John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 140 - Deliberation

Eyes. Blue as the sea. Brilliant as the sky. Eyes that hold the secrets of the past and the mysteries of the future. Eyes that can see everything. The truth of my heart, they lay my soul bare with a single, blistering glance. Strip me of all pretences, and swathe me with gentle, soothing love. Eyes as blue as forever...

Marlena drifted from her dream, slowly approaching consciousness and the sounds of a soft voice. Opening her eyes, she saw the blue that had pervaded her dreams staring back at her.

"Hi there, sleepyhead," John grinned, a baby in his arms. "Wondered when you were going to wake."

"What time is it?" she asked through a yawn before she stretched.

"It's not quite eight," John edged onto the bed next to her and gently placed the tiny boy in her arms. "These guys aren't hungry yet though."

"Won't take long, I'll bet," Marlena moved so that John could fit his body beside hers on the small hospital bed. Slipping his arms around her, he peered at the baby over her shoulder.

"Isn't he beautiful?" she traced the downy hair on the crown of his head and giggled as he yawned. "Gosh, how did I get so lucky?"

"I think the question is how did we guys get so lucky to have an amazing woman like you in our lives, right kid?" John finished his question by pressing a tender kiss to Marlena's neck. "I love you Doc. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone, anytime, anywhere, anyhow."

"That's quite something," she looked around at him, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Hear that sweetie boy? Your Daddy is sounding pretty sure of himself huh?"

"*Very* sure." John nodded before kissing her jaw. "Absolutely certain." He kissed her cheekbone. "Unequivocally positive." He lifted his hand and gently turned her head, kissing her as she leaned back against the pillows.

"Wow, when you're sure, you're sure sure." She blinked as she took a deep breath, momentarily stunned by the intensity of the unexpected moment.

"I sure am," he whispered, his blue eyes alive with feeling. "Marlena, I want to marry you. As soon as we can organize it. I want to tell the world how much I love you. Honey, I want to pledge my life to you in front of the people that we call our family and friends."

"How is it you always know just the right things to say that will reduce me to tears?" Marlena asked him as she wiped her eyes.

"I just tell you how I feel, baby," he said with a tender smile. "I can't help it if it makes you cry." He wiped away the few stray tears with the side of his thumb as he looked at her. "I have to say though, I find your soft-heartedness quite adorable."

"Oh, I'm glad you do," Marlena looked back at the baby who was moving again in her arms. "I think you'd better get used to it."

"I'll never get used to anything about having you around. " John tightened his hold on her, burying his face in her hair for a long moment. "Not enough to take you for granted, anyway."

"I don't see that happening for either of us," Marlena shifted so that she was facing him, the baby in her arm between them. "We've gone through far too much to get to this point. We know the incredible value of what we have. I don't think either of us is foolish enough to ever forget that." She blinked, her eyes a vibrant moss color as she looked at him. "I certainly hope not anyway."

"No way," he shook his head vehemently. "There's no *way* I'm ever letting go of you again. No way that I'll *ever* make the same mistakes I've made in the last few years."

"Good," she smiled as she looked down at the blue eyes of the baby that stared up at her. "Because I am never going to make those mistakes either." She raised her gaze and found John's eyes, so similar to the baby in her arms. "I promise you I'll always tell you how I feel and how much I love you and need you in my life. Anything else would be a lie. By act or omission."