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: Scars
Summary: We all carry scars…and sometimes we manage to heal them, even if
only a little
AN: Sequel to Guilt, set during Reflections Pt 2.
I've still got a lot to learn
But, at least I know where I can turn
When I'm in my times of need
Just as long
(As I know all things are possible)
Just as long as I believe
I've loved a lot, hurt a lot
Been burned a lot in my life and times
Spent precious years wrapped up in fear
With no end in sight
Until my saving grace shined on me
Until my saving grace set me free
Giving me peace
Giving me strength when I'd
Almost lost it all
Catching my every fall
I still exist because you keep me safe
I found my saving grace within you
-- Mariah Carey, My Saving Grace --
--
Sydney watched Jack hand Sky the Red Ranger morpher. Part of her wanted to cry, another part wanted to scream, and yet another part wanted to jump for joy. His dream, even if only for a moment, was coming true. She had to wonder though, if being Red Ranger for the moment would rip open the scars that had been hidden and only recently bared.
She smiled at Bridge when the Green Ranger moved over and took her hand, squeezing it gently. The look that passed between them as they watched Sky morph into the Red Ranger was one of pride. They both realized, just as Jack had, that it would do him good to bring Mirloc in as Red Ranger, but they were both worried about him.
--
Syd grinned when she felt a large, warm hand take hers as she walked out of the Command Center after their briefing. “Yes?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at the Blue Ranger.
“Thank you, Syd.”
“For?”
“For what you said about my dad, for sticking beside me through all of this.”
She squeezed his hand, knowing how hard it was for him to admit that what she’d said affected him. “I only spoke the truth.”
“Being Red Ranger was awesome,” he grinned, answering her unspoken question.
“But?” she asked, sensing it there even if he hadn’t said it.
He smiled sadly. “Heroes come in all colors. I’m…I’m okay being Blue.”
The Pink Ranger looked startled. “Really?” She hadn’t expected him to admit that, let alone ever feel it.
“Really.”
Sydney looked up into his face and smiled. Even if he didn’t see it she did. Bringing in Mirloc had helped heal the wounds more than it had ripped them open, like she’d feared it would. She also knew it was only one step in many that would help him deal with the loss of his father.
The two of them stopped in front of Sky’s quarters. “It never goes away, but it certainly got a lot easier today,” he told her softly, knowing instinctively what she was thinking.
“It won’t ever go away,” she answered. “And everything you go through will leave a mark, so to speak, on you. They’re called life lessons.”
“I know, but after today, I think I can deal with them, all of them.”
“Good. I’ll see you later,” she moved to go and was stopped by his voice.
“Syd.”
“What?”
Sky wanted to tell her something, she could tell it from the look on his face. She could only guess it had to do with the moment in the park when he’d saved her from Mirloc, if only momentarily. “Don’t worry about it, Sky,” Sky softly murmured before heading down the hall.
Challenge: Truth
Summary: The truth will set you free
AN: Set after Reflections Pt 2.
I would give you everything
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do
To ensure your happiness
I'll cherish every part of you
Because without you beside me I can't survive
I don't wanna try
If you're keeping me warm each and every night
I'll be all right
Cause I need you in my life
Thank God I found you (I'm begging you)
I was lost without you (so lost without you)
My every wish and every dream (every dream, every dream)
Somehow became reality
When you brought the sunlight (brought the sunlight)
Completed my whole life
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude
Cause baby I'm so thankful
I found you
-- Mariah Carey, Joe, & 98 Degrees, Thank God I Found You --
--
In my nearly twenty-one years, I’ve known and experienced a lot of truths. I’ve known right from wrong, I’ve known responsibility and honor. I’ve experienced hard work and the rewards reaped from it.
I’ve always known my father was a wonderful, caring man and my mother a loving woman. I know that no one can really make it in this world without friends that will stick to your side through thick and thin. I know my work with SPD is important and necessary to the stability and continuing existence of Earth.
But the one I’ve just started to experience, is knowing the love of a spectacular woman. I don’t mean like how my mother loves me. No, its all consuming for her and me. I’m not scared of my mother’s love, but Sydney and what I know she feels for me scare the hell out of me. What’s worse is that lately Syd’s been slowly pulling away from me. I’m trying to stop that from happening, but I feel as if I’m in over my head.
I know I hurt her, both consciously and unconsciously. My actions in trying to keep my attraction to her buried and more recently in my carelessness as a Ranger have hurt her. I’ve come to realize whether either of us likes it or not, we need each other. I need her whimsical personality and she needs my stability. And if there’s one thing I’m learning it’s that I need her in my life, completely. I also know in order for me to finally let go, Gruumm’s going to need to be defeated. It hurts both of us, but if we want a real shot at a life together, we can’t do it with his big, bad, ugly shadow hanging over us.
“Sky, you’re fidgeting, calm down!” Z mutters as I come back from my side trip to space. Jack and Bridge are laughing at me and Syd’s smiling knowingly from across the room.
Z’s next to me on the couch, her eyes dancing with mirth. “Sorry.”
“Dork!” Z just laughs, causing the others to erupt and me to blush.
Challenge: Confidence
Summary: He's confident now, not just cocky, and she loves it
AN: Set after Reflections Pt 2.
So tell me what is wrong with me
I'm the girl with everything
So why am I not strong enough
I want to be strong enough
To tell you how I really feel
I know my talent is real
So don't tell me
Don't tell me
I have to prove one or two
I don't have nothing to prove
So don't tell me
Don't tell me
Cause I am worthy
To feel beautiful in this skin
Be beautiful in this skin
Love me for me
Have confidence in this skin
Be confident in this skin
Be real, be real
See the beauty inside this skin
I don't have to hide this skin
I feel, I feel
An awakening in this skin
Stop forsaking me in this skin
-- Jessica Simpson, In This Skin --
--
Truth be told, I am not as confident as everyone would like to think. I cringe when we face criminals, I hurt when we’ve been put through a more brutal that usual workout, and sometimes, at the end of the day, I worry about whether or not I’m truly cut out to defend Earth. And before the events of the past week, I would have told you straight to your face that Schuyler Tate was the most confident person I know. But now, I’ve seen the wall surrounding him crack into a million pieces as he was forced to face the biggest demon of his life – the man who murdered his hero, the man who took away who he has always aspired to be, his father. I can’t think about how it was watching Sky’s armor crack without feeling sorry for the little boy who lost so much, while aching for the man I’m in love with, because I know now who helped change him into who he was. I would have thought that after everything he’s been through this last week, he’d revert further into that shell I’ve been trying to pry him back out of for the last year or so, but he’s not. Even though for one blaring moment, his confidence was shot, it’s as though Sky’s resilience has helped him bounce back from the hurt inflicted. He’s been hanging out with the team more and more in the common room, he’s actually held decent conversations with us, and more importantly, he hasn’t stopped pestering me for longer than five minutes at a time.
And it’s not just in the team’s presence that I’ve noticed a change in his demeanor. No, it’s becoming much clearer that he no longer walks with such a cocky swagger to his step, but that he’s genuinely confident now. I know this has to do with bringing in his father’s killer after accidentally setting him free, but I think it’s deeper than that. I think he’s finally confident in his own skin and understands that he doesn’t HAVE to be the Red Ranger, that it’s okay that he’s blue.
“Earth to Syd, are you there?” Z’s voice breaks in on my thoughts. We’ve been sitting out here on the bleachers for hours as D squad did their weekly physical fitness testing. Jack and Bridge have half of the squad down on the track doing the shuttle run and some sprints while Z and I are sitting here recording mile times of the other half of the squad.
“Sorry, spaced,” I murmur, looking down for the next name we need to record a time for.
“You’ve been doing that a lot more lately, why is that?” Z casually asks, a smirk on her face as she stares down at the cadets finishing their miles.
“I was just thinking about this last week,” I tell her, watching as her smirk disappears and a rare, concerned look appears.
“It’s been a rough week,” she starts, showing me the time as I make a note of it next to the correct cadet. “But I think we all handled ourselves professionally, and I think we also grew as a team, even if only a little.”
“I’m worried about him,” I blab, blushing as Z’s smirk returns.
“I noticed, just like every other member of the academy has noticed, except for the object of your worry.”
I want to tell her he’s noticed too, which is why he’s pestering me so much, but I refrain. Z and I are close, but I’m no where near comfortable enough to share this bit of information about whatever’s been developing between me and Sky with her. Bridge is the only one who knows, and the only two reasons he knows is because he’s Sky’s roommate and my best friend. That and he’s a psychic, which means there isn’t much that gets passed him.
“Speak of the devil, look who’s headed this way,” she teases, nudging my arm with her elbow. Casually, I turn my head in the direction she’s looking and find the C squad headed our way. That in and of itself wouldn’t be why she’s teasing me. No, she’s teasing me because of the man who’s leading them, the one who’s just caught me staring and is smirking his smart ass off.
“Ladies,” he grins, sitting down on the bleachers next to me, so that he’s straddling the seat and facing me at the same time.
“Hi Sky,” Z chirps, grinning at us before turning back to our cadets.
“Syd?’
“Hi,” I murmur, suddenly wishing I was down on the field with Bridge and Jack and not up here.
As if someone up above heard my desperate plea, one of the C squad cadets comes over and stands before us. “Cadet Drew?’
I turn my attention to the young man and realize it’s one of the many throngs of boys here at the academy that has a tiny crush on me. “Yes Cadet Thomas?” I ask, reading his named tag.
“I was wondering if you’d care to join me for lunch?” he asks, looking hopeful.
“I’m sorry but I’ve….” I start before Sky buts in.
“She’s already got plans,” Sky starts, making me turn to glare at him. “The Commander wants the five of us to eat together, so that we can go over the physical fitness scores and determine the areas that need improvement.”
Z’s sitting next to me, cracking up laughing and failing miserably to hide it. “Not to mention Sky wants five minutes alone with her,” she cracks, just loud enough for me and Sky and Cadet Thomas to hear.
“Am I that obvious?” Sky asks, cracking a smile when Z starts laughing so hard she’s snorting and doubled over.
I shake my head and look to the sky above me. “Cocky aren’t we?” I ask, turning my gaze to Sky.
“No, just confident in where we stand,” he grins. “I’ll see you guys in an hour, I’m going to go shower and change.”
I can’t help but watch the sexy swagger he’s got going on as he strides away from me. Oh yes, his confidence was rocked a little this last week, but now, it’s back, bigger and more present than ever. And that’s just the way I want my Sky.
Challenge: Quest
Summary: It took a short flight to Zentor to turn it all around…
AN: Set during SWAT Pt 2. And yes, some of this is word for word
from the episode.
You've probably think I’ve lost my mind
Takin' this chance crossin' that line
But I promise to be truer than true
Dreaming every night with these arms around you
I can't wait any longer this feeling's gettin' stronger help me find a way
How do I get there from here
How do I make you see
How do I tell you what my heart's been tellin' me
Lost in your lovin' arms that's where I wanna be
You know I love you
How do I get there
I know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line
But I’ll climb any mountain that you want me to climb
The perfect combination is your heart and mine
Darlin' won't you give me a sign
-- Deana Carter, How Do I Get There --
--
‘It’s hotter than hell out here, and I ache like no tomorrow’ he thought as he slid down the side of a very large sand dune. ‘This is so stupid! We should have stuck together, and I shouldn’t have run my mouth off, like normal. Damn it, I’m sick of us being at odds, I want us to be friends, and teammates.’
“SKY! HELP ME!”
Head snapping up, he looked around. “Bridge?” he called out, his voice coming out a little more frantic sounding. “BRIDGE?”
Pushing himself to his feet, Sky felt his resolve harden. “I’M COMING BUDDY!” he shouted, before running down the side of the dune.
--
As frantic as he was about finding Bridge, another thought popped up in his head, making his heart speed up to almost painful. If Bridge was in trouble, how was Syd fairing? Even the thought that his Pink Princess was in trouble made his blood run cold.
His eyes were alert, his body tense, as he searched through the forest for his teammates; he had to find them before something happened, or he knew he’d never forgive himself. Shaking his head, he kept running, and then he heard a familiar voice. “SYD!”
Sky felt his heart stop beating as he caught sight of Jack and Bridge standing still and staring up at something. Sky’s heart started after a second when he realized a tree was falling toward them. He kicked his pace into overdrive and jumped through the air, tackling them to the ground.
Bridge looked up at him. “Whoa. Nice save.”
The Blue Ranger gave him a look and grinned. “Thanks.” Sky carefully crawled off the two of them and stood up, his eyes darting around looking for any sign of their Pink Ranger. He was still worried that something had happened to her. “I heard you call for help, so I came running.”
“I didn’t call for help,” Bridge told him.
“It’s Syd, she’s in trouble,” Jack supplied as both he and Bridge noticed the terrified look that seeped into Sky’s eyes.
“Hey!” Syd called out, surprising the whole group. “Has anyone seen Z? I heard her call for help!”
“Syd!” Jack chirped. Bridge and Sky’s shoulders slumped in relief, and did so a second time when Z finally came rushing up to them.
“Hey! I didn’t call!” Z argued, but Sky’s eyes were locked with another set of beautiful blue eyes, an unspoken conversation going between them. “Sky called for help.”
Z’s words snapped the silent communication as he turned to look at Z. “Hey! I don’t call for help!” he told them, looking indignant that Z would even suggest it, though both he and Syd knew he had before.
“So, we all came running here because we all called for help, but we never called for help?” Bridge babbled. Syd shot Sky a look, and he shot her one back, the two again silently communicating.
Jack shook his head and smiled. “Guys, this has got to be one of Silverback’s plans. He wanted us all to be together.”
“You know what,” Sky gasped, still trying to get his breath. “When I was running, I realized so do I. I want us to be together as Power Rangers, and as friends,” Sky told them, his eyes seeking out Syd’s as he added one more to that. ‘As a couple’ his eyes spoke to her. “So I want to apologize.” He looked around at each of them.
“I’m sorry,” Syd spoke up.
“I’m sorry,” Z went next, her eyes seeking out her teammates.
“Me too,” Jack smiled.
“Me three!” Bridge added.
For a minute, Sky looked around at his friends and teammates, and finally realized something. Syd’s several-year-long battle to get him to open up was starting to finally come to fruitation. And his own self-imposed quest to be a better person was starting to finally show some results.
Challenge: Fight
Summary: He’s so afraid to lose her, that he’s going to fight to keep her
AN: This is set AFTER SWAT Pt 2.
Don’t wanna close the door
Don’t wanna give up on it
Don’t wanna fight no more
We’ll find a way around it
Where’s the love we had
We can make it last
Tell me what I gotta be
And tell me what you wanna do
‘Cause I can’t live my life
The way you want me to
You know I can’t go on
Livin’ like we do
Do I have to cry for you
Do I have to cry for you
So tell me what it’s for
If there’s no winner in it
Nobody’s keepin’ score
Let’s start from the beginning
Can we make it last, oh
With the love we had…
…Do I gotta stand in the cold dark night
Till the mornin’ light, yeah
Do I have to stay
I won’t let you get away
-- Nick Carter, Do I Have To Cry For You --
--
Sydney kept her eyes on her canvas, but she was well aware that her blue teammate, and the object of her affections, was sitting on the couch, his attention no longer on his model airplane. No, his eyes were drilling metaphoric holes in her forehead. Part of her wondered why, but as he continued to stare, and the conversation around them finally caught up to her, she knew why.
Jack, Z, and Bridge were relating their latest adventure, their trip to Zentor for SWAT training, to Kat and Boom and Omega, who were all sitting around the common room with them. Sky, however, was not relating the tale. Instead, he was staring at her with those storm cloud eyes of his and she was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
“And then you should have seen Syd!” Jack laughs. “She reaches over, snatches Z’s necklace right off her neck and then jumps into the line of fire, her hand held high.”
“She did pull of some pretty amazing flips and rolls there,” Z supplied. “At first, I thought she’d lost her mind until I realized what she was doing; got to give the girl props for having the guts to do it.”
Sydney felt her cheeks go red. She’d done what she’d been trained to do – think on her feet and use her genetic powers when the need arose. She didn’t think she’d done anything any of the others wouldn’t have.
“Syd wasn’t the only one who did something cool out there!” Bridge reminded the others. Jerking his thumb in Sky’s direction, he continued. “What about the shield Sky threw up after we all linked up. That’s the biggest shield I’ve ever seen him use.”
It was Syd’s turn to look over her canvas and stare at him. He and Jack had silently agreed on that, and the others had just fallen in line with the idea, even though Sydney herself remembered fearing for Sky, who’d been at the forefront of the move. ‘He could have gotten hurt,’ she pouted to herself, turning her attention back to her painting.
“You’re lucky none of you got hurt. I for one am glad you’re back. Goodnight,” Kat bid them before walking out.
“Well, as much as I hate to say this, I’m pooped. Night,” Jack yawned as he got up and headed for his room.
Gradually, the common room emptied until it was only Syd and Sky, both absorbed in their private thoughts. With a sigh, Syd started packing up her easel, her paints, and her canvas. “You know, I still can’t believe you did what you did out there,” Sky nonchalantly told her.
Syd’s head came up gradually and she leveled Sky with a look. “Excuse me? Why can’t you believe I’d throw myself into danger for my friends? Is your opinion of my ability that low?”
Sky looked up at her. “No, but I’ve always thought you had more sense than to go running straight into laser fire.”
The pretty blonde’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Excuse me?”
“Sydney, what you did was reckless. We could have found another way to shut off those lasers instead of you jumping into the line of fire.”
The blue eyed blonde looked on in sudden understanding. He was scared, and upset with her for putting herself in harms way. “I didn’t do anything the rest of you haven’t a dozen times over. I’m sorry I wasn’t blessed with Z’s ability to replicate or Jack’s ability to phase through stuff. My ability is to take things and turn my hands into them. We were pinned down, and no one else was coming up with any solid plans, so I took matters, quite literally, into my own hands!” she started raising her voice at him as she stalked over to point a finger in his face. “Don’t you dare ever tell me to sit back and let others fight the good fight! Not when I was chosen, just like the rest of you, and have trained, just like the rest of you, to do this job. That’s the most sexist thing I think I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth aimed at me.”
“Get your finger out of my face,” Sky growled, standing up as he did so. “And excuse me if, as second in command, what I think you did was rash.”
“That’s right, you’re second in command,” Syd told him, hurt. “If Jack, as squad leader, had a problem with what I did, I would have heard about it, and Cruger would have reamed me out good, but since I didn’t, you have no authority to yell at me. Secondly, Mr. Blue Ranger, you pulled a similar stunt not even ten minutes after I did! Do you seriously think you’re invincible against Krybots with that shield of yours? Because I don’t!”
She saw the hurt flash across his face before he buried it, but as she stared up into his beloved eyes, she saw it still simmering there. She also saw worry. “I can’t believe you, because guess what, same goes. Besides that, you went along with my plan,” Sky shot back.
“And I didn’t see you trying to stop me either, so we’re even,” she hissed and spit at him before turning and stomping toward her things. She was just about to grab up her easel when his hand closed around her arm and spun her around. “Don’t touch me.”
“Sydney.”
Looking up, the red haze cleared from her eyes and she saw the fear on his face again, much stronger than before. Suddenly, she was thrown back to before their argument, when she’d been watching him, and the realization hit her again – he’d been afraid to lose her in the fight. “You’ve got a lot to learn about women,” she told him, her voice gentler than it had been. “Why don’t we try this again?”
Sky knew what she was getting at, and it burned at every part of the guy he was to tell her this, but he knew he had to, or he was going to lose her, from his own stupidity. “Look, I was worried about you.”
“Naw, really?” she sarcastically asked, staring up at him. “Try again.”
“I’m serious; I was worried you were going to hurt yourself.” She gave him the most bored look she could cook up and watched as he sighed. When he looked at her, he groaned. “Damn it, Syd, you know I was worried about you.”
“Why? I’m fully capable of taking care of myself,” she reminded him.
Sydney was pleasantly surprised when Sky reached out and pulled her to him, holding her close to his chest. “Because, Sydney, I can’t lose you, not now, and I came damn close to it this time.”
She could feel him tremble and wanted to sooth, but it wasn’t that simple. He’d put himself on the line so many times. “Now you know how I feel, every time you morph,” she muttered, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You’re always so gung ho about protecting everyone, that one of these days I know you’re not going to come back.”
Sky laid his head on top of hers. “I can’t be anyone but who I am.”
“And I don’t want you to be, but I’ve told you before, I know it’s going to get you killed one of these days.”
“I’m sorry I yelled,” he whispered, his hand caressing her back.
“So am I,” she whispered, looking up at him.
Sky smiled sadly down at her. “Are we done fighting now?”
Sydney laughed. “I guess so. Will you walk me to my room?”
“Sure, and I’ll even help carry all your crap,” he teased, smiling brightly when Sydney swatted his arm.
“Brat.”
Challenge: What If
Summary: She doesn’t want him to go, and he can’t not do his job…
AN: Set during Impact. I’ve always wondered how Jack had enough
time to climb into the SWAT Fliers without anyone noticing.
J
I've got something to tell you that I just can't say
So I'm writing it down in case maybe someday
Our lives take a turn down a road
We can't see right now…
… What if it's you
What if our hearts were meant to be one
What'll I do
Knowing that I'll never love anyone
As much as I do love you
What if it's true
What if it's you
If destiny called and I missed my cue
Do I get one more chance
Oh how I wish I knew
I'll never again put my heart in the hands of fate
If it's too late
If I ever hold you I'll never let go
But if I never do how will I know
-- Reba McEntire, What If It’s You --
--
“I can’t believe you!” Sydney screeched as the Rangers hurried from the Command Center.
Sky gave her a look over his shoulder as he headed down the hallway toward the entrance for the SWAT Fliers. “It’s my job, Syd. I’m the best pilot on the squad.”
“I don’t care!” she shot back at him, halting his progress while the others continued on, knowing the two would come when they were done arguing.
“Sydney, stop it. I’ve been assigned this mission, I have to go,” he firmly told her, turning to head down the hall again.
“You volunteered!” she accused. “I was standing right there, remember?”
Sky swung around to look at her. ‘She’s acting like this for a reason’ he told himself when he saw the stark fear in her eyes. Reaching out, Sky cupped her cheeks, his thumbs caressing her skin. “Yes, I did; first, because this is my job, second because I’m good at my job, and third, there isn’t anyone else I’d trust with keeping the people I love safe.”
“What if you don’t come back?” she croaked out.
Sky watched her stare at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Sydney, don’t do this, not now.”
“I’m serious, Sky! What if you don’t make it back this time?” she asked, her hands coming up to latch onto his wrists.
Sky let go of her face and took her hands before tugging her close, his own hands moving down to hold her waist. “I’m always going to be with you,” he whispered, tilting his head to the side as he watched her try to blink away the tears.
“What if…” she spoke again, only this time her lips were soon covered by his. At the feel of his lips, the tears she’d been holding back finally coursed down her cheeks.
“I’m coming back,” he whispered, pulling away and wiping the tears from her face.
Sydney just looked up at him and tried to calm her fears. The woman and Ranger in her didn’t want to send him off with tears. “You’d better,” she cried softly before throwing her arms around his neck. Sky’s arms slid around her waist as they held tight to one another.
“SYD! COME ON!” Z yelled, popping back up at the end of the hallway. The Yellow Ranger watched them pull apart and the look on her face said she understood how hard this was for them.
“Be careful,” Sydney whispered, jumping up to kiss him again before she fled down the hall towards Z, Sky watching her as she went. His heart ached for a moment, and he made himself a promise that he was going to come back, if for no other reason than to keep his promise to her.