Eternally Yours--Chapter 15--Christmas and Eric
"Merry Christmas." Eric shouted walking into the penthouse and finding John and Marlena kissing underneath the mistletoe. "What's going on in here?"
"Eric," Marlena gasped pulling back from her kiss with John, "what are you doing here?"
"It's Christmas mom." Eric reminded her glaring at John. "What is he doing here? And where is Dad?"
"You're father's not here right now Eric." Marlena informed him.
"Where is he?" Eric demanded angry that his mother had no regard for his father on Christmas day.
"He's staying with your grandparents for a while." Marlena informed him noticing that he was upset.
"Why mom?" Eric asked angrily. "Did you and John tell him the truth on Christmas Eve? How could you be so heartless?"
"It's not like that Eric." John began explaining.
"I don't even want to hear it John." Eric yelled at him.
"Eric, don't talk to him like that." Marlena snapped at him.
"Mom, would you give it a rest?" Eric asked sarcastically.
"Eric!!" Belle shouted walking over to her half brother. "Merry Christmas."
"Hi Belle." Eric said softening his tone as he realized that the children were in the room. "Merry Christmas to you too."
"Eric," Brady said following Belle with a package in his hands, "Santa left presents for you under the tree too."
"Please come and open presents with us Eric." Belle pleaded flashing him a brilliant smile. "I'd really love to have both my brothers here with me on Christmas."
"Oh alright," he said giving in to Belle as he glanced back at John and Marlena. "but only for a little while."
John and Marlena watched as Eric settled in by the tree with the two children. They watched his anger slowly slipping away as he played with Belle and Brady. Before long Eric had a smile on his face.
"I can't believe this." Marlena whispered taking in the sight of the children happily opening gifts with Eric. "I didn't think that he would ever be here like this."
"It's Christmas Doc." John reminded her. "This is the time of year that people soften their hearts and put their differences aside. Besides, when Belle flashed Eric that smile, I knew he was a goner."
"She does have that effect on people." Marlena agreed watching Eric putting a bow in Belle's hair.
"She gets it from her mother." John whispered in her ear as he lead her over to the tree with the children.
"Here John," Eric said handing John a package, "this one's for you."
"What a Christmas." Kristen muttered walking along Salem Place. "I could've spent it with John, but instead I'm here walking around by myself. It isn't fair."
Kristen walked through the deserted area and thought about last year when she and John were together on Christmas as a family. She could feel herself on the verge of tears when she noticed someone standing by the pier alone. She moved closer and noticed that it looked like Roman.
"Roman?" she asked walking closer to the man.
"Kristen." he said turning around and facing her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked noticing that he looked very tired and worn out. "Shouldn't you be home celebrating Christmas with your family?"
"That's where I should be," he began looking out into the water, "but here I am alone."
"I know the feeling." Kristen agreed standing beside him. "Why aren't you at home?"
"Doc and I had a fight last night Kristen." he explained looking at her. "We had a misunderstanding and things kind of got out of hand."
"You're kidding?" she asked astonished as she started fearing that he knew the truth about John and Marlena.
"No. Everything was going great, and then I just kind of jumped all over her about stupid things." Roman explained thinking back to the evening before. "I acted like a jerk and she wanted me to leave."
"What was the fight about?" she asked worried. "Did Marlena say something to upset you?"
"Nothing really." he shrugged staring off into the morning. "We are just going through some difficult times right now. It's kind of like what we were talking about last night between you and John. I want to reach out to Doc, but she's so reluctant to let me love her."
"I'm sorry to hear that Roman." Kristen said sympathetically. "I know what it's like to love someone with all of your heart and have them hold back with you."
"I almost forgot." he said turning to her. "How did it go with you and John last night? Did our plan work?"
"I wish." she accidently slipped out.
"What happened?" he asked concerned. "Did you two have another argument? Is that why you're here walking the pier alone?"
"Actually Roman." Kristen hesitated before she spoke.
"What?"
"I think that John is having an affair." Kristen informed him closing her eyes.
"An affair? With who?" Roman asked feeling Kristen's pain as he remembered when Marlena had her affair with John.
"Yes," Kristen said deciding the lay it on thick, "I've suspected it for a while, but I haven't found any proof."
"You're kidding." Roman gasped in shock. "I thought that you two had a really loving marriage."
"Well, I thought so too, but this woman has been pursuing him like crazy." she explained to him. "At first he started getting phone calls in the middle of the night, and then he started getting mail that he hid from me."
"That's awful." Roman said giving her a hug. "I know how hard it is when your spouse is having an affair Kristen."
"Roman," she said adding tears, "the worst part is that he doesn't want to touch me anymore. I just know that it's because of the other woman."
"Kristen, look at me." he said wiping her tears away. "Do you still love John?"
"With all of my heart." she said sobbing.
"Well, then I'm going to give you a little advice. Don't walk away from him. I walked away from Doc because I was hurt when she had her affair and that was one of the biggest mistakes of my entire life." he explained to her. "I should've stayed and fought for her instead of walking away."
"It's just so hard Roman." she continued crying amazed with her own acting ability.
"I know Kristen." He said giving her a sympathetic hug. "I went through hell when Doc and I were apart, but now God has given me a second chance with her and I intend to see it through."
"I hope that you and Marlena will be together too Roman." Kristen informed him. "You two had such a wonderful marriage before it fell apart."
"Yes we did." Roman agreed thinking it over. "Kristen, from this moment on you and I are going to work together to make our love work out. We are going to see to it that you and John have that loving marriage that you once had and I am going to see to it that Doc will be mine once more."
"You're on Roman." Kristen said excitedly hugging him. "We should go to them now."
"I bet John's at the penthouse." Roman said thinking about Belle and Brady. "He's probably watching the kids open their gifts."
"What are we waiting for then?" Kristen asked smiling. "Let's go find them."
"When we get there, I'm going to see to it that Doc and I are together once aga..." he said falling to the ground.
"Oh God Roman." Kristen said kneeling down beside him as she felt his pulse. "This can't be happening. I need you to help me get John back."
_
"John," Eric began pulling him aside in the kitchen, "can we talk?"
"Sure," John smiled handing the tray of Christmas cookies to Belle, "Belle honey can you take these out to your mother and Brady?"
"Sure daddy." she smiled carrying the tray into the living room.
"What's up Eric?" John asked looking at him.
"Look John, I appreciate the gift you gave me." Eric said taking in a deep breath. "I realize that you've done a lot for me growing up, I really do. I don't hate you. I think that you are a wonderful person and a great father to Belle and Brady, but my feelings still don't change about wanting my parents to get back together."
"I understand that Eric." John said realizing that this was a big step for Eric. "It's only natural for you to want your parents to be happy together."
"Look, I don't know what's going to happen with everything, but my father's happiness means a lot to me." Eric explained to him.
"I realize that Eric and neither your mother nor I want to hurt your father." John informed him. "I hold a deep respect for the man considering that thought that I was him for a while. I loved you and Sami like you were my own kids."
"I know that John." Eric said closing his eyes as he felt like he was betraying his father. "I will always think of you like a father John, but I want my parents to find happiness together again. They were robbed of it for so long and I really think that they have a chance again."
"Eric, I realize that you and I will never see eye to eye on this subject, but this is Christmas." John said trying not to get upset. "We all should be celebrating together and be trying to forget about our differences at least for today."
"I know that John." Eric said looking at him again. "I guess that what I'm trying to say is that I don't mean to hurt you."
"I understand that Eric." John insisted giving him a hug. "No matter what happens with all of this, I just want you to know that you will always be like a son to me and I will always be here if you need anything."
"Thanks John." Eric said letting go of his anger for a few minutes and hugging him back.
"I don't believe this." Marlena smiled walking into the kitchen and finding them hugging. "What is this?"
"Merry Christmas mom." Eric said turning around to hug her tightly. "I love you."
"Merry Christmas sweetheart. I love you too Eric." she said glancing at John.
"I'm going to go check on Belle and Brady." Eric informed her walking out of the kitchen.
"What was that about?" she asked John.
"That was a very big first step Doc." John informed her as a smiled spread across her lips. "We still have a long way to go, but it's a start."
"Oh John, this Christmas is getting better by the moment." she gasped excitedly as she hugged him tightly. "I love you."
"I love you too." he said hugging her as the phone rang.
"I wonder who that could be." she said walking towards the phone.
"Maybe more Christmas cheer." John suggested as she picked up the phone.
"Hello," she said answering the phone as John watched the color drain from her face.
"Doc, what is it?" he asked as she hung up the phone.
"Roman had a relapse this morning." she said as her chest tightened. "He's in the hospital."
To Chapter 16
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