Where Are You Christmas
By: PInk-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: December 12, 2006
Summary: Its two years post SPD, and a certain Pink Ranger finds she’s longing for the man she secretly fell in love with…especially when she thinks she’s lost him
Rating: T
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--Chapter 1: Pink’s longing for her Blue-Red--
“The common room looks wonderful guys,” Kat grinned as she looked around the room at all the decorations that were up. The Rangers had organized the other cadets in a mission to make the base feel a little more like Christmas than it had a year before, when reconstruction had still been going on.
“That’s Syd’s doing,” Z quipped before popping the end of her candy cane into her mouth.
“She certainly outdid herself,” Kat smiled. “Speaking of Syd, where has she been lately? I hardly see her on duty anymore?”
Bridge sighed and sat next to Z on the couch. “She’s been taking a lot of night shifts lately. Something’s wrong with her, but she hasn’t really said anything. I didn’t even notice until I came home early on Thanksgiving and she was still here. I still don’t know what’s bugging her, because I haven’t been able to find more than three seconds to pry anything out of her.”
Kat nodded at Bridge’s rambling, for once understanding what he was getting at. “And where’s Sky? I haven’t seen him all morning.”
Z looked a little guilty but giggled. “I made him go shopping.”
“For what?”
“A Christmas present for Syd,” Z grinned. “It’s less than three weeks to Christmas and he’s been putting off getting her something. I told him he had to come back with something or I’m telling his secret crush he has a thing for her.”
The feline scientist looked confused. “You mean Sky actually likes someone? That’s news to me.”
“You and me both,” Bridge muttered. “I’m his roommate; I thought I knew everything about him.”
“Not everything. And I only know because I happened to walk in on a conversation he was having with his mom about it over the phone,” Z smiled. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy but I’m using the knowledge to my advantage.”
Kat’s mouth opened as if she were going to say something and her eyes caught Z’s. The Yellow Ranger nodded and Kat started laughing. “You’ve got to be kidding? I’d have never thought those two had a thing for each other!”
“I’m still not entirely sure how she feels about him, but he’s practically in love with her,” Z announced.
“Well, talk about tough Christmas miracles,” Kat joked before turning to leave.
“Who are you two talking about?” Bridge wanted to know.
“Don’t worry about it Bridge, if all goes right, Kat’s right about the Christmas miracle part.”
--
The aforementioned Pink Ranger was currently up on the observation deck looking out over the city. A light snow had fallen in the early hours of the morning, blanketing the busy New Tech in white. It wasn’t as cold as it could have been, but then, Sydney was numb to whatever cold there was. She’d been numb for weeks, since she’d realized the holidays were just around the corner. She’d promised herself the year before, after everything was said and done, that she’d tell him what she was feeling. She’d wanted to spend Christmas with him; not just with him, not just secretly in love with him, but in love with him where everyone knew. She had approximately two weeks to achieve her goals, but the fact that she’d turned chicken and was hardly ever with him on duty wasn’t helping.
‘Why can’t I just tell him?’ she asked herself, frustrated. ‘Am I that afraid of what he’ll say?’ She’d never been afraid of his honesty before, but then, her heart had never been on the line like it would be if she told him.
It hadn’t been an easy year by anyone’s standards. There had been minor uprisings in connection with Gruumm being brought down, and each time Syd had found herself paired with Sky on every mission. Then there had been her four month undercover assignment with him. They’d had to pose as husband and wife, and had been trying to crack an alien immigration smuggling ring. One could have thought that along the line of spending nearly every single day with him in the last year that she’d have worked up the courage to tell him; she hadn’t.
Shaking her head, she leaned against the railing and looked at the sun that was beginning to set. “Aren’t you cold?”
Syd wanted to swear. Turning slightly, her eyes landed on the red sweater, black leather jacket and khaki clad Red Ranger. “Not really,” she murmured. “Where have you been all day?”
The Pink Ranger was slightly intrigued by the blush that tinted his skin but left it alone. “Shopping.”
“The world’s finally coming to an end, isn’t it?” she teased. “I never thought I’d see the day when Schuyler Tate would go shopping willingly.”
“I’m serious Syd, aren’t you cold?” Sky asked. When Sydney didn’t respond, he drew off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. “Want to talk about it?”
“No.”
“Syd, what’s going on with you lately? You’ve always loved Christmas, but this year it seems like you’re just going through the motions. How come?” Sky asked, looking down at her.
His heart broke when he heard her sniffle back a sob. Without thinking, Sky pulled her into his arms, letting her bury her face against his chest. The two of them stood together in the chilly silence for a long time. Finally, Sydney stopped crying and just leaned against him. Sky, unsure how to comfort her, just kept holding her. His head was leaning against hers while his hands rubbed her back, unconsciously caressing her.
“I guess I’m just not really in a Christmas mood,” she murmured finally. It felt so nice to be held by him. It never ceased to amaze her that for all the times he tried to make himself appear the loner, he was wonderful at instinctively knowing when she just needed to be held.
“Talk to me,” he whispered, pecking a kiss to the top of her head. In moments like this, he wanted to scream at himself for never having told her that he loved her with everything he was. He found it becoming an increasing habit of his to touch her whenever possible, but he also found the friendly gestures weren’t satisfying him any more. There were certain situations where all he wanted to do was be spontaneous and lean close and kiss her; only he knew he had no right to.
Sky’s breath caught in his throat when Syd looked up at him, her eyes large and still wet from her tears. Before either of them realized it, their lips were meeting in a sweet, tender kiss. One of Sky’s arms held her across the back, while the other was cupping her cheek. He all but groaned when she pushed her body closer to his.
Syd felt shock ripple through her as she came to grips with the fact that she and Sky were making out. She moaned when Sky pulled her closer, her breasts pressing into his chest and his apparent hardness rubbing against her stomach.
The chiming of their morphers drew them apart. “Damn,” Sky muttered, moving the hand that had been cupping her cheek to grab his morpher from his belt. “Tate here.”
“Sky, the Commander wants to see you. And if you see Sydney, bring her with,” Kat’s voice announced.
“We’re on our way,” Sky muttered. Syd was already pulling away when Sky’s arm tightened around her. Smiling, Sky leaned down and kissed her again. “We’re going to talk about this later.” Sydney swallowed and nodded, and then they pulled apart and headed inside.
--
“You okay?” Z whispered in Syd’s ear as the Commander explained why he’d called them in.
“I’ll tell you later,” Syd answered back softly.
Anubis shot them a look that had them both quieting. “As I was saying, your efforts in the alien smuggling ring have paid off.”
“We got the convictions?” Syd grinned. Four months of undercover work and two months of court appearances and paper work now seemed like they had been worth while.
“Yes. They’re being sent to a maximum security prison near Mirinoi,” Cruger told them. “The court has asked that I send two of you, just to make sure they arrive safely.”
The group of four looked startled. It was just under a week and a half until Christmas; the trip could conceivably take that long, meaning whoever went wouldn’t be home for Christmas. “Who’s going sir?” Sky asked.
“I’d like you and Z to accompany the envoy, Sky,” Anubis announced. He was surprised to see an immediate reaction on Syd’s face. “Cadet Drew, are you alright?”
“I don’t feel well, Commander,” Syd managed, hoping not to give away her feelings. The last thing she needed was Cruger to find out how she really felt about Sky and then to lecture her on it.
“Then go see Dr. Felix. I can’t have you ill while half the team is gone.”
Sydney saluted and then raced from the room. Sky looked startled while Bridge and Z winced when Sydney’s sobs could be heard down the hallway as the door shut behind her. “Alright, what’s wrong with Cadet Drew?”
Z stepped forward. “I think she was counting on all of us being here for Christmas, some more than others,” Z rolled her eyes and inclined her head in Sky’s general direction.
“I see,” Anubis answered. He really could, seeing how he had been seeing the change in Syd and Sky’s relationship slowly over the last year. He already knew Sky had strong, non platonic feelings for the Pink Ranger, and now he knew Syd felt the same way. While he wasn’t sure how it would affect the team, he also understood that you couldn’t help who your heart decided it was going to love. His thoughts drifted to his wife, who was even now upstairs making dinner in their quarters. “Cadet Tate, please go check on her. I’ll fill Z in on your mission.”
“Yes sir,” Sky saluted and then strode from the room.
--
Sky found her curled up on one of the medical beds, Kat sitting with her. Their feline advisor was talking in hushed tones, nodding whenever Syd said something to her. When Kat saw him, she murmured something to Sydney before approaching him. “She’s not feeling all that great, don’t stay long,” Kat told him before leaving.
The Red Ranger was at a loss for words. Her eyes and nose were red, she had Peanuts pulled to her chest, and tissue was crumpled in her hand. “Syd, you know Z and I will be home in time for Christmas,” Sky told her, reaching out to take her hand.
“You don’t know that,” she argued. “The trip is four days one way. You don’t know what’ll happen!”
Sky tried to smile, to reassure her. “So we’ll celebrate Christmas when we get home.”
“It’s not the same!”
“Why is it so important for us to be together on Christmas? It’s just a day. Don’t you know Christmas should be every day of the year, and can be celebrated on any day other than December 25th if you really believe?”
When Syd started crying again, Sky was again at a loss. He hadn’t realized Christmas was so important to her. “That’s not the point! I know it can be celebrated any day!” Syd argued through her tears. “I’ve been trying for weeks to work up the courage to tell you I’m in love with you and I was going to do it on Christmas Eve and now it’s all ruined!” she cried, her body wracked by her harsh breathing.
Sky’s eyes widened and he stared down at her tear-stained face in awe. Leaning forward, he brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Sydney,” he whispered, moving to kneel next to her bed. He was amazed to discover she felt the same way; he’d been in love with her for quite some time, but hadn’t had the courage to tell her. “I promise, Syd, I’ll be home for Christmas.” Leaning forward, Sky kissed her forehead. “I love you Syd, now get some rest.”
--
“Are you ready?” Bridge asked Sky. He still had a hold of Z’s hand even though they’d already said their goodbyes.
“I suppose so,” Sky grumbled. His eyes searched the shuttle bay but didn’t find the person he was looking for.
“She won’t miss saying goodbye, not after yesterday,” Bridge assured him. Sky had quietly told them at dinner the previous night about Syd’s confession, and her reason for not being well.
Sky sighed. “I wish I could be so sure,” he mumbled. “She was pretty pissed at me last night.” Looking down at his watch, he winced. “It’s time to go.”
Z nodded and kissed Bridge before moving to the shuttle. Sky gave Bridge a nod and turned to go in, only to be stopped by a voice. “SKY!”
The Red Ranger spun around and smiled, catching the pink blur before it barreled into him. He held her tightly, his spirits lifting; she’d come to see him off.
“Come home soon, okay?” she mumbled, fighting back tears as she looked up into his beloved eyes.
“I love you,” he told her, cupping her cheek. “I’ll be home for Christmas, I promise.”
“I’m holding you to that,” she smiled right before he leaned down and kissed her.
Bridge and Z shared a look before Z cleared her throat. “Time to go, Lover Boy.”
Sky and Syd pulled apart. Syd had to bite her lip as she moved to snuggle into Bridge’s brotherly embrace. Sky took a deep breath, winked at her and moved with Z into the shuttle.
“Don’t worry, Syd, he’ll find a way to be home by Christmas,” Bridge assured her.
“I know.”
--
Sydney lay on her bed, numb. Bridge was on Z’s bed, having been given a sedative by Kat and Dr. Felix. There would be no Christmas miracles this year, or for a long time to come, if she was honest with herself. Z and Sky were dead, their shuttle having been destroyed after an intense dog fight in space. They had never made it to their destination and they’d never be coming home. Both Bridge and Jack had lost their battle with their emotions; Bridge had been given the sedative and Jack had gone mute before falling into a restless sleep at his and Ally’s apartment. Sydney hadn’t let it all sink in, until she’d gotten Bridge situated in Z’s bed, that her sister and the man she loved were never coming home.
Blinking through a fresh round of tears, Syd wrapped Sky’s comforter from his bed, which she’d snatched at some point, around her and headed to the common room. Grabbing a pillow from one of the couches, she curled up on the floor by the Christmas tree. Her eyes fastened onto the ornament about half way up that Sky had placed on the tree just days before he’d left. It was a beautiful glass bulb that had been hand-painted with the likenesses of each member of their team. Written in careful script were their names and the words Forever B Squad.
The soft melody of one of Sky’s favorite Christmas songs floated around on the air, making Sydney tremble. It was Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill. It was an older pop song, but it still struck a chord with her. “You promised, Sky! You promised!” she cried into the pillow.
--
Christmas morning dawned rainy and gray. It had been five days since they’d lost Sky and Z. Syd didn’t want to even roll out of bed, let alone be awake. Sighing, she tried to stretch and found the blankets heavier than normal. Opening her eyes, Syd felt her stomach drop out on her. Staring back at her were Bridge and Z; Bridge was smiling as he held a sleeping Z.
“Oh God!” Syd gasped. Looking over the edge of the bed, she saw Jack sound asleep on the floor. The Pink Ranger tried to get up, so she could jump on Z and smother her in a hug, but felt an arm tighten around her waist as she moved. She swallowed and rolled over, her eyes filling as she took in the sleepy blue eyes of the Red Ranger. “Sky?” she squeaked.
He grinned and reached up to touch her face. “When I make a promise, I keep it,” he chided gently.
“Oh Sky!” Syd cried out before his lips found hers in an emotion laden kiss.
“Get a room!” Z called, making Syd laugh against Sky’s lips.
“Welcome home Z!” Syd called, her voice coming out a mixture of laughter and crying.
“God Almighty! Don’t any of you have any decency for people who are sleeping?” Jack groaned, sitting up. Four pillows few at him, smacking him. “HEY!”
--
Cadets chatted with Z about her and Sky’s mission. Bridge and Jack were showing the newly arrived Ally the Christmas decorations. And then there was Syd and Sky. The Red and Pink Rangers were on one of the couches. Sky sat cross-legged with Sydney curled in his lap, her head resting against his shoulder. One of her arms was wrapped around his waist while the other was fisted over his heart. Sky had both arms around her, one hand at her waist and the other caressing her hip and thigh.
“So how did you guys survive? They said they found traces of the shuttle everywhere out there,” one of the lower level cadets asked.
Sky grinned. “Believe it or not, the original Lost Galaxy and Space Rangers came to help with the Astro Megaships,” he informed them. “But because of what had happened, they thought it best to keep the fact that they rescued us a secret until an investigation could be started.”
The Red Ranger felt his heart crack when Syd started trembling in his arms. He tightened his grip and kissed her forehead. He knew it would be a while before she got over nearly losing him. While the pair sat, someone turned on the stereo. Sky smiled when he heard one of his favorite Christmas songs, Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill start.
“I love you Sky,” Syd murmured against his neck.
“I love you, Sydney. Merry Christmas,” he whispered before they kissed softly.
END
There are more stories (for other couples) in this series Kim's writing, but I'm only posting this one here. Feel free to follow this link, and read the rest of them. The link will open in a new window.