Chapter 17: Taking a Stand

A year after all this happened, Taylor decided to go talk to her mother face to face instead of trying again with a phone call.

Taylor drove up to the house and slowly got out of the truck and walked up to the house. She knocked on the door and Tina opened the door. "Taylor?" She asked. Taylor nodded and embraced her mother tight. "Oh, God! You're here, you're really here," Tina whispered. She stood back and touched her daughter's face.

"I can't believe how long it took me to even come back to this place," Taylor told her.

Tina smiled and let her daughter come inside.

Taylor and Tina sat down and Tina saw a look on Taylor's face. A look that Tina had twenty-four years ago. "Taylor, you're pregnant, aren't you?" She asked. Taylor smiled and nodded.

"I am, two months pregnant to be exact," Taylor replied.

Tina laughed. "Come here, baby," she whispered. She took Taylor into her arms with a smile. "A baby," she giggled. She sat back and had her hands on her daughter's face. "I'm going to be a grandma?" She asked. Taylor smiled with a nod.

"Seven months," Taylor replied.

Taylor laughed as her mother kissed her forehead and then she placed her head in her mother's lap. "Mom, Eric and I have been thinking about some things about this baby," she informed.

"Oh yeah, and what's that?" She asked.

"I don't think I can continue on with the Force like I am. Going on all these missions. Going into terrible danger. I love my job, I love working with Eric and everything, but I don't want to go on a mission with Eric and we both won't come back," Taylor explained.

"Baby, it's not my choice to make. If you want to take it easy with the Silver Guardians, then go ahead."

Taylor sighed and then a smile came across her face. "Mom, we found Eric's father," she informed. Tina gasped.

"Where did you find him?" She asked.

"On our honeymoon last year. I would've told you sooner, but dad kept picking up and hanging up," she informed.

"Well, is his father nice? What did Eric do when he found him?"

"Eric wasn't really thrilled when we found him. But then we learned that his father didn't want to leave Eric like he did, but with the kind of job he was in, it forced him to leave Eric."

"What kind of job was he doing?"

Taylor looked up at her mother. "His father was a spy. One of the jobs he was one, threatened Eric's life. So, his father left," she replied.

"Oh, sweet heart. Is everything all right between them?" Tina asked.

"Yeah, everything's just fine," she replied.

Tina smiled and touched her daughter's face. "That's great news, sweet heart," she whispered. Taylor nodded and then quickly sat up when the door opened and closed.

"Tina, you wouldn't believe..." Ben trailed off when he saw Taylor.

Taylor stood up. "Hi, dad," she greeted. Ben just stared at her.

"I thought I told you never to come here again," he reminded.

"Dad, you have to listen to me. I came here to talk to you. This quarrel between us has to end," she insisted.

"No, it doesn't have to end."

Tina stood up and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Ben, Taylor has something to tell you," Tina informed.

"What?" Ben asked.

Taylor felt nervous, she never felt nervous about talking to her father. That was until now. "Dad, I'm pregnant," she informed. Ben just stared at her.

"Ben, didn't you just hear your daughter?" Tina asked.

"I heard her, Tina. I was hoping that this wouldn't happen," Ben replied.

"What do you mead dad?" Taylor asked.

"I was hoping that you would realize what a loser Eric really is and you'd leave him to come back home."

"Dad, I love Eric. Eric and i just created a baby. I would've thought you'd be happy."

"Why would I be happy about my daughter is carrying the child of an unsuccessful man."

Taylor sighed as she grabbed her purse. "I give up," she mumbled. She looked at her mother. "I'll have Eric call you when the baby's due," she informed. She kissed Tina's cheek and was about to leave.

"Sweet heart, wait for me," she called.

She grabbed her purse. "Ben, until you get your act together. I'm going to be staying with Taylor and Eric,' she informed. She grabbed an already made suitcase in the closet and followed Taylor out of the house, leaving Ben there lost.

Eric had come home from work when he saw Taylor and Tina talking. He had gotten the call from Taylor that Tina was staying with them. "You can stay here as long as you like, Tina," he assured her.

"Thank you, Eric, that's so kind of you," she stated.

Eric then saw smiles on their faces. "What?" He asked. He sat down in a chair and Taylor sat in his lap.

"Eric, I have some good news," she informed.

"What?" He asked.

Taylor took his hand and placed it on her stomach. "We're having a baby," she replied. Eric was a bit surprised.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm three months along," she replied.

Eric hugged her tight with a smile. "Taylor, that's so wonderful," he murmured. He kept his hand on her stomach and still couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was going to be a father. "Have you told my father yet?" He asked.

"Nope, I was going to give you that opportunity," she replied.

Eric had her get up and grabbed the phone. "Hey dad," he greeted.

"Eric, hey son, is everything all right?" Patrick asked.

"Yeah, everything's great, dad, I called to give you some good news," Eric replied.

"What's that, son?"

"Dad, Taylor's pregnant."

There was a slight pause on the other end. "Chantel, Eric and Taylor are having a baby," he announced. Eric chuckled and waited for the shouts on the other end to calm down. "That's great, son. How far along is she?" Patrick asked.

"THREE MONTHS!" Taylor shouted to the phone when Eric held it up at her.

After a long talk with his father, Eric hung up and then he picked Taylor up and spun her around with a laugh. Tina smiled as she watched her daughter be the happiest woman alive with Eric. However, she just wished that Ben would see it that way.