Welcome back everyone! Once again I must apoligize for the long lull between updates. Unfortunitely, real life gets in the way and some major family drama took the wind out of my sails and ended up causing a major burn out.

I hope that all of you will enjoy this next chapter anyway!


"Kira, where's Connor?" Kayla asked as she hopped around in an effort to put her left shoe on.

"He told us me that he was going to take his car through the car wash."

"But why?"

Kira paused and helped her put her shoes on.

"First impressions are very important. In school, at job interviews, and big business dealings like this one. This wedding planner will be in charge of our wedding and so if we look like a million bucks, then we'll be treated like a million bucks.

"Really?" Kayla asked.

She'd been dressed in a t-shirt and blue jeans when she arrived but now she was dressed in a pair of stylish slacks and a pretty pink blouse. She wore a sparkly headband and a pair of matching sandals.

"Yeah, money can't buy happiness, but it can take the stress out of situations. And this wedding business is notorious for creating tension headaches and breakdowns."

"You mean like on TV? Those bridezillas?"

Kira smiled wryly. "Yeah, that's why I love it that your with us. If I start acting like them in any way, I want you to stop me, Ok?"

Kayla hugged her then and tightly. "I won't let that happen. I promise."

Kira laughed. "Thanks little ninja."

Connor opened the door then and took the both of them in. It was a warming sight. Kira looked so motherly, hugging Kayla like that.

"Connor!" Kayla said as she ran towards him and jumped in his arms.

"Hey ninja girl. I missed you!" Connor answered her grinning and hugging her back. "You almost ready to go?"

"I'm all ready. And you're dressed up too!" She said as he put her back down. Today, he wore a pair of black slacks and a white button-down shirt with a red tie.

The only new piece was a rather large ring that looked oddly antique. He followed Kira's gaze. "This was my father's ring. It's been handed down for centuries. I pulled it out of my family's safety deposit box this morning. One day, I'll pass it to our son…" He trailed off seeing her intake of breath. "…if it happens."

Kira smiled at him before she kissed his lips. "When we have a son." then she whispered in his ear. "I plan to give you one some day soon."

Connor grinned and kissed her back. "I love you."

"All right, you too keep making out, I'll just be in the car." Kayla said before she picked up the dream book and walked out. When she was gone, they broke apart laughing. She took his hand in hers. "We better get going, before she tries to drive the car."

"She'd better not." Connor said as he half pulled his bride towards the door.

They drove to a cozy looking ranch style house. The place screamed romance. The house was painted a soft blue with white trimming. On the left side of the driveway was a simple yet elegant fountain. In the middle of the water was a cherub that held a larger seashell aloft. Water fell through the grooves of the shell and fell down all around the cherub. On the other side was a comfortable looking two seated wooden swing that featured a canopy. Next to the swing was a small glass top table that glistened in the sun with two coasters resting on it.

Kira liked it immediately. "Connor, this is the kind of house I want, it looks so cozy. Cant you imagine us sitting out on a swing like that in the evening with soft breezes against your skin."

"Mmmm. I like the sound of that." Connor said. "Only with you sitting in my lap or even next to me…with your head against my chest. And my arms around you."

Kira grinned at him. "Well, that's one hurdle down, and many more to go."

Kayla made herself known. "I like that pretty white arch over there, in front of the door." Saying this, she got out of the car and went to stand beneath the archway. Examining the faux roses with interest. Connor rolled his eyes and then holding hands they made their way to the door and opened it slowly.

"Welcome, come on in!" said an older woman in her 50's. She had a kind face and warm brown eyes. She led them to a nice open sitting room with comfy couches and a high backed chair. In front of the couches was a claw footed coffee table with many current issues from several bridal magazines. In the corner was an old fashioned coke-a-cola fridge.

"My name is Lydia. May I offer you three some refreshment? We've got cold bottled water, coke, diet coke, sprite and root beer."

Kayla grinned, "Can I have a root beer?"

"If your parents are okay with it." Saying that she looked at Connor expectantly.

"Oh, she's not our daughter," Connor said. "Her parents are on a second honeymoon and we're watching her. She's a little sister to us…and she's just as excited about us getting married as we are." he added with a grin.

"Oh, I see. She's your helper. Well let me tell you what. We're definitely gonna need some help with all this planning." Saying this, she sat down in the high backed chair and crossed her legs at the ankles. "Is that a wish book?"

Kayla grinned as she brought it over to the assistant. "Yeah, Connor gave it to Kira for Christmas. We've been putting a lot of magazine cutouts in it."

"That's a great idea. May I see it?"

Kayla looked to Kira for a moment asking her permission. When Kira nodded she opened up the book and handed it to the lovely assistant who layed it out on her lap. Kayla stood next to her and pointed out the wedding dresses in the pictures. Telling her why they picked out the different styles.

As their assitant and the older lady conversed, there began to be a commotion from the next room.

"I would certainly hope that you wouldn't give into gossip so easily. I can assure you that I have no such dealings and wedding planning is my life….no, I have no interest in your fiancé…."

They were all quiet for a moment.

"…Then it's a damn shame that you feel that way…now if you'll excuse me I have other….no, Mrs. Jameson. You've already stated that you are taking your business elsewhere. My business doesn't revolve around you anymore. Good Day Madame!"

Then there was deafening quiet and then Lydia sighed softly. "If you'll exuse me, I better go check on Callista. That didn't sound very good."

"Was that a Bridezilla?" Kayla asked her softly.

"Yes, my dear, I'm afraid so. Please don't be put off by the yelling, Callista is a very professional woman and she's got one of the best reputations in the entire city."

Kira nodded. "We know, Alma sent us to you. We've come to trust her opinions."

Lydia gave them a kind smile. "Please, make yourselves at home. She'll just be a few minutes." Then the older lady walked out.


Lydia walked into the office and immediately saw her adoptive daughter slumped over her desk. With a compassionate smile she walked behind the desk and started a soft massage on her back.

"Your clients are here."

"Leticia is killing me. If she keeps this up, we'll lose the rest of our clients. Isn't it enough that she stole my own fiancé and son away from me? Now she's spreading all that slandering venom all over town. That's the fifth client that we've lost. We'll be lucky to break even this month."

"Have a little faith, Dearie. She'll get her comeuppance soon enough. As we said in my time, What goes around comes around, and if we're lucky she'll get it smack dab in her derrière."

Callista smiled then. "Thanks Mom, you've always known what to say."

"Anything to make you smile my dear girl. Now, lets get you an nice new glass of sweet iced tea and then I'll send in the next clients. We've gotten a break, Alma sent them here herself, and you know as well as I do that if she's gone that far, that they're guaranteed to be good ones. And that little girl of theirs is a sweet heart. I have a good feeling about these guys. Something good will come of this appointment, just you wait."

After placing the new class of tea on the coaster in front of her, Lydia gave her daughter and 'boss' an encouraging smile and then left.

Callista took a deep breath and prepared herself for the next appointment. She was a lovely woman in her 30 with flawless skin the color of chestnuts. Her dark textured hair was twisted up in an elegant but efficient style.

Her clothes were just as impeccable. She wore her normal ensemble of a flowing brown skirt with a vanilla colored cashmere v neck top. She wore golden hoops and a simple delicate looking chain around her neck with a single aquamarine birthstone. (which happened to represent her son.) Her perfectly manicured nails tapped on the desk as she took another deep breath steadying herself.

She looked up as her next appointment walked in. They certainly looked like nice people…

"Good Morning, Mr. McKnight and Miss Kinderson?"

Connor nodded and shook her hand. Yes, and this is our special helper, Kayla. She brought along the wish book. It should help make this easier for all of us. He paused as Kayla pulled up a chair between them. Calista smiled at her.

"Thank you Kayla. It always helps to have an idea of what we're looking for. But first, we need to go over a few things. I am not one of those wedding planners that does it all herself. I encourage the bride and groom to get involved as well, By working together, we can all avoid those stressful situations. I'll be straight up with you guys and I'll expect the same thing from you. Now, are there any concerns you want to bring up?"

"Are you okay?" Kayla suddenly asked, looking really concerned.

The wedding planner smiled. "Yes, sweetheart. There's a rival wedding planner that's trying desperately to close me down. But don't you worry Kayla, I won't let her win. Now, down to business, why don't you show me that wish book of yours and we can get down to business. Shall we?

Kayla nodded and handed her the book. She spent a minute or so paging through the countless magazine clippings. When she'd paged through the album. She looked back up at them. These are very good choices. I can tell from just this meeting that you all have very good taste. With your cooperation and miss Kayla's help I see no reason why this whole process can't go as smoothly."

She pulled out a card from a sterling silver card holder. "This is my cell phone number and this office number." Saying this, she handed it to Connor and then offered another to Kira who handed it to Kayla to put in the front cover pocket.

"Now, I just need you to put down your information including your names and a good contact number, so that I can reach you. I don't like using fine print and I keep my contracts simple and finite. "Now, what kind of price range are we looking at?"

"The skies the limit. So I'd say no more then $1,000,000."

At her look of shock, he supplied. "Her father is well off and so am I. But he's a traditionalist, and so he's only allowing me to pay for the limo and honeymoon."

Ah I see. Well, as you might have guessed. I'm very short on clients. That's a good thing for you so then I can devote my business hours to arranging your wedding and reception. So, that also means that we can get started on the details right away. May I assume that you're going to Alma for the wedding attire?"

Connor nodded. "Yes, she's an amazing and very knowledgeable seamstress, there's no reason to go anywhere else."

"It does me good to hear such high praise for my dear frend. She's the one who helped mentor me in this business. Now, have the two of you set a wedding date? I'm gonna need a deadline so that I can plan our appointments accordingly."

"It's going to be on March !5th of this year. Will that be enough time?"

"It'll definitely be a challenge, but I have every bit of confidence that it can be pulled off. Now, in order to get this thing off the ground, we'll need to have at least 3 meetings a week. I need to know when you'll be available."

"We have an open schedule. We both work at our friends dojo here in Angel Grove with the younger kids. Other then that, we're free."

"That's excellent. I would strongly suggest that our first appointment be at Alma's. That way you can be fitted for your dress and it will give her time for any alterations. Now, if you wish, we can even visit her this afternoon. I still…"

Callista trailed off as there was an insistant knocking on the door. There was also a sound of a stuggle. It was enough to bring both former rangers into battle mode and they got up as the door flew open.

The wedding planner looked up sharply. "Leticia, you have a lot of nerve to show up here after all the trouble you've caused. Make it quick."

Leticia was an light brown skinned girl with an obnoxious air about her. Her haughty face swept over Connor appreciatively and then moved to Kira with an amused expression…then they settled on her rival.

"I've brought your son here. I've made such a killing that I can afford to take the week off and I'm taking Kenneth to the Bahamas. For the activities we'll be indulging in, we can't have the brat around."

"His name is Kai, not brat… and I'll thank you to not come barging in when I have clients in the room."

"Then they'll be thankful that I came. I doubt they'll want their wedding planned by a stripper with an illegitimate son….oh dear me, have I said too much?"

Connor had a flint like expression on his face and he stood up to face the intruder. "I think you should leave. My time is extremely valuable and I have no need for your venom especially in the presence of young ears. Now, if you don't mind, my bride and I need to finish out our appointment with Callista."

Leticia smiled cruelly at her rival. But Callista stood up and looked at her unflinchingly. "Leave. Now."

The Latino smiled at her darkly and then walked away.

When she was gone, Callista settle backed in her seat and took a deep breath before sipping her tea. She was quiet for several seconds and then she looked at them. "I promise, I'm not the slut she makes me out to be." She sighed again and began to explain herself.

I grew up in Hawaii the daughter of a two reefers. I had a rough upbringing and was eventually abandoned. For the majority of my child hood i existed by living off tourists. I moved here to california as soon as I was of age. But people in this town aren't as generous... I was a stripper for all of a week before Lydia and her husband found me. They took me in and rehabilitated me. My son was conceived with Kenneth when i was around 18. We were supposed to be married when I found out I was pregnant. Letita was our wedding planner and she managed to weedle herself between us and after I found out that he'd been cheating on me, I gave him an ultimatum…and he chose her. The wedding was called off and I was left to give birth alone and then when my son was born, she demanded my baby daddy to get full custody on him. I didn't have the money to hire a lawyer and they walked all over me. But I do hope that all that won't deter you from trusting me with your wedding."

"No, of course not." Kira said. "We trust Alma's judgment and if she trusts you, then we do to. She's never steered us wrong. Now, when do you want to meet up at the dress shop?"

Callista smiled at them, relieved. "I think around 3 this afternoon. I need to spend some time with my son and get him settled in. Then Lydia can watch him till we're done."

Connor was quiet as Kira conversed with their wedding planner.

"Connor?"

The former ranger looked up. "You know, we have a good lawyer that can help you. He's a friend of ours."

"Thanks for the offer but I just don't have the money to pay for a lawyer. And I'm not in need of charity either. My son and I will be just fine on our own. But what I was asking was weather or not you have any questions before we close out this appointment?"

Connor shook his head. "No, thank you, we'll see you at three o' clock this afternoon."

They all stood up then and Callista shook their hands. Lydia was there to escourt them out.

When they were gone, a young boy ran into her office and jumped into her lap. He was just around 6 and he was beyond thrilled to see her. "Mommy, I missed you!"

Callista grinned. "I missed you too Kai, how about we go to lunch, just you and me and Lydia."

"McDonalds? Can we go to the one with the big playground?"

Callista smiled down at him with an indulgent grin. "That sounds like an awesome idea. How about you run to your room and get some play clothes on, okay?"

The boy was gone in a flash and the wedding planner sighed.

It was going to be a long, long, long day.


Connor was quiet for a few minutes as they pulled out onto the main road.

"So, should I make the call or do you want me to leave it to you?"

"We're gonna help her?" Kayla asked.

Connor sighed. "Once a hero always a hero. Now you get to help me choose a place to eat."

"Ernie's!"

Sounds like a great place. Now, Kira. We need to get a hold of your dad's friend."


So, what do you all think of this chapter? How did you like Callista, Lydia and Kai?

Just for fun, I would like to see if any of you have any funny wedding stories or blunders to share...I may just include them somehow in this fic.

Please be kind and review! (any flames will be visiously turned on the sender with venomous sarcasm!)

Oh and one last thing: for Mother's Day, I posted a one shot based in the Back To Action series. I'd appreciate it if you all could show it some love. (if you haven't already done so) It's called Scrap Book of Memories.

See you next chapter!