Disclaimer: I odn't own the power rangers and the song is "Too much to dream last night" by (California Dreams).
Chapter 21 Perfect
Dana called Ryan back and said she was ok, not to worry about picking her up and when Mrs. Grayson asked her to ask him to come for dinner Dana didn't know what to say. She knew it would be rude to say he couldn't, and after all she was marrying their son. Besides knowing Ryan he'd demand to meet them too. Her brother could be so fickle sometimes. She passed on the invitation and he agreed to come. She smiled and hung up. At least this would be done. Now she'd just have to tell him about the baby and the pending wedding and…
"Hey, penny?"
"Hmm? Oh, sorry I was just thinking of all we still have to do."
"Do?"
"Well, we have to tell Ryan about both the wedding and the baby not to mention the others…" As she went on he listened nodding, she was right about all of it. Still he pulled her close and tilted up her chin.
"Dane, there are a few things your forgetting." His voice was gentle but chiding. "One, your not alone in this and two everyone will be ecstatic."
"Do you really think so?" She asked hopefully. She knew Ryan was rooting for them, at least he had been but lately he'd not had so much to say about the whole situation.
"Yes, incase you've been too busy to notice Marie and Hollie have been trying to set us up." He smiled remembering some of the lame attempts the girls had made.
"They have?" Dana hadn't even noticed anything amiss.
"Yes," He said smiling at her single mindedness. It was one of her greatest assets and also her largest flaw. "Didn't you notice when I got a false call to the infirmary the other day?"
"Yes but I thought…" She thought back and blushed, how couldn't she realize what had happened? Hadn't she noticed?
"They want us to straighten things out."
"Oh, well then…" She wound her arms around his neck and smiled up at him. "We cant' disappoint them can we?"
"No, no we can't." He smiled and pressed his mouth to hers.
***
The rest of the day and evening passed in a blur for Dana, she walked the corridor's and garden of Carter's childhood home, listened to stories of his cold exploits and laughed at some of his father's jokes. As Dana had hoped Ryan had no problems and by the time they returned to the base she felt much better. True her cramps were still present through most of the day however they weren't as bad as earlier. The doctor had told her to steer clear of stress as best as she could and she would but now she was going to go finish up her work for the night.
"Dana?"
"Hmm?"
"Where are you going?"
"I need to finish up a few things."
"Dana it's late."
"And the paperwork won't go anywhere."
"I know but there's so much to do and…"
"Come on."
"Carter what are you doing I have work to do."
"You and I both know stress and lack of rest is not good for a baby."
"So you're going to go and relax."
"Ryan tell him I'm…"
"Put up your feet."
"Traitor!"
"Night sis."
***
The galley was packed as Dana sat at a table being grilled by Angela, Marie, Kelsey and Hollie on the date she and Carter had gone on the previous night. It had been two weeks since she'd found out about the baby and Dana was very very happy. She and Carter were dating normally, his mother called every other day to set up things for the wedding which was to happen in another week and a half. .
"I can't believe it; you guys are finally going to do it." Kelsey grinned at the woman who'd been like a sister for the last two years. She'd heard the tale of what had been going on lately and now she tried to invasion Carter's proposal, with Dana in the study of his parent's home.
"Hey we've only been dating for like a total of one month and a week and you think that is too long?" Dana asked a slim golden brow raised incredulously.
"You two were in love for more than two years, I think the first year was too much." Angela put in and Dana blushed, it was true.
"Well, I think the big question is what will your colors be?" Marie spoke up thoughtfully.
"Mar your impossible." Dana then laughed, she'd not even thought of that but now, she thought that maybe red and pink would do nicely maybe with a little…
"Doc?" Hollie waved her hand before the doctor's face.
"Hmm?" Dana's thoughts of pink taffeta and red roses faded as she realized that the new yellow ranger had been trying to get her attention. "Oh sorry what were you saying?"
"Nothing, but look." Dana looked to where Hollie was pointing and her blue eyes widened in surprised confusion. Weaving his way through the table was a figure in a black leather jacket and blue jeans. She knew that figure, it was very familiar.
"What in the world is that?" Some one was asking even as he reached Dana and she took in what he held in his strong hands. It was a guitar like rocker's used.
"Oh my…" She breathed and when he stood directly before her he began.
"Bright lights, big stars, big dreams,
This town ain't what it seems."
"Carter?" Dana asked trying to figure out what had gotten into him. He never dressed like this, never slicked his hair back and had never in the time she'd known him played any musical instrument.
"Where was I going' when I left you?
What did I think I was gonna do?"
"Carter why are you doing this?" She asked although she felt the little smile creep across her lips, he just looked so gorgeous like that. Then it hit her just what he was singing and something else clicked. It was from California Dreams, so he must have heard what she said that day they'd gone sailing.
"I had too much to dream last night
Hey now, do you know what I mean?"
"If that isn't love I don't know what is." Chris said leaning back in his seat two table over. He'd known what the captain was going to do but now? He'd thought he'd wait till the room was nearly empty. To do so was total insanity.
"I hear that." Brent agreed and Heath shrugged.
"People do weird stuff when their in love." Heath smiled and Brian at the end of the table nodded looking over at his own girlfriend who was seated beside the doc.
"It's all different in the daylight,
Just had a little too much to dream,
Had a little too much to dream."
"What do you know about this?" Angela asked her husband as Joel joined the ladies at their table.
"Me? Why would I have anything to do with this?" The sky cowboy asked innocently.
"This from the guy who proposed by recruiting the Mariner Bay high school band to serenade me at work?" The scientist shook her head and the others just rolled their eyes, all but Dana that is. She was still watching carter, his intense bleu eyes, his deep husky voice…
"Too high, too fast, too far,
No one can catch a falling star."
Carter saw that look in her soft blue eyes and he knew it was working, her eyes were laughing, questioning and so happy. He'd missed that look, that smiling on her face. Now though he'd not let her get away and he even had a ring to seal it. Now if he could just get through the rest of this song. Then he'd think about washing all of the hair jell out.
"Where was I going' when I left you?
What did I think I was gonna do?"
Ryan smiled, he loved this, he'd known Carter had been rehearsing this for a week now and since he'd not yet given Dana an engagement ring he knew that was the focus of this whole thing. It was surprising just how far out Carter had gone for this. Then again Carter was not the kind to go half way, when he did something he did it right. That was why Ryan didn't even worry about his little sister; Dana would be happy and safe with the ex-fire fighter.
"I had too much to dream last night,
Hey now, do you know what I mean?"
Dana watched as Carter knelt down on one knee as his song neared the end. He looked so happy as he sang up to her and she felt her eyes fill with tears of love and joy. They'd come so far in such a short time and things would get even better. The last month had taught her that and so much more. Carter had taught her that and more…
"It's all different in the daylight,
Just had a little too much to dream,
Had a little too much to dream,"
Carter reached into his pocket and the entire room watched as he withdrew the small jeweler's box.
"Had a little too much....to dream."
Dana wept as Carter set down the musical instrument he'd so lovingly strummed and reached for her hand.
"Dana, I know we really haven't done things the conventional way but I'd like to try and start now." He flipped open the box and she could only stare at the sparkling diamond set in the simple gold band. It was lovely; its round shape perfect, its perimeter specked with small white opals. Looking back at his face she didn't know what to say, she'd said she'd marry him but now what was she to say? But then had she actually said yes?
"I have loved you since the first day we met; I just had no clue how much." He said and then as she continued to sob silently. "I don't even know if I really know just how much but I know I don't ever want to find out what it's like to live with out that love, with out you."
"Carter I love you too…" She began but he pressed a silencing finger to her soft lips.
"I didn't say this right the last two times and this time everything has to be perfect."
"Itis…" She mumbled with his finger still on her lips but he shook his head.
"There was no romance, no style…"
"Damn it Carter just put the ring on the girl's finger already will you?" Joel called and Angela elbowed her husband in the ribs for his lack of tact. He just shrugged. He was romantic but he never took this long.
"Dana I love you will you spend the next fifty or so years with me?"
"No," She said and all stared in open mouth shock. Had she just turned him down again? Weren't they happy? Wasn't she happy?
"Dana?" Carter breathed in bewildered shock, had she just turned him down again? He just couldn't believe this. She'd said yes, now what was wrong? He felt as if his heart was slowly freezing, then a crack slowly forming down the middle.
Dana loved seeing the shock, now though when she saw the pain in Carter's eyes she realized she'd really hurt him and knew she had to go on, to make him see the truth.
"I won't settle for just fifty years," she began slowly, getting down on her knees and reaching up her free hand to cup his cheek. "I want forever."
As realization hit Carter of her words he felt his heart warming, burning and the pain was gone and kissing her palm he smiled.
"Done." And he was sliding the engagement ring onto her finger and kissing the breath from her.
***
"Man what I want to know is where you found that song." Chad said as they were all seated at the table, Dana on carter's lap. And their old and new friends crowded around them.
"Remember when we went sailing?" Carter asked and Chad thought a moment nodding finally. "The girls were talking about hot guys and Dana mentioned this guy on California Dreams."
"Yeah, she liked the bad boy."
"So you wanted to be that." Chad said in understanding.
"Yeah, I couldn't think of a better way to propose."
"but Carter You've asked me to walk down the aisle two times now what made this so much different?"
"I wanted it to be perfect."
"Carter anything you do is."
"Oh brother." Chris groaned and caught Brent's eye roll.
"That's love man."
"Yeah, great isn't it?" Brian asked from where he too sat his girlfriend of a month in his lap.
"Like a shark." Brent muttered and Marie laughed and noticed Captain Mitchell not with them. She wondered where he'd gotten off to but then her thoughts were side tracked when Heath picked up a clipboard and whacked Brent over the head with it.
TBC
***
Ok, it may be sappy but after all our favorite couple have been through I htnk they deserved a little sap. What do you think?
The other queation I wanted to ask is if you think I should still write a sequil telling Ryan's story would you please let me know? I've got a few ideas in the works but it's still up in the air.