Hi everyone! Yes, it's me again! This idea popped into my head shortly after reading The Nanny by Melissa Nathan, which was amazing! You don't need to have read the book to read this; I'm just hoping it'll make sense. Right, I need to explain a few things.

This is an alternate universe story. It revolves around the SPD rangers, but has appearances from Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder. None of the rangers are rangers in this story, if that makes any sense at all, except Jack and Sam (Omega Sam, older Sam, etc), who are both part of SPD. This story is T rated for mild swearing and mild sexual references. I've tried my best to work out pairings, but of course not all of them you'll be happy with.

Full Summary: Z Degaldo is hired by Tommy and Hailey Oliver to move into their huge townhouse and manage their kids, thirteen year old skater Shane, ten year old warrior pixie Tori and shy hole-in-the-head Dustin, aged eight. Z puts her relationship with her perfect on paper boyfriend of three years, Bridge Carson, on hold to take the job, but when Tommy's eldest son Sky turns up, Z finds herself torn between them and SPD ranger Jack Landors. Can she get herself out of this mess, with help from her new best friend, Sydney Drew, and with none whatsoever from her childhood friend Kira Ford, and her boyfriend Conner McKnight? Read on to find out!

The Nanny

By Jnr Cpl Scarlett

Chapter 1 – Not A Good Start

Elizabeth Degaldo sat at the kitchen table at her parents' house on the morning of the 4th of April, a sunny brightened day. She poured herself a glass of orange juice and buttered a slice of wholemeal toast as thoughts swam about in her mind. Today was her nineteenth birthday, and she'd come home from her job at the local police station for a spot of rest and relaxation. She was a junior officer, training to be accepted into the SPD Academy. Her parents, of course, had hoped she'd get in two years previously, but she had wanted to get some experience first. Z, as she preferred to be known as, was planning to try something new, as she no longer thought she had what it took to be part of Space Patrol Delta. She'd applied for a job as a nanny, minding a house and kids full time. Z loved kids, and thought she may be able to earn a decent bit of money to go to university.

"Happy birthday, Elizabeth!" came a shrill voice from the doorway. Z grinned to herself as her mother flung her arms around her.

"Jesus, Hilda, you'll scare the living daylights out of her!" Bill Degaldo had a smile as wide as the Great Wall of China upon his aged face. "My Lizzie, nineteen today!"

Z snorted. "Dad, it's no big deal. Besides, I don't feel any different than I did last year."

"Typical," tutted her mother irritably. "So, when are you leaving for that new job?"

"Next week, hopefully," Z replied as she wrestled out of her mother's headlock. "I want to get the money as soon as possible. Besides, I could do with a change. I'm meeting up with Bridge, Kira and Conner tonight to break the news to them."

"What's happening with you and Mr Carson?" Bill persisted.

Z sighed deeply. "I thought we might both take a break."

"You're breaking up with him?" Hilda said incredulously. "But you've been together for three years! He was your first -"

"That's enough, mom!" Z warned, her eyes flashing dangerously.

Bill cleared his throat. "Yes, well, quite enough of that. I just wanted to say I'm glad you're re-thinking your life and going to university. Your mom and I never had that chance. You're standing on your own two feet and moving away. I'm just," his voice broke, "so proud of you, Elizabeth."

Bill took his daughter in his arms and wrapped her in a bear hug, squeezing her tightly.

"Thanks, dad!" she choked. "I love you too!" He released her and regained himself as Z massaged her neck. She took a long drag of her juice.

"When are you seeing Bridge then?" Hilda wondered aloud.

"I'm meeting him and the others for lunch," answered Z. "It's so weird, it seems like we've been together for, well, forever." She chuckled half-heartedly. "He was my first boyfriend, and it's amazing that we're still going strong…" Her voice tailed off and she inhaled.

"Love, if you're not happy with him, don't leave him hanging on," Bill soothed, "break it off now."

Z shook her head.

"I can't; I love him, dad…"

"It doesn't sound much like that to me," he said gently, patting her hand.

There was an awkward silence.

"Well, not that this conversation isn't extremely uplifting," Hilda cut in, "but you need to get dressed, Elizabeth, dear. Off you trot."

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Z retreated to her bedroom upstairs and flung herself onto her double bed, still flourishing in a flowery yellow duvet cover. She gazed around her room, with every single space of shabby orange wallpaper covered with posters of rock stars, handsome rugged actors and expensive electric guitars. Her floor was littered with university applications and self help nanny books. She was going to need all the help she could get. Z knew for certain she could rely on her childhood friend, Kira Ford.

She glanced over onto her bookshelf, which was stocked full of novels and plays. She picked up a gold photo frame. The picture inside showed her and Kira at the sweet age of sixteen.

Z hadn't changed much. Her dark hair was still very much the same length, and her physical figure was still athletic and slim. Kira, however, had changed quite a bit. She used to be quiet and musical, but was now outgoing and very fashionable. Her style changed from independent rock chick to queen bee. Z sighed, wishing their lives were still like that.

Another picture frame held four people, Z, Kira and their long-term boyfriends, Bridge Carson and Conner McKnight. The four were as thick as thieves, and had been together since their junior high school days, back when Z and Kira had been so involved with music.

Z mentally swung herself out of living in the old days, and pushed open her closet. Her style still showed confidence and independence. She pulled out a pair of loose fitting ripped jeans, short-sleeved yellow top and a punk jacket. After throwing them on, Z ran her hair through with a brush and attached some hoops to her ear lobes. When she was done, she took one last look of herself in the mirror, before exiting her room and slamming the door on her way out.

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As lunchtime loomed nearer, Z broke into a brisk walk, heading for her local pub, The Horse and Buckle, a restored house from the seventeenth century. Her stomach began to curdle with guilt as she imagined her boyfriend's face when she would tell him she wanted to split up for a while. Z knew it probably wasn't the best thing to do, but she also knew she would hardly get to see him because of her new job.

Suddenly, her cellular phone began to ring. Z dug around in her handbag and pulled it out.

"Z Degaldo."

"Hello, dear! It's Mrs Oliver!" said the intelligent voice. "I'm just ringing as to inquire your thoughts on the current situation."

"Of course!" Z replied as she glimpsed the pub's sign in the distance. "What seems to be problem?"

"Well, as you can imagine, Mr Oliver and I have very hectic jobs, and we simply just can't last much longer. Our previous nanny has just packed up and left, and we regret to inform you that we need you to come straight away."

Z could have choked on her gum.

"Oh! Well, I suppose I could make it by tonight, if I took a late train. I'll be in New Tech by nine."

"That's perfect! Thank you, Z; you're a life saver! Bye!"

"Bye, Mrs Oliver."

As Hailey Oliver hung up, Z swallowed nervously. The pub was now metres away, and she didn't think she had the guts to do the unthinkable. Gulping, Z pushed open the door.

The pub was still old fashioned, like something out of an old movie. There were old pews from churches and the bar still had beer mugs hanging from it. The room wasn't busy, but there was a buzz of animated chatter rising fast. Z spied her friends sitting in their usual spot in a more private corner of the pub.

Kira looked as glamorous as ever, dressed in a flowing white skirt, a tight white top, her hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and her make up was extensive. Her boyfriend, Conner McKnight, however, was dressed in baggy jeans and a crimson t-shirt, bearing the legend 'rock on'.

Z also eyed her boyfriend as she took a seat next to him. He wore a simple green shirt and black trousers. His brown hair was playfully messy. But that wasn't what Z loved about him. Z adored Bridge's warm sense of humour, his charming yet playful smile and his amazing intellect. She couldn't help but grin to herself as they kissed gently.

"Hey, gorgeous," he soothed. Z could have screamed. She couldn't have asked for a better partner. Yet, she could tell something was missing. What wasn't he?

"Hi," she said simply, wishing she could think of something better to say.

Conner put his arm round Kira's shoulder as he said, "So, how's the famous Z Degaldo? Found a job yet?"

Z coughed deliberately and Kira watched her suspiciously.

"Have you found a job?" she said through narrowed eyes.

"Erm, yes," Z mumbled.

"And?" Kira persisted eagerly. "What and where?"

"Iamgoingtobeanannytothreekidsinnewtechcity," rushed Z nervously, her eyes downcast.

"What?" Kira asked in annoyance.

Z took a deep breath. "I'm going to be a nanny to three kids in New Tech City."

There was silence,

"New Tech City?" Kira spat. "That's miles away!"

"When are you going?" Conner asked, his face unreadable.

"Tonight…"

Z glanced sideways to Bridge for support, but he looked hurt. Kira continued her ranting.

"When exactly were you planning to tell us?" she snarled.

"I wasn't supposed to be going until next week, but they need me to start straight away."

Z's heart shuddered as Kira's fist slammed against the table. "That's bullshit! You've been waiting to get away from here for ages! Nothing's ever good enough for you, is it, Z? Not even Bridge!"

"Kira, come on," Conner reasoned, breaking apart from her.

"No, Conner! I'm out of here! Don't expect me to be at the station to wave you off!" Kira grabbed her handbag, pushed past Conner and stormed from the pub.

"I'll be there," Conner said quietly.

"Me too," chipped in Bridge. Z flung her arms around him and held him tight.

"I love you, Bridge," she began, but he cut in.

"I love you too, but it's not going to work with you being so far away, is it?" he said slowly, pulling away from her. He looked upset and hurt.

"No, it's not," she mumbled. "I'm so sorry. I really need the money."

Bridge smiled weakly. "Hey, I understand. Maybe when you come back we could pick up where we left off?"

"I'd like that," Z sniffed, wiping her tears away. Why did he have to be damn reasonable?

"That is, of course, if you don't meet someone else…" his voice tailed off, disenchanted.

"I doubt it. I've got to go and pack; my train leaves at six. Bye."

She stood up to leave, kissed Conner on the cheek and embraced Bridge once more.

"I love you," he whispered as he kissed her. She broke away and left the pub, leaving Bridge rather confused.

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