Chapter 16: Eric's Return Part I

"Happy birthday, kiddo," Taylor stated. Tristen smiled and ran downstairs. Taylor picked him up while he was in mid run. "You're getting too big for this, kid, "she commented. Tristen shook his head.

"No I'm not," he replied.

Taylor laughed and she brushed her hair from her face. "Well, Aunt Alyssa and Uncle Cole, Aunt Jen and Uncle Wes are outside waiting for you," she informed.

"YAY!" Tristen shouted.

Taylor smiled as she watched her son run outside to greet them. She pushed her hair behind her ear and she looked down at her ring and closed her eyes.

(Flashback)

Taylor smiled as she held onto Eric's hands. "I, Taylor Earhardt, take you, Eric Myers, to be my husband. For the good times and the bad, for richer or for poor, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, and until death do us part. I give you my heart, soul, and life," she vowed. Eric smiled at her and gave her hands a small squeeze.

"I, Eric Myers, take you, Taylor Earhardt, to be my wife. For the good times and the bad, for richer or for poor, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, and until death do us part. I give you my heart, soul, and life," he vowed.

The minister nodded with a small smile before asking for the rings. Eric took one of the rings and started placing the ring onto her finger. "With this ring, I give you all I have. With this ring, I thee wed," he stated. Taylor took the other ring and slipped it into Eric's finger.

"With this ring, I give you all I have. With this ring, I thee wed," she answered.

The minister said another prayer before placing his hands on theirs. "By the powers invested in me in the state of California, I pronounce you husband and wife," he informed. Taylor smiled as she wrapped her arms around Eric's neck and kissed him.

(End Flashback)

Taylor opened her eyes when the phone rang. She walked over and picked the phone up. "Myers," she answered. There was silence on the other end for a minute.

"Is this Taylor Myers?" The caller asked.

"Um…yes," Taylor replied.

Taylor leaned against the wall with her back turned so the others couldn't see her. "This is Dr. Drake calling from Silver Hills Memorial. We had received a patient by the name of Eric Myers," the doctor informed. Taylor felt her heart stop and she shook her head slightly.

"Couldn't have gotten Eric," she mumbled.

"Why do you say that?" The doctor asked.

"My husband died eight years ago."

Taylor went to hang up when the doctor called out for her. "Mrs. Myers, I would like you to come down here to the hospital," she informed. Taylor let out a sigh and she nodded her head slowly.

"Fine," Taylor answered.

Then she hung up and she kicked the nearest wall with the tears pressing against her eyes. She looked up at the ceiling. "Is this some kind of cruel joke?" She asked.

"Mommy?" Tristen called.

Taylor looked over at her son. "Mommy, are you okay?" He asked. Taylor nodded and she squatted down in front of him.

"Um, listen, kid. I have to go back to Silver Hills. You stay here with them okay?" She asked.

Tristen looked a bit disappointed, but then he nodded. "Okay," he replied. Taylor kissed his forehead before standing up.

"Taylor where are you going?" Alyssa asked.

"I got a call from the hospital. I need to go back to Silver Hills."

Alyssa watched as Taylor left before she could say anything.

(Silver Hills)

Taylor walked into the hospital and she walked over to the front desk. "Hi, I'm Taylor Myers, I'm supposed to be meeting Dr. Drake?" She asked.

"That'll be me," a voice informed.

Taylor looked over at her and she got closer to her ."Is this some kind of joke? Eight years ago my husband was taken off the MIA list and he was considered dead. Now eight years later you call me up and tell me that you have him?" She asked angrily.

"Mrs. Myers, your husband has quite a few injuries when he was brought in last night," the doctor informed.

"I want to see him."

"I don't know if that's such a good…"

"LET ME SEE HIM!"

Dr. Drake sighed and she nodded her head slowly. "Alright, follow me," she answered. Taylor followed her.

When she came into Eric's room, she felt the lump rise in her throat, but she just tried to get rid of it. "What took you so long?" She asked. Eric turned to look at her. She suddenly felt the anger pulse through her. "Why didn't you listen to me? I warned you about that mission and you IGNORED ME!" She shouted.

"Taylor…" he trailed off.

"I spent months crying over you. You know that's not me, but I did. I was up every night crying over you."

Eric stood there staring at her. "And I hate that you left me all alone," she hissed. Eric walked over and she backed up. "Don't you touch me," she snapped. She glared at him. "You left me alone…you promised me you'd never leave me alone," she told him. Eric pulled her into a hug and she fought against him. "Don't…" she insisted. Taylor tried pushing him back, but he held onto her tighter. After a minute, she finally broke down. She buried her head into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm home, Taylor and I'm never leaving again," he vowed.

Taylor let the fact that Eric was finally back sink in completely and then the tears fell down her face. "I'm so sorry, Taylor," he murmured. Taylor didn't speak for a minute. She let out a sigh and she closed her eyes. "I'm happy to finally be home," he told her.

"I'm happy to have you home, Myers," she answered.

Taylor let him go and she pulled the chain from her shirt and she pulled his ring off the chain. She took his hand and she placed the ring back onto his finger. "You're still stuck with me," she commented. Eric smiled and he hugged her gently.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he answered.

"You have a lot of catching up on life here."

"Well, I have the time to have time for you to catch me up."

Taylor smiled and let Eric go. He walked back over and sat down on his bed with a small wince. That was when she noticed how beaten up he was. "Eric, what happened to you?" She asked. Eric let out a sigh and laid back down.

"Shouldn't really be standing," he commented.

Eric looked over at her and tried to change the subject. "Well, nice haircut," he commented. Taylor pushed her hair out of her face.

"Eric, don't try to change the subject on me. It may have been eight years but I'm still the same woman you married twelve years ago," she commented.

He laid back against the pillow and looked at the ceiling. "What happened to you? Why are you bruised up? Why can't you hardly stand?" She asked.

"One question at a time," he mumbled.

"Eric, tell me, please."

Eric let out a sigh and sat up. "Sit down, Taylor. It's a long story," he informed. Taylor sat down and Eric told her the whole story.

To Be Continued…