Note: a word with stars (*) around it means it is supposed to be italicized. Also, a quotation surrounded by two stars (**) means it's from the last story, The Love Triangle.
It has been about three weeks after Greta left Salem. Eric is devastated. Some people, like Mrs. Horton, Hope, and his Mom had tried to comfort him. Others, like Bo, Kate, and Nicole have been rude. "She wasn't any good, anyway, Eric. You should be counting your blessings that she's gone," Bo had said. (Okay, so sue me, I don't like Bo. I'm really mad at him right now. He hasn't apologized to Marlena on the show yet. And he was real quick to blame her when all blame should be placed on himself. Therefore, he's going to the scapegoat of my fury in this story. I'm sorry, I can't help it. PLEASE, no hate mail.)
Eric was very angry with him. "You may be mad at her, but you have a right to be, *uncle* Bo. And you had no right to treat my mother the way you did. The Hortons, the Williams, my mother, your son, and Greta told you something was wrong. You heeded no warnings."
Now Eric sat alone in his dark apartment. A storm was brewing outside, making Salem dark and gloomy, which fit his mood for the last two weeks perfectly. He sat dully staring into space, his hair messed up, his eyes ringed with dark circles, and about a week's worth of stubble. He didn't know where Greta was. He didn't know if she was all right. Her lovely face haunted him, causing him such grief and heartache.
A single tear slid down his once smooth face. "Greta," he whispered hoarsely, miserably. "How could you do this to me? Don't you know what you mean to me? Don't you know how much I need you to be with me?" He closed his eyes and remembered that night. Their night. Their first time together. Outside the window, thunder rumbled.
Greta turned away from her window. It was raining again. How melancholy. She was at the Chateau in France. "Eric," she thought forlornly. "I wish that… Oh, God, I wish I was with him, and he was with me." She choked out a sob. "But all of Salem hates me. And he loves Nicole. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at her. Anger and hurt. Very hurt. How could I compete with her? Especially when it's obvious she still loves him?" Nicole's smirking face came into her mind. **"You know, Eric hasn't gotten over me. I hate to tell you, but after being with me, it's hard for him to forget." She leaned forward and confided mockingly, "You know, I was his first. First love… *and* first lover."** And of course, those pictures… How awful that day had been. Even though his heart may be Nicole's, Eric was Greta's for that one night.
Princess Gina's last few words came back to torment Greta. **"I see that you love Eric, or that you soon will. Do not ever let go of him, ever. And do not be afraid of love."**
"Oh, Mother," Greta cried out. "I've failed you. I didn't even listen to your final pleas! God, Mother, why did you leave me?" She sank to the ground, sobs wracking her body. She cried so hard that she had to run to the bathroom and vomit.
That day, she vomited many times. "What is the matter with me?" she thought worriedly. Then it hit her. Her period was a few days late. "Could it be? Am I carrying Eric's child?" She covered her mouth in shock and ran to the bathroom again.
Later, a test confirmed it. She was pregnant. "Oh, my God. Eric, I'm a mother," she whispered wonderingly.
She called the airlines. "Book me a flight to Salem, please. As soon as possible." She hung up and clutched a picture of Eric close to her heart. "Eric, I'm coming back. Wait for me."
Greta feverishly boarded the plane. How would Eric accept her return? Would he be angry? Hurt? Or worse, indifferent? Greta shuddered at this thought and the image of Nicole at once popped into her mind. She shook her head furiously, trying to dislodge it.
Eric paced his apartment. Greta and Nicole were all that was on his mind. Nicole had come over earlier that day, unbeknownst to Lucas…
*"Eric," she said, letting her eyes slide up and down his body. "You have to pull yourself together. You have to move on," she continued seductively. She moved closer to him thing that he was all hers now, when Eric stepped out of her reach.
"Get out of my apartment, Nicole. You and I--we are over. You are married to Lucas. I don't care about you or your damn feelings anymore. I'm not going to help you deceive Lucas. If you knew me as well as you claim you do, then you damn well know that I won't do anything like that," he said in a low, seething voice. He opened the door pointedly and a shocked Nicole walked through it.
"You have just made a big mistake, Eric. I could give you everything…" Nicole began, enraged.
"I think it's obvious who has moved on and who hasn't," Eric interrupted coldly. He deliberately shut the door in her face.*
Now, Eric rubbed his temples and heaved a big sigh. Is he still in love with Nicole? No, it isn't the type of love you'd think. He still loved her in the way that can't be explained--something like a rose that pricked you when you are most vulnerable.
Somehow, he thought bitterly, when you love someone, you never really stop. It just ends up not being strong enough. Sometimes, he wished he could just erase Nicole out of his past. But he knew if Nicole had not been there, then Greta would not have either.
Greta… beautiful, sweet, precious Greta. Where are you? he thought. He sighed, aching inside. "Am I destined to be alone until the end of time?" he asked aloud mournfully. He leaned his head back upon the couch and listened to the thunder outside. "Even John can't find you," he said suddenly, as though Greta was there. He sighed again.
When Greta's plane finally landed in Salem, it was definitely raining. Greta, whose heart was heavy and apprehensive, felt that it matched her mood perfectly and hardly noticed it. She hailed a taxi and gave the cabbie directions to Eric's apartment.
When they finally arrived, Greta had the cabbie stop in front of the gates that led to the apartment buildings.
"Lady, you're gonna catch cold. Are you crazy?" he asked incredulously.
"Please, just do it."
"Okay… it's your health."
Greta thanked and paid him and stepped out into the pouring rain. She was suddenly scared--scared enough to start crying. God, what if he hates me? She thought. I wouldn't be able to take it! She walked slowly to Eric's building, the farthest one from the gate. Soon, she was drenched head to toe, her hair falling from the loose bun she had had it in.
She reached his apartment building, fearing the worst. Rejection was the last thing she needed right now. She looked up at the apartment building. All the windows were dark.
Greta closed her eyes and bit her lip, trying hard not to cry out in despair. It's okay, Greta, she chided herself. He's just asleep. You can come back tomorrow. She turned away from his apartment and began to walk back towards the gate, the wailing wind chilling her. She felt utterly foolish for coming so late and without notice.
"Greta!" a hoarse voice called out.
She whirled around, shocked. Eric was in the rain as well; he had not noticed her at all. She watched him sink down to his knees with his fists clenched and his face towards the sky. "Greta… come back…" he said sadly. He brought his hands to his face.
(He had come out because he couldn't stand the tension within himself any longer. He felt claustrophobic in his own apartment, alone. He had ran out in frustration to find freshness in the rain, but it disapointed him and distressed him even more.)
Greta moved to stand in front of him. She knelt and touched his shoulders.
Eric slowly lifted his face, expecting a security guard, to see Greta's sad face. "Greta?" he whispered unbelievingly. He thought he'd never seen a more beautiful face.
She didn't answer, but just looked at him with teary eyes, caressing his face. She helped him stand.
"You came back," Eric said slowly.
Greta nodded still touching his face softly.
He slowly lifted his hand to touch her face, caressing it gently. She leaned her face against the feel of his hand and then clasped it, staring into his eyes. He suddenly grabbed her and hugged her tightly in the rain.
Greta clung to him, sobbing. "Eric, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't know… I thought…"
Eric didn't answer her and lifted her chin with his finger. Their lips met and rainwater mingled with the sweet, lingering kiss.
