Eric and Nicole first fell for each back in the days when he was a simple photographer (played by Jensen Ackles) and she his model and muse. But then Hurricane Sami struck with her Franco Kelly murder trial, Eric got distracted and Nicole moved on with Lucas.
By the time Eric returned in 2012 after a dozen years away, he’d joined the priesthood, which, naturally, made Nicole think all sorts of sinful thoughts.
Getting a job at the church probably didn’t help that forbidden passion thing, nor did Eric’s nightmares flashbacks to his time in Africa. Fortunately, Nicole was there to help him through his trauma… in bed! We mean that in a perfectly pure way, of course.
After Kristen drugged and raped Eric and showed everyone a tape of their night together, the church kicked him out. This let him get hot and heavy with Nicole — until he learned she knew he’d been drugged and had proof that could have gotten him back into the priesthood… but withheld it!
Betrayal was bad and all, but there’s nothing like a few life and death adventures with the likes of Serena and Xander to heat things back up — especially when they both ended up trapped in a furnace room!
Not even that blood pumping danger could save the couple, though, and as Nicole moved on with Daniel, Eric moved onto the bottle. Then his drunk driving killed Daniel, and Nicole… did not take it well.
Eric went to prison for a bit, then got out and began working at the Horton Community center. Nicole got into her own trouble and ended up doing community service there herself. Turns out, the two really could forgive each other for a lot. That or helping people out really turned them on.
And when we say they were turned on, we mean it. These two couldn’t keep their hands off each other — even though Nicole was with Brady! But not even Brady’s blackmail could keep them apart and eventually the two realized their destiny: Each other.
Eric got down on one knee and proposed to Nicole. She, of course, accepted and they even got married without a hitch — unless you count that cake fight with Sami.
Eric and Nicole’s wedded bliss was short-lived as Eric left to continue his good works in Africa. The more he delayed his return home, the more frustrated and lonely Nicole got. It got so bad, she landed in bed with Xander after drowning her sorrows at Brady’s Pub.
When Eric finally came home, he shared a romantic, yet brief, reunion with Nicole. He left again after Sami orchestrated it so he’d find out about Nicole’s one night with Xander. Divorce papers would soon find their way to Nicole.
By the time Eric returned, he was, once again, a (hot, sleeveless) priest and Nicole was with Rafe. The good news is, Eric was soon defrocked (again) for his mom’s unauthorized exorcism. The bad news, Nicole figured he was off the table and married Rafe.
Making the best of a bad situation, Eric moved on with new-cop-in-town Jada, while Rafe and Nicole settled into wedded bliss. Or not. The duo were constantly drawn to each other and forced to explain their way out of being caught in awkward, borderline inappropriate situations. A lot.
Giving Eric a job as a cover for having dirty dreams about him (don’t ask), probably wasn’t Nicole’s brightest idea. But it all seemed to be working well as they finally admitted their feelings and decided it was time to ditch Rafe and Jada!
Just as Eric and began to settle down with Nicole, Jada discovered she was pregnant with his baby! They decided to keep the tot and co-parent, which did not sit well with Nicole. In fact, in sat so poorly, she had an un-pep talk with Jada and very strongly… we’ll say “suggested” Jada not have the baby.
When Jada did end up having an abortion, Eric was, as you can imagine, not happy. He told Nicole to get lost, which she did… until EJ found her. And since Eric was in a “I hate everyone” mood that went about as well as you can imagine.
The fallout from his assault on EJ led Erid straight into the shady (but sexy) arms of Salem’s resident ambulance chaser, Sloan Peters. Now he’s content with his hookup buddy and Nicole’s getting closer to EJ and after 25 years, the two seem farther apart than ever!
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