You can call me Doc again!
For Taylor and Ridge, life couldn't be more beautiful. Both enjoyed their love and were happier than they had been for a very long time. By now, everyone in their circle knew about their involvement. Susan had immediately called Stacy and told her everything and Rosa shared the news with her husband John. Taylor and Ridge had met Marc and Steven in a bistro during their lunch break and also informed them about their relationship. The two were extremely happy for them. Steven sneered.
"It's about time you guys finally got the clue. We were starting to think if we should lock you guys in an elevator or something else to finally get it to spark." Taylor and Ridge looked at each other, startled.
"Well, it worked out our way, thank god!"
On Friday night, everyone came together at Stacy's house, she was giving a housewarming party. Everyone kept glancing at the newly in love. While they had been inseparable before, now they were literally glued to each other and couldn't get away from each other. Stacy thanked everyone for the help and the loving gifts. Susan took the opportunity to congratulate Taylor and Ridge on their new found happiness.
"Now when exactly did you guys get together?" asked Marc with interest. Taylor was a little surprised by this question.
"Do you want an exact report with date, time, position of the stars, etc.?"
"The day will do!"
"Well, if you want to know, it was last Sunday." Ridge replied.
"Do you know what that means?" questioned Marc, and everyone thought for a moment. Finally, Susan, Stacy and John high-fived each other. Ridge and Taylor didn't understand a thing.
"Can someone tell us what's going on?"
"Nothing special, we just each won a box of chocolates."
"Uh-huh, and how?"
Everyone looked down at the floor a little embarrassed, then it dawned on Taylor.
"You weren't betting on whether we'd get together, were you?"
"No, of course not!" retorted Stacy. "Do you think we're rookies, we made a bet with each other about when it would happen!"
"Exactly!" confirmed Marc. "Couldn't you have waited a little longer?" Ridge gave Taylor a hug.
"I couldn't have waited another second."
As they all sat together, Rosa watched amused as Taylor and Ridge sat snuggled close on the sofa, lovingly giving each other little kisses over and over again. She nudged Susan and Stacy. They all giggled. Susan threw a handful of popcorn at them.
"Hey you two marshmallows, enough already!"
"What did you just call us?"
"You remind me of two marshmallows that you fish out of a bag together because they stick together so tight. You have to pull on them forever to separate them." Everyone snorted at the comparison.
"We're not that bad." Demonstratively, they sat apart a bit.
"Exactly, we are quite capable of controlling ourselves." Marc was telling a story about a difficult customer who drove him to despair when Rosa nudged the others again. Ridge and Taylor sat there again in the same intimate embrace as before. Stacy glanced at her watch.
"Respect! That was exactly 5 minutes and 40 seconds."
When Susan dropped off some groceries for Taylor the next day, she wondered about her appearance. Taylor was wearing only her robe and had curlers in her hair. She was just putting her makeup on.
"For what occasion all this trouble is for?"
"Susan, I don't have time at all. Ridge will be here any minute."
"I assumed that. Otherwise, I don't think you'd be getting all dressed up and you've been cooking, too. Smells pretty delicious." Susan stepped through the open patio door. Taylor had lovingly decorated the table with candles and flowers and even hung lanterns.
"Wow, what you guys want to celebrate tonight?"
"You think it's too fancy? I just thought… I mean… It's our first night together and I want everything to be perfect."
"It might be a little cheesy, but it's also totally romantic. I'm sure Ridge will love it."
"I hope so, I have to keep getting ready."
Susan followed her. Taylor stood in front of her closet.
"Which dress should I wear?"
"I'd go with the one he gave you for the opening ceremony."
"That's right, it's a good fit!" Taylor got the dress ready and went back to the mirror. She saw Susan couldn't help grinning. "What is it?"
"Nothing! You're just acting like a high school girl on the night of her prom."
"Honestly, that's exactly how I feel." Susan took her in her arms.
"Relax. I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful night. You should just enjoy it."
"You're right!" Taylor took a deep breath. "I need to calm down. Thank you!"
"You're welcome. I'll go! Oh, and I'd take those (she tapped Taylor's curlers) out before. Unless Ridge is into that kind of thing!"
Taylor was ready. She stood in the kitchen to check on their dinner again. Her nervousness had subsided, she was just looking forward to the evening. The doorbell rang. She literally flew there.
"Hey, I'm glad you're here!" Ridge wrapped her in his arms and kissed her lovingly. As they stepped into the apartment, Ridge noticed the smells coming from the kitchen.
"It sure smells delicious, makes me remember what I love about you."
"Oh! So you just fell in love with me because I'm such a good cook?!"
"No! That's just one of your endless qualities and characteristics that I love so much!"
"You always manage to woo me."
"One of my easiest exercises Doc. By the way, you look absolutely beautiful." He spun her around.
"A lady can't look bad in a Forrester Creation dress. Thanks again. How did you even know I wanted this dress so badly."
"I know you and that look of you when you really want something. You have a certain twinkle in your eye when you do."
"Really? No one's ever told me that before."
"Maybe no one else has noticed it yet."
"No one knows me like you do! I set the table for us outside on the patio. I thought it's such a beautiful evening." When Ridge stepped out, he was really impressed.
"Wow, this looks stunning!"
"I just wanted this to be a memorable night." He stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her hips.
"It most certainly will be!" They kissed devotedly. Before dinner, they toasted each other to a magical and unique time. They both enjoyed the atmosphere. After they finished their meal, Ridge went to the small stereo and put on some music.
"May I have this dance?" Taylor complied with his request and tightly entwined they danced together. The music ended and they got comfortable on one of the couches on the patio. They looked up at the dark blue sky over San Francisco. Taylor snuggled up to him.
"It's so nice to lie here with you. I still can't believe it."
"I feel the same way!"
"Did you ever think, when you first moved here, that one night we'd be together like this?"
"Certainly not. Especially not the night you threw the door at my head."
"Oh, my poor man!" She tenderly kissed the spot on his forehead where the bump had once been. "Better?"
"Much better! ...Anyway, I'm very happy the way everything turned out and we're lying here together like this now. It's good to hold you in my arms again! It's good to have you back, Doc!" Taylor beamed at him.
"Say that again!"
"It's good to have you back?"
"No, the other thing."
"Doc?!" She smiled broadly.
"Right!" She snuggled even closer to him.
"Does that mean I can call you that again?" She nodded.
"Yes. I officially give you permission to call me Doc again."
"Wow, I'm honored!"
"Actually you've been calling me that already a lot lately!"
"You noticed that? I had tried so hard not to. It really wasn't easy at first, but then I got used to calling you Taylor. At some point, there was something special about it, too."
"But that's what everyone calls me, even though no one pronounces my name as you do. I love you so much Ridge!"
"I love you too Taylor, more than anything in the world Doc!" They looked at each other for a long moment, then sank into an endless deep kiss. "I think it's time for a scenery change!"
Taylor led Ridge into her bedroom. Closely embraced, they lowered themselves onto the bed. They didn't want to stop kissing and touching each other. Each could feel the other's heartbeat. Ridge looked deep into Taylor's eyes. She pulled him to her.
"Love me Ridge!" she whispered softly. They spent the next few hours showing their love to each other.
The next morning, Taylor woke up first. As she turned to her side, her eyes fell on Ridge, who was still fast asleep. Gently, she leaned over and stroked his face with her fingers, kissing him tenderly. She thought back to the previous night and looked at him in love. She cuddled up to him while he, still asleep, put an arm around her. Sighing happily, she drifted back to sleep. Ridge raised and looked down at Taylor who was asleep in his arms. He brushed her hair out of her face, leaned over and kissed her gently until she finally opened her eyes.
"Good morning Doc!
"It is indeed the most beautiful morning I've had in a long time. Lying here in your arms and being woken up by you. I could get used to this!"
"That's good. Because I plan to repeat that many mornings." She replied with a broad smile. For a while no word was spoken. She stroked over his torso with her fingers while he stroked her back and played with her hair. She sighed deeply.
"I never thought I would be so happy again. I love you!"
"I love you too!" They looked each other straight in the eye and kissed. Taylor pulled the blanket over them and soon, they were back in their own world.
As they lay together like that, they forgot all sense of space and time. Neither of them made any move to get out of this bed anytime soon. That's when Taylor's phone rang. She grumbled and snuggled even closer to Ridge, trying to ignore the ringing. A few moments later, message tones sounded and it rang again.
"Maybe you should answer it. It seems important." Taylor reached for her phone to see who dared to disturb her. "Well, who wants to talk to you so bad?"
"That was Susan." Taylor opened the messages and was terrified. She looked at her watch.
"Oh no! Damm it! She buried her face in her hands.
"What is it?"
"Do you realize it's after two pm already?!" Ridge looked at the alarm clock and just said, unimpressed.
"So what?"
"I was supposed to meet Susan and the others for lunch!"
"Oh! I hope they didn't wait for you to place their order."
"Very funny! What I'm going to do, they're probably sitting there, worrying about God knows what. I've got to call Susan right away."
"Why? They'll have realized by now that you're not coming."
"If I don't call her, she'll be right here at our door kicking it in if necessary!" Taylor dialed the number and put a finger to Ridge's lips. "Not a word from you!" Immediately, Susan frantically picked up.
"Taylor, finally! We were all worried about you already! Where are you? What's going on?"
"Hi Susan, sorry I didn't call sooner. The thing is, I have a terrible migraine and have been asleep the whole time. I just didn't think to call ahead and cancel." Ridge gave her an offended look and poked her in the sides. She tried to fight him off.
"Oh you poor thing, it doesn't matter. I just hope you're feeling better by now. Do you need anything? Want me to come over?"
"No, no. I'm fine, I've taken something and I'm going to go back to sleep. Sorry again." Ridge grinned, he started tickling her neck with his nose. She struggled to suppress her laughter.
"That's okay, I wish you a speedy recovery! Let me know if you need anything." Taylor hung up and slumped back into the pillows. Ridge looked at her with a feigned shocked expression.
"Migraine?"
"Yeah, what else was I supposed to tell her? The truth? That I'm madly in love with you and had the time of my life so that I forgot about my best friends? I had to say something to calm her down and still not come here. When you have a migraine, everyone leaves you alone."
"Still! That's not exactly a compliment"
"Men! They always need reassurance." she teased him.
"Oh, and women always want to hear that they are the greatest, the most beautiful, the only one..."
"Stop it or I'll shut you up."
"Oh yeah, and how?" She pulled him to her and kissed him with passion.
They sat together in the kitchen, they made some omelets. While they were eating, Ridge's phone rang this time. It was Rosa.
"Say, where are you? Remember, we made an appointment for today. We were going to take inventory on the next order."
"Oh yes, I know, sorry. I'm on the road right now and I'm stuck in a real stupid traffic jam." Taylor stifled a laugh. "There's absolutely nothing going on here right now, I was just about to call you. I'm afraid I will not make it."
"Well, you could have thought of that sooner! See you tomorrow then!" Taylor gave him a mocking look.
"A traffic jam? And that's supposed to be better than my migraine?" She chuckled, finding it reassuring that she wasn't the only one who had messed up an appointment. Ridge smirked as well.
"Seems to me we're not a good influence on each other if we suddenly start ditching our friends."
"I don't see it that way. We just assign our priorities."
"I love the way you think Doc."
Later that evening, they lay together cuddled up on the couch. Taylor flipped through a medical journal and Ridge busied himself with a crossword puzzle. All at once, a thunderstorm started outside. It suddenly became dark and there was thunder and lightning. They watched the spectacle through the large glass front.
"Looks pretty uncomfortable!"
"Yes, but luckily we're safe here. Nice, warm and cozy!" Taylor snuggled close as he pulled her into his arms. Taylor noticed Ridge's mind wandering.
"Hey, where are you right now?"
"Well a memory just popped up in my mind." She looked at him tensely, and he pulled her even closer. "Remember the night before this happened with Sheila? We were all sitting together in the living room, eating pizza and there was a thunderstorm too. The girls were terrified."
"I remember!"
"You told the kids that story about, the thunder were just the angels bowling in heaven." Ridge paused, it was hard for him to talk about this. Taylor stroked his hair. "The first few months after you were gone, every time there was a thunderstorm, the kids would run to the window and wait for the thunder. Whenever there was a really loud crack, they cheered and clapped, convinced you had just scored a strike. Sometimes they would literally wait for a thunderstorm, for them it was always a special connection with you." Taylor was touched by this story.
"What about you? Did you cheer and think of me too?"
"I've always thought of you Doc, but to be honest, more so on the quiet thunders. Like three or four pins down. I know your bowling skills."
"Hey!" she punched him in his stomach. "You're so mean, I'm not that bad."
"Yeah, right! I would advise you, before you want to compete in the Angel Bowling Championship, you should train here on Earth for a while. For about the next 40/50 years."
"Will you coach me?"
"Of course, Doc!"
The next morning, Ridge got ready early to head home to change before work. Taylor didn't have appointments until the afternoon and planned to work at home in the morning. They kissed goodbye.
"Do you really have to go already?"
"Yes, unfortunately! Rosa and I have to do the accounting and she'll rip my head off if I leave her alone with this. Besides, there's piles of work waiting on your desk." Taylor grumbled.
"I hate it when you're right!" He laughed and kissed her again. Reluctantly, he broke away from her embrace.
"See you at lunch?"
"Yeah, I'll pick you up."
Taylor sat hunched over her work. Susan showed up with a cocky grin.
"I thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing, since you had such a terrible headache yesterday." Taylor noticed the slightly mocking tone. Uncomfortably, she turned away.
"Thanks, I'm fine."
"I'm sure you had a helpful remedy for your discomfort." Taylor looked at her uncomprehendingly.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You don't? You know who I saw earlier when I came back from jogging? Ridge! He was here pretty darn early, don't you think, or should I rather suggest, that he hasn't left this apartment since Saturday night. And you didn't have a migraine yesterday either, you were perfectly fine." Taylor turned bright red and bit her lips. "I had my doubts yesterday, but I was inclined to believe you..."
"Okay I admit it! Sorry, we just lost track of time."
"Yeah, yeah! That's how it is when you're in love..." As if to save the day, the doorbell rang again. A delivery man stood there with a huge bouquet of colorful roses.
"Dr. Taylor Hayes?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Well that's good for you! I'm taking this beautiful day, will be even more beautiful now." and he handed her the bouquet. Taylor accepted them surprised, she tipped the man generously, and turned back to Susan.
"Wow, that's what I call a bouquet!" Taylor set the flowers down and searched for a card. When she read it, her whole face lit up.
"From Ridge?"
"Who else?!"
"That must have been an amazing night!"
"Susan!" Taylor gave her a penetrating look. Slowly, his questioning was getting to her. "None of your business at all!" Susan, on the other hand, enjoyed teasing Taylor. She grabbed the card.
"What does this mean, 'I want to get it right this time! Ridge' "
"That's an old story between Ridge and me."
"Oha, tell! I love anecdotes like that. Come on dish!"
"You're a pain in the ass! Well back when we first met, our relationship wasn't exactly that simple. After we made love for the first time back then, Ridge didn't contact me for a few days after that. When we did see each other again, I was pretty mad at him. I held it against him for what I would have liked, including getting some flowers."
"I see, well, I'll leave you. I'm sure you have to get ready for a date with Mr. Right."
At the Forester boutique, it was lunch time. Rosa was just about to lock the door when Taylor walked in.
"Hey, are you feeling better? Too bad you weren't there yesterday." Taylor was blushing again.
"Yeah! No big deal."
"Nice! Did you know, Ridge stood me up yesterday. There I am waiting for him for hours and the gentleman just doesn't show up."
"But it wasn't his fault he got stuck in traffic...at least that's what he told me." Taylor felt quite uncomfortable with the conversation. She tried to get away from Rosa as quickly as possible. Ted came up to them.
"Who will join me for lunch? I'm starving!"
"I'm in!" said Rosa "And you and Ridge?"
"Well, actually, we'd rather..."
"Actually, you'd rather be alone, we get it!"
Taylor whirled into Ridge's office.
"Hey! Here I am!" She rushed up to him, sat on his lap, and kissed him passionately.
"Wow, what did I do to deserve such a welcome?"
"For doing everything the right way!" Ridge understood and pulled her even closer. That's when Taylor's eyes fell on a detail. On one wall hung the portrait Ridge had sketched of her. She walked toward it.
"That's me! When did you draw that?"
"When I was sitting here, actually trying to work, and I just had you on my mind. Originally this should be a beach dress, but as you can see, I was thinking more about the woman in the dress."
"Kind of spooky how well you know me!" He stepped toward her. "I know every inch of your beautiful face inside and out."
"Oh well, I can read your mind for that. One look in your eyes and I know exactly what you're thinking."
"Really? What are my eyes telling you right now?"
She whispered something in his ear. He smirked sheepishly.
"At the risk of repeating myself. I love the way you think Doc." They kissed and locked the door.
This chapter is perhaps a little over the top. But I am a true romantic! I hope you will forgive me. Enjoy your reading!