Disclaimer: Yeah, they aren't mine. Unfortunantly.

A/N: Manchester is made up, and possibly derives from the soccer/football team.

Two days before Chip and Madison had become Power Rangers, they walked home from work, enjoying a feeling of peace that would soon be almost forgotten. As they walked, the pair talked about the customers who had come to the Rock Porium, and the new inventory. Caught up in a discussion over the merits of comics and videos, Madison checked the mail with little attention. As Chip expounded on the virtues of a good comic book, the blue ranger flipped through the mail and headed up the drive. A familiar logo made her stop, "Hey Chip," she said, "hold the mail for a sec, please?"

"Sure," Chip replied, and accepted the bundle, curious. Madison quickly opened the envelope.

"Oh," Madison whispered.

"What's up?" Chip asked, craning his neck to see.

"I got in," Madison said, grinning at Chip, "I did it, I got into Manchester!"

"The film school?" Chip asked.

"Yeah!" Madison declared, throwing her arms around Chip and squeezing him as tightly as she could.

Chip returned the hug for a moment, before coughing lightly, "Madie," he said, "can't breathe!"

"Sorry," Madison said, releasing him. "I can't believe this."

"I can, Madie, you rock with a camera," Chip said, "let's go back to the Porium and tell everyone!"

Madison faltered, "Chip, I can't. I promised to baby-sit for Ms. Anne."

"Aw," Chip said.

"Look, I'll tell everybody, but I want to be the one to tell them. I want you to just let it go." Madison said firmly.

Chip hesitated before nodding, "Ok," he said, slipping a hand in his pocket to cross his fingers. "I won't say anything before you do."

"Thanks Chip." Madison said. She hugged him briefly, "Come on, I'm starving, and Jimmy has a fascination for hot dogs and Jell-O."

"Sounds good," Chip said, following his friend into the house.

A week later, Chip finally managed to trap Madison in the store room alone, "Hey," he said, oddly serious, "may I ask you a question?"

Madison shot him a nervous look; she knew that the more serious Chip felt, the better his grammar was. "What's up?" She asked.

Chip shrugged, "I was just wondering, when are you telling the gang about Manchester?"

Madison winced, "I'm not," she said. "Chip, I can't, not this year."

"Why not?" Chip asked, "You've been planning to commute anyway."

"I'm a power ranger," Madison said softly, "I'm needed here. You know that as well as I do. Maybe I'll go next year, when this is over."

"Will they wait?" Chip asked.

"I haven't heard back yet," Madison said. She pressed her hand on Chip's arm, "Please, don't tell anyone. I don't want them to make a big deal about it."

Chip nodded, "I won't say anything," he promised.

Chip rarely said he promised, because he kept his promises, so he would not promise anything he wasn't positive he could keep. It was part of him, like being an archer, or dreaming about being a real knight, and the code of chivalry. Still, he hadn't expected to walk into a conversation about Manchester a week later. It was Vida who spoke. Chip, freed from the register leaned on the counter so that he could hear well. "What was that about Manchester?" He asked.

"Madie got rejected," Vida said. "I was just suggesting that we do something to cheer her up."

"But, Madie said she turned them down," Chip blurted without thought. Then mentally groaned at how fast he'd broken his word.

"What do you mean?" Vida asked.

Chip glanced around, and saw Madison staring at him. Chip thought fast, "She said something about being a Ranger was more important. I thought she meant she chose not to go." He shrugged.

"Madie? Turn down film school?" Xander said, "Impossible."

Chip shrugged, giving Madison a look, trying to convey his sorrow at the slip. Madison gave him a slight small smile and in the silence, Chip knew. All was forgiven.