A/N: Well, I'm finished with my student teaching and my portfolio, and graduation isn't until May 1. Then, I have the summer until graduate school begins… Despite my obviously busy schedule, I will find time to update. This set of themes is getting more and more fun to write. Enjoy!

"…": characters talking to each other

'…': characters talking to themselves

(…): extra facts about something in the story

(Takes place three years post-"Mystic Fate II")

Theme 18: Impression

Collins Mansion, June 25, 2009, 12:00 PM – Silver Hills, CA, USA

The bi-annual Power Rangers Reunion was in full swing at Red Time Force Ranger Wesley (Wes, thank you very much) Collins' house ("More like a mansion," Eric Meyers had snorted the first time he had laid eyes on it). It was the Time Force rangers' turn to host, as Christmas had been the Lightspeed Rangers' chance.

Smells of barbeque from the five large grills in the backyard filled the air, as did the sounds of laughter and giggles. Those rangers who had children were watching them play with friends, and those who had no one but themselves to worry about were happily partaking in the... "extended" menu in a darkened corner of the yard. It was here that Mystic Green Xander Bly was seated, mulling over a strong brandy.

He was set to begin his junior year at Turtle Cove University as an art major. What few knew was that Xander drew, and he drew well. During a previous reunion he had been sitting in a corner, sketching what he saw when White Drago Ranger Trent Mercer had trotted over and casually grabbed Xander's sketchpad. Xander had instantly dove for it but ended up sprawled on the floor, cheeks red in embarrassment as Trent flipped through the pad.

Trent had convinced him to seriously take a career as an artist into consideration as a college career, and even agreed to give Xander a letter of reference (Trent was currently working on his own comic book, and was well-known in the world of comic book lure and artistry), which Xander had accepted gratefully.

'Here I am, drinking booze when I could be somewhere else,' Xander thought, eyes beginning to glaze over with alcohol. He shot a glance over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes at the scene before him, 'or doing something else.'

Mind made up Xander gulped down the rest of his drink in one attempt before leaving a few bills to cover his tab. Jogging out to his forest-green jeep he reached into the passenger seat and pulled out a pile of papers, a sketchpad and a collection of different colored felt pens. Moving back to the party scene he found an unoccupied corner of the yard, hidden by a large willow tree and began sketching in pencil.

As the minutes passed an interesting picture began to appear. Trent and his teammates were teasing Tommy Oliver ("Dr. O.! Please, for us?!" Kira begged, her eyes finally causing her mentor to sigh, roll his eyes and incline his head while casually reaching out his hand and pushing his best friend Jason Lee Scott into Wes' swimming pool, clothes and all). Xander managed to catch Jason's flailing arms and shocked expression in his drawing with his wife, Trini, laughed hysterically in the background, clinging to Tommy's wife Kimberly to try to stand up straight. She wasn't having much success.

Chad Lee and his wife Marina were lounging in the pool, contented expressions on their faces while Max Cooper prepared to perform a cannonball in front of them. Xander knew that that would not end well. The Wild Force Blue, though now 27 still acted like a kid… must be from hanging out with them while teaching bowling.

Justin Stewart and Hayley Ziktor were huddled over portable laptops, voices lowered to prevent any… "interested" persons from interrupting. Justin and Hayley worked with Ethan James in his video game company. Only open for less than three years, it was amazing how much money the three of them had made. Xander made sure to capture small details such as Hayley's claw-shaped earrings and Justin's thunderbolt tattoo that crept up the side of his neck (Xander thought the tattoo was super-cool and had memorized it in case he decided to get something similar).

Tori (whom, he had to admit, was still smoking hot even when held in her husband's possessive grip) and Madison were trading stories about using their powers to control water. Xander did not dare draw anything more than what he saw with those two, with no embellishment like he did with… "other" subjects. The two former rangers were sitting at the edge of the pool (far from Max, who was now being chased by an irate Marina with Chad watching, amused, with his best friend Joel and his wife Angela from the sidelines), feet dangling in the clear blue water. Blake, Tori's husband, sat next to her, an arm wrapped around her shoulders protectively. Nick was nowhere to be seen, off talking with someone else.

Finally, Xander's eye landed on the real object of his focus. When he had been called to help the Operation Overdrive Rangers against Thrax, he had become very close with both Will Aston and Ronny Robinson in that short period of time. They had kept in contact, and when he had introduced them to the rest of his team Vida and Ronny had instantly clicked.

Right now, the two women were sunbathing, their swimsuits doing nothing to hide bodies toned from their experiences as rangers. Ronny's fiancé, Will, was currently talking with Adam Park, who was holding his two-year old son, Willis, in his arms. Xander's fingers moved swiftly, taking in the scene quickly and with such accuracy that one would think a photograph was being taken, and not the creation of a drawing.

Xander looked up after a few minutes and blinked upon seeing that Vida had disappeared. 'Where did she go?'

"Hey," came a voice and Xander jumped. Damn, where had she come from?!

"V, don't scare a guy like that!" Xander reprimanded his friend, smirking.

Vida shrugged before sticking her tongue out at her friend. She had tossed on a pair of short-shorts and a tank top over her bathing suit. Xander shook his head at her childish action before turning his attention back to the scene he was sketching… that is, he would have if Vida hadn't snatched his sketchpad.

"V! Give it back," Xander demanded voice serious.

Vida looked at him strangely before dropping to the ground next to Xander, leaning against the tree so that she could be comfortable.

"Why?" she asked as she examined the sketch Xander had just been working on a few minutes ago. Damn, she had had no idea that Xander was this good. She'd seen some of his sketches and assumed that it was a hobby, but this… this was almost as good as Trent's drawings, which she adored.

"It's a private sketchpad, V. I don't go through your favorite mix-CDs," Xander responded slowly, eyes narrowing.

Vida glanced over at Xander before smirking and replying, "Yeah, well, let's just say that I'm curious about what you've drawn." With that, she began to move through the sketchpad from the end to beginning. Xander sat beside her, nervously fidgeting.

After a few minutes of silence, Vida turned a page and gasped. Xander cringed; damn, he was in for it now.

"What's this?" Vida asked quietly, placing the pad in Xander's hands. Xander looked down and mentally winced. 'Of all the drawings she could have seen she found this one…'

"It's a drawing; what else?" Xander replied, smirking. Vida lowered her sunglasses so that Xander could see her eyes. He winced. "Fine… it's you; happy?"

It was indeed Vida, but it was her djing at Rock Porium. Matoombo had been there that day, and Vida had been teaching him how to scratch records and, in the process had been dancing and doing back flips to the music. Her eyes were alight with glee and adrenaline, hair tinted pale pink and blue. Headphones were circling her neck and her fingers were splayed in the air, crossed in front of her as she did a back flip from behind the dj booth.

"Xander… why?" was all that Vida asked, clearly not comfortable with the subject. Xander realized this and mentally snorted. Wasn't exactly comfortable ground for him either.

Xander hesitated, before throwing caution to the wind. "It's because that's how I see you, V. You're this amazing person, former ranger, DJ extraordinaire, and it's like you don't even know it. You are so out there it's amazing, and that day in the store, I thought it was the perfect chance to just… just take down my impression of you."

Vida didn't answer for a moment, and Xander had the horrifying thought that she'd laugh at him, or even mock him. Instead, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks, Xander. Listen, uh, when we get back to Briarwood do you want to come to my next gig? Apparently I need some kind of escort even though I'm the DJ and I was thinking of bringing Chip but he said that he and Clare had something, and Maddy wouldn't want to come; Leelee's with her mom training and –"

Xander chuckled before pressing a kiss to her mouth. "Sure, V. Sure."