(Cover) - EN Showbiz - John Travolta and wife of 20 years Kelly Preston are going through a "very difficult time."

The pair were rocked by a recent sex scandal which saw the Hollywood actor accused of assaulting several men. A claim he has denied.

But In Touch reports that the couple's recent trip to Kelly's native Hawaii was in a bid to salvage their marriage.

Kelly apparently thinks the claims are "baseless" but it has still put a strain on their union which had already been tested after their 16-year-old son Jett died in 2009.

"Kelly has always given John a long leash, and that's why their marriage has been successful," an insider explained. "But after Jett died, [John's] need for solitude only increased."

The source added that even the birth of their second son Benjamin two years ago couldn't totally bring their family back together.

"Jett was John's best friend a part of him died then," the friend added. "Kelly believed the best way she could support him was to give him space to grieve. If John was with his family more, she feels these kinds of accusations wouldn't surface."

"[They] will survive this. In the end, their friendship and love for each other always wins out." (C) Cover Media