Chapter 4: The Truth

Kimberly stood under the showerhead. The hot water pounding against her body, washing away last night, though it may have done its job of washing away the smell, but not the memories. Last night's events playing in her mind, if she didn't have sex with Tommy, then why was Tommy's face playing in her mind over and over. It was as if the truth was following her. His kisses, his body above her thrusting hard inside her. The way she moaned against his sweaty neck. Kimberly bowed her head under the pounding water. The bathroom filled with the fog from the hot shower. Tears burned her eyes along with the sting of the hot water. Was it a knee jerk reaction to accept Clark's proposal? Had she done the right thing? All the events of the past few days overexerted her emotions. She was a walking mess of emotions from sadness to extreme depression. And now she was engaged to a man, a man that will always be second place to her heart.

"Kim, are you done in there?" Kimberly quickly wiped her face down.

"In a minute!" Kimberly shouted back to Clark. Clark smiled. He stripped down to nothing and got into the shower stall with Kimberly. Kimberly's mind was still on last night as Clark slipped his arms around her.

"Maybe you just need some company." Clark kissed Kim's neck. For a brief moment, Kimberly almost felt as if it was Tommy's lips on her neck. But as they made love, Clark's thrust, his kisses were nothing compared to Tommy. Tommy was just the one. And the way he made her body feel, no guy could ever equate or come close to. Clark groaned as he came. "God, we have never made love like that before." Clark was breathing hard with Kimberly. "If that's because we are finally engaged, I can't wait until we are married." Kimberly smiled. The whole time she was making love to Clark, her mind, all she saw was Tommy.

Tommy found out about the engagement of Kimberly and Clark through Aisha, and he was as equally surprised as Aisha. Aisha though was extremely happy for them, so Tommy played off as if he was the same, but Tommy couldn't help but be a bit upset and angry. Though he had to understand. Maybe if he had told Kimberly the truth that they did sleep together, maybe she would have stayed, but it was just one night and it wasn't even as if it was his son. So what if Kimberly wants to get married? She deserves to be happy. Her life doesn't matter to him anymore. It wasn't his son. And if she was hell bent on forgetting about them and the love they shared enough not to remember if or not they made love, then so was he. Tommy had wasted so much time on Kimberly and their young love. Maybe, if she is married, that will be the closure they both need.

Kimberly, Clark and little Zeke went back to NYC to plan their wedding, which in Clark's mind would be way less than a year from now. Kimberly at first, was reluctant to leave the Kwans so soon, but they assured her they would be stopping by the city to visit soon after a trip to China and their home.Besides, they knew Kimberly had a wedding to plan for, something Trini would be pleased to see her longtime best friend and sister getting on with her life. And since Clark wanted a Spring wedding, Kimberly planned everything to please Clark. They planned for a May wedding, with the pink and white blossoms all around them.

Zeke couldn't be happier once he realized what planning a wedding meant. He had finally gotten his Christmas wish. He was getting a father finally. He helped Clark with everything pertaining to the wedding that Kimberly left in charge for Clark to do. Clark loved the idea of a speedy engagement. He felt after their long extended relationship for years now, a long engagement was a waste. It took several months after Trini's funeral before things started to get back to somewhat normal. Everybody had to gone back to his or her lives as hard as it was to, they moved on.

Clark and Kimberly both agreed on a speedy wedding, in a sense that they would have quick engagement and less than 6 months' time their wedding would happen. Clark and Kimberly had their engagement party in mid-January. Their wedding date was set around early May. Kimberly always wanted a summer like wedding. Kimberly wanted her wedding in the Caribbean, the sun setting behind them would make the perfect photo, knowing that all what needed depending on the island was the wedding certificate, the island would do the rest. But Clark was a bit of an old-fashion guy, and wanted the big time Southern belle wedding with all the family and friends in attendance. Since Kimberly hadn't talk to her parents since Thomas was born, she felt it was a waste for a big wedding. Her parents wouldn't be there. Her own father wouldn't dare walk his baby girl, his only daughter down the aisle because he had no daughter. Clark could sense that from Kimberly. He knew her issues with her parents. Clark vowed this wedding, their wedding would be the key to re-opening those broken lines. Kimberly wished Clark luck, knowing her parents far longer than he did. But Kimberly was happy. Finally in her life, she felt like things just might be heading to normal.

About 3 months before the wedding of Clark and Kimberly, Clark found Kimberly and Aisha arguing heavily. At first, the fight between Kimberly and Aisha started innocently over wedding songs, but when they got to Kim's vows, Aisha asked Kim had she receive any word from Tommy. Kimberly finally confessed to Aisha that Tommy still didn't tell him the whole truth about Thomas. Aisha couldn't believe it. All this time, Aisha thought Tommy was neglecting his duties as Thomas's father, but to find out he still didn't know, enraged her. Aisha had never been so made before in her life. Clark stood outside the door just listening. He had just returned from getting their wedding rings at Tiffany's. Clark could tell whatever they were arguing over was very heated. When he heard Aisha yell at Kim's refusal tell Tommy the truth about his son that morning after the funeral, which they both knew was one of Trini's last wishes.

"You don't know how many times I wanted to call him and tell him the truth about Zeke!" Kimberly yelled at Aisha.

"I don't care how many times you wanted! You lied to him! You lied to Tommy, Kimberly! That is his son! His son! And they both need to know about it! You need to stop lying… Stop lying to Tommy!" Clark opened the door, which caused both women to hush up completely.

"Clark, honey hi, how was your…"

"You lied to Tommy?" Kimberly looked at Clark. "After the funeral, you lied to him?" Kimberly bit her bottom lip. Clark shook his head with a laugh. "Of course. I should have known, I mean, I always wondered why he hasn't called or done anything about Thomas since the funeral. I mean, if he knew the truth he would be here, be here for his son."

"Clark, let me explain…"

"Explain what? The only reason why you are marrying me is to keep up your lie," Clark said to Kimberly.

"No!"

"You can stop lying to me, and to yourself, Kimberly."

"I'm not!" Kimberly went to Clark and held his arms. "I'm not."

"Then why haven't you told Tommy the truth! I asked you, asked you if you told him about LT and you said yes! You lied to me!"

"No! No, you asked if he thinks Zeke is your son. I told Tommy he wasn't yours."

"But you didn't tell him the whole truth, Kimberly! That is his son!" Clark yelled.

"And I will!"

"When?"

"When the time is right!" Kimberly fired back.

"Okay, then now." Clark went over to the phone.

"No! Zeke is not…"

"Zeke is more than ready! You're the one that is not ready."

"You're right. I'm not, that's why we can't… not yet, after the wedding and…"

"No. We're calling him now and telling him the truth. What is the number?"

"No! You can't!" Clark looked at Aisha. Aisha just bowed her head.

"You are telling him the truth! Now, what's the fucking number?!" Clark threatened to tell the truth to Tommy over the phone, he didn't care how much Kimberly protested. Clark would not take this secret into his marriage.

"No, I will tell him!"

"When!" Kimberly wiped away tears. "When Kimberly!" Kimberly slightly jumped back at Clark's explosion. "This wedding is over."

"What?"

"I cannot, will not marry a liar." Kimberly gasped.

"Clark, wait…"

"Wait? For what Kim? I can't do this. And you shouldn't either."

"Do what?"

"Act like you love me. I can't, I won't be second in your heart. And as much as you try to deny it, I know it. I know when you look at me, you don't see me."

"Of course I do!"

"No. Maybe some part of you sees me, but your heart will only love one man. When you say you love me, you mean it, but it's not whole, you know it. Not when the one man you truly love and want to be with is out there."

"I don't want to be with Tommy! I want to be with you!"

"Quit lying to yourself Kimberly. And quit lying to your son."

"Clark…"

"No. I'm done Kim. I'm tired of knowing the truth."

"Clark…"

"I'll come back for my things when you're not here. Tell Zeke, tell him I'm sorry I won't be at his game tomorrow, or any games. That I'm sorry, that I wasn't enough. Goodbye Kimberly."

"Clark wait! Clark please!"

"Tell Tommy the truth Kim. Trust me, it's not that hard."

"Don't go… please don't leave…we are supposed to be married in 12 weeks! Just 3 months Clark.." Kimberly whispered. "3 months…."

"I can't marry you Kimberly. Not if you keep holding this secret. It's as simple as that."

"But it's not! You don't what he will do, I don't know what Tommy will do! I can't tell him the truth and risk..."

"Tell him the truth and he will understand," Clark said calmly. Goodbye."

"Clark I…"

"Don't say it. Don't say you love me, when it's just a cover for your real feelings. The feelings you have for Tommy are the real ones. He's the real love of your life. Go to him, tell him he has a son and get to living the life you always wanted."

"But Clark..." Clark dropped the booklet on the table where their entire wedding plans, their rings and details about their honeymoon spot.

"Goodbye Kimberly."

"What am I to say to Zeke, he loves you and…" Clark gave Kimberly a final kiss on the cheek.

"Tell him I said… that I'm sorry it didn't work out. That I won't be able to be his Daddy, because he already has one." Clark walked out. Kimberly fell against the wall crying. Aisha went over to Kimberly. At first Kimberly pushed away from any touch of comfort from Aisha, before finally laying her head against Aisha's chest as she cried harder.

As upset as Kimberly was about Clark dumping her and canceling their wedding plans, Thomas took it the worst. He yelled at Kimberly, his mother with such venom in his voice much like his father does when he was under evil influence. It was the first time he had ever done that. It broke Kim's heart more. Kimberly sat in her bedroom all alone crying. Her trunk opened to all to memories of her past. There were stacks of leather bound journals where Kimberly wrote in everyday for pass 9 years when she went to high school, become a power ranger, found out she was pregnant. There were tons of photo albums, tapes and items of the past that held such treasures and memories. Kimberly opened one of leather diaries with a pink-knotted bow. Kimberly was flipping through the book. She paused on a particular date. The page was dated back in November of 1995. Her eyes locked on a particular photo cut out and pasted to that page. It was a random picture. Tommy had treated Kimberly to dinner the day after Zedd and Rita stole her power coin. Kimberly flashed back to that day as she read on.

It was a warm sunny day in November, very normal for California. It only got cold around December and early months of the New Year. Kimberly picked at her dessert after the wonderful dinner Tommy treated them to. After the hard day, he felt dinner was the least he could do for Kimberly. A person came over to the table with a camera.

"What a lovely couple, how about a photo?"

"Of course," Tommy said. Kimberly and Tommy leaned closer. Kimberly put on a fake smile. Tommy paid for the photo and gave it to Kimberly. She kissed his cheek. "You've hardly touched your dessert."

"I'm sorry I'm not good company."

"Hey, let's get out of here."

"Where we going?"

"Anywhere." Tommy put down some money and took Kimberly to her favorite place in Angel Grove.

By the lake, their lake, it was always a calming place. Kimberly took off her shoes. Tommy held his arm around for her. They walked together.

"So, I guess this is the end of the Pink Ranger, huh?"

"We can still share our powers with you…"

"Yeah, for a while." They continued walking. Kimberly stopped. "Tommy, I'm really scared." Tommy quickly took her hands.

"Remember what you told me when I lost my powers."

"Of course. I said you would always have me…"

"And you'll always have me. Kimberly, I'll always be there for you." Tommy kissed her cheek.

"Thanks." Tommy squeezed her hands. He smiled.

"I love you." Kimberly smiled. Tommy was never the one to say it first, it made her fill with even more love to hear him speak those words first.

"I love you too." They kissed again, this time more passionate. They slowly fell to the ground kissing. Tommy moved partial over Kimberly. Tommy ran his hands through her silky soft hair as Kimberly caressed his back and shoulders.

"Wa...wait…"

"What's wrong Kimberly?" Tommy asked. Kimberly was a bit out of breath.

"As romantic as it would be to make love, with the sun setting and…here….a lake that hold so many special memories in our hearts, I just…"

"Want something more?" Tommy pressed another kiss to her lips.

"Is that bad?" Kimberly asked.

"Of course not! Besides, sand is not fun to clean up later." Kimberly laughed. "Come on." Tommy stood up and held his hands out for Kimberly. He pulled her up. Kimberly giggled when Tommy's hands went to her waist and twirled her around. Tommy slowly brought Kimberly down. She kissed him immediately.

Tommy closed and locked his bedroom door behind them. Kimberly pulled off her jacket. Tommy went to his stereo.

"How about a dance?"

"Sure." Kimberly kicked off her shoes. Tommy put on a CD. One of Kimberly's he forgot to give back. Tommy held his hand out for her. Kimberly took his hand. She stood on the top of his shoes. They slowed danced. They shared several kisses before Kimberly undid the 3 buttons to his shirt. She kissed the open skin there. Tommy pulled slowly back from Kimberly. She slowly pulled his shirt from his pants. Kimberly ran her hands along his naked chest as his shirt found the floor. Tommy cupped her face and kissed her immediately. They made love for the first time.

Kimberly lay against Tommy's chest. He was rubbing her hair back. They had been quiet for the longest. Kimberly slightly pulled away.

"Wha, where are you going?"

"I figured you would want me not all over you when you sleep."

"Why wouldn't I want you, Beautiful?" Tommy asked, still caressing her face and hair.

"I know that when nap together, we start off holding each other, but eventually you want your space…and I…"

"Not now. Not anymore." Tommy wrapped his arms around Kimberly tightly. "I never want any space from you ever again." He kissed her head. "Right now, I want to hold you and never let go. I can't believe how close we are, I would never believed I could be this lucky. When I look into your eyes, I see a beautiful future with you, and some children and a beautiful white house…"

"You really see that?"

"Yup."

"That's so sweet Tommy."

"I love you Kimberly. And I know I said it before and I mean it now more than ever. I will always love you, Kimberly."

"Tommy…" Tommy pulled her hand to his chest over his heart.

"You feel that?"

"Yeah."

"That's my heart for you. And that is how I will always feel, Beautiful."

"Oh, I love you." Kimberly cupped his face and kissed him.

Zeke came into his mother's room. Kimberly was hugging a teddy bear crying. It was the white teddy bear Tommy had given her while she was in the hospital.

"Mommy?" Kimberly quickly wiped her eyes. She closed the book. "Mommy, I'm sorry."

"For what, baby."

"For yelling at you. I didn't mean it Mommy. I'm so sorry! I love you Mommy!" Kimberly opened her arms. Zeke smiled and rushed to her. They hugged immediately.

"Me too baby. Me too." Kimberly kissed his head. Zeke looked at the book. He saw the photo of his mother and Tommy together, Tommy's arm around Kimberly as they both smiled.

"Hey, that's the guy from the funeral."

"Yeah, his name is Tommy remember?"

"Tommy? Like Thomas, my name!"

"Yeah, just like your name."

"Why does he look like me?" Kimberly laughed at her son's question.

"Maybe you look like him."

"What does that mean?" Zeke asked. Kimberly smiled.

"I'll tell you when you're a little older, ok."

"Promise?" Kimberly held her pinky finger up to Zeke. Zeke connected his pinky to hers.

"I promise. I love you baby."

"I love you too Mommy." They hugged again.

Hayley, as friend of Tommy's was in New York about the next to last week in February for a convention for her great technology discovery from Graduate school. She was to do a major seminar of a computer program she helped design. For a tiny break from the convention at the Jacob K. Javist Center, Hayley went to Central Park with some colleagues. She was in the park and sees Kimberly. Immediately Hayley recognizes her from some of the photos in Tommy's dorm room back from college. Tommy never really explained their relationship other than they dated a while before she left and dumped him for another guy. Kimberly was chasing after a little boy. It was the first time in the last week, Kimberly and her son had time like this to be free since Clark left them. Hayley smiled until she got a good look of that boy. She gasped. She couldn't make the funeral of Tommy's longtime friend, but Tommy told her about it. Though Tommy had told her about Kimberly, he forgot to mention Kimberly had a son. A son that looked just like him.

"Get back here!"

"But Mommy!"

"Thomas Zeke Oliver Hart, bring your butt here!" Kimberly stomped her foot. Hailey gasped. 'Did she just say Thomas Oliver?' Hailey couldn't believe it. How could Tommy have never told her he had a baby, a son?

Hayley confronted Tommy as soon as she got back to LA the next week. Tommy was packing for his small trip home for a weeklong break from graduate school. Tommy had graduated last year from UCLA, and was in 2-year long graduate study program of palentology.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't lie to me Tommy! I heard her! How could you keep your son from me, you think I wouldn't understand!"

"I don't…I don't have a son! Kimberly told me herself!"

"Right, then how come this so called not son has the name Thomas Zeke Oliver Hart?"

"What?"

"His name is Thomas Zeke Oliver Hart, Thomas Oliver, ring a bell? He's your son! I did some resource and found the birth certificate with your name on it."

"But I didn't, she didn't…" Hayley looked at Tommy's face. She could tell he was shocked as he all but collapsed into a chair.

"You didn't know that, did you?" Tommy looked up at Hayley.

"No! I mean, I never asked his name. They called him LT or Zeke the whole time! I just…I…I assumed…"

"Are you sure she told you that…"

"Yes! She told me I wasn't his father! She said it, I swear!"

"Then why would she call him Thomas, and give him your last name if it wasn't your son?" Hayley asked.

"I don't know. I mean, Kimberly wouldn't have…she couldn't…Kimberly wouldn't have lie about that to me. She just…could she?" Tommy shook his head. It was as if an internal mind struggle was beating at his head. In all the years of knowing Kimberly Hart, Kimberly only lied to him once. But that lie was to protect him from finding out her terrible eating disease. Somehow the lie of that letter didn't hurt as much as if she now lied about a baby. His baby. "No, she wouldn't lie."

"Like you wouldn't."

"What?" Tommy looked at Hayley confused.

"Come on Tommy, you lied to her, what makes you think she wouldn't either?" Hayley asked.

"Because my lie… my lie was to protect her. She was hurt and confused at that time, if she knew… I just didn't want to add to the suffering."

"Well, a lie is a lie."

"No, there are some lies you just have to.."

"Like telling you that wasn't your son?" Tommy looked at Hayley. "I think you need to go to New York City and straighten this out with her immediately."

Kimberly had to move in with her brother since her apartment had a pipe explode and flooded the building. It would take weeks, maybe months before the place was livable again. Timothy was the only family besides her grandparents to accept her son. Though Kim's grandparents on her mother's side was a bit hesitant at first, but came around after seeing their great grandson for the first time in photos. After that, they were sending support and love to Kimberly ever since. Tim and Kimberly were taking the train that morning together. Kimberly was running a bit late thanks to her son loves taking long baths. But even his bath didn't wake him; Kimberly was basically dragging her son, as she got dressed.

Kimberly was going on to teach and give a test for the class for her mentor as Tim had errands to do. She had the brown folder with all the tests; thankful she didn't forget them like last time. Kimberly was carrying her sleeping son. Thomas had to go to class with her but he was always good in class, playing with his toys quietly since it was in a huge study hall classroom where he could be unseen.

"I'll pick up Poot after I finish before your second class. I wish I could take him with me now, but he would be alone while I was in a meeting and I know you hate when Poot is alone."

"Will you stop calling my son, my child Poot! You got everyone doing it!" Tim laughed. Kimberly patted her son's hair back. He was still asleep.

"Well, Poot, I mean Thomas…" Kimberly looked at him. Tim knew how much she hated when he threw the name Thomas at her with that eye. He always hated, but couldn't do anything about Kim's secret from his nephew's father. He had sworn since the hospital to never tell.

Kimberly just had the baby. It was an early morning in March. The baby born was at 3:45 pm, March 18, 1997. He was taken from Kim after she got a few moments alone with the baby, but he had to be checked by the doctors in the NICU, to allow mother to get cleaned up after the long labor. Kimberly was late, no surprise there, but she did remember hearing from the doctor, first time mothers usually went 4 days after their due date, however Kimberly went nearly 12 days over due before she finally went into labor. And the labor was a long battle, Kimberly struggling through the enormous pain for many, many hours. Pushing her son out took longer than expected. Tim was the only one that could be there for the delivery and helped Kimberly through it all.

"You owe me so much for this, Kimmy!"

"Oh shut up!" Kimberly screamed through her labor. The doctor was a bit worried because Kimberly was young and this was her first baby. Kimberly was about to have to have a C-section, but Tim was convinced his sister could to it. And she did. She fought through it and delivered her baby boy.

Tommy was in the hospital for his uncle's illness that April as well. He has been admitted for about a month now, but just last night, his uncle's health almost turned for the worst and they family thought they were gonna lost him. Tommy's mother was especially saddened to be losing her brother. Tommy had to be there for his mother.

Tommy was walking down the halls, after his mother told him to get some air, since he had been sleeping in that uncomfortable chair for a while. Tommy welcomed the chance to stretch his legs. In the large hospital, Tommy got lost. He found himself on the baby floor. Tommy saw a guy holding a newborn, walking around, Tommy immediately recognized the guy. Tim was holding his nephew in blue, who seem not to take comfort in his uncle's arms.

"Tim?" Tim looked up and gasped. Tommy was standing right there. "Tim Hart?"

"Oh, hey man." Tommy looked at the baby.

"Wow, he's beautiful!"

"Thanks. I like to think that too."

"Wow, I didn't even know you were still in town."

"Yeah, just happened. I was in town to have this a concert when…"

"Your son was born." The baby was still crying.

"Oh, he's not..."

"Can I hold him, maybe I can..?"

"Of course. I don't see why not." Kimberly was walking to the nursery, when she fainted at the sight before her. Kimberly stood there holding her chest at the sight of Tommy holding his son. Kimberly was breathing hard and had to hold the wall to keep herself standing. The baby finally stopped crying.

"Wow, looks like you got the magic touch man," Tim said touching his back.

"I guess so."

Tim smiled. "I mean Zeke and I will have fun."

"Good, because I don't think Zeke likes that daycare down the street from the college."

"Why?"

"Some kid picked on him about not having a father."

"Picked on my boy. My nephew! I'll kill him!"

"TiM!"

"What? No one treats my Poot like that. Okay, here is my stop. I'll text you when I am done and you can bring Poot outside to me."

"Okay." Tim kissed Zeke's head and then got off at his stop. Zeke slightly woke up. Kimberly reached to hold the pole as she stood up, since her stop was 2 away. She turned on the train and gasped. She saw Tommy's reflection behind her.

"Mommy…" Kimberly looked to see her son waking up. Kimberly looked back, but Tommy was gone. Kimberly turned again to make sure, but Tommy wasn't there. She shook her head. "Mommy?"

"Morning baby."

"I wanna a juice."

"I will get you some juice soon, baby." The train came to her stop. Kimberly got off. Tommy came out from the crowd, watching Kimberly walk down the ramp toward the exit. He shook his head.

Kimberly could have sworn she just saw Tommy on the subway, but that just couldn't be true. He lives in LA, why would he be on the subway and during the morning rush hour. Kimberly let those thoughts ponder in her head as she showered away work today. Kimberly flickered back to the night after Trini's funeral. Had she made love to Tommy that night. No, Tommy told her they didn't. He wouldn't lie to her, just like Kimberly swore she couldn't lie to Tommy, but she did. Kimberly knew she couldn't fight it anymore. She knew the truth. Nothing could wash away that truth. She had made love to the one man that will forever hold her heart and soul. Kimberly lifted her son up on her hip. She stopped at a food court, looking back a few times, still having that feeling Tommy was behind her.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Zeke asked looked up at his mother.

"Nothing baby. Do you want a bagel too?" Zeke shook his head. "You sure?" Kimberly showed a raisin bagel. Zeke smiled.

"Okay."

"Good."

AN: Thanks my beautiful, happening peeps for all the loving, keep it coming please... Next installment: The Party, ain't parties just great, the candy, cake, endless foods and kids running around so excited and high on candy... oh, and how such a wonderful day came lead one to falling in a deep faint of pure shock.

Catcha on the flip side everybody!

:P