Chapter 7: Feeling the Fluttering Butterflies

(Los Angeles, California)

In between during the past few months, the Rangers focused on their duties as Power Rangers, traveling back to Angel Grove for some intensive training, and also balance life. Thankfully, by the time the end of their first year of college ended they were homeward bound back to Angel Grove. At UCLA, Virgil finished packing up the rest of his boxes in his dorm room with Aidan and Shi-Ann's help. The two of them flew in a few days earlier and stayed with Virgil helping him pack up for the summer. They spent the last few days discussing about Virgil's feelings for Rosaline. Ever since they got their powers, the relationship between Virgil and Rosaline drastically changed. Everyone knew the two of them had romantic feelings for each other. However, the problem was neither Virgil or Rosaline didn't want to admit it.

Virgil recalled the last time he saw Rosaline was when she surprised him while she was in town for the national showchoir competition in LA. He hung out with her and Christian during the duration of the competition and even watched his friends perform despite only place fifth after the second round of competition. He wished he could kick himself for the awkward farewell after Rosaline and Christian had to head back to New York. Unfortunately, an instant video chat with Christian once his friends returned to Julliard made him realize he was totally into the young Rosaline Oliver.

"Alright guys let's haul this stuff downstairs," Virgil replied to Aidan and Shi-Ann, "My uncle Carlos is outside waiting for us." They picked up the last of the boxes and made their way outside the entrance of the dormitories. They spotted Carlos' truck and loaded everything in the trunk and started the long drive back to Angel Grove.

"So do you have everything?" Carlos asked as Virgil nodded. He took it upon himself to make sure his nephew and his friends got back to Angel Grove safely. "Okay then let's get this show on the road."

"Another summer at the boarding house huh?" Shi-Ann smiled.

"Last summer you surprised us by suddenly speaking fluent English without us realizing you understood us," Aidan joked.

"If anyone asked me if I understood English instead of assuming I only spoke Cantonese," Shi-Ann replied, "Then I wouldn't have spent the last year and a half picking up on the language. Besides, I did learn English back in Beijing and the Ranger Compound back home is run in English by the Ninja Storm Rangers."

"Just like old times all being under the same roof again," Virgil added, "So Billy gave the word and us Twilight Denizen Rangers are under direct orders to train in Angel Grove. So everyone I assume is taking up residence at the boarding house?"

"Dude why don't you just ask us is Rosaline already back in Angel Grove," Aidan teased. "Hey Carlos, do you know that your nephew here fancies Rosaline?"

"Are you serious? You're crushing on the daughter of Tommy and Kimberly? Two of the greatest Power Rangers of all time?" Carlos smirked as Virgil blushed embarrassed with everyone in the car teasing him. "I figured it out when you made her that gift basket for Christmas and filled it with all of her favorite stuff, including a copy of her favorite movie Cold Mountain. You even got her favorite top three books all by Nicholas Sparks."

"Yeah I even remember you kept on instant messaging me asking me for Rosaline's book list," Shi-Ann teased a bit. "Sensible Virgil, he's a little hopeless romantic."

"Bloody priceless have to sit for the next four hours in the car listening to you people tease me. Somebody please shoot me," Virgil mumbled shaking his head. "I'm not going to hear the end of this."

"Virgil come on lighten up you know we're just poking at you," Carlos said. "I know you like her and she has a thing for you too. What seems to be the problem?"

"I don't know there's something about her that I can't shake," Virgil said timidly, "That week her and Christian were in LA for the showchoir competition...well let's just say I made a blunder of things there. I took out for a night out the town and we hung out like what most people do. I'm not sure how to deal with these feelings I have for her or if she'll be cool with a guy..."

"Oh...I see what you mean," Carlos replied. "The whole Juvenile delinquent past. I don't the girl personally but judging by your stories and how much you brag about her to the family, she wants to get to know the real Virgil Vallerte. That girl doesn't care about how you spent five months in Juvie for stealing a car, or anyone of your past misdemeanors. She was the first person that reached out to you the day you met your friends at Adam and Rocky's dojo."

"I remember the first time I met her," Virgil smiled, "She said everyone deserves a second chance. And she said fate has bigger plans for me than we expected." He smiled at that thought as they continued to drive back home to Angel Grove.

(Angel Grove: The Boarding House)

Back at the boarding house, everyone was settling into their rooms for the summer. Rosaline felt relieve to be back home for the summer and luckily survived her first year of college. Once they got direct word from Billy that their duties as the new team of Power Rangers required them back in Angel Grove, the ten new Rangers didn't hesitate. They all packed up and relocated to the familiar Hart Boarding House and jokingly told their mentors Tommy and Kimberly to prepare for another summer with a bunch of teenagers again. The threat of Thrax, Rita and the Progeny was slowly heating up as the encounters with the forces of evil began it's summer fest of monster appearances. Everyone arrived a few days back at the boarding, all except for Virgil, Aidan and Shi-Ann. Tommy and Kimberly let the other seven Rangers know that Carlos was driving their friends back from LA after they packed up Virgil's dorm room at UCLA.

It was nice being under the same roof with her friends, in particular Virgil. However, lately Rosaline felt the fluttering butterfly feeling in her stomach everytime she thought about the guy that was one of her best friends. Her parents could sense it while they were undergoing a new training technique they referred to as the blindfold exercise. Tommy came up with an unique training regime where he blindfolded the original potentials to test them on their reflexes and lack of eyesight focus. The purpose of this exercise was to test their senses and reaction time on blind and surprising attacks. Kimberly, Kat or Jason helped spot Tommy while they tossed objects at them or either attack them to work their reflexes and senses. Usually Rosaline was an ace at this but her parents could sense her game was off.

"Okay blindfolds off," Tommy ordered retrieving the rubber ball, "Apparently I think I nailed my daughter in the face for the third time already. Rosie, are you alright?"

"I'm fine dad and don't worry you didn't break my nose or anything," Rosaline said as they took off the blindfolds. "I'm just a little off today."

"It's probably because of that special phone call from Carlos about a particular Latino green Ranger coming home," Penny slightly teased her friend as Rosaline blushed with embarrassment. "You fancy him and it's a sodding damper neither one of you lots want to admit there's butterflies in your stomachs."

"Oh look Handsome our little girl is growing up," Kimberly smirked, "It's more than puppy love isn't it?"

"Gosh somebody shoot me," Rosaline moaned, "This is Virgil we're talking about. The same Virgil that once had a Juvenile record for stealing a car and the same one I've known for over two and a half years. Look there's nothing going on between us. It was nice a couple weeks back when we were in LA for the showchoir competition. I mean he's a nice guy, really sweet, took me out to all of the hotspots in LA before we got eliminated during the competition. I mean...the goodbye at the airport well...huh...it's good to know to have someone care about you like a little sister or good friend."

"That's why you were kind of pissy and agitated on the plane ride back?" Christian asked. "The little goodbye at the airport...he said he loves you like a sister. Oh boy that really spells out how that will keep things in the friend zone."

"Will you guys stop with the friend zone thing gosh!" she snapped frustrated. "Look all I know is things are a little awkward and with him and me under the same roof, it's just...oh somebody punch me please. Has it occurred to anyone that once again the world is in peril and you're just sitting here convincing me to open up about how I feel about Virgil. Do you want to know what the issue is?"

"Just tell him how you feel," Desmond answered, "Hey look at Penny and me. More than two years later we're still going strong. Just because the world is in peril doesn't mean it should stop you from being happy."

"Honesty it would be nice to go out for something like a cup of coffee, but he deserves someone more than me. It doesn't matter if he used to key cars in the past," Rosaline replied staring out at the lake, "I take a juvenile record...over living with the stigma of being damaged. I have unfixable issues and who in their right mind would want to date someone who used to be molested and sexually abused as a child by their uncle? I understand now the whole awkward moment at the airport and it's okay. I mean it's normal because Virgil deserves to be with someone who isn't tainted or messed up." Rosaline walked off leaving everyone speechless.

"Nothing but a little raging hormones to get a girl working huh?" Quincy teased as Tommy gave a glaring look at the young Ranger's slight sexual joke. "Okay...something not to taboo there."

"Quincy maybe now is not the best time for a bit of sexual comments," Tommy sighed.

"She never told me about that part," Christian said questionably, "Did...that really happen to Rosaline before? I mean...was she sexually abused as a child?"

"There are some things about our daughter she tends to keep to herself because it's her way of dealing," Kimberly added, "The thing about her uncle...it was a dark time in Rosaline's life. Still it feels like somehow it stops her from finding happiness with someone whose in love with her. She deserves it after all she's been through in her life."

(Angel Grove Business District)

It's been three days since the original potentials arrived at the boarding house. Tommy's parents took the children to the zoo for the day leaving him to spend some alone time with his wife. Billy summoned the new Rangers to NASADA to debrief them on the current situation with Thrax. They all needed to be on high alert since the attacks started up again during the yearly annual "Spring Monster Bash." However, the May weather was nice and refreshing as the couple walked near the pier.

Tommy and Kim were surprised walking down the business when spotted along the pier a familiar scenario that occurred a few years ago. In the center of the wooden bridge a caramel brown hair an eighteen year old girl was leaning against the side looking towards the water. Tommy recognized their daughter in an instant as it reminded them of the time a few years ago when Rosaline learn the truth of her paternity. However, not too far away and not noticing, Virgil was watching from a nearby distance Rosaline, but the couple noticed the young man watching their daughter from a distance.

"There's something about going to places with water nearby," Virgil added looking at the couple, "Rosie said it's something she inherited from her parents. It's calming and for a moment she says she could be at peace with herself. She tells me there is something down in the water that's why if she could think of any place in the city to go to it would be here because next to the lake, the pier must mean something. She came out here a lot because it was her way of letting her thoughts drift away."

"She came out here the first time after she found out the truth of her paternity," Tommy quietly murmured. "Something tells us you're out here the same reason she is."

"I'm guessing you know? I mean...it's kind of uncomfortable for me to talk about my feelings towards the parents of the girl I like. However, at the same time I feel calm talking to you two because frankly this one of those times you feel like you need the opinions of an experienced couple in love. I'm nineteen years old and I'm trying to understand what it's like to be in love with someone, despite the flaws that comes with it. I don't know if asking her out for a cup of coffee is will be enough."

"It's a start, somewhere to break the ice with," Kimberly slightly smiled, "If you're in love with someone or if you have feelings for them act upon them. Do you think it stopped Desmond and Penny from revealing to each other how they felt? Those two thought Kenji's death prevented them from letting what their hearts desired. Kenji's wanted two of his close friends to be happy and not let the world get in the way of their heart's desires. Do you think being a former juvenile delinquent that got involved with the wrong crowd and did time for keying cars will stop Rosaline from liking you? Everyone has insecurities it's a normal thing. If you think the things you did in your past is stopping you from telling that young lady how you feel, she's going through the same dilemma and insecurities as you."

"Oh...you're referring to the thing with her uncle right?" Virgil asked timidly. "That's a gray subject she hates to taboo about. Still it eats away at her despite Rosaline not wanting to admit it."

"She's in the same vote as you pal," Tommy added, "If you think our daughter will have problems with your juvenile delinquent past then think again. She thinks you'll look at her differently because she's a victim of child molestation and sexual abuse. You know the story what it was like for her when she was a little girl going through that for four years and wondering if something was wrong. It affected how she forms long term relationships with the people close to her."

"Wow it's like our minds are transparent aren't they?" he chuckled.

"Virgil, as parents of a concerned young girl who is in love with a boy who thinks won't love her back I want to ask," Tommy said looking at the young man curiously, "What are your intentions with our daughter? Do you care about her deeply? I respect you for what you're doing fulfilling your duties as a Power Ranger. However, when it comes to Rosaline the last thing Kim and I don't want her to feel is heartbreak. She's already had one hectic life as it is and all we care about is our daughter's happiness. If you care about our daughter the way everyone else has explained it to us...then let that girl know how you feel."

"Tommy, Kimberly with all due respect I want to make it known to the both of you that I care deeply for your daughter. I promise on my life that I will never do anything to hurt her or disrespect her. If it's okay...I like your consent to possibly ask your daughter out."

"Well we got ourselves a respectable suitor for our daughter don't you think Handsome?" Kimberly slightly teased. "There's a nice girl out there waiting for you to pour your heart out. So loverboy...time's a ticking." Virgil smiled as he took a deep breath and slowly made his way towards Rosaline before Tommy stopped him.

"Hey Virgil a little warning," Tommy sternly said, "With regards from one father: you break our daughter's heart, I'll break your neck and as the first evil Green Ranger, I'll guarantee that. You better take care of her."

Meanwhile, Rosaline leaned against the railing of the wooden bridge near the pier. She stood there for awhile trying to collect her thoughts, especially trying to work out her feelings for Virgil. A few minutes later, she felt Virgil's presence nearby as she turned around and met him halfway in the middle of the bridge. The two of them stood slightly apart from one another.

"Congratulations, you found me," Rosaline smiled, "You knew I'll be here right?"

"It's always a hutch to know you love spending time near the water. You talked about how it's calming being near the water just letting all the doubt and fears wash away with the tide. You come here because it kind of reminds you of Beaufort and this was the first place you went to after finding out about your paternity."

"I'm like a book and your the reader figuring out everything between the lines. Why are you here exactly?"

"I'm here because I heard through the grapevine that there was this girl who had this thing for a boy she knew for quite sometime," he said grinning at her.

"Mm-hmm," she answered knowing where this was going. "Okay Mr. Vallertes, please continue with the story."

"So from what I heard these two crazy kids were head over heels for one another. Every time they see each other they get the fluttering butterfly feeling in their stomach going. The guy used to brag to his friends about how special this girl was and how much this girl meant to him. However, like most lovestruck people in love he had some insecurities to workout. The guy was worried the girl would reject him because of what he used to be. He was worried that the shadows of his life would stop him from finding true happiness. His friends thought he's been tiptoeing around his feelings for this girl for far too long and encouraged him to find out what she feels."

Rosaline smiled as the two leaned on the railing staring out at the water. "So this guy what happened to him? Did he realize that this girl he was head over heels for had the same transparent mind as him? Because maybe this girl the boy liked also was going through the same thing." She asked. Virgil cracked his knuckles with a grin.

"It's kind of a coincidence, but also that's what happens to lovestruck people in love," he replied. "What happened with the girl?"

"Come to think about it she actually was in the process of sorting out her feelings. You see, the girl this particular boy in your little story also may have the same feelings for the boy. However, she too had a couple of shadows in her past and it worried her about how she could form relationships with the people closet to her. This girl was afraid she would spend the rest of her life being looked upon as a victim and worried that she was too damaged or unfixable to be loved by another. However, she realized something that just came to her."

"And what would that be?" he asked.

"The girl realized...she deserved to be happy with the person who holds her heart. She feels that no matter what this guy did in the past, she knows deep down he's a man with a good heart. She doesn't care about what people say about him but she's dying to know something." Rosaline replied looking up at Virgil sincerely. "She wants to know what's inside this boy's heart? What does he feel? Does he feel the same way for her?"

Virgil smiled as he took a step closer towards Rosaline closing the gap between them. Something inside of him swelled with renewed hope and passion as he reached out to take hold of her hand. For a few seconds he stared down at it before staring in Rosaline's eyes. With a smile on his face, Virgil leaned forward delivering a passionate first kiss which she willingly replied back. It was the first time the two of them finally came to terms with what they felt for one another through a kiss as they both pulled back afterwards.

"I've been wanting to do that for a long time now," Virgil smiled confidently, "So now tell me Miss Rosaline, what happens to the boy and the girl after?"

"Whatever they decide," Rosaline replied, "They're the ones who decides what happens next? So Mr. Virgil, where do they go from here?"

"Well he was hoping maybe they can start somewhere to at least break the ice. Maybe...a cup of coffee together can start it off?" He asked.

Without saying a word, Rosaline took a hold of his hand and smiled. "It's an ice breaker for a start. Hey...baby steps that's all I can say."