John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 135 - Deliver Us From Evil

Marlena was alone when her next contraction began its rolling assault and she gasped as the muscle clamped down on the tiny life inside. A tear slipped over damp skin as she grasped the covers on the bed and gritted her teeth. The muscles corded in her throat as she squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the pain.

"*Breathe*," she heard a soft voice nearby and then a warm hand covered hers. "Don't fight it Mom, work *with* the pain. You know how to."

"Sami," she forced her eyes open, panting with the exertion.

"Yeah, it's me," her daughter's concerned face appeared in her field of view and Marlena found herself marveling at how blue her eyes were. They were so much like John's it was eerie sometimes. "Come on Mom, no talking, just breathing, okay?" She blew the short breaths out of her own mouth along with Marlena, following them up with long, soothing exhalations.

Finally, the contraction passed, and Marlena was able to relax back against the pillows.

"Where *is* everyone?" Sami looked around; her anger evident. "You shouldn't be doing this alone."

"John had to go and see Kristen," Marlena said, her voice breathless with the exertion.

"Kristen?" Sami's forehead creased.

"She went into labor not long after you left Sami," Marlena closed her eyes and raised a hand to her forehead to push the damp bangs away.

"Here, let me," Sami picked up a cloth and dipped it in cool water and then used it to gently wipe the perspiration from Marlena's face. Marlena smiled at her daughter.

"Oh, sweetie girl." She sighed as she wound her fingers around Sami's.

Sami smiled back, knowing exactly what Marlena had said without saying anything at all. It was still amazing to her that their relationship had changed so dramatically. Once she had finally been able to let go of the anger and recognize it for what it was, a fear of rejection, she had finally been able to allow herself to love her mother again. Or at least *admit* that she loved her.

And every day she realized how lucky she was to have a mother that was both confidant and friend. She'd made mistakes, but as Sami had finally come to realize, that was part of being human. And now Sami felt almost protective towards her. She had gone through so much, and suffered so much because of her guilt and because of her need to do the right thing by everyone. And she had suffered so much at the hands of Stefano DiMera that Sami just wanted to see her safe and happy.

"Lexie was here," Marlena suddenly took up their previous conversation, "but she was called away." She frowned. "Poor Lexie, she'd already pulled a double shift, she's absolutely exhausted."

"Hey Mom," Sami couldn't help her grin. "Don't you think that if there's a time you should be worrying about yourself and not other people it should be now?"

"Guilty as charged," the corners of Marlena's lips curled upwards. "I'm sorry, I'll try and behave."

"Good," Sami nodded.

"Have I ever told you that you remind me a lot of J-" The rest of her sentence was lost in a low groan as another contraction assailed her. "Oh, oh, oh." She rocked forward gasping for breath as she moaned with the pain. Her eyes welled with tears as one hand gripped Sami's tightly.

"It's okay Mom, it's going to be okay." Sami held her mother, stroking her hair, trying to relax her. The truth was, she was frightened to see how painful this was for her mother. She'd already been through three pregnancies, wasn't it supposed to get easier?

"Oh, G*d!" Marlena cried out as everything centered on the aching, tearing agony inside her. "John. Where's John? I need him."

"It's okay Mom." Sami looked around the room, feeling panicky. "He'll be back."