Hey, peeps! Ready for chappie three? Well, here it comes.

Gotta admit, I wasn't expecting to get so much positive feedback, but, thanks! The reviews are nourishment! Really appreciate the support.

If ya thought Dawnie was crazy in the first two chaps, fasten your seatbelts! 'Cause it's gonna get worse before it gets better.

(A few hours later)

(Adam and Tanya's House)

Everyone except Jason and Dawn were hanging out here at the Parks'. Adam and Tanya'd been married a little over two years. Anyway, Tommy had arrived nearly an hour ago with his girlfriend of six months,Vanessa Mallone. Adam- whom let Jason borrow his car-had called Jason's cell to inform him Tommy was back. Dawn and Jason were at his mother's and had been there for the last two hours. Dawn- whom Zack, Trini and Kim'd been ready to write off as loony tunes- had apologized to Kim on the way over to Adam and Tanya's. She'd said something about being nervous and lack of sleep. Kim'd accepted the apology, but, still refused to let her guard down around Dawn. She was still kinda unnerved.

Aisha walked into her friends' spacious kitchen and looked at Kim- who was leaning against the counter, holding a soda and staring straight ahead. "Girl, you've been in here forever. Is everything okay?" Aisha asked, walking up to her friend.

"Yeah, everything's fine," Kim said absently.

"Uh-huh. Try again. The truth this time," Aisha said with a smirk.

Kim looked at her friend, then, sighed. "Okay, everything's so not fine," she admitted.

"Is it Tommy?" Aisha asked, her tone speaking volumes.

"No. I'm totally fine with that, Ishe," Kim said. Vanessa seemed to be a genuinely nice person and Kim hadn't gotten any "I'm a nut job" vibes from her so far.

"You sure?" Aisha asked.

"Definitely. I'm happy Tommy's happy. My real problem is Dawn," Kim said with a deep sigh.

Aisha frowned at the brunette. "Jason's girlfriend? She seems nice to me. What's the problem?" she asked. Dawn had been at her sweetest with the rest of Jason's friends. It was as though that little scene at the airport hadn't even happened.

"I don't know what to make of her exactly. I'm hoping I'll end up really liking her- for Jase's sake. We kinda got off on the wrong foot. She was acting a little weird and I asked if she was all right. She went nuts, you know?" Kim said. Aisha's eyebrows shot up. Kim shook her head. "Then, she insulted me and an argument was about to jump off til Jason stepped in. Then, she turned on him. In the car, she apologized, but... I don't know," she said.

"Whoa. That's really... whoa. Maybe she was just really nervous about meeting us and his mom," Aisha offered. She couldn't associate Dawn with the person'd who'd gone off at the airport on a woman she'd just met.

"That's what she said," Kim said tonelessly.

"You don't believe her," Aisha said.

"God, I want to. I really do. But, it's just... Aisha, you didn't see the look in her eyes and hear the way she sounded. It was so- I just hope we find out she's really worth Jason's time. Because the last thing Rex needs is somebody who should have a suite at Hotel Cuckoo Nest," Kim said. Aisha laughed in agreement.

"Maybe she really is good for him. We have two weeks to find out," Aisha said. Kim nodded.

"Yeah. I'm gonna give her a chance because Jason means too much to me," she said.

"I know," Aisha said with a soft smile. Then, she put her arm around Kim's shoulders. "But, hey, if she really is the Wicked Witch of theWindy City, you and I will team up and show her how the bears and cranes do it. She'll be on the first broom back to Chi-town."

Kim laughed and nodded.

"Your mom is so great," Dawn said as she and Jason got out of Adam's car. She'd really turned on the charm with Ms. Scott.

"Yeah. And I knew she'd love you," Jason said, curling his arm around her waist.

Dawn grinned at him. "I was really worried what she'd think of me," she said.

"You shouldn't have been. You were great with my friends, too. And thank you for apologizing to Kim," he said as they neared Adam and Tanya's door.

Dawn looked away, feeling something twist inside her at the mention of the petite brunette. Her eyes flashed and a sensation she refused to name washed over her. 'Why'd he have to bring her up? I can already tell that I'll never like that little-'

"Dawn?" Jason's deep, smooth voice broke into her thoughts.

She pasted a smile on her face and looked at her boyfriend. She had to keep it together. But Kim just triggered something in her. She had to try and stay cool, though. No way was she losing Jason. "Kim... deserved an apology. It was wrong to go off like that. The last thing I want is for your friends to get the wrong impression of me. They're important to you and I want them to be important to me," she said.

He grinned and rang the doorbell. Moments later, the door was opened by a tall man with spiky hair and olive skin. Jason's grin widened. Tommy Oliver. "Bro," he said.

Tommy grinned at his best friend. It'd been far too long and he'd personally see to it that Jason was around a lot more often. "Jase. It's really, really great to see you, man," he said, shaking his head.

"Right back at cha, Tom," Jason said sincerely. The two men shook hands and shared a brotherly hug. "This is my girlfriend, Dawn. Babe, this is Tommy."

Tommy smiled and offered his hand. "Hi. It's really good to finally meet you," he said.

She grinned and shook his hand. "Hi. Likewise," she said.

"So, the haircut," Jason said in an amused tone. Tommy looked almost totally different.

Tommy smirked at the original ranger leader. "One more word and I'll kick your ass in front of your lady, Scott," he said. Jason and Dawn laughed. Tommy chuckled. "Well, come on in, guys. I want you to meet Van," he said.

The couple stepped in and Tommy closed and locked the door. They entered the den just as Kat kissed Billy sweetly on the cheek and smiled fondly at him. They'd been a couple for one year. Tommy felt a little weird seeing his ex and one of his best friends together and so obviously in love, but, he was genuinely happy for them. Plus, he had Vanessa and felt really fortunate. He walked up to his dark- haired girlfriend. "Baby, meet Jason and Dawn. Guys, this is Vanessa Mallone," he said, smiling at her.

Vanessa grinned at Tommy and stood. "Hi. It's really nice to meet you two," she told Jason and Dawn, shaking their hands.

"You, too," Jason and Dawn said in unison.

"Tommy's told me a lot about you," Jason added.

"All wonderful, I hope," Vanessa said with a laugh.

"Actually, yeah," Jason admitted, nodding. Tommy'd spoken highly of her.

Vanessa looked at Tommy and smiled. "Aww," she said, ruffling his hair.

"Yup. Tommy's always been a sweetheart of a guy. Sweet enough to cause cavities," Rocky said good-naturedly. Everyone laughed.

"Hey, guys, is it okay if I get a beer?" Jason asked Adam and Tanya.

"Jason, if you ever ask anything like that again, we're gonna hurt you. You know our home is your home," Tanya said.

"That's right, man. Dawn, you're welcome to something to drink, too," Adam said.

"Thanks, but, I'm fine," Dawn said.

"Where's Aisha and Kim?" Jason asked.

"I'm right here. Kim's still in the kitchen," Aisha said as she walked into the den.

Jason nodded, then, looked at Dawn. "I'll be right back, baby. You sure you don't you want anything?" he asked.

"Positive," she said, now thinking of how he'd be alone in the kitchen with Kim.

He nodded, then, exited the room. He entered the kitchen just as the former pink ranger was about to exit and they kinda collided with each other. "Oh! Sorry 'bout that, Kim," he said, catching her.

She laughed. "Geez, Scott. You haven't been here a full day and you're already trying to knock the wind outta me," she joked.

"Yeah. It's my own special way of saying it's great to be home," he quipped. They laughed and he walked up to the fridge. Kim turned and leaned against the doorframe.

"I know it's kinda early to be asking this, but, are we gonna see you Christmas?" she asked hopefully.

He opened his beer and grinned at her. "For sure," he told her. She grinned happily. "Thanksgiving, too. Mom threatened my life," he said. His mother'd flown out to see him on the holidays for the last several years. His friends'd been really busy and so had he. Days had turned to weeks, weeks'd turned to months and so forth. But, Jason was back on track and planned to stay that way.

Kim laughed and walked up to him. "I'm glad she did. Speaking of Thanksgiving, remember when my mom made the mistake of letting me fix the stuffing when we were twelve?" she asked, her eyes dancing.

"Oh, man. I still have nightmares about it. And that casserole you made once. Talk about a tragic occasion," he said in mock sadness. Kim punched him on the arm.

"You want a hurting, tyrannosaurus? I'm giving 'em out for free," she said, giving him a mock glare. He laughed and she grinned. Then, he got serious again. "Hey, I'm really sorry about Dawn at the airport."

"It's fine, Jase. Really," Kim assured him. 'She just better be the kind of woman you deserve because hell hath no fury like a crane pissed.'

Jason just looked at his friend. He couldn't help thinking she was as beautiful as ever. "God, Kim. It really is great to see you again," he said.

"You, too, Rex. You look great," she said honestly.

"So do you," he said. They hugged then and Kim grinned up at him.

"What the hell are you doing?" an enraged female voice said.

Did I disappoint or make you want more?