Disclaimer: Okay. Saban, not mine; Disney, not mine; Power Rangers, not mine; Microsoft Word, not mine;get the point? Oh, and here we meet Carene, mine!

Author's Note: Alright, stars won't show up, lets try squiggly lines. Those are going to be my page breaks, we need them here.

Author's Note: Finally! We finally get the answers to those burning questions! What makes up the universe? Why do noses run and feet smell! And when will we get enough allowance to buy the Power Rangers from Disney! And why was Saban strange enough to let go of PR? Okay, actually, we just get answers to the title, life is? Read and review!

"Hey!" T.J started at the unexpected call. A young woman with softly falling black hair and cheery gray-brown eyes bounced forward with a lively, "T.J!"

"I haven't seen you in forever!" the woman cried, latching onto his arm. T.J bit back a grin. Carene was prone to over exaggeration; he had seen her no more than yesterday. "So?" She inquired, "What's going on in the world of T.J Johnson? A.K.A Theodore Jarvis Johnson, city chef, and my boyfriend." Her sweet, mischievous tone made it hard not to laugh.

"Well, my dear," T.J observed lightly. "Andros came back. We're"

Carene cut him off with a delighted squeal. "You mean the Andros? The one that I keep hearing about?"

"Yes, the Andros." T.J laughed. "The old gang and Andrea are planning to have a welcome back party. You know, sort of a premiering of him to Cassie and Ashley, they weren't there when Andros kinda reintroduced himself."

"Wow!" Carene exclaimed, blown away by the sheer power of what it meant. "I can't wait to see how Ashley reacts." T.J laughed. Yes, he thought life is good.

Lillian's face twisted into a happy grin. "Peek-a-boo!" Andrea cried, letting her hands fly from her face. Her three-year old daughter giggled that sweet baby laugh that was totally irresistible. Especially to Carlos or, "Daddy!" as he was referred to. Andrea smiled fondly at Lillian Vargas and knew, that this life, was what kept her alive and happy.

Karone smiled sadly as she watched Andros… scurry, yes, that was the only word for it, around Ashley's office. Observing the pictures, plaques, and memorabilia she had collected over the years a bittersweet smile lingering on his face. Zhane dragged behind him, a tired smile on his face. Staring at a framed picture on the wall of the seven friends, she smiled enviously of those days when they were all together, happy and… complete. But, she knew that she couldn't change what happened, she just had to make the best of it. And, watching her fiancé and brother "play chase", she wouldn't trade this life for anything.

Scowling furiously at a bag of charcoal that had unceremoniously fallen out of the trunk of his car, Carlos sighed heavily. He heard a high-pitched squeal that sounded quite like Lillian. Too much like Lillian… His fathering instincts kicking in, he looked up… and to his delight found his wife and child amusing each other with innocent play. Amusing himself with watching them, he sighed contentedly, never had he realized that he would fall in love, marry and have a child in 5 years. But, then, life was full of surprises. With one last look, he turned his attention back to the heavy charcoal bag.

Ashley sniffed, watching woman and dog interact playfully. She looks so happy. She mused, as Jetson decided that the petunias Ashley and Cassie had grown would make a fine snack. Turning her gaze toward the blue, cloudless sky, a sigh escaped her. Oh, Andros, she thought, for the who- knows- what time. How I wish you could be here… with me. But who knows? He mind added, deciding to rebel. I've always believed that something good comes out of everything; shouldn't that theory apply here too? Sighing once more, she faced her best friend, both human and animal.

Zhane plopped down into the soft twirly chair that sat by a large potted fern and a mahogany desk. He gazed fondly at a picture of their 'alter egos'; a mirror- like image split the picture and on one side the six Astro rangers sat, unmorphed with Karone just off to the side, approaching. On the other side, they were all in their 'costumes' with the rangers in fighting stances and Astronema walking towards them, Wrath Staff in hand. Those were the good ole' days, he mused silently. Fighting evil, living on a spaceship, the other rangers trying to juggle school and rangering… I never really realized how complicated 'regular' life could be. With that buried in his mind, he snuck over to his fiancé in hopes of a kiss.

Heavy heart in hand, Cassie blinked away tears as she stared at her only picture of the Phantom Ranger. Through years of fruitless hope, pitying looks and comfort sessions with Ashley, she still had no idea who the mysterious ranger was, where he was and even if… No. She ordered herself firmly. I have to believe. A comforting hand laid itself on her shoulder. Without looking up, Cassie whispered, "Jetson asleep already?"

"I left him with his food bowl." Ashley whispered back. Then, "Still grieving over the 'I go where I am needed.' Ranger?"

"Don't call him that." She chided half- heartedly. Inside, she knew that that would probably be his name for a while.

"He lied." Ashley said finally, after a moment of silence in respect for both their lost loves.

"Who?"

"Both of them. You need Phantom, and he isn't here. As for Andros… he might as well be dead, I haven't heard nor seen him since he"

"Broke up with you?" Cassie jutted in, her voice bitter and sad.

"Yeah." Ashley sighed heavily and they both knew how badly the men they had fallen for let them down. "He promised to stay with me, be there for me. He said his home was with me." Cassie sensed tears in the (very) near future.

"Sometimes things don't work out." Cassie whispered, her voice a near exhale, trying to convince herself and her best friend. Staring miserably off somewhere, Ashley refused to answer, but her silence was really more than enough. Though different backgrounds, childhoods, the two former rangers were linked by a bond of friendship that no man could break, rather they strengthened those similarities and twined them together, even more tightly.

Author's Note 2: Friendships are great things, aren't they? I want to write a song to go with this fic, but I need ideas! They should have something to do with life, and, even better, answer the question, "What is life?" I tried to do something with that in this chapter, and I want feedback! You can send ideas, verses, chorus's or just praise. Please?

RR! To Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow, your stories are great, I love the reviews you've given me, you're practically my only fan. So, I'll just lavish praise on you. Thank You! I just adore Born to Fly, otherwise known as The Freak. Keep it up! And, Funky in Fishnet, thanks for the review, I write the charecters well? I've seen exactly one episode of PRiS, and that was Ct2D. I saw them again in the LGS teamup, but only a bit. And I saw Andros in FR, where this fic's inspiration came from. Considering that, and the many episode reviews I've read, as well as the PRiS stories I've read, I'm very pleased to see some of that paying off. I just love PRiS. I've babbled long enough. Review!