March was busy as Tommy and Kim prepared for their twins' arrival. After they decided on the babies' names, Tommy quickly went to work on the nursery. Thanks to Jason and the guys' help, Tommy had the former guest room converted into a beautiful space for the babies.
Kim was emotional when Tommy finally showed her the completed room. The nursery was decorated in soft pinks and greens… of course, Tommy would use their ranger colors for their babies' bedroom. Katrina's crib had pink blankets, while JJ's had green blankets. Tommy even set up two comfy rocking chairs, so he could help Kim with the babies. Kim was so touched, and she knew the babies would love their room. She felt it was perfect, and she couldn't wait for the twins to be able to finally use their bedroom.
Kim had just finished her last day of work… Dr. Richards had advised her that it would be best if she went ahead and took an early maternity leave. The babies were fine, but Dr. Richards knew that it was getting harder for the young teacher to move around and wanted her to rest to prepare her body for the delivery. Kim went ahead and talked to Elsa, and Elsa was so kind and understanding about the situation. Elsa wanted Kim to have this time for herself, and the two arranged for a long-term substitute teacher to take over Kim's history classes until the end of the semester.
Tommy found his exhausted wife on the sofa when he came home from work (Kim had gone ahead and left early due to her no longer teaching athletics in the afternoon). He quickly sat next to her, "Hey, glad to see you relaxing. How was your last day?"
Kim said, "It was fine… just a long day. The kids were super sweet though, and everyone wished me good luck with the babies… I can't believe they'll be here soon. I swear my stomach keeps growing… I don't even want to think how huge I'm still going to get before I finally give birth."
Tommy chuckled as he gave his wife a gentle kiss, "You still look beautiful to me." Kim laughed, "Really? I look like a huge whale… this is your fault after all that I'm having twins!"
Tommy laughed as he gave his wife a look, "It takes two to tango, beautiful. Or did you forget that?" Kim blushed, "Shut up handsome… I swear I will break your hand when I'm delivering your kids!"
Tommy jokingly raised his hands in surrender, "Calm down beautiful… geez, they weren't kidding about the mood swings!"
Kim laughed, but playfully swatted Tommy on the arm, "Oh, you know you still love me… mood swings and all."
Tommy just hugged his wife, "Of course. So, are you excited about your baby shower?" Kim happily nodded, "I actually am… I think it's so sweet that Hayley and Trini want to do this for the babies. I plan on telling everyone the names we decided for the babies."
Tommy replied, "I'm glad you asked to make it a co-ed shower that way all our friends could attend. I know Jason and the others are excited and they said they have some gifts for the future pink and green rangers!"
Kim laughed, but went thoughtful at that comment, "Tommy… do you really think our children will be rangers one day? I mean it's not the kind of life I want for them… I want them to have a normal childhood."
Tommy sighed, "Kim… I promise I will do my best to ensure that our kids get a normal childhood. I don't want them becoming rangers as young as we were. But somehow, I feel it's going to happen one day."
Kim sighed as well, "I know… I feel it too. With having us as parents… it's in their blood. We'll have to tell them eventually about their ranger heritage."
Tommy replied, "How about we wait until the kids are 18 to tell them the truth? But we will make them a video in case something happens to us before they reach that age."
Kim nodded in agreement, "I think that's wise… I do want the kids to know about us being rangers, but not until they are older and mature enough to understand the seriousness about that world."
The two quickly changed to happier subjects, but the ranger discussion made Kim think. As a mother, Kim wanted to protect her children… while she loved being a ranger, she wanted her babies to have a normal life. JJ and Katrina deserved to be born with a clean slate, and she hoped and prayed that they would be able to stay out of the ranger world. But she knew the morphing grid had a twisted sense of humor… she just hoped her kids would be old enough and ready to handle the power when that day comes.
The day of the baby shower was a bustle of activity… Trini and Hayley went ahead and hosted the party at the Cyberspace.
Kim gasped as she saw all the hard work Trini and Hayley went into for the baby shower. It was full of pink and green balloons, as they had let their friends know the babies were a boy and a girl. Kim loved the cake as it said, "Twins are twice the fun!" and had a green and pink baby carriage decorated on it.
Jason quickly gave his little sister a hug, "Wow, little sis, you look great! A little huge… but it's this knucklehead's fault for getting you pregnant with twins!"
Tommy rolled his eyes while Kim playfully punched Jason on the arm, "Shut up, big bro! I swear I will give you hell if you and Trini wind up with twins one day!"
Trini playfully glared at her pregnant best friend, "Don't even jinx me, Kim! Natalie is enough… I swear I will murder my husband if that happens."
Jason joked, "Ah, so you do want more kids one day?! I knew it!" Trini rolled her eyes at her husband, "Shut up, Jason! I love you, but we are waiting a while before we have our next child."
Kat hugged Kim as well, "Kim, you look beautiful… you look wonderful for expecting twins! I'm glad that Tommy's been taking great care of you."
Kim laughed, "Thanks, Kat… Tommy's been so wonderful throughout this whole pregnancy." Kat chuckled, "So, you haven't driven Tommy crazy with cravings or mood swings?"
Tommy joked, "She did threaten to break my hand during the delivery." Kim just laughed, "Only because you were being inappropriate handsome!"
Tanya teased, "Man, I hope you do… I would pay to see that!" Tommy chuckled as he quipped, "Okay, enough teasing the poor father-to-be! I am going to have my hands full trying to help my wife with two babies."
Kat just kindly smiled, "You two will be wonderful parents… those babies are going to be extremely lucky."
Kim thanked Kat for that… in all honesty, Kim was grateful to her friend. If it hadn't been for Kat's encouragement, things could have been a whole lot different. She wouldn't be married or pregnant with Tommy's babies if Kat hadn't encouraged her to get back in contact with Tommy all those years ago. It made her happy that her little girl's name was going to honor this special woman.
The party was so much fun… Kim felt so loved, and the babies were given so many gifts. Kim loved all the little clothes she had received… the babies were going to have so many to last them through their first year! The diapers were a godsend… she knew they were going to need them! They got blankets, bottles, and even a beautiful double-stroller that was a present from both sets of grandparents. Their friends and family had made sure the babies had all the necessities they needed… they sure were going to be spoiled!
Trent drew a beautiful drawing of the original pink and green ranger… Kim teared up when she saw it. She gave the young artist a huge hug and vowed to hang it up in the twins' room. The other originals did give the babies some ranger-themed gifts, which Tommy and Kim absolutely loved. The soon-to-be parents thought it was sweet that their friends wanted to honor the babies' ranger heritage.
As the party wound down, Kim went ahead and thanked everyone for coming, "Before we all head home, I just want to thank everyone for coming. It makes me so happy to know my babies are so loved."
Tommy nodded, "It really makes me happy that we have such wonderful family and friends. This really means a lot to us."
Kim decided to get her little announcement over with, "Well, as everyone knows that the twins are a boy and girl, we also decided on their names. Tommy and I decided to name our children after some very important people in our lives."
The small crowd looked at the couple curiously wondering what names they had chosen. Tommy said, "Our son is going to be named Jason James… after my father and Jason. We felt it was appropriate to name our son after two wonderful men that have done nothing but love and support us."
James Oliver and Jason were floored that Tommy's son was going to be named after them. They felt honored that Tommy and Kim wanted to honor them in that way.
Kim looked at Trini, Kat, and Hayley when she spoke, "Our daughter will be Katrina Lynne. We wanted her name to honor the three most incredible women I have ever known. Kat, Trini, and Hayley… you know I see you as my sisters. Kat, if it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't have this wonderful life. Trini and Hayley, you have always been mine and Tommy's biggest supporters. You have no idea how much I appreciate you ladies."
Kat, Trini, and Hayley immediately jumped up to hug Kim. They were in tears but were so happy that Kim wanted to name her daughter after them. They sure were going to have a special bond with that little girl, although they knew they would love JJ just as much.
After the shower, James and Joanna went ahead and helped their son and daughter-in-law bring all the presents to the house.
Joanna loved the twins' bedroom, "Kim, this is beautiful. Tommy did a wonderful job decorating the nursery. I love the use of pink and green."
Kim smiled, "I do too… seems appropriate. I hope the babies love it." James chuckled, "I'm sure little JJ and Katrina will love their room. So, does this mean we are going to have another pink and green ranger in the family?"
Tommy looked at his father in shock, "What? What did you say, Dad?" Joanna laughed, "You heard your father right, Thomas. You think you fooled us… we know you and Kim were Power Rangers."
Kim sputtered, "Uhm… how- how did you know?" Tommy was just surprised, "How long have you known?" Joanna laughed, "You guys weren't as secretive as you thought. The way Tommy's clothes would get ruined after a fight, the unexplained disappearances, plus my son could never fool his mother and father."
James replied, "Son, it's okay that you and your wife were rangers. We're actually very proud of you… you've saved the world and done so much good. We're just glad you two finally settled into a happy, normal life."
Tommy sighed, "I still can't believe you two knew this entire time." Joanna kindly said, "We're your family… and we understand why you didn't tell us. All we ask is that you two do the best you can to give your children a happy and normal life."
James replied, "I will admit when we realized that you were a ranger, we feared for your safety. You may not be ours by blood, but you're still our son. We were always relieved whenever you would get home safe after a battle… we knew you weren't just sneaking around with your girlfriend. Although I know you did a few times." Kim blushed furiously at that… James just smiled as he continued, "I remember your groom's cake at the wedding… you were actually 5 different rangers?"
Tommy put a hand through his hair, but still chuckled, "I was. Mom, Dad… thanks for being so supportive. Ranger life isn't easy… we had to keep our identities a secret. If people knew who we really were… let's just say Kim and I would never be able to live a normal life. "
Kim replied, "Tommy and I are the longest serving ranger couple… we're sort of legends in the ranger community."
Joanna said, "You two must have served your entire high school years." Kim nodded, "Actually I served until I moved away."
Tommy replied, "I only retired when I went off to college. I did jump back in the saddle a few years ago… I am officially back in retirement."
James chuckled, "Well, I'm glad you're officially retired as a ranger son… your wife is going to need you when those babies arrive. I'm sure ranger life isn't the best when you're starting a family."
Tommy nodded, "That's for sure… it's better for the younger generation to take over. The veteran rangers who haven't lost their powers help, but only in extreme emergencies."
Joanna asked, "Are you planning on telling your children about your ranger days?" Tommy and Kim shared a look… it was still kind of sensitive for them. Tommy replied, "We want to wait till they are old enough to understand."
Kim nodded, "The kids deserve a normal childhood… I hope we'll be able tell them about their ranger heritage when they're 18. Lately rangers are 17-18 years old… which is way better than becoming a ranger at 14 and 15."
Joanna smiled, "You two were rather young when you got your powers… but I'm so proud of both of you. Both of you have grown into amazing adults… I know you two will be wonderful parents to your babies."
Tommy and Kim just hugged James and Joanna. Tommy still couldn't believe that his parents had known all along about his ranger days, but he appreciated that they had been so supportive. He had hated lying to his parents when he was a teen… he honestly hated not being able to tell his parents the truth. But Tommy had no regrets… being a ranger turned him into the man he is today. He would have never met and fell in love with Kim if he hadn't become a ranger. He knew Kim felt the same way… now that they were getting ready to become parents, both Tommy and Kim hoped that they would be just as supportive and loving parents to JJ and Katrina as Tommy's family had been to him. Kim gently touched her pregnant stomach… JJ and Katrina would be here very soon. She was still nervous about becoming a mother, but she knew with having Tommy on her side, she could get through this. Parenthood wasn't going to be easy, but Tommy and Kim were ready and couldn't wait for their babies to finally enter the world.
Here I am with another update... yes, I know I've been writing like crazy! The inspiration muse struck me and I haven't been able to stop. I'm actually sad to say that we are now getting close to the end. I'm trying to pace myself as I'm finishing up at school... writing is helping me cope with the stress of finals! After next week, I'll be able to take things easy! Up next will be the arrival of the twins... then we will get into two major time jumps for the final two chapters. I think you will like what I have planned to close off this story! Take care and I'll see ya'll on the next update.