Taylor watched as Princess Shayla disappeared from her sight in a flash. The others around her had tears in their eyes, just as she did. Their mission was complete… that was all there was to it.

The Wildforce team all turned and stepped through the portal that brought them back down to the Earth.

The night before, they had already said their goodbyes to each other, and told everyone what they planned to do.

Danny and Max were off to see the world, while Merrick was going to wander around until he found whatever it was he felt he needed to find. Alyssa would finish school, and Cole was going to work at an animal shelter in Turtle Cove.

As for Taylor… all she wanted to do was get back and see Eric. She knew she would have to go back to the Force. There was no use in delaying the inevitable. In truth, she missed flying with her squadron.

Hugs went around and a few tears were shed as they all went their separate ways. Taylor got in her car and drove straight to Silver Hills. She was engaged now… that thought in itself made her smile.

She had a fiancé to come back to when she was through with the Force. Everything would work out.

Eric's house came into view and she saw his SUV in the driveway. 'He must have had a long night,' she thought to herself.

After she and the others had completed their task, and after Eric's surprise proposal, he had pretty much ordered her to go rest with her team. He and the Guardians stayed and helped with the clean up effort.

Parking her car, she used the key he had given her to let herself in. "Eric?" she called softly. All the lights were off and she walked through the house.

It was late, and she thought that maybe he had gone for a run as he sometimes did, but as she walked down the hall, she heard soft snoring coming from the bedroom.

She walked in and sure enough, Eric was lying on his stomach fast asleep.

In all truth, she was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to curl up with him. She stripped down to her underwear and a t-shirt and decided that he needed to be woken up…

Carefully, she straddled his body, sitting on his thighs. Eric let out a small grunt and she grinned as her fingers pressed into his bare back in an attempt to relax him.

Eric felt her fingers working and had no intention of stopping her. He was so sore and tired… this was just what he needed.

"Are you awake yet?" she asked as she leaned down to him, kissing his neck.

"No," he mumbled back. Taylor stopped kissing him momentarily. "Don't stop doing that," he said softly. Taylor just grinned and kissed her way across his shoulder blades.

"I was thinking," she began.

"Uh oh," Eric said smiling a little. Taylor stopped her kissing, but kept massaging his shoulders.

"Where are we going to live?"

Eric's sleep clouded brain finally cleared and he remembered that he had proposed to her yesterday in the aftermath of everything that happened. It had been on his mind ever since they had gotten back together.

He was ready to ask her at Wes and Jen's wedding, but he decided that when he knew it was right, it would just come out the way it did.

In one swift movement, he turned himself onto his back, with Taylor now straddling him while facing him. He put his hands on her hips and moved her up a little.

Taylor grinned as she felt him underneath her. He playfully pushed his pelvis up and she grinned devilishly.

"Eric… I'm serious."

"So am I," he said as he gripped her hips a little tighter. Taylor just smiled and placed her hands on his chest. It was then that Eric remembered that he had something for her. She watched as he moved a little to grab something off the nightstand.

Eric found the small box he was looking for and turned back to her. He opened the box and Taylor, for the first time in her life, was speechless. In front of her was a princess cut, flawless diamond set in an engraved platinum band,

Eric saw her face. "Is this good enough for you?" he asked as he placed it on the tip of her finger.

"I… I…" she stammered. Eric just smiled and slipped it on fully.

"Taylor… will you marry me?" he asked as he looked into her eyes.

She smiled and looked at her ring and then back to Eric. "Yes," she said as she leaned down, hovering inches from his face. "I'll marry you."

Eric grinned and pulled her down onto him fully and kissed her. His tongue gently probed her mouth and she pulsed hers back against his. Everything was finally falling into place.

They broke apart and Eric ran his fingers through her silky hair. "You're sure about this?" he asked.

Taylor just smiled and placed her hands on his cheeks, kissing him passionately. Eric responded to her kiss and wrapped his arms around her, tugging her shirt off over her head.

She sat up and he just took all of her in. She was his… and was going to be for the rest of his life. Taylor saw the sort of dreamy look in his eyes and could only guess that hers looked much the same. He was absolutely perfect for her in more ways than she could have ever thought.

Eric caressed her sides and she sighed softly. "Of course I'm sure about marrying you. I don't think I've ever been more sure about anything before."

That was the answer he needed to hear. "I feel the same way you know," he said. Taylor laughed.

"Then I guess we finally agree on something," she said. "You never did answer my question before."

"What question was that exactly?" he asked as she lay half on top of him, their chests touching.

"Where are we going to live?"

Eric gave her a questioning look. "What's wrong with this?"

"Well, if you want that small army of kids we're going to need a bigger place… plus I think that this…" she said indicating to her ring, "…cost enough for a down payment."

Eric smiled at that. "Actually, it wasn't that expensive," he said.

"It's fake then, right?" she asked playfully.

Eric shook his head and took her left hand in his, looking at the ring. "It was my grandmother's. She and my grandfather were married for fifty-two years… I thought maybe it would bring us some good luck. After the shit we've been through in the past two years, I'd say we need it."

Taylor leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'll treasure it always," she whispered. Eric saw the look of longing in her eyes and knew he wanted to ease the pain as much as she did.

He lay on his back again with her on top. She carefully removed her underwear, and he his boxers. Taylor leaned down onto his chest and he kissed her neck, and then her chest as she arched her back.

She grabbed him and began stroking almost painfully slow for Eric. He reached down and eased his fingers into her, playing with her softness and she increased her efforts on him. Their lips met and released as they felt the pleasure the other was giving.

Taylor couldn't take it much more. She let go of him and removed his hand. Eric smiled as she moved over slightly and retrieved a condom from his dresser. She placed it on him, smiling as she rose up and lowered herself down onto him, joining them in the most intimate way.

Eric gripped her hips and together, they moved her up and down on him in languorous strokes. They both were panting and sweating, but that was the last thing on their minds at the moment.

Taylor felt a shudder run through her as she felt her climax approaching. Eric gripped her hips hard as he came, but he kept pumping until later Taylor followed him.

They both collapsed, exhausted, onto the bed. Taylor smiled and was laughing a little.

"What's… so… funny?" Eric asked between breaths.

"Wes is going to give you so much shit when he finds out we're engaged."

Eric turned on his side and propped himself up on his elbow. "Not as much as Alyssa and the others are going to give you." Taylor had to admit that he had a point. She rolled into him, his arms wrapping around her.

"We're just going to have to wait and see what happens," she said as she closed her eyes. Eric kissed her forehead and closed his as well.

Neither one of them realized that the future had more in store for them than they thought…