Chapter 14: Are We Cursed with Bad Timing?
(One Month Later: The Youth Center)
The revelation of Andrew Hartford's obituary made the original Rangers question one thing. How much more secrets were kept from them without them even knowing? It seems like just when they already had the answers to one set a questions, there were more unanswered questions left. This wasn't the summer they had in mind for their current Ranger team or their children. What was worst was it started affecting their personal lives trying to unwind mystery after mystery.
What was the worst they thought could happen? Apparently Tommy and Kimberly learned the hard way that sometimes old enemies never stay gone. The couple received the worst wedding anniversary present when the Progeny crashed their anniversary celebration bringing with her some friends she made in dark places. They recalled the battle in which the Progeny brought her fellow Acadian followers and an unwelcome reception on behalf of Rita and Lord Zedd being back in power. It left the originals baffled remembering the last time they encountered the evil duo Kat stripped Rita of her powers making her mortal while Tommy and Kimberly destroyed Lord Zedd with the Sword of Power.
Thrax bragged about making a deal with an unknown source he claimed that resurrected his parents. It didn't matter how their greatest adversaries came back but it just made things more terrible than ever. It was needless to say that Tommy and Kimberly's anniversary celebration was ruined but also Sophie's first birthday celebration, much to Kat and Jason's disappointment. As the month of June passed and July came, everyone gathered at the Youth Center for the day.
"You know this place hasn't changed one bit," Tommy replied as the group sat at their usual table, "Even more never imagine that one of us end up buying the place."
"Hey this place is apart of our childhood and I was hoping it would be part of our kids too," Zack said handing out the groups' drinks. "I didn't expect buying in my wildest dreams buying The Youth Center. I bet Ernie is enjoying retirement out in Atlanta right now. In my heart it was worth it trading the music studio space just to buy this."
"Well you wouldn't have bought the Youth Center if we didn't invest our money too," Kimberly added. "Kat and I contributed as secondary investors while Jason and Tommy pooled their money to help expand Rocky and Adam's dojo. However, it's nice to at earn some extra income on the side to maintain the upkeep for the Boarding House."
"And Zack is lucky to have his extra help around this place to keep track of inventory and finances," Kat replied working behind the bar. "You see we can still pull off the ordinary lifestyle with careers and stuff. Zack owning the Juice Bar; Tommy still teaching high school science; Billy running NASADA; Aisha working as a Veterinary; Jason, Adam and Rocky teaching karate; Kimberly and I investors of the Juice Bar; and Trini working as a nurse. We may not be fighting much these days but we're still doing our part to mentor our current team."
"Yeah...doing our part to help the future legacy of the Power Rangers," Jason said sitting down holding Sophie. They watched Desmond, Penny, Rosaline and Virgil teach a group of kids, including their own kids in a series of fitness classes. Rosaline proposed one day to teach a children's fitness class at the Youth Center to help promote exercise among kids under the condition that the group took turns each week to teach the class. "You know watching those guys down there remind me of us back in the day teaching classes to younger kids like karate, gymnastics or even dance classes."
"A reflection of what we used to be back in the day," Tommy commented passing Gabriel off to Kimberly. He looked at his goddaughter Sophie in her father's lap and recalled the memory of the anniversary and first birthday incident. "Hey bro, are you still bummed out about what happened with Sophie's birthday celebration?"
"Bro when was the last time any of our children had a happy birthday celebration without explosions or party crashers?" Jason replied. "Hey Kitty-Kat, can you recall any of the recent birthday celebrations or events that we celebrated without witnessing a bang?"
"Well let's see where do you we begin?" Kat said in a sarcastic but yet optimistic voice knowing this was their way to cope with stress. "There's was Aaron's eleventh birthday back in January that followed a week later with the news of my father suffering a heart attack. Had to fly back for a week to look after him and missed my son's soccer game. Can't forget celebrating my anniversary with Jason the week we were welcomed with the presence of Cutthroat Bitch aka, the Progeny. Oh I like to say celebrating Sophie's first birthday I never anticipated ever seeing Zedd and Rita again. I'm skeptical with Claire's birthday coming up if we could throw a party. Anyone want to take a stab at our track record that we're pretty much cursed when it comes time to celebrating anything?"
"Welcome to club sweetie," Kim added, "Our little toddlers didn't exactly have the eventful first birthday parties we wanted to throw for them. Tommy and I spent Valentine's Day taking care of the twins because both of them ended up with the chicken pox. We had to send Gabe to Tommy's parents for the week because we couldn't risk him catching it. Our last two anniversaries were hit with momentum surprises. Last year's anniversary marked Sophie's birth and this year's marked the return of the evil duo. Next month Elena and Hayden are turning eleven and then I can't forget our Rangers starting their second year of college at their respective schools and Rosie's birthday coming up in September."
"Are we intentionally cursed with bad timing?" Tommy inquired. "I mean think about it. We try one day of normalcy and look, bad things tend to happen."
"Claire's birthday is coming up in two weeks and we want to do something special," Jason added, "Aaron suggested Kat and I throw a celebration to make up for Sophie's ruined first birthday alongside Claire."
"Then why don't you do that then?" Zack suddenly answered. "Come on Claire is turning eight years old, the girl deserves to have some fun. Hey don't let a series of misfortunes ruin this for you guys. It sucks not being around the last couple of years with Allison missing out on her birthdays since she was five years old. When Angela remarried Brian, it was like he the opportunity to be there in her life when I couldn't. Luckily, I got the opportunity to be there for my daughter's 12th birthday. My daughter is growing up fast so take it from someone who knows what it's like missing out. So I'm telling you enjoy every moment you get with your kids despite all the crap that's happening."
"Zack does have a point," Tommy added, "They get older everyday and all you can do is watch them grow up. Kim and I are learning raising four kids: one that is almost close to reaching the legal age up North of 19 years of age; a set of twins who are turning 11 years old next month and a 17 month old toddler. Come on Jase, Kat? I bet deep down Claire is asking for a party."
"Alright but if something bad happens again then we know we're truly cursed with bad timing," Kat and Jason reluctantly answered. "Our girls deserve some happiness in their childhoods before some minion of evil tries to flush it down the drain."
"Oh come on don't use that tone," Kimberly said trying to sound optimistic, "Granted that Andrew Hartford's revelation left us baffled for weeks cheer up. Listen, we're going to help throw Claire a wonderful birthday party and we'll do here at the Youth Center. All you have to do is just smile no matter what happens and reassure yourselves that Claire will have good memories. In all the craziness that happened in our lives just know that our kids are something that turned out normal in our lives."
While the originals were at the table talking, Rosaline and the others were wrapping up their fitness class. Once all the kids waited to be picked up for the day, the current Rangers noticed Aaron and Claire staring at their parents and their friends talking. While Rosaline and Virgil were busy with the twins, the younger Scott children came up to Desmond and Penny to talk.
"Hey Desmond, Penny can I ask something?" Claire asked the older teens.
"Sure what's up Claire Bear?" Penny replied calling her by the nickname her parents gave her. "What's on your mind?"
"Aaron overheard mommy and daddy talking and saying that we're cursed with something called bad timing," Claire replied, "What do they mean by that?"
"Well it's true sometimes bad things tend to happen whenever we try to celebrate something," Aaron added looking a bit nervous. "Sophie's birthday last month and Uncle Tommy and Aunt Kim's anniversary had a bunch of scary monsters show up and ruin it. They look like those bad guys from the storybook or is it possible that the story is coming true? Are our parents cursed with bad luck?"
"Are you crazy what would give you guys that idea?" Desmond replied looking a bit shocked.
"Because the bad guys want to hurt our parents very much," Claire sighed looking at her parents. "I don't want them to hurt my mommy and daddy. I don't care if they ruin my birthday I just don't want anything bad to happen to my mommy and daddy. I know they're superheroes too like you guys and have to help and fight..."
"Claire's worried because the bad guys always find a way to spoil everything for us," Aaron said looking a bit upset. "They always have to keep our mom and dad away from spending time with us and sometimes I wish...I could do something to stop it! The crazy gray ninja lady wanted to hurt me that one time in the alley along with that bad man with the sword. The ninja lady hurt my mom and dad and also Uncle Tommy and Aunt Kim. I don't...I don't want them to ruin anymore happy moments for our family and friends! I'm going to fight them if I have to!"
"Hey listen to me little man and little lady and you listen well," Desmond replied bending down to talk to Aaron and Claire. "I know how much your family means to you, especially your mom and dad. They mean a lot to us too and we care about them just as much as you two and Sophie. What we care about is looking out for your guys because you're like our little brothers and sisters. Your parents will do anything to make sure you guys are happy just like what we're doing for you by fighting the bad guys. Bad things happen sometimes you and they'll upset you. I can't promise that no danger will occur but it will happen because of who we are. However, we can promise you two something."
"What is it you can promise us?" Claire asked.
"No matter how bad things maybe, we'll always find a way to make sure you guys will always smile at the end of the day," Penny reassured. "Because the one thing that makes your parents and the rest of us happy during the day, it's knowing you're always smiling regardless. Trust us Claire, your mom and dad will always find a way to pull through for you guys because they love you and you mean everything to them."
(The Boarding House)
Later that night, Kimberly stood in the nursery watching Gabriel sleeping after putting him down for the night. She took a seat in the rocking chair glancing through the photo album commemorating Gabriel's first year of life. The talk about them being cursed with bad timing rattled them questioning their capability of being parents while continuing their association in the Ranger business. She recalled the events over a year ago leading up to the birth of Gabriel. If Kimberly and the others believed in bad timing, she can recount that the night of her son's birth had both up and down moments.
As she glanced through the pictures in the photo album, she looked at family photo taken of all six of them. It was a picture of her holding Gabriel in her arms alongside Rosaline, Elena, Hayden and Tommy after awakening from a six month coma. Neglecting the fact she almost died after suffering an placental abruption and the fight with Rosaline, things turned out somewhat good in the end, despite a series of misfortunes that day. Tommy came into the nursery placing a hand on his wife's shoulder looking at the picture.
"I remember the day Gabe was born," Tommy smiled staring at his son. "Best Valentine's Day ever."
"Despite all the mishaps that occurred one thing happened that made it worth while...you came back to us." She quietly murmured. "We've been married a little over two years and you spent the first year of our marriage in a coma. The entire time of Gabriel's pregnancy I kept praying you'd wake up, hoping you see your son born. Unfortunately, things have a funny way of marking events like this. I nearly almost died after a serious placental abruption and argument with Rosaline. It still hurts her sometimes as our daughter thinks she was responsible for putting me in the hospital."
"It kind of bums me missing out the whole birthing process of both of our biological children and the full adoption of our other two kids. However, waking up the moment Gabriel was born was something I wouldn't trade for anything. At least I was there...to meet him when you weren't available Beautiful. However, seeing you on Valentine's Day was worth a thousand sights because it was like I thought I never see you again. But just being with you and the kids, it's all worth it."
"Do you ever wonder sometimes if being in the Ranger business dampens our chances of being good parents, Handsome?" Kimberly asked.
"Why do you think that?" he inquired back.
"Because I heard Desmond and Penny talking to the others during dinner about their conversation with Claire and Aaron. Our children are bright and intelligent kids and they know when something is bothering us. Don't you think Aaron and Claire would suspect that something is bothering Kat and Jason? The twins would even suspect if something was bothering us too because we let them know. It surprised me to hear Penny said that Claire doesn't care if her birthday gets ruined as long as nothing bad happens to her parents while Aaron will be willing to fight just so his parents wouldn't get hurt. Does it feel familiar hearing something similar coming out of their mouths?"
"Reminds me awhile back when the twins told Rosaline if there is some way they can find a way to make us happy? We're suppose to be their parents and we're suppose to protect our kids and make sure nothing bad happens to them. It's not suppose to be the other way around where our kids are looking out for our wellbeing. We're the ones that have to do the sacrificing to ensure the safety and happiness of our children. It just upsets me to hear what can our kids do to stop the bad guys from hurting us. Load behold the weight Rosaline and the current team are facing while transitioning between adolescences to young adulthood. It feels like the longer we're involved in this life, it forces our kids to grow up too fast."
"Probably that's our curse is that we tend to deprive our children decent childhood memories. I'm guessing that is how Aaron and Claire are feeling growing up knowing about things that go bump in the night. Allison discovered why her parents split up years ago knowing the pressure it caused Angela." Kimberly explained closing the photo album. "Zack said it was the fact that knowing one day that Ally is at risk of being roped into the Ranger business scared Angela. He explained that as much as they tried to make things work, they started drifting apart. Zack believed that losing Angela and missing out on half of his daughter's life was because of who he is."
"Do you think it's our own faults for choosing this life?" Tommy asked. "Maybe if we tried harder to stay away from the Ranger life then the future legacy and any of our kids wouldn't have been destined to follow in our footsteps. You know after learning the truth of Andrew Hartford's obituary, it made us realize we're always going to be bound for cleaning up the mistakes of the past. The mishaps and misfortunes of the line and legacy of the Power Rangers. It's horrible knowing that we got another job on our hands and it makes you wonder when will it stop?"
"I wonder the same thing too," she replied leaning in as they embraced. "You know in the midst of this whole madness, you're the one constant that reminds me of the good I got out of the Ranger life. I can't imagine life without you Tommy and I love you so much."
"Me too Kim, I wonder the same thing also." he replied back, "I love you more than life itself and if anything happened to you. Well, I couldn't imagine my life without you as well. You mean everything to me because you're my other half and my soulmate."
"Just like you're mine as well," she smiled back kissing him. "My white knight, my handsome falcon."
"And my beautiful pink crane princess." Rosaline was walking by the nursery and notice her parents inside watching over overheard partial bits of their conversation and references to Penny and Desmond's talk with Aaron and Claire.
They understood how hard the veterans were working to keep their children and the current team with high hopes. It made her think about what her friends proposed in order to help out the people that kept them alive and saved them about three years ago. She hated hearing her parents talk with doubt because she always looked to them to always have high hopes. Her friends made it a mission to ensure their mentors that they're not cursed with bad timing and they needed a way to prove it.
(Two Weeks Later)
"She's going to like it dad," Allison smiled as her and Zack were watching the Rangers and her dad's friends decorate the Youth Center. "Knowing the look on Claire's face she'll be one little happy girl. So what did you tell Katherine and Jason?"
"We told them to bring the kids by today at the Youth Center because Kimberly baked Claire a special birthday cake," Zack explained. "We didn't tell them that Penny and Desmond came up with an idea to throw Claire a surprise birthday party. This is not only for Claire, but for Kat and Jason as parents to experience memorable memories with their kids. I can't believe that for someone who is eight years old, all she wishes for is for the minions of evil to stop hurting her parents."
"Well none of us haven't had really eventful birthdays and celebrations this year daddy," Allison said, "It's just we're children of the original Power Rangers and we're going to grow up watching monsters come after us. However, we're still kids and every once in awhile we forget what it's like being kids."
"She does have a point there," Elena replied blowing some balloons, "Mom and dad are worried they're cursed because being superheroes will cause us to miss out on our childhoods. Aaron overheard his parents talk about the same thing."
"It's okay for moms and dads to feel bummed out," Hayden said, "But we're not happy if you guys aren't happy. It has to work both ways. Our friend Claire is turning eight years old so we want her to know what it feels like turning eight years old."
"And also...we dragged mom and dad to the mall last week to buy her birthday presents," Elena smiled pointing to the presents on the table. "I got her a lot of cool stuff from the Disney store."
"Me too but got Claire the entire Pirates of the Caribbean movie set," Hayden added. "Although mom and dad paid for our presents." Tommy and Kimberly approached the kids talking to Zack at the bar about the presents on the table. "Hey mom, dad look at all the presents Claire is getting for her birthday. She doesn't even know that it was Penny and Desmond's idea to throw a surprise party for her."
"Yeah you can thank Penny and Desmond for convincing everyone else that this is something Claire needs," Tommy said.
"And more importantly Jason and Kat also will have the chance to share some childhood moments in their daughter's life," Kimberly added, "Besides, as Penny would put it: A little madam like Claire only turns eight once a year and every kid needs to party on her birthday."
It took two weeks of persuasion by the current team, especially Penny and Desmond to convince their mentors to help plan a surprise party for Claire. The veterans at first were reluctant to go along with the idea until Rosaline changed their minds by telling them to stop telling themselves they are cursed with bad timing. They recalled the speech their chosen team gave them stating that a series of unfortunate events shouldn't affect the personal lives of their mentors. They wanted to throw a birthday party for Claire to remind them of what motivates them during the day.
Rosaline told everyone that Jason's car pulled up in the parking lot leaving everyone to hide. Moments later Kat and Jason walked in pushing Sophie in a stroller and Aaron and Claire walking alongside their parents. The family found the place empty and spotted Tommy, Kimberly and Zack at the bar. They didn't suspect anything or take notice of the decorations around the room until a moment later the lights came on.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAIRE!" everyone jumped up as the younger Scott daughter was speechless alongside her parents.
"Oh my gosh look mommy! Look daddy it's a surprise party for me!" Claire smiled. "Aaron, Sophie look!"
"You guys did this for our daughter?" Jason and Kat looked surprised as they notice the current team smiling. They spotted some of local children that hung out with their children at the Youth Center, some other guests, the current team, and their friends in the crowd seeing the streamers and confetti fall all over the place. "Claire wanted a quiet birthday, unless..." Jason turned to Aaron with a grin on his face. "Aaron Thomas Scott, did you know about this?"
"I was sworn to secrecy and yes, I knew. Besides, who else knows what my little sister wants for her birthday except me? You guys were bummed out that our birthdays didn't turn out good this year and what Claire wanted for her birthday was for the bad guys to stop hurting you guys," Aaron replied looking at his parents, "It was everyone's idea, but mostly Penny and Desmond came up with the plan to throw Claire a birthday party. I know how much you wanted to celebrate our birthdays without anything bad happening and when you kept saying you all have bad timing they wanted to prove you wrong."
"Blimey that timing may not be our strongest suit but you have to understand we wanted you two to have the opportunity to share in your daughter's special day," Penny replied. "We made a promise a Claire that even though danger tends to happen we can assure one thing. No matter what happens, somehow we'll always find a way to make sure they end up smiling at the end of the day. You may think we may have overstepped our boundary but you're not the only ones who want what is best for Claire. She's an amazing little girl who deserves some fun."
"We don't know what to say," Kat smiling looking around the room, "But why after everything that has happened?"
"Look you maybe worried about bad luck and those kids are worried about the bad guys hurting their parents," Desmond added walking up to Jason and Kat. "In all honesty when you say we're all family, that includes them. You're not the only ones who care about Claire's happiness because she's a kid who deserves to grow up with happy childhood memories with her parents." He bent down to Claire and placed a birthday crown on her head smiling. "Now tell me little miss Claire Kimberly Scott...does this put a smile on your face?"
"Well I got to say," Claire replied walking up to Desmond and Penny giving them a hug, "Thank you very much for my birthday party. It makes me happy and also my mommy and daddy knowing they can celebrate my birthday with me. Can I ask one thing?"
"What's on your mind little sis?" Aaron asked.
"Is there a birthday cake?" she smiled.
"Got your favorite one...strawberry shortcake," Kimberly replied from the bar, "Just the way you like it. So go on birthday girl, it's your party go have fun."
Claire was enjoying her birthday with Desmond and Penny taking charge of all the party games. Kimberly and Tommy took turns with the video camera recording the party. Tommy was taping Jason and Aaron squirting Rocky and Adam with the toy water guns from the loot bags. Claire was laughing as she decided to join the fun with her dad and brother. When it was Kimberly's turn to record, she switched over to show Kat holding Sophie showing Claire's birthday cake. Kimberly was so glad to see that one of her best friends so happy on her daughter's birthday. She switched over moments later watching Claire and her friends hitting a pinata. However, much to Billy's dismay who was holding it up, he ended up being whacked by a few party guests, including the birthday girl.
After a few minutes, Kat handed Sophie off for awhile to Trini and Aisha to redirect the kids in line. It was their way of sparing Billy from taking another hit. The children were enjoying themselves and were even treated to a magic show Zack put on. When it was Tommy's turn to record, he spotted his daughter off near the corner by the bar making out with Virgil. The light from the camera shined on them as they stopped, completely embarrassed being caught on camera.
"Whoa slow down! Keep the video PG rated lovebirds! This is a children's party!" Tommy gasped.
"OH MY GOSH YOU CAUGHT US ON CAMERA KISSING!" They exclaimed in unison.
"Get that camera out of my face dad!" Rosaline gasped grabbing Virgil's hand, "Oh my gosh! Kat and Jason are going to see this?"
"For the record bro, you have a weird sense of humor," Jason teased taking the camera, "You can explain to my wife why you have a shot of your daughter making out in the corner."
"What happens when your little Claire bear turns sixteen?" he teased.
"She better hope that the guy she brings home isn't intimidated by me or her older brother," Jason smiled laughing, "Knowing Aaron, he's a chip off the old block."
"Yeah just like his dad scare off any potential suitors that come ten feet within his sisters' presence. Good luck to Claire and Sophie on that one."
Jason took his turn recording as Tommy handed the camera to his best friend. He switch to a shot of Kat bringing out Claire's birthday cake watching everyone sing happy birthday to his daughter. He recorded Claire blowing out the candles on her cake and Aaron trying to taste the frosting on the cake. The others took pictures of Claire with her parents and her brother and sister. Jason watched his wife trying to stop their kids from fighting as Kimberly helped Kat cut the cake handing out to the guests to eat.
"We're not cursed with bad timing or bad luck," Kat replied while the group sat at the table eating cake. "Those guys are right about something."
"That we got to remind ourselves the reason for waking up every morning," Zack said handing out drinks.
"We spend all our time trying to keep them safe and sometimes our worries tend to rub off on those kids," Kimberly added, "Although we try our hardest to stay optimistic for their sakes, they sometimes forget to remember it's their job being kids and enjoying their lives. We maybe superheros or mentors but it shouldn't stop us from enjoying the pleasures life has to offer."
"Eventually we sometimes forget that things tend to work both ways," Tommy said, "We got to wonder sometimes what makes this team we chose special. Those Rangers went through the trouble of throwing a birthday party for Claire because they want her to experience sharing childhood memories alongside her parents."
A little while later, Kat and Jason watched as Claire opened her birthday presents. When she opened Aaron's birthday present to her, it was a storybook. Claire flipped through the pages looking at the drawings started reading the captions. Unknown to their parents and the Rangers, Aaron drew the pictures and retyped up the contents of the storybook creating a copy for Claire to have. "I remembered most of the pages and I wanted to create the storybook so you could have it." Aaron told his sister. "This is still our adventure book...I hope you like it."
"Thank you big brother this is the best present ever," Claire replied.
"I don't believe we're cursed with bad luck," Jason said wrapping his arm around Kat. "We're actually blessed with an amazing family. That's what we all are...we're family and we look out for one another. They're right about the thing that motivates us every morning. To make sure at the end of the day our kids are always smiling."