Wes lay still in the hospital bed in a new room with a television; a lot was on his mind. He had missed a little more than fourteen years of his life, trapped inside Mirloc's dimension, a dimension without time, without knowing, …without anything. His father was dead. Lisa had moved on, remarried and had started a family. …And his son was all grown up now. He had missed Sky's childhood. He had missed welcoming Eric's two other children Erin and the son who had been named after him into the world. There was so much that had happened, so much he had missed.

Though he was happy to be alive and out of Mirloc's dimension, a part of him wondered if things would be better if he hadn't been freed; everything seemed such a mess now. He looked in the mirror to his side, seeing his reflection. It seemed strange to see himself fourteen years older; he could see a few stray grey hairs, while inside he didn't feel any older.

"Hey…."

Wes turned his head and saw Alex, or Drake as Eric had told him Alex went by now. Eric had told him a lot about Drake: that he had been married and had a daughter who was the same age as Eric's youngest daughter Erin, and that Drake's wife had died some time ago. "Hey…." was all Wes could manage to say. He didn't know what to say; a part of him knew he should thank Drake for figuring out that he had been trapped inside Mirloc all this time, but a part of him wasn't sure how thankful he really was for that. ….Although Sky had been trapped inside too.

Drake let out a sigh, knowing this wasn't easy for Wes. ….It wasn't easy on any of them. Sky hadn't even come back to see Wes since he first woke up from the coma. He took a deep breath and stepped over to the bed and looked Wes over. "How you doing?" Even as he asked it, he knew it was a dumb question. He knew very well how Wes was doing. How would anyone feel, waking up to a world they no longer recognized, when everything they had known and loved had changed?

"How do you think I'm doing?" Wes almost roared, but stopped himself. He shouldn't be mad at Drake. He should be mad at Mirloc. It had been Mirloc who did this, who took his life away, and had caused this huge thing for all of them to deal with. "…Sorry I snapped," he sighed heavily. "…All this… It's just hard to take in."

Drake nodded his head, fully understanding, he couldn't even begin to imagine what Wes must be going through. "I'm sorry that this happened to you, Wes." He truly was sorry. It was eating him up inside, in ways he had never thought were possible. "I wish I had figured it out years ago."

"So do I, but it's not your fault," Wes whispered, as he sighed. "….I think a part of me knew I was trapped. I tried to reach out, but I could never stay long enough…." It was all really a blur to him. "And then I faintly remember being with Omni, with Sky ...just before Mirloc took control."

"Yeah," Drake sighed. He bit his lips and looked into Wes's eyes. "….But you'll get through this, with us to help you through it. I'm not going anywhere, not this time." He gripped Wes's shoulder; it seemed strange now saying that, as years before he and Wes had always been at odds, but Sky had been the one thing that brought them together …that and Jen. "…You know that if there was a way for me to bring Jen back ….I would."

"I know." He smiled faintly. "….But not everyone can rise from the dead."

"Well, I don't know about that, you've done it twice…." Tommy chuckled as he walked into the room. "…It's good to see you, Wes."

"Tommy." Wes reached out to shake his old friend's hand. "…It's good to see you too." He had learned a few things about Tommy too from Eric, about his girlfriend Kim losing the baby and then about Chase, Tommy and Hayley's son, who happened to be the blue Ranger and second in command after his son. "Eric told me about you and Kim …I'm sorry."

"Thanks. It's been hard, but it's getting better." Though the pain of losing a child would never really go away, he was finding himself able to move on with his life.

"I hope that you two are able to work things out."

Tommy smiled. "…Me too. She actually is coming in next week with her son…"

"You two going to get back together?"

"….We're….We're going to talk, see where things go."

"I wish you the best of luck."

"Hey, it should be me wishing you luck, with everything that's ahead of you."

Wes had to laugh at that, he couldn't help but laugh. "…Yeah, Eric told me that practically every news station wants an interview with me."

"Well, if you need any help holding them off let me know. I'm sure I can pull a few strings to keep them off your back."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

"…Well, I should be going. I told Chase I'd meet him for lunch." Tommy waved goodbye to both Drake and Wes before making his exit.

"…Daddy!" Jenny came running into the room.

"Jenny, I thought I told you to stay with Hayley and Erin in the mess hall," said Drake.

"I know, but I wanted to see you." It had been a hectic week and she had seen very little of her father and was beginning to miss him.

Drake couldn't be mad at her; he hadn't been around lately. "Come here." He put his arms around his daughter, holding her close to him. He then spotted Wes staring at the two of them with a smile on his face. "…Jenny, I want you to meet someone."

Jenny turned to come face to face with Wes, a man who looked very much like her father, but with lighter hair. "…He looks like you." She looked up at her father. "…Are you two brothers?"

"…More like distant cousins," Wes answered, knowing that would be a little easier to explain than being brothers. "I'm Wes." He put out his hand. "It's very nice to finally meet you, Jenny."

"You're Sky's dad, right?" she asked.

"That's right…"

"You're a lot nicer than he is."

Drake gripped Jenny's shoulders. "…Well, that's because Sky's a little more stubburn, like his mother."

Watching the two interact, Wes just hoped that he and Sky would be able to have that again, but he knew it was not going to be easy. Eric had made it very clear that the small boy he had once known was no more; Sky had grown up and was a very angry young man.

Sky was moving around in the common room, finally able to be out of his hospital room and go where he pleased, provided he didn't stray too far from the academy. Kat wanted him to stay at least two more days before he headed back home to his apartment. He walked around on crutches even though the doctors would have preferred he use the wheelchair for a couple more days, but he was growing tired of sitting on his ass for most of the day and wanted to be up on his feet, no matter how tender and sore he felt. His ribs were starting to feel a little bit better, but still hurt like hell. None of the older cadets were in the room, just a group of kids, the same group of five that he had taught a class to not too long ago.

"…Come on, Willie, play with us, it's fun," begged Eli, as he and the other children gathered around the older boy.

"No! Games are for babies!" exclaimed the nine year old. "…I got more important things to do than hang out with you babies and play your stupid games."

"Willie!" shouted Kit, not liking his tone. "Take that back."

"Yeah, that's not very nice, Willie," yelled Julie, who yelled back at him. Since she was the next oldest of the group, she was sort of like a mother to the twins Eli and Ali. She took the two by the hands, letting them know everything was going to be okay."…Now say you're sorry."

"No," he shouted back. "….You guys just don't get it, SPD isn't about fun and games. It's about hard work and I plan on working hard so that I can be a officer someday and take on the bad guys, like my uncle did!" He crossed his arms against his chest. "I won't have the time to be friends with you guys and do childish things." Willie had taken the news of his uncles death very hard that he had become withdrawn from his friends and only wanted to train to be big and strong, to be the best officer there ever was.

"…Is there a problem here?" announced Sky, as he joined in before things could get out of hand.

"Lt. Tate…." Willie turned to meet his hero, next to his uncle of course. "I was just telling these kids that I wouldn't have any more time for them, because I'm going to be working hard to be like you, an officer and a Power Ranger."

….Is this really how I am? He could recall several occasions when he had chosen training and work over spending time with his friends. Sky sighed heavily as he bent down so he could be eye level with Willie. He couldn't help but see the hurt eyes from Julie, Kit and the twins who had been hurt by Willie's words. He knew right then and there that the four depended on Willie being there for them. And at the same time he knew Willie was hurting too, he knew all too well what the young boy was going through. "…You don't want to be me, Willie."

"What?" The young boy couldn't believe what he had just heard. "…Why not? You're red Ranger…. You're the best officer in SPD and you killed Mirloc." Ever since Cruger had told him that Mirloc had been responsible for the death of his uncle, his only remaining relative, Willie had become consumed with wanting to be the best and walk in the shadows of SPDs red Ranger, the man who had taken care of Mirloc, made him pay for his crimes. "I want that. What else could I possibly need, besides that?"

"Friends…." Sky answered, after everything that had happened to him, that was the one thing he had come to realize was the most important about his work here at SPD. His friends, his teammates the very ones who depended upon him and vice verse. "You need friends…" He eyed the four other children. "You need them." He gripped Willie's shoulder. "…Don't be me, Willie, or one day you may end up alone." He sighed heavily, knowing he hadn't always been the greatest friend.

"But I thought…."

Out of the corner of his eye, Sky spotted Syd walking by looking at them briefly. "…I was wrong." He licked his lips. "There's more to life than working hard and being the best…." There was a brief moment when his and Syd's eyes locked and they shared a faint smile, but it was only a moment. "…Do you understand what I'm trying to say to you?" He looked the boy in the eyes hoping to reach him, so that his own mistakes would not fall onto the nest generation.

"….I think so," Willie answered softly. "You're saying I need them, just as much as they need me."

Sky nodded his head, knowing that to be truthful himself, he needed his friends now more then ever. "That's right."

Willie turned to meet his friend, smiling faintly. "…Sorry I was such a jerk, guys."

"It's okay, we forgive you," Ali said, as she let go of Julie's hand and went to hug Willie.

Willie put his arms around the young girl and for the first time since he had learned about the death of his uncle, he felt like things were going to be okay for him. That even though his family was gone, he had a new family, people he knew would be there for him and forgive him when he was being a jerk. "…Okay, enough." He pulled away slightly, grinning down at Ali and then over at Julie, Kit and Eli. "Come on, let's go outside and play tag."

"I love tag!" exclaimed Eli excitedly.

Together the children ran past Sky in a much better mood than when he had found them. It felt nice to know he was able to fix things, although he had to learn from his own perspective, which was something he wished hadn't happened. He knew he should have treated his friends far better, especially when they were always looking out for him. The biggest regret was he knew he should have treated Syd better…. Sighing heavily, he hopped over to a place on the couch, wanting to be alone with his thoughts when…. Faintly he heard someone roll up behind him.

"….Can we talk?"

Sky didn't have to turn around to know who it was, he had known for the last couple of days that it would only be a matter of time until his father would come looking for him, since he had been avoiding him . The last week had been hard as it was, the whole ordeal with Mirloc, Cruger getting on his case yet again and on top of that his and Syd's breakup, which he was finding himself having all sorts of emotions over… ones that he hadn't thought he would be having. Sure, he was pissed with himself for how he had treated her and he missed having her around, but the thing that he had come to realize was just how much he had really cared for her, after it was over. He tried to deny what he was feeling, wanting to bury it deep inside, knowing that no matter how he felt that they couldn't go back, not after what he had done. ….She deserves a guy who she can always count on, that no matter what, he would be there for her. That's what he's been telling himself.

So with everything that's happened, he just wasn't ready to deal with another conversation that would be just as hard if not harder than his talk with Syd. "…I have to go," Sky answered, as he abruptly stood up and started to get himself positioned on his crutches, making sure to keep his back towards Wes, not wanting to make eye contact.

"Sky," Wes called after him knowing that now would be his best shot, since it wouldn't be long before his son was off the crutches and would be able to move around much faster. "…We're going to have to do this eventually, it might as well be now." He watched as Sky stopped in his tracks, but continued to have his back towards him. "Eric… He's told me everything,"

"….I bet he did," he answered flatly. He wouldn't have expected any less from Eric, a part of him was actually glad that Eric had told him everything.

"Believe me, I know this is hard and if there was a way I could avoid this whole conversation entirely I would." Wes rolled his wheelchair around Sky, so he was facing him. "…But I want to have a relationship with my son." He looked into the only thing that hadn't changed, those eyes, those same blue eyes that used to look at him so longingly, all those years ago.

Sky remained silent, just listening to his words, mainly because he didn't know what to say, and screaming and shouting probably wouldn't do his ribs any good. But his facial expression showed that he was still very angry and hurt.

"I know that I wasn't always there for you back when I was around." He hadn't meant for that to happen, he never intended to let work get in the way, but whenever a call came in, he just couldn't bring himself to say no. After Andros and the others, things had really fallen upon Eric and him. "…It wasn't because I didn't want to be." He licked his lips. "….You were the best thing that ever happened to me." Wes wasn't sure if he was getting through to his son, but he was going to do everything he could to let him know just how much he really cared for him. "And I'm not just saying that because of Jen."

Sky could see that he was trying, trying with all his might, wanting him to know how much he loved him. His father, his hero, there was never a doubt in his mind that his father loved him, he had always known that. …Even though at times after he learned the truth about where he had come from, he thought otherwise. Perhaps he should let go of his anger and forgive his father, so much time had already been lost between them and he wasn't sure his heart could take the loss of another relationship so quickly. …This is what Jen, his mother wanted. She wanted them to have a relationship. She wanted him to be with his father. ….And though it would not be easy, deep down he wanted it too. Besides, could he really hold it against his father for sometimes letting his job get in the way of being there for him, when he had done the same exact thing to Sydney?

"I'm so sorry, Sky…. I know you haven't had it easy." Wes would have given anything to have prevented his son from ever having the hardships that have fallen upon him.

"I did okay," he finally answered. "…It may not have been the most traditional way of growing up, but I did okay." He knew things could have been far worse for him, though he and his grandfather had had some hard times, the two had managed to maintain a good loving relationship. Though both were guilty of not being good at sharing their feelings that well.

Wes smiled, he knew it might take months or even years until he and Sky got back on the page of being father and son, but he didn't care how long it would take just as long as they had this. "Yeah, I would say you did pretty good considering everything you've been through. You got into the academy early, worked your ass off and became the red Ranger, along with learning a few things along the way." He looked his son in the eyes, slowly starting to see the little boy he had once known start to emerge. "I couldn't be prouder of you, son."

It seemed almost ironic to Wes, that twenty years earlier that was the very thing his father had told him that he had needed to hear, and now twenty years later he was telling it to his own son. Perhaps that's all any kid wants his for their parents to be proud of them.

"….I love you, Sky." Wes pushed himself up from the wheelchair, ignoring the pain from his hurt leg, and put his arms around Sky.

After what seemed like an eternity, Sky put his arms around his father as he felt a few tears trickle down his face. "I love you too, Dad."

Five years later…

2026

It had been a long five years, full of heartbreak, joy, new beginnings and life. But overall it had been a good five years, even though there had been ups and downs. Jack and Ally had been married for a little more than three years and not too long after that they had their first child, a girl they named Chloe. She was two years old and the spitting image of Jack and quite the handful; like her father she had a special ability, but instead of going through walls, she could fly, which kept her parents fairly busy.

Z and Chase started dating shortly after Tommy and Kim got back together. Kim and her son, Junior, ended up moving to Reefside. The two got married, but decided not to have children; the loss of the baby just had been too much for them to want to try again. After dating for two years, Chase finally popped the question and asked Z to marry him, which was something he hadn't been sure he could ever do after losing Callie. But Z had shown him that he could love again and be happy. The two had been married now for a little over six months ago and were expecting their first child and couldn't be any happier.

Bridge and Sophie, the nontraditional couple, were still together, although to his friends and family they wouldn't have expected anything less. Though it took his parents a little longer to warm up to the idea of him wanting to be with a cyborg, once they got to know her and see how happy she and their son were, they couldn't be happier for their son.

Megan and Sam, those were the two that probably had changed the most; they were nineteen and eighteen now and newly appointed Rangers, with new morphers Kat had been working on for the last few years. Of course Sam, as his friends had always known, was the Omega Ranger …their friend who had come from the future to save their future, though this Sam had no recollection that had ever happened or ever would. …And it was no surprise that Megan was the Nova Ranger, though there was a time when they all wondered, but after years of watching these two grow together there was never any doubt.

…But one of the biggest changes came four weeks earlier, when Cruger had announced he would be taking over for the newly retired Supreme Commander Fowler Birdie, meaning he and his wife would be leaving Earth. That meant someone would be left in charge after his departure. There was only one obvious choice, and sure enough Cruger had promoted Sky to Commander, leaving him to choose who would take his place as red Ranger. There was much debate on the matter, a lot of back and forth on the issue, but Chase declined the offer and suggested that though Bridge's tactics might be a little unorthodox, that he should be promoted to red Ranger.

Although this did not mean Sky had given up being a Ranger; he planned to be right there fighting by his team's side no matter what. He ended up resurrecting the Time Force red Ranger morpher, his father's morpher, and couldn't be happier. He was proud to carry on the legacy.

….But the biggest shock of all came just shortly after Cruger had announced his imminent departure. Someone none of them thought would ever leave them had announced her two week's notice and that she would be leaving for London to go join her parents who had moved there almost three years ago. It was quite a shock to all of them ….but it seemed to hurt one of them a lot more than the others, though he wouldn't dare admit it.

The group of Rangers were in the assembly room of the academy, having a small going away party for their friend before she headed off to the airport. "….It is so not going to be the same without you, roomie," exclaimed Z, as she wrapped her arms around her friend.

"I know, but it's time I let you and Chase have the place to yourselves, especially with a new baby boy on the way."

"You know you're always welcome, Sydney," said Chase as he took his turn with a hug of his own.

"Thanks. Take care of them for me."

"You have my word," he answered as he put his arm around Z, holding her close.

"…And make sure to call me when the baby comes." It wasn't easy for her to leave, especially with Z six months pregnant. She wanted to be there when the baby was born, but with her starting a new life in London, that likely wouldn't be possible.

"You'll be the first one I call…."

"Hey now," exclaimed Jack. "…I thought I was going to be the first call," he joked as he walked up to Sydney and gave her a hug. "Just kidding, you can be the first call, Syd. Mind that we still share our birthdays…."

"You got it." Syd hugged her friend tight.

"Mommy, why does Daddy get two birthdays?" asked Chloe as she clung to her mother's leg. That got a laugh out of everyone. Though they all knew the reason, Chloe was still a little too young to understand.

"…Chloe, come give your Aunt Sydney a hug." Syd knelt down to open her arms up for her young niece.

Chloe ran into Syd's arms, throwing her arms around her. "….Bye… Bye, Aunt Sydney, I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, sweetie." She pressed a kiss to the young girl's cheek.

Megan and Sam were the next to step forward, after Syd had hugged Ally goodbye. She still couldn't get over how much the two had grown up and how close the two had gotten, though both would deny there was anything but friendship between them. Megan more so than Sam, but perhaps in a couple of years that would all change.

"You two be careful now, I don't want to be getting any calls about you two getting into any trouble."

"Don't worry Syd, we'll be okay," smiled Megan, as she hugged her friend goodbye, a tear rolling down her cheek because she didn't want her to go. It wouldn't be the same without her here. "Besides, how much more trouble could we possibly get ourselves into?"

"I sure you'll find a way." Syd had to laugh at that, knowing that the two had been in trouble more than once over the course of these last five years. "….And Sam, please keep an eye on Megan when you're out there. We both know how she can get," she said as she hugged her young friend goodbye.

"I plan on not letting her out of my sight," he answered, as he returned the hug.

Next it was Bridge's turn, her longtime friend, her little brother, though they weren't that far apart in age. "Take care of yourself, Bridge, make sure to tell Sophie goodbye for me." She hugged him tight. "…And don't let being red Ranger go to your head."

"I'll try not to, Syd."

She continued to hug him a little longer as if trying to prolong her leaving, hoping that the one person she hadn't said goodbye to would show up. "…I guess he isn't coming." She smiled faintly as she pulled away from Bridge.

"He…." But Bridge stopped himself, the last thing Syd needed was for him to make some excuse for Sky, as to why he wasn't here. "…I'm sorry, Syd; I know you wanted him to be here."

"It's all right. It's not your guy's fault." She sighed heavily. "…Besides, Sky and I haven't been that close in a while, it's totally understandable." They had been able to work together fine and even hung out as a group, but apart from that they hadn't really been alone together.

"You sure?' asked Z, looking into her friend's eyes.

"….Yeah." Syd forced a smile. She looked at her watch. "….Well, I should get going if I want to beat the traffic, my parents set it up so my flight would leave from Silver Hills airline." She glanced at them longingly, she wasn't sure when she would see them next, only that it probably wouldn't be for a while. "I love all of you." With those final words, Sydney Drew, the former pink Ranger, slipped out of the room.

"I am so going to kill that asshole!" exclaimed Z. "…We told him about the going-away party, he should have been here." She didn't care if Sky was their commanding officer or that she was six month pregnant, she was going to give him a piece of her mind and knocking him over his head.

"Easy, honey." Chase put his arms around Z, wanting to calm her down. "Remember what the doctor said." He kissed her on the cheek. "…But if it will make you happy, I'll kick his ass for you."

"I knew I married you for a reason," grinned Z.

"And all this time I thought it was my good looks."

"…Oh brother," groaned Megan, as she rolled her eyes. "Again with the lovey-dovey."

"Oh, just wait until you're in love," smirked Chase.

"Ha ha." She gave him a dirty look. "Very funny."

About a half hour later, while they were cleaning up after the party, low and behold …Sky showed up. Late! "…Well, look who decided to show up!" exclaimed Z, darting her eyes at her newly appointed Commander.

"Sorry, I had to run a course with a group of the C-squad cadets."

"Bullshit, Sky!" yelled Z crossing her arms against her chest. "….You weren't on duty today or for the rest of the week for that matter, and Kat had said she'd keep an eye on things today."

"Look, I said I was sorry…" he snapped, not liking her tone.

"….Easy, Z," announced Chase, not wanting his wife to overdo it, though Sky did deserve a good yelling at. They, along with Megan, were all that remained in the room. Jack and Ally had taken Chloe home for her nap, Bridge had to go meet Sophie so they could get ready to go have dinner with his parents, and Sam had to go help out some D-squad cadets.

"She wanted you to be here, Sky!" She got into his face. "….She wanted to see you before she left, but you let her down." She was so annoyed with him right now that it was taking everything ounce of will she had to keep herself from ringing Sky's neck. "But why should I be surprised?"

And that did it, something snapped inside of Sky. "Look! I don't get what the big deal is. It's not like we've hung out at all in the last few years."

"And whose fault is that?" She eyed him. "…Not hers. That's for sure."

"Look, just drop it Z."

"…Or what?" she barked back at him.

"Okay…." Chase decided it was time for him to play peacemaker, before things really got out of hand. He pulled Z away and forced her to sit down. "I think that's enough."

"Thanks, at least someone has some sense."

Chase laughed and turned to Sky. "Oh, I didn't do it for her sake, I did it for yours. If there's one thing I've learned in the last six months, you do not want to piss off a pregnant woman." Chase looked Sky hard in the eyes sighing heavily. "She was really hurt that you weren't here, Sky, we all saw it."

"…He's right," added Megan who joined in. "She even asked me if I knew where you were during the party."

Sky sighed heavily; he had known all day he had screwed up by making a point not to show up and only come after when he knew Syd would be gone. "All right. You're all right, I should have been here, but there's nothing I can do about it now."

"Wrong." Z pulled something out of the bag that was next to her on the floor and pulled out a shaggy grey stuffed animal and tossed it to Sky.

Sky caught it. "Peanuts?" He looked over at Z, questioning her. "….I know Syd; she wouldn't have forgotten him."

"You're right." A wicked grin came over Z's face. "Which is why when she wasn't looking I pulled it out of her bag and hid it, because I knew you were going to be a dumbass and not show up."

"…And what exactly am I supposed to do with it now?" he exclaimed.

"I thought that was obvious, Sherlock," Z exclaimed.

"I… I can't."

"Why not?" Megan crossed her arms against her chest. "You're heading to Silver Hills anyways, to spend the weekend with your dad. The airport is what …fifteen minutes from the mansion?"

He was starting to become frustrated, not liking where this was going and what they were all bullying him into doing. "…Why should I go?" He looked them in the eyes. "What good would it do?"

"Well, for one, maybe you could tell her what we all already know," announced Chase.

"And what would that be?" Sky challenged looking Chase hard in the eyes.

"Oh drop the tough guy act Sky," exclaimed Z as she eyed him hard in the eyes. "We all saw you and Syd the night of Chase's and my wedding, the way you two dancing together, looking into each others eyes, when you almost kissed..."

Sky was silent for a moment. He remembered sitting at the table talking with his father and Eric when Sydney came up to him asking for a dance. She had taken his hand and led him onto the dance floor, where they placed their arms around each other, looking each other in the eyes and moved slowly with the music. They became lost in each others gaze that neither noticed how close their faces had gotten together, their lips just inches away. ..That was until Sky's communicator beeped causing them to realize what was happen and they pulled apart.

"You're in love with her Sky," announced Megan.

Sky didn't answer right away, he sighed heavily. "Whether I do or if I don't, it doesn't change things." He had screwed up any chance a long time ago. "…Besides, we all know that she deserves someone better."

"Who are you trying to fool, Sky?" announced Chase, as he looked his friend in the eyes. "Us? ….Or yourself?"

"There's something you should know, Sky….." Though she had promised she would never tell, Z thought that given the situation, she would have to break her promise. "She still loves you…"

Sky sighed heavily, unsure of whether to believe what Z just told him. Why would Sydney still love him? He had treated her horribly; he didn't deserve Syd, he didn't deserve her love or anything from her.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?" he muttered to himself, as he sat on the couch in his families mansion with Syd's favorite stuffed animal in his lap. Syd would be getting on the airplane soon and he knew that there was a probably a good chance he wouldn't see her again for a very long time.

He held the stuffed animal close to him, taking in its scent, trying to remember what Syd smelt like. It seemed so long ago since he had held her in his arms. "It's five years later and we're barely even friends." He sighed heavily, knowing he had really screwed things up. He had thought there would always be time for him and Syd to work things out, get back on track ….but he had avoided it altogether. And then he messed things up again at the wedding with their dance.

"Not that I have any objections, but aren't you a little old for stuffed animals?" announced Wes as he walked down the stairs and headed into the living room to go join his son, taking a seat across from him.

"It's Syd's." Sky planted it on the empty seat next to him. "…Z and the others seem to think I'm in love with her." He ran his hand over his face. "…Ridiculous, isn't it?"

Wes sighed heavily. He himself had never had much luck with love; things with him and Lisa never were how they should have been. And then things with Jen had been complicated, the time difference, nothing ever working out in their favor, much like his relationship with his son. They had to get to know each other all over again and start again. "I don't know if I call it ridiculous." Wes got up from his seat and went to sit down next to his son and patted him on the shoulder. "….And maybe I'm not the best person to be talking about this, but if there is one thing I know, it's that it's never good to leave things left unsaid." He picked up the stuffed animal. "…If there's something you've been needing to tell her, you need to tell her, before it's too late." He placed Peanuts in Sky's lap.

"What's the point, she's leaving," Sky answered. "It doesn't matter what I feel."

"Just because someones leaving, doesn't mean you shouldn't tell them," answered Wes with a faint smile. He knew his son had been harboring unresolved feelings for Sydney Drew. And like everyone else at the wedding he saw it first hand with his own eyes that both Sky and Syd were still in love with each other. "If your mom and I followed that route, you wouldn't be here."

"….I don't deserve, her." Sky turned to his father. "Not even as a friend."

"Shouldn't you let her decide that?" Wes gripped his son's shoulder. "…Look, I can't tell you what to do Sky, but what I can tell you is, you have the one thing I never had, a chance to stop her from leaving…" With that said, Wes gave him a faint smile, a fatherly grip on the shoulder and got up, leaving Sky once again alone in the living room with his thought.

Sky thought about what his father had said about not having the chance to stop the woman he loved from leaving, from walking out of his life. It happened three times and every time his mother had to go back to her own time leaving behind his father. The man she loved. There would be no fourth time. That final time of them being together created him. She would die before she could ever be reunited with her true love. It was a sad tale, but he knew it was one his father would repeat even with the same ending.

'you have the one thing I never had, a chance to stop her from leaving..' he heard his father's voice say.

….Ah, what the hell. It's not like I can make matters worse… Sky stared the stuffed animal in the face. "…And we can't let her leave you behind."