A/N: I'm sorry for the delay in this story, but I'd recently lost a family member around the time I began to write this chapter. I wanted to finish this story for you all and myself, but it wasn't easy. So, I hope you all enjoy this, and I hope you had happy holidays, and may the new year bring us all better luck.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

– – –

Two Years Later

The sun goes down, the stars comes out. And all that counts is here and now

My universe will never be the same. I'm glad you came

Tara pressed her fingertips into her temple, shaking her head back and forth, and Denise was trying to sooth her temper. It wasn't working. There was little to do to ease Tara right now. She was beyond annoyed, and she couldn't find a way to express it. Well, there was one way, but she couldn't do it. She would likely be removed if she tried. She had been warned once already, and she normally would have ignored it, but she couldn't this time. She had plans tomorrow, and she didn't want an irked teenager to be there.

"It was rigged." Tara walked back to the car that night with Denise and the girls. "You should have won!"

"Aunt Tara, it's okay." Meghan looped her arm through her aunt's. "It was just one volleyball game. We're not out for the count just yet."

"I know, but it was rigged. That ref was a joke."

"You almost made him cry." Enid walked beside Denise with her hands in her pockets. "It was impressive and embarrassing. I asked you not to get so worked up over it."

"I know, but...I care, okay? Sue me."

"Would I get my own phone if I did?" Enid smiled sweetly.

"No," Denise and Tara returned.

"Why not? Meghan has a cell phone."

"You've lost the last four emergency phones we've had," Denise reminded the sixteen-year-old. "We told you when you prove you're responsible enough for a cell phone, we'll talk about it."

She threw her head back and groaned. "You're both impossible!"

"We're parents," Tara smirked back at her. "We're supposed to be impossible."

She sighed and averted her eyes for a moment before meeting Tara's gaze. "When is your ceremony? I know Denise is taking me, but I want to know when I should get dressed."

"It's at ten."

"In the morning?"

"Yep."

Enid nodded. "I'll wear my best dress."

"You could come in pajamas, and I wouldn't care." Tara unlocked the car. "I just want you both there. Since Meghan has let me down. And Lilly."

"It's not like Meghan set out to have her tonsils removed." Denise held the back door open for the girls.

"She could have held it together for another day."

"Or choked in her sleep."

"That wasn't a firm maybe. It was a soft maybe."

"There was a no maybe."

"You weren't there."

"Neither were you."

"That's very true, but I was there in spirit."

"Oh? In spirit?" Denise smirked. "Okay, you do remember where you were in person, right?"

Tara chuckled and tripped backward towards the driver's side door, Enid ducked into the car to escape her embarrassing parents, and Meghan was confused for a moment then caught on and followed Enid into the car, blushing. Denise closed the door and laughed at just how wrong the girls were in their assumptions.

"Court was so boring that day. I nearly fell asleep in the pews." She tucked hair behind her ear. "I hate custody hearings."

"Why?"

"Because of all the ones we went through for Enid." She curled her lips into a disgusted sneer. "It damn near took forever, and for about a month I wasn't sure if we'd get her or not. I just don't like them. I'd rather stick to what I'm good at."

"You helped keep that child out of a suspect's home. She may not have done the crime, but she wasn't a good person. She didn't want that girl out of the goodness of her heart. She wanted the money attached to her. You did the right thing, so don't pretend like that was taxing."

Tara smiled softly. "I wasn't. I just hate custody hearings." She opened the car door. "Let's get home and feed the girls before they turn on us."

"You're worse than the two of them."

"So let's get home and feed me. That popcorn did nothing for me."

Denise laughed. "The nachos either?"

"No, they just gave me heartburn."

"Poor you."

"I know. I keep burping them up too." She groaned at the taste of it. "It's just awful."

"I could have warned you," Enid said from the backseat, "but you were late."

"I had court. It ran late. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. It's not like we won anyhow."

"Don't get her started on that again," Meghan softly groaned.

"Oh, but she did, and I am," Tara teased. "Now, about that serve—"

"Tara, we love you, but if you don't stop talking about that damned serve, we'll throw you out of the car." Denise set her hand over Tara's on the steering wheel. "Okay?"

"Now that just hurts."

"It will if you don't talking about the serve," Meghan jokingly mumbled.

"Can you just feel the love in this car?" Tara started the engine and smiled at her girlfriend. "All right, ladies, let's go home."

– –

Tara walked into her and Denise's bedroom that night, brushing the tangles out of her shoulder-length black hair, wincing at the knots, and she saw Denise looking over her schedule again. For the past couple of nights, she'd seen her doing this, and normally she didn't bite, but she was curious to know what was on her mind for the past few nights.

"What are you up to?" She stood by the end of the bed, minding the frame against her hip.

She exhaled and raised her head. "It's been over two years since we met. Do you know that?"

"Yeah." She set her hairbrush down on the dresser and climbed onto the bed. "I kept track so I knew when to buy an anniversary gift. I had the girls help me pick it out. I still missed the date, but I have the gift."

"We haven't even talked about gifts."

"I know, but I still got you one." She smirked. "I'll give it to you before Martin's birthday."

"He might get upset if you do it during."

"I refuse to give this gift to a two year old."

"What is it?"

"I'm not giving any hints."

"That's not fair."

"Yeah, a lot of things aren't fair." She leaned over and kissed her. "Like how we have to babysit two teenagers for the night."

"It has been a while, hasn't it?"

"You've been crazy busy at the office, and I had the jackass who kept burying twelve year olds alive." She blew out a sigh. "I feel like I've barely gotten to see you. We pay the same rent and live in the same apartment, but I never see you."

"Well, why don't we make some time before the party?" Denise reached over and laced her fingers through Tara's. "We can get some coffee...maybe grab some lunch and come back here. I have the entire day off, and I think criminals know better than to kill on Sasha's first born's birthday. They have to sense the vibe she's giving off."

Tara laughed. "That's true. She is a mama puma when it comes to this type of thing." She searched her girlfriend's eyes. "Let's do it. The girls have school, so I'll drop them off and meet you for coffee."

They lied down for the night, Denise set her glasses and schedule on the nightstand, and Tara hit the lights, stretching out. She felt Denise's hand slide through her hair, and she found those shiny eyes in the darkness, their lips not doubt mirroring the others in a wicked grin.

"You realize we probably won't make lunch, right?"

"Probably." She leaned up and kissed her. "Get some sleep. You look exhausted."

"That's my line." She tenderly brushed hair back from Tara's face. "You're the one who's overworked."

"We live in New York. It isn't the safest place in the world." She was being lulled to sleep by the repeated movement of Denise's hand gliding through her hair. "And you've been busy too..."

"Just get some sleep." Denise kissed her forehead once then her lips, finding her eyes in the dark. "I love you."

Tara smiled. "I love you too." She rolled over and captured Denise's hand, kissing it. "Good night."

"Good night."

– – –

"Did you even buy him a gift?" Enid sat at the table with a bowl of cereal the next morning. "An age appropriate gift."

"Yes." Tara rolled her eyes. "And for the last time the motor bike wasn't for him. It was for a very...small person."

"Uh-huh." Enid smirked around a bite of cereal. "Mmm. Who's picking me up?"

"Denise is. I have to stop by the store and buy dip, because two teenager girls thought their little midnight snack wouldn't be noticed." Tara sent a slight glare to Enid and Meghan. "You couldn't eat the cookies."

"I wanted salt," Enid replied. "And Meghan will eat just about whatever you put in front of her."

"That's not true." Meghan crossed her arms. "I don't eat red meat anymore."

"Fine. She'll eat just about whatever junk food you put in front of her." She smiled sweetly at her cousin who elbowed her in the ribs, and she laughed.

"Jerk." Meghan stood up. "I'm going to head down to the car and warm it up."

"Winter is nearly upon us." Tara tossed a beanie at her niece. "Put a coat on."

"I am." She tugged the beanie over her hair and swiped her coat. "Hurry up, please. I have a chem test I need to study for. I can't fail this one and pass the class."

"I'm chewing." Enid shoved in another spoonful.

"I refuse to chug hot coffee. I will sip it to my heart's content." She drank from her mug, trying to find her travel mug, but she couldn't. She'd been looking all morning, but it hadn't turned up. She'd ran out of ideas, so she would just borrow Denise's. She knew Denise would silently object as she always did when Tara used her cup, because she always lost it for about two or four days. She actually went out and bought a new one for her when she couldn't find it the last time. She believed Denise knew it was new, but she didn't say anything. She suspected the other had showed up, and she kept it at work to keep up the charade. It was something Denise would do.

"All right, kiddo, let's haul ass." Tara closed the lid as Enid set her empty bowl in the sink. "We can't let Meg fail."

"No, we cannot." She shrugged into her coat. "Let's hit the road."

Tara reached over and tugged the white beanie down over her ears. "There, you're all set."

"I can't even see." She tugged it back up. "Do you want me to fall down the steps and break my neck?"

"We're taking the elevator."

"Well, I could still fall and bust my ass."

"Where's the trust? Do you think I'd spend a year fighting for you just to let you fall on your ass and make a fool of yourself? Or possible sprain or break something?"

"I guess not." She smiled a little. "Come on. I'll let you push the button."

"Walk." Tara nudged her and locked up the apartment, chuckling. The anniversary of their adoption of Enid was also coming up. It'd been a little over a year since they'd gained full custody of the teenager. She and Denise were planning a party to celebrate this year together as a family. It would just be them and Meghan and Lilly and probably Caesar and everyone Tara worked with. It'd be crowded, but they were family too, and they'd accepted Enid as such. It was amazing how they'd taken to her, and her to them. It made Tara proud to have these people in her life. She didn't need to adopt a baby for them to teach and watch grow for them to become attached and involved. They genuinely loved Enid and asked after her. She was part of their families, and it was incredible. They made her feel so welcome at the Grimes' annual BBQ, and at Sasha's son's first birthday, and when Rosita and Spencer announced their engagement, they made sure Enid was there to hear the news. Tara loved them so much for making that effort.

"Come on." Enid was in the elevator. "Stop daydreaming, or I'll tell Denise."

"Are you really gonna pull the "Tell Denise" card on me when you cut history last week?"

She blanched. "You know?"

"Yeah, I know."

"How?"

"That's not important. What is important is that you attend class."

"It's the same old stuff. We never learn anything new, and I'm ready for my final exam." She shrugged her shoulders. "But if you want, I'll stick around."

"Good, because I don't want Denise to find out. She'll grill both our asses."

"Yeah, my lips are sealed."

Denise was the disciplinary of the household, and holy fuck did she discipline the shit out of them.

– – –

"Alejándro." Rosita wandered the apartment, trying to find the seven-year-old to get him ready for school. He wasn't in his bedroom, and he wasn't in the bathroom. He wasn't in their bedroom either. There were few other places he went, so she was rapidly running out of areas to search. She had no clue where that little boy ran off too. She knew he didn't like getting up this early, so why did he get up and hide from her? He was in bed at five. She'd woken up to pee, and he was in bed, so what the hell? Where was that boy? "Alejándro?"

She entered the kitchen and found breakfast waiting for her on a tray with a singe tulip in a small plastic vase Spencer had glued onto the tray last Mother's Day when the glass one fell over and shattered. There were three pancakes and toast and eggs and fatty bacon with orange juice. She smiled at the sight of it, but didn't understand why it was there.

"No, no, no, no." Alejándro entered the kitchen and pushed his mom back. "You ruined the surprise!"

"Surprise?" She smiled even more. "Oh. I'm so sorry. I'll just go back to my room and pretend I didn't see this."

"You promise?"

"I can't promise, because I don't know what I'm promising. Gee, I'm bushed." She forced a yawn and headed back to her bedroom, curling up under the warm blankets. She could have fallen back to sleep easy, but she had an appointment at eleven. She couldn't miss that. If she did, she'd have two angry mothers calling her, four of her detectives calling to harass her, and Mother Hen Spencer wouldn't let her breathe without trying to see if she was sick or something. So many people cared about her; it was ridiculous, and she loved every single one of them.

Alejándro carried in the tray, needing help lifting it up so high, and she smiled when he sat across from her. "For mi hermana."

She stared. "Who told you?"

"Daddy told me."

"Oh, he did, did he?" She was going to kill a Monroe in about five minutes. She told him not to say anything. She couldn't believe him. They were going to tell him together, and he went and told him all by himself? Asshole. She didn't plan on having anymore kids, so now her only chance to tell her child she was pregnant and they were becoming a big brother was gone. Oh, he was dead meat.

"Well, Grandpa told me first then Daddy."

"Grandpa Reg?"

He nodded.

"Oh." Damn, now she couldn't kill him for spilling the beans. Reg likely didn't mean to do it, and she couldn't go off on him. He was such a sweetie. Ugh, she'd have to just let it go. Damn.

"Buddy, I said fruit." Spencer entered the bedroom with a cup of fruit salad, and he plucked the bacon off the plate. "These are for us."

"You're taking my bacon?" Rosita arched a brow at him.

"You weren't supposed to have it in the first place."

"You do not take my bacon." She reached up and took it back. "I'll eat the fruit until I'm a kiwi, but you don't take my bacon."

He sighed. "Fine, but that's the last of it."

"Then buy some more." She chewed on a big bite, watching his frown deepen. "Spencer, we've been through this. It's my body, and I can work out what I need for myself. If you play Mother Hen, I'll have to kick you out for seven months."

"Fine. I'll let it go." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Good morning, by the way."

"Good morning." She smiled up at him. "Thank you for breakfast."

"You're welcome. It was a team effort." He set a hand on their son's shoulder. "I had to pick eggshells out of your pancakes, but it's all good."

"I can't wait to eat them now." She poked it with her fingernail. "Would you take the first bite?"

"What? Why me?"

"Because you're the cook, and I don't want the baby to ingest eggshell."

"Fine." He tested the pancake. "It's fine. It's actually really good."

"Well, you guys can dig in too. I'm not that hungry yet."

Spencer moved between Rosita and the frame of the bed, helping himself to another bite while Alejándro had some of the fruit, and Rosita snuggled up against him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, Alejándro was smirking at them, and Rosita fished out a strawberry from the fruit salad.

"Hey," Spencer whispered by her ear, "if this baby's not a girl, we're over."

She laughed. "Dude, that isn't my choice. Your little swimmers decide, not me."

"Well, I was lucky and got the son I always wanted last time." He smiled at Alejándro and kissed Rosita's cheek, whispering, "And I got lucky and was able to start over with you, so I'm sure we'll have a little girl."

"I guess we'll find out." She turned and kissed his lips, pinching his jaw and crinkling her nose at him.

Alejándro giggled at his parents.

"At least someone is amused." Spencer freed his jaw and sent Rosita a playful glare.

"Watch it, mister, I'm the person you sleep with at night. It can be really cold, or really...really hot." She lowered her voice at the end, suggestively tracing her tongue over the tip of the strawberry, and he gulped. "It's up to you."

"I'll behave if you do."

"I'm always on my best behavior." She nibbled on the strawberry. "Right, baby?"

Alejándro nodded.

"He's a mama's boy. His opinion doesn't count."

"You're just jealous." She then caught his eye. "That's why you want a little girl. You want a Daddy's girl, don't you? Aww, Spence, do you feel left out?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, that's not why I want a little girl. I want a daughter, because you said you don't want more than two kids, and I'd like to have a son and a daughter." He rested his head on her shoulder. "Sue me."

"I just might if you try and pressure me to have a girl if this one's a boy."

"Pressure you?" Alejándro asked.

"Yep. Daddy will get annoying and ask me and you and God to give us a daughter and you a little sister until the cows come home, and we're expecting a girl."

"I'm not that bad," he griped.

"Yes, you are." She sat up and drank her orange juice. "If you keep pushing it, the universe will give you a boy just to screw with you."

He blew out a sigh. "That's true." He checked his watch and stood up. "All right, little dude, it's time for school."

"Is it?" Rosita grasped his wrist to check the time and frowned. "I wish we had a little more time together."

"I could just stay home," Alejándro suggested.

"Cute, but no. You need an education, and I have to get to work." She stretched her arms. "I'll have to get some coffee on the way."

"Decaf, right?"

"Don't remind me." She slipped off the bed. "I'm going to shower. Why don't you take him to school?"

"Don't I always?"

"And you're so good at it." She smirked and kissed Alejándro's hair. "I'll see you after school. I'm picking you up."

"Okay." He grinned and hopped up. "Let's go, Daddy. It's my turn to feed the class turtle, and if I'm late, someone else will do it!"

"I'm coming. I'm coming." Spencer rose off the bed. "Get your shoes on."

"Bye, baby." Rosita waved to them and headed to the bathroom to shower, stretching her arms again and yawning. She was grateful to be one of those women who didn't have morning sickness, otherwise the entire household would be puking. Alejándro couldn't stand the sound or sight of it, and Spencer had a weak stomach to begin with. They couldn't watch scary movies because of it; she typically watched them over at Tara's for that exact reason. Oh, well. She was happy nevertheless. She was with child and engaged, Alejándro was thrilled about the wedding and about being a big brother, and Spencer was...well, damn ecstatic. Embarrassingly so. If he kept it up, she wouldn't be seen in public with that overbearing, embarrassing sweetheart.

– – –

"All right, everybody," Sasha announced to the team as Tara and Rosita strolled in together with coffees. "You might not know, but Martin's birthday is next week."

"'Might not know'?" Michonne echoed. "How the hell wouldn't we know? You've told us every day for the past month. I know his birthday better than my own sons'."

"I just wanted you to know."

"Trust me," Noah assured her, "we know."

Tara nodded. "I could get Alzheimer's and still know his damn birth date," she grumbled teasingly around a sip of coffee.

"Well, good. Now I can stop reminding you." She smirked and crossed her arms. "It's at Bob's parents' home. We have the food and drinks and cake sorted, so just bring yourself and gifts. Please try to be on time, if you're not early. His parents...run a tight ship."

"Great. Sounds fun." Tara sat at her desk. "Can I bring booze to spike my own drinks with?"

"Absolutely not."

"Like I would."

Rosita opened her office door. "No drinking at any events we all go too. We made that deal when Michonne got pregnant, and as I'm pregnant now—no booze."

"Why did we make that rule?" Noah inquired.

"Because we have fun when we're drunk, and pregnant ladies aren't fun." Tara squealed and ducked when Rosita chucked a juice box at her. It was empty, but Rosita had force to make that shit hurt. "Dude!"

"That's Captain Dude to you." She winked and stepped into her office.

"Where did you even get this?" Tara picked up the box of juice from the floor. They had enough risks for ants, and they didn't need this adding to it.

"I don't even know. I let Spencer and Alejándro hang out in here a couple weeks ago, and I keep finding them. I found one in my filing cabinet." She shook her head. "My filing cabinet! Like what the hell were they doing in there? Alejándro's not tall enough to each where it was, and I don't know what the hell made Spencer even open them."

"He's nosy and dumb," Noah offered, only half-teasing.

"Yeah, pretty much." She nodded. "But I never said that. I have work to do, and so do all of you, so let's get this started. We have to at least look like we're professionals."

"Then I should just go home right now," Tara stated.

"You're so cute, Chambler." Rosita smiled tightly. "But if anybody gets to leave, it's Noah."

"Why him?" She groaned.

"I have a sickly infant at home," he reminded her. "Hershel and Maggie have immune systems of gold, and sometimes Beth's manages to not utterly suck, but our daughter? No. She gets sick at the drop of a hat, and she's sick now. Again."

"Why didn't you tell me? I have a nurse in the family." Tara dug out her phone. "I'll make Lilly send her friend over. Amy, I think. She's recently broadened...whatever she needed to broaden to work with babies."

He laughed. "Don't worry about it. Maggie and Annette are with her. It's just an ear infection."

"Are you saying that so I don't send an army of nurses to your home?" Tara narrowed her eyes.

"Yes. Yes, I am. I can't put my wife through that. She's had little sleep, and honestly I'm a little scared of her. I don't need her chewing me out when I get home."

"Your wife is so the boss in your relationship."

"Not really," he confessed. "She's just the louder one. It's from all the singing lessons she had as a kid. She can lecture me for an hour with minimal breathing." He smiled fondly. "Though...she sings the kids to sleep, so I can't complain. They love to hear her sing..."

"Oh, my God. Take your perfect relationship and get outta my face." Tara tossed the juice box at him. "I feel so left out. I'm the only one not engaged or married."

"Hello." Dawn waved her hand. "At least you have a girlfriend. I have no one."

"Yeah, well, you're an awful person." She plopped down in her seat and grinned. "I'm adorable."

"That's one word for it," Sasha teased.

"The other also starts with an A," Michonne jested from behind her cup of coffee.

Tara flipped them off with the same grin she'd pointed at Dawn, collecting her pen when they laughed and began her work for the day. She scribbled a note out on the edge of her notepad, reminding her to pick up Enid. She also had a bit of shopping to do for Marty's birthday, and there was something else she wanted to take a peek at. Sadly, she would have a tag along for this little venture, because Denise wouldn't be able to make it out of the office to pick her up. She could hope the side kick could keep her little lips sealed.

––

Enid kicked her foot up, grasping the straps to her backpack as she and Tara walked the streets with the snacks they'd picked up for Marty's second birthday, as Denise had come down with a spinach and artichoke dip addiction, and Sasha wouldn't buy it, because she hated artichoke. Enid wondered where they were headed to now. It wasn't so late in the day that she should worry about being up late to finish her homework, but it was late in walking down the street without Tara telling her where they were going. It'd been a good ten minutes of silence, and she didn't typically mind. Tara had a demanding job, and she had a lot on her mind, but this was different. She was contemplating something intensely, and Enid was curious as to what it was, but she'd wait. She'd hear what Tara was gnawing on soon enough.

"Huh?" Enid noticed Tara had stopped walking and turned to face her, finding her standing by the door of a Tiffany's. She blinked and approached her, standing beside her and gasping so loudly Tara jolted, seemingly forgetting the young girl was even with her. "Oh, my God!"

"What?" Tara paled. "I mean—There's a penny, like...on the ground. Oh, and it's face up! Lucky penny!" She laughed nervously as the young girl scrutinized her, and she held up the shiny penny, swallowing hard.

"Are you gonna propose to Denise?" Her eyes widened and sparkled. "Is that why you've been uncharacteristically quiet?"

She heaved a sigh. "Look, Enid, it's not...entirely what it looks like."

"So...you're not proposing." Her eyes dropped to the ground, and Tara could see her heart sink.

"I don't want to rush into anything, and that seems to be all Denise and I do. I want to take it slow, and that's what the last couple years have been. I really...love having you two in my life. You two keep me going when the weight of my cases wants to crush me. You're everything to me, and...lately I've been thinking of ways to show you both just how much you mean to me." She inhaled deeply. "That's why I'm here."

Enid raised her head. "What do you mean?"

"I'm done...taking it slow." She smiled. "I'm ready to take that next step, and Denise and I have talked about it. Sometimes jokingly, sometimes in all seriousness. We haven't lately, but...I've spoken to Dennis and gotten his opinion. I checked with Lilly and Meg, and now I'm checking with you. Do you think—?"

"Yes!" Enid interrupted excitedly then flushed at how she'd rudely cut her off. "I'm sorry. I just... Yes." She inhaled deeply and let it out. "Yes."

"Care to look at some ring options with me then?" She pointed to the door. "You know her jewelry taste best."

"Yeah, 'cause you avoid shopping at all costs." Enid opened the door. "And she doesn't have any particular tastes. Just...nothing glitzy."

"I know that much!"

"Shh." She put a finger to her lips when they entered, and Tara rolled her eyes. "I hope you have enough money for this."

"Of course. I wouldn't make this decision and buy some cheap tin ring."

"Just checking." She grinned and peeked at one of the displays, eyes lighting up.

Tara smiled at the sight. She'd made the right choice involving the kid. She and Denise were closer in some ways, as parent and child. Tara worked late nights, but Denise was home at a decent hour to help Enid with her homework and any trouble she had with...boys—Tara didn't approve of her dating or having "boy troubles", but it wasn't like she could do anything about it. She knew if anyone else besides her could pick out a perfect engagement ring for Denise, it was Enid.

"Hey, look at this one!" Enid pointed at the glass toward a ring.

Tara leaned over and felt her soul die at the price. She pushed Enid away from the case. "Nope. I'd have to sell my soul, and trust me, it ain't worth that much."

"I thought you prepared for this."

"I did."

"Not well enough apparently."

"Just keep looking—within my price range, please."

"Yes, ma'am." She saluted and wondered off in search of the perfect ring.

Tara sighed softly and began to look over the rings herself. She didn't know if the perfect ring existed, but they'd tried their best to find it. She wanted to make this moment memorable, and she wasn't going to get hung up on the details. Whenever she tried super hard to make things perfect, it all went to shit, so she'd wait for the moment to come to her.

She smiled blissfully, thinking of the flaxen beauty at work right now, in that white blouse with her hair in a messy ponytail, working hard in her office. Warmth flooded her heart, and she asked to see a set of rings. And if the moment didn't present itself naturally...then she'd just have to make the moment happen.

Enid looked up from ogling the beautiful rings she'd likely never be able to afford and that would be too flashy for Denise when the woman behind the counter began to hand Tara a set of rings. She scurried over to observe what Tara had chosen, and she smiled at how right it was for the two of them. She gave Tara her approval, and Tara laughed, just happy it fell within her price range. She was damn elated that they were...just what she had been looking for.

– – –

Enid and Tara brought home takeout that night, Denise was on the phone with someone, and Tara had Enid set the table, taking a moment to observe her girlfriend. She was curled up in the armchair, one leg hanging over, the other hugging her chest, a notepad on her thigh, and she was definitely into whatever the other person was saying. It was adorable to see her like that. Plus she was in Tara's nightshirt, which Tara should have a problem with, but after the last couple of months of Denise making excuses to wear it, she's learned to let it go. Besides it wasn't like she was taking any other articles of Tara's clothing. Well, yet anyway.

"I'm gonna pig out in, like, one second if you two don't hurry up." Enid set her backpack by the couch. "Lunch was vile, so I only milk and an apple, and I am starving. I could actually eat a horse."

Tara arched her brow. "Enid, honey, don't take this the wrong way, but I've seen you devour an entire meal in ten minutes and then go back for seconds. Please, starving? When the hell aren't you? And I don't even know where it goes."

"I play sports, and I'm a growing girl." She smirked.

"Yep, and I'm proud to say you're growing into a fine pain in the ass."

She rolled her eyes. "Can we please eat?"

"Yeah, she's in her own little world." Tara guided Enid back to the kitchen to grab drinks.

"Oh, do you want me to put the chair in my room?" Enid inquired, pulling out a pitcher of lemonade and her bottle of Code Red.

"Yeah, I would. Thanks." The chair was code for the rings.

"You're welcome."

They sat down for dinner, Enid filled their glasses and Tara dug into the egg rolls, and Denise joined them, apologizing about being on the phone. She made sure to greet Enid with a brief shoulder squeeze and smile as she weaved through the dining room to her seat, and she placed a kiss to Tara's lips, earning a teasing eye roll from the teen.

"How was your day, Enid?" Denise helped herself to the noodles.

"It was good. Lunch was crap, but I discovered I can survive for a few hours of school on an apple and chocolate milk." She nodded as if proud of herself. "Then I had Carl buy me a candy bar, and I powered my way through the last class."

"Carl, huh?"

"What's with the tone?" Enid lowered a spoonful of fried rice from her mouth. "God, don't tell me you think I liked him."

"I didn't mean to imply that. I just meant...sooner or later, I'm gonna get a call from Lori telling me to give you money for snacks." Denise had already gotten a call from her asking her to not keep Carl over so late on a school night. It was Tara's fault, but she wasn't going to point fingers. She understood Lori's reasoning, and Denise would have done the same thing, but Denise had enough people complaining to her. She didn't need to add more people to that list.

"Well, good—and don't make any assumptions on my sexuality."

Tara choked on her drink and coughed for about five minutes. "Sorry." She cleared her throat, and Enid giggled. "I just didn't expect that."

Enid laughed even harder.

"Enid, don't try and make Tara choke," Denise scolded.

"Sorry." She held her hands up as a peace offering. "I won't do it again."

"Yeah, and don't mention sex or sexuality to me, please." Tara pointed to her girlfriend. "You talk to Denise about that stuff, because if you tell me, I may have to abuse my power and run a background check on 'em."

"Don't you dare!"

"So, there is someone?" Tara smirked.

"No, but don't you dare try and run background checks on my future...whatevers!"

"Fine, fine, but my fingers are totally crossed." She winked and bit into her egg roll.

"Tara!"

"Enid!"

"Cut it out," Denise chastised. "Both of you."

"She started it," Tara retorted.

"And she's impossible," Enid grumbled.

"You're both being ridiculous, and if Enid does start dating someone, we'll meet them. No background checks, but if we don't like any vibes this person gives off, you won't be dating them." They both sighed, but nodded, and Denise shook her head. "I feel like I'm raising two teenagers instead of one."

"I'm just trying to give Enid the whole parent package. I'm being the stereotypical father: I don't trust my daughter, I think I can decide what she does, and I don't trust any boys her age," Tara replied. "You're the mom."

"I'm the mom?"

Tara nodded.

"Totally," Enid agreed. "She couldn't be the mom if you paid her."

"I can part-time it."

"Eh."

"Eh?" Tara repeated. "What the hell is "eh"?"

"Well, it's still in deliberation."

"What is? My part-time moming?"

"Yes."

Denise watched the two most important women in her life go back and forth, shaking her head and sighing into her lemonade, but a smile crossed her lips. She was slightly annoyed, but mostly amused and highly contented. They were her girls, and through all the fighting and teasing and tears, she loved them. She was truly elated with them, her ridiculous and sarcastic and amazing girlfriend, and the daughter she never thought she'd have. They'd made quite a family the last few years, and she didn't know when she started down this path to earn these relationships, to earn this bliss, but she was thrilled she had.

Enid passed out on the couch after dinner, Denise covered her with a blanket and let her sleep there as neither could lift the girl. She wasn't a heavy thing or anything like that, but they were exhausted and lacked muscles required to lift anything beyond a case file. Michonne put them all to shame, save for Sasha who was a buff ass bitch. Like she could bench press Rosita and Tara at the same time and not break a sweat. It was a wonder the baby didn't come out with a six pack.

"I heard about Becca." Denise pulled the hair tie out of her hair gently. "Did Noah say how she was doing now?"

"She's a one year old with an ear infection. Like her dad, she's a cry baby. She'll be fine." Tara shrugged into her nightshirt. "Besides I had Lilly pay her a visit, even though Noah told me not to. Beth can chew me out, but what did she expect me to do? I mean, I'm still not the godmother, but I have to outplay Maggie somehow."

She laughed. "There's still a chance of Rosita making you the godmother of her baby when its born."

"I doubt it. She has a big family, and Sasha chose her brother. I'll never be a godmother." She smiled to herself. "I guess I'll just settle for being a mother." Her eyes lifted to the mirror Denise was standing in front of. "And girlfriend."

"Oh, so you're settling for me and Enid then?"

"Okay, I meant for that to sound romantic, and I don't know how to dig myself out of this." Denise laughed again, and Tara wasn't sure if it was at her or not. "What?"

"It's nothing." She walked over to her. "We have to get some sleep. I have appointments and shopping to do."

"Shopping?"

"Marty's birthday. We didn't get a card."

"He can't even read."

"Yeah, but when he's older and can read, I'd like him to look back at it."

"You're a sentimental freak." Tara wrapped her arms around Denise's waist.

"Look who's talking."

"That's true." She smiled and leaned up to kiss her. "Do we have to sleep?"

"Yes." She tenderly brushed the hairs from Tara's cheek away. "There's plenty of time for that when our lives aren't busy."

"So...next never?"

"Pretty much."

Tara heaved a sigh. "Maybe I can get Enid out of the house for a night."

"And then have her attend my early appointments? And do your job?"

"She's competent."

"Okay, now I'm worried you're not joking."

"I am." She lowered her arms. "Why do you always make sense? Why can't I go to work exhausted?"

"Because if I go to work exhausted, my biggest drawback is a pissed off patient. If you go to work exhausted, the drawback is getting shot or having someone else get shot. I don't want you to ever be in that position, but you have to be, so please just try and stay alert. For my sake and our daughter's."

She offered a sleepy and goofy grin. "I love you too."

Denise smiled and stroked her cheek. "Good night, Tara."

"Good night, Denise."

– – –

"Lilly..." Tara stood in the doorway to her sister's apartment, finding a mountain of boxes littering the living room, a baby wailing somewhere inside, and Meghan nibbling on a Pop Tart while studying for a test. She didn't know what the hell happened since she last came to visit three weeks ago, but there was no way it was this much.

Lilly emerged from the bedroom with the crying infant. "Hey, I'm so glad you're here."

"Yeah, seeing this mess and how I offered to help, I'm not." She climbed over a pile of shoes. "And why do you have Becca?"

"Babysitting. Nate's in Meghan's room, playing with action figures." She soothed the one-year-old. "You're good with babies, so I need you to watch her. Nate has school, so I'll drop him off when I take Meghan, and I can take Enid too, if you want."

"Denise took her to school."

"Oh, well I can pick her up then." She checked her watch and carefully passed the baby over to her sister. "I'll be back soon, and I can explain this mess."

"I hope so." She adjusted the baby as Lilly rounded up her daughter and Beth's son and headed out. She scanned the living room for somewhere to sit, but everything was covered in boxes. She settled on sitting on the floor, unzipping her jacket so the cold zipper wouldn't rub against Becca's sensitive baby cheeks.

Her full name was Rebecca. Rebecca Josephine, after Maggie's birth mom—though Maggie insisted Beth didn't have to do that. Of course she still did anyway, and Noah was fine with it. His parents too, but Tara suspected he would have to name the next one after one of them. There might not be a next one, but if there was, his or her name was picked out and ready for him or her.

Tara soothed the baby, her wails softening to whimpers, and Tara studied the little biracial cutie in her arms. Nate had been just as precious, only with more curls on his head and looking more like his mother whereas Becca's skin was lighter with a mixture of Beth's and Noah's different hair types and color even. She had big green eyes like Maggie's, puffy little cheeks and what looked like Beth's nose. No one could tell. They even whipped out the baby albums to try and see whose nose she had, but they couldn't figure it out. Hershel said it was Beth's, and Maggie said it was Noah's, and then Noah's dad agreed with Maggie, but his mom with Hershel. Now it's a huge mess with bets being made. Tara was in charge of the bets, though Hershel didn't want to go that far. Maggie, Glenn, Noah's parents, Noah, and Beth and everyone they worked with had money in this pool. Only time would tell, and Tara leaned toward Noah. Mostly because something of him had to show through. This kid was about 99.9% Beth's genes, so something had to be his, right?

Becca looked up at Tara with those big eyes, her cheeks tear stained and pink, and she hiccuped.

"Okay, I get it. It's cute, all right?" She scolded her uterus. "Not happening." She wasn't down with artificial insemination. She was fine with adopting, and it wasn't like she'd even considered adopting a baby. She and Denise were still grasping parenthood. They'd only been in it for two years, and they had gotten a teenager. All the hard stuff, they'd missed out on: potty training, teaching how to walk and talk, teething, and all of that good stuff. She went through it with Meghan, but Meg wasn't her baby. She was sidelined. She knew how to do all of that stuff, though, and it'd... What the hell was happening here?

"You're evil." Tara narrowed her eyes at the small child. "What is this? Why am I having these thoughts? What are you doing to me? It's the smell, isn't it?"

Becca could only stare at her.

"I'm talking to a baby." She shook her head. "Well, if you start talking back...then I'll be worried." She held the baby girl closer, wrapping her arms around her loosely, and Becca rested her head on Tara's chest. Tara could feel all those maternal instincts rush into her, and she couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips. She had always planned on adopting a baby one day. Lilly even mentioned that when she told her of her plans to adopt Enid. Maybe one day...

"Sorry." Lilly entered through the front door and found her sister on the floor with Rebecca on her chest. "Aww."

"Don't aww. Help me."

"No way." She lowered her voice and sat in front of her sister on the floor. "She's been crying since she left Beth's arms, and I need this silence. My ears are still ringing."

"You're the mom."

"So are you."

"You know what I meant." She nodded her chin toward the boxes. "What's with the boxes?"

"Caesar and I are moving in together."

"What?" she exclaimed in a whisper, Becca stirred, but didn't fuss, and she lowered her voice even more. "When did this happen?"

"Last week when you and Denise went to the girls' game, and we had a date. We...decided then. It's been two years, and Meghan's comfortable with him. I trust him, and you trust him. Meghan trusts him."

"He's a great guy, Lilly. I won't say he isn't, but...is he ready for this? I mean, if it works out, he'll be a dad again, and...you know what happened before. His past."

"I know, but...if he struggles with it, I'll be there. And I have Denise to help him if I can't." She smiled lovingly. "I have you too."

"Well, doy."

"Tara, for the first time...I'm not worried about what's going to happen, or that I won't be able to handle it. I know now that there are things I'll need help with, and I'm not scared to reach out. I have people in my life who want to help, and...well, I don't feel like I'm letting him down anymore."

"Him?" Tara's eyes narrowed in confusion then widened in understanding. "Dad."

"After what happened to you during the shooting, and what happened to Meghan...because of my carelessness... I felt like I was just letting the world win and failing Dad. It's my job to look after you. You're my kid sister, and Meghan's my daughter...and that year, I failed all three of you in the worst way." She swallowed hard. "I can't forgive myself for that—"

"It wasn't your fault, Lilly. It was my job, and Meghan... It could have been any girl. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I know, and I understand that now. It just took time." She smiled slowly. "I think I'm ready...to stop looking back, to stop trying to put myself in his shoes. I'm not Dad. I never will be, but...that's okay. I don't have many years with Meg left before she's off in college, so I better start finding my footing as a parent soon, or it'll go to waste."

"Who knows. You and Caesar could have babies," Tara teased.

"Will you and Denise?" Lilly shot back.

"No, but marriage is definitely in our future. If she says yes."

"What?!" Lilly gasped, jerking forward. "Marriage?"

"Dude, you'll deafen the baby." She held Becca close and stood up, walking away.

"You don't get to walk off." Lilly was right back in her face. "When did you decide to get married? Or propose? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"It just sort of happen last week with Enid."

"Enid knew before me?"

"Dude, she's my kid. Of course she knew before you, my sister." She cradled the one-year-old. "I just decided it, and Enid and I picked out a ring. I haven't decided when or where I'll ask, but I am going to ask."

Lilly nodded.

"The last couple of years have been great, and I don't need a piece of paper to ensure the rest of our relationship will be great, but...I want...more with her. I don't need marriage for that, but I'd like to get married. To her." She could feel the blush that was burning on her cheeks, and she turned away from her sister.

"That's really great, Tara." She beamed. "I'm happy for you."

"Really?"

"Of course." She tossed an arm around her shoulder for a half-hug as she was still holding Becca. "I'm wishing for the best, whenever you pop the question."

"Same to you with Caesar." She peeked at her sister's face. "Don't get pregnant until Meghan's in college, 'cause this place just isn't big enough for the four of you."

"Oh, shut up." She removed her arm. "Are you hungry? I haven't had breakfast yet."

"I ate at home, but I never turn down coffee."

"One piping hot cup of coffee coming right up."

"It doesn't have to be piping hot."

"Wimp."

Tara rolled her eyes and leaned against the arm of the couch, wondering where to put this little bundle when she had her coffee, and her mind returned to what Lilly had said about Dad. She could relate to that. Tara always looked up to her dad, always turned to him for help, and he always had an answer, but here lately she didn't look to her dad's example. She simply trudged through it and found her own way. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. She learned from the times that it didn't, and she was finding her own parenting style. She was standing on her own two feet, and it was nice. It felt awkward and terrifying, because of all the things that could go wrong, but it was great. She was learning with Denise and with Enid, with her family, and that was amazing. She loved her dad and would honor his memory, but she was no longer judging herself on not following his example.

––

"You and Lori had lunch?" Tara put out juice barrels for the little kids while Michonne filled the cooler with pop and water for the teenagers. They had arrived early to help Sasha and Bob set up for Marty's birthday party. Sadly no sex again today, as Denise had a meeting via phone call, and therefore Denise was coming later with the Enid and Meg, as Lilly and Caesar were busy with unpacking and couldn't make it until much later.

"She wanted to discuss getting Carl and Andre a car." She unloaded the 12 packs and looked up at Tara. "Apparently Rick and Carl had a deal that on his 17th birthday, they'd discuss getting a car, so Lori and I met a year in advance to talk about. I don't think they're ready for a car yet."

"Oh, hell no. They can take cabs and walk like the rest of...people."

Michonne chuckled. "If they go to college then maybe I'll consider it, but until then... we're leaning towards no."

"And here Carl thought you two fighting was the worst thing that could happen." Sasha entered the kitchen.

"Now they're a mom unit." Tara helped herself to a blueberry raspberry juice barrel and cringed at its syrupy sweetness.

"I bet Rick's thrilled." Sasha took the juice from Tara. "Stick to water. It'll rot your teeth less."

"Why are these here?" Tara wheezed.

"Because little kids love them, and I couldn't talk Bob out of buying them." She set it on the counter. "Just be glad you don't have any little kids who will be gulping them down." They turned to Michonne who had a five year old on the way. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Lori has the kids tonight." She grinned wickedly. "And Andre has a sleepover."

"Somebody's gettin' laid tonight," Tara singsonged.

"It's not like I planned it to work out like this." She stood up, finished with the drinks.

"Sure." Sasha crossed her arms. "You just happened to be wearing the necklace Rick gave you for your anniversary, shaved your legs and are wearing the perfume he loves."

"How did you know I shaved?"

"I didn't, but you just told me." She smirked. "All these years as partners, and she still falls into my traps."

"Just look out for my trap," Michonne shot back.

Tara shook her head. "All right, I have to use the bathroom before I get swarmed by little kids."

"They do jump on you, don't they?" Sasha asked. "Why is that?"

"Because I'm awesome."

"You're like a giant child yourself," Michonne corrected. "And they know they can sucker you into sneaking them sweets."

"Right, right. Like last Christmas when Judy sweet talked into getting her an extra cookie," Sasha mused with her partner.

"And then Nate—"

"I will not take this abuse." Tara held her hands up and started to walk away when something in her pocket caught on the counter and fell out. "I hate these pockets. They're not deep enough."

Sasha and Michonne were silent, Tara frowned and looked down to see it was the robin's egg-colored little box lying on the black and white tiled floor, and she prepared herself for what was going to come next. She hadn't told anybody beyond Enid and Lilly, not even Noah, so this was going to be a fun conversation.

"Is that...?" Michonne reached down and collected the box, opening it to reveal a set of silver rings. "This is..."

Sasha pointed to the box. "Tara...?"

"Wow, not that these aren't great questions, but could you please, you know, finish them?" Tara folded her arms over her chest. "I'm a good cop, but come on. What the hell, guys?"

"You're proposing?" Michonne requested. "To Denise? Today?"

"At my son's birthday party?" Sasha added.

"No. Yes. I mean, no, but yes. Wait, yes but no." She stopped to think about it and nodded. "Yes, but no."

"Yes, but no to what?"

"I'm proposing, but probably not here. I've had these rings with me for about a week now, just...trying to find the right moment, and it hasn't happened yet." She pulled the box from her friend's palm and held it close to her chest. "I'm still...trying to work it out myself."

"Tara." Sasha hugged her. "That's awesome."

"That I can't propose to my girlfriend?"

"No, that you're going to. Eventually." She smiled at her. "I've been waiting for this to happen since...well, I started to like you."

"You didn't like me right off the bat?"

"No."

"Well, I didn't like you either." She huffed then smiled at her. "And thank you."

"Don't stress about the right moment," Michonne advised. "You'll never really find it, or...you'll propose and then your ex comes to tell you she's pregnant."

"What?" Sasha and Tara blurted.

Michonne sighed. She'd never told them the story, but it wasn't hard to work out. She and Rick had been together longer than Judith had been alive, but it wasn't always...easy. They didn't actually get married until Lori was about three and a half months along, though they might as well have been married a long time ago. Sometimes even though forget and add years they haven't actually gotten to yet.

"Rick and I weren't together...for about two weeks. We weren't really broken up, but we kind of were at the same time," she explained. "Lori wanted his help explaining our break up to Carl, so he stayed over. He didn't know if we'd get back together or not, and he got drunk. Lori tried to get him to stop drinking, but he was wallowing about their failed marriage and our failed relationship, and she decided to have a couple drinks with him. One thing lead to another, and we have Judith."

"What? That's how she got pregnant?" Sasha gaped. "Well, I can stop hating Rick. I always thought he cheated."

"Yeah. He felt so guilty he told me, even though we hadn't seen each other since for weeks. I don't think he ever really forgave himself for that." She shrugged a shoulder. "He then proceeded to propose. He said...he figured out what he wanted, and he didn't want to screw it up again."

"Well...that's kind of sweet." Tara wasn't really sure if it was sweet or not, but the hell else could she say?

"The point is...just ask her. Don't wait. Don't waste time. The place or time doesn't matter, all that matters is that you love each other and you want to spend the rest of your lives together." She smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry. I know she'll say yes."

"Well, thanks for the pep talk. I'm gonna have an anxiety attack in the bathroom over this major life decision that could potentially backfire and ruin my life." She slipped out of the kitchen.

Sasha cocked her head to the side. "Wait, weren't you guys married in August?"

"Yes, why?"

"If Rick proposed when Lori found out she was pregnant then you would have been married in May."

Michonne smiled softly. "I didn't say yes."

"Why not?"

"One he'd slept with his ex, two he'd gotten her pregnant, and three he then asked me to be his wife? That's not at all ideal or romantic. I needed time, and I couldn't put Andre through a failed marriage. I had to consider my son, and...Rick proved himself to be loyal to both me and Andre. I said yes three months later."

Sasha smiled. "It doesn't even matter. You guys are like the oldest married couple in the entire station, regardless of what that piece of paper says."

"I know. I've been married for longer than Judy's been alive according to you all. It makes me feel old."

"You're not old," Sasha replied, "just older."

"Sadly not all that wiser."

"That's what you think." She turned and strolled out of the kitchen to help her in-laws set up for their grandson's birthday.

Michonne heaved a sigh but her lips formed a grin.

––

Tara was tackled to the ground by every small child, her hand twitching for freedom from the weight of them all, but only laughter came. She curled every finger down save for her middle one, Enid and Meg than began to offer the kids juice barrels, and she was able to free herself. She had grass strains on her jeans, but her shirt and plaid over shirt were spared. She ensured the rings were still in her pocket, and she exhaled in relief.

Andre and Meghan were on the ground, playing with Judith who seemed eager to prove she was stronger than her brother, and Meghan was highly amused by the little girl's zeal. Enid and Carl were playing a game of basketball with Bob and Rick, and Nate was trying to play with Marty, but it wasn't working out too well. He couldn't play with his own sister either, so he was super bored. Tara busted out laughing when the boy flopped backwards onto the grass and wriggled when he'd come to the conclusion that Marty wasn't going to play with him.

"Noah, go play with your child." Tara nudged him.

He rubbed his shoulder. "I played with all day yesterday, and I have bruises. He's stronger than me."

"That's not hard to be," Tara snorted. "Marty's stronger than you."

"Please, Becca's stronger than him," Beth teased.

"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" Noah narrowed his eyes.

"I am, but I can't lie." She laced her hands together behind her back. "Plus, you're skinny like a rod. You have no muscle."

"Tara doesn't either."

"And she's still stronger than you." She smiled at his defeated face. "Don't worry. I didn't marry you because you were strong."

"That's supposed to make me feel better?" he grumbled.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Yes, because muscles and strength fade, but not what I feel for you."

He blushed.

"God, get a room with your romance." Tara rolled her eyes, but wore a smile. "You two make me sick, you're so sugary-sweet with each other."

"I can't love my husband?" Beth studied Tara. "Or...you can't propose to your girlfriend?"

Tara blinked and turned to the blonde. "What?"

"I overheard you guys in the kitchen." She had to put Rebecca down for a nap, and Sasha was letting her use Martin's room, which was by the kitchen. It was a nice room, especially as it wasn't his actual bedroom, just a room for him when he came to see his grandparents. It was above and beyond a second bedroom, and Beth was slightly jealous of the effort. She knew Daddy and Ma would probably do the same if she lived back home, and it mostly made her homesick. They needed to go back to Georgia soon, so she could see them and the farm and breath that fresh country air.

"Wait, you're gonna ask her to marry you?" Noah pulled his wife's arms off his shoulders lightly. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I've been carrying the rings around for about a week now. I just...dunno when to ask, or how. I'm not good at romance, to be honest. The last time I considered this...I was with Alicia, and that went to hell. I don't want that to happen again."

"When Noah proposed, he took me out for a fancy dinner. We had wine,we danced, and it was really romantic." Beth then shivered. "Then...it turned out he lost the ring he'd been saving up for somewhere along the way, so when he went to ask me to marry him...there was no ring."

"What? You lost that ring?!" Tara scolded him. "It took you months to save up for it! I even chipped in!"

"We found it, don't worry," Noah griped. "Geez."

"He'd asked the chef to put it in the dessert." Beth giggled. "He was so nervous he'd forgotten."

"Good, because if you'd lost that ring, I would kill you right here, right now." She huffed. "And this doesn't help me. I'm not going to fancy it all up. I want it to be genuine, not..classic or cheesy. I want it to be real, something...that's just us."

"You'll figure it out," Noah assured her. "You always do."

"Thanks."

"If you'll excuse us, we have to feed Becca. She's like Beth when she's hungry, and I don't think a crying baby will liven up this party."

"I do not cry when I'm hungry." Beth sent him a glare. "I do complain."

"That's what her crying is right now. I can only imagine how bad it'll be when she learns how to talk." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Why can't at least one of my kids take after me?"

Tara watched them head inside to where Rosita was hogging all of Becca's time. She was in deep with babies right now, especially since she was expecting one, and she loved to be around them. Marty was a mama's boy, so he didn't like other women to hold him, but Becca loved attention. She only got cuter when more people came around. It was damn evil. That kid was too cute for her own good, and she knew how to work it.

"Wait up, Chambler." Rosita grasped her arm and walked with her. "We need to talk."

"Your son's playing with Nate. It's just...well, not really football 'cause they don't get the rules, but Sasha's keeping a close eye on them."

"I meant you and Denise."

"Okay, I really do appreciate the support and ideas, but I don't want to hear anything engagement story. I've been hearing them all week, and I can't anymore. I love you, but please do not tell me how Spencer popped the question."

"Okay, how about I tell you how I popped his man-cherry?" Tara paled and cringed at that, and Rosita laughed. "I'm not here to tell you how to propose to anybody. I'm here to tell you to stop procrastinating. You do this, and you psych yourself out. Just stop comparing it to your past relationship blunders and just do it. Here or there, it doesn't matter if you mean what you say and say what you feel."

Tara grasped Rosita's wrist and hauled her away from the party and to the front lawn. "That's not what's bugging me."

"What is it?" She studied her detective and found no answer in those coffee-colored orbs. "Tara?"

"It's been two years since the shooting," Tara answered. "I went to her grave to... I dunno. I just went there, and Mika was there. She was alone, but...she saw me."

"What happened?"

"She told me she was sorry, she said she didn't blame me, and that...she was happy. She said Lizzie didn't have to suffer through her sickness anymore." She could remember the young girl's smile as plain as day. It was authentic, and it was content. She'd found peace. "She even hugged me."

"Why is this bothering you? It sounds like good news."

"It is good news, but...it made me realize that this whole time...we were so focused on me and my well-being that...no one asked after Noah."

"He went through therapy."

"Yeah, but I know Noah. He hasn't been Noah in quite a long time, and I didn't even notice it until I saw Mika. She was back to herself, back to being a teenager, but Noah... He's going through the motions. He's not...himself."

Rosita pondered that and frowned.

"That means...we really failed him. We're his family, his team, and we...let him fall through the cracks, and that's what's bugging me." She stepped back, shifting her weight. "I keep seeing the changes, the small things he does differently, and it's...becoming more noticeable."

Just last week they had to pull him out of an interrogation because he went off on a suspect. They assumed it was due to the crime—the murder of a baby and mother—because of his own wife and kids, but thinking back to a similar crime, before the shooting, Noah kept his cool. He even got a confession out of the son of a bitch. They'd written it off as a bad mood, as he'd been cussed out, lacked sleep and was told his family was next by the asshole they'd arrested. If that wasn't the case, if after two years...they'd only just realized this...

"Fuck." Rosita dropped her head to hand. "Fuck."

Tara nodded. "Welcome to my shit mood."

"Fuck!" She lifted her head. "Why didn't we see this before?"

"We were busy with our own problems, and Noah's one hell of an actor." She shook her head. "He's slipping a lot lately, and...he's less affectionate with Beth. Just now...he brushed off her hug, and he doesn't do that. It's like he's less and less tolerant of things he used to love."

"Is that why he won't play with Nate?"

"I think so."

She shook her head. "How do I even begin this conversation? Two years later?"

"Not here, that's for sure. Maybe tomorrow. He'll deflect, like I did, but...play the family card, and he'll...give in. It's terrible, but it's his weakness."

She nodded and met Tara's eyes with a smile on her lips. "Well, it seems I have competition."

"Hmm?"

"What you recognized, what you suggested, how it's weighing on you..." She straightened her spine. "That's an essential part of my job."

Tara's eyes widened. "I didn't—"

"I've been looking for someone to lead in my place when I go on maternity leave." She stepped towards her. "I considered bringing someone else in, or possibly Michonne due to seniority, but...now I think I might lean on you."

"What? Me?"

"I'll just have to see how you handle yourself in the coming months."

"Wait, wait, I didn't mean to—"

"No one ever means to," she interjected. "Being captain isn't easy. It's not something you just study for and excel at. It takes a lot more, and you already have that more."

"Why are you talking like you've considered...leaving?"

She averted her eyes momentarily. "I'm considering it."

"What? Why?" Tara's heart ached at the thought of someone replacing Rosita, changing their family and team, and she felt sick.

"Because I need steadier hours. I need...stability that my position should but doesn't offer. I'm gonna have two kids soon, and I want to be in their lives more. I want to be with my fiance more." Her smile grew faint and was rimmed with sadness. "And we need some fresh blood, so...maybe it's time for me to move on. I worked hard for my position, and I don't regret that, but I remember how hard it was being pregnant and captain. After I had Alejándro, it didn't get better."

"But you don't have to leave. I can pick up any slack. All of us would—"

"It's my job to make your jobs easier, not harder." She inhaled. "Things change, Tara. People, opinions, feelings...and mine have changed. I don't want to be a stay-at-home-mom, but I want time with my children without worrying about work. I'm going to take time off, and when it ends, I'll decide what to do with my career. Whether I end it and begin yours or Michonne's, who's to say?"

"Rosita..."

"But don't worry. I won't be out of your lives. You're my family too, all of the team is, which is why we'll help Noah. We'll stand by him through his trials, and whoever he becomes, better or not, we'll stand by that man as well. We're a family, no matter what happens." Her smile forcibly widened. "So, if I resign and hand you a promotion, you'd better consider it, Chambler. That's an order."

Tara stared at the woman she'd known as Captain their entire relationship, tears edging her eyes, her smile so painfully forced, and she swallowed back her own tears. She saw every moment with Rosita, from rookie to the second grade homicide detective she was now. She suddenly recalled all of Rosita's tips and methods and their late night conversations. They were fading to memories before her eyes, but instead of crying and begging her to not leave them, she nodded to Captain Espinosa. "Yes, ma'am."

––

When the sun fell, they lit up lanterns and the kids were given glow sticks and the teens sparklers, and they roasted up some snacks while Bob regaled the kids with horror stories. The wind gently blew at them, the babies all snuggled up in Marty's bedroom, and Sasha was a little disappointed that he couldn't stay awake for cake. He couldn't blow them out, but she wanted to make a video, and Bob said they could do it another day. It wasn't like he'd know. It was underhanded, but they were gonna do it anyway.

Tara leaned on the fence, a sparkler in her hand, and the wind gathered up her hair. She'd lost her hair tie to Meghan who had her stolen by Enid, and she didn't care. Her mind was clogged with the news Rosita had revealed to her, and she couldn't come out of the lonely place she was nestled in.

She was never fond of change. It always felt like she was losing something. She had always felt that way, and nobody could ever shake her feelings on change. Change had taken her mother and father, had taken a girlfriend she dearly loved from her, and change had nearly taken her sister and niece. She knew good things came from change, and it would be so awesome for Alejándro and his sibling to have their mom around all the time, but it'd be heartbreaking for the team to lose their captain. Espinosa made them a team and a family, pairing them up with their perfect matches and assigning them tasks that challenged them as both people and detectives. It was her talent. She always...was there for them through everything, and...how could anybody, even Michonne, fill her shoes? How could Tara, if it came down to that?

And Noah... The torment he's silently endured for two years while they didn't notice. They were all living life, being blissful. Rosita and Spencer were fighting for each other and their relationship's success. Michonne and Lori were struggling to understanding and accept the other as a vital part of their children's lives. Sasha and Bob trying to raise their first child. Caesar learning about Meghan and Lilly and finding a way to overcome his issues as a failure of a father for Meghan's sake. Tara and Denise fighting tooth and nail for Enid. They each had their own individual battles, but they worked together, they were a family, and they didn't see the shadows falling on Noah. He didn't want them to, so they didn't. They didn't push. They didn't nudge. They simply let him fall. Even his own wife who was distracted by her newborn and her son.

Golden light reflected in those coffee-colored spheres, her fifth sigh meaningless against the blaze of the sparkler she held, and a darkness seeped out of her. Denise had been pulled here and there all day, and now she'd managed to escape to find her girlfriend in this condition. Her heart ached, and she balled her hands into fists to steel her resolve.

"Hey, there you are." She greeted her with a wide smile. "I've been looking for you."

"Oh? I've been...kind of avoiding people." She turned to her. "Sorry."

She waved it away. "Why are you avoiding people?"

"Noah probably has PTSD, and Rosita's considering leaving after she has her baby."

"Oh." Denise swallowed that news. "I see."

"Everything's changing." She twirled the sparkler. "With our friends, our family, us. Nothing's the same."

"That's not a bad thing."

"I know, but why can't it just stay how it is for a little longer? I mean, we just got...back to normal."

"Tara, what is normal?" She tilted her head at her. "Honestly, nothing is ever normal or back to how it used to be. It's just...manageable now. You adjust to the new surroundings, and it's acceptable. It's not back how it was."

She peered at her mutely.

"I know it's not when you want or need to hear, but change has to happen. You'll adjust to the new captain, and you'll be friends with Rosita. You'll adjust to the person Noah will become. He'll come out a better person too, a stronger one, and I know it doesn't seem like good news to be losing two people you care about; and your new captain might be awful, but...no matter what, you'll have your family, and our daughter." She sucked in a deep breath, her cheeks burning with color, and Tara wondered what she was about to say that would make her look like that. "And you'll have me. I know it's...kind of random to say that, but..." She continued to stammer through.

It dawned on her what was happening, the sparkler fell from her fingers, and Tara stared as her girlfriend proposed to her. Flushed cheeks, stammering, struggling to keep eye contact from her anxiety, but there she was. Those beautiful clear eyes gleamed with determination and adoration, her hands loosely balled at her sides, her posture confidence and more assured than her voice, and Tara's heart soared.

The moment of answering had passed, Denise's confidence shrank, and Tara only continued to stare. Denise squirmed under the brunette's gaze, Tara unscrewed her jaw and busted out laughing as stress and darkness fled her body, and Denise wasn't sure what to feel or how to react.

This whole time! She laughed. This whole time she was preparing to propose to Denise, and Denise was preparing to propose to her! She didn't even see it coming she was so caught up with her own proposal plans. She was so nervous about what would happen when she asked Denise, about what would change, about...everything, and now...she was light as a feather, so fucking elated it had to be a crime.

"Tara."

She hadn't realized that somewhere her laughter had turned to tears, and she set her hands on her cheeks. They ached from the laughter, and the tears weren't entirely from the sorrow the coming days would bring. Change could be a cruel bitch, but change could also be kind and surprising and amazing.

"I love you," she told the blonde through her tears.

"But?" Denise whispered.

"But," Tara continued, "I can't marry you."

"Oh..."

"Without," Tara pressed before Denise could bolt, "you agreeing to marry me too." She dug the box out of her pocket. "I've been carrying these around for a week, but the idea behind them for a lot longer. I...I just really couldn't find the words or the way I wanted to go about proposing to you. I mean, it's you, and I didn't want to screw it up, so I guess that's why this is so perfect."

"Tara..." Her eyes stung.

"So," Tara opened the box and extended one of the rings out to Denise, "I'll marry you, if you marry me."

Denise accepted the ring and grasped Tara's left hand, slipping it onto her ring finger, never taking her eyes off of Tara's. "Of course I'll marry you." She pulled the other ring from the box and held it out to the woman she loved more than anyone else.

Tara snapped the box shut and slipped it into her pocket, accepting the ring and gliding it down Denise's ring finger. "Good, because I don't want to marry anybody else."

Denise wiggled her finger with the weight of the engagement ring. There was no diamond, no overdone design, and it wasn't eye-catching, but what it was was them. It suited them both perfectly. A simple silver band with a heart engraved on the inside. It wasn't hidden, it was simply for only their eyes. Denise lifted her hands and caught Tara's cheeks, bringing her close and kissing her, forgetting they were at their friends' son's second birthday party, completely enveloped in a world entirely their own. Tara set her hands over Denise's, gripping them tightly as more tears fell free, and she smiled against her fiancee's lips.

Denise pulled back when Tara's lips vibrated against hers, trying to catch her breath, her forehead resting on Tara's. "What?"

Tara ignored the burning in her lungs and kissed her once more. "I said I love you. I love you so much."

Denise traced Tara's bottom lip with the tip of her thumb, and her lips reflected Tara's smile. "I love you too." She kissed the tip of her nose and embraced her.

"Annnddd cut!" Enid lowered the camera she'd swiped from Bob. "May I please get in on this hug?"

Tara noticed when Denise pulled away everyone was watching, she flushed, but she embraced it and offered Enid a spot in the hug. Enid ran over and tackled her parents, so proud of them and thrilled by the not at all surprising news of their engagement. Denise ran a hand down Enid's hair, smiling at her, thankful for her aid in helping her come to this decision, and Tara did a similar gesture, only gripping her hand. Enid grinned and hugged them tighter.

Congratulations spread around, hugs as well, and Sasha's in-law broke into the champagne they kept for adult company. Sasha didn't mind them taking the spotlight as her baby boy and Becca were both hugging up with the stuffed penguin Marty had gotten from Meghan. Rosita joked about a double wedding, and Tara busted out laughing. A lesbian couple, and a couple who have made babies out of wedlock. It would be perfect, but Spencer and Denise were both refusing as politely as possible.

"So, I can totally have a drink of that, right?" Enid pointed to the champagne flute in Tara's hand. "A sip?"

"Not on your life." Tara handed her a juice barrel. "Here."

She scrunched her nose, but drank it, heading to join Meghan in reviewing the tape.

"Hey, Tara, I'm your best man, right?" Noah inquired. "I've had your back through everything, so it has to be me, right?"

Tara smirked. "You wish."

"I'm her maid of honor," Beth corrected. "Right?"

Tara laughed to avoid answering that question. "Let me just come to terms with my engagement, guys."

"Fine, fine, but we'll talk soon to work out the details." Beth winked and noticed Rosita pulling her husband away for the second time that night. She noted how Noah looked, and she knew she couldn't pretend to not notice anymore. For his sake, she tried, but no more. Her friends—her family—were moving forward, and it was time for her to move forward to, which meant helping Noah move forward as well. She knew it was long away, but she had been preparing for it since they called and told her her husband, father of son, had been shot in the line of duty.

Cries caught her attention, Sasha was calming Martin down, and Bob was handing Rebecca to Noah. Beth hurried over to comfort her daughter, and Tara and Denise looked over at the set of parents soothing their babies. Tara's gaze softened when the babies began to hush, and Denise laced her fingers through her fiancee's.

"You want one?" Denise gestured to the babies.

"Yeah. You?"

She smiled. "With you? Yeah."

"Let me know which one, and I'll just slip it into my coat on our way out."

"I'm being serious." She sat straight. "I love Enid, but...I want to live through the struggle of having an infant. I want to raise a child with you, and I want Enid to have a sibling. It's...a great experience."

"Really?" She met her eyes.

"Yes, really."

"We're getting married, and you want to adopt a baby." She beamed. "Don't wake me up if this is a dream."

"It's no dream." She lowered her voice. "It's what I want...what we want, right?"

She nodded and tightened her grip on her hand. "Everything's changing," Tara commented, a reflection to their conversation prior to their engagement.

"Everything's changing," Denise repeated.

"Don't let go, okay?"

She smiled. "I promise."

In those clear eyes, Tara saw how the rest of their lives would play out, an urge to see it all again ran through her, and she smiled to herself, knowing she'd get to live it. She would get to live this life with a woman she never expected to meet and a teenager daughter she never expected to have so soon. She didn't know who was pulling the strings, but she hoped they never decided to part her from this woman.

Enid ran over to them to show the tape of their engagement, Denise and Tara held hand behind her back, and Tara smiled at her family, not interested in the tape whatsoever. Her daughter and future wife were so enthralled in it, smiling and pointing at things, and she watched them instead, because they were all that mattered. Well, them and the people crowding around to re-watch the most important moment of her life!

Tara wasn't claustrophobic, but damn, she could feel someone breathing on her neck. "Guys, space!"