Author's notes – I'm sorry it took so long, just a lot of things have happened.

Summary – Jason's parents come to offer some help. Tommy really needs some clothes and toys.

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Parenting is Hard

Jason

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(Day 2)

"So he's the Black DinoRanger now?" Sitting back on the couch, my mom looks at the still sleepy child in slight aw. I don't see why she's so shocked about that, she sure didn't seem the least bit surprised when I told her he was the Green, White, and Red Zeo Ranger an hour ago.

"Yeah, well at least he was until this happened." Fingering the silver bracelet that's holding his black gem, I slip in back on my wrist. I know I can't use it, but I can at least keep it safe for him until he's able to call upon the power again.

Sitting back and exchanging looks with my dad, they both seem to be taking this much better than I expected. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised though as she seems to have noticed long ago that myself and the others always seemed to wear the exact same colors day after day.

Looking up from the cartoons on the TV, Tommy yawns softly before apparently realizing our conversation is more interesting than Batman. Getting up and moving over to us, unfortunately still only dressed in one of his old, now very big t-shits, he really is adorable. "Hi."

Smiling at the boy and leaning over to get more on his level, my mom is putty in his little hands. "Hi there. Are you done watching cartoons?"

Nodding and rubbing his eyes, Tommy clearly did not get enough sleep last night in the seemingly new and strange place. Though after his first little nightmare during that short afternoon nap I guess we should have seen that coming. "S'not as much fun without my daddy here to watch them too."

Picking him up and cuddling him on her lap, she is becoming fast attached to the tot. "Aren't you just precious." Oh brother. What is with him and the female population? It's just got to be one of those things you're either born with or not I suppose.

"Uh huh." Snuggling down into her arms, he is too good. "Are you going to stay and watch me too?" Hey, I think I've done a pretty good job so far.

Running her fingers through his still messy from sleep hair, she gives a motherly smile that I know all too well. "For a few days. I mostly came for your birthday and to check you over because Jason and Kat have told us that you have a few problems I need to look at."

That last comment reminding me of why my folks came early, I get my mother's attention focused on me with a wave. "So did you check into it?"

She nods before gesturing for my dad to hand over the files they'd brought with. "I pulled his medical files right after Katherine called us yesterday and gave us the basic run down of the situation, and you were right he was not an extremely healthy child. However from the looks of things, it'd seem that he was a lot better then he should have been thanks to his father's care."

"Who wasn't? Me? My daddy takes good care of me because I'm the most special thing in the world. He's even teaching me karate and the other kids in the class are real nice, not like the ones at school. I don't like school very much, too hard, but he says I have to keep trying and doing my best and it'll get easier. I don't think it gets easier, but if he says it will then I guess it will cuz my daddy knows everything about everything. He's so smart, you should talk to him, you'd have lots to talk about."

Looking at the child in stunned silence, it takes my mom a minute to find her voice. "My, my, aren't you such an intelligent and talkative little thing."

Beaming at this and nodding his head feverishly, Tommy is clearly not souly operating on the basic intellect he had at seven. "That's what my daddy says!" Somehow I don't doubt it kiddo. "Can I have a snack?" Already? He just ate breakfast like an hour ago.

Realizing this too, Kat moves to us and crouches down to be on his level. "But you just had breakfast a little bit ago. Didn't you get enough to eat?"

Shrugging and looking at her with those big brown eyes, he has her number. "I know, but I'm still a little hungry. Please?" Now how can you deny that face.

Clearly unable to do just that, Kat gives a nod and pulls him off my mom and towards the kitchen. "Sure, come on."

Running a hand through my hair as the two disappear into the kitchen, I have the oddest feeling I've been set up. Suddenly realizing it's just me and my parents now, I turn around and confirm my suspicions when I see both of their gazes resting on me. What'd I do now?

Putting her file folders back into the black backpack, my mom has that look she gets when she's about to use logic of some sort to get me to do or say something. "He needs some clothes you know?" There it is.

"I know, mom."

"And some toys and games or he's going to get bored and bored children are very good at finding things to get into." Was that a joke at me? I was six for crying out loud, how was I supposed to know the dog didn't want to be painted a nice purple color? "Plus it's his birthday today and he'll need age appropriate presents now."

"I know mom, I know. I'm trying, I just need a little time to process this is all. I mean coming here and having him turned into an seven, well now eight year old wasn't exactly what I or Kat had planned." Definitely not what I had planned.

Softening into her motherly self, she leans forward giving me a patient, but still serious look. "I know it wasn't Jason, but it's what has happened. Look, why don't you and I take him shopping for some clothes and toys while your dad and Kat set up for his party? Kimberly and Adam will be here sometime this afternoon along with these new Rangers you mentioned, we should probably take him out of here to make things easier."

"Yeah, he really does need some clothes, but I'm not sure how keen he'll be about going out dressed like he is."

"If anyone could talk Tommy into anything it was always you Jason." Okay dad, I did not talk him into throwing water balloons at you, that was all him.

Stopping our conversation as Kat returns with the boy who is now munching happily on a banana, he seems to have more around his mouth than in it, but oh well at least he's happy. Poor kid that must be so frustrating not being able to stop his hands shaking like that.

When she hands the young boy over to me again, I let him settle on my lap with his head resting on my shoulder. You've got to feel for him, strange environment, strange people, and strange circumstances, it can't be easy being him. Mind, it's not easy being him at his normal age either I'd bet. I run a hand through his hair pulling it back off his face while I decide how to approach this.

I'm actually quite surprised my mom hasn't openly awed this little scene yet. Now if he was himself I'd just pin his arms by his sides and force him out of the house, can't really use those tactics on a child though. I'll just have to talk him around to it the way I used to do.

"Tommy, we were wondering if you'd like to spend the afternoon with me and my mom?" Yeah just ease him into it.

He seems to be contemplating saying 'yes' already, I may actually get out of having banana thrown at me. "Doing what?"

"Well we know you don't like wearing these big clothes very much so we though we could go shopping for some nice new clothes for you. What do you think?"

"No!" Shaking his head feverishly, that was not the reaction I was hoping for. "I can't go out in just a shirt Jason. What if someone sees up it? Can't you just get me some clothes and I'll stay here and play with Kat and Uncle Alex?" Don't give me those eyes; they will not work on me. Puppy dog eyes may have worked on Kat, but I refuse to let them wok on me… okay why do I feel such a need to cuddle the little thing and tell him I won't make him do anything he doesn't want to? Right, got to have a strong resolve, can't let him manipulate me.

"I promise you no one will look. I'll keep a tight a hold of you. As soon as we buy you some clothes you can change into them, okay? But we really do need you there because we need to see what sizes fit you. You wouldn't want us to accidentally buy you more big clothes, would you?"

"Suppose." Okay, now he's pouting.

"Plus it's your birthday today, don't you want to pick up a few last presents and something nice to wear to your party? It'll be kinda hard to play dressed like this won't it?"

Nodding slowly and seeming to relent, he finally after another minute caves with a defeated sigh. "Alright, I guess as long as no one from school sees me." I doubt that will be a problem as your classmates are now twenty eight and most likely not living in Reefside.

"I promise no one will see up your shirt and like I said, we'll change you into some of the new clothes as soon as we get them. First things first though, why don't we go clean you up."

As he nods exuberantly I pick him up and start to head upstairs with him, knowing that I've probably just shocked everyone in the room. What? Am I not supposed to be capable of looking after a child?

Once we're in the bathroom I sit him down on the counter top where he swings his legs in boredom before handing me the rest of his banana. Thanks kid. After tossing the mushy remains in the trash, I soap up the wash rag and just as I am about to rub it over his face he opens his mouth to speak again.

"Your mom helps kids doesn't she?"

"Erm, yes, yes she does." Is he asking for a reason? Does he maybe remember my mom?

"That's what my mom does too. She had to go away to help them though. Maybe your mom knows her. I'm sure her and Aunt Sara would get on real well." Okay so the subject of his mother isn't a great one to get into as I number one don't know very much about the woman, and number two what I do know from his older self isn't good.

"I'm sure they would get along great, but right now let's just focus on you. Now, close your mouth or you'll get soap in it." Gently rubbing the wash cloth over his face to get rid of the sticky mess covering it I make a mental note to talk to the others about him mentioning his mom.

"There, good as new." Finishing up and tossing the cloth in the sink, I put him back down on the floor. And where did he go?

Stunned as I had turned my back for a second and now the kid is gone, I hurry out to the stairs hoping he's not doing something dangerous or something that I might in fact be blamed for.

Reaching the top of the stairs just in time to see him sit down on the top step and position himself in the middle, should I be concerned or not? "Tommy what are you doing?"

"This." Taking a deep breath as if he's about to hurl himself down them… Oh wait, he is going to hurl himself down them. By the time that last thought processes in my brain it's too late and he's already thrown himself down the steps, bouncing along on his butt.

"Tommy!" Dashing for him, I know I'm way too late. Oh man, please let him be okay. Oh geez is he crying? Wait…is he laughing?

From the bottom of the stairs he looks up at me, beaming, before standing up and moving away. "You try now." This kid is going to kill me.

"No Tommy, I don't think so, I'm a bit big for that game."

"No you're not. My daddy is the same size as you almost and he'd play it with me sometimes. I promise it's fun, but it does hurt just a little bit." Yeah did your dad get hit in the head a lot?

"Please Jason. I'll race you?" Okay he's already scrambling up the stairs to join me at the top. Looks as if I'm not going to get a say in this. Tugging at my arm he somehow pulls me down onto the top step next to him. Really can't believe I'm doing this.

"Okay Tommy, but only once, then we have to go shopping." He seems to see the fairness in the deal as he begins to make the count down.

"Three, two, one….go!" I let him get a few stairs down before I gently push myself down after him. Ow, really not seeing the fun here.

"Yay, I won!" Smiling broadly as we both sit in a heap at the bottom of the stairs, I guess it was worth bruising my butt to see him so happy. "You did good for a first try, Jason."

"Well, it's a good game, but we don't have time to play again right now. Are you ready to go shopping?"

"K."

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(Two clothing stores and one toy store later…)

"Wow." Looking down the aisle of stuffed animals, Tommy continues to tug at my hand. "Can I look at the stuffed animals? Please?" Out of all these shiny and noisy toys he wants to look at the stuffed animals? He was an odd child wasn't he.

"Sure, just don't leave this aisle okay. Stay where I can see you."

"Okay." Dashing off in his new tennis shoes and play clothes, he begins touching and looking over the large selection before him.

"He's sweet." Yes he is, still though I think I'd rather have my not so sweet best friend back right now than this adorable child version of him.

"Yeah. I'm just a bit worried about what I'm going to do with him. He can't just sit around the house all day. I have to put him in school, and it'll help if I'm there to watch him. Thinking I should go pay Ms. Randal a visit Monday. I'll lay it out for her, tell her who I am, that I know who and what she is and what the deal is. She'll probably let me take over his class to keep me busy." Though I wonder if it'll be safe for him to be there. The elementary school is right next to the high school and while under a separate principle that still puts him dangerously close to Elsa.

"I think you'd make a good teacher. You know, you never did tell me what happened to your job in New York." And I don't plan to.

Shrugging and focusing on Tommy who's currently talking to a pile of stuffed tigers, I definitely don't need her to see how serious that matter was. "It just didn't work out, mom." Glancing over at her to see her unconvinced look, sometimes it really sucks to have such intuitive parents. "Please just don't ask. I'm not going back, it wasn't where I belong."

"Are you going to tell me someday?" I know it's probably unavoidable. When I nod in response, she seems satisfied for the moment and thankfully lets it drop.

"Lookit!" Hurrying back to us with a white and black tiger held tightly in his arms, I can't help but find it funny the toy is almost as big as him.

"That's very nice. Is that what you want?"

Suddenly looking a bit shy, he nods before hugging the tiger tighter.

Gently taking the toy from him and putting it in the cart, I think we're going to need more then just that. Maybe a video game or something. What do eight year olds play with? "Is there anything else you saw that you might want for your birthday?" Because I'm still more than a little lost as to what to get him now.

"Um, I don't know. Usually daddy surprises me with stuff, he always picks good stuff." Well unfortunately while he knew the child you, all I have to go by is the teenage version. "Oh! I know, Legos are fun. Can we get Legos?" The building blocks? Man I haven't seen a Lego set since I was sev…never mind.

To be continued………