Marlena sat down at her desk taking in the news that Mike had just given her. She realized that she was completely torn about what was going to happen. She loved John with all of her heart and the thought of having another child was exciting, yet the thought of hurting Roman was devastating. She closed her eyes as memories of her discussion with John the other day clouded her head.
"That's just it Doc." John pleaded with her. "We do have a choice and if we work together to find a solution to the problem at hand anything is possible for us."
"John it's not that simple." she said turning away from him. "What will we say to Roman? How would we even begin to explain you being here?"
"That's not important right now Doc." John said moving closer to her. "What's important is the way I feel about you and the way you feel about me."
"John, we can't worry about our feelings right now. They can't hold any weight in what we have to do." she said closing her eyes as the tears quickly ran down her cheeks. "We have to think about Roman's well being."
She closed her eyes tightly as she tried to think of an easy answer to the problem she was facing. She could still hear Mike's words ringing through her mind.
"Marlena, you're pregnant." Mike's voice rang out. "You're going to have a baby."
"Oh God, what am I going to do?" she asked herself as she reopened her eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I don't see why I still bother coming to this hospital and donate money." Kristen thought to herself as she got off of the elevator. "No one in this town likes me anyway, so I shouldn't waste my time trying to help any of them."
Kristen made her way over to the nurse's station as she noticed Mike and Laura coming walking towards her.
"Great," Kristen thought to herself as she put her checkbook back into her purse and ran over to hide behind the wall by the nurses station, "all I need today is another sermon from St. Laura about how evil I am. I don't think that I could take another minute of her whining about me helping her to find Peter so that Jack and Jenn could be together."
"Mom, normally I wouldn't have asked you to check up on Marlena like this, but she was really upset." Mike explained to Laura as they stopped at the nurse's station.
"What's got her so upset right now Mike?" Laura asked concerned for her friend.
"I can't really tell you that mom, but I assure you that Marlena needs your friendship right now." Mike sighed remembering Marlena's mixed emotions when he gave her the news. "I just feel that if you went by to see her that it might cheer her up a little bit."
"Mike, Marlena is my friend and I'll do anything that I can do to cheer her up." Laura explained to him.
"Thanks mom. I knew that I could count on you." Mike said giving her a quick hug as his pager went off. "I have to go."
"See you later." Laura smiled as she turned to go to Marlena's office.
"Gee, I wonder what has Doc so bummed out." Kristen said smiling as she slithered out from behind the wall. "I wonder if maybe something happened that could be useful in me getting John back."
Kristen decided that she was going to make a trip over to Marlena's office. As she scanned the lobby, she realized that there wasn't anyone around since Marlena's secretary appeared to be on her lunch break. Kristen got closer to the door and noticed that the office door was slightly ajar.
"What are you up to Marlena?" Laura asked sitting down on the couch as she looked at her friend carefully.
"I'm just busy looking through some of my patient's files Laura." Marlena lied hoping that she wiped all traces of her tears away.
"What's wrong Marlena?" Laura asked noticing that her friend looked really distracted by something.
"Why would you say something was wrong Laura?" Marlena asked her.
"You look very worn out dear." Laura informed her.
"Well, I've been busy taking care of Roman..." Marlena began.
"No, there's something more." Laura insisted staring at her. "I can see it in your eyes."
"No really Laura. It's nothing." Marlena explained as tears began to escape from her eyes.
"Honey, what is it?" Laura asked rushing to give her a hug as she began to cry.
"Oh Laura, I've made a mess of everything." Marlena cried to her.
"No you haven't Marlena." Laura said trying to calm her down. "Why don't you try explaining to me what's wrong?"
"Laura, Roman is going to hate me." Marlena said looking at her. "I've tried really hard not to hurt him, but my love for John is going to destroy him once again."
"Marlena, there is nothing wrong with you loving John." Laura insisted looking at her. "As soon as Roman is back on his feet again, then you and John can tell him the truth about your love. I know that he's going to understand."
"That's just it Laura." Marlena explained looking at her. "I don't know if I can wait until he's back on his feet again."
"Sure you can dear. I know that the stress has been getting to both you and John, but I know that you two can hold off for just a little while longer until Roman's stronger." Laura informed her. "I know that you'll do what's right."
"That's just it Laura." Marlena explained to her. "I don't know if I can wait until Roman's healthy anymore. I don't think that I can wait long enough to do what's right."
"Sure you can." Laura insisted. "You're a strong woman."
"You don't understand Laura." Marlena began.
"I have faith in you Marlena." Laura interrupted her. "I know that you wouldn't do anything to jeopardize Roman's health."
"Laura, I'm pregnant." Marlena explained crying harder.
