Chapter 11

Meanwhile down at the European Police Station Roman managed to bring Tony in without much of a struggle. Though there were times Roman almost lost the man. Kate prevented him from going very far helping Roman bind Tony tighter. Now inside the station, Kate and Roman looked on as Tony was finger printed and booked. He wore a twisted smile as the beat cop booked him and dragged him inside a cell on the other side of the door. Though Roman saw Tony placed in a private cell he had his mind on more pressing matters as Marlena was at the hospital and her baby could be fighting for its life. The ringing of Kate's cell phone pulled Roman's attention from Tony to Kate. She quickly answered the phone knowing very well John was on the other side of it.

"Hello?"

"Kate its John I got Marlena to the hospital but she isn't doing very well. The doctor thinks that she might not make it. I know how much Roman loves you but he also loved Doc a long time ago. She wants both of you here as soon as you get Tony behind bars."

"Oh no John is Marlena dying?"

Roman turned quickly to Kate as he heard Marlena's name come from Kate's mouth.

"Tony is booked and already in his cell we will be there as soon as possible."

"Thanks Kate"

John replied as he hung up the pay phone he was using. He quickly went back into Marlena's cubicle. She had her eyes closed as the monitors beeped in a steady rhythm above her. John placed his hand on hers she opened her eyes with his touch.

"John did you get Kate on the phone?"

"Yeah honey, she and Roman waited and watched as Tony was booked for 9 counts of kidnapping and first degree murder of his father. If all goes well he'll be behind bars for a long time; enough about him how are you feeling?"

"I'm tired I haven't slept much in the last few months. But the pain went away I was so scared for the baby John. I prayed every day that you were on your way. I don't know what I would have done if Roman wasn't there with me."

John pulled a few strands of hair away from her eyes and looked lovingly into them. He couldn't even imagine his life without her. But there was a lingering question on his mind and he had to know what happened between her and Roman.

"Marlena were you really close to Roman while I was away?"

"We got very close and we supported each other. Oh John he saved my life and the baby's life from Tony."

"Is Roman the father of the baby?"

Marlena didn't know if she should be angry with him for suggesting such a thing or hurt by his assumption.

"What?"

"Is Roman the father of the baby?"

John asked again this time with more urgency. Again leaving Marlena angry and hurt by h is suggestion.

Meanwhile on the way to the hospital Kate herself had her own questions for Roman. Just how close had Roman gotten to Marlena. After all they were locked up together for months together. She knew Roman love her but she also knew that Roman still had Marlena in his heart.

"Roman how close did you get to Marlena?"

"Well we depended on each other for the most part. We weren't sure that we would ever get home to our families. There were times though that seemed more difficult then others. Once Tony began showing live feeds of our families moving on with their lives that's when we only wanted each other. But we resisted the urge to break our wedding vows and regained our control."

"You mean that you didn't…"

"Make love?"

"Yeah did you?"

"No but Kate there were so many times that we almost did. That's exactly what Tony wanted and we were not going to let him get what he wanted."

Kate let out a long sigh those words made her feel that even though Roman loved Marlena still he still loved her deeply.

"Roman you don't know how happy I'm to hear that. Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure"

"When I first saw Marlena in your arms come out of that door I was so jealous. Then I saw what condition she was in and worried about you. Marlena looked so terrible what happened to her?"

Roman kept his eyes on the road trying to find the right word s to tell Kate that Marlena was pregnant. After a few awkward moments Roman briefly turned to Kate and answered her question.

"When we got to the island all Marlena could think about was if John was safe. She knew he had a spinal injury and she was afraid he had drowned."

"But he didn't he recovered from his injuries in a few short months and came running after Marlena."

"Marlena didn't now that and every day she worried about him. A few weeks later she became sick. At first I thought that Tony was poisoning her food. When the illness continued Tony's doctor examined her he told her she had the flu. That worked once I got sick but when I was well again she was still getting sick. That's when I suggested something to her she didn't take my assumption as well as I had liked and even denied it for a while."

"What was it Roman?"

"Marlena's pregnant again."

Kate didn't know if she should be happy for her of scared for her. Roman turned to Kate waiting for her response all that was left was a blank star e.

"I can't believe you just asked me that John. What made you ask me that?"

"You and I haven't been together for months. You were locked in the same room with Roman, shared the same bed what do you expect me to think?"

"John you don't understand. Roman and I did get close but we never made love."

John felt relieved for a moment but then another troubling question crossed his mind.

"If Roman isn't the father then who is it?"

"John the baby's yours."

John was shocked when Marlena answered him. But soon a smile appeared on his face and his heart filled with joy.

"It was that one night wasn't it the night before we got off that island."

Marlena nodded and cried softly as they bonded over the baby for the first time together. John knew that once they were off the island there life would change forever. He never anticipated that it was going to be a baby.

"Oh Doc after all this time we're going to have another baby?"

"I couldn't believe it John when I found out. I even denied it when Roman suggested it to me. When I found out about Belle I was surprised. I thought I couldn't have any more children but then this happened. It was like fate stepped in and made our love stronger. The baby is what kept me alive while I was there. I was so sick with this baby John I was afraid that Tony would find out and I prayed every day that he wouldn't find out."

"You mean Tony didn't know?"

"No, he never knew Roman made excuses for me when I was so sick with morning sickness that I could barely get out of bed. He never knew John, he never knew."

"Does anyone else know…about the baby?"

"Only Roman I though Kate would find out when I was having cramping. Sometimes the pain was so intense that I fell to my knees. I blamed it on my ankle but when the cramps got worse I almost told her then you and Roman came up to us and I didn't have to tell her."

"I knew something was wrong when I picked you up in my arms. I didn't get to ask you before you passed out. That's when I raced you to the hospital and that was why you didn't want any medication for the pain."

Marlena nodded and smiled at John. In return John kissed her once again more passionately. They parted with the sound of Kate's voice came from outside the cubicle.

"Isn't that what got you into this situation in the first place Marlena?"

Kate said laughing Marlena and John couldn't help but laugh along with her. Soon Roman came from outside the cubicle.

"I suppose but what better way to start a new life then with a new baby?"

"I see Marlena told you about the baby John."

John nodded and smiled at the couple.

"I spoke to the doctor before I came in here. They want to keep Marlena here for a few days. I told them you probably would be more comfortable at home in Salem but they told me that you are still in danger and want to keep you here until you regain your strength."

"I would do anything to keep this baby safe you know that if the doctor's want me to stay here a few nights it couldn't be any worse then being with Tony could it?"

A few minutes later the doctor comes into Marlena's room.

"We'll be taking Mrs. Black up to her room now. We'll be up there in a few minutes; I have to examine her once more before we transfer her she'll be in room 342 if you want to wait for her there."

John nods and he, Roman, and Kate exit the cubicle and head up the elevator as the doctor turns to Marlena.

"Is something wrong doctor?"

"Are you still having cramping?"

"Not for a while I think it was just stress. Why is something wrong with the baby?"

"The baby's heart rate is normal but if the pain continues we might have to do more aggressive treatment. Now I don't want to alarm you but that isn't a good sign. When we get you to your room we'll do a sonogram to see how far along you are and determine whether we need to medicate you."

"I don't want to hurt the baby are you sure that it's needed?"

"If the pain continues you could have a miscarriage."

"No I can't lose this baby it's my last one. I've waited a long time for this baby and I won't let you do anything to it I would rather die."

With that the doctor nods tells the nurses to take her to her room. Marlena feared for the life of her child but she wasn't going to give up on it. It had been wanted to long and she wasn't going to give up without a fight.

TBC…Chapter 12