long live the queen

[melindajo2000]

Stephanie was dying. She knew it and it was time to let go. She'd been diagnosed with stage four cancer and had been hiding it from the family for a year
But tonight was the night she had been dreading for months. The doctors had given her weeks to live si she knew she had to tell Eric. He was the great love of her life a d she knew he would be devestated. If the positions were reversed she knew would be. They had their ups and downs over the years but had always found their way back to each other. Theirs was a rocky comfortable can't live without you love and now she was leaving him. This wasn't the way it was supposed to be. They were supposed to be the happy old couple everyone wanted to be. But now their duo would fade away with hopefully only the good times as a reminder of their grand love affair.

And what an affair it had been. No matter how angry she had been with him, no matter how many other women there had been it always came back to Eric and Stephanie. They once ruled the world, leaving their family as their legacy. But their family had scattered, and there was just the two of them left. She had many regrets but loving Eric was not one of them.

She pulled out all the pictures of all their weddings and scattered them alongside her bed, the one she shared with Eric. She was a strong woman but nothing could stop the tears from falling as she looked back over her memories. They were hers to keep not even the doctors could take them from her. They had once been so in love that nothing could stop them. But now she. Had met her match. Cancer was winning and she was losing the greatest love she had ever known.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't supposed to be this way. They were supposed to be the couple at the old folks home still holding hands in their nineties. But fate had other plans.

In walked Eric who saw his steadfast wife sobbing.

What's wrong honey? Has something happened to one of the kids?

No Eric. I'm afraid its worse much worse.

What can be so bad we. Can't get through it together?

I'm leaving you Eric.

What. Did I do this time? Did I forget our anniversary __any of them? Eric smiled still in denial.

Eric I'm dying. I have only. A few weeks left. I'm so sorry honey.

Eric hid his tears as he held his wife, praying there was a mistake. He had made many mistakes in his life but he always knew that hus wife loved him. What was he going to do without her? Suddenly it became clear he would soon find out. There were no hiding anyone's tears that day.

[jessie]

Sad but wonderful story, it is so sad that Stephanie is dying on the show. She would be one of the Queen's of Daytime TV. I loved this story, I hope you write more, I hope this was not just a one shot. Great writing as always.

[Sanda]

Sweet but sad one shot Melinda. I love Stephanie Forrester as well. She is my favorite character on The Bold and the Beautiful. It is so sad that Stephanie Forrester is dying on The Bold and The Beautiful but I hope that Susan Flannery has a very long and happy retirement.

[melindajo2000]

Thanks for the nice feedback guys this will be a continuing story. I admit I cried writing it. Then I thought I lost it I was so upset

[jessie]

I'm glad your going to continue this awesome story. I love it so far, I was always a fan of Susan Flannery too.

[Sanda]

Melinda, I am so happy that you are going to be continuing this awesome story. I LOVE Susan Flannery and her awesome character of Stephanie Forrester.

[melindajo2000]

We'll get to to Switzerland, we'll get you the best treatment money can buy. YOu don't have to accept this. I refuse to accept this, Eric cried out as he finally pulled away from his wife.

"Don't you see, I have tried everything possible. You know I'm not a quitter but enough is enough. I can't stand the pain anymore and I just want to spend the rest of my time with the man I love. You'll grant me that," Stephanie asked.

"Do the kids know?"

"Yes and we've made our peace. Ridge is happy off where he's at. I do believe he will find his way back to Brooke, and I have made that my last request."

"You, want Brooke and Ridge together? That's a day I thought I'd never see," Eric tried to force a smile, anything to keep from showing her how scared he really was.

"Right now it's not about the kids or the grandkids. I've had my time with them. But I've never been alone with you, not really, and if you want to make this old woman happy..."

"Nonsense. If you're old I must be ancient."

"There will be a place for us in the museums, that's for sure," Stephanie smiled.

It was good to see her smile. And for the next few weeks he would do everything in his power to keep her smiling and laughing.

"Stephanie, there is something I need to tell you," he whispered.

"If you're going to make a confession about some trollop you've been with, save it. I don't care anymore. I don't care about anything about you and me and what time we have left."

"That wasn't what I was going to say."

"What was you going to say then?" A bemused Stephanie asked.

"I was going to say that no matter what has happened between us, despite my many many mistakes, it's always been you Stephanie. You've always held the key to my heart, and I just wanted to know that, well,..."

"You don't have to say it. I think I always knew."

"I have to say it. Stephanie, I love you, I always have and always will. I promise you I will never love another woman after you..."

She held up her hands. "dont make promises you can't keep. You will love again and I predict it will be within a year. You were never one who liked to be alone."

"Stephanie I'm serious this time. No one could ever take your place. Why settle for coal when I've had the diamond all along."

"Be careful about the diamonds, they can cut you. Remember the old Eagles song, don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy, the queen of hearts is always your best bet," she smiled.

"Well you'll always be the queen of my heart. No one can ever or will ever take your place."

"Mark my words, you'll be remarried within a year."

Now Eric was hurt. Here he was pouring out his heart to his wife and she was insisting on marrying him off!

"Stephanie, listen to me, I don't know what the future holds. Maybe I'll marry again, maybe I won't. But there will never be another woman who can take your place. Your family loves you and needs you. I need you. I'm afraid that I won't know who I am without you," he confessed.

"You'll be fine. Just as long as you start thinking with your head and not your hormones. YOu will be fine. I know you will be. I need you to be. I can't rest unless I know you will be able to go on with your life."

"How can I go on without you? I love you, and I can't imagine my world without you in it.

"You'll be fine. You're stronger than what you think you are. You're a designer, a father, a grandfather, an uncle.."

"Most importantly I'm your husband and I would never have it any other way."

She settled snuggly into his embrace. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered, barely audible.

But Eric heard her, and held her just a little tighter. "I'm going to miss you too, my precious."

tbc

[jessie]

Awe so sad, but sweet too. I always thought Eric, and Stephanie belonged together. I love your story great tribute story to Stephanie Forrester. Hope you update again soon.

[Sanda]

Sweet but sad update Melinda. I always believed that Stephanie and Eric belonged together even though Eric, slept with Brooke, Brooke's mother Beth, and Brooke's sister Donna. LOL I hope that Ridge and Brooke get back together in your story after Stephanie dies. I don't like how the writers wrote out Ronn's character of Ridge from the show after 25 years.