Part 7
John looked at Marlena. He had gone to such lengths to make her happy, and all he could do was make her cry. He heart felt like lead. He decided to try and make things easier on her. He would tell her.... he would tell her what? What could he tell her? Instead he reached out and dragged her into his arms. At least he could hold her till she pulled herself together. The moment he touched her the fear that had gripped her began to evaporate. The beautiful scene she had walked into was very well could have been real. She had been so afraid she was imaging it, so afraid she was losing her sanity, she had shut her eyes and began praying... "please...oooh... please...let this be real... let this be true... oh GOD! If this isn't true I know I can't make it on my own. If this is some daydream, I know I will never find peace.... PLEASE...." And somewhere in the middle of that silent prayer, all the pent-up emotion that she had kept hidden since the summer burst. She was crying, her hands covering her eyes, her body shuddering with the fury of her unleashed fears, desires and pain. And when John touched her she knew...KNEW it was real. She drew in a deep breathe and relaxed into his strong arms, laying her head against his strong chest. John felt the small yielding in the motion and moved one hand so than it could caressed her head. With small motions, he stroked her hair softly and slowly. He felt her hands move away from her face, and find their way around his body, till she was returning the embrace as fiercely as he was giving it. He rested his chin lightly against her hair, and breathed in the scent of her. "I love you" was all he could think when breathed her in. It was more powerful than any drug. "Oh.. John! Please tell me I can open my eyes and you will still be here. Tell me I'm not imagining what I just saw. Because after last night I thought I lost you. I thought..." Relief washed over John... he should know better than to leap to foolish conclusions. He knew Marlena loved only him. He felt foolish to have even worried that Marlena could stop loving him. He should have know after the way she'd acted last night that she was just so overwhelmed with the situation, that she didn't know whether to cry or laugh, or both. She needed him now, and he was going to be there for her. He couldn't wait to take away all her confusion and replace it with joy. John released her just enough so he could look at her face. He put one hand under her chin, while the other still held her firmly. Gently he lifted her chin till her could look at her face. She still had her eyes closed, and tears still glistened on her cheeks. "Marlena...Doc... open your eyes... I'm here... and I want to always be here. And I have wonderful news. Look at me Doc." he gently commanded. Marlena's eyes fluttered open. She looked right into his eyes and sighed, "Oh thank God for you! I don't know how to live without you." "And you never have to Doc," He clasped his hands on the sides of her face and she lifted hers to his chest. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. She closed her eyes once more, this time to experience only the sensation of his lips on her skin. "Doc... we have to talk. There's something you should know. Now everything is fine...but, Roman knows the truth." Marlena's eyes took on a look of panic. "John! Is he OK? Did it affect his health... Oh NO something's wrong with him! That's why he's not here, He's in the hospital isn't he, we have to go! " She began drawing away from him, but he only held her tighter. A smile spread across his lips. "Oh don't think seeing him right now is a good idea Doc..." John replied with a chuckle. Marlena looked quizzically at him. "Well... If you must know, he is NOT in the hospital. He is...ah... otherwise occupied at you dear friend Laura's house. She explained everything to him after he heard me set Kristen straight last night. I'm not sorry he heard either. Things couldn't have worked out better. Marlena, they are in love. There are no hard feelings... I spoke to Roman this morning. He said he isn't angry at us for hiding the truth, and he too, blames Kristen. He just wishes he had seen through her lies himself. Oh, and he hopes that you aren't angry at him, for hiding his feelings about Laura. I hope you aren't, are you?" John asked punctuating his question with a lift of his brow. Marlena took a moment and asked herself that very question. Introspective for a moment she answered, "No, I guess not. I think it just shows us that while in the beginning everything between us was good, we've both changed. When we were together... he never would have kept something from me... especially something like that. But then, I don't think I would have lied to him either. How can I be angry? I... knew it all along anyway, or at least suspected it." Brightening she continues," And last night Laura told me that she felt the same way! Oh John, you're right this is wonderful news! I am so happy for both of them!!" John felt like laughing himself. "I'm surprised you remember last night! I was so shocked when you lashed out at Roman." He watched a frown drive away her smile at the mention of last night. "I remember... Why did you give Kristen my engagement ring?" she asked. "Please forgive me, I was only trying to keep Roman from figuring out the truth. But don't even think about that ring. After she kissed me at midnight I drove her out of our lives for good. I told her I would press charges about your kidnapping, if she didn't leave Salem for good. Her house was empty this morning. She's gone! And as for the ring, this morning I donated it to the Horton center. You never have to wear a ring that was on HER finger. I promise to make it up to you." "Oh John, you didn't have to do that! It was still MY ring! I wouldn't have bothered me!" "It would have bother me... after all she's done to you..." "And you!" Marlena interrupted. "And me." John corrected. "After all she's done to US, I want something perfect and untouched to symbolize my love for you. Once she wore it, it was like a piece of glass. No! A piece of coal!" Touched, Marlena wrapped her arms around him again. "I love you. There isn't anything more than what I have right now that I want. You." "Nothing?" John asked. "Just you, my love." she replied. "How about this?" John asked and lowered himself to one knee. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box. Marlena began to tremble, knowing what John was about to ask. She looked down and realized why he had gone to all this trouble... The silver and pink balloons everywhere, the roses, the banner, the tux! The tux.... He looks so handsome in his tuxedo! She decided to try to memorize every detail of the room and the next few moments. The emotion of the moment overwhelmed her... tears began to flow again. But this time she kept her eyes open and actually found herself laughing and crying at the same time, she was so overjoyed! To Next Chapter