Disclaimer: This story was inspired and adapted from season 1 of the TV show, "One Tree Hill. Neither "One Tree Hill" nor "Power Rangers" belongs to me. Some parts of "Saving Me" may be slightly AU at points, but the story's intent is to remain true to the spirit of the Mystic Force series. THIS FIRST CHAPTER CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE END OF THE MYSTIC FORCE SERIES!!!

A/N: After I finished "Under Your Spell," I asked readers to vote on the pairings for my next Mystic Force story. Well, you asked for it, and here it finally is: my new Maddick/Vander story! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get around to it, but I needed to find the plotline I wanted, and also I got sidetracked with my SPD "Guy Talk, Girl Talk" trilogy.

As I said in the disclaimer, parts of this story are going to be slightly AU. The two most important details are far as background for this plot goes, especially with the first chapter, is that 1) the whole Nick/Madison "I want you to come back for me" blanket scene from the MF finale never happened and 2) Leelee never became friends with the rangers, began working at Rock Porium or started dating Phineas.

OK, now that you are in the "know," here we go with "Saving Me." Hope y'all enjoy!

Missed Opportunities

(Takes place during and after the episode "Rock Solid")

"Looks like Madison is really trying to come out of her shell," commented Nick as he watched her show her new admirer around the Rock Porium.

Yet Madison hooking up with another guy was not exactly what Nick had in mind when he suggested she shouldn't act as timid or shy. When he had chided her earlier in the Rock Porium for hiding behind her camera and being too afraid to ever put it out there, Nick had expected Madison would maybe take over as DJ for Vida or replace Xander as store supervisor for the day.

Nick hadn't expected to potentially lose the girl he had been crushing on since he had first arrived in Briarwood. Especially not to some curly haired, preppy, college jock.

"Yeah, but if that guy messes with my sister, he's going to have to deal with me," Nick heard Vida reply from up on the turntables in the stage.

"Don't worry," assured Nick. "She can take care of herself."

During the day's latest monster attack, Nick had learned that Madison's more reserved manner didn't mean she was a weak woman by any means -- on or off the battlefield. Still Nick knew he would always be trying to save Madison, if she ever needed help or was in danger. He just cared about the beautiful, blue Mystic Ranger that much.

Yet now as he regarded Madison with her possible new beau, Nick was left wondering if he had missed his opportunity to tell her.

He frowned as Madison showed the Rock Porium's bargain bin to her tall, dirty blonde and hard-bodied visitor, who clearly into his tour guide based on the way he stared at her dotingly and hung onto her every word. Nick had thought about asking Madison out. Yet between his new job and becoming Power Rangers along with his friends, Nick had never felt like it was the right time to strike up a romance in the midst of a battle between good and evil going on. He noticed Madison apparently felt differently on the topic of wartime romance though, at least from though way she was blushing and grinning pleased at her admirer.

Nick saw Madison leave her guy over by the vinyl records and start to make her way over towards him. He hurriedly buried himself in his clipboard, hoping Madison hadn't noticed him watching her and her guest. Yet a tap on his shoulder turned Nick around to find himself staring in the warm, chocolate eyes of the rosy-checked brunette.

"So, who's that guy who came into the shop looking for you?" Nick couldn't help himself from asking.

"Oh, Ben?" responded Madison. "He's a junior at Briarwood University. He actually came by to ask me out."

"Like on a date?" asked Nick, seeing Madison afterward give a nod of confirmation. "Well, do you like him?"

"Well, I mean, I just met the guy," replied Madison, blushing harder. "But Ben seems really nice. I guess there would be no harm in going out on a date with him. And like you said earlier, I should try to be more spontaneous and outgoing. Right?"

"Right," repeated Nick, internally smacking himself in the head for practically shoving the girl he liked into the arms of another guy.

"Ben and I met in the park earlier today," continued Madison. "I pushed him out of the way of the monster, so I ended up getting turned to stone by that birdbrain evil creep instead of him."

"That was really brave of you," said Nick admiringly.

"Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again for saving me earlier," said Madison, shoving her hands in her pockets and looking downward shyly as she scuffed her sneaker across the floor. "Vida told me it was you and your new motorcycle spell that saved me from being a stone statue for the rest of my life," she added lightly.

"No problem," responded Nick. "It was the least I could do after the way I wrongly accused you of being too shy and not being able to take care of yourself."

"I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you did," said Madison gratefully as she turned to head back over to Ben. "You're a good friend, Nick," she added, calling over her shoulder.

Friends, repeated Nick grimly inside his head. Now that Ben was in the picture, it looked like that was all he and Madison were going to be.

"Did I miss something?" asked Nick, sliding up beside Vida and Xander at the Rock Porium register. "Are my eyes playing trick on me, or is that our Madison over there, kissing Ben in the middle of the shop in front of everyone?!?"

"Nick, you're back!" greeted Vida, completely ignoring his question in her excitement that her friend had returned home to Briarwood. "Two months is really too long for you to be away!"

"How was the trip, mate?" asked Xander, clapping Nick on the shoulder. "Were your adoptive parents surprised to learn you had found your real ones?"

"Yeah, Udonna and Lienbow got along great with my adoptive parents," began Nick. "But seriously, is someone going to tell me what's going on here?" he asked again, gesturing toward Ben and Madison, who were swaying back in forth in each others' arms.

"Oh, Ben asked Maddie out again while you were away," answered Vida. "And they got back together. You know he only broke up with her the first time 'cause our rangering got in the way of her having time to have a real relationship. I guess Ben never really gave up on Maddie, and once he found out that she had been a Power Ranger, well his reason to break up with her as all old news."

"I can't believe Ms. Camcorder got a boyfriend before moi!" commented Leelee bitterly as she came over the counter where the three stood.

"Go away, Leelee!" begged Vida, gesturing for the town gossip to get lost.

"I guess thanks to your trip, you missed your opportunity again with Maddie again, mate," whispered Xander into Nick's ear as Vida tried -- with little attempt at civility -- to show Leelee the door.

"Thanks for reminding me, X," said Nick sarcastically to the one person who he had told about his crush.

"Nick, you're home!" exclaimed Madison, giving him a hug even as she continued to wave to Ben, who was heading out the Rock Porium door. "How was the trip?"

"Apparently not as exciting as your life has been lately," commented Nick, causing Madison to blush. "So how long have you and Ben been back together?"

"A little over a month now," replied Madison. "He keeps joking that if we had never broken up for those four months, we would be celebrating our one year anniversary right now."

"So, what's new with your Romeo?" teased Vida, having successfully passed Leelee off to talk with another customer across the shop.

"Ben invited me party at his college this weekend," answered Madison. "Apparently, they got some famous DJ to come play. Who did he say it was? DJ Wheezy? DJ Evy?"

"DJ EZ?!?" asked Vida, almost shouting in her jubilation. "Maddie, he's only like the best DJ ever! He's like a legend on the turntables!!!"

"A college party?" repeated Xander, raising his eyebrows. "I dunno if you should go, Maddie. Those things can get pretty wild and even dangerous sometimes."

"Oh, stop being so overprotective, Xander!" shushed Vida. "Maddie will be fine! Plus, she'll have Ben to look out for her. And it's not like Ben is some guy she just met."

"Even so, how are you going to get your parents' permission to let you go to a college party?" inquired Xander, making it obvious that he was directing his question at Madison.

"Our parents are going to be out of town this weekend, so there's no need to tell them!" cut in Vida, throwing her arm around her sister, who by now looked quite uncomfortable by the banter of her two friends.

"You know if Chip was back here from his term studying abroad in Europe with the world's top archery experts, I know he'd agree with me, too," said Xander firmly. "And Nick, tell Vida she's wrong…"

"Xander, I'll even go with Maddie, so she'll have two chaperones instead of one!" interrupted Vida. "Can I come, Maddie? Please?!?"

"I guess," agreed Madison timidly, still appearing bothered by Xander and Vida's hot debate.

"Yeah V, and I'm you're offering to go to this party out of your own purity of heart," said Xander sarcastically, turning to go. "And not because a certain DJ you adore is going to be playing."

"Does it matter as long I'm going???" pressed Vida, running alongside Xander. "I'm gonna get to see DJ EZ play. OOO, I'm so excited!!!" she taunted to him.

"So, I see V and Xander are still enjoying being at each others' throats," commented Nick to Madison as they watched the pair continued to argue.

"Not that much has changed while you were gone," mused Madison. "Hey Nick, do you think I should go to this college party with Ben? I really value your opinion."

"I think I've learned over this past year that you are strong enough to look out for yourself," replied Nick. "Still, if Xander decides that Ben and V still aren't enough chaperones for you…" he started tease.

"Thanks, Nick," responded Madison, playfully rolling her eyes. "I guess everyone will just have to wait to see what happens."

A/N: And you will have to wait and see what happens between Madison and Nick! Will they ever get together, or will she stay with Ben?

But next chapter, Vida and Xander have a secret. Find out what it is coming up in "Saving Me."