Jessica had happily agreed to put Jack to bed after their impromptu dessert, and he smiled thankfully at her when she leaned in and hugged Erin before shoving his shoulder lightly on her way to take Jack upstairs. The moment they were alone in the living room, Aaron felt an almost uncomfortable feeling fall between them, and he let out a deep breath as he touched the ring box in his pocket. "So," Erin started as she picked up her quilting once more, staring at it as she took a few deep breaths, "I have this feeling that you didn't just go out for ice cream with Jack. You were gone too long for that to be the case. Is everything all right?"
Aaron cleared his throat a little, knowing that what he said next would determine the course of their relationship for the foreseeable future. "Yes and no. I love you, and I know that you love me, and even though it's been such a short time that we've been together, I know that I want to make this last forever. I felt, though, that there was something troubling you, and I asked Jess."
"She's such a dear friend."
"I know, that's why I asked her about this thin wall between us, something that I wanted to tear down before it grew thicker. That's what happened to Haley and me, I just didn't recognize the wall until it was too late. I don't want to make that mistake once more. Which, I suppose, is the longwinded and thoroughly unromantic was to ask you this. Erin, will you marry me?"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box, fumbling with it in his hands a little as he held it out to Erin. She rested the quilt in her lap as she picked up the velvet box, turning it over in her hands as she looked between it and him. "You know I don't have a dowry, that all I have in this world is a gift from you, and I am beholden to you for everything."
"That's not true, Erin. We have your trunk upstairs, after all. And you have brought Jack so much happiness and stability. I know that things between you and your descendants hasn't panned out the way that you'd like, but you have made strong friendships with Jessica and Penelope. Even JJ seems to like you, which is unusual, since she doesn't make a lot of close friends. But once you're in her inner circle, you're there forever. I think it also helped that Penelope is best friends with her, too." He looked pointedly at the ring box before back at her face. "Despite everything that I thought might be difficult for you to overcome, you've managed to thrive in this world. I don't need you to bring money into this marriage. I need you to bring joy and love and hope, which is exactly what you've done. I don't care for making grand speeches, as I think you've picked up on, but I need to let you know just how much you mean to me. Please, will you do me the honor of being my bride?"
Erin smiled, her eyes glimmering in the lamplight as she nodded. "I would love to be your wife, Aaron." He nodded as he picked up the ring box once more, opening it. Erin let out a soft gasp, holding out her hand to him as he plucked the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger. It was a little large, since it slid on quite easily, but it wasn't large enough to where it would be constantly falling off. "This is beautiful, Aaron."
"I'll take it to be resized, so that it fits a little better…"
"No, I can wrap thread around it, to make in snugger. I don't want to remove this, not when I just received it." The smile on her face turned sweet, and Aaron nodded as he leaned in and captured her lips in a fierce kiss. Her hands cupped his face, drawing him in closer as their quilt fell to the floor in a heap. She didn't seem to notice as she tugged him closer to her as they stretched out on the sofa. "I love you," she said breathlessly as he began to trail kisses down the curve of her jaw and then down her neck before burying his face in her cleavage.
A delicately cleared throat broke through the haze of her passion, and he tore his mouth away from more delicious pursuits in order to look up at Jessica, seeing the bemused, almost embarrassed, look on her face. "I was coming to congratulate you on your engagement before I went home, but it seems like you started the celebration before I could do so."
Erin let out a breathy laugh as she gently pushed him away so that she could sit up. "Here, look at what Aaron bought me," she said as she held out her hand towards Jessica. "Isn't it beautiful?"
"He chose well. I'm glad that you're becoming a part of our family, permanently." Jessica squeezed Erin's hand before stepping away from them. "Now, I'll leave you to continue what I started. Jack passed out like a light the moment his head hit the pillow, so you shouldn't have to worry about him interrupting anything until the morning. I'll see you both later." She gave them a small wave before turning and leaving the room. Moments later, the front door closed and then locked, and he kissed Erin once more before getting off the sofa and picking up the quilt, setting it on the coffee table before helping her to her feet.
"If you wish to continue this…?"
"I wish that very much, Aaron," she murmured as she curved her body around his. "I didn't think that a simple ring would set my heart at ease, but here we are, with me feeling so settled and you finding the means in which to do so." Erin clasped his hand firmly as they made their way upstairs, and he made certain to hold on until they were by the bed. "Undress me?"
"All you had to do was ask, Erin." He made quick work of her dress, easily undoing the laces with a practiced ease before he loosened her corset and tugged it off her, knowing enough now to hang the dress up so it wouldn't wrinkle. After stripping down to his boxers, Aaron returned to her side, unpinning her updo and then hurriedly undoing the braid, allowing her hair to hang free to her waist. "I don't know when you'll want to get married, but Penelope and Jessica can help you with the planning, including if you want to have a traditional church ceremony, or do something a little more modern. It's all up to you."
"Umm, we can talk about details later, darling. Right now, I want you to kiss me."
"All you had to do was ask," he murmured before bending down and kissing her deeply, his hands pushing the shift off her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor before he lowered her to the bed and then shucked off his boxers as he covered her body and captured her lips in another bruising kiss. "I could spend every last day of my life kissing you."
"And I would let you, if we didn't have Jack to think of." He nodded as he thrust into her pliant body, smiling against her lips as she wrapped a leg around his waist, urging him deeper with every thrust. "I will always be willing to find this pleasure in your arms, however, when we can steal away moments like this together." Those were the last coherent words they were able to get out as passion overtook them and they cemented their love for each other with the physical act of sex.