Pink with Honesty

Kimberly Ann Hart, got up as she usually did and showered quickly and dressed, and then she promptly threw up. She shrugged must be a bug. She had been having this strange bug for the last several weeks. Must be something going around, she thought. While in Florida, she had been home-schooled and had already graduated high school. She was eighteen years old along with the rest of the power rangers, minus the newer ones, she fingered the necklace Tommy had given her for her last birthday. It was a simple charm with a falcon and a crane joined together in a heart, anyone else would think it was silly, but she knew what it really meant. And on her hand, was the promise ring he had given her a month ago, when he had come to visit her on the fourth of July. She still wore them both though she knew if she followed through the way Erik wanted her too, she would have to give them all up. Tears filled her eyes that she wiped away as she took a shaky breathe and began to work on her makeup. She didn't know how soon Tommy would arrive this morning but she had to look her best. She was fighting herself, on one hand she wanted to be with Tommy, she wanted everything they had promised each other, and on the other she needed to protect him, to protect them all. This feeling was probably what had her so sick, the feeling of being resigned to a life she didn't want, to living without Tommy forever and ever.

"You look nice," she heard Jason say from the doorway.

"I do?"

"Yeah, but you always do. Perhaps, it's because I haven't seen you in awhile. You also look like you've lost weight. You look pale, and I would bet you haven't been sleeping well."

"Oh, Jase."

"Tommy's here. He wants to see you. He deserves the truth, Kim. Did you tell him?" she shook her head. "Kim, let's face it, I've always been more muscle. Tommy has always been the real leader of the power rangers. Even with his forgetfulness he has always remembered everything when it came to you and the power rangers."

"Not always. He was late for our first date. Something about his watch," she said. Jason shrugged.

"He deserves the truth, just like you told me, he can handle it. And maybe we can find a way out of it, without you marrying that jerk."

"It's not that simple. It's not just Tommy and me that could be hurt, it's all of us. It's you, it's Billy, Adam, Rocky, and even Kat."

"Do you think I care? Between being outed as a power ranger, or you marrying that jerk which do you think I would pick?" She hugged him quickly. "They all deserve the chance to choose. Tell Zordon. Tell Tommy."

"I will. When the time is right."

"If you don't tell him, I will."

"But you promised..."

"Yes, I did. And you promised to always be there for Tommy. Besides, if you were kidnapped by Goldar would you expect me to keep quite."

"Of course not," she told him and he smiled at her. She saw where he was going with this, to him, she was in trouble, and it's the same thing.

"Tell Tommy or I will."

"Tell me what?" Tommy asked coming up behind them. She blushed as she handed him his morpher.

"Thanks for getting me home last night."

"Kim..." Jason said warningly.

"Alright, I will."

"Um, Jason, could you give Kimberly and me some privacy."

"Of course, Tommy," Jason said leaving the room. Kimberly and Tommy made their way to the bed she was sleeping on while she stayed here.

"Kimberly, what is this about? Talk to me. Tell me what's going on? Why did you write that letter?"

"I had to, Tommy," she whispered.

"But why? Kimberly, was there a word in it that was the truth."

"I love you..."

"Like a brother, get off it Kim. We both know there was more between us than sibling love. Unless you are in to incest?"

"No, of course not."

"Who is this other guy?" he asked, his eyes flashing green.

"Oh, Tommy. I'm such a horrible person, a horrible ranger." Tommy's eyebrows shot up. What did this have to do with her being a ranger, and yet he smiled, now he was getting somewhere. He waited patiently. "I missed you so much." She looked down at their linked fingers and somehow it all just seemed right. Even though she had written that letter, she didn't want to lose him, she didn't know how she was go on. Was protecting him wrong? He had always protected her. She had always been afraid that something would happen between them like there had her parents, was she making the self-fulfilling prophecy come true?

"Go on."

"I...oh, Tommy, I'm so ashamed. It was so stupid. You're going to hate me, I hate myself."

"I could never hate you, Kimberly."

She loved the way he said her name, no one, not even her own parents had ever said her name just like that. Just then, his communicator beeped. He looked at her and frowned. "Zordon?" he asked.

"I am aware of your situation. I have just spoken to Jason. You and Kimberly must transport to the command center."

"Alright, Zordon." And a moment later, Kimberly found herself in familiar surroundings.

"Ay yi yi. It's good to see you again, Kimberly."

Kimberly smiled as she put her arms around Alpha. "It's good to see you again, Alpha."

"Zordon, what's this about?" Tommy asked looking from Kimberly to Zordon.

"Kimberly was attacked by Goldar in an attempt to destroy the power rangers, and turn you to the side of evil once again. The being she believed to have found out about the identity of the power rangers, was in fact, a putty sent to marry her to Goldar."

"Goldar, ugh, I would rather marry Lord Zedd," she said in revulsion.