Here we go, the follow up to Together as promised to my readers. Here I thought it was going to be hard to write and shorter than I wanted. Yeah… I was totally wrong.

Enjoy.


"Think we're ever going to get up, Kim?"

"Probably not." Kimberly affectionally nuzzled Jason's shoulder. "You're too comfy."

"Maybe I am, but you got the better seat." Jason laughed as he touched his lips to her collar bone. "And my head still hurts."

"I said I was sorry." No, Kimberly totally was not sorry at all. About the minor head injury sure, but not the rest no way in the world was she going to be sorry for the rest.

The pair had yet to even get up from the floor of the pit. This was even after their… well, two heated make out sessions. Not Kimberly's fault she suddenly found herself starving for Jason's touch. It didn't help matters that the red ranger had found the spot where her top rode up and exposed a sliver of skin on her sides.

The sensations that came with his touch were positively sinful, right along with his kisses.

They honestly didn't even have to talk about what they were doing. It wasn't like in the movies where the couple had to have the 'feelings talk' as Trini would have called it. Jason and Kimberly were able to skip that little step entirely.

It felt more like they'd already had that discussion, just not vocally. Almost like the red and pink rangers had a connection that went even further than their bond as rangers.

If she was honest with herself, Kimberly first felt the stirrings when she kept catching Jason's stare. He wasn't exactly being subtle, but the old Kimberly was used to male attention. It wasn't until he interrupted her midnight swim that it really started to dawn on her to pay him more attention.

Who else would have dived into frigid water, in the dark mind you, to rescue someone who was almost a stranger? Jason Scott, red ranger, and Kimberly's boyfriend, that's who.

Hmm… boyfriend, Kimberly liked the sound of that.

Kimberly knew she was floating on cloud nine and would have to come down eventually. She did not, however. expect it to be so quick along with a rather nasty thought that popped into her head.

They were Power Rangers, it was their job to protect the world from threats like Rita after the crystal. Were inter-team relationships even tolerated in such a high stakes mission? Most ranger teams were surely just as close as theirs was, and you don't bond together as a team like theirs without somebody falling for somebody else.

"What's wrong?" Jason had noticed the dark look that crossed Kimberly's features.

"Just had a bad thought. Is this…" Kimberly motioned to her and Jason, "even allowed?"

"I hadn't thought about that." Jason frowned. Kimberly was overcome with an intense urge to kiss that deplorable look away. "Should we go ask Zordon?"

"There's no way I am involving him in my love life." Kimberly scowled, already hating the idea. "What about Alpha? He seems to know a lot of ranger stuff."

"Good idea. We better go find where he ran off to." Jason stood up, effortlessly lifting Kimberly's weight off him but in doing so held her up in his arms for a little longer than necessary.

"Such a gentleman." Kimberly grinned already leaning in for a kiss.

"Focus, Kim." Jason gave Kimberly a quick peck on the lips before setting her down. "Business first."

"You're no fun." Kimberly seized Jason by the hand and pulled him along with her out of the room. Externally she was full of confidence and sure of herself. Internally was a whole different story, there was no telling what talking to Alpha would reveal.

Kimberly prepared herself for her entire world to come crashing down again as she and Jason searched the ship for their robotic trainer.

The two rangers found him tinkering with a panel in one of the hallways. The sight almost made Kimberly think of Billy, but she focused on her current problem.

"Alpha, we've been looking for you." Jason was first to speak as the duo approached. They had been holding hands while searching, but Kimberly swiftly moved the hold behind her back so Alpha couldn't see. All of the rangers stood closely together at random times, so it was nothing out of the ordinary. It also allowed Kimberly to focus on Jason's hand in her own as reassurance.

"Jason, good to see you, and you too, Kimberly." Alpha replaced the panel back into the wall and turned to face the rangers. "I felt you two would need a short break after that last round."

Considering how much Kimberly's face still stung, Alpha was not wrong. Not only that, she was grateful the robot hadn't been around for the part after training. She totally would have done it with him there, but she would rather avoid an audience unless necessary.

"Good call." Jason agreed, no doubt remembering the same post training fun Kimberly was recalling. "Hey, we actually had some stuff we wanted to ask you. How much do you know about the Power Rangers?"

"Oh, quite a bit." If Alpha had a mouth, Kimberly knew he would be grinning ear to ear. The robot loved answering any questions asked of him. "I served Zordon and his team for quite a few years and another team before that. What is it you would like to know?"

Talking to Alpha right now made Kimberly realize that none of them really knew that much about this "legion of warriors" they were now part of. They hadn't thought to ask any history questions or anything. Hmm… they might need to fix that later, but first things first.

"We were just umm… curious about something." Kimberly spoke next, doing her best not to sound as nervous as she felt. "Are there any rules about things like… uhh dating and stuff?"

"Dating?" Alpha mused over the word before Kimberly realized he may not know what it actually meant. "Oh! That is the term you humans to describe courtship, correct?"

God, using the term courtship sounded so cheesy to Kimberly, but at least it got the point across. "Yeah."

"I am sure you remember Master Zordon's rules to being a Power Ranger, yes?" Alpha began but didn't continue until Jason and Kimberly both nodded. "There are indeed rules, but he was able to form an effective summary you were better able to understand. To answer your querry, no, there are no restrictions on such a thing."

"Really?" Jason sounded every bit as astonished at Kimberly felt. "None? We're allowed to date each other too?"

"Yes."

"No way." Kimberly knew she was looking a gift horse in the mouth, but she hadn't been able to stop the words from coming out. "You're yanking our chains, you have to be. It can't be that simple."

"I am not pulling on your chains." Alpha must have been learning more modern slang from one of the other rangers. "You two are allowed to court each other."

"We're not…"

"We're not…"

Jason and Kimberly both spoking the same thing at once did nothing to help their case at all. Whatever defense the two were going to conjure was shot full of holes with Alpha's next words.

"I may be oblivious to the subtler human mannerisms and language, but I am still able to read your vitals. Such as how the two of you receive a jump in heart rate when in each other's presence. The other rangers do not have this response. And while I have noticed humans looking at each other is a common act, the two of you share these gazes four hundred percent more than the others. And my sensors also indicate…"

"Okay we get it." Kimberly snapped, having seen enough movies to know exactly where he was going. "Fine, you got us." Kimberly let go of Jason's hand, but immediately sluing his arm across her shoulders. "But my point still stands. I don't believe it, it's too good to be true."

"I know you have figured this out already, but the life of a Power Ranger is not an easy one." Alpha's voice turned horrifyingly somber, even more so when they'd brought a fallen Billy back to the ship. "It is a difficult life, one of tremendous danger, and even greater pressure. There are some who overcome, some who crack or lose themselves to madness."

Like Rita. Alpha didn't have to say the name for Kimberly to know what he meant.

"And the rule of never revealing out identity to others." Jason's voice was low, his arm subconsciously pulling Kimberly closer. "Means we have no one to turn to except our team."

"Yes. Power Rangers can rely on no one save each other to understand their mission and trauma." Alpha being grim was disturbing on so many levels to Kimberly. "Often times, this forges a bond between rangers that transcends even their bond as a team. Many rangers have found solace in the arms of another ranger. Such a thing carries no taboo, if anything it is encouraged."

"But what happens if something happens between the two rangers?" Kimberly cleared her throat, ignoring Jason's tighter hold. "Won't that cause trouble in the team?"

"It can, but is deemed an acceptable risk. If there is one thing I have learned when observing courtship between Power Rangers, it is that a ranger will fight beyond their limits when in the presence of their lover."

Kimberly recalled her ill-planned round in the pit just a short time ago. The way she and Jason fought side by side against the hologram putties. They were not even an actual couple yet, and still they complimented each other perfectly in battle. Perhaps there was something to Alpha's words.

"I believe this is where I am supposed to say, congratulations?" Alpha's voice shifted back to his usual cheerful self, something Kimberly was infinitely grateful for.

"Sure thing, buddy." Jason gave the small robot a fist bump, something Kimberly knew for a fact he had learned from Billy.

Kimberly left the ship with Jason's arm still around her, feeling more cheerful than ever. Right up until her boyfriend reminded her that they still needed to tell the rest of their team.

"Oh, lovely." Kimberly groaned.


"What, we're just going to blurt it out? Just like that?" Kimberly rolled her eyes. "Real elegant there, babe."

"Really? One night and we're already at pet names?" Jason smirked. "And babe? Come on."

"I have a list I can go down if you'd like." Kimberly taunted but it wasn't an idle threat, she did have a list and was ready to unleash it upon her unsuspecting boyfriend.

The two rangers had decided it was best to let the rest of their friends know about the relationship as soon as possible. There was no point or reason in hiding it from them. While Kimberly was nervous, she couldn't bring herself to care what the others said. It was doubtful any of them would really mind though.

The only real debate was how to go about letting them know. Their early arrival to the lunch table gave the pair a perfect time to plan their attack.

"We should just make this simple, as soon as they all get here I'll just sit in your lap." Kimberly grinned. "It's a win-win, we get lunch cuddle time and they get to be brought into the know."

"Tempting." Jason shook his head but smiled every bit as warmed as Kimberly was at the thought. "But a little too direct, and we might make Trini puke."

"Oh no." Kimberly's grin turned mischievous. "If I wanted to make her sick, I'd pin you down to the table and kiss your until you couldn't remember your own name."

Kimberly had leaned in close and turned her voice breathy and low while speaking. Poor Jason was so flustered, he was turned into a stuttering mess completely at Kimberly's mercy.

Fortunately for Jason, Kimberly was a merciful girlfriend. In public, at least.

"Hey, are you guys plotting behind my back again?" Zack appeared at the table and flung himself into his customary seat. "Oooh or are we plotting behind Trini's back? If so, I can totally get in on this action."

"I'm standing right here, idiot." Trini came next, right behind Zack with Billy a minute later.

"Shhh, mums the word." Zack whispered dramatically for all the hear across the table to Kimberly and Jason, along with an unsubtle wink.

The act earned Zack an elbow in the ribs from the yellow ranger.

"Hey, you okay?" Billy was first to notice it. "You have a black eye, Kim."

"Oh this." Kimberly laughed. She was going to use some makeup to conceal it, at least a little so nobody noticed, but she'd been so enraptured with Jason's presence on the trek back from the ship that she'd completely forgot. "Holo putty got a lucky hit in. You should see the other guy, not enough left of him to fit in a glass jar."

"Him and about a few dozen others." Jason laughed just before taking a drink, but stopped cold when he realized what he'd said.

"Oh? What is this?" Zack grinned like the cat that ate the canary. "Late night training? Or a more funner late night?"

"Funner isn't a word." Billy supplied from beside the black ranger but Zack just brushed him off.

"Real enough, pal. But enough about that, I want details." Zack rubbed both hands together enthusiastically. "All the gritty and gory details."

"We made out, it was no big deal." Kimberly shrug was so nonchalant while eating her food that even Jason was caught off guard. "The first time, the second I can safely say blew my mind."

"Kim!" Jason all but squealed, flushing brighter than his armor.

"What?" Kimberly smirked, lifting Jason's arm so she could curl into his side like a cat. If she got any looks from anyone else in the room and their fellow rangers, oh well. "It's true."

Okay, so the confession hadn't exactly gone according to their semi-plan, but Kimberly was having way too much fun so far. A blushing Jason was just too adorable not to toy with. They had accidentally spilled the beans prematurely, no reason not to take advantage.

"And how long has this been going one?" Trini's eyes narrowed as she put her elbows on the table, her fingers laced together, and her chin resting on them. No doubt in an attempt to look intimidating.

"Since last night." Jason admitted, having accepted the situation.

"And how long has it been since we slapped Rita into orbit?" Trini asked the group as a whole.

"A few weeks?" Kimberly responded first but didn't understand the question. "Why?"

"About twenty-five days." Billy was the one to give a more exact answer. The moment he did, his eyes widened in alarm.

Trini was grinning like a loon, while Zack and Billy wore looks of despair.

"Aww man…" Billy groaned.

"Son of a…" Zack slammed his head down on the table, the wood cracking slightly under the impact.

"Ha!" Trini cheered. "I win, pay up suckers!"

Billy started to get out his wallet but Trini stopped him with a hand up. "How about this, give me some homework help this week and we call it even. Deal?"

"Deal." Billy smiled, replacing the wallet in his pocket.

"Zack, you better pony up." Trini's smile was absolutely predatory as she whacked Zack with her knee.

"Fine, fine." Zack was muffled since he had yet to lift his head but did so after a moment. "Anybody got a pen?"

Billy slid one down the table.

"Thanks." Zack sounded utterly dejected as he scribbled something on a piece of paper. "Here you go, Trini. One free make Zack shut up for a day card." Zack started to hand the paper to the yellow ranger but pulled it back at the last second and took what Kimberly felt was his attempt at an old sage voice. "Just remember young grasshopper, with great power comes great responsibility."

"And great enjoyment." Trini snatched the paper from his hand, her victorious smirk never fading.

"Uh… can someone tell me what the hell just happened?" Kimberly watched the whole scene play out before she recovered enough to speak.

"Yeah, little clueless here." Jason motioned to the group. "What did we do?"

"You two." Zack pointed a fork menacingly at the pink and red rangers. "Just cost me dearly, I hope you know this. I expect repayment."

"Thing one and thing two here." Trini pointed at the blue and black rangers at her sides with her thumbs. "Made a bet and lost."

"What does this bet have to do with us?" Kimberly was starting to understand now.

"When you two would wise up and see you have the hots for each other." Zack had dropped his head yet again, but avoided breaking the table this time. "Two months."

"Two weeks." Billy meekly raised a hand.

"One month. I got closest, so I get to reap the sweet rewards." Trini giggled evilly as she waved the paper Zack gave her like a captured flag from a fortress.

"You were betting on us?" Jason's eye twitched. "Seriously?"

"Well it was that or lock you two in a closet together." Trini confessed. "But we couldn't find strong enough chain to tie you two together."

"I wanted to trick you into a blind date with each other. Totally sorry."

"What?" Kimberly's jaw dropped at the confession from Billy.

"I know, devious, isn't it?" Zack tilted his head up just enough for everyone to see his grin. "I think my student is learning well."

"Can it, Taylor. Or else." Trini waved the paper menacingly in the black ranger's face making him take on a grimace. "Ah, power is sweet."

"Were we really that obvious?" Kimberly liked to think they weren't, but the looks from the other rangers told her all she needed to know.

"Are you kidding me?" Trini rubbed her temples. "It was driving us nuts! You two were constantly making goo goo eyes at each other and didn't even know it!"

"Yeah." Billy nodded. "Even I could see it."

"Ditto." Zack raised his hand but little else.

"That's bull." Kimberly countered, even though she knew the rangers were right. And were no doubt about to prove their point.

"Okay, let's count off a little." Trini raised one finger. "Haven't you ever noticed how Jason lags behind when we go through the water to the ship?"

"I always assumed he was doing some leader crap and making sure we were all safe." Kimberly never thought anything of it.

"Uh, no." Trini deadpanned. "He spends the whole walk into the ship checking you out while you're wet. Don't you dare deny it, Jason."

Jason had opened his mouth but closed it the second Trini turned her attention on him.

"And who could blame him? You're hot, I do it too." Trini admitted with zero shame whatsoever.

Everyone turned their stares to the yellow ranger.

"What?" Trini ignored the looks. "Can't blame a girl for looking."

"And let's not forget." Zack sat up fully again. "Kimberly always watches when Jason changes his shirt during or after training. You're not exactly subtle, Kim. And when it comes to sparring partners, you two always pick each other when it's your turn to choose."

"We really were that obvious." Kimberly didn't know what she was supposed to feel. If anything, she was a bit relieved. Their friends knew and even made a fun time of it like the rangers often did with things.

"Well, that was… easy." Jason laughed once the group had split up after lunch to go to their respective classes. He and Kimberly would have to part for the rest of the day soon, much to Kimberly's annoyance.

"Hey, I'm not going to question it. Now give me a quick kiss before I have to go. It's the only way I'll make it through the day." Kimberly wrapped her arms around Jason's neck while his found their way around her waist.

"That's PDA, Kim." Jason chastised but leaned in anyway.

Their lips had just met when a voice echoed from down the hallway. "That's detention, Mr. Scott and Miss. Hart."

Jason and Kimberly didn't even separate, they certainly heard the teacher, but neither particularly cared. Far as they were concerned, the world consisted of only them and an empty hallway.

Detention was totally worth it.


Hmm, that actually came out better than I was hoping. This will probably be the last chapter unless I get inspiration for some pure fluff or a suggestion. Next up will be the follow up to Scars, which is already 70% finished.

Also, I normally try to avoid writing Billy. Mostly because I love his character and for the life of me I cannot write him properly. Hopefully he was close enough to right here.