Chapter 22

The next morning John is awakened by the sound of Marlena vomiting in their bathroom. She tried to hide it by turning the water on to cover the sound. John loved the idea that she was pregnant. After all they were going to be parents again but he felt terrible that Marlena was sick so much with the pregnancy. He counted as the weeks went by. John got up from their bed and gently knocked on the bathroom door. There was a brief silence before John heard a response.

"I'm okay John its just part of the pregnancy I will be out as soon as I can."

"Are you sure Doc? I thought that this morning sickness would be a lot less then it is. Maybe we should call Doctor Bader to adjust your medication?"

"No John really it's perfectly normal. Besides we can't call Dr. Bader every time something bothers me. If we do she would never get any work done."

John laughs lightly as he hears the toilet flush behind the running faucet.

"I'll meet you downstairs."

Meanwhile inside the bathroom Marlena nods and rinses her mouth out with water. She makes herself presentable takes her medication with one sip from the faucet and heads out of the bathroom. A brief instant of dizziness stops Marlena in her tracks. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly. Soon the wave passes and she heads down the stairs. John is downstairs in the kitchen making his breakfast when Marlena reaches the bottom of the stairs. The smell of eggs turns Marlena's stomach as she cringes to the scent. Regaining her composure she reaches the kitchen.

"Hey honey? How are you doing?"

"I have felt better. How are you today?"

"Oh I'm fine. I have to go over some new designs with Belle and Kate today at Basic Black but that shouldn't take more then a few hours. Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"John I'll be just fine besides I have a few appointments today."

John glances briefly up from his plate noticing his wife struggle from getting sick in the kitchen. As expected he drops what he is doing and takes Marlena into his arms.

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry I forgot that eggs make you sick. I'll just quickly get these off the stove and have something simple like toast."

"No John its okay besides you needs to eat more then toast for breakfast. You have a full day ahead of you at work. I'll just leave a little early for work that's all."

John and Marlena release their embrace as John turns off the stove. Marlena still looks a little pale as the burner is turned off. John naturally takes the pan off the stove and heads out of the kitchen opening the windows to get rid of some of the smell.

"You need to eat something too Doc. I don't care how sick you feel but you need to keep your strength up, not to mention you are expecting twins. I don't think Dr. Bader will approve of you not eating any breakfast."

"Oh John please don't mention food. I need to appear well when I get to work. I wouldn't be very good if my patients knew I was sick. Even if they knew it was because I was pregnant."

"Why don't you take some dry toast with you and have some juice. I freshly squeezed it today just like you like it."

"Oh John, I know you mean well but really if I eat anything now I won't be able to keep it down and that wouldn't be good for me or the twins. I promise I will get something at work."

"How do I know that you will get something at work?"

"Alice will be there today you can ask her. But really John I just don't think I can eat anything now."

"Doc are you sure that this morning sickness you are having is normal? Today is the worse you have been since you got home. I don't know if that is good for you or the twins."

"John really, what I'm feeling is perfectly natural especially for someone who is taking medication to sustain a pregnancy."

"I'm just so worried about you. Now I wasn't around when Belle was born but I do remember Izzy and she was only sick a few weeks then she was perfectly fine. You are a little over two months pregnant and by the time Izzy was there she wasn't sick anymore."

"Isabella wasn't pregnant at my age and she wasn't having twins. Trust me John what I am going through is normal. Hopefully in a few weeks the morning sickness will be gone and you will be begging me to stop eating."

"And what if it doesn't go away? Dr. Bader said with the medication and the dosage you are on you could be sick through out the entire pregnancy. I'm not ready for that and I'm not the one who gets morning sickness. Now I've known you for a very long time and I know you don't want that to happen."

"Of course I don't want it to happen but if it means a healthy, full term, pregnancy then I will take it one day at a time."

"One day at a time, you make it sound so simple. I don't know how you do it?"

"John I've had five pregnancies, one that I don't remember much about, but I do remember that in situations like this you just have to live one day at a time. Anything can happen in the next 8 months and right now the important thing is having two healthy babies and God willing, full term."

"Doc can I ask you a question about the Gemini Twins?"

"Gemini Twins you haven't mentioned them in a very long time? I'll do my best to answer you but as you know I don't really know much about that."

"Do you think that the reason it took us 18 years to get pregnant again was because of what Stefano did to you all those years ago?"

"Well John even before Cassie and Rex were born I had a hard time getting pregnant. I told you it took us a long time for me to get pregnant with Belle. After all that time I just figured that I couldn't get pregnant. Then I got pregnant with Belle, I thought she was my miracle baby. But now with the twins I'm carrying now I realized that they are my miracle babies. I remember a time when all I had to do was think about a baby and get pregnant. That's how it was with DJ. Don and I got married in March and I was pregnant by July. That was years ago John and now I'm older and well getting pregnant wasn't a walk in the park as you know."

"I remember, you told me you stopped using birth control after Sami and Eric were born. We even discussed having another baby together when we were married the first time when I thought I was Roman. When that never happened I just thought I was only meant to have Sami and Eric. Then I had Brady and then Belle and I thought life couldn't get any better. When we were married 18 years ago you and I again discussed having another baby. When that didn't happen I just thought that if I wished hard enough then it would happen. When the years went by and nothing happened I was just blessed that I had two beautiful children. When you told me you were pregnant this time I was in disbelief, and like you said it was a miracle. I want you to know that I want these twins so much I don't want anything to happen to them so if I seem a little over protected its because I love you so much and I love the twins."

"John I know you love the twins already and I also know that even with the problems you have with Sami and Eric I know you love them. It may take a little time for them to accept two new babies in the family, especially Sami but they will eventually accept it."

"You're right I love Sami, Eric and Carrie like my won children after all they were my kids for a very long time. Then when Roman came back and I learned that I wasn't Roman I couldn't just forget about them. I already loved them. I still love them today and I suppose I will always love them."

John and Marlena share a sweet kiss as they share them moment.

"I really have to get to work John and I promise you I will get something to eat once I feel a little better. You can be assured that Alice will make sure I eat something. It's just right now I just can't think of food without getting nauseous. I'll be home by 2:00 this after noon probably before you. If something changes please let me know."

"I will I do hope you feel better Marlena and I know this is annoying but if I could have this morning sickness instead of you I would. I love you that much. :

"I do know that and take it from someone who knows, this morning sickness isn't as bad as it seems it's just a part of my pregnancy. I promise if I don't get any better I will talk to Dr. Bader."

"Thanks, I love you Doc.'

Marlena nods and both exchange kisses before Marlena exits their home. John gets back to his breakfast once Marlena is gone. He couldn't believe that he was going to be a father again. He kept thinking that it was a dream and that any second his alarm would wake him up. But it was reality and Marlena was having his babies, his twins, something he's always wanted himself.

TBC…Chapter 23