Thinking of You (Full)

[nero_wolf]

Surprisingly enough, Eric did fins himself at the police station in the morning. He greeted all the guys he would be working with and met the cheif of police for the area. Now, with nothing to do, Eric simply found himself lost as too what he SHOULD do. Well, simplicity over came him as he was in the parking lot. The final piece to his dream. He removes the ring wore on his left hand, and fiddles with it in the palm of his right. Might she still be here? could she still be waiting for him, or had she made good on there promise and no longer waited.

No more of this foolishness. All he needed was a book and a shady place to spend the afternoon. Wondering if the old bookstore was still there. On the note of curiosity, Eric replaced the ring to its finger and started up the bike and off down the road.

On his way to the shop, Eric noticed the park was still there, and greener then he remembered, he wondered if there bench was still there, over hung by the willow. But that thought would have to wait as he sped to the book store. It indeed was still there but it was owned by some one else. Well a book store is still a book store. Parking and dismounting, Eric walked in looking for an adventure. He isn't a heavy reader, but he enjoys books as much as the next guys and could use one to take his mind of Rachel.

The book store smells as it should to him, like old books. Eric spent the next half hour looking through the fantasy and sci-fi sections of the store, looking not for any author in particular, just something not of this world. He would need to start moving here shortly or else he wouldn't leave with this book in hand, so he did. Paying for the book and heading to the bike, Eric flipped through the pages again. A pressed flower fell from the pages.

The flower was un expected. The book then must be used. This dosn't detract from its readability, just gives it character. It was still close to new. The flower brought the thought of Rachel back, what had she read recently, if anything at all? Tucking the flower in his pocket and the book in his jacket pocket, Eric pulled his helmet on and mounted the bike to head for the park.  

[elphy_and_fiyero]

Rachel groaned as yet another design was thrown into the trash can. Nothing was helping her. Not the lake, the trees, nothing. Out of frustration, she looked down at the bench she was sitting on. It was their bench. That much she was sure of. Not only did it have peculiar markings they put on the bench but it sat peacefully under the willow tree. The biggest one in the park.

She quickly jumped up to look at the giant tree. It had grown since the last time she had been there. Their initials inside a heart was still carved into the bark. Without even thinking twice, she climbed the tree as she had down years ago with Eric. "Ha! She's still got it." She laughed and lied down on the branch. Her feet dangled beneath her. It was a good thing everyone was either in school or work. Hardly anyone was in the park.

The thought of new designs escaped her mind. Now it was just a time to relax and remember the good times with Eric. She didn't want to forget him no matter how hard she tried. She couldn't. Every place she went reminded her of him. There was no way of escaping it. The only way was to move but she didn't see a reason to.

The wind blew gently and then sun was peaking it's way through the trees. It was just like summer all over again. Her mind was clear and blank. It was at peace. A first, really, in many years. It took herself by surprise when she started humming to herself. A song she hadn't heard in years. It was their song. Rachel picked one of the flowers on the tree and smelled the wonderful aroma. They were her favorite flower only because this was their tree. It was no use hiding from the memories. The would always come and they would always find her.
 

[nero_wolf]

The park was definitely greener then the last time he was here, but it sure did bring back memories. The lake was calm in the sun, the cool breeze rippling its surface. Oh he remembered the evening they both snuck out on the clear cloudless night. The moon seemed so big that evening.

Finding himself looking up after this thought into the near cloudless sky. Brought back down to earth by the idea of there bench. A bench still sat under neath an ever present willow. Wonderful he thought to himself. No one was really in the park, and no one was on the bench. The shade would make a wonderful place to read and think. Thats what he needed. Half way between the street he'd come from and the bench he noticed the shadow in the tree.

A girl, laying calmly by herself. As Eric drew nearer he payed no real attention to her until he came closer still, close enough to realize where she was. Shaded on the limb that lay perfect for stretching out on. She was lucky to have taken that before he knew it was there. They used to sit there, when there where picnics and such in the park. Or when they simply wanted away from it all.

No reason they cant share the. So, ever more sure this was where he wanted to spend his afternoon, the quizzing thought can to Eric's mind. Doesn't he recognize her? From anywhere? she seems so familiar. Well, still new once again to his old home town, he thought it best to leave her be. Maybe if she was there later he would confront her. Until then, this was the perfect place to take in his new book. The pressed flower would make for a good book mark.  

[elphy_and_fiyero]

She took in the scent of the flower one more time. This time the memory of their first real kiss came to her mind. It was under this tree on a full moon night. They were both so nervous they almost missed. Of course they were in middle school so they were even more nervous. The sky was so clear. His lips, so soft and their hearts were beating all at once.

That's when it hit her. It was perfect. Who knew that inspiration could come from memories that she hadn't thought of in years. Rachel jumped down and was about to sit back down on their bench but a man was already sitting there. "Oh! Sorry if I startled you. I didn't mean to interrupt your-" His eyes caught her off guard. They were so familiar and exact in every detail but it couldn't be. It was impossible.

"Reading," she finally finished. Rachel took a step forward but stopped herself. It was impossible. The man sitting in front of her was just a normal man. She had never seen him in her life though the resemblance was incredible. "I'll just go now. And leave you to your reading. Again, sorry for the interruption." She smiled and calmly walked away. But instead of walking all the way back to the office, she had to draw her ideas before she would forget them. Rachel sat in the next best spot where her ideas would continue to flow. Under the willow tree on the other side.

The whole entire time she drew, she couldn't get those eyes out of her head. They were just like Eric's but there was no way. One dress finished. Meant to be blue like their lake with a hint of shadowing at the bottom like the shadow from their willow tree. It wasn't as if Eric was the only one with those chocolate brown eyes. A lot of people had brown eyes. A second outfit was finished. Brown pants, like his eyes, with a low cut white shirt like a full moon. Her mind had been working like crazy that she didn't realize how hard she was pressing down with the pencil until it finally snapped. Rachel cursed under her breath. Quickly, she dug through her purse to retrieve another one. This time she would be more careful. "Ok, it's fine." She began to whisper to herself. "Everything is fine. Breathe. Just breathe."

"Breathe, Rach. Breathe. You'll do fine on the test." Eric assured her. "It's not that big of a deal any way. You always ace them. I, on the other hand, will pass with a C. I guarantee it." A younger Rachel clung to her books for dear life.

"That's not true. You get as much A's as I do. Every time." She smiled. Eric was right, though. After studying all night, she was sure to ace the test with flying colors. There was nothing to be worried about.

"You see? Laughter is the best medicine. Now come on before we're late for class."

Rachel shook her head as she tried to turn back to her designs. This time Rachel tried to use a more gentle stroke. The third outfit was complete. Another dress. This time a black silky dress that stopped a little past the knees. Smooth and gentle. There was no way it could be him. If it was him, then the real Eric would have contacted her years ago. Letting her know that he was alive and saving her from future heartache. There was no way it was him.
 

[nero_wolf]

She had jumped from the tree. This was surprising in that he was certain he knew her, even more so then when he was first approaching. Her voice, she seemed startled to have seen him. She must have been away with her thoughts. The only thing that kept him from being sure he knew her was in her reaction, there was something to it, but she seemed out of place almost, or still wrapped up in her thoughts.

There's more to her then he could see on the surface, he was sure of that. Something he couldn't put his finger on. She had apologized then left, without time to excuse her for the interruption she had left, or at least moved around the tree. amused at her stutter when he looked up, Eric smiled and simply went back to reading.

She was to distracting, and Eric couldn't get back to his reading. Perhaps he should confront her. He felt this way before when he first told Rachel he loved her. His stomach was in knots. Why? Yes she resembled Rachel, but it couldn't be her, or could it? She might have stayed put. If she had no where else to go, or if she was still waiting. Why would she still be waiting, he had after all returned to a dead mans welcome.

I ought to give her the bench back, no need to be rude. Eric thought to himself as he removed the book mark from his pocket and back into the book. Standing he tucked the book back into his pocket and froze. Her image from moments ago stuck into his mind as something in the back of his memory told him the story of there first prom night.

"Are you ready to get going, Rachel? we should head out if we wanna get dinner out first." Eric stood in the doorway to her house, calling to Rachel after greeting her parents and shaking her fathers hand. His car sat idelly in the drive way.

"Your very early, Eric. Who said anything about going to dinner first?" She called back. Rachel had stepped to the front hallway, still in civvies. He was close to 2 hours early.

"Well, i thought it would be nice, i saved up a bit to go for a nice dinner. So, where do you want to go?" Eric was prepared to not take no for an answer, as he had saved for about a month to have the money to eat out at a nice place before prom.

She smiled, a small chuckle and she returned to where she was before calling back, "Give me a bit, have a seat, and ill think of where i want to go."

This wasn't a hugely special moment in there relationship, but it was a defining one, Eric thought. Her smile, she didn't need the dress to be the most beautiful girl in a room. Would he be able to confront her if it was Rachel, he would love to hold her again, but if she didn't want him after so long, it would break him.

Eric would simply say not to worry about the interruption, and let her get back to the bench. This is exactly what he did. Walking around the tree, to see her scribbling, now it was his turn not to interrupt, Eric simply turned and left for his bike.  

[elphy_and_fiyero]

Rachel had been lost in thought that she barely noticed her phone ringing. "Hello?" She asked after reading the caller ID was from work.

"Mommy? Are you going to bring some lunch?" Nathan asked. Rachel laughed and stood up as she began to head back to the office. It would seem that she had been at the park so long that her child had gained an appetite. But as she walked around the tree, she noticed that the man was gone. Leaving their bench completely unoccupied. Rachel took one last sit on their bench. "Mommy?" Nathan asked when no one replied.

"Oh, sorry honey. Yes, mommy will bring some lunch. And ask everyone else what they want. Better yet, give the phone to Miss Stephanie please." She could hear Nathan walking around the office and saying 'hi' to all the ladies. If there was one thing he had inherited from her side of the family, it was working a room full of women. Finally, Nathan gave the phone to Stephanie who was laughing at her son.

"I tell ya Rach, you're little man is adorable. But you better watch out before one of these women snatch him up and take him home." Stephanie said and placed Nathan on her lap. Every now and then Nathan would speak into the phone wanting food.

"Yeah, well, he's just like his grandfather. At least when he was in high school and single. As far as mom tells me. Ok, I'll bring lunch. What's the order?" She asked and wrote everything down on the back of one of her designs. Her strict order was to bring a cute single man to the office to help her carry all the food. Rachel rolled her eyes and hung up the phone. But first things were first. One last sit on the bench was all she needed today. One relaxing moment. The sun sparkled on the water as the full moon had done that night after prom.

Rachel sat next to Eric in a dress she had made months prior. Her mother couldn't afford a real dress so Rachel had only asked for fabric. That was all she needed since she already had the sewing tools. They didn't really say much as they sat in front of the water. They wanted to take in the moment of just being together. Eric wasn't like the other guys dragging their girlfriends to hotel rooms. He was different which only confirmed to Rachel that he was, not only a wonderful man, but also that they were meant to spend the rest of their lives with each other.

She couldn't remember how long they had been there. She didn't want it to end but, like everything else, it must. Eric looked at his watch and kissed her head. "Come on," he whispered. "It's time to go home and you look tired."

"I don't mind sleeping here with you." She said as she wrapped her arms around him tighter. Eric laughed and pushed the hair out of her face.

"Your dress will get ruined once the morning mildew sets. And I don't think you want that for a dress that you took so long to make."

"It will only ruin if you don't use the right fabric. And I use the right fabric." She smiled in victory, thinking she had won but Eric knew her parents wanted her home. He kissed her softly and told her it was time to go home. And when he finally did bring her home, her dress was still perfect.

Rachel shook her head out of the memory. She had to get going before it got even later. She stopped at a local sandwich shop before grabbing a happy meal for Nathan. Now the trick was to actually get everything back to the office in one piece.
 

[nero_wolf]

Eric wasnt sure who was at the park but he was fairly sure he wanted to find out. What are the odds he thought to himself after having been at home, reading again for a bit more. Maybe he would see if she was still at the park, at least say hi. So, down and out of the apartment, throwing the bike coat back on and grabbing his helmet, Eric hits the street back to the park.

The ride seems shorter then it did earlier, but still with the thought of Rachel on the back of his mind it seemed to take an eternity all the same. She had his car for a little while, and one day she had come to pick him up. He found this backwards, but cute all the same.

Passing the park, he couldn't see the tree any longer, so, he parked and took his helmet off. Eric then proceeded at a jog to the tree. However, when he was insight of the tree, it sat peacefully alone, once again.

Now what would he do. He didn't really have any plans for the day that had been set in stone. So, to his secondary, continue to visit and see his old home and its changes.

Back on the bike and on the road, Eric headed into the heart of the town. No idea that as he rounded the corner, he would see out of the corner of his eye, another young girl who reminded him so bitter sweetly of his Rachel. She was carrying an arm full of bags and headed off again to somewhere at a moderate pace.

After turning his head, Eric found himself rounding a corner into a parking meter. This was the first thing that went through his mind at that very moment, how could i be sure it was her, as his helmet smashed the floor and he went rolling into a pedestrian, the bike crumpled onto the side walk, what was thought to be a parking meter turned out to indeed be a fire hydrant.

On his back now, Eric could see clearly still out of his crash helm, but he had a pounding headache as he stood up and begged the forgiveness of the man he very nearly ran over. Several people had begun to gather around as Eric removed his helm and righted the bike form the floor. There where hushed whispers, but he was fine, only scrapped.

Eric turned to where he thought he saw once again the girl he had seen the day before and at the park, but couldn't tell form here if he was right. first he must take care of this.  

[elphy_and_fiyero]

Rachel was just walking out of the sandwich shop when she noticed those eyes again. He looked like the man from the park on a bike. She couldn't help but watch him as he rode by before crashing into a fire hydrant. Her heart stopped as he nearly flipped in the air.

"Eric be careful!" Rachel yelled from the sidelines. He and his buddies sat at a top of a hill on their bikes. A giant obstacle course lay in front of them. The obstacle course alone scared Rachel half to death. Eric raised his hand at Rachel. It was hard to tell the look on his face with his helmet.

The boys took off in a matter of seconds. All them swerved through the trees. A few times Eric was stuck in the back until finally he found his opening. He raced past the other boys but there was something he missed. A tree stump was hidden from view until he crashed into it. The bike threw him off and sent him flying through the air. Rachel ran to him, not carrying that everyone else was trying to stop her. She knelt beside him and took off his helmet. From what she could see he looked fine. "Eric! Talk to me. Are you alright?"

"I'm better now." Eric smiled and Rachel couldn't help but hit him. "Ow! What was that for?!"

"You stupid son of a gun. Don't you EVER scare me like that again. That's the last time you ride a bike. EVER!" He laughed and kissed her to make her feel better.

"Yes ma'am." Rachel helped him up and went to make sure nothing else was broken. It did help but Rachel never wanted to see him hurt again.

Rachel walked over to the man, the food still in her hands. "Are you alright?" She asked and noticed a few scratches. "If you want to get those fixed up, you can come with me to my office building. It's just over there. There's a first aid kit and some ice. We could even get you a taxi for safer transportation." The people surrounding him seemed to get bigger almost. "Alright, shows over. He's fine." She told them. A lady who was about to call 911 closed her phone and left with the other people.

"Tell you what. Since your arms aren't broken, you help me carry these sandwiches to my office and I'll assure you a free lunch as well as some medicine and band aids. You help me, I help you. Deal? Then again, I'd help you anyway but I sort of need someone to help me carry the food. If I don't I think my arms will fall off." She laughed.
 

[nero_wolf]

Taken aback by how strongly the girl he had come looking for simply came and over saw the situation was comforting. She must be very strong willed, or stubborn as she left no room for Eric to disagree, so, he would help.

"Yes ma'am, and thanks." Eric smiled, unsure what to do with his bike, he simply decided to lock it and bring his helm.

Eric had seen strength like this before in a girl, Rachel never liked him getting himself into stupid situations ending up in injury.

"Why do you spend your free time getting hurt? Why do i always come to your rescue? Why am I-" Rachel had begun to be upset after Eric broke his arm the first time and he had Rachel in tears

"Because you love me." Eric used this line to cut her off mid sentence, "Im not sure i would be half as well as i am if i didn't have you."

"Thats not fair, you cant make me your protector. I do love you, but i don't want to have to worry about you killing yourself when im not around because your doing something stupid with your guy friends."

Eric dropped his head down and sighed, "Ok, im sorry Rachel, ill think twice, but when your around, you make it hard to focus on what at hand, ya know?"

She always took control when the situation asked it, she had initiative and strength. He missed her, but this girl now in front of him, might she share that strength? Eric took hold some of the bags that she was handing him, and smiled.

"Thanks again, where are we off to then?" Eric said after double checking that everything was in order and his bike was locked.  

[elphy_and_fiyero]

Rachel carefully watched him as they walked toward her building. She had to make sure that he wasn't going to faint or needed to go to the hospital or something. "This way. My office building is just up there." They walked into the building and into her office. Nathanial ran up to his mother to retrieve his happy meal and didn't take a single notice of the man that was with her. Stephanie, however, did. Everyone grabbed their sandwich and Rachel helped him in a chair. "I'm just going to borrow my friend here for a second." Stephanie smiled at the man and dragged Rachel away before Rachel could explain that he needed the first aid kit. Stephanie closed the door to Rachel's office with a big a smile on her face. "Ok, I didn't think you'd take me seriously when I said bring a hot man to help you. Had I known that, I would have asked you to bring me one too!" Rachel rolled her eyes.

"For your information, Steph, I didn't really bring him here on purpose. At least not at first. He rode past me and I watched him crash. He looked hurt so I offered him help and a first aid kit as long as he helped me. That's it. Nothing else." Rachel looked out her office window and watched as Nathan sat next to the man. Something about the two of them seemed similar. Perhaps it was a guy thing. But there was something else that made them alike. She just couldn't put her finger on it. "Now if you will excuse me, I promised him a first aid kit. And a first aid kit he shall get." She grabbed the first aid kit out of the bathroom and sat in the other seat next to the man. "Sorry. My friend can be very persistent sometimes." Nathan watched his mom as he ate his fries like a little angel. Rachel knew something was bubbling in his head.

"Alright, mister, what are you planning?" Rachel asked him. Nathan smiled widely but didn't say a word. "I'm watching you." She turned back to the man as she opened the box full of supplies. "He didn't, by any chance, take something of yours did he? Or told you a plan of some kind? Like how to take over the world with his G.I. Joe dolls?"

"They're not dolls! They're action figures!" Nathanial corrected.

"Oh, excuse me, I mean action figures." She smiled and placed big bandages on his scratches. Rachel recalled every injury Eric had taken. At least the ones when she was there. The few times she wasn't Eric would still come to her door in scratches and bruises.

Rachel flung the door open and gasped. Eric was clutching his side but that wasn't the first thing she had noticed. His nose was bleeding. He had scratches on his arm. If he mother had seen him, he would not be allowed out of the house again. "I make it hard to focus, huh?" She quoted him from a few weeks prior as she helped him in the house.

"Yeah," Eric smiled. "It just so happened that as I was skateboarding on a rail, I thought of you and fell off. You're still a distraction when you're not there."

"You're so lucky I love you so much or else I'd kill you right now. Worrying me like this. Now every time we're apart and you're out with your friends, I'm going to have images of your head landing on the cement and you won't ever wake up." As she rambled on, she couldn't look at him. Just the thought of something happening to him hurt her. But he raised her chin so she could look at him.

"Nothing will ever stop us from being together. I promise." Eric assured. He always did know what to say at the right moment to help her feel better.

Rachel shook her head out of the thought. She had spaced out and was holding the tape in the air as she recalled the memory. "Sorry." She apologized. "Anyway," Rachel finished patching him up and closed the box. "Good as new. And, as I promised," she dug through the bag and took one of the halves to her sandwich and handed it to him. "Here's a free lunch and some advil for the pain. I hope you like Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki sandwiches." After all these years, it was still her favorite sandwich. There was no way she would get rid of something she once shared with Eric.

"For the love of all mighty, will you just try it?" Rachel sighed as she, once again, handed him the sandwich. "What's the matter don't you trust the woman you love?" The line usually worked on Eric. Only rarely did it not.

"I do but it doesn't look right for some reason." Rachel held the sandwich out until he finally took a bite. "Hmm, this is good."

"See? I told you." She smiled in victory as she tried to take her sandwich back but it seemed as if Eric didn't want to give it back. Rachel was almost forced to get another sandwich but Eric agreed to share with her, as he normally did.

"If you don't like it, there's some microwavable food in the fridge over there. I'm sure there's something you might like." She offered.
 

[nero_wolf]

Eric was surprised at the sandwich she handed him. It had been awhile sense he last had one like it. Rachel showed it to him, at first, he wanted nothing to do with it. That changed quickly. Now, offered the sandwich again, Eric was unsure what to think, except to thank her for her kindness.

"Thank you, its been awhile sense i last had a sandwich like this." Eric had said shortly after taking a large bite from the half, "But no, i haven't been warned of the world domination yet." Eric looked down and over to Nathanial. With a smile he looked back to her.

Not sure what next to say, Eric simply stated the next thing that came to his mind.
"Well, thanks again ma'am, if there's anything else you need some help with, let me know. Oh, Im Eric by the way, no need to stay strangers."

Eric said all of this with a smile, looking to Rachel, her kindness to an immediate stranger left Eric with a soft spot inside where he could still feel the compassion of humanity. The two of them often did things for the community, this was either to keep them busy or because Rachel dragged Eric along to help with something that was just a betterment for the community, Eric never minded this, instead it lifted his spirits to see how active, and how charitable she was. It might be her, but its unlikely.  

[elphy_and_fiyero]

Rachel froze her sandwich close to her mouth. Just hearing the name was shock enough but it couldn't be him. She looked back at him but figured it wasn't the man she loved. He hadn't been seen nor heard from in years which meant he was probably never coming back. She had excepted this all the years. She really had no other choice when everyone else told her to let it go. "I-" She couldn't speak. Oddly enough, she couldn't get over the fact how similar he was to, not only Nathanial but the man she once loved. Rachel quickly cleared her through and tried to regain herself.

"I'm Rachel and this is my son Nathanial." She took a sip of her drink but suddenly wished for something stronger. "Will you excuse me for a second?" Her legs were shaking but she had to talk to Stephanie. By the time she had closed the door, Rachel was hyperventilating.

"What's wrong? What happened? Did you he ask you out or something?" Stephanie asked as she walked up to her friend but Rachel shook her head. Stephanie handed her a bag so that she could breathe in. "Slowly, deep breaths. That's it. Nice and easy."

"I think I just need to go home." Stephanie rubbed her shoulders as she waited for a further explanation. "It's that guy that I brought in. He, uh, well, first off, his eyes are like his and then he has the same name." Stephanie shook Rachel to snap out of it.

"Honey! What are you talking about?" She asked. Rachel looked down and shook her head.

"Nothing. It's nothing. I'll just go home." Rachel walked out of the room and grabbed her sketch book. "Here are the new designs can you-" Stephanie nodded, understanding what needed to be done. "Thanks Steph. Come on, sweetie. It was nice to meet you." She waved and her and Nathan headed out. Rachel needed to lie down and convince herself that it wasn't him. Then again, that was easier said then done.
 

[nero_wolf]

Eric couldn't think from the moment on when she said her name. She had paused when he said his, but all there was to that for the moment was a pause, why had she left? Where was he to go now? He would show himself out after having said goodbye to the others in the office spaces and head out. Was it his Rachel, or was she some one Else's pretty girl. Eric couldn't think. Where was he going to go now? He so desperately wanted to talk with her, but he couldn't move himself from the path he now walked home.

"Ill be back as soon as i can be, but i wont that wont be until the end of the weekend at least." Eric told Rachel whilst she was held close to him. They always parted like this when he went out for the weekend.

"Keep safe ok, i want you back in one piece." She pulled from him and looked to Eric's friends who where standing close at hand waiting for him, "You got that, one piece, or else."

They kissed and he left for the weekend. When he got back, Rachel had cut here hair, very short compared to where she normally wore it. Eric had joked that she couldn't be the girl he fell in love with. In the end it came down to one line.

"I will always know its you, wanna know why? Because i love you and i will simply know"

Eric so very much so hoped that was his best friend he just had lunch with again after all these years, but he wasn't sure, and he wanted to go home to read more, and think this through, whether he should pursue her, or if he should go about his normal business, until he saw her again.  

[elphy_and_fiyero]

Rachel and Nathanial walked in the door of their home. Nathan grabbed his toys as he began to play with him but Rachel went to lie down on the couch as she watched him. After a few minutes, Nathan finally noticed his mother wasn't happy. "Mommy?" Rachel looked up and smiled at her boy.

"Yes, my darling?" He crawled on top of her and rested his head on his chest.

"Do you want to watch the Ninja Turtles to make you feel better?" She laughed and stroked her son's head. Watching Ninja Turtles was always his thing to watch to make him feel better. For her, her son was the one that made her better but she didn't know what would help in a situation like this.

"That's what makes you feel better honey." He looked up at his mother as he was still worried. Sometimes she wondered if he watched over her more than she did him.

"Then what movie will make you feel better?" Rachel laughed and kissed his forehead.

"Oh, pumpkin, you're the one that makes mommy feel better. By being a good boy. Mommy's just...tired. That's all." But she knew better. That wasn't all. Even if she was tired, she wouldn't have brought the two of them home. If she could, Rachel would have worked all night just to work on her designs. "Tell you what. How about I put in the Ninja Turtles movie anyway and we can watch it while I make some designs. That sound good to you?" Nathan nodded and jumped off to grab the movie. On the way home, Rachel had thought of more ideas. All had to do with Eric and her past.

Nathan started the movie but even though it looked like she was watching Rachel's mind was really else where. And it wasn't just about the clothes. It was about what brought the ideas to her. The rest of the day was spent watching movies that he wanted to watch. When Nathan fell asleep near the end of the night, Rachel needed a break from the movie watching and drawing/sewing. She carried Nathan to his bed and tucked him in. Back in her room, Rachel stared out the window. Eric, the man from earlier, wouldn't leave her mind. It killed her not knowing if it was the man she fell in love with. Most of her was saying that it wasn't him because he didn't say anything on the matter after she said her name. She figured the real Eric would have done something.

"Ill be back as soon as i can be, but i wont that wont be until the end of the weekend at least." Eric told Rachel whilst she was held close to him. They always parted like this when he went out for the weekend.

"Keep safe ok, i want you back in one piece." She pulled from him and looked to Eric's friends who where standing close at hand waiting for him, "You got that, one piece, or else."

They kissed and he left for the weekend. When he got back, Rachel had cut here hair, very short compared to where she normally wore it. Eric had joked that she couldn't be the girl he fell in love with. In the end it came down to one line.

"I will always know its you, wanna know why? Because I love you and i will simply know."

Rachel sat on the windowsill as her tears fell with the rain that was beginning to fall. "It couldn't have been you, Eric. You would have known right away. But I wished it was you." She hugged her knees as she tried to forget about him but she couldn't do it. "Eric, if you can hear me, help me let you go. Help me to move on without you."
 

[nero_wolf]

Eric wandered, he didn't go home. Lost in thought he couldn't go back to his one bedroom house and be by himself with his love somewhere in the city. But was she his Rachel? He couldn't get the question out of his head, so he didn't. He simply let it sit there and run through all the possibilities that would make it her. He only ever wanted to do right by her. He wanted to remember her, but there where barriers from the back of his mind telling him that he would only hurt himself if he went looking for her. He knew she still wanted him, and all he ever wanted in the world was to be with her.

As Eric wandered, he couldn't help but find his way to the high school. Approaching from the field, Eric remembered they didn't need to hide under the bleachers, they sat at the top, especially when it was sunny.

Eric sat in a t-shirt and blue jeans, Rachel sat on him in a tank top and shorts. The day was warm, Rachel's back was to the sun and she shaded Eric from the sun with her shadow, but who needed the shadow when they where to busy kissing. The day was warm, but not overly hot.

Taking a pause from there previous activity, "So why are we here, im probably gonna get a sun burn, you know that right?" poked Rachel "And there isn't even anything going on, on the."

"You wont burn, your wonderful tanned and if you really want to move we can, but i wanted to be here, not because of the sports, but because from up here we can watch whats going on for a mile or so. I think its cool.

"But you haven't been watching anything but me. So, if you have something to tell me, then do it, and lets go to the movies, or something." Rachel said as she skootched off of his lap and onto the bleacher seat.

"Fine, ill tell you, then we can go somewhere else sweetness. Ok, well, you know i go off alot, well, i just wanted to let you know that there is nothing in the world that can keep me form returning home to you. Not anything will ever keep me from you. I might be gone for a while when i do go off places, but i will always come back to you."

He needed to keep this promise, as long as he was in this town, he needed to find her, even if she had moved on, he hoped so desperately she had not, and tie things up with the girl he loved, and still loves.

After noticing the rain beginning to fall into the evening, Eric decided he would need to head home. tomorrow he would get his bike and go get it fixed, walk around and see if he cant find her again. Into the stormy evening, darkening quickly as the sun hides behind the dark clouds, Eric feels lost and homeless. This was once his home town, but no one knew him anymore. Not even the girl he loved, but he was going to fix at least that part.