Series presented by: BloomingViolets and Pink-Green-White-4ever
Challenge: Dependence – written by Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: October 22, 2005

Summary: Sky's struck by a scary realization
Disclaimer: We don't own 'em, wish we did.
Ship: Syd/Sky

AN: Done in response to the Ars Amatoria's Ranger Romance Themes Challenge.

--

Sky poked his head in the door and smiled. Syd was lying on the narrow hospital bed, sleeping soundly. Z was on one side of her and Bridge on the other. Jack had come with him, so he knew the former Red Ranger was parking the car.

"Hey Sky," Bridge greeted.

"Looks like I got here with time to spare," Sky grinned, finally stepping into the room.

He'd been in Seattle when Kat had contacted him about Syd going into early labor with the twins. He'd been very glad that Kat had gotten him a seat on the first flight out, he hadn't wanted to miss the birth of his children, not for anything.

"No kidding. Syd had a fit when the doctor told her she was in labor and you weren't here."

Sky grinned and moved toward his sleeping wife. Carefully, he sat on the edge of the bed and leaned forward to caress her cheek. "Sky," Syd smiled up at him, her eyes opening instantly at his touch.

"Hey Babe, how are you feeling?"

"Better since the epidural."

Sky couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Going natural?" Sky asked softly, referring to how Syd was to give birth. The doctor had told them of the possibility that with the twins being so small, a natural birth might not be possible because of the stress it would place on them, and on Sydney.

"Doctor Robins thinks they're big enough, and healthy enough to try it," Syd yawned. "I'm only two weeks early, so it's better than if they were even earlier."

"I'm glad I got home when I did then."

"That makes two of us," Syd winced as another contraction started. Sky frowned even as he reached forward to rub her stomach.

--

"Well?" Jack asked when Sky walked out of the delivery room.

"One boy, one girl," Sky smiled as cheers went up. "Come on, they're being taken to the nursery."

When the former Rangers arrived, the nurse was just bringing in the twins. "They're gorgeous, Sky," Z murmured, suspiciously wiping tears from her eyes as they gazed at the two newborns.

It was in that moment, standing there looking at the children, that Sky realized something – these two little babies, little humans, made from the physical love he shared with Syd, were totally dependent on him. He was their protection, their shelter, their provider.

"Sky, you ok?" Bridge asked as Z moved over to hug the new father.

"I just realized something," Sky muttered softly.

"What's that?" Jack asked.

"These two are totally dependant on me and Syd for their survival. It's never been like that before. I've never had anyone need me that much, and it's scary."

Z and Bridge nodded while Jack smiled. "It's a good feeling too, though, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but scarier than facing Gruumm ever was."

The others saw the awe and the fear in Sky's eyes as he gazed at the miracles he'd help create. "Come on, I'm sure Syd's awake by now," Jack murmured, breaking the silence.

--

"Everything ok?" Sydney's voice floated in and broke his thoughts.

"Yeah."

Syd raised an eyebrow at him. Since Sky had gone to see the twins in the nursery, he'd been awfully quiet and extremely distant. "Sky?"

No response.

"Schuyler?"

Again, nothing.

"CADET TATE!"

"Yes Ma'am?"

Syd cracked up laughing while Sky looked confused before letting a smile creep onto his face. "Sorry Babe. What's wrong?"

"That's what I'd like to know. You've been deathly silent since you got back from nursery."

"It's nothing."

Syd glared. "Don't tell me, your wife and best friend, nothing's wrong when I damn well know better. Spill it."

Sky opened his mouth and promptly shut it again when a nurse wheeled a cradle in, their children squirming inside of it. Syd giggled and held out her arms for the both of them. Once the babies were in her arms and the nurse left, Syd turned her attention back to Sky and got an answer to her question without even having to repeat it.

"Sky, Honey, what is it?"

"They're so small, so helpless," he nearly cried. "How am I gonna protect them?"

Tears pricked Syd's eyes. "You'll protect them, with your life if you have to, because that's the man you are."

"Sydney, you know, they're completely dependant on us, for everything."

"I know. Scary, isn't it?"

Sky nodded and reach out to touch his son's head. "I don't want to fail them."

The former Pink Ranger laughed. "Please. You? Fail? Not in this lifetime. As long as you be yourself and do your best, you won't fail. Parenting does not come with a manual, it's a learn as you go kinda thing. Just remember, you're not alone, we're in this together."

Sky looked at Sydney, holding their babies, and smiled. She needed him too, he realized. She needed him to be strong, to be there to catch her when she fell, to help her nurture the lives they'd created between them.

"What now?" Syd giggled, seeing the look in his eyes.

Sky shook his head and smiled at her. "I love you."

"I know." Sky smiled. She looked so good, sitting there, rumpled from giving birth to their gorgeous babies, her heart in her eyes, not only for them, but for him too. Sky's smile grew when he realized that she understood that he needed her too. "Sky?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too."