Marlena woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs. She jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs with excitement to the kitchen as she thought of John cooking. She opened the kitchen door and saw Roman wearing an apron as he stood in front of the stove.
"Good morning Doc." Roman smiled placing the food onto the table. "I hope that you're hungry."
"Roman it smells really good." Marlena smiled as he held out a chair for her. "I didn't think that you would be cooking this morning."
"I'm a changed man Doc." Roman replied walking over to the refrigerator. "I've decided that making you happy is my number one priority."
"Where are the kids?" Marlena asked surprised that they weren't running down to eat.
"Carrie and Mike took them to the zoo." Roman explained to her.
"In the middle of winter?" Marlena asked confused.
"There is some indoor exhibit going on that Carrie thought they would enjoy." Roman explained reaching for her hand across the table. "Besides, this will give us some time alone for a while."
"You know Roman," Marlena began looking into his eyes, "I think that we should talk."
"Before you say another word, I've got something for you." Roman began getting up and walking over to the refrigerator again. "You're going to love this."
"What is it?" Marlena asked trying to peek at what he was holding.
"Surprise." he said bringing a bowl of whipped cream and strawberries over to the table.
"Oh," she said in shock.
"What do you say Doc?" he asked dipping a strawberry into the whipped cream and raising it to her face. "Why don't we recreate the old days?"
"You know Roman," she began as her stomach began to tighten up, "I'm not really in the mood for those."
"Come on Doc. I know that you love this." he urged moving the strawberry to her lips.
"I don't want it Roman." she insisted pushing it away.
"Just take a bite Doc." he insisted pushing it towards her again.
"I don't want it." she said moving his hand away from her.
"Fine." he said putting the strawberry back into the bowl.
"I'm just not very hungry." she explained suddenly feeling sick. "I'm sorry."
"Don't eat it then." he said throwing the bowl across the room. "See if I care."
"Roman?" Marlena asked frightened by his actions. "What's wrong?"
"I tried to make you a nice breakfast, but once again there you go not wanting to try to cooperate." he explained.
"Roman, I might've had some strawberries later. You didn't have to throw them." she said hoping that he wouldn't have another outburst like he had on Christmas eve.
"I'm sorry Doc." he said looking at the mess he made. "I'll clean this up."
"I'll be back." she said realizing that she was overwhelmed with tension.
"You know Abe," John said hitting the punching bag as the two of them worked out, "this is driving me crazy."
"I know man, but there's nothing that you can do at the moment." Abe reminded him.
"I just don't get it Abe." John explained taking another punch. "Roman was fine the other day, and now he's sick again."
"Well, maybe the cure didn't work as well as we had hoped for John." Abe suggested to him.
"Abe," John began looking at his friend, "I'm sure that Roman was fine the other day."
"How can you be so sure John?" Abe asked him.
"He hit Doc." John said growing angry. "He left a nasty mark on her face and I'm afraid that he's going to do it again."
"Why did he do that?" Abe asked him.
"Marlena said that it was due to some drug interaction, but I don't believe it Abe. I don't think that Roman is the man that he used to be." John explained to him. "I just hope that Doc doesn't get hurt again because I don't know what I would do."
"Marlena, are you okay?" Roman asked knocking on the bathroom door.
"I'm fine." she said opening the door. "I was just feeling sick to my stomach."
"Look, I'm really sorry about what happened back in the kitchen Doc." He began to apologize. "I should've thrown those strawberries across the room."
"It's okay Roman." she said weakly as she began to feel fatigued.
"Look Doc, what do you say we spend the day getting to know each other again?" he suggested squeezing her shoulders. "We have a lot of catching up to do if you know what I mean."
"Roman, I have to work today." she explained to him as he pulled her towards him.
"Why don't you call in sick Doc?" he asked kissing her ear. "I need you to stay with me."
"I can't Roman." she insisted turning to face him.
"Then let me give you something to remember all day." he said pulling her to him for a passionate embrace.
