"I can't believe I let you talk me into coming here," Taylor muttered as she and Alyssa stood outside one of the, in Taylor's opinion, girliest store in Turtle Cove.

"You're the one that said you wanted something nice to wear," Alyssa reminded her as they entered.

Alyssa had a point. Taylor hadn't been out on a date since before she joined the Force… there was only one other person that knew why she stayed away from guys in general, and she was standing next to her.

"Hey? You alright?" Alyssa asked.

Taylor just nodded and walked over to a rack of tank tops. Alyssa sadly smiled at her friend. Over the passed months Taylor had opened up to her about her domestic life, and frankly she could understand why Taylor was the way she was.

"So where's he taking you?" she asked as she looked through the racks.

"Probably some seedy bar," Taylor said as she removed a black tank top.

"Taylor," Alyssa said as she gave her a look. "He didn't seem all that bad."

A small smile appeared on the yellow ranger's face. He wasn't that bad… "Okay… probably some relatively descent bar." Alyssa just shook her head.

They shopped a little more until Taylor found a suitable ensemble.

As they were driving back towards the Animarium, Alyssa asked the question that was burning in her mind.

"Taylor… are you going to… tell him?"

Taylor sighed. "Yeah Alyssa. I'm going to blurt it right out to him," she said sarcastically. "That should send him running."

Alyssa looked hurt and Taylor instantly knew she was only trying to help.

"No… not right away. I mean, I have a good feeling about this, but I don't want to push it yet," she said. Alyssa nodded in understanding as they found the place they were looking for.

It was nearly six when they got back, and Taylor managed to get ready without Max, Danny, Cole, or Shayla interrupting her. She would have to thank Alyssa for that later…

"Taylor?" She turned and saw Alyssa in the doorway. "Eric's here." Taylor straightened out her shirt and walked out.

Eric had his back to her, but he knew she was there. He turned around and his eyes widened.

She had on black pants, a black tank top and a loose yellow sweater that fell off one shoulder. Her hair was down and she even had a little bit of makeup on.

Taylor stared at Eric and felt her heart begin to pound. He had on black jeans, with a loose wine colored button shirt and a leather jacket.

"Wow," he said suddenly. Alyssa smiled and left, and Taylor only smirked.

"I think you're blushing Meyers," she said as she walked over to him and passed him.

Eric just watched her go and wondered what the hell was wrong with him.

"You coming or not?" he heard her say.

"Oh this is going to be a long night," he said as he followed her.

A few hours later, Taylor found herself strolling down the streets of Silver Hills on Eric's arm.

After dinner at a very nice restaurant, and drinks and dessert at another, they were ready to call it a night.

They drove down the, now, familiar back road to Turtle Cove.

"If you take the next left… we'll hit my apartment," Taylor said as she kept her eyes straight on the road.

Eric almost did a double take. "Why Lieutenant, are you propositioning me?"

"In your dreams Meyers… I just thought perhaps you'd like a cup of coffee or something."

"And what would that 'or something' be exactly?"

"Just take a left," she said. Eric grinned and did as she commanded. Perhaps their night wasn't over just yet…

A few minutes later found them walking up the outdoor stairs that lead to Taylor second floor apartment.

"I thought you all lived on the Animarium," Eric said as she opened the door and turned on a light.

"We do, now. But Danny, Alyssa and I have our own places here. Max still lives with his parents technically. Cole's really the only one that lives on the Animarium," she explained.

She walked into the kitchen and put a pot of coffee on. While she was in there, Eric made himself at home by sitting on her couch and looking around. The apartment was small, but cozy. A few photos were on the wall, and there were a few odd decorations.

Not overly done, but not unfinished. "How long have you been living here?" he asked.

"About six years now," she replied as she came back in with two mugs. She handed him one and sat next to him. "We get some off time from the base occasionally, so I like to come back here."

"What about your folks? You don't stay with them?" he asked as he sipped his coffee.

There it was. The big family question Taylor had been dreading all night. A rush went through her and she didn't know what to do. If she told him the truth what would he say? It was still too soon to be laying her life story out in front of him…

"They don't really live around here… my dad's back east and my mom's in northern California," she said, as she took a sip, not caring that the liquid burned her throat.

"They divorced?"

"Separated," she said plainly, hoping he would buy it. There was no need to ruin this night…

"That's too bad," he said. Eric too was feeling uneasy about the whole conversation. His family life was nothing he wanted to talk about and he regretted bringing up the topic.

"Yeah," she said idly. She needed to change subjects fast. Eric could feel it too.

"So… is yellow your favorite color?" he asked out of nowhere.

Taylor nearly spit out her coffee. "That has to be the lamest thing I have ever heard," she said laughing. Eric mentally slapped himself.

"It was the first thing that came to my head," he said as he placed his mug down. Taylor was in a fit of giggles now, trying to compose herself.

"Oh wait till I tell Wes that one!" she laughed as she placed her mug down as well.

"You think that's funny?" he asked mock sternly.

"Yup," she replied.

Without warning, Eric nearly pounced on her, pinning her body underneath his. His hands were on her upper arms and he straddled her. He leaned down and caught her lips with his.

As soon as she hit the couch, her eyes closed and she went back to a place she never wanted to be again… memories of being held down, being forcefully kissed and…

"Get off of me," she pleaded when his lips met her neck. "Please… stop," she said as tears began to well up in her eyes.

Eric immediately stopped what he was doing and looked into her eyes; what he saw shook him to the bone… he got off her and she slowly sat up, looking into space.

He reached out to touch her face her, but involuntarily she moved away a little.

"Taylor I," he began.

Taylor took a deep breath. "I… think you should go," she said as she rose.

Eric sighed. Something was obviously wrong, but he wasn't going to push it now. "Are you sure you want to be alone right now?" he asked as he got his jacket.

Taylor opened the door. "Yeah… I just… I just need some time, ok? Look I had a really great time tonight. Maybe we could do it again sometime, but right now I just need to go to bed," she said.

Eric walked over to her and gently kissed her cheek. "I had a good time too… I'll call you." He walked down the stairs and got into his car wondering what the hell had happened.

Upstairs as Taylor shut her door and watched him drive away, she thought the same thing…