Disclaimer: I own nothing, no matter how much I want to own Phillip Andrew.

Author Notes: The quick and continual reviews make me smile so much, thanks guys! I love writing this story coz I love writing the WF team, my fave team ever! A brief warning, this story will only be a few chapters long in total. I'd say there's about 3 more to post after this. Author shout-outs at the end, enjoy!

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Merrick was on a forced break. Willie had insisted, saying that since Merrick had spent most of his morning chopping wood he needed a break, so the Lunar Wolf Ranger was sat on the bar's back porch where he'd been mending a splintered table from the latest bar brawl as a change of pace. Willie had said he'd come notify him when he could work again after resting long enough. Merrick needed to work; it kept his mind off other things.

"Want some company?" a voice asked tentatively.

Alyssa stood over him expectantly. Merrick had felt her approaching for the past few minutes but hadn't bothered to try and conceal his presence. He liked the friendly Tiger Ranger and her gentle nature. He registered the armful of books she was carrying precariously. He wondered briefly how she'd transport them back to the Animarium on her bicycle.

"Don't you have college?" he asked.

"I'm free for a while before I go to meet Cole. Can I sit down?"

Merrick glanced up at her. Alyssa was the sweetest member of the Wild Force team and seemed to understand best how much Merrick valued his alone time. Her open and hopeful expression held no traces of ulterior motive (it never did) so Merrick moved along to make room for her. Gratefully the White Ranger sat down, dropping her books down beside her. She drew in a deep breath of the fresh air, drawing her knees up to her chin for her to rest on.

"Why aren't you working?" she asked quietly.

"Willie's forced me to take a break."

"Working too hard again?"

"According to Willie."

There was a pause as Alyssa looked out at the beautiful landscape. There wasn't a breath of wind and the sun sparkled on the grass.

"I envy you, working outside," she sighed. "I'm stuck inside a stuffy classroom everyday."

"It is pleasurable."

"Merrick, I don't want you to be angry with me," Alyssa began, shifting so she was facing him. "But we'd all really like it if you came to the Animarium tonight. Eric and Wes are coming to see us and we want you to be there."

"You know how I feel about the Animarium Alyssa. It's too painful for me to be there."

"Just for one night Merrick. We only see you at battles and you leave straight afterwards," Alyssa begged earnestly. "I know you like your time alone and I know you and the Princess……."

Merrick snapped his head around to look at her as Alyssa stopped herself. She managed a weak smile.

"I know there are reasons you don't visit us but we'd really like you to come by and Cole's told me that Silver Wolf misses you a lot."

"What were you going to say? About the Princess?"

Alyssa looked at him carefully. The hard steely tone of his voice was softened by the gentle appearance of his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't hide how much he cared for the Princess.

"Just that I know things are awkward between you two. We can all see it. We just want you to be happy and the Princess would make you happy."

"No!"

Merrick leapt to his feet angrily. His body was rigid and taut, his fists clenched as he glared down at the defenceless Tiger Ranger.

"I cannot allow it Alyssa! I cannot allow myself to have a relationship with her again!"

He tailed off, realising he'd said too much. Alyssa's expression held only compassion and understanding. Merrick quickly bottled his feelings back down, not wanting to explore what he already knew to be true with someone else.

"Thank you for your invitation Alyssa. I'll think about it," he said formally, his voice neutral. "I should see if Willie will allow me to work again."

Alyssa's head bobbed as she got to her feet, gathering the books up into her arms. She hadn't taken his anger personally, she never did.

"That's fine, just let me know on my Growlphone so I know how much to cook," she said cheerfully. She patted his shoulder in a friendly manner and began walking away before turning back to the Lunar Wolf Ranger. "Try and live with your past Merrick so we can be part of your present."

Before Merrick could answer, she walked off towards the college. Merrick watched the clean white of her Wild Force jacket disappearing around a corner. She and Cole always made sure that he was never alone for too long. They were the reason Taylor dropped by to run over some tactical plans with him, why Max came regularly for pool lessons and why Danny visited to check on the plants he'd given Willie for the bar. Merrick was grateful for the occasional company and Willie practically encouraged him to invite his friends around. He felt most comfortable around Cole and Alyssa. They never asked awkward questions and expected nothing from him but his acceptance of their help. Going up to the Animarium would be a good way to repay them. But would he be able to bear being in the Princess's presence for an extended evening?

Thoughts of her lovely face tumbled into his mind and he squeezed the hammer handle tightly. He remembered her standing before him in this very place, pleading with her eyes for him to give them another chance. For a few moments he luxuriated in memories of her gentle loving touch, the smile she saved for him when no one was watching and countless early mornings spent playing his flute for the Deer Zord as she sang.

So much wrong, so much guilt weighed heavily on him. He couldn't let it go. He and the Princess were all that remained of Animaria and if they didn't uphold what had structured it, they would lose it completely in his mind. No matter his forever strong feelings for Princess Shayla, he had to hold it all in for the sake of the fallen Animaria.

The green landscape that his eyes couldn't escape reminded him of his lost land. How long had it been since he'd set foot on the Animarium? That chunk of his past so readily available to him. Silver Wolf came to visit him on Earth but Merrick knew it longed for him to visit him at his true home. And how long had it been since he'd seen Wes Collins and Eric Myers? Not since that wonderfully free time in the Animarium meadows following the Mutorgs destruction when both teams of Wild Force and Time Force Rangers had gathered together in celebration and he'd stolen some moments alone with Princess Shayla as they walked together. It was only right to keep in contact with valuable comrades like the remaining Time Force Rangers. His heart ached to see a glimpse of the place he once knew.

"Merrick!"

Willie's voice broke through the myriad complicated thoughts that crowded his brain. He turned, slightly dazed to find his boss standing in the doorway, hands planted firmly on his hips and dishcloth over one shoulder. He looked halfway between amused and concerned.

"You ok? You're not exactly prone to daydreaming are you?" he asked jovially.

"Fine, I'll be fine," Merrick reassured him, shaking the last of his cobwebbed thoughts out of his head.

"Good, well you can continue working if you like. Make sure you break for lunch, there's meat in the fridge for sandwiches," Willie tossed over his shoulder as he made his way back into the house.

Merrick nodded though he knew Willie couldn't see him. He never skipped a meal; it was a fool's notion. In order to sustain the level of work he expected of himself, he had to make sure he refuelled punctually. Alyssa's meals were always good. He hadn't worked out how she'd learnt to cook so well and she or Cole had never volunteered the information. Either way, the promise of a meal from Alyssa was a tempting offer, even if it was going to be served on the Animarium. It had been a long time since he'd spent time with his fellow Rangers, an even longer time since he'd seen Eric and Wes. Maybe this once, the Princess would be away tending to the Zords or she'd treat him like any other member of her Ranger team.

He laughed to himself quietly as he began working on the table again. He was trying to fool himself. Nothing like that would ever change.

To be continued……

X

AUTHOR SHOUT OUTS

White Time Ranger: Yep this is set after the crossover as I love to write Wild Force and Time Force as kinda intertwined. There will definitely be shades of Wes/Jen in the next chapter I promise! Thanks for always reviewing me, means a lot!

Antarctic Wolf: Yeah I love putting Cole/Alyssa together; they're just so perfectly suited and make a wonderfully sweet couple – a direct opposite of Taylor/Eric! Wow that was an interesting idea you offered me but I'm not gonna write something so complicated I'm afraid. As I mentioned at the top of the story, this is only gonna be a brief simple story only a few chapters long. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Jenny: Yep am very happy with your few words lol. Merrick and Shayla do deserve to be happy together but it's all up to Merrick and his stubbornness. But fear not, I am a huge fan of happy endings! Thanks for your review!

Jean: I've written Alyssa/Cole together as I feel it's very logical (as do many WF fanfic writers) as they are such a perfect coupling. As for whether Merrick and the Princess get together, you won't have to wait that long to find out! Thanks for your review!