Chapter 12

A short time later the nurse brought Marlena to her room. Roman, John and Kate were waiting for her. With the help of John Marlena got out of her wheel chair and climbed into and very large bed. She glanced at John and smiled he returned her smile soon after.

"The doctor will be up to speak with you after rounds."

"Thanks Kelly."

John answered pulling the covers up Marlena. Kelly nods and exits Marlena's room with the wheelchair. Kate and Roman smile and take seats next to Marlena's bed while John joined Marlena in bed.

"So how are you truly feeling?"

Roman asked as John turned to them.

"I'm just happy I'm out of Tony's castle. I want to thank you Roman for being there for me and protecting us from Tony."

"I would do it all over again if that happened again."

"You must be so excited about the baby John. I know the island doesn't have all pleasant memories but I know that this baby is the greatest gift you could ever hope for."

"I'm having a hard time adjusting to the news. I can't believe after all this time I'm going to be a father again. We are going to need to get everything all over again."

"Don't worry John I'm planning on giving Marlena the biggest baby shower anyone has ever seen. She'll have everything she needs by the time the baby comes. I'm even going to break the rules and invite the father to it after all he had a big part in it."

Marlena and John laugh lightly joined shortly by Roman and Kate. Marlena struggles to fight a yawn as Kate looks on.

"We'd better go Roman Marlena had a very big day and I'm about to fall over myself. We'll come by and see you tomorrow if you don't mind?"

"Sure we love having visitors. Roman could you call the kids and let them know I'm okay and tell Belle I'll be home soon I'm sure she's worried sick about me and her father."

"You know I will. Try and get some rest."

John climbs out of bed gives Roman a strong handshake and Kate a hug.

"I'll walk you both out."

All head out the door

"Wait Kate, can I talk to you for a minute please."

Kate nods and walks back to Marlena who gestures the seat next to her bed. Roman and John continue out the door as Marlena becomes comfortable in her bed.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the baby but I was afraid that Tony's men would tell him and he would try and take the baby away, the way his father did with your twins."

"No Marlena you don't need to apologize I understand your concerns. I know what Tony is capable of better then anyone."

Marlena places her hand on Kate as the two share a moment. Kate knows what Tony is capable of but Marlena knew what Stefano was capable of. Though Tony claimed that his father was dead Marlena knew that he never dies. He's proved that on more the one occasion.

Meanwhile John and Roman are in the hospital lobby discussing Marlena.

"Roman I don't know how I could ever repay you for taking care of Marlena while we were separated. I know how much it hurt you to find out about the baby."

"John if our positions were reversed you would have done the same for Kate. I know that you are a great friend to her. The friendship she has with Marlena means everything to her they go back a long way. I was just glad someone was there for her while I was away in the same way I was there for Marlena while you were away. I would do it all over again if I had to."

"I know that Roman you are a great friend to both of us. I just can't believe that you knew she was pregnant before she did."

"I was there when Marlena was pregnant before, first with the twins then Belle."

Roman notices John shift uncomfortably in his shoes.

"I'm sorry John I didn't mean to bring up those memories."

"No Roman it's alright it wasn't your fault. We all believed that you were Belle's father and as much as I wanted her to be mine I couldn't destroy your family."

"You're an honest man and if I couldn't be there for Belle I knew that you would always be there for her. I didn't have much time with the twins while they were infants they mean everything to me. I just knew I had to do whatever I could to keep Marlena's secret."

The men share a hug both thankful that Marlena and her baby were okay.

Back in Marlena's room Kate and Marlena are catching up on old times and memories.

"Marlena I never got to thank you for giving me the twins. I always wanted to be a mother again I just didn't think I deserved to be a mom again considering my past. I already had 4 beautiful children that I am extremely thankful for. The day Roman asked me to marry him, even with my past, was the best day of my life. Though we discussed having children together I knew that I couldn't give him what I knew, in my heart, he wanted. He's a good father Marlena I couldn't ask for a better step-father for my children."

"I don't remember much about the time I was held prisoner on Stefano's island the years everyone thought I was dead, but I do remember how much the twins meant to me. When Stefano took them away I was devastated, I didn't know then they weren't mine. I just remember how much pain and despair I was feeling when they went away. Then Stefano erased my memory of ever having them. I didn't know that I would come face-to-face with them years later. I don't know if I would have ever remembered them. I wasn't supposed to ever remember them."

"I know how you feel when Curtis took Austin and Billie away from me and told me they were dead I felt the same way. I missed so much of their life when they were young then I had Lucas. I made a promise that day that I would give Lucas the best in life no matter what I had to do. I didn't want to miss anything it made me do a lot of things I regret. But having Lucas was the best therapy I could ever ask for. He had everything he ever wanted I just wish I could have given him all that without doing what I had done. It haunts me everyday but then I look at him and everything I did for him seemed so trivial."

"It's amazing what children can do to your life isn't it? Just when you think the world seemed so cruel something like this happens and it puts life back into perspective. You stop being selfish and everything you do is for your child."

"I remember that part, of being a mother I mean. When I was pregnant with Billie and Austin, Curtis used me as a punching bag all I had to do was think of them. How I wasn't going to expose them to that kind of life. I would have left him sooner but I didn't have any money and I did love Curtis. He wasn't always like that you have to understand that, all I had to do was look into those eyes and my heart melted. Then when he started using I didn't know him anymore. One day after he passed out Austin came up to me and said "Don't worry mommy, I won't 'never' hurt you." He was so young but he knew so much. I never saw them again after that. My only regret is that I didn't stand up for myself and walk out on Curtis before he took them away. Lucas and Phillip were the only constants in my life until I met Victor and Roman."

"I missed a lot of Sami and Eric's childhood because of Stefano so when you tell me how you were feeling I understand. I know what if feels like to loose a child better then anyone. I know the pain and anguish mother's feel after they loose a child I've been there. But no matter how painful some of those memories are being a mother is the best medicine any woman can have. Nothing can compare to bringing a new life into the world. Then once you hold that sweet angel in your arms you forget everything you had to go through to create this new life, even the morning sickness. Oh look at me I'm getting all emotional it must be the pregnancy."

Marlena wipes the tears from her eyes as Kate laughs lightly at her comment about morning sickness.

"Oh I remember the morning sickness. I don't know why they call it that I was sick day and night with my three pregnancies. They tell you that it's over once you get out of your first trimester but that's a lie I was sick for eight months with them. "

Marlena laughs lightly remembering her experiences with morning sickness.

"Well with Sami and Eric I was only sick for the first trimester day and night. Then as my pregnancy progressed only certain things bothered my stomach, like coffee. Then when I was pregnant with Belle I kept passing it off as the flu. Even after I took a home pregnancy test and it came back positive I was in denial. I mean Roman and I stopped using birth control after they were born. We wanted more children, but it never happened, then one day everything changed."

"The day John came to Salem."

"Mhmm the first day I met him I felt something familiar about him. I didn't think anything of it a little while later we learned he was Roman. That's when I remembered those familiar feelings I had the first day we met was because he was my husband. We remarried and it wasn't long after that Orpheus took me away and then Stefano."

"That's when you had Cassie and Rex. Do you have any memories of them?"

"I only remember bits and pieces of that pregnancy. I remembered a sterile room and Stefano kept telling me "I needed to help him keep the DiMera Legacy Alive" I remember the day I gave birth to the twins and how much pain I was in. I wanted to give up but I had to give "my" babies a chance. A few months later Stefano took them from me and I was feeling so alone. I watched as they took the babies away on a boat to another island. I never saw them again until they came to Salem. The first time I saw them I felt a bond. I didn't know the reason I felt that bond was because I gave birth to them. When we learned Tony and Cassie shared the same rare blood-type my worse fears came true. John and I went to the DiMera Compound to find the answers to our questions only to be plagued by more unanswered questions. The next time we returned to the island was when I remembered giving birth to them and we also learned that Tony was their father. I was devastated but I wanted to be the best mother I could be to them regardless of their father. It wasn't long after we found out that you and Roman were their parents and I was just their surrogate mother."

"You are a fine mother Marlena don't let anyone tell you differently. Now with this new baby you can start all over again and make up for the time you loss with your other children."

"I just didn't expect I would get pregnant after all this time. John and I decided to have another baby when Belle was three. Then as the years went by and nothing happened I just thought Belle was my last child. But not John he had faith he believed that one day it would happen and now look at me. He was right we have another baby on the way and with the exception of the morning sickness, I couldn't be happier."

"No one deserves to be a mother more then you do Marlena."

"That means a lot to me. Thanks for talking to me I miss our little talks we should do this more often."

"I miss them too but before I go I want to you to know something."

"What?"

"No one could be more beautiful then you when you're expecting a new baby. I'll see you tomorrow."

Marlena is touched by Kate's thoughtfulness and the two exchange hugs.

TBC…Chapter 13