"Confesions"

Disclaimer:

Same as always. I don't own, Tommy, Kira, Trent, Conner, Ethan, Hayley or Kim. I do own Clark and Serenity Ford as well as the ideas expressed in this fic. Please R&R.

The Discovery

Kira walked through the front door of her family's house and set down her guitar near the door. She had just finished performing at Hayley's Cyberspace. This time, when Kira walked through the door, she saw a perfect stranger in the living room. Confused, Kira asked "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude, but, I don't believe we've met." The older woman in the living room just smiled as she was about to explain her story when a noise came from the next room.

Having over heard Kira come home, her parents came in and greeted Kira. "Kira! Hi! How'd your performance go today?" Serenity Ford greeted her daughter. Hugging his daughter, Clark Ford also greeted Kira. "Hey, sweetheart." Pulling away from her father, Kira asked about the current situation. "Mom...dad...what's goin' on here?" Sighing, Serenity Ford frowned as she answered her daughter's question. "Sit down, Kira." Nervously, Kira followed her mother over to the couch and sat down in between her parents and across the room from the stranger. Breaking the awkward silence, Clark spoke up. "Kira, honey. There's something your mother and I need to tell you." On her face, Kira wore an expression of mixed concern and confusion. Looking for answeres, Kira asked "What is it?" After another short pause, Serenity spoke up. "Kira...there's really no easy way to say this." Cutting in, Clark interjected "Kira...there's something your mother have been meaning to tell you...you're...well..." Wanting it all to be said and done, Serenity cut in. "Oh for God's sake...you're adopted...there, I said it." Amazed, Kira looked from one parent to the other, speechless. After finding her voice, she asked "I'm...what?" Just wanting to move on, Serenity said "This is your aunt, Kimberly." As she said this, Serenity indicated the stranger across the room with brown hair, brown eyes wearing a solid pink halter top with a dark denim jacket and tight white mini skirt with pink sandals. Politely, Kimberly waved to Kira.

"Hey, Kira." Still in shock, Kira totally ignored Kim as if she wasn't even there. Quietly, Kira mumbled to herself "This is too much." Not quite hearing his daughter, Clark asked "Pardon?" Speaking up, Kira repeated herself. "This is too much." Then she just stood up and ran out the door and just kept running.

Watching as Kira ran out of the house, Kim sarcastically commented "Well...that went well..." Exasperated, Serenity replied "Kim, I am so sorry. I never expected her to react like this." Walking over to her sister, Kim sat next to her as she she said "Look, Serenity, it's okay. This is all just...a lot for her to take in. Especially all at once."

Finally, Clark spoke up. "Do you think we did the right thing?" Kim and Serenity just stared him like he was crazy for a moment before Serenity asked him "What?" Adding to what her sister had asked, Kim asked "Clark, what do you mean 'Did we do the right thing?'? Of course I think we did." Worried, Clark added "I don't know. I mean...she's at a delicate and rough age right now. I mean, at this age, she's still figuring out just who the hell she is. And now we go and dump this on her!" Standing up, Serenity put her arm around Clark's shoulders, in an effort to calm him down. "Clark, calm down. Everything's gonna work out all right. Kira just needs some time to take all this in." In agreement with her sister, Kim replied "Yeah, I mean...this is is a lot for her to take in all at once. Just give her some time. She'll come around." Calming down, Clark asked "You really think so?" Serenity replied "No..." As Clark shot her a stern look, Serenity smirked as she added "I know so."

Meanwhile, at the park, Kira was sitting at a bench with her head in her hands when she heard a comfortingly familiar voice come from behind her. "Why the long face?" Turning to see who was behind her, Kira asked "Dr. Oliver?" Joining her on the bench, Tommy sat by her side and looked deep into her beautiful doe eyes as he asked "I hope this seat's not taken?" Smirking, Kira let out a small chuckle. Noticing he hadn't made any progress in helping Kira, Tommy said "So...you never told me what was bothering you." Looking up into his dark, soulful gentle brown eyes full of caring and sincerity, Kira simply answered "It's a family thing...you wouldn't be interested." Disagreeing with what he had just heard, Tommy answered "Oh, I doubt that. Kira, something's bothering you. And I wanna know what it is." Surprised to see that he cared so much, Kira thought to herself Wow, I never knew he cared about me so much. Then, Kira decided to just tell him. "Well...okay. Today after I got home from playing at the Cyberspace, I saw somebody I had never met before in our living room. Then, my parents came in and introduced me to her-turns out she was my aunt, Kim-and then out of nowhere, they told me I was adopted. I can't believe they waited all this time and then just drop it on me like it's no big deal!" Seeing how obviously upset she was, Tommy wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. As he did so, Kira sought comfort by burying her face in his chest. Softly, Tommy said to her "It's okay. I know how you feel." Looking back up into his gentle and caring eyes, Kira asked "How could you possibly know how I feel?" Gently stroking her soft blonde curly hair, Tommy looked into her eyes and explained "Because...when I was about your age, I, too, found out I was adopted." With a sort of surprised look on her face, Kira asked "Really?" Smirking slightly, Tommy answered "Yep. And, you're a lot luckier than you think." Confused, Kira asked "How do you figure?" Smiling, Tommy looked at Kira and thought back to when he was her age. "Well, you were adopted by two people who really love and care about you. Which is more than I can say for myself." Slightly confused yet concerned, Kira asked "What happened?" The smile had faded from Tommy's face as he remembered being Kira's age. "Nothing...which I guess you could say was the problem. I mean, yeah, the Olivers took care of all my basic needs like food, clothing and shelter. But when it came to school functions and such...well, hell, they never even so much as went to a single parent-teacher conference." Feeling sorry for Tommy and awful for how she reacted upon discovering she was adopted simultaneously, Kira looked into Tommy's eyes as she could see tears beginning to form. Trying to comfort him as he had done for her, Kira apologized "I'm so sorry, Dr. Oliver." Smiling once again, Tommy gently ran a strong yet comforting hand through Kira's soft hair as he replied "Ah...don't worry 'bout it. And by the way, Kira, we're not in school right now and we are friends...call me Tommy." Blushing ever so slightly, Kira corrected herself "Okay...Tommy. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm over-reacting or whatever...it's just...this is a lot to digest...especially all at once." Understanding what Kira was going through, Tommy just held her close to him in his arms and softly whispered in her ear "It's okay. I understand." Feeling at home in Tommy's arms, Kira nuzzled into his chest. After thinking about it for a moment, Tommy finally decided just to go for it and gently kissed the top of Kira's head and was pleased to discover Kira's approval when she nuzzled in even deeper. Softly, he confessed to her "I love you, Kira." Smiling, she softly whispered back just loud enough so only Tommy could hear it. "I love you, too, Tommy."

Meanwhile, back at the Ford's house, Kim stood up and checked her watch yet again. "She's been gone too long." Worried, Serenity stood up and added "Kim's right. She should have been back by now." Trying to keep the peace, Clark chimed in. "You guys, I'm sure everything's okay." Completely ignoring her brother-in-law's comment, Kim gathered her things. "I'm gonna go find her. She left because of me. The least I can do is make sure she's all right." Without waiting for a response, Kim walked out the door and drove off. Crossing the room and placing a hand on her husband's shoulder, Serenity remarked "I sure hope everything turns out okay." Placing his hand atop his wife's, Clark added "That makes two of us."

After drving around for an hour or so, Kim found a young hispanic-looking male who appeared to be Kira's age. Getting out of her car, Kim approached him. "Excuse me..." Turning to see who had just addressed him, the young man faced Kim with a warm and friendly smile.

"Yes?" The young man asked in response to Kim's remark. Seeing his face, Kim felt the same feeling she felt when she first met Tommy in high school. After a moment of awe, Kim snapped back to reality. "Umm...yes. My name's Kimberly Hart. I was wondering if you've seen this girl?" Kim handed the man a photo of Kira. Recognizing the girl in the photo, the man answered "Yeah, she's right over there." He pointed over to where Tommy and Kira were sitting. Smiling, Kim replied "Thanks. Oh, by the way, I don't think I caught your name." Smiling, the man cocked his head back as he replied "Name's Trent. Trent Fernandez." Turning to go get Kira, Kim looked back at Trent. "Thanks. It was nice meeting you." Waving to her, Trent responded "Likewise." Kim then approached Tommy and Kira. "Kira?"

Looking up from where she had buried her face in Tommy's chest, Kira replied "Aunt Kim?" Also turning to see who had called to Kira, Tommy was surprised-to say the least-to see the former pink ranger standing there. "Kim?" Not recognizing Tommy, Kim asked "I'm sorry. Do I know you?" Confused, Kira just looked from Kim back to Tommy as he relied "It's me, Tommy." Looking at Tommy-almost as if she were studying him-it suddenly dawned on Kim who he was. "Oh my God! Tommy! I didn't recognize you!" Finally finding her voice, Kira asked "You two know each other?" Smiling down at Kira, Tommy took Kira's gentle hand in his as he explained "Yeah. Kimberly and I went to high school together." Adding to Tommy's explanation, Kim asked "And did Tommy tell you we used to be an item?" Smirking, Kira responded "No, somehow he forgot to mention that part." Chuckling, Kim turned to Tommy. "So, Tommy, how do you know my niece?" Smiling down at Kira, Tommy asked her "This is your aunt?" Looking up at Tommy as if he should have already known, Kira answered "Yeah." Turning back to Kim, Tommy answered "Well, actually, Kira's one of my students." Surprised, Kim asked "Oh? What do you teach?" Smiling, Tommy slowly responded "Well...believe it or not...high school science." Surprised, Kim replied "Wow, I'm surprised. I never really saw you as a science teacher, no offense." Chuckling, Tommy replied "None taken." Turning to Kira, Kim commented "Well, Kira, we'd better be getting you home. Your parents are getting really worried about you." Looking down at her watch, Kira noticed how long she'd been out. "Oh my God! I completely lost track of time!" Wrapping his arm around Kira, Tommy reassured Kim "It's okay, Kim. I'll take Kira home." Half-smiling, Kim asked him "You sure you don't mind?" Looking from Kira back to Kim, Tommy replied "Yeah, sure. It's no trouble at all." Looking from Tommy to Kira, Kim added "Well, okay. If you're sure." Nodding to her, Tommy assured Kim. Turning to Kira, Kim added "Well, all right, then. Kira, I'll see you later." Hugging her niece, Kim turned to go. Kira called out to her "See ya later, aunt Kim!" Looking back, Kim smiled. Waving to Kim, Tommy added "Good seeing you again, Kim!" Turning to Tommy, Kim replied "Likewise, Tommy." With that, Kim turned to leave. Turning back to Kira, Tommy smiled down at her. Smiling back up at him, Kira said "Thanks, Tommy." Staring down into her eyes, Tommy replied distractedly "No problem, Kira." For a moment, to the two of them, the rest of the world seemed to disappear. As they stared into each other's eyes, Tommy slowly began to pull Kira into a long, slow, passionate kiss. Breaking the kiss, Tommy pulled away from Kira as he took her hands in his as he reamrked "I've wanted to do that for the longest time." Smiling, Kira giggled slightly, before agreeing. "Yeah...me too." After a short pause, Tommy spoke up. "Well...we better be getting you home." Snapping back to reality, Kira responded "Yeah...Yeah, we better." Chuckling, Tommy wrapped his arm around Kira and lead her over to his jeep. Starting the jeep, Tommy headed off in the direction of Kira's house.