Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.

A/N: Just to defend myself a little bit as a writer, not all my SPD stories are as complex and dramatic as this one. If you prefer lighter SPD stories with definitive pairings, I offer for Sky/Z fans my story "Fun and Games" and for Sky/Syd fans my story "Spa Seduction" (it's not dirty like it sounds!). Sorry, done plugging:-)

Ok, and here's my justification behind the future Sam/Z relationship in this story. In "Endings Pt. 2" of the SPD series, if you pause the frame right before the Omega and Nova Rangers teleport back to the future, you'll notice that Nova looks an awful lot like a certain yellow SPD Ranger. Maybe 20 years down the line, Z and Sam became a couple. I did the math (according to a PR timeline): they're only five years apart in age. Considering we are in the age of younger men/older women relationship like Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz or Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, I don't think it is so preposterous to imagine Z and Sam could date when they both grow up.

I also think the idea of Sam and Z being together while they are teens is BEYOND gross. However, if you decided to read this chapter, you'll see I don't have Z and Sam begin a romance until they are both in their thirties. That's not so bad now is it? As usual, please R&R!

Chapter 6: Sam's Proposal

"I hate myself!" thought Z despairingly to herself. "Or, I mean I hate Nova! I can't believe she'd want to date Sam. How could anyone break up with a guy as wonderful as Sky?"

Blinded by tears, Z sprinted wildly through the halls of SPD. She didn't care where she ended up as long as it was away from Nova. Not paying attention to where she was going, Z collided straight into a broad-shouldered, sandy-haired man wearing a dark gray SPD uniform with gold trimming.

"Hey, what's got you so upset?" said the SPD officer in upbeat tone, grasping a teary Z by the shoulders.

"Me and the stupid guy I end up dating in the future," muttered Z angrily, trying to twist away.

"Sounds like you don't like him so much right now," chuckled the chipper officer as he tried to still the struggling Z from breaking free.

Finally looking up, Z gasped upon seeing the face of her captor. "Sam!"

"Don't worry, I won't take it personally," Z heard Sam say, his brown eyes twinkling with amusement. "Let's go get you some hot chocolate. That's still your favorite drink, isn't it?"

Z found it hard to stay mad at Sam, especially when he brought her over a cup of coco complete with little marshmallows and a peppermint stick. After all, this was the same Sam she had fought side by side with against Grumm, the one who she used to take target practice with… the one who had helped her spy on Sky as her crush on her fellow SPD ranger had grown.

"I can't believe you still remember how much I like hot chocolate, Sam," began Z, sipping her warm drink.

"Omega," cut in the SPD officer. "Please only call me Omega. That's how everyone addresses me these days anyway."

"You too?" asked Z surprised. "What's up with you and Nova insisting on being called by your ranger titles, even by your closest friends?"

"It is one the Academy's regulations," said Omega quickly, hoping to get Z off the topic.

"Like I buy that," replied Z undeterred. "Rules, HA! This coming the Omega Ranger I knew as the guy who liked taking Cruger's Delta ATV for joy rides! Plus I've heard you and Nova call each other by your real names."

"You should hear the pet names I have for her," said Omega mischievously. "Lizzie, Zu-zu, Nova-belle, My Nova Noodle…"

Hot chocolate came spraying out of Z's mouth as she was unable to hold back her laughter. "There, finally a smile!" said Omega cheerfully as Z realized she was now grinning from ear to ear.

"He's so funny," thought Z to herself. She had forgotten how entertaining Omega was. "I guess I could see why Nova loves him."

"Tell me Omega," began Z inquisitively. "How did you and Nova start dating?"

"I brought Nova some lox one day, and she decided we the perfect pair," teased Omega, punning that his girlfriend's name also was known as a type of smoked fish.

Z laughed as she placed her hands on her hips in mock annoyance. "Seriously! How did you and Nova get together?"

A glow radiated from Omega's face at the mention of his beloved girlfriend. A sweet smile spreading across his lips, Omega began his story:

"Nova was twenty-nine years old when she came to KO-35 where I worked, having fled Earth after returning from a three year mission to find that not only were Sky and Syd married, but they had a six month old son together. Nova and I hadn't seen each other in almost ten years, not since I was the young, green SPD ranger back on Earth before Sophie took over the position. Obviously Nova found me much changed, shall we say, physically considering at the time I was now twenty-four. But it wasn't long before our bond as friends was restored. I had been the Omega Ranger at SPD headquarters on KO-35 for around two years in a similar detective-like role that Nova served in as a ranger for the Earth branch. Despite the decade that had passed since we'd last seen each other, Nova and I found that we still shared a special connection knowing how hard it was to be different. This time though it was not about genetic powers, but about being one of a handful of specialized investigative rangers in the SPD force."

"Did you and Nova get together right after she came to KO-35?" asked Z, enthralled by the story of her future life.

"Not at all! laughed Omega. "We still thought of each other only as friends! SPD however assigned us to work together on our next couple assignments. We spent a lot of time learning each other's fighting styles… and about each other. It was only two years later, when I was twenty-six and Nova was thirty-one, that I realized I was falling for her. The day I was going to tell Nova how I felt was when I got called to Earth and sent back to your time."

"But you and Nova got together eventually, right?" questioned Z.

"Yes," confirmed Omega. "But it took us awhile to get where we are today. I left for your time very suddenly, and due to technology there, I was unable to contact Nova about where I had been sent. The final battle against Grumm was the first time I'd seen her in over a year. Needless to say, Nova was a little pissed that I had packed up and left so suddenly with no note or anything. It took a long time for me to regain her trust, but in the end it was worth it. We've now been dating happily for over three years and last month just moved in together."

"When did you first realize you were in love with Nova?" inquired Z intently.

Omega grinned widely, beaming with love for his girlfriend. Even Z was won over by how much he truly cared about Nova. Leaning back on his hands, Sam brightly began the next part of his tale:

"One afternoon on KO-35, about a month before I was sent back to your time, Nova decided we should have a picnic in the park. We were sitting on some rocks in a little nook by the lake that was enclosed by some shrubs. It felt like we were in our own little world. Nova decided she wanted to go swimming. I was confused because she didn't have the proper attire with her, but Nova just stripped off her uniform and jumped in the lake only in her SPD t-shirt and spandex shorts!"

Z giggled. She could totally see herself doing that. Omega grinned at her entertained expression, before continuing with his story:

"I was shocked. Here was Nova, known for her professionalism and maturity, doing the backstroke in the lake in nothing but her uniform undergarments! She called for me to come in, telling me the water was great, but I flatly refused. The next second, Nova had pulled me into the lake. When I came the surface sputtering for air, Nova was laughing hysterically like I hadn't seen her in a long time. Despite that we were both adults, not to mention upper-level SPD rangers, she had still kept her silly and scrappy personality in tact. I was amazed after all the trying times she'd been through as the Nova ranger, she could still find joy in life. Nova reminded me what it felt like to be alive again. I knew in that moment I was falling in love with her.'

"That's so sweet," sighed Z happily, beginning to accept the idea of herself dating this man twenty years in the future. "All that was missing from that story was you and Nova living together happily ever after."

"Well, actually," said Omega, pulling a small jewelry case from his coat pocket, "I'm really hoping Nova might just say yes to that, too."

"You're proposing!" squealed Z with genuine excitement for her older self.

"I was going to pop the question later tonight," grinned Omega, looking both excited and scarred to death. "I'm taking her back to go dancing by the lake. Figured I might as well propose by the spot I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her."

"How romantic," cooed Z. "I can't believe I'm getting married! I mean, Nova is," corrected Z quickly, seeing Omega's amused expression.

"When we were by the lake that afternoon, it was like we were in our own little world," reminisced Omega fondly, putting away the ring box. "For once we were the real Z and Sam, not the regulated versions of ourselves as the Nova and Omega rangers. I knew I loved her at that moment for her ability to make me feel like my old self again."

"Is that why you only like each other using your real names?" asked Z fixedly.

"I think I can answer that," Z heard a female saucily reply. Recognizing the woman's voice, Z turned around sharply.

Standing at the doorway was Nova.