He knew where he was. Not that it was hard to guess, with the edge of the sofa digging into his ribs through the cushions and the armrest pressing against his knees. It wasn't the most comfortable sleep he'd gotten in the last few days, but he wouldn't trade it either. Each time he'd woken, roused out of unconsciousness by movement or just general discomfort, he'd been greeted by solid warmth and a steady, reassuring heartbeat.

Zhane was awake. He knew that as soon as he wondered and he lifted his head a little, wondering how the Silver Ranger could stay so still in a position that had to be less comfortable than his own. Drowsy blue eyes opened when he moved, meeting his gaze with a lazy smile that seemed utterly appropriate.

"I miss this," Andros muttered, giving in to gravity and letting his head rest on Zhane's arm again. He heard the words slur when his tongue was too slow to keep up with his thoughts, but he didn't care. "I miss the Megaship, where we could sleep in the observatory whenever we wanted."

Zhane's chest lifted and lowered in a silent sigh. "Me too," he agreed, voice husky with sleep. "I miss you."

He couldn't stand it anymore. Pushing his arms up over his head, he straightened his legs one at a time and tried awkwardly to stretch on the cramped confines of the sofa. He didn't want to get up, but he was already stiff from sleeping there.

Zhane caught his wrist as he went to sit up and he twisted in surprise. He had to brace himself with his other arm against the back of the sofa, but the Silver Ranger didn't look at all disconcerted to have Andros hovering above him. "Wait," he murmured, a question in his tone. "Just a few more minutes."

"You can't be comfortable," Andros protested, a little embarrassed by the request. He didn't move, torn between giving in and pulling away.

"I don't care." Zhane reached up, his fingers whisper-soft on Andros' face. "Please."

Andros swallowed as the longing in that one word reminded him of everything he hadn't been to Zhane lately. "I thought I was the one who was supposed to say please," he said, trying to smile. "After this morning?"

"I was just being stupid," Zhane muttered. "You can kiss me any time you want."

He didn't need any more encouragement than that. Leaning forward, he whispered, "You weren't being stupid." His face a breath away from Zhane's, he added softly, "Please?"

For answer, Zhane lifted his head up off the cushions and captured Andros' mouth with his own. Andros followed as he sank back onto the sofa, losing his balance and succumbing to Zhane's embrace almost immediately. It wasn't a comfortable way to kiss, but like the nap, it didn't seem to matter when he was in Zhane's arms.

Zhane tried to move underneath him and he shifted obligingly, trying to keep his weight from pinning his friend. Zhane only tightened his embrace, making it clear that Andros wasn't going anywhere. Exasperated, he slid his leg over Zhane's and rolled the rest of his way on top of him, pressing close enough that even Zhane couldn't object. If nothing else, at least he would be comfortable.

He felt Zhane tremble as their tongues connected again, and he drew back abruptly. Zhane made a soft sound of protest but made no move to stop him. Staring up at him, his lips parted and breath loud in the silence, the Silver Ranger said nothing as Andros studied him.

"You're not cold," Andros muttered, feeling unbearably foolish as he thought of Zhane's new favorite excuse. "Zhane... Why do you even bother?"

"Because you always fall for it," Zhane said quietly, deliberately misunderstanding. He flashed an echo of his carefree grin up at Andros. "It's so easy with you."

"What, keeping me in the dark?" Andros demanded. He was tempted to move his hands, to brace himself against Zhane's chest instead of the sofa, but he was well aware that he didn't need to do anything to aggravate his position.

"You do that to yourself," Zhane retorted. "I just take advantage of it."

Andros frowned. "It isn't like I noticed and was ignoring it. I really didn't notice--I didn't think. I just didn't think," he repeated with a sigh.

"Sure you didn't," Zhane said easily. He slid one hand under Andros' shirt, startling Andros so badly that even when Zhane's entire body tensed he had no idea what the Silver Ranger was about to do.

Then, impossibly, Zhane was sitting up, his free hand tangling in Andros' hair and his mouth pressing against one still open with shock. The kiss was hard and demanding even as Zhane pushed him back, trying to stay upright himself as his hands sent Andros' senses spinning. He couldn't balance, couldn't react, couldn't do anything but allow the heated assault to go on and on.

Zhane released his mouth long enough to whisper, "Ignore this," in his ear. He bit down lightly on Andros' earlobe, making him start, then kissed his temple before drawing away.

Those blue eyes glittered as they met a wide-eyed hazel gaze without reservation. "I don't want you," Zhane said solemnly. "I don't need you. I have never, ever loved you and I never will."

Andros felt his heart seize painfully, icewater flooding his veins. He knew he had stopped breathing, sitting there on Zhane's lap and hearing words that were so far beyond his comprehension that they barely made sense. He could only stare, incapable of movement or speech.

"I wouldn't do anything--anything at all--just to keep you alive and happy." Zhane paused, taking in his expression as his fingers clenched on Andros' shoulders. "Dammit, Andros, don't look at me like that!"

Andros found himself shaking, being shaken by Zhane, and he could only gape at the Silver Ranger. "You always fall for it," Zhane said harshly. "I even said it myself and I still did that--Andros, I'm so sorry, you know that isn't true!"

Zhane shook him again, his gaze as desperate as his tone. "I thought it would be so obvious that I was lying that you'd see why I'm frustrated, but you really don't notice, do you. Andros--"

He received the gentlest ghost of a kiss, Zhane's hands cupping his face even as he pulled away. Still flushed, eyes filled with self-reproach, the Silver Ranger searched his expression urgently. "Andros..."

The truth was gradually beginning to dawn on Andros, and he felt the blood that had drained from his face suffusing his cheeks again as he realized that Zhane had meant the exact opposite of what he'd said. He wanted Andros. He wanted Andros the way his body said he did, and there was no hiding it anymore--not from each other or from anyone else.

Andros opened his mouth to answer and choked on the words. He looked down, trying to maintain some semblance of control, and he found himself staring at Zhane's chest. "You make me feel more than anyone I've ever known," he blurted out, his voice little more than a whisper. "Anger, and jealousy--fear...

"Hope," he added, lifting his gaze at last. Zhane was staring back at him, worry still clouding his eyes. "Love... desire."

It didn't take much effort to press his mouth to Zhane's again, and he wondered distantly if the other had read his mind. Zhane was still clutching his shoulders, which relieved and disappointed him at the same time. It meant he could concentrate on kissing, which was good, but he shifted restlessly at the remembered feel of Zhane's hands on his skin.

Zhane's fingers tightened painfully as the Silver Ranger pushed him back. "That is so not necessary," he hissed, glaring at Andros without conviction.

Andros blinked, surprised by the dark expression. "What?" he asked, breathless and bewildered. "What did I do?"

Zhane just stared at him for a moment, then shoved him none too gently aside. Swinging his legs over the side of the sofa, he dropped his head into his hands with a groan. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," he muttered. "I'm not sure you're making me stronger, Andros."

Andros didn't say anything, aware that somehow their makeout session had gone too far. He probably shouldn't have been where he ended up, but he hadn't meant to be. If Zhane hadn't sat up... they'd been fine before that.

He smiled a little to himself, aware that Zhane might disagree. If he suggested that they stretch out full-length on the sofa again, instead of--

"You'd better not be smiling," Zhane warned, head tilted to one side as he peered up at him. "I could do things to you that you've never even heard of."

Andros' smile faded as he considered that. "How old are you?" he asked abruptly.

"Si--" Zhane broke off, eyes narrowed. "Is this a trick question?" he demanded, lifting his head.

Andros kept his expression as bland as possible. He knew what age Zhane had been about to give, and he couldn't resist. He even thought, in a strange way, that Zhane might appreciate the humor. "Did you know that, in California, it's illegal for me to sleep with you?"

Zhane gaped at him, then turned the look into a glare. "Is this going somewhere?" he asked dangerously.

Andros started to shake his head, but he changed his mind suddenly. "You're not, you know."

"Excuse me?" Zhane didn't look mollified.

"Sixteen," Andros said with a frown. "That's what you were about to say, isn't it?"

Zhane shrugged, looking away. "I was born eighteen years ago," he muttered.

"Yeah," Andros agreed, watching him thoughtfully. "Have you looked in a mirror lately?"

It was Zhane's turn to frown as he glanced back at Andros. "What are you talking about?"

He was thoroughly distracted now, and Andros smiled inwardly. He might drive Zhane crazy, but he had picked up a few things over the years. "I'm talking about the way you look," he said, gesturing idly at his friend. "You were fifteen when you went into hypersleep, and when you woke up you still looked it.

"Now you don't. I noticed it a few months ago, but it's even more obvious now. You look eighteen... even older, really, but the point is you caught up. I don't know how, or when, but..." He shrugged helplessly.

Zhane seemed to consider that. "Bet DECA would have a field day with that," he said at last. "Three years of teenage angst all crammed into one. No wonder I'm so messed up lately."

"You said it," Andros replied, his tone as neutral as he could make it. "Not me."

He had to grin when Zhane shot an arch look in his direction. "This from the guy who didn't recognize his sister and forgot his boyfriend," he remarked. "Yeah, your opinion means a lot."

His grin disappeared. "I didn't forget you, Zhane."

Zhane shrugged, apparently not willing to fight over it.

"Zhane--" He stopped abruptly, suppressing a flare of anger as he realized what was happening. "You're doing it again."

Zhane gave him a startled look, and Andros wondered if the Silver Ranger was as unaware of his instinctive defenses as Andros was of his own. "You're..." He tried to find the words to explain it. "You're pushing me away. Cutting me off."

Zhane frowned, but Andros refused to give in to doubt. Zhane might know him better than he knew himself, but there were moments when it worked both ways. Not a lot of moments, maybe, but enough.

"You don't really think I forgot you, do you?" he asked quietly.

Zhane opened his mouth, then settled for shaking his head.

Andros inched closer, reaching out to touch his face gently. "I didn't," he insisted. "I still don't know how I survived so long without you. I do know that if you hadn't come back with me to the Megaship after that, I would have stayed on Rayven. I couldn't lose you again, Zhane."

Zhane stared at him, then sighed a little. Not taking his eyes off of Andros, he asked, "Is this a bad time to mention how much hell you've put me through by dying multiple times since I've woken up?"

Surprised, Andros let his hand fall. "I haven't died," he said, frowning.

"I didn't know that," Zhane shot back. "No matter how weird it's been lately, at least I haven't had to worry so much."

He wondered briefly if he should be offended by that, but in truth it wasn't so different from his own feelings. So instead he offered ruefully, "Except for the nightmares?"

"Nightmares?" Zhane echoed, giving every indication of confusion.

Sure he was setting himself up for the punchline, Andros nonetheless prompted, "The reason you haven't been sleeping? The reason DECA's had time to psychoanalyze you without anyone else knowing?"

Zhane just looked at him, and the expression on his face was one of resigned amusement. "Andros, I haven't been having nightmares."

"You--" Andros stopped, remembering Zhane's complaint about not being able to sleep after the ride home from the holoshow. That was all it took. "You were dreaming about..."

"You," Zhane finished. "And not about losing you."

He tried for a glare, but even from the inside he doubted he was pulling it off very well. "Is this another one of those times when the truth doesn't matter?" he demanded, holding onto his indignation in an effort not to be flustered.

"If it mattered," Zhane said quietly, "you would have known."

"That isn't fair!" Andros exclaimed, stung. "I trust you when you say--"

"No, that isn't what I meant," Zhane interrupted, talking over him until Andros subsided. "I would have told you if it mattered, but it didn't. There was nothing you could do about it, and it would only have made things worse."

The terminal chimed, and he glanced over in time to see the Defense Comm logo appear on the screen. Andros sighed, reluctant to end this conversation but well aware that they needed any information Saryn might have. "This isn't over," he told Zhane, pushing himself up off the sofa.

"I'd be disappointed if it was," the Silver Ranger drawled. His carelessness was firmly back in place as he unfolded himself from his own position to follow Andros.

He entered his KOSN authorization automatically, watching the Defense Comm logo vanish and wondering if Zhane really had to stand so close. Saryn's face appeared in place of the logo, and the Red Elisian Ranger nodded in greeting. "Andros," he said neutrally. "Zhane."

"Saryn," Andros replied, smiling a little. "How are things?"

Saryn returned the expression. "I find, somewhat to my surprise, that things are well," he admitted. "And yourselves?"

"We're all right." Andros deliberately didn't look at Zhane. "We had some unexpected visitors last night, though."

"So Kerone said," Saryn agreed, his expression sobering. "I have spoken with both Mirine and Linnse, and I must tell you that you seem to be alone in your experience. There have been velocifighter forays up and down the Border, but nothing you are not already aware of. Each has been met well outside system boundaries and dispatched without casualties. No ground-based incursions have been reported since Calijyt was liberated last year."

"Well, aren't we special," Zhane remarked lightly. "Let me tell you, it's a good feeling to be at the top of the must-conquer list."

"Kerone said that they didn't set off any alarms?" Saryn turned the statement into a question, paying no attention to Zhane.

"No. And we've reviewed data from all of the system sentries and orbital satellites. There's nothing, no indication that they even passed RS-42 to get here."

"Did DECA detect nothing?" Saryn inquired.

"The Megaship's scanners weren't turned on the planet," Andros said with a grimace. "We didn't think it was necessary, so she had them trained on deep space for some research project she's doing. DECA didn't know anything was wrong until the hangar alarms went off, and by then Ashley and Kerone were already fighting."

"I trust they are unharmed," Saryn offered, not as though he expected anything different.

"They're fine," Andros agreed, then thought better of it. "Kerone was a little shaken up, but everyone seems better this morning."

Saryn frowned. "It seems unlikely that Kerone would be distressed by such an attack, no matter the circumstances."

"It wasn't the attack," Andros said carefully. "Her magic got a little bit... out of control last night. She says it's happened before, with you."

Saryn's expression cleared, though a flicker of sympathy lingered in his eyes. "Yes," he said simply. "She is all right now, though."

Andros nodded. Saryn apparently wasn't going to volunteer any information, but it had been worth a try. He wondered if the other would contact Kerone privately later. If nothing else, his comment about the magic probably meant there would be one more person looking out for her, and that could only be a good thing.

"I apologize for my reticence," Saryn said, when the silence grew. "It is something she asked me not to speak of."

"Sure," Andros said quickly. "I understand. Since she mentioned you, I thought maybe you'd want to know."

Saryn inclined his head. "Thank you," he said gravely. "I appreciate your consideration for your sister. And yes," he added, almost as an afterthought. "I would wish to know."

"How's Cassie?" Zhane asked, out of nowhere. "She around?"

Andros knew exactly how close Zhane was standing, and he elbowed the Silver Ranger in the ribs without worrying about Saryn noticing. To his relief, though, Saryn only smiled. "She is not," he answered, acknowledging Zhane for the first time. "I am certain that she will be sorry to have missed you when she returns, however."

"Well, tell her hi for us," Zhane said idly. "I tried to call her the other day, but she's a hard woman to get a hold of lately."

"She is very busy," Saryn agreed. "More busy, perhaps, than she should be right now, but that is not an argument I am likely to win in the foreseeable future."

"Any word on the twins?" Andros asked, a little hesitantly. He knew JT had been concerned for their future after the dimensional shifting had threatened not only their lives but Cassie's as well.

"As far as anyone can tell, they are both healthy and growing normally." An odd look crossed Saryn's face, and he added, "If there are some minor... aberrations in their genetic makeup, it does not seem be adversely affecting their development."

"That's what you get for living on the Border," Zhane said cheerfully. "It's always been weird out here."

"You would know," Andros commented, but again, Saryn only smiled.

"Agreed," he said, though it was hard to tell which of them he was agreeing with. "In any event, I will pass your greetings on to Cassie. I am sure she will be gratified to know that you are concerned."

"Thanks for talking to Linnse, too," Andros put in. "We sent our data to the Frontier Defense, but it's good to know we haven't missed anything important."

"The Defense does not always disseminate information as quickly as it could," Saryn acknowledged. "I will remain alert for word of similar situations elsewhere."

"Thanks," Andros repeated. "I hope it was an isolated incident."

"As do I," Saryn agreed, even as Zhane snorted in disbelief. "Good night."

Andros waited until the screen went dark to elbow Zhane again, and this time Zhane caught both his arms and tightened his grip until Andros couldn't move. "That isn't very nice," he remarked, his tone even. "You know as well as I do that quantrons don't just wander past system sentries by accident."

"I didn't say it was likely," Andros said, still facing the comm screen. "I was just being polite. He did go out of his way for us, you know."

"He's our friend," Zhane reminded him. "He's supposed to go out of his way. And it's not like talking to his own sister is really above and beyond, so take it easy with the physical abuse."

"Are you going to let me go or not?" Andros demanded, trying to shrug out of Zhane's grip. "I'm sorry, all right? I didn't know you were so sensitive."

The hold on his arms relaxed, and the next thing he knew his hair was being lifted away from his shoulders and Zhane's breath was warm on his skin. He tilted his head instinctively as Zhane kissed his neck, leaning back as Zhane's arms went around him. It was so easy, so natural that he didn't even have to think about it, yet it had taken him months to be this comfortable around Ashley.

You had months, a voice in his mind whispered. You had years before the evacuation. He felt Zhane's tongue on his ear, and a gentle breath across the damp skin made him shiver. Zhane had always been physical--especially with him--but he had a newfound sensuality that Andros wasn't used to. It seemed to manifest in everything he did, from kissing to just walking across a room... or maybe it was only that Andros noticed more.

A clatter from the kitchen area made Andros jump, and Zhane released him reluctantly. He turned to see Ashley, with her back to them, separating one of the plates from the stack he had made earlier. He exchanged guilty glances with Zhane, wondering how much she had seen. Zhane shrugged ruefully, lifting his head to call over to her.

"Hey, Ash!" Sauntering in her direction, Zhane kept his tone light and noncommittal. "You just wake up?"

"I heard the comm," she explained over her shoulder. She sounded perfectly normal, but she waited until he was right behind her to turn around. "Was that Saryn?"

"Yeah." Zhane leaned back against the sink, making himself comfortable while she looked around for something to eat. "Being his usual helpful self."

Ashley laughed. "Honestly, Zhane, what do you have against Saryn? I'm sure he told you everything he knew."

"I don't have anything against him," Zhane protested, glancing over at Andros as he made his way toward them. "He has something against me! The first look I got from him was one of undiluted hatred!"

"Possibly because you were kissing his girlfriend at the time," Andros interjected.

"Yeah, on the back of her hand," Zhane scoffed. "Please. Just because he's jealous to the point of being neurotic doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to get along just fine. I mean, look at me and you!"

"You also told the entire Astro team who he was," Andros continued, ignoring that last remark. "Then you accused him of having something to do with his teammates' deaths. What has he done to you, again? Aside from not killing you when he had the chance?"

"Ouch," Zhane said with a wince. "All right, I concede the point. Satisfied?"

Andros raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Suspicious," he corrected. Folding his arms, he rested his elbows on the back of the armchair and eyed Zhane. "Since when do you concede?"

Zhane shrugged, but didn't answer.

"Maybe he's turning over a new leaf," Ashley put in, an apple in her hand as she turned around again. "Don't knock it."

"You needed a plate for that?" Zhane asked, giving the dishes behind her a pointed look.

"I was going to slice it," she informed him. "I changed my mind."

"Obviously it's not a less confrontational leaf," Andros remarked dryly.

"All right, look." Zhane folded his arms and slouched further down against the sink. His tone was caught somewhere between defensive and exasperated. "I was thinking about kissing you, totally missed what you said, and didn't want to admit it because Ash was listening. Are we all happy now?"

There was a moment of silence, and Andros studied the floor as he tried not to meet Ashley's gaze. Finally, though, the quiet stretched thin and when he looked up he found both of them looking at him. "What?" he demanded.

Zhane transferred his gaze to Ashley, and she shrugged slightly. "Fair enough," she said with a small smile. "That would distract me, too."

Zhane shifted uncomfortably, and she added, "Yes, I saw you kiss him after you signed off with Saryn. It was... kind of weird, but it looked--right. You guys just... do whatever, okay? Don't worry about me."

Andros didn't know what to say to that, but Zhane, as usual, jumped right back in. "Do you worry about us?" he asked seriously.

Ashley glanced from one to the other, an uncertain look on her face. "What do you mean?

"If I told you to stop, would you?" he continued, apparently taking her confusion for assent. "I know I can't help it, and I don't think either of you can either. I worry about you whether it's any of my business or not."

"About how we feel?" Andros wanted to know. He wasn't sure what Zhane meant either. "Or what we're doing?"

Zhane's mouth quirked in acknowledgement. "Both," he admitted quietly. "I meant about how you feel, but... yeah. I worry about what you're doing, too. I try not to, because I trust you and everything, but sometimes--"

He stopped, bracing his hands against the sink behind him and making an obvious effort to stand up straighter. "I need you guys," Zhane mumbled. "At least before I was in hypersleep I knew people. Now everyone's moved on or changed and I feel like the only friends I have are Rangers. So what am I supposed to do if I don't know what's going on with you?"

"Hey," Ashley said softly. She set her apple down and edged closer, laying a tentative hand on Zhane's shoulder. "You're not the only one who feels alone. I moved away from everyone I knew, too, and there are days when I feel like my whole world starts and stops at the door to the hangar bay."

Zhane glanced sideways, smiling at her, and Andros suddenly felt left out. He tried to shove the feeling aside, but as he did it occurred to him that this was exactly what they were talking about. When they felt left out... who else did they have to turn to? At least on the Megaship there had always been someone else around to talk to. Or if there wasn't, Ashley at least had friends on Earth. But here--

"Hey, who's down there?" Ty's voice called, from somewhere up above. "Someone in the kitchen?"

"Yeah!" Zhane turned his head to shout up to the catwalk, then caught Ashley's hand before she could withdraw it and pulled her closer. His arm around her waist, he gave her a half-hug that made her smile back.

"Me too!" she called, putting her arm around Zhane and hugging back. "And Andros!"

"Are we taking the cats out tonight?" Ty wanted to know. "Cause I'm starving, and if we have plans I want to know now!"

There were more footsteps on the catwalk, obvious now that he was listening for them, and Kerone's voice drifted down to them as well. "What's going on? Who's down there?"

"Everyone," Andros heard Ty answer. "I'm trying to find out when we can eat. You hungry?"

"Yes," Kerone replied, surprising Andros. Then her voice became clearer, either because she was trying to project or because she was leaning over the railing. "Can we eat before anything else? Are we supposed to meet anyone important tonight?"

Andros shook his head when Ashley gave him a questioning look, and she called back to Kerone, "Andros says no, and I vote for eating now too. I'm hungry!"

"So am I," Zhane put in. "The cats won't mind." He looked out at the zord bay and added loudly, "Right, Zip?"

There was no answer, but Ashley giggled. "I can't believe you named your zord 'Zip'," she told him.

"We could go into the city," Andros said, studying the way the floor glinted under the bright lights of the warmup area.

There was a pause, and then Zhane demanded, "What did you just say?"

"Hey, guys, Andros has a good idea!" Ashley called, not waiting for him to repeat himself. "Want to go out to eat?"

"Yes!" Ty answered emphatically, and they heard Kerone laugh. "Shut up," he said, apparently addressing her. "You don't care what you eat."

"I do," Zhane said eagerly. "Let's go crash some small place where they won't know what to do with us."

"We could wander through the streets first," Ashley suggested with a giggle. "We can cause a scene by arguing over where to eat!"

Andros smiled, glad they were so excited. The whole team rarely went anywhere together outside of official meetings or appearances, but now that he thought about it, the Astro team had done things like that all the time. Maybe that was part of what had made them so close.

"It's too cold to eat outside," Zhane informed Ty, tugging his hood down pointedly. "Inside or nothing."

"I second that," Ashley agreed fervently. "It's freezing out here!"

She might be siding with him, but he couldn't help giving her a baleful look. "That's because you're not wearing anything," he muttered. "Haven't you ever heard of dressing for the weather?"

"I am dressed for the weather," she informed him. "Inside!"

"What about over there?" Astrea suggested, pointing across the street. "They have seafood, and Ashley's eaten there before. Right?" she added, nudging the other girl.

"Right," Ashley agreed, following her gaze. "They have good food."

"Guys." Andros stopped so suddenly that Zhane almost bumped into him. He was looking down the street at a sign Zhane could barely make out, but he heard Ashley laugh suddenly.

"Oh, we have to go there!" She had already grabbed Astrea's hand and was dragging her down the sidewalk toward the indistinguishable sign. Reluctantly, Zhane pushed his hood back and squinted after them.

"Catspaw Cafe?" Ty sounded just as amused. "Ever been there before?"

"No," Andros admitted. He didn't sound defensive, which Zhane supposed was progress. "It was just the name that caught my attention."

"Good enough for me," Ty said cheerfully, and Zhane shot a sideways look at him. The Black Ranger strolled on ahead, and Zhane fell into step beside Andros as they followed.

"We never finished that conversation," Andros said quietly.

Zhane shook his head, keeping his voice just as quiet. "Not much else to say, I guess."

"I think there is," Andros countered. There was a pause, then the hint of a smile in his voice. "I'm just not sure what it is."

Zhane let out a breath of amusement. "Yeah."

Then they had caught up to the girls, who were arguing good-naturedly with Ty over the menu board outside the cafe. Zhane snuck a look around them, found nothing wrong with the food, and pinched the collar of his jacket shut while he waited for them to make a decision. Supposedly spring was coming, but he hadn't seen any sign of it yet.

"It has vegetarian food and it doesn't say you can't go in barefoot," Ashley was saying. "What else do you want?"

"Any place will let me go in barefoot," Ty argued. "I'm a Ranger."

And less self-conscious about it than he had been at first, Zhane noted with amusement. There had been a time when Ty wouldn't even mention being a Ranger unless someone asked him directly. Now he was beginning to understand that no one cared what you had done before you were handed a morpher--just that you had one.

"But it has a pawprint over the door!" Astrea exclaimed. She definitely became less rational in direct proportion to the amount of time she spent with Ashley. It made him grin when Ashley agreed, as though the appeal of the sign was a perfectly valid way of choosing a restaurant.

"Well, if it has a pawprint," Ty teased, rolling his eyes. "Then I guess it's okay."

"Good!" Ashley headed deliberately for the door, as though it was all decided. Astrea was right beside her, hands clasped between them as they slipped, single file, through the front door.

With a small smile, Ty followed without further protest.

"He's learned the first rule of any Ranger team," Zhane remarked, catching the door and holding it for Andros. "Never argue with the girls."

"I heard that," Ty said over his shoulder, and Zhane grinned as he stepped into the cafe behind Andros.

"Doesn't matter," he answered, looking around. The foyer was small, with multicolored tiles leading out into the dining area. They seemed to be intended to funnel people toward the back, where the tiles ran up against a counter and spread out to both sides. "As long as you know it's true."

"Oh, I know it," Ty said ruefully. They were moving in the girls' wake now, following the colored path between tables and plants. The place wasn't even half full, and their entrance had drawn more than just mild interest.

"Smile," he whispered to Andros, and the Red Ranger frowned at him.

"I'm off duty," he muttered back. "I don't have to smile if I don't want to."

He caught Andros' arm and made him stop before he'd even thought about what he was going to do. But it was such an odd way of sulking, purely Andros to justify it by saying he didn't want to be happy just now, thank you very much... He couldn't resist.

He pressed his mouth to Andros', grinning at the Red Ranger's swift flush of embarrassment as he pushed Zhane away. It was worth Andros' stony silence to have done that in a public place. It was even more worth it when he felt fingers fumbling for his, Andros squeezing his hand awkwardly even as he refused to meet Zhane's eye.

"You get to pick the table," Astrea remarked as they clustered around the counter. "We're ordering for you."

"She really is turning into Ashley," Zhane muttered to Andros, easily loud enough for her to overhear.

Astrea narrowed her eyes at him. "Be nice to me or you'll get meatballs," she informed him.

"Let's go get a table," he suggested, as though he thought had just occurred to him. "Far away. By the windows."

"We can't sit in front of the windows," Ty pointed out, apparently as subject to the girls' banishment as they were. "They're for people who come in alone to people-watch."

"We can sit near them, though." Zhane was surprised when Andros didn't let go of his hand as they made their way back to the front of the cafe, but he didn't complain. He knew everyone who hadn't looked up when they first entered was looking now.

"Why do you want to sit near the windows, again?" Ty wanted to know. "It's getting dark out; we won't be able to see anything soon."

"Don't care," Zhane answered, pointing to one of the corner tables. There was no one in the single seats at the window near it now, though he was willing to bet there would be soon. "It's the principle of the thing."

They took over the small table, which only had four chairs, and Ty leaned over to snag a chair from one of the nearby empties. "They probably charge for extra chairs," he joked, barely getting the sentence out before a girl with a notepad appeared next to their table.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked, sounding nervous and a little eager at the same time. "We're a full-service establishment, and we serve lunch and dinner all day long."

"I think our friends are ordering for us," Zhane said, flashing a smile at her. "Could we have something to drink while we're waiting?"

"Of course," she gushed, smiling back at him and then quickly sharing the expression with the rest of the table. "What can I get for you?"

"I'll have some water, please." Zhane glanced over at Ty, and the Black Ranger lifted his gaze to the girl with the notepad.

"Do you have juice?" he asked. When she launched into a list of juices, he smiled and interrupted, asking for the first one with a grateful look that couldn't be mistaken for rude.

She turned her attention to Andros at last, taking in his frozen expression and folded arms with some trepidation. "And you, sir?"

"Just water," Andros muttered. Zhane kicked him under the table, and he added reluctantly, "Thank you."

"Could you bring two waters for our friends, too?" Zhane said quickly, and she nodded.

Tucking the stylus behind her ear, she gave them a bright smile and promised, "I'll be right back with your drinks." Taking her electronic notepad with her, she turned and had to sidestep Ashley and Astrea on her way back to the counter.

"Who's that?" Ashley asked, sliding into the extra chair at the end of the table. Astrea sat down next to Ty, on her other side, giving her napkin and silverware a cursory inspection.

"She didn't introduce herself," Zhane admitted, embarrassed to realize he hadn't thought to ask. "We'll have to catch her when she comes back."

"Maybe she'll bring our food," Astrea said, taking Ty's fork.

"Hey," he protested. "You have your own silverware!"

"I know." She took Ashley's fork too, then reached across the table for Zhane's. "Andros, give me your fork."

Zhane looked over at him in time to see him raise his eyebrow at his sister. "Why?"

"Because," she said, taking it from him before he could protest. "I want it."

"Andros, is there a reason you look like this is the worst thing you've ever done?" Ashley asked, point-blank. "It was your suggestion."

"It's not the worst thing I've ever done." He moved the rest of his silverware out of Astrea's reach, eyeing her arrangement warily. She was setting each of their forks in a circle, handles on the inside and prongs on the outside, like the spokes of a wheel.

"Not exactly a ringing endorsement," Ty observed, leaning back in his chair.

Andros just shrugged, clearly not in any mood to elaborate. But Ashley was right, it had been his suggestion. Zhane studied him, trying to decide how much of it was just him seeming upset compared to the rest of them, who were arguably more cheerful than they'd been in days, and how much was him actually being upset.

"He doesn't like people watching him," Astrea remarked, putting her finger at the center of her fork wheel. Violet tendrils licked out across the table, curling between the forks and vanishing like flames at the end where they tapered off.

"Wow," Ashley said, watching with unconcealed admiration. "That's cool!"

Astrea lifted her hand and curled her fingers together, drawing the violet light up off the table after them. It drew inward, toward her hand, then climbed into her palm when she turned her hand over. The light coalesced suddenly, forming a familiar butterfly shape that flitted up toward Ashley's shoulder.

Ashley laughed as the butterfly settled on her shoulder and then dissolved into thin air. "The other one is still glowing in my room," she told Astrea, looking down at her shoulder as though it might reform at any time.

"Did I hear that right?" Ty demanded, putting his elbows on the table as he leaned forward again. "You're the leader of the Rangers and you don't like people watching you?"

Andros lifted his gaze, an unmistakably challenging expression on his face. "So?"

"Just asking," Ty said quickly. The corners of his mouth twitched, but he managed to keep a straight face. "That's got to make press conferences harder."

"You have no idea," Zhane put in wryly. Andros glared at him, and he cleared his throat. "Although he hides it well."

"I'll say," Ty agreed. "I've seen him on the newsnets, and he looks totally calm. Kind of superior, actually; like he's only talking to the reporters because he's such a nice guy, not because he has to."

"Andros is good at public speaking," Ashley commented. "Just because he doesn't like it doesn't mean he can't do it."

"It runs in the family," Astrea said innocently. She was redistributing their forks, apparently bored with their mosaic patterns now. "You don't get to be the princess of evil without some kind of hereditary advantage."

"Does that make Andros the prince of good?" Ashley wanted to know.

Zhane couldn't help laughing, and he saw Ty sputter helplessly. Even Andros' dark expression lightened a little, his eyes smiling even when the rest of his face didn't. Just in time, the girl with the notepad returned with their drinks on a tray, and they were all spared having to answer Ashley's question.

"I have a juice for you," she said, lifting her chin in Ty's direction as she handed the glass to Ashley. Ashley set it on the table and slid it toward Ty obediently. "And four waters," the girl added, handing one to Ashley and another to Zhane.

They both passed the glasses on, and when Ashley went to take the second water she said politely, "Did you already tell us your name?"

"Oh, no," the girl exclaimed, looking torn between surprise and embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I'm Kesra," she added, settling for an apologetic smile.

"I'm Ashley," Ashley answered, smiling back. "Thanks for the water!"

"Nice to meet you, Ashley." The redhaired girl looked flustered but pleased, and Zhane knew there was no way she hadn't recognized Ashley. Still, an example was an example, and if he was going to kick Andros for not saying "thank you" he ought to follow Ashley's habit of introducing herself.

"I'm Zhane," he offered, flashing her a smile of his own. He'd never get Andros to go along with it, so he added, "This is Andros," before catching Ty's eye.

"I'm Ty," the Black Ranger said, lifting one hand in a half-wave.

"Kerone," Astrea said, looking up from her most recent silverware pattern. This one involved only her own utensils, arrayed around her glass in an overlapping triangle.

Kesra's eyes were wide, and she bobbed her head as soon as she realized they were actually waiting for her to answer. "We're honored to have you here," she said quickly, almost tripping over the words as she rested the empty tray against her hip. "Your food will be ready in just a few minutes."

She spun away before anyone could answer, and Ashley called, "Thank you!" after her retreating figure.

"See," Andros grumbled, drumming his fingers on the table. "That's exactly what I don't like."

"Andros, give her a break." Zhane reached out and stilled his fingers without thinking. "She just had five Power Rangers walk into a place she's probably worked at for all of three months, and one of them looks like he'd rather have teeth pulled than have anything to do with her."

"Maybe if we went out more often, people wouldn't be so surprised," Ty offered.

Andros gave him the Look, and only then did Zhane realize he'd gotten away without it. Andros hadn't pulled his hand away yet, either. "I wouldn't mind testing that," Zhane admitted with a grin.

"Plus we could stop begging Ty for dinner every single night," Ashley said impishly.

"It would be good for Andros' social skills," Astrea remarked, still playing with her silverware.

All Andros said was, "It's a thought," but Zhane exchanged knowing glances with Ashley. She winked at him, and he knew this wouldn't be the last time that Andros allowed himself to be dragged out in public.