Rick Hunter walked back to the nursery, and found McCall cradling Chloe in the rocking chair, singing sweetly to her. He crouched down next to the chair, and kissed the sleeping baby on the forehead.
"Did you mean what you said to Vincent? That Chloe was the best surprise ever?" McCall whispered.
"So you heard?" Hunter asked.
McCall nodded.
"Yes. Chloe gave me the opportunity to act on feelings I was afraid to act on, and she was just a little thing then," Hunter smiled, stroking the baby's cheek.
"You'd better be careful, then. She's getting bigger by the day. Soon she'll have you wrapped around her little finger," McCall answered.
"She already does."
"Rick," McCall started, looking into his blue eyes. Somewhere along the way, she realized, he'd become her soft place to land. He was the safest place she knew, and had been there for her during every challenge and curve in the road. She took a deep breath, and decided to jump. "Will you marry me?"
He returned her gaze, and almost fell back into their usual banter. This moment seemed weightier somehow. He put her hand to her cheek. "Yes," he said, leaning in to kiss her on the lips.
"You know I'll be expecting a ring, now," he said when they came up for air. "I still like to be wooed, you know."
"Let me put Chloe in her crib and I'll show you how I can woo you," McCall said suggestively.
Hunter moved aside to let her put the baby in the crib, watching her appreciatively as she tucked the baby in tenderly. McCall then turned to him and kissed him again on the lips, molding her body against his. She broke the kiss, crooked her finger at him, and walked suggestively toward their bedroom. He followed eagerly.