John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 142 - Strong

"Goodness, sometimes I wonder how babies can sleep through all that noise!" Marlena looked over at her boys and sighed softly. "One day they're this age and all they do is sleep and eat the next day you turn around and they're Belle's age and they never want to sleep or eat anything that's vaguely good for them."

"They do grow fast, don't they?" Laura looked into the cribs and smiled at the sight of the peaceful babies.

"I wouldn't give up a day of it," Marlena threw back her covers and slipped out of the bed, coming to stand next to Laura. Reaching her hand into one of the cribs, she stroked a tiny cheek with a maternal finger. "I couldn't be happier, Laura."

"You're certainly a lucky woman," Laura agreed, looking at her good friend. "Especially considering how different things *could* have been." Her voice softened as she saw Marlena flinch, almost involuntarily. "Mike told me what happened yesterday."

"Well, things aren't different," Marlena said, a little more harshly than she intended. "Everything is fine now, it's all over and I don't want to dwell on it." She managed a smile for Laura's sake before she went back to studying her babies. "I have so much to be grateful for. I just want to look forward to a wonderful future with my family. That's all."

"That's all?" Laura raised her eyebrows, knowing full well what Marlena was trying to do.

"Mmmmm-hmmm." Marlena nodded, ignoring Laura's scrutiny. "It's not the first time I've survived a trauma, Laura. And it probably won't be the last."

"How does that make you feel?" Laura took the opening that Marlena had inadvertently given her.

"No... don't do this to me, Laura," Marlena shook her head angrily. "I don't need therapy."

"I never said you did," Laura's gentle fingers closed around Marlena's arm. "I just want to help you and I think you're not admitting to me, or probably even yourself, that you need help. You need to deal with what happened, honey, before you can move on."

"Did John put you up to this?" Marlena demanded, unappeased by Laura's explanation.

"John is concerned about you," Laura replied unapologetically. "And I'm concerned about *both* of you." She frowned and crossed her arms, turning to face Marlena. "What you went through yesterday was exceedingly traumatic. For both of you. Kristen tried to kill you. You could have died. And John was frightened he was going to lose you. You know as well as I do that those sorts of traumas can leave scars on your soul." Love and concern softened her features. "You can't just put it to one side and pretend nothing happened."

"Actually, yes I can," Marlena replied frigidly, "And what's more, I'm going to. Kristen is dead, it's all over and I have no intention of dredging it all up again." She turned away from Laura and went to the doorway of her room. There was no sign of Belle and Brady, no sign of anyone who could intervene for her in this unwanted discussion. "I just want to forget about it, Laura. That's all."

******

"Okay, Rocky Road for you, slugger," John handed Brady an overloaded cone, "and butter pecan for the little princess here." He grinned as Belle snatched the ice cream from his hand. "You kids don't get that ice cream everywhere now, will you?"

"You do realize you're asking the impossible," Lucie's laughter followed in the wake of her words as she watched Brady try and get his little mouth around an entire scoop of ice cream.

"Yes, that I do." John's brilliant eyes sparkled as he watched Belle giggle at the sight of Brady's antics. "And of course, you do realize that I'm about to entrust them to your brilliant care while I sort out some business?"