Collin's head snapped up, causing everyone in the room to look at him.

"Coll? What is it?" Sky asked.

Collin's eyes filled with tears and Katie wrapped her arm around him. "It's… it's mama," he whispered. "She's… she's so sad… I've never felt anything like this before."

Ani and Sky's eyes locked then. 'You don't think…' Ani asked her twin in her head.

'No way,' Sky said back to her. Moments later the doors to the room opened, revealing a very tired looked Wes.

"Dad!" Alec and Katie cried at once as they descended upon their father.

Wes embraced his kids and held them for a very long time, fearing they would disappear in an instant.

Collin walked over to his siblings and all of them had the same questioning look on their face. Wes broke away from his children and faced his niece and nephews.

"Guys," he said softly. His eyes filled up once again, and all the kids noticed that his eyes were extremely red and puffy.

"Where our father?" Ani asked as her lip began to tremble. Lucky wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her side… he knew…

"Guys… your father… he's… he's not here," Wes said shaking.

"No," Sky said as he balled his fists. "You're lying." Wes looked into Sky's eyes and saw the utter disbelief in them.

"No… he's not."

The Meyers children all turned and faced their mother, as she walked in with Jen close behind her.

"Mama… no," Lucas said as a tears made its way down his cheek. The kids saw the look on their mother's face… completely and totally lost…

"Come here," Taylor said gently as she knelt down and held her arms out. Collin and Lucas ran to her and held her.

"No!" Sky and Ani cried out in anger. Tears ran freely down their faces. Wes and Jen were shocked that the twins were completely in-sync with each other… mirroring what the other was feeling.

"I don't believe you!" Ani cried as she ran to Wes. Her fists slowly began to pound on him, and Wes wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"He saved my life Ani… I'm so sorry," Wes said. Ani's fists slowed and stopped finally, as she wrapped her arms around her uncle.

Sky sank into a chair and placed his head in his hands, sobbing.

"Mommy? Is Uncle Eric gone forever?" Katie asked Jen. Jen hugged her children tightly.

"I think we should go talk somewhere else," she said as she escorted them out.

Ani broke away from Wes and ran to her mother and brothers. Taylor opened her arms further and together they mourned…

Later that night, Sky and Ani sat in Sky's room trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Lucas and Collin had fallen asleep not too long ago in Ani's room, and Taylor had literally disappeared.

"Do you believe Uncle Wes?" Ani asked softly. "That Papa's really gone?"

"No," Sky said confidently. "I don't think he's… gone. He's just… missing. I mean, how many times did Pop tell us about the other rangers and all the things they'd survived?"

Ani gave him the hint of a smile. It was one of her most cherished memories. Every night when they were little, Eric would tell them about the other rangers he had met and the adventures they had had.

Ani's mind began to tick then… Everyone knew she was a genius, even if she had never been tested. Her mind thought out of the box, so to speak. Sky saw the look on her face.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"It's possible… the way Uncle Wes described the last time he saw Pop… there was no physical evidence of him being… destroyed," she said softly. More tears fell down her cheeks and Sky let a few fall from his eyes as well.

The fact still remained… he was gone. The full impact of it all hadn't fully seeped in yet…

The door opening alerted them to the door and they saw Taylor enter slowly, carrying an envelope in her hands. She sat on the bed with them and handed the envelope to Sky.

"Your father left this for you both…before he left," she said softly. She had found a second envelope in the one he had left for her… she had yet to read the note he wrote to her…

"But… how?" Ani asked.

Taylor sighed and wrapped her arm around her daughter. "Your father knew this was going to be dangerous and he… he left this for you both."

She kissed them both goodnight and the door closed behind her. The twins were in a bit of shock. They had never seen their mother so distant…

Sky opened the envelope with shaking hands and read.

"Animaria and Schuyler-

If you're reading this now, then I broke my promise to come home to you. I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to keep it, but I want you both to understand that I had a job to do.

I want you to know that there is nothing more important in this world than family. It took me a long time to finally realize that… until you two came along.

The day you were born will always be etched in my mind as the day I truly had a family to call my own… a day I swore to do all in my power to protect you.

Don't think in any way that this was your fault. I chose to go away and leave you, and for that I'm truly sorry… but I will never be sorry that I saved you.

Schuyler, I'm trusting you with the family now. You have always made me so proud to call you my son, and I know you will continue to do so.

Animaria, though I never told you, you are the smartest person I know. As I said to you the day I left, I know you're going to do great things in the world. I'm so proud of you.

Your brothers may be too young to understand everything that's going on right now, so it's up to you both to keep me in their lives. Let them know I love them both very much.

I love you all so much, and I'll always be with you…

Pop."

Sky placed the letter down and he and Ani held onto each other, sobbing softly…

In her room, Taylor took her letter with trembling hands. She had Eric's wedding band in one hand and the letter in the other.

"Words cannot describe what I feel for you, Taylor. It goes deeper than love and devotion. You're a part of me, and I'm a part of you.

You are the best thing to ever come into my life… I'm so glad I had traffic duty that day all those years ago.

Everything we've shared will always be a part of me, and I want you to understand that I did this to protect what we've worked for for so long… a loving family and a peaceful world.

I know right now you're pissed and upset, and if I were standing there right now, you'd probably knock me out… I wouldn't blame you if you did.

I wish I were there right now, holding you in my arms, letting you give me the third degree for rushing off like this… but I need to do this so that you and the kids will still be there.

You are my reason for living Taylor. Nothing will ever change that… I made a promise to return to you if I could, and I'm holding onto that. I will come back Taylor… I'll never truly be gone.

Whenever you hear Sky laugh, Ani speak, Lucky smile, or look into Collin's eyes… I'll be there.

I love you…

Eric."

Taylor clung to his ring and placed the letter to her heart. She sank into her bed and took comfort in her husband's final words…