I just wanna thank all y'all who reviewed last chapter. I really appreciate all your feedback and hope that you will continue to review as this story progresses.

Chapter Fourteen

She lay on her bed, face pressed into her pillow, thinking. What had she done? Kissing Xander that was something that Briana, in her right mind, would never have done. So, then, why had she done it?

Despite herself, Briana could not rid herself of the memory of Xander's lips. Nor could she forget how his hands had gently held her, as if reassuring Briana that he would not allow any harm to come to her.

Memories of Xander flooded Briana's mind; washing over her in a torrent, sweeping Briana off her feet in their mad flood. She recalled the first day they had met; how cocky he had appeared. The way his arrogant smile had made his lips look so amazingly kissable.

Oh gosh, what am I doing Briana's mind screamed. With a frustrated sigh, she rolled over onto her stomach and buried her face in her pillow.

More memories came flying through Briana's mind: when Xander appeared in the forest after Necrolai had attacked her, the time he'd saved her from Koragg, how he had tried to make her believe Udonna, the way he had held her during her breakdown, and, finally, the way he had kissed her.

With a groan, Briana closed her eyes and tried to will away the memories. But Xander's face was permanently etched into her mind's eye.

S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8

The forest was quiet. A peaceful, almost eerie sense blanketed the place as the trees blew gently in the wind. There was nobody about, nobody save Xander. He sat on the ground, his back against the trunk of an old withered oak. The look in his eyes could only be explained as sad, or possibly even heartbroken. His usual good-natured smirk was nowhere to be seen. Instead, in its place rested a frown of the most depressed nature.

So consumed in his thoughts, Xander did not notice the shadows that slowly crept behind him until it was too late. The Hidiacs grabbed him, and, throwing him against another tree proceeded to attack him. Outnumbered twenty to one, Xander stood no chance. Cuts opened on his skin and blood began to trickle down his face where a wound had opened on his forehead. Xander could have fought back, but instead he let the Hidiacs beat him until he could no longer feel the blows.

Drenched in sweat, Briana sat up in bed. Eyes wide with fear took in the familiar surroundings of Briana's bedroom. It had been a dream. Somewhere amidst her tossing and turning, Briana had managed to fall asleep.

She breathed a sigh of relief. Xander was fine. It had all just been a terrible dream. But Briana knew, deep down, that her terrible dreams had a way of coming inescapably true. What if this was one of those dreams?

Bolting out of bed, Briana hurriedly pulled on her shoes. She needed to find Xander, and fast.

S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8

Xander stared at the leaf strewn forest floor, his thoughts thousands of miles away.

Briana. What was it about that girl that drove him so crazy? Ever since he had first laid eyes on her, Xander couldn't stop thinking about her. And now, with the kiss they had shared just hours before Xander knew he was hooked. Never would he forget the sweet taste of her mouth, or the smoothness of her skin. Briana was like a perfect wine: once tasted you could never drink any other kind.

Running a tired hand through his already tousled hair, Xander sighed and leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree he was leaning against.

"Xander!"

He was pathetic. Even when she wasn't there, Xander could swear he heard Briana's voice.

"Xander!"

There it was again, closer this time, and just as real as her true voice. Then, out of the trees she came running, brown hair flying behind her in her haste to reach him. Her eyes met his and she smiled as if in relief of something. God she was beautiful, even if she was just a figment of his imagination.

"Oh Xander, you're all right." She cried, flinging herself at him. Her arms tightened around him in a very real hug.

"I don't know what brought this on love, but whatever it is I'm glad it happened." Xander smiled, awestruck that Briana was not part of his imagination. Briana pulled back slightly, taking her warmth with her. She looked deep into Xander's eyes, seeming to stare into his very soul.

"You know, if I weren't so happy to see that your alive I would have smacked you for that comment." She replied cryptically. Xander looked at her, his eyes questioning.

"What are you talking about, love?" He asked. Briana shook her head.

"You don't want to know." She said. "I'm just so happy you're ok." She threw her arms around him once more, catching Xander off guard.

A slow, happy smile tugged at Xander's lips and he held onto Briana tightly, never wanting to let her go.

S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8

Necrolai watched the couple from the shadow of the trees, a sneer on her black lips. She had come here, ready to attack the Rangers, but now she had something much more devious in mind; a devious plan that would completely ruin the Rangers and force the princess to join the Underworld once and for all.

S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8

Pulling away from Xander, Briana glanced over his shoulder to make sure that no Hidiacs would come suddenly bursting from the shadows. None did.

With a smile, she looked back at Xander, and became consumed in his eyes. Without thinking, without giving herself time to consider her actions, Briana closed the gap between them and pressed her lips against his. Why she was doing this Briana had no clue. All she knew was that she had been terrified of losing him and that, to see him alive was the best feeling in the world.

In an uncustomary move on his part, Xander pulled away.

"Briana, are you sure you want to do this?" He asked.

Her response was to merely capture his lips once more. And this time Xander did not protest.

S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8S8

So it's really short, but I hope you guys liked it. Please review and let me know. Hopefully the next chapter will be out soon. I already know what I want to write, it's just a matter of finding the time to sit down and write it. Anyways, let me know what you thought of this chapter.