And so we've come to the end of this fic. Just in time for the end of this year...it's kind of fitting.

I can't believe that this is done after three years of working on this thing. I never expected it to take this long!

I want to remind every one that even though this fic has come to an end, the story still continues in the next fic...there is much more story to tell and lots of loose ends to tie up!

I'm telling you, Mertmidnightangel is a freaking rockstar for getting this fic back to me before the new year! Everyone give her a standing ovation!

Ok, on with it, I'm about to get my party on!

One week later

At a Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Reefside.

Conner and Kira lay in a very comfortable bed, their feet tangled and just peeking out underneath the comforter. They'd had a week at the mountain resort, and had now made it back to Reefside. This hotel had come highly recommended by Tommy and Kim, and later on they would meet back at the house where it all began. Today, they would make an appearance to a very special birthday boy.

Kira was currently lying on Conner's chest, her messy hair sprawled out behind her. She giggled softly as her husband rubbed her back in circles. In fact, they both were feeling giddy, as they reveled in their post coital bliss.

"I love you, Kira," he said softly as he kissed her cheek.

"I love you too, Conner," she replied as she moved off of him.

He closed his eyes, silently wanting to go another round with her. But just as he was about to reach for her, his conscience reminded him of what Jason had said during the bachelor party.

He closed his eyes and lay back, making an effort to calm himself. Kira lifted her head up and looked at him.

"Everything okay, Jock?"

Conner smiled at her. "Yeah, it's all good. I've just become spoiled by you and I'm afraid I haven't been looking after you like I should have been."

Kira gave him a confused look. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Conner turned on his side, kissed her softly and pushed a stray tendril of hair away from her face. "It's a piece of advice given to me by Jason…about losing control and then accidently going too rough on you. I mean, I know you're tough as nails, but-"

"You're afraid you've hurt me, with all the sex we've had."

Conner nodded, not meeting her eyes.

Kira moved over so that she was close to him again. "You've been amazing Conner. I've enjoyed all the sex and love making we've done. Trini spoke to me too during my party too. Apparently you reds have a major guilt complex and I get it, but you need to trust that I'd tell you if you hurt me or if you needed to slow down."

"And have I?"

"I won't lie…I'm a little sore, but a good kind of sore. It means that I've been completely ravished by my amazing husband. It's nothing that a good hot soak in that very big bathtub won't fix. In fact, I'm going to make it a priority when we go house shopping to make sure there is a big deluxe bathtub included…and if there isn't, then it will need to be installed after the house is ours."

Conner chuckled and kissed her again. "Okay, got it. A deluxe bathtub in our master suite, right next to my dream shower. I'll put that on the list. With a very sturdy towel bar." He grinned again at that reference. "I'll make sure that it's very steady and rock hard, like me."

Kira grinned at him. He was shameless lover, that was certain. She kissed him and moved on top of him again.

And then his cellphone rang.

Kira sighed and lay down on his chest again.

Conner glared at the cell phone again but then kissed Kira again as he reached for it. He looked at the digital display and saw it was Tommy's number. He growled but pushed the button to receive the call. "Yeah, this is Conner. Is the world being attacked again?"

"Conner?"came Kayla's soft voice. "Are you awake yet?"

Conner's eyes widened and he looked at Kira. "Yeah, Little Ninja, we're awake. What's up?"

"Daddy said you guys needed a wake-up call."

Kira lifted her head up from Conner's chest and glanced at the clock. "It is after 8 am. We promised to be at their house around 10 for breakfast."

Conner kissed her forehead and rubbed circles on her back. "Ok, we'll be there. You tell your daddy to keep to the bro code from now on and that we'll expect a gourmet breakfast too."

In the background he could hear Tommy laughing. "Got it. Bacon, eggs, pancakes and sausage." Then he was laughing again.

Conner looked ready to say something, but Kira kissed his lips and took the cell phone away from him.

"Hey Kayla. Good morning! Thanks for the wakeup call. Now we have plenty of time to get ready."

"You're welcome. See you later Kira!"

"Bye Little Ninja." Then she hung up the phone and gave Conner an amused glance. "What am I going to do with you?"

Conner gave her a mischievous grin. "I can think of a few things."

Kira rolled her eyes. "Come on Jock. You said you wanted to take good care of me. I could go for a nice hot soak in that big bathtub."

Conner sat up and stretched. "Okay, let me get the water running for you." Then he got up and walked to the bathroom. Kira sighed and stretched a bit more and slowly she got up. She was deliciously sore but she was thrilled about it. After another few minutes she reached over to the bed stand and picked up the scrunchie she'd packed and put her hair up in a bun. Then she got up and walked to the bathroom.

A couple of hours later

1992 Valencia Dr.

Kayla was all but vibrating with excitement as the red mustang pulled up the dirt drive. Conner pulled up the emergency break before he got out of the car. With a grin he walked over to Kira's side of the car and held open the door for her to get out.

And Kayla could wait no longer. With an excited grin she ran towards them. Conner saw her coming and knelt holding out his arms for her.

"Conner, Kira! I missed you!"

Kira joined in the hug as the parents watched them.

"We missed you too! Have you been holding down the fort?"

Kayla nodded. "I've been helping Daddy get things ready for you guys to go visit the hospital."

Conner gave her a serious look. "And are they ready? This is a very special trip today. We got to make it look good."

At that Tommy laughed. "Yes guys, everything's prepared. While you and Kira were away, the rest of us gave the bikes tune-ups and aired out the power suits. Then the bikes got a thorough cleaning and a power wash.

"And I helped clean the helmets inside and out." Kayla added. "Daddy even let me hold the Shield of Triumph."

"It's cool isn't it?"

Kayla nodded. "And heavy too!"

"Alright guys, that enough for now. It's time for breakfast, the heroes got to be well fed before they go grant wishes!"

Two hours later

Kira, in full Ranger gear, zipped up the back of Conner's suit. Conner turned and kissed her after she was done. Then he held out his gloves to his wife.

"This was so much easier when we could automatically morph into them. "

Kira laughed and kissed him again. "Yeah, I know. But suck it up buttercup, unless some cosmic force re-energizes our powers again, we'll have to do things manually from now on."

Conner scoffed. "Yeah, as if some mega-war is gonna drag us into the hero business again. What, is there some devastatingly huge alien armada out there in space that has their sights set on conquering our planet?"

Kira gave him 'the look'. "According to Andros, Space is huge, and our galaxy is just one of millions out there. It could very well happen."

Conner heaved a sigh. "Yeah, I know. Let's just hope that there will be another team of teenagers to fight them. I want us to live our lives not having to worry about another alien invasion or something."

Kira took the gloves from him and held them out for him to slip his hands into. Then she helped him tug them into place.

"I know, but we both know that evil never stays away long. When and if they need us, then we'll be at the ready to help them out. But for now, we'll focus on just living out our happily ever after. Okay?"

Conner grinned at her. "Okay Rockstar."

Kira kissed him again. "Then let's get outside."

Hand in hand, they walked out into the front yard where the bikes were waiting on the drive way. Conner grinned seeing his bike and kissed Kira's gloved hands before walking over to his bike and straddling it.

Kira walked up to him and took in the sight. "Damn, you look good on there. All fierce and handsome."

"I could say the same to you, my sexy wife."

"I could kiss you for that."

"Then don't hold back." He teased her and when she did, he leaned into the kiss and pressed into it a moment before he realized what letting the kiss continue would do.

He gently pulled away from her and took a deep breath. "Easy Kira, it's not a good idea to get me all excited while wearing the suit. I can't hide things as well as you can."

Hearing laughter coming from behind them, Kira slid back down and turned to see Ethan and Melanie. "He's got a point, Kira." Then he straddled the bike himself and caressed the handle bars. "I've miss this bike."

A second later, Tommy and Kimberly came out carrying the newly polished helmets. They paused as Tommy sat down on his four-wheeler and checked his gauges. He looked up at something Kimberly said and laughed, then he kissed her. A moment later Kayla walked out the door with Trent behind her. They both were dressed in dark jeans and he wore what looked like a t-shirt with their cosplay group name and logo on it. Kayla was wearing a smaller version of the shirt and it was tied up in the back to make it fit her better. Also, her hair was put up in pigtails and she wore what looked like brand new boots.

Kira looked on as the duo walked up to them with their helmets. "I guess you found a way to come along today huh?"

Kayla nodded. "Yeah, I get to be a helper."

"Yep, if anyone asks she's my little cousin that wanted to help out and meet the Power Rangers."

Kira giggled. "Well in Power Ranger standards she is your cousin. We're all in the Power Ranger Family."

Trent nodded, not fighting his own smile as he handed Conner his helmet. He kissed Kira one last time and then put the helmet on. When Kayla went to hand Kira's helmet over, Conner held his hand out and accepted the helmet for her. Pausing to let Kira check the loose bun she'd put her hair in earlier, he kissed her once more and lovingly put her helmet on, holding it still so she could close the snaps on the sides. Then with one last glance, she got on her own bike.

Behind them, Ethan watched with a dorky smile as Mel put the helmet on him. He reached out and touched her baby bump before looking up at her.

"Go be a hero, baby."

"Will do."

Trent stood in front of them now with a file in his hand.

"So, the boy your meeting, in case you guys forgot, is Joey Addison. He's turning 9 today. I checked in with him yesterday and he's having a rough time. He's been fitted with some artificial legs, but he's not taking to them very well. He's gotten very frustrated and only my reassurance that you're coming for his party today brightened his mood. His dad is a single parent, I have no idea where the mother is, but it takes one to know one. I'd bet my inheritance that she's long gone. He never spoke of having a mother. The dad's kind of skeptical about the rangers, but he tolerates his son's enthusiasm. Today could make or break his opinion on us."

Tommy nodded at this. "I'll handle the father. You guys just worry about the kid."

Ethan looked up at Trent. "What's your part in all this?"

"I can't join you guys in the suits today, my girlfriend and I are just liaisons to the Rangers. We're repping our charity cosplay group. The Make A Wish Foundation was going to fly their banner over this, but we were afraid that you guys would start getting snowed by requests from other hospitals and you'd never get to live your lives without having to visit hospitals all the time. This whole thing is being funded by my dad, and all you guys are here by choice. Cassidy is doing a story about this for the evening news, but since she's on our side, she's not going to press you for any details about your personal lives."

Trent paused and looked down at the file in his hands. "So, that about does it. We'll be meeting up with Cassidy in the parking lot of Haley's restaurant and then joining up with a police escort." At Conner's shifting on his bike, a nervous gesture he'd picked up in his ranger days, Trent looked up.

"Take it easy, Conner, these guys are on our side. After we took down The Klan, all the police departments all over the country started looking into their own departments and Reefside PD was the first to do so. My dad had a sit down with them, and he gave his assurance that you had nothing to worry about. The escort is all for show anyway."

Conner was quiet before he nodded in agreement. Kimberly walked up to him and squeezed his shoulder and the red ranger settled back on his seat again.

"That's about it, so let's get going."

30 minutes later

Little Joey sat next to the window in his wheel chair. In his lap was a thick blanket and a soccer ball. He hated that he couldn't play soccer anymore. He'd had big dreams of playing soccer and joining a professional team, but those dreams were gone now, he was sure of it. He'd never run again.

"Joey?" called his father. But the kid wasn't listening. Just around the corner came loud sirens…police sirens! He tried to lean as best he could and saw to his astonishment….the Power Rangers!

"It's them! That guy did it! He got them to come! I can see the Red Ranger in front. He's riding a motor-cycle!"

Joey's dad was next to him in the next minute.

"Unbelievable!" He muttered to himself. He'd never thought the rangers would actually show up. He'd only seen them on motorbikes once…and if these were cosplayers like he'd originally thought, there's no way they would have the funds to build exact replicas…not in the time since his son made that impossible wish.

"I told ya so!" his son said as he turned from the window.

His father took a deep breath and turned, forcing a smile. "Okay, let's get those prosthetics on!"

Joey sighed but did as his father asked. For a moment his high spirits sank…and his father noticed. Mr. Addison sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "I know you don't like these things," he said holding up one of the prosthetics, but what if you could run in these, you wouldn't have to give up those soccer dreams. You could play on a special team and everything!"

"It just feels so weird Dad, they're not my legs. I just wish that stupid bastard had just watched how fast he was going!"

Mr. Addison was shocked. "We don't use that word, young man."

"But you said it when you were talking to the doctor!"

Mr. Addison had nothing to say to that. He could remember that ugly conversation when he'd been told his son would lose both legs.

He sighed. "I know son, but grown-ups use that kind of language when we're angry."

"But I'm angry too!"

Before the argument could continue any further, a new voice spoke up.

"Being angry on your birthday…that's kind of a bummer."

Both son and father's head shot up to the door way. The red ranger was there in front of them! Joey's mouth gaped open.

The Red ranger was leaning casually in the door way with his arms crossed over his chest. "You're here already!" Joey's exclaimed.

Conner was grinning behind his helmet. "That's because by some miracle I've retained my super speed ability. I thought I'd lost it when we lost our ranger powers. The others will be up in here in a minute." He glanced around the room and his eyes landed on both the soccer ball and the boy holding the ball in his lap.

He pushed off the door way and walked over to crouch in front of the boy's chair. "I heard through the grapevine that a special birthday boy made a really big wish…to meet me. But you sure look like an even bigger soccer fan."

"I like you both…I really do. I used to be on a soccer team, but that jerk took away my legs and I can't play anymore. Since I can't run any more, I thought about you…and wished big to meet you."

Conner grimaced and reached out for the soccer ball. And the little boy handed it to him. "I get it, Joey. I'm a soccer fan too." He inspected the ball before tossing it in the air and catching it. "Before I became a power ranger I played all the time."

"You mean you're not space aliens?"

The Red Ranger shook his head. "Not all of us are. There are ranger teams who came from space, even way outside of this galaxy, but some of us humans became rangers too. But I didn't come here to talk about me. Happy Birthday Joey."

By then the rest of the rangers had made it to the room. The yellow ranger and Blue ranger watched from the door way as the Black Ranger walked into the room. Mr. Addison looked up when he came into the room.

"You're all here?"

The black ranger paused. "No, the white ranger, the good one, is at an out of state college. He had a big presentation to make that he couldn't get out of. But the rest of us are here to celebrate your son's birthday. The black ranger looked at the father. "You seem kind of stressed, anything we can help with?"

Mr. Addison sighed. "I don't know. My son isn't very enthusiastic about the artificial limbs. These will help him to walk again, but he's not willing to put them on."

"I don't like them Dad, they don't feel right."

Conner was on it. "I bet they do. I've never had to wear prosthetics before, but I've had to wear heavy ranger armor, and that felt kind of weird too."

Joey looked at the red ranger. "Really?"

"Oh yeah, the armor was kind of heavy, no matter what our technical expert said."

Joey was sucked into the conversation. "Is that what's on your back?"

Conner paused, not remembering putting the shield on before they left. Then he caught on. "Oh, this?" He asked sliding the shield off his back.

Joey nodded.

"Well, this was part of it. This is the Shield of Triumph. I had to borrow power from my team mates to activate it and access my battle gear, and it was like having to wear robot armor. I needed it to fight the big monster we were facing…and I couldn't do it with just my basic Dino armor. It's kind of like those limbs over there. Without it, you're kind of stuck in this chair."

Behind his mask, Tommy raised an eyebrow and looked at the father to see his reaction. His father seemed to watch his son with bated breath.

Joey seemed to think it over as he ran his hands over the surface of the shield. Conner hefted it into the boys lap for a moment. Several more minutes passed until finally, Joey looked up at the red ranger.

"I guess if you can wear that heavy battle armor then I can try that fake legs on."

Conner put a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "Ok, let's get them on and get the party started." Then, the red ranger backed away so that the father could put the wiry legs on. Behind him Kira hugged him from behind, having fallen in love with her new husband all over again. Conner grinned and patted his wife's gloved hands.

Several minutes later, Joey sat in his chair with the 'fake legs' on and his dad held out his hands to him. Joey hesitated for a moment and then took his dad's hand and slowly stood on the limbs.

They still felt weird. But slowly with his dad's help, one leg was put in front of the other and The Red Ranger stood in the door way watching. The dad helped him to the door where Conner held his hand out. "Look at you, walking! I bet you're going to be running on those things soon and then its soccer time."

Joey beamed up at his hero. "You really think so?"

The red ranger was nodding. "Yeah, as long as you keep going strong with your physical therapy and don't give up. I think you have a good chance of that happening."

Tommy looked over at the father. His eyes looked relieved and just a little watery. His chest was just about bursting with pride.

Joey was just about to say something, but his stomach growled. The red ranger chuckled. "I guess it's party time huh?

Joey grinned and nodded. "Can you help me to the party room?"

The Red Ranger looked at the dad. "Is that ok with you?"

The dad nodded looking grateful. "Yeah, I'll just push the wheel chair behind you guys."

At The Manor in Angel Grove

Conner and Kira sat before the fire in the living room. The party had been a blast, though they'd had to leave once Conner's stomach started growling. The father had thanked Conner profusely for all that had been done for his son.

There had been more than one surprise waiting for the birthday boy. The biggest one being that Trent had presented the father with a check via Anton Mercer that would pay off everything that the insurance couldn't cover for the hospital bills. The father had been reduced to tears when he heard that.

When the party was over, just before leaving, Conner had given the boy a smaller replica of his Dino Thunder gem hanging on a silver chain. It had no power in it, but the boy had been thrilled all the same and had put it on immediately. The last and final gift before they had left was that Conner had signed the boy's soccer ball with a red permanent marker. He hadn't used his real name of course, but from the way Joey Addison was beaming, that birthday had been his best ever.

Now, after sharing another shower with once they'd gotten back to the manor, they both sat on the couch wrapped up in a blanket as they both reflected silently on the day.

"What you did for that boy today was amazing. I think you made his life."

Conner chuckled but then went silent again. "I know we have a few things left to do before we start our lives, officially. But once the house is bought and we settle in working for the dojo…I want to go ahead with my soccer camp idea.

That kid in the hospital inspired me to get it started." He paused and looked up at his wife. If that's okay with you…we can also get your dream started too."

Kira shook her head. "No, I want to work on the soccer camp too. I gave up on being a professional Rockstar a while ago, not that the crazy producer guy didn't help…he sort of tainted it for me. I may go play with my dad and his band, and sometimes play at Haley's Café, but there are no neon dreams in my future anymore."

Conner looked into Kira's eyes. I hate that you're giving up on your dreams so easily.

"I'm not giving up on my dreams, just that one dream. They've changed a bit since we first picked up the gems, I don't want fame or glory anymore. I just want to play music and be with you. Even if I spent the rest of my life, bearing our children, being a soccer mom and helping you run that camp, I'm good with that. I have you and my guitar and right now, that's good enough for me."

"And if the call comes to take up our mantels again?"

"Then we'll be together, kicking evil's butt."

Conner had to laugh at that one as Kira continued.

"But for now, let's just work on being Conner and Kira True-heart- In love and blissfully happy for the rest of our lives, okay?"

Conner kissed her heatedly then. When they came up for air, Conner echoed her.

"Okay."

The End…for now.

So, what did you all think? Leave me lots of love!