John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 20 - The Morning After the Night Before

The sunlight scattered in playful freckles across the crumpled sheets. It danced across the peaceful bodies as it glittered through the raindrops on the windowpane. A smooth slim leg slowly twined around a larger, hairier one and the sound of a contented sigh filled the room.

******

The doorbell chimed again, and the housekeeper muttered as she wiped her hands on her apron on the way to the door. It opened to reveal Shawn and Caroline Brady. With her usual dignity, Caroline explained that they had come to pick up Sami's bag. Illeanna nodded and led them into the living room. The room had suffered quite badly from the events of the previous night. Several bloodstains marred the green carpet and one of the brocade sofas. The French door had been boarded up but the curtains surrounding it hung in soggy swathes. Shards of broken glass littered the saturated carpet at the foot of the door.

Shawn quickly located and gathered up Sami's bag. With a quick nod and thank-you to Illeanna, the Bradys left the DiMera mansion. It occurred to them only when they reached the hospital that Illeanna had not bothered to even ask after her employer.

******

Marlena slowly resurfaced from her deep sleep feeling slightly disoriented. Her subconscious mind was weaving snatches of reality into the fabric of her dreams and in the half-world between slumber and waking she was unsure exactly what was real and what was not. She suddenly woke with a start as she realized that the warm body lying next to her actually existed. To be sure that he wasn't just another trick that her mind was pulling on her, she gently lay her hand over his one that rested on her belly. She smiled as the warm roughness of it assured her that he was indeed an indisputable fact.

Slowly the trickle of images from the previous night became a torrent and her eyes shone softly as she relived the evening in her mind. That familiar warmth suffused her as she recalled their passionate lovemaking and a smile touched her lips as she remembered the pillow fight that had led to yet more lovemaking. All the while, John's soft, regular breaths blew reassuringly against the nape of her neck and his strong but gentle arms enfolded her.

Carefully, taking care not to wake him, Marlena turned over so that she was facing him. She froze as he twitched and mumbled but then relaxed as he pulled her closer in his contented sleep. Freeing her arm, she brushed back the fine blonde hair that covered her face. Her hand automatically found its way back down to John's chest and she lay back, content just to watch him sleep.

******

With Will on one hip, Carrie opened the door. Holding him tightly, she crouched down to get the morning paper. She fell back with a muffled gasp as a pair of heavy boot-clad feet appeared in front of her.

"Hi." She almost overbalanced as she stood up, not taking into consideration Will's weight, and the stranger put a hand out to steady her. Carrie instinctively backed away and he held out his hands to signify that he meant no harm. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." He smiled and Carrie's suspicion lessened.

"Can I help you?" she asked, shifting a restless Will onto the other hip.

"Ah, I'm looking for a friend. I don't suppose you're Carrie by any chance?"

"Yes, I am." Carrie was taken aback. "I'm sorry...do I know you?"

"No." He smiled and shook his head. "I'm an old friend of your husband's. Austin and I went to school together. My name is Grant. Grant Whittaker"

"Oh, I see." Carrie's serious face broke into a delighted grin. "Nice to meet you, Grant. I don't know many of Austin's friends, so it's always great to get to know one." She freed her hand from Will's clutches and proffered it to the young man. He shook it, seeming to notice Will for the first time.