Those Little Things
1.) She remembered a happy home as a small child. She remembered flowers all over the house, a vase in every room. She remembered a sunny bedroom painted yellow filled with her toys. She remembered Mama and Daddy, laughing together. She remembered feeling safe with Daddy.
She remembered aunts and uncles, all of whom wore certain colors. She remembered Uncle Cole in red, and how he taught her to see the good in people. She remembered Aunt Alyssa always wearing white and how she took learning seriously. She remembered Uncle Eric and Aunt Taylor in red and yellow, teaching her to be tough. She remembered Uncle Max in blue, and how he taught her how to laugh.
2.) Daddy was a soft spoken man, but somehow he always spoke the words she needed to hear. He took care of her when she was sick, and hugged her when she was sad.
Somehow, he was always there when she needed him, like a daddy should be.
3.) It was Uncle Max who first called her "Z." He claimed "Elizabeth" was too long, and "Lizzie" was too common of a nickname. He said she should get her own pet name, one as unique as her.
The name stuck, and after a year, she was only called by her full name when someone was angry with her.
4.) They moved to New Tech when she was six. She was sad to go, but Daddy had explained that they needed to move.
The doctors were better in New Tech, and Mama was sick.
He told her to be a big girl and to look on the bright side. Moving to a new place meant a whole new world for her to explore.
5.) Mama…losing Mama was hard for her. She was only seven when it happened.
She remembered crying and crying until there were no tears left to cry.
She remembered not wanting to talk to Daddy.
Then she regretted pushing him away. She was nine when Daddy died in an accident.
Uncle Max wanted her, but the lawyer said no. She didn't understand why it seemed to matter that Uncle Max wasn't married, and only had a minimum wage job.
They sent her to an orphanage.
6.) The day she ran away from school, she was planning on going to Turtle Cove. She would go live with Uncle Max. They didn't have to tell anyone.
But then the monster came, followed by the mysterious man who saved her.
She lost the necklace Daddy gave her…
Then she met Jack, and she had to trust him.
7.) She always liked Syd, spoiled and prissy as the pink ranger was. She could tell that under the glamour, the petite blond was a good person.
Actually, she was a little jealous of Syd. It seemed that everything had been handed to her on the proverbial silver platter.
That was why she was quick to pick a fight with her pink teammate, but secretly, Z always loved Syd like a sister.
8.) Z knew Bridge was different, even from the others, herself included. He couldn't hide what he was – it was obvious he was special from the first time she saw him. He was wearing gloves and he rambled and for the briefest second, he smiled at her.
It wasn't just the toast obsession and rambling – though Z privately thought both qualities were endearing – it was that he had to put himself out there. She, Jack, Syd and Sky could hide themselves and what they were, but Bridge couldn't. He was who he was and he was proud.
Z really admired that about him.
9.) When Gruumm was gone, she took a vacation.
She went home to Turtle Cove, to see her long lost family.
SPD was great; it had become home over the last year.
But her crowded dorm was nothing – nothing – compared to seeing her aunts and uncles. They were all so proud to have her as one of their own, a ranger.
10.) She never thought she would get married.
It really came as a shock when Bridge proposed, but there was only one answer she could possibly have for him.
The answer was "Yes."