When Gia walked into the motel that evening, she quickly found a note on the desk from her mother and Emma. They were out to dinner and would be back later. Gia knew why they were gone, and as the shower turned off in the bathroom, she felt her stomach turning.

Her father was calm by now, and she knew everything would be okay, but she didn't want the lecture. She was a good girl and drugs weren't her thing. She had never been tempted by them, and after hearing the ordeal her mother suffered through, Gia wanted to stay as far away from them as possible. However, she knew her father had to get this talk off his chest. If speaking to her would reassure him that she was okay, she would do it.

So she sat on the bed and waited for her father to step out of the shower. It wasn't too long. There wasn't a lot of room in the motel bathroom, which kept every member of the Moran family from spending much time in the bathroom. He emerged in his pyjamas and looked over to his bed. He saw his daughter waiting for their talk and he sighed.

"Your mother spoke to me," he said. Gia nodded her head.

"Dad, I promise, those weren't mine."

"She made me understand," he sat down beside her and put his hand on her leg. He took in a deep breath, "You're my whole world, Gia. At night, sometimes, I can't sleep I worry about you so much."

"There haven't been a lot of monsters…"

"In general, Gia," Mr. Moran shook his head, "In general, I worry about you. From the moment your mother told me we were having a baby, I worried. Before you were born, I worried about whether or not I would make a good, or even passable father. After you were born, I worried I would somehow screw up. I worried you would grow up and hate me, I worried I wouldn't be there for you. When you started school, I worried you wouldn't succeed. You were such a bright girl, but all it takes is one bad moment to ruin everything. I worried I would accidentally crush your dreams. I worried I'd let you down. I worried you wouldn't make friends. And, stupid me, thought the worrying would stop as you got older, but it only got worse. I started to worry about the decisions you were making, and if they were the right ones. I worried about how involved I should be in your life. If I'm too involved, I'm keeping you from growing, if I'm not involved enough, I could lose you. I worry about what college you'll go to, or if you'll even go to college. I worry I won't have the money to send you to your dream school, or help you get started in life. I'm worried you won't find the job you love, and you'll be stuck working in a stuffy office like me. Being a father is the best thing that's happened to me, and nothing makes me happier than you, but I worry so much, Gia, because I have less and less control over the things you do."

Mr. Moran moved his hand and put both on his thighs. He rubbed them up and down as he tried to keep himself from getting too overwhelmed and emotional. He was lucky he had a daughter like Gia. She was a daughter he bragged about at office parties. His daughter was beautiful and smart, and tough as nails when she needed to be, but also soft and caring. He didn't want anything to ruin that. He had seen what drugs could do, and it was never good.

"When you were a baby, I could take you in my arms and hold you and that was it. I knew I was doing a good job when you stopped crying, or when you were smiling and laughing. It was hard, but it was easier. I could do everything for you. Now I can't, and so when I see you're coming home smelling of alcohol and you've got a bag of weed…"

"You get scared."

"Your mother told me she talked to you about her… use. Gia, every day I'm glad I didn't lose your mother to drugs. You don't understand how lucky I was to have everything work out the way it did. When your mother was sent to hospital on our first date, I considered ending things."

"I can't blame you," Gia said. "I thought no goodnight kiss was a bad way to end a date."

Mr. Moran chuckled. He wrapped his arm around his daughter's shoulders, "Something told me to stay, and I listened. I listened, and I got so lucky your mother turned herself around for me. I got so lucky to have found a woman who loved and cared for me enough to want to be the best she could be. I got so lucky, Gia, I feel I've used up all that luck. I'm not going to get lucky again, and I'll be damned if that misfortune hurts you. I know you understand what I expect of you, but I also know you're getting older. Pretty soon, your life will be completely in your hands. I'll always be there for you, Gia, but if you don't make smart decisions, it's going to be harder for both of us to be happy."

"I love you, dad," Gia hugged her father tight and she felt him wrap his arms around her tightly. She felt so fortunate to have a father like him.

"I'm sorry I assumed the worst of you," he said to her and kissed her cheek. "I was scared, but it wasn't right of me."

"You meant well," Gia smiled at her father and then bit her lip, "So… I'm kind of hungry. Mom and Emma might think this'll be a while so…"

"Daddy daughter date?" Mr. Moran's face lit up. It had been years since he had been on a father daughter date with Gia. When she started high school, it seemed there was not enough time.

"Daddy daughter date," Gia nodded.

-Megaforce-

Troy's mother was fast asleep in her hospital bed. Her labour hadn't been too long, but it seemed to have exhausted her quite a bit. She was out and it would take a hurricane to wake her back up again.

Fortunately, that left Troy with some quality time with his little sister. Though the doctors wanted to keep a close eye on her because she was a few weeks premature, she was very strong and healthy, and they thought it best to keep her close to her mother. This meant Troy got the chance to hold little Ryan for the first time.

He had picked her up on his own. When they knew they were expecting a baby, Mrs. Burrows had taught Troy, using a doll, the proper way to lift and hold a newborn. Troy was an older brother by almost two decades, and while he had been promised the duties of parenthood would never fall on him, his responsibilities as an older brother meant a lot of time alone with his sister. He needed to know to care for her, and that started with holding her correctly.

He was a natural at it. She had stirred a bit when he first lifted her, but she settled in his arms and fell right to sleep, just like their mother. Troy found himself captivated as he stared at her. She was still a little too wrinkly to be completely adorable, but he couldn't imagine anything more perfect.

When he found out his mother had been expecting a baby, he had been deeply worried about what that meant for him not as a brother, but as a Ranger. In his hands, he held the most vulnerable thing on the planet – a newborn. Ryan was so small and helpless that unless she had parents who would care for her, she would die. She couldn't fend for herself, there was no way. She could barely even open her eyes. Although she was strong, she was so fragile.

Troy found himself worrying again for her, but not in the same way. His team had assured him they would keep her safe, but Troy found the stakes of his war against the mutants and the Warstar were rising. He had always wanted to live in a better world, with less violence and more peace, but that dream was even bigger. Ryan deserved a chance at a happy life. He didn't want her to have to suffer through wars and crimes and violence.

"I have a secret to tell you," he whispered. She was fast asleep, just like Mrs. Burrows, but Troy thought he would tell his little sister now. He wanted to be honest with her. He wanted her to always feel safe with him. He wanted to protect her. "Your big brother is the red Ranger. I know it sounds cool, and one day, a few years from now, you and your friends might be pretending to be Power Rangers, but it's not as amazing as it sounds. I try to look on the bright side, and I know I have to keep fighting, no matter what, but sometimes, I want to quit. Sometimes I think it's all for nothing. I'm ancient, compared to you, but I'm just a kid, I can't do much."

He stroked his little sister's cheek and smiled, "But I won't give up. I promise, you're going to grow up in a beautiful world – one you'll be proud to call home."

Suddenly, his mother shifted. Troy kissed Ryan's forehead and then looked over. His mother opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Just bonding," Troy chuckled. "Did you hear any of that?"

"No, why?"

"I was telling her how amazing you were," Troy said, it was a lie, but it wasn't untrue. His mother had been great with him, he was sure she would be just as good, maybe better, for Ryan. He wanted the best for his little sister."

"She's got an amazing older brother, too," Mrs. Burrows said. "I've never seen a teenage boy hold a baby so… softly."

"I wasn't thrilled when I heard it was a sister," Troy admitted with a smile as he looked down at the little girl, "But she's growing on me."

"I know you've always wanted a little brother or sister," Mrs. Burrows chuckled. She sat up and took her daughter in her arms. "When you were little, you always asked if we could go to the store and buy one."

"What did I know?" Troy shrugged his shoulders.

"I always knew you would be a good big brother. You had that… quality about you that would just… I knew it would help you thrive to have someone to teach. I'm just sorry it took so long."

"It's perfect timing, mom," Troy shook his head and smiled at his family. "I'm going to be the best big brother."

"You're already the best son," his mother touched his cheek and gave him a warm smile.