Dear all,
first of all I want to thank you for all your support and wonderful reviews. You guys are great.
Secondly, I want to thank my Beta, Anolide, for taking the time to read and correct this chapter. You are awesome :)
Read and Enjoy
xoxo LT
Kim woke up early the next day, her head sore, her eyes tired, her heart aching. Although she had fallen asleep almost immediately after coming back from the restaurant, it had not been restful, plagued with recurring nightmares, each and every one of them including Tommy. Waking up during the night she cracked the window open, hoping that the sound of the crickets might soothe her into falling asleep once more. At six-thirty in the morning she could smell the fresh air, lifted by the cool dew, hear the chirping of the early birds, and see the sun peeking through the curtains. She knew that there was no way she could fall asleep once more.
She pushed herself off the bed with a groan, dragging her feet towards the bathroom. She quickly discarded her t-shirt and shorts, turning on the small radio set and stepping into the shower. Humming along, Kim tried her best to block the memories from the previous night—Tommy's hurtful words, his guarded face, the face of a stranger—but she couldn't. She shivered, resting her head against the cool tiles, composing herself, swallowing the hurt, just like she did every morning. It took her longer than usual to detach herself from the emotions running wild.
Quickly she dried her body with the large fluffy towel, brushing her teeth and applying lotion over her toned body. Once inside the room, she took her sweet time deciding on what to wear. "Decide already, Kimberly. It's not like you need to impress anybody, right?" she said to herself, laying two dresses on the bed and going back and forth between them. Finally she picked up the knee-length three-quarter sleeved lavender one, slipped into it, and chose a pair of wedges. Walking back into the bathroom, she took a handful of bobby pins, brushing her hair and pulling it into a double braid which exposed her delicate face.
Once done with her hair, she looked herself in the mirror and was stunned, not for the first time, by how young she looked with her hair pulled back from her face. Leaning against the bathroom counter she applied a fine line of eyeliner, a touch of mascara and, at the end, a hint of perfume to her pulse points. Once done, she took her watch and her favorite violet bangle, a Christmas present from Tanya, from her jewelry box and placed them on her wrists. By half-past seven she was ready to start her day, her worries pushed back.
With one more look in the mirror, Kim quietly slipped out of the room, careful not to wake Trini. Powering up her BlackBerry in the elevator, she waited for the device to get a signal, impatiently tapping her foot until the elevator door opened. She walked through the empty lobby, certain that there would be no guests in the restaurant—giving her more than enough time to enjoy the paper, her coffee, and a hot bagel. In New York, Kim usually arrived first in the office and was the last to leave. She loved her line of work; hence not being bothered by the fact she hadn't had a vacation in two years, or that she couldn't remember her last free weekend. Yet above all, although she liked to sleep in late, she adored being alone in the morning and being able to think, plan her day, or just enjoy a cup of coffee from her eleventh floor office while the sun rose over the Hudson river.
Taking a deep breath, she walked inside the restaurant and wasn't surprised to find it empty. A young girl wearing a uniform, her eyes still heavy from sleep, greeted Kim and handed her the paper. Kim smiled back and thanked her warmly, deciding she would leave her bag and paper on the terrace and then return and grab a cup of coffee and breakfast. Flipping through the paper, she made her way towards the terrace. Just as she was about to push the door open, she froze, her face falling when she saw a lone figure sitting at a table with his back to her. She didn't need to see his face to know who it was, so she swiftly turned and hurriedly walked towards the hotel entrance, her hunger forgotten.
Once she reached her car, she unlocked the doors. Throwing the bag in her right seat, she slipped in and turned the key into the ignition, her frantically beating heart calming at the elegant purr of the car. Fasting her seatbelt, she then backed out of the lot, put on her sunglasses and attached her Bluetooth headset, and drove as fast as possible away from the hotel. Deeply engrossed in her phone conversation, she failed to notice that she took a different exit than the one used the previous day, resulting in her driving in front of the terrace and Tommy.
He saw her speed away, and he clutched his newspaper harder. After a restless night, with Jason's words still swirling in his brain and Kim's face dancing in front of his eyes, he had decided around five in the morning to practice a kata just to be able to focus on anything else—except on her and the emotions that gripped him.
Months ago, when Jason had called him to tell him that he and Trini were engaged and soon to be married, he couldn't have been happier for the two of them. A few days later Jason had arrived in Reefside on business, meeting Tommy for a drink in the evening at a local bar. The two friends had been discussed wedding plans when Jason accidentally slipped a piece of information that rendered Tommy speechless: Kim was in charge of the wedding preparations, and would be there the whole time he had planned to stay with his friends in Saratoga Springs. Distressed, Tommy had postponed the actual date of arrival as much as possible… until Jason had stepped in, once again, forcing his hand and basically dragging him kicking and screaming to the little town.
Now, his first full day in Saratoga Springs, he had seen his former lover and had managed to start a fight with her, causing chaos among the group. He had nearly gotten his ass kicked by his friends, and had found out that the woman that still gripped his heart was moving out of the country—out of the continent, for that matter—because of him. Things were definitely not going according to plan. When he left Reefside, he had sworn to himself that he wouldn't let Kimberly get to him; instead, he would try to be as distant from and polite to her as possible.
After his morning kata and a quick shower, Tommy had strolled lazily into the empty restaurant, getting himself a cup of coffee and the morning paper. He had felt himself growing calmer with every passing second until she had walked into the restaurant. Although he hadn't seen her, he had sensed her, something that made him happy and saddened him at the same time. Through the years they had been apart, he found himself still attached to her in some inexplicable way. During the whole Maligore incident he had felt her presence, even when she was turned evil. He could walk into a darkened building with her somewhere around and could pinpoint her location with precision. It scared him to know that she still had such a grip on him, their link as powerful as it was ten years ago. When she had walked into the restaurant, he had hoped that she would come over, giving him an opportunity to apologize for the way he had reacted the previous night; but instead, once again, she had walked away. Sadness and anger gripped his chest.
"Typical Kimberly. When it gets tough, she just walks away," he thought, trying to focus on the paper again.
At precisely 8:15, Kimberly rang the doorbell to Rose Garden. A few seconds later, the door swung open to reveal a surprised James.
"Miss Hart, what on Earth are you doing here at this time?" he asked, stepping away from the door to allow her to walk in.
"I apologize for the early visit, but I couldn't sleep and I thought I might get some work done," She gave him an apologizing look.
"Oh, no problem, Miss Hart. Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked, his British accent even more pronounced than usual.
"Thank you, James, but I would rather have a cup of coffee," she said. As if on cue, her stomach rumbled.
"Well, I think I'll fix you up something to eat while you have your coffee," James chuckled, walking towards the kitchen.
Once inside the kitchen, Kim quickly pulled a bar chair and climbed on, resting her elbows on the island counter. Meanwhile, James opened the fridge, humming to himself while he looked through the supplies.
"Do you like omelets, Miss Hart?" he asked, his head still in the refrigerator.
"I do, James, but please call me Kimberly or Kim. Miss Hart sounds so old maid," She laughed.
"Very well… Kimberly, omelet it is," With that said he pulled a carton of eggs and some ham, along with cheese and milk out of the fridge. Fetching a mixing bowl, a fork, knife and a pan, he began preparing breakfast. The room was quiet, the only sound coming from James's cooking and the coffee machine. Kim hopped down from her chair, grabbing a cup and pouring a generous amount of the caffeinated beverage. She closed her eyes as she took the first sip, moaning in pleasure. Returning to her chair, she continued to observe the elderly man.
"Hey, James, I never asked you this before, but how come you live here?" she began, sipping from her steaming mug.
"Well Miss…," he began—but, seeing her cocked eyebrow, he corrected himself. "I mean, Kimberly, I moved here about forty years ago. I grew up in Bristol, but I always knew I wanted to become a butler. When I turned sixteen, I left home and moved to London and went to the butler academy," he said, pouring the milk into the mixing bowl. She giggled at the idea of a facility providing extensive training to become a butler and he raised his eyes, smiling at her.
"Oh, don't laugh, my dear. Getting into the academy was a serious accomplishment for me. I worked long and hard, but after four years of intense training I graduated and began my first job with a prestigious family. The Kinlans were good people, wealthy but modest, always treated me like family. Their oldest son was my age and we became good friends, always up to no good. He married a few years later, moving with his wife across the ocean. Naturally he asked me to accompany them, and I happily obliged. We moved to Boston, where John worked at a law firm and his wife, Marge stayed at home," he explained as he stirred the eggs a bit more, seasoning them with salt and pepper.
"So, when did you move here from Boston?" she asked, her eyes glued to his expression.
James went on with an indulgent smile. "About six years after we moved to the United States, Mrs. Kinlan gave birth to the couple's first child, Elizabeth. The law firm was growing and John, to show his unconditional love for his wife and to celebrate the birth of Eli, bought this house. It was a wreck, barely standing, but Mrs. Kinlan loved it the minute she laid eyes on it. It became her personal project, and she began spending more and more time away from Boston to renovate the house. Four years later the house was done, and Mrs. Kinlan gave birth to the couple's second child: another girl, Rebecca. From that point on, we alternated between Boston and Saratoga Springs. When Rebecca turned ten, John opened an office here, moving the family permanently to Springs,"
"Did they return to London?" she asked, now curious.
"When Eli turned sixteen, John and Marge died in a car accident on their way to Rose Garden from Boston. The girls returned to the care of their grandparents in England, but I stayed behind with my wife, not having the heart to leave this house filled with so many wonderful memories. The Kinlans were kind enough to allow us to stay in the house, claiming that the house belonged to the two girls and that I should be its keeper until the girls are old enough to decide what to do with it.
"The years passed and we waited to be summoned back to London, or to be asked to move out, but that never came. Upon reaching the legal age, Eli visited and asked Constance and myself to continue guarding the house. Both sisters moved to the United States when their grandparents passed away, and are now living in San Francisco. They instructed me to rent the house for whichever events that I see fit," James explained. He grabbed a plate from a cupboard, took a knife and fork from a drawer, and placed the utensils in front of Kim. He eased the omelet onto her plate with a steady hand and put the bread into the toaster.
"Forgive me if I'm being rude, but where is Constance?" Kim shyly asked, not daring to look at him.
"She passed away before you started with the company," he stated simply, putting the kettle on the oven.
"I am so sorry, James. I shouldn't have asked about her, it was disrespectful. I apologize," Kim said, her voice small and fragile.
"It's all right, Kimberly, no harm done. Constance was a wonderful woman, best companion that I could ever have, but it is better for her like this," he replied, putting a tea bag into his cup.
At his statement the planner frowned. She had been working with James close to four years now, but he had never mentioned Constance until now—and though she knew him to be cold and distant by nature and upbringing, she couldn't help but feel that James did not seem to be as affected by his wife's death as he should have been. He called her his companion, not his love or beloved or whatever; just companion. That puzzled Kim.
"You seem deep in thought, Kimberly. What's bothering you?" James asked, stirring his tea. He took a seat in front of her, resting his cup on the island and gazing intensely at her.
"Honestly, I'm ashamed to even word what I'm thinking, so just leave it at that," she replied briskly, digging into her omelet.
"Constance was a wonderful wife and a great mother who gave me two beautiful children that I love more than life itself, but she was not the woman I was in love with," James explained plainly, looking out the window. His statement made Kim blush and choke on her food—it was like he was reading her mind.
He chuckled warmly, glancing back at her. "I think I have nailed it, right, Kimberly?"
She nodded reluctantly, taking a sip from her coffee.
"You see, when I was still in school, I met this wonderful woman, Mary, and I was immediately smitten. We began a relationship, and soon after I wanted to make her my wife," His voice trailed away as he stared absentmindedly into space.
"What happened?" Kim asked quietly, her food forgotten.
"I made a mistake. I lied to her, turning my back on her and breaking her heart," James said, sighing.
"But didn't you try to make amends?" she pushed on further, dreading his response the moment she voiced the question.
"I did, but by than it was too late. She had moved on, married somebody else. Although I was still in love with her, I did not have the heart to confront her and confess. It is my biggest regret to this day. I moved with the Kinlans to the United States, where I met Constance and married her soon after. She made me happy, but I never felt fulfilled, and no other woman can take Mary's place in my heart," James finished, his eyes sad.
When he felt her small hand on his arm, he turned to her and, seeing the compassion in her eyes, smiled sadly.
"I'm truly sorry, James,"
"It does not matter anymore, it's long passed. I hope she is happy, and that youths today are smarter than I was and do not repeat my mistake. My mother told me while growing up that every person on this planet has a matching partner, a soul mate if you will, and when those two souls meet, they shouldn't let love slip between their fingers. Now, my mother wasn't the most beautiful woman or the smartest, but she was never wrong, and I believe her," The doorbell rang and James quickly moved towards it, leaving Kim with a heavy heart.
"Oh dear God! Jason, my mother is being impossible again," Trini grumbled as she slid on the large armchair. Jason, sitting on the armrest, hugged her petite figure and placed a kiss on top of her head.
"Of course she's being impossible, love. We're getting married soon—she's got the mama blues," Jason chuckled softly.
It was now well past lunchtime, and the group had met up earlier at the house to check on the arrangements and grab a bite to eat. James, happy to have the entertaining crowd around, had busied himself in the kitchen by throwing a feast for twelve former Power Rangers and Kim's two assistants. They had all gathered around the dinning room table, chatting and laughing, with everybody in good spirits. Upon finishing the early lunch, Jason and Trini had met up with their respective families while the others had walked around town, leaving Kim to her business. A few hours later, they had all met back at the house. Now, Trini was more nervous than ever before.
"What happened this time?" Aisha asked, sipping her iced tea next to Rocky on the sofa.
"She's still pissed that I didn't ask her to take care of the wedding organization instead of Kim. I told her a million times that Kim's a professional, but she still took it personally," Trini answered rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Now she's threatening to show up and take matters into her own hands," She groaned.
"Please don't tell me she's coming here?" Jason asked, shuddering at the thought of his future mother-in-law showing up at the manor and meddling in Kim's business.
"No. My dad, sister, and the two dozen aunts, uncles, and cousins are keeping her busy," Trini sighed, adding a teaspoon of honey to her green tea.
"Well, we can always send Jason's parents as reinforcements in case your mom decides to show up here," Tommy said, making the group laugh.
"Oh, that is definitely something I would like to see," Trini said, smiling. Although she hadn't forgiven Tommy yet for the scene he had caused the previous night, she and Jason had had a long conversation in the car that had melted her anger a bit. For now, she was going to play nice—but that could change if Tommy didn't hold his tongue.
"I know, I think I might get some popcorn and front row seats for that one. Trini, your mom is scary, but Jason's mom, well… that is something that Kim probably aspires to," Rocky said and the room shook with laughter once more.
"Can you imagine what would happen if Trini's mom showed up and got into Kim's business?" Kat asked.
"I don't ever want to witness a Mrs. Kwan versus Kim showdown. I guarantee casualties," Rocky answered.
"Speaking of Miss Pink, where is she?" Zack asked, looking around for his friend.
"She came by when we were planning the bachelor and bachelorette party, but she didn't stay long after the set-up guys arrived," Aisha answered, eying Tommy carefully. The two had tip-toed around each other the whole day, avoiding contact by all means: Kim never staying in the same room for more than half an hour and directing the conversation to wedding-related issues, and Tommy refusing to look at her or speak to her more than necessary.
"About the party, what are we doing tonight?" Billy asked, his fingers laced with Kat's. The former Pink Ranger was sitting on his lap.
"I say strip club," Zack began, only to be cut short by Angela's hand colliding with the back of his head.
"What was that for, babe?" he asked, rubbing his head.
"Zack Taylor, you don't actually believe that I'd let you go to a strip club when you're happily married?" Angela demanded as the group snickered.
"Jason, bro, this is married life. Enjoy your remaining freedom, because the day after tomorrow you're toast," Zack warned, his hand still pressing the sore spot.
"See, this will never happen to me," Rocky said smugly, positioning himself more comfortably on the couch. "Aisha trusts me fully and would let me go to a strip bar whenever I wanted,"
"The hell I would!" Aisha interjected as soon as Rocky finished his statement. "You don't actually believe I would agree with you going to a bar, getting drunk, and staring at half-naked women?"
"But, babe, you know I don't want anybody else. I look, but I never touch," Rocky whined, scooting closer to her.
"Yeah, but by the fifteenth glass of tequila you start seeing me everywhere and you won't know which 'Aisha' you go home with," Aisha laughed, patting Rocky on the leg. He, on the other hand, pouted and folded his arms across his chest like a child. The others chuckled at his expression until Tommy interrupted the dirty jokes now circulating around.
"So, Jase, what do you want to do instead, now that a strip club is out of the question?"
"Pub crawling doesn't look too appealing to me. I think we passed that stage while in college," Jason began.
"Speak for yourself," Rocky muttered. They all shared an amused look.
"Saratoga Springs is too small for clubbing, so I have no clue what we could do," Jason concluded with a sigh.
"Jason, tell me, what would be the one thing you would love to do before you get married?" Adam asked, shooing Tanya from his lap so he could get more comfortable.
"Honestly, I would kill to be able to pilot my old Zord again," Jason answered, his eyes glowing. The others shared knowing looks, wistfulness lingering in their eyes.
"Take it down a notch, Sparky. Our old Zords are screws and sprockets, and I doubt even Billy would be able to rebuild them in a couple of hours," Adam said, longing still in his eyes. He, like the others, missed his frog Zord immensely and understood perfectly why Jason wanted to recapture the thrill of piloting one again.
"I think I have an idea," Tommy said, grinning.
"Care to share?" Billy asked.
Tommy shook his head, denying him the answer. "It's going to be a surprise. Just trust me on this one,"
"Just please don't forget, oh fearless leader," Kat said, making him chuckle.
"It's been awfully quiet outside. I wonder where…"
Before Adam could finish his sentence, they all cringed at the scream.
"HENRY, YOU IDIOT!" Kim boomed.
"Uh-oh!" Jason and Rocky said at the same time, looking at each other. Jason, first on his feet, was out the door before the others could rouse themselves and follow him.
Jason flew down the stairs leading to the garden, finally spotting an outraged Kim yelling at Henry.
The others, stopping on the stairs, observed the mess spread on the lawn: the tents for the reception halfway erected, the ceremonial pavilion still not mounted. The garden was in complete chaos, with boxes strewn everywhere, chairs stocked in a nearby woodshed, people gaping at the petite woman screaming her lungs out. They all saw Jason approaching their friend and had to hold on to each other to keep from tumbling down the stairs in laughter.
On the lawn, between boxes and wood pieces, was Kimberly, her five-foot-something frame yelling at a six-foot-five young man, who was trying his best to blend in with the ground. Kim's harsh words and almost hysterical tone caused him to flinch and shrink, her words reducing him to a pool of trembling mush. She was beyond angry and he was, needless to say, scared for his life.
"I'm sorry, Kim, it was a misunderstanding. They told me they didn't have the lanterns you asked for and gave me these instead. How was I supposed to know what was written on them?" Henry asked, exasperated.
"You should have opened the damn box and looked at the instructions. There is a label clearly explaining the meaning of the characters," she yelled back, feeling the pang of an impending migraine.
"I'll fix it, Kim, I-I-I swear," Henry stuttered.
"You better—and, while you're at it, you might want to look at the list of tablecloths I gave you. They were supposed to be red with yellow rimming, not PINK!" Kim screamed.
"But 'pink' was written on the list. I checked it this morning before I got the lanterns from the shop and came here," Henry defended himself.
"No, you moron. Light pink is the cloth that gets wrapped around the pavilion. Instead of that, I have blue silk for the pavilion and the chairs and no blue bands to tie the cloth to the damn chairs. To top it all off, you picked up the wrong flower arrangement. Those," she said, showing the large flower cart sitting next to the boxes, "are for another wedding. The planner has been calling me for two hours demanding to know where her flowers disappeared. I swear to God, Henry, if you don't…" she threatened.
"Kimmy!" Jason yelled.
She turned to him, hearing the others laughing on the stairs, and frowned. "What, Jason?" she asked angrily.
"Henry, go inside and grab a cup of coffee or something. I'll call you back a bit later, ok?" he said, giving the young man a stern look.
Henry smiled weakly and ran off before Kim could say anything.
"Deep breaths, Pinky. In and out, just like we practiced," Jason instructed.
"I'm not a child, Jason. I don't need to breathe in and out, I need to strangle that cretin," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Breathe, Kim, and tell me what happened," Jason commanded, using the tone he used in battles a decade ago.
"Before coming here, I left detailed instructions to Henry on what to pick up. I gave him the easiest tasks, leaving band, catering and photo confirmation up to Amber, because she can handle the heavier stuff. I took care of the arrangements here—the crew came today, materials in place—but, surprise, surprise, Henry got me the wrong colored material for the wedding pavilion, picked up the wrong lanterns and gave me somebody else's flowers instead of yours,"
"That doesn't sound so bad," Jason said calmly, looking at her.
She grabbed him by the hand and led him to the closest box, where she released him and began digging. Seconds later, she emerged, dangling a round red lantern with a yellow inscription from her fingers.
"Do you know what this is?" she asked, hands on her hip, a raised eyebrow studying his confused face.
"Yeah, a lantern. So?" Jason was growing impatient, thinking that Kimberly was overreacting.
"Absolute genius, Jason. Do you know the meaning of the writing on it?" she asked once again, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Nope. It's in Vietnamese," he answered his tone clearly that of a person reaching his patience threshold.
"It says, 'Congratulation, it's a boy!'" Kim flatly stated, watching as Jason's face paled.
"Shit!"
"Shit indeed. These have to be put up tonight, when those damn tents are erected, since tomorrow it's going to be too much of a hassle to put them on without the whole damn thing collapsing. We can put the candles in tomorrow, but the lanterns HAVE to go up tonight!" she pressed on, furiously rubbing her brow.
Jason could see the tension vibrating around her, her stiff posture, her furrowed brows, her set jaw. As they stood in silence, they heard an ear-splitting scream.
"KIMBERLY!"
"Uh-oh! I think Trini just found the lanterns," Jason said, seeing his future wife hunched over a box not far from the steps leading to the house.
"I'm so dead!" Kim whispered, grabbing Jason's hand.
"It's going to be fine, Kimmy, relax," he tried to reassure her, though his voice lacked confidence.
Trini stormed up the stairs, Kim and Jason right behind her.
"Trini, love, relax!" Jason yelled at her, walking faster. The others had followed the petite Asian into the house; when the former Red and Pink Rangers walked in, the room became eerily quiet. They both swallowed hard, turning towards the fuming bride.
"Tri, sweetie, listen to me, please!" Kim began, but stopped dead in her track upon seeing her best friend's murderous gaze.
"Don't Trini me! This is a disaster! Care to explain to my family why all the lanterns at my wedding have the inscription 'Congratulations, it's a boy!' on them?" Trini huffed, steam practically coming out of her ears.
"Trini, relax, I'll take care of it," Kimberly begged, her features tense.
"Kim, I love you, but right now I'm tempted to call my mother to solve this issue. And would you stop telling me to relax!" Trini ordered, still angry. Her eyes scanned the room, looking at the frightened and half amused faces of the former Rangers.
Jason stood in between the two women, ready to act in case things got ugly. Seeing the color drain out Kim's face and hearing Trini's labored breathing, he decided to intervene in spite of his better judgment.
"Look, Trini, sometimes things go wrong before a wedding, but that doesn't mean Kim won't be able to fix it. We still have time, so just take a deep breath and try to calm yourself, please," Jason said, putting his arm around her petite shoulders.
Right on cue, they heard a loud crash coming from the kitchen. Everyone's attention shifted towards the sound. Kim was the first to sprint out of the room, her eyes wide as surveying the scene. Henry, a bewildered expression on his face and a cup of coffee in his hand, was standing next to the kitchen island on a floor covered in shattered plates and glasses.
Kim swayed on her feet, her eyes flashing in anger as she balled her fists. "Out!" she growled.
Henry's face was as white as chalk, his whole frame trembling, but he didn't move.
By now the others had joined Kim in the kitchen and were looking in shock at the mess spread on the floor.
"I said, out, Henry," Kim repeated through clenched teeth. The man stood there, frozen in place.
Tears shimmered in Trini's eyes as she began sobbing; Jason held her, his face as flushed and angry as Kim's.
Henry's feet seemed rooted to the ground as Kim began moving towards him. Before she could reach him, however, Tommy snapped out of his shock-induced daze and caught her, holding her tight against his body.
"Let me go!" Kim struggled, but he gripped her tighter.
Henry swiftly made his way out, stumbling over the shards; he tried to grip the counter but missed, bringing the silver tablets crashing down with an ear-shattering sound. He quickly moved out of the kitchen, leaving Trini sobbing uncontrollably and Kim screaming at the top of her lungs for Tommy to free her.
"Would you calm down already?" he asked, trying to restrain her. She struggled harder.
"Let me go!" she demanded. He complied, freeing her.
Aisha, Tanya and Kat were already crouched, picking up pieces from the floor, while Billy and Zack searched for garbage bags and Rocky went to look for James. Trini was hysterical, while Jason was struggling to both keep his cool and soothe his fiancé.
Kim was breathing harshly, her whole frame trembling with anger. Tommy studied her, wishing he could make everything better and take away her burdens. "How can I help?" he asked quietly, stepping closer to her. She was bracing herself against the counter, trying to regain her cool as she watched him from the corner of her eye.
Kim extended her right arm, halting his progress and spoke without looking at him. "Stay out of my way." Her voice was barely controlled.
"You can't do everything by yourself. You're overworked and you have imbeciles on your team. Let me help..." Tommy trailed away, his frustration rearing its head.
"I can handle this. I do this on a daily basis and don't need any help," Kim replied, finally meeting his gaze.
"Kimberly…" he began, but she cut him off.
"No! This is my job. Stop questioning my abilities, I'm not a teenager anymore," the original Pink Ranger growled.
"I'm not! Look, would you stop being ridiculous and let others help you?"
"I'm being ridiculous? You're the one questioning the way I handle my business and who thinks I'm incompetent. Did I question you as a leader?" Kim asked, her murderous gaze piercing through him.
"Stop putting words in my mouth. I don't think you're incompetent. And, yes, you did question me as a leader—countless times in fact," Tommy replied, his voice rising in volume.
By now the room was deadly silent. Trini held onto Jason while the former Red Ranger analyzed the whole situation; Adam inched closer, ready to intervene at any time; Aisha moved towards Kim.
"Did you ever listen to me, when I questioned you?"
"You undermined my authority, but I never took it seriously."
"You never did. Just took it for granted," Kim said, anger blazing in her eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tommy asked, invading her personal space.
"Exactly what you heard," she shot back, her anger quickly reaching its boiling point.
"That's enough!" Trini yelled, her anger overshadowing her panic attack. She glared at the two people engaged in a staring match, both tense and ready to throw more harsh words at each other.
"No, Trini. Miss Hart needs to explain," Tommy spoke, without looking at his friend.
"I've had enough of you two. We asked you to play nice for a few days—just a few days—yet neither of you is capable of holding your tongue for ten minutes. I'm so tired of this. Just lock yourselves in a room and either smash or bang each other's brains out; I don't care anymore!" Trini yelled, storming out of the room. Jason followed, hot on her heels.
Pain and remorse flashed in Kim's eyes as she watched her best friend storm out of the room and saw Jason's angry face. She could still feel Tommy's piercing gaze on her, but now her rage had subsided.
Turning to him, she said simply, "Outside, Oliver." Pointing towards the back door, she began to walk. Tommy trailed after her as she passed the den; now empty except for Henry, who was holding his head in his hands.
"Henry, go pack up the material and put them in the company SUV. Lanterns, materials, flowers, everything," Kim instructed, her voice weaker now.
He looked up at the sound of her voice, his face miserable. Nodding, he stood up from the couch and began moving towards the entrance.
The pair walked in silence, heading towards the gazebo. They had both cooled down, guilt now evident in their features. Kim walked up the stairs and turned to meet his gaze. He kept a safe distance from her, his face sad and sour.
"Look, I don't care how much you hate me or despise me; this isn't about you or me, or our past," Kim began, eying him tiredly as she leaned against the gazebo railing. He nodded, so she continued her train of thought. "This is about Jason and Trini, about their wedding. They're more than our friends, they're family, and we need to put our differences aside for a few days."
"I agree," he replied.
"Then let's try to be civil for the next seventy-two hours. After that, you can go back to screaming at me as much as you want," Kim said, looking tiredly at him.
"I just want to talk, Kim. I don't want to fight anymore, I'm so tired of it," he told her, inching closer. He quickly stepped back, however, when she shied away.
"After the wedding," she told him, a sigh escaping her lips.
"Yeah, right, you'll bolt again," he snorted, his irritation breaking through his composure.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she asked, straightening up immediately as her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"It means, you'll do what you do best—you'll leave again," Tommy spoke, his voice low and menacing.
Kim was about to reply when a timid voice called her name.
"What?" she asked, still glaring at Tommy.
"The car is full and I just wanted to know what you want me to do?" Henry replied uncomfortably, knowing that he had interrupted a tense discussion.
"Go to the car and wait for me there. I'll join you in ten minutes," Kim instructed.
"You're coming with me?"
"Yes."
"To New York?" Henry pressed.
"Of course, to New York. This mess needs to be fixed ASAP," she responded irritably, turning to meet Henry's gaze.
The man nodded and jogged towards the car, leaving the former Power couple alone as the tension between them wordlessly escalated.
"I don't have time for this, Tommy. I have a wedding to organize and a best friend to apologize to," Kim said. She stepped past him before he could reply, walking back towards the house and leaving him to stare at her swiftly moving frame.
She jogged up the stairs, her heart pounding wildly and her thoughts a mess. She was still angry, but his last comment had hurt her—a fact she would rather be caught dead than admit to. She felt guilty and was beyond worried for the wedding.
Stepping through the door into the den, she spotted Adam on the couch.
"Is he alive?" he chuckled humorously.
"Yes. Where is Trini?" she asked, her voice laced with anxiety.
"She's outside, in the greenhouse with the girls. When Jason failed to calm her down, they stepped in. Now they're playing shrink." Adam smiled, looking at Kim's pale face.
"And Jason?" the medalist continued, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
"Billy and Zack drove him to town to grab a beer and calm him down, before he tears both you and Tommy apart for upsetting Trini," Adam continued.
"Oh, God! What have I done?" Kim cried, her palms covering her face. "Why aren't you with them, Adam?" she asked, speaking from behind her fingers.
"I had to make sure you two were alive and be there call 911 in case of emergency," Adam attempted to joke. Kim nodded, before grabbing Adam's cup and taking a sip out of it.
"Urgh, you put sugar in here. How can you drink this stuff?" the planner asked, swallowing the sweet liquid and pulling a face in the process.
"Hey, I have my vices, sue me." Adam shrugged. "Are you okay, Kim?" he asked quietly, his face serious as he observed her expression.
"Peachy! This day keeps getting better and better," she grumbled, looking at him with a sour expression. "I need to talk to Trini. I'll see you later, Adam, and thank you," she said, squeezing his shoulder.
She heard voices as she entered the greenhouse, one of them louder than the others. Kim smiled, recognizing it as Aisha's. Moving between pots and plants, she broke through and saw them all gathered around a round table. Trini's head was resting in her hands; Aisha patted her knee while Tanya stroked her back. As always, the yellows looked out for one another. Across from them, Kat and Angela looked at Trini, trying to come up with a way to make things better.
"Trini," Kim began. The women turned at the sound of her voice. Slowly Trini looked up, sniffling loudly, breaking Kim's heart in the process.
"Guys, would you mind giving Trini and me a minute?" she asked; but she found uncertainty written on their faces.
"It's okay, let me talk to Pinky." Trini smiled sadly and the four women nodded, slowly standing up and walking towards the entrance of the greenhouse. Aisha patted Kim's shoulder, giving her a gentle gaze, while the other women walked wordlessly towards the door.
Once alone, Kim walked slowly towards Trini, who was still crying softly, and crouched down. Putting a hand on Trini's knee, she looked up at her friend. Her mask was undone, her soul bare.
"I'm so sorry, Trini! I never meant for this to happen," she apologized, looking at her friend.
Trini just stared at her.
"Please, say something—yell at me if you want, I deserve it—but please, talk to me," Kim begged when more silent seconds passed. To Kim, they felt like hours.
"I'm sorry for screaming at you," Trini finally stated, her face sincere.
Kimberly laughed, looking at her and shifting closer. She then brushed the hair out of her face and wiped her tears away. "Are you kidding? You should have kicked my butt, I so asked for it," she joked.
Trini laughed in between sniffles, grasping her hand and smiling faintly.
"Is Tommy alive?" she asked, her smile broadening when she saw Kim's expression.
"Have you been talking to Adam? He asked me the same question. And yes, Trini, he's alive—although I wish I could have strangled him a bit for not being able to shut up," Kim said, shrugging.
"This is such a mess," the former yellow Ranger sighed.
"Yes, it is, and I'm mostly to blame," Kim replied, scooting closer. Her friend gave her a questioning stare, and she continued. "I shouldn't have snapped at him; he only wanted to help. But I was mad and he stepped in the line of fire," the planner explained, not meeting Trini's eyes.
"Did you tell him that?"
"Nope. I would never live it down if I had." Kim smiled, getting to her feet and sitting on the table.
"Look, Trini, I know things don't look good right now; but I promised to give you the wedding of your dreams, and I will keep my word," Kim said, taking Trini's hand.
Trini nodded, looking more hopeful.
"I have to go, but don't worry," Kim said then.
"Where are you going, Kimmy?"
"To New York, to take care of Henry's mistakes," Kim explained, hopping down from the table.
"Will you be back?"
"Of course, Tri; I'll be back by tonight. About the bachelorette party: Amber is in charge. Whatever you need, speak to her and she'll deliver. Understood?" Kim added, letting go of Trini's warm hand.
"Okkay, Pinky. I'll see you later," her former teammate said, pulling Kim into a hug, which she gladly gave into.
Walking towards the car, Kim decided to take the longer route through the back garden so she could calm herself. She would be spending some time locked in a car with Henry, and at the moment she was still mad at him. Walking slowly, the petite woman looked around, surveying the construction progress and let out a disappointed sigh. Then, she turned her gaze towards the gazebo. Sitting down and staring at her was none other than Tommy. She couldn't make out his features from this distance, but, from the set of his shoulders, she could determine that her former flame was still upset. She shook her head and increased her pace, failing to notice that Rocky was making his way towards the gazebo.
Rocky had avoided the line of fire as much as possible. When the second Kim versus Tommy blowout had occurred, he had swiftly fled the scene. Having been teammates and friends for such a long time, he was torn between the two and found it extremely difficult to take sides. Tommy was one of his closest friends, his sparring partner, someone he could pull pranks on people with; and once he had taken orders from him, followed him wordlessly into battle, trusted his judgment to the fullest. He respected and admired Tommy, and would follow him into battle, if the need ever arose, without a second thought.
On the other hand, Kimberly had always been nice to him. She had taken him under her wing when he joined the team, helped him with his siblings when needed, cheering him up when he was down—hell, she had even hinted that Aisha might like him as more than a friend, effectively pushing him into confessing that he wanted more than just friendship from his yellow teammate. In turn, she had become his little sister, an essential part of his life; on countless occasions he had stepped in for her when the boys were too pushy, or offered her a shoulder she could cry on.
Walking up the gazebo steps, he could see Tommy's slumped shoulders and dark features. He carefully stepped closer, took a seat close by, and looked at his friend. When Tommy met his gaze, Rocky cracked a smile.
"Rocko… What's up?" Tommy asked, his voice bare.
"I'm checking for bruises. I see Kimmy didn't draw blood." Rocky chuckled and Tommy smiled.
"Nah. She wasn't wearing heels, so no life threatening wounds. Plus we just talked… sort of," Tommy joked, straightening up so Rocky could look at hm.
"Was the talking similar to the kitchen screaming match?" Rocky asked, his voice a bit more somber. When Tommy cast his gaze away from him, he went on. "Look, I'm not going to apologize for last night—you had it coming—but I'm here if you need to talk, or even just to spar," he said, his gaze as sincere as his words
"I know, Rocky; and, trust me, I don't hold what happened last night against you. I would have reacted the same. Right now, though, I have no clue how to talk to her. She thinks I hate her, practically blocking any attempt to reach out to her. She makes me so mad, bringing out the worst in me—and then I snap at her and we fight," Tommy explained, standing up and walking around the gazebo.
"I think I'm going to get Jason and put into practice Trini's advice, lock you two up in a room, where you either kill each other or kiss and make up," Rocky joked again, standing up and moving towards his friend. "Tommy, man, be patient with her. I might not be as close to her as Jason and Trini are, but I know this: Kim's heart is in the right place. She just needs a gentle push, not a full blown attack."
"She's leaving, Rocko, after the wedding. I doubt I'll get my chance."
"I know, but moving to another continent takes time. It doesn't happen overnight," Rocky answered, clapping a hand on Tommy's shoulder.
"How do you know she's moving?" Tommy inquired, puzzled.
"Eh, I shake things up with a yellow. Nothing is a secret anymore when those two communicate. Plus, Adam's my best friend and also in a relationship with a yellow." Rocky smiled and Tommy laughed.
"There is something about that color," Tommy mused humorously. Rocky burst into laughter.
They then walked towards the house, determined to contain the damage and restore some peace to the gang.
Once inside, they were able to hear laughter filling the room. Tommy let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. Upon meeting Trini's eyes, he bowed his head in shame, moving as far away as possible from her and avoiding her gaze. He felt guilty for upsetting Trini even more, and was clueless about how to make things up to her.
During a heated argument between Rocky and Aisha, the once nicknamed ape-boy decided to take revenge on his better half. Grabbing her by the waist, he trapped her underneath his body and tickled her sides. She shook with laughter, tears streaming down her face as she begged him to stop. Adam and Tanya were laughing hysterically every time Aisha squealed, while Kat and Angela giggled like two schoolgirls.
Tommy smiled, finding the silliness of his friends extremely amusing. He turned to observe the rest of his place, only to notice that Trini was looking at him intensely. She pointed towards the kitchen and he nodded, following her when she stood up and began walking.
Trini sat on a bar stool, her expression unreadable. Tommy squirmed, and the pretty Asian had to fight the laughter bubbling inside of her.
"I'm really sorry, Trini. I didn't mean to upset you—or fight with Kim, for that matter," Tommy apologized.
Trini burst into laughter. Tommy stared at her, puzzled, as if she had grown another head.
"Your face… just… priceless," Trini laughed as he continued to stare at her. "…I'm sorry. Look, Tommy, this wasn't your fault. I know, Kim knows, and so does Jason. Yesterday, yes, you blew it, but today… not your fault, rainbow." She giggled.
"I should have been in better control," he stated.
"Maybe. But you're only human, Tommy, and God knows Kim can be infuriating at times. Lets just bury the hatchet and try to behave like we're pushing thirty and not three, okay?" she asked, giggling.
Tommy smiled and stood up from his chair, pulling Trini into a hug.
Kim had been stuck with Henry inside the damn car for almost an hour, and slowly but surely she was losing her mind. The man was tense and refused to speak a word, but Kim knew that his silence was more the result of his shame than any resentment.
"Speak, Henry!" she commanded. He tensed up even more. "Oh, for Christ sake, I'm not going to bite your head off. I just want to know why you've been clumsier than usual," she continued.
Henry glanced at her. "I'm sorry, Kim. I didn't mean to screw up, it's just…" he trailed off, not finishing his sentence.
"It's just what?" Kim pressed. Henry seemed even more uncomfortable.
"Trini is your best friend and everything needs to be perfect. That's a lot of pressure, and I go from normal, forgetful Henry to klutz 2.0 just thinking about her and messing up," Henry explained, making Kim laugh.
"I still don't get it," Kim continued. "For you, she's just a client. Why the pressure?"
"I don't want to disappoint you, Kim. When I showed up at the company asking for an internship, everybody basically laughed in my face. You, on the other hand, gave me a chance. I just don't want to blow it… and I don't want to look like a fool in front of Amber. She mocks me enough on my good days, anyway," Henry explained, gripping the steering wheel harder.
"You like her!" Kim squealed, looking at her assistant. Her hunch was confirmed by the blush spreading to his neck. "Oh my God, how is it possible I haven't seen it earlier?" she asked herself, waiting for Henry to speak again.
"Yeah, I like her. But she'll never look at a dork like me. I finished finance and can barely hold something in my hands without dropping it two seconds later or falling on my face; no chick in her right mind would find that cool," Henry huffed, stopping the car at a red light. He leaned on the steering wheel, quietly swearing.
"I'm not going to give you dating advice—God knows I'm a disaster in that field myself—but I will say this, Henry: you're a good addition to the team. You know your numbers well, and our team is successful because you proved to be merciless with our clients when it comes to cash," Kim laughed. "Yes, you are clumsy outside of the office, but that doesn't mean you're not good at the job. You just need to be more confident and pay more attention to details," she explained, looking at him.
Her words eased the tension. Slowly Henry began to unwind and become more sociable, causing Kim to unwind as well and forget her troubles.
Groaning, Kim unlocked the door of her room, her feet aching from the hectic day. She threw her bag on the bed and quickly disposed of her shoes. From the common living space, she heard laughter and smiled.
"Oh my God, you should have seen him the first time we did it. He tried to be all smooth and confident, but he was jittery like a kitten." Aisha's voice broke through, accompanied by a set of laughter.
"My first date with Zack was a disaster. He walked into walls and spilled his coffee all over my new dress. It was so funny, because he kept apologizing and then doing something even sillier," Angela supplied.
"Yo, Kat, I want another one," Tanya called, and Kim quickly put her hand on her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud.
"With Jason, it was a bit more complicated. We danced around each other for…"
"Almost a decade," Aisha added, interrupting Trini. In the other room, Kim pressed her face into her pillow, laughing hysterically at Aisha's comment.
"Okay, fine, we danced around each other for a decade."
"I hope the wait was worth it, girl," Tanya and Angela exclaimed, laughing.
"She's blushing!" all four women yelled.
"Now you have to share, I mean everything, and don't hold back," Kat insisted.
At that moment, Kim opened the connecting door. "Please, don't: I'll never be able to look at Jason the same way again after that conversation," she laughed.
The women called her name, jumping from their respective places to hug her.
"Girl, did you bring Henry in one piece back?" Tanya began.
"Yes, he's fine, and I also found out why he's so clumsy," Kim told them, a twinkle in her eye as she sipped from Trini's cocktail.
"Hey! Get your own. I'm intending to spend my last moments as a single woman extremely intoxicated." Trini giggled as the girls cheered.
"Do tell, Kimmy. Why's Henry such a moron?" Aisha started.
"I'll tell you after I have a quick shower and get a drink," Kim told them, standing up from the couch and walking back towards her room.
Twenty minutes later, now sporting a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, Kim made her way back to the merry party. By now, the group had shifted into Trini's room, talking loudly and laughing.
"So, what did you guys have in mind for tonight?" she asked, looking at her sisters.
"Well, we spoke to Amber, but we were so undecided that she gave up on us," Angela laughed.
"So we just decided to go to a cute little restaurant, get a grab a bite to eat, and we'll see after," Tanya explained.
"Please, no Mexican. I'm so fed up with it, because every time we go back to Angel Grove to visit Rocky's mom she feeds us traditional Mexican food," Aisha pleaded, shuddering at the idea of eating something remotely related to Mexican food.
"Well, after we decide, head there, and have some food, we could always come back here and party a bit more," Kat said. "I'm sure that if we call the hotel and ask for fruit and a couple of bottles of some hard liquor, I can fix you up with some tasty cocktails," she added, hoping that her friends would accept her idea. She wasn't exactly in the mood to go out and party; she would rather spend time talking with her friends, having some cocktails and listening to some music.
"Well, I know this little restaurant close to the hotel. The last wedding I did here, the bride asked me to book her and her friends a table at 'Big Mama' and they told me they loved it. Claire said that they have the best margaritas in town," Kim explained, giggling. "And yeah, after that we can come back here, get some bottles of whatever, and Kat can prepare us some lovely cocktails. After all, you need to show us your bartending skills," she continued, earning herself a big smile from Kat.
"Let's do this!" Aisha said, jumping from Trini's bed.
Two hours later, the six women were occupying a booth in the comfortable and homey atmosphere at Big Mama. The jukebox was playing 80's and 90's music, and a small stage provided the multitude of guests with the opportunity to try out their singing skills. By now, they had dug into their food, with Angela complaining that barely into her second trimester she was already eating for two. Her comment brought the six friends to tears of laughter.
"Kim, your turn to buy drinks," Tanya said. The original Pink Ranger nodded, sliding out of the booth and strolling towards the bar.
"What can I get you, pretty lady?" the bartender asked, and Kim had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. He had been calling her that the whole evening and she was slowly getting tired of it.
"Two Cosmopolitans, one Sex on the Beach, a Bloody Mary, an iced tea, and a Coconut Kiss without alcohol," she replied with a tight smile.
"Coming right up," he said, flashing her a smile.
While he began preparing a drink, she turned her back to him and looked at her friends. Aisha was pulling Trini's hand, probably trying to convince her of something, while Angela's head rested on her arms with her shoulders shaking with laughter. Tanya and Kat were pointing at Trini, speaking to her. Kim shook her head, grinning. She loved them all dearly, and she felt her heart constrict once more.
"I don't want to be without them. They're my family," she said to herself. Part of her begged herself to not take the position in Rome, but the other one advised her to go: it let them have a normal life without any more conflicts.
"Here you go," the bartender said, handing her the drinks and a tray.
"Thanks," she responded, and he smiled again.
She took the large tray and walked towards the table. Once seated, they all took their drinks and resumed their conversation.
"Can I try your drink, Kimmy?" Aisha asked. Kim nodded.
Taking a sip from the drink, Aisha grimaced. "What happened to the alcohol? Did you order one without?"
Kim shrugged, looking sheepishly at the glowing faces of her friends.
"Pinky, you're so lame," Aisha said.
"Well, somebody has to drive your ass back to the hotel," Kim answered, taking another sip from her drink.
"Well, Angela could have driven us. After all, she's in no condition to drink," Kat spoke, giving Kim a dirty look.
"Angela, I love you, but no one touches my baby."
"Oh, God! You're never going to let that go," Trini moaned.
The four other girls turned to her. "What happened?" Tanya inquired.
"Jason borrowed Kim's car two weeks after she got it, and managed to smash it into a wall," Trini explained.
"Oh, dear! Was he okay?" Kat asked.
"Yeah—his head is harder than my car. He managed to park it right into the wall of the parking garage in my building," Kim clarified.
"Oh, come on, Kim, it was only one time. You know he's a good driver!" Trini exclaimed, staring at her friend and defending her husband-to-be.
"He might be, but once is more than enough. No one touches my car, no exceptions," Kim declared.
A few hours after Kim and Tommy's blowout, Jason had returned to the hotel to find Tommy gazing out the window. Although Jason was in a better mood upon his return from the city, it had still taken the two of them an intense sparring session to go back to their regular selves. Now, all six men were sitting in Adam's car with Tommy behind the wheel, though the others had no clue where they were heading. The conversation had been entertaining, ranging from sports to women and naturally ending up with them discussing their past as Rangers.
Two hours later, after a heated debate of which Zord was cooler and sleeker, Tommy pulled the car into a deserted parking lot. They stepped out of the car, five of them wearing a puzzled expression. Tommy led the way through the massive gates of what seemed to be a stadium. They all walked in silence until a man stepped out from the shadows and called Tommy's name.
"Hey, Frank. How've you been?" Tommy asked, grabbing Frank's hand and giving it a sturdy shake.
"I'm good, doctor. Are these the guys you told me about?" He pointed at the five curious and slightly annoyed men.
"Yeah, these are my friends, Jason, Rocky, Billy, Adam and Zack. Guys, this is Frank, a friend of mine," Tommy announced.
"Nice to meet you, Frank. Now, Tommy, would you mind telling us what we're doing here?" Zack asked, stepping towards him.
"You'll find out soon enough. Just follow us," Tommy replied cryptically, grinning at his friends.
They walked in silence through rows of corridors, until they finally broke into the open and were blinded by the light. When their sight adjusted, five of the six former Power Rangers gasped in surprise. They were on a racing track, in the pit stop area.
"Tommy, my man, what the…?" Rocky began, only to be cut short when Frank and Tommy moved inside a dark garage. They heard a light switch being turned on, and all five were rendered speechless when they saw six cars being uncovered one by one. Neatly parked in the large garage were a white Masserati MC12, a burgundy Dodge Viper, a red Ford GT1, a green Nissan GT, a black BMW M3 GTR, and a blue Chevrolet Corvette C6R, all waiting to be taken on the track.
"Jason, I know what you wished for and I know this isn't exactly it, but it's the closest thing I could provide in such a short time," Tommy said, gripping Jason by the hand.
"Bro, you rule," Jason commented, his eyes sparkling with joy.
"Tommy, please tell me that this sweet little thing is your old racing car," Zack asked, bouncing around the white Masserati.
"Yeah, that's my old one," Tommy replied, brushing his fingers lovingly against its sides. "As you can see, it matches your color preferences," he went on, chuckling.
"Ah, Tommy, there's only one problem. Which one of the reds do I drive?" Rocky inquired, his face beaming with joy.
"I think I have dibs on this one, Rocko." Jason clapped him on the back.
"Hey, no fair. Why do you get to chose first?" Rocky asked, his hands outstretched and a small pout resting on his features.
"Because he's about to kiss his single life goodbye," Zack added, surveying his black BMW.
"And I'm the original Red," Jason added smugly, causing the others to laugh.
"Jase, choose your car," Tommy instructed.
He wasn't at all surprised when Jason moved towards the Dodge Viper. The others quickly followed as Frank walked back into the garage with protective gear. Half an hour later they were ready to go, with part of the crew briefing the former Rangers on the track and the other half of the crew wheeling the cars out into their starting positions.
Moving towards their cars, with their helmets under their arms and the crew following them, they all laughed and placed their bets on who would win.
"You do realize it's not fair that we're competing against you, right? I mean, after all, you used to drive those cars for a living," Billy said, looking at Tommy.
"And you want to tell me that, after piloting Zords on the planet and outside of it, you're afraid of me?" Tommy asked, chucking.
Once they were all settled in their cars, Zack was the first to speak. "This is awesome. It feels like I'm back in the Mastodon."
"Well, guys, good luck. It's morphing time," Jason's voice boomed through the intercom, making them laugh.
"Tommy, my man, prepare to get your ass kicked," Rocky said as the cars roared.
The boys raced each other for three hours straight, bickering and laughing, all of them with one thing on their minds. It was just like the old days. Through their intercom, the crew reminded them that they were on their last lap, with all six of them tied for first place and managing to bring in good time scores.
That evening they all cheered for Adam, who had come in first followed by Jason and Tommy.
"You're such a sore loser, Rocky," Zack said, his arm resting on Rocky's shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah! I wasn't in good shape. Next time, I'll kick your ass," Rocky said, unfastening his helmet.
Cradled in between fluffy pillows and crisp sheets, Kim couldn't sleep. Although the evening spent with the girls had been fun, filled with jokes and amusing stories, she couldn't snap herself out of the state she was in. The conversation had shifted at one point from humorous stories to the wonderful life each of them now had with their significant other, and Kim felt lost and a bit frustrated. The only man that had managed to give her the feeling of being complete, just as the others had explained, was Tommy.
Yet now they were strangers, constantly fighting and unable to be around each other for more than a few minutes. She wished she could find somebody who would make her feel the way Tommy used to: special and beautiful. It pained her to think of the day she would leave, practically erasing her past life and, in doing so, probably the connection that she and Tommy had. All the years since they had been apart, in her darkest moments he still remained her White Knight. The mere memory of his face, his eyes, was able to pull her out of the darkest depths of despair—only for her to plunge into them again at the thought of no longer holding a place in his heart.
She shifted uncomfortably once again, adjusting her pillow and begging sleep to claim her. After all the excitement throughout the day, she was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to rest. Right now, she wished she had shared a couple more drinks with the gang—maybe then, she would have been able to fall asleep along with the others. But Kim had never been a big drinker, knowing her limit well; she was afraid that intoxication might bring with it the loss of her control, leaving her vulnerable to making mistakes and disclosing secrets locked up in the depths of her soul. So she stayed away, drinking a cocktail or two and always with as little alcohol as possible.
After shifting for a few more minutes, she groaned in frustration and angrily threw the covers away from her body. She quickly climbed out of bed, looking for a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. She retrieved a hoodie, put it on, then grabbed her yoga mat and her phone. Slipping out of her room, she made her way down the stairs to the lobby. On her way she passed Steve, the bellboy, and softly greeted him. Once outside the hotel, she walked towards the replica of Apollo's temple as fast as she could.
Perched on a high plateau, the temple towered over the landscape, overlooking the manmade lake, the forest, and the hotel. Since the moon shone so bright, Kim had no problem in finding a good spot. She unrolled the mat and spread it on the ground, facing the estate.
Sitting cross-legged, with her phone tucked away between her legs and her hands resting on her knees, she straightened her back and drew in deep breaths. Closing her eyes, she focused on her breathing and clearing her mind. She wasn't at all surprised that she couldn't shake off the thoughts swimming in her mind, causing chaos. She tried again, moving her neck from side to side, while still focusing on her breathing.
Remembering the man that taught her the technique made her smile; she could clearly recall the timbre of his voice when he instructed her to free her mind, and the gentle way he used to look at her when she was frustrated over not being able to master what he had taught her.
Two years prior to Trini's and Jason's wedding, she had organized a ceremony for a Cambodian-American couple. Maly was Cambodian by birth, and had moved to New York in her late teens. The shy woman had come to like Kim and, during their many wedding related meetings, Maly had told Kim many things about Cambodia and its culture, urging the petite gymnast to visit.
One evening, several weeks after the wedding, Kim had brought up the subject over dinner with Adam. He had encouraged her to take the trip, nagging her for weeks to take a few weeks off and just leave. So she did, and in October of that year she boarded a plane with the destination of Siem Reap.
Flashback
It had been a nice few days for Kim. She had managed to go sightseeing, taste the exquisite cuisine, and even mix with the locals. After sleeping for twelve hours straight, she had gone out to the market, walked around, and enjoyed the excitement and the beautiful objects that merchants offered her.
That afternoon she was walking next to a small stand, looking at jewelry and colorful materials, when a woman approached her and spoke to her in Khmer. Confused, Kim tried to say that she couldn't understand her, but the woman kept pointing at her clothing and back at the small shop across the street. Seeing that she wasn't getting anywhere with Kim, she finally took her by the hand and led her back to the shop where she shoved Kim into a dressing room. Half an hour later, Kim walked out of the shop, a content smile on her face, wearing a light red robe that exposed one of her shoulders.
The first week went by in a blur, but Kim felt happy knowing that she had three more and that she would be able to go back to the Angkor Wat temple complex at least one more time. Evening was fast approaching, so she slipped into the robe she had purchased a few days before, loving the way the material clung to her body and kept her cool, and walked out of her hotel room.
She roamed the streets of Siem, never paying attention to the direction she was heading in. At one point, she found herself walking up the stairs leading to a small temple. She explored the area curiously, a bit puzzled to see that no one was around. The view from the temple was spectacular and she watched the sunset, mesmerized.
"Welcome to the temple, graceful one. I have been expecting you," a deep and melodic voice said. She turned swiftly towards it.
A short, elderly man was studying her. At her greeting he bowed, his palms pressed together and his shaved head glistening in the orange light.
"The crane has been in anguish for a long time. The time has come for her to rest," he continued, intently studying her reaction.
Kim froze the moment he mentioned the crane, her shocked face earning a chuckle from the elderly man.
"What the…?" she thought, unconsciously, falling back into a defensive stance.
"Settle down, mistress of the sky; I am not your foe. The crane's call has been weak; I barely heard it, but I know that its wings have been clipped and its frame sunken in the valley of shadows. It was only a matter of time before you came to me," he said, slowly moving towards the temple as Kim followed him curiously. The monk's behavior and words were bizarre and a bit unnerving, yet she didn't detect a threat.
Stopping before the kneeling man, she watched him pour tea from a pot into two beautiful cups.
"How did you know?" she asked timidly.
"Sit, child. I shall explain and help you on your quest," he spoke, pointing at the tatami in front of him. Wordlessly she sat, her robe fanning around her delicately.
"Beautiful. Just the way I dreamt it," he murmured in awe.
Kim looked at him, surprised, raising her eyebrow as an amused smile graced her lips. "Who are you, and what is this all about?" she asked defensively, her eyes never leaving him.
He chuckled softly before speaking. "They were right; the lady of the sky is feisty. But the shadows linger in your eyes, tormenting the crane."
"No more riddles. Answer my questions," she bit back, her eyes shooting daggers.
" Very well. My name is Reit. I am the keeper of this temple," he said, pointing at the building they were in. "And guardian of the temple of light." His outstretched hand indicating a point outside the perimeter of the temple.
"The temple of light? I don't understand. Who are 'they' you speak of?" Kim went on.
"Many years ago you visited a similar temple. They of whom I speak are the Keeper of the Monolith and the Bearer of Power. Kimberly, a long time ago you knew both; they guided you on your journey to wield the great power," the monk explained, his face looking for a sign that she understood his cryptic explanation.
"How does he know my name? The Keeper of the Monolith and Bearer of Power? Could it be?…Dulcea and Zordon," she thought, her face beaming with joy as she realized that the monk knew her two mentors.
"I see you know of whom I speak of. The Keeper sent me a dream years ago. She showed me a struggling crane, her joyful call no more, her falcon absent," Reit explained, reading her face once more.
At the mention of the falcon, Kim's face fell and she quickly closed her eyes to compose herself. When she opened them again, she looked unfazed, but Reit saw her hands tremble when she brought the cup to her lips.
"Why hasn't your mate answered your agonized cry, my lady?" he asked, unsure if she would answer his question or just walk away. In his dream, the Keeper had told him that mentioning the falcon might scare away the crane.
"He isn't my mate anymore. How would he be able to hear, since I gave my power coin to my… replacement?" she asked, frowning.
"The coin is just a medium for the power. Even if it is passed on, the spirit will never change its chosen one. The spirit of the crane chose you, as it was always meant to be," he explained.
Kim swallowed hard, her eyes downcast and sad. Every time she remembered the moment she gave her power coin away, the moment she was replaced, she couldn't stop herself from feeling sad and a bit angry.
"This is not a place of sadness and rage, it is one of peace. I sense so much guilt, sadness, and anger. My lady, let go: free your crane and soar between the clouds once more," Reit went on, pouring them more tea.
"I can't. Too much has happened since I gave up my coin. I don't know how to let go," she explained, looking Reit in the eyes. "You said you can help me on my quest? But what am I looking for?"
"You seek three things, Ninjetti: peace, absolution, and your falcon," he said. Kim tensed a bit at the mention of her seeking Tommy.
"The last two, I can't give you—obtaining them is something you need to do on your own—but I can help you find peace," he explained.
Kim closed her eyes, fighting another wave of regret and guilt as she thought about Tommy. "How?" she asked plainly, her gaze refocusing on the monk.
"Close your eyes, graceful one; let your mind be free. Break the chains holding the crane in place and banish the darkness," he instructed, and she complied.
Over the course of those three weeks, Reit had taught Kim how to detach herself from the world around her, how to focus on the power still slumbering within her frame. Reit had explained that her past allowed her to come close to the Morphing Grid, tap into it and find comfort and solitude.
She had spent most of the time at the temple, where the monk coached or meditated with her. The only time they would take a break was when the need for food and sleep broke her concentration. On the eve of her departure, Kim walked back to the temple to thank him for his help. He, in turn, guided her deep into the forest, up onto a plateau overlooking the forest and city.
"High grounds are a portal to the sky. The crane will find its way easier there. Remember that when you want to meditate," he advised. They both sat side-by-side, meditating, as the sun descended, leaving a burning trail behind it. That evening, for the first time since she had given up her power coin, the call of the crane was heard once more as she broke free and flew into the dusk.
End flashback
Learning how to meditate and free her animal spirit had been the turning point for Kim. No longer did she suffocate under the burden of her emotions or her day-to-day challenges. Meditation was her way to let loose; yet, since she had stepped foot in Saratoga Springs, she found herself growing more and more anxious and less able to concentrate on one of her favorite activities. She was passing the first levels of meditation, but her mind would not slow down. Her emotions on high alert, and she felt so much anger. Her crane acted upon the multitude of these feelings, struggling and letting out piercing, angry cries.
After the boys returned from the racetrack, they had all agreed to go out for beers. Close to midnight, Zack had fallen asleep on the table and they had decided to call it a night. Several hours after going to bed, Tommy was still wide-awake, his mind working in overdrive. Every time he shifted and tried to get more comfortable, he would end up even tenser.
After they returned to the hotel, he and Jason had stayed up talking for a while, their miscellaneous conversation interrupted by Jason's phone. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but Jason wasn't particularly quiet from the get-go. A phrase struck him immediately—"Is she ok?"—but it wasn't necessarily the question that got him worried: it was the tone in which Jason asked, and the worried expression he wore at the end of the conversation. Jason brushed it off, trying to relax; but Tommy could see Jason's mind at work, the worry carved into his features.
Questions plagued him after he went to bed, hence not being able to fall asleep. The more he blocked Kim from his thoughts, the more worried he became, different scenarios coming to him with a vengeance.
Tommy climbed out of bed and headed towards the balcony, sliding the door open and walking into the cool night. Leaning against the railing, he surveyed the area, his eyes focusing on the temple of Apollo. Quietly he walked towards the edge of the balcony and looked at the figure sitting cross-legged. His eyes grew wide when he noticed who it was. "Guess she couldn't sleep either," he mused, his eyes glued to her face.
Bathing in the moon's rays she looked like a statue, her skin glowing, allowing him to notice the way her hair framed her face and the frown carved on her forehead. Although she seemed deep in meditation, her posture was tense. Tommy, drinking her in, couldn't take his eyes off of her. His observation came to halt, though, when he heard the faint cry of a bird.
Frowning, he turned around and surveyed the grounds; but, when the second cry didn't follow, he shrugged and turned to watch Kim once more. Minutes passed and Tommy's body tensed, his mind still wondering about the bird. The cry had seemed so familiar, yet he couldn't pinpoint it. As the bird cried again, this time more forcefully, Tommy jumped slightly, something in his soul deeply disturbed. The third time the bird cried, Tommy knew to whom it belong. The crane; his crane.
The cry echoed a fourth time, and he turned to watch Kim more carefully. She hadn't moved from her position, although her frown deepened and she seemed to be crying. He stumbled back, shaking his head and feeling like he would asphyxiate as the cry of the crane pierced his soul over and over. With a sigh, he eased himself into the recliner, his eyes still glued to her frame. It was only then when he noticed that his hands were shaking uncontrollably and that his breathing was labored. Closing his eyes, he forced himself to calm down and fall into a meditative state.
Slowly, all the nighttime noises that were so loud a second ago started to dim down; now, his somewhat even breathing was the only noise. The silence he was slowly sinking into came crashing down, however, the moment the crane cried angrily once again. He could see the graceful bird flying above him, circling him, her eyes blazing as a scream escaped her beak. It had been almost a decade since he'd seen the crane last, and he was hypnotized by her; but every time the voice of the bird broke through, he felt her sadness, her pain, in turn hurting him.
His eyes shifted, focusing on a white point that seemed familiar. The crane's circle expanded, including the point as well, and recognition dawned on Tommy when the crane plunged towards the speck of white. It was the falcon, his falcon—but it seemed trapped, struggling to free itself from the dark depths holding him down. The crane dove once more, the sound of her call ear-shattering, and the falcon struggled harder.
He snapped out of meditation with a scream, sweat trickling down his forehead and shoulder blades. He quickly sat up and walked towards the railing, observing Kimberly; watching over her, protecting her, just like his falcon used to.
Across the hall from Tommy's room, Adam awoke, startled, cold sweat running down the sides of his head and neck.
A/N. I would like to point out, that the story will not take any "Ranger" twist. I mentioned the animal spirits to underline the Kim/Tommy connection as well as the connection between the other Rangers. Please don't expect anything supernatural, because it's not going to happen :)
Until next time.
Cheers,
LT
