John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 100 - Family Ties

Marlena stared at the door of the pub and shivered.  This building held so many memories.  So many good ones.  And so many bad.  Along with her home and the hospital it seemed to have become one of the hubs of her life since it opened all those years ago.  The warmth and the rich smell of timber and ale seemed to her almost synonymous with family, and all those tumultuous emotions that families experienced.

She couldn't imagine her life without the Brady's pub but sometimes it took every ounce of willpower she had just to walk through the door and endure the battering of the memories that washed over her.

Tonight, was one of those nights and she pulled her woollen coat closer around her, even though the air was quite mild.  Gene frowned as he watched her.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked her quietly as he moved closer to her.  She didn't say anything, but Q felt her gravitate towards him as she crossed her arms.  "C'mon," he whispered with a slight smile as he slipped his arm around her waist, "you don't have to put yourself through this if you don't want to."

"Yes, I do," Marlena nodded her head slowly, almost hypnotized by the lights from the building in front of her.  "It's going to look a little suspicious if we're not there don't you think?"

"Aw, who cares *what* it looks like Marlena," Gene tried to keep his voice cheerful.  He didn't want her to know how worried he was about the prospect of her having to see John and Kristen together.  She was right, it might raise a few eyebrows if they weren't there.  However, the prospect of a confrontation between Marlena and Kristen was infinitely less preferable.  "You know I could just call the Bradys and tell them you're not feeling up to it.  I'm sure they'd understand."

"No," Marlena shook her head this time, slowly, almost as if she had hardly heard a word Eugene had said. 

"Marlena..." he tried again.  But this time, Marlena closed her eyes and then turned around.

"No Gene," she said softly, "we have to do this.  We have to convince everybody, and especially Kristen that we are a couple."

"But why?" he didn't particularly understand.  "I mean Kristen is just about to have her baby.  She could just about have it tonight."

"Not her baby, Gene," Marlena corrected.  "My baby.  And I need to make sure that there is no way that baby can be put in any danger."  She shivered again as she recalled Roman's insistence that they be extra careful not to tip off Kristen's suspicions.  "Besides," her eyes softened, "I miss John.  I want to see him.  Even if it has to be from across the room."

"Even with Kristen on his arm?" Q brushed his hand over her soft hair, the heel of his palm grazing her chilled cheek.  "Sweetheart, I'm just worried about you.  You don't need this added stress."

"Gene, I'll be fine," she nodded her head with a small smile, "and if we can convince everybody, especially Kristen, that we are a happy couple, I hope it might allay her suspicions at least a bit.  It could be enough to buy John and me a little time together."  His face was in the shadows, and she couldn't read his expression.  "That is if it's not too hard for you."

"Anything you want," he concealed his misgivings with a quick wink and a smile.  He didn't think he'd have any problems playing the happy father.  After all, he'd done it for Marlena once before.  His only concern was that he might be a little too convincing.

"All right then," she reached for his hand, curling her own numbed fingers around his.  "I'm ready if you are."

******

Kristen entered the Brady pub ahead of John and scanned the room with wary eyes.  With little resistance, she let John take her black velvet jacket and hand it to Eric as he greeted the young man with a wide smile and a hug.