Part 5

Laura walked toward the front door with Roman in tow. Entering her home she reached and turned on the lights, it always seemed dark and empty... especially since Jack and Jenn had moved in to their new home with Abbey. Why even Mike was gone, living in Carrie's old apartment... right next to Carrie and Austin. But tonight she wouldn't think about that... That was a whole different mess. The best thing to do was focus on one thing at a time. But she couldn't help realizing that her son was in love with this mans daughter... a man she herself wanted. First things were confusing with Jack and her...Oh that was such a mess, now her son was involved... Either Salem was too small a town or she had a real problem with her love life. Realizing that this was the first time she was alone in a house with an available man in .... god only knows how long... she decided the later was the answer... She did have a real problem with her love life!

As Laura took Romans coat and gloves, she asked him if he would like anything from the kitchen. He shook his head. "Ok, but I'm just going to fix some tea and I join you on the couch. If you change your mind, let me know." Laura replied and headed off toward the kitchen. She returned a few minutes later carrying a tray. She set it down on the coffee table and decided to start.

"Well Roman I guess the best place to start is when you left." with that she began to explain what had gone on in the years since Romans divorce. Once in a while they would stop and she would help Roman understand certain viewpoints, and he really did begin to understand what John and Marlena had gone through. Laura saw how troubled he became when he realized that everyone was lying to him. Taking his hand in hers, she told him,"Roman, If Kristen had never lied to you, no one would have held anything back. But when you were so sick and we all thought you were going to die, no one wanted to make you last days anything but what would make you happiest. This was all going to come out, the only thing that held it back was my son's fears that you would be hurt so badly, you wouldn't get better. I even agreed, when you ended up in the hospital the night after saving Abbey and Jenn from Peter, I saw how week you still were. Now that you are strong again, things are different. Forgive all of us. Please. We only did it for you."

Roman thought a moment. He looked at the woman beside him. She was holding his hand and looking almost tearfully into his eyes. That's when it really hit him. This is where he wanted to be. With this woman, holding this womans hand. He reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair off of Laura face.

Laura seemed a bit taken aback, but she didn't release his hand. Perhaps Marlena had been right, maybe there was something that could be between them.

"Laura," roman said. "There's something I have to admit to you. Tonight I figured out what I want. Maybe that's why it's doesn't matter to me that John and Marlena are together. I know now that Marlena isn't the woman I want to be with anymore. As a matter of fact, I am happy she loves John. If she didn't, I would feel terrible for what I'm about to do, but I would do it anyway."

Roman stood up and pulled Laura into his arms. Her long chiffon gown swirled around her ankles. Surprised by the sudden movement, Laura put her arms on Romans shoulders to steady herself. She felt his arms go around her. Her heart began to race as his head bent down to capture her lips.

His kiss was soft and gentle at first, and she felt herself melting against him. She could feel the tenderness in the kiss. It wiped away any question of why he way kissing her. She knew this wasn't a kiss of revenge. This was a kiss of passion. Her arms slid up his shoulders until she was holding on to him as much as he was holding her. His kiss became more ardent. She felt like she was caught in a hurricane. Finally she broke the kiss. "Roman..." she began. But he cut her off.

"I've been wanting to do that for weeks now. I understand if you aren't interested, a classy lady like you deserves more than a cop like myself." he sighed. "I hope I didn't offend you." Laura reluctantly withdrew from his arms.She reached down onto the table by the sofa and picked up a small black box. "I have something for you... and an admission of my own." She handed him the box and told him to open it. He opened the box. In it was a small pewter medallion. "It's a miraculous medallion. For the man who has done so much for me recently. You saved my daughter and granddaughter. You got my son in law, well soon to be son in law again, out of jail. And you did something else." He looked down into her bright eyes. "What?" he asked softly, lifting the chain out of the box. "You made me feel alive again." she answered.

"Let me help you put it on." she said. She opened the first two buttons of his tuxedo shirt. He put the medallion into her cupped hands. Unhooking the clasp she lifted the chain around his neck and fixed it in place. She left her hands around his neck and whispered, "Now for my admission. I have wanted to do this for a while too." Closing her eyes she leaned into him and kissed his lips. He groaned and pulled her against him. "Laura......"

"It's been so long since I felt like this. You make me feel alive too. You make me feel week in the knees. You make me feel a hundred different things at once. Laura... tell me now if you don't feel the same."

"Oh Roman! I do feel the same!" Tears slipped down Laura's face. "I wanted to say something..." Seeing her in tears had an amazing effect on Roman... he wanted to hold her, brush away the tears, kiss them away. He wanted this woman. He wanted to make her his... after all the times he had found love and then lost it again, he wanted to find one woman to love and be with and live out all the days of his life with. He wanted that woman to be THIS woman. He pulled her closer and kissed her deeply once more. He didn't want to waste one more moment. Life was too short, and they way his life had been going, he never knew how much time he had. So he lifted Laura Horton into his arms.

"I don't plan on letting you go tonight Laura." He whisper huskily. She rubbed her knuckles gently along his jaw and murmured. "That's just how I feel, Roman." Their lips met once more and then Roman carried Laura up the stairs.

John looked at his watch as he approached Marlena's door. It was well into 1998, he hoped Marlena was still awake. It had taken some time but he had been successful in his plan to surprise Marlena. Tomorrow morning she would be so happy... he knew that. Everything would work out. The jet would be waiting at noon tomorrow.... Things would be wonderful. Gently he knocked at her door. And waited. Since there was no answer he searched for the key and unlocked the penthouse door. As he looked around... he saw a splash of red on the couch. It was Marlena in her red dress spread out on the couch. Since it was so unlike her, he was immediately alarmed. "DOC!" he gasped. He rushed to her side and was on his knees at once. He lay his hand on her face and felt her warm breath on him. "Doc speak to me! Are you OK? What's wrong?" He looked around and saw the bottle and glass lying empty on the coffee table." Doc" he gently shook her.

She opened her eyes and a wide smile crossed her lips."JJJJOhn...." she slurred. "I luff you soooooo mush. You came here inshtead of gowing to .... going to KRHIStins house..... OH but shhhhhh.... I think ROMAN is upshctairs. He will catch us!" With that she lunged to kiss John and misjudged the distance. She nearly fell off the couch but Johns arms held her tightly.

"YOu caught me! My hero...again..." she closed her eyes and settled against him, sound asleep once more. His left a gentle kiss on her forehead and lifted her off the couch. He brushed his jaw against her soft blonde hair. All the love he felt for this woman could be heard in his voice. "Oh Doc... my love. This has been so hard for you. I should have seen that this was tearing you apart. I am so sorry. Tomorrow you will see just how much I love you. And you don't have to worry about Roman anymore. Laura is telling him all he needs to know. Now lets get you in a warm bed." Gently he carried Marlena to her room. He lay her sleeping body on the bed. Looking around he found a night gown, and reverently he changed her into it. He pulled the blankets up over her an saw her snuggle in. With a small sigh, she reached into the empty spot in the bed and whispered... john. He looked at her in the moonlight. She really did love him he thought. He sat down on the side of the bed and stroked her hair away from her face. In her sleep she let out a contented sigh. He suddenly felt foolish for even doubting her love. Ever in her drunken state, he was the man she called out for. He realized that she was going to feel less than her normal self in the morning and pulled out his cell phone.

He dialed the number and the pilot of his jet answered.

"What can I do for you Mr.. Black?" the pilot asked.

"Well...I just wanted to let you know that there may be a slight delay in my plans."

"I'm sorry Mr. Black I know how important this trip was..."

"Oh don't worry about it... Tomorrow we will be on the jet... It's just a matter of time. So go ahead and get some sleep."

"Yes sir!"

He slid the phone into his pocket and kissed Marlena once more. He walked down the stairs and straightened the small mess in the living room. When he was done he pulled off his shoes and tux jacket. The bowtie can off and he unbuttoned the shirt halfway down... now he was comfortable. He wanted to be upstairs holding Marlena but someone had to be downstairs, just incase Roman comes storming over here, furious about the truth. He trusted Laura.... but Roman had quite a temper. How could she keep him from getting overheated? He decided to lay down on the couch and put his arms behind his head. His feet he put up on the side and crossed his legs. Within five minutes he was sound asleep.

Downstairs Kristen sat in her car. She had followed John in the taxi everywhere he had gone tonight... He had gone into the jewelry shop after picking up the owner from his house.... amazing what money does she thought grimly... he had got to the airport... He had stopped in the pub and she had spyed on him there as he talked to Shawn and Caroline. That was how she knew what he was planning for his precious "DOC" tomorrow. Not if she could help it! She would die before she let John go back to that woman! She pounded her fist on the dashboard. She knew what she had to do. Stefano would be furious. Oh well... He could do a lot better than miss perfect up there she thought. She turned the key and headed for her home. "Maybe I can introduce him to some eligible women at the funeral!" she said outloud. And she laughed wickedly.