"Billy, Tommy, Kim, Rocky, Aisha," Adam spoke their names almost formally. "Dulcea and I have some news for you."
Tommy's eyes widened at the mention of the Master Warrior of Phaedos. "What do you mean?" he asked tentatively, wondering what could be going on here. Dulcea's voice came from the Viewing Globe.
"Rangers, it is good to see you again, under much better circumstances this time," she hadn't changed a bit since they had last seen her. Except. . .was there a softness in her eyes that hadn't been there before? They couldn't be sure. "Adam and I do have very special news."
The Rangers all exchanged wary glances; what was going on here? Adam spoke up next. "Dulcea and I have been lovers ever since we went to Phaedos."
That little bombshell had barely had time to settle in the Rangers minds before Dulcea dropped the second one. "And now I am pregnant with his child. It will be born within six months."
"What?" the Rangers chorused the single word. Adam repeated it, a smile tugging at his lips. Rocky's eyes were wide with shock as he took in the facts his oldest friend had just presented them with.
"You're going to be a father?" the Red Ranger finally managed to speak. Adam nodded. Rocky shook his head, not quite believing his ears or eyes. This was going to take some time to et used to.
Billy stepped over to Adam and extended a hand. "Congratulations," he said. "You're going to make a wonderful father," he glanced to the Viewing Globe. "And I'm certain with you as the mother, that child will grow up to be quite a splendid person."
"Thank you, Billy," Dulcea nodded. "Adam, we must also speak to your parents about this."
"My parents?" Adam bit his lip. "I don't know how they're going to take this, Dulcea, cause it means also telling them I'm a Power Ranger," he glanced up at Zordon briefly as he spoke
YES, ADAM, the ancient mentor nodded. YOU MAY INFORM YOUR PARENTS, PROVIDED THEY KEEP THE SECRET OF THE RANGERS.
"I think they can be trusted," Adam thought for a few minutes on that before speaking. "I'll go talk to them now."
YOU MUST BRING THEM HERE TO SPEAK WITH DULCEA, Zordon reminded him. AND TO PROVE THE TRUTH OF YOUR WORDS. WE WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.
Adam nodded, taking a deep breath. Never thought I'd be telling my parents I'm a Power Ranger and to-be father on the same day. Wonder which one they're going to like to hear first.
"Adam!" his mother smiled as he entered the living room. "Is something up, you look . . .concerned."
The young man took a deep breath. "Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you," he said. "It's really important."
Mr. Park lowered his newspaper. "What is it, son?" he asked quietly. "Are you in trouble of some type?" he seriously doubted that, Adam was one of the best kids he knew.
"No," he shook his head. "I do need to talk to you, though."
Mrs. Park frowned a little. "What is it, Adam?"
Show, don't tell, he told himself. "Well, there's two things. This is the first one," he pulled out his Power Coin and called out, "Black Ranger Power!"
His mother fainted.
"Adam!" his dad stared in wide-eyed shock. "You. . .is that you?"
Adam slipped his helmet off and went over to his mom. "It's me, dad. I'm the Black Ranger, and have been since just after we moved to Angel Grove," he started to pat his mom's cheeks, trying to revive her. "Mom, please wake up!" he urged. After a few moments, Mrs. Park's eyes fluttered open.
"Adam?" she whispered. "Is that really you?" at his nod, she sighed, and for a moment, Adam was afraid she was going to faint again. Instead, she slowly made her way to her feet. "My son. . .the Power Ranger."
"How did this happen, Adam?" his dad asked. Adam chuckled as he demorphed; both his parents relaxed when he was back in civilian attire.
"That's sort of a long story. You remember the Team Ninja Finals about six months ago?" as his parents nodded, he launched into the events surrounding that, how he, Rocky, and Aisha had been kidnapped by Lord Zedd, rescued by the Power Rangers, and subsequently learned their secret identities. "Then after Trini, Jason, and Zack were picked to go to Switzerland for the Peace Conference, Zordon chose us to replace them. There's a bit more to it than that, but those are the basics."
His mom nodded slowly. "Why are you telling us now, though?" she asked. "Didn't you just say you'd been sworn to secrecy?"
"That's something else I have to talk to you about, and I can't do it here," he told them. "Come on, I'm going to take you to the Command Center."
Mr. Park frowned. "Command Center?"
"Our headquarters," Adam took both their hands. "There's someone I want you guys to meet there. Well, sort of there, anyway."
"Sort of there?" his mom wondered.
"You'll see when we get there," Adam promised, then hit his communicator.
The Parks were surprised, to say the least, to see the other Rangers there; Adam hadn't revealed their identity in his recitation. But their surprise nearly tripled when Adam showed them Dulcea in the Viewing Globe.
"Mom, Dad," he told them. "This is Dulcea, the Guardian of the Great Power of Phaedos. We went there about three months ago on a special quest, and we. . .fell in love. Very much in love," he almost laughed at the expression in their eyes. "We became lovers then," he heard a choked giggle from Rocky at the way his mom's eyes widened at that moment. "And now. . .,"
"And now," Dulcea continued, "we are going to be parents. I am pregnant."
"P. . .p. . .parents?" his dad stuttered. "P. . .pregnant?"
Adam sighed. "Yes, we're going to be parents," he repeated. "And you're going to be grandparents."
"You're sixteen," his mom stared, "and she's. . ."
"Well over fifty thousand," Dulcea supplied. "But age doesn't matter to me, I love Adam regardless."
"And I love you," Adam smiled at the beautiful woman who had so swiftly become the very center of his existence.
His dad took a deep breath. "Are you two getting married or something?"
Dulcea shook her head swiftly, before Adam could respond. "Adam is needed too greatly on Earth as a Power Ranger," she said. "Perhaps one day, when he has discharged his Ranger duties, then we can be together. But for now, my love, you need to remain on Earth."
Even as Adam opened his mouth to speak, he shut it again. He knew she was right. Earth was where he belonged for now.
For now.
Adam and Dulcea lay in each other's arms as the sun came up over Phaedos. They had decided he would come and visit her once a month, attacks on the Earth allowing, and whenever she had their child, he would be there for the birth. He leaned his head a little against her stomach. "Our child," he whispered. "Growing in there."
Dulcea placed a gentle hand on his head, running her fingers through his hair. "Your parents took it better than I thought they would."
"I know," Adam ran his fingers across her stomach and sliding up to cup one perfect breast. "You are the most beautiful woman in the universe, Dulcea."
"As you are the handsomest man," she returned the compliment, hands cupping his face, then sliding down under his shirt to caress his chest. "In all my life, I have never known someone like you," she shivered as Adam's lips caressed first one breast, then the other. Words became unnecessary as they divested each other of their clothing.
Dulcea's fingers and lips traced a trail of fire from Adam's throat to his crotch, already swelling in anticipation of what was to come. She smiled as she encountered the aroused portion of his anatomy, opening his legs apart as she did so. A low moan escaped Adam as she slipped on top of him, completing the act of love. Moans and gasps of pure pleasure came from them both as they made love. With hands, lips, tongues, thighs, and bodies, each told the other in the most ancient language of life how much they loved each other.
All day long their passion and love sustained them, and into the night, until the moons of Phaedos shone over them. Cuddling within each other's arms, the two lovers knew they had come at last to terms with the differences between their worlds.
"I love you, Adam," Dulcea whispered into his ear. Adam smiled as he felt peace well up within him, peace and contentment.
"I love you, too, Dulcea."