Of Anime, Poetry and Falling in Love: Mack and Rose

Disclaimer: I do not pretend to own Power Rangers.

Challenge: Secrets

Timeframe: Somewhere after Kick Into Overdrive

Summary: In which Mack tells Rose a secret.

It was raining at the Hartford estate. Ronny and Will were playing a video game, and Dax was watching a movie. Mack was nowhere to be found, and Rose, having nothing better to do, set off to search for him.

The door to his room was open and Rose wandered inside, wondering where he could possibly be. Looking out of the huge bay window that gave a view of the front of the mansion, Rose noticed a lone figure out on the front lawn. 'Mack,' she thought, a smile escaping before she realized what she was doing.

He wasn't wearing a jacket, and he wasn't holding an umbrella. He was simply standing in the rain, letting it soak through his shirt. Rose shook her head and went to her own room to bundle herself into a raincoat.

"Mack," she called as she reached the edge of the lawn, a huge black umbrella over her head, "Come inside. You'll catch your death out here."

Mack shook his head and crossed the grounds to her. He tugged the umbrella from her hands and closed it, ignoring her squawks of protest. "Stop. Just let it be, Rose. Let it be." And he took her hand in his and pulled her over by the pond in the front of the manor.

"We're both going to catch pneumonia."

"No we're not," he replied, still not letting go of her hand. "It's a warm rain. You'll live, I promise you."

"What are you doing out here, anyway?" demanded Rose. "What is so great about rain that you don't mind getting sick from standing in it without bothering with a jacket or an umbrella?"

"My mom," he told her softly. "She died in a car accident when I was four. It was raining when it happened. This makes me feel close to her."

Rose's expression softened. "Oh Mack," she said quietly. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"I know you didn't. There's no way you could have known. Don't be sorry." Mack tilted his head back, letting the rain drench him.

Rose thought for a moment, deciding to tell him her own secret. "I don't have my mother either," she confessed. "I miss her."

"I miss mine, too."

Then Spencer appeared at the door. "Honestly, Mack, I thought we agreed you were not to stand out in the rain like this. One day you will catch your death out here, and then your father will have to be the red ranger, a sight no one wants to see."

"Sorry Spencer," mumbled Mack, allowing Rose to reopen the umbrella and tug him inside the manor. "Bye Mom," he added so that only his pink ranger heard.

"Stay here," instructed Spencer. "I will bring you some towels." And the butler strode off, muttering once again about his paycheck.

"Hey Rose," Mack said quietly, "I've never told anyone about how the rain makes me feel close to my mom. Can we keep it our secret? Just between friends?"

Rose nodded. "Of course I'll keep your secret."

Spencer came back with two towels. "Dry off," he said pointlessly. "Miss Rose, I thought you had more sense." He walked off.

"Look, Rose, I really appreciate it. Thanks for keeping my secret."