Bay looked down at her cap and gown and felt happy. She was finally graduating and then she would be across the country at Columbia and as far away from her parents who had decided to restart their relationship. She didn't need to be around for that.
"Baby bear is all grown up," she smiled as she heard the voice from behind her.
"I really have to lose that nickname," Bay grinned as she hugged Jason.
"Never in a million years," had the former ranger said looking at her. "Are you excited to go to New York?"
"I'm more excited to get away from the lovebirds I call my parents. You'd think they were teenagers with the way they act," the girl sighed.
"They have a lot of years to make up for," Jason shrugged.
"Whatever. I'll be miles away and they can be disgusting."
"Don't you have a boyfriend I need to meet?"
"I don't think I want you to meet him with that kind of attitude," Bay smiled knowing she had won.
"You remind me of Trini with that smile," the former power ranger groaned thinking of his wife.
"I hope that's a good think Jason Scott," Trini walked up from behind him.
"You totally know it wasn't," Bay hugged her aunt.
"My sweet Bay. Graduating from high school," the former yellow ranger smiled and hugged the girl back.
"Next is college and then my law degree," the teenager smiled.
"Your parents sent me up here to let you know that we have to go," the Asian woman smiled at the girl before turning to her husband. "You are to leave Connor alone."
"Come on Trin, Lexi isn't old enough for boys yet. Let me have some fun," the man looked at his wife.
The older woman just shook her head as laughed at her husband. There wasn't going to be any chance of deterring him once his mind was made up.
"We need to go!" Kimberly's voice floated up from the floor beneath them.
The gymnasium at Reefside high school had been filled to the brim with parents and family of all of students. Bay was really just waiting for the whole day to be over. The guest speaker had been going on for so long that half of the audience had fallen asleep.
Bay turned around and snuck a quick peek at Conner. The graduating senior class had been forced to sit in alphabetical order by last name. Connor was just a few rows behind her and had been looking her way when she had glanced back.
The girl smiled at him before turning around to focus on the speaker. Honestly, she was ready to get home and get her graduation party over with. Her mother had gone a bit overboard an invited all of her relatives along with her former Power Ranger friends.
Luckily for her she had known all of them since she had been born. It was just going to be a shock for Conner and his friends to be in the same room as the former Rangers.
After a few more minutes of the speech, it was finally over. Bay waited as one of the English teachers pointed for her row to stand and wait for to receive their "diplomas." Bay had been disappointed to learn that she wouldn't actually be getting her diploma for another few weeks.
"Elizabeth Hart," the geometry teacher called her full name which resulted in a rather large sound of applause that came from the back of the gym. She could tell right away that it was her family.
Bay just smiled as shook the vice principal's hand. Finally, her high school career was over. Walking back to her seat the girl waited for the rest of the ceremony to be over.
Half an hour later the ceremony was over. Bay walked out of the gymnasium and followed a group of voices that were calling her name.
"You did it!" Her mom called to her as she walked over to the huge group.
"Thanks mom," the girl smiled at her mother. Her father had been standing by her as well. "So, what are the chances of us avoiding the party and you all giving me your gifts?"
"None at all," her dad smiled as the group of people came closer. "Besides. I promised Conner, Ethan and Kira that they could meet the original team."
"A whole afternoon of Uncle Jason telling old stories. Joy," Bay replied sarcastically as she looked at her uncle.
"Careful Baby Bear. I still haven't met your boyfriend yet," the man grinned as he looked over her shoulder.
"You say anything and Aunt Trini finds out exactly how her antique vase broke last summer," the girl glared before turning around to greet Conner.
"Exactly how did it break Jason Scott?" Trini looked up at her husband.
Bay rolled her eyes at the couple as Conner approached the group with Kira, Ethan and Trent. "Turn around now if you value your life."
"We're not all that bad Bay."
"Insulted."
Bay just smiled as she reached Conner and pulled him into a quick kiss. The kiss had been met with a few turned away glances.
"We thought we would come say hi before heading to your house," Kira spoke up after the couple had pulled away from one another. "I'm Kira. This is Ethan and Trent and the one who just kissed Bay is Conner obviously."
"Well there's Jason," Kimberly started to point towards the group of people. "Next to him is his wife Trini."
"Not sure for how much longer," the Asian woman glared at the man.
The group of adults laughed as they knew the two of them were never going to divorce. The next few minutes were spent introducing the old and newest team of Rangers to one another.
Eventually the group decided to take their gathering to Kimberly's house. The backyard had been decorated with various balloons and a table full of food.
"I am jealous that you grew up with all of these people," Ethan commented as he stood next to Bay and Conner.
"Don't be. It usually ends with a sparring match between Jason and Rocky," Bay laughed thinking about the last event they were altogether. "Now that my dad is here, he'll probably get involved too."
"Still. That's pretty cool," Conner agreed with his friend. "When do you leave for New York?"
"Not until the end of August. We have plenty of time to hang out still," the girl smiled as she caught her mother walking towards them. "Mom alert."
"It's time for cake Bay," the older woman smiled as she looked at her daughter. "Besides. Tommy and I have a surprise for you."
"If it's the fact that the two of you are back together we've already figured it out," Bay protested as she was forced to walk where everyone could see her. "It wasn't even that hard."
Her mom just ignored her as she got everyone's attention. "First I want to thank you guys for travelling all this way to celebrate Bay graduating high school. We all know this is her first step to ruling the world."
"You all can sit on my war council," Bay shouted which earned her a few laughs.
"In all seriousness. I'm so proud of you Bay. You have grown into such a wonderful young woman, who is going to dominate whatever challenges that you face. Which is why your dad and I are taking you to Hawaii before you leave for college."
"Coolest parents ever," the girl smiled as she hugged both her parents.
The party started to wind down a few hours later. Ethan, Kira and Trent eventually had to go and spend time with their own families. Conner had stuck around longer since his family weren't doing anything for him until the next day.
"So how long do these parties last usually?" Conner asked Bay as they sat in the backyard watching the older adults talk about some of their old battles.
"Pretty late. I used to think that their old stories where fake," the girl looked to her family and smiled. They had all seen her grow up in one way or the other. "Now that I know they're real it all makes sense."
"So, does Jason actually like me or is he just trying to make me nervous?" the boy moved his arm to pull the girl closer to him. "Because his plan is working either way."
"He likes you. Probably more now knowing you used to lead the team. Before my mom married David, he used to take me to gymnastics class and to get ice cream after."
"I can tell the two of you are close. So where did 'Baby Bear' come from?"
"Mom has a temper when she wants. I apparently have the same temper. So, Mama Bear and Baby Bear," the girl explained. "One time I punch a kid for saying that my dad left because of me."
"What did your mom do?" the boy asked as he looked at his girlfriend.
"She laughed. And then she got into a verbal argument with his mom," Bay smirked as she recalled the story. "She told his mom that at least her kid had manners and knew better than to judge someone for their family situation."
"I see it now. Baby Bear," Conner smirked as looked at the girl.
"That nickname is reserved for people that I love."
"What if I did love you?"
Bay paused as she turned to look at the boy. They hadn't really spoken the words to each other before. They had only been dating for a few months. It was still a young relationship as far as she was concerned. The two of them were going to be in different states at least for the next four years while Bay went off to college.
The idea of dating Conner someone else made her heart constrict. Conner was smart and sweet. He had never once judged her for being more on the abrasive side on more than one occasion.
"I would say that I love you as well."
Bay and Conner had managed to spend almost every day with one another before and after Bay's Hawaiian vacation. The two teenagers were unprepared to spend a few months apart while Bay was at school.
Kimberly and Tommy had taken notice of the teens as well. It had reminded the two adults of their relationship in their younger days. It had worried Kimberly a bit in the beginning but after talking to her daughter and knowing exactly where her priorities lied she felt more at ease.
Today however was the last day before Bay had to leave for New York the next day. The two teenagers had been watching movies all day at Conner's house. The young couple had originally planned to spend the day with Ethan and Kira as well but Ethan had forgot that he had made a date and Kira was in the middle of planning her own move to New York as well. Trent had left a few weeks before to get settled into his apartment for art school.
"I want to open soccer camps for kids to have somewhere safe to go after school," Conner announced as the last movie stopped playing.
"What made you think of this?" Bay turned to her boyfriend.
"Soccer has always been my passion. And I figured if I'm not going to be picked up by a team anytime soon I should give back," the boy looked at the girl. "I want to do something good even though I'm not a Power Ranger anymore."
"I think you should do it. It will be really good for some kids."
Conner turned to look at the clock on the wall. It was getting late and Bay had an early flight in the morning with her parents. Time had managed to run out.
"We should get you home."
"New York in the morning," Bay commented but made no move to get up just yet. "I kind of want to stay here in Reefside for another night."
"It will be fun. You've talked nonstop about Colombia and New York for months," the boy looked at the girl. "It's your dream."
"Yeah but I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with my dad. Now I'm leaving him and my mom and you," the girl confessed. She hadn't expected to say her fears out loud.
"We'll all be here when you come and visit. And besides, I'm going to have a reason now to visit New York," the teenager spoke as he leaned in closer to the girl. "You just focus on being a kickass lawyer and I'll work on being a soccer all-star."
Bay closed the gap that Conner had created. The kiss had been slow at first, it had been sweet and innocent. If she was being honest she was pouring everything that she wanted to say into that one kiss. She had enjoyed her year in Reefside and the friendships that she had made along with connecting with the father that she hadn't known before. Pulling away she felt satisfied that she had managed to get her meaning across. "I love you Conner."
"I love you too Bay."
Walking through the airport in New York Bay couldn't help but feel some kind of sense of sadness and excitement. On one hand she was starting the steps to work in her dream career. On the other she was leaving part of her childhood behind.
"Do you want to get some breakfast?" Kimberly asked her daughter.
"Sure. I can't move in just yet anyways," Bay yawned as she pulled her suitcase behind her.
"So, are you excited Bay?" Tommy asked his daughter as they continued to walk through the terminal to catch a taxi.
"I'm excited dad," the girl replied as she followed her parents. Bay had started calling Tommy 'dad' a few weeks ago. It had been a natural response for the girl. She had started calling him her dad when she had been talking to her friends.
"It's going to be weird for a bit. Then you'll love the fact that you're living in a new city on your own," the man reassured the girl. "I had the best time of my life in college."
A few hours later the family had made it to the Colombia campus and had checked Bay in. Since she was a freshman she had to live on campus in the dorms. Neither Bay or her parents had any complaints. It meant less stress of finding an affordable apartment in the city and a roommate to possibly share it with.
The boxes that Bay had shipped beforehand had been placed into the room on one side while the other side of the room had still been empty. The family had then spent the next couple of hours unpacking and making sure that Bay would have everything that she would need to get settled into college life.
"I guess this is it," Kimberly smiled sadly as she hugged her daughter for a second time in the last ten minutes. The older couple were about to leave for the airport. They had purchased tickets for later that night to head back home to Reefside. Originally they wanted to stay for a few days but Bay had to convince them that she could get adjusted by herself.
"Mom. I'll call you. And I'll be back for Thanksgiving," Bay rolled her eyes at her mother. It had been exactly the same when she had to go to gymnastics camp.
"I know. Just be careful okay?" the woman looked at her daughter. "There's only one Bay."
"I'm fine. Plus, Uncle Rocky lives in the city. I'm sure he'll give you updates."
"She's not wrong Kim," Tommy laughed as he thought of his old friend looking in on his daughter. "Just don't forget to get out once and awhile."
"Guys, I got this. You think you guys were sending me off to face Rita and Zed. It's just college," the teenager tried to reassure her parents. "Now go before you miss your flight."
"Not funny."
"This is nothing compared to those two."
The older couple pulled the girl into one last hug before they started to head down the hallway. Bay watched her parents for a bit and then headed back to her room.
This was it. It was the start of her college years. She was slightly nervous about the start of classes in a few days but otherwise she was excited to be in a new city. It was a start that she was ready to face as an adult.
Ok so this is almost 3,000 words of technically the end of this fic. The next chapter is the epilogue and covers the SPD/Dino Thunder crossover episode History. We'll see what everyone has been up to since Bay has been in college and what they are up to now.
Also I am very proud of myself for getting another chapter out so fast. Inspiration can come at anytime it seems.