Marlena and John left the hospital and started their journey towards home. John sensed that something was bothering Marlena because she hadn't said much to him during their drive. He turned to look at her beautiful face and realized that her brow was creased and her hands were clenched to the steering wheel as if she was in deep thought.

"Doc, is something wrong?" John asked hoping that she would open up and tell him what was on her mind rather than try to be strong for his sake and hold it inside.

"No, nothing." she smiled quickly glancing at him.

"Come on Doc. I know you better than that." John replied feeling as if she was keeping something from him. "What is it?"

"It's nothing important." Marlena explained realizing that he could read her so well. "It's just a case that I've been working on. That's all."

Marlena hated lying to John and she had tried to forget her conversation with Eric in her office earlier, but it was no use. She knew that she was going to have to tell John the truth about her testimony soon enough. She just didn't have the heart to break the news to him that the man that he had so desperately hated was about to be set free from jail by his wife. She was just glad that his hearing was postponed for a while longer so that she would have time to work up the courage to tell John the truth without all of the media beating her to it.

"Hopefully, he'll get some of his strength back before I break this to him." Marlena thought to herself as she imagined what his reaction would be to the news.

"Anything you want to talk about?" John asked cutting through her thoughts as he tried to ease her mind.

"Nope. I just want to concentrate on making you strong again." she said quickly turning down the dirt road ahead of them. "I want to put us first right now."

"Doc, why aren't you turning down there?" John questioned pointing at a sign leading to the freeway as she took another back road. "Isn't that the fastest way home from here?"

"I have a surprise for you John." she explained driving the Jeep down the dirt road that led out of town.

"Doc, if you've planned on going somewhere to see a bunch of people, I'm really not up to it." John admitted hoping that she hadn't planned a welcome home party. "I appreciate the fact that everyone is trying to welcome me back to the real world again, but I would much rather go home and spend quality time with you and the kids."

"Actually, that's what I'm doing." Marlena explained hoping that she was accurately following the directions to the cabin that Eric had given her earlier. "I'm going to give us quality time."

"Doc what are you up to?" he questioned curious to know what thoughts were twisting around in her head.

"You'll find out." she laughed realizing that he looked like he was pouting in his seat next to her. "It doesn't feel very nice to be the recipient of a surprise now does it?"

"Hey, that's no fair." John insisted realizing how much she was enjoying the role reversal in the situation. He watched her giggle knowing that she had a surprise in store for him. He decided to mess around with her, so he shrugged it off and watched her eyes light up as she continued to drive on. "Actually, it doesn't even bother me at all."

"It doesn't?" she questioned carefully eyeing him.

"Nope." he replied with a yawn as he looked out the window trying to hide his smile. "In fact, I eagerly welcome surprises. I'm not anxious a bit about what you have in store for me."

"Liar!" she chuckled as her mood began to lighten up just by being able to joke around with him once more.

"Is everything all set up in the living room?" Hope asked walking out of the kitchen to find Bo wrapped in streamers from head to toe as Belle and Brady giggled. "What happened in here?"

"I was attacked by the munchkins." Bo laughed extending his arm out towards Hope. "Help me Fancy Face."

"Not a chance!" Brady snapped jumping on top of Bo. "You're our prisoner now."

"That's right." Belle agreed with her brother. "You're our prisoner."

"Actually you two," Hope began laughing as she pulled the children off of Bo, "it's almost time for your mom and dad to get here."

"Yeah!!" the children shouted jumping up and down on Bo.

"I can't wait for daddy to get home." Belle cheered excitedly.

"Then we can all go play baseball like we used to do before dad got hurt." Brady announced happily as Bo and Hope exchanged glances. "I want to show him the new mitt that Grandma and Grandpa bought me."

"Brady, I'm afraid that things are going to be a little bit different with your father for a while." Hope began pulling the children onto the couch with her.

"What do you mean Aunt Hope?" Brady asked looking up at her with his big questioning eyes.

"You see your father has been sick and he's still not completely healed yet." Hope explained to the children.

"That's okay." Belle insisted tugging on Hope's arm. "Mommy, Brady, and I can make him feel better."

"Yeah," Brady agreed nodding his head, "as soon as dad gets home, I know that he'll be all healed."

"Hey little man," Bo said picking up his nephew, "what your aunt is trying to tell you is that your father will have to be in a wheelchair for a while because his legs aren't healed yet."

"Did I make daddy go in a wheelchair when I spilled on him?" Belle questioned turning to her uncle for answers.

"No sweetheart, you had nothing to do with your daddy being in a wheelchair." Bo assured her as he gave her a hug. "Now why don't you two get ready for your mom and dad to get here? They should be here any minute."

"Oh my gosh." Belle gasped jumping up. "I'm not even dressed yet."

"Me neither." Brady replied looking down at his pajamas. "We'd better get ready."

Bo watched Belle and Brady race off to their rooms down the hall. He turned to look at Hope who appeared to be in deep thought. He moved over to her side and wrapped his arms around her.

"What's wrong Fancy Face?" Bo questioned kissing her forehead.

"I'm worried about John." Hope admitted sadly. "He's had his whole life ripped apart when Roman shot him and now he has to struggle to start over again. It isn't fair that this had to happen to him."

"Yeah, well when the Dimera's walked into everyone's lives, things weren't ever going to be the same again." Bo said thinking about Roman's death. "You know, something just doesn't seem right about what happened to Roman either."

"Oh Bo, I'm so sorry." Hope said holding on to him. "I know how much it must be hurting you to lose Roman like you did."

"You know Fancy Face," Bo admitted looking into her eyes, "I can't bring myself to feel sorrow about his death and that's what feels strange. After all the terrible things that Roman did, I realize that he wasn't the man that I thought he was. I realize that when he died, I had no idea who he had become."

"It's not fair that all of this happened." Hope replied sadly thinking about all the problems that the Dimera's had caused. "Damn Stefano and Kristen for trying to destroy our family. If they hadn't done all of those terrible things to everyone, then John wouldn't have ever been injured like this. It's not fair."

"He's going to be fine Fancy Face." Bo tried assuring her. "He has Marlena and she will pull him through this."

"What are we doing here?" John asked as Marlena parked in front of the small cabin in the woods.

"I thought that we could use a vacation John." she explained opening her car door. "I figured that time away from Salem would do us some good. Besides, it will give us some time to spend alone as a family."

"Doc," John began as she walked around the car and opened up his door, "I'm not sure that I can do this."

"Sure you can. I'll just help you out of the car." she explained quickly as he reached out to her hand.

"Not that." John said shaking his head. "I'm not sure that I can face the children like this Doc. I don't think that I'm ready to do this."

"John," Marlena began leaning in towards him as she placed her hand on his face, "Mike and Nick have informed me that you are getting stronger every day. Soon, I just know that you'll be back to your old self again."

"But what if I'm not?" John asked worried about how his children would react to his new condition.

"You will. You have to believe that." she insisted taking note of the sad look in his eyes. "Besides, the children and I love you. We are going to do everything that we can to see to it that you're back on your feet again soon."

"I love you Doc." John replied trying to dismiss his fears as he realized that her confidence was giving him the strength to move on. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Well, you won't ever have to worry about that again." she smiled kissing him. "Now what do you say we get inside?"

"They're here! They're here!" the children shouted running into the living room to greet their parents.

"Calm down you two." Hope insisted as Bo walked outside to help Marlena bring John inside.

"Just a small incline here," Bo said opening the door as John wheeled his way into the cabin.

"Thanks Bo." John breathed pushing his way up the ramp that Bo had set up by the front door.

The room grew silent as John slowly wheeled himself inside. Marlena followed him and she looked at her children's pale faces. She could see John tensing up as Belle and Brady stared at him blankly with questioning eyes. She had explained to the children many times that John would do things a bit different when he came home, but he was still the same daddy they knew. She watched Belle and Brady look at each other unsure of what to do next.

"Please let this turn out okay." Marlena silently prayed watching her two children stare at their father in confusion. She placed her hand on John's shoulder and she could feel him shaking slightly because of his nervousness. She gave him a gentle squeeze when Belle moved across the room.

"I made this for you daddy." Belle spoke up handing John a picture she had colored. "Brady helped me to stay in the lines with the crayons."

"It's beautiful princess." John replied with tears in his eyes as he took the picture from his daughter. "I love it very much."

"I love you too daddy." Belle grinned helping herself up on to his lap. "I'm glad that you're home."

"Me too dad." Brady insisted joining his sister on his father's lap. "I missed you."

"I'm glad to be home son. I missed you both too." he replied hugging his two children as Marlena watched their emotional reunion.