Obligatory disclaimer: I own nothing of the Power Rangers nor do I know who currently owns them. Any other questions?

"So that was it?" Rocky said. "That was how you met?"

"Pretty much," Dalla said. "I wasn't part of the team, so I didn't see much of them. Cestria on the other hand…"

The day after the war ended she burst into my apartment in tears.

"He's leaving!" she cried.

"Who?"

"Billy! They're sending him back to earth tomorrow!"

"Good," I said. "Then things can get back to normal around here."

"But he's leaving!" She fell onto the couch and put her head in her hands. My heart immediately went out to her. I had known for some time that she had feeling for him. He was all she ever talked about. Billy said this, Billy had this idea, guess what Billy came up with? It was aggravating, but I didn't' say so because I knew she cared about him.

So instead I sat on the couch beside her and gave her the best advice I could think of. "Have you told him how you feel?"

"No!" she screeched. "How could I?"

I shrugged. I didn't have much experience in this area. I'd never really been in love before. I was a linguist, but love wasn't a language I knew how to speak. "I don't know, just tell him."

"But he's leaving tomorrow!" she said. "What am I supposed to do? Declare my love for him? Ask him to stay?"

All I could do was sigh. Cestria leaned over and put her head in my lap. "Why didn't I say something sooner?" she said. "Why did I wait so long?" She was crying now, I could see the tears as they slid down her face, stain the fabric of the couch. "Now it's too late."

I put my hand on her head and stroked her hair, the same way she used to do for me when I was in the hospital.

"I'm sorry, Cestria," I said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"She didn't come to see me off the next day," Billy said. "She thought I hadn't noticed, but I did. But I was so glad to be going home,-" he shook his head,-"I don't know what I would have done, if she had said something then. I don't know…"

"You were meant to go home," Dalla said. "That's how it had to be."

Kimberly noticed the way she squeezed Billy's hand when she said that. He was looking down at the table, but he smiled anyway.

How can they talk about his first wife so casually? Kim wondered. Especially if Dalla was friends with her? I would think she'd be jealous that he still loves Cestria so much.

"So what happened then?" Kim said, though she already knew at least part of the story.

Dalla smiled and shifted in her chair. "The next part of the story is yours to tell," she said to Billy. "And I need a drink."

She stood up, waiting until she was all the way out of her chair before letting go of his hand.

How can he love her so much when he's lost the love of his life? She couldn't understand it. But she very much wanted to so she leaned in and listened as Billy started speaking.

I knew second chances didn't come every day, so when I decided to stay on Aquitar I wanted to do everything right. I made the arrangements with Cestro and the other Aquitian Rangers first. Cestro gave me a job in his lab designing computer software, and helped me get an apartment in Aquitia.

I was there over a year before I decided to ask her to marry me. The funny thing was, once I'd made the decision, I only had one fear. Dalla. We'd never gotten along well. It wasn't that I didn't like her, more that I was afraid of her. She had one hell of a temper and didn't hesitate to unleash it over the smallest thing. And she was very protective about all her friends, especially Cestria. Whenever the three of us were together I always felt her watching me, sizing me up, waiting for an opportunity to find some flaw with my plan.

But over that year, things changed. Her brutal stares became impatient comments and misplaced sarcasm. I noticed the attitude change, and knew something was wrong. What I didn't know, was why. That is until Dalla decided she needed to tell me.

I answered the door, thinking it was Cestria come early for dinner. I remember laughing, because usually she was running late, having had some last minute inspiration on a test she was running and lost track of time making notes.

But when I opened the door it wasn't Cestria, it was Dalla.

"What the hell are you playing at?" she said.

I shook my head. "I don't know what your talking about."

"Well I would be happy to spell it out for you in all one hundred and forty-seven languages that I know," she said. "But seeing as you've wasted enough time already why don't you just explain to me what your problem is."

It's funny, I've fought monsters, intergalactic beings, traveled to multiple planets, had my mind taken over I can't tell you how many times, and never in my whole life have I been more scared than I was with that woman standing in my doorway.

"Why don't you come in and we can talk about it," I said backing away.

She stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind her.

"What is this about?" I asked.

"Cestria."

Another fear hit me then. "What's wrong with Cestria?"

She took a step toward me and I automatically took two backwards. "You do realize that I'm the one who has to listen to her moan and gush over you. Every day I see her fall a little more in love with you, and every day I wait for you to make your decision, and still you don't. It's been a year, a whole fucking year, and still nothing. So I need to know, what are you doing here?"

"I'm still not entirely sure what you're talking about," I said. I had a good guess, but I wasn't about to get myself killed over the wrong response.

Dalla sighed and let out a long string of Aquitian that consisted mostly of words not suitable for mixed company.

Finally she sighed. "All right," she said. "I'm apparently not making myself clear." She gave me a look like she was suddenly unsure of who I was. "I'm using my words correctly right? I mean, I am speaking your language."

At first I thought she was being sarcastic, but then I realized she'd come here with a purpose, prepared herself, thinking that if she spoke more common English the way I did it would be easier. But she was a linguist, and perfection in language was her job. The fact that her plan had backfired was just making the situation as frustrating for her as it was for me.

"You're words are fine," I said. "You're just not telling me your point."

She sighed again. "You're going to have to forgive me," she said. "The only people I get to practice my English with are Delphine and Cestro, and quite frankly, they suck at it."

I laughed at that, not just because it was true, Cestro's English left a lot to be desired, but because it was obvious she had no idea if she was using the slang terms properly. She'd always spoken proper English around me, perfect grammar, no slang, no double ententes; I'd never even heard her make a joke before.

"As opposed to you, who's mastered the art of using the word 'fuck.'"

Her hands went over her mouth. "Oh, I didn't say that right did I?"

"No, I think you did."

We were both laughing then. I gestured to the table, which was already set for dinner. "Why don't you start again and tell me what it is that you want."

She sat down and leaned on the table, choosing her words carefully. "Cestria," she began. "She loves you, very much. She talks about you constantly, she loves working with you, she loves being with you, she…"

Dalla broke off, thinking and I knew she was trying to phrase her words better. I felt a little guilty because I'd left my translator at the office and I thought this might have gone a lot smoother in a language she was more familiar with. I also felt bad because I'd never thought of offer letting her practice her English with me. Cestria spoke English quite well and I spoke enough Aquitian by that point that we rarely had trouble understanding each other. I'd simply never thought about it before.

"But you," Dalla continued speaking slowly, measuring each word with care. "You are different. You left your home planet, left everything behind, you're family, your friends, everything. You say it was for her, but yet you sit here without her. You haven't..." She broke off thinking, then waved a hand in the air in frustration. "I don't know the word."

She thought for a second, but I was pretty sure I knew her meaning. Then she said it. "Tarsheva."

"You want to know why I haven't married her yet," I said. Tarsheva was the Aquitian name for their bonding ceremony.

"That's it," she said. "Marriage. I can't believe I couldn't remember it. That's so odd. I even looked it up. Marriage." She spoke it softly the second time, like a mantra. I knew she'd never forget the meaning again.

"Would it help to tell you I was planning to ask soon?" I said carefully.

"What is soon?"

"The Moon Festival next month."

Dalla smiled. "That's her favorite time of year."

"I know," I said. "I have the moonstone already. Would you like to see it?"

Her smile widened. "I'd love to."

I got up and ran into the bedroom where I'd hidden it. I pulled the smooth black stone from the drawer and carried it back to her. I held it out and she took it almost immediately. She rolled the jewel in her hand several times then held it up to the light, letting the multiple natural faucets of the gem make it glow from within.

"This is a very good quality," she said. "I think she'll love it."

At that moment the front door burst open and Cestria came in like a gust of wind. Dalla barely turned in time to hide the stone in her hand behind her back.

"Cestria!" she said.

Cestria closed the door and looked at the two of us suspiciously. "What is going on in here?"

"Billy bought you a present," Dalla said with perfect conviction. "He wasn't sure if you'd like it so he asked me to come see it first."

Cestria's face lit up. "You bought me a present?" she said. "What is it?"

I looked down at Dalla's hands, still behind her back. She opened her palm slowly, the moonstone glowing black in her hand.

"It's a surprise," she said. "You'll have to wait and see."

"Oh," Cestria said. She looked down, disappointed and I swiped the gem from Dalla's hand.

Dalla stepped forward and put her hands on Cestria's face. She spoke in Aquitian, but I understood the words. "Don't worry, moonchild. You will love it."

I don't really know what came over me, but when Dalla stepped away towards the door I stopped her.

"Wait," I said. I stepped up to Cestria. I held out my hand and opened it slowly for her to see.

She gasped as she looked down at the small black rock. I knew she would know the meaning right away. There's only one reason you give a woman a polished moonstone on Aquitar.

"Billy," she said.

"I don't really know how you do this on Aquitar," I said. "But-"

"Fereme tarshal," Dalla said.

I turned to her in question. The words sounded Aquitian, but I didn't recognize them. But she just repeated them. "Fereme tarshal."

She tilted her head toward Cestria and I suddenly realized what she was doing.

"Fereme tarshal," I said.

"Devando perdal."

"Devando perdal."

Cestria put her hand over mine, covering the moonstone with her palm.

"Devandia perdal ava tarsheva."

The silence hung in the air as I waited expecting something more from Dalla, but all she did was lean forward a bit and say in an exaggerated whisper. "She said yes."

The next thing I knew Cestria had her arms around my neck and was kissing me hard. Neither of us noticed when Dalla slipped out the door without another word.

"That language is so beautiful," Kimberly said. "What does it mean?"

"Tarsheva is the word for the Aquitian equivalent to marriage, but it literally means waterspirit. Everything is connected through water to them so when I said-"

There was a crash and a shout from the bar and they all turned to look. Skull was standing in front of Dalla, who was clutching her arm to her chest.

"Shit, I'm so sorry," she said.

Billy was on his feet in an instant and went to Dalla's side. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Kimberly jumped up to follow him, watching carefully not to step on the glass.

"It was my fault," Skull said. "I backed right into her. I must have knocked the glass out of her hand."

"I'm fine," Dalla said.

Jason appeared then with a broom in hand. "Okay," he said. "Everyone step back, we'll get this cleaned up. Kat, get the first aid kit."

Billy was already leading Dalla out into the hallway. Kimberly saw Tommy disappear around the corner after them. Kat came around with a small red first aid kit in her hand and Kimberly stopped her.

"I'll take it to them," she said. Kat simply nodded and handed the box over. Kim hurried around the corner but didn't have to go far. They'd stopped only a few feet down the hallway, Dalla leaning back against the wall while Billy held a towel to her hand. Tommy just stood back helplessly.

"Here," Kim said opening the box. "I can take a look if you want. I'm a nurse. If it's too deep you may need stitches."

She held her hand out towards Kimberly, who took it gently and cleaned and dressed the wound with bandages from the kit.

"You got dizzy again, didn't you?" Billy said.

"I'm fine," Dalla said firmly.

"I just-never mind." Kim saw Billy giving her and Tommy a wary glance.

"Just say it, Billy," Dalla said sharply.

Kim was done bandaging the small cut and stepped back. Billy took the bandaged hand and sighed again.

"I just think maybe we should rethink the baby thing, just until we can talk to Cestro."

"Twenty-three years," Dalla said firmly. "Twenty three years I've put up with the doctors and the tests and pain. Being told I wasn't going to live another six months much less be able to get married or have a family. In all this time this is the only thing I've asked for. I can't go back now."

"But if you're sick-"

"I'm not sick. If I was sick again I'd know. This is nothing." She ran a hand through Billy's short hair. "Stop worrying so much. It's fine."

"You're having a baby?" Kim asked in an attempt to break the tension.

"We've been trying six months," Dalla said.

"That's great," Tommy said.

"Yeah," Billy said. His voice was still a little hurt but his eyes softened as he looked at Dalla. "It's great." He smiled and Kim knew the tension was gone.

"You asked about the translation of the marriage proposal," Dalla said.

"Everything is about water on Aquitar," she said. "Even love. The speaker says, 'Take me by water, I give you my heart.'"

She cut her eyes to Billy. "And the response:"

They finished the words together, "My heart freely given by water of life."

For those of you who might be wondering WTF is up with Tommy there's an explanation written on my profile page. There's also been some concern expressed to me about people who may not be familiar with the Dino Thunder series. More details on that are also on my profile. I'm only marginally familiar with PRDT myself and since this takes place four months before Dino Thunder I don't think you need to worry. However, if you would like me to post a brief summary of the series in the notes of a future chapter please let me know. (or I suppose you could just Google it)

Feed my ego, write a review!