Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, or any of the characters in this story. Not even the ones I made up. Go ahead and use them, I don't really mind.
Blooming
Chapter 13 / Night Time
As Katherine walked through the door and sensed those miens on her friend's faces, she instantly smiled warmly to have everyone smile back.
"Hi everyone", was the only thing she could think of to just relieve the silence that was making her feel immediately uncomfortable.
Tommy was the first to come to her after receiving a number of hellos in return.
"Hey, where were you all day?" He said, giving her a kiss on the lips.
Katherine looked down and cleared her throat, "Umm, I was at…the…umm," she hated lying. It wasn't the fact that she believed it was wrong; it was simply the fact that she just couldn't do it, "thinking", she finally said.
"About?"
"About me and what I'm going to do with my life."
"You forgot an important factor in your sentence, Kat." Tommy said, chantingly.
"Huh?"
"You said you were thinking about your life and what you're going to do with it. Kat, it's our life, and what we are going to do with it." He held her hands and squeezed them in his palms while he smiled at her before giving her another kiss, this time a bit more intense than the first.
They parted to have the room 'awe' them. They looked around the room to have all eyes focused on them and they both simple smiled and turned to each other before laughing together.
The 'get together' was coming to an end. Old friends and new were now sitting around the living room speaking about old times. Old phrases would come up, new ones as well. The group talked about old laughs, and old sobs, excluding Tommy's new rangers.
At this point, they were laughing while Adam was telling the story of his and Tanya's first date, and what a disaster it had turned out.
Tommy and Katherine were sitting cozily on the love seat. Kim was sitting in between Jason and Adam on the long couch. Trent was sitting on the recliner across from the love seat, having his arms wrapped around Kira's waist, who was sitting on top of him, reclining her back on his right side at ease. Conner and Ethan were both on the floor next to them. Ethan was sitting down 'indian' style while Conner was lying on his stomach to his right taking in the laughs. Rocky and Hayley were giving their backs to the TV across from the couch on two chairs provided by Tommy.
"…man, I'm telling you, if Tanya hadn't been so relaxed through the whole thing, I don't think we'd be together right now", Adam finished his story.
Everyone, including Tommy's students, who never met Tanya, were laughing uncontrollably.
"You know Adam," said Rocky, "I always knew you had a clumsy guy inside of you."
Everyone laughed even harder this time at Rocky's comment. Rocky looked across at Kimberly and smiled softly. Kim smiled back sweetly. They both were again looking into each other's eyes as they had been doing to whole day.
"I think we have to get going," broke their look as they turned to see Kira, "it's getting pretty late."
"Yeah, you're right" said Conner, "Ethan man, you need a ride?"
"You know it. Maybe we can look at the list and pick up some tree girls."
Conner laughed at Ethan's statement, having been the only one who understood it, "sure man, anytime."
"Aww, are you sure you guys can't stay a little longer?" Asked Kimberly in an innocent voice.
Trent shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry, but Kira's dad doesn't like her being out too late."
Everyone nodded as if on cue.
The teens said their goodbyes and headed out the door. Ethan left with Conner in his red Mustang and Kira left with Trent in hissilver Suzuki motorcycle.
Tommy and Hayley walked in from having gone to walk their rangers outside to find Kimberly and Rocky sitting on the couch talking amongst each other. He looked around and couldn't find Jason nor Adam in his living room. He then heard a 'hee-yah!' from his lab.
When Hayley and Tommy both ran downstairs to the lab, they found Jason and Adam sparring in the middle. Tommy grinned and shook his head while the sight brought back old memories to him.
Hayley smiled and looked over at Tommy. "Looks like you have everything under control here. I better get going."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I have to open the Café tomorrow."
"Oh, okay, let me walk you to the door."
"That's fine, you don't have to."
"No, I want to."
"Alright, just because I know how stubborn you are."
Hayley said goodbye to Jason and Adam before going to the living room to say her goodbyes to Rocky and Kimberly.
As they arrived upstairs, Hayley asked, "Where's Kat? I haven't said goodbye to her."
Tommy looked around and noticed that he hadn't realized she wasn't there.
"Do you think she's upstairs?"
"Yeah, probably. Let me go get 'er."
"No, that's fine. I can go upstairs to say bye."
"Okay," said Tommy as Hayley walked over to the stairs to go to his room.
Upon arriving upstairs, Hayley noticed that Kat wasn't in Tommy's room. She went inside any ways and looked around to see the door to his bathroom closed. She went over and gently knocked on the door saying, "Katherine, it's Hayley." She heard a sniffle come from the bathroom and wondered why it sounded as if Katherine was crying.
"I'll be right out."
"Oh, okay." Again she heard a sniffle, somewhat louder this time and was sure that Kat was crying. She went over to sit on the bed to wait for Kat to come out.
It didn't take her long, as the door to the bathroom soon opened showing Katherine in a change of clothes. Instead of her work clothes, she wore blue plaid pajama pants and a white tank. Hayley then noticed her eyes weren't red at all as Kat smiled at her making her way over to the bed.
"Are you okay?" Hayley asked, taking Kat's place as the mothering type now.
Katherine gave her a puzzled look while sitting beside her and asked, "Yeah, why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing, I guess it's in my nature to ask. I do it automatically now." She lied.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I sometimes ask people if they're alright just out of the blue."
They both laughed at each other's convenience before Hayley said, "Well, I came up her to tell you that I have to go. I have to wake up early tomorrow to do inventory before opening."
"Oh, well, I'll see you tomorrow then."
Kat gave Hayley a hug while she got one in return from Hayley.
They both walked downstairs to meet Tommy waiting for Hayley to walk her out to her car.
Tommy went ahead and walked Hayley outside to her black Chevy Trailblazer.
"I still can't get over your SUV, Hayley, it's awesome", said Tommy, admiring yet again Hayley's new wave of transportation.
"Thanks, although it still hurts to have let go of my KIA. You know, I really get attached to cars that I own."
"Hey, I hear ya'. I still can't let go of my jeep, no matter how much I try. After my truck blew up, this jeep has always been there for me. It's common for anyone to get attached to their vehicle."
"Yeah, I know. I just hope I get used to this one as quickly as I got used to the other one."
"Hayley, driving that, trust me, anyone would get used to it easily and quickly. Just drive it around for a day or two. I assure you, you'll get used to it. Hell, and if you don't…I don't know…maybe…I could take it?"
They both laughed at Tommy's comment. "Yeah, I'll be sure to keep that in mind," said Hayley, before getting in her car.
"So, see you at the Café tomorrow?" She asked.
"You know it. I'll take the others by there tomorrow.You wanna go someplace after you close down?"
"Sure, I'll see what I come up with so we can all go and have a good time. Do you know if you want the others to come too?"
"Who, you mean the kids?"
"Yeah"
"Well, I mean, if they want to. Then again, I don't think they'll want to spend a Saturday with their teacher and a couple of his friends."
"Ha, you'll be surprised, Tommy."
"Well, if they wanna come, then I don't see any problem with it. As long as we don't end up going to a bar or something."
"True"
"After all, I'd be a little worried about them if they wanted to go in the first place."
Hayley then remembered hearing Kat in the bathroom just a while ago. "Tommy, speaking about being worried about someone…"
"Yeah", he countered.
"Umm, well, I was just talking to Kat a while ago, and it seemed like if she'd been crying because she was sniffling. Yet, when she came out of the bathroom, she was fine."
"Okay, what are you getting at Hayley? Kat isn't into drugs."
"No, I'm just saying you should just…"
"Look Hayley, I know you're concerned about Kim and her problem. Kat's not Kim; she doesn't do cocaine."
"Alright, I'm sorry I brought it up, okay?" Hayley saw that it was useless talking to Tommy about something as delicate as that, so she just decided to drop the subject.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you like that Hayley, but…"
"It's alright, Tommy, I know how you feel about her, I'm sorry."
Tommy went over and gave Hayley a hugwhile she was holding the steering wheel. She let it go and hugged him as well.
"I just don't know what I'd do if Kat had any kind of problem, Hayley."
"I know, Tommy, and I'm sorry again."
"It's okay, really. I just over reacted I guess."
"Well, I better get going, it's really getting late now."
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, Hayley. I'm really sorry, okay?"
Hayley shook her head, "No, Tommy, I'm sorry. I should've known better."
Tommy smiled and went inside after saying his goodbyes to Hayley.
Inside, he didn't see any of his friends. He then heard loud laughing coming from inside his kitchen; he questioned what could be up, and went over to take a look.
Upon stepping into his kitchen, he saw Kim sitting down on a stool having her elbows on the tiled island in the center of his kitchen. Next to Kimberly was Rocky, to his left was Adam, and then Jason, finally, Kat. They were laughing for a reason that Tommy still didn't know why.
"Hey!" He heard everyone say in unison upon seeing their former leader.
"Hey, what's so funny?" He had to ask.
The friends all looked at each other and began laughing again hysterically.
"Man Tommy, you are nosy." Said Jason, chantingly.
Tommy's eyebrows wrinkled while saying, "I'm not nosy, just…"
"…CURIOUS", everyone finished for him.
He smiled and looked around at his friends at knowing they were playing a small High School prank on him. He couldn't help get butterflies in his stomach at the sight he had in front of him. His friends were back in his life. They were all together yet again.
"So, who's up for a movie?" asked Rocky.
Everyone instantly said 'me'.
By the end of Breakfast at Tiffany's, which was a choice done by the girls, Rocky looked around at the scene around him. Jason and Kim were lying on the floor on too many pillows to count. Adam was on the recliner half asleep. Tommy and Kat were on the love seat completely knocked out, and he was lying on the long couch ready for bed himself.
He got up and went over to Tommy, knowing that he would tell them where they would sleep. He, on the way, thought how grateful he was for changing into their pajamas before the movie started.
"Yo, Tommy, wake up." He shook him gently.
Tommy awoke, still half asleep, and looked around as if asking himself where he was.
"Yeah, Rocko?"
"Um," Rocky was in no way shy about anything, "where are we gonna sleep, man?"
"Oh, sorry about that. Um," He was still a little out of it, "I have two extra rooms and a study."
"A study?"
"It has a pull-out."
"Oh"
"I guess two of you will have to sleep together." He motioned towards Kimberly which he was shot at with a look.
He laughed at this while Adam began to pick things up.
"Adam, you don't have to do that man. We can do it tomorrow. Let's get some sleep."
Adam obeyed, being in no mood to argue with a stubborn man like Tommy. "Okay", he simply put the bowls down, and headed back to the recliner.
At that, Tommy got up, waking Katherine in the process. She wiped her mouth, fearing saliva had come out while sleeping, but was relieved when she felt nothing.
Tommy then went over to get some blankets from the hall closet, while everyone in the living room was debating about where they were going to sleep.
"Okay, I thinkI should get a bedroom. That said, I'll see you guys tomorrow." Kimberly said, instantly going upstairs to grab an empty bedroom.
The guys just looked at each other without saying a word to her. They knew they were here for her, but above all, she was the only female to not have a bed, so they went ahead and said nothing about it.
Yet, for them, was going to be a different story. No one wanted to sleep on the pull-out, yet they didn't feel that sleeping together was an option either.
"Look, we'll shoot for it, alright," Jason finally stated.
The winner would get the bed, and the other two would shoot for the pull-out after that. The other would have to sleep on the couch downstairs.
They would play Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Jason picked rock, while both Adam and Rocky picked paper. They both jumped with excitement at their win. Jason then turned around and made a run towards the bedroom.
Rocky and Adam instantly knew what Jason was doing and ran towards him.
Adam was the first to jump on his back and slow him down, while Rocky pulled them both back.
Katherine at the sight had sat down on the couch raving with laughter at the guys.
They started to wrestle on the floor.
Adam and Rocky pinned Jason down and waited for Jason to say 'mercy' for them to let him go.
Instead, he said, "Alright, I give up! CHEATERS!"
"CHEATERS?", the two asked in unison.
"Yeah, it's two against one."
Kat was next to speak, and did so in between laughter, "You know Jason,...the guys wouldn't...have had to pin you...if...you hadn't of...made a run to the stairs", again she broke out in laughter.
The three then laughed at what they had realized on how they must have looked like. Fighting over a bed was pretty silly, but still, it was worth it.
Jason surrendered, wanting to go to sleep when Tommy came back with a bundle of covers and pillows, signaling to Kat that she didn't help him out.
She shrugged her shoulders in innocence of not even having thought about helping him while Jason went over to give him a hand.
Adam and Rocky went at it again. This time, Rocky went with paper again while Adam went with scissors.
Rocky didn't put too much of a fight, since he was very sleepy, so he just decided to take some covers and go to Tommy's study.
Tommy followed him into the study and pulled out the couch for Rocky. Rocky helped him some, and as soon as it was layed out and ready, he layed down on the pull-out and thanked Tommy for everything.
As Tommy was making his way downstairs, he noticed Kat talking to Jason where the boys had been wrestling. He shook his head with dissapointment at what he saw.
He sighed heavily and was heard and seen by Kat.
"Hey," she said, "what's wrong with you?"
He looked at her and simply said "Nothing." Before adding, "Where'd Adam go? To sleep already?"
They both nodded and Tommy went over to fix the couch for Jason, knowing that he had lost the bet on his way back with he blankets.
Tommy then had a face that would kill a crow, but Jason didn't notice. He was too busy looking through his bags.
Katherine on the other hand did see him. She questioned why in her head, yet decided not to say anything about it just yet.
When Jason was settled in, both Kat and Tommy went upstairs to Tommy's bedroom.
As they entered, Tommy went inside the bathroom, still with that same mad face.
Katherine decided to talk to him about it once he came out. She then went over to the bed and settled herself in.
When Tommy finally came out, he noticed Kat under the covers, sitting down, reclining her back on the headboard, having her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"Oh," he said, before sarcastically continuing, "I see you got into bed. I thought I was going to have to pick you up and lay you down myself."
Kat at this picked up the tone and responded, "So, this is what it's about. Just because I didn't help you with the blankets."
"It's not just that," he said, while going over and getting into bed himself, "you didn't help me with the blankets, the chairs, the pillows, the pull-out, or the freaking couch."
"I was talking to Jason and saying goodnight to Adam." She said in her defense.
"You could've have done that while fixing the couch for Jason. I did it with Rocky. And even he helped out, and he doesn't even live here."
Katherine at that instantly got offended, "Oh! So just because I'm living here, I'm automatically supposed to be your maid? I'm sorry, I guess it was my misunderstanding, I didn't know I had to pay to live here." Now it was her talking sarcastically.
"Kat, it's not that,..."
"You just said he doesn't even live here and he helped you out, tell me Thomas, what am I supposed to think?"
"Nothing, just that..."
"Oh, so now it's nothing."
"Kat, listen to me, okay? All I'm saying is that I'd like for you to act as if you lived here too."
"What do you mean?" She asked questiongly.
"Well, when we were in High School and that big storm kept me and Jason inside your house and your mom said it was okay for us to stay; you got the covers for us, and the pillows. You and Tanya even layed them out for us to sleep on."
"What are you getting to?"
"Kat, what I'm getting to here is, since you already own my heart, I want you to feel like an owner of this house too."
"So, that's what this is about? You don't think I feel completely in yet?"
"Do you?"
She paused for a minute to think. She then realized that she didn't feel completely in, and even that, she really wasn't acting like much of a resident, either.
"Well, do you blame me?" She finally answered."My stuff is still in the storage since we took it there last time. Nothing in this house reflects how I live. My belongings are missing, to tell you the truth, I don't. I don't feel like I live here, Tommy, it feels as if this house still isn't a part of me."
"It can be."
"No, I just think..."
"Kat, what can I do to make you see differently?"
"Just give me time...please."
Tommy just nodded, before receiving a tender kiss goodnight from her.
A/N: Okay, I finished this one. I'm pretty sure that the next chapter will be my last. Well, see you soon...I hope.
