Rated M for Everything. Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.

Please Read and Review.

-x-

CHAPTER EIGHT

It's the Right Word to Use

Tommy's House

Sunday, July 1st, 1:06pm

Reefside, CA

2010

"Kimbree!"

"Hey hold on a minute, bud. We don't know—"

Miles scrambled up from his fort and ran out of his bedroom. Tommy sighed as he paused the movie they were watching and made to stand. It was most likely Kim. But it was probably time for another Stranger Danger discussion with his child. Running straight for the door every time someone came to the house, not so good.

True, he lived out in the middle of nowhere, and only three other people currently had a key. He checked his phone. She'd been gone nearly fours. Maybe more, depending on when she'd actually left that morning. He heard her greet Miles as he slowly entered the living room.

"Hi, honey."

"I sleep at Gamma's and we came back."

Kim laughed. She'd seen Patricia's note from last night on the kitchen table when she'd left this morning.

"Did you have fun with Gamma?"

Mile nodded. "Saba can't…umm…he has to sit in a chair and he has to go easy cause Gamma make him mad."

Kim eyed him. "Wait—sorry. Did you say Saba?"

"Saba means grandpa in Hebrew."

Her eyes shot up to see Tommy. He leaned up against the recliner, his arms folded across his chest.

Kim frowned in confusion. "I thought your parents were Scottish."

Tommy snickered. Adoptive parents, but sure. Which meant he wasn't. He knew he wasn't. And no one in the mix was Jewish, but whatever. If she wanted to stall the inevitable conversation they needed to have about their fight last night, fine. He'd humor her.

Tommy shrugged. "It was the easiest word he could say. I thought it was funny. It stuck."

Kim managed a small chuckle. Miles looked in between them.

"Kimbree you want watch movie? Big bird's got…to the dodos house."

Kim smiled back at him. "Maybe in a minute, ok? I need to talk to your daddy first."

Ah. There we go. No more stalling.

Miles looked back at Tommy. "But he's we are watching."

Tommy swooped and hoisted the boy into his arms. "Tell you what bud. You finish the movie, and if you're hungry by the end of it, we can have anything you want, ok? I can make it, or we can go out. Whaddya say?"

Miles nodded. "Big Surf!"

Tommy groaned. "Okay, well, finish the movie first and then we'll renegotiate, yeah?"

Miles only understood half of that. Tommy set him down and watched as the boy ran back to his room.

He turned back to look at Kim. She motioned for his bedroom. He nodded.

He took a seat on his bed as Kim shut the door, leaning against it.

"So, where'd you go?" He asked.

She shrugged. "Drove around for a bit. Went to the mall…" her voice was tentative, shy.

He recalled the lack of bags when she'd returned. "And you didn't buy anything?" He snickered. "That's a first."

She fidgeted, she spared him a bashful grin. "They're still in the car..."

He sneered. "Well, glad you weren't too upset to still go shopping."

She scowled. The gentleness in her voice turning low and aggravated. "What are we doing?"

He blinked. "What do you mean—"

"Are we not gonna talk this out? You still in asshole mode?"

He scoffed, "Wow. Ok."

"Are you not going to apologize—"

He glared at her. "I already did! What about you? Are you gon—"

She pushed off the door. "I have nothing to—"

He stood up. "Bullshit. I am not taking the hit for this alone."

She snickered. "Oh, so now I'm the bad guy?"

He pointed an accusatory hand at her. "I already said I was sorry about going all macho cave man, ok? But I will not apologize for wanting to protect you."

She was piking toward him, her torso lurching forward in frustration. "That's not why I got mad and you don't have to protect me!"

Well, this was off to a great start.

He cracked his knuckles. Nodding impatiently. "I got jealous. That Rob guy was clearly hitting on you and I didn't like it. I got mad cause it felt like you were flirting with him in front of me on purpose."

She scowled. "You're literally just telling me what you did."

He balked. "I'm admitting I was jealous!"

She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Big fucking deal. I already knew that!"

He shook his head furiously. "I don't know what you want from me. I said I was sorry. I said I was jealous. I said it was stupid—Jesus. What do you want me to say? I mean like, actually tell me. The actual words."

Her eyes screwed shut as she ran her hands through her hair. She sighed audibly, looking back at him.

"I'm not—I'm not going anywhere."

He frowned. "What?"

She tried again. She looked at him pitifully, motioning between them. "This—whatever this is—whatever is happening with us again, I'm not—I'm not just—I want to—I think I want to—"

He leapt off the bed, closing the gap between them and grabbed her hands. "Kim—"

She stared at his hands holding hers. "I know we haven't talked about it. Maybe you don't even want that but—this isn't just about sleeping together again—"

He nodded, sparing her a charmed smile. "I know it's not. But, are you—what are you saying? You want to like, date again?"

She grimaced. "God, it sounds so stupid out loud…"

He chuckled. His thumbs ran across the back of her hands. "I know it's more than sex. It's never been just about that. I mean, the sex is…fantastic but—"

She shot him a pathetic look. He ran a hand along her cheek. His face turned slightly worried.

"We like each other too much for it to ever just be about that. Don't we?"

She bit her lip. He laughed softly. He tucked a hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry I doubted you," he said. He wasn't sure where the words had come from suddenly. But in that moment, he realized that's probably what she'd been needing to hear.

She blinked back her watery eyes. "Thank you. I'm sorry too. I know you were just looking out for me."

"I know you can take care of yourself," he said. "But that doesn't mean I still won't try to come to your rescue. I can't help it."

She smiled. "I know. Just, maybe wait until I'm actually in trouble next time?"

He pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapped about her shoulders. "I'll try."

Kim encircled her arms around his waist. "So we still like each other, huh?"

He laughed. He kissed the top of her head. "Like a pair of dummies."

She snorted, closing her eyes as she squeezed him tighter. They stayed quiet for a few moments more. Silently comforted in each other's embrace.

Kim opened her eyes. "Let's just say we definitely have relations?"

Tommy laughed wildly. "I'm never gonna let you live that down, ya know."

Kim gritted her teeth. "I was trying to let you down gently."

He smiled, pulling back to look at her. "Still see me as a brother?"

She rolled her eyes. "You know I never did."

-x-

Big Surf

Sunday, July 1st, 3:17pm

Reefside, CA

2010

"That's her. Sophia Lin Park."

"Oh my goodness, look at her! She is amazing!" Kim fawned as she held Katherine's phone in her hands.

Kat leaned over to scroll to the next photo, "Isn't she gorgeous? Look at this one!"

Trini bent over Kim's shoulder and swooned. "Oh, she's so tiny!" she said.

Aisha pressed up against the other side of Kim in her seat. "Is it weird that I can totally see both of them in her already?" she said.

The guys rolled their eyes and laughed as the girls continued to coo over the pictures Kat had taken.

"How are they doing?" Jason asked.

Rocky nodded. "Adam was over the moon. I don't think I've ever seen him that happy."

"Or exhausted," Billy added. "Though I imagine his weariness was far less significant than Tanya's."

Rocky waved him off. "Nah. Tanya's tougher than all of us. Adam said he'd never seen such strength and courage."

Tommy nodded. "It is pretty amazing to watch. I think I get why they're the ones who give birth," he said, nudging his chin toward the women. "I couldn't do it."

Jason laughed. "No doubt. Trini was in labor for 14 hours. No way I could wait that long. I'd be up in there with a pulley or like dangling a carrot just to tempt them out."

The guys laughed at the image Jason conjured.

"And congrats too you as well, Rocko," Zack said, "Godfather."

Rocky beamed. The guys groaned. They knew it was coming. "You don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me Godfather. Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you ask me to do murder, for money."

The girls looked up as they heard the guys' laughter. Aisha threw her napkin at Rocky. "That's your one for the day."

"Kat, Godmother, congratulations to you too," Zack offered, raising his glass.

"Thank you." Kat raised her glass in return, "I don't have quite the same luxury as Rocky, so I'll just say, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo."

The rest of the table raised the drinks. "To Adam and Tanya and Sophia Lin!"

Tommy scanned the play area where his mom was keeping an eye on Miles and the twins.

"I think we should relieve my mother now," he said, moving to stand. Jason looked back in the same direction. He nodded, pushing out from his seat.

"You got it."

"So, Rocko," Zack said, "You and Aisha thought about kids?"

Aisha looked up. "Oh, I think this one is a big enough kid for the both of us, don't you?"

Rocky scoffed. "Hey, I would make an awesome dad, I'll have you know. I am the oldest of seven kids, and now I've been an uncle four times over. I know how to cook, I am physically fit, and I'm fucking hysterical."

The table laughed. Rocky preened as their reaction only served to prove his point. Aisha shook her head and leaned over to kiss him gently.

"You would make an awesome dad, I have no doubt."

"So let's go, right now. You wanna make babies? Let's go, let's do this."

Aisha giggled. "Hold on there, cowboy. I'm perfectly happy with our lives right now. There is no rush here."

Rocky turned serious suddenly. "You sure? Cause, I do want kids, you know. I hope I didn't make you think I didn't. I know I'm a big goof off, most of the time, but I really do think I'd be a great dad. And I'd do everything I can to make you happy."

Zack and Billy blushed at Rocky's earnestness. Aisha had never looked so in love.

The girls had long abandoned Kat's phone and photos to eavesdrop. Trini's nails were digging into Kim's shoulders. Kim didn't care, she was nearly in tears. Kat was practically swooning.

"I love you so much, you big idiot," Aisha blurted out, pulling him closer to kiss him soundly.

Zack whistled as Billy ducked his head out of propriety. Kat clutched Kat's hand as Trini started clapping. Jason and Tommy approached the table, kids in tow, as Aisha and Rocky ended the lip lock.

Jason snickered, taking note of everyone's reactions. Tommy looked a bit lost. He readjusted Miles on his hip.

"What'd we miss?" he wondered.

Jason smirked. "Should someone tell Rocky he doesn't have to propose after he's already married?"

Rocky shot a look over his shoulder at his predecessor. "You're lucky I'm too happy to fight with you right now."

Jason laughed as Trini came over to relieve him of the baby girl at his hip. Jason smiled down at his son before hoisting the boy up and leading him over to one of the high chairs at the table.

Tommy moved back to his seat, Miles positioned on his lap. Kim leaned over and kissed miles on the cheek. The boy giggled, wiping the kiss off his cheek. Kim balked.

"Oh! Did you just wipe off my kiss?" She feigned great offense.

Miles laughed some more. Tommy leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Kid doesn't know how good he's got it."

Tommy shot her a wink. Kim rolled her eyes as she glanced around. "Where is your mom?"

Tommy nudged his chin back toward the play area. "She wanted to call my dad. Check in."

Kim nodded. "He doing okay?" She looked back down at Miles. "Is Saba doing okay?"

Miles smiled. "Saba had…uh….Gamma gave him in the butt."

Tommy snickered as Kim laughed wildly. "Oh, well, sounds like Saba is doing very well…"

Tommy shook his head, and looked down at his son. "What are they teaching you at Gamma and Saba's, huh?"

Miles laughed. He had no idea what his father meant. But the boy laughed hysterically anyway. Tommy squeezed the boy in his arms.

"Dare I even ask about you and Kat, Mr. Cranston?" Aisha wondered.

Kat blushed as Billy went pale. He straightened his glasses. "Why—what do you—"

Rocky chimed in, thumbing a finger at Zack, "Well, Mr. Minister of Slick over here ain't having any kids, and Tommy and Kim are probably already making a bunch like they think we don't know about it, so that only leaves you two."

Kim and Tommy looked up in collective shock as they heard their names. It did them no favors that they sat together with Tommy's son practically in between them, who looked so much like his father already. And with Kim's complexion, the boy could easily be mistaken for hers too.

They felt the need to defend themselves. Kim blustered. "What—what, what are you—"

Tommy tried to laugh. "Yeah, Kim and I aren't—hold on, Rocky—"

Billy sighed in relief that the focus had been taken off he and Kat's family planning. He shot a sad smile to his partner. Kat threw him a wink.

Rocky rolled his eyes as Kim and Tommy tried to lamely cover the sudden accusation. "Oh, whatever you two. You guys are clearly back together. I gotta tell ya, your subtly sucks."

Jason howled. "Wow. Well, you know if you're getting a lecture on subtly from Rocky…"

Tommy shot Jason a glare. He could have tried to deny Rocky's claim a bit harder.

Trini remained silent, trying to maintain some semblance of propriety.

Zack just smirked. He'd called it before Kim had even gotten into town for the summer. But then, Zack had always been a big champion of Kim and Tommy as a couple. He'd been one of the first people Kim had confided in when she'd first had a crush on the new kid, and Tommy had gone to Zack countless times for his advice on how to sweep Kim off her feet and ask her out properly. Long term, complicated dramatic romance wasn't really appealing to his own taste, but Zack knew his friends embraced it. And seeing as the rest of their group had all naturally stuck together and paired off, it only made sense that Kim and Tommy would complete the circle.

Aisha spared Kim a bashful smile, knowing full well that what her mouthy husband had said was basically true.

Kim shot Tommy a pitiful smile. Tommy sighed. He wasn't entirely sure why they were even trying to hide anything anymore. After their last conversation, they'd both basically said they'd wanted to try and date again. And they'd already been sleeping together for the last two weeks. They'd gone nearly everywhere together since the summer reunion had started, usually nominating to arrive at events with one another, sitting closely, sticking beside the other.

Kim reached a hand in front of Miles across the table, offering it to Tommy. He looked down and smiled, taking it in his own.

Kim bit her lip and smiled at the table. "Well, I guess this saves us any sort of big announcement…"

Tommy shot a pointed look at Rocky, "But we're not—" He tore his hand from Kim's to cover his son's ears. "We're not making a bunch of babies, I'll have you know."

Miles looked up at his dad as Tommy released the boy's ears. Rocky smiled at the toddler. "You don't know what that means anyway, do you?"

Miles laughed. "Your sutty sucks!"

Tommy rolled his eyes as the adults laughed at the audacity of the child. Jason and Trini unconsciously coddled their own children seated around the table, grateful the twins hadn't started parroting their conversations quite yet.

Kim shot Tommy a smile as he snickered. Well, one less secret to have to worry about, he supposed.

-x-

Tommy's House

Monday, July 2nd , 4:39am

Reefside, CA

2010

His head rested against her shoulder. She'd been quiet for too long.

"What are you thinking about?" he wondered aloud. His hands unconsciously splayed against her stomach.

She looked at him, thoughtfully but distractedly. She shook her head and smiled as she ran her hands through his hair. "Nothing. Nothing bad, I promise."

He didn't quite believe her. He sat up higher to face her better. "Hey. Kim, what is it?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing. It's just—something your mom said, the other day. How sad she got when we mentioned Tanya about to give birth. She had this face. It lasted maybe a second but—something that I recognized. I saw myself in her in that moment. Like, there was that part of her so sad for not having known what giving birth was like."

He eyed her carefully. "Are you? Sad?"

She shrugged. "Not all the time. But—yeah," she gave a tiny laugh. "I guess I am a little sad."

"I see you," he said. "I watch you with all the kids. I see how you get. You're amazing with them," he gave her a wistful smile.

She smiled too, though it hardly reached her eyes. Tommy went on.

"And with Miles. I mean I know I've said it before but I just—I mean, Kim. I can't tell enough you how happy it makes me to see you with him. Seriously. And to see how well you two get along it just—it does something to me."

She bit her lip, a sure sign she was actually listening. She spared him another smile, if only to acknowledge his kind sentiment.

"I adore them. All of them. I do. But sometimes—"

He nodded. "I know. I can see it in your face. You've been pretty preoccupied about the kids since you got here this summer."

She looked back at him. Scared to think she may have been projecting such an intimate feeling so plainly. "Have I?"

"Well, every time any of them are around, you're always one of the first ones to greet them, or ask to hold them. I don't think anyone minds. It's not a judgment, it's just an observation," he tried to assure her.

He caught her chin with his hand when she looked away, seemingly ashamed.

"You were glued to Tanya at the water park the other day. I was confused at first, cause I know you and Tanya haven't ever really been that close. And I remember thinking, what in the world do those two have so much to say to each other? But then I saw when she let you feel the baby. I saw your face light up. But there was this—I don't know, sadness there too," he snickered.

He gave her a crooked grin. "I wish I could find a better word for it but that's the best one I can think of."

She gave him a rueful smile. "No. It's the right word to use. You're right. Yeah, I guess I have been a little preoccupied. It's just—it's just something that seems to keep coming up in my life a lot recently."

She shrugged, pulling her chin away and laying one side of her face down on the pillow.

"I never paid it much mind before, you know? Like, I've always been good with kids, I adore kids. And for a long time, it wasn't even an issue. I could enjoy them from a distance, think they were cute or whatever. But then just go back to whatever else I was doing. But now, in the last few years or so, I find myself wondering, like—am I missing something? I see all my best friends, and their beautiful children. And I love being Aunt Kim, Godmother, all of that. But sometimes, I just—"

She had started to cry, he didn't know when. But her tears were sliding down her cheek. The pillowcase she laid on, damp from where the tears had landed. She sniffled, her nose slightly congested. Though she'd been speaking in soft tones, Tommy could hear the strain in her voice.

He looked back at her, concerned as much as he was empathetic. He ran his thumb over her exposed cheek, wiping off the tears that rested there. The other side of her face still trapped beneath the pillow.

"So that is something that you do want, then? You want to have kids?"

She shrugged. "I always thought I did, ya know, when I was younger. It was always like, a given. Like, duh, and a husband and a dog." she snickered.

He laughed too as she rolled her eyes at her childish recollections.

"But as I got older, and things in my life changed, my feelings and relationships changed, so did my expectations. But I was never too bothered or worried. I guess I just always thought I had time, ya know? And I don't even mean, like, my biological clock is ticking, or whatever. But I mean like, I always thought, eventually I'd end up with the man I love, whenever that happened. And we'd be together and we'd have kids, and we'd be a family."

Tommy nodded. He'd felt very much the same for a long time too. Taking for granted the possibility of not being with the woman for whom he'd long thought he'd be making those plans with.

Kim sighed. "But a huge part of this comes down to who I'm with. Which I know might sound awful but I just—I don't want to have a kid on my own. And I don't want a kid just for the sake of having children. I mean, I want—I want to have kids with someone I love, ya know? I want to know that he and I made this family together."

She looked back up at him and smiled. "But then I look at, like how you were raised, right?"

His brow furrowed. She sighed and snuck her hand out to smooth the crease he'd created on his forehead.

"How Patty and James adopted you as a baby and they are the most amazing parents in the world. And they raised the most amazing son. And I think, yeah. I could do that. I don't need to like, actually give birth to have a kid and a family and all that, right?"

Neither said anything. Though they were both certainly thinking it.

If the question of children was dependent on who Kim was with, the man she decided to spend her life with, well, Tommy was fairly certain he might have entered the race once more. But they hadn't actually talked about that.

In abstract terms they'd acknowledged that something was clearly evolving. But technically, they hadn't said it. They kept calling it this. The other day was the first time they'd used the phrase dating again. And they'd admitted to Rocky's unceremonious outing of their relationship. But neither of them had actually said it out loud.

And enjoying one another here in the present was something altogether different than deciding that all this meant there was a future.

That they had reconnected with the intent to have a future.

Tommy sighed. The weight of whatever they'd collectively been thinking gnawing at him.

He rolled onto his back and covered his face with his arm.

"Heather's pregnant."

Kim stared back at him in shock. "What?"

He sighed. "That's what the—the voicemail I got at the diner. She's pregnant. And Greg he—I guess wants to marry her, and she wants to marry him. And she wants to renegotiate our custody terms after their baby is born."

Kim propped her head up in her hand. "What do you—what do you mean renegotiate? Does she want to take Miles or—"

He pulled his arm away from his face and sat up fully. "I don't know. She didn't say. She might try to take Miles, she might want me to take him, I don't know."

Kim sat up as well, resting on her haunches. She stared at her lap dumbly. "She's pregnant?"

He snickered. He inhaled sharply, tears forming as he drew in breath. A low, grotesque laughter rumbled in his chest.

"You know what the worst part of her message was?" He paused, almost daring her to ask him. She didn't need to. He'd tell her anyway.

"How happy she sounded. How fucking excited she seemed."

He was shaking as he rose from the bed. Pacing now like he might haul off and punch the wall any second. Kim couldn't blame him if he did.

She watched him. Her face looked as miserable as his. Her heart broke for him.

"I just—I don't deserve that, right? Like, that's a cruel move, right? Am I that—did I hurt her that much? Is this my karma?"

He traced a furious line against the floor, stalking the room like a caged tiger.

"And now she wants to talk about Miles. I don't know what she's gonna say—and honestly, I don't know what I want to hear. I was just getting used to the arrangement we have now. Like, what if she wants full custody? What do I with myself then? Or what if she wants to give up her custody, ya know? Start a brand new family with Greg? Like, what do I tell Miles? How do I explain to that beautiful kid that his mom gave him up?"

Kim shook her head. She spoke softly, anything to calm him and keep things in perspective. "You don't know that. You don't know what she wants…"

He stopped. He was glaring back at Kim, though they both knew it wasn't her he was angry at.

"No obviously. And clearly I never did. I mean—she hated me, Kim. When she found out she was pregnant with Miles. I mean, she took every bit of anger and resentment out on me for nearly a year before that kid was born. I had to convince her to marry me. I had to beg her to keep the kid and marry me. God, why did I think that was ok? What the fuck was wrong with me? How did I not see how twisted this all was? How was I at all surprised it ended the way it did?"

He changed direction abruptly. He strode over to his closet and pulled down a leather overnight bag and tossed it on the bed before returning back to his closet.

"I need to—I need to get out of here. I'm gonna take Miles. I'm gonna take Miles and get out of here for a bit," he said, scrambling around throwing a few shirts and pants into the bag.

"Wait a minute, Tommy, where are you going—" Kim watched him as she sat on her knees on the mattress. He flew passed her and into the bathroom.

"I don't know. I just—" he reemerged carrying his shaving kit and toothbrush. He didn't even know if he needed all this stuff. "I can't be here right now, and I don't want to be without my son, so—"

"Tommy, it's five o'clock in the morning—"

He stopped. Shit. She was right. He hadn't considered that. But still, he couldn't stay there right now.

She grabbed ahold of his arm. "Let me come with you. Miles is asleep, I can watch him while you drive. Or I'll drive and you can watch him, if you'd rather. But please—"

He leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Thank you. But I need to be alone for a minute."

She climbed off the bed. "Then let me call Trini. I'll sleep at her place tonight, ok? But don't wake up Miles. Don't take off right now. You're upset."

She pushed his frenzied packing aside and wrapped her arms around his waist. He sighed as she squeezed him and buried her head in his chest.

He floundered but finally accepted her hug. He rested his chin atop her head before placing a kiss in her hair.

"I'll be fine. And he'll be ok," he assured her. "He's a heavy sleeper—usually."

He managed a small laugh as they both recalled a few inconvenient times that had proven untrue.

He gave her a sad smile and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I'll probably just end up at my parents. If you need to find me before I get back."

She shook her head, desperate to not feel completely helpless. "Can I least help you get him to the car? Pack his bags? What do you need me to do?"

He stroked her face. "Maybe—maybe just throw some snacks in a bag? In case he does wake up on the ride over?"

They shared a small laugh. She nodded. "Yes, of course. Should I be quiet in the kitchen or—"

He laughed. "There's always a chance he'll stay asleep if I can get him to the car undisturbed so…"

She nodded. "Got it. Quiet as a mouse."

He smiled as she reached up and settled her lips onto his. They indulged themselves in the kiss for a moment.

She reluctantly pulled away and settled back down to the ground. She gave his hand one final squeeze before carefully opening the bedroom door and padded softly into the kitchen.

He looked down at his hastily assembled bag. The urgency of leaving had ebbed a touch, his anger and frustration not as blinding as it had been a few moments ago. Maybe he didn't need to take off and escape everything. And it was selfish to disrupt his son needlessly.

Kim looked up as Tommy approached her in the dark. Her hand at the knob on a drawer.

"Hey," she whispered. "I was gonna cut up some carrots, is that ok? I think I can do it quiet—"

He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Her hands flew up to rest on top of his.

"I'm not leaving," he whispered back, "I shouldn't wake up Miles. And I was just—I mean, I'm still all messed up but—I can't just take off in the middle of the night."

She stroked his arm and leaned back into him. "So, no carrots?"

He laughed quietly into her hair. "No carrots."

She spun around to face him. "I think I should sleep in my own bed for the rest of the night."

He frowned. "No, Kim. Don't do that."

She pulled him down to meet her, placing a loving kiss on his lips. "I think we both need a moment to be alone with our thoughts."

His face stayed sullen. "I didn't mean that I didn't want—"

She smiled. "It's okay. I'm not mad. I don't feel rejected or anything. And I hope you don't take this as me rejecting you. I just—I think we could both use a breather, for a minute."

He nodded begrudgingly. His eyes wandered over to the counter where she'd pulled out the vegetables.

"Thank you," he said.

"For what?"

He shrugged. "Just, for everything. For calming me down. For listening. For letting me get mad. For offering your help. Just, for everything."

She nodded. "Of course."

"God, I feel like I've sucked you into something you definitely didn't sign up for—"

She grabbed his hands again and held them tightly. "Hey. I'm here, aren't I? Whatever—whatever happens, I'm here. I'm with you."

He gave her a crooked smile. "Yeah…"

She nodded firmly and released his hands once more. He stepped back to allow her room to clear the bags of veggies from the counter and return them to the fridge.

He sighed, spinning on his heels as he made his way back to his room, alone.

She glanced back at where he'd disappeared behind his door, briefly wondering if it was a dumb and unnecessary idea to sleep separately after all.

Yes. Even if it was just for tonight. The heaviness of everything they shared recently, the reasons she'd come back that he hadn't even fully heard about yet, the implications of whatever was happening between them that they'd yet to actually acknowledge, their own wants and fears for the future, the news about Heather…

She inhaled sharply, suddenly aware that she had begun to tear up. She sniffled, clearing the unbidden drops before they could take hold. She glanced around the kitchen to make sure she'd put away everything for the time being.

Satisfied, she took one final sigh and headed off to the guest room, alone.

-x-