After the dark of sadness comes the glory of happiness!

I'm not your Doc anymore!

Taylor was sitting alone on the terrace. Susan had just called her to cancel their lunch date, because she had been caught up at work. Taylor wasn't pleased about it, she didn't like sitting alone in a restaurant. She always felt a little bit stupid and pathetic. Also alone in a restaurant she always dreads being approached by some pushy guys. Nothing annoyed Taylor more than listening to some silly pick-up lines when she wanted to eat in peace. After the waitress had brought her salad, she immersed herself in a magazine. She had made it a habit to read or work on something whenever she had to eat alone. This reduced the risk of being accosted and even if she was, it was easier to ignore the advances.

Anyway Taylor had been feeling extremely uncomfortable for a few days, she constantly had the feeling someone was watching her, but every time she took a closer look at her surroundings she didn't notice anything unusual. All her friends and colleagues she told about her suspicions thought she was only over sensitive and too scared, but she was damn sure that someone was there. Even now, while she was eating, she felt alien eyes on her, she kept looking around but could not see anyone suspicious. Finally she concentrated on her article again.

She noticed footsteps approaching her table, but decided to ignore them, when she suddenly heard an uncertain clearing of the throat, but still she showed no further reaction and then she heard a male voice addressing her. This voice went through her whole body, she could have recognized it among billions of men's voices. Taylor had the feeling she got a stroke, she literally froze, still hoping it was just an hallucination. Slowly, she lifted her head and realized she wasn't mistaken. There stood Ridge, live and in his full size. At first she was incapable of any move, she just stared at him and blinked her eyes, as if he was just a mirage that would eventually disappear. But no matter how many times she closed and reopened her eyes, he just stood there, a little insecure but with his usual grin on his face. Taylor dropped her fork in shock and choked on a piece of tomato. She had a terrible coughing fit that only went away after she drank several sips of water. That's when Ridge addressed her again.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to frighten you."
Taylor had to start several times before she could even get a single word out.
"Ridge...what are you doing here?... How did you get here?.. How do you know where I live?"
Millions of thoughts and questions rushed through her head. All at once she had a terrible suspicion.
"Did Thomas and Steffy tell you that I was..."
"No, no!" interrupted Ridge immediately "The kids have nothing to do with it, I just happened to be here in San Francisco on business."
Taylor looked at him as if she didn't believe a word he said. Ridge sensed her suspicion.
"It's true, I'm going to be here in town for a few months, opening a shop for Forrester Creation, that's the only reason I'm here."
Taylor still had her doubts.
"You're seriously telling me you just happened to end up in the same town and just happened to come to the same pizza place like I did?!"

Her skepticism was evident with every word. Ridge hesitated with his answer, because it wasn't quite the truth. Taylor interpreted his hesitation correctly, all at once she knew who had been following her for the past few days.

"It was you! You were spying on me, you were literally ambushing me!"
Taylor became terribly angry all at once. Ridge tried to justify himself.
"No..ok yes, but I didn't mean to upset you or scare you off. I just wanted to wait for an opportunity to talk to you."
"I don't know what we have much to talk about."
Taylor returned in a harsh mood. Ridge was surprised by her aggressive tone; he hadn't expected such a violent backlash. He put his hand on hers and tried to soften her with his usual charming smile.
"Come on Doc, don't be like that."
But with this behavior he really incited Taylor's anger. She jumped up furious and literally exploded.
"Don't call me Doc, don't ever call me that again! I'm not your Doc anymore! Once and for all Ridge, I've started a new life, I've finally freed myself from the bondage of you and the rest of the family. The days you just had to look at me with your college boy smile and I melted away in your arms are over, forever!"

Ridge was now completely irritated, he had never seen her so dismissive and cold. Her rejection shook him, but he wasn't ready to give up that easily.
"Hey listen to me please, it really wasn't my intention to catch you off guard and maybe it was a little clumsy of me to just intercept and approach you like that, but I just didn't know any other way. I think now that we both live in the same town, it's finally time that we at least talk to each other again."
Taylor, however, saw it quite differently.
"For the record, Ridge Forrester, I'm going to tell you how I see the situation. San Francisco is a big city, big enough for both of us. I don't think it should be a problem to stay out of each other's way. I have my life and you have yours and that's the end of this discussion!"

Taylor grabbed her purse and magazine and tossed some bills on the table.
"If you want, you can have the rest of my salad. I've lost my appetite!"
With these words, she stormed off in a huff. Ridge looked after her puzzled, this was not how he had imagined their first meeting. He realized a conciliation with her would be more difficult than he had thought. But a Ridge Forrester wouldn't give up so fast.

Taylor was on her way home, the brief encounter with Ridge had left her so mixed up, she didn't see herself able to work in this condition, she had called in sick to her colleagues and just wanted to get home. Once there, she flopped down on her couch and tried to calm herself. Her emotions were still on a roller coaster. For months, she had managed to get Ridge and all the drama they had experienced together out of her daily consciousness. She had thrown herself into her new life, thinking she had left it all behind. Now it was all back, all the memories and old feelings creeping up inside her again. She tried to distract herself with work, but she couldn't concentrate. Therefore, she decided to turn on the television. She came across a rerun of 'The Bold and the Beautiful' but could only watch it for a few minutes, the actor in the scene reminding her all too much of her ex-husband. She kept tuning in until she came across an episode of 'Tom & Jerry', which was just what she needed right now. She laughed at the funny stories and had almost forgotten the excitement of the day.

Late that evening, Ridge pulled up in his car in front of Taylor's apartment complex. In the days he had followed her, she had once gone straight home instead of going to lunch. So he had found her address. He considered whether he should dare to ring her doorbell. After the failed attempt at noon today, he was eager to make another attempt to get through to her, but he was also well aware that she would probably decollate him if he showed up at her place now. Finally, he mustered all his courage. No matter if she would kill him or not, she would have to listen to him, whether she wanted to or not.