A/N: Thank you SO MUCH to all the people who reviewed the first chapter, on and off Spencer, rytanya, LilacSummer, anyabar1987, traci26, littlewhitelie91, lunafan - you guys are my motivation to keep writing and update as soon as I possibly can. I love you! Please keep reviewing!

Disclaimer: Power Rangers Mystic Force belongs to Disney - not me!

Summary: Madison receives a heartbreaking letter from Nick. In an attempt to get her mind off of it, Xander takes her out on a date. But what happens when the date goes really well and Xander starts to have feelings for her…?

Chapter Two

"This can't be right." protested Chip as he stared intently at the piece of paper held in his hands. His eyes ran over and over the red penmanship as if trying to find some secret, hidden message.

"Well, is it." snapped Vida.

Xander sat quietly behind the Rock Porium counter with his head resting on his folded hands. As Chip was reading Nick's letter aloud he couldn't believe what he was hearing. It really wasn't like Nick to be this cold, but then again a lot of things - and people - had changed since he left. Madison in particular. The bright smile that used to light up her face had faded into a permanent frown. Her personality - once passionate and full of life - had slowly degenerated into an impatient, stressful mess. More and more he found himself missing the old Madison. So he decided to do something about it.

"I'm going to take her out tonight." he said decidedly.

After a long, awkward pause Vida was the first one to speak. "By 'her' I hope you mean some girl you met while working here. Because if you're talking about Madison, I don't think--"

Xander interrupted her, saying, "don't worry, V. It's not like I'm asking her to be my girlfriend or anything. I just want to do something to cheer her up. You know, get her mind off of this whole 'Nick' thing."

Chip nodded enthusiastically. "I think it's a great idea!"

It seemed as though Vida had no choice but to agree. As much as she hated to admit it, Xander could be charming when he wanted to be…and she was desperate to get her sister back to being her old self again. "Okay, Xander, I'll go along with this. But if you hurt her then I will hurt you. Got it?"

He smiled and looked at her skeptically. "You know me better than that! Now I'm off to find Madison. Cover my shift for me, mate?"

Chip mock saluted him. "Sir, yes, sir!"

Xander flashed him a grateful smile and headed out the door. Vida watched after him, her arms crossed firmly in front of her chest. "I hope this works…"


After walking around for about an hour, Madison got tired and decided to take a rest. She made her way to the spot where she and Nick had first met and sat down, leaning her back against a large tree. Memories of their first conversation came flooding through her mind. She closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath.

Xander stood watching from across the street, waiting for the right moment to approach his friend. Now, he decided, was as good a time as any. But as he began to walk over to her, Madison did something he had never seen before - she placed her head into her hands and began to cry.

"Maddie…" he whispered sadly to himself.

He quickened his pace and in no time was standing beside her at the tree. His presence went unnoticed at first but he quickly changed that by audibly clearing his throat.

"Mind if I join you?"

Madison immediately recognized who her visitor was by his thick Australian accent. She refused to look at him for fear of him seeing her crying. So instead she scooted over and made room for him to sit down beside her. Which he did.

"What do you want, Xander?" Madison asked quietly, still looking in the opposite direction.

"I was just, uh, wondering if you were doing anything tonight." he said.

"You mean besides eating an entire bucket of mint chocolate chip ice cream and watching sappy movies?" she asked with a small laugh and finally turned to face him.

He grinned widely and nodded. "Yeah, besides that."

She raised her eyebrows. "Nothing. Why?"

"Because," Xander began, trying to think of a way to ask her without freaking her out or giving her the wrong idea. "I was hoping that you would go out with me tonight."

Madison's eyes widened in shock. "You-You mean like…on a date?"

"Yeah! I just figured that after what happened with Nick, it wouldn't hurt to get out of the house and enjoy yourself, you know? And - let's face it - you really couldn't find a better guy to do that with than me." he joked with a laugh.

But Madison didn't think it was funny. "You read the letter, didn't you?"

Xander sighed. "Yeah. Vida brought it to Chip and I a little over an hour ago. I'm sorry, Maddie."

She thought for a moment. If Nick was going to go out with another girl, then why couldn't she go out with another guy? True, it was Xander, and she really didn't feel anything more for him than friendship. But still…she didn't need to lock herself up in her room with a bucket of ice cream and sad movies like she had originally planned on doing.

"What time are you going to pick me up?" she asked shyly, biting her lower lip.

The question took Xander a bit by surprise, as did Madison's sudden shyness. But he shrugged it off and replied, "is 7:30 okay with you?"

She stood up and brushed off the dirt from her jeans. Xander followed her lead and stood in front of her, waiting for an answer. She confirmed with a nod and a smile. To avoid the awkward silence that was sure to come, Madison turned and began walking in the direction of her house, her arms folded protectively in front of her chest as a shield from the cool wind that had just begun to blow. Xander watched her walk away with a thoughtful look on his face. 'This will be the best date she's ever had.' he decided and then began walking in the opposite direction back to the Rock Porium.