Author's Notes- This is in response to Ars Amatoria Ranger Romance Themes. I will connect all parts of this collection in a story format. So everything will move in a chronological order.

Couple- Sky/Z friendship and eventually Sky/Z romance

Disclaimer- I do not own Power Rangers and do not profit from the use of its content.

40 Moments to Where We Are

Album

It had been months since he'd last looked through the blue-leather bound book that was clutched so tightly in his hands. Disgrace and fear of broken pride had kept Sky from retrieving the photo album from its place on his nightstand. Inside were multiple pictures of him and the people he cared about mostly smiling and having a good time. At least those were the kind of images that filled the pages the last time he had looked through it. That was before A-squad went MIA. Before he had become the blue ranger.

For some reason Sky couldn't shake the feeling that if he opened the cover, the pictures would be far more grim. His father's smiles had more than likely turned into ashamed frowns at his only son's failure to be the best ranger. That was not how Sky wanted to see his father, and so the small album had stayed closed and unused for the past several months.

After discovering the truth behind his father's demise, however, Sky felt a great need to thumb through his past. If only he could open it…not that he wasn't physically able. It was just…just…so hard gather up his waning courage and confront the disappointment of the man he had idolized for so long.

"Hey, Sky, everyone's chipping in for pizza. You interested?"

He looked up at Z and shook his head. "I'm not really hungry."

She shrugged carelessly. "If you say so…"

The blue ranger looked back down at book in his lap blankly, and was surprised when a pair of black combat boots stepped into his line of vision. He had thought that she would just leave. He had wished she would just leave.

Z looked down at him quizzically. "What's that," she asked, her tone innocent.

"A photo album," was his simple, and he hoped dismissive reply. Instead the yellow ranger seemed to take this as invitation as she took a seat on the bed next to him.

"Look, Z…I'm really not in the mood to entertain anyone."

A thin eyebrow rose in amusement. "You're never in the mood to entertain anybody," Z said knowingly. "You'd rather sit in here by yourself all broody. And to tell the truth, it's very depressing to watch, and I don't like being depressed. So this is me not letting you be your lonely brooding self."

Z had a tendency to be stubborn when it came to being told to step down, so Sky decided against telling her to back off and returned to staring at the photo album. Several silent moments drifted by and Z kept shifting her focus between Sky's eyes and the book that shared their color.

"Are you gonna open that?" she inquired.

He shrugged. "Maybe."

Patience had never been one of her more polished virtues. "Well, my curiosity is peaked and since you can't seem to make up your mind…" said Z as she quickly snatched the book from his lap, "…then you won't mind if I flip through it."

It took Sky a moment to realize what had happened before he jumped to his feet in defense. "Z!"

"What?" she asked while shielding the book behind her back and out of Sky's reach.

"Give it back," he commanded urgently. The smile on her face only widened.

"Why? Is there something in here you don't want me to see?"

His back straightened past his usual perpendicular angle to the floor. No matter what, he was getting that album back. "It's personal."

A sly gleam entered the morena's eyes, and she brought a hand from behind her back to shake at him in playful reprimand. "Why, Cadet Tate, it's against SPD code A39 to have any form of indecent exposure taped or otherwise recorded."

The smug look on her face was answered with Sky commenting, "Actually it's code A28. And no, it's not porn." Z shook her head but tossed him the book.

"Figures. I should have known not to quote the SPD Regulations Manual against you. It's like quoting the bible in the in front of the Pope."

He gave her a dry look. "Very funny." The attempt to indirectly improve his foul disposition having failed, Z rolled her eyes.

"Come on. Lighten up, Sky. You know that offer for pizza still stands." A deep sigh then a shake of his head, and Sky returned to his earlier position on the bed.

Z watched his heavy movements. Pizza, she decided, could wait.

The mattress dipped with her additional weight. Z tapped a finger against the cover of the album. "Are going to show me what's in this thing or what?"

And for some unexplainable reason, Sky's hands easily opened the cover. In the next twenty minutes, he shared with that girl a past he himself was so unsure of.

To be continued