Fire and Water

Ars Amortia love themes: Nick and Madison

By graceful phoenix

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the power rangers. If i did, some things would be different ( like some romance!), but that's not the case. They belong to Disney.

Thanks to Rachel the Loser, shadow375, jfkpommie00 and Bella Cordelia for all their reviews. Glad to see my writing style is enjoyable!

This is set after Inner Strengh ( diddn't Madison and Nick seem so close with each other in that ep!)

DARE

She could feel the sun on her skin. It relaxed her especially after all the fighting lately. She took a look around the park, it was empty for such a beautiful day. Ironic me. The park I relax in was the same park that i was turned into stone. A bark caught her attention off to her left. She watched as the owner was praising his dog on the game of fetch. Beyond that pair, she could see a boyfriend kissing his other half making her sigh.

Why can't i find that? Wait Maddie, you did try with Ben. Look how well that ended or should I say, never started. Plain Janes just don't get the guy. Girls like LeeLee and Vida always do. LeeLee was kinda right, being shy never gets me anywhere . Here I am thinking about it, not to mention being alone and thinking about it. She sighed again, unaware that someone was watching her, not knowing about the mental battle she was putting herself through.

Nick gazed across the grass after he had parked his bike. This was the last spot he could think of to find Maddie. He really needed to thank her and she needed someone to cheer her up after what happened earlier today at the Rock Porium.

Flashback

The door chimed alerting the group to the arrival of a potiental customer. Nick was at the register talking to Madison, barely noticing who came in, unfortunately for him. "Hey Nick!" LeeLee chimed as she bumped Madison out of the way. "I have decided to let you have the honor of taking me out. Where are you taking me tonight?" Nick looked at Maddy with a deer in the headlights expression that said, "Help me!"

"Hey Nick, didn't Toby want you to help finish unloading the new shipment of music that came in this morning?" Madison asked from behind LeeLee. A smile spread across Nick's face as he turned to the back room, "You're right Maddy, Toby wanted it done when we got back from our lunch break. I really need to get that done. See ya later." With that he walked in the back, effectively hiding from LeeLee.

LeeLee whipped back around to face Madison, her voice dripping with anger. "What did you expect to accomphlish with that little stunt? Did you expect him to become eternally grateful and become yours? Newsflash, you are nothing, you hide in the background like a wallflower. What makes you think that he wants you? What can YOU do that I can't? Try thinking about it, wait a minute-don't- because you can't. Really soon, it's gonna be me on that bike with him and not you". LeeLee stormed off , the door sensor declaring her departure.

Madison swallowed hard as her brain was processing what LeeLee just said and how she said it. She didn't realize that she bumped into Chip who came up front to find out what the commotion was all about. "Madison, are you ok?" he asked. "Um, what? Oh yeah i'm fine. I'm just gonna go home early today. I'll see you later" she said as she walked out the door.

Nick chose that moment to walk in with the last of the shipment. He took a look around, but if it was for LeeLee or Madison, Chip couldn't tell. Nick set the box in Toby's office. When he came out, he headed for Chip asking along the way, "How bad was it?". Chip stopped flipping through paperwork and thought for a couple of seconds. Nick was getting impatient so he started towards the door, anixous to get to Maddy. The sound of Chip's voice stopped him, "LeeLee was in rare warpath form today. She ripped Madison a new one all because she was in her way. I tried to see how she was afterwards but she rushed outa here so fast that i didn't get a chance." Nick sighed, frustrated at himself for not dealing with it himself. "I'm gonna go after her. Can you cover for me? he asked Chip. "Sure, just hurry and find her Nick", Chip replied.

END OF FLASHBACK

He placed the helmet on his bike and set off to find Maddy. He had already tried Rootcore, and her house. He was here on a wing and a prayer in all honestly. This wasn't one of Maddy's usual places but he had already tried the usuals and she wasn't there. This was his fault, he should have stayed to deal with LeeLee instead of taking Maddy's easy way out. Now Maddy was paying for his poor decision making. "Where are you Maddy?" he thought to himself. "There's a dog, a couple that is too PDA...and a girl, wait... bingo, there she is."

He kept his eyes on her as he walked across the park. The look on her face was not on the one he wanted to see, especially if he could do something about it. He stopped a few steps before he reached her, watching the emotions play across her face. He never really realized that he liked the happy face and hated the sad face. He walked the remaining steps to reach her. "Maddy, I don't know what to say..." Nick stammered. "Me neither." Maddy replied. "What do you mean by that?" Nick asked her questioningly. Her sad face finally met his, "I'm never brave or bold or daring or adventurous. I just hide in the background, till someone bumps into me" She sighed.

"Maddy, what are you talking about?". He took a look around them. "You are a power ranger. Don't forget that you have the power of all things liquid, right?" he asked with a smile. "When I'm in ranger form, I hide behind a mask. That doesn't help me in my social life Nick, it never has." Maddy replied saddly. "What did LeeLee say to you? This isn't the Maddy I know. The Maddy I know is logical, kind, creative, and is always there when you need her. I would have never stayed here in Briarwood with you guys in this ranger stuff, but then you came and showed me that it wasn't all weird and scary, that i wouldn't be alone. You are there when it counts." Nick replied with a fierce determination as he sat down next to her. "I don't know many girls that fight off hidiacs and styxoids to protect innocent citizens. Not to mention running interference for her friend so he can hide from a really crazy girl. In my book, thats bold."

"You really think so?" she asked him. "I know so Maddy" he replied with a smile. A comfortable silence occurred between the two teens. Nick got up and offered his hand to Maddy. "Come with me." She took his hand with a confused look on her face. He continued to hold her hand as they walked across the park. When they reached his bike, he turned around to face her. "You said daring right?". Maddy nodded still confused. He spoke again "I dare you to take a ride on my bike Maddy". "What! You want me to drive that thing?" she ranted. Nick smiled, happy to see that she was out of her funk. "Don't worry about the driving," her told her, "that is where I come into this. All you have to do is hold onto me and enjoy the ride."

Madison didn't say anything for a couple of seconds, which made Nick think that she was slipping into her funk again. "Come on" he said as he tugged her closer to him and his bike with a pleading smile. Madison finally responded with a smile. He handed her his extra helmet as she sat behind him. Before he started his bike, he turned his head " I need to stop by work to clock off, then I can show you a great experience." She nodded. He started the bike and head to the Rock Porium.

There was an empty spot in front of the music shop so he took advantage of it. "I'll be right back, ok" as he got off the bike. She watched him disappear into the store. Wow it's hot with this helmet on. After that thought, she slipped her helmet off not seeing the person headed for her. "What are you doing on that?" an angry voice came from behind Madison. "She is taking a ride on the bike LeeLee, with me." Nick's voice drifted from behind her. He walked passed her to get on the bike. "Later" was all he said to her as he and Madison left a very shocked LeeLee in a cloud of dust.

Hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know if i should continue with this. Reader's reviews are helpful when writing the next chapter!