Chapter Six

"A Wife's Escape"

The setting sun's dazzling yellow and golden rays danced upon the ocean's surface as waves of light broke upon the South Pacific Island's beach. A serene, joyous breeze carried the ocean's breath halfway up the side of a forest half-covered mountain to a lone woman leaning on a wooden balcony. It was surrounded by lush bushes and trees of various floras; all swaying lightly in the breeze—the yellow tint from the sun enriching the scene.

Trini's long lightly colored formal dress flowed in the breeze as she leaned on the balcony rail, transfixed by the sights, smells, and sounds of the nature around her. A brilliant Fiji sprouted from a small bun on top of her head, while the rest of her long, sleek, black hair waved in the breeze.

Neither a feeling nor thought of worry or dread swam through Trini's body. The last of the knotted and layered tension in her shoulders, chest, and back had finally evaporated in the last hour. Only serenity and euphoria sang within her heart, lifting her spirit to heights it had not been to for months—those long dark months, she thought as a slight frown creased her lip, but she forced it away immediately. This was not the time to be gloomy, especially in the midst of such beauty and life. At long last, she could relax after so much worry, fear, and dread. For once, she could stop and enjoy her life. She was finally married; married to a man that completed her in ways that she never thought possible.

"How is the view?" asked a soft, deep, and soothing voice from behind her that resonated with love, yet at the same time was as strong as a stone mountain.

Tilting her head down, Trini smiled as she felt her husband stride from the living room. He gently caressed her waist with his hand, the very touch sending electricity throughout her spine and body, straightening the hairs up her back and neck with elation. And behind the electricity, she felt a fire—a fire of passion, romance, and compassion, and love. Yet she did not need his physical touch to know that he loved her. It was his heart that she felt. And as long as he felt that, she felt safe. Throughout the recent dark months, Jason's love had been a permanent reassurance of hope for her just as her love and support had been one for him.

With the wind, her arms floated to meet his, caressing them tenderly in front of her waist.

"Perfect," she said, glancing over her left shoulder.

The dark brown eyes of Jason Lee Scott—her fellow ex-power ranger, former leader, and one of her dearest friends, and now… husband—held her face for an eternity. Although he had unbuttoned the collar of his tuxedo shirt and removed his bowtie—perhaps it was the angle of light from the setting sun—to Trini, he was the most handsome man on Earth at that moment. His metallic silver vest glistened in the sunlight, almost as brilliantly as his eyes. Eyes she could stare into for eternity and be content.

"I'm glad," Jason said.

I almost thought this wouldn't happen, Trini thought, beaming as a tear traced the edge of her cheek.

"Hey," Jason replied softly, stroking her cheek with his fingers. "Don't feel bad."

She giggled as her face grew warm with embarrassment. His hand was warm, gentle, and affectionate to her touch. And she nestled within it. The blood flowed from her face until she was her normal tone. Yet even when that was done, she continued resting her head in his hand. Words could hardly describe what she felt within her. Trini felt as though Jason and she were flying, soaring above the clouds.

"That's what I get for marrying a telepath," she whispered half jokingly, tilting her head to meet his gaze.

Jason smiled as he spun her around. "Hey, I married an empath, remember?" he chuckled. She opened her eyes, gazing into his face. "And I couldn't be happier." His left hand still entwined with both of hers, Jason raised them to his lips and kissed them, all the while staring into her eyes. "Because I am with you," Jason continued.

The touch of Jason's thoughts within her mind was joy beyond anything.

Look at our hands. Jason added, tilting their left hands toward the sun.

Trini looked down and smiled. Jason's yin designed ring and her yang designed ring glistened in the rays of the sun. There was the proof that they were one: husband and wife.

Stepping forward, he scooped his right hand behind her waist and swayed her toward him. "Don't worry about Dark Specter now." And he kissed her tenderly on the forehead.

So soft—so passionate were his lips that she almost melted underneath them. Trini embraced her husband's body, cushioned by his broad and developed chest as it expanded and contracted.

"I never want this feeling to end," she said to Jason.

"Then it won't," said Jason, tilting her head towards his to look into her eyes.

She gazed unblinkingly into Jason's passionate eyes—brown and white tunnels to stars of endless joy and love. The very sight of them enriched Trini's soul.

"I love you," Trini said passionately and their mouths came together as the final rays of the sun dissolved in the sky.

Yes!

This was what she wanted to remember: Jason and her, wrapped in each other's arms and cradling within their love. All of the events of the previous day—the pain, shock, and horror, and sorrow—were far from her recollection; pushed away with such force and adamancy that it rivaled the force of one of Lord Zedd's spells. Yet she did not know this. All she wanted was to be near her husband—the husband that she knew… and for him to assure her that he was not evil so she did not have to convince herself anymore.

Unfortunately, not even the joy from the first evening of her honeymoon spread to her face.

Trini Kwan Lee Scott lay fully clothed on top of Kimberly's guest bedroom double bed—a slab of pale beige concrete as if lying in her coffin. Her eyes did not move beneath her eyelids.

Author Note: Just letting you guys know that I've not died. However, working this summer has taken up a lot of my time. I hope this was illuminating and provoked some more questions and theories. We are now one chapter from the climax. Stay tuned.