Hey everyone! How have you all been? Thank you again for reviewing, as it honestly makes my day. I'd like to thank penguin-Strut for motivating me to post, since if it wasn't for her updating, I feel I'd be too lazy to. Now, I'd like to apologize in advance for the lack of Taylor/Eric in this chapter, but I fell in love with the kids I created for them, and the hopeless romantic in me couldn't resist putting 3/4 romances into one prompt, so bear with me through this one. Hopefully you like it anyway.
"That girl is totally out of your league." Emily hummed in all of her fourteen year old wisdom as she walked past Steven towards the kitchen.
Steven, less than five minutes back home from school for break, with an admittedly gorgeous girlfriend in tow, was glaring daggers at his little sister. "Her name is Jessica. And she is not!"
"Yeah she is." Quietly commented Aiden, munching on an apple as he walked in the opposite direction of the youngest Meyers.
Three years, one pointless breakup followed by a heartfelt reunion, five attempts at writing the perfect proposal speech, and a diamond ring later, Taylor and Eric watched their oldest and first child take that final step away from being their baby, and towards his new wife. Emily stood with the bridesmaids, practically vibrating with excitement, as Aiden stood by his brother's side as best man, a shy grin adorning his face as he cast glances at his girlfriend in the audience.
Eric's arm remained firmly wrapped around Taylor throughout most of the day, as each of them took turns pretending that this wasn't potentially the most emotional moment of their lives.
"She's cute." A thirteen year old Emily smiled as Aiden toyed nervously with his glasses, while Mei, the topic of their conversation, did the same on the coach. Emily looked up at her older brother in time to see him try and hide the blush that was steadily taking over his whole face.
"So," Mei finally spoke up from her seat, "are we ever going to start the project?" The simple statement sent Aiden into a flurry of activity just as Steven walked in and draped an arm around his little sister.
"She's got him hooked." Whispered Seven as the two watched their brother be the clumsiest and most awkward romantic to ever exist.
The "I do's" were a long time coming. Six years to be exact, as the two had decided to wait until after graduating to get married. This time, Eric kept his mouth shut as Taylor discreetly whipped away tears when her baby boy, because he's always been mama's little prince, took that same step her oldest had only two years prior.
"They're growing up." Whispered Eric, to which Taylor responded with a hard elbow to his ribs.
"I don't want them to." The sniffle was not lost on him as the handkerchief made its way back to her eyes.
"Who's that? He's hot." Sixteen year old Emily sighed when Aiden came home, his college roommate only a few steps behind him.
Steven's eyes bulged. "No he's not! He's…he's a boy, and you're too young for boys! Not only that, he's a college boy. They're the worst kind of boy. Ever!" His arms flailed around, desperately trying to make his point.
She looked up at her oldest brother, eyebrow quirked the same way Mom's did when someone was about to get lectured. "You sound like Dad."
"That's you're little sister? She's...she's beautiful." Richard whispered as he dropped his duffle bag.
"You even think about laying a hand on her, and I will smother you in your sleep." Stated Aiden, never pausing from searching through his suitcase for the presents he's brought home.
After bypassing two overprotective brothers, the older of which nearly kicked his head off in a 'friendly sparring match', one scary (terrifying) Marines trained former Power Ranger father, and then asking that same father in what could only be the most nervous yet determined speech for his daughter's hand in married, Emily squealed out an excited 'YES' in the middle of Times Square on their fourth year anniversary.
One year later, Taylor sat beaming as she watched Eric walk their daughter down the aisle, while Eric watched his little girl in her flowing white dress taking one step, then two, after he released her. And he realized as he let go of Emily and she cast a smile in his direction, with just another step away from him and towards her soon-to-be husband, all of his children were now adults; that they were no longer his to guide and protect. As he sat down next to Taylor, he could feel her thinking the same thing, and it took everything in them to not leap up and prevent another, final step.
Cookies to anyone who bothered doing all the math for each of the kids ages at each step through this chapter.