Don't kill me! I know it's been way too long and thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! I really do appreciate it. I feel like a kid at Christmas.

This story stands to show that even though the rangers were... err… rangers; they were still teenagers with real problems, flaws and struggles. They are sometimes afraid, emotional and even complain from time to time.

While this story deals with that aspect, I realize that I cannot have the characters be true to themselves without power ranger action. But I must tell you, action is very hard for me to write (yes, I'm a hopeless romantic). So while I will take you all into battle with them, we will see more of what they are thinking and feeling rather than a detailed description of the battle itself (as you can see from the previous chapter). I hope this doesn't take away from the story (shout out to Shawn for writing such amazing action fics!)

I have a small request. If you have read an amazing MMPR tom/kim fic, can you please send it my way? I long for a good read, one that doesn't involve the letter (still mad about that) and something that's not a reunion fic. Something similar to this one; where the rangers are still in high school being their superhero selves.

Ok that was long enough lol. Happy reading!

I OWN NOTHING!

Thoughts are in italics…

Chapter 4

These iron bars can't hold my soul in, all I need is you…

Kimberly sang in her mind as she twirled around on the balance beam. Nickelback was one of her favorite bands; their music could get her through anything.

Come please I'm calling, and oh I scream for you…

Ready for her dismount, she started her back handsprings.

Hurry…

One flip...

I'm falling…

Two flips...

I'm falling…

Jump, twirl out, over and... land!

Take that Grant!

Kimberly proudly spun around from the beam and skipped toward her coach with a huge smile plastered on her face.

He just stood there. With one hand drawn across his torso and the other resting atop it, he stared at her.

Endlessly.

Kimberly started fidgeting as she waited for her critique. Of all the evils she faced on a day to day basis, she hated this one the most. Ever since the gymnastics team's old coach retired, Coach Grant had stepped in to carry on the mantle. He was younger, more built than Coach Perez and been, and much more abrasive. He screamed at the gymnasts constantly through practices more aggressive than a drill sergeant, hammering them with routines and constantly barking out orders.

And still he stood there. Just as Kimberly had the urge to kick his teeth in he lifted a hand to point to the right. She followed his finger with her eyes until she saw that he was pointing to the scale on the far right of the youth center.

Her mouth fell open. Was he serious?

"Scale."

Kimberly looked at him in shock, "Are you serious?"

"Scale, Kimberly."

Kimberly always hated his tone. It always made her feel like she was the gum stuck to the bottom of his shoe. Swallowing the inferno boiling inside her, Kimberly reluctantly walked over to the scale, and even more reluctantly stepped unto the base.

"Mmmm…"

Kimberly stood there waiting for him to say something else. Something like "sorry I was being an ass". But no, all she got was "Mmmm". What's Mmmm suppose to mean anyway?

"So I see now what the problem is…"

He's joking. There was no other explanation than that. Kimberly turned around to face him with her most innocent expression not even Zordon could resist.

"Problem?" Kimberly asked with way too much syrup in her voice.

"Yes Ms Hart, problem. Are you as deaf as you are fat?"

Kimberly's mouth gaped.

"See Ms Hart, in the world of gymnastics, fat people don't go as high as the average size gymnast. So I would recommend you lose that extra pound you gained since the last weight we have on file for you, or find another team to embarrass."

Kimberly couldn't believe what she was hearing. While she didn't brag, she knew damn well that she was the best gymnast on the team. Was he serious?

"Not to be disrespectful sir, but I think my height is fine…"

"Fine isn't what win gold medals! You barely cleared the beam on your dismount and landed way too close to it for my liking," Coach Grant was so close to her face she could feel his breath on her cheek. "Here's a piece of advice, fix it or get lost." He turned around to walk back to the rest of the gymnast, "What was that Clara? Do it again, and this time don't embarrass yourself!"

Kimberly stood staring after him with her mouth wide open. She quickly caught herself as she realized the man's words had started to sink in.

She closed her mouth and straightened her shoulders with conviction. She was never weak, and she wasn't about to let this man make her feel self conscious about her weight. She was an amazing gymnast, and if he didn't like it satan was always up for house guests.

She got off the scale and fought down a wave of nausea. She would show that pig just what a pissed off "fat" girl could do.

"Ok Adam, that's the last time we let you pick the movie. I'm so not following this."

Lord Zedd seemed to have taken a break since their ranger mission on Tuesday. They all felt that the last mission yielded far too much effort and pain. Close calls were a part of the package. It came with the job description. But one can never get used to almost losing their life. It was always terrifying, yet somehow a master instructor, teaching them to appreciate every second they breathed; never knowing which breathe would be their last.

It was why they all were together tonight. Their peers were scattered over Angel Grove attending to their individual endeavors. But not the rangers; not after such a close call. Adam's basement was one of their many getaways, where they all came together to appreciate each other. They were family.

The only light that penetrated the room came from Adam's 55 inch flat screen mounted on the wall in front of them. The large wrap around sectional sat directly in front of it, housing Billy at one end, stuffing popcorn down his throat with glasses smeared by popcorn cheese. Kimberly sat at the other end with Tommy's hand wrapped loosely around her waist, head on his shoulder and her feet in his lap. Adam sat on the ground not too far from Tommy's feet, casting a wary look at Rocky due his last comment. Adam tried to ignore the slight burning around his ankle that was still present from their last mission as he looked over at Rocky sitting on the floor at a right angle to him, with Aisha seated in the ottoman directly above him.

"I'm not surprised Rocky, giving your short attention span."

"He's not alone there buddy, I don't get it either." Kimberly had been trying to follow the story line for a while now, and she was failing. Miserably.

Adam rolled his eyes. "Kimberly you don't get a say either, you've been watching Tommy more than the screen."

She answered by tossing one of the cushions at him.

"It seems they are attempting to tell the story from different points of view," Billy explained. "If you notice the frequent change of colors, each of the colors represents the view of the person telling the story."

"Oh I see," Tommy added. "And I think its going backwards too. They started it at the end, and are reflecting. The soldier told the King what happened and the King didn't believe him. The king then told the soldier what he thought really happened. After that the soldier admitted he was lying, but the king story wasn't right either. So he's now telling the story again, but this time it's what really happened."

Rocky scratched his head. "So in essence, they are replaying the same scenes, just changing the color of their clothes and a few details?"

"So that viewers would not find it too challenging to distinguish between the different points of views," Billy confirmed. "The first one is false, the second is the king's speculations, and the third is the truth."

Aisha rolled her eyes," Well no wonder I was lost."

"And now that you are all found, shut and watch the movie. It's getting to the good part." Adam silenced everyone and set his eyes back on the screen.

In all honesty, Kimberly was finding it very difficult to concentrate on the movie. Her stomach would not settle down, and Coach Grant's harsh words from earlier were still ringing in her ears despite the fact that she tried her hardest to ignore it. She hadn't told anybody about what he said, which made her question why it bothered her to the point that she wouldn't confide in her friends. She knew she was not overweight, and had no intention to go on a strict diet, so why did it bother her so?

Tommy felt a slight chill run down the middle of his back, causing a frown to appear on his face. He suddenly felt uneasy, like a small weight sat in the middle of his chest. He looked around at his friends, wondering if they felt the strange sensation. But they all seemed to be caught up in the movie. Well, that's what he thought until his eyes rested on Kim's face against his chest.

"Hey," He gave her a tight squeeze while whispering to her. "You ok?"

She looked up and gave him a tentative smile, "Yea, just my stomach acting up again."

Billy overheard her, "My ankles still burn too Kimberly. I'm still working on a way to rid us of these lingering symptoms."

She looked over at him and gave him an encouraging smile, "Thanks Blue, this is starting to get irritating."

The rangers sat in silence while the movie unfold on screen. After the movie ended, Tommy went to the small bar to get a can of soda, leaving Kim lying on the sofa.

"Is she doing ok?"

Tommy turned looked over the refrigerator door to where Aisha was approaching. With her braids hanging around her face, Aisha came up to Tommy wearing a worried expression.

Tommy shrugged, "She says she ok, but you know Kim, she's always ok."

Aisha rolled her eyes, "Tell me about it. Sometimes I get tired of that tough act she puts on. That's why I asked you and not her."

Kimberly was like a sister to Aisha. Every since she became a ranger, Kimberly took her under her wings and made her feel at home. But she sometimes worried about Kim. She was always trying to be strong, telling everyone that she was ok. And it was times like these, when Aisha knew her best friend wasn't feeling well, that Aisha wish Kim leaned on her more, opened up to her more. Of course Kim confided in her, but Aisha always felt like she would hold back at times. Times whn she thought herself weak.

"You take care of my girl, Oliver. I mean it." Aisha held her stare just to get her point across.

"With everything in me." Tommy's gaze didn't waver.

Aisha nodded, "Good then. So everything set for tomorrow?"

"Shhhhhh!" Tommy looked around to see if Kim overheard them from her spot on the sofa. Thankfully her eyes were still closed.

"Everything is good and ready," he said looking back at Aisha. "You just make sure you do your part."

"I'll all over it, Oh fearless leader," Aisha taunted with a salute.

Tommy rolled his eyes at her, and then looked over to Kimberly. He just hoped she felt better tomorrow.

Kimberly absolutely hated coming to Rocky's house, though calling it a house was the understatement of the century. The mansion was three times as big as Kimberly's house, with wrought iron gates that would give the queen of England a feminine hard on. She never understood why a house would need five bathrooms while only three people lived in it; two if you factor in Rocky's father's frequent deployments to Iraq.

Kimberly parked her mostly grey Rav-4 at the front of the gates and looked up to where she knew the camera was so her face was completely visible. A few moments later the gates parted to allow her entrance.

I feel like I'm in an action film.

Kimberly shook her head and tried not to think about the reason she hated coming here. Aisha had called her squealing hysterically, begging her to help her with God knows what. She had hung up the phone before Kimberly could get one word in. But Kimberly was feeling a lot better today, her waive of nausea last about an hour or two after she woke up. Her mission now was to get Aisha out of whatever funk she was in so she could enjoy the rest of the day with her friends.

Kimberly made her way to the parking lot, got out of her car and walked to the front door, internally preparing herself.

God if only someone would believe me…

The last time she mentioned it they all laughed at her, but she knew she wasn't crazy. She would just have to watch her own back when it came to this.

She rung the doorbell and waited for a response, constantly listening out for her foul enemy inside.

"Kimmy! Nice to see you on such a fine evening!" Rocky said a little too enthusiastically and she pulled her into a bear hug. Was he drunk or something?

"Rocky, don't call me that," said Kimberly as she tried to break out of the hug to look around him. "Where is Aisha?"

"Are you sure it's Sha you're looking for?" Rocky said while wiggling his eyebrows at her.

Kimberly glared at him, "I know none of you believe me about that… that pervert you're calling a pet! But I swear to you Rocky, the next time that pup looks up my skirt I'm going to neuter him!"

Rocky burst out laughing, "Leave it to you Kimberly to think that my dog is giving her the eye."

"He is!" she argued.

Rocky just stood there giving her a blank stare.

Kimberly threw her hands up and walked into the foyer, "Fine. Don't believe me. But if you see your bull dog walking around with no balls, just know it was me to cut them off."

She looked back to him, hands on her hips. "Now where is Sha?"

Rocky wrapped his right arm around her shoulders, "Right this way, my lady."

Kimberly rolled her eyes and allowed him to lead her through the foyer as they ahead towards the living room…

"SUURRRPPPRRIIIIZZZEEEE!"

Now Kimberly knew her friends didn't really forget her birthday-she figured they'd be up to something- but she had no idea they were going to this extent! Granted, it wasn't everyday a girl turn eighteen.

Wrapping paper torn from her gifts scattered about the humungous living room which seemed like it had been built for the sole purpose of entertaining guest. The crystal chandelier hung majestically from the high ceilings, spilling light across faces, highlighting everyone she held close to her heart. Gifts were piled haphazardly in a corner as testimony that she was indeed loved by her family and friends.

Rocky's house was jammed packed with people she barely recognized, but is to be expected. As soon as word about a party got out at AGH, it would spread like wild fire. As it were, the only people she recognized were her fellow rangers, a few cheerleaders and gymnast, and Alec, who had started to avoid her altogether.

They all brought presents, so she wasn't about to complain. Tommy was nice enough to bring Mr and Mrs Oliver's present over.

"Tell your Mom thanks for me Tommy."

Tommy had successfully stolen away Kimberly from the party, which he found was as hard as trigonometric III. She was the life of the party, and tearing her away from the cheerleader den that was presently occupying Rocky's living room took all of his efforts had strength, and both were not meager by any means.

Where he was utterly shy and modest, Kimberly was jubilant, outgoing and always the center of attention. They were polar opposites, yet they fit perfectly together.

Yin and Yang.

Tommy pulled her close against his chest as he finally found a little niche tucked in the corner of one the extensive hallways on the second floor, free of all teenagers. The hallway was poorly lit, but then, that was perfect for what he wanted.

He wrapped his hands around Kimberly waist as she circled his neck with her arms. The white top she was wearing lifted slightly due to her up-stretched arms, revealing more of her middle section. Tommy caressed the warm area at the arc of her back, sliding his hands lower to grip her firm back side. God, how he loved the feel of her.

"Tommy." Kimberly gave him a slight shake to get his attention.

Tommy jerked as if coming awake from a trance, "Huh?"

Kimberly shook her head and smirked, "I said I want you to tell your parents thank you, you know, for the gift."

"Oh yea sure," he said as he looked away from her eyes and back down to where she was bare beneath his palms, "Have you always been this sexy? You look so sexy today." He couldn't help but grip her tight little ass through her jean shorts.

"Huh uh…" Kimberly mused. "And I bet you're not just saying that because you are rock hard and want to get laid." She pushed her body tighter against his frame, emphasizing the fact that she could feel the bulge in his jeans pressing against her stomach.

Tommy gave her a toothy grin, one that always made her a little giddy, "Well, that too."

She playfully pulled away from him, slapped him on the arm and pretended to wake away.

Tommy grabbed her from behind and pulled her back against him, nuzzling the side of her neck. If she didn't know any better she'd think his animal spirit was a house kitten and not the mighty Falcon.

"Come on babe, we have to get back to the party. It's almost time to cut the cake."

Tommy whimpered like a wounded dog as he allowed her to escape him. Kimberly laughed out loud, "Oh stop being a spoiled sport. Go on down, I just have to run to the ladies room real quick."

Tommy playfully pouted as he watched her disappear around the corner. He knew one day Kimberly was going to kill him with her teasing. Right now he was so hard he might shatter if he tried to move.

But he loved her, teasing and all. Damn her straight to hell for it.

Tommy reluctantly descended the stairs to rejoin the party. Aisha was standing besides Rocky leaning over to light the candles on the cake. Tommy tried to ignore the sight of Rocky drooling as he scoped out Aisha's ass. The expression on his face was truly Kodak.

Adam came up beside him and whacked him hard on the shoulder, clearly reprimanding him.

"What!" Rocky feigned innocence.

Adam glared at him just long enough for him to get the picture, then walked back over to where Billy and some other friends were standing.

Rocky looked over to Tommy, "Hey Oliver, where's the birthday girl? It's time for some cake."

"Tommy used his thumb to point over to the staircase, "She'll be right down. Just using the restroom."

Rocky smile immediately fell form his face, replaced by a look that said he was so dead, "On the second floor?"

"Yea, why?" Tommy didn't understand his misplaced concern.

"Oh shit." Rocky panicked as he moved to run over to the staircase, but before he could move an inch, the sound of Kimberly's shrill cry echoed throughout the house.

Above the blasting music.

Tommy was laughing so hard he could barely keep his eyes on the road. Kimberly was seated in the passenger seat of his Range, arms crossed across her chest, furious and embarrassed. And the fact that her beloved found humor in her complete humiliation just made matters worse. He had been laughing since he burst through the restroom door, and had yet to stop.

FLASHBACK

Kimberly pushed open the bathroom door, eager to take care of her business. She walked over to the commode, removed her barriers and did what she needed to do. Finished now, she made move to pull her shorts up when she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. As she looked towards the movement, she felt her heart drop to her stomach.

Dozer…

There he stood in all his glory, blocking the door with his short white frame. Dozer, Kimberly's worse enemy. She hadn't given the pup a second thought as she was distracted by her party, and she and hadn't seen him all night. Apparently he had been locked in the bathroom, for her own well being she figured.

And now here she was, trapped with him staring at her with his tongue lopped out of his mouth while breathing ruggedly.

What is he staring at?

Then Kimberly remembered she was still sitting on the commode, with her short half way done her calves.

And her privates totally exposed.

Kimberly gasped and stood up, quickly pulling her shorts up, "Oh you pervert!"

The bull dog seemed to grin at her, then took a step forward.

Kimberly froze. Her eyes wide with fear, terrified to move. "What are you doing?"

No sooner had the words left her lips, Dozer charged at her, tongue bouncing at his pace.

Kimberly could do no more than stand there, and scream for her life.

END FLASHBACK

Tommy and what seemed like the entire house of guest came rushing through the bathroom door shortly after, clearly tipped off by her scream.

"You can stop laughing now you ape!" Kimberly spat at her "boyfriend" with as much venom in her voice as she could manage.

"Ok you're right, I'm sorry," Tommy forced him self to stop laughing and glanced at her. "But you know, it's not everyday a guy finds his girlfriend cheating on him with an English bull dog." Tommy burst out with another fit of laughter.

Oh he was so dead. He was deader than dead. "I swear to God Tommy Oliver if you don't stop laughing I'm going to kill you, you hear me? I'm going to kill you so bad the new word for dead will be Tommy! So from now on when people talk about death they'll say 'You are so Tommy'!"

Tommy tried to recover. "Ok I'll stop." He stole his eyes away from the road to glance at her. "But even you have to admit it was kind of funny."

Kimberly looked at him like he grew three more heads, "I find absolutely nothing funny about having my leg dry humped by forty pounds of scum! Especially since I fell and he climbed up to hump my ass!"

Tommy was trying very hard to maintain composure but he was two seconds away from slipping, "Well I don't know how dry the hump was Kimberly. I think I saw something wet streaming down your leg." And that was enough to throw him back into a fit of laughter.

Kimberly ground her teeth as she tried not to hit him across the head, "Oh you are soooo in the dog house."

He suddenly stopped laughing, looked at her, and burst into laughter that was louder than before.

Of course she had to make a dog reference. She could kick herself.

The ride home from Rocky's house was usually short, but not tonight. Tommy's taunting was starting to get to her, but she couldn't help but smile inside. He was even more handsome when he laughed, and his genuine belly laugh pleased her deeply. He had been through a lot in his young life; had experienced a lot more dark days than she ever had.

It was good to see him laugh. Even if it was at her.

It was just after 11:00 p.m. when Tommy pulled into Kimberly's driveway. All the lights were off in the house, but Kimberly knew her mother was still awake.

"Even though I would have preferred not to be sexually assaulted by a bull dog," Kimberly turned towards Tommy to look into his eyes, "this was one of the best days of my life. Thank you." She leaned over to place a soft kiss on his lips.

She leaned back over to her side, turning to exit when he held on to her hand. "Just a sec Kim."

Kimberly turned around to face him with a small frown on her face.

"I have something for you."

Kimberly's heart melted. Even now after everything they had been through together, he would always get a little hesitant and shy when he was trying to be romantic. And for some reason she thought it was the cutest thing about him.

Tommy turned around, and reached into the pocket on the side of his door to retrieve her present. When he turned around, he saw the big smile on her face.

"Awe Tommy, you already got me something, remember Mr. Forgetful?"

Tommy rolled his eyes, "you didn't think I only got you a leotard for you birthday, did you?"

Kimberly took the small wrapped box from his hands, "Well yea, I honestly did."

He shook his head, "This is your real gift," he leaned over to nuzzle her neck. "Happy birthday Beautiful."

"Thank you Handsome." She hurriedly pulled the wrappings off the box and froze as she saw the name written on top.

Vera Wang…

It couldn't be. Surely he didn't…

But she could deny it no more as she opened the box, revealing the diamond bracelet she had been drooling over for three months now. But she knew all she could do was drool. She would never have been able to afford it. And yet here it was in her hands. How did he know? She didn't even tell Aisha about it.

She pulled back to take Tommy's head out of the corner of her neck so she could look into his eyes, "how did you know?" The inquiry came out as a whisper, her voice suffocating beneath a pillow of emotions.

Tommy shrugged, "I'm just very perceptive."

Kimberly grabbed the front of his white button down shirt, pulled him towards her and kissed the bejesus out of him.

When she pulled away his head was still swimming. He kept his eyes closed and shuddered. "Wow… I think I'm gonna get you jewelry more often."

She looked down at the box in her hands and then looked back up at him with an expression that seared into his heart. "Of everything I love in this world, I love you the most."

Her statement was enough to totally disarm him. If he had ever had any reservation about what he had with Kimberly, they would have been gone now. He didn't trust his voice to reply, as he was choking on the amount of love he felt for her.

So he tried to tell her he loved her the best way he could think of. He kissed her.

Completely.

Thoroughly. Taking his time to make sure she heard what he was trying to tell her. What no word in any language could properly tell her. The kiss was not about lust or passion.

It was love in its purest form.

He pulled away from her, knowing he was now looking at her with stars in his eyes. It didn't matter to him that he was being utterly sappy, that if Rocky saw his face right now he would never be able to live it down. Nothing mattered now except the woman in front of him.

She gently caressed his cheek and smiled at him, "Call me before you close your eyes tonight."

He inclined his head to her, bowing in an Old World fashion.

She gave him another short sweet kiss before she left the car.

Tommy watched as she made her way to the front door, looking back at him before she closed it. Starting up his engine, he headed toward his house, still high off his sweetest drug.

Tommy came through his front door whistling, still tasting the sweetness of his Beautiful on his lips. He tucked his keys in his pants and headed for the stairs.

"Tommy, would you come here for a second please son?"

Tommy paused at the obviously distressed tone in his mother voice she was trying to hide.

He ran down the stairs to the living room where his mother voice came from. Pulling up short as he reached the livingroom, he saw his father's head resting in his mother's lap.

Crying.

Tommy was eighteen years old, and he never once saw his father cry… about anything. Not once in eighteen years. It was enough to raise his own panic.

"What's… what's wrong?"

Jan looked up from her husband, her eyes rimmed with red. She saw the panicked expression her son wore and wished she couldn't soften the blow

"It's your grandfather Tommy. He… he's…"

Jan choked up as she fell into another set of tears…

Author's note: The movie the rangers watched is called HERO, staring Jet Li. I swear I had to watch it four times before I understood what was going on. But it's a great movie, if you understand it lol