Legal: I do not own Power Rangers or the associated characters, names, places, events etc. Anything not covered by the above rights should be considered purely the creation of the author.

Rating: T – Mild adult themes and language

In a restaurant deep within Silver Hills, the Time Force team were taking one of the few rare occasions they all had time off together to go out and celebrate. Far from any normal time, this was one of the few that they had all ben granted at the same time, so that Jen could have a bachelorette party.

She was sitting in a booth, talking to Katie, gently caressing her slightly swollen stomach. It was now four months since she had returned to the past from her mission to Turtle Cove to track the Mutorgs. She had been deeply affected for a while by her brief reunion with her beloved Wes. For a while they rekindled what they had once had, but in the end, she had been forced to return to the year 3000. One of the most strongly enforced laws in Time Force was the outright ban on leaving any person, or any technology in a time it didn't belong. Time had already been changed as a result of their actions in the past, and everyone was paranoid about the potential for catastrophe should history be altered.

Lucas had just finished another dance with Nadira, kissing her softly, and came over to the bar where Trip was sitting slugging yet another beer. He had been in something of a mood for a while now.

"You know it is a party." Lucas reminded him. "Traditionally people are meant to have fun."

"Usually people have a party to celebrate." Trip added bitterly. "I don't see anything to celebrate here do you?"

Lucas just gave him a little smirk. Nobody liked Alex, least of all Trip. For some reason though, his disdain for their superior officer had become even more obvious and outspoken. These days, he didn't hide his dislike of him from anyone, not even Alex. He had been pulled aside and spoken to about his attitude a few times now since he had gotten back together with Jen.

"Look, I don't like the guy either, but it's Jen's choice." Lucas reminded him. "Come on, can't you just drop the attitude for a little while? Come on, it's her bachelorette party."

"He's no good for her!" Trip snapped. "You know that!"

"Jen can look after herself." Lucas put down flatly grabbing Trip's arm. "Jen doesn't have a whole lot of friends, that's why we're here. How we feel about Alex doesn't matter, we're here to support Jen."

"Let me go." Trip hissed.

"If I buy you a large Jack do you promise to at least not act like an asshole for one toast?" He asked him. "For her sake?"

Trip looked away and bit his lip. He hated to think of the fact that Jen was going back to Alex. He had tolerated the relationship the first time because she was a friend. She remembered him with rose-tinted glasses, remembering only the good and noble traits about him. Unfortunately her love for him had blinded her to some of his less admirable traits. He was cold, he was bossy, he was a bully, and most of all, unbeknown to her, he could be cruel. Trip had seen the way he treated the other cadets at the academy. While he had taken Jen under his wing and treated her softly, earning her love, he had treated most of the others at best with a brutal, overbearing harshness, and at worst with outright brutality. Trip had himself been on the verge of quitting the academy several times because of Alex's attitude.

"Trip!" Lucas snapped as the bartender arrived with the drinks he had ordered while he was lost in thought. "Are you going to be cool or do I need to call you a cab?"

"I'll hold it together." Trip told him, taking his drink as they headed to the table.

"Hey, another round for the blushing bride!" Nadira announced as they arrived with the tray of drinks, sitting down. Everyone other than Jen and Trip had champagne. Lucas figured given his obvious problems with Alex that he could do with something stronger, while Jen, due to the pregnancy, was settling for lemonade. Katie, her Maid of Honour stood up, tapping her glass.

"Alright, I guess I'm the one who has to make the speech." Katie announced. "We all know why we're here. We're all here to wish Jen well on her upcoming wedding. I don't think any of us could have believed it when she got back together with Alex, but given how blessed they've been, the miracle they've been blessed with..."

Jen giggled a little as Katie patted her belly. Lucas noticed Trip shifting uncomfortably in his seat, and kicked him under the table to remind him of his promise.

"...and the speed with which they've rediscovered their love and agreed to marry again, I doubt anyone could think of anyone less deserving of happiness." She concluded, raising her glass. "To Jen and Alex!"

"Jen and Alex!" They all chorused, taking a drink. All except for Trip. He just stared into his glass, his expression one of complete disgust, like someone had asked him to drink his own urine. Jen finally noticed it, and put down her glass.

"Trip, what's wrong?" She asked him.

"He's had a long day." Lucas assured her, giving him a hard glare. "I bet he's just tired."

"Don't make excuses for me." Trip replied putting his glass down and sliding it away from him.

"Trip..."

"I'm sorry Jen, I can't drink to that." He interrupted her. "I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a liar."

"Trip!" Katie shrieked.

"I'm sorry, but I can't sit back and pretend I'm cool with this!" He snapped. He threw some cash on the table to cover his share of the bill. "Sorry Jen, but I won't be at the wedding."

"Trip, stop!" Jen begged him. "Please, you're one of my best friends, it wouldn't feel right if you weren't there."

"But it isn't right, is it Jen?" He snapped back. "We both know that don't we?"

She recoiled in horror as she realised what he meant.

"Trip, why are you being such an asshole?" Lucas asked as he got up, grabbing him roughly. "You've had a chip on your shoulder for weeks now." Trip tapped the crystal on his forehead with his finger.

"I'm Xybrian remember? Sometimes knowing what people think isn't a good thing." Trip answered, before looking back to them. "Don't any of you see it? Can't you get what's going on?"

"Trip, that's none of your business!" Jen told him.

"It is Alex's business though." He replied. "He has a right to know."

"A right to know what?" Katie asked them. "Trip...?"

"Think about it Katie, don't you think it was a little strange how quick they got back together?" He asked her. "How quickly Jen announced she was pregnant?"

"Trip please..."

"You can do what you want with your life Jen, I can't stop you, but Alex has a right to know and you know it." He told her. "The baby isn't his. It's Wes'."

With that, he turned and stormed out of the bar. Jen felt her tears beginning to fall as the others turned to stare at her at the revelation. She had hoped no one would find out, but in hindsight that was unlikely when one of her best friends was a Xybrian. Her hands cradled her stomach protectively as she broke down and wept.