Here is the next chapter, and I hope you all like.

Chapter 2

Zara's Pov

The first month of school seemed to fly as life took on a daily routine of sorts as I took Tobi to his daycare early in the morning before heading over to the high school where Tommy would meet me in the parking lot. We would talk as we walked into the school together and head to wards my office, or his classroom, which ever direction our feet took us. Ever since that afternoon at Cyberspace Tobi asked about Tommy every night and if he would ever come over for dinner. Though it was a welcome change to have Tobi like a man I was interested in I wasn't ready to take things beyond friends yet as I didn't want to rush things. I knew Tommy under stood this even if he hadn't told me as such, though he doesn't really have to, me being empath. Everyone's emotions are always open to me but I have only known for some time and I keep this a secret from anyone.

It unfortunately seems that my desire to help the students in emotional need was noticed by Principle Randell. It was the end of the school day and I was just leaving my office when she approached me. "Ah Miss Rodgers, your still here good. I need you to stay and run detention today."

"Um Principle Randell I understand if it my turn but you should have given me a bit more of a heads up. My son's daycare is closing early today and I have to pick him up. Is there no one else who can cover it today?" I asked worried.

"Afraid not and there's 5 of teens waiting for you, so they wont fit in your little car, and if your not there consider your job good bye." She seemed to take great pleasure in my distressed look as she walked away. I bit my lip hard as I tries to think if there was any way I could pick up Tobi and cover detention at the same time. Thankfully the answer to my problem arrived as Tommy showed up. "Hey Zara, what wrong?"

"Tommy good timing, I need a favor." I said looking up at him hopefully.

Tommy's Pov

I pulled up to Sunny Side Daycare in Zara's 4runner, wincing as it jerked well making a strange sound as I parked. I may have noticed that her vehicle made strange sounds and spouted black smoke when she pulled into the school parking lot every morning But I never realized it was horrifying to drive. Now having driven it to puck up Tobi so I had his car seat, I knew now that it had serous issues. Putting that a side I was a bit nervous walking into the daycare, hoping that none of his teachers thought I was kidnapping him as I approached the front desk. "Um hi. I'm Tommy Oliver, a friend of Zara Rodgers I'm here to pick up her son Tobias Rodgers."

The women at the desk studied me for a moment as she held up her phone, seeming to compare me to something on it. She then smiled at me as she put it away. "Yes I've been expecting you. Sorry if I seemed to scrutinise you, I was just comparing your face to the picture Zara sent me. Bless that women for thinking a head otherwise I would have to turn you away and called her. We take the children's safety here very seriously, not just letting anyone not approved by the parents pick them up. I have to say though Zara is a lucky women to have snagged you handsome."

"Oh well thank you, but I'm just a friend and co-worker." I informed her.

"But you want to be more the that, don't you?" she asked dreamily as she rested her face in her hand as she looked me over, making an approved sort of sound and making me very uncomfortable. "Don't worry handsome, she'll come around eventually, though if I wasn't married already I'd stanch you up before she came to her séances."

"Well um- thank you very much for that. I'd better go get Tobi. You have yourself a nice day." I said as I walked around the desk and headed towards to what I hoped was Tobi's classroom. It wasn't hard to find as the doors had labels on them for the age groups of the children. I had to maneuver around all the other adults coming to pick up their children and looked for Tobi in the slew of youngsters that were running around. "Sorry excuse me, Tobi, you in here?"

"Tommy, what are you doing here?" Tobi asked when he saw me. "Where's my mom?"

"She was stuck with the older kids in detention today. She sent me to come get you, if that's ok with you?" I asked him as I found his coat and bag. He nodded as he let me put his coat on and took my hand which surprised me at how small it was in mine.

"Hey Tobi, is this your father?" one of the teachers asked looking at me.

"Nope. This is Dr. Thomas Oliver, he's the science teacher at the high school my mommy works at. Mommy got stuck with supervising detention today." Tobi explained very well for his age.

"Oh well that was mighty nice of him now wasn't it." The teacher said to him before offering her hand to me. "I'm Mrs. Wilson, it's nice to meet Dr. Oliver and we'll see you Monday Tobi."

The drive back to the school was nerve-racking as Zara's vehicle seemed to get worse, which didn't faze Tobi at all. "Sally has always been temperamental but she usually isn't this bad for mommy. She must not like you." He informed me, and then explained that Sally was the $runner's name. Either way I was grateful when I parked her car next to my jeep and got out of it. I took him on a tour of the school before we went to the room where detention was being held. The kids were all gathered around the white board playing a crazy game by the looks of it and Zara was timing them on her phone. "Alright and that is time. How many words did you all come with? Oh hey there you two are, good timing."

"Mommy guess what? One of the teachers thought Dr. Oliver was my dad since he was there to get me." Tobi said as he walked up to his mom. The teens in the room all snickered well Zara and I looked at each other apprehensively. Zara looked away first as she stood and cleared her throat, a touch of pink in her checks. "Well that's interesting. You are free to go, and let's hope that our dear Principle will have all that graffiti off the wall soon. So I hope you've learned your lesson."

"Yes Mrs. Rodgers and thanks for making detention fun." Said the only girl of the group giving Zara a hug before collecting her bag.

"Ya, you're pretty cool." Commented a jock as he fisted bumped Zara before turning to me. "You better start dating her Dr. O before someone else comes along and snags her." he told me with a grin on his way to the door.

I was so surprised that I just stared at him open mouthed well he winked and the rest of the teens laughed as they left. "I would say that kids say the darns things but the women at the desk at Tobi's daycare said something along similar lines." I confessed to her once the teens were all gone.

"Was that before or after Dain started flirting with you?" Zara asked as she gathered her things.

"Oh it was before. Shell we head out then, oh and by the way your 4runner scares me." I informed her with a shiver as we left the classroom and headed outside.

Zara laughed a little sheepishly well rubbing the back of her neck as she walked. "Ya Sally is one of the earlier 4runners and she was used when I got her. I've actually been looking at getting her replaced but I just can't afford anything new right now, as we did just move. I have it going into the shop tomorrow and see if they can do anything to make her run smother."

I nodded relived that she had the situation in hand but then Tobi spoke up. "So Dr. Oliver did you want to come over for dinner?"

"Tobias! You don't just invite him over without consulting me first, epically when we haven't finished unpacking yet." Zara said, her checks red with embarrassed as she looked at me. "What was the comment you made earlier? Kids say the darns things."

I laughed at that before I turned my attention to Tobi. "I'd love to buddy but I think I can wait till your house is ready to receive guests. So how about a rain check?"

"Ok." Tobi said a bit down trodden as he scuffed his shoes in some dirt.

"Now don't be like that Tobi." Zara said as she picked him up well moving to put him in his car seat. "In all honesty there's not much left to unpack and to have the house set up. So how about dinner at our place this Sunday, say around 5:30?"

"I would love to." I smiled as Tobi cheered for joy as he was strapped in before his door closed. Zara shook her head at her son's antics well giving me her address. We bid each other good bye and I couldn't help the smile that was stuck on my face, even as the rest of the rangers contacted me and said that another of Mesagog's monsters was running amuck in the city.

Zara's Pov- Sunday Night

It was Sunday night and I was running around trying to make dinner well doing last minuet clean/ organising of the house. Tobi watched me from where he was playing with his cars on his city road mat in our small living room, with an amused look on his face. "Mommy you're silly." He suddenly said after I nearly face planted after tripping on my own foot.

I shot him a look as I righted myself. "Tobi, when you are old enough to date and you bring your first girlfriend home, I am going to embarrass you in front of her. Now is-"

"Yes my room is clean mom and that is the 5th time you have asked me that." He commented as the door bell rang and after looking through the window he was excited as he ran to the front door. "He's here, he's here."

Tommy smile was big when I opened the door and he spotted the excited 4 year old. "Hey there buddy how you are doing?" he asked as he ruffed up Tobi's hair before he looked at me. "Dinner smells great, though I hope you don't mind that I brought something sweet to drink and a desert." I almost started to drool when I saw the chocolate cream pie and the bottle of mountain dew he held out to me.

"I don't mind at all, in fact you actually picked my favorite pop and cream pie flavors." I took them from him and headed towards the kitchen. "Dinners just about ready so feel free to sit down and take a load off." Tommy didn't responded as I disappeared into the kitchen and finished cooking the spaghetti and meatballs, taking the garlic bread out of the oven. It was five minuets later that everything was ready and I headed back to get him and Tobi, stopping dead in my tracks at what I saw.

Tommy was sitting on the floor with Tobi making the cutes revving car sounds as he pushed a red convertible toy car on the mat. Tobi had his police car and was making siren sounds as he made chase after Tommy's car. I stood there stunned as Tommy played with my son, feeling his enjoyment, eventually letting his car get caught saying. "Oh no you got me." In a rather silly voice that made Tobi laugh well I couldn't help but smile at his playfulness. Tommy must have heard me or felt my gaze as he looked up and smiled at me. "Dinners ready I take it?" he asked me with a bright smile.

"Yes indeed it is. So Tobi the cars and mat need to be put away and wash your hands." I reminded my boy who was eager to eat as he sprang to his feet and started to clean up. I smiled again as Tommy helped him before getting to his own feet well Tobi ran to the washroom. "I hope you like spaghetti and meatballs, with garlic bread. It's a family recipe."

"I can't wait." Tommy said happily.

Tommy's Pov

When I had pulled up to the address I had to stare at the house Zara was renting.

It looked to be a small single level house that looked like it needed a bit of work to the house and yard. The white paint was chipped or flaking off the house and picked fence that surrounded the yard, well the grass was more than beyond long. Thankfully the inside was much better, a newly renovated look to it save the original hardwood floors. The living room was small but very nicely decorated with a nice throw rug a brown set of chair and a small couch. The kitchen/ dinning room was also small with only a small table with three chairs at it. "I know there's not much space but its better then eating on the floor." Zara joked a little as she dished food on to a small plat for Tobi.

"Everything is great." I told her as I picked up an adult size plate and maneuvered around her to start grabbing some food for myself. Well I did this I made sure to give her enough room to get by me with Tobi's plate as the little guy came back from washing his hands. He happily tucked into his food as finished serving myself and made to sit down next to him. Unfortunately Zara turned around a little too quickly and ran right into me, or mostly my plate. All the food that was on my plate ended up all over her shirt front well she caught the plate as it fell from my hands. I was horrified as Tobi bust out laughing well his mother took a step back and looked down at her shirt.

"Zara I am sorry, I should have watched where I was-"

Zara's laughter cut me off as she started to clean the food that was stuck to her and put it back on the plate that she put back into my hands. "Its alright Tommy, its bound to happen with the three of us squeezed into such a small space and nether of us was paying much attention to where we were going. So we're both at fault." She said through her laughter, which I joined in on. "You can scrap what once was your food into the trash and serve yourself up again. I'm going to go clean myself up and be right back."

"Alright." I said, my face red with embarrassment and I did as she instructed, soon sitting down next to Tobi who had stopped laughing but smiled at me wickedly. I gave him a playful sneer. "You don't tell anyone that I did that to your mom mister."

"I promise nothing" he said with a big grin before he put a large meatball in his mouth.

"Tobi, take smaller bights buddy before you choke." Zara said having changed her shirt and joined us once again.

Once she had her own plate of food I apologised again but she brushed it all off with a laugh and stating that she needed to do laundry anyway. The rest the dinner went well as we each talked a bit about ourselves. How I grew up in a small town, learning marshal arts at a young age till my mom dad and I moved to Angel Grove when I was in high school, and meet Jason, Kimberly, Zack, Billy and Trini. I of course didn't tell her about my Power Ranger past.

Zara told me about her biological father left when she was 6 months old, then her stepfather came into her life at age 2 and Brother Ben was born when she was 4. They had lived up in Alaska of all places and eventually moved to Mew York when she was 16. She apparently lived there till she graduated and went to university in Cleveland where she meet her late husband. Before I knew it the sun was setting and we were done our pieces of pie. "Well its only 7 and I'm afraid I didn't have anything else planed for the evening." Zara said as she started to clean up.

"Oh, oh." Tobi said excitedly his hand in the air as he bounced in his set. "Can I give him a tour of the house mom, please?"

"Sure why not, it wont be longer then 5 minuets but after that its time to get ready for bed mister." She said as she packaged what was left of the food.

I wasn't give any time to add my impute as Tobi jumped down from his chair and then proceeded to pull me out of mine. I made it a point to lurch as he pulled on my arm, earning a giggle from him for my silliness. The tour was indeed short as he lead me first to the living room, then the kitchen (which I had already seen) he then lead me to his room that was a bit bare on the walls and his bed was just a mattress on the floor. He had a bunch of toys organised in some baskets the tucked nicely into a shelf against the far wall next to a small dresser, and a closet. He then led me to the master bedroom which held a double bed and a simple metal frame tucked against the wall. I didn't see a closet or a dresser in the room at all though Zara had all of her cloths stacked nicely near the bed. The only things that really gathered my attention were the three bows with matching quivers that were hung up on hooks above the bed.

"I see you spotted my small collection and hobby." Zara said as she joined us in her room.

"Ya but I am a bit surprised by it as it doesn't seem like something you would like. No offence." I said as I looked at her sheepishly.

Zara laughed. "There's a type for someone to be good with and enjoy archery? I find that hard to believe. Though I have yet to find a place in town where I can go to shoot any of them and I've also been thinking if introducing the sport at school. Maybe start a club but I need to write the entire idea out on paper before approaching Principle Randell about it." she confessed.

"I think it's a great idea, especially if you can show that Yumi in action." I of course was referring to the Japanese's style bow that was in between the long bow and the compound bow. It was thin laminated bamboo about 227 cm in length and at most 1 cm in diameter, with read dyed leather wrapped round it. I recognised mainly as its hand grip is lower to the bottom of the bow which meant it would be well over the archers head. Its matching red quiver was make of good quality leather with lotuses inlayed on it with gold dragons twisted all over it.

"Ah so you like my favorite. I have to be sure to string that at least once a week and work it a bit, or it loses its shape and becomes unusable. It was a gift from an old friend of my grandfathers before he died. He actually got me hooked on archery and it was a Yumi I learned to shoot with." Zara said as she climbed up on her bed and pulled it down, a long with its string and proceeded to string it, before handing it to me. "I was actually in competitions when I was younger and I have a few awards but their all in boxes."

Taking it I first examined it as I do my own bow staff, admiring the craftsmanship before I pulled the string back. It came with a bit of resistance which surprised me as I saw the smirk on Zara's face as she watched me. I pulled it back to my ear grinning at her right before the string slipped out of my fingers and it twanged, hitting my arm in the process. I winced in pain as I heard a gasp and she quickly snatched it out of my hands. "Don't do that genius, you could wrecked it. I let you hold my most prised bow, that's over a hundred years old by the way and you dry fire the thing. If you're going to do something stupide like that do it to one of my others that can be replaced." She snapped well checking it over for any damage and pulling it back with practiced ease, checking its strength. I watched as she did this rubbing the now sore and red spot on my arm where the sting had hit me. I was a bit worried now that she wouldn't invite me back as it was the second thing I had done to cause a problem this evening.

Once she was satisfied that her bow was ok she unstrung it and put it back on its hook. "How's your arm?"

"It's alright. Sorry about dry firing it." I said as I stopped rubbing my arm.

"No it's alright, I over reacted a bit, for that I am sorry, after all I did hand it to you." Zara said as she rubbed that back of her head and looked a way from me. Even with her looking away I could see the embarrassment and the slight blush on her checks. "I'm also sorry I called you stupid."

"Did you now?" I said with a smirk. Zara shook her head and turned to Tobi who had watched the exchange with a grin. "And what are you smiling about?"

"You're both silly."

That made both Zara and I laugh as we left the room. I headed to the living room to wait as Zara and Tobi went through what I assumed was his bed time routine. He did come and say good night to me before he went to bed, giving me a hug, which I returned gratefully. It wasn't longer after that Zara returned with a tray with a tea pot and couple of cups. "I thought you might like some tea, its peppermint."

"That's just fine by me." I said as I accepted the cup she offered me and we fell into a comfortable silence. Neither of us spoke for some time, simply enjoying the silence, me especially after all of the misshapes. Eventually a question I had picked at me long enough that I had to ask it. "Zara I hope I'm not over stepping but I was wondering why is Tobi's mattress on the floor? Doesn't he have a bed frame?"

"Oh he had one but the moving company that helped pack our things were careless and it along with other things were wrecked beyond repair by the time the truck got here. The hid-a-bed couch, the middle board for the table, the other three table chairs and most of the pictures that were in frames. I have complained to the company and have threated to sue if they didn't pay for everything that was damaged. I have been told there's a check in the mail but that was nearly a week ago and they have not been answering my calls. If I don't get that check or hear from them soon, I'm calling my cousin who's a lawyer." Zara explained with distain in her voice.

"Did you get movers insurance?" I asked trying to think if there was anything that could help or if I could.

"I did and they claim that it's on the moving company to refund me or replace what was broken." She grumbled as she put her cup down with a slight clang. "I just ticks me off and means that my boy is left laying on the floor, grateful that his mattress survived. I don't think I could stand him sharing my bed as Tobi's a kicker."

That made both of us laugh and not thinking I put my hand on her leg, which she put her hand on top of, neither of us realising at first. It was only when we stopped laughing that I realised where my hand was and half expected her to get up set. I saw her smile as she rubbed the back of my hand gently with her thumb and she turned towards me. I returned her smile as I reached up and moved some hair out of her face and behind her ear. Her amazing different colored eyes were bright as she studied me with a bit of uncertainty, almost like she wasn't sure. I looked at her lips for a split second wondering what she would do if I kissed them, before I looked into her eyes again. She bit her lip as she suddenly looked away and removed her hand from mine.

The moment was gone, with it the lightness of the atmosphere, I removed my hand from her leg and stood to my feet. "Well it's getting late and it is a school day tomorrow, so I should probably head out. Despite all the accidents I caused, I did have a good evening." I said as smiled at her well I walked towards the door.

Zara gratefully returned my smile as she also got to her feet and fallowed me. "Well I'm glade you enjoyed yourself, I know Tobi liked having you over and as for accidents they happen, it's not a big deal. So don't worry about it next time."

'Next time?' hearing her say that caused me to pause in putting my shoes on and turn to look at her. "Is there going to be a next time Zara?"

She put her hands in her jeans pockets and rubbed her foot on the hard wood floor, never once making eye contact with me. "There could be. I don't really see a reason for there not to be, unless you feel that you would rather-"

I didn't let her finish as I had closed the space between us and had captured her lips in a firm but gentle kiss. I admit that for the last month I had slowly been getting to know her at the school, I had felt an attraction to her growing. When Tobi had blatantly asked me to come over for dinner I had been over joyed at seeing her outside of our work and getting coffee at Cyberspace. Despite all that had happened this evening I had hoped it would end with my lips on hers. I was a bit afraid that being a widow of only two years she didn't feel the same but then she wrapped around my neck. She kissed me back well pressing her body against mine, I in turn snaked my one arm around her waist and using the other I cradled the back of her head, deepening it.

It was then we heard a small giggle from the hall, making us brake our kiss and look at Tobi who was peaking around the corner. "Tobi! You should be in bed." Zara's face was bright red now as she looked at her grinning son.

"I was but it was so quiet I thought that maybe you were playing a game or something." He said innocently but I could see like me she wasn't buying it.

"Bed, now." Zara said as she pointed towards his room, face still red.

Tobi ran away and we herd his door close as she buried her face into my chest, muttering something, making me laugh. "Sorry I didn't quite catch that as that is my chest you're talking into." I couldn't help but smile at the seemingly funny nature of the situation well rubbing her back.

Zara lifted her head and gave me a sour look. "I said that boy is going to kill me with embarrassment one of these days."

"Well I've heard that sometimes that's what kids are there for." I told her as I let her go, finishing putting my shoes on, I stole a quick kiss from her. "Good night Zara, see you tomorrow."

"Good night Tommy, drive home safe." She said as I walked out the door and to my jeep. She stayed in the door way till I gave her a wave and drove off with a happiness in my heart I hadn't felt in a long time. I was unaware as I left that our entire evening together had been watched.