Note: Okay, I admit defeat: I should never have sent my Muse into another room. Now that he's back near the computer, he's started earning his keep again. About time, too! Anyhoo, here's some more of the current story; hope y'all enjoy. (Don't hesitate to tell me if you did .pretty please?)DB



Letters 2: A Reunion, Of Sorts

By Dagmar Buse



The party was a hit; on that, all the former Rangers present agreed. Seeing Kimberly again had been much less awkward and painful than Tommy had anticipated, mostly because of the others' presence. Rocky had made a big show over swooning melodramatically when the petite gymnast showed up, dressed in the latest Paris fashion with exquisite makeup and a hairdo that was at once sophisticated and casual. When the general laughter over his antics had died down, Kim took her seat between Trini and Adam, looked around with shining eyes and smiled the smile that still had the power to make Tommy's heart miss a beat. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud.

"This is so great, you guys," she gushed, almost as if she were still seventeen. "And I thought I'd feel so weird, being here ."

"Why would you?" Rocky wondered, pouring a glass of punch for her.

Kimberly gazed down at the tabletop momentarily, while the others held their breaths. Was she referring to her relationship with Tommy, or . but, no. "It's just . I know this is not a class reunion or anything, but . after all, I didn't graduate with you guys. I was kinda thinking I didn't belong here, not really, you know?"

Jason spoke for all of them.

"That's nonsense, Kim. You're one of us, one of our class, just like Billy and Aisha. And even if this were our reunion, you'd still belong here."

"Jason's right, Kimberly," Tanya added with a warm smile. "Because if you didn't belong, neither would I; after all, I only attended AGH for senior year. And I don't see anybody trying to kick me out."

"Nobody would dare," Rocky muttered under his breath with a sly wink at the Yellow Ranger, but wasn't quite quiet enough; his remark earned him snickers from the others and a hard - if friendly - wallop from Adam. Tanya had a hard time controlling her twitching lips.

"Watch it, DeSantos," she shot back. "Or else!"

"Or else what?"

"I'll think of something! Something involving . hmm . snakes, maybe?" Tanya replied with a wicked look.

Rocky pretended to recoil in terror, glowered at Adam and said indignantly, "See what I mean? This woman is dangerous, I tell you! Are you sure you wanna marry her?!?"

Adam was quite used to the bickering often going on between his fiancée and Rocky; he only grinned at his old friend, caught Tanya's hand and gently kissed her fingertips, transforming her fake scowl into a radiant smile. "Absolutely."

"Huh. Well . it's your life you're gambling with," Rocky teased, winking at the dark-skinned young woman who started to laugh. "Just don't come running to me for help. She scares me!"

Not for the last time that night, laughter branded up over the group's table, setting the mood for the evening.

~*~

There was much reminiscing and catching up between the friends during dinner and the inevitable speeches, and to the friends' mutual delight it turned out that Trini, Zack and Kim would be returning to California in the near future - the former Peace Conference delegates to finish graduate studies together at UCLA, and Kimberly to shoot an advertising campaign for her main sponsor - both TV and magazine ads. Hearing this, Kat revealed that she'd been thinking about taking a job at Angel Grove Conservatory as a dance instructor once her contract was up, and was rewarded with very satisfying enthusiasm from the gang.

"That'd mean that all of us would be back together again!" Zack was jubilant at the prospect. "Not all in the same place, but close enough to meet ."

"Everybody except Billy," Trini commented with a tiny sigh; she was still grieving over her lost chance with the one-time Blue Ranger. There seemed to have been time and enough to confess her feelings, only Billy had chosen Cestria before she returned. And while Trini was honestly glad that he'd found happiness, she was still mourning the fact that she'd probably never see him again. If he had to fall in love with anyone else but her, she had hoped they could at least stay friends. However, with her living on Earth and Billy on Aquitar, that didn't seem likely. Her musings were interrupted by Jason, who gave her a compassionate look; he'd always known about her dreams.

"Yeah, but I'm sure he's thinking of us as often as we're thinking of him," the first leader of the Rangers said, raising his glass for a toast. "To absent friends," he offered quietly.

Glasses clinked together as the others at the table joined him.

"Absent friends."

"To Billy."

"And Aisha."

"Justin."

"Zordon," Tommy added in a hushed tone, and the nine fell silent, then drained their glasses as one. For a minute, all of them were lost in thought, remembering the ancient sage in his Time Warp who had so profoundly influenced all their lives; then they collected themselves, and conversation gradually resumed.

~*~

The official part of the evening passed eventually, and once the band started playing, Kat found herself dragged off to the dance floor by Zack.

"When do I have the chance to dance with someone who really knows what she's doing?" he asked rhetorically, and soon the two were the center of attention, dazzling the crowd with their extravagant moves.

Rocky had wandered off to look for Sarah, Jason had been caught by Vice Principal Mrs. Rodriguez and was deep in a discussion about the student employees at the dojo, and Trini was giving Tanya tips about how to integrate her own African heritage with the traditional Korean wedding ceremony the Parks wanted for their son. Adam listened intently, commenting occasionally on this or that. Which left Tommy and Kimberly sitting across each other at the table, in a silence that was becoming more strained the longer it lasted. Desperate for a topic - any topic - that would break the impasse, Tommy looked at the petite woman out of the corner of his eye while he sipped at his drink. They'd already covered the end of Kim's active career as a gymnast, him having found his brother, his change of heart about racing, Kimberly's stay in Paris . what else was there to talk about?

Tommy knew what he wanted to ask Kim, but he couldn't bring himself to enquire about 'the letter' in public; that was a subject they needed to deal with without witnesses. Even ones as sympathetic and concerned as their friends. However, it seemed as if he wouldn't have a choice but to blurt it out . just then, a laughing, out-of-breath Kat and Zack returned to the group's table. Eagerly, they reached for their drinks and drank thirstily.

"Oh, that was fun," Kat panted, fanning herself with a napkin. Her hair was in very attractive disarray, a few loose strands escaped from her chignon now framing her face quite becomingly. "I haven't danced like this for ages!"

"Quite a change from ballet," Kim commented with a small grin, to find Kat nodding enthusiastically.

"Exactly!"

"In that case, how about some more fun?" Zack suggested, smiling broadly. "I think they're playing our song, pretty lady!" He drew Kat to her feet again.

"I didn't know we had a song," she wondered aloud, only to have Zack bow grandly to her.

"Sure we do. It's this one!" The band struck up a Benny Goodman tune, and the couples still on the dance floor started to sway to the catchy music.

"Oh. Of course." Not at all unwillingly, Katherine followed her exuberant partner and curtsied deeply before being swept away with a flourish.

"Looks like those two have met their match in each other," Kimberly said, half to herself. "It sure seems as if they're having the time of their lives!"

The slightly wistful remark struck Tommy, and before he could think, he'd opened his mouth.

"Would you care to dance, too?" he asked, surprising himself. He wanted to talk to Kim, not hold her in his arms during a dance! *Or ever! I'm not nuts! Or a masochist!*

Kim slowly turned to look at him, her doe eyes going slightly distant. Memories rose, of other times when she'd danced with Tommy . their first date, the Sadie Hawkins dance soon after Adam, Rocky and Aisha had transferred to AGH . the Junior Police Ball. She could read the same in Tommy's brown eyes, and for a moment, they were as much in tune with each other as they'd ever been as teenagers. Then, the moment passed. From somewhere, Kimberly summoned a smile. Knowing she was courting danger, she nevertheless nodded at Tommy.

"I'd love to."

He reached out, she laid suddenly icy fingers in his palm, and simultaneously the two rose. Stepping onto the dance floor, they moved into each other's arms - most carefully keeping their distance - and started dancing.



~*~

*I didn't think it would be THIS hard.*

The same thought beat in both Tommy and Kimberly's minds as they tried to lose themselves to the rhythm. However, both failed miserably. Knowing the other as well as they still did, each was painfully aware of the stiffness with which they kept separate, desperate not to let the other know how easy it would be to give in to nostalgia and lingering emotions and just melt into welcoming arms.

Their friends unobtrusively watched the couple as they danced, wanting to help but knowing that for once they dared not interfere; this was something Tommy and Kim had to work out on their own.

"If something doesn't give soon, they'll break," Tanya whispered to Trini, who nodded seriously. It seemed as if the low words had reached the dance floor; suddenly, the two ex-Rangers stopped moving, Kim seemed to say something, then turned abruptly and wove her way through the crowd towards the gym's exit. After a second's hesitation, Tommy followed, his expression as determined as when they'd prepared for battle.

"Showtime," Rocky muttered to no-one in particular.

"Yeah. And about time, too," Jason commented.

"I just hope they'll be okay," Kat hoped with a worried frown.

"The situation between them can't be any worse than it's been already; we just have to hope for the best," Tanya sighed and reached for Adam's hand, profoundly grateful that their romance never sailed through such stormy waters. The group of friends then turned their attention back to the table, leaving Tommy and Kim to sort out their problem in reasonable privacy.

~*~

Kimberly moved her feet mechanically to the music, trying to relax enough to be guided in the dance's rhythm by Tommy's still rather non- expert guidance, but found herself unable to. There were too many memories assailing her, too great was the temptation to rest her head against that broad shoulder and snuggle against Tommy's chest.

*Like I used to, before I sent him that cursed letter!*

As a consequence, she was stiff and, compared to her customary grace and agility, rather clumsy.

Tommy was facing much the same problems; he knew he was only a mediocre dancer. Although she'd never breathed a word, when dancing with Kat he'd always felt as if he didn't quite measure up to her style and talent. With Kim, it had been different; somehow, his first girlfriend had never seemed to mind that he wasn't exactly Fred Astaire. Kim would just come into his arms, smile up into his eyes and music and feet had sorted themselves out almost as if by magic.

*Man, I wish I could hold her like I used to, before she sent me that damned letter!*

Right now, his coordination and what little dancing ability he had seemed to abandon Tommy completely.

Things took their inevitable course; when trying to perform a simple turn to avoid bumping into another couple, Tommy stepped on Kim's toes. Hastily, he recovered his balance. "Geez, Kim, I'm sorry," he apologized as they came to a sudden stop.

"No, it's okay, I ."

Kimberly made the mistake of meeting Tommy's eyes. The chocolate-brown depths gazed at her concernedly, but there was a wariness at the back that hurt her to the quick. It was a look she'd hoped she would never have to see again - it was the way Tommy had masked his feelings when he was freed from Rita's spell, and once more when he'd lost the Green Ranger Powers and faced his friends as a civilian for the first time. Only this time, it was infinitely worse - because Kim was painfully aware that she had put that look there.

Abruptly, she let go of Tommy and took a step back.

Tears were gathering in her own eyes and threatening to spill over; hanging on to the last shreds of her composure, Kim swallowed hard to make her voice work. She succeeded only marginally.

"I can't take this anymore," she choked out. "It's too much!"

"Er . what?" Tommy asked inanely, caught by surprise.

*Idiot!* he berated himself mentally. *You know very well what she's referring to.*

However, the petite brunette left him no time for further thought. Gathering all her courage, she forced out the words she knew she should've said years ago.

"Tommy . we need to talk. Meet me outside." Turning on her heel, Kimberly lost the struggle against her tears and blindly rushed towards the exit as fast as she could.

"Kim, I -"

The young man raised a hand as if to hold her back, but reconsidered at the last moment. Kimberly was right, they did need to talk. Tommy slumped. This was not the time or the setting he would've chosen, but maybe it was just as well. The confrontation was way overdue. *And maybe there just isn't a right time or place.*Inhaling a shaky breath, he squared his shoulders. *Let's get this over with.*

Feeling as if he was about to face Goldar, Zedd, Mondo and Gasket in battle all at once, Tommy marched after Kimberly.

~*~

He found her at the edge of the parking lot, near a street light. Far enough away from the gym to escape being disturbed by people just stepping outside for a smoke, a little less noise or a breath of fresh air, but still close enough to be seen and thus avoiding the appearance of anything clandestine or furtive.

Kim stood with her back towards him, arms wrapped tightly around herself as if to ward off a chill, although the night air was rather balmy. Her back muscles were tight, her posture ramrod straight even though her head was bowed. A couple of steps behind her, Tommy waited for Kim to move, to say something . even just to look at him. When that didn't happen, he waited some more. Roughly five minutes passed like this, a stalemate between them that had begun one day in February six years ago. Finally, Tommy could stand the heavy silence no longer. Tentatively, he reached out and briefly touched Kim's shoulder.

"Kim .?"

She started, although she hadn't been unaware of his presence.

"Y-yes."

Inhaling a shaky breath, she made herself face Tommy. When she lifted her face to his at last, he was shocked to see her eyes swimming with tears. He was about to say something, when she raised her hand in protest and shook her head.

"No. P-please . let me talk first?" Kimberly barely waited for Tommy's assenting nod before continuing. "Before I lose my nerve." Her soft voice was deeper than he was used to, rough with emotions and the tears she was valiantly trying to hold back. The slender throat convulsed as she tried to speak. After several hard swallows that made Tommy wish he could offer her a drink of water, she succeeded.

"Tommy . I'm sorry. So, so sorry," she whispered. "I should never have broken up with you - at least not the way I did. I made the biggest mistake of my life the day I sent you that letter, and I wish with all my heart I could take it back. You deserved so much better than that."

Tommy felt his own vocal chords clog as he heard the words he'd been unconsciously waiting for all this time. Helpless in the grip of emotions he could scarcely control, he asked the question that burned foremost in his mind - had, in fact, been doing so for years.

"Why? Kim, what happened? WHY did you break up with me like that?"

The tears did start to fall then, trickling down pale cheeks in a silver rivulet Kim made no effort to stop.

"I d-don't know anymore," she sniffled. "Tommy, please believe me, I never wanted to hurt you . not like this . but at the time, it seemed like the only thing I could do." She swiped at her face with the back of her hand, in vain. "I . I was so alone, and confused, and I needed you so." Her words were coming faster now, tumbling over each other as she continued. "I know now - if I'd never gone to Florida in the first place, I'd never have written you that letter. I knew at the time that I was hurting you, but I hurt, too, and I didn't know what else to do . if you'd only been there, but you weren't, and I had to do something ."

"Then why didn't you call?" he demanded, all the old pain and confusion he'd felt then coming back with a vengeance. "You know I would've been there for you - helped you with whatever problem you had - but you didn't even give me the chance! Instead, you blew me off in a letter! You couldn't even do it in person?!?"

Kim was crying openly now, but she no longer cared. She deserved every harsh word; they were nothing more than what she'd been telling herself ever since, after all.

*Tell him now!* the voice Kim hadn't heard since that fateful night so long ago urged her. *Now's the time to tell him the REAL reason you broke up with him - the truth, not some excuse!* But she ignored it, telling herself that she was not angling for sympathy because of her illness. Not when there had been other, far more 'important' reasons why she had done what she did.

"Tommy, please . you were the Red Ranger. The world needed you; I knew you couldn't desert the team. Not even for me," she sobbed. "On top of everything else, I didn't want that on my conscience, too. It was bad enough that I knew I was going to hurt you, no matter what. I didn't want to do it. I never wanted to hurt you. I loved you!"

"Then why, Kim? Why did you? I loved you, too - you must've known I'd have done anything in my power to help."

Kimberly shook her head sadly. Impatiently, she dashed her tears away with unsteady fingers, not caring that her carefully-applied makeup was smudged, leaving dark circles of mascara under her eyes. "That's just it," she murmured roughly. "There was nothing you could've done, and at the time, I thought I was doing the right thing by letting you go."

Tommy was breathing hard, and had to fight the urge to run his hands through his long hair. He settled for rubbing his neck instead, unmindful that he was loosening the silver clasp holding his ponytail so that a few strands escaped.

"Okay. Okay," he muttered, forcing calm upon himself. "I . I guess I can accept that; after all, we were three thousand miles apart, and we both had a duty to our teams." It was his mind saying this; his heart was still protesting the rationalization. "But why didn't you come to me after whatever crisis you went through was over and explain? You must've known I would forgive you almost anything."

She sent a tremulous smile up at him. "I . I had hoped for something like that when I came home that summer, but then Divatox happened, and ." she couldn't go on, the memory of her actions under Maligore's spell still filling her with shame and remorse. Tommy correctly interpreted her sudden hesitation.

"You weren't responsible, and neither was Jase," he said firmly. Of that, he'd always been sure. How could he think otherwise, after his own experiences as Rita Repulsa's pawn? Then, he came back to the subject at hand. "Why didn't you come to me afterwards?" he demanded to know. "After the tournament, we could have talked ."

But Kimberly shook her head no, her eyes dry now but infinitely sad in her pale face.

"No," she whispered. "I couldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because of Kat," she answered simply. "When you hugged her after you'd won, the two of you looked so happy together, I just couldn't bring myself to hurt either of you in any way. Not after what I'd just done."

Tommy blushed; caught up in his memories and the emotional turmoil they evoked, he'd all but forgotten about the lovely blonde and what she had been to him at the time. Embarrassed that he could be so negligent, after all the things Kat had done for him to help him through that dark period in his life, he looked away for a moment.

"Oh. Um . yeah." He sounded and looked so sheepish that Kim had to chuckle softly. It was a rather watery sound, but it helped overcome the sudden awkwardness.

"Exactly," she murmured, glancing at him shyly through her lashes. Timidly, she reached out and put a hand on his forearm. "Tommy?"

With an effort, he recalled himself to the present. "Yes?"

"Do you . do you think you can forgive me one of these days?" Kimberly asked, rosy color tingeing her cheeks at the temerity. "I- I honestly didn't mean to hurt you like I did. And if I could, I'd undo it in a heartbeat."

Tommy looked at his first love for a long, long time, taking in the hope lurking in the depths of the doe eyes. He thought about what he'd been through when he received her letter, what he'd learned about himself and life since then, and about what Kim had just told him. Suddenly, he was beginning to feel very weary, and he sighed.

"I'm really, truly sorry," Kim repeated, mistaking his reaction for rejection. *Well . at least I've tried, and apologized properly at last.* "I know this is maybe too little, too late, but it's what I wanted to tell you. No," she interrupted herself, "what I've been needing to tell you for ages. I hope you can at least accept my apology for the way I treated you, even if you can't forgive me."

"But I can," Tommy found himself saying, much to his own surprise. He'd been so certain he'd need time to think it all through, weigh whatever Kim might tell him against his own pain, but . "I do forgive you," he said wonderingly, suddenly knowing it to be true.

*Maybe all I really needed was to hear her say she's sorry,* he mused, but that mattered little now in the face of the sudden joy lighting up the delicate features.

"Y-you do?" the petite brunette breathed incredulously. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Tommy smiled, feeling a burden he hadn't known he still carried lifting slowly from his heart. "You know I could never stay mad at you for long."

Kim gave a little squeak of pure happiness, and suddenly Tommy found his arms full of soft femininity - Kim had launched herself at him much as she used to do when they still were a couple and very much in love. Instinctively, he caught her and the two hugged for a timeless moment. Then, Kim recalled herself and blushing hotly, she disentangled herself from an embrace she felt she'd lost the right to.

"Sorry," she mumbled, although deep down she wasn't. It had felt sooo good!

Neither was Tommy, but he would rather have cut off his ponytail here and now than admit it. "'S okay," he replied, his arms seeming very empty all of a sudden. Awkwardly, he stepped back a bit and cleared his throat.

"So . um . what do we do now?"

"What do you mean?" Kim wondered, not daring to hope he meant anything special by the question.

*Get a grip, girl! Isn't it enough he forgave you? Do you have to wish for the stars even though he just handed you the moon?*But she couldn't help herself; Tommy had always had that effect on her.

"Er . do you want to go back inside, or do you want me to take you home?" Tommy fumbled, secretly wishing Kim would want to stay with him just a little longer. To do what, he didn't know nor care; he only wanted to enjoy her company some more. Again.

"Oh." Hiding her disappointment, Kim didn't have to think twice. If nothing else, she wanted Tommy's company just a little longer *Like forever,* her foolish heart suggested, but she pushed the thought away with regret and secret longing. "I . I'd like to stay, if you don't mind," she answered. "Maybe . maybe we could even have that dance I ran out on?" she ventured, holding her breath at her daring.

"I'd like that," Tommy replied, making no effort to suppress the relieved smile he could feel forming on his face. "I'd like that very much."

Glad to have an excuse to touch Kim again, if only very innocently, he offered her his arm. "Shall we go back then?"

"Yes, please."

Together, the two walked back towards the gym. When they reached the entrance, Kim caught sight of herself in a polished glass pane.

"Oh my God," she blurted, horrified, lifting a hand towards her black- rimmed eyes. "I can't go back in there looking like this!"

"Oh, I dunno," Tommy teased. "I've heard the grunge look is still quite the thing!"

Shooting him a look full of venom, and glad she could do so again with a clear conscience, Kim let go of Tommy's arm.

"Tommy Oliver .!" she warned.

"What?" he said oh-so-innocently.

Kimberly had to laugh. "I don't buy that look any more than I did seven years ago," she grumbled. "Wait for me while I visit the restroom, please? I won't take long." Her brown eyes were imploring and impossible to resist.

"Sure," Tommy answered and watched her scamper off with a smile.

True to her word, Kim returned in record time, her face free of mascara smudges once again and bright with joy. "I'm ready."

"Then let's dance!"



~*~



From their table, their friends watched their return with concern that soon turned to obvious relief.

"Well, it looks like those two have finally sorted themselves out," Jason grinned hugely, signalling a passing student acting as waiter for refills all around.

"And about time, too, to quote someone I know," Adam added with a relieved smile. He didn't like knowing that any of his friends were at odds with each other, for whatever reason. And ever since he'd been the one to read Kim's infamous letter to Tommy at the Youth Center, he'd felt an odd guilt about the whole affair, even though he knew it was a totally irrational sentiment.

"Who might that be?" Jason asked with a perfectly straight face.

"Nooooo idea," both Rocky and Tanya chorused, and that set everybody off laughing. Soon after, the conversation turned general again, and they only occasionally cast a caring glance towards the dance floor, still watching over their friends who were swaying to the music, oblivious to everything but the feeling of rightness they were experiencing right this instant. One single thought was paramount in both Tommy and Kim's mind.

*I wish this night would never end.*



To Be Continued .