John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 97 - In The Shadows Of Heartache

Marlena looked at Roman in shock. She hadn't heard him come in and she wasn't sure how to explain this to him. He didn't know the truth about Kristen's baby, and she wasn't sure he could understand if she tried to explain it to him. She probably wouldn't have believed it herself if she hadn't known exactly what Eugene was capable of.

"Well?" he was standing behind Caroline and looking clearly irritated.

"Roman dear-" Caroline began.

"Mom, could I just talk to Marlena and Eugene alone for a few moments please?" Roman asked quite reasonably. Caroline looked at Marlena and then back at her son. There were undercurrents here she didn't understand, and maybe it was best to not get involved right now.

"Of course," Caroline nodded as she pushed herself out of her chair. "I'll see you later, Marlena dear."

"Thanks for looking after the children Caroline," Marlena said softly, hoping to stall Roman a little.

"No problem, Marlena, you know how I love them. Anytime." Caroline was feeling acutely uncomfortable, and she wasted no time leaving the room, much to Marlena's consternation.

Roman said nothing for a moment, just stood with his arms crossed in front of him. Marlena glared at him in annoyance. Since when was this any of his business anyway?

"Gene, perhaps *you'd* like to explain why the two of you are lying to my mother?" Roman couldn't understand for the life of him why they would be doing this. She had told him it was John's baby, surely she couldn't have been lying about that. So why would she be changing her tune now? Almost more frustrating than trying to work out why she was lying, was trying to work out why the hell it upset him so much. Yes, he had been in a similar situation before, but this was *John* they were talking about. Why the hell should he care a whit about John?

"Roman," Belle stirred in Marlena's arms as she spoke, and the mother tried to relax so that the little girl would not be woken by her tenseness. "Roman, I can't discuss this right now, I have to put Belle back to bed."

"All right," Roman nodded tersely, "I can wait."

Marlena looked at him, her fatigue and frustration evident and then she shook her head and pushed herself out of the kitchen chair, carrying Belle with her. Saying nothing more, she swept past Roman and out of the room.

In Belle's bedroom, she tucked the little girl into bed and brushed the fair hair from her forehead. Belle, not yet four, still had her adorable baby face with soft round features that reminded Marlena so much of Samantha and of course, herself. She felt a rush in her heart as she crouched down by her sweet little angel. She couldn't wait to tell Belle and Brady that their Daddy was coming home. They were going to be a *family*, at long last. During any shadowy moments during the next month or so, at least she could remember that and hold onto the anticipation of the moment she would tell the children.

"Night night, Belle baby," she whispered before pressing her lips to Belle's reddened cheek. Brady was in a bed in the same room, and she stopped to drop a kiss on his little head before leaving the room.

She could hear Roman's voice even before she made it back to the kitchen.

"What the hell do you mean inescapable? Don't talk in riddles to me Eugene. Either that baby is yours or it's John's and you and Marlena are lying about it."

"Would you keep your voice down please Roman," Marlena requested in a low tone as she re-entered the room.

"Well Doc, if you would just care to explain to me what the hell is going on," Roman demanded curtly. He hated himself for being this brusque with Marlena. It reminded him uncomfortably of how he had been when he had returned to her all those years ago, a bitter and unforgiving man. He liked to think that he wasn't that man anymore, that he had learned from his mistakes. But every so often he looked at her and he felt that familiar ache in the hollow of his soul, that ache that reminded him he had lost her, and he felt the remembered pain and betrayal. He didn't like it, but he would never be able to forget how he had lost her, and it was pointless to even try.