Chapter 30: Not Taking Sides

Kimberly drove up to the track when Hunter and Blake walked up to her. "What took you so long?" Blake asked with a grin.

"Sorry, Kylie called just as I was walking out the door," she replied.

"Yeah? How is she?" Hunter asked.

"She's doing great. Billy just loves her," she replied.

Kimberly got out of her truck and she walked to the back to get their bikes out of the back. "MOMMY!" A voice shouted. Kimberly turned around and gasped to see Kylie running up to her.

"Kylie!" She gasped.

She grabbed Kylie and hugged her tight. "What are you doing here, shrimp?" Hunter asked.

"She insisted on having me see you two race," Billy replied.

Kimberly smiled and hugged Billy. "Thank you for taking care of her so far," she told him.

"Hey, I love your daughter," he put in.

Kylie placed her head on Kimberly's shoulder as they walked with Hunter and Blake through the track. "So, this is the racetrack," Billy commented.

"Yep, we come here a lot," Kimberly answered.

"What you ride?" Billy asked.

"Oh yeah, ever since Hunter and Blake got into this. I like to ride to give them a bit of competition."

They laughed and Blake wrapped an arm around Kimberly's shoulders. "Yeah, she likes to keep us challenged. We haven't been able to beat her yet," he commented.

"I bet not," Billy agreed.

"Well they will try," Kimberly put in.

They came up to the gate. "Well good luck you two and fair racing. This isn't about nationals, this is about fun," she instructed.

"Right," they agreed.

Kylie smiled as she kissed both Hunter and Blake on the cheek before they walked behind the fence. Kelly walked up to them. "Hey, have you guys seen Dustin?" She asked.

"No, can't say that I have," Kimberly replied.

"Hmm, this is weird, Dustin never misses a race," Kelly commented.

"He'll show."

"I hope so."

Kelly walked away and Kimberly shifted Kylie to her other side. "Which one's Dustin?" Billy asked.

"He's the Yellow Ranger," she replied.

"Since when do they have guys become Yellow Rangers?" He asked.

"Times are changing my friend."

"I'll say."

Kimberly watched as her sons raced around the track. "WAY TO GO GUYS!" She cheered. Kylie cheered along with her mother and Billy smiled to see Kimberly so happy. She watched in disbelief as for the first time ever, Blake beat Hunter.

She went to go see them when she came in on their argument. "What was that? You totally high sided me!" Hunter snapped.

"No I didn't. You came under me," Blake answered.

"That's ridiculous!" Hunter snapped.
"Besides you wanted to race, I was racing."

"Do you realize this means I don't make nationals?"

"So what? You said you can't go anyways."

Kimberly walked over just as Hunter was walking away. "HEY!" Blake shouted. Hunter stopped walking and looked back at him. "You know what I think? I think you're just mad, because you got beat by your little brother. If it was any of the other guys it would've been a clean pass, but because it was me…" Kimberly cut him off.

"Hey, you two," she called.

Kimberly placed her hands on Hunter's shoulders and pulled him back a bit. "Just walk it off, Hunter. Walk it off," she instructed. Hunter walked away and kicked a chair.

"Mom…" Blake started.

Kimberly held her hand up. "Let it drop, Blake. Its different because it's usually Hunter that wins," she commented.

"What are you taking his side?" He asked.

"No, I'm not."

"You're on my side?"

"No, I'm not."

"Who's side are you on, mom?"

Kimberly crossed her arms over her chest. "Blake, I'm not going to choose between my two sons. I'm on no one's side," she answered.

"What do you mean you're on no one's side?" He asked.

"I don't pick sides, Blake. Unless it's on a battlefield, I never pick sides," she replied.

Kimberly walked over and placed a hand on Blake's shoulder. "Just cool it okay?" She asked.

"Yes," he replied.

Kimberly touched his face with a comforting smile. "I'll go talk to him," she assured him. Blake nodded and watched her leave.

Kimberly walked up to Hunter. "HUNTER!" She called. Hunter looked over at Kimberly.

"Can you believe that, mom?" He asked.

"Believe that Blake won? Yes, I can believe it."

"What?"

"He was riding fair, Hunter."

"What? How could you say that?"

"Because it's true. I understand that you're upset."

"You're taking his side.

"No, I'm not on anyone's side."

"Right."

Hunter started walking away. "HUNTER HART!" She shouted. Hunter turned and looked at her.

"What?" He asked.

"Don't you walk away from me."

"I think I can, since you seemed to like Blake better.

"That's not true."

"Why are you taking his side."

Kimberly let out a sigh. "No, I'm not. I'm not on anyone's side," she snapped.

"Right," he answered.

"Hunter, you two have to work things out," she insisted.

She turned and walked away. She picked Kylie up and Billy wrapped his arm around Kimberly's waist as they walked away.

While at Ninja Ops, Kylie was playing with Hannah when they saw Kapri starting to attack. "I'll contact the Rangers," Kimberly informed.

"Right," Cam agreed.

Kimberly contacted the Rangers and watched as Hunter came first then Blake followed him. Once all the Rangers were there, they told them what was going on. "Let's go," Shane insisted.

"Hunter, Blake, wait," Kimberly called.

They looked back at her. "Whatever differences you have right now, you must put them aside while performing your Ranger duties," Sensei instructed.

"I will if he does," Blake answered.

"Don't worry about me, dude," Hunter put in.

Kimberly let out a frustrated sigh and Billy placed a hand on her shoulder while they went to fight Kapri, Marah, and Shimazu.

(After the Fight)

Kimberly walked up to her boys once they came back. "There's only one way we can find out who was really right during the race," she informed.

"Oh yeah, what's that?" Hunter asked.

Kimberly held up their helmets. "A rematch," she replied. She gave them their helmets and smiled.

"Think it'll work?" Hunter asked.

"Hopefully so you two could stop acting like your five and four and start acting like you're nineteen and eighteen," she replied.

They went to the track and Billy was standing there with their bikes. "Now five laps first one through the finish line wins," Kimberly informed.

"Right," they agreed.

Kimberly stood by Billy while she watched the rematch. "Pretty…morphinaminal," Billy commented.

"What is?" She asked.

Billy looked over at her. "Look at you, Kim. You came from a valley girl from Angel Grove to a Power Ranger mentor and a mother of four. You grew up from a needy teenager to a beautiful and responsible woman," he replied. Kimberly smiled.

"I want to thank you, Billy," she stated.

"For what?" He asked.

"You saved me. In more ways than one. You saved me from being alone when I had my baby. If it weren't for you for helping me, I would've given up a long time ago."

Billy wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You're my sister, Kim, and I love you very, very much little sister," he told her. Kimberly placed her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too, big brother," she answered.

They watched as once again Blake beat Hunter, but they heard what they said once they stopped on the hill. "Today may be better, tomorrow might not be. But we'll always be bros. Gotta remember that," Blake stated. Kimberly walked over to her sons with a smile on her face.

"I'm glad to see that you two see that," she commented.

"Yeah," they agreed.

Kimberly hugged her sons with a smile on her face.

Later that evening, Kimberly watched once again as Billy and Kylie went back to Angel Grove. Kimberly promised Kylie that as soon as the last battle is finished, she'd contact Billy and he'd bring her home.