Chapter 10

Author's Note: Hey guys! Just wanted to drop in here and say thank you so much for being so patient with this story. Or not being patient but still showing up to read it anyway. Whichever the case is for you I'm really glad you still come read this. I'm trying very hard to get some stuff written out to update more regularly. No promises, but I'll try my best!

Once Kat and Jason got back they decided to join their dates into one and finish their last night together. So after changing into pajamas, popping some popcorn and grabbing their drinks, the four friends settled in the living room to watch a movie. After much deliberation they were finally able to come to an agreement on Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Not like it actually mattered much since both girls that were refusing all the other suggestions were asleep by the end of the movie.

The credits rolled and Tommy reached over to grab to turn the volume down. "Well I'm glad we didn't cave and end up watching that Julia Roberts movie they wanted."

Jason looked over to see Kim asleep curled up into Tommy just like Kat was to him. "No joke. All that fuss they had about not watching the Bruce Lee flick and they pass out anyway."

Tommy looked down at the brunette sleeping away in his arms. They had opted for the recliner. More incentive for cuddling Kim said. She had fallen asleep about halfway through the movie. In her sleep she had pressed herself as tightly into his side and she could. Her head was resting on his chest with her arm thrown around his torso. And her leg had made its way to rest over his. Her pink shorts didn't leave a lot to the imagination and her white tank top had ridden up just enough to expose her midriff. Tommy had one arm behind her, his hand resting on that little bit of exposed. His other was lazily tracing lines up and down her arm over his stomach.

"So how did it go? For real."

"It really was perfect Jase. The ease we've always had with each other is still there, just a little more mature now. I can talk to her all day and never run out of things to say."

"What are you going to do tomorrow? We're going back to Angel Grove tomorrow and then she has to go back to Boston. Where do you two go from here?"

"Actually, she isn't going back with you tomorrow."

"What do you mean?" Jason's voice was louder than he intended and Kat stirred on the couch next to him.

"What's going on?" Kat had woken from the sudden noise.

"Sorry babe. Tommy was just informing me that Kim isn't coming back with us tomorrow."

Kat rubbed her eyes and then blinked in confusion. "What do you mean she isn't coming with us? Is she going to catch her flight from here instead?"

Both sets of eyes immediately moved to Tommy. "Well yeah, but not for a few days. Before you start asking more questions let me just explain. Kim wants to come back to California. You guys are having a baby, her dad is here, her mom and Pierre are here. She wants to come. Reefside is just close enough to Angel Grove that she can drive there almost any day, but she's used to her independence too. And there just so happens to be an opening at the elementary school for a music teacher. So she's going to stay here a couple more days and Monday she'll go talk to the board about the position. If everything goes right Kim will be back in California permanently before summer is over."

"Kim is coming home?" asked Kat with hope evident in her voice.

Once again Tommy looked down at the woman he was holding tight. "Kim is coming home."

For a minute they just sat there quietly. Soaking in the happiness those four words produced. Until Jason looked up at the clock at least.

"It's so late! Kat you need to go to bed! You shouldn't be up this late. You need sleep."

"Jason, you can't be doing this the whole pregnancy. I won't be held responsible for my actions if you do."

"Do whatever you want, just so long as you're headed to bed while doing it." Jason looked over at Tommy. "You doing it or me?"

"I've got her."

Jason and Kim had been having sleepovers since they were little. Their moms took them to the same mommy's day out program and they hit it off immediately. The women became quick friends and often relied on each other when it came to needing a sitter. Over time their circle grew to include Billy, Trini, and Zack and the sleepovers got larger. It never failed though that Kim would fall asleep first and have to be carried to a bed. Once Tommy came along he was drafted as the designated person to put Kim to bed.

Jason and Kat went upstairs while Tommy managed to wiggle his way out from under Kim. He took his time turning out lights and double checking the doors before going back to the living room.

He stared at the girl still sleeping in the chair. If you would have told him three days ago that he would be here, looking at the girl now turned woman that he had loved since he was sixteen now asleep in his house, he would have said you were crazy. He bent down and gathered her in his arms and hoisted her up.

"You know beautiful," Tommy began softly; "I can't promise this is going to be easy. I can guarantee that moments will be hard. I'll be stubborn, and I'll mess up. I'll get mad and lose my temper. I'm impulsive and forgetful. And when it comes to you, I'll be incredibly selfish. But no matter what happens, no matter how mad I make you, or how hard things get sometimes, there will never be a single ounce of me that doesn't love you. That doesn't want you here. That doesn't need you."

Tommy made it up the stairs and into his bedroom to put Kim down. He laid her down and pulled the covers over her still talking. "And I know that this is all so fast. Maybe that's why I'm telling you all of this while you're sleeping. I don't want to scare you off. But my feelings for you never went away. If anything they've intensified. All I know is now that I have you back in my life I won't ever be able to go back to not having you in it somehow. We said slow and I won't rush you. But I love you Kim." He bent down and kissed her forehead. As he went to stand a hand reached out and grabbed his.

"Tommy?"

"Beautiful?"

"I love you too. Stay with me?"

As if he could ever tell her no. He slid in the bed beside her and gathered her close. "Always Kim."

Two days had passed and it was now Monday. If you wanted to be technical, it was 10:27 in the morning. Jason and Kat had gone back to Angel Grove the day before. Tommy was working in the yard impatiently waiting on Kim to get back from meeting with the board. Her meeting was scheduled for 9 a.m. so surely she was on her way back by now. A few more minutes went by and Tommy looked up from his flower beds to glance at his watch.

*10:31. How has it only been 4 minutes? Ok Tommy. Five more minutes and then you can shoot her a text. Just to check in.*

Less than two minutes later he heard his jeep pulling down the gravel driveway. He watched Kim park it and get out. She shut the door and turned to face him.

"Well?" he asked.

"Well what?"

"Kim. What did they say?"

She couldn't hold it back any longer. Her face broke out into a grin and she took off running to Tommy. "I got the job!" she yelled jumping into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and brought her face to his, kissing all his anxiety and nerves away.

"There's only one thing left to say then."

"What's that?"

"Welcome home Beautiful."