Disclaimer: Once again the Power Rangers do not belong to me, they belong to Saban/Disney. Ugh, I've said that so many times I think I'm hearing it in my dreams.

Author's notes: Thanks to IvyDraken, my inspiration. Thanks also for all of the awesome support and reviews – please keep them coming!

Making Up

Rocky walked into the apartment and found Adam sitting on the couch. "Where have you been?" his roommate asked.

"Nowhere," he replied, walking into the kitchen. Ok Rock, just relax. You've started a million conversations with Adam before, it's not that hard. Just start a conversation.

He needn't have worried. Adam followed him into the kitchen. "Rocky, we need to talk."

Rocky took a deep breath. "I know." He turned towards Adam. "I'm sorry I was such an asshole this morning. You didn't deserve that, you were just trying to help."

Adam looked back at him, his brown eyes filled with guilt. "And I'm sorry for being an asshole for the past two months."

"No," Rocky said. "I appreciate that you were trying to give me space. It may not have been what I needed, but I didn't tell you that."

"But I should've known!"

Rocky sighed. "Adam, you've got to learn that not everything is your fault. We've both changed a lot in three years. So we can't read each other's minds anymore, so what? I should've told you what was going on. I'm sorry."

Adam looked at him worriedly. "Did you mean what you said? About the blue ranger being my best friend? About our friendship being past tense?"

Rocky shook his head. "No. Not at all."

"Good. Because I have something to say." He took a step forward. "Rocky, you're my best friend. Not the blue ranger, you. You always have been, and hopefully you always will be. You saved my life, in more ways than one. I wouldn't be the person I am, at the place I'm in, with the opportunities I have, without you. And right now, I know one thing more than anything else – I don't want to lose you." He looked at him pleadingly. "I love you."

Rocky smiled, moving forward to embrace his best friend. "I love you too, Adam."

Adam let out a breath of relief, holding onto him tightly. "You really scared me this morning."

"I'm sorry. It's been harder than I thought to lose the power."



"And you were right when you said I don't know what that's like." Adam sighed. "But I'm about to find out."

Rocky pulled away, looking at him strangely. "What do you mean?"

Sitting down, Adam told him what had happened in the Power Chamber that afternoon. When he finished Rocky looked at him incredulously. "Zordon's making you give up your powers?"

"And choose someone else to take them."

Rocky sat down across from him. "I'm sorry, Adam. I know how much being a ranger means to you." Adam nodded, but didn't comment. "So who are you going to choose?"

The green ranger sighed. "I don't know. I know this sounds incredibly self-centered, but who's good enough to take the green powers? And it's obvious Zordon wants us to choose someone younger."

"Like Justin?"

Adam smiled. "I think I'll go a little older than Justin. I mean, he's a great ranger, but he's also a pretty unique kid. You don't exactly find intelligence like that in normal kids his age."

"You don't usually find intelligence like that in normal kids our age," Rocky replied.

Adam laughed. "Very true. Justin's pretty incredible."

Rocky took his best friend's hand. "I'm not gonna pretend it's easy losing the power. It's one of the hardest things I've ever had to deal with. But I'll be here for you, all the way."

Adam smiled. "Just like you've always been." He shook his head. "I just can't believe Zordon's making us do this!"

Rocky nodded. "It stinks. But as hard as it is to admit it, he's right. College is a much more challenging environment than high school."

Adam sighed. "I know. It's just…how am I supposed to choose a power ranger?"

"I don't know. But I'll help you in whatever way I can." Rocky took a deep breath. "As to where I was earlier? I went to see my mom."

Adam looked at him in shock. "You went home?" Rocky nodded. "Rocky, that's great! How was it?"

"Well, I got to meet my mom's new husband."

Adam gaped at him. "Her new what?"

Rocky smiled. "Exactly my reaction. He seems all right, though. Jack is his name. I suppose he's not so new – they got married a year and a half ago."



Adam was quiet for a few moments, then said the only word that came to his mind. "Damn."

"And Juan's really pissed at me for leaving. He went off on me and then wouldn't speak to me for the rest of the afternoon. Rosa was happy to see me though. You should see her, Adam, she's beautiful."

Adam smiled. "I bet she is. Did you see Carlos, Elana, Jessica and the twins?"

Rocky shook his head. "They were at day camp." He looked at the table. "But I think you should know I told my mom everything."

Adam looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Our fight, liking Kat, losing the power…"

"Whoa, stop right there," Adam said. "You told her you were a power ranger?" Rocky nodded. "Rocky!"

Rocky looked at him defensively. "Come on, Adam, I had to talk to somebody. And I didn't go there with the intention of telling her, but we were talking and everything just sort of spilled out. Besides, it's not like she's going to tell anyone."

Adam sighed. "I know. It's just…"

"We're not supposed to reveal our identities to anyone. I know that."

Adam looked at him. "We're going to have to alert the other rangers to the fact that she knows."

"I realize that, and I'll tell them." They sat in silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. Then Rocky said quietly, "I had to talk to someone."

Adam reached across the table and placed his hand over Rocky's. "I just wish you'd felt you could've talked to me."

Rocky nodded. "I know. I was an idiot. Both you and Kat gave me the perfect opportunity to talk about how I felt, and I ran away."

Adam gave him a confused look. "Both me and Kat?"

"Yeah. I ran into Kat on the bluffs this morning after I left the apartment. We had a little talk." Briefly, he summed up the conversation he had had with the pink ranger.

"So things aren't all sunshine and roses for the perfect couple."

"I guess not."

Adam gave him a searching gaze. "Are you going to talk to her?"

Rocky looked at him questioningly. "About what?"



Adam rolled his eyes. "About how you feel, you dolt!"

Rocky looked at him in horror. "I can't do that! Just because she's not happy with Tommy doesn't mean I should just barge in and try to take over!"

"That's not what I'm saying." Adam sighed. "Rocky, I've been watching this torture you since you met Kat. If you let her leave without telling her how you feel, you're never going to forgive yourself."

Rocky closed his eyes. "I know. It's just…I don't know what to say to her!" He shook his head. "I can't."

Adam looked at him thoughtfully. "Tell you what. Tommy and I are going rock-climbing tomorrow. Why don't you go over there? You can at least explain why you walked away today. After that, you can just go with it as it comes. If you end up telling her, fine. If you don't, at least you talked to her."

Rocky looked at him for a few moments before answering. "Let me think about it, okay? I mean, I do want to explain why I was such a jerk today. But…" He sighed. "Just let me think about it?"

Adam held up his hands. "Hey, I'm not trying to push you into anything. I just think it's a good idea, that's all." Looking at the stress in Rocky's eyes he decided it was a good time to change the subject. "So this kid in my karate class today…"

Rocky turned the idea over in his mind. He did really want to explain to Kat why he had just walked away. And after that I can just take it as it comes, like Adam said. Maybe I will go talk to her. But I'm not gonna think about it right now. He sat back to enjoy an afternoon of conversation with his best friend, something he had sorely missed.