After Rico's release, the rangers heavily agreed to take some time off. They were currently relaxing and playing in the park, giving each other some breathing time and unspoken bonding exercises. While the boys played soccer in their messy triangle, Emma sat off with Gia silently watching them play.
Gia laughed softly beside her. "They're having so much fun," she said. She glanced over at Emma, and added, "I bet Rico would've liked playing with them." Emma smiled a bit and nodded. Gia looked back to the boys, and to no surprise, Troy was jogging towards their bench.
"The boys volunteered you to play with them." Troy told her as he grabbed a water bottle.
"And by boys you mean Jake?" Gia said with a raise of her eyebrow.
"Yes."
Gia laid a warm hand on her best friend's arm. "You're the strongest person I know, Em." And with a sisterly kiss on the cheek, Gia stood up and went over to the boys.
Troy looked at Emma, who looked at the soccer game with hollow eyes and too many swallows. He quietly took a seat next to her.
"She's not wrong, you know." Troy said in the start of his effort to comfort her. Emma gave her small smile and nodded twice. So Troy wrapped an arm around her and held her closer.
After a moment Emma said with a light voice, "I miss Rico so much."
"We all do, Emma." Troy said gently. His arm was softly latched around her tinier body, Emma noticed, and she felt comfortable in his grip. Safe…and comforted… "And it was really brave of you to set him free," he added.
Noah came over as Troy did and grabbed a water bottle. "Yeah. Everyone should be free. We should all choose our destiny," he told her as Troy nodded in agreement. "And you helped him do that.
Emma swallowed again. "Yeah," she whispered. "I'm happy for him…"
And as she wiped a stray tear away, she felt extra thankful for Gia's sisterly love, Jake's goofy smile, Noah's support, and Troy's security around her.