In 1996, most of the major Salemites left for Paris, France, brought out of Salem by a series of tragedies. By the time everyone returned to Salem, everyone's lives had been touched by what happened in Paris. A pregnancy ended in disaster, while an unlikely couple ended up getting married.

BACKGROUND:

Sami's many schemes against Austin Reed, the father of her child Will, had been revealed by Austin's mother Kate Roberts. Despite being ostracized by her friends and family, Sami hadn't given up on winning Austin. She moved into a rundown apartment hoping Austin will come to her rescue.

Meanwhile, Jack Deveraux continued to believe that his ex-wife Jennifer was in danger because of Jennifer's husband Peter Blake. Peter had managed to keep the truth about his criminal ties from Jennifer, who believed that Peter was a good man. Several times Jack had decided to give up on Jennifer for good, but each time he returned to fight for Jennifer's love. Jennifer's mother Laura Horton had learned of Peter's evil deeds, but for now has kept quiet.

But the truly biggest storyline centered around John Black, Marlena Evans, Stefano DiMera, and Kristen Blake. John and Kristen were engaged to be married, and Kristen was carrying John's child. Marlena, however, had recently decided that she was still in love with John. Kristen prevented her from telling John the truth, but Marlena vowed to expose the truth once Kristen's baby was born.

Marlena was also concerned with Rachel Blake, Kristen's mother. For years Rachel had been scarred, and now she was planning to go away and have her face restructured. Rachel hated the horrible things her daughter Kristen had done, but Kristen stopped her mother from telling the truth.

THE STORY BEGINS...

Marlena boarded the plane to San Francisco, believing that she was going to accompany Rachel to her plastic surgery. Marlena was shocked, though, when she discovered that Rachel was not aboard the plane--Stefano had taken her hostage! Stefano told Marlena he planned on taking her away to an island where they will live forever. Then he injected her with a drug that knocked her out.

A frantic John realized that Stefano was not in jail as everyone believed--and he quickly deduced that Stefano was going to kidnap Marlena. Later, John's suspicions were confirmed when Marlena managed to reach a cellular phone. Marlena begged for help. Marlena tried to tell John that she loved him, but static on the phone prevented John from learning the truth.

In an elaborate scheme, Stefano convinced the authorities in Salem that his plane had crashed, and many in Salem were convinced that Marlena and Stefano had died. John didn't buy this, though, and ordered that Marlena be found. All hope seemed to be lost, when Abe Carver, John's best friend and Police Commissioner for the Salem PD, reported that wreckage from Stefano's plane had been found. Feeling guilty for her past behavior, Kristen prayed that Marlena be found, and asked God for forgiveness of her sins. Stefano took Marlena to a hidden place, continuing to keep her drugged. John still refused to believe that Marlena could be dead, and Kristen became angry when he started working around the clock to find Marlena. John ordered that all of Stefano's known hideouts be searched, but the search turned up nothing.

Celeste, a former lover and friend of Stefano's, told John that she might know where Stefano could have taken her. Celeste led John to one of Stefano's warehouses. There, John inadvertently put on virtual reality goggles, which allowed him to see Stefano with Marlena. John became even more desperate to find Marlena, even after Kristen tried to convince John that the virtual reality goggles were a hoax.

Marlena became upset when she realized Stefano planned to impregnate her with his child. She continued to spurn his advances, although Stefano said that if she cooperated with him, he would allow her to see her children with his virtual reality goggles.

John found the goggles in Salem and had them investigated. Kristen used the time to spend as much time with John as possible. Stefano finally let Marlena see her child Belle through virtual reality, but Marlena became disgusted when she saw John and Kristen together. John used the virtual reality goggles to look for clues to Marlena's whereabouts. Via the visor, John saw Marlena writing a letter, but was unable to see the letter was about Kristen. Kristen and Stefano both worked together to keep Marlena and John apart.

Stefano planned to have the virtual reality device fitted with a bomb that will kill John. When John touched the goggles, the bomb was set off. He and Kristen escaped with minor injuries. Kristen was glad to learn that her baby is okay, but she was told that if something else happens to her she may lose the baby. Using this information, Kristen convinced John to never use the goggles again. John found a mysterious game board that he believed could provide him with clues to Marlena's whereabouts. Kristen realized the game board meant that Marlena and Stefano were in Paris, but didn't tell John. Meanwhile, Stefano tried to convince Marlena that John had died in the explosion, and Marlena's heart sank at the thought that John was dead.

VIVIAN ENTERS THE EQUATION

Vivian Alamain and her loyal servant Ivan left for Paris, France, hoping to have a much-needed vacation. While there, Vivian just happened to come upon a ring Vivian recognized as belonging to Stefano, with whom she'd had a torrid love affair years before. Stefano took Marlena to a Paris street party hoping to entice her to stay with him forever. While there, Vivian caught a glimpse of Stefano, but later convinced herself she had just imagined seeing him. Later, though, both Vivian and Ivan came face to face with Stefano, who threatened their lives. Vivian and Ivan both told Stefano they wouldn't reveal he was there.

Back in Salem, John pressured Kristen to remember the significance of the board game, not realizing she already knew it meant Stefano had taken Marlena to Paris. Kristen worried when John said he wanted to honeymoon in Paris. He convinced Kristen to play the board game with him. Rachel urged her daughter to come clean, but Kristen refused to say anything to John.

Meanwhile, Vivian and Ivan remained scared that Stefano would come after them. Vivian concocted a scheme she believed would keep Stefano out of their lives for good. Vivian and Ivan began searching for Stefano in Paris, hoping he would sign an affidavit of their innocence.

Stefano toyed with John, when he knew that John was watching him through the virtual reality goggles. John watched in horror as Marlena accepted Stefano's proposal: in exchange for her freedom, Marlena would spend one night making love to Stefano.

DESTINATION: PARIS

Rachel found a clue that convinced her that the place Stefano had taken Marlena to was Paris, France. Knowing that her mother was about to expose her, Kristen told John where she believed Stefano may have gone: Paris. John left for Paris by plane, despite Kristen's recommendation that he stay in Salem.

In Paris, John had no idea where Stefano might be holding Marlena, until a flashback from his past gave him a clue. Marlena held off on making love to Stefano, whose anger grew when he learned John was in Paris. John and Abe managed to meet up with Vivian, but she vanished before they could reach her.

Kristen received a telegram, apparently from John, inviting her to Paris. She left immediately, not realizing that Stefano had forged the telegram. Kristen arrived in Paris just in time to see Stefano racing away from John and Abe. To help her father, Kristen faked abdominal pain, so Stefano managed to escape once again.

John discovered a tapestry that he believed might lead him to Stefano. He eventually concluded the tapestry was a map of Paris, and realized Marlena was being held beneath the city, in underground tunnels. Knowing that Stefano loves jewelry, Abe and John planned for Stefano to be caught at a large ball being held in Paris.

Learning that John will be at the masked ball, Stefano decides to take Marlena. However, Stefano had brought other women to the ball, each who looks like Marlena, so John and Abe were unable to find Marlena. With Vivian dressed as Napoleon and Ivan as Josephine, the two came to the masked ball. They were quickly discovered and thrown out, before they could get Stefano to sign their affidavit. When Kristen learned where Marlena was being held, she chose to keep quiet so she could hold on to John. One of Stefano's men posed as Rene, a Frenchman who had been working with Abe and John, and managed to steal the crown jewels.

Marlena managed to escape, quickly slipping past the guard. Stefano was displeased when he learned this, and began a search for Marlena. Kristen saw Marlena, but kept John from finding her. Stefano captured both John and Marlena just as the two came face to face. Trapped in the underground tunnels, John found himself in a macabre trial. The strange "people of the night" who follow Stefano's bidding tried him for the murder of Tony DiMera, and John was sentenced to death! John and Marlena finally expressed their love for one another, just as John was about to die at the guillotine. At about the same time, Rachel and Kristen began looking for John, and ended up trapped when a cave collapsed around them.

Meanwhile, Vivian awakened to find herself sleeping next to Ivan. Horrified about what she might have done, she was relieved when the maid told her she did nothing. Vivian and Ivan went searching for Stefano again, and found themselves at the entrance of the underground world. Vivian and Ivan came up Stefano's lair just as he was about to kill John. Vivian's sense of humor shined ,as it often does, when she first saw John with his head in the guillotine. (You can download a Quick Time movie of her classic quote by following this link: http://chafin.simplenet.com/cic/days/image/guillotine.mov ) John was able to escape, and he went to free Marlena.

Kristen, trapped in the tunnel, regretted what she had done. Smelling gas, she worried that she was too late, and told her mother that if they survived she would tell John everything. John managed to free Marlena, and the two began running from Stefano and his henchmen.

HONEYMOON AND HORROR IN PARIS

Oblivious to the horrors taking place beneath the city, Carrie and Austin arrived in Paris to celebrate their pre-wedding honeymoon. Sami hadn't wanted Austin to leave, but Austin's mother Kate had made sure the happy couple were able to leave Salem.

Lexie and Abe rescued Kristen and Rachel from the tunnel. John and Marlena hid in the caves, although things took another turn for the worse when a cave collapsed on Marlena.

Stefano reached John and Marlena, but before he could do anything Rachel arrived, shocking Stefano by lifting her veil. When Rachel and Stefano became separated from the others, Rachel confronted Stefano, the man responsible for her horrible scars. She pulled the trigger of her gun, knowing the shot would cause the gas behind Stefano to explode. Both Rachel and Stefano seemingly die in the huge explosion!

Kristen blamed Marlena for the disappearance of Stefano and Rachel. Her hatred for Marlena returned, Kristen threw Marlena's diary away, but a nun recovered the diary. In the hospital, Marlena awoke wanting to tell John the truth. Marlena kept the truth to herself after Kristen began having pains again.

Rene announced that evidence had been found proving Rachel and Stefano were killed, although Celeste refused to believe that.

Back in Salem, Sami believed that everything was going wrong with her life. The only person who seemed to be friendly towards her was Mary, her next-door neighbor. However, Mary slipped a mickey into Sami's drink and then slipped out with Sami's son when Sami fell asleep. When she woke up, Sami wanted to call the police, although a suspicious Kate accused Sami of pulling a trick. Austin called his mother, and Kate assured her son that everything was fine. In Paris, oblivious to the baby-napping, Carrie became worried when Celeste predicted danger. She begged Austin to marry her right then and there.

Vivian and Ivan were taken to jail for supposedly aiding Stefano. John and Marlena shared some time together, while Kristen went into premature labor. Unable to save her child, Kristen grieved when she lost her baby. Kristen begged her doctor not to tell the truth. The doctor struggled with his choice and finally told John and Marlena that the baby was fine, causing John to return to Kristen's waiting arms. Kristen was determined to get pregnant again, although her doctor told both her and John to refrain from sex.

TROUBLE IN PARIS

Marlena returned to Salem, meeting Mary and baby Will at the airport, but she didn't realize who they were. Later, Mary unknowingly got a hotel room next to Carrie and Austin's, after the couple went to a secure place outside of Paris. Austin heard the baby in the next room, and nearly saw him, but Mary managed to keep the baby from being seen. Back in Salem, Sami learned that Mary planned on selling Will away. Austin gave Mary a toy for the baby, and Mary became suspicious about who he was.

Jack left for Paris, wanting to get away from Jennifer and Peter for a while. He didn't realize that Jennifer and Peter had gone to Paris, and Peter punched Jack out when he saw him there. Neither Jack or Peter realized that Daniel Scott, a former associate of Peter's who Jack had been looking for, had turned up in Paris as well. Jack and Jennifer came close many times to meeting up with Daniel, who met Celeste and started to become involved with her. Jack and Jennifer went into the underground caves for a story on Stefano, but both fell victim to an explosion. Peter realized what he had done and raced to the caves to save his wife. Jack found a book of Stefano's containing Peter's name, but before he could examine it further, his and Jennifer's lives were put in danger again. The two managed to escape with minimal injuries.

Kristen and her brother Peter schemed to use a hypnotic device to get John to sleep with Kristen, despite the doctor's orders. John began staring intently into the device. When John finally began to make love to Kristen, she became disturbed when he called out Marlena's name. Later, Kristen worked quickly to keep John from discovering the device. Marlena came upon the device and accidentally activated it.

Austin and Carrie finally returned to Paris, ready to be married; when they learned Will had been kidnapped, though, their wedding was put on hold once again. When Austin recalled the baby next door to his and Carrie's hotel room, they returned to the hotel but learned Mary had left. At that same time, Mary was meeting with people who wished to buy Will (pictured at right with his new French mother). Sami and her mother Marlena headed to Paris in the hopes of finding Will. Kate arranged for a broadcast plea from Austin and Sami, begging for Will to be returned to them.

Carrie is comforted by Billie Reed, Kate's daughter, who lived in Paris. Billie, who had been thinking about returning home to Salem, decides to move back, although she continues to struggle with her feelings towards Bo. While out shopping with Billie, Carrie spotted Mary, and rushed after her. Carrie managed to capture Mary, who refused to say where Will was.

Vivian was angry when she learned that Kate pulled strings to keep her in prison. She began tunneling her way out of the prison, and Ivan got pulled up into her scheme as well. Their plan hit a snag when a cell mate, Andre, learned what they were doing, but Andre ended up going along with their plan. They escaped from prison, although Abe followed Vivian as she climbed up the Eiffel Tower. Vivian fell from the tower, but her nephew John managed to save her.

Celeste invited Daniel to be her date for Jennifer's birthday party. When Daniel realized the party was hosted by Peter, though, Daniel left before he was seen. Laura spied Daniel and rushed to confront him. Jennifer began to doubt Peter's innocence. Daniel refused to tell Jack anything he knew about Peter's dirty deeds. Jack attempted an elaborate scheme involving gambling to get Daniel to spill his secrets, but Peter arrived on the scene.

Kristen began to wear padding to give the illusion that she was pregnant. She decided to use her hypnotic device again, but it backfired, and John pulled Marlena into a romantic kiss. Kristen convinced both John and Marlena that John had been sleepwalking. Later, John overheard Kristen mumbling the truth about her pregnancy in her sleep, but she managed to cover it up.

COMING TO THE END

Carrie managed to get Mary to tell who she had given Will to, and Carrie and Austin rushed to the airport to stop the couple who had Will. At long last Will was returned to his family, and Sami still believed that she and Austin would be a couple. Later, though, French authorities took Will into custody. Carrie and Austin were shocked to learn that Sami and Austin had to marry in order for Will to be returned to their custody. Carrie urged Austin to go through with the wedding, although she felt destroyed by the turn of events. Austin and Sami were forced to pretend to appear like a happy couple, even sharing a room for their honeymoon night. Although Sami tried to seduce Austin, he would have none of it.

Just as Jack was about to reach Daniel, thugs got a hold of him. Eventually Jack caught up with Daniel, who at long last revealed Peter's shady dealings. Jack confronted Peter, and although Peter tried to deny the charges, he was forced to admit that the accusations were true. Jennifer was horrified, but she still didn't know if she was ready to leave Peter.

Carrie broke down when she saw Austin and Sami together, and things got worse when she learned that Sami and Austin might have to stay in Paris. Sami went to the judge in the hopes of turning things in her favor, but her plans backfired when the judge told her that she and Austin could return to Salem. Carrie, Austin, and Sami returned to Salem, although Sami was determined not to let Austin get away from her now that she was married to him.

Kristen panicked when she learned John had scheduled a doctor's appointment for her. Her doctor refused to lie for her, and Kristen feared her schemes were coming to an end. Stefano, however, had somehow survived the explosion, and he convinced the doctor to lie for Kristen's sake. Kristen, John, and Marlena returned to Salem, although Marlena announced she was moving in with Kristen and John until Kristen gave birth.

CONCLUSION

During the summer and early fall of 1996, the events that took place in Paris ended up being a turning point for many people. Kristen lost her baby and her mother. Jack finally proved that Peter had been up to no good. To everyone's shock, Austin was forced to marry Sami. The lives of all these characters didn't become any easier once they returned to Salem--instead, things became crazier than ever.

Thanks to Jordan Roberts for writing this story. Thanks to Stacy Krugman for providing many of the pictures. Thanks to Carrie Chafin for the movie link.

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