"I said, I'd like to ask Karone out on a date, and I want your blessing." Andros blinked and stared at his best friend. Since their aborted date a few years ago, Zhane and Karone had been dancing around each other, unsure of what the other was really feeling or wanted. And then Karone left to help the Galaxy Rangers and it had been hard on the Silver Ranger, harder than his friend had expected. Now that she was back Zhane seemed to have made up his mind how he felt and was determined to act on his feelings. Karone seemed surer of herself and accepting of her past, coming back to them a self confident and happy young woman. Andros was amazed and pleased at the change in his sister, glad to see that she had finally accepted her past and put it behind her. But now here he was with Zhane dropping this bombshell on him. Andros looked into his friend's eyes and seeing nothing but love and respect in them, smiled gently as he put down his pen and turned his full attention to his friend.

"Of course you've got my blessing Zhane; you're free to do what you want." Zhane laughed, his worried expression leaving his face in place of his more familiar joyful and friendly one. Zhane grinned as he raised an eyebrow at his best friend.

"Andros, this is me you're talking to. The last time I went on a date with your sister you freaked." Andros snorted and tried to frown but couldn't help the smile twitching at the corner of his mouth.

"I did not freak."

"Did to. I seem to distinctly remember the two of us sneaking into the Dark Fortress to rescue her and you were more worried about what I may or may not have not done with your sister." The two best friends locked eyes and then they both burst into laughter. After a moment they calmed down and Andros grinned at Zhane.

"Just enjoy yourselves okay. And Zhane," Zhane paused as he stood up, looking at Andros, a question on his face. "You do realise that if you hurt Karone in any way shape or form I will kill you." Andros's grin was wicked and Zhane's answering grin was as well.

"Wouldn't expect anything less Andros."

Karone stared at the note in her hand, a small frown on her face. It was clearly Zhane's handwriting on it, but she was puzzled as to the instructions on the note. Basically it asked her to meet him by the pond at a little before sunset today and don't be late. She looked up at Andros, who had delivered the note to her.

"Do you know what this is about?" Andros grinned, his eyes sparkling with mirth and Karone immediately began wondering what her brother had been up to with his best friend. Karone knew that look from old, but she couldn't see anything other than mirth and love in her brother's eyes. Whatever Zhane was up to, he must have already talked to Andros about it.

"Just that Zhane's finally made a decision. He asked me to deliver this to you." Karone glanced down at the note and then back up at her older brother.

"A decision about what?" Karone had a feeling she knew, but she wanted Andros to say it. She knew that her brother had been uncomfortable with the idea of her and Zhane attempting to date, but since she had returned, something had changed in both her brother and Zhane's attitudes. She admitted to herself that her own feelings of inadequacy and guilt were now assuaged and in their proper place. She had come to her own decision about her feelings about Zhane; the long absence giving her the time she needed to sort through them. Andros smiled and took a step forward that brought him to her side. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and smiled warmly at her.

"He loves you Karone, even I can see that. In every little thing he does or says I can see it. And I think he's finally realised that now you're back home, he doesn't want to risk loosing you again." Karone's eyes filled with tears and she blinked them back. While she had been away with the Galaxy Rangers she had thought long and hard about her relationship with Zhane, seeing the love that Leo had for Kendrix, and it had made her realise how much she loved him to. She looked at Andros, biting her lip hesitantly.

"Being away from you all made me realise how much I care and how much I want to be with him, and my family as well." Andros pulled her into a full hug, which she returned gladly.

"You've turned into a beautiful, wonderful, kind-spirited woman Karone, and I couldn't be more proud of you if I tried. I love you."

"I love you to Andros. Thank you. For everything." The brother and sister hugged for a few moments and then released each other. Karone smiled at Andros and glanced at the clock. "I'd better go get ready, I want this night to be special and I want to look fantastic." Andros grinned.

"You could never look anything more than beautiful Karone. Have fun tonight." With a last quick hug, he left her quarters to let her get ready. Karone practically flew into her bedroom and opened her wardrobe. Years of association of Ashley had filled her closet with stylish but understated clothes and Karone began to go through it, trying to pick the perfect outfit.

Zhane finished putting the final touches on the picnic he had set up by the lake. He had chosen a secluded spot to one side of the lake and had set up a small fire to one side for roasting marshmallows later on. A large blanket was spread on the ground and on it was a basket sitting off to one side. Zhane had put out fresh bread with fruits, cooked chicken, salads and other things that he knew they both enjoyed. A bottle of champagne was chilling in a bucket and two crystal glasses gleamed in the evening light. A single white rose lay on the blanket as well, its petals shining with dew as it had just been taken from its cool container. Zhane surveyed his work with a satisfied smile, pleased that it looked perfect. Tonight was the night he was going to tell Karone that he loved her, no matter what, and that he wanted them to be together. He was nervous, that was a given, but somehow he knew that everything would turn out all right. The universe wasn't that cruel as to deny the two Rangers a little bit of happiness. Andros and Ashley had found theirs; as had Cassie and Saryn, the Phantom Ranger; so now hopefully it would be their turn. Zhane threw a glance once more over the assembled food and nodding in pleasure that everything was perfect he walked down the edge of the water to wait for Karone to arrive.

Karone watched from a little way away first, to see Zhane fuss with the picnic things and then nod to himself as if satisfied and she smiled. He was such a perfectionist in some things. And he looked particularly handsome this evening. Dressed in black trousers and a shimmering silver short sleeved shirt, it suited him quite well. His white blonde hair was artful messy in the way that she loved so much that her fingers just itched to run through it. Smiling at the picture he presented Karone took a deep breath. Time to relax and enjoy herself. Tonight was the night she'd profess her love for Zhane and nothing was going to stop her from doing that. Taking another deep breath, Karone walked forward, a wide smile on her face. When she was close enough she called out to him softly.

"I'm here Zhane." He turned to face her, the smile on his face lighting fires in her heart like no other person ever had and it literally took her breath away.

Zhane turned around at the sound of her voice and couldn't help the wide smile on his face. Karone literally took his breath away; she looked that beautiful tonight. The setting sun was behind her and it provided the most beautiful scene he had ever laid eyes upon. The waning sunlight surrounded her like a halo, shining with the goodness of her soul. Her long blonde hair was hanging loose around her face, falling down in ringlets that set off her outfit perfectly. She was wearing a soft pink sundress, with a pale white shawl sitting on her shoulders that made her look even more fragile but he knew she wasn't. Zhane walked towards her, meeting her halfway, by the blanket. The silence stretched for a moment as they both studied each other; finally Zhane broke it by grinning at her.

"Thank you for coming Karone. You look beautiful tonight." Karone smiled warmly at him, taking his hand in hers that he held out to lead her to the blanket.

"Thank you Zhane. This looks lovely." Zhane grinned as he helped her to the blanket and they sat down.

"Thank you. Would you like a glass of champagne?" Karone raised an eyebrow as she removed her shawl and smiled warmly

"I'd love one, thank you." Zhane opened the bottle and poured them both a glass. Karone raised her glass to him and grinned. "So, what shall we drink to?" The sun was setting and it threw a soft hue of colours over the pair and Zhane smiled gently at her.

"How about us? And our future?" Karone blushed slightly and smiled at him, her eyes meeting his.

"That sounds good. To us and our future." They clinked glasses and sipped the champagne. Karone smiled appreciatively, it was a nice vintage. "That's nice. Where did you get it from?"

"Ashley helped me pick it out." Karone laughed softly. "What?"

"Ashley helped me pick out my outfit too. I think my brother and his wife are conspiring to get us together, don't you?" Zhane laughed softly as he smiled warmly at her, all trace of nerves disappearing.

"I think they are." Zhane paused a moment, the smile fading slightly, "He gave me his blessing you know. For this." Karone raised an eyebrow, surprised for the second time in as many minutes.

"Really? Perhaps big brother is finally learning to let go."

"He let go the minute you left to go to the Galaxy Rangers." Zhane glanced down at the glass in his hand, his manner slightly unsure. "We both did." He looked up after a moment, his manner changing and she saw that his blue eyes were strong and determined and full of life. "That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do Karone; was let you go without telling you how I feel." Karone reached out and took his hand in her free one.

"I knew how you felt Zhane, I felt the same, but I had to go. You understand that, don't you?" Zhane nodded, smiling at her.

"I understood Karone, better than Andros did at any rate. It was the same reason I had to leave Andros all those years ago when we were fighting Dark Spectre. We both had to find our places in the universe again." Karone nodded as she put her glass down. Reaching out she took Zhane's from his hand and put it on the blanket as well. She took his free hand in hers and pulled him closer.

"And have we Zhane? Have you?" Zhane's eyes never left hers and his voice was soft and sure.

"Yes. I have. My place is here, right now, with you in my life. Karone, I love you. I never want to be parted from you again." Karone's eyes sparkled with joy and the smile on her face was almost blinding.

"I love you as well Zhane. I never want to be away from you ever again." Holding hands, the two young people moved closer and gently their lips touched and after a moment their arms slowly enfolded around each other as they shared their first kiss.

The sun had long since set and the small fire crackled softly in the stillness of the night. The food had long been eaten, the champagne had since been drunk and now they were roasting marshmallows. Well, attempting to anyway. Karone was sitting between Zhane's legs, he was wrapped around her, and they were both holding long sticks over the fire, toasting marshmallows. Karone giggled as Zhane managed to burn his marshmallow. He laughed along with her and they settled down in the still night. Karone gave a soft, contented sigh as she leaned back against Zhane's chest.

"This is better than I ever imagined." Zhane's head rested gently on her shoulder and his voice was soft in her ear.

"Really?"

"Really. I love you so much Zhane that I think I was frightened. That's part of the reason I think I had to go away." Karone's tone was soft but serious. "I think I was trying to come to terms with too much too soon." Zhane thought about her words for a moment and then planted a gently kiss on her shoulder.

"You had a lot to understand and cope with Karone, it's perfectly natural to want to try and understand everything that had happened to you." Karone sighed softly.

"Obscurely, even though I was taking Kendrix's place, I still felt I was betraying you and Andros, and the others, by leaving. You all had been nothing but supportive to me after everything that had happened." Zhane's arms tightened around her and he leaned his cheek against hers.

"If you had stayed Karone, you would have been betraying yourself and I wouldn't have let you do that. Neither Andros or I would have let you do that come to think of it." Zhane gently pressed a kiss on her cheek. "You're a special person Karone, in more ways than I could tell you. I'm just glad that you are here with me now and that for the rest of my life." Karone smiled, snuggling down further into his arms.

"For the rest of our lives Zhane. We'll be together." And they sat there, watching the stars, no more words needed between them.