A Lifetime of Love
by
Pink-Green-White-4ever
AN: Done in response to the Ars Amatoria’s Ranger Romance Themes Challenge. Yes, I know that the Theme Challenge BloomingViolets and I started isn’t finished, but I got some great ideas for these two so I’m going to try my hand at a solo set of challenges, only this uses all 60 of the challenges, both sets 1 and 2.
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, wish I did.
Rating: The whole series ranges from T to MA.
PAGE ONE: Let Me Tell You A Story - Impression - Perception - Dare - Match - Yield
- Triumph - Why - Patience - Friends
PAGE TWO: Routine - Color - Reaction - Time - Secrets - Smile - Game -
Closer - Denial - One Moment
PAGE THREE: Power - Duty - Darkness - Green Eyed Monster - Wish - Lost -
Mirror - Worst Case Scenario - Spellbound - Guilt
PAGE FOUR: Scars - Truth - Confidence - Quest - Fight - What If -
Sacrifice - Distraction - Beautiful - Dawn
PAGE FIVE: Test - Pride - Dream - Change - Chance - Another Step - Knight - Helm - Moonlight - Simplicity
PAGE SIX: The Call - History - Competition - Dependence - Song
_ _ _ _ _ _
Challenge: Let Me Tell You A Story
Summary: And the story begins…
When you look back on times we had
I hope you smile
And know that through the good and through the bad
I was on your side when nobody could hold us down
We claimed the brightest star
And we, we came so far
And no they won't forget
Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believe that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember
When you think back on all we've done
I hope you're proud
When you look back and see how far we've come
It was our time to shine
And nobody could hold us down
They thought they'd see us fall
But we, we stood so tall
And no we won't forget
-- Carrie Underwood, Whenever You Remember --
--
“Grandpa!”
He couldn’t help put smile when he heard the shouts for him followed by a thundering storm of feet coming down the basement stairs. Turning from his model airplane collection, he smiled when his four rambunctious grandkids slid to a stop and smiled at him. “Good grief, you sound like a herd of elephants coming down those stairs,” he teased, moving to sit down on the couch. He smiled when the girls sat on one side of him and the boys sat on the floor.
“Grandpa! Grandma said you had a special surprise for us,” ten-year-old Christina bounced enthusiastically next to him.
“Did she now?” he asked, grinning.
“What surprise do you have for us, Grandpa?” eight-year-old Joshua wanted to know.
“Well, I actually have a story to tell you,” he told them. “Stay right here, I have to get something and then we’ll get started.”
He got off the couch and moved toward a bookshelf at the back of the room. Carefully, he selected four photo albums and brought them back over to the couch. He sat the pink, blue and red ones on the floor and opened the white one in his lap. The first picture in the book was of a trio of gray uniformed teenagers. “Grandpa, who’s that?” twelve-year-old Roger asked, pointing to the picture. “They look familiar.”
He couldn’t stop the chuckle. “That’s because they should be familiar. That’s me, Grandma and Great Uncle Bridge. The story I wanted to tell you was the one you’ve been bugging me forever to tell you.”
“You’re finally going to tell us how you and Grandma got married?” fourteen-year-old Jamie asked, mystified that her grandfather was about to tell her a story he’d staunchly refused to tell any of them.
“I finally talked your mothers into letting e tell you our story,” he told her.
“Why now?” Roger wanted to know.
He pursed his lips and stared down at a picture of himself standing with Sydney and Bridge in their pre-Ranger uniforms. It seemed so long ago that they had entered the academy, not much older than Jamie was now. A lifetime of love, happiness, and sometimes endless battles had happened between now and then. “Because our story starts during the glory days of SPD.”
From the top of the stairs, she leaned against the door frame and listened to him telling their grandchildren the story of their love.
_ _ _ _ _
Challenge: Impression
Summary: First impressions…gotta love them.
AN: -grins- So, this is one of my takes on Syd and Sky’s first
impressions of each other. Enjoy. The first few of these are Pre-SPD season
events.
No, it wasn't at first sight
But the moment I looked twice
I saw the woman I was born to love
Her laughter fills my soul
And when I hold her I don't wanna let go
When it comes to her I can't get enough
So it took me by complete surprise
When my heart got lost in those deep green eyes
She's not at all what i was looking for
She's more
-- Andy Griggs, She’s More --
--
Sky Tate watched with mild fascination as Commander Cruger walked onto the training field where A Squad was training his squad. The big blue dog was pointing out different areas of the field and speaking in quiet tones to the young blonde who was following him. She was about five foot two with long blonde hair. She was petite, probably no more than a hundred pounds, she wore a pair of black sweats and a gray SPD sweatshirt. Even from the distance between them, Sky could see that she was nervous and unsure.
“Cadet Tate, front and center!” Cruger called to him. Sky rushed forward, saluted, and waited for Cruger to speak again. “Cadet Tate, I’d like you to meet our newest recruit, Sydney Drew.”
Sky stared at her in irritation. He knew Sydney Drew, or better, he knew of her. Any person who had been keeping up with the news would know her. She was an Olympic Gold Medalist, a fashion model, and one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. And she was reportedly the most stuck up, whiniest woman imaginable. Sky wanted to roll his eyes and ask Cruger why she was at SPD but figured the Public Relations department was just trying to get some press for the Academy.
“Cadet Tate, I’m assigning Ms. Drew to you. Please show her around the academy, get her settled into her room and help her train. She’s going to be on C Squad with you.” Sky’s jaw dropped open as Cruger walked away. Automatically, the young man saluted and then turned his eyes to the girl standing before him, her hands clasped together in front of her.
“Hi, I’m Sydney,” she extended one hand in greeting. Sky stared at her before looking down at her hand and then back to her face. He didn’t take the offered hand. “Okay…”
“How the hell they ever let you into SPD is beyond me,” Sky grumbled, watching Sydney stare at him wide eyed. “A pampered princess like yourself isn’t going to last two days around her, but for the sake of amusing the Commander, I’ll show you around. Right now A Squad is training C Squad.”
Sydney swallowed and followed him back over to the group of C Squad cadets training with the senior most cadets. No one said anything to her until one of the A Squad cadets called her out onto the training mat to face Sky. She screamed when Sky came at her full force, his fist flying at her face. She blocked his punch instinctively and sent him flying to the side with the momentum of his own body. The other cadets were shocked to see Sky on his hands and knees and Sydney staring down at him.
Sky slapped his hands against the mat and pushed himself back up and began to charge at her. He let out a yell as Sydney ducked and he tumbled over her body and skidded across the mat on his back. “How the hell could you keep doing that?” Sky demanded as he pushed up and stared at her.
The blonde stared at him and shrugged. “Instinct?” she suggested, watching Sky narrow his gaze at her.
“I think that’s the first time someone other than us has managed to out maneuver Sky,” one of the A Squad cadets muttered, causing the others to laugh. Sky glared at Sydney and stalked off. The blonde watched him and then decided to follow since he was supposed to show her around the grounds.
“Sky! Wait!” Sydney called out to him. She watched him stop and swing around to face her.
“Look, I was ordered to show you around, there’s no way in hell I’m going to baby-sit you, princess.”
Sydney watched him turn and stalk off into the academy, shaking her head. As first impressions go, she knew her and Cadet Tate didn’t make the best ones they could have.
Challenge: Perception
Summary: Their perceptions of each other change when both do nice things
for each other.
AN: Hope you like these! Still pre SPD!
You are every part of me
And with every breath I take
Your love will light my way
And for every day I live
The promise that I made
Is I will never let you go babe
I swear I never knew love like this before
And for everything you are
I gotta make you know
For your love
I would give anything for your love
(For your love, yeah)
'Cause baby I'd never make it alone
And forever I'll stand by your side
I just gotta make you see yeah
I only live... for your love
-- Jessica Simpson, For Your Love --
--
“Bridgey!” Sydney called in a sing-song voice as she dashed into the common room.
The young man in question, a very nervous looking fourteen-year-old Bridge, looked up from his spot on the couch like a deer caught in head lights. “Y-y-yeah Syd?”
Sydney rolled her eyes and plopped down next to him. “I need to ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“It has to do with Sky,” Syd grinned at him. “His birthday is coming up, isn’t it?” she asked in rapid fire succession.
“I think so, why?” he asked, chancing a glance at the beautiful girl who was fast becoming his best friend and the older sister he’d never had.
“I think, as his teammates, we should give him a birthday party.”
Bridge shook his head. “You know him better than that,” he warned. At almost seventeen, Sky was the epitome of brooding male teenager, rolled together with a stubborn streak a mile long and a superiority complex that no one could figure out. And they both knew it.
Syd just grinned and leaned closer to her younger teammate. “That’s why it should be a surprise party.”
The brown haired boy stared at her. “Syd, do you have a death wish?”
The blonde just laughed and shook her head. “Why do you ask?”
Bridge looked at her and saw the mischief in her bright blue eyes. “You’ve been here six months, I’ve been here two. We both know Sky well enough now, and how he’ll react if we do a surprise party for him. He’ll kill both of us without a thought.”
“That’s the point,” Syd grinned. “We know him well enough. He’s not going to expect us to make a big deal out of his birthday, and his manners are too engrained for him to get mad in a public place, so we’ll be safe until we come home.”
“And just how are we going to pay for this adventure? Neither of us gets paid for our positions yet.”
Sydney smiled and held up a tiny pink cell phone. In a flash, she had it at her ear and was talking to someone. “Daddy, I need a favor.”
--
“I don’t get why we’re here,” Sky complained when the trio entered the local pizzeria.
“Because the Commander said he wanted us to spend more time together outside of the academy. Besides, the pizza here rocks,” Syd laughed, prancing ahead of the two boys. Bridge watched Sky out of the corner of his eye to gage the older boy’s reaction when Syd led them to a booth in the back corner that was decorated with banners and balloons.
“What’s all this?” Sky demanded, though he already knew the second Sydney stopped by the booth what it was.
“Happy Birthday!” Syd announced. Bridge took an instinctive step away from Sky when the taller boy’s emotions started to erupt. “Sky, did you honestly think we’d let your birthday go without doing something for you?”
Sky leveled fifteen-year-old Sydney with a look that spoke volumes of what his answer was. “One can only hope.”
Bridge raised an eyebrow as he saw the emotions pumping off both of them, emotions he hadn’t expected. The younger boy had had a sneaking suspicion Sydney had a crush on Sky, but to blatantly feel her genuine love for Sky was new, and a little unnerving. Bridge was sure Syd had no idea how deep her feelings really went, and he knew when she finally figured it out; she might get her heart broken. As far as Sky was concerned, Bridge had expected annoyance and mild irritation; he hadn’t expected surprise, happiness, or affection. “Guys,” Bridge spoke up, his head reeling with the feelings bouncing between the two.
“Let’s sit down and order before Bridgey passes out, shall we,” Syd suggested, inclining her head at their younger teammate. Sky shot a look at Bridge before giving in and sliding into the booth. Bridge and Syd smiled at each other before clamoring in after him.
“Don’t even think about putting that ridiculous looking hat on my head,” Sky snapped at Syd when she leaned across the table, hat in hand.
“Spoil sport,” she muttered, sitting back down. “Alright, Birthday Boy, what do you want to eat?”
“A salad.”
Bridge chuckled and Syd glared while Sky smirked at them. “What?”
“Sky!” Syd growled.
The older boy shook his head. “Let’s just get what we usually do when we go out for pizza,” he told her. Their usual consisted of two medium pizzas – one meat lovers and the other a veggie – and the salad and dessert bar.
“What can I get for you?” the waitress asked, finally coming to their table. She sat down three glasses of water and silverware.
“We’d like two medium pizzas,” Syd cheerfully told her. “One meat lovers, the other veggie. We’d also like three salad and dessert bars and a pitcher of water.”
“Anything else?” the waitress asked, looking to Bridge and Sky. Bridge smiled and Sky avoided her gaze.
“That’ll do it,” Syd told her. When she was gone, Syd dug into her purse and produced two rolls of quarters and held them out to the boys.
Sky looked startled while Bridge took the quarters, smiled gratefully, and then bounded off for the video games. “What’s this for?’ Sky asked, letting Syd put the quarters in his hand.
“For your to play video games with,” she smiled at him. “Go on, I’m sure Bridge would enjoy having someone to compete against.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to sit here and wait for the pizzas,” she shooed him away with her hands. Sky was going to protest until he heard Bridge calling his name. Sighing, he slid out of the booth and went in search of their friend.
--
“What is it Bridge? You look like you want to say something to me,” Sky prodded while the two played air hockey.
“Well, you see, I mean, well…”
“Bridge.”
“I was thinking, maybe, if I pick a good song on the jukebox, you might ask Syd to dance.”
Sky shook his head. “I don’t dance.”
“I know, but maybe, one slow dance for Syd, wouldn’t kill you. It was her idea to bring you here, and she pulled some strings with her father to pay for the party.”
Sky looked irritated by Bridge’s suggestion but replied anyways. “Do I want to know what the princess did to get Daddy to pay for this?”
“She’s giving up her allowance for the next six months to a children’s charity.”
The older boy looked stunned. Sydney was known for giving up her creature comforts easily. The girl liked to spend money like it was water. To know she was donating six months work of it, just to throw him a small pizza party, was surprising. Realizing, once again, that Syd had surprised him had him looking over to the table where she was sitting, looking absolutely bored. “Ok Bridge, but I want to pick the song.”
Bridge just grinned and nodded. “Before or after pizza?”
“Let’s do it before,” Sky muttered. They finished their game – Bridge beat the overly distracted Sky – and made their way to the jukebox in the front corner. Sky chose one of the songs off Sydney’s first album and then moved back over to the table with Bridge. While Bridge sat down, Sky held his hand out to in front of a startled Sydney.
“What?” she asked.
Sky let a genuine smile spread across his face as he looked down at her. “May I have this dance?” he softly inquired.
Sydney smiled and nodded before placing her hand in his. Sky led her over to the makeshift dance floor and began to pull her close. Instead of one of Syd’s songs coming on, an older song – For Your Love – by Jessica Simpson started playing.
Between the words of the song and Sky’s arms wrapping around her waist, Sydney gasped softly. She was elated when Sky rested his head on top of hers. Closing her eyes, Sydney took the time to enjoy the sensations coursing through her as Sky shared her first slow dance with her.
“Thank you,” Sky whispered in her ear. “I haven’t had this good a time in a long time.”
Syd smiled up at him. Her perception of Sky had slowly changed in the six months since she’d first met him. He could still be a complete jerk when he wanted, he still pushed her to the point of wanting to strangle him, but overall, she knew he had his reasons for everything. Though he didn’t talk about it in depth, she knew he was driven to be like his late father. She knew he didn’t like getting close to people for fear of losing them, and he was damn good at surprising the hell out of her with nice gestures like a slow dance, even if she knew Bridge had probably said something to prod him into it.
“Happy Birthday Schuyler,” she whispered, using his given name as she rarely did, looking up at him with a warm smile. Her smile increased in brightness when she saw he was smiling back at her. Neither of them noticed, as they stared into each other’s eyes, that they were leaning toward each other, their lips just inches apart.
“Guys! Pizza!” Bridge called, breaking the mood. Sky jerked away from her, causing her to stumble back. If he hadn’t been holding her around the waist, she’d have fallen on her butt. Quietly, Sky let her go and the two moved back to their table, avoiding each other’s gazes for the rest of the night.
Challenge: Dare
Summary: Sydney’s perception of Sky as a hard ass changes
AN: I'm trying to keep these light hearted for now, let me know how I'm
doing!
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be
-- Switchfoot, I Dare You To Move --
--
“Please?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“What part of N O don’t you understand?”
“Sky! PLEASE?”
“I do not want to go to some ritzy party with you where I’m going to have to sit around and wait for you,” he told her.
Sydney decided to switch tactics. She needed a date for a function her parents were throwing and she wanted to take Sky since she’d told all her friends about her cute teammate. “Sky, I’m just asking for a teeny favor. Please?” she pouted, leaning against his shoulder and wrapping both her arms around his. They were sitting in the common room, waiting for Bridge to come in from his last class so they could go train.
“No.”
“Fine. I told Bridge you were too much of a chicken to go with me, now he’ll have to believe me,” she informed him. Inside, she was laughing her ass off at the face he was making at her.
Sky stared at her. “I am not a chicken!” he argued back.
Syd gave him a look that said she was unconvinced. “Right. I don’t believe that. You’re scared to go to one measly dinner with me.”
The older boy looked frustrated. “No, I’m not. I just don’t want to go.”
“I’ll bet you don’t even have anything to wear,” Syd tried not to grin. She knew she was getting to him. After nine months, Sydney Drew knew hot to push Sky Tate’s buttons.
“I have things to wear, but I’m not going, so there’s no reason for you to know about my wardrobe.”
“I dare you to go.”
Sky stared at her. He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not. Syd was smirking at him, her challenge written plainly in her eyes. “Excuse me?”
“If you’re not scared, I dare you to come with me. If you have a good time, then you have to take Bridge and I to the beach Saturday. If not, I’ll run all five courses on Sunday.”
Sky looked at her. He really didn’t want to go, but the look she was giving him combined with the fact that he’d get the satisfaction out of watching her run all five obstacle courses was winning him over. He was about to answer when Syd finally gave up.
“Corey!” Syd grinned, bounding away from Sky. Corey, a fellow C Squad Cadet, smiled and stopped his trek.
“Hi Syd, what’s up?” he asked.
“I need a favor. Sky keeps saying no, so will you be my date to my parents’ dinner function Friday?” Syd pouted. She and Corey shared a secretive smile, knowing that Syd’s tactics would ensure Sky would say yes. Corey, while finding Sydney attractive, didn’t like girls. He was also more aware of Sky’s attraction to Syd than most since on more than one occasion he’d heard Sky quietly admit Sydney was gorgeous. He also knew Sydney had a growing attraction to the older boy.
Corey seemed to contemplate his answer, winking at Sydney as he did. “Sure gorgeous, why not. What’s the dress code and what do I need to know?” he asked, watching Sky’s jaw drop.
“Excuse me, Sydney, we were in the middle of working out the details of my going with you,” Sky interrupted them, his eyes narrowed. Both Sydney and Corey tried not to laugh, realizing Syd’s original plan to get Sky to go with her was all but in the bag.
When Sydney turned around, she used her best surprised expression. “Really? I thought you said no? After all, you’re scared to go to one tiny dinner with me, aren’t you?”
Corey stood behind her trying not to burst into laughter. “Listen, Syd, if you two decide not to go together, you know you can count on me, just let me know.” With that, Corey walked out of the room and toward his room.
Sky shook his head, finally realizing he’d just gotten conned into going. “I guess I’m not as opposed to going as I thought I was, but our bet still stands.”
Sydney dutifully nodded. “I got another dare for you, Sky,” she teased, slowly inching toward her room.
“What’s that?”
“I dare you to catch me before I tell Bridge!” with that, Syd took off running. Sky gave her two seconds of a head start before he leapt off the couch and chased her.
“SYDNEY!”
Challenge: Match
Summary: A good match...
AN: --grins-- Bet you didn't expect these so soon, did ya? Thanks for all
the reviews. I'm up to Chapter 11 already, and as I write more, I'll post more.
Later!
Maybe it's intuition
Some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant
And there it goes, I think I've found my best friend
I know that it might sound
More than a little crazy
But I believe...
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
-- Savage Garden, I Knew I Loved You --
--
“Commander?” Dr. Manx asked, walking to where Anubis stood staring out the window. “Is everything alright?”
Anubis didn’t answer. He was busy watching the trio of cadets train under the shade of a tree near the edge of the training grounds. “They’ve been out there since just after breakfast,” he spoke, nodding in their general direction.
Kat saw that he was watching Syd, Sky and Bridge. The trio, once put together, had begun to excel at their training. She knew the Commander was thinking of bumping them up to B Squad soon. They had what it would take to be Rangers, even if they did have a few lessons left to learn. “Would you expect less from those who are training to be Rangers?”
“No, but there’s something special about them, Kat, beyond their civilian powers.”
Kat nodded in agreement. Each of them fed off the others. Sky brought maturity and excellence to them while Bridge kept them relaxed and youthful. Sydney was not only the sole female but the one who kept them together. She was the glue that bonded them. Bridge saw her as best friend and sister, while Sky was a different story. Kat wasn’t sure of his true feelings toward Sydney, but she had her suspicions. One only had to watch Sky’s interactions with everyone else and then with Sydney to know there was something more going on there.
“Those two are going to be a thorn in my side, especially as they get older, aren’t they?” Anubis joked. Kat watched Syd gang up on Sky by jumping on his back. The two of them watched Sky spin around, delighting Sydney while trying to dislodge her from his back.
“Only time will tell, Commander. They do make a good match.” Anubis raised an eyebrow at Kat’s choice of words, which had Kat amended her statement. “The three of them are a good match, team wise.”
“As you said, only time will tell.”
--
“Get off Syd!” Sky complained.
“No!” she giggled, holding his neck tighter and squeezing his waist with her legs. “You own me! I won, remember?”
Sky rolled his eyes. “How could I forget with a five foot midget hanging on my back?”
“SKY!” Syd screeched. “TAKE THAT BACK!”
“Not on your life!” he laughed, hoisting her higher on his back so she wasn’t chocking him.
Bridge watched them from where he sat on the ground. Sky was piggy-backing Syd around the tree, spinning her around and around, making her squeal in delight. The younger boy almost hated to interrupt them, but the A Squad was fast approaching. “Guys, we seriously need to finish the match before we get in trouble.”
Sky stopped spinning and Syd climbed down when Charlie, the A Squad Red Ranger, stepped forward and stopped before them, hands on her hips. The three quickly scrambled to stand before the older cadets. “I believe you have a match to finish before practice is over. Get busy.”
“Yes Ma’am!”
Challenge: Yield
Summary: A sparing match reveals some startling news.
AN: --grins-- now it's time for the good stuff to start!
You gave me something more
More than I've ever felt before
We could be falling in love
Oh baby
I can picture you and me
More than coming closer
Just a little more time and
Just a little less thinking
Just a little more time is all that I need
Just a little believing
Just a little more breathing
Let's give it time
-- Emma Lahana, Just A Little --
--
“Give up!” Syd’s voice carried across the simulator room. Bridge was in the control room with Kat, watching the pair go back and forth in what was fast becoming a stalemate.
“Never!” Sky argued. The hazy blue shield in front of him flickered with the strain heard in his voice.
Sydney shook her head, reached into her pocket, and pulled out two more iron pellets. “FISTS OF IRON!” the sixteen-year-old called, transforming her hands into metal. Racing forward, Syd launched herself over several of the obstacles before her and barreled straight for Sky’s shield. It only took two good hits before the shield dissolved and Sky was thrown backwards. Irritated by his unwillingness to declare her the winner, Sydney pounced on her fallen teammate.
Sky struggled to sit up but between Sydney sitting on his stomach with her hands pressing on his chest and his being tired from their training, he found himself resolutely pinned to the ground. “Yield!”
“NEVER! A RED RANGER NEVER YIELDS!”
Sydney started laughing and leaned down close to his face, her body shifting as she did. “But you aren’t Red, yet.”
Sky swallowed with difficulty when he felt his lower body reacting to Sydney in a way it never had before. Sydney, cheeky girl that she was, either didn’t notice or didn’t care, he decided. Either way, he was getting mighty uncomfortable in more than one way. “Syd?” he gasped softly, his hands slicking up her legs to rest on her thighs. He watched her normally bright blue eyes darken, the defiant “I’m right” look replaced with something much more adult, something he’d never seen in her gaze before.
“Hmm?’ she breathed, sitting up. Her face took on an expression of shock as she finally felt him beneath her in a way she never had before. “Sorry.”
“It’s ok,” he whispered. For a second, he really just wanted to stay where they were, but he was also conscious of Kat and Bridge watching them from the control room.
“If I get up, are you going to be ok?” she asked, somewhat embarrassed by the fact that she hadn’t realized her best friend was attracted to her, at least not physically.
Sky understood what she was asking. He was mortified in some ways and pleased in others. “I’ll live,” he whispered when he saw the look in her eyes. She was worried about him.
Nodding, Syd rolled off him and then helped him up. She tried to be nice and stand in front of him as they left the simulator. “Everything ok?” Bridge asked. Kat stood behind him trying to hide the smirk that had slipped onto her face and failed miserably.
“Everything’s fine, Bridgey,” Syd assured him, leading him from the control room.
Kat gave Sky a knowing look. “Hit the showers, Cadet Tate.”
“Thanks Kat!” Sky called before rushing off, thankful that Kat didn’t want to go over the simulation he and Syd had just gone through.
Kat shook her head. That was definitely one way to get Sky to yield in a fight, and she knew Syd was smart enough, not to mention sneaky enough, to remember to use it the next time she wanted something from him.
Challenge: Triumph
Summary: Continues from ‘Yield’
AN: --smiles-- And so it starts! Thanks to Angela and Chrissy for
being the test audience!
We were strangers
Starting out on a journey
Never dreaming
What we'd have to go through
Now here we are
And I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
No one told me
I was going to find you
Unexpected
What you did to my heart
When I lost hope
You were there to remind me
This is the start
Life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Life is the road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey
I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
-- Richard Marx & Donna Lewis, At The Beginning --
--
I seriously can’t believe that happened! I think to myself as I stand under the warm spray of the shower. I’ve never known Sky to be affected by a girl, myself included, in the entire year and a half I’ve been here at the academy. Most of the time, he ignores everyone, especially girls. I was almost beginning to think he didn’t like girls like that.
Apparently I was wrong.
I quickly turn the water off and step out of the shower stall. After drying off, I tilt my head and stare at my reflection. My body has become well toned by my intensive training here. My triumph over Sky in our simulation today is just another piece of proof that I belong here, that I made the right decision.
When I first arrived, I couldn’t, in my opinion, have beaten a snail in hand to hand combat. I knew a few things from fights I had gotten into in Junior High School, but nothing more. My sticking out of the last year and a half has been one of my biggest personal triumphs. I’ve always gotten bored quickly with what I’ve chosen to do with my life. SPD is the first thing that I can see challenging me for as long as I’m here.
Shaking my head, I quickly dress in a pair of shorts and a white tank top before heading out into my room. I’m lucking enough not to have a roommate, so I can take all the time I want to go through my before bed routine. Sitting down on my bed, I settle under the covers, turn on my bedside lamp, make sure the main lights are off with a simple voice command, and grab Peanuts. Once that’s over with, I grab my diary and open it to the first blank page.
My hand darts across the page as I give a run down of the days events, and then I linger when I get to the simulator incident. Carefully, I write the rest of the entry, praying that no one ever sees it.
Diary, you’ll never guess what else happened today. For the first time in a long time, I’m finding that the boy I’m attracted to, who happens to be my best friend and teammate, may be attracted to me as well. It’s kind of funny, but he isn’t my regular type at all, and yet, that thought doesn’t scare me. Deep words from a 16 year-old, I know, but true words none the less. After defeating Sky in our simulated powers training today, I had my first slightly sexual experience with a boy. Needless to say, Sky couldn’t control his body’s reactions to my sitting on his lap. While it’s almost laughable, because it’s Sky we’re talking about here, it’s also a little scary and really exciting. I’ve admitted it before, but I’ll admit it again, I have a crush on him. I have since the first time I laid eyes on him. Who wouldn’t, he’s gorgeous; tall, dark, broody, with these blue eyes that just dart down to your soul and see you for who you really are. Until today, he’s never given me any indication that he sees me as more than friend and teammate, or maybe sister. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this new bit of information, but I know I’m going to save this tiny triumph until I can make sense of everything else.
Goodnight,
Sydney
Yawning, I close and lock my diary before tossing it in the drawer of my bedside table. For now, I simply want to dream my dreams, and wait until tomorrow to see what reality brings.
Challenge: Why
Summary: Sky struggles to understand...
AN: Thanks to Angela and Chrissy for being my test audience!
Everyday I wake-up to another day gone by
Nothing but the open roads and a never ending why
Anything can happen, yeah, but nothing ever does
I try to change, it's kinda strange
Same as it ever was
But look at us
How do I deal with you
How do I deal with me
When I don't even know myself,
Or what it is you want from me.
How do I deal with us
How do I know what's real
When I don't even trust myself
Or what it is I feel
And how do I deal
Yeah
Every night in the dark I lie awake in bed
How am I supposed to dream, with all the static in my head
Torn in all directions baby, pray for some relief
What can i do but feel the way I'm underneath
-- Jennifer Love Hewitt, How Do I Deal --
--
Bridge is sound asleep. That’s one thing to be thankful for. He usually has an over abundance of questions before we go to bed. Tonight, however, I’m spared the nightly ritual. I still can’t believe what happened this afternoon. My body completely betrayed me. Its not like I’ve never noticed how pretty Syd is before, trust me, I have. At 16, Sydney Drew is gorgeous. She’s petite, with long legs and a small waist, and as much as it pains me to admit it, she has breasts, rather nice breasts I might add. She wears her blonde hair long and in a mass of curls that shine and her eyes are this perfect shade of blue that seem to pierce through the walls I’ve put up around myself like no one else’s ever have.
She’s my best fiend, a title I don’t give to just anyone. The last person to receive that title was Dru, but he left the academy a year ago and I haven’t heard from him since. In the last eighteen months, the girl I thought was a spoiled rich Daddy’s girl has definitely proven my initial impression of her wrong. She’s hard working, talented, loving, and fun to be with. She’s more than my best friend and teammate now, she’s more like my sister now, or better yet, she’s the one person who knows me better than I know myself, and that’s saying something. Which begs the question, why am I responding so heavily to one incident when there have been others before. Today was not the first time Syd’s pinned me to the mats like that, but it was definitely the first time my body reacted to hers in a non-platonic way. I’ve never even thought about thinking of Syd in any romantic way, not until this afternoon. Its like a light switch got turned on and its all I can seem to think about.
“Why me? Why her? Why now?” I mutter, punching my pillow. I know I’m never going to get to sleep now that I’m thinking about this yet again. Hell, I couldn’t even look at Syd during dinner without remember the way her body rested against mine. The cold shower I took after that didn’t help either. Instead, the time alone in the shower only let my imagination run wild with me so that at some point, I was picturing Sydney’s body braced above mine while we had sex.
“You’re broadcasting!” Bridge’s hiss is like cold water to my mind.
“Sorry!” I mumbled back, rolling over to face the wall.
“Just talk to her,” he murmurs. “She won’t bite, not unless you want her to.” That is so not the mental image I needed after just remembering my earlier day dream. No, talking to Syd about what happened is not an option, I’d embarrass the hell out of myself let alone ruin our friendship. I just need to avoid being in situations where I end up alone with her. “Good luck with that.”
“Go to sleep, Bridge!”
Why me? How the hell did I end up with a best friend I’m suddenly finding myself attracted to and a psychic for a roommate? Why me? What bad thing did I do in a past life to deserve this?
Challenge: Patience
Summary: Patience is a virtue, but Syd realizes she’s going to have the
patience of a saint to deal with him.
AN: Getting close to the SPD stories!
Looking back I don't regret
One single day
Memories will keep me close
When you walk away
It's harder than I could imagine
Guess I should have known that
Close your eyes, I'll be there
I'll come running anywhere
Say goodbye, I'll be okay
I will wait for you cause
True love will never fade
When it's real you can feel it
And I know, that you know
That I will keep on waiting
Faithfully
Patiently, for you
-- Emma Lahana, Patiently --
--
I’ve come to an important conclusion in the last year. Women have the patience of saints when it comes to men. This is particularly true when it comes to the men they love. In my case, I know I’m going to need more patience than all the saints combined. It was just my luck that I’ve fallen in love with the most clueless man on the planet. I’ve spent the past year trying everything in my little bag of tricks to get Sky to notice me in a way different than friends and teammates. The only response I’ve gotten that was mildly encouraging came a few months ago at the carnival when Bridge decided to bring his giant stuffed dragon he won on the Ferris wheel with us. I ended up sitting next to Sky, and my hand accidentally brushed his thigh when I sat down next to him. And then I fell over on his lap trying to look at something Bridge was showing me. Needless to say, Sky avoided me like the plague after that but I had seen the evidence of my close proximity when we got off the ride.
I swear, the boy has done a complete 180 on me. We were the best of friends until the simulator incident where I realized he was attracted to me and vice versa. Since then, he hasn’t spent more than five minutes alone with me, which is kind of disheartening. When we made B Squad a couple of months ago, he reverted back to the old, grouchy Sky I had first met, and refused to come celebrate with us. I’ve also noticed he clams up, or snaps at people, when I walk into a room. Bridge has told me that doesn’t happen to anyone else.
My mom, and even Kat and Bridge, have told me to be patient; that he’s a little stressed out now that he’s so close to being made Red Ranger like his father. While I understand their advice, it still stings that he no longer shares anything with me. My patience is wearing thin with the snide comments and his blatant avoidance.
“Hey Sky!” Bridge calls out as Sky walks into the Common Room, a pretty red head holding his hand. I can feel my heart breaking in two at the sight of them. He’s never brought a girl to the academy, not as long as I’ve been here. That’s not to say he hasn’t dated in the last few months, because he has, but he’s never brought anyone home.
“Bridge, I’d like you to meet Sierra. Sierra, this is Bridge Carson.”
What am I, chopped liver? I glare at Sky, who continues to ignore me. Sierra is staring at me for one minute before she turns to Sky, who acts like an idiot by trying to seem like nothing’s wrong. “I’m Syd, by the way,” I introduce myself. “It seems Sky’s manners have taken a permanent vacation to Tahiti.” I glare at him and he continues to ignore me. “I can see why you don’t have any friends left beyond Bridge. If you treated any of them the way you’ve been treating me, its no wonder they all dropped you,” I snap, causing Sky to blanch. Damn right you’re going to have a reaction to something I say, Schuyler. Two can play your little game, and I know your dirty little secrets. Sierra’s looking shaken by my comments while Bridge is just shaking his head. I know Bridgey is sick of playing mediator, but it’s not my fault. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a simulator session with D Squad.”
As I storm out of the Common Room, I can hear Bridge swear at Sky. I’m almost around the corner when I feel the familiar texture of Bridge’s gloved hand grabbing mine. “Let go, Bridge.”
“Syd,” he whispers, turning me around. The tears in my eyes have clouded my vision, making him look like a giant gray blob. “Shh, it’s okay.”
“No it’s not!” I cry. “What happened? We were best friends and the next thing I know, he’s avoiding me like I’m an incurable disease!”
I feel safe in Bridgey’s arms, I feel loved, but they’re not the arms I want around me. “He loves you, no matter what he says. Just have a little more patience and hang on to your faith.”
“I miss him!” I cry into his shoulder. “I miss my Sky. It’s like he never existed, or better yet, I never existed to him!”
“He’s there, Syd,” he assures me. “He’s just scared. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. I promise, things will get better, you’ll see.”
“What do you mean just keep doing what I’ve been doing?” I sniff, pulling away so I can wipe my face.
Bridge just grins. “Just keep patiently loving him.”
Challenge: Friends
Summary: It’s pretty sad when you don’t think you have any friends…
AN: A little angsty Sky action here, enjoy! And for those of you who
commented on how you thought Bridge and Syd were his friends, this should answer
your questions --winks--
It's the hardest thing
I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing
I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion
When you start to cry
I can't let you see
What you mean to me
When my hands are tied
And my hearts not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing
I'll ever had to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending I don't love you
-- 98 Degrees, The Hardest Thing --
--
Sierra’s staring at me like she wants to ask me to explain but how can you explain that the person who is your best friend makes you crave more? Syd’s words hurt me tonight, but I know it’s nothing like the hurt I’ve caused her lately. My nerves have been pretty raw since I found out Dru went missing. Of course, I was dying to tell Syd, but I haven’t because she’ll want to offer comfort and I’ll want to take it, which would cause me to break the vow I made to myself about not complicating our friendship with romantic feelings. Instead, I’ve pretty much ruined whatever feelings she’s probably ever had for me. I just have to keep telling myself to focus on my goal of being Red Ranger. If I do that, I won’t think so much about wanting something I can’t have.
“She’s pretty mad at you,” Sierra whispers.
“She’ll live.”
“Is it true?”
I turn to stare at her. “Is what true?”
“Is Bridge your only friend?”
I want to say no, but I can’t. He’s all I have left. I lost the only other two people that I had. Correction, I lost Dru when he disappeared but I’ve pushed Sydney away. “I think I’d better take you home.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything as we head back down to my motorcycle in the garage. Once she’s safely at her door, I don’t even wait around to say goodbye, I simply take off on my bike. I need a few minutes to myself before I go back to the Academy.
The place that I find myself stopping at is the last place I wanted to come to, but maybe I need to be here, need to think this over in the one place I know I can get peace and quiet. I rest my helmet on my bike and start trekking through the cemetery. Ten minutes of walking brings me to a headstone in the far left corner of the property. Shaking my head, I let out a sigh and plop down in front of the stone I helped my mother pick out. “Hey Dad,” I whisper, reaching out to graze the headstone with my fingers. “I need your help, Dad, because I think I may have made a monumental mistake.”
I let a long pause float before I start talking again. “I’ve.. uh.. I think I finally pushed Syd too far. You should have seen her, Dad, the look on her face tonight... I just can’t stop myself from pushing her away. I don’t want… she’s already so important to me, but if we end up being Rangers, I don’t think I could survive through losing her the way I lost you. She’s so determined, and I know she’d do whatever it takes to protect Earth, even if it means forfeiting her life. She’s become one of my best friends, her and Bridge both have, but I can’t tell them that, not after losing the only other two friends I’ve ever had.”
Staring at the stone, I let the emotions I normally swallow and lock away, free. Tears well in my eyes as I continue. “You were my best friend, my first real friend. And I lost you in the line of duty. And then there’s Dru, who I’ve lost to duty as well. He disappeared, Dad, vanished into thin air while on patrol. I’ve done my hardest to keep Syd and Bridge out of my heart, but damn it, it didn’t work! I don’t want friends, because I’ll lose them, but I can’t help it with those two!”
“Dad, please, I just, I need a sign. Give me some clue that what I’m doing is right, please?”
I stare at the headstone, hoping for something to happen. After twenty minutes of silence and inaction, I decide it’s time to head home. “I’ll see you around, Dad.” Pushing up, I head for my bike and then head back to the academy.
It’s pretty quiet in the halls as I travel to mine and Bridge’s room. The lights are all out, except for the bathroom nightlight. Bridge is sound asleep, laying haphazardly across his bed like normal. Shaking my head, I reach for my pajamas under my pillow and notice a note resting on my desk. With trembling fingers, I grasp the note and turn on my beside lamp. I instantly recognize the hand writing and almost don’t want to read it.
Sky,
Look, I know things are really stressful for you right now, and obviously, I haven’t been that much help lately. I’m sorry. I really thought we might have had something developing, but I guess not. No matter what, I’ll always count you as one of my friends, even if you annoy the hell out of me.
Love Always,
Syd
I sink down on the bed and stare at the note, feeling a small ray of hope still burning bright. Maybe I don’t want to acknowledge that Bridge and Syd are my best friends, at least not in public, but I can do it in the privacy of my thoughts. Maybe I’m not as alone as I thought.