Chapter 3

The next few weeks went as the first went. Roman came down with the flu Marlena was still fighting. However, Roman's wasn't as bad as hers he spent more time trying to find a way out then resting. Marlena's naps lasted longer as the days passed. Roman, concerned he would give Marlena the flu again spent his nights on a sofa across the room. Something woke Roman from his quite slumber feeling that something wasn't quite right. His first instinct was looking to Marlena. She wasn't in her bed. He panicked slightly until he saw the bathroom door closed and the shower inside running. Feeling the relief Roman got up from the sofa and folded the blanket he used across the back. With the sound of the running water, stopping Roman returned to his mission. He needed to find a way out and to find a real doctor to look at Marlena. That quack of the doctor that saw her a few weeks ago said she was ailing from the flu but still weeks later Marlena's nausea persisted though not as severe as before. Marlena exited the bathroom wrapped in a towel the ends of her hair damp from the shower.

"Hey Doc feeling any better?"

Marlena jumped nearly loosing her towel when she heard Roman's voice.

"Oh Roman you surprised me. I thought you were still sleeping I hope I didn't wake you."

"No Doc I needed to get up there is still a lot of grounds in this room alone that I need to check out."

"Oh that's your cop instinct telling you that there has to be a way out?"

Roman laughed lightly and turned away as Marlena approached a small dresser retrieving some fresh clothing.

"How are you feeling?"

"Oh I feel fantastic I told you I wouldn't be down to long with this flu. I have a lot of work to do. I even think that I may have found a way out."

"A way out are you sure Roman?"

"I'm sure even people as conniving as the DiMera's get sloppy. Come here I'll show you."

Marlena placed the clothing on the bed and followed Roman to the interior wall. Marlena leaned down pulling the towel tighter across her body.

"See this it looks like its stone but see…here that"

Roman said as he knocked on the wall it echoed back.

"It's just an illusion, that's not all stone. Behind it could be another room perhaps someone else is here and we can finally see who made it."

"Oh Roman that's wonderful news do you really think it's that simple?"

Roman nodded and took a piece of metal from the bed and began to hit the wall. Marlena used Roman's shoulder to lift herself from the floor. Her towel slipped slightly down, nothing revealing but Roman couldn't help but look at her. Embarrassed she pulled the towel around again, taking her clothing to the bathroom she turned to see Roman looking at her. Roman drew his attention away from Marlena and returned to the wall. Marlena smiled, she still had it she could see the desire in his eyes when he saw her. She laughed lightly and returned to the bathroom.

A few minutes later Marlena came out of the bathroom dressed her hair pulled up into a long pony. She hadn't realized how long her hair had gotten until she pulled it up.

"Roman, do you need help?"

Roman turned at the sound of his name. She looked beautiful; in fact, he had never seen her look more beautiful. Even the denim she was wearing was flattering. Roman couldn't help but smile.

"You look beautiful only you could make denim look that good."

"Thanks Roman that means a lot."

Marlena nodded and headed toward Roman who went back to work on the wall. His hands were filthy from the soot of the metal but he didn't care he just wanted out and to get Marlena home to John and he to Kate.

"Roman you didn't answer me, do you need any help?"

"No Doc I got it besides you still recovering why don't you go rest if I get anywhere I will wake you immediately."

"Roman I'm feeling much better really I want to help."

Before Roman got the chance to argue, a knock at the door pulled his attention from the wall. He quickly pulled a dresser in front of his project. Bart came in as expected with their breakfast and with a stupid smile on his face.

"Morning folks, brought you breakfast. I had some myself its good Cook did a fantastic job on the flapjacks."

Roman and Marlena made it over to their table just as Bart placed the trays down on the table. He lifted the lids and Marlena quickly turned away and tried to catch her breath.

"Hey you okay?"

Bart asked and for the first time Marlena believed he was concerned.

"Oh yes I just got a chill the room is a bit drafty"

Bart accepted her reason and headed out the door. Roman placed the lid on Marlena's meal. He could see that what she told Bart was to cover what she was really feeling.

"I'm sorry it's the bacon. I didn't want Bart to know I still wasn't feeling well he would have rushed off and told Tony and I DON'T want him to know."

Once the bacon was covered, Marlena's color returned to her face and she managed to take her seat. She only ate the crackers and drank the tea; the flapjacks and didn't sit with her well Roman could see that. A few seconds later Roman looked at Marlena with concern as she finished her tea. He knew what was going on, why didn't he see it before?

"Marlena are you sure you have the flu?"

Marlena nodded and placed her cup down on the tray and looked back at Roman. She could see his concern for her written all over his face.

"What else could it be Roman?"

Roman placed his fork down on the table and looked at Marlena once again.

"Could you be pregnant?"

Marlena dropped the spoon into her glass in disbelief. She couldn't believe Roman said what he did. She laughed at his suggestion he must be mad she thought.

"Roman do you have any idea how old I am?"

"Yes, I do that doesn't mean you can't be."

"Roman come on my children are in their 20's are you serious?"

"I know that it doesn't mean anything."

Marlena was getting angry with Roman for suggesting such a thing. Belle was 21 she was married, how dare he suggest that she was pregnant again.

"Roman Belle is married herself that part of my life is over it's been over for years."

"Marlena you always wanted to have another child. Who's to say this isn't that child you have wanted for the last 18 years."

"Roman you have to stop it, I just getting over the flu. You had it yourself so did the rest of the castle."

"The rest of the castle only had it for a few days. You've had it for weeks, almost from the moment we were brought to this damn castle."

"I can't believe I'm going to tell you this; it's really none of your business, but we were not trying to get pregnant. Besides don't you think it would have happened sooner?"

"That depends were you using protection?"

Marlena shifted uncomfortable in her seat. Whatever the reason Roman's statement struck a cord.

"Roman I don't think that's any of your business. In fact I don't think we should be discussing my sex life with John."

Marlena got up from the table with a huff and stormed off.

"I didn't think so."

Roman said sarcastically. Marlena turned to Roman he went back to his breakfast.

"It's not like there was anything on the island Roman. Remember Tony said he wanted to control all of us. He most certainly didn't leave any protection for us at the penthouse."

"Then it's possible that you did get pregnant on that island before we escaped."

"No Roman you don't understand…John and I haven't used protection since we were married. We wanted another baby for Belle. But the years went by and we couldn't get pregnant so we just gave up and decided that if it would happen then it was a gift."

"And it has happened…you know it's a possibility Marlena why don't you just accept it."

Roman was right Marlena knew that she could be pregnant she has suspected it for some time. When Bart brought the doctor to exam, her she feared that her secret would come out but it didn't. Some doctor she thought as she headed back to the table and sat next to Roman.

"Roman you know if things were different I would be happy that John and I finally got our miracle baby. Especially since it's been so long since we were married. Why did it have to happen now?"

"Maybe Marlena this is fate. Maybe this place is why it happened. This could be the thing that gets us out of here."

"I can't be pregnant what if Tony finds out he might take the baby away from me. Especially if we never get out of this castle; he would not want me to be happy and having this baby would make me happy."

Marlena placed her head in her hand and sobbed. Roman placed a loving arm around Marlena and sighed.

"Marlena listen to me this is what we're going to do. We aren't going to tell Tony about this baby. We will keep it a secret as long as we possibly can."

"Roman I need prenatal care I'm high risk. If I don't have it I could loose this baby or my life John couldn't handle it."

Roman broke their embrace and pulled Marlena closer to him looked deeply in her eyes.

"Do you remember Hope? She didn't have any prenatal care for months and Zack is a perfect little boy. You can do the same with this baby."

"Hope was much younger then I am Roman, she didn't have as many complications as I had with my other pregnancies. What if those complications come back Roman; you aren't a doctor? Tony will find out and he will take the baby from me just like Stefano did with Rex and Cassie."

"Marlena lets just take one step at a time. Let's hope that Bo is out there looking for us."

"Let's just hope that someone rescues us before I start to show."

"They will Marlena they will find us."

Roman said one last time taking Marlena into his arms in another friendly embrace. He knew that there was a slim chance that they would find them before Marlena began to show.

"Marlena do you have any idea how far along you are?"

Marlena broke the embrace thinking of how pregnant she would be.

"Okay so if this is January that would mean the baby was conceived in…"

A few seconds passed and Marlena turned back to Roman.

"End of October early November I think…but Roman I can't be sure."

"That would make you what? Almost out of your first trimester…10 weeks or so."

"Give or take a few weeks…things were a little crazy before John came to the island and we got here."

"Then we have plenty of time Bo will get here before it's too late."

"I hope so especially because I'm not sure exactly how far along I am."

"Marlena you're having a baby"

"A baby…"

Marlena answered a little dreamy in the eyes. Finally, after all these years Belle will finally get her wish for a baby brother or sister.

TBC…Chapter 4