A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the prologue. Even though I haven't revealed much about the initial plot of this story, I still managed to grab your interest and I'm happy about that. Now, onto the next chapter.


REMINDER:

- This story is an AU. It follows the events of the series; but for the sake of my O.C. Molly, the time frame in which each season of Power Rangers has lengthened. So yes, this story does take place during the season of Dino Thunder, but everyone's ages have been altered to better fit this original idea of mine. If you can't accept that, you might as well click away now.

- I have switched Tommy's profession to history at this point because I am HORRIBLE at science & chemistry and felt that writing about history would be a lot easier. Plus, I think that studying dinosaurs and fossils leans more towards the history side of the educational world.

- Tommy x Kimberly are the main pairing of this story, but there are SEVERAL other pairings that will be used during the course of this story as well. For starters, Hayley and Tommy are a couple when this story begins. As with most romances, theirs is going to take a while to blossom. So don't expect things to be all "sunshine and rainbows" in the beginning.

- Although I edit this story frequently, I do tend to make a few mistakes. So if you spot them, KINDLY let me know and I will take care of the issue immediately. Insulting my intelligence or skills as a writer for such minor mistakes is not only rude, but I will not tolerate it.

- Most importantly, I have made this story a personal challenge for myself and have written it ENTIRELY in the present tense so it seems like the story is happening right before your very eyes. It has proven to be a difficult challenge, but fun nonetheless. So I hope you guys like it too.


Disclaimer: I do not own the popular television series Power Rangers, which is based off of the Super Sentai series that air in Japan. I do not own the rights to any of the show's characters that are used in this story. Both aspects are being used for entertainment purposes only. I am the creator of Molly Hart, Samara and Austin Scott, and all other original characters featured in this story. The plot of this story was also developed by me. DO NOT REPRODUCE ANY ASPECT OF THIS STORY. Thank you.


"Hart"

Molly walks through the front door of Angel Grove High School and feels her heart sink to the pit of her stomach. The pale orange walls, the green lockers lining them, the stairwell, the drinking fountains, and the posters covering the bulletin boards - she's going to miss every detail. She does her best to smile at her fellow students as she makes her way over to the row of lockers on the left hand side and twists her combination in. Her locker looks barren, all of her photographs, her makeup bag, and her mirror having been taken down yesterday and a feeling of dread sinks in. This truly is her last day here.

"Hey there Molly Dolly." a sweet voice calls out to her. Molly has tears in her eyes before she even sees their face. Samara Scott steps into her line of view, her shoulder-length black hair framing her face as she smiles sadly. In two seconds, the girls are hugging each other tight, Molly sobbing and Samara doing her best to stay strong for her best friend.

"I can't believe you're really leaving." Samara says as she pulls away.

Molly sighs before grabbing all of her books and dropping them into her backpack. "This totally bites 'Mara. I mean, we've known about the move for almost two months and I still can't get over it. I don't want to leave Angel Grove, it's my home; but mom really wants this job. I can't just say no to her."

"Why don't you ask her if you can just stay with me and my parents? I mean, they love you like you're one of their own Molly. I'm sure they wouldn't mind."

Molly smiles. "Thanks for the offer Samara, but Aunt Trini and Uncle Jason aren't gonna want a permanent house guest. I'm going to Reefside with mom and that's that."

Samara frowns but nods in agreement. Molly would do anything for her mother even if that meant sacrificing her own happiness. After all, Molly is an only child and her mother has raised her for her entire life without the help of anyone. As far as Samara knows, Molly has never had any contact with her father and her Aunt Kim definitely doesn't like to talk about him. So the two of them only have each other and would undoubtedly stay together no matter the circumstances.

"There's my girls." a male voice comes from up the hall. Samara and Molly look up and smile at the sight of Molly's boyfriend Michael descending the stairs. Michael is a senior, one year older than the girls. He has brown hair styled in a very nice crew cut and emerald green eyes. He was captain of the football team during their fall season and he holds many school records for touchdowns and his success in track and field. Needless to say, he's a jock. A very hot jock.

Molly smiles at her boyfriend as he makes his way through the crowded halls and over to her. He snakes his arms around her waist before capturing her lips in a sweet kiss that leaves the younger teen blushing.

"I still can't believe it's your last day." he says, his smile fading into a frown.

"I know Michael. I'm really gonna miss you."

Michael sticks his bottom lip out in a pout that makes Molly giggle. "Just what am I supposed to do while you're gone?"

"I don't know Mikey. I mean, you could try and study just a little bit. B's are good, but A's are even better. Besides, you don't want to slack off at the end of your senior year."

The school bell rings throughout the hall and students begin to clear the way as they separate towards their various destinations. Samara smiles at the two of them before heading towards the gym for her aerobics class. Michael takes Molly's smaller hand into his and gives it a gentle squeeze as they head in the opposite direction.

"Ready for our final day as lab partners?" he asks.

"I'm ready for anything." Molly says with a smile.


Kimberly and Trini are sitting in the middle of Kimberly's empty living room while Kimberly pulls the lid off a large box that Trini had given to her just moments before. Trini watches her friend in excitement as she pulls tissue paper out of the box. Kimberly's face lights up when she sees a beautiful china set resting inside.

"Trini, it's so beautiful. Where on earth did you get this?"

"I found them at an old second-hand store on the square. They were a little run down so I used a few of my ceramic skills to spruce them up. I hope you like them."

Kimberly nods as she pulls one of the tea cups out and holds it up to the light streaming through her uncovered window. The cup is a smooth ivory with a single pink rose in the middle. There are green waves painted beside the rose that give off the illusion of leaves stemming from it. The design is rather simple and might be ordinary to anyone else, but both girls knew that the colors stood for something far deeper.

As Kimberly continues to admire the gift, Jason steps into the room carrying his and Trini's two-year-old son Austin on his hip.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Miss Reefside." he says, causing both girls to look up at him. "So, you ready for the big move today?"

Kimberly nods as she sets the cup back in the box with the rest of the dishes. She stands up and stretches her arms above her head before walking over to Jason and giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

"I'm excited, but nervous at the same time." she admits. "I'm going to be coaching a junior varsity and a varsity gymnastics team for a high school in a different city. I mean, I don't know the girls or their level of training. I certainly don't know them on a personal level either. I guess I'm kind of worried that our student coach balance won't be up to par."

"Kimberly, you're an amazing gymnast and you have plenty of coaching experience." Trini says with a smile. "There isn't anything that you haven't been able to accomplish. Those girls are going to take to you quickly and before you know it, you'll be bringing home the gold."

"Thanks Trini." Kimberly says as she gives her a sideways glance.

"I'm really gonna miss having you around Kim." Jason says sadly. "I mean, who else is going to be around to keep you out of harm's way."

"Hey, I used to be the Pink Ranger, remember? I can handle any feat that comes my way."

Jason and Trini exchange a glance before bursting into a fit of laughter. Kimberly looks between the two of them, confusion on her face as she tries to understand the joke.

"What's so funny?"

"Kimberly, you may have been the Pink Ranger once, but that definitely didn't keep you out of harm's way." Trini said in between laughs.

"Yeah Kim." Jason agrees. "You got kidnapped more than any of us combined. I used to refer to you as the Pink Damsel in Distress."

Kimberly shoves Jason playfully before crossing her arms. "Geez Jase, thanks for the confidence boost.


In the city of Reefside, it wasn't quite as sunny as it was in Angel Grove. Rain was currently pouring down outside the windows of Reefside High School, the sky a dark sullen gray that matched the mood of Tommy Oliver's seventh hour history class.

"Alright guys." Tommy says as he pushes his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose. "Your assignment tonight is to finish reading the final section of chapter twelve. I also want you to complete the section review at the end, including the essay question. Please use complete sentences and phrases, and for the love of God, make sure your handwriting is legible. Class dismissed."

The final bell of the day rings and Tommy's students quickly gather their things as they begin to file out oft he room. Conner McKnight, Ethan James, Kira Ford, and Trent Mercer all hang back as the others head into the hall, leaving them alone with their teacher.

"Doctor O, why do you always assign so much homework?" Conner questions the man as he rests his backpack on the corner of Tommy's desk.

"It isn't that much homework." Tommy says with a laugh as he picks up an eraser to clean off the board. "Besides, homework exercises the mind and it shows that you've actually learned something other than how to sleep during my lectures."

Conner groans as the others laugh at his misery. Just as Tommy sets the eraser down in its holder, Ethan pushes the door shut before locking it. Tommy then moves to take a seat as his desk, folding his hands to rest on its top while his four students crowd around him.

"So, have you and Hayley learned anything new about those strange barriers that have appeared in the morphing grid?" Kira asks, the mood in the room changing from humor to seriousness.

Tommy's brow creases as he sighs. "We aren't sure what they are and why they've appeared, nor do we know if they pose any kind of threat. My gut's telling me that just might be the case though."

"Maybe the barriers are energy shields of sorts?" Trent suggests. "They could be protecting something like another Dino Gem?"

"Is that even possible?" Conner asks, hopefulness in his voice.

Tommy shakes his head. "It couldn't be. Hayley and I did research on the Dino Gems for years and managed to uncover them all, with a little help from Mesogog of course. Point being, there aren't anymore Dino Gems lurking out there. Whatever's hidden in those barriers, we're going to find out the truth."

"Changing the subject," Ethan speaks up suddenly, "did you guys hear we're getting a new student tomorrow? Rumor has it, she went to the same high school as you Doctor O."

"Angel Grove High?" Tommy asks, surprise in his voice. "I wonder why she's moving so far away?"

"I heard her mom's going to be replacing Coach Sanders and the girl's a pretty good gymnast." Conner adds. "I think Cassidy said her name's Molly Hart."

Tommy freezes at the sound of the girl's last name, his mind racing with all sorts of thoughts. "What's the coach's name? Do you know?"

"Oh, that's the best part." Kira says excitedly. "Her name's Kimberly Hart. She trained with Gunther Schmidt for the Pan Globals. She's going to be coaching the girls' gymnastics team while she's here. Isn't that awesome?"

Tommy can feel his heart beating hard in his chest as his mind does its best to process this newfound information. It's been nearly eighteen years since he had last seen Kimberly and somehow, fate was inexplicably going to bring them back together.

"Doctor O, you okay?" Conner asks with a raised eyebrow. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"I'm fine." he says as he takes a shaky breath. "Look, I've got to make a quick phone call if you don't mind."

"That's okay." Ethan says as he and the others gather their things. "Do you still want us to stop by later to help you and Hayley with your research? It's been a while since Mesogog last attacked and I'd like to be of some use to you both."

"No, that's okay." Tommy says as he grabs his phone from his briefcase. "I'm sure we won't find anything of use tonight. We can all meet up tomorrow."

The students nod before heading out the room, all of them confused by Tommy's weird behavior.


Jason slams the trunk of Kimberly's purple mustang before turning to face the girl he loves like a sister. For a minute, he feels his throat closing as his eyes burn with the threat of tears, but he forces a smile before closing the space between them and enveloping Kimberly in a tight hug. He runs his fingers through her hair as she squeezes him tight, never wanting to let him go.

"I'm going to miss you so much." Kimberly says with a sniff. "You're always there for me when I need you and most of the time, you're the only person who can cheer me up. I don't know what I'm gonna do without you."

"I'll miss you too." he says as they break their hug and he rests a hand on her shoulder.

"What about me?" Trini asks as she places her hands on her hips. "Aren't you going to miss me or my home style cooking?"

"But of course." Kimberly says with a laugh as she moves from Jason and hugs Trini tight.

"You'll be just fine honey." Trini says encouragingly as she pats her back. "You're going to make plenty of new friends you're going to be the coolest teacher in the whole school. Who knows? You might even find a nice, handsome hunk to sweep you off your feet."

"You and your wishful thinking." Kimberly says with a roll of her eyes as they pull apart and wipe the tears from their faces.

Samara and Molly descend the steps of the house and Molly moves to hug Trini and then Jason. Jason pats the girl on her head and smiles before giving her a quick kiss on the forehead.

"You take care of yourself Dolly." he says with a smile. "Take care of your mom too; and don't think I won't drive two hours just to kick someone's ass for making you cry."

Molly laughs at the image before slapping his arm playfully. She then goes back to Samara before hugging her best friend.

"Call me every day. Promise me?" Samara pleads.

Molly nods. "I promise 'Mara. I love you."

"Love you too Molls."

After several more hugs, tears, and goodbyes, Kimberly and Molly gather the rest of their belongings before hopping into the car and pulling out the driveway. Jason, Trini, and Samara stand on the lawn and wave them off as the car disappears from their sights.


Jason rubs at his eyes tiredly as he looks down at the stack of bills on his desk. Although he earns quite a bit of money at the dojo, paying for both his business property and his two-storied home is still a difficult task that gives him quite the headache. Desperate for a few minutes of relaxation, he leans back in his chair and stares up at the ceiling, listening to his two-year-old son laughing down the hall. It is bedtime in the Scott household and Trini is currently trying to give Austin a bath. The former leader of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers smiles at the happy sound before sitting upright to resume working again.

Jason works diligently for the next twenty minutes writing out checks and sticking them into the necessary envelopes, while balancing his checkbook in between bills. Just as he picks up the water utility bill, the cordless phone begins ringing noisily on the corner of his desk. With a yawn, he reaches out and takes the white phone into his hand, without reading the caller I.D.

"This is Jason." he answers before opening his checkbook to write the next payment down.

"Hey Jase, it's Tommy. It's been a while. Do you have a sec to talk?"

"Of course I do." Jason says with a smile before sitting his pen down. "It's good to hear from you. To what do I owe the pleasure of this late phone call?"

"Jason, how long have we been friends?" Tommy asks suddenly, his entire tone shifting from one of greeting to one of seriousness.

Jason frowns at the coldness of Tommy's tone, and he is immediately worried that he has done something wrong. "We've been friends for nearly twenty years Tommy. What's this about?"

"Today, I learned that I am going to be getting a new student. Her name is Molly Hart; and before you try to feed me some bullshit excuse about there being hundreds of Harts in the United States, I already know that Kimberly is her mother. How could you not tell me that Kimberly had a daughter Jason?"

Jason stiffens as Tommy's words repeat through his head. He had not been expecting this phone call. Hanging up the receiver would do him no good. Tommy would call him back in a heartbeat with even more questions. With a heavy sigh, Jason leans back in his office chair.

"It really wasn't my place to tell you that Kim was a mother Tommy. If she wanted you to know about her personal life, she would have told you herself."

"She and I haven't spoken in years Jason. Hell, I didn't even know that she was living in Angel Grove. I'm going to assume that you already knew that though. There is no way that you and Kimberly would live in the same town and not speak. You and Trini are so close to her."

"I'm sorry that I never mentioned it." Jason says sincerely, hoping that his friend will understand. "With the way things ended between the two of you, I didn't think you would care to know that she and I were still friends. I keep my relationships with the two of you separate because it's what is easiest. Please don't be mad."

Tommy is quiet for a long time, and Jason wonders if the paleontologist is still on the other end. Tommy finally breathes out a long sigh and Jason takes a deep breath to prepare himself for whatever verbal lashing is going to come his way.

"I'm not mad at you Jase. You were just trying to be a good friend. Besides, that fight was years ago. I have long since moved on and I would expect that Kimberly has done the same. So what does her husband do for a living? Is he happy about this move?"

"She's actually not married." Jason says. "Kim really hasn't had a serious relationship in a long time. Most of her time and focus has been on raising Molly as a single parent, and let me just say that she has done a great job. Molly is a straight-A student, she plays guitar, and she's in gymnastics. She is literally like her mother was at her age. Well, almost like her. Molly's personality is a bit more like her father's."

"So Molly's father isn't in the picture? That's too bad."

"Yeah - things with Eric did not go well." Jason says as he recalls the name of Kimberly's ex-boyfriend. "He pays child support but other than that, he has nothing to do with the girl. Molly doesn't seem to mind much though. I mean, I've been a constant father figure in her life all these years. I'd like to think that I was all she needed."

"That's great. Anyway, I have a few things to take care of for my lectures tomorrow. I'll call you when I get off work, okay?"

"Sounds good. Goodnight Tommy."

"Night."

The line clicks as Tommy hangs up the phone, leaving Jason with nothing to listen to but the annoying dial tone. The former Power Ranger sighs before setting the phone down on its receiver, his mind racing with a million thoughts. He had completely forgotten that Tommy lived in Reefside, and Kimberly will not be happy when she learns of this too. Last Jason had checked, Tommy was still living in San Francisco. The two ex-lovers being within the same vicinity would do nothing but bring trouble, and Jason will not be there to extinguish the flames should they rise. Should he call Kimberly and warn her? Should he try and convince her to turn down the job and come back to work at the Youth Center?

With a groan, Jason rubs his palms over his face before staring up at the ceiling. "This is bad. This is very bad."


A/N: And so ends the first official chapter. So some random guy named Eric is Molly's father and he isn't a part of her life. Could he be the mystery guy Kimberly dumped Tommy for during Power Rangers Zeo? Well, leave me a review and the answer will come to you sooner than you think.

-KairiAngel13