Avenoir

Avenoir - Marlena

Marlena

"Kristen DiMera, you are under arrest for kidnap, two counts of assault, fraud with the intent to deceive, intentional misrepresentation, and accessory to kidnap," Abe fastens the handcuffs around Kristen's wrists. "You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you."

He turns to the officers with him and points at Kristen with a scowl. "Take her down to the station and book her." They nod and lead Kristen away. She has finally given up screaming and ranting, spitting curses and threats at me and desperate pleas for John to listen to her. Abe turns back to us. John and I are sitting on chairs, his arm around me and my head on his shoulder. "I assume you don't want to come down to the station now and make your statements?"

"Not if you don't mind, Abraham," John rubs my leg. "Doc is exhausted, and quite frankly, so am I. We can come down first thing tomorrow morning if that's acceptable."

"More than acceptable." Abe looks at me, noting the bruising around my throat. "Marlena, are you sure you're okay? Maybe you should get Mike to check you out?"

"I'm fine, Abe," I say wearily, lifting my head from John's warm shoulder. "I just want to go home and have a hot bath and some pizza."

"And where is home now?" Abe asks curiously.

"Oh my gosh," my eyes widen. "Lexie is still with the children at the mansion! I completely forgot!"

"It's okay, I called her on my way over here and told her what was going on," Abe smiles at me affectionately. "I have to go back to the station and deal with Kristen, but I can ask her to drop the kids off with Caroline and Shawn if you'd like?"

I look at John and he looks back at me, a question in his beautiful sapphire eyes. I nod and he smiles, a smile of relief and happiness.

"Yeah partner," he nods. "Doc and I are going back to the Penthouse. I think we need a little time to talk and absorb everything that's happened today before we bring the kids home and tell them."

"That's what I thought," Abe chuckles, knowing there probably won't be much talking going on. "I'll see you both in the morning then."

"That you will, thanks, partner."

John stands up as Abe turns to Hillary. "You'll come in the morning too?"

"Wouldn't dream of missing it," Hillary grins and I could swear she's thoroughly enjoyed all the drama this afternoon.

Abe has one of his officers take Susan's details and he promises to contact Alice and Laura to get their statements and then John walks Abe to the door.

Laura comes to me and checks my throat. "I don't think all that bruising is courtesy of Kristen," she murmurs with a conspiratory smile. "But I think you'll live."

"Laura," I pull her into a hug. "I can't thank you enough." I am fairly sure that John wouldn't have come to my office this afternoon without her encouragement. He wouldn't have been so insistent; he wouldn't have pursued my honesty so relentlessly. We certainly wouldn't have known the truth about Kristen's most egregious transgressions. The pregnancy fake-out and the kidnapping of Susan's baby might have gone completely unknown had it not been for Laura's persistence and her dogged determination to figure out the inconsistencies in Kristen's pregnancy and the birth of little Elvis Jr.

"It's been my pleasure," Laura hugs me tightly. "I'm just so happy to see you and John together. You promise you'll invite me to the wedding, yes?"

"Only if you'll agree to stand up for me," I pull back. "Honestly, Laura. I am so lucky to have you as a friend."

"We both are," John comes back and stands behind me, curling his arms around my shoulders. "We owe you a lot."

"You can repay me by being happy," Laura smiles. "Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to take Susan back to the nursery and introduce her to the nurses."

"Oh!" I look over at Susan. "He's having his operation in the morning!" I turn to find John's eyes. "Can we come here after we give our statements and check on the baby and Susan?"

"Of course we can." John kisses me gratefully. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I still love that little guy, even if he isn't biologically mine."

"Thank you, Susan," I say to her as Laura takes the battered old bag from the strange woman. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Doctor Marlena Evans." Susan smiles awkwardly, her ugly teeth protruding from her mouth. "Mr. John Black."

We watch them leave and then Hillary gathers up her coat and her bag and joins Alice at the door.

"Dr. Evans," she turns and smiles at me. "I hope you know I am very happy for you both. You belong together."

"Thank you, Hillary," I say as I feel John's hand rubbing my back reassuringly and I realize he is wondering exactly how much of our office escapades Hillary and Alice were privy to. "Uh, I ah.... we appreciate the two of you trying to afford us the discretion we rather neglected to think about ourselves."

"Darling, we all get carried away from time to time," Alice smiles magnanimously. "And I rather think that after four years apart from the man I loved, I wouldn't have been thinking much about discretion either."

"I know but..." I sigh. "I am... I have to apologize. It wasn't at all professional of me."

"Honestly, don't worry about it," Hillary smiles conspiratorially. "I'm sure as heck not. And honestly, it's kind of nice to know you're not perfect, Dr. Evans."

"Oh, I am far from perfect," I find myself blushing.

"Don't let her fool you," John chuckles. "She is pretty much walking perfection. And sexy as hell with it."

"Stop!" My cheeks feel hot, and I think they must be fire-engine red.

"You're not wrong there," Hillary laughs and then she slips out the door, followed by a knowingly smiling Alice.

"I think your secretary has a little crush on you," John teases as he wraps his arms around me, watching Hillary and Alice exiting. "I saw her checking out your gorgeous ass earlier."

"John!" I hook my hands over his arms and lean back against him.

"Think she'd be up for a threesome?" he murmurs in my ear.

"Oh, even if she was, I don't share," I bite my lower lip and give him a come-hither smile as I turn in his arms to face him and wrap my arms around his waist.

"Oh baby, I don't think you'd be the one having to share," he tells me as he dips his lips to mine and kisses me soundly, his tongue exploring my mouth languidly. "Do I need to be jealous?"

"Don't be ridiculous," I slide my hands into his jeans pockets and palm his gorgeous ass. "You never need to be jealous of anyone. I'm not interested in anyone else. I am all yours, and only yours. Always and forever."

"That's a long time," he murmurs as he brushes his lips across mine again. "Quite frankly, all I am worried about right now is if you're gonna be mine tonight. I have a long, long list of filthy things I want to do to that beautiful body of yours, Dr. Marlena Evans."

"Oh, you do, do you?" I feel a liquid rush between my thighs as I suddenly imagine all the naughty things we could..., or should I say, will, get up to in the next few hours... or days... or weeks. "Well then, Mr. John Black, what are we waiting for....?"

FIN