ZEDD - THREE DAYS LATER

Once again I feel useless as a parent. Mara Jane was suitably subdued after Thomas came home. Any time she started to act up, a look or a word from him was all it took to settle her down again. How in all the hells does he do that? I mean, not that I want her to lose her mischievous streak - not at all - but I'd certainly like to be able to handle it as easily as he does.

The others arrived home last night, almost at the same time and Mara Jane's good behavior continued. Even now, at the dinner table, she's being quiet although she's not eating much. Is she sick? Her appetite is usually good so why isn't she eating like normal?

Apparently not the only one to notice her off behavior, Kira nudges her gently. "What's wrong, pumpkin?"

"Nothing, just thinking about stuff" she answers. This gets everyone's attention, as her questions are a huge source of entertainment - either because they spark a lively conversation or just because they're so damn cute.

"What are you thinking about, sweetheart?" Thomas asks.

"What you told me about everybody having powers." Uh oh. This might not go well.

Thomas sets his fork down and wipes his mouth before he responds. "What about it?"

It's very hard to believe sometimes that she's only five with the clarity of thought that she shows. "You and Uncle Jason are Power Rangers and can morph and you said that Aunt Kira was a Power Ranger too, so can she? You said that Papa and Aunt Pina and Uncle Dar all have power too but its different so can they do it too? I want to see everybody change like you and Uncle Jason do. You said that Papa could protect me with his staff but it's just a metal stick so how? You're my daddy and have power and Papa has power so does that mean I have power too?"

All of us freeze for a minute and exchange looks. Thomas bites his lip as he thinks how to answer the precocious child. Finally, he says slowly, "Yes, Aunt Kira can morph like myself and your Uncle Jason, but her uniform is different. It's closer to what Lord Trey's uniform looks like than ours. Yes, Papa and Uncle Dar and Aunt Pina can transform, but just like their power is different what they change into is different too. You'd have to watch us practice to understand how our staffs are weapons even if they just look like sticks as I don't think I can explain the power they hold well enough for you to understand, it's more something you'd have to actually see. As for you, well to be perfectly honest, honey, we don't know if you have power or not, but if you do chances are it's not as much as Papa has as you don't seem to show signs of it." Yet.

"Like what?"

"Well, you have beautiful purple eyes for one thing. One of this most telling signs that you'd hold the type of power Papa does is your eyes would very likely be black like his." Looking to me and smiling, Thomas lays his hand on mine in a reassuring manner. "Not that I don't love his eyes, but they're not naturally like that. When he was little like you, they were purple like yours are. However he holds so much power now and has for so long that it's turned them, and his hair black."

"I have black hair." Showing us her hair she looks at my mate expectantly.

"You do" Thomas agrees reluctantly, "But that could be just a normal occurance like a result of you being a mix of different species. Until you're older we very likely won't know if you have power or not, baby."

Thinking on this, her next question makes me groan slightly. "So can I still see everyone change?"

Seeming thoughtful for a long moment, Thomas however takes a deep breath and says, "It's not up to me if you get to see them change, but I think - it might not be a bad idea."

He's not serious, is he? Does he want our daughter to be terrified of me to the point that she wants nothing to do with me? Everyone is staring at him, mouths hanging open as I'm sure mine has been. I snap out of it when I hear Mara Jane's trembling voice. "Maybe I shouldn't have asked."

I turn to her to see that she's looking both frightened and disappointed even as Dar says, "Are you insane?"

Not surprisingly, Kira sides with her mentor. "I think it's a good idea. Although it certainly should have been discussed before now."

"We did" Pina answers. "And we agreed that this wouldn't be approached until she was older."

Thomas says, "I know, but what happens if there's another Wopenga or Bezeroa incident and that's the only way to protect her? She needs to be prepared, not shocked or frightened when it does happen and she doesn't recognize someone."

"Tommy, nobody has attacked us in a long time. I really don't think it will be an issue" Pina remarks. "Even so, she'd know us."

"Easy for you to say" Dar retorts, honestly looking a bit concerned, and if I'm right, hurt by her statement. "Your looks don't change that much. As much as I hate to say it, the brat may have a point. Better for her to know now when everything is calm and reassuring instead of in the heat of battle." Which I suppose is true, but waiting until she's older and can understand better makes more sense to me.

Looking surprised now, Pina shakes her head. "You really think her seeing us like that while so young is a good idea?"

"I think I'd never forgive myself if something did happen and she was so frightened of me that she got harmed or killed because she viewed me as a greater danger then our actual attackers." Damn it.

Mara Jane turns pleading eyes on me. "Please, Papa?" I don't answer her right away, honestly rather shaken as Goldar's statement has truly given me an almost heart-stopping fear of what could happen if she doesn't understand we are the ones that will protect her in an actual attack, monsterous forms or not. "Are you still mad at me?" The quiver in her tone melts my heart but does nothing to reassure me that she won't fear me once all is said and done.

"I'm not mad at you, Mara Jane, I just-"

Her eyes search my face as mine do hers. Her entire existence I've never been able to tell her no, but if I say yes to this, what will happen? I hear Thomas' soft words, "Have faith, Zedd. She's your daughter as well as mine - and no coward."

Before I realize it, the words are out of my mouth. "All right."

As one, we abandon our dinners and head outside. Once there, Dar says, "Well, this is your show, Tommy."

He nods. "We'll start easy. Kira?"

The young woman flicks her wrist. "Dino Thunder, Power Up, Hah! Ptera!"

Mara Jane studies her as she turns in a circle and then removes her helmet so that the child can see that it's still her before she powers down. Thomas nods at Scorpina, who triggers her warrior transformation and then her own Ninjetti form. Dar and I both study her closely, as we've never seen this form and, truthfully, I'd never thought about the fact that she would have one. Of course we should have and the oversight irks me slightly.

When she's back in her normal form once more, Thomas says, "Goldar."

He looks a tad nervous and exchanges looks with me. He takes a deep breath and changes to his own monstrous form. She studies him for a minute before she tugs on Thomas' hand. He leans down and she stage whispers in his ear. "He's fuzzy!"

The clear delight in her voice makes us all laugh, breaking the tension for a moment.

"Yes, he is" Thomas agrees with a smile before releasing her to go examine Dar a bit more closely.

Kneeling down so she can get to him better and perhaps not appear so intimidating, my friend allows her to feel his wings and armor before taking us all by surprise as her small hand comes up to pet him on the nose.

Smiling and seeming satisfied as Dar remains completely compliant, my daughter looks to me happily. "Like a kitty."

Unable to help my own amused smile, I give a nod of agreement. "Like a kitty. An oversized, loud, annoying kitty, but yes, like a kitty."

"Keep it up, Zedd and you'll end up with your favorite furniture used as a scratching post" Dar warns before he changes back, relief clear in his eyes.

Still seeming pleased, Mara Jane returns to us, apparently expecting me to go next, until Thomas says, "Go to Aunt Kira for a few minutes. Before Papa changes, I want you to see something." He moves several feet away from them, beckoning me to join him.

He turns and holds out his hands, showing that they are empty. In a moment, he has his staff and without prompting, I follow his lead, albeit nervously. Thomas turns to me and sets, ready to spar. At my hesitation, Thomas says softly, "She needs to see to understand, kalleimat. She needs to know that these are weapons just the same as the bladed ones."

I sigh, but in moments, we're sparring fiercely and it's not long before I'm lost in the match to the point we are both using small power strikes against each other. As a rock near him is blasted by myself, he easily retaliates by destroying a tree stump I'd been perched on. Returning to actual physical strikes occasionally, I honestly begin to forget the reason behind our impromptu – and if I'm honest rather enjoyable - battle when finally, and very abruptly, he calls a halt to it, instructing me without missing a beat, "Show her, Zedd."

Adrenaline still high from the mock battle, I trigger my own change before I can think about it too much. As a rather loud gasp suddenly meets my ears though, I'm quickly jerked back to reality and the rather worrisome situation I'm now in. Steeling myself, I turn and look at my child, my baby, that I carried for more than a year, loved and protected inside my own body. Her eyes are huge and I feel my courage falter. Thomas says, "It's still Papa in there, Mara Jane, I promise."

Watching as she inches closer to Kira, my resolve cracks and I raise my staff preparing to end this matter and hope that when she sees me as myself once more it'll be okay. "I'm sorry, baby, it's okay, I didn't mean to-"

"Zedd, wait, mate."

"Thomas-"

"Kalleimat, have a little faith." Turning to our child, Thomas looks at her reassuringly. "It's okay, take your time."

Slowly, and much to my surprise, she releases Kira's hand and crosses over to me much as she had with Dar. I drop to one knee to meet her, laying my staff down as I do. She studies me solemnly for a long time before finally speaking. "Papa?"

"It's me" I assure her.

Like Thomas, her eyes are very expressive, giving hints to her thoughts but they're flickering so fast, I don't have a chance to interpret what I do see. Slowly, she reaches out to touch me and I hold still, letting her fingers explore my visor and the grill over my lower face. She checks out the metal claw tips on my fingers and the bands on my chest. I have no doubt she can hear my heart pounding in my chest as I wait for her to run to someone else, screaming.

Suddenly, she looks up in my eyes, although I know she can't see them, a fierce joy and mischief and - pride? - in her own. "Nobody's going to get me when you look like this, Papa! You'll scare all the bad guys away and we'll be safe forever and ever!"

As she hugs me, I hear Dar say to Pina and Kira, "Seriously? A five year old girl isn't afraid of him and she thinks that he's going to scare others?"

I can't help but chuckle lightly in relief even as I hear both of them smack him. I change back before hugging her in return tightly. My daughter not only believes that I'll scare the 'bad guys' away, but she's not afraid of me and doesn't have to know about my past to accept this other look. My relief is short lived, however, when she pulls back and says, "Can I learn to fight like you and Daddy?"

Before I can answer, Thomas does. "It's possible for you to learn, Mara Jane, but Papa and I have to talk about it. Kira, will you take her in and take care of her bath tonight? We'll be in to put her to bed soon." When the others are inside, he turns to me. "Jason and I used to teach classes at the Youth Center to kids her age. She's old enough to start if you're okay with that."

"As long as you teach her that - for now - she needs to keep her skills secret. If she ever has to use them, I want her to have the element of surprise to help her."

"Agreed."

He pulls me close. "How did you know" I ask softly. "How could you possibly have known that it would be all right?"

He laughs quietly. "Oh, kalleimat, how can you not see how much like you she is? She looks like you, sounds like you, acts like you. If I didn't know better, I'd swear that I had nothing to do with her creation at all. She's a tiny, female Zedd. Of course, everything was going to be all right. You just had to give her a chance."

Somehow I doubt that he was quite as sure as he sounds now, but I guess it doesn't matter. "There's still a lot we have to explain to her."

"In time, Zedd. As she grows and understands more, then yes, but not now. Right now, she knows exactly what she needs to know - that we can keep her safe."

Still not looking forward to the future conversations that still need to happen, I push that aside for now. A random thought crosses my mind. "Then I wonder, if you do carry the next one, if it'll be like you."

Thomas laughs again. "With my luck? It'll be another you and I'll be in over my head." He kisses me. "Although I'm rather surprised that you'd even be thinking about another one with the week you had."

"It's crossed my mind a lot lately" I admit. "Now that Mara Jane is older, it seems like a good time to think about it."

His eyes light up. "I wanted to talk to you about it when I got home from my trip, but it didn't seem like a good idea after all she'd put you through."

"Perhaps we should put our daughter to bed and then we can discuss it - between me showing you how much I love you?"

"Balance, mate" he reminds me, smiling. "I get some of the time too."

Some time later I press a kiss to his forehead as he curls up against me, both of us sated for the moment. He speaks softly. "Were you serious? About us having another baby, I mean?"

"I was the one who said five, remember?"

"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure that you're not going to want to carry another one, so we might very well be limited to two."

"We'll see. We have to get through another one before we decide. You never know - you might like being the one to carry the offspring."

"So - you think we're ready? To start talking about it at least?"

I kiss him softly. "I think so."