Avenoir

Avenoir - John

John

I fuss around Kristen, making sure she's comfortable in bed. And I give her a long, lingering kiss, as if somehow I need to prove to both her, and to Marlena, the truth of my earlier claim. That I'd been having a dream about Kristen.

I hope I appear more convincing than I actually feel. Because the God's honest truth is that the only person I dream about, the only person I have ever dreamed about since I can remember, is that incredible, stunning woman behind me. The kindest, funniest, sexiest, most beautiful woman I have ever had the good fortune to know. The one I once called mine.

During all the years I have known her, and to my shame, during all the relationships I have had with other women, the only person that has persistently slipped into my dreams to seduce me and to be seduced is the gorgeous, sharp, funny and kind-hearted Marlena Evans.

"I, um, I have to go now," Marlena says suddenly, looking at her watch and then looking around at the door. "I have a patient to check on."

"Okay," I turn and nod with a friendly smile that I hope hides the multitude of emotions and sensations that are flooding through my body. And I am still wondering what it was that she was going to tell me. I feel like there's something I don't understand going on beneath the surface here. There was a tension when I entered the room that doesn't make sense to me. And undercurrent. Or maybe just a current. Like there's something they're both not telling me. "Can we talk later?" I ask her.

"Sure. Of course we can." She looks at Kristen but there is something in her eyes. Something unfriendly which is incredibly unlike Marlena. Like I said, she is the kindest person I know. She doesn't have a bad bone in her body, and she doesn't dislike anyone. Well, unless they really deserve it, like Stefano DiMera. And even then, she will give the benefit of the doubt far more than that person deserves. So, this is very strange. "Kristen? I'll see you later."

"Sure," Kristen says lightly, but I sense animosity beneath her even tone. "Nice talking to you Marlena. As always."

I watch Marlena leave the room and close the door quietly behind her. I turn to Kristen, frowning.

"Is everything okay with you two?" I ask.

"Sure, why wouldn't it be?" Kristen asks with a bright smile and then she yawns loudly. "I think I'm gonna try and go to sleep honey. Will you stay with me though? In case they come in with news about the baby, I will sleep better if you are here."

"Yeah, of course I will sweetheart." She smiles gratefully as I pull up a chair and sit down. She sighs quietly and closes her eyes, settling her head back against the pillows. She reaches for my hand, and I take hers, stroking my thumb over her long, graceful fingers. "Go to sleep Kristen, I'll be here when you wake."

But inside, I am more than frustrated. I am sure that there is something and Kristen isn't being entirely honest with me. That's one thing that bothers me about Kristen. I am fairly sure she lies to me, and she's good enough at it that I don't think I can always pick the untruths and the diversions. This though, was fairly obvious.

I really want to go and find Marlena. I know that if I press her, she will always tell me the truth. She might want to protect me but she can't lie to me. She never has been able to. And I need to know what's going on. What does she know that she thinks I don't know? She wanted to tell me something and I want to know what it is. I have the feeling that it's important and despite what she says, the baby isn't more important.

The truth is, she's as important to me as my wife and newborn son. Hell, if I'm honest, she's more important to me than my wife is. I married Kristen because she is the mother of my child, and he deserves two parents who are together and who love each other. I couldn't give that to Brady because Isabella died, or to Belle because of Marlena's guilt and broken heart. I want the opportunity to do right by at least one of my kids.