After the dark of sadness comes the glory of happiness!

The way you love me!

Steffy and Thomas hadn't noticed yet that their parents weren't at home. Her father had sent Steffy a message yesterday that Taylor and he would go out for dinner and that they shouldn't wait. So when their parents didn't show up for breakfast, they didn't worry about it. They guessed they had been out late and wanted to sleep in and might not be going to work until later. So they were all the more surprised when their mother suddenly appeared at the front door, tired and exhausted.

"Mom, where do you come from and where is Dad?"

"Did you guys pull an all-nighter?" asked Thomas, mockingly. Taylor just shook her head wearily.

"Not exactly, come join me in the living room for a moment please." Immediately Thomas and Steffy had an uneasy feeling. "Well, the thing is...your father was in a car accident last night!" The two stared at their mother, shocked. "But you don't have to worry, he's doing quite fine so far. He was very lucky, he only has a few bruises and a concussion. He'll probably be allowed to leave the hospital tomorrow!" The two breathed a sigh of relief for the time being. 

"That means nothing bad happened and he's not in any more danger?" asked Steffy anxiously.

"No! The doctors are going to check him again today, but it looks like he got away with it!" Thomas and Steffy were visibly rattled by the news. Steffy sat frozen on the couch. Taylor walked over to her daughter and took her in her arms, beckoning Thomas to sit with them. "Trust me, in a few days your dad will be back to his old self." The two snuggled up to their mother.

"Were you at the hospital with Dad all night?"

"Yes, I didn't want to leave him alone. I only came home to tell you and for a quick shower and change. Then I'll go right back to him."

"We'll come with you!" said both spontaneously out of one mouth. So they all made their way to the hospital together. Ridge was lying in bed impatiently waiting for his wife, when there was a knock on the door and Taylor stuck her head in.

"Yoo-hoo, here I am and I brought you a surprise!" Ridge's eyes lit up as not only Taylor walked into the hospital room, but his kids as well. They both fell into their father's arms as they saw with their own eyes that he was okay.

"Oh Dad, we're so glad you're alright!" Steffy snuggled up to her father. Thomas nodded at him.

"Indeed Dad, don't do anything like this again, we need you!" Ridge smiled emotionally and took his children in his arms. This accident had been a real shock for him, but it also proved to him how much his family loved and needed him and this was a wonderful feeling.

Soon Steffy and Thomas left the hospital to go to work. Taylor stayed with Ridge. When he got picked up for his checkups, she promised to wait for him. It was quite a while before a nurse brought Ridge back to his room. Ridge was pretty beaten.

"That tube in the CT scan is horrible, you get the horrendous conditions in there!" Taylor caressed him to calm him down.

"I know, it's not exactly pleasant, but these exams are necessary! You survived it." She tried to cheer him up. After the ordeal, Ridge desperately needed some fresh air. Taylor organized a wheelchair to take him for a walk in the park. Ridge grumbled.

"You're not serious, I shall take place inside this vehicle?! That makes me feel like a frail old man all the more!"

"Don't be like that, it's either that or nothing!" Ridge snorted, but then finally relented. Taylor put his sunglasses on him so the bright light outside wouldn't hurt his head. Outside in the park, she always made sure to stay in the shade with him. They sat down on a park bench. Ridge let his gaze wander around the park and sighed.