Just had to do at least ONE more Kirommy fanfic before moving onto new material. Not saying It'll definitely be the LAST (hey, if the muse descends, or there's enough demand, I might come back to everyone's favourite happy couple) but I'll probably give them a little rest at least while I try out some other source material. Usual stuff out the way first.
Rating: T – Mild language, themes and violence
Legal: Usual story, I do not own Power Rangers or the associated rights, characters, names, places, events etc. This story is to be considered non-canon, and with the exception of anything covered by the rights as above, all characters, names, events etc. are to be considered purely the creation of the author.
Again, I'd prefer if the stories were read in order, (Fateful Homecoming, then First Christmas) but just in case, here's a five-minute run-down of what's happened up until now.
Three years after leaving Reefside for New York, Kira, still struggling to begin her career, returns for a visit and is involved in a tragic car accident in which both her parents are killed. Tommy takes her in during the run-up to the memorial service, however, during this time both experience painful reminders of old wounds left by the feelings they had for each other, but never revealed. Hayley, in whom both had confided years ago, picks up on subtle cues that those feelings are still strong, and through her intervention, they are finally able to confess how they've always felt about each other.
Kira is offered a record contract by Barry Goldstein, a unique and flamboyant record producer from Las Vegas, and both decide to move to Sin City, where Tommy, feeling enough time they could have been together has been wasted, proposes and Kira accepts. Kira released her first album across the Christmas holidays to unprecedented fanfare thanks to Barry's aggressive marketing. Now, a few months on, they both count down to the day they've been looking forward to. The day they become man and wife.
Race to the Aisle
Tommy had to admit that the school faculty meeting which capped off his day was probably the furthest thing from his mind as he sat, nonchalantly twirling his biro between the fingers of his right hand as he nodded periodically to give the impression that he was actually paying attention to the Headmaster's mid-semester review. He knew that this was going to be the last week he'd be spending at the school before taking leave for his wedding, and the thought of finally making Kira his wife just seemed to make everything else fade into insignificance.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" He blurted out absent-mindedly as he suddenly realised that everyone was staring at him. Clearly the headmaster had asked him a direct question which he had missed.
"What I asked Doctor Oliver!" The Headmaster reprimanded him. "Is if you collected in the permission slips for your proposed field trip to the Natural History Museum."
"Oh, sorry." Tommy apologised, reaching into his black leather satchel. "I just didn't catch that." He lied as he handed the large stack of papers down the table.
"Does anyone else have a problem hearing me?" The head asked sarcastically, garnering a small, polite laugh from the assembled faculty.
Tommy really didn't care for the Headmaster much. He was a stern, old-fashioned sort of man. The kind of academic Tommy had always hated, the kind that sought nothing more than to perpetuate the stereotype of education being all about posh-speaking intellectually-superior fraternity brothers hiding away in the Ivory Tower.
"Lay off him Bob!" A tall, brunette woman in a red silk blouse piped up. Everyone in the room, including Tommy, stared at her wide-eyed. Christine Jenkins, the head of the art department, was known for her direct social interactions and also for being the only one who dared to address the Head by his first name. "He said he didn't hear you. The way you mumble at everyone I'm not surprised."
Dr Robert Henderson had acquired the job of Headmaster seven months ago despite a number of suitable competitors within the school, though rumours abounded that nine of the fifteen school board members who had leant him their support were former Harvard Alumni like himself. Sitting at the head of the table in his clichéd tweed blazer, he glared at Tommy through thick reading glasses which looked thick enough to block radiation.
"Any other business?" He concluded, ignoring Ms Jenkins completely. "Then we can adjourn. Dr Oliver, can I speak with you a second?"
Tommy rolled his eyes as the other staff members left the room. Christine, or 'Chrissy' as her friends called her, just gave Tommy a little nod to let him know she'd be waiting just outside the door for support.
"I know you're almost on vacation time for your wedding." Tommy's jaw clenched as Dr Henderson said this. He always had to shallow his breathing to remain calm when he spoke to Dr Henderson to prevent himself saying something he'd regret.
Since arriving, Dr Henderson had made no secret of the fact that he didn't approve of Tommy's teaching style, or the way he interacted with the students. Meeting Kira at a staff social event and finding out she was once one of Tommy's students had done nothing to ease this. He had continued to voice his disapproval of the relationship behind closed doors, but Tommy had more than enough friends in the staffroom for word to reach him about it. "But do remember you ARE here for one more day! I expect a bit of professionalism. Try to pay attention!"
"Is that all Dr Henderson?" Tommy whispered, trying hard to keep his composure. While Tommy didn't really wear suits to work, and regularly involved himself in extra-curricular activities with the students, such as the assisted study program he pioneered, he always considered himself a professional, and it was the fact that Henderson kept insinuating he was unprofessional that galled him the most. 'Sorry, but I got into teaching because I actually LIKE kids, and actually WANT them to succeed!' He thought as he held his tongue.
Dr Henderson simply waved him away. He couldn't argue with Tommy's results. Not only were his own classes doing well, but he had to grudgingly admit that the under-achieving students that Tommy took under his wing in his assisted study programme had all shown remarkable improvement, both in discipline, and in their grades. As Tommy left the room, he began slowly packing up his belongings into his red leather briefcase.
"Been a while since you were in the Headmaster's office huh?" Chrissy asked him, tapping him on the shoulder as he left.
"He gets on my nerves Chrissy. He made another crack about Kira." Tommy growled under his breath as he stormed down the hall towards the gym. He was going to skip his workout, but he had a lot of anger to vent on the exercise machines now.
"Don't let him get to you." She said soothingly. "Just do what I do and tell him to blow it out his ass!"
"Thanks Chrissy." Tommy laughed, remembering the time he had actually heard her say that when he commented on her casual attire. "But that'd earn me a pink slip. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a family member as the school superintendent."
"Dad's a sweetheart." She replied. "And he does earn me a little leeway."
"Anyway, thanks for trying to stand up for me in there." Tommy thanked her as they arrived at the gym. "It might have earned me a little heat, but I appreciate it."
"Hey, I appreciate you taking Michael into the Assisted Study Programme." She shot back, waving off the gesture. "He's a good kid, he just got into a little trouble. I don't know how you have the patience for those kids, I think what you do for them's great."
Tommy had, since he arrived at the school, taken aside some of the kids in his science class who were struggling, and given them extra tutorials after school every Monday and Wednesday, and given them a workout and Martial Arts lesson on Fridays, under the conditions that their disciplinary records, attendance records and grades all improved. He found that the discipline and focus he had attained from his years of practicing Karate had helped him immensely in his own academic career, and applied the same logic to his own struggling students.
The improvement was so spectacular, that if anything he was a victim of his own success and found other teachers wanting to add their own troubled students to his Friday classes. It was then that he formed the Assisted Study Programme, where he agreed to continue his own additional tutorials for his own students, and the Martial Arts lessons for his own students, and those of other teachers, as long as they were willing to do their own additional tutorials.
"Yeah, Michael's really improved." Tommy interjected, thinking about the boy who just two months ago seemed to be on a one-way trip to expulsion. "He just needed a little focus, and learn to control his temper."
"I still always wonder, how did you come up with that idea?" She asked him.
Tommy pulled her aside. "This is just between us. I did something similar in my last school." He began. "The principal there was kinda harsh, and dumped three detention students on me on the first day. But I could see they weren't bad kids, they just needed a bit of a break. So I gave them the three things all kids need."
"Which are?"
Tommy began counting on his fingers. "Focus, Confidence and an opportunity to prove themselves. The rest, they did on their own."
"I take it they did well." Chrissy stated, clearly impressed.
"I keep in touch with them all. Conner and Ethan are now pretty good friends of mine." He replied. "Conner's in UCLA, and Ethan works in software, and is looking to start his own business."
"So what about the other one?" She asked.
"She's about to arrive back from a promotional tour of Europe Tomorrow." He began, a big grin crossing his face. "And marry a tall, dark and handsome science teacher."
"You're kidding! Kira?" She gasped. Tommy had introduced them on the same night Dr Henderson had met her.
"It's like I said. I knew they weren't bad kids." He recalled. "Kira just didn't apply herself."
"So where did the Karate part of the concept come from?" She asked.
"It helped me when I was in school." He began the lie. He could hardly tell her that he needed to train them martial arts out of necessity because he wanted to make them Power Rangers and send them into battle against mutant dinosaurs that he had accidently unleashed. "So I figured it might work for them too."
"Well the B.O.B. club all seem to appreciate it." She replied. Tommy groaned at the name.
"I do wish they would stop calling it that." He grumbled. B.O.B. stood for Bottom Of the Barrel. The kids affectionately nick-named the advanced study programme that because most of the kids that Tommy accepted into the programme had already been written off as lost causes by many of the faculty.
"I know you say it's an insult, but they take it as a compliment." Chrissy answered him. "Think of it as kind of their way of saying you were right about them, and the faculty were wrong. Enjoy the workout Tommy." And with that, she left to head home.
As he lay down on the bench press, Tommy's mind drifted back to Kira, and how he would soon be with her again. Is always lifted his spirits to realise how little time was left. "Hey, Michael, could you spot me?" He asked a large teenager practicing Kata on the gymnastics floor.
"Sure thing Doctor O." He replied, coming over. Michael was a huge teenager, towering over all the other students at close to seven feet, and heavily muscular. Before Tommy had taken him under his wing in the B.O.B. club, he had been kicked off the basketball team for failing to maintain a C average. Tommy had agreed to help him get his grades up, and talked the coach into putting him back on the team. Basketball had been everything to the young man, and Tommy knew that taking it away from him would only lead to trouble, even before he started fighting with the other students. "Just working on that Kata for Friday."
"Look, I suppose I should tell you this. I won't be here for the class on Friday. I'm meeting my fiancée at the airport." He told him, hefting the barbell off the rack.
"But I was looking forward to class." He complained.
"Who said class was cancelled?" Tommy replied with a smile, continuing his set. "My friends are coming into town for the wedding. My friend Adam promised to come a little early to take my class tomorrow. He's good, you can trust him as much as you trust me."
"If you say so Dr. O." Michael replied with a sigh. "I was just looking forward to you seeing the progress I've made. I think I've nearly got it."
"Well, by the time I get back, I know you'll have it down." Tommy replied with confidence. "Mr Johnson will be taking my tutorials, and Adam has agreed to take all the Friday classes until I get back."
Later that night, Tommy arrived back at the apartment, and made his way to the kitchen, quickly throwing the contents of his gym bag into the washing machine. Opening the fridge and staring inside, he found the grim discovery that he had again forgotten to buy groceries. Inspecting the few Tupperware dishes that remained, he failed to be inspired by the choice of tuna casserole, lasagne or what appeared to be curry, though he had forgotten to label it, so he couldn't be sure.
"Looks like Pizza night." He sighed, reaching for the phone. He stood for a minute thinking about Kira as he dialled the phone. He had missed her dreadfully the past few weeks. She had been away before, but Barry had insisted on making a huge marketing push into the European market for her second album before she took time off for her wedding and subsequent honeymoon. She had been gone a little over a month, but Tommy still couldn't wait till she came back. They had phoned each other several times, and Tommy knew the phone bill was going to be huge, but he didn't care. He still longed to hear her voice.
Hanging up the phone, Tommy slumped down on the couch, waiting for his meal to arrive. He knew Tomorrow was going to be a long day. Any time Kira was coming back from a promotional trip, it was as though someone made time slow down to a crawl. Every class seemed to last for hours as he'd sit, answering questions with an eye permanently on the clock. A ring on the doorbell suddenly snapped him back into reality. Crossing over the room to the front door, he fumbled with his wallet. As he opened the door, he was surprised to find Adam standing, holding the extra large pizza and beer he had ordered.
"This what a guy had to do to get in?" He asked with a chuckle as Tommy's eyes shot wide open with realisation. The infamous Tommy Oliver memory had struck again! Adam had waited for half an hour at the airport before giving up and hailing a cab. "Don't worry, I settled up with the pizza guy."
"Dammit, I'm sorry Adam! I totally forgot!" He yelled apologetically as he gestured him in. "I knew their was a reason I was going to skip my workout, damn I even ordered enough Pizza and beers for two! How did I…"
"Forget it! I'm here now." Adam put down, approaching the living room table and cracking open a beer. "I take it things have been on your mind."
"You could say that." Tommy replied, taking a seat. "I'm sorry, I really am."
"Don't worry about it." Adam stated. "I understand. This is a big time for the two of you."
"I really appreciate you taking my classes Adam, thanks." He responded gratefully, taking some pizza. "It means a lot to those kids. Some of them don't get a whole lot of encouragement from the adults in their lives."
"Well I was actually hoping you'd have some stuff printed up about this programme of yours." He answered him truthfully. "When I heard about it, I thought it was a great idea and wanted to plug it with the local schools."
"I should still have the proposal I typed up for the school board on my computer." Tommy mused. "I'll check that in a little while."
"So are you nervous?" He asked, taking a deep gulp from his beer.
"About the wedding? Kind of. I just want…"
"Actually I was meaning the bachelor party." Adam laughed. "You asked Jason to be your best man? What were you thinking? If we don't wind up in a strip club, getting arrested or lost somewhere in the Nevada Desert, it'll be a damn miracle!"
"I really couldn't ask anyone else." Tommy answered thoughtfully. "My brother David and I aren't especially close, and no-one else has done as much for me as Jason, even if he does drive me nuts at times. Besides, I'm sure we can all behave sensibly for a few hours."
"You have…met Jason…Right!" Adam joked.
"So how's the romantic landscape in your neck of the woods?" Tommy asked, changing the subject. He saw Adam shifting a little uncomfortably on the couch as he said this. Adam always hated being asked about his love life. It wasn't that he was a bad man, or that women didn't think he was attractive. He just never seemed to have much luck with women. He tended to always end up being everyone's 'friend', while most of his friends ended up with dates. He always used to joke that he was like the straight version of the 'gay friend'. Women felt safe and comfortable around him, and talked to him about almost everything, just never transitioning into romance, which was always a source of frustration for Adam.
"Same as always." He groaned, picking up a slice. "Swing and a miss. If I were a baseball player I'd be the one who's there to make up the numbers because the coach couldn't find enough GOOD players to make up the minimum substitute allowance."
"I'm sure the right one's out there for you somewhere." Tommy reassured his friend, feeling a little guilty about bringing up the subject. "I mean, look at the dry spell I had after Kat went to England. With the exception of dating Hayley like, twice in College, I never had another girlfriend before Kira and I got together."
"Well, who knows. Maybe something will happen at the wedding." He shot back, putting down his empty bottle. "I mean, there is that whole tradition of Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, right?"
"That's true." Tommy replied.
The next day, Tommy couldn't help but stare at the seemingly-immobile clock at the back of his classroom. All he could think about was that beautiful moment when he could jump into Kira's Camero and head down to the airport to greet her as she arrived. He almost didn't notice the bell as the clock finally struck 3:30.
"Hold on everyone, I want to get out of here as much as you do." Tommy reined in their excitement just as the first student reached the door. "I would just like to remind everyone on the assisted study programme that Mr Johnson will be taking all my Monday and Wednesday tutorials for the next three weeks while I'm away."
As the students filed out of the classroom, Tommy packed up his things, and stepped out into the hall, finding Adam standing, leaning against a wall.
"So, you ready for the first class?" He asked. "Don't worry. They're a good bunch of kids. You'll see."
"So which way's the gym?" Adam asked. Tommy put an arm around his shoulders and lead him down the corridor into the gym, where Tommy's students were already warming up. Seeing him enter the room, they immediately stopped what they were doing and lined up on the mat. As Tommy arrived at the front of the room, They all bowed, a gesture which Tommy returned, before allowing them to stand at ease.
"Class, as you know, I'm not going to be here for the next three weeks." Tommy began. "So beginning tonight, I've brought in a substitute teacher for the Martial Arts lessons. This is my good friend Adam Park."
Adam bowed, and the students returned the gesture. "I expect you all to treat him with the same respect you treat me, and each other. I trust Adam implicitly, and will stand by any judgement he makes about the programme, or the students, so for all intents and purposes, he has my authority while he's here. Am I clear?"
"Yes Sensei!" The students chorused together.
"Adam, Why don't you tell them a little about yourself." Tommy suggested, opening the floor for Adam.
"As Tommy says, My name is Adam." He began. "I come from San Fransisco where I co-own a gym with my friends. I am a fifth degree Black Belt in Karate, and I hold an additional Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu. I have been training in Martial Arts since I was seven years old. As a little treat, I've decided to give you a little demonstration."
Placing three planks onto a pair of cinder blocks, Tommy held another board at head height. After focusing for a second, he gave out a huge yell, launching into a jumping spin kick, snapping the board in Tommy's hands, before twisting, seemingly impossibly in the air, driving his fist through the boards on the cinder blocks as he dropped to one knee. As he stood back up, the students applauded the impressive display.
"Like I said. Listen to Adam, he knows what he's doing." Tommy stated, turning to Adam, bowing. "Time for me to jet."
"See you later." Adam responded as Tommy left the room.
Launching himself into the Camero outside, Tommy gunned the engine as he raced for the airport.
Kira sat, restless and irritable on the Trans-Atlantic flight back from her European tour. She was normally quite a restful traveller, having an almost unnatural ability to fall asleep seemingly at will on just about any mode of transport. However, this time sleep was not an option. A pair of obnoxious little brats had been placed in the seat directly behind her, and had been making a mind-numbing racket since they took off. The cabin crew had tried to keep them quiet with some sweets, but this had been proven a grave mistake as the already hyperactive little hellions were now loaded with sugar.
"Barry, could you get me off of a murder charge?" She groaned, checking her watch and realising she was now in her 19th straight hour without sleep.
"I'm afraid not Sparky." He answered. "And don't even think about making a bolt for the door. We don't land for another 45 minutes and I don't have a parachute!"
Kira glanced down at her Dino Gem bracelet and tried to think of some way she could discreetly activate it and jump out of the plane. She knew it was less than an hour until she'd be back in his arms, but six long weeks of virtually endless touring had made her heart ache every time she thought of Tommy. Only the thought of their impending wedding, and the frequent phone calls between the two had stopped her from completely breaking up inside. Barry noticed her playing with her engagement ring.
"Not be long now Sparky." He reassured her. "I'm sure your man's probably already at the terminal."
"God, I've missed him Barry." She sighed. "It's just as well the tour's over. I'd probably have gone crazy."
"Bit late for that." He laughed. "Just wait till you get your cell phone bill"
Tommy arrived a little after six, carelessly throwing the Camero into a parking space, and charged into the terminal with the enthusiasm of a six-year-old heading to a toy store.
Making his way to the arrivals area, he arrived just in time to see the woman of his dreams coming down the escalator. As she realised he was there, Kira's eyes lit up and she abandoned her luggage absent-mindedly in the middle of the lobby, much to the annoyance of other commuters and threw herself into his arms.
"I hope there's one of those for me!" Barry announced cheekily as he made his way over.
"Sorry Barry, this one's just for me!" Kira laughed, pulling into a long, passionate kiss.
"Hey there beautiful." Tommy breathed, picking up her case as the security personnel gave them icy looks. "Miss me?"
"Like you wouldn't believe." She answered him. As she walked with him, an arm around his waist, she at last felt like she was where she was meant to be. Right by his side.