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 last official chapter is definitely for The Girl in the Red Jacket. Thanks for the many months of encouragement and crazy letters that kept me working on this story. And for being the first brave soul I know to write and break out with the non-cannon couples, which as my personal favorite Trini/Jason. You are the best!
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Fifty
~~~~~~~~~~
August 5, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Tell me again how you did that?" Billy asked, rather incredulously as he watched Tommy loaded the last of his material goods into the back of his car for the fourth trip over to his new place. While the house may be bare of the essentials, it was filled with love and happiness, more than enough for him and Kimberly to sustain on.
"Look, it's not like I was ever really unpacked in the first place." Tommy shrugged his shoulder and forced the door to close and watched with some amusement as Jason struggle out the front door with another box of financial records in boxes for him. Jason's car was only half full of things to go to Tommy's but more than enough to take them some time to unload before Jason headed over to Trini to pick up her stuff to be brought back here. "I guess a part of me knew that staying here wasn't an option once I realized that Kimberly was around."
"Love her?" Billy asked, in that big brotherly manner of his.
"Yes," Tommy smiled and shook his head. "It's like we were never parted."
"Marry her?" Billy prodded a little, knowing that it was what Kimberly wanted even if she never expressed it in words. He loved Kim, and all her little strange hang-ups. If keeping her mouth shut kept Tommy by her side, then that was what she was going to do. But he had missed the look she had been sneaking at Tommy during Trini's wedding. It was of pure hope.
Tommy sighed, hating the fact that Billy was getting too personal, even for family, but understanding why he was asking. "I'm not sure. I'm not sure when I'll be ready for that kind of step." He looked at Billy's big blue eyes straight and steady. "But I know that I love her and will do right by her. She will never come to harm in my hands, never intentionally."
The once shy boy genius nodded his head, understanding Tommy's intentions better than perhaps Tommy himself did. "Then that's what we have to accept."
The former white ranger nodded. "You going to be okay in Sydney?"
"Are you going to be okay with me in Sydney?" Billy asked, even though he had asked before.
"Yeah, I'm definitely okay with it." Tommy grinned. "It really doesn't come as a huge surprise to me, you know. I knew that sooner or later something like this was bound to happen. After all, we former rangers tend to keep it in the family."
Billy made a face at that rather disturbing thought. "You make it sound like incest."
Tommy laughed, but realizing what it had sound like sobered rather quickly and with a nasty feeling in the back of his throat. "I guess it a way, it kind of is."
Nether men ever brought it up again.
~~~~~~~~~~
August 5, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"And sign here.... And here.... And here...."
Adam signed again for what feels like the hundredth time in the past ten minutes. "Any more?"
"Yes, and right here.... And here.....and here...."
"Trini!"
"What?" She looked at him with wide eyed surprise. "I'm not joking, we really do have to sign all these documents to make this legal. I'm not trying to trick you here, Adam." She shrugged her shoulders and pointed to yet another place for Adam's John Hancock to be placed. "Nobody but lawyers seem have a good appreciation for the fine art of legal work."
"If you ask me, it's a bunch of pain in the...."
"I can say the same about medical school," she stuck her tongue out at him in a rather childish manner and felt better already. "I just have some more boxes upstairs to pack up. Most of the stuff will have to stay here for a bit until I get a little more settled into Jason's."
"You mean your house." Adam grinned as he rolled up his copies of the document that transferred the deed of Trini's condo to his and Rocky's name. The two had put together enough money to place the down payment on the house, buying Trini out. "I heard Jason mention putting your name on the deed as soon as he can manage it."
"I wish he won't," Trini sighed and glanced at the fish tank. That will definitely have to be transported soon. She was not going to leave the fates of her poor fishes to the doctor with the crazy hours. He would never remember to feed them. "It's his house."
"And you're his wife," Adam grinned, rather amused that the issue of money was effecting Trini the same way most women would. "He loves you and wants you to share it as equals."
"Then I wish he'd let me pay for some of the...."
"He makes more than enough."
"So do I!"
"Yeah but I thought you were going to put money away for the baby's college fund and trust funds."
"So?" Trini pouted prettily at him and sat down with sigh. Her lower back ached but she knew that was normal in a pregnancy.
"Trini..." Adam looked at her expectedly.
"Oh, all right." She grinned suddenly. "I'll let him wear the pants in the family for a while."
"He certainly does it well." Adam said with a grin. "Now while I'm here, why don't I check on you and the baby."
"Can you?" Trini looked at him expectantly "I know that Jason said that he would ask you and Billy to..."
"Yes and yes. Billy is going to go through his old achieves to see if there is anything we need to be aware of. In the meantime, be quiet and let me take your pulse." Adam said holding Trini's wrist aloft. "I'll have to sneak you into the hospital one day and do some private tests."
"Sound fine to me,": Trini grinned. "As long as you don't send me the bill."
~~~~~~~~~~
August 5, 2004
Katherine Hallard's Residence
58 Pondarosa Road
Sydney, Australia
Katherine paced the length of her kitchen floor, feeling her nerves humming with anticipation. She didn't quite understand this unbelievable amount of energy that's coursing through her systems. Nothing has felt like this since .... She couldn't remember when she's been so excited about anything.
Pure exhilaration was how she felt. Complete and absolute happiness mixed with a tinge of nervousness in here to give it enough of a thrill to make her nervous as hell.
"What if Billy hates my house?" She asked her clock on the wall. "What if it's too small? He has been living in a mansion lately, if what Aisha says is true. What if he doesn't like Australia? It's awfully hot here in the summer time. Oh for goodness sakes girl, he's only here for a visit! Stop working yourself into a frenzy!"
With that she threw herself in to her sofa with a sigh. "Who the hell are you kidding, gal? You can't wait to see him? To touch him? To...."
She stared at the ceiling with exasperation. It's been building for so long that she hadn't even noticed it at all. All the emotions, the joy, the pain, the sheer sense of.... "Oh hell, when did I fall for a guy that I haven't seen in years???"
She stared at the pictures on the coffee table, framed so many years ago. Among them was Billy, bespectacled and sweet. "Oh Billy, your trip is going to be hell for me. What am I going to do?"
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"But...."
"No, Trini."
"Billy, my man..."
"Jason, I don't want to argue with you over this."
"But Billy...."
"Kim, let's not do that whole big long good-bye kind of thing."
"Billy, please...." Tommy begged.
"No!" Billy grinned as he watched the tortured look on his friends' faces. Adam was making distressing sounds as they watched a cab pull into the driveway. "I have to go now."
"At least let us take you to the airport!" Adam beseeched.
"No," Billy shook his head and indicated the bags on the ground for the driver. "I never liked good-byes and this would be ever more difficult for me if I had a hundred witnesses around me to embarrass myself in front of. This is better."
"But Billy..." Trini looked ready to cry. "We'll miss you."
"I know," he reached for her and gave her a hug. "I'm going to miss you too. But I'll come visit often enough. Unlike you guys, I'm not tied down to a job somewhere."
"You come back soon, okay?" Kimberly said through tears of both pain and joy. "I'm so going to miss you."
He reached over to wipe the tears from Kim's cheeks, feeling his own eyes gather. "And this is why I don't want you to take me to the airport." He wiped his own eyes and sighed. "Besides which, you guys have to get to work soon. Don't let me keep you."
"I would gladly miss work for you, buddy." Jason said reaching over to haul the slighter man close. "You take care of yourself, okay?"
"Always do, Jason. And you take care of your new wife and baby."
"I will."
Adam looked like lost puppy as he hugged Billy. "And here I thought I'd have at least you to keep me company among the couples.
"Sorry," Billy grinned and head over a small packet. "Something Tanya left for you. Take care."
Adam looked at the packet with a frown. "Thanks, and you take care too."
Tommy stepped up and hugged Billy fiercely. "I feel like I've done this before, only it didn't really happen the last time. You left before I got there." He pulled back to let Billy see the genuine sorrow at seeing his good friend go. "You come back to use sooner than last time, this time around, okay?"
"You can bet on it," Billy nodded his head and picked up his carry-on before heading for the car. "You guys take care and I'll be back for Christmas, I promise."
"And the baby's birth?" Trini prompted.
"That too." Billy grinned as he pulled the door shut before rolling down the window. Sticking his head out, he waved good-bye while choking down the lump in his throat. "Besides, I think I still have a shot at being the godfather!"
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Sydney International Airport
Sydney, Australia
Kat took deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart as she paced the long length of windows in the terminal. Her mind was whirling faster than a whirly-gage caught in the wind. "Calm Katherine! You have to be calm. Don't frightened the boy away with your insecure self!"
If she thought that banging her head against the thick glass partition would help clear her muddy thoughts, she would have. Which would probably get her in trouble with the airport security thinking she was some kind of crazed woman with a suicide wish.
Throwing herself into one of the hundred uncomfortable chairs in the waiting area, she bemoaned her own fault in life. She's got to tell him, even if it meant ruining the most wonderful friendship in the world. She was always so unbelievably comfortable with him and never understood why. Now she knew, only it meant the end of that comfort.
She cocked her head with curiosity as her ears picked up the soft strain of a rather familiar American song that she hadn't heard since leaving the States.
People are talkin, talking 'bout people
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
They think we're lovers kept under covers
I just ignore it, but they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
We stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin'
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?
I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You'd act so nervous, could you be falling for me?
It took a rumor to make me wonder
Now I'm convinced I'm going under
Thinking 'bout you every day
Dreaming 'bout you every night
Hoping that you feel the same way
Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin'
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?
Let's give them something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?
Kat could have screamed with frustration if she thought she could get away with it in a terminal full of happy people set on reuniting with their loved ones. Muttering under her breath, she got up as passengers began to disembark. "The fates are mocking me now. What next? Cupid flying by sticking his tongue out at me?"
"Excuse me?" A little old lady with blue hair asked sweetly.
Forcing herself to smile, she shook her head. "Nothing, just excited that's all."
The lady grinned in return. "Me too. My lover is coming to visit me for the next few weeks. We're going to go to the beach together."
The former pink ranger stared. The lady was seventy if she was a day. Yet she held the glow of a schoolgirl on her first date. Her eyes were glowing with mischief and fun as she reached out to a little old man, who looked no younger than eighty, that came out of the gates.
"Darling," the two touched cheeks and walked off, but not before the lady smiled at her. "I hope whoever you are waiting for brings you joy."
Kat could only nod and stared after them. It was rather unreal.
"KAT!"
She whirled around and for the first time in a long time, felt the sudden glow of happiness erupt in her chest. "Billy." It was like the distance and time never happened.
He enfolded her into his arms and laughed as she squeezed him too hard. "Easy there girl, I may have grown into this frame of mine but I'm no Tommy or Jason."
She leaned back and studied his face that boyish charm she could never forget was still there, dancing in his eyes as he stared back her with eyes the color of a summer's clear sky. And beneath those warm orbs, she saw something familiar, but never allowed herself to recognize.
"Kat?" Billy asked, feeling his heart swell slightly and skip a beat. The heated look in her eyes was making him nervous has hell.
She could see the emotions and doubts flutter through the windows of his soul just before he dropped his gaze. "Billy, can you ever forgive me?"
Startled, Billy pulled back, completely forgotten that they had yet to let go after their hug. "What...what are you talking about?"
For Katherine Hallard, nothing could have been more obvious than his stuttering movements and the way his blue eyes averted from hers. The man had all the classic signs of being nervous as hell but putting up a brave front. "You are too good to be true, you know that?"
"What?" The conversation kept changing on him and his brilliant mind was having some trouble keeping up with it all. "Kat, what are you talking...."
He never got to finish.
The kiss was everything either one could have dreamt of and than some. It was hotter than the surface temperature of Venus and sweeter than the first taste of spring. Neither of them notice that they were fast becoming the main attraction in the crowded airport terminal, whose hurried travelers were quite enjoying the sight of a romantic reunion between the handsome couple caught up in a moment of heated embrace. This was a true Kodak moment, something from right out of a post card.
When they finally parted, it was to be greeted by a round of loud and enthusiastic applause that made both turn the color of fresh bloom red roses.
Taking Billy's hand, Kat pulled him away from the prying eyes of the happy crowd who were all abuzz with appreciation.
Billy thought still in a state of stunned disbelief.
"Billy," she paused to say then changed her mind. "We'll talk later."
Billy could only nod and follow her to the baggage claim and hoped to god he wasn't going to wake up now and find this all just a bad dream.
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Katherine Hallard's Residence
58 Pondarosa Road
Sydney, Australia
The ride from the airport to Kat's apartment had been a silent one, each quite caught up in their own thoughts to be able to keep up with a conversation.
"Home sweet home," Kat announced as she pushed the door open and allowed Billy to proceed her into her little house by the beach, a gift from her mother's guilty conscious in abandoning her daughter yet again to her own device after moving back to their native lands.
"It's really nice," Billy said as he set the suitcase down and relaxed for the first time since leaving New York. The plane ride had been filled with scenarios of how he was going to tell her that...
The thought was never completed as Billy suddenly found himself with a warm sweet body pressed against his torso. And like any self-respecting man, he certainly wasn't going to pull away from such wonderful sensations that the close proximity was creating.
She grinned broad, all her suspicions and hopes confirmed with that kiss as well as the one she pressed on him at the airport. "You have no idea how glad I am that you feel this way."
It was not everyday that someone threw Billy for a loop and a half and allowed him to crash on the ground with a painful thud. "Kat... I...."
There was such a glow in her heart that she laughed as she pulled him into a seat. "You know, I was agonizing over how to tell you that I think my heart has been shouting something at me since we reconnected after you hit earth again some three years ago." She dropped herself down into his lap, feeling freer than she's ever been in her own life. "I must have spent all of last night come up with all kind of scenarios as to how to tell you everything without having you fun off screaming in fear that I'm going to jump you when you're not looking." She grinned at him.
Billy blushed at her blunt talk but was glad that she opened the door so quickly and easily for him to step through. "Me too, Kat. I've been so worried that you may not... well that you still had some affections for Tommy."
"I do," she answered honestly. "Tommy will also be a part of my life but I think we've both realized that it was never meant to be." She shrugged her dainty shoulder. "And besides which, there's Kimberly...."
"Oh how right you are on that account," Billy nodded, putting his arm around her waist, rather liking the feeling of her in his arms. "And you..."
"Are so much better suited for someone that has a good ear for things," she grinned and kissed his cheek. "How about since you're here for an extended stay, we get you settled in and talk some more."
"Just talk?" As Rocky or Tommy would say.
"For now," she answered teasingly as she got up. "This is going to be a great new start for us, you do realize that right?"
"A new start?" Billy repeated as if really concentrating on the meaning. "I believe that it is less of a new start and more of a new phase in our lives."
"I agree."
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Tommy Oliver and Kimberly Hart's House
85236 Wellington Drive
East Brunswick, New Jersey
The fired crackled merrily in the fireplace, an amazing feat considering Tommy was the one that started the fire. Kimberly grinned remembering his last attempt at starting a fire.
"And what has put that beautiful smile on your face?" Tommy asked as he settled on the floor next to his girl with a bottle of wine and two bell-shaped wine glasses. They may be scarce in furniture for now, though that is to be rectified on Saturday, but neither of them really care on this wonderfully romantic night.
She turned chocolate color eyes to him and returned his grin. "I was just thinking that life is very strange. You realized that we've lived a whirlwind of events in the past...oh... two months that was probably filled with more adventures than what most people get in a lifetime?"
"Yeah," Tommy laughed remembering all the little things that mattered. "I don't think I've ever been more happier than I am right now at this very moment."
The twinkle in Kimberly's eyes should have warned him that she was up to mischief. "Really?"
He eyed her funny before answering rather hesitantly. "Yeah...."
"So if I were to ask you to come upstairs with me right now...." She hinted at teasingly.
Tommy grinned before lifting her into his arms as she squealed with laughter. "You little devil you."
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
The night was quiet with only the sound of softly falling rain to disrupt the peace that seemed to have settled over the world.
"Angel?"
"Huh?"
"Are you happy?" Jason asked, his arms tightening only slightly on her shoulder.
Trini smiled and her turned her face toward her husband of three days. "How was it that you put it once? 'Happy is a word used by fools and idiots that have never been in love.'"
"Throwing my own words back at me?"
"Yup," she leaned up and touched his lips gently with her own. "And yes, I'm happy."
He looked at her with a mixture of wonder, love and amusement. "So we're going to live happily ever after?"
"Jason, Jason, Jason..." She shook her head in mock mourning. Her eyes were like little stars that warmed his heart. "This is just the beginning."
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Okay, because there was some demand for it and cause this didn't feel quite finished enough, I added an epilogue to this story. Enjoy it!
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 last official chapter is definitely for The Girl in the Red Jacket. Thanks for the many months of encouragement and crazy letters that kept me working on this story. And for being the first brave soul I know to write and break out with the non-cannon couples, which as my personal favorite Trini/Jason. You are the best!
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Fifty
~~~~~~~~~~
August 5, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Tell me again how you did that?" Billy asked, rather incredulously as he watched Tommy loaded the last of his material goods into the back of his car for the fourth trip over to his new place. While the house may be bare of the essentials, it was filled with love and happiness, more than enough for him and Kimberly to sustain on.
"Look, it's not like I was ever really unpacked in the first place." Tommy shrugged his shoulder and forced the door to close and watched with some amusement as Jason struggle out the front door with another box of financial records in boxes for him. Jason's car was only half full of things to go to Tommy's but more than enough to take them some time to unload before Jason headed over to Trini to pick up her stuff to be brought back here. "I guess a part of me knew that staying here wasn't an option once I realized that Kimberly was around."
"Love her?" Billy asked, in that big brotherly manner of his.
"Yes," Tommy smiled and shook his head. "It's like we were never parted."
"Marry her?" Billy prodded a little, knowing that it was what Kimberly wanted even if she never expressed it in words. He loved Kim, and all her little strange hang-ups. If keeping her mouth shut kept Tommy by her side, then that was what she was going to do. But he had missed the look she had been sneaking at Tommy during Trini's wedding. It was of pure hope.
Tommy sighed, hating the fact that Billy was getting too personal, even for family, but understanding why he was asking. "I'm not sure. I'm not sure when I'll be ready for that kind of step." He looked at Billy's big blue eyes straight and steady. "But I know that I love her and will do right by her. She will never come to harm in my hands, never intentionally."
The once shy boy genius nodded his head, understanding Tommy's intentions better than perhaps Tommy himself did. "Then that's what we have to accept."
The former white ranger nodded. "You going to be okay in Sydney?"
"Are you going to be okay with me in Sydney?" Billy asked, even though he had asked before.
"Yeah, I'm definitely okay with it." Tommy grinned. "It really doesn't come as a huge surprise to me, you know. I knew that sooner or later something like this was bound to happen. After all, we former rangers tend to keep it in the family."
Billy made a face at that rather disturbing thought. "You make it sound like incest."
Tommy laughed, but realizing what it had sound like sobered rather quickly and with a nasty feeling in the back of his throat. "I guess it a way, it kind of is."
Nether men ever brought it up again.
~~~~~~~~~~
August 5, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"And sign here.... And here.... And here...."
Adam signed again for what feels like the hundredth time in the past ten minutes. "Any more?"
"Yes, and right here.... And here.....and here...."
"Trini!"
"What?" She looked at him with wide eyed surprise. "I'm not joking, we really do have to sign all these documents to make this legal. I'm not trying to trick you here, Adam." She shrugged her shoulders and pointed to yet another place for Adam's John Hancock to be placed. "Nobody but lawyers seem have a good appreciation for the fine art of legal work."
"If you ask me, it's a bunch of pain in the...."
"I can say the same about medical school," she stuck her tongue out at him in a rather childish manner and felt better already. "I just have some more boxes upstairs to pack up. Most of the stuff will have to stay here for a bit until I get a little more settled into Jason's."
"You mean your house." Adam grinned as he rolled up his copies of the document that transferred the deed of Trini's condo to his and Rocky's name. The two had put together enough money to place the down payment on the house, buying Trini out. "I heard Jason mention putting your name on the deed as soon as he can manage it."
"I wish he won't," Trini sighed and glanced at the fish tank. That will definitely have to be transported soon. She was not going to leave the fates of her poor fishes to the doctor with the crazy hours. He would never remember to feed them. "It's his house."
"And you're his wife," Adam grinned, rather amused that the issue of money was effecting Trini the same way most women would. "He loves you and wants you to share it as equals."
"Then I wish he'd let me pay for some of the...."
"He makes more than enough."
"So do I!"
"Yeah but I thought you were going to put money away for the baby's college fund and trust funds."
"So?" Trini pouted prettily at him and sat down with sigh. Her lower back ached but she knew that was normal in a pregnancy.
"Trini..." Adam looked at her expectedly.
"Oh, all right." She grinned suddenly. "I'll let him wear the pants in the family for a while."
"He certainly does it well." Adam said with a grin. "Now while I'm here, why don't I check on you and the baby."
"Can you?" Trini looked at him expectantly "I know that Jason said that he would ask you and Billy to..."
"Yes and yes. Billy is going to go through his old achieves to see if there is anything we need to be aware of. In the meantime, be quiet and let me take your pulse." Adam said holding Trini's wrist aloft. "I'll have to sneak you into the hospital one day and do some private tests."
"Sound fine to me,": Trini grinned. "As long as you don't send me the bill."
~~~~~~~~~~
August 5, 2004
Katherine Hallard's Residence
58 Pondarosa Road
Sydney, Australia
Katherine paced the length of her kitchen floor, feeling her nerves humming with anticipation. She didn't quite understand this unbelievable amount of energy that's coursing through her systems. Nothing has felt like this since .... She couldn't remember when she's been so excited about anything.
Pure exhilaration was how she felt. Complete and absolute happiness mixed with a tinge of nervousness in here to give it enough of a thrill to make her nervous as hell.
"What if Billy hates my house?" She asked her clock on the wall. "What if it's too small? He has been living in a mansion lately, if what Aisha says is true. What if he doesn't like Australia? It's awfully hot here in the summer time. Oh for goodness sakes girl, he's only here for a visit! Stop working yourself into a frenzy!"
With that she threw herself in to her sofa with a sigh. "Who the hell are you kidding, gal? You can't wait to see him? To touch him? To...."
She stared at the ceiling with exasperation. It's been building for so long that she hadn't even noticed it at all. All the emotions, the joy, the pain, the sheer sense of.... "Oh hell, when did I fall for a guy that I haven't seen in years???"
She stared at the pictures on the coffee table, framed so many years ago. Among them was Billy, bespectacled and sweet. "Oh Billy, your trip is going to be hell for me. What am I going to do?"
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"But...."
"No, Trini."
"Billy, my man..."
"Jason, I don't want to argue with you over this."
"But Billy...."
"Kim, let's not do that whole big long good-bye kind of thing."
"Billy, please...." Tommy begged.
"No!" Billy grinned as he watched the tortured look on his friends' faces. Adam was making distressing sounds as they watched a cab pull into the driveway. "I have to go now."
"At least let us take you to the airport!" Adam beseeched.
"No," Billy shook his head and indicated the bags on the ground for the driver. "I never liked good-byes and this would be ever more difficult for me if I had a hundred witnesses around me to embarrass myself in front of. This is better."
"But Billy..." Trini looked ready to cry. "We'll miss you."
"I know," he reached for her and gave her a hug. "I'm going to miss you too. But I'll come visit often enough. Unlike you guys, I'm not tied down to a job somewhere."
"You come back soon, okay?" Kimberly said through tears of both pain and joy. "I'm so going to miss you."
He reached over to wipe the tears from Kim's cheeks, feeling his own eyes gather. "And this is why I don't want you to take me to the airport." He wiped his own eyes and sighed. "Besides which, you guys have to get to work soon. Don't let me keep you."
"I would gladly miss work for you, buddy." Jason said reaching over to haul the slighter man close. "You take care of yourself, okay?"
"Always do, Jason. And you take care of your new wife and baby."
"I will."
Adam looked like lost puppy as he hugged Billy. "And here I thought I'd have at least you to keep me company among the couples.
"Sorry," Billy grinned and head over a small packet. "Something Tanya left for you. Take care."
Adam looked at the packet with a frown. "Thanks, and you take care too."
Tommy stepped up and hugged Billy fiercely. "I feel like I've done this before, only it didn't really happen the last time. You left before I got there." He pulled back to let Billy see the genuine sorrow at seeing his good friend go. "You come back to use sooner than last time, this time around, okay?"
"You can bet on it," Billy nodded his head and picked up his carry-on before heading for the car. "You guys take care and I'll be back for Christmas, I promise."
"And the baby's birth?" Trini prompted.
"That too." Billy grinned as he pulled the door shut before rolling down the window. Sticking his head out, he waved good-bye while choking down the lump in his throat. "Besides, I think I still have a shot at being the godfather!"
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Sydney International Airport
Sydney, Australia
Kat took deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart as she paced the long length of windows in the terminal. Her mind was whirling faster than a whirly-gage caught in the wind. "Calm Katherine! You have to be calm. Don't frightened the boy away with your insecure self!"
If she thought that banging her head against the thick glass partition would help clear her muddy thoughts, she would have. Which would probably get her in trouble with the airport security thinking she was some kind of crazed woman with a suicide wish.
Throwing herself into one of the hundred uncomfortable chairs in the waiting area, she bemoaned her own fault in life. She's got to tell him, even if it meant ruining the most wonderful friendship in the world. She was always so unbelievably comfortable with him and never understood why. Now she knew, only it meant the end of that comfort.
She cocked her head with curiosity as her ears picked up the soft strain of a rather familiar American song that she hadn't heard since leaving the States.
People are talkin, talking 'bout people
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
They think we're lovers kept under covers
I just ignore it, but they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
We stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin'
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?
I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You'd act so nervous, could you be falling for me?
It took a rumor to make me wonder
Now I'm convinced I'm going under
Thinking 'bout you every day
Dreaming 'bout you every night
Hoping that you feel the same way
Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin'
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?
Let's give them something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?
Kat could have screamed with frustration if she thought she could get away with it in a terminal full of happy people set on reuniting with their loved ones. Muttering under her breath, she got up as passengers began to disembark. "The fates are mocking me now. What next? Cupid flying by sticking his tongue out at me?"
"Excuse me?" A little old lady with blue hair asked sweetly.
Forcing herself to smile, she shook her head. "Nothing, just excited that's all."
The lady grinned in return. "Me too. My lover is coming to visit me for the next few weeks. We're going to go to the beach together."
The former pink ranger stared. The lady was seventy if she was a day. Yet she held the glow of a schoolgirl on her first date. Her eyes were glowing with mischief and fun as she reached out to a little old man, who looked no younger than eighty, that came out of the gates.
"Darling," the two touched cheeks and walked off, but not before the lady smiled at her. "I hope whoever you are waiting for brings you joy."
Kat could only nod and stared after them. It was rather unreal.
"KAT!"
She whirled around and for the first time in a long time, felt the sudden glow of happiness erupt in her chest. "Billy." It was like the distance and time never happened.
He enfolded her into his arms and laughed as she squeezed him too hard. "Easy there girl, I may have grown into this frame of mine but I'm no Tommy or Jason."
She leaned back and studied his face that boyish charm she could never forget was still there, dancing in his eyes as he stared back her with eyes the color of a summer's clear sky. And beneath those warm orbs, she saw something familiar, but never allowed herself to recognize.
"Kat?" Billy asked, feeling his heart swell slightly and skip a beat. The heated look in her eyes was making him nervous has hell.
She could see the emotions and doubts flutter through the windows of his soul just before he dropped his gaze. "Billy, can you ever forgive me?"
Startled, Billy pulled back, completely forgotten that they had yet to let go after their hug. "What...what are you talking about?"
For Katherine Hallard, nothing could have been more obvious than his stuttering movements and the way his blue eyes averted from hers. The man had all the classic signs of being nervous as hell but putting up a brave front. "You are too good to be true, you know that?"
"What?" The conversation kept changing on him and his brilliant mind was having some trouble keeping up with it all. "Kat, what are you talking...."
He never got to finish.
The kiss was everything either one could have dreamt of and than some. It was hotter than the surface temperature of Venus and sweeter than the first taste of spring. Neither of them notice that they were fast becoming the main attraction in the crowded airport terminal, whose hurried travelers were quite enjoying the sight of a romantic reunion between the handsome couple caught up in a moment of heated embrace. This was a true Kodak moment, something from right out of a post card.
When they finally parted, it was to be greeted by a round of loud and enthusiastic applause that made both turn the color of fresh bloom red roses.
Taking Billy's hand, Kat pulled him away from the prying eyes of the happy crowd who were all abuzz with appreciation.
Billy thought still in a state of stunned disbelief.
"Billy," she paused to say then changed her mind. "We'll talk later."
Billy could only nod and follow her to the baggage claim and hoped to god he wasn't going to wake up now and find this all just a bad dream.
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Katherine Hallard's Residence
58 Pondarosa Road
Sydney, Australia
The ride from the airport to Kat's apartment had been a silent one, each quite caught up in their own thoughts to be able to keep up with a conversation.
"Home sweet home," Kat announced as she pushed the door open and allowed Billy to proceed her into her little house by the beach, a gift from her mother's guilty conscious in abandoning her daughter yet again to her own device after moving back to their native lands.
"It's really nice," Billy said as he set the suitcase down and relaxed for the first time since leaving New York. The plane ride had been filled with scenarios of how he was going to tell her that...
The thought was never completed as Billy suddenly found himself with a warm sweet body pressed against his torso. And like any self-respecting man, he certainly wasn't going to pull away from such wonderful sensations that the close proximity was creating.
She grinned broad, all her suspicions and hopes confirmed with that kiss as well as the one she pressed on him at the airport. "You have no idea how glad I am that you feel this way."
It was not everyday that someone threw Billy for a loop and a half and allowed him to crash on the ground with a painful thud. "Kat... I...."
There was such a glow in her heart that she laughed as she pulled him into a seat. "You know, I was agonizing over how to tell you that I think my heart has been shouting something at me since we reconnected after you hit earth again some three years ago." She dropped herself down into his lap, feeling freer than she's ever been in her own life. "I must have spent all of last night come up with all kind of scenarios as to how to tell you everything without having you fun off screaming in fear that I'm going to jump you when you're not looking." She grinned at him.
Billy blushed at her blunt talk but was glad that she opened the door so quickly and easily for him to step through. "Me too, Kat. I've been so worried that you may not... well that you still had some affections for Tommy."
"I do," she answered honestly. "Tommy will also be a part of my life but I think we've both realized that it was never meant to be." She shrugged her dainty shoulder. "And besides which, there's Kimberly...."
"Oh how right you are on that account," Billy nodded, putting his arm around her waist, rather liking the feeling of her in his arms. "And you..."
"Are so much better suited for someone that has a good ear for things," she grinned and kissed his cheek. "How about since you're here for an extended stay, we get you settled in and talk some more."
"Just talk?" As Rocky or Tommy would say.
"For now," she answered teasingly as she got up. "This is going to be a great new start for us, you do realize that right?"
"A new start?" Billy repeated as if really concentrating on the meaning. "I believe that it is less of a new start and more of a new phase in our lives."
"I agree."
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Tommy Oliver and Kimberly Hart's House
85236 Wellington Drive
East Brunswick, New Jersey
The fired crackled merrily in the fireplace, an amazing feat considering Tommy was the one that started the fire. Kimberly grinned remembering his last attempt at starting a fire.
"And what has put that beautiful smile on your face?" Tommy asked as he settled on the floor next to his girl with a bottle of wine and two bell-shaped wine glasses. They may be scarce in furniture for now, though that is to be rectified on Saturday, but neither of them really care on this wonderfully romantic night.
She turned chocolate color eyes to him and returned his grin. "I was just thinking that life is very strange. You realized that we've lived a whirlwind of events in the past...oh... two months that was probably filled with more adventures than what most people get in a lifetime?"
"Yeah," Tommy laughed remembering all the little things that mattered. "I don't think I've ever been more happier than I am right now at this very moment."
The twinkle in Kimberly's eyes should have warned him that she was up to mischief. "Really?"
He eyed her funny before answering rather hesitantly. "Yeah...."
"So if I were to ask you to come upstairs with me right now...." She hinted at teasingly.
Tommy grinned before lifting her into his arms as she squealed with laughter. "You little devil you."
~~~~~~~~~~
August 6, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
The night was quiet with only the sound of softly falling rain to disrupt the peace that seemed to have settled over the world.
"Angel?"
"Huh?"
"Are you happy?" Jason asked, his arms tightening only slightly on her shoulder.
Trini smiled and her turned her face toward her husband of three days. "How was it that you put it once? 'Happy is a word used by fools and idiots that have never been in love.'"
"Throwing my own words back at me?"
"Yup," she leaned up and touched his lips gently with her own. "And yes, I'm happy."
He looked at her with a mixture of wonder, love and amusement. "So we're going to live happily ever after?"
"Jason, Jason, Jason..." She shook her head in mock mourning. Her eyes were like little stars that warmed his heart. "This is just the beginning."
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Okay, because there was some demand for it and cause this didn't feel quite finished enough, I added an epilogue to this story. Enjoy it!
