A/N: Hi everyone! Here is a one-shot that kit me today. It's a one-shot to follow up with Marry Me, my other fic. If you haven't read that, you might want to before reading this. The idea for this came from the song Forever Remember You Young by Thomas Rhett. I highly suggest you watch it! He's a handsome little guy. So song credits go to him and I have no rights to the Power Rangers.

FYI - I cried writing this. You've been warned! :)


Remember You Young

A Marry Me One-Shot

The small bell above the door rang as a customer entered, the young man glancing around the diner. I watched from my seat as he spotted a girl about his age sitting in a booth three tables from mine. She had come in a few minutes ago, her hair curled to perfection. She had given herself a small little pep talk the entire time she waited nervously playing with the spoon in her glass of ice tea. I had watched with a smile, taking in the caramel brown color of her hair and the fair tone of her skin. The boy sat across from her and reached out, taking her hands in his. Instantly, I could see the tension in her shoulders fade away and I could almost imagine the smile on her lips. He brought her one hand to his lips and he pressed a soft kiss on the back of it. A giggle came from their direction and I smiled again behind my coffee cup as I drained the rest of the liquid.

"Can I get you anything else, dear?" The waitress said as she walked over to my booth. I shook my head, setting my cup down on the Formica table top. She smiled, taking the cup and my empty plate away, leaving the check in its place. I didn't move to flip the small piece of paper over before putting a twenty-dollar bill on top of it. I knew it wouldn't be more than ten dollars at the most but the waitress had done a great job at attending to not only my needs but everyone else around me. Straightening my tie, I slid out of the booth and grabbed my bag from the seat next to where I had been sitting. The dark brown leather bag fit nicely over my shoulder with its strap. As I moved to head to the door, my eyes fell on the couple again. I retrieved my wallet from my back pocket and pulled out another twenty-dollar bill. The waitress walked towards me and I held it out to her.

"Can you put this towards their bill?" I asked softly, motioning my head towards the couple. She glanced over my shoulder at them, a grin on her face.

"I sure can. You have a good day, alright?" She replied, taking the money from my hand.

"You, too. Thank you." I gave her a smile and headed out the door. The three steps beyond it gave me some trouble, my knees not bending so greatly these days. I gripped the railing to ensure I wouldn't fall, safely making it to the sidewalk. I walked towards my truck, pulling my keys from my pant's pocket. Unlocking the door, I carefully set the back in the passenger seat before climbing inside.

Hey, buddies that I grew up with

All straight-laced and married up now

You ain't foolin' me, wasn't long ago

We tore the roof off that one red light town

And hey, darlin', sippin' that red wine

All classy, kicked back on the couch

You smile and I see ya shootin' tequila

Us shuttin' them college bars down

The hallway was bustling as students did their best to collect their items from their lockers before the bell was set to ring. I glanced down at the schedule in my hand, trying to figure out which class I had first. I hated starting new schools. It was like walking into a strange place with strange people and being expected to be okay by yourself. I had almost begged my mom this morning to let me stay home. Tomorrow was another day. I decided against it though, knowing she'd give me some speech about trying new things and being the best person I can be. I opted to just facing this torture rather than that. I avoided colliding with a guy coming up the hallway, his nose buried in a science book. I recognized a couple of the kids from the youth center. Since my competition last week, I had taken to hanging out there a bit in hopes of getting to know some people. The kid I had faced in the final match had been there a few times, making small talk with me. His name was Jason and seemed to be a pretty good guy. He had a huge group of friends around him all the time though, making it hard to approach him without feeling like I was on the spot.

Rounding the corner, I found myself in the main corridor of the school. Kids were filing down the staircase behind me, heading to the science wing up the hall. At the end, I spotted the school emblem on the wall. I still wasn't grasping the color scheme here. The walls were an awful peach color, the floors a pink and fleshy tiles with random green ones tossed in there. At least the lockers matched them, a puke green teal color that reminded me of something I saw in a baby's diaper once when my nephews were little. There were kids in front of lockers, unloading books from inside to head to class. I hadn't been assigned mine yet, the office working on finding me one in the same wing as the other tenth graders. I hoped it was soon. I was getting tired of carrying everything I brought with me today around the school.

"Hey, babe." I heard a voice say as I headed up the hall. To my left, I saw two guys who were dressed in the oddest clothes I had ever seen. The bigger guy was in dark jeans, a leather jacket over a purple t-shirt, and had a jean vest on over that. He had longer hair, pulled back in a tiny ponytail at the back of his head. Combat boots adorned his feet, the laces untied and dangling onto the floor. He was chomping on a Moon Pie, the chocolate desert in his hand. His friend was scrawnier than him and dressed in a salmon colored t-shirt, a black sweater over this. He wore camouflage pants that were tinted red and had a red scarf tied tightly around his neck. There was a silver chain and a dog collar around his neck as well, a red beret on top of slicked back black hair. These two looked like they were pulled right out of a television show somewhere. "Need a big, strong man to help you with your books?" The skinny one said, holding up his arms in a way to show off his "muscles" that were apparently invisible to me. When he did, I could spot a girl standing in front of him. Her locker was open and she was pulling books from inside, piling them in her arms.

"Dream on, Skull." She replied, sending him a look of disgust. I stopped walking, drawn to the situation. I had seen the girl before. She was a frequent visitor of the youth center and hung out with Jason. At first, I thought the two were an item based on their interactions. After some asking around, I found out they were just really good friends. For some reason, that made me happy. It wasn't like I actually knew the girl. We hadn't even spoken a word to each other. But I had seen her at the tournament and ever since, she just seemed to catch my eye whenever she was near.

"Okay." The bigger guy said. He opened up the jean vest and tucked the unfinished cookie into a breast pocket. "Time to teach her a lesson."

"Hey." I heard myself call out, unsure if I had actually spoken or not. I stepped forward, approaching the two. "Didn't you hear the lady?" Lady? Who the hell calls somebody my age a lady? What the hell was I doing right now? The two turned around to face me, spreading apart enough so I could see her more clearly. She had chestnut brown hair cut to her shoulders and a pink t-shirt that fitted her well. She wore a necklace that matched the gold earrings that dangled from her ears, making them sparkle against her nicely tanned skin. She was much prettier up close. "She said no." I glared between the two idiots. The two exchanged glances, the fatter one shaking his head before turning back to look at me.

"I think it's time for somebody else to be taught a lesson." He said. The skinny one chomped his teeth towards me and I raised my hands. I knew these two baboons were nothing special. I moved my hands quickly, making it through my kata. I called out as I did so, making myself seem bigger in the process. Soon, I found myself doing kicks in the air as well, spinning as I did so. With each move, their eyes widened and their jaws dropped. Fear etched on their faces as I demonstrated just what they were dealing with.

"Siyah!" I exclaimed, coming to a stop. I held my fists still, staring at the two. The backed up, stammering as they put distance between us.

"Maybe we'll teach you that lesson some other time!" The fat one said, his sidekick smiling widely. They turned towards each other quickly, scurrying away. I took a couple steps towards them, making sure they were truly going to leave her alone. They took off around the corner, out of sight. I turned my attention towards the girl who laughed as she watched them vanish. She turned back to me, a brilliant smile on her face.

"Thanks, that was really great." She said, hugging her books to her chest.

"Sure." I replied, my nerves threatening to seize up. What the hell was going on? I've never been this nervous to talk to someone before. It felt like I was gearing up to run away any second. I had to get out of there before things got awkward and I ruined it. "I'll see you later." I said, returning the smile and turning to walk away. It was the wrong direction but it worked.

"Hey!" I heard her voice call out, stopping me in my tracks. She was calling out for me? I turned, the wide smile on my face too hard to hide. "I'm Kimberly. You're new around here, aren't you?" She asked as I stepped towards her again.

"Yeah." I replied, stopping a couple feet from her. "I'm Tommy."

"Hi!" She said, holding her hand out to me. I took it, praying that my hand wasn't clammy or sweaty.

"Hi." I replied, shaking it gently. It was soft and her skin felt warm in mine. She hesitated to pull it back from me but when she did, she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. I wished I could hold her hand again. From where I stood, I could smell her shampoo. It smelt of cherry blossoms and vanilla, the scent washing over me like a warm bath.

"Um, listen. Do you wanna get together with some of us after school? You know nothing major, just hang out at the youth center?" She asked, shrugging her shoulders. I noticed she hugged her books closer to her as she asked, making me wonder if she was just as nervous as I felt. My heart was thundering so loudly; I didn't have to question if she could hear it or not.

"Yeah. That sounds cool." I replied, nodding.

"Okay!" She said, sounding relieved. A silence fell between us for a second and the fear of awkwardness came creeping in again.

"Well, I'll see you then." I turned heading towards the stairs. "Bye!" I called over my shoulder.

"Bye!" I heard her call after me. I jogged up the stairs, telling myself to not look back at her. When I reached the top, I scooted over to the corner by the doorway. I knew her name now. Kimberly. And I was going to be seeing her later. Excitement rippled through me at the thought.

Now I just had to figure out how to get to my next class from here.

And no matter how much time goes by

And no matter how much we grow up

For worse or for better, from now 'til forever

I'll always remember you young

The road stretched out for what felt like an eternity in front of me as I drove. The long and winding stretch I was on now was recently paved, the tires of this old truck gliding like butter over it. On either side, there were rolling hills and tall grass blowing in the breeze. Cows spotted the countryside here or there, fitting in with the scenery. The skies above were blue as could be, wisps of white clouds painted here or there across it. It resembled that of a painting, deserving to be hung in a museum somewhere for the world to see. I felt blessed to be able to see it now, wondering if God had left it here just for me.

Twenty minutes down the road, I felt a cramp forming in my leg. I pulled off to the side of the road, making sure my truck was in the shoulder safely. I climbed out, stretching my legs and walking around to the front of my truck. I still had another hour left for my trip, sixty or so miles until I arrived. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. I swore I could smell the ocean already and the sea salt in the air. Opening them again, I saw that were was a cow pasture next to where I had pulled over. A fence coated in barbed wire was set up, keeping the cows inside. I saw that along the fence, there were bunches of different colored wild flowers sprouting up. When my eyes landed on a bright pink group, I knew what I had to do.

Using the truck for good leverage, I walked down the tiny embankment that led to the flowers. Careful of any type of thornes, I plucked bunches of the floors. I was gentle with them, not wanting to hurt them in any way. I also picked some purple and yellow flowers, adding to my bouquet. She would like these. I knew she would. Pink and purple are her favorite colors, yellow following close behind. I could picture her face upon seeing them, her doe brown eyes lighting up like a kid on Christmas.

Turning, I pulled myself back up from the ditch and secured the flowers together with a stem of one of them. It looked like a healthy array of flowers, the smell wafting over me. For a moment, I thought I smelt vanilla and I smiled. Walking over to the truck door, I climbed in and set the flowers on top of the leather bag in the passenger seat. I brought the truck back to life before heading back out onto the roadway.

And hey, babies, crawlin' on the carpet

No, you won't be that little for long

One day, you'll move away, but you're still gonna stay

This innocent after you're gone

"Daddy!" An excited voice cried as I stepped through the front door of our house. I was caught by surprise as my daughter, Hope, came booking it at top speed from the end of the hallway. Her headful of dark brown hair bounced behind her as the five-year-old leapt up into my arms. I had just enough time to set my gym bag down on the ground to catch her. She squeezed her arms tightly around my neck and I hugged her back, enjoying the affection.

"Why, hello there." I said, looking down at her. The perfect combination of Kim and I looked back up at me. I will forever be grateful for the fact she had Kim's eyes. Those beautiful pools of golden brown that will sink any man to their knees if they wanted something. She was going to be a handful when it came time to that but thankfully, I had plenty of time before having to worry. "Where's Mommy?" I asked, walking up the hallway. Hope pointed up the hallway towards the kitchen.

"Making sghetti." She replied, doing her best to say 'spaghetti.' It was a work in progress, something we would have to keep working on. She was very bright for her age and her kindergarten teacher loved her. Overall, Kim and I were extremely lucky to have such a good kid. She had her moments but she was generally well behaved. I gave Kim all the credit for that. Seeing the two of them together would explain all of that to you.

Walking into the kitchen, I saw that there were three plates set up on the table in the corner, spaghetti covering them. There were three cups here as well, forks messily tossed on the table with them. Hope must have helped set the table. I set her down, giving her a kiss on the cheek before doing so. Kim was behind the counter, her back to me as she ran water in the sink. I walked towards her, wrapping my arms around her waist. I felt her let out a small giggle as I kissed the top of her head.

"Hi, beautiful." I said softly, hugging her against me. She continued to fill the pot in her hand with water, suds forming on the surface.

"Hey there, handsome. How was work?" She asked, turning the water off.

"Long. I'm glad to be home with you." I said, nuzzling her neck with my nose. She set the pot down in the sink and turned to face me. She was just as beautiful now as she was the day I first met her. Her hair was longer now, swept up in a ponytail on the back of her head. I could tell that she had classes today, her pink leotard underneath the grey sweatshirt she wore and her leggings. She wrapped her arms around me and stood on her tippy toes to kiss me on the lips.

"Good. You can help me with the laundry." She replied, shooting me a wink. I groaned as she released me. She moved passed me, skirting around the corner. "Hope, Daddy and I are going to get the laundry. Can you go wash up for dinner?" She asked, putting a hand on Hope's head. She nodded in return, fixing the fork in front of her.

"Yes, Mommy." She said, skipping off towards the stairs. I followed behind Kim as she headed out of the kitchen and towards the laundry room. I could smell the faint aroma of vanilla in the air, her signature scent. It brought a smile to my lips and a warm feeling in my chest. It still amazes me, day after day, that this woman was mine. After the close encounter of almost marrying another woman, there wasn't a day that I didn't thank God or whoever was watching over me for bringing Kim back into my life. I had thought for sure that the door on our time together was over until she came back, kicking it back open again. And when Hope came along, my heart became so filled with love for the both of them, I was sure it was going to burst open at any moment. There was no one else on this Earth that I would die for, I knew that as a fact.

"You with me back there?" She asked, smiling at me over her shoulder. I nodded, realizing that I must have dazed off, staring at her. It was something I was often guilty for. Having someone so beautiful to look at was a good enough reason in my book. The fact she was my wife forever and always made me a giddy school kid sometimes.

"Just thinking about work." I replied as she walked through the doorway of the laundry room. The washer and dryer were here, baskets piled on top of them. Random articles of clothing were scattered on the floor here and there was a shelf above the machines I had built when we moved in here. Kim pulled open the front door of the dryer and yanked out a mass of clothes from inside. She made a look of disgust as she stepped back, a wet stain on the front of her sweatshirt.

"They're still wet." She groaned, shoving them back in. "I think the dryer is starting to go."

"Great. Add that to the water heater being on its last legs and your car getting ready to explode, I'd say we've got enough bills to put us in the poor house by next month." I grumbled, walking over to look at the back of the machine. I didn't know much about electronic stuff like this. It would be more of a Billy or Jason type deal.

"Well, that and I'm pregnant." She stated. I stood up quickly at her comment, my head making contact with the shelf above. I saw stars as the corner of it jabs into the back of my head. I winced, slapping my hand on the spot. Swearing, I pulled it away to expect for blood. I didn't see any, my attention turning back to her.

"What?" I asked, stepping towards her. She smiled, nodding.

"The Olivers are growing." She replied.

"But how? I mean, I know how. But I thought we were being careful." She shrugged, bending over and picking up some of the clothes that were scattered on the floor It was Hope's dress up clothes, princess dresses and a cape.

"We were but sometimes, these things happen."

"I...I just….can we handle this?" I asked softly, running a hand over the back of my head. I felt a slight bump forming from where I had collided with the shelf.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say that Tommy Oliver was scared." She said, smirking at me.

"Well, yeah! We're living paycheck to paycheck right now. I'm not sure if we're going to be able to afford another baby right now. We've got so much going on. I'm still getting used to being a dad and Hope is 5! What happens if we fall behind or we end up drowning because of this? What if-." She dropped what she was holding and stepped over to me, pressing her lips to mine. This stopped me from speaking as she rested her hand on my shoulders. Pulling away, she smiled up at me.

"We've got this, handsome. We've fought the world's biggest monsters, Two kids will be nothing compared to that." She smiled, stroking my cheek. And just like that, all of the fear and anxiety inside of me melted away.

"Another baby." I said, smiling. She nodded, moving away to rest a hand on her stomach. I placed a hand over hers. "I think you're right. I think we go have this." I could notice know that there was a bump growing here. Had she been this good at hiding it or have I just not noticed it? She seemed to start glowing right in front of my eyes.

"Good." She said, kissing my cheek. Turning, she grabbed Hope's costumes again and headed towards the door. "By the way," She said, stopping to look at me over her shoulder. "It's a boy."

Cause no matter how much time goes by

And no matter how much you grow up

For worse or for better, from now 'til forever

I'll always remember you young

The clear blue sky followed me as I rolled into town. The faded buildings and the new ones merged together, creating a city skyline I didn't recall seeing when I was younger. There was more traffic now too, cars backed up for a couple minutes while they waited for the lights to change. I sat back in my seat, strumming on the steering wheel of my truck as I waited patiently for my turn to go. People passed me, hoping to get to their destinations faster. I thought to myself how that had been me once, hoping to get from point A to B faster than everyone else. Now, it seemed silly to me.

Taking a right, I found myself gliding down the back street. Soon, I came upon a parking lot that was mostly vacant. I chopped it up to the early morning hour. Most people were still at work or getting ready to head home. Not many have time to head to the park in the middle of the week. I did spot a couple people here and there, walking dogs and holding hands. It brought a smile to my face, remembering the times I walked the familiar paths here. PArking in the farthest spot, I cut the engine and tucked the keys into the pocket of my pants. I carefully picked up the flowers, tucking them into the top of the leather bag. I climbed out, putting the strap of the bag over my shoulder. I closed the door, locking the truck up.

Cause no matter how much time goes by

And no matter how much you grow up

For worse or for better, from now 'til forever

I'll always remember you young

"Ladies and gentlemen! I've been asked to request Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Oliver to the middle of the dance floor." The DJ's voice announced over the loudspeaker. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that he was standing in front of his station, his black suit looking contrasted against the white of the dress Hope wore next to him. She smiled brightly at me, her long dark brown hair curled around her perfectly made face. She still looked beautiful, the couple hours since they finished with her making no difference. I turned my attention to Kimberly who was on the other side of the room. She raised an eyebrow at me, silently questioning me as to what was happening. I shrugged, excusing myself from talking to Aisha and Rocky who were smiling at one another. They clearly knew what was happening.

"Come on, Mr. O!" Kendra, Hope's best friend, said to me as she grabbed me by the elbow. She pulled me towards the dance floor, Jack helping his mother to the dance floor. He gave Kim a kiss on the cheek, the twenty five year old shooting me a wink as he walked over to stand by Hope.

"It seems like the bride's parents themselves are going to be celebrating a big event themselves in the next couple of weeks." The DJ said into the mic, everyone's eyes turning to face us. "Kimberly and Tommy have been married for thirty years as of next week!" There were cheers around the room, people applauding. I spotted Jason in the background, his arm around Trini's shoulder. Their daughter, Claire, was standing with the other bridesmaids who were smiling at us. "The bride has a couple words that her and her brother would like to say." The DJ handed Hope the microphone and stepped to the side.

"Mom. Dad. Jack and I just wanted to thank you for everything the two of you have done for us over the years. Most people can't say that they have the best parents in the world but we're so lucky to say we do. I know most kids think that it's gross when their parents kiss and stuff in front of them but I think it's the sweetest thing in the world when I see Dad grab Mom's hand or when you fall asleep on the couch together a couple minutes into a movie that took you hours to pick out. I pray every day that Bradley and I can have the type of marriage the two of you have and that we can fall in love with each other every day like JAck and I were able to see the two of you do each day." I saw tears fill Hope's eyes and she dabbed at them with a tissue as Jack rubbed her back. She had grown to look so much like her mother that it made my heart swell. She was taller than her but that nose and those eyes were all Kim. She handed Jack the mic to compose herself.

"I just wanted to add that it's not easy to raise two kids. Especially when it's Hope and I." The room laughed, the sound seeming to echo around us. "You two managed to not only keep us alive but also keep a marriage filled with love for this long. Hope and I are honored to call you our parents." I felt tears fill my eyes as I wrapped an arm around Kimberly who had tears streaming down her face, beaming at the kids. "We love you both and this next song is for you." The DJ walked around to the computer on the table. The beginning chords of a song began to play, the sound filling the banquet hall. It took me a moment to realize it was the song, 'I Will Always Love You.' The same song that Kim had sang all those years ago, trying to decide if she would sing at my wedding for Kat. It was like an entire lifetime ago.

"Shall I have this dance?" I asked, holding a hand out to Kim. She nodded, wiping the tears from her face as she took it. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling the silk of the pink dress under my fingers as I held her close. I gazed down at my beautiful wife, taking all her features in as I swayed back and forth to the music.

"I think your kids are out to kill me." She said, sniffling. I smirked, nodding.

"I think so too. I'll have to take it up with their mother on how she raised such great kids."

"I'm not too sure it was all her. I heard their father was a pretty good man himself. He has something to be proud of."

"He sure does." I said softly, kissing the top of her head. Thirty years with this woman felt like a blink of the eye, going by so quickly. I would give anything in the world to have time slow down. I still was having trouble believing that we were at Hope's wedding. She had married a nice guy. Bradley was a lawyer for a small firm in town and treated her the way any guy would expect a guy to treat his daughter. Which was probably a good thing seeing as she had Kim's attitude through and through. Hope was well on her way to a successful career as an interior designer. She had the world at her feet and she was going to make something of herself. Jack was too. He was well into his senior year of college, aiming to graduate with a Masters in Marine Biology at the end of the semester. How we had managed to raise such two great kids was beyond me, especially with me trying to help. I'm sure we fumbled now and then but just looking at them now, there was no other way I would have wanted them to turn out.

"So, you sick of me yet?" Kim asked, grinning up at me. I shrugged, giving her a wink.

"Not quite. I think I have another thirty years before that will happen." She laughed, shaking her head.

"Pretty sure I will be dead before that, Tommy." She said. "But I would love to spend forever with you."

"You will. Our story is one of those ones that lasts so long, people start to wonder how the hell we managed to stay together for that long." I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her hair had greyed some now but those bright eyes of hers still sparkled. She often complains about crows feet and wrinkles but I never see them. When I look at her, I see that girl I saw in the hallway all those years ago. She'll forever be her to me.

"I'm so grateful that my creepy weasel of a boss made me quit that day. I never would have come back here if he didn't." She said, stroking the back of my neck.

"I'm so glad a pushy Australian woman demanded that you help plan our wedding." I said,. She narrowed her eyes, the smile still on her face though.

"I thought we agreed not to speak of that ever again."

"Right. Sorry. Then I'm grateful that you kissed me that night and ruined my wedding."

"I'm grateful that you finally realized how stupid you were being." I laughed, nodding my head.

"I'm grateful that you found your way back to me." I said softly.

"Good cause I'm not going anywhere for a long time." She pressed her lips to mine, her arms wrapping around my shoulders. I could hear cheering around us but everything faded away as I held the love of my life in my arms.

Yeah, I hope when we get to Heaven

He looks at us all like we're kids

Shameless and painless and perfect and ageless

Forgives all the wrong that we did

The path along the park seemed longer than it used to be. I found myself out of breath after the first small hill. I continued on, gripping the strap of my bag in my hand. Birds were chirping around me in the trees, the cherry blossoms in full bloom along the walkway. Their petals fell to the ground, the wind taking them and their perfume into the air as it blew. They were blooming late this year, the summer days growing longer as the hotter months approached us. Soon, it would be scorching outside and hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Today was perfect though.

I was surprised to see that the park was the same as the last time I had been here. The path led passed the volleyball court and the basketball hoops, both currently empty. I also walked by the picnic area, a couple people lingering here at tables on their lunches more than likely. No one looked up as I passed, me blending into the scenery to them as they scrolled through their phones in their hands. I moved silently without a word, enjoying everything that was happening around me. From the warm sun on my face to the scent of the air absorbing into my senses. I didn't want to forget anything about today.

In the distance, I could see the sun reflecting off the surface of the lake in the middle of the park. It has always been a mystery to me why there was a random body of what in the dead center of town. The cherry blossoms lined the water line here, large rocks creating a border for the water. The path went from asphalt to grey cobblestones as I moved faster, making my footing go slower. It wasn't as flat and made it hard to keep my balance in some places. A small clearing with three large boulders appeared and I came to a stop. Carefully, I stepped passed the rocks and made my way to the sanded shore below it.

The water lapped at the sand as I set my bag down on one of the rocks that was still close to me. It felt like another here, as if someone had teleported me to the beach a few miles away. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sun on my face and the sound of the water below. The sea salt was there, it burning my nostrils slightly as I took a deep breath. Opening my eyes, I turned to glance at the path. No one was visible in either direction, granting me the privacy I had hoped to get. Walking over to the bag, I pulled the flowers from it and straighten them out where they had been crushed slightly.

"I hope you like these." I said, shifting back towards the water. I bent over, placing the bunch on the sand near the water. "I saw them on the side of the road and they made me think of you. Especially that time when we were broken down on the interstate with Hope who was cranky as hell. You made sure she was preoccupied while we waited for the tow truck. I don't think I can even remember a time where I had seen her concentrate so hard on something when she was making those flower crowns. You have such a way with her." Standing up straight, I tucked my hands into the pockets of my coat. "She had here baby last month. It was a girl that she named Annie. She has your eyes and your smile. I'm pretty sure your attitude too but only time will tell." The wind blew and a gust of wind filled with cherry blossoms went up into the air, the petals landing on the surface of the water, shading it pink.

"Jack's doing well. Him and Becca are hoping to hear back soon about their house. It's beautiful. It reminds me of the one your parents had when I first met you. They're really loving Seattle. He keeps asking me to come up there while Hope begs me to come to LA. There's nothing like Angel Grove, now is there Beautiful?" Sighing, I shifted to face the bag again. Undoing the clasps, I reached in and pulled out the urn. Painted silver, the delicately carved vase like container felt heavy in my hands as I held it. Kimberly was carved in the front of it, the image of a crane underneath it. Her symbol of beauty and grace, given to her when we were at our prime.

"Happy anniversary, Beautiful. Sixty years together. Though it's not the way I would have liked to spend it, I've enjoyed our time together over the last couple of days." I whispered, hugging the urn to me as I turned to face the water again. "We spent time with Zack in New York and Aisha in Texas. We've travelled so much this last few weeks that I'm so tired. But I promised you that we'd spend the time together and we did."

It's not an easy thing when someone tells you that your wife is sick. It's an even harder thing when they tell you she only has a couple more months to live. Kim was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer a couple days after her sixty fifth birthday. When the doctor gave us the last blow, she knew right away what it meant. She also knew that it was her choice on what to do. She opted to live the rest of her days without the pain and suffering of chemo or treatments. She wanted to be able to enjoy the rest of her time here in this world with her loved ones. With me. And she did. She survived another six months after her diagnosis. In that time, we managed to travel the country, visiting all of our friends. We spent time with the kids, helping them get over the shock of what would happen. Kim was able to see our grandson, David, and spend time with the sweet one year old baby.

I spent every moment I could with her, not wanting to waste any of them. I wouldn't allow my mind to consider that she wouldn't be here anymore soon and that I needed to absorb as much of her as I could in our short time together. We held hands every day, kissed throughout the day, and spent each night together in our bed. As she grew sicker, I spent my days at her side in the hospital bed we had sent to the house. She passed early one morning, with me by her side and holding her hand. Like the first time I met her, she wore that brilliant smile of hers as she left.

"It's been a rough five years without you. I can still hear your laugh when I close my eyes, see your smile, and smell that vanilla shampoo you loved so much. I talked with the kids about my decision today. They agreed with me. They know you would want to be somewhere special to you and to me. There's nowhere else I could think of for you to be than right here where so many of our memories were." Tears filled my eyes as I reached up and rested a hand on the lid of the urn. "If I do this, you've got to promise me that you'll never leave my heart, Beautiful. That you'll forever be with me until I can see you in person again." Another gust of wind brought more petals, giving me a sense that she was trying to tell me something. "Thank you." I whispered. I unscrewed the lid and stepped forwards. My hand shook slightly as I held it out. Tilting it, the ashes began to pour from inside. THe wind picked up again, taking the remains into the air with them. It scattered them across the surface of the water and then sent it into a swirl with the petals in the air. I didn't stop until the vessel was empty, pulling it back into my chest and placing the lid back on it.

When I think of Kim, I don't think of her ashes in this tube. I think of her as the vibrate girl who could do cartwheels and backflips around anyone. The girl who was brave enough to stand up for herself but willing to let me stroke my ego when I needed it. Kim, the girl who had left me but came back in time to save me from making a stupid decision. I bent over and picked up the flowers, tossing them into the water. They floated, separating as the one holding them together untying slightly.

Kimbelry, I'll forever remember you young.

And no matter how much time goes by

I hope we never have to grow up

We'll say for worse or for better, from now 'til forever

I'll always remember you young

Whoa-oh-oh, oh

I'll always remember you young