Present

When Milly woke up the next morning, Eric was still holding onto her tightly. Grateful, for such a wonderful caring husband, she laid there knowing their alarm was about to go on, which played soft classic music. Staying in her husband's arms a few minutes longer, she sighed deeply, resting her head against his chest, listening to his breathing, and thought back on truly how wonderful he had been. He had come such a long way from that strange, yet fassinating fifteen year old boy who used to sit outside of his windowsill with his arms outstretched. With many years of therapy, school, and hardwork, he was no longer sensitive to loud noises. Milly originally had wondered how Eric got used to working with saws, power tools, and motorcycle engines, and he simply shrugged and signed that it took awhile, but he became so used to the sounds they made, it just blended in. He also figured wanting a motorcycle license might have something to do with it, and spending so much time at the garage. Still though, certain noises still bothered him. Wherever they went to concerts, he would have his earplugs in, and once Mr. Fitzgerald across the street startled the absolute Hell out of him, when he was showing his grandson his hunting rifle in the driveway one summer afternoon while Eric was fixing Milly's car, and when the gun accidentally went off, as Mr. Fitzgerald fired the gun up into the air. Milly remembered Eric hurrying inside, his hands cupping his ears, as he ran inside, shaking his head. Milly, originally thinking it was just the loud sound of a car backfiring, hurried into the livingroom where Eric sat, clearly shaken. Walking over, she had to wave twice to get his attention.

"What happened?"

Eric quickly, and with shaking hands, signed what happened, before shutting his eyes and doing his meditation that he had learned whenever he was getting too upset. Milly, outraged, marched outside and read both Mr. Fitzgerald and his grandson the riot act. Still though, besides a few sensory things, his weekly therapy, and still struggling to speak more than a few words, Eric had pole vaulted in progress. He had graduated, loved school, played basketball for fun, as well as coached at the autism school he went to. He worked for Mr. Eggston for both the shop, and doing local jobs, and repaired bikes on the side. He had transformed Uncle Hugo's house into their house, cozy, inviting, and welcoming. He had turned from her crush, to boyfriend, to fiance', to husband and was by her side the day of the accident that took Jet, as well as the seven other miscarriages they had. He originally hated sign language, but now that's how he fully communicated. He had friends, and had turned into a handsome man in his late thirties, who had stood by her, loved her, and truly was the only one that understood her. Plus, he had inspired her to write a pretty successful book series.

Also it didn't hurt that she honestly believed he was magic, and he had proven that to her on Halloween night in 1986.

The alarm softly went off, and Milly watched her husband's eyes flutter open, before he blinked, and stared down at her. Instantly a smile spread across his face. He stared down at her, before Milly smiled back up at him.

"Morning."

Eric pulled back slightly, before gently brushing her hair back, before his eyes looked worried as he signed...

"Are you okay?"

Milly nodded, before sighing.

"Sorry about the drama last night. These nightmares I swear are going to kill me. Last night just felt real."

Eric then signed...

"Tell me what it was about?"

Milly shook her head.

"Eric no..."

Eric stared at her, and Milly rolled her eyes, before she rolled over slightly and shut the alarm off. Rolling back, her husband was laying there waiting for her. Shaking her head she shrugged.

"Well, we were young...like teenagers, and...it was the day of the accident with the taxi. But, instead of me getting hit...you pushed me out of the way, and got hit. It was so vivid and real Eric. You...died in my arms, there was blood everywhere..."

She lowered her eyes and tried to control her voice. The last thing she wanted to do was to cry and upset him. Instead, she swallowed hard, before taking a deep breath.

"I swear to God I would go crazy if something happened to you. Maybe it's a sign you shouldn't ride your bike for a little while..."

Eric looked up with his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, before he sat up, and motioned for her to join him. Together, they sat up against the headboard, before Eric shook his head and signed to her...

"Milly, I have the same problem with you. We both know now co-dependent we are codependent on each other. We both admitted our biggest fear is losing each other. You have no idea how worried I was when you hit your head that day on the field trip, or the pond, the accident, every miscarriage...I get it. I lose it and go mental. I know you feel the same way with me. I think you need to start going to therapy."

Milly sighed and made a face before Eric shook his head. He signed...

"No, I mean it. Honestly. The councilors really helped me over the years. I mean you're the only one that really knows me...knows what I can do. But we both lost parents, as well as children. You've been through a lot. First your dad, then the accident, your mom, the miscarriages, the stress of your career. I think it's adding up."

Milly stared down, hating how much he was right. Before she could say something. Her phone rang on the nightstand, next to a framed photo of them taken on their wedding day. Eric smirked, and signed...

"Think about it."

He then leaned over, kissed her cheek, before getting up and heading to the bathroom. Milly smiled sadly watching him, before she picked up her phone, and noticed that it was Geneva. Raising an eyebrow, she smiled, before picking up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, so you're going to owe me dinner real soon."

Milly smiled, confused, before she laughed.

"Why?"

"I called, and got you an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Weaver at 8:30. I'll email you the directions."

Milly's eyes widened.

"I thought she was booked up for almost six months?!"

"Well, lucky for you, my cousin who's good friends with Dr. Weaver's head nurse, just found out that her kids absolutely love your books, and when she heard you and Eric have been struggling to conceive, said to clear her morning tomorrow for you guys. So how about that?"

Milly sat on the bed in total shock, before she nervously laughed and thanked Geneva several times, before promising to call her later. Hanging up, she sat there in a sorta stunned silence. She had just listened to Eric tell her that maybe trying for another baby might not be the best idea since her nightmares were back, and here she just received the call of a lifetime. In fact, it might be the only chance they might only have to still do this. Holding her phone in her hand, she nervously chewed her lip, when Eric came out of the bathroom, with his toothbrush sticking out of his mouth.

He signed...

"What did Geneva want?"

Milly nervously smiled, and maybe for the first time ever in her whole twenty-one years with Eric...she didn't know what to say.

February 1987

It was Valentine's Day. Instead of going to the school dance, Milly decided to do something with less people with Eric, so he could be comfortable. What made everything better was the fact that Valentine's Day was on a Saturday. Milly came over to take Eric to the movies, by taking the bus downtown since it was too cold to walk. When she arrived, holding a heart shaped box with chocolates she had gotten for Eric at the drugstore. When she came over, Uncle Hugo said Eric was upstairs. Climbing them, she knocked on his door, before opening it. Eric was standing already in jeans, and his winter coat, and was smiling as if he was waiting for her. Milly instantly smiled.

"Happy Valentine's Day Eric..."

She held out the heart shaped box, when she paused, when Eric smiled and pulled out his hand which was hiding behind his back. Holding it was another one of the white and pink roses that she tried to pluck earlier that year. Milly's eyes widened in complete surprise, before she ran over. "Oh my God Eric! How did you even find another one of these?!" Eric did his famous smile and shrug, causing Milly to crack up completely. Wrapping her arms around him, she tightly hugged him, before pulling back slightly, smiling, and kissing him on the mouth. Eric smiled through the kiss, before Milly pulled back, and grinned.

"I hope you are ready for romance non-stop today. Geneva said this movie Some Kind Of Wonderful is great."

Even though, in the back of Milly's mind, she figured Geneva barely saw any of it since she was probably making out with Alex. Last night she had Geneva sleepover, and once they finally had enough of watching MTV downstairs, they moved into her bedroom, where Geneva said she would paint Milly's nails for tomorrow. Geneva was excited since Alex was taking her to the dance, and she had just bought a cute red and black dress at the mall earlier that week. In fact, it honestly seemed to be all she could talk about. Playing her radio softly, the two sat on Milly's bed, ready to paint nails, and flip through magazines, when Geneva grinned.

"Awww, that's so sweet! Your bedrooms face each other! Oh my God! You can see him!"

Milly looked, and could in fact see straight through to Eric's bedroom. This wasn't anything new, but she saw Eric standing in his white T-shirt for bed, and sweatpants, standing by Blizzard's cage, which was on his dresser, and feeding him for the night. Milly smirked, even just seeing the back of him, but shook her head and went back to holding out her hand so Geneva could start painting her nails.

"Nice view, he does have a cute butt."

Milly laughed, shocked.

"Geneva!"

Geneva rolled her eyes laughing, before she began. That's when she asked Milly if she was going to give Eric anything special for tomorrow? Milly motioned with her head back at her desk where the heart shaped box of candies sat.

"I picked that up for him, I know it's stupid but at least he likes chocolate..."

Geneva giggled and shook her head.

"No stupid! I meant...you know."

She raised her eyebrows up and down, causing Milly to pause for a second, before understanding completely. She blushed and stared at her.

"I already told you Geneva I'm waiting until I'm at least sixteen."

"You don't need to go all the way silly. There are other things you can do."

As Geneva continued to talk, Milly felt her ears get hotter and hotter as she sat back in shock.

Valentine's Day had come.

The two bundled up in their coats, and waited at the bus stop. Eric wore his earplugs for the ride, and stared out at the frost covered window, as Milly sat beside him, smiling, feeling absloutely wonderful that instead of going to the stupid dance, they were doing their own thing. Still, Geneva's words stayed in her mind, as she stared at Eric, who looked out the window perfectly content. They got to the movies, and got a Pepsi to share, and some gummy bears. The theater wasn't very crowded, and dark. Milly picked seats in the very back row. Once they sat, and their coats were off, they settled in, sharing the gummy bears, and taking turns sipping the Pepsi, as the trailers played. Nervously, Milly stared at Eric, glancing in his direction, as he continued staring up at the screen. His ear plugs now out. Milly ended up finding herself watching Eric more than the actual movie, and loved seeing his facial expressions as he smiled, and frowned.

Finally, she plucked the Pepsi and handed it to him.

"Put it in your cup holder, I wanna cuddle."

Eric took it, looking a little confused, as she lifted her coat, and remembered what Geneva said. Feeling her palms sweating, she took a deep breath, and grabbed her coat to drape over them. She raised the armrest up, before draping the coat over them, and snuggling in close. Eric raised an eyebrow, but lifted his arm to put around her, smiled, and continued staring up at the screen. Milly gulped, unable to believe she was this nervous, before shutting her eyes and breathing deeply. She loved Eric, and Geneva was right. He was still a boy after all, and maybe this was the experience that all the girls whispered about in the locker room? She sat up against him, before her hand crept underneath the coat. It was so dark, she really couldn't see what she was doing, and the fact her hand was underneath the jacket. She nervously eyed Eric, who was watching the movie closely, before her hand grazed over the crotch of his jeans. Instantly she saw Eric's eyes drop in surprise. Geneva had told her about opening the zipper, but she couldn't quite seem to find it.

Her fingers instead rubbed over the material of the jeans, as her fingers blindly explored. Instantly she cursed herself for trying something so stupid, when Eric turned his head and stared at her. That's when Milly felt Eric's reaction growing in his jeans, and knew that was a good sign. Her hand continued to squirm, and rub with little to no experience, before she rubbed a little harder. Eric shut his eyes, and began to breathe heavily. Milly watched him, completely fascinated. Eric seemed to be biting down on his bottom lip, when Milly then brought her other hand under the jacket, and this time could feel the zipper much better. She went to lower it, when Eric's eyes snapped open. He stared at her, before very gently slipping his hands underneath the jacket, and covering hers. Milly looked over surprised, before Eric brought their hands up over the jacket, and squeezed hers, before smiling, and leaning in to kiss her. Milly perfectly understood what Eric meant by bringing her hands up from under the jacket... He didn't want her to lower his fly. Part of her was relieved, another part worried that maybe it was her.

Instead, Eric put those fears away as he continued kissing her in the dark, all the while making sure their hands stayed safely on top of her coat.

Later...

Milly and Eric now sat at a booth at one of the front windows at Skip's, which was decorated to the nines with Valentine's Day decorations. Glittery hearts and Cupids hung from the ceiling. Both were having strawberry milkshakes, after having a pretty awesome early dinner of cheeseburgers and fries. Milly had quickly learned that Eric's favorite flavor was strawberry, so anytime they got a milkshake here, this was their flavor of choice. 1950's music softly played off the jukebox, and only a few people were actually eating inside, or sitting at the counter. Milly had really enjoyed how this cold day had ended up. In the theater, they made out for the remainder of the movie, only stopping once the lights came up as the credits rolled. Milly had been starting to get pretty worked up, and were getting those strange feelings again. Eric himself looked flushed, his hair a mess. They put their coats on, and took the bus to Skip's where they had been sitting all nice and warm, smiling across at each other. Eric kept smiling, as Milly laughed, and talked with him about absolutely nothing, yet felt as comfortable as she ever could. That's when she sighed, and knew she needed to finally get this off her chest. Sighing, she stirred her milkshake with her straw.

"So..."

She made sure her voice was low enough for only him to hear, even though nobody was sitting close enough to hear. She didn't exactly know how to come out with it, so she sighed.

"I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable back at the movies. I shouldn't have listened to stupid Geneva. She just...keeps telling me about all the stuff Alex and her are doing, and told me since it was Valentine's Day I should have done something...you know, special to keep you interested since that's what guys like..."

She dropped her eyes, knowing he was closely listening. She felt her cheeks burn as she gulped.

"I know we've made out and did some serious heavy petting...it seemed like you were enjoying it until I ruined it when I tried..."

She was cut off when Eric reached across and covered her hand with his, almost as if he was trying to show her it was okay. Milly smiled, and looked up at him.

"Thanks Eric..."

He smiled, his hand feeling comforting and warm over hers. Looking deep into his big brown eyes she smiled.

"Since we're a couple we need to work on communicating better I guess. I know that's hard for you, but we'll figure it out. I know...the whole..."

She glanced around before lowering her voice a little more.

"Sex thing is new to us and strange, but I told Geneva I want to wait until I'm sixteen. I know you're a guy and..."

Eric instead gently squeezed her hand, and instantly Milly knew that he was showing her it was okay. Smiling, she dropped her eyes and blushed again. Lifting them, she stared across at him feeling much better.

"So? We talk again when I'm sixteen? Until then, over the clothes, okay?"

Eric smiled, and Milly knew this was a yes. Smiling, and staring at him, suddenly they were interrupted when suddenly a straw wrapper was blown in their direction. Milly and Eric looked over, and saw Keith and Larry sitting at the counter, both most likely on their way to the dance. Both wore their school jackets and cracked up.

"Awwww! If it ain't the retard and the bride of the retard!"

Milly felt her blood boiling, before she rolled her eyes, grabbed her wallet, and threw cash down on the table.

"Let's go Eric..."

She slid out the booth, and grabbed her jacket, Eric did the same, and she tried ignoring the chuckles they were getting, before Milly took Eric's hand, shot them both a look, and hurried out into the freezing cold. It was one of the coldest nights so far, and the air hit Milly like a thousand little knives. Still, she felt her face burning with anger, as she stood on the sidewalk with Eric.

"Don't listen to those jerks..."

"Hey Milly!"

Milly and Eric turned, before seeing Larry and Keith climbing down the steps, their hands shoved in their jacket pockets, and grinning as they stared down at them. Keith got down first, before he circled around them.

"So, I wanted to tell you that it's cool about what happened at Skateland. I like a girl with a little fight in her. I just...can't seem to understand what you're doing with an idiot like Gibb?"

Milly glared at them, not wanting them to ruin this special day for Eric and her. She took a deep breath.

"Get out of my way..."

"Come on, we just gotta know what you got underneath all those clothes to keep this idiot interested..."

Larry then reached into Milly's open jacket, and roughly yanked down at the collar of Milly's blouse, showing her bra for just a second. Milly jumped back and cried out in anger and surprise, when suddenly the impossible became possible.

Eric stepped forward, face crumpling, and for the very first time since she had met Eric, she saw he was furious. He stepped in front of Larry, who seemed almost as taken aback as Milly did, and before he could say anything, Eric curled his fist closed and punched Larry straight in the throat.

Larry's eyes widened, bugging out of his head, as he lost his breath, and fell into the snowbank. Keith yelled, and was about to push them over, when Milly saw her chance and kneed him right between the legs. Keith let out a loud groan, and fell onto the icy sidewalk, before Eric squeezed Milly's hand tight to show her it was time to start running. She ran with him, her heart pounding in her chest, too afraid to honestly turn around to see if they were chasing them. Twice, she nearly slipped on the sidewalk, but Eric held her tight as they ran. Finally they reached the front of their houses, and both stopped, out of breath, trying to calm down, before Eric turned towards her. Milly could see he was worried, but she shook her head and laughed.

"I'm okay. Eric! That was amazing!"

Eric smirked, before Milly threw her hands around him and kissed him as lightly it began to snow again.