Hey! Okay Im am SOOOOOOOO Sorry! i know its been forever since i posted anything!

Again Im Sooooo SORRY! i got so busy. I will try to do another chapter soon!

But how are you guys? Hows school? Anything interesting or fun or totally awesome happen? I tried out for my schools basketball team again.. i know if i made it tomorrow :/

Okay yes there is a flashback but it was needed! Plus its small and i like writing them. you get to know Taz more. :D

So yes, i hope you enjoy it! i spent a long trying to figure out exactly where this is going.

Anything from Starship is Starkid's, i wish i could say it was my brilliant idea :P

Chapter 9

(Previously) " How do you know she loves me?" Up asked standing.

"Whenever your around she lets her guard down and is happy, and when you touch her she leans in your touch." he clapped Up on the back. "Now go get her!"

"Thanks William"

"No problem."

(Back to the Now)

While Up was talking with Johnson Taz went to see the Lieutenant who messed with Up. This hijo de puta is going to get it. Taz was beyond angry. No one messed with Up. No one. She walked through the corridors towards the infirmary thinking of ways to hurt the stupid Lieutenant. She started yelling and pushed open the door as soon as she got there. However she never finished her sentence.

"Alright cabron your in for the… Derek?"

The last word barely a whisper. She was frozen in the doorway, shock evident on her face. Derek was sitting on the edge of a bed looking up, his bright green eyes wide and a huge smile on his face.

"Tara. I found you."

That snapped Taz out of it and she yelled out, "Don't ever call me that again!"

"Why not?"

"Because that girl is gone. She died with her

family."

"Tara."

Taz walked over to him and slapped him soundly across his face. "I. Said. Don't." she stated menacingly. They stared at each other for a few seconds. Derek's eyes showing surprise and pain but still happiness. Taz's eyes were clouded with uncertainty.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well you stupid ass Commander punched me."

Taz slapped him twice as hard as last time.

"Don't you dare! He is my best friend! Never talk about or speak to him like that again!... I meant the ship not the infirmary."

"OW! Okay, okay geez. We finished going through the ruble and they assigned me to this ship." Derek said clutching his cheek and scooting a few inches away.

"Oh."

"That's all you can say. Oh."

"Yup." Taz said turning to walk out. He reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Taz please. Don't go." He pleaded.

"Derek. I cant do this." She said facing the door but not moving out of his grasp.

"I know it hurts. Believe me. But I can help." Taz turned her head to look at him.

"I never thought I see you again." Tears weld up in her eye but she forced them away. Don't cry over this. Your strong. It's the past.

Derek stood and grabbed her other hand, turning her towards him. " Me either, I heard rumors about you going into the academy but I could never find you. I now know why. You became Taz. A strong, don't mess with her, kick ass ranger."

"Yeah I did. You became a ranger as well but you stayed behind."

" I had to take care of my little sister. I was the only person she had left."

"Rose. Where is she now?" Taz asked while memories flooded her brain.

Derek smiled, "She got married last year. She is still living in our town in Mexico."

"Wow. Rose is only a year younger than me. I remember her running around with us on our little adventures." Taz said with a light smile but a lot of pain in her eyes.

Derek noticed and pulled her so they could sit down. " Taz, I know its painful to think about, but your Mom, Dad, little brother and every one you lost would want to you to be happy. They wouldn't want you suffer. You have to let go of the anger and pain and move on."

Taz looked at him, her tears slowly rolling down her cheeks and got angry.

"You don't understand! I lost everyone, everything! You at least had Rose! So I ran! I took the opportunity I was given and left! The easy way out so I wouldn't have to deal with it! I became the starship ranger everyone fears. Taz. I forced every memory of Tara away and made it so she never existed. I would never be weak again. I would be so strong that nothing I ever loved again could be taken from me again." She finished breathing hard and walking way from him.

Derek stared at her for a few seconds, thinking about what she just said and rubbed his hands over his face which resulted in a hiss of pain. Taz glanced at him and wiped all evidence of tears off her face. She glanced again and walked over the medical cabinet, getting something small and walking back to Derek.

"Let me see your nose. I can fix it right up." He moved his hands to his sides on the bed and titled his head up. Taz prodded his nose lightly to see where the break was and said, "If you ever say anything to Up like this again it will end up 100% worse." Derek lifted his eyebrows questionably and Taz moved his nose back into place by shifting it. Derek yelled out a shriek of pain. Taz tapped it and went to get ice. What's with him and her anyway.

Taz got back with the ice and handed to him. He thanked her and patted the bed for her to sit down. She stood there for a second before sitting further away than last time. An awkward silence settled between them before Derek broke it.

"I remember you fixing my nose back when I stood up to those bullies when they picked on you when we were eleven. Taz smiled but it vanished quickly.

"Ah, come on. That was a smile." he chuckled. "I jumped in front of you. A small, squeaky boy and tried to punch one of them in the face. Ending in me injuring myself."

Taz started to laugh, "Yeah, I cant believe how stupid you were." "Hey!" Derek said acting offended. They laughed for a while longer. "Thanks for that though. I never did thank you for everything you did for me." "No problem. You know I would do anything for you."

Taz locked eyes with him and saw an emotion she saw the last time they spoke. It scared her. How can he still feel that way. She quickly looked down at her boots. A question was on the tip of her tongue but she didn't want to know the answer if he still remembered. As if Derek had read her mind he asked that very question.

"Do you remember the last conversation we had the last time we saw each other?" he asked in a quiet and serious tone looking for he reaction. Come on Tara, please tell me you don't forget.

Taz's mind froze and she nervously breathed in before answering, "Yeah. Yeah, I remember."

*FLASHBACK*

It was at back at her fateful party and she was dancing with Derek. They were best friends. They had been ever since they were put in the same kindergarten class. They grew up together. Through the thick and thin, they were always there for each other. But lately they were becoming more. The classic case of falling for your best friend.

A slow song came on and they were dancing as close as they could, swaying to the music. It was like no one else exited. They were in their own world. Derek whispered in her ear," You look so beautiful." She smiled and pulled back a little. "Thank you." Their eyes locked. Green met Brown and he leaned in to kiss her.

It was short but it was a perfect first kiss. They leaned their foreheads together and he whispered, " I love you Tara. I know we are young, but I do. I always will." "I love you too." she whispered back putting her head on his chest. They were each others first love.

A little while later her Dad interrupted for a dance and her life changed forever.

(Back to now..Again)

"That was eight years ago Derek. I was a different person. I have changed and so have you."

"Okay, so where does that leave us now?" he asked pushing a stray piece of hair back in her bandana. Taz blushed at his innocent action. What the heck?! Like you said its been eight years! Your not allowed to react!

"Friends. We are friends."

"Okay then. Can I just say how much I missed you?" he said taking he hand.

"Alright, I know we always used to hold hands ans tuff but we cant anymore." Derek let go and looked hurt. "Hey. "Taz said not wanting to hurt him, "I missed you too." she said nudging his arm and smiled. " Can I at least get a hug?" he asked almost sheepishly. Taz nodded.

They stood up and wrapped their arms around each other while smiling. Taz's head ended up on his chest. They were reminiscent of how they danced eight years ago. Just then Up decided to walk in.

:O cliff hanger! yeah i felt like being mean. Will Up freaked out? Yell? Scream? Run away? Wont care? You'll have to wait until next time! :P :D but please in the mean time review! Tell me what i should do or what you think is going to happen! Love you all! Cant wait to hear from you! :) have an awesome day!