The House of Power

by flipgurlpink11

Sequel to "The Line of Power" & "The Power Revelation." The original Rangers & their new team are relishing in a time of peace from a battle that took them beyond the limits. But can they face one last adventure with what they knew about the Line & legacy of Power that will put them to the ultimate test?

14. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

Chapter 14: Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

(The Boarding House)

The Christmas holidays has descended upon the city of Angel Grove and the citizens were busy getting themselves in the holiday spirit. As it was Cadence's first Christmas, Tommy and Kimberly wanted to make it extra special; despite everything that was going on. Although their daughter was only eight months old, she still wasn't old enough to know what Christmas was. However, they wanted to give the rest of their children a Christmas worth remembering. The events in New Orleans still waved heavy on them, especially Tommy and Kim once they shared the news of the prophecy with their friends. The Rangers went on with continuing to finish off the rest of the fall semester of school and come back to Angel Grove to spend the holidays. Both the original veterans nor the Rangers limited discussing with one another about New Orleans and rather focus entirely on the mission.

They thought by keeping themselves occupied during the Christmas holidays, it would distract them from dwelling on what was ahead for all of them. The boarding house was already decorated once Rosaline was finally home from Juilliard for the holidays. It was nice company to have the Rangers staying until it was time for them to go home and spend Christmas with their families. One afternoon, Tommy was upstairs retrieving some more wrapping paper and tape for the kids to wrap their Christmas presents when he heard Cadence crying in the nursery. However, he found that Kim beat him to looking after their daughter as he quietly stood by the door watching his wife comfort and soothe their baby girl.

"Hey there baby girl, happy holidays." Kim smiled holding the crying baby. She was trying to settle their daughter down for a nap as she sat in the rocking chair gently cradling Cadence in her arms. "Oh my little princess please don't cry for mommy. Hey how about I sing you a little lullaby? I used to sing this to your brothers and sisters…and I used to sing it whenever I feel down. Are you down right now baby girl? Don't worry mommy is here."

"Well I guess it would be nice. If I could touch your body. I know not everybody. Has got a body like you." Tommy started hearing Kim starting to sing gently to their daughter as Cadence's cries begin to dwindle down. She was singing George Michael's Faith to their daughter, but in a more ballad and slow tempo as if she was trying to soothe their daughter. "But I've got to think twice. Before I give my heart away. And I know all the games you play. Because I play them too…"

As Cadence was being comforted and soothed by her mother's voice, she smiled at the tired infant in her arms. It brought back memories for Kim as she continued to rock her baby girl in the chair. Kimberly remembered the first time she ever sung Faith by George Michael as a lullaby, the day Rosaline was born. It was still a bittersweet memory recalling the time of Rosaline's birth. It was heartbreaking when she filled out the adoption forms and it was even worse for her that she had to handle this alone without the help of her family. Writing the Dear John letter to Tommy made the loneliness hurt more for the guilt of doing what she did.

Something in the way that Kim sang the song to Cadence made Tommy sense sadness and it sounded like she was tearing up. He heard parts of Kim's conversation with their daughter listening about how she sung it to their eldest daughter the day she was born and also the day she put Rosaline up for adoption. It was like he was imagining himself being in that hospital with Kimberly when she was seventeen and left to fend for herself. They were grateful with their second chance with their daughter and with the family they are now raising together. However, the way she sang it brought upon a crisis of faith and doubt in general.

"Oh but I need some time off from that emotion. Time to pick my heart up off the floor. Oh and when that love comes down without devotion. Well it takes a strong man baby. But I'm showing you the door," Kimberly continued to sing softly to their sleeping daughter. She gently gave Cadence a kiss on her forehead as her baby was finally asleep. She settled her down in the crib as she rubbed her daughter's hand. "'Cause I gotta have faith. I gotta have faith. 'Cause I gotta have faith, faith. 'Cause I gotta have faith, faith, faith…" Kimberly placed her hands on the side of the crib and felt a lone tear escape her eyes as she wiped them.

"How is our little princess doing?" Tommy asked placing his hands on his wife's shoulders as they watched their daughter sleep. She turned around to look at her husband before focusing her attention back on Cadence and then took a hold of Tommy's hand. "She's sound asleep and nice choice of lullaby, Beautiful."

"There's something about singing George Michael's Faith that calms our kids down, Handsome. It started with Rosaline when she was born. I remember it like it was yesterday and when I look at Cadence sometimes I wonder if this is what it would have been like if we were raising our little girl from the beginning? I got to spend a few days with Rosaline before the adopted parents came for her and brought her to North Carolina."

"I figured and I kind of overheard your little conversation with Cadence. You used to sing it whenever you felt things got rough. It was more than just a lullaby to our kids to help them feel better. You used to sing it whenever the twins or Gabriel were sick or if Rosaline was having one of her rough days at school."

"It's more than that…I even remember singing it that one year during Christmas when I was pregnant with Gabriel. It was during that time that was suppose to be our first Christmas together after the first battle at the seal, the holidays took an unexpected turn." Kimberly sighed taking a breath. "I sang that song to you…when you were in your coma because I need some sense of faith to believe in."

"But we're here together and that's all that matters. We've faced unspeakable odds Kim and our love has stood everything that was thrown our way." Tommy assured her. "What worries you the most?"

"Well we kind of dropped the ball whenever it comes to holidays, especially Christmas." Kimberly said looking down at Cadence sleeping. "This is Cadence's first Christmas and I want to make this one memorable for our baby girl. We weren't there to celebrate Rosaline's first Christmas, and we didn't have our first Christmas together as a married couple and together with Hayden and Elena. My first Christmas I spent with you as your wife was in your hospital room. We were too busy fighting Satsu at the time we literally cancelled our first Christmas with Gabriel. I lost track of how many Christmases I haven't spent with my family."

"It's important for me too to give Cadence her first Christmas to remember." He slightly smiled but he saw that something was on her mind. "Come on Beautiful, talk to me. Don't hold back on me, not after everything we been through over the years. It's…more than just this supposed holiday funk you're in."

"Do you ever get tired of the idea that we're living on borrowed time?" Kimberly sighed softly. "We're always looking over our shoulders wondering who is out there ready to strike us down. I want our kids to grow up living normal lives as possible, being able to celebrate Christmas year after year without some evil fiend threatening their lives. I want us to be happy and living out the dreams we planned with each other. I want to believe that in the end everything…will be alright."

"It will be and some stupid prophecy shouldn't stop our dreams or the dreams of our kids. I promise you Cadence is going to have her first Christmas with her family that she will remember. We're not spending another holiday looking over our shoulders with the idea we're living on borrowed time," Tommy reassured her as he grabbed her hand. "This is the Christmas we're not going to worry about some evil fiend coming after our family and friends. And we're not going to let this prophecy thing loom over our heads, not during this time of year. We're going to deal with that down the road, but not now."

"If only you can wish for that to happen but I'll take your word." Kimberly slightly smiled wanting to believe Tommy's words. He had a way of distracting her from all their troubles and making something good out of bad situation. It was Christmas and the last thing she wanted to do was not dampen the mood for Cadence's first Christmas. "Gosh I feel bad for dampening the mood for the holidays, especially for the kids. I love it how you always know how to make me feel better."

"Well I remember once upon a time there was a certain pink crane who always used to lighten her white falcon's days," He slightly smiled. "Hey how about I give you a few moments to get Cadence settled and then why don't you join the kids and me downstairs to go wrap up their array of gifts they bought? How does that sound?"

"Okay but do make sure Gabriel doesn't go wasting the wrapping tape again," Kimberly said getting into the mood of things.

Tommy left the nursery to give his wife and daughter a moment alone. "And this is the one time of the year she enjoys." It made him upset to see Kim like this: lacking faith and spirit during a joyous holiday; always feeling like life is now about living on borrowed time; unable to let herself go and enjoy something as simple as celebrating Christmas with her loved ones. However, it wouldn't do it for his wife to see despair and anger. It was as if the roles were reversed. He had always been the brooding one, the lone warrior who needed to be drawn out, and Kim was the optimistic one, the one who could bring light to his shadow. It was his time this holiday to be his wife's light, hoping to make some Christmas magic to give her and their daughter a Christmas to remember. But he knew he couldn't pull it off alone and thank goodness he had four other amazing kids who can help brighten their mom's spirits.

"Look, finally dad brought the wrapping paper down," Rosaline replied to the twins but then she looked at her father. "Is everything alright dad? Is mom upstairs with Cadence?"

"Yeah she's putting your baby sister down for a nap," He smiled at his kids and glanced upstairs for a second. He then turned back to them. "Hey kids, do you think you can help your old man help make some Christmas magic?"

"Depends on how tall the order is," the twins smiled. "Who's in need of some Christmas magic this year?"

"Let's just say your mom's holiday spirit has been down and I need your guys help to brighten it, especially for Cadence. It's your baby sister's first Christmas and I promised we're going to make one to remember." Tommy replied as he saw the kids smile. "So…do you guys want to make a Christmas miracle happen?"

(The Black Frog and Red Ape Dojo)

"Don't worry guys you'd come to the right place to work off your holiday frustrations," Adam smiled as he opened the door for Jason and Tommy to the dojo the next morning. The guys haven't had an early morning workout in awhile and with everything going on, Adam and Rocky invited the guys to the dojo since they didn't have classes to teach until late in the afternoon.

"It's been awhile since we had a morning workout," Rocky replied. "Aisha is at the bank today depositing the latest fees we collected for new students starting after the new year. We're lucky to have the dojo to ourselves until 2pm."

"Hey thanks for suggesting this, especially during the holidays." Jason replied as he started to attack the punching bag Rocky set up earlier in the morning with a ferocity of punches and kicks. Tommy was holding the bag as he, Rocky and Adam watched their friend hit the bag while mumbling some stuff about his holiday plans. The guys found it amusing since Jason had the best self control out of the group, except when it came some certain aspects.

"Looks like someone's holiday plans are being derailed bro," Tommy said slightly smiling. "Let me guess, the wife dropped you off here for the sake of peace?"

"Well Katherine is at the Youth Center today with Zack because there is a health inspector coming to do an annual inspection." Jason replied continuing to work on the punching bag. "And there was no way I was going to spend the day with Kat's parents alone without my wife. Oh and we both didn't expect that they were going to spend Christmas with us. Usually they're in Sydney spending Christmas with Kat's brother Garrett and sister-in-law Davina until Kat's parents got into a fight with their son's in-laws."

"Come on your in-laws can't be that bad are they?" Adam asked. "I mean they know about you and Katherine and the whole magic stuff going on."

"Yeah that's why they don't really spend much time with us because the magic subject," Jason explained hitting the punching bag again. "They're not that bad and I'm civil with my wife's parents. Usually, we limit ourselves with discussing my mother-in-law's checkered history of wicca on her side of the family. They still get touchy especially after they found out their little Claire Bear's magic manifested. However it's not the magic subject that's the issue."

"Then what bothers you about Kat's parents spending Christmas with you two and the kids bro?" Tommy asked.

"It is when holiday dinners consist of her parents airing out their family dramas and basically subjecting us to play their therapists. But this is the family I married into: three brother-in-laws with drama filled lives who constantly keep their parents on their toes even as grown adults. It's quite the opposite with my family dynamic in which I grew up with two sisters: one that turned out to be a academic achiever and the other one working as a doctor at John Hopkins Hospital."

"Yeah Kat's brothers were pretty intimidating back in the day." Tommy commented. "I'm surprised you survived with them as their brother-in-law and the fact you married their baby sister was the kicker. Unfortunately, those guys had drama filled lives that it must be hard to keep up with it."

"Damnit Garrett why the hell did he have to dump his personal baggage on us?" Jason sighed in frustration. "I don't know how much longer either of us can take on hearing Kat's parents rant about how much they dislike their son's in-laws. Yeah, it's a normal thing for your in-laws to not get along but do they really have to bring it up in front of our kids? Then there was that one year they came into town to celebrate our wedding anniversary and then this was at the time her brother Martin was getting divorced for the third time. Yeah basically their toast to us on our anniversary was on tips of not what to do to ruin your marriage. Oh don't get me started with Ian, the brother known baggage problems whether it be his drug addicted girlfriend or his legal troubles with the law. I lost track of how many times either his girlfriend fell off the wagon or he ended up behind bars asking for bail."

"It makes you appreciate how Kat survived all the drama in her brothers' lives." Adam added as Jason gave Tommy a turn to work on the punching bag. He ended up holding it while his best friend worked on his punch and kick combos. "But it comes with the territory of being married."

"I'm guessing you two are stocking up on wine and beer this year for Christmas?" Rocky playfully joked. "I'm guessing you being here is your way of trying to rejuvenate yourself to endure another day of your in-law's ranting about how Garrett's wife ruined their Christmas?"

"Pretty much we're spending Christmas playing counselling with Kat's parents despite how much I feel like I want to throw these guys out. The last thing I don't need is anymore drama dampening my children's holiday." Jason replied. "However, I love my wife and kids and do anything for them, including put up with her parents' rants about how much their sons always ask for all this drama in their lives."

"If they only knew about the stuff you and Kat really go through," Tommy slightly smiled. "Well they know the partial truth but avoid talking about the whole magic thing. I guess you two never told them just how much intense drama fills both your lives." He then added another punch to the bag before continuing. "I'm sure it will work out for you bro, and maybe it wouldn't be as bad as you two make it sound. I just wish I knew how to help Kim with her little Christmas funk."

"Oh Tommy we're sorry to hear," Jason replied putting a hand on his shoulder. "Here I was ranting about spending the holidays with my in-laws I didn't realize something is up with my little sister. Is she alright? Did something happen with her dad again?"

"No, no it's nothing like that. It's Cadence's first Christmas and with our track record the last few years Christmas hasn't exactly gone the way we wanted. After everything that went down in New Orleans she's feeling despondent about our current circumstances. I just hate seeing her feel this despondent and lacking faith that everything will work out. It's no like Kim to be down in the dumps, she's usually the one that always lightens the mood with us, especially with me."

"It's the whole prophecy thing isn't it? If Josephine La Rue didn't activate our dormant powers we would have never revealed that crap to you two." Jason felt he was inadvertently guilty for Kim's lack of holiday spirit. The last thing he wanted was to let this get the best of his little sister. "If I could only take it back Tommy I would and I'm sorry for putting you two in this position. You guys mean a lot to me for everything we been through over the years."

"Hey don't blame yourselves for this Jason it wasn't your fault. Kim loved Christmas and spending every year getting the kids ready for it. We were excited for Cadence's first Christmas and we wanted to plan out everything. I just don't want to have another child have a shitty holiday because some minion of evil is lurking around trying to ruin the holidays for us. The kids and I are going to plan something out at the house the day before the Rangers leave for the holidays and I can sure enlist the help of my trusted best friends to lift our pink crane's spirits."

"Anything for our little sis," Rocky replied. "What do you need us to do?"

"I'm in as well," Adam said. "We'll do anything for Kimberly."

"Next to Katherine and the kids, I can never turn down a request from my bro and my little sis," Jason added. "So oh fearless leader, what do you and your little Oliver brood have in store for our pink crane?"

"Just seeing if we're not too old enough to pull off a Christmas miracle. Not only I want to make this holiday season special for Cadence since it's my baby girl's first one but I want to give Kim the Christmas she deserves to celebrate every year. The one with family and friends and hopefully reignite that holiday spirit of hers." Tommy said deep in thought.

(Vallerte's Music Jukebox)

"So you guys will be there at the boarding house?" Rosaline asked as she dropped by the music store to visit her friends. When her dad asked for her and her siblings' help to do something special for their mom and for Cadence, the Oliver children couldn't say no. They loved their mother a lot, especially Hayden and Elena despite the fact they had no biological relation with Kimberly and Tommy. However, after the death of their biological parents, Rosaline was grateful that her parents have done the same thing with the twins like what Tommy's parents did many years ago: adopting him into a family who loved and raised them as their own child.

Rosaline knows that the events of New Orleans left her parents down and despondent over the impending doom up ahead. It did bother her and her dad, but it was her mom who took the revelation not too well. The Oliver children hated seeing their mother down as she was the one who always the source of their light and happiness despite her traumatic past. Even the holidays, the one time of the year where Kimberly was at her brightest, it seemed like the holiday spirit was lacking in their mom. As Tommy put it, this year it would be their turn to be the light to brighten their mother's spirit.

"Don't worry honey we'll be there," Virgil reassured her. "Besides, we do anything for our mentors and the people who made our adolescents very eventful. Also, it gives us some time together before we head home for the holidays. Well, with the exception of Aidan, me and Rosie."

"Yeah it's funny how all of us ended up booking flights on the twenty-first of the month to go home," Desmond added. "Gosh I lost track of the last time I was in San Antonio visiting my family."

"That was when your father was finally released after he finished his sentence," Penny commented as Desmond winced at the comment about his father. "So...are you looking forward to seeing him this year?"

"You can say I'm really nervous because I hardly talked to my dad since he was sentenced and his medical licence revoked. But my mom wants me to try to rebuild a relationship with the man even though they're no longer married." Desmond said deep in thought before changing the topic. "How about the rest of you guys? Any plans for the holidays?"

"Going to back to the homeland to check up on my folks for the holidays," Bianca replied. "Plus I also got to show face in the Big Easy and make sure the factions are not tearing themselves apart."

"I'm heading to Nevada to rendezvous with my mom before flying out to the Connecticut to spend Christmas with my family." Chan added. "She's responding well to her latest treatments but she refuses to be discharged from the hospital if in case she has another episode. However, my parents are on civil terms along with my siblings. How about you Chris? Any holiday plans?"

"Flying out to New York to drop in on Abby and Silas. He's happy that CPS have allowed his parents to regain custody of his siblings." Christian stated. "Sis is spending her first holiday with Silas' family. How about you Quincy?"

"Heading to Detroit for the holidays," Quincy answered. "It's been months since I last saw my mom, my brother and sisters. My aunt Beth is spending the holidays with us. Spicer is going to be there for the holidays because it's been a tradition for our family to invite him every year since I was twelve."

"Are you going to fill him in about the missing children cases?" Shi-Ann asked.

"It sucks to tell your supervisory senior agent that out of the 89 missing cases, 35 of them are now confirmed dead," Aidan added. "Is there a chance some of these guys might turn up alive?"

"I'm skeptical these days and the more we dive into this it just dampens the holiday mood," Quincy said. "Sometimes, we need to at least take a step back to recharge and rethink things over."

"I know that feeling that's why I need the help of my best friends to do this little thing for my mom and Cadence." Rosaline explained looking at her friends. "Hey we've had our holidays put on hold the last few years and for once we deserve to celebrate Christmas. We spend nearly half the holidays looking over our shoulders wondering which evil fiend is lurking. Something as simple as spending time with our family and friends over Christmas doesn't seem simple as it used to be."

"Yeah when the last time any of us spent time with our family and friends for one holiday or birthday without being called away to battle?" Virgil asked. "Even something like a getaway vacation turns out to be a stakeout mission or recon. Do…you guys ever wish for something to ever come true especially during this time of the year?"

"The way you talk about wishes and miracles reminds me of this thing I used to do when I was a kid," Rosaline said deep in thought. "Eventually, it became this tradition we used every year out near the boardwalk as a family, well with my adopted parents and the twins. Hayden and Elena and me were talking about it and wondered when it was the last time we did something like that…make wishes and then burn it according to the custom. Wait a minute…I got it! Oh man the twins are geniuses for figuring it out! Listen, do you guys think you can help me with something but it requires all of us to participate."

"Okay it looks like my girlfriend has something up her sleeve," Virgil smiled. "And since you're roping us into helping the Oliver clan pull off a Christmas miracle, how can we be of service to our little songbird?"

"All I need is for you guys to make sure you're in nice clean Christmas clothes, we have a lot of paper on hand, pens and a lot of firewood," Rosaline said. "I'm not going to drop names of people who left my parents howling over being owed a new fire pit, Desmond and Virgil. But I would need a lot of wood and a bucket just to make sure you guys don't burn my house down. I'm thinking about bringing something old into the fold to share with you guys, besides it's tradition."

(The Boarding House)

A few days later, Kimberly had no idea that Tommy, their children, friends or the Rangers was planning something special for Cadence's first Christmas. However, there was also a surprise in store for Kim as well. She assumed that Rosaline was planning to a small holiday get together with her friends since they were leaving the following day to spend Christmas with their own families. However, despite her promise to get herself into the holiday spirit, Kimberly found it difficult and it was just another reminder that they were on borrowed time.

Tommy found Kimberly watching Cadence on blanket spread out on the floor in the nursery and playing with the stuffed falcon and crane teddies. Kim is watching her coo and play when Tommy comes into the room and hears Kimberly singing to their daughter.

"Baby, I know you're asking me to stay. Say please, please, please don't go away. You say I'm giving you the blues. Maybe, you mean every word you say. Can't help but think of yesterday. And another who tied me down to loverly rules," Kimberly sang as Tommy continued to hear his wife cooing their daughter. "Before this river, becomes an ocean. Before you throw my heart back on the floor. Oh baby I reconsider my foolish notion. Well I need someone to hold me. But I'll wait for something more. Yes I've gotta have faith. Mmm, I gotta have faith."

"I can never get tired of your voice, especially our little girl." Kimberly stands to her feet, and walks toward her husband.

"Am I the world's worst mother for letting my teething toddler see mommy down in dumps and rain on her first Christmas?" Tommy looks back over at Cadence, who is still cooing as she puts the stuffed falcon and crane in a toy mug and pulls it out again, and smiles.

"Cadence is a little tough maiden. I think she can handle what comes along the way. She's our daughter so she has the best of both of us." Tommy replied smiling at Kim. "How are you holding up, Beautiful?"

"Oh, you never get used to the feeling that somewhere in the bushes some minion of evil is lurking waiting to ruin the moment." Kim sighs before looking up and meeting Tommy's eyes. "Handsome, I'm really sorry. I know I promised that we'd spend the night alone. I even had this really dumb plan that we were gonna drink hot eggnog and watch It's A Wonderful Life together while Rosie had her little party downstairs. Yet, here we are…"

Tommy gives her a reassuring look. "You don't need to apologize, not to me. I know I been pressuring you to try to get into the sprit of things for our children's sake to give them a peaceful and quiet holiday. However, I think my rating as a parent and husband is dropping below a ten on the scale."

"At least there's one of us who is doing everything to salvage Christmas. I know I haven't been any help to you love." Kimberly sighed. "In spite of everything why are you still trying to help me?" Tommy hesitates for a moment and rubs his face contemplatively before he finally answers.

"Because it's what I do and I think it's always been my fate and destiny to love and serve my beloved pink princess." Kimberly can't help but burst out laughing at this sappy, but sweet remark. "But, hey, we fought like hell over the years to protect each other, and I respect that. I was born to love you, Kim, and if that means I have to deal with the all the drama and complications in our lives, then okay. I'm in and I'm not going anywhere."

Kimberly touched by this reaction, leans forward and kisses him passionately, wrapping her arms around his neck as he wraps his own around her waist. Cadence, who is still playing and sucking on a pacifier, looks up and watches them for a moment. When they break away, Kimberly smiles at Tommy bashfully.

"It's not too late, we could do something tonight while Rosie has her party." Kimberly suggested. "There's a classic movie fest downtown and they're playing old Christmas movies. They're showing It's A Wonderful Life at 7pm. We could catch the show before her bedtime…"

"I got a better idea if my two wonderful ladies are up for surprises?" Tommy smiled looking at her and Cadence. "However, it does require a little fixing up? So do you think you can help me style our little girl into something fancy?"

Downstairs in the living room, the Rangers and original veterans are all dressed in their best holiday clothes and standing around the lit Christmas tree. Billy has just placed a large, beautiful wrapped gift for Cadence under the tree and adjusts some of the ornaments on the tree nervously as Trini comes behind him and puts down a gift of her own for their goddaughter. They then stand and walk toward Tanya, who hands each of them a glass of white wine. Jason comes out next with two more glasses of wine and smiles as Kat comes over and kisses him affectionately on the cheek. Just then, Tommy leads Kimberly, who is holding Cadence in her arms, to the top of the staircase, where Kimberly immediately stops and stares in awe at the holiday gathering below them. When Rosaline sees them, she walks toward the bottom of the steps, and Elena, Hayden and Gabriel turn to look up at them with smiles on their faces. Kimberly is positively beaming as she walks down the stairs, looking up at Tommy affectionately as she does so.

"You said you wanted a happy family Christmas. Do you still believe in miracles?" Tommy asked smiling. "Well, you wanted to spend the holidays with all your family and friends and they're are all here. I promised you we were going to give Cadence her very first Christmas she'll remember." He looked at his three oldest kids as Gabriel walks over to his mom.

"Merry Christmas mommy," Gabriel smiled giving Kimberly a hug. "Merry Christmas Cadence." She spots Billy and Trini who are taking snapshots of Cadence. She walks over to Trini and Billy, who has eyes only for Cadence at this moment.

"Merry Christmas, little one." Billy bends over to kiss Cadence on the head as Jason walks over to Tommy with a smile and hands him a glass of wine. "You godfather wouldn't miss your first Christmas for the world."

"We couldn't miss our goddaughter's first Christmas now would we?" Trini smiled as she gave the baby a kiss on her forehead.

"It wasn't the same having our baby sister celebrate her first Christmas if mom was lacking her holiday spirit," Rosaline replied. "So when dad told us that you been feeling down, we couldn't help ourselves. You've always been the light in everybody's life mom, now this year we thought it would be our turn to be your light and reignite your spirit."

"I don't know what to say," Kimberly smiles as she gets a little teary eyed. "This is just too much…"

"That's a first bro," Jason couldn't laugh at his small minor joke, but Kimberly and Tommy reluctantly smiled at their best friend's remark. "My little sis is a lost for words for once. So...are we all just going to stand here and waste the six bottles of the white wine our young group of Rangers raided from my liquor stash?"

"Oh come on you know my stash of liquor are collector's items," Tommy joked as Kimberly smiled still holding Cadence.

(Later On)

Everyone has just finished unwrapping their gifts and eating some post dinner snacks. Billy and Trini rings the bell on the new tricycle they bought for Cadence to entertain her. Cadence tries her best to ring it as well, to no avail since she was still too small to ride it. Tommy and Kimberly giggles affectionately, which makes Rosaline and her siblings smile from nearby. Virgil walks over and hands Rosaline another glass of wine. A few minutes later, Tommy watches Rosaline and the twins disappear outside along with Virgil, Desmond and Quincy to prepare for the next part of the Christmas surprise.

Suddenly, Kimberly's face looks horrified as she notices smoke coming from the backyard. The other veterans looked baffled by the unexpected bonfire as the rest of the Rangers and Tommy had the head outside. It was an unusually a chilly and windy night in Angel Grove which caused them to donned their jackets. There is a safely secured metal fire pit full of burning wood set up as Desmond, Virgil and Quincy continue throw more firewood and set up a bucket. While Kimberly and the others are confused by the mysterious bonfire, Tommy and the kids look more pleased as they see Hayden and Elena holding parchments of paper and pens.

"Oh no! Please tell me you guys aren't planning to nuke my ancestral home," Kimberly slightly jokes looking at the prospect of the holiday bonfire. "What is this?"

"Well it's something we thought we share with you and everyone else," Hayden explained smiling. "Dad thought we were looking to go all firestarter until we explained to him the significance of the bonfire."

"So what's with the bonfire?" Kimberly asked.

"Come on Beautiful let our brood of children explain it to their lovely mom," Tommy smiled putting his arm around Kimberly.

"It's an old Bennett family tradition we used to do back in Beaufort!" Elena added as Kim looked at them in confusion.

"What kind of…tradition?"

"Every year our family used to go down by the docks and we would set up this holiday bonfire." Rosaline explained looking at the bonfire. "It was an old Norwegian holiday tradition my adopted mother's grandparents used to do back in Norway. What happens is we write our wishes down on these parchments of paper and then burn them for luck. Strangely, I don't recall wishing for an influx of enemies, and yet year after year…"

Tommy smirks as he sees Kimberly smiling. "How odd. Seems like Santa's naughty-list tends to grow year after year. Since everyone standing out here is way too old to sit on Santa Claus' lap and ask him what we want to Christmas let's see if wishes do come true. Hayden, Elena do you have the paper and pens ready?"

"What's with the papers and pens? What are we suppose to do with them?"

"Share this tradition with us and we promise you that you won't regret it," the kids replied to their parents. "Like Sarah and Patrick were our parents, you two are also our parents and you mean the world to us. Those some traditions may have to end, we want to hope to keep this one alive with the family we've built all together. If anyone of us can wish for something, we wish for your happiness mom and dad…"

Everyone gathers around the bonfire, where the Rangers standing around together in the front with the original veterans standing behind their successors. They see the twins distribute the parchments of paper to the Rangers that represent their respective colours as they each silently write their wishes down. Rosaline looks at the wish she's written on the paper one last time before she throws it into the burning flames. She then looks nervously around at her family and friends, all of whom look somber despite the festive party around them.

Meanwhile, the original veterans contemplate what to write down but it meant for them to participate for Kimberly's sake. Her and Tommy are standing off to the side watching the festivities continue as their friends talk amongst themselves.

"It hard to think that the house of power is still meant to fall by family." Kat sighed deep in thought looking at Tommy, Kim and Rosaline. "…And by a friend and one by a foe. After everything those two and their family has been through it seems that the universe always has a means of testing their fate and destiny."

"Right now, what we should be concerns is our enemies." Jason said sombrely. "Ivan Ooze has the weapon he intend to use against the Empowered Humans and eventually against us. They cannot know about the 01916 objects, not even the Maistir Dhiaga or the Empowered Humans. Our best advantage is if they believe they're still searching for them."

"You don't think that the object that Tommy and Kimberly found...is the Claochladan?" Aisha asked as they looks backward into the Rangers, where them and the twins are doting on Cadence, showering her with presents and laughing happily.

"I'm not going to lose my best friends to some stupid prophecy." Jason said as he turns back to his friends. "We don't know who are allies or foes but what we do know is the only people right now we can trust and rely on is each other. It's not just about protecting the heart and soul of our team, we have to protect the line and house of Power we spent years establishing." Jason writes down his wish as the others follow suit and each of them tosses it into the fire.

"Our wishes already came true once before," Justin slightly smiled. "Let's hope faith is on our side and that our wishes do come true again." He lifts up his hands and holds them out to friends, who take them and squeeze them tightly.

"At least right what matters is we helped our pink crane find her Christmas spirit again." Billy reassured the group. "Right now we have this moment to know we did something right this season." They stare in the flames deep in thoughts and sinking in the holiday moment.

Meanwhile, Kimberly takes in the scenery of watching her friends and family near the bonfire burning their wishes for good luck. She already handed Cadence off to her siblings who continue to make the baby coo with excitement. Her and Tommy stood off to the side watching the bonfire burning but both of them still have their parchments in their hands, each contemplating what to write down.

"So my beloved pink princess, is this the Christmas you imagined for our little girl?" Tommy asked wrapping his arms around her. "Our little Cadence, she finally has the Christmas she wanted and I'm glad to know that my beautiful crane has found her holiday spirit again."

"My white falcon always there to save the day. I owe you everything and I owe our amazing kids everything including sharing with us some of their old holiday traditions," Kimberly slightly smiled. "You asked me if I believe in holiday magic? I think…I think it still exists out there because we got five wonderful kids who made sure that we keep hope alive. I can't believe you made it possible Tommy and for that I'm grateful for you in my life."

"As I'm grateful to have you in my life, Beautiful. There is no need to thank me just as long as you're smiling and are in great spirits this holiday that is all I need from you. Even in the midst of everything that is happening, what we achieved is that we got the holiday we planned and wanted."

"Tommy…have you thought…about what to put down?" Kimberly questioned looking down at the blank parchment of paper. "I want us to get involved in this but I can't seem to write down something to wish for. I'm just happy are children are happy just for once. They have no burdens during Christmas and don't have to worry about looking over their shoulders." She looks up and gives him a passionate kiss.

Tommy breaks away from the kiss, and he and Kim stare into each others eyes as Tommy gently runs his fingers down her arm. He continues to stare at her as she runs her own hand down his chest. "I'm stuck as you too wondering what to wish for when you feel like you already have everything. But then this prophecy looms over and when the year that the prophecy foretold is over, what happens then Kim?"

"I'm not sure but we've challenged the hand of fate and destiny so many times, Handsome. It was what got me down in the dumps thinking about borrowed time and how much we have of it? This idea that the universe is trying to put us to the test. We've dodged life and death so many times do you think it's stupid to hold onto the faith that everything will work out in the end?"

"Why not? Maybe the only way to stop this stupid prophecy is to embrace it! Control it!" Tommy said with determination. "If we can control it, then maybe we can change it. The future is not set in stone and every foresighted vision we get it's only subjective. It tells us it can change and we have the power to alter it. We will be able to trust our friends who will stand by us and our family. You used to say that you held onto faith when things were rough, and we'll do that again, you and me. Hold onto the faith that in the end we let the universe know we choose our own fates and destinies."

"Then we have hold onto it and let it be our strength and our power," Kimberly smiled as she got an idea of what to write down. Tommy looked at her in anticipation and let a sincere smile show on his face. He took Kimberly's wish to heart and made a silent vow that it will be fulfilled no matter what. "So my handsome white knight, can I thank you for your Christmas miracle by writing down your wish as well and tossing it into the bonfire together?"

"Thank me when our wishes come true." Tommy wrote down his wish as Kim looked at it and etched it into her very heart and soul. It was as if they souls knew what they wanted and desired. He took a hold of Kimberly's hand as in their other hands were their respective wishes. They were the last ones left to toss them into the bonfire as they took a few seconds before finally throwing it into the fire. "Merry Christmas Kimberly and I hope that we'll have many more of these memories to build."