It had been 2 months to the day that Marlena had told him to leave, all the pain and betrayal evident in her beautiful hazel eyes. Now as he sat in his room at the Salem Inn, only a shell of a man, he just couldn’t comprehend how the future that seemed so bright could have gone so terribly wrong. He was becoming more and more devastated as each moment passed without Marlena by his side, in his arms. “How am I ever going to make it without her?” he thought to himself. “Face it Black, you aren’t going to make it without her.” “I should have known better, after all we went through to be together, all the lies, the deceit.” He thought back to the time not so long ago when they had laid it all out in the open. Everything, all the times they hid their true feelings from each other, all the lies Kristen and Stefano had put them through. Lies, those lies had kept him from the woman he loved more than life itself. And again, on his honeymoon, Stefano’s filthy hand was in his life. “Why did I have to do it?” He thought to himself. “Why couldn’t I bring myself to tell her everything when I started to remember? Now she wants nothing to do with me. She can’t even look at me these days. I swore I would never put her through that pain again and here I am……same old John Black, Stefano’s pawn.” The more he thought about it the more he realized he couldn’t just sit and wait anymore…he had to do something. He needed her strength and love. He needed to feel her arms around him, feel her moist sweet lips on his. “But what should I do? What will make her listen this time?” He decided to drive over to Marlena’s and think of a plan on the way. As John headed over to the Penthouse, he couldn’t have realized just how easy it was going to be.
Marlena was in much the same state. She sat in her living room in a raggedy old pair of sweats and a light blue T-shirt, her hair pulled into a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. She too was thinking back to that day, 2 months ago, when she had told John to get out of her life. She felt so betrayed and couldn’t even bare to look at him anymore at that point. Now all she wanted to do was look at him. She had gone through the scene many times since his departure and each time her heart cried out for the loss. Marlena wasn’t sure how they would work this out be she knew she was willing to at least try. She had news for him too and hoped he would be happy. “If I could just see him, just for a moment.” She thought to herself. “I miss the way his arms held me, the way he made me feel so safe, so loved, so cared for. I can’t go on without him, but I just can’t understand why he couldn’t trust in my love for him.” Then it hit her! John was trying to save her from the pain and fear of knowing Stefano was meddling in their lives again, controlling her beloved John. “Oh dear God.” she said out loud “Just let me see him again and we will make this right. I promise.” A second later Marlena heard a key in the door. Knowing who it would be she stood frozen starring at the door as the same old feelings raced through her body…pain, betrayal, fear, lust, and above all, the most powerful feeling of love she had ever experienced with another human being in her life.
“Its true”, she thought “He is my soul mate. I can’t seem to get him out of my heart or my life. What am I saying?!! I don’t have a life without him. I don’t want a life without him anymore.” As she stood there, fixated on the door, her tears began to spill down her cheeks in rapid succession. Just then, the door opened and there stood John. He looked terrible. He hadn’t shaved in what seemed to Marlena to be weeks, his eyes were swollen and red and his clothes were rumpled and dirty. Her heart broke to see him in such a state.
John couldn’t believe she was standing right there starring at him with tears in her eyes. “Is it because she doesn’t want me here? Maybe I shouldn’t have come. Maybe I shouldn’t even try.” he thought frantically. “No” he decided he was not giving up this time. He took a step closer and said “I can’t stay away any longer, Doc. I have tried. I am sor…”
Before John could get any further, Marlena launched herself forward and into his chest wrapping her arms around his neck and placing her soft lips upon his. She kissed him with all the pent up longing, love and passion that had been simmering within her since she asked him to leave 2 months ago. When they finally broke apart for air, John was too stunned to say or do anything but stare at her love filled eyes and stroke her sunny blonde hair. He still couldn’t believe his fortune. He wanted to pinch himself to make sure it was real. Instead, he stepped back to gaze at her lovingly. “I love you so much Marlena, more than you will ever know” he stated.
“I love you so much my love, and from your disheveled appearance I have some idea just how much you love me” she said with a grin.
“I could say the same for you” he replied with a hint of laughter.
“John, I just have one question for you” she said as she moved from his embrace and began to head toward the couch.
“Anything Doc….. you can ask me anything, you know that” he said truthfully.
“OK. I want to ask you why you couldn’t trust in my love for you? Can you answer that one for me?”
Chapter 2
John followed her to the couch all the while thinking “I knew this was coming and I should be prepared but all my excuses seem so lame at this point. What do I say to her? Think Black, think.”
Marlena looked at him as he sat down next to her and took her hand in his. “John?”
“I did trust in your love for me Doc and I do. Its just…..I…I didn’t want to put you through anymore pain than I have already caused you over the years. I couldn’t bare that. To see the pain and betrayal in your gorgeous face….knowing I was the one who put it there.”
“But don’t you understand John? Your refusal to tell me after I begged and pleaded with you for months was, in essence, a betrayal. Had you been honest with me from the beginning we never would have gotten to this point! Had you been honest from the beginning I wouldn’t feel betrayed! We promised to share everything and never ever keep anything from each other and that is exactly what you did!” she said heatedly.
“I know Marlena, and I would understand if you never forgave me. There is nothing I can say or do to excuse my actions. I keep wanting to give you explanations and they all sound so ridiculous to me now. I should never have kept anything from you. I just couldn’t bare to be the cause of more pain and suffering in your heart. I guess I didn’t succeed because I ended up hurting you and causing you the pain I was trying to avoid, and I am very sorry for that, more sorry than you will ever know. I would do anything to stay in your life and keep you by my side. I just need to know if you feel the same way. Are you willing to take another chance on me, Doc? Do you still want to be in my life and by my side?” he questioned hoping with all his soul that she would choose to take him back.
Marlena stood there with tears streaming down her face as all that he said mixed in her head with all that she was thinking. She took a deep breath and let her heart take over her actions. “John, I understand that it wasn’t you, my husband John, on that submarine. You were Stefano’s pawn again and I can’t fault you for that. I can, however, fault you for not sharing your memories with me after all the times I pushed you to reveal what was wrong. And I won’t lie to you, it will take some time for me to trust you again….to believe when you say nothing is wrong….for me not to worry. But I love you John Black. I can’t stop loving you no matter how hard I try. You are in my blood and my soul and you always will be” she said as she turned away and began to break down.
John reached for her and scooped her into his arms so that he completely engulfed her. Marlena melted into him and let her tears fall harder, thankful for the release. “I love you too Marlena” John said, his own tears evident in his eyes. “Please honey, don’t cry” he said as he stroked her silky hair.
Marlena turned to face him and noticed immediately that he was on the verge of tears. He heart broke for him, this man that was her world. “I should be saying the same thing to you” she quipped.
“Can you ever trust me again, Doc?” John said wishing it to be true.
“I trust you John, with my life. And if you can trust in my love for you and the love we share, we will be just fine. Do you think you can do that? Can you trust in our love? We have some pretty rough months ahead of us and I need to know this won’t happen again. I need you to know you can tell me anything. Even if you feel I might be hurt by it.”
John gazed at Marlena and realized she was giving him another chance. He was not going to blow this one. She was his life and if he passed this up he wouldn’t survive. “I do trust in our love Marlena, I always have” he replied with all the love and tenderness he felt for this amazing woman blazing in his striking blue eyes.
“And?” Marlena replied as she placed her hands on John’s broad chest.
“And….I will never keep anything from you again even if I think it will hurt you” he said lifting his hands to her shoulders and pulling her in for a tender and stirring kiss.
Chapter 3
When they broke from the kiss, Marlena’s head was spinning and John’s heart was racing. He wanted nothing more than to take her upstairs but was waiting for her to give some kind of sign that she wanted the same thing. It didn’t take long as Marlena stood up bringing John with her and said “Let’s go to bed my love. I need to be with you right now.”
“Oh Marlena” John gushed as he took hold of her and crushed her to him placing his hot, rough lips on hers. As his tongue reached inside her yielding mouth, John felt as if he had died and gone to Heaven and had to stop himself for fear of crushing her. Marlena, for her part, couldn’t get enough of him and yanked him back for more.
John pulled back and said with a grin, “If we don’t slow down pretty lady, we are never going to make it upstairs.” Marlena smiled that sexy smile of hers, reserved only for him and said “Well, what are we waiting for?”
“Nothing, Ma’am!” and with that he picked her up and carried her upstairs.
Once in their bedroom, John set Marlena down and turned to lock the door. Tuning back to her he was arrested by her beauty. Marlena for her part, needing to be close to him again, stepped forward, reached up, wrapped her hand around the back of his head and drew his face to hers. The kiss was long and sweet and filled with promise.
When they broke apart John felt lightheaded and dizzy from the passion this creature stirred in him. He looked at her with all the concern and love he had for her and said “Are you sure this is what you want?”
In answer to his question, Marlena began to unbutton his shirt and place sweet, soft kisses on his chest saying “Oh yes, my love, I have dreamed of this moment since the day you left.”
With that, John stepped forward and claimed her lips once more and in that moment, there was nothing left in the world, nothing in the universe except the two of them filled with mutual need and hunger. As they frantically removed each other’s clothes and their nude bodies pressed against each other, there was no more talking, no deep
discussions that required anything beyond soft, whispered words, punctuated by faint, occasional gasps. The pressure built beyond their ability to contain it and they released, clutching each other, melding their bodies into one as seamlessly as they had with their soles.
They lay next to each other, Marlena’s head on his shoulder as she ran her fingers idly across his chest hair. “John, there is something I have to tell you” she sad softly.
“And what might that be honey?” John said as his heart soared from the happiness he had experienced in the last hour with her.
“I’m not sure how to start or what to…”
“Marlena! Don’t keep me in suspense! What is it?” John said.
“I might as well just say it, OK…John, my love, the other half of my heart, my soul mate…..we’re……..pregnant….we’re going to have a baby!.” She noticed the shock register on his ruggedly handsome features and for a minute was frightened that he might be thinking this isn’t the right time. “John…I…”
“A baby!! Oh God Doc! That is the best news you could have ever given me. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I mean, when did you find out? How far along are you?” John asked quickly, hundreds of questions rushing to the tip of his tongue with each breath he took.
“Slow down John. Let me answer the first few, then we can move on” she replied with laughter evident in her sweet voice. “First, I didn’t tell you sooner because I needed to determine if I could trust you with my heart again. You hurt me John. You hurt me bad and I just didn’t know if I could ever trust in you again.”
John gave her a knowing look that said he understood as he waited for her to answer his next questions.
Chapter 4
“As for when I found out, that would have been about 2 weeks ago. I’m a little over 2 months along.” She said as she let her hand drop to her stomach.
“Are you serious? Then you must have conceived that night when we…..” John said with a smirk.
“Yes John, I too believe that is the night, the last night we were together before I found out what you were keeping from me. The night when I had never felt more close to you, more a part of you and you a part of me, than I ever have in all of our years together. And now I know why you were so passionate. It was your fear….your fear of losing me” Marlena replied as she idly ran her hand across his taunt stomach.
“Marlena, I…” John started to say.
Marlena stopped him short, “Don’t! Just don’t John” she said as her tears started to fall again. “I don’t want to revisit that painful memory. I’ve had all I can take and I don’t want to deal with that right now. I just want us to enjoy this time we have together, knowing that a life created from our undeniable love is growing inside of me. I just want to be with you and feel your warmth and not think of what the future holds for us. I just want the here and now. Is that too much to ask for?”
In reply to her question, John rolled over, covering her with his body, and began to plant urgent kisses on her face and neck. “No Marlena, its not too much, I want that too. I only want you, always you” he said as his hands moved down the length of her body.
Marlena was swept into the moment and claimed his lips with a passion that threatened to overwhelm her.
“I need to be with you now John……. to give you my heart again. I need to take a second chance at trusting in our love”, she said as she kissed him hard, thrusting her tongue into his mouth and pulling him tight against her body. “Say it John, say that I can trust in our love…tell me I can believe you…tell me you won’t ever keep anything from me again….I need to hear you say it”, she cried as her body was assaulted with the amazing and overpowering passion she felt for this man mixed with the fear of the unknown. She needed with all of her soul to believe she could trust in him again.
“You can, my beautiful Marlena. You can trust in our love and my love for you. I won’t let anything tear me from you again. Least of all myself. I make a vow to you today to never keep anything from you again. If I have any memories of my past, I will share them all with you and together we will deal with them. If Hope’s baby turns out to be mine we will deal with it together. I know we have a rough couple of months ahead of us, but just knowing you love me and that *you’re* having my baby! God, Doc you don’t know how happy that makes me and I will never, never, NEVER again do anything to break your trust in me” he replied as he ran his hot tongue along her bottom lip.
Chapter 5
Marlena woke up the next morning feeling full of love and hope for their future. She rolled over and noticed John was not with her. “I couldn’t have been dreaming”, her mind screamed at her as panic set in. Just then she saw the note…..
Marlena,
I have a few things to take care of this morning. I am so excited about our news. Don’t worry I won’t share it with anyone yet. I am going to make all your dreams come true. I love you, Doc.
John
“You already have made all my dreams come true, John”, Marlena said to herself while thinking back to the first time she had ever seen him.
The way he looked at her, so helpless, so in need of her. Even then she had sensed a deep bond with this man. It was as if he completed her soul. Just one look from this man could send her to Heaven and back in an instant.
She knew then that she would always have him in her life. One way or another. “He is yours to keep now, Marlena”, she said out loud, feeling completely and utterly fulfilled.
John was so good to her. He always lifted her spirits and warmed her heart when she was at her lowest. He instinctively knew when she needed to be weak and have him hold her, support her, let her be nothing at all, just be. He was a Godsend. This man, whom had stolen her heart and soul so long ago.
She would always be amazed at how he just came into her life as if by chance…..the incredible bond of love and life they share. “I never felt so much power of emotion with Don, or even Roman”, she thought. “Just John, the love of my life…,my one great love…my soul mate. The one man who could ever have my heart from this day forward.” He was always there for her, no matter what happened in her life. And the passion that they created together was overwhelming to both of them. It was as if they needed each other to breath. Marlena thought back to last night and the thought of his tongue on her heated skin was almost too much for her…she ached for him to come home…”I hope you come home soon, Honey”.
She wanted him to be there now in her arms, in their bed. She needed to show him how much she loved him. Their passion was always uncontrollable when near each other and she desperately wanted to feel him close to her, to melt into his body, to blend her mind, body and soul with her angel sent from above. She had missed two months of her life with him.
She was determined to spend the rest of her life with John no matter what was to come over the next few months. “Stop worrying so much Marlena, you are carrying his child”, she said to herself. “We don’t even know if John *is* the father of Hope’s baby, but I know *he* is the father of *my* baby”, she thought feeling a bit of relief. “John will make this right, I know he will. He has a knack for making our future seem bright. We need that now.. Oh John, where are you? I want to begin our life together again. We have been given another chance”, she said to the bedroom, hoping he would hear her and come home.
So lost was she in the past, Marlena didn’t hear John come through the front door. He made it upstairs and walked over to her with a bouquet of lilacs and kissed her gently upon the cheek. Slightly startled, Marlena turned to him and was arrested at the sight of him. She thought back to the day of their wedding and made a vow to herself that she would never make him leave again. They would take each day as new and blessed. And with that taken care of, Marlena pulled John down to the bed and kissed him as if her life depended on it. The lilacs being crushed between them.
Later that evening as John lay next to her, sleeping peacefully, Marlena was sure she had made the right choice in taking him back and telling him about the baby. She would always be grateful to have another chance with this man and they were not going to mess it up this time. No they weren’t, because she was never going to let him go again.
Chapter 6
“Marlena, its 2 o’clock in the morning!”, John exclaimed as he looked at her with disbelief.
“But I need the water now, John. It helps to settle my stomach”, she said slightly irritated that he wasn’t just getting up to get it.
“Alright, I’ll go check the refrigerator. Be back in a sec” he said as he slipped out of the room whispering to himself……… “what next? Hot-dogs at 4:30 a.m. Man…………I forgot what pregnant women are like, this is crazy”.
When John reached the refrigerator and realized there was no sparkling water, he decided to just bring her a glass of water from the fridge dispenser.
“I asked for sparkling water not this stuff. Do you think this is some kind of joke?” she stated, clearly upset.
“No, Marlena, I ah…we…we were out of sparkling water so I figured that taking it from the fridge dispenser was ok”, he said hoping this wasn’t going to be another fight.
“Oh so you figured it was OK, huh? Well I can’t drink this! It doesn’t help”, she stated fiercely.
“I am sorry honey, that’s all we have”, he said trying to ease back into bed.
“Well, that is not going to cut it Mister! I need sparkling water if I am ever going to get some sleep, and if I’m not sleeping neither are you. So, I would suggest you go out and get some sparkling water, now John”, she said as it came out more of a demand then a request.
“Doc, its 3 in the morning. Where am I going to find sparkling water?”
“I have no idea John, but I am sure you can figure it out” she said getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom. She stopped just before she reached the doorway and turned to him, “Why haven’t you moved yet? You need to be out that door and heading for an all night store. And make sure it isn’t flavored water” she said as she stepped into the bathroom and shut the door.
John sat on the edge of the bed completely dumbfounded. This had been going on for weeks now and it was starting to get to him. Marlena would be sweet and loving one minute and then start snipping at him for no apparent reason the next. “And now, again, in the middle of the night she needed sparkling water! Where the hell am I going to find that at this time of night?” he thought feeling frustrated and slightly angry at the same time.
“I’m telling you Bo, she is driving me crazy!”, John said as he sat in the Cheating Heart sipping a beer.
“Oh, come on John, you are much stronger than that”, Bo said with a smirk.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love that woman more than life itself and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for her…but she is so hormonal….its almost too much….you wouldn’t believe what she has me doing. You just don’t understand Bo. It has been going on for weeks now and tonight I am supposed to be out getting sparkling water for her! It’s 3:30 a.m., Bo! Where am I to find sparkling water?” he said louder than expected.
“I don’t know what to say, John. I don’t ever remember her acting like this when she was pregnant with Eric & Sami or even Belle,” replied Bo.
“And she is sick most of the time, Bo. At least it seems like it. I am sure it is no picnic for her either but I am not sure how much more of this I can take”, he said and then thought better of it. “What am I saying? Am I being totally selfish? She is carrying my child and I am talking about what *I* can’t deal with. I’m an idiot, Bo and I think I should go get some sparkling water and get home to my wife. Thanks for listening”, John said as he stood up to leave.
“Anytime, John, anytime, you know that” replied Bo.
“Yeah, I know and thanks again, Bo” John said as he left the Cheating Heart. “Now all I have to do is find some sparkling water and get home to Doc” he mumbled to himself as he headed for his Jeep.
John pulled into the 7-11 a few blocks from town and was grateful it was still open. He walked to the back of the store and was stunned at the many different kinds of water. “What am I going to do now?!”, he thought to himself. He knew she wanted unflavored water but there were so many to choose from and she didn’t give him a brand name. He wanted so much to get this right. Deciding that he couldn’t decide, John grabbed about 5 different waters and headed home.
“My God, John! Are you that dense?”, Marlena said as she scrutinized the water he had brought home. “There is only one sparkling water here, the rest are just regular water. I could have gotten that here” she fired at him, clearly not happy with his selection.
“I am sorry Marlena, I will go back out and try again”, he said hoping to calm her down.
“Forget it! I will just go myself” she said tears welling up in her eyes for about the millionth time. She tried to get up and he stopped her.
“No Marlena, you are in no condition to drive! I am sorry that I didn’t get the correct kind. If you give me the brand name I will go back out and get it for you”, he said as he held her in place.
Marlena looked at him and started to cry. Her sobs racking her body as John pulled her close. “Shhh, baby, its alright. What is it Marlena? Please tell me. I can’t stand to see you this upset”, he said as her stroked her hair.
“Oh I don’t know! I feel so crazy all the time. And I always manage to take it out on you”, she stated as her tears continued to fall. “You are the one who is always there by my side, never complaining, never failing me and I have been treating you so bad lately. Yet you stay and take it”, she cried and clung to him.
“I love you Marlena Evans-Black! I love you with all my heart and I would do anything for you, you should know that by now”, he said as he kissed her softly.
“I do know that, my love. You show me everyday of my life and I am so grateful to have you”, she said as she calmed down at his soft touch, eased them backward on the bed and kissed him passionately.
“Whoa! That was some kiss”, John shouted, happy her mood had changed once again and for the better this time.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, baby!”, she said claiming his lips once more.
With the sparkling water forgotten, John and Marlena went to the place they were most happiest – the loving embrace of each other’s arms. A place where there were no tears, only joy and happiness and complete fulfillment of their souls.
Chapter 7
Marlena awoke the next morning to the scent of breakfast in the air. Just as she was about to get out of bed, John came through the bedroom door with a tray of food.
Marlena took one look at it and ran for the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
John set the tray down and moved to the bathroom door. “Honey? Are you OK?” As soon as the words left his mouth he was sorry. ‘Of course she’s not OK, you idiot!’ he thought. He could hear her retching through the door.
He slowly tried the handle and found it unlocked. Deciding he wanted to be there for her through EVERYTHING, he opened the door to find her on her knees, her face hung over the toilet, her body racked with the spasms of morning sickness. Moving into the room he dropped to the floor beside her and held her in an embrace as she emptied the contents of her stomach between sobs. He gently stroked her hair, making sure to pull it away from her face. He reached up and grabbed a wet washcloth and slowly wiped her forehead.
Marlena slumped against him. “You are so good to me, John. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You will never have to find out, Pretty Lady, because I am never going to let you go” he stated emphatically. He sat there a moment longer, just holding her close, giving her comfort, stroking her beautiful blond hair.
She looked so weak and helpless. Exhausted from what she just went through. John slowly picked her up and carried her to the bed.
“Oh, John! I don’t want to be sick anymore! I don’t want to be irritable! I am so tired all the time. I wish I wasn’t preg…..” she stopped herself as the words began to come out. “I didn’t mean that John” she said as she looked up at him, fearing that she would see the hurt in his eyes from her comment.
“I understand, honey” John said looking at her and trying not to show the hurt he did feel at her “almost” statement.
“No, that’s not what I meant John!” she said as she looked deep into his soul, letting him see the truth in hers. ” I am thrilled to be carrying our child, YOUR child……….I love you so much. It’s just that….I never remember being this sick………” she said looking away.
John took her chin in his hand and, turning her to face him, said “Marlena, maybe you should make an appointment to see Dr. Bader.”
“I’m fine, John… I just need some rest. If I am able to get some sleep I am sure I will be fine” she said laying back on the bed.
“Marlena, I think…….”
Marlena cut him off as she pulled him close to her. “I’m fine John. All I need is some sleep and the best way to do that is with your loving arms wrapped around me”.
Knowing there was no arguing with her at this point, John pulled her into his arms. Her body melted into his and the lovers drifted off into a restful sleep.
John woke to the sound of the telephone ringing. Not wanting to wake Marlena, he picked it up immediately. “Black residence” he said.
“Hey, John. I haven’t seen you since last night? Everything alright with Marlena?” Bo said, a slight chuckle evident in his voice.
“It’s not the best, Bo. She was very sick this morning and is tired all of the time. I want her to make an appointment with Dr. Bader but she said all she needs is some sleep” he said clearly frustrated.
“I know if there is anybody that can get Marlena to the doctor, its you” he replied.
“Yeah, yeah, I will just have to keep working on her. So…how’s Hope doing?” John asked.
“As well as can be expected. She is due to deliver anytime now” he said not sounding as excited as he should be.
“Must be hard, huh Partner?” John said wanting to give his friend comfort even though *he* could be the father of that baby.
“Yeah, but if you don’t mind John, I would rather not discuss this subject with you right now” he said wanting to stop the anger and the confusion he felt rising up within him. “I just called to check on Marlena and make sure everything is OK”.
“Thanks, Bo. And yes, everything is OK. Nothing I can’t take care of and I am sorry…sorry for everything…”, he said as he turned to look over at his lover, his friend, his heart and soul, grateful to have saved his life with her. Grateful that she was so loving and forgiving.
“Alright, John. I will talk to you and Marlena later. Tell her I send my love” Bo said before hanging up.
John hung up the phone feeling guilty and saddened at what everyone was going through, in part, because of his actions. When he turned back to the bed and saw Marlena staring at him with sleepy eyes. ‘God she is so beautiful’ he thought to himself as he flashed her a smile. “Morning sunshine..or should I say afternoon? That was a pretty long nap you took. I am worried about you, Marlena and really wish you would go see Dr. Bader.” He said attempting to sway her decision while she was still a little groggy.
“I was tired, John. And it felt so good to have your arms around me. Keeping me safe. It was easy to do” she said as she noticed the look of pain in his eyes. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“You know me so well, Doc. Sometimes better than I know myself” he said in amazement.
“You are my heart, my soul, my life, John. Now tell me, what is it?”
“Bo just called” he said as he looked down so as not to catch the realization in her eyes. They had been doing a pretty good job of keeping that part of their situation out of their lives the past few days. Now it was starting to catch up to them. Hope would be delivering her baby soon and then blood tests would be done. They would soon find out if there lives will be forever changed.
John didn’t need to say anything as Marlena read it all in his face as she raised his chin to meet hers. “I know, honey. I know…come here” she said as she enveloped him in her arms.
Neither of them knew what was to come next but they were thankful for the few days of peace they had just experienced in each other’s arms.
“No matter what, John. We will always be together, I promise you that right here and right now” she said as she claimed his lips in an attempt to convey to him how strongly she felt. John kissed her back fiercely and agreed with her “Forever, Marlena, forever” he said before settling her against him and relishing the feel of her body. He couldn’t resist the urge to run his hand down to the swell in her belly. Marlena’s breath caught in her throat as his hand reached its destination and looked up to see the pride in his crystal blue eyes just before he claimed her lips once more in a blatant act of possession.
The Jarlena Journal 