John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 52 - A Fraction Too Much Friction

Marlena groaned as the brassy ring of the phone interrupted a beautiful dream. With effort she pried one eye open, but her field of view was blocked. A slow smile slid onto her face as she felt the warm arms that still enclosed her in a slumberous embrace. She lifted her head and peered over the man that lay next to her.

The time on the clock was enough to shake her complete consciousness as she registered the fact that it was after nine-thirty in the morning. With a sigh, she reached over to the other bed stand and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" she greeted the caller softly, hoping not to wake Eugene.

"Marlena dear, I didn't know if you'd be there or not. It's Caroline," the older woman explained breezily. "I just wanted to let you know that Shawn and I are on our way around to pick up the children."

"The children?" Marlena asked with some measure of confusion as she ran her palm up over her forehead, brushing her hair out of the way.

"The camping trip." Marlena could almost hear the smile in Caroline's voice. "Remember, we arranged it weeks ago."

"Oh, Caroline!" Marlena's eyes widened in dismay. "Oh gosh, I had totally forgotten."

Next to her, Q stirred. Marlena took the opportunity to slide out of his arms and to the edge of the bed. She swung her legs out over the side of the bed and she pulled the sheet to her as she sat up.

"It's alright dear," Caroline was saying. "I know that your mind was on other things. I took the liberty of packing the children's bags last night. Before Eugene got home." Marlena noted the frostiness in Caroline's voice as she said Eugene's name.

"That's very sweet of you." Marlena tried to quell the twinge of anxiety she felt as she realized that the family may be less than happy with the recent turn of events.

"We'll be around shortly," Caroline said cheerily. "We'll see you then."

"I-, Caroli-" Marlena's protestations came too late as the ominous click sounded on the other end of the line. "Oh no!" Marlena stared at the phone in shock for a moment.

"What's up?" A soft touch on her bare back and the voice from behind made her jump slightly. She turned round to see Eugene's concerned face.

"Oh, Gene." She dropped the phone on the bed as her brow creased. "That was Caroline, she's on her way around to pick up the kids for their camping trip. She'll be here any minute." Marlena's eyes were wide with horror as she contemplated what she would have to do to ready the children for their trip with their grandparents. "Oh *man*. What am I going to do?"

"What you are *not* going to do is panic," Q told her as he sat up, pulling the sheet with him. "It's alright, we'll have them ready, and I'm sure the Brady's can wait a few minutes while the kids wash their faces."

"Mmmm... The voice of reason." Marlena smiled as she relaxed slightly. "Have I ever told you how wonderful you are?"

"Not in the last hour or so," Q grinned mischievously.

"Mmmm, well....." Marlena slid across the bed towards him and ran her finger across his lower lip. Then she leaned towards him until her lips were inches from his. "Hold that thought," she whispered with a teasing smile before she turned and slid off the bed.

Q watched her lasciviously as she pulled a maroon silk robe from the chair and wrapped it around her slender frame

"That's fine, as long as I get to hold more than the thought later," he raised his eyebrows.

"Play your cards right Mr. Q and you never know." Marlena winked before she saw the clock on the bedstand. "Ohhh, I think we'd better get those children moving."