#rocky desanstos

[amberbeach]

'NO PLACE LIKE HOME'

gif belongs to me

R/C - Ranger color

You were getting out of the car, popping the trunk to fetch the groceries when you were taken. Rocky heard the car pull up and walked outside to help, running towards you when he saw you were unconscious and being carried to a portal, his hands reaching out only to feel the air once the portal closed.

It felt like he was eighteen again, a crushing weight hurdling towards his chest because he was concerned for your safety. You hadn't been an active Ranger for a long time ever since you started building your family that was waiting inside, wondering where you were. And Rocky knew he had to find out where that portal led to.

He took out his cell phone and called Tommy, and after it went to voicemail, he called Kat who revealed Tommy was also missing. The sinking feeling in his gut grew stronger, experience telling him that it wasn't a coincidence that two Rangers had been taken. Rocky called around, checking in with everyone and the list of missing Rangers grew.

He sighed as he ended his call with Jayden who informed him that Antonio had disappeared and looked at your children eating lunch at the dining table. Your youngest happily ate her sandwiches while your eldest listened in to his calls and barely touched his lunch.

Rocky contacted your parents who lived nearby. After saying goodbye, he approached the dining table and leaned on the back of a chair as he sighed.

"I've called your grandparents, and they'll be here in ten minutes." He explained, "I'm going to meet with a few other Rangers to gather more information about what we're dealing with, and why so many Rangers are being taken."

"Do you think she's okay?" Your eldest asked.

Rocky sent him a small smile, nodding, "I know your mom, and she will be itching to get back to you guys. Do you know why I call her Mama Bear? Because she's fierce and she's strong. And nothing will make her fight harder than reuniting with family."

Your eldest nodded but Rocky knew he wouldn't be entirely convinced until you were back home and he could see you were safe with his own eyes - they were alike in that respect.

Your youngest squealed and clapped her hands, shouting, "Mama!"

Rocky smiled fondly as he walked over to lift her into his arms, kissing her head, "Mama will be home soon." He glanced around the table, meeting the gaze of all your children, "I promise."

The doorbell rang and Rocky let your parents inside while informing them of your disappearance and assured your mother that he would do everything he could to bring you back. Having seen how much he loved you, just with a single glance or a smile, she knew he would. He'd done it before, after all.

"Don't worry about the kids, we'll keep an eye on them. Just bring her home." Your father placed an arm around your mother when she teared up and sent Rocky a nod before he left.

Wes reached out to him as he drove to the rendezvous point, telling him everything he had learned about Lord Draven and his plans to weaken the dimensional barrier to invade dimensions. The more Rocky learned; the weight grew heavier on his chest as he thought of you.

The fortress was intimidating, and despite the strength in their numbers, the uneasy feeling didn't go away as Rocky feared what they would find - dreading the possibility of finding that you were put under mind control and having to fight against each other.

Basherbots ambushed the group of Rangers on the bridge and Rocky knew there were more waiting inside. As he moved his feet shoulder-width apart, his right foot took one big step forward and bent the knee while keeping his left leg straight, clenching his fists, the other Rangers mimicking his movements, preparing to fight when an invisible force took out the Basherbots at both sides of the bridge before rushing towards them. Rocky had never been so relieved to see Tommy before.

He stepped forward while Tommy explained that the other Rangers were kept in the dungeon, and he had broken the computer that created robotic Rangers before he escaped.

"Y/N...is she..." Rocky swallowed the gravel in his throat when Tommy nodded. He stood straighter, steeling his expression as he pushed down his concern and prepared to storm the fortress.

There was no way he was leaving without you.

Rocky fired at the computers alongside Wes and helped fight the Basherbots that rushed toward the group as he crossed the room to where you were starting to sit up.

You met his gaze with a smile, sliding off the table and wrapping your arms around his neck.

"Are you okay?"

You nodded, "I couldn't feel anything." You pulled back slightly to meet his gaze, "The kids?"

"Your parents are watching them." He smiled softly, placing a hand on your arm, squeezing gently.

"What exactly are we dealing with?" You asked while standing beside him as you both looked at the other Rangers.

"Lord Draven is tearing down dimensional barriers so he can invade with his robotic Ranger clones," Wes explained.

"Lord Draven. There's a name I wish I could forget." Gia said.

"We need to hurry, there will be more," Tommy warned.

It wasn't the first time you had fought against a clone of your Ranger self. Master Vile had used a clone to try and trick the team and destroy the command center. But Rocky knew something was off the second he saw the clone. It was small, but it gave the team the upper hand. You always greeted him with a kiss and looped your arm with his. The clone didn't know this detail, and when Rocky communicated with you through the comms while he had eyes on your clone, his theory was proven correct.

You kept your distance, letting the team figure out what Master Vile's plan was before helping them stop it. You knew all of your powers and how to defeat the clone while everyone fought the monster who had been sent to attack the power plant.

You appeared next to your husband, behind the Ninja Steel Rangers, seeing the size of Lord Draven's army for the first time, and while it was easy to be intimidated, you were not eighteen anymore, and you had a family waiting for you at home. There was nothing that could stop you from seeing them again.

When the army was destroyed and Tommy defeated Draven, you stared up at the cracks in the sky, removing your suit as you watched them fade away. You looked at your husband when he placed his arm around you, resting a hand on his chest with a smile.

"Not bad, Red."

"Lookin' good as always, R/C."

You giggled as you leaned into him, feeling his lips against your head. A small smile formed on your lips as the Ninja Steel Rangers thanked the veterans for their help and Rocky told them they could handle anything Odius threw at them.

"As long as you do it together." Antonio chimed in with a smile.

You moved your hand from his chest to his arm, taking his hand as you said your goodbyes. You approached the portal Wes opened with a sigh.

"I can't wait to go home."

Rocky chuckled, putting his arm around your shoulder, "Me neither."

It was a long drive home and Rocky called ahead, letting your parents know you were on your way home. When she hung up she went to the living room where her husband and your kids were sitting and told them the news, which immediately caused their expressions to brighten.

Rocky reached for your hand after parking the car in the driveway several hours later, and you sent him a smile when he kissed the back of your hand.

"Before I was taken," You began, covering your joined hands with your left hand. "I saw you running to save me."

"I'll always come for you." He squeezed your hand with a smile and you leaned across, wrapping your arms around his neck. Rocky kissed your head as he returned the embrace, resting his head in the crook of your neck as he closed his eyes.

"I love you." You murmured as you turned your head to kiss his cheek.

"I love you too."

You heard your older children calling for you and pulled back to see them running off the porch and quickly got out of the truck, smiling as they collided with you, almost sending you tumbling to the ground as you wrapped your arms around them. Rocky climbed out of the truck as he watched the moment with a smile, turning his head to look at the porch to find your parents standing together, your mother holding your youngest in her arms.

Your father sent him a nod, and he returned it. So much could be communicated with a small motion. It was his way of saying thank you for bringing you home and showing how much he respected him.

You kept your arms around your children while following your parents into the house. You looked back at your husband as he closed the door as you answered their questions about the battle.

"It was nice seeing everyone again. Although I don't remember it hurting as much."

Rocky held his shoulder, rolling it with a chuckle. "Me neither."

You walked to your husband with a smile, placing your arms around his waist. "Come on, I'll run a bath later."

Rocky wrapped his arms around you, leaning down to kiss you for a moment, pulling away before leaving a few pecks on your lips making you smile.

That night you and Rocky answered questions about the battle over the dinner your mother had kept warm for you both. Afterwards, your parents went home, and your kids were safely tucked into their beds.

You climbed into bed beside Rocky and cuddled into his side, resting your head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around you, leaving a kiss on your temple.

There was no place like home.

[amberbeach]

'POLAROIDS'

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You were sorting through your belongings, deciding what to take to college with you when you found the box of polaroids. You spent the next hour, sitting on the floor, looking through the shoebox of polaroids.

There were pictures of you with your friends, some with family, but you found that Rocky appeared in many of the polaroids. It had been months since you had properly spoken to him, your breakup was a shock to the school as whenever you were seen together, you were always smiling, holding hands.

Your relationship lasted eight months. He approached you one morning at your locker, asking you on a date and from there your relationship grew. You never imagined you would walk away, but he had a secret and when you confronted him about it, he told you, "I want to tell you. But I can't. I'm sorry."

After that day you went your separate ways, and it took you a while to move past the misery stage, knowing you couldn't trust him when he kept secrets.

Rocky had wanted to tell you the truth about where he ran off to, what he was dealing with, but he had taken an oath and Zordon trusted him to keep it. He never imagined it would come between you, but he understood why you had broken up with him. He tried not to look as miserable as he felt when your eyes met in the hallways, or in classes, but sometimes it was difficult as he wished he could tell you everything you wanted to know just so you could get back together. He took your relationship seriously, believing before that you would still be together decades later, but all those dreams disappeared when you inevitably broke up with him.

The first polaroid you came across was one you had taken during lunch period, Rocky grinning at you from across the table, and a smile formed on your lips at the memory.

You never imagined then that you would be here now, deciding whether you wanted to keep such memories and take them with you to college where you would see each other around on campus.

The second polaroid was taken by Rocky who had his arm around your shoulders, smiling when you buried your head in his neck. You always prefered taking the photographs, than being in them, but that day Rocky wanted to commorate your four month anniversary and as you stared at the photograph, tracing the smile on his lips, you remembered that afterwards he had turned to you, and told you he loved you.

And you wondered how it all fell apart so quickly.

The next polaroid you found was from your first date, a picnic in the park. You had taken many photographs of your surroundings that day, grateful for the sunny weather. After eating lunch, Rocky laid on the blanket, placing his hands behind his head as he closed his eyes.

The next thing he knew you had taken a photograph and as you stared down at it in your hand, you decided it was still your favorite. He looked so peaceful then.

The first tear fell onto the polaroid and you dried it with the sleeve of your sweater, wiping your cheek when more fell.

You never stopped caring about him. Never stopped loving him. But could you trust him to tell you the truth when the time was right?

In less than ten seconds you knew you could.

You knew where you would find him at that time so you got into your car and went to Ernie's finding your prediction was correct when you saw Rocky sitting with his friends at a table. Adam spotted you entering and you knew he was telling Rocky when he poorly masked that he had seen you.

"She's coming over." Katherine whispered.

Rocky turned when you said his name, standing up. "Y/N." His eyes admired you for a moment, a smile on his lips. "Uh, hi - hey."

Katherine led the group away and you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, returning the small smile that she sent you as she left, grateful for the privacy.

"I was looking through some things to take with me to college when I came across these." You took out the polaroids and handed them to Rocky who shuffled through them, a small smile forming on his lips. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to keep them or not after..."

Rocky nodded. "I'd love to. Thanks." He swallowed thickly, clearing his throat. "Do you want to stay for a while?"

You stared at him for a moment, feeling tears appearing in your eyes. "I'm sorry."

His eyebrows furrowed, "For what?"

"I ruined everything." You wiped a tear that fell down your cheek. "I trust you more than anyone else."

Rocky reached out to place a hand on your arm, unsure if you would accept his comfort, but you didn't pull away like he expected. You stepped into his embrace and Rocky closed his eyes, pressing his lips to your temple as you cried on his shoulder.

He knew this was the best time he would have to tell you the truth. And if it meant saving your relationship, then he decided it was worth it.

"I'm the Red Ranger." He kept his voice quiet, but when you stilled in his arms he knew you had heard him. "I took an oath to keep my identity a secret. That's why I didn't tell you. But I don't want to go on feeling like this." He pulled away to meet your gaze. "I miss you."

"I miss you too." You smiled softly, placing a hand on his cheek.

"Can we try again?" He asked.

You nodded, "On one condition."

"Anything."

"You always come back."

"To you? Always."

You closed your eyes when he leaned down to kiss you, wrapping your arms around his neck when you pulled away moments later, smiling into his shoulder. "I love you."

"I love you too."