Kimberly woke up the next morning to feel Tommy's arm still wrapped tightly around her and his fingers gently scratching her lower back in a soothing caress. "Sorry Beautiful, I didn't mean to wake you." She shook her head with a smile, cuddling closer into him. "Did you sleep ok?"

"Best night's sleep I've had since I left Angel Grove." She said with a smile. "Did you sleep ok?"

"I always sleep ok when you're with me." She blushed at his comment, making him chuckle. "Are you hungry? I think Mom and Dad are making breakfast." Kimberly nodded and they quickly got changed, walking downstairs to the kitchen. "Morning."

Melissa smiled at the young couple. "Morning Dears, I hope you both slept well. Help yourselves to some food."

Kimberly gave the woman a small smile. "Thank you Mrs Oliver and thank you for letting me stay here."

"You don't have to say thank you Kimberly, you know we adore you." The former pink ranger felt at ease around her boyfriend's parents, especially his mother. "And please don't feel the need for the formalities, just call us by our first names Dear, Mr and Mrs Oliver just makes us feel old."

"Are you sure?"

The woman nodded and her boyfriend responded, his hand gently squeezing her shoulder. "You're part of the family now Beautiful." The girl only blushed and leant into him. "Speaking of family, have you spoken to your mom yet?" Kimberly shook her head. "About what happened or about leaving Florida?"

"None of it, the last time I spoke to her was before everything happened and I don't think she'll react very well," Tommy asked her what she meant by her statement so she continued. "You know my dad wasn't around much when I was a kid so my mum had to do it all on her own. She worked hard to get me to school and everything with my gymnastics. I don't want her to be disappointed in me."

Tommy shook his head. "You were in a place where you got hurt Beautiful, I don't think she'll be disappointed in you."

"Kimberly, can I offer you a parent's perspective?" The young girl nodded, looking at James as he spoke. "Your mom worked hard to get you where you wanted to be and thriving in that environment. I'm sure she's so proud of what you accomplished to get to Florida and what you're training for. There is no reason why your mother should be disappointed in you, you were hurt in what was supposed to be a safe environment so you removed yourself. You made a very mature decision."

Melissa placed her hand on top of her husband's, continuing, "You're her daughter Kimberly, if I had a daughter who went through what you did, my only concern would be that she was safe. Your mother loves you and I'm sure she will share my opinion."

"Thank you," Kimberly smiled. "I really appreciate that coming from you both."

Tommy placed his hand on his girlfriend's shoulder, squeezing gently as he spoke. "What do you say? Should we head up and call her or would you like to wait?"

"I wanna do it now, while I've got the nerve"

The red ranger nodded and they left the kitchen up to his room. Tommy grabbed the phone before they sat on the bed and handed it to Kimberly, watching as she fiddled with it for a few seconds before exhaling and dialling her mother's number. He grabbed her hand while it rang in silent reassurance.

"Hello?"

"Mom, it's me."

"Oh Kimberly, I wasn't expecting to hear from you, I thought you'd be busy training."

Kimberly didn't respond verbally to the statement, instead asking. "How have you been?"

"I've been well, Pierre and I have been enjoying our time here, it's been great. How about you Dear?"

"Umm that's actually what I was calling about."

"Is everything alright?" After a few seconds silence, Caroline spoke again. "This isn't a Florida number Kimberly, did Coach Schmidt give you some time off now, what's going on?"

Kimberly exhaled. "This is difficult for me to say so please let me say everything in one go without interruptions or I don't think I'll be able to get through it." Tommy squeezed her hand as her mother agreed unconvinced. "This isn't a Florida number because I'm not in Florida, I'm back in Angel Grove. Coach Schmidt didn't give us time off, I left on my own because I was attacked by one of my teammates." The girl explained everything that happened in Florida to her mother. "I just didn't feel safe there anymore Mom and I couldn't stay there so I left the team and I'm back in Angel Grove... permanently."

Caroline exhaled sharply. "You quit the team?"

The former pink ranger gaped. "Was that the only thing you got from what I told you?"

"Kimberly, you leaving the team was something you should've spoken to me about before you did it." Kimberly gasped, unable to speak. "I've spent an awful lot of money over the years for this hobby of yours and you said you were going to take it seriously. That's what this opportunity with Coach Schmidt was. I was happy to cover the costs as long as you remained focused on your training for the Pan Globals and the Olympics."

The girl had tears in her eyes and the lump in her throat was obvious as she spoke. "But I was assaulted Mom, I was meant to be safe there and I wasn't. How could I train somewhere that I'm in danger. How do you not get that?"

"I've spent a lot of money on that program Kimberly, your job was to train. I understand that you were hurt but you are fine now. You could get a restraining order against this boy and keep training but you are taking the easy way out."

"The easy way out." Kimberly choked. "You think this is easy? Do you think I wanted this to happen and I wanted to give up my place?"

"You're throwing away your future and taking the easy way out. Your academics were average at best because you spent too much damn time on that beam and with your friends. What are you going to do now that you've thrown away your gymnastics?"

"I can't believe that I thought for even a second that you'd react any different. I thought you'd care about the fact that I was safe more than your pride and your money but you don't even care that I was hurt in the first place so forget it. I'm staying here with Tommy and his family and I'm staying in Angel Grove."

"You are not the daughter I raised Kimberly Ann, I'm so disappointed in you."

She choked on a sob as she whispered. "Goodbye Mother."

Kimberly hung up the phone and buried her face in her hands, finally letting her tears fall. Seeing her in this state broke Tommy's heart and he pulled her into his chest to soothe her. "Shh Beautiful, it's ok, I've got you. I'm here."

"S-she doesn't care, she doesn't care that I was hurt."

"She doesn't deserve you Kim." Tommy continued to soothe her until she calmed down, he pulled her face between his hands, looking into her eyes. "Your mother's response is not your fault, none of this is your fault. Hopefully she'll come around but if she doesn't, you've got me and my parents and our friends, you are not alone. We all love you and we're all going to support you through everything."

Cuddling into his embrace, she placed a kiss on his jaw. "Thank you Handsome, you have no idea how much that means to me right now."

"You don't even have to mention it. I love you and I would do anything for you."

"I love you too." Her eyes drifted over to the time on his alarm clock and she sighed. "We should head down to the youth center, if I have to explain it to the gang, I'd rather do it all in one day so I can try and put it behind me."

"That's my girl." Kimberly smiled - just as he had aimed. "Let's just tell Mom and Dad where we're going and we'll head off."

The couple walked downstairs to find Melissa and James in the living room. Upon seeing the teenagers, Melissa smiled sadly. "How did you go Sweetheart?" Tommy and Kimberly shook their heads and the woman stood up to embrace the girl. She whispered in her ear. "We love you so much Kim and you've always got a place here."

"Thank you Melissa."

As the woman sat back down, Tommy spoke to both of his parents. "Since Caroline wasn't as supportive as we'd hoped, it's alright if Kim stays with us right?"

"As long as you'd like," James said, looking at the girl. "We'd have you here indefinitely if we need to. You are very much part of the family now so this house is yours now too Kim."

The girl smiled. "Thank you James."

Tommy smiled at his girlfriend, placing his hand on the small of her back before turning back to the parents. "So Kim and I were actually about to -" A knock on the door interrupted his statement and everyone in the room looked at each other curiously as the red ranger went to open the door. Tommy smiled as he saw who was on the other side.

"JASON!"

The former red ranger had barely walked over the threshold before Kimberly had launched herself into him. He chuckled lightly as he hugged her back. "Hey Lil Sis, I've missed you so much." Kimberly nodded in response, only hugging him tighter. The boy looked over at Tommy mouthing 'Caroline?' to which he nodded in response.

The girl pulled back from the hug looking up at her big brother. "What are you doing here?"

"Well after hearing what happened, I needed to come back here and help my baby sister and I needed to apologise to you in person." Kimberly shook her head. "No, I do, I wasn't being a good big brother and I'm sorry for that. But I'm here now and you won't get rid of me easily."

"Thanks Jase."

The boy hugged her, whispering. "I love you Lil Sis."

"I love you too, thank you for being here."

As he pulled back, he smiled. "Wouldn't wanna be anywhere else. Have you told the others?"

Kimberly shook her head as Tommy responded. "We were just heading down to the youth center to talk to them now, come along if you want, I think Kim needs all the support we can get." He turned to his girlfriend. "They'll understand Beautiful."

She nodded unconvinced as Jason also reassured her. "Billy, Adam and Rocky are already on your side and they support you. The only ones you have to talk to are Kat and Aisha."

"Tanya." He looked at Tommy confused. "Aisha left, she was replaced by Tanya." They made sure to keep their conversation as minimal and cryptic as possible so Tommy's parents wouldn't know what they were talking about. "What do you reckon Beautiful, should we head off?"

Kimberly nodded, grabbing his hand for support. "Yeah let's go."