In January of 1986 Victor Kiriakis brought a bandaged man known only as "The Pawn" to Salem. "The Pawn" was an injured man who had no idea who he was. Victor took care of him until Patch Johnson learned of him. Once Patch realized that he was important to Victor he took "The Pawn" and kept him at his apartment. Patch was going to try to get money in exchange for "The Pawn" but his plan backfired when he escaped. "The Pawn" was taken to the hospital where he was introduced to Dr. Marlena Evans.

The bandages were eventually removed and the man known as John decided he could try and build a new life in this town because neither Victor nor Patch had seen him without the bandages. "The Pawn" took the last name of Black when he was working in a soup kitchen. Someone asked him what his last name was the he didn't know what to say so he took the last name Black from a Vietnam plaque that hung on the wall.

Eventually John took a job as head of security at University Hospital. During this time there was a rapist that was terrorizing the staff. While working to protect the staff John bumped heads with Dr. Marlena Evans on several occasions. The two forged a unique friendship, which led to Marlena's realization that John had amnesia. She tried to help him recover his memories through hypnosis. Some memories surfaced which led John to believe he was Stefano DiMera. Needing to know more John set out to find his true identity. His search was almost hampered by the fact that both Victor and the KGB were after him because he was "The Pawn". Victor's henchman almost had Marlena but John was able to rescue her in time. They both realized that they had to leave town for a while. They ended up in southeastern Ohio. While hiding out Marlena called Dr. Peterson, the doctor who performed John's plastic surgery. Dr. Peterson recalled John's surgery but he didn't know what his name was but he did have a before picture of him. He agreed to meet them at The Blue Bird Bungalows in West Virginia where he would bring the before and after photos. Little did John know that Victor was already with Dr. Peterson and he just gave him the information to find him. While at the cabin waiting for Dr. Peterson, Marlena discovered a phoenix tattoo on John's right shoulder, which lead her to believe that he was really Stefano. Fearing for her life Marlena called Bo to help her. Bo instructed her to get away from John and to wait for his help. Marlena tried to get away from John without having to tell him that she thought he was Stefano but John could tell that she was nervous. Once she told him that she thought he was Stefano he took her hostage.

While in the wilderness running from Bo, Victor, and the KGB Marlena and John were constantly fighting their feelings for one another. Marlena couldn't understand how she could have fallen in love with her worst enemy. But Marlena soon came to understand why because she eventually found the file containing the before picture and it was a picture of her dead husband Roman. From that moment on the man once known as John Black was now called Roman Brady. On August 22, 1986 Roman and Marlena renewed their wedding vows after Marlena had awakened from a two month long coma.

Roman and Marlena were more in love and happier than they had ever been but their happiness was short lived because soon after their wedding Marlena was kidnapped by the ISA. The ISA wanted information on some treasury bonds that Roman had hidden in Stockholm in the early 80s. Marlena was eventually able to get away from the ISA but unfortunately she landed right into the hands of Orhpeus(Roman's former ISA partner). Orpheus was looking for revenge on Roman for the death of his wife. Roman shot and killed Orpheus's wife during a stakeout in Stockholm. Marlena was eventually rescued and she and Roman headed back to Salem. They hoped that they would be able to finally have the life they deserved when tragedy struck once again. Orpheus set off an explosion in the Brady house so that it appeared that Marlena had died. Orpheus kidnapped Marlena and took her to a remote island where she took care of his son and daughter. Roman wanted revenge for Marlena's death. He tried to find Orpheus. Eventually Roman found him and he was about to kill him when Orpheus showed Roman a tape of Marlena on the island. She was very much alive. Roman let him go. Eventually Roman found the island and the house where Orpheus was holding Marlena but he was too late. Orpheus had already sent Marlena way. Roman and Orpheus fought. The fight ended with Orpheus's death. Roman then headed out to the airport where Marlena was sent. He got there just in time to see the plane take off and crash into the ocean. Marlena was finally dead. Or so we thought.

Five years and many women later Roman was engaged to Isabella Toscano when Marlena came back to Salem to reclaim her family. It was the night of Roman and Isabella's engagement party that Roman had this need to go to the pier. While on the pier a woman cried out his name. He turned around to see Marlena emerging from the thick fog. Finally Roman and Marlena were reunited. Isabella gave Roman back his ring and Marlena moved into the Brady house. It seemed as though Roman and Marlena would finally get back together when fate once again stepped in to part them. Marlena was having nightmares about being held captive. She kept insisting that Roman was there but Roman told her that there was no way that he could have been there that he was in Salem for the entire 5 years she was gone. Roman insisted that Marlena find out what happened to her over those five years she was gone. Their search led them to the island of San Cristobal. Little did they know that the real Roman was being held hostage in a cell in the jungle on this island. They found the clinic where Marlena spent 5 years in a drug-induced coma. The building was abandoned. Marlena had some vague memories but nothing substantial. Marlena and RoJohn were about to leave the island when they ran into the real Roman. Thinking that RoJohn was a threat to Marlena, Roman shot him. Marlena fainted and Roman carried her away to a hut. When Marlena awakened she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Roman tried to convince her that he was the real Roman and that the other man was an imposter who was a trained assassin. Marlena didn't know what to think she only knew that she had to get to RoJohn. Just as she was about to leave RoJohn shows up. Both men argued each trying to convince Marlena that the other was lying. Nothing could be settled so they all went back to Salem.

A DNA test was run on the men and it was revealed that the man in the jungle was the real Roman. Even though they knew who was Roman they all needed answers which led them to find the man responsible for this whole mess: Stefano DiMera. The search led them to Mexico. While they were there they found Stefano who had a briefcase filled with documents confirming who John really was. The briefcase and most of its contents were destroyed in a fire. Stefano once again was shot and killed. There still weren't any answers but it was now time for Marlena to choose. She was torn between the two men. Marlena knew that she couldn't hurt Roman because of all he went through but a part of her could not release John. Marlena's decision was made easier when she found out that Isabella was pregnant with John's child. She decided to honor her commitment to Roman. They all returned to Salem. John and Isabella started a life together and Roman and Marlena tried to pick up their lives as well.

It looked as though John and Marlena were just not meant to be. Marlena was with Roman and John was with Isabella and their new son Brady but soon fate would tear all of their lives apart. Isabella was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Within months of her diagnosis she was dead. Before she died she made a tape on which she asked Marlena to take care of John after her death. Marlena tried her best to help John but Roman started to become jealous. Roman and Marlena were fighting constantly.

Marlena threw herself into her work. She started counseling a man named Roger Lombard. His wife Stella became very jealous of Marlena. Their marriage came to an end and she thought it was because of Marlena. She thought that Marlena and Roger were having an affair. Stella decided she would kidnap Marlena as one last-ditch effort to save her marriage. She took Marlena to Roger's art studio. The two women argued and Marlena fell into the pit. Stella kept her there. No one suspected that Marlena was kidnapped because she was to leave for a convention in New York the night she was kidnapped. She also had an argument with Roman before she left so he wasn't surprised when she didn't call.

While Marlena was in the pit Roman was shot, he almost died but he pulled through. Now people were beginning to wonder why Marlena hadn't called home. Once he was out of the hospital Roman and John started to investigate. They found out that Marlena had never gotten on the plane for New York.

Stella's marriage was over and she made one last visit to Marlena. She fed her one last meal before leaving her there to die but later on she changed her mind. She called the police station to tell them where Marlena was when a car hit the phone booth she was in. Stella mentioned Marlena's name before she died.

Marlena tried to get word out that she was in the pit. She had help from a dog and his owner. She asked the man to take the answering machine from above and to give it to one of the Bradys' at the Brady Pub. The man took the machine to The Pub and it ended up on Brady's stroller. During this time John had bought the building where Marlena was being held his intention was to have the building demolished. While he was looking around in the building he found a woman's earring and put it in his pocket. One day while Carrie was watching Brady she hung up John's coat and she found an earring in there and she remarked that it looked like one of Marlena's earrings. John didn't think anything of it at the time. John found the answering machine and played the messages. He heard two messages one from Roman and one from himself, which was left for Marlena in New York. John got in his car and raced to find Roman. While driving John heard Caroline's message to Marlena when Roman was shot. John knew that no matter how bad things were between her and Roman she would have called when she heard the news that Roman was shot. He then flashes to Carrie telling him that the earring in his pocket looked like one of Marlena's. Then he remembered Roman telling him that Stella's son mentioned that his mother said Marlena's name before she died. John then remembers finding the earring in the art studio he then puts it all together. He realizes that Marlena's at the studio and he races there before the explosion. John gets to the studio just in time for the explosion. Now John is trapped down there with Marlena. John wakes up after the explosion and finds Marlena. He gives her mouth to mouth and she slowly comes to. While they were down in the pit John and Marlena said a lot of things to each other. John told Marlena that she changed his life. He told her that she saved his life when she helped him when he first came to Salem. Marlena thanked John for loving her and as the bull dossiers were about to bury them alive. John decided to make one last effort to save them. He started a fire and it worked. Roman and Abe came to the demolition site because they too had heard the phone messages because John's car was stolen and the tape was brought to Roman just in time. John and Marlena were saved but now their feelings were out in the open the only question now was would they be able to fight their feelings.

John was having a hard time being around Marlena after the pit. He was having a hard time keeping his feelings in check. John decided that the only way he can get through this is by leaving Salem. He tells Marlena about his plans, she tries to convince him to stay but he tells her it's for the best. Marlena thinks she has time to convince him to stay. Marlena tells Kimberly that she knows John and he would never leave. John then makes his plans to leave Salem. He decides it's best that he leaves without telling Marlena because she would try to stop him. Marlena visits Roman and the police station. They make plans for supper and before Roman leaves he tells Marlena that John's leaving tonight. Marlena races to John's loft to convince him to stay but she's too late he's gone. She's driving home in a rainstorm when she tells herself that John's leaving is for the best. She starts to remember her life with John and she turns the car around and heads to the airport to talk to John.

John's on the plane. He calls Marlena and leaves a good-bye message on her machine. Just as he gets off the phone Marlena rushes into the cabin. Marlena begs John to stay. She can't imagine her life with out him. He tells her that it's just too hard. All he wants to do is hold her and touch her. They're both crying when they give in to their passion and they make love on the plane. Afterwards Marlena feels guilty and she rushes out. John decides to stay. He can't leave Marlena. Marlena tries to stay away from John but Salem is a small town and they kept running into each other. It didn't help that Roman was constantly trying to push her away. One night during the Faces of the 90s benefit at Titan John and Marlena made love on a conference table. Little did they know that Sami was watching them. Once they were done Marlena told John that it was truly over this time and they would never do that again. John respected Marlena's feelings and he started to date DA Rebecca Morris.

Marlena soon found out she was pregnant. But who was the father John or Roman? Marlena couldn't take the chance so she decided to have an abortion. But before she could go to the clinic to have it done she was attacked. She had a brief period of memory loss but she was found and was taken to the hospital. They were about to do x-rays on her when she told them she was pregnant. Roman heard this so now she could not go through with the abortion. John then heard that Marlena was pregnant and he began to wonder if he was the father. Marlena insisted that Roman was the father and she even went so far as to lie about her due date. She would have gotten away with the lie if Rebecca had not overheard Marlena's real due date and she told John. John once again was after Marlena about whether or not he was the biological father to this baby. Marlena then agreed to do a blood test on the baby to determine the father. The results came back and it was revealed that Roman was the father.

John stayed away from Marlena once he found out the news that he was not the father. John then began seeing Kristen Blake a social worker who he saved in the park from muggers. Marlena had her own problems to deal with. Throughout her pregnancy she was dealing with Sami. Sami had developed bulimia because she had seen her mother and John making love. Marlena found out about the disorder and tried to help Sami but she kept pushing her mother away. Marlena couldn't understand why. She got Sami professional help. Sami refused to let Marlena tell Roman what was going on. Eventually Roman found out about the eating disorder and he was furious that Marlena would keep this from him. Sami convinced her father that she didn't want him to know because she was afraid that he would be disappointed in her. He promised her she could never do that and they went into family counseling. Sami eventually revealed to her mother that she saw her and John and that was why she is doing what she's doing. Marlena was devastated. She vowed to help her daughter and the first thing she was going to do was tell Roman the truth. Sami refused to let her for fear it would hurt her father too much.

On October 19, 1993 Marlena went to the Horton Cabin on Smith Island to relax. Little did she know that her little daughter decided to make her debut that very day. Marlena had left a message at the station for Roman that she would be going out to the Horton Cabin but he never got the message. Marlena went into labor. She tried to call for help but the battery on her cell phone went dead. She just decided to wait for Roman. In the mean time Kristen Blake showed up. Alice Horton had told her to go to the cabin to think things through. She and John were having trouble since he found out that she was Stefano DiMera's adopted daughter. She couldn't understand why John hated her father so much. Marlena and Kristen talked. Marlena tried to give her an understanding of why John hated her father so much. Kristen was having a hard time believing that her father could have done such horrible things. Marlena's contractions were getting closer together. It was almost time for the baby to come when John showed up to talk to Kristen. John delivered the baby girl. Soon after her birth she was laying on Marlena's chest when John noticed that she wasn't breathing. John quickly took the child and performed CPR on the baby. The baby began to breathe again. John was able to get a helicopter in to take them to the hospital where Roman met them. He and Marlena decided on a name for their new baby girl. They decided that they would name the child after someone they loved. They decided that the new baby's name would be Isabella. It was fitting because Roman asked John to be the baby's godfather. John accepted but with some hesitation. Marlena assured him that it was all right for him to be the godfather.

All seemed to be fine in the Brady household until one night Belle disappeared from the house while Sami was watching her. Marlena was devastated. John and Roman worked night and day to find the child. Little did everyone know that Sami had baby Belle and she was planning on selling her. John had a lead when he found out that a child matching Belle's description was being put up for sale on the black baby market. He and Kristen posed as perspective parents for the child. They were to meet the mother of the baby at a restaurant but before they could meet with the woman they ran into Sami. The told her why they were at the restaurant and that they had a lead on Belle. Sami made up the excuse why she was at the restaurant and left. Now she had to figure out a new plan. She decided to leave town with the baby but before she could John and Kristen stopped her. It was Christmas Eve, Marlena and Roman went to mass to pray for Belle's return. Marlena thanked the congregation to their well wishes. Billie begins to sing "Oh Holy Night" when John walks into the church with Belle and hands her to Marlena.

Once Belle was at home safe and sound Marlena and Roman wanted to know who was responsible for the kidnapping. John made a deal with Sami that he would give her 24 hours to tell her parents or he would. Sami's time was up and John ended up telling Roman and Marlena that it was Sami who kidnapped her baby sister. Roman and Marlena decided that they would handle Sami's punishment on their own. Life started to return to normal for the Brady's when Stefano struck again. Stefano knew about John and Marlena's affair. On the day of Belle's christening Stefano told Marlena that if she didn't tell Roman about her affair with John that he would. Marlena had no choice but to tell Roman about the affair right there in the church.

Roman was devastated and he threw Marlena out of the house. All hope was not lost for Roman and Marlena. Caroline talked to Roman and she convinced him that the marriage could be saved. All of Caroline's words were lost when Stefano came to the Brady house with more devastating news. Stefano had gotten a hold of Sami's diary. In the diary she wrote about how she switched Belle's blood type in the computer. He took the information to Roman. Roman didn't believe him at first but Sami came home and confirmed the information. Marlena came to the house for a visit with the hope that she and Roman would reconcile. She got to the house just in time to see Stefano leave. She rushed in to make sure that everyone was all right. She found Roman sitting in a chair in shock. Marlena tried to get it out of him what happened but what he was saying made no sense. Sami came down stairs and started yelling at her mother. Belle began to cry. Marlena asked Roman to pick her up and feed her. Roman went over to Belle but he didn't pick her up. Marlena asked him once again to feed her because he was her father. Roman then tells her that he isn't the father of Belle. Marlena tells him that it's not true that he is Belle's father but Sami confirms what Roman's saying. Roman and Sami leave the room. John stops by to ask for Roman's help to stop Stefano when Marlena gives him the news that he's Belle's father. Roman comes back to see John and Marlena together and he refuses to help John. John leaves to stop Stefano and Marlena leaves with Belle. Marlena heads over to Alice Horton's house. Marlena and Belle stayed with Alice and Tom until John bought the Penthouse for Marlena.

Now that it is revealed that John was Belle's father Kristen decided that she would marry Tony. John had some evidence that Stefano was connected to Curtis's murder and he rushed to the church to tell Kristen. Both men argued and Stefano fled. John went after him and shot at his car, which exploded. Kristen then blamed John for Stefano's death and she went ahead with the wedding. Little did they know that Stefano had faked his death once again.

John started receiving pieces of a puzzle. The puzzle began to form a picture of a white house. John knew that he had been at that house but he couldn't remember where it was. Stefano was setting a trap for John. John has Marlena hypnotize him to help him remember where the house is. During a session of theirs at the penthouse Roman dropped by. He thought that the room John was describing was familiar. He remembered when Stefano first took him prisoner. Although Roman was blindfolded the entire time he had a feeling that the house was old and in the south. Stefano told Roman that they were going on a long trip and that he would be his prisoner forever. While Roman was being transported he managed to remove the blindfold and get away from Stefano's men. Before he was captured he saw a sign "Tully Import and Export Industries." John asks Roman for his help but he refuses. John decided to hunt for Stefano himself.

John finds out that the house in question is the DiMera family house in Louisiana. He immediately went down there to find Stefano. When John reached the house he found Kristen drugged. She showed up at the house unexpectedly and Stefano drugged her so she wouldn't remember seeing him. John tried to save her but he was captured. Stefano locked John away in the dungeon and he started to brainwash him. Now Stefano had to lure Marlena down to Maison Blanche. He recorded John's voice saying he needed her and of course Marlena went down to Maison Blanche. Stefano captured her and locked her away in one of the upstairs rooms. Celeste, Stefano's former mistress was to tend to Marlena. She was jealous of Marlena so she did all she could to torture her. She even went so far as to serve Marlena a dead rat for dinner. Stefano's plan was to erase all of John's memories and take Marlena away to an island where they would live happily ever after. Stefano had Marlena call Roman and tell him that she and John were on a romantic vacation to end any hopes that Roman would have of reconciling with Marlena. Marlena knew that Stefano would go to any lengths to get what he wanted so she knew that it was up to her to save John. She managed to drug Stefano and tease him with a strip tease to get the keys away from him. Thank goodness he passed out before anything could happen. Marlena was able to get the keys and free John but Stefano caught the both of them as they tried to leave.

Roman in the meantime was working on a case investigating an associate of Peter's(Kristen's brother) that led him down to Maison Blanche. He eventually got a warrant to arrest Peter for drug trafficking. Celeste became unnerved by the fact that Stefano was so taken with Marlena so she released poisonous gas into the dungeon and set fire to that Mansion. Roman managed to find Marlena and John in time. Roman realized that he still loved Marlena. They took it as a sign that he found her that they should give it one more try. It looked as though Roman and Marlena would be back together again until Stefano struck again. He sent a tape of Marlena's strip tease to Roman. Roman realized that a piece of Marlena's heart would always belong to John. He couldn't live with this so once they went back to Salem he went through with the divorce proceedings. Marlena made one last effort to save her marriage. She brought Roman to a warehouse where she hung pictures of their life together. Roman was not affected by it and he told her that the marriage was truly over. Marlena then signed the papers and Roman left town.

John knew that the information on who he was in the mansion. He, Kristen, and Toni tried to save as much a s they could. They grabbed a couple of files and a lap top computer. John and Kristen got out of the mansion but Toni was trapped by the explosion and was blinded. Once Toni was fine Kristen found out that he lied to her about knowing that Stefano was alive. This pushed Kristen right into John's arms. Soon after this Kristen was able to break the secret code on the computer. The information revealed that John was a priest. Kristen being the devout Catholic that she is broke off her relationship with John. John refused to believe that he was a priest until he went back to the parish he led. Some of the parishioners recognized him but the most convincing evidence was a matching handprint in cement. John finally had to accept that he was a priest.

Stefano became obsessed with Marlena after Maison Blanche. He went so far as to get the security code to Marlena's penthouse so that he could drug her. Every night Stefano would enter Marlena's bedroom through her armoire and lead her on nightly outings, which may have or may not have been real. Marlena soon began to experience blackouts, which she feared might be a brain tumor, but little did she know it was something much more evil. Because Marlena felt so guilty over what happened with Roman and Stefano's drugging her this left her soul open to demonic possession. Marlena tried to fight off the demon but she wasn't strong enough so John being a priest was the only one who could save her. The only problem was that the demon was trying to seduce John so that he too would loose his soul. The demon at first tried to use Kristen to seduce John but the demon soon came to realize that there was just one person who could get through to John and that was Marlena. It took a while for John to realize that Marlena was possessed but once he did he and Father Francis started the exorcism. During the exorcism Father Francis had a heart attack brought on by the demon it was John who was left to finish the exorcism. John tried his best but Marlena died during the exorcism. She was taken to the morgue at University Hospital. John was devastated. He had no idea what he was going to tell Belle when she asked what happened to her mother. While holding Belle, John realized that he had to see Marlena one last time. He went to the morgue. When he looked at Marlena he noticed that she was breathing but when she opened her eyes they were still possessed. John asked that Marlena be spared and the demon entered his body but John's faith was able to fend off the demon. He then cast the demon back to hell where it belonged. Marlena was saved.

Marlena was horrified over what he had done while she was possessed. During the possession Marlena threw Stefano over the balcony of her penthouse. Stefano suffered major head trauma, which resulted in amnesia. Even though he had amnesia he was still obsessed with Marlena. Marlena felt guilty over what she had done so she took Stefano in and began to care for him. John in the meantime was dealing with giving up his vows. He tried being a priest but it wasn't the life he wanted. Kristen was divorcing Toni and it looked as though they would live happily ever after until Toni stepped in. Toni found out that he had a terminal disease so he figured if he couldn't have Kristen then John shouldn't have her either. While everyone was in Aremid for Peter and Jen's wedding Toni decided that he would use this oportunity to frame John for his murder. During the reception Toni asked to talk to John alone. Once they were alone Toni picked a fight with John. John was angry enough to kill Toni but he left before things got out of hand. Toni continued to yell and carry on as though John was in the room. He then set off the gun and killed himself. Everyone rushed in to see Toni bleeding on the floor.

Toni's dying words were that John murdered him. Peter then took it upon himself to have John arrested. This was the perfect murder. Toni planned everything down to the last detail to make it look as though John murdered him but there was one piece of evidence that could free John. The evidence was a journal detailing how he set the whole thing up. The mysterious woman in white was the first to find the journal. She was somehow tied to Stefano and John's past. But eventually the journal landed in Stefano's hands. He had gotten his memory back and he was not about to let John get off. During the trial Kristen began to have doubts about John's innocence but Marlena never wavered in her loyalty to John. She made a very passionate plea in John's defense but when the trial was over John was sentenced to die in the gas chamber. Marlena was devastated. John had to preparefor his death and that meant having Marlena signed as Brady's legal guardian. John said one last tearful good-bye to his children. Before he died John wrote a note to Marlena which was to only be delivered to her in the event of his death. In the letter he told her that she was the only person who was in his heart. He told her that he's always loved her and he always will love her. Marlena would not give up and let John die. The woman in white told Marlena that Stefano had the journal and where he had it. Marlena went so far as to seduce Stefano so she could get her hands on the journal. It worked she was able to get the journal and give it to the woman in white to take to the jailhouse to save John in time. Unfortunately the woman tripped and was knocked unconscious. Jack and Jen found her and they rushed to the prison with the journal. Just minutes after the execution began. Jack rushed in and got John out.

John was finally cleared off all charges. Toni's murder was an apparent suicide. John went back to the Pub to find Marlena but she was no where to be found. Stefano had kidnapped her. He took her out in a row boat where they were to wait for a helicopter to take them to one of Stefano's islands. John eventually found them and the two men struggled. John was pushed under the water. The helicopter arrived and Stefano tied a harness around him to be lifted up. He tried to grab Marlena to take her as well but she fought him off and she fell into the water. John found her and brought her to shore. John tried to find the letter that he wrote to Marlena but it was no where to be found he just thought it was lost but it was delivered and Marlena had it in her travel bag.

Everyone went back to Salem even the Woman in White. She was taken back to the Dimera mansion with Kristen. Marlena now had to deal with the fear that Stefano would come back for her. John took it upon himself to protect Marlena. He even moved her into the loft with John. John and Kristen's relationship had suffered a terrible blow. John had trouble getting past this and he began to doubt that he and Kristen had a future together but Marlena convinced him to give it one more try with Kristen. He took Marlena's advice even though he started having feelings for Marlena again. He figured that she only wanted friendship from her and he went back to Kristen. The two intended to be married but Kristen had to concentrate on trying to get pregnant first because she had a condition in which if she waited any longer she would not be able to conceive. Marlena in the meantime found and read the letter. She wanted to tell John that she loved him too but they found out that Kristen was pregnant and that the slightest upsetting news would cause her to have a miscarriage so she kept her love for John a secret. Kristen soon found and read the letter. She tried to hide this from Marlena but she eventually found out about her deceit. Marlena made a deal with Kristen. She wouldn't tell John about how she tired to keep them apart if she had John move into a different room and she took off his engagement ring. Kristen agreed but she schemed to get out of the deal. She helped Stefano to kidnap Marlena. He made it appear as though they were killed in a plane explosion. Everyone told John that Marlena was dead but John would not believe it. He never gave up and he eventually found Doc in the Paris underground. John rescued Marlena once again. While in the underground tunnels Kristen was injured and almost lost her baby. They were able to save the baby but a few days later on John and Marlena's 10th Anniversary Kristen miscarried the baby. She hid the fact that she lost the baby from John and with Stefano's help. He hired a pregnant look alike to take Kristen's place in the delivery room. Marlena kept her promise not to tell John about Kristen's scheming but the minute Kristen gave birth John was going to be told the truth. The only problem was that John married Kristen(Susan) in the delivery room. Marlena showed up just in time to hear them pronounced husband and wife. Marlena was torn. She didn't know what to do so she went to St. Luke's. While she was there she heard John praying, he was asking for god's help to keep him faithful to his new wife. Marlena then decided that she would keep what she knew to herself but if she found out that Kristen had lied again she would tell John the entire truth.

Susan had trouble dealing with giving up her baby. Hope saw Susan was so upset so she gave her Marlena's card. Susan set up an appointment with Dr. Marlena Evans. She talked to Marlena about her baby and Marlena told her that she would help her to get her baby back but Susan decided to handle it herself. Susan went to Kristen and she was able to convince her to let her be the baby's nanny. Soon Susan began to become taken with John. Susan was a loose cannon and Kristen knew that. She constantly feared that she would tell John the truth so Kristen had a secret room built. The room would hold Susan until Stefano could come to town for her and take her away. Soon Marlena stumbled on to the truth. She confronted Kristen and she confirmed everything. Marlena was about to tell John the truth when Kristen locked her up in the secret room. Her plan backfired when Susan locked her in the room with Marlena. The two of them stood by as John married Susan. Both desperate to get out they began to chip away at the plaster on the wall. Unfortunately Kristen hit a gas line and the two were almost killed by the fumes but John found them and rescued them in time. Marlena reveals all of Kristen's wrong doings and John & Marlena were finally reunited.

John and Marlena's were about to be married when Kristen brought them a little wedding present, Marlena's dead ex-husband Roman. Roman was dying. He was infected with a deadly bacteria. He came back to town because Kristen told him that Marlena was alone and waiting for him to come back. Kristen also told him that she and John were married. Because Roman's condition was so delicate Marlena and John decided not to tell Roman the truth. So once again John and Marlena would have to deny their feelings for one another. Marlena felt that she was responsible for Roman's condition so she decided she would do everything she could to find a cure for Roman. Carrie and Mike went off to a medical convention in LA to see if they could find a doctor to help Roman. They found a doctor who developed a medication, which helped Roman for a while, but eventually the medication stopped working. Marlena and John were desperate for a cure and Stefano stepped in. Stefano told John that he had a cure for Roman's infection. All John had to do is break him out of jail. John was hesitant at first but he knew that he couldn't take the chance that Stefano was telling the truth. John broke Stefano out of jail and they headed to one of Stefano's tropical compounds.

Dr. Rolfe developed a cure for Roman but the vile containing the medication was broken. Rolfe had to make another batch. The only problem was that the key ingredient in the cure was the pollen from a rare flower. There were two problems. First problem was that there was only 1 such flower left on the island. The second problem was that the inhabitants of this island were out to kill anyone who didn't belong on the island. John volunteered to go out and get the flower. John was able to get the flower but on his way back to the compound he was hit with a poison dart. He was taken back to the compound and he was given a cure for the poisonous dart.

Meanwhile back in Salem Marlena and Roman were growing closer. Roman was getting worse and it appeared that even if John came home with the cure he would be too late. Roman's dying wish was to be married to Marlena again. Marlena was reluctant to honor his request but she didn't think that John would be home so she agreed to marry Roman. Marlena and Roman were at St. Luke's getting married when John came in with the cure. Roman was taken to the hospital immediately. The cure was administered it seemed to be working but the cure needed antibodies from someone who was cured with the same medication. Stefano stepped in and let them use his blood, which had the antibodies they needed. There was a catch. In order for them to use his blood he was to be cleared of all the charges against him. Marlena and John had no choice but to agree to his demands. Stefano's blood cured Roman.
Marlena was now torn. She didn't know if she wanted John or Roman. After many months and lots of tears Marlena finally chose John. On July 6th, 1999 John and Marlena were finally married in front of family and friends.
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