All ATWT characters were not created in my imagination

"So when will Chris be home?"

"Oh he has to work late, double shifts, he'll be back later tonight."

"I'm surprised Bob gives him double shifts, with a pregnant wife and a step-son at home."

"Oh, Bob used to take them all the time."

"I can't believe the guy came out of retirement months after he retired."

"Well, Reid, they were one doctor short, and then you didn't come back after..."

"Obviously, I was a hard spot to fill. How is John anyway?"

"He's good, he and Lucinda got remarried a few years back...a lot of us expected to see you at the wedding, John treated you like a son."

Reid nodded and focused on his sandwich.

"Have you seen Luke yet?"

"I found him at Yo's last night."

Katie's eyes widened.

"Was he drinking last time I talked to you?"

She closed her eyes, "I'm sorry-"

"Why didn't you tell me? You know I would've been here in a second."

"Would you have Reid? Because, honestly, when you didn't come back after that first year, no one thought you'd ever come back. You weren't there for John's wedding, you didn't come when Chris was in the hospital again, you weren't here when Emma was in a coma. Everyone gave up Reid. No one expected you to come back, even Luke was close to giving up. Apparently, though, Bob didn't. He got you to come back. What possessed you to come back now is beyond me."

"I'm sorry, Katie okay? It was hard for me to stay away, too. But Katie, I just couldn't come back...I just...I tried, many times. I'm back now, though, doesn't that count for something?"

Katie closed her eyes, and thought back to the first Christmas Reid was gone...

"Chris! Can you get the door?"

"Sure!"

"What's that?" Kate asked when Chris walked back into the living room, holding a brown package.

Chris shrugged, "It was on the doorstop, no return address..."

Katie smiled,"I know who its from."

Luke opened the door to find a package sitting on his doorstep. He took it inside and opened the box up to find a leather journal, and a card that simply said: I still love you.

Luke slide down the wall and sobbed.

"We all missed you Reid, we all did, you were only here for about two years, but when you left, it seemed like there was a giant hole in Oakdale, and after a while, when you didn't come back we figured out how to fill it."

Reid looked down at his food, "I'm sorry. I did miss you, and the kid." He added, smiling at the next room, where Jacob was playing.

Katie teared up a little.

Reid gave Katie a look, something was up, "Chris isn't coming home tonight is he, Katie?"

Katie shook her head.

"What happened?"

"He cheated on me, Reid. He cheated on me, and I kicked him out."

"Who? When? What?"

"Some random girl, we had a fight, and he got drunk..."

"And you kicked him out? Katie! You're pregnant and you kicked the father of your baby out?"

"I couldn't deal with him, he left anyway, and I haven't seen him since, why should I care?"

"Fine, fine, its only your husband and the father of your child," Reid stood up, "I'll see you around Katie."

"Reid, why are you leaving?"

"Katie, when I decided I was ready to come back, I was thinking back to how happy everyone else would be, and maybe I could just melt back in again. I've only been here for a day and Ethan is sick, Luke is drinking, you're pregnant and separated from your husband. Bob and Kim are back, Casey and Allison left, I guess Oakdale was so different from any other town I've been to, it just seemed, magically, but I guess its not. I'm just having a hard time taking this all in. I'll see to you soon, okay?" Reid blew a kiss and left.

This is a weird story for me to write, I'm really enjoying writing it, but its pushing my creative limits, but thats a good thing :) Anyway, after getting that out...what do you guys think? I know Katie was a little OOC but it'll all work out ;) Please review guys! More to come :)