Okay, because I cannot accept any reality where they don't get together in the end, it's reunion time (I'll never let goooooooo)

This follows the events in "I'm Fine," so make sure you check that out first to avoid confusion...

And all the roads that lead you there are winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding

—Wonderwall (Oasis)

Erin was nervous as she started packing her suitcase. While the idea of going back to Chicago exhilarated her, she was also feeling completely overwhelmed by her fears of seeing everyone again after so long. They were once her family. If Erin was being honest, she still considered them family, even though she hadn't seen or spoken to most of them in years.

She'd stayed in touch with Hank, obviously—he would fly to New York to spend the holidays with her, and they talked on the phone every week or so. And Erin had maintained her friendship with Kim long-distance. They shared frequent texts and calls and emails; Kim had come to visit Erin a couple times a year, and somehow Kim had even managed to persuade Erin to take a week off work to join her for a girls' trip to Cancun a few months earlier.

But beyond that, Erin hadn't connected with anyone else from her old life. Hank and Kim had tried to keep her in the loop a bit though. She knew that Antonio and Sylvie Brett were married now—Erin had been surprised by that relationship when Kim first told her, but she was really happy for them, they were both great people. Erin had heard stories about Atwater and Upton getting together, and then about their subsequent—amicable—breakup. She'd been told about Al and Meredith's marriage woes over the last few years; they'd managed to push through the pain of losing Lexi and the surprise of Michelle coming into Al's life, and somehow came out stronger than ever before.

The only person she didn't know about was him.

Erin had wanted to ask Hank or Kim countless times over the years, but she knew she couldn't. They hadn't been in contact since that fateful day four years ago when she'd left everything behind. So much had changed, but the one remaining constant in Erin's life was the way she felt about him. She'd tried to get over him, and sometimes she had even thought she was. But then she'd see something that reminded her of him, and her heart went flying back to him again.

Erin wondered what his life was like now, wondered how he would react to seeing her again.

Would he be surprised?

Would he hate her?

Would he be happy to see her?

She zipped up her suitcase, shrugged into her jacket, and walked out the door of her apartment. As she slid into the backseat of the yellow taxi cab heading for the airport, one thing was clear:

Erin was about to find out.

Jay woke early that morning, before the sun had even started to shine into the window of his bedroom. Just like every other day. He wasn't even sure why he bothered setting an alarm anymore; he was always awake long before it went off. He slowly rose from the bed, trying not to wake her as he carefully made his way toward the bathroom to take a shower.

After drying himself off, Jay wrapped the towel around his waist before pulling his toothbrush out of the medicine cabinet. While he brushed, he leaned against the doorway between the bedroom and bathroom, just watching her sleep.

She was beautiful. He'd always known that, and even after all these years, her beauty still amazed him sometimes. Her hair was fanned out on her pillow like a halo, and the faintest smile adorned her face as she slept peacefully.

As he stared at her, Jay thought about their relationship. They had been apart for so long; sometimes he still couldn't believe they'd actually found their way back to each other. To say he'd been surprised when he found out she was back in Chicago would be an understatement.

It had been four years since he'd last set eyes on her, and they hadn't so much as spoken during that time. Jay had no idea what was happening in her life, but he wanted to know everything. It was strange at first; starting over with someone you shared so much history with. But they had moved beyond all of that, and their history—both together and apart—had just made their relationship stronger this time around.

Jay stepped back toward the sink to spit out his toothpaste, rinsing off his toothbrush before putting it away. Tidy and methodical as usual; it had been years since his time in the military, but the habits he'd learned were unbreakable. He quickly swiped on some deodorant before moving back into the bedroom.

Again his gaze landed on her, this time trailing from her face further down her body, ultimately stopping on her hand. Specifically, her left hand, fourth finger. Jay's mind drifted to the image of a ring glimmering on that finger. He could picture it, and the idea made him smile—a ring would look amazing there.

Jay was ready. He was going to ask Allie Corson to marry him.

*ducks and hides*

Hit me with your thoughts... we'll get there, I promise...

xo