I knew that I had been having feelings for Tai, but he knew that and made his feelings known for me in his own way. I smiled as I kissed him for the first time since the war finished while doing my physical therapy for the day to help with my legs.

I was trying to use the parallel bars to begin using my legs fully and to get my back stronger as well. But I kept falling to my knees till he placed his hands over mine one day and began walking backwards when I took a step forward.

Tai gave me the courage to keep at it till my legs were stronger and that I could walk alone. Eventually, I took a walk along the beach and took a seat upon the sand and laid back and looked up at the sky and felt the sun warming my body.

Aria knew where I was and when Tai asked her, she pointed to the beach and said,"She's laying on her back somewhere on the beach. She's been released today Tai."

The soldier smiled as he found me and asked,"Why is it that you always prefer to be on your own little Sparrow? You always seem hell bent to find trouble as well when you're on your own." While he laid down beside me.

I laughed and said in reply,"I always loved looking at the sky and watching the clouds with my parents and sister when we were really little. Still do, along with star gazing. Til they died and I've been protecting Aria ever since then. I'm just fucking happy that this damned war is over," as I took his hand in mine and intertwined our fingers together.

I snuggled into his side without really thinking about it and he smiled a bit as he shifted to make room for me. I laid my head on his chest and together, we watched the clouds moving over the sky and eventually, I fell asleep in my love's arms.

I didn't even notice that he had picked me up and carried me to the room that I shared with Aria and put me to bed for the night while sitting in a chair nearby. My sister arrived back at the room we shared and Tai headed to his room after that.

My sister smiled as she fell off to sleep thinking to herself,"I hope that he proposes to her and soon. Because I believe with all of my heart and soul that they'd make a great couple."

I woke up before she did and made myself a cup of coffee when I looked outside and squealed for the first time in years at seeing snow. Aria also squealed with joy when she realized why I was hopping about the room getting dressed when both Sam and Anya knocked on the door.

I called out"It's open" and they asked if we were planning on going outside too and we said yes. I placed my leg braces on and got my boots on over my jeans which were put on over a pair of woolen leggings to keep my legs warm while a pair of trouser socks were included as well.

My sister and I bundled up well and joined the rest of Delta outside for a while when I felt a snowball hit me in the center of my back. I knew it was Baird who threw it, so I asked,"How hard would it be to hit a running target if you're a sniper Baird?" with a twinkle in my dark brown eyes as I made a snowball perfectly.

Sam snickered saying,"You're in for it Baird." I tossed it in his direction, hitting him in the ribs. Since I am still wearing my braces, I knelt to keep myself centered while making snowballs for the girls while Baird made them as fast as he could for the guys when my leg braces just opted to get stuck in the kneeling position I was in.

I knew that I was screwed till Tai gently eased his arms around my waist and took my weight off my legs while Sam dealt with my leg braces while Aria guided her through it. He kept me still while putting me back on my feet when I began coughing up my lungs. I had asthma when I was a girl. But, as far as I knew I never had pneumonia.

Marcus didn't have to say a word when Tai picked me up and got me to the hospital. Dr. Hayman confirmed it and I was submitted fast, right then and there. Tai, Aria and the rest of Delta stayed by my bedside while I went through it.

Aria soon caught it, but hers was pretty light as to how hard it caught me during the first winter after the fucking war ended. I was so sick that everyone was afraid that I was going to be leaving this world. And it felt like it too for me anyway. Till I came through it after finally having my fever broken after seeing mama and daddy in one of my feverish dreams.

They guided me back and helped the fever to break and I came around coughing up my lungs and asking for some water. Dom was sitting in the chair this time around and gave me a small glass of water to sip at while Dr. Hayman checked me over carefully.

I was sitting up in bed by this time around and Marcus radioed in asking how I was doing. I answered him myself. "I'm doing alright sir. I may look like shit right now, but fuck it, I pulled through it with some help. Please let Tai know to not worry about me. I'll be fine."

Tai wasn't convinced that I was fine till he saw me and I gave him a weak smile and a small wave. We started talking about the future, he asked me something."How would you feel about marrying me Shannon?"

I thought about it and answered,"I think we both know the answer to that question. But hell yes I would Tai. And I was also hoping you'd ask soon." We began working on the wedding plans while Aria, Sam, Bernie and I helped Anya plan hers after Marcus asked her.

Dom smiled as Aria slipped her hand into his without thinking one day and I gave her that "I fucking win" look and she fucking gave me the damned bird too. I clucked at her choice of it and asked,"So, when will the two of you begin doing things together?"

She shrugged but kept that smile placed upon her lips while the ceremony began and finally, Marcus and Anya got married. They asked me to sing and I agreed. The song that came to mind was called you'll be in my heart going through my head this time around. Along with meet in the middle.

My voice rose in song. With aria's voice joining with mine for the first time in years. :Come stop your crying/It will be alright/Just take my hand, hold it tight/I will protect you/From all around you/I will be here/Don't you cry/For one so small/You seem so strong/My arms will hold you/Keep you safe and warm/This bond between us/can't be broken/I will be here/Don't you cry/Cause you'll be in my heart/Yes, you'll be in my heart/From this day on/Now and forever more/You'll be in my heart/No matter what they say/You'll be in my heart, always/Why can't they understand the way we feel?/ They just don't trust what they can't explain/I know we're different, butdeep inside us/We're not all that different at all/And you'll be in my heart/Yes you'll be in my heart/From this day on/Now and forever more/Don't listen to them/cause what do they know?{What do they know?}/We need each other,to have, to hold/They'll see in time/I know/when destiny calls you/You must be strong/{You gotta be strong}/I may not be with you/But you've got to hold on/They'll see in time I know/We'll show them together/cause you'll be in my heart/Yes, you'll be in my heart/From this day on/Now and forever more/Oh, you'll be in my heart/No matter what they say/You'll be in my heart, always/Always."

I gave Tai a warm hearted smile as I began singing my second song."IT was seven hundred fence posts/Between your house and ours/Neither one of us was old enough to drive a car/Sometimes it was raining, sometimes it would shine/We wore out that gravel road/Between your house and mine/I'd start walking your way/You'd start walking mine/We'd meet in the middle/Neath that old Georgia pine/We'd gain a lot of ground/Cause we'd both give a little/And there ain't no road too long/when you meet in the middle/It's been 7 years tomorrow/Since we said our vows/Under that old pine tree/You ought to see it now/Standing in the backyard reminding me and you/That if er don't see eye to eye/There's something we can do/I'd start walking your way/You'd start walking mine/we'd meet in the middle/Neath that old Georgia pine/We'd gain a lot of ground/Cause we'd both give a little/And there ain't no road too long/When you meet in the middle/Babe I love the way we work it out/That's what love's all about/I'd start walking your way/You'd start walking mine/We'd meet in the middle/Neath that old Georgia pine/ We'd gain a lot of ground/Cause we'd both give a little/and there ain't no road too long/When you meet in the middle/I'd start walking your way/You'd start walking mine/We'd meet in the middle/Neath that old Georgia pine/We'd gain a lot of ground/and there ain't no road too long/When you meet in the middle/I'd start walking your way/You'd start walking mine/We'd meet in the middle/Neath that old Georgia pine/We'd gain a lot of ground/Cause we'd both give a little/And there ain't no road too long/When you meet in the middle."