You Found Me: A Story of Sky and Syd

Disclaimer: Just waiting for the rights to Power Rangers to open up…. any day now…

Challenge: Worst Case Scenario

Timeframe: Set anytime after Endings. This challenge is also slightly AU.

'Well then,' Sky thought, staring blankly at the thick whit square of paper. 'At least she's happy.'

"You are cordially invited to attend the nuptials of Jonathon Palmer and Sydney Drew," Wes Collins read aloud over Sky's shoulder. "How do you feel about that?"

"As long as Syd is happy," Sky answered.

Wesley seated himself across the table from his son. "You sure?" he probed, raising an eyebrow at Sky's response.

"Yes, Dad," Sky replied through gritted teeth. Of course he wanted Sydney to be happy, but it was killing him that he wouldn't be the one to hold her. Then again, it wasn't like Sky had never had the opportunity to tell her how he felt. He didn't want to change things for fear of losing her friendship.

"What are you sure about?" Jen wanted to know, shuffling into the dining room, bleary eyed and clutching her coffee mug.

"Sydney Drew is getting married," her husband informed her. "And Sky is supposedly very happy for her."

Jen regarded her son sympathetically. "Oh Sky," she murmured. Jen had softened considerably since her days as pink ranger, motherhood being a large part of her change. She knew it was breaking her son's heart that his best friend (and secret crush) was getting married to someone else, someone that probably didn't deserve her.

"It's not a big deal," Sky insisted.

Wes and Jen exchanged knowing glances. Their son grunted at them in frustration. "I've met Jonathon. He's very nice and he loves Syd."

"And you don't?" Wes asked gently.

"Dad."

"Well you do," Wes responded.

"Leave him alone," Jen ordered her husband. "It's none of our business."

Sky glanced at his mom gratefully. "I'm going for a jog," he announced. He ran up to his room and changed into a pair of shorts and a blue S.P.D T-shirt. After tying the laces of his running shoes, Sky slipped out of the manor.

Sky felt his spirits lift slightly as he hit the pavement. All he had to think about the route he was taking through his ritzy neighborhood in Silver Hills. No need to think about Syd. None at all.

But he did. Sky recalled all the times they'd run courses together, Syd always slightly behind him as she checked out the view. She had no problem admitting she did so, either.

Sky found himself grinning. Why was it she still had such an effect on him?

Like his father had said, Sky was in love with her, something he fully accepted. But she was engaged. And yet all he could think about was how he wanted to drive the hour and a half to her parents' home in Mariner Bay and kiss her. To ask her not to marry Jonathon because he, Sky, was in love with her.

"Wake up Tate," he chided himself. "You had your chance."

Sky and Syd Sky and Syd Sky and Syd

Sydney Drew was having a nervous breakdown. Her mother said it was just frazzled nerves, but Syd had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. A sinking feeling that Jonathon Palmer, the man she had agree to marry (and there was less than an hour left until the ceremony started) was not the man Sydney was supposed to wed.

Jonathon was a respectable man. He was twenty-five, two years older than she. He was a junior partner at one of the best law firms in the state. He had a nice home and drove an expensive car. He was extremely handsome, with curly black hair and sparkling emerald eyes. He treated her like a princess and while she loved him dearly, Jonathon wasn't Sky. He didn't even come close.

Syd had realized she thought of Sky as more than a friend directly after they had defeated Omni. Z had thrown her arms around Sky's neck, which for some reason made Sydney feel like punching her. Just to see if Sky maybe returned feelings for her, Syd hugged Jack. Sky didn't seem to notice.

And the feelings grew. Sydney loved him in silence the two years he served as red ranger, noticing new things about him all the time. Liken when his uniform changed from blue trim to red, there was a new spring in his step. He smiled easier than he had before. Syd found herself loving him more each day.

And when Z and Bridge had started dating, Bridge had told her Sky had never had a romantic thought about Z. There was someone special to Sky, Bridge confirmed, but he didn't specify who

But what was she supposed to do? If she did a little innocent flirting with him and he didn't like her in the capacity as more than friends she'd look like a complete idiot. And if he did have romantic feelings for her, he was the last person in the world who would let himself love.

Then there was last Christmas. Bridge had annoyingly hung mistletoe all over the Rec room and enlisted Z's help to trick them into standing under it together.

"Just so you can see what there could possibly be for you," Bridge had insisted.

And so Sydney had stood on her tiptoes, hooked her hands around the back of his neck, and kissed him. Sky kissed back, and then ended it abruptly.

"Nothing. Sorry," he whispered. He walked away from her, leaving her with a broken heart. That had been ten months ago.

But then, in February, she'd met Jonathon. There was instant chemistry between them, and here they were, getting married.

"It's wrong. I can't marry him," Sydney breathed.

She found her way to one of the little cushioned stools littering the bridesmaid's dressing room. Her mascara was running from the hot tears streaming from her eyes.

Jen was the only other woman left in the room. "Syd? What's wrong?" she inquired. Jen hurried over to the younger woman, kneeled beside her, and began stroking Syd's curls in a motherly way.

"I c-can't m-marry J-J-Jonathon," Syd blubbered. "I j-just can't."

"No one is forcing you to," Jen said quietly. "If you don't want to you don't have to, Sydney."

Syd rubbed her eyes furiously. "I love Sky," she confided.

"I know."

"But he doesn't love me," Syd wailed.

"I'll be right back," Jen assured her. Syd nodded and stood. She found a box of Kleenex and blew her nose.

Jen returned a few moments later toting a concerned-looking Jonathon and a confused-looking Sky.

"Syd, baby, what's wrong?" Jonathon asked in a worried voice. He stepped closer, cupping her face in his hand.

"Jon, I'm sorry, but I'm not in love with you. Not the way I should be to marry you."

Jonathon looked from Sydney's apologetic face to Sky and back to Syd again. "That's alright. Good luck," he added to Sky. Jonathon turned and left. Jen tactfully followed, leaving her son and Syd alone.

They stared at each other for a moment before Sky pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely.

"You know, it was the worst case scenario that I didn't realize you're the only man I'll ever really love until I almost married another guy," Syd mused breathlessly. "Next time don't be such an idiot."