Reefside, October
"Tommy, she's fine, stopping worrying." An Australian accent said, lacing her arm around his waist. They stood in the kitchen of Tommy's house in Reefside, attempting to do the dishes, but only managing to tease each other as they went.
"I know Kat, it's just that whole thing with Conner's Dad and now she's off at college in a dorm. It scares me." He admitted, throwing down the towel he had been carrying and hugging her back.
"It's ok to be scared." Kat said softly looking into his eyes. "You don't have to be Mr. Tough-Red-Ranger all the time you know." She teased smiling. "Especially since you've been the black ranger for a bit."
"Ha ha, very funny." He said, catching her in a hug and swinging her around. Kat smiled happily and snuggled closer to him. They'd been dating for the past few months since he'd called her. She had been living in Angel Grove, working at a ballet school teaching children and teenagers. Lately it was getting harder to go to work, knowing Tommy was two hours away in Reefside.
"This is nice." She murmured against his chest.
"Really." He said, and pulled back from her. "Kat," He said holding her hands in his. "I know we've only been dating this time for a few months, but I've known you since we were teenagers." Kat smiled awkwardly, not knowing what he was getting at. "And I love you."
"I love you too, Tommy." She smiled, hugging him tightly. He backed up and smiled.
"Good." He smiled, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a black velvet box. Kat gasped in anticipation. He opened the box, revealing a silver band with a single square cut diamond set in it. "Katherine Hilliard, will you marry me?"
"Yes." She breathed out, amazed at what she was hearing and seeing. Tommy grinned broadly and took the ring in his finger to slip it on her finger. He kissed her smiling lips, but a loud slam broke them apart.
"Tommy!" A thrilled looking brunette ran breathlessly into the room and he turned to greet his sister.
"What's up?" He asked nonchalantly as his new fiancé set down the towel she was holding, looking away. Aria was so excited she didn't notice.
"I got a job at 95.4!!" She said jumping up and down. "The time sucks, like midnight to 5am but it's a start!" She stopped and looked at her brother and Kat's red faces. "Did I interrupt something?" She asked, looking back and forth between the two. Kat stood and went to the girl and held up her left hand.
"He just asked me to marry him!" She said excitedly. Aria screamed in joy and hugged her soon-to-be sister.
"Do Mom, Dad, or David know?" She asked her brother, without letting go of Kat. He shook his head, unable to get the silly grin off of it. "I can't wait to tell the others!"
"You will have plenty of time to plan this thing." Tommy said, making Aria release Kat.
"What makes you think we have time?" Kat said coyly, sneaking up to him. Aria laughed brightly at the comment but more so at her brother's face. "I don't want to wait. I've waited for too long to marry you."
"Then it's not going to be a big wedding." Tommy countered.
"Only a hundred or so of our closest friends." Kat smiled, pulling back. Aria had taken a seat and was watching them like she was watching a television show, laughing at the banter.
"How long do I have?" He asked.
"I think we can plan this in six weeks." Kat said, looking at Aria who nodded, who was smiling brightly.
"The only thing is if we can get Jason and Aisha and Billy and all of them to show up." Aria said thoughtfully.
Conner's Apartment
Conner lay on his back on the small couch he owned. The apartment had two bedrooms, a kitchen and a room for the TV. He loved the freedom of being on his own; able to have Aria over whenever he wanted for as long as they wanted. He also hated it with all of his being. The fact his father had accosted his girlfriend killed him inside, and he'd even been avoiding her for it. He wasn't sure if she'd noticed, but he couldn't rationalize spending time with her if it meant his father was going to hurt her.
"Hey."
He looked up and saw her standing there with her hands shoved into her pockets. He hadn't heard her come in because she didn't need to knock; he'd given her a key in case he forgot his own and vice versa for her dorm room.
"What's wrong Conner?" She said sitting down by his feet. He shook his head and started to say that he was fine, but she sighed impatiently and spoke first anyway. "Don't try to get out of this. You've been avoiding me since you moved in here, and I want you to tell me honestly why!" She said, standing up to face him.
"Aria, calm down." He said, standing up and grabbing her arm.
"No! Conner, I feel like I'm loosing you!" She said, her voice turning involuntarily desperate. Stunned at her tone, Conner pulled her into his arms and held her and she began to cry for the first time since that night. He sat down without letting go and she just held onto him like there was nothing else in the world. She pulled back and looked at him through a tear-stained face.
"Aria." He whispered her name softly. "I didn't mean to pull away; it's just what he did to you. I can't forgive him." Aria tucked her head back on his shoulder.
"Conner, I know you'd never hurt me, and as long as you are around, I know I'm safe." She said softly. He kissed her forehead and they leaned back, just holding each other. Suddenly Aria bounced up and faced him, eyes shining through her tears.
"Aria."
"Hmm."
"I love you." Aria sat up and looked in his eyes. "Real love, not just a high school crush." He explained, holding her tighter.
"I love you too." She murmured, laying her head down on his chest. "Guess what." She said, tapping his leg.
"Hmm."
"Tommy proposed to Kat."
"No way." Conner said, looking at her.
"Yup, they're getting married in six weeks."
Conner raised his eyebrows. "Six weeks? I don't know much about weddings, but don't they usually take longer than that?" He asked. Aria giggled.
"She doesn't want to wait too long. Just get a coat and tie and you'll be fine. You'll get to meet the first red ranger." She said in a sing-song voice. "Well, if they all show up that is." She grinned. Conner just smiled and kissed her to stop the incessant chatter that seemed to be pouring from her.
