Taylor woke up a little while later with Eric's arm protectively wrapped
around her. She kissed his forehead softly and climbed out of his embrace.
She wrapped her robe around her and went to the living room to call Tori. When she reached her, it sounded like Tori had just woken up.
"I'm just a little tired is all," Tori said.
"It's not like you're getting sick again is it?" Taylor asked concerned.
"No- I just haven't been getting much sleep lately. . ." she trailed off. Taylor heard a hint of happiness in her tone and figured out why her little sister hadn't been sleeping.
"Oh. . . I see," she said. Tori laughed a little. "Well, I have something to tell you- but don't freak out."
"You're not going?" Tori asked, hoping that Taylor wouldn't have to go.
"No, I'm still going. . . but, well, Eric and I got married today." A loud thud was heard. "Tori? Tori are you there?"
"What? Oh sorry. I dropped the phone. . . did you say you got married today?"
"Yeah."
"Oh Taylor! That's so great!" Taylor was surprised.
"You're not pissed?"
"Of course not! I think it's really romantic that you guys wanted to do that before you shipped out. . ." the line was silent for a few moments before Taylor spoke.
"I better get going. Eric's still sleeping and I don't want him to think I left him already."
"Yeah. . . be careful Taylor Joanne. I love you." Taylor smirked and let a tear roll down her cheek.
"I will Victoria Jean. I love you too."
((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Eric woke up not too long after Taylor had crawled back in with him. He looked out the window and saw the moon. Taylor moved slightly in her sleep and mumbled something inaudible. He reached his hand up and gently caressed her face, kissing her cheek softly.
Taylor moved her head and met his lips with hers. He tightened his arms around her and kissed her temple. "What time is it?" he asked sleepily. Taylor looked over.
"About 7," she said turning back to him. A low grumbling was heard from her stomach.
"Don't they feed you at that base?" he asked. Taylor smiled and ran a hand over his chiseled abdomen.
"Of course they do. . . you've just worked me out a bit," she said. Eric smiled.
"So I take it you enjoyed that?" Taylor kissed him fully on his mouth and rolled her tongue around his.
"What do you think?" she said when she pulled away. Eric sat up.
"I think we need to get something to eat so we can work it off later," he said with a devilish grin on his face. Taylor returned it and got out of bed. Eric stared at her naked body as she went to her bag to get her clothes. Taylor didn't care that she was walking around for him to see. He was her husband after all.
Eric felt tears beginning to sting his eyes. He NEVER cried. . . not even when his mother died after his father had left them. Maybe it was because he was too stunned by it all, but now as he looked at his wife, he was suddenly gripped by the incredible fear of her being taken from him as well.
"You're beautiful Taylor," he said shakily. Taylor turned to him and saw his eyes glazed over. Soon hers were as well and she went back over to his awaiting arms.
"I'm sorry," he breathed onto her shoulder. "I don't know why I'm acting like this."
Taylor realized why he was acting this way, and as much as she hated to admit, she felt the same. "I'm scared too Eric." They stayed there holding each one another until Eric composed himself. He had shed no tears, but had felt a few on his shoulder.
"Taylor," he said gently. She looked into his eyes. "What do you want for dinner?" Taylor gave him a teary smile and hugged him again.
(((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))
Eric ordered in food and they sat in their sweats in the living room eating happily. He had managed to get a little of everything.
"How the hell did you get all this different stuff?" she asked as she took another helping.
"Let's just say being commander of the Silver guardians has its perks in this town."
"My husband the freeloader," she said smiling sweetly.
"My wife the smart ass," he replied. Taylor leaned over and kissed him.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Eric only smiled at her and they finished their meal and sat together on the couch. Taylor leaned into him and breathed him in. In a few hours she would have to head to the base, check her plane, and then head out to wherever her plans called for.
"Are you glad we did this?" Eric asked suddenly as he took her left hand in his- their rings touching. Taylor looked up at him and kissed his lips.
"Of course I am. Are you?" Eric grabbed her and placed her on his lap facing him.
"Yes. I've never been this sure about anything in my whole life," he said as he laid a feathered kiss on her lips. "I love you," he said smiling. Taylor smiled back and kissed him again. They pulled away, but Eric still held onto her and lifted himself and her off the couch.
"Eric!" she said as she wrapped her legs around him. He didn't say anything as he walked back to their room and shut the door.
(((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))
Taylor woke when she heard the soft humming of the alarm. It was 5:30am. . . time to get ready to go. She could feel Eric's body pressed up against her back- his arm draped over her stomach as she lay on her side. She felt his arm tighten around her and she turned to see him looking at her.
"How long have you been awake?" she whispered.
"I never fell asleep," he said. After they had FINALLY settled down for the night, Eric held her to his chest and watched her sleep, not wanting to let her out of his sight. He placed a hand on her cheek and brought her in for a small kiss.
"Eric, you're exhausted."
"I don't care." Taylor placed her hand on his hip and pulled herself to him.
"I really have to get ready. . . but you can help," she said kissing him again. He needed little encouragement, and followed her into the shower.
A little while later, Eric was preparing breakfast when Taylor came out in her Dress Blue uniform. Her hair was put up in a tight bun and looked like it was glued to her head. She sat at the table and began to ring her hands.
"I've never seen you in your Blues," Eric said. "It's nice." Taylor looked up to him and smirked. "I always did like a girl in uniform."
He sat next to her and kissed her cheek. Taylor took the plate he had placed in front of her. "Thank you," she said. They sat in silence as they ate their food. When they were finished, Taylor went into the bedroom and brought out her duffel. "Well, I guess I'm ready," she said.
Eric took her bag and headed out to the car. She made sure he was out of the house, and placed one of the pictures from the wedding Tori had sent her on the coffee table, along with a note. Taking one last look around, she headed out.
(((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))
They were almost to the base and Eric hadn't let go of her hand the entire time he drove. When they saw the signs for the base, Eric almost missed the turn on purpose. Taylor had squeezed his hand tighter and he was forced to enter. This time however, Eric went in with her and brought her to her house.
"This is it?" he asked looking around at the sparse rooms.
"Pretty much," Taylor said softly. "Eric? I need you to hold on to this for me," she said holing out her engagement ring. "I don't want anything to happen to it, and I know you'll take care of it." Eric took it with shaking hands. "I'll be back for it." Tears were now in both of their eyes.
They embraced eachother and kissed passionately. "I love you Eric," Taylor said.
"I love you too Taylor." He kissed her forehead and walked out the door- neither one of them wanted to drag it out more than it had to be. Taylor sank onto her small couch and ran her fingers over her wedding band- she would never take that off. She didn't know how long she was sitting there, but a jeep pulled up and she was escorted to a debriefing meeting.
Her squad was leaving base for an Aircraft Carrier, and then would be sent into action. She changed into her fatigues, collected her flight gear and helmet and loaded the plane. As soon as the rest of her crew was outfitted, they loaded the transport plane and took off.
The others were anxious to hear about her 'quickie' wedding, but she dismissed them for the time being. She reached into her front pocket and took out something that she had taken from home- the note Eric had given her with her roses. She read it over a few times and looked out the windows at the clouds.
(((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))
Eric placed Taylor's ring in his left breast pocket as he drove back home- his face was full of pain, but he refused to let himself loose control. He arrived in his driveway and entered the empty house. He took the ring out of his pocket and went to his bedroom to get a chain. He placed it on the chain and then put it around his neck.
Walking back out, he saw the bouquet of yellow roses sitting on the coffee table. He went over and touched the soft pedals. He noticed a piece of paper next to it and picked it up. Underneath was the picture from Tori's wedding of he and Taylor. He looked at the paper again and found a note.
~Eric,
I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever be this happy
in my life. You know why I'm this happy? Because of you. You are the
best thing that has ever happened to me. . . I love you more than
anything else in this world. . . I've known that since that night on
the Animarium. Please be strong for me- I need that from you. I'll be
home soon. . . to my husband.
~Taylor
Eric put his hand on the ring he wore around his neck. He would be strong for her and wait for his wife to return to him.
She wrapped her robe around her and went to the living room to call Tori. When she reached her, it sounded like Tori had just woken up.
"I'm just a little tired is all," Tori said.
"It's not like you're getting sick again is it?" Taylor asked concerned.
"No- I just haven't been getting much sleep lately. . ." she trailed off. Taylor heard a hint of happiness in her tone and figured out why her little sister hadn't been sleeping.
"Oh. . . I see," she said. Tori laughed a little. "Well, I have something to tell you- but don't freak out."
"You're not going?" Tori asked, hoping that Taylor wouldn't have to go.
"No, I'm still going. . . but, well, Eric and I got married today." A loud thud was heard. "Tori? Tori are you there?"
"What? Oh sorry. I dropped the phone. . . did you say you got married today?"
"Yeah."
"Oh Taylor! That's so great!" Taylor was surprised.
"You're not pissed?"
"Of course not! I think it's really romantic that you guys wanted to do that before you shipped out. . ." the line was silent for a few moments before Taylor spoke.
"I better get going. Eric's still sleeping and I don't want him to think I left him already."
"Yeah. . . be careful Taylor Joanne. I love you." Taylor smirked and let a tear roll down her cheek.
"I will Victoria Jean. I love you too."
((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Eric woke up not too long after Taylor had crawled back in with him. He looked out the window and saw the moon. Taylor moved slightly in her sleep and mumbled something inaudible. He reached his hand up and gently caressed her face, kissing her cheek softly.
Taylor moved her head and met his lips with hers. He tightened his arms around her and kissed her temple. "What time is it?" he asked sleepily. Taylor looked over.
"About 7," she said turning back to him. A low grumbling was heard from her stomach.
"Don't they feed you at that base?" he asked. Taylor smiled and ran a hand over his chiseled abdomen.
"Of course they do. . . you've just worked me out a bit," she said. Eric smiled.
"So I take it you enjoyed that?" Taylor kissed him fully on his mouth and rolled her tongue around his.
"What do you think?" she said when she pulled away. Eric sat up.
"I think we need to get something to eat so we can work it off later," he said with a devilish grin on his face. Taylor returned it and got out of bed. Eric stared at her naked body as she went to her bag to get her clothes. Taylor didn't care that she was walking around for him to see. He was her husband after all.
Eric felt tears beginning to sting his eyes. He NEVER cried. . . not even when his mother died after his father had left them. Maybe it was because he was too stunned by it all, but now as he looked at his wife, he was suddenly gripped by the incredible fear of her being taken from him as well.
"You're beautiful Taylor," he said shakily. Taylor turned to him and saw his eyes glazed over. Soon hers were as well and she went back over to his awaiting arms.
"I'm sorry," he breathed onto her shoulder. "I don't know why I'm acting like this."
Taylor realized why he was acting this way, and as much as she hated to admit, she felt the same. "I'm scared too Eric." They stayed there holding each one another until Eric composed himself. He had shed no tears, but had felt a few on his shoulder.
"Taylor," he said gently. She looked into his eyes. "What do you want for dinner?" Taylor gave him a teary smile and hugged him again.
(((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))
Eric ordered in food and they sat in their sweats in the living room eating happily. He had managed to get a little of everything.
"How the hell did you get all this different stuff?" she asked as she took another helping.
"Let's just say being commander of the Silver guardians has its perks in this town."
"My husband the freeloader," she said smiling sweetly.
"My wife the smart ass," he replied. Taylor leaned over and kissed him.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Eric only smiled at her and they finished their meal and sat together on the couch. Taylor leaned into him and breathed him in. In a few hours she would have to head to the base, check her plane, and then head out to wherever her plans called for.
"Are you glad we did this?" Eric asked suddenly as he took her left hand in his- their rings touching. Taylor looked up at him and kissed his lips.
"Of course I am. Are you?" Eric grabbed her and placed her on his lap facing him.
"Yes. I've never been this sure about anything in my whole life," he said as he laid a feathered kiss on her lips. "I love you," he said smiling. Taylor smiled back and kissed him again. They pulled away, but Eric still held onto her and lifted himself and her off the couch.
"Eric!" she said as she wrapped her legs around him. He didn't say anything as he walked back to their room and shut the door.
(((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))
Taylor woke when she heard the soft humming of the alarm. It was 5:30am. . . time to get ready to go. She could feel Eric's body pressed up against her back- his arm draped over her stomach as she lay on her side. She felt his arm tighten around her and she turned to see him looking at her.
"How long have you been awake?" she whispered.
"I never fell asleep," he said. After they had FINALLY settled down for the night, Eric held her to his chest and watched her sleep, not wanting to let her out of his sight. He placed a hand on her cheek and brought her in for a small kiss.
"Eric, you're exhausted."
"I don't care." Taylor placed her hand on his hip and pulled herself to him.
"I really have to get ready. . . but you can help," she said kissing him again. He needed little encouragement, and followed her into the shower.
A little while later, Eric was preparing breakfast when Taylor came out in her Dress Blue uniform. Her hair was put up in a tight bun and looked like it was glued to her head. She sat at the table and began to ring her hands.
"I've never seen you in your Blues," Eric said. "It's nice." Taylor looked up to him and smirked. "I always did like a girl in uniform."
He sat next to her and kissed her cheek. Taylor took the plate he had placed in front of her. "Thank you," she said. They sat in silence as they ate their food. When they were finished, Taylor went into the bedroom and brought out her duffel. "Well, I guess I'm ready," she said.
Eric took her bag and headed out to the car. She made sure he was out of the house, and placed one of the pictures from the wedding Tori had sent her on the coffee table, along with a note. Taking one last look around, she headed out.
(((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))
They were almost to the base and Eric hadn't let go of her hand the entire time he drove. When they saw the signs for the base, Eric almost missed the turn on purpose. Taylor had squeezed his hand tighter and he was forced to enter. This time however, Eric went in with her and brought her to her house.
"This is it?" he asked looking around at the sparse rooms.
"Pretty much," Taylor said softly. "Eric? I need you to hold on to this for me," she said holing out her engagement ring. "I don't want anything to happen to it, and I know you'll take care of it." Eric took it with shaking hands. "I'll be back for it." Tears were now in both of their eyes.
They embraced eachother and kissed passionately. "I love you Eric," Taylor said.
"I love you too Taylor." He kissed her forehead and walked out the door- neither one of them wanted to drag it out more than it had to be. Taylor sank onto her small couch and ran her fingers over her wedding band- she would never take that off. She didn't know how long she was sitting there, but a jeep pulled up and she was escorted to a debriefing meeting.
Her squad was leaving base for an Aircraft Carrier, and then would be sent into action. She changed into her fatigues, collected her flight gear and helmet and loaded the plane. As soon as the rest of her crew was outfitted, they loaded the transport plane and took off.
The others were anxious to hear about her 'quickie' wedding, but she dismissed them for the time being. She reached into her front pocket and took out something that she had taken from home- the note Eric had given her with her roses. She read it over a few times and looked out the windows at the clouds.
(((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))
Eric placed Taylor's ring in his left breast pocket as he drove back home- his face was full of pain, but he refused to let himself loose control. He arrived in his driveway and entered the empty house. He took the ring out of his pocket and went to his bedroom to get a chain. He placed it on the chain and then put it around his neck.
Walking back out, he saw the bouquet of yellow roses sitting on the coffee table. He went over and touched the soft pedals. He noticed a piece of paper next to it and picked it up. Underneath was the picture from Tori's wedding of he and Taylor. He looked at the paper again and found a note.
~Eric,
I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever be this happy
in my life. You know why I'm this happy? Because of you. You are the
best thing that has ever happened to me. . . I love you more than
anything else in this world. . . I've known that since that night on
the Animarium. Please be strong for me- I need that from you. I'll be
home soon. . . to my husband.
~Taylor
Eric put his hand on the ring he wore around his neck. He would be strong for her and wait for his wife to return to him.