A/N: I do not own Rocket Power, but Marie is my OC. This is my first ever posted fan fiction, and some solid critique would be totally awesome. I've read a lot of incredible stories on here, so I'm very excited to get to add to the community. Thanks, guys! Have a good one!

Chapter One

Marie looked at her new home in Ocean Shores, California. It was a cute little one story house with a pool and the most peculiar mailbox she'd ever seen. And she'd seen quite a few.

"Welcome to your new home, dear! We hope you learn to love it that way," Violet Stimpleton smiled, placing her hands on Marie's shoulders. "We know it's been a very tough road for you, and we want you to know that we're very glad to have you here. Isn't that right, Merv?" Marie and Violet looked at Merv as he lugged the young girl's bag out of the car and grunted in agreement. It honestly wasn't heavy at all, seeing as Marie had so few possessions, but Merv was always over dramatic.

Marie reached her hand up and touched the tiny glass bottle hanging around her neck. It was filled with sand from her home town, Chesapeake, Virginia. It had been a very, very long road in these short 15 years. She smiled softly and moved her hand, placing it over Violet's.

"Thank you so much. I really can't express how grateful I am that you guys are so willing to take me in. Most people look at me lately and just see a lost cause because that's how most kids my age are in the system…" Marie trailed off, afraid to say much more. She didn't like getting emotional, and talking about it right now would be too much. Marie had been in and out of foster homes across the country since she was 5. She looked down at the ground and stared at her Converse clad feet. They were her most favorite shoes- red high tops that were broken in ages ago. They were a gift from her foster parents a year and a half ago. She was doing fine there, and the prospects of adoption were looking up, but her foster father lost his job and the courts decided there wouldn't be enough financial stability to support her. She thought that was a load of shit, but in the end, she was moved around a few more times, landing herself in California. Before then, she was in Burbank, but the couple was young and decided they wanted to conceive their own child instead of deal with an adoptee that had 15 years of instability behind her. Finally, Violet and Merv, having no children of their own, decided to take her in. Even pessimistic Merv felt that she had had enough of bouncing around and solid home was needed.

"You're a good girl, Marie. Don't ever forget that. We saw that light shining deep inside of you the first time we met you, and we only want to help it grow. Now, let's go get you set up and then we can go meet the neighbors, huh? How's that sound?" Violet hummed, grinning. Marie smiled largely and nodded, putting an arm around Violet to give her a comforting side hug, which her foster mother warmly returned.

They entered the house and went to the guest bedroom, now Marie's bedroom. Merv was standing in the middle, his arms open wide. "Welcome to your new home, dear!"

It was a simple room. Off white walls, a standing closet, a decent sized desk and a full sized bed. The bed had turquoise bedding and light pink accent pillows. Marie grinned at the sight of it all. It was so perfect to her. A space of her own. She hugged them both separately, giving them a million thank you's.

"Want any help setting your closet up? Or maybe setting up your desk? Oh, we'll have to go out and get you some stationary supplies. And, by the looks of it, some new clothes. I know school won't start for quite some time, but I'd let to get you into the normal swing of things as quickly as possible. But oh, not too quick. Don't want to over load you!" Violet rattled off, opening the curtains so the cul de sac was visible. Marie could see a group of 4 teens about her age playing hockey in the street.

"Violet, I fear all of your talking may overload her if you don't slow down. Let's let her unpack herself and get settled in a bit, first. Then, if she's feeling up to it, we can take her to meet the neighbors after dinner. How does that sound to you, Marie?" Merv asked, his voice softening a bit when he addressed his foster daughter.

"I think that sounds like a great plan, Mr. Stimpleton," Marie said with a smile.

"Please, call us by our first names. It'll be easier, I think," Merv directed her, chuckling a bit. Violet giggled and pulled Marie into one last hug before they exited the room. Marie sighed softly and smiled again, shaking her head ever so slightly. Turning back to the window, she decided to open it and let the voices of those other teens drift into her room as she started to settle in.