Chapter 1: 7 PM

"About time you two showed up." Sky scolded his former leader as Jack and Ally finally arrived, just before 7:30pm. Z and Sydney rushed in from the kitchen when the doorbell rang and the sound of familiar voices filled the foyer.

"Good to see you too." Jack replied smartly as a blur of pink engulfed him in a big hug. "Syd!" he exclaimed, happy to see the girl he dubbed his little sister and now shared a birthday with. Despite the fact that they didn't live too far away from each other, their lives were busy enough that they didn't see each other nearly enough.

'Although after living together at SPD for two years, it took some getting used to not living with each other anymore', he mused. The five of them hadn't become close friends as quickly as most ranger teams, but Jack thought there were no other rangers he would have rather served with. They each had their own talents and abilities that made the team better.

Even Sky, who had no intention of ever becoming friends with his teammates, had ceased fighting the inevitable a long time ago. When they were sent for SWAT training was the first time he realized that they were a team and needed to work as a team. Now he couldn't imagine his life without them. Especially Syd, he thought with a smile taking a moment to look at his wife. At first glance it was easy to get distracted by her beauty and not see the gentle, kind, and thoughtful woman that she was underneath.

It had been a year ago that they had become husband and wife. And to celebrate their anniversary she wanted all their friends, old and new to be there with them. Because it made her happy, he agreed and was looking forward to seeing their friends again as well.

"Who would have thought that you would have been the first to get married?" Jack teased as Sky gave him and Bridge the tour of the house.

"Speaking of which, when are you and Ally getting married?" Sky responded, grinning at the discomfort of the former red ranger. Out of all three SPD couples, Jack and Ally had been together the longest.

"You need to get out more my friend; you're starting to sound like Syd." Jack retorted just as the doorbell rang, saving him from answering Sky's question.

"Dana, Carter, Good to see you again." Sydney greeted warmly as she embraced the former light speed rangers.

"Thanks for having the party." Dana replied as they come into the foyer. "Yeah, it's been a while since we've seen everybody." Carter agreed with his wife.

"Carter." Sky said as he came down the stairs to meet his guests. He quickly introduced the Grayson's to the rest of the SPD team plus Ally. Carter followed the three men into the game room while the girls sat to enjoy a drink.

It didn't take long for the Tate house to fill with rangers. It seemed like every time Sydney sat down the doorbell would ring, so she decided against sitting until everyone had arrived.

Syd was the perfect host; Z decided watching her best friend greet everyone as they arrived. Even if she had just met some of the newer rangers, she was able to become quick friends with each one as she welcomed them into her house.

"I see Kim and Tommy aren't here yet." Jason joked to his former teammates and the Zeo rangers. Their teams were some of the few that still lived in close proximity to each other. The original red ranger and Kat lived down the street from Tommy and Kim while Adam and Tanya Park lived a few streets over. Billy had inherited his dad's house and shared it with Rocky, an unlikely pair of roommates but they surprisingly got along just fine. And Aisha and Zach, the only two single members of the first ranger teams still lived in Angel Grove.

"Give them a break, with four kids and Tommy, Kim doesn't have a chance." Aisha remarked with a laugh.

She was a bit in awe when the original power rangers team entered her threshold. Not one to be left speechless for long, Syd quickly greeted them and escorted them into the house where the group separated into conversations by their former colors. Syd and Kim had a great deal in common she came to find out. Both were underestimated by their size and their color, but all their teammates would say that they were the glue that kept their teams together.

"Not to mention, we got the big bad leaders to fall in love with us." Kim declared with a fun smirk. Sydney raised her glass to her new found friend.

"So Jack, when are you going to marry that girl?" teased Sydney as she sidled up to her former teammate in the unoccupied kitchen. She had gone to retrieve some more chips, but when she saw Jack she took her chance to catch up with her 'brother'.

"You're not the first one to ask me that tonight." Jack replied lightly, wrapping his arms around the petite girl. "Hey if Sky could get through the proposal and a wedding so can you." She encouraged him. "So what are you waiting for?" She questioned more seriously this time. If had been anyone else, he would have shrugged it off with a joke but instead he found himself answering, "I want to make sure I'm ready. Save up some money and get a house."

She understood his need for security, having spent most of his teenage years living on the streets. "That doesn't matter to Ally. She loves you." She spoke softly but firmly.

"Anyway, let me know when you do decide to get married. I can help Ally plan!" chirped Syd happily, changing the mood of their conversation. "You'll be the first to know." Jack promised with a smile.

"Man, there's enough food to feed an army." Rocky DeSantos commented as he joined the group, his plate piled high with delicious appetizers.

"Or a Rocky." Billy chimed in with a glance at Rocky's plate. "Seriously, is there any food for the rest of us?" wondered Aisha shaking her head. "Some things never change." She concluded with a smile and headed for the food before Rocky devoured it all.

"Let's find a seat." Cole went to usher his wife to a comfortable spot but the former white wild force ranger protested. "I've been sitting all day Cole. I want to see everybody." She complained quietly as she looked around at the familiar faces, old and new.

"We'll stand for a little while," he conceded, "But after that everybody will have to come to see you." Cole compromised, worried about Alyssa and the baby.

"I love you." Alyssa said softly reaching up to kiss her considerate husband. "I love you too." Cole responded. "You too." He added, touching his wife's round belly.

"Cole, Alyssa." Danny called out as he and Max spotted them from across the room and quickly made their way over to the couple. "Hey guys." Alyssa said cheerfully, happy to see her old friends. Danny and Max spent most of their time traveling, but they had made it back for Cole and Alyssa's wedding a few years ago.

"You look different." Max said aloud before he realized what he was saying. Danny shot his friend a look of disbelief as he bent to hug the petite girl. "She looks pregnant." He corrected with a smile. "You look good Alyss." Danny finished as he moved to shake Cole's hand.

"And how's the father to be doing?" Danny Delgado asked the former red wild force ranger. Cole had always been over protective, but he seemed to be smothering Alyssa. But as was her nature, she patiently accepted it.

"Any day now." Cole admitted worried, gazing down at his wife lovingly.

"Where are they?" Vida demanded anxiously, ready to go back to Briarwood and find her sister and Nick if that's what she needed to do.

"Relax V; they just walked through the door." Chip explained, pointing out the couple in question. The pair wore matching smiles as they made their greetings to Sky and Syd and introduced themselves to many unknown rangers. They had heard of them of course, but to meet them in person was exciting.

"What took so long?" she muttered, relieved that they were here and that her sister appeared happy, but still worried because of what happened earlier at the Rockporium.

"You know Maddie doesn't like surprises V. Nick was acting strange and he didn't want to lie to her." Chip decided thoughtfully about his two friends. Nick was going to propose at the party, but seeing a shiny diamond on Madison's left hand told Chip that he already had. He pointed out that fact to Vida who was relieved.

"You think we should make them wait a little longer?" Ronny queried Mack as they sat in the jeep catching up on the last few months.

"No." Mack decided quickly. She looked surprised at his response. "But only because I want everyone to see how beautiful you are." He complimented her, causing her to blush.

"And that you're with me." He added, as he helped her out of the jeep. They had stopped back at the Hartford mansion for Mack to change his clothes, not minding the detour because they wanted their friends to squirm for setting them up.

"You cleaned up really well yourself." She teased truthfully, noting the deep red shirt and jacket he had chosen to go with his dark jeans.

"I'm really glad they did set us up." Mack admitted with a smile as they pair walked hand in hand up the walk to Sky and Syd's house. "Me too…" Ronny whispered with a grin.