Bright Skies (Multi - Season Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt #83: Dinner, T)
So, my brother killed my internet.
Okay, he didn't really. Our server died suddenly and without warning. The net provider was nice enough to replace it for us, but I had about three days with no net access. So what did I do?
I wrote, of course.
Author/: Tsukino Akume
Fandom/: Power Rangers Time Force moving into S.P.D., multiple Rangers from each season
Characters/: Wes (Time Force), multiple Rangers from other teams (Literally too many to list)
Pairings/: Post - Wes/Eric, Rocky/Adam, Shane/Dustin, Hunter/Cam, Carter/Dana, Andros/Ashley, Zhane/Karone, Carlos/Ronny, Jason/Taylor, Conner/Ethan, Justin/Rose, Tommy/Kimberly, Tyzonn/Mack, Cassie/OC, Nick/Maddison, Zack/Aisha, Trent/Kira, Post - Billy/Cestria. Future Ryan/Carter and Billy/Hayley. More couples will most likely be mentioned, but not shown.
prompt/: #83: Dinner
Rating/: T (For non - graphic mentions of people having babies and being violent with one another)
Disclaimer/: I don't own the Power Rangers, but if Disney's hiring any new writers I volunteer.
Summary/: When Wes' life starts to fall apart, an accident gives him a chance at a fresh start in New Tech City, with Space Patrol Delta. But even a new life has its ups and downs - and weird friends. Meanwhile, Eric tries to move on.
Warnings/: A mentally handicapped person living in a medical facility, angst, male and female slash, non-cemented couples (In otherwords, pairings that will be separated), children created by scientific means, character death
Author's Notes/: This was surprisingly fun to write. I kept giggling. ^_^ It probably should have been two chapters, but I sort of ran out of spare prompts already after rewriting Reflection. c.c
Stephanie Collins is a character I developed in another side fic, Mother’s Baby. There’s an explanation for her behavior there. I just haven’t decided with I’m completely happy with that backstory or not yet.
"Good?" Wes asked, nodding to Vanessa's plate.
"Mm-hmm," she murmured, stirring the noodles with her fork. She glanced up. "Why the sudden treat, anyway? You never eat out in fancy places like this."
He shrugged. "I thought you could use it after the last few days. Seems like everything was going wrong at once. Figured you could use a break."
Vanessa rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. Conveniently, about the time Kat had decided to accept Commander Birdie's offer for a position at S.P.D. Headquarters, everything in the base seemed to fall apart. And with only a handful of staff at her disposal and Boom to cover Kat's duties, Vanessa had been more than slightly stressed. In addition, DVD had been so busy fine tuning the last of the specs for the S.W.A.T. fliers, they'd completely neglected the Delta Runners and Sam's Omegamax Cycle. Which of course, happened right when they needed them.
"So ... better?" he prodded, nudging her foot under the table with his.
A faint, reluctant smile touched her lips. "Better," she admitted. She pointed a fork at him. "But I still want dessert."
He raised his right hand, placing the left over his heart. "The richest chocolate they have," he promised.
Vanessa continued to poke at her plate. "It's funny. The kids are so attached to Kat, they think the base went to hell just because she left. And of course, she came back right around the time we got everything under control again, which was perfect timing." She rolled her eyes again.
Wes smiled sympathetically at her. With Billy gone, Kat had been elected as the Tech Department's representative for dealing with B Squad. Vanessa *should* have been the one, being the actual head of the department in his absence, but she'd refused. While she didn't admit to it to most people, Wes knew it was because she was worried she wouldn't be able to keep her cool if something happened to Sky. He also knew that despite her calm, professional attitude, she wouldn't have; she loved her son too much. "So what did you say to her when she came back?"
"Don't ever leave Boom in charge of your responsibilities again. What do you *think* I said?"
He laughed. Vanessa and Kat still tended to bump heads a lot, but in her own way, Vanessa was fond of the other woman. That didn't mean her attitude towards her would change any, though. Thankfully, Kat seemed to understand that, and maybe even respect it. She gave as good as she got when she and Vanessa fought over something.
"Speaking of Kat's return ... "
He glanced up warily.
Vanessa's eyes flickered side to side, making sure there was no one within hearing distance. "I noticed Justin confiscated her morpher practically the moment she walked in the door," she commented pointedly.
He let out a slow sigh. His eyes moved around the room to check for eavesdroppers out of habit. "They don't *make* disposable morphers, Nes," he said quietly. "The Power doesn't work that way."
Her eyebrows went up. "And the machinery involved can't - "
He shook his head. "I'm not Trip or Justin, but I've picked up enough from both of them to know that's not possible. Which means whatever Birdie gave her ... " He shrugged slightly. "There's either something wrong with it, or they didn't make it right."
Her eyes watched him suspiciously. "Or you have another theory," she murmured.
He hesitated, swallowing. "I ... You know how I get ... feelings? Dreams sometimes?"
She nodded.
"Something about Birdie ... " He shook his head. "I can't explain this very well. Something about him just ... doesn't feel right."
"Doesn't feel right how?"
He hesitated again. "It's like ... sometimes it's like there's something he's hiding from us. Other times it's just a bad feeling. Like something bad is about to happen."
"Wes." Vanessa's voice was quiet. "You realize that if you're suspecting Commander Birdie, you're suspecting S.P.D. as a whole."
He sighed, running a hand over his hair. "I know," he muttered. "Sometimes I have to ask myself if it's because I think S.P.D. is going to become Time Force someday, and with what I know about Time Force ... " He shrugged helplessly. "But that doesn't make the feelings stop."
She raised her eyebrows again. "S.P.D. is Time Force?"
"I think so. I don't have any real proof, but the signs are there." He smiled faintly, but there was no real humor in it. "Sam, for one."
Her eyes flickered back over his shoulder. "What's taking those three so long, anyway?" she demanded abruptly.
He shrugged again, trying not to eye the person who walked past him. "Maybe they're having trouble getting a hold of them."
She looked at him again, studying him more carefully now. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
He smiled a little. "I'm so nervous I feel like I'm about to jump out of my skin, if that's what you mean."
She shook her head, looking amused. "I can't believe you're actually going to do it."
"Why? Because you figured you'd do it first? Or because I always said I wouldn't?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "First of all, R.J. doesn't see the point in it and you know it. Not that I care," she added quickly as he looked at her suspiciously. "But you *did* always say you wouldn't."
He grinned. "Well, there's a lot of things I never thought I'd do that I have. Apparently, this is another one."
She smiled, and the expression softened her face as she reached out to squeeze his hand. "I'm happy for you, Wes. I really am. This is ... maybe I didn't expect it, but I'm glad. You deserve it."
He gave her a look, and they both laughed.
"Okay, that's not what I meant and you know it," she chuckled.
"It's what you were thinking," he teased back. "That I deserve Eric."
"Well ... "
"Nes!"
"No one else is willing to put up with him," she pointed out.
He smiled, shaking his head, and sighed a little as his mind wandered.
Her hand squeezed his again. "What is it?"
He shrugged a little. "It's just ... I thought I'd be doing this twenty years ago, you know? Back then, I figured that at the age I am now, I'd be sending my boys off to college and celebrating finally having some time alone with each other again. And now here I am, almost forty-nine years old, and it's *finally* happening. And I've already got a son that's pretty much out of the house. It's just ... not the way I thought it would be, you know?" He smiled weakly. "It's not that I regret Sky, or my life here, it's just ... "
"You wanted to raise your son together," Vanessa murmured.
He nodded, feeling guilty.
"It's not too late, you know."
He blinked. "What?"
She glanced up, looking a little uncomfortable. "For you two to have children together. You still technically could." She hesitated, biting her lip. "If you wanted to ... " Her chin firmed a little as her eyes met his. "If you still want to have more kids, I'll be your surrogate."
He gaped at her. "Nes ... "
Her eyes narrowed. "If you stop calling me Nes."
He ignored her, shaking his head. "That's ... that's an incredible thing to offer Nes, but ... I'm almost fifty. I'm a little old to be chasing toddlers around the house. Besides, I'm sure the last thing you want in your house is more - "
He cringed as her hand squeezed his again, painfully tight.
"I'm not making this offer lightly, Wes," she warned him, eyes flashing. "Let's get that straight right now. I *hated* being pregnant. And this isn't exactly going to be a heyday for me if I did. I may not have gone through menopause yet, but I will be soon. This would pretty much be my last hurrah with children." She paused, taking a deep breath. "But. You're my best friend. ... And whether I like to admit it or not, you and Eric both mean a lot to me. I want you to be happy. And this would get me off the hook for trying to figure out some sort of gift for you two."
He laughed in spite of himself, the laughter fading into a warm smile. "Thanks, Nes. I'll think about it," he promised. He leaned across the table to kiss her cheek.
Someone cleared their throat loudly.
"I leave you two alone for ten minutes, and you're already making out," Eric grumbled.
Wes grinned up at him as Vanessa made a face. "Actually, she's trying to break my hand," he informed him, trying to pry himself free from her grip. He winced as he got a good look at his hand. "Ow, by the way," he added, trying to wring it out.
"Well, we found a place," Sky informed them as he reclaimed his seat at the table. His eyes danced with mischief. It was a welcome change from the pale, solemn face he‘d had when Wes had decided to drag everyone out. He didn‘t know what Bridge had said to Sky, but whatever it was, Sky was deeply troubled by it. "And they even video tape the ceremony, so you can fend off all the people who will be mad at you for not inviting them later."
"Good idea," Wes agreed as Eric rolled his eyes. "Did you get Justin and Taylor?"
"Justin said they'll meet us there," R.J. assured him. He smiled. "He seems to think Storm Blaster will get him there before us."
"I don't doubt it," he chuckled. He glanced at Eric. "And Dad?"
"He'll be there," Eric told him. He shook his head. "Not mine, though. Dad's not home, which means he's probably on another mission. And ... " He trailed off, swallowing uncomfortably.
Wes squeezed his hand sympathetically under the table. Eric's strained relationship with his mother had pretty much dissolved over the last few years. He knew it bothered Eric more than he liked to admit. "Well, we didn't exactly give them a lot of notice," he pointed out.
Sky snorted. "Let's go out to dinner. Hey, while we're out, why don't we get married?" he mocked. He grunted as Eric kicked him under the table.
Wes chuckled again, because that was pretty much what had happened. "Well ... " He squeezed Eric's hand again, smiling brightly at everyone. "Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"
Vanessa glared at him.
"After dessert," he corrected hastily.
****
~"Hey ... Eric. Remember that promise we made awhile ago? ... Have you ever thought about making it official?"
" .… Okay. I'll go make some calls. Come on, Sky."
"Wait, what?!"~
"Are you kidding me?" Justin stared at him, looking far too amused. "That's literally what happened?"
He nodded, grinning sheepishly. "He took a little while to think about it, and I didn't actually think he'd take me seriously, but well ... Here we are." He gestured wide.
Justin shook his head, grinning. "Astro and Mystic are going to kill you."
"They tape the ceremony. Sky checked," he informed him.
Justin laughed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "You are *so* lucky your son thinks farther ahead than either of you do."
He chuckled. "He gets it from Vanessa."
"So. You ready?"
"Not quite, I think."
Wes looked up, his face lighting up as a familiar face entered the waiting area the attendants running the chapel had given him. "Dad!"
Alan Collins was just passing seventy years old, gray-haired and starting to feel his age. But the sparkle in his eyes as he greeted his son with a hug was as bright as ever, as was the warm smile he gave. "Wasn't sure we'd make it," he sighed, sounding relieved.
Wes looked at him quizzically. "You know I'd never let them start without you, Dad. And who's we?"
His father pulled away, moving back through the door he'd just entered through. When he came back, he was pushing a wheelchair. And seated in that wheelchair, carefully wrapped in blankets and bundled in warm clothing was ...
"Mom ... " Wes breathed, smiling warmly at her as tears welled in his eyes. He put the thumb of his right hand to his chin, waving his fingers.
Stephanie Collins lit up as she caught sight of him, her entire face shining with joy. While she wasn't the woman she'd been, the woman his father had fell in love with, Phillips had told him once that the inner sparkle she'd had never faded. She rocked her arms together, giggling loudly. "Wes!"
He knelt down in front of the wheelchair, leaning forward to hug her carefully. He looked up at his dad over her shoulder, swallowing back the surge of emotion running through him. "How did you ever ... ?"
"I convinced one of the nurses to let me smuggle her out for the day," his dad explained, smiling at the two of them. "I knew she'd want to be here."
He swallowed, squeezing her slightly. "Thanks, Dad," he whispered.
Someone knocked on the door. "Dad?" Sky asked, poking his head in. "Are you almost - " He broke off, looking startled. "Grandpa!"
"It's good to see you, Sky," Alan greeted, giving him a hug. "I see S.P.D.'s been treating you well."
Sky nodded, recovering quickly. "I do my best, Sir."
A hand cuffed him upset the head from behind. "Don't call your grandfather, Sir," Vanessa lectured. "This isn't S.P.D."
Sky rolled his eyes, pausing as he caught sight of Stephanie. "Grandma," he murmured, signing the word as he spoke.
Stephanie beamed, holding out her arms. "Blue!" she squealed happily.
Behind him, Wes heard Justin snort awkwardly, and tried to fight down a laugh of his own. "Wow, she's good," Justin commented, eyes dancing.
Wes gave him an amused look as Sky glared before moving to hug his grandmother. "That's been her nickname for him since he was little," he explained. "I think it was for his eyes, actually."
"Better than Eric's," Sky muttered as he stood, smirking.
Wes sighed, glancing at Justin's questioning look. "She calls Eric Beautiful," he told him.
Justin choked.
He socked him lightly in the arm, grinning so his mom wouldn't think anything was wrong. "Eric only lets her call him that, before you get any ideas."
"Wait'll you see his face when she does," Sky snickered.
"And yours?" Justin asked, grinning at him.
He sighed. "Baby."
"Aw, how sweet," the younger man teased, and he fought to keep from punching him again - Stephanie was already looking at him curiously. He knew Justin wasn't really making fun of him; his teammates had learned about his mom a long time ago, during one of their talks on Aquitar. But they would never let something that had once been a sensitive subject for him remain that way.
Sky cleared his throat. "Taylor says Eric's about to bolt for the door," he informed his father. "So if you're not ready yet, she needs to know so she can justify hogtying him."
Behind him, Vanessa looked hopeful.
Wes snorted. "Sorry, but no. I'm ready."
Sky nodded, but he could have sworn he heard him mutter "Darn," as they left.
"We'll just take our places, then," Alan agreed, waving at them so Stephanie would understand what was going on.
"I'll be right out," Wes promised.
Stephanie giggled and waved as he wheeled her out the door.
Wes sighed, taking a slow, deep breath.
"Are you really ready?" Justin asked, the teasing note gone from his voice as a hand squeezed his shoulder.
"As I'll ever be," he affirmed.
"I'll go find my spot, then. See you up there." He paused, and Wes looked at him oddly. "Congratulations, Wes. I'm happy for you," he said sincerely. Then he grinned. "And remember, if Eric ever hurts you, I'll kick his butt."
He shoved him out the door with a laugh. "Thanks."
Once the room was empty, he took a moment to adjust his tie again, brushing back his hair one more time with his hands. The streaks of silver were still a bit discerning, but Eric didn't seem to care, which was what mattered in the end. He glanced down at his left hand, absently wishing they'd thought to get rings or something first. Maybe later.
There was another knock on the door. "Are you *ever* coming out?" Eric demanded as he leaned against the frame. "R.J.'s been giving me funny looks, and it's starting to creep me out."
"He does that just because it bothers you, you know," he returned absently, adjusting his tie once again. "Hey, does this look straight to you?"
Hands closed over his. "It's fine," Eric told him. "Stop fussing." He paused, studying his face for a moment. "This was *your* idea, you know."
"I know." He managed a weak attempt at a smile. "Just ... I guess now that it's actually happening, it feels a little weird."
Eric frowned. "No bad feelings?" He eyed Wes' morpher meaningfully.
Wes shook his head. "Not bad feelings. Just ... " He shrugged a little, and this time the smile was pained. "I'm not used to getting a happy ending, you know?"
Eric looked at him for a long moment, at last leaning in to kiss him gently. "Well, this is one you're not getting out of," he promised quietly. "We're doing this."
The smile warmed a little as he squeezed Eric's hand. "For better or for worse?"
Eric snorted. "More likely to be worse, in our case." He lifted their hands to kiss the back of Wes' in an oddly affectionate gesture that didn't seem to suit him. "Partners," he reminded him.
"Partners," Wes agreed quietly. He squeezed Eric's hand one last time before they headed for the door.
"Are you kidding me?!" Vanessa's sputtering reached his ears before the music did.
He glanced at Eric, confused, before going over to see what was the matter. "Nes?"
She continued to glare at R.J., who shrugged lightly in response. "Is that a 'no'?" he asked innocently.
Vanessa punched him in the arm.
"Uh ... did we miss something?" Wes asked, eyeing Vanessa warily. It was never good when she was in a punching mood.
Sky coughed, fighting a grin. "R.J. just asked Mom to marry him."
Wes did a double-take, staring at his friend. Beside him, he could feel Eric's incredulous look.
R.J. shrugged again. "The positive vibrations in this place made it seem like the right time to ask. But if you're not down with legalization of our relationship, that's cool."
Vanessa was still glaring at him. "Most people get an engagement ring. And time to plan some sort of fancy wedding."
"We're not most people," R.J. countered.
She hesitated.
Wes raised his eyebrows. Was she actually considering ...
It was Sky who finally sighed. "You guys are screwing up the whole procession, you know," he muttered. "If you're all getting married, who's giving away who now?"
R.J bowed to Wes, offering an arm. "I'd be honored," he said sincerely.
Wes blinked uncertainly. Had Vanessa even said yes yet? "That's ... "
"Sure, stick me with *Eric*," Vanessa muttered, snagging Eric's elbow.
Eric stared at her like he'd just been offered a live snake. "Uh ... "
Wes looked at him and shrugged helplessly. "See you at the altar?"
Sky shook his head. "I'll go tell them it's a double wedding," he grumbled, slipping into the chapel.
Wes glanced over at Vanessa. "So what am I supposed to give you?" he asked, feeling bemused.
She snorted as Eric's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "See you there," she murmured, hauling Eric through the door before he could manage to voice a protest.
Wes looked at R.J., who smiled at him peacefully. "Happy wedding."
He sighed, shaking his head. "Happy wedding, R.J."
They moved through the main door together as the music continued. There was a pause, and R.J. suddenly leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "Totally digging the crooked tie, by the way."