Homecoming Part 2

An alarm woke Taylor and she pulled the covers over her head. The bed moved beside her and cold air invaded her warm cocoon as Eric got up. She heard him move around the bathroom. He re-entered the bedroom and started gathering clothes.

'Are you planning on getting up?'

'No? Can't I go back to sleep for another hour?' Taylor muttered.

'Oh sure, at 2 a.m. you're wide awake, but at 6.30 you want to sleep. I'm dropping Brayden off at day-care in an hour and then bring Ezra to school. If you want to join us, I suggest you get up. I'm going to wake the boys and get them dressed. I'll see you downstairs. Or not.'

With a groan Taylor pushed the covers away and made her way to the bathroom. Downstairs she found her sons eating cereal at the table in the kitchen and Eric sipping his coffee at the counter, a second mug waiting for her next to him.

'No breakfast for us?' she asked, getting her coffee.

'Not right now, I've got other plans. Glad you decided to join me for them.'

Taylor stuck out her tongue in a very mature reply. Eric slipped his arm around her waist and she leaned her head on his shoulder. Together they watched their sons eat their breakfast. Once breakfast and coffee was gone and the dishes put in the dishwasher they left the house. Taylor watched in wonder how Eric efficiently got the boys in their shoes and jackets, their lunches into their backpacks with a piece of fruit from the bowl and everyone out the door.

At the day-care Taylor thought Brayden would be clingy. But after a promise of her being there to pick him up at the end of the day, he ran off to play with his friends.

At Ezra's school it was busy with cars. Taylor and Ezra got out while Eric went in search of a place to park. A group of kids were playing tag while they waited for the doors to open. A teacher was already outside keeping an eye on them while their parents were too distracted talking to each other. Ezra looked at the kids and then at Taylor.

'Go play, we can hug and kiss when you go inside,' Taylor smiled.

Her son ran off and Taylor stood awkwardly alone for a minute. Then the teacher noticed her and waved her over.

'You must be Mrs Myers,' she greeted. 'I'm Leah, Ezra's teacher. Took playground duty this this morning just so I could meet you before school starts.'

'Please, call me Taylor. It's good to meet you finally. Ezra told me much about you.'

'He's a great kid and a joy to have in my class. You can be very proud of him. But I'll leave all the technical stuff for parent teacher conference next week. I just put the forms on the classroom door this morning, so be sure to claim a slot.

'He's not doing bad already, is he? I know it hasn't always been easy for them while I was away.'

'No, not at all. He's one of the brighter ones. I just like talking to all parents about the progress of their child, good or bad.'

Taylor breathed a sigh of relief. Just then another mother walked up to them enthusiastically.

'Well, hello there. My name is May, I'm Thorne's mom. I don't believe I've seen you around before. And I know all the parents and children of Miss Leah's class. I'm the class mom. We're still looking for parents to decorate the class for Valentine's next week and help with the activities. Can I put down your name? It's a great way to get to know everyone.'

Taylor was overwhelmed by the word vomit and left speechless.

'May…' Leah started, but was interrupted by shrieks of excitement from the playing kids.

'Oh, Ezra's back. He was sick yesterday,' May noted, looking in the direction of the noise. Leah gave Taylor a subtle shake of her head. 'He has the most gorgeous father, you'll see. He's probably parking his car after making sure Ezra was safe on the premises. He's a single father too, even though he denies it.'

'How do you know he's single then?' Taylor asked curiously, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from smiling.

'Because no one has ever seen Ezra's mom since the year started. Not at the first day of school, or Halloween, or Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or anywhere in between. What kind of mother would do that?' May explained and Taylor's hands balled into fists. 'Oh, there's Eric. Isn't he the most gorgeous male specimen you've ever laid your eyes on? I'm sure he can put it to good use too.'

'I must agree, he's very handsome and does look like he knows how to please a woman, doesn't he?' Taylor grinned and noticed more heads turning at Eric's arrival.

'Time to go inside!' Leah called and kids rushed at her.

'Hey, there aren't any new faces,' May finally noted. 'Whose mother did you say you were again?'

'I didn't say and you didn't ask. I'm Taylor Myers, Ezra's mom,' Taylor smirked as Eric joined them, slipping an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.

'Making friends already on your first day of school?' he teased.

'Sure am, May just told me you're the hottest father here and we were discussing your ability to please a woman based on your physique,' Taylor replied, watching May go red.

'You certainly weren't complain last night,' Eric shrugged. Now May looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there.

'Oh and May also wanted to know if we can help out with Valentine's next week,' Taylor continued as if the details of her sex-life weren't just discussed in front of the other woman.

'Can't, Alan's taking the boys and we're going to be out of town.'

'Since when do we do Valentine's?' Taylor wanted to know, surprised he'd actually made plans.

'Since you spend our anniversary flying your bird in the sandbox,' Eric answered.

Just then Ezra ran up to them and threw himself at Taylor. She caught him easily and held him close, peppering kisses all over his face. 'You be good for Miss Leah today?'

Ezra nodded happily and turned to his classmates with a gigantic smile on his face. 'Told you I had a mommy,' he said proudly. 'She was just in another country keeping people safe with her bird like daddy keeps people safe here.'

The kids looked up to her in wonder and Taylor smiled, though she had to wonder how many of them were thinking Ezra meant an actual bird instead of her jet. Eric definitely found a good explanation as to why she'd been away. Eric steered her into the building after the kids and Taylor looked around. The building reminded her of the school Alyssa taught at. At the door of the classroom she peeked inside and smiled, just like Alyssa's classroom.

'When do you want to schedule the parent teacher thing?' Eric asked, checking the paper over the shoulders of some other parents.

'You pick,' Taylor shrugged. 'They granted me the full 30 days leave I requested, so anything is fine by me. You're the one actually working and you know our plans better than I do right now.'

She spotted a few curious glances her way at her comment as Eric pushed past the hesitant parents furiously checking their schedules on their phones to make something work. Eric randomly wrote Ezra's name on one of the time slots, causing a few groans from the other parents. They said goodbye to Ezra one last time and left the school. Taylor noticed the jealous looks she was getting and that Eric hadn't stopped touching her since he joined her on the playground. Feeling just a little possessive, she slit the hand resting on his waist down to rest on his ass just before they exited the building.

'So what now?' she asked, giving a squeeze.

'Breakfast,' Eric replied. 'And it's not you. I got reservations at The Hills.'

'That place is packed at any time of day. How did you manage it?'

'Called the moment your return date was confirmed and told them the sappy story of wanting to take my wife out after months of separation due to deployment. Apparently they're suckers for that shit.'

At the restaurant a waiter was showing them to their table when a familiar voice called out to Taylor. They looked over and saw Mr Collins get up from a table he shared with three men in business suits. The men were watching curiously as he apologised to the waiter before pulling Taylor into a hug.

'Welcome home.'

'Thank you, Alan,' Taylor smiled and hugged him back.

Alan turned back to his table after he released Taylor. 'Sorry about that, gentlemen,' he said. 'This is Eric Myers. He commands the Silver Guardians together with my son Wes. He's like part of the family. And this lovely lady is his wife Taylor. She came home yesterday from a 9 month deployment with the Air Force.'

The men nodded at them.

'I'll let you get on with your breakfast and I'll see you this weekend.'

Taylor slipped her hand in Eric's and gave it a squeeze as the waiter continued to lead them to their table in the back. 'Did you know he would be here?'

'No, and I didn't tell him we would be either,' Eric replied.

'It was a nice surprise anyway. Wes is going to be so jealous yet again.'

Eric laughed as they sat down at their table. 'It's not like we purposely pass him over every time.'

They enjoyed a nice breakfast after that, glad to spend some time alone together. When they left the restaurant they waved at Alan, who was still in his meeting. Eric took Taylor to a nearby toy store and she raised her eyebrow as she peered inside through the window.

'Brayden's birthday is all planned for Sunday. I just haven't bought his present yet. Figured we have time to buy one together so you were included in some of the planning,' Eric explained.

'I'm going to be so sick of our friends after this weekend, aren't I?'

'Yeah, it's a good thing they have lives too,' Eric laughed and lead her into the store.

After picking a present Eric drove them back home. Taylor kicked off her shoes and dropped down on the couch.

'So, what now?' she asked the ceiling.

'I believe you were promised a bath,' Eric smiled, his face appearing above her.

'Sounds heavenly,' Taylor sighed and allowed Eric to help her back to her feet. To her surprise he followed her upstairs. 'You're joining me? You hate baths,' she noted.

'You insisted the thing be big enough for the both of us and now you're complaining I actually want to join you? I did not take the day off for you to sit in that bloody tub for half of it and leave me alone.'

Taylor laughed and stole a kiss. After the bath was drawn, Taylor pulled her hair in a bun and joined Eric in the water. She settled against his chest and sighed contently. His arms circled around her, holding her close. Involuntarily her eyes started slipping shut. Eric pressed a kiss to her temple and Taylor smiled, her muscles relaxing.

Here in Eric's arms, there was no doubt in her mind: she was home.