Of Anime, Poetry and Falling in Love: Mack and Rose

Disclaimer: I dream of owning Power Rangers. Dreams aren't reality, sadly.

Challenge: Moonlight

Timeframe: Somewhere after Kick into Overdrive

Summary: It's the first time either have said it, but it doesn't make it any less real.

He led her out onto the grounds where, she saw with a smile, he'd set up a moonlit picnic for the two of them. How sweet her Mack was. Her Mack. She liked the sound of that. "You're a romantic," she sighed happily to the red ranger. She laced their fingers together, blissfully happy to be the one he shared the soft side of himself with. Rose felt herself fall for him all over again.

They ate in quiet, murmuring occasionally. Rose never let go of his hand. And then when they had finished their meal, Mack put everything they had used back into the basket and pushed it aside. He lay down on the blanket, taking her with him. Rose smiled again resting her head on his chest, still holding his hand, looking up at the stars.

"I really like this. Being with you," Mack offered quietly, rubbing circles on the back of Rose's hand. "It's not like any other relationship I've had. It's special." Rose made a noise of agreement, closing her eyes and resting.

"And Rose…well…I'm beginning to think there's more to us than just some teenage romance. I think I'm in…" Mack let out a sigh and then took a deep breath. "I think I'm in love with you."

Rose's eyes snapped open and she sat up, looking down at him, her brown eyes suddenly sparkling with tears. "What?"

"I'm sorry, Rose, sweetheart. I shouldn't have said that. Don't cry. Please don't cry." He sat up too, looking like his heart had just been broken. "Please don't cry. It doesn't have to change anything." He thought she was crying because she was afraid and didn't feel the same way. How very wrong he was.

"No, no, Mack. I don't know why I started crying. I'm just happy I guess. I…I think I love you too." That certainly summed up what she had been feeling these last months.

He sighed audibly. "Don't scare me like that. When you started crying I was thinking you were about to break up with me." He put his arms around her, cradling Rose against him as if she were as delicate as a porcelain doll. Mack bent and kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad you feel the same way. Really I am."

Rose tilted her head up towards him and kissed him almost shyly. "How could I not?"

And then nothing but silence and the moon and the stars…