Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers. I do own the characters Nicarni-Aso, Zefoid, the asoriods, the amephors, Mrs. Alison Sipper, Tanya Sipper, and the planets Asoriotan and Nonatasion. I also own the armor flexor, invisashield, and any other weapons that you have never heard used on the Power Ranger series.
Ghostwriter: Thanks for the review and I'm completely sure I have not seen any of the DinoThunder series, but I have read about Hayley in some fan-fiction. Thanks for the review!
Daisyz: I guess I need to say that this story occurs before the DinoThunder series and before Tommy has gotten his PhD, so if Hayley knew about all of the rangers before the crystals came into play, let me know and I will probably go back and change the last chapter some.
Warstock-Leonhart: Thanks for the review and can you tell me if Hayley knew about Tommy and the others being Power Rangers before he got his PhD, if so, then I WILL change the last chapter.
pastel garlic: Thank you for the review and I'm glad that you decided to reread the story and you think it has improved some. I would appreciate the reviews, because yours give me an idea as to what might need changing.
Now, on with the story!
On a quiet Tuesday morning, Tommy Oliver found himself staring at the ceiling and wondering about everything that happened over the past week and a half to him. Some of the bad memories flashed through his mind more often than he wished to count, while the good came less often, as it always did at times like these.
The reality that his life might actually turn out like he wanted it to, was starting to sink in and he liked it more, the longer he thought about it. He might actually marry the woman he loved and not have to worry about her being in harms way any longer. From his position, on the couch, he could see all of the doors remained closed upstairs and was content to daydream, until the first person migrated downstairs, then he would have to come back to this world.
"Why did you sleep downstairs, Tommy?" Kim asked, walking into the living room, to see Tommy stretched out on the couch, with his feet hanging over the edge. She could tell he was awake, but she still did not want to completely ambush him, knowing that they all would be very jumpy for a long time to come. It always seemed to happen when they had recently been on a ranger mission.
"Because you are my guests and you deserve to be comfortable and this couch isn't that bad," Tommy said, as he stretched himself a little bit more from the position he was in. His back was killing him, but it was nothing that some mild stretching wouldn't cure after a few hours.
"Tommy, I don't deserve this, not after what I did to you," Kim said, sitting on the adjacent couch. She did not want to be in close proximity with him while she confessed everything to him. They had made amends before the mission, but they had not talked about it the way they really needed to, in order to be able to go on with their lives.
"Kim, I've forgiven you. Do you really want to talk about it?" Tommy offered, knowing that this was the only thing that could keep them from becoming what they had once been.
"If you'll let me," Kim said, looking at her feet, before she decided to stand.
"I will," Tommy said, turning his full attention to the little woman, now standing in front of him. "Do you want to sit down?"
"No, because I'm going to be mad at myself, so it's best I be able to pace around," Kim said and immediately started pacing in front of him. "When I wrote that letter, all of my friends on the Pan Global team thought I was crazy for breaking up with you and I didn't realize it at first, until I was injured. The daily training had kept my mind off of what I had done, but after I broke my wrist, I had a few weeks to think about everything. My friends knew that I had been crying myself to sleep every night, but they didn't know that it wasn't because of homesickness. I told them that so they wouldn't try to make me come talk to you. Well after I was injured I really started missing home, a lot and I started missing you as well, but I wouldn't admit that to anyone. That was when I called Jason and we decided to go on a trip to Angel Grove. Well, you know what happened on that trip and I know what I did to you, especially after talking to Adam and some of the others. It was then that I realized how much I messed up and that was when I told him the truth about the letter. I wasn't expecting him to keep it a secret, but he did, I guess he knew that you didn't need to know unless you had to see me. I started to grieve, for what I had caused, for what I had forced myself to lose. I took it for granted and I knew that I was paying for my screw up, but my pride got in the way, so I didn't come ask for forgiveness. That was when I really tried to get away, but Jason and Trini kept pulling me back and even showed up for surprise visits a few times. It wasn't just you I hurt; I hurt all of the rangers. I'm sorry I did this, but I don't know how to forgive myself when you took this so easily."
"Well, I wouldn't say it was easy for me either. It was actually similar to having someone take away my powers and stab me in the heart at the same time," Tommy said, his voice cracking with emotion. He knew he was making her feel horrible, but it was better to get all of this out now, instead of waiting until later.
"How did you forgive me?" Kim asked, looking into Tommy's eyes and seeing all the hurt shine through. He might have been able to forgive, but he was still not able to forget what she had done.
"How couldn't I?" Tommy asked, with a small smile. "After Kat broke up with me and told me that I need to get my ass in gear and go talk to you, was when I figured out how much I loved you, because it didn't hurt to be away from her, like it did you. I didn't want to come and beg you to take me back, for all I knew you were happy. Jason wouldn't tell me anything about how you were, so I assumed he was doing it to protect me. It's obvious now that he wasn't."
"Tommy, I don't deserve you. I don't deserve to be forgiven, I can barely forgive myself, how were you able to do that?" Kim said, breaking down in tears.
"Because I love you and I know you feel the same way. Why wouldn't I forgive you?" Tommy asked, standing up to stop her pacing. "You are the one that makes me happy and you do deserve to get what you want."
"No, I don't Tommy… I just don't," Kim said, shaking her head, as Tommy enveloped her in a strong hug.
"Why don't you? Why can't you let yourself be happy?" Tommy asked, stroking her hair with one of his hands. He could feel her shaking as the sobs came out of her body, it hurt him to have to see her in pain like this, but all he could do was let her tell him everything.
"I just don't," Kim said, as she let herself continue to cry about the injustice she had committed between the two of them.
"That's not good enough for me," Tommy said and looked up to see Jason was standing at the edge of the room, he also was becoming aware of the spot on his shirt where the tears were soaking through.
"I hurt you," Kim managed to choke out. "I took your heart and tapped danced on it before shoving it back inside of you."
"I don't think tap dancing would have hurt this bad," Tommy said and laughed, as Kim looked up at him with a reproachful glare. She still had the same emotions running through her that had made her so adorable all those years ago. "And just because you hurt me, does not mean that you do not deserve me."
"But how will I get over what I did?" Kim asked, as Tommy let his hand travel to cup her cheek.
"Am I over it?" Tommy asked, and Kim shook her head slightly.
"Yes, but how do I get over it?" Kim asked, as he smiled a smile that made her heart melt.
"Let it go," Tommy said and then gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Aw, how sweet," Jason said, as he felt someone trying to move him out of the way so that they could see.
"Jason, there is no need for that," Tommy said, but had to admit he enjoyed the feeling of holding Kim tight and knowing that this wasn't a dream.
"When are we going to go see the school?" Trini asked, as she sat down on a couch. She had not been able to see what was going on, but was sure Jason would fill her in later, if she ever got the nerve up to talk to him again.
"Let the others sleep in and I'll go into town and pick up some breakfast," Tommy said and then jogged upstairs. He did not want to have to face Jason just yet about what he had planned.
"What was all of that about?" Jason asked, flopping down on the empty couch.
"We talked about my problem," Kim said and Trini chuckled. "It's not funny, Trini."
"Of course, but I know a lot of other stuff he would rather talk about," Jason said, as he was able to subside his laughter for long enough to respond.
Meanwhile, Tommy had hopped in the shower and was thinking about everything that had been said. He had expected to talk about this in depth, but was surprised that he was not emotionally drained, from everything. Kim had seemed to take the brunt this time, but he was now worried about his plans going off without a hitch. Jason would be able to distract Kim, but all of the others would have to keep their mouths closed, somehow.
"Tommy?" Kim asked, sneaking into his room and she heard the water was still running. She then continued further into the room to look for his car keys, as she had not seen them downstairs.
"If only I can…" Tommy said to himself.
"Where does he put his keys?" Kim wondered out loud. She didn't mind Trini and Jason seeing her in Tommy's clothes, but she didn't want the others to joke on the two of them for the rest of the day. She continued searching his room, in hope of finding the missing car keys and her concentration was so that she didn't hear the water turn off.
"What are looking for?" Tommy asked, as Kim jumped. She was only one drawer away from where Tommy had hidden the box and he was glad that she hadn't opened it yet. If she had, the surprise would have been ruined and he didn't want that to happen.
"Your keys," Kim said, after regaining her composure, as he was physically clutching the towel closer to him. "I need to change clothes."
"Why? Those look fine," Tommy said, smiling at her in his oversized shirt and boxers. Even though it wasn't the most flattering on her, he loved it no matter what.
"I don't want to have to deal with jokes all day," Kim said noticing Tommy was wearing only a towel and found herself blushing profusely, as her brain truly realized it.
"Go get your clothes and come with me into town," Tommy said, pulling out the next drawer quickly and handing her the keys.
"Alright," Kim said grabbing the keys and running downstairs. Tommy then went to his closet to find something appropriate to wear for the day. After a few seconds, he decided on a pair of jeans and a white fitted shirt, it had been a while since he had worn white, but he figured it couldn't hurt any now.
"Why are you wearing Tommy's clothes?" Zack asked, as Kim walked inside with her duffel bag in tow. He had just settled himself down on the couch when she walked in and she silently cursed that she had not been able to get Tommy's keys faster.
"I didn't have any other clothes last night," Kim said, turning red, before running up the stairs again.
"Sure," Zack said sarcastically, as the three of them laughed while watching Kim try to keep the boxers from falling off.
"How long?" Trini asked, looking over at Jason and Zack. They obviously knew something that she didn't and they were bursting with the secret.
"Not long," Jason said, with a smile as he looked over at Trini. "But it's our job to keep it a secret."
"Of course, so has he gone to the jewelry store yet?" Trini asked.
"Yeah," Zack said, Jason had filled him in on everything after they had gotten away from Tommy the night before. "What are you planning for the ball?"
"We have to see what we're working with first," Trini said, "but I think Kim has an idea already, which is scary."
"Her ideas are usually good," Jason said, throwing a confused glance towards Trini. "Why would it be scary?"
"They are usually complicated and take a lot of work and I don't know how much we can throw into this," Trini said.
"Oh," Zack said, as Tommy and Kim walked down the stairs, hand in hand. "Where are you going?"
"To get breakfast for all of you," Tommy said, picking up his keys.
"Have fun," Jason said, with a smirk as he heard the door close behind the two of them.
Kim's POV
The ride into Reefside was held in comfortable silence between Tommy and me. He seemed to have a lot on his mind and he kept throwing curious glances my way. Before I had the chance to ask him what was on his mind, he picked up a subject out of thin air.
"Are you really going to stay in California?" Tommy blurted out and then blushed while Kim giggled at their fearless leaders red face, if only the others could see him now. They would not believe that he was embarrassed to ask that question.
"Yes, unless you don't want me to," Kim said, grabbing one of Tommy's hands and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I was wondering if you'd let me open up a gymnastics academy in conjunction with the dojo you and Rocky own."
"Kim, I'd let you take over the dojo and turn it into a gymnastics academy any time you want to," Tommy said, looking over at her before turning his eyes back to the road. "While I get my PhD, Rocky will need all the help he can get. We're pretty busy as is and I'm sure he'll love me being away."
"Do you think you could convince Jason to move here and help with the dojo?" Kim asked.
"Only if Trini would come, you know that. He's got it bad, Kim," Tommy said, making Jason's love seem like some infectious disease. "I couldn't imagine hiding this for almost ten years."
"Well, you spent five years doing just that," Kim said, with a weak smile. There was always going to be the years they wasted standing in their minds, no matter what anyone else said; it would stay there for a long time.
"No, it wasn't hidden. It was known by everyone but you," Tommy said, causing Kim to take in a quick breath. "So what else do you want to do after all of this has settled down?"
"Lots of things," Kim said, tilting her head back to examine the roof of the car and to also avoid looking Tommy in the eyes. She didn't want to see him look surprised or disagree with anything that was going on in her mind. "Settle down, get married, have children, be happy again. How about you?"
"A lot of the same things you said, except I know who I want to do all of this with," Tommy said, as they reached the Reefside Hardees.
"Who's that?" Kim asked, innocently, as she stepped out of Tommy's jeep.
"You know who I mean, Kim. There's no need to act like you don't," Tommy said, with the seriousness evident in his voice.
"Well, if you're ready, then I am," Kim said, as Tommy opened the door for her.
"I am," Tommy said, as they joined the line that was snaking from the register to the door. "We are in for a long wait."
---------------------
"She was in Tommy's clothes?" Hayley asked, in utter disbelief, as the others rolled on the floor with laughter at her reaction to the story they had told her. She had come back out, to help with some of the work that they were going to be doing. After a few minutes, Billy made himself stopping laughing long enough to explain to Hayley some of the questions he was sure were bouncing around in her head.
"Yes," Billy said, putting an arm around Hayley and then removing it just as quickly. He wasn't sure if he was ready for this, not after breaking up with Trini only the day before. "Don't worry, though. Tommy slept on the couch last night."
"Thank goodness," Hayley said, as the laughter began to subside. Hayley had only half-heard the conversation, before making her sudden exclamation, but it seemed obvious what Kim's attire had been earlier that morning. "What's going to happen next, Billy?"
"With what?" Billy asked, looking down at Hayley and then across the room to Trini who seemed quite amused with his actions. He knew that he wasn't good at hiding how he felt and was finding it particularly hard to do so at the moment.
When Hayley had been at Stanford, she and Billy dated some, but decided to break it off when she had to leave. In Billy's mind, there wasn't a day gone by that did not have a 'what might have been' question pop up. When he had seen her last night, all of those buried feelings rose to the surface and they were now fighting to take over his rational side. He highly doubted that he would be able to hold that side back much longer, but continued to fight it as long as his friends were around.
"Tommy and Kim," Hayley said, eyeing him suspiciously. "I could guess, but I don't want to make the wrong assumption."
"He is going to ask her to marry him at the charity event we will, hopefully, be holding at the high school," Billy said, with a good-natured smile. "But you can't tell anyone."
"Oh, so all of you know about it," Hayley said as they heard the front door open and the subject was pushed aside for the time being.
"Yeah," Billy said, as the other nodded in agreement. Tommy and Kim then walked in, laden down with biscuits, coffee, and orange juice.
"Get whatever you want," Tommy said, sitting the bag on the coffee table and then taking the coffee and such out of Kim's hands. The Hardees line had moved at a snail's pace, so it took them over thirty minutes to place the huge order and even longer to receive their breakfast. The trip home seemed short compared to the wait they had just endured.
"Hardees? Tommy, you have sunk to a new low," Hayley joked. She knew her friend's culinary skills and knew that he had survived on Hardees breakfasts in college and still did the same before going to school most mornings.
"No, he wasn't the one that did that. That was Kim, I've never seen her dressed like that before," Zack joked, as Kim glared at him with a look that made him think flames would appear at his feet if someone did not distract her soon.
"He's just joking," Jason said, pulling his 'little sister' into a bear hug. "Calm down."
"You told everyone, didn't you?" Kim asked, as Tommy noticed that many of the other rangers were trying to hide giggles.
"Yeah, sorry, but it was just too good to keep a secret," Zack said, as Kim launched a stack of napkins towards him.
"Zack!" Kim yelled, as Tommy put an arm around Kim to keep her from running after the, already scurrying, black ranger.
"Don't worry about it," Tommy said, guiding Kim away from anything else that could be used as ammunition. "They won't say anything too bad."
"Sure," Kim said, calming herself down before they went back to sit with the others.
"So, after we finish eating do you want to go to the school and talk to the principal about all of this?" Jason asked, opening up a bacon, egg, and cheese and an orange juice. He had become a Hardees regular as well and was glad that Tommy had remembered to get enough food for Rocky and him.
"Yeah, we have a lot of planning to do," Kim said, enjoying her plain biscuit and coffee.
"What do you have in mind?" Kat asked, as most of the others had gone silent from feeding their faces.
"Well, I have to see the gym first, but I imagine bringing in some long, white tables that will be set up on the perimeter of the gym. If the floor isn't too ugly, then I'd like to not put any tarps down and leave the majority of the center of the floor for dancing. If we were to charge, say five dollars a couple, we'd be able to raise a nice amount of money for the charity," Kim said. "But I don't think I can explain the rest of it without drawing a picture."
"Start drawing," Trini said, grabbing some paper and a pencil off of Tommy's desk. "I want to know the mess that you are getting all of us into."
Kim began drawing a detailed sketch, as Trini, Aisha, Kat, and Hayley looked on. The boys began to clean up, as they saw the plans were becoming more intricate, which meant a lot more work for them.
"Oh good grief," Adam said, looking at the sketch that had been left on the coffee table. The girls had gone upstairs to change out of their pajamas into some decent clothes. "What have we got ourselves into?"
"Crap," Tommy said, looking over Adam's shoulder to see the drawing.
"Looks like you'll work your ass off before you get the chance to propose," Jason said and laughed.
"So will you if you don't step on it," Tommy said, as all of the others stared at Jason, who was blushing for what seemed like the first time in his life.
"Jason, you won't hurt me," Billy said, knowing about the whole situation, although neither had talked to him about it. "I'm working on moving on."
"Yeah," Tommy said, thinking of how Billy had been watching Hayley. Tommy had made his way over to his desk and picked up a pair of glasses. "Hayley's single, by the way."
"You have glasses?" Kim asked, as Tommy had slipped them on to further examine her sketch.
"Yeah and you plan to do all of this?" Tommy asked, turning the paper towards her.
"Yes, with some help," Kim said, looking at all of the boys, who seemed to be very worried. The last time they had put together a charity with her, they had wound up with bruises, cuts, and sore muscles. It was no wonder why they were apprehensive this time.
"How much is some?" Rocky asked, looking down at Kim with the most serious expression he could muster.
"A lot," Kim said, biting her lower lip. "But, I love all of you, so you will help, right?"
"Of course," Jason said with a smile, as the other girls began to come back downstairs. He couldn't help but notice that Trini was wearing an old jacket that he had given her for a birthday, some years before and he felt his heartbeat quicken.
"You ready to go?" Tommy asked, after locating his keys on the coffee table.
"Yeah, we're ready," Hayley said, as she came down the stairs. "Does anyone want to make it less crowded by riding with me?"
"Billy, why don't you go?" Kim said with a bright smile, as the others nodded in agreement. Billy may not have told the others, but they had been able to figure it out by his, not so subtle, actions.
"Alright," Billy said, nervously glancing at Hayley. He couldn't help but feel butterflies when he looked at her. He had not felt like that about Trini, even though he had never noticed until Jason came back into the picture, then it all became obvious.
"Don't worry, Billy. I don't bite," Hayley said, offering him a comforting smile before climbing into the driver's seat.
"I know," Billy said with a shy smile and climbed into the passenger's seat.
"Good going," Jason remarked to Kim.
"Any time Jason," Kim said, as she hopped into Tommy's jeep.
"So," Trini said, noticing that Jason had been having a hard time pulling his eyes away from her, for what reason, was beyond her.
"Oh, sorry," Jason said, suddenly embarrassed by his actions. "Come on, we better get going. I don't know my way out of this forest as well as those two."
"Okay," Trini said and got into Jason's car.
They then drove for the next twenty-five minutes, in silence. Neither knew what to say, which made it hard to fill the air, but by the time they had reached the school it seemed that the nervousness had only increased between the two friends.
AN: I know that this one took me forever to get out and I'm sorry for the delay. Please feel free to review and if someone could give me a description of what Reefside High looks like, I'd appreciate it. I don't want to go too far off base with my description. Thanks for reading and feel free to review!