Later that day
20 minutes outside Angel Grove, CA
6:56PM
Beaming headlights offered some visibility as Kimberly drove carefully through an unpaved road she took about 5 minutes ago. She wasn't sure if she was going in the right direction, but her surroundings seemed familiar. Twinkling lights hovered above her as she sped off, a huge dust cloud followed closely behind as the tires made contact with the sand filled ground. Her worries washed away as soon as Angel Grove skyline came into view.
The car came to a halt as she parked it in the empty look out point. She searched the ground carefully when she stepped out of her car. A variety of size rocks sat on the ground as she began taking steps over the terrain. With Tommy's secret hideaway being so... Secret, there were no man powered lights to offer visibility. Only the moon and stars in the distance casting a faint glow to her surroundings.
Today marked the first day in the New Year and her morning had already started off terrible. She was left feeling lost and confused for a majority of the day. Seeing Tommy at the park was something she didn't expect, but it helped immensely with her uncertainty.
She searched for Tommy for a massive part of the day, but when she paused to really think of where he would be, this place came into mind. She kicked herself for being so stupid and not thinking of it earlier. Recalling how 6 months ago he had confided in her that this was his place of peace and privacy.
She was in the right place without a doubt, but she continued to stumble in the dark with no sign of a living soul in sight. Her body trembled lightly as a gust of wind made its way through the night sky, her skin creating little prickled from the cold. The night howled viciously in the seemingly empty space, and if it wasn't so dark she would have sworn she heard a large tumbleweed roll by.
Her heart sunk into her stomach as she gave up hope finding Tommy tonight. There was so much she still wanted to say to him. So much she wasn't able to get out because she was in pure shock by his surprise meeting.
Circling around to the area once more, she moved to the hood of her car. Taking a seat on the slow cooling metal, she dropped her head as her hands moved to hug her body.
"You're so stupid, Hart," she muttered to herself, lifting her head to look out on to the horizon. The city lights were so mesmerizing, it was no wonder why Tommy fell in love with this spot. The tranquility that it offered helped clear your mind, the world seemed so small when all of the town could fit into one view.
A small rustle came from behind her, but she chose to ignore it. Thinking full well that she was alone.
"I wouldn't say that," came from the darkness. The male voice startled Kimberly, causing her to jump in her seat. As he inched closer, his face became clearer. It wasn't like she wasn't completely aware who the voice belonged to because who else besides a homicidal maniac would be in the middle of nowhere, but it was nice to have the confirmation.
His kind words resonated in her ear as she struggled to believe them. She smiled unashamed under the moonlight, letting out a refreshing breath before she spoke, "Tommy."
He strained to find her face, to see the beautiful smile he could hear she had. The jacket that he wore was shimmied off and delicately placed on her shoulders like he had done earlier.
Her hands grabbed at the inside of the jacket, pulling it closer to herself while she held it closed with her fingers. She buried her nose into the collar, taking in his scent. Loving every inhale she took in. "Hi."
"Hi," he returned simply.
"You're here."
"I'm here," he moved beside her, taking a seat on the hood like she had done.
And just like she had done earlier, her mind went blank. Not because she didn't know what she wanted to say, on the contrary, she knew exactly what she wanted to say, but couldn't find the right words. There was so much that she didn't know what to say first. She stuttered as she struggled to form a sentence, "I-I tried looking for you. I didn't have a flashlight..."
His heart skipped a subtle beat as a devilish smile curved up his lips. He knew.
After leaving Kimberly at the park earlier that day, Tommy felt like he had to have a minute to himself. He bolted to his favorite look out point that he had shown Kimberly months ago on an empty stomach. The pure thought of food that moment seemed utterly repulsive. The day turned to dusk in a rapid flash, Tommy never realizing that the hours he spent talking to himself had come and gone. The backseat of his jeep acted as his cradle, one hand supporting the back of his head while his legs dangled freely off the side. The sky hovered beautifully all day, and if it wasn't for it starting off so crummy, today would have been nice.
He saw the twinkle of the stars appear one by one above. His mind wandered as he counted the endless diamonds, moving from thought to thought as the sun set deeper. Unlike he had shown Kimberly last time, he had parked his car in higher ground, a secluded spot where he felt he could reach the stars if he extended his arms up.
His body had surprisingly stayed warm while he was out, somehow the heavens decided to bless him with enough body heat to have one less thing to stress about that day. With a an aura of warmth and infinite stars to count, he began to relax. He was a breath away from drifting off to sleep when a flicker of lights and the crunch of tires on terrain startled him.
He stood on his seat as he watched the petite brunette stumble in the dark below. For a moment he contemplated on sitting back down and ignoring her presence, but his heart wouldn't allow it. Instead he scaled the wall of rocks and quietly made his way to her.
"Well, you found me," he replied, his head continued straight at the sea of lights that was the overview of Angel Grove.
She shook her head lightly, turning to see that he was still looking out into the distance, "No, you found me."
Tommy felt her eyes on him and that little fact caused him to stir. An air pocket formed in his lungs and was released in a sigh of confusion and hurt. Her presence just hurt him more. The simple fact that just a few hours earlier she had chosen someone that wasn't him. He wasn't sure how he could take seeing her in the office everyday. "What brings you here, Kim?"
"You," she answered hastily, "I wanted to— I had to see you."
Her mind drifted off briefly as she recalled him saying those exact words to her in the hall of the hotel she was sharing with Chris. She just hoped that this would end better than that night did.
"Me?" His head turned to face her when he heard her words. His brows raising in confusion in the darkness.
"There's so much that I wanted to say to you. So much that I still want to say."
A fiery heat began coursing through his veins, his heart became a thumping mess. A sensation that swept him up so fast that he swore his intestines would jump right out of his body and onto the floor. "Before you say what you're going to say, can I ask you one question?"
Her breath was caught in her throat as silence grew between them. Every fiber of her being wanted to naturally run away, but an even bigger part of her wouldn't allow it. She broke the silence with one simple word, "yes."
After a sharp exhale of confidence, he spoke, "We're your instincts right? Did he propose?" Stupid! He instantly regretted asking as soon as the words fled his lips, but he had to— needed to know. Now he really did think his intestines were going to spew out onto the floor. The steady pounding drummed in his ear as the blood rushed to his head. He could have sworn he was on the surface of the sun instead of sitting in an open space in one of the coldest winter in Angel Grove history.
She paused momentarily, taking a deep breath and expelling it as she too tried to mustered the courage to answer. "He did."
Dead. That's what he was. The pounding of his heart and the rapid flow of blood in his veins were all imaginary and no one could tell him otherwise. He swallowed the knot in his throat before he continued in a soul crushing whisper, "How was it?"
Long lashes fluttered closed as her legs swayed back and forth off the car. Her heart ached because no matter what she said, it would surely hurt Tommy. Her mind raced as she struggled to find the right word.
"He was... Sweet." What more could she say? She had to be honest.
He winced at her revelation. The picture perfect future he saw with her shattered into a million pieces right in front of him. The imaginary life they had crashed right down with it. His future self smiling nervously as he awaited his bride-to-be at the end of the aisle disintegrated and the future children they would share evaporated into thin air.
His throat went dry in an instant, no amount of water would be able to quench his thirst. He struggled to clear the pain in his throat that was the accumulation of heartbreak and regret. Before he knew it, words began spewing out of his mouth in a rapid pace, mostly thoughts he had had throughout the day, "Congratulations, Kim. I truly and wholeheartedly wish you best. I know it doesn't sound like I'm happy, but I truly am—"
"Tommy," she spoke softly, her head shaking diligently as she tried to stop his ramble to no avail.
"—I've lost you once before. I'm not gonna to lie, it kills me to know you're with someone else—"
"Tommy," she spoke again, her brows raising as she listened to what he was trying to get across. He was wrong. He had it all wrong.
"—But I love you enough to let you go... If I knew that's what you really wanted-"
"—Tommy," she cut him off firmly, smiling as she found him quite amusing. Her left hand moved carefully in the night to cup his cheek. Her body gravitated towards him, leaving herself only a few inches from his face. The close proximity allowing themselves to see each other's features underneath the light from the stars. Finally as their hearts settled, she whispered, "Do you see a ring on my finger?"
He wasn't sure what to do or what to think when he heard her words. His right hand gently followed her arm to where she was cupping his face. His fingers carefully traced hers and found them bare, no lump of a ring in sight.
His lips parted subtly in awe, one corner of his lips curving upward as he tried to process all the information jetting into his brain. "What? Wh-why? How?"
She joined him in sharing the smile she felt underneath the palm of her hand. How she wished the sun was out so she could visually enjoy what she knew was the handsomest smile he had ever produced. Her hands fell to her lap in a light thud, newly warm fingers wrestling with one another. "I told him the truth... everything. About you, about... Us. He was hurt, but after I was finished he still said we would find a way through it together. It took every ounce in me to not laugh. I didn't realize how ridiculous it sounded until I said it out loud myself."
Tommy's gaze fell on Kimberly who was in the middle of shaking her head and even without light, was obviously rolling her eyes. "What does this mean?"
Millions of possible ways to explain things to Tommy popped into her head, but it wasn't until she became vertical and paced back and forth in front of her car that the right words came together. She came to a halt in front of Tommy, taking his right hand with her left as he remained seated on the car. Her bottom lip was chewed tenderly while she stood nervously. "I know you know me, Tommy, better than I know myself on most days. Which is why I know you're going to understand everything I'm about to tell you."
She suddenly thanked the moonlight for not offering enough visibility so he couldn't see her nervous expression. This was probably one of the most important conversation she would ever have with Tommy, and in this moment she knew that it was right. Not only for what was about to transpire, but that she came to him for the first time. The last several months had been nothing, but Tommy making the first move. His need to talk to her to further their relationship. This marked the first time Kimberly made the first move since that fateful day when he crushed her heart months ago. As she pondered that petrifying and thrilling thought, she only came to one conclusion... She might not have been ready before, but there was no denying she was now.
"A little over a year ago I thought I fell in love with a man that I was going to spend the rest of my life with. A man that wasn't you. That didn't come easy for me because I've only ever loved two men before... one was my dad and the other was you. So when Spencer dropped out of the sky and into my life, I was just as surprised as you were that I was serious with someone. For the first time since our breakup ten years ago, I was looking forward to Saturday nights in. It was a normal life and the normal relationship that I had been wanting for so long. I had a stable relationship, a good friend in you, and I was so career oriented. My life was perfect. So I was crushed when he dumped me seven months later, but you were there to pick up the pieces. I played along with your silly games of fake engagement and trying not to get murdered by Jason," she giggled softly at the last memory, Tommy joining her briefly as he recalled being tackled a time or two.
"And in that week we spent together I realized that what I thought I had with Spencer was nothing because I had truly never stopped loving you," she continued, her eyes quickly glazing over as tears began pooling in her eyes.
"It was like turning up the volume on something that had been playing quietly in the background. And in that short week, I wanted to put you above everything else. You were the number one priority in my life," her megawatt smile reached her eyes before they fell at her next thought.
He remembered the next chapter in their story perfectly well, and Tommy's grip tightened on Kimberly's as he felt the hurt she was feeling. "And then you let me go. And again I was crushed, but you weren't there to pick up the pieces this time... Someone else was. I got a familiar taste again and the same normal type of relationship that I had before you returned in a different man, and I think a part of me wanted to hold to that because it was a happier time for me back then. Things were okay for a bit, but I never loved him and you caught that right away. I couldn't bring myself to love him when all of my heart belonged to you." She was no longer able to hold back the tears that kept coming, and she didn't care to. This was real. Real emotions that she felt with the man that never once judged her.
His free hand gently wiped the tears on her flushed cheeks, loving the raw Kimberly she was being. Tommy stayed quiet as he knew she still had more to say.
"And then you told me the truth about why you ended things with me and I wanted to tell you I felt the same way, but I couldn't. I was so angry with you. Angry that you did this to me— to us. So I pushed you away because I was scared of how strong my love for you was. Chris is the safe way out because I will never love him where it will hurt. If he left me, I would okay. If you left me, I don't think I could go on," she paused as she struggled to continue.
A powerful need to hold her came over him suddenly. He stood tall before her and brought her to his chest. Her short sniffles into his shirt became their background noise as she tried to move forward in words, "You're wild, Tommy. You're up for adventure whenever. Chris is a normal guy, a guy that is settled and ready for the next boring thing. Suits, paperwork and contracts... That's a daily routine. And that's what I wanted for a long time, but I've realized that I'd give up 100 years of normalcy with him for one day of adventure with you."
His smile replicated hers as he instantly realize what she was trying to get across. His head dipped as hers raised, their lips mere inches apart. "I'm sorry I hurt you," she released between breaths, "I wish I wouldn't have wasted so much time fighting what I really wanted."
Her heart raced as she felt his breath on her cheek. A simple whisper released one final revelation, giving him exactly what he wanted to hear, "It was never between you and him, Tommy, because its you. Its always been you."
His lips descended on hers that instant and with the touch of their lips, his heart mended back into an unshattered state. A solid touch of souls was shown in a form of a liquid seal and her world was illuminated. She found that at that moment, Tommy would be her guiding light in the darkness. Her hands moved around his neck as she grasped for a better grip, tilting heads allowing for deeper access as her pulse raced. Powerful arms wrapped around her slender waist as he lifted her so her feet were barely off the ground. A delighted squeal escaping her lips, instantly reverting her back to a 16 year old. Her lips swayed with his in a loving rhythm, trying desperately to catch up on the last 6 months of pain.
Their lips parted momentarily, a smile brushing up against his lips as she continued her confession, "I love you."
Soft lips touched hers once more, then long arms moved to wrap tightly around her. Her soft tresses stood just below his chin, his chocolate pool eyes shut tightly with his cheek resting against her head. He could live in her embrace. Letting her words set into his heart, he returned the same, "I love you, too."
His heart was racing so fast that there was no doubt she heard it threatening to spill out of his chest. Instead of allowing that to happen, he dropped his arm and took her hand in his. Their fingers intertwined like two puzzle pieces finally coming together. He began moving to where he came from, gently tugging her hand along with him as he tilted his head to where he wanted to take her. She followed him happily. Curiosity and confusion washing over her, but the trust she had for him overpowered it all.
They reached Tommy's vehicle once they climbed up the side of the angled mountain, the higher ground stunning Kimberly even more so. This elevation allowed for even more visibility than before, not only forward but from above. Even at night she could see the beauty that was earth. How villainous monsters would want to destroy such a thing confused her.
This night became just another shade of perfect as her hand slipped into Tommy's again. The pain and heartbreak she caused him will be something she will never forgive herself for. She only hoped that he would understand that what she was about to do next was for his own good. "You're fired."
His head tilted to her rapidly in confusion, smiling as he thought he heard her wrong, "What?"
"You're fired," she returned smiling.
"Kim—"
"I can't have you sitting in an office and wasting your life away," she began gently, her hand tightened its grip on Tommy's, "If your dad us anything is that life's too short to not chase after what you want. Now there's nothing holding you back from following your dreams. Wherever they may be."
"Kim, I just— I don't know," he frowned. Leaving that job would most certainly mean leaving Los Angeles and with Kimberly back in his life, well, he didn't want to be away.
She noticed the tension in his voice, the obvious fear of losing her, "If you could choose anywhere to go, where would it be?"
He struggled to think of anywhere but wherever she was. His mind searched and searched until he recalled reading a sign for a town a few hours from Angel Grove on his drive to the mountain, "... I-I've heard Reefside has a lot of opportunities. Maybe it's a place for a fresh start."
Of course she's heard of it, some of her best competition for gymnastics were held there. If she recalled correctly, it wasn't that close to her. "Reefside... That's really far away."
He sighed. Yes, it was. He mentally kicked himself in the stupidity to even consider somewhere where he wouldn't be able to see Kimberly so often, "Maybe somewhere closer—"
"—No," she smiled, caressing his cheek in the process, "You go to Reefside... and I'm going to join you because wherever you are is where I want to be."
Tommy blinked hard, somehow foolishly thinking that doing so would help him understand her better. Although he appreciated the offer, he couldn't and would not uproot Kimberly from something she had worked so hard to achieve. "Kim, I can't let—"
"I have dream too, Tommy," she had to get out everything she wanted to say before he began his rampant rambling she knew he would soon do, "And those dreams involve you and whatever Reefside has in store for us."
If there was ever any doubt that Kimberly was the one, it was erased that moment. How someone who had worked so hard to achieve success, and then would unselfishly give it up, was beyond his level of comprehension. "You would do that for me?"
"I would do anything for you. Even go through with a fake engagement.. I mean haven't we been engaged for months now?" She teased, gently shoving him with her shoulder, causing him to release a chuckle.
He smiled as he thought about how true that was. "Funny that you mention that because. Well, I know this is the second time in the same day and your third ever, but I hope that means that third times the charm."
That moment Tommy pulled out a little black box from his pocket and rested on knee on the ground. His heart thundered in his chest as he worked hard to keep his body trembling.
Kimberly's lips parted while eyes went wide. "Tommy, what are you doing?"
He had no idea how he got into this position or why he thought now was the right time, but he had no control over whatever possessed his body.
"I'm not asking you to marry me today or tomorrow," he said softly, "I'm just asking you to marry me... Whether that's a year from now or five is up to you."
Sweat began pooling in his hands, his mind hoping and praying that the excess moisture didn't cause him to drop the ring. He held his breath as he let what he was trying to say sink in. Kimberly's eyes watered lightly while she chewed her lip in anticipation for his next question. "So, Kimberly Ann hart, will you do me the extraordinary honor of being my wife?"
"You're not joking?" She whispered, smiling brightly as she trembled in place.
He swallowed hard, staring at her as he felt his love for her, "I've never been more serious about anything in life."
She sniffled in the darkness, smiling as she looked to him, "Tommy, you're absolutely crazy."
"Yeah I am... About you. I love you, Kim, and I can't think of not having you as my wife another second." The wind continued to howl in the moonlight, the breeze from the night turning his nose a shiny red. Mustering up the courage one final time, he begged one simple question, "So, again, before we freeze I'm going to ask you, will you marry me?"
She didn't believe it was possible to feel this much joy in one night. Her heart fluttered as ripples of electricity moved through her body. As water began to pool in her eyes, she answered, "Yes."
"Yes?" His eyes lit up at the sound of an acceptance, but he had to ask because he wasn't sure if he heard her correctly.
"Yes!" She confirmed ecstatically. Wasting no time, he slipped on the ring he had put on once before on her finger. The moonlight sparkled off the gorgeous diamond, the perfect image of very own star.
As their smiles came to a rest, they did the only thing they hadn't done. The sweet taste of Kimberly's lips came crashing into his without a notice, sealing themselves in a liquid kiss that expressed their love. Her hands wrapped adoringly around Tommy's, pulling him closer as she got lost in their rhythmic swaying. His hands came to rest at her waist, the heat from her body warming all his senses that moment. He could spend every waking moment making love to her mouth with his lips. A delicate hum escaped her as the wet smacking coming from them echoed in her ear.
Her heart raced as they parted to catch her breath. Damn the human need to breathe.
She rested her forehead to his, smiling up at him. As the news began to finally sunk in she couldn't help but wonder one single thing, "Do you always carry around an engagement ring in your pocket?"
Her returned her smile. Of course she would be curious. "You never know when a random girl will pop up," he teased.
"Hey!" She playfully swatted at his chest, earning herself a chuckle from Tommy.
Joking aside, he took her left hand and brought it up for closer inspection, "My dad gave it back to me a few months ago."
"Really?"
"Really," He told her, catching the smile that reached her eyes. How he was able to get this lucky he will never know, but still he looked above at the twinkling lights, and hoped that somewhere up there his father had something to do with it. "He told me to give it to the right girl. Ive always know that girl has been you."
Three Years Later
1992 Valencia Rd
Reefside, CA
"Yes, Jason, I'll be sure to tell him," Kimberly spoke into her cellphone. She carefully chopped the remaining vegetables on the cutting board while her phone was sandwiched between her ear and shoulder.
"Love you, too," she continued, giggling as she heard the soft murmuring of a not so little Allison, "give a kiss to Trini and the munchkin for me... Bye."
Her face lit up as she rested the phone on the counter. Life seemed to have taken a whole different turn. After leaving Los Angeles behind with her new fiancé, Tommy and Kimberly settled in Reefside. Not long after did Tommy complete his final semester to receive his Doctorate and began his new career as a teacher in Reefside High School. Kimberly on the other hand had different plans. Long gone are the days where she worked nine to five and was forced to wear uncomfortable clothes behind a desk. With the support from Tommy, they opened a joint health club. Taking inspiration from their youth, their studio began as a mix of gymnastics and martial arts. Soon after it evolved into more. A new juice bar that allowed thirsty guests and students to mingle and relax was exactly what the club needed to bring in the extra crowd. Their expansion continued, however; Where children can now learn to find their inner Cranes and Falcons, parents can now also join in and find inner serenity with the help of yoga and a recreational gym. And not only that, but with the soon to be addition to the Oliver household, Kimberly decided to dive more and expand her classes to include Prenatal yoga. Yes, after loss and heartbreak, Kimberly and Tommy were finally blessed with a healthy pregnancy and a baby due in the upcoming month. Everything was beyond perfect.
Her left hand moved to remove the lid on the stew that was lowly bubbling, the delicious aroma that came from it making her mouth salivate. Her eyes moved from the clock that read 7:12PM tocatch the beaming sparkle that was her wedding band. Today marked her one year wedding anniversary with Tommy, and if she didn't love him so much, she would have punched him for being late.
Her mind trailed back to the previous year, where by some hesitation, she hired Holli Beckett to plan her dream wedding. Even with their previous anger towards one another, Kimberly looked past it because she wanted the best of the best, and there was no denying Holli could plan a party. The Oliver-Hart wedding became the wedding brides would forever want to replicate. The romantic and elegant aesthetic was something that only Holli was able to capture perfectly.
The wedding wasn't achieved without a few bumps, most importantly being a pesky trespasser by the name of Chris Meyers. Nothing could get past Holli's highly trained security team, and they were able to detain the man without any knowledge to the bride and groom and their many guests. The biggest surprise came when Holli and Chris ended up falling for each other that night. Two strangers that were somehow destined to fall in love and Tommy and Kimberly had been their ride there. Funny how life turns out. Rumor has it that they now are happily married and living in Florida.
Her head shook at the craziness of it all as she moved to place the rest of the dinner on her dining table. Ah, how life has changed so much for the better. Her slim fingers twisted the silverware on the table lightly, straightening it to achieve the perfection she wanted to attain. A bright smile crept up her lips as she stepped back and admired her work. Now all there was to do was wait for her handsome knight in colorful spandex armor.
The squint from the smile reaching her eyes evolved into a wide glare when a rustle and a shattering crash near the front door startled her. A frightening eeriness sunk in when she began to hear silence. If it hadn't been for the newly found Mesogog threat in Reefside, Kimberly wouldn't have been so apprehensive to check out the noise. The last few months had been intense to say the least. With the surprise forming of the Dino Rangers and her husband joining the team soon after, she had been a little on edge. She tried her hardest to keep a low profile and away from the Dino Rangers as best as she could, but being the wife of Tommy Oliver and carrying his child made her an easy target. However, through it all, she was still determined to stay out of harms way in order to protect their unborn child.
She swallowed the fear as she slowly backed up against the cool wall. With a sharp pocket-knife in hand, she began to tiptoe to the sound of the crash.
"What in the-" she began in confusion as she looked around and found her crystal vase that sat in her entry table shattered on the floor. The fear never once escaped her as she found the front door wide open and no one in sight.
"Hey, Mrs. O, I'll pay for that," Connor hollered, darting past her as he kicked his soccer ball from knee to toe.
Her lips went slightly ajar as his surprise visit stunned her. She should just stab him. I mean, would anyone really miss him? She scratched her head as the teen ran right past her into the living room, dirt tracks trailing in on her hardwood floors. Before she was able to speak, or pull out the knife to continue her fantasy, the rest of teenage rangers made their appearance.
"Hello, sorry-" Trent spoke, his head dipped as he tried to avoid the glare from his teammates wife.
"—Hey," Ethan continued as he briefly broke eye contact from the laptop screen in his hands to greet Kimberly.
"Hi, Kim," Kira smiled, carefully hugging the pregnant former pink ranger.
Kimberly's body remained in a frozen state, completely unable to create any type of movement as a perfect batch of anger began to bake inside her.
The latter three teens gathered on the couch in a tousled mess, fighting each other for dominance over the television remote. Connor continuing to kick the ball as it bounced off various pieces of furniture.
Kimberly's expression remained as confused as ever as the Rangers brawled on in her freshly cleaned house. Her hand came to rest of her hips as mild annoyance crept in.
"Uh, guys— Connor!" She let out in a loud Yelp, one hand instantly moved to her forehead. The teenagers were seriously giving her a headache, she suddenly sympathized with Rita.
"Kira!" Kimberly finally spoke up, calling to the most mature of the Rangers to help control the ruckus. "Can you please go get Connor? I don't want him bouncing that ball up and down the house."
Ethan momentarily paused his pursue for the remote, "He's practicing for the game next week."
"Yeah, well, that's why they invented soccer fields!" She charged forward a few steps, garnering the soccer stars attention, "Connor you better throw that ball outside or I'm gonna kick you square in the face."
A light chuckle was heard in her ear, strong arms wrapping around her affectionately from behind. Her body tensed but instantly relaxed when she felt the warm embrace from her husband.
"Guess who's home?" He kissed into her hair.
Ah, she could recognize that voice anywhere. Brown eyes fluttered closed, her head tilted back as she leaned into his arms. She spun on her heels as she gave him a bright smile, "Hi."
He was about to return the same when she promptly cut him off with a raised brow and chuckle. "You're late."
Damn. He wasn't dumb enough to think he could get away with not showing up on time.
"I know, I'm so sorry. Detention duty ran a little late with these four and then Randall was on my case at the faculty meeti— I'm sorry, no excuses. Do you hate me?" How could she was he was giving her the most gorgeous sorry eyes?
"I could never."
The smile she could stare at all day made its appearance, and she swore that he had never done a single thing wrong in his life. She was utterly smitten by her husband, and why shouldn't she be? They've been through enough at this point.
"I know I promised to be here by six, but I was hoping these would make up for it," His left arm came from behind and presented her with the best bouquet of white peonies he could get his hands on.
Her lit up expression said it all. "Happy Anniversary, Beautiful."
How did she manage to get so lucky? And how was it humanly possible that this man was able to do no wrong? The flowers were beautiful, but it was the man behind them that took it over the top. That alone was confirmed when the man she dated before she married her love would gift her the same, and she wasn't able to produce the same emotion she was right now.
"Tommy," she shriek, one hand happily accepting the flowers while the other wrapped around her husbands neck. "I love them. Happy anniversary."
And just in a flash, the teenagers in the room began to disappear from her thoughts. Her worries and cares going out the window as soon as her lips reached Tommy's. How he could make this better with a touch, she will never know. The arm she had wrapped around his neck tightened as she pulled him as close as comfortably possible with a belly in the way. Her lips swayed with his, loving the familiar taste on her husbands tongue.
"—Whoa," Connor grimaced, "kids in the room!" Connor soon chuckled as he saw a scowl from his mentor. And when his soccer ball managed to bounce of a picture frame and shatter it on the floor, he was sure Kimberly would kill him. His butt quickly found the closest seat and sunk himself so deep inside the couch he was pretty sure he got to second base.
And as fast as they disappeared from thought, they popped back in. Their lips parted as a groan fled both of their lips. What was supposed to be a romantic night between the two of them turned into a party of six.
"Don't you guys have a home?" Kimberly asked sarcastically. She remained in Tommy's arms, turning her head back to the teens only to address them.
"Yeah," Ethan answered, oblivious to the meaning behind the real question, "but we like hanging out here."
Brown eyes rolled from the blue ranger to her husband, expelling a deep sigh of frustration, "How was work?"
"Same as always. These four are about to give me a stroke," his eyes moved to the teenagers in the background. They were... Well, something else. Sure they were goofy and frustrating at times, but they quickly became a part of his family and he couldn't imagine life without them... Well, maybe he could do without Connor.
"Tell me about it. I nearly stabbed Connor just now," Kimberly spoke, breaking Tommy from his trance. She shook her head lightly as she dismissed his questioning glare, "—Long story. Anyway, Dinner is on the table... How about we get rid of these four and we get on with our evening?"
"That sounds amazing, but first, how's my little man doing?"
She giggled as he got down to his knees, gently took hold of her growing belly, and planted delicate kisses throughout her stomach. Did she mention that she loved this man?
"Frankie's doing great," her hand moved lovingly to his hair as he continued his bout of kisses on her belly, "Kicking up a storm. I think he'll be ready for his first martial arts lesson as soon as he gets out."
"Awesome, I'll get the mats ready."
"Wow, all of this looks delicious, Mrs. O," Connor began as he gravitated towards the set dining table. His lips were licked thoroughly as moisture began to appear in the corner of his lips.
"Thanks..." Her brows raised as she watched Connors expression. Under normal circumstances she would offer them all a seat at her table, but today was a special occasion. Still, she had to ask, "Were you guys planning on staying for dinner?"
"Aw, thanks!" Connor instantly planted himself in the nearest seat in the table, the rest of the Rangers soon following. "Ethan pass the potatoes."
Tommy's eyes went wide that instant. Kimberly's previous statement wasn't an invitation. "Um, Guys, it's our anniversary."
"Seriously?" The red ranger continued as he stacked more and more food on his plate, completely oblivious to the daggers both his mentor and his wife were throwing at him, "Happy anniversary you two. Trent, rolls please."
Before Tommy was about to speak up again, Kimberly just took his hand and lead him to his seat. The two sharing a mega watt smile as they silently agreed to let the subject drop and just enjoy their meals.
God, how Tommy loved Kimberly's home cooked meals. Living with Kimberly the last three years with her had been heaven on earth. Sure they'd have their little arguments every now and then, but nothing that couldn't be resolved quickly. Their love had proven to be able to overcome all obstacles, and nothing could come between it. The silly games of hiding their feelings out of fear and rejection were long gone and they came together to form a real mature relationship. It was new for both of them. Even after maintaining their friendship for over ten years, it was new. A friendship and a real romantic relationship are far too different. It surprisingly didn't take long to adjust. In fact, things moved forward quite quickly. Especially considering that the night they officially became a couple was the same night they became engaged.
Tommy had never been happier; still, he wondered what life would have been like had he not rejected Kimberly from the start. Thankfully, whatever would have been is irrelevant because he has her now, she's his wife, and that's all that really matters. And then there's his unborn son. He didn't know you could fall in love with someone that wasn't even born yet. The moment Kimberly shared the news that she was pregnant, his heart soared. They weren't trying for a child, in all actuality, they weren't even thinking about having children until well into the future, but being newlyweds... Well, you know. In that moment though, it didn't matter. He loved whatever was growing inside her, and when they found out they were indeed having a boy, well, they couldn't think of a better way to honor Tommy's father than by giving him his name... Adoringly so.
He'd been so deep in thought as he watched his beloved from across the table that he hadn't realized he hadn't even touched his food. Kimberly watched him as his eyes were pinned on her from her seat. The teenagers rants and raves continued in a muffled voice, fading into the background. Her heart drummed in her ear, louder than she'd ever heard before. Her nose scrunched lightly, a light blush painting her face as he still made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
"Jason just called," she spoke, taking a sip of her water, while Tommy did the same, "He wants to know when you're going to hang out together. Says he misses his buddy.
Wiping his wet lips on the cotton napkin, he responded, "Soon for sure. What do you say we make a surprise trip down there this weekend?"
Had it really been two months since he'd last seen Jason? With the threat in Reefside, it had unfortunately taken a lot of his time and he hadn't been able to visit Angel Grove as much as he'd like. Well, that included most of his friends. It was difficult finding the time, but Tommy and Kimberly were determined to make the effort.
When they shared the news of their engagement, they expected a lot of negative feedback. I mean, technically they hadn't even been in a real relationship in over ten years. Surprisingly, their friends were overly supportive, and that included Jason, but no one was happier than Tommy's mom, Janice. She shed tears of joy as she watched her only son wed the love of his life, and jumped up and down when they shared the news that she was going to be a grandmother.
So much had changed in the last three years concerning their friends. Jason and Trini remained just as in love as ever, but with a surprise pregnancy announcement a few weeks ago. Rocky and Aisha welcomed a baby girl named Mia late last year, and they couldn't be happier. Adam found love with old teammate Tanya Sloan. Their reunion must have been one planned by the universe because so many things had to go absolute perfect for them to meet again. Billy was another story completely. He likes to give himself the title of Lone Wolf, but he'd been so secretive lately that the close knit group of friends knew something was up... Perhaps a new love. But the most surprising of news came when Zack and Katherine began to officially date. Aside from their mild flirtation during Jason's parents wedding, no one saw it coming.
"I'd love that. Oh, by the way... Katherine wants me as a bridesmaid at her and Zack's wedding," she tried her hardest to keep her voice as even as possible, ignoring the wide eyes Tommy had just thrown at her.
"Is that your way of telling me they're engaged," he chuckled lightly, watching the smile that appeared on his wife's face from his seat.
"Yes," she half squealed before winking, "I guess the Scott wedding renewal bloomed more than one relationship."
"That was a great week," he recalled fondly. Smiling flirtatiously as he caught her wink, all while his mind traveled back to that fun filled week.
Their dinner became interrupted as a static feed came from Tommy's communicator. Haley spoke apologetically through it as she informed the Rangers of a threat in the city.
"Dammit, Reefside is getting attacked," Kira groaned, she sighed heavily as she dropped her silverware and leaned back in her chair. Ah, today had been going so well and now this just ruined it.
"Guess Haley is down in the lab," Ethan muttered as he too leaned back in his chair. His eyes rolled back in utter annoyance while one hand rubbed his temples.
Trent stood from his seat, stretching his arms over his head. The tone in his voice was nothing short of sarcastic as he spoke, "Just great."
"Can't we ever just have one night of silence?" Connor yelped with a stuffed face. He stood from his seat in frustration, stuffing some warm rolls into his pockets for a snack during battle.
Tommy's brows lifted at the center, his eyes moving to Kimberly's as disappointment began to set in. This wasn't how he wanted today to go. "Kim—"
Mirroring the disappointed expression, she waved her hand dismissively, the corner of her lips lifting as she smiled lightly, "Say no more. Go. I'll save you some dinner and in the meantime I'll go keep Haley company."
"I'm sorry—"
"Don't be," she reassured, standing from her seat as she made her way to him. Her smile grew more as she chuckled, "Just try not to get blown off an island this time... I don't think my heart can take it."
His hand went to hers that instant, lifting it tentatively as he pressed a tender kiss on the back of her hand, "I know this isn't how you pictured our life turning out."
She paused for a moment, looking to all directions as she took in her surroundings. The teenagers that she grew to love stood beside her, the unborn baby in her belly kicked and rolled within, and in front of her stood the man of her dreams. With a smile brighter than before, she shook her head, "This is exactly how I pictured our life turning out."
The End
Author Note: Thats all, Folks! I can't believe we've made it to the end. Thank you all for joining me on this wild journey and for being so patient. I want to honestly thank every single person that has even read, commented, and sent me a PM. When I started this Fic I never once thought we would reach 100K+ words and 20 chapters. All of your motivation definitely pushed me as a new writer. Let me all know what you think of this story. Your overall thoughts on this, What you liked and didn't like, what I need to work on, and so on. Your feedback is always appreciated no matter what. Constructive criticism is what helps me grow and learn. An honest thank you if you've been with me since day one and you've made it this far. I've reread some of my earlier chapters and... Eek! Wow, it was bad, lol. I'm not saying I'm this phenomenal writer, but I'd like to think that I've improved. That just leaves the question of what I should do with this Fic. Should I leave it as is and take this as a visual record of my progress or should I rewrite some of my earlier chapters and update it with some better writing? What do you guys think? I'm really going to miss this Fic, but this isn't the end for me. I've got another Tommy/Kim Fic in the works. One which will have my first dabble into some action. I'm hoping to get it out to you guys soon, but here is the summary of my new Fic, Protectors of the Right.
Summary:
Former Pink Ranger and up-and-coming journalist, Kimberly Hart, is assigned the task of getting an exclusive tell all on a new set of Power Rangers that emerged in California. As the forces of evil begin to show throughout Reefside, she learns that the Dino Rangers are exactly what the sleepy town needs. Her heart is left fluttering as she gains an instant attraction to the heroic Black Dino Ranger that has proved to be her knight in shining armor. All without a clue to the mystery behind the helmet. Nothing could prepare her for what she was to find.
Also, can we please talk about the giant megazord in the room? We hit 100 reviews. I mean, hello! Wow! Thank you all so much! That doesn't even include all of the PM I've received. You're all too kind and I'm so glad you all enjoyed it. I've got big things coming. If you have any questions at all about this Fic, you can either send me a PM or leave me a review and I will answer them in my next Fic. I forgot to ask in the last chapter and it's too late now.
P.S. Let's just pretend the timeline makes sense. I know that the second half of the chapter would take place later on and that the Dino Rangers would be long gone, but just humor me, okay? Let's use that little imagination and pretend that it works. If I could go back to chapter one I would change the years and probably go about a 2000/2001 timeline, but I can't. Eh, well, I guess I can, but do you know how many times I would have to go back and change a date? A shit ton of times.. And I just don't have the patience, alrighty?
P.P.S. I'm also going to take this time to answer the real mystery of this Fic. The Mysterious Case of The Missing Yellow Zeo Ranger a.k.a. Where the hell is Tanya? You see, Tanya was recruited to battle a mega intergalactic monster in an alternate universe. She was wielded with a shit ton of Zeo power, but the only way she could obtain it was by eating a strict diet of Taco Bell for one month straight... As you can imagine, it had severe side effects. Mainly being that she couldn't step away from the toilet long enough to make an appearance in this Fic... Well, she was able to overcome it slightly to hook up with Adam, but that's just getting off topic.
Okay, I'm fucking with you guys. In all honesty, I never watched much beyond MMPR and I didn't really know much about Tanya. I also got pretty overwhelmed by how many characters I had in this Fic early on and just chose to leave her out. This was my first story and I was trying to find myself as a writer and trying to figure out what I was comfortable with. You can tell how overwhelmed I got because I started writing two to three characters a chapter as opposed to the entire gang like I had done earlier.
I also noticed how you guys didn't ask where Justin was... Yeah, I know. I think we're all trying to forget that trainwreck of a Power Ranger. [insert eye roll here]
-ToxicWednesday