Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.
Chapter 8: Syd's Side of the Story
"Nurse Tate, let me help you!" said Nova rushing over with a chair after beholding the pregnant Syd in the doorway.
"Nova, I'm expecting," laughed Syd as she settled into the chair. "Not injured."
Yet Syd couldn't help noticing that the younger Z Delgado was giving her looks to kill. Not that Syd could blame the girl. Syd remembered vividly how in love Sky and Z were during their early adulthood. After all, she was at the time Z's best girl friend and – in spite of everything – still held that same role to Nova. Syd desperately wanted to say something to ease the tension between herself and the younger version of Nova.
"I didn't steal Sky from you!" blurted out Syd to Z. "That was so not how I wanted that to come out!" moaned Syd to herself as both the Delgado ladies looked at her in awkward astonishment. A heavy silence hung over the room.
"So what about those new Delta zords?" began Nova brightly, urgently trying to change the subject to avoid a heated showdown between the two others in the room: her best friend and… herself.
"I never implied that you did!" cut in Z sheepishly to Syd. "Steal Sky from me, I mean. But I would like to know how you to got together. And," Z paused. She almost couldn't bring herself to utter the dreadful words. "And how you and Sky got married."
Syd looked toward Nova for permission to tell her side of the story. Despite a face that showed fear for the worse, Nova nodded for Syd to go ahead. Shifting awkwardly in her seat, Syd subconsciously rested her hands on her swollen stomach as she began to recount her own past to Z:
"Considering the time Nova said you arrived from, you're obviously aware I was with Lex. I eventually married Lex and was as blissfully happy with him as you were at the time with Sky. Yet good things don't always last forever as you, me and Sky would soon find out. You and Sky broke up after the creation of the Nova ranger, and Lex left me after five years of marriage. Nobody understood how hard it was. Nobody but…" Syd's was now choked with tears.
"Nobody but Sky?" asked Z softly, feeling genuine sympathy for Syd.
"Nobody but Sky," repeated Syd affirmatively. "He's the only one who understood me."
"That's exactly what Nova said earlier about Sam when she talked about her past," Z recalled to herself. Z was beginning to see a pattern forming with how these future couples first connected.
"And that's how you and Sky first fell for each other?" finished Z questioningly. "Because you each allowed only the other to see the real emotions you were experiencing?"
"Exactly," confirmed Syd. "You get me really well."
"Well, I was your best friend!" enthused Z.
"You still are!" added Nova resoundingly. "Or is it I still are?" she wondered aloud.
"Now you just sound like Bridge!" giggled Syd. The three ladies shared a good laugh together. Z felt herself beginning to warm up to Sydney Tate.
"So Nova said you and Sky have two children?" asked Z, changing the subject. "Not counting the one on the way," she added, pointing to Syd's bulging belly.
"Yup," confirmed Syd. "Our son Wes is nine, and our daughter Jen is seven. They're named after Sky's parents: Wes and Jen Collins."
"And does little Wes want to grow up to be a red ranger just like his dad?" asked Z, only half-joking.
"No actually, much to Sky's disappointment," chuckled Syd. "Wes is really into electronics and science. Whenever he comes to SPD, he spends all day in the technology lab."
"Wes wants to grow up to be just like Boom," added Nova.
"Now I can see why Sky's disappointed!" teased Z. The three ladies of SPD once again shared a good laugh together.
"It's actually my daughter Jen who has ranger ambitions," continued Syd.
"Does she want to become a pink ranger like her mommy?" joshed Z.
"Nope," replied Syd coyly. "She dreams like all little girls do of being the most famous, female ranger in the universe: the Nova ranger."
"No way!" cried Z excitedly as she looked toward Nova who was now blushing with embarrassment.
"I think Syd's being too kind on me," offered the red-faced Nova.
"Oh stop being so modest!" retorted Syd playfully. "We are after all talking about the same Nova ranger who defeated both Treekena AND Lother's successors single-handedly, prevented a drought on Aquitar, stopped the assassination of the king on KO-35. And all while running a charity to help feed homeless kids on the streets. I mean, this is just to name a few of the Nova ranger's many accomplishments."
"Nova, you've really done all that?" asked Z, looking with pride at her older self.
"Guilty as charged," responded Nova, once again blushing.
"The greatest female ranger of all time," declared Syd cheerfully. "Not to mention the world's greatest godmother as well to Sky and my kids."
"And don't forget to our current yellow ranger: Jack's son Zack!" added Nova. "Jack says I'm the godmother to everyone else's children because I don't have any kids of my own."
"Well hopefully, you and Omega will change that someday," replied Syd, giving Z a wink as Nova once again blushed deeply. Z smiled back at Syd knowingly, thinking of what Omega planned to propose to Nova that night.
"Oh, I almost forgot why I came in here," continued Syd, slapping her forehead. "Z, you dropped your SPD morpher in the infirmary wing."
"I didn't even notice it was missing!" exclaimed Z, taking back her morpher gratefully.
"No prob," said Syd. "I got to go, but I'll catch up with you ladies later!"
"Nova, will my morpher work here in the future?" inquired Z.
"It should," said Nova thoughtfully. "Thanks to Dr. Manx's brilliant technology."
"Oh no, I forgot to thank Syd for finding my morpher," groaned Z. "Stay here, Nova. I'll be right back."
Popping into the hallway, Z scanned the corridor for Syd and finally caught sight of the nurse in the arms of HER Sky. "Not my Sky," Z thought to herself sadly. "Syd's Sky."
Z watched as Sky playfully poked at Syd's stomach as she tried to get him to focus on some files. Sky whispered something in his wife's ear, making Syd laugh hard before she leaned up to place a passionate kiss on her husband's lips.
"They really are happy together," thought Z to herself with bittersweet emotion. Another reflection at that moment zapped through Z's mind: how would she face Sky if she ever returned to the present now that she knew their romantic futures would lie with other of their fellow rangers?
Before Z had time to consider the overwhelming thought, she finally heard a noise that was actually familiar to her… but not in a good way. It was the ominous sounding of the SPD emergency sirens.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed "Only Time Will Tell" so far: Mimi2Blue Eyed Dragon Girlmonkay-poohForfirith The dark angel, jeff, Jnr Cpl ScarlettStep2stepgirlDisneyHeart, Mireya and Gear's Girl. Special shout-outs to Angel pen and Mistress of Phoenix, who have been my pen pal buddies with this particular story. I appreciate all your reviews – whether you've liked the story or not – and thanks so much for reading it!