Present day - Los Angeles, CA

Connie walked into Erin's room to find as usual, her companion asleep leaning on the bed, his arms crossed under his cheek. She walked up behind him and gently touched his back, making him sharply inhale through his nose as he straightened looking up at her sleepily.

"My turn," Connie smiled warmly. "You go get some real food and real rest. Has there been any change?"

"No," He reported as he stretched his arms out.

He and Connie had fallen into a routine over the past several weeks. The doctors were happy enough with Erin's recovery that they had begun weaning her off the medicines that induced her coma to see if she would come out of it finally. Seventy two hours of being completely off of them and no change.

Connie replaced him in his chair and took hold of Erin's limp hand and gently rubbed the back of it with her thumb. "No sign of Luke, either?"

"No," Liam replied coolly as he put his jacket on. "I shortened the list of approved visitors to just you and me since that incident to tighten the security."

"Thank you," Connie smiled at him. "She is lucky to have you. Enjoy your rest."

He nodded and slowly walked out of the room when he heard a groan coming from the room. Swiftly he turned to Connie. "Are you alright?"

"That wasn't me!" She answered and soon he was back at Erin's bedside.

"Come on, Erin," He beckoned. "Wake up, love. Open your eyes."

"Mmmhmm, no..." Erin mumbled, her head shaking slightly. "No! NO!"

At that, Connie jumped up and ran to the hallway. "I need a doctor in here!"

"No! Liam..." Erin mumbled, a single rogue tear fell down her face.

"I'm here, Erin," He answered, his own tears threatening to fall.

"No! No!" Erin cried again then whimpered before exhaling. Finally she settled, not making another sound other than her soft pattern of steady breathing.

Connie returned with Erin's doctor rushing into the room.

"What happened?" The doctor asked Liam who had his face pressed against Erin's hand he had been holding.

"She spoke...she...called for me..." Liam sniffled, pressing his hand to her limp hand held tightly in his own.

"What does this mean, Doctor?" Connie asked, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.

The doctor sighed before explaining. "I need to run some more tests, but it could mean her brain swelling has lessened enough to dream or process memories. Wherever she is, Erin has to come out of it on her own. Keep talking to her and give her a reason to come back."

The doctor nodded as he checked the machines, taking some notes then left the room. Connie sat back down on the opposite side of the bed. Cautiously staring at Liam.

"She called for you?" Connie asks, her voice had a little bite to it. Liam's eyes flicked up to her and he gave a small shrug. "You have some explaining to do. How exactly do you know my daughter so intimately that she would call for you instead of me or Ashlynn?"

Liam sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "I do know your daughter very well, Connie, from before the day of the accident."

"How?" She bit out, swallowing hard.

"It's...a long story..."

"We have a lot of time."

****

Erin stayed in Liam's room alternating between crying and sleeping for three days while the funeral was planned. As each day passed, Liam's woodsy scent faded more and more from his pillows which made Erin's heart shatter into tinier unidentifiable shards.

Finally, on the day of the burial, Katherine and Colleen came quietly into the room with a fresh dress and items for a bath. They helped Erin bathe and dress. Every movement was robotic. Her eyes were red and puffy, voice hoarse from the days of crying. The women left Erin's hair loose, just as Liam liked it. Erin never spoke a single word through the process despite the women's kindness. Even when Ashlynn, dressed in a beautiful black dress entered the room, Erin barely smiled.

Dressed in a floor length black dress with bell sleeves and wrapped in a fur lined cloak, Erin held Ashlynn's hand. Mechanically she followed Colleen and Katherine outside to where the procession waited.

The whole burial process was a blur for Erin. They must have walked to the cliffs where Kyla and Orla were buried. That was the one piece that Erin was insistent on and not one person argued. She wanted Liam buried next to his first wife, daughter and newborn son. If Liam couldn't be with her here, then he needed to be with Kyla.

It wasn't until Rory, Aedan and Connor lowered Liam's body into the hole that Erin snapped. Tears openly flowed down her cheeks silently. She held in the sobs as long as others were around. The people of O'Hagan keep were mourning too. Ashlynn heard her mother's soft sniffles and wrapped her little arms around Erin's thighs.

Someone must have said something because one or two at a time, they walked up to the grave and sprinkled dirt into the opening then walked away. A few at a time, the crowd dispersed soon leaving Erin by herself with Ashlynn and Connor.

"I'm so grateful you entered his life, Erin," Connor broke the silence as he subtly swiped away a tear. "He had been a different man since my mother died. You brought back the father I remember."

"I only wish...we had more time," Erin sobbed again and gripped her necklace tightly.

Ashlynn wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders. "He's with Grandpa now, right?"

More tears unabashedly fell. "Yes, honey, he is."

As if Heaven itself was mourning with them, the clouds that were once a light gray turned dark and stormy. The wind picked up violently making Erin's hair billow around her. She didn't feel any of it. She didn't feel anything except this deep loss.

"We should get inside, Erin," Connor advised. "A storm is coming."

"Yes," Erin agreed, slowly standing then took Ashlynn's hand.

Just before they turned to walk away, Erin faced Liam's now covered grave.

"Until we meet again, rest with Kyla, Orla and Brayden." Erin blew a kiss then on an impulse, lifted her necklace to her lips, closed her eyes and kissed it.

****

The green scenery around them faded. The wind picked up strength and whirled around her. Erin called out for Ashlynn but didn't hear anything. It was as if a tornado had suddenly engulfed them. Connor's voice calling her name in a panic faded into the distance to be replaced with a steady beeping tone.

She tried opening her eyes but only groaned instead. Erin's head throbbed terribly like a migraine was impending. When she tried to move, her whole body was stiff. Feeling the bed shift confused her and her brows furrowed.

"Erin," A very husky but sexy voice calling her name. It stirred something deep in her soul she couldn't currently explain.

Then she felt a warm hand gently stroking her forehead. That hand assuredly did not belong to Ashlynn. It was much too big and masculine to belong to her. That scent, too, was familiar, like cedar and spices.

"Open your eyes, love," the voice patiently coaxed again. "Let me see those hazel beauties."

Erin's brows scrunched again. This voice was so familiar but she just couldn't place it. Then she heard another voice she recognized.

"What happened?" a female voice asked, presumably to the male voice.

"Her eyelids fluttered and she groaned!" The man explained, he sounded happy about such a simple thing.

"Oh my!" The woman exclaimed. "Erin...Erin, dear, open your eyes honey!"

"Come on, baby," The man coaxed again. He stroked her hair and it was so soothing, drawing her closer to him. Warmth flooded her, something inside beckoning her forward, urging her eyes to open.

"Liam..." Erin groaned again, shifting in the bed though still feeling sore like she had been hit by a truck.

"I'm here, baby," Liam sniffled, smiling wide. "Open your eyes and see for yourself. I'm right here."

Erin's whole face scrunched up in pain as she forced her eyes to open. The world around her was fuzzy as she looked around but when it steadied, she was met with the one face she thought she would never see again.

"Liam?" Her voice cracked, lips curving into a quaking smile and tears filled her eyes.

"Yes, love," He grinned, squeezing her hand tightly. "I'm really here."

"Erin," Connie immediately came to Erin's other side clasping her other hand. "I'm so happy you are finally awake."

"Mom," Erin smiled at her mom then gave a look of confusion. "You two...met...? How? Wait...Liam, how are you even here?"

Liam and Connie exchanged glances and smiles then laughed softly.

"Honey, you've been in a medically induced coma for 6 weeks. They took you off the meds four days ago," Connie explained.

"How...?" Erin started but then another man's voice broke through their moment.

"It's better if you take time to rest and let the memories come back to you on their own," Another man explained then flashed a handsome smile. "Hi, I'm Dr. Mitchel. I saw on the computer's that your vitals changed. It's good to see you awake, Erin. You had us all worried."

"You're not her regular doctor," Connie started, shooting Liam a look of concern and Liam stiffened protectively.

Dr. Mitchell smiled warmly. "I'm new. I just started this week and tonight is my first evening shift. I'm well versed in Erin's case."

"I see," Connie commented. "So what is next?"

"Well, for now we will let you rest, Erin and tomorrow morning we'll do some tests to confirm everything. I'll check on you later, ok?"

"OK," Erin smiled as the doctor turned to leave.

Once he was gone, Connie closed the door to Erin's room earning her a scowl.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"Erin, there's something else that happened we need to tell you about," Liam explained with a heavy sigh. "Your car accident was all over the news. Your cousin Luke has been working with Garrett these last few years and came here two weeks ago. We think he reported to Garrett."

Erin's face paled and she leaned her head back deep into the pillow. "Where's Ashlynn?"

"Right now, she's in school," Connie assured. "I pick her up and she stays with me when Liam would stay here with you at night."

"OK, as long as she's safe. If he can't get to me, he will try to get her."

****

Dr. Mitchel exited Erin's room glancing over his shoulder before ducking into a storage closet. He took out his cell phone and dialed a number on the attached post-it note.

"What?" The voice growled impatiently on the other end.

"Boss, she's awake."

"Excellent," The voice replied, audibly grinning. "I want an update when she is discharged and then my other employees will follow her to find out where she goes. I can't make a move when security is so tight in that hospital."

"Will do, Boss."

****

Back in Erin's room, Connie said her goodbyes and left to pick up Ashlynn from school promising to bring her the next day so Erin could rest. That left Liam alone with Erin. It didn't take much convincing from Erin to get Liam to climb in the bed with her. She felt safe in his arms again.

"How did you get into this time?" Erin asked quietly, drawing circles on his forearm that was draped across her waist.

"That," Liam chuckled. "Is an incredibly fascinating story...for tomorrow. Rest. I'll tell you everything when you've gotten some rest."

Now we know who that mystery man was in the hospital!  Dun dun duuuuuhn! lol  There's still more to fill in so keep those seatbelts tightly buckled!

How did Liam get to the present? ;)

Enjoy, vote and comment! 

<3