Disclaimer: PR SPD belongs to Disney.

More than Just Friends

Chapter IV

Sky's POV

I was sitting in the recreation room engaged in one of my favorite pastimes, reading the S.P.D. Handbook. It's such a great read! It never gets old either! I've read it too many times to count, and I still can't put it down! It's almost like it gets better and better each time you read it! A pair of hands covered my eyes.

"Guess who?" asked a familiar female voice.

"I know it's you Syd," I answered.

She removed her hands from my eyes, and I looked at her face to face. As much as I love reading the S.P.D. Handbook, that can wait. I much rather be with my girlfriend right now.

"I have a surprise for you," Syd said.

I liked the sound of that. I wasn't quite sure what Syd had up her sleeve, but I had a pretty good idea it was something good.

"Really?" I asked intrigued.

"Uh-huh. I talked Cruger into switching us to night duty tonight so that way you could finally meet my parents," Syd answered.

I nearly fell out of the chair I was sitting in upon hearing that. That definitely took me by surprise although I'm not sure that it was a good kind of surprise.

"Meeting your parents huh? D-do y-you really think that's a g-good idea? Isn't it a little s-soon? I mean meeting the parents is a p-pretty big deal," I stuttered.

Syd laughed. Her laugh momentarily made me feel better, but then like a freight train, my nervousness hit me full force.

"Not at all. I mean we've been dating for over a week now, and besides, I really want you to meet my parents. I also really want to meet your mom," Syd said giving me her best puppy dog face.

Though I desperately wanted to, I couldn't resist Syd's puppy dog face. I can't help myself. It just makes my heart melt.

"Okay, you win." I responded.

Syd squealed in delight. She grabbed me by the hand and pulled me up out of my chair and dragged me out of the recreation room.

"Alright, let's go!" Syd said excitedly.

"What? Now? Why does it have to be now?" I asked nervously.

XXXXXXXXXX

We parked in the driveway of the mansion that was Syd's house. I had a serious case of butterflies in my stomach. I dreaded this moment from the time Syd first told me I was going to meet her parents. I inwardly cursed myself for caving into Syd's puppy dog face. I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

Syd rang the doorbell. I was surprised to see that a middle aged man and woman, who I could only assume to be Syd's parents, answered the door. I thought for sure anyone who would live in a mansion would have a butler or something of that nature. I guess I was wrong.

"Mom, dad, this is my boyfriend, Sky. Sky, this is my mom and dad," Syd said.

I shook hands with Mrs. Drew. "It's a pleasure to meet you," I said.

I extended my hand to shake Mr. Drew's hand, but he didn't return the gesture, and my hand just stayed there extended. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Drew," I stated.

Why wasn't he shaking my hand? Syd's dad wasn't taller than me, but I was under the impression that he was somebody you wouldn't want to cross.

"So, it's a pleasure to meet my wife, but it's just nice to meet me?" Mr. Drew remarked.

I had no idea how to respond to that. I took my extended hand and rubbed the back of my neck nervously. The best I could come up with, which wasn't really good at all was "Uh…"

"Sky is it? Ah yes, Syd's told us a lot about you. So you're the guy with a gigantic stick up his ass. Do you actually think you're good enough to date my little pumpkin?" Mr. Drew asked rather harshly.

"Dad!" Syd exclaimed.

I was rendered speechless. I was confused as to whether Syd actually said that about me or if her father was just trying to get under my skin. If that was the case, he was doing a pretty good job of it. I hadn't even known him for a minute, and I already couldn't stand him.

"Syd dear, would you mind giving me a hand in the kitchen?" Mrs. Drew asked.

Syd started to follow her mother to the kitchen until I grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Whoa, where do you think you're going? You can't leave me alone with your dad! He hates me!" I whispered making sure nobody else heard what I was saying.

"Relax Sky. I'll only be gone for a half an hour tops. Besides, it'll give you two a chance to get to know one another," Syd whispered back.

"That's the thing Syd. I don't want to get to know him!" I replied.

I heard Syd's dad clear his throat. I forgot that he was standing only a few feet from us. He didn't sound happy at all.

"I'm not deaf you know!" he remarked.

This was sheer torture. I wondered if Syd's dad treats all of Syd's potential boyfriends like he's been treating me. I much rather be facing Gruumm's goons than dealing with the wrath that is Syd's father.

Syd put her hands on my shoulders and looked me square in the face. "Please Sky. Will you just give it a shot for me?" she asked giving me another puppy dog face.

I sighed. I decided that I might as well give it a go. After all, it was too late to run away now.

"Okay," I replied.

Syd gave me a peck on the cheek. "Thanks Sky," she said happily.

XXXXXXXXXX

Syd's father had taken me out to the backyard to talk. There was an awkward silence between the two of us. I was waiting for him to initiate the conversation because I had a hunch that he hated me, so anything I would say he'd make some type of harsh remark to.

"You don't talk much do you?" Mr. Drew asked me.

Oh great. How am I supposed to answer this question? It seemed like a lose-lose situation to me because any answer I give wouldn't be good enough for him.

"What are you afraid of me? Let me tell you that I do not want some coward dating my daughter," Mr. Drew stated before I even had a chance to answer.

Did he just call me a coward? I'm anything but a coward! I was a bit intimidated by him. No, I can't be intimidated by him. If I am, then he will win. I can't allow that to happen.

"Yes, I'm a coward. That's why I'm a power ranger. I leave my opponents dazed and confused by my cowardly antics on the battlefield," I replied sarcastically.

Mr. Drew must not have liked that because at that moment he glared daggers at me. Maybe I had taken it a bit too far.

"One thing I cannot stand is a smart-alec!" Mr. Drew remarked.

I couldn't figure out Syd's father at all. What, would he rather I said nothing at all? Time seemed to pass by ever so slowly as I glanced at my watch wondering when Syd and her mom were going to finish up in the kitchen.

"What are you looking at your watch for? Don't look at your watch when I'm talking to you! Where are your manners? Or do you even have any?" Mr. Drew said.

I so desperately wanted to just say "Forget this," and head back to the Academy. This didn't even seem worth it. It was obvious that Syd's father hated me, and he would probably always hate me. It seemed kind of pointless to even attempt to get him to like me.

"Speak when you're spoken to!" Syd's dad exclaimed.

"Yes sir," I replied out of nowhere.

Syd's father looked at me with confusion. "So how many girlfriends have you had?" he asked.

I was caught off guard by the question. It was one of those questions that I didn't exactly have an answer ready.

"I don't see why that makes a difference," I stated.

"That many huh?" Mr. Drew replied.

How did he get that from what I said? He's right though. I have had a lot of past girlfriends. Too many to count.

"I have no doubt in my mind though that Syd is my soul mate," I said.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Mr. Drew looked pleased with that answer. That was a shock in itself.

"Sky, dad, lunch is ready," Syd called out from the doorway to the backyard.

XXXXXXXXXXX

After lunch, Syd, Syd's parents, and I were in the backyard by the pool. It was a really large pool too.

"Syd tells us that you are afraid of the water? What are you some sort of a wuss?" Syd's dad commented.

"Dad, that's not what I said!" Syd exclaimed.

Sheesh, does Syd tell her parents everything? Is it really their business? I didn't like where this conversation was going.

"I'm not afraid of the water!" I retorted.

Syd's father stepped inside the house for a moment, and when he returned he was holding onto a blue Speedo.

"Prove it," he stated.

I didn't feel a need to prove myself to anyone especially Syd's father. I definitely wasn't going to wear a Speedo either. I noticed Syd wasn't defending me this time. Figures. She probably just wants to see me in a Speedo.

"What are you waiting for? Put it on," Mr. Drew ordered handing me the Speedo.

"Come on. He doesn't have to do that," Mrs. Drew said.

At least someone was standing up for me. Mr. Drew had to be kidding. I couldn't swim even if my life depended on it. Though I may end up regretting it later, I found myself heading inside to change into the Speedo.

XXXXXXXXXX

As I walked back out to the backyard in the Speedo, I saw Syd lick her lips and heard her whistle at me. I felt my cheeks start to heat up. I walked up to the side of the pool and stared at the water. What was I thinking? I can't do this.

"What are you waiting for? Get in," Mr. Drew said pushing me into the water.

I submerged in the water and got a mouthful of chlorine water in the process. Water went up my nose and poured into my ears until I resurfaced. I thrashed about trying in vain to stay afloat. I sunk under the surface and rose above the surface too many times to count. Then, I noticed Syd jumped into the pool after me. She grabbed a hold of me and swam over to the steps of the pool. We both climbed out of the pool.

"Dad! Why did you do that? You know Sky can't swim!" Syd shouted angry at her father.

I was shivering both from the cold temperature of the pool water and from how scared I was that I was going to drown a little bit ago. I don't understand why Mr. Drew shoved me in the pool, but I sure was glad that Syd saved me from drowning.

"Well, he has to learn sometime," Syd's father replied.

"You really think that is the way to teach him?" Syd countered.

"I was doing him a favor. What better way to overcome your fear than to face it head on?" Mr. Drew responded.

Syd gave her father a dirty look. She then grabbed my hand. She became very concerned when she felt me trembling. That was evident on her face as well.

"Come on Sky. Let's go. We've obviously overstayed our welcome," Syd said pulling me inside.

XXXXXXXXXX

On the drive back to the Academy, Syd was apologizing for the way her father had behaved towards me.

"It shouldn't surprise me that he treated you like that. He always does this to my boyfriends," Syd said.

"Does what?" I asked.

"My father always scares off my boyfriends. I guess I foolishly thought he would behave differently with you," Syd reflected.

I was still a bit shaken up, but I wasn't going to let Syd notice that, so I just put on my serious, no nonsense front so she wouldn't have to worry.

"I tried giving him a chance Syd. I really did," I commented.

Syd held my hand in hers. The gentleness of her touch sent chills down my spine. Who knew something so slight could affect me so much?

"I know Sky. I appreciate that too. I'm sorry for making you meet my parents. I guess it wasn't such a great idea after all," Syd said massaging the back of my hand with her thumb.

I gazed into Syd's gorgeous blue eyes. I could see the guilt in her eyes. I hated seeing her like this. I missed the twinkle in her eyes when she was happy. I took my free hand and brushed a strand of hair from her face and my hand came to rest against her cheek.

"Listen to me Syd," I started. "Your father didn't scare me away, so don't you worry. I'm not going anywhere."

I finally came up with the main plot for this chapter last night in bed. Lol. I decided to put a different spin on the whole meet the parents thing. From other Sky/Syd fics I've read, usually Syd's parents get along with Sky just fine. That brings me to another thing; I decided not to give Syd's parents names. I won't be giving Sky's mother a name either. They weren't given names in the show, and quite frankly, I'm not good with names, so I'm not even going to bother. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to review. No flames please. Thanks for your time.