Chapter 12: Five Years Later

Taylor smiled to see that she was able to get some leave. For her first day off from the base, she was taking Tristen to the zoo. Alyssa was taking Elizabeth with them.

Taylor held onto Tristen's hand as they walked around each of the areas. "Mommy, I wanna go see the birdies," Tristen told her. Taylor looked down at him to see him so anxious.

"We'll see the birdies in a minute," Taylor answered.

"Aww, I wanna see them now," Tristen whined.

Taylor picked him up and had him sit on her shoulders. "We'll see them in a little while," Taylor repeated. Tristen pouted but then he played with his stuffed eagle. Alyssa looked over at her.

"He's just a stubborn as you are," Alyssa commented.

Taylor shook her head slightly before setting him down on the ground again. "Nah, he's like his father," she answered. She watched as Tristen and Elizabeth ran over to the giraffe cages.

"You still wearing his ring?" Alyssa asked.

Taylor pulled the chain from her shirt to show her. "Taylor…" Alyssa trailed off.

"Alyssa, don't start with me on the whole moving on thing. I've just got my life back together as a single parent," Taylor answered.

Tristen ran back up to her. "Mommy, can we see the birdies now?" He asked. Alyssa giggled behind her hand. Taylor crouched down in front of him.

"Tristen, mommy said we'll see them in a little bit okay?" She reminded.

Tristen sighed. "Okay," he answered.

They walked around the zoo and Tristen still wanted to see the birds. "Mommy, look," Elizabeth called out. Alyssa and Taylor looked up to see a white tiger in the cage.

"Well go see it, Lizzie," Alyssa told her.

Elizabeth ran over the cage and Taylor went to look over at Tristen. "Tristen, do you want to…" she trailed off. Her heart stopped, Tristen was gone. She got up. "Tristen?" She called. She looked around frantically for her son, he was nowhere insight. "TRISTEN!" She shouted. Alyssa stood up and had Elizabeth come back over. "Alyssa, he's gone," she told her.

"Don't panic, he couldn't have gone too far," Alyssa answered.

Taylor took off running to find her son. "TRISTEN!" She shouted. She ran up to random people. "Have you seen my son? He's about this tall, he has short black hair, brown eyes, he's carrying an eagle," she explained. The couple she was talking too shook their heads sadly.

"We haven't seen him," the man answered.

Taylor bit her lip and she ran all over the place searching for him. Every possibility of what happened to her baby boy was going through her mind. "TRISTEN!" She shouted. She ran around the entire zoo and then she stopped. "Oh God! I know where he is," she whispered. Taylor ran off towards the eagle cages.

Taylor came to the eagle cages and she felt relief well up inside her when she saw him staring at the eagles. "Tristen," she called. Tristen looked up with a grin on his face.

"Look mommy, birdies," he told her.

Taylor walked over and scooped him up from the ground, hugging him tight. "Don't you ever run away like that again. Don't disappear on me like that," she murmured. Taylor kissed the side of his head and felt the tears press against her eyes. "Promise mommy you won't disappear like that again," she told him. Tristen held onto Taylor.

"No more disappearing," Tristen answered.

Alyssa stood there with Elizabeth by her side and saw for the first time ever, saw emotions that Taylor was hiding for years. They were finally released.

(Taylor's House)

Taylor had put Tristen to bed and she was staring at her sleeping son. She stroked his face and she bit her bottom lip as she watched him sleep. "Taylor, I think it's safe for you to let him sleep," Alyssa told her. Taylor stood there for a minute longer before coming out of the bedroom. She closed the door behind her.

She walked into the living room and she sat next to Alyssa. "Where's Elizabeth?" Taylor asked.

"She's sleeping in the guest room. Poor girl was worn out," Alyssa replied.

Taylor nodded and she ran her fingers through her blonde hair that was now a few inches above her shoulders. "Anything new? Besides today?" Alyssa asked. Taylor let out a sigh and she rubbed her forehead.

"Was setup on a couple of blind dates," Taylor replied.
"Are you serious?"

Taylor sighed. "Yeah…apparently my son "needs a father figure" in his life," Taylor mumbled. Taylor shook her head. "No way, not happening," Taylor answered.

"No one's forcing you to date," Alyssa commented.

"What do you think blind dates are for, Alyssa?" Taylor muttered.

She shook her head. "I don't need another man in my life. The only one I need is asleep in his room right now. There's no need for a father to be in his life. I've done very well by myself," she pointed out. Alyssa nodded in agreement. Taylor looked over at the mantelpiece to see her and Eric's wedding picture sitting there. "The only father Tristen would've ever needed was the man I married nine years ago," Taylor added. Alyssa placed a hand on her shoulder and Taylor tilted her head back with a sigh. "Tristen only needs me in his life," she added.

"He's your son, you have every right to want to raise him by yourself," Alyssa pointed out.

Taylor nodded her head slowly and let out a sigh.

That night, Taylor was tossing and turning in her bed. The sweat was making her hair stick to her forehead.

(Taylor's Dream)

Taylor looked around to see that she was in some kind of field. "Where am I?" She asked. She realized no one could see her or hear her.

"GET UP!" A voice shouted.

Taylor looked over and saw one of the slaves fall to the ground. "GET UP!" The slaver driver ordered. Taylor walked closer and her eyes widened in horror. The slave driver kicked the slave and the slave revealed to be Eric.

"Eric!" She gasped.

Eric was thrown to his feet. "Get back to work scum," he snapped. Eric was pushed back to work and the former Quantum Ranger stumbled to the ground. Taylor gasped in horror when the slave driver raised his whip.

"ERIC!" She screamed.

(End Dream)

Taylor woke up with a gasp. "Eric!" She gasped. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and she was breathing hard. "Eric," she whispered.