John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 144 - These are the Days...

"Mmmmm."

The soft hum of Marlena's pleased sigh tickled John's ear and he smiled contentedly.

"Happy?" he turned his head and raised one eyebrow. She lay next to him, her golden halo of hair tousled and adorable. "Couldn't be *more* happy," she murmured, nuzzling his cheek gently.

It had been a wild few days since Carrie had awakened. Family and friends, brimming with questions and dissatisfied with the lack of answers, had visited Marlena. There were babies to be bathed and fed and small children to be reassured. And John was in and out of the hospital, attending mysterious appointments, the contents of which he would not divulge to Marlena.

But through it all, there were smiles and kisses and now that John had Marlena and the children home, he was grateful just to be with her and hold her in his arms.

"I want to make you happy, Doc," he whispered. "I've caused you too many tears. From now on, I only want to make you smile."

"Just hold me," her voice was almost inaudible as it caught in her throat. "That's all I want. To know, wherever you are, you want to hold me."

"Always, Doc." He curled his arms more tightly around her and pulled her to him. "Sometimes I think you fit into my arms like we were made to go together."

"We were," she looked up at him with bright eyes. "I think we were."

"I think we were too." He grinned and pressed his lips to her nose in a gentle kiss. "You're the most amazing person I've ever met, you know that?"

"Am I?" her lips formed a tiny but undeniable smile.

"You're perfect, honey." He lifted his hand and brushed away the gentle curls that had fallen across her cheek. "Absolutely, positively, perfect."

"Oh, I love you." She kissed him and then sighed softly, snuggling against him, weary and satisfied.

A comfortable silence filled the bedroom for a few moments before the sound of a baby's wail disturbed them.

"Oh," Marlena struggled to release herself from John's arms, but he stilled her with a glance.

"I'll get him," he told her. "You have to rest, remember?"

"John-" her expression didn't hide her annoyance but he was already out of bed and across at one of the matching cribs.

Scooping the tiny baby out of the little bed, John cradled him in his arms.

"Yes Doc?" he asked innocently.

"I'm not helpless," her glare softened as she watched him look down at the tiny bundle he held.

"Would I ever dare say that you were?" he raised his eyebrows with a mischievous smile.

"Was that a baby I heard?" A curious Belle and Brady followed Lucie into the room and Marlena relaxed against the pillow as she watched the children peer at their tiny siblings.

"Yes," Marlena answered with an amused smile wondering how their bedroom could go from a haven to busier than Grand Central station in a matter of mere seconds. "But Daddy has it under control."

"So I see," Lucie ran her eyes admiringly over John's shirtless chest. "Don't suppose you need a hand there, Daddy?"

"He's fine," John replied flushing with embarrassment with Lucie's brazen assessment of him. "He's gone back to sleep already."

Marlena watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow.

"Momma?" Brady trotted over to the bed and climbed onto the rumpled covers without any hesitation.