A/N: Okay so this is my new story! It is AU and they are not Power Rangers. This story is based on one of my favorite romance books. The people and places will change but the very basic storyline is the same that of falling in love. I hope that everyone enjoys this first chapter.
Summary: Tommy is the Crown Prince of Phadoes and on one of his charity visits he meets a relief worker named Kim. He likes this fiesty woman who does not believe in fairy tales but his path is already chosen for him. Will the Crown Prince get his heart's desire or will duty rule out the love of a lifetime.
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Lifting their glasses high, the guests toasted to the Crown Prince's birthday. It was his 30th birthday today. The King looked on as his son walked over to the dais to make his speech. He had groomed his son well and now he could see that it was time for his son's final duty before he took the throne. It was time for the Crown Prince to marry. The King had one woman in mind for his son and she would become a great Queen. She had also been groomed by her family. It was their dream for their daughter to be Queen and he intended for her to marry his son. It would be a well made match and one that would benefit the Kingdom.
Tommy looked out over the crowd as he spoke into the microphone. Even though he this was his birthday celebration, this was not the way he wanted to celebrate this milestone. He wanted to have a small gathering with only the closest of family members in attendance. Most of the people in this room, he didn't like but he was cordial to them because of his position. He was the Crown Prince and someday he would rule this country and these people would be his subjects. Finishing his speech, he walked over to his father and bowed to him before walking over to his seat. The papers would feature his birthday on the front page of the paper in the morning. It was not something that he like because they wouldn't let him have a private life. It was the price of being a royal but just once he would've liked to do something that the entire country didn't know about, like go on a date. Picking up his glass, he pasted on a smile for the woman to his right. The smile was for his father's benefit because he knew that the King was watching how he acted. The woman was the King's choice for him even though she was all wrong. If he had a choice in who would be his Queen, it would not be Lady Ashley Hammond. It would be a simple girl who loved the man beneath the crown. She would not care that he was the Crown Prince only that he was the man of her dreams.
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Sweat was pouring down Kim's back as she dug deeper. The latrine needed to get done today or the refugees would use the nearby stream. The problem with that was that stream was the only drinking water source in 200 miles and needed to stay clean.
"Hey Kim, take a break." Trini yelled to her from the mess tent. She was on serving duty so that Kim could help dig.
"Not yet, we need to finish this." Kim yelled back as she wiped her forehead before digging her shovel in deeper. A few more hours and they would be done, hopefully. Trini sighed and walked back to the mess tent. She had people to serve that hadn't eaten in several days. They had made their way to the camp from their war-torn country to find their freedom. It was one of the reasons that she continued to help out. It was one reason she was a relief worker. Looking back out at the hill, she saw her best friend, Kimberly Anne Hart. Kim was one of the hardest working relief workers that she knew and that was one reason that she had been sent here. This camp needed a director that would be hard working and kept it running smoothly when things weren't going according to plan. Kim was that woman because that is how her parents groomed her to be. They were the best relief workers from the United States. They raised their daughter to honor the same standards of living that they tried to provide to third-world countries. She was doing an amazing job and one that her parents would've been proud of, had they lived to see it. Trini finished up with the meal and walked outside once again to check on Kim. The latrine was finished finally and now she had to break the news to Kim that Crown Prince Tommy of Phadoes would be here in the morning to take a tour of the camp. He also requested that the media accompany him on his tour. Kim wouldn't like it but they couldn't say no to a Prince. She was sure that Kim would find a way though to keep the media away. It was in her nature to protect and she would anything to protect the people here.
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"We will be landing in twenty minutes, your highness." Adam said from the cockpit of the helicopter. He was a close family friend and the only one that King Zordon trusted to fly his family to and from the palace.
"Thank you, the tour should last about 2 hours or at least that is what Tanya scheduled." Tommy said with a smile. Visiting relief camps was all part of the royal package but it was one that he enjoyed and his assistant Tanya tried to make them last for a while. It made him really appreciate the little things. He looked out the window and saw the devastation that the war caused. His neighboring countries had been at war for three months now. The camp looked well organized with several tents set up along the road. They started their descent to find a level spot to land. He spotted his convey waiting for them but no media. It was odd that the media vans he had requested for this tour were not here. Apparently they had better things to do than accompany him on a tour of another relief camp. Somehow he would get word out about this tour so that maybe some of his country's wealthier families could help out. They all needed to do their part and they always wanted to know where he spent his charity money. They could well afford to fund this camp for the next year.
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Kim finally saw the helicopter coming over the horizon. She had been here for thirty minutes already and needed to get back to the camp. There were many things that she could be doing instead of meeting the Playboy Crown Prince. She knew all about this prince. He changed girlfriends almost every month according to the papers that Trini insisted on reading to her. This was not how she wanted to spend the next two hours but at least she made sure that the media would not be on this tour. It had taken her over an hour to back them off. She didn't know why the Prince wanted the media but she wasn't having it. There were several refugees that were on the run from the army and she intended to keep them safe and out of the spotlight. Her attention was turned once again to the descending aircraft and drew in a breath. It was time for this torture to be over so that she could get back to work, back to her life without any media-hungry princes.
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Tommy stepped out of the helicopter and headed toward the waiting Jeep. He smiled as he walked over to the woman who was standing by it. Extending his hand, he stepped in close so that she could hear him over the helicopter blades cutting through the air behind him. As he said his name into her ear, he breathed in her scent. Her scent was light and airy and so perfect for her. She was beautiful and just a breath of fresh air from the women in court. She came just barely to his shoulders and made him want to pull her in close and protect her. Her hair was a brilliant chestnut shade of brown that was up in a pony tail. He wanted to see it down and run his fingers through it. She didn't have on much make-up which he found to be a good thing. She said her name but he didn't hear anything but to follow her. He would get all he needed to know from her later after he met with the camp director, Kimberly Hart.
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"I'm surprised that you traveled alone." Kim said as she drove him back to the camp. It took all her will power to focus on her mission of getting rid of him. He was even more handsome than the papers showed him to be. She knew why all those girls fell at his feet. They just couldn't stop themselves. His chocolate brown eyes just sucked her in and made her want to fall at his feet and do anything her wanted her too. Focusing back on the road, she continued onto the camp.
"I'm not sure what you mean by that." Tommy said as he leaned in closer. He wanted to get as close to her as possible. He had never felt this way around any woman before.
"I mean I was surprised that you do not travel with bodyguards. I thought all royalty had bodyguards around them twenty-four seven." She said with a teasing smile.
"Oh, I do not travel with bodyguards that much. I was surprised that the media was not here to capture me arriving here." He said with a smile.
"It was not in the best interest of the camp for the media to be here." She fired back as the tents came in site. His mention of the media snapped her out of his hold. She had to remember that he was a prince and only cared about all the attention he could get. She liked to be in the background and do the hard work that everyone else refused to do like relief work.
"Did the director, this Kimberly Hart say this?" He asked turning to face her once again. He tone held a hint of anger that didn't surprise her.
"Yes she did." Kim said as she cringed. He didn't know her name. Apparently the Prince didn't listen when someone told him their name or at least not the important ones. She was just a lowly relief worker. Well he can just deal with the fact that his precious media would not be here to document his field trip out of the palace. She was not at his beck-and-call and her main focus was the refugees.
"I requested them though. I wanted them to take pictures so that they would run in Phadeos' papers. I have many wealthy friends that would want to help." He said a little more angrily. Who was this Kimberly Hart that she could order the media away? He would have a talk with her as soon as he saw her.
"Well she will let one media group in the hospital tent but for the rest of the tour, there will not be any. We have several refugees that are wanted by the army and we plan to keep them safe for as long as possible. We don't need the army here blowing up the camp and ruining all of our hard work." She said as she came to a stop in front of her office tent and jumped out of the Jeep.
"I see." He said as he climbed out of the Jeep. He could tell that he had made her mad but really didn't know why. He saw another woman come out of the tent and assumed that she was the infamous Kimberly Hart. She was taller than his driver with long black hair that was tied at her neck. It was a shock that she was of Asian descent with an American sounding name like Kimberly Hart but he just brushed it off.
"Hello, your highness. My name is Trini Kwan and it is a pleasure to meet you." She said as she extended her hand forward. Tommy was shocked that she was not the director Kimberly Hart but he hid it behind his smile.
"It is my pleasure." He said shaking her hand.
"Well I see that you got here in one piece and I am sorry that I was unable to meet you at the landing pad but I was sure that you would be safe in our director's hands. Kim is the only one that I would trust your safety with." She said with a smile indicating Kim standing beside her.
"Yes, I made it here and yes your director here has brought me safely to the camp." He said with a smile. He should've guess that this feisty woman was the director of the camp. Kimberly suited this lovely woman very well. It would be a wonderful two hours at her side and planned to use it to learn more about her. He only wished that he would've listened when she told him her name.
"I guess that we should get started." Kim said as she motioned for them to follow her. She headed to the hospital tent first. The Prince could have his media fix before the rest of the tour. She opened the flap and let the Prince walk in before her. Trini would stand guard to make sure that only one of the media groups came in. She watched as he paused at every bed to talk to the patients. He seemed to care about what each patient said. The media man took several pictures of him with the patients that would move all the subjects of his country. The Prince certainly knew how to make the most of his job. He paused at the last bed. She took a deep breath before walking to him. The little boy was very special to her. His parents were missing in this war. He told her that his dad's name was Billy and one of the country's top computer designers and his mom was named Katherine and she was a top fashion designer. They hadn't been found yet but Kim hoped that they would soon for Justin's sake. She watched the Crown Prince bend down to talk to Justin. Her heart broke for the boy all over again. She drew closer to hear what the Prince was saying to the little boy.
"Justin, I am pleased that you are feeling better. I would like to do something for you since you have been so brave." Tommy said as drew out the chair next to the bed and sat down by the boy's bedside.
"Would you like to read me my story?" Justin asked the prince. Kim saw the little boy's joy at the prospect at the Prince reading to him.
"I think that that is a wonderful idea." Tommy said as he grabbed the book off of the night stand. Looking at the title, Tommy smiled. It was one of his favorites as a child called 'Goodnight Moon'. Opening the book, he started to read to the entire hospital, the media, and to Kimberly. The camera crew zoomed in closer and got the picture that would go on the front page of the paper. Kim held back the tears at the picture the Prince presented for the press. She was being sucked back into his fantasy world again. Finally the Prince was finished and they continued their tour through the other tents and the surrounding areas. She answered each of his questions and learned something about the Prince. He was really passionate about his work and really wanted to know about the camp. It made her want to know more about him and his job.
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Tommy didn't want the tour to end. He loved just walking the camp with Kim at his side. She was very passionate about her work and it was evident in her answers about the camp. Needlessly to say he was sad when the tour was concluded. His time with her was coming to an end.
"Well your highness, this is the end of the tour." Kim said with a smile when they reached the mess tent.
Tommy smiled then reached into his jacket pocket. "I am amazed at your dedication to a cause that is not your own. I only hope this helps with the need." He said handing her a check.
"I'm sure it would but what we need more than money is able workers. Money will only go so far, your highness." She said shocking him and herself. She couldn't believe that she was saying no to a donation from the prince. He pulled back and returned the check to his pocket before commenting.
"I see." He said not really seeing at all. He thought that money was the only thing anyone ever wanted from him but he was wrong. She wanted more of him but he didn't know what.
"I meant no disrespect but workers are worth more than money at this moment. If you could bring in more warm-bodied individuals to help with the work load that would help out the most." Kim said walking over to the Jeep. She could hear the helicopter on its way back in to pick up the Prince.
"I will see what I can do about that." He muttered under his breath. He wanted to give her the world if that would help. The problem was that she didn't want the world; she only wanted workers for the camp. He jumped in the Jeep and rode up to the landing pad in silence.
"I hope that you have a great trip back to the palace, your highness." Kim said as she waved to him.
"I will be in touch." He said as he walked to the helicopter and got in. As he got ready for take-off he started planning on how he would help Kim out. He might even plan a way to see her again because she was worth seeing again. If he could get her to the palace, he would get to see her in a different setting and see if her hold over him was real or just a trick of the light.
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Kim watched the helicopter take off and breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad that the tour was over. The Prince was almost too much to handle. She finally made her way back to the camp to get back to her real job of saving the refugees not escorting princes around. He would be nothing more than a vague memory by this time next week.
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"Hey big brother, I see that your tour of the camp went very well. You're still in one piece." Jason said as he walked into Tommy's room with a smile on his face.
"Yea, I guess you could say that." Tommy said as he changed his clothes to something more comfortable. He really hated wearing suits but it was required for his job.
"Ooh I detect a tone. What happened there?" Jason said as he sat down on the leather couch in his suite. Each prince had their own suite of rooms in the palace. The King wanted his sons close and he could make sure that his sons were protected on the grounds.
"Nothing, that I can't handle." He said turning to face his brother in a white shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
"We'll see but on to more important matters. Father has requested your presence in his suite for later today. I think he wants to discuss topic number 2." Jason said with a smile. Tommy groaned before sitting across from Jason on the matching couch. The brothers had long ago number their father's favorite topics. One was on a Prince's duty and two was on marriage. The others were less important to the brothers since their father didn't speak on them much. His main concerns for his boys were duty and marriage.
"Hopefully I can throw him off that trail for a while." He said with sigh. He did not want to talk marriage with his father while his mind was full of one feisty relief worker with whom he could never have a relationship with even though that's what his heart desired at this moment. She was a dream just out of his reach.
"Yes we'll see but I also wanted to tell you that if Father asks about our little brother, tell him that you don't know anything." Jason said with a smile as he stood up to take his leave.
"Well since I don't know anything, then I can't tell Father. Where is Rocky this time?" Tommy asked leaning back against the cushions and thought about his little brother. Rocky was a wild card in the palace. He was a law unto himself and didn't want to be seen doing his princely duty. Their father was always angry at Rocky for one thing or another but Rocky didn't care. He was not scare of their father, King Zordon of Phadoes.
"Who knows, all I know is that he has flown the coop once again. I can tell you one thing though; when he does come back he will have a tutor. Father has hired an Aisha Campbell to teach him the manners that he apparently missed while mom was alive. He is in for it now because this Aisha is one tough cookie. She deals with trouble kids of diplomats and ambassadors all the time. The grown son of a King will be a welcomed relief, I'm sure." Jason said with a laugh as he walked out of the room leaving Tommy alone with his thoughts. He couldn't believe that Father had actually hired a tutor for Rocky. He was 25 after all and though he was not as close to his youngest brother, he did love him. He and Jason were closer being that Jason was only two years younger than him. It was only natural that he would be closer to Jason. Standing, he wondered what Jason would think of Kimberly Hart. Someday he would find out.
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Okay so what did everyone think? Please let me know. Again this story is AU but most of the characters from the show will appear in in form or another. Also they may be shown in different lights than what they have been shown in. I hope that everyone enjoyed this first chapter and the next should be out soon.