Happy New Year's, everyone!
This is the Penultimate chapter.
But now, Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers... if I did, Merrick and Alyssa would've gotten together for sure!-
Alyssa bit her lip.
This must be her twelfth gift…. and she was nervous.
She still didn't know who her secret admirer was, but that wasn't gonna stop her from enjoying her final gift.
Only, one thing did stop her.
It was still Christmas Eve, and she wasn't sure why her secret admirer didn't want to wait until tomorrow.
As she walked into the park, where she'd been asked to be, and where most of her gifts had been, she heard something close by.
She frowned and walked up to it.
As she walked, the sound got louder and far more defined…
And it sounded like drums.
"Twelve Drummers Drumming." Her mind jumped to the conclusion as she saw the sight before her, gifted by the moonlight, and a waterfall.
It might not have looked like drummers, but the water was hitting rocks that bounced onto a bunch of pads that were making the drumming sound.
"Wow…." She breathed out.
What surprised her was a sudden voice coming up to her from behind.
"I might not have Eleven Pipers Piping, Ten Lords-a-Leaping, Nine Ladies Dancing, Eight Maids-a-Milking, Seven Swans a-Swimmin', Six Geese a-Layin', Five Golden Rings, Four Colly Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, or a Partridge in a Pear Tree… but I knew I could try to do Twelve Drummers Drumming."
Alyssa turned to see Merrick standing behind her.
He then smiled softly at her.
"Surprised?" He let out.
"You… you've been my secret admirer?" She gaped.
He nodded, "Yeah… since I had gotten my sixth gift, I wanted to try it with someone who means a lot to me… and…. That person turned out to be you."
"Really?" Alyssa smiled, then blinked, "You've wanted to do this just for me?"
"I wanted my 'Special Friend' to have a Secret Admirer." He breathed out, a small smile coming to his face as he actually chuckled.
"Wow… your hard work puts all my gifts to shame." She relented offhandedly.
Merrick blinked, "You mean that?
"I bought all of those gifts… all because I didn't wanna think of the anything strange six days ahead of time…"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Merrick's eyes went wide before his cheeks went pink.
"Well… uh…. Well…" He couldn't find the words to say, but, he did ask, "Why?"
Alyssa sighed, "I… guess it's because I didn't want you to feel left out… Christmas is a time to be together…"
Merrick nodded, "And I get that now… do this… sure most of the gifts were hard… but I actually enjoyed seeing your reactions."
Alyssa smiled, "Thank you."
Merrick shook his head and walked up to her, "Thank you. If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have found the fun in being creative, live alone have enjoyed seeing how happy you were… it was enough for me."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Alyssa smiled a little more before she noticed how close they were to each other.
Going off on a crazy limb, she slowly reached over and pulled him into a gentle hug.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
He blinked at the feeling before he slowly returned it, relaxing a little as he did.
"You wanna know the best thing about doing this?" He whispered softly in her ear.
"What?" She whispered back.
"I got to share so many incredible moments with you." Merrick let out as they pulled apart, "Moments… that I never even thought possible."
Alyssa smiled softly, "Same goes for me… I'm so glad I got you those gifts… and I'm so grateful that you let me experience all those events with you."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Merrick was grateful it was getting cold… cause her words were making his cheeks heat up.
"Come on… it's getting cold… and there's something I want you to see…" Merrick led her under the waterfall, where a slight campfire was going.
"Thanks…" She let out softly as Merrick and she sat by the fire to keep warm.
"Welcome." He replied, then sighed softly, "Alyssa…. Listen…. Later today…. I… I want you to promise me something, and you need to keep it."
"Anything." Alyssa nodded.
"You can't tell anyone I'm your secret admirer… or….." He wanted to tell her… he really did, but, he bit his lip and looked down at the last second.
Luckily, Alyssa wanted to tell him something too.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"I like you… Merrick." She informed him, "I really do."
Merrick blinked and looked up at her, "You what?"
"I like you… a lot." Alyssa went on, "I don't know when it actually started…. But…. I know I've liked you for a while now… I just… I could never find a way to tell you."
Merrick raised a brow, "Why not?"
"Because I thought you loved the Princess….. she clearly loves you and…. I can't get in the middle of something like that." Alyssa answered.
"Alyssa…" Merrick gently put a hand to her cheek, "I like you too….. not the Princess… only you."
"But… what if-"
"I don't care what she tells you." Merrick cut the white ranger off, "I like you… no matter what. Okay?"
She bit her lip, then nodded, "Okay."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Merrick silently tended to the fire, until Alyssa said something surprising.
"I was reading a story earlier last month… called The Snow Queen… basically, it said love can thaw a frozen heart." She informed him.
Merrick glanced down, then scoffed a bit, "I guess that's what you did with me then."
"Well… I know you like being a lone wolf, Merrick…. And…. I'm okay with that." She went on, "You don't have to change if you don't want to."
Merrick looked up at her in complete surprise, "Did you really just say that?"
Alyssa nodded, "Yes."
"Alyssa…" Merrick glanced down at his hand again, "I don't like change either… and there's a lot of reasons why that I just… I can't tell you…. Not yet…."
"Why not?" Alyssa asked gently.
"Because I'm not ready." Merrick replied, "I don't think I ever will be ready… but…" He looked up at her, looking right at her eyes. "I want you to know that I really like you… and I am honored to both call you my great friend, and teammate."
Alyssa smiled before she gently hugged him, "And I am honored to call you my teammate…"
Merrick pulled her into a crushing hug, refusing to to let her go, as he also refused to cry.
##########################################################################################
The two had fallen asleep together, and by the time they'd woken up, the sun was beginning to rise.
"Come on… I better take you back to the Animarium." Merrick gently took her hands as he led her out of the cave behind the waterfall, and out of the clearing.
"Why don't you stay there for today?" Alyssa advised.
Merrick shook his head, "No. I'll be by the Animarium to play the song but-"
"Taylor's gonna try to convince you to come to the Animarium anyway." Alyssa reasoned, "You should stay up there…. Just for today…"
Merrick smiled, "Alright… I'll tell Willie I'll be gone…. Mind if I bring Deeg?"
Alyssa shook her head, "No. Go ahead."
Merrick smiled before they reached the Entrance.
"I guess I'll see you later then." He decided kindly.
With that, he let her hands go and walked away.
But the one thing remaining on his mind was.
"I just want to tell her, how much I love her."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Honestly, Alyssa was thinking the same, "I wish I could just say I love him…"
So close... but can they really admit their feelings?
Find out Tomorrow, in the Swang Song Chapter.
In the meantime, please review... and please no hate!