Live Like You Were Dying

Title: Live Like You Were Dying
Author: kazeko
Show: Power Rangers
Rating: PG 13
Chapters: ?
Series: no, also no relation to "Children of the Gods"
Multipart: yes
Time: About a year after Power Rangers in Space, changing the Power Rangers timeline after that
Couple(s): Tommy/Kimberly, Jason/Kat, Tanya/Adam
Disclaimer: Saban and Disney own Power Rangers and they don't deserve it if they won't release MMPR on DVD!
Disclaimer 2: I own everything else, including characters, other planets, and the plot.

Chapter 13: An Old Memory

"It's okay," Tommy whispered, rocking back and forth slowly, running his fingers through Kimberly's hair in an attempt to sooth her. "I'm here for you."

"It's all coming back, Tommy," she whispered. "My time as a Ranger, all those battles and near-death experiences, my relationship with you, the letter, Zordon's death . . . all of it, Tommy. I didn't want to remember."

"I know you didn't. I know that you were in a lot of pain and that you dealt with it the only way you could. I should have been there for you, Beautiful."

"How can you say that?" Kimberly reached to her cheek and wiped away the tears, surprised when Tommy reached a hand up to help. "I was the one that messed up, that put gymnastics above everyone and everything that ever mattered to me, every person I ever loved, especially you. God, Tommy, I sent you that damn letter and I know it hurt you and you're just sitting there and holding me like you used to."

Tommy kissed Kimberly's forehead, smiling. "Your older self explained all of that, and especially after what we just saw, I know that I can't let one stupid letter and your utter loneliness—that we Rangers did nothing to help—keep you and me apart. I love you so damn much, Kimberly, that I can't explain it. And I know that you never heard the full story, but I don't want us to take as long as those two Mages did to get back together. I don't care how much time we have together or what we go through; I just want to be with you forever."

Kimberly slipped out of Tommy's embrace and turned to face the pond, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared out across the water. "I learned what it was like to be Powerless, to be an ex-Ranger. The first bit wasn't as bad as that bought of depression I went through. I wrote that letter to you because the only way I knew to make the pain go away was to make you guys go away. I think a part of me wondered if you would put the team above us, and part of me wanted you to be selfish for a change."

"I should have put you first," he whispered, standing up and placing his hands on her shoulders. "I made the mistake of being too egotistical, Kimberly. I thought that Zordon chose me years ago to be the leader when I became the White Ranger because I was the only one who could do the job. I was so wrong. You would have been better." She opened her mouth to protest, turning around in his arms, his finger on her lips stopping her. "Let me finish. Zordon chose me to be leader because of the man you made me into. I was nothing, no one, before I met you. If it wasn't for you and your love, when I lost the Green Ranger Powers, that would have been it. You found the leader in me, and when you left, I lost it. I was never the same leader again, especially after the letter. I was kind of relieved when I could retire. I wish I had been able to tell Zordon that my love for you was stronger than my love of my position as the leader, but I convinced myself that I was saving the world. That never mattered before. I think I lost a lot when you left, and I know the team did. Come back to us, Kimberly. We miss you."

"You were a fine team without me, Tommy, and you're all still friends. I'll probably head back to Miami in a few days. It'll all be back to normal before long." Tommy recognized her words as echoes of the ones he had used to her after losing the Green Powers, standing in the exact same spot. Smiling, seeing a spark of humor returning to her brown eyes, he continued.

"I miss you."

A smile spread across Kimberly's face as she leaned closer. "So you do remember." Before he could think of a reply, she kissed him, all of the love and longing she had been holding back for years flowing into him, the bloodstone on his neck pulsing in time with their synchronized heartbeats. He pulled her closer as he had not done the first time, wondering why he never noticed how perfectly she fit in his arms. She grinned as she pulled away, not leaving the safety of his embrace. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time," she whispered, holding onto the memory for just a few lines more.

"Me, too," Tommy grinned, running his fingers through her hair. Turning serious, he cupped Kimberly's cheek in his hand. "Kimberly, I know it's been a very long time, but I never stopped loving you. I wish things could have been different."

"It doesn't matter," she whispered, laying her head against his chest. "Tommy, I would never have broken up with you if it wasn't for the depression. You know that, right? I remember that when I practiced in the beginning all I imagined was winning the gold and you running out of the stands and swinging me through the air like you did the day we first kissed. It was my favorite fantasy, and it helped me make it through a lot of the early practices."

"I would have. That's exactly what I would have done, no matter what anyone else thought. I watched you in the Pan-Globals and the Olympics and I cheered for you. When you won, I was so incredibly happy. I felt the same way I did when you said that I could take you to the dance."

"I want us to go back to the way we were, Tommy, before I left."

"Do you really mean that?"

"Yeah."

"Well, now that that's over with, I guess my next question's a piece of cake."

"What's that?" Her voice was no longer the innocent playfulness of youth; she was older and wiser, her maturity reflected in her words. She looked up as Tommy stepped back, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a tiny pink box.

"Kimberly, will you marry me?"

He opened the box to reveal a tiny golden band with a pale pink diamond sparkling from the top, a smaller white diamond on either side. Kimberly stared at it, eyes wide, one finger reaching out to touch it. "How long have you had this?"

"A little after that Christmas. I was going to ask you when you won at the Games, but things didn't quite work out."

"It's pink," she pointed out, glancing up. Her light brown eyes met Tommy's darker ones, hope and fear in both.

Tommy reached out to caress her cheek with his free hand. "No matter how many teams there are, no matter what happens in the future, you will always be my Pink Ranger." She turned around, wiping tears out of her eyes, and he leaned forward, concerned. "Well? Kimberly?"

She spun back to face him, the smile he loved so much, the one that could cheer him up no matter how depressed he was, shining from her face. "I didn't want to make it too easy for you," she managed through her tears. "Of course I'll marry you."

Tommy carefully slipped the ring on her finger, hands shaking noticeably, and the only thought running through his head was, "God I hope it fits." He breathed a sigh of relief when the ring was finally on, and he looked up into Kimberly's loving eyes. A sudden wave of joy filled him, and he reached out, catching Kimberly under the arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around, crying, "yes!!" as she laughed.

From a few yards away, Alina wiped tears from her eyes. "That was so beautiful," she whispered.

"It took them long enough!" Aisha smiled as the other Rangers seconded her comment. Jason reached out and wrapped an arm around Kat's waist as the Aussie leaned against his side.

"They really are meant to be together. Did you know about that ring, Jase?"

"Yeah. He called me the day he went to get it and asked if she would like it better in white or pink. It looks like pink was the right answer." Jason smiled at the pair. "At least they're both smiling again," he pointed out for the benefit of the entire group.

"We'll find a way to keep them together if it kills us," Trini growled, quite a bit more aggressively than the first Yellow Ranger normally spoke.

Billy laughed at her comment, shrugging when all eyes turned to him. "Um, hi, guys."

"So, how's Aquitar?" Tommy and Kimberly joined the group, their approach unnoticed even in the silence, and the White Ranger clapped Billy on the back. "How've you been, man?"

"About as good as you, it looks like." Billy embraced Kimberly, smiling. "I'm so happy for you two. It certainly took long enough." As the other Rangers congratulated the petite brunette, Tommy pulled Billy to one side and wordlessly handed him Kat's PDA. He turned it on and smiled as Dictami appeared. "I was wondering if I left those files in an obvious enough place. I stumbled across the Zameri'net one day while helping Alpha organize Zordon's old files into an archived subdirectory, and the file name caught my attention. He eventually told me all about it and I created Dictami to help me translate the useful parts of the Shamirin files and Dastirri to help me encode them. I trust they proved useful?"

"Exceptionally. Thank you." Tommy glanced back toward town and sighed. "I guess we have to go back. They'll want to return to their time soon so Shana can be protected as the Princess." He shook his head, glancing at Kimberly. "I don't want her to die like that, Billy."

"Don't worry; I think you have already changed the future."

The Rangers watched in silence as Jason created a time portal, Tanya handing him the bloodstones as he stepped to one side, Shana sleeping in his arms. Tommy, Kimberly's rose-wrapped body in his arms, stepped through, unable to speak, tears still filling his eyes. Azaemer handed young Jason a glowing pale blue orb, shrugging. "After all the damage I did with my powers here and all the stuff that might have happened, I don't need these anymore. Most of my powers are tuned toward the diplomatic spectrum, but there are some simple Enchanter powers, too. Use them well, young Rangers. I have no more need of them." Taking Dervalet with one hand and Kapiire with the other, the former Diplomat entered the portal.

Jason turned to the Rangers, smiling first at Billy. "Thank you for coming, Billy. It meant so much to her. As for the rest of you, thanks for your help. I don't think Tommy will last the year alone—soul mates rarely survive their partner's death—but with Shana we have a hope of curing this senseless plague and we have a future. Thank you for that. Try to remember what happened here these past few days and don't make our mistakes." He glanced at Jason and Kat as he spoke the last, smiling as he stepped into the portal. It closed, leaving the Rangers and Alina alone once more.

Billy embraced his friends once more as he vanished, returning to his planet, and Alina picked up her bag. "Baliree will be here within the week; until then I will watch from afar. I fear no other threats now that they are gone. You probably won't see me again until my lover arrives." Smiling, she vanished.

Tanya reached over to her table and emptied a small wooden box, placing the glowing orb inside. "I don't know what use we will have for this, but I will keep it safe. Now, I think we really need to figure out room accommodations."

TBC