New Start
By Didi
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers or any of the characters.
Summary: They're all grown up and separated. Just when you thought it was all over for the old gang, fate throws them together once more.
Rating: R for language and content at times.
Acknowledgements: This one is for everyone that ever loved Trini and Jason together. I don't care who you are or whether or not you like my stories, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Note: This story has gotten to a point where I'm not sure what's going to happen next. I keep trying to turn it toward one direction and that doesn't seem to want to work too well for me. So bare with me as I see where this story is going to take you and me. Thanks for all the encouragements that I get with every review.
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Chapter Twenty-Nine
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"I know that you said that the house was great but you guys didn't tell me that it was a freakin mansion!" Zack exclaimed as he made the tour of the three story Victorian house. "What do you guy keep around here?"
"Whatever Jason wants." Adam answered, happy to see his predecessor. "He had the place pretty much furnished by the time we got here. The man wanted the place to be a home, all we really added was a couple of warm bodies."
"Damn, if I wasn't traveling so much, I'd move here and..."
"Sorry," Rocky grinned. "But this house only houses five bedrooms and they are all filled."
"But Trini has a guest room." Zack pointed out with lightning flash reason. "And I'm sure she won't mind allow me to stay there a while whenever I come a calling."
"True."
The men laughed, happy to be together again. Old friends had that special bond that time can never eliminate and old Rangers have the shared experience that no one can replace. It was a good time for them all. They wanted to get together for sometime now but with everyone in different cities and schedules being unpredictable, that hasn't happened. It was strange how life turns out. Just when everyone thought that they would be parted forever, life decided that it was time to reunite old friends.
"You know, Rocky," Zack said as they climbed to the third floor toward Billy's room, as he started to settle in. "I've been talking to Aisha and..."
Rocky groaned. "Please tell me that she's not mad at me cause I not sure if..."
"Relax," Zack patted him on the back. "She's about as nervous about this meeting as you appear to be. So... you and her are going to get a chance to be in a crowd settling before being alone. The ladies will be coming here for dinner, if I understand the plan. And we're going to drink until we..."
"No drinking." Rocky said firmly. "I will not drink with that woman around."
"Geeze, you make it sound so bad." Adam laughed. "I'll make sure you are not so intoxicated that we need to drag you off to bed. I'll make sure that you don't make an ass of yourself."
"You don't think it's a little late for that?" Rocky asked with reproach. "Monte Carlo was probably the lowest I've ever fallen." He sighed. Damn it! The last thing I ever wanted was for her to be nervous around me. We've been too good of friends and too long of friends for me to be that stupid. But what did I do? Get her drunk and seduced her. I'm a damn pig!
"Hello? Earth to Rocky!"
He blushed. "Sorry, didn't mean to faze out on you there."
"Don't worry. We totally understand." Zack and Adam exchange amused glances. If nothing else, this would prove to be an entertaining week for everyone.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Dermont, Boyle and Malone Law Office
300 Guttenberg Avenue, Suite 800
New York City, New York
"So?"
"So what?" Trini asked as she put the stack of papers into her desk and locked it before turning back to the half emptied suitcase still filled with a few law books and enough documents to wallpaper the entire floor. "I just need to get this stuff put away and then leave. I'm going to have to come in tomorrow and present the entire case again to the senior partners here. It's going to be a nightmare.
"Trini the old gang will be here by now. I would like to go home and shower. Just put the stuff down and lets go. Tomorrow morning will be soon enough to organize all that."
"I know," she sighed. "I guess I'm just a little antsy and..."
"Why?" Jason asked with a curious eye.
She blinked. "Why what?"
"Why are you antsy?"
She frowned. "You do remember that Billy has always been very good about picking up on my moods. You know that he's probably going to figure out this thing between the two of us. And now me and my big mouth had to open them to Kimberly, who immediate told her boyfriend, who can't keep a secret to save his life." She shook her head. "Except the whole Power Ranger thing but that's different. By tonight, everyone is going to know that I'm sleeping with someone and by the time Billy talks to me and you, he's going to figure out that we've been sleeping together and you can just imagine the...."
"Trini," Jason grabbed her by the shoulders. "You're babbling."
"Sorry," she shook her head. "I'm so tired."
"I know. I can see that." The dark circles were forming under her eyes. "I want you to put down those book and come with me. I'll drop you off so you don't have to drive home. I'll even pick you up tomorrow morning for work. Then you're going to go take a shower and take a nap so that when the interrogation begins tonight, you can go into lawyer mode and deflect all the well-meaning inquiries. Okay?"
She smiled. He was also so calm when she was losing it. "Sounds good to me." Leaning up on tiptoes, she kissed him softly. "You are very good with handling slightly unhinged women, you know that."
"No, I've hardly had the occasion to test that theory." He smiled. "Now let's go."
She mockingly saluted him. "Yes, sir."
"You pain in the..."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Okay, so tell me about Vegas." Billy said with a grin on his face big enough to show that the wine served at the wonderful dinner that Trini and the ladies cooked was beginning to affect the usually sober man.
Trini and Jason had come back to his place straight from the office. The gang had all been gathered in force.
"It was crazy," Trini said taking a sip of the juice. She had declined any alcohol due to some unknown reason. She hadn't felt any desire to consume the stuff in quite some time now. "One more day with the weasel brothers and I was going to murder someone."
"Weasel brother?" Adam laughed. "Is that the legal term for opponents these days?"
"Hey, you didn't see these guys. If they thought throwing legal nonsense at me was going to scare me off, they had something all together stupid coming to them." She said as she sat down on the couch next to Jason, who moved so that his arm was casually draped over the back of the sofa behind her head.
"So are you going to have to go back for the civil case?" Tanya asked with her face all bright from the excite of actually being there with her friends all together for the first time in a long time. "And one thing I don't understand, I thought you needed a state license to practice law."
"You do." Trini nodded her head.
"Same with architects right?" Billy pointed out.
"Yeah," Jason nodded and took a sip of the fine red wine that Tommy had somehow gotten a hold of. "And I do have one for Nevada."
"And New York?"
He nodded again. "And Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey, California, Mississippi, and Arizona."
"Trini?" Tanya turned to her fellow former yellow ranger.
"I have a bar licenses for California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, New Hampshire, Maryland, New Jersey, and Wyoming."
"Wyoming?" Zack asked with a funny look on his face. "Why cow country?"
"Cause I was thinking of moving there for a while."
"Why would you want to do that?"
Kimberly laughed. "Cause Trini had an ex-fiancé that was from that area." She shook her head and held her glass our for Tommy to refill. "Turns out that guy was a even bigger freak than the state in which he came from."
Trini snorted with amusement. "It should have told me something when he insisted on sleeping with Mimi's cat?"
"Mimi?" Jason asked with a curious look.
"My old roommate. Got married a little over three months ago."
"See," Tommy laughed. "This is why I'm not a cat person."
"Oh, you're definitely a dog." Aisha said with a grin.
Rocky looked over. It was the first time all night that Aisha volunteered any kind of comment. She had been as subdued as he had been all evening. He wasn't sure what he's reaction should have been at seeing her after all these years, but the gut wrenching, heart stopping, light headed sensation was not what he expected. God, she is beautiful. Like the African Goddess of the winds. He knew he was in trouble when he started to be poetic.
Jason was laughing at something Tommy said in reply. "So, Trini. I have all the license cause the company I worked with sent us to national locations. What's your excuse?"
"I was searching for a place to settle down," she smiled and tossed some popcorn at Kimberly who was laughing. "I moved around a lot before settling here."
"Including Arizona and Texas?"
"Even cow counties need lawyers too." She retorted.
"I completely agree." Zack nodded his head. "Everyone needs a profession that can be applied all over the country." He grinned. "So Trini, could you handle my contract again this year?"
Trini rolled her eyes. "Send it to me."
"You are the best." Zack said as he picked up the bowl of grapes in Billy's lap. "Hey, don't you handle Billy's contracts as well?"
"Yes," she smiled sweetly at the bespectacled genius. "By the way, how's the Johnson account coming along?"
Billy groaned and shook his head. "Man, if that man knows the difference between a mother board and a chess board, I'd be shocked!"
Adam laughed and spit soda over the coffee table. "Oh come on, I'm sure it's not that bad."
"You didn't see this guys security system."
Aisha had been taking peeks at Rocky all evening. He hadn't changed much over the years. Still the same boyish grin that made her heart flutter like butterflies in the fields. He still had the dimple that appeared when he smiled and laughed. And god, this body! The boy hasn't change much in that respect. Still the same chiseled body that made her want to forget that they are friends and just jump his..."
"Aisha and I will be going into Rowanda and...."
"Are you two crazy?" Adam asked with disbelief. "The outbreaks of AIDS have been getting worse and worse over there in the past year alone."
"We're going there to help with the Red Cross, not pick out our future husbands." Tanya said with a laugh. "I don't think sex is going to be a problem. I can't even remember the last time that I've been on a decent date that didn't include me having to argue the points of third world counties."
"You poor thing," Trini leaned over Jason's lap and patted Tanya's hand. "I'll take you clubbing this week and you can go catch yourself a cute guy for the night, okay?"
"You were always so good to me," she grinned knowing that Trini was playing with her. "So how's your sex life been?" Tanya had been given the load down this afternoon, along with Aisha, on the happenings and troubles in Trini's life before the lady of the house herself returned from her extended business trip.
"Better than it's been in a while," Trini answered, slanting a look to Kimberly who blushed and shrugged her shoulders. "But that's not too important."
"Trini," Tanya smiled at her, completely ignoring Jason who sat there rather amused by the fact that the ladies were talking over and through him as if he wasn't even there. "You know that we are going to..."
"Stay out of my personal business." She stated with conviction as she picked up the remote of the stereo laying next to Jason. "Cause family you may be, but this is still my life."
"With us watching out for you every step of the way," Tommy pointed out. "What are you doing?"
Trini smiled at him. "I'm turning on some music to lighten the mood a little in there, and to drown you guys out. I want to dance and sing and be happy because my nearest and dearest are all together under the same roof for the moment."
Rocky turned to Adam with a laugh. "Did you hear that? She called us family."
"I'm the only one that can pass as her anything." Adam pointed out.
"Oh I don't know," Zack knelt by Trini's leg. "I think I see some resemblance between us."
Trini laughed.
"Here let me," Jason said taking the remote for her and clicking to a song that he desperately hoped that she hears and understood. Tossing aside the remote, he pulled her to her feet. "Dance with me."
"Why of course," she laughed, wrapping her arms around him with delight.
Kimberly shrugged and held out her hand to Tommy, who didn't hesitate to wait for the music to start.
The others watched, rather fascinated, as their four friends danced slowly to a song that none of them fully understood. Zack was amused that Tommy was not too great of a dancer. Aisha and Rocky watched with undisguised envy at the obvious love that the former pink and white ranger expressed so openly. Tanya and Adam both felt their best friends were fools to deny what everyone else could see as clear as crystal glass, they were in love and in denial. They were idiots. Only Billy watched Jason and Trini, only he wondered at what was going on.
A che serve piangere
Rinunciare a vivere
Resta qua se ti va
Non pensare abbracciami
Lasciami sognare
La tua pelle morbida
Voglio accarezzare
E finechè non avrò
Anche l'anima
Lo sarò sempre sulla tua scia
Non puoi fuggire
Perchè sei mia
Perchè ti voglio
Perchè mi vuoi
Un mondo se apre
Intorno a noi
E se vorrai crederlo
Lo sarò l'angleo
Che non ti abbandonerà
Quando sul tuo viso
Non vedrà risplendere
Dolce il tuo sorriso
E finchè non avrò
Ache l'anima
Lo sarò sempre sulla tua scia
Non puoi fuggire
Perchè sei mia
Perchè ti voglio
Perchè mi vuoi
Tutto sarai per me
Perchè ti voglio
Perchè mi vuoi
Un mondo se apre intorno a noi
Un mondo se apre intorno a noi
(What's the use of crying
And denying what you feel
Stay here if you will
But don't think, just hold me
Let me dream
Of your velvet skin
Skin that I yearn to caress
And for as long as
You're unable to give yourself
I shall never give up trying
It's pointless to run away
Because you're mine
Because I want you
And because you want me
There's a whole world there for the taking
And it's opening up around us
And if it makes you happy
I shall be your guardian angel
Never, ever to leave you
Even when I cannot see
Your sweet smile
Lighting up your face
And for as long as
You're unable to give yourself
I shall never give up trying
It's pointless to run away
Because you're mine
Because I want you
And because you want me
You'll be everything to me
Because I want you
And because you want me
There's a whole world opening up around us
There's a whole world opening up around us)
Trini's Italian was rusty; it's been years since her journey through Italy and the Peace Conference. Plus, her skills at second languages were never as strong as Jason's was. But she knew enough to recognize most of the words and piece together the meaning. "That's a dirty trick." She whispered into his ear.
"Whatever works," he grinned and watched the others over her shoulder. "But if it's any consolation, the others are not watching us, just the other two."
"That's something." Then suddenly clutched his shoulders for support.
Jason looked at her sharply. "What's the matter?"
She shook her head. "I need to sit down now."
He helped her to a chair.
"Hey, what's up?" Aisha asked as she watched Jason lower Trini slowly with a seriously concerned look in his eyes. "What's the matter?"
"Light headed, that's all," Trini forced a smile for their benefit. "I think all the nights of not sleeping is catching up to me."
"I'm not surprised, you're looking rather pale all evening." Billy said as he handed her a glass of water. "I remember you complaining about all night work to prepare for cases."
She smiled and traded a quick glance with Jason. "I think I'll call it a night now."
"I'll drive you back," Jason offered.
"Thanks."
"Why don't we all call it a night?" Kimberly suggested as she picked up the glasses lying about. "Billy, you and Zack can come on over tomorrow and take my car for the day. You guys can go sight seeing while we're all work. Trini and I can..."
"My car is still at the office." Trini said with an apologetic smile. "Jason drove me back cause I was too tired to drive."
"Oh," Kimberly frowned, reworking the idea in her head. "Well..."
"Kim," Tommy interjected with a smile. "I'll pick you and Trini up tomorrow morning and drop you guys off at work so that..."
"I can pick them up," Jason suggested. "Trini and I work at the same building. It'll be easier."
"But Tommy is closer to my place," Kimberly pointed out.
"Guys, guys!" Zack rolled his eyes. "For a couple of smart people, you guys are all insane. Tommy, since you and Kim are sleeping together anyways, pack a bag and go over there for the night." That earned him a look from the couple. "Trini, you still have your truck in Jason's car, right? Just stay the night and go with Jason tomorrow morning. You look ready to drop anyways. Aisha and Tanya can pick Billy and me up tomorrow morning." He looked around. "That work for everyone?"
"Where exactly am I supposed to sleep?" Trini asked knowing that where she's like to sleep was completely off limits to her tonight, unless she wanted everyone to know. "Billy has got his new room and Zack has the futon..."
"My room," Tommy offered. "It's clean and I swear that I have no strange fungus growing under the bed."
"Jason would kill you if you did," Adam pointed out with a laugh. "Looks like we have a plan then."
"Great," Kimberly gave Tommy a quick shove. "Go get your things."
"Eager, isn't she?" Tanya teased then ducked to avoid the incoming couch cushion.
The others laughed as Tommy headed for the stairs. Everyone pitched in to help clean up. Aisha grabbed the big bowls still half full with potato chips.
"Aisha?"
Her head snapped around. "Rocky!"
He smiled. "It's good to see you again. I've been waiting all evening to tell you that."
"Thanks," she relaxed under his casual gaze. "It's good to see you again too. You look...good." The biggest understatement of the year. He looked good enough to eat alive.
"So do you," he wasn't about to admit to imagining her in nothing but the red dress she worse the evening that they... "This is awkward, isn't it?"
She gave him a pathetically helpless smile. "Yeah, it is."
"What are we going to do, Sha?" He looked at her with those soft puppy-dog eyes that had her heart doing double time. "We were friends for so long and now we can't even talk to each other with wanting to trip over our words."
"I know," she sighed, not sure what she was suppose to do now. It was all so confusing. "Maybe we should talk or something."
"Yeah, I think that might be a good idea." He grinned rather weakly for a moment. "Of course knowing Adam, he's probably going to weasel out whatever is being said from me at a later date."
She laughed. "You think Tanya is going to be any different?"
"We have nosy friends."
"We have caring friends."
He nodded. "I know."
"Aisha! Let's go!" Tanya called from outside the front door. "Kim and Tommy look ready to crawl over each other right in the front seat."
"TANYA!" Kimberly laughed as she rolled her eyes.
"I better get going before one of the others decide to kill Tanya." She smiled. "We'll talk soon."
"Soon," he nodded his head and hesitantly held out his arms. "I missed you."
She bit her lip and risked it. Stepping into his arms, it was like coming home. "I miss you too."
He gave her a quick squeeze before letting go, afraid he would step over the line again. "I'll see you soon."
Aisha nodded her head and took a deep breath. "Soon."
"Good night."
"Good night."
Neither one moved.
"AISHA!"
"Bye," said breathlessly then headed out the door.
Rocky stood there watching her for a long moment. "Bye." This was going to be more difficult than he anticipated.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"So?"
"So what?" Aisha replied as she got her feet under the covers. The eery green from the fish tank did nothing to help rather strange mood.
"You could take Trini's room you know, I'm sure she won't mind." Tanya said with as she got into the sofa bed beside her friend.
"No, I'm use to this by now." She sighed and settle down for the night.
"So?" Tanya asked again.
"So what?"
Tanya was tempted to hit Aisha with something. "What did you and Rocky talk about those few seconds you were alone?"
"Nothing." Her head was all jumbled with stuff she could potentially talk to him about but lord knows that that's going to take a whole lot of courage that she wasn't sure she had. How did life get so complicated so quickly?
"Come on..."
"We agreed that we were going to have to talk about it." Aisha said as she sat up. "We agreed that we were not getting along as two old friends should. We agreed that this was awkward. And we agreed that we have very nosy best friends."
"Oh," Tanya nodded then looked offended. "What do you mean 'nosy'?"
Aisha grinned
~~~~~
"You think that girls are okay down there?" Kimberly asked as she snuggled closer to Tommy. She definitely had to get a bigger bed if this was to be a normal regular occurrence. He was much too big for her little full size bed with all the pick ruffles.
"This is hardly roughen it." Tommy said as he tightened his hold on her. "You need to stop worrying."
"I just want them to be comfortable." She said with a smile. "Don't you want your friends to be comfortable when they are visiting us?"
"Absolutely, too bad it's not our home that they're visiting."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing," no reason to tell her about it until everything was set. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Did you notice anything different about Trini and Jason?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," he paused, not sure how to phrase it. "There is just something a little different about the way they were acting tonight."
"Different good or different bad?"
"Different good." He nodded to himself. "Definitely good. They seem more at ease with one another than they had been before, not that they was every any tension. But tonight, there just seem to be something almost calm about those two, like they worked out something between them."
"I guess,": Kimberly shifted away from him so she could took into his eyes. "Look at the way Jason asked Trini to dance tonight, it was almost...natural."
"Natural?" Testing the word in his mouth.
"Yeah, like they've done it before or something." She frowned. "You think Jason talked to Trini about her guy problem and she confided in him or something?"
"Maybe. Jason was also very good at helping others with their problems. I don't see why he won't do the same for Trini."
Kim nodded her head. "Plus they just spent the last two weeks in each other's company almost every waking hour of the day."
"Bound to make two people more at ease with one another."
"Right."
"Right."
"We should stop thinking about this now and go to sleep."
"Right."
"Right."
"Nite."
"Good-night."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
Trini frowned down at the little compact shaped pill case in her hand. All twenty-eight pills had been consumed and still nothing. She was starting a new pack of birth control pills tonight but she still hadn't gotten her period yet. She knew that the stress of the past week would have no doubt effected her menstrual cycle and she should really wait until it came to start the new pack. But she didn't like the effect it would have on her body if she were to go off the pill now.
"Decisions, decisions," she sighed before popping the little white pill from the plastic holder and swallowing it whole. She did not want to be off the pill. If that meant having to wait a month to get her period, why should she complain? It was a messy pain in the butt anyways.
A soft knock on her door had Trini rushing to it. She knew who would be the only one to come knocking at this hour of the night. "What took you so long?"
Jason raised one brow at her. "I'm sorry. Were you expecting me?"
"Why of course," she grinned. "Me sleeping under the same roof as you and you not at least attempting to get into my bed, that would shock me to no end."
"I'm so predictable, am I?" He grinned before pulled her into his arms and kissing that wonderfully sweet mouth.
"Only for someone like me." She threaded her fingers through his thick hair. "I'm a woman of logic. You are a young health man who has gotten sex quite regularly for some time now. For you to give it up, even for a night, when opportunity is here would not be a logical turn of events."
He shook his head. "Why do I bother questioning you when everything that comes our of your mouth is done so to confuse me?"
"I don't know," she said with a laugh but stopped him when he moved to set her on the bed. "Hold it."
"Why?"
"Cause I don't think Tommy would appreciate it coming home to find his bed smelling of sex."
Jason laughed but quickly shut up when he realized that they could be overheard by any of the number of people living under this roof at the moment. "Okay, how do you want to do this?"
Trini shrugged. "The usual way. I'm going to shut the bathroom door so that should anyone decide to check up on me in the morning they'll think I'm in there. Then I'm going to mess up the blanket and hide the pillows so that someone looking in the middle of the night is going to assume that I'm in bed in the dark."
"Why do I have a feeling you've done this before?"
"Not at all." She adjusted the blankets. "My roommate in college was a pro at this and taught me all the techniques on how to fool a dorm mother." She grabbed his hand and looked out the door.
"We're the only ones on this floor." He explained with much amusement. "My other three roommates are on the third floor and Zack is in the family room."
"Good," she shut the door of his room and locked it. Her mouth closed over his as she pulled his head toward her with one hand.
"Hum..." He tasted her toothpaste and took in the scent of the soap she used to bathe in. She was all warm and soft to his touch, go wonderfully giving that he knew not how to breath.
Trini pulled him toward her, wanting to bury herself in his warmth and wonderful male scent. He was all hard muscles and smooth skin. His body felt like steel wrapped in velvet, so incredibly strong but so easy to the touch. His big blunt hands caressed her, making her shiver in need.
He maneuvered her to the bed, wanting to see her in all that wonderful smooth satin. He wanted to see her in his bed, as if she belonged there. Her little competent hands fluttered over his bare shoulders, testing the strength there. He trailed kissed down her throat and wished for this night to never end.
She felt the weight of him on her so wonderfully reassuring. He was so incredibly gentle with her. She could feel his need pressing against her, taste his sweet passion on her lips, and feel his love deep in her heart with every touch he gave to her. He loved her. He loves me. "Oh god." Her heart contracted at the realization of all its truth.
He could feel her body against his as she reached for his head, pulling his mouth away from her skin to look into his eyes as if trying to read something in them. "What is it?"
Her mouth closed desperately over his for an implausible moment. Then she pulled back, her eyes bright in the moonlight. "I've never felt like this."
Jason smiled softly at her. "I'm glad that I please you." Then he kissed her nose and cheeks and eyes and every part of her face he could touch.
Her breath came haltingly as she allowed herself to feel everything he had to offer. "Jason." Her eyes closed as he nibbled on her ear, his hands molding her body to his. "Oh God, Jason. I love you."
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Okay, I think that last sentence is enough of a teaser line.
By Didi
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers or any of the characters.
Summary: They're all grown up and separated. Just when you thought it was all over for the old gang, fate throws them together once more.
Rating: R for language and content at times.
Acknowledgements: This one is for everyone that ever loved Trini and Jason together. I don't care who you are or whether or not you like my stories, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Note: This story has gotten to a point where I'm not sure what's going to happen next. I keep trying to turn it toward one direction and that doesn't seem to want to work too well for me. So bare with me as I see where this story is going to take you and me. Thanks for all the encouragements that I get with every review.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twenty-Nine
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"I know that you said that the house was great but you guys didn't tell me that it was a freakin mansion!" Zack exclaimed as he made the tour of the three story Victorian house. "What do you guy keep around here?"
"Whatever Jason wants." Adam answered, happy to see his predecessor. "He had the place pretty much furnished by the time we got here. The man wanted the place to be a home, all we really added was a couple of warm bodies."
"Damn, if I wasn't traveling so much, I'd move here and..."
"Sorry," Rocky grinned. "But this house only houses five bedrooms and they are all filled."
"But Trini has a guest room." Zack pointed out with lightning flash reason. "And I'm sure she won't mind allow me to stay there a while whenever I come a calling."
"True."
The men laughed, happy to be together again. Old friends had that special bond that time can never eliminate and old Rangers have the shared experience that no one can replace. It was a good time for them all. They wanted to get together for sometime now but with everyone in different cities and schedules being unpredictable, that hasn't happened. It was strange how life turns out. Just when everyone thought that they would be parted forever, life decided that it was time to reunite old friends.
"You know, Rocky," Zack said as they climbed to the third floor toward Billy's room, as he started to settle in. "I've been talking to Aisha and..."
Rocky groaned. "Please tell me that she's not mad at me cause I not sure if..."
"Relax," Zack patted him on the back. "She's about as nervous about this meeting as you appear to be. So... you and her are going to get a chance to be in a crowd settling before being alone. The ladies will be coming here for dinner, if I understand the plan. And we're going to drink until we..."
"No drinking." Rocky said firmly. "I will not drink with that woman around."
"Geeze, you make it sound so bad." Adam laughed. "I'll make sure you are not so intoxicated that we need to drag you off to bed. I'll make sure that you don't make an ass of yourself."
"You don't think it's a little late for that?" Rocky asked with reproach. "Monte Carlo was probably the lowest I've ever fallen." He sighed. Damn it! The last thing I ever wanted was for her to be nervous around me. We've been too good of friends and too long of friends for me to be that stupid. But what did I do? Get her drunk and seduced her. I'm a damn pig!
"Hello? Earth to Rocky!"
He blushed. "Sorry, didn't mean to faze out on you there."
"Don't worry. We totally understand." Zack and Adam exchange amused glances. If nothing else, this would prove to be an entertaining week for everyone.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Dermont, Boyle and Malone Law Office
300 Guttenberg Avenue, Suite 800
New York City, New York
"So?"
"So what?" Trini asked as she put the stack of papers into her desk and locked it before turning back to the half emptied suitcase still filled with a few law books and enough documents to wallpaper the entire floor. "I just need to get this stuff put away and then leave. I'm going to have to come in tomorrow and present the entire case again to the senior partners here. It's going to be a nightmare.
"Trini the old gang will be here by now. I would like to go home and shower. Just put the stuff down and lets go. Tomorrow morning will be soon enough to organize all that."
"I know," she sighed. "I guess I'm just a little antsy and..."
"Why?" Jason asked with a curious eye.
She blinked. "Why what?"
"Why are you antsy?"
She frowned. "You do remember that Billy has always been very good about picking up on my moods. You know that he's probably going to figure out this thing between the two of us. And now me and my big mouth had to open them to Kimberly, who immediate told her boyfriend, who can't keep a secret to save his life." She shook her head. "Except the whole Power Ranger thing but that's different. By tonight, everyone is going to know that I'm sleeping with someone and by the time Billy talks to me and you, he's going to figure out that we've been sleeping together and you can just imagine the...."
"Trini," Jason grabbed her by the shoulders. "You're babbling."
"Sorry," she shook her head. "I'm so tired."
"I know. I can see that." The dark circles were forming under her eyes. "I want you to put down those book and come with me. I'll drop you off so you don't have to drive home. I'll even pick you up tomorrow morning for work. Then you're going to go take a shower and take a nap so that when the interrogation begins tonight, you can go into lawyer mode and deflect all the well-meaning inquiries. Okay?"
She smiled. He was also so calm when she was losing it. "Sounds good to me." Leaning up on tiptoes, she kissed him softly. "You are very good with handling slightly unhinged women, you know that."
"No, I've hardly had the occasion to test that theory." He smiled. "Now let's go."
She mockingly saluted him. "Yes, sir."
"You pain in the..."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Okay, so tell me about Vegas." Billy said with a grin on his face big enough to show that the wine served at the wonderful dinner that Trini and the ladies cooked was beginning to affect the usually sober man.
Trini and Jason had come back to his place straight from the office. The gang had all been gathered in force.
"It was crazy," Trini said taking a sip of the juice. She had declined any alcohol due to some unknown reason. She hadn't felt any desire to consume the stuff in quite some time now. "One more day with the weasel brothers and I was going to murder someone."
"Weasel brother?" Adam laughed. "Is that the legal term for opponents these days?"
"Hey, you didn't see these guys. If they thought throwing legal nonsense at me was going to scare me off, they had something all together stupid coming to them." She said as she sat down on the couch next to Jason, who moved so that his arm was casually draped over the back of the sofa behind her head.
"So are you going to have to go back for the civil case?" Tanya asked with her face all bright from the excite of actually being there with her friends all together for the first time in a long time. "And one thing I don't understand, I thought you needed a state license to practice law."
"You do." Trini nodded her head.
"Same with architects right?" Billy pointed out.
"Yeah," Jason nodded and took a sip of the fine red wine that Tommy had somehow gotten a hold of. "And I do have one for Nevada."
"And New York?"
He nodded again. "And Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey, California, Mississippi, and Arizona."
"Trini?" Tanya turned to her fellow former yellow ranger.
"I have a bar licenses for California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, New Hampshire, Maryland, New Jersey, and Wyoming."
"Wyoming?" Zack asked with a funny look on his face. "Why cow country?"
"Cause I was thinking of moving there for a while."
"Why would you want to do that?"
Kimberly laughed. "Cause Trini had an ex-fiancé that was from that area." She shook her head and held her glass our for Tommy to refill. "Turns out that guy was a even bigger freak than the state in which he came from."
Trini snorted with amusement. "It should have told me something when he insisted on sleeping with Mimi's cat?"
"Mimi?" Jason asked with a curious look.
"My old roommate. Got married a little over three months ago."
"See," Tommy laughed. "This is why I'm not a cat person."
"Oh, you're definitely a dog." Aisha said with a grin.
Rocky looked over. It was the first time all night that Aisha volunteered any kind of comment. She had been as subdued as he had been all evening. He wasn't sure what he's reaction should have been at seeing her after all these years, but the gut wrenching, heart stopping, light headed sensation was not what he expected. God, she is beautiful. Like the African Goddess of the winds. He knew he was in trouble when he started to be poetic.
Jason was laughing at something Tommy said in reply. "So, Trini. I have all the license cause the company I worked with sent us to national locations. What's your excuse?"
"I was searching for a place to settle down," she smiled and tossed some popcorn at Kimberly who was laughing. "I moved around a lot before settling here."
"Including Arizona and Texas?"
"Even cow counties need lawyers too." She retorted.
"I completely agree." Zack nodded his head. "Everyone needs a profession that can be applied all over the country." He grinned. "So Trini, could you handle my contract again this year?"
Trini rolled her eyes. "Send it to me."
"You are the best." Zack said as he picked up the bowl of grapes in Billy's lap. "Hey, don't you handle Billy's contracts as well?"
"Yes," she smiled sweetly at the bespectacled genius. "By the way, how's the Johnson account coming along?"
Billy groaned and shook his head. "Man, if that man knows the difference between a mother board and a chess board, I'd be shocked!"
Adam laughed and spit soda over the coffee table. "Oh come on, I'm sure it's not that bad."
"You didn't see this guys security system."
Aisha had been taking peeks at Rocky all evening. He hadn't changed much over the years. Still the same boyish grin that made her heart flutter like butterflies in the fields. He still had the dimple that appeared when he smiled and laughed. And god, this body! The boy hasn't change much in that respect. Still the same chiseled body that made her want to forget that they are friends and just jump his..."
"Aisha and I will be going into Rowanda and...."
"Are you two crazy?" Adam asked with disbelief. "The outbreaks of AIDS have been getting worse and worse over there in the past year alone."
"We're going there to help with the Red Cross, not pick out our future husbands." Tanya said with a laugh. "I don't think sex is going to be a problem. I can't even remember the last time that I've been on a decent date that didn't include me having to argue the points of third world counties."
"You poor thing," Trini leaned over Jason's lap and patted Tanya's hand. "I'll take you clubbing this week and you can go catch yourself a cute guy for the night, okay?"
"You were always so good to me," she grinned knowing that Trini was playing with her. "So how's your sex life been?" Tanya had been given the load down this afternoon, along with Aisha, on the happenings and troubles in Trini's life before the lady of the house herself returned from her extended business trip.
"Better than it's been in a while," Trini answered, slanting a look to Kimberly who blushed and shrugged her shoulders. "But that's not too important."
"Trini," Tanya smiled at her, completely ignoring Jason who sat there rather amused by the fact that the ladies were talking over and through him as if he wasn't even there. "You know that we are going to..."
"Stay out of my personal business." She stated with conviction as she picked up the remote of the stereo laying next to Jason. "Cause family you may be, but this is still my life."
"With us watching out for you every step of the way," Tommy pointed out. "What are you doing?"
Trini smiled at him. "I'm turning on some music to lighten the mood a little in there, and to drown you guys out. I want to dance and sing and be happy because my nearest and dearest are all together under the same roof for the moment."
Rocky turned to Adam with a laugh. "Did you hear that? She called us family."
"I'm the only one that can pass as her anything." Adam pointed out.
"Oh I don't know," Zack knelt by Trini's leg. "I think I see some resemblance between us."
Trini laughed.
"Here let me," Jason said taking the remote for her and clicking to a song that he desperately hoped that she hears and understood. Tossing aside the remote, he pulled her to her feet. "Dance with me."
"Why of course," she laughed, wrapping her arms around him with delight.
Kimberly shrugged and held out her hand to Tommy, who didn't hesitate to wait for the music to start.
The others watched, rather fascinated, as their four friends danced slowly to a song that none of them fully understood. Zack was amused that Tommy was not too great of a dancer. Aisha and Rocky watched with undisguised envy at the obvious love that the former pink and white ranger expressed so openly. Tanya and Adam both felt their best friends were fools to deny what everyone else could see as clear as crystal glass, they were in love and in denial. They were idiots. Only Billy watched Jason and Trini, only he wondered at what was going on.
A che serve piangere
Rinunciare a vivere
Resta qua se ti va
Non pensare abbracciami
Lasciami sognare
La tua pelle morbida
Voglio accarezzare
E finechè non avrò
Anche l'anima
Lo sarò sempre sulla tua scia
Non puoi fuggire
Perchè sei mia
Perchè ti voglio
Perchè mi vuoi
Un mondo se apre
Intorno a noi
E se vorrai crederlo
Lo sarò l'angleo
Che non ti abbandonerà
Quando sul tuo viso
Non vedrà risplendere
Dolce il tuo sorriso
E finchè non avrò
Ache l'anima
Lo sarò sempre sulla tua scia
Non puoi fuggire
Perchè sei mia
Perchè ti voglio
Perchè mi vuoi
Tutto sarai per me
Perchè ti voglio
Perchè mi vuoi
Un mondo se apre intorno a noi
Un mondo se apre intorno a noi
(What's the use of crying
And denying what you feel
Stay here if you will
But don't think, just hold me
Let me dream
Of your velvet skin
Skin that I yearn to caress
And for as long as
You're unable to give yourself
I shall never give up trying
It's pointless to run away
Because you're mine
Because I want you
And because you want me
There's a whole world there for the taking
And it's opening up around us
And if it makes you happy
I shall be your guardian angel
Never, ever to leave you
Even when I cannot see
Your sweet smile
Lighting up your face
And for as long as
You're unable to give yourself
I shall never give up trying
It's pointless to run away
Because you're mine
Because I want you
And because you want me
You'll be everything to me
Because I want you
And because you want me
There's a whole world opening up around us
There's a whole world opening up around us)
Trini's Italian was rusty; it's been years since her journey through Italy and the Peace Conference. Plus, her skills at second languages were never as strong as Jason's was. But she knew enough to recognize most of the words and piece together the meaning. "That's a dirty trick." She whispered into his ear.
"Whatever works," he grinned and watched the others over her shoulder. "But if it's any consolation, the others are not watching us, just the other two."
"That's something." Then suddenly clutched his shoulders for support.
Jason looked at her sharply. "What's the matter?"
She shook her head. "I need to sit down now."
He helped her to a chair.
"Hey, what's up?" Aisha asked as she watched Jason lower Trini slowly with a seriously concerned look in his eyes. "What's the matter?"
"Light headed, that's all," Trini forced a smile for their benefit. "I think all the nights of not sleeping is catching up to me."
"I'm not surprised, you're looking rather pale all evening." Billy said as he handed her a glass of water. "I remember you complaining about all night work to prepare for cases."
She smiled and traded a quick glance with Jason. "I think I'll call it a night now."
"I'll drive you back," Jason offered.
"Thanks."
"Why don't we all call it a night?" Kimberly suggested as she picked up the glasses lying about. "Billy, you and Zack can come on over tomorrow and take my car for the day. You guys can go sight seeing while we're all work. Trini and I can..."
"My car is still at the office." Trini said with an apologetic smile. "Jason drove me back cause I was too tired to drive."
"Oh," Kimberly frowned, reworking the idea in her head. "Well..."
"Kim," Tommy interjected with a smile. "I'll pick you and Trini up tomorrow morning and drop you guys off at work so that..."
"I can pick them up," Jason suggested. "Trini and I work at the same building. It'll be easier."
"But Tommy is closer to my place," Kimberly pointed out.
"Guys, guys!" Zack rolled his eyes. "For a couple of smart people, you guys are all insane. Tommy, since you and Kim are sleeping together anyways, pack a bag and go over there for the night." That earned him a look from the couple. "Trini, you still have your truck in Jason's car, right? Just stay the night and go with Jason tomorrow morning. You look ready to drop anyways. Aisha and Tanya can pick Billy and me up tomorrow morning." He looked around. "That work for everyone?"
"Where exactly am I supposed to sleep?" Trini asked knowing that where she's like to sleep was completely off limits to her tonight, unless she wanted everyone to know. "Billy has got his new room and Zack has the futon..."
"My room," Tommy offered. "It's clean and I swear that I have no strange fungus growing under the bed."
"Jason would kill you if you did," Adam pointed out with a laugh. "Looks like we have a plan then."
"Great," Kimberly gave Tommy a quick shove. "Go get your things."
"Eager, isn't she?" Tanya teased then ducked to avoid the incoming couch cushion.
The others laughed as Tommy headed for the stairs. Everyone pitched in to help clean up. Aisha grabbed the big bowls still half full with potato chips.
"Aisha?"
Her head snapped around. "Rocky!"
He smiled. "It's good to see you again. I've been waiting all evening to tell you that."
"Thanks," she relaxed under his casual gaze. "It's good to see you again too. You look...good." The biggest understatement of the year. He looked good enough to eat alive.
"So do you," he wasn't about to admit to imagining her in nothing but the red dress she worse the evening that they... "This is awkward, isn't it?"
She gave him a pathetically helpless smile. "Yeah, it is."
"What are we going to do, Sha?" He looked at her with those soft puppy-dog eyes that had her heart doing double time. "We were friends for so long and now we can't even talk to each other with wanting to trip over our words."
"I know," she sighed, not sure what she was suppose to do now. It was all so confusing. "Maybe we should talk or something."
"Yeah, I think that might be a good idea." He grinned rather weakly for a moment. "Of course knowing Adam, he's probably going to weasel out whatever is being said from me at a later date."
She laughed. "You think Tanya is going to be any different?"
"We have nosy friends."
"We have caring friends."
He nodded. "I know."
"Aisha! Let's go!" Tanya called from outside the front door. "Kim and Tommy look ready to crawl over each other right in the front seat."
"TANYA!" Kimberly laughed as she rolled her eyes.
"I better get going before one of the others decide to kill Tanya." She smiled. "We'll talk soon."
"Soon," he nodded his head and hesitantly held out his arms. "I missed you."
She bit her lip and risked it. Stepping into his arms, it was like coming home. "I miss you too."
He gave her a quick squeeze before letting go, afraid he would step over the line again. "I'll see you soon."
Aisha nodded her head and took a deep breath. "Soon."
"Good night."
"Good night."
Neither one moved.
"AISHA!"
"Bye," said breathlessly then headed out the door.
Rocky stood there watching her for a long moment. "Bye." This was going to be more difficult than he anticipated.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"So?"
"So what?" Aisha replied as she got her feet under the covers. The eery green from the fish tank did nothing to help rather strange mood.
"You could take Trini's room you know, I'm sure she won't mind." Tanya said with as she got into the sofa bed beside her friend.
"No, I'm use to this by now." She sighed and settle down for the night.
"So?" Tanya asked again.
"So what?"
Tanya was tempted to hit Aisha with something. "What did you and Rocky talk about those few seconds you were alone?"
"Nothing." Her head was all jumbled with stuff she could potentially talk to him about but lord knows that that's going to take a whole lot of courage that she wasn't sure she had. How did life get so complicated so quickly?
"Come on..."
"We agreed that we were going to have to talk about it." Aisha said as she sat up. "We agreed that we were not getting along as two old friends should. We agreed that this was awkward. And we agreed that we have very nosy best friends."
"Oh," Tanya nodded then looked offended. "What do you mean 'nosy'?"
Aisha grinned
~~~~~
"You think that girls are okay down there?" Kimberly asked as she snuggled closer to Tommy. She definitely had to get a bigger bed if this was to be a normal regular occurrence. He was much too big for her little full size bed with all the pick ruffles.
"This is hardly roughen it." Tommy said as he tightened his hold on her. "You need to stop worrying."
"I just want them to be comfortable." She said with a smile. "Don't you want your friends to be comfortable when they are visiting us?"
"Absolutely, too bad it's not our home that they're visiting."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing," no reason to tell her about it until everything was set. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Did you notice anything different about Trini and Jason?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," he paused, not sure how to phrase it. "There is just something a little different about the way they were acting tonight."
"Different good or different bad?"
"Different good." He nodded to himself. "Definitely good. They seem more at ease with one another than they had been before, not that they was every any tension. But tonight, there just seem to be something almost calm about those two, like they worked out something between them."
"I guess,": Kimberly shifted away from him so she could took into his eyes. "Look at the way Jason asked Trini to dance tonight, it was almost...natural."
"Natural?" Testing the word in his mouth.
"Yeah, like they've done it before or something." She frowned. "You think Jason talked to Trini about her guy problem and she confided in him or something?"
"Maybe. Jason was also very good at helping others with their problems. I don't see why he won't do the same for Trini."
Kim nodded her head. "Plus they just spent the last two weeks in each other's company almost every waking hour of the day."
"Bound to make two people more at ease with one another."
"Right."
"Right."
"We should stop thinking about this now and go to sleep."
"Right."
"Right."
"Nite."
"Good-night."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 26, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
Trini frowned down at the little compact shaped pill case in her hand. All twenty-eight pills had been consumed and still nothing. She was starting a new pack of birth control pills tonight but she still hadn't gotten her period yet. She knew that the stress of the past week would have no doubt effected her menstrual cycle and she should really wait until it came to start the new pack. But she didn't like the effect it would have on her body if she were to go off the pill now.
"Decisions, decisions," she sighed before popping the little white pill from the plastic holder and swallowing it whole. She did not want to be off the pill. If that meant having to wait a month to get her period, why should she complain? It was a messy pain in the butt anyways.
A soft knock on her door had Trini rushing to it. She knew who would be the only one to come knocking at this hour of the night. "What took you so long?"
Jason raised one brow at her. "I'm sorry. Were you expecting me?"
"Why of course," she grinned. "Me sleeping under the same roof as you and you not at least attempting to get into my bed, that would shock me to no end."
"I'm so predictable, am I?" He grinned before pulled her into his arms and kissing that wonderfully sweet mouth.
"Only for someone like me." She threaded her fingers through his thick hair. "I'm a woman of logic. You are a young health man who has gotten sex quite regularly for some time now. For you to give it up, even for a night, when opportunity is here would not be a logical turn of events."
He shook his head. "Why do I bother questioning you when everything that comes our of your mouth is done so to confuse me?"
"I don't know," she said with a laugh but stopped him when he moved to set her on the bed. "Hold it."
"Why?"
"Cause I don't think Tommy would appreciate it coming home to find his bed smelling of sex."
Jason laughed but quickly shut up when he realized that they could be overheard by any of the number of people living under this roof at the moment. "Okay, how do you want to do this?"
Trini shrugged. "The usual way. I'm going to shut the bathroom door so that should anyone decide to check up on me in the morning they'll think I'm in there. Then I'm going to mess up the blanket and hide the pillows so that someone looking in the middle of the night is going to assume that I'm in bed in the dark."
"Why do I have a feeling you've done this before?"
"Not at all." She adjusted the blankets. "My roommate in college was a pro at this and taught me all the techniques on how to fool a dorm mother." She grabbed his hand and looked out the door.
"We're the only ones on this floor." He explained with much amusement. "My other three roommates are on the third floor and Zack is in the family room."
"Good," she shut the door of his room and locked it. Her mouth closed over his as she pulled his head toward her with one hand.
"Hum..." He tasted her toothpaste and took in the scent of the soap she used to bathe in. She was all warm and soft to his touch, go wonderfully giving that he knew not how to breath.
Trini pulled him toward her, wanting to bury herself in his warmth and wonderful male scent. He was all hard muscles and smooth skin. His body felt like steel wrapped in velvet, so incredibly strong but so easy to the touch. His big blunt hands caressed her, making her shiver in need.
He maneuvered her to the bed, wanting to see her in all that wonderful smooth satin. He wanted to see her in his bed, as if she belonged there. Her little competent hands fluttered over his bare shoulders, testing the strength there. He trailed kissed down her throat and wished for this night to never end.
She felt the weight of him on her so wonderfully reassuring. He was so incredibly gentle with her. She could feel his need pressing against her, taste his sweet passion on her lips, and feel his love deep in her heart with every touch he gave to her. He loved her. He loves me. "Oh god." Her heart contracted at the realization of all its truth.
He could feel her body against his as she reached for his head, pulling his mouth away from her skin to look into his eyes as if trying to read something in them. "What is it?"
Her mouth closed desperately over his for an implausible moment. Then she pulled back, her eyes bright in the moonlight. "I've never felt like this."
Jason smiled softly at her. "I'm glad that I please you." Then he kissed her nose and cheeks and eyes and every part of her face he could touch.
Her breath came haltingly as she allowed herself to feel everything he had to offer. "Jason." Her eyes closed as he nibbled on her ear, his hands molding her body to his. "Oh God, Jason. I love you."
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Okay, I think that last sentence is enough of a teaser line.
