Oh boy. This is a big one (plot-wise anyway), which is why it was delayed. I needed to make sure I did the best possible job on it, even though I don't own Power Rangers.

38

Green-Eyed Monster: RJ and Fran on Dom/Meryl

RJ was reclining in his chair, trying desperately not to stress out. But he was failing miserably. The Violet Ranger was completely stressing out. Fran apparently was developing a crush on Dom. On his best friend. Gak. Sure, he knew love was an unbiddable force but RJ had always hoped in a little part of him that he could win Fran's heart. But judging from her actions today that chance was gone.

With a mournful sigh he got to his feet. He needed to go surf… something he had rarely gotten to do since leaving for the Pai Zhua Academy. Running the JKP and then being involved with the Jungle Fury Rangers had kept him away from the ocean. Maybe surfing could squish the green-eyed monster that was welling up in him, threatening to consume him.

The idea of his best friend and his mate getting together was making him more miserable than he had ever been in his life. But then, he reminded himself, Fran had never been his mate to start with. He couldn't make someone love him… despite the depth of feeling she had towards him, apparently her feelings were deeper with Dom. He stormed out of the loft.

In her room Fran was lying on her bed, thinking. She liked Dom a lot, as a friend. Her heart was RJ's. But she was jealous in a way. Dom had found it so easy to express his feelings towards Meryl, to go after Meryl and tell her how he felt about her. She couldn't do that, and it was clear RJ couldn't either. Nine kisses, as wonderful as they had been for her (and at least decent for RJ), did not make a romantic relationship.

Fran sighed and made a face up at the ceiling. The line that defined their relationship was so badly blurred… were they friends or mates? Mates. Where did she get that word? Probably picked it up from one of the Rangers, Fran decided. And yet, although in the end things failed for him, Fran had to admire Dom for being so open with what his heart wanted and needed despite the risk that Meryl might not feel the same. She was nowhere near that brave.

She couldn't risk losing RJ completely by daring to ask for his heart. She wasn't brave enough. Fran wished she and RJ could just sit down and sort things out. RJ's 22nd birthday had been last week, and he had looked straight at her after making his wish on his birthday cake candles. Why? Why would his wish entail her? Why did her life have to so like a labyrinth? She wanted a simple fairy tale where she and RJ could live happily ever after, but the chances of that seemed to be shrinking daily.

Meanwhile on the roof of the JKP Kazul, Ponch, Neo, and Casey were trying to sort out the mess that their match-making plot had become.

Fran still loves RJ right? Ponch queried. Kazul nodded. And RJ still loves Fran?

Forever and ever, Ponch confirmed. The two looked over at the Tiger and his human spirit. Together they asked, Ideas?

"I'm tired out," Casey refuted. "Things are coming to a head with Dai Shi- I can feel it."

Me too, yawned Neo.

Ponch and Kazul listened for a moment before they nodded in agreement. Casey scratched the back of his head.

"Look, I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to make your human spirits see sense after Dai Shi is defeated, okay?"

Okay, conceded all three animal spirits. Ponch nodded.

Right.