Note to all Fran fans: on Youtube is a video called "Fran the Frantastic". But before you look it up, let's check out Fran's reaction to the events in "Welcome to the Jungle II" as the second third of this fluff epic begins. All I own is the plot bunny, mind, not PR or Youtube or the video or the song featured in the video. I also don't own the name Kazul. 'Kazul' belongs to Patricia Wrede while PR belongs to Haim Saban,

Final note: I am pathetic. Not a single date ever & I'm plotting to become the fluff queen.

Twenty-one

Friends: RJ and Fran discuss some details that need worked out

Late one afternoon found Fran waiting out by the back door of the JKP. While tidying up the house that afternoon she had realized something and need to confront RJ about it. Note the 'needed'. Fran's stomach was in turmoil over what could happen. She wanted to be anywhere else but needed to be here.

Need. She needed RJ, period, the end. She also wanted him. She also loved him.

Fran leaned against the cool bricks of JKP's back wall, raising her head to the violet sky above. She sighed, "I'm doomed."

Fated. There's a difference.

"Doomed, fated," Fran muttered to Kazul. "It's all the same to me since RJ doesn't return my feelings."

I wouldn't be so sure, Kazul sniffed.

At last RJ came out the back door, still dressed in his uniform, hauling a garbage bag. Distracted, he didn't see her as he made his way to the dumpster and tossed in the bag. Keeping her voice light Fran commented, "I thought that was what employees are for!"

Turning to her, RJ smiled. Just seeing Fran re-energized him. And after the long day he had had, he needed her all the more.

Wait. He needed Fran?

Duh, sniffed his wolf spirit. Actually, double duh.

An extra bounce in his step RJ walked over to Fran. Sticking his hands in the pockets of his orange mini-apron he asked, "You okay, Fran?"

Fran looked up at RJ. "Not really."

RJ freaked. The mantis monster had hurt Fran more than he had supposed? Good thing Casey had figured out how to morph and save Fran… otherwise he would have been out there himself if another thirty seconds had elapsed.

"The monster hurt you?"

"What? No?" Fran shook her head hastily. "The Red Ranger saved me. Sure, my arm is a little sore but that's it."

Gently RJ reached and touched her left arm, the one closer to him. Very tenderly he started to massage it.

"Better?"

"Uh-huh," Fran nodded dreamily. RJ's touch was warming and melting her. Then she remembered why she was here. The look in RJ's eyes after she had said 'not really' and the growl in his voice when he had questioned if the monster had hurt her made Fran know she was being sillier than usual but nonetheless she needed to know.

"To Lily, Leo, and Casey- why did you call me 'best customer'?"

RJ had to smile. Theo would not be happy to hear that misstep.

"It's Lily, Theo, and Casey. But two and a half out of three isn't bad."

"Oh," Fran squeaked, blushing bright. She had known that. But RJ's soothing caresses of her arm were making her brain malfunction more than usual.

RJ cocked his head at her. "Besides, you are the JKP's best customer."

Fran felt wounded, and jerked her arm out of RJ's hand even if it hurt on so many levels.

"But I thought we were friends too."

RJ could see the brimming tears in Fran's eyes. Ashamed of causing them he leaned in and gently kissed them away.

Here, in the violet twilight and shadows, Fran felt safe as RJ wrapped her up in his arms. She even felt loved. But was it the kind of love she needed and wanted from RJ?

Closing her close, RJ murmured, "Oh, we're friends, Fran. But that can't be everything we are. Friends don't do this."

And RJ kissed her. Fran's heart flew. Giddily she returned the kiss, happy that it fully occupied her mouth. Otherwise she would have started on a ramble that would repeatedly include three little words that would cause an explosion larger than RJ's Mount Kilimanjaro pizza experiment this morning.

As they kept kissing, Fran found that her hands were unbuttoning all the buttons on RJ's white chef's shirt. Fran tried to catch her breath and organize her extra-chaotic thoughts but RJ didn't seem to want to help her in that regard- especially as he put his hands on her hips to draw her closer to him. So Fran just kept unbuttoning the shirt.

When all the buttons were undone Fran drew back. RJ whimpered. Fran was more than a friend- she was his mate. And wolves mated for life. But what was Fran?

Gently she placed a finger on his lips when he tried to move in.

"Not yet," she scolded him gently, and then she removed his outer chef's shirt, leaving on his white under shirt. She tied the shirt around her waist. Brushing back her hair, she smiled coyly up at RJ.

"Now where were we?"

His eyes wide with stunned hope, RJ instigated their fifth kiss. With a blissful sigh Fran started to explore the muscled, totally hot chest barely concealed by the undershirt. Despite the deepening violet light they kept their eyes closed to enhance their other four senses .

RJ limited his skimming to Fran's lower torso and her back; Fran had no such limits. She explored his torso, what she could reach of his back, his neck, his arms, his hands… anything she could reach on his upper body.

They gained fresh air in short bursts, so that it felt like one never ending kiss rather than a constellation of long kisses. The mood shifted from playful to passionate, from innocent to intense, from chaste to possessive in instants. In RJ's thrall, Fran reached up and explored his mussy brown hair, then slid her hands down to feel his sandpaper rough cheeks. Deepening the kiss, RJ reached up his hands to brush against Fran's softly warm cheeks before his fingers delved into Fran's wavy brown hair.

They shifted even closer together, fitting together perfectly. Her arms wrapped around RJ's neck Fran decided that she and RJ needed to 'confront' each other more often.

Regretfully RJ pulled back at last.

"The trio will be coming back from shopping fairly soon. They've been gone a while now."

Fran just nodded, amazed by her ability to remain upright. Then again, she was still being held up by RJ. Resting his forehead on hers, RJ whispered heatedly, "A pity too."

Fran's eyes widened. She rambled, "I really like you- well, more than like- but that's not overly important right now. What's overly important right now is that I, uh, I, um, I can't barely stop from kissing you 'cause you are the best kisser RJ. Actually I can't really say that since you're the only guy I've ever kissed but you're the only guy I've ever wanted to kiss so don't worry about THAT. Er… where was I? Oh, right, well, I and you kissing is like wow and something out of a romance novel but right now I'm not sure if I'm anywhere near ready to try out second base, let alone third base or a home run. I know first base pretty well by now thanks to you and I have an idea what second base is and home run I have had the birds and the bees talk but I've always wanted to know- what is third base? It's between second base and home run, I know, but what does it entail? And why is it a sports metaphor? I bet a sports lover and not a girl lover came up with that. We should come up with a new metaphor- one that involves food because we both love food. Speaking of that-"

Thankfully RJ told Fran right then, "Breathe, Fran."

Fran breathed, more deeply than she really needed to. But she had been about to tell RJ that she loved him. Eep.

For a minute they stood close together in the violet darkness, holding hands. Then Fran spotted something dark on the inside of RJ's wrist. Curious, she raised up his hand to get a closer look. Her eyebrows went up.

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you, RJ?"

It was a lightening-bolt tattoo. RJ smiled sheepishly.

Fran ran her thumb over it, feeling a surge of power. The symbol looked familiar, but Fran couldn't yet place it. But that it was some kind of symbol Fran had no doubt.

"What is it?"

"A lightening bolt?" RJ joked, a clump of brown hair falling across his forehead. Naturally Fran used her free hand to brush it away.

"RJ," she warned him.

"It's martial arts related," RJ admitted, shifting his weight. Fran realized that he didn't want to tell her about it. She looked away.

RJ grabbed her hands, suddenly afraid that she would leave and not come back."

"It just feels like bragging to talk about it," and he smiled hopefully. "You know how much I hate that."

Fran had to smile her agreement. RJ refused to enter any restaurant competition. He felt that his food and actions should speak for himself. Fran frowned pensively at him.

"That important, huh? You're that good at martial arts?"

"Well," RJ blushed; Fran could slight see that much in the now violet-black shadows. Extracting a hand from RJ's grip Fran mock-punched in the arm.

"The Power Rangers should recruit you then," Fran teased. "I mean, who'd be better to defend Ocean Bluff? I wonder where their headquarters is…"

As Fran continued to ramble RJ looked up at his loft, a rueful smile on his face. His cousin had been stressing that he should join his new cubs as a warrior and not just a mentor but RJ wasn't so sure.

Seriously he told Fran to breathe. Once she had caught her breath he requested simply, "Could you help me keep an eye on my new employees? I think I'll need help with them."

Fran couldn't know about the Ranger half of the trio, but that would make her help all the more valuable with the JKP half of the trio. Fran rubbed noses with him.

"All you need to do is ask, RJ, and I'll do what I can."

"Thank you, Fran," RJ smiled. There was no doubt now in his mind. Fran was his mate. No one other than his mate would he have made a request for help so easily to. But with Dai Shi back, could he risk trying for a happily ever after when the world's fate laid partially on his shoulders?

Waving good-bye, Fran called back, "See you tomorrow, RJ!"

RJ waved good-bye.

Meanwhile Kazul and RJ's wolf spirit exchanged pleased nods. Stage one of their plan was complete.

Once Fran was out of sight, RJ turned to go back inside. Then he paused, and laughed.

Fran still had his outer shirt.