The Return

Epilogue: Christmas Eve

by angellwings

Christmas Eve, 2026

"Cold?" Sky asked Tammi sarcastically as she shivered and shook inside her thick coat.

She glared at Sky, "A ski trip isn't exactly the best idea for someone who survives off of warmth, flame, and heat of any kind."

"I told you that you should have gotten a thicker coat." He said as he shook his head.

"I was not going to pay two hundred dollars for a new coat when I have a perfectly good one already. Besides this coat kept me perfectly warm in New Tech." She said stubbornly through her chattering teeth.

"New Tech is in California." He said with a laugh as the headed toward their families cabin, "It's hardly ever cold."

She held her skis with her right hand and looped her left arm through Sky's, "Yeah, and thank goodness because I am not fond of the cold."

He shook his head, and chuckled, "You just don't know how to layer and bundle up, that's all."

"C'mon lets go inside, I'm FREEZING." She pleaded.

"It's not even that cold." He said with half of a grin.

She growled and pulled him inside, "I need to re-energize in front of a fire or else you'll have one sick, unconscious girlfriend."

"Is it really that serious?" He asked her with concern as he propped his skis and her skis against the outside of the cabin.

"Unfortunately, thanks to my powers; I live off of heat. I can't be in the water, the cold, or the rain for too long. You know how normal people suffer from things like sun burn, heat stroke, and dehydration?" She asked with a sigh.

"Yeah." He said with a nod as he peeled off his ski jacket, and boots.

"Well, I don't. Although I do suffer from over-hydration, what my dad calls cold faints, and raw skin from too much exposure to salt water." She said as she kicked off her ski boots and bundled deeper into her coat. She quickly walked to the fireplace and sat in front of it with her back facing the flames. She scrunched her shoulders, closed her eyes, and sighed happily as the heat began to run through her body.

Suddenly loud laughter rang out from the doorway as The DeSantoses and the Tates came barging through it.

"Hello, kids." Maurhee said as she walked over and kissed the top of her daughter's head, "Tammi, you're frozen. You're practically turning blue. You know you have to come inside after-"

"I know, mom, I got it under control. I'll be fine. I just need to sit in front of the fire for a while." She said with a laugh.

"Are you sure, sweetie?" Mrs. Tate asked with a look of concern, "Sky you should have made her come in earlier than this."

He looked up at his mother in shock, "What?"

Tammi laughed at his expression, "It was my fault, Mrs. Tate, I wanted to stay out there."

"I still think he should be keeping a closer eye on you, dear." She said sternly.

"Viv, relax, they're adults now. I think they can take care of themselves." Robert Tate said with an amused grin.

"C'mon ladies, lets leave these two lovebirds alone and play some cards, shall we?" Rocky asked with a wink in Tammi and Sky's direction.

Tammi's eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, "Daaaaaaad"

"Quit whining, I was trying to do you a favor." Her father said with a chuckle as he led the mothers to the dining room.

"Why did we agree to this family vacation thing again?" Tammi asked Sky sarcastically.

"To spend time together as a family." Sky's sister, Courtney, said as she and her husband entered the room from the hallway.

"It was you wasn't it? It's your fault that we're here." Sky said with a mock glare in his sister's direction.

She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. Stephen shrugged and sat down beside of Tammi. Due to their status as Tate family member significant others they shared a unique friendship that was full of understanding glances. As Sky and Courtney bickered back and forth Stephen and Tammi sat quietly and exchanged amused glances with an occasional roll of the eyes at the child like antics of the Tate siblings. Over the last year, Stephen had almost become the brother Brandon never had been. Her parents certainly loved him. He wasn't even their son-in-law but they treated him like one of their own.

"Why do you think we never act like that?" Stephen asked her with a grin.

"Because we happen to be mature." She told him with a wink.

Courtney and Sky suddenly stopped bickering.

"You?" Sky asked Tammi with a shocked voice.

"Mature?" Courtney asked with an unbelieving expression.

"Yeah right." The siblings said simultaneously.

"Oh, look, we got them to stop arguing." Stephen said with a smug expression.

"Amazing isn't?" Tammi asked with a laugh.

"You kids be ready to exchange gifts tomorrow morning." Robert announced as he and Vivian came to sit down on the couch.

"That's right, and start packing your things because we're living in two days." Maurhee said as she and Rocky joined them.

"Father we are not 'kids' any more. We are all 21 or over which makes us of legal age, and I, personally, am a married woman." Courtney said seriously with her nose pointed up in the air.

"Yes, Courtney, you are VERY grown up." Robert said patronizingly with wide eyes and a slow nod.

Tammi chuckled quietly at the look on their parents' faces, Stephen's cheeks reddened and he rested his head in his hands, while Sky rolled his eyes and prodded his sister's side with his elbow.

Tammi moved away from the fire and settled in closer to Sky. She slipped her left arm through his right, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"By the way, the Parks are staying in a cabin across the way, and their coming over for dinner tonight." Rocky announced with a wide smile, "Z called earlier and asked if it was okay to bring a friend."

Tammi's head popped up, "Is she bringing Robby?"

"No, the Scotts are actually sharing a cabin with them. They'll be coming by too." Maurhee said with a smile.

Sky's brow furrowed, "Then who's she bringing?"

Tammi shrugged, "I guess we'll find out at dinner."

"You know, I think what you two did for Sam and Z was so sweet." Vivian said.

"Well, it wasn't all us, mom. The Parks offered to let Sam and Z spend christmas with them and we just sort of passed along the message." Sky informed them modestly.

"You know Trini told me that she and Adam we're thinking about adopting Sam. And that they would have adopted Z if she were still a minor." Maurhee said to Vivian as she leaned across Rocky's lap.

Tammi smiled and sighed happily. Her guilt from losing track of her B-squad was slowing fading, and with Trini and Adam reaching out to Sam and Z she was beginning to feel some resolution about what happened with Kai as well. The past year had a been a big one for her. She'd been through so much. She'd gained her life back, lost a brother, found her mother, recovered her team, and gotten a boyfriend. She doubted anything else could have happened to make the past year any more exciting.

"When's dinner?" Sky asked the adults thoughtfully. Tammi gave him a questioning look. Why did he sound like he was scheming or something?

"A couple of hours." Vivian said as she stood up from the couch, "and speaking of which, ladies I believe we should start cooking."

"Hey wait a minute, why do we have to cook? Why don't we make the men cook? They can do it." Tammi said as she crossed her arms over her chest in protest.

"The only thing your father can cook is that stupid five alarm chili of his. Now if you would like to eat that every day of this vacation then I'll be more than happy to make the men take over." Her mother said as she placed her hands on her hips.

"No thank you." Courtney said with a grin and she stood up and headed to the kitchen.

Sky nervously cleared his throat, "Commander DeSantos-"

"When we're not on the base, Sky, I would rather you call me Rocky."

Sky shifted awkwardly, "I don't think I can do that, sir."

Tammi elbowed him gently in the stomach and chuckled at him. Sky's stand-offish nature could be so adorable some times. She smiled encouragingly at Sky and stood up from the floor.

"You boys have fun." Tammi said as she kissed her father on the cheek and headed to the kitchen.

"How about we compromise, Tate? You can call me Mr. DeSantos." Rocky told his daughter's boyfriend with a grin.

Sky took a deep breath, "Mr. DeSantos . . . can I talk to you . . ." he cleared his throat, "privately."

Rocky looked over at Robert and Stephen curiously. Robert raised one eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders while Stephen gave Sky a questioning look.

"Sure, Sky, let's go sit on the porch." Rocky answered with merged eyebrows as the two men stood.

Tammi smiled as she peeled a cucumber, "That's because things are going very well. Just think in one month it will be mine and Sky's one year anniversary. I almost can't believe it's been eleven months since our first date."

"I can. You two almost drove me crazy with all of that quarreling the two of you did last Christmas." Vivian said with a mischievous smile.

"It was ONE fight, and how was I to know that he was hopelessly in love with me? He lead me to believe that we were just buddies, and then all of a sudden he starts acting like a jealous jerk. So, of course I was going to get upset with him." Tammi reasoned as she began to chop the cucumber.

"You two were so cute last year. It was obvious to every one that you were in love with each other." Courtney said as she pulled the lettuce off the head and placed in a big salad bowl.

"Yeah, to every one but us, that is. If we would have just quit being stupid and talked to each other we could have gotten together much sooner, but no we both have to be naturally born leader types that keep our emotions to ourselves." Tammi turned to her mother and pointed with knife, "Which, by the way, I blame you for."

Maurhee nodded, "I have to admit that does sound like me. It took your father and I MONTHS to get back together for that exact same reason."

"Honey, the Parks and the Scotts are here!" they heard Rocky call from the doorway.

"You couldn't have walked into the kitchen and told us that?" Maurhee called to her husband in response.

"He's a male, it would have taken too long." Kimberly said from the doorway with Trini and Z.

Maurhee laughed, and vacated her shrimp preparations to hug her two friends, "I suppose it would have."

Tammi grinned and hugged Z as the yellow ranger approached.

"So what's going on?" Z asked Tammi in a whisper.

"What do you mean?" Tammi asked with a clueless look on her face.

"Well, the Commander and Sky were having a pretty serious conversation when we walked up? Have their been some 'developments' you need to tell me about?" She whispered with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

"What kind of 'developments' are you talking about?" Tammi asked in confusion.

Z sighed and shook her head, "Nevermind."

"Okay . . ." Tammi said with a chuckle as she motioned to the pile of vegetables on the counter, "Grab a knife and get to chopping, girlie."

"Ma'am, Yes Ma'am." Z said with a wink.

"Oh, so who's this big mystery guest you're supposed to be bringing?" Tammi asked her curiously.

"Me." A voice said in to her ear.

Tammi screeched and turned to face the voice, "Jack!"

"Whoa! Drop the knife, I come in peace." He said with a chuckle as he held his hands up protectively.

"Oh!" She yelled with a laugh as she put the knife that had been pointed at his chest down on the counter, "Right, sorry."

She smiled and hugged him, "It's so good to see you! So, what has the former red ranger been up to lately?"

"Well, I got engaged." He said with a smile.

"To Ally?" She asked him excitedly.

He nodded.

"That is so great! So what are you doing here? Why aren't you with her?" Tammi asked.

"She's working over christmas, and it's been a while since I've gotten to really spend time with Z or any of you guys really." He said with a bright smile.

"Well, I'm glad you're here, and I know Sky will be thrilled to see you." She said.

"Are you sure about that?" Jack asked with a chuckle.

"Now Jack, you know that just because he doesn't outwardly show it doesn't mean that he doesn't feel it." Tammi said with a grin.

Jack chuckled and nodded, "True."

"Why don't you go talk to him. I think he's in the living room with all the other men." Tammi said with a grin as she shoved him lightly to the door, "That way I can get back to this salad."

Sky looked up from the rocking chair he was currently occupying, "Hey Jack, let me introduce you to everyone."

"Thanks, man." Jack said with as he released a nervous breath.

"Jack this is my dad, Robert Tate; Dad this is the Red Ranger that came before me, Jack Landors." Sky said as he motioned between the two of them.

"It's great to finally meet you, sir."

"You too, son." Robert Tate said as they shook hands.

"And this is Tammi's dad Commander Rocky DeSantos."

Jack reached forward and shook his hand, "It's an honor, sir."

Rocky smiled and nodded.

"This is my brother-in-law Stephen Morrison."

"Oh yeah, you're the guy Tammi and Sky got into an argument about last Christmas." Stephen said in recognition.

"I am?" He asked Sky in shock, "Wait . . . it wasn't about that hug you pulled up on, was it?"

Sky looked down at his feet with shame.

"Man, I would have hated to see how you reacted when you found out about that kiss if the two of you got into an argument over a HUG." Jack said with a chuckle.

Sky ignored him and continued looking around the room, "And you already know Jason, Adam, Robby and Sam."

"Let's hope so since I've been sharing a cabin with them for two days."

"So Jack, how is civilian life treating you?" Rocky asked.

"Pretty well, I just got engaged two weeks ago." He told them with a grin. Sky turned to him with a shocked face.

Jack grinned at him, "Just think, you and Robby are technically the only bachelors in the room right now."

Sky gulped and tugged at the neck of his sweater, "Yeah . . ."

Jack observed him oddly for a moment and then suddenly sat up straight and stared at him in shock, "You're going to propose to Tammi!"

Sky eyes went wide and he shushed him urgently, "Not so loud."

Robert and Stephen stared at him in shock.

"So you are going to propose?" Stephen asked to clarify.

"I was planning on it; yes." Sky whispered so Tammi wouldn't hear.

"When?" Robert Tate asked with a grin.

"I was planning on asking her tomorrow morning while we're exchanging gifts. You know with both of our families here, just a simple proposal."

Robby nodded, "Sounds very Tammi to me. I remember she used to hate it when Xander would get all extravagant with her. One year he took her out to this very expensive restaurant for her birthday, and she flipped out."

"Okay, no more talking about the ex-boyfriends or ex-almost boyfriends, please." Sky stated with frustration and a shake of his head as he turned toward Jack, "How did you know I was going to propose?"

"Well, normally you're just uptight, but that look you had on your face was far from uptight. That, my friend, was nervous, and theres only one person on this world that can make YOU nervous." Jack said with a chuckle.

"I don't understand why you're nervous. She's going to say yes." Adam told him with a grin.

"How can you be sure?" Sky said with a sigh.

"Look, I've known Tammi all her life, Adam and I helped train her before she joined SPD, and I've never seen her as happy as she is when you're around, kid." Jason told him with a nod.

"Like I told you outside, Sky, the reason I was so hostile with you when I first met you is because I knew you were going to take my little girl from me. I saw it the minute she came to. You and Tammi are supposed to be together and you will be." Rocky said with a smile and a nod.

"Yeah, man, I mean think about it. She gave up all of THIS," Jack said as he motioned to himself, "for you. So that has to be love because I, Tate, am irresistible."

Sky groaned and rolled his eyes at his former leader, "Somehow, Landors, I doubt that."

"Dinner's ready." Tammi said brightly as she stepped into the living room. As if on cue everyone turned to stare at her, "What?"

"Nothing, Flamebird." Rocky said with a grin as he stood up from his seat first, "We just didn't think it would be ready this soon that's all."

"Okay," Tammi said warily, "Any way, the table is set and the food is ready."

Sky smiled softly at her and stood up. He placed his arm around her shoulders, and she placed her arm around his lower back as they walked into the dining room together.

Z came to stand at Jack's side as they watched the two of them enter the dining room, "How did I ever think that I could date her?"

Z smiled and grinned, "Well, Tammi is a pretty amazing person."

"Yeah, but she and Sky are too perfect not to be together. I don't know what I was thinking. I mean I saw it just like every one else did, and I still thought I could stand in their way." Jack said as he shook his head.

"So I'm sensing that you're glad things didn't work out with Tammi?" She asked him with a small smile.

"Extremely." Jack said with a smile and a nod, "Now let's eat. I'm starved."

That completes the story of Maurhee Peterson-DeSantos and Tammi DeSantos! Finally! I started memories in 2004 and finished it this year, and I started the Return in 05 and have just now finished it!

I will miss writing about these two chracters, but I will be happy to put one more accomplishment under my belt!

I hope you all have enjoyed this as much as I have.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

angellwings