Kira and Conner slowly walked over to Ethan.

"Do we have to worry about our identities being in the next edition of the paper?" Conner asked. Kira elbowed him in the gut.

"Sensitive much?" She hissed. She sat down beside Ethan. "You okay?" She asked. Ethan blinked and looked at her.

"I talked to her.." He muttered. "And it looked like everything was going to be okay."

"But?" Conner asked. Ethan sighed.

"Trent got to her first."

"What?" Kira and Conner both asked, not expecting that.

"Naomi and Trent are an item now." Ethan said, still trying to grasp it himself. He stood up. "I've got to go." He sighed as he left. Kira and Conner watched him leave.

---

"So, what did jerkwad want?" Trent asked as he and Naomi walked together.

"Trent. Ethan's not-"

"He basically attacked you the other day in Cyberspace. In my eyes, he's a whole lot worse then 'jerkwad'." Trent said. Naomi looked at him. She smiled softly.

"Trent, that's really sweet." She said. "But, it's nothing, really. Some stuff happened, and now it's settled." She said. At least I think so. She thought. "Come on, let's just go enjoy our date." She said, sliding her hand in his.

"Sounds good to me." He smiled. Have it your way, Naomi, but I'll get what I want soon enough.

----

Tommy, Kimberly and Trini were at his house. Kimberly had just put Trini to bed and went to the living room to find Tommy sitting on the couch, deep in thought. She walked over and sat beside him.

"Hey." She said. Tommy turned to her and smiled. He put an arm around her and pulled her close. Kimberly rested her head against his chest and put her arm around his mid-section.

"Hey." He said.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Kimberly asked. Tommy sighed.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking."

"About?" She asked.

"I'm sure it's nothing, just me seeing too much into something." He said.

"So, tell me." Kimberly said. Tommy sat up, causing Kimberly to sit up and look at him.

"Today, when I went to pick Trini up from school, she ran over and hugged me."

"Yeah, so?" Kimberly asked.

"It's just…..It felt like something a kid does with a parent, not some guy their mom knows." Tommy said.

"You're not just some guy." Kimberly said.

"I know, I just…"

"It made you feel awkward?" She asked.

"I know that sounds terrible, but-"

"No, no, I understand." Kimberly said. "It's just how Trini is. I mean, she's grown up without a father, and I guess whenever there's an older male figure around who I'm getting close with, she latches onto that. She used to do that with Jason, it's only logical she's doing it with you."

"Oh. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, it's okay. Do you want me to talk to her about it?" Kimberly asked. Tommy shook his head.

"No, it's okay. I mean, its okay. I just….It's made me think." He said. Kimberly looked at him.

"How so?" She asked. Tommy sighed.

"This is going to sound weird. But it just made me think that…Maybe if things had been different…Trini would actually be….You know…Mine…." Kimberly smiled.

"I've thought about that a few times too." She said.

"You have?" He asked.

"Well, yeah. I mean, I love you, I always have." She cuddled up against him. "Trini would be lucky to have you as a dad." She smiled.

"You think so?"

"Yeah, I saw how you two were when you helped her with her shoes the other day, and I just couldn't help think about how great you were with her." She lifted her head and kissed him softly. Tommy smiled and held her close.

---

Trent walked Naomi home after their date.

"I had a great time tonight." She said. Trent smiled.

"Me too." He said.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow." She said. They kissed briefly and Naomi smiled as she went inside. "Mom, dad, I'm home." She said. After a few minutes of her mom asking her about the date, she went up to her room. She sat down on her bed. Her mind drifted off to Ethan and what had happened before. She sighed, not wanting to leave things the way they were. She picked up the phone and dialed his number.

"Hello?" Came his voice after a couple of rings.

"Ethan, hey, it's me." She said softly. "Listen, I was wondering if we could talk..In person."

"Uh, sure. Now?" He asked.

"Yeah. Is that all right?"

"Yeah, sure. Should we meet somewhere?" He asked.

"Yeah. Do you want to meet at the same place we did that night…you know…when you weren't yourself?" She asked.

"OK. I'll see you then." He said. They hung up. About half an hour later, Naomi was sitting on a log, waiting for Ethan to arrive. "Naomi?" He said, walking up. Naomi looked up.

"Ethan, hey." She said. She stood up. "How are you?" She asked. Ethan stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"You really want to know?" He asked. Naomi winced and sat down.

"You want to sit?" She asked. Ethan sat beside her.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" He asked, looking towards the distance.

"I just…Wanted to talk." Naomi said. The two of them fell into an uncomfortable silence. "I'm sorry." She said. "I should've told you, about Trent and me." She said.

"Are you sure you wanted to?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" Naomi asked.

"I mean, are you sure it wasn't some sort of jab at me, like, revenge?"

"What? No! I had no idea you felt-"

"I'd understand if it was. I mean, you have every right to want-"

"Ethan, it wasn't like that." She sighed. "Ok, I'll admit it might've been at first……Kind of……I mean, I was mad at you and I wanted to move on, so I just made myself move on."

"Wait, are you saying that you did feel something for me?" Ethan asked hopefully.

"I mean, move on from the blue ranger." Naomi said.

"Oh." Ethan said, disappointed.

"I'm sorry."

"But…If I had talked to you before you and Trent kissed this afternoon…would we have-"

"I don't think that's relevant right now." Naomi said softly. "Look, Trent and I are together now, and-"

"Right, I shouldn't have asked." Ethan said. "So, what now?" He asked.

"I was hoping you could tell me."

"Maybe we should just…..Keep thing how they are now. You know, keep our distance."

"Are you mad at me about what I said last night?" Naomi asked. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so harsh and-"

"No, its just….Dr. Oliver said something to me today and at first I didn't want to go with it, but he had a point. You said that stuff last night because you were scared of getting involved with this. I mean, you're putting yourself in danger. I understand that now. I should go." He said, getting up.

"Ethan, wait." She said. Ethan stopped. "I………I've missed you." She said. "I mean, I've missed how things were before. You and me being friends…….talking. I miss that."

"I miss that too." He said. Naomi got up and walked over to him.

"So, can't we go back to that?" She asked. "Or, would it be too weird..?" Ethan looked at her. He saw how much she wanted to be friends again, and although he wanted more, he realized that having some contact with her would be better then none.

"No. It wouldn't be weird." He lied. Naomi smiled.

"Okay. And…About that whole danger thing…Well, I trust you, and the others. I know you guys wouldn't let anything happen to me." Ethan smiled.

"I….I mean, we wouldn't." He said.

"Okay. So, we're okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, we're okay." Ethan said. Naomi smiled and hugged him. Ethan hugged her back. "Come on, I'll walk you home." He said after they pulled away. Naomi nodded. They walked together, suddenly Naomi stopped.

"Uh, you know how sometimes, when you're really mad about something, you tend to do something and it's kind of dumb?" She asked. Ethan looked at her.

"What did you do?" He asked. Naomi winced.

"Well, last night, after I left Cyberspace and everything….I sort of typed out the article that would've gone in the newspaper if-" Ethan's eyes widened.

"Naomi!" He exclaimed.

"It was just some release thing!" She said quickly. "Look, right after I typed it I felt terrible so I erased it. I just thought you should know about it. You know, the whole honesty thing." She said with a smirk.

"You're not going to let me live down the whole me being not totally honest about my identity, are you?" He asked. Naomi grinned.

"Where would the fun be in that?" She asked innocently. Ethan groaned as they kept walking. As they past a tree, Trent stepped out of it. Unbeknownst to either Naomi or Ethan, he had followed Naomi to the meeting place and had evesdropped on the whole conversation. Damnit. He thought to himself. Now that she's all nice nice with him I'm never going to get what I want. He growled and stalked off to his house, trying to think of another plan of action.

---

Conner was heading over to his room after getting a snack from the kitchen when he passed by Eric's room.

"……I told you, you can't call here." He heard Eric say. Conner realized he was on the phone with someone. He secretly stood by the door and listened. He felt bad, but something was going on with his brother and he was determined to find out what it was. "…I know, I know. So do I, but if anyone finds out. What if my mom or Conner had answered? Look, I've got to go. No…….It's…….You know what, forget it……..Yeah, I am." Eric growled as he slammed down the phone. Conner stood there for a little while. He still had no idea in figuring out what was going on with his brother. He carefully crept to his room and sighed.

"What is up with you, bro?" He thought out loud.

---

The next day, Kira and Conner were sitting outside, eating lunch and talking.

"Conner, you totally invaded his privacy." Kira said softly. He had just told her about him listening to Eric's side of the conversation.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Conner sighed as he put a chip in his mouth. "I just……I'm worried about my brother, okay?" He said. Ethan came over and sat with them.

"Hey guys." He said. He looked a little less miserable as he did the night before.

"Hey, what's up?" Kira asked. Ethan smiled.

"Naomi and I talked last night."

"Yeah, we know, it didn't go well."

"No, after that. We talked later last night."

"And..?" Ethan said.

"Well, we don't have to worry about her being pissed at us."

"Worry about who being pissed at you?" Naomi asked with a smile as she sat down beside Kira.

"Uh…..Hey." Kira said, kind of surprised. Naomi looked at Ethan and the two laughed.

"Wow, weirdness." Naomi said.

"Uh, well, it is a little surprising to see you here." Conner said. "Getting one on one interviews for the exposing article?" He asked.

"Conner." Ethan reprimanded.

"No, no, I deserved that." Naomi said. "I'll admit, I've been bitchy mcbitch lately, and I'm sorry. I was just…Well, being a bitchy mcbitch I guess. I'm sorry you guys."

"Naomi!" Yelled a voice. Everyone turned to see Trent standing off to the side, not looking very pleased. He walked over. "What's going on here?"

"Hey man, want a seat?" Ethan asked, trying to be civil, even though he didn't exactly like the guy.

"No." He turned to Naomi. "Come on, I got us a table."

"Why don't we just sit here?" She asked. Trent narrowed his eyes.

"No thanks. I'll see you later." Trent snarled as he stalked off. Naomi watched him leave.

"I should probably talk to him." Naomi said. "I'll be back." She said. She got up and followed Trent. She found him sitting at a table alone. "You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just thought you should have told me if you were dumping me." He said.

"I'm not dumping you."

"Well, you're sitting with them, so I just thought-"

"Just because I'm talking to my friends, doesn't mean I'm dumping you." Naomi said.

"Fine, whatever, go hang out with them." He said.

"Well, that tone really tells me you're okay. Do you want to do something tonight?" She asked. Trent looked at her.

"No, I'm working tonight." He said.

"Okay, I'll come over and we can hang out while on your break." She said.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." He said. Naomi sighed and went back to the others.

"Everything all right?" Ethan asked when she sat down. He decided to be the good friend and at least pretend that he was concerned about her relationship.

"Yeah. I guess he just needs to sulk for a bit." Naomi said. She looked at Conner and Kira. "So, how much butt kissing do I need to do for me to be cool with you two?" She asked.

"Hmm, we'll get back to you on that." Kira joked; glad to see Naomi was friends with them again.