A/N: And to think that when my other lengthy fic hit 50 chapters, my readers threw me a virtual party! I expect the milestone celebrations will be much quieter this time around... ;)

~ Chapter 50 ~

Staring at her computer screen, Sami cursed as she refreshed the Google home page. Her search for 'Frank Kelly' had returned over 200,000 hits. With results that unwieldy, how was she ever going to unravel the newest mystery regarding her mother? Suddenly, an image of the elderly gentleman she'd met at the penthouse flashed through her mind. He was a priest! Smiling, she added 'Father' to her search terms. She pumped her fist in triumph as a much more manageable number of hits emerged.

After several minutes spent learning more than she'd ever wanted to about a variety of clerics, her elation turned to despair, and she shrugged in defeat. Even though these men shared the same name as the one she'd been introduced to earlier, that's where the similarities ended. They were either too old, too young, or living in another country. Sami drummed her fingers on the table as she closed her laptop. If the web wouldn't yield any information on her mother's visitor, it would border on the impossible to figure out what he was up to.

So far, she'd been unable to come up with any sort of satisfactory answer to why her mother would be consorting with a priest. At first, she'd worried that he was there to perform some quickie wedding ceremony between her mom and that unethical shrink, Dr. North, but she'd soon dismissed the idea. As far as she knew, her mom hadn't divorced John yet, so another union would be illegal. A snort escaped her at the realization that she was actually relieved her mother was still married to John Black. How weird was that?

A few moments later, a grin spread across Sami's face. Of course. It was so obvious that she really should've thought of it sooner. In spite of her claims to the contrary, something dodgy must have gone on between her mom and Dr. North the night of the fair, and now the guilt was eating her up inside. The priest must be there to hear her confession. Admittedly, it was highly unorthodox for Father Kelly to be making a house call, but it certainly would explain his presence. Satisfied that she'd stumbled upon the right explanation, Sami turned her attention to more pleasant matters. Lucas had promised her a night of dancing, and she needed to get ready.

Kate took one last moment to compose herself before inserting the key into the lock. She had to be certain that her face betrayed nothing of her recent visit with Marlena. After all, she'd told her rival that she wouldn't mention the latter's memory breakthrough to John, and for the time being, it suited her to keep her word. It wasn't often that she was gifted with such a secret, and the potential for future gain was enormous.

"Hey, there!"

At the sound of the door opening, John looked up from the newspaper he was reading and flashed her a smile that turned her insides to mush. Why, oh why couldn't she control her reaction to him? It led to a feeling of vulnerability that was far beyond her comfort zone. With an ease born of months of practice, she smiled back, her inner turmoil masked by the upward curve of her lips.

"Hey, yourself. You seem to be in a good mood."

"I am. It won't be long before Alex North is busted for crossing the line with Marlena, and once he can no longer treat her, the influence he has over her will end."

John's smugness left no doubt that he had total confidence in the outcome of his complaint to the APA. Kate stifled a sigh. It was always about her. When would John give up his obsession with that woman?

Maybe when hell freezes over.

Unless… unless his estranged wife did something to hurt him so deeply, he'd finally realize that his future didn't lie with her. Kate hoped that she hadn't misread the signs during her visit with Marlena – who, in spite of her apparent total recall, hadn't appeared eager to reunite with her husband. She hadn't even wanted to talk to him! Kate's musings were interrupted by the sound of John's voice.

"Kate. Kate?"

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was asking where you disappeared to earlier. Did something bad happen while you were out? You seem awfully distracted."

"Oh… I…"

Before she could come up with a plausible story, the sound of John's phone ringing broke into their conversation. Pulling it from his pocket, he positively beamed as he checked the caller ID.

"It's Doc," he practically shouted, as he brought the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hi, John. It's Marlena."

"Hi, Do… Marlena," he corrected himself. "It's good to hear your voice."

Skipping the pleasantries, she got directly to the point.

"I'd like to talk. Could you drop by in about half an hour?"

"Absolutely. I'll be there."

They exchanged goodbyes, and John disconnected the call. Stuffing his phone away, he couldn't keep the joy from his face. Walking over to Kate, he grabbed her by the waist, and twirled her around.

"She wants to see me! She asked to see me! You know it can only mean one thing, right?"

"What's that?"

"She's come to her senses. She's finally seen the light where that quack, North, is concerned, and she's going to ask me to move back in."

"You think so?" Kate kept her tone neutral. She wouldn't burst his bubble, but she wouldn't encourage him, either.

"What other reason could there be? Now that I've blown the whistle on North's unethical practices, she's figured out he was manipulating her into thinking the worst of me. I'm sure she's already got his bags packed."

Kate scoffed inwardly. How could a smart man be so delusional? Well, it wasn't her place to enlighten him.

"For your sake, I hope you're right."

"Of course, I am!"

Retrieving his jacket from the closet, he gave Kate a quick hug before putting it on. Grabbing his keys, he headed for the door, before turning to convey a final request.

"As much as I've appreciated your hospitality, I won't be needing it after my chat with Doc. Would you mind throwing all my stuff in my suitcase, and having it ready for me to pick up later? I don't want to be away from her any longer than necessary."

"Sure, John. Whatever you want."

"Thanks, Kate. You're such a pal."

With those words, he strode down the hall to the elevator, whistling as he went. Watching his retreating back, Kate's eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Although she truly believed that Marlena hadn't been interested in reuniting with John, the latter could be very persuasive. And, with all those shared memories that Marlena had recovered, perhaps her love for John had been reignited in the interval since Kate had left the penthouse.

Grinding her teeth in frustration, Kate headed for the bar. All this speculation was giving her a crashing headache, and a glass of her favourite wine was the only indulgence at hand that might improve her mood.

In the hour since Frank's departure, Marlena had immersed herself in her newly rediscovered past. Open photo albums surrounded her, and she gazed wonderingly from one to the other. She marvelled at the familiarity of it all as she ran her hands over pictures that had elicited an emotional reaction within her. She smiled as she gazed at the people whose likenesses were represented in the albums, people who mattered to her.

"How could I possibly have forgotten my family and friends?" she whispered to herself.

Silent tears began to trickle down her cheeks as she realized her bout of amnesia had caused her to miss several significant events in the lives of her loved ones. Regret filled her. She could never get those moments back – the experience of them was lost to her forever.

"At least I know them again. I can catch up on everything that's happened, spend time with them all…"

She imagined holding her new granddaughter and really connecting with her… babysitting for Belle… being Sami's sounding board… sharing a girls' night out with Maggie, Julie, Hope and Lexie… teasing John about his fondness for Kate…

The last thought brought her up short. John. He was due to arrive any minute, and there was so much to tell him, yet she hardly knew how to begin. Initially, her news would thrill him. He'd be flying high – until she brought him crashing down to earth by admitting that, despite the return of her memory, she had no interest in remaining his wife. Notwithstanding all she'd recalled, Alex was the one who held her heart, the one who'd claimed her as his own.

He'd not been the only man in her life, that was true. The evidence of her past relationships was staring her in the face. There she was at her wedding to Don and, years later, at her nuptials to Roman. How handsome they'd both been, and what good, decent men.

She flipped idly through the pages of yet another photo album, her eyes coming to rest on a candid picture of her with John. They looked relaxed, happy, and in love. Of course, she had loved him. She wouldn't have married him otherwise. How could she convince him that those feelings had changed? She could hardly tell him about her past with Alex – not until she could remember it in all its detail. No, she would have to come up with some other way of persuading him that they had no future together.

The sound of the doorbell startled her. She took a deep breath, in an attempt to steady her trembling hands and even shakier nerves, then walked over to welcome her guest. The sight of John's face, his smile bright and optimistic, greeted her.

"Hey, D… Marlena. I'm so glad you called."

"Hello, John. Thank you for coming."

She stepped aside, allowing him to enter, then led him to the sofa. After handing him a freshly poured cup of coffee, she purposely seated herself across from him. No sense giving the man false hope. An expectant silence fell between them. He was the first to break it.

"So, you wanted to talk."

"Yes. Yes, I do. Something rather astonishing happened to me this morning…"

Before she could say another word, he was at her side, his hands gripping her shoulders as he stared at her, seeking confirmation of what he'd begun to suspect upon noticing the photo albums.

"Oh, my God, you remember! That's it, isn't it? That's what you wanted to tell me. I knew it was good news the second I heard your voice. Oh, baby, it's been so long! These months without you have been agony!"

Without waiting for her response, he engulfed her in the tightest of hugs, before easing back ever so slightly. Something about her expression confused him, and a hint of doubt began to creep into the back of his mind, but he quickly dismissed it as he lowered his lips to hers. It would be bliss to kiss her again, to have her be his once more… He was so lost in his fantasy that he was totally unprepared when she pulled away, and uttered three words that shook him to his very core.

"Don't touch me!"