Disclaimer: Yeah, not mine, sorry.
A/N: SSDD, man, another old chapter re-written as new. Hope you like!
After "Happy Birthday, Zack"…
Trini watched Zack as the others left; he was reading the card that they had picked out from Zordon and Alpha. As he passed, Trini caught Jason's signal. She knew she had a few moments before her friends returned with the second surprise, and she planned to use that time to talk things over with the outgoing but sensitive Black Ranger. Alone in the Youth Center, Trini walked over and gave Zack a hug, "I'm sorry that we went so far in keeping your birthday a surprise. I should have realized you wouldn't think of a surprise party." She said, letting her head rest on her friend's shoulder, offering him the physical comfort that they all craved from time to time.
Zack hugged her back, an equally lingering hug that told Trini she'd been right, "Apology accepted, Trini."
He stepped back and took a seat on the steps between the two levels of the center, as Trini watched; he drew his knees close and rested his crossed arms on top. "Need to talk?" Trini asked, crossing her arms and smiling at her friend gently.
"God, Trini," Zack replied, dropping his head down on his arms. Although muffled, Trini could make out exactly what Zack said next. "I thought I was going to die today. I know that you and Billy talked about making a will, but I didn't ever think it would go this bad."
Trini stiffened slightly, not today; she thought and sat beside him. As Zack looked at her, she put an arm over his shoulders, "Zack, its ok to be afraid. We've all had our moments." She paused for a moment, and decided to paraphrase her mother's nightmare speech; it had just the right inflection for this moment, "I'm just sorry you had to face yours alone. It can be very scary to realize that you're alone." Now, for the chance to mention something that Jason had asked her. "Do- do you want me to help you make a will? I still have the forms from when Billy and I did."
Zack sighed and leaned against Trini for a moment, "I should, I mean, I don't have any thing big to share, but…I'd like to leave them a letter, at least; to tell them why I chose to do this."
Trini hid her triumph under a soothing voice, "Not today," Trini said, her eyes flicking upwards as Billy, Kimberly and Jason slipped into the room, "today is about your birth." She nodded as Kimberly held up a water balloon, "and is a celebration of life." She surged forward, tumbling neatly before Kimberly, Jason and Billy creamed Zack with their water balloons.
Zack spun, startled. "Oh, it is on!" He yelled and leaped to his feet to chase the now laughing trio out of the youth center.
Trini shook her head, picked herself off the floor and went to find a mop before Ernie decided that they could never host a surprise party at the Youth Center again. After a moment, Jason appeared again with a trash bag and set to work on the streamers in silence. Trini sighed; it was going to be a long day.