Chapter 9
John, Marlena and Brady are all in the cafeteria eating their lunch waiting for Mike to call them to go back to Belle's room. Marlena and John are feeding each other as Brady watches them and laughs his food untouched on his tray. John accidentally dribbles some food on Marlena's chin and leans over to lick it off.
"Let me get that."
As John is licking the food off of Marlena's chin, the closeness causes them to forget where they are as John's mouth moves from her chin to her lips. Marlena's hand goes up and around John's head as she pulls him in closer as they continue to kiss. Brady just watches them with a huge toothless grin on his face. Lexie walks up behind Brady and hugs him from behind.
"Are you watching mommy and daddy kissing?"
Brady looks up.
"Aunt Lexie!"
He jumps up into Lexie's arms and gives her a big hug. John and Marlena are totally oblivious to everything around them; they are so much in love.
"Have you even touched your lunch, sweetie?"
Brady nods his head.
"No."
"Would you like me to help you eat it?"
Brady nods his head again.
"Okay."
Lexie sits Brady down in front of his tray and then she sits down beside him and grabs his fork.
"What you like to try first? Some chicken?"
Brady just shrugs his shoulders as Lexie picks up some chicken with his fork.
"Here you go Brady. Open wide."
Brady opens his mouth and Lexie puts the chicken in it. Then Brady decides to play around a little bit and won't give Lexie the fork back by biting down on it. She keeps pulling on it and laughing and finally gets it loose through one of the holes in Brady's mouth. Brady is laughing so hard that he chokes on the chicken. This alerts John and Marlena and they stop kissing and get up to help Lexie with the Heimlich maneuver. Brady chokes it up so Marlena gives him his milk to help his throat.
"Here drink this sweetie; it'll help you feel better."
He takes it from her.
"Thanks, mommy."
Lexie continues to rub Brady's back as he drinks his milk. Marlena chimes in.
"Thanks for saving Brady's life, Lexie."
Lexie smiles and looks at Marlena.
"It was no trouble, I love this little boy and I love you guys, I don't know what I would do if anything happened to him."
Just then Marlena's pager beeps. She stops to check it.
"It's Mike, it appears that he finished the tests on Belle and we can go see her now."
John smiles.
"Great, I can't wait to see our little girl awake and talking. Let's go."
Brady hops down off the bench and grabs Marlena's hand as she grabs John's hand.
"See you later, Lexie."
"Yes, you too, Marlena, John."
They all head towards Belle's room.

Meanwhile in Belle's room...
Belle is sitting up with a smile on her face holding a book and pointing at the pictures while Mike sits with her and talks about the pictures. She is off the ventilator and can talk a little bit, she was given some mild painkillers for her stitches and is happy as can be considering. John, Marlena and Brady open the door and walk in. Belle and Mike both look up when they hear them. Belle is ecstatic to see them.
(Hoarsely)
"Mommy, daddy, Brady!"
Her arms go up for a hug but she reaches up a little too far and grabs her stomach where she had her stitches.
(Hoarsely)
"Ow."
Marlena walks over to her daughter.
"Oh, sweetie girl. You just had surgery; you need to be careful that you don't pull your stitches out."
Then she leans over and puts her arms around Belle's head and kisses her curls. John walks over.
"Are you in too much pain to hug your dear old dad?"
Marlena lets go of Belle's head and she sits up and grins her daddy. Belle shakes her head no.
"No daddy."
John leans over and hugs his daughter as she wraps her arms tightly around him.
"I love you, daddy."
"I love you too, Izzy."
Marlena begins to cry as her hand goes to her mouth.
Brady tugs on her leg.
"Mommy, can I see Belle, too?"
She looks down at her stepson.
"Of course you can."
Marlena takes Brady over to see his sister.
"John, could Brady say hi real quick?"
John stands up.
"Yeah slugger come here."
He grabs Brady and props him on his leg.
"Hi, sis, how are you?"
"I'm feeling better, but my tummy is still a little sore."
Mike motions to Marlena to come over.
"Marlena, I just wanted to let you know that Belle is going to be okay. I have a list of treatments that she will need to receive as a result of her cystic fibrosis; I also have a prescription for pain medication. Other than that she is fine and should be released in the next couple of days."
"Mike that is the best news."
They look over at John, Brady, and Belle who are talking, laughing and looking at the picture book. Marlena smiles and thinks to herself.
"I have my little girl back and a baby on the way, things are definitely looking up."
She places her hand on her stomach where she and John's baby is growing. John looks over at her and they smile at one another, the look of pure love and happiness in their eyes.

Chapter 10 coming soon...