Kim and Kira 2
By Ryan T. Morris

Chapter 2: The Ford Family Scrapbook

Rating: PG-13

Notes: The Power Rangers are the property of The Walt Disney Company. Please read Kim and Kira, so you don't get confused.

June 7th, 2004

"What?" asked Conner, as he sat up.

"What happened to me made me realized that life is very short," said Kira, "I could have died in that basement last night… maybe worse. I love you so much, Conner McKnight."

Conner smiled, "I love you too, Kira Ford. I would be honored to be your husband."

Kira smiled and kissed him, just then they heard someone clear their throat. Conner and Kira looked behind them and saw Conner's parents, John and Sarah McKnight, as well as Kimberly and Tommy, looking at them and smiling. "How long have you been standing there?" asked Kira.

"Long enough to hear you propose to Conner," said Kimberly.

"Congratulations," said Tommy.

"Thanks, Dr. O," said Conner, then he looked at his mom and dad, "Mom? Dad?"

"I'm very happy for you both," said Sarah.

"Before I approve of this marriage, you both have to promise me one thing," said John.

"What's that?" asked Kira.

"You both have to graduate from college. That's the same requirement Conner's mother's father gave to me."

"I think we can promise that," said Kira.

John smiled and walked toward the bed, he wrapped his arms around Kira, hugged her, and said, "Welcome to the family."

Conner smiled, and looked at his father, "Dad?"

"Yes?"

"Kira's aunt is going to be moving in with Dr. Oliver, leaving Kira alone in her house. Kira asked me and Ethan to move in with her."

John looked at Kira and at Conner, thought for a moment, looked at his wife and asked, "What do you think?"

"I think we can trust them…"

"Me too…"

Conner and Kira smiled.

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August 20th, 2004

Kimberly and Kira were in Kira's parents room. Kira decide that since Conner and Ethan were moving in with her, she should move into the master bedroom so she could have her own private bathroom and the boys could share the other. So, Kim and Kira were going through Kira's parents things deciding what should be kept and what should be given away to Goodwill.

As Kira worked she couldn't help but think about her parents. Being an only child, Kira was close with both of her parents. Her mother, Kathy, was very much like her, a strong, independent woman. Kathy always told her daughter that she could be anything she wanted to be, if she worked hard enough for it. Her father, David, was a kind man, who loved his family very much.

Kira opened one of her mom's dresser drawers and smiled, "Aunt Kim…"

"Yeah?" said Kimberly, as she poked her head out of the closet.

"Come here a second," Kira took a large book out of the dresser on the cover it said, 'The Ford Family Scrapbook.'

"What is that?"

"For the last few years, Mom was really into scrapbooking," said Kira, as she sat down on the bed and opened it, "Mom made this to cover some of the more important moments in her and Dad's life together." The first few pages were about how Kathy and David met.

Kim sat down next to her on the bed and looked at the scrapbook, "Did you ever hear the story of how they met?"

"Oh yeah…" said Kira.

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September 8th, 1980

Kathy Hart entered Angel Grove High's Principal's office and said, "You wanted to see me, Mr. Kaplan?" Kathy looked very similar to her little sister, Kimberly. She had on a purple blouse, with matching skirt, white socks and sneakers.

"Yes, Kathy," said Mr. Kaplan, as he stood up, "I'd like you to meet David Ford, he just moved here from Reefside." David, who was sitting down with his back to the door, stood up and looked toward Kathy. David was tall about 6' 5", 165 lbs., and had sandy blond hair. He smiled at Kathy and Kathy smiled back. Then, Mr. Kaplan said, "You and him have many of the same classes. I would like you to show him around school for the day."

"Sure," said Kathy, "I'd be delighted too."

Kathy and David left the office and headed to their first class, "So…" said Kathy, "You're a senior?"

"Yeah… My dad was transferred down here…"

"I see… Um… Do you play any sports?"

"Football, Basketball, Track. You?"

"I'm a cheerleader during Football season and I play Basketball. I'm also in the choir."

"Really? Me too…"

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August 20th, 2004

"Then they started to get to know each other better and by that Friday, they went on their first date," said Kira, "They continued to date through the rest of their Senior year. After high school they both enrolled at Reefside University. Then about half way through their Sophomore year in college… Dad proposed."

"I still remember that Christmas…" said Kim.

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December 25th, 1982

Kathy and David were sitting on the front porch of the Ford home in Angel Grove. Kathy had her head on his shoulder, and David had his left arm wrapped around her, "This is nice," said Kathy.

"Yes, it is," said David.

"Mmm-hmm"

"Kath? I have to ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Will you marry me?"

Kathy sat right up, "What?"

David got down on one knee, took a ring box out of his pocket, and opened it. Inside was a diamond engagement ring. He took her hands and asked, "Katherine Marie Hart, will you marry me?"

"Yes!"

David smiled then he slid the ring on her finger, then he sat next to her on the porch swing and kissed her.

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August 20th, 2004

Kim and Kira continued to look through the scrapbook and found Kathy and David's wedding photo. "Mom looks so beautiful," said Kira.

"She sure does," said Kim, "By the way…" Kim stood up and walked over to the closet and took a big box out of the closet and set it on the bed.

"What's in the box?"

"Open it…"

Kira opened the box, took out what was inside, and said, "It's Mom's wedding dress… This is what I want to wear for my wedding…"

"You're going to look great in it."

Kira smiled as she put the dress back in the box, and started to look through the scrapbook again. The next section had a caption across the top that read, 'Our Honeymoon Baby' She looked at a picture of her mom holding her just after she was born, "You know… Mom always told me she was glad she had me when she did. She said that she found being a stay at home mom and giving music lessons at home much more rewarding than being a elementary school music teacher." She turned the page, the next section's caption was, 'Our Star.' Kira smiled at a picture of her at age 9 and her mother. In the picture, they were sitting across from each other, each playing a guitar and singing. "I remember asking for that guitar…"

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December 8th, 1993

Kathy was in the kitchen, taking care of some bills, when an 7 year old Kira came in the kitchen with a piece of paper in her hand, Kathy looked at her daughter, and ask, "Hi, Sweetpea… What do you have there?"

"My Christmas list" said Kira, as she handed it to her mother.

Kathy took the list and skimmed over it, "A guitar?"

"Yeah."

"You know it takes a lot of hard work to learn how to play the guitar well."

"I know…"

"If Santa brings you a guitar, do you promise to practice every day?"

"I promise. I'll practice every day."

"Okay… If Santa brings you a guitar, I'll teach you how to play."

"Yea!" said Kira as she dashed out of the kitchen.

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August 20th, 2004

"And, under the tree that Christmas was that guitar," said Kira, as she pointed at the picture.

"You couldn't have had a better teacher than her," said Kim.

"Yeah… She was great…"

Kira continued to flip through the scrapbook, and found a section with the title, "Race Day… Family Day…" It showed various pictures of Kira's, her mom's & dad's favorite NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers.

"Sunday was always one of my favorite days," said Kira, "I'd help mom make breakfast, then we'd eat in the living room, and watch the race… It's just not the same watching races without Mom and Dad…"

"Hey, I've got an idea…" said Kim, "Tommy's big Nextel Cup fan too. How about if I bring him over Sunday Morning and we can watch the race together?"

"OK," said Kira… "I'd like that…"

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August 22nd, 2004

Over Friday and Saturday, everyone worked hard at getting Conner and Ethan moved into Kira's house and Kimberly into Tommy's house. Sunday Morning, Kira was in bed asleep, when she smelt coffee brewing from downstairs. Kira got up, put on her favorite Jimmie Johnson T-shirt, and a pair of yellow pajama bottoms and headed downstairs. Kira walked to the kitchen and saw her aunt sitting at the table. "Morning, Aunt Kim…"

"Morning, Kira," said Kim.

Kira then walked all the way into the kitchen, and saw what Tommy was wearing, "You have got to be kidding me…"

"What?" said Tommy, as he was pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"You're wearing a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. shirt…"

"Yeah…," said Tommy, as he put the carafe back on the burner and sat down next to Kim, "and you're wearing a Jimmie Johnson shirt."

"At least my favorite driver has a chance to win the Nextel Cup," said Kira, as she went to pour herself some coffee.

"Jr. is only 128 points back. And, by the way, which one of our drivers has had two DNF's in the past two races? Wasn't Dale Jr.."

"Yeah… Yeah… Yeah…" said Kira, as she sat down at the table.

"It's not going to be like this all day is it?" asked Kim.

"No," said Kira, "I just had to give him a hard time. I hope Dale Jr. has a good race today." She stuck out her hand to Tommy.

"I hope Jimmie has a good race, too," said Tommy, as he shook her hand.

"So, Kira, How late were you guys up last night?" asked Kim.

"Not very late," said Kira, "I went to bed about 11:00. I'm not sure what time the other two went to bed."

Kim nodded, "You hungry?"

"Yeah… How about some pancakes and bacon?"

"Sounds good," said Tommy.

"And, some scrambled eggs," said Kim.

"OK…"

A little while later, Kim was at the stove cooking bacon and making scrambled eggs, while Kira was at the counter making pancakes on an electric griddle. And, Conner and Ethan came in.

Conner went up to Kira and kissed her on the cheek, "Good morning…"

Kira smiled, "Morning… Hungry?"

"Starved…"

"Well, it's almost ready. Take some plates into the living room."

"The living room?"

"Yes… The race is about to start… and we are eating in the living room."

"OK," said Conner as he went to get some plates out of the cupboard.

"By the way Kira… How did you become such a big NASCAR fan?" asked Ethan.

Kira smiled, "My dad… I remember walking into the living room and Dad was getting ready to watch the '93 Daytona 500. He asked me if I wanted to join him. I said yes and over the course of the race he explained everything to me. And, over time I started to enjoy racing as much as him."

"That's nice," said Ethan.

"Yeah…"

Soon, everyone was in the living room watching the race. Kim and Tommy sat on the couch while Kira, Conner, and Ethan sat on the floor at the coffee table. As they watched, Kira smiled and enjoyed it for the first time since her mom and dad passed away.