Background

In 1983, Roman Brady married Dr. Marlena Evans, a prominent local psychiatrist. The two met when Roman, a police officer, was assigned to guard her from a serial killer known as ‘The Salem Strangler’. In October of 1984, the couple had twins, Sami and Eric. Together with Roman’s daughter from a previous marriage, Carrie, the family had but a few happy months before Roman was believed killed in a fight with his nemesis Stefano Dimera. His body was found at the bottom of a cliff by his brother Bo Brady, but disappeared with the tide before it could be recovered.

In 1985, a mysterious bandaged stranger showed up in town suffering from amnesia. The good Dr. Evans tried to help the man regain his identity, and during this search, he took the name John Black. Though he had flashes of images from Marlena’s past with Roman, there was also evidence that he could be Stefano Dimera himself. In fact, he carried the mark of the phoenix (Stefano’s symbol) tattooed onto his shoulder. Despite the confusion, the two found themselves falling in love. Fortunately, evidence surfaced that John Black was indeed Roman Brady, brainwashed and subjected to plastic surgery by Stefano Dimera. Though he never regained all of his memories of his past, Roman and Marlena remarried in August of 1986.

Unfortunately, long-term happiness was again denied the family, as Marlena was presumed killed in a plane crash in 1987 (the result of the actions of an old ISA adversary of Roman’s called Orpheus- Roman was an agent for the secret government agency before his marriage to Marlena). Marlena’s death nearly destroyed Roman, who survived only due to his love for his children. He finally started to rebuild his life, and in 1991 had planned to marry Isabella Tuscano. However, this was interrupted by the return of Marlena, who finally escaped from a mysterious island where she had been held by Dimera- though she had been in a coma for most of the 4 years. Roman and Marlena again renewed their vows and finally had the happy family life they deserved. This brings us to my story, which begins in 1999- 8 years after Marlena had returned to Roman Brady. 

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