Chapter 18: His Promise

Eric was speaking with Wes about the Silver Guardians when Tristen came running downstairs. "DADDY!" He shouted. Eric glanced up for a brief second.

"Wes, I have to go. I have to get Tristen to school," Eric informed.

"So jumping right into the dad role?"

"Yeah. Talk to you later."

Eric hung up. "Ready to go?" He asked. Tristen nodded and he grabbed his backpack.

"Where's mommy?" Tristen asked.

"Your mom went to work," he replied.

"Oh."

Tristen grabbed onto Eric's hand as they left the house. Tristen got into Eric's truck and Eric drove his son to school.

They came up to the school and two boys were running up to the truck. "Hey, Tristen," they greeted. Eric watched as Tristen went to get out of the truck, but stopped.

"You picking me up too?" Tristen asked.

Eric nodded. "I'll be here," he replied. Tristen smiled as he hugged Eric and got out of the truck. Eric watched as Tristen walked up to the boys and they ran to go play before the bell rang. Eric pulled his sunglasses on and drove off.

Eric came back to the house and walked over to the kitchen table to the mission that was sitting there that was sent to him. He closed his eyes and he looked down at his wedding ring. He jumped when his cell-phone went off. "Myers," he answered. Eric listened to Wes on the other end. "I'll be there in like ten minutes," he informed. Eric left the house, leaving the mission there on the kitchen table.

Taylor came home and she saw that no one was home. "Eric?" She called. When there was no answer, she walked into the kitchen to see if Eric left a note or something of where he went. However, she saw the paper on the table. She walked over and picked it up to see that it was a mission that was sent to Eric. She felt the anger rise up in her. "Damn you Eric, not again," she hissed.

A few hours later, Eric came home to find his wife sitting on the couch with a look that could kill. "You're back early," he commented.

"I requested for a little bit of leave," she answered.

Eric took off his sunglasses and jacket. "Okay, and I'm getting this look because?" He asked. Taylor held up the paper.

"What is this? Because I found this on the kitchen table when I came home from the base," she replied.

"It's a mission that was sent to me."

Taylor stood up with a glare. "You said no more," she reminded. Eric didn't answer and headed for the kitchen. "You told me in the hospital that this wouldn't happen again," she pointed out. Eric walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottled water in there. "Talk to me, Eric," she snapped. He put the bottle down and leaned against the counter.

"Being the Silver Guardians is my job, Taylor," he pointed out.

"You can't just pack up and leave like you used to. You're a father now."

Eric played with his ring. "If you want to break that little boy's heart by telling him you're leaving. Be my guest. However, you're not the one who raised him on your own for eight years, listening to him ask you every single day "When's daddy coming home?" Eric, you can't do this to Tristen," she explained. Eric stared at her.

"He didn't know who I was," he pointed out.

"He knew that his father went out on a mission and never came back."

"I am back."

"Eight years later!"

Eric rubbed the back of his neck and he walked into the living room. "You don't even care," she hissed. He stopped walking and Taylor was glaring at him through the tears in her eyes. "YOU DON'T CARE!" She shouted. She pushed him with the anger that was running through her veins. "THIS IS YOUR LIFE! YOU CAN'T JUST PICK UP AND LEAVE!" She shouted. Eric glared at her and grabbed her arms before she could push him again.

"The Silver Guardians' is my job," he told her.

"Being a father is your job," she hissed.

They didn't even hear Tristen come in because of all the shouting. "Daddy?" He called. Eric looked up to see his son standing there. "You said you'd pick me up," he reminded. Eric mentally kicked himself, he forgot.

"Sorry, Tristen, I forgot," he apologized.

Taylor glanced at Tristen before she glared at Eric. "Why are you fighting?" Tristen asked. Taylor crossed her arms over her chest.

"Tell him, Eric. Tell Tristen why we're fighting," Taylor snapped.

Eric glared right back at her before he looked over at Tristen. "I have to go for a little while," he answered. Tristen shook his head. "Uncle Wes wants me to help him fight some bad guys," he added.

"NO!" Tristen shouted.

He ran over and latched onto Eric's waist. "DON'T GO DADDY!" He shouted. Taylor bit her lip to see the tears in her son's eyes as he held onto Eric. Eric picked Tristen up and hugged him. "Don't go, daddy, that bad guy will get you again," he told him. Eric sighed and closed his eyes. "Please don't go again, daddy, please, please, please," he begged. Eric sighed as he set Tristen down and he kneeled in front of him.

"Tristen, I'm going to make you a promise," he informed.

Eric pulled off the chain that he had around his neck that two tags on them. "Almost like mommy's," Tristen commented. Eric nodded.

"But look here, Tristen," he informed.

Tristen looked at the tags to see Eric and Taylor's names written on them. "When I get back, I promise I'll get another tag, but your name will be written on it. I promise that this time, I will come back," he assured him. Tristen stared at the tags. "Okay?" He asked. Tristen nodded his head slowly and he hugged Eric tight. Taylor sighed and watched as Tristen went upstairs. Eric stood up from the floor and looked at Taylor. Taylor turned and headed towards the backyard. "Well, here's a shock, Taylor speechless," he mocked. Taylor went to throw a punch at him, but he caught her hand. "That might've worked eight years ago, but not now," he informed.

"Shut up," she hissed.

Eric grabbed her wrist before she could go far. "Let go," she muttered.

"No," he answered.

"Let me go, Eric."

"No."

Eric grabbed onto both of her arms and saw the tears threatening to fall down her face. "Why do you have to do things the hard way?" He asked. Taylor shook her head and got him to let go of her arms.

"It's history repeating itself," she replied.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

Taylor had her back turned towards him, staring at the pictures that were hanging on the wall. "What was that supposed to mean, Taylor?" He asked. Taylor turned to look at him.

"I'm pregnant again," she replied.

Eric looked at her in disbelief. "Pregnant?" He asked.

"Did I stutter?" She asked.

"So you didn't request…"

"No, Eric. I didn't request for my leave. My CO told me to go on leave."

She glared at him and she leaned against the wall. "You're leaving on a mission and leaving me pregnant," she snapped. Eric shook his head.

"It won't be like before," He assured her.

He walked over and he hugged her. Taylor sighed as she hugged him back. "Don't leave us alone again, Eric," she murmured.

"I won't, I'll be here this time," he assured her.

Taylor sighed as she placed her head on his shoulder. "I love you, so much," she murmured. Eric kissed the top of her head.

"I love you too, Tay, always have always will," he answered.

"Promise you'll come back?"

"I promise."