Chapter Text
Mel sat in a fold up chair in her backyard. This backyard had been hers and Tanya's for the past seventeen or so years, which is also how long the two have been married. This, however, was a special meeting called by a former Ranger. Mel decided to turn it into a cookout, to cover their tracks.
Rocky smiled as he handed Mel a plate of food. He was manning the grill, making plates for everyone, and, like some, was doing his best to ignore Tommy. He smiled and asked, “So how's retirement?”
Mel laughed derisively. “Funny, Rocko. You know I work for Les at the Guardian Eagles base. And I'm still Angel Grove High's baseball team’s Team Manager. Been doing that for eighteen years now and they still want me to stay.”
Rocky chuckled. “Yeah yeah. Just trying to see how you were liking it.”
Mel smiled. “Not bad, really. I'm more administrative than getting my hands dirty, but if I'm needed, I can go in and help.”
Rocky nodded.
Mel smiled and added, “While Carson's dad retired half a decade ago, I never wanted any higher position than the one I have. Several of my students have gone on to the Majors. So I must be doing something right.”
Rocky laughed at that.
Mel chuckled and asked, “Are you avoiding the heated debate between Jason and Tommy too?”
Rocky nodded. “Look, I'm the son of Zedd. And even I think Tommy's overreacting. And Sophia isn't even a Ranger yet.”
Mel's smile widened. “Key word being yet.”
Rocky laughed as he moved back over to the grill.
Tanya sat down next to Mel and stole some food off her plate.
Mel looked at her with playful incredulity. “You're lucky we're married or I would be very upset.”
Tanya just giggled as Mel leaned over and kissed her. “You are bad sometimes, you know that Miz Hart.”
Mel nodded with a grin on her face. “Actually I do Missus Hart. Now, I think I should end the argument.”
Tanya smiled as Mel left her plate in her chair and walked up to Tommy and Jason. She put her hands on both men’s chests and pushed them apart. “Ok boys, enough.”
Tommy glared at her angrily, “Don't you even care, Mel, that our children have been tasked to become these new Power Rangers Dino Charge?”
Mel growled at him. “Don't tell me how to feel, Oliver. Unlike you, I have a double stake in this. You only have one. Actually, no that's wrong. You don't have a stake in this yet. But from what I hear from Kent, she wants one.”
Tommy rolled his eyes and sighed. “That's my point, Mel. She wants to join this new team made up of our kids. That doesn't bother you? That all that we fought for meant nothing.”
Mel rolled her eyes in response. “Evil will always rise, Tommy. The only thing we can do is have a team ready to stop it. It's been that way publicly for thirty-seven years. It's been that way privately for a bit longer. Some of us found out recently about a team chosen in Nineteen Sixty-Nine. When evil arises, the Power Rangers will be there to stop it.”
Jason sighed. “Exactly what I've been saying.”
Mel shook her head, looking at Jason. “I heard your conversation, Jason. You were talking about just abandoning our kids to fight the bad guys themselves. That's not a good idea either. We can't let them think we don't care about the Earth. Do you realize how dumb that is? We need to let them be their own heroes, sure. But we need to make sure they know we are here for them if the situation gets dire.”
Tommy sighed shaking his head. “I've been having visions.”
Mel nodded. “No kidding, Demon Prince. But only dark visions. Do I need to remind you of what happened with Leslie? Who is obviously standing over in the bushes.”
The twenty-five years old stuck her head up over the bushes and asked, “How do you do that?”
Mel chuckled. “Ever since you were little, I knew when you were around.”
Leslie pouted as she walked over.
Mel laughed. “You're not a kid anymore, geeze.”
Leslie chuckled at that.
Mel smiled and turned back to Tommy. “Look, Tommy, if I need a vision, I'll go to Les. Her visions are not always so bleak. In fact, her visions help prevent something from going wrong.”
Tanya smiled. “It was part of the reason why I stayed with Mel so long ago.”
Mel chuckled. “Y'see. So I trust her more in this case. My boys are both Red Rangers. They both have Tyrannos like Jason and Connor. Kent's has blonde frills and Marc’s has a cannon on its head, but I trust them. I have no doubt they will need us. Maybe not for a future battle, but just for someone to listen to. They know we were Rangers. That's more than what some of us got during our tenure.”
Kimberly nodded. “We didn't know some of our parents were Rangers until three-quarters of the way through our run as Rangers.”
Billy smiled as he held his wife, Cestria, close. She had a bottle of distilled water in her hands. He added, “It was quite a surprise when Dramole only captured those left in the Youth Center. Our parents showing up at the Command Center was a bigger surprise.”
Zack chuckled. “It was really cool seeing our folks going up against Goldar and his special monsters in capes.”
Tommy sighed as Mel placed a hand on his shoulder. “Trust our kids. We've put our lives on the line numerous times. Just recently helping the Pirate Armada Rangers a couple years ago.”
Leslie added, “Tommy, your human clone, Tom, is keeping an eye on them. Not to mention, my sister and Reg’s daughter. Both as yellow.”
Tommy looked at Leslie funny. “Doesn't that sister hate you, Les?”
Leslie rolled her eyes. “She tolerates me because I found our brother Trace for her, but we're not going there. But she does love Reg. She and Jack are sisters so they got it under control.”
Jason chuckled. “Still can't believe the Psychotic Biotic is one of Reg's kids.”
Hanoria giggled and said, “You know Kitana likes taking in strays.”
The others groan while Skull kissed his wife on the cheek.
Rocky smiled. “So, Tommy?”
Tommy looked down and sighed. He looked back up turned his head to Leslie. She nodded with a smile. Tommy turned back to the others and said, “Ok. Ok fine. I'm not making the same mistake twice. Still don't understand this vision I'm having about a Ranger dying.”
Leslie smiled. “Yes, one of the two Golds fall in battle, but he'll come back.”
Tommy nodded again. “You know the seven universes will end up converging soon, right?”
Les nodded. “On that we can agree.”
Mel chuckled. “When that happens, we'll all be there to stop it.”
Tommy smiled and nodded at that.
Mel smiled wide. “Now I'm gonna go get some more dogs from the fridge. Be right back.” She walked over to Tanya, kissing her on the lips, before heading inside.
As Mel headed to the refrigerator, she looked at one of the pictures on it. It was a family photograph taken at Sears. Mel and Tanya were seated in the middle, Mel was in a nice black suit with a purple shirt and black tie. Tanya was in a beautiful yellow dress. Standing behind them were Kent and Marc. They both were in suits, with Kent in a black jacket and Marc in a white one. They both had on red shirts and black ties. Kent kept his hair short, but natural while Marc kept his braided. Standing in front of them, on either side of Mel and Tanya were another two children, a boy and a girl. They looked to be about nine years old. The boy, who was in an olive green suit, stood on Mel's left. He seemed to style his hair like his brother's, Kent. The girl, who was in a black dress, smiled happily on Tanya's right. She had her hair braided like her brother Marc's hair, but she had asked his help and put yellow marks on hers. The youngest two girls, who looked to be about six years old, stood in front of their parents. The girl in front of Mel looked uncomfortable in her yellow dress. She had just gotten her hair short like Mel. The other girl had wanted her hair straightened like her mother, Tanya. She looked very happy in her gray dress.
Mel smiled at the picture. As if speaking a mantra, Mel said their names out loud. “Kent, Marcus, Adrian, Kaylani, Martha, Alaziah.” Mel smiled as she opened the refrigerator and pulled out more hot dogs.
This was her happily ever after. She has a beautiful wife, three sets of twins who call her dad after a mix-up trying to explain how Kent and Marc came into being. She has two jobs, one teaching Angel Grove High students how to be better at baseball and working administration for her friend Leslie. She has a great relationship with her family, even Uncle Steve has come around to her and her grandmother's orientation. However, she still wonders what would have happened if she had never come to Angel Grove. The thought made her shiver at times. Mel much preferred the life she has now as opposed to the dismal one she could have had. And that is the best part of living. Her family and friends, but especially her soulmate, Tanya.
The End