Disclaimer: I own NOTHING! Well, actually, I do! I own AnneMarie! YAY ME!!!!!! LOL =)
Summary: This may be out of order in whatever way, but hey, its my story, I get to decide how it goes. ;-) Sorry if it takes a
while for me to get it posted, but I've been writing it in whatever time I get between classes and stuff and I'm laptop less so
its all scribbled down on paper and I've actually gotta find time to type it all up. But hopefully I'll find enough time
somewhere. =) Happy Reading!
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Author's Note:
Yes I've been gone for quite some time, but hey, life is complicated! I'm trying though, so bear with me. I've just got a lot going on right now, but hopefully I'll get more time soon. HOPEFULLY!!! =)
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Talks of Change
A few Hours Later:
"Wow! Kimberly, you look . . . Amazing!!" Tommy said when Kimberly opened her front door.
"Thanks Sweetie! You look great yourself!"
"I brought you flowers."
"Oh Tommy, they're beautiful! Thank you!" Kimberly said burying her nose in them, and taking a deep breath.
"I knew they're your favorite."
"They are. I love them, thank you!"
"You're welcome!" Tommy said as Kimberly kissed him gently.
"Come on in, while I put these in water."
Tommy followed Kimberly into the kitchen and watched as she stepped up on a stool to get a vase from a high cupboard, then wrapped his arm around her as she moved to the sink to fill it with water.
"Have I told you have beautiful you are?" Tommy asked softly.
"Not in the last 2 minutes."
"This dress looks great on you." Tommy said, admiring how the bright pink halter dress, perfectly hugged Kimberly's petite body.
"Thank you Sweetie!"
"Happy Anniversary Beautiful." Tommy whispered in Kimberly's ear as she leaned back against him. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yep! Will you grab my coat for me?"
"Sure." Tommy said kissing Kimberly's cheek, then stepping away to retrieve her coat.
*******************************
"Kimberly, I've got something for you." Tommy said a couple hours later, as they ate dinner.
"Tommy, you've already given me so much. I don't need anything else. Having you is what makes me happy."
"I know, but I got you something anyway." Tommy said as he reached into his coat pocket. "I saw it, and thought that you might like to have it . . . . . Its small, and when you see it, its not going to be what you think . . . But I wanted you to know how much I love you, and that I appreciate you . . . . . Happy Anniversary Sweetie." he said holding out the box.
"Ok, you said its not what I think it is, and that looks like a ring box. So it can't be an engagement ring . . ." Kimberly said with a smile. Tommy smiled and slowly shook his head. "Is it a necklace?"
"Why don't you open it." he said as Kimberly took the box from him and slowly opened the lid.
"Oh My Gosh!!!" she gasped softly.
"Do you like it?"
"Tommy . . . . . But I thought . . . . ."
"It's a promise ring . . . . . Please don't hate me . . . . ." he said softly, seeing the expressing on Kimberly's face begin to change. I want to marry you Kimberly, I really do! But I was thinking about it, and right now, there's so much going on. We've both got school and our families, and being rangers on top of that. And with all that, I just don't' think I'm ready. I'm so sorry." he said reaching for her hand. "Kimberly . . . . . I love you . . . I love you more than I'm willing to admit. And I want to marry you someday, but right now, I'm just not ready . . . . . But I do love you, and I promise to love you and cherish you every second of every day, for the rest of my life. And even the day after that if possible . . . . I promise to be your rock and your strength . . . The one you can depend on no matter what is going on. I'll be your shoulder to cry on, and the one to life you up, as long as you'll let me . . . I promise to be with you forever, and when we're both ready, I'll make you my wife . . . You know you can count on me, and that I'll never do anything to hurt you . . . . . So since this sounds like a marriage proposal anyway . . . Will you be with me?"
" . . . . . Tommy . . . . . I'm not mad at you . . .And I'm glad you didn't ask me to marry you, because now that I think about it, I'm not ready either . . . . . I do love you, and I would have said yes because I do want to be with you, but you're right, we have a lot going on . . . . . I completely agree wit you about everything you just said, and after everything we've just been through, I love you now, more than I ever have before . . . You're the only man I've ever loved, and I'm so afraid of losing you . . . . ."
"Kimberly, you're not going to lose me . . ."
"I know that now, but a few weeks ago . . . . . You were in that coma for a really long time, and we didn't know whether or not you were ever going to wake up . .. . . . All I could do was sit there and cry because I thought I was losing you. But I didn't and you're here now, and I never want to let you go . . . I love you so much Tommy!"
"I love you too. But you never answered my question . . . Will you be with me?"
"Sweetie, I already am."
"I love you Kim." Kimberly said taking the small box from her hand. "More than anything." Kimberly smiled as Tommy removed the ring from the box and reached for her hand. "Other hand." he said as Kimberly gave him her left hand.
"Tommy!"
"I'm kidding!" he said cracking a smile. "Did you see what I had engraved inside?"
"What?"
"'Always my Princess, Forever my Love'. With our initials and the date."
"Ohhh, let me see?" she said holding her hand out for the ring. "Have I ever told you just how much I love you?" Kimberly asked, looking up from the ring, with a bright smile spread across her face.
"Is it even possible? Because a lot of the time, 'I love you', just doesn't seem like enough."
"Its not." Kimberly said handing him back the ring. "'I love you' is never enough."
"You're right. But I don't think there are any words to describe just how much you mean to me . . . But if there were, now would be the time to say them."
"Tommy, you're gonna make me cry . . ."
"I'm sorry . . ." he said softly. "Honey, I need your hand."
"As long as I can have it back."
"Heck no! I'm chopping it off and keeping it!"
"Tommy."
"Ok, ok." he said smiling. "Its just fun to make you laugh."
"You always make me laugh."
"Well I promise to make you laugh every day. How does that sound?"
"It sounds great!"
"You're Amazing, you know that?"
"That's what I hear!" Kimberly said happily.
"You're amazing, and beautiful, and intelligent, and talented . . ."
"Can I have the ring now?"
"How about me instead?" Tommy suggested flirtingly.
"Or how about both?"
"I like that answer . . ." he said, holding the ring at the tip of her finger. "I love you Kimberly Anne Hart. I promise to love you forever."
"I love you too Tommy." Kimberly said as he slid the ring down her finger. "Forever . . . and the day after that too." Tommy kissed her hand, then looked up with a smile.
"Come here . . ."
"Ok?" Kimberly said in a questioning voice.
"I wanna kiss you . . . But I want you in my arms while I do." Kimberly wiped a tear away as she moved to sit on Tommy's lap. She intertwined her fingers with Tommy's, careful not to hurt his arm, as she wrapped her other arm around him. "Will you promise me something?" Tommy asked as he wrapped his free arm around her. Kimberly nodded as she looked into his dark eyes. "If there ever comes a day where I don't' tell you how much I love you, promise to remind me."
" . . . I love you so much Tommy!" she said as another tear rolled down her cheek.
"You know . . You're gonna have to wipe that away so I can kill you. I don't like it when you're salty." Kimberly's smile brightened as she sniffled and wiped her tears away. "I love you Sweetie."
"I love you too." Kimberly said as Tommy leaned in to kiss her.
"Will you do me a favor?" Tommy asked after they pulled apart.
"Anything."
"Dance with me?"
"I'd love to." Kimberly said with a smile as she got up and followed Tommy out onto the dance floor.
"I like your hair up like that." Tommy said as he wrapped his arms around Kimberly, the best he could. "You look beautiful with curls."
"You think so?"
"You should wear it like that more often."
"You really like the curls all piled up on top of my head?"
"You look beautiful!"
"Thank Trini."
"How did I ever get so lucky?" Tommy asked as he held Kimberly close as they danced. Kimberly smiled as she laid her head gently on Tommy's shoulder. "Kim?"
"Yeah?" she said softly, lifting her head from its resting place.
"There's something I want to talk to you about."
"Ok . . ."
"I don't want to do it here though . . . Do you mind if we go down to the lake?"
"No, not at all!"
***************** 15 Minutes later *****************
Kimberly sat down on top of a picnic table, and watched as Tommy stood a few feet away, his back to her as he looked out over the lake. It was a perfect night in Angel Grove. It wasn't too cold, and the lake sparkled in the gentle light from the moon and stars in the peaceful sky. Ripples glistened in the lake as the wind blew gently through the trees.
"Tommy . . . . ." Kimberly said as she sat waiting for him to join her. "Tommy, are you ok?" Tommy just stared out at the lake, his mind anywhere, but with him. "Tommy? . . . Sweetie, are you ok?" Kimberly asked again, as she left the table and slowly approached him, gently wrapping her arms around him. Kimberly smiled as she gazed at the ring, sparkling in the dim light. "Tommy? . . . . Tommy, please talk to me . . . . ." Tommy slowly took Kimberly's hand, and gently squeezed it as he continued to stare out over the lake. "Tommy . . ." Kimberly said again as he raised her hand to his mouth, and gently kissed it. " . . . . . . Sweetie, whatever it is, you can tell me . . ." Tommy took a deep breath, slowly letting it out before turning around to look at her. Kimberly smiled, gently stroking Tommy's face as she gazed into his eyes.
"Kimberly . . . . ." Tommy finally started in a soft voice. " . . . . . Do you love me? . . . . ."
"Would I be here if I didn't?" she asked.
" . . . . . I have to go to Arizona next weekend . . . and I need you to come with me . . . . ."
" . . . . . To Arizona . . . . ." Kimberly repeated in an unsure voice.
" . . . . .Yeah . . . . ."
" . . . . . Ok . . . . ."
" . . . . .Um . . . . . Ok, look . . . . . . I love you . . . . . And you've always been the only girl for me . . . . ."
" . . . . . Tommy, you're not . . . . ." Kimberly's voice trailed off as fear began to rise up inside of her.
"No, no Sweetie. I love you! And I'm never going to leave you." Tommy said kissing Kimberly's forehead, seeing the fear and panic playing across her face, and in her eyes. "I'm sorry Sweetie, I didn't mean to scare you like that . . . . ."
" . . . . . Just promise me you'll never do it again."
"I'm sorry Kimberly . . . . . I've just . . . . . I've got a lot on my mind . . . . And right now, I don't' exactly know what to do about all of it . . . ."
"Tommy . . . . . Sweetie, talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."
" . . . . . Nothing is wrong . . . Its just . . .. . You kn ow how I was adopted?" Kimberly slowly nodded her head as she tucked a lock of hair behind Tommy's ear. "And I told you that my birth mother died when I was really little . . . . My parents got a call a few weeks ago, from the lawyer who helped with my adoption . . . ."
" . . . . She wants you back . . . . ." Kimberly said softly, looking down at her feet. " . . . . . So you have to go back . . . . ."
"No, Kim, don't even think like that." Tommy said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Its ok Tommy, I understand . . ."
"No, Sweetie, I'm not going anywhere . . . The reason I have to go to Arizona, is because I have a sister who's mother is dying, and apparently I'm the only family she's got left."
" . . . . .I don't get it . . . . ." Kimberly said in a soft voice, as she sniffled.
"Kimberly, look . . . . . I love you! And you've always been the only girl in my life . . . but n ow there's a 7 year-old in Arizona, who needs me even more than we'll ever know . . . . . I have to go to Arizona . . . And I need you to come with me . . . . ."
"Why? . . . . . Tommy, I don't get it."
"I know, I'm sorry. I don't' exactly get it either. But what I do know, is that the lawyer who did my adoption has asked my parents to adopt AnneMarie. But as much as I'd like that, I can't help but feel like I should adopt her myself."
"Wait a minute . . . . You want to adopt your sister? . . . Is that even legal?"
"As long as I'm 10 years older than her, its perfectly legal. But I'm really not sure what to do. I can either adopt AnneMarie, or just get custody of her. Either that, or let my parents adopt her .. . Kimberly, I'm not sure what to do right now. All I know is that I have to go to Arizona next weekend, and I need you to go with me."
"What did your parents say?"
"Its up to me . . . I wanted to talk to you about it before I made any decisions . . . I don't' know what to do Kimberly. Everything was perfect this morning, and now its all messed up again. I don't' know what to do . . ." Tommy said running his had through his hair.
"Ok . . . . . So, what are we going to do about it?"
"I don't know Kimberly. I really have no idea."
"Ok . . ."
"I'm sorry . . . I just don't' know what to do . . . . . I'm 17, and I have a choice to suddenly become a parent, or let my parents adopt my little sister."
"Well I guess we only have a couple choices."
"I Know . . . . . I've been thinking about it, and I have enough money to support a family on my own, without any help. My karate classes pull in more than enough money. So adopting AnneMarie isn't that big of a deal. But I can't do that without you. But on the other hand, I can just get custody of her."
"What about your parents?"
"I don't know. They're ready to adopt AnneMarie, but I suddenly got this crazy idea to adopt her myself. Its nuts, I know, but my parents were really looking forward to an early retirement as soon as I graduate, and I can't stand to see them give it up."
"So you want to take on your sister yourself . . ."
"Only if its ok with you. I Can't live without you. And I know I said I wasn't ready to be married, but when it comes to AnneMarie . . . . . She deserves the best. So if I get to adopt her, I'll marry you right now!"
"Tommy . . . . . ."
"But ultimately, it all comes down to you . . . I can't do any of this without you with me."
"Tommy . . . . . You know I love you . . . . . And you know I want to marry you someday, and have your children . . . . . But like you said . . . I'm only 17! And taking on a child, is a HUGE responsibility! And in all honesty, I don't think I'm ready for it! . . . . . But then again . . . . . I don't' think that anyone is ever ready to be a parent. Well, except for your parents, but that's because they're perfect!"
"No they aren't . . ." Tommy said softly.
"Tommy . . . . .I love you . . . .And your sister needs you . . . . So I'm going to let you decide what to do . . . But whatever it is, I'll be by your side . . ."
" . . . . . I'm thinking we go to Arizona next weekend, and meet AnneMarie . . ."
"That sounds good."
"We can talk to her mom, and see how she feels about who takes her daughter. And if she things it's a good idea, we'll let AnneMarie decide . . . ." Tommy said softly.
"Are you ok with that?"
"I have to be. I want what's best for her."
"Ok . . . . . I'm here, whatever you decide."
"I know . . . . ." Tommy said as he reached out and pulled Kimberly into his arms, holding her tight. "I love you Kimberly, I love you so much!"
To Be Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .