Fallen Icons – By Nicole R

She certainly was a beautiful bride as she stood quietly examining her gown.

Made of ice blue satin, overlaid with antique lace, it had a sweetheart neckline and a slight train that was guaranteed to have her making the grand entrance.

Her hair was pinned up with tiny diamond pins and her only jewelry was the studs in her ears, the gorgeous engagement ring John had given her plus the stunning pave diamond bracelet he gave her for her wedding gift.

Her eyes shifted from the examination to the door at the sharp knock.

“Come in?”

Carrie’s smile was huge. “This just arrived for you Marlena. John said that I should give it to you now.”

Curious as to what it could be, Marlena adjusted her train to avoid wrinkling the gown and sat down. “Before you ask, it’s not from John.”

Nodding as she unwrapped the gift, Marlena’s eyes became huge.

“Carrie, could you leave me alone just for a few moments?”

“Marlena, the weddings just about to start.”

Her step-mother’s eyes were glittering dangerously bright. “Caroline Anna!”

Freezing, Carrie put up her hands. “Fine, I’ll be back in 5 minutes.”

Once she was sure her step-daughter was gone, Marlena Evans sank into the couch and covered her face with her hands, sobbing as if her heart would break.

*~*~*~*

“Nervous?”

John glared at Bo. “Nice try little brother.”

Abe smiled. “Well try to be the stereotypical bridegroom.”

John shook his head, adjusting his collar once more before doing up his tie. “Sorry, I’m finally getting the girl of my dreams. Can’t be more perfect than that.”

He checked his watch. “Just 10 more minutes and the dream becomes a reality.”

*~*~*~*

She felt dizzy and her eyes kept falling onto the package on the couch beside her.

She picked up the note again. “It’s time?”

She laid her hand on her forehead, rubbing in the vain hope that she’d stop the growing pain behind her eyes. “Time for what?”

She reached into the package and pulled out the first object, a photograph.

Her eyes widened in alarm. “Oh dear god.”

*~*~*~*

“Okay, I told you 10 and it’s up. Guess what, time to go marry John.”

Carrie came into the room and froze.

It was as if a tornado hit, things overturned and the gorgeous gown was lying over the chair.

She had scribbled a simple note …  “Forgive me.”

*~*~*~*

Eric came to his soon to be step father.

”John, you have to come quick. There’s a situation in the Bride’s room.”

Rushing past the guests, he found Carrie sitting amidst all of the carnage.

“What’s going on?”

Carrie handed him the note. “Forgive her for what?”

Carrie handed over the next things she found. “She probably wasn’t sure how you would react to all of this.”

John sat down stunned. “She couldn’t have.”

Carrie nodded. “John, it looks like she did.”

He looked down to the photograph.

It showed Marlena cradling two babies with Stefano playing the role of a proud Daddy.

*~*~*~*   

Marlena spun around glaring at the fat man in the chair. “What the hell was this about?”

Stefano shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Marlena picked up the glass and pitched it at him. “Try AGAIN!”

He shifted in his seat, avoiding the crystal shower.

“Want to tell me my dear Marlena just what in the world has you here in front of me on your wedding day?”

She looked the picture of a storm raging as she spat it out. “That gift!”

He sat back in his chair. “It’s your wedding day, tons of people have sent you gifts.”

She shook her head. “A Music Box and a photograph.”

Stefano leaned forward. “What do YOU think it means?”

Marlena reached for the chess piece. “You couldn’t get at John or Hope for their missing years, so you’ve decided to get at me for mine by sending me a photograph of me holding two babies and you acting like some sick fairy godfather.”

“But you’ve said you don’t remember your missing years Marlena.”

“I didn’t say that I remembered them. For all I know in the dark recesses of your mind, you doctored a photograph and decided to torment me and in turn John.”

“What makes you think I would do that?”

”Because I have those years and because you know he still holds guilt towards never finding me or figuring out the truth until …”

Stefano smiled. “You give me too much credit m’lady.”

She shook her head. “I KNOW you, I give you this amount of credit because I know how ruthless you can be, how childish you can be when you don’t get what you want.”

“What do I want?”

She moved swiftly, taking the queen and replacing it with the piece she was holding.

“Me.”

*~*~*~*

John shook his head. “Can we date this photograph?”

Abe looked at it. “The Lab can do amazing things. We should be able to find out if it’s a fake.”

John closed his eyes. “Or if it’s not.”

They left the Penthouse Grill with all the reminders of the failed wedding and came to the station. Belle and Brady were safe with Mom and Pop at the Pub, giving John the freedom to pursue this investigation.

“I know there has to be a reason for her to bail out on me.” John turned around and leaned against the desk. “But I’ll be DAMNED if I can figure it out fully.”

“It obviously has something to do with DiMera, but why her. Normally when he attacks, he comes after me.”

Abe nodded. “That’s true.”

Bo paused. “Do we still have the file on Marlena’s missing years?”

John turned around. “Why?”

Bo looked up. “Because and right now it’s only a hunch. But what if this has got something to do with her missing time from Salem.”

John shook his head. “He had her in San Christobal, in a coma and safe for five years so he could gloat over her.”

Bo glanced to Abe. “John, that’s what he said. We all know he lies as easily as he breathes. So what if the Coma story was just another lie?”

John’s eyes turned black. “We have to find her.”

Abe’s phone rang. “Hello Commander Carver here.”

John and Bo stepped away from the desk to give him some privacy.

“I can’t lose her again Bo.”

The younger man looked worried. “We’re not going to give up John. It’s not Orpheus revisited. We will find her, we will get to the bottom of this.”

John nodded. “I know, but I swear that if he has her, I will kill him.”

*~*~*~*

“Please tell him I love him Abe and I’ll be in touch.”

Marlena hung up the phone.

*~*~*~*

“Abe?”

He looked up. “We’re closing the file.”

John’s eyes became wild. “What in the hell do you mean your closing the file?”

Abe looked up at his friend. “Can’t have a Missing Person’s File if the person in question phones to say she’s safe.”

Bo had to restrain him. “What in the hell do you mean she’s called to say she’s safe, Abe why didn’t you tell me she was on the phone!”

Abe’s voice betrayed the stress of the past few hours.

“SHE TOLD ME NOT TO!”

Bo stepped between them. “Calm it down!”

“She asked me to say only that she was safe and that she loved you.”

Knowing his brother was still in no condition to talk, Bo glanced at Abe. “Did she say something else?”

Abe nodded. “She’ll be in touch.”

John threw up his hands. “He’s after her and she’s alone?”

He grabbed his jacket and stormed out.

*~*~*~*

Marlena checked her watch.

“I told you that I’d take you to them. I wouldn’t lie about this.”

She turned to face Stefano.

“You’ve lied since the day you crawled out of your poor Mother’s womb.”

Stefano shook his head. “There’s no need for you to be that ignorant.”

She smiled. “I’m with you, reason enough for me.”

Going to sit down, she crossed her legs and glared at him. “You’ve got me going on a wild goose chase, so I have EVERY right to be as belligerent as possible.”

He leaned over her. “It’s not a wild goose chase. I am taking you to our children and you’ll learn by the end of our visit to be appreciative of what gifts I give you.”

“What gifts?” She shrugged. “You’ve only given me grief!”

Stefano smiled. “Soon it will all make sense.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You are really a disgusting buddha.”

Sitting down, she folded her arms and looked at him again. “You won’t win.”

He nodded. “You’re here with me, your wedding day a shambles. I think I have won.”

*~*~*~*

The Spice Girls “Viva Forever” was playing mournfully on the radio as John came home to the Penthouse.

In the dark, he slumped down on to the sofa his head finding solace in his hands.

“Tell me.”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

The hazel eyes shone as she playfully pouted. “Not fair!”

Sliding her arms around his waist, she nibbled on his ear. “Tell me.”

John’s hands reached out and drew her from her task. Cradling her face in his hands, he smiled.

“Nope, not telling you anything about where we’re going on our honeymoon.”

As she began to pull away, he caught her back. “However, I will tell you this.”

She nodded. “Where we’re going to go is beyond paradise.”

Smiling, she wrapped her arms around him. “Honey, any place with you is beyond paradise.”

Head snapping up, John looked around the room.

“Crazy, I’m going truly crazy.”

*~*~*~*

“This place.”

Marlena turned her head and looked around the grounds of the Villa, a growing recognition washing over her. She had BEEN here before.

“Your home.”

She turned around to look at Stefano, who came around the car. “No.”

“Ah but it is. You lived here quite happily for 4 and a half years. You were the mistress of this manor, you ran the servants and raised the children here.”

She looked away. “I did NOT!”

He turned her to face him. “I’m not going to argue with you. As I told you on the plane, this is going to be a journey for you into just WHAT you did for those years and what I know your going to be finding is NOT going to be something you like.”

She wrenched away, the feel of his arms on her making her itch. “Promise or threat?”

He chuckled, amused by her defiance. “You know better than that.”

*~*~*~*

“I know her Abe.”

John handed over the copy of the photograph still with the lab.

“I’ve known her all of my life that I can remember. No matter what, I know she couldn’t have had his children.” He shook his head. “I remember how repulsed she was over his offer in Paris. There is NO way she could have.”

Watching his friend, Abe shook his head. “John, we know him. There has to be an ulterior motive as to this photograph.”

John leaned over the desk. “I just wish she would have gotten in touch with me.”

*~*~*~*

She walked along the beach trying to remember anything from that time.

Sitting down on a fallen log, she studied the waves rolling gently in and was reminded of another time when all she knew was rapidly being taken away from her.

The plane hit the water and she could hear herself scream for Roman once before the world went dark.

Shivering, she began to rub her arms despite the heat of the day.

Looking around again, she caught a brief glimpse of a little boy watching her.

Finding herself fascinated by the youngster, she smiled and was rewarded by a stunned smile back before he disappeared through the forest.

*~*~*~*

“Where were you?”

He came quickly into the room and sat down on his sister’s window seat.

The pretty blonde raised an eyebrow. “Gabriel John Thomas Beauregard.”

He made a face. “Do you HAVE to use all my names?” He waved a hand dismissing his twin sister, younger by 10 minutes. “You’re NOT my mother!”

With the poise of a 12 year old going on 22 year old, Gabriel’s sister grinned. “No, but closest thing you have GOT to one.”

“Jaden Caroline, all I can say about you is simply that your just …. ” He raised an eyebrow. “Sad.”

He suddenly flopped out on the bed. “Jade, I think I’ve seen her.”

“Seen who?”

He flashed his hazel eyes at his sister. “Father’s lady of the painting.”

Marlena was walking in the painting gallery when she heard a voice singing.

A smile came across her face as she found herself nodding in time to the song when suddenly she froze.

She sang that song so many times to Belle, who wouldn’t go to sleep without it.

“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living…”

Jaden’s head appeared above the railings and thought to herself. “Your baby I’ll be.”

As she sank down to sit against the railing, Jaden Caroline made a fist and laid it against her chest.

“He was right, she looks like the picture.”

Closing her eyes, Jade remembered the day that she worked the courage to ask her father who the beautiful  lady was in the painting above the fireplace.

“She was a Queen, which makes you my darling a Princess.”

Jade looked up and blinked. “That’s my ….”

Stefano nodded and gathered the 8 year old close. “Yes it is. Your mother was the most beautiful thing in our world and Jaden she loved you and Gabriel so much. Until one day, she couldn’t stay with us anymore and she had to leave.”

Tears welled up. “Why don’t I remember her?”

Stefano cuddled her closer. “Because darling, when you were very little she became very sick and she ….”

“She died like my rabbit?”

He rested his head on hers. “Yes, the woman who was your mother passed away.”

Jaden Caroline DiMera felt sick. “He lied..”

Standing up on rubbery legs, she went in search of the one person who could help her make sense.

*~*~*~*

“Hello there.”

Gabe froze and slowly turned around to find himself staring at an angel.

“I thought that was you.” She came closer. “My name is Marlena.”

Gabe nodded, feeling suddenly nervous and yet wanting to talk to her.

“I saw you this morning as I sat on the beach. Why didn’t you come say hello?”

He looked up and Marlena paused as she saw the color of the little boy’s eyes.

There was only one man in the world she knew of who had that particular shade of velvetly blue almost black eyes and here stood a young man …

“I didn’t come say hello, because I didn’t know who you were until …”

She tilted her head. “Until what?”

Gabe smiled. “Until I saw you in the painting. I know who you are.”

She blinked. “You do?”

He nodded. “Yes, your my Mother.”

*~*~*~*

“Yes?”

Jaden came into the study and stood inches away from her father’s desk.

“Ah Jaden, why haven’t you come see me yet?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “You’ve been busy.”

Stefano shook his head. “Never for you or Gabe, who by the way hasn’t also come to see me.”

Jaden raised an eyebrow. “You know he likes his horse.”

Stefano looked at his daughter and cleared his throat. “Jaden Caroline.”

She launched herself. “YOU LIED! You said she died and she hasn’t and why did you lie!”

Watching her in full temper, all Stefano could see in his mind was just how furiously John’s right hand would clench and unclench when he worked himself into a frenzy.

John’s daughter was a true chip off the block.

“I never lied to you.”

She shook her head. “You did. You said she DIED!”

He cleared his throat. “I did it sweetheart to protect you and Gabriel.”

She paused. “Why?”

He stood up and came to stand in front of her. “Because she would have taken you and Gabe to a man who would have harmed you both. I did it to keep my precious babies safe.”

Jaden shook her head. “I don’t believe you. She doesn’t look like a person who would.”

“Would what?”

“Hurt her babies.”

Stefano looked at the young girl, her long hair shining down her back in a thick braid.

“Jade, you have a lot to learn. Not all innocent looking people will be innocent. She would have done this thing and I would have lost you and Gabriel both.”

She still looked hesitant and so he continued. “Daddy will always do what’s best for you and your brother both.”

*~*~*~*

“It sounds like you’ve had a wonderful life here Gabe.”

The little boy blushed and Marlena smiled. She didn’t care what Stefano said, she knew this was John’s son purely by looking at the youngster.

The relief of knowing by looking at this child that Stefano had no biological claim on her made her so anxious to get to the bottom of this, to learn how and why Stefano had kept her children from her.

“Gabe, are you an only child?”

He blinked. “No, I have a sister. Her name is Jaden Caroline.”

Marlena smiled. “Sounds like a lovely name for a lovely young lady.”

“As if you would know.”

Gabe and Marlena turned to find a very angry Jaden standing there.

“Why did you come back here?”

*~*~*~*

“John?”

He turned to find Carrie walking towards him. “Hi ya punkin.”

She gestured to the display window of the children’s shop. “Your thinking of that photograph aren’t you?”

He nodded. “Yeah, we’re supposed to be getting the word about the authenticity of the photograph today.”

Carrie laid her hand on his arm. “It’s not what you think.”

He nodded and smiled. “Part of me knows that, but part of me can’t get past a conversation she and I once had.”

Carrie tilted her head. “Which was?”

John led her to the bench. “When we thought that I was Roman, we talked one day about how we wanted to give you and the twinners a brother or sister.”

His eyes grew shadowed. “It was just after she had come home from Stockholm and in the midst of the confusion, she smiled and said the one thing she wanted to do was give me a child.”

He looked at his hand, running a finger over where a golden band should be.

“She wanted me to be able to remember OUR baby as I couldn’t you or the twins.”

Carrie bit her lip. “Oh John.”

He looked up. “I never told you or anybody this, but for the first few days after I came home from watching her plane crash, I wondered over all the worst case scenarios. Including what if she had been pregnant when Orpheus took her.”

His blue eyes grew dangerously bright. “What if the children in that photograph are mine?”

Carrie shrugged. “Well the only thing I can think of for you to do is call the Cop Shop and get the start of your answers from Uncle Abe.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “How did you just get SO smart?”

She helped him up. “I had great teachers, You AND Marlena.”

He hugged her. “Sometimes punkin, it takes a great man to admit when the women in his life are smarter than him. This is one of those moments, Doc would be pleased.”

Their laughter rang through the sunny Salem Place courtyard…

Marlena shook her head as she studied the angry little blonde.

It was too ironic that Jade, who didn’t truly know her parentage was acting more Sami than Sami at that very moment.

“I asked you a question.”

Marlena shook her head. “I know, but I don’t have an answer.”

Jaden was about to speak but Marlena continued.

“I lost a great deal of my memory, it was something not of my choosing and it was something that I learnt to go on without. But then I received something that made me want to come here.”

Gabe came quietly and sat beside her, placing his hand over hers. “What?”

Marlena smiled at the gesture, so like his father. She couldn’t wait for John to meet these two remarkable children.

“I was given a photo of the three of us.”

*~*~*~*

“John?”

He turned around; apologetic for being lost in thoughts of the first night he met Samantha and found both Abe and Bo watching him.

“We have the photo results back.”

He nodded. “It’s authentic isn’t it?”

Bo nodded. “Yeah Bro, it is.”

John reached out for it. “You okay?”

He smiled, wanting to feel a connection to her and the children.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Grabbing his jacket, he walked out.

*~*~*~*

“Daddy?”

He turned and found Belle holding the photograph a few hours after he brought it home.

“Yeah honey?”

He came to sit with her and she turned to face him. “That’s Mommy?”

He nodded. “Yeah it is.”

“Is that Brady and Me?”

“Brady and I?” He corrected her before he shook his head. “No honey, it’s not.”

She paused. “Is it Eric and Sami?”

Again he shook his head. “No, the picture was taken a LONG time before you came to bless our family honey.”

Belle pouted. “I want Mommy home.”

He smiled. “So do I Belle, so do I.”

She sensed his sadness and suddenly spun and lunged for him. “Love you.”

He allowed himself to sink into her hug. “I love you too baby girl.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena could see that Jaden was struggling and tentatively asked her what was wrong.

“Daddy said you would give us to a terrible man, who would hurt us.”

Marlena shook her head, yet again Stefano found a way to stick it to John and her.

“No, I would never do that. Jaden, I know you just met me and don’t know me. But the one thing I would NEVER do is turn over a precious baby … MY precious babies to anyone who I didn’t want to have them.” Gabe looked up at her. “I believe you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Jade?”

She blinked. “What?”

Marlena smiled. “Let me tell you about your family. You have a stepsister named Carrie, a twin brother and sister named Eric and Sami, a little brother named Brady and a sister named Isabella, Belle for short.”

Gabe grinned. “Beauty and the beast, Jade your favorite Story.”

She glared back. “Is not!”

Marlena smiled. “What is your favorite story?”

Jaden became hesitant. “You tell me.”

Marlena froze but then it came to her with the memory of the gallery tune.

“I’ll love you forever.”

*~*~*~*

John was fast asleep on the couch when the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, he found only a videotape sitting at his feet.

*~*~*~*

Marlena came down the hall and found herself at Gabriel’s door.

Pushing it open, she smiled to find him fast asleep.

As she brushed the hair away from his face, she watched as a slow smile came across his face.

“You are your Daddy’s boy.”

“Are you so sure of that Marlena?”

She turned and found Stefano watching her from the doorway.

“As I know I’ve never been THAT desperate for sex to consider YOU, I think it’s safe to say by looking at that child, there is only ONE man who could be Gabriel’s dad and it is NOT Stefano DiMera.”

He chuckled. “Wrong. Here’s clue #2 for you. Gabe and Jaden’s father is a DiMera.” He shrugged his shoulders. “If it’s not me … then WHO?”

She clenched her fists. “I’ll say it again. Their father is JOHN.”

He let her go past with a simple. “Okay if you say that he is, then he must be.”

*~*~*~*

John sat dumbfounded.

The video showed what he presumed was the twins from the photograph and then it switched to a blurry shot of medical reports.

“Mr. Black, what this is showing you is that these children are NOT DiMeras, but are of DiMera blood. Can you possibly be as smart as you’re renowned to be and figure that riddle out?”

John shook his head… “Are but aren’t?”

*~*~*~*

Marlena went into the study, heading for the piano.

As she sat down, she instinctively began to play and as the melody wafted around her, she felt herself transformed to another time.

“Why do you insist that I keep wasting not just my time but yours with this stupid pursuit?”

Stefano’s voice boomed across Marlena’s skull with the intensity of thunder. “Because I want it.” Marlena shivered as she felt phantom fingertips brush against her skin. “We know when I want something I take it.”

She heard herself, voice like silken steel. “Not everything. I don’t want YOU.”

The nausea threatened to wash over her. “You will soon enough.”

Her fists crashed against the ivory keys, creating a disharmony that matched the upheaval in her heart.

The voice didn’t betray her as she spoke into the silence. “Never.”

“John Black”

There was silence for a moment and then she was there. “John, it’s me.”

He didn’t know if he felt relief, anger or pure joy that she was all right, he assumed that it was a mix of all three. “Doc, where are you?”

She studied the sunrise and thanked god that she remembered finding her cell phone stashed in her suitcase. “I’m with Stefano at one of his compounds.”

He sat straighter. “Which one Marlena?”

She paused and he thought for a moment that he lost her. “Rivers End.”

John’s eyes widened. “Oh no.”

She froze at the tone in his voice. “You know this place?”

“Do I know this place?”

He closed his eyes, at memories assailing him of being so close, but yet it wasn’t enough. Of watching helplessly as she was taken from him.   

He tried to keep the emotion from his voice. “It was Orpheus’s estate Doc.”

Her fist curled up, no wonder it was all so familiar.

Closing her eyes, she remembered her final face off with him.

“Marlena?”

Opening her eyes, she spoke in a voice barely above a whisper. “I need you.”

*~*~*~*

On the flight over, John studied his file.

Printed video stills were interspersed with the existing information he had on River End, plus his figuring on the riddle at the end of the tape.

“Well we know that Stefano wanted Marlena in his bed, so she’s not a child of his. She never slept with him the video said as much.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“Tony was nowhere near the family at that time.”

He shook his head, wanting everything to fall into place and make sense.

”They are DiMeras but aren’t.”

Suddenly the realization hit him. “Oh no, it couldn’t be.”

As if the blind was opened letting in the sun, John had a memory of a conversation he and the old man had once.

“Sometimes decisions are made in a family that may seem harsh but are for a child’s good. What was done to you was planned but it was to make you who are. A warrior.”

“That’s sick, old man.”

Stefano chuckled. “Spoken like a true child of my blood.”

John bit the inside of his cheek and tasted blood. “Their mine?”

*~*~*~*

Marlena sat quietly studying the chessboard. “Make your mind up yet?”

Hazel eyes peered up at him from through her bangs. “Shut up.”

Stefano leaned back in his chair. “Spending time with John has dulled your manners.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Spending time with YOU has dulled my appetite.”

Moving her pawn, she captured his knight.

Tapping his spoon against his china cup, he grinned.

“I’ve noticed that. You need to eat, keeping the children entertained is important.” He smiled. “Especially one who has been out of their lives as long as you have.”

She picked up his knight and threw it at him. “You bastard.”

Watching the knight sail past him, she began to shiver.

“AGAIN!”

She could feel her muscles straining as she lunged for the figure in the shadows, her body slick with sweat as she spun and kicked.

“HARDER!”

She dropped and swung her leg, catching the man unaware until she swept him right off of his feet and on to his back.

“FINISH HIM!”

Straddling him, she raised her arm ….

“Good girl!”

Blinking, she looked at Stefano. “What did you do to me?”

Stefano shook his head. “I did nothing to you.”

*~*~*~*

Rolf watched their exchange from a monitor. “She’s still exhibiting signs of control.”

He turned back to her file. “She still responds in anger to that trigger.”

He flipped on the television and hit play on the remote. Images of Marlena being trained filled the screen.

“His greatest jewel and my second greatest success.”

He raised his water bottle and saluted both the broken creature that Stefano stole from under Orpheus’s nose, and the self assured young woman sitting across from Stefano now.

“To the true Princess who grew into Stefano’s Queen of the Night.”

*~*~*~* “Shane, it’s John.”

He smiled as he listened to his friend. “I’m fine and so are Belle and Brady.” His smile faded. “I know Abe and Bo told you about Marlena, that’s why I’m calling you.”

He lifted his eyes from the chart. “I need to know just how to get onto Stefano’s River End without having the old man knowing.”

Shane blinked. “I can’t do that.”

John shook his head. “Why not?”

“Because all information about River End has been deleted from our systems here at the Head Office.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena found herself wandering the grounds after dinner, wanting to try and see if ANYTHING would remind her of that time.

Over the years, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to know, far from it. In fact, there were times when she craved the knowledge, but it would pass. She saw what it did to Hope and also to John.

Pandora’s box was just not that fascinating for her, and so she had just let it slide.

But now, she wanted it opened …

*~*~*~*

Stefano stood on the terrace, watching her go here and there.

Rolf came out just in time to see her head down the stone path. “Stefano, are you nuts. She can’t go down there!”

Stefano turned his head slightly. “By all means, yes she can go wherever she wants to on this island. After all, the cottage house is HERS.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena stood in the doorway of the little cottage house, her fist to her mouth.

She felt sick and her legs were like rubber as she took in the scene.

“Oh No.”

*~*~*~*

“You see Rolf, I had it re-renovated to look EXACTLY like it did when she was here. But the piece de resistance, is that portrait.”

*~*~*~*

It was as if the picture was a magnet and her legs were lead, drawing her towards that monstrous painting.

None of her nightmares could have ever prepared her for the sight of Stefano, larger than life facing towards the artist, while she stood facing Stefano, except she turned her head slightly so that the artist could catch her in profile.

Her long blonde hair was partially pinned up, the back in cascading ringlets and she was in a shawl that fell gracefully from one shoulder, giving the illusion of elegant simplicity.

“You WILL be mine.”

She shook her head. “When hell freezes over.” She tilted her head and laughed. “Do you really think the idea of you and I is something that I want to face?”

He ran his fingers along her jawbone. “My darling.”

He stepped closer, his hand coming to rest possessively over her gently rounded stomach. “To protect HIS children, the idea of you and I as you delicately put it, is going to be something you face. Because the time is coming.”

Falling to her knees, Marlena’s head bowed forward and tears began to fall.

“John, I need you …. Please come… soon.”

*~*~*~*

It seemed like hours before she felt back in control of herself, but she found that she was able to stand up.

It was as if she knew there was more to learn from this house and she felt a steely resolve growing inside her that she HAD no other choice. She had to know it all.

As she moved around the living room of the cottage, she bumped into the coffee table that moved the bookcase slightly.

Peering around the darkened corner, she saw a Television and a VCR…

*~*~*~*

“What do I think learning of her past is going to do to her?”

Stefano pondered the question and leaned towards Rolf.

“I think it will devastate her. She wasn’t a THING like the self assured, confident and stubborn mother we have here now. She was like a panther, stalking prey. She went for what she wanted and damned all who stood in her way. Rolf you were her doctor then, you know just how perfect she truly was.”

He nodded. “But the person she is now is just as …”

Stefano cleared the chessboard with one fat fist. “The person she is now was molded by her love for John and that person cannot be allowed to exist. When the endgame commences, I want John to see MY Queen not his.”

“I will have his love, their children and ultimately John Black will die at HER hand, I will have the pleasure of watching HIM die with the knowledge that I destroyed and rebuilt the woman he loves most.”

“Long live the Phoenix.”

“Want to tell me that again Shane?”

He looked up, regret on his face. “John, this is so hard for me to tell you.”

The blue eyes darkened. “Sure it is, but try anyways.”

Shane remained calm. “The previous head of the ISA felt it necessary to delete any and all information about Rivers End from the mainframe computer. I have nothing to give you to help in this pursuit.”

John’s eyebrow rose up. “There’s a but or something coming, I KNOW you Shane.”

He nodded. “Officially I can’t help. Unofficially, well let’s just say that I do have someone on the payroll, who could indeed help you.”

Shane hit the intercom. “Michelle, could you please send her in?”

“HER?” John turned and his eyes nearly bugged out of his head when a familiar redhead came in.

“Hello Chief Donovan.” Her voice became wary. “Hello John.”

He nodded. “Hello Olivia.”

*~*~*~*

Her hands were numb from clenching them around the arms of the chair she sat in, her eyes felt bleary, but yet she couldn’t tear herself away from the screen.

It WAS her; she knew her movements beyond description. But there was no way she could be doing in this video what it appeared she was doing.

She felt her body tensing again as she saw herself effortlessly moving past security guards and stealing items.

Reaching for the remote, she heard herself.

“Why would you want all of these?”

She picked up a sapphire and examined it. “I mean you’re the richest man in the world, richer than God or so you make me believe. But yet, here you are sending me to play cat burglar. What is behind it all?”

“I want you to be happy?”

She turned her head slightly. “Sure you do, try another line and see if that sticks.”

She laid the jewel down and turned to face him head on. “I’ve learned to read you like a book. You don’t CARE if I’m happy. In fact, I’m willing to wager that you couldn’t care less about my happiness as long as you had me under your thumb, the Queen to your King in this dark little kingdom of yours and knowing that familiar leer in your eyes as well as I’m getting to, you won’t stop till you’ve totally possessed me.”

That word had Marlena shaking…

The Queen of the night, Possession, everything came back to her and she opened her eyes.

Once again, it all came to one thing …

It was HIS fault.

*~*~*~*

“Hold it!”

Gabe froze and found Jaden smiling. “Where do you think YOUR going?”

“I’m getting a piece of strawberry shortcake, why?”

She stepped forward. “Because I wanted to know.” She looked closer. “You ok?”

He felt like he was five and she smothered him. “I’m fine.”

As he walked away, instead of turning to the left to head to the kitchen for Cook’s famous strawberry shortcake, he turned right towards the guest wing.

*~*~*~*

”Think on it Rolf, my Queen killing her love so that I could finally claim her for my own.”

Rolf shook his head, dropping his face into his hands. “Shakespeare had NOTHING on you sir.”

Stefano glared. “That’s NOT funny Rolf.”

He smiled benevolently. “She’s still responding to the hidden trigger, I’m positive that by now she’ll have seen the video tapes and knows of just what she’s been made into and with all thanks to me.”

“Yes, all thanks to YOU.”

The voice was ugly, hard and cold as ice.

They turned and found Marlena standing behind them, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed.

“I really SHOULD finish the job I started on that catwalk so many years before.”

She examined first the nails on one hand and then the other. “For everything you’ve done and still have yet to do.”

Turning away, she smilingly issued the challenge. “But I’ll let fate decide who kills you and just how it is that you DIE.”

Rolf smiled and looked to Stefano. “Well Othello, Desdemona’s home.”

“Shut UP Rolf!”

*~*~*~*

John waited until she went out of the room before blowing up at Shane. “HER?” He gestured to the door. “You’ve partnered me for this investigation with OLIVIA?”

Shane tried to placate his friend. “She’s changed.”

“She helped Orpheus. Shane, I told her that I knew she had a good heart, but I can’t do this … going back to that island with HER!”

“You want Marlena home and between you and I, Olivia is the key to getting you onto the island.”

John closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t like this Shane.”

*~*~*~*

He closed his eyes on the flight and fell asleep.

Memories of when she was taken were mixed with those of when she returned until finally one particular memory came to stand out for him.

“No, I DON’T want to know my past … I don’t need to have all the gaps filled in the way that the two of you do.”

She ran her hand through her hair. “Five years were only five when I think of all the years that I’ve gotten to have with you and Belle and Brady plus the rest of my family. John, I don’t WANT those five back.”

John woke up. “Doc, hang on baby.”

*~*~*~*

“Good Morning …” She turned and watched as Jaden tried to figure out how to address her.  “Mother.”

She smiled. “Hello sweet girl.”

Jaden eyed her across the table. “Don’t call me that!”

Marlena bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, our rude daughter didn’t explain WHY she didn’t like you calling her that.”

They saw Stefano walk into the Dining room, followed by Gabe, who lit up upon seeing Marlena there.

“Careful with the smile Gabe, you know how Father is about his son being a MOMMA’S boy!”

Marlena’s eyes widened, Gabe blushed and Stefano let out a roar. “I’d rather be a momma’s boy than a stuck up brat like some older by 10 minutes sisters I know.”

“ENOUGH!”

Marlena looked at the three of them and with a voice like ice cut the tension. “This is a breakfast table and we eat like human beings, not like a bunch of zoo animals, despite Stefano’s looking like an overstuffed gorilla. Jaden, you will kindly sit down and tell me just why you don’t like that nickname? I call your sisters that..”

“You called ME that and then you went away.”

Gabe sat still and listened to his sister rail at the world in the form of their mother. “You left us without a goodbye and forgot us and why would I want to hear you call me that?”

Marlena’s eyes grew dangerously bright. “I love you and your brother. I would never leave you and despite what you think of me Jaden Caroline, I’m going to tell you and Gabriel the truth.”

Stefano clenched the goblet tighter. “The man sitting over in that chair is NOT your father. I would never allow him to touch me and he knows that fact. He DID raise you both but that was because your real father is his enemy. He managed to get away from Stefano.”

“LIAR!” Jaden’s eyes were growing black.

“Jade, shut up.” Gabe looked at Marlena. “The right hand of God.”

“What?”

He smiled. “Father’s right hand man left him and has all of Father’s secrets. That’s why Father’s been hunting him for years.”

Marlena’s eyes shot to Stefano but she spoke to her son. “Has he caught this man Gabe?”

Gabe chuckled. “Hell no, he’s too smart for Father.”

She grinned inwardly, so proud of Gabe’s pride in John. But the smile faded while raising an eyebrow to Stefano.

The menace in her eyes left Stefano in no doubt. “I’ll kill you for this.”

“He’s called the right hand of God because Father thinks he IS God.”

“Go to your room!”

Gabe looked to Marlena, who laid her hand over her son’s. “No, he doesn’t have to. Because Gabriel has spoken the truth.”

“Your REAL father is named John Black and he is the man who Stefano’s been trying to kill for years. He is the man that he’s lied and told you would have harmed you if I managed to get to him. He’s brave, courageous and would love you the moment he laid eyes on the two of you.”

He picked up the remote and hit play on the CD player.

As quickly as the soothing song began, so too did Marlena’s seizure.

“DO SOMETHING!”

As the children began to panic, Stefano scooped her up and took her out of the room.

“Please make her alright.” That was the only thought in Jaden’s mind as she watched them go.

*~*~*~*

“It hasn’t changed. In all this time.”

Olivia nodded. “I sold the island, but never knew that it was bought by Stefano.”

Their jeep stopped and she looked at John. “This is the end of the road.”

He smiled. “Thank you for this.”

She nodded. “I hate what I did back then, but I know that you didn’t feel comfortable with my being assigned to the case.” He choked. “I thought as much. But this is my way of making right what I helped him do all those years ago.”

John nodded. “Thank you.”

As she pulled away, he turned and after adjusting his backpack, began to make his way through the brush.

Everything hurt and yet she had no wounds.

At least nothing she could see with the naked eye and as Marlena opened her eyes, she found she could see quite a lot.

“Why do you insist on always pushing more buttons with me than you have to?”

She turned and found Stefano watching her with worried eyes.

“What did you do to me?”

He leaned back in his chair. “I only reminded you of just how easily I can break your little world.”

She felt so blurry and Stefano sounded like he was under water.

“You forgot Marlena, that for those children I have been their whole world while you’ve gone back to yours. The twins know me as their father and under the eyes of the law I AM their father.”

She shook her head, instantly regretting it as the blinding white light shot across her skull. “No your not.”

Stefano leaned forward. “Want to try that again?”

She closed her eyes, what was the point of fighting with him when everything hurt. “Stefano?”

He turned from the door. “Yes?”

She smiled and kept her eyes closed. “I meant what I said before, don’t know where or when … but I will get you for this.”

*~*~*~*

John was walking for what seemed like hours and came across what seemed to him to be a tiny cottage.

Coming inside, he found it in total shambles. Reaching for his flashlight, he switched it on and began to search..

*~*~*~*

Jaden sat quietly in the middle of her room, her hands in fists as she tried to figure out what to do. It was  obvious by her father’s body language that he was NOT going to speak on where or even HOW her mother was.

Suddenly the idea came and she sprung out of her chair.

*~*~*~*

“Rolf, what do you mean by you don’t know what this last control test did to her?”

He looked up. “I mean exactly that. When you had me place that last control in her head concerning the music, I was never able to follow up on the effects. YOU know what led to her coma.”

The dark soulless eyes blinked. “If YOU had not been so careless as to leave those records out.”

Rolf sneered. “YOU wanted the information. I left them so that YOU could read them. YOU told me she was away with the children.”

Stefano waved his hand. “Doesn’t matter. What matters is that we have to watch her closely.”

Rolf turned back to his files. “What happened, her threats to get you finally GET to you?”

Stefano lunged for him. “Say something stupid again and I’ll be the one that ends YOUR life.”

Neither man saw the horrified little boy back away hidden safely in the shadows..

*~*~*~*

John sat stunned at the ruins of the cottage and the savagery that decimated the painting that lay in front of the fireplace.

He put his hands to his face as if to shield his mind from the lie created.

Marlena with Stefano.

He looked so smug that John wanted to reach through the shredded canvas and rip Stefano’s heart out  through his throat.

“That’s not MY Marlena.” He felt tears well up. “I should have found you baby.”

He got up and knelt in front of the picture, with a shaking hand laying it on her cheek.

For years after her return from the dead, John felt intense guilt that he HADN’T searched harder. He knew from all the run in’s with the old man that nothing was as it seemed.

But yet he SAW the plane go down, he SAW, believed but yet it was another trick.

“Doc, I’ll find you baby.”

“WHO ARE YOU!”

He turned around and found himself staring at a slender little girl, long blonde hair and a pair of dazzling  hazel eyes.

“I could ask you the same question.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You first!”

Fighting a smile at the idea of this would be Belle in a few years, John nodded. “My name is John Black.”

Before he could react, the young girl ran away.

Chasing after her, he lost her in the forest surrounding the house.

*~*~*~*

Gabe waited until Father was out of the library and slipped inside.

He had found the book after the chaos with Momma but didn’t take it then, he was too scared of being caught.

Something had sparked in him and he wasn’t scared any more.

He wanted to do nothing less than help his Momma.

*~*~*~*

John sat quietly in the gathering twilight and thought of her.

She certainly had Marlena’s coloring, her hair and eyes and to look at her John swore he saw Samantha.

But was she one of the mysterious twins?

Getting up, he found himself looking into the sky and finding the stars appearing.

“Isabella, if you have any pull up there …” he paused. “Izzy, watch over Doc please and if that girl is one of the twins, watch over them too please.”

Jaden slipped back against the tree. “Could he be?”

The fists began to kick into overdrive.

She was suddenly very much her father’s child as she turned and made her way back to her home.

*~*~*~*

Gabriel made sure he was truly hidden away from the prying eyes of the staff and the rest of the household before he began to play on his laptop.

Under the space of a minute, he found what he was looking for and began to break into the database.

*~*~*~*

She tentatively knocked on the door.

“Yes?”

She cleared her voice. “Momma, it’s Jaden. May I please come in?”

“Come in.”

Opening the door, she found Marlena sitting in front of the fireplace looking very pale and tired.

“I could come back later. I don’t want to tire you.”

She smiled and held out her arms. “You could never tire me. But I could use a hug.”

Marlena watched the girl hesitantly come towards her and finally allowed herself to be drawn in.

As she rested her head against Jaden’s inhaling the light strawberry smell of her hair, Marlena began to cry as the fight for control of her mind continued to blaze brightly.

“Yes, hold on to the girl Marlena. I want out and I will do it by whatever means possible.”

“No, I want the answers but I won’t let myself turn into anything like what Hope was.”

That laugh that seemed to ricochet around Marlena’s head, making her wince.

“Believe me, you were NOTHING like that second rate attempt.”

“Momma?”

She blinked and found Jaden staring at her.

“I’m just so touched that you would let me hold you sweet girl.”

Marlena dried her eyes.

“The way you  reacted when I called you something sweet before, well I didn’t think that you’d let me try to make amends  … to try and be your momma.”

She willed the voices to stop the discordant symphony in her head.

“Jaden, I want you to remember something for me.”

Jade nodded. “Okay, what?”

Marlena smiled. “I don’t remember about you and Gabe, but we’ll fix that. But no matter what happens in  the next little while, until I can find a way to make things right, I need you to remember just how much I  have come to love you both. I can’t wait until your daddy finally meets the two of you.”

Jaden smiled and the way that her eyes crinkled touched Marlena’s heart … it was the same way John’s did.

“Are Gabe and I like him?”

She smiled. “Gabe looks just like him and I think.” She reached out and brushed the hair away from Jaden’s  forehead. “No, I KNOW that your just like your daddy in spirit, while you look like me.”

Jaden smiled prettily. “I’m glad I look like you.”

“When I was little and feeling lonely, I would go stand in front of the picture and pretend that it was me when I was all grown up. No more feeling off.”

Marlena smiled. “Oh little one, you are such a beautiful girl, with a wonderful soul.” She laid her hand on  Jaden’s cheek. “You remind me of a rose, when it’s cold and uncertain, you close up and yet when it’s warm and the winds gently blow, you open and the world can see just what a gift you are. The beauty of you is  such a wondrous thing.”

As Jaden kissed her goodnight, Marlena smiled. It was such an easy thing to keep a child happy and secure but how to get her away from Stefano’s presence??

Standing up, she buckled and placed a hand in the middle of her forehead, willing for the drumming to stop.

“God, please help me. I don’t know what’s happening to me and I need to get the twins to John.”

“You do so know what’s happening, you just don’t want to face the facts.”

She blinked. “What facts?”

“I’m coming back and you can’t stop the avalanche. He can’t save you … NO ONE can.”

“You’re wrong. Three important things can save me…”

*~*~*~*

The dry heaves stopped and John looked back up at the screen.

It was Marlena moving with feline grace as she took out a guard with an efficiency that impressed even him.

“What the hell did you do to my girl old man?”

John closed his eyes, remembering the snippets of his life with Stefano and wondering if this was the same sort of torture that he did to Marlena.

No, he wouldn’t harm her that way. She was Stefano’s perfect Queen of the Night and wouldn’t be marred in  that way.

HER torture would have been more cerebral and less physical.

John willed the nausea away.

His mind backtracked to the one question that had niggled at him since he lost the child.

How in the world did Stefano get Marlena from the wreckage of the plane when they had gotten there practically moments after the crash?

Rubbing the stiffness from his neck, John could almost see Stefano chuckling and saying “That is ONE secret you’ll never find out.”

*~*~*~*

The vase being thrown was followed by the strongest words that Stefano had ever heard escape Marlena’s lips.

“You’re going to tell me or so help me I’ll rip out your brain through your nasal passage using the letter opener!”

He had tried to use several of the release techniques but none worked.

All of this had begun by his simply telling her that she would never be allowed to take the children away from the island.

“Fine, how about I make good on my threat!” was the first words she spoke and then she upset the chess table.

The ensuing struggle surprised Stefano for he truly thought that he would get the upper hand over Marlena.

The gash in his hand plus the bruises in various places ensured that he thought wrong.

“Fine, you want to know … I’ll keep MY promise and tell you.”

*~*~*~*

John was checking his laptop when he noticed that he had email.

Clicking open the program, he found a simple message.

“Meet me by the cave near the beach …. Gabriel.”

A smile came over his face when he saw that name, remembering the guardian angel who watched over them during the possession.

He had no clue he was going to have his second run in with a remarkable child.

*~*~*~*

Jaden was nowhere in sight when Gabe snuck past the guards post and went down the path to the beach.

His snooping proved successful and he saw for the first time the file that Stefano had accumulated on the Bradys, his Mom and also the man named John Black.

“My dad.” Gabe had no doubt he was for he could see in the mirror that he resembled the man in the black and white newspaper photographs just as surely as Jaden resembled Momma.

Sending the email was easy too, so now all the intrepid little spy had to do, was introduce himself to the man who could help not just himself and Jaden. But also the most important woman in Gabe’s life.

His Momma.

John stared out at the tides washing in and out on the sand as a smile came over his face.

Send someone to love me I need to rest in arms

His eyes grew thoughtful as he kept his mind focused on Marlena. Reaching into his pocket, he found the St. Christopher Medal that she had given him. Running his fingers, he made a request.

Keep me safe from harm In pouring rain

“Lady, hold on. I will find you and bring you home.”

Give me endless summer Lord I fear the cold

Marlena moved away from the window, feeling so weak and tired. It was almost as if she was possessed again, the bone weariness of her.

Feel I’m getting old Before my time

The voices were so loud, drowning her in a sea of confusion that led to flashes of things she couldn’t understand but sensed was the past reaching out for her.

As my soul heals the shame I will grow through this pain

She managed to make things right after the possession, but how could she now when she didn’t know what she was facing?

Lord I’m doing all I can To be a better man

John prayed that it would be enough to rescue both Marlena and the children.

Go easy on my conscience ‘Cause it’s not my fault I know I’ve been taught To take the blame

“OUR Children.”

That brought a smile to his face that was taken away as he realized that they had been denied their right to be parents to those children.

Rest assured my angels Will catch my tears Walk me out of here

Marlena ran a hand through her hair, feeling sick as she tried to make the room stop spinning.

I’m in pain

Closing her eyes, she began to say her mantra over and over.

As my soul heals the shame I will grow through this pain Lord I’m doing all I can

John opened his eyes to find a little boy standing in front of him.

To be a better man

“I’m Gabriel.”

John nodded, hoping his surprise wasn’t showing on his face at the little boy smiled. “I’m ..”

It was the little boy’s turn to nod. “I know who you are. You’re John Black.”

Once you’ve found that lover You’re homeward bound

Jaden crept into Marlena’s room and pushed the hair away from her Mother’s sweaty face and watched a silent vigil as she tossed and turned.

“It will be okay.” She ran to the bathroom to get a cold cloth to lay on Marlena’s forehead.

Love is all around Love is all around

“I won’t leave you Momma.”

I know some have fallen On stony ground But Love is all around

“How do you know who I am?”

The little boy smiled his mother’s smile. “I know lots of things.”

John chuckled. “I bet you do.”

Gabe let go of his backpack. “No, I really do. My computer has a database on it and your in it.”

Send someone to love me

Marlena held on to one memory above all others.

I need to rest in arms

The rain felt so good, so cleansing as it fell against her.

It was almost like an angel blessing as she was able to smile and laugh, looking into the eyes of the man she loved, who told her that it was alright.

Keep me safe from harm In pouring rain

“John help me, please.”

Worried, Jaden pressed her hands to her mouth to stifle the sobs that were wanting to escape.

Give me endless summer Lord I fear the cold

John couldn’t believe what he was hearing and so repeated what the child said.

“I’m in it?”

Feel I’m getting old Before my time

Gabe nodded. “Yep, the man who raised me kept a huge database on you, my Mom and a town called Salem.”

John nodded shakily. “Your father?”

As my soul heals the shame I will grow through this pain

Gabe shook his head. “No, the man who raised me. Momma explained it. He raised me, my real dad was nothing like the man who lied. In my mom’s eyes, my dad can do no wrong.”

John felt 10 feet tall. “No.”

Gabe came and sat down with him. “Yes you can. You can help Momma come home.”

Lord I’m doin’ all I can

“What did you just say?” Gabe smiled. “You’re my dad.”

To be a better man

 

 

John watched his son’s fingers move nimbly over the keyboard, the tip of his tongue peeking out of the corner of his mouth.

“Gabe?”

His hand waved at him dismissing a smiling John who held up his hands in a playful supplication.

“Oops sorry.”

Gabe shook his head. “Trying to find the file you asked for and I can’t get around it.”

“Around what?” John tried to peer over the little boy’s shoulder, amazed at the mind of the child, who embodied the phrase “Mind like a steel trap.”

“He’s put a block up and I can’t crack it.”

John closed his eyes. “What do we do now?”

Gabe paused. “I try to think of what the password could be.”

“Queen, Jaden, Pawn?”

Gabe shook his head. “No. Doesn’t sound DiMera like.”

The little boy paused. “Queen.”

He made his hand into a fist. “What did he call the painting again?”

John noticed Marlena’s gesture and smiled at the fact, the UNDENIABLE fact, that in this little boy and his sister, the best of he and Doc were forever combined.

Gabriel suddenly blinked. “I got it!”

Deftly the little fingers shot across the keyboard, leaving his father confused. “Gabe, what did he call it?”

The eyes lit up with the memory and the little boy chuckled … “I GOT IT!”

John shrugged. “You do?”

Gabe nodded. “Yeah, he called it the Queen of the Night.”

Tapping his fingers on the cover of the laptop, Gabe grinned when the laptop let out a beep and Gabe grinned. “I got it and that’s a fact!! Jaden’s going to kill me, but boy do I still got it!”

John grinned at the cocky little boy swagger as Gabe punched the air.

“Yep, that’s MY boy.”

*~*~*~*

Jaden worriedly sat curled up in the chair beside Marlena’s bed and chewed on her hangnail.

Her mom hadn’t moved and from what Jade could figure out, her fever had finally broken but she hadn’t woken up yet.

She was so tempted to go find Father and ask him what to do, but didn’t dare leave her Mother because she was afraid.

Afraid she wouldn’t be there when she came back, afraid of the cries that had escaped Marlena’s lips, asking for forgiveness from the twins, John and especially people who were called Belle and Brady.

“Please wake up soon.”

*~*~*~*

John looked up from the laptop to find Gabe had fallen asleep, his head propped up on John’s backpack and he was contentedly curled up in a little ball.

His smile faded as he looked back to the file, tears began to well in the blue eyes.

“This has to be a lie, she can’t have done all of this. The woman that I love is not capable of this type of chaos.”

He made a swipe at his eyes, catching himself in the lie.

She HAD been very capable of desecration, enjoyed it in fact.

“But she was possessed.” He didn’t realize he spoke out loud until Gabe began to stir, so John held his breath hoping that the little boy would fall back fully asleep.

His wish was answered and John began to re-read.

“Subject was cleared for training from doctors, last restriction due to birth lifted by physician one week ago.”

Hitting forward on the browser and selecting a document titled “Journey’s End”, John finally received the answer to his question of just HOW Stefano got possession of her.

“In partnership with illusionist Ernesto Toscanno, the stunt was arranged to appear that plane would go down approximately 25 miles from shore. Upon hitting water, Boat was waiting to pick up Subject as per Mr. DiMera’s request.”

John’s eyes widened as he continued to read.

“In payment for this, Stefano agreed to help bring both of Mr. Toscanno’s daughters to Salem for retribution against two of his enemies, a Steven Johnson and also someone by the code name. “The Pawn.”

He shook his head. “Nooo.”

“One daughter is aware of her significance to the plan, in that she is to regain her husband, Steven Johnson in order to get revenge as to the situation of his leaving her.

However for the other daughter, she was implanted with a suggestion in that upon meeting this “Pawn” she is to ultimately lure this man into falling in love with her and after having married and given birth to a son, kill the “Pawn.”

John made a face. “That is sick. Izzy B,” He shook his head. “She could NEVER do something that heinous.”

“She never had the chance to.”

John looked up and found her star, he knew how wonderful her soul was and there was NO way that she would do something like that.

“Izzy, please watch over Marlena.”

*~*~*~*

The knife felt oddly comforting in her hand, cool yet heavy.

As graceful as a cat she lunged out, dropping to a crouch in order to sweep out her left leg to take the guy down to the mat.

Clambering over him quickly, she raised the knife and  …

“NO!”

Sitting up, she found that it had only been a dream.

*~*~*~*

”Gabriel, isn’t he going to be worrying where you are?”

Gabe flashed him a smile. “Nah, I camp out all the time.”

John reached into his backpack. “Have you always been such an old soul?”

Gabe nodded confidently. “Yep.”

Laughing, John pulled out two things and handed the first one to the boy.

“This is a picture of your family.” Gabe looked at John. “OUR family.”

“This one here, she’s your sister Samantha, we call her Sami. She’s too smart for her own good sometimes, stubborn and yet just wants to be loved.”

“Sounds like Jade.”

John smiled. “I can’t wait to meet her then.” He pointed to the next figure. “This is Eric, like you and Jaden, their twins and I think it’s safe to say that your very much like him. This one here, is Carrie. She’s my honorary daughter and I love her just as much as all my natural kids. She and the twins were my guinea pigs.”

Gabe rolled his eyes at John’s attempting an evil laugh.

“This one here, well I think you know who she is.”

Gabe lit up. “That’s Mom.”

“Yep, that’s your Momma.” He pointed to the bundle in her lap, who somehow had been convinced to sit still. “This is your little sister Isabella, we call her Belle.”

He nodded. “Who’s that?”

John smiled. “Your little brother Brady.”

He looked up to the little boy. “Until I can get your Mom, sister and you off the island Gabe, I want you to have this to hold on to.”

“Me, why?”

“Because I carry all of you in my heart and I know even when my eyes are closed just down to the smallest detail what you all look like.”

Gabe smiled and looked down at the photograph. “Thank you.”

John smiled back, finding his heart being stolen more and more. “Your very welcome.” Gabriel gestured to the other object.

“What’s the second thing?”

John began to laugh. “Food, I’m starving. Here.”

The sun began to rise more fully as they enjoyed their makeshift breakfast.

*~*~*~*

“I KNOW!”

Stefano looked up from his paper. “Know what?”

She leaned against the desk. “I’m remembering more and more and I know that it’s NOT memories from the possession. You trained me for something and I want to know WHAT it is!”

He shook his head. “Shouldn’t you be tending to the children?”

“Don’t you DARE do that!” She slammed her fist down on his desk. “Answer me you sick son of a bitch!”

He looked at her. “Such language. I wouldn’t believe that you’re the same woman I proclaimed my Queen of the Night.”

“You know what, I wish to god I wasn’t the same woman you proclaimed your obsession.”

Her eyes narrowed and she picked up the letter opener.

“I wonder, if I was to pretend you were a fish and clean you the way that Roman and Shawn taught me. Would I find that you had a heart?”

She smiled. “I mean, I KNOW it wouldn’t look normal. But would it be as black as your soul is Stefano?”

She reared her arm back as she had in her dream. “Let’s find out.”

“MOM!”

She turned and in that instant Stefano lunged for her.

Spinning back, she moved so that Stefano fell face first on to the ground.

Quickly she laid the opener back on the desk.

“In here Gabe.”

The little boy’s eyes were huge. “Woah.”

Marlena smiled. “He’s looking for flaws in the carpet. I told him he was ripped off by the Carpet Merchant he bought it from.”

 

Gabe caught the mischief in her eyes and smiled. “Uh huh.”

“Gabe!”

He turned to find Jade flying towards him only to pause when she saw the person standing beside him and Stefano on the floor.

“He’s checking the carpet fibers.”

John grinned and the smile caught Jade off guard so she smiled back.

“Jade, this is.”

“JOHN!”

He turned and found Marlena standing in the doorway.

She was pale, circles under her eyes nearly as big as she was and she was just a mere wisp of what she was on the last day he had seen her.

“Doc?” He rushed to her. “Baby, I was so worried.”

She sobbed into his shoulder. “I shouldn’t have gone the way that I did.”

Tightening the grip he had on her, he promised her in a gentle whisper that he wouldn’t leave the island without her and their children.

“How did you?”

He gestured towards Gabe, who was smiling. “I had a little help from Crackerjack over there.”

“Ah John, welcome.”

He pointed. “You stay right there old man. I’ve come for one thing.”

Stefano waved his hand. “Yes I know. Same song different verse and so on. However, I don’t think you want to leave without knowing ALL the truth.”

“What truth, DiMera’s lie.” He grinned. “Maybe so. But not about this.”

He sat down. “First piece of news now, the other can wait until dinnertime.”

John helped Marlena sit down and smiled as Gabe and Jaden took their places on either side of her.

”Okay then, first piece of news?”

“The riddle you received with the videotape. It’s true. The twins are DiMeras, but not mine.”

John clamped his eyes shut. “Then who’s?”

Stefano’s smile was the one of pure evil. “Yours.”

He looked to Marlena, who had an arm around each child.

“Welcome to the family Marlena.”

He shook his head. “That’s not true, if it was than you’re a sick ba..” He caught himself, remembering the twins.

“Then your sicker than I thought possible and my opinion of you was already bottom of the barrel. If I’m a child of yours than to do to me what you did.”

Stefano cut him off. “Did I SAY that?”

As John eyed him warily, Stefano continued. “You’re not mine but you are my brother’s child.”

“Your father was the reason I hate the Brady’s. He fell in love with an Irish girl named Shannon Kimberly Brady, who after promising to marry Giovanni, became pregnant with their child.”

“Me.”

He nodded. “Yes you.”

“However with the times being what they were, Shannon’s brothers didn’t think a lowly DiMera was good enough for his sister and they fought.”

“And?”

“They killed my brother.”

Marlena’s eyes widened. “And now out of the original circle, there is only Shawn and I left.”

He shook his head. “And the sins of the brothers shall be passed onto their little brothers and their children and now.”

“That’s why you’ve been after the Bradys for all these years into the current generations starting with Roman.”

Stefano smiled. “Yes…”

As they sat quietly with this news, He smiled and looked at Marlena who felt the anger rising again.

“Wait until dinner because believe me, you haven’t seen everything … YET.”

John stood silently in front of the fireplace mantel, staring quietly at the image of his mother frozen forever behind the tiny pane of glass.

His voice belied the longing of wanting to be hers. “I belong to you.”

“And in turn, you belong to me.” John cringed at that voice and slowly shook his head, fighting years of conditioning that wanted to come out. In some ways, the monster behind him was the only father he had ever had.

But yet, still the voice was defiant. “I do NOT belong to you, I never have.”

Stefano grinned. “Ah but you have. You were my greatest warrior.”

“And now I’m the man who loves Marlena.”

Stefano smiled at the defiance he saw in his pupil’s eyes. “Marlena.”

“Yes Marlena. The woman I love and the mother of MY twins that you stole from both of us. What in the world possessed you to keep them from us.”

He drained the glass in his hands. “It was simple, neither of you deserved those children.”

“Oh and YOU did?” John’s fist clenched in a tight ball. “You really are a self righteous, self serving sneaky son of a bitch!”

“I kept them away from you because YOU were in no condition and as for Our Marlena.”

“What about her!” John lunged forward and pinned him up against the wall near the painting.

“All in good time.” Stefano’s face grew pale. “Let go of ME!”

John hissed a warning. “Leave my family alone old man.”

Stefano disentangled himself from John and issued one of his own. “It’s not going to be me who destroys your family. It will be from the inside that you should be definitely worried over.”

*~*~*~*

Jaden turned away from the door.

“Gabe, it’s not fair.”

He didn’t take his eyes off of the laptop screen. “Well Rolf says life isn’t fair.”

Jade rolled her eyes. “What the hell does Rolf know?”

“Well, obviously he knows where the power lies.” Gabe closed the laptop. “How else can you explain how far up Father’s butt he is?”

He smiled. “However I think things are about to change.”

Jade smiled. “I HOPE so.”

She flopped on the bed beside her brother. “Did you see how he looked at Momma?”

Gabe looked bewildered. “Who?”

“You KNOW who!”

Gabe raised an eyebrow, eerily reminiscent of his father’s famous gesture, but kept his irritation with his bossy sister out of his voice.

“If I KNEW, would I ask you sister dear?”

She propped up her chin in both hands. “Our Dad.”

“I’m so glad to hear you saying that.”

The children turned and found their mother standing in the doorway.

As they came to her, Marlena knelt down. “I need you two to stay here in your room.”

Gabe was about to speak and she shook her head. “Your dad is going to get you out of here, please don’t argue with me okay?”

First one child and then the other nodded, Jaden even smiled. “We will stay here Mom.”

She hugged them both. “Thank you and I want you both to remember something for me.”

As they promised, Marlena smiled.

“No matter what happens here tonight, I love you both SO very much and I would never hurt you for the world.”

*~*~*~*

She made it back to her room to change for dinner without crying.

But as the water flowed around her, Marlena allowed the tears to flow.

“You stupid COW, crying over two sniveling brats who didn’t even know of YOU until a few weeks ago.”

Marlena felt herself sinking to the floor of the shower as that voice assaulted her mind. She felt a weak protest fighting its way to the top.

“Their my babies.”

“WHATEVER …. Their father is here with them and it’s time.”

The pain that shot through Marlena’s head was like nothing she had felt before, white hot and annihilating everything in it’s path.

Shakily looking around, she saw the mirror appear to start to ripple like waves and the illusion she saw in the glass caused her to panic and in an attempt to make it stop, she reared her hand back and smashed the glass.

*~*~*~*

“This isn’t like Marlena to be so late.”

Sitting across from Stefano at the ornately laid out table, John did a double take. “Since when did you become an expert in my fiancée?”

Stefano smiled. “Since I first laid eyes on her.”

The crash from above them sent John running from the room, followed by Stefano.

*~*~*~*

John found Marlena sitting on the floor amongst the glass that once had been the full sized oval mirror, silently still and pale as wax.

Kneeling down, he ordered a strangely unconcerned Stefano to get a first aid kit and to keep the children out of the room.

Once he was gone, John turned his attention back to the near catatonic Marlena.

Gently placing his thumb under her chin, he lifted it and found a gash on her forehead.

Trying to keep himself and her calm, he began to talk out loud, explaining what he was doing at each step.

“I’m just going into the bathroom to get a cloth so that we can start cleaning up your cut.”

Marlena called out. “DON’T LEAVE ME!”

The tearful plea, so unlike her normal confident self broke his heart.

Coming back, he knelt down in front of her. “Honey, I’m never leaving you.”

She reached out a shaking hand. “Promise me?”

He cupped it with one of his own. “I promise.”

Somehow, the promise was enough to break down a wall she didn’t know was built and she leaned forward.

Claiming his mouth with her own, the invisible strings began to wrap around them.

“Doc, we need to get you cleaned up.”

She shook her head. “I want you.”

He blinked. “I want you too. But first we get that head wound taken care of.”

*~*~*~*

“Well?”

Gabe turned slightly from the door. “Shut up so I can hear!”

“What have I told you two about eavesdropping?”

They both turned to find Stefano watching them.

“Do it discreetly?”

The look on Jaden’s face, pure innocence as she said that threw Stefano for a loop.

As he laughed, he told them to go see Cook for some dinner and dessert.

“Their truly your children John.”

*~*~*~*

Their lovemaking usually had a heated serenity; it was as if they both knew that time for them when joined in passion stood still.

Not this time.

It was as if they were in the middle of a twister and the act of lovemaking was picking up intensity almost unearthly and it was in a way scaring John.

The woman who had her legs wrapped around him allowing him better access to her was in a world all her own and it was bothering him that he couldn’t get to her.

Pinning her face in between his hands, he called her name.

“Look at me.”

When she opened her eyes, his eyes were wide in bewilderment.

The hazel eyes had darkened to the point where they were almost soulless.

*~*~*~*

The dinner was barely underway and Stefano couldn’t help but smile at how perfectly it was all coming along.

John looked worriedly at Marlena, who sat quietly composed.

Except for the fist lying on the table, he would have believed the illusion she was creating.

“Well I did promise you the knowledge of just what the second surprise was.”

Stefano laid his napkin on the table beside his plate.

“And we all know just how highly I value keeping my word.”

John smirked. “Stefano I was born at night, just not LAST night. Get on with it old man!”

Stefano gazed at Marlena.

“You my dear were the prize in a bargain that I made with Orpheus.”

Her eyes widened and she looked to John, who didn’t seem too stunned to hear that. Looking back to Stefano, she gestured for him to continue.

“I gave him the names of his associates that had screwed up a major drug deal and in return…”

“In return, you got me.”

He smiled gleefully. “I got you.”

“I got you and in turn, I screwed up the life further of the man I “hated” most.”

John began to tap his fingers. “Get ON with it. Marlena’s missing years please!”

*~*~*~*

“The arrangements were simple. The plane would take off upon word that you arrived at the airport to try and stop it. The officials were paid handsomely to refuse to turn the plane back.”

John felt nausea. Gabriel had indeed found the truth out in the file on the computer.

“Upon certain coordinates, the plane was to appear to crash and disappear off the radar.”

“But it really did.”

Stefano seemed surprised by John’s comment. “Yes, but it really did.”

Marlena’s head lowered. “We got to you just in time due to approaching sharks.”

Her voice was like a hiss. “Get to the END!”

“You were under my control and imagine my joy to finally have you. The surprise of your being pregnant came during an examination to check your injuries.”

“How did I manage to live with you and not wanting to kill you?”

He smiled. “That was easy. You were the first one installed with a chip that erased your memories of John.”

He looked at his nephew. “Or should I say Roman.”

John lunged for him. “You BASTARD!”

As his hands encircled Stefano’s neck, Stefano smiled. “Kill me and she never knows the rest of this!”

John shook his head. “I can tell her. I KNOW everything.”

Confused, she shook her head. “One of you want to tell ME then?”

“Once the twins were born, I had my men train you to become the best assassin and thief. You were beyond compare and my greatest treasure.”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t do that.”

“Couldn’t you?”

She looked at Stefano. “I’m a Doctor and took an oath to save lives. I could NEVER be a killer. Especially not for YOU.”

“You were.”

“You loved the rush, the thrill of taking down the worst scum in the world and not being caught.”

She clamped a hand to her head. “Stop it, You LIE!”

Stefano moved past John. “I don’t lie, not about you and that life.”

She spun around, a wildness in her eyes that was truly unsettling.

“You lied, you doctored those tapes and you lie now in saying those things!”

Moving to her, John tried to calm her but only enraged her more.

“Don’t touch ME!” She held her hands up. “How did you know this, why didn’t you TELL me!”

He ducked her hands. “I learnt from our son.”

“GABRIEL?”

John turned around. “Yes, he’s quite the wizard with the computer. Too bad that you can’t punish him, He and Jaden have left the island with ISA guards.”

Marlena sank to the ground, feeling relief washing over her. “Their safe.”

John moved back towards Stefano. “Gabe showed me the files, showed me the history of your using her for a guinea pig.”

“How?”

They looked at Marlena. “How what?”

“How did I regain my memory?”

She stood up on shaky legs. “You said I was the first. You had to have practiced on others. Tell me how did I regain my MEMORY!”

“You fell from a cliff and due to the swelling of your brain after surgery to repair your fractured skull, it was felt that you had to have it removed and it was then we decided to send you back to Salem.”

She ran from the room and John turned to Stefano.

*~*~*~*

Rolf and Bart came back from town to find the house in a shambles.

Peeking through various rooms, they found Stefano lying lifeless.

Checking for his pulse, they felt relief when he began to stir.

“Who did this to you sir?”

”John did this because I told the truth.”

Bart shrugged. “Should have lied to him as usual sir.”

Rolf helped Stefano to his feet. “Bart shut up you fool.”

“I may be a fool, but when it comes to having John beat me over Dr. Evans, I’d rather lie and live to see another day.”

*~*~*~*

John stood in the middle of the cottage and as he ran through the list of where he had gone to look for her, one thought came into his mind.

”Where are you baby?”

John returned to the compound a little after midnight, his mind working well over the normal frenetic pace it usually did.

All he could think of was how in the world was he going to be able to find Marlena.

The main hallway was dimly lit as he came in and sank into a chair at the foot of the stairs, sinking his face into his hands.

The hand that came to lay on his shoulder was gentle like a breeze.

“DOC!”

He spun around to find his daughter staring at him with worry in her young eyes.

“Good grief, Jaden you were supposed to be with Gabe on the flight out with the agent.”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t go. Not without you or Momma.”

John smiled. “Honey, Momma would want you safe.”

She looked close to tears, her little hands being wrung over and over.

“She’s been so sick, I can’t be gone without knowing.”

John raised an eyebrow. “Honey, what do you mean by sick?”

A memory of how she looked when he first saw her came to him.

“Did Stefano do anything to her honey?”

Jaden looked up. “Yes and no.”

Rage began to well up and he shook his head, he couldn’t be angry in front of their daughter, who was obviously keeping secrets.

“Yes and no how sweetheart?”

She bit her lip, both hands tiny fists in his own hands. “He’d do little tricks, say things and one time.”

He tucked her hair behind her ears. “One time what?”

“He’s called the right hand of God because Father thinks he IS God.”

“Go to your room!”

Gabe looked to Marlena, who laid her hand over her son’s. “No, he doesn’t have to. Because Gabriel has spoken the truth.”

“Your REAL father is named John Black and he is the man who Stefano’s been trying to kill for years. He is the man that he’s lied and told you would have harmed you if I managed to get to him. He’s brave, courageous and would love you the moment he laid eyes on the two of you.”

“I could see in Momma’s eyes that she wasn’t lying.”

John smiled. “She was right, I have loved both you and Gabe since I first laid eyes on you two.”

Jaden blushed. “Then what happened?”

She grew puzzled. “Music.”

He picked up the remote and hit play on the CD player.

As quickly as the soothing song began, so too did Marlena’s seizure.

“DO SOMETHING!”

As the children began to panic, Stefano scooped her up and took her out of the room.

“That must have been scary.”

She nodded. “He kept Momma away for a couple of days, he said she was worn out from the seizure. After what we saw..”

He nodded. “You wanted her to rest.”

She smiled. “But finally I needed to see her, everyone had been fibbing and telling us she’d come to see us shortly. But she never did.”

“So what did you do?”

She gave him a look that threw him for a loop, Marlena’s exact expression when she was about to explain.

“I snuck in to her.”

She tentatively knocked on the door.

“Yes?”

She cleared her voice. “Momma, it’s Jaden. May I please come in?”

“Come in.”

Opening the door, she found Marlena sitting in front of the fireplace looking very pale and tired.

“I could come back later. I don’t want to tire you.”

She smiled and held out her arms. “You could never tire me. But I could use a hug.”

“It was like hugging a bone. There was nothing to her and it was like she was hearing voices, fighting back and forth.”

“How do you mean?”

“Her expression. One minute she would be smiling at me, the next she would look like she was in really bad pain.”

*~*~*~*

It was a face she stared at and knew well.

She smiled and saw that the reflection smiled sweetly back.

Her hands moved to the nape of her neck and she admired the new short do.

“New start.”

Checking her watch, Marlena smiled. “Time for one more thing.”

*~*~*~*

The gunshot cracked through the still silence of the early morning, waking John first.

He instructed Jaden to stay right where she was and not to come out until he said so.

Rushing outside, he found Stefano lying inches from the limousine and the driver nowhere in sight.

Kneeling down, he felt oddly bereft as he checked for a pulse and found none.

Marlena was missing and now Stefano was dead.

The world as he had known it, was now over and it wasn’t going to be right again, but he would fight to get his family back in one piece.

 

John sat on the plane gazing out of the window and trying to reconcile what he had learnt in the past 12 hours.

Stefano had died and Marlena had disappeared for parts unknown.

“Leaving ME to explain to the family about these two.”

He froze, hoping that his spoken comment hadn’t been heard. As he turned around, he smiled as he observed his two sleeping eldest children were in fact still asleep.

Jaden hung by his side, apparently shaken from learning the man who had raised her to this point, was now dead. While the irrepressible Gabe was full of questions.

He had to finally throw up his hands with a laugh. “Enough Gabriel, the family will tell you more than enough about Salem and themselves. Believe me when I say, you need to sleep.”

Reluctantly the youngster did follow his sister in passing out on the huge couch opposite his own.

John stretched his arms over his head, enjoying the feel of release in that motion.

Checking his watch, he found his mind going over and over the to-do list he had generated.

“Check with ISA as to potential assassins. Go over …”

His mind stopped with an image from the video that flashed behind his closed eyes.

He shook his head. “She couldn’t have.”

His rationale replied with surprising speed.

“She had once before. He hurt her and wounded animals do strange things.”

He rolled his shoulders. “Doc, I have to find you.”

*~*~*~*

“Thank god.”

Stefano chortled. “Thank him for what. It was my idea to formulate the plan.”

Rolf shook his head. “He now probably thinks Dr. Evans committed the shooting.”

Stefano leaned forward. “No probably about it. John KNOWS she did it.”

He reached for his cup of coffee. “We’re just going to keep the matter of OUR shooter being versed in special effects out of this. He has to believe Marlena did it.”

“Why?”

Stefano smiled. “Because of the plan. She is going to be the cause of his own death. This time, she’s not under the influence of Satan.”

Bart, who had been silent through this exchange spoke. “Better the devil they know than the one from long ago.”

“Shut up Bart.”

“No.”

Rolf and Stefano exchanged surprised glances. “I meant that for all intents and purposes, for all you’ve done to her, Boss. Your now just as evil as the spirit that had possessed her.”

*~*~*~*

John opened the door to the Penthouse to find Shawn and Caroline standing side-by-side, identical worried expressions.

“Come in.”

Once they were seated, John smiled. “I want to introduce you to two people that I hope you’ll come to love as quickly as I and Marlena have.”

“You guys can come in now.”

“Lad, what is this all about?” John shook his head. “I’ll explain to you in a minute.”

Caroline’s eyes widened as two small children came in.

“Guys, these are Jaden Caroline and Gabriel John Thomas Beauregard Black.”

For the expression on Shawn’s face alone, John felt a pang that Doc wasn’t there to see this.

“Does Marlena know?”

He smiled. “Yes she does. Shawn these are our children. Apparently when Marlena was presumed dead in the plane crash, she was under Stefano’s control, for lack of a better word.”

He reached over to ruffle Gabe’s hair. “She was also pregnant.”

“Well there’s no mistaking this lass’s momma. You’re the spitting image of her.”

She blushed. “So you’re the lady I was named after?”

Caroline smiled and nodded. “Apparently I was.”

Jaden came to stand in front of her. “Hello.”

Caroline smiled but there was a strange look in her eye. There was something about this girl that was niggling at her and she couldn’t place it.

“Hello.”

As Jaden came to sit with them, Shawn tore his eyes off of her to gaze at Gabe, who grinned back.

“Quite the name you have there lad.”

Gabe nodded. “Yep, she said I was named for three of the most wonderful men she had ever known. But as she didn’t know Dad was really John at the time, I’m going to assume that the third man was you.”

John blinked. “How so?”

Gabe raised an eyebrow, which earned a chuckle from Shawn. “That gesture confirmed it. He’s your boy.”

“The reason I think so, is because isn’t Shawn the Irish version of John?”

Shawn shrugged. “I think you may be right. If so, then yes I guess what your Momma said is true and I’m very honored, as I know your uncle Bo will be when he learns there’s another poor soul with Beauregard for a name.”

They laughed and Shawn looked to John.

“Have they met the others yet?”

John shook his head. “No, Chelsea has the children at Victor’s. They’ll be returning after lunch. Carrie and the twins are coming for dinner.”

“But we’ve seen pictures.”

Gabe nodded. “Dad asked me to hold onto the photograph of everyone.”

Shawn nodded. “That’s good.”

John looked to the two of them. “I need you two to go upstairs and decide on which one of the two guest rooms you want to be your bedroom.”

“Come on Jade, they want to talk adult.”

John rolled his eyes. “That too, but please I want to know so we can go pick stuff out for you and I’d need to know which room is going to be Jade’s and which one is yours.”

As they went upstairs, John grinned. “I’m in for trouble. Those two are too old soul wise.”

*~*~*~*

The car slowly came to a stop in front of the Jeep and it’s driver came out of the sleek sports car.

Examining the perimeter for passer bys, she worked quickly and was gone just as Abe pulled up.

*~*~*~*

Caroline watched the man she loved as one of her own and spoke softly.

“There was more to this story?”

John nodded. “While I found Marlena, I also found out about the truth of the DiMera/Brady feud.”

Shawn shook his head. “You mean Stefano’s lies.”

John looked at his hands. “I wish they were. I saw the photograph of Shannon and he told me the rest of it, Shawn.”

No one spoke for the longest time; no one knew what to say to this.

The clock was chiming 10 am before finally Caroline spoke, breaking the tension.

Her soft voice punctuated the silence.

“We were never told where the child had gone and John, you have to realize that at the time, unmarried pregnancy was frowned upon.”

He nodded. “I understand. I just wanted to let you know that I know.”

Shawn lowered his head. “Lad, I love your mother with all my heart. She was my only sister and if it was any one OTHER than Giovanni.”

John was strangely quiet.

“She tried to tell me he was nothing like Stefano but one night I saw him murder our father over a $50 dollar debt. They never checked his pockets. If they had.”

His voice cracked. “If they had have, they would have found the money.”

“All this could have been prevented.”

Shawn nodded and the conversation was curtailed by the arrival of Abe, who was piggybacking a laughing Brady and Chelsea, who was holding onto the hand of Belle, who kept saying. “Why?”

John grinned and welcomed both children home, feeling sick that Marlena wasn’t with them. But prevented a deluge of “Where’s Momma” comments with a smile.

Kneeling in front of them, he grinned and tickled first one and then the other.

“I have a surprise for you.”

Whistling, he yelled upstairs. “Come on down!”

Brady’s eyes were huge and Belle was close to tears as they saw Gabe and Jaden.

He turned them to face him. “What is it?”

Belle began to sob. “I want Mommy.”

Brady stepped forward and spoke for his little sister. “Belle was missing Momma.”

Jaden bit her lip and it was Gabe that saved the day.

“Belle?”

Turning a stormy looking little face towards him, Belle remained silent as Gabe knelt down as he saw John do.

Reaching behind his sister’s ear, he came away with one closed fist.

Banging his hands together, he soon had two fists closed.

“Momma told me that you were special friends with a Ruby Bear and a Big Bunny but that you were scared to go to play group because you couldn’t bring them.”

Belle nodded, still unsure as to trust him or not.

He grinned. “Pick a hand.”

Tapping his left one, Gabe turned it over to reveal a tiny stuffed version of Ruby.

“Ooh.” Her mouth a tiny rosebud O, Belle began to dance from one foot to the other.

Chuckling, he dried her tears and looked to Brady. “Should I give her the other one?”

The transfixed adults were quiet, enchanted by the little boy falling under the magical spell of his brother as Brady nodded. “Uh huh.”

Opening his fist, Belle let out a squeal. “Big Bunny a baby bunny!”

“Score one for crackerjack!”

Gabe shrugged as Belle went to sit on the couch, enchanted by her new dolls, chattering to Chelsea she could take them now.

“That’s the first time that trick worked.”

John came and hugged his son, who was so like Marlena.

“So that was why you wanted to go into the duty free store!”

He nodded. “Are you mad?”

John shook his head. “Not at all.”

They looked at Brady, who was being taught by Jaden a contortion trick of locking your hands together and then turning them inside out.

“Daddy, I’m a PRETZEL!”

John smiled, relieved that they managed to weather this storm.

“Belle and Brady, this is Jaden and her brother Gabriel.”

The little children nodded. “Brother and Sister like Belle and me, right Dad?”

John smiled. “Yes, exactly like you and Belle slugger.”

Belle smiled shyly. “She looks like Mommy.”

John nodded and brushed Jade’s hair off her shoulder. “Yes she does honey.”

“The reason that she does sweetie is that Jaden and Gabe are your brother and sister.”

Belle looked totally bewildered and Brady grinned. “Like Sami, Eric and Carrie?”

John smiled. “Yes exactly like Sami, Eric and Carrie.”

Belle tugged on Gabe’s arm and he knelt down. “Yeah little one?”

“You won’t go away?”

Gabe looked to John, who nodded.

He turned his attention back to his little sister. “Never ever.”

John knew it would be all right when Belle lunged for him and gave a famous Belle Black hug.

Brady grinned. “Cool … I have four sisters and two brothers.”

John mimicked his son, sending the gathered family into laughter. “Yeah that is cool.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena stood quietly on the other side of the door and listened to the laughter.

A lone solitary tear trickled down her cheek to be brushed away. “Time to go Doc.”

She managed to escape in the elevator just as the Penthouse door opened and the family escorted the guests out.

“Dad?”

He looked at Gabe. “Yeah?”

The little boy looked around the hallway. “I smell Momma’s perfume.”

John froze. “Yeah your right.”

The family looked around and Belle found the tiny music box.

“That was mine from the island.”

Jaden looked at how entranced Belle was and smiled. “I think Momma wanted you to have it.”

John felt a glimmer of hope. “She was here.”

 

“What’s all this for?”

John lowered Belle to the ground and the children came to Caroline, who smiled.

“The fundraiser fashion show is going to be held here at the Penthouse Grill. The reason that I asked you all to meet us here was that I wanted Belle and the rest of the children to be in the show.”

He smiled as an excited Jaden turned. “Can we be Daddy?”

He peered at Brady and Gabe, who were looking at him with identical expressions he knew well. He felt that same way whenever Marlena had wanted him dressed up in something other than jeans and a t-shirt.

“The girls can, but apparently the boys don’t want to.”

~*~*~

John smiled watching his daughters being fussed over; he wanted so badly to have had this moment for them to be with their adoring mother while this girlie stuff was going on.

He shook his head. “Guys, I’m just going to go check with Grandma over something. Stay here okay?”

Belle peeked over as Jaden got a pale pink nail polish applied to her nails. “Me too!”

Jade smiled. “Okay Daddy.”

He grinned. “Daddy, nice sound.” Turning away, he went to find Caroline.

~*~*~

The limousine came around the circular driveway and drew to a stop.

As the door was opened, a long leg appeared and Marlena slipped carefully out.

“Tonight’s the night.”

Flashing the doorman a dazzling smile, she went inside.

~*~*~

She was coming down the hallway when she heard John’s voice.

Not wanting to be seen, she ducked into a darkened room.

“Abe, I want the girls protected.”

“She’s their mother. John, there’s no way in the world that Marlena would hurt either Jaden OR Isabella. She loves her children too much!”

He nodded. “MY Marlena does. Abe you don’t know the strain she’s been under thanks to Stefano.”

Abe’s voice was like ice. “I DO know and I DO know that she would never hurt any of them regardless of any pain she’s suffering!”

Leaning closer to the door, she felt tears falling down her cheeks. “My babies.”

John was about to speak when he stopped. “Abe go on ahead. I’ll be there in a moment.”

Standing alone in the semi-darkness of the hall, a smile played across his face and he turned to the door nearest him.

~*~*~

“I never wanted anyone as much as I have you.”

He closed the door partially and smiled as he watched Marlena standing in front of the window as the moonlight cascaded over her, giving her an almost unearthly glow.

He looked at her almost hesitantly. “Are you alright?”

She moved away from the window to go and stand in front of the desk, her hands supporting her as she examined the objects on it, the taffeta of her gown whispering to him.

“I’m fine, YOU however, are looking like your coming down with something.”

“Nothing that knowing your safe and home with us couldn’t cure.”

She lifted her head and focused on the painting in front of her. “I can’t do that.”

“When were you going to tell me that you were home and safe?”

“I wasn’t.”

She turned to face him. “I can’t be with you, I can’t be home and I can’t be safe.”

She shook her head. “Not any more.”

“Why then are you here? What are you running away from Doc?”

There was nervousness in her voice that worried him. “I’m NOT running away, but I really think that you should go now John.”

As beautiful as she looked, there was something about her that was making John more determined to find out what was wrong with the normally placid woman he adored.

“I think you should talk to me.”

The hazel eyes looked at him as if he wasn’t there. “This is NOT the time for the Zen speech. You are NOT Buddha and I am alive. You can’t seduce me and make me want you. There are things that I can’t deal with and I can’t be with you!”

He came across the room in three steps and grabbed her arms. “Let me GO!”

He shook his head. “No.”

The angry tawny eyes never left his face. “I told you about Zen because the woman I love made me feel that way. She taught me that I could face ANYTHING as long as we were back to back. Her silk to my steel.”

“The silk is torn and I can’t feel anything anymore. I am so beyond your help.”

John stood quietly, the love in his eyes tinged with sorrow over her pain.

But he stood there knowing in his heart that there was no doubt he was not wanting to leave.

Marlena turned away, wanting to have distance between them and did so effectively by turning her back to John. She hears John come and stand beside her.

His voice was gentle, so low she had to strain to hear his simple plea.

“If you want me to leave, I will.”

Her gaze fell to the floor, finding it hard to breathe and John reached out and cupped her chin, raising it so that she was facing him and blue eyes were locked on hazel.

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that what you want?”

She found she couldn’t speak and the silence was deafening.

He stroked her cheek as she stared into his eyes, not being able to speak and unwilling to break the hold.

Finally he decided to break the silence, hoping his words could reach her now.

” I mean it Doc. If you want me to leave, I’ll walk out that door right now and as hard as it may be, I’ll stay out of your life, it that’s what you want?”

John looks into Marlena’s eyes searching for her answer and finding only chaos in the once crystal bright eyes.

“Do you want me to go?”

While her mind was in overdrive, Marlena finds that while her voice fails her, the only way to answer his question is to merely shake her head and in that gesture, her eyes leave John’s.

That was the break he needed.

Moving closer into her, he claims her lips as he hears her whimper.

As they break apart, Marlena’s eyes closed and as John leans her against the wall, she arched her neck, to allow him better access to her skin. Their eyes meet again, knowing what was going to happen.

Holding her, they ease gently back on the conference table, not breaking the eye contact, committing this moment to memory.

Her eyes welled up with tears as she looks at him for forgiveness and release.

Last time, it was Samantha who watched this dance, the act of lovemaking that freed them from the past.

This time, it was the puppet master who watched and this time, Stefano was going to be on hand to watch the destruction.

~*~*~

John quickly got himself back into some semblance of proper dress, all the while talking to Marlena about how happy the children were going to be that she was home with them.

She lowered her head. “John, please don’t.”

He smiled. “Don’t what?”

She felt her body tense and her hands were in tiny balls. “Don’t take about the future.”

He grinned. “Why not. Our future is going to be perfect. We’re going to be a family.”

“Are you sure about that John?”

He turned in shock to find Stefano standing there. “I asked you a question.”

“Don’t worry Doc, I’m going to call Abe.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you John.”

Turning around, John found Marlena standing there holding a gun.

“The game my dear pawn, is finally over.”

John stepped towards Marlena. “Doc, honey put down the gun.”

“You see John, you took everything from me. You harmed my son, so I took yours. You were the bastard son of Shannon Brady and in turn I took your family away. Now before you is the final key. The beautiful perfect form of your destruction.”

He turned back to Marlena and suddenly it was all making sense.

He thought back to the possession and how horrified she was that she had done all those horrific things.

“At my command, she’s going to kill you and she will finally be mine.”

He turned quickly to Marlena. “Doc, honey please put down the gun.”

“She’s going to be back where she belongs. As my queen, at my side and your children will be mine as it should have been all along.”

Her scream of No made both men jump.

“Fight it honey. I love you so much Marlena. You know that honey, I love you and the kids love you. Forgive yourself and we can make it all right. Trust me please honey!”

She began to shake but the gun never lowered. “I can’t do this!”

Tears sparkled in her eyes. “Forgive me.”

He shook his head, reaching further with his hand. “Doc, come on let go of the gun and we can go home.”

Her face contorted and she began to sob. “I can’t.”

She straightened her arms. “It ends now, I finally have the power to end it.”

For John it was as if it was slow motion, Stefano ran for her and in the struggle the gun went off and the two of them went down.

As slow as it became, the world quickly speeded back up to normal and John rushed to the fallen and found his voice as he began to check them both over.

“HELP. WE NEED HELP IN HERE!”

 

I remember the rain on the roof that morning And all the things that I wanted to say

“Any word John?”

He looked up and found Caroline standing there with a Mother’s worried eyes. With a simple shake of his head, he shifted slightly and stood up.

“There was so much blood Caroline, I had no way of telling who was shot.”

The angry words That came from nowhere without warning

“All I want is to get back that night.”

He looked at his Aunt. “She was SO close to breaking that spell he held over her.”

She laid her hand on his arm. “She knows that you love her.”

John shook his head. “No, no I don’t think she knows. I don’t think that she’d let herself allow that simple fact to exsist. She’s hurting mentally and now …”

That stole the moment and sent me away And you standing there at the doorway crying

He came to the window and tilted his head slightly watching the rain patter against the cool glass. “And now what John?”

And me wondering if I’d ever be back

He mumbled something and Caroline had to strain to hear what he was saying.

It took a moment, but she understood it all. He wasn’t speaking to her, but was to Marlena.

I said I didn’t come here to leave you I didn’t come here to lose I didn’t come here believing I would ever be away from you

John turned away from the window, tears in his eyes from reliving watching the horror that was in her eyes as the gun went off and she and Stefano crumpled to the floor..

I didn’t come here to find out There’s a weakness in my faith I was brought here by the power of love (love) Love by grace

“John, you ARE going to get her back. God wouldn’t be that cruel.”

Mmm…

He smiled sadly and hugged her. “I think in this case, he could be.”

~*~*~

And I remember the road just went on forever Just couldn’t seem to turn that car around Till in the distance like a long lost treasure

“God help me please.”

She tried to open her eyes, but everything was so truly heavy that she felt safer just lying still, ignoring the flames that were licking the edges of her consciousness.

She felt moisture and knew she was crying, heard beeping and the memories came rushing back.

A phone booth that just could not be found

She and Stefano were locked in a dance that verged on the obscene as they struggled in vain for control of the gun. Finally it cracked and the fire roared through her.

Understanding fully what had gone on, she lifted wide hazel eyes and sent an unspoken message to the man who stood in shock.

And you standing there at the doorway waiting

“John, I love you so much. I’m so sorry.”

And the moment when we laid back down

He ran to her side, carefully moving Stefano and checked her over. His big hands covering the wound that seemed to have a life all of its own.

She felt so cold as she lay quietly in his arms, wincing at his frantic screams for someone … ANYONE to come and help them.

She was feeling sleepy now and with a shaking hand, she cradled his cheek.

Once she got his attention, she softly and so sweetly spoke her heart to the crying man.

I said I didn’t come here to leave you I didn’t come here to lose

He screamed again and turned back to her. “Doc, don’t say that please. Everything is going to be fine now.” He dried a tear that was sparkling in the corner of her eye.

“Doc, don’t leave me now.”

She shook her head, a wheezing escaping her lips that scared John more.

“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t kill the man I love beyond words.”

I didn’t come here believing I would ever be away from you

He nodded and tried to smile. “I knew that when you tried under the devils control and I know that now while you were under Stefano’s control. Baby just hang on a little longer, okay?”

I didn’t come here to find out There’s a weakness in my faith I was brought here by the power of love…

 

That was just a moment in time And one we’ll never forget One we can leave behind

“We will leave it behind honey, you just have to wake up so we can make it right.”

He propped his chin on his hand, leaning further against the railing of the bed to get a better look at her.

“God only knows the prayers that we’ve all said this week love for you. But with that much divine intervention, you have to be alright and wake up.”

Cause when there was doubt You’ll remember I said

“From here on out, we’re going to be a family. I was waiting till you woke up but I have good news that I want to share. Doc, on the kids official birth certificates we’re now the parents of Gabriel and Jaden.”

He began to laugh and told her of family life and how the kids were adjusting to each other, and he suddenly remembered to tell her an important fact.

“Caroline is totally unnerved about just how like my mother our Jaden is.”

I didn’t come here believing I would ever be away from you

“Lady, please wake up?”

I didn’t come here to find out There’s a weakness in my faith, yeah

Jaden crept quietly into the hospital room and froze to find her father sleeping at the side of her Mom.

A smile came across her face as she realized that John didn’t lie, Momma WAS alright.

I was brought here by the power of love

“Jaden?”

John shot up and their daughter froze in surprise of hearing Marlena speak.

I was brought here by the power of love…

Smiling, John gestured to his daughter to come closer. “Yeah Momma, it’s me.”

Love by grace

The smile that she gave them both made John certain beyond a doubt that it was going to be okay.

Mmm…la-la-la-la, love by grace

 

The rain was like a thousand knives slashing into her as she made a futile attempt to brush the hair away from her face.

“GOD DAMN YOU!”

She aimed the gun and pulled the trigger back, relishing the feel of having total control at that moment.

“What have you DONE to me!” She shook her head as he approached her. “Don’t TOUCH me!”

Stefano held out a hand in a calming gesture, which she was finding more annoying. “Marlena.”

Her arms stopped shaking. “Answer my question!”

He shrugged. “You have always belonged to me. Since Ridgecrest I knew that one day, you WOULD be my Queen. Through John and Roman and everything else. That was a certainty.”

The rage began to bubble inside her, feeling the pressure expanding in her skull.

“I’m NOT yours, could never be yours and why would you want me when you know that I loathe and dispise you!”

He grinned a maniacal grin. “Because your carrying his baby.”

She woke up with a jolt and found herself in bed.

Rolling onto her side, she reached for the lamp switch and picked up her watch.

Letting out a sigh, Marlena laid down the watch and shut the light.

These dreams had been coming fast and furious since she had woken up at the hospital.

With the help of Laura, who had returned home to help specifically with Marlena and also the twins at John’s request, Marlena had figured out that these dreams had been her subconscious ALLOWING her to remember those missing years.

“How could he have done this to me Laura?”

Her friend had smiled sadly and shook her head. “That I can’t tell you sweetheart. I have never been one to understand the workings of that mad man’s mind.”

As she laid back against her pillows, she closed her eyes and began to do deep breathing exercises.

Soon, she was asleep again.

~*~*~

“Jaden honey, you should be asleep!”

The little girl peered around the arm of the chair. “I’m not tired.”

Caroline came and sat on the edge of the sofa, just inches from the child.

“Honey, your father is coming to pick you up in a few hours and you know that you need.”

She shook her head. “I lied.”

Taken aback, Caroline reached out and brushed the hair away from Jaden’s face.

“Lied sweetheart?”

She nodded. “I miss him.”

“He was the only father you knew honey, of course you’d miss him.”

She shook her head. “I feel so bad.”

“Why honey?”

She bit her lip. “Because he was bad and he kept us from Momma and Daddy.”

Caroline smiled. “Well he loved you and took care of you and Gabriel both, that means he’s not all bad. I know that your Momma and Daddy would both say it’s alright to mourn and miss him.”

As the little girl lunged to her and Caroline held her close, she closed her eyes and hoped that what she had said was true.

She was still finding it so hard to believe, this was her grandneice and John …

A smile played on her lips. “John is my nephew.”

~*~*~

“Laura.”

She finished writing into her file and shut it before looking up into the blue eyes.

“She’s still saying No.”

She shrugged, cutting him off before he could rush into another comment.

“I can’t go against my patient’s wishes, you were married to her. You KNOW how important doctor/client confidentiality is.”

He leaned against the desk. “I also know how important my love is to her recovery.”

Laura nodded. “It is, but she has to get her head around.”

John cut her off. “Laura, I know what she has to get her head around. I was his right hand and did everything asked without hesitation. MY torture was physical, but no less soul stripping as hers.”

He sat down in a chair. “Laura, I saw that video and I couldn’t believe that it was her.” He looked at his hands, turning over one to study the lines in his palm.

“I mean I KNOW that it was her, there is only one lady in the world with that beauty. But what she had done on that video was beyond the realm of security that I have, the level of what I know she would or wouldn’t do.”

“Do you blame her?”

John’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Blame her?” He shook his head. “Hell no. I know better than most what he’s done and how she needs to be surrounded by the family who loves her.” His voice softened.

“The man who loves her.”

~*~*~

“I think it’s time that you see John.”

Marlena turned around to her friend and her eyes were in a state of near panic.

“No, Laura.”

Laura leaned forward, hands on her knees. “Why not Marlena?”

Tears welled up in Marlena’s eyes. “You KNOW why.”

Laura shook her head. “No, no I don’t know. Suppose you tell me honey.”

Her hands came to her cheeks. “Laura, I nearly hurt him.”

“That wasn’t your fault.”

She nodded. “I had the gun and it was pointed at him.”

“But you didn’t do it.”

She shook her head, trying in vain to dismiss the memories. Opening her eyes, she found her voice was scratchy and she felt out of control.

“But the intent was there and that’s scaring me Laura.”

“Thinking and doing are two different things Marlena.”

“DON’T YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT!”

Surprised by her own reaction, Marlena sat back down and began to shake.

“I did something similar a few years back. Pointed a gun at him and wanted to fire.”

Laura shook her head. “That was the devil controlling you Marlena.”

She was solemn. “Was it?”

“I mean think about Laura, just how much of a fight did I put up then or now?”

“A great deal of a fight Doc.”

John’s voice had the reaction of an electrical current surging through her. “Nooo.”

Laura nodded for John to close the door.

“Marlena, he has a right to be with you.”

Marlena’s head shot around and she fixed her friend with a glare. “Not now!”

“Yes now.” He came around the chair and knelt in front of her.

“You and I are two halves of the whole Doc.” He shook his head. “I can’t function without you and you KNOW that.” He lowered his head.

“I would give anything to take the past away from you.”

“But you CAN’T” She shrugged. “The one thing you can’t do for me John.”

Blue locked onto Hazel and it was as if time stood still.

“No, your right. I can’t do that but I can give you back the future.” He held out his palm. “OUR future.”

She began to shake. “John, I nearly killed you that night and now … now you want.”

“To marry you.”

She bit her lip. “I’m not saying today because we have frankly too much to plan for.”

She smiled. “That’s good, because I don’t want to marry you today.”

She poked at her clothes. “Frankly I look a mess.”

He reached out and dried her tears. “You’ve always been beautiful to me lady. West Virginia dirt or Salem Tears.”

She covered his hand with her own. “John.”

It was as if he knew what she was going to say and shook his head. “You didn’t and there’s nothing to forgive, at least not from me.”

He tucked a hair behind her ear. “You on the other hand have to forgive yourself.”

She sighed. “Easier said than done.”

John paused. “Yeah, because unlike the possession love, you can’t go and spend time rehabilitating Stefano.”

She paled and John cringed. “Doc.”

“Don’t apologize John.” She shook her head. “No, your right. I can’t because he’s full of holes.”

She burst into laughter and just as quickly stopped. “Morbid humor.”

He drew her to him and he felt the tension in himself release when she didn’t fight or pull away.

“Lady, it’s okay.”

She looked into his eyes and the uncertainty in her own made John ache to make things right for her.

“Let’s take you back to your room.”

The surprise that shone in her expression sent John into near laughter.

“You look wiped out honey, I think you need to rest.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You’re saying I’m ugly.” She shrugged. “Its okay, admit it.”

He hugged her. “I would say your many things Doc, but I would never say you’re ugly. But you are tired and I want to take you back to your room.”

~*~*~

John left her safely asleep at the hospital and came back to pick up some clothes for her at the Penthouse, only to find Jaden glaring at Samantha.

Gabe was standing as if frozen as the sisters exchanged barbs.

“At least I’m not as miserable as you are. I think you get off on being a bully.”

John laid his keys on the table. “What in the hell is going on here?”

He turned to his son. “Gabe?”

Never taking his eyes off either sister, Gabe explained.

“Samantha made Jaden angry. She said some things about Father..” He looked up to his father with wide eyes, a similar expression John had seen in Marlena.

“She said some things about Stefano and all bets were off.”

John hugged his son. “He raised you both and while I and Momma both had issues with the man, at least he did a good thing and raised you both to be the wonderful kids you are right now.”

Gabe took that moment to leave and John faced off towards the two girls.

“Now, try telling me WITHOUT yelling just what triggered this little explosion?”

Jaden’s eyes flashed fire and she was having trouble, so John turned to his stepdaughter.

“As the more ADULT of the two participants, try going first.”

Samantha shrugged, ignoring the daggers that Jaden was shooting her way.

“All I said was that I was glad that the man was dead, after all he did to you and Mom.”

John peered at Jaden, who was still shaking.

“Mighty mouse over there began to tell me that I was lying and so I began to tell her just what he had done.”

Jaden let out a roar. “She said that he had caused you to almost be killed.” She threw a pillow at Samantha. “STOP CALLING ME MIGHTY MOUSE!”

John engulfed his eldest daughter in a bear hug. “Samantha, don’t push this.”

The blonde shrugged. “Well that’s what she’s acting like.”

John rolled his eyes. “Who’s the child and who’s the adult here. Samantha, it was NOT your place to tell Jaden and Gabriel about this. It’s your Mother’s and mine.”

Sam examined her nails. “Well before someone else in Salem decides to tell her, you should make it fully clear just what her FATHER was before she learnt the truth about who YOU are.”

Grabbing her purse, she flounced out.

Counting to 10, John turned back to his daughter who was staring at him defiantly with tears sparkling in her eyes.

“Honey.”

Jaden suddenly reminded John of Belle, who managed to happily sleep through this pay per view fight.

“I know what Aunt Caroline said Daddy, that it’s okay to miss him because he raised me and Gabe. But he wasn’t that bad.” She began to cry. “He wasn’t!”

John nodded. “I bet to you two, he was the best.”

“When I was sick, he held me and sang songs to make me feel better.”

John held out his hands and she came to snuggle with him on the couch.

“Jade, I want you to hold on to those good memories because Sami despite how she did it is right. He was bad to other people and hurt them.”

“When you and Gabe are older, I will explain to you just exactly what he had done.”

“Promise?”

John smiled and looked his daughter straight in the eye.

“I do promise to tell you and Gabriel the truth, always.”

As she snuggled closer to him, John nuzzled the top of her head. “But for all the bad he did in his reign of terror, he did do something right twice in his life.”

Jade looked up to see her father watching her with a smile.

“One was that he made me come to Salem and in turn I met the most wonderful woman in the world who I fell in love with on first sight.”

Jade grinned. “Momma.”

He nodded. “Yes your Momma.”

“What was the second thing Dad?”

John turned to see Gabe coming back downstairs.

“The second thing was that he took care of my twins.”

 

“Why are you doing this?”

John looked over to his fiancée sitting on the bed watching him with a look of curiosity.

“I’m doing this as you called it because YOU refuse to pack.”

She made a face. “That’s cause YOU told me my packing sucked.”

He leaned in to kiss her. “Doc, it WILL be alright.”

The light in her hazel eyes faded. “Say it again.”

He planted a kiss on the top of her head and broke into a smile. “It’s going to be alright.”

He watched her as she climbed off the bed. “It will be hard, but we can get you through this.”

“Just like the idea of us had gotten me through all of the other times.”  She brushed the stray hair from her forehead. “John, about your proposal.”

He nodded and stuck her slippers into the case before finally closing it. “What about it?”

She paused. “When do you want to get married?”

He came around the bed and searched her eyes. “You’re saying?”

She grinned. “I’m saying that I want to get married. I want us to feel like a family and I want the twins to feel secure.”

He crushed her to him. ‘Just the twins?”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “No.”

She came away. “I want to feel secure too. You said once that things didn’t start to come together for you until we were married and that was when you felt like Roman.”

He remembered that day well. They had been in West Virginia and happily on their honeymoon.

“Maybe for me, once we’re married that can help me put all of this into focus.”

His eyes twinkled. “That all?”

She blinked. “Isn’t that enough?”

He held up his hands. “More than, but I think you’re forgetting to say something here.”

She giggled. “Do you really think I’d forget to tell you that I love you with my whole heart and soul, can’t wait to FINALLY be your wife and be able to be with you all the time without a shadow hanging over me?”

They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. “I can actually believe it now.”

He draped an arm around her and led her to the suitcase. “That’s good and I can believe that you’ll carry your own suitcase out into the hall so I can get your wheelchair?”

She made a face. “What happened to chivalry?”

He shrugged. “It died?”

She grinned. “Yeah and in its place it left me a chauvinistic pig named John.”

He came back to her and kissed her. “Oink oink baby.”

She pointed. “Chair and papers NOW!”

He turned to go. “Woof.”

*~*~*~*

“So help me if I fall off this ladder.”

Jaden rolled her eyes. “Are you sure we’re not switched, I should have been the boy cause you know, you sure whine enough to be a girl Gabe.”

He glared at her. “Well we know that I’m certainly better looking than you.”

“Tammy is my age and we’re fickle. That’s not enough reason for you to be acting like Mr. Big and Bad.”

“Ah this is what I wanted to come home to. The sound of two loving siblings at each others throats.”

Jade’s head shot around, her eyes as wide as saucers. “Momma?”

Marlena’s ponytail bobbed as she nodded. “Yep the last time I looked.”

She held out her hands. “Gabriel be CAREFUL!”

He jumped from the last step. “I’ve been watching the Hardy Boyz.”

She gazed to John. “Aren’t they the wrestlers who jump off ladders?”

He nodded and she turned back to Gabe. “I like your bones where they are. No more TV for you.”

Jaden beamed. “Mom’s better.”

She came and draped her arms around Marlena, who’s smile couldn’t be bigger.

“Almost and I want to tell you that it’s because of you, your brothers and sisters that I’m almost myself again.”

She rested her cheek on Jaden’s head. “I want to thank you.”

Gabe let out a snort. “For what, doing her homework?”

Marlena tilted her head and looked at her son. “Yep you are the son of John Black.”

John looked at Marlena. “You doubted that?”

Marlena grinned. “Not in the least.”

She looked behind her family. “Nice sign.”

She kissed her son. “This is the cap to a perfect welcome home.”

Turning her head she caught sight of John wink to Gabe and Jaden shoot upstairs.

“What’s going on?”

John led her to the couch as he draped his arm around her neck. “What’s going on?”

She made a face. “Yeah that’s what I said I think.”

He laid her on the couch and put her feet up. “You stay here and relax. What’s going on she says, as if we can’t be happy that she’s finally home.”

“Not when I’m scared something’s going to get broken.”

His voice carried out as he went into the kitchen. “Stop being a Mom Doc.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not when my family’s motto is and I quote. “It ain’t a party till someone loses an eyeball!”

“Don’t listen to Gabe then!”

*~*~*~*

Marlena must have fallen asleep but she was instantly awake with Jaden’s light touch.

“Mom, you have to get ready.”

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “I do?”

Jade grinned. “Yep.”

Marlena swung her feet around and looked at her daughter.

“You’re so pretty.”

Jaden looked at her dress and grinned. “Wait till you see Daddy and Belle.”

Marlena grinned. “What about Gabe and Brady?”

Jade shook her head. “Their boys, what do you want me to say?”

“We’re not boys, we’re Blacks.”

Marlena grinned. “Yes that you are Brady.”

“What about me Mommmmeeeee.”

Marlena clamped her hands to her ears. “You’re a big baby.”

John clutched his hand to his chest, sending Belle into giggles. “Ow.”

He looked to his youngest daughter. “Should I make Momma kiss it better.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh I’ll tell you what to go kiss if you keep this up.”

He clamped his hands over Belle’s ears. “Not in front of the children.”

Jaden laughed. “Too late.”

He looked at his daughter. “No more TV for you!”

Marlena paused. “Where have I heard that today?”

He pointed to the stairs. “Up and get changed.”

She stopped at the second step. “Now I see where Jade gets it from.”

John looked at his daughter. “Tell her Jade.”

Jade pointed. “Upstairs NOW!”

She went. “I’m being lectured by my child for the love of Buddha!”

*~*~*~*

The lights were dimmed as they came into the front door of the Pub.

“John, their not here we should go.” Marlena turned around when Belle shot across the floor.

“Belle!”

As Marlena moved away from John, coming further into the Pub she heard John yell. “NOW!”

Before she could react, the lights came on and their family and friends surrounded them.

“Welcome Home Marlena.”

She grinned and started to laugh as she saw all of their friends and family come around them. “It’s good to be home.”

*~*~*~*

“So little one.”

Jade turned and saw her Mom coming towards her. “Hi.”

Marlena grinned. “I’m not going to punish you honey, you can breathe you know.”

Jade raised an eyebrow. “Okay, so what’s up Doc?”

Marlena rolled her eyes. “You’ve got your father’s warped sense of humor Jaden.”

She grinned. “Yep, one of my charms.”

“Well then my little charmer, I would like to ask you something and if you don’t feel up to doing this, then that’s okay.”

Jaden’s little face furrowed in concentration. ‘Okay, what is it?”

“I would like it if you would be in the wedding party when your daddy and I get married.”

*~*~*~*

“You really should stop reading those American tabloids.”

His eyes lifted from the page and smiled. “But you learn some really interesting things.”

“Oh like what?”

The smile was almost feral in its radiance. “Like your little love is alive.”

“GIVE ME THAT!”

Shrugging, he allowed his boss to take the paper from him.

The blue eyes narrowed dangerously bright. “Is that really you Quinn?”

He walked away, the paper in his hand and the memories of his hazel eyed beauty whispering around him.

Quinn McAllister was the only woman he had allowed into his heart and she devastated him before she was through.

Now she was back, this time in the form of Dr. Marlena Evans soon to be Black.

This time, the little thief would have her life destroyed before it was all over.

 

“Gimme That!”

Before John could react, Marlena lunged across him and snatched the leather journal from him.

“Not that I don’t love this particular view of you honey, because I do.” He ran his hands over her bottom before coming to rest them on the small of her back. “But what in the blue hell is wrong with you?”

Her head shot down and she buried her face into the oversized couch pillows.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that. Come again?”

She rolled over to one side and glared up at him. “This is our wedding planner and I’m NOT having you see things until the big day.”

“So I’m just paying for things sight unseen?”

She reached up and patted his cheek. “Yes that’s basically it. You pay and I spend.”

He began to tickle her. “I don’t even get one hint?”

Gabe came in the room and walked back out muttering something about parents who should act their age.

“Gabe, your mom’s shoe size is 8 so technically she IS acting her age … her SHOE age!”

She swatted at him. “He’s only lived with us a few weeks and already you’ve traumatized him. Some father YOU are!”

He pulled her to a sitting position and grinned. “Do you know how good it is to hear you laugh?” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Lady, I missed that.”

She rested one arm on the couch. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to be able to.”

“I mean it’s felt like I’ve been stuck underground for months, first not knowing or remembering and now I do know and it’s like when I was possessed, that overwhelming guilt that I DID do some terrible things.”

He nodded, remembering how her wanting to make things right had led her into Stefano’s lair and led to him nearly losing her in Aremid’s icy river all those years before.

“Doc, listen to me okay?” She nodded. “Okay.”

“Yes the body did do terrible things, but not the spirit that makes YOU the woman that I love and the woman that we all know as Marlena. You had no self will throughout all of that.”

She bit her lip. “John, honey I know that or at least my HEAD knows that. My heart however still carries the guilt.”

He caressed her cheek. “That you have to keep working through.”

She nodded. “I know. Laura’s agreed to keep working with me.”

He grinned. “That’s great.”

The phone rang and John reached for it.

As she listened to him talking to one of his employees, she got up and went into the kitchen.

*~*~*~*

John was just hanging up when she returned with a pitcher of ice tea.

“How did the call go?”

He looked up and smiled. “Um Doc, how would you feel about a trip to Sydney?”

She paused. “As in Australia?”

He nodded. “I have to go and woo a prospective merger.”

She laid the tray down. “What about the kids?”

He reached for a glass. “What about them?”

“We can’t just pack them up for a trip like this.”

John smiled. “This is what we have a large family and friends contingent plus our nanny for Doc. It’s only for a week.”

She pointed to the desk. “John, I’ve only been home a few days.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You trying to say that you don’t want to spend some time alone with me?” He leaned over and caught her chin with one hand, turning her to face him.

He smiled. “Lady, we need to spend some quiet time you and I.”

She hesitated and burst into a smile as she nodded. “You’re right as always.”

Draping her arms around his neck, she kissed his ear. “When do we leave?”

*~*~*~*

“Well don’t you look like the cat that swallowed the canary.”

“That’s because I’m not that cat, I’m the one who has the canary between its paws and is beginning to slap it around BEFORE swallowing it.”

He leaned against the doorframe. “Do you really think this is wise?”

The man at the desk turned around and gazed out the window at the panoramic view of Melbourne.

“Wise?” He shook his head. “No that’s the one thing I’m not when it comes to Quinn. I loved that woman beyond all reason and she stabbed me in the heart.”

He stood up. “I’m just going to get back what’s mine and I’ll start through her fiancé.”

“She’s not Quinn though. She’s Dr. Marlena Evans.”

He turned to face his assistant. “David, I don’t care the name she goes by. I only know that she was my world and she destroyed me.”

David Wells shook his head. “God help this poor woman if what I read was true.”

“What, that she doesn’t remember those years?”

James Rayne smiled as he reached into his desk to pull out a photograph.

“Well then, I’ll just have to remind her of them now won’t I?”

David shivered as he saw the photo. It was of Quinn and James taken at their engagement party.

It had been at the party that Quinn betrayed James.

*~*~*~*

“Honey, how about we elope here and then have the splashy wedding when we get home to Salem?”

Marlena turned around from the balcony and smiled. “It IS lovely here.”

He joined her outside. “So marry me here then Doc.”

She slid her arms around his waist and shook her head. “Nope. I’m marrying you at home IN Salem with our family and friends in the church that I first gave my heart to you so many years ago.”

He smiled and began to nuzzle her neck. “Sounds like you know what you want.”

She nodded and let out a soft moan. “I do and all I need is you.”

*~*~*~*

“Ah, Mr. Black.” The man stood up from the dinner table and held out his hand to John.

As they shook, James looked at the serene blonde and smiled. “You must be Dr. Evans.”

She nodded. “Please, call me Marlena.”

 

He fought the urge to reach out and take her hand in his, caressing it as he told her just how much he loved her.

“Correction, how much you HATE her.”

Quinn was the past, the woman in front of him was the future and if that meant destroying all around her to get peace from what she had done to him then, well so be it.

“So how did you hear about John’s company?”

James smiled. “Actually I know John’s brother Lawrence. Don’t hold it against me because I’m not like him.”

John smiled back. “Business makes strange bedfellows.”

He was about to speak further when a waiter came up to them. “I’m sorry but Mr. Black, there’s a phone call for you.”

Excusing himself, he paused to kiss Marlena’s cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

Turning her attention back to James, Marlena felt unsettled at the way he was looking at her.

“Do I have something stuck in my teeth?”

He blinked. “No, I’m sorry for staring.” He smiled. “I’m just flattered to be left with such a beautiful lady.”

She looked away at the band as they began to play.

“Do you dance?”

She blinked. “Pardon me?”

He tilted his head. “I was going to ask if you would want to dance?”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t impose.”

He glanced behind her to check on John’s progress. “It wouldn’t be a imposition.”

As they headed towards the dance floor, James glanced to the bandleader who nodded and began to play the song.

“That’s a lovely song.” She looked up at him. “What’s it called?”

“Rosa Mystica.” He peered closer to her. “Do you know it?”

She furrowed her brow for a moment. “Its familiar but I don’t know why.”

He spun her around. “Well maybe it will come to you.”

He watched her nod. “Maybe you’re right.”

He smiled. “When it comes to a beautiful woman like you, I usually am.”

He moved his hand onto the small of her back and looked into her eyes, silently reminding himself of just why she would remember.

“I’m not the one you need to flatter, I’m just marrying the man not signing any business deal.”

He peered closer to look into her eyes. “Do you believe in fate?”

She stepped away from him, not liking the feeling he was trying to evoke and deciding to put a stop to this right now.

“Yes, yes I do. Fate was what has kept John and I together for as long as we’ve been.”

“Fate was what led me to you all those years ago, Quinn.”

Her eyes widened. “You know me?”

“Hey folks, sorry that call took so long.”

Marlena didn’t hear him. “Answer me James.”

He bowed. “Another time, John I’ll be in touch.”

Marlena spun around, catching the smile on his face before he left.

“Doc?”

She shivered. “I want to go now …”

*~*~*~*

“What has gotten into you?”

She stopped undoing his buttons, feeling feverish and needing to have his skin touching hers.

“Have I EVER told you what your problem is?”

He raised an eyebrow. “No, pray tell what is it?”

She reached behind her and undid his belt, sliding his zipper down at the same time, all the while never taking her eyes off of his. ‘You talk WAY too much.”

Her eyes widened. “Did I tell you that you could touch me?”

“I want you.”

She smirked. “And that gives you the right to touch me?”

“Why not, you’re all over me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You complaining about our little limo ride baby?”

She stretched out her arms and lowered herself on to him, her hands sliding under his shirt and tickling his skin. “Answer me or I’ll stop this.”

She removed her hands and slid them along his to intertwine with his. “John?”

He was finding it hard to breathe. “What?’

She brought her lips to his ear, slowly taking his earlobe into her mouth to suck.

“Answer me, are you unhappy or no?” She drew her nails down his stomach.

Getting no reply, she raised up so that he could get a good look at her as she smiled.

“It’s not nice to keep a lady waiting.” He grinned. “Where’s the lady.”

She wiggled backwards so that she was then on his legs and she rested her hands on his thighs. “Wrong answer.”

He loved the way her eyes twinkled. “What you going to do to me teacher?”

“Teacher?” She shook her head. “Wrong title. I’m your fiancée and before this night is over, you’re MINE.”

*~*~*~*

John had no recollection of how she got them back into their hotel, all he knew was that it was possible to die from pure unadulterated lust.

Marlena was just out of sight range, but he felt her lips on his skin and it was as if she was trying to take him all into her making them one.

“Do you believe in fate?”

She shivered and lifted her head trying to will that exchange out of her mind.

She furrowed her brow for a moment. “Its familiar but I don’t know why.”

He spun her around. “Well maybe it will come to you.”

He watched her nod. “Maybe you’re right.”

He smiled. “When it comes to a beautiful woman like you, I usually am.”

“How do I know you?”

She shook her head again and that gesture caught John’s eye.

“Doc?”

She blinked and it was as if the light from the candles was absorbed into her eyes.

“Nooo, I’m in charge here and it’s time you learnt the lessons.”

“Of what?”

She crept slowly up the length of him, straddling his hips and sliding him into her.

“All those nights that I longed for this, the connection of your body with mine.”

She reached for his hand and laid it over her heart. “Beating as one and making love as one.”

His hands came to rest on her waist. “Then let me make love to you Doc.”

She smiled. “Give it your best shot Black.”

*~*~*~*

She lay under him, writhing as he drove into her again and again, each time coming closer to splitting her apart.

Each thrust was like a flash going off but instead of seeing John’s face, flushed with the passion that was theirs alone, she was getting flashes of him …

“LET GO OF ME!”

He threw her against the bed. “ANSWER ME!”

She drew up her leg, allowing him a view of the wisp of silk stocking. “No.”

She shuddered against John as they climaxed, her mind still flashing on James.

He drew her hair away from her face and smiled. “I love you Quinn.”

She grinned and propped her head on her hand. “How can you, just met me.”

He nibbled on her ear. “Kismet?” She broke out laughing. “You’re not the type.”

He pulled away, mischief in his eyes. “You just met me and already assuming?”

She tweaked his tie. “You know what they say about Assumptions don’t you?”

Her hands roamed over his shirt, undoing buttons. “Their the mother of all..”

“Hey there.”

She blinked and found herself staring into worried blue eyes. “Hi.”

He smiled. “I’m not one to boast, but I KNOW that I wasn’t that bad.”

She ran her hand over his chest. “Love, you’re always amazing.”

He brought her hand to his lips. “That’s good to know, so if it’s not me then what’s got those hazel eyes so distant?”

She hated to do it, but she had no choice until she knew for certain what and who James was to her. “I want to go home.”

He raised his eyebrow. “But we just GOT here.”

She made a face. “Don’t whine.” They broke out laughing.

“Doc, I have to be here for a few more days, to finish the paperwork with James.”

He saw her eyes darken and he caressed her cheek. “It won’t be long and then we can go home and plan our wedding honey.”

She nodded and allowed him to pull her to him, wanting his warmth to erase those feelings of doubt from her.

“It’s going to be great honey, we have our twins back and we’re starting to get back to normal.”

She lifted her head and looked innocently at him.

“What’s so good about being Normal?”

He laid his cheek on the top of her head. “Try peace and quiet.”

*~*~*~*

“She’s going to be remembering. It’s like a sunrise, can’t help it and just let it wash over your sight.”

He leaned back and smiled.

“I’m coming for you Quinn and it’s all going to begin with you coming to ask those questions that are forming in your pretty little head.”

 

Marlena sat in the restaurant’s patio, her mind everywhere but on the scenery in front of her.

She blinked only to check on her watch for the time before remembering the flashes from the night before.

He drew her hair away from her face and smiled. “I love you Quinn.”

She grinned and propped her head on her hand. “How can you, just met me.”

He nibbled on her ear. “Kismet?” She broke out laughing. “You’re not the type.”

A tiny line appeared across her forehead. “I can’t have.”

“My mother used to call those kiss away lines.”

She lifted her head to find James standing in front of her. “Am I late?”

Silently she watched as he sat down across from her. “Where’s your fiancé?”

Marlena shifted in her seat. “He’s with the attorneys, finalizing your paperwork.”

He smiled. “Now that I know the two of you are so devoted to one another, would it be terribly rude of me to ask just why I was summoned here?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Kismet?”

James watched her hazel eyes turn amber. “You’re a smart man, almost calculating and I KNOW that you’ve done your homework on not just my fiancé, but me as well.”

She leaned forward in the chair. “Now, no more games and no more deceit. What in the hell did I do to you?”

James shook his head, a laugh escaping his lips. “Dear girl, you’ve never done a thing to me. We just met!”

She pursed her lips. “Stefano DiMera once made the mistake of misjudging me. I would think you’re smarter than him. I don’t like games.”

“There was a time when you did.”

She sat back in the chair.

“Ah, so now we know you lie. Now how about we be grown up and lay it on the line. There was a time in my past that I am learning about. I want to say to you that I’m not like that time and if I did ANYTHING.”

His voice was like ice. “You stole my heart, you stole my sanity and my soul. There is NO way that you could EVER repay me for that. Was this the reason you asked me here?”

He threw up his hands. “To make nice and hope that would satisfy me?”

She involuntarily shivered. “No that’s NOT why I asked you here.”

She got her voice under control. “I asked you here so that I could learn about just what I did during that time.”

She looked at her hands. “The person I was then, I had no free will. Apparently I was everything that I abhor in a person and the fact that I caused such havoc.”

James looked at the sailboats. “Well dear Dr. Evans, you have free will now. As do I.” He picked up his napkin and threw it onto the table.

“My freewill is to destroy you as you did me. What you were then and what you are now are of no consequence. Do I make myself clear?”

He stood up and leered at her, making Marlena straighten up.

“Have a NICE day.”

Once he was out of her eyesight, her hands instinctively went to her mouth.

“Oh John, what have I done?”

*~*~*~*

John stepped out of the limo and found Marlena coming out.

The smile that appeared without reason whenever he saw her faded as he caught sight of her eyes.

“Doc?”

She blinked and froze. “John.”

He reached for her and searched her eyes. “Honey, what is it?”

He was getting scared. “Is it the kids?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not the kids. It’s me.”

*~*~*~*

“Are you sure about this Boss?”

James smiled as he examined the jewelry once more. “Crystal clear.”

Laying it into the box, he looked at the photo he had retrieved from the safe.

“Fear makes people do strange things.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena looked around the room and felt sick.

“How did you expect him to react Marlena?”

Wearily, she ran her hand through her hair and blinked back her tears.

The memories of how badly John took the news shook her.

“Did he TELL you what you did?”

She shook her head. “No and to paraphrase it, I destroyed him and now he’s going to destroy us.”

He shook his head. “Not again.”

She raised her eyebrow. “I stood by you with all of your problems and this ONE.”

He turned around. “It’s NOT this one time. This is twice.”

“Of all the low down sneaky things you could have said.”

She threw the glass she was holding in her hands.

“I NEVER threw your past in your face. WHY would you do this NOW?”

John looked at her with an almost feral look in his eyes.

“Cause you NEVER slept with Stefano and from what you’ve told me. You did him.”

Marlena felt her legs give way and she sank to the floor. “It wasn’t ME!”

“Your body.”

She felt tears rushing to her eyes. “But it wasn’t MY heart or what makes me ME!”

Feeling an angry defiance coming over her, Marlena dried her eyes.

“You can’t run from me forever John.”

*~*~*~*

“I thought that I lost her forever.”

He took another swing of the whisky, allowing it to burn through him. Hoping that it would scald her memories from his head.

“Never took you for a coward Black.”

Turning slightly, he found James watching him with a faint interest.

“All I learnt about you, the great mercenary of Stefano’s was that you took no prisoners and yet, yet here you are.” He gestured at him. “The great warrior now turned local town drunk.”

John sneered. “Kiss my ass.”

James blinked, amusment in his eyes. “Really no, not on the first date.”

He turned to face him head on. “Fuck off and leave me alone.”

“I really don’t know what she sees in you. But then again, I KNOW her.”

John felt his fist curling up. “You may KNOW her, but I’m marrying her.”

His arm had a life of it’s own as it reared back and hit dead bang center of his jaw.

John vaguely heard the bartender yell out. “INCOMING!”

*~*~*~*

She fell asleep to the strains of “Emotion” playing on the radio, his shirt tightly clutched to her chest.

The ringing of the phone brought her back from happy dreams of what had been the idea of the future into the horrific new world.

“Hello?”

*~*~*~*

John sat in the middle of the holding cell when he saw the guard approaching. Stretching out his foot, he kicked the unconscious lump on the floor.

“Wake up James, your date Captain Riley is here for the anal search.”

Waking up from that dream, John sat in the holding cell, examining the cuts on his fists when he heard his name being called.

Ignoring the guard for a moment, he relived the moments when he heard the bone crunch in James’s jaw.

A smile flashed slowly over his face. “Now he’ll remember Black’s rule 1.”

“And that is?”

He turned to find Marlena with the guard.

“I’m waiting?”

He stood up and came face to face with her.

“You are MINE.”

*~*~*~*

They were walking back into the hotel when the desk manager called to them.

“This package was delivered for Dr. Evans.”

She smiled and looked to John. “From you?”

His eyes grew shadowed.

She tilted her head. “John?”

“I never sent you anything.”

“Why so glum chum?”

Jaden looked up and found her father coming to sit with her on the stairs.

“Why didn’t you go with Chelsea and the boys?”

She looked at him and shook her head. “Honey?”

John looked down at her hands and covered them with his own.

“Don’t be scared.”

She pulled her hands away. “I’m NOT scared.”

John chuckled. “Just like your Momma.”

Jaden turned stormy eyes on him. “Why are you two fighting?”

“We’re not fighting.”

He fought a grin as he watched her eyebrow go up.

“Then what do you call last night?”

He closed his eyes. He and Marlena had come into the airport to find both sets of twins, Carrie and Belle with Brady plus Chelsea the Nanny waiting for them.

That was the first time that they came into a room not holding hands, or doing any of the little things that showed the world just how united they were.

“Daddy?”

John pulled his daughter to him. “Your Mom and I are having problems.”

“Does this mean your not getting married?”

He shook his head. “No, it just means that your Mom and I.”

The front door opened and Marlena came in.

“MOM!”

John watched her bolt from him to go to her Mom and saw how Marlena’s eyes lit up over the affection from their quiet daughter.

Marlena’s eyes grew cloudy as she looked up to the man sitting on the stairs.

“Honey, could you do me a favor?”

Jade nodded. “Sure.” Marlena grinned.

“Go run upstairs, grab Belle and come back.”

As he moved aside for their girl, John watched Marlena go and sit down.

“How was your day?”

She closed her eyes and leaned back against the couch. “Fine.”

“Did you go to your session with Laura?”

She rubbed her forehead. “Yes.”

Starting to get annoyed, he sat beside her.

“Can you speak in more than one word?”

“That depends on who I’m speaking to.”

She sat up and glared at him.

“JADE!”

The girls came running. “Where we going?”

Marlena scooped up Belle. “We’re going to be going to the Pub.”

As they ran out the door, Marlena turned to face John. “That is, if it’s all right with the all knowing father with the god complex?”

Closing the door, she didn’t see his eyes grow dark as he called her name.

*~*~*~*

John drove to the pub and went in.

He saw Belle sitting on Marlena’s lap while Jade was sitting still, allowing Caroline to braid her hair.

Marlena looked so at peace as they watched Jade then suddenly Belle moved and looked at her Mom. “Mummy, me too!”

Marlena grinned. “What do you say Belle?”

Belle turned around and gave Caroline a huge smile. “Please?”

Smiling, he went upstairs and waited for Shawn.

*~*~*~*

“Tracy said she saw you come up here. Why aren’t you with that lovely bride to be of yours?”

John continued to study the photos on the mantle. “Do you have one of my mom?”

Shawn was taken aback by his nephew’s simple request, but nodded.

“We do. Let me go get it.”

Turning back around, John rested his forehead against the mantle and remembered their conversation in Australia.

“I never sent you anything.”

She held the tiny long box in her hand. “Then who did?”

“I think we both know.” He gestured towards it. “Your lover did.”

Her eyes became gray and her voice was like ice.

“My LOVER just said he didn’t.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena was watching Belle and Jaden eating when she heard Carrie’s voice.

Turning around, she smiled as the young woman she loved as one of her own came to her side.

“Want to talk about it?”

Marlena shook her head. “About what?”

“What it is that has you looking as if you have lost your best friend?”

Marlena looked again to her daughters. “I have. I really think I have.”

*~*~*~*

“What is it lad?”

John looked up from his spot now on the couch to find Shawn looking down at him, photograph in hand.

“Things didn’t go as I thought that they would in Sydney.”

Shawn laid the photo on the table and sat across from his nephew. “Want to explain?”

John looked up to see the picture of Marlena and the girls. “Another ghost.”

*~*~*~*

“It’s not that I don’t love her, I do. But it’s the past, I keep waiting for something else to come and bite us in the ass. Uncle Shawn, is it that wrong to want a normal life with the woman I love and our children?”

Shawn chuckled. “You called me Uncle Shawn.”

His smile faded at the distress in his nephew’s eyes. “No, it’s not wrong.”

“Now to top it all off, our daughter is convinced that there’s something wrong and there’s not going to be a wedding.”

“Is there going to be?”

The men turned to find Marlena standing there with Carrie.

“You told me once we were a team, united and nothing would break that. You’ve doubted me now and I don’t think that I can be with a man that would do that so easily.”

Carrie softly called her name. “Don’t do this.”

Marlena slipped the ring from her hand. “I won’t marry you under a cloud.”

She walked away and yet John stood still.

“Don’t just stand there, go GET her!”

He looked to the younger woman. “Carrie, I can’t do this.”

She glared at him. “Coward!”

Running after Marlena, Carrie disappeared from view.

“Another fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into lad.”

John looked at his Uncle. “You got that right.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena was walking back to the Penthouse when the car pulled up beside her.

“So how does it feel?”

She turned to find James watching her. “Go to hell.”

“You sent me first.” He smiled and leaned forward, his voice turning syrupy sweet.

“You ready to play my game?”

She leaned forward. “You really don’t want me to be playing ANY game with you.”

“Wrong.”

She shook her head. “I’m telling you now in this mood that I’m in, NOBODY will get out of that alive, so do us both a favor, leave me the HELL alone.”

He tilted his head. “Quinn?”

She spun back around. “Your misled, let me introduce myself.”

She held out her hand. “Dr. Marlena Evans, YOUR worst nightmare.”

*~*~*~*

John came out of the pub with the photograph in his jacket and the ring in his hand.

“This is NOT how I wanted this.”

His mind went back to his daughter, who was fast asleep upstairs at the pub.

“I’ll fix this Jaden.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena sat still at the piano, her head pounding faster than her fingers had upon her arrival in the house.

“To beat the man, you have to become the man.”

She slipped off the stool and went to the French doors, catching a glimpse of herself in a pane of glass.

“I can’t lose my family over what was.”

She turned back around. “But I can’t lose what will be either.”

She lay back against the couch, her hand over her eyes as she willed the headache to go away.

She was so lost in her scattered thoughts that she never heard the click of the door, or heard John as he came in the house.

He came to stand slightly above her and he gazed at her for a moment before he found the will to softly speak her name.

Moving her hand, she stayed still and quiet. “You shouldn’t have done that Doc.”

She sat up. “I’m not marrying a man who doesn’t believe in me. I stood by you each and every time that we went through a soul search for you, I never said that I was petrified each time a clue was found. This man appears and.”

He cut her off as he came around the couch. “This MAN as you call him honey knows you inside out, he’s not Stefano and I don’t think that I like the idea of a rival.”

She shook her head, feeling bone weary. “There’s NO rival.”

He shook his head. “There was once, the man who sent you back that string of diamonds would love nothing more than to have you back.”

She sank forward on to the floor. “Is that what you want?”

He blinked. “Is what what I want?”

She lifted her head. “For me to go back to him, would that salve your ego?”

“Would it make the big baby better if I went back, became the slut that I apparently was when I was with Stefano, his little hired gun and do all the nasty things that YOU did with Gina?”

The gauntlet was thrown and he took the challenge as he lunged for her.

“ENOUGH!”

She curled up and kicked at him. “NO!”

He caught her feet and pinned them under him. “Yes.”

Lunging for her, he pinned her under him. “Doc … STOP IT!”

She writhed under him. “Get off ME!”

“Not till we talk sense.”

She was beginning to lose control as she reared back and collided her head with his.

He reared back like a wounded bear. “What the hell!”

She glared at him. “Sex isn’t going to be the answer this time. You will NOT sweet talk me or seduce me like you did that last time you pulled that damned cave man act. We’re going to talk this through and no funny tricks!”

He shook his head. “No, no we’re not.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And why not?”

He pointed to the rapidly growing goose egg. “Cause I want ice woman and damn it you’re going to fix this mess you made!”

The look of righteous indigination was too much and she doubled over.

“Glad to see you find this funny.”

She straightened up. “I do but your still not getting sex out of this booboo.”

*~*~*~*

They talked for what felt like hours until he posed one question that had her looking totally repulsed.

“Answer me Doc.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m not playing Naked Twister.”

She shoved at him. “Let’s get back on track here.”

He moved closer, attempting to nuzzle her neck. “I was, you said no.”

She blinked. “You sir are a weasel.”

He grinned. “Well I thought you liked animalistic sex.”

She swatted him with the pillow. “Pervert.”

He pulled her to him. “I am madam, what you’ve made me.”

She peeked at the bump on his head. “No, I’m not taking credit for this mess.”

His eyes grew dark. “Marlena, please I want to make this right.”

She stopped trying to escape. “How do you fix something that was broken?”

He kissed her forehead. “With love.”

She closed her eyes, feeling his lips graze first one lid then the other. “What about trust?”

“Good question.” He flashed her a smile and asked hopefully

“One day at a time?”

She shoved at him. “Not until you say it.”

“Say what?”

She looked at him. “Think dear.”

He looked at her with an irrepressible gleam in his eye.

“If I answer this right, can I get you to be quiet while I get my reward?”

She cringed. “That one transistor in your brain short circuited.”

He climbed off the couch and came to rest against her legs.

“Doc, I am so sorry that I doubted you and in turn us. That I saw in you, myself and that terrified me. I can only ask that you forgive me and allow us to begin fixing this mess.”

She looked at him as if to say continue.

“I would be honored and thrilled if you would marry me and be my love.”

She squinted at him. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

He paused. “Come again?”

“Answer the question.” She smiled. “Please?”

He paused. “Okay … four?” He lunged for her. “Let’s get it on!”

She moved. “Three and your hallucinating. Ask me when the bump goes down!”

He made a face of disbelief. “I beg your pardon, no way. Doc asking this once and that ‘s it babe!”

She got up, grabbed some pillows and plumped them up before dropping them on the couch.

“Get up.”

He blinked. “Up, oh Doc.”

She rolled her eyes. “What did I tell you once about bucking Doctor’s orders?”

He grinned. “We’ll go run around the lake?”

She blushed. “No it was to NEVER buck Doctors orders.”

She pointed to the couch. “Go!”

He began to grumble but went to lie down.

Watching as she dimmed the lights, he smiled. “So if we’re playing this game, then as my doctor you have to be giving me all my demands.”

She reached for the throw blanket. “Didn’t you hear about the medical cuts?”

She turned on the CD player and allowed the soft strains of the Corrs to waft through the living room.

Kneeling down beside the couch, she gently laid her hands on his face and leaned in to kiss him.

“Doc, this isn’t fair.” She pulled away. “Do you want me to stop?”

He paused and then reached for her to pull her on top of him. “Nope.”

“We’re going to have to go slow. Wouldn’t want you to …” She paused.

He caught her lips and nibbled on one. “What?”

She grinned as she stretched out on top of him. “Wouldn’t want you to strain yourself for no reason.”

He smiled and began to pull her shirt out of her pants. “Well that’s a good reason, but I’m not going to overdue for no reason, I have a very good one.”

Shivering as his hand and the cold air met her warm skin, she stuttered.

“What reason would that be?”

“To make my love believe that I believe in her and us.”

She nuzzled the hollow of his throat. “How did you manage to have that breakthrough Mr. Black?”

“It was you.” It was his turn to shiver and it made him break his train of thought.

“Well Doctor, it was like this. I was at My Uncle’s and saw this picture on the mantel.”

“No you don’t.” She pulled away. “What picture?”

He paused as a memory of another time came into his head. Deja vue as a memory of a far more innocent time came back. “The picture of you with the girls. Doc, I love you so much and I couldn’t see my life without you. So I had to come back to you here.”

She smiled. “So now that you’ve wooed and won me, how about a little.”

“Oh god, so it’s true. Doc Evans is easy.” He leered. “A little what?”

She leaned into him and whispered into his ear. “A little you know.”

He rolled her so that she was safely under him. “Oh I think I’m up for a little.”

*~*~*~*

He sat cross legged on the bed peering at her anxiously as she sweetly slept.

Making a face as he saw the time on the bed side clock, he went into action.

Leaning close to her ear, he screamed. “DOC GET UP!”

As she jolted awake, she glared at him. ‘Want another goose egg bright eyes?”

He jumped off the bed. “I asked Shawn and Caroline to keep the kids for a couple of days.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What for?”

“Cause you and I lady, are going on an adventure.”

She moved deftly around the packed dance floor, most people lost in the performance of the band, singing something about bodies hitting the floor.

Spotting her partner, she slid into the booth and flashed him a killer smile.

“Bout time.”

She winked. “Honey, for me to look this good it’s going to mean you have to wait.”

He looked her over, a form fitting black sheath with spaghetti straps, a sweetheart neckline dropping into a deep enough V that allowed anyone a glimpse of creamy skin.

“Bryant, up here.” She smiled. “Last time I looked, they don’t talk.”

As he reached out to give her the package she needed to do this final job for Stefano, she opened and what she saw .

What she saw caused Marlena to wake up screaming.

John was by her side in an instant. “What happened?”

Shakily she looked around the room. “It was just a dream honey.” He tucked her hair behind her ears. “We’re together and your safe and we’re here in paradise.”

She blinked. “The dream, it was so real John.”

He drew her to him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Honey, it was a dream.”

She shook her head and sat up. “It wasn’t a dream. John, I think it was a memory.”

He looked at their hands. “Okay, I think it’s time that YOU got up and we went out.”

She grimaced. “I really don’t want to.”

He snuggled up against her. “Well I really don’t want to make you get out of bed, but I will if I have to.”

*~*~*~*

He ran his hand through his hair, careful of the stitches that he just received.

“I’m telling all that I know officer.”

The man read over his notes. “You mean to tell me that you and your fiancée were out being the tourists when out of nowhere you were jumped, she was taken away and you were left on the side of the road to be raw hamburger?”

John winced. “You have the photos of the bruises. I’m not lying.”

“Many men would do things to get rid of the women in their lives who are now nooses around their necks.”

John shot a glare at the policeman. “Let’s get one thing crystal clear. That woman is my life, every thing that I do in my life is with her interests in mind.”

He leaned back in the chair. “I’m just saying.”

John cut him off. “I know full well what your saying and what you’re trying to imply. I’m telling you the simple truth. That woman is everything to me and I would rather die or kill myself before I’d do or let a thing happen to Marlena.”

The policeman shut the notebook. “We’ll be in touch.”

John nodded. “Sure.” As he watched the other man go, John reached for the bedside table and dialed the operator.

“A person-to-person call to Salem please. I want to speak to a Commander Abraham Carver.”

*~*~*~*

“Be careful.”

Abe looked up from packing to address his wife. “I will. I can’t believe that this would happen to them. Lex, they were supposed to be finally happy and everything she had gone through was over.”

Lexie, who had heard the story of the past from Marlena and the story of the kidnapping from Abe, could only hug her husband. “She’ll be alright.”

Abe, who heard the worry in John’s voice could only tighten his hold on Lexie and said softly. “I hope so.”

*~*~*~*

“Daddy you’ll bring her home right?”

John clenched his eyes shut. Jaden’s simple plea ripped his heart apart.

“Punkin, I promise you.”

She seemed to accept that for a moment and then she spoke again. “You’re just saying that.”

Before he could reply, Caroline came back onto the phone.

“She misses you both you know.”

John felt tears threatening to fall; his daughter had been through so much and now this on top of it all, when she finally thought that life would be normal.

“Caroline watch over her for me, I will find Marlena and come home.”

She smiled, the younger couple had been through so much and she like all the others wanted nothing but happiness and peace for them. Now it seemed like it would never come.

“Be safe John.”

*~*~*~*

Gabe came creeping into his sister’s room. “You okay?”

She lifted her head and he could see she wasn’t. “Dad will find her.”

“So he says.”

Gabe sat on the floor, drawing his knees to his chest. “He will.”

“Daddy helped her before and he will again.”

He made a face. “There’s something kind of sick about them sometimes.”

She laughed, sending a bright smile over Gabe’s face.

“See I knew if I tried hard enough, I could make you laugh.”

*~*~*~*

The smack sent stars over his eyes.

“I told you don’t HURT her and what do you go and do?”

James turned back to look at the sleeping Marlena.

“Get out of my sight before I rip your head off and stuff it into your chest cavity.”

As his underling disappeared, James smiled. “Your mine now, time for fun and games.”

*~*~*~*

She woke up and bit back a scream.

Directly across from her was a full-length mirror and she caught sight of what she first thought was a hallucination, but when she blinked in time with the image, realized that it was herself.

Doubling over, she felt the first tears begin to fall.

“How does it feel, to have lost all control?”

She refused to speak, to look at him as he stood in the door watching her.

“Get comfortable, it will be your new home.”

She reached for the vase and pitched it. “GO TO HELL!”

He ducked the vase and smiled. “You first.”

*~*~*~*

John stormed around the hotel room. “Abe I don’t like dealing with unknowns and this James is a factor I’m not comfortable with.”

Abe looked up from his laptop. “And you’re sure that it’s his men who did that to you and took Marlena?”

John spoke without thinking. “Quinn.”

Abe blinked. “Who?”

“Marlena’s other persona was named Quinn buddy, and it was while she was this other person that she fell in love.” He corrected himself. “She USED this fellow and burnt him apparently rather badly.”

Abe nodded and froze as he saw the message on the laptop.

“Partner?”

It was short and to the point.

“Stop trying to find me,                                  Marlena.”

John ignored the nagging voice in his head. “That’s NOT her.”

Reaching for his jacket, he left the hotel room.

*~*~*~*

Marlena leaned against the windowpane and closed her eyes.

They had been so happy the first few days of the holiday, mending their life together and beginning to reveal their dreams of the future.

You and I, moving in the dark Bodies close, but souls apart Shadowed smiles, secrets unrevealed I need to know the way you feel

He smiled as he gazed into the eyes of his dancing partner.

“I never thought that I’d agree with a song. But this is explaining you and me lady.”

And I’ll give you everything I am And everything I want to be I’ll put it in your hands

John remembered that she had only smiled and so they moved silently closer together while the singer continued to weave her spell.

If you could open up to me, oh Can’t we ever get beyond this wall?

“That was all I ever wanted, ever HAVE wanted for us.”

Marlena came away from the window with the first spatters of rain against the glass, feeling chilled beyond the bone.

Cause all I want, is just once To see you in the light But you hide behind The color of the night

She waved dismissively at the tears in her eyes.

“Okay, you can’t rely on John to find you and rescue from this mess.” She glanced around the room. “How do we fix this Marlena?”

I can’t go on running from the past Love has torn away this mask

James watched her on the monitor and shook his head. “This is for the best.”

And now like clouds, like rain I’m drowning and I blame it all on you I’m lost – god save me

She sank onto the bed, drawing up her knees to her chest and slowly began to weep.

Cause all I want, is just once To see you in the light

“Catch me.” She stopped. “How old are you?”

He turned back around with a smile. “Old enough to appreciate just what you do to me.”

But you hide behind The color of the night

Their last night together was magic, she had no other words to describe the unity between them as they moved as one, hands entwining as their lips met and claimed the other’s heart and soul.

Cause all I want, is just once Forever and again

John looked up to the sky, allowing the rain to wash over him and he looked to the ring she gave him as a souvenir.

Slowly bringing it up to his lips, he made a promise to her memory.

I’m waiting for you; I’m standing in the light But you hide behind the color of the night

His blue eyes turned black as he fought through the visuals he was being assailed with, of her with James and found himself speaking to the air..

Please come out from The color of the night

 

She sat curled up on the bed, knees to her chest as she nudged the tray of food away.

“You need to eat.”

She refused to look at him. “You need to get out of here.”

James shook his head. “Don’t you miss it?”

She blinked and closed her eyes, hoping that her frustration could be heard loud and clear as she answered his question with one of her own.

“Miss what?”

He stepped into the room, closer to her. “Us?”

She shivered and felt sick. “How can I miss something that I don’t remember?”

He tilted his head and smiled as his eyes glazed over. “I remember enough for the both of us.”

Marlena’s hand went to her mouth as she remembered a lifetime ago, when she said that very thing to John, when they thought he was someone else.

“I will make you remember our life Quinn.”

Her nausea threatened to obliterate everything around her. “I’m Marlena.”

He blinked and smiled benevolently. “Yes, yes you are.” He winked. “For now.”

*~*~*~*

Jaden sat listlessly as she tried to finish her history homework.

Propping her head on her hand, she began to drum her pencil against her binder.

“Did anyone ever tell you that breaks more pencils than anything else?”

She lifted her head to find her cousin Shawn Douglas walking into the pub.

“Did anyone ever tell you you’re a pain?”

He grinned. “Mom did about 10 minutes ago.” He sat down across from her.

“What’s wrong?”

She bit her lip. “It’s your Mom isn’t it?”

She nodded, her eyes looking around the room restlessly.

“I want her home. I want us to be a family again. She promised that we’d be a family.”

He nodded, all the wisdom of being 3 years older coming to the forefront.

“Mom and Dad kept telling me that for years, but I learnt to keep hoping cause they NEVER had their stuff together.”

He leaned forward. “I always thought it was weird that they kept at me to know and realize what I was doing when they never could do it themselves.”

Jade began to laugh. “Yep.”

*~*~*~*

Gabriel sat cross-legged on the floor with his hands up in surrender when John came inside.

“What in the world?”

Gabe turned slightly. “Stay still Dad, the burglars are behind the couch.”

Before John could ask what burglars, he heard his daughter’s baby giggle and he rolled his eyes.

“How did you get caught as bait there Tonto?”

Gabe shrugged. “Chelsea had to make a telephone call and asked me to watch them for a moment and now here we are.”

John sat on the steps and let Belle and Brady climb over him, smiling as they told him how happy they were that he was home.

“Where’s your sister?”

Gabe pointed to the child who was pretending to be a python around her father’s neck. “There.”

He grinned. “Oh you mean my twin?”

John nodded. “Yes her.”

Gabe chuckled. “At Aunt Caroline’s.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena fell asleep and without the influence of her prescription from Laura or the medications that James had been slipping her, she began to dream of the past.

“Tell me that he’s lying.” He lunged for her. “Quinn, you love me and we’re to be married. Your NOT what he says you are.”

“Oh but I am.” She shoved him away, ice in her voice and eyes of fire. ”

I’m everything that Stefano said I am. Why else do you think that I’d even sleep with you if I wasn’t nothing more than a talented courtesan?”

“No you’re a bitch and nothing more.” They looked to James’s lawyer, who regarded her with disdain.

She nodded. “That’s true. The bitch that stole the money train away from you old iron britches.”

She turned to Stefano and spoke sweetly. “Take me home now.”

“NO!”

She woke up with a jolt and began to cry as she realized just where she was.

“I’m never getting out of here. I made this prison and I’m forever stuck here.”

*~*~*~*

“Hey there, if it’s not my two favorite nephews.”

John and Gabe grinned. “Where are Belle and Brady?”

Gabe went to the bar to steal a cookie while John talked to Shawn.

“Is Jaden still here?”

Shawn nodded. “Yes, she’s upstairs with Shawn Douglas, he’s helping her with her algebra. Do you need her lad?”

John nodded. “Yeah, I have to talk to the both of them.”

Shawn’s gaze grew worried. “Is it about Marlena?”

He tilted his head and lowered his voice to protect Gabe. “Did you find her?”

John shook his head. “We have leads, but nothing concrete and I need them to know the truth, that I’m going to have to go and find her. I want them to have a happy home and without her.”

“Without her?”

Jaden’s voice was quiet. “Without her, it’s not a home.”

The men turned to find Jaden standing with Gabe on one side and Shawn Douglas on the other.

John grinned. “Yes that’s it exactly.” He held out his arms and she stepped into a hug.

“I will find your Mom and bring her home.”

Jaden looked to Shawn Douglas for a moment and then to her father before nodding. “I know you will Dad.”

Gabe broke everyone into laughter with his mock cheer with Lisa’s bar towels.

“Yeah, Dad’s the man . the He-roooo. Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah!”

Jade rolled her eyes. “That’s just sick.”

John grinned. “Nah that’s manly humor there daughter.”

She cringed. “Yeah, like I said. Sick.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena sat on the edge of the bath and doubled over in tears.

“Not this, not now oh god help me.”

She closed her eyes as her forehead reached her knees.  “I’m a Doctor!” she burst into tears as she let out a hiss of breath. “I should have known  this!”

She lifted her head and blearily looked around. “Now an already tough situation is now worse.” She rubbed at her eyes to try and focus. “What am I going to do?”

Counting it backwards, it had to have happened in Sydney.

That small glimmer made her smile. “At least we did something right.”

*~*~*~*

James came in with her dinner tray and found her sitting quietly at the table in the alcove, reading a book.

“Feeling any better?”

She nodded. “Thank you for asking.” She started to rise up from the chair. “What did you bring me to eat?”

“What are you up to?”

She shrugged. “Up to nothing except being ravenous. I’d like to eat now.”

He watched as she took the tray and settled it on the table.

His voice was quiet. “I know you and you ARE up to something.” He turned to leave. “Don’t think that I won’t figure it out.”

She laid her hand on her stomach and whispered. “Not if I get out of here first.”

*~*~*~*

The plane touched down and John was promptly met by the ISA agents sent by Shane, who informed him that they had pinned down her location to one of three houses in the Point Piper district.

“And you’re SURE that James has brought her into the country?”

Walking past the gate leading to the private planes, they didn’t notice Victor coming out from his flight.

“Did you have a nice flight Mr. Kiriakis?” Victor nodded. “Thank you it was fine.”

The young man smiled benignly. “My boss has been quite anxious for you to arrive.”

“James was always anxious, I think he was born being that way.”

*~*~*~*

“James, for someone who’s prided himself on punctuality I really don’t think that I appreciate being made to wait this long for my next meal.”

He looked sheepish. “I’m sorry Victor, we’re just waiting on my hostess.”

Marlena’s voice was heard before she was seen. “James, this isn’t my idea of .”

Coming around the corner, Marlena felt like either cheering or bursting into tears.

Victor’s eyes widened. “What is my daughter in law doing here?”

James looked puzzled. “Daughter in law?”

Victor grinned. “Yes, didn’t you do your research enough?”

Marlena inwardly let out a cheer as James finally showed a weakness with the paling of his face.

He pulled her to him. “Remember what I told you before about harming me and mine?”

James shook his head. “Yes, I see you do remember and as of now it’s in effect.”

Marlena looked bewildered. “What’s in effect?”

Victor smiled the smile of a true winner. “I’ve taken everything of his. It’s the clause I wrote into the codicil of our partnership.”

He looked at her. “I know several people anxious to have you home.”

She nodded. “I can’t wait.”

*~*~*~*

John and the troops came rushing into the estate and found a defeated James sitting in the middle of the destruction.

“Where is SHE!”

James lifted his head and John winced at the devastation. “Gone.”

John felt the rage wash over him and he lunged for his rival. “What was that?”

“I killed the bitch and now she’s gone thanks to my bodyguard.” James spat out.

“He took her!”

Images of another time, another failed rescue came flashing into his head and John began to squeeze the life out of James, remembering Orpheus, being just moments too late, Stefano in the lighthouse and now this man. They all took her from him.

“WHO!”

“I lied.” James turned his head and smiled as he began to sink into death.

“Want to know where her rotten carcass is, ask Your father in law.”

John let out a scream of rage and with one fell swoop, took out the last remaining tie to the torture that was her past with a deft snap of his hands.

*~*~*~*

“Hello?”

John looked at the ISA coroner and then back to Shane, who stood beside him as he made the phone call.

“Bo, it’s John. Where’s Vic?”

Bo looked up from his police files. “He’s in Greece, why?”

John closed his eyes. “Give me the address please little brother.”

*~*~*~*

“I have to thank you for this Rene.”

The other man shook his head. “James was almost as wanted as Stefano was and believe me when I say that he won’t be missed. You know as well as I do, that sometimes accidents happen with some frequency.”

John nodded. “I will have to tell her that I did this, but I just need to see her.”

Rene smiled. “I know she loves you and sometimes secrets need to be kept just that to keep those we love safe.”

John took a deep breath. “I just proved to myself that for her, I would do whatever it takes to keep her and our family safe. Maybe I will keep this encounter a secret, I don’t know. But I DO know that I am out of here to go see her.”

*~*~*~*

“Victor?”

He looked up from his paper to find Marlena curled up on the opposite sofa.

“Yes?”

She smiled. “How hard could it be to arrange a wedding in Greece?”

He broke into a smile. “With the right connections, not hard at all. Why?”

She leaned her head back on one hand. “Because I think it’s finally time to have a family wedding.”

He tossed her his cell phone. “I think we need for you to make some phone calls. Can’t have a wedding without family around you.”

She blinked. “What are you going to do while I’m doing this?”

He smiled. “Making arrangements to get them all here to Nafpilon and to have the loose ends tied.”

She burst into laughter that stifled when she heard the voice on the other end.

“Hi honey, it’s Momma.” She moved the phone from her ear as Jaden screamed.

*~*~*~*

John’s car drove the long driveway to the estate and he found himself still in awe of the place, even after being here so many years before.

Getting out of the car, he smiled as he saw Victor walking towards him.

“Thank you.”

The big man smiled. “For what?” He led John into the house.

“She’s my family too. As much as she’d kill me for saying that, by loving you and my grandson, she’s in my heart as you both are.”

John nodded. “Where is she?”

Victor smiled. “She’s out walking in the gardens.”

*~*~*~*

Marlena stood stock still in the gently blowing breeze that was coming off of the sea.

Closing her eyes, she pictured John as she told him her news.

Feeling in her pocket for the tiny box, she smiled briefly before opening her eyes.

“That was too vivid, I can smell your cologne.”

She froze at the voice. “That’s because it’s not a dream love.”

She turned around, eyes wide as saucers as she saw him standing before her.

Marlena once said that John was so vivid that when he came into a room, he blocked out the sun so that all she could ever see was him and that would always be enough, but to have him so close after so long sent her into tears.

“This isn’t a dream, this isn’t the pier but this is very real and I love you and I missed you lady.”

She nodded and he came towards her, gently drying her tears.

“I love you Doc.” She covered his hands with her own. “I love you too.”

He smiled. “I missed you by apparently 20 minutes in Sydney.”

She grinned. “Victor told me.” The smile faded.

“The threat is over, James won’t be hurting us anymore?”

He nodded, hoping that she didn’t see the pain in his eyes. “Yeah baby.”

She tilted her head and figured now was the time to coax him out of that mood.

“Did you know that in Greece, there’s a custom that when a couple is in love and it’s time for them to marry, they exchange rings.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh really.”

She grinned. “And they do so in front of their friends and family.”

He nodded. “I think that’s right.”

She turned slightly and let out a whistle. To John’s surprise, he found them surrounded by their family and friends. “How?”

She shrugged. “A girl has to have her secrets.”

He nodded. “I see that.”

She slipped out of her pocket the tiny box. “John, will you marry me?”

He grinned and held out his hand. “I will.”

As she turned to leave, he caught her. “Not so fast.”

He held up hers. “Forgetting something?”

She held out her hand. “Never.”

He drew her to him after slipping her ring back on and she took the opportunity to whisper something into his ear.

“No way.” She beamed. “Oh yes way.”

He spun her. “A baby.”

Jaden let out a screech and Gabe smacked his forehead. “Oh please not another girl.”

“Marry me John?”

He rested his forehead against hers. “It would be my pleasure.”

 

He sat on a rock, just far enough away from the tide coming in and far enough from the house to be away from his adoring fiancée and the kids, who were just so happy.

Not just from the baby, but also to finally be together without fear.

“Where are you?”

Even in the darkness, she had the power to make him smile.

Had always had it, from their first meeting in Chris’s restaurant to that very day when she told him of their new arrival, who signified to John that it was all going to be alright for not just he and Marlena, but for their extended family.

“I’m over here.”

He watched her make her way. “For goodness sake, be careful!”

She shook her head. “I’m pregnant, not an invalid.”

He stood up and came down from the stone. “But you are mine to worry over.”

She tilted her head and studied him closely for a moment.

“Yes I am, but that means your mine to worry over too and right now, there IS something wrong.” She laid her hand on his cheek. “Won’t you tell me what it is?”

He shook his head. “I love you so much.” He felt feverish.

“Tell me that you believe me!”

“I do, that was never in doubt.” She smiled. “Even when I gave you reason to doubt me.”

He winked at her. “You give ME reason?” He waved his hand. “Not even close.”

He drew her to him. “I love you and because of that, I’d follow you through anything.”

She lowered her head. “And you did.”

He sensed the change in her mood and smiled. “Hey, it wasn’t ALL bad. We now have two amazing children thrown into the mix.”

She nodded. “Gabe is so like you.”

He laid his hand on her stomach. “I can say the same for Jade and I KNOW this baby will be just like it’s momma.”

He winked and did an impression of his Uncle.

“And aye, I learnt tis true that I be a Brady lad.”

She groaned. “And mercifully for us all, you didn’t get the accent.”

He hugged her. “Hey, don’t be dissing the family.”

She winked. “Aye, and you being a big boy and all. Can’t take a little teasing?”

They laughed and began to walk along the shoreline.

“John?”

He turned to face her. “Yeah honey?”

“Tell me what’s bothering you please?”

He turned them back around and came to sit on a log, reaching for her he settled her on his lap.

Pressing his lips against her cheek, he whispered. “I would do anything to keep you safe and you know that.”

She nodded, worry showing in her eyes. “John what is it?”

“I was a killer, I knew that he caused you pain and baby he told me that he had you killed. I couldn’t see straight, couldn’t even think beyond making him feel a little of what he had done to you.”

She began to shake. “James?”

He nodded silently. “The mercenary came out and I ended his life.”

She began to cry. “I’m so sorry.”

He blinked. “For what?”

She got off his lap, not letting go of his hands. “That I made you kill a man. Honey, you fought so hard to get away from your past and now thanks to me, it came back and you couldn’t stop it.”

He covered her mouth with his hand. “I could but I didn’t want to. I thought that I lost you and that is something that I felt that I could risk the past me coming out for. I just wanted to stop the hurting and …”

“That wouldn’t end until James was gone.”

He nodded. “I’d understand if you didn’t want to marry me.” He bit his lip and looked to his wife almost boyish.

“I mean, why would you marry a killer.”

She smiled. “The same reason I married you the first time and loved you from the first moment. Because you are an amazing man John Black and there is nothing in the world that would make me love you less.”

She stepped forward and cupped his face in her hands.

“We can help each other live through this.”

“How did you get so smart?”

Her eyes twinkled. “I had an amazing teacher who taught me all about trust, Buddha and the fine art of making love.”

He playfully began to punch the air. “Name the bum and I’ll beat him up.”

She rolled her eyes. “Lets go inside Tarzan.”

*~*~*~*

“Its very important that you both know the history of this.”

John wrapped his arms around Marlena who leaned into him. “I think we do.”

The priest was about to speak when John interrupted him.

“We’ve fought for nearly 14 years to get to this place, a place with no lies and no more pain. We have a family and a home that I think I can say without doubt that we’d fight, move heaven and earth to protect and above all a love that has endured and kept the faith. Father, we know the history and the sanctity of the covenant of marriage and of love.”

He nodded. “That’s wonderful, but I was referring to the church.”

Marlena burst out laughing and the Priest began to explain.

Finally she held up her hand. “Father, I’m sorry but I can’t marry John in church.”

*~*~*~*

“Don’t bother getting mad at me, I don’t and I can’t do that.”

He crossed his arms. “So okay then, don’t want to marry me in church, then WHERE?”

She smiled. “I want to marry you outside on a beach.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is this the hormones talking?”

She shook her head. “I find that I love the water and I want to be outside surrounded by Nature.”

He drew her to him. “Okay, so we’ll marry outside then.”

”At night.”

He bit his tongue. “Outside at night, okay.”

*~*~*~*

“Mom you look lovely.”

She turned and smiled at her three daughters and smoothed down the skirt of her gown.

It was ivory with boning and embroidery on the bodice, a full skirt and tank straps. Her hair was pinned up with tiny diamond clips.

“I feel queasy.”

“Nerves Mom.”

Jaden smiled. “No, its what she ate for lunch.”

They burst out laughing and Marlena closed her eyes to give out a silent prayer for the blessing of her new family.

*~*~*~*

John sat on the rock again and observed the final touches being put on the wedding sight, looking upwards he softly spoke his piece.

“I don’t deserve this or have the right to ask for your blessing, I know that I’m unworthy of this gift of finally having Marlena in my life forever. But I just ask that I have the chance to love her and our family and to make right this pain in my heart for taking a life, no matter how unworthy that bastard was.”

He felt into his pocket for the ring and smiled. “Please watch over her and our children.”

“John he always has.” He turned to find Gabe with him.

“That’s why the lord knows that you acted for love of Marlena. Everything that you do is for her and your family and we both know that’s right. Otherwise you live as the lord would ask of any of his subjects, loving family and friends, being a good kind and productive individual.”

He looked closer at his charge. “Be happy, that’s all he asks.”

John nodded and heard the music beginning to warm up. “I better finish getting ready.”

*~*~*~*

The night was broken by first one candle and then another and another.

Slowly the torches that led to the site were lit and the guests being led by a guitarist , strumming local tunes made their way down to the shore.

*~*~*~*

As the priest slowly lifted the ceremonial crowns from their heads, Marlena leaned into John with a playful smile. “We’ve done it.”

She suddenly pinched him. “What was that for?”

She grinned. “To make sure that I’m not dreaming of fallen icons.”

He covered the hand that now wore his rings. “You’re not dreaming. This is very real.”

He glanced behind him and smiled. “If you don’t believe me, there’s your proof.”

Marlena saw amongst the guests, her children and family and knew he was right.

His hand moved to rest against her still flat stomach. “This is the cincher.”

“I love you Mrs. Black.”

Her smile couldn’t get any bigger. “I love you too.”

*~*~*~*

Seven Months Later…

“MOM!”

Marlena turned around from packing her suitcase to go home and found Gabe entranced by the bundle he was holding.

“What?”

He grinned John’s grin. “She likes me.”

She nodded. “Of course she would, who wouldn’t like you for a big brother.”

He looked down and smiled at the baby. “Ask Jaden.”

“Ask me what?” She came in and kissed first Marlena and then the newest member of the family, Shannon Claire Black, named for her grandmother.

Gabe grinned. “Who wouldn’t like me for a big brother.”

She rolled her eyes. “Shannon doesn’t know better she’s just a baby.”

“But she’s my baby as are you two and so …”

The twins in unison smiled. “And so you love us all very mush.” Gabe grinned. “Um Much.”

John who was silently watching this whole exchange began to laugh.

“And what touched your funny bone oh husband mine?”

He looked around the room, at the twins they found and the new child sleeping in her sister’s arms and at his wife who he had moved heaven and earth to finally get and gave thoughts to the others who were waiting for him to bring Marlena and Shannon home.

“My life … Our life.”

She grinned. “It is amazing isn’t it?”

He came to her side, pressing his lips to the side of her head and they watched the kids. “It’s more than that. It’s incredible.”

She nodded. “And nobody deserves an incredible life more than us.”

He smiled. “That’s a fact.”

The End