Sorry for the delay…Contamination in my lab, and deadlines on projects at work…I am also REALLY trying to improve. If anyone is willing to beta(?) read for me and show me where I can tighten(?) or reword things, I'd appreciate it.  Thanks to those who have reviewed.  There should be only 4 more parts to this story.  Thank you all again for your comments!

** **

Trini emerged from the shower and came out with a mind full of priorities:  1.  Talk with Jason 2. Enjoy the rest of her vacation.  The sight of Jason on the couch caused Trini to grin and remember a knocked out Jason at a hostel.  The "plan for everything" leader claimed sleep was universal and hence, he could relax occasionally.  Trini entered the kitchen and turned on the coffeemaker.  She looked at the clock and decided on a brunch.  She found the makings of an omelet, some potatoes, and toast.  Billy, you do know how get to a girl's heart.

Soon, she hand a "mystery" omelet on the pan and the potatoes on another skillet for hash browns.  Trini hummed a bit, sipped some coffee, and considered how to repay Billy for his kindness.  Cooking's not enough…he needs balance…She finished cooking, left it on the stove while she poured another cup of coffee, and went into the living room.

Standing right next to the soloment natural leader, Trini briefly considered giving the handsome man a rude wake up call, but sat down on an unoccupied corner and wafted the aroma near the covered head and took care not to accidentally drop some of the liquid and burn him.  A groan came from under the makeshift blanket and an arm moved to ease the cover off.  "I smell something heavenly…" Jason made no other move except to stare at the mug and then at Trini's face.  "Please?"  Neither person knew exactly what Jason was asking for -- the coffee or the woman holding the mug.  Though several things had been cleared up the previous night, Trini still did not want to think too much on the subject, but she would rather she felt like a teenager again than risk becoming a woman with a broken heart.  She handed Jason the cup of coffee – black, just the way he liked it.

Gratefully, Jason took the mug and savored the strong kick of the flavor from the rich coffee.  Sinking back into the couch, he sighed. "The way coffee should be."

"You Spartan nut." Trini grumbled.  "A tiny bit of sugar and cream never hurt you."

Jason only laughed.  "Trini, your pour sugar and cream into things.  That's not even close to 'a little.'"

"True."  Trini rose from her perch and went toward the kitchen.  "While you were snoring away. I made brunch."

Jason raised his hand and stopped Trini.  "Wait for me?"

There was a pause, but Trini had to smile.  "Always."

Jason went to the hallway bathroom, dashed some water onto his face, and returned out to eat.  A cell phone rang and Jason ran to answer it.  After all, how many people had his ring tone that sounded like the beep from their old communicators?

"Jason Lee Scott, how on EARTH did you get Trini's phone?" Kim hollered in her best "instant obedience" voice.  She wanted to do some back flips if it meant what she thought it meant.

"Oops."  Jason winced and handed the phone to Trini.  "Didn't realize it's yours."

Trini joked,  "At least it's not a boyfriend."  She brought the phone to her ear and answered. "Hello?"

"Trini," Kim warned.

"Look, Kim, you didn't come with me, so I'll talk to you later."  Trini ignored the excited voice on the other end of the line and gave a quick "Bye." She ended the call and started eating.  Jason's complete attention focused on his food until he dared to look across to table to meet Trini's eyes.  He burst out laughing.  "You really did that to Kim?  Oh man, Trini, we're dead."

She nodded and continued eating with a smile.  "Oh well.  She'll get over it."

"Trini, I don't want to ruin this brunch, but how long do you plan to stay?  Are you with Billy?"  Brilliant fearless leader I'm not when dealing with women.  He winced and prayed.

Trini weighed her options.  It would be better to save face and say Billy was involved in her life, but why should she need to save face – it was Jason.  She decided for complete honesty.  "5 more days, then I need to return to work," she sighed.  "Billy volunteered to send me off at the airport, but we're not involved. Maybe in the past, but not now."  She smiled at the slightly irked expression that crossed Jason's face before her last statement.

"Stay with me," Where did that come from? Jason wondered if he was being possessed again.

Trini's eyes started narrowing and Jason thought fast.  "Stay with me for the rest of your trip, please."  He rushed on, "We haven't seen each other in about 8 years and if, if there's something I want to at least spend some more time with you before you go."

Trini closed her mouth when she saw the light of hope in Jason's eyes.  Her eyes softened.  "But would this count as a rebound, Jase?"

He stood up to grab more food and shook his head at Trini's question.  "I don't think so…At least, I hope not.  Does it matter?"

"Yes, yes it matters.  If I can help it, I don't want you going on the rebound, even if it's me."

"Look, Trini, I don't know.  It's been a few months and I want us to be friends again.  Anything else – well, one day at a time."  He stared at Trini and a battle of wills occurred in a matter of seconds.

Trini sipped her juice; her face gave nothing away.  "Okay, Jase.  4 days.  Okay."

** **

2 days past the morning after

The things I do…Billy mused as he rubbed his eyes and with his laptop bag over his shoulder, he entered his childhood home.  Home sweet home.  With a yawn, his eyes saw a few feminine touches to his predominantly masculine house.  The house that was supposed to have a guest, he thought when he noticed the decorated envelope with his name in Trini's graceful handwriting.

Scanning the letter, he murmured with approval, "Jason, you wild-man," for the envelope only contained 3 items:  a letter, a key and an engraved invitation.

In the letter, Trini wrote the following:

"Dearest Billy,

            Though you claim my cooking and company are thanks enough for your wonderful hospitality and generous soul, I feel I imposed on your doorstep far too long.  Jason invited me to his house for the remainder of my vacation.  We had a meaningful (?) talk that night and we're renewing our friendship.  If I didn't know better, you were matchmaking, or tried to."

Billy only snorted and continued reading.

"Anyway, it's not much, but I'm offering a plea and a gift of sorts.  With this letter, I have included an invitation to the Houston Winter Blossom Charity Event. It's formal and there's a ladies auction and I admit to being insecure enough to beg a guest and escort so there'd be a pity bid at the auction for me.  It's in a few months and I don't know another person I'd ask for to be my guest.  The guys over here aren't the nicest. They seem to think I'm either brainless, helpless, or both."

"I bet," Billy scoffed to himself.  He remembered how their Ranger activities would cause them to dip into Oscar-worthy acting abilities.

"Anyway, I don't leave for a few more days or so.  So, if you need me, I'll be at Jason's.  Wish me luck.

Love,

Trini

PS.  Tell Kim to come over to get her stuff herself.  Contact her, you might want to see her."

Billy folded the letter and returned it to the envelope.  Billy examined the invitation and whistled softly.  The thing looked something out of only a fanciful rich person's dream.  The thin piece of embossed foil had his name engraved in the middle and had other delicate etchings.

Billy made a mental note to mark the day, but for the moment he needed to sleep and left the invitation and letter on the counter.  The clock on the wall revealed he could drop by the dojo and speak to Adam and Rocky, but after the hectic trip and the exhaustion pushing him, Billy opted to sleep and saved the dojo for a later date.

** **

3 days past morning after

Two days past by in another blur for Trini, similar to the days spent with Billy, but for a significant difference – an attraction that went to her soul, tugging at her and demanding to be acknowledged and bloom.  The last time she felt the tug was in Switzerland, but both were young then.  "Not anymore," Trini muttered under her breath. "carpe diem."  Trini needed to wait for a package from Houston during the first day and after the invitation arrived she and Jason went to the park and walked around the shopping district of Angel Grove on Sunday.

However, it was Monday and she followed Jason to the dojo in the morning and renewed her acquaintance with Rocky and Adam.  The two young men greeted Jason and the three men walked to the office area of the dojo.  Trini waited in the general area while Jason explained his decision to take a few days off and arrange the schedule for the next few days.

            Rocky chuckled. "No problem, man.  Just don't forget to invite us to the wedding."

Jason glared at him.  "Trini's a teammate and a friend.  She's here for a vacation and we're catching up on old times."

Adam's expression didn't fool Jason.  "Billy dropped by just before we were going to send out reinforcements," he continued, "he mentioned Trini's visiting and suggested we get together somewhere.  Since I'm the only one here who's married, " the Korean aimed a glowering look at Rocky before resuming the sentence.  "I discussed it with Tanya and we're having a special dinner.  The townhouse doesn't have much room, but I think we could accommodate Rocky's appetite."

The man in question protested, "Hey! I have a girlfriend! Give me a break!"  The two friends goofed a bit before returning their attention to Jason.  "By the way, Billy aid to take care of Trini for him."

Jason's eyes flashed and he opened his mouth to deliver a scathing retort, but Trini entered the room and Jason clamped down on the words.  He nodded a curt "Got it."  Trini's eyes widened when she saw Jason's urgency to leave the place.  "We'll see you later," she waved.

"Bye Trini.  Have fun."  The two men watched Jason and Trini drive off.  Rocky grabbed the phone.  "Aisha?"

Adam started walking to the main part of the dojo.  "Yeah.  Dinner for four.  I'll cook."

Rocky nodded. "Deal."

** **

            Aisha Campbell looked at her boyfriend of 2 years with a skeptical expression.  "You're telling me Jason's dating again?"

            Rocky winced while and kept his eyes on the road. " Well, not quite," he hedged.  "Billy mentioned Trini took a vacation and stayed at his house until Billy decided to invite Jason over and left."

            "Billy didn't stay?  How? Why?"

            Rocky negotiated a turn onto Adam's street.  "I don't know.  According to Adam, Billy seemed to have a thing for Trini…or maybe he knew the meaning of tact," he joked.

            Aisha mused, "I always though he had the soft spot for pink rangers in general."

            Rocky parked the car and leaned over to kiss Aisha on the cheek. "It didn't matter to me since I let me dream about you.  I only worried about Adam."

            Aisha grinned as she left the car.  She greeted Tanya at the door. "Hey!"

            Tanya squealed a little and motioned the couple inside. "Adam, you other half is here."  She turned back to Aisha.  "You know him.  Probably didn't hear the door."  She bade the couple to sit down and entered the kitchen.  The sight of her husband of 2 years always caused Tanya to smile.  Adam looked up from the stove and grinned. " The food's ready."

            Tanya stopped him from passing the doorway.  "Have I told you I love you lately?"

            Adam leaned over and kissed his wife. "You don't have to.  I love you, too."  The married couple turned their gazes to Rocky & Aisha. "Let's eat."

            Rocky dived into the food. "God, this stuff is great."

Tanya smirked. "You're only saying that because you didn't have to cook."

"Hey, I resent that!  I cooked in college!  Right, Adam?"

"Uh…Right."  Adam didn't even glance at his former college roommate.

The two couples enjoyed the food before Adam opened the conversation.  "We're lucky.  All of us have found out soul mates."

Tanya and Aisha looked at Adam as if he was crazy.  "Huh?"

"Well, you met Jason."  When the women nodded, Adam continued.  "I think he's going to get married – to Trini."

"Why? What about Billy?" Aisha replied.

Adam looked at his childhood friend.  "Yeah, Billy loved Trini once, but I think the love changed.  After all, the man went to Aquitar."

Rocky stopped eating, looked at his best friend and Tanya.  Marriage suited them. He turned to look at Aisha with a smile.  Yellow Rangers are the best to love.

"Really" laughed Tanya.

Aisha's smile grew wider.  "And what makes you say that?"

Rocky blushed as he realized he had spoken the words aloud.  Even Adam had an amused expression on his face.

Inwardly wincing, Rocky tried to explain.  "Well, Yellow Rangers just seem to be the best to fall in love with.  I mean, look at you, Tanya, and the former Astro Ranger, Ashley Hammond.  You guys know how to have a normal relationship."  Rocky stopped the rush of words.  "I think I'm going to eat…and hope to disappear."

Tanya laughed.  "I don't think traveling through time is considered normal, but I guess I see what you mean.  I never thought of it like that."

Rocky perked up, but slumped back down at her next words. "I think Aisha will make you pay later though."

Adam mused aloud, "maybe it's part of the color."  Both he and Tanya started to clear the table and left the dining room.

Rocky risked a glance at his girlfriend.  The frown on her face made him squirm for a moment.  Aisha waited until she was satisfied with his reaction before she lightened up.  "Rocky, you crazy man," she sighed.  He grinned and winked.

"And you love me for it!"  His expression sobered when he looked deeper into her eyes.  "Thank you, querida."