Disclaimer: Unfortunately none of the characters you recognise belong to me. BUT there are a few of my own in here so you can't use them unless you ask me (as if you'd want to!). Ok, that's the formalities over with, onto the story...
It was surprisingly quiet day in Blue Bay Harbor. All the power rangers, apart from Cam who had preferred to stay in the cool darkness of Ninja Ops, were hanging out at Storm Chargers since Lothor had failed to launch another monster on the town and Sensei had been unable to find anything to keep them occupied.
"Aw man, I can't believe it." Dustin said, stretching his legs out. "Finally, a day off. No monsters, no fighting, even Sensei's gone soft on the training sessions."
"I know." Blake said, "Must be the heat."
It had been a particularly hot summer that year, even now in September it was at least 45 degrees in the shade. Lothor had launched a number of half-hearted attacks, but they had been unsuccessful. This was not only due to the hard work of the rangers, but the heat had even got to his monsters. They just hadn't been able to cope.
"Here we are." Hunter said carrying a tray of ice-cold smoothies.
Blake gave them a suspicious look, he was too used to Hunter's 'cooking'.
Hunter noticed the look, "I didn't make them," he assured them.
"No, I did." Tori said, throwing herself down next to Blake.
With that they all grabbed one and began to drink. The coolness of the smoothie was a pleasant relief from the heat.
The door of the shop opened with a ring of the bell. Two people entered, a man and a woman.
"Wow, them dudes look a little too old for this sort of thing." Dustin remarked.
"Hush, maybe they're here to buy something for their kids." Shane said.
The others turned to look. Hunter, who had just taken a gulp of his drink, choked.
"Hey bro, watch it." Blake said, slapping him on the back.
The two people spoke for a few minutes with Kelly, who pointed at the group.
"Uh oh, what's she sent them over here for?" Dustin said. "It's my day off."
Hunter got up; "I'll see you guys in a minute, I'm just, you know…" he headed quickly towards the toilets.
"Man, what did you put in his smoothie?" Dustin said to Tori.
Hunter's hurried escape was cut off by an exclamation from the woman.
"Hunter sweetie, is that you?"
He froze, then turned to face her slowly. "Uh, hi. Do I know you?" he said.
"I know it's been a few years, but I'd have thought you'd remember your mother!" she said, looking a little hurt.
"Right." he said, and turned to leave again.
"Is this the sort of welcome you give your mother after all these years?" the man seemed to growl.
Hunter stopped. "Why are you here?" he said softly.
The other rangers were dumbstruck.
"Has he ever said anything to you about his parents?" Shane asked Blake.
Blake was as confused as the others. "No. I always assumed they were dead."
"Honey." his mother said, "We heard you were here and so we thought it was time to… to see you again. Phil got us a house and it's, well, it's got a room for you."
"You want me to live with you? No thanks. I'm happy where I am." he replied coolly, yet Blake noticed his hands were shaking.
"Don't speak like that to your mother." the man, obviously Phil, growled. "Of course you're going to live with us."
Dustin rolled his eyes at the others. They all knew that no spoke to Hunter like that. He wouldn't move in with them.
But, to everyone's surprise, instead of arguing, Hunter just lowed his eyes and said, "Ok, I'm sorry."
"So you'll move in?" his mother asked.
"Yes."
She smiled, "I knew you'd come around to the idea. We got your address off that nice girl that works here, Kelly her name was. We'll come round tomorrow and pick up your stuff."
Hunter just nodded. With another smile, Hunter's mother and Phil turned to leave. Once his mother had left, Phil turned and pointed a finger at Hunter, "Be ready, y' hear. Your mother's been through a lot 'cos of you. She's getting another chance and I don't want you to ruin this for her." With that he was gone.
Hunter numbly walked back to the rangers. They stared at him in confusion.
"That was your mother?" Cam asked him.
He nodded.
"Who was the man?" Tori asked.
"He was…" Hunter swallowed. "He was Phil. My stepfather."
"You never said anything about them before." Blake said, almost accusingly. "I thought they were dead. Why didn't you…?"
"Just leave it." Hunter said quietly.
"No." Blake said angrily. "I thought your parents were dead, just like mine. After everything we've been through it turns out you've been lying to me. You knew, yet…"
"I said leave it." Hunter yelled at Blake. The four of them stared at him in shock; Hunter hardly ever yelled at anyone, let alone his 'brother'. He turned and almost ran out of Storm Chargers.
