Tommy wasn't sure where Kimberly planned on going when she walked off, but her tiny legs were moving with a purpose. They really needed to head back to the Command Center and check on their daughter. He was sure Kim knew that too, but he had a feeling the bitty brunette was trying very hard to put some distance between herself and the confession she had just made. Luckily with his own rather long stride it didn't take him much effort to catch up with her.
"Kim, hang on," Said Tommy, lightly laying his hand on the girl's shoulder, causing her to still in her steps.
Though she paused, the teen mom refused to turn to face her ex. Her arms crossed in front of herself as if to protect her heart from whatever the boy was about to say. She shouldn't have come. Not just to the caves that day, but also back to Angel Grove at all. This wasn't her home anymore and since she'd come back she was only getting in the way of everything. Tommy had had it great while she was in Florida, and then she messed up and came back, with a daughter in tow, now everything was different for him. And she hated it. Turning slowly, her arms still guarding her chest, Kim raised her dark eyes upward, still annoyed to be looking at Tommy with his face shielded by his helmet, "Look, I know I shouldn't have come today, but I just couldn't sit by and let something happen to you. I am sorry I risked the mission. But you can't do everything yourself all the-"
Knowing he wasn't going to be able to get a word in edgewise now that his ex-girlfriend had gone into anxious ramble mode, Tommy tried to interrupt, "I love you too, Kimberly."
"But I came back to Angel Grove to save your life from that spell because you are the love of my life and I couldn't just let you surrender to Goldar after all that. And I know I screwed everything up when I went away, and I know you moved on but-"
It was clear to the White Ranger that Kimberly was absolutely not listening. He wasn't surprised. She had always had a habit of getting caught up in her own emotions sometimes and sort of blocking out anything and everything else. He needed to get her attention. He just wasn't sure how to go about it, until he had an idea that would definitely make his feelings clear and could potentially cause one heck of an uproar with the team and rest of the school, when they found out.
Reaching up, Tommy unlatched the sides of his helmet, and lowered it. Now his dark hazel eyes were no longer hidden by his visor, causing Kim to lose her train of thought for a moment as he gazed down on her through his thick dark lashes. Then he tucked his mask under his arm, reached up with the opposite hand to cup her chin and leaned down to meet her warm mouth in a gentle kiss, "I love you too, Kimberly."
Her lips were so familiar and soft as he leaned into the kiss, they still tasted of the same kiwi-strawberry gloss she had always worn. She'd always had this way of kissing him the shy but firm sort of way that felt so innocent and passionate at the same time. And she hadn't lost that talent over the time they'd been apart. A warmth spread through his chest that he had all but forgotten but rather liked the comforting heat. And as his hand slid along her face to cup her cheek, he cursed his thick leather gloves for getting in the way of feeling her soft skin in his palm.
When the kiss broke and Kim allowed her dark eyes to open, she half expected to look up and realize it had been a dream. But Tommy stood right there in front of her, still stroking her cheek with the pad of gloved thumb. His lazer like stare was still burning right into her soul and he wore this silly, lopsided grin on his handsome face, "I've wanted to do that for weeks," the former Ranger divulged, biting her lower lip sheepishly.
"Me too," The boy admitted, then traced her bottom lip with his finger, "Careful with that lip. I plan on doing it again soon." When he offered his usual, teasing little wink, she just about fainted.
"Let's just go get our little girl and go home."
Slipping his arms tightly around Kim's middle,Tommy could easily reach his communicator with the opposite hand. When he was certain the young woman was settled comfortably in his embrace, he pushed the teleporter button on his wrist and the pair disappeared from the caves. Appearing almost instantaneously in the Command Center.
What the two teens didn't know, when they had been sharing forbidden kisses and words of love, was they hadn't really been in private. While they had been alone by the caves after Rita and Zedd's men had fled, they'd been being watched. The entire team had originally been gathered around the viewing globe to make sure their leader had completed his mission safely, waiting to spring into action if he needed them. When they realized they wouldn't be needed as back up however, they continued to look on as their two friends appeared to be rekindling a flame that they all knew had continued to smolder for more than a year since they'd parted. Everyone was glad to see them reunited.
Everyone that was except Katherine. Her crystalline eyes went icy grey as she watched her boyfriend lean in to kiss his ex. Her ears heard him tell the other woman he loved her. It made her blood run cold, but her skin flush with the rage that filled her. It was as though a tornado was building inside of her as the cold and hot fronts converged in her body. She was becoming a dangerous force of nature ready to level all that crossed her path.
You wouldn't have known it to look at her however. In fact Kat seemed completely nonplussed with the scene that she had just witnessed. It was an act of course, a simple show put on for the sake of the team. In the time she had been working with Rita the Aussie had learned very well how to hide her emotions and intentions. While it may have been Kimberly that got the lead in the school plays, Katherine Hilliard was a far better actress and she was about to put on the performance of a lifetime.
When Kim and Tommy arrived back in the Command Center still entangled in one another's embrace, both blushed. Quickly unwrapping themselves from the hold, they parted. Allowing Kimberly to rush straight to Bianca, who was sitting on the floor at Alpha's feet giggling at her own reflection in his metallic toes. Rushing to pick up the baby, Kim lifted BJ into her arms, spinning her in a circle, then tossing her into the air, "Baby girl, you're safe. I knew your Daddy, wouldn't let anything happen to you," She threw Bianca up and caught her again. The motion caused the bottom of her shirt to ride up, exposing a small patch of raised skin on her lower abdomen that Tommy couldn't recall ever seeing before and made a note to ask about.
With her boyfriend now standing alone and Kimberly distracted by their daughter, it was time for Katherine to take the stage and she was about to put on a Tony worthy show. Rita hadn't just picked her as a henchman because she was a pretty girl that could easily seduce the White Ranger. She had also been chosen because of her ability to manipulate and conive. It was time to show off those skills.
"Tommy, I'm so glad you're alright. I was worried sick," The leggy blonde threw herself into her boyfriend's arms and buried her face in his shoulder. Whipping up a few fake tears she played it up heavily, "I don't know what I would've done if something had happened to you."
The whole thing at that point seemed rather benign and believable. That was until Kat turned from Tommy's embrace and allowed her gaze to fall on Kimberly. What the rest of the Rangers had expected to be a battle over the boy the two girls both loved, became something completely different. Something almost weird.
Swiftly Katherine had approached the young mother, her eyes wide with what appeared to be appreciation, though it wasn't sincere. She was about to do something that would ensure Kim would stay away from Tommy for good and she would come out looking like the kindest, most self sacrificing person in the world to boot, "Kimberly, I can't thank you enough for what you did for Tommy," Gushed the devious diver, as she wrapped by mother and child in a hug, "Going in without powers… You risked your life for him. It was the bravest, most loyal thing I've ever seen. You came here when he was under that spell risking revealing all your secrets to save him. And you moved back to Angel Grove and have put up with being bullied at school so Bianca could know her father. You're so strong and noble Kim… And that's why I want you to have this back," As Katherine opened her palm the bright lights of the Power Ranger's headquarters glinted off something shiny in her hand. A small, round piece of gold. A coin. The Pink Ranger's power coin.
The usually noisy Command Center fell silent as Katherine stood there open handed, offering up the shimmering trinket. Kimberly's large brown eyes widened as she gazed down at the coin. It felt like it had been forever since she had handed it over to Kat, as she was about to set out on her dreams. Another person, really. She could hardly even remember who she was in those days.
When a fifteen year old girl was teleported with four of her friends to a hidden base run by a morphological being and his android assistant… She was a spoiled and even a bit snobby young woman then. Popular and pretty, Kim's priorities weren't exactly the most selfless at that time. Outside of shopping, gymnastics and cheerleading her world was pretty small.
But then things changed. She became part of a team and developed friendships with people she never would have considered in her league before. Getting to know Billy had been one of the best things that happened to her and opened her circle. She matured. More than that she became someone who cared about others. Who risked her life for others. She became a hero.
But she had moved on from that life over a year before. She had left her friends, her home, her boyfriend and her career as a Power Ranger behind. Kim had been so certain it was over then, when she boarded that plane to Florida, she didn't think she'd ever look back. But now here she was. Back in the Command Center, surrounded by her former teammates after just sharing a kiss with Tommy… It felt like the old days, as if she'd never left California to train for the Pan Global games.
They always say you can't go back why couldn't you? Why couldn't she have her life back? Kat had stepped in and replaced her the second she'd left. But she was back now. It was time for her to take back her place… But could she? How would that even work?
And what about Bianca? What would happen to her if both of her parents were called to action? Would she be safe? The infant had already been targeted by Rita and Zedd just due to her relation to Tommy. Would having a Ranger for a mother expose her to even more danger?
After standing there staring between Katherine and the Pink Ranger coin for what felt like hours, Kim finally turned to look up at Zordon. The ancient being had always had the answers when she had questions. She wondered if he would have this time as well, "Zordon is that even possible? I mean… Can I take my powers back? Would Kat, be okay?" Granted Kimberly wasn't the biggest fan of the leggy Aussie, but that didn't mean she wanted anything bad to happen to the other girl. Particularly as there were people that were very important to Kim that cared for Katherine and she wouldn't want them to be hurt by seeing their friend suffer.
"You gave your powers to Katherine willingly as she is now offering to return them to you. I see no repercussions. And as you did not disconnect from your powers using the Sword of Light, I believe you are still their true owner." Spoke Zordon, looking down on the two girls. Though he was not supposed to show favoritism between the Rangers, the intergalactic hero had to admit to himself he was pleased to have his own chosen Ranger return to the team. As it stood the only one of the teens that he had selected himself that remained, was Billy. Continuing on he further explained why he felt there would be no trouble with the exchange, "When Ninjor created the Ninjetti power coins, your Zords were determined by the animal spirit you each possessed. Kimberly, you are the crane in heart and soul, but I do not believe that would be the animal that Katherine would embody if she were matched on her own accord. You are meant to possess those powers."
Listening to her mentor explain things, it all sounded as though it made perfect sense. Kim could simply reach out her hand and reclaim her power coin. Reclaim her life. Her small, delicate fingers twitched and the palm of her hand tingled wanting to take up circular golden trinket. But before she could do so, she had one more question, "What about BJ, as much of an honor being a Power Ranger is, my daughter's safety comes first."
As if cue Billy's face lit up like a jack-o-lantern. Quickly he walked over to one of the work areas, where Alpha kept some of the more high tech tools that no one knew how to use safe for Billy and himself. The blond boy seemed to scoop something up off of a workbench and then made his way back to Kim, walking with a purpose, "I've been working on this for a few hours… When you first informed us Bianca had been abducted," In his grasp the Blue Ranger held what appeared to be a tiny, child sized communicator, "She won't be able to teleport on her own with it, or talk through it, but as long as she has it on, if there's any danger Alpha and teleport her directly to the Command Center until its safe."
Kim felt a cluster of tears begin to collect in the corner of her eyes at the thought. Her childhood playmate had taken it upon himself to make sure her daughter would be protected. Her friends loved and cared about her baby girl, when they didn't have to. And while she couldn't form words at the thought, what she could do was wrap Billy in a tight hug, sandwiching Bianca who was still in her arms between them.
Tommy, though touched, was luckily able to form words, as he patted his friend on the back, "Thanks man, that's a load off our minds."
With that last obstacle out of the way, Kimberly decided there was nothing left in the way. She was ready. Ready to take back her life. She would be a hero not just to her daughter and not just the citizens of Angel Grove, but to both. Handing the baby to her father, Kim kissed the infant's cheek before turning her attention back to Kat, "Okay, let's do it," Declared the original Ranger, it was time to take back her destiny.
With a nod Katherine handed over the coin. And that was that.
Kim wasn't sure what she was expecting. She had seen the power exchange happen a few times. But usually it was a big, emotional experience. This time it seemed a bit again she had never been privy to a situation where someone's powers were returned to their original owner. Just to make sure it worked however, the young woman reached behind herself and in one graceful movement had produced her morpher, "It's morphin time, Pink Ranger Power!" She exclaimed, almost instantly transforming into her pink spandex uniform, complete with helmet. As she gazed down at her gloved hands that's when Kimberly knew she was really home.
As Billy, Rocky, Adam and Aisha approached Kimberly, to hug and congratulate her, Tommy hung back, watching his daughter's mother with pride. Memories of all the battles they'd fought alongside one another flooded him. Kimberly Hart wasn't just a part of his past, she was his future. And he hoped they had many more years ahead working side by side.
Turning his attention toward Kat, Tommy looked over at the girl with a sad smile, and concerned look in his hazel eyes. He truly cared about her and he hoped she would be okay now that she'd given Kim back control of her coin. He wasn't sure what she'd do now, that she wouldn't need to dedicate time to fighting evil. Ever caring Tommy Oliver hoped Katherine wouldn't distance herself from the group and become distant just because she was no longer a Ranger. They had been friends before she took over as the Pink Ranger and they could remain friends still, "That was a great thing you did, Kat. You're a great person."
While Tommy was commending her for her sacrifice, Katherine was smiling inwardly. She had them convinced that this move was out of sheer selflessness. That she was doing something genuine. That she was showing Kimberly that she found her to be a noble and honest heroine. The truth was far from it, though. While Tommy praised her, he didn't even realize she was sinking her little kitty claws, deeper into him, "It was worth it," The girl cooed, pressing down her anger and jealousy to keep her manipulation from being discovered. She knew Tommy well and she could play him like a fiddle. She knew, now that she had given up her powers, he would never break up with her. It would be too much loss to subject her to at one time and he was too much of a gentleman to put her through that. "She saved your life, I owe her more than just a power coin. She can keep the powers, I have you…"