Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me, nor does any songs by the Barenaked Ladies. Oh, and I don't own or have any affiliations with the Hershey company either just to be on the safe side.

Chapter 8: The Perfect Valentine's Day

"Come with me," said Sky as he grabbed Syd's hand. "I have something to show you up on the roof."

"Why do you need me to go up there?" whined Syd as Sky dragged her up the stairs.

"Some cadet is trying to throw a party up on the observation deck," replied Sky with a sly grin gracing his face.

"And the cadet really thought we wouldn't find out?" muttered Syd tiredly as she pushed open the door to the roof. "He or she must be really stupid."

"Hey, I resent that!" joshed Sky in pretend offense as he put his arm across Syd's chest and locked her in a bear hug from behind.

"What do you mean by… ohmygosh, Sky," breathed Syd as she stepped out onto the candle-covered and rose-strewn roof top.

Sky had turned the austere observation deck into an amorous rendezvous for two, covering the stringing the roof top rails with pale Christmas lights in a display of romantic radiance that immediately illuminated Syd's heart. She in shock turned slowly around the observation deck, carefully not to step on the flower petals and several small candles that graced the ground. Making her way over to a candle lit table for two, Syd laughed delightedly at the confetti and Hershey Kiss candy decorations. Sky's whole arrangement – coupled with the surprise of the set-up itself – totally blew her away.

"Sky, you broke the rules for me?" whispered Syd softly.

"Of course not," scoffed Sky good-humoredly. "I got Cruger's permission to do this first."

"You mean you've been planning this night all along?" exclaimed Syd in shock. "And this whole time while I thought you didn't want to do anything for Valentine's Day?"

"You know, I surprise myself what I can cook up sometimes," smiled Sky as he gazed lovingly at his girlfriend.

"Like these chocolate-covered strawberries?" giggled Syd as she held up the poorly crafted candy fruit. "Are these homemade?"

"And from the heart," added Sky, rolling his eyes slightly at his own corniness. "Welcome to the 'Sky Top Café.' I know it's not gourmet, but I did the best I could on a broken budget."

"No, it's wonderful," sighed Syd happily. "I mean, I had thought romantic things weren't important to you at all and…"

"Syd," said Sky, cutting her off with a finger to her lips. "If it's important to you, then it's important to me. I love you, and I would do anything I could to make you happy."

"Sky, that's the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me," said Syd with tears in her eyes.

"See, I had it in me the entire time," boasted Sky as he made a sweeping gesture toward his romantic, rooftop get-up. "But wait, I have something more for you."

"Sky, you shouldn't have," protested Syd in pretense. "But of course, I'm really glad you did!"

Syd tore off the pink and red checkered wrapping paper and beheld a picture frame inside. Turning the present over, she saw the frame held a photo of Sky himself all decked out in his red ranger uniform. Looking at Sky dubiously, Syd raised her eyes at him in high amusement.

"Now this gift idea feels familiar," joked Syd, thinking of the photo she'd given Sky earlier of herself as her Valentine's Day gift to him.

"Well, I wanted to give you too something beautiful to look at," joked Sky in return as he stuck out his chest pompously.

"I have a better idea," suggested Syd. "Do you have the other Valentine's Day gift I gave you? Your new Pocket PC 5.0? It has a photo-taking function."

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Syd smiled up at Sky as he pulled the pocket pc from his jacket. Holding it out in front of them, Sky leaned his head against Syd's blond curls as he snapped a shot of them. "Now this is the most beautiful photo I've ever seen," cooed Syd sweetly as she kissed Sky's cheek. "I'll cherish it forever."

"Good, 'cause I don't think this next gift I got you will last that long," joked Sky as he pulled a small, felt box from his pants pocket.

"You got me jewelry!" squealed Syd in excitement. "Oh gimme, gimme, gimme!"

"Alright already," laughed Sky tenderly as he opened the box for Syd.

"It's a…" Syd paused breathlessly as her gift was revealed. "A candy necklace?"

"With a candy bracelet to match," added Sky smugly as he put the tasty jewelry around her wrist. "You said you wanted jewelry and candy for Valentine's Day. I think I did a good job."

"Sky, you do have a sense of humor after all," laughed Sky delightedly as she nibbled at the necklace around the throat.

"I really hope you have one too Syd," replied Sky apprehensively as he reached for a case under the table. "Especially after you hear this."

"I didn't know you played guitar!" gasped Syd as she saw Sky quickly tune the stringed instrument.

"Bridge has been teaching me to play," explained Sky. "Plus, I wanted to surprise you with a song on Valentine's Day, since you said you wanted music and all."

"Sky, thank you so much," stumbled Syd as realized just how close attention Sky had paying all along in order to give her the most special of nights.

"Uhh, don't thank me until after you hear the song," urged Sky nervously before beginning to warble in his perfectly off-pitch manner:

"If I had a million dollars, if I had a million dollars,
I'd but you a house, I would buy you a house.
If I had a million dollars, if I had a million dollars,
I'd buy you furniture for your house. Maybe a nice Chesterfield or an Ottoman."

"Barenaked Ladies, eh!" cried Syd excitedly, touched that Sky had picked a song by a band that represented their mutual Canadian roots.


"If I had a million dollars, if I had a million dollars,
I'd but you a K-car. A nice reliant automobile.
If I had a million dollars, I'd buy your love."

"Sky, you so can't sing," giggled Syd at her boyfriend's bad voice… but still loving every minute of it as red ranger continued to incompetently croon along.

"If I had a million dollars, if I had a million dollars,
I but you a fur coat, but not a real fur coat that's cruel.
If I had a million dollars, if I had a million dollars,
I'd buy you an exotic pet, like a llama or an emu."

Syd sat back as Sky sang, awed by all her boyfriend's attempts to give her the Valentine's Day of her dreams. She didn't know what to be more surprised by: Sky's ability after all to be romantic or her own discovery that an expansive, extravagant holiday wasn't what she really wanted at all. Money and gifts, Syd realized, didn't make her feel like a million dollars. It was being with Sky that made Syd feel like a richer woman.

"If I had a million dollars, if I had a million dollars," sang Sky. "I'd but you John Merick's remains, all them crazy elephant bones. If I had a million dollars, I'd buy your love."

"Sky, that was amazing," exuded Syd as she stood up and applauded whole-heartedly. "But if I had a million dollars, well which I do, I'd buy you some singing lessons."

"But you did like it?" inquired Sky eagerly.

"Let's just say you'll never need a million dollars to buy my love," reassured Syd as she rested her head on his shoulder. "But honestly, just being with you is the best gift I could ever ask for. I've wanted us to be together like this for so long."

"Me too," agreed Sky as he dropped to one knee and pulled out a ring box from his jacket. "Which is why…"

"Sky, you can't be serious!" screeched Syd in shock, although after the red ranger's complete romantic makeover she wasn't about to rule even this out.

"Syd, will you accept this ring?" asked Sky with a twinkle in his eye as he pulled out… a candied rock.

"A ring pop!" laughed Syd as she let out her breath. "I should have guessed by now."

"Marriage after a month of dating, Syd?" asked Syd jokingly. "My personality hasn't changed that much in one night."

"That's ok," assured Syd, mussing his brown hair. "I rather you just the way you are: the same serious, sincere Sky I fell in love with. I guess I was asking too much of you trying to give me this whole extravagant Valentine's Day date. I should have realized from the start that just being with you was all I needed. But in the end, you gave me the most perfect night ever."

"The perfect Valentine's Day?" asked Sky hopefully.

"With my perfect boyfriend," said Syd coming over and snuggling into Sky's arms as looking again at the photo of them on his pocket pc. "Happy Valentine's Day, Sky."

"You too, Syd," toasted Sky as he tilted her face toward his. "May it be the first of many for us together."

Sky had given Syd a lot of candy that night, but lips sensual sweeping across hers was the sweetest treat of all. She loved the way kissing him gave her a high that no shopping spree or diamond necklace could equal. It was ironic for Sydney Drew – who had always indulged in all the fineries life had to offer – that here at Sky's rooftop romantic getaway she felt more like a princess than ever before in her life.

A/N: I kinda in this chapter played off a couple of things from the real lives of the actors who play who the SPD rangers. Matt Austin (Bridge) plays guitar while Chris Violette (Sky) and Alycia Purrott (Syd) are both from Canada.

Final chapter coming up! In the meantime, please show some pre-Valentine's Day love and R&R!