To get a better understanding of the time, Tommy and Kim are around 33 years old in this time jump, which means they had their baby at about 22 years old. I made a small adjustment to a plot hole from the intro regarding timeline. Rated T for language and brief T/K sexual situations. I know this is a little different, so please let me know your thoughts!
11 YEARS LATER
SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
The gymnasium buzzed with the boisterous voices of the young students now waiting patiently for their class to begin. A small brunette leaned over to her best friend's ear, whispering something that made the pair burst into fits of giggles.
The girls had been soul sisters since before they were born. Unknowingly conceived within weeks of each other, they shared a bond that ran deeper than either one could ever imagine. While the world as they knew it owed their parents its very existence, it also remained oblivious to their sacrifices and true identities. The Power Rangers were legends. And the two young girls were a part of that great legacy. Both conceived while part of the morphing grid, only time would tell what effects the great power had bestowed upon them.
"Okay, class, settle down," coach Ford, a sandy blond man said while holding a wooden clipboard. He went on to outline the day's class.
To the girls' delight, it consisted of acrobatics. While they had been training since the age of two, as they grew, their focus had shifted to spending more time at the dojo their father's co-owned. However, the gym had been their first love and where their bond of sisterhood had grown even stronger. The many long weekends they'd spent away at competitions, while grueling, had been some of the fondest memories of their tender lives thus far.
The coach laid out four long mats, instructing the students to split into groups and line up to perform forward rolls until reaching the end of each.
"Sophia, Charlotte, and Caden," he called, grabbing the attention of the three students, "challenge yourselves, but do it safely, please."
Coach Ford's son, Caden, was also a black belt student at Red Falcon Karate where the girls' trained. The boy's father was also a good friend of Tommy and Rocky.
He knew of his son's first, puppy love crush on Charlotte Oliver. While the two were babies and he would never encourage any type of relationship between them for the foreseeable future, little Charlotte, or Char, as her friends affectionately called her, was one of his favorite students. The girl had a heart of gold, but the soul and tenacity of a lion. She reminded him a lot of her father, with her mother's spunk and beauty.
"Coach?" a tall, strawberry blond girl queried as she took her spot behind Sophia on the first mat. "Why do they get to do something different? I learned how to forward roll in kindergarten," she added with an eye roll.
Coach smiled at the girl. "Emma, you're free to do whatever you are comfortable with as long as you're safe."
Her blue eyes lit up. "I can probably do whatever they do."
His brows came together. "Are you sure?"
The girl simply shrugged.
Sophia tied her long braids into a low ponytail before making her way to Charlotte and whispering something in her ear with an impish grin. The brunette nodded in agreement before she walked over to the third mat. Putting a hand on Caden's shoulder, she rose on her toes to whisper something into his ear. With slightly blushed cheeks, he looked into her brown eyes and nodded with a dimpled smile. She returned the gesture before returning to her own mat.
On a silent count of three, the three students executed a perfect succession of two butterfly kicks, into a flash kick followed by a round-off back tuck.
While Emma stood in shock with her mouth slightly ajar, the other students clapped and cheered.
"Emma, you're up," the coach said, motioning with his hand.
The girl said nothing and simply cartwheeled down the mat.
Sophia turned to Charlotte and fist-bumped her friend. "Emma thinks everything's a competition."
"Her cartwheels were pretty good, though," the brunette conceded with a shoulder shrug.
"Yeah, well, her attitude sucks!"
Charlotte laughed at her friend's remark, unable to disagree. She suddenly turned her attention to a quiet Caden. He'd been at their dojo since both were practically in diapers, yet they'd only ever really spoken maybe a handful of times. He was a gifted martial artist, according to her dad and uncle Rocky.
The quiet boy with dark auburn hair, bright blue eyes, and dimples was a little different than the other boys in her class. Where most 11-year-old boys played sports and videos games and all the other dumb boy stuff, Caden lived and breathed martial arts. Her dad had taken a special interest in him, taking him under his wing. He'd told her that Caden reminded him a lot of himself growing up.
"Hey, Caden, will you be in class today?"
"Um, yeah," he said, nervously scratching the back of his neck.
"Cool. And do you want to sit with me, Soph, and the others at lunch? Seems like we've known you forever but don't really know you… you know?"
He couldn't help the smile that stretched across his lips. Feeling his cheeks blush, he dipped his head and nodded.
"Yeah, that would be cool."
"Awesome."
She suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled, "Come on, we're going to lose our place in line!"
Coach Ford watched with a huge grin as the petite Oliver dragged his tall son across the gym while he sported a goofy grin of his own. The coach knew Charlotte befriending his son was nothing more than purely platonic, as it should be, but he couldn't help being ecstatic that he'd been invited to be part of a particularly great group of friends. And somewhere in the back of his mind, he had a feeling this moment would be a monumental one in his son's life.
CAFETERIA
"Bout time you sit with us!" Zachary said, excitedly, clapping Caden on the back.
Zachary was the girls' brother in everything but blood. Their uncle Zack's oldest son. He was one year older but was fiercely protective of his little sisters. He and Jordon, Aunt Trini and Uncle Jason's son, always made it a point to sit with the girls at lunch.
"Thanks," Caden replied grinning.
"How does it feel having your dad as one of your teachers?" Jordan asked, mouth full of pizza.
Before Caden could answer, Charlotte chimed in.
"Jordon, you're so gross! I can literally see your half-chewed pizza. Ew!" she teased, channeling her mom's short-lived valley girl years.
Her comment made the dark-haired boy open his mouth even wider. They all laughed in unison at his antics.
"Excuse him," Charlotte giggled, turning to the newcomer, "mentally, he's still in the first grade."
Caden had never had the opportunity or the excuse to look at Charlotte Oliver this long or as close as he was. A few things were made clear to him in that very moment. In his eleven-year-old heart, she was the most beautiful girl, apart from his mom, that he had ever seen. She had faint little freckles peppered across her nose and cheeks that he thought were as incredibly cute as her tinkling laughter. Her big brown eyes were as warm and inviting as her smile. Yes, he was surely and most definitely in love.
"If you think about it, it's not any different than our dads' at the dojo," Sophia commented, taking a sip of her water. Charlotte nodded in agreement.
The group fell into comfortable conversation as they began getting to know more about Caden and vice versa. While he initially seemed shy, they quickly realized that wasn't the case. He was instead reserved and somewhat of a loner by choice. Charlotte recalled her mom saying the same about her dad when they'd first met.
"INCOMING!"
Before anyone had a moment to react, a football pelted Charlotte on the side of her head, sending her whipping forward as her face nearly rebounded against the table. The girl was stunned for a second. In the next moment, her fist rocked the surface of the table and the group thought they saw her brown orbs flash white.
"Char! Are you okay?" Sophia ran to her friend, whose eyes were now brimming with tears.
"Who the hell threw that?" Zachary looked around angrily.
Caden suddenly stormed out of his seat in a rage.
"Where's he going?" Sophia asked, running small, comforting circles across her sister's back.
Charlotte turned around in time to see Caden grab a boy named Daniel by the scruff of his shirt and slam him up against the wall.
"I'm sorry, dude. I didn't mean to!" The red-headed boy's voice broke. He knew just as well as the other students that Caden wasn't one to be messed with.
"Apologize!" he demanded through gritted teeth.
"I'm s-sorry!"
"Caden?" her small voice broke through his anger as her hand softly fell over his forearm. Their eyes met and her tear-stained cheeks almost ignited his fire again until she spoke. "It's okay. I'm okay."
"But he hurt you, Char!"
"It wasn't on purpose. I'm fine. Please, let him go before you get into trouble."
Caden hesitated for another heartbeat before releasing the boy and letting him fall into a heap on the floor.
"You should be more careful," he warned an edge to his tone, nonetheless, offering his hand.
The boy nodded, hesitatingly accepting the gesture then scurrying off.
"Thank you," she muttered her gratitude around a sniffle.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked, eyeing the red bump on her hairline and resisting the urge to gently run his thumb on her injury.
"I am, though I could probably use some ice."
"Can I at least walk with you to the nurse's office?" he asked, not knowing where his courage had come from.
She flashed him a sweet smile. "Sure. I'll go tell the guys and then we can go."
The pair walked at a slow pace down the hall.
"You are so lucky Kyoshi Oliver is your dad!"
She looked at him curiously. "Coach Ford is pretty cool?"
"Oh, Dad is great. But your dad is Tommy Oliver! He's, like, a legend and super badass."
The girl couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm.
"My dad is pretty awesome. But he's just… my dad, I guess. And he can be so embarrassing, too. Him and my mom are sweet, but it gets kinda gross to see your parents all lovey-dovey all the time," she said with a playful eye roll.
"That's great that they're still in love, though. And your mom is really pretty. You look a lot like her," he added with a blush.
Charlotte smiled. "Thanks!"
"What about your mom? I don't think I remember seeing her all these years?" Charlotte immediately regretted her inquiry once she saw how his features had soured into a sad frown. "I'm sorry, Caden… I didn't mean to— "
He stopped walking and turned towards her.
"It's fine; I promise. It's just me and my dad. And my dog, Murray. Oh, and my uncle Dave lives in town, too. My mom died before I was born. Well, sort of."
The brunette's brows knitted together in confusion. "I don't understand."
"She suffered an aneurysm when she was pregnant with me. My dad told me it was a little early, so they tried to keep her alive until I was ready to be born… even though her brain was no longer…"
Charlotte put a hand on Caden's shoulder. He realized her touch was always very warm.
"I'm so sorry, Caden. What was her name?"
"Elizabeth and she was beautiful. And I don't think I've ever told anyone that story."
"Really? Why'd you tell me?"
They began walking again.
"I just… I don't know, I feel like I can trust you, Char. I mean, like you won't judge me or anything like that."
She beamed, flattered that he felt he could confide in her. She suddenly felt herself scrambling for something to say to lighten the mood. She bit her bottom lip nervously.
"My mom is having twin girls in about two months."
Caden's eyes widened, and he snickered. "Wow! All girls, huh?"
Charlotte stopped again, a hand on her hip, eyebrow arched. "And what's wrong with that?"
He smiled down at her, thinking she looked absolutely adorable all the while intending to look insulted. Standing about a head taller, Caden knew that despite her stature, she was a fierce and extremely skilled fighter. Her father had made sure of that.
"Nothing at all. It's just that, if your sisters are anything like you, then I know they'll be great… and really pretty."
Her mock scowl pulled into a smirk. "Nice save," she said with a chuckle, continuing down the hall.
"It's true, though. I've always thought you were very… um… beautiful," he blurted out, surprised by his own boldness.
Charlotte turned around, leaning against the doorframe of the nurse's office, arms crossed over her chest. "That's what my dad calls my mom."
"Can I call you that?" The words tumbled out of his mouth, and he couldn't believe he'd said that out loud.
"No way!" she said with a laugh. "That would be super weird. But you can keep calling me Char. Only my good friends call me that."
He nodded, "Well, I'm glad we're friends now."
"For sure! See you later, Caden. And thank you for walking me."
She disappeared past the threshold. Caden remained in place, a grin on his lips and a flush to his cheeks. He whispered her name on the wingtips of a sigh and slowly turned back towards the direction of the cafeteria.
"Oh, and Caden?" Charlotte had poked her head out and he whipped around so fast he almost felt dizzy. "Thank you… for what you did back there. Even though you probably scared Daniel to death!"
"Oh, man… yeah." He ducked his head.
"But you don't have to do that, by the way."
"I don't know. It just felt right. He hurt you and I… I guess I wanted to hurt him, too."
"So, you always feel like you need to jump in and save the day? Seems like a good way to get detention."
He shook his head, "No, that was just for you."
Caden was going to have to eat whole-wheat toast and green smoothies every day for breakfast like he had that morning. Maybe it's what had given him the extra courage and boost of confidence.
Char narrowed her eyes a bit, unsure how to feel about his admission. A smile crept over her face.
"I'm no damsel, Caden. I'm Charlotte Oliver."
ONE MONTH LATER
"Mom! I can't find my brown boots!"
"Did you check your closet?"
She heard scurrying footsteps coming from upstairs before her daughter spoke again.
"Found them! Thank you!"
Kimberly smiled, shaking her head as she prepared a bowl of Apple Jacks. The snack had been her biggest craving this pregnancy and she had to have at least two bowls a day.
Feeling larger than life lately, Kim pulled the stool all the way out before climbing onto it with a loud huff. Despite her rounded and still growing belly, the brunette had made it a point to work out and lift regularly, not only to stay in shape but to have an overall healthier pregnancy and recovery.
Maybe the sugar-loaded treat she was about to devour wasn't the healthiest, but after her workout that morning, she'd certainly earned it.
Feeling a familiar warmth at her back, Kim smiled widely. "Like what you see?" she asked, without turning around.
No matter the years gone by, they would always feel each other's presence. It was a bond, a connection unique only to them. They were soul mates.
Despite the trials and tribulations, their love was forced to endure, the years apart and the heartache, they were able to find each other again.
His strong arms circled her shoulders, face nuzzling into her neck as his lips pressed against her skin tenderly.
"Tommy, I just got back from the gym. I smell like a sweat sock."
"But you're my sweat sock," he teased, peppering her skin with more kisses.
He came around and bent in front of his beloved wife, his hands caressing her swollen belly. "How are my girls?" he crooned, lips brushing her skin before he affectionately kissed just above her navel.
"Which one of you wanted Apple Jacks again, huh?"
Kim chuckled, running a hand through his short hair, as she thanked God for this man she loved more than her own life. Although there were certainly moments in which she wanted to smother him with her pillow, he was the most wonderful husband and father she could have ever dreamed of.
Not only did he love her beyond measure, but he had also given her the most precious gift of all. The gift of motherhood. While parenting wasn't all rainbows and unicorns, and lord knew there were days she wanted to escape and be left alone, Kimberly couldn't have been blessed with a more amazing daughter than her Charlotte. Her little girl was as beautiful inside as she was stunning. While she had inherited Kim's shorter stature and indomitable personality, Charlotte was a daddy's girl through and through. She had grown up between the gym and her father's dojo, ultimately choosing martial arts rather than pursuing competitive gymnastics, which was perfectly fine by Kim. Whatever made her daughter happy.
"Is she ready yet?" Tommy asked, taking his wife's hand and intertwining their fingers, ever the need to touch her.
"Almost. What's the headcount?" Kim was referring to Char's early birthday celebration at the trampoline park. Her girl's eleventh birthday was on Monday, and she'd wanted to celebrate early with friends over the weekend.
"The usual crew plus a newly inducted Caden Ford. Her other classmates, about eight, will meet up at the jump park."
"Hm," she said simply, leaning into her husband's caress as his lips blazed a trail of soft kisses up the side of her neck. "Caden, huh? Aisha told me the two have become somewhat inseparable at school. Sophia was telling her the other day. You know that boy has a crush on her, right?"
"Yup," he said, kissing that sweet spot just below her ear. "He's a good kid, though. And one hell of a martial artist."
"Oh, so that makes it okay?" she teased, eyes slowly rolling to the back of her head.
"No, but I know Caden is disciplined, respectful, and trustworthy. I've known and trained him since he was in pull-ups."
"Baby, I trust your judgment completely when it comes to Char. And I get that they're these tiny people with feelings, too." She framed his face with her hands, pecking him softly on the lips. "And that boy sure is a cutie. If I had met you at ten, my little heart would have melted into a puddle. You were always so handsome."
He laughed into the crook of her neck.
"Charlotte is your carbon copy. I've already been mentally preparing myself for all the little douchebags that are going to come knocking."
It was Kim's turn to laugh.
"Well, Mr. Oliver, you have quite a bit of preparing to do, times three."
"God has a funny sense of humor, doesn't he?"
They both snickered before their lips came together in a sultry kiss. He combed his fingers through her hair, deepening the kiss. And impossible as it seemed, because he loved her more than life itself, his love had only grown with each passing year. Forever and a lifetime still wouldn't be enough. He'd never get enough of his Beautiful. The fact that she was once again, pregnant with his children, two more beautiful girls of their own, swelled his heart with pride and adoration. Tommy was surely the luckiest and happiest man on earth.
"I love you, beautiful," he whispered over her lips, cradling her face in his hands.
"I love you, too." Kim pecked him one more time and gently nibbled on his bottom lip before pulling away slightly. "Now, let me enjoy my cereal."
"Are you two done in here? We have to go pick up the guys."
"Hey, Nugget, you ready?"
"Yes, but, Dad? I'm turning eleven in two days. Isn't there something else you could call me now? How come Mom gets the good nickname?"
"Baby girl, no matter how old you get, you'll always be Nugget."
Charlotte rolled her eyes, making her way to Kim and tenderly caressing her sisters.
"Be good to Mommy, you twin terrors."
Kim put her arms around her firstborn and smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Have fun, my love. Sorry, I can't jump with you today, but I promise I have something special for you on Monday, yeah?"
Charlotte nodded, a wide grin curving her lips as she rested her chin on her mom's chest. The older brunette smiled, taking a moment to gaze at her little girl who seemed to be growing up so fast. It felt as though she had just given birth to her yesterday. Now, here she was, on the cusp of becoming a teenager.
Running her fingers through her daughter's soft waves, a shade or two darker than her own, Kim smiled adoringly, staring into her brandy-colored orbs. While Char had her eye color, the girl's dark and lush, long lashes were all Tommy.
"You look beautiful, baby. Have tons of fun."
Charlotte's floral sundress, coupled with white bike shorts and brown combat boots were reminiscent of some of Kim's fondest years. Some years ago, Char had seen pictures of her mom and dad from high school and had become obsessed with combat boots and dresses from that moment on. It quickly became her signature look. Just like her mom.
CAR RIDE
Tommy's eyes flitted to his daughter from the rear-view mirror. She was smiling, watching the world go by through the glass.
"Nugget, we're swinging by and picking up Caden first then Sophia."
He watched, gauging her reaction but her smile remained unchanged.
That's my girl, he thought.
"Dad? Could you maybe not call me Nugget, at least in front of Caden?
Aaaand there it was. Tommy's grip tightened around the steering wheel.
"Your mom tells me the two of you have gotten very close?"
"Yeah, he's cool. I don't know why we never really spoke before, but I'm really glad we're friends now. I can see why you like him so much!"
Tommy nodded, "He's a really good kid. Reminds me a lot of myself in some ways."
"Hey, Dad? Didn't you save mom from bullies once? Is that how you met?"
Tommy chuckled, "Well, your mom didn't exactly need me to save her from Bulk and Skull. I guess, I was just trying to impress her."
Charlotte giggled, "And did you fall in love with her then?"
The former leader contemplated his daughter from the mirror. Her eyes were still focused on the window, though a wistful smile now colored her pretty face. He thought back to the first time he'd seen Kim and how he instantly knew she was something special, would be someone special in his life, and how hard he fell soon after. Charlotte was still several years younger than they were when they'd met, so he wondered about the possible reasons behind her question.
"Your mom and I grew very close. She helped me through some tough moments in my life. She was my very best friend. And still is."
Charlotte shifted in her seat, now meeting her father's eyes in the mirror.
"You know, Caden stood up for me once. It was the first day we became friends."
"Really?"
"Yeah, some dumb boy threw a football at my head really hard. Caden got upset and almost beat him up. He also walked me to the nurse for some ice."
On the one hand, Tommy was glad that Caden had stood up for his girl, but on the other, he was a bit unnerved with the fact she was telling him this story after he'd relayed a similar incident about how he and Kim had met and subsequently fell in love.
"Charlotte, do you… are you?" he stammered, trying to find the right words.
"Dad?" she interrupted, "I'm eleven, and Caden and I are just really good friends. He's nice, and easy to talk to, and we like a lot of the same things. We're close in a lot of ways like I am with Sophia." She locked eyes with him again and smiled. "So please don't break the steering wheel."
Tommy looked at his blanching knuckles and let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"You heard your mom and me talking today, didn't you?" he laughed as she nodded. "Well, I'm glad that Caden is like another Zachary and Jordan in your life."
"Zach and Jay are like my brothers, Dad. Caden is my friend."
Tommy noted the distinction she'd made and decided to leave the subject at that. Not that he had much of a choice, considering they'd reached the Ford's.
Caden was already waiting on his front porch, his dad by his side. The boy sprinted toward Tommy's jeep excitedly, greeting Char with a wide smile and a blue gift bag.
After saying his hello to Tommy, and while the two men conversed outside of the vehicle, Caden climbed inside and handed her the bag.
"But my birthday isn't until Monday?"
Caden shrugged, "I wanted you to have it today. It's not much because I spent most of my allowance last month on a new Iaito."
Charlotte pulled a plush white dragon from the bag, eyes immediately brightening.
"Oh, I love it! Thank you!" she pulled him into a tight hug which he immediately returned.
Tommy and John Ford exchanged bemused looks as they looked on through the glass.
"You know, I've never seen Caden happier than he's been this past month after joining Charlotte's group of friends. You have an amazing little girl, Tommy."
Tommy's chest swelled with pride. "Caden is pretty awesome as well. And you know he's my most gifted student. He's about ready for his next tournament coming up here shortly."
"It's all he's been talking about for weeks. He's pretty psyched." Coach Ford turned to his son's mentor and professor. "I know I always say it, Tommy, but thank you for taking him under your wing. Your guidance and training have really made a difference in his life. He really looks up to you."
"Thanks, man. That means a lot."
The blond man exhaled somberly.
"Liz just had all these plans for him, aspirations for his life, and sometimes I feel like I come up short, you know. I just know Caden's meant for something great, as crazy as that sounds. Liz always said as much, and I just want to make her proud."
Tommy put a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder.
"Caden is a great, well-rounded kid, John. As parents, we always feel there's something we could have done differently. But you've done a great job with him, and I know she'd be proud of both of you."
It was evident by his solemn demeanor and the sorrowful way he spoke of his late wife, that he loved her profoundly and was still grieving her loss.
"Thank you, Tommy. I just wish she was here to see it. She loved the idea of being a mom. She would have been an amazing one." Looking over to his friend, who was staring straight ahead, probably unsure of what to say, John Ford decided to lighten the mood. And he knew just the subject. "How's Kim doing? Haven't seen her by the dojo in a while. She should be due any day now, huh?"
Tommy smiled broadly. "Kim is really good. She's due in the coming weeks, though she's hoping for yesterday," he chuckled.
"Well, congrats, man. Two more little girls to add to the clan," he commended, clapping him on the back.
The kids watched as their dads engaged in conversation.
"I'm actually really excited to get to the trampoline park. I've never been."
Char's eyes widened. "Caden Ford, are you telling me you've never jumped on a trampoline?"
"You're not going to laugh at me, are you?"
"No, but I am going to feel sorry for you," she chuckled. "What else haven't you done?"
Caden scratched the back of his neck, his cheeks quickly pinkening.
"Well, I've never been to the beach." The girl's mouth fell open. "I mean, I've been to lakes. I know how to swim. I've just never seen the ocean." He suddenly bowed his head sadly. "Dad says the beach was my mom's favorite place. It's where they were married, too. He's never said it, but I think maybe the memory would be too painful."
Charlotte took his hand in hers. "What about you? Would you like to go someday… with me?"
Their eyes met and he nodded, a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips.
"If my mom loved the ocean so much, then maybe it's a place I can feel connected to her somehow. I don't know if that makes sense, but I always think it."
She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Of course it does." She offered him a comforting smile. "Tell you what, I'll ask my parents and if it's okay with your dad, we can go see the ocean together. Maybe invite the others, too."
"That sounds great. Thanks, Char."
She released his hand and brought her attention back to the plush dragon. Caden appraised her closely and thought to himself how lucky he was to have her friendship. Apart from his dad, Charlotte had quickly become his favorite person. He finally fully understood what the phrase beautiful inside and out truly meant. That was Charlotte Oliver. In that moment, he decided that one day he would ask her to marry him. He just couldn't imagine any other girl being as special. No, he was sure she had no equal, not in his eleven-year-old, love-struck heart. For now, however, he was perfectly content being her friend.
OLIVER RESIDENCE
"Is she asleep?"
Kim slipped under the covers next to Tommy, who was sitting upright against the headboard, shirtless, blanket hanging low over his hips.
"Barely made it into her bed after her shower. She had a really fun and exhausting day," the brunette replied, giving her husband's muscled chest a once over. "You trying to seduce me?"
Tommy laughed heartily. "Is it working?"
"It would, trust me, if I didn't have this massive headache."
Tommy sat up, noting his wife's serious tone. "Everything okay, beautiful? Do you need me to get you something?"
Kim waved him off. "No, no, I'm fine. It'll pass. I just need to sleep… and to get these babies out of me," she teased with a laugh.
Tommy remained serious, taking his wife's hand and softly brushing his lips over her knuckles. He couldn't pinpoint it, but something was just off. An uneasy feeling swept over him as he pushed up her top, exposing her swollen belly. He put a hand over her taught skin, waiting to feel his daughters' movements.
As if responding to his silent demands, soft movements rolled beneath his palm. Relief washed over him as he pressed a kiss to where his hand had been laying.
Kim caressed his face, sensing his worry. "Hey, we're okay. The last month of pregnancy is the most uncomfortable, especially with twins. You're going to hear me complain a lot. But I don't want you to worry, okay?"
"Kim, I'll never not worry about you. You're my heart, and if something were to happen to you…"
She nudged him toward her, kissing him softly. "Life is unpredictable, baby. Nothing is guaranteed. But we—"
Tommy shook his head. "No, I don't even want to entertain the idea. Please, Kim."
She conceded with a sympathetic nod.
"It's crazy to think these babies could be here any day now." Kim suddenly cupped her mouth, amplifying her voice toward her belly. "You hear that? Any day now!"
Tommy finally cracked and laughed.
"Yeah, it's been just the three of us for so long. But I know Char is going to make a great big sister."
"She's already so attentive. I feel like we got so lucky with her that we couldn't possibly luck out three times. I'm pretty sure these two are going to literally drive me to drink."
Tommy chuckled and cradled her face, his forehead against hers. "We make extraordinary little humans. If for no other reason than the fact that you and I created them together. Kim, you've given me the most beautiful life. I love you so much."
She kissed him soundly as he used his thumb to wipe the moisture now rolling down her cheeks. Damn hormones.
"I love you, too."
Kimberly couldn't wait to be able to make love to her man free of restrictions. While they'd gotten creative and made things work, she felt limited and extremely uncomfortable. Yet her body hummed for him, craved him so intensely it was nearly painful. Suddenly, her crazy hormones took over and she began to full-on sob. Tommy's forehead creased with worry.
"Kim, what's wrong? Are you okay? Did I-?"
"I just want to… I can't!" She tried desperately to collect herself, to no avail.
Tommy shot up in a panic. "Kim, please talk to me. Should I call your doctor? What's wrong?"
She mumbled something between cries, but he just couldn't make out her words. Fear gripped his heart.
"Kim, please, baby, tell me what's wrong!" He had one hand on her belly and the other caressing her dampened cheek.
The distraught brunette took a deep breath, grasping her husband's forearms, and blurted out, "I just want to properly fuck your brains out and I can't! Dammit!"
Tommy stared at her wide-eyed for several, silent seconds. He finally let out a breath of relief, crumbling to the floor as he buried his face in the mattress next to Kim.
"God, Kim… I think I almost had a heart attack. I thought—shit!"
He suddenly started laughing as he leaned back against the nightstand, hands covering his face.
"I'm sorry," she muttered around a sniffle. "I'm so pathetic."
He looked up at her, rising to his feet, and planting a kiss on her temple before heading towards the door to lock it.
Placing his knees on the mattress in front of her legs, he hooked his thumbs on her panties and slowly slid them down her legs, tossing them to the side. His lips blazed a scorching trail up her inner thighs, alternating between the warm trembling flesh of each.
"How about you just sit back and let me do all the work tonight."
MONDAY
OLIVER RESIDENCE
The birthday song's melody rang out from the Oliver dining room. Charlotte stood behind her white and pink cake, beaming smile as she waited for the right moment to blow out her candles. Sophia and Caden were on either side, flanked by Zachary and Jason, and each of their younger siblings. While all eyes were on the candles' sparkling flame, Caden couldn't take his off Charlotte's gleaming face. He thought she looked extraordinarily beautiful by candlelight. As Kim snapped several photos of the moment, she noticed the boy's adoring gaze. Nudging Tommy, she motioned discretely towards Caden.
"He's got it so bad," she whispered into his ear.
Tommy sighed, slightly shaking his head. "Man, I don't how to feel about this."
Both ceased their conversation as Char began to blow out her candles. Their guests clapped and cheered.
"I've had my eye on him all evening. He's the sweetest," she admitted, pulling her husband into the living room. "Char is like this talkative, ball of energy and he's quiet and so patient, but he's also a jokester. It's actually the cutest thing, and most importantly, innocent." Kim interlocked her fingers with Tommy's, kissing him. "You know, they kind of remind me of you and I."
"Kim, that certainly doesn't make me feel better. Clearly you forget the times we'd sneak off after battles… and before them. The back of my jeep. My Falcon Zord—should I go on?"
She swatted his chest. "Oh, you know that's not what I mean!"
He cupped her face, laughing over her lips. "I know. Those are just great memories," He snickered, kissing her slowly. "How are you feeling, beautiful? How are my girls?"
"Your girls are giving me hell. Already taking after their father."
He threw his head back and laughed. "We're almost at the finish line, baby," he crooned, sweeping a strand of hair behind her ear and lovingly kissing her forehead.
Caden watched the couple's exchange, his heart clenched in his chest. He knew how much his dad still loved and longed for his mother. While he'd never met her, his love for the woman who'd fought so hard to give him life, ran deep. He missed her presence in his life. And he mourned for his father's loss and the unimaginable heartbreak he's had to endure.
"Caden? Are you okay? You're… crying?" Charlotte's worried gaze only made his emotions bubble further to the surface.
The boy wiped at his tears with the back of his hand and nodded. "I'm okay." He hurriedly walked into a nearby hallway and sat on a small bench. Charlotte followed him into the mudroom. "It's just that… you're really lucky, Char. Your parents, they remind me a lot of how mine were. I used to watch old videos with my dad. He loved my mother so much. And watching your parents… it just makes me think of what could have been, you know."
Charlotte gently wiped a stray tear from his cheek. "I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could say or do to make you feel better."
He looked into her glistening brown eyes and smiled. "I think I'm always happier with you, Char."
She returned the gesture and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'll sit here with you until you're ready to go back out there."
"Thank you… for not thinking I'm lame for crying," he said, leaning his head against hers.
"You know I'd never think that."
His smile grew impossibly wider. "I know."
TWO HOURS LATER
Most of the guests had gone home with the exception of Sophia, who was spending the night, and Caden, whose dad was across town and running late. The three kids had snuck outside to play a game of hide n seek. Charlotte was it, and she made her way through the darkening yard, in search of her friends as dusk rapidly approached. Sophia and Caden had unknowingly picked the same hiding spot inside a small shed. Both crouched behind a workbench.
"Char's going to find us because of you. Be quiet!" she whispered to Caden as the boy tried to stifle his laughter.
"Sorry! I can't believe you stepped in dog poop. Don't get close to me. I can smell you from over here." He covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve.
Sophia burst into fits of laughter. "Ew! This is all your fault, big head. If you hadn't tried to shove past me to get to my spot, I would have seen Lucy's poop."
They both fell backward laughing, as an amused Charlotte stepped through the threshold of the shed.
"You know, you guys really suck at this game!"
"Blame, Sophia, she's the one who smells like a barnyard."
The brunette covered her nose and laughed behind her hand. "Soph, take off your shoe and we'll hose it down."
Sophia pulled off her black converse, holding it by the laces as she came to her feet. The shoe suddenly slipped from her grip and hit the floorboard. As she bent over to pick it up, Caden put a hand on her shoulder.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" she asked, scrunching her face.
Caden picked up the shoe by a lace and dropped it again in the same spot. "That. It sounds hollow."
Charlotte came up beside them. "There's probably just a gap between the floor and the ground."
Caden narrowed his eyes and bent over once again, knocking on the surface. "It's possible, but there's only one way to find out."
There was a light blue rug over the spot in question. He slid it out of the way, clearing the space. Though not the easiest to spot, Caden noticed the outline to what appeared to be a possible trap door. He wedged his fingers on one side and pulled. The three kids gasped as the door gave way to a dark stairway.
"Oh, my god!" Sophia screeched. "Char, what is that? Where does it lead to?"
Charlotte shook her head, eyes fixed on the concrete stairs. "I have no idea. My parents have never mentioned this." A mischievous grin pulled at her lips. "Let's check it out!"
"I don't know if that's such a good idea. I mean, look how dark and creepy it is. This has horror movie written all over it. No! No way! You're crazy if you think I'm going to go down there. Maybe Aunt Kim doesn't even know this is here."
"I'm in!" Caden offered, inching closer to the stairs.
Sophia threw her arms up and rolled her eyes. "Of course you are!"
"Come on, Soph. It's not every day you find a secret passage. This is the coolest!" Charlotte had begun to descend the staircase when Caden gripped her arm and held her back.
"There's no way I'm letting you go first, Char. Get behind me."
She pursed her lips and placed her hand on her hips defiantly. "Fine," she conceded with a grumble. "Lead the way. Soph, you in?"
Sophia sighed deeply in resignation. "Fine, fine. But if I end up dead, I'm coming back to haunt both of you!"
Charlotte giggled and grabbed her hand, her other hand held Caden's as he led them down.
"Wait!" Sophia said, running back to grab a flashlight.
"Good idea." Caden took the object from her and the three began their descent.
There were cobwebs and a lot of dust and debris on the stairs and the ceiling of the small corridor. They reached a large metal door with a panel on the upper right corner, but no doorknob.
"Well, this was a bust," Sophia huffed.
Charlotte looked at the door with a puzzled expression. "This doesn't make any sense. Why would there be a door but no handle? Do you guys see a keyhole somewhere?" She smoothed her hand over the dark metal surface and suddenly stopped cold. "Do you feel that?"
Caden quickly put his hand beside hers but felt nothing. "What do you mean?"
"You can't feel that vibration?"
The boy shook his head, placing both hands and coming up empty.
Sophia slowly pressed her left hand onto the door, the cool metal hummed on contact. "Whoa! How can you not feel that?"
Caden's expression turned into one of frustration. "I can't feel a thing. It's just a door!"
Charlotte's eyes were drawn to the square panel just out of her reach. "Caden, can you get me to that panel?"
He nodded, placing his hands on either side of her waist and hoisting her up. The moment Charlotte's hand neared the panel, energy began to crackle and swirl over the screen but pulled her away before her fingers could make contact.
"Hey, wait! I almost had it."
"Charlotte, what if there's a charge and you get electrocuted or something?"
"I don't think it works that way."
He placed her on the ground and turned her towards him. "You don't know that."
"I feel like… like, I do. It's like it's calling to me." Her voice suddenly became whispery while her eyes looked beyond him, as if she was lost in her own head.
"Char, what are you saying? You're acting weird. Look at me," he demanded, a hint of desperation in his voice as he tilted her chin to meet his gaze. An audible gasp escaped his lips as he looked into her once brown eyes, now glowing a blazing white.
Meanwhile, Charlotte was no longer in that damp stairway, at least not in her mind. Flashes of lights and faint images passed before her. She saw her mom and dad, her aunts and uncles. And to her complete shock and confusion, Charlotte saw the… Power Rangers? Several generations of them.
Blinding lights quickly overtook those images: pink, white, green, and red swirled together in front of her. She reached out to touch the beams of colorful energy when they crackled and she suddenly saw a girl.
The brunette had long hair, tousled by the wind. Charlotte gasped as she recognized her own face reflected back. Only she was older. In the distance was an image of taller, muscular man, his back to her, as he slowly faded into darkness. The girl reached out to him, but in a flash, the vision was ripped from Charlotte's sight.
Caden's warm hands framed her face gently. "Charlotte, come back to me, please."
She smiled, finally meeting his worried gaze. "Whoa, that was… crazy!"
The boy let out a relieved breath and pulled her tightly to his chest. Kissing the top of her head before he could stop himself.
"Caden, I'm fine. Promise." From within hiss embrace, Charlotte peeked over to her friend who'd been uncharacteristically quiet. "Sophia!" she extricated herself from Caden's arms and moved towards her best friend. Caden followed and they looked at the girl in awe. Her eyes were glowing a bright yellow as she stared off into nothingness like Charlotte.
"Dammit!" The boy grabbed his friend by the shoulders and gently shook her until she came to.
Sophia's flinched at the contact, blinking repeatedly. "What the f—"
"Charlotte!"
They heard Tommy's voice in the distance and scurried up the stairs in a panic. In their haste, neither noticed the faint glow that had begun to emanate from the gap at the bottom of the large door.
Once they'd closed the trap door, Sophia threw the rug over the surface and the three kids bolted out the door.
"Dad!" Charlotte called as she neared him. "What's up?"
"Caden's dad is here…" he paused, noticing the kids seemed out of breath. "What's wrong?"
"Wrong? Nothing. We were just playing tag on the other side of the house."
The two other kids nodded in agreement, shrugging their shoulders.
Tommy eyed them suspiciously, but he knew his daughter. She wasn't a liar, nor was his niece. And Caden respected him too much.
"Cade, your dad is waiting for you."
The boy nodded. "I'll be right in. Can I say bye to Char and Sophia?"
Tommy flashed him a smile. "Of course, buddy. But make it quick, your dad says he's beat."
"Yes, sir."
The former leader disappeared into the house. And Caden quickly turned to the girls.
"What just happened?"
"I think I was dreaming," Sophia suggested, holding her head. "Either that or I'm crazy."
"I don't think it's either," Char replied. "It felt too real. I don't even know how to explain it. I saw our parents, and myself… and oh, my god, I saw the freakin' Power Rangers?"
Sophia gripped her by the forearms, eyes as wide as saucers. "What? Me, too! What does it even mean?"
"Listen, this is all crazy. I have to run before my dad comes looking for me, but please, please promise me you guys won't go down there again," he pleaded, hands on both of their shoulders.
"You don't have to worry about me. That was way too weird," Sophia immediately stated.
Charlotte cast a contemplative glance over her shoulder.
"Char," Caden called softly. "Please, don't do it."
She exhaled. "Okay. I promise."
TWO WEEKS LATER
Tommy tossed his car keys in the small dish by the door. He'd just returned from dropping Charlotte off at school. His lips quickly curved into a wicked grin upon hearing the shower running from the upstairs master bathroom. He bounded up the steps, taking them two at a time. However, much to his dismay, Kim had just turned off the water.
"And here I was hoping to join you," he said, eyeing her hungrily as he leaned against the frame and she toweled off.
Tommy would never tire of admiring his gorgeous wife. In his eyes, Kim was just so hauntingly beautiful. And while she sometimes complained about her pregnant body and slightly swollen feet, he thought she never looked as stunning as she did carrying his children. His heart swelled with love, so much so, he was nearly overcome with emotion.
To think there had been a time when he thought he'd never see or hear from her again. But life was funny like that. Fate wasn't done with them. And their story had yet to be written.
"Sorry, baby, I'm running some errands with 'Sha today, then lunch at that little French café your twins love so much before we pick up the girls and Caden. I'm on a tight schedule and I don't have time for… distractions, even the hot and insanely sexy husband kind," she teased, sending a flirtatious wink his way.
"There's always time for your hot husband,' he scoffed playfully, scooping her up into his arms.
"Tommy!" Kim squealed, laughing as her arms clung to his neck.
He walked her to the bed, laying her gently on its surface.
"I have a private later in the afternoon and a full schedule until closing. I'm going to miss the shit out of you today, so please, let me love you, beautiful," he murmured, crawling over her and kissing the top of her right thigh. His lips slowly ascended, grazing over the swell of her belly, and stopping to brush them over the precious life she carried in her womb. "I love you," he whispered against her skin as she trembled slightly under his touch.
His mouth continued its ascent and the assault on her self-restraint, errands and lunch be damned.
"I love you, too. Love you so much, baby," she whined, fingers weaving into his hair, as the warmth of his mouth covered one of her nipples.
Tommy paid homage to both breasts, alternating his attention between the two, as her soft moans became music to his ears. While he'd always thought her smaller size was perfect, he couldn't deny he was indulging in the fact she had gone up two cup sizes with this pregnancy.
"So beautiful." The warmth of his breath fanned over her skin, causing delicious goosebumps to ripple over her flesh.
Kim cupped his face, pulling him to her hungry mouth. His tongue snaked over her lips, gliding sensuously with hers as they lost themselves in the passion.
"Why are you wearing so many clothes?" she purred over his lips, grabbing at the hem of his t-shirt.
Tommy tossed his shirt across the room, quickly followed by the rest of his clothing. He lay on his back and pulled her over him, her thighs straddling his abdomen. Strong hands gripped her hips, maneuvering her exactly to where he needed her to be. Kimberly drew her bottom lip between her teeth, throwing her head back as she felt him fill her so deeply. Every inch of her body vibrated with unparalleled pleasure. How she loved this man.
"I love you," he groaned repeatedly.
At this stage of Kim's pregnancy, making love to her looked a little different than those moments when he'd alternate between warm, gentle caresses and strokes to hard, luscious cruelty, all the while taking her in every position. He wasn't complaining in the least, though. In fact, he almost felt as though they'd formed a stronger, more intimate connection.
Kim lay in his arms as Tommy held her to his chest. Their breaths had calmed, bodies relaxed, each relishing in the blissful afterglow of their climaxes. A sated smile played upon her lips as she snuggled closer, fingertips running gently across the skin of his arm.
"Hey, Kim, you given any thought to what we discussed?"
She sighed heavily, her euphoric mood souring at his question as she knew exactly what he was referring to. At around the sixth month mark of her pregnancy, Kim had taken an early leave from her job due to the grueling and physical demands of her position as a member of L.A.'s SWAT team.
Landing that job had been a dream. It was the reason the couple had left their quiet life just outside of Angel Grove, two years after Charlotte was born. Kimberly loved being a part of the city's tactical unit. And she was pretty damn good at it, too. While it had been over a decade since she'd last donned the mantle of earth's original Pink Ranger, her experience saving the world and kicking ass had made her a natural and one of the best of her team.
Tommy had always been supportive and proud of her accomplishments and the many accolades that followed, but lately, and as their family grew, he'd become apprehensive about his wife voluntarily putting herself in danger, day in and day out. While they both possessed slightly augmented DNA from their time connected to the Morphing Grid, he knew they weren't immortal. And society only seemed to be becoming more depraved with each passing year. The thought of something happening to his wife, the mother of his children, chilled him to the core.
He had proposed she seek a less dangerous position or even the option of staying home for a few years. Between Tommy's investments, the earnings from his short-lived, professional racing career, and his karate's school success, they'd be perfectly fine with the loss of her income. And that didn't even take into account the earnings from Kim's time as a Pan Globalist gymnast, coupled with her lucrative six-figure income as a SWAT team member.
"Tommy, there's nothing to think about. I love what I do. How can you ask me to leave that behind? And what, stay home all day? You think I can't handle the job? I thought you respected me more than that."
Her accusation was like a slap to the face.
"It's not like that, Kim and you know it. You know I think the world of you. I absolutely know how capable you are."
Kim disentangled herself from Tommy's arms, coming to her feet.
"Then why are you asking me to give up my career? So you can feel better? So, I'm safe?" She snatched up her discarded towel and wrapped it around herself. "Did you forget that I was a Ranger once, too? That I selflessly jumped into battle the same as you. How I saved the world just. Like. you. Tommy, I piloted goddamn Zords across galaxies, kicked alien ass, took names, and I fucking rocked at it, too. So please spare me the overprotective bullshit."
Tommy was in front of her within two heartbeats. He folded his arms over his chest.
"You didn't have three daughters back then who needed and depended on you."
She narrowed her eyes at him, "I didn't have a sexist, asshole husband back then, either."
His jaw ticked. "Kim, that's not fair. I've always supported you and you know that, even when we were kids and I pushed aside my love in order for you to follow your dream."
The brunette closed the gap between them, meeting his glare head on. "First of all, let's not pretend that decision was harder on you than it was for me. Secondly, I think it's really funny that you thought nothing of putting your 17-year-old girlfriend on a plane, alone, across the country, but now I suddenly can't do my job without getting killed?"
"Yeah, well, we both know how that ended, don't we?"
A small gasp escaped her lips as she looked at him incredulously, hurt tinging her now glistening brown eyes. "How dare you throw that in my face? After everything…"
Tommy sighed, regretting the venom behind his retort. "Kim, I'm sorry… I didn't mean—"
She held her hand up, cutting him off. "I don't want to talk to you right now. I don't even want to look at you, so save it," she spat, stomping to the bathroom and slamming the door.
"Fuck." Tommy collected his clothing and trudged out of the room.
SCHOOL CAFETERIA
Zach and Jordon were attending a field trip with their class, leaving just Caden and the girls at lunch. The three friends were immersed in conversation. It had been about two weeks since the mysterious incident in the secret staircase. It was the white elephant between them. All now afraid to speak of what had transpired that night and the visions each girl had had.
In a sudden moment of silence, all three pairs of eyes met, and as if reading each others' minds, they nodded in mutual understanding, knowing the strange occurrence would finally be a topic of conversation. But they'd have to wait until after school.
Sophia suddenly excused herself, making her way to the restrooms just outside of the cafeteria.
"Are you sure you want to come to gym practice with us?"
Caden shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, it's either that or spend the evening with my uncle Dave. He's cool and all, but I'll be bored to death." He looked up in time to notice Charlotte stifling a laugh. "What? Do I have food on my face or something?"
"Yes, you actually do," she giggled, pointing to a spot on the corner of his mouth. "It's pizza sauce."
The boy swiped at his mouth, smearing the sauce rather than cleaning it.
"Did I get it?"
She shook her head. "Here, let me help," she offered, wiping the sauce from his chin with a napkin.
"Well, this is embarrassing," he admitted, feeling his cheeks flush.
"It's fine. I'll bring you a bib tomorrow," she teased with a wink.
Her tinkling laughter always made him smile. And he suddenly wondered if she knew how pretty she really was. Charlotte surely was not caught up on her looks, though she had every reason to be.
"Hey, love birds!" an obnoxious voice interrupted his thoughts. A boy named Andrew, flanked by two of his closest friends, had sat themselves across from the pair.
Charlotte rolled her eyes at his choice of words.
"Caden, you gonna come to the game tonight or you too busy hanging with your little girlfriend?"
"I am NOT his girlfriend. And you're so immature."
That one kind of stung a bit. While Charlotte certainly wasn't his girlfriend, she'd said it with so much conviction, as if the sheer notion had disgusted her.
"I'm sorry, what's that?" he taunted, cupping his ear in an exaggerated gesture. "I can't hear you from all the way up here, short stuff."
"Stop it!" Caden's jaw tightened as he fixed the boys a murderous glare.
Charlotte arched an incredulous brow.
"Are you really trying to insult me with short jokes? You are so lame," she snickered, flipping her long caramel locks behind her shoulder and rising to her feet. "I'll see you later, Caden."
She eyed the boys and rolled her eyes as she walked past.
Caden suddenly realized that maybe she was aware of her physical appearance after all because he couldn't recall another moment in which she'd walked with so much extra confidence and sass. Maybe he was too young to put a name to the feeling it invoked but the tips of his ears were suddenly warmer.
Andrew and his group of friends were staring in the direction Charlotte had gone like lost puppies and that made Caden uncomfortable and… angry.
He slammed his fist on the table. The boys' were startled, their heads abruptly snapping towards him.
"Don't ever talk about her," he demanded, glaring daggers at his former friends.
Andrew put his hands up defensively. "Chill, bro. It's Charlotte Oliver, I get it. But it doesn't mean you forget about your old friends."
Caden shook his head. "It's not like that."
"Really? Because it sure seems that way."
Sophia returned in that moment, letting him know she'd passed Charlotte on the way and the girl seemed off and quiet.
"Let me guess," Andrew sniped, rolling his eyes. "You're going to go check on her? Bro, you are so whipped!"
The trio of boys got to their feet and headed out.
"Why does he get to hang out with all the pretty girls," they heard one of the boys ask before he was swiftly swatted in the back of the head by Andrew.
Sophia nudged Caden with her elbow. "Why are boys so dumb?"
"All of them? Is that what you think of me, too?"
"No, big head. You're different… well, sort of," she giggled.
"Sort of? What does that even mean?"
Laughing, she grabbed him by the arm and hauled him to his feet, ignoring his question. "Come on. Let's go find Char. What did those jerks say to her, anyway?"
"Andrew made some comments about us… you know." He felt his cheeks burning.
"Mmhmm," she simply replied, trying hard not to crack a smile.
Sophia was well aware of Caden's crush on her sister. The only oblivious one was Charlotte herself. And even if she knew, she cherished the boy's friendship far too much to confront him about it and make things awkward.
They caught up to the small brunette just before she'd reached her homeroom.
"Char, wait up!" Sophia put a reassuring hand over her shoulder. "Don't let those stupid boys get to you."
The smaller girl shrugged. "I know."
Caden intended to pull her into a side hug, but Charlotte squirmed out of his reach.
"You know, Caden, maybe you should go to that game today. You'll just be bored at gym."
His chest suddenly felt heavy. "You don't… want me to come?"
Charlotte bit her lip nervously, warring with what she truly wanted versus the insecurities concerning how others viewed their close friendship.
"Maybe… it's better that way."
The weight of her statement was crushing. He had a feeling Charlotte wasn't just referring to that evening at the gym.
"Is this because of Andrew and the guys and what he said back there?"
Charlotte looked away from him, a pang of remorse coiling inside her belly. She knew she was being unreasonable and letting people who didn't matter dictate her feelings. But those lame boys hadn't been the first to make comments. Emma and her friends constantly ribbed on her about Caden. While she had never been one to care about trivial opinions, and she'd always prided herself on being a confident and strong girl… Charlotte was also human. Part of growing up was self-awareness and with that came insecurities.
She hadn't realized when those feelings had started creeping up on her. But Charlotte understood where she stood in the eyes of some of the boys in her grade. She'd heard the whispers and the rumors. The looks and the shy smiles. She knew what they meant. And she certainly knew Caden looked at her with those same eyes. But he was different. Their friendship was precious to her. She enjoyed his company and cared for him deeply. A part of her was terrified of ruining their bond and marring the beautiful kinship they'd built in the last two months because of people's expectations and misplaced assumptions. It all made her so uncomfortable.
"I just thought maybe you missed hanging out with your friends?"
"Aren't you, Sophia, Jay, and Zach my friends, too?"
She met his crystal blue eyes with apprehension. "Of course, but…"
"But I'm not part of your group like they are, right?"
His sullen gaze cast downward as he shook his head slightly, utterly shocked at her words and their implications. It felt like a punch to the gut, something he'd never expected from Charlotte, of all people.
"Caden, I did not say that," she countered, her tone flustered.
"It's fine, Char…" he paused and sighed. "Charlotte. I can take a hint."
The harsh and deliberate way he'd said her full name in the place of her nickname hadn't escaped her. She'd remembered when they'd first met and how she'd told him that only her good friends called her Char. Unable to deny the twinge of hurt she felt, Charlotte masked it with anger.
"You're being dramatic. I'm just suggesting you go to a simple football game. You'll be fine not hanging out with me for one afternoon. Maybe then people will stop assuming you're my boyfriend!"
He scoffed. "I think it's funny you think you're the center of the universe here. I like hanging out with Soph and the guys, too. It's not just about you, Charlotte."
"Oh, excuse me!" she jeered, rolling her eyes and placing a hand over her heart for dramatic flair.
Sophia had taken a step back, arms folded over her chest. Had Charlotte been arguing with anyone else, she'd have already come to her defense. But this was Caden. And frankly, her sister was acting crazy. In the last almost two months since he'd joined their group, Caden had become an integral part of it. He fit right in as if he'd always been there and was always meant to be there. Charlotte knew that better than anyone.
"Guys," Sophia finally spoke, "please, stop this."
"It's okay, Soph. I'll see you around, I guess. Maybe. Wouldn't want to give people the wrong idea," he glared pointedly in Charlotte's direction, but the brunette averted her eyes.
Caden took off down the hall, tension evident in the calculated way he walked until he disappeared around the corner. Charlotte stared in the direction he'd gone, her scowl softening in his absence and the realization that they'd just had their first fight. She felt a dull ache in the pit of her stomach.
"Char?" Sophia looked at her friend with narrowed, confused eyes. But before she could probe further, her peripheral caught a figure at the end of the hall. "Uncle Tommy?"
Charlotte whipped around and her blood instantly ran cold. Her father ceased his steps the moment their eyes locked. In that split second, she knew something terrible had happened. Tommy was wearing his signature black Gi bottoms, a white tank, and a light brown jacket, seemingly thrown on haphazardly. It was obvious he'd been at work and whatever news he'd received had him bolting out the door like a bat out of hell. Charlotte's eyes searched his face, looking for some kind of a sign, waiting for him to say something, anything. But he simply stared, his expression haunted, lost, and full of sorrow.
The young girl could barely feel her legs, let alone will them to move. She was terrified, afraid to know the devastating news that awaited her.
"Daddy?" she choked out, just above a whisper.
That one word was Tommy's undoing. His little girl hadn't called him daddy in at least two years. The former leader's expression contorted into one of profound pain as he tried to swallow the fiery sob now pushing up his throat. He ran toward her as she did the same, leaping into his arms, and crying over his shoulder.
There were very few things in the world capable of breaking Tommy Oliver. Apart from his adoptive parents, one of those reasons was currently clinging to him, the other hadn't been mentioned, where he would have surely reassured her by now of her mom's wellbeing. Charlotte instantly knew and she nearly vomited.
Sophia wrapped her arms around herself, tears filling her eyes at the ominous climate brewing before her. The Oliver's were like her second set of parents. Fear snared her heart at the thought of something happening to her beloved Aunt Kim and the twins.
Tommy extended his hand to the young girl, whom he loved like a daughter. "Soph, come here," he called, voice raw. The girl's arms wrapped around her uncle's waist, fingers clutching his jacket.
Charlotte lifted her red-rimmed eyes towards her father. "M-mom? Please tell me she's okay! Tell me they're okay, daddy… please!"
Tommy choked back a sob. "I don't know, baby... I don't know."
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