Chapter 6: Starting Over
A few weeks had passed and things were less tense now that Hunter and Tori got together. Even though Hunter had to go back to the Thunder Ninja Academy, broken wrist or no broken wrist, they still kept in contact.
One day, Kimberly was once again working in her garden when Jason came out. "Hey, Kim," he greeted.
"Hey, Jas, how did your karate school go today?" She asked.
"Went pretty well today," he replied.
"Good. Where's JJ?" She asked.
"Inside playing with Kylie."
Kimberly smiled as she stood up, removed her gloves, and pushed her hair out of her face. "Still love to garden like you had in high school," he commented. Kimberly smiled and nodded.
"Well, now that I don't have to train Rangers and fight monsters, I have the time to do it again," she answered.
Jason nodded and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Don't you get tired of staying here? I mean, wouldn't you like to have a place of your own?" She asked. Jason looked at her.
"What trying to get rid of me?" He asked.
"No…but I mean…" she trailed off.
"Kim, I love being here."
Kimberly smiled and looked up to see JJ and Kylie getting their skates on. "Mommy, JJ and I are going to go skate out front," she informed.
"Okay, just be careful," Kimberly answered.
"JJ, remember your helmet this time," Jason instructed.
"Yeah," JJ answered.
Kimberly helped Kylie get her gear on and looked over at Jason to see him snapping the helmet into place on JJ's head. "Okay, you're all set, kiddo," Jason informed.
"Thanks dad, ready Kylie?" JJ asked.
"Yep," Kylie replied.
"Be careful you two," Kimberly cautioned.
"We will," they answered in unison.
Kimberly looked up when Hannah came down the stairs with one of her friends behind her. "Where are you two off to?" She asked.
"Oh, we're just going to the mall," Hannah replied.
Kimberly looked at the clock. "Okay, just be back before five," she instructed.
"Alright," Hannah answered.
Hannah and her friend left and Kimberly rubbed her forehead. "Have you heard from Blake?" Jason asked.
"Not lately," she replied.
She sat down. "I'm sure Blake's fine. He's a great rider," she commented.
"Yeah," he agreed.
Kimberly nodded with a smile on her face. "I'm so proud of my kids," she stated.
"I would be to. You have great kids," he agreed.
"JJ's a great kid too. He's like you in a lot of ways."
Jason nodded with a small grin. "Any parent would be proud to have him," she added.
"Yeah, can't help but see Trini in him though," Jason agreed.
"Yeah."
Jason sat next to her. Jason saw the ring on Kimberly's finger. "I'm surprise you still wear that," he commented. Kimberly nodded and started to play with it.
"Even though we're not together and we haven't seen him in years, I still miss him and I still love him," she answered.
Jason kissed the side of her head. "By the way, what you said earlier about finding my own place. I was going to tell you that I had found a place of my own. JJ and I will be moving in a few weeks," he informed.
"That's great, I mean you guys are starting over with your lives. You two deserve it," she told him.
Jason nodded. "Kimberly, if anyone here that deserved the chance to start over was you. Look what you did for yourself and for your kids," he commented. Kimberly nodded and she looked up when Kylie came running through the door.
"Uncle Jason, JJ fell," she informed.
Jason got up and hurried outside.
JJ was sitting on the ground and they noticed that JJ wasn't wearing his knee gear. "JJ why did you take your knee pads off?" He asked.
"Because I thought I could do it without them," JJ replied.
Kimberly walked over to them. "JJ, you know you're not supposed to do that. Kylie doesn't do it," Kimberly commented. JJ glared at Kimberly
"YOU'RE NOT MY MOM!" He shouted.
He got up and ran inside. Jason sighed and looked at Kimberly. "Sorry," he apologized. Kimberly shook her head.
"It's okay," she assured him.
"I'll go talk to him."
Jason got up from the ground and went to follow his son.
JJ was trying to put a band aid on his knee when Jason came in. "What was all that about out there?" He asked.
"What?" JJ asked.
"You know what. What was that treating your Aunt Kim like that?"
"She's not my mom and I don't want her to be."
Jason looked at his son confused and he chuckled. "Son, Aunt Kim's my best friend, she's my little sister to me. She won't be your mom," he assured her.
"Then why did we move in with them?" He asked.
Jason smiled and whispered into his son's ear. "Because since Blake and Hunter are out doing their thing, your Aunt Kim and your cousins need a couple of men in the house," he replied. Kimberly laughed and shook her head.
"I think the girls and I can handle ourselves," she commented.
Jason took care of JJ's knee and the young boy walked over to Kimberly. "I'm sorry Aunt Kim," he apologized. Kimberly picked JJ up with a smile.
"I'll never, ever replace your mother," she assured him.
JJ hugged his aunt back with a smile.
(Thunder Ninja Academy)
Hunter was finished teaching his students and knew that Tori would be done by now so he called her. "Hello?" Tori answered.
"Hey, Tor," Hunter greeted.
"Hey, Hunter. How's your wrist?"
"Getting better. I'm still able to teach with it."
"Good."
They were silent for a minute. "Hunter…I think we shouldn't tell Blake," she stated. Hunter nodded his head.
"I don't think we should either," he agreed.
"I know that he's the one that broke up with me."
"But he'll still think I betrayed him."
"Yeah."
Hunter let out a sigh. "Tori, tell me the truth, what did you see when we met at Storm Chargers?" He asked. Tori smiled on her end.
"I thought…I thought that you were the most perfect guy I have ever seen. Kind…cute…and all of the above, but for some reason I had thought all that with Blake too," she explained.
Hunter nodded and saw that it was getting late. "I should go," Tori stated.
"Yeah," he agreed.
"I love you Hunter Hart."
"I love you too Tori Hanson."
They hung up and Hunter lied back on his bed and looked at the ceiling with a smile on his face before falling asleep.
