Was it possible to have your face permanently fixed into a smile if you did it long enough? Because it sure as hell felt like it for Kimberly. The smiles had been nonstop since Tommy came to see her. Tommy was a fighter on the battlefield, but when it came to his feelings, he always held that close to his heart. She knew Tommy very well, but she couldn't recall a time when he actually fought to keep a relationship together.

He accepted their break up when she sent him the letter, he didn't really try to keep the long-distance relationship with Katherine, he dated very briefly in college, and then there was Natalie. Maybe he didn't have good luck in the love department and that's why he was content on being alone, but seeing him go after what he wanted stirred something inside Kimberly. She'd met the darkness inside of him, coming to meet her light. She discovered something new about him for the first time in years. He did have a side where he fought for what he wanted. It wasn't always about the greater good.

Sometimes he just let himself be a man.

With a smile still glued to her face, Kimberly made the short walk to the kitchen. She wasn't typically an early riser, but she'd gotten used to it from the days of living with Tommy.

Trini was sipping on a freshly brewed cup of coffee, the morning newspaper pulled open as she read the headlines. She knew well enough to not even speak to Kimberly until she's had at least one cup of coffee, but seeing as how she looked in a good mood, she decided to speak.

"Morning," Trini said as she saw Kimberly gliding past her.

"Morning," Kimberly returned, her voice a touch higher than normal.

Anything could have gone wrong and she'd see the bright side to it. She hummed to herself, feeling the vibration in her mouth spark a memory of Tommy with his lips against hers.

Trini took another long sip, "Sleep okay?"

"—Amazing! I've never slept better," Kimberly continued, feeling herself revert to the memory of Tommy. His hard muscles pulsing beneath the palm of her hands.

With a raised brow, Trini set her cup down. "You're in a good mood."

"How can I not," Kimberly grabbed a mug and poured herself some coffee, "It's a beautiful day."

She didn't even notice the bitter taste of the drink when she took a sip. Nothing could ruin her perfect day.

"You fell asleep pretty early last night. You were out by the time we got home."

"Yeah," Kimberly sighed, her thoughts drifting off to the night before.

Trini's forehead creased. "Did you hear about the robbery at the bank? They made out with a lot of money."

Kimberly smiled, sinking into the seat next to Trini, "That's great."

Tommy. Tommy. Tommy.

Kimberly couldn't help but wonder what he was up to. It was a little after seven and he normally worked at Jason and Rocky's dojo on Saturday's, but seeing as how he had the bake sale with Kylie, he likely took the day off. She knew how important those Saturdays were to him. He'd confessed that it was those days when he didn't feel guilty about squeezing a workout in. Seeing as how that wasn't happening today, she thought maybe she could help him get a workout later. Stretch out all his muscles and then massage them afterwards. Maybe a shower would follow where she could help wash him off—

"Earth to Kim!" Trini snapped her hands in front of Kimberly's face, pulling her back to the present.

Her best friend had been staring into space with the goofiest fucking face she had ever seen. It was odd, especially at seven in the morning.

Kimberly jolted, "What happened?"

"You tell me," Trini's brows rose, "You're the one with your head in the clouds."

Clouds. The bed beneath her, while Tommy moved on top of her, felt like a cloud.

"Sorry," Kimberly shook her head, but her eyes fluttered back to the night before.

"What the hell is wrong with you," Trini grinned behind a cup of coffee. "I haven't seen you like this since— well, I don't think I've ever seen you like this. What's going on?"

Kimberly bit at her lips, her cheeks flushing red, "Tommy came over last night."

"What?" Trini almost cracked her mug from dropping it on the table so hard. "He came over here? To my house?"

Kimberly nodded, her smile rising.

Trini's mouth fell open, a giggle escaping her, "And what happened?"

When Kimberly covered a hand over her mouth, Trini had her answer.

"Oh my God!" She shrieked, " You slept with him?"

"I didn't mean to. It just sort of happened…" Kimberly thought about it for a moment, the memory of last night creating ripples up and down her arms. "But I'm so glad it did."

Trini's face softened, "Damn. That good?"

"Better!" Kimberly moved a hand over the flutters in her belly. She bit at her lips harder, "He's just so…" She swallowed, "and his hands…" her eyes fell closed, "but his tongue…"

Trini fanned herself with the folded newspaper, trying to tame the heat from this conversation, "I don't know if I should tell you to shut up or keep going. This is Tommy. It's weird, isn't it? I mean, I feel like he's my brother or something."

"Not any different than the mental images you've given me with Jason," The heat in Kimberly's cheeks returned. "I still can't unpicture the things you've told me."

Trini chuckled, "So Tommy came over and you guys…talked? Is that all you did?"

"Oh, we talked," Kimberly held up two wiggling fingers, "twice."

"Kim!" Trini squealed, "So what, you guys are together now?"

Kimberly paused, finding herself not having the answer for that. Were they together? They did talk about what they wanted, but they never really put a label on it. They agreed that they wanted to try, but then he said he wasn't looking to take things further than dating.

"I don't know," and Kimberly's smile waned for the first time that day, "We agreed to take things slow because of Kylie." Trini nodded in understanding at that.

"I don't think we said we were official or anything. I think we're just seeing where this goes. I'm not looking into putting any kind of pressure on him and I don't need a label. At least for now, we're keeping this quiet."

"That doesn't really sound like you, Kim."

"I know and I'm not normally one that just sleeps around without knowing there's a chance for more, but you said it yourself, this is Tommy, and our relationship has always been anything but normal. If I was ever going to do this with anyone, it would be him. I trust him and…" her face flushed again, "he's such a good fuck. I don't want to stop. He hits this spot that no one and I mean, no one has before. It's like newly discovered territory to me!"

"Look at you," Trini giggled, "I don't think I've ever seen you like this."

"It's not like me… but he just makes me feel a certain way and I don't really know how to describe it."

"Please tell me you used protection. It's not that I'm sure you couldn't handle it, but I'm not sure Tommy wouldn't faint like Rocky if he heard he was having another one.

Protection was the furthest thing from Kimberly's mind the night before. Kimberly was on birth control and she took it on the dot every single day, but that didn't matter too much when it came to Tommy. That wasn't happening between them… not ever.

I made sure of it. His words were still like a fucking punch to the gut.

Could she blame him? He had a right to say what he does with his body as much as she has a right to her own. He must have had quite the scare to decide that he didn't want to do this again… with anyone. If you'd asked Kimberly a month ago if she would ever see herself with Tommy Oliver, her answer would have been a strong no. She never pictured herself with Tommy again. Did she fantasize about him late at night while she fisted a pillow over her mouth with one hand and a vibrator with the other? Of course. Did it mean she wanted to start a relationship with him? Absolutely not!

Tommy wasn't the only one she fantasized about. There was Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, can't forget Johnny Depp… ahh, the list was endless, but none of it compared to the nights when Tommy was front and center…. And now he'd been front and center! She had a visual image she could take home.

She bit her lip without thought, her legs brushing softly together.

"Kim?" Trini tried again, laughing, "Where do you keep going?"

"I'm sorry," Kimberly blushed, "He just has me thinking things I shouldn't."

There was silence while Trini took another long sip.

"Anyway, I don't think I have to worry about kids… at least not with Tommy."

"Does he not want more?"

Kimberly thought about it for a moment. Tommy didn't say it was some secret and she was certain at least Jason knew. Maybe getting a second opinion about what she's getting in to would offer her some clarity.

"Tommy had a vasectomy a while back."

"He got snipped?" Trini almost didn't believe it. "Why the hell would he do that?"

"Why does anybody do it?" Kimberly returned and she was surprised how defensive she was about it. "He didn't want more kids."

"But he's so young. He hadn't found the right person yet."

Kimberly tried not to think about Trini's words too deeply, but it had her wanting to smile again.

Does that mean I'm the right person?

"Yeah well, I'm not crazy about it either. I want kids. I want to get married. He wants none of that… and I'm trying to figure out if I'm okay with that."

"Are you?"

"I don't know. Part of me tells me to not even waste my time, but the other part of me, a bigger part, tells me to go for it and see where life takes me."

"Do you know what you're giving up? You're giving up having a family. That's not an easy decision. You don't think you're going to wake up at fifty and realize that your life isn't what you pictured it would be."

Silence fell again.

Dammit, Trini. Be happy for me!

"If I have Tommy then I know I'll be okay."

"So you'll have Tommy, you've given up on marriage, on having kids.. what then? Will this still be a big secret around Kylie? How long will you be Aunt Kim for?"

These doubts had no business invading her mind.

"Tri, come on, this is brand new. We haven't worked out the logistics yet."

"I know and I'm sorry," Trini sighed, "I don't mean to rain on your parade, but it sounds like a lot of bending on your part and none on his. I'm on your side, okay? I just don't want you getting hurt in the long run. I want this so much for you."

Inhale. Exhale. She's just trying to help.

"Weren't you the one that was encouraging me when we had coffee with Aisha?" She tried to not sound so hurt.

Trini returned a small smile, "That's when I thought you guys wanted the same thing. I'm with you, Kim. Always. I'll support anything you want to do. If your heart is set on Tommy then I'm happy for you. I only want you to really think things through, okay?"

Kimberly's gaze fell to her cup of coffee, seeing her own face in the black reflection. Where did her smile go? She took a moment to take a sip and found the contents cold and bitter— so much for my happy day.

Trini was trying to help, that's all. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but it didn't make it any less true. She wanted more. Maybe not at the moment, but eventually. She didn't want to think about that at the moment. Right now, she just wanted Tommy.

What else could she do? Meet him in the middle somehow? This was just too confusing. He'd been honest with her from the beginning.

"Thanks, Trini. I'll be careful. It sucks but I know you mean well."

Trini had never steered her wrong before. She had been the ear Kimberly talked to every time she had a dilemma. Boy trouble? Trini. Alibi? Trini. Advice? Trini.

Been that way since '85!

Kimberly tried to talk Trini out of becoming an Environmental Engineer, but Trini wouldn't budge.

'This planet is all we have,' Trini would say. 'We have to protect it."

Giving advice was Trini's natural calling. Ninety-nine percent of the time it was not what Kimberly wanted to hear, but Trini was always right.

"So what now?" Trini asked, "Are you heading back to Angel Grove?"

"I'm gonna stay for a few more days. I don't think Tommy and I can really work on finding a middle ground if I'm four hours away."

"I like that plan. Middle ground. You weren't saying that before."

"I don't really know how much of a middle ground there can be. The guy kind of made some permanent decisions."

"Not entirely," Trini tilted her head, "Vasectomies are reversible, you know."

What? They are?

"Shut up," Kimberly's smile returned, "Really?"

"Yeah," Trini shrugged, "I've heard tons of success stories."

Kimberly found herself fidgeting with her hands. "I'm not saying Tommy and I will get that far, but… maybe."

Tommy and Kimberly hadn't done too much talking the night before. Their conversation primarily revolved around gasps and breathless cries, but maybe they could have a real conversation soon. Still, it was too early in the relationship for that. She wasn't quite sure what she wanted herself.

Author note: Just a chapter I had fun writing. Chapters from here on out will vary in length. This was just a natural stopping point for me. Enjoy :)