"Dad, are you sure that you don't want me to drive to the
hospital?" Eric asked watching his father grab the car keys.
        "Son, I've been feeling great lately." Roman insisted getting
into the driver's seat.  "The medication is really working and I'm ready
to jump back into my old life again."
        "Okay," Eric reluctantly agreed fastening his seat belt.
        "Son, I need to ask you something." Roman began as they drove to
the hospital.
        "Yeah dad?" Eric asked settling in his seat.
        "Do you know what's wrong with your mom?" Roman asked him.
        "Mom?" Eric repeated.
        "Yeah.  She seems to be bothered by something lately and I can't
quite figure it out." Roman began explaining.  "Do you have any idea what
it could be?"
        "No dad." Eric lied feeling guilty.  "Mom seems fine to me."
        "You think so?" Roman asked looking at his son.  "It just seems
like she has something on her mind that she hasn't told me about."
        "I'm sure she's fine Dad." Eric repeated.  "I think that it's
just the holiday season wearing her down."
        "I guess you're right Eric." Roman agreed thinking it over.  "She
hasn't had too many good holidays lately.  The family hasn't been
together in so long that she probably needs to be reminded of what a true
Brady Christmas is like."
 
 

        "Excuse me Dr. Evans." A voice called out interrupting Marlena's
thoughts as she looked up from her desk.
        "John," she gasped smiling to see him, "I was just thinking about
you."
        "I thought so." he said as she rushed over to hug him.
        "What are you doing here?" she asked realizing that he was
supposed to be at the police station with Abe.
        "Well, I ran into a couple of Santa's little helpers and they
insisted that I bring them over here immediately." he said opening the
door as Belle and Brady ran into the room.
        "Mommy!  Mommy!" the children cheered running over to her.
        "Sweeties." she laughed lowering herself to their level.  "How
I've missed you two angels."
        "Mommy, I drew you a picture in school today." Brady said handing
her a drawing of a Christmas tree.
        "It's wonderful sweetheart." she smiled kissing him.
        "Mommy." Belle interrupted squeezing between Marlena and Brady
and handing her a brown paper bag.  "Daddy helped me make you lunch
because you've been working very hard."
        "Thank you very much sweety." Marlena said kissing her and
accepting the paper bag.  "What is it?"
        "It's an apple, some juice, and a peanut butter and tuna fish
sandwich mommy." Belle smiled proudly.
        "Oh," Marlena replied looking at John, "daddy helped you with
this?"
        "Actually, it was my idea about the sandwich." Belle smiled
brighter.  "Daddy said that it wasn't one of your favorite sandwiches,
but I told him that you would love it."
        "I see." Marlena grinned again hugging Belle.  "It's a wonderful
lunch."
        "Dr. Evans." Jenny said coming into the office and seeing the
crowd.  "I didn't realize that you had company."
        "Jenny, this is my family.  This is my fiancee John..." Marlena
explained nodding to John as she put her arms around Belle and Brady.
"... and these two are my son Brady and my daughter Belle."
        "Hello you two." Jenny smiled talking to them.  "How are you
today?"
        "Fine." Belle smiled brightly.  "We were just visiting mommy to
bring her lunch."
        "Oh I see." Jenny said looking at the children.
        "Dad, when can we go get some food from the cafeteria?" Brady
asked his father.
        "Actually, I thought that we would talk to mommy for a little
while." John explained to his son.
        "Come on Dad.  We're hungry." Belle insisted tugging at her
father's leg.  "We need to eat."
        "Bridget and I can take them to the cafeteria." Jenny suggested
smiling at the two children.
        "You don't have to." Marlena explained to Jenny.
        "I'd love to." she explained to Marlena and John.  "I have two
little brothers back home and I always enjoyed taking care of them."
        "Please dad." Brady begged again.  "Can we go get some french
fries?"
        "Well, alright." John gave in to his son.
        "Do you two like video games?" Jenny asked the children.
        "Yeah." Brady cheered.
        "Well, if it's okay with your parents, then Bridget and I have a
couple Game boy's out in the lobby if you want to play with them after
you eat your french fries." Jenny informed them.
        "Please mom!!!" Brady insisted tugging on Marlena's leg.
        "It'll be no trouble at all." Jenny explained smiling.  "It will
give you two a little time to be alone."
        "Come on dad." Belle pleaded flashing John a beautiful smile.
"Can we?"
        "I guess that will be okay." Marlena said giving in to them.
"You two be good for Jenny."
        "We will." they assured their parents as they followed Jenny into
the lobby.
        "She seems nice." John said wrapping his arms around Marlena
after he shut the door.
        "She's my new assistant." Marlena smiling kissing his nose
softly.  "She's from Colorado and she's going to school here at the
University."
        "Hey, she's cute." John said getting an idea in his head.  "Maybe
you should invite her to dinner some time to meet Eric."
        "That's an idea." she agreed touching his cheek.  "Did I ever
tell you how cute you are?"
        "Not in the last few hours." he grinned kissing her lips softly.
        "You know," she said breaking away from the kiss, "I don't know
if I should let  you kiss me anymore."
        "Why Doc?" he asked confused.
        "You let my daughter make me a peanut butter and tuna fish
sandwich." she explained wrinkling her nose.  "That was a nasty thing to
do."
        "Nasty huh?" he said reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling
out a grilled chicken sandwich.  "I'm sure that you wouldn't want this
then."
        "How did you know I was craving one of those?" she asked amazed
reaching out for the sandwich.
        "Not so fast Doc." he said pulling the sandwich backward.  "I
believe that you mentioned something a few minutes ago that I didn't like
too much.  Something about not letting me kiss you anymore."
        "John, you know I was just kidding." she explained moving towards
him.
        "I don't know...you sounded pretty serious." he teased her.
        "John, what can I do to make it up to you?" she asked inching
closer to him.
        "I'm sure that you can think of something Dr. Evans." he smiled
mischievously.  "I think that we can work out some kind of deal."
        "I thought so." she said snatching the sandwich from his hand
while his guard was down.
        "Hey, that's no fair." he protested grabbing her again.
        "John, I'm hungry." she insisted looking into his eyes.  "No more
playing around."
        "Okay," he said releasing her, "I'll let you eat your chicken
while I go check on the kids."
        "John, the kids will be fine for a little while with Bridget and
Jenny.  Besides," she said tossing the sandwich onto her desk top,
"that's not what I'm hungry for right now."
        "You are amazing Doc." he laughed as she wrapped her arms around
him and pulled him down on top of her on the couch in her office.
        "I'm just making the most of our quiet time alone." she informed
him pressing her lips to his.
 
 

        Roman walked alone into the hospital for his appointment with
Mike while Eric ran a few errands.  He checked the time and wondered if
Doc was in her office or out to lunch.  He decided that he was going to
take a trip towards her office.  He was walking past the maternity ward
when he saw a familiar face.
        "Kristen, what are you doing here?" he asked noticing that
Kristen was staring at the newborn babies.
        "Roman, I didn't know that you were here." she smiled at him.
"What are you up to?"
        "I have a check up with Mike today." he explained looking her
over.  "The question is what are you doing here?"
        "Well, a friend of mine just had a baby." she lied to him.
"Why?"
        "Oh, when I suggested that John bring you over to celebrate for
the holidays with us, he said that you were out of town visiting an old
college friend for the holidays." Roman informed her.
        "Well, I was." Kristen lied to him suddenly getting an idea.  "I
just came back home and I kind of wanted to surprise John."
        "Well, hey, we're all having dinner tonight at the penthouse."
Roman added to her.  "Why don't you just show up at about six thirty?
I'm sure that John will be delighted to find out that you're back home."
        "I'd love to Roman." she smiled in delight.
        "I know that tonight is going to be special for everyone now that
you're back." Roman added smiling.
        "Definitely Roman.  I guarantee everyone will be surprised." she
grinned realizing that Roman would be able to help her get John back.

Chapter 7
 
 

        "You know John," Marlena said picking her blouse up off of the
floor, "we are going to have to cool down a little."
        "Cool down?" John questioned running his index finger along her
bare shoulder.  "We were just starting to heat things up in here?"
        "John," she said looking into his blue eyes as he continued to
glide his finger along her collar bone, "believe me, I really want to do
this, but we can't."
        "I'm confused Doc." he said looking her over.  "You were the one
that wanted to..."
        "Well, I do, but we can't." she insisted looking at the way his
open shirt was  revealing his chest.
        "Okay Dr. Evans," he sighed frustrated sitting up next to her on
the couch, "you have no idea how hard it is going to be for me to stop,
but if it's what you want, then I'll have to respect your wishes."
        "I'm sorry sweety." she  breathed deeply.  "Jenny will be
bringing the kids back soon and I have to get ready to meet Roman."
        "Doc," he said taking her hand in his and raising it to his lips
to kiss it.  "I hope that Mike can give us good news today."
        "Me too." she smiled hopeful.  "I promise that soon we will have
plenty of time to be together."
        "I hope it'll be sooner than later." he replied buttoning his
shirt back up.
        "It will be." she said wrapping her arms around him tightly and
grinning.  "And that's a fact."

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

        "So what do you say Mike?" Roman asked looking the doctor over.
        "Well, I'd say that you're recovering quite well Roman." Mike
smiled at him.  "Pretty soon things will go back to normal for you."
        "You don't know how happy I am to hear that Mike." Roman smiled
shaking Mike's hand.  "I can't wait to tell Doc the good news."
        "I'm sure that she will be thrilled to hear it." Mike answered
thinking about how Roman's recovery was going to effect many lives.
        "Hey Mike?" Roman asked suddenly looking serious.
        "Yeah?"
        "I have to ask you a question." Roman explained to him.
        "What's up?" Mike asked leaning back on the desk.
        "Well, I know this is going to sound crazy, but you said that
everything is going to be fine.  Right?" Roman questioned.
        "You seem to be progressing nicely." Mike agreed.  "Everything
seems to be in order Roman.  All you need is to keep resting and try to
avoid stress."
        "What kind of stress?  Physical stress?" Roman asked.
        "What are you up to Roman?" Mike questioned looking him over.
        "Well, I've kind of been thinking about Doc and I." Roman
explained to Mike.  "We've kind of been getting closer lately and I just
wanted to make sure that when the time comes for us to get intimate, that
it'll be okay."
        "Oh," Mike replied suddenly worried about that Roman was going to
push things and find out the truth about John and Marlena sooner than he
should.
        "I really want to show Doc that I love her." Roman continued on.
"I think that it's about time for Doc and I to commit ourselves to each
other again.  I just want to be sure that I'm ready."
        "Roman, as your friend, I think that you should give it some time
before you start to jump back into things with Marlena.  You both have a
lot of catching up to do."  Mike informed him.
        "I know." Roman agreed looking Mike over carefully.  "And as my
doctor what would you advise?"
        "Just take it slow." Mike informed him as there was a knock on
the door.
        "Is it safe to come in?" Marlena asked walking into the room.
        "Doc, you're always welcome." Roman smiled greeting her with open
arms.
        "How is he Mike?" she asked as Roman grabbed her hand.
        "I think that he can tell you the good news." Mike smiled closing
his charts and walking toward the door.  "I'll let you two talk.  Also, I
need to talk to you later about on article I'm working on Marlena."
        "Okay," Marlena smiled turning to Roman as Mike left the room,
"don't keep me in suspense.  What did he say?"

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

        "Mike, how is Roman?" John asked as Mike walked out into the
lobby.
        "He's doing better John, but he still isn't well enough to deal
with too much stress at the moment." Mike explained glancing around the
empty lobby.  "Normally, I shouldn't be telling you what I'm about to
tell you, but I realize that these are unique circumstances."
        "What is it Mike?" John asked getting worried that something was
wrong.
        "You see Roman has it in his head that he is ready to jump back
into a physical relationship with Marlena." Mike explained to John.  "I'm
worried that he is going to end up hurting himself by thinking that
Marlena is going to commit to him."
        "Are you saying that Doc and I should tell him the truth?" John
asked Mike as his stomach tightened.
        "I'm not so sure that is a good idea just yet." Mike explained
thinking it over.  "That may cause his health to regress."
        "So what do we do now?" John asked feeling his frustration
deepen.
        "I guess that you just wait it out and see what happens." Mike
sighed patting him on the shoulder.  "It'll all work out soon.  I think
that Marlena should know about what's going on with Roman though."
        "You're right." John agreed.  "I'll tell her later."
        "Thanks John." Mike sighed in relief.  "I'm sure that she'd
rather hear it from you."
        "Hey partner, what are you doing here?" Roman asked walking out
into the lobby and seeing John.
        "I just brought the kids by to see Doc." John explained watching
Marlena walk out of the room behind Roman.  "We went to her office, and
Bridget told me that I could leave the kids with her while I come to see
the two of you.  So how'd the appointment go."
        "Boy do I have great news." Roman smiled glancing at Mike.  "The
fine doctor here tells me that I'm on the road to recovery."
        "That's wonderful news." John grinned thinking about returning
home to be with Marlena and the kids.
        "Just remember what I told you." Mike reminded Roman as his pager
went off.  "I have to go now, but I'll talk to you all later."
        "Bye." Roman waved pulling Marlena close to him.  "Doc, I think
that we should all celebrate this good news.  Maybe we should throw a
party or something."
        "Roman, I don't know if your quite up to a party yet." Marlena
said exchanging  worried glances with John.  "You told me that Mike said
that you should take it easy for a while."
        "That's true." Roman agreed thinking it over.  "I guess that a
party would be too much for now, but what about dinner with my favorite
girl and my good friend John?"
        "Gee...I don't know if that is such a good idea.  I wanted to
spend the evening with the kids tonight." John began thinking how uneasy
it would be sitting in the room with Roman after the talk he had with
him.
        "Nonsense." Roman insisted looking at him.  "I'm sure that Carrie
would love to watch them tonight."
        "Shouldn't you ask her first?" Marlena asked Roman.
        "I talked to her earlier." Roman informed her.  "She said that
she and Austin would be thrilled to watch them.  So what do you say John?
 Is it a deal?"
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
        John knocked on the door to the penthouse after dropping the kids
off at Austin and Carrie's apartment.  He could feel his nerves acting up
again.  He rang the bell and Marlena answered the door looking beautiful
wearing a red sweater and jeans.
        "You look fabulous Doc." John whispered as she gently let her
hand brush his before he entered the room.
        "Come on in John." she smiled looking at him with her big brown
eyes.  "We've been waiting for you."
        "I'm so glad that you could make it over here tonight John."
Roman greeted him from the couch in the center of the room.  "Doc has
been driving me crazy since we left the hospital."
        "Why is that?" John questioned noticing that Roman was happier
than usual.
        "Well, I have a surprise planned for all of us tonight and you
know how Doc is with surprises." Roman explained looking at his watch as
the doorbell rang.  "Perfect timing."
        "Who could that be?" Marlena whispered to John as Roman rushed
over to the front door.
        "Surprise." Roman smiled revealing Kristen standing at the front
door.
        "Honey, I'm home." Kristen smiled rushing over to hug John.
"I've missed you so much while I was away."
        "Oh," John muttered frozen in place.
        "Wow buddy!" Roman smiled putting his arm around Marlena.  "You
look more surprised than I thought you would be tonight.  When I ran into
Kristen earlier at the hospital, I insisted that she come over for dinner
with all of us."
        "I see." John said looking at Kristen.
        "Sweet heart, Roman thought that you would love having me home
for the holidays."  Kristen smiled planting a kiss on his lips while
Marlena glared at her.  "I've missed you so much."
        "Me too." John lied helplessly pulling back from her kiss.
        "Well, now that we're all here, is everyone ready?" Roman asked
the group.
        "Where are we going?" Marlena asked afraid of what else Kristen
and Roman had in store for the evening.
        "You'll see." Roman said picking up John's car keys off of the
table and throwing them at him.  "You two follow Doc and me."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

        John and Kristen sat in silence in his Jeep as they followed
Roman and Marlena.  John could feel his anger burning up inside him as he
drove.  Kristen decided to take advantage of his sour mood.
        "John, what's bothering you darling?" Kristen asked concerned.
        "Cut the act Kristen." John yelled at her.  "Roman isn't around,
so we don't have to pretend to be in love."
        "Oh John, why can't you see that I love you?" she asked him
softly.  "I'd do anything to make you happy."
        "Why don't you just leave me alone then?" he asked briefly
looking at her.  "If you'd like to make me happy, then you could just
butt out of my life."
        "John, you know that I can't do that." she said slumping back
into her seat.  "Besides, what would Roman think if I stayed away from
you.  Don't you think that he would grow a little suspicious about our
relationship?"
        "You know Kristen, soon Roman will be well and it won't matter
anymore." John informed her.  "Soon you will just be an unpleasant memory
in my life."
        "You don't mean that John." she insisted.  "Besides, that's not
what's bothering you right now, is it?"
        "What are you talking about?" he asked her.
        "You're worried that Marlena isn't going to choose you.  That's
it, isn't it?" she asked looking at him.  "You're afraid that she's going
to choose Roman, aren't you?"
        "You know what Kristen," John began pulling into a parking spot
next to Roman, "I think that it's about time for you to mind your own
business."
        "That's just what I'm doing." she muttered as John stepped out of
the car.
        "What are we doing at the theater?" Marlena asked looking at
Roman.
        "I bought the four of us tickets to the play tonight." Roman
explained holding up four tickets as he noticed John looked upset.  "Is
everything alright?"
        "Everything's fine." Kristen insisted planting a kiss on John's
lips.  "Let's go inside."

Chapter 8
 

        John took his seat in the theater with Marlena on his right and
Kristen on his left.  He could smell Marlena's perfume and it was driving
him crazy.  He wanted to reach out and grab her, but there Roman was
sitting to the right of her.  John closed his eyes trying to hide the
pain he felt.
        "I hear this play is pretty good." Roman informed them looking at
his program.  "It's supposed to be a love story between two star crossed
lovers."
        "Gee, that sounds really good." Kristen agreed wrapping her arm
inside of John's arm.  "Don't you think so honey?"
        "Sure Kristen." he said faking a smile.
        "I know how much you love romance Doc." Roman smiled kissing her
hand as he leaned closer to her.  "I want you show you that I can still
be romantic."
        "I think that the play is starting." she nervously breathed as
the lights began to dim.
        "Okay." Roman smiled looking at the stage.
 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

        "How was your first day at work Jenny?" Eric asked as the two of
them walked along the pier.
        "It was great." she informed him.  "My boss is really sweet.  Her
fiancee and her two children came into work today Eric, and they seemed
like the perfect family."
        "It's nice to see a family together." Eric said looking out into
the water.
        "Eric, why do you look so sad?" Jenny asked looking at him.
        "My family is so messed up." Eric explained to her.  "It's so
hard to explain.  Sometimes I wish that I would've just stayed in
Colorado."
        "I thought that you wanted to come here to be with your family."
Jenny said puzzled.  "I thought that came back to be with your mom and
your sisters at your mom's wedding."
        "Well, you see, it's really complicated, my sisters hate each
other and my dad is still alive." Eric explained to her.
        "I'm sorry to hear about you sisters.  Also, I thought that your
dad died a while ago in some military accident." Jenny began confused.
        "Well, that's what we all thought, but he wasn't dead and he
returned on my mom's wedding day, so my mom didn't end up getting
married." Eric explained looking at her.
        "Wow, that's amazing." Jenny gasped pondering the thought.  "Your
poor mother."
        "Yeah, well, my poor dad was deathly ill when he was brought back
to Salem." Eric explained to her.  "There's been a lot that has happened
since that day, and now my father thinks that he's going to get back
together with my mother."
        "What about the guy she was supposed to marry?" Jenny asked
shivering.
        "Well, he's still around, but it would be better if he wasn't."
Eric explained looking at her.  "If he was gone, then my family could be
together again."
        "You know Eric," Jenny began taking in a breath, "I know that it
isn't any of my business, but didn't you say that your mother's fiancee
raised you when both your parents weren't around?"
        "Well yes, but..." Eric trailed off thinking about his childhood.
 "...it would just be better if he backed off from my mom."
        "Eric, how does you mother feel about all of this?" Jenny asked
him.
        "She thinks that she loves her fiancee, but I know that if she
tries hard enough, she will fall in love with my dad again." Eric
explained with tears in his eyes.  "I know that we can all be happy
again."
        "You know Eric, I'm not an expert or anything, but I think that
maybe you should quit worrying about your mother's problems." Jenny said
touching his face as a tear ran down his cheek.  "I think that you should
worry about Eric for a change."
        "It's not the time to worry about me." he insisted looking away
from her blue eyes.  "I need to help my family."
        "Eric," she said turning his face to hers, "if things are meant
to be, then they will work out somehow."
        "I just want to be happy for once in my life.  I've spend most of
my life isolated from everyone that I cared about." he said as a few more
tears escaped from his eyes.  "For once, I would like to go for a day
feeling like my life is filled with love and happiness."
        "Eric, maybe you're just looking for it in the wrong place." she
whispered pulling her lips to meet his as they shared a passionate
embrace in the darkness.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

        Marlena sat watching the couple on the stage being torn apart
from evil and felt that the story on stage paralleled her own life.  She
glanced to her left and saw Kristen trying to touch John's arm.  She
could feel her blood boil as she thought of all the things that the
Dimera family had done to keep her from John.  She could feel tears
forming in her eyes when she suddenly felt a warm grip on her left hand.
She turned and looked at John who was staring intensely at her.
        "I love you." he whispered so faintly that she barely heard him.
        "I love you too." she mouthed back to him as tears fell from her
eyes.
        Roman noticed that Marlena was crying and he decided that it was
time for him to make his move.  He grabbed her right hand and squeezed
it.  He suddenly felt her body tense up.
        "What's wrong Doc?" Roman asked whispering into her right ear.
        "Nothing." Marlena insisted realizing that both Roman and John
were holding her hands.
        "I love you Doc." Roman whispered softly kissing her right ear.
        "I'll be right back." Marlena announced quickly jumping up from
her seat.  "I have to use the ladies room."
        "What's with her?" Kristen whispered smugly to a confused John.
"Maybe she didn't want you to hold her hand."
        "I'll be right back." John informed Roman.
        "Where are you going?" Roman asked wondering why everyone was
leaving.
        "My pager just went off.  I have to take this in case Abe has a
lead on Jack or Peter." John lied standing up.
        "Let me go with you." Roman insisted to him.
        "No.  Please stay with Kristen until I get back." John urged him
as he walked out into the lobby.
        John walked out into the empty lobby and noticed a staircase on
the far left side.  He was suddenly filled with the urge to climb up the
stairs and discover what was up there.  He traveled up the winding
staircase and saw Marlena looking out of a window at the top.
        "Hey, what are you doing up here?" John asked walking behind her.
        "I can't take this anymore." she said looking out into the night.
 "This lying is tearing me apart."
        "I know baby." he said wrapping his arms around her as she leaned
back into him.  "It'll all be over soon."
        "When?" she asked turning to look at him.  "When will it be
over?"
        "Soon." he repeated looking into her eyes.  "We have to believe
that."
        "John, I can't do this anymore.  This hurts too much." she
explained looking away from him.  "I can't stand pretending to be in love
with Roman while Kristen sits there and puts her hands all over you.  I
hate acting like I'm not in love with you while Kristen pretends to be
your wife."
        "Doc, if you're worried about Kristen, then just get that thought
out of your head." he insisted boldly.  "She will never come between us
again."
        "I know that." she sighed turning to look out of the window.  "I
just can't go back in there right now.  I can't take being here."
        "Then why don't we just sit here for a few minutes?" John
suggested to her.
        "Roman will get suspicious." she explained to him.
        "No, he thinks that I got a page from Abe and that you're in the
bathroom.  Besides, intermission is in about ten minutes, so why don't we
just stay here for a little while and enjoy this time alone together?" he
suggested turning her to face him.  "What do you say Doc?"
        "I love you." she said looking into his deep blue eyes.  "I
really do."
        "I know that." he smiled wiping a tear from her cheek.  He pulled
her tightly to him as she buried her head in his chest.  He kissed the
top of her head as he looked out into the night and thanked God for
giving them these few moments alone.  "I love you too."

Chapter 9

        "That was an incredible musical Roman." Kristen beamed latching
onto John's arm as the four of them entered the Penthouse grill.
        "I thought that you and Doc would like it." Roman explained
putting his arm around Marlena.  "Did you enjoy it Doc?"
        "Sure," she said trying to relax.  "It was a wonderful gesture on
your part Roman."
        "I sure hope that you're hungry Doc, because I got us the best
table in this place." Roman said leading her, Kristen, and John over to a
small table close to the dance floor.  "I know how much you like to dance
Doc.  What do you say?  May I have this dance?"
        "I haven't danced in quite a while Roman.  I really don't think
that I'm up to dancing." she began to protest.  "Besides, we just got
here and we really haven't had time to talk with John and Kristen much
this evening."
        "Nonsense." Kristen insisted waving her hand at Marlena.  "You
two have fun.  John and I are going to talk here for a while."
        "See Doc, they don't mind at all if we kick our heels up for a
little while." Roman insisted pulling her onto the dance floor.
        "Alone at last." Kristen smiled as John watched Roman and Marlena
dancing.  "Oh John, would you just look at the two of them?  They seem to
be falling in love all over again."
        "Shut up Kristen." John calmly replied keeping his eyes on
Marlena.
        "John, look I don't want you to get hurt by her." Kristen began
taking his hand.  "She left you for him once before, who's to say she
won't do it to you again?"
        "Let go of me Kristen." John insisted pulling back from her
touch.
        "I see that you're not up to small talk." Kristen said glancing
back at the dance floor as Roman waved for them to start dancing.  "It
looks like Roman wants us to join them."
        "I'm not in the mood to dance." John informed her as Roman
tightened his grip around Marlena.
        "Come on." Kristen said standing up and pulling him out of his
chair.  "You want Roman to believe that we're really married, don't you?"
        John reluctantly moved onto the dance floor with Kristen.  The
lighting dimmed as the tunes of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's song
"In Another's Eyes" played.  John watched Marlena looking at him over
Roman's shoulder.  He couldn't help but be mesmerized by her stare.  He
could feel the urge to take her in his arms coming over him as Kristen
tightened her grip on him.
        "What are you doing?" John asked Kristen as she started to kiss
his neck softly.
        "John, I love you." she breathed into his ear as her lips started
to trail along his neck.
        "Knock it off Kristen." John urged her as he noticed the change
in Marlena's facial expression.
        "John, we belong together." she insisted moving her hands along
his back towards his rear.  "I love you so much."
        "I can't do this anymore." John said breaking away from her and
moving over to the table.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

        "Doc, it looks like John and Kristen are fighting again." Roman
said noticing that they were sitting back down at the table.  "I'm
starting to worry about the two of them."
        "They'll be fine Roman." Marlena insisted noticing how upset John
appeared to be.  "He just needs time to cool down."
        "I just feel so bad Doc because they are our friends and we
should be trying to help them." Roman explained to her.  "I wish that
there was something that we could do for them."
        "The best thing that you can do right now is not get involved
with what's going on with them." she explained noticing that John was
starting to yell at Kristen.
        "You know what Doc?" Roman said pulling Marlena off the dance
floor and dragging her over to the table.  "I think that I have an idea."
        "What are you up to?" she asked as he stopped in front of the
table.
        "John, I'm feeling tired right now, would you please dance with
Doc while I talk to Kristen?" Roman asked yawning at him.
        "Roman, I don't know if that's such a good idea." Kristen began
to protest.
        "She's right Roman." Marlena piped in fearing what would happen
if she danced with John.
        "Please John.  I'd really love to talk to this lovely wife of
yours for a little while." Roman pleaded with John.
        "Alright." John agreed getting up from the table and taking
Marlena's hand.  "Let's go Doc."
        "See you two." Roman said sitting down at the table with Kristen.

        John led Marlena out onto the dance floor in silence as the first
chords of Gloria Estefan's "I'm not giving you up started playing:
        "Doc we need to talk about what's happening here.  Why didn't you
want to dance with me?." John said breaking through the silence.
        "Shh.  Just dance with me." she insisted as Gloria Estefan's
voice started singing.
                "To be completely honest
                It scares me to imagine
                What life would be without you

                And for this very reason
                I ask you to forgive me
                For what I'm putting us through..."
 
        John closed his eyes as they danced as he thought of the day when
the two of them could be open about their relationship.  He listened to
the words of the song as his heart pounded next to Marlena's.  He pulled
her close to him as his arms tightened around her waist.  He could smell
her shampoo and he longed to sweep her up into his arms and take her
home.  He suddenly realized that his dream was impossible because Roman
was sitting right there watching them and suddenly he was hit with an
incredible pain in his heart.

                "Although there are so many things
                Against us, I've decided
                That I'm not giving you up, no...

                Thinking back, I see what we have
                Is something different
                I think we've known all along
                So how fair would it be
                To divide this love's existence
                Between what's right and what's wrong

                And you, always wondering if we'll make it
                Time will tell you
                That I'm not giving you up, no, no...

                We'll find a way to be together
                However long it takes, wherever
                If it means having you for only a moment
                A moment just might be enough
                I'm not giving you up, no..."

        "Oh John,"  Marlena whispered looking into his eyes, "I want to
be with you so badly right now and that scares me."

                "Screaming in the silence the promises we've spoken
                Come back to haunt me, false and broken
                Quiet desperation to see we're lost forever
                Searching for water in the desert

                No, I refuse to have to do
                Without your kisses
                I'm not giving you up, no, no

                We'll find a way to be together
                However long it takes, wherever
                If it means having you for only a moment
                A moment just might be enough
                I'm not giving you up, no
                No I'm not giving you up, no..."

        "I love you so much." John replied opening his eyes and glancing
over at Roman and Kristen who appeared to be in deep conversation.  "I
can't take this much longer."
        "We have to John." Marlena reminded him with tears in her eyes.
"For Roman's sake."
        "I'm not giving you up Doc." John insisted tightening his grasp
around her waste.  "I need you too much."
        "May I cut in?" Roman asked tapping on John's shoulder.
        "Roman." Marlena gasped jumping back and almost hitting the
person behind her.
        "Doc are you alright?" Roman asked noticing that her eyes were
bloodshot.
        "Actually, I'm not feeling well.  Can we just go home now?"
Marlena pleaded not wanting to be in the situation any longer.
        "Anything for you Doc, but let me have a word with you first
John.." Roman insisted turning to John.
        "What's up Roman?" John asked as Marlena went back to the table.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

        Marlena watched Roman and John talking as she made her way over
to the table with Kristen.  She noticed that Kristen had a smug grin on
her face.
        "What are you up to now Kristen?" Marlena asked sitting down
across from her.
        "Nothing Doc." Kristen muttered sarcastically as she pulled a
mirror out of her purse.  "And you?"
        "Look, I saw what you tried pulling on John back there." Marlena
explained thinking about what she saw on the dance floor.
        "I don't think that is any of your business Marlena." Kristen
snapped as she continued to apply her makeup.
        "I don't think that you understood me Kristen." Marlena responded
as she knocked the mirror out of Kristen's hand causing her to look up.
"Keep your hands off John."
        "He's not your property Marlena." Kristen smiled at her.  "He's a
big boy.  I think that he's capable of defending himself."
        "You just be sure that you keep your hands off of my fiancee."
Marlena warned her.  "You don't want to mess with me again Kristen.  That
would be a huge mistake."
        "It looks like you already have your hands full with Roman."
Kristen snapped back at her and laughed.  "It must be hard juggling two
men like that, but then again, you always did enjoy toying around with
both of their emotions."
        "Why you..." Marlena began raising her hand to slap Kristen as
Roman touched her back.
        "Are you ready to leave now Doc?" he asked her.
        "Yes." she replied glaring at Kristen furiously.  "I'm ready."
        "Let's go then." Roman insisted waving goodbye to Kristen.
        "Goodbye Doc." John smiled weakly giving her a small hug.
        "Goodbye." she replied not looking into his eyes.  "Have a good
night."
        "You too." he said watching her go away with Roman.  "I won't
give you up."

Chapter 10
 
 

        "What did you have to talk with John about?" Marlena asked
walking into the penthouse.
        "It was nothing important." Roman insisted cracking open a bottle
of champagne.  "Would you like a drink?"
        "No thank you." she replied sitting down on the couch.  "What was
it that you were doing outside a few minutes ago while I was waiting in
the lobby?"
        "I thought that I forgot something in the car, but I was wrong."
he said pouring himself a drink.  "Are you sure that you don't want any?"
        "Positive." she smiled weakly realizing that she was tired.
        "Doc, you seem to be so tense lately." he said sitting next to
her.  "Is something bothering you?"
        "No.  I'm fine." she lied to him yawning.
        "You know what I think it is?" he smiled looking into her eyes.
        "What?" she asked closing her eyes.
        "You need a good back massage." he insisted pulling her in front
of him on the couch.
        "Roman, it's alright." she began to protest as his hands moved
along her shoulders.  "I don't need you to..."
        "Quiet Doc." he insisted placing his finger over her lips.  "Just
let me do this."

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

        "I find it hard to believe that your car just happened to die
tonight." John said looking under the hood of Kristen's car outside of
the Penthouse.
        "It's the truth John." she insisted watching him as he took off
his jacket.  "I would've called for a tow truck, but it's Christmas Eve
and I knew that no one would be working tonight."
        "It looks like someone tampered with the engine." John said
shutting the hood of the car.
        "Now what am I going to do?" she asked kicking the car.  "This
stupid thing has caused me more hassle than I could've ever imagined."
        "I'll take you home Kristen." John reluctantly informed her.
        "Oh thank you, thank you so much." Kristen smiled jumping up and
down.  "I can't tell you how much this means to me."
        "I'll take you home, but don't try any funny stuff." he warned
her as he unlocked the Jeep.
        "You won't have to worry about me John." she smiled thinking of
how she would have to thank Roman later for tampering with her engine.
She had to admit that his plan was brilliant.  She had to laugh though
because poor Roman was just doing his best to try and save her "marriage"
to John.  If only he knew the truth, Kristen thought to herself.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

        "Doc, it was so great dancing with you tonight." Roman whispered
in her ear as his hands worked their way along her back.  "Tonight
brought back so many memories."
        "Yes it did." she agreed thinking about John as Roman's hands
melted the tension in her back.
        "Lay down Doc." Roman insisted pulling her down onto the floor.
        "Roman, I'm fine." she insisted as he set her head down on a
pillow.
        "Just let me do this." he urged as she closed her eyes.
        Marlena could feel herself drifting off as Roman's hands worked
their way down her back and shoulders.  She imagined that she was alone
with John and that he was the one touching her skin.  She could feel
herself getting excited as her thoughts of John became more vivid while
she slipped into dreamland.
        "Let me help you out of this shirt." Roman insisted slipping her
sweater off of her as she began to doze off.  "You look so beautiful."
        "I love you." she whispered as he turned her over and touched her
face.  "I want to be with you so much."
        "That's just what I wanted to hear Doc." he smiled moving in and
pressing his lips to hers.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

        "I can't believe that you fell asleep in the Jeep Kristen." John
sighed looking at her resting in the passenger seat of his car as he
pulled up to the Dimera mansion.
"Now what am I going to do with you?"
        He tried unsuccessfully to wake Kristen up a few times before he
finally decided to carry her into the house.  He grabbed the key from her
purse and picked her up.  He carried her into the darkened house where he
once lived and he felt icy chills run down his spine when he thought of
all the horrible acts committed in the place.
        "Where are we?" she asked looking up at him as he set her down on
the couch.
        "You're home Kristen." John said pulling his car keys out of his
pocket.
        "Aren't you going to stay?" she asked looking into his blue eyes.
        "I'm going now.  Have a nice evening." he said turning around
towards the door.
        "John, I love you." she began standing up and pulling him back
towards her with all of her might onto the couch as she forced her lips
onto his.