SEQUEL TO: THE REASON
SUMMARY: After Tommy and Kim return from their honeymoon, they head back to Angel Grove to spend time with the family for Christmas. And the much needed secrets are finally revealed. So, how will the family react?
DISCLAIMER: Power Rangers isn't mine, but the control of how this little adventure and series will go on. The legacy of Power Ranger will always go on until the end of time, never stop fighting.
A/N: I don't want to give it away, except I'm well over a month late with this post. Gimme a break! School is running me down and I got other things to do, so just read it and do what you do best. Please review.
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"Well, in the heart of the holiday spirit, I think it's time to speak of a few skeletons we have in our closet. I just wish I could have said something earlier. Please, tell me you won't get mad for what I'm about to say." -Eclyptyk Neo
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Several long hours later.
Tommy and Kim finally got back to California and it was hard to stay awake behind the wheel when both were feeling tired from the long trip. They had headed over to Tommy's parents' house to celebrate the Christmas festivities.
The Oliver homestead always welcomed visitors. And no one could blame them for having a house suitable for it. Two guest rooms were always open, and there was always room for their own son when he came to visit. His room was left untouched, only when he was there.
It was already into the late night. But that didn't mean there were a few friendly faces to bombard them at the door. It was their dads, but they just weren't up to doing anything at the late hour. It was a long plane trip, and they were just too tired to really do anything at all.
"I assume the two of you enjoyed your honeymoon?" Paul, Kim's father, asked with a wink.
Kim sunk into Tommy's side as they nodded in turn. One by one they yawned.
"So, I guess that's a cue for all of us to head to bed?" Tommy asked as his eyes grew heavy.
"Yeah. And fair warning, you got a few cousins that are still in. So, if they wake you up bright and early, I'm sorry," Robert, Tommy's father, informed the two.
With that said, the couple turned and headed for Tommy's room located downstairs after saying good-night. The authorative figures headed for their own rooms to call it a night.
XXXXXXXXXX-
Tommy and Kim were cuddled close in the bed. Once they got to Tommy's room, they dropped everything and hit the bed. They were completely out for the rest of the night.
Kim was the first to move as she awoke her husband, who groaned quietly.
"Is it time to get up?" Tommy whispered into her ear.
She turned to the clock on the nightstand. It was 6:00am. She snuggled close to him, turning to look at him. "No, Handsome. We still got a few hours."
"I'm so tired," Tommy groaned as Kim ran a hand down his face.
"I know. How are you doing?" she asked running a hand down the side of his body.
He looked at it, sighing. "Actually I didn't really notice it was there until you mentioned it."
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said laying a kiss on his head.
Then they heard scurrying in the hallway. They rose to look at the door and collapsed onto the bed.
"We got company," Tommy sighed.
"Your cousins?" she asked.
Tommy nodded. "And your brother."
They threw the blanket over their heads and closed their eyes, hoping to catch a few zzz's before they would get bombarded by the young visitors. But that wasn't going to happen. The door swung open and two kids raced into the room jumping on the bed.
"Time to wake up!" one of them exclaimed.
"Welcome back!" another said.
The line of words were mixed from the intruders, which the couple couldn't make out, as they sat up to be bombarded by hugs from Tommy's cousins. They were known as the nosy bunch, and as much as the couple could hide secrets, Tommy's cousins asked far too many questions. And it was hard to keep anything from them. He didn't know how, but they managed to crack him one way or another.
Most of their families had headed back to their own homes across the country and world. Unfortunately, most of Kim's family had left the city but sent their wishes out. Tommy's uncle Ruben and aunt Annabel had left their kids to stay with them for a few days-JR, 15, Jane, 10 and Michael, 4 the only distant family left.
"It's too early, guys," Tommy groaned as he grasped them in a hug. "How can you be up?"
"It's not early," Joey protested. "So, what did you guys get us?"
"You can't open them yet. It's not Christmas," Kim said ruffling her brother's hair.
"No. But you know that we're allowed to open at least one present on Christmas Eve, Kim. It's tradition," he corrected.
"Yeah, closer to midnight. Last time I checked the time read only 6:15am," Tommy said.
"You can't hint us?" Michael, Tommy's youngest cousin, asked with puppy-wide eyes.
"No. Now, go away. Or you won't get it at all," Tommy pushed them off the bed. "I'm still tired."
"No, you just want some time alone with my sister," Joey said with a smirk.
"Ooh, I'm telling your mom, Tommy," JR shook his head. "We don't need none of that here."
"Go away! It's too early. And you guys know I'm cranky when I don't get my sleep," Tommy protested.
"So, you need my sister to ease your pain?" Joey laughed.
Kim pushed him off the bed. "It was a long trip back, Joey. And Tommy's right, I'm tired too. So go. Just give us another hour or so."
The kids reluctantly moved off the bed and out the door to leave the tired couple alone.
Tommy let out a breath and collapsed on the bed, throwing a pillow over his face. "How do I get stuck with such nosy cousins?"
Kim leaned over him, pulled the pillow away and laid a kiss on his lips. "It could be worse. Try dealing with a younger sibling."
Tommy chuckled. "Yeah, that would be worse. Good thing I'm an only child."
"Spoiled child," she laughed, throwing the pillow on him.
"Yeah, right. That would be from my uncle John. My parents told me I had to work for everything I wanted."
"Still tired?" she asked as she fell into his embrace.
Tommy shook his head. "Not anymore. Why do kids have so much energy?"
"They like their sugar. And they like to have fun. C'mon, we might as well get up and get ready for the day."
Tommy sighed and slowly sat up, laying a kiss on his wife's lips. "All right, Beautiful. Fair enough."
XXXXXXXXXX-
Hours passed. Not much had really happened in the day, except the obvious. Being bombarded by what the newlyweds did during their honeymoon. But they didn't want to say much. It was best they didn't.
"Why not? It's okay to admit you guys were under the covers," Joey said.
"And do you really want to know what your sister and I were up to under the covers, Joe? It's really none of your business," Tommy sighed, shaking his head. "Besides, there are some young ears in this room."
Joey looked around, seeing the young faces of Tommy's cousins. "They're gonna have to learn sometime."
"If my aunt found out I was telling any of you this, I'd be dead," Tommy exclaimed.
"Okay, fine. Next subject. Did you guys hit the tourist spots or catch a few waves? I hear the waves are really nice this season," JR asked.
Kim and Tommy exchanged a look and shrugged.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Joey asked.
The couple exchanged another look again, but Kim beat Tommy to the punch by saying how much Tommy wasn't much for surfing. He had taken a lot of hard wipeouts, even under an instructor.
Tommy had defended himself by saying that he was better off on a sea-doo or anything with a motor. But Kim had excused his remarks for nothing more than a lame excuse for trying to cover up his mistakes.
They began to mention some of the other places they had hit, like the local restaurants, club spots, and volcano hot spots. They also told the young ears about seeing lava pits spewing and being able to collect fresh cooling lava to create souvenirs.
"Man, I wish I could go to Hawaii. Mom says it's too expensive to go," JR sighed sadly.
Tommy shook his head. "Not really. It depends more on the time of the year you go. It's a nice place. It's not as hectic as it is here. People like to relax and have fun, especially in the small cities."
"People are just so friendly there," Kim smiled. "You don't have so many jerks out there. I learned how to hula. And Tommy here actually got to mess with the fire sticks."
"Ooh, the fire sticks. Can we see?" Michael asked with excitement and a bright smile.
Tommy could only shrug. "Maybe. We'll see."
"But that just comes easy for you," Joey said. "It's like working with a bo or something."
Tommy shrugged again. "It's not as easy as they say it is."
"But you didn't burn anything down, did you?" Jane asked.
Tommy chuckled. "Lucky for me, I didn't."
"Anything else to say?" Joey asked.
"Why have you gotten so nosy?" Kim asked, narrowing her eyes with annoyance at her brother.
"Hey, I'm just looking out for you, sis," Joey nodded. "I mean, you may not want to deal with dad for something you did wrong."
The conversation went on for a good long time. But it was kinda a good thing to keep the kids occupied. The parents were obviously slaving away in the kitchen, but they didn't seem to mind.
The dinner consisted of more conversing, but nothing out of the ordinary. It was based around past Christmas spent. The memories around Tommy and Kim and their time spent in Angel Grove. And the years that seemed to distance them apart, but not their families.
It was hard to imagine that they could discuss many of those subjects, many being rather personal. And a few of them many had wanted to forget.
Hours later. Tommy's bedroom. Kim sat at the computer, checking and sending e-greeting cards to the team in Reefside. Tommy was getting a work out on the speed bag located in one corner of the room.
Then it fell silent, when Tommy's speed had picked up. Kim turned to look at him, but he seemed slightly preoccupied. Then it stopped and for a second Tommy caught his breath. He felt the stare on him and peered over his shoulder at the woman who looked at him with great concern.
Kim walked over to him and laid a kiss on his cheek. "Hey, you okay?"
Tommy turned to look at her and pulled her close to him. He let out a sigh and shook his head. "I'm having my doubts again about all of this."
"About telling our big secret to the family?" she could only conclude as she wiped his face of the sweat. "You know we're gonna have to tell them eventually. And if we wait any longer, it'll be harder to speak of."
Tommy nodded slowly, knowing she was right. "I just wish it wouldn't have to be."
"You said you had a plan for this. But you didn't tell me what it was. Why should I be part of the surprise bunch?"
"Don't think of it that way," Tommy sighed. "It's not a given plan that'll work. But I'm just hoping that it does."
"You're not gonna bail on this, are you? We already set the gift to our parents to reveal who we are."
Tommy nodded again. "I just hope they don't decide to throw us out of the house when we do say it."
"It's our parents, Tommy. They'll understand," she said soothingly as she laid another kiss on his lips. "C'mon, we might as well get to bed. Tomorrow is gonna be a long day," she tugged him toward the bed.
He complied as he wiped his face of the sweat and collapsed into the bed beside his wife. He laid a kiss on her lips before pulling her closer. "Love you."
"Love you, too, Handsome," she returned the kiss and said good-night.
XXXXXXXXXX-
Next day. Christmas day.
It was the day of truth, and it was clear both Kim and Tommy were having sinking feelings about it. They laid there awake looking into the dimness of the room.
They heard the footsteps from upstairs and could only conclude that the young kids were up and about. They were desperate to see what they got.
"You ready to do this?" Kim asked quietly as she sat up.
Tommy sighed and nodded slowly. "As ready as I'll ever be."
The couple reluctantly got up and got ready to face the day.
Hours passed. Most of the presents had been opened. But something seemed to upset the youngsters. Tommy and Kim looked at each other. And they knew what had to be done. Tommy excused himself and left the room.
"What's wrong? Didn't get everything you wanted?" Caroline asked.
Joey sighed sadly and looked at the line of items in front of him. Many of them were video games, his specialty away from school. A new set of sports equipment and other things. "I guess I was played again. I really thought this year would be different."
"Why's that?" Paul asked.
"Tommy promised me that I would meet a Power Ranger, but I guess he couldn't get it done," Joey sighed sadly.
DING-DONG!
The line of people exchanged a look as Robert got to his feet. He went to answer the door. It fell silent. Robert rushed back into the room.
"What is it?" Paul asked.
"Oh, man. You're not gonna believe this-" he began.
A new set of footsteps echoed into the hall and another figure emerged from beyond it. There standing before their eyes was the Black Dino Thunder Ranger, fully suited. He bowed as means of greeting.
"I was told that there was someone here who wanted to meet a Power Ranger," the suited man said.
Everyone's eyes widened with surprise, but the kids raced over to greet the legendary warrior. The black suited man was bombarded by hugs and lots of congratulations that he could not being to comprehend.
Then it fell silent when Kim was the last to approach the masked man. She grabbed his hand in a caring way, whispering something for only him to hear.
"I think it is time," she had told him.
The Black Dino Thunder looked at her for some time, and the person within it began to shake in nervousness. And as the words stuck in his head, he knew that she was right.
A new line of questions came from the youngsters. Many of them had to do with what it was like to be a ranger, asking about the other rangers, if he knew of past rangers, what powers he possessed, etc.
"All that and more can be answered. But first, there is something else I have to say," the Black Dino Thunder ranger spoke slowly.
The group fell silent again as the masked figure looked over at the one person who seemed to know him best, Kim.
"I know I must be slow about this, but why does that voice sound familiar?" JR asked.
"Well, you might have heard it before," the ranger slowly raised his hands to his helmet. For a moment, things had stopped as he caught his breath. "Mr. and Mrs. Hart, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, Joey, JR, Jane, Michael...and finally, Kim. I have a confession to make."
A new line of expression, shock and surprise, filled the room when the helmet finally came off. Mothers nearly fainted and everyone felt their heads spinning, all except Kim. She could only smile lightly as she fell into the arms of the ranger, her husband.
Tommy slowly dropped his head and nodded slowly. "I'm a Power Ranger, everyone."
"Whoa! It was you!" JR breathed as his knees weakened.
"No way. My cousin is a power ranger?" Jane squealed.
"This is awesome!" Michael said happily and he hugged his cousin.
"I knew it!" Joey blurted out as he laughed with a victory. "It seemed far too obvious that I saw you and my sister wearing the same colors as the rangers. Oh man, wait until I tell everyone at school..."
Tommy held up a hand. "Now, hang on, Joey. I admit-I mean, we admit-we were in fact rangers of the past, but that does not give you the right to tell anyone who we are. Do you realize what we'd go through if it did get out?"
"So, you tell us?" JR asked as he slowly approached his cousin. He still could not believe that a ranger was in his presence, his own family.
Tommy sighed as he looked over at Kim and at the shock in their parents. "You're family. You had every right to know after all these years."
"This must be a joke," Robert laughed as he approached the couple. "You must have gotten that costume at the local shop didn't you, Tommy?"
"Dad, I'm not lying," Tommy shook his head. "This is who I am. This is who I was for the past eleven years. A Ranger."
"We both were," Kim nodded as she took a stand by her husband. She grabbed a piece of her clothes and ripped it free to reveal a pink ninja uniform, the original uniform she, Tommy and the other original ninjas had worn.
The two stood there as their family grasped the truth that laid on their shoulders for so long. They were Power Rangers. Kim stood there in her pink ninja uniform and Tommy in his black Dino Thunder suit.
"If I was lying, would I be able to do this?" Tommy asked when his parents had not said anything. He took a step forward and then disappeared out of view.
The room fell into a panic as they looked around to find he was gone. Then he reappeared beside the TV holding a disk in his hand.
"Whoa, how'd you do that?" his father asked.
"Powers of invisibility," Tommy said simply. "It came with the suit. But if you don't believe me or Kim now, maybe this disk can clear up a few things."
The people in the room slowly fell into line on the couch or the floor as Tommy stuck it in. He pushed play and fell into the back of the room where his wife was.
The screen of the TV was blank until the symbol of the DT rangers came on the screen. An image of the underground lab located under Tommy's house showed up and panned over to the main computer console where a figure sat. The camera angle changed as it revealed the Black Dino Thunder Ranger.
"First off, I want to begin by wishing you guys a Merry Christmas. And if you're viewing this, than it is clear that you just found out your son and daughter were in fact, Power Rangers," the masked man pulled off the helmet. "Hey, guys. It's me, Thomas Anthony Oliver, and I am not lying to you. I am a Power Ranger. You thought my life was just trying to maintain good grades throughout high school, getting a college education that paid off with three degrees and working on a thesis around dinosaur DNA and technology, that's only half of it. I guess I never mentioned it to you, but almost all of my research was lost a few years ago. That's why I took up the position as a teacher to make it look like I wasn't a complete failure. Fall 2003, I began to teach at Reefside Hieh, never once could I imagine I would have to harness the powers of three dino gems and train three of my students to become power rangers-Conner McKnight, Ethan James and Kira Ford. And eventually a fourth member would join-me. And to complete this Dino Thunder team, Trent Mercer. But I want to take you back, way back to when all this began..."
"Eleven years ago in Angel Grove," a voice said as the familiar face of Kim joined the legendary ranger. "Hi, mom. Dad and everyone else. Merry Christmas. And we're not lying. I'm a Power Ranger. One of the originals."
"Our journey as rangers began in Angel Grove eleven years ago when an intergalactic being by the name of Zordon had recruited five teenagers with attitude to become Earth's first Power Rangers..." Tommy informed.
A documentary, similar to the one the teens had stumbled onto when their journey began, began to tell the story of the Power Rangers of earth-from beginning to end.
By the end of the documentary, came small greetings from the rangers that had resided in Angel Grove. The originals-Jason, Zack and Billy. The second generation-Adam, Rocky and Aisha. From the third-Kat and Tanya. From the fourth and fifth-TJ, Cassie, Ashley, Carlos, Andros and Zhane. They were unable to reach Justin.
And it ended at the cyber cafe with the four youngest rangers, the DT team. They all sat on the couch, in their civilian form.
"Now that the secret is revealed, we only ask one thing of each of you," Conner was the first to say something.
"You respect all we have done and not speak of what you have discovered to anyone else," Kira said.
"We also understand that this is a lot to take in. It was for us, too. But we only did this for the sake of mankind," Ethan said.
"We were also told by our mentor and fellow teammate, Dr. Oliver, that there were three rules to remember about a ranger..." Trent said.
"One-Never use our powers for personal gain. Two-Never escalate a battle unless an evil being does. And three-keep our identities a secret," they said in unison.
"And we already know we failed the last rule, but let it be known now that you know the world is in good hands with people like us out there," Conner said.
Then Tommy came into the shot as the four teens took their place behind him. He looked into the camera one last time. "As long as there is evil in the galaxy, we'll continue to fight against it. No matter how old, or how many colors or powers we've gone through. May the legacy continue on until the end of time. May you find your own strength and powers to guide you into the future. From all of us, rangers of past, present, and future, we wish you the best in your own journey in life. Anything is always possible if you can believe you can do it."
He looked at his team one last time and instructed them to follow suit. Each of them raised their left wrist as the bracelet changed into their dino morpher. They called out their respective morphing call. And one by one each of them was engulfed by their respective color of light and when it cleared, they all stood there in their ranger forms.
And then the disk had ended, and it was the end of the truth reel. The room fell silent as Tommy walked over to the TV to retrieve the disk. He was still suited up to his neck in the suit as he felt the cold chill of silence ride up his back. He couldn't bare to look at his parents at tat moment, and none of their parents had made much of a deal about the news. Not like the young group.
Tommy slowly turned to face the silence of his family. "I know that it's been eleven years since this all began, and both Kim and I failed to tell you until now, but there were issues. It was complicating."
Kim walked up beside him and laid a kiss on his cheek. Then she grabbed his gloved hand and tightened her grip on it as she shook with nervousness. "We figured it was best to tell you now, before we really began the next chapter of our lives. We also understand that this marriage could be rather bumpy for awhile with one of us still in active duty, but we'll make it work. We always have."
Again, no one could really say anything. And the kids were feeling the nervousness of what their parents would say. They shook with fear hoping not to hear something dreadful.
Robert and Paul had exchanged a look when their wives were the first to move toward the newlyweds. Tommy and Kim took a step back slightly scared.
But it wasn't bad at all. Their mothers had pulled them into warm hugs and kisses and thanked them greatly for all they had done for the city and the world. They had agreed that no one could have picked better people to become rangers. And soon, the fathers had joined them in congratulating and thanking the two rangers for all of their work. And finally Joey and Tommy's cousins joined the mix.
"So, you're not upset?" Tommy asked with some confusion.
"Upset? Of course not. How can we? Our kids are Power Rangers," Tommy's mother said with a bright smile.
"But you're not gonna say anything, are you?" Kim asked.
"Your secret is safe with us, Kim." Kim's mother nodded her understanding. She tugged at Joey who had turned away at that moment. "Right, Joey?"
Joey sighed and looked over at Tommy. The look in his eyes were clear. If he had said something, it would be his neck, and now knowing that his brother-in-law also had the powers of a ninja and invisibility-as well as being the original evil ranger-he didn't want to mess with it. He looked at his sister and nodded firmly. "Oh yeah, of course. You're secret is safe with me."
"I just cannot believe that our son and daughter our Power Rangers," Tommy's father said as he clasped his son's shoulder. "How did you manage all those colors? And what about this here suit?"
Tommy chuckled sheepishly and shrugged. "That will always be a mystery, dad."
The room filled with more congrats and thank you's. Until finally Kim had caught Tommy attention. He looked at her with some curiosity as they shared a kiss that had the others pushing-or gagging.
The room fell silent as all eyes fell on Kim and what she had to say. But she turned away, only to look at Tommy as she took his hands into hers. "Tommy, Handsome, I'm pregnant."
Tommy felt his knees lock as he forced air back into his lungs. That was probably the best news he had heard aside from the acceptance of his rangers status by his parents. "What! Are you serious?"
She looked down for a second trying to cover her tears, nodding. "A few weeks ago, I wasn't feeling good, and I had not had my period for the month. I took a pregnancy test and it came out positive. To make sure, I went to Adam and he confirmed it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but Merry Christmas, Tommy."
He brought her face back up to look at him before laying another compassionate kiss on her lips. "No, it's okay," He shook his head as he forced air into his lungs again. "Oh man, I'm gonna be a daddy."
Kim's mother squealed with delight as she pulled her daughter and son into a hug. The rest of them joined in, and it was clear that they all wanted to have a grandchild. The kids couldn't help but congratulate the newlyweds either.
And they knew that this was one Christmas that would not be forgotten. And all the surprises were well worth it.
And soon enough, Tommy and Kim would have to return to Reefside and begin that new part of their life.
to be continued...
A/N: Okay, the plot for this part sounded so much better in my head rather than on the computer. Oh well. I hope you like it, and I didn't expect it to be so long. It is done, their secret is revealed. And I didn't want it to turn out bad, not this part anyway. That will come later. And yes, I had to mention that whole pregnancy thing. It had to be done, besides, I got a little more twists and turns in Part 3 of the series. But for now, I'll see you next chapter and see you when I do. May the Powers Always Protect You.
2A/N: I truly don't think this story no longer has the same effect without a song somewhere in here. But, due to the fact it isn't my original work it has to be sent away. But for most things, just look at the song "Ordinary World" when reading this chapter and all others in this part of the story. Enjoy. And later dayz!