Chapter 117

Marlena sat on the love seat and glanced over at Belle who was sleeping on John's lap next to her. She looked at the two of them resting peacefully as the thunder rolled in the distance while the storm outside finally began to calm down. Marlena shifted her attention to across the room where everyone else was at since the storm had prevented anyone from leaving the cabin. Mike had fallen asleep on the couch as Carrie slept with her head against him, while Jenny and Eric had fallen asleep on the floor with Brady in between them in front of the fireplace. Marlena began smiling as she realized that her family was together again.

"Doc, what are you doing awake?" John asked reaching out to her as his hand brushed the side of her face causing her to jump. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's okay," she whispered taking his hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I was just looking at everyone."

"They all look so peaceful huh?" John commented looking down at Belle. "She looks just like an angel, doesn't she Doc?"

"She sure does." Marlena agreed stroking her daughter's hair. "She loves you so much John."

"I love her too." John replied watching Belle move around in his lap.

"She seems restless." Marlena replied as Belle let out a sigh. She looked down and saw that her daughter had rolled over on the love seat a bit and was now holding onto the side of it.

"She's had one hell of a night. I'm just glad that we were able to find her when we did." John said realizing how lucky he was. "I don't know what I would've done if we had lost her."

"You saved her John." Marlena added as he turned to look at her. "You saved our baby girl."

"Doc," John began as tears fell down her face. "Don't cry."

"I just can't believe that this is all happening to us." she began as he reached out his hand and began to wipe the tears away.

"It's all over Doc." he whispered watching her lip tremble. "Everything is going to be okay for us."

"Is it?" she asked worried about their future.

"Doc, I promise you that from this moment, nothing is going to destroy the happiness that we are going to experience raising our children together." John tried to assure her.

"John it's just that everything seems so......." she began as he placed his finger to her lips.

"Shh.........don't say another word." he ordered leaning over to kiss her soft lips. "We can't think about the past now. We need to concentrate on our future together."

"You're right." she sighed looking around the room once more. "We are so lucky to have the children here like this."

"Speaking of our children," he said touching her abdomen, "how's our little one doing?"

"Well, he or she has been pretty restless today considering all that we have gone through. In fact, feel right here." she said moving his hand to feel the baby kicking.

"Woah." John smiled looking at her. "It feels like you've got a little fighter in there. The baby's just kicking away."

"The baby must take after you." Marlena replied looking into his blue eyes. "I don't know what I would've done if I had lost you tonight."

"Doc, when I was in that water something happened to me." He explained to her. "It was as if everything that had been holding me back all this time was released when I saw Belle. It didn't matter what my condition was. All that mattered was reaching her. It was a miracle Doc."

"It was a miracle indeed." she agreed watching him as he moved in closer towards her. She could feel his breath on her face and she felt chills running down her spine from his closeness.

"You know, it was a miracle that you walked into my life. I now know that anything is possible as long as I've got you." he whispered bringing his lips to hers while he pulled her into a breath-taking embrace as the fire that had been denied for weeks began to burn within them once more.

"John, I........" Marlena began unable to utter another word as he pulled back from their kiss.

"There's more where that came from." he explained moving towards her once again when he felt a little pair of hands wrap around his torso.

John looked down and saw that Belle had rolled over once more and was on his lap. He and Marlena locked eyes and realized that they intimate moment would have to wait because they had more important things to tend to at the moment. John wrapped his arm around Marlena and pulled her closer to him.

"Now I have my two favorite girls with me." he whispered as she snuggled up against him. "I love you Doc."

"I love you too." she whispered closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep as she realized how good it felt to have John hold her once more.