The Eagle

Dedicated to writergirl438 for her love for the Eagle.

'Hey, breathe,' Eric said, watching Taylor's white knuckles on the steering wheel.

She shot him a glare and focused back on the road. Eric shrugged and settled back into looking at the road. He wasn't familiar with this part of Turtle Cove. It took him by surprise when they left the city behind and up a hill.

'Where exactly are we going? And who was I getting introduced to again?' Eric asked, looking back at Taylor.

'You'll see,' Taylor told him, sounding nervous.

A few minutes later she parked the car in the middle of nowhere and got out. Eric joined her and hiked up the grassy slope with her. He ducked when something swooped over low, before he realised it was the Eagle. The Zord landed at the top of the slope and kept an eye on them as they made their way up to meet him. Eric shot Taylor another look, but she ignored him.

'Hey,' she greeted the Eagle, but he only had eyes for Eric.

'Um, hi?' Eric said, taking a quick step back when the Eagle screeched at him.

'Hey, be nice,' Taylor admonished. 'You said it was okay for me to date him.'

The Eagle gave a softer screech in her direction.

'Because I wanted you to meet,' Taylor explained. 'You are important to me and I really like spending time with Eric. I'd like you to like him too.'

The Eagle glared at Eric, but allowed him to approach. Eric kept an eye on the Eagle and slipped his hand into Taylor.

'It's beautiful here,' Eric noted, risking a look around now he was at Taylor's side.

'It's our spot,' Taylor smiled softly. 'The Eagle doesn't like me sharing it with you and feels like you're intruding. Before Alyssa, we spend a lot of time here to watch over the city. Now this is our spot to get away.'

Eric looked at the Eagle. 'I'm not trying to get between you two,' he told the Zord. 'You were here first and I respect that.'

The Eagle looked at him suspiciously for a moment before inclining his head and blinked.

Just then Taylor's growlphone rang and she groaned, pulling it out. Eric and the Eagle watched her, listening to her side of the conversation. When the short call was over, she turned to Eric apologetically.

'I'm sorry, we have to go. Will you be around when we're done?'

'You're my ride home,' Eric grinned. 'I'll be in Turtle Cove somewhere.'

Taylor tossed him the keys to her car and the keys to her apartment. She winked at him and morphed, letting the Eagle take her away.

'Hey,' Taylor whispered when the Eagle landed by her and nudged her shoulder. When she stayed quiet, the Eagle nudged her again.

'I'm sorry,' Taylor sighed and laid a hand on the Eagle's beak. 'I'm lost in thought, that's all.'

The Eagle nudged her a third time, more forcefully this time.

'Getting pushy, are we?' Taylor laughed. 'It's Eric.'

The Eagle screeched and Taylor quickly turned to look at him.

'No! He didn't hurt me,' she quickly explained. 'Quite the opposite.'

The Eagle cocked his head at her and Taylor turned to look out over the city again. The Eagle settled by her side, now patiently waiting for her to gather her thoughts. Absentmindedly, Taylor plucked at the grass for a few minutes before sighing.

'We've only been together for a few months,' Taylor started. 'But I hate being apart from him and I'm seriously considering cancelling my lease and just moving in with him.'

The Eagle cooed at that.

'Oh, now you're on his side?' Taylor raised and eyebrow at him. 'And it's not a bad thing, per se. But it scares me shitless that I'm even just thinking about it. We haven't been together for 6 months yet and still it feels so natural and right. Everything is just moving so fast. It scares me that it doesn't scare me. If that makes any sense.'

The Eagle settled down and Taylor leaned against him.

'I just don't know if Eric feels the same and I'd hate to make things awkward in case he doesn't feel the same way,' Taylor sighed. 'Relationships are hard.'

The Eagle cooed again and Taylor laughed.

'Yeah, I guess Eric is worth the trouble. He's a good guy. And I sound like a school girl with a crush now, don't I?'

Eric spun around when the Eagle landed behind him and took a step back.

'Wow, you actually came,' Eric noted with a hint of surprise in his voice.

The Eagle cocked his head at him.

'I wasn't sure you would,' Eric explained, stepping closer. 'Hey, it's good to see you again.'

The Eagle screeched softly in greeting and then raised himself up, looking out over Turtle Cove in the direction of the Air Force base. Eric followed his gaze and smiled.

'No, Taylor is fine. She'll fly with you this afternoon like always,' Eric assured. 'But I didn't want to talk to you about her.'

The Eagle returned his gaze to Eric. The Quantum Ranger let out a breath and met his gaze nervously.

'You know I love Taylor. We've been together for over two and a half years now and I just can't picture my life without her. I don't want to either. And since you're the closest family Taylor has got…'

The Eagle cooed happily at that statement and Eric laughed.

'It's true, you're family,' he told the Eagle, resting a hand on his beak. 'To the both of use.'

The Eagle leaned into Eric's touch a little, but looked at Eric expectantly.

'Well, as Taylor's closest family… I'm here to ask your permission to ask Taylor to marry me.'

The Eagle pulled back in surprise, keeping a sceptical eye on Eric.

'I know, I know, we're about the last people anyone would see getting married. If it was anyone else, I probably wouldn't even consider it. But this is Taylor were talking about and she's bloody special. But I don't have to tell you that, you've always seen that. And I don't expect anything from her. It's just, I definitely want to spend to rest of my life with her and we really should get stuff settled in case something happens to either one of us. And, yeah…'

The Eagle screeched and Eric took a step back when he bent over. But then the Eagle gently leaned his head against Eric and Eric rested a hand on it.

'I take that as a yes.'

The Eagle cooed and Eric smiled.

'Thanks, buddy. That means a lot to me and I know it does to Taylor to. Now I just have to figure out how to ask her and the best way to have you be a part of the wedding if she accepts me. You won't tell her right?'

The Eagle hummed and Eric smiled.

'Didn't think you would. Now, I should get going or Taylor will get suspicious I didn't manage to finish all the chores around the house that I promised I would do. I'm sure Taylor will be by to tell you how the proposal turned out. Thanks again for trusting me with her.'

The Eagle gave one last screech and took to the skies. Eric watched him disappear with a smile.