Disclaimer: It's Saban's(or Disney's) carnival, I'm just here for the festivities.

AN: Hey everyone! Here's chapter 23! Enjoy and please review! Thankies!

Dreams of a Cat and a Wolf

Chapter 23: Can't Help Fallin in Love

Kara Cranston settled into her bed. Her empty bed. She couldn't believe how much her beloved Peter had changed in six years. Being a religious woman, she said her prayers and then attempted to sleep. But sleep was just not coming. She still loved her husband, despite what he had done. But then again, she wasn't sure if she could live with a man that kept so many secrets from their own son. And they had obviously been secrets that he wished to keep from her. How many other things was he hiding? Her mind mulled over those questions, until she finally drifted to sleep with the clock reading 2 am.

~*~*~*

As Peter Cranston lay next to Julia, he knew that he had made a horrible mistake. He should be with his wife and son, not with another woman. He got up and packed his things. He needed to try and make things right with his family.

~*~*~*

The next morning, Billy, Katherine, Tanya, and Kara attended church and then took Billy's mom to Ernie's for lunch. Kara was very anxious to see where the kids hung out. As she watched Kimberly train on the beam, she became nostalgic for the times when her son used to train.

"Billy, do you still train?" Kara asked. Billy set his drink down and frowned.

"No mom, I quit gymnastics when I thought you were gone," Billy said sadly.

"You trained in gymnastics?" Kim asked.

"Are you kidding? My Billy was Illinois state champion two years in row. He was going to compete in the junior Olympics before my accident. Did you quit because of my accident son?" his mother asked.

"I guess, I mean it really hurt to train after that. And dad wasn't very interested," Billy replied.

"I knew that you were good, but I didn't realize you were that good. How come you never told me?" Kim asked. Billy shrugged.

"I don't know, I never really told anyone. Kat knows, because somehow we fell upon the subject one day," Billy replied.

"Show us some stuff," Rocky suggested.

"I'm way out of practice guys," Billy argued.

"Billy, why don't you change and show us how well you do on the rings," Kara suggested. Billy relented.

"If it means that much to you mom, then I guess I could," Billy replied, as he left for the locker room.

~*~

Billy came out in work out clothes. He powered his hands and took to the rings. A crowd gathered to watch the amazing performance, which left his friends and girlfriend in awe. Billy dismounted and landed perfectly. He was rewarded with applause and a hug from Katherine.

"You were wonderful!" Kat praised.

"Thanks, guess I still got it," Billy replied.

The group went back to their table to eat. Aisha pulled a yellow envelope out of her bag and handed it to Tanya.

"Ashala sent this to me and asked me to give it to you," Aisha said, as she gave Tanya the envelope. Tanya opened it and pulled out a gold, ornate key. She gasped and held the key close.

"This belonged to my parents! Do you know what this means? It means that they're still alive!" Tanya said. Adam glanced over and saw Kara busy talking to Ernie, so he decided to speak freely.

"Tomorrow we can go to the power chamber and I will go wherever we need to go to find them," Adam promised.

"Thanks Adam," Tanya said, as she kissed his cheek. Adam blushed, making the rest of them laugh.

~*~*~*

"Bulkie, why do we have to clean out these girls lockers?" Skull whined.

"Because Lt. Stone said so. Besides, monsters killed these girls. This is better police work than parking detail, so stop whining," Bulk replied.

"Hey what's this?" Skull asked, as he picked up a video tape.

"I don't know, maybe we should investigate," Bulk said, as they entered an empty classroom. Bulk popped the tape in and pushed play. Bulk and Skull could hardly believe what they saw on that tape.

"Them?! They're the power rangers?!" Skull said in amazement.

"Right in front of our faces all along. I bet Abby and Violet were blackmailing them and they ended up being too close to the battlefield," Bulk reasoned. He knew that these seven couldn't have hurt the girls even if they were being blackmailed.

"What do we do about this tape? Do we turn it over to Lt. Stone?" Skull asked.

"As police officers it's our duty to. But they're our friends too," Bulk said.

"Yea, we haven't always been too nice to them," Skull said.

"Come on Skull, I think they're in the youth center," Bulk replied.

~*~*~*

Billy watched his girlfriend practice a routine on the other side of the gym.

"She's a beautiful dancer," Kara said, as she came behind her son.

"Yeah she is. I'm so glad you like her too," Billy said.

"What's not to like? She's beautiful, loving, and she makes my son incredibly happy," Kara replied. Billy smiled.

"That she does," he replied, as he went to her.

"Watching me dance?" Kat asked.

"I love watching you dance," Billy replied, while Kat quirked her eyebrow.

"Okay, I love watching you," Billy said with a smile. Kat finished her routine and kissed him.

~*~

Bulk and Skull entered the youth center and stalked up to the ranger table.

"Hey Tommy, can I talk to you?" Bulk asked.

"Sure guys, what's up?" Tommy asked. Bulk looked around and then began.

"Lt. Stone gave us the job of cleaning out Violet and Abby's locker. We found this video tape in Abby's locker," Bulk said, as he held up the tape.

Tommy and the others froze.

"Did you guys watch it?" Rocky asked timidly.

"Yes," Bulk replied. The five of them groaned and Tommy motioned Billy and Kat over.

"What do you guys want?" Kim asked.

"Look guys, we don't want to blackmail you or anything. We just want to give this to you," Skull said, as he handed the tape to Tommy.

"Wow, thanks guys," Tommy replied.

"That's what friends do and it's about time we started acting like friends instead of jerks," Skull replied.

"Welcome to the team guys," Billy said, as he invited them to sit down.

~*~*~*

"How much longer till we arrive on the moon?" a female voice asked.

"We should be there within the next hour auntie D," Elgar bumbled.

"Perfect, I can't wait to enact my revenge," Divatox replied.

~*~*~*

Later that day, Billy took his mother home so she could rest. Then he and Kat went to the beach with the others.

Peter Cranston knocked on the door of the house that he had lived in for the past five years. Kara answered the door and nearly slammed it in his face.

"Wait Kara, please I want to talk," Peter pleaded. Kara relented and let him in.

"Is Billy here?" Peter asked.

"No, he's out with Katherine and his friends," Kara replied. Peter and Kara sat down in the living room.

"Please Kara, give me a chance to make things right with our family. Let's try and save this marriage," Peter said.

"Believe me Peter, I want to. But I'm not sure that I can deal with someone who has kept so many secrets! What else are you hiding? And did you think by ignoring Billy that he would just magically go away along with your pain! I always thought that if anything happened to me, I could count on you to take care of our baby," Kara said.

"I'm sorry Kara, I have made a lot of mistakes. It will take some time for Billy to forgive me. But I've been without you for six years Kara, I don't want to lose you again,"

"I don't want to lose you either," Kara admitted.

"Let's go up to your brother's cabin for a few days. Maybe we can get back what we used to have," Peter suggested.

"That sounds nice, but we need to talk to Billy," Kara replied.

~*~*~*

"Viva La Diva!" Divatox shouted, as she made her entrance.

"Who dares to intrude into my palace!" Zedd growled.

"Well if it isn't Divatox," Ivan said.

"Hello Ivan, it's been a long time," Divatox replied.

"What bring you here?" Ivan asked.

"Revenge on a couple of wolves," Divatox replied.

"I see, he escaped you and now your back for him," Ivan said.

"Yes, and to kill his little girlfriend," Divatox replied.

"How about handing her over to me instead of killing her," Vile suggested.

"That will work. But first, I must wed Maligore to gain my full powers. Then the rangers will have no chance," Divatox said.

"Let's get to work," Ivan replied.

~*~*~*

(I just can't help falling in love with you)

Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I say would it be a sin
(Be a sin)
If I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows (Oooh)
To the sea (Oooh)
So it goes
Some things are meant to be
Some things are meant to be

Billy sped off on the wave runner, with Kat holding on tightly.

"Where are we going?" Kat asked.

"You'll see, there's a place I want to show you on the other side of the lake," Billy called back.

Take my hand (take my hand)
Take my whole life too (life too)
For I can't help falling in love with you

Wise men say only fools rush in
But I, I can't, I can't help Falling in love (falling in love) With you (with you)

Billy parked the wave runner along the beach and helped Kat off. she gasped as she saw what was waiting for them. A blanket and a basket with rose petals decorating the blanket lay before them on the sand.

"Billy, this is beautiful!" Kat said in awe. Billy took a small radio out of the picnic basket and turned it on. He held his hand out to her and she placed her hand in his. He pulled her close and they began to dance.

Like a river flows (Oooh)
To the sea (Oooh)
So it goes
Some things are meant to be
Some things are meant to be

Take my hand (take my hand)
Take my whole life too (life too)
For I can't help falling in love with you

Wise men say only fools rush in
But I, I can't, I can't help Falling in love (falling in love) With you (with you)

After the dance, they sat down to the romantic picnic.

"This is so beautiful Billy, so peaceful and deserted," Kat said.

"Deserted is definitely one of the reasons I picked it. No one ever comes over here," Billy said.

"That's good," Kat said, as she inched closer. Billy kissed her deeply and pulled her into his arms. Kat shivered, as the waves began to lap the shore and the sun began to set.

"If you're cold, we can go," Billy said. Kat smiled.

"That's why I have you. To keep me warm," Kat replied, as she lay down on the blanket, pulling him with her.

Like a river flows
That's the way it goes
I just can't help fallin' in love with you
(Fallin' in love with you)
Like a river flows (yea yea)
That's the way it goes(cause I can't)
Fallin' in love with you
Like a river flows (I just can't help myself)
That's the way it goes
I can't help falling in love with you
(I can't help falling in love with you)

They shed their clothes and explored each other, as the tide began to come in around them. They made love passionately in the surf until it had grown dark. Afterwards, the lovers dried off and headed back across the lake.

(I can't help falling in love with you)

Fallin'in love with you

~*~*~*

Billy and Kat arrived home around the same time Adam was dropping Tanya off. Billy saw that his father's car was here and the three went into the house cautiously. They saw Kara and Peter sitting on the couch holding hands. They explained that they were going away for a few days together and Billy was okay with it. He was still angry with his father, but he wanted his mother to be happy as well.

~*~*~*

"Zordon, someone is sending a transmission to the power chamber," Alpha said.

"It is Lerigot," Zordon informed.

"Aye yi yi, what is Lerigot doing on earth? And why is he in the African jungle?" Alpha wondered.

"What I have feared has happened. Divatox is seeking to unleash Maligore, but she can only do this by traveling to Muranthias Island through the dangerous Nemesis triangle. For this, she must capture Lerigot. We must send two of the rangers to retrieve him and bring him back to the power chamber," Zordon said.

"I'll contact the rangers," Alpha said.

~*~*~*

Billy and Kat were eating breakfast with Tanya the next morning. Billy's parents had just left and the teens were waiting on the others so they could go roller blading.

"This is Billy," he mumbled sleepily.

"Billy, you and the others must teleport to the power chamber. Bring Tanya for protection as well," Zordon said.

"We'll be right there," Billy replied, as the three of them teleported away.

~*~*~*

The seven rangers and single non-ranger arrived in the power chamber.

"Rangers, Divatox has come to earth and is plotting to release the powerful Maligore from his volcanic prison. Maligore is on the island of Muranthias, but to get to this island, Divatox would have to travel through the dangerous Nemesis triangle. To do this, she needs a powerful and good wizard named Lerigot," Zordon said, as he showed them Lerigot on the viewing screen.

"He has fled to earth and we must rescue him from the African jungle. I am sending Billy and Katherine, while the rest of you will stand by in case of an attack," Zordon said. Alpha handed Billy and Kat survival packs and they put them on. With that, Alpha teleported the two blue rangers to the African jungle in search of Lerigot.

AN: Hope you liked it! Chapter 24 should be out soon! Thanks for reading and please review! Later!

~Lilac Moon~