John was pacing the living room like a wild cat contemplating his next move.  Marlena was due home any minute from visiting with Hope.    After Lexie's sentencing, Marlena was concerned for Hope and wanted to offer her support while John went home to wait on Belle's arrival.  Belle called and she and Shawn were fine, but would not be home until curfew. 

Realizing that he and Marlena would be free tonight, he decided to surprise her for their anniversary.  John then told Belle his plans and she volunteered to spend the night with Brady.  With everything settled, it was now just a matter of time before his wife walked through their door.

The doorknob finally turned and the door opened.  In walked a very tired looking Marlena.  "Doc!  Thank God you're home!"  She instantly thought to Belle, but her fears were put to ease when he spoke of his earlier phone call and informed her that Belle would be staying with Brady.  "I'm the one who's been waiting for you," he said seductively.

She was indeed tired from her long and emotionally draining day, but she played along, "Waiting for me?  What on earth for?"  "For this...," he spoke softly but excitedly, "how do you feel about going out tonight?  After all, it is our anniversary."

"As much as I love the idea... I just don't think I'm up to dressing up to go sit at Tuscany or Chez Vous for three hours.  What if we stayed home and celebrated?"  Her sweet tone inlisted a smile from him like no other.  He adored her childlike innocence that she showed occasionally.  John was busting at the mere thought of having this blonde beauty as his wife.

"I wasn't planning on taking you to Tuscany... or Chez Vous... or the Penthouse Grill.  No, they're much to populated at these hours."  He stepped in close to her and put his hands on her waist as he continued, "Where I want to take you is much more private.  It's not home, but I promise you, you will not be disappointed."

She gazed up into his ocean deep blue eyes and was lost.  His tenderness, yet his strength.  His softness, yet his power.  All of the many things that make up this man, all of the things she loves.  She no longer felt tiredness taking over, for his words and his love have revived her.  Spending the evening with her husband was the only thing on her mind.

"So what shall I wear," obviously begging for a clue as to where he would take her.  "Something casual.  We'll be alone, so dress comfortably.  In fact, I think I will wear shorts and sandals myself," he winked with a devilish grin to follow.  She knew she would not get the clue she yearned for.

John pulled into the parking spot and stopped his Jeep.  Marlena questioned him with an unsure tone, "John, we're going to celebrate at the pier?"  He looked over at her with a smile she could not get enough of, "Not exactly.  Although that's a great idea, but again, too populated."

He exited the Jeep and walked around to open the door for his wife.  Out she stepped wearing a white tank top with a see through linen button up over it, khaki shorts, and sandals.  "Wow... I love summertime.  You look delicious," he smiled.  She shot him a comehither smile as she walked a step in front of him giving him a better look.

Hand in hand they walked down to the steps to the pier.  Marlena couldn't stand the suspense any longer and popped the question, "So you gonna tell me where we're going?"  "Oh I guess," he teased, "See that water?"  She nodded.  "See those boats?"  Her eyes grew wide with excitement and her grip tightened in his hand, "We're going on a boat ride!"  John just laughed at her childlike enthusiasm and picked her up in his arms to carry her aboard.  He teased, "I've got a surprise for you out over the water."  He held her tightly and she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "I'll bet you do."

It wasn't long after they boarded the house boat that John had them anchored in a secluded cove and was spreading out a blanket for them to lie on.  He had thought of everything; roses, wine, candles, and catered Chez Vous.  Marlena could do nothing but smile at her husband's sweet gesture.  She asked him, "You did great getting us out here.  Where'd you learn about boats?"  "Bo's been giving me lessons," his blue eyes sparkled in the moonlight.

The warm summer night air was slightly cooled by the breeze on the river, and the night sky was so clear all of the stars were visible to the two lovers in the cove.  The river was fairly calm with few waves to interrupt the lovers' dining.  The night was perfect.  And one small wish could make it even more memorable.

After they finished, John cleared the food basket to the kitchen below and poured another glass of wine for each.  Then he joined his wife on the deck of the boat.  She was standing with her hands on the railing looking out into the dark moonlit night.  The water was beautiful from where they floated with the moon dancing on the tiny waves.

"Hey pretty lady," he offered to her the glass of wine, "whatcha thinking about?"  She had indeed been thinking, but not just tonight.  She had been pondering a thought for some time, only she now felt the urge to share it with her husband.

He noticed when she turned to look at him that she had something significant on her mind.  Her eyes almost looked in turmoil from the fact that she'd been carrying this thought along.  If it were not for her happy appearance, he would have been afraid for the worst.  But her eyes were smiling when she spoke, so his fears were never born.  "John... may I tell you what I want for our anniversary?"  He smiled, "Sure.  I'd love to hear it."

Marlena took his hand in hers and John brushed a stray blonde hair from her face with his other.  She felt so loved when he touched her so tenderly.  "It's more like a wish.  I want to ask you for something special for our anniversary."  John was undeniably intrigued and not sure what to anticipate.

She laughed, "You almost look scared."  Her laughter seemed to lighten the mood much to John's liking.  "I know we have never really talked about this.  I seemed to have ended any discussion before it started."  Now she had his attention, not that she didn't have it before.  He gazed into her hazel eyes while she spoke from her heart.

"John," she spoke softly and seductively almost in a whisper, "I want to have a baby.  I would love for you to give us a baby for our anniversary."

John's jaw fell to the floor with the weight of a brick at hearing her speak of having another child.  It had been a dream of his for as long as he could remember, since he was not a part of her pregnancy with Belle.  He so wanted to be, but at the time she was not known to be his.  John loved Marlena with every part of his being and wanted more than anything to share such a gift as this with her.  His ears were not deceiving him although he almost didn't believe what he heard.  Words could not express his happiness, his excitement, his absolute exhilaration at hearing his wife's wish.

"John?  Are you going to say something, or stare at me all night?"  "I just can't believe what you just said.  You know it's been a dream of mine to have another baby with you.  And now that we're married, well, it only seems right.  It's the next step in our love story."

"I am serious about this, honey.  I've been thinking about it for a while.  Actually, I've almost suggested it again after you thought it two years ago."  She did not want to say more about that time than she had to, but John knew what she was eluding to.  Seeing their friends, Bo and Hope, having another son made him yearn for the same for he and Marlena.  But when it was revealed that John was J.T.'s father, Marlena's world was flipped upside down.

"Vegas really helped me to believe that we were finally going to be all right.  We were going to make it because we had each other and we put the nightmare behind us.  We've really pulled together."  He smiled as he gently stroked her face with the back of his hand.  John was lost in her eyes especially at times like these.

"I love you," was all he could muster enough strength to even whisper.  His heart was so full and his eyes were about to spill over with tears of joy.  As always, her finger was there to catch the first one, "Is that a yes?  Will you give me the gift of life for our anniversary?"  John had to concentrate on holding back his tears or he would wind up a weeping pile on the deck floor.  But his strength came when a tear fell from Marlena's eye as well.

He was excited beyond belief, "Of course I will give you another baby!  Or at least I will try," he joked.  "Well, even if it does not actually happen tonight, I've gotten my gift.  My gift is us agreeing to try," she could no longer hold back her tears.  The dam that was holding them at bay broke when she spoke.  "It's the one thing that we have never experienced together.  I want to change that.  I want to give you your dream.  That is my gift to you."

He spoke through his own flowing tears now, "It's our gift to each other.  I love you, Marlena Black.  My best friend, lover, and mother of my children.  Oh my beautiful Doc!  I want us to create another life together."  And after he gently kissed her lips, he whispered, "Thank you."

A smile formed over her tear stained face that could outshine the stars.  "I love you, John Black.  My friend, lover, and the best father to all my children.  My handsome hero.  I love you forever and always with every fiber of my being.  Thank you."