Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers or anything related to the series. That belongs to Saban Entertainment.

Author's Notes: Forgive me for the long awaited new chapter, but I was faced with a tough college semester this fall along with a bad case of writer's block. This

chapter has floated in and out of my head for a while. This takes place between Stitch Witchery and The Wheel of Fate episodes.

"Hey, we're visible again, Bulk!" Skull laughed.

"Yeah, great." Bulk groaned.

For the past several weeks, the two police officers had been changed into monkeys by Elgar and hanged with Lt. Stone, who was unaware of their identities. After thetwo had been restored to humans, they became invisible for about a week. And now they were finally cured.

"This is great, Bulkie." Skull laughed. "Now we can….Oh no."

Skull just remembered he was supposed to speak with Kimberly the day he was changed into a monkey.

"Oh, Kimberly must be so mad with me." Skull groaned.

"What?" Bulk asked.

"Sorry, Bulk I got to go." Skull said before he bolted out of the youth center.

Bulk shrugged and continued eating the French fries on the table.

Skull walked up to the motel. He knew this was going to be a terrible conversation. After he'd promised to talk to Kimberly, he disappeared for weeks. She probably thought he kept her waiting for him out of spite of rejecting him.

"Just knock, Skull." The voice in his head urged. "Explain it and she'll understand."

Skull raised his hand and gave the door a small tap. When no one answered, he tried again louder this time. He heard footsteps coming behind the door. The

doorknob unlocked and the door opened.

Behind it was the beautiful girl known as Kimberly Hart. Her caramel colored hair tied in a ponytail with a pink scrunchie. She was dressed in a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants and in her arms she was holding a cardboard box. Once she saw who was at the door, she instantly dropped the box.

Skull cracked a smile, expecting a furious reaction. "Hey, Kim."

Kimberly surprised Skull with a warm hug.

"Oh, Skull, you're back!" She exclaimed. "I missed you so much!"

Skull taken aback by her reaction simply returned the hug.

"I'm so sorry." Was all he could say as she began crying into his chest. "I'm so, so sorry." For some odd reason, something seemed different about Kimberly in Skull's mind. Something felt strange, but he ignored this feeling. He promised himself he would never put the woman he loved through this again.

Kimberly pulled him inside and they sat down in the kitchen.

"Where have you been, Skull?" Kimberly blurted out. "You and Bulk have been gone for weeks!"

"Well…" Skull said as he began to explain his predicament: Elgar had turned him and Bulk into monkeys, and when they went to Jerome Stone, he wasn't able to understand them. After a couple weeks, they were cured but were turned invisible for another week.

"And that's the whole story." Skull finished. Had Skull not known Kimberly was once a Power Ranger, he would have expected her not to believe him.

"Wow, that's quite a tale." Kimberly said. "I thought the weirdest things happened to us."

Skull decided it was time to get straight to the point.

"Kimberly?"

"Yes, Skull." Kimberly answered.

"We need to talk about…..us." Skull said slowly.

"Yeah, I guess we do." Kimberly sighed. "Now we…."

"Um, Kim, I think I should speak first." Skull interrupted.

"O-kay." Kimberly said hesitantly.

Skull clasped his hands together. "Look, Kimberly, that night we had was great . It may not have meant anything to you, but it did for me. And I'll treasure that night forever, but I understand that you don't have feelings for me. I really appreciate that you told me the truth instead of leading me on.

"You're welcome." Kimberly said. "Can I go?"

"Oh, sure, you have my attention." Skull said.

"Okay, Skull, there's something I need to tell you." Kimberly said in a serious tone. "Just promise you won't freak out."

"I'll try." Skull answered.

"Okay, um… how to say it." Kimberly mumbled. "Skull…I'm pregnant."

Those last two words caused Skull to zone out completely. At first, he thought he misheard her last statement, but the seriousness etched on her face convinced him that his ears were working. Now he realized what felt different about her.

"Wait, wait, you're pregnant?" Skull stuttered. "Am I….the…?"

"Yes, you are." Kimberly finished his sentence.

"But-but-but, we did every-everything right!" Skull stuttered even more. "We used protection!"

"Well, Skull protection isn't always guaranteed." Kimberly informed.

"This is insane." Skull said as he ran his hands across his hair. "You're pregnant with my baby?"

"I know, Skull."

Now was the time to ask the big question. "Are you going to keep it?"

"Yes, I am." Kimberly stated. "I mean, I know it's going to be tough, but I don't think I'll be able to handle just giving it away."

"You're right, Kim." Skull said. "It's a good thing I came back. Now you won't have to raise this baby alone."

Kimberly stood up and walked toward the window, looking out into the sky.

"What's wrong?" Skull squeaked.

Kimberly turned to face him. Tears began to fall from her eyes. "Skull, I'm moving."

"What?" Skull asked with a hint of disbelief. "You're moving? Where? Why?"

"When I got the news about the baby, I didn't know if you'd come back." Kimberly cried. "So I asked my mom if I could go live with her in Paris and have the baby there."

"But I'm here now, you don't have to move." Skull said as he got up and walked toward her.

Kimberly wiped her eyes. "I can't ask you to do that for me, Skull." Kimberly told him.

"What are you talking about?" Skull puzzled.

"Look, Skull, what happened that night was all my fault. I can't let you sacrifice your future for the mistake I made."

"Whoa, whoa, I let you!" Skull interjected. "I could have stopped it!"

"It doesn't matter, I still started it." Kimberly stated. "And just the thought of raising the baby alone terrified me."

"Well, you don't have to be anymore, Kim." Skull said as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm here and we'll figure this out."

"It's not just about that, Skull." Kimberly cried. "It's…It's just that…Things are different, now. When I came back here, I wanted to reconnect with the people I left behind. I made a terrible mistake going to Florida and breaking up with Tommy. Now I'm back and everyone I cared about are gone before I had real chance to mend our broken relationships. You and Bulk are the only ones left now.

Skull was rendered speechless. It never occurred to him that he and Bulk were the only ones around Angel Grove anymore. Kimberly was truly alone in this city: no friends, no family.

"If I stay here, I'll be surrounded by nothing but painful memories and I don't know if I can handle it." Kimberly sobbed.

Skull asked the dreaded question: "When are you leaving?"

Kimberly exhaled slowly. "Tomorrow, and you can't make me change my mind."

"Kim, I think we should talk more about this….." Skull started.

"I think you should go, Skull." Kimberly sniffled.

"You're kicking me out?" Skull said incredulously.

"I need to be alone, Skull, please just leave." Kimberly said with a sob.

Skull was once again speechless. He had offered his support, and she turned him away.

"Fine." Skull said angrily as he left, leaving Kimberly in tears

"Flight 145 for Paris will be departing in ten minutes." The PA announced.

Kimberly sighed deeply and rubbed the place her baby was resting. She then grabbed her carry-on and suitcase, making her way to the plane entrance. She quickly dug into her carry-on and pulled out her passport. She was about to get in line when she heard a voice shout, "Kimberly, wait!"

Kimberly turned around to see Skull running toward her.

"Skull, what are you doing here?" She asked as soon as he approached her.

"Kim, listen." Skull panted. "I….."

"Skull, I'm about to board the plane." Kimberly told him.

"No, wait." Skull said as he grabbed her arm. "I have to say it…..Kimberly, don't leave. I love you."

"What?" Kimberly squeaked in disbelief.

Several other passengers made their way in line to board the plane.

"Kimberly, please don't leave." Skull pleaded. "Stay here with me. Just don't go. I'll do whatever it takes to make this work. You and this baby are my future and I want to be with both of you."

"Oh, Skull." Kimberly cried as she hugged him tightly. "I know. I think I love you too. But it's not enough, I'm sorry. I can't stay.

Skull placed his hands on her shoulders as he too started to cry. "Kimberly, please, I'm begging you, don't leave. I can't imagine life without you….I can't." Tears began dripping down his face as he got on his knees and hugged her legs close, as though trying to keep her from walking away.

"I'm sorry, Skull, I have to go." Kimberly sniffed.

"Last call for Flight 145 to Paris." The PA announced.

Kimberly got down on her knees and placed her hands across Skull's face making him face her. "Skull, (sniffles), it's going to be okay. Maybe one day, when the timing's right, we'll be together again. I'll always hold you in a special in my heart forever."

"Let me go with you." Skull blurted out.

"No, Skull, you need to stay here." Kimberly sniffled. "Bulk needs you."

Skull looked deep into Kimberly's beautiful brown eyes glistening from fresh tears. "I'm going to miss you."

Skull reached into his jacket and pulled out his trademark hat. "Here, take it." He said as he handed it to her. "Something to remember me by."

Kimberly smiled as she took it, then gave him a passionate kiss.

Once broken off Kimberly helped Skull get to his feet and grabbed her luggage, once again making her way to the plane entrance. After showing her passport to the flight attendant, she entered the runaway, but looked back at Skull one last tie before the door closed behind her.

Within another ten minutes, the plane had taken off. Kimberly looked at the red hat Skull had given her.

"We'll come back, someday." Kimberly whispered as she rubbed her stomach.

I know it seems sad, but it's necessary for the story to be canon compatible with the series. Please rate. Until next time.