I know, I know, I deserve to be shot. No updates of any kind for a month! However, I have 3 or 4 updates on the way, hopefully this weekend or sometime next week for this and Taylor Made, so that should make up for it?
This is set in the TM 'verse, a couple of months after Taylor and Speed get together.
-_-
17) Crack the Shutters by Coldplay
Taylor rolled over, blinking sleep out of her eyes and gazing with adoration at the handsome man in the bed next to her. His chest moved up and down gently, his rugged face always more peaceful in sleep. God knows they needed the sleep, they had just been up for 37 hours straight on a surveillance op that resulted in a shootout, killing the suspects and three cops.
She climbed out of bed, padding down the hallway into the clean white kitchen, taking a bottle of milk from the fridge and boiling the kettle for coffee. Stretching to reach her favourite mug, and finding she can't reach it, she was faced with two choices. Use another mug, or wake Tim up.
An evil grin spread over her face.
Creeping into the bedroom, she knelt on the bed that they had been sharing for the past two months, slowing lowering her milk bottle-cooled hands onto his bare chest. His eyes snapped open, hands suddenly appearing around her wrists, lifting them away from his body.
'Do you have to wake me up like that?' he mumbled, his voice still sleepy, despite the alert look in his eyes.
She grinned and nodded, climbing off him and opening the curtains, letting the light flow in. 'Yup. How else will I get you to reach my favourite mug from the top shelf?'
'I dunno. By waiting for me to wake up, instead of putting your cold hands all over me?'
She laughed, and leant down to kiss him softly, running her now warmer hands over his chest and up to his neck, one curling around to reach the nape, one continuing upwards to caress his face. He responded by wrapping a muscular arm around her slender waist, drawing her close. Reluctantly, she broke the kiss, whispering against his lips 'First coffee, then kissing. Kitchen, now.'
Climbing off him for the second time in as many minutes, she stood in front of the window, looking out to the sea, like she did every morning. He'd once asked her why, and she replied that the sea reminded her of who she was, and who she used to be. It made her feel calm and at peace with herself.
Now, looking at her standing there, he watched the light streaming into the room and shining on Taylor. Her hair shone like spun copper, and her creamy skin glowed with life. She was the most beautiful thing in the world to him, and every time he looked at her, she took his breath away. In just three months, she had taken his life, and inserted herself into it easily, as if she had been there forever. It wasn't just him though. The whole team had changed as a result of the small New York native. Eric had swallowed his fear and taken a leap of faith, resulting in the discovery of a soul mate with Calleigh. Horatio was more at ease, less mysterious. Speed now saw him as a person, not just his boss. Frank had become part of the team, as had Cooper, once a cocky loner, had developed into one of Speed's closest friends. He had been there for him when Taylor had fought for her life, and they had formed a bond that, as close as he was with Eric, would never share with him. Dan had held Taylor's life in his hands, and Speed had trusted him with it.
However, Alexx had not changed a bit. She had welcomed Taylor like one of her own, and she had quickly become one of the family. They had been round to Alexx's for dinner, and she had also been accepted by Alexx's husband and her children, when Lily had professed her love for Taylor's flowing auburn locks, and declared that she wanted her hair the same. She had given Aimee a pair of designer boots that no longer fit her, and she had allowed Michael to take her beloved bike for a spin, something she had not even deigned to let Speed do.
Truly Taylor had become part of the family, and now Speed had plans to make it permanent. Rising out of the bed, he rummaged in his bedside drawer for something he had gone with Eric to choose a couple of days ago. He hadn't planned to use it so early, but nothing had ever felt more right.
Slowly, he approached Taylor, and she turned to face him, her eyes meeting his. She had once confessed to his eyes being her favorite part of him, and that she wanted the first thing she saw every time she looked at him to be his soul searching eyes.
Then her eyes glanced down, to the small blue box in his hand, and her eyes welled up, as he went down on one knee…
-_-
OK, that went in a completely different direction than I started out, but I think it turned out well. I hope everyone enjoyed it, and that it is a sort of apology for taking so long to post since the last time. Am I forgiven?