The challenges can be found at Ars Amatoria's Ranger Romance Themes.

Challenge: Patience
Pair: Sky/Z
Disclaimer: Don't own the Power Rangers, not even an action figure.
Timeframe: This fic is set somewhere between Perception and Reflection.
Summary: Sky and Z test the waters of their budding relationship.

Z sat thumbing casually through a magazine while sitting in the Common Room. At least to the common observer she appeared to be casual; inside she was wound as tight as a tension wire. She's been thinking a lot about Sky, and had come to the decision that she would like to get to know him better. But now that she'd come to that decision he proved elusive and skittish.

It was frustrating because Z knew there was a mutual attraction, but it was like now that it was sort of out in the open, Sky just couldn't deal. It fell to Z to try to connect and so far she'd been unsuccessful. At first she had tried to track Sky down, talk to him one on one, but when she tried to do that he got weirdly nervous and would always have some excuse to leave. Then she tried to talk with him when they were together with the other Rangers, but he always managed to turn the topic of conversation away from himself. And since Syd, Bridge and Jack were not shy about talking, it was easy for Sky to get the focus off of him and onto them. Z couldn't figure it out. She's never known a man who acted towards women the way Sky was acting toward her; it was exasperating and fascinating at the same time.

But Z was patient, so today she was trying a new tactic. Sky was such a routine oriented person that it was easy to know where he'd be at any given time. I am so not stalking him; I'm just ending up where he'll happen to be…that's all. It wasn't her fault that she happened to be sitting in the common room when Sky came in to work on one of his models. And it just so happened that she was out of his line of sight, so that he walked far enough into the room before he saw her, that if he suddenly turned and walked out he would be seen as being rude. Not her fault…she was just reading a magazine. No rules against that.

It was very hard for Z to maintain a straight face when Sky noticed her sitting there and then couldn't decide whether to run or ignore her. She just bobbed her head to the music on her headphones and didn't even allow a ghost of a smile to pass her lips when Sky decided to stay. He did give her a curt, "Hey Z." before he sat down and became engrossed in his model.

Z let a few minutes pass in silence, and then she began sneaking looks at Sky. How was it that she'd never really noticed just how handsome the Blue Ranger was? Maybe it was because he always had such a somber expression on his face; but how could she have missed the brilliance of his eyes? Z swiftly glanced back at her magazine as she noticed Sky noticing her.

He looked so nervous. Z was somewhat amazed that she could make him feel so uneasy. Should she really be pursuing him if she made him so uncomfortable? Then it hit her like a bolt of lightning from the blue – a total epiphany. Sky was nervous because he was trying to work up the nerve to approach her. He wanted to make the first move, but he didn't know how. It was a stunning revelation and totally unexpected. Never in her life had a man been afraid to approach her; it had been her experience that men barged right in and took what they wanted from women. Sky's tentativeness was totally new for Z.

Z bit her lip as she pondered her next move. If Sky really did want to make the first move, how could she get him closer to it without making it seem as if she was the one who did it? She didn't know, but she was thisclose to breaking down and asking for some advice from the Pink Ranger. With a sigh, Z tossed her magazine aside and rose from the couch where she's been sitting. She didn't need to find an answer today, if nothing else, Z was very patient.

As if responding to some invisible signal, Sky abruptly stood and called out after her, "Z?"

Z turned to look at him, honestly surprised. "Yes, Sky?"

"I um…" Sky took a deep breath and crossed the room to where Z was standing. His sudden movement made Z's heart skip a beat. He came to stand right in front of her. "I wanted to ask you something."

Z was astonished by the look of vulnerability on Sky's face; he was absolutely expecting her to shoot down whatever it was he was about to say, but had come to the point where he had to say it anyway. It made Z wonder how he'd been hurt so badly that he expected that kind of response from her.

"Would you like to go out for dinner sometime? A real dinner, not in the mess hall?"

Z answered immediately, "I'd love to, Sky." She couldn't hold back the beaming grin that split her face.

"Really?" Sky seemed shocked by her sudden and enthusiastic response.

"Yes." she assured him. "I've just been waiting for you to ask!" the twinkle in her eyes matched the grin on her face.

Before they could continue alarm klaxons began to sound. Together they ran side by side to the command center. If Z seemed somewhat more breathless and flushed than usual, no one noticed. But inside she was beaming and she knew in her heart that patience always pays off.

TBC