John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 77- Once Bitten, Twice Awry

"What do you mean what am I expecting?" Eric played innocent.

"I mean what exactly are you expecting to happen if I come back to Salem?" Roman raised his eyebrows. "Because the way you said that about your mother makes me wonder."

"I didn't mean anything by it," Eric shrugged. Roman said nothing, just watched his son closely. Eric had changed since he had last seen him, but in many ways, he was still the same boy he had been. And Roman knew when he was lying.

Finally, Eric's face reddened.

"Okay, okay," he held up his hands. "I admit it. I guess I'm hoping that if you come home that you and Mom might get back together. I mean it's not like she has a whole lot else going on. And I know that..." his sentence stuttered to an end as he saw Roman shaking his head slowly.

"It's not going to happen Eric," he said in a quiet voice.

"How do you know?" Eric's reply was petulant. "You've been away for so long. How can you know what's going to happen?"

"Eric," Roman sighed, "did you listen to *any* of what you told me earlier?"

"No Dad, you don't understand," Eric refused to hear what Roman was saying. "The reason all that happened to Mom was that she was so devastated about you leaving. I know if you came home that you can make it right again, you can..."

"*No* Eric," Roman shook his head, "you're kidding yourself if you think there's any hope for Marlena and I."

"But Dad," Eric started sounding uncomfortably like a small child being refused a toy.

"Eric," Roman sounded tired. "I *left* your mother. She went through an awful lot, and it was John there with her, not me."

"That didn't mean she didn't *want* you there, Dad," Eric argued. "She turned to John because he was there, and you weren't."

"I can't believe you're saying that after what you told me yesterday," Roman shook his head. "Look I understand that you want your family back together son, but it's even more plain to me than it was three years ago. Marlena might well love me, but she loves John more. That's just the way it is."

"Then why isn't she with him?" Eric questioned sulkily.

"I can't answer that, I'm just saying that if you're hoping to see your mother and I together again, you're going to be disappointed." Roman's eyes were sad. "There was one thing you were right about; your mother being devastated when I left. I had my reasons, but I'm always going to regret that decision." He shook his head. It was the first time he had given voice to these thoughts, and he felt surprisingly sure of them. "However, that doesn't change the fact that it happened. I walked out on your mother, and I didn't fight for our marriage. I can't expect Marlena to take me back after that. I don't expect it. And if *you* do, I think you're going to be sorely disappointed."

******

"Oh, so you can tell me that Marlena's unhappy, but not why. And you can tell me that you've split up with her but not why." John shook his head. "And you expect me not to realize that you're setting me up."

"What?" Gene was confused.

"Oh, come on Eugene, I might be gullible but I'm not an idiot," John said angrily. "You expect me just to believe everything you say after the stunts you've pulled?"

"John, I'm sorry if that's what you think this is," Q started.

"I don't need you playing games with my life," John growled. "I don't even know why I'm listening to this. You might have Doc fooled, but you're not fooling me." He stalked to the door and yanked it open. "I want you out of here. *Now*."