Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Power Rangers, though I do own the back story of Kimberly and her adventures/friends since leaving Angel Grove...

1996

Kimberly Hart was staring forlornly through the glass window. She was forbidden from entering – but she wanted to oh so desperately. Everything she desired was on the other side of this thin pane of glass, but because of her actions she was forever barred from it.

At least until her next month's allowance came through. She pursed her lips and thought hard, trying to figure out how much food she really needed to eat in a month, and how many months it would take to save up for the shoes in front of her. Sometimes she really regretted telling her dad that she didn't need his credit card anymore...but after his attitude about her moving to Florida, she couldn't say she would take it back, even if it meant a lifetime of expensive shoes.

"Having a shoe dilemma?" She could almost hear the grin in the voice behind her. She started, then turned and gave a quizzical look to the man behind her. He smiled apologetically. "You were looking through that window like it holds the secrets of the universe. So I figure either you're praying to the shoe gods or trying to decide if you have a bag that matches the exact shade of black that's on those Jimmy Choos."

"Psh! Like the shoe gods listen to people wearing cheap sneakers!" She pointed to her feet rather mournfully. "The shoe gods utterly ignore anyone in less than two hundred dollar shoes. Three hundred for sneakers."

He grinned and held out his hand. "I like you. I'm Michael."

"Kim," she shook his hand firmly. "Are you here to pray to the shoe gods?"

"Oh hell no, I hate shoes," he gestured to the beige sandals on his feet. "I wear berks or nothing, screw fashion. I just saw you drooling and had to ascertain the reason." He grinned again.

Kimberly giggled a bit. "Mourning the loss of my dad's credit card. I sold off most of my designer stuff to move here in the first place, so I'm kinda low on the funds for new ones. My life is such a tragedy."

"Well we can't have that," he held out his arm. "My Lady Kim, if you will allow I will buy you a smoothie to lessen the tragedy that is your life."

"That's like, really nice of you...but," she bit her bottom lip. "I have a boyfriend." She twirled a strand of dark hair around her finger and looked sad suddenly. "He's back in California and I miss him really badly so I really don't think it'd be right to let you buy me anything."

"Well then you really need a smoothie. Consider it a bid to the fruity drink gods. I'd say as friends but we just met, so we'll drink as random people who happened to start talking in front of a window display," he wiggled his arm invitingly. "I'm not gonna bite. I promise if I try to grope your ass or something you can hit me with the brick you're carrying in that purse."

Kimberly blushed, looking down at the heavy and well-stuffed bag she carried everywhere. She bobbled her head back and forth in thought and finally laughed, grabbing his arm and pulling him in the direction of the food court. "Okay, but I want strawberry."

"Whatsoever the lady commandeth!" He flashed his pearly teeth at her and she felt her heart beat a little faster.

'Tommy would like him,' she defended herself as they walked. 'He's like awesome, Tommy would totally like him.'

The next two weeks were peppered with lunches, dinners and random appearances at the compound. Michael would show up when her practices were done and if she had the energy they headed out – if she didn't, he came equipped with 'two months of majoring in massage therapy' and made sure she got the benefit of it while they hung out watching movies in the dormitories.

He was twenty four, and had been studying at University of Miami for six years with no apparent intent to graduate. He joked that his goal was to take at least one class in every subject, because until he did that he could never be sure what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. His voice got very serious as he informed her that he "wouldn't want to miss out on that Great Calling just because someone said underwater basket weaving class is pointless!"

He confided one late afternoon as they strolled along the beach that he was just procrastinating. He'd joined the Air Force ROTC when he was a freshman and signed his papers the beginning of his junior year. He wanted to be a pilot, but the thought of his life being controlled by a faceless bureaucracy terrified him. He accepted that it was his own fault...but concluded with a whine that no twenty year olds actually have any clue what they want to do with the rest of their lives.

Kimberly, for her part, convinced herself that their friendship wasn't anything big – she'd had guy friends before and this was no different. But one night, a few weeks after they'd met, Michael fell asleep watching Steel Magnolias – she fought a little voice inside that pointed out how Tommy had refused to watch it – and rested his head on her belly as he snoozed. She felt warmth emanating from the places where he rested against her, and she couldn't resist the desire to gently stroke his shaggy red hair.

He snuggled against her abdomen, wrapping his arm around her loosely. "Love you Kimmie," he mumbled.

Kimberly went rigid and his eyes opened. He saw her face and cursed. "I said that out loud huh?" He asked blearily. She nodded. He sighed.

"I love you too," she whispered. He looked at her sharply, and sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, chewing it nervously. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and pulled her knees up to her chest. "I'm going to break up with Tommy," her voice was barely audible, as if the thought had forced itself out against her will. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Michael sat up and pulled her close. "It'll be okay Kimmie." He kissed the side of her head gently. "We'll be okay."

"They'll never forgive me," she sobbed against his chest. "I don't wanna hurt him, I can't stand to hurt him like this Mike."

"You've just gotta call him and talk to him sweetheart," Michael rocked her gently. "It's never gonna resolve itself and no one can do it for you."

"I can't call him!" She sounded horrified. "I can't hear his voice while I tell him something like this! I'd start crying and never get it out!"

"You've got to Kim. It's not like you can write this sort of thing in a letter," he broke off when she tilted her face up at him. "No Kimmie, don't you dare. That's the coward's way."

She started crying again, but made no promises as he held her close. "Why can't I be two people?" She pressed her face against Michael's shirt. "There's a part that wants nothing more than to go home to Tommy and be in Angel Grove and do Angel Grove things and then there's a huge chunk that can't imagine life without you."

"You sure know how to burrow under someone's skin," he chuckled sadly at her. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if you went home." He let out a long breath. "If Tommy is what you want don't give him up for me. I'm not...I'm not good enough for you, even if you are my Lady. I want to be selfish and tell you to dump him 'cause I'm here and he's not...but if he's good enough -"

"I'm not good enough for him!" She was almost incoherent through her tears. "If I would do this!" A gasping sob interrupted each word. "How can I face them?"

"Do you want friends who only love you because of your boyfriend?" He asked, none-too-gently. "Kimmie, you're fantastic, you're good enough for anyone – hell a Power Ranger would be lucky to have you."

He didn't understand why that set off another batch of tears, these too violent for any level of understandable conversation. He held her tightly and leaned back on the bed, allowing her to rest on his chest and trying to figure out the origin of the painful pressure in his chest that seemed to drift in and out with the sobs of the tiny brunette in his arms.