"Roman, you don't want to do this." Stephano said watching the rage in
Roman's face. "I can help you find the solutions to all of your problems."
"Why should I even listen to you Dimera?" Roman asked still holding his fist in the
air. "You are the one responsible for bringing John Black into our lives."
"Think about it Roman. John is the enemy here, not me." Stephano replied calmly
looking into Roman's cold eyes.
"You're the evil one Dimera!" Roman yelled at him.
"I'm not the
one that had the affair with Marlena and I'm not the one trying to steal her away from you
again." Stephano explained reaching for his brandy off of the table next to him. "I'm over
my obsession with Marlena because I know that I could never win her heart, but you're
another story Roman. She loves you and everyone in this town knows that including John
Black."
"That's a lie!" Roman yelled grabbing his aching head as he stumbled backward.
"Don't you understand I lost Doc because of your and Kristen's evil manipulations and
there is nothing that I can do to get her back?"
"Ahh Roman...." Stephano grinned taking a sip of his drink. "that's where you're
wrong."
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
"How's she doing?" Eric asked John as he tiptoed into Marlena's hospital
room.
"She's resting." John said turning to face Eric. "What are you doing out of
bed?"
"I couldn't sleep in that hospital bed." Eric explained to him quietly. "I just had too
much on my mind."
"I know what you mean." John replied looking at the bump on Eric's head. "You
really should be resting though."
"She looks awful John." Eric said ignoring John's comment as he walked towards
the hospital bed and taking a closer look at his mother.
"She'll be alright son. It looks worse than it is." John said putting his hand on
Eric's shoulder. "Mike said that she could be up on her feet again really soon."
"He could've killed her tonight..." Eric whispered trailing off as his eyes filled up
with tears.
"...but he didn't Eric because you saved her life. I'm so thankful for you Eric
because you were there when I couldn't be." John softly reminded him. "If you wouldn't
have shown up when you did, then both Doc and the baby probably wouldn't be alive right
now."
"So, she's really...pregnant?" Eric asked looking at John.
"That's a fact son." John smiled weakly at Eric. "You're going to have another
brother or sister."
"I can't believe that." Eric said turning to his mother again.
"I had no idea."
"Eric, you're a hero tonight." John explained looking at Marlena. "Not only did
you save the love of my life, but you saved my child as well."
"John, I'm so sorry for everything that happened." Eric replied sadly. "I wish that I
would've known about Roman sooner, then I never would've tried so hard to keep you
and mom apart."
"That's the past Eric." John explained smiling at him. "I thought we already talked
about this."
"We did, but I still feel like I have so much more apologizing to do." Eric insisted
to him. "I treated you so bad when all you've ever done has been to help me. I was so
wrong dad and I don't blame you if you didn't think too highly of me right now."
"Eric, ever since you've been a little boy, we've had disagreements about things:
whether it be about you doing your homework or your curfew, but one thing will always
remain. I will always love you Eric." John said giving him a hug. "Nothing is ever going
to change that."
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
"What are you talking about?" Roman asked wearily as Stephano inched toward
him. "Back off!!!"
"Listen to me Roman." Stephano began moving closer to him.
"Stephano, I don't think that now is the time for you to reason with..." Kristen
spoke up from the other side of the room.
"Silence!" Stephano ordered raising his hand for her to remain silent. "Kristen,
why don't you put some more tea on for Roman while he and I have a talk?"
"I'll get Aliana to put some on for all of us." Kristen replied as Stephano glared at
her. "On second thought, I'll get it started right now."
"Good thinking Kristen." Stephano replied watching her walk out of the room.
"Now Roman, where were we?"
"You were just telling me how I wrong I was in thinking that Doc and I could
never be together." Roman said as he began carelessly fumbling over to the couch and
grabbing his head.
"You look awful." Stephano said looking him over. "What happened to
you?"
"Why this is the handy work of John Black." Roman spat at him. "This happened
because I couldn't handle myself when I found out the truth about Doc and John. She's
pregnant with his child Dimera!"
"Roman, Roman, Roman...aah..." Stephano sighed shaking his head slightly. "The
Roman Brady I knew would never have given up on Marlena like this. You were always
such an inspirational adversary."
"Spare me Dimera!" Roman replied sarcastically looking at him.
"I admired the fight you had and now you're being reduced to this because of a
temporary roadblock on the path to happiness. I can help you regain that happiness again
Roman." Stephano continued watching Roman's expression. "The Roman Brady I knew
would've fought to the death for his precious Doc if he had to."
"I don't think that you heard me before Dimera." Roman insisted standing up and
looking at him. "Doc is pregnant with John's child."
"You still loved her when she had his child before. Right?" Stephano asked hoping
to hit a weak spot in Roman.
"I don't know what you're getting at Dimera,
but I'm leaving." Roman insisted turning towards the door.
"You still regret walking out on her, don't you Roman?" Stephano called out to
him. "If you walk out on her again, then you'll never know what could've happened, will
you?"
"You have no idea what I'm feeling!!!" Roman shouted facing him. "You have no
clue about the pain that I feel at this moment."
"Well, I remember how pitiful you were in that ISA hospital waiting to die. All
you could think about was the lost love that you shared with Marlena and now you're
willing to walk away from that." Stephano responded to him calmly. "What I'm offering
you Roman, is a chance to get back everything that you lost. All you have to do is hear
me out. What do you say?"
