Matchmaking Mishaps
What do you do when two people are so blindly in love that neither are fully aware of it so refuse to take action? Take action into your own hands, just like Ryan knows all about… Or in which Carter conforms and Ryan just can't be asked anymore.
CarterXDana/SOAverse/Lightspeed Rescue/ Fluffy, awkwardness and amusement.
Disclaimer: We wish we owned it but all rights belong to Saban, we only own the plot.
[A/N] Ryan is OOC for entertainment purposes. If you don't like the changes, please don't flame. If you don't like it that much than you haven't got to read, we won't take offense with that. :)
CHAPTER TWELVE!
Plan J- Just Married
"This can't be a real case Ryan." Dana stated as she shut the folder that had been handed to her and returned to the textbook open on her lap. Ryan snatched the book away and forced the file on her. She scowled but relented, "There is no way there is a Demon doing this. I mean, what would taking these people accomplish?"
"Diabolico can harvest their joy and use it to fuel their stars, well something like that." Ryan waved off her comments and turned to the rest of the team, "It's worth investigating isn't it?"
The group remained silent; not as quick at reading as Dana was but gathered the gist of the conversation. Carter pursed his lips in thought then turned to interpret each Ranger's facial expressions. They all seemed to be reluctant to believe it, but Carter wasn't sure. Weddings were usually joyous occassions, so it was quite possible that Diabolico did have a way to harvest the joy for his own agenda- but a Demon who attacked at weddings seemed far-fetched to say the least.
"What does the Captain say?"
Dana shot Carter a look of insanity, "You can't believe this is real!"
"It's possible." Carter countered, "Everything has been quiet for a week now, they could have been building up to this."
"Why hasn't it been in the media?" Chad asked which made Ryan scowl at him.
"I don't know! But I know this Demon! It's real!" Ryan threw his own folder on the table, "If you don't believe me, I'll do it on my own." He started to walk out of the rec-room, counting under his breath. He was about to step over the threshold when Dana stood up.
"Wait." She sighed, "If you're adamant..."
Ryan turned back to look at his sister with his smug smirk dropping to a neutral expression, "Which I am.."
"Then I guess... I can't let you do it on your own- and Carter seems to think it too, and he's never wrong about these sorts of things."
"Great," Ryan let the rec-room door hiss closed and sat back on the sofa beside Dana, "And everyone is on board?"
"I don't understand what we can do to catch it though." Kelsey voiced from where she was nestled under a blanket at the furthest end of the sofa. Ryan sent her a blunt expression which Kelsey quickly came to understand. "You have a plan?"
"Well," Ryan shrugged and put his feet up on the coffee table, "Sort of- but I don't know how keen you are on the idea."
Carter fussed around with his tie, aware that on the other side of the door was the big church hall that Chad and Joel had been trying to get civilians to fill. That was the part of the plan he didn't agree with; they were putting civilians in danger. He doubted the Demons would even fall for this plan, staging a wedding- it was quite obvious that it was the Red Ranger pretending to be a groom, Kelsey pretending to be the bride and Ryan pretending to be the priest whilst the other three were scattered around the hall keeping an eye open for a guest acting strangely. Diabolico wasn't stupid, he'd know it was them instantly.
Ryan came into the room, holding his clerical collar in one hand. Carter looked at him in the mirror and recognised the look crossing his face.
"What's happened?"
"Nothing Demon related yet." Ryan assured, "It's just a- slight change of plans."
Carter turned, "What do you mean 'slight'?"
"You're not marrying Kelsey, she couldn't fit in the dress- it was too long and baggy so didn't look believable."
"Couldn't the shop loan a different one?"
"It's the only one they're willing to part with." Ryan started to put on his collar, adding the only splash of colour to his all black attire, "But it's fine-"
"Does it fit Angela? She can't fight."
"No, she had to stay on the base to monitor the screens."
"So who?" It dawned on Carter who the only person left could be with Ryan's excited smile confirming his guess, "Dana?"
"It fitted her perfectly- lucky huh?"
"You need to find someone else," Carter blurted, his hands suddenly becoming very clammy and unable to work the tie into a neat knot, "She's clearly too young!"
"Technically she's of legal age- besides, it's not a real wedding! It's fake!" Ryan argued and reached into his pocket to pull out two ear pieces. He put his one in his left ear, then held the second out to Carter who chose to ignore it, "What's wrong with marrying my sister?"
"N-nothing! It's just- she's clearly too young. It wo-wouldn't be believable!" Carter said, finally taking the ear piece as Ryan was pushing it closer to his face.
Not to mention Dana had a boyfriend she had been keeping quiet from them all- which Carter still didn't know how he felt about.
Ryan rolled his eyes, "So you're a sugar daddy, does it matter? Anyway, I don't think that's the real reason. I think you're saying no because you like her and it makes you scared to do the wedding incase she realises, because you're too much of a coward to tell her, or someone else realises and teases you forever and a day; or worse, they tell Dana." Ryan checked his reflection in the mirror then parted his hair down the middle, believing this gave him a 'holy' look. "I don't know why you're making everything so much more difficult; you heard her that day. She likes you too, now if you told her how you feel all that awkwardness would go away."
Carter felt the irritation wash over him. How many times did he have to tell Ryan before he would understand?! It was growing tiresome repeating himself over and over. "I told you, that's not what I want. How I feel about Dana, doesn't relate to that at all! We work together, we live down the hall and everything works as it is! I don't want to date Dana-!"
"I hate to tell you this boys," Joel's voice came over the earpiece, "Coms just became active.."
Carter facepalmed and groaned in frustration. Why couldn't Ryan have let things lie?! He ripped his ear piece out and hissed to Ryan, "See?! Are you happy now?!"
"Relax." Ryan waved off, "It only came on when you said about dating her, I had the echo."
"Wait," Carter looked around the room as he took everything in before he returned his attention to the Titanium Ranger, "Is this all a facade? Another one of your crazy attempts to try and force Dana and I together?"
"I don't know what crazy attempts you mean," Ryan answered with innocence in his tone. The innocence didn't settle with the Red.
"Yes you do!" Carter exclaimed, "The flowers and the warehouse date thing! And that truth serum and- ! Wait, did you lock us in the supply closet? And break the Rover?!"
"What? No!" Ryan said but couldn't fully mask his lying. His voice may have been steady, but the look in his silver fleck eyes said otherwise.
"You did!" Carter ran his hands through his hair in agitation, messing up his usually regimented style, "What is wrong with you?! Do you not understand what you've done?! You messed everything up!" He was almost shouting at Ryan which knocked the Titanium back. Ryan had never seen Carter angry at one of his team before...
"Because of you Dana and I have been arguing on and off for the past few months since you started this stupid plan of yours! At one point, she wanted nothing to do with me! Do you not realise how dangerous this is for the team?! There is a reason I don't want to act on my feelings and it's because of our team! If something goes wrong, it can't be undone! It could seriously jack up everything your father has worked to create!" Ryan stood in silence, just staring at Carter erupting. He hadn't realised Carter had been so passionate about all of this. "I respect the Captain enough to not want anything to mess with his work, and the town too. Because of you everything has been so awkward! Before you began this ridiculous mission, everything was fine! Dana and I were fine! There was no awkwardness which seems to be all that dictates our conversations now! When will you stop and realise that sometimes what you want is what you can't have?!"
Ryan looked to the ground, waiting for the tongue lashing to continue but silence fell, only punctuated by Carter's heavy breathing as he attempted to calm down. Ryan looked up meeting his cobalt eyes, "Are you finished?"
Carter didn't answer verbally, instead he looked back to the mirror, utterly ashamed at himself for erupting like that.
"Good." Ryan started at the door, "I'll see you at the altar."
After a few minutes of mentally kicking himself, Carter walked out into the hall. The boys had done well at rounding up fake guests as the hall was almost full. He spotted Joel on the front pew, and Kelsey and Chad right at the back on either side which gave them a fair advantage of being able to see every guest.
Ryan stood at the altar holding open what Carter assumed to be the Bible. He approached him, shoving his hands his the pockets of his black suit pants- it was unfortunate that he was the only one of the boys to own a full tuxedo as he wished he could swap out with Chad right now. Carter stood in front of Ryan, feeling like a child who had been caught doing something he shouldn't have. Ryan wouldn't even look at him.
"I'm sorry," Carter said but Ryan still wouldn't look at him, "I shouldn't have gone on at you like that."
"Let's just get this over and done with," Ryan said coldly, "Dana's outside in the car."
"Ryan-"
"Now's your cue Dana." Ryan said with his fist balled over his mouth to mask him talking.
"This is ridiculous. I look ridiculous."
"You look fine," Kelsey cut in, "You only had half an hour to turn into a blushing bride. Just remember to smile, it's the happiest day of your life."
"Easier said than done."
The church doors swung open at the same time the organist began to play the Processional March and Carter span around to look forward, feeling as though he had to play the part of the groom. He focused on Ryan but something in Ryan's expression made Carter anxious. Ryan looked - in awe? Carter around to work out why; the second he looked at Dana, he understood it. His jaw dropped, breath taken away from him, seeing the angelic bright light surrounding Dana from where she stood in the open doorway. As the door shut, the light faded, and he could now really see Dana, along with the older gentleman holding her arm, playing her father.
She looked beautiful, light and pure like an angel. By looking at her, it wasn't possible to tell that dress hadn't been fitted to her and was instead one the sales team in the local wedding dress store were desperate to get rid of due to it being 'so three seasons ago'. It was ivory rather than white which complimented her porcelain skin. Fitted down to the natural waist line where it dropped out into a full skirt that moved as she stepped, catching the light from its silky fabric perfectly, making Dana appear like a cross between a Disney Princess and an angel. The bustline fell into a sweetheart and off the shoulder thick, silk straps creating a further elegance to the dress. Her hair had been pulled back on one side and held in place with a large, crystal headpiece- which the store had given them as it was broken and they didn't have any veils to part with.
Carter turned back around sharply.
Great, the last thing he needed was to get tongue tied now! He focused on trying to control his breathing, if he could sort that out before Dana reached the altar he would be in the clear.
"Smile!"
"Shh Kelsey." Dana scolded under her breath from beside Carter. She'd walked the aisle faster than he thought she would!
"You look.." Carter started to stay but kept his gaze averted from her as he knew the second he looked at her, he'd be unable to stop stuttering, "B-beautiful.."
"Thanks," Dana said in a tone that sounded less than thrilled.
"Dearly beloved," Ryan began and Carter zoned him out to look at Dana.
She was biting at her dark pink lips, her face set in a manner that suggested to Carter she was trying to hold back something. A darkened look in her eyes confirmed this. Dana sensed him looking at her and cast a sideways glare at him.
"This must be hard for you," She whispered, "Pretending to marry me seeing as you seemed pretty repulsed by the idea of dating me."
Oh... That.
"Dana- you don't understand."
"I do understand, I heard it." She hissed.
"That was out of context-"
"Everyone heard you." Dana said with a croak to her voice and Carter knew why she was being so defensive, she was very hurt and embarrassed by his abruptness.
"It wasn't like that..."
"Guys." Kelsey cut in, "Stop it. You're meant to be happy right now..."
Dana scoffed lightly, "There's only so much one can fake."
Carter wasn't sure if she was answering Kelsey or having a dig at him so stayed silent.
"Maybe skip the vows Ryan."
"Carter?"
"Carter! That's you!"
"Oh!" Carter jolted, "Sorry can you-"
"Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"Yeah sure- I mean, I do."
"Why can't all wedding ceremonies be this short?" Joel questioned.
"And do you take this man-?"
"I do."
Ryan returned to babbling about whatever he had prepared which Carter was no longer interested in hearing. He kept his eyes on Dana, seeing how she was still biting her lip but with the hard, protective look in her eyes crumbling.
"I didn't mean it like that." Carter said which caught her attention again, "If you knew the rest of the conversation then-"
"Stop. I don't care. I don't want to know." She snapped, "Imagine if you had over heard something like that- and with everyone else overhearing it too. I'm humiliated."
"And who has the rings?"
Carter dug out the two pieces of costume jewellery that Chad had grabbed from a thrift shop. He handed one to Dana who avoided touching him.
"And exchange the rings."
Dana put Carter's on, then held her hand out for him to do the same.
He did so, but didn't drop her hand straight away, "The last thing I'd ever want to do is humiliate you."
Dana offered a sad smile, "You did though."
"With the exchanging of these rings-" Ryan squinted down at the sheet of paper he'd hidden in the Bible, "And the-"
"Promises," Dana shot to him.
"Thanks. The promises they have made to each other in front of the con-con-congre-gation and.. Whatever, man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Carter froze.
That wasn't part of the plan. Dana looked equally annoyed at the change of plans.
Carter began to stutter an argument about it not being necessary but silenced when he could see the mixture of hurt and anger returning to Dana's eyes.
She had a boyfriend, why was she acting so heartbroken about this?! Surely she should have been protesting against it too.
"Just kiss her!" Kelsey practically shouted.
"Carter," Ryan egged on with his eyes widened in emphasis.
"For Christ sake."
"Don't use the lord's name in vain." Ryan scorned his sister, but she had already moved on.
She wrapped her arms around Carter's neck, and leaned up to press her lips to his.
Carter remained still, unsure how to respond.
First he was shocked at the feel of her warm lips against his- but that quickly dissipated and was replaced by something else. His hands moved to her waist before feeling the guilt fill his stomach. He grew mad at himself that he liked the feeling of kissing her, especially when he remembered she had a boyfriend now.
Just as he was relaxing into it, Dana pulled back but kept her face close, "Sorry if that repulsed you just as much as the thought of dating me."
They moved to where the fake certificate was and wasted no time in signing it- Dana clearly even more agitated with Carter than before. She slammed the pen down on the table and moved so Carter could sign. Ryan had done a great job with knocking the document up as it did look pretty official. Carter stood back beside Dana, sensing the rage radiating from her.
"Mr and Mrs-" Ryan said with a bunch of random sounds for the surname as Dana took Carter's hand and started to pull him up the aisle. She had a fake smile plastered on her face which she kept up until they were out of the door.
She turned to him, slamming the bouquet of fabric flowers she had been holding into his chest, "Why couldn't you just do it?!" She exasperatedly shouted, "It was for show and that was it! Nothing behind it and that was too much! I didn't realise I was that repulsive to you!"
He wanted to argue back; tell her that she wasn't to him, quite the opposite and that he was ashamed that he couldn't have kissed her. Instead, all he could do was stand in silence, watching as she appeared on the brink of tears. If he'd been less of a coward, he could have told her it was the opposite but he couldn't and had to watch as her heart broke but had to act like he had no idea of what she had confessed to Kelsey a few months back. This had to be how Ryan felt when Carter had started on him; guilty and ashamed.
"That explains why you've been off with me! You lied to me and made out it wasn't to do with me! Well, do you know what, I'm a big girl Carter, I can handle people not liking me, even people that I work with! What I don't like is being lied to!" She shouted so much that she was trembling. Carter desperately wanted to stop her and just hug her and tell her it wasn't true.
She turned to walk away, when a Demon, clad in some sort of suit, and around a dozen Batlings materialised a few feet away. Dana shouted, "You're kidding me right?! He was being honest?!" Before she morphed to let out some of her frustration.
Carter knocked on the door, glancing down the hallway to see if the light was on in Dana's room; it was but he doubted she'd open to him. Ryan, on the other hand, did open but looked disappointed when he saw Carter.
"Can we talk?" Carter asked.
"Whatever," Ryan walked back in and sat down on the chair at the desk where an exercise book was laying open. He picked up the pen and turned to continue writing. Carter peered over his shoulder and was impressed to see Ryan copying a passage from 'Alice In Wonderland'.
"Look Ryan..." Carter moved to stand by the desk so Ryan could face him, "I shouldn't have yelled at you- it was wrong." Ryan looked up at him but remained quiet to encourage him to continue, "The Demon was real so I shouldn't have assumed it was you meddling. I shouldn't have taken out what I'm scared of on you- you aren't messing up what your Father created at all. If it wasn't for your plan today, we would have had another Demon threat."
Ryan nodded then turned back to his writing but kept the pen still.
"It's not your fault... About Dana and I arguing. It's mine- it's always just easier to push the blame onto someone else. If I could control how I act around her and make it the same as with everyone else things wouldn't be falling apart with us. I'm sorry... You didn't deserve to be belittled like that."
"Forget about it, you had a point-"
"No." Carter affirmed, "I didn't. I was wrong. You're trying to do something what would make us both happy if it worked, but things don't work like that."
"I hurt her too," Ryan dropped the pen and looked up, "She heard what you said because I pushed for it and now she's hurt. After she yelled at you when everyone could hear and after that awkward Rover ride back, she locked herself in her room. I could hear her crying. That's on me too."
"She isn't mad at you- she's mad at me."
Ryan grimaced, "I'm sorry she yelled at you."
"Don't be," Carter sighed, "I deserved it after everything I said to you." He prepared to walk out but stopped, "Are we okay?"
"We're fine. She won't be mad at you forever you know."
Carter chuckled, "Wanna bet?" He walked out and headed down the corridor. He paused outside Dana's room, tempted to knock and talk to her... It wouldn't be worth it.
He dug the ring he'd been wearing out of his pocket, looked at it then placed it back. He'd messed up big time...
(A/N)
GREG: Just me again because Sam is in hibernation, aka Ramadan, so her energy is pretty low right now. Just a quick update and explanation as to why the updates are taking so long.
Sam and I have been writing chapters and keeping them saved in doc manager as I'm going in for a major operation this month at any point, I've had the pre-op assessment so I'm just waiting for the date. I don't know how long it'll take to recover as some people take 2 years to adjust :(. As a precaution, we've been stockpiling chapters in preparation; we have a few months worth and hope to get a few more in the next few weeks. Sam will hopefully continue to post (I'm drafting up a schedule for her, I'm basically the admin for our account and handle posting, editing, PM's, beta requests and liasons) whilst I recover and if all goes well we'll be back to writing together before September.
In the meantime, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter! We'll be posting Blade Of Aurora, Matchmaking Mishaps and one shots still so again, if you have a one shot request just PM us or leave it in a review and I'll get back to you to discuss it. We have a short list of requests which we are currently working on (NickXMaddie, TaylorXEric, Dana and Ryan non-romantic [¡Gracias por su sugerencia! Lo siento si mi español es malo, tuve que usar google translate. Su halagador para ver un no-inglés revisión nativa nuestras historias!] etc) But we don't mind having double requests if characters are popular! Any era, Mighty Morphin' to Super Megaforce (and Dino Charge I suppose, Sam's watched it but I haven't!)
So! I hope you enjoyed plan J! If you have, we love to see reviews! Or if you have some constructive criticism feel free to leave it in a review or PM it to us! No flames though please!
You'll see Sam again soon and Me again in the future!
Have a great Summer!
Greg.
