Chapter 118

Marlena woke up to the smell of bacon coming from the kitchen. She opened her tired eyes and let out a yawn as she stretched her body across the couch. She sat up when she realized that the living room that had been so crowded last night was empty except for her. She heard the faucet running in the kitchen for a brief moment as she stretched.

"Good morning love." John called out walking into the living room. "I hope that you're hungry."

"John?" she questioned watching him move freely around the room as he set a table up for her. "You're walking again."

"Of course I'm walking again Doc. Don't you remember what happened last night?" he asked extending his arm to her as he placed his hand out to help her up.

"It all seemed like a dream." she said taking his hand as he led her over to the table. He pulled her chair out for her and he presented her with her breakfast.

"Well, I wish that I could say it was all a dream about Belle falling into the lake sweetheart, but it wasn't. Thank God that we're all okay now. That's all that matters." he replied leaning down to give her kiss. "Now why don't you two eat your breakfast? I know you must be hungry."

"Actually I'm starved." Marlena admitted looking down at the scrambled eggs and bacon on her plate. "This looks fantastic John."

"Well, I had a few extra minutes to spare this morning since everyone went out for a while." John confessed with a grin. "Besides, you wouldn't believe all the excess energy that I suddenly have today. It's as if I've come back to life again."

"You'd better not push yourself too hard John." Marlena reminded him with concern in her voice.

"Don't worry Doc. I had Mike check me out first thing this morning and he said that everything seems to be on track for the first time since the accident." John explained to her happily.

"I still think that you should take it easy." Marlena continued seriously. "You've already done so much since you saved Belle last night."

"And I continue to keep on doing more. Now eat up." he said picking up a piece of bacon and feeding it to her. "How's that taste?"

"Umm....good." she muttered chewing her food.

"That's just what I wanted to hear." he said handing her a glass of orange juice. "Now drink up."

"Thank you." she said taking a sip of her drink as she scanned the room once more. "Where is everyone this morning?"

"Well, Carrie and Jenny took Belle grocery shopping with them since most of the food was left out too long yesterday while Mike and Eric took Brady fishing, so it's just you and me Doc." he explained as his face lit up.

"Really?" she asked as her thoughts returned to Belle once more. "How was Belle feeling this morning?"

"She was doing just fine." John explained getting up from his chair and moving over to her side. "Last night was just an unpleasant memory to her."

"Yeah, well........." Marlena began as John started to massage her shoulders, ".......oooohhhhh that feels good."

"It's supposed to." John replied leaning down and whispering in her ear as he continued to rub her shoulder. "How does this feel?"

"Even better." she breathed closing her eyes as she felt his hands against her skin.

"And this?" he questioned leaning in closer as he began to nibble on her ear.

"Perfect." she sighed turning around in her chair to come face to face with him. "Oh John, do you realize how long it's been since we've been alone like this?"

"Too long." he muttered pulling her up from her chair and bringing her lips to his in a firey kiss. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." she agreed placing her arms around his neck as she brought his body closer against hers.

"Oh Marlena, you're so beautiful." he breathed leaning in for another kiss that left chills running down her spine.

"John," Marlena replied feeling her legs grow weak underneath her as he pulled her away from the table and over to the couch.

"Marlena, you don't know how many nights I laid awake dreaming of the day that I could take you...my wife...into my arms like this." John began taking in each kiss as if he had never held her so close before.

"John, I've longed for the day that you and I could make love again like we used to. I was so afraid that we'd never be able to do this again." she confessed as she began to unbutton his shirt.

"Now there's nothing standing in our way." he explained to her as the excitement began to build within his body. "No one is here to stop us: the kids will be out for a while and it's just you and me."

"You and me." she repeated playing with the dark hairs on his muscular chest.

"Marlena," John whispered looking at her beautiful smile, "I love you so much."

"I love you too." she replied as he began to pull her pajama top off. She watched as he paused for a moment and remained still. "What's wrong?"

"Our baby. The last time that we......." he trailed off instinctively touching her now swollen abdomen. "It's just that........"

"This wasn't as real last time we made love." she finished watching his eyes mist over as he leaned down to listen to the baby inside of her. "Do you feel anything?"

"Nope." he replied looking up at her. "Is the baby moving?"

"Not really...wait...actually feel right here." she insisted placing his hand over to the left side of her. "How's that?"

"Doc can you feel this?" John began looking up at her.

"Yeah I can." she laughed watching his face light up like a child.

"Hey little one," John began talking to Marlena's stomach, "it's your daddy here. How are you doing?"

Marlena watched with a smile as John continued to chat with their unborn child. She could hear the excitement in his voice the more he talked. She watched as he placed his ear against her stomach once more to hear their child moving. She could feel her heart fill with joy knowing that John would be there to share these moments with her that he was unable to share with her when she was pregnant with Belle.

"You know little one, you're mommy and I love you very much and we can't wait for the day that you come into this world to be with us. Your brother and sister will also be here to play with you and I know that they're going to be thrilled to have you around. Plus, I promise you that when the time comes for you to be born that I'm going to be the best dad that I can be. I'm not going to let anything hurt you or your mommy ever again. Do you hear me?" John continued kissing Marlena's stomach softly as the baby kicked. "Doc, did you just feel that? I think that the baby heard me."

"I think so too." Marlena agreed with tears in her eyes. "Our baby loves you very much John."

"Oh Doc, this is the greatest gift that I could've ever been given." John replied moving up to her side. "I've been blessed with a child on the way and the love of my life at my side. How did I get to be so lucky?"

"Luck didn't have anything to do with it John. We were meant to be together." Marlena replied holding his hand in hers. "I love you."

"I love you too Marlena." John whispered wrapping his arms around her as the two of them relaxed and enjoyed their alone time together.