Saying goodbye is the hardest thing any man, woman or child will ever have to do in their lives. As Conner McKnight stood above the grave stone alone, staring down at the marker, the tears fell like the rain above. He fell to both knees, hands clutching at his slicken brown hair as he tried so hard not cry, but he did anyway. His body shook, not from the icy rain, but for the fact was beginning to realized… that this was real. Marietta Moore, his one true love, is dead and she's never coming home to him.

He let out a spiteful, defiant scream to the sky as threw his arms down, fists clenched. The tears fell faster and harder as blood began to seep out from behind his fists. The agony hit him harder then any evil villain could ever hope to and this time there wasn't anyway to fight back. There was no villain to destroy or any kind of happy ending. She was dead… and that is all there is too it.

As his scream died away, Conner felt two arms wrap firmly around him and instinctively he could the hands tightly. Kira knelt down behind him, the tears shimmering in her eyes as well. "Conner… don't do this… don't do this to yourself." She whispered as he reached out for the grave but she grabbed his arm and slowly pulled it back. "Conner, please stop… Don't blame yourself for her death…"

"S-S-She d-die… p-protecting me…" He sobbed and clutched his head again. Kira pulled him closer now, feeling his body shake against hers. Their fearless leader had been reduced to a child and she felt completely and utterly helpless. There was nothing she could do or say that would help him feel better. Kira felt her own heart break as she continued to watch the shaking Conner. God, why did this have to happen? This wasn't supposed to happen to Power Rangers! Power Rangers were supposed to save the ones they love… not cry at their gravestones. They were supposed to protect humanity, not watch it die…

"Conner." Kira looked up to see Hayden standing there. His entire right arm was bandaged from hand to shoulder and in the left he held a rather large umbrella. The wound he suffered from the fight with Conner… "Conner, it's time to go…"

"I-I don't want t-to…" He sniffed and rubbed his eyes hard, drying the tears. "I don't want to leave…"

"Conner, you're going to catch a cold if you stay out here any longer. You're not good to any of use dead…" Hayden counter and crouched down, gazing at the tombstone. "Come on Conner, we can come back another time."

Conner looked over at the Gold Ranger, searching his eyes for a moment. He didn't show it, but on the inside, Conner knew Hayden was still broken up over Marietta as well. He had watched her die in his arms… He'd seen the worst of her death… to see the last breath leave her body. The tears returned as he nodded and together, all three stood. Hayden handed the umbrella to Kira and together, they walked back towards the '05 Charger that was parked under a tree.

Hayden watched them go a moment before looking back at the gravestone. He did not cry for he had no more tears to shed. He merely stared at the tombstone, wondering if perhaps things could have been different he'd just kept his gem? Hands jammed into his pockets, he thanked his lucky stars that he was even standing here. God knows that Conner could have killed him so easily… It was only after Hayden woke up did Tommy tell him that the other Rangers arrived before the final blow could be struck. One left hand reached up, clasping his right arm gently. Of course, they weren't exactly fast enough, considering he'd gotten a rather bad wound anyway… but this he could live with.

Turning away from the tombstone, he paused again and looked back at it once more. "Yah know Marietta, Conner loved you like no one else before." Hayden said to no one, bringing a hand to his lips as he rubbed them a moment. "Where ever you are… I hope you managed to find some peace. God knows that Conner never will."

Finally pulling away from the tombstone, no one say the short man that watched from the bushes. A clawed a hand raised to his head as a twisted grin spread across his lips. With a flick of his wrist, he was gone…

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A/N: A Short, quick interlude that was merely meant to wrap up the end of The Power Candles series and let you know what happened. As you can see, Conner was able to forgive Hayden for what happened… but it took an ass kicking to do it. Do enjoy and I hope it was written well enough