Never Forgotten – By Kat

It was a cold but beautiful February day. The sun rose, making the new fallen snow sparkle like diamonds. 

Marlena woke up with an all too familiar feeling. 

The feeling of deep sorrow, sadness, grief and longing sought through her body just like the sun rays through her bedroom window. Thankfully it was only on this specific day each year that this feeling was so strong, so intense that she found herself wanting to stay in bed all day and just forget about the world outside. 

For the first few years these feelings were present every day, even in her sleep she couldn’t escape them, but as the years went by they would only overcome her every now and then. But on this date 25 years later, they were still as present and strong as ever. 

She closed her eyes and crawled under the covers, hiding her head under her pillow as memories flashed. Sweet memories of a love so deep, so powerful and so all consuming that they still made her heart flutter. And then memories of heartbreak, a tearful goodbye and the loss of the other half of her heart. 

25 years seemed like a lifetime ago and yet it felt like it was just yesterday that she saw him for the last time. 

A lot had happened since that day he left Salem, left her and the family he used to call his own. 

Marlena didn’t have many regrets about the life that she had lived…only one…that she let him leave. She couldn’t help but think that her life would have turned out a lot different, if she had made it to the airplane in time to stop him from leaving. 

But she didn’t make it…the feeling of her heart breaking, as she saw the plane take off and fly away with what she now knew was the great love of her life, made her burst into tears as she cried of what could have been and what she had lost. 

The ringing of her phone brought her out of her misery and forced her to face the day. 

“Hello!” She answered with annoyance, leaving no doubt to the caller that she was not in the mood for talking. 

“Well good morning to you too!” Laura said laughing. She and Marlena had been friends for over 30 years and she knew that especially today was going to be tough for Marlena to get through. 

“I’m just calling to let you know that I’m here for you if you need someone to talk to. Do you have plans for today?” She asked, worried about her best friend. 

Marlena sighed, grateful for her friend’s concern. 

“Laura, thank you for your concern but really, I’m fine, don’t worry about me.” It was a lie and she knew Laura knew as well. 

“Romas is working on a case out of town and I’m just getting ready for work, so everything is just fine”. She put her head under the pillow again and hoped that Laura would believe her. It was only half a lie really, she did need to go to work. She had made sure to have a busy day today with patients to see, making sure she didn’t have too much time alone to dwell in the tremendous amount of pain she knew was certain to overwhelm her. 

“Don’t think you can fool me Marlena, but I will let it go and just let you know that I’m here if you need me”. Laura knew better than to push her. She used to do that for the first few years, push her to talk about her feelings, about the pain she felt in her heart, talk about him…but Marlena would always shut down saying that there was nothing to talk about and it wouldn’t change anything. Pretty double standard coming from a psychiatrist who believed that people should work through trauma and other important events in their life in order to heal themselves and be able to move on. 

Marlena thanked Laura for calling and quickly hung up. Looking at the time she realized that she was running late. After a quick shower, she was dressed and ready to leave for work. 

She arrived at her office at the hospital only 15

minutes late and was greeted by her assistant Kelly who let her know that her first appointment was in 30 minutes. 

As she sat down in her chair she noticed the bouquet of flowers on her desk. She reached for the small card and opened it. 

Happy anniversary Doc. Sorry I can be with you to celebrate. Love Roman. 

She let out a deep sigh. It was ironic…the saddest day in her life was also supposed to be a happy one. Remembering back to this day 25 years ago when she came back home after her failed attempt to stop him from leaving, she found her house full of family and friends, ready to celebrate her wedding anniversary with Roman. She was completely taken by surprise, their anniversary never crossed her mind that day. She tried her best to disguise the tears of sadness and heartbreak and plastered on a fake smile. Nobody but Laura noticed. 

Shaking her head she tried to banish the memories and started preparing for her first patient. 

———

“Hello Jack, please take a seat” Marlena welcomed him. Jack was a new patient of hers. She didn’t know much about him and why he needed her help. He was a handsome young man, 22 years old, black hair and blue eyes. The last time she saw eyes with that special shade of blue was 25 years ago. 

“Thank you Dr. Evans for seeing me on such short notice. I’m new in Salem, but when I asked around for a good psychiatrist, everybody recommended you”. He smiled at her, feeling very comfortable in her presence. She immediately had the ability to make one feel like this was a safe place to talk about difficult things. 

Her warm smile and trusting eyes told him that he had indeed come to the right person. 

“Thank you Jack, that’s kind of you to say. I hope I will live up to your expectations then. So tell me what brought you here to Salem and to my office” She asked as sat down, put on her glasses and found her notebook and a pen. She felt intrigued by this young man, curious about who he was…he had this special aura around him,  something familiar and yet mysterious. 

Jack was unsure about where to start, a lot of thoughts troubled his mind. So he decided to start from the beginning….

——-

It had been a long and busy day, just as she planned it to be. Her mind had been occupied, leaving her no time to think about anything other than work and her patients. 

As she was getting ready to leave for the day it hit her again…”Oh god I miss him”, she acknowledged as she said the words out loud.

It was as if the longing for him was even stronger than it used to be. Thinking about why that could be, she could only come up with the conclusion that her new patient Jack, in some ways reminded her of him. There was something about the way he carried himself, some of the words he used and those blue eyes that reminded her so much of him. 

Gathering her purse and locking the door she made her way to her car, intent on going straight home and sleep for the rest of the day. 

As she crawled into bed and made herself comfortable, she decided that maybe it was time to do a little soul searching. She needed to have a serious conversation with herself, well actually it was long overdue, she never allowed herself to face her true feelings. But at this moment she realized that this couldn’t continue. She had been pretending to be fine all these years, pretending that what she shared with him didn’t matter, that it was buried and in the past, pretending that the deep love she had for him disappeared the day that Roman came back. She had been pretending that she was happy in her marriage with Roman but the truth was the complete opposite. She did love Roman, but not as a husband or a lover. They hadn’t been intimate in years and that didn’t even bother her. 

Staying married to him was out of obligation at first, but as the years went by it became out of comfort and safety. It wasn’t that she was afraid of being alone, on the contrary. If she was alone she wouldn’t have to pretend and put on this fake facade that she was happy with her life. She laughed at the irony of the situation. If a patient came to her and expressed what she just admitted, she would say… Follow your heart, you can’t be any good for anyone, if you don’t take yourself and your feelings seriously. 

But the reality was, that she was 55 years old now and the thought of starting a new life alone seemed unmanageable. 

She lay down and closed her eyes, happy to let dreams of him enter her unconsciousness. Dreams of happier times, of passion and desire, of them making love…his hands on her body and his magical kisses. 

Meanwhile across the country, the man in her dreams just received an invitation to attend a wedding in Salem. 

Part 2

Two months had gone by since his first appointment with the beautiful and very wise Dr. Evans. 

Jack had been seeing her twice a week and felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. She had helped him make sense of a lot of questions and insecurities. He felt incredibly comfortable with her, never having had someone to confide in, in such a way. Not that he couldn’t talk to his parents, but some of his worries and thoughts, he didn’t feel comfortable sharing with them. Mainly because they were part of this. 

They had talked about his life, growing up with his mom, dad and big brother. From the outside they portrayed the perfect family, but Jack felt like something was missing from that picture. 

Behind closed doors his parents would argue a lot. Some of the things he overheard didn’t make sense to him. It was no secret that his brother, who was 4 years older than him, wasn’t his mother’s biological son. Jack often overheard them arguing about something from the past but he couldn’t put the pieces together and figure out what it was about. He didn’t know much about his dad’s life before he was born. When he asked about it, his dad would tell him that it wasn’t worth talking about. He would become quiet and withdrawn, his eyes would reveal sadness and pain. Sometimes Jack felt like his dad was hiding something. 

Marlena felt for the young man, thinking about her own children who grew up in a similar situation. As much as it pained her to acknowledge it, his story resonated with her. 

She realized that staying married to Roman, had not only been hurting her but her children as well. 

The last time Jack went to see Marlena he had just received a strange message. A few years ago he had signed up on a website called My Inheritance. He had sent in his DNA to this large database so that he could learn more about his ancestors and heritage. It never crossed his mind that one day he could be contacted by someone related to him. But that was exactly what happened. 

“So Jack, the last time you were here you told me that someone contacted you about a match on that heritage website. Did you reply?” Marlena asked curiously. 

“No, I didn’t. I don’t know what to think about this. I have been trying to figure out who this person might be, but as far as I know, my parents don’t have any long lost family members.” Jack replied while trying to figure out what the connection to this person could be. 

“Hmm you mentioned before that you don’t know much about your dad’s past, where he was born, about his parents, if he has any siblings. Do you think that maybe this person is somehow related to your father?” 

“Of course I have thought about that. But I don’t know….I really don’t think that if I had any family on his side that he would hide it from me and my brother. I know there are things he doesn’t want to talk about, but I’m pretty sure he would never prevent us from knowing anyone related to us.” 

“Okay, that makes sense. Have you thought about telling your parents?” 

Jack took a deep breath as he answered “ Yeah, I will tell them, but right now is not the right time. My brother is getting married in two weeks and they have a lot going on. I don’t want this thing to interfere with this wedding and all. I have a feeling that whoever this person is, it’s going to stir trouble for all of us. I don’t want anything to ruin my brother’s wedding. Actually he is getting married here in Salem. His biological mother was from here and he wanted to have the wedding here, so that she could somehow be there on his big day.” 

Marlena was tempted to ask him about the name of his brother’s biological mother, but that wouldn’t be professional of her, it would only be to satisfy her own curiosity. 

———

Across the country a man stared out the window as the sun was setting. Soon he would have to go back….back to his past, back to the place he used to call home. The possibility of running into her was very real. Just the thought made him nervous and his heart beat faster. When his son told him that his wedding was going to be in Salem, his first reaction was “No way in hell!!” 

He came here to escape, to make a new life for himself and that is just what he did. 

He wasn’t sure he was ready to confront his previous life, even after 25 years, the pain that place brought him was still there. 

No, not only pain…those 7 years in Salem were some of his best. Especially the first year when he met her… married her…made love to her.

Memories of her were present every day. Her beautiful smile that would light up a room, her infectious laughter, her hazel eyes that would shine when she looked at him. And her body…oh God, her body. Never before or after had any woman made him as crazy as she did. She was sensual, a seductress, so sexy as hell. With just one look, one touch or one word, she could make him mad with desire. So much so that he couldn’t control himself and had to have her right then and there. 

He closed his eyes as he remembered what it felt like to make love to her. Her little moans as he would tease her nipples with his tongue, how she would arch her back to push her breast deeper into his mouth. How her pelvis would gyrate against his hard cock. His name leaving her mouth. He remembered getting lost in her kisses, their tongues battling and dancing along each other. The sweet taste of her lips and her pussy. The way it felt when his cock would finally slide inside her wet and thigh canal. Squeezing him, milking him from every single drop he had to give her. The feeling of her nails as she dug them into his naked back, leaving marks…her marks. 

The feeling of being buried so deep inside her body and her soul, them clinging on to each other for dear life as they would reach climax together. 

As usual his cock grew hard from these visual memories. But it was not only her physical appearance that made her so attractive to him, it was also her personality and her brain. She was clever, caring, intelligent, funny…she was just everything. Every other woman would pale in  comparison to her. Even his wife….

He did love his wife. They met 23 years ago and soon after she got pregnant with their son. He wouldn’t say it was an unhappy marriage, they had their ups and downs. Their main problem was his inability to fully open up his heart to her. And she knew the reason…or at least some of it. She knew that he left Salem under some unfortunate circumstances and she knew that a woman was involved. A woman that he had cared deeply about. She assumed that it was the mother of his first son, and he would let her think that. He needed to keep the memories of his previous life to himself, they were too precious to share with someone who wouldn’t understand. So he kept quiet… but was it possible for him to keep her from knowing the truth once they got to Salem for the wedding? 

The sound of his wife returning home brought him back to what was now his reality..his family…his life. 

“John, I’m home!!” 

Part 3

“Roman..I’m going to meet Laura for lunch” Marlena yelled, as she was putting on her thin coat. 

It was a Saturday in May, the sun was shining from a clear sky, inviting people to spend the day outside. 

“Will you be home for dinner?” Roman asked as he approached her, reaching for the labels on her jacket. He slowly pulled her toward him, placing a kiss on her lips. Caught off guard and completely surprised, Marlena stood frozen as her husband embraced her and continued his kisses. 

“What was that for?” She asked as she put her hands on his chest, gently pushing him away. 

 “Can’t a husband kiss his wife without a reason?” He asked, frowning at her. 

“Of course…you just surprised me that’s all!” It was only half the truth. She was surprised but she also felt uncomfortable, it had become so foreign for them to show physical affection, it felt awkward. 

“Roman, I need to go, see you later” She said hurriedly as she got her car keys and walked out the door. 

———-

The two friends strolled down the street towards Salem Place. They had a lovely lunch, catching up and laughing. After that, they decided it was too early to end their day and go their separate ways, so they quickly agreed to go shopping. 

Marlena needed to find a present for her grandchildren Johnny and Allie, whose birthdays were coming up. Walking towards the toy store, something caught her attention, resulting in her stopping immediately to look around. 

“Marlena, what is it?” Laura asked. 

“I don’t know…. I can’t explain it…I had this chill run through my body, making the hair on the back of my neck stand. Not in a creepy way though..I don’t know!” She looked around the square trying to detect what could cause that kind of reaction, but nothing unusual caught her eye. 

Laura eyed her in wonder and grabbed her hand, as she guided them to the toy store. 

—————

John made his way through the crowded Salem Place. He and his wife arrived in Salem two hours ago, one week before the wedding. 

“Hey Dad over here” Jack yelled and waved to get his dad’s attention. They were meeting for coffee at the small coffee bar at Salem Place. 

“Hey son, it’s so good to see you.” John said, smiling as he hugged his youngest. 

It had been six months since they saw each other last. With both of his sons not living with them any longer, he felt lonely and bored, missing them so much every day. 

“Did you have a nice flight?” Jack asked, happy to see his dad again. He always felt that they shared a special bond. They had spent hours together on the baseball field, his dad coaching him. Jack remembered the childish feeling of having his dads undivided attention and feeling like the luckiest boy in the world. Actually, he could still make him feel like that little boy, like today when they had planned on spending the day together, shopping for the wedding. 

John looked around the square, the people walking by, couples sitting outside cafes enjoying the lovely May weather. It wasn’t intentional that his eyes roamed to see if he could catch a glimpse of a familiar face. 

Turning his attention back to his son and wrapping his arm around his shoulder he said “Let’s go get that coffee and get this day started!” 

———-

“My Gosh Laura, it’s a nightmare in here” Marlena laughed as she looked at all the colorful plastic toys and teddy bears that went on aisle after aisle. “It’s too much! I’m going to get them a book instead. Let’s get out of here fast” 

They both laughed as they exited the toy store completely overwhelmed by all the choices children had nowadays. They agreed that it was much easier just 10 years ago to find something more usable for children. 

Just as they approached the small coffee shop they saw the smiling face of a young man. 

“Dr. Evans, nice to see you.” Jack said politely. He had never seen her outside of her office, but had often wondered what she did in her free time. She looked even more beautiful in her everyday clothes, he thought to himself. If he had to admit it, he did indeed have a little crush on his Doctor, just like a small school boy who had a crush on his first teacher. 

“Jack, how are you?” Marlena smiled at the young man. 

“I’m great, thank you. I’m here with my father, he just went to the bathroom. We are going to go shopping for my brother’s wedding next Saturday” 

“Oh that sounds lovely Jack. I’ll leave you to it then. Laura and I also need to get going. I will see you next week” Marlena gave him a nod and noticed his cheeks flushing. She took it as a sign of embarrassment. A lot of patients didn’t feel comfortable facing their doctor outside in the real world. That’s why she hurried away with Laura, she didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable. 

Stepping outside the coffee shop, John was immediately hit with a scent so sweet, so special, so specific, one that he had only had the pleasure of being surrounded by in a short period of his life. 

His eyes desperately scanned the people walking around… Is she here?….It can only be her!

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the back of a blond woman and his heart stopped. The way her hips swayed, her long legs and her hand gestures as she was talking to another woman, could only belong to one woman..Doc. 

“Hey dad, are you ready?” Jack interrupted him, making him turn his attention towards his son. 

“Yeah yeah…” he said as he looked over his shoulder to try and catch another glimpse of her. But she was gone, the only evidence of her presence was her scent still filling the air. 

Jack noticed that his father was focused on something. “Are you okay?” He asked, concerned looking in the same direction. 

Turning his focus back to his son again he said 

“I thought I saw someone I used to know. Did you see a blonde woman walking past you, accompanied by a dark haired woman?” 

“No, maybe, I wasn’t really paying attention,” he lied. 

Jack knew who his father was referring to but chose not to say anything. He didn’t want his parents to know that he was seeing a psychiatrist. It would only lead to endless questions as to why, and he wasn’t ready to talk to them about it. 

Jack looked at his father with curiosity…Did he know Dr. Evans?. 

—————

John had tried all day to be present and engaging with his son. Trying out tuxedos, looking for a present and just enjoying spending time together. But the truth was that he had been distracted all day, her scent still filled his nostrils. He couldn’t prevent his eyes from constantly searching the masses of people, trying to see if he could spot her. Every time he saw a blond woman his heart would beat faster and then drop again when it turned out not to be her. 

Rubbing his hand over his face and letting out a deep sigh, he felt tired after the long day he had had. But there was no time to rest. He and his wife were getting ready to have dinner at Chez Vous with their sons and their soon to be daughter in law. 

His wife emerged from the bathroom “John honey, can you zip me up?” 

Getting up to help her, he was assaulted with flashes of himself and Marlena. Flashes of them getting ready to leave for a party. Him helping her put on her dress, but not being able to contain himself as he ripped the dress off her body instead. Flashes of her long slender legs wrapped around his waist as he pushed her against the wall, knocking down some pictures. Her hot breath in his ear as she moaned loudly while he sucked her perky nipples. The feeling when he entered her hard and fast and fucked her against the wall with all he had. 

Shaking his head he tried to remove those images, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough. Today he had felt her presence again after all these years and he knew trying to suppress them would be a lost cause. 

———-

Arriving at Chez Vous, Marlena was not in the mood for dinner and dancing. When she came home from her day with Laura, Roman had insisted that they went out for dinner. She didn’t have the energy to fight him so instead of protesting, she went to the bathroom, took a quick shower and got dressed.

The place was crowded as usual on a Saturday night, loud voices of people chatting and soft music playing, filled the room. 

The waitress showed them to their table in the back where it was a bit more quiet. 

Meanwhile, John and his wife arrived. The second he stepped inside the restaurant, the same scent from earlier today filled his nostrils. Looking around the crowded place, sniffing the air like a tracker dog, he felt his heart starting to beat faster.  Could she really be here? 

They were shown to their table in the opposite direction from his former wife, lover and soulmate. Soon after, their sons arrived, happy that the whole family was together again. 

Marlena could see Roman talking but she wasn’t listening. Her thoughts wandered as she sat in front of her husband who she was supposed to love and be happy with, but she wasn’t. Suddenly her body gave a small jump, her heart rate rose and the feeling she experienced earlier today overwhelmed her again. Turning her head she scanned the room, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. 

Roman noticed her strange behavior “Doc, what is going on?” 

Looking back at him, she couldn’t be bothered to explain to him so she told him nothing as he continued to talk about police work. 

John sat quietly, pretending to listen to the conversation around the table but his focus was elsewhere. She had to be in this room, somewhere, he knew it in his gut. 

“Dad, you are being unusually quiet today,” his oldest son said, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

“I’m sorry kid, I’m just tired, it’s been a long day”. It was no lie, but only half the truth. 

He looked at his oldest son. It was like looking in the mirror when he was that age. Brady…. Tall, broad shoulders, blue eyes, athletic and the most caring young man he knew. It seemed unreal that they were here in Salem 25 years after they left. Brady didn’t remember his time here, but John had made a big deal out of telling Brady stories from when he was a baby and about his birth mother Isabella, who tragically died shortly after he was born. 

He never told him about the other woman who loved him like a son, who would shower him with kisses and “I love you’s”, who would drop everything for him when he was sick. One time Brady did ask him about a woman he remembered, but John told him that the memory was of his mother. 

And now Brady was getting married here in Salem, in the same church as he himself stood before God and made vows to spend the rest of his life with Marlena. It seemed like a lifetime ago. 

The waitress asked if they were interested in dessert but Marlena abruptly said no. She just wanted to go home. The feeling of her hair standing in the back of her head and the chills that continued to run through her body, made her think she might be coming down with something. 

“Roman, can we please just go home, I’m not feeling well” she explained. 

“Hmm okay Doc, if that’s what you want” he said with annoyance. 

They paid the waitress and started to walk towards the exit door. 

Suddenly Marlena felt something pull at her, some kind of mysterious force, making her turn her head. 

John felt it too, the scent, her scent, becoming stronger and stronger. 

Turning their heads at the same time, their eyes immediately met. Hazel met blue in a reunion full of astonishment, excitement and full of unanswered questions. 

Part 4

She stood naked in front of the mirror and studied her features. The wrinkles on her face told the story of a life filled with smiles but also worries and sadness. Her breasts were not as firm as they used to be and her skin not as tight. She never felt insecure in her body, the main reason for that being John. He used to cherish everything about her, from her freckles, her scars to the more intimate places. 

Seeing him last night made her suddenly feel a little insecure. A lot had happened since they saw each other last, she had aged. She had always been full of self confidence but now looking at herself, she only saw what she felt like inside, which was not something beautiful. 

She thought about the short glimpse she had of John. He looked as handsome as ever. His hair was now gray, but he still had the physique of a young man, at least from what she could see. 

She couldn’t help but wonder what he might think of her now…. “Oh my gosh, get yourself together, why are you thinking like an insecure teenage girl” she told herself as she got into the shower. 

Feeling the water running down her body, tickling her skin, stirred a feeling inside of her, one that she hadn’t felt in ages. Her cheeks started to flush, her nipples stiffened and a warmth started to spread through her body. 

She closed her eyes as she remembered how John used to come up from behind her in the shower. How his hands would tease her skin, move up her arms to her nipples and end up at her warm center. How he would wash her hair and body, and make sure he didn’t miss a spot. And how he would kneel down in front of her, bringing his mouth to her hot wet center, and bring her to heaven with just his mouth and tongue. 

“Doc, Doc, where are you?” Roman interrupted her just as her hand reached her sensitive knob. 

Opening her eyes, she let out the air she had been holding. 

“I’m in the shower!” 

“Can you hurry up, I need to shower as well before I go to the police station” he yelled. 

“But it’s Sunday Roman!” She stated matter of fact as she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. 

Bursting inside the bathroom, Roman didn’t notice her flustered state as he walked past her. She quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her naked body. 

“I know Doc, but they need me and it’s not like we have any plans for today” he said as he started to undress. 

Looking at her husband’s naked body she felt nothing. Not a single feeling of desire or want. 

And he probably felt the same. Again her thoughts drifted to when she was with John. He would never be able to see her naked and just walk past her, never. And neither would she. 

Getting dressed she tried to come up with something to do, to occupy her mind and not constantly think about John. She had so many questions. Why was he back in Salem? She hadn’t noticed who he was dining with… Where did he live now? Was he married? 

————

Insomnia had always been his companion, but last night it had been worse than it had in years. Seeing her for just that split second was all it took for him to sit up all night, looking out the window just as he had done for the first few years after he left Salem. 

She still looked so beautiful, so sexy…she hadn’t aged one bit in those 25 years. He had always been able to read her mood both through her body language but more so her eyes. And last night he saw sadness in those beautiful hazel eyes. That spark he remembered so well was not present. Was it because she was surprised to see him? Did something happen to her? He had so many questions. 

He assumed that she was still married to Roman. Did they still live in the same house? 

He had been contemplating all night about what to do now. One thing he knew for sure was that he had to see her before he left Salem. He needed closure of some sort, and she was the only one to provide that. 

“Honey, are you ready to leave?” His wife asked. 

They were going to meet Brady and his fiancé at  Sankt Luke’s and talk to the priest and help finish some last minute preparation before the wedding. 

He kind of felt bad, that all he wanted to do was go and find Marlena. He was sure that if he did that, he would be able to fully concentrate on his son’s big day. But that would have to wait..

“Yeah I’m ready,” he said. 

“You look tired, did you not sleep well?” She asked, concerned. 

“You know me, I’m never able to get a good night’s sleep when I’m not in my own bed” he smiled at her.  

Putting on their jackets they left the hotel and headed for the church. 

————

With the whole Sunday to herself, Marlena decided she might as well be productive, so she began the unmanageable task of sorting out her closet. It had been on her to-do list for ages, but today it was finally happening. 

After a couple of hours she had made two large piles of clothes, one for her to keep and the other for the homeless shelter. 

Making her way to the back of the closet, she stumbled upon a box. It had been years since she had opened it, but she remembered every single thing inside of it. 

Grabbing the box, she carried it to the bed and slowly opened it. 

Inside were hidden treasures from her past, more specific, from her precious time with John. Photos from their wedding, earrings he had given her, her wedding ring, dried flowers and the beautiful charm bracelet he gave her for Christmas, months before he left. 

She took the bracelet and held it against her heart as tears streamed down her cheeks. 

She wondered if he still had the watch she had given him. 

Sitting with all these memories around her and seeing him yesterday was all too much for her. 

Her crying intensified as she let out everything she had been holding up inside, bearing her soul in the privacy of her own company. And for the first time, she finally dared to admit that she never stopped loving John, she never stopped missing him and she could never forget him or the love they shared. 

Walking down to the kitchen, Marlena found a bottle of wine and a glass. She wasn’t much of a drinker but today she needed it, anything to take her mind off John and to numb her pain. She poured herself a large glass as she stood and looked out the window, not looking at anything in particular. She quickly finished off the first glass, pouring another one. A warmth started to spread through her body, obviously the alcohol was beginning to work. Pouring a third glass, she took her phone and pressed “call”. 

“Hey Laura, it’s Marlena” 

“Yeah I can see that on my phone. Are you okay? You sound strange” Laura asked concerned. 

“No I’m not…I’m drunk, alone and miserable.” Marlena said half laughing. The alcohol was really starting to kick in. 

Laura was immediately concerned, it was not like Marlena to day-drink and certainly not alone. 

“Marlena, tell me what happened” 

Taking a deep breath she prepared to tell her friend everything. “ I saw John last night, at Chez Vous. It was just for a split second but it was enough for me to……” she couldn’t finish the sentence. 

“What!!! John is in Salem? Jesus Marlena, I’m coming to see you now” 

“No no don’t, that’s not necessary.” Taking another deep breath she continued. “Laura, I still love him so much that it hurts. And now he is here…I need to see him right now, to talk to him, to tell him I’m sorry. I think that is the only way to set myself free and not have my heart hold on to him any longer”. 

Marlena was speaking so fast but Laura knew what she was talking about. But she also knew that with her drunken state, she wasn’t being rational. 

“Marlena, I know, but not today Sweetie. You listen to me..right now you need to go take a nap and then we will talk tomorrow and figure this all out. Can we make that deal?” Laura asked, hoping that there was some sense left in her. 

“Okay…your right” Marlena sighed deeply. 

“I will come by your office tomorrow, okay? 

Marlena nodded, forgetting that Laura couldn’t see her, hung up the phone and did as Laura told her. 

——————-

As John entered the church he remembered the day he married Marlena. He was so happy that day he thought his heart would burst out of his chest. When he stood at the altar, waiting for her he couldn’t believe his luck, that he was about to marry the most beautiful woman in the world, the most caring and loving woman he had ever met, and to believe that she loved him was hard for him to fathom. And when she appeared and started walking toward him, his heart stopped and his tears streamed down his face. 

Walking down the aisle now John took in the beautiful church. Even though it was difficult for him to be back here, in Salem and in this church, he was happy that Brady got to experience the beauty of this place. 

“What are you thinking about?” Jack said as he approached his father. 

“ Oh…just thinking about how beautiful this place is and that a lot of people must have had some really good and wonderful memories from here” John replied, still lost in the past. 

“Yeah…Dad are you okay.. you seem different somehow, ever since you came here. I know that Brady’s mom is from here, but have you been here before?” Jack said, looking at his father and trying to figure out what was going on. 

Taken by surprise by his son’s question and his ability to be aware of what he thought he had hidden so well, John smiled at Jack. He was a smart kid with an eye for detail and observation, he would make a great detective, just like he himself once was. 

Before John had the chance to answer the question, they were interrupted by the rest of the family and the priest. 

Saving John from telling yet another lie.  

Part 5

Rushing through traffic, Marlena had the worst morning. Waking up with her head pounding and her mouth dry as Sahara, she realized it was Monday and her first patient was in one hour. A quick cold shower banished some of her hangover, but if she thought she felt miserable before that bottle of wine, she felt even worse now. 

It wasn’t until now that she wondered where Roman was and why he hadn’t woken her up. 

She arrived at the hospital 14 minutes before her first appointment. 

“Good morning Kelly! When my patient arrives just send him in” she said as she rushed past her assistant.

She sat down in her chair and took some deep breaths while massaging her temples, to try and ease her headache. 

Her door opened and Jack walked in. 

“Good morning Jack, how was your weekend?” Marlena asked. 

“It was nice, thank you. It’s good having my parents here, although my dad seems distant somehow.” Jack said. 

“Does that concern you?” 

“Yes.. I have told you before that he has a tendency to become quiet and close down, especially when I have asked about his past. I get that same reaction and feeling from him now, even though he tries to hide it. Like the other night. We were all gathered at Chez Vous for dinner, and we were having a great time but he seemed distracted, lost in his thoughts. He wasn’t being present, he kept looking around the room almost as if he was looking for something.”

It took Marlena a second to finally put two and two together. John….John was Jack’s father. That’s why she immediately thought about John the first time she met Jack. He looked just like his dad. 

“Dr. Evans are you okay? You look a little pale” Jack asked worriedly as he saw Marlenas blood leave her face.

She needed time to process what she just learned…could she stay professional and still have Jack as her patient knowing what she now knew. Could she put her curiosity aside and resist the temptation to learn more about what John had been doing for the past 25 years. 

“I’m fine, I suddenly felt a little dizzy but it’s gone now. Please continue…” she said, trying to gather her thoughts and listen to the young man as he told her about his anxiety, about how he was worried about his father and how he was struggling to find his place in the world. 

Meanwhile John was standing outside her office. Her secretary was nowhere to be seen. He slowly ran his finger over her name on the door. 

Dr. Marlena Evans… The same scent from the other day hit him again, confirming that she was nearby. He felt sweat start to break on his forehead and his finger shaking slightly as it traced her name again. 

He had been up all night trying to figure out what to do. How to approach her, what he wanted to say to her, where to find her. 

“Sir, can I help you?” The voice of a young woman startled him. 

Turning around he saw who must be Doc’ secretary. 

“Yes, good morning, I was wondering if Dr. Evans is here today?” He said feeling nervous that he might be minutes away from seeing her again.

“She is with a patient right now, and let me see…..” Kelly looked at the computer “She is available after 1 o’clock today. Do you need to book an appointment?” 

John hesitated to answer her, what would be the right choice?. No matter what, he was sure she would be surprised to see him. 

“No..no just tell her that an old friend stopped by to say hello”. 

John started walking towards the elevator intent on coming back in a couple of hours. He didn’t hear Kelly yelling “Sir, you didn’t give me your name!!”

—————

Marlena walked her last patient of the day to the door. “ I will see you next week Mr Hansen” she said as she closed the door behind him. 

It had been an eventful morning between patients, she hadn’t had time to process the fact that Jack was John’s son. 

Sitting down behind her desk, she was just about to start filing her notes when her phone rang. 

“ Dr Evans” she introduced herself. 

“Hi, it’s Laura. So how are you feeling today?” She said laughing. 

“I feel horrible, remind me never to drink again especially the night before a work day” she sighed and placed her hand against her forehead. 

She wanted to tell Laura about Jack and John, but she couldn’t, due to patient confidentiality. She needed the support and guidance from her best friend right now but again she found herself alone to deal with her emotions. 

“Any news on John?” Laura asked. 

“No, I haven’t had the time to ask around, so….nothing to tell” 

“I will let you know if I hear anything. Anyway I don’t know if you remember, but last night I told you that I would stop by your office, but I have an emergency meeting so I just called to let you know that we will have to take a rain check” Laura said. 

Marlena was just about to say something when there was a knock on her door. 

Standing up with the phone in her hand, she walked towards the door “ Of course I remember”…. Grabbing the door handle she turned it, slowly opening the door while laughing “I wasn’t that drunk!!”” 

————

Neither of them said anything as they now stood face to face for the first time in 25 years. 

Even though John was expecting to see her behind the door, he was completely taken aback by her beauty. 

Marlena on the other hand was shocked. He was the last person she expected to be knocking on her door. 

Both their hearts were beating loud and fast while they stared into each other’s eyes. Trying to figure out if this was yet another dream or if this was finally happening. They were frozen in time, memories, fantasies, questions flooding their minds. 

Laura’s distant voice pulled Marlena back to reality as she lifted the phone to her ear. 

“Laura, I’m gonna have to call you back later” she said, her eyes never leaving John. 

“John..” Marlena whispered so quietly that he almost couldn’t hear it. 

She slowly backed away from the door, still transfixed on the man before her. 

John took it as an invitation to come inside her office, as he just as slowly stepped inside, closing the door behind him. 

Whatever plan he had before she opened the door and he laid eyes on her, vanished from his mind. She always had the ability to take his breath away, apparently some things never changed. She was even more breathtaking than that short glimpse he had of her yesterday. Now he had the chance to really see her and by God, she was still as gorgeous as ever. Maybe even more so now. Her body hadn’t changed much, her figure was still slender but with the same full breast and curvy hips. She still had the face of an angel and those delicious lips looked so soft and inviting. 

“My God Doc, you are so beautiful” left his lips, just loud enough for her to hear. He didn’t mean to say it, but he couldn’t seem to stop. It came so  naturally for him to compliment her. 

She was at a loss for words, swallowing the lump in her throat. What was she supposed to respond to his words of endearment? Her eyes dropped to the floor, to try and break free from the spell he already had over her. Fidgeting nervously with the bottom of her blazer, she tried to clear her head. The tension was so thick that you could cut it with a deaf knife which made her feel like she couldn’t breathe. 

John could see her becoming more and more uncomfortable, the small signs that she did unknowingly were still the same. Her biting her bottom lip, her small hands turning into small fists and her shifting her weight from one foot to the other. 

Stepping closer to her, he reached out his hand, gently touching her chin, tipping her head so he could look her in the eyes again. The moment their skin touched, electricity shot through both of their bodies, instantly reminding them of that special connection and effect they had on each other. 

“ I’m sorry for just showing up like this, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or upset. I just needed to see you. I was hoping you would want to see me too, after the other night” he spoke to her softly. 

Marlena took a deep breath “John…I…I have so much I want to say to you” she said almost stumbling over her words. 

She could feel tears start to form and her throat start to tighten. But she fought with everything she had not to break down in front of him. 

John noticed her struggle and chose to give her some space. Maybe showing up unannounced was a bad idea? 

“Me too Marlena..” He stated and continued “ But now is not the place or time, so I hope you will  accept my apology for just showing up like this with you completely unprepared.” He couldn’t help his thumb as it caressed her cheek. “Will you meet me tonight?” He asked. 

Without thinking and still not able to speak without starting to cry, Marlena nodded her head, still holding his stare. 

“Thank you Doc…what about the pier at 9 o’clock?” He asked, thinking that would be the perfect place. It was private, nobody would interrupt them and they wouldn’t be seen by the nosy people of Salem, or his family for that matter. 

Again Marlena nodded her head in agreement. 

“Great, I will see you tonight then” he said with a smile as he turned around and walked out the door. 

As soon as the door closed behind him, she exhaled letting out the air she had been holding. Sitting down, she noticed her tight fists, her trembling legs and then she finally let go of her tears. 

Part 6

John looked at his watch…9.15. He began to worry, thinking that she changed her mind about meeting him. 

He had spent the day with his family, but he kept looking at the time, counting down the hours until he would see her again. He had lied to his wife and told her he was meeting with a business associate for a late dinner and that he would probably be back late. 

He stood at the pier and took in his surroundings. The small fishing boats getting ready to sail out into the night, the full moon reflecting on the water and the smell of salt and fish. It all brought back so many memories. This pier had always been their special place, for many reasons. In the years after he left Salem, he would often try to find a similar place, a place where he could come to clear his mind, to find peace, to speak to her..

He looked at his watch again..9.30…

Marlena ran through the dark streets, the sound of her heels echoing through the alleyways. She was running late, very late. 

She had spent the whole evening trying to gather her thoughts, and trying to figure out what to wear. It wasn’t a conscious decision but she found herself in a very flattering outfit. She wanted to look her best, but also casual. It was not like she was going on a date or something, she told herself. But his opinion mattered. So she settled on a nice pair of fitted jeans, heels, a low cut t-shirt, and a leather jacket. 

Just minutes before she was planning to leave her house, Roman had informed her that he was going to the police station and taking the car. She almost argued that she needed the car, but then again, she didn’t want to explain where she was going and why she needed it. 

Looking at the time on her phone..9.40, she cursed out loud and prayed that he would still be there. 

John paced back and forth impatiently. The feeling of hope disappearing and fear of her not showing up reminded him of that night 25 years ago. That night he told the pilot to wait, hoping that she would come to him and tell him to stay. He had been looking out the window into the rainy night, praying to see her run to the plane and into his awaiting arms, telling him that she loved him and only him. But she didn’t, so he told the pilot to start the engines. 

He looked at the clock again, 9.50. He took off his watch and looked at the back. “To JB, for giving me time”. He treasured this watch, it being a present from Marlena. He inhaled deeply, placing his lips against the watch as he closed his eyes, almost willing her to come. He had given her time, then and now. Putting his watch back on, he looked around in the dark and listened, but there was not a single sign of her. 

Wiping a tear that had escaped his eye, he started walking towards the stairs. 

Finally Marlena reached the pier, their pier. She began to panic as she quickly scanned her surroundings, looking for him  But John was nowhere to be seen. Her pulse was fast and she was out of breath as she desperately called out his name into the dark. “John!!!! John!!!”  No one responded. 

With great sadness she realized she was too late, again. Just like 25 years ago, she didn’t make it in time. 

“John!!!” She called one last time, before she covered her mouth with her hand, trying to muffle her cries. 

Just as John opened the door to his rented Jeep, he thought he heard something. He stood still as he listened again…. And there it was, a distant sound of a woman’s voice, calling out his name. 

He quickly turned on his heels, running back to the pier. 

When he reached the stairs, he saw a small silhouette standing, looking out over the water. 

Hugging herself tightly, she tried to calm down her cries. So wrapped up in sorrow and sadness she didn’t feel the presence of the man who she longed for, even though he was now descending the stairs behind her. 

A small wind blew past her…her nose picked up a male musky scent of a cologne, she knew all too well. Her breathing stopped as she slowly turned around and there she saw him, slowly walking towards her with a big smile on his face. 

———

Without hesitation they both ran into each other’s arms. Marlena wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and pressed her cheek against his. 

John wrapped his arms around her waist, almost lifting her off the ground as he buried his nose in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent that hadn’t changed through the years. 

“I made it…I made it” Marlena cried and hugged him even tighter. 

“You came!” John whispered with relief in her ear. 

He didn’t want to let go of her, but he needed to look at her. Threading his hands into her hair, he gently pulled back a little, so he could see her beautiful face. 

Neither said anything, as they stood in the moonlight and studied each other’s eyes, their hands wandering, touching, caressing, feeling, getting reacquainted with one another again. 

Through her sobs Marlena said

“John…. I’m sorry I was late.. I ran the whole way. I have so much I need to tell you…” staring into his beautiful blue eyes. 

John moved his hands to her face, wiping away her tears as he admired her beauty. He felt his body respond to her closeness, his eyes falling upon her luscious lips, to her visible cleavage. Marlena noticed his wandering eyes and the tip of his tongue licking his lips. Her stomach fluttered as she waited for his next move. 

“I know…but first I have to do this” he said with passion and desperation. 

Slowly he pulled her face so close to his that their breaths mixed, them breathing the same air for the first time in 25 years. He gently brushed his lips against hers as he let out a sigh. Staying like that, he didn’t think of consequences or anything else, only she consumed his thoughts and actions in that moment. With their noses together and their lips barely touching they both held their breaths with anticipation. Both were afraid to speak or move as they fought against nature and not to act on pure instinct. 

John lost the battle when he looked deep into her eyes, into her soul, and saw her longing and desire. He moved his lips over hers, slowly and passionately. 

Marlena welcomed his mouth, her lips trembling with a mixture of excitement, desire and fear. 

She felt him holding back, maybe he was unsure if this was okay with her. 

Marlena opened her mouth and deepened the kiss, her tongue finding its way to his as they began swirling around each other, mating. It was like a dance never forgotten. 

They both felt their temperatures rising as the kiss grew more and more desperate and intense. It felt like home, safe and oh so right. 

After several minutes, the need for air became too strong, forcing their mouths apart. 

John noticed Marlenas shivering body. “Doc, are you okay?” He asked, concerned. 

“I’m fine…just a bit cold” she lied. 

John raised his eyebrow as he smiled at her 

“ Marlena.. you couldn’t lie to me when we were married and apparently you still can’t” he said with a grin. 

They both burst out laughing, feeling the tension slowly disappearing. 

“Do you want to get out of here?” He asked, still laughing. 

Marlena wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that. Did he want to leave already, they hadn’t even talked yet? John saw her confusion and started laughing even more. 

“Let me rephrase that. It’s getting late and it’s dark and cold out here. So I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?” He gave her a boyish smile. 

“I do!” She whispered, not even questioning where they would go. She still trusted him with her heart, body, mind and soul. 

Without saying another word, he took her hand, lacing their fingers together and guided her to his car. 

————-

They drove in silence on deserted streets, both lost in thought. Every now and then they would glance at each other and smile.  Both still overwhelmed by their unexpected reunion. 

Marlena didn’t notice where they were going until she felt the car stop. 

“John….Did you keep the loft” she asked with excitement as she looked at the building in front of them. 

“Yeah, I couldn’t get rid of it…too many memories!” He said as he got out of the car and went to her side to open the door for her. He held out his large hand for her to take. Placing her small hand in his, he pulled it to his mouth and kissed it. 

The same questions filled their minds. Was this a bad idea?  They were both married… would they be able to only talk and not give into the passion and desire that their kisses had ignited? 

Holding her hand John walked them to the front door and into the elevator. 

Part 7

Marlena looked around the loft, tracing her fingers over the kitchen table. Everything looked the same. 

She remembered the last time she was there. He had announced that he was leaving Salem with Brady.

With Roman standing beside her at the Pub, she wasn’t able to react. To tell him how she felt and tell him not to go. So she went to his loft later that day, to try and change his mind, to beg him to stay. At one point she thought that she had succeeded, when she reached out her hand, pleading with him to take it and not to go. But he didn’t take her hand, he stood firm, saying it was for the best if he left. Or else he would destroy her and her family. It broke her heart when she realized that she was never going to hear his voice again, never gonna have him to turn to when she needed him. She was losing her best friend, the other half of her heart, her one true soulmate. 

John came up behind her, running his hands up her arms, making her shiver inside. “ Let me take your jacket” he whispered in her ear, his breath hot in her ear. 

She swallowed the lump in her throat as she let him slide her jacket off her body. The sexual tension was already filling the room. 

Without turning around to face him, she said in a small voice “I came for you…the night you left…I drove to the airport, but I was too late!” 

John stopped, did he hear her right? After years of thinking that she had let him go, after thinking that he was the only one whose heart broke into a million pieces that day, could it really be that she came to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life? 

“Why did you go to the airport Marlena?” He asked with a serious voice, wanting her to explain. 

Turning around to face him, she took a deep breath. It was time for her to be honest, with him and herself. “ I came to try and stop you from leaving…” 

“But you already tried that night you came here to the loft.” He pointed out, stepping closer to her. “Why did you go to the airport Marlena?” He said again, wanting her to tell him the truth. 

“I…. I..was desperate!” She said as remembered what she felt that night. “I felt as if I was losing everything, losing my best friend, my confidant….my heart and soul..” she swallowed the lump in her throat and continued. “ I realized that night that what we had was too strong, too special and magical to be ignored. I was…I was ready to break my wedding vows to Roman, regardless of the consequences, if it meant that you would stay….no, I was ready to break them because I wanted to.. All I thought about was how much I loved you, how much I needed your love!”

Covering her mouth with her hand, she was shocked by her confession and the honesty behind it. 

She watched as John closed his eyes, preventing her from being able to see or feel what he was thinking. 

Her admissions came as a surprise. But not as a shock. He knew that she had loved him deeply. Before he left, they had been fighting their feelings for each other. Doing everything in their power not to act on them. Their history, their love and the natural pull they had towards each other, had led them dangerously close to ruining her life. She had told him that she loved Roman and that she would never betray him. That’s when he decided that the only way to not hurt her or the children was for him to leave. 

So to hear her now say that she had wanted him, that she had been willing to jeopardize everything just for him.. that was a surprise. 

When he opened his eyes he saw her standing in front of him, one hand covering her mouth, the other wrapped around her stomach, if she was protecting herself. Shielding herself from whatever he was about to say. 

“You have no idea how much I wanted you to tell me that 25 years ago…” he said, sadness coating his voice. “Ever since I left, I have laid awake every night, wondering if it was easy for you to see me just pack up and leave. Thinking that you didn’t love me as much as I loved you. 

I know you tried to stop me, but my God I kept praying that you would try again as I sat on the plane and waited for you to come. I thought that your love for Roman really was greater than your love for me”.

It was the first time John had expressed to anyone what he had been going through. She was the only person who would understand. 

Even though it was so many years ago, the pain in his eyes was still so evident, that it made her heart break all over again. 

“John..I’m so sorry. You have no idea how many times I prayed that I could turn back time. That I had the courage to admit how I really felt, to you but more so to myself.” Marlena said as she stepped even closer to him and reached for his face. She needed him to understand how sorry she was for making him believe that he was not worth fighting for, and for not being able to realize that the feelings they shared would and could not be denied. 

With her small hands on each cheek, she forced him to really look her in the eyes, hoping he would see the truth and the depth of her feelings for him.  

“John, I loved you so so much, but I was scared. I didn’t choose Roman, I chose you John, but I was too late, and then you were gone. Not a day has gone by where I haven’t thought of you…..I…I never stopped loving you!” There it was, out in the open. Marlena felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She hoped that telling him what happened that night and the truth about her feelings for him, was what she needed to be able to move on with her life. She didn’t consider what the consequences of tonight’s confessions would lead to, in regards to possible guilt and future heartache. 

John placed his hands over hers and turned his head, kissing her palm. His lips continued a path down to her wrist, to her elbow as he inched closer and closer to her body. 

Goosebumps appeared on her arms. God she had missed his mouth. 

He suddenly stopped only to gently bite the soft skin on her arm. Marlena gasped, feeling her desire start to make its presence known between her thighs. 

With their bodies flush against each other, he wrapped his arms around her waist and looked down at her. “ You chose me!” It wasn’t a question, it was a fact. 

Marlena felt the bulge in his pants. This, what was happening between right now, was the reason why he left. They had always had this unexplainable insane chemistry and connection. Not only was it sexual, full of desire and passion but it was also spiritual. They were always drawn to each other, even from the first day they met. Nothing and nobody could come between them, or so they thought. That special bond had seemingly never been broken. 

Just as their mouths began to slowly near each other, their spell was broken by the ringing of John’s phone. 

Sighing, John pulled away from her and turned around as he pulled the phone from his pants. He hesitated for a second before hitting the ignore button. 

Marlena knew who that caller was. Even with his back to her she could see it in his body language, she could see him thinking, the reality of the situation hitting him like a cold bucket of water, him…her..together at his loft, both of them being married.

“What’s her name?” Marlena whispered, her voice shaking. 

Until this point none of them hadn’t even thought about their spouses. Completely wrapped up in each other, the past and the present, the world around them disappeared. Leaving no place for thoughts of others. 

John ran his hand over his face in an attempt to clear his mind. He had almost forgotten the effect Marlena had on him. When he was in the same room as her, nothing else in this world mattered. She drew him in with just her mere presence, his body would alway gravitate toward her….always. 

Clearing his throat he turned around. 

“Her name is Rebecca” he said, looking down at the floor. 

“Are you happy together?” She blurted out, although she really didn’t want to know. 

He didn’t know how to answer that question, it was complicated but he wanted to be honest with her. 

“Most of the time… We have a son together, she has been a good mother to Brady” He answered as he went to the kitchen and started opening some cabinets. Finding what he was looking for, he grabbed the bottle of wine and two glasses. 

“I’m happy for you” Marlena said as the lump in her throat grew bigger. She was happy for him but at the same time she felt jealous. Self pity was sneaking in on her. She had spent the last 25 years in a loveless and unhappy marriage, just longing for John and apparently he had been happily married. If he was to ask her that same question, her answer would be, “no…I haven’t felt happiness in 25 years”. 

A tear left her eye, but she quickly wiped it away before John noticed. 

Walking past her with the wine and glasses, John headed for the sofa. Placing the items down on the table, he looked over his shoulder toward her, inviting her to join him. He could tell she was upset. 

“Come here!” He commanded and held out his hand. He hated seeing her upset. The sadness he saw in her eyes the other night at Chez Vous was back. His instinct was to comfort her and tell her that everything was going to be okay, but that was a promise he couldn’t make. 

Sitting together on the sofa with a safe distance between them, John poured the wine and handed her a glass.  

“Marlena…I..I want you to know that I have never been able to give my heart to anyone other than you, not even Rebecca. So when you ask if we are happy…as a family, I would say yes, most of the time. But as for me….no, I haven’t been happy since the day you came back and appeared before me on the pier.” It was the truth. Everything after that magical night was pure hell for him. His wife coming back from the dead while he was engaged to another woman, him struggling to find a way to make sense of it all which led them to finding the real Roman and ultimately putting an end to the life he used to call his. And then trying to move on and make a new life for himself while he watched Marlena and Roman live the life he longed for. 

He leaned forward and took her hand, gliding his thumb over her wedding ring. 

“Are you and Roman happy?” He asked with sadness. 

“No..” she said without hesitation. “ I’m….I… oh God, I feel so lonely.. so empty.” She couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. She covered her eyes with her free hand, feeling quite embarrassed by her vulnerability. He always had that effect on her. Only in his arms, was she able to let down her guard, break down and stop pretending to be strong, because she knew that he would always be there to catch her. 

She felt him move closer to her, the heat of his body radiating to her and then the warmth and safety of his strong arms as he wrapped them around her. She felt his lips on her forehead, him removing her hand from her eyes as his mouth started kissing away her tears. 

Between sobs she was able to ask him the question that had yet to be answered. 

“John… What are we doing?” 

“What we have been wanting to do for the last 25 years” he said, as he began kissing his way down her neck. 

Part 8 

Her skin felt like it was on fire, she felt her blood run through her veins, causing her body to burn …she felt alive again. 

Their kisses were desperate, filled with passion, lust and hunger. 

John couldn’t get enough, he needed more, he needed her like he needed air. Pulling back from her now swollen red lips, he sneaked his hand under her t-shirt. They both gasped the second their skin touched. Running his hand up her bare back, he groaned at the feel of her soft and warm skin. 

Resting their forehead together, both of them took a moment to let it all sink. The two of them reunited so unexpectedly after so many years apart. So many years of wondering what the other was doing, years of longing, years where  the memories of the two of them was what filled their dreams. 

Marlena traced his lips with her finger. Oh those lips..they hadn’t changed. They were still soft and 

demanding at the same time. Nobody had ever kissed her the way John did…Nobody. His kisses were what dreams were made of. They were sensual even when they were meant to be innocent. 

Still sitting on the sofa, John moved his other hand to her hip and down her thigh. He could feel her warmth through the denim fabric of her jeans, making the bulge in his pants grow. Leaning forward he traced his lips along her neck to the spot behind her ear. If he remembered right, that spot used to drive her wild. 

“Oh I love it when you do that” she gasped with desire. 

Running her hands slowly up and down his chest, she could feel that he still took very good care of his body. His muscles twisted beneath her hands as her thumbs brushed over his nipples. 

“Give me your mouth” she demanded with a hoarse voice. 

John could only obey. He wanted to do whatever she wanted…needed. He wanted to make her happy and to put that spark back in her eyes that was missing. And he knew just how to do that. 

Swallowing her lips, he made love to her mouth. His tongue swirling softly around hers, his lips sucking her bottom lip.  

But he needed more. He needed to feel that special connection and that pure sexual satisfaction that only she was able to bring him. 

Breaking the kiss, he stood up and looked down into her eyes. Her pupils were dilated and glazed with lust, which confirmed that she wanted this too. But he needed to be sure. He reached for her hand and helped her to her feet. Her legs were shaking from desire. 

“Doc, are you sure about this?” He needed her to verbally tell him. 

“I’m sure…I’m sure” she panted as she slowly moved backwards towards the stairs with his hand in hers. 

————-

They stood in the bedroom in silence, eyeing each other with anticipation. His stare was almost too intense. 

Feeling nervous, Marlena wrapped her arms around herself. Would he still like her body? The insecurities she felt the other day suddenly came back, making her feel shy. Actually this reminded her of the first time they made love. She felt so nervous, that it almost paralyzed her. But when John had touched her and looked into her eyes, it all disappeared and she felt completely safe. She knew that he used to worship her body, but that was so long ago. 

“God, you’re so beautiful” he said as he moved closer to her. He felt her doubts, just like he did that first time. “Don’t you dare doubt that!” 

His words reassured her. She released her arms from her body and placed her hands on his chest. She could feel his heart beating as fast as hers. 

Slowly she started unbuttoning his shirt with shaky hands. 

John couldn’t help but notice. He smiled at her remembering how cute she was when she was nervous. Placing his hands over hers he guided her until his shirt opened, revealing his still muscled chest and abs. Marlena ran her hands over his heated flesh, feeling his chest hairs rough against her palm. 

“You don’t look too bad yourself Sailor” she moaned while licking her lips and giving him a naughty grin. 

Her hands moved to his belt. Removing it from his pants, John stood still and watched her with hooded eyes, enjoying how her hands moved across his naked flesh and watching how she was becoming more and more confident. Slowly the Marlena he knew was starting to come out of her shell. 

Leaving him standing in his black boxer briefs she completed the task of undressing him. She stepped back and admired the vision before her. She used to know every inch of his body. She noticed new scars and gray chest hair, but other than that, he was still the most beautiful man she had ever seen. 

Now it was his turn. He slowly pulled her t-shirt over her head, revealing a black bra with a tiny bow. He traced his fingers over her collarbone to the straps and then down to her breasts, leaving a trail of goosebumps on her skin. He couldn’t wait to rip the undergarment off her body but that would have to wait. 

He unbuttoned her jeans and started to slowly push them down her long legs. He dropped to his knees in front of her and helped her step out of them. When he looked up at her, he saw what he had been dreaming of for so long. Her standing there, in her sexy underwear with those eyes so full of lust and desire, made his cock so hard that it almost burst the seams of his boxers. 

He could smell her arousal. Still kneeling in front of her, he ran his hands up the back of her thighs. He grabbed her ass and squeezed, bringing her hot wet center closer to his mouth. 

Marlena placed her hands on the back of his head and anticipated what was to come. John groaned before he leaned in and kissed her through her panties. Marlenas head dropped back and she couldn’t control the sound that escaped her mouth. 

“Hmmmm oh God…” she panted, as she almost orgasmed from his small kiss. 

Standing to his feet, John reached behind her and unfastened her bra. He held his breath as the straps slowly glided down her arms. 

The nervousness and insecurity she felt before was completely gone the second she saw John admiring her naked breasts. The way his eyes drank in her body and the way he touched her, made her truly believe that he meant it when he said she was beautiful. 

He couldn’t resist her any longer. He wanted to ravage her like never before. How was it possible that this woman was even more beautiful, sexy and desirable than she was 25 years ago. 

His eyes drank in the sight of her bosom and his hands followed. He grabbed her full breasts in his hands and squeezed gently, making her gasp. His thumbs ran over her nibbles, teasing them until they became hard and pointy. 

John swallowed loudly before he bent his head and took one breast in his mouth, sucking until his cheeks hurt. Releasing it with a pop, he gave the same attention to her other breast. 

Marlena was lost in euphoria, nothing but this moment existed..nothing. It was just him and her, doing what they did best. Their bodies communicating in their own language and their minds connecting on a higher level. 

When John felt her nails scrape his back he almost came. He needed her right now. Standing up, he swept her off her feet and into his strong arms and carried her to bed. 

A small scream escaped her followed by a quiet giggle. 

John gently laid her down on the bed, as if she was made of the finest porcelain. 

He crawled to her, and hovered over her, completely lost in her now darkened eyes. 

Leaning down he pecked her lips, then moved to her neck, down her chest and stomach until he reached her aching center. Hooking his fingers inside her panties he slid them down her long sexy legs, aganicing slowly. 

He needed to taste her…Marlena arched her back the second she felt John’s mouth on her. His tongue teasing her throbbing knob, his mouth sucking on her lips. 

John moaned deep in his throat as he devoured her most private parts like a starving man. She tasted just like he remembered, sweet and salty. 

Marlena moaned and panted as she tried to gain control of herself. She was on the verge of exploding in his mouth. 

“John…Oh God…” She gasped. 

John felt her body tense, and knew that she was seconds away from falling into the dark abyss. Tearing his mouth away from her, he looked her in the eyes and said “ It’s ok…come for me Baby”. Again he buried his face in her wet hot folds as he spread her legs wider. One hand grabbed her breast and pinched her nipple, the other squeezed her ass. 

Marlena felt the burning, tingling sensation starting at her toes, then spreading through her body….And then she exploded in pure ecstasy. The feeling was so intense that she had to close her eyes, everything went black and all sound disappeared. Years of pent up sexual frustration left her body, only to leave her wanting more. 

Her orgasm continued to roll over her, making her body shake. Not giving her a chance to calm down, John started kissing his way up her body….this was just the beginning of a night full of pleasure. 

“Baby, are you okay?” he asked. 

Marlena opened her eyes to his intense eyes above her. He called her Baby..!

“Yeah..yes..yes..I’m more than okay..God you are amazing” she whispered as she pulled his face to hers, attacking his mouth with hungry kisses. She could taste herself, which only aroused her even more. 

“Take off your boxers” she demanded, “ I need to feel all of you!”. 

She watched as John left her warm naked body. Standing beside the bed, he slowly slipped out of his underwear, freeing his throbbing hard cock, which bounded against his abs. 

Marlena couldn’t help herself as she licked her lips and reached for his manhood. Wrapping her hand around his hard tool, they both gasped out loud at the sensational feeling. She could see pre cum oozing from his tip. Sitting on her knees in the bed, in front of him, she sneaked out her tongue and traced it up his length to the head, tasting his salty juices. 

John entangled his hands in her hair. He needed to stop her now or else this night would be over, and he was far from finished. He gently pulled at her hair resulting in her warm mouth leaving his cock. She looked up at him with innocent eyes and that was almost his undoing. 

Marlena leaned back on the bed and John followed, placing himself between her thighs. 

Laying flush against her body, he leaned on his elbows and framed her face with his hands, tucking some loose tendrils behind her ears while their eyes locked. For the first time in three decades they felt what real love, passion and happiness would be like. They saw the other half of their hearts and they finally felt complete. 

Staying in the close intimate position, John started to slowly grind against her, his cock sliding between her wet folds, lubricating him. Marlena couldn’t take it anymore, she needed to feel him deep inside of her. Reaching down between them she guided his hard muscle into her tight canal. 

“God, doc.. you are so beautiful” he told her again as he tried to gain access. He could tell that it had been a long time since she was last intimate with Roman. Her pussy was rejecting his intrusion. It had always been a tight fit but once he got her to relax and accept him, it was the best feeling in the world. 

With the tip of his cock inside her cave, he started to rub her clit with his thumb as his mouth swallowed her breast. He needed her to relax and this would do the trick. 

Marlena widened her legs and wrapped them around his waist. With her feet, she pushed him slowly deeper inside. Rotating his hips, John could feel her starting to relax around him. 

Before he made the final push, he needed to make sure that she was okay. 

“Are you ready Baby?” He panted, the feeling of being inside of her was too much for him to handle. 

Looking into his eyes she prepared for the pain it would momentarily cause her, but she knew that it would quickly be replaced with sexual ecstasy. 

“Hmmm.. yes, yes I’m ready” she whispered as she exhaled. 

Keeping their eyes locked on each other, John pushed through her tight canal. Her pussy was clenching around his cock, trying to reject the intrusion. It took every ounce of strength not to cum at that moment. 

When he was all the way inside, buried so deep within her, he stopped and took a deep breath. 

“Oh God, you feel so good” he groaned, sealing his statement with a slow and passionate kiss. 

He felt her start to relax around him, her body telling him that she was ready. He started moving his hips at a slow pace, all the way to the tip of his cock and then all the way to the hilt. 

Marlena met his thrusts as they slammed their lower part together. 

“Oh..oh.. John, I….. I’m close” she panted as her nails dug into his back. 

John felt his own climax approaching faster than he would have liked. He wanted this to last all night, but that seemed impossible at this point. 

His movement became faster, pounding into her core with such a force it left them both breathless. 

He buried his face in her neck and wrapped his arms around her upper body, trying to bring her as close as possible. Marlena clung to his neck while biting down on his shoulder. She was afraid that if she let go of him or even blink, this moment would turn out to be yet another dream. 

The room was filled with sounds of flesh slamming together, high pitched screams and deep moans but no more words were spoken. 

One final thrust sent them both over the edge together. Marlena’s pussy clenched and squeezed, trapping John’s cock, making it impossible for him to move an inch as he exploded inside of her. Spasms continued to ripple through their bodies. The sensation was so intense that she felt like she might faint. 

John lay paralyzed on top of her as he tried to catch his breath. How could it be, that when he made love to her, he experienced such strong emotions. It wasn’t just the physical act itself, it was more than that. Nobody could ever compare to what it felt like to be buried deep inside of her. It was like their bodies were made for each other, their souls not able to exist without the other. 

Afraid that his weight was too much for her, he raised himself by the elbows and glanced down at her. She was indeed the most beautiful, most sexy woman on earth. 

Marlena had almost forgotten what it felt like to be loved like this. The dreams and memories that she had didn’t come close to the real thing. Staring up into his passionate eyes, she wanted to stay like this forever. She was willing to leave everything behind just for him, and this time she wouldn’t hesitate one second. 

Part 9 

John woke up, immediately missing the warmth of her body which was draped over his only hours before. 

Reaching for her, he found the bed empty and cold. For just a second he thought that it had all been a dream, but when he inhaled, her scent was all around him. On his body, in the room and on the sheets. 

Looking around he called out for her, but there was no answer. 

“Marlena..” he called out again, as he got out of bed…he was starting to get worried. He didn’t notice the note left on the bed, written by the woman who held his heart. 

————-

Marlena quietly slipped inside her front door. It was 5 in the morning. 

She had woken up 1 hour ago with John’s arms wrapped around her naked body. They had made love two times and John had fallen into a peaceful slumber afterwards. But she couldn’t sleep. Although her body was completely satisfied and exhausted in the best possible way, her mind was running on pure adrenaline. She had watched him sleep for a while, watching how his chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm. How his lips would curl up in a small smile, when she caressed his face with her fingers. 

She didn’t want to leave his warm body, but she had to go to work in a few hours and needed to change her clothes. He was sleeping so peacefully that she didn’t want to wake him, and if she did, she was sure they would end up making love again, making her late for work. 

She had left him a note saying she had to go home, but she hoped to see him later, and her phone number. 

Now as she was walking up the stairs to her bedroom she could feel her sore muscles, the evidence of what John had done to her body. She felt her cheeks blush as her mind went back to only a few hours before. 

Entering her bedroom, she saw Roman stirring in their bed. She held her breath hoping he wouldn’t wake up and start questioning her about where she had been. On feather light feet she glided over the floor to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. 

She had to shower, not that she wanted to. She wanted his scent and the smell of their lovemaking to fill her nostrils all day. If this was the only time she would experience that kind of passion with John, she couldn’t bear to wash it away. She undressed and looked at herself in the mirror. Bite marks, red marks from his aggressive mouth and prints of his rough hands covered her body. She remembered how he planted each and every one of those marks and it made her want him again. 

Lost in the images of their sweaty bodies gliding along each other, the sounds they made and the feeling of his cock filling her and hitting her hidden spot deep inside her core, Marlena was startled when Roman bursted through the door. 

“Doc!! Where have you been? Did you just come home?” Roman yelled as he scanned her naked form. 

Marlena quickly grabbed a towel and tried to cover the very visible marks on her body. 

“I.. ehh.. I…Laura needed my advice on something and we lost track of time” she lied as she fumbled with the towel. She was surprised at how easy it was to lie to her husband, directly to his face. 

“What happened to your arm?” He asked as he came closer to inspect what looked like a handprint. 

Marlena placed her hand over the red mark, trying to hide it. “ I don’t know…I must have bumped into something.”

Roman looked at her with suspicious eyes. 

“That’s strange…It looks like it must have hurt for it to leave a mark like that!” 

“Yeah…it’s strange indeed!…. I need a shower, if you would excuse me” she told him. She could see his mind working, trying to figure out why she was acting so strange. 

Eying her once more, Roman turned around and left. 

————

John sat on the unmade bed, trying to comprehend what had happened tonight. He had looked in every room of his loft, but she was gone. 

Just hours before he was sure that this was what she wanted, in fact she told him. How could she just leave without saying anything after the hours they just shared. His heart told him that she must have had a good reason, that it didn’t mean that she regretted making love to him. But his mind was screaming louder than his heart…she chose Roman again. She doesn’t want you, she just wanted a night of passion, nothing more. 

The lump in his throat grew bigger, the louder his mind was screaming. He gave up trying to hold back his tears and began to cry, the pain of losing her again was unbearable. 

After sitting for a little while, John stood up and got dressed. He had to get back to his real life, his wife and kids. He didn’t make the bed. He couldn’t bring himself to erase the memory of tonight, he didn’t want to wash the sheets which would make the scent of her disappear. He wanted the option of coming back here, lying down in the bed and being surrounded by her. 

———-

It had been a long day at work, especially when she hadn’t slept all night. She looked at her phone again, 4pm and still no word from John. 

Roman was coming by to pick her up in 1 hour so they could drive together to the park where they were invited to Allie and Johnny’s birthday party. 

Turning her attention back to her computer, she tried to concentrate on getting finished with work. 

The loud ringing of her phone made her heart beat faster as she hoped that it would be John calling. 

Quickly grabbing her phone she looked at the caller name and let out a sigh of disappointment. 

“Hello” Marlena answered quietly. 

“Hi stranger, you never called me back!” Laura said laughing. 

“I know, I’m sorry. Something came up”. Marlena was conflicted. She wanted to tell Laura about what had happened between her and John but on the other hand she wasn’t sure if bringing Laura into this was a good idea. She had been unfaithful, and it wasn’t fair that Laura should be keeping that secret for her. But then again, she did use Laura as an excuse to Roman and if he were to ask her friend if she was with her last night, it wouldn’t be fair to put Laura in that kind of awkward position, not knowing the truth behind Marlenas lies to her husband. 

“Are you okay? Did you hear anything about John?” Laura asked as she could almost hear Marlena thinking through the phone. 

Marlena made her decision. She wanted Laura to know, she needed her to know as she was sure she was going to need her advice. 

“Laura… I’m going to tell you something and I need you to just listen and please, don’t judge” she said before taking a deep breath, preparing to tell her friend everything. 

“John came to my office yesterday, actually he knocked on the door when we were speaking, that’s was I hung up on you. I was completely taken by surprise…God Laura, he looked so good!!” Marlena said as she sighed, letting the air leave her lungs. 

“Did you talk?” Laura asked, trying not to be too nosy. 

“Yes..no, not really. I was so shocked that I couldn’t even speak…He asked me to meet him later in the evening…which I did” 

“Oh..okay…and how did that go?” Laura asked. She had a feeling that what Marlena was about to tell her wouldn’t come as a surprise, at least not to her. She had seen what happened when John and Marlena were in the same room. She had witnessed how they would always gravitate towards each other, how they always needed to touch each other, how the sexual tension radiated from their bodies, filling the space around them. She knew that those two were not capable of keeping their hands off each other, not then and probably not now. Regardless of their marital status. 

“We talked…and…hmmmm… We made love. Before you say anything, just let me tell you that I’m not telling you this because of guilt or anything. I don’t regret what happened last night. Oh God, I have been dreaming of this day for so many years.” Marlena started speaking faster. 

“So why are you telling me Marlena?” Laura asked as a smile appeared on her face. She would never judge her best friend especially when it came to her complicated relationship and past with John. Laura knew that John was the love of Marlenas life and it had saddened her to see her friend walking around year after year and not be truly happy. Being a shadow of the woman she used to be, when she used to call John her husband. 

“I guess I just need my best friend to be there for me, to support me if this blows up in my face. Are you surprised by my reckless behavior?” Marlena asked. 

“No, not at all! I was prepared for this to happen 25 years ago” Laura laughed. “Marlena, what happened between you and John last night …it’s..it’s inevitable.” Laura had always known that if John had stayed in Salem, this affair, or whatever it turned out to be, would have taken place many many years ago. 

“So what happens now? Are you going to see him again?” 

“I don’t know. I left while he was asleep and left a note with my number, but I haven’t heard from him and I don’t have his number” Marlena said, feeling the knot in her stomach getting bigger. 

“But I want to see him…Laura, I’m willing to sacrifice everything if he asks me to…Am I crazy?” She really wanted to know. 

“Before I answer that I need to know one thing,” Laura laughed. “How was it?” 

Marlena closed her eyes with a satisfied smile on her face. “ Oh.. it was so much better than I ever dreamed of. It was absolutely beautiful and amazing. He is like a drug..now that I have had a taste, I want more”. 

“Good for you sweetie, you deserve some good old lovemaking to put some life into that old body of yours” Laura blurted out as she continued to laugh. 

“Oh trust me my friend, there was nothing old about what we did last night, and twice I might add. Although today, my body feels like it was hit by a train” Marlena laughed hard.  

Before the two friends said goodbye, Marlena promised Laura that she would keep her updated and call if she needed anything. 

———-

The park was crowded with people enjoying the warm evening. 

Marlena spotted Sami and the kids who were running around playing soccer.

Roman had picked her up 10 minutes ago and she could tell he was in a bad mood as he didn’t muster a word to her in the car. She was actually thankful for the silence, it gave her time to process last night and the fact that she still hadn’t heard a word from John. 

“Grandma!!!” Allie and Johnny came running into her arms as soon as they saw her. 

“My sweet sweet babies…Happy birthday” she said lovingly as she kissed and hugged them tight. 

The rest of the family greeted them, Sami, Lucas, Eric, Will, Carrie, Austin and all of their kids. 

Looking at her family gathered like this made her proud. They were all happy and healthy, despite the turbulent first few years of their lives. Her and Roman couldn’t take all the credit for how great they all had turned out. No, John was the biggest factor. He had given them love and stability when both herself and Roman weren’t around. 

———

John and his wife were strolling around the park looking for their sons. Brady had suggested that they should have a dinner picnic with the weather being so nice. 

“You seem lost in thought today Honey” Rebecca said. He had been acting strangely withdrawn and quiet all day. And the fact that he came home early in the morning made her somewhat suspicious and worried. 

It took John a minute to register what she said. “I’m sorry…I just have a lot on my mind”. It wasn’t a lie. Marlena had been consuming his every thought. His mind kept going back to last night. Her scent still lingered in his nostrils, the pain from the scratch marks on his back kept reminding him of how she had clung to him as he was buried deep inside her core. 

“Did your business meeting last night not go as planned?” She asked, thinking that must be the reason for his distracted behavior. 

John hesitated before answering. “ It went perfectly in the beginning but now I’m not really sure. It didn’t end the way I hoped for”. A small sense of guilt crept up on him as he looked at his wife. The double meaning of what he just said, his wife totally oblivious to the fact that he was speaking and thinking of another woman. 

“Mom, Dad over here!!” Brady yelled and waved. 

———-

“Grandma you have to play..please” Johnny begged. 

“Alright, Alright as long as I can be the goalkeeper” Marlena said laughing as she stood up from the picnic blanket. 

Dividing the family members into two teams, they were all ready for a fun game of soccer. 

Marlena stood in the self made goal, intent on guarding it the best she could. 

Everybody gave it their all, running, dribbling and shooting the ball around which would occasionally hit people sitting in the nearby area. 

Eric came dribbling towards Marlena and kicked the ball as hard as he could in the hopes of scoring a goal. Marlena ducked, making the ball fly over her head and landing in the middle of a small group of people who were sitting on a blanket and eating. Plates, food and drinks flew into the air, making a woman scream when champagne from her now empty glass covered her face. 

Marlena and Eric debated who should go and apologize. 

“Please mom, you are such a people person. If anyone can apologize and make them like you after what just happened, it’s you!” Eric said, knowing exactly how to wrap his mother around his little finger. After all, he was the child of a psychiatrist. 

“Eric, I know what you are doing, don’t think you can trick me by flattering me” she said with a smile. “But lucky for you, I agree with you. I’m way more likable than you” she laughed out loud. 

Marlena approached the people on the blanket and plastered on her most beautiful and apologetic smile. She saw the faces of two women and a young man, two other men had their backs to her. 

“Oh God, I’m so so sorry” she said when she reached the small group. 

The two men quickly turned their heads the second they heard the very familiar voice of the woman they both knew. 

“Marlena!!” John said without thinking as he stared up into her beautiful face. 

“Dr. Evans!!!” Jack said at the same time. He looked at John in shock…apparently his dad knew Dr. Evans very well, if he called her by her first name. 

Meanwhile Rebecca, Brady and his fiancée sat in silence and observed the strange interactions between them, wondering what was going on. 

Part 10 

There was an awkward silence as everybody looked at each other. 

Marlena’s eyes darted nervously back and forth between John, his wife, Jack and Brady, who she hadn’t seen since he was a baby. 

Jack was the first to break the uncomfortable silence. 

“Dr. Evans! Waow, you really know how to kick a ball” he said laughing as he rose to his feet. 

“Oh well actually it was my son, but I’m flattered that you think that I would possess such a talent” she laughed quietly while eyeing John. 

“Do you two know each other?” Rebecca suddenly interrupted curiously as she pointed at John and Marlena, referring to the fact that her husband apparently knew the name of this pretty Doctor.  

Marlena looked at John nervously. He seemed nervous too, as he looked around at his family who was staring at him, waiting for an answer. 

How could he explain how he knew Marlena without going into detail. It was the first time that his family had met somebody from his past, a past they knew nothing about. And she wasn’t just someone insignificant. This was Marlena!!

Just as John was about to come up with an answer, a small wind blew and caught Marlenas hair, exposing a red mark behind her ear, left by his hungry mouth. The knot in his stomach clenched, as flashes of him biting her soft flesh, flashed before him. 

“John!!” Rebecca said in a certain tone which left no doubt that she required an answer now. 

Shaking his head to clear the images from his mind, he looked back at his wife. 

“Ahm.. yes.. we knew each other a long time ago” again it wasn’t a direct lie. 

John looked back at Marlena, hoping that she wouldn’t say anything more about that. 

Marlena saw his pleading eyes and that was when she figured it all out. His family knew nothing about her, about the life he used to live here in Salem and about the family he used to have here. Apparently he never told them anything. 

The psychiatrist in her knew why he may have wanted to start over when he left Salem and erase all memories of his life here. It was a normal coping mechanism for people who had experienced a great amount of trauma, pain and loss. But as a woman, as his former wife and lover, she couldn’t help but feel sad and disappointed. 

Rebecca saw the silent conversation taking place between her husband and this beautiful woman. She had a feeling that there was more to the story. She had never seen John nervous or affected by the presence of a person. Something was going on..

John selfishly needed to get the attention away from himself, so he turned to Jack. 

“How do you know Dr. Evans?” John asked. 

This wasn’t exactly how he wanted to tell his parents that he was seeing a psychiatrist but there was no way out now. 

Jack looked at his parents “I have actually been seeing Dr. Evans for the last couple of months. I haven’t told you because I didn’t want to worry you. Nothing is wrong or anything, but I just have some things that I need to talk about with someone outside of the family”. He hoped they would understand and not question him any further, not right now anyway, with Dr. Evans standing right there. 

John looked at Jack with pride and love as he put a hand on his shoulder. “Good for you son. I know for a fact that you have found the best doctor in the world.” He said and winked at his son before turning to look at Marlena. 

Marlena stood frozen. So much was happening all at once, it was too much for her to comprehend. All eyes were on her, staring at her with a mix of emotions. Nervousness, appreciation, mistrust and questioning. 

She needed to remove herself from this situation. 

She looked at Jack and said “ Well, I need to get back to my family. Again, I am so sorry for this mess” gesturing at the blanket covered in spilled food and drinks. 

“Jack it was nice seeing you and your lovely family” Marlena said as she smiled to the faces staring at her. She quickly glanced at John and nodded before she turned around and walked away. 

“She forgot the ball” Brady said, pointing at the ball as he kept staring at the woman walking away. He got a sense of something familiar when he briefly looked into her eyes. And her voice, it was so soothing, it somehow made him feel safe. Did he also know her somehow? 

John quickly grabbed the opportunity. He needed to talk to her without prying eyes and ears. “Here let me” he said as he grabbed the ball and ran after her retreating from.

 “Doc…Marlena.. wait” he yelled. 

Marlena stopped in her tracks and took a second to get her emotions in check and put on a smile before she turned around.

Before she even turned to face him, he could see that she was upset. Her body posture was so tense. And when he saw her hazel eyes filled with tears, all he wanted was to kiss every single one away. The anger and pain he felt towards her earlier fainted away in that instant. 

“You forgot the ball” John said with a small smile. 

“Oh..thank you” Marlena said, afraid to meet his eyes. 

Marlena reached for the ball. Their fingers touched and instantly electricity shot through their bodies, forcing Marlena to look at him. 

Neither of them moved. With their hands still touching on the ball, John leaned in and whispered, “ I wasn’t expecting to see you again”. 

Marlena looked at him, puzzled… What did he mean by that? He hadn’t tried to contact her all day, making her think that he had no interest in seeing her again. 

Her eyes suddenly changed from sad to fire. He remembered that look. She was pissed. Now it was John who stood looking like a big question mark. Why would she be mad? She was the one who left without so much as a goodbye. 

Snatching the ball from his hands and placing it on her hip, she tried not to speak too loudly. 

“ Well.. you could have just called or texted me” she said with anger. 

John stood dumbfounded. What was going on here?

“And how was I supposed to do that? You are the one who left without saying anything!” He whispered as he looked over his shoulder to see if they were drawing unwanted attention. 

“What!!” She burst out, “ I left you a note!!” 

“You did?” He questioned, raising his eyebrow. “I didn’t find it.”

“I did” she confirmed. 

Both of their demeanor changed at the realization that this was just a misunderstanding.  Relief washed over their bodies and the knots in their stomachs slowly disappeared. 

Smiling at each other John fought back the urge to take her in his arms. Glancing back over his shoulder towards his family and then back to Marlena, he whispered “ I need to see you again! Will you come by the loft tomorrow when you’re done at the hospital?” 

Flashing her his best and cutest puppy dog eyes, Marlena couldn’t decline such a tempting offer. 

“I finish around noon” was all she said as she winked at him and walked back to her family. 

At a distance Rebecca saw the intimate interaction between John and the pretty Doctor. Her female intuition told her that something was going on between the two of them and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. 

When Marlena approached the birthday party, Roman came up to her. She was pretty sure that he had seen John, so she prepared to answer his questions. 

“I might be getting old, but that man looks exactly like John, just a much older version” Roman said as he looked past her in the direction of the man she just spoke to. 

Marlena decided to tell him the truth, or at least some of it. “Actually, it is John.” 

Roman looked at her with a nervous smile. John was the last person he thought he would ever see again. He still had trouble accepting the fact that John and his wife used to be married, that John had shared a bed with her, made love to her and had raised his children for 5 years. He felt old feelings of jealousy begin to rise, as he eyed John from the distance. 

“What is he doing here after all this time?” He wanted to know. 

“Apparently Brady is getting married here on Saturday, so he and his wife are off course attending” she said with a casual tone. 

She knew that Roman was very insecure when it came to John…And with good reason. They had never discussed what happened the years that Roman was missing, but she knew he had heard from other people about the love she shared with John. 

Roman noticed her casual attitude. She had just spoken to her former husband and she acted like it wasn’t a big deal. It made him wonder if she already knew that he was in town. He eyed her suspiciously, the detective in him took over as he fought the urge to question her further. 

“Pretty surprising to see him here after so long, isn’t it?” 

Johnny came to her rescue when he ran towards her yelling “ Grandma, come on, kick the ball!!”

Not looking at Roman she said “ Yeah…very surprising” before she kicked the ball and ran after it. 

Part 11

John was pacing impatiently around the loft, waiting for Marlena to show up. He felt nervous but in a good way. After the other night she had awoken some deep feelings and emotions inside of him that had been suppressed for so long. 

He felt excited and happy for the first time in years. 

Rebecca had noticed the change in his mood, going from sad and distant to energetic and giddy. She had never seen him like that before. Maybe when Jack was born and in small glimpses every now and then. She wondered what or maybe more relevant, who was the reason for this change. She had a gut wrenching feeling that this Dr. Evans played a major role. 

When John had told her that he had a meeting with the same business associate from the other night, she didn’t question him further, although she was almost certain that he was lying. 

The jealous and possessive side of her that she had tried to hide for years came back to life. Maybe she was acting crazy but she needed to know what was going on. If someone was a threat to her or her family she would not stand by and watch it happen, no she would do anything to protect what she thought was hers. 

So she decided to follow him.

———-

Marlena stood outside the door to the loft. 

She nervously ran her hands down her body and bobbed her hair to make sure it was perfect. 

She had been nervous all day about seeing him again. She had a fairly good idea of what might happen once they were alone, but a small nagging voice in the back of her mind kept telling her, that it was foolish of her to get more involved with John than she already was. The possibility of her ending up heartbroken was fairly high considering that he was married. Was he willing to risk it all for her, like she was? Was this just a short fling? He was bound to return to wherever he lived in just a few days. And what would happen after this? 

She knew that now that she had had a small taste of him, a taste of his amazing body, a taste of sexual satisfaction and a taste of what it was like connecting on a whole different level, there was no going back for her. She wanted more. 

Knocking softly at the door she waited, ready to step into whatever uncertainty the future might hold. 

John ran to the door when he heard a small knock, swinging it open to find Marlena standing there and looking so beautiful that he was almost knocked backwards. She simply took his breath away. 

She flashed him her brilliant smile which melted his heart. 

With a lifted eyebrow and a naughty grin, John grabbed her hand and quickly pulled her inside, making her giggle at his fast movement. 

She heard him close the door behind her and when she heard the sound of the lock, it sent chills through her body. 

John stood for a moment and admired her backside. Her skirt clung to her hips and her perfectly sculpted ass and stopped right above her knees, exposing her long lean legs. She was wearing a pair of simple and elegant stilettos, making her legs seem like they would go on forever. 

Groaning, he stepped closer to her. 

Marlena could feel his hungry eyes burning her back, making her gasp in anticipation. The sexual tension was already so intense it made her want him to rip her clothes off right then and there. 

She felt his hot breath in her ear, making her knees weak and her legs unsteady. 

John wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her to his body so tight, that it felt like they melted together. 

She felt his hard manhood against her lower back, making it very clear that he was indeed more than aroused. 

With eyes closed, he nuzzled his face in her hair, deeply inhaling her scent. 

“Hmmm..you smell so good!” He said as he exhaled. 

Marlena leaned her head back against his shoulder and moaned. This almost felt like old times, when he would ambush her from behind with the intention of ravaging her. 

His hands started to fiddle with her blouse which was tucked into her skirt. Slowly separating the two pieces of clothing, he snuck his hands under her blouse and made contact with her warm skin. 

With his hot breath in her ear and one hand wandering towards her burning center she couldn’t help but arc her back and push her ass against his throbbing cock. 

Both gasped simultaneously at the pleasure they were already bringing each other. 

Sneaking his hand into her panties, he was met by her hot burning desire, dripping with sweet drops of passion. 

He slowly traced two fingers along the seam of her labia, feeling how her juices coated his fingers. God he had missed her. It gave him so much pleasure and satisfaction to watch how she reacted to his presence, to his touch, knowing he was the one who had the ability to make her so hot and bothered. John was not a selfish lover. It didn’t matter if he didn’t reach climax together with her, her pleasure was more important to him. 

John slowly slipped two fingers inside of her hot and tight canal, causing Marlena to pant while her head still rested on his shoulder. 

“Oh God…” she panted as her hips started to grind against his hand. 

She felt his fingers digging deeper and deeper, intent on finding her secret spot. 

Raising her arm she grabbed the back of his head, needing something to hold on to as she felt her orgasm approaching fast. Her other hand, she placed on top of Johns that was nestled deep between her shivering thighs. 

John could feel her inner walls start to squeeze  his busy fingers as he kept stroking her secret spot. The feeling of his fingers buried deep inside of her, her ass grinding against his hard cock and the sounds that were coming from her, almost made him cum. 

When she felt John bite down on her jaw, she exploded against his hand. Her legs were shaking and her head was spinning as wave after wave hit her hard. 

John was still holding her tight against his body, making sure she didn’t fall, as he fought his own battle not to join her in the blissful orgasm. 

Both of them needed time to calm down before they were able to move. 

“That was one hell of a welcome,” Marlena said with a giggle. 

John removed his hand from between her thighs and moved it up across her chest. She could see her glistening juices covering his fingers and her nose caught the scent of her arousal. 

She followed his fingers with her eyes as he brought them to his face. He inhaled deeply and moaned at her sweet scent. Marlena’s eyes widened when she saw him sneak out his tongue, tasting, before he took both fingers in his mouth and cleaned them off.

“Hmmm…you taste good too!” He said and winked at her. 

“Oh…don’t do that to me” she replied with a seductive smile and hooded eyes as she focused on how his tongue swirled around his fingers. 

————

Rebecca had been sitting in her rented car for one hour before she decided to enter the building. She had failed to notice the pretty Doctor who had arrived 10 minutes ago. 

Going through floor after floor in the building, looking for any sign of John, she became more and more confused. What was John doing in a place like this? Every hallway was empty and silent with no sign of him or anyone else for that matter. 

Reaching the top floor she passed a large metal sliding door. She stopped suddenly as she thought she heard something. 

Pressing her ear against the cold metal she tried to listen, but the only sound she heard was the fast beating of her own heart. 

————

“Are you hungry?” John asked Marlena as he reluctantly let go of her hot body. 

Gazing at him with eyes filled with desire, her mouth curled up in a sexy smile. 

John laughed out loud as she obviously misunderstood his question. 

“For food!” He added, still laughing. 

“Ohh… sure” she answered feeling a little embarrassed by her assumption

“Do you still like caesar salad?” He asked as he opened the refrigerator and took out two bowls. 

“I do” she said, watching him place the bowls on the kitchen counter before washing his hands. 

Marlena took a seat on the high barstool. 

“It looks delicious” 

“It sure does!” He replied with a wink, taking a seat on the stool beside her. 

He had missed this playful banter between them. Both of them would always drop hints of a sexual nature, teasing each other and pushing boundaries. It was just a natural thing for them, maybe because they had always been so comfortable in each other’s company. 

John handed her a fork and Marlena started digging into the crunchy dish. She wanted to ask him so many questions and figured that now was the time. 

“So…we haven’t really talked much, not that I’m complaining” she looked at him with a satisfied smile “But I have so many questions”

John smiled back at her “So do I.. you first” he said before taking a large bite of the salad. 

“Where do you live?” She asked as she continued to eat. 

“New York. I have lived there since I left this place” 

“What do you do for a living?” She continued, wanting to get the basics information out of the way first, before going into what could be more sensitive topics. 

“I own a large business called Basic Black. We handle everything from security and monitoring to private detective work and services. And much more” he said and took a sip of water before continuing. “ I knew when I came to New York that I wanted to keep doing what I knew and loved and that was detective work. But as you know, I got all that money so I decided to make some good of it, so I started my own business. At first it was small, just me and two other but now we have affiliates all across America” 

He looked so proud, she thought as she watched him silently. She had missed hearing him speak about things that he was passionate about. His face would always light up and his arm and hand gestures would be all over the place. 

“John, I’m so proud of you” she truly meant it, placing her hand over his. 

“Have you kept in touch with anyone here in Salem?” 

John inhaled deeply. “ Victor…. I wanted to include him in Brady’s life, but Victor thought that it might confuse him….probably because I swore never to return to Salem. So I just kept him up to date on Brady’s well-being. Brady doesn’t know about his grandfather. In hindsight, that probably wasn’t the best decision.” He sighed sadly. “I have made a lot of bad decisions during the last 25 years” 

“ John, I’m positive that everything you did and decided was what felt right at the time.” She comforted him. She knew what it was like to walk around with the burden of ‘not making the right choices’. She had done the exact same thing for the last 25 years. 

“I have been sending Carrie a birthday card every year. I have no idea if she knows it’s from me” he said with a shaky voice. “I feel so guilty for leaving her. She was my little girl..my punkin..and I just felt. The twins were still so small, I thought that they might not remember me. But Carrie must have felt so abandoned by the father she had known for years”. He couldn’t hold back his tears any longer as he started sobbing quietly. 

Marlenas heart broke with his. His pain was so comparative, she knew exactly how devastated he was, how much he wished that he could turn back time and how guilty he felt for leaving not just her but Carrie and the twins too. 

Marlena rose from the stool and took his sobbing frame in her arms. Of all of the men she had met in her life, John was the only one who felt comfortable exposing his vulnerability in front of her. She had always made him feel safe and secure which allowed him to let his guard down and let her see the true John. A man who wasn’t afraid to show weakness and feelings. A man who was secure enough in himself that he dared to break down and let her take care of him. 

“Honey, it’s okay…it’s okay” she said as she comforted him, rubbing her hands on his back and kissing the top of his head. 

John rested his head on her chest, her protective arms embracing him, as he let go of years of pain and guilty conscience.

Marlena continued to hold him until his sobs subsided. Her lips still rested on top of his head. She felt his body begin to relax and then felt his hands move down to her ass giving her cheeks a little squeeze. 

Tilting his head up, he met her eyes. In them, he saw the same pain and sorrow that he was sure his own revealed. He saw compassion, admiration and love…. He needed her.

Quickly standing up, John grabbed Marlena and lifted her to sit on top of the counter. They both breathed quickly and deep. This was a typical John move. After showing his vulnerability he always needed her, her body, her love. Making love after being stripped from every single guard and protective wall he had put up, was always like an out of body experience. It was a way for them to communicate and connect on a higher level, taking them to a whole different place, a place where nobody else could take them. 

“I need you Baby!” He gasped as he ripped her blouse open making buttons fly everywhere. 

“You have me….all of me….always” she panted between their desperate kisses. 

Part 12

They were lying on the sofa, him on his back with her head resting on his chest, legs intertwined. Her hands caressed his chest and stomach with feathers light touches. His body would jolt every now and then at the ticklish feeling. This felt so good, so right. 

Both were floating in the sweet afterglow of the most amazing and intense sex they had just had. 

“John…” she whispered, her fingers playing with the hairs on his chest. “What happens when you go back to New York?” 

He wasn’t surprised by her question. The thought had crossed his mind several times but he had pushed it back, wanting to just enjoy this unexpected time with her. But his days here in Salem were soon numbered. He was leaving on Sunday, forced to face his real life and leave this dream behind. 

Marlena felt him thinking. His long silence made her afraid and unsure of what his answer would be. What was she going to do if he told her that this was just a short fling and they had absolutely no future together. How was she going to react to that? Should she beg him not to end it, to stay? Or should she act like it wouldn’t break her heart all over again? 

Marlena began to feel uncomfortable with his silence, her own thoughts and the fact that they were lying here naked. The intimacy was too much for her right now, if he was about to tell her what she feared the most. She needed space, to put some distance between them. 

John felt her begin to stir in an attempt to remove herself from him. 

“Where are you going?” He said with confusion. 

“I ahh…I need to use the bathroom” she lied, not looking at him as she sat up and started to move. 

John noticed her sudden change in mood, going from being totally content and relaxed to now nervous and evasive. 

He grabbed her arm just as she was about to stand up. “Hey Hey…What’s wrong?” He asked. 

She tried to cover her naked body by wrapping her arms around herself, suddenly feeling too exposed and vulnerable. 

“I..I just don’t want you to leave, I guess…I don’t want this to end..” She said looking down. There it was, the truth. Now her heart truly was in his hands, she just hoped he wouldn’t break it again. 

————

Outside the building, Rebecca was sitting in the car again. It had been 3 hours since she saw John walk inside and apparently vanished inside the empty building. 

She had tried to call his phone reversal times but it went straight to voicemail. She was running out of patience, feeling the jealousy and anger burning through her veins.

Suddenly an idea came to her. Grabbing her phone she opened google and typed in Dr. Evans, Salem. 

She scrolled through the search results, not really sure what she was looking for. There were a lot of articles written about her and by her. She clicked on the website of University Hospital Of Salem and quickly read some basic information about her. 

Apparently she was not just very pretty, she was also very good at her job and a very respected psychiatrist. She was married to a police officer and had three children. 

She spotted a phone number and before she had a chance to think about what she was doing, she pressed call and heard the dialing tone. 

“Dr. Marlena Evans’ office, how may I help you!” Kelly said. 

“Hmmm…Hi.. I was wondering if I could speak to Dr. Evans!” Rebecca hadn’t thought this through, so her plan was just to hang up once the phone was picked up. 

“I’m sorry but Dr. Evans already left for the day.” 

“Oh..okay I see” Rebacca had a bad feeling about this. John saying that he had a meeting and now “she” had left her job early..something was going on. 

“I thought she was working till at least 4 or 5 a clock” she said, trying to get more information. 

“Yes normally she does but today she left around noon. Would you like me to give her a message?” 

“No no….Actually..Is it possible to book an emergency appointment tomorrow?” Recacca said as a plan formed in her mind. 

“Hold on a moment…let me see… It’s your lucky day, someone canceled their appointment so there is a free time at 2 pm” 

“Great, I’ll take it” 

“And what name do you want me to write?” Kelly said, unaware of the mess that was bound to go down tomorrow. 

“Mrs. Morrison” Rebecca said with a smug grin on her face. 

———-

Seeing that Marlena was suddenly uncomfortable with her naked body, John reached for a blanket and wrapped it lovingly around her. 

“Baby, look at me” John said, placing a finger under her chin and tilting her head up. 

“Do you really think that I am able to leave you again after what we just shared?” He questioned, searching her eyes for answers. 

“I don’t know…I hope not” she replied with a small voice. 

John saw the doubt in her eyes. Apparently his actions over the last couple of days hadn’t been enough to make her see how he felt about her. Thinking about it, they had only spoken about how they felt in the past, neglecting to share how they felt right now, today. They had both been so caught up in the extreme sexual tension between them, which always had the ability to make them forget everything else. He had just kind of assumed that she would know how he felt, but apparently he needed to be more clear and leave no doubt in her mind. 

“Doc, I need you to listen to me!” His eyes were intense. “I love you, right now at this moment. I love you so much, I always have. If I were to never see you again I would simply die, it’s as simple as that. I have had you in my life once, and lost you, and I can promise you, that is never gonna happen again…never. God, I love you” 

Marlena’s heart fluttered with love for this man. Grabbing his face she smacked her mouth on his, her tongue prying his mouth open. 

“I love you so very much!!” She gasped as she let the blanket fall off her naked body and swung her leg over his, straddling him as she kissed him fiercely. “Don’t ever leave me!” 

Reaching down between them, she wrapped her small hand around his now hardened member, pumping him a few times before she slowly lowered herself down on him. 

John sat still, completely hypnotized by the beautiful and powerful vixen before him. Seeing her use his body to pleasure herself, was the most beautiful and erotic sight. With his hands resting on her thighs, he was almost afraid to move or touch her. He wanted her to take advantage of him. 

He watched fascinated, how his hard cock disappeared inside of her heavenly cave, he felt how her inner walls massaged and squeezed his shaft. 

With him deeply inside of her, Marlena grinded her pelvis against his, his rough hairs rubbing against her sensitive knob, making her whole body shiver. 

She grabbed his shoulders hard for leverage as she continued to rock on top of him. She threw her head back as she felt the heat start to spread through her limbs and her toes curling. 

John was in complete awe of her. How was he ever able to make it through the last 25 years without her. She was everything to him. She completed him, not just sexually but even more so mentally. 

John felt his own release approaching fast. Seeing her take what she needed and wanted with such determination, power and confidence made him love her even more.

Never before had she taken control like this, making him a mere tool for her own pleasure, and he loved every second of it. 

When she lifted her body up along his cock and then slammed herself back down in a circular motion, he lost it.

His orgasm ripped through his body, his hands squeezed her thighs hard as he emptied every single drop deep inside of her. 

When Marlena felt John explode deep in her core, she kissed him deeply as she came right along with him. Swallowing each other’s breaths and moans, their bodies continued to rock against each other. 

“I love you!!” Marlena moaned

“I love you more…you are going to be the death of me Pretty Lady!!” John proclaimed with a smile. 

————-

Marlena walked inside her house with a satisfied smile on her face. 

Taking off her stilettos she sighed at the feel of her aching body. Her sore muscles the evidence of the sexual marathon she and John had participated in all day. 

She sat down on the sofa and rummaged through her purse, looking for the small item John had given her before she left the loft. 

Finding it, she clutched it in her hand and placed it over her heart. He had given her a key to the loft, free for her to use whenever she wanted. Grabbing her keychain she started to attach the key when Roman bursted in from the kitchen. 

“Doc, it’s 6 in the evening, where have you been all day?” He yelled, his tone demanding. 

Marlena quickly dropped the keys back in her purse, taking a moment to get her emotions under control. 

“I have been working all day” she said with annoyance. How she hated his controlling personality. 

“Really???” He questioned as he eyed her with suspicion. 

“Really!!” She replied, rolling her eyes at him. 

 “That’s funny because I came to see you and take you to lunch, but Kelly said that you had left for the day!!” 

Taking a deep breath, she looked him directly in his eyes and lied straight to his face without hesitation or even a hint of guilt. 

“I went on a home visit with a patient who has been struggling lately with anxiety, which has prevented them from being able to show up at my office for their appointments. Is there anything else you would like to know?” 

Roman was surprised by her tone of voice, which was filled with resentment, annoyance and anger but he couldn’t help but push her further. 

“For 5-6 hours you were helping this person?” 

Standing up right in front of him with confidence, Marlena had had enough. 

“Roman..what exactly are you getting at? Are you implying that I’m lying to you?” She knew she was pushing his buttons, but she couldn’t help it. Even though she was the one standing there lying, being unreliable and untrustworthy she felt she was in her good right to let him feel the anger and resentment that had been building up over the years. 

Roman was astounded. He had never heard her speak to him that way, sure she had argued with him many times, but there was something different about her reaction and demeanor today. 

There was something in her eyes that he couldn’t place. A spark he had never seen and he wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing. 

“Hey easy easy, I’m not implying anything. I was just worried” Now he was the one lying. 

“Sure Roman.” She said as she walked past him and up the stairs to the bedroom. 

Part 13

Marlena woke up with a startle to the sound of her alarm going off. Sitting up in bed, she glanced to the side, seeing Roman still sleeping. 

She sighed heavily as she looked at the sleeping form of her husband and tried to recall how they had come to the place. 

She did share some fond memories of him from when they first got together. She had fallen for him even though he was so different from her. He was so hot headed and impulsive. She used to find that charming at the time, but now it annoyed her more than anything. He wasn’t the same man she married so many years ago and she definitely wasn’t the same woman. When Roman came back he had a difficult time accepting that she had become independent and strong and didn’t need his protection. Since then they had been drifting further and further apart. And now here they were, at a crossroad with her at the steering wheel, steering in the direction she wanted and needed, for the first time in her life. 

She had to tell him that she wanted a divorce, something that she should have done a long time ago. 

Getting out of bed, she suddenly felt a great sense of sadness and loss, unconsciously placing her hands over her heart. She looked back at Roman, thinking that their soon to be failed marriage was the reason for these sudden overwhelming feelings. But she felt nothing as such looking at him. No this was something deeper, something so heartbreaking and unsettling, that it felt like she was missing a piece of herself. 

Closing her eyes she heard a voice she hadn’t heard in years. The voice of the man, who had tried to destroy her life more than once. 

“She must never find out…do you understand…never. You have to make her disappear, nobody can ever find out that she exists. And her, my precious Queen of the night… make her forget everything!!”

“Stefano….” 

——————-

“Are you with me?” Jack shouted while he ran and looked over his shoulder. 

John and Jack had planned a work out session to spend some time together before Brady’s wedding, but John hadn’t agreed to this marathon of a warmup. He did, although, have an ulterior motive for agreeing to spend their time together doing something he knew Jack loved. He hope that his son would be comfortable enough to tell him what was troubling him and why he was seeing Marlena

“Cut your old man some slack and slow down a bit” John laughed out of breath. 

Jack saw his dad stop and rest his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Running back to him, Jack laughed and padded his shoulder. “Not as young as you used to be huh? Let’s take a break on that bench over here”. 

They sat in silence for a while and watched people enjoying the park. Jack had a feeling that his dad wanted to ask him about something, because he kept taking a breath preparing to say something and then hesitated. 

“Dad, is there something you want to say?” 

“Yeah, well, maybe it’s none of my business but I just wanted to know if you are okay?” John said. 

Jack knew what he was hinting at. “You mean why am I seeing Dr. Evans?” Jack replied with a serious smile. 

“Yeah…it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me, you know!” John said lovingly. 

“No, it’s okay. It’s not  that I didn’t want to tell you. It’s  just that, at first, I wasn’t even sure why I needed someone to talk to and share my thoughts with.” Looking at his feet Jack continued. “You have always been my idol, my role model and my best friend and when I moved here I was alone and suddenly I had to figure out who I was without you to look up to everyday. It made me insecure in some ways, you know”. 

John looked at his son with pride. He knew that feeling, of leaving a place where you felt safe, secure and had people around you who were always there to guide you and help you, and then to start over and try to figure it all out again.

And the feeling of being all alone and confused, and needing someone to help you through that, was something he also knew all too well. When he first came to Salem, that was exactly how he felt, and just like his son, he had found Marlena. 

“I know son, more than you know” he said, putting his arm around his shoulders and giving him a squeeze. 

“Dad, you are like the perfect man. You can do anything, you’re like a superhero and I guess that the pressure of trying to live up to you just became too much….and yet despite all of those enviable qualities that you have…You are like an enigma, sometimes feel like I don’t really know who you are, and that confuses me… I know it doesn’t make sense!!” Jack sighed, feeling like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders. 

It devastated John to hear that his perfect son felt like he wasn’t good enough and to know that his secrecy about his past evidently had cursed Jack to feel like he didn’t know his father. That was never his intention. 

“It makes sense! It breaks my heart to hear you say that me being who I am, makes you think that you’re not good enough just as you are. I’m not perfect by any means…I’m the furthest thing from perfect and I have made a lot of mistakes in my life that can’t be undone. I have so many regrets but the one thing that I don’t regret is having you and your brother. I’m so proud of you…don’t you ever doubt that or forget that..do you hear me?” John said, staring into Jack’s eyes. 

Jack smiled at him, believing every word he said but he wasn’t finished with this conversation. He seized the moment and took the opportunity to question John further while they were being so honest and open with each other. 

“My doctor…Dr. Evans… you know her?” Jack said more as a statement than a question. 

“I do…..She helped me a long time ago. I was new in this town, I was lost and confused..She…She made me believe in myself, she made me the man I am today” John told him. He didn’t want his son to know the whole story so he didn’t go into further details. 

“How come you never told us that you used to live here in Salem?” 

“Well..it’s complicated and I’m not sure I’m ready to share it all with you right now” John said honestly, hoping that Jack would understand. “But my time here didn’t end well so I decided to leave and never look back and try to forget. I know now it wasn’t the best way to solve my problems but at that time it seemed like the only way.” 

Jack tried to absorb all this new information about his dad and it left him even more curious. 

“Do you have any family here?” 

John contemplated the right answer to that question. “No… I don’t, none that I know of anyway” 

“So, no long lost relatives?” Jack asked.  

“No”. John could see Jack thinking. “Why do you ask?” 

“Remember when I sent in my DNA to that website…someone contacted me because our DNA matched” Jack said, studying his father’s reaction. 

John looked at him surprised. He knew nothing about his past so there was a pretty good chance that this person could be related to him. The problem was he never told Jack, Brady or his wife that he was basically an amnesiac who had no idea where he was from and if he had some kind of family out there. 

Could this really be someone who once knew him?

“Did you talk to this person?” 

“No, I haven’t replied yet. With this wedding and everything else going on I didn’t want to burden you with it, if it turned out to be a person who could cause some kind of trouble. So I thought I’d wait.” Jack said. 

“You could never burden me with anything! But I must say that I am very curious as to who this person is, so if you want to, go ahead and respond.”  John said, padding Jack’s shoulder. 

“Okay, I might do that….now come on old man let’s see if those stiff legs can make it another mile or two” Jack laughed as he stood up and took off running. 

—————

Marlena sat behind her desk with her phone in her hand. The smile on her face left no doubt as to who had just sent her a text. 

John: Hey Pretty Lady. I’m missing you. Can you come by the loft later? I have a problem only you can fix…

Marlena: I’m not sure. I’m babysitting my grandchildren tonight…. I miss you too. 

John: My God, you are old enough to be a grandmother?

Marlena: Careful now Mr. Black or you will have to solve this problem of yours by yourself.. I have a patient now so I will text you later…..if you behave…

God, she loved this playfulness between them. 

Putting her phone away she heard a knock on the door signaling that her patient was there. 

Standing up she walked to the door and opened it, to reveal the unexpected woman on the other side. 

Part 14

For the second time in a few days, Marlena stood in her office, speechless and surprised, staring at an unexpected visitor in front of her. 

Did John’s wife book an appointment with her? Why would she do that? 

Rebecca saw the surprise and questions flash in the pretty Doctor’s eyes. Seeing how uncomfortable she was by her presence made her feel a strange sense of satisfaction. This was only the beginning, Rebecca thought with a smirk on her lips. 

Marlena cleared her throat “Mrs. Morrison, please come in.”

“Thank you” Rebecca said, eyeing Marlena as she walked past her. 

Rebecca looked around the office noticing several framed diplomas and certificates hanging on the walls and a few pictures of what she assumed was her family. 

“Please take a seat” Marlena said and gestured toward the sofa. 

Rebecca sat and crossed her legs and took great joy in watching Marlena become more and more uncomfortable as the silence was becoming deafening. 

“What brings you here today?” Marlena asked, trying to treat her and this situation as she normally would. But the truth was, that she had a gut feeling that John’s wife had ulterior motives. Did she know about her and John? She had to be careful. Her professional experience with spouses who went snooping in their partner’s life, suspecting them of all kinds of things, their obsession and jealousy could result in great harm for the people crossing their paths. And now here she was, facing the wife of the man she was having an affair with. 

“You see…I just found out that my son apparently has been seeing you…I don’t know why, but it troubles me that he thinks that he can’t speak to me or his dad about what’s troubling him…and then I find out that my husband apparently knows you too. So you can understand that I’m quite surprised by all this” Rebecca said, studying Marlenas reaction. 

Marlena knew that Rebecca was testing her somehow, she saw how she was watching her reactions, like she was looking for something. 

“I see, but I’m not able to discuss other patients with you. So tell me again why are you seeking counseling?” Marlena said, more hostile than was appropriate for a professional psychiatrist. 

Rebecca thought for a moment about what to say and how to get some kind of response, that she could use to get an indication of what John and Marlenas relationship was or had been. 

“Fair enough” Rebecca said, shrugging her shoulders. “ I think my husband is having an affair!” She blurted out while staring intently at Marlena. 

Marlena felt her mouth go dry and her heart started pounding fast. She tried to remain calm and in control of her body’s reaction as she felt the intense stare from Rebecca who was watching her like a hawk, trying to pick up the smallest hint. She was a hundred percent certain that Rebecca was very suspicious of her. 

Rebecca saw the pretty Doctor become more and more uncomfortable, squirming by the statement she had just put out there. She couldn’t hide the smile that was creeping up on her face. 

A chill ran down Marlenas spine. They both knew what was going on here. They both knew what Rebecca was hinting at and yet here they sat pretending to have a normal session, with this big elephant in the room. This was becoming a very dangerous conversation. 

“What makes you think so?” Marlena asked and swallowed the lump in her throat. Trying not to act surprised or affected. 

“ I know my husband…he has never kept a secret from me in the many years we have been married. So I know that something is going on and there is something he is not telling me. I can feel it in my bones.” Rebecca said. 

“And what makes you think that another woman is involved?” Marlena asked. 

“I can almost smell it…the scent of the  woman…” Rebecca said as she inhaled through her nose. 

Marlena’s eyes widened and she became very aware of the scent of her perfume that lingered in the room. 

“Hmm..have you confronted him about your suspicion?” 

“No..and I’m not sure I’m going to do that. You see.. I’m a very forgiving woman, who loves her husband and sons very much and no other woman is going to destroy the life that I have built. And I will do whatever it takes to eliminate whatever or whoever tries to take my husband away from me..” Rebecca said with a threatening tone and a smile that made the blood in Marlenas veins freeze. 

“Well, thank you for your time Dr. Evans. I’ll show myself out” 

Marlena sat frozen in her chair, only when she heard the door close behind Rebecca, did she let out the air from her lungs. 

Did Rebecca just threaten her? With shaky hands, she reached for her phone, almost dropped it when she scrolled down to find John’s number. 

“Come on pick up, pick up” she begged as she heard the dialing tone and eventually the sound of John’s voicemail. 

Letting out a deep sigh she sat and stared at nothing particular. So much had happened in the last 5 days. Her normally boring everyday life was now replaced with a passionate affair, her doomed marriage and now the wrath from the wife of her lover. 

She tried calling John again but it went straight to voicemail. 

Looking at the time she realized that she had been sitting paralyzed for more than an hour. She quickly grabbed her purse and hurried out the door, letting Kelly know that she was leaving. 

——————-

John walked into the hotel room after spending the day with Jack. On his way there his thoughts kept going back to this person who had contacted Jack. Could it really be that after so many years of not knowing anything about where he was from, that this person was someone related to him. He had spent years and a lot of money to try and track down any kind of information, but it always ended up being a dead end. He never thought about sending his DNA to a website. 

Rebecca emerged from the bathroom, eyeing her husband with suspicion. 

“How was your day with Jack?” She asked, startling him. 

“Oh hi, it was nice. Just like old times….I didn’t think you would be here. Didn’t you have something to take care of?” John said. 

“I took care of it already…. I tried to call you but it went straight to voicemail” 

“Oh yeah, my phone died.. I’m going to have a shower..the kid tried to kill me with that workout”. John laughed as he put his phone in the charger and went into the bathroom. 

Rebecca waited until she heard the sound of running water before she slowly walked over to John’s charging phone. Glancing down at the black screen she contemplated what to do. Looking through his phone was crossing a line that she knew John would never forgive. But if he never found out, what damage would it do? 

Just as she was about to grab the phone it started vibrating, signaling incoming messages. 

First she saw some missed calls from one of his business partners, then her own name and then two missed calls from someone called Doc. Rebecca shook her head…she knew exactly who this Doc was. 

Stepping away from the phone she sat down on the bed. Her blood was boiling with anger and a hatred darker and deeper than anything she ever felt before. But she needed to calm down quickly, before John was finished. 

She needed to play her cards right and not act on instinct. Her plan was to continue playing the loving wife and keep John by her side for the last days here in Salem. And then she would take care of the Doctor. 

————

“Mom…finally. I was starting to think you bailed on me” Sami yelled as Marlena entered Sami’s apartment. 

“I was just running late, sorry” Marlena said as she took off her shoes and walked inside the living room. 

“So, I ordered a pizza for you, it should be delivered in about 30 minutes, there’s snacks and everything else in the kitchen, please don’t give them too much sugar or else they’ll never fall asleep…and bedtime is around 9 and I will be home around 11…” Sami rambled as she was running around. She didn’t notice her mother’s distant eyes. 

“Don’t worry, it’s not my first time in this business” Marlena said, trying to lighten her own mood. 

“Thanks mom…Johnny…Allie..grandma is here. They are playing PlayStation.. I need to go, call me if there is anything” Sami said, giving her mother a hug and a kiss. 

————

With the twins in bed, Marlena sat in the living room trying to watch a movie, but her mind was elsewhere. John hadn’t returned her calls, which was odd since he was expecting to hear from her. 

Deciding that a cup of tea would do her good and calm her down, she headed toward the kitchen. 

Just as she opened a cabinet and grabbed a cup, did she hear her phone ring in the other room. Running through the rooms she got to it before it went to voicemail. 

“John!!” she said, relieved. 

“Hey Doc, sorry I haven’t returned your calls but I haven’t had one second alone all day.” John whispered. 

“I need to see you, there’s something we need to discuss but I’m at Sami’s right now and she won’t be back until 11” 

“I can come by if that’s okay. Rebecca just left and won’t be back for a couple of hours” John suggested. 

Would it be stupid of her to have him over? Nobody would know and he would leave before Sami returned and this discussion couldn’t wait. 

“I’ll text you the address” she said in a serious voice which left John wondering what was going on. 

———-

Marlena had been pacing around the living room for the last 20 minutes when there was a small knock on the door. 

“Come in” Marlena whispered as she opened the door for John who immediately saw her troubled state. 

“Baby, what’s wrong?” John asked, wrapping his arms around her. He felt the tenseness in her body as her arms tightened around his neck, tugging him closer to her. “It’s okay Baby…I got you” he whispered in her ear. 

Feeling John’s strong arms around her and his soothing voice gave her the strength to tell him about her encounter with his wife. 

“John..I.. Rebecca came to see me today in my office. She had booked an emergency appointment with my secretary..”

“She did what!!” John said a little too loudly, releasing her from his embrace. Still holding her at arm’s length with his hands on her shoulders, he stared intensely into her eyes. 

“What did she want?” 

“She..ahm.. I think she suspects that something is going on between the two of us. She didn’t say it directly, but she said that she suspects that you are having an affair. There was something in the way she said it and the way she stared at me….John, she scared me..” Marlena said nervously. The thought never occurred to her before now, but what if John didn’t believe her? 

John stared into her truthful eyes and her angelic face and he saw her fear. The fear of, and threat from Rebecca and her fear of him not believing her. 

John cupped her face, his thumbs gently caressing her cheeks, “I believe you…”. 

Marlena let out a sigh of relief but his words didn’t take away the unsettling feeling she felt. 

Marlena stepped away from John, she needed space and not to look into his loving eyes. “John..Maybe we should just end this affair or whatever it is..I’m not cut out to be in a situation like this…to be the other woman”

“Don’t say that” John grabbed her arms and spun her around. “This isn’t an affair and you are not just the other woman. You are the love of my life, my soulmate, my doctor and best friend. You are everything to me and always have been. We are going to figure this out and we will be together…that’s a promise and a fact” Johns voice was shaking with emotion. He felt the fear of losing her and he needed to make this promise not only to her but to himself. 

John pulled Marlena flush against his body and looked down into her eyes. Their lips meet in a slow tender kiss filled with warmth and love.  With their eyes still open, they were both lost in each other’s souls, forever intertwined by their deep love, passion and admiration for one another. 

———-

Outside the apartment building, Rebecca sat in her car. 

She had been by John’s side all day not giving him a moment to himself, or a chance to call “Doc” back. His behavior today made her almost doubt what her gut instinct told her, so she had decided to test him. She told him that she had something to take care of and then left him alone. But instead she waited outside the hotel, ready to follow him. And sure enough, 15 minutes after, she saw him get into his rented car and drive away. She was positive that he would drive to the same apartment as the other day but instead he had driven to the other end of town. 

She had watched him get into the elevator and saw it stop on the 4th floor. 

She had decided to take the stairs to reduce the possibility of running into him. Going down the hallway she had looked at each door and the names of the residents, but to her surprise she hadn’t seen Dr. Evans’ name. 

One name did catch her attention though..Sami Brady…She had recently seen that name but where?

Now sitting in the car Rebecca took her phone and googled the name. It didn’t take her long to find out where she had stumbled upon Sami Brady’s name…She was the daughter of the pretty Doctor. But what was John doing visiting her?

———-

Their sweet and tender kisses quickly turned desperate and hungry. It was when John heard the small moans leave Marlena, did he lose control. Lifting her up, Marlena wrapped her legs around his waist and with a loud bump he pushed her up against the nearby wall. 

“Shhh…John…the twins” Marlena laughed quietly. 

With their now change in height, John had easy access to one of his favorite parts of her body..her soft round mounds. Lowering his head he kissed her perky nipples through her thin blouse, making Marlena arch her back and gasp at the feel of his hot wet mouth. John felt the tightness in his pants grow as he grinded his pelvic against her hot center. 

Grabbing the hair in the back of his head she roughly pulled him away from her breast and attacked his mouth, her teeth biting his lower lip. 

“Grandma!!! I’m thirsty!!” 

Reluctantly Marlena teared her mouth away from John and sighed. “One minute, I’m coming “ she yelled back and then rested her forehead against Johns. “Honey…I need to go to Johnny before he comes in here and sees us” 

John loosened his tight hold on her ass as she unwrapped her legs from his waist, slowly sliding down his body. “I should go before Sami gets home..” He whispered and pecked her lips. 

“Yeah…will you call me tomorrow?” She asked with a small innocent voice he couldn’t resist. 

“Oh.. I will do more than call you!” He gave a naughty smile, squeezed her ass and gave her one final passionate kiss before he snuck out the door and drove back to the hotel. 

Part 15

The air around her was hot and humid. She could hear the sound of birds chirping outside and the smell of the salty sea nearby. Slowly she opened her eyes, but was instantly blinded by a sharp light. Where was she? Again she tried to open her eyes, this time prepared. 

Peeking through eyes half open, she took in her surroundings. It looked like an operating room, white and steril. She was in a hospital bed, wearing a patient gown, and was hooked up to a machine which was monitoring her pulse and heart rate. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, forcing her to lie in a fetal position. The pain intensified, she heard the machine start beeping faster and faster and then she screamed, a scream so horrifying and soul shattering that it traveled through the walls to her captors, leaving them no other choice than to come to her rescue. 

Marlena woke up bathed in sweat and tears. Her hands immediately fell to her stomach as if the pain was still there. The dream seemed so real that it took her a moment to realize that she was safe in her own bedroom. 

The words of Stefano that she heard in her mind yesterday came back to her. 

“She must never find out…do you understand…never. You have to make her disappear, nobody can ever find out that she exists. And her, my precious Queen of the night… make her forget everything!!”

What was going on? Was she having memories from her missing years? 

She had tried everything to make her remember but until now, all attempts had failed. Why would she suddenly have memories, if that’s what they were? 

Looking at the time she realized that she might as well go down to the kitchen and make herself some tea. She would have to leave for work in 3 hours anyway and she wouldn’t be able to sleep now. 

Sitting in the dark kitchen with a hot cup of tea, she took her phone and opened up her messages. 

Marlena: Are you awake?

John: No.. I don’t sleep, remember..Are you okay sweetheart?

Marlena: No, not really. I had a disturbing dream. Actually I don’t know if it was a dream or in fact a memory from the years I was missing. I guess I just needed to speak to someone who understands. 

John: And I was the first one you thought of?

John couldn’t help but feel honored, by the fact that she trusted him so much even after all these years apart. 

Marlena: The first and only one. 

It felt so real, it still does. John, I think something awful happened to me and I’m certain that Stefano was involved. I keep hearing his voice. He wanted me to forget and he also mentioned another person, a female.

John: I wish I could be there with you right now and hold you in my arms and comfort you. 

Marlena: I wish that too. 

John: Remember when you tried to help me remember my past? You tried to hypnotize me. Maybe you could try that?

Marlena: I already tried but it didn’t work. But you might have a point actually. Maybe some door to my memories has been opened now. I have seen it before in patients, once they start to remember a little by themselves, the hypnosis works better. I will ask Laura tomorrow. Thank you…

John: I didn’t do anything!

Marlena: Yes you did. Just you being there for me means more than you know. 

John: I will always be there…. I love you. 

Marlena: I love you..

———

“Good morning Kelly…how is my schedule today?” Marlena asked when she arrived at her office. 

“Good morning Dr. Evans..let me see…Mr. Hansen canceled so you actually don’t have any patients today.” Kelly said, hoping that would mean that she could leave early today, it being Friday and she had a party to go to. 

“Thank you. Maybe we both can leave early then, if we’re lucky.” Marlena said, smiling at the young woman as she walked into her office, closing the door behind her. 

Going through today’s to-do list, Marlena found it hard to concentrate. Her dream and her messages with John kept interfering with her thoughts and her ability to keep her mind focused on anything else. As if she didn’t have enough to deal with already…

Taking her phone she decided to call Laura and ask for her help. 

————

“Okay Marlena, you know the drill. Lie down, close your eyes and take some deep breaths. Let the air in through your nose, down into your stomach and breathe out slowly through your mouth….that’s it..” Laura said in a calm voice. 

Marlena had called her about an hour ago and told her everything that was going on. About her and John, about Rebecca, her plan to tell Roman that it was over and about the dream or memories she had been having. Always ready to help her best friend, Laura dropped everything and hurried to Marlena’s office. 

“Now I’m going to count down from 5, and when I reach 1 you will feel relaxed and safe…5…4…3..2….1…” Laura watched as Marlenas body went limp and her breathing slowed. “Marlena, you are going to go back in time, back to the year 1987. Can you do that for me?” 

The minutes went by with no response from Marlena. Just as Laura was about to ask her something else, a small faint voice stopped her. 

“John…I see John…I’m on an airplane, begging the pilot to stop and go back..but he doesn’t.” 

That must be the plane John saw go down and burst into flames, Laura thought, remembering what John had told her. 

“Do you remember anything else?” Laura had to be careful and not give Marlena any kind of hint as to what she was really trying to get her to remember. 

Again there was a long pause. 

“I’m standing at a beach…it’s hot and humid. I feel so sad but at the same time I’m happy..overjoyed…..” 

“Why are you happy Marlena?” Laura asked, truly curious because it didn’t make sense. If she was remembering her missing years, why would she be happy? She was taken away from her family, her life and from her true love, John. 

Laura watched as Marlena put her hands protectively on her stomach and her lips curled up in a soft smile. 

“The baby…Johns and mine…oh I love her so very much already” Marlena said peacefully. 

Laura’s mouth dropped. A baby? Had Marlena been pregnant when she disappeared? And if she was, what happened to the baby?

Laura wasn’t sure if it would be wise to continue. If Marlena had lost the baby somehow, that would have caused her great trauma, and opening that door right now, when she was in this hypnotic state could cause her to suppress her memories even more. 

“Marlena, listen carefully to my voice. I’m going to count down from 5. When I reach 1 you are going to come back and you will remember everything you have said…. Okay…. 5….4…3…2…1…that’s it…keep breathing slowly”. Laura said, watching as Marlena slowly came back to the present. 

“Are you okay?” Laura asked as she watched Marlena trying to sit up. 

“I….Laura…I..” Marlena replied, looking at her friend with sadness in her eyes and desperation in her voice as she rubbed her stomach. 

“I know sweetie” Laura said with compassion. 

With a distant look in her eyes, Marlena started putting the pieces together, one by one. 

Her dream about being in an operating room, Stefano’s voice telling someone to make her forget, to make someone disappear, her being pregnant but having no memory of it and the great sense of loss and pain she had the other morning. It all made sense in the most evil and twisted way. Stefano had not only taken 5 years away from her, he had also taken away her and John’s baby, making sure nobody would ever know about it. 

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Marlena looked at Laura. “I need to call John!!!” 

Part 16:

Running down the hallways of the hospital, John was panicking. Marlena had called him 15 minutes ago and although she didn’t say much, he knew that something was terribly wrong. The tone of her voice had him jumping in his car immediately, leaving a dumbfounded Rebecca behind with no explanation. 

“Marlena!!” John shouted as ran by her secretary. 

“Excuse me sir, but you can’t go in there without an appointment” Kelly said nervously as she watched this mad man run toward her boss’s office. 

“She is expecting me!!” John yelled not looking at Kelly as he tried to open the door. 

“I’m going to call security!” Kelly threatened, her hands moving toward the panic button under her desk. Just as she was about to push it, she remembered seeing him before. He was the handsome man who came by almost a week ago to see Dr. Evans. He had told her he was an old friend of hers, but she didn’t get his name. 

John ignored the threat and knocked on the door. “Doc, it’s John” his voice softened a bit. 

“Sir..please step….” Before Kelly could finish her sentence, Marlena opened the door. 

“Kelly, it’s okay. I am expecting Mr. Black” Marlena said, trying to calm down the situation before the other members of the staff would notice the commotion. 

Kelly stared at Marlena, trying to make eye contact to make sure the situation was under control. 

“Kelly…it is okay. Trust me!” Marlena said as she saw the worried expression on Kelly’s face. 

Kelly reluctantly nodded her head and saw Marlena and Mr. Black disappear into her office. 

———

As soon as Marlena closed the door, John wrapped his arms around her. “Sweetheart, what happened?” 

Marlena heard the concern in his voice and felt the tension in his body. This was the second time in less than 24 hours that John had come to her rescue. 

“I’m okay, but I need you to sit down” Marlena said, taking his hand and guiding him to the sofa. 

“I’m going to tell you something and I want you to stay calm..can you do that for me?”  She asked. 

John nodded his head, not saying a word. 

Taking a deep breath Marlena decided to just get to the point. “I had Laura come and hypnotize me, like we talked about…John.. I remembered being pregnant…Stefano must have taken the baby away and done something to make me forget… John, we have a child out here somewhere” she said lovingly while holding his hands. 

Watching him closely for his reaction, she saw how his emotions changed from total disbelief, then loving, ending with anger and hatred towards the man who had destroyed his life more than once. 

John stood up abruptly and started pacing around. She knew she had to let him go through his emotions without her interfering, before she could talk to him. 

A million thoughts ran through his mind and he struggled to keep his emotions in check. If it weren’t for the fact that Stefano was already dead, he would have hunted him down and strangled him with his bare hands. 

Running his hands through his hair in pure frustration, he turned around and saw the woman he would do everything to protect, and instantly he calmed down. 

Realizing that he couldn’t undo what had happened to Marlena and their baby, his mindset changed. He needed to focus on what was important right now, and that was the fact that they shared a child. 

John dropped down on his knees in front of Marlena, took her hands in his and looked up in those mesmerizing hazel eyes that were so full of concern and love. 

“We have a baby, Baby” He said with so much pride and joy as he smiled softly at her. 

Marlena chuckled at his choice of words. “We do..” tears welled up in her eyes. 

Feeling his own tears start to fall, he kissed the palm of her hand and laid his head in her lap. Marlena ran one hand down his back in a comforting and soothing manner, the other she entangled in his hair. They both needed a moment to comprehend what was now their truth, before they could start to plan what to do next. 

With his head still in her lap, John wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. “I always wanted to have a baby with you…I have often wondered if our lives would have turned out differently if we shared a child.” His voice was so soft and low, she almost didn’t hear him. 

“Me too honey…It’s actually a miracle that we didn’t get pregnant earlier, we sure did ‘practice’..” Marlena giggled, remembering how they couldn’t keep their hands off each other and how they used to make love at every chance they got. 

Looking up at Marlena, he made a promise that he hoped he would be able to keep. “Doc, we will find our baby. I will turn the world upside down, I will do everything in my power to make sure we reunite with him or her” He said with determination. 

“It’s a girl…” Marlena whispered, smiling down at him. 

Lifting his head from her lap but staying on his knees, his smile told her that he was just as overjoyed as she was. “A girl….we have a daughter..” He sighed. All the love he felt for her and their unknown child radiated through his eyes. 

“Before I tear down the entire country and try to find our girl, there is something we need to do first. Did you lock the door Doc?” He asked, running his hands slowly up her legs. 

Marlena saw the naughty spark in his eyes and nodded her head. He lowered his head to her hot center and inhaled deeply through his nose. “Take off your skirt” He commanded. 

Still sitting on the sofa, Marlena reached behind her, unzipped and pushed her skirt down. Her eyes never leaving Johns. Now sitting before him with her legs slightly spread in her panties and blouse, John licked his lips as he saw her already damp panties. “ Unbutton your blouse while I take care of these” He said, as he traced his finger along the laced fabric, his voice hoarse with desire. 

He waited for her to obey his command. As soon as he saw her fingers start to fiddle with the small buttons, did he bury his head between her thighs. 

“God, I’m obsessed with you!” John groaned while he ripped her panties off. Marlena gasped loudly at his roughness. This was going to be fast and passionate. 

Not wasting anymore time, John pushed his tongue into her tight canal, the taste of her arousal exploded in his mouth. He could never have enough of her. With Marlenas legs spread wide, he devoured her like a starving man, sucking, kissing, licking, poking.

“John…” Marlena moaned as she felt the familiar feeling of pleasure start to spread through her body. Holding on tightly at his hair, she brought his head even closer. John could feel her orgasm building fast, but he had other plans.

Just when she was about to fall over the edge, did John remove himself from her. 

“Stand up” he commanded “ Go to your desk”. 

Marlena, standing clad in only her open blouse, bra and high heels, knew what he wanted. Slowly she walked toward the desk, making sure to put a little extra sway in her hips. When she stood in front of it with her legs spread, she put her palms down on the surface, arched her back and pushed her ass back. John was in awe of the sexy vision before him. A deep groan escaped him as he approached the vixen of his dreams. 

“Do you have any idea what you do to me?” His voice was so full of want and desire, that it made Marlena gasp. 

Standing right behind her bent over form, he unzipped his pants and let them fall to his feet along with his boxers. His hands roughly grabbed her ass, digging his fingers into her soft flesh. 

Marlena pushed her ass against John’s now throbbing length, with her heels on, the height and angle was perfect for him to take her from behind. 

“I can’t believe that this beautiful body has carried my baby” he growled hotly in her ear as he bent over her and his hands found their way to her abdomen. 

Marlena moaned and wiggled her ass against the hard tool now nestled between her thighs. She sensed his sentimentality, but right now she couldn’t think about anything other than him being buried deep inside of her, she needed him now. 

“John…no more talking” she murmured in a daze as she moved her hips, making his cock slide between her lips. 

That was John’s undoing. His hips pulled back slightly and then rammed into her core with such force it took Marlenas breath away. 

“Baby, are you okay?” He was surprised by his own roughness and afraid that he might have hurt her. 

Catching her breath, Marlena gasped and steadied herself. “ I’m perfect…Just give me a second” she said, looking over her shoulder and winked, giving him a sensual smile. She knew he needed more than her words to reassure him. 

John gave her the time she needed to accommodate his size, meanwhile his hands were busy caressing her soft breasts. 

He felt her starting to move her hips in a slow motion, up and down his shaft. 

“I need you to be very quiet…Can you do that?” She whispered as she felt herself struggling not to scream his name. 

Her hips started moving faster, leaving John breathless by the feeling of them being joined and the sight of his cock sliding in and out of her. 

“Hmm…yeah” he answered. 

Grabbing her hips with a firm grip, he pounded into, meeting her thrusts and felt himself too close to the edge. 

Sounds of bodies slamming against each other, low moans and growls, high pitched gasps and muffled screams filled Marlenas office. 

The end was near for the both of them as John frantically kept tapping the spot deep inside of her. When Marlena laid her upper body down on the table, John fell even deeper into her core and within seconds they both exploded into ecstasy. 

———

“Let me walk you to the elevator” Marlena said lovingly, kissing his cheeks as she helped him put on his jeans, just as he had helped her put her skirt on moments ago. 

He smiled at her beautiful face that was now glowing, revealing what had just happened 10 minutes ago. “I would like that…Brady’s wedding is tomorrow so I don’t know if I will see you” he said. 

“I know.. I wish I could witness the ceremony. My heart still thinks of him as my sweet little boy..” she said with a sad smile. 

Cupping her face, John pulled her lips to his in a sweet and loving kiss. “I will tell him about you and how you cared for him when he was a baby. But first I need to talk to Rebecca and tell her that it’s over. And just as soon as I’m in my car I will call my office and have some of my best investigators start working on finding our baby girl…” 

“Thank you…for just being you” Marlena said and kissed him. 

Walking hand in hand to the door they looked into each other’s eyes, making silent promises that everything would work out, that they would find their child, that they would both be free to love each other and that their future would be bright and full of happiness. 

Marlena reluctantly let go of John’s hand and opened the door, gesturing for him to walk out first. 

Kelly eyed the two as they walked past her, smiling at her with a look she couldn’t quite place. 

Pressing the elevator button, John turned around to face Marlena who stood at a safe distance. He quickly scanned the hallways to see if anyone was watching, before he stepped closer to her. 

Leaning his lips to her ear he whispered “ I love you..” letting his lips linger at her cheek. 

Marlena let her hand touch his as she closed her eyes, “I love you so…” 

The ding of the elevator broke their spell and they both took a step back. Taking one last look at her beautiful face, John turned around and entered the elevator and watched her brilliant smile before the doors closed. 

———-

Around the corner a set of eyes watched the sweet and intimate exchange between the two. 

Anger and jealousy rushed through her veins as she saw the evidence of what her gut had told her. Her husband was having an affair and not just with any woman. 

Rebecca had been doing some research and had learned about John’s former life here in Salem. Apparently he used to have a life, a family and a wife here, which he never cared to tell her about. 

In her delusional mind, Rebecca didn’t feel betrayed or mad at John, no her rage and anger was directed at the woman who was stealing her husband from her. And she needed to make Dr. Evans go away. 

Part 17

It was Saturday morning, the day of Brady and Chloe’s wedding. 

In one end of Salem, the Black family was getting ready for the big day, although several of them had other things on their minds. But today it was all about Brady. 

Across town, Marlena sat in her kitchen, quietly sipping her morning coffee. It had been one of the craziest weeks in her life. Everything had changed from the second John came back. Thinking about it, this was far from the first time that John had stirred things up. With him, their lives had always been filled with passion, action, danger, love, lighting and thunder. One couldn’t say that it had been boring, not then and not now.  

Her mind wandered back to when they first met, when he needed her help to try and figure out who he was. And when they went to West Virginia, where he ended up taking her hostage, and running from the KGB and Victor. But in reality, she didn’t want to leave him. She loved him already, even though she thought he was Stefano. And then there was her coma, followed by Orpheus kidnapping her and ending with them reuniting in Stockholm. Even when she returned from her 5 years absence, did the drama continue. Finding Roman in San Cristobal, Stella throwing her in the pit and John being the hero and coming to her rescue, but ending up with her down in the dark, facing death together. 

Ever since he left Salem, nothing even remotely like that happened. It was as if life slowed down and slowly sucked the life and happiness out of her. It wasn’t that she liked the danger and outrageous things that had happened to her when John was in her life, but somehow it made her feel alive and appreciate life even more. And the feeling of reuniting with John, whenever she thought she might never see him again, that was a feeling like no other. 

Her plan had been to talk to Roman when she came home yesterday, but like all other days, he was at the police station until late in the evening. She wondered if he would even notice if she just packed up her things and moved out..

“Good morning” Roman yawned, entering the kitchen and interrupting her thoughts. 

“Good morning..” Marlena replied, taking another sip of coffee. “Roman.. I need to speak with you” 

Running his hand through his hair, Roman looked at his wife and wondered why she sounded so serious. “Okay…but not now, I am going to the police station. We are so close to catching this guy we have been looking for for months.” 

Marlena let out a deep sigh. This was one of the reasons why they were never able to make things work between them. He always put work first, before his family and everything else. 

“Okay, I guess it can wait until tonight then!” Marlena couldn’t even be bothered to argue and demand that he stayed, she had tried that so many times throughout their marriage, but it was a waste of energy. 

With his back to her, Roman grabbed his cup and poured coffee. “I did a little detective work and did you know that John is in town because Brady is getting married here today?” 

Turning around with the cup in his hand, he watched her reaction closely. 

It didn’t surprise Marlena that he had figured it out, actually she expected it. Roman was jealous in regards to John and she knew he was bothered by the fact that John was back. 

“Yes I know. I have actually spoken to John and I’m considering going to the church to watch the ceremony” Marlena said. 

Roman furrowed his eyebrows and stared at her. 

“Have you seen John since the day in the park? When…Why” He questioned her, the feeling of jealousy and possessiveness creeping up on him. 

Seeing the condescending and nonchalant look in Romans eyes, made her want to just blurt out everything that had happened between her and John. “That is actually what I wanted to speak to you about, but I thought you needed to get to work” She said shrugging her shoulders. 

Roman couldn’t hide the worry on his face. This was not what he expected to hear from her. He had a sinking feeling that whatever she had to say would involve John and his life would change forever. “You are right Doc, it will have to wait until tonight. Oh and one more thing…just an advice… I wouldn’t go to that wedding if I were you…just saying”. 

To Marlena it sounded like a threat coming from an insecure, desperate and controlling man, which only made her do exactly what he was telling her not to do. 

“Thank you for your concern Roman, but I don’t need you to tell me what to do” Marlena said in a stearn voice and walked out, leaving Roman standing with an expression of confusion and concern. What was going on with Marlena? 

————

“Are you ready son?” John said as he stood in front of Brady with a proud smile. 

The ceremony was to begin in 15 minutes which gave the two of them a little time alone. 

“Yeah…as ready as I will ever be” Brady said, padding his father’s shoulder. 

Since the day in the park, when he had seen that woman, Brady hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. The feeling he had when he had seen her, had been haunting him even in his sleep. He kept hearing her voice and seeing those eyes and it somehow made him feel safe..loved. He felt like he knew her, but how? He had a feeling that his father would be the one to tell him. 

“Hey dad. That woman in the park the other day, the doctor…I feel like I know her” 

John was taken by surprise. How was it possible for Brady to remember Marlena? He was only a baby when they had left Salem. Staring into his son’s eyes, John decided to tell him just a little bit, although he felt that it wasn’t the right time. 

“You do know her..I mean, you did know her…It’s a long story and right now is not the time for it, but I promise you that I will tell you everything you want to know.” John said lovingly as he held Brady by his shoulders. 

Brady was tempted to ask more questions but his father was right, now was not the time. There was one thing though, he wanted to let his dad know. “ I have been hearing her voice, telling me stories and singing songs…when I hear it I get overwhelmed with these motherly emotions..but my mother is dead” 

John was at a loss for words. He knew that Marlena had loved Brady as her own son, but to find out that Brady, after so many years and him being so young, could still feel the love she had for him back then was beyond amazing. 

“Marlena, that’s her name. And the feelings you are remembering are because she did love you like a son, from the day that you were born until you were around one year old.” John took a deep breath and said “But right now you need to focus on your wedding and the beautiful woman who is about to become your wife”

Shaking his head to clear his mind from what he just learned, Brady hugged John. “Thank you for telling me dad, and you are right. This conversation has to wait. I love you!” 

“I love you too son!” 

———-

Unnoticed, Marlena snuck into the church and quickly found a seat in the far back corner. 

The church was beautifully decorated with flowers and candles, just like the wedding she and John had here. 

It was a small gathering of people, friends and Rebecca and Chloe’s family, she assumed. And by the altar stood John, Jack and Brady, all of them looking so handsome. Seeing them together like that, there was no denying that they resembled John, with their dark hair, sharp nose and their entire posture. 

The church bells sounded and the music started playing and in walked the bride followed by her bridesmaids. First two young girls, then two women. Before Marlena had a chance to register who one of the women was, the woman turned her head and stared at Marlena with such hostile eyes, that it made her shiver. If looks could kill, Marlena would have been dead at that moment. 

Rebecca couldn’t believe it. That Marlena had the audacity to not only try and steal her husband, but to show up at her son’s wedding too. She had been hesitant about what she was going to do about this woman, but seeing her here, hiding in the back of the church, was the last straw. 

As Rebecca followed the bride down the aisle, she decided that now was the time to take care of her ‘problem’. 

———

Marlena watched the ceremony, thinking that it was a big mistake showing up. All she wanted was to watch Brady get married and then quickly disappear unnoticed. 

Rebecca had been keeping an eye on her the whole time and if she got up to leave, everyone would notice her. 

She heard the priest pronounce them husband and wife, followed by the sound of clapping and cheering as the bride and groom made their way down the aisle. 

Just as they reached the doors, Brady felt a pull in him which made him turn head, staring directly at Marlena. 

“It’s you..” he mouthed in a small whisper. 

Marlena saw the recognition in Brady’s eyes and she instantly knew that Brady knew who she was to him. 

“Brady….” Marlena whispered back trying to hold back her tears. 

Rebecca saw what was happening and turned to John. “What the hell is she doing here?” she said harshly, pointing in Marlenas direction. 

John, who was unaware of what was going on, looked at the woman who had caught Rebecca’s attention. 

His mouth suddenly became dry and his blood started pumping fast. “I don’t know..” He stuttered. 

“I want her out of here now!!” Rebecca spat out. 

———-

Standing alone in the church, Marlena considered her options. Should she walk out the front doors and face Rebecca, Brady, Jack and John or should she take the back door and get out of there as quickly as possible? 

Her presence had already been noticed by all of them, so wouldn’t it make things worse if she just disappeared? 

Against her better judgment she started walking towards the front doors. She was going to walk out of there with her head held high. 

Stepping outside Marlena scanned the crowd and was glad when she didn’t see Rebecca and John. Everybody was standing in a circle around Brady and Chloe, congratulating them, which gave her the perfect opportunity to leave without anyone noticing. 

Just when she reached her car, she heard someone calling her name. 

“Hey…Wait…wait” 

Marlena turned around and saw Brady running towards her and her heart stopped. 

“Brady..” 

Brady stopped in front of her and looked into her eyes and was instantly overwhelmed by the love he saw in them. Surprising her and even himself, he threw his arms around her, hugging her as he said, “Marlena, thank you for coming today.” Pulling back he looked at her again. “My dad just told me about you, well only a little bit, but I remember you”. 

Marlena couldn’t hold back her tears as she looked at this grown young man, who she used to cuddle and fuss over when he was a baby. 

“Oh my sweet boy, I’m sorry for showing up like this today, but I just had to witness your big day…congratulations” Marlena said with tears running down her cheeks. 

Hugging her again, Brady couldn’t believe the feelings she made him feel. Feeling her warm embrace and her hearing her voice so full of warmth made him feel like a little boy again. 

“Can we meet and talk one day?” He asked nervously. 

“Of course.. I would love that” Marlena sighed. 

From a distance, John shed a tear as he watched the love of his life and his son reunite after 25 years apart. 

————

After her short and unexpected reunion with Brady, Marlena decided to drive across town and take a walk in the park. She needed to be alone with her thoughts and mentally prepare for her conversation with Roman later. 

So caught up in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the car that had been following her since she left the church. 

Making a right turn, she drove towards the bridge over the river, when she suddenly felt her car being hit from behind. Her heart jumped in shock and momentarily paralyzed her, before she was hit again. In panic and confusion she tried to maneuver the car, which was suddenly spinning out of control. Another hit to the side of the car made her lose control. Panic and fear were the last things she remembered before the car flew off the bridge and into the dark water. 

———-

Across town at the wedding reception, Rebecca’s phone vibrated and a message appeared on the screen. 

Unknown number: Your problem has been taken care of! 

Part 18

The cold dark water surrounded her and slowly started rising within the car. Her heart was beating fast as panic and adrenaline rushed through her body. She didn’t feel the blood that was running down her face from the deep cut on her forehead.  

Marlena desperately tried to open the door but it was impossible. “Oh God…what I’m gonna do” she cried out, desperately looking for something to get her out of the sinking car. Finding nothing that was hard enough to break the window, she felt hope slipping away as water now reached her waist. 

———-

John had been trying to call Marlena for the last hour to make sure she was okay after everything that happened at the church, but her phone went straight to voicemail. 

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, he felt it in his bones and his soul. Just like that time when Stella had kidnapped her and thrown her into the pit. 

“John honey, what’s going on? Why are you so tense?” Rebecca asked innocently. 

He couldn’t possibly know that something had happened to the pretty Doctor. 

Placing his phone back in his pocket, John took a deep breath and looked around the room filled with happy people, who were enjoying the wedding reception. 

“Oh..hmm…trouble at the office” he lied. 

Rebecca knew he was lying and tried her best to not show her anger. “This is our son’s wedding day…I wish you would focus on that and not work.” 

John knew she was right. He needed to be present and enjoy this special day and be there 100 percent for his son. So he pushed his fears and concerns to the back of his mind. He would try to call Marlena again in a few hours. 

———-

The water was coming in faster, now reaching her neck. It was so cold that it made her limbs numb, paralyzing her. Time was running out. 

She wasn’t ready to die yet, she still had so much to live for, now more than ever. The thought of not getting a chance to say goodbye to her children and friends….and John, and never getting a chance to see their child. 

Marlena started hyperventilating and tears streamed down her face as the reality of being trapped in the car, facing a horrible drowning death and the possibility of nobody ever knowing what happened to her. 

“Oh dear God…please…..John…” she begged, the water now reaching her chin. 

Filling her lungs with as much air as possible, Marlena made one last desperate attempt to open the door. Pushing with all of her strength, the door opened as the car was now completely filled with water. With her legs, she pushed herself out of the car and swam towards what she thought was the surface. Her numb body struggled in the cold water and she fought against the impulse to open her mouth and breathe in, as the weight of her wet clothes drew her deeper down the water. 

“John…”. She screamed into the water, letting out the last air before water filled her lungs… And then everything went black…

———-

John jumped in his seat and a cold shiver rolled down his spine. He knew that in that moment something was happening, something bad. And it couldn’t only be something considering Marlena. 

Abruptly he stood up, almost knocking over the table where they were dining. 

“John..What’s wrong?” Rebecca asked, surprised by his sudden move. 

Staring into the air with an emotionless expression John whispered, “I need to go!” 

Turning around and walking away from the wedding reception, he didn’t know where he was going, he only knew that he needed to find Marlena and make sure she was safe. 

Rebecca watched his retreating form and found her phone in her purse and opened the message from the unknown sender. 

Rebecca: What did you do?

Unknown: The car went over the bridge and into the water. 

Rebecca: What??? You weren’t supposed to kill her. 

Unknown: Well, now you never have to worry about her anymore. 

Rebecca put down the phone. This wasn’t her plan. She just wanted to scare Marlena, to teach her a lesson and make her stay away from John. 

This scenario would probably cause John to drift even further away, which was definitely not what she wanted. She had a feeling that a dead Marlena would cause even more trouble than a alive one. And she could lose John forever if he ever found out, that she was behind her death. 

———

John had no idea where he was going but suddenly found himself outside Marlena and Roman’s house, frantically banging on the door.

“Marlena…Marlena..” He yelled loudly, causing the neighbors to look out their windows, curious as to what the  commotion was about. 

After 5 minutes of constant yelling and banging on the door, John was about to leave when a car pulled into the driveway. 

“What the hell is going on here?” Roman shouted and got out of his cop car. “John…what the hell are you doing here?” He yelled as he saw who the intruder was. 

John turned around and saw Roman walking towards him with an angry face. But right now he didn’t have time to explain or try and soothe things out. 

“Where is Doc?” John asked. 

Roman couldn’t believe the nerve of this man. Showing up at his house, looking for his wife, demanding to know where she was. 

“How is it any of your concern where my wife is?” Roman said with venom.   

John took a deep breath to try and calm himself down and not physically attack the ignorant man in front of him. “Roman…I really don’t have time to explain it to you..But I need to know where Marlena is. Something has happened, I can just feel it. So please can you put aside your anger towards me and just tell me?” he said with a resigned voice. 

Roman eyes his rival. John did seem concerned but Roman wasn’t about to help him. If something had happened to Marlena, he sure as hell wasn’t going to let John be the hero, like he had been in the past. No, this time he would be the one who Marlena would look at with love, affection and gratitude. 

“Sorry John…I can’t help you” Roman said with a smug smile as he shrugged his shoulders. 

Shaking his head, John knew he wouldn’t get anything out of Roman. The man’s ego was too big and could potentially do Marlena even more harm. And right now, John felt like time was running out. 

“If something happens to her because you can’t put your ego aside and work with me on this, then…” John couldn’t even continue the sentence without wanting to strangle Roman. Instead he quickly walked past him, got into his car and slammed the car door and took off in a hurry. 

————-

15 minutes later John bursted through the doors of the hospital, pushing people away as he made his way to the information desk. 

Not caring about the line of people who were waiting for their turn, he walked past them with hurried steps. 

“Did a patient just come in…Dr. Marlena Evans?” 

The nurse saw the panic in his eyes and heard the fear hiding underneath his harsh tone of voice and figured it would be best for everyone if she just gave him the information he was looking for, despite the irritable looks of the people in the waiting area. 

Looking at him with empathy, she turned to the computer. “No Sir, I’m sorry” 

Closing his eyes, John tried to wrap his mind around where else he could look for her. 

Think John..Think. A man cleared his throat behind him, snapping him back. “Thank you” John said to the nurse with a sad smile. 

Walking back to his car, John took his phone and scrolled down to a name he hadn’t called in years. 

“Hello” A man answered. 

“Hey partner…it’s John.. I need your help”

Part 19

Abe stood in his living room with a million questions running through his mind. John had just called him, asking for his help. They hadn’t spoken since John had left Salem all those years ago. But being the detective that he was, Abe had kept track of where John had gone and his line of work. Not just out of curiosity but also because he genuinely loved him and cared about his best friend’s wellbeing. 

John had sounded panicked when he called, not  really telling Abe much, only that he was in Salem and that something had happened to Marlena. John had asked him to check if any calls had come into the police station, anything that could indicate an accident or something like that. 

If it had been anyone other than John who had asked him to help, only based on a hunch, Abe would have told them that they were crazy, but he knew of the special connection that John and Marlena had had and apparently still had. And if John believed that Marlena was in some kind of danger or trouble, he would not question it. 

Abe called the police station, but it had been a quiet day so far. One thing though, did trigger his alarm. Someone had called to report what had looked like a car chase. But when the police arrived at the reported scene, nobody had seen anything and there were no signs of a vehicle or a crash. Abe wrote down where the officers had searched, which was around the riverside and the bridge crossing the river. 

Abe knew the area well, there were a lot of industrial buildings there, which meant that there would probably be surveillance cameras. But seeing as no crime or accident had taken place, he wouldn’t be able to get the footage. 

Picking up the phone Abe called John and informed him. 

“So you can’t ask the owners for their surveillance footage?” John asked, frustrated. 

“No, not as a police officer anyway. But this is where you and your company come into the picture.” Abe hinted and hoped John would get where he was going. As a police officer, Abe couldn’t encourage John to do something illegal, such as hacking into the surveillance systems, but if he just planted the idea in John’s head then he figured no harm was done. 

It took a moment for John to understand what Abe was saying, his mind was so clouded, making it hard for him to think. And how did Abe know about his company?

“Abraham, thank you so much.” John said with a hint of hope. 

“No problem, partner. And please call me if there’s anything else I can do. And when you find her, I want to see you and catch up okay?” 

“Of course…thank you again…” John said and hung up. 

—————

Within an hour, John was in possession of video footage from the area that Abe had told him to take a look at. His company had some of the country’s best technology and apparently some of the best hackers, who knew how to access almost every computer without leaving any trace. 

Now sitting in his car, with his phone in his hand, by the riverside, John opened the first file that was sent to his email. 

John felt his heart racing as he watched the video. For the first 30 seconds nothing unusual appeared but then a black car started driving unusually close to the car in front of it and then hitting it from behind. 

Opening the next file, John saw how the black car started bumping into the side of the other car. The images were blurry but he instantly recognized Marlenas car from earlier at the church when he had watched her and Brady. 

John felt a stab to his heart as he watched the black car crash into Marlena’s again and again as they neared the bridge ahead. 

Taking a deep breath, John opened the last file. With fear and desperation he saw Marlena’s car spinning out of control and flying off the bridge and into the water. He rewinded to watch again and noticed that no people or other vehicles were around to witness the accident, which meant that nobody had been around to rescue her. 

John jumped out of his car and quickly ran to where her car had fallen and saw white foam on the water surface, indicating the exact location of her sinking car. 

He hurriedly started undressing while he called Abe to tell him what he had seen and to call for assistance. He didn’t hear Abe telling him no to go into the cold water as he threw the phone away and ran off to save the other half of his heart. 

—————

A young woman stood in front of her in a field covered with sunflowers. She had her back to her. Her hair was long and blonde and she was wearing a white dress. Looking around her surroundings Marlena didn’t recognise anything…. Where was she and how did she get here? 

There were no signs of other people or life for that matter, only the woman in front of her. Marlena slowly approached the young woman. 

“Excuse me Miss?…..Can you help me?” she said but got no response. “I’m lost and I need to get back home!” 

Still, the woman didn’t move or respond. Marlena stepped closer and reached for her shoulder. “Miss…are you alright?” 

It seemed as if everything happened in slow motion. The woman slowly turned around and stared intensely into Marlenas eyes. It was like looking in a mirror, her own face staring back at her, only the eyes of the young woman, were as blue as the ocean. 

“Mom…you found me!” 

————

“I found her car at the bottom of the river but she is not in there..” John yelled as he ran towards 

Abe, who had arrived with police and ambulance. 

John quickly put on his pants, shirt and shoes. 

“I’m going to follow the river downstream!” He informed Abe. 

“John, are you sure?” Abe asked concerned.

“”Abe…she is out there somewhere and I need to find her before it’s too late. 

Abe knew it was pointless to try and stop him or talk some sense into him so they could plan how they could cover the area most effectively. So instead he let John do what he needed to do and Abe would follow him, ready to step in if needed.

“John..be careful” Abe told and watched John run away. 

Before John had left Abe at the bridge he had made a quick phone call to the same employee who had sent him the surveillance videos and told him to trace down the black car. If something bad had happened to Marlena, he was going to make sure that whoever was responsible for the crash, would pay and wish they were never born. 

Superhuman powers took over as John forced his way through dense vegetation and over large rocks. His only mission was to find Marlena no matter how risky or dangerous it may be. Since he had left his son’s wedding, he hadn’t even spared his family one single thought. He didn’t even think about the fact that they might worry about where he had gone. Right now he only cared about Marlena and her safety. 

The sun was starting to set which ment low visibility and the possibility of spotting her or something else from a distance almost impossible. 

“Doc!!!!” He yelled with hopelessness into the dusky silence. 

Just as the last light was disappearing he saw something lying on some rocks on the opposite side of the riverbank. Without caring about the cold water or other dangerous factors he jumped into the water and started swimming. 

————

Marlena stared at the beautiful woman in front of her with a big smile while tears streamed down her face. She looked so much like herself but with a mix of John. Just like she always imagined  their child would look like. 

“Oh my sweet sweet baby girl..what’s your name?” Marlena whispered. 

“Alice..” 

Marlena covered her mouth with her hand to quiet down her sobs. It was just beautiful and perfect. 

“Is this a dream?” Marlena asked and tried to step closer to Alice but found herself not able to move. She felt like she was being pulled down “What’s going on?……I feel strange!..” Marlena said as she started to panic. 

“You can’t stay here.. You need to go back” Alice said as the distance between them grew more and more. 

“No…no… don’t go please. I can’t lose you again…please” Marlena begged, falling down on her knees. She saw Alice move her mouth but she wasn’t able to hear what she was saying. And then darkness surrounded her once again. 

————

“Doc..baby…please wake up…come on Baby” John yelled as he kept doing CPR on Marlenas lifeless body. 

Minutes before, he had reached her cold body which had been washed ashore. She wasn’t breathing, he felt no pulse and her lips were cold and blue. 

“Please don’t leave me…dear God please.” He cried out. 

He could hear the sirens from the ambulance and police cars coming nearer, giving him a tiny bit of hope that she would make it. 

“I got you Baby, just hang in there for a little while longer..” He cried as he kissed her cold lips, before blowing air into her lungs, willing her to open her eyes and take a breath. 

He was so focused on bringing his love back to life that he didn’t hear the commotion behind him from the paramedics rushing to him. It wasn’t until Abe gently laid a hand on his shoulder that he realized that help was there. 

“Good job John” Abe said. “Now let the paramedics do their job okay” he said, pulling John to his feet as the professionals took over. 

John felt the comfort from his friend and broke down in tears. “I can’t lose her…If she leaves this world, I might as well follow with her” 

Abe knew that John meant it. He had seen it when they all thought Marlena died back in 1986. Back then, there were times when he thought John might die from his broken heart and sometimes Abe would call just to check that he hadn’t taken his own life. The only reason John didn’t follow her then, was because of the children. Now, Abe was truly afraid that there was nothing holding John back. 

“Hey..she is going to make it okay!” Abe stated but feeling unsure. “You two always find your way back to each other….Now, get in my car and we will follow the ambulance”. 

John didn’t respond but Abe’s reassuring words made him believe that this was not the end for her or for the two of them. 

Part 20

It had been almost two hours since Abe and John arrived at the hospital, following the ambulance carrying Marlena. Nobody had been out to inform them about her condition yet and John was beginning to get impatient. Abe watched John pace the floor of the waiting area, his clothes were still wet and he looked both scared and exhausted. Abe had offended him some dry clothes but John had refused.  

Abe had been trying to get a hold of Roman but with no luck so instead he had called Sami, Eric and Carrie who were all now rushing down the hallway to the waiting area. 

Sami quickly spotted Abe and ran to him, never noticing John. “Abe…what happened? Is she okay?” 

It wasn’t until now that Abe realized that the kids probably didn’t know that John was in town, the man that they used to call their father and hadn’t seen or heard from in 25 years. 

With a nervous smile, Abe looked from Sami to John and then at Carrie and Eric. 

“We…haven’t heard anything yet….we…” Abe didn’t finish because in that same moment he saw everybody’s eyes turn towards John. 

———-

Jack sat and watched Brady and Chloe dance the last dance of their wedding. 

It had been a wonderful day until Dr. Evans had shown up at the church. Right after that something changed. Brady had seemed so happy after he had talked to her in front of the church, although Jack didn’t know how he knew her, but he came back with an even bigger smile on face. His mother had a completely different reaction. She had seemed anxious and angry the whole day, constantly looking at her phone. Even before his dad left the reception, Jack had seen her texting several times. And then there was his dad. He suddenly ran out, looking like he had seen a ghost, and never returned. When he had asked his mother where dad was, she had told him that there was an emergency at work.

But Jack could tell that she was lying. Something was going on and he had a feeling that it was something bad. 

For unexplainable reasons, he didn’t know at the time, Jack took his phone and replied to the message he had received from the unknown person, who apparently was related to him. 

————-

The scene that took place in the hospital waiting room was to the uncomprehending viewer a strange and emotional sight. 

John had been so caught up in his own emotions and desperation that he never considered that the kids were bound to show up. Therefore he was completely unprepared for the unplanned reunion and the reactions that his presence might cause. 

He looked at the now three young adults staring at him with open mouths and a look in their eyes that he couldn’t quite interpret. 

His own reaction to now standing in front of them again, left no doubt as to how he felt. Tears were streaming down his cheeks and all of the love he held in his heart for them radiated from not only his eyes but from his whole body. His lips quivered as he tried to speak but the lump in his throat made it impossible. 

Carrie was the first to break the silence. 

“Dad??” She whispered astonished, slowly stepping closer to him. 

“Punkin..” John said with a sob. 

Carrie threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. His warm and familiar embrace made her feel like no time had passed and made her feel like a little girl again. 

“What are you doing here?” Carrie cried into his still wet shirt. 

“It’s a long story but…..” John stopped and looked up at Sami and Eric who were standing a few feet away, watching them with uncertainty. He could tell that they weren’t sure how to react and what to make of this. 

“I…. I found your mother in a pretty bad shape. All we can do now is pray that she is going to be okay” 

Carrie let go of John and took a step back to look at him. She was still in a state of shock and had a lot of questions. John knew what she was thinking, what they all were thinking. There was so much he wanted to say, so many regrets. 

But for now, all he could do was to be there with them in this horrible situation, waiting for information about Marlena. 

“Oh God, I have missed all of you so much….I’m so sorry for leaving you..” He said, blinking back his tears. 

John watched as Carrie, Sami and Eric looked at each other like a silent conversation was going on, just like when they were small. After a few seconds he saw them nod and smile before they turned his way and jumped into his arms. 

Abe was so touched by the love he saw between the four of them that it brought tears to his eyes. Despite the terrible circumstances of their reunion, it felt so good, so right to watch them together again. 

Small sobs and quiet voices filled the room as the former family clung to each other. The happiness from being together again combined with the sad reality of the reason why they were at the hospital hit them all with such a force that words couldn’t describe. It was like they were transported back in time to 1986, when John had to tell them that Marlena had died. 

So caught up in the emotions of the past and the present, none of them noticed the doctor who was approaching. 

“Excuse me, are you the family of Mrs. Evans?” 

All four turned and looked straight at the doctor with fear in their eyes. 

Drying her eyes Sami said “Yes…we’re her children and this is her husb…” Everyone noticed her slip of the tongue. 

The doctor cleared his throat. “ Your mother is stable at the moment. But she suffers from severe hypothermia, water in her lungs and kidney failure due to being in the cold water for so long. She is unconscious right now and we can’t say for now, if she has suffered from any brain damage from being without oxygen. 

This is a very serious situation and if she wakes up, her prognosis doesn’t look good. Right now my biggest concern is her kidneys. If the numbers don’t improve over the next couple of days, she will need to have a kidney transplant. I want to test you kids to see if you are a potential match, okay?” 

They all nodded, trying to comprehend what they were just told. 

“Can we see her?” Eric asked. 

The doctor hesitated. “Just for a little while…and only immediate family.” He said, eyeing Abe and John. 

John watched Sami and Carrie follow the doctor, his heart was breaking. 

“Abe…this is all my fault. If I hadn’t come back to Salem, she would be okay…” John said with a shivering voice. 

Putting a comforting hand on John’s shoulder, Abe tried to be strong for his friend. “John..it’s not your fault. This was an accident. You saved her” 

“I’m not so sure..” John murmured to himself. 

Eric, who was following behind his sisters, turned around and looked at John. “John..are you coming?” 

“The doctor said family only!” 

“John, you are family!” Eric said with confidence. 

With a sigh of relief John said. “I’ll be right there. You go ahead and be with your sisters. Thank you son..” as more tears streamed down his face. 

————-

John stood outside the room where Marlena lay and watched the children stand around her still body. He didn’t want to interrupt their moment so he waited until they were ready to leave. 

Watching through the open door, his eyes fell upon Marlena. She looked so small and fragile in the big bed, with tubes and machines everywhere, one of them helping her breathe. 

He could hear Sami telling her that she needed to wake up and be okay. And Carrie telling her that they couldn’t make it without her. And Eric, standing between his sisters with his protecting arms around them as he prayed. 

On their way out the kids hugged John and told him that they would be in the waiting area and give him some time alone.  

With shaking legs, John slowly walked into the room. Grabbing a chair, he pulled it next to her bed and sat down. 

He carefully took her cold hand in his and lowered his head, his lips lightly brushing her skin. 

Although the doctor had said that her condition was far from perfect, he felt some sort of relief in seeing her chest slowly rise and fall again. She was alive and that was all that mattered right now. Whatever obstacles laid ahead in the future, he had to believe that she would overcome them…. That they would overcome them. And he promised her right then and there that he would be with her every step of the way to full recovery. 

John laid his head on her stomach and looked at her pale but still beautiful face. 

“I love you…you are my everything and I need you more than you know. We will get through this sweetheart, I promise. All I need from you is to just wake up…” 

He couldn’t hold back his tears any longer and broke down crying. 

“I have to leave now but I will be right outside, waiting for you. I won’t leave without you.” He said as he stood. He tugged a loose strand of hair behind her ear and lowered his lips and placed small kisses on her forehead. 

“I love you Baby” He sighed, finding it almost impossible for him to leave her. 

John didn’t register the commotion outside the room until the door suddenly swung open with a loud bang, followed by loud and angry yelling. 

“Get the hell away from my wife” Roman yelled. 

Part 21

“Roman calm down” John begged, putting his arms up in a surrender position. 

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do. This is all your fault” Roman yelled and pointed while stepping closer to John. 

“Everything was fine until you showed up. I know something has been going on between the two of you….if she doesn’t recover it’s on you!!” Roman spat out with fury. 

John took a big step back to put some distance between them and bumped into the bed behind him. Per reflex he turned around to make sure that Marlena was okay, his hand instinctively caressing her cheeks. Roman watched the intimate gesture and felt himself about to explode. 

“Don’t touch her!!” He yelled again with his face so close to Johns that John could smell his foul breath. 

“Roman…stop” John said in a low calm voice and put his hands on Romans chest, trying his best to avoid the situation escalating. 

Staring into each other’s eyes John was surprised to see how much anger, hate and resentment lay behind Roman’s cold stare. 

Trying again to calm him down, John whispered “Not here, Roman” as he glanced over his shoulder at the sleeping beauty behind him. 

That last small look that John gave Marlena, made Roman even more furious. Like Marlena needed John to protect her from her own husband.. He felt his blood pressure rise and before he knew it, his hand was in a tight fist ready to take a swing at John. 

John was totally unprepared for the attack from the man in front of him.

Roman drew back his arms and punched his fist with all of the force he had, directly into John’s cheek, making John stumble back into the bed and the machines next to it. 

It took a couple of seconds for John to register what just happened. The taste of blood made him touch the side of his mouth, confirming that he indeed was bleeding. John shook his head and looked at Roman with repulsion before he tried to walk past him. Just when he was at Roman’s side, Roman harshly grabbed the collar of John’s shirt. “Don’t ever come back” He said as he pushed John towards the door, where Sami, Eric and Carrie stood and watched Roman’s assault. 

“Oh my God dad..are you okay?” Sami gasped at the scene before her.

John and Roman looked at her and simultaneously said “I’m okay!” 

———

In a small town not far from Salem a young woman had just received a message from the person she had reached out to through an inheritage site. 

She had had a normal upbringing with a loving mother and father, who she had loved and cherished, but the older she got she felt like something wasn’t right. Her parents had always been somewhat secretive about certain things, like where they were from and their own family history. And when she had asked them about when and where she was born, like all children, they would hesitate and the story would change each time she asked. A small voice inside of her had always told her that she was adopted. With her long blonde hair and light blue eyes she didn’t resemble her parents. But she had never mentioned anything about it, afraid of hurting them somehow. 

Her parents had tragically died 6 months ago in a traffic accident. And it was after that, that she started digging into her family history and ended up sending in her DNA to an inheritage site. 

To her surprise there was a match. 

And now at 31 years old, she was at a crossroads with the possibility of maybe finding out who she really was and at the same time, possibly facing that her whole life had been built on a lie. 

————-

It was past midnight. 

Abe and John sat in the waiting area in silence. After the children had stopped the confrontation between Roman and John, he had reluctantly left Marlenas room. Everything inside of him wanted to fight Roman and throw him far away from Marlena and this hospital, but instead he had left the room in silence. 

Nobody besides him and Marlena knew what they had shared during the last week and nobody knew anything about their plans of leaving their spouses to live happily together, forever. And now was not the time to inform Roman or her children. So instead John had left, with the loving eyes of the children burning a hole in his back. 

Abe broke the silence. “John.. I don’t know what is going on between you and Marlena, and I know it’s none of my business but maybe it’s best if you go back to where you are staying and get some sleep.” He said and looked at the exhausted man beside him. “Your family must be worried about you” 

The mention of his family brought John back to reality. He had been so concerned about Marlena that he hadn’t even thought about them. But he knew that Abe had a point. He needed sleep to keep his head focused and he needed to talk to his wife. 

Rubbing his hands over his tired face John sighed deeply. “You’re right Abe, I should get back to the hotel. Will you call me if there’s any news?” 

“Of course” Abe said and padded his shoulder. 

Slowly standing up, John gave Abe a nod and whispered “Thank you partner”. 

As he walked away from Abe he glanced down the hallway towards Marlena’s room and felt his heart break a little more than it already was. 

———-

Standing outside the door to his hotel room, John took a moment to prepare himself mentally for the conversation he was about to have with his wife. He couldn’t lie to her anymore, it wasn’t fair to her. And there was no way for him to be by Marlenas side, if he had to keep it a secret. 

He knew that he was about to break her heart and it made him sad for her. But looking at hindsight this was a conversation that should have taken place a long time ago. She deserved a man and a husband who would love her completely and not a man like him, who never was able to show her who he really truly was. Someone who had always been so much in love with another woman, that everyone else paled in comparison. 

Taking a deep breath he slowly turned the door knob and entered the room. 

“Rebecca?” He whispered into the dark room. 

Just as he was about to turn on the light, he was startled by her voice. “Where were you?” 

Turning on the light he saw her sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, staring at him. He didn’t see worry in her eyes as he had anticipated, but what he saw made his skin crawl. Her eyes were cold, filled with anger and hate. He had thought that she was worried about where he had been, but her reaction to him being home was not one of a worried wife.  

“I’m sorry for leaving without an explanation but there was an accident……Marlena..”

Rebecca cut him off before he could finish. 

“Marlena…” She spat with venom. “What is it with that woman that has all of you so infatuated? Huh?….You…Brady…Jack!” 

The fact that she sat still, holding her stare at him, completely stripped from any emotion other than hate and jealousy sent a shiver down his spine. Where was the caring and compassionate woman he thought she was? Had she been hiding her true self for all these years, just like him? 

“Don’t you want to know what happened?” John asked, testing her. 

Rebecca closed her eyes and sighed. “I don’t care about that man stealing whore!!!” 

She didn’t mean to say it, to reveal that she didn’t care, but she couldn’t control her rage. When she opened her eyes again she saw the mistake she had made. 

The look of disappointment and disgust on John’s face left no doubt about what he thought of her at that moment. 

John couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Running his hand through his hair, he took a step back towards the door. He had actually felt horribly about telling her that he wanted a divorce, that they could never have a future together. But she had just made it really easy for him. 

Without saying a word, John turned around to leave. 

Rebecca jumped out of the chair and fell to her knees in front of him and clung to his legs. 

“Don’t go..please…I didn’t mean it…I’m so sorry..please..John” She begged. 

For a split second John felt sorry for her and was just about to regret his own cold response to her.  That was until he heard the next words that left her mouth. 

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. It was just to scare her….” She cried out. 

John froze. Did Rebecca have something to do with Marlena’s accident? Did she cause it somehow? He needed to know. 

Looking down at her pathetic form he asked in a stern voice. “What did you do?” 

“Don’t go…please…don’t leave me..” She begged again, not directly answering his question. But to John, it was all the answer he needed. 

He wanted to walk away and never see her again, he wanted to make her pay for what she had done. But she was also the mother of his child. 

“Rebecca..I’m leaving and I’m not coming back here. Do you have any idea of what you have done?” He said with a softer tone. She didn’t answer, she just kept sobbing and holding on to his legs, trying to physically prevent him from leaving. 

Wrestling himself free from her thigh hold, he didn’t look back as he left her lying on the floor. 

Part 22

John didn’t know how long he had been walking the dark and empty streets of Salem, but before he even realized, he found himself standing at the pier…their pier. 

He closed his eyes and inhaled the salty smell of the river and listened to soft sounds of small waves coming in. 

He was supposed to go back to New York tomorrow, back to his home, back to his job but now everything had changed. He didn’t have a home to go back to anymore and even if he did, he would never leave Marlena. Not now, not ever. 

Sitting down on a bench overlooking the river, John felt the tiredness sought through his body. Being at their special place bought him some sort of comfort and peace which allowed him to believe that everything was going to be alright. That she was going to make it through this. 

His eyes felt heavy and he allowed himself to close them for just a little while as he prayed for a sign. 

As he was dozing off a small wind blew, carrying the soft voice of the woman in his heart. 

“John, darling…you need to find our baby, our sweet girl..her name is Alice.” 

In his dreamy state, John saw Marlena in front of him, looking angelic with her blond hair blowing in the wind and dressed in a white dress. He reached for her face as a lone tear left his eye. 

“Baby…I love you so much. Will you come back to me?” He whispered with forehead against hers, and their lips inches apart. 

“I will.. just remember what I told you” 

John entangled his hands within her soft mane and gently traced his lips over hers before capturing her mouth. He kissed her ever so softly, wanting it to last forever and never let her go. 

————

In the hospital room, Eric was sitting by Marlena’s bedside. He had told his sisters to go home and get some rest and that he would stay here and watch over their mother. 

Roman had left not long after John and had spent his time with Marlena, being more paranoid about John than concerned about his wife.

Before Sami and Carrie left they had all been tested to see if they were a potential match, if a kidney transplant was needed. Now he could only sit here and pray…He would do anything for his mother. 

Watching his mother, Eric’s mind went back in time. He had been told stories from her life, from before he was born. She hadn’t had an easy life. Tragedy, sorrow, pain and heartbreak seemed to follow her. He had actually never thought about everything she had been through until now, where he watched her looking so small and fragile. 

Him and his sisters hadn’t always made it easy for her either, but no matter what they did, she would always be there for them. She loved them unconditionally and always forgave them. 

Eric felt remorseful and swore that when she pulled through this, he would never take her for granted again. 

Lost in thought, he didn’t see Marlenas eyes staring to flutter. 

“John….” It was so small and low that he almost didn’t hear it. 

————-

The sun was beginning to rise and warm rays of sunlight woke up John. Confused by his surroundings at first, John remembered where he was. He must have fallen asleep on the bench. Rubbing his tired eyes he looked at his watch, it was 6 in the morning. Standing up, he stretched his body and realized he was still wearing his clothes from Brady’s wedding. He needed a shower and some clean clothes, but he wasn’t prepared to face Rebecca right now. 

As he started walking, he checked his phone, hoping that someone had called him with news on Marlena, but to his surprise he realized that his phone was dead, probably out of battery. 

Just the thought that he could have missed an important call regarding her made him panic and he started running. 

Within 30 minutes he was standing outside an apartment, banging on the door. 

“Jack…wake up..” John yelled but tried to keep it down and not disturb the neighbors. 

He heard some muffled sounds from behind the door and then the door chain being removed. 

Barely awake, Jack opened the door to the sight of his father looking like he had been in an accident. His clothes were dirty and torn, his hair messy and he had dried blood on his cheek. 

“Jesus dad…what happened? Are you okay?” Jack gasped and opened the door for John. 

Walking into the apartment, John sat down with a loud sigh and ran his hands over his face. 

“I’m okay son…I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly last night but there was an emergency…an accident. Something happened to Marlena..Dr. Evans” John closed his eyes and relived the moment when he had found her lifeless body. 

Opening his eyes again, John saw the unspoken questions in Jack’s and decided to tell him everything. 

He told him everything about his previous life in Salem, about Marlena, his other children, and what made him leave 25 years ago. 

And however hard it was, he told him about his recent reunion with Marlena and that he was leaving Rebecca. He did leave out the part that Rebecca played in Marlenas accident, not wanting to make this even worse. 

Jack sat silent and listened to his father’s story. Although some of it was hard for him to hear and understand, it all made sense in some kind of way. The distance he had felt from his dad at times suddenly seemed to make sense. John’s  sad eyes when asked about his past and the fights he had overheard between his parents, his mother always accusing John of being withdrawn and not loving her enough. 

Jack felt for his father, for the pain he had endured in the past and the pain he was in right now. Most children would be sad to know that their parents were getting a divorce, and so was Jack. But what hurt him even more was seeing his father in a state of sadness and despair, something he had witnessed for as long as he remembered and if a future with Marlena was going to make John feel happiness again then that was what was the most important. Jack truly believed that his own happiness depended upon his father’s happiness. The struggles he had when he made that first appointment with Dr. Evans suddenly seemed to disappear with this new understanding of the man he looked up to the most. 

John felt a tremendous amount of relief as he and Jack embraced each other. 

“Thank you for being so supportive and understanding kid” John said with tears in his eyes. 

“Don’t thank me. I get that from you, you know” Jack said with a chuckle that disguised his own tears. “Why don’t you go take a shower and I will find you some clothes to wear” 

“Good idea” John said and walked towards the bathroom. “Can you do me a favor and put my phone in the charger?” 

“Sure” Jack said and did what he asked. 

———

After a long warm shower, John felt like a new man as he walked into the living room. 

Finding his phone he touched the screen and saw 10 unanswered calls and multiple messages from numbers he didn’t know. 

He quickly realized that they were all from Eric, telling him to call him back as soon as possible and most importantly that Marlena was awake. 

“Jack…I need to get to the hospital quickly, Marlena is awake!!” John yelled as he gathered his wallet and started putting on his shoes. 

Jack came running from the bedroom. “Dad..I’m going with you” He said with a serious voice that resembled Johns.  

“I wouldn’t want it any other way” John replied with a smile. 

With Jack behind the wheel, John called Eric to let him know that he was on his way. 

“What about Roman?” John asked. 

“I haven’t called him yet…she was asking for you. Actually, your name is all she has said since she woke up” Eric told him. 

“Tell her that I’m on my way” 

Part 23 

“John..” Her voice was faint. 

“I’m right here baby, I’m right here..” John said, bringing her hand to his lips. It was warm compared to the last time he touched her. 

Her body ached everywhere and her head was pounding, but having John by her side made the pain a little more bearable. 

Marlena cleared her throat and attempted to speak. “John…. You came for me, saved me”. 

John blinked back his tears, watching her struggle with her words. 

“Hey..shhh. Don’t push yourself Sweetheart. You just concentrate on getting your strength back. I’m not going anywhere”. 

John leaned over her body and placed a kiss on her forehead, letting his lips linger there for a moment as he inhaled her scent. 

Marlena placed one hand on his cheek and felt small tears wetting her hand. 

She could feel his relief, his gratefulness that she was still alive. 

But like herself, she knew that he was still scared. Afraid of what the doctor had just told her about her condition and the consequences of severe hypothermia and lack of oxygen. As a doctor herself, she knew that she was far from safe. 

“John, the doctor said….oh God, I’m so scared” She let out a small sob. 

Resting his forehead against hers, John looked into her eyes. “I know..me too Baby”. 

He wanted to make a promise to her that she was going to be fine and everything would work out, but the truth was that he couldn’t promise her that, not right now. 

Their lips met in a soft kiss as they whispered ‘I love you’. 

—————-

It had been 3 days since Marlena had woken up and John had been by her side as much as possible. He wanted to be with her 24 hours but he couldn’t because of Roman. 

John had told Marlena that he and Rebecca were over, but he left out the fact that she was actually behind the accident. 

But they had not told Roman yet. It was John’s idea that they should wait until Marlena was stronger. He didn’t want her exposed to more stress than necessary right now, and an angry Roman would definitely not help her. 

So therefore John would sneak away every time Roman came to visit. Thankfully it was only once a day for about 30 minutes, because he was as usual busy with work. 

They hadn’t told the children either, although they had to wonder what was going on. 

Now, per Marlena’s request, John, Sami, Eric and Carrie were all gathered in her hospital room waiting for the doctor to come in and give an update on her condition and the results from the donor tests. 

“So…we were wondering what is going on between the two of you” Sami broke tense silence, looking at her siblings and then John and Marlena. “I mean..we have seen the looks between you two and…hmm.. John is here right now and not dad” Sami looked down, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. 

Marlena looked at John nervously, she should have known that they were suspicious. Anyone with eyes could see that they were deeply in love. John constantly fussed over her, the loving looks shared between them, the small touches and words of endearment that flowed so easily from them, were not easy to overlook. 

Marlena cleared her throat and looked at John, giving him a small smile and a nod, silently telling him that now was the time to come clean. 

“It’s that obvious huh?” She smiled and reached for John’s hand. “John and I, we…well, I was going to tell Roman the night of the accident…” She suddenly stopped as memories of being trapped in the sinking car entered her mind. 

John sensed her unease and gently squeezed her hand, pulling her back and giving her the safety and comfort she needed. 

“Mom, it’s okay. You don’t have to explain, we are all adults here and honestly we just want to see you happy again..it’s been a long time!” Eric said. 

Tears welled up in Marlena’s eyes. The approval from her children meant the world to her. 

“Oh how I love you..Come here” she cried and held out her arms as her three adult children embraced her. 

The expected knock on the door pulled them apart and they all intensely stared at the doctor with fear and hope. 

The doctor stood before them reading through her file, only a few sounds coming from him. It seemed like forever as they waited for him to speak. 

“Hmm..okay…How are you feeling Mrs Evans?” He asked, looking up from the chart. 

All eyes were on Marlena who nervously fiddled with her wedding ring. “Under the circumstances, I feel okay. But I’m very tired, a bit nauseous and I don’t really have an appetite”. 

“That is good to hear.” The doctor said and looked at her chart again. “All your test results are okay, not great, but acceptable, except for your kidney function. The numbers are still low.

If I don’t see improvement within the next week, you will have to go to dialysis and if that’s not enough, you will need a kidney transplant. But that’s just worst case scenario. Seeing as your problem here is acute kidney failure due to hyperthermia and not a chronic condition such as illness, the chance of your kidneys stabilizing themselves and getting back to normal functioning is actually pretty good. But as I said, I need to see improvement quickly.”

“Were any of us a match?” Carrie asked and just then realized that she probably wouldn’t be, being that she wasn’t Marlena’s biological daughter. 

“For a kidney transplant?” The doctor asked and looked through his papers. “No, unfortunately. But we will cross that bridge if it gets to that point. Do you have any more questions?” 

It was all too much for both John and Marlena to take in and they felt ambivalent about what they were just told. Was this good news or bad news?

“Can I go home?” Marlena asked, looking at the doctor with pleading eyes. 

Taking a moment to think, he knew that being in the safety of one’s own home was the best medicine but he needed to make sure that she was supervised and taken care of. 

“Only if you have people around you at all times and take it easy. No commotion or anything that will make you feel uncomfortable or upset” He said as much to the other people in the room. 

Marlena wanted to get out of the bad hospital bed and cold hospital room, but she couldn’t go home. She couldn’t ask Roman to take care of her and not go to work, he would never do that for her. And her children had their own lives and she didn’t want to be a burden for them. 

Sighing deeply, she looked down at her hands. “Oh.. well I guess I will just stay here then. I don’t want to trouble anybody”. She whispered, trying to hold back her tears. 

“Okay.. if you have any other questions please come and find me” the doctor said and then left the room. 

As the door closed behind the doctor, John took Marlena’s hands in his. 

“Stay with me at the loft. I will take care of you” He looked at her with so much love it made her heart beat faster. 

“I can’t ask you to do that. John, you have a company and sons who depend on you. I can’t ask you to drop everything for me” Marlena said and lost the battle of holding back her tears as they now streamed silently down her cheeks. 

“Oh sweetheart, I want to, more than anything. And don’t you doubt that for a second. So please let me help you heal. Your body and your soul” He whispered the last part so the children wouldn’t hear. 

——-

After John had persuaded Marlena to let him take care of her at his loft, the children had left them with their blessings and told them that if they needed anything to just call. And if John needed to go anywhere, one of them would come and stay with Marlena. 

All that needed to be done now, was to call Roman. 

She had tried getting a hold of him before they left the hospital but he didn’t answer. So she decided to wait until later. 

Stepping out of the taxi, Marlena looked at the building she had come to love as her second home. The thought of staying there with John had always been a dream she thought would never come true. Although these weren’t the circumstances she had hoped and prayed for, it still made her heart flutter. 

John paid the taxi driver and walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. 

“Are you ready to be taken care of?” He whispered against her ear. 

“I am…”She sighed, loving the safety that his strong arms provided her. 

With one quick move, John swept Marlena off her feet, holding her closely in his arms. 

“John..” she gasped and giggled at the same time. “I can walk, you know!” 

“I know, but I’m not taking any chances. So be prepared to be pampered and fussed over lady!” He laughed and carried her inside, all the way to his loft. 

Part 24 

The soft cushions on his sofa was a welcoming feeling compared to the hard hospital bed. Letting out a sigh of satisfaction, Marlena felt her sore body immediately thanking her or rather thanking John for bringing her there. 

John had carried her all the way to the sofa and had gently placed her there, tugging her in like she was a child. 

Smiling to herself, she watched him working around in the kitchen to make her a sandwich. She had always loved to watch him cook, something she wasn’t very good at herself. She loved how he was in complete control and how he would always hum to himself, it brought a smile to her face. 

He had insisted that she should eat something, anything.

She had agreed, mostly to put him at ease, even though she still didn’t have much of an appetite. 

“Here you go, a grilled cheese sandwich for the pretty lady” He said with a bad French accent which made her giggle. 

Sitting up, she smiled a flirtatious smile. “Thank you monsieur. It looks absolutely délicieux” She replied, playing along. 

Sinking her teeth into the crispy bread, she savored the taste and felt her appetite slowly return. 

This right here is what I need to recover, she thought to herself. 

“What?” Marlena spoke with her mouth full, when she felt John watching her with a smile. 

“Hmm..nothing, just enjoying the view”.

He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was gorgeous, even with that big bandage on her forehead and the dark circles under her eyes. 

He watched her take another big bite and watch how her mouth slowly chewed. My God..her mouth, he thought to himself. 

When a string of melted cheese stuck to her lower lip and chin, John had to restrain himself from not removing it with his own mouth. 

Instead he watched her sneak out her tongue, licking slowly over her pillowed lips and ending up scraping her teeth over her lower lip to remove the remains of cheese. 

“What?” Marlena asked again innocently, with a cheeky smile. She knew darn well what she was doing and what effect it had on him. 

Swallowing loudly, John kept his eyes on her mouth. “Don’t tease me”. His voice was low and raspy. 

Marlena thoroughly enjoyed herself and took another big bite. This time spilling cheese down her cleavage and on her white v-neck t-shirt. “Ups!!” She giggled. 

John was entranced, not able to move or speak. With his mouth slightly open, his tongue unconsciously sneaked out, licking his lips as he watched Marlena slip her finger down between her breasts, removing the cheese. When she looked up and locked eyes with him, she ever so slowly brought her finger towards her waiting lips. Her next move nearly caused John’s heart to stop. Holding her intense stare, she put the cheese covered finger between her lips, her tongue licking and swirling around it while she moaned with pleasure.

John snapped. He couldn’t handle her sweet torture anymore and the growing pressure within his pants. 

With one fast move he grabbed hold of her wrist, making her finger leave her mouth with a pop. 

“Please..let me!” 

He watched her eyes widen, surprised by his sudden move and her chest rising and falling faster with anticipation. 

Blood ran straight down to his growing manhood as he took her finger in his mouth with a growl. 

Sensually, he swirled his tongue and gently scraped his teeth along her finger, making her gasp. 

Her small wimps and moans were music to his ears..the best sound in the world and to know he was the cause of it made him crazy with desire. 

John tore his eyes away from hers and looked down at her glistening cleavage.

 “Tasty..” He murmured when he let go of her finger, his eyes still locked on her full round mounds. 

Lowering himself down to the floor in front of her, he kneeled and he crawled between her legs. 

Marlena knew what he wanted. Her hands quickly found their way into his hair and pulled his face closer. When she felt his lips and tongue sucking and licking the top of her breasts, she threw her head back, arched her back and let out a deep sigh of pleasure. 

They were both lost in the sensation of being together again and the fire that was starting to burn out of control. 

John cupped her breasts in his hands, taking a moment to feel the weight of them, before he pushed them together and buried his head in the cleft of heaven, while his thumbs brushed over her nipples. 

Marlena moaned and tightened her grip on his head, pushing his head even further against her bosom. 

John needed more, more of her soft skin. He let go of her breasts, slowly sliding his hands down her torso to the hem of her t-shirt, while his mouth was still occupied. 

Pulling away he looked her in the eyes, to confirm that what he was about to do was okay. 

Marlena smiled and gently caressed his cheek, silently giving him permission. 

With eyes still locked and hearts beating in sync, John started lifting her t-shirt up, revealing the skin of her stomach. Lowering his head, he placed feather light kisses as he continued to lift her t-shirt up. 

With the garment now off, he pulled back, still on his knees between her legs, and took in the sight before him. Across her chest and abdomen were large black bruises, caused by the seat belt. 

“Does it hurt?” He asked while his fingers softly traced the visible evidence of the accident. 

“A little..” she whispered. 

John’s lips follow the same path as his fingers, carefully placing small pecks. If he could, he would do everything to take her pain away. 

Marlena melted at the tender caresses and affection of his skilled mouth and hands. She felt the warmth spread through her limbs and settle in the pit of her stomach. The amount of love and desire she felt for him in that moment was so special, so captivating and so all consuming, that she wished for it to never end. 

“I love you so..” she sighed as the air left her lungs. 

“You are everything to me..” John whispered against her bruised flesh. 

John’s hands found their way to her back. Slowly sliding them upwards towards the clasp of her bra, intent on releasing her breasts for his enjoyment. 

Unfastening her bra with one swift move, he watched with amazement as her full globes were revealed, immediately inviting his awaiting mouth to have a taste. 

Sliding the straps down her arms, Marlena was equally entranced by watching John’s reaction to her body. No matter how unattractive and undesirable she felt, he always had the ability to make her feel like the most beautiful and sexy woman in the world. 

When she felt his hands cup her and his thumbs brush over her now perky nipples, she thought she was going to cum right then and there. 

“Hmmm…Oh John!!” 

Sneaking his tongue out, he traced the outline of her areola, teasing her but at the same time bringing them both pleasure. 

Just when he was about to fill his mouth with her ripe flesh, there was a loud bang on the door followed by loud yelling. 

“John..Open the door…. I know you and my wife are in there”

John and Marlena froze and looked at each other….”Roman..”

Part 25

“Marlena..” John whispered with panic in his voice. 

“It’s okay..it’s okay” Marlena replied while quickly putting on her t-shirt and running her hands through her hair, trying to disguise her aroused state. “Go..open the door..I’ve got this!”

Standing up, John took a deep breath, to calm down his nerves and his body. “Okay, you ready?” 

Nodding her head, she prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation that was about to take place. 

“Roman..calm down!” John said as he opened the door. 

Without looking at John, Roman burst inside, hitting John’s shoulder with his own on purpose. “Where is she?” He yelled angrily. 

Quickly turning around, Roman pointed a finger at John’s face. “And don’t tell me what to do. Now where is my wife?” 

“Roman..please” Marlena interrupted what was about to become a dangerous interaction between the two men. She could see John’s jaw tighten and his hands clenched into fists. He was doing everything possible to restrain himself from not throwing Roman back outside the door. 

Turning his head, Roman looked in the direction of her voice and saw her sitting on the sofa. “I’m taking you home!” He commanded as he walked with ruched steps towards her. 

He suddenly stopped in his tracks a feet away from her. His eyes scanned her form and demeanor. Her hand’s fiddling, her averting eyes, her swollen red lips and her tousled hair. 

His eyes caught something on the sofa’s armrest. Taking a step closer, he narrowed his eyes and saw her discarded bra. 

“What the hell” he let out, slowly putting the pieces together. 

Marlena stood up and reached out her hand. “Roman…I’m sorry..” was all she said. She wasn’t going to deny or try to make him understand. 

But she was truly sorry, not just for what he was realizing right in that moment, but also for the years when she didn’t have the courage to leave their loveless marriage and give him a chance at real love and happiness. 

“So you two have been having an affair…” It was more of a statement than a question. 

“How long have you been sneaking behind my back making me look like a fool..huh??.” Roman’s face was red with anger. 

There was no point in denying the obvious Marlena thought. “Roman, I wanted to tell you the other day but as usual you weren’t interested in having a conversation with me. I…..” Marlena stopped and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, but Roman, I haven’t been happy for a really long time and I’m sure neither have you…I..”

Roman interrupted her, his voice was thick with disgust and anger. “Don’t pretend to know how I feel. You are my wife. We took vows and you betrayed me with that son of a bitch” He spat and turned to point his finger at John. “Do you think that you can just walk back into Salem and into our lives like you did all those years ago..huh.. And think that you could come back and claim what you think is yours, my children and my wife, without it having any consequences?” Roman was raging. 

“Roman, let’s talk calmly about this” John said, defensively holding up his hands. He felt this situation was beginning to escalate quickly. And he saw that Marlena was getting nervous as well. 

Roman ignored John’s plea and turned back around to face Marlena who was now standing. His eyes immediately fell to her bosom, her white t-shirt was slightly see through, confirming that the bra on the sofa was indeed hers and probably recently removed by John’s hands. Roman’s blood was boiling out of control, all common sense left him, leaving only the primal part of his brain to take control of his actions. 

He suddenly launched at Marlena in one quick move, grabbing her upper arm. “I’m taking you home, right now!” 

Marlena tried to wrestle his hand off her arm, but he was holding her so tight that she was sure it would leave a mark. “Roman, let go your hurting me” She said calmly with a definite voice. 

“Roman…let go..” John warned as he slowly approached them. 

“Stay out of this John, this is between me and my wife..” Roman yelled as he started to drag Marlena towards the door. 

Marlena felt fear sneak in. She had never been afraid of Roman or afraid that he might physically hurt her somehow but right now she wasn’t so sure. She had seen him angry many times but not like this. 

With that in mind, Marlena kept trying to break free of his strong hold. “Roman, I’m not leaving with you. I’m staying here. So let go of me!” 

John couldn’t restrain himself anymore. So with Roman’s back to him, he grabbed Roman’s shoulder with one firm hand while the other grabbed a hold of his other arm. “Get the hell out of there right now!!.” John commanded as he pulled Roman away from Marlena with such force that it left no doubt that he would kick his ass if Roman didn’t obey. 

“Don’t touch me..do you hear me!” Roman yelled back and took a swing at John. 

John saw the fist coming and took a quick step back, resulting in Roman losing his balance and falling to the floor. 

Looking down at the man who was lying on the floor, John had never seen such a pathetic and disgusting sight before. Whatever respect he once had for Roman, disappeared the second he had yelled and put his hands on Marlena. “If you don’t get up and leave right this second, I’m going to throw you out myself.” John spoke through clenched teeth. 

Roman thought for a second as he tried to stand up. “This isn’t over.” He yelled defeated towards both John and Marlena. 

As Roman made his way towards the door, John followed close behind, ready to take him down if he tried anything. 

When Marlena heard and saw the door close behind Roman, she released a deep breath of air that she wasn’t even aware she was holding. 

“Are you okay sweetheart?” John asked as he approached her. 

“Yeah, I think so.” 

“You’re afraid!” He stated, taking her tight fists in his large hands. “He’s not going to hurt you.. I won’t allow it.” He brought her hands to his mouth and kissed them until he felt her starting to loosen up. 

Guiding her to the sofa, he sat down first and pulled her to sit on his lap. Brushing a loose strand of hair away from her forehead, he looked at her with such admiration and love that it made  Marlena feel shy. 

While sitting on his lap, she snuggled her head into the crook of his neck and reveled in the warmth and safety his protective arms provided. 

———-

Marlena woke up, slowly opening her eyes. It took her a moment to realize where she was and with that realization, a satisfied smile formed on her lips. Looking to her right she saw the most beautiful sight, one she had dreamed of waking up to for 25 years. John sleeping peacefully on his side with his face towards her and a protective arm draped around her body. 

She had no idea what time it was, but it was still dark outside. Closing her eyes, she thought back to everything that happened yesterday. It was all a mess, everything considering Roman. After he had left, they had stayed cuddled up on the sofa for the rest of the day. John had only left her side when he had insisted on making them dinner. After that they had watched a movie and she had fallen asleep in his arms. He must have carried me to bed, she thought. 

Opening her eyes again, she turned to her side and took the time to study the beautiful features of John’s face. His pointy nose, strong jaw, the wrinkles around his eyes and his soft lips. God, he is the most beautiful man. 

The last couple of weeks had been so dramatic and emotional, but she would do it all over again, if the outcome was this moment right here. 

With a feather light touch, she traced his lips with her finger.  

“Are you trying to seduce me?” He whispered, his eyes still closed. 

Marlena giggled, surprised that he was awake. “Maybe” 

In one swift move, John grabbed her hand and rolled his body over hers, pinning her arms over her head. A scream, followed by laughter escaped Marlena’s mouth.

Hovering above her body, John looked down at her and smiled. “I love you..”. His mouth found hers, their tongues dancing along each other. When the need for air grew too big, John reluctantly released his lips from hers, only to continue a path of licking and sucking, from her lips, to her cheek and then to her earlobe where he gently nibbled. Marlena wrenched beneath him and breathed out soft low moans. John continued to hold down her arms above her head as his skilled mouth continued on its journey down to her neck and collarbone, where she could feel him leaving small love bites that would probably be visible tomorrow. 

“Hmm..John” She gasped, when he grinded his lower body against hers, revealing his very hard arousal. She couldn’t help the small rising of her own hips, desperately needing to feel more of him. 

Tearing his mouth off the top of her full mounds, John gazed into her eyes. “Are you sure about this? I don’t want to hurt you or do anything that would jeopardize your recovery.” 

She could see the concern in his face. “I’m sure.. I know what’s good for me. You are all that I need and you won’t hurt me…you heal me!!” She said with such confidence and that was all John needed as he released her hands and tore off her t-shirt, ripping it apart down the front. 

They quickly discarded their clothes in a desperate need to be joined as one. 

With Marlena lying naked on her back, John crawled between her open legs. He could feel the heat from her pulsating center hitting his aching manhood, making it twitch. 

Letting his hand run down between her slick folds, he groaned when her wetness immediately covered his fingers. She was more than ready and so was he. 

Lying above her, with his bent arms supporting his weight, he looked down at the beauty beneath him. 

“You are beautiful..”He whispered. 

Scraping her nails along his naked back Marlena replied “Make love to me. “ 

She arched her back so that her naked breasts made contact with his hairy chest, the friction creating a rough but delicious sensation that made her moan out loud. 

John captured her lips with his and swallowed her small cries of pleasure. 

Marlena wrapped her long legs around his upper body and pressed her heels against his ass, begging him to enter her. 

By its own, John’s cock found its way to her warm and soft center and slowly entered. The feeling was too much for the both of them, too overwhelming and too pleasurable. She was so tight and her inner wall kept clenching down on his over sensitive cock,  making it almost impossible for him to move. 

When he felt her pelvic move in slow wave-like movements, he forced himself to think about baseball, anything else but the wixen who was going to be the death of him. 

With incredible self control he started to slowly pull out of her, only to push back into her haven agonizingly slow. He kept that slow pace for a while until he felt her nails dig into his flesh, indicating she was nearing the edge. 

“Don’t stop..” Marlena murmured, finding it hard to put a sentence together with her approaching climax coming closer and closer. 

John ignored her plea. He wasn’t ready for this to end already. Pulling completely out of her, she whimpered in the loss of him. 

John quickly turned her to her side and spooned her, bringing their bodies close together. Wrapping his arm around her, he grabbed her breast while the other hand grabbed her thigh, bringing her leg up to rest on his hip, opening her. 

He entered her again, this time hard and to the hilt of his cock. This position made it possible for him to bury himself even deeper into her pussy and to find that special spot, that made her scream his name over and over again.

With his hot breath and words of love in her ear, Marlena felt like she was floating. Every time he would pound into her, she felt electricity shoot through her body and the well known tingling sensation started to spread through her body. 

Their movements became more intense, more desperate. His thrusts were hard and powerful and she welcomed them, as she arched her back and pushed her ass against his body. 

“John…”

“Marlena..” 

They cried out when they both exploded. Her inner wall clenching and milking him for every single drop until he was completely drained. 

Still spooning her, John wrapped his arms around her and entangled his legs with her. “You..Pretty Lady.. You are what dreams are made of”. He said out of breath as he nibbled at her shoulder. 

“Hmm..so are you Sailor.” She giggled and turned her head and kissed him ever so softly. 

Part 26

It had been a week to the day since Marlena was discharged from the hospital and went home with John. 

They had spent the whole week at the loft, with a constant invasion of Sami, Eric, Carrie and Jack, not leaving them much time alone. They hadn’t heard anything from Roman since the incident and neither from Rebecca, which was a bit unsettling given the circumstances. 

John had been by Marlenas side constantly, fussing over her, making sure that she would eat and drink enough, in the hopes of getting her kidney function back to normal, and today was the day they would get the results. 

John sat on the bed and watched Marlena getting dressed and ready to leave for the appointment with the doctor. Her body still bore the evidence of the accident that nearly killed her, although the bruising had subsided, she looked fragile and pale, her skin missing its usual glow. 

He had kept asking her how she felt and every time she would smile at him and say ‘just perfect’. He knew she was lying to him, afraid to tell him the truth and make him worry even more than he already did. 

Standing in front of the mirror and admiring her outfit, Marlena saw John approaching her with a worried smile. His hands reached for the zipper in the back of her yellow summer dress and slowly zipped up, while his lips skimmed her bare shoulder. “I’m nervous..” He admitted. 

“I know, darling,” she sighed. She was also worried but she had decided a week ago that she would not spend the time fearing the worst, when she could enjoy her time alone with John. But deep down she knew that what the doctor had to say today, was not what they hoped to hear. And maybe she had already made peace with that somehow. 

Still standing behind her, John wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close to his body and buried his nose in her hair. Marlena leaned her head back on his shoulder and melted into his warm embrace. Both were mentally preparing themselves for whatever news they would receive later, drawing strength and courage from each other. 

Looking in the mirror Marlena’s heart fluttered at the sight of the two of them. She still had trouble believing that this was real, that they were finally together. She had woken up every night and felt panic and sadness overwhelm her until she would reach over and find John sleeping peacefully next to her. And every time she would snuggle closer to him and thank God that it wasn’t a dream. 

“We are looking mighty fine today,” Marlena said smiling, trying to lighten the mood. 

Swaying their bodies slowly from side to side, John looked up and saw their perfect image. 

“No, you look mighty fine. Are you trying to impress the doctor or something?” He joked. 

“Hmm, maybe..” Marlena teased and winked. 

“If he tries anything he will have to deal with me”. Even though he was joking his voice bore a possessiveness to it. 

When John started nibbling at her earlobe and tickling her sides, Marlena let out a loud laugh as she squirmed and tried to break free from his teasing ministrations. 

John’s heart melted at the sound of her carefree and heartfelt laughter. It simply was the best sound in the world, next to her sensual moans and screams of course. 

Her laughter was also very contagious and no matter how hard he tried not to laugh along with her, he always ended up breaking down laughing. 

Realizing that she couldn’t escape his firm but loving hold, Marlena quickly spun around in his arms and threw her arms around his neck. 

Their eyes locked and their laughter subsided as they both got lost in the deep love and affection they saw. 

“Give me your mouth,” She demanded in a whisper. 

John entangled his hand within her hair, angling her head before he crashed his lips against hers. 

Marlena immediately opened her mouth and welcomed his demanding tongue. 

When she sucked on his bottom lip, she was immediately rewarded with a deep growl from John. The heat between them quickly started rising as their kisses became more and more full of desperation and desire but also fear. 

When the need for air became too much John tore his mouth off hers. With heavy breaths, kiss stained lips and eyes filled with lust, they glanced at each other. “We need to get going now or else we will have to reschedule with the doctor,” John panted and his hands skimmed up the back of her thighs, coming to rest on her firm ass. 

Standing on her toes, Marlena pressed her pelvis against Johns and felt the bulge in his pants. 

“Oh..” She moaned and kissed his neck. “Let’s reschedule..” she mumbled between kisses. 

John squeezed her cheeks hard and pulled her even closer, grinded his now throbbing length against her hot center. When he felt her hands sneaking underneath his shirt, he had to dig deep to find the last shred of willpower. He let go of her ass and grabbed her wrists to stop her seduction. 

The disappointed look on her face, when she realized that John was stopping them from going any further, made him laugh. The way she stuck out her bottom lip a little and the way her nose wrinkled, melted his heart. She was so darn cute and sexy no matter what she did. 

“I promise that we will continue this when we get back” He chuckled and pecked her lips. 

Taking her hand in his they walked out the door and to the car and drove towards uncertainty. 

——-

They both sat silently in the car, trying to comprehend what the doctor had just told them. 

Marlena stared out the window, a small tear rolling down her cheek. Just like the buildings outside the moving car, she saw her life pass by at 100 miles an hour. 

She really wasn’t surprised when the doctor had told her that her kidneys still weren’t functioning properly and that he recommended dialysis to see if that would help reset the kidney function. Why couldn’t things finally go her way? Just when I’m finally happy, something bad happens? Why can I catch a break in my life? She questioned. 

John’s warm hand on her knee snapped her out of the dark thoughts that threatened to destroy her ability to live in the moment and appreciate what was actually good in her life right now. 

Drying her tears away, she turned her head to look at the man who would do anything for her. 

Rubbing his thumb against the inside of her knee, John took his eyes off the road for a second to look at her. 

“You’re going to be fine doc, I feel it in every bone in my body.” He said and looked back at the road. She had to be alright, there was just no other way. 

“I know.. I believe you” she responded and took his hand, bringing it to her lips before placing both his large hand and her small one over her heart. 

———

When they had returned from the hospital, John had tucked Marlena in. She would never admit it herself, but he could tell she was tired. It had been a long and emotional day. 

With Marlena sleeping, John had called her children to let them know what was happening and what the plan was. 

He had also called Jack and Brady, who had just returned from his honeymoon. Both boys were still struggling with everything that had happened between their parents but they were slowly getting used to the idea of this new family structure. When they heard about the new status on Marlena’s condition they had asked if they could come visit. 

Kneeling down beside the sleeping beauty on the sofa, John gently removed some loose golden tresses from her forehead. “Hey pretty lady..” He whispered when her eyes slowly opened. 

Stretching her body, Marlena yawned. “How long have I been sleeping?” 

“About two hours. The boys are coming by soon. Are you okay with that?” He smiled at her. 

“Sure, of course.. I would love to see them. I’ll just go freshen up” she said as she stood up. 

When she descended the stairs after 15 minutes, Jack and Brady had already arrived and stood in the kitchen with John. She could hear them laughing at what she assumed were stories from Bradys honeymoon. 

They hadn’t noticed her until she cleared her throat, making all three men jump and turn around. 

“I feel a little left out” she laughed at their shocked expressions. 

John came up to her and placed a kiss on her cheek. 

“Dr. Evans it’s so good to see you looking well” Jack said. 

“Please Jack, call me Marlena.” She replied and walked up to him and gave him a hug. 

Releasing Jack from her loving embrace, she turned to Brady and hugged him. “Welcome home”. 

Again, Brady felt a sting in his heart, just like the day of his wedding when they had hugged outside the church. It felt so familiar, so filled with love but also deprivation. 

“Thank you” He whispered and closed his eyes. His nose picked up the scent from her hair and what could only be a faint memory flashed before his closed eyes. He saw himself as a small baby, wrapped in loving warm arms, kisses to his cheeks and her voice calling him ‘her sweet baby boy’. 

Marlena felt Brady hugging her tighter and something told her that he was remembering her, the two of them together and how she had cared for him like her own son. 

“I think we have a lot to talk about, my sweet boy” She whispered with tears running down her cheeks. 

————

They talked for hours, explaining everything from the beginning, from the first day when an amnesiac John came to Salem and shook hands with the beautiful Dr. Evans. 

The story was filled with dramatic events, tragedy, and painful moments but what shined through in every single narrative was the depth of love and affection John and Marlena shared. 

It was overwhelming for all of them, both to relive and to listen to everything that had happened and how it all had led to them now sitting there at John’s loft. 

“I always felt like something or somebody was missing in my life, but I always thought it was my biological mother,” Brady said, looking down. “But I was you, Marlena. It has always been your voice in my dreams and your soothing words that would help me calm down when I was scared or needed comfort” He looked up to find her smiling face. 

“I love you so so much, and I missed you so much” Marlena sobbed as she hugged him. 

“And Jack..” She said, letting go of Brady, “From the first time you stepped inside my office, I knew that you were special and I honestly felt a special connection to you. I felt like I would do anything for you”. Wrapping her arms around Jack, he felt loved and seen in a way he never had before. 

John’s heart felt like it was about to burst. The sight before him was everything he had ever dreamed of. Him, her and all of their children, together as a family. 

Now all they needed was Marlena getting completely healed and for them to find their daughter.

“So…on a different note,” Jack said, trying to collect himself. “Remember I told you both about this person who had contacted me on that inheritage site..well I’m meeting that someone tomorrow.” He let out a nervous sigh. 

“That’s great son…I can’t wait to hear all about it. Imagine if it’s someone from my past” John said enthusiastically. “What’s this person’s name?” 

“Her name is Alice and she’s 31 years old” Jack said with a nervous smile. 

John and Marlena stared at each other with open mouths and simultaneously whispered…

“Alice….” 

Part 27

Minutes had gone by without anyone saying anything. Brady watched as John and Marlena both stood with a blank look on their faces, like they had seen a ghost. And Jack was biting his lower lip like he always did when he felt nervous. What am I missing here, Brady thought to himself. 

“Dad…are you okay?” He asked nervously and put a hand on his shoulder. 

John was startled, almost jumping when he felt his son’s touch. “What..?” 

“I asked if you are okay” Brady repeated. 

Running his hand over his face John tried to collect his thoughts. Ignoring Brady’s question he quickly reached for Marlena who had not moved an inch or said anything. 

“Baby…” He whispered and framed her face with his hands, his thumbs softly caressed her cheeks. 

When he finally made eye contact with her, she snapped out of the hypnotic state she seemed to be in. 

“John….Alice…our baby girl..” She stuttered with a mix of happiness, excitement and doubt present in her hazel orbs. 

“I know sweetheart, I know” he said, his thumbs removing the tears that now streamed down her cheeks. 

Marlena looked at him baffled. “You do?..how?”

“You came to me in a dream…you told me to find her and told me to remember her name…Alice…I didn’t remember until Jack said her name” He explained as it all came back to him. 

“I…I saw her…John.. I..it must have been a dream too” She stuttered, trying to explain. “She has your eyes..” A loving smile formed on her lips. 

“Dad…Marlena, what are you talking about? What’s going on?” Brady asked even more confused than before. He turned to Jack, who to his surprise was not a big question mark, like himself. “Jack?” 

Jack’s suspicion was confirmed by his father’s and Marlena’s reaction. When he had learned that the person who had contacted him was 31 years old and suspected that she was adopted, something inside of him told him that she indeed was related to his father. That, combined with the story that John and Marlena had shared with them, about how they used to be married and everything that happened afterwards, it didn’t take much of a genius to figure out that Alice was their child. His plan was to tell them what he had figured out tonight, that’s why he wanted to come over, but he didn’t expect them to already know that they shared a long lost child. 

“It’s okay Brady..Let’s leave the two of them alone and I will fill you in, okay?” Jack said as he pulled at Brady’s arm. 

It wasn’t until John heard the door close behind his sons, that he noticed they left. Marlena was still in a state of shock and overestatic joy by the prospect of being only hours away from reuniting with their daughter. “Tomorrow…Oh John, we will see her tomorrow..” Tears still streaming down her face. 

———

His gentle fingers slowly traced up and down the soft skin of her thigh, evoking a satisfied moan from her lips. His hot breath caressed her ear and his lips kissed the secret spot behind it, making Marlena squirm against his hard naked body which lay flush against her bare back. 

Unbeknownst to John, she had been awake for a while, quietly enjoying his soft and gentle touches. 

John had watched her fall asleep not long after Brady and Jack had left, completely exhausted after the day’s events. He hadn’t been able to sleep, too many thoughts occupied his mind so instead he had laid down and watched her sleep. 

She was simply the most beautiful woman even when she wasn’t trying. Her soft golden locks splayed out on the pillow, her perfect face and the way the thin silky bedcover draped over her delicious curves, made her irresistible. 

The soft smile that formed on her lips in her sleep when he made his presence known with small kisses and touches made his heart melt and his desire grow. 

After a couple of hours John was beginning to find it harder and harder to restrain himself from not waking her up and show her what she unconsciously was capable of doing to his body. 

He was so turned on by the feel of her skin and the small sounds she made, that his hard length was aching and twitching, begging for attention. 

With his palm firmly against her abdomen, he couldn’t help the grinding of his hips, pressing his erect manhood between her ass cheeks with a deep growl. 

“Hmmm..John..” Marlena sighed and arched her back, revealing her awakened state. 

As soon as John heard her and realized she was awake, his hand quickly found its way down to her hot center. His eager hand slid under the waistband of her panties, sliding two fingers between her lips where hot sweet wetness instantly covered them. 

“I hope you were dreaming of me” He moaned, surprised by how wet she already was. 

“Hmmmm…” she responded. 

When John lightly brushed her sensitive knob, Marlenas body shivered at the hot tingling sensation that instantly rushed through her body, making her thighs snap together and trapping John’s busy hand. 

“Hmm…oh God..” She gasped. 

Scraping his teeth from her shoulder and up to her ear, John whispered with a low raspy voice, “You like that?” 

Closing her eyes, Marlena moaned and placed her hand on top of Johns, trying to get him to move his fingers faster.

 “…yes..very much..” She exhaled. 

John smiled against her ear at her impatience. 

“Then open your legs for me…and don’t move a muscle”. He commanded. 

His command and the tone in his deep voice told her that he was in a possessive and dominant mood. When they were married he would come home late at night after a dangerous stakeout and crawl into bed with his adrenaline still running through his veins. His fear of losing her, their family and his own life always stirred up something dark inside of him. The need to take control was always present in the way he would make love to her, and she absolutely loved whenever his possessive side came through. 

Just as Marlena parted her legs, opening herself up, John quickly pushed two fingers deep into her warm canal while his thumb was circling her clit. She felt so soft, so hot and tight that John was tempted to abandon his original plan to tease her and make her beg for him to fuck her. 

Holding her pussy in a tight death grip, he curled his fingers upwards caressing her insides and applied even more pressure on her now oversensitive knob. Marlena bit down hard on her lower lip to distract herself from the exquisite sensation that his magic hands were creating. 

John felt her inner walls squeeze around his fingers, a sign that she was close to orgasm. 

“I said, don’t move a muscle..” He grinned behind her, knowing all too well that she was not in any way capable of controlling that particular muscle. 

“..John…I..” She gasped. 

Wanting to tease her even more, he picked up the pace and pressure, his fingers thrusting in and out while hitting all the right spots. He wanted her to cum all over his hand and then he would punish her for not obeying his commands. 

Marlena reached back to grab John’s head, threading her fingers into the hair in the back of his head for some kind of stability. Her eyes closed, her back arched and a loud sigh felt her as she climaxed, clamping down on John’s fingers. 

John smiled against her neck. He loved pleasuring her and he thanked his lucky stars that she let him. But he was far from finished with her. 

Tremors were still raging through her body when she heard John’s voice. 

“I told you not to move a muscle..” his panting revealed his own sexual desire from seeing and feeling her orgasm. “Are you going to do as I say or do you want me to stop and go back to sleep?” He questioned her although he knew her answer. 

Marlena tried to calm down her body and her breathing, preparing herself for what delicious kind of punishment he had in mind. 

“No no, don’t stop..I’ll do whatever you say” She whispered and felt herself getting even more turned on. 

John slowly removed his fingers from her, her sweet juices dripping down from them. He was tempted to put them in his mouth and lick them clean, but he had other plans. 

“Lie on your back” He said and watched her with dark lustful eyes. 

Now on her back, their eyes locked. Marlena stretched her arms above her head and bent one leg, exposing her naked body to him with such  confidence and sensuality that John growled out loud. 

John’s eyes traveled down every curve of her body, taking the time to appreciate the beautiful and sexy woman before him. 

His wet fingers traced around her perky nipple, leaving a delicious trail of her juices for his mouth to follow. 

The combination of her soft breast with the taste of her sweet nectar filled his hungry mouth and stirred an almost unbearable appetite for more. He could never have enough of her. 

When he had satisfied his own appetite, his mouth traveled down her body, leaving wet kisses on its way and occasionally stopping to suck and bite. Marlena lay perfectly still, afraid to move and watched as his head disappeared between her thighs. John didn’t hesitate, his mouth immediately latched on to her pussy, sucking onto her knob before burying his tongue in her now sticky wet canal. 

Marlena’s body began to tremble as she felt the familiar tingling feeling spread through her limbs. On pure instinct she moved her arms down to grab his head and bring him even closer to her burning desire. Just when she was about to thread her fingers into his hair, did John abruptly stop his sweet torture. A gasp of surprise and disappointment escaped her when she realized her mistake. 

“Please..don’t stop” she begged and raised her arms over her head again. 

With a mischievous grin, John inhaled deeply through his nose, taking in the erotic musky scent of her desire and then he continued teasing her swollen folds with his mouth.

When he felt her body start to tense, signaling her climax was approaching fast, he pulled back leaving her pussy throbbing with want. 

Positioning himself on his knees between her legs, he spread her thighs further apart. His eyes were drawn to her now very open and exposed glistening center. He could see how it was contracting and throbbing, begging for his manhood. 

Marlena was on the verge of tears with lust, want and need for him, it was becoming almost painful. Her hands clutched the pillows above her head as her legs fell even wider, silently seducing him. 

With his eyes still locked at her center, John started to slowly stroke his rock hard length. 

Still on his knees, he positioned the tip of his cock at her entrance, letting the heat that was oozing from her hit his swollen head before he slid up and down her folds, lubricating himself. 

Marlena held her breath and anxiously watched him with heavy eyes. Raising herself by the elbows gave her a better view of their sexes as they were about to be joined. 

Without a word, John thrusted roughly into her core and an animalistic sound escaped him. Putting his hands on her knees he took a moment to calm himself down. 

With eyes still fixed on her center he started to move inside of her in deep slow thrusts. 

Marlena was entranced, watching how his long length disappeared into her deep welcoming cave. 

Within minutes John felt her clamping down on him and watched her head fall back and some incoherent words left her mouth. Just when she was about to fall over the edge he pulled out of her, again depriving her from reaching the anticipated destination. 

“John…” Her voice sounded desperate. “Fuck me..please” 

That was what he wanted to hear. His punishment was to drive her so crazy with arousal and desire, to have her beg for him to take her and to release the sexual creature within her. 

In one swift move John lifted Marlena up and turned her around so that she was on her hands and knees, her perfectly sculpted ass sticking out. His large hands spanked her buttocks, leaving a warm tingling sensation on her skin. 

“Ahhh…is that all you’ve got?” She panted and looked over her shoulder with a playful smile. 

John felt his control slipping away and he slammed his cock into her with such intensity that it left them both breathless. He quickly picked up a hurried pace, his hips bucking frantically, creating the perfect friction that led them both close to the end. He was so deep inside of her, that she felt like he was going to split her in half and the tip of his manhood continued tapping the sensitive spot deep in her core. It was a beautiful combination of pain and pleasure. 

When John began to feel his toes curl and his sack tightened, he entangled one hand in her hair and placed the other on her hip. 

Only a couple more thrusts and they would climax together, or so he thought. But Marlena had other plans. 

Just as John was about to slam into her one final time, Marlena pushed back hard making him lose his balance and fall down on his back. 

Before John knew what was happening, Marlena jumped on top of him, straddling him and slammed down on his hard member while she attacked his mouth, her tongue swirling around his. 

With her body flush against his, she moved her hips up and down in a slow wavelike motion. Her clit rubbed against the hair on his pelvis quickly bringing her close to climax yet again. 

John’s hips met her movements as their kiss intensified, biting, licking, sucking, adding more fuel to the already out of control fire that was burning. 

John wrapped his arms tightly around her, leaving no air between their heated naked bodies. Being joined that way felt like being one, melting together ..so close, so connected. 

Dark hazel eyes stared into cobalt blue, their breaths mixed as they panted loudly and then they exploded together in spine shattering euphoria. 

————

They woke up early the next morning, both excited and anxious about the very important lunch date they had with a very special girl…Their girl..Alice. 

Jack had set up the arrangement and told Alice everything about his dad and Marlena and about the unfortunate circumstances and events that had led to this day. 

“Are you ready sweetheart?” John yelled lovingly. He had been ready for the last 30 minutes but had been waiting patiently. He knew she was nervous and wanted to look perfect, therefore he didn’t want to rush her, but now it was time to leave if she didn’t want to be late. 

Descending the stairs Marlena felt her heart flutter at the sight of her handsome man. “I’m more than ready…let’s go meet our girl” 

“You look beautiful” John said and kissed her cheek. “Let’s go!”

He took her hand and together they walked out the door with butterflies in their stomachs. 

Walking out of the building, John wrapped his arm around her shoulder, kissed her forehead and whispered something in her ear, that made

her throw her head back and laugh out loud. 

That intimate gesture was too much for the unwelcoming set of eyes which had been keeping a sharp eye on them for the last week, just waiting for the right time to take back what she thought was hers. 

Rebecca’s blood was boiling when she quietly stepped out of her car and started walking towards them. 

“You are soooo bad..” Marlena laughed and threw her arms around his neck to place a quick kiss on his lips. Neither of them were aware of the woman walking towards them with a determined look on her face. 

Putting her hand in her pocket, Rebecca felt the  hidden cold metal.

“Get your hands away from my husband, you filthy whore…”Rebecca said as she drew out the gun and pointed it directly at Marlena. 

Part 28

Rebecca’s hand was shaking with rage, as she pointed the gun at Marlena. The doctor who was supposed to be helping people with their troubles and trauma was now the course of hers and her irrational actions. In Rebecca’s mind Marlena was the one who had driven her to the point of insanity. 

“Did you really think that I would let you brainwash my husband into believing that he loves you..huh? He doesn’t love you Doc!! He loves me…only me!” Rebecca said with such a calm voice that it sent chills down Marlena’s spine. 

In her many years in treating psychiatric patients she knew all too well what a delusional and impulsive person could be capable of. A person who wasn’t able to tell reality from fantasy was potentially a very dangerous person. 

She had seen it before, or more accurately, she had been the target of such a person’s actions before…Orpheus. He had taken her away from her family because he was certain that Roman was responsible for the death of his wife. An eye for an eye, he had said. 

The best chance of getting out of this situation was to stay calm and try not to panic. With some people, one could try and reason with them, try to get them back to reality but Marlena knew that, that wouldn’t be the case in this particular situation. The hate and despise present in Rebecca’s eyes told her that she was capable of pulling the trigger in the blink of an eye. 

“Rebecca, lower the gun” John said calmly and reached out his hand towards the deadly weapon. Taking a careful step forward and leaning a little to the side, he was able to stand almost in front of Marlena, to protect her and prevent a direct aim from the gun which was threatening to take away the love of his life. 

His heart was beating faster as he remembered what Rebecca was capable of, her being behind Marlena’s accident. 

“Move away from her, John!” Rebecca threatened, realizing that she was now aiming directly at John. 

John didn’t obey, as he kept standing in front of Marlena, using himself as a shield. “Please lower the gun and lets talk about this” He desperately tried to reason with her. “You don’t want to hurt anybody”. 

“Oh trust me.. I do want to hurt her.” Rebecca said with a hunting smile while she tried to point the gun at her enemy. “Can’t you see she has been manipulating you, telling you lies, making you believe that you love her. You know me John, I will do anything to protect my family….anything”. 

“John, do what she asks.” Marlena whispered, hoping that would be the only way to get out of the situation without anyone getting hurt. 

Rebecca faintly heard Marlena say something to John, but she couldn’t hear what. Just as John was about to turn his head slightly to look at Marlena, did Rebecca stop him. “Don’t listen to her..” She screamed, making John quickly turn his attention back to Rebecca. “She is poisoning your mind with lies…John, I’m going to rescue you from that devil whore.” 

John was at a loss for words. What had happened to the woman standing in front of him. How was it possible to turn crazy so quickly when she never showed signs of such behavior in the past? Or had she, but he had been oblivious to it, being too wrapped up in his own world of pain and unhappiness. 

Shaking his head he banished those thoughts and focused on getting Marlena out of this mess alive. 

He thought back to when they were married and how she had told him how to deal with patients who became irrational and dangerous. He had often used that knowledge to his advantage when he used to be a cop, always getting out of dangerous situations without anyone getting hurt, including the attacker. 

“Okay listen to me.. you are going to let Dr. Evans go and then you and I are going to get out of here okay?” John said, trying his best to sound sincere and trustworthy. He really didn’t have a plan other than he would do everything to keep Marlena safe.

Taking small steps towards Rebecca, he saw her dark eyes contemplating whether to believe him or not. “It’s okay!” He said as he slowly began to reach for the gun. 

Marlena stood completely still behind him, his body still protecting her. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she watched proudly as John handled the situation perfectly. 

“It’s okay” John said again in a calm and reassuring tone as he placed his hand over Rebecca’s, slowly lowering the gun. 

With the gun now pointing down he turned Rebecca and himself around so that her back was towards Marlena. “Go!!” He mouthed without a word as he kept his hand on the gun. 

Marlena picked up on his silent plea and began to walk backwards towards the entrance to the building behind her, never taking her eyes off John. 

Once inside, she quickly ran up the stairs and into the loft, frantically searching through her purse for her phone. 

With her heart pounding fast and shaking hands, she dialed the number she knew by heart. 

—————

Across town a young woman sat in a cafe and waited with anticipation. Today was going to change her life, she was sure. Just days ago she felt like she was all alone in the world, no parents, no siblings, no family and now she was moments away from meeting who she was sure were her biological parents and her half brother. Although nothing had been scientifically confirmed yet she felt deep down that these people were her family. 

Taking a sip of the ice tea she stared out the window and wondered if she would be able to tell who they were when they walked through the door. Did she resemble them in any way? 

The door opened and a young man walked in. With his back to her, he scanned the room looking for someone. When he turned around two sets of identical baby blue eyes met and immediately a connection was established. Big nervous smiles formed on their lips as the young man started walking towards her. 

“Alice?” Jack asked, even though he knew it was her. She was the spitting image of both his dad and Marlena. 

Alice nodded and stood up. “Jack…Hi..” 

An awkward silence surrounded them as they stood face to face studying each other for a moment. 

Alice was the first to speak. “Please, have a seat…I’m so nervous” she admitted as she chuckled. 

A smile spread across Jack’s face. 

“What?” Alice asked, a bit confused by his expression. 

“Your laugh, it’s like hearing Marlena” Jack told her. 

“Really?” Alice shyly looked down at her hands which were fiddling nervously. 

“Yeah…and you look just like the both of them.” 

Alice looked up at her half brother, tears threatening to break from her eyes. “I do?” 

“Yeah, you just wait and see” he laughed as he sat down at the table. “They should be here any minute now.”

———-

“Pick up..pick up..” Marlena chanted, listening to the dialing tone and pacing around the kitchen area. It felt like time was moving so slowly when in fact it had only been 3 minutes since she had left John standing on the street with Rebecca. 

“Detective Brady” Roman answered with authority. 

“Roman..it’s Marlena.. you need to send someone, it’s an emergency” Marlena spoke quickly, her heart rate starting to pick up again. 

“Wow, calm down. What’s happening, are you okay?” Roman asked, suddenly concerned about her. 

“I’m fine…it’s John. Please send someone to his loft..it’s Rebecca..his..” She hesitated. It wasn’t until now she realized how awkward it was for her to be calling him to help her lover. “Rebecca is here with a loaded gun..Roman, please send someone. I’m afraid of what she is capable of..” 

Roman couldn’t believe her audacity. Why should he help the man who had stolen his wife..not only once but twice? The man whose shadow he had been living under for the last 27 years. He hated John with everything in him. Not even Stefano, who took him away from his family and held him captive for 7 years, did he hate and despise as much as he did John. 

Marlena was very much aware of how Roman felt about John and knew that the deafening silence on the other end of the phone was a result of Roman contemplating his options. 

“Roman please..I’m not asking you as my ..hus..husband.. but as the great cop you are”. She pleaded. “I did call your office phone..you can’t let our personal problems affect how you handle your work.” She was starting to get frustrated with his hesitation. 

She could hear him grunting and walking around in his office. Marlena had had enough and was just about to hang up and call the police station instead when the sound of a gunshot came from the street. 

Her phone fell to the floor as she screamed….”JOHN…” 

Part 29

“Don’t worry they will be here.” Jack said when he noticed Alice glance at her watch. Actually he was starting to wonder where they were, them being 30 minutes late was not typical of his father. He knew they would never miss this unless something had happened and if that was the case, his dad would have called. He just hoped that they were stuck in traffic, but something told him otherwise. 

“Maybe they got cold feet” Alice nervously laughed, trying to cover up the saddening feeling of being abandoned that was starting to stir inside of her. 

“No…never…” Jack said without a doubt in his mind. “. They are probably just stuck in traffic. I probably shouldn’t be the one to tell you this, but from what I understand, you are the child they always wanted”. 

“I am?” Alice asked. 

“Yeah. You are the result of a love so deep, so strong that one would be exceptionally lucky to ever find love like that. And it’s still as deep and strong today as it was then.” Jack looked down, suddenly feeling sad. He was not a love child like Alice, but the result of his dad’s heartbreak and rebound. “They love you so much even though they have never met you” He said and looked up at her again with a hint of sadness in his smile. 

———-

The ringing in his ears was so loud that it forced him to close his eyes and hold his head in his hands. The smell of gunpowder filled his nostrils. ‘Did the gun go off?’’ John thought and thought back to a moment ago. He was trying to get Rebecca to let go of the gun but she had resisted. His heart started racing at the realization that he, Rebecca or anyone else had been shot. 

Forcing his eyes open, he felt dizzy as the bright sunlight blinded him, making the surroundings blurry. He quickly scanned his body to see if he was bleeding before he lifted his eyes and looked up to see the back of a car, racing from the scene and Rebecca on where in sight. 

John didn’t hear the panicked voice yelling his name. 

“John!!!” Marlena yelled as she ran towards him faster than she had ever ran before. 

It wasn’t until she threw her arms around him from behind that he realized she was there. 

“Doc!! Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He yelled and scanned her body with both his hands and eyes. Realizing she was okay, he sighed deeply and wrapped her in his arms. He could feel her breath in his ear, but he couldn’t hear what she was saying. 

“I can’t hear anything, the ringing is too loud.” He pulled away from her and pointed at his ears. 

A large smile appeared on Marlena’s face. There he was, being the one who had been close to getting hurt and all he cared about was her and her safety. “ I’m fine darling…Are you hurt?” She said, drawing out the words so he could read her mouth. As he had done moments before, she looked over his body for any signs of wounds. Relief washed over her when she didn’t find any blood. “When I heard the gunshot I thought that I had lost you.” Her voice shivered with the horrifying thought of him being taken away from her. 

Taking her in his arms again he buried his nose in her hair, her scent immediately calming him down. “You are never going to lose me sweetheart..never”. He whispered. 

The ringing in John’s ears subsided but was soon replaced with the loud sound of sirens coming closer. 

Before he had time to register what was happening two police cars came towards them, stopped and two armed officers jumped out of the cars. 

“Don’t move” One yelled and pointed a gun at John’s back. 

———

“I don’t understand..” Jack said as he laid down his phone after trying to get a hold of John. It was his fifth time trying without anyone answering. “Something is wrong” He stated and looked at Alice with worry. 

“Maybe they are just stuck in traffic as you said” Alice said, trying to calm him down. 

“No…no. They would have called by now if that was the case…. I..” He stopped suddenly as he looked out the window. “Did you notice the police car rushing down the street with their sirens on..about 10 minutes ago?” 

Alice thought for a second. She hadn’t paid much attention to what was going on around her, she had been too nervous and excited about this meeting but coming to think of it, she did remember hearing the loud sirens. “Yeah.. I heard them”.  

Jack looked at Alice with greater worry than before. “I have a really bad feeling about this…will you come with me?” He asked as he stood up abruptly. 

Alice felt her heart starting to beat faster. “Yes…where are we going?”

“To dad’s place!” 

———-

John felt his phone vibrate in his pants pocket for the fifth time and knew it was Jack calling. Per instinct he moved his arm from Marlena’s body to reach for it. 

“Don’t move..put your hands up where I can see them” The police officer yelled again. 

“John…” Marlena whispered, begging him to be careful. 

Roman must have heard the gun go off and sent the officers. And to them, it probably looked like John was holding Marlena against her will. 

“It’s okay, officer. This man here does not want to harm me or anyone else.” Marlena said loudly, making sure to sound convincing and calm. 

“Are you sure Miss?” 

“Yes. This is my…my..boyfriend and he was protecting me” She said looking up at John. 

The officer hesitated for a moment. “Sir, please step away slowly with your hands up.”

Marlena nodded at John, who slowly backed away from her. 

The officer carefully stepped towards John, still not convinced by Marlena’s explanation. 

“What’s in your pocket?” He asked with his gun still pointed at John. 

“Just my phone”. John said and felt the officer’s hand searching his body. 

In one of the police cars, Roman sat and watched the scene before him with a hint of satisfaction but also resentment. He had heard Marlena refer to John as her boyfriend. Thankfully the officers were fairly new and didn’t know Marlena and the fact that they were still married. Otherwise the situation would have been embarrassing for him. At the same time he took great joy in seeing John in a situation where he wasn’t in control and he, himself, had the upper hand. 

Roman stepped out of the car and with a voice of authority, he walked up to John and the officer. 

“Is he clear?” Roman asked, although he knew the reality of the situation. 

“Clear” 

“Good job Jeff. I got it from here…” Roman said and walked over in front of John with a smirk on his face. 

When the officer was out of earshot, Roman looked John straight in the eyes. “This is the second time since you’ve been back that you brought my wife in danger. Maybe you should take that as a hint and get the hell out of Salem and out of our lives”. 

John wanted to say something back, but Roman’s words settled within him. There was some truth to them. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he would indirectly bring any kind of harm to Marlena. 

“What’s the matter John? Cat got your tongue?” Roman mocked. 

Marlena heard Roman’s accusations and saw John’s reaction. “Roman..don’t.” She warned and took John’s hand which didn’t go unnoticed by Roman. 

“The person you need to go after is Rebecca. She is in a delusional state and armed, which is a very dangerous combination. And when you find her, you need to make sure she gets the help she needs.” Marlena said and squeezed John’s hand softly. 

Roman knew she was right. It wouldn’t look good if he let a dangerous woman go around town with a loaded gun and a vengeance. 

“Okay…what car is she driving?” Roman asked, reluctantly putting his own hatred aside to do his job. 

John gave Roman the description of the car he had seen drive away. Although he knew Rebecca needed help, it still didn’t feel right for him to have the police come after her. This was all a big mess and he felt a feeling of remorse. Was Roman right? Would it be better for everybody if he went back to New York? 

The sound of his name being yelled, snapped him out of his thoughts. 

“John…Dad” Jack called out as he ran towards the small crowd. “What happened?” 

In the parked car, Alice sat still and saw her parents for the first time with tears streaming down her face. 

Part 30

The young blonde woman stepped out of the car and started walking with shivering legs and her heart pounding hard in her chest. Each step she took felt like slow motion, as she moved silently on the hard concrete. 

Even with their backs to her, she could already feel an aura of warmth and love ooze from them towards her, softly wrapping her heart in the most precious and loving way, making it whole again. 

A sudden force made both John and Marlena stop mid sentence as they were telling Jack about what had happened. They both took in a deep breath of air when they felt a tight pull at their hearts. 

Feeling the presence of someone who they loved very deeply but had once been lost to them, made their heads turn and loud gasps escaped from them. 

The moment their eyes met, time stood still. All that existed in that moment was the three of them. 

Marlena grabbed John’s arm to steady herself. 

“It’s you..” She whispered before a heartbreaking cry left her. 

Years of missing and longing, the deep sadness and pain that had lived with her for years without her knowing why, left her in that single moment. And all she felt was an overwhelming sense of love and finally feeling complete. 

John wrapped his arm around Marlena’s waist to keep her from falling to the ground as her body shook violently, while he tried to keep his own emotions in check, but failed as he laid eyes on their daughter, who was the perfect mix of the two of them. 

“Alice…”John said lovingly with a smile and tears slowly running down his face. 

With Marlena still in his arms he began walking them close to their girl. 

Marlena’s cries had calmed down to quiet sobs. She still couldn’t believe it, Alice looked just like she did in her dream… beautiful and sweet. But unlike her dream, Marlena felt herself able to move closer and closer without Alice disappearing…this was very real and with John right by her side made it absolutely perfect. 

Alice had stopped walking when she heard her mothers heartbreaking cry, unsure about what it meant. But when she was able to see the look of love in their eyes she knew…She felt exactly like her mother. Years of feeling like something or someone was missing, the pain of not knowing and the fear of never finding it, all disappeared the second she saw her parents. If the lump in throat would have allowed it, she would have cried out in the exact same way. 

Alice watched as her father gently and lovingly held Marlena. Even from a distance the deep love that Jack had described between them was obvious to her, even after all those years apart. And that made her believe that even though it had been 31 years since she and her mother were together, for what could only have been a very short time, she knew that when those two loved someone deeply, that love would never die, and that also applied to her. 

With only a few feet away from their daughter, Marlena broke out of John’s embrace and ran to Alice with open arms and hugged her in a tight embrace, never wanting to let go in fear of waking up and realizing that this was all a dream. 

It wasn’t until she felt John’s warm and strong arms wrapped around their hugging forms that she dared to believe that this moment was very real indeed. 

“Oh I have missed you so very much..my sweet darling girl” Marlena whispered, small sobs still present in her voice. “We are never letting you go again..never”. 

Alice didn’t know what to say, so she just let out what came to her naturally.

 “Mommy…Daddy…”. She cried out softly, feeling like she was a little girl again. 

At a distance Roman and Jack were watching the sweet reunion. Jack with a soft smile on his face and Roman with confusion. The moment Roman had seen the young woman, he knew who she was. There was no denying her physical resemblance to both Marlena and John. Judging by their reactions they apparently didn’t know of her before now. Watching them, Roman did some quick math, trying to figure out how old the girl was. If Marlena didn’t have any recollection of her, then she must have had her during her missing years when Stefano had her, and that she was conceived when Marlena and John were married. Along with that realization, Roman also realized that now, John and his wife were bound together forever and there would be no change for him. 

With a defeated look, Roman shrugged his shoulders and glanced at the small family one last time before he got in the car and drove away. 

————

For hours they talked, sharing stories about their lives. 

After their public reunion they had retrieved to John’s loft. Jack had felt a little awkward and said he was leaving but Marlena and John wanted him there. “You are as much a part of this family..” Marlena had said and held his hand, reassuring him that they wanted him to stay. 

John and Marlena told Alice about when they met for the first time and how they fell in love during an adventurous trip to West Virginia, in the search of John’s identity. About how they lived as husband and wife for too short a time before a crazy man tore their family apart. Marlena told Alice what she remembered about time when she was held captive on an island and the faint memories she had of being pregnant with her and the horrific actions by Stefano, who took away their precious time together and made Marlena forget her newborn baby girl.

They also shared the current situation with Marlena’s accident a few weeks ago and the fact that she had to go to dialysis for the first time in a few days. Alice knew instantly that if needed, she would donate one of her kidneys to her with a heartbeat..no doubt about it. She was not willing to lose either of them now when she had just gotten them back. 

To Alice it all sounded like a soap opera, how much pain and suffering could two people endure?. But she believed every single word and felt in her heart that everything they told her was true. 

Alice told them about her childhood and it made Marlena and John happy to know that she had a good and safe upbringing with parents who really loved her as their own. 

“Do you know why they named you Alice?” John asked. 

Alice smiled at them as she remembered how she used to hate her name, until one day, when she had asked about why her parents had chosen that name for her. 

“ When I was about four months old I became sick with some sort of virus and a doctor prescribed some penicillin. But what my parents didn’t know at the time, was that I was and still am allergic to penicillin. So I was rushed to the hospital where doctors worked for hours to save my life. In the meantime a sweet lady, who was a volunteer at the hospital, took care of my parents, comforted them and stayed with them, during the whole day and night until she knew that I was okay. She never left their side. So to honor her, they named me after her. Her name was Alice Horton.” 

Alice saw how John and Marlena’s expression changed from big smiles to one of wonder. 

They couldn’t believe it. Alice had been in Salem when she was a baby. 

“What!” Alice said a bit nervously. 

John cleared his throat and took Marlena’s hand. 

“We know Mrs Horton….or knew. She died a few years ago”. He said with sadness, remembering the kind and caring woman he held dearly in his heart. “She was the matriarch of Salem. A true believer in love, kindness and compassion. You are very special and honored to be named after her….it’s just perfect.” John smiled with pride. 

The four of them continued talking until the wee hours of the night. Laughter and tears filling the loft for hours. 

Everything fell into place in all of their lives. The last pieces of the beautiful and amazing story of their family, finally came together with the hope and promise of many more years together as one happy family. 

Part 31

One year later

The first rays of sunlight from the early morning sun brightened the room in warm colors, disturbing Marlena’s peaceful sleep. 

With her eyes still closed she reached over to the other side of the bed, only to find it abandoned by its occupant. 

Sitting up by her elbow, she scanned the room with sleepy eyes, looking for her handsome man. When she heard the water running from the bathroom, a smile adored her lips and she crawled back under the covers with a satisfied sigh. 

Marlena thought back to February last year when she had woken up with an all consuming pain and sadness. The longing for John and what could have been had been almost unbearable. The last 25 years she had walked around with a constant pain in her heart and no matter how much she tried to forget and make it go away, the pain only grew stronger. A broken bone, a deep cut and even psychological wounds could be healed and fixed, but when a heart broke, there was no obvious treatment or cure to help it heal. 

That was until John had walked right back into Salem and just like that, the deep pain and sadness had disappeared. 

The last year and a half had been a rollercoaster of emotions. Thinking back on everything that had happened, she couldn’t believe that they actually made it to this place today. 

From the day John came back into her life, she had felt alive again, even though the chaos that came along, their love overshadowed everything. 

Shortly after their reunion with Alice, John had started a new branch of his business in Salem, making it possible for him to work and manage his company from there and only occasionally travel to New York. 

Marlena had moved into John’s loft where she felt more at home than she had felt in years. 

A month ago both their divorces were finalized, leaving them free to eventually marry again. 

Although they had agreed to wait, John was impatient. Every day he would ask Marlena to be his wife, but she would always decline, saying it was too early. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to marry him on the spot, actually she wanted to marry him as much as he wanted, but her concern was towards their children and their ex spouses. Especially Rebecca. 

After the incident on the street, the police found Rebecca and arrested her. Marlena didn’t want to press charges, the woman had hurt enough, but she did want her to get help. John had visited her at Bayview once a month, after all she was the mother of his son and he also couldn’t help but feel somewhat responsible for everything that had happened. 

All of their children were happy for them and they all treated each other like they had been siblings forever, bickering and joking every time they were together, which had become a tradition every Sunday. At exactly 6 pm every Sunday they all came for family dinner at the loft, filling the place with joy and laughter.

Especially Sami, Eric and Carrie were so content and happy about this new family constellation. It brought back happy and warm memories from when they used to call John their dad. Old memories of truly being family where everyone loved and respected each other, brought back those warm fuzzy feelings that they hadn’t felt since that time. 

The newest addition to the Evans-Black family was often the center of everyone’s attention. 

One year old Evan, the son of Brady and Chloe brought so much joy and happiness for the proud grandparents. 

Never having had the chance to raise their daughter Alice together, John and Marlena treasured the opportunity to spoil and cherish their grandson together. 

Alice had moved to Salem as well and lived just a block away from the loft. She had easily adapted to her new life with her real parents and her siblings. Her, Sami and Carrie would meet several times a week, shopping, drinking coffee or just hanging out and gossip about what happened around Salem. 

Regarding Marlena’s health, her kidney function was back to normal and stable after only on time in dialysis. Alice had been tested to see if she was a match if it became necessary for a transplantation. 

Confirming what Marlena already knew in her heart, Alice was a match. Their lost love child who had miraculously found her was back to them, would be her savior if needed. 

Life couldn’t be any better, Marlena thought and stretched her lacy body. 

“Good morning Pretty Lady” John said as he came out from the bathroom with only a towel around his waist. His hair was tousled and wet, making drops fall down on his broad shoulders and further down his muscled chest. 

“Hmmm good morning Sailor” Marlena purred, eyeing him with a newfound morning energy. 

“Hmm you smell good” She sighed, loving his masculine scent. 

“Is that so?” John grinned when saw her smoldering eyes. 

“Are you ready for our big day?” He asked and walked to her, placing a quick kiss on her mouth. 

“I am..” She answered and giggled when cold drops of water from John’s hair hit her bare shoulders. 

“How long do I have before we need to be there?” Marlena asked as John started moving away from the bed. 

“About two hours” He responded, looking at his watch, not noticing the mischievous smile on Marlena’s lips. 

Just as he turned around, ready to walk to the closest, Marlena grabbed a hold of the towel covering his lower body, making it fall to the floor,  and leaving John standing butt naked. 

She couldn’t contain her laughter when she saw the surprised look on his face when he turned to look at her. 

“Someone is being mighty fresh this morning” He smiled at her and arched one eyebrow. 

Marlena ignored his statement. Her mind was too busy admiring his beautiful physique. 

“Oh my… you are the most handsome and sexy man, Mr. Black…” Marlena said breathlessly as she felt her own body respond to the sight of his naked one. 

Her seducing words and voice immediately had a visual effect on John’s body as Marlena watched his manhood starting to twitch and harden. 

John stood still and let her enjoy it. He always loved watching her, not just when they were intimate but also in everyday situations. That way he had learned to see what she was thinking by the way her body moved and how her eyes would reveal what was going on in that beautiful, brilliant mind of hers. And right now it was very clear what she indeed had in mind. 

Biting her lower lip, Marlena slowly removed the cover, revealing her own naked body while her eyes were still mesmerized by John’s arousal, which was now standing proud and hard. 

“Come back to bed!” She demanded and moved her hand lightly up her inner thigh towards her now wet center. 

John was equally mesmerized by her, the way her perfect naked body moved in a sensual slow motion in the bed, her wandering hands softly caressing her skin and the way her eyes turned darker with lust.

“What do you have in mind, Dr. Evans?” His voice was husky as he took a step closer to her. 

“You…only you..” Marlena whispered and looked John in the eyes with such intensity and love that it made him weak in his knees. 

Lowering himself onto the bed, John slowly crawled over her body, occasionally stopping to lower his head and leave feather light kisses on various pleasure spots on her body. When he took one breast in his mouth and sucked hard, a loud moan escaped her

“I love you..so very much.” John said, hovering above her beautiful face and then ever so softly kissed her lips. 

The kiss was slow, none of them in a hurry as they explored each other’s mouths. 

“I love you..” Marlena moaned between kisses. 

Their naked bodies lay so close it felt like they were one. Body heat radiating from one to the other, their breathing in sync, their hearts beating with the same intensity and rhythm. It was like a dance performed to perfection, the only difference was, that to them, it was the most natural way for their bodies to react when they were near each other. Controlled by their natural instincts and pure sexual desire to satisfy each other truly, made them perfect for each other. 

Still wrapped closely together, they lay on their sides facing each other as their kisses continued. 

Marlena lifted her leg and rested it on top of John’s hip, opening her glistening wet center up to his pulsating hard cock. 

John broke away from her sweet mouth and lowered his head to her full breasts, giving them the same amount of attention that he had just given her mouth. When his appetite had been satisfied, he licked his way up the valley of her breasts and back to her lips. 

The taste of her skin and her lips was better than the most expensive champagne or caviar. 

As John’s tongue met Marlena’s, his now painful cock slowly entered her hot cave, making them both moan with pleasure. 

No words were spoken as they lay still, side by side, and took a moment to just enjoy the warm and exquisite feeling of being so connected both physically and spiritually.  

Slowly their bodies began moving against each other. With their foreheads together, they looked into each other’s eyes. It was so intense and intimate, so gentle and beautiful that it felt like a dream. Feelings of love, joy, happiness, gratitude, lust and desire filled both their hearts and minds. 

With eyes still locked, they continued the slow and steady rhythm of their bodies. Their intimate position and the slow pace made them feel everything, every inch of the other’s body. 

The tight clenched of Marlena’s inner walls, the soft spot deep inside her core when the tip of John’s cock continued to hit it. The big strong veins on John’s hard tool as it glided easily along her tight canal. Their hearts pounding against each other. The feel of their blood running through their veins. The small trembles their muscles made with the fast approaching release …They felt everything.

Panting and deep breathless moans filled the air around them between tantalizing kisses and hooded eyes that never left each other. 

A burning sensation surged through their bodies, indicating their climax was near. 

John squeezed Marlena’s ass and brought her even closer…He was so deep inside of her and she was squeezing and clamping down on him so hard that he thought he might faint from the sweat sensation. 

Marlena held on to John’s head for dear life when she fell over the edge, releasing a soundless scream as she kept her eyes locked on Johns. 

John came right along with her, emptying every single drop of himself deep in her core. 

It took several minutes for them to calm down, small shivers kept running through their bodies as they held onto each other. 

When their heartbeats calmed down, their lips grazed and they shared a deep spine shattering kiss. 

Tucking a loose tendril behind Marlena’s ear, John admired her beautiful face. He still couldn’t believe that this was his life now. Waking up with her like this almost every morning and going to bed with her. Free to love each other without having to hide or worry about what the consequences of their love would be. This was his fantasy, his dream for many years and now it was a reality. 

“Let’s get you in the shower…we only have 30 minutes before we need to get going.” John said but didn’t make an effort to move out of their still tight embrace. 

“Will you wash my back?” Marlena asked with a seductive smile, her voice hoarse and filled with satisfaction. 

“I can never say no to you…but you better get moving then.” John laughed and reluctantly let go of her. He watched her naked form rise from the bed and was captivated by the way her hips and ass moved as she walked towards the bathroom. When she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him, he knew that they were going to be late. 

—————

“Are you ready?” John asked and planted a kiss on Marlena’s hand. 

“I’m more than ready” She smiled, placing her hand on his cheek, her thumb gently caressing it. 

Behind the closed door, all of their friends and family were waiting. Today was a day of celebration. The idea of throwing a big party came one Sunday during their family dinner. Everybody had agreed that it would be fun to celebrate the anniversary of the day when they all became one happy family, and that was the day Alice came into their lives. 

John opened the door and the sight that met them brought tears to their eyes. 

Carrie, Brady and Eric were laughing at Evan who was entering Johnny and Allie. 

Sami, Alice and Jack were busy pouring welcoming drinks at the bar. 

Abe and Lexi were chatting with Laura. 

The whole room was full of love and laughter. 

“Mom..John, you’re late!” Sami yelled when she spotted them. 

Marlena felt her cheeks blush when all eyes were on them. “Sorry…something came up” she giggled. 

“Oh my God…stop….we don’t need that kind of information” Sami said teasingly and shut her eyes to make the vision go away. 

The party went on for hours. Everybody was dancing, sharing stories and laughing non stop. 

“We need to do this every year” Jack said to John and Marlena as he was getting ready to go home. 

“That’s a fact, son and a promise” John said and hugged him. 

“So John..when are you going to get down on one knee and ask this wonderful woman to marry you?” Laura laughed and wrapped her arm around Marlena’s shoulder. 

“Trust me Laura, I ask her everyday but she always turns me down” John said and put on a sad face to tease Marlena. 

“Oh poor baby, I’m sorry, but I kind of like living in sin” Marlena teased back. 

“Oh you do, do you?” Jack laughed and took a step closer to her and reached for her hand. “Maybe one day you will surrender to my charm”. He said and kissed the finger where he one day intended on placing the most beautiful engagement ring. 

“Maybe..” Marlena whispered and locked her eyes on his. The love that radiated from her hazel orbs, left no doubt to John or anyone else in the room, that she would marry in a heartbeat. 

“Before we say goodnight I would like to propose a toast” Brady said and raised his glass. “To the Evans-Black family..it’s one hell of a blended family but I wouldn’t be without any of you. May all of our days be filled with as much love and happiness as today.” 

The end