I do not own Power Rangers: Jungle Fury

Dom and Fran are adorbs.

Places in Books

Down By The Seashore


The Mediterranean is beautiful in the daytime.

Sun glinting off the waves like diamonds.

Birds cawing and wheeling and dipping overhead.

People strolling to and fro.

People sunbathing, splashing in the surf.

They had almost ended up on the Playa Mar Bella.

"How about that one?"

As Fran had randomly pointed to one on the . . .

"Uhh, we could."

"Why, what's wrong?"

. . . city map they had.

And Dom had cleared his throat.

"Nothing. It's, umm, . . ."

Ears the slightest bit reddening at the outer edges.

". . . it's a nude beach."

And Frannie's jaw had unhinged, . . .

"Oh!"

. . . mouth dropped open.

"I mean, we can if you want to, there's nothing wrong with that-"

And her mouth had dropped to the ground, it felt like . . .

"No! I'm- noooo . . ."

And she suddenly decides . . .

I don't even go out without sunscreen.

. . . to pick . . .

"Um, how about this one?"

"Good choice. Let's go!"

. . . another beach.


It's low tide on Cubelles.

And no lie, the rock wall previously below sea level, she swears . . .

That just can't be.

. . . seems to have a permanent sparkly blue sheen to it.

Must be the sun in my eyes.

Or Dom's trunks.

Ahem.

They're searching the tide pools, her and Dom.

Like little kids run off from their sunbathing Mom and Dad.

Frannie in her simple green one piece and hip shorts and beach shoes, no real curves or anything to show off, . . .

Oh well. Not like some of these bun-floss babes-

And Dom in his blue boardshorts.

Dom.

Boardshorts.

Beach shoes.

And . . .

Don't look, don't look, don't look-

. . . no shirt.

I'm looking, stop looking-

Yum- stop it, Fran-

And he looking just fine, and not making a big deal out of any of it.

So much yum, I yum, oh marinara-

And she knows she's blushing, she only hopes the no doubt encroaching sunburn will help hide it.

She tries not to look at his smooth, slender torso.

All muscular and trim, not the bulging, gross muscles of entertainment wrestlers or bodybuilders, just-

Oh, yum, Dom-

I'm. Not. Looking.

And that thin metal necklace still around his neck, calling her attention to the hollow of his throat, the perfection of his neck, the lines of his collarbones-

Stop it, Frances-

And when she follows him from one tidepool to the next-

"Hey, Frannie, look at these anemones, they're actually moving . . ."

-she inevitably finds herself gazing in fascination at that smoothness, the tautness of his back, the way the muscles move under his skin when he bends and stretches-

"-hey, crabs, hey, Frannie, hungry?"

I sure am.

Ahem.

-and yes, she is enjoying the marine life.

". . . seas stars . . ."

But at the same time, she will never tell him . . .

". . . sea cucumbers . . ."

. . . she is just desperately trying . . .

". . . crazy to find a little shark . . ."

. . . to maintain some semblance . . .

". . . or octopus or something, wouldn't it . . ."

"Yeah, that would be awesome-"

. . . of self restraint and dignity.


And by now night has fallen.

And there are people here now, in the evening as night has fallen and the ocean has become a black expanse of constantly rumbling waves.

But it is all so much smaller.

And so much bigger.

And Frances Faye Fugleman and Dominic Marcus Hargan . . .

"It's beautiful."

"Yes. It is."

. . . are right in the middle of it all.

Wow.

There are still diamonds in the waves, the moon sees to that.

There is a fire down the beach, people sitting around it.

She thinks it would be nice to sit with them, just listen.

Just let everything wash over her, wave, so to speak.

But for now, . . .

"I love this, Dom. This is so great."

. . . this is everything wonderful in the world.

And Dominic . . .

"Hey, wanna go for it?"

Yes, definitely.

Wait.

What are we talking about?

. . . seems adventurous.

"What?"

As always.

He tilts his head toward the lapping shore.

And Frannie . . .

"Come on, Fran. Play with me."

. . . tentatively . . .

"Um, okay."

. . . follows.


Feet first, just her feet.

Timid, shy, . . .

"Come on, I got you, you're safe."

. . . bravening little Fran feet.

"Um, okay."

And the city lights aren't that far away.

Music drifting out over the waves.

And she's up to her shins and she's . . .

Ooh, cold-

. . . holding his hand and Dominic's right there beside in the darkness.

I swear I'm going to wake up from this dream and it will be morning and I'll have to open the pizza shop and I will just cry even though I love pizza-

And she's up to her thighs, her hips almost and the nightsky is full of stars-

And he will be gone because he never asked me to come with him in the first place, why would he, silly-

And suddenly she slips, puts her foot wrong or something-

"Ahh-"

-and right before she goes under, he's-

". . . got you, Frannie, I got you . . ."

. . . got her and she's clinging to him.

". . . alright, no worries . . ."

And his arms are around her . . .

"Ughlerfus, ahh, I mean, thank you, Dominic . . ."

. . . she's very aware of how close . . .

"Of course, Frannie. I'm not going to let the sea take you away from me."

. . . they are.

"Hey, that rhymed, Dom."

And she really knows it must be a dream now because . . .

"Yeah. It did."

. . . he's gazing so intently at her.

And they're still so very close even though she's regained her footing.

"Cool."

And she thinks this just has to be a dream.

"You know what else isn't going to take you away from me, Frannie?"

Because his voice is a low murmur and they are so very close-

"Wh- what?"

"Sharks!"

"Wh- ahhh!"

And then the moment is broken because he's grabbed her up in his arms completely.

"Dom!"

Just about over his shoulder.

"What are you doing?!"

And is running pell mell through the waves.

"Rescuing us from sharks of course!"

And then back again.

"We're coming to get you, sharks!"

"Dom!"


"Dom! Dom, stop! Ahh!"

She's yelling but she's laughing too.

Because he's splashing her and she's splashing him.

"Oooh, so that's how you're going to play it, huh-"

And they're lost together under the star-filled sky in the Mediterranean sea.

And it . . .

"Dominic! Dom!"

. . . is . . .

"Ahhh!"

. . . awesome.


Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading. :)