Promises Made ch 8 (Making up)

It was Christmas Eve and John was sitting up with Brady watching a video tape which had Frosty the Snowman followed by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for about the fifth time that day. Suddenly, Brady turned to his father and asked anxiously, "Daddy, are you sure Santa can find us here at this hotel? When Momma helped me with my letter we lived with her, how will he know where I am?"

John's thoughts turned back to Marlena as the word mistletoe came up again. Burl Ives was singing...."Ho Ho the mistletoe..hung where you can see... Somebody waits for you, kiss her once for me.." John remembered the Christmas kisses from last year, he was with Kristen, but twice during the season he had the privelege of kissing his one true love. One day, he impulsively jumped over the couch and kissed Marlena when she was standing under some mistletoe. That glorious image came to mind as he actually listened to the words of "Holly Jolly Christmas," for the first time and it reminded him that he wasn't the only one who had to wait for them to be together and he winced as he thought of his harsh, sarcastic tone and words during each of the last few interchanges with Marlena. John had taken his growing frustration about being separated out on her, when it wasn't all her fault, when all she was trying to do was help a man she had once loved very much, recover fully from a life threatening illness. He felt guilty for some of the things he'd said and wanted to make amends with her.

Noticing that Brady had dropped off to sleep, he carefully extricated himself from underneath the boy and made a quick call down to the Gift Shop, hoping they would have what he needed. Thankfully, they did and within half an hour the items were delivered to the room. After paying the young man who brought them to him, he sat back down and placed Brady's sleeping body on his lap and leaned back on the arm of the couch and flipped the television back on. It was comforting to have his little boy so close, he felt like he really had neglected his son for the infant he thought was his and then there was the crisis when Marlena was missing, and of course the Jungle adventure. Because of all that, John realized that what he mostly needed to do was to spend as much time as possible with Brady while he was young to ensure his son had the firm foundation of love and security that only his father could give him. As he looked up at the television, John saw that "It's a Wonderful Life" was playing and he watched it out of habit. It was a feel good movie and he was glad for it. As he watched, however, he began to tire and dozed off periodically himself.

His plans regarding Marlena would have to wait until tomorrow, it was quite late and there was no way to take any action tonight. Looking at the wallet sized picture he carried of his little family, he said to her, "Tomorrow, Marlena...I will apologize to you. I'm sorry for the hurtful things I said. I'm sorry for all the tension in our relationship and for taking my pain out on you. I want to make it right and I will. I love you...and I need you."

Marlena was sitting in the Penthouse with Eric, Sami, Will and Roman, also watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and one particular scene reminded her of the choice she was making and what she was missing out on. All of a sudden the perfect idea came to her about how to start making it up to John. She said to the gang during a food break, "Everybody, there is an errand I need to run, I'm going to go out for a little while, okay?"

"I'll go with you, volunteered Roman." He had some idea of what she might be intending and didn't want it to happen. He had heard the tail end of one of the other pair's angry discussions and was under the impression that his chances with Marlena were improving by the hour. Roman wanted to keep it moving in the same direction.

"No, this is something I have to do alone, Roman. I won't be gone too long, I promise." She went quickly upstairs to find one specific item she needed for her surprise and found it the moment she opened the closet door. "Perfect!" she said, holding it out in front of her with a smile on her face. She put on some jeans and a Christmas sweater and headed on down the stairs, having tucked the item in her purse. Noticing the looks on their faces she said to all three adults, "I promise I won't be long, this is something I just have to do."

"Okay...be careful Mom," Eric called after her. "Drive safely," said Sami. Roman walked her to the door, saying, "Are you sure I can't go with you, Doc?"

She smiled and said, "Umm hmm, very sure. My surprise would be ruined if you went with me," she said, truthfully.

Thinking she was talking about something for him, he said, "Oh, well, in that case....get on out of here, Doc."

As she stood waiting for the elevator she chuckled in spite of herself, thanking the Lord that she did have a pretty good surprise for him that she could say was why she left if he asked about it. She hated the lying...but it was for his protection. Within a half hour she was at the entrance to her intended destination. Catching her breath as she entered the lobby carrying a fairly large bag of gifts which she had kept in the trunk of her car, she quickly ducked into the restroom to complete the little project she had to hide from her curious family members. She took out the dowel rod she had found with the Christmas decorations and fixed the object from the closet firmly to it with heavy tape. She then rolled it up appropriately and tucked it under one arm, while lifting the bag of Christmas items with both hands. She managed to make her way to the elevators and up to the second floor where John was staying with Brady. She dragged the bag once she stepped out of the elevator onto the carpet on that floor and proceeded to John's room. When Marlena arrived, she knocked lightly, there was no answer. Next, she decided to use the key John had given her and quietly opened the door. Sneaking her way in on tip toes she put the bag behind the couch and then held the dowel rod out around the corner in plain view of those sitting on the couch.

Brady was asleep in his lap and John was sitting there half-asleep himself but heard the faint sounds and opened his eyes; he then caught a glimpse of some movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned toward it to see Marlena smiling sheepishly while waving a white flag made out of a pillowcase and dowel rod. She looked at him with all the love she felt inside and his eyes sparkled with joy and relief in response, but he didn't say anything right away, savoring the moment. Marlena looked at him for a moment longer and said, "Truce?"

He laughed heartily and waved the sprig of mistletoe he had purchased from the hotel gift shop. Holding it well above his head he asked, "A kiss to make-up?" Marlena chuckled in return and the golden sound of it filled his heart like nothing else ever had or could. She hurried to his arms and he embraced her warmly. Then he caressed her face ever so gently and said regretfully, "I'm sorry, Doc...I'm really sorry for everything. I love you, I just love you so much and I've been missing you so badly." John felt the moisture forming behind his eyes as he spoke to her, he was thrilled to have her with him.

Marlena had tears in her eyes as well, as she agreed with the sentiment, "Me too, John...I've missed you terribly."

Having scooted Brady over, he was holding her close as he said, "You seem..happy with him...with your family and I guess I've been starting to have my doubts and I let my frustration get the best of me. I'm really very sorry for what I said, especially about Belle, it was...completely uncalled for. I'm sorry for all of it, will you please forgive me?"

"Oh, John you know I will, I love you so... I'm sorry too, honey!" They held each other awhile longer and then John captured her mouth in a long, gentle, smoldering kiss, his tongue gliding around hers in a way that made her ache for more. "Oh, John..honey..I have missed you so much! I've missed the way you kiss me, the way you touch me...the way you make love to me."

"Oh, Doc...you can't know how I've longed to be with you....please....I know we said we'd wait, but...I don't think I...can. Let me..make love to you...now."

"John....oh, honey...if I'm gone too long..." she replied hesitantly, glancing back toward the door.

He cut her off. "Marlena...I need you!" he cried...almost desperate for her touch, in search of assurance that her love for him was as strong as ever. He took her in his arms and kissed her so passionately she felt faint from her desire for him.."Oh, John...I need you too! Yes...yes make love to me the way you do..."

Not wanting to waste a single solitary second, he took her coat off for her and started in quickly on her sweater and she gasped at how quickly he was taking charge of the situation. She began to repay the favor and took off his shirt kissing him all the while. Soon, they had only underclothing on and had moved to the bed, praying Brady wouldn't wake up. They managed to think clearly enough to keep their clothes nearby...just in case. John's desire was so strong, they had been apart for more than three months now and he literally ached for her. She felt the same way, she had simply hidden it better. Touching each other lightly was enough to start a fire within them and the flames were threatening to burn out of control after only a few minutes of intimate body contact. John was massaging her breasts gently, his hands tenderly cupping her bossoms and she responded quite nicely by moaning softly. John smiled, knowing he was bringing her pleasure always increased his own. She took a turn and massaged him intimately as well and he felt his need to become one with her advancing rapidly. "Oh, Marlena.... I have dreamed of us being together...I want you so much!"

"I have missed us together too, more than you can ever know, John....I love you, I want to marry you and I don't want you to ever doubt that...allright?" She asked as she kissed him very powerfully to emphasize her point. "I love you, John Black and I cannot wait to be Mrs. John Black...does that take away your fears about us?"

He was smiling with that slightly mischievious glint in his eyes and he said, "Well, actually...I think I need a little more convincing, Doc... you better keep it up... Kiss me like that again, please."

"Oh...you drive a hard bargain...so to speak. But..I think I can afford the price." She did kiss him again, hungrily and he moaned again, with the intensifying desire for her, "Oh, Doc.....you're so good at that."

"Well, you're not half bad... you know, I've been thinking...I need a little more convincing that you're sorry for some of the things you said in our last couple of arguments...do you think you could find a way to...show me that you regret your harsh words?"

"Oh...yea.. I think I could come up with a couple of ways...to show you, yes." With that, he began to caress her pleasure spots and he positioned her on top of him and began to make love in earnest. Soon, they were on a journey into intimacy, their bodies joining, melding into one being in the moment of greatest pleasure. They went higher and higher together until they crested the mountain, their hearts beating in time, their breathing ragged, their bodies pulsing with love.

Slowly, they began to descend and they giggled afterward for the release of pent-up sexual tension. John said, "Ah...yea...that's what I missed."

Staring intently into his deep blue eyes, she said sincerely, "So have I, John...believe me, so have I. I love you so much!"

Caressing her cheeks and running his fingers through her silky tresses, he said, "And, I love you so much!"

Looking at her watch, Marlena noticed how much time had passed and started to dress quickly, that action taking them both back in time to other stolen moments of love. It left John feeling once again like they were having to hide an illicit affair and it somehow tarnished what they had just shared. He voiced it, "I hate this...you shouldn't be having to race off to... This love we share, it isn't wrong, Doc...you know that, don't you?" he asked her with intensity.

Now fully dressed, she ran her fingers through the hair that he was beginning to let grow a little and said softly, "Yes, honey...I know that. We are free to love, there isn't anything bad or wrong about us loving each other. Please don't let yourself worry about that, I don't." Her voice gained strength as she encouraged him to have faith in their love, "I'm just trying to make sure that Roman is ready to hear it from my lips...that's all, John. I am not going back to him, I am not stalling you...it's not like that. Please don't you let anyone make you believe that, okay sweety?"

He nodded, feeling suddenly vulnerable and at the same time assured by her firm statement of her commitment to him. He sat up and put on his underwear and jeans, then looked directly into her loving eyes and said, "Okay, Doc...thank you for coming here tonight, it means more than I can say. I love you so much and I really am sorry for my....attitude, it's just so hard to be apart now...when we should have been married and starting our new life together."!

She nodded and agreed, "I know...it is for me too, John. But, we can get through this if we stay strong...together."

John smiled weakly, but said firmly, "Right, we can do anything as long as we're together in our hearts... I love you, Marlena."

"And, I you...goodnight, John. Sweet dreams." She stood up and moved quickly toward the door, it was time to go.

"Sweet dreams love." As they approached the threshold, John leaned in for one last kiss, it was soft and tender and captivating. He managed to take her breath away again. "Merry Christmas, Doc."