John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 76 - Lost Words

Eric looked out of the clinic window, his weary eyes blending the yellows and reds of the autumnal trees together as he stared over the river. He was tired, the result of a late night out with the cute nurse, but he hadn't gotten much further in his pursuit of information. Helen had cited patient confidentiality as he had tapped her for information, and he had finally given up in favor of a fun few hours on the dance floor.

And this morning he had come back to the clinic and spent the last hour or so filling his father in on what had happened at home since he had been gone. As much as he *could* fill him in anyway. It wasn't like Eric had been there for any of it. He found it hard enough to believe some of the stuff himself, he couldn't exactly blame Roman for looking incredulous, especially when details like Marlena's possession had come up. In fact, during everything regarding Marlena, Roman had remained remarkably quiet, the silence becoming palpable when John's name was entered into the equation.

Finally, when Eric had paused for a few minutes, Roman had excused himself. Eric was occupying himself by eyeing the cityscape that Roman had gazed over every day for the last year.

"Sorry about that," Eric turned around at the sound of Roman's voice and watched him prop his cane up against the chair before he settled down into the seat. "So where were we?"

"Mom," Eric raised his eyebrows, "where else?"

"So, you're telling me that after all this, after everything that John and Marlena have been through, that they're not together?" Roman seemed shocked. The story that Eric had told him had led him through a myriad of emotions. He wasn't even sure that he had even begun to understand what he had been told.

When he had left Salem, he knew he had devastated Marlena. He hadn't wanted to, but he had known that there was no other way for him to survive the breakup of their marriage. He knew her too well, knew the depths of her emotions, knew that for her to do what she had done, she had to have loved John very deeply. He hadn't been able to reconcile himself to that fact, unable to live with the specter of John always in their lives. The thought of always looking over his shoulder, waiting for John to come and claim his wife had been more than he could bear.

And so, he had left. And though some part of him had kept alive a fantasy that she would be there for him when he returned, the more pragmatic Roman Brady had learned from experience that would not be so. Dr. Marlena Evans was too beautiful and too adorable to remain single for long.

That part of him had also known that John's heart belonged to Marlena as well, and he had fully expected Eric to tell him that they were blissfully married and raising a beautiful family. So, he had been shocked to find out that this wasn't the case. A spark of hope momentarily ignited within him, but it was quashed as his mind quickly reviewed what Eric had told him. He had spent too much time reflecting on his past while he had been isolated in this clinic to not know the truth.

The truth was that Marlena loved John Black, and she belonged with him. If nothing else, the events since he had been gone proved that. But still, Roman couldn't deny he loved her. That had not diminished over time, and he knew immediately that if he went back, he might struggle to not reveal that to her.

"Nope," Eric shook his head, almost more confused than Roman, if possible. "I don't know what's going on, but it seemed like a few months ago they were on their way to getting back together, but then some drama happened with Kristen and if all fell apart. Mom threw John out. Last time I spoke to Sami she said that Mom was spending an awful lot of time with Eugene Bradford."

"Gene Bradford?" Roman was mildly surprised. "When did he come back to town?"

"Late last year," Eric raised his eyebrows, "He has been staying with Mom at the penthouse ever since and by all accounts, they've been pretty inseparable."