Seasons

Note: I do not own Kira Ford or Dr. Thomas Oliver; I have no idea who owns them now.
Timeline: After 'History'
Rating: PG13
Setting/Season: Reefside/Fall

Kira Ford smiled and stepped out of her mother's home in Reefside. The crisp fall air chilled her skin and hit her lungs. She smiled and pulled her light jacket around her. She had returned to have the one-year reunion since Graduation and was happy to be out of the busy city. Walking around the town she realized what she was missing, home. Reefside was her home, not a busy city; she missed the serenity of a blustery fall day. She headed from the downtown to the secluded Valencia Drive, hoping to see Dr. Thomas Oliver one more time before she had to go back.

Dr. Thomas Oliver set his steaming mug of coffee on the railing of his porch as he surveyed his yard. He loved living on the woods but the disadvantage was the leaves in fall. As they changed colors, the sight was amazing, and then as they died and fell from the trees they consumed his yard. Usually he would rake them, but he enjoyed seeing them lying on the ground, signaling the changing of the seasons. Dressed in kaki pants and a flannel shirt he folded his arms over his chest to warm body.

Kira smiled as she walked down the long driveway, finding Tommy standing on the porch, staring at his lawn. She realized that he hadn't heard her approach and took the time to creep up behind him. She saw him cross his arms and finally close enough to him, she called out to him.

"You know, they do make coats for when you get cold," she said, he turned to her, a beaming smile on his lips.

"I know, I'm fine how I am right now. How are you Kira?" he asked, as she climbed up the stairs to stand beside him. He had missed the sound of her voice, and relished hearing it again. He missed her after she had moved promptly from Reefside to New York. He reached out for her and pulled her into his arms. Kira smiled and sighed, relaxing as she was embraced.

"I'm good Tommy, I've miss you," she told him and then they lapsed into silence. Tommy sighed himself, wishing that she didn't have to leave again. A cold wind blew against them both, her body shielding him from the wind. He felt her shiver and pulled her harder against him, his pure heat of his body radiating into her. The crunching of dead leaves broke the silence. They both looked over to see Trent Fernandez Mercer and Ethan James heading up the driveway.

"That's picturesque," Trent said with a genuine smile as he looked to the two, cuddled in a close embrace. Kira smiled and turned in Tommy's embrace, so they were chest to chest and she could nestle her face to his chest.

"That's better," she told them, unafraid to show her feelings for him now. Tommy smiled down at her and placed a soft kiss to the top of her darkened head.

"What are you guys doing here?" Tommy asked, Trent gave a soft smile.

"We're leaving, my father has an opening in advertising for me and I have to go out to the HQ to fill out the papers and on my way out, I'm dropping Ethan back off at school," Trent explained, Kira released Tommy to bounce down the stairs towards the two and hugged them both.

"Congratulations Trent and good luck Ethan, I'll come back to see you soon," she promised, gifting each one with a kiss on the cheek.

"Good bye guys, we'll see each other soon," Tommy told them, knowing he'd see them in town again. The two nodded and headed off to Trent's white car and Kira waved as they pulled out of the driveway and into the empty road.

Tommy watched Kira stand alone on the lawn, the wind blowing her straight hair all around her. Now cold and alone he left the porch and wrapped his arms around her again, needing to feel her against his body.

"I don't want you to go Kira," he told her, his throat constricting at the thought of having to let her go again.

"Good byes aren't forever," she said gently, she turned and cupped his cheek, her eyes capturing his. "I'll come back to you," she promised.

"But I don't want to let you go," he confessed, she smiled and leaned up, her lips meeting his for their first kiss. Kira felt tears sting her eyes, knowing this would be the hardest goodbye.

"Tommy-" Kira began; he shook his head and touched her face.

"No, please, listen," he stated, capturing her attention, "Kira, I've been trying to deny this, but I can't any longer. I love you, I fell in love with you and I can't let you go, I can't let you leave again. I know you have to start your career but I need you here with me," he whispered, Kira felt tears sting her eyes, and one slid down her face.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked, he chuckled softly and kissed her forehead.

"The odds weren't in my favor," he told her, she laughed and they held each other as the cold wind blew all around them, it had turned from a gentle caress to a harsh slap. Tommy pulled Kira with him to the safety of the porch and as he looked down at her he laughed. Kira's hair was full of stray leaves; he chuckled as he began to gingerly pick out the dead leaves.

"What am I going to do now?" she asked softly, as she helped him pick out the leaves.

"I'm sorry for doing this to you now, I just didn't know if I was going to see you again," Kira gave him a mournful smile.

"I love you too Tommy, but I have to go back to New York tomorrow. What if I stay here? What will happen to us?" she asked; Tommy gently kissed her on the lips.

"We'll begin our relationship, and start what I hope will be our lives together," he told her, taken back when he heard her start to cry.

"This is too much for me, you'll have my answer tomorrow. I may stay; I may go, but either way, Good-bye Tommy. I love you," she whispered and rushed home, trying to make the hardest decision of her life. Start a music career or stay with the man she had fallen in love with long ago.

When Tommy opened his eyes the next morning he sighed. He was alone. He slowly climbed out of his empty bed and headed into the shower. As he stood in the spray, he let the water rush over him. He hung his head and let his tears combine with the water; he missed Kira and kicked himself for not telling her sooner how he felt.

His day went on as usual, class after class, students filed in and filed out, no one caring to even say hello. He went home to his empty house, and began to correct the homework he'd assigned the night before. Then as he had every day before, he ate dinner alone and got ready to sleep. As he hit the pillows he felt more tears fall down his face, and as he thought of Kira, he cried himself to sleep.

The next morning when he woke up there were two brown doe eyes staring at him. He gasped and jumped away, falling from his bed onto the floor. He heard soft chuckling and watched as Kira's face peered down at him.

"Hi Tommy," she smiled, and reached down for his hand. He pulled himself up and scrambled up on bed beside her.

"I thought…you left…you were gone," he said, Kira leaned over and kissed him, her lips touched his gently.

"I got to the airport and I couldn't leave you," she whispered and he pulled her to him and crushed his lips to hers, holding her with all his might.

"I love you Kira," he told her once the kiss broke and she smiled.

"I love you too Tommy," she replied, eyes glowing.

A few hours later, the couple walked out onto the porch, hand in hand as the leaves blew around them. The scent of fall was surrounding them and the cold made them cuddle closer together.

"I should have told you sooner," he told her as she placed her head on his shoulder.

"That would have been nice," she told him, laughing but her kiss reassured him that she didn't care now. They settled down on the porch and watched the sunrise in the autumn sky.