Unspoken

Chapter 36

December 18, 1992

Marlena rolled onto her side trying to get comfortable. She hadn't been sleeping well. They'd finished their move to Colorado, and while the cabin was cramped, it was home. Carrie and Jesse were staying in the main house with Martha and Frank. Both of them had registered for classes at a local community college, and were slated to start in the Spring semester.

Her bladder twinged, and she sighed. She had to pee, again. Marlena would be glad when that particular symptom faded, at least for a few months. She got out of bed slowly, thinking about how everything had ended with Roman. It had been disappointing, but not surprising. He'd refused to sign the custody papers. Instead he left Salem in the middle of the night on an ISA mission to an undisclosed location. Mickey had filed papers in court for Marlena to retain full custody based on abandonment. She hated doing it, but he'd left her no other option. It looked bad for Roman. He'd left, and he wasn't paying child support. Not that she and John needed it, but it still looked bad, and Shawn and Bo were furious.

Carrie struggled the most with losing Roman, because she had known her father before his time with Stefano, and after his time with Stefano, and she truly felt what she had lost. She grieved for the father he had been, and blamed herself for his leaving because she hadn't accepted who he'd become. John was amazing in helping her with it. He still called her his Punkin' and reminded her daily that he would always love her, no matter what. Carrie told Marlena once that the two most amazing parents in her life were the ones who weren't even biological. Carrie naturally fit into their family. Marlena and John wouldn't have it any other way.

Alais was adjusting amazingly well, and Marlena felt that having her daughter with her for the first four years made all of the difference. Alais came home to someone she knew and trusted, and the family loved her unconditionally. Ryan was so young, Marlena was certain he couldn't remember much of his life before them. Either way, she and John doted on him. The family was so full of love for each other, and for Alais and Ryan, that the transition was smooth and natural. Sami shared her Barbie's, which was no small feat, with the occasional spat. Typical sibling behavior.

Marlena stretched her back in another attempt to get comfortable, but she couldn't. She entered the bathroom, and closed the door softly, trying not to wake John. A hot shower might help the aches. She didn't want to disturb his sleep. He'd been working so hard to learn the ranch, and she saw a joy in him she hadn't seen before - even when they were married. It was as if he'd come alive. But his days were long, and physically exhausting. He needed his sleep.

She turned on the hot water, thinking about their life together as she started to disrobe. He showed her such care that the contrast between what she had with him, and her life with Roman was stark. The way he would touch her softly as he walked by, give her soft kisses for no other reason than to simply feel her. Sometimes he held her on the couch while the children played, or his hand would take hers if they were walking to and from the barn. Simple acts of affection that proved to her that she was loved. She'd been so worried, but his love for her wasn't just a rebound after Isabella. He spent every day showing her that.

She stepped into the hot, steamy water with a sigh, and turned her back to the spray, allowing it to pelt her aching muscles. Rolling her shoulders, she shivered from pleasure.

John woke up to find the space beside him in the bed empty. He rubbed his face, and sat up. He could hear the shower running in the bathroom. One glance at the clock told him it was a little after three o'clock in the morning. Softly, he mumbled, "What the heck is she doing?"

Standing up, he made his way towards the bathroom, and knocked softly. Getting no response, he opened the door. Heavy steam hit him as he stepped inside. Marlena was leaning into the shower spray, her back arched as she rested one hand against the tile. The water was gliding down her body, and there was something so alluring about it all. He felt the blood start to shift towards his groin. She was absolutely gorgeous. Her breasts were fuller, and her hips were curvier. Pregnancy on Marlena was like a damned drug for him. He pushed his hand down on his cock, but it wasn't enough. He groaned, and she looked over. Their eyes caught and held as he rubbed his palm over his aching length. His hand slowed in its movements, but he didn't stop.