it being a boy or a girl, a ballerina or a soccer player.

This baby was just as much his responsibility as it was hers. They were going to raise it together no matter what. He wasn’t going to be like some of his friends and only want to be the child when it was convenient for him. He wanted to be with his child full time. He wanted to see it take its first breath. He wanted to be the one to stay up all hours of the night rocking and soothing the crying baby when it was cutting its first tooth or when it was sick. He wanted to be there when they took their first step. He wanted to be the one to calm their fears and chase away the boogieman after they had a bad dream. He wanted to be able to teach them to ride a bike and tie their shoes. He wanted to be there for all its firsts and he was going to. He had promised Marlena that they were in this together and he meant it. Nothing or no one was going to keep him from doing just that.


*John and Marlena spent their first Christmas together. John bought she and Hope a tiny tree for their apartment. They decorated it with little lights and tiny bulbs. Marlena had a snapshot of them framed that Hope had taken without t hem knowing. It wasn’t until Marlena had the film developed that she first saw the picture. It had become her most favorite picture of she and John.
They had gone to the park and spent the day with Bo, Hope and little Chloe. John and Marlena, with Chloe in tow, had walked off for some ‘family’ alone time. Marlena was leaning against a tree and John was leaning in front of her with one arm supporting him on the tree behind Marlena. Chloe at their feet looking up at them. They were both looking down at their hands resting on her rounded stomach. The sun was setting in the background behind them making a beautiful back drop for such a touching moment between the two of them. Marlena then had one of her sonogram pictures manipulated into the corner of the picture so that it looked like they were looking down at their child. He was truly touched. That was really the first time Marlena had seen John cry.

He didn’t know if he could top her to gift to him. But he sure was going to try. John disappeared outside for a few seconds and when he can back inside his jacket was moving and making strange noises. She walked over to him with a curious expression on her face. She unzipped his coat and out popped a little fur ball of a yorkie puppy. Marlena took the dog and held it up to her face talking to it.

The puppy licked Marlena face sending them both into a fit of laughter. The watched the puppy explore its new home and she decided to name her Chloe. John was getting worried that she would never find her other gift on the puppy’s collar so he kind of like made it obvious that it was there. She held her breathe when she saw the gorgeous one carat princess cut diamond surrounded with blue sapphires in a platinum setting. John had to remind her that breathing was a necessary reflex and it would be best if she tried that now. The ring had taken her breath away.

He took the ring off Chloe’s collar and placed it on her right hand’s finger and planted a soft kiss of forever on it. John told her it wasn’t an engagement ring, but a friendship ring. Hopefully a sign of things to come. And maybe one day he could move the ring to her other hand and promise her forever.

*Valentines days was no different. He lavished her with flowers and candies. Her apartment looked like a more like florist rather than a place where people lived. Roses of every color sat on every available piece of furniture. He sent her out shopping for a new outfit while he set up a very romantic dinner for two. He turned her apartment into what looked like a small cafe that you would see on the corner of some street in Paris. A city he promised to take her to one day.

John whistled when Marlena walked back out into the living room. He grabbed his chest. She was wearing a long black spaghetti strap silk dress that fit perfectly over her rounded pregnant belly. Her hair was swept up in a loose French twist. She lifted her dress a little to reveal her feet. He laughed. She did point out that she had gotten a pedicure and her toes were freshly painted.

“You have got to be the most beautiful woman God has ever made.” He walked closer to her.

Twirling around with her arms out modeling her dress. “I take it you approve of the wardrobe?” He shook his head. “Even the bare feet?”

He grabbed her face and smashed his lips to hers, his tongue exploring her mouth. John pulled back and looked her up and down one more time before kissing her again.

Breathless. “Well I take that as a yes” He hugged her tightly.

They ate. They danced. They talked. They kissed. Sometimes they just sat there not a word spoken except for the conversation their eyes were having. John gave Marlena a two carat princess cut diamond solitaire necklace to match the ring he gave her for Christmas.

“John, you’re spoiling me”

“Good! You better get used to it, I intend to spoil you for the rest of our lives.”

Marlena had never in her life had someone want to spoil and take care of her. Most of her life she took care of herself. Always doing things for herself. Being a twin one usually gets more attention than the other and Marlena was the other.


*Neither John nor Marlena had heard or even seen Isabella since that night in the café. No one else knew that John was the baby’s father, other than Bo and Hope. It was their secret until the right moment presented itself for others to know. Namely Isabella, who would become to nosey for her own good and would just have to the shock of life with her having to know. Most people just assume that John was the baby’s daddy and never asked questions, and never wanted answers. Unlike Isabella. They hadn’t seen her, but Isabella sure had seen them. She was just waiting for the right time to start coming around again causing trouble for John and Marlena. too bad for Isabella she didn’t know that Marlena was armed and ready.

Now eight months pregnant and not feeling at all like the gorgeous lady John tells her she is. Her feet swell from time to time. She thinks she’ll never see a size 8 again or if she’ll ever see her feet for that matter.

They had been to doctors many appointments, neither wanting to know what they were having.

“Hear that?” They both listen to the steady beat. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat.” The doctor told them.

John brought Marlena’s hand to his lips softly and kissing it before leaning down to kiss her forehead. She brought her hand to rest on his cheek.

“It’s beating so fast.” Marlena sounded worried.

“Is that normal?” John asked the doctor.

“It’s very normal and this baby is right on schedule. I say sometime in April you two will be the proud parents of a healthy bouncing baby.” They both put their hands over their ears. The doctor laughed. “I was just going to say ‘healthy bouncing bundle of joy’” He handed then a few more sonogram pictures to add to their collection.

They wanted to wait until the day their little bundle of joy made his or her entrance into the world. They wanted to be surprised. Names were being tossed here and there, never agreeing on any of them. At this rate the kid was going to be called ‘it’ or ‘hey you’ for the rest of its’ life because it’s parents couldn’t agree on a name.


* John had finally talked Marlena into going to the Spring Dance with him. She agree but only on one condition, that if he agreed that whatever time it was, midnight, 1 or 2 that he’d run up to the store on the corner and buy her some ice cream and pickles cause she was have a major craving.

They arrived at the dance. Everyone watched as they walked by. Not at the fact that Marlena was pregnant but at the fact that they made the most stunning couple.

His hair freshly cut and in a freshly pressed tuxedo John looked very much the part of a Hollywood Hottie arriving and walking down the red carpet.

Owning the part of the leading lady to John’s leading man. Guys mouths were dropping left and right. Girls not only wanted her man, but wanted to be her. At eight months pregnant she absolutely glowed. Marlena was stunning. Her long red strapless Versace gown John had flown in from Europe fit her to a tee. Her strappy diamond like heels accented the dress. The diamonds around her neck, in her ears and around her wrist were what girls dreamed of owning. But the one diamond out shinning all others is the one that now shines on her left ring finger.

~*flashback*~

“John, honey? Are you here?” Marlena caught her breathe when her eyes fell on the softly lit bedroom.

John appeared from the bathroom clad only in a towel. “Marlena? What are you doing home so early?”

“I had left you message, but I see that you didn’t get it.”

“Obviously not.”

She turned around taking in the atmosphere. “What’s all this for?”

“Well Um, hold on just a sec.” He disappeared back into the bathroom and return dressed in silk pajama bottom and an open robe. With his hands behind his back.

“What are you up to?”

“Here, take this in there and put this on, okay?” She took it from him confusion written all over her face and disappeared into the bathroom.

About 10 minutes later she re-entered the bedroom. John turned around and his knees got week. She was wearing what he had picked out for her. He frowned.

“Sorry it didn’t fit. I couldn’t get over this beach ball of a belly I seemed to have grew over the last few months.” He laughed.

“Well I must say that shirt looks better on you than it does me.” She was wearing the silk pajama top that went with silk bottoms. He very sext long tanned legs extended out from underneath.

He took her in his arms and spun her around and pulled her close to him as they danced to the music that was softly playing in the background.

I see the questions in your eyes
I know what’s weighing on your mind
But you can be sure I know my part
’cause I’ll stand beside you through the years
You’ll only cry those happy tears
And though I’ll make mistakes
I’ll never break your heart

She looked up into John’s eyes. The words that were coming from the song being played on the radio, were the very words he has always said to her.

I swear, By the moon and stars in the sky
I’ll be there
I swear, Like the shadow that’s by your side
I’ll be there
For better or worse, Till death do us part
I’ll love you with every beat of my heart
I swear

I’ll give you everything I can
I’ll build your dreams with these two hands
We’ll hang some memories on the wall
And when there’s silver in your hair
You won’t have to ask if I still care
’cause as time turns the page
My love won’t age at all

By now tears were streaming down Marlena’s face. She knew what was coming next as John dropped to his knee and took her left hand in his.

“Marlena, I don’t know if there is anything left for me to say. Everything I have ever said and every promise I have ever made to you still stands. And from this day forward I want to, I’m stealing from the song here.” He gave her a nervous grin. “I want to ‘build your dreams with these two hands’ and I want to ‘hang memories on the wall’. I want to make a lifetime of memories with you. I want to go to bed with you every night and wake up to your beautiful face every morning. I want you to be the mother of my child(ren).” She smiled and placed her free hand on her stomach. “Yes, I want more children with you. I just want you. I don’t think I was really living before I met you. I was just a hallow soul walking around. You came and filled my soul with happiness, joy and laughter. So I guess what I am really trying to say is Marlena, the only woman I ever want in my bed at night, will you make me the happiest guy on campus and become my wife?”

Marlena dropped to her knees placing her hands on both sides of John’s cheeks. She wiped his tears and softly kissed him. She sat back on her heels and hesitated a few seconds. She caught her breath and looked down at her right hand. John took her hand in his and carefully slipped the ring of her right hand. He kissed it and then took her left hand in his. He held up the friendship ring.

“Marlena, will you marry me?” He slipped the diamond on her left ring finger.

Through her tears she softly gave him the answer he so wanted to hear. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you!” She wrapped his arms around his neck pushing him back on the floor kissing him passionately.

~*end flashback*~


John grabbed Marlena’s nervously shaking hand and link her arm in his.

“You ready?”

“I guess I’ll have to be.” They walked through the doors into the hall were the dance was being held. A pair of jealous eyes from across the room watched as the couple worked the crowd determined to make this a night they would never forget. Only thing is this was going to be the worst night of her lonely miserable life.

John and Marlena had been dancing for a few songs when John felt a tap on his shoulder. He reluctantly removed his lips from Marlena’s neck that he had been attacking the moment they hit the dance floor. He slowly turned around ready to confront the interruption. Marlena looked over John’s shoulder smiling.

“I was just wondering if I could have a dance.” John held his hand up to his chest like he was touched.

“I’m really sorry Bo, but you really aren’t my type.”
Marlena hit John on his back and walked around him and linked her arm in Bo’s.

“He was talking to me you big doof!.” She looked back at John. “And you don’t have to get his permission to dance with me.”

“Oh yea he does you are my fiancé’ and I don’t you dancing with just anyone.”

“Well he isn’t just anyone. Now go mingle with all your guy friends over there and talk about manly things.”

John watched as they walked away to the dance floor. He walked over and grabbed himself a drink. He stood back watching the love of his life dance with his best friend. When it came to Marlena, his thoughts would be forbidden to others. No other woman he had ever been with made him feel the way she does. If he ever lost her, then his life would be over. She was his refuge away from it all. Away from the madness that constantly surrounded him. She was his safe place to run when he didn’t know where else to go. She was his safe haven.

Another tap on John’s shoulder brought him out of his forbidden place.

He rolled his eyes and turned to walk away.

“All I want to do is talk.”

 

“Since when is that all you want to do?” He asked annoyed.

“I just wanted to ask how’s your doing.”

“I’m doing fine. I couldn’t be anymore happier” He sounded frustrated.

“You don’t sound like it.”

“Well no I don’t right now because I’m here talking to you when I want to be out there dancing Marlena.”

“She’s only dancing with Bo. He is your best friend.”

“I know. It’s just that I like to be with her. I feel lost when I’m not.”

Isabella was trying to hide the hurt look in her eyes.

“How is she doing? Isn’t her baby due soon?”

“Yes actually she is due in like 4 weeks.” John looks out over the dance floor at Bo and Marlena. “And then as soon as we can, we are going to set a date.”

Isabella knitted her eyebrows. “Set a date?”

John looked over at her smiling then walked out onto the dance floor. She watched as he tapped Bo on the shoulder.

Bo turned around they both bowed to each other.

“Shall we?” John held up his arms.

“Yes, let’s.” Bo said as they began to waltz around the dance floor in front of Marlena. She held her stomach as she laughed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“You two are too much for me.” She breaks them apart and steps up beside John. He wraps his arm around her waist and kisses her cheek.

“I love you.” He pulls her close to him again and kisses her temple.

“And I love you so.” She leans up and brushes her lips against his.

“And this is my cue to leave.” Bo turns and heads off to find Hope. John and Marlena smile with their lips still touching.

The squeal of the microphone has everyone covering their ears as they turn toward the stage.

“Excuse me Excuse me?” Isabella said as she stepped out into the middle of the stage. “Can I have everyone attention please.”

John stood behind Marlena with his hands rested on her hips.

“I hear that there are some big congratulations in order for one happy couple here tonight.” John moans. “Would ya’ll help me congratulate John Black and Marlena Evans on their engagement.” The room erupts in a loud round of applause and hoots and whistling. The spot light now glowing on them.

“And I would like to dedicate them a song. But first…I’ve got a few things to say.”

John felt Marlena tense. He whispered in her ear. “It’s okay baby, it’s okay.”

Marlena places one hand on her stomach and clinches the other down by her side. She knows what Isabella has to say isn’t going to be nice, in fact she feels it’s going to be down-right ugly. But knowing that she too has a surprising little bit of news makes her relax a little.

Marlena can feel John’s hands gently massaging her sides.

“I want to tell you a little about this happy couple. First of all, you all know that John and I dated for little over a year. He is such the gentleman. But then Marlena waltzes into to town with her long blonde flowing hair and long tanned legs. I first met her at the Brady Pub when the school semester started. She was crying and upset about some recent news she had gotten. We talked and I tried to make her feel better. I befriended her and we became friends. She had told me that she had went to some frat party and slept with some guy and had gotten pregnant.”
The crowd was smiling and nodding remembering the party that had attended.

“Marlena then shared with me that because she was so drunk that she didn’t remember who the guy was that she had slept with. I guess you call that a one night stand?”

The room grew quite.

Marlena worked her jaw. Raising an angry eyebrow to Isabella. “You swore to me that you wouldn’t tell anyone about this?”

Isabella shrugged her shoulders. “Well that was before you stole my boyfriend from me too now wasn’t it?”

“I didn’t steal your boyfriend away from you. He pursued me. I was trying to avoid him because of something I had recently discovered about him.” She turned to John. “Tell her that I didn’t steal you away from her. That you came to me.” John didn’t say anything. Isabella smirked when John didn’t answer her. Marlena gave John a death glare and turned back to Isabella.

“Hmm seems John is having second thoughts?” Isabella was ready to celebrate her victory when John finally spoke.

“Isabella give it up and get over it. You are acting like a spoiled little two-year-old who had their favorite toy yanked away from them! Why are you acting as if we are in the wrong here? Sometimes two people grow apart, like us and then we move on like Marlena and I have. If I am not mistaken, you were the one that was trying to manipulate Marlena’s situation to your benefit.” Marlena turned back to John. “Yep, you sure did. You were trying to fill my head with all the ‘she slept with a total stranger’ and ‘it’s not your baby so it ain’t your responsibility. ‘’you’re only feeling sorry for her cause she’s pregnant and alone.’ And that wasn’t true. None of that is true.”

Marlena took a few steps toward Isabella on the stage.

“Oh and honey, this baby is just as much his responsibility as it is mine. It takes two ya know! Or actually no you wouldn’t. You haven’t gotten that lucky yet.””

“Well like now it is because he’s asked you to marry him. You’re giving him an instant family and he’s going to be playing daddy to your bastard child.” Marlena took a few steps forward. John quickly ran up behind Marlena and grabbed her arms preventing her from running up on that stage and clawing Isabella’s eyes’ out. Marlena yanked her arms out of John’s grasp.

“So, will the real daddy please stand up? Will the guy who is responsible for getting this girl pregnant please own up to your mistake.” No one makes a move. “What are you guys to afraid to admit that you slept with this boyfriend-stealing- hussy?” Some of girls looked at the guys standing to their sides daring them to say that he is the father. “Looks as if no one wants to admit the to the one-night roll in the hay with you. Looks like it wasn’t as meaningful to them as it was to you.”

“First of all my child is not a mistake and you nor anyone else for that matter will ever call it that! And secondly, I so have the upper hand here. You think that all this bad mouthing Marlena is going to make you look like the jilted lover and everyone is going to hate me for” She uses her fingers as quotation marks. “Stealing’ your boyfriend. So you think you got the upper hand here, don’t you?” Isabella gave Marlena a snide smirk. “I can destroy you with a few words. Your world would be so shattered.”

“Oh really and just how would you do that?” Marlena crossed her arms over her chest.

“Do you really want me to tell you. Here?” She motions with her arms. “In front of all these people. In front of some of your close friends.?” Isabella stood there for Marlena to continue. “Well alrighty then! You think I don’t know who my baby’s father is. That I have been searching for the guy ever since I told you I couldn’t remember who the father might have been? Well, you’re wrong! I found out not to long after I told you what happened. So, you think that I wouldn’t have figured out who my child’s father was by now seeing as I am due to deliver in like 4 weeks.”

Coming up behind her. “You need to calm down. I am sure your blood pressure is sky high and that’s not good for you or that baby..”

“Did you hear that Marlena? He called it ‘that’ baby. He can’t call it anything else because it isn’t his and he should have to take care of your mistake. So please John don’t stop her now. She’s a big girl. She got herself into this, let’s see if she can wiggle her way out of it. Please continue Marlena. We all are anxious to hear what you have to say.”

Marlena let out an evil laugh. “Oh Isabella dear, if you only knew.”

“Well, why don’t you let me know what you think is going to shatter my little world.”

“Okay. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She walks back to John and takes his hand. “You see John is doing what any guy would likely do if they were in this same situation. He has stepped and is taking full responsibility of this baby because.” The room was so deathly quiet you could have heard a pin drop. “The reason why John is so protective and so attentive to me and my baby is because, the one night stand that you swore you wouldn’t tell a soul. Well at that same party John was there…Alone… Without you. And why was it that you weren’t there??Oh yeah you didn’t want to be seen at some party with a bunch of drunk losers!” A few remarks were made from the now not to happy crowd.” Well honey lemme tell you this he is one hell of a kisser and my God he is great in bed. So this little” She used her fingers to make quotation marks. ‘bastard’ of child as you call it, has a father. A father that loves it and wants it.” Marlena smiled in triumph. “And I bet you are all dying to know who it is now aren’t you all?” All eyes were focused on Marlena.

“Oh come on Marlena. Stop being such the drama queen and spit it out already.” Isabella shouted.

“Are you that dense?! Do I have to spell it out for you?!” Isabella gave her a look telling her to get on with it. She turned to John. “Do you want to do this or shall I?” He motioned for her to continue. “My child’s father isn’t some John Doe. Well yea he is a John but his last name isn’t Doe. Figured it out yet? Yep, that’s right. The name of the guy that is the father of my child is John Black.” Marlena took hold of John’s hand. He leaned over and kissed her temple. Isabella looked like she was just drop kicked in the stomach. Whispers were coming from the people all around them.

“So sweetheart, when you want to go around trashing someone’s image and trying to run their name in the ground. Remember this night and you’ll think twice about ever doing that again. So who came out looking like a freakin’ idiot?!” Marlena grabbed her stomach and gasped. “OH MY GOD, JOHN!”
Page 13 of 46Marlena grabbed John’s arm and squeezes it tightly. “Oh my God John! Something is wrong with the baby.” John glared up at Isabella before giving his full attention to Marlena. doubled over in pain.

John looks around the room. “Lexie!” He yells and motions for her to come over. “Something is wrong with the baby.”

“Marlena, you have to calm down and breathe.”

“Lexie help me. It hurts.”

“I’m going to do the best I can until the rescue gets here. But you have got to work with me here” Marlena bits her lip and shakes her head in agreement.

People begin to gather around watching.

“Okay people…Come on, back it up back it up. Let’s give them some room.” Bo said as he started pushing the people back.

Marlena was bent over moaning and holding her stomach. She fell to her knees in pain.

“GOD! It hurt so bad.” She grabbed Lexie’s arm. “Please help me it hurts!” She rocked back in forth trying to ease the pain. Lexie was checking her over and checking her pulse.

“Baby it’s going to be all right. I swear, it’s going to be all right.” John had her cradled in his arms rocking with her. She wrapped both arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

“John, I’m scared. It hurts!”

“Just think of holding our baby in your arms and looking down at their tiny little face.”

Hope walked up ” The ambulance is on its way.” She bent down by Marlena. “How you doing girlfriend?”

“Hope, it hurts. My God it hurts so bad!” Marlena squeezed Hopes hand.

“Lemme tell you something. I ain’t gonna let that little twit get away with this. I am going to get that red-headed. I’m gonna give her a piece of my mind.” Hope stood up. Marlena grabbed her hand.

“No, don’t! Please don’t. I don’t want her having the satisfaction of knowing how much she hurt us.”

“If anything happens to our baby I swear Marlena, I’ll kill her with my own two hands!” John glared at Isabella froze still in place watching from the stage.

“Don’t talk like that. I need you with me. I need you to help me concentrate on bringing this baby into the world safe and healthy.” She gets another sharp pain and lets out a loud moan.

‘Where the hell is that damn ambulance.” John was beginning to get himself all worked up and he could feel is pulse racing.

“Lexie what do you think is wrong?” John asked very worried.

“I think she may be in early labor.” Lexis gave them a very concerned look.

Marlena squeezed John’s hand. “John, it’s to early. I’m not due.” She shuts her eyes and grits her teeth as another pain shoots through her lower abdomen.

“We ain’t got time for that freakin’ ambulance. I’ve got to get her the hospital! ” John lifts Marlena up in his arms.

“We are you going?” Lexie asked walking behind John.

“I’m taking her to the damn hospital myself!”

“Well then I’m coming with you!” She said close on John’s heel.


John carried Marlena into the Emergency room.

“Someone help us please!” He looks around the room with Marlena in his arms. Her head laying on his shoulder moaning in pain. He whispers soothing words in her ear as a nurse hurries over with a wheelchair.

“Can you please get us a doctor. She is in premature labor.” Lexie told the nurse as she gave her more information on Marlena’s condition to tell the attending doctor on call.

John gently sat Marlena in the wheelchair and took her hand. He holds it up to his lips.

“It’s going to be okay baby. It’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be all right. You just hang in there.” He kisses her hand.

She touches his face with her hand. “Don’t leave me. Please promise me that you’ll stay with me until this baby is born and we know for sure that it’s going to be all right.” Tears roll down her cheeks. ‘I am so scared. John…I am so..” She breaks down. He holds her trying his best to comfort her.

“Oh baby, I wouldn’t even think about leaving your side.” He leaned forward and placed his lips on hers.

Lexie walks back out into the Emergency room with the attending doctor giving him as many details as she could.

“She’s 24. She’s about 32 weeks pregnant. She’s feeling sharp pains in her lower abdomen. Temperature seems normal. But her pulse is racing. I think she may be in premature labor do to stress.”

“Very good. Have you thought of becoming a doctor.” He placed a hand on her back.

“I’m actually Pre Med at Salem U.”

“If you need any recommendations, you be sure to come see me.” He smiled and turned his attention to Marlena. “How are you feeling?”

“It hurts.” She cried.

“How far apart have the contractions been coming?”

“About 2 to 3 or sometimes even 5 mins. apart.” John told the doctor as he wiped some of Marlena sweaty hair out of her tear filled eyes.

“Let’s get her up in a room and get the monitors on her and the baby.” The nurse went to wheel her off.

“John!” She reached out her hand.

Taking her shaky hand in his. “I’m right here honey. I ain’t going nowhere.” They walked through the ER doors not knowing what the future held for them or their unborn child.

John was sitting by Marlena’s side holding her hand as the machines played a steady beep, and nurses buzzed all around them.

He brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “How ya feeling baby?”

She opens her eyes and looks over at him her eyes still heavy. “Tired.”

“Are you feeling anymore contractions?”

“No.” She rubs her forehead. “Why am I so tired?”

“It’s the medicine they gave you to rest and slow your contractions or maybe it was to stop your contractions.” He points over at one of the machine’s that has steady heartbeat. “That’s our baby’s heart beating up there. They say everything looks good. They are just wanting to monitor ya’ll and just make sure everything is all right.”

“Those contractions earlier about killed me. I was about to tell you to never ever touch me again but I was so scared something bad was wrong with the baby.” She gave him a lazy smile.

“Well everything seems to okay right now. So feel free to tell me that I can never touch you. To never lay a hand on you. Or that if you want any more children, you’ll have to carry them.” She smiled as her eyes slowly blinked open and close. “Why don’t you close your eyes and try to get you some rest.”

“Only if you hold me.” He carefully climbed up in the bed with her and spooned himself behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. He took her hand and linked his fingers with hers.

“We still haven’t picked out a name for this baby yet.” She was playing with his fingers.

“How about Roman Agustus?”

Marlena let out a soft laugh. “No way hose’. I ain’t cursing my kid with a funky name like that.”

“I was just kidding. I would never let any child of mine be named that.”

“How about Forrest?”

Marlena let out another laugh. “Oh no… he’ll be teased for the rest of his life.”

“Run Forrest run!” John laughed and buried his face in her neck kissing her shoulder.

“Okay, we’ve got to get serious here. This baby can be born any minute and it’s still nameless.”

“Do you want me to run down to the gift shop and get you one of those baby naming books?”

“No I always said I wasn’t going to use those. I can name my child without reading it from some book.”

“Do you think they have made one of those book for dummies on how to raise a baby?”

Amused. “Why?”

“Because I have no idea on how to raise a child. I have never been around children.”

“You’ll fine. Raising a baby doesn’t come with instructions. You just take it day by day and moment by moment. Kind of trail by error.” She reached back with her hand and touched his cheek. “Regardless, this baby will love you no matter if you put the diaper on backwards or forget to screw the lid on the bottle before giving it them.”

“I just don’t want to screw this up and have my kid hating me for the rest of their life.”

“You won’t. We’ll do this together so that leaves no room for mistakes.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

They both fell into a much needed sleep.

A few hours after falling asleep Marlena jumps and wakes John. She grabs her stomach. More pains shooting through her.

“Baby?” She rolls over pure fear in her eyes as she looks at him. John’s head turns as the machines beside Marlena’s bed starts going wild.

He jumps up and runs out into the hallway.

“Help… we need a doctor in here!” He grabs the first nurse he sees.

A few moments later another nurse and a doctor come flying into Marlena’s room.

“What’s her vitals.” The nurse dictates them to the doctor.

“What the hell is going on?” John asks worried out of his mind.

“She is in full fledge labor. She’s going to deliver this baby tonight whether she wants to or not.”

“Is the baby going to be okay?” Marlena asked the doctor really afraid to know.

“The baby should be fine. I have delivered many babies at 33 weeks. Now how are you feeling. Is there much pain?”

“Hell yeah there’s much pain. Give me some drugs asap!” John laughed as the doctor ordered the nurse to get the lady some drugs.

“What are you laughing at?” John’s smile disappeared.

“n…n…nothing.”

“Good answer.” She cut her eyes over at the doctor who gave John a sympathetic look.

John shrugged his shoulders and turned his full attention to Marlena. This was it. No dress rehearsal. The baby was coming. Joy, fear and excitement filled both John and Marlena. They looked into each others eyes as they were about to step into another chapter in their ongoing love story.
Page 15 of 46John wipes Marlena’s forehead will a cool wet cloth. She grabs his shirt and twisted the material in her hand roughly pulling John body towards her face.

“I can’t do this!” She grits her teeth.

“Yes you can.” He tried prying her hand off his shirt.

“I said, NO I CAN’T!” Her voiced raised a little louder.

“Baby. You’re doing so good. It won’t be to much longer.” John looks at the nurses for reassurance.

“Then you hop up in this bed and try squeezing something the size of a watermelon out of an opening the size of a lemon and then you can stand back there telling what I can and cannot do!” She let go of his shirt and roughly pushed him back.

The doctor and nurses all stiffed a laugh. John looked around at them a little embarrassed. He gave them a weak smile.

“Okay…well.”

‘Don’t you dare say it!” He held up his hands.

“I wasn’t. I was just going to say.”

“Oh…it’s coming…it’s coming…I can feel another contractions” She tried sitting up to ease the pain.

“Breathe…inhale…exhale…Inhale.” She gave him a death glare. He shut up and just stood back silently coaching her.

“ I can do this! I can’t do this anymore. I am so tired.” She lays back.

“You can’t give up now baby. A few more pushes and then this will be over and you’ll be holding our precious little baby.” He brushes her hair out of eyes.

She grabs his hand and squeezes it. “You said that about 5 hours ago! And look…still no baby!” She lets out a loud moan. “Oh God…here comes another one!” She holds John’s hand.

“Okay Marlena on three you push.” The doctored looked up for her signal that she was ready. Marlena nodded.

“Okay…now 1…2…3…push!”

Marlena screams out in pain. “Come on baby…you’re doing good.” John praised her.

“I can see its head.” The doctor informed them.

John let go of Marlena’s hand. “You can?” He walked done by the doctor to take a look.

“Get back over here and help me push this kid out!” She snapped and he immediately did as he was told and rushed back and took her hand.

“There not too much I can do here though Honey.”

“You can talk to me and take my mind of the of these damn contractions.”

“Marlena…watch your mouth. There is a minor in our presences.”

“Not yet there isn’t and at the rate you’re going, there won’t be any more after this!”

The doctor shook his head listening to their conversation. He was amused.

“Okay Marlena, are you ready?” The doctor took his position between her legs again.

“Yea…I guess”

“On three….1…2…3.”

Marlena pushes with all her might. Moaning and groaning out in pain the whole time.

“Come on, You’re doing good. Keep pushing” The doctor had his hands ready to pull the baby the rest of the way out.

“I can’t! I’m too tired.” She was using every bit of strength within her to finally push the baby out.

“Honey…just a little more. “He looked into Marlena’s eyes and could see that she was drained. She was on the verge of totally losing it and breaking down.

Push Marlena…push!” The doctor had the baby’s head. “It’s coming keep pushing.” Marlena was moaning and almost screaming as she pushed her final push.

She let out a final yell and fell back on the pillows. Trying to catch her breathe. Breathing very heavily.

A small loud cry rang out through the room. John turned his head towards the doctor who was holding the tiny crying baby. Marlena looked up at John and touched his face. He looked down at her with tears pouring out of his eyes. “We did it. It’s finally here.”

“What is it?” She asked him weakly.

“Oh…I don’t know…Um…hey Doc, what is it?” He asked as he held Marlena’s hand gently rubbing the top if it with his thumbs.

The doctor stood with the crying newborn in his arms and placed him on Marlena’s chest.
“Congratulations, it’s a boy!” Marlena kissed the top of the baby’s head. A single tear of joy spilling out of the corner of her eye.

“It’s a boy” She looked up smiling at John. He too had a single tear of joy spilling out of the corner of his eye.

“Sounds like a healthy one you got there.” The baby was wailing. The doctor held the scissors out for John to cut the umbilical cord. He nervously took the scissors and cut the cord. “He looks like a pretty good sized baby to have been born almost 4 weeks early.” The doctor went back to doing his doctor thing as Marlena and John talked and soothed their crying newborn.

“He’s so beautiful” She was caressing his cheek.

“He’s a boy so he is handsome.” John kissed Marlena’s temple.

 

All emotions took over and Marlena was hysterically crying happy tears of joy.

“I can’t believe he’s finally here. We did this. We created this little guy.” She kissed his head again.

John leaned down and kissed Marlena’s lips softly. “You did all the work. I just stood here trying not to faint.”

“If you would have I so would have to be telling all your friends that the tuff, John Black couldn’t handle childbirth and fainted in the delivery room.”

He touched his forehead to hers. “You would have taken a lot of pleasure in that too.” She smiled. “I love you”

She touched his cheek. She reached her face up kissing John softly at first, then it turned into a more passionate kiss. Both so full of love for the other. When they finally broke the kiss they both looked down at their son’s tiny body and both placed a protective hand on his back before the nurses took him away to check his vitals, weight and measure him. over.

Marlena is comfortably resting in her hospital bed with John by her side and her new baby in her arms.

“Wow! 8lbs. I can’t even imagine how big he would have been if he would have come on time.” She held the newborn’s tiny hand in hers.

“The doctor says he would have been a big one. What, like 10 maybe 11 pounds?”

“And then you would have had to be the one delivering him cause I so would not have been pushing that kid out!” He laughed and kissed her hair.

“I would have done anything that would have made delivering this guy easier for you.” She saw the pure sincerity in his eyes.

“I can tell by the look in your eyes that you truly mean that.”

“Oh baby, I truly mean that. I saw the pain in your eyes and I so much wanted to take your place. I don’t ever want you to hurt. I don’t like to see the pain in your eyes. I like to see the little twinkle in your eye like you have right now.” He looks down at the baby and takes his tiny hand in his masculine hand. “As you’re holding our little piece of heaven safely in your loving arms.”

She fans her face to keep the tears from falling. “You’ve really got to stop saying things so sweet to me. I’m already an emotional basket case.”

“I can’t help it. You bring out the romantic sweet quoting fella in me.” She smiled thinking of all the times he would just out of nowhere just start quoting romantic quotes the he had read here and there.

She looks down at her newborn sleeping peacefully in her arms. She runs her hand over his head full of soft black hair.

“He’s got your hair?”

He touches his little nose. “He’s got your little cute nose.” He touches hers to and they share a quick laugh.

“He’s got your chin.” She runs her index finger across he’s soft chin. He sucks his bottom lip in and frowns. “Aww…that was so cute.”

“I can just sit here for hours and just watch this little guy. They make so many different facial expressions.”

“Oh, I love it when they stretch. I can just rub his tummy and he’ll stretch and stretch until he grows another inch.”

“Okay…we can’t just keep calling him ‘little guy’ or him or he. He needs a name. So and I know you’ve had all the time in the world to think about this when you were spitting the kid out.” She squinted her eyes at him. “But this little guy.” He laughs. “See, there I go again he needs name.”

Marlena smiled knowing exactly what one of the baby’s name was going to be. She opened her mouth to speak with a knock came from across the room.

“Knock knock can we come in?” Hope stuck her head in the doorway.

“Oh gosh, yes come on in!” Marlena said getting more comfortable in the uncomfortable hospital bed.

John stood as Bo walked over to him. “Congrats man.” The slapped hands and shook then gave each other a very manly type hug.

Hope sat down on the bed at Marlena’s side. “Aww Mar he’s so cute!” She rubbed her hand over his tiny hand. “I think he looks like his daddy.”

“Unfortunately, yea he does.” John frowned at Marlena. She hid her smile.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. I thought you loved the way I look.”

A smile finally spread across her lips. “I love the way you look. I was just teasing you. I am so thankful that he looks like you.”

“And he’s gonna be a real ladies man to when he grows up. Just like his daddy.” Bo slapped John on the back.

“Bo!” Hope scolded him. He gave her a ‘what did I do’ look.

“Oh Hope, it doesn’t bother me. I know that I’ve got him for good now. And if he ever thinks about leaving me he’ll think twice when I drag his.” Looks down at the baby choosing her words wisely. “Butt to court and make him pay big time.”

“Honey, I ain’t going nowhere. You’ve me for good. You, me, this little guy and any other future little guys.”

 

“Or girls.” Marlena chimed in.

“We are going to be together forever and ever. Just like in all those children’s prince and princess stories. And they lived happily ever after.”

“Those are called nursery rhymes and I think you need to practice just a little there big guy.” Hope stood up and gave John a hug. “You take good care of my Mar. She’s like a sister to me. You treat her good.”

“You got it!” He walked over and sat back down by Marlena and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Have you picked out a name for the little man yet?” Bo asked as he looked between John and Marlena.

“We were actually discussing that when you guys came in.” She looked at John. “I was thinking about his first name being Jonathan cause not only does he look just like his daddy, but I can already tell he’s going to be just like him. Father like son.”

“That’s sweet. He looks like a Jonathan to me.” Hope pointed out.

“Okay, I picked the first name you pick the middle OH WAIT… do you like Jonathan?”

“Baby I love it! I am so honored.”

“He’s your son. It’s not like he’s your neighbors once removed down the street uncles baby being named after you.”

“I just never expected to have a child of my own named after me.” He kissed Jonathan’s tiny fingers.

“Okay before I start with the tears again can you handle picking out the middle name?”

“Yes, and I have a perfect one. Since he has his daddy’s first name, he needs a little of his mother to be with him at all times so how does Jonathan Evan sounds. I just dropped the ‘s’ and well there ya have it! So does that work for you?”

“Oh John, it’s perfect.”

“Yea that name works.” Bo wrapped his arm around Hopes waist as they looked at the new family.

“I think we’re going to go. You two need to get all the rest you can so we’ll call tomorrow and come see you when you get home.”

They said their goodbyes and then they were all alone again.

“Jonathan Evan Black.” Marlena held the baby up to her face smelling his baby scent.

“Jonathan Evan Black. “John took the baby from Marlena and climbed in the bed beside her. He wrapped his arm around Marlena pulling her to him. He settled back in the bed, her head resting on his shoulder. Jonathan laying on his chest. He looked up to the heavens silently thanking God for his precious gifts from Heaven. Marlena placed a protective hand on Jonathan’s back and John covered hers. They all fell into a much needed peaceful sleep.

John walked around his side of the car to Marlena’s. He opened the door and helped her out. He slid the seat forward and lifted the child seat out of the base that was safely carrying his son. He grabbed Marlena’s hand as they walked up the front steps.

“John, I just got out of the hospital from having a baby.” She stressed to him. “I really don’t think I should be out gallivanting around Salem.” He grabbed her hand and started walking up the walk to the house.

“John, Jonathan is going to be hungry in a little while and I don’t want to be exposing myself to a house full of strangers.” She looked around not seeing any other cars. But thought it would be a good argument. He ignored her and continued up the stone stepping stones that led to the cozy front porch. He helped Marlena up the stairs and sat the carrier down at his feet.

“What are you doing?” He was digging in his jean pocket. “damn it…would you stop being so secretive and talk to me!” She put her hands on her hips. He revealed a key ring with a single key dangling from his hand.

“A key yea that’s nice, now can we get back in that car and head back to my apartment and use MY key to open my door. John, I am really tired and sore.”

He took the key and placed it into the door handle. “John what on earth are you doing. Whose house is this?” He turned the handle and picked up the carrier and held his hand out for her to take. “John, we can’t just make ourselves at home in.” She stopped when she walked into the foyer of the house. “Oh my God!”

John watched Marlena as she did a complete 360 in the foyer they had just entered.

“Do you like?” He asked setting Jonathan’s carrier down on the hard wood floor.

“John, this place is gorgeous. Who’s owns it? This place looks like something off of HGTV..”

“So I take it you like it?”

“Uh, yeah it’s gorgeous and perfect for a family. The living area is so spacious. The dining room is so elegant for dinner parties.” She walks into the kitchen. “This is huge. What do people need a kitchen this big for?”

“Usually people cook in this room. Something I’m not too sure you know how to do.” She turned around and glared at him. “You wouldn’t hit a man with a baby, would you.” John kissed Jonathan head as it laid on his chest.

“Why are we here?” She was beginning to catch on to his little secret.

“Would you like to see the other rooms?” She shook her head and took he took her hand and led her from room to room. Every room was already fully furnished. They got to one room at the end of the hall.

“What’s this room?” She slowly pushed the door open. She walked again and tears came to her eyes.” You did this?” He smiled.

The nursery was decorated in cars, planes, trains. Marlena walked over to the crib and ran her handle along the railing. Bright blues, reds. Little planes, trains and cars all over the room. She smiled when she saw the little matching baby recliner over in the corner. She opened the closet. A few little baby outfits hung in the closet. Tiny shoes sat on the self. Opening the drawers of the dresser more little clothes set neatly in the drawers. The basics, socks, onesies, t-shirts.

“When did you have time to do this?”

“Helps when you have friends that love you just as much as I do.” She placed her hand on her chest as she thought of Bo and Hope doing this from her. “Hope wants to throw you a shower as soon as you are up to it.” She smiled through her tears.

“Let’s let this little guy get familiar with being in his own room like a big boy.” He laid Jonathan in the crib.

“I’m not so sure I want him down here in this big ole’ room all by his little self. What if he gets scared or cries out and we can’t hear him? “John flips on the baby monitor next to the crib.

“He isn’t staying here all night. I just want to show you our room.” He took he hand and led her to the room across the hall. “See, he’s just right across the hall.”

He opened the door Marlena gasped. A kind size bed sat in the middle of the room. His and hers dressers. The bathroom was the size of a two regular bathrooms but together. His and hers closets. Marlena’s being bigger do to her shopping addition. Huge garden tub with Jacuzzi jets. A separate shower. She turned and smiled at John.

“So do you like?”

“Oh I don’t like.” He frowned. “I love it!” He smiled and pulled her to him. “When do we move in?”

“We are moved in.”

“What?”

“Bo and Hope moved us in when you were in the hospital.”

Marlena walked over to the closet and opened the doors. Her clothes were hanging neatly. Her shoes lined up like she always has them.

“Everything from my apartment is here?” He shook his head.

“Well expect for that hideous looking thing you liked to call a couch.”

“Hey, it wasn’t any worst looking than yours. At least mine didn’t have the springs poking out at your butt every time you sat down on it.”

“Not much you can buy on a college income.”

“Really. Then how in the world can we afford this place?” She motioned around the room with her arms.

“I have my ways.”

“Do you wish to share your ways with me?”

“Nope. Just let me spoil you, hold you and raise a family with you and not worry how we can afford it all.”

Marlena was curious, but wasn’t up to really getting the answer out of him tonight.

“How about you just lay down and I’ll go get the rest of your stuff out of the car, I’ll order Chinese and we’ll have a quite Black family evening at home.”

“Sounds good to me.” She climbed in bed and quickly fell into a peaceful slumber. John walked back into the room after unloading the car and smiled. He walked across the hall and checked on Jonathan. He walked back into their room. He took of his shoes and climbed in the bed beside Marlena and wrapped his arms around her gently pulling her to him. He nuzzled his face in her hair and to drifted off into a much needed peaceful slumber.

Four weeks after Jonathan was born they had finally settled into their new house and have gotten in a routine with the baby and their schooling. Marlena had to work her classes around Jonathan’s feedings because he refused to take a bottle. There was only so much John could do to calm the baby until Marlena got there to nurse him. So she worked it that her classes and breaks were around his feedings. She worked it too so that she and John could also spend a little time together before he went off to his classes. Being parents to a newborn leaves little alone time.

Hope had finally pinned down a date to give Marlena and Jonathan a baby shower. John would be out of town so there would be no worry on where he would spend the evening. He hated leaving Marlena and Jonathan, but this was something he had to do for one of his business classes. Hope reassured John that she’d stay with Marlena. He reluctantly left and promised he call every night. Which he did.

“Hello?” Marlena cradled the phone in one hand and a nursing Jonathan in the other.

“What’s up Doc?” John’s pet name for Marlena because of her psychiatry ambitious.

“John.” He could hear the pure exhaustion in her voice.

“Baby, I miss you.”

“I miss you too. When are you coming home?” She looked down at the baby now sleeping in her arms.

“As soon as I can get out of these meetings.” Changing the subject. “Isn’t your shower tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t sound too happy about it.”

“I’m just tired. I don’t really want to be around a lot of people. I just wanna be alone, or better yet I just wanna feel your arms around me. And I know that Jonathan is missing his daddy too.”

“How’s that?” Smiling knowing that he son knew when his daddy wasn’t there.

“He hasn’t really eaten much.” John’s usually there when Marlena is nursing Jonathan so he’s used to hearing John’s voice. “And he isn’t sleeping. I have had to lay him down with me at night.” John’s usually the one to rock him to sleep at night.

“I’m sorry it’s been so hard on you. I will defiantly be home tomorrow and things will get back to normal.”

“But what if it’s like this when you do finally get a business type job. Me left at home raising the kids. You always out of town on business trips. I don’t know what I am going to do with myself.”

“We’ll just cross that bridge when we get to it. Besides, I’d hope that my wife would be accompanying her husband on some of those business trips.”

“Well I hope I am able to, but if I have patience that need me.” She could hear the door bell and Jonathan was beginning to wake up. “I gotta go. I hear people out in the living room and Jonathan’s waking. So I’ll talk to you when you get home.”

“Love you. And we still have a very important date to set.”

“I know we do. As soon as you get home, that’s our top priority. I love you too.” She hung up and walked into the party.


After a few hours of opening gifts, munching on junk food and playing silly shower games, the doorbell rang again.

“I’ll get it!” Hope said as rushed to the door.

She flung the door open and there stood Isabella. Neatly wrapped gift in hand.

“What are you doing here?” Hope hissed.

“I’m just here to drop off a gift to the newest little man on campus.” She looks in the house. “Oh are we having a party?” She tries to push past Hope.

Hope pushed her back. “No we aren’t having a party. So why don’t you turn your little self around and leave. You’re not welcome here.”

“Are you Marlena’s guard dog when John is outta town?”

“No, I am more than sure Marlena can take care of herself when it comes to you. But seeing as she just had a baby a few weeks ago, John being the concerned soon-to-be husband and the doting father deeply madly in love with his fiancée and his son, he’s wanting me here so that he’d know that they are well taken care of since he couldn’t be here to wait on Marlena hand and foot.” Hope was twisting the knife deeper into Isabella’s heart.

“You just love to rub it in that Marlena stole John from me, don’t you?”

“I don’t think Marlena’s had to do much stealing. Why would any guy who says he’s in love with you sleep with someone else, no matter if he was drunk or not, then totally diss you when he found out that he fathered some girls, whom he had only met once at a party who he didn’t even know, baby. She must have left quite an impression on him.”

Isabella stood there speechless. Hope smiled in triumph.

Marlena walked up behind Hope cradling Jonathan.

 

“Who is it?” She stops dead in her tracks when she sees Isabella standing there. Isabella eyes went straight to the baby cradled in her arms. “What the hell are you doing here? How did you know where John and I live?”

Isabella was staring at Jonathan. His dark hair, olive complexion. The spitting image of John. All she could think about was that…that baby should be hers. This should be hers and John’s house and that rock on Marlena’s finger should be hers.

“Hello…I asked you a questions.” Marlena lifted Jonathan up on her shoulder.

“I came to bring the baby a gift.” She held the gift up in her hands.

“Thanks, but I know you weren’t on my party list, so therefore your invite didn’t get lost in the mail. And I know there is some hidden agenda behind this.”

“Why would I bring it over knowing that John isn’t here. What would it do for me?”

“How do you know John isn’t here?”

“I have my ways.”

“Listen you psycho. You leave John and I alone. I’m sorry you are so bitter about this whole thing. John never promised you a white picket fence with tons of kids running around. You’ve got to let go and move on. John obviously has.”

“If it wasn’t for you and your …your…” She was trying to think of something to hurt Marlena. Marlena handed Jonathan off to Hope knowing that if provoked, Isabella was going down.

“My what Isabella, cat got your tongue. Spit it out already. If it wasn’t for my what.”


“If you hadn’t slutted yourself around that party..” Marlena didn’t even give her time to finished before she reared her fist back and punched Isabella square between the eyes. Gasps could be heard behind Marlena. Isabella flew back blood instantly running from her nose. She stumbled back and tripped over a potted planet. Two pair of masculine arms reached out caught her before she took a tumble down the front steps.

Marlena had her back to the door shaking her already swollen fist.

“What the hell are you doing?” Marlena quickly turned around at the sound of the voice behind her.
Page 19 of 46“Marlena!” She froze at the sound and tone of the voice behind her.

“John!” She turned and shook her sore fist. She saw red when she saw Isabella out cold cradled in John’s arms.

“What the hell are you doing? Why did you punch Isabella like that?” He fell back sliding down the railing of the porch. Isabella’s head in his lap.

“WHAT? What am I doing? What are you doing? You’re not supposed to be home not until not until tomorrow!” Already on the defensive and mad as hell.

“I wanted to surprise you because you sounded so down when I called earlier. I asked if could go home because I have a lovely lady and a newborn son at home needing me.”

“Well you should have called first!” She shouted causing Isabella to stir slightly and made Jonathan jump in Hope arms.

“It wouldn’t have been a surprise then, now would it of?” He said with a smartalic tone. She squinted her eyes then raised an eyebrow at him.

Isabella started to come around more. Moaning and held up hand up to her hand. And rubbed her forehead.

“Oh man.” She touched her nose and pulled her hand back to see if she was bleeding. She freaked when she saw her hand covered in blood. She looked over at Marlena standing with an unconcerned look on her face. She sat up with pure rage in her eyes. Her one goal was to go after Marlena. She tried to jump to her feet but her head started spinning and she fell back.

“Whoa you might want to just lay here for a little while. I think it might be broke.” She looked up at John, then over to Marlena with a sly smirk on her lips.

“John?” Isabella was going to use this to her advantage.

“Yeah Izzy.”

“I don’t feel so good.” He took off his jacket and placed his handkerchief on her bleeding nose.
“It hurts so bad.” Marlena took in a deep frustrated breath.

“You’re gonna feel a little out of sorts for a while.” She placed her hand on his that was resting on her shoulder. Marlena rolled her eyes. “But I am sure you’ll be fine. I think you might need to get some ice on it to keep the swelling down until you get it checked out by a doctor.”

“Can you take me to the ER. I don’t think I’d be able to make it without…”

“Oh come on John, she is playing you like a fiddle. She isn’t as hurt as she is acting like she is. My God she was about to get up and come at me until she realized you were the one that caught her fall.”

“Marlena, you broke her nose!”

“And?

“And? Is that all you can say. You punch her and break her nose and you don’t even care?”

“No I don’t. See all you saw was me punch her. You didn’t hear what she was saying to me. But you know that doesn’t matter cause right now it’s her word against mine and seeing as she’s the one with the broken bloody nose, I am assuming you’ll believe her.” Tears began to well up in her hazel eyes.

John was fawning all over Isabella and she was milking it for all it was worth. John wiped Isabella’s hair out of her eyes. Cleaned up her nose as best as he could. Comforting her. Trying to keep her calm.

Marlena rolled her eyes and walked into the house. “Where are you going?” He asked as she took a few more steps into the house.

“I’m not going to stand here and watch you play nurse maid to her little boo-boo when I know for a fact that she came here wanting to start trouble. She knew you were out of town and she knew that she could get to me without being around to protect me. But I don’t need you to protect me from her. As you can see I can handle myself just fine!” She turned on her heel flinging her hair as she stormed off into the house. But she was only a few steps in the doorway when she heard John.

“Come on Izzy, let’s get you inside and see if maybe Lexie, if she’s here, can take a look at this for you until we get you to the hospital.”

Marlena turned back around on her heel. And walked right up to John and stood face to face with him.

“She is not coming in my house. And if you insist on bringing her in here, in our home.” She paused took a breath. “then I am taking Jonathan and leaving!” She took Jonathan from Hope. John looked at Marlena and saw in her eyes that she was not bluffing. “I swear I will. Don’t make me do it.”

Jonathan began to fuss. John watched Marlena tend to him. He didn’t want to lose them, not over this misunderstanding. He wasn’t about to choose Isabella over the love of his life and his son.

He sat Isabella up. “Lexie!” He yelled. “Can you come out here?” Marlena turned and walked over and sat down on the couch trying to quite Jonathan. She cut her eyes towards the door to see what was going on. She and John made quick eye contact. He tore he gaze off Marlena when Isabella began fussing about her nose again.

Most of the girls had started to leave not wanting to be around if things started to get real ugly.

“John, it hurts really bad.” She whined.

“It’s gonna hurt for a while. Turn black and blue.” John told her.

“It’s not anything to bad. But she might need to go to the ER so they can look at it. But it’s defiantly broken, but not seriously broken.” John glared over at Marlena. She was unfocused and staring ahead of her. She refused to shed any tears over this.

“John will you take me to the emergency room?” He looked up and his eyes locked on Marlena who came out of her trance when she heard Isabella asked John. Her eyes were daring him to push her. “John?” Isabella called his name to get his attention.

“Uh…Um…yea, sure. I’ll take you.” He helped her up and wrapped his arms around her waist to steady her. He’s eyes slowly went from her feet, to her long tan legs, to her slim torso, to her slightly expose breast, to her luscious soft pink lips to her firing red eyes. Marlena was standing in front of him face to face.

“You take her, and you find somewhere else to sleep cause you sure as hell ain’t sleeping with me in OUR bed. And you aren’t sleeping on the couch either.” He didn’t move waiting for her to hit him with another threat. “Or better yet, you take her, when you get home tonight, Jonathan and I won’t be here!” She turned and stormed back in the house slamming the door behind her.

He let out a tired sigh. He helped Isabella down the steps. She smiled knowing that for that moment John had choose her over Marlena or so she thought.

A little past midnight Marlena was up with Jonathan. Pacing the room. Bouncing him on her shoulder. Humming and rocking him. She changed his diaper thinking he was wet. She tired feeding him, but he kept turning her head from her. She just laid him down and waited to see if he was just tired of being held. No, he continued to cry. She gave him something thinking maybe he had a tummy ache. She even gave him another warm bath. She was determined not to start the bad habit of having him sleep in the bed with her. She didn’t want to have him sleeping with her and then get used to it and then every night that would be the only way he’d sleep. She and John would first of all, get no time alone to themselves and no sleep at all. A hand would slap them across the face, an elbow would be nudging them in the ribs, a foot would kick them in the back.


After a few more minutes of Jonathan’s constant cries she gave up and walked into her room laying him down on her bed. His cries stopped, and he got the hiccups from crying for so long. She watched him with his chubby little legs up in the air. He turned his head towards her voice as she crawled on the bed beside him.

“What am I going to do with you.” She tickled his stomach. “You are such a mess.” She propped herself on her side beside him. “You look just like your daddy. His dark hair.” She ran her hand over his fuzzy dark hair. “You’ve got his ocean blue eyes.” He brushed her knuckles over his chubby cheek. He turned his head toward her hand. “Oh…now you’re hungry. Well I’m not surprised with all the unnecessary crying you were doing earlier. You must have worked up an appetite.” She scooted closer to him and unbutton her pajama top. He turned his head and quickly found his mother’s milk. She rubbed his tummy as he drank. She laid there watching as his chubby cheeks moved as he nursed. She smiled as his eyes slowly opened and closed.

She jumped slightly when she heard the door squeak as it slowly opened. She didn’t say anything. She kept her back to the door.

He removed his jacket. He slowly took off his shirt. Slip his jeans off. He looked at her back thankful that she didn’t act on her earlier threat.

He took a few steps toward the bed ready to climb in next to her and wrap his arms around her when she spoke startling him.

“So, how’s Isabella’s nose?” He didn’t say anything but he walked around the other side of the bed.

“Fine I guess.” He stood in front of her looking down a smile spreading across his face when he saw his baby boy feeding.

“You guess?” She finally looked up at him. “You mean you don’t know?” She asked somewhat curious.

He finally tore his gaze from Jonathan and her exposed breast. “Yea.” He looked her straight in the eye. “I didn’t take her, that’s why I don’t know” A small smile spread across her lips. He let out the breath he held and slowly and gently climbed on the bed laying on his side facing her. “I ain’t about to lose the best thing that has ever happened to me over some bitter-jealous-jilted ex-girlfriend who’s only wanting to tear us apart in hopes that she might have another chance.”

Jonathan turned his head towards John’s voice as he spoke. He kicked his little legs. They both let out a little laugh at their son’s excitement.

Marlena watched as John cooed at Jonathan making him smile. “Did you miss daddy, slugger?” John took Jonathan’s tiny hand in his. Jonathan wrapped his tiny hand around John’s index finger. John leaned down and kissed it looking up at Marlena. She reached over and ran her hand down John’s arm.

“If you didn’t take Isabella to the ER, then where have you been for the last 3 hours?”

“On the porch.” He played with Jonathan’s tiny hand.

“On the porch?” She questioned. “For 3 hours, doing what if I might ask.”

“Thinking.” He looked up at her.

“Thinking? What on earth about for 3 hours?!” She couldn’t believe that he would sit out there for 3 hours.

Sheepishly he hung his head and then made eye contact with her again. ‘Actually, I sort of …uh, fell asleep.” She stiffed a laugh. “What? It was a long flight and we worked like 10 hour days!”

“I think it’s funny that instead of coming in, you sat out there until you feel asleep.” She put her hand over her mouth.

“I sure as heck didn’t want to come in here and have to face the wrath of Marlena.”

“Yea, you better not doing anything to seriously tick me off, or that once broken nose, will be broke once again.” He leaned over Jonathan and placed a soft kiss on her moist lips.

“I missed you like crazy.” He placed his hand on her cheek.

She looked down and then back up. “Yea, I guess I missed you too.” He kissed her again his hand falling from her cheek and brushing her still exposed breast. She caught her breathe and broke the kiss. They looked into each others eyes pure love looking back at the other. He kissed her again wanting more. The kiss turned more passionate when a kick in John’s ribs breaks the mood. They reluctantly break there kiss, their foreheads touching as they both looked down laughing at Jonathan, a fist stuffed in his mouth, innocently looking up at his parents.

“Daddy’s going to have to teach you on timing. Right now, you have got some very, very bad timing little man.” He scooped his son up and laid him on his bare chest. He pulled Marlena to him her head resting on his upper shoulder. She snuggled closer to him, her hand laying in his chest. Her leg draped slightly across his body. He turned more towards her, they snuggled closer together. His arm wrapped around her, his hand resting on her thigh. They both fell asleep with happy content smiles on their faces.
Page 21 of 46Sometime in the middle of the night, John picked up a sound asleep Jonathan and placed him in his cradle beside their bed. John turned around. He watched as Marlena slept peaceful. His eyes roamed her body. Her pajama top still unbuttoned revealing her milky breast. Her long legs extending out from under the oversized top. John looked more closely noticing that it was his shirt. She always slept in his cloths to feel closer to him when he wasn’t there.

The moon lite shown through the thinly curtained window. Her exposed silky smooth skin on her hips and thighs screaming for John’s touch.

He slowly and seductively climb up on the bed towards Marlena’s drinking in her beauty.

John softly placed a soft kiss on her thigh. Marlena stirred but didn’t wake. He placed a soft moist kiss between her breast causing her to stir and wake. A seductive smile spread across her lips as she felt John’s tongue tease her nipples. She slid her hand up his back and rested it on the back of his head. He continued to ravish her breast before making his way up her chest to her neck. Marlena moan in pleasure as she felt John place his body over hers.

He lifted his face from her neck. Her eyes were filled with pure passion. He slowly bent his head down and kissed her lips. His tongue entered her mouth tantalizing them into a dance of the tango. As their tongues continued their dance, their hands roamed each other’s body. Marlena wrapped her lag around John’s body pulling him closer to her. His hand kneaded her breast.

John pulled back, shifting his weight off Marlena and laid on his side, Marlena turned her head toward John. His hand slid the silk material off her shoulder, then the other. Her chest fully exposed to him. He moved towards her chest, his moist lips touching her skin sending shivers down her spine.

His trail of kisses trailed down her chest on her stomach. He lifted his face to hers.

He played with the silky band of her panties. He looped his finger in the thin material on her hip. He slowly slipped the material down her hip. Marlena moved slightly so that John could continue to expose her body fully to him.

He sat back his eyes seductively roamed her body.

He stood at the foot of the bed. Marlena rested on her elbows and watched her private striptease.

He kicked his boxers of to the side of the room and slowly, seductively slip his body up the length of her body. He placed himself over her. She placed her hands on the side of his body.

“Make love to me” Pure passion dripping from her voice.

John laid atop of Marlena. Her legs spread for him and only him. He entered her and their bodies danced that familiar dance they shared once before almost a year ago.

Moan arched her back, spreading her legs, taking him deeper inside her.

“Oh God.” She let out, his thrusting becoming harder and faster.

She pushed John off of her and he landed on his back. She crawled over him, and sat straddling him.

She moved on him causing him to become aroused. She smiled seductively as she felt his hardness against her.

She lifted her hips and placed them on his slowly moving her body up and down teasing him. Finally, not able to resist her, he pulled her down on him and quickly flipped her back on her back. His body covering theirs, his thrust sending chills of pure pleasure up her spin.

They both felt his juices begging to erupt. John gave Marlena one final hard thrust as his juices flowed through her body. Marlena let out a loud moan. He was so deep inside of her that his thrust felt as if he was going to split her in two.


Their heavy breathing filled the room as they lye basting in the afterglow of their passion filled spin-shattering love making. Marlena laid on top of John’s, her legs draped at his sides. Him still inside her.

She crossed her arms on his chest. She propped her face in her hands. Their chest slightly touching his chest. Her nipples teasing him as she moved as spoke.

“Welcome home.” She kissed his chest and rested her face back in her hands.

His slid his hands up and down her back, finally resting on her butt. “Oh, it is so good to be home.”

“Maybe I can get used to this going out of town thing.”

“Especially if this is how I am welcomed home each time.” He placed his hands of her cheeks pulling her face to his and into a sultry breathing taking kiss.

Marlena, sleeping on top of John, her legs draped at his sides, him still deep inside her. Their fingers laced and lying on his chest. Marlena’s innocent movements in her sleep quickly aroused John. She moaned in pleasure and moved her hips. Instinctively John began moving his hips in rhythm with hers. John’s other hand slid down her exposed bare back and rested on her lower back. He slowly opened his eyes as Marlena began to wake also. Her head still on his chest, he could feel her smiling. She turned her head and chest his chest before propping her chin on his chest.

“I a girl can get used to waking like this.” She moved her lower body so that John could have better access.

“Oh and believe me pretty lady, you can bet I’ll wake you like this every morning.” He placed his hands on her back slightly pulling her upward so that he could kiss her. Soft kisses soon turned into deep passionate kisses. John rolled over so that he was now on top of Marlena. She arched her neck causing her body to curve into John’s as his steady thrusts take them into pure ecstasy.

John slid his hands up Marlena’s sides one reaching the destination of grasping her breast. A pleasurable moan escaped from Marlena’s lips. John’s movement on her were becoming stronger and faster. Again, she spread her legs wider allowing him to plunge deeper and deeper into her.

“John” His name escaped her lips dripping with pure passion.

“Oh doc..” he replied with the same about of passion evident in his voice.

Marlena ran her nails down John’s back leaving marks from his shoulder down to his lower back.

John rolled over off of Marlena. Disappointment shown on her face.

“Are you tired already?” She asked slightly turning on her side rubbing her hand over his masculine arm that he had draped over her torso.

“Oh no. Not at the least.” He gently pushed her so that she was laying back on her back.

Marlena lifted one arm over her head turned her face towards John watching him take pure delight in her naked body. She loved the fact that she has this power over him.

He circled her belly button with his index finger. Touching her slightly, causing her to shiver. He quickly looked up and made eye contact before looking back down. He leaned his face down and trailed soft moist kisses all over her stomach. He placed her hand on the back of his head. He kisses were moving lower and lower. She spread her legs when she felt John’s lips near her moist center. He lifted his head and looked up at her. Her eyes closed ready for him to touch her. After a few seconds when she didn’t feel his lips on her, she slowly opened her eyes. He was smiling up at her.

“You are so not right. “She pushed his head away from her body.

He laid his head on her stomach. She ran her fingers through his hair.

“I love that we can just be here like this.” She twirled her fingers in his hair.

“Oh me too.” He ran his hand up her inner thigh. She caught her breath. His index finger lightly touched her. “Why did we wait so long?” She raised the leg he was not laying on up, opening her more to him. His fingers massaging her. Her hand in his hair was moving at the same steady pace as his finger were in her.

The phone rang. Hearing it, but lost in pure pleasure Marlena answered it. Neither moving.

“Hello?” She said into the phone.

“Hey Mar!”

“Hope” She opened her eyes. Why are you calling so early?” She looked at the clock on the night stand beside the bed. 8:27.

“It’s not early.”

John got a very sneaky grin on his face. Marlena looked up as she talked to Hope. He slid his body up the length of her body. He straddled himself over her body. She finally looked at him continuing her conversation with Hope. He slowly lowered himself on her. She spread and raised her legs for better access for him to enter her and he did. He thrusts himself into her making her moan in pleasure.

“Marlena…what are you doing?”

“Hmm…” John was attacking her neck.

“Oh my God! You’re having sex while talking to me on the phone!” Hope was horrified.

“Yeah.” Marlena said now not hearing a word Hope was saying to her. John thrusts grow harder.

“Why did you answer the phone if you were…were in the middle of something?” Hope asked Marlena.

“Why did you call today of all days. Don’t you know it’s the day that John and I don’t have classes.” John face was buried between her breasts.

“You didn’t have to answer the phone!” Hope was speechless. “I’ll let you two…Bye!” Before she hung up the phone she heard Marlena say John’s name. “Oh God!” She slammed the phone down.

Marlena let out a little giggle.

“Who was that?” He asked between kisses.

“Hope” She ran her fingers through his hair again.

“Oh.”

Marlena wrapped her legs around John’s waist, her center tightened around his.

“Oh baby.” She let out feeling her.

“Now… John now!” He pumped himself into her one good time both releasing their sweet juices into and onto one another. She was trying to catch her breath when a cry came from the cradle beside them.

“John.” She tried pushing him off of her as Jonathan’s cries grew louder. ‘John…Get off. Jonathan is hungry. I need to feed him.” She finally pushed him off her and got up and walked over to the cradled. John watched her naked form walked across the room.

She picked the baby up cradling him in her arms. His mouth searching for her nipple, latching on, he sucked her milk.

John walked up behind her. She could feel his arousal behind her. Her wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder gazing down at his son.

“He’s got lousy timing.” She laughed. He spread his fingers over her stomach as their bodies began to sway to unheard music.

She laid her head back on his chest as his hands moved lower down her stomach. He moved backwards towards the bed with her still in his arms.

He sat on the bed and backed up against the backboard leaning against it. He pulled her back so that she was sitting between his legs. Her back on his chest. Jonathan cradled protectively in his mother’s arms.

John raise one leg and Marlena rested her arm around it her hand on his knee.

John ran his hand down Marlena’s leg bending it up as he brought his hand back up touching Jonathan’s cheek. Marlena relaxed against John. John’s hand was slowly moving down her body. She shifted her weight slightly feeling his fingers nearing her. His fingers ever so softly touching her. John went to move his hand and Marlena placed her hand on his, her actions telling him to continue. And he did.

Silence filled the room. The only sound was the sound of Jonathan’s sucking. Both sexually satisfied, they planned their day.
Page 23 of 46John and Marlena just finished giving the waiter their orders. Marlena flopped her head down on her arms crossed on the table in front of her.

“I am so embarrassed!” She buried her face deeper into her arms.

John reached his hand across the table gently massaging her shoulder. “Honey, it’s not all that bad.”

She lifted her head and glared over at him.

“Easy for you to say! You weren’t the one who had sex all night and most of the morning and then realize, and hour and half before time, that you have your 6-week post pregnancy doctor appointment!!”

“Well no… I wasn’t thank goodness.” He sat back. She lifted her head and covered her face with her hands.

“I was so mortified!” She looked over at him.

“He’s a doctor for pete’s sake Marlena. I am sure he’s used to that. I’m sure some have been worse.” She got a mental picture.

“OH MY GOD! Yea, and at least I showered after we…ya know, did all that!”

“Oh the shower.” He got a dreamy look in his eyes.

“I could have killed you when you decided to join me. Couldn’t you have given me a forewarning that you were going to join me?”

“That would have ruined all the fun.”

“Oh and” She threw her napkin at him. “Try explaining the passion mark on my inner thigh and right boob.” His index finger pushes the fabric of her strapless pale pink sundress down to reveal his markings on her right breast. He gently rubs his finger across the skin causing her to catch her breath and almost loose her train of thought. “that… that…Oh, what was I saying?” She thinks. “OH…try explaining those to the doctor who looks between my legs and touch my breast for a living!”

“Sorry. Guess I got a little carried away.”

“Yea I’d say ya did.” I still can’t believe I almost totally forgot about my appointment. I was so embarrassed cause I knew he knew when he came back after jotting everything down on my chart.

~*~

Marlena’s stomach flip flopped as she waited for the doctor to come back after his examination. She sat on the edge of the bed with her hands folded nervously in her lap. She jumped slightly when she heard the door open.

She avoided eye contact with him knowing he knew of her extracurricular activities last night.

“So Ms. Evans.” he paused flipping through her chart.

“I know, I know, we should have waited. But ya know when you get all caught up in the moment, it just happens and you can’t stop. Especially if you wait as long as we did.” She was nervously rambling. “We didn’t do anything my whole pregnancy. I swear. We didn’t want to do anything to hurt me or the baby. Last night was like almost a years’ worth of pent up desire. We tried to wait the 6 weeks, actually we sort did sort of.” She blurted out.

“I wasn’t going to say anything about that but, you do need to be careful. You are a nursing mother, therefore you aren’t having your monthly cycle and some woman tend to forget to take their pills or use other types of protection and not doing so can result in possibly another pregnancy.”

Marlena’s eyes got wide. “Oh no! I don’t want that. I’m am so exhausted with just one. I don’t want another anytime soon. I don’t want 2 kids in diapers at the same time. Oh no. no sir!”

He laughs. “Well then you know what you need to do.” He looks over her chart one more time.
“Everything looks great. You can resume all of your regular daily activities and… nightly ones also.” He gave Marlena a smile. She looked down embarrassed.

~*~
” I just blurted. I just blurted everything out. I didn’t even think before I spoke and got diarrhea of the mouth.” She hits herself. “I am such a big doof!”

“Now that we have doctor’s permission to resume our daily and nightly activities, I think this calls for a little private celebration.” He gave her a seductive grin and raised an eyebrow.

“Is that all you guys think about?”

“When you haven’t had it for about a year…yea, that’s pretty much all we think about.”

“You are such a pig!”

“Plus, when you have a goddess as gorgeous as you lying next to me at night, hell yeah, that’s all I can think about.” He took her hand in his.

“Flattery does get you everywhere you know.”

“Oh I know.”

He brought her hand to his lips. Placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. They gaze into each other’s eyes. She cuts her eyes toward the door when she hears the chimes ring out. She moaned and rolled her eyes. Dropping her head between her arms.

“Will she ever leave us alone?” Marlena looked up as Isabella approaches their table.

“John.” She addresses him and turns to Marlena. “Marlena.” Marlena looks at her gives her a small smile then looks back at John.

“Isabella, what can we do for you today?” John let go of Marlena’s hand and sat back against the booth and crossed his arms across her broad chest.

“Before you get started with your ‘Marlena this and Marlena stole you from me’ I’ll be nice and ask how’s your nose?”

Isabella gently touched her slightly swollen purple bruised nose.

“Fine.” She said sharply.

“Hey, I was only being nice and asking.” Marlena held her hands up.

“It’s not broken. If that’s what you wanted to know.” Marlena got a disappointed look on her face which didn’t go unnoticed by John. He gave her leg a gentle kick under the table. Her eyes darted up to meet his. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “Just fractured. The doctor says it should be fine for next weekend.”

Perking their interest. “What’s next.” They both started to speak. They looked at each and let out a laugh. Isabella rolled her eyes.

“You go ahead.” John told Marlena, but Jonathan decided to make his presences known at that time.

“No, you go ahead.” She unbuckles the car seat and carefully lifts the baby out of his carrier. Isabella’s eyes never leave the miniature being that looks so much like the object of her desire, that she can’t and will never ever get.

“What’s next weekend?” He asked her his eyes following hers to his son in Marlena’s arms. Jonathan’s chubby arms stretch up in the air above his head full of dark blackish-brown locks, his barefooted feet, chubby legs, and plump thighs extended outward kicking in delight from being freed from the restraints of his carrier.

She turns her attention back to John. “Huh…oh Well, summer is right around the corner and we are having a big all day beach party. Everyone is invited. I am sure Hope was going to tell you guys, but since I ran into ya’ll first.”

“What all is there going to be to do and stuff?” Marlena asked taking Jonathan’s tiny hand in hers.

“Umm…volleyball, Frisbee, a big cook-out, maybe surfing… Oh and this is such a guy thing.” She looks at John then back to Marlena. “They want to have like a like Ms. Hawaiian Tropic like contest. Where the girls strut around in bathing suits and the guys judge who got the hottest body.” She laughs.

“Like a pageant type thing?” Marlena asks.

“Yea.” She laughs again.

“Honey, you ought to enter. You would win hands down, especially if I was judging.” Isabella was getting sick.

“Uh…John I had a baby about 6 weeks ago, don’t think I’d look to hot in a bikini right now. You haven’t seen this flabby body naked….” Isabella smiles thinking that Marlena is so not the goddess everyone thinks she is now after having her baby.

“Uh yea I have. And I can honestly say, I like what I saw.” He said wiggling his eyebrows at her. Slipping his foot out of his flip flop. He begins sliding his foot up her leg. She jumps and brushes at his barefoot under the table.

“Oh God, you two are making me sick.” Isabella said in disgust.

“Good! Then leave.” Marlena said matter of factly.

“So you’ll be there?” She addressed John more than Marlena.

“Yes. WE will be there.” Marlena answered her question. Isabella gives Marlena a wicked look and turns on her heels and stomps out of the restaurant.

Marlena eyes get big. “Oh my God.” John jolts up and touches her arms worried.

“What, honey…what’s the matter?” He looked her over trying to see anything that could be wrong with her or Jonathan.

“I don’t have a bathing suit.” John sat back with a laugh.

“Oh and this is a tragedy?”

“Uh, yeah! I so need to go shopping.” She places a sleeping Jonathan carefully back in his carrier. She stands and starts to gather their stuff.

“Where are you going?” He asked watching her.

“We.” stressing the ‘we’ part. “Are going shopping for me a bathing suit.”

Whining. “Do I have too? I haven’t even got to eat yet.” He looks at his food in front of him. She gives him a look.

“Well I need to get opinions on which looks best so I was just thinking that I could model them for you, but since you don’t want to go.” She hands John the carrier. “You can take Jonathan home and watch him until I get back.”

“Model them?”

She shakes her head slowly up and down. “Uh huh.”

“Well…” He tosses some money on the table. Stands, wraps an arm around her waist. “Where to first?” She laughs and slaps his chest as they walk out of the restaurant.

John and Marlena arrive at the mall and John’s heads straight to the food court so that he can feed his growling stomach.

Popping another fry in his mouth. “You aren’t eating?”

“Nah, I’m not really hungry.”

He looks at her questioningly. “Ah I know. You’re afraid you’re not gonna look good in a bathing suit and you don’t want people talking about you saying ‘Oh my God, can you believe Marlena is wearing that and she looks like that??’ So, I guess you’re gonna be starving yourself this week?” As he stuffed another fry in his mouth.

“I just had a baby like almost 7 weeks ago. John, stuff has shifted and moved. Some things aren’t in the same place they were before I got pregnant. I have more here and less there. Less here and more there.”

He eyed her chest. “I ain’t complaining.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh why do I even bother with you?!” He gives her a wink.

They walk hand in hand into the surf shop.

“May I help you?” The sales clerk asks.

Points at Marlena. “She’s looking for a bathing suit.”

“Any particular style, color, name brand?”

“Um, nah not really. But I just had a baby 7 weeks ago.so” The clerk looks Marlena over only wishing she will look that good after having a baby not to long ago.

“Okay let’s see what we’ve got.” They walk off looking for the perfect suit for Marlena.

45 minutes later Marlena walks into a dressing room with an armful of bathing suits. John has a seat in the chair by the dressing room door.

Marlena walks out in a very unattractive floral print bathing suit, that does nothing for your body and totally makes her look like an old maid.

John gives her and look and points for her to head straight back in the dressing room. She laughs as she walks off. He eyeing her butt.

Another hideous one piece. John shakes his head and sends her back in the dressing room.

Marlena walks back out in a tankini. John gives the once over and tells her to turn. She does the whole model like turn. He shakes his head.

“Not enough skin.” She shakes her head and walks back for another suit.


A hour later, John is getting restless and bored. He’s leaned back in the cushioned chair. A yawn escapes his lips as Marlena walks out.

He sits straight up a huge smile spread across his face. Marlena turns modeling the suit for him. She turns back to face him and he makes her spin again. She holds her arms out and spins to show him the suit again.

He stands and slowly walks over to her.

“So..whatcha think. I think this is the last one.”

“And this is so the bathing suit for you.” He stands in front of her and his eyes scan her body.

He places his hands on her hips and kisses her neck, nipples at her ear.

Her hands on his sides. “Uh John, people can see us.” She looks over his shoulder at the few people in the store that aren’t even paying attention to them.

He pulls back when the sales clerk comes up behind them.

“Did you find one you liked?”

“Yep we sure did.” John informed the young girl.

“Oh that’s a good choice.” Still jealous over Marlena’s perfect body.

“Lemme just got change and I’ll take this one.” The sales clerk walks away and Marlena turns back towards the dressing rooms.

“Need help?” John asked from not too far behind her.

She turns and John runs smack into her. “Umf.” She begins to laugh. “Yea, I might need a little help with the ties. I can’t reach behind my back.” She slides her hand behind her back tugging on one string and the top almost falls to the floor. She covers herself John places his hands on her hips slowly backing her into her dressing room. Conveniently it was the handicap one which is so much bigger.

“I think I might can help you with that.” He shuts the door behind them and pulls her to him. Her hands on his chest. The material hanging loosely between them. His hands slowly and ever so gently slide up her bare back sending shivers through her.

“Oh I am so glad that we dropped Jonathan off with Hope.” She tilted her head to the side giving John better access to her neck.

Nuzzling her neck. “Me too, me too.” He kissed her lips gently. She opened her mouth to him and his tongue met hers and began their dance.

Her hands were pulling his shirt out of his jeans. She worked his belt. Her grabbed her hands pinning them behind her.

He buried his face between her breast. She arched her back pushing herself closer to him. He let go of her hands and she ran them through his hair. His hands wrapped around her back sliding down to her butt. His hot sweaty hands groping her. He pulled her to him their bodies ramming into the others.

A little breathless. “Do you think they’ll hear us?”

Muffled. “I don’t really care.”

Hands roamed.

Marlena slide John’s jeans down his legs. He stepped out of them pushing Marlena back against the wall pressing his body to hers.

“Oh my God!” Softly escaping her lips.

John ran his hand down her stomach touching the hem of the bathing suit bottoms she still wore. He ran his hand around the hem to her waist and gently pulled on the tie on her hip. The material hanging loosely at her side. His other hand did the same to the other tie. The suit fell to the floor. Marlena stood fully naked in front of him. He was eyeing her reflection in the mirror behind her.

He grabbed her breast and began kneading. Marlena let out soft moans as his hand work her breast. His thumb running over her nipple. He looked into her passion filled eyes before taking her breast in his mouth sucking long and hard. His hands were pulling her body to him. Her hands were working on taking his boxers off. The drop around his ankles just as her body presses into his.

His eyes traveled up to meet hers. Her eyes giving him the answer to the question his were asking.

They pressed their bodies together, slowly grinding against each other. She could feel the effect the motion the hips were making effect John. She gave him a sexy grin. He buried his face in her neck. She slightly spread her legs to allow him entrance. He was pushing her backwards toward the wall all the while driving himself into her.

Their feet became tangled in the clothes below them that they fell into the wall with a loud thud.
“Oh crap! Marlena said pushing John off her. “We are so going to be busted.

“A won’t that be fun.” He tried pulling her to him.

“No hello, our son would be left parentless because we’d be in jail for indecent exposed or having sex in public.”

“We aren’t actually in public.”

“Is everything alright in there ma’am.” The clerk asked from the other side of the door.

Marlena jumped at her voice. “Uh oh Uh yea. I just gathering up the bathing suits.”

“Oh, okay. Let me know if you still need anything.”

John took that exact moment to pop her butt cause her to let out a small yelp.

“Okay I will.” She turned around and glared at John. “You are a dead man when we get home.”

She turned around her back to John and bent over to pick up their clothing lying on the ground.

Marlena was gathering her clothing items when John rammed himself in her from behind. She bumped her head on the seating. “Oww!” She let out. John continued to bump into her from behind. She placed her hands on the seating bench bracing herself against the force he was driving into her. She bent her head down, his assault effecting her.

“J…J John.” She finally got out. “You…you’re killing me.”

He continued. He felt her tighten around him. His hands held her hips firmly against him. His hips touching her butt cheeks. He could feel himself about to let go.

“Hold on baby.” He gripped her hips tighter, she braced herself against the seat. John drove himself into her a few times before he let her juices shot into her like an arrow from its bow. She threw up head back pure ecstasy flowing through her body.

John fell to his knees still having a firm hold on her hips. She sat back against him. Not breaking their contact. She leaned herself forward resting her head on the bench. His grip on her hips slide down to her thighs. She could feel his breathe on her moist back. He laid his face on her bare back.

“That…that…was incredible.” He told her his breathing begin to steady. His hands were rubbing her thighs. “You okay baby?”

She didn’t answer at first. “Oh yeah, I am okay. Just trying to gain my composure.”

Just as she was finally coming down from her sexual high, his hand slid between her thighs and made entrance into her center.

“Oh God.” She said leaning back against him her eyes closed.

She slowly opened her eyes and focused on their naked bodies in the mirror before them. John’s lips were on her neck. One hand working her breast, the other pleasure her with his fingers.

She watched as John’s fist pumped into her center in time with the booming music coming from the speakers in the main store.

“John, we have to get out of here. The sales girl might come back.” She tried removing his hands from her body.

He sighed and reluctantly dropped his hand from her breast. His hand still between in her center. She began gathering her stuff from on top his lap. John watched as she got herself dressed. His index finger rubbing her causing Marlena to liquefy in his hand.

She clasped her bra around her. Looking in the mirror she fixed the strapless bra. Adjusting her breast just right. She Pulled her strapless un dress over her head, it gathered at her hips.

He eyes met John’s in the mirror. She placed her hands on his between her legs.

“You’ve gotta stop now. Playtime over.” He got a sad look on his face as she gripped his hand pulling it away from her. She stood straddling him looking for her thongs.

He sat back looking up at her butt in his face. She bent over picking up her thongs, her womanhood in his face. John not wanting to miss any opportunity nipped at her making her jump and straighten. She smacked his head and helped him stand.

“That was not cool!” He laughed bent his head and brushed his lips against hers.

“And this is so not over. We’ll continue this after Jonathan is down for the night.”

She gave him a killer seductive grin. “You bethca!”

They walked out of the dressing room looking around to see if anyone might have heard them as the proceeded to check. John wrapped his arm around her neck, hers around his waist as they walked out of the store as if nothing happened wondering if they were heard by anyone.

Slowly opening the dressing room door that was beside the one John and Marlena occupied, Isabella walked out in shock of hearing John and Marlena having sex in the dressing room beside her.

Part 1

John was tighten his board to the racks on his car while Marlena was giving Mrs. Smith last minutes instructions for Jonathan.

“His milk is in the container in the fridge.”

John walked up behind them.

“Marlena, I am sure she knows how to take care of a baby.”

“Marlena dear I will call you if I need anything or if anything happens.”

Mrs. Smith was Marlena’s physic teacher and has helped Marlena catch up with her school work from having Jonathan.

“Come on sweetheart.” John was pulling Marlena by the arm.

She pulled her arm out of his grasp and he rolled his eyes.

“Mommy will be back in a little. I love you little man.” She kissed him on the head again for the 20th time in the last 5 minutes.

She reluctantly followed John out to the car. She waved and throw Jonathan kisses as Mrs. Smith waved his little hand at his mommy and daddy as they drove off.



John and Marlena arrived at the beach 30 minutes later.

“John, we don’t have to stay long do we?” She asked not wanting to be there with all those people. She felt uncomfortable around them.

“We’ll stay as long as you want to. I don’t know why you are so uncomfortable around a lot of these people.”

“I don’t either. Guess it’s just the whole how we got together thing. The party, the one night stand Isabella”

He took her face in his hands.

“Forget about it. We are together now and will be forever. If people have a problem with us, then they need to give it up already and move on. We certainly have.” He gave her a quick kiss before getting out of the car gathering their stuff and heading down for the beach.


Eyes turned to the stunning couple looking for the perfect spot to lay their stuff. John and Marlena had become the most talked about couple on campus. They were like Demi and Ashton. Controversial. And like Greases’ Danny and Sandy. School jock, classy- shy new girl. Every guy wanting a girl that looked like Marlena and every girl wanted to be Marlena. They envied John’s devotion and love for her.

John stopped. “Is this okay?” He turned asking Marlena who was looking out of the ocean.

“Uh yea, it’s fine”

They were in the middle of all the couples. It wasn’t planned. It was just the only free spot on the beach. All eyes still focused on them.

John sat his surf board down and unfolded Marlena’s lounge chair.

Mouths watered as the guys watched Marlena unveil her goddess like body.

She slowly removed her shorts and pulled her t-shirt over her head. Girls were slapping their boyfriends for drooling over her. Her sexy black hip hugging bottoms and skimpy triangle top were giving guys pure and unclean thoughts.

Marlena pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail. She grabbed her top before it could fall.

“Ahh John help.” She had her arms across her chest. He turned around and laughed.

“What do we have here? You know this is a public beach, not a topless beach.” He kissed her shoulder.

“Ha….just please tie this back together or every guy here is going to see some things that you’d rather see all for yourself and in private.”

John pulled the strings to her top back tying them tightly. Guys were so wanting to be in John’s placed at the moment.


Marlena sat down on her chair and pulled out her lotion. After she had grease herself down she looked up at John.

“Can you put this on my back.” She handed him the bottle of suntan oil.

“Oh it’ll be my pleasure.” He gave her a wink.

John sat on the chair behind Marlena. He squirted the oil in his hands and placed his hands on Marlena’s shoulders. Massaging them she let out a small moan. He slid his hands down her back before they got too carried away in front of everyone a few guys walked up to them and asked if they wanted to play volleyball.

“Hey John you and Marlena want to play a game of volleyball?”

John has his hands on Marlena’s waist. “Honey, whatta say?”

“Well, I’m not the sporty type girl.” She turned to him. “But if you’ll teach me. I’m game”



“Okay this is how you serve.”

John and Marlena was on one side of the net with a few other girls and all the guys were on the other side to have a better view.

John stood behind Marlena to help her serve the ball. He had his hand under hers and helped her smack the ball over the net. His body was pressed to hers. Sending a few shivers down her back.

“You had better be careful next time.” She gave him a look and she knew exactly what she meant.

The ball was coming right for Marlena. She cupped her hands together, all guys became unfocused on the game as they all focused on Marlena’s chest. Marlena smacked the ball as hard as she could sending the ball flying back over the net and hit one of the unfocused guys square in the forehead. As he fell to the ground all the guys around him busted out laughing. Marlena ran over to him.

“Oh my God Rob, are you okay?” She knelt down beside him her chest being revealing more to him.

Disoriented he tried to focus his eyes. Now every guy was kicking themselves at the attention he was getting from Marlena.

“Huh?” He said rubbing his forehead.

“Are you okay. I am so sorry.” She tried helping him stand.

“I…I…yea…I’m fine.” He wrapped an arm around her waist. He couldn’t get himself up and Marlena slightly fell on him. John came up behind them knowing what Rob was doing.

“Get up man. I know what you’re doing.”

Marlena looked up at John. “John, I hit him with the ball. He might be hurt.”

“He ain’t hurt.” He helped her stand. Rob looked up at them. “Get up before I really hurt you.”

Rob stood with no problem. He had been caught trying to take Marlena hitting him to his advantage.

“You are such a jerk.” Marlena was ticked that her hitting him, he tried to take advantage of her. She turned to all the guys they all immediately looked down at their feet.

“Come on sweetheart let’s go get in the water and cool you off.” He pulled Marlena toward the water. She glared back at the guys still standing around.


As they walked into the water Marlena was still ticked. “Why do guys have to do stuff like that just to get a girls attention?” The waves crashing against their bodies.

“Some guys just have to do things to get girls to pay attention because they lack in some other area that I…Uh…I mean some guys just have it all.” A huge smile spread across her face.

She launched herself toward him and he lost his balance and they fell into the water.


Part 2


John and Marlena are still out in the water. They are holding each other as the waves come and go. Her arms and legs are wrapped around him, and his arms around her waist.

“I can’t believe you didn’t beat the crap out of Rob.” He kissed her shoulder.

“I’m not a possessive type guy. Besides, he ain’t worth it.” She threw her head back laughing.

“Ha yeah right.” He started kissing her neck. “Every time some guy looks at me your grip around my waist tightens, or you pull me closer. You kiss me like there no tomorrow. Like your marking me as your territory”

“I’m just letting them know.”

” Know what?! That I am yours, they had better not touch me or look at me?”

“I don’t want to have to make things physical. Hitting someone isn’t always the answer.” Marlena pulled out of his arms.

“If you expect me to apologize for punching Isabella, you won’t hear one. Cause you didn’t hear the things she was saying to me and about Jonathan. She deserved much worse if you ask me.” She started to swim off.

He grabbed her leg pulling her back to him. “Get back over here.” He wrapped his arms back around her waist. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Look at me.” She kept her head turned out towards the water. He places his fingers under her chin turning her head towards him. “I’m not saying that Isabella didn’t deserve what she got. I know she is a problem or has a problem.”

“John she is a constant problem. Can’t she see that you don’t want to be with her. She’s so friggin’ delusional. And her delusion could have cost us our son. Have you forgotten that?” She looked him in the eye.

“No I haven’t. But Jonathan is happy and healthy and so are we.” John sees Isabella walking down the beach. “Ya know, let’s not talk about Isabella or what she tried to do. Let’s just concentrate on us having a nice relaxing day, just you” Kisses her lips. “and me.” Kisses her neck. “No baby to interrupt.” Kisses her lips again. “Sound good?”

“Uh huh.” She wraps her arms back around him. “So you gonna teach me how to surf?”

“Hmm…Maybe later, but right now I just wanna…” He falls back under the water. She comes up with a vengeance. They start having a splashing contest. Marlena jumps on John’s back sending him under the water. John grabs Marlena leg and pulls her under. They wrap themselves around each other kissing as they come back up from under the water.

“I love you pretty lady.”

“I love you too.” They hug each other tightly.

John’s hands are sliding up and down Marlena’s back. He stops at the tie to her bathing suit and gives it a slight tug.

Grabbing herself. “John!” She was desperately trying to keep the top from floating up. He took off swimming as fast as he could. She loosely tied her top back together and took off after him.

“Get back here you…you” John turns back to see how close Marlena is and she grabs his foot. He tries to get free. He looks like a fish out of water splashing around. She grabs ahold of the front of his swim suit. “He grabs her hand. “You wouldn’t dare?” He wasn’t sure if she would strip him of his suit or not.

“You wanna test me?” Her eyes locked on his. He held his hands up.

“Okay I give. I’m sorry. Truce?” He held his hand out to her.

“Truce.” They shook hands and John pulled Marlena towards him. He wrapped his arms around her.

“Lemme help you with that?” He untied her top again.

 

“John.” She said sternly.

“I’m not gonna do anything. At least not right now.” He winked at her. “Maybe later.”

“Well then please tie my top back. I am not walking up there with my bathing suit all untied.” She started to tie it back, but he swiped her hands away.

“I said I’d do that for you.” He turns her around and slowly ties the strings to her bathing suit back together. He slides his arms around her waist, resting them on her stomach. His chin resting on her shoulder.

“How’s that?”

She looks down adjusting the top in the front. “Thanks.”

“He reaches over her shoulder.” Need help?” She tries to grab her, but she swims away from him.

John swims after her. He grabs her again and they play in the water, dunking each other and splashing each other. Kissing and then getting into another splashing contest. Chasing each other and catching each other kissing every time.

Isabella stood on the shore her hands on her hips. She squints her eyes. She feels an arm wrap around her waist. She looks up and gets an evil grin on her face.

“Is that her?” He said in a thick accent.

“Yep that’s the boyfriend stealing slut.”

The tall dark figure watches John and Marlena frolicking in the water. Two people who are obviously in love with one another. This was going to be tuff he thought. He watches as John takes Marlena face in his hands and kisses long and slow.

They smile at each other. “Love you.”

“Me too. You hungry?” He asked kissing her hand.

“Famished.” She jumped on John’s back and wrapped herself around him as he carried her out of the water heading up to shore for the cookout.


John was throwing their plates in the trash can. Marlena laid back in her lounge chair waiting for John to come back so he can teach her to surf. A dark shadow blocks her sun.

“You ready honey.” She starts to stand. “Oh.”

“Honey?! Well I’m flattered but I don’t even know your name.” His voice was deep and with an accent.

“Oh well I thought you were my finance’. He was supposed to be right back” She looks around for him. “Now where did he run off too?”

“If I was your finance`, I wouldn’t leave your side for a minute.” The way he was looking at her made her skin crawl.

“I don’t think I got your name.” She saw John walking up behind the stranger and she nerves started to disappear.

“I’m Tony. Tony Dimera.” He took her hand and kissed it softly.

“Excuse me what the hell do you think you’re doing?” John walked up behind Tony. Marlena yanked her hand out of Tony’s grasp.

“I was just introducing myself to the lovely lady here.” Tony turned facing John.


Isabella stood to the side watching the scene unfold. John looked beyond ticked and Tony stood there his shoulders squared ready to take John on. John pushed past Tony and wrapped a possessive arm around Marlena’s waist. Isabella watched as they exchanged a few words. She decided that it would be best to interrupt before they started to fight and she didn’t want Tony hurting John. Not that he would be able too. She quickly ran up the threesome.

“Tony.” She said running up to his side. “I have been looking all over for you.” She looked over and John and Marlena. She got sick to her stomach remembering back to what she heard in the dressing room at eh surf shop. She shook her head. “Uh Marlena.” She looked Marlena over. ‘GOD, you can’t even tell she had a baby! Dang it! How am I to compete with that?’ Isabella thought to herself. “You look great!” Thinking to herself. ‘They look like Ken and Barbie.’ I can’t believe you just had a baby not to long ago.”

Marlena rolled her eyes at her. “You had a baby?” Tony asked.

John didn’t like the looks Tony was giving Marlena.

Before Marlena could answer, John spoke up. “Yes WE.” He stressed the word ‘we’ “Just had a baby.”

“Well congratulations.” He shook John’s hand while looking over at Marlena whose skin was crawling.

Silence fell. “Well Tony, it looks like they are waiting on us to play a game of volleyball.” Isabella linked her arm though his.

He gave Marlena another look over before he and Isabella ran off.

Marlena was shaking and John could feel it. “Hey baby.” She placed his hands on her shoulder looking her in the eyes.” What’s wrong. Why are you shaking?”

“He gives me the creeps. I didn’t like the way he was looking at me.” He wraps his arms around her.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ll make sure he doesn’t creep you out again. I’ll make sure I’m around every time he’s around. He must be the new exchange student I’ve been hearing about. Very suave and thinks he’s a real ladies man. Isabella will keep him entertained. We won’t have to worry about him when she’s around.”

“I hope not.” He kisses her forehead. “Just hold me.” She looks over John’s shoulder and Tony turns and stares back at her. She buries her head in John’s chest.



Part 3


John was pulling on Marlena’s arm.

“I am not NO..I won’t do that!” She yanked her arm out of John’s hold.

“Come on baby. You’ll win hands down.” He grabbed her wrist and started pulling her back towards the crowd.

“John. NO! I said no!” She dug her feet into the ground.

He looked back and saw the fire in her eyes.

“Please.” He stuck out his bottom lip.

“Why just so you can say that you date the hottest babe on campus?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“HA are we that conceited? You think you’re the hottest chic on campus?!” He laughed.

“Oh please. I see how all the guys drool over me like I’m a delicious juicy prime rib.”

“My God woman you are so stuck on yourself!” He’s little reverse physiology was beginning to work.

Alright, I’ll show you.” She storms off towards the stage were all the girls were lining up and getting numbers. He gets huge grin on his face.


John stood in the middle of the crowd of drooling guys. His eyes locked on Marlena’s.

“‘Welcome gentleman. Here we have twenty-five of Salem U’s hottest babes.” Marlena gave John a wicked grin. “You see them walking around campus. You all want them; they blow you off. They don’t give you the time of day. Well except for a few of you are lucky enough to be graced with some of these babes’ presences.” The announcer looks between John and Marlena. John nods his head at him and gives Marlena a million-dollar smile. “Well, I am sure you guys are ready to get this show on the road. So here we go.”

The music starts playing. One by one each girl struts out. Models for the guys. Dancing a little. Guys drool. Whistles. Cat call. They yell for the girl that they think has the hottest legs, best chest, best tan, the one who looks best in their bathing suit. The girl that just has the overall package of being a total knock out in the guy’s eyes. The girls go from 25, to 15 to 10 to 5.

The final five girls stand across the front of the stage.

“Okay we’re going to have these lovely ladies introduce themselves.”

They four other girls introduce themselves. He gets to the final girl. “You seem to be the crowd favorite.” The crowd erupts. ‘And you are?”

“I’m Marlena Evans. I’m originally from Colorado, transferred here from Southern Cal. This is my first semester at Salem U. I got a bit of sad news for you guys and I hope you don’t’ hold it against me.” The crowd yells. She holds up her left hand and looks over at John.” I’m spoken for.” The diamond sparkles as the sunlight hits it.

“Nah I don’t think we’d hold that against you too much. Do you fellas think we will?” The yell. ‘Hottie’ and ‘babe’ up at Marlena.

“Ladies, go get your men.”

The five remaining girls go out into the crowd and drag their guys back on the stage.

“Ah now let’s see. Five gorgeous women. Five guys. Ladies out there, do these guys meet your approvals as ‘hotties’? The girls scream to the top of their lungs.

The girl walks up on stage. “Alrighty guys. The ladies have showed what they’ve got. How about you showing us, what you’ve got.”

The five reluctant guys model, pose and flex their muscles as the music blares around them.

John looks back over at Marlena giving her a death glare. She shrugs her shoulders laughing at the red color John has turned and it wasn’t from the sun.

The five couples line up across the stage.

“We have to narrow this competition down to just too of you gorgeous-hot couples. So ladies and gentleman, who will it be.” They go down the line and get to John and Marlena. John has his arms wrapped around Marlena’s waist. Her hand resting on his broad chest. “Now we have the ever so gorgeous Marlena Evan’s” The guy announced.


“And Mr. Hottie himself, John Black.” She announced looking John over.

John and Marlena and another couple were the final two standing.

“Okay, lovely ladies and fine gentlemen. The winner of Salem U’s Hottie Contest wins a weekend for two, obviously, at the Salem Inn and dinner for two, again obviously, at Tuscany. And some other free stuff.” They both hold up duffel bags full of other stuff.

“Alright, you ready?” John pulls Marlena into his arms. They crowd goes wild. “We are going to do this as a dance off.”

John leans his hand down on Marlena’s shoulder.

“The hottest couple has to be the hottest dancers so….” The music starts. “Let’s get this party started!”


Usher’s ‘Yeah!” starts blaring through the speakers.

The song was coming to the end. John and Marlena were all over each other. Marlena had one arm around John’s waist. He had his wrapped around her. They were doing a little bumping and grinding. The typical party dancing. They were actually getting a little carried away which made the crowd cheer even louder for them.

yeah,yeah )Shorty got down low said “come get me”
(yeah,yeah)I got so caught up I forgot she told me
(yeah,yeah)Her and my girl use to be the best of homies
(yeah, yeah)Next thing I know she was all up on me sceamin…..

The music ended and John wrapped his arms around Marlena lifting her off the crowd and spun her around. They were sweating and the breathing was labored. The crowd was yelling, screaming and whistling. Marlena with her back to the crowd had to adjust her top.

“Oh God, I hope that wasn’t like that the whole time.” She looked up at John. He smiled and kissed her gently.

“If it was, we know why we won.” She slapped him on the chest. He kissed her again before turning her around and wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned back against his sweaty body.

Both couples were trying to catch their breathes.

“Well alrighty then. That was a little hot.” The girl was fanning herself.

“Okay now. Who do you think deserves the title of Mr. and Ms. Salem U Hotties?” The crowd yells ‘John and Marlena’

“Well, it seems that you two have won hands down. Congratulations John and Marlena.”

“John picks her up and spins her around. He kisses her gently, but as the crowd yells the kiss deepens and they totally lose control. John dips Marlena. She laughs and pulls back looking up in his eyes.

“So Mr. Hottie, are we gonna celebrate this little victory tonight?”

“Oh you better believe we are baby! We didn’t win this title for nuttin’!” He gave her a very breathless passionate kiss. The still kiss as the crowd yells around them. John grabs her butt sending the crowd into another fit of hoots and hollers.

Isabella stands back a beat look on her face. This day did not turn out at all as she planned. First, Marlena was not supposed to look like a goddess in a bathing suit after just having a baby. She most defiantly wasn’t supposed to enter the Hottie contest. She and John weren’t supposed to win for that matter. Tony was supposed to catch Marlena’s attention, him being the new hunky exchange student. But John and Marlena neither noticed anyone else around them. Their only focus was on each other. She looks over to the other side of the stage and notices Tony with a pure look of determination on his face.

John and Marlena are on their way home from the beach party.

“I can’t wait to get home to my baby boy.” John looks over at her. “I missed him so much today.” She closed her eyes leaning her head back against the seat thinking about holding Jonathan.

He put his hand on her leg. “But you had fun today?” He asked her in the form of more a question.

“Yes, I have a blast. I can’t believe we won that Hottie contest.” She turned her head towards him smiling.

“Yea, I’m still pretty embarrassed about that whole dancing thing.” He shakes his head.

“Oh puhleeze you loved every minute of it.”

“Hey and what’s with your surfing skills. How come you didn’t tell me you could surf.”

She knocks on his head. “Hello sweetheart, I lived in California.”

 

“Put you let me try and teach you and them, wham you get up on your first try. The guys were like dogging me cause my girl could surf better than me.”

“Hope and showed up all the guys out in Cali.” She smiled proud of herself.

~*~
John and Marlena walk out into the water. They walk out to where the waves start. He gives her a few pointers on what to do when I wave comes and how to balance when she stands up and how to ride the wave out.

“Okay you’ve got to lay down on the board here.” She gives him a look. “Get your head out of the gutter.” She laughs at him.

She climbs on the board and lays on her stomach. “Okay and then the wave comes and I just jump up and try and keep my balance while the water kind of like guides the board into shore?”

He looked at her with a ‘how the hell did you know that’ on his face. ‘Well yea, but there is a little more to it than just that.”

“Oh?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Yeah here let me show you first.” He helps her off the board and lays on it waiting for a good wave. “Okay here. Watch” The waves takes the board. John jumps on his feet and gets his balance and then starts doing all these cool surfing moves with the board. Another wave comes the then other direction smashing into John’s wave and sends him flying through the air. Marlena tries to hide her laugh at seeing him shot through the air. He swims back over to her.

“Okay so I have to be shot through the air like that, too?” She was laughing.

“Okay little Mr. Smarty Pants. Do you think you can do better?”

“Well I don’t know I’m not sure.” John helps her up on the board. A nice wave comes Marlena starts paddling her arms. She waits for the water to take the board, she stands and keeps her balance. Then starts doing the surfing motion with her legs, moving the board back and forth. She even jumped a little wave before riding the board into shore.

John stood back in the water his mouth gapped open. The guys on the beach were cheering and whistling. She turned to John and flashed him a million-dollar grin before swimming herself back out to him.

She got up to him and closed his mouth with her hand and wrapped herself around him. “How was that?” She asked kissing his cheek.

“You little sneak.” She started giggling. “You know how to surf!” She laughed harder. “Oh I’m gonna make you pay for just making me look like a totally fruit cake in front of the guys!” She swims off and he chases after her.

~*~

They pull into the drive and Marlena is out of the Jeep before John could even put it in ‘park’

She takes the baby from Mrs. Smith.

“Mommy missed you mommy missed you so much!” She hugs and kisses the baby causing him to let out a little laugh.

“Thanks Mrs. Smith. I am sure if see ever lets him go” He looks over at Marlena still kissing and hugging on Jonathan. “we’ll call you again to sit with him.”

John walks over to Marlena and Jonathan after showing Mrs. Smith out.

He takes Jonathan hand in his. “Hey slugger. Did you miss daddy?” Jonathan kicked his feet at his daddy’s question. “Oh boy I missed you.” He took Jonathan from Marlena. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go get a shower, I’ll order some pizza and after I get my shower, we’ll just chill. I’m pretty beat.”

“You old fart!” She slapped him.

“Hey now you better watch it!” He winked at her as she retreated down the hallway to the bathroom.


John and Marlena sat on the floor with Jonathan laying on a palette between them.

“I didn’t know I was so hungry.” John looks at Marlena in disbelief.

“My God woman you just ate like 4 pieces of pizza!”

She smiles sheepishly. “Guess I was hungrier than I thought.” She burps. “Oh excuse me.” She looks over at John’s plate. “Oh honey did you get enough?! I can whip you up something else if you didn’t get enough.” She stands. He grabs her arm.

“No baby, I’m fine. I had plenty.” Gurgling sounds come from the baby lying between them.

“Did you get enough to eat baby boy?” Marlena lays down beside him and rubs his tummy. “He is so perfect. I can’t believe that…that I have this perfect little boy. I could have never imagined how wonderful being a mother could be. He’s like heaven on a stick. I could just eat him up..” She looks up at John with tears in her eyes. “Thank you. Thank you for giving me this little boy.”

He reaches over and wipes her tears. “No, I should be the one thanking you.” He lays down eyes level with Jonathan. “ You could have easily have gotten rid of him, never told me about him put him up for adoption. But you didn’t. You chose to give him life and you chose to let me be in his life. So for that, I am eternally grateful to you for that.” He leans over a places a soft kiss on her trembling lips.

They lay there in the silence watching their ‘heaven on a stick’ explore his surroundings. He looks up at both his parents. He wiggles and giggles up at them. John looks up at the clock on the wall.

“Oh slugger, it’s way past your bedtime.” He lifts Jonathan.

Marlena stands up following him. “Oh wow it is late.” She yawns. “I’m tired too.” John stops and Marlena bumps into his back. “What?”

He slowly turns around. “What about our little celebration? Remember..” He raises his eyebrows like ‘you know’ cause he didn’t want to say anything in front of Jonathan.

“What John?” She tries and gets him to say it.

“You know. Lemme get this little guy to sleep and I’ll be right in so we can.” He kisses her lips. “ ceeelllllaaabrate good times come on!” He sings walking into Jonathan’s room. She follows.

“Give my little man.” She holds him up to her face. His hand touches her cheek. “Goodnight mommy’s little angel. You sleep well.” Kisses his tiny nose. “ Night night.” She hands him to John.

Marlena walks across the hall to hers and John’s room. She takes off her lounge pants and t-shirt and slips on a short silk nightie. She lays down on the bed waiting for John.

About 20 minutes later John comes waltzing on the room.

“Let the celebration begin baby!” He stops dead in his tracks when he sees Marlena curled up in the middle of the bed in her nightie, but fast asleep.

He walks over to the bed and kneels beside it. He watched her sleep. God had truly blessed him with this angel and the angel across the hall. He couldn’t believe that he was so blessed. He couldn’t be any happier than he was at this moment.

He took of his gym shorts and slipped into bed in front of her. He brushed the hair out of her face. He nuzzled her cheek trying to wake her up. She stirs but doesn’t wake up. She must be really tired he thought. He snuggled closer to her. His movement cause her to snuggle closer into his body. She wraps her leg around his and lays her arm across his waist. Her face buried in his neck. He wraps his arms around her. A smile on his face as he too succumbs to slumber.

Hope and Marlena sit in the food court at the mall. Jonathan is asleep in his stroller and John is out of town.

“I am so glad you called me. I so miss us just hanging.” Hope took a bite of her food.

“Oh me to. With school, the new house, Chloe, John and Jonathan, my life is just so busy.” She straightened Jonathan’s blanket around him.

“I can’t believe how big he’s getting. It seems just like yesterday he was born.”

“I know so.” She gives Hope the eye. “We are you and Bo going to have one of these.” Hope chokes on her food. “Jonathan needs so one to hang out with like we have each other and Bo and John.”

“Oh no I don’t want one of those. They are high maintenance!” She threw her napkin on her plate.

“But they can bring you so much joy. Jonathan has completely turned my whole outlook on life around.” She gets tears in her eyes. “It’s unconditional love. He and John are the best things in my life. I can’t imagine my life without them. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to either of them.” She wipes the tear that slid down her cheek.

“Speaking of John..” She raises an eyebrow. “When’s he coming home and will Jonathan need to stay with Auntie Hope and Uncle Bo?” Marlena hangs her mouth open.

“No, He won’t. He can just stay in his room that night.” She and Hope laugh. “Hopefully John will be home tomorrow night. He’s been gone for almost a week and I am going crazy.”

“Has Isabella tried anything since the time you busted her nose?”

“Nope. Guess she finally got the message.” Marlena looked over Hope’s shoulder. “God he gives me the creeps.”

Hope turns around. “Who?”

“That new exchange student, Tony Dimera.”

“Oh that guy. All the girls are like falling at his feet.”

“Why?” Marlena asked not believing girls like what they see in him.

“I guess cause he’s tall dark and handsome and speaks with an accent.” She shrugs her shoulders.

“He stares and it totally wigs me out. It’s like he’s trying to get in my head and read my mind or something.” She shivers.

“I heard that he was at the beach the other weekend.”

“Yes he was. As a matter of fact, he was with Isabella.” He starts walking towards them. “Let’s go. He’s coming this way.” They start gathering their stuff.

“Ah if it isn’t the lovely Ms. Evans.” She eyed her.

“Tony.” She gave him a slight smile. “Um this is my best friend, Hope.”

He takes Hope hand a kisses it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Especially since you’re a friend of Marlenas’.”

She sort yanks her hand away. “Nice to meet you too, I think.” She mumbles the last phrase.

“What are you lovely ladies doing here by yourselves.” He looks around for the guys.

“Some guys aren’t into hanging at the mall stalking lovely ladies.” Hope said back at him with sort of an attitude.

“Hope, come on let’s go. I’ve got a lot to do before tomorrow evening.” She starts to walk off.

 

“What’s tomorrow evening?” Tony asked curious.

“Well it isn’t any of your damn business.” Hope stepped in front of Marlena.

“What’s with the attitude? I’ve known you for less than 5 minutes.” Tony asked Hope.

“I don’t like the way you are looking at Marlena. And if you’re a friend of Isabella’s, then I know you are up to no good.”

“How am I looking at Marlena. She’s a lovely lady. “

“Yes she is a lovely lady, a happily engaged lovely lady.” Hope was getting her point across.

“Hope, let’s just go.” Marlena tugged on her arm.

“Marlena, what’s wrong? Did I do something to upset you?” He asked stepping around Hope.

“No I’m just tired and I have a lot to do.” She starts walking away. “Please excuse us, we’ve have to go.”

He watches them walk away.

“I see what you mean. He gives me the creeps too.” Hope looks back at Tony still watching them.

“There’s just something about him that isn’t right. He’s just got this I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just freaky.”


“Let’s not talk about him anymore. So what do you have planned for John tomorrow when he gets home?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Aww come on. I’m your best friend!” Hope whined. “We don’t keep secrets.”

“I don’t kiss and tell.” She walked ahead of Hope.

“Come on Mar!”

“I really don’t have anything planned. I think Maybe we’ll just go out to Tuscany and then, we’ll see where the evening leads us after that.” She wiggles her eyebrows at her.

“You two are..” Marlena cuts her off.

“No we aren’t! We just enjoy each other’s company.”

“Uh huh right. Whatever. So, we are you two going to set a date? I need to get a date pinned in for ya’lls engagement party.”

“Hopefully tomorrow night. An d please, don’t make it some big extravaganza. Just something quite, romantic and simple. Like John and I.”

“Okay the minute the date is set. You call me.”

“What if I am in the middle of something.” Hope looks confused. “Like that one morning you called…”

“Oh God please wait and call me the next morning or something. I don’t want to interrupt that.”

Marlena laughs. “Okay. As soon as it’s set. We’ll let you and Bo know.”

They finish their shopping and just hanging together.

Marlena was in the bathroom finishing up Jonathan’s bath.

“There ya go.” She scooped him out of the tub and wrapped him in his warm fluffy towel. “All clean.” He laughed when she snuggled him closer to her. She placed a kiss on his foerhead as he looked up at his mommy with a toothless grin on his face.

“Mommy will get you all lotioned down, and get you all nice and warm in your pj’s” She gently pulled on his toes causing him to giggle. “Then mommy will get your belly all nice and full.” She rubs his tummy. ” And then mommy will get you all settled in your cradle and then mommy can get her a nice warm bath before daddy gets home.” She tried running her fingers through her hair and they get stuff in a tangle. “Whoa mommy is looking a little rough right now. She wants to be aaallll pretty for when your daddy gets home.” She holds him up so that their noses are touching. “Love you baby boy.”

She puts on his little footed pj’s and lays him in his cradle that is still in John and Marlena’s room cause Marlena still gets the separation anxiety and wants Jonathan near them. She turns on his little nursery rhymes tape and heads across the room to the bathroom. She leaves the door open so she can hear if Jonathan cries.

She steps into the nice warm lilac scented tub full of bubbles. She leans back letting the warm water wash over her tense body. She lays her head back, closing her eyes and she instantly relaxes. She relaxes knowing that everything, for the moment, is nice and clam. Nothing is needed to be done, Jonathan is clean and happy and John will be home in a few hours.

After washing, Marlena laid her head back again and closed her eyes. She can hear Jonathan’s music softly playing as she slowly drifts off to sleep.

She mumbles a few words and her eyes pop open and she sits up in the tub. “Oh my God, I must have dozed off. I need to check on the baby.” She softly calls out his name hoping that hearing her voice he would make a cute little baby sound. But nothing was heard. “Jonathan” She gets up out of the tub soaking wet and wraps her robe around her. Not hearing the music anymore, she quickly runs across the room to his cradle.

Looking down. “Oh my God!” She looks all around the room. “My baby. Where’s my baby?!?” She panics.

She runs into his room and looks down in his crib. “Jonathan.” She turns, her eyes roaming his room. “Where’s my baby?” Her eyes instantly fill with tears thinking that someone has broken in and taken Jonathan.

“Jonathan?” She keeps saying as she runs throughout the house, room to room looking for her son. She frantically searches every closet and every nook and cranny. She can’t catch her breath as tears roll down her cheeks.

She runs into the living room area and stops dead in her tracks. Her breathing heavy and tears streaming down her cheeks. She places her hand on her chest to try and stop her heart from beating out of her chest. He quickly turns around when he hears her heavy breathing behind him.

“What the hell are you doing here?” She yelled at him still reeling from frantically searching the entire house for the baby that now lays sleeping peacefully in his arms. She walks over to him and take Jonathan out of his arms and holds him close to her.

“Um…Well, Uh…I well, I think I sorta live here. Or at least I did when I left a few days ago.” John said totally confused by her outburst.

She looked up at his confused expression and soften. “Oh John honey. I’m sorry.” She quickly walks over to him. “It was just that I must have fallen asleep in the tub cause I was trying to get cleaned up and relaxed before you got home. I’ve had a tuff few days. ” He gave her a sympathetic look. “I guess I just didn’t hear you come in, well obviously I didn’t hear you come in. I must have been really out of it” She scratches her head. “And to not hear Jonathan or his music when I woke up.” John went to speak, but she kept on rambling. “I was just having this crazy dream and I’ve been missing you. Feeling tired. This little guy is tough stuff and wigging out cause of the way Tony stare at me..”

“What?” John asked trying to get a word in.
“Yeah it totally wigs me out. He looks at me like he tries to figure out what I am thinking. Like he is trying to put me in some kind of trance or something. It’s like he’s like stalking me. He seems to be everywhere. I’m just totally wigged out. I’m sorry I yelled at you.” She kissed his cheek. “I didn’t mean too. I am so glad you are home. I missed you.” She brushed his lips with hers.

He wraps his arms around her pulling her and Jonathan to him. “I’m sorry baby for freaking you out. I peeked in on you and saw that you were bathing or I mean peacefully sleeping.” She smiles up at him. “I didn’t know how long you had been in there, so I just left you. I am sure you could use the peace and quiet” He takes ahold of Jonathan tiny hand. “. He was just lying there playing and chewing on his fist. And I missed him so much that I just wanted to hold him. His little face lit up when I peeked over at him with his feet up in the air listening The Wheels On the Bus.”

“Like I said, I was having a troubling dream and missing you terribly and just freaked.” She wrapped an arm around his waist. He kissed her temple.

“What’s this about Tony. I heard you ramble on something about him stalking you?” He rubbed her back.

“Oh he isn’t stalking me, it just feels like he is.” She walked over to the couch pulling him with her. “He just happens to be everywhere I was the past few days. Everywhere I turned there he was. Hope and I went to the mall, bam there he was.” She sat pulling John down with her. “I was at the library, he was there. I went to the dean’s office about my classes, he was there too.” She leaned into John, he wrapped his arm around her.

“Hmm.” He pressed his lips to her forehead.

“Uh…don’t even think about it.” She sat up looking him in the eye.

“What?”

“I know what you’re thinking. No, you don’t have to pay him a visit. I am sure it was just a coincidence that he was everywhere I was while you were gone. That’s all.” She laid her head on his shoulder and placed her free hand on his thigh.

‘Right.” He thought a minute. “So…did you happen to run into Isabella?”

“Nope.” She snuggled closer to him and shivered. “Hey hey hey..” He rubbed her back. “Why don’t you go get dressed and I’ll fix us something to eat or we can go to the dinner up the street for a quick bite.” She sat up. “Are you hungry?”

“Famished. I was waiting on you to get home.” She looks at the clock. “You’re home a few hours early.”

“Yep, caught an earlier flight back to my two favorite peoples.” He helps her up. “I’ll just go put this little guy down, you go get dressed and we’ll head out for a quick bite.”

He takes the baby from her. “Okay..” She turns to go get dressed. “Oh, hey, just put him in his car seat. That way you don’t have to move him from here to there and he’ll wake up and then he’ll want to eat and then I’ll have to…”

“You…hold up! Fine, I’ll put him in his car seat.” He flashed her a smile. “Now you go on and get dressed. We’ll be waiting. So make it quick.” She frowns at him before heading down the hall.
John and Marlena sat quietly as they finished up there their dinner. John sat picking at his leftover food sitting on his plate.

“You’re quite. Everything all right?” Marlena asked John as she watched him pick at his plate.

He looked up at her and shook his head. “Hmm hmm.”

“Okay well then are you ready to go home?”

“Yeah.” But he didn’t move.

She looks at him questionly. “Okay what gives? What is up?” She asked starting to get annoyed with his minimal conversation.

“Honey, it’s nothing really. It’s just.” He stopped not really wanting to talk at the moment.

“What John, what is it? You can tell me anything. You know that.” He touched his hand.

“Well…I …sorta have a confession to make.” She slowly moved her hand back away from his.

She raised an eyebrow. “Okay.” She wasn’t quite sure now if she really wanted to know. “You know let’s just go home and we’ll talk in the morning.” She gathered their stuff thinking that if he wants to end things, or he isn’t happy she doesn’t want to find out in public and then look like an idiot crying her eyes out.

“No, I need to tell you now since you have gotten me in the mood to want to talk.” He slightly pushed her back down in the booth. He took a deep breath. “Well, I really wasn’t going out west for my business class.” Her mouth flew open thinking he’s gonna tell her that he is seeing someone else. “Well, yes I did. But it wasn’t all business.” She felt tears welling up in her eyes.
“I also had to deal with some other business out West.”

“Like what kind? Did you meet someone else? Are you wanting to end it with me so you can continue your affair with the girl out west? I mean I can totally understand if you want to leave. I mean, who wants to tired down with one person for the rest of your life and at that with a baby?” She wasn’t looking him in the eye and she couldn’t see the smile that was spreading across his face. “You’ve got good looks, a brilliant mind, you’re gonna be a very wealthy respected business man I can tell by the way you are handling everything. Your kind, loving, handsome loyal hard working, committed.” She trailed off when she finally looked at him with his goof grin spread across his face. “What? What is so funny? I don’t see anything funny about you wanting to end things with me so that you can get it on with some hot chic from California that probably has the perfect body, great tan. No baggage like a baby or like.”

He reached across the able and gently pressed the tips of his fingers over her mouth. “Baby, has anyone ever told you jump to conclusion and you talk way too much?” She didn’t say anything. He laughed. “And if I’m not mistaken, you’re a hot chic from California too with a perfect body and a great tan and heck, you’ve even had a baby. Sweetheart, you can make a man go weak in the knees when you walk in the room.” She gave him a slight grin, but sat with her arms crossed across her chest not softening. “Marlena.”

“What? You told me I talk too much, so why should I continue to talk if I talk too much and your just trying to flattery me with your sweet talk. I don’t believe a word you say. You’re just a typical guy, saying things to get a woman to sleep with you.” She stopped talking when she realized that she is talking again.

“No please continue. You do talk too much, but I love watching when you get all flustered, frustrated, annoyed and watch you ramble. I love how you talk with your hands. Your just so damn cute.” He tapped her nose with his index finger.

She swiped at his hand. “Whatever just tell me what you have to say.”

“First of all there is no one else and I wouldn’t want anyone else. I got all a man can need sitting right in front of me. She’s wonderful, gorgeous, sexy, hot.” He was undressing her with his eyes.
“Uh where was I? Oh she’s given me the best thing in life a family. A son to carry on the family name and she’s one hot mama! Uh I mean she’s a terrific mother.” Her face softened and she was on the verge of tears.

“John.” She said softly.

“But that’s not what you want to hear now, so” She wiped the single tear that fell down her cheek. “I had some family business I need to get settled out there.”

“You have family out west. How come you never told me.”

“I don’t have family out west.”

“Okay, you’ve confused me.”

“I had to go out there to settle my mother’s personal affairs with my step-father. He has been ever since my mother died, to keep me from receiving what is rightfully mine, my inheritance, her summer and winter places. He says it all belongs to him because he was married to her. I was my mother’s only child, she left everything to me.” Marlena had tears in her eyes. “My step father was a mean evil mean man.
He didn’t like me much because I was my mother’s world. Everything she did, she did so that I could have this or I could go here or there.” He paused. “My mother died when I was 18 a few weeks after I graduates. She died or was /killed while I was on my summer vacation in Europe with some buddies of mine.” Marlena was now holding Jonathan.
Tears in her eyes. “I was told it was a car accident, but I choose to believe that my step father had her killed.” Marlena gasp. “He married her for her beauty and her money. He didn’t love her. He used her.” He looked up over at Marlena a smile spread across his face.
A dreamy look in his eyes. “You remind me so much of her. You have the same spirit, the strength, your style, your beauty, your generosity, your kind heart. I can tell you love that baby just as much as my mother loved me. You have the grace baby, you’re just the whole package. I guess that’s why I am so in love with you.
I loved my mother so much and I miss her, but being with you I don’t know, it’s like sometimes I feel her sprit here with us.” She smiles. “I know she approves of this relationship, how can she not you have given her a bundle of joy. I know she is looking down from heaven watching over us and keeping us safe.”

She wipes a tear. “I’m sorry. I wish I could have met her.”

He shakes his head. “Me too. You would have gotten along beautifully.”

“Let’s go home. I need to have your arms wrapped around me.”

‘And I need to have my arms wrapped around you.” He helped her gather their things. When she stands he passionately kisses her.

“Wh..what was that for?” Still breathless.

“Just because you are who you are and I love you so very much.” He kissed her again.

“I love you too.”

He took the car seat. They laced their fingers as they walked out the door.

“Aww so my little brother has made it back alive and in one piece. Was your trip of west successful?”

Marlena looked between the two. John eyes grew dark.

Jonathan was finally sleeping peacefully in the big boy crib across the hall from John and Marlena’s room.

Marlena laid on her side her back facing John. John laid on his side rested on his elbow facing Marlena’s back.

“Come on baby, we promised we’d never go to bed angry.” He gently touched her arm.

“Who said I was mad?”

“Okay so storming off to the car, getting in slamming the door, dead silence as we drove, slamming the front door when we got home, stalking off to the bedroom and running into the bathroom slamming the door isn’t mad then I am so confused.” He ran his hand over his forehead.

After a few minutes of silence, Marlena rolled over on her back. John’s eyes fell to the slight swell of her breast from under her silky black negligee. Noticing where his eyes were focus she quickly pulled the covers up to her chin. He eyes darted up to look into her eyes.

“Men!” She rolled her eyes. John grinned sheepishly. “I am not mad at you. Hurt, yes. Mad, no not really.”

He touched her cheek with his knuckles. “I’m sorry.”

“I know, you’ve said that. It just hurts that you didn’t tell me that Tony was your whatever he is when we first met him at the beach.”

“He’s nothing to me that’s why I didn’t tell you. I want nothing to do with him or his sick bastard of a father. They killed my mother.” She rolled on her side facing John with tears forming in her eyes seeing the hurt in his eyes of losing his mother. “I could care less if they live or die. I never liked either of them and I don’t want them to have anything to do with me and my life now.”

“John.” She lost her train of thought as he softly planted soft sweet kisses on her shoulder. Wanting to not talk about that subject anymore. “Um just next time we meet.” She snaked her arm around his neck. “Someone from your past…please tell me before I find out from someone else.” He buried his face in her neck. “And I get all worked up over nothing.”

He looked up at her long enough to say ‘ok’ before he buried his face back in the curve of her neck.


One of Marlena’s leg and her arm were draped across John’s torso. Her head rested on his shoulder. His arm draped over her shoulder played with her damp from love making silky blonde hair. Her fingers made small circle on his perfectly chiseled chest. Marlena shivered slightly snuggling in closer to John.

“You cold baby?” He asked wrapping both arms around her naked back. She shook her head looking up to give him a peck on the cheek.

“I know how you don’t like the covers pulled all the way up after making love cause it’s hot, so I’ll settled for being wrapped in your warm arms rather be covered by cold cotton sheet.” The sheet rested tackled around their lower bodies.

“I’m glad we didn’t go to bed angry.” He smiled kissing her temple.

Laughing. “Yea me too. Not that I really had much say in the matter. You do tend to make me forget a few things when you start…” John slid his hands down to her lower back. “Uh, stuff like.” He slid his hand under the sheet and began grouping her backside. “that” She let out a soft moan as John pulled her to lay on top of him.

He slid his other hand up under the sheet and it began to assault her backside also.
She buried he face in John’s chest as his hands slid further down her butt to in between her thighs. She looked up at John as if giving him permission.

She sat up resting herself on his chest with her elbows. Her breast touching his chest. He slid his hands down Marlena’s legs as he parted them with her now straddling him. He could already feel the effect his hands had on her as her center rested on his lower abdomen.

She sat up his hands immediately going to her breast working them in his hands. She threw up head back arching back allowing him to pleasure her more. With her hands on his chest she was slowly moving lower down his body when he sat up surprising her when he quickly flipped over so now that she laying under his body. Her eyes wide and her hands firmly gripping his masculine back.

“My God.” She giggled as he grinned down at her pure passion burning in his eyes.

He lovingly brushed the strands of her that fell in her eyes away. He lowered his face to hers and her breath caught. She closed her eyes, parting her lips waiting on John’s passionate kiss. She opened her eyes and let out the breath she was holding when John slid off her laying on his side his head on his elbow gazing down at her.

She let out a soft sexy chuckle. “Oh that was pretty low there sailor.”

“Maybe but and am sure you’ll enjoy this much better.” She arched her back, as he leaned down nuzzling his face in her neck distracting her with kisses as his hand slid across her thigh and between her legs finding her pleasure area and intruding her with force causing her to jump as his two fingers entered her.

She let out a pleasured gasp as he pulled his face back to look into her eyes. His fingers were still, she widened the gap between her legs causing his fingers to dig deeper in her. He ran his thumb up and down her as if preparing her. She placed her hand on his making him thrust in and out of her. As their hands set the pace she let go and ran her hands over John’s chest. She slightly sat up so that she can cover him with her sweet wet kisses. He legs spread further apart as she sat up and it felt as if John’s fingers were going to rip her in two.

She laid her head on his shoulder biting her lip not wanting John to stop. “Baby please, don’t stop.” She kissed his shoulder. “This feels so good….” he slowed his pace. “No!” She grabbed his hand. “Please.” He could see the fire burning in her tawny eyes. He removed his hand from between her legs and her grasp. She gave him a slight pained expression. He gave her a killer grin as he pulled the sheet up over his head getting lost under them as he ran his tongue down between her breast, down her stomach, pasted her belly button right into her nipping, sucking, lapping her center. She pushed his face further between her legs. He placed his hands under her firmly holding her to him. She draped her legs over his shoulders. She ran her hands back behind her, leaning back and further more opening herself to him.

“John…oh… God… John..” She pulled the sheet up to see John buried between her eating and sucking her sex juices.

Both feeling pleasured, he laid his head on her swollen sexed area. She ran her fingers through his hair, twirling it in her fingers while his made similar circular motions on her upper leg that was draped over his shoulder.

With heavy eyelids, John remained nestled between her legs until they both sub come to a restless slumber.
Page 30 of 46Marlena walked into the house and noticed the flashing red light on the answering machine. She laid Jonathan in his playpen and through all her shopping bags on the couch. She smiled over at Jonathan before hitting the button to listen to the message. Her face fell.


John walked in the front door and sat his books on the table. He looked around. He to noticed the flashing light.

Hey Marly sweetheart, it’s your momma. Baby… um…I think you need to come home for a few days. It looks like your granma isn’t going to be with us much longer. She’s getting weaker. I know your busy with your classes, but sweetheart it would mean so much to your granma if you’d come see her before she well, give us a call on what you decided and your father and I will pick you up and the airport…

John looked down the hall and saw that the light was on in their bedroom.

He saw the suitcase half full of clothes. Marlena walked out of the closet with an arm full of clothes.

“Oh. Honey.” She caught her breath. “You scared me.”

He noticed her red swollen eyes. She had been crying.

“We does your plane leave?” She looked at him. “I listened to the message.” She dropped her head. He walked over to her wrapping his arms around her as fresh tears fell down her pink cheeks. “Sshh..baby, it’s alright. It’s alright.” She rubbed his hand up and down her back.

“Are you going to come with me?” She looked up at him.

“I think you need to do this yourself. It’ll be alright. I know how much your granma means to you. You have to be there. I’ll talk to your teachers and get your work. It’s only for a couple of days. I am sure they’ll understand.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll go pack for the baby. I am assuming you’ll be taking him to finally meets his granma and granpa Evans.”

“Of course my baby boy is going with me. I couldn’t leave him. I’d miss him terribly.” John got a hurt look. “Not that I wouldn’t miss his daddy any less. But his a big boy and he can handle being alone for a few days.” She looked back up at him. “Besides, you can feed yourself. I am sorta the source of our sons nutrition.”

“Yea…yea.” He kissed her and went to pack for the baby.


Marlena had been gone for a few days. John has been miserable. He had to get out of the house because she was everywhere so he headed off the basketball court.


John was taking a drink of water when he heard foot steps behind him.

“You up for a little one on one?” John turned when the voice spoke.

“What the hell do you want Tony?”

“I just wanna play a little basketball with my brother.”

“I’m not your brother. So no family bonding is needed.” He turned back around and bounced the ball preparing to shoot.

“Not gettin’ any for a few days sure does put you in a pissy mood.”

“Not that it is any of your damn business, but Marlena’s grandmother died and she had to fly out to Colorado. Yes, I miss her and my son but I don’t posses things. I don’t have to be with them or her twenty four seven like you.”

“You never let her out of your sight.”

“With you and Isabella around wanting to cause a problem, yea I tend to get a little possessive. I don’t want her hurt. And I know that between the two of you, you would do just that to get back at me.”

“Isabella maybe, but not me. I wasn’t the one who got a girl pregnant and leaving the girl I dated for 2 years once I found out about my mistake with the one night stand girl.”

John grabbed Tony by the front of his shirt. ‘Shut the hell up and stay away from Me and Marlena.” John shoved Tony and he stumbled back falling to the ground. John looked down at him. “Have a nice game.” John bent to pick up his water bottle and Tony flinched. John let out a deep chuckle. “Always were the chicken who had to hide behind his daddy’s power.”

Tony stood as John walked away. “Damn you!” He was jealous of the strength and power John had. He had never been scared of anything. He always faced people and his problems head on. He always got what he wanted without having to play dirty or using his step fathers power to get it. Tony used everything and everyone to get what he wants. “I’ll win this one if it’s the last thing I do.!”
Page 31 of 46Marlena walked in the front door with Jonathan snuggled in her arms. She had been gone a week.

When she had got home, her grandmother passed away the next day. She had called John and told him that she’d gone longer than just a few days.

Matha was so happy to see her daughter and finally meet her new grandson. Although she wasn’t too happy that Marlena had the child without being married to the child’s father, she was happy to know that John and Marlena are engaged and plan to marry. Her father on the other hand wasn’t thrilled at all. She was his baby and he didn’t like the fact that she was growing up. He wanted to keep her his baby forever.

“Daddy…” She kissed his cheek.” I can’t be your baby forever. I have to grow up and make a family and life for myself.” Her father crossed his arms across his chest.

“I know that but now I feel that we failed as parents seeing that you went about the whole family thing the wrong way.” Motioning to the baby in her arms.

“Daddy.” Marlena said hurt and snuggled Jonathan closer to her.

“Frank.” Martha gave her grumpy husband a stern look.

Jonathan made a loud gurgling noise. He brought a smile to everyone’s face. Including grumpy ole grandpa Evans.

“Give me that boy.” He said taking the baby from Marlena.

He took Jonathan out on the front porch talking with him about hunting, fishing. Guy things. Marlena watched from the front window as grandfather and grandchild bonded.


Marlena smiled at the memory of watching her father and Jonathan sit on the front porch swing for hours and hours.


Marlena was laying down with Jonathan when John came flying into the bedroom.

Marlena jumped when she heard John’s swing the door open. She sat up.

“Shh you’ll wake the baby.” She smiled when walked around to her side of the bed.

“I missed you baby.” She knelt beside the bed.

“Oh, I missed you too.” She leaned into him and gave he gave her a very passionate ‘Welcome Home’ kiss.

He slid up on the bed and curled up behind her wrapping his arms around her. They talked about what had went on with each other over the last week. She told him about her trip and how her father wasn’t too happy about her getting pregnant before she got married, but that he was okay with it and loved his grandson very very much.

“Tony is not right.”

“Your telling me. I knew he wasn’t right when my mother and I first moved into that creepy mansion.”

They lay in silence watching their baby boy sleep peacefully with his thumb in his mouth.

“He’s gotten so big.”

She turned in his arms. “John, we were only gone for a week.”

“And being without you for that long isn’t good for a man.” She smiled.

“Your too much.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a very steamy kiss.

“Mmm…it’s so good to have you back home baby.” He nuzzled his face in her neck.

“And it’s soooo good to be home.” She wrapped her legs around him. Hands were roaming and the kissing were intensifying.

The loud squeal of the phone on the night stand was not a very welcomed interruption.

“Ugh.” Marlena reached over John and grabbed the phone before it woke the baby.

She kissed John before answering the phone.

“Hello.” She was a bit breathless.

“Hey Mar.”

“Hope!” Marlena said excited to hear her best friends voice.

“I am so glad you’re are back. I’m sorry to hear about granma E. I wish I could have been there with you.”

John’s hand was moving further up Marlena’s shirt.

“I know, but they understood. My momma and daddy send their love.” Her breathe caught.

“Mar…OH God you two are the horniest people I know.”

Marlena laughed pulling John closer to her and arching her neck.

“We are still fully dressed. We’re just making out I guess you’d say.”

John took the phone from Marlena. “Put, if you hadn’t called I am sure I would be one lucky fella right about now.” Marlena yanked the phone back and slapped him across the arm.

She rolled her eyes and went back to her conversation with Hope.

“Well I am glad your back and the other reason I called was to see if you and John wanted to come with Bo and I to this party at over at the Alpha Kama house tonight?”

“Umm…I’m not sure. Lemme asked John.” Not even looking up at her she felt him shaking his head ‘no’. “Yea, we’ll go with you guys.” He looked up at her with an annoyed expression on his face.

“Cool, we’ll be by at 8 to pick you guys up.”

“Okay I guess I should call Mrs. H to see if she can keep Jonathan for us tonight.”

“Oh she’ll so happy to.”

“Alright we’ll see you later.”

Marlena hung up the phone.

“Baby why did you tell them we’d go with them. You just got home and I wanna be with you. Only you. Not a bunch of drunk…” She placed her lips over his silencing him from protesting.

Pulling back from him. “Oh suck it up big baby I am sure you’ll still get lucky tonight.” She pushed him off her and walked over to the bathroom door to get ready. “You look like someone stole your lollipop. Suck it up baby It’s still a distinct possibly that you’ll still get lucky tonight.” She winked as she disappeared into the bathroom to get ready.

“Hey?! Can you two stop sucking face for a few seconds to tell us the date you finally settled on?!” Bo asked eyeing them in the rearview mirror.

“Hello?!” Hope turned facing them and slapping at John’s arm. “Please ya’ll!”

“I just got back in town, what do you expect us to do?!” Marlena spat out.

“Just give us the date and you two horney teenagers can get back to the sucking face stuff.”

Marlena pushed John away from her turning and straightening her clothing. Pulling up her black tube top that John had slightly pulled down, and straightening the pleats in her short white Paris Hilton mini.

“Well we have two dates actually.” She looked at John.

“Maybe the weekend of the 4th.” John placed his hand on Marlena’s bare leg.

“Or maybe like August 22. What do ya’ll think?” Marlena placed her hand on John’s.

“They both are cool dates with me.” Bo shuts the engine off.

“I think we maybe be leaning more towards August.” Marlena slid across the backseat taking John’s hand as he helped her out of the truck.

“Yea because I think there is a big Fourth of July party being planned.” Hope said taking Bo’s hand as they walked up the steps.

“Cool! No we have to start planning the engagement party.” Hope was all excited.

“Please Hope, nothing big. Just something small and simple.”

Hope shook her head as the turned when the door opened and the loud pumping music rushed out hitting them in the face.


A set of jealous eyes watched as the couple made their way into the room. Making the rounds casually talking and conversing with their mutual friends.

Those same eyes full of jealousy watched as the couple sat in the corner making out a few hours later.

John sat on the love seat with Marlena in his lap. His hand was sliding up and down her bare tanned leg resting on her upper thigh. Her one arm was draped around his neck the other running up and down his chest.

“I must say, football really agrees with you.” She ran her hand down his chest around to rest on his butt. The black muscle shirt clung to his rippled chest, the muscles in his arms flexing as his arms slid up Marlena’s leg. “I can’t wait to take Jonathan to see his daddy play ball.” Her hand finally resting on his butt.

“Does that mean you’re not going to try out for cheerleading?” He slid his hand a little further up her skirt.

“Well…” She stopped his hand. “John!” She looked around the room.

“What did you do that for?” He asked with a pout on his face.

“Do you really want to show everyone here my ass?” She cocked her head to the side. He gave her a look. “Didn’t think so.”

“Ya know, now that I think about it I don’t really think I want you trying out for cheerleading?”

She sat back and raised an eyebrow. “What? Why?”

“I don’t like the idea of some guy having his hand on your ass.” He smiled up at her.

She laughed burying her face in his neck. “Oh man, I love you.”

Her tiny kisses on his neck turned into more heated kisses as their hands starting roaming each other’s bodies again.

“Hey you two!” Bo yelled walking up to them.

John and Marlena reluctantly pulled apart both giving Bo the evil eye. He held his hands up.

“Hope sent me over here. They’re playing your song?” Pointing towards John.

He listened for a few seconds then busted out laughing. He jumped up startling Marlena.

“What…what is it?” Marlena asked as John drug her into the middle of the crowd of dancing drunks.

“You up for a little… Dirty Dancing?” He gave her a devilish grin.

“Oh my God I so love that movie.”

John wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close to him. She pushed him away.

“Spaghetti arms. This is my dance space.” She showed him with her arms. He rolled his eyes.
“And this is your dance space.” She stood away from him.

“Marlena please?” He tried wrapping his arms around her again. She pulled back. “Fine! Then we just won’t dance.” He started to stomp from the dance area.

She pulled him back to her. “Oh you big baby.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Love Man by Otis Redding played in the background. John pulled Marlena as close as he could. Their faces mere inches apart. John’s hands roamed up her legs to rest on her lower back as Marlena laid back in his arms. John pulled her leg up grasping her thigh. All the while their hips grinding together to the beat of the music. Marlena stood back up straight and wrapped her arms around John’s neck his hands sliding down to rest on her butt. They once again stole the floor and everyone gathered around them to watch the floor show.

The set of jealous eyes that had been watching them the whole night stood at the top of the stairs watching.

“My my Marlena you have turned into quite the little slut.”

John planted a very deep passionate kiss on Marlena as the music slowed.

“Baby, I’m ready to go home.” John slid his hand up her back. He buried his face in her neck.

“I’ve been ready.” She let her hands find John’s pockets on his jeans and slid her hands in them.

“Let’s go.” He kissed her one more time as they made their way out the front door.
Page 33 of 46Marlena sat up in the stadium watching the guys scrimmage across the field. It was hot/ She had on her gym shorts and a tank top with her ponytail high on her head. She had just got done with cheerleading practice and she thought she’d watch John practice while she cooled down.

She had to laugh when she glanced down over at Bo trying to score major points with some of the cheerleaders using Jonathan as a chick magnet. Hope walked up taking the baby from him.

She heard a loud whistle turning her focus back on the field she noticed that John had been tackled and was slow at getting up. She didn’t notice the person walking up beside her.

Slightly to herself. “Oh God John please get up.” She was about to head down to the field when she heard an all too familiar voice.

“He seems to be a pretty tuff guy.”

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Well is that any way to treat and old friend?”

 

“Friend my ass, You’ll sorry excuse for a human being!” She was pissed.

He grabbed his chest. “Well when did you get such the potty mouth?”

“You never answered my freaking question.” Placing her hands on her hips.

“And where did you learn to dance like that?”

“Dance? Like what what the hell are you talking about?”

“I saw you and the jock at the party last week. All over each other. When did the sweet, quite, shy Marlena Evans for Boulder, Colorado break out of her shell and become quite the tramp?”

She slung her hand back and slapped him across the face. You freaking jerk!”

He grabbed his face laughing. “Your always were cute when your angry.” He tried to touch her face.

“Do you dare touch me!” She slapped his hand away.

Bo noticed the two arguing at the same time John did. John couldn’t leave practice so he walked over to Bo and said a few things. Hope watched as Bo started making his way up the steps. Hope seeing who the guy Marlena was arguing with ran up to Bo.

“You came all the way out here to say, your sorry?!?! Don’t you think it’s a little to late for apologies now. I mean I caught you having sex with my best friend in the backseat of your car!”

“Marlena, I told you it was nothing.” He tried to grab her arms. She stepped back.

“Oh my God. It was nothing. Ha! Ya know what it’s been almost two years why am I letting this upset me. I am so over you. I don’t need this right now. I have cheerleading practice, I have some major final exams coming up…and why don’t you get your sorry…”

“Roman!” Hope said walking up with Bo in tow. “What are you doing here? I thought you and Kate would be married with a house full of rugrats running around. You being the local Barney Fiffe.”

Looking down at the baby in her arms. “Hope, I never pictured you as the motherly type.” He tried to touch Jonathan’s hand. Marlena slapped it away.

“Things change. But I can see in your case they haven’t. Your still the slimly son of a …”

“Uh Hope thanks for watching Jonathan for me.” Marlena took the baby from her and started gathering her stuff. Roman looked at her in disbelief.

“Marlena?” Roman questioned. “You have a baby? You said you wanted to wait to have kids till after you graduated if you were to even have any at all. ”


“Maybe she said that to you seeing how much of a creep you are. She saw her life with Roman Kirakis flash before her eyes and that wasn’t the kind of life she wanted for her or her future children.”

“Why are you doing her talking for her? She has a mouth, she can speak for herself.” He stepped up getting in Hopes face.

Bo stepped up and Roman back away.

“If you’ll excuse me.” Marlena tried to step past him.

“Please can we talk?” He grabbed her arm.

“I think the lady told you not the touch her.” Bo said stepping up to Roman.

“Thanks Bo. Can you tell John that Jonathan and I will be in the gym waiting for him. It’s getting kind of hot out here for the baby.”

Marlena walked off. Roman watched as she walked away.

Practice was getting over and John caught up to Marlena wrapping his arm around her waist.

“Who the hell was that?”

Looking back over her shoulder at Roman watching her. “I’ll tell you when we get home. Can you please just hold me right now?”

“Baby I stink?”

“I don’t care. Just hold me?” He was careful to not squish Jonathan and he hugged. She buried her face in his sweaty neck. “Baby your shaking. What did that guy say to you?”

“Let’s just go home.”

John glared up over at Roman slightly swearing he’ll kill him if he did or said something to Marlena that upset her.

Marlena sat at a table near the back of the cafe with her school books spread all across the table. She told John that she needed to study and between him constantly trying get her undressed and Jonathan’s constant fussy crying, she packed up her school work and headed out. Before she left she told John to come get her if she was gone for more than two hours.

He looked at his watch. “Time to go get mommy little man.” He packed up Jonathan and his stuff and headed up to the cafe where he knew she’d be.

“What no body guards? No guard dogs?”

Marlena rolled her eyes but didn’t look up. “Go the hell away.”

“What’s with all the foul language? The girl I used to know frowned on women cussing.”

“Well the girl you used to know doesn’t exist anymore. Not since she caught her boyfriend excuse me ex-boyfriend screwing her best friend.”

“My God Marlena would you get over that already. It’s been 2 yrs.”

“Yea I know and I am over it, but seeing you now just brings it all back up.” Tears begins to form in her eyes.

He tries to take a seat. “I said go away!”

“Marlena, I just want to talk to you.”

Throwing her pencil down, crossing her arms across her chest, looking at him through squinted eyes.” Why now? Why after 2 years? Do you think it’s gonna change anything? Do you think I’d coming running back to Colorado to be with you?”

“Well I was kinda..”

“You are truly unbelievable! I would never ever leave what I have here for some worthless scum like you.”

“Oh yea, I’ve heard a few things about you this past week that totally surprised me.”

Leaning forward on the table curious. “Oh yea like what?”

“Well for starters you’re a very popular girl.”

“And?”

“That, well I’ve talked to some guys and they say your totally hot.” She gave him a ‘get on with it’ look.

She started gathering her stuff. “You know what save it, I don’t have time for this. I need to get home. My son is probably missing his mother and I need to get a good night’s rest before my Anatomy final tomorrow.” She stands with her back to him.

“Your son I’ve heard some things about that too.”

She turned. “What is being said about my son?” tears forming in her eyes again.

“So who’s this John Black? Your son’s father?” John happened to walk up unnoticed by both Roman and Marlena. “I wouldn’t have thought of you as the sleeping around type. I mean we never…”

“Oh, you would have so not have been worth my time. And I certainly wouldn’t have wasted something so precious as my virginity on crap like you!”

John looked surprised. ‘Could I have been her first?’ He asked himself.

“What’s this about a one night stand? You being drunk slept with your friends boyfriend…Hmm now is this the pot calling the kettle black? Only you wound up pregnant, Kate didn’t.”

“I didn’t know he was her boyfriend when I slept with him.”

“Oh even better. A total stranger. You didn’t know he was the father of your baby, did you? Oh that’s a smart move there sparky”

“Shut up you Barney Fiffe wanna be! It was an accident that I wish would have never happened at the time, but now I wouldn’t take it back for anything. My son is the most precious baby. He’s my world. He’s my everything.” Tears were trailing down her cheeks.

“And his father? This John Black? Whose he what’s he to you? What does he have that I couldn’t give you? What made you give it up for him so easily?”

John had sat Jonathan’s car seat down and had his arms crossed over his chest. He was waiting for the right moment. He was now tired of Roman assaulting Marlena and making her cry.

“I can give you a good time too.” He moved towards Marlena. “I can show you a good time too.” Marlena was backing up and saw John over Roman’s shoulder.

John grabbed Roman’s shoulder and roughly turned him around.

“What the hell..” Roman spat out right before John’s fist met his nose.

Roman fell to the ground.

“John!” Marlena rushed over to his side. John looked down and Roman.

“What the hell did you do that for man?! I was just talking to the girl!” He wiped the blood that was coming out of his nose.

“If I’m not mistaken I think the lady told you to leave her alone several times.”

“Who the hell are you. Who appointed you her bodyguard?”

“John Black. The guy that she gave it up so easily for. Her son’s father, and well not to mention, her fiancé` I guess that’s reason enough for me to be appointed her bodyguard”

Roman looked John over as he protectively wrapped an arm around Marlena’s waist slightly pulling her to him. He was Roman total opposite. The typical jock. Nothing like the other guys Marlena had dated in high school. Dark hair. She usually went for blondes, well except for him. She always was a blue eyes girl. The guys she dated were always on the wimpy, nerdy side. He’s tall, dark and handsome. Every girls dream guy. He looked up at them as John stroked her face. Gentle. Maybe coming to Salem was a mistake after all.

“Hey there pretty lady.” John said walking up to Marlena.

“Well hello there handsome fella.” He wrapped his arms around her.

“Well what did I do to owe me this pleasure?” He gave Marlena the look over. He loved the way her tank top clung to her chest and the way she had her little gym shorts rolled down revealing her tone stomach. The way her long tan legs begged for him to touch them. And her hair piled high up on top her head. To him the natural look was what he loved most. All dressed up she was gorgeous, but like this her natural beauty shown through.

“I came to watch this really really cute guy with a fine ass practice football but practice seems to be over?” She pouted.

“I’m sure he’ll be here tomorrow. You can come watch him tomorrow.” He smiled at her giving her a kiss. “How did cheerleading practice go?”

She looked up at him. “Good and how was football practice?”

“The same ole same ole. Nothing new. Coach is kicking our butts. He wants to open our season with a bang and a big win.”

“Well I’m almost certain it will be, especially if you my big man.” He kisses him. “is on the field.” He smiled down at her.

“So where’s Jonathan?” He asked placing a gentle kiss on her lips.

“He’s with Bo and Hope. They wanted to watch him.”

He raised an eyebrow. “They did?”

“Yep. Hope told me to just go and relax. I guess she saw how stressed I was this past week with my finals, Jonathan, the wedding stuff and then Roman showing up.” She leaned in closer to him.

“Has he tried to talk to you or anything?”

“Nope, actually I haven’t seen him for awhile.”

“Hmm…” John said looking out over the football field.

Roman stood back against the wall spying on them. He has been following John and Marlena around for the past week. Spying on them He found the couple fascinating. Marlena had defiantly come out of her shell and it intrigued him. He could see how devoted they were to each other and their child, but something in him thought that just maybe, just maybe he could win her heart again. Obviously he is living in a state of denial

“How about, I go grab a shower and then I can take you out to eat.”

“Like on a date. Just you and me. No baby? A grown up type thing?”

“Yep. It’s been awhile since we did that. So what do you say? You up for a little dinner and maybe we can catch a movie?”

“Oh yes I am so up for that. But I need to take a shower too. I’m all sweaty from practice?” She looked down at her clothes and tugged at her hair.

He got a devilish grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye. “Oh you do do you.” He pulled her close to him and buried his face in her neck.

“Ugh John, you’re all sticky and sweaty.” She tried pushing him off her.

“Well so are you.” He continued to ravish her neck.

“I know but…” He cut her words off with a steamy kiss.

“You wanna shower together?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“John, you know you’re not allowed in the girls locker room, nor am I allowed in the guys. Besides they are probably both crawling with people.” She ran her hands up and down his back.

“I’m pretty sure the guys are all gone by now.” She looked at him in shock. “Aww come on baby.”

“What if we are caught. Can’t we get kicked out of school for that?”

“Well yes but please!” He gave her puppy dog eyes and stuck out his bottom lip.

“Oh you!” She slapped his chest.

He gave her a sloppy wet kiss before he picking her up, causing her to scream, threw her over his shoulder and headed off to the guys locker room. Once they disappeared Roman stepped out anf followed them.


John stood Marlena down on the ground.

“Are you sure there are no guys in here?” She picked up a few things in the guy’s dirty laundry basket. “That’s just gross.” She dropped the sweaty stuff back. “You guys are pigs!”

He walked up to her. “Are you ready for your shower?” He slid his hands down her back grabbing the ends of her tank top and pulling it up over her head.

She pulled at the strings on his football pants. Loosen in them. He pulled her to him. They wrapped their arms around each other as he backed her up until they stepped into the steamy shower area.

He turned her around unclasping her bra the lacy fabric falling to the ground. “This is where you guys shower?” He kissed her neck and slid his hands over her breast down her stomach to the waist of her gym shorts. “It’s so open. We have..” He turned her around and planted a kiss on her moist lips.

“Baby, you talk too much.”

“Sorry.” He slid his pants down. He did the same to her. Now they both stood there naked. He looked her over his hands resting in her hips.

She hands him the soap. “Are you just gonna stand there and gawk or you gonna bathe me. Or I need to do it myself?”

He took the soap and lathered his hands with soap. “Oh it’ll be my pleasure.”

She turned around and he massaged the soap into her shoulders. Stepping closer to her his chest on her back. He ran his hands down her over her chest down to her breast. She laid her head back on his shoulder as his hands continued to travel down the length of her body.

Roman pushed the door to the locker room open. He could hear voices and saw the steam coming from the shower area.

“Oh John..” Marlena moaned.

Roman walked across the locker room to the showers.

“Please John harder..”

He could her the moans coming from both John and Marlena. “Baby I.” As the climaxed together both screaming out each other’s names.

“John!”

“Oh Marlena.” John still held her in his arms.

Stepping closer he slowly he stepped into the shower area curious. He got the shock of his life when he saw them going at it.

John had Marlena backed up against the cold tile. Her legs wrapped around his waist. Her head leaned back up, John’s face buried in her chest.

“ I love you baby.” John said before kissing her passionately.

Breaking the kiss. “I love you.”

He let her slid down his body standing on her own two feet.

Roman recovered from his shock and turn quickly walking out of the locker, but not before he ran into the dirty laundry basket knocking it over. He froze.

Hearing the crash. “What was that?” Marlena asked peeking over John’s shoulder.
John’s lips were attacking Marlena’s breast. “I heard a loud crash or something.”

“It was probably nothing.” He was slowly kneeling in front of her.

Roman could see their reflections in the glass of the coaches office where he stood.

“Oh no you aren’t. I want my dinner and my movie.” She slid down in his lap straddling him.
“Maybe later.” She kissed his lips.

Roman noticed a piece of paper on the floor by the showers. Searching his pockets. “Oh crap! I’ve got to get that or they’ll know I was here.”

He quietly walked back over to the showers. Again hearing them in pure sexual desire.

“John.”

“Oh sweetheart…”

Bending over Roman lost his balance, he foot slipping on the wet floor sending him crashing into the shower area. Hitting his head on the hard tile.

Marlena broke the kiss and clung close to John. John snapped his head to look.

“Roman!” Marlena screamed burying herself in John’s arms trying covering her naked body. John wrapped his arms around her also trying to cover her body from Roman’s view.

Roman groaned slowly opening his eyes focusing them on John and Marlena. Her straddled across John’s lap with a horrified look on her face.

Marlena walked through the front door tossing her house keys on the nearby table and throwing her bag on the couch.

“You know John did you really have to start that fight with Roman?”

John came through the front door and slammed it causing Marlena to jump.

“Yes I did. He is such a pervert! He was spying on us, sweetheart. Why would you want to sit and watch two people have sex?! What does he get out of it?”

“Well.”

“Exactly!”

“Well did you have to break his nose, fracture his ribs and dislocate his shoulder?”

“Hey he busted me in the eye!” He pointed to his eyebrow that was butterfly taped together with white surgical tape with 5 stitches. “He’s lucky I didn’t beat him to a bloody pulp!”

“Well you know he can still get us kicked out of school for us having sex in the guy’s locker room.” She flopped down on the couch.

“Oh no he won’t”

“And what makes you so certain of that?” She looked at him. John what did you say to him? What did you do?”

He sits beside her. “Oh nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about. Let’s just say I didn’t think your little ex will be bothering us anytime soon.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her. “How about we change the subject.”

“This subject will be revisited but for now I will drop it because since you decided to play fight with Roman, I got no dinner. Now what are you going to about our missed dinner and movie?”

“Hmm well, I can order us some pizza and I can go rent a movie and we can snuggle on the couch…Bo and Hope are watching Jonathan all night right?”

She shakes her head yes. “I gave them a couple of bottles. We’ll see how he does.”

“Great! So how does that sound?”

She pretends to think about it. “Well.” He slides his hand up her thigh and buries his face in her neck. Um well when you put it that way. “Sounds great!”

“Good. I’ll go order the pizza on my way to get the movie. Be back in a few.” He jumps up off the couch and heads out the door.



John and Marlena lay snuggled up on the couch. The credits rolled on the movie they had been watching or I should say John had been watching. Laying with her head on John’s chest, him stroking her hair, Marlena has long fell asleep. John kissed her forehead.

“Nobody is ever going to take you away from me.” He spoke to her as if she was awake. “You are the love of my life and I am going to spend the rest of my life with you making you happy and sharing your dreams as well as mine.”

He thought back to earlier when Roman interrupted their love making.

~*~

John shielded Marlena’s body as she quickly wrapped a towel around her. John pulled on a pair of boxers.

Coming towards Roman. “You pervert. What the hell do you think you’re doing?” John grabbed him by his shirt.

“John!” Marlena grabbed his arm. “Don’t do anything. Please!” She pleaded with him as she struggled to put her clothes on..

“Yea why don’t you listen to her John, you don’t want to start anything with me. I mean, I can get you both kicked out of school for this.” Roman had a smirk on his face.

“Yes you could, but if knew what’s best for you…you’re gonna keep your mouth shut.” John slammed him into the wall. “You got that punk?!?”

John, let him go. He is not worth any of this.” Marlena walked over to them touching John’s back. “Please.”

John stared Roman in the eyes. “You Marlena never was the kinky type. You really have changed her.”

“Shut he hell up. Don’t you dare speak of Marlena like that.”

“You have turned her into quite the slut. The Marlena I knew would never…”

With that John slammed him back into the wall again. “Don’t you ever…ever talked about her like that! You hear me?”

Roman didn’t say anything and John took that as him not getting his seriousness.

John punched him the stomach sending Roman to the ground, John kicking him the stomach.

“John” Marlena screamed as the two guys fought.

~*~

Marlena moved bringing John out of his thoughts.

“Mmm..how was the movie?” She rubbed the sleep out of her as she propped her head on her arms staring up at John.

He smiled. “It wasn’t much of a girly type movie. You didn’t miss anything.” Her rubbed her back. “Baby, why don’t you go onto bed. You looked exhausted.”

“Gee thanks!” She sat up trying to fix her tousled ponytail.

“No that’s not what I mean. It’s just with Jonathan, your finals and cheerleading, baby I am sure you’re very tired.”

Yawning. “Guess I am.” She gets up. “You coming?”

“Yeah.” He stands and wraps his arms around her. “I love you baby.”

She looked up at him and ran her fingers softly over his stitches. “I love you too.”

They kissed. John picked her up and carried her back to their bedroom for a peaceful, baby free nights’ sleep.
Page 37 of 46John stood in the living room adjusting his bowtie.

“God, I hate these things.” He looked in the mirror as he tried to straighten it. “Sweetheart.” He yelled for Marlena. “Can you come help me with this stupid thing?”

“Mommy to the rescue.” John looked down at Jonathan in his cute little light blue dressy one piece very expensive outfit. Socks pulled up to his knees with his chubby little rolls sticking out of the bottom on his outfit.

Marlena cleared her throat. John eyes scanned her body.

“Wow.” He walked closer to her. “You look absolutely.” She turned. “Gorgeous!”

He sleek black silk spaghetti strapped slip dress fit her every curve. Turning it dipped dangerously low. The material resting on her lower back. Her whole back exposed.

“Uh baby, you are gonna um like wear a shawl or something?”

“Um, no. I don’t think there was one on the hanger when I bought it.” She turned again. “You don’t like?”

“Oh, I like. I just don’t want anything that’s supposed to be covered to accidently come up covered if you know what I mean. His eyes went to her breast and then kind of motioned to the back of the dress.

She laughed. “Believe me, nothing will pop out. It is all securely in place. Believe me.”

Jonathan let out a squeal. Marlena walked over to him taking him out of his playpen.

“Well my handsome fella’s. You ready to go to our engagement party?”

John’s held out his arm.



It was just a quite gathering of close friends and surprise family members. The front entrance had a huge picture of John and Marlena’s engagement pictures on the beach.

A few other little ones placed around them. One that caught Marlena’s eye as she walked in was the one of all three of them.

The sun was setting. They were facing each other. John had his arms wrapped around Marlena, Jonathan asleep snuggled in his mother’s arms. John and Marlena’s forehead touching, both looking down at their child sleeping with small smiled on their faces.

She ran her fingers across the photo.

“Now why I haven’t I received any of these pictures?” Marlena’s head shot up.

“Mama!” She ran into her mother’s arms. “Daddy!” She ran into his arms when he walked out from checking their coats in.

“Marlena.” Frank said sternly. Marlena looked at him puzzled. He turned her around. “Where is the rest of your dress?”

Marlena was about to speak. “I asked her the same thing before we left the house.”

John walked out into the lobby with Jonathan in his arms. He smiled at his future in-laws, this being the first time meeting them.

“Mama, daddy.” Marlena took them both by the hand. “This is John. John this is my mother and father.”

John help out his hand to Frank. “Mrs. Evans.” He took her hand and kissed it.

“Oh please, call me Martha.” Jonathan kicked his feet at his grandma. “There’s grammie big boy.” John handed Jonathan over to Martha.

He turned to Frank. Mr. Evans.” Frank looked down at his hand. Marlena swallowed hard shifting front foot to foot nervous. “You treat her like that Roman Kirakis and I swear you’ll never be able to have any more..”

“Daddy!” Marlena shout out. “He’s not like that. Not like that at all.” Marlena linked her arm in John’s. “He is sensitive, he compassionate, he’s smart, and he loves Jonathan and I more than life itself. He’d do anything to make sure neither one of us is ever hurt and that we are very much loved..”

“Sir, I look out for my family. I swear on my mother’s grave that I will do everything in my power to assure you that Marlena is in good hands and very loved. I would never ever think about hurting her. She and Jonathan are my whole world. I never want to lose them.”

Tears in Marlena’s eyes. “Oh honey.” She touched his face and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

Frank nodded at John giving him a small smile before walking into the reception area. John let out the breath he was holding.

“Don’t let Frank scare you. Marlena is our baby and we only want what’s best for her.”

“I can assure you mother, John is what’s best for me.” She laced her fingers with John.

“If he makes you happy, then he makes us happy. Welcome to the family son.” Martha kissed his cheek before disappearing into the reception area with Jonathan.

“Tough crowd.” John said wrapping his arms around Marlena.

“Don’t worry baby, they like you. They just have a funny way of showing it.”

“Well I don’t expect them to welcome me with open arms.” He turned away from her walking over to the window. “I did get their daughter pregnant before marrying her.”

“John..” She said softly walking up behind him and wrapping her arms around him.

Hope walked out. “Hey you two. I think you are the guests of honor. Get your butts in here!” She drug them both into the reception area.


John and Marlena held onto each other swaying to the music as Celine Dion’s version of At Last played in the background.

At last
My love has come along
My lonely days over
And life is like a song
Ooh, at last The skies above are blue
Well my heart was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you I found a dream..

Marlena looked up at John smiling with tears in her eyes. “This song is so us. I mean we were slightly drunk.” He kissed her pulling her closer to him.

“Baby, I love you.” His hand slid down her bare back sending chills up her spin. His hand finally settling on her lower back. His fingers lightly caressing her warm skin.

She looked up at him sending a slight message of what he was doing to her.

That I could speak to
A dream that I could call my own
I found a thrill To press my cheek to..

John buried his face in Marlena’s neck. Hugging her tightly. They heard someone clear their throat and they slightly let go of each other chuckling when they looked over at Marlena’s parents. Martha was scolding Frank for doing that.

A thrill that I have never known
Well You smile you smile
Oh and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine at last


John spun her around and dipped her.

“ I love you.” He kissed her.

The small group of people cheered. Martha walked over and handed Jonathan to Marlena.

“ I think this little guy needs his mama and his bed.”

John and Marlena walked over to Bo and Hope. “Thank you so much for this.” Marlena hugged Hope.

John and Bo shook and pulled each other and slammed their chest into each other slapping each other on the back. “Yeah, thanks man this means so much to us.”

“No problem. What else would we have done. You’re our best friends.”

“Yea, we expect the same from you when this guy over here proposing to me!” Hope slapped Bo’s chest.

They all laughed.

“Thank all of you for coming.” John wrapped his arm around Marlena’s waist.

“Yes thank you. We’ve had a wonderful. This was really nice.” Jonathan began to fuss. “We need to get this little guy home and fed and in his own bed. Thank you all again. We appreciate it. We love you guys all so much!” Marlena had tears forming in her eyes.

“Before she starts bawling like our son her. We’re gonna go.” Marlena slaps him.

“Thank you all again.” John guided his family out the door.

“How about when this little guy goes down for the night, you and I have our own private little engagement party.” He raised his eyebrow at her.

“Oh baby, let the party begin!”

Marlena was sitting up reading one of her medical journals when John entered the room.

“Finally.” She looked up at him.

“He finally gave it up?” He sat next to her on the bed.

“Yes. After every farm animal on Old McDonalds farm and every wheel on the bus went round and round he finally gave it up.” He laid down exhausted.

“See, now you know how I feel when you’re not here. Although I more of the Twinkle Twinkle and Where is Tumbkin kind of mommy.” She ran her hand through his hair.

“I was about to bust out with Take Me Out to Ballgame!”

“So, you’re um not up to celebrating our engagement?” She sat her book down on the nightstand.

“Oh baby, I am always up for celebrating with you.” He slid up to lay beside her.

“So where do we begin?” She ran a finger down his bare chest down to his pajama bottoms.

“Well, we can start.” He pulls her closer to him giving her a deep kiss. “And then maybe we can go.” He trails kisses down her neck to her chest.

“Okay.” she said breathless.

He pulled back and tugged on the ties of her robe. He’s eyes go big when the soft silky material falls from around her.

“Well baby, if you told me you were totally naked under that robe I would have sang I’m a Little Teacup and the motions just to get that boy to sleep!” She laughed pulling him to her and rolling him over so that she was on top. Straddling him. He slid his hands up her legs, resting on her upper thighs.

She smiled down at him. “No more singing, just make love to me.”

She slid off to the side of John running her hand down his chest to the waist line of his pajama bottoms.

“These are in your way, aren’t they?” She grinned at him. “Well.” He slid them off. “I can take care of that.”

“That’s better.” She climbed back on top of him.

Marlena leans back as John supports her lower back, all the while covering her with warm, wet kisses. She sits back John capturing her lips, kissing her madly deeply and passionately.
John covers her lips, circling her tongue, drawing her closer. He touches her breast, a gasp of pleasure escaping her lips. He quickly moves his hands to her butt, pulling her toward him.

Shifting slightly so that so that he can have better access to her She moans when she feels him.

Laying them both back he lays on top supporting himself over her as he spreads her legs with one of his as he lowers himself on her and slowly enters her.

“Make love to me.” She gazed at him through passion filled eyes.

He began a rhythm of slow steady thrusts as he worked her to a frenzy. She dug her nails deep into his back with each thrust.

“Oh God John.” She arched her back wrapping her legs tighter around him.

“Shhhh you’re gonna wake the baby.” He buried his face back between her breast.

He trailed tiny soft kisses down her stomach.

She grabbed him by his chin pulling him back to her. “Not tonight Just love me.”

He laid back on top of her and began again loving her until they both were exhausted. Both fell into a peaceful slumber snuggling within each other’s loving arms.

Part 1
Hope and Lexie had finally talked Marlena into going out with them for a simple girl’s night out slash Bachelorette party. In the last 9 months since Jonathan was born, Marlena hasn’t been out with the girls, well except for shopping with Hope and then she still had Jonathan with her. She has been occupied with Jonathan or she and John have been trying to have some alone time. But tonight..tonight was her night. She was going to go out and have fun. Just her and the girls. No man, no baby and defiantly no school work was going to be on her mind.

“So where are we going?” Marlena asked climbing in the car with Hope.

“To Alice’s!’ Hope said staring the car.

“What’s that?” Marlena turned and asked her friend Lexie in the backseat.

“Just a new little place. It’s fun. Don’t worry. You’ll love it!”


Bo and Abe had called John and asked if he’d like to go out to since the girls were going out and Maggie had agreed to watch the baby for the night. Marlena was reluctant for him to go off with those two at first, but he gave her some lame sad story and she agreed. It was now officially called his Bachelor party. Oye!

So now they were off.


“Hey man!” Bo yelled at John over the loud off tune bad pitch singer on the stage singing a very drunk, ear piercing version of ‘All My Ex’s’

John slowly turned his head towards Bo. “I know I know! I can only look but not touch. Isn’t that what you always say.” The young waitress walked away.

Abe took a swig of his beer. “You guys up for some pool?” He held the pool stick out to John.

“Let me just order us another round.” John motioned for the young brunette. “Can ya get us another round, babe. We’re going dry here.” He winked at her and watched as she walked away.

Bo slapped him on the chest. “Marlena you’re marrying Marlena in a couple weeks.”

“Marlena…beautiful blonde…long tan legs…a very curvaceous body.” John smiled.

“Yeah, that would be the one.” Bo noticed the dreamy look on John’s face. “Man, your hopeless!”

“Nope…just a little drunk and madly in love!”

“HEY…are you two gonna stand there all night talking about the girls or are you gonna put your money were your mouth is and so me whatcha got?” Abe hit the white ball causing all the colored ones to go scattering around the table.

“Good shot man!” John said leaning over the table taking his shot.


Marlena, Hope and Lexie were walking up the front entrance to the bar.

“I didn’t know this place was even here.” Marlena said looking up at the flashing neon sign.

“Yep it’s here.” Lexie turned to Marlena. “Abe and I have been here a few times.”

“Where have John and I been?”

“Um…I think with your 9 months old son listening to Wheels on the Bus and the Itsy Bitsy spider” Hope laughed.

“It’s also a country dance club and karaoke bar.” Marlena looked at Lexie.

“So Mar.” Hope nudged Marlena. “You up for some singing?” Marlena looked horrified.

“Oh God. Please don’t make me do it. You know I get so embarrassed! I hate singing in front of people! But I’ll dance. Oh, I have no problem dancing!” She smiled at Hope.

“We know! Hope and Lexie said at the same time.

“Ah come on!” Hope pulled Marlena towards the door.

“Just remember, picture them all in the underwear.” Lexie said opening the door.


Marlena waved her hand in front of her face. “Aren’t these places supposed to be smoke free?”

“It is. I think that’s the fog machine or something for the karaoke.” Hope walked in scanning the dark room.

“Fog? For karaoke?” Marlena questioned.

“Oh yeah it’s big here in Salem” Lexie followed Hope into the place.

Marlena looked around the room. Typical country club. Cowboy boots and 10 gallon hats. Cowboys and cowgirls. John would fit in perfectly she thought.



Abe nudged Bo. Bo followed Abe eyes to the door.

“Oh crap!” Bo looked at Abe. “What the hell are they doing here?”


Hope and Lexie pulled Marlena over to a nearby table.

“So, what do you want to drink?” Hope asked.

“Oh just get me a beer.” Lexie said watching the drunk on the karaoke stage.

“I’ll just take water.” Marlena told Hope.

“Water?” Hope asked.

“Yep. Designated driver, remember.” Marlena smiled.

“Just one beer won’t hurt you.’ Hope told her.

“Nah I’ll just take a water. And you know what happens when I drink, even if just one.” Hope walked away shaking her head.


Hope walked up to the bar and gave their order to the bartender. She looked around as she waited.

Marlena too was looking around and spotted a hot guy in the corner leaning over playing pool wearing rather tight jeans that fit his butt perfectly, a tight white t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up showing off his very muscular forearms, a pair of black cowboy boots. She got a wicked grin on her face and thought ‘nice ass’

“Hey Lex, there’s the guys.” Lexie looked over in the direction Marlena was looking.

“What’s the chance of this happening.” She and Abe made eye contacted.

“Come on. Let’s go join them!” Marlena pulled Lexie.

Just as they were about to approach the little brunette waitress approached John with their drinks.

“Thanks, sweetheart.” John gave her a wink and she leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Marlena froze seeing the little flirtations going on between John and the brunette.

John tapped the waitresses nose sending her into a fit of giggles. He pulled out a stool and she took a seat beside him touching his leg. Marlena’s mouth dropped then her eyes blazed with fire. She cut her eyes over to Bo and Abe. They swallowed hard and stood frozen afraid to make any sudden movements to piss her off even more. John’s flirtatious ways was exactly why she didn’t want them to take him out. When he’s had a few drinks, he tends to flirt. She should know firsthand she went through ten hours of labor because of his flirtatious ways.

Hope stood at the bar watching. “Oh crap!” She said gathering their drinks quickly walking over.

Marlena slowly walked up to John her hands clinched in fists at her side. The waitress noticed a not to happy looking woman over John’s shoulder slowly approaching.

“I might just have to make this one of my regulars hang outs.” John told the waitress as Marlena walked up behind him and stopped. “I’ll make sure to leave you a rather large tip too when we leave.” She smiled and looked down nervous when she noticed that Marlena had walked up behind John with a rather ticked off look on her face with her arms crossed across her chest.

Bo and Abe were ready to take cover. Hope and Lexie stood back slightly praying that Marlena wouldn’t rip into John causing them all to get thrown out.

“So cowboy.” She said with venom in her voice. “You come here often trying to pick women?” He smiled but didn’t turn around not recognizing the voice behind him.

“Nah.. not too often. Ya see, I got me a kid and an old lady at home. Don’t get out much. I just came here tonight to hang with the guys and do a little flirting while I can.” He turned around.
“I’m getting married in a few..’ His voice trailed off.

His eyes went from the black boots on her feet, to the long tan legs, to the short jean skirt with the freshly painted nails on the hands the were set on the hips, up to the hot pink halter top showing just enough cleavage to give him a few forbidden thoughts, finally meeting the angry hazel eyes glaring at him.

Part 2
“Sweetheart!” He jumped up from the bar stool looking guilty as hell.

She held her hands up in front of her.” Don’t even think about it!”

“Ah come on baby.” He stuck his lip out.

“Save it!” She walked around John to the waitress. “I’m the old woman he’s marrying so I’ll take these.” She took the beer mugs from the waitress. “Thanks, now you better scurry along before I get you fired for being underage and working at a bar!”

“So..” Marlena turned to face John. “You thirsty?” She sat the mugs down on the table. “You a little worked up? Maybe a little hot and bothered at what you see.” She seductively walked up to him pushing him down in the chair at the table.

John swallowed hard as she stood directly in front of him. “Well maybe just a little.”

Marlena bent over her face inches from his. She could feel him catch his breath. His eyes were focused on the slight swell of her breast peeking out from the v on her halter top.

His eyes slowly met hers.

“Well here then. Drink this, honey.” Marlena stood and poured the full mug of cold beer in John’s lap.

He jumped up in total shock. “Marlena!” He yelled as he looked up at her.

She gave him the evil eye and slammed the mug on the table. She turned around, flipped her hair in his face and stormed off into the ladies room. Hope and Lexie quick on her heels.


Hope and Lexie entered the restroom to find Marlena sitting in one of the oversized chair, arms crossed, legs crossed swinging her foot like crazy and a very ticked off look plastered on her face.

“Come on Mar. You know how he is.” Lexis sat beside her.

“You know he is madly in love with you. The flirting is the alcohol talking. You know that.” Hope sat on the other side.

“I know but it still ticks me off though.” She looked up at her too friends. “I guess I just get all freaked out cause that’s..” tears begin forming in her eyes. “How we sort of got together. I just love him so much.” The tears fell down her cheeks.

“Girl don’t be crying over this. Sheesh, you never used to cry you’d just get even. What’s up with you?” Hope felt her forehead. “Are you coming down with something?”

Marlena slapped her hand away. “No maybe I’m just a little emotional right now. I do have a lot on my mind, ya know!”

A loud knock sounded at the bathroom door.

“Sweetheart baby. Don’t’ be mad. You know I love you and only one. You and Jonathan are my life. You’re the reason why I breathe.”

Marlena stomped to the door and swung it open. Startling John. “Save it Black. I’m not gonna let you ruin this night for me.” She poked him in the chest. “I am going to still have my fun regardless of what I just witness. And it would be in your best interested if you stayed away from me tonight. There’s no telling what else I might do to you tonight. “She looked down and his wet pants before heading out of the bathroom back out in the bar area.

“Come on girls. Let’s dance.” Marlena pulled Hope and Lexie out on the floor.

John mopped back into the bar area. His eyes caught Marlena’s as she began to dance. He slowly walked across the room to Bo and Abe with a lost look on his face and plopped down at their table. He slowly turned his head watching as Marlena she danced, laughed and enjoyed herself despite how ticked off she was earlier. He loved to way her dance. The way her body moved.

Marlena kept sneaking glances over at John only to find him watching her. She could also see that her dancing was effecting John in some ways. They locked eyes one more time and John couldn’t take it. He turned his back from the dance floor. She was driving him wild and she knew it. She smirked when he turned his back from her.

“She’s killing me” John said the Bo and Abe.


The music stopped.

“Alrighty..we’ve got some singers ready.” The DJ said into the microphone.

“Oh great more off key drunks trying to sing.” John plopped his head down on the table.


Does he love me, I wanna know, How can I tell if he loves me so?

John’s head popped up and his mouth fell open.
Marlena stood center stage microphone in hand, her eyes cut looking over at John. Hope and Lexie stood behind her as her backup singers.

Hope and Lexie sang
[Is it in his eyes?]

Oh, no you’ll be decieved
Marlena shook her head.

[Is it in his sighs?]
Oh, no he’ll make believe
If you wanna know
[Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop]
If he loves you so
[Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop]
It’s in his kiss
[That’s where it is, oh yeah]

Marlena walked off the stage and slowly walked towards John.

[Or is it in his face?]
On no, it’s just his charms
[In his warm embrace?]
On no, that’s just his arms
If you wanna know
[Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop]
If he loves you so
[Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop]
It’s in his kiss
[That’s where it is]
Oh, it’s in his kiss
[That’s where it is]

She stood in front of John and he slowly stood up.

Whoa, hug him and squeeze him tight
Find out what you wanna know
If it’s love, if it really is
It’s there in his kiss

He tried to wrap his arms around her and she pushed his arms away. Giving him a look. She walked around him. Her hand sliding across his chest, around his lower back, then back around to his chest again.

[How ’bout the way he acts?]
Oh no, that’s not the way
You’re not listenin’ to all I said
If you wanna know
[Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop]
If he loves you so
[Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop]
It’s in his kiss
[That’s where it is]
Oh, It’s in his kiss
[That’s where it is]

She stood inches from John. Their bodies touching. This time she allowed him to wrap his arms around her waist. She draped her free arm over his shoulder and they started moving to the music.

Whoa, hug him and squeeze him tight
Find out what you wanna know
If it’s love, if it really is
It’s there in his kiss

She laid the microphone on the table as Hope and Lexie still sang in the background.

John’s face was buried in Marlena’s neck. “So cowboy..ya gonna kiss me so I can see if really love me so?” She wrapped her other arm around John’s neck pulling him towards her.

“‘Are you still mad?”

“Just a little but I’ll let it slide for now. You’ve got a lot of proving to do mister. So what are you waiting for kiss me.”

John bent his head, capturing her lips with his. The kiss deepen and began to get out of hand as his hands slid down her upper back coming to rest on her lower back. He stopped himself remembering they were in public.

Breaking the kiss. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered something in John’s ear.

He pulled back looking in her eyes, a smile spread across her face. Her eyes twinkling. A wide million dollar smiled spread across his face too. He hugged her. He looked at her again and she giggled.

“Are you for real?”

“Uh huh.” She bit her lip.

“Oh I love you baby!” He kissed her passionately.

Instead of staying out late and John waking up from the sledge hammers that would be pounding in his head, John and Marlena thanked their friends for the little parties. Not wanting Maggie to keep Jonathan, they picked him up.

“Oh but he’s asleep already.” Maggie followed Marlena in the back room where the little dark hair blue eyed baby boy slept.

“I know he won’t wake up though. John can be blaring Bon Jovi next to his playpen and he’d still be sucking his thumb sawing logs.” Marlena scooped the baby in her arms and kissed his forehead.

Maggie smoothed his out of control locks. “He really is a precious baby boy. And so very handsome.”

“Well, he does take after his daddy.

“I can only imagine what a baby girl of ya’lls would look like.”

Marlena gave her a small grin. “Yea me too.”

John walked up behind Marlena leaning over her shoulder to kiss his sons forehead. “You ready sweetheart?” He placed his hands on her hips.

“Yea let’s get this little guy home and in his own bed.” Jonathan snuggled closer in his mother’s safe protective arms.

“Thanks again for watching him Maggie.” John gave her a hug. “We really appreciate it.”



Dressed and ready for bed, John slid in under the covers laying on his side next to Marlena. He brushed a few strands of hair off of her face causing her to stir.

“I’m sorry baby just go back to sleep.” He said in a low whisper smiling down at her.

“I wasn’t sleeping.” She said with her eyes still closed. John laughed. “I was just resting my eyes.

“Okay then sweetheart, just continue to rest those gorgeous eyes of yours.”

Marlena tighten her hold on Jonathan, who was asleep on her chest and snuggled in closer to John.

“John..”

“Yeah baby.” He kissed her forehead.

She slowly opened her eyes and look up at him. “Are you really excited about the baby?”

“Oh yes. I am very excited. I can’t believe we are going to be having another baby.” He noticed her expression. “Aren’t you happy about the baby?”

“Well yes..” She kissed Jonathan forehead. “It’s just that Jonathan is still a baby himself. He’s only 9 months old.”

“They will be close in age and then they can play together. They can entertain each other.”

“Yes that’s true and that will be good if it’s a boy, but what if it’s a girl? What big brother would want their little sister tagging along everywhere he goes?”

“I am sure this little guy won’t mind at all. He’s gonna love his little brother or sister. He’s like you when it comes to that.” She looked up at the ceiling. “But you still aren’t okay with this are you?”

“No I’m fine with it. I’m still just a little shocked. We had been so careful.”

He looked over at her. “Well..”

“Well what?” She said lifting her head off the pillow. He looked at her and it hit her. “Oh our engagement party private celebration a little over a month ago.”

“So how far along are you?”

“The doctor told me about 5 weeks. Would be right if it was conceived that night.”

“Wow.” He wrapped his arms around her and Jonathan.

“What?”

“We’re getting married in a few weeks…” She turned her head. “What now?”

“That’s the other thing. John, we aren’t even married yet and now we’re already having baby number 2. I mean okay getting married with one baby is okay but, sheesh we got 2 babies and we haven’t even said I do yet. Do you know what that looks like?”

“That we are very much in love and we want to raise a family together. Or are you thinking that people will think that we are sex crazy and can’t help ourselves?” He tapped her nose and kissed her cheek.

“John..”

“So we won’t tell anyone about the new baby until say a few weeks after we get back from our honeymoon. That way they’ll think that you got pregnant on our honeymoon.”

“Oh that would work. I’m still not far enough along to be showing in time soon. Oh honey..” She grabbed him back the back of his head pulling his face closer to hers. “I love you baby.” She placed a soft loving kiss on his lips.

“ I love you too.” He leaned his head against hers.

He gently rubbed Jonathan’s baby causing him to snuggle with his tiny baby bottom up in the air and immediately sticking his thumb in his mouth. John and Marlena chuckled.

John ran his hand down Jonathan’s back and unbuttoned he bottom button of Marlena’s pajama top. He placed his hand on her bare stomach. He pulled Marlena and Jonathan as close to him as he could get them and laid his head back smiling up at God silently thanking him for blessing him with the love of the woman in his arms and for blessing him with not only one healthy baby, but hopefully two healthy children. The family John always longed for is lying in his arms and he couldn’t be any more happier at eh moment. His hand flat on Marlena’s stomach, he gently ran his thumb across her skin. He smiled when he stomach steady and a sigh escape her lips. He closed his eyes, quickly falling to sleep with his whole world wrapped up in his arms.

Marlena stood in front of the full length mirror smoothing over her wedding gown.

“Hope, ya know I’m a little nervous.” She turned to face Hope.

You Marlena Evans soon to be Black is nervous? Can I ask why? You and John are practically married already. All you really need is the legal papers. You live together, so you don’t have to adjust to that. You have a baby and you love John, you know he loves you and wants to spend the rest of his life with you.” Marlena smiled some of her nerves fading. “You know you have one handsome baby boy who I might add looks adorable.” Marlena smiles with tears in her eyes. “I kinda snuck in to see Bo and saw your little man crawling around at his daddy’s feet.”

“Oh my baby boy.” Tears were falling.

“Hey hey hey ” Hope grabbed some Kleenex from the nearby makeup table. “Ah stop the tears, you’ll mess up your make up.” She dabbed at the tears on Marlena’s cheeks.

Waving her hands at her face. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that.”

Hope grabbed Marlena by the shoulders. “You’ll be fine. I have never seen love like yours and John’s. You two are true soul-mates and you deserve him just as he deserves you. A love like ya’lls only comes around like once in a life time.”

“Thank you. I feel better now.” She turns around and looks at herself in the mirror. She smooths the silky material over her still flat stomach thinking about her new baby. “Everything is going to be alright. I’ll be alright.”

“So let’s go get you married!”



John picks up Jonathan. “Well little man, today’s the day that your mama and I promise forever in front of our family and friends.” John smooths over Jonathan little cowlick in the back of his head. “I can’t wait to see how beautiful your mommy’s gonna look. I swear she can wear a trash bag and make it look like a million bucks.” Jonathan squeals and buries his face in John’s neck cuddling with his daddy.

Bo walked up behind John. “So, you ready to go marry that sexy lady of yours?”

“Oh you bet man!”

“Well let’s go then. Times a wasting!”
The priest smiled at John. “You may kiss your bride.”

“I think I’ll do just that.” John placed his hands on both sides of Marlena’s face. He wiped away her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “I love you baby.”

“I love you too.” His softly placed a gentle kiss on her awaiting lips. He kissed her again deepen the kiss then he caught Marlena by surprise and leaned her back dipping her.

When he stood her back up upright, she bust out in laugher and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

“Ahem.” The priest said trying to get the young couples attention.

“Sorry!” Marlena grabbed her bouquet from Hope and linked her arm in Johns.

“Ladies and gentleman, I know announce too you. Mr. and Mrs. John Black.” The guest clapped and stood for the couple.

Unseen by the others. Two jilted ex’s darted out the back of St Lukes before they were noticed.

“Oh excuse me!” She said running into the guy who was obviously in a hurry himself.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching were I was going.”

“That’s okay. You seem to be in a hurry.” She wrapped her coat tighter around her.

“You do to. Do you know that couple?”

“Oh do I.” She looked back at the church with a frown on her face. “The blonde bimbo stole my boyfriend from me.” Isabella crossed her arms across her chest. “She even got pregnant by him.

“Isabella?” He asked.

“How did you know my name?”

“I’m the blonde bimbo’s ex. Roman Brady.” “He stuck his gloved hand out. “I’ve heard a lot about you and your tactics on trying to break up the love birds in there. I see yours didn’t work either?”

“I’m afraid not. I take yours didn’t work either.”

“Nope. I guess we’re just screwed.” They laughed. “So Um, are you hungry? I can sure use something to drown my sorrows of not winning the girls heart in the end type meal.”

“Yea I am so up for one of those meals myself. I swear what do they see in each other that they are so I don’t know. They don’t notice anyone else around. John never looks at another girl and Marlena is just so wrapped up in John and their baby. It’s just sickening.”

Roman held out his arm and Isabella linked her arm in his. They walked off knowing that neither of them could ever ever come between John and Marlena. Their love for one another is too strong for anyone to try and break them apart.

“Ladies and Gentleman can I get your attention?” Bo spoke loudly into the ringing microphone. Everyone turned to face Bo. “I’d like to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. John Black.” He motioned for the front door.

When John and Marlena walked in, Tuscany erupted in loud clapping and cheering. The loud noise startled Jonathan and he buried his face in his daddy’s neck.

Marlena rubbed his back. “Aww you guys scared my baby boy.” She took Jonathan from John and held him close to her as she stroked the back of his head.

“Excuse me again.” The crowd of guests turned to face Bo. “It’s now time for the bride and grooms first dance.”

The lights dimmed and John stepped closer to Marlena and he placed his hands on her hips. She looked up at him and smiled. Tears already forming in her eyes.

“Baby, the song hasn’t even started yet.” He wiped away a tear that fell down her cheek.

“I’m just so happy. We’re finally married. No one can come between us. We have a healthy little boy.” She shifts Jonathan in her arms. He lays his head on her shoulder. His eyes slowly opening and closing. “We have a new baby on the way.” John’s face lite up at the thought of them having another baby. “And we about to head off by the way, where are we going on our honeymoon?” She asked.

“I’m not saying. But I am sure you’ll defiantly love it.”

“As long as I am with my two favorite men, I know I’ll love it.”

There you go, Flashing fever from your eyes

“Oh my God, I love this song.” Marlena told John.

“I know, I hear you singing it all the time in the shower.”

Hey babe, Come over here and shut them tight, I’m not denying
We’re flying above it all, Hold my hand, Don’t let me fall
You’ve such amazing grace, I’ve never felt this way

Hope walked up to them and took a sleeping Jonathan from Marlena who reluctantly let him go. Marlena wrapped her arms around John’s neck as he pulled her closer. He gave her a sweet tender kiss before leaning his forehead on hers as they swayed the music.

Oh show me heaven cover me, Leave me breathless, Oh show me heaven please

Here I go, I’m shaking just like the breeze, Hey babe, I need your head to steady me
I’m not denying, I’m frightened a much as you, Though I’m barely touching you
I’ve shivers down my spine, and it feels divine

John softly ran his hand up and down her bare back causing her to shiver and move in closer to John.

“I can’t wait to get you out of here and get our honeymoon started.”

“Well what are you waiting for?”

“Well seeing as we just got here, we have a cake to cut, a bouquet to throw and a garter to toss.”

“Oh yeah. Guess I forgot about those minor little details.”

“I love you Mrs. Black.”

“And I love you Mr. Black.”

Oh, show me heaven, cover me, Leave me breathless, Oh, show me heaven please

Do you know what it’s like to dream a dream, Baby hold me tight and let this be
Oh, show me heaven, cover me, Leave me breathless, Oh, show me heaven please



“Okay right, all you single ladies…line up!” The DJ said while looking for the right song to play.

All the girls gathered. All fake pushing each other. Teasing each other saying they were gonna get it.

“Okay, ready?” Marlena turned around. “1….2…..3!”

Marlena tossed the flowers over her head. The girls all scrabbled for the flowers. After a few tugs of the flowers, Hope came out victorious.

“Hope, you know what that means?” Marlena said hugging Hope and looking over at the guys teasing Bo.

“Now fellas. It’s your turn.”

The DJ pulled up a chair. “Marlena you sit here.” Marlena did as she was told. “John, now I know you’ve been to weddings. You know what you have to do.”

The mission impossible theme music started playing.
Marlena lifted the bottom of her skirt a little so John could retrieve the garter. John slide his hand up Marlena’s leg. She raised an eyebrow causing John to get a devilfish grin on his face.

“You had better be good. My parents are here.” Marlena reminded him.

His smiled disappeared, but his hand continued to travel up her leg.

“John” She warned him.

A few seconds later he slid the garter down her leg.

Al l the guys gathered around.

“1….2….3!”

The guys jumped and grabbed for the garter flying through the air.

Finally it landed in Bo’s hands.

“OH you know what that means!” John shook his friends hand.

The four friends posed for a picture. As their family and friends cheered.
Page 43 of 46The breeze was softly blowing, the sun shining down on the tan bodies covering the white sandy beach.

“Ah, now this is what I call paradise.” Marlena laid back in her lounge chair on the sandy beach in their Hawaiian paradise with her husband by her side.

“Oh yes, this is a nice little piece of paradise.” John looked over at Marlena.

“It’s so beautiful. The water is so clear. The sand is so white. The breeze is just right. It’s not to hot. It’s just right.” She stretched turning her face up more towards the sun.

“So I take it you like my honeymoon surprise?”

She looked over at John. “Oh yes. I love this honeymoon surprise. I miss my little man though. We have never been away from him for more than a night. I hope he okay for Bo and Hope.”

“Sweetheart, he probably don’t even know were gone. Besides we need this time for ourselves. With the new baby coming we are about to have no free time on our hands.”

“Two under the age of two. John what are we going to do? Are we insane?” She lifted her sunglasses up and placed them on the top of her head sitting up.

He laughed. “Here we are in a tropical paradise and you are worried about having two kids under the age of two?” He got up. Extended his hand to her. “I think we need to go for a swim.” He helps her out of her chair.

“No funny business you got it Black?!” She pointed her finger at him as they walked down the beach to the water.

“You got it Mrs. Black.” John had his fingers crossed behind his back.


John had his arms wrapped around Marlena.

“I love you so much.” She told him pulling back out of his arms.

“And I love you.” He leaned in and captured her lips kissing her softly.

He wrapped his arms back around her and pulled her into a tight loving embrace.

She felt his hands slowly creeping up her back. She smiled and then grabbed his hand before it accomplished the task of untying her top.

“Alright now. I told you no funny business.”

“I had my fingers crossed.” He said sheepishly.

“I know.” She smiled at him. “I know you just can’t keep your hands off my ever expanding sexy stretched marked body.” He let out a laugh.

“Baby, you could be 250 with gray hair and wrinkles and I would still think you have a sexy body.” He buried his face in her neck.

“Laying her head back giving him better access. “John, we can’t do this here.”

“Why not?” He mumbled in her neck.

“Because this is a very public family oriented beach. I don’t want to band for indecent exposure on only our second day here in paradise.”

He reluctantly removed his lips from her neck and quickly kissed her lips. “Oh alright.” He moved back away from her.

She looked at him. “Now that was way too easy.” She raised an eyebrow questioning him. “Just what are you up to?”

“Nothing.” He said looking around like he wasn’t up to anything.

“Oh I know you. You are so up to something.”

“No I’m not. Really” He held up his hands.

“I’m getting kinda hungry.”

“Yea, now that you mention it. I am too.” He pulled her to him. “Let’s go see what kind of restaurants they have around here.

She wrapped her arms around him. “Aw, now that’s the way to this woman’s heart.” She laughed pulling him to her.

He laughed. “Well at least it is for my pregnant pretty ladies heart.”

“Hmm mm so true.”

They held each other for a little. John quickly grabbed the ties to her bathing suit giving them a swift tug before quickly swimming off away from a shocked Marlena grasping her chest screaming at John.

“JOHN! You get yourself back here!” She frantically was trying to tie her top back as John swam to shore laughing. “You do know that pay backs are hell Mr. Black!” She glared at him as she walked out of the water while he still stood there laughing.

She slapped his butt as she walked back to their chairs pissed but sort of laughing at the same time.

Marlena settled back on the couch propping her feet up on the table in front of her with a very content sigh.

“Mmm” She snuggled back into John’s arms.

“I take that as your satisfied?” He slid in beside her pulling him to him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and placed them on her stomach.

“Oh yes.” She closed her eyes. “Thanks for dinner. It was just what I wanted.”

“It was my pleasure. I can’t have my baby starving.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet. Always liking about my needs.” She snuggles even closer to him.

“Your needs?” A smile spreads across his face. “I was thinking of my baby.” He rubs her stomach.

She sits up and turns toward him. “John Black!” He burst out laughing and pulls her back to him wrapping his arms back around her.

“I’m just kidding baby. Of course I was talking about you. I always think about you and your needs.” He kissed her neck.

“Save it buddy. You done messed up. You’re sleeping on the floor tonight.” She crosses her arms over her chest with a sly smile spread across her face.

“You can’t do that! We’ve only been married for a few days and besides we’re on our honeymoon. You wouldn’t want me to go back and all the guys find out that my old woman..” she shot him a look. “I’m mean my gorgeous wife made me sleep on the floor on our honeymoon, now would you?”

“Well tonight your treading on thin ice buddy. You keep up with those smartalic comments and yes, you’re on the floor.” She got up and walked into the bathroom.


Marlena walked out the bathroom 30 minutes later and after taking a nice refreshing warm bath..

“You know, why did they give me these uncomfortable these little things anyway?” Marlena asked John as she stood in front of the mirror adjusting the tiny negligee over her pregnant body.
“It’s not the most comfortable things in the world.”

“Well darling for one thing.” He got up and walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Most brides aren’t like 4 months pregnant.” She cut her eyes up at him through the mirror.

She turned in his arms and glared up at him. “Yea well you should have kept that thing in your pants mister.” She pulled out of his arms tugging on the negligee more. “They make them way to short and.”

“I’ve seen some longs ones.” She shot him a look as if to ask him where and on whom. “When when…I was looking for you some nice comfortable pj’s after you had Jonathan.” He answered nervously and with a smile.

“Yeah, you had better had said that.” She plopped down on the couch in the honeymoon suite with a heavy sigh. She looked down at her stomach and the silky material that tightly stretched across her stomach. She let out a disgusting sigh and got up pulling the negligee over her head as she disappeared back into the bathroom, slamming the down behind her.

John sat on the other end of the couch laughing as she disappeared into the bathroom.

“Sweetheart, get out here. You don’t have to wear those skimpy little things for me to think your hot as hell.”

“But it’s our honeymoon and I want to look sexy for you.” She yelled back through the bathroom door.

He opened the door and caught his breath. “Baby you standing right there with nothing on at all is sexy to me.” He walked a few feet closer to her.

“No I’m not sexy, I’m fat.” She placed her hands on her stomach.


“Marlena.” He turned her to look at him. “Baby, you are the sexiest lady I have ever laid eyes on. Weather your Fully clothed in a short skirt, in a bathing suit, my old sweats or like this in your birthday suit.”

“Your just saying that cause your trying to make me feel better and cause you don’t want to sleep on the couch tonight.”

He let out a laugh. “No I’m not. You’re my sexy lady.” He looked her body over. “Am I gonna have to show you just how sexy I think my gorgeous wife is?”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel sexy.”

“Oh I can remedy that.” He picked her up and carried her over to the bed. “I’ll make you feel like the most sexist woman in the world tonight.” He said kissing her neck.

Marlena slowly and carefully turned on her side whispering into the phone so not to wake up John beside her. His arm slide across her slightly swollen bare stomach as she moved.

“Hello?” The voice on the other line spoke.

“ Hey Hope. So howzit going?”

“Mar! Oh my God!”

“How’s my baby boy doing?” She looked back over at John who told her that Jonathan would be fine with Bo and Hope. She didn’t need to check in every day. “I miss him so much.”

“He’s doing just fine. He’s sitting right here with me right now.” Jonathan reached up for the phone. “You wanna talk to your mama?” She asked Jonathan.

Hope put the phone up to his ear. Marlena could hear him babbling in the phone.

“Hey mommy’s little man.” He squealed in delight. “I hope you’re being a good boy for aunt Hope and Uncle Bo.” He started babbling as if he was talking back to her. “Oh really?!” Marlena said just delighted to hear he sons little voice. “Yes, daddy missing you to.”

Hope got back on the phone. “He’s so cute Mar. I could just eat him up.”

“Aww Oh I miss him.” Tears formed in her eyes. “John would kill me if he knew I was calling and checking in with you guys. He told me that you’d be fine and not to worry cause Jonathan was in good hands.”

“He’s fine. He has been the best little guy. We’ve gone to the park, we’ve played tickle monster.” Marlena can hear Jonathan cooing. “So where’s John? How did you sneak in a call to us?”

“He right here beside me.” She rolled over facing John. She ran the back of her fingers down his cheek over his lips.

“So he’s missing Jonathan too?”

She laughs. “No, he’s actually sleeping. He is quite worn out from all our extracurricular activities.”

“Oh Mar, that’s just gross. Really, I don’t need to know about your sex life.”

“Your just jealous.”

“Whatever. So, how is Hawaii?”

“Hope it’s so gorgeous. White sandy beaches. The warm sun shining down. This truly is paradise.”

“God I am so jealous. Bo had better take me somewhere like that when we get married. I don’t want no shack in the woods.”

“It doesn’t matter where you go, it’s who your with.” She ran her cool hand down John’s warm bare chest causing him to stir .

His eyelids slowly fluttered open and a tired smile spreads across his lips. Marlena leaned down and brushed his lips with hers.

Their kisses became more passionate and Marlena had forgotten that she was on the phone. Suddenly she heard Hope yelling her name through the line.

Breathless. “OH MYGOD..Hope! I’m so sorrry! What did you say?”

“I take it John must be awake?” John pulled Marlena closer to him and he started kissing on her neck.

“Uh huh..” Marlena closed her eyes as his kisses started traveling down her neck to her collar bone down her chest.


“Well I’ll just let you too go. Don’t worry about the little guy. He’s just fine. You two have fun and don’t do anything Bo and I wouldn’t do.”

The phone had slid out of Marlena’s hand so John picked it up.

“Bye Hope we’re a little busy here.” He said before he hung it up.

“Oh I bet.” She said before she too hung up the phone.


“I knew you couldn’t go without calling and checking up on the baby.” He buried his face in her neck.

She arched her neck giving him better access. “Well I just missed him. We’ve never been away from him for this long.”

Lying beside her, he propped himself up on his elbow. “He is in good hands.” John ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. “Okay now that you’ve checked in with them and he’s doing fine can I please take full advantage of you lying here naked next to me. Your body’s just screaming out for me to touch, to taste…”

“Just shut up and ravage me!” She pulled him down on top of her as they become one once more that evening.

John sat at the table outside their suite, in the warm morning breeze, drinking his coffee and reading paper.

Marlena woke up and rolled over stretching her arm out only to feel the cool silky sheet beside her. She sat up and wrapped the silly material around her as she walked out in the living room area calling out for John.

“John?”

She looked around the suite for him and turned when she felt the warm breeze coming from the open patio sliding door.

The morning rays were beaming down on John casting an angelic glow around him. She smiled as she walked out onto the patio and stood behind him.

“Morning beautiful” He said not looking up at her.

“How did you know I was out here?” She walked in front of him.

“I felt you.” He looked back up at her smiling.

“You felt me? Ha okay. I can see you saying that last night maybe..”

“That’s not what I meant. I can sense you. I can smell you when you walk in a room. I just know your there I can feel your presence. We have this connection like thing…”

“Oh..kinda like ESP or whatever it’s called?”

He pulls her to him sitting her in his lap. “Yes, kinds like that. Shouldn’t you know about that kind of stuff? Isn’t or wasn’t that your major?”


She grabs some fruit that was sitting on the table. “Yeah..” She stuffs the fruit in her mouth. “But now I’m just content with being a mother and your gorgeous wife.” She smiled as she munched down on the grapes she stuffed in her mouth.

John laughed. “Sweetheart, are you a little hungry?”

Popping some strawberries in her mouth. “Nah, not really.”

The white silk sheet fell from her shoulder. He brushed the stray hair off her bare shoulder and he began to plant soft kisses on her soft skin.

“Mmm.” She moaned turning her face so that her lips met his. “You think maybe we should take this inside?” She pressed her forehead to his as he ran the back of hand down her arm slightly losing the sheet from around her.

“Nah I like it right here. The sun is shining, a breeze is blowing and..” He slid his hand into the sheet his hand making contact with her bare skin. “I don’t think I’d make it that far especially knowing that your sexy naked body is being covered with this sheet.”

She stands and straddles him.

She lets go of the silky sheet, it falls down to her waist. She wraps her arms around his neck pulling his face to hers. His hands slide up her thighs settling on her hips as he pulls her closer to him. His hands slide up her bare back. He runs them up over her shoulders and slowly down her chest, his masculine hands covering her breast, he begins to knead them. Marlena lays her head back as John’s hands massage her breast.

She runs her hand down the inside of his robe, pulling on the tie, she opens the robe and plants tiny wet kisses all over his chiseled chest.

He runs the back of his knuckles over her swollen stomach.

The touch foreheads again as they both look down at her round stomach. Down at the tiny life they created out of their pure profound love.

His hands move further down past her swell down to her inner thighs. He pushes her legs back a little spreading them further open. They make a quick passionate glance up at each other before she closes her eyes and lays her forehead on his course.

John brushes his knuckle over her. The light touch of his finger between her legs causes a little shiver to run up her spine. His two fingers move closer. Marlena shifts on his lap spreading her legs even further apart. Instead of two fingers he quickly shoves three into her opening causing her to gasp and jump slightly when they entered her. She let out a pleasured moan.

Her head still on his shoulder, she opens her eyes and looks down at his hand nestled between her legs. He gives her a few moments before he starts slowly thrusting his hand in and out of her. Marlena moves her hips as John thrusts his hand. They meet and he sends a pleasurable pain coursing through her.

“John” She moans. “Baby that feels so..” She catches her breath when the thrusts become harder and faster. “Oh my God…John…honey…”

“He covers her lips with his. His tongue wraps around hers. She pulls him to her his fingers digging deeper inside of her.

“Oohh..” She tried to speak, but nothing came out.

“Baby, I love the way you feel.” She gazed at him through lazy eyes.

He removed his fingers from inside her. He picked her up and sat her in the chair he ahd just occupied. He knelt before her. She placed her hands on his shoulders.

He leans his head down to her tummy placing soft kisses down the swell of their child before burying his face between her legs. He slides his hands along her thighs back around to her butt pulling her to the edge of the chair as he drinks from her.

She runs her fingers through his hair. “You’ve gotta make love to me.” His tongue moving within her. “I am about to…” And she does. She lets out a satisfied sigh.


Still kneeling before her, John places both hands on the sides of her stomach. She rests hers on the sides of his arms.

They look up at one another. Hazel locks on blue as they look deep into each other’s eyes. Tears begin to form in Marlena’s eyes when she feels his hands gently caressing her stomach. She smiles as a tear escapes and makes a moist trail down her cheek.

“God, I just love you.” She said wrapping her arms around his neck hugging him tight, leaning down burring her face in the crook of his neck.

He’s startled by her actions he lets out a small laugh.

“Well I just love you too.”

She just holds him close to her. His hands have never left their child. They sit there as the waves crashed along the shore in their tropical paradise.*