I really mean it when I say this chapter is intense, please read with caution. Happy Turkey day my lovelies! I know the holidays can be hard, so please, keep yourself safe and do some self-care, you deserve it. 

Renette had only felt this unsafe once before. And that night she vowed to never let anyone feel the same way she did. She spent her early teen years on the streets and eventually had to turn to sex work to make a stable income. A friend she had made allowed her to rent out a small place while she helped herself through her addictions and poverty. She never let herself get too far into her own head. She couldn't risk it. Not when she had already gotten so far. And especially not after she had her first kid. She was only nineteen when she had Zuri. Renette knew she couldn't support this baby and herself but she'd damn herself if she didn't try. Named after the sister Renette would never get to see grow up, Zuri became a light in Renette's life. A little spark of hope that she couldn't wait to see grow into a blazing bright flame. Renette had been able to land a few different jobs here and there but nothing was truly permanent, she had been able to enroll Zuri in the nearest school she could and was nothing if not the best mother she could ever be for her baby.

Then Zuri was diagnosed with ocular cancer. Just as Renette's mother, great grandmother, and so on. Renette knew it skipped generations but you couldn't blame the woman for hoping to any god that her precious daughter wouldn't have to go through what her mother had. The day Zuri passed was the day Renette made up her mind. She finished her GED in record time and enrolled in the nearest community college, working two jobs and eating two meals a day. When she applied for the FBI training academy she was denied. Only to come back the next chance she got. It took three tires before she was accepted. There she excelled and rose above what she ever thought she could be, but she couldn't help the pain in her chest when she thought about her failed promise. Then she met Renae. Renae wasn't known as Renae at the time, but here this girl was, a sweet, beautiful doctor who for some reason that Renette would never understand, was head-over-heels for the girl.

Renette wanted to revel in the feeling of this new and exciting relationship, but deep down she felt bitter. The thirteen year old girl who was just thrown to the curb was screaming at her future self. You promised, no one would ever feel so helpless, so hopeless, so unsafe and unloved! Yet here you are, you let your sister live without ever knowing your fate, you let your friends be exploited, you let your daughter die! Now here you are making this promise to another person, knowing you can't keep it!!!

When Renette was asked to work for the Power Rangers at the FBI she didn't hesitate. If anyone out there could help guarantee people's safety, it was the Power Rangers, and she wanted to know she was doing everything she could to help them. However if someone asked Renette now what she thought of the Power Rangers when she first met them, she would be honest and tell you they were 'a shit show of privilege and queerness'.

Joan was an unbelievable ass at every possible chance, unless Talyn was around, then they were a bumbling idiot who couldn't spell 'love' if you gave them a dictionary. Valerie couldn't shut up about whatever theater production she was starring in even if her life depended on it. Terrence was brand new and had no idea what was happening around him 90% of the time. Dominic was a weeb. Talyn seemed to be as infested with rats as they were infested with repressed emotions. And the Black Ranger hadn't even been found yet!

There was a lot more work to get done than Renette had anticipated, but she was nothing if not a problem solver. And with Renae's undying support she felt she could get practically anything done. Save to say it felt like smooth sailing from there on. Renette and Ranae met a lovely man-him being the Black Rangers boyfriend was a coincidence that just so happened to work in the girls' favors-had a lovely son, and lived rather lovely lives.

The day that Joan, Talyn, Valerie, Dominic, and Terrence had been taken from them was one that Renette would never forget. She had to be strong, so strong. For Thomas, for her family, for her friends' families, and for this poor little boy that was left behind in it all. A little boy she had never gotten to know. A little boy she promised herself she would never let feel helpless. She placed him in the best home as close to Thomas as she could, and began working on a small file in secret. One she swore she wouldn't open until she was absolutely certain. Later that night she let herself cry for the first time. Alone.

Now, here she was. All of her promises broken.

Renette's bloody knuckles were starting to dry and her sweat was pooling at the base of her chin. She sniffed and smelled copper, her split and swollen lip still pulsed with pain. She pushed her stray hairs back against her braids with her wrist and put her palm back against the wheel. Behind her Renae and Roland slept. Not soundly, but at least they were asleep. Renette didn't want them seeing her like this. When she arrived at her destination she was ushered in quickly. Renae and Roland lifted up by herself and her brother-in-law. Renae's family doted over the two while she called Thomas, ensuring that he, Remy, and Emile were safe.

As she got on her phone and laptop and began contacting any of the few allies she had left her mind screamed at her.

You broke your promise to your mother! You broke your promise to your sister! You broke your promise to your friends! You broke your promise to your daughter! You broke your promise to Renae! You broke your promise to Roland! You broke your promise to Patton! You broke your promise to Emile! You broke your promise to Thomas! You broke your promise to Remy! Now you've broken your promise to Virgil!!!

She raced around the small room Ranae's mother had given her to work in, looking for answers. Waiting for calls back. Researching everything she could that could possibly be useful. Careful knocks at the door stirred Renette from her stupor and she opened the door to find Nia, Ranae's mother, holding a first aid kit and some water. The gentle older woman helped treat Renette's cuts and bruises and examined how her daughter in law had been treated.

Renette didn't sleep. She couldn't, not even with the copious amounts of sleeping pills. Renae's father and brother left to get Remy in the morning and brought him back to their house. The boy no doubt having a million questions. Hardly any of them Renette could answer honestly, but luckily she didn't have to. Renae and Roland had awoken in that time and were able to keep their son busy with their doting so Renette could work.

The woman didn't eat unless she was forced to and had sheltered herself away from the family, much to their dislike. However, they knew Renette. They knew what she was like. They knew that this would pass. And until then she had to take care of herself. They could only intervene so much before she would retreat even farther.

It had been days. Tons of missed calls from Thomas and the boys. Missed meals. Shed tears. And finally, finally, a call came.

"Hello? Miss?" The young woman's voice was frantic and quiet. "Is this Miss Rademeyer?"

"Who are you?" Renette responded curtly.

"I-I was told to call you." She continued to whisper. Renette could hear traffic, possibly rain in the background. "I'm afraid to tell you my name if I'm being honest ma'am, but I've got some information that you've been looking for."

"What would this pertain to exactly?" Renette asked.

"A certain se-senator." Renette could practically hear the girl shivering cold.

"I don't have time for this." Renette dismissed.

"A certain senator that's orchestrated the kidnapping of a sixteen year old boy!" She hurried to say. "Please, I'm afraid something horrible has happened and I was given this number to call. I don't want to be fired or-or hurt or-or-"

"Okay, okay," Renette opened a word document on her laptop and tried to calm the poor girl. "Please, I can assure you nothing will happen to you, just tell me your name please, so I can walk you through this."

"Julie." She whispered.

"Okay Julie. My name is Mrs. Rademeyer, please tell me what you know."

The girl, an assistant to a rather important man explained that she was told to share certain files with this senator's friend, concerning his future presidential campaign. However, the curious girl opened the files and found pages upon pages of plans to kidnap a familiar prince. The terrified girl was later approached by a friend of Renette's who had been digging around this senator for a while, and told her that if she had any information on a missing boy she should call Renette's number.

It didn't take long after this call for Renette to gather her friends and some rather impressive weaponry. She called this senator, telling him she wanted to speak about his campaign, only to ambush and threaten him. Renette didn't know what he had done with Virgil, but she was ready for this nightmare to be over, and damn she meant by any means.

The deal they made was a simple one. She would get Virgil back, she would be able to take anyone affiliated to court, and she would retain her position in the FBI without disruption, as long as his name was utterly erased from this whole ordeal. While she didn't like it, Renette knew it was the best deal she was going to get and took it.

Renae and Roland had demanded they go with her, and Renette knew she was in no position to argue. The three Rademeyers and some of their closest confidants left for an abandoned warehouse. Not far out of town. It was an uncharacteristically cold night for Florida, even if it was November. Renette could see her breath puff in front of her as she entered the building, Roland and Renae close behind. The rest of the group split, covering the warehouse, searching for any sign of life.

"Renette!!!" One of their friends shouted.

Renette and her husband and wife raced to the voice. When they arrived other members of the group were also running into the room.

"Oh god." Alek, the one who had called for them said under his breath as he examined what was in the room.

Renette saw a large desk, on it four computer screens had been booted up by Alek. There was a keyboard and a large stack of USB drives on the desk as well. A chair that had been well-used and a trash can also sat in the damp dark room. What scared Renette the most was a cut out hole in the wall just above the monitors. Sticking out of it was an obvious camera.

"Oh dear god." Renae gasped, pointing at one of the center screens.

Renette could see the outline of someone huddled in another room, visibly shaking even on the blurred screen.

"The next room over!" Another teammate determined.

"Wait!" Roland stopped him from leaving. "Renette and Parker come with me, you two can help me get the door open and inspect the room while I check on Virgil. Everyone else stays here."

The group listened to these directions and Renette followed her husband out of the room and to the next door they could find. As expected it was locked and they hadn't been provided with a key. Luckily Renette and Parker were strong. While anyone else would have gone for a more clever approach, the two simply bodied the door open. The angry screech of the metal on the cement hurt her ears, but it was nothing compared to the sheer fear that exploded out of Virgil in a loud scream.

Renette did as she was told and went to the other side of the room to inspect it while Roland inched his way over to Virgil.

"Virgil?" He asked softly. No response.

Renette went to the opposite wall where she found a mound of rotting food sitting under a flap large enough to shove a tray through. The wall was indescribably dirty. In fact the whole room seemed to be like that.

"Virgil my name is Roland. Is it possible that you remember me?" He crouched now, staying a distance away that Virgil seemed comfortable with.

Renette could see scratch marks on the wall around and over the flap where the food must have been delivered. It looked like Virgil had attempted to eat some of it only to throw it back up.

"Virgil we're not here to hurt you. We're going to get you out of here and somewhere safe. We're going to do everything we can to make sure nothing bad ever happens to you again." Roland tried to soothe.

"Renette." Parker whispered. Renette looked over at him and saw he was standing beside a part of the wall that looked to have a camera lens sticking out of it. Renette made her way over and looked at it with disdain. "Nettie, look at this." He pointed to crusty flakes around the lens and its surrounding parts.

"Dear lord." Renette pulled back. That was dried blood.

"Virgil, can-can you talk?" Renette didn't see Virgil's reaction, she continued looking around the wall for anything else while Parker took pictures with his phone. "That's okay, can-can you nod your head? So I know you can hear me?"

It was quiet.

"Thank you." Roland sighed in relief. "Now, I need to know if you can stand. If you can walk out of here? Okay. That-that's okay but I'm afraid I'm going to have to help you out then."

There was some shuffling.

"No no Virgil I promise I'm not going to hurt you. We're going to take this slow okay. Is it okay if I touch you? I need to put your arm around my shoulder so I can get you out of here." Roland continued. "Okay-okay I see. How about I ask these two to leave and get my wife Renae. You remember her yeah? She's a doctor. A really, really nice one. She's gonna be very gentle and she's gonna make sure you're safe. Is that okay? Good. Now we're gonna leave you, and the woman who's gonna walk in here next will be Renae. She's gonna help you out of this room and into one of our cars where she's gonna take you to the nearest safe place."

Rolan waved his hand at the other two and they followed him out of the room. Down the hallway Renette saw Renae and Jessica standing outside the room they had been in before. Roland explained to the two what was going to happen and Renae left to get Virgil.

"What's going on?" Renette asked as soon as Renae was gone and the four reentered the room where the computers were.

Alek moved aside, exposing the computer screens, and sitting down on the other side of the room. His head in his lap. On each of the screens a different clip was playing. But all of them exposed what exactly had happened here.

The first screen showed Virgil sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, their face wasn't clear but the man screaming relentlessly at them was. Then Renette saw the man slap them harshly before continuing the berating. On the next screen Virgil was pounding on the door until their hands bled, they didn't stop screaming. The third screen showed Virgil attempting to sleep but a pounding on the door, a screaming through the flap that delivered their food, or some other terrifying tactic kept them from resting. Finally the fourth one, just Virgil, crouched against the wall, body shaking, tears falling. All of it was horrific. Renette stepped back, not letting herself see anything but her own hands.

She heard Renae pass by the room with Virgil and waited until the hall door fell shut before ordering everyone out of the room.

"What are you going to do?" Jessica asked.

"Destroy every bit of this." Renette snarled.

"But Nettie-" Roland tried.

"We have enough to convict every person who ever stepped foot in this place!" She snapped back. "This-this isn't something I want anyone to see. Ever."

No one argued. Roland was the last to leave the room, a worried look on his face, but he didn't hesitate to hand Renette the crowbar he had chosen as his weapon. Oh the man I chose to marry, Renette thought as the door closed behind him. She turned to the USBs that were plugged into the computers. One for each day that Virgil had been trapped in this hell-hole. She took them, shoving them in the inside pocket of her jacket and stepping back. There were files upon files, copies and copies of this horrific treatment. And Renette lifted the crowbar up before coming down on the monitors and computers, yelling as she did so. Her fit of rage smashing each computer to nothing but busted circuit boards and wires. Renette threw the crowbar down at the desk one last time, the steel piercing the thin metal and the wood of the desk. She huffed, leaving the room utterly destroyed.

When she was outside yet again, she saw that Roland and Parker had stayed behind. Renae had taken Virgil back to her parents and the others had gone back with the evidence they'd gathered to get an official case going as soon as possible. Parker drove Roland and Renette back to Renae's and said small goodbyes. Telling the both of them to take good care of Virgil.

Renette had already broken her promise to Virgil once. She wasn't going to again.

Over the next week Renette had made several trips to the hospital to steal supplies for Virgil. The poor kid was unable to eat solid foods and had remained almost completely non-verbal. They would only really allow Remy and Renae in their room for extended periods of time. They warmed up to Roland however, and Renette not too far after. However they were still in need of care that they simply couldn't provide in such a small home.

Over time Virgil's malnourished state began getting better and Roland had been able to perform a psychological evaluation. One that proved to be more helpful than they ever could have imagined. Virgil's official diagnosis concluded they had a Panic Disorder, and autism. With this in mind Roland was able to come up with a treatment plan that was best suited for Virgil.

However, the family began noticing some strange happenings. Remy and Renae had come to Renette explaining that they felt like they were being watched while Ranae's mother and father had noticed an unfamiliar car parked in their neighbor's driveway during the night. This meant Thomas and Emile's reintroduction to Virgil was going to have to happen a lot faster than they'd have preferred.

Luckily Emile was someone Remy had been talking about during this whole time and Virgil became comfortable around him quicker than the rest. Thomas was very touch and go, but it seemed as long as Virgil wasn't alone with him they were alright. Renette became worried at what this could possibly mean so she took a risk.

Late one night she grabbed her laptop. She knew it was a bad idea but she had to. She watched the tapes. The woman could barely make it through. She had to shut the laptop before she thought she might have a panic attack just watching. However, the tapes had revealed that in these sickening interviews Virgil had talked about the Dragon Witch. And there was likely so much more information that the Rangers would need. So, with much hesitancy, she sent the tapes to Parker, explaining exactly what she needed him to do with them.

After another week Renette told the others that Patton had been let out of the hospital. She knew how badly Emile and Thomas wanted to go see him, but they also knew what kind of danger that would put them and him in.

Virgil's condition wasn't perfect, but it was certainly better, and it was about time that they went home. Well, to their new home anyway. Roland had worked with Thomas intensely on what to do in order to get his home ready for Virgil, everything had to be perfect and Thomas was going to ensure it. Renette should have expected Thomas to be so involved but she was honestly impressed with him. Though Virgil may not have been so welcoming to Thomas at first, Thomas was certainly ready to drop everything for this kid's happiness and it no doubt helped the process along.

When Renette explained to Virgil that it was time for them to be moved to Thomas's for their safety they seemed content. The move itself went well, Renette and her husband and wife couldn't stay with them, but Roland and Renette did everything they could for their wife to ensure she could be at Thomas' to help the transition. Remy stayed until Monday night when it was time for Virgil to begin getting used to being around just Thomas and Emile. Thomas' hourly updates told Renette that they didn't speak much but they were good at communicating with gestures and had started really enjoying the tv shows that Emile was showing them. Tuesday morning the Rademeyer family went to the Sanders home to spend some of the day, talk with Virgil, and hopefully Renette could ask the kid a rather difficult question.

"Virge!" Renette could hear Emile call from the other side of the door. "Remy's family is here!"

"Okay." Virgil responded from father away in the house.

The door opened not much later and Thomas stood looking rather winded. "Come on in." He said cheerfully.

Renette led the way inside, Remy's dog not far behind and said son swiftly after. Renae and Roland took a bit of time bringing the presents in.

"Oh please tell me you guys didn't bring all of these for us." Thomas said, noticing the stacks of wrapped boxes and tissue paper filled bags.

"No don't be silly." Renae said walking past him. "These two here are for you, the rest are for Virgil and Emile."

"Of course." Thomas smiled.

Renette looked over to find Emile holding Remy's hands over an ornament as he led her son in placing it on the fake green tree, while Virgil came into the room with another box of what Renette assumed were decorations.

"Decorating for the holidays?" Roland asked, taking the presents over to the tree.

"We have the day and it's December." Thomas shrugged.

"And it's Virgil's first time celebrating the Holidays." Emile said. "We're going all out."

Renette looked around the room, sure enough Emile had set up his menora and other various decorations, as well as the little ceramic town that Remy had given him two years ago as a joke, and now Emile apparently treated it like his pride and joy. Virgil offered the family a wide smile before heading over to the tree and setting the box of decorations down. Apparently awaiting instructions.

"So there should be some tinsel and snowflake decorations, you can hang those wherever you like." Emile said kindly.

Virgil nodded and opened the box, beginning to dig through it before pulling back suddenly and staring at it in disgust.

"Hey, what is it?" Thomas asked, rushing to Virgil's side.

"I dunno." Virgil said, "it's dumb but I just, really don't like the way those feel."

"The tinsel or the ribbon?" Thomas asked, kneeling down to dig through the box.

"Uhh tinsel." Virgil said.

"Okay, that's fine we don't have to put it up. I'll put it with the creepy stuff my mom gave me when I got my first apartment." Thomas scooped the tinsel out of the box and took it to another room.

"So Virge how've you been doing?" Roland asked, blacing another gift at the base of the tree.

"Good. Uh, eating's been tough but I think I'm getting better." Virgil admitted. "Actually uhm Emile told me that you guys don't actually know my gender."

The room went silent. Renette looked over at the kid in a bit of shock. She started rolling through her recent memories and came to the realization that she'd never actually talked to Virgil about anything along those lines, nor had she used they/them pronouns around Virgil.

"Yeah uh, apparently everyone thinks I'm an actual prince. Or like at least a boy. But you guys think I'm non-binary?" Virgil had a laughter in their-his?her?-eyes that Renette was unbelievably grateful to see. "Well, I'm not either of those. I think the term you all use is genderfluid."

"Okay, what pronouns today?" Renae asked, taking a seat on the couch beside Remy's dog.

"She/her." Virgil said plainly.

"Wait what term do you use?" Remy asked.

"Okay, so," Virgil sat down, grabbing ribbon from the box and beginning to detangle it. "How I was raised was there were no terms for how people identified, whether it was romantic orientation or gender identity. There was only what pronouns the generals wanted to use. When I got older though I started realizing some pronouns worked sometimes and didn't other times and well that's just how I was. I mean I wasn't the only person on the ship like that, it's just the only other one was a prisoner." Virgil looked away. "But anyway! Emile and I were talking and I was like 'actually I'm a he today' and Emile was like 'oh okay, I didn't know you were genderfluid' it was kind of a whole thing."

"I see." Roland nodded. "Well it's very brave of you to tell us."

"It is?" Virgil asked.

"Not everyone's okay with being gender non-conforming so coming out is like a huge thing for the LGBT." Emile told Virgil.

"Earth is so strange." Virgil sighed, going back to the ribbon, her face scrunched in concentration.

Emile and Remy finished decorating the tree just in time for Emile to help Virgil throw the ribbon around the room.

"So what else has been going on around here?" Renae asked. Thomas had re-entered the room and began pouring glasses of wine for the adults.

"I taught Virgil about the Holidays." Emile said.

"I'd heard of Christmas but I had no idea there were so many other things to celebrate during the cold months of your ridiculous calendar year." Virgil said.

"Ooo! We should watch a Hallmark movie!" Remy proclaimed.

"That's a great idea." Emile said with a smile. "Virge's first Hallmark movie! It has to be a good one."

"Oh trust me, I know just the one." Remy put his hand out and Roland on que handed his son the remote.

While Remy turned on the tv and told it what movie to look up, Thomas handed the glasses to his friends.

"Hey Virgil," Renette figured now was as good a time as ever, "Dear can I talk to you in the other room?"

Virgil looked at her, confused, then back up to Emile.

"Go ahead, I can put the rest of these up." Emile told her.

Virgil nodded and led Renette to her new room. Just as Renette had hoped the small room was perfectly Virgil's. A deep, sweet purple paint covered three of the four walls while the last one was painted black and covered in pinned pictures of Emile, Remy, Virgil, Thomas, Renette and her spouses, and various pictures of bands and tv shows and characters that Renette assumed Virgil was a fan of. There was a little desk next to a window much like Emile's and various gadgets and figurines on it. Renette knew more decorations and other trinkets would fill the room in time, she just hoped Virgil found comfort in it.

"So," Renette started with a smile. "This-this is difficult to say but well, while you were held there, videos and recordings were made of your time there."

"Yeah I-I know." Virgil said, sitting down on her bed.

"Well, I just want to know, if-if you're okay with me sharing those recordings?" Renette asked softly. "Not with the world of course. With uhm, with-"

"The other Power Rangers?" Virgil asked, her voice hesitant.

"Yes dear." Renette affirmed.

"Is it important to your mission?" Virgil asked.

"I'm afraid so." Renette nodded.

"And-and you won't ask me the questions?" Virgil asked.

"You know that's not the best of ideas." Renette told her.

Virgil paused, assessing. "Okay. It-it's okay for them to listen."

"Thank you darling." Renette reached out a tentative hand. Virgil gave her own hand over and squeezed Renette's.

"Make sure it's worth it." Virgil told her.

"I promise you I will." Renette said. "And I actually have some good news. The trial is going to be coming to close by Thursday, hopefully, and the judge certainly seems to be in your favor."

Virgil nodded.

"And uhm, you should be getting your citizenship and a passport and everything in a couple weeks. You'll be a real earthling soon." Renette smiled, hoping the small gesture would be returned. "There'll be a few restrictions for you, but nothing extreme. And nothing you couldn't get away with a few times."

"Ha, earthling." Virgil looked down. "That's so weird sounding."

"Well, I hope you get used to it." Renette told her. "I-I just want you to be happy here Virgil. And I really think you will be. It might take time-"

"I'm hopeful." Virgil said.

"That's all I could ask for." Renette squeezed her hand and got up from the bed.

The two left with soft smiles and joined the rest of the group in the living room to watch A Princess for Christmas. Renette remembered watching it with Remy for the first time when they had to be alone on christmas a few years ago. Remy had a strange love and appreciation for Hallmark movies, specifically princess christmas movies that took place in made-up european countries.

The next day Renette found herself back at Thomas's, this time without her family. She stood in the basement, pacing up and down in front of the teenage boys that sat around a table anxiously. She couldn't look any of them in the eye. Logan's leg wouldn't stop bouncing. Roman and Remus wouldn't stop fidgeting and Janus couldn't stop running his hand through his hair.

"Where's Virge?" Patton's voice could be heard coming through Thomas' door.

"Pat, please come to the basement."

"Thomas I don't know what the hell has been going on these past few weeks, but if you're about to tell me-"

"We're going to explain everything, I promise. Just please, come down to the basement." Thomas begged.

Patton's frustrated steps came down the stairs and when he found his friends sitting around the table he looked to Thomas who gestured for him to join them. Patton sat down between Logan and Roman and looked at Renette expectantly. She bit her knuckle gently and kept pacing before stopping curtly and turned to the boys.

"Let's begin."