For those on the East Coast (and in the Midwest) Sorry this is sorta late... I kinda got sidetracked.

I'm trying though!

Now, before I go on...

Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. If I did, this OTP of mine would've been cannon.

And now, Please enjoy!

Merrick Baliton

I tossed in my sleep.

"Let her go!" I shouted, even if some invisible force was holding me back.

"Now why would I do a thing like that? She's nothing you need, you know."

"Let her go right now!" I continued to struggle.

"That's no way to speak to your elders, Merrick."

I gritted my teeth before Alyssa disappeared into a mist of sorts.

And it was only then that I was released, "Alyssa!"

I gasped, bolting up.

Looking around, seeing I was back in Alyssa's room.

With Alyssa walking in with a plate of breakfast.

"You're awake?" She blinked, then pursed her lips, "…Um… did you… sleep well…?"

Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath, "I'm fine."

"Oh for crying out loud." She put the plate down on the nightstand, "You're lying Merrick. I've been hearing you talk in your sleep since you got here."

I blinked, "You… have?"

Wait… I talk in my sleep?

"How?"

"I can hear you through the door." She relented, "Please… please, tell me what your problem is…"

"It's nothing." I tried to insist.

"Merrick!"

"You shouldn't worry about it," I grumbled.

She groaned, "Merrick, please."

"Look, just drop it, okay?! It's not important!" I snapped.

She looked about ready to yell at me, but she took in a soft breath and looked down at me, "Fine… as you can see, I brought your breakfast… I'm going to a Yoga class, so I won't be back for at least two hours."

"You do yoga?" I blinked, slowly moving so I could get in my wheelchair.

She quickly took my arm as I grabbed for it before sitting down.

"Yeah." She breathed out as I got situated, "It relaxes me a lot."

"I see…" Was all I wanted to say on that, "…How long will you be gone?"

"At least two hours… it's only 9 right now… so I'll be back in time for lunch."

I nodded in understanding, "Okay…"

She waited, then nodded a bit, "I'm heading out now… so… I'll see you at 11."

With that, she walked out of the room, and I tried to follow her as she grabbed her bike helmet and a gym bag off the counter.

"…Before you go," I stopped her.

She frowned, turning to me.

"…I'll… I'll tell you about my dreams… soon… it's hard to explain." I breathed out, "…And thank you for making breakfast for me."

She gave me a gentle smile, "No problem, Merrick… my cell numbers on the counter if you need anything and the phone's next to it."

With that, she left.

I sighed as she closed the door before I rolled as best as I could over to the window.

Looking out it, I noticed Zen-Aku's reflection beside me.

"Don't." I stopped him.

"You get hurt, and let her take care of you…"

"Don't…" I gritted my teeth.

"I don't mean to really intrude, mostly cause I don't care, but… aren't you wondering why she's appearing in your dreams?"

"No." I denied, "It's probably because we were close… even when… I got mad at her…" I sighed after that.

"Uh-huh."

"I don't like her more than a friend." I bit out.

"Sure." Was all he said.

I turned and rolled away.

"You can't hide your feelings forever."

"I can." I growled, then looked away "…I have to…"

Alyssa Enrilé

2 hours later…

When I got back into the apartment, I noticed Merrick trying to get one of my cookbooks on my mantle.

"Merrick?" I questioned.

He jumped before he looked back at me, "Alyssa… I… uh… it's been two hours already?"

I nodded, gently taking the book, "What were you trying to do with my cookbook?"

"I was just curious." He shrugged a bit, "Willie keeps all of his recipes-"

"In an old binder, I remember." I assured plainly before I put the book back, "Now… uh… about your dream?"

He bit down a groan, "It's… kinda hard to explain."

"Try." I gently moved him over to the love seat, where I sat down, "I won't be mad or anything."

"Stay tuned…" He mumbled softly, before he sighed, "…3,000 years ago, when I was Princess Shayla's protector… and…. Lover, if you will…"

I nodded for him to continue.

"And… maybe a little after… I… had these nightmares." He relented, "They were of family…. I think… I never really saw them… but… they were hurting Princess Shayla… I can't tell you how or why… but… they were… and… it's like I was… held back… unable to do anything to protect her… it… got to the point I barely slept at all… and, I stopped letting others in…"

He looked away, biting his lip.

"Like with the other Wild Force rangers?" I inquired gently, "Is that another reason you didn't want to be near us?"

"Sorta." He relented, "Even… even after I'd been freed… I still had those nightmares… but… they were different… and… until recently, I didn't know who was being hurt…"

I nodded again, "…Don't suppose you wanna tell me?"

He shook his head, "No… it… it's stupid anyway."

"It's not stupid, Merrick. How often did you have these dreams anyway?"

"…Nightly." He relented, rubbing his arms, "They… started to decline about a week after the Org attacks on Animaria began… but, at that point… sleep wasn't even an option for any member of the guard…"

"And you still had them after you came to this time?"

"Now those were more weekly… until about a month ago… after Master Org– or… Dr. Adler's defeat." Merrick revealed slowly, rubbing his arms, "Then they were nightly once again…"

I grabbed his hand, making him freeze a bit.

"I've had nightmares that have kept me up for weeks on end too," I assured calmly.

"You have?" He blinked.

I nodded, "Yeah… they're not as drastic as yours… but… still… they start with me drowning in water… before something shoots at me, and I'm suddenly dragged out… before I somehow end up falling down a hill, onto rocks… and… all going black."

"Those… sound like common fears in a dream."

"It gets worse." I shook my head, "I don't remember how, but it gets worse… in fact, I never remember how… and that's what always scared me."

He gently took my hand, "…Thank you, for telling me this, Alyssa… and thank you for letting me get what I should've before off my chest."

I smiled, "No problem."

No problem now... later... maybe it will be.

Still, what could Merrick be feeling?

Well, you're gonna have to wait to find out!

In the meantime, please review, favorite and follow!

See ya tomorrow!