Promises Made ch 14 part two

While He Was Sleeping

Roman watched Marlena's reaction to John's illness. She was clearly terrified for the man's life. 'She truly loves him and it's just that simple. Roman, she doesn't love you like that anymore, you have to face it,' said the logical part of him. The other, more emotional part flared swiftly, 'No, I won't give up this time, I won't just let him have her. I'm going to fight for her and I'm going to win her heart again!' that part stated firmly. 'No matter what I have to do, I won't let him have her!'

After a minute or so, he made a calculated move. Placing his hands on her shoulders from behind, he said quietly, "Marlena, I know you..care a lot for him and you're....upset to see him so sick like this, but it won't do you any good to stand here and worry. What do you say we go get some coffee and a bite to eat?"

She shook her head, still watching the double doors behind which the gurney bearing the man she loved had disappeared, she said, "No, Roman.. I need to stay right here and wait for the news."

Recognizing that he wouldn't win this one, he said, "Allright then, I'll bring something to you. Will you at least sit down in the lounge and rest while I go down to the cafeteria?" he asked, trying to guide her in that direction.

Eric agreed with his father, saying, "Mom, I think Dad is right, you won't do anybody any good if you collapse from all the stress. Please, come with me and sit down for awhile."

She looked back and forth between them, seeing their genuine concern for her and capitulated. "Allright.. I will, Brady shouldn't be alone in there anyway. I'll rest in the lounge, thank you both for being concerned. I also need to call Carrie and Shawn and Caroline and let them know about what's happening and that's a good place to have privacy."

Taking the hint that she wanted to have a few minutes alone, Eric said, "You go on ahead, I'll go with Dad and help him bring back the food."

She smiled and gave him a quick hug of thanks, "That would be great, thank you...both of you. I'll see you soon."

They were standing outside the lounge at this point and Roman said, "Sure, Doc we'll be back in a flash," as she turned toward the door. Eric looked at her for one more moment, worried about all the pressure she was under. Then, since he couldn't help her with it now, he hurried to catch up with his father. At least they could try to make sure she ate something decent and got a little rest while she waited for news of John's appendectomy.

When they were gone, Marlena slumped down on the couch and began to weep for all that had happened over the past several months. "Oh, John... how did this happpen to us? We should have been married by now, we should have been together all these months. I love you so much and I'm so...sorry we had to put our plans on hold for Roman. I didn't know what else to do, I hope you can forgive me, I love you so!" she cried out, wishing he could hear her. "Dear God... please let him recover and help us find a way to resolve all this and finally be happy together the way we have dreamed about for so long."

Eric hadn't really had the chance to talk much with his father earlier when they went down to the Jeep, but it was clear that seeing the ring box fall out of John's leather jacket had upset him, making the truth of the love that existed between John and Marlena all the more real to him. Because of it, Roman made small talk about football and the Christmas presents they all received earlier, anything but what it felt like inside to see that box which was so much like the one he had presented to her only an hour earlier. "Dad...how are you doing.... with all of this," Eric asked, deciding it was time to stop the small talk.

He avoided the question, even though he knew he would eventually tell his son the truth. "I'm concerned about, John and your mother, but otherwise I'm fine, son. Why?" he asked as they walked toward the hospital cafeteria.

"Dad, I'm not talking about that, I'm worried about John too, but I meant about Mom and you..how is it going for you, really?"

Roman reluctantly answered with his true feelings about it and the disappointment was obvious in his expression. "Eric, you saw how she reacted when I showed her the ring, she was shocked and she didn't answer and then the phone rang and she ran off to see John. I don't think it's going to happen for us, Eric. You saw the ring box fall out of John's coat, just like I did," he finished dejectedly.

Seeing the pain in his father's eyes was very difficult and he felt so torn between the two father figures in his life. Putting a hand on Roman's shoulder, he said, "Dad, I'm sorry about that, I know that had to hurt. I know how much you wanted things to work out with you and Mom."

Roman shared his regrets with his son, feeling like he was one of the few who truly forgave him for leaving. "I still love her, I never stopped, Eric. I was just so hurt and angry and I couldn't handle it, so I left. I know now that it was a terrible mistake." Then with intensity, he said, "I just wish I could think of a way to convince her to give me another chance, I know I could make her happy again!"

Eric didn't want to build his hopes up, but then again, he didn't want to destroy them either so he said, supportively, "You never know, she still might. She and John aren't married yet. I just hope you don't... oh never mind, it's none of my business."

"Eric, what were you going to say?" Roman asked, very curious about what his son was keeping from him. It seemed as though everyone in Salem was in on the joke, except the butt of it, one Roman Augustus Brady and he was very angry about that. More than a few people were going to get at least an earful once he had the whole story from Marlena, which he believed was about to happen within the next hour.

Eric stopped walking to talk, "Well, it's just that...well, there are some things you don't know about that you need to hear from mom. It's not my place to say, but I think you need to talk to her so you can understand how all of this happened."

" I know... John and I had a run in awhile back and we're about due for another one soon. As soon as he recovers I'm going to let him know that I'm not giving up so easily, that I'm not just going to walk away and let him have her." Suddenly, Roman realized the position he was putting his son in and apologized for it. "I'm sorry, Eric. I shouldn't be discussing all of this with you, you have enough to handle without me putting you in such an awkward postion, I know you still...care about John too." That last statement nearly killed him.

Hearing his father say it made it seem real and yet also made him feel guilty somehow, like he was betraying his father by loving John. "Dad... I... you know he.. Oh, Dad... I don't even know what to say to you about him."

"Say what you feel, Eric. Say you love him too, it's okay with me. I understand that you love us both, Eric. I know that he raised you for several years and he... did a very good job. I'm thankful for that, actually, and I don't resent how you feel about him." It was all a lie, he had always resented it very deeply. While he rotted in some jail cell, John Black lived his life as Roman Brady; everyone including his wife and his own mother were fooled. As much as he had tried to understand that it wasn't John's fault, he could never quite shake the feeling that John should have been stronger in fighting Stefano and that they all should have known the man wasn't him. The jealousy was so hard to put away. No matter how many times he told himself it wasn't anybody's doing but Stefano's, he couldn't completely let go of the anger and resentment he felt toward John because of the affair and it had all been made fresh when he learned that John and Marlena lied to him again.

As they stood outside the cafeteria, Eric stared into his father's eyes, searching for the truth and thought he found it. Breathing a sigh of relief, he said, "Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say that because to be totally honest, Dad, I've been realizing lately that I do....love him. He was good to us, Dad, I mean he really loved us and he was there for us when we needed him, when you... couldn't be. He spent all his free time making sure we had what we needed and even when he was hurting because he thought Mom died, he tried to hide it sometimes so we wouldn't feel so sad about it too. "

Outwardly, Roman smiled warmly at his son, with understanding and acceptance; inwardly he was seething with jealous resentment. 'Dammit, John, if you think you're stealing my son too...No, I won't let you have this family, John! I am going to reclaim what was once mine alone. I'm sorry you are the sick one now, but I will take advantage of any weakness, old....friend. She WILL be mine again!' Roman listened to some of what Eric said and then said, "Well, son let's find something good for your mother to eat, she never thinks of herself at times like this."

Not really noticing that his father hadn't heard much of what he said, let alone acknowledged it, Eric smiled slightly and agreed as he surveyed the ample if not exciting selections, "You're right about that, she didn't have a full meal for days when you were so sick. She was so worried about you that she never left your side for more than a few minutes at a time and even then we had to drag her away."

Roman smiled on that thought; it was obvious that she still had a definite weak spot for him and he had to find a way to use it... 'Oh, John you may think you have the upper hand right now, but not for long...not for long, old.. *buddy.*'

About fifteen minutes later, Marlena was pacing in the lounge when Roman and Eric arrived with the food and coffee. Eric made a quick excuse and left his parents alone, knowing they needed to talk. Thankful that little Brady Victor Black was still fast asleep on the couch, Roman fixed Marlena's coffee the way he knew she liked it and handed it to her, saying, "Here, Doc... why don't you sit down and drink this. I fixed it just the way you like it."

She smiled weakly; he was trying so hard, "Thank you, Roman."

There was an awkward silence that fell over them and Roman was the one who broke it. "Marlena, I think we need to...talk, don't you?"

Surprise was her first reaction, quickly followed by relief. Finally, they would be able to clear up all the misunderstandings; she could tell him the truth about her love for John and explain the details of why she had kept that from him for so long. She prayed before responding to Roman. 'Dear God, please allow me to find the words that will help him understand, and please help him accept the fact that I love John and want to marry him. Help him face it and let me go, so we can all move on with our lives.' Marlena, took a deep breath and looked into the eyes of the man she had once loved deeply and completely and prepared to break his heart....again. Taking his hands in hers, she replied quietly, "Yes, Roman, it is time. There is so much we need to talk about."

Just outside the door of the lounge, Eric ran into none other than Kristen Dimera, who had the gotten word on John's admission from Lynn, the nurse that was still on Daddy's payroll. She was genuinely concerned for John's health and her fear showed in her face as she approached Eric Brady. "Eric..how is John? I just heard he was brought in here in the Jeep by you, Roman and Marlena... that's quite a cozy group I must say," she added unnecessarily.

She was the last person he wanted to see at the moment and he blew off his frustration about the entire situation at the woman who was responsible for the pain his father was about to experience. He practically spit the words out at her, "Kristen... nobody wants you here, especially John, so why don't you just go crawl back under whatever rock you came from and leave us all alone!"