Author's Note: Hey guys, I'm back with the second-to-last chapter and I hope you're excited to find out what's going to happen next. Before I start this chapter though, I'm a little interested to see if you guys can answer this question in your review:
In this fanfic, there were several background characters that did not come from Power Rangers that were mentioned in this story. Here's a hint: out of all the characters I threw into the story, they came from Days of our Lives and the popular PlayStation game Tekken. Name two characters from each category and you have a say-so in the sequel I plan on writing for this story! If you can name all the characters and where they came from, you'll have an even bigger hand in what happens in the sequel :D
Now that I have that little task out of the way, let's get on with the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers, any of the series or any of the characters. Also, the storyline of this fanfic was inspired by the 2009-2010 storyline of the hit NBC soap opera Days of our Lives, so I can't take credit for the entire thing; but parts that I created myself or changed to my liking and all the characters that I made up for my own specific purpose I can take credit for. So, no stealing!
"End of the Road"
Katherine continued running down Kimberly's block as Collin shouted after her. She could hear sirens in the distance, alerting her that the authorities had already been alerted. It wouldn't be too long now and it would all be over for her; but until then, she was going to keep running.
She reached the end of the block in five minutes and cut around the left corner before running across the street and ducking into an alleyway. She looked behind her to check for Collin but he was nowhere in sight. However, she was proven wrong when she exited the alley and he jumped out, grabbing hold of her and pinning her to the brick wall of the building they were standing behind.
Katherine thrashed in his grasp as she shouted and pleaded for him to release her, but his hold only tightened.
"Katherine, would you calm down for a sec and please explain to me what's going on?" he said trying to stay calm. She was obviously having a breakdown and he was unsure as to why. Tommy had told her to tell him the truth and she'd ran. What more did she have to tell him?
"Collin, let me go." She begged as she tried to pry his hands off her. "Please let me go!"
"Not a chance." He spoke calmly. "I won't release you until you tell me what's going on."
Katherine stopped thrashing at the sound of the sirens growing closer. "I don't have much time." She muttered under her breath as her eyes moved towards the street in search of a trooper's car. "The authorities are coming for me."
Collin raised an eyebrow. "How can you be so sure of that?"
"I've done some horrible things Collin, as you already know. The police know the truth and now…it's all over for me. I can't believe it's come down to this. I was so sure I had done the right thing and…"
"Katherine…what was Tommy referring to back at Kimberly's when he told you to tell me the truth?"
Katherine's eyes moved up slowly to meet his. "He wanted you to know the truth about Neveah…your daughter."
Collin scoffed at her words. "Neveah is not my daughter."
"Yes she is!" Katherine snapped.
"Katherine, you told me that you got Neveah from Julia through some sort of illegal adoption. I am not that baby's father."
"Stop saying that!" Katherine shouted. "You don't know the entire truth."
"Then enlighten me Katherine because I don't seem to understand what you're talking about."
Katherine took a deep breath. "Neveah…she's your daughter…and Kimberly's."
Collin stared blankly at her. "That can't be. Grace was our daughter."
"No she wasn't." Katherine said as she wiped at her face with her hands to remove her drying tears. "I found out months ago that Kimberly was pregnant after eavesdropping on a conversation between Billy, Jason and Trini. I then found out where she was while eavesdropping on a phone conversation between Adam and Tommy while Kimberly was in the witness protection program. That's how I ended up finding out where she was and…that's how I developed this plan of mine."
Collin stared at her in shock. "What did you do?" he demanded.
"The right thing!" Katherine protested. "I concocted this whole little plan so you could have the child you so rightfully deserved. I found Julia online and got in touch with Doctor Sun-"
"The two intruders at our wedding?" Collin said as he finally began to realize just how much of the past year had truly been a lie.
"Just as I told you last night Collin, I was devastated after losing our little girl and I couldn't bear to tell you the truth. I was hurting out of grief, so I found out about Doctor Sun's…baby broking business and I set an appointment to meet with a client, Julia. I thought everything was going great until I overheard Jason and them talking about…well, you know. I ended up following the lead I gained from Adam's conversation and went to the convent Kimberly was at. I saw for myself that she was indeed pregnant and it made my blood boil at the thought that she was carrying your baby and keeping it a secret when I had lost ours. So I developed a plan."
Katherine stared at Collin who was looking back at her, his mouth agape.
"I told Sister Teresa, Kimberly's adviser, that Kimberly should deliver at Doctor Sun's clinic stationed in Reefside."
"That's…where you had me go when you claimed you'd given birth to Neveah." Collin said slowly.
Katherine nodded. "I never expected for Kimberly and Julia to go into labor on the same day, but it happened and I had no time to lose. Kimberly was at the convent having her baby and I delivered Julia's at her house before taking her baby…Grace to the clinic. I then…paid Doctor Sun to switch Julia's baby with Kimberly's giving her Julia's baby and giving you what you so rightfully deserve…your daughter."
Collin stepped back and leaned against the wall as he struggled to catch his breath. All this time, he really was raising his daughter. Katherine had developed this master plan not only to keep her secret, but to give him the daughter that he never would've gotten the chance to raise had Kimberly succeeded with her plan.
"So you see Collin, I did this for you honey." Katherine smiled through the tears that were streaming down her cheeks. "I love you so much and I was willing to make you happy. I gave you your daughter, and I would do it again in a heartbeat."
Collin lifted his head until their eyes met before walking over to her and cupping her face gently with his hands.
"You did this for me?" he whispered.
Katherine let out a watery chuckle. "Yes Collin. Everything I did was because I love you."
Katherine gasped as Collin's hands tightened around her face and leaned dangerously close to hers, their noses practically touching.
"You are going to pay for what you've done." He said in a threatening tone. "Do you hear me Katherine? You are going to pay for the hell you have put me through."
Collin looked away from Katherine as the sound of sirens could be heard all around. Katherine tried to make another break for it, but she was stopped as two officers came up behind her and grabbed hold of her. One officer held her tight as she sobbed uncontrollably as the other officer proceeded to handcuff her while reciting her rights.
Katherine continued to sob as she stared at Collin, her hair a blonde mess as her bangs stuck to her wet face. She truly looked miserable.
Collin watched as Katherine's sobbing slowed down, her eyes focused on something at the opposite end of the alley. He turned his head in the direction she was staring off into and gasped, his mouth falling open.
Kimberly and Tommy were walking into the alley cautiously, Neveah being held securely in Kimberly's arms. The two of them stopped walking and stared angrily at Katherine whose eyes were focused on Neveah in Kimberly's arms.
"Neveah?" they all heard Collin say. Everyone's eyes turned to Collin who had tears in his own eyes as he stared at the little girl who just minutes ago he thought wasn't his own. "She's-"
"Our daughter." Kimberly cut him off as she nuzzled her cheek against Neveah's brown curls. "She was yours all along and you still…"
"May I hold her…please?" Collin asked as he stared at her.
Kimberly looked up at Tommy who sighed and nodded. Kimberly closed the space between them and said something sweet to her daughter before handing her to Collin. His face lit up instantly at the sight of his daughter.
"Hi sweetheart." Collin cooed as he held out a finger for Neveah to grab onto. "I've missed you so much. Look…I know you may not understand what I'm saying, but please understand this. I have always loved you. Everything I did yesterday…was because I was afraid at the thought of you not being my daughter. I was scared of having you in my life without knowing whether you were truly mine or not."
"Collin, it shouldn't have mattered whether or not she was your daughter." Kimberly spoke up, gaining his attention. "You have been in Neveah's life since the day she came into this world and for you to just kick her out at the slightest thought that she wasn't yours…that's basically like you denied the fact that you loved her. Look, I understand you wanting to kick Katherine out of your life after everything she's done to you, but Neveah…she was an innocent little baby in all of this. She couldn't help herself out of the situation that Katherine and I put her in. I'm not trying to place all the blame on Katherine, because some of what happened is my fault. I was afraid of letting another child into your life out fear that they would grow up to be like you and your father but I know now that it shouldn't matter. The love that I saw you demonstrate towards Neveah before I even knew she was mine is what made me push all my feelings aside and see who you truly are. You are a kind, loving and an amazing father to Jacob and to her. It was wrong of me to try and keep her from you."
Collin nodded as he took in her words. "I understand that I'm not perfect Kimberly. No parent is. I was angry with you over Grace's death, a child that we had both believed to be ours. Now that I know she wasn't mine…I have some sense of comfort with knowing that our daughter was never dead in the first place."
Collin turned to Katherine and glared at her tear-covered face. "Do you see what you have done? Your lies and your scheming made us grieve over a child that isn't ours. You're lying and scheming caused hatred between us."
Tommy turned to the two officers who he obviously knew from the station. "Take her away." He commanded.
"No, please!" Katherine shouted as she struggled against them, stopping them from moving. "Just please…let me say goodbye to her."
Collin and Kimberly exchanged glances before Kimberly gave a brief nod. "Make it quick." She muttered as Collin walked over to Katherine and stood in front of her so she could see her.
"Hi sweetheart." Katherine smiled. "I know you must hate seeing your mommy…I mean…me like this. Neveah, just remember one thing. I love you and I always will honey. You made my life worth waking up to every morning. You truly were the only ray of sunshine in this dark life of mine."
Katherine took a few steps forward and gave the baby a kiss on her cheek before looking up Collin. He glared at her before turning away and walking to Tommy and Kimberly. The three of them watched as Katherine sobbed before being pushed into the back of the cruiser. The officers then sped out of sight.
"Well, I'm glad that's over." Tommy said with a sigh of relief. "Now, we only have one more thing to worry about."
Kimberly and Collin nodded as they looked down at Neveah.
"I was going to suggest that she stay with me since it's a familiar environment to her." Collin spoke. Kimberly's eyes widened at his request. "Just hang on a second Kimberly, you haven't let me finish yet. I was going to say…maybe we should just come to a shared custody agreement just like we have with Jacob."
Kimberly nodded. "It's what's best. I have to…get to know my own daughter after spending so many months away from her. It's almost like she's a complete stranger to me."
Collin smiled as he passed Neveah to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'd like to help the two of you become more acquainted." He said with a genuine smile on his face. "After all, I do know her like the cover of a book. It shouldn't be too hard for you to get into the swing of things."
"So…does this mean we're calling a truce?" she questioned him, unsure if his act of kindness was genuine or not.
Collin chuckled before nodding. "Kimberly, a truce would be nice. Although I'm never going to forgive you for the decision you made of concealing your pregnancy…I do understand why you did it."
Tommy smiled as he took Kimberly's free hand. "Let's go tell Jason and the others." He said with a smile. "I'm sure they'll be glad to hear the news."
"Collin, would you like to join us?" Kimberly asked. "Jacob's with them and I'm sure he's dying to tell you all about his day."
Collin smiled before nodding. "I'd like that very much."
Angel Grove Police Department
Katherine sat on the cot in her cell with her arms wrapped tightly around her, tears on her face. She jumped in surprise as she heard the door open on the other side of the room. She began trembling at the sight of Julia glaring at her with red puffy eyes.
"You lied to me." Were the first words that slipped out of her mouth.
Katherine sighed before averting her gaze to the floor. "I know." She whispered.
"How could you do that to me Katherine?" she shouted, her voice echoing loudly off the walls. "I trusted you when I agreed to give you my daughter. You promised me that she would be safe with you and that she would have a good life, a good home and a wonderful family to look after her and care for her, but I was a fool. I was a damn fool for trusting you!"
"No Julia, you weren't." Katherine said as she jumped up from the cot and ran over to the bars of the holding cell, her fingers wrapping around the cold iron tight. "You did what you thought was best for your baby."
"But what I did wasn't right for her Katherine! My baby is dead and it's all your fault! Now it's all making sense to me. You drug me into Grace's room when she was dying and let me hold her and told me that you would never let anything like that happen to my daughter! The irony of it all is sickening because that little girl that was dying in my arms was my daughter!"
Julia's screams echoed loudly off the walls making Katherine tremble with sadness.
"You are one sick twisted bitch Katherine." She spat as she glared at her. "I thought you were my friend, someone I could trust…but you just used me as a pawn in your little game just like my daughter. You traded her off and now…she's gone. She's buried in a grave where you'll be someday. The only difference is I know she's in a better place where you…I know you'll be burning in a never ending pit of fire in the deepest part of hell for what you've done."
Julia turned on her heels and stormed out of the room, her pigtails being the last thing Katherine caught eye of before the door slammed. She then slid onto her knees and rested her head against the bars and cried.
As Julia stepped out of the police station, she began crying. She felt so foolish for ever trusting Katherine and look at where it got her.
Just as she prepared to cross the street to head for the bus stop, she heard a car door slam followed by her name being called. She looked up and sighed sadly as Steve approached her.
"Is it true?" he asked, his voice sounding strained as he tried to suppress his tears. "Is everything that I heard on the radio true?"
Julia nodded as she blinked a few more tears free. "I'm sorry." She choked out. "I honestly had no idea that Katherine had switched the babies."
"So…our daughter's really dead then?"
Julia nodded another time as she wiped at her mascara. "I'm so sorry for everything I've done Steve. I should've just owned up to my responsibilities and raised Grace myself. Then, she wouldn't have been passed off to Kimberly and maybe…just maybe she'd still be alive today."
Julia broke down and Steve didn't hesitate to take her into his arms. He tried to hush her as he rubbed her back comfortingly resting his head upon hers.
"You didn't know." He said. "Besides, you're not the one who needs to be apologizing right now. I am."
Julia lifted her head to stare into his eyes. "Just what do you have to be sorry for?" she asked. "You're the whole reason any of this stuff came to light. I should be thanking you for going to get that custody order, even if it wasn't valid."
"Julia, it's not about that. I'm sorry that I didn't try harder to get in touch with you. I'm sorry for leaving you without any explanation of what happened. Sure, my parents shipped me off last minute, but I could have wrote to you or something. The fact that I left without a word left you under the impression that I didn't care about you and that is not true at all. Everything I said to you that night at Lover's Peak…I meant it from the bottom of my heart Julie Bug. I love you."
Julia smiled at his words and stood up on her toes to press her lips to his. His apology was more than enough for her to believe. Now, the two of them could be together like they were meant to be and face this hardship together.
Billy's House
"So…this is for real?" Trini asked as she stared at Neveah in Kimberly's arms. "She's really your daughter."
"She is." Kimberly smiled as she played with Neveah's feet. "Tommy has DNA evidence and a documented confession from Doctor Sun about the whole thing. Katherine paid the man to switch mine and Julia's babies so she could have Collin's daughter."
"The woman is insane." Jason said. "How could she do something so reckless?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually feel bad for her."
Everyone stared at Kimberly with wide eyes.
"What do you mean you feel bad for her?" Collin questioned. "She's a mad woman Kimberly. You know that better than anyone."
"You guys, she was so heartbroken when she lost that baby. You should've seen the look on her face when she told me what she went through earlier today. The fact that she isn't supposed to be able have children really kills her and her baby really was a miracle. I think losing that baby sent her into a mode of insanity. Trust me, there is no pain worse than losing a child. You can at least admit that Collin."
The man sighed at her words but nodded in agreement. "You do have a point, but still. Why did she have to do this?"
"Because she loved you and wanted to do what I was afraid to do all along." Kimberly admitted. "To give you your own child."
"Well, we don't have to worry about that now." Tommy smiled. "Neveah is back where she belongs, with her family and friends."
Everyone nodded in agreement before gathering around the little girl to continue their reunion.
Police Station
When the door opened a second time, Katherine didn't even bother to look up from her place on the cot. Instead, she lay there motionless as the sound of boots thudding against the floor echoed off the surrounding walls.
"So it is true." A voice greeted her ears.
Katherine's heart skipped a beat at the sound of the deep voice that warmed her heart and made her feel safe. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself up into a sitting position and turned to dangle her legs over the side of the cot. Rocky was standing on the other side of the cell bars this time, his mouth in a thin line, his eyes hard and cold.
"I tried to tell you earlier today," she admitted, "but your phone call from Tanya sent me into a mode of panic."
"So…that's why you asked me if I still loved you." He said with realization. "You wanted to know if I would still love you even after I knew the truth that you had switched Kimberly and Julia's babies."
Katherine nodded. "Rocky…you've always been able to see the real me. You always look past the filth and the lies that cover me to see the girl that you long for me to be. But Rocky…no matter how hard I try to do the right thing and be the girl you seem to idolize in me…I can't do it. Let's face it, I'm the scum of the earth in everyone's eyes. I have no friends, I no longer have a family and I lost Neveah. Whether she was my daughter by blood or not, she was mine. And now…I have nothing."
"Katherine, that's not true." Rocky said.
Katherine jumped off the cot and walked over to the bars so that their eyes could me. "Then please Rocky, enlighten me. I don't see anything worth living for anymore. I'm going to spend the rest of my life behind bars in a prison cell because of what I've done. Kidnapping is a serious offense. And even if I do get out, what then? I still won't have anything."
"Would you stop saying something that isn't true!" Rocky snapped.
Katherine stared at him with narrowed eyes as she tried to understand. "Rocky…what do I possibly have to live for?"
Rocky slid his hand through the bars of the cell and grabbed hold of hers before giving it a tight squeeze. "You have me." He said as though it were obvious.
Katherine's mouth fell open as it began moving as it tried to form words.
"A-After everything I've done…" she stammered. "You're still my friend? But why?"
"It's just like you said to me earlier today." He smiled. "That's what you're supposed to do when you love someone."
Katherine felt tears feel her eyes at his words. "You still…?"
"You defend them and accept them for who they are, the good things and the bad things. More importantly, you're supposed to fight for the ones you love. You don't just let them go because they want you out of their lives." He finished as he quoted her word for word.
"That's what you said to me when you asked me if I still loved you. Katherine…In spite of the horrible things you've done, I still see that deep down inside…you only did those things because you cared. Losing your daughter really hurt you, I can see it in your eyes. You only did what you did to hold on to a guy that didn't deserve you. Yes, I am hurt and yes I'm angry that you put Kimberly through all this hell, but in spite of all that…I can't deny how I feel about you. I love you Katherine, and nothing is ever going to change that."
Katherine's smile widened at his words and she squeezed his hand tight. "Rocky…thank you."
He smiled back at her. "When you get out of here, you know where I'll be."
She nodded as a few more tears made their way down her face as she watched Rocky make his exit from the room.
Katherine walked across her cell and sat back on the cot before lying down to stare up at the ceiling. With a smile she whispered his name before sleep over came her.
Later that evening: Kimberly's House
Kimberly smiled down at Neveah's sleeping form as she covered her with a blanket. The little girl's eyes were closed peacefully as she sucked away on her pacifier.
"Neveah's sleepy." Jacob giggled from his place on top of Tommy's shoulders.
"Yeah she is buddy." Tommy agreed as he tickled the boy, earning a few giggles. "Come on, let's get you all tucked in for the night."
Jacob responded with a nod as Tommy took him off his shoulders and placed him on the floor. The little boy took off towards his bedroom leaving Tommy and Kimberly alone. Kimberly sighed as she reached into the crib and stroked Neveah's cheek.
"What are you thinking about?" Tommy questioned as he watched her with a smile on his face.
"Tommy…I can't thank you enough for everything that you did for me today." She said before looking away from Neveah to face him. "You truly came through for me."
"I just couldn't help myself." He admitted. "Ever since the first day we met, I've felt inclined to help you in any way I can. You see, all those months we spent in the safe house, this little angel is who was inside you, not Grace. It was only right that I put things back the way they should have been all along. Grace will never be forgotten and neither will Neveah."
Kimberly smiled before walking over to him and wrapping her arms around him. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Tommy leaned downward and captured Kimberly's lips in a passionate kiss. Just as they prepared to break for air, Jacob's call for a bedtime story reached their ears. The two of them laughed before exiting to attend to the boy.
Things all began to fall into place after that night. Katherine was charged with kidnapping in the first degree and was given the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. She was to be released at the age of forty. Everyone who had been affected by her scheming was at the trial all the way from Rocky, to Collin, to Kimberly and all the way to Julia and Steve. They all watched straight-faced as she gave her testimony and plead guilty to the charges made against her. She shed a few tears at the sight of Neveah being held in Kimberly's arms in the courtroom, but shed none as the officers of the court led her away to serve time in Alcatraz prison of San Francisco.
Jason and Trini wed in October that year. The wedding was vibrant and beautiful, the bride and groom choosing red and yellow as their primary colors for the wedding. Jason chose Tommy as his best man, being that the two of them had grown rather close after their first meeting. The two them even planned on opening a small dojo to train their own martial arts students in the art of self-defense. Kimberly, of course, was the matron of honor and she wore a beautiful yellow dress at the alter to honor her friends' favorite color. Of course, Trini couldn't convince her to wear it without a pink flower tucked into her hair. Jacob was the ring bearer and one of Trini's nieces was the flower girl. The wedding was beautiful and was truly one to remember.
Billy ended up becoming a forensic analyst for the Angel Grove Police department due to his amount of genius. He solved crimes faster than one could take their socks off. He and Tommy also became good friends while working in the unit.
Adam eventually got over Tommy's betrayal and also became good friends with him. He also kept up his friendship with Collin. He and Tanya made the decision to leave Angel Grove and move to Los Angeles for the seek of adventure. Last anyone had heard, Tanya was expecting another baby.
Aisha ended up moving back to Angel Grove a few months after Tanya and Adam's departure. She was hired at the local vet were she used to volunteer in high school. She was eager to work with animals and give them good homes. Kimberly was ecstatic to have her back.
Collin never went back on his truce with Kimberly, in spite of his father's protests. He ended up moving out of the Ignalis Mansion to show Kimberly that he could pull away from his family ties and be the good father she knew he was capable of being. He moved into a small town house with his new love interest Hope. The two of them were getting along quite nicely and Hope and Kimberly even seemed to get along. Jacob and Neveah stayed with Collin on weekends and grew to love their new lives.
Steve and Julia decided to stay in Angel Grove to remain close to the daughter that neither of them got the chance to know. They stayed together to help each other through such a hard time and their relationship strengthened because of it. The two of them ended up attending Angel Grove High School for their senior year and they decided to put education before anything with hopes of attending a good school someday.
As for Kimberly and Tommy, things couldn't be better for the two of them. They continued living in Kimberly's home together loving life and living it to the fullest extent. Tommy got a promotion at the police department when Adam left and became the commander in chief. With him leading the department, crime rates in Angel Grove had especially decreased. Kimberly continued teaching gymnastics down at the Youth Center but she ended up getting a coaching job for the community gymnastics team and she loved every minute of it. Most importantly, Kimberly and Neveah had developed a special bond that couldn't be broken. By her first birthday in January of the following year, Neveah knew who her true mother was and could proudly say "momma" with the slightest ease.
As for Katherine, her life behind bars still continued on, but the sentence was made easier by her weekly visits from Rocky. Even though she was locked behind bars, his love for her managed to reach her in every possible way giving her hope that one day they could truly be reunited.
Everything in Angel Grove was as it should be and hopefully, it would stay that way forever.
Author's Note: And so ends the final chapter of this story before the epilogue! I am sad to say that this story is almost over. I want to thank each and every one of you for hanging on for this bumpy ride but it was all worth it in the end, was it not? Lol
Anyways, go ahead and leave me a review along with the answers from the questions I asked at the top of the page. Remember, you'll have a say in what happens in the sequel!
The next chapter is the final chapter, but it's the epilogue that I hope you guys will enjoy. So, keep your eyes peeled for that and I'll see you at the next and FINAL update! :D
