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As usual, Tommy was late. Even a year of self-examination and meditation had not been able to wipe that particular habit from his personality. Some things would just never change. Walking up the drive to Jason's house, he wiped his palms on his jeans realizing that he was sweating like a bridegroom on his wedding night. Now, where in the hell did that come from?

As was his habit, he knocked once on the door and stuck his head in- he and Jase had long since stopped waiting for the door to be answered at each other's homes. Entering, he heard the sounds of several conversations coming from the den.

Making his way down the short hall, Tommy entered the den to see the rest of the Rangers sitting around talking. It looked like everybody was already here. Although the person he most longed to see wasn't visible, he could hear his voice saying, "It's been tough, but it's almost over."

"What's been tough, Bro?" he asked from the door trying to sound his usual neutral self.

"Tommy?!" was there something deeper than the genuine pleasure of hearing an old friend that Tommy detected in Billy's tone? According to Jase there was. Tommy watched as the tall blond stood up from the high- backed chair where he was sitting. Jase had been right; Billy had changed a great deal over the past few years. For one thing, he was leaner now, the bones of his jaw and cheeks much more evident than before- it gave him something of wolfish look. Secondly, there was a grace to his movements that more befit the Blue Ranger than ever Billy Cranston- the proverbial klutz. Finally, and probably the most outstanding was his hair. Gone was the unkempt look he had when they first met, and even the well-groomed and styled cut that Kimberly had convinced him to get later. Now his blond hair was longish- just a little past his shoulders and pulled back into a simple ponytail. Tommy noted with some irony that while he'd cleaned up his look- "got his haircut regulation" as someone once commented, Billy had let his grow out. Tommy guessed there weren't many barbers on Phaedos.

Tommy was surprised when Billy strode across the room to greet him. At first, he thought Billy was going to pull him into a hug, but then he seemed to stop short, his old shyness reasserting itself, and offered a hand to shake. Tommy was having none of that, he took the hand and swept Billy into a great bear hug. "I won't settle for just a handshake from my Little Bro," he laughed and pounded Billy on the back. From across the room, he saw Adam give him a thumbs-up, and wondered just how many people knew what was really going on now. He suddenly realized that that Billy was hugging him back with a fierceness and power he didn't expect the other man to have. He was somewhat taken aback by the strength of that embrace and felt as if he was wrapped in something stronger than just Billy's arms. "Billy, I may need those ribs," he whispered into the blond man's ear, and was suddenly caught up in the scent of him.

It was a layer of odors- all of them pleasant, and each one having a different effect on him. On top was the general odor of a popular men's cologne/deodorant. It was pleasant and even stimulating with just a hint of vanilla. Under that was the fresh scent of a deodorant soap that Tommy himself used occasionally- Irish something or other. It reminded Tommy of the deep forest after a gentle summer rain- a most pleasant scent. Under all that was the light tantalizing scent Billy's own unique odor. That one set off stirrings in him that he had been afraid of dealing with up until this past year.

Billy pulled back and blushed deeply, "Sorry, Tom."

"Don't be sorry," Tommy told him. Looking down into Billy's blue- green eyes he added quietly so just the two of them could hear, "There's been a hole in my life since you left. Don't apologize for filling it up again." He saw Billy's eyes light up with a hint of surprise. "What, you thought you could just go off and live in an aquarium and not be missed?" he kidded him. "Our team hasn't been able to beat Jase's in a game of B'ball since you left."

"Then we'll have to rectify that," Billy smiled back at him, and Tommy thought he felt a tentative squeeze from Billy's hand in his own before he let go. "It's most felicitous to see you again too."

Tommy found himself unconsciously looking around the room for Trini to translate before realized that she wasn't there- that she wasn't ever going to be there. Before the thought could bring down his good mood, he savagely shoved it into the back of his mind with just a quick prayer for forgiveness to whatever deity might be listening. "I think that means it's good to see me too," he said.

Billy nodded and smiled before saying, "Precisely." Then Tommy thought he heard him add, "More than you know."

Before looking up at the others, Tommy added for Billy's ears only, "I know more than you might expect." Billy gave him a startled look, and then quickly glanced over at Jason. Tommy knew that the former Gold Ranger was probably going to catch an earful soon. "And don't blame Jason, he was just trying to make sure I didn't stay too bull-headed. We need to talk."

Billy nodded and said, "Later."

Before either one could reply, Kimberly came over and slipped an arm through Billy's saying, "No, no, no, you don't get to hog all his time just yet. We all want to catch up too." She turned to Jase and Adam, "And you two are dead meat for keeping his being home a secret until now."

Adam protested, "Don't blame us. He threatened us with grave bodily harm if we told anyone before tonight." He turned to Jase for affirmation.

Jase nodded quickly with a smile, "At least that's what we think it was, with all the big words." He winked at Billy, "It was grave bodily harm wasn't it?"

Billy laughed and replied, "Most grievous harm indeed."

"You still haven't answered my question Bro," Tommy interrupted "What's been tough?"

Billy seemed to think for a moment, and the realizing the nature of the question answered, "Recovering, living on Phaedos." He grinned, "No computers, no electricity, and hunting for my own food."

Tommy chuckled, and noted the lean look about him. He didn't look thin, just well conditioned, "It doesn't seem to have hurt you too much."

Billy smiled, and blushed as he indicated his own form, "It did have some positive results. My eating habits haven't included too many refined sugars over the past few years."

"In other words, he hasn't started that early twenties spread so many of us are fighting now," Rocky joked while popping a sausage ball into his mouth.

"That's another twenty sit-ups right there," Adam teased his business partner. Tommy understood. Since they'd stopped Rangering, all the male Rangers were complaining about how hard it was to stay in shape- Rocky and Adam especially. Tommy secretly thought they all- himself included- sounded just a little too much like teenage girls on the subject.

"So's that soda you just had," Rocky joked back.

"Would you listen to them?" Kat commented.

Kimberly and Tanya both laughed before Tanya added with a snicker, "I think they're worried about their girlish figures."

From that point on, it broke down into a good-natured ribbing session with everyone taking turns at kidding each other. Tommy was surprised at how good it felt, just to laugh and be with friends, without having to worry if anyone would guess his secret. He even managed only a small pang of jealousy when he realized that Rocky and Kat were there as a couple. He realized that deep down the jealousy was more over that the two seemed to have a genuine attraction to each other than any real possessiveness of Kat. He'd long since dealt with his feeling about Kim and Adam dating.

As the evening progressed, he found himself standing next to Adam, sipping on a diet soda. The former Black Ranger smiled, leaned in next to him, and gestured toward Billy, "Why don't you ask him out?"

"Huh?" Tommy asked taken aback. "Just how many people know what's going on here?"

Adam smiled, "Well, I don't think Zack or Tanya know, but just about everyone else either does or has their suspicions." He chuckled, "That is, up until that little scene you two made in the den."

"We did not make a scene," Tommy protested.

"Well, it was obvious to anybody who was looking that more passed between you two than just two friends reconnecting." Adam sighed, "I thought you were going to kiss him there for a minute."

Tommy gave him a shocked look, "Adam!"

"Well, I wish you had. He's been pining over you for years now, Tommy, and you're just now realizing that he seems to be what you've been missing too. To be honest, it's starting to get a little old to some of us." Adam turned a looked Tommy in the eye, "And if you let him move back to Phaedos permanently without at least giving it a try, I'm going to beat you to death with a shovel."

"Move to Phaedos permanently? What do you mean move there permanently?" Tommy asked. "And what's this deal with the shovel? You and Jase both threatened to beat me to death with a shovel over Billy."

Adam grinned, "So we can have something to bury your body with." He sighed, and turned to face the rest of the room as he continued, "Since his dad died, he thinks there's not anything here for him. He plans on going there permanently. He says it's to study the ruins there. I think he's running."

"Running from what?" Tommy asked, although he had a sneaking suspicion.

"Not what, who," Adam replied. "A little bit of it is he's running from you, but mainly he's running from himself. He's afraid that if he says anything to you, he'll lose your friendship."

"If he goes off and leaves again without any word, he's going to lose more than a friendship. He's going to lose a few teeth," Tommy growled.

"Tell him that. Not me." Adam smiled and turned to face him, "Unless you're chicken."

Tommy put his drink down, "I'm no coward, Adam." Tommy knew it was dumb, he knew it was juvenile, but for some reason the idea of Adam calling him chicken really stuck in his craw. Putting his drink down on the counter, he said, "I'll be right back."

Before he could lose his nerve, Tommy stalked across the room to where Billy and Kat were quietly talking. Taking a deep breath, Tommy tapped the blond on the shoulder. He could see a look of surprise on Kat's face at what ever it was she saw in his own face. "Bill, Bro," he waited for the former Blue Ranger to turn around.

"What's up Tom?" Bill asked.

Tommy replied, "If you're not doing anything tomorrow night, I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner." He added quickly, "Just the two of us."

Kat smiled from behind Bill and said quietly, "Why Tommy, that sounds suspiciously like you're asking him for a date."

Tommy blushed deep red, and saw Billy's eyes go wide when he told her, "If you want to think of it that way, then that's okay. What about it Billy, you want to go out tomorrow night?"

Looking back and forth between Tommy and Kat, "Not if it is going to cause problems between you two." He stammered and quickly added, "I'd be glad to have dinner with you Tom, but that's all it is if there's going to be any hard feelings anywhere."

Tommy watched Kat put a hand on Billy's shoulder, "I don't have a problem with it Billy." Tommy could hear the sincerity in her voice, "Tommy and I parted on good terms, and I knew this might happen." She winked at Tommy and leaned in close so only the three of them could hear and said, "Besides, the only hard feelings I think there's going to be are in Tommy's jeans." She walked off leaving both men coughing in embarrassment.

"Well Bill?" Tommy asked, after a moment of embarrassment.

He watched as Billy swallowed hard, looked around the room carefully and said, "Dinner sounds good. I'll be ready at six-thirty." Tommy got the distinct feeling that he chose that particular time for a reason. "You can pick me up here."

Tommy nodded "It's a date then."