Disclaimer- I do not own Power Rangers or profit from the use of its content.

40 Moments to Where We Are

Closer

Z gritted her teeth. "You are such a…"

"No, I didn't mean that it's your fault that I insulted you," Sky amended quickly. "Sure what you said about my dad was provoking, but it's not just that—."

"And I'm sorry that I ever said that," Z said interrupted earnestly. "I just knew that you weren't telling the truth, that you were using your father as an excuse so you didn't have tell me what you really saw in your dream. After everything we had talked about, I thought we we're getting somewhere, I'm not sure where…but someplace where we have trust and we're open. And then bam Wastetar happens and…"

"Everything changes," Sky finished. Running his hands down his face, he sighed heavily before taking her hand in his. "Like I said, it wasn't what you said about my father that set me off. It was what I lied about, or more specifically, you, that got under my skin."

It took a moment for Z to understand, to make sense out of that last sentence, but eventually it came to her, and she was thrown. "You mean…romantically?"

"Yeah."

Syd stared and then blinked.

"What just happened?"

Bridge tipped his head to the side as if to make better sense about what he was seeing. "I have no idea."

David, who began to show interest in the proceedings, could only stare in confusion. "It's like they're talking in code. Maybe something Piglatin based?"

Snapping to attention Syd was on her feet, frantically scanning the controls. "We missed something! Quick, where's the rewind button? Help me find the rewind button!"

Brought out of his daze by Syd's shrieks, Bridge also began scouring the panels, as David watched with pursed lips. "This sucker's got T-vo?"

"Sky, why didn't you just tell me that I was in you dream?"

Sky was silent, and Z's shoulders slumped as she swallowed hard in comprehension. "I guess it was probably kind of upsetting seeing me, when you would have rather seen someone else, someone you would actually have feelings for."

Stunned at her misunderstanding, Sky grabbed her shoulder and shook her gently. "No, it wasn't like that at all. I…" He was lost, completely out of his element as he searched for some better way to make her understand what he had felt, was feeling in that very moment. It was a short falling, he knew, to not be able to communicate his feelings, and he silently begged for some sort of divine intervention or support.

"Z…"

"-is not the rewind button!"

"Like I care. Now David thinks I'm a complete moron."

"Shhhhh! Sky is about to tell Z that the reason he's been acting like a jerk is because he has feelings for her, and the only reason he didn't tell her sooner was because he didn't think she would return his feelings. Not to mention it's against SPD order A-32b for any two rangers to have romantic relations."

Sky glanced up at the observation room and then back at Z.

"Err…Bridge, I think they can hear us." "Really? Hey, can you two hear us?"

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Sky nodded. "Um, yeah."

"Oops. My bad. Didn't mean to interrupt."

"…"

"We're rootin' for you, man."

"…"

Silence descended on them until Z bit her lip and asked, "Had you forgotten that they were—"

"Yeah."

Z nodded slowly. "And does that make you as uncomfortable as it makes me?"

"Definitely."

"And what Bridge said?"

"True."

A silence settled over them, Z unsure of what to say next, and Sky unsure of how she'll respond.

It all seemed so surreal, Z thought as she starred at their cuffed hands. She was one of Sky's Tate's deepest desires…and vice versa. Maybe she was dreaming again.

"I know that this is the last thing you want to hear from me," said Sky when he could no longer stand the silence. "And I know that you and David are…"

"Are what?" Z asked suspiciously.

"Look, its none of my business what you guys are doing, I just overheard you and Syd talking, and I don't think its right." He shifted under her penetrating gaze, and fought to keep his cheeks from flushing. "You deserve more than that."

"You think that David and I are having sex?" A smile broke out across Z's face and an airy laugh escaped her lips.

Sky, not one to be laughed at, frowned deeply. "You're not?"

"No, we're not. You just heard part of the story, if I had to guess." That smile was still playing at her lips.

Relief swept over Sky in a refreshing wave, and he allowed himself a moment to relish in it. She wasn't with David. That made things…less complicated, but still not easy. Sky allowed himself to reflect on the dream Wastetar had given him, and for a moment he imagined what it you would be like in reality. The moment of indulgence was short however as it occurred to him that Z had had a dream of her own, a romantic one she claimed.

"Z, you said you didn't tell the truth about your dream." He stared at her intently. "What was it really?"

She wondered briefly what would happen next if she confessed the desire that had been revealed to her, and slowly her smile grew serious. She cleared her throat and said, "I'll show you."

He became aware of her shifting towards him as she rose to her knees, the space between them sweetly shortening. Without ceremony their lips touched for the briefest of moments before she began to pull away, but Sky followed her retreat and grasped her arm with his free hand. "I missed it," he murmured. "Can you show me again?"

She smiled and leaned in for a longer, slower kiss.

"And we have liftoff ladies, and gentlemen!" Syd squealed and latched onto Bridge's arms as they spun around in circles.

"Do you know what this mean's, Syd?" asked Bridge gleefully.

"Why yes, Bridge, I do. I get my room to myself more often!"

"More nights off," Bridge sing-songed.

"And a more relaxed Sky!" she finished with her hands in the air.

David cleared his throat. "You mean that the two of you did all this for your own benefit?"

Syd gasped and touched a finely manicured hand to her chest. "How could you imply such a thing? We were just doing what was in the best interest of our friends."

Bridge nodded seriously. "I love those guys. We're all like…'" he motionged thoughtfully with his hands, "like…brothers and sisters. Except Z and Sky, of course! Because that would be kind of awkward if two siblings were making out. Definitely not brother and sister. I would go with a more love-hate relationship where they're not related in any way. But even if they did at one point have a 'brother-sister relationship,' it's not like they're actually brother and sister. They don't have the same parents or anything…or, maybe, they do. Z never knew her parents, so it's possible that Sky's could have been…eww! Incest!"

Syd rolled her eyes at Bridge's display before looking more sincerely at David. "The point is that we did this out of the goodness of our hearts. If we also happen to benefit from the outcome, who are we to argue?"

"…someone needs to tell them! Look how they're carrying on!" Bridge gasped.

David raised an eyebrow. "Who, indeed."

To be continued…