I've Loved You Before

Chapter 36 - Dream Lover

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Every night, I hope and pray

A dream lover will come my way

A girl to hold in my arms

And know the magic of her charms

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A wide smile came over Marlena's face as Eric ran into the main living area yelling, "Pancakes!" at the top of his lungs. Brady's eyes went wide in surprise and part of the peaches Marlena had just spooned into his mouth dribbled out. Sami was standing on a stool next to the stove with John as he carefully instructed her in the art of pancake flipping. Her life felt perfect, and as much as she hoped and prayed it would stay perfect, she couldn't push down the lingering fear that something would go wrong.

John glanced over and saw the emotions in her eyes just as the song on the radio changed. Smooth and clear, Bobby Darin's voice drifted across the room, Every night I hope and pray... Glancing at Sami, John leaned forward and said, "You think you can flip these for me?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed excitedly as he handed her the spatula. "I watch for the bubbles. I can do it."

"I'm going to dance with your mother," he said. To Eric he said, "Hey, slugger, do me a favor and feed Brady so I can dance with your mom."

Eric got a warm feeling as he took the spoon from his mother and watched a smile play over her lips. She wanted to dance. He couldn't fully explain how he was feeling, but he knew that his new life made him feel happy too.

Marlena allowed John to lace his fingers through hers, and pull her into his arms. Cause I want...yeah, yeah, yeah... a girl... yeah, yeah, yeah... to call... yeah, yeah, yeah... my own...

Her warm body against his was exactly what he wanted. Instinctively his hand slowly trailed down her back, stopping low, and his other hand brought her arm up to his chest. Whispering in her ear, John said softly, "Holding you in my arms is my favorite thing."

"Your favorite thing, huh? What about baseball?" she asked him, staring up with laughing eyes. The heat of his hand on her lower back had her wishing he would touch her skin. Just another inch and he could lift her hem and lay his palm flat against her.

"Oh, I love baseball, don't get me wrong... but you? For you, I would give up baseball in a heartbeat." John's index finger traced along the hem of her shirt, lifting it slightly so he could trail the pad along her soft skin. A gentle tease that had her staring up at him with cautioning eyes. He couldn't be too obvious in front of the twins.

Marlena teased, "So no more games on Sundays? No more–"

John pulled back lightly, looking at her with mock concern as he spun her around quickly. He could hear Brady's laughter, and Eric's excited voice in the background crying, "Spin her again, Papa!"

"Well since this is a hypothetical the answer is yes... because you would never ask me to give up baseball," he told her. Someday, I don't know how... I hope she'll hear my plea... Some way, I don't know how... She'll bring her love to me...

"That's true," she said softly, leaning closer. "I wouldn't want to upset Eric."

"Eric!" John's eyes went wide as he laughed. His fingers traced along her jaw, bruising a tendril of hair behind her shoulder. His breath wafted over the edge of her ear, and he whispered, "I want to kiss you so much."