Eternally Yours--Chapter 9 I'm not giving you up
"That was an incredible musical Roman." Kristen beamed latching onto John's arm as the four of them entered the Penthouse grill.
"I thought that you and Doc would like it." Roman explained putting his arm around Marlena. "Did you enjoy it Doc?"
"Sure," she said trying to relax. "It was a wonderful gesture on your part Roman."
"I sure hope that you're hungry Doc, because I got us the best table in this place." Roman said leading her, Kristen, and John over to a small table close to the dance floor. "I know how much you like to dance Doc. What do you say? May I have this dance?"
"I haven't danced in quite a while Roman. I really don't think that I'm up to dancing." she began to protest. "Besides, we just got here and we really haven't had time to talk with John and Kristen much this evening."
"Nonsense." Kristen insisted waving her hand at Marlena. "You two have fun. John and I are going to talk here for a while."
"See Doc, they don't mind at all if we kick our heels up for a little while." Roman insisted pulling her onto the dance floor.
"Alone at last." Kristen smiled as John watched Roman and Marlena dancing. "Oh John, would you just look at the two of them? They seem to be falling in love all over again."
"Shut up Kristen." John calmly replied keeping his eyes on Marlena.
"John, look I don't want you to get hurt by her." Kristen began taking his hand. "She left you for him once before, who's to say she won't do it to you again?"
"Let go of me Kristen." John insisted pulling back from her touch.
"I see that you're not up to small talk." Kristen said glancing back at the dance floor as Roman waved for them to start dancing. "It looks like Roman wants us to join them."
"I'm not in the mood to dance." John informed her as Roman tightened his grip around Marlena.
"Come on." Kristen said standing up and pulling him out of his chair. "You want Roman to believe that we're really married, don't you?"
John reluctantly moved onto the dance floor with Kristen. The lighting dimmed as the tunes of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's song "In Another's Eyes" played. John watched Marlena looking at him over Roman's shoulder. He couldn't help but be mesmerized by her stare. He could feel the urge to take her in his arms coming over him as Kristen tightened her grip on him.
"What are you doing?" John asked Kristen as she started to kiss his neck softly.
"John, I love you." she breathed into his ear as her lips started to trail along his neck.
"Knock it off Kristen." John urged her as he noticed the change in Marlena's facial expression.
"John, we belong together." she insisted moving her hands along his back towards his rear. "I love you so much."
"I can't do this anymore." John said breaking away from her and moving over to the table.
"Doc, it looks like John and Kristen are fighting again." Roman said noticing that they were sitting back down at the table. "I'm starting to worry about the two of them."
"They'll be fine Roman." Marlena insisted noticing how upset John appeared to be. "He just needs time to cool down."
"I just feel so bad Doc because they are our friends and we should be trying to help them." Roman explained to her. "I wish that there was something that we could do for them."
"The best thing that you can do right now is not get involved with what's going on with them." she explained noticing that John was starting to yell at Kristen.
"You know what Doc?" Roman said pulling Marlena off the dance floor and dragging her over to the table. "I think that I have an idea."
"What are you up to?" she asked as he stopped in front of the table.
"John, I'm feeling tired right now, would you please dance with Doc while I talk to Kristen?" Roman asked yawning at him.
"Roman, I don't know if that's such a good idea." Kristen began to protest.
"She's right Roman." Marlena piped in fearing what would happen if she danced with John.
"Please John. I'd really love to talk to this lovely wife of yours for a little while." Roman pleaded with John.
"Alright." John agreed getting up from the table and taking Marlena's hand. "Let's go Doc."
"See you two." Roman said sitting down at the table with Kristen.
John led Marlena out onto the dance floor in silence as the first chords of Gloria Estefan's "I'm not giving you up started playing:
"Doc we need to talk about what's happening here. Why didn't you want to dance with me?." John said breaking through the silence.
"Shh. Just dance with me." she insisted as Gloria Estefan's voice started singing.
"To be completely honest
It scares me to imagine
What life would be without you
And for this very reason
I ask you to forgive me
For what I'm putting us through..."
John closed his eyes as they danced as he thought of the day when the two of them could be open about their relationship. He listened to the words of the song as his heart pounded next to Marlena's. He pulled her close to him as his arms tightened around her waist. He could smell her shampoo and he longed to sweep her up into his arms and take her home. He suddenly realized that his dream was impossible because Roman was sitting right there watching them and suddenly he was hit with an incredible pain in his heart.
"Although there are so many things
Against us, I've decided
That I'm not giving you up, no...
Thinking back, I see what we have
Is something different
I think we've known all along
So how fair would it be
To divide this love's existence
Between what's right and what's wrong
And you, always wondering if we'll make it
Time will tell you
That I'm not giving you up, no, no...
We'll find a way to be together
However long it takes, wherever
If it means having you for only a moment
A moment just might be enough
I'm not giving you up, no..."
"Oh John," Marlena whispered looking into his eyes, "I want to be with you so badly right now and that scares me."
"Screaming in the silence the promises we've spoken
Come back to haunt me, false and broken
Quiet desperation to see we're lost forever
Searching for water in the desert
No, I refuse to have to do
Without your kisses
I'm not giving you up, no, no
We'll find a way to be together
However long it takes, wherever
If it means having you for only a moment
A moment just might be enough
I'm not giving you up, no
No I'm not giving you up, no..."
"I love you so much." John replied opening his eyes and glancing over at Roman and Kristen who appeared to be in deep conversation. "I can't take this much longer."
"We have to John." Marlena reminded him with tears in her eyes. "For Roman's sake."
"I'm not giving you up Doc." John insisted tightening his grasp around her waste. "I need you too much."
"May I cut in?" Roman asked tapping on John's shoulder.
"Roman." Marlena gasped jumping back and almost hitting the person behind her.
"Doc are you alright?" Roman asked noticing that her eyes were bloodshot.
"Actually, I'm not feeling well. Can we just go home now?" Marlena pleaded not wanting to be in the situation any longer.
"Anything for you Doc, but let me have a word with you first John.." Roman insisted turning to John.
"What's up Roman?" John asked as Marlena went back to the table.
Marlena watched Roman and John talking as she made her way over to the table with Kristen. She noticed that Kristen had a smug grin on her face.
"What are you up to now Kristen?" Marlena asked sitting down across from her.
"Nothing Doc." Kristen muttered sarcastically as she pulled a mirror out of her purse. "And you?"
"Look, I saw what you tried pulling on John back there." Marlena explained thinking about what she saw on the dance floor.
"I don't think that is any of your business Marlena." Kristen snapped as she continued to apply her makeup.
"I don't think that you understood me Kristen." Marlena responded as she knocked the mirror out of Kristen's hand causing her to look up. "Keep your hands off John."
"He's not your property Marlena." Kristen smiled at her. "He's a big boy. I think that he's capable of defending himself."
"You just be sure that you keep your hands off of my fiancee." Marlena warned her. "You don't want to mess with me again Kristen. That would be a huge mistake."
"It looks like you already have your hands full with Roman." Kristen snapped back at her and laughed. "It must be hard juggling two men like that, but then again, you always did enjoy toying around with both of their emotions."
"Why you..." Marlena began raising her hand to slap Kristen as Roman touched her back.
"Are you ready to leave now Doc?" he asked her.
"Yes." she replied glaring at Kristen furiously. "I'm ready."
"Let's go then." Roman insisted waving goodbye to Kristen.
"Goodbye Doc." John smiled weakly giving her a small hug.
"Goodbye." she replied not looking into his eyes. "Have a good night."
"You too." he said watching her go away with Roman. "I won't give you up."
To Chapter 10
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