At the sound of Erin's breathtaking voice, Liam felt the darkness take him. It felt like just a moment until he was coaxed awake by the steady beeping of...something. Liam's eyes slowly fluttered open, gradually absorbing that he was in a stark white room much different than the keep or castle. A long tube was somehow attached to his arm and other things connected him to the beeping box.

Sitting up was difficult. He had a white cloth attached to his torso and it hurt more than any other wound he had ever been ailed with. Soon, an older, short woman dressed in a blue tunic and matching loose breeches with snowy white hair tied into a bun entered the room greeting Liam with a warm smile.

"Ahh, you're awake!" She chirped, way too happy for his throbbing headache.

"Where...where am I?" Liam croaked out, his throat dry and scratchy.

"Aww, sweetie, you had quite an ordeal!" The nurse clucked as she pinched then held his wrist while watching a shiny something on hers before releasing him and writing something on a parchment. "You were stabbed presumably by a robber. Don't you remember?"

I remember it a bit differently.

"The wound was clean so closing it in surgery was easy but we need to watch for infection. The doctor has you on a general antibiotic as a precaution," She explained further checking the clear fluid filled bag that seemed to be connected to some of the tubes in his arm.

Antibiotic? Surgery? Where am I? Or...was it possible?

"What year is it? What city am I in?" Liam asked, trying very hard not to panic despite his now racing heart. Everything was so modern. Similar to the fascinating things Erin had described. He could look out the window of this small room and see squarish shaped things moving on wheels. Could those be cars?

"Silly dear," She giggled. "It's March of 2013 and you're in Los Angeles, California."

Liam's head spun. He was in Erin's time but 5 years earlier! Hadn't she said once she came from 2018?

"I need to get out of here!" Liam growled. "I have to find Erin!" Sitting up abruptly set off the machines he was hooked up to not to mention awakening a splitting pain in his stomach where the wound was.

"Not so fast," The nurse scolded, gently but insistently easing Liam to lay back onto the bed. "You've been through quite a bit and I'm sure this Erin wants you healthy. Now calm down and rest."

Liam did lay back with a deep scowl contorting his face. The tube running into his arm ran cold then his eyes grew heavy. He was unable to fight the drowsiness that overcame him.

****

One week later, Liam was released from the hospital and given his belongings back. The breeches were filthy and his tunic was stained with blood. Among his things were his dagger, which they confiscated, and his money bag filled with gold coins. Liam had no idea how he would survive in this time or where to begin.

He turned to the nurse who had taken very good care of him. "Miss, I um..." He began, she turned and gave him a warm smile. "I...don't have any money for this...region. Where can I get some?"

"Oh honey, it's still early. Head to a bank and they will help you."

"What is...where is...one of these banks?" he must have looked completely lost.

"Tell you what," She took his hand in hers. "I'll walk you to one just down the street. I'm off in 15 minutes."

Liam nodded and smiled, grateful for her help. How was he going to explain his ignorance?

Betty, the nurse, was true to her word and escorted him to a nearby bank where they not only opened an account but exchanged a portion of his gold for American dollars. It turned out he had quite a bit once converted. After the bank, Betty took him to a place called a mall. She assisted him with buying some suitable clothes then to a salon for a haircut and beard trim. Next was a finding place to stay.

"You sure do clean up nicely, Liam," Betty cooed, brushing his arms free of some lint. "If only I was a few years younger."

A warm chuckle escaped Liam's lips, "If my heart didn't belong to another, Miss Betty, you would capture mine."

"You flatter me," She grinned. "Tell me, Liam," Betty continued, looping her arm through his elbow Liam offered. "Where will you go next?"

As they strolled through the mall parking lot towards her car, Liam stared ahead, exhaling a heavy breath. "I'm not sure. My strongest desire is to find Erin."

Betty hummed, pausing now that they were at her car. "I have an extra room at my house. Liam, you can stay with me until you get on your feet or find this Erin."

With a warm smile, Liam lifted her hand to his lips. "Thank you, dear Betty."

****

"So you are from Ireland?" Betty confirmed while pouring the noodles into the boiling water.

"Yes," Liam replied. "I am brand new to this America and must soon seek out Erin."

Betty sent him a knowing grin. "Is she someone you care for?"

"Deeply," He nodded, diligently stirring the aromatic red sauce. "I love her very much."

"What do you plan to do when you find her?"

Liam exhaled through his nose. "I must make a life for us so we can be a family. She has a daughter named Ashlynn."

Betty was completely smitten by Liam and very much wanted to help him. "Then I suggest you begin with finding a stable job or career. My grandson Ben will be visiting tomorrow. He is attending college at USC studying Criminal Justice. Perhaps he can assist you with that aspect."

****

Ben and Liam, despite an obvious age difference, became fast friends. Liam helped Betty around her house with repairs, landscaping and maintenance. When the summer semester at USC began, Ben helped Liam register for classes. He got a job at the campus coffee shop and made a small living. Soon after the Fall semester started, Liam and Ben got an apartment together closer to campus.

In Liam's spare time between work and school, he relentlessly searched for Erin. He had to learn how to use the internet for school so he used those new skills to search for anything pertaining her.

****

A few months later in the following spring, Liam was shopping at the local mall when he heard a familiar laugh. He quickly followed the bell like timbre finally happening upon who the melodious sound belonged to. A woman about Erin's height but slimmer was shopping in a maternity store. When she turned, Liam's heart nearly stopped.

It was indeed Erin but she was much younger. The golden honey waves were shorter and her figure was slimmer except for one thing: a bulge on her stomach. Liam froze remembering how old Ashlynn was. she would have been born in late 2013. Erin seemed genuinely happy as she was draping a pink frilly dress in a small baby size over her very round, pregnant belly.

Liam's heart nearly stopped when he saw a muscular, dark haired man come up behind Erin, wrap an arm around her belly and kiss her neck sensually. Erin rolled her head back, humming in enjoyment at this man's attentions, rubbing circles with his hand that rested on her belly.

"Did you find anything, Principessa?" he asked Erin in a husky, accented voice. Erin turned to gaze at him lovingly as she nodded, passing him the several bags that were hanging on her arm.

"We can get all this back to New York, right?" She asked him, batting her eyelashes and giving a small pout.

"Yes," The man laughed. "We can. My father offered for us to take his jet back so you don't have to fly coach."

"Oh, that's nice of him!" Erin replied, kissing the man on the cheek.

After making their purchase, the seemingly happy couple left the store hand in hand walking away. Liam's heart shattered. That had to be Garrett. She was still married to him in this year and Liam could not interfere with the path Erin would embark on. It molded her to the woman he would love. With a heavy heart, Liam turned away knowing that he could not change Erin's future. Their paths would cross when the time was right.

****

Four years later, Liam was done with school, graduating with highest honors with a major in history and an emphasis in medieval history. He wanted to study up on what happened to his family and as a hobby, saved everything he could find in photo albums. He also couldn't resist every so often researching Erin on where she was in her life. Their divorce had turned into a very public affair and then she disappeared from the media altogether. There hadn't been any news about her in over three years.

So Liam focused on making a life for himself. He worked at the Natural History Museum currently as a curator for medieval relics and worked on authenticating things that were found on archeological digs. This field and job fascinated him so much. Liam had formed a dream of someday opening his very own museum in the heart of LA completely devoted to Irish medieval history.

He made a tidy living, saved every extra penny and managed to buy a small condo in an up and coming area near Pasadena that he truly enjoyed. Managing his finances had to be carefully done so his gold would last. Much of it was left because of Liam's skill at being frugal. He lived very minimally. He didn't have much furniture, he didn't go out much except for museum functions. Everything he did and saved was to eventually support Erin and Ashlynn once he was able to find them.

Then one fateful day driving home from the museum, he saw a certain bumper sticker and heard that unforgettable voice. When Liam realized their paths finally crossed, everything changed.

It all changed further when he watched Erin's car be cruelly crushed by another.

Happy Thursday!  Hurrying out the door this morning because its a field trip day!

Let me know what you think about Liam's decisions! 

How hard would it have been to walk away from the person you knew you would come to love? 

Would you have walked away?  Or saved that person from pain?

Enjoy, vote and comment!