Disclaimer-Ownership of the power rangers does not exist here

Chapter Sixteen-Conversations

As everyone else headed off towards the basketball court, Ann and Ted started walking around the park. They weren't really heading in any particular direction. They were silent for a while, but Kim seemed to have very good eyesight, because she started yelling across a baseball field that she couldn't see their lips moving. It made Ann and Ted laugh.

"So." Ted said. "I really don't know what to say."

"Me either." Ann admitted.

"That has to be a first. You don't know what to say?"

"Oh be quiet. You don't know what to say either."

They had been walking around for some time, and by now, they were standing right beside Angel Grove Lake. Ted turned and faced Ann.

"Ann. I think I know what to say now."

"What?"

"I just wanted you to know that I really, really like you Ann."

Ann smiled. Ted couldn't help but think that she looked really pretty right now. She had a wonderful smile, and the breeze was gently blowing her hair, but not in her face, as she stood with her back to the lake.

"Ted, I really like you too." Ann couldn't find the right word for Ted's expression. He didn't exactly looked shocked, but he didn't really look calm either. He looked like that was what he had wanted to hear, but he didn't want to get his hopes up that she was going to say that.

Then Ted smiled, all of his worries forgotten, he was just happy that Ann liked him back. Ted leaned over and kissed Ann. When they broke apart, Ann just leaned in and hugged him, and they stood like that for some time.

Everyone else at about the same time

"What was the point of sending them wherever it is they are going?" Jason asked. "I mean, did you have a purpose for sending them on this random walk through the park, or did you really get mad at us for arguing?"

"Of course I'm not mad." Kim said. "I just used that as an excuse to get the two of them to talk to each other."

"Why would they need to talk to each other?" Kaylie asked.

"Oh, just because Ann kissed Ted." Jason said.

"She what?" Kimmie said. "When?"

"Right before they came back after Ann woke up." David said.

"Then Ted told me that he liked Ann." Kim said. "And Ann had already told me that she liked him. So, I decided to use the leverage I had, being your mother and all. So, right now, they are probably walking around somewhere declaring their undying love for each other."

"How did you think of this?" Kimmie asked amazed.

"My friends id the exact same thing to me." Kim said. She continued when she saw the confused looks on everyone's faces. "Oh, come on, don't tell me none of you ever heard this story."

"Ok, we won't."

"This is gonna be a long story."

Flashback-Twenty years ago-dedication of power rangers memorial in Angel Grove

"Oh, come one Kim. You know you want to go."

"But what if he's there?"

"Get over it girl. You should tell him the truth. I've been saying that all along."

"I don't know."

"Go for it."

"Fine, I'll go."

"You rock girl!"

"Trini! Get off, you're strangling me!"

"Oh, sorry."

Later after the ceremony

"I have a brilliant plan." Jason told all of the original power rangers. "We get them to side up against us, and then have them go off somewhere on their own, where they will declare their undying love for each other."

"That is the stupidest plan that I have ever heard." Trini said.

"Oh yeah? You got something better?" Jason challenged. "You never said that about my plans when we were the rangers."

"That was because you were the leader and I had to listen to you. And no, I don't have a better plan. Although any plan would be better than yours."

"I'm touched." Jason said, putting his hand over his heart. "So, we go for it?"

"What do we have to do?" Billy questioned.

"Uh, I have no idea."

"That is a brillian plan Jason." Trini commented.

"I'm with her on that one." Zack said. "Besides what could we do right now that would make them 'declare their undying love for each other'?"

"What are you talking about?" A voice said from behind them.

"Aisha!" Billy exclaimed. "Rocky, Adam! When did you guys get here?"

"We came for the ceremony." Aisha said. "And who is declaring their undying love for each other?"

"No one." Jason said. "Yet."

"Oh, I see now." Aisha said looking where Jason was looking. At Tommy and Kim sitting together awkwardly on the blanket. "Leave this one to me and Trini. You coming girl?"

"You bet."

Together the two former yellow rangers walked over to their two friends, and started talking to them. Whatever they were saying, they were very serious. Kim's eyes went wide and it looked like the two women were ordering them to do something. Kim and Tommy got up very quickly and walked away from the two women looking very afraid. Trini and Aisha walked back over to the other guys, who looked impressed.

"What did you just do?" Rocky asked.

"We told them that unless they at least tried to talk to each other then we wouldn't lock them up in a room together for the next five years." Aisha said in a nonchalant voice, as if she did this every day. The guys just stared at her.

"Remind me to never mess with a yellow, ever." Adam said to Rocky, who nodded his head in silent agreement.

About ten minutes later, Tommy and Kim could be seen walking back towards their friends, and they were holding hands.

"You guys are good." Zack said under his breath.

"Never mess with a yellow." Aisha said.

"Hey guys." Kim said softly as she and Tommy walked up.

"Hey yourself." Trini said. "So what's up with you two?"

"Nothin'."

"Right." Jason said, while rolling is eyes. "That's what they all say."

End Flashback

"Uh, mom, do I really want to know what you left out of that story?" Jason asked seriously.

"Probably not."

"Ok, then please, don't tell me."

"What do you think they are doing?" Kimmie asked. "They've been gone for years."

"Who knows?" Kim said.

"Personally, I'd rather not know." Jason said, shuddering.

"Oh my gosh." Kaylie said suddenly.

"What is it?"

Kaylie pointed to the bit of the lake you could see through the trees. Or at least the spot where you used to be able to see the lake.

"I thought I said I didn't want to know." Jason said. "Seriously, she's my sister. That's just gross."

"What? She's just kissing a guy." Kim pointed out. "And it's just Ted. From what I've gathered, you've known him practically his whole life."

"So? That just makes it even grosser."

"You are so immature." Kimmie said.

"Am not."

"Wanna bet?"

"I have an idea." Kim said. Interrupting their discussion that was about to turn into a huge argument. "How about you guys tell me about Ted. All I know is that he was adopted by Adam and Tanya."

"I can tell you that." David said. "I remember it best, because I was older than they were when it happened.

"Adam and Tanya had been married for over seven years, and they weren't having any luck with having kids. They went to every doctor imaginable and they all said the same thing. That there was nothing wrong and those kinds of things just took time. You were there for Tanya a lot mom. You still had your studio in Angel Grove then, and you went to visit her every day, because she was getting really depressed about not being able to have any kids.

"Well, one day, you were walking up to their house, when you saw a little boy lying down, hidden in the bushes. You got Adam and Tanya right away, and they didn't know who he was. When he woke up, the only thing he could tell you was that his name was Theodore and he was four years old. Tanya fell in love with him immediately, and started calling him Ted, which he seemed to like. They knew they had to bring him to the police, but his parents couldn't be found. And there weren't any missing children that fit his description.

"By that time, Ted loved living with Adam and Tanya, because the police had let him stay there. They had thought it would be better for him if he didn't have to go stay with another new family. So, when nothing more could be done about Ted's situation, Adam and Tanya adopted him. They were a very happy family, Adam and Tanya loved him like he was their real son, and none of that changed, when Teresa was born four years later. Ted was so proud of his baby sister. Adam and Tanya were secretly very pleased that the two of them got along so well. His sister knows that he technically isn't her real brother, but she loves him so much. Ted told me that he was really lucky that Adam and Tanya adopted him. He knows that even though they have Teresa now, they won't get rid of him."

"Wow." Kim said. "That is a pretty amazing story."

"I know." Kaylie agreed. "I never really knew all that. I barely remember not having Ted. I was only about two when they first took him in, and I guess I've just always accepted him without realizing that he really looks nothing like his parents."

"You can say that again." Kimmie said. "Ted looks Italian, and Adam is oriental and Tanya is African."

"They make a nice family though." Jason said. "I don't think Teresa really even knows that her brother is adopted. I mean, she's old enough to understand and all, but still…"

"I know what you mean." Kimmie said.

"Ok, everyone get up right now." Kim said suddenly. The three kids/ one teenager looked at her. "Come on, get up, look like you haven't been gossiping about Ted's family history, or watching their little make out session. Pretend like you've been playing basketball."

Everyone hurriedly ran out onto the court, just as Ted and Ann walked out from the trees, holding hands. Kim shot them a quick glance and smiled, remembering her and Tommy exactly the same way, before getting into the game.

"Do you think we should tell them?" Ann asked Ted softly.

Ted smiled at her. "I think we should surprise them. Or maybe torture them. What sounds like more fun?"

"Torture. But we should totally surprise them."

"Good idea." Ted let go of Ann's hand, and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I have an idea." Ann said suddenly, stopping just a few yards away from the edge of the basketball court. "Let's act like we're really mad at each other and see what they do."

"Ok."

The walked the last few feet, but now they were purposely not looking at each other, and trying very hard not to laugh as they glared at the ground.

"Hey you two!" Jason called. "So, what happened on your walk?"

Ann looked up, glaring at her brother, who looked very surprised. "If you really want to know, Ted was being a jerk."

"I was not." Ted protested.

"Yes you were." Ann argued. "You kept going on about how good you think you are in, uh, basketball. And the truth is, that you're terrible! Why don't you just face the facts?"

"What facts? I am not terrible at basketball. If you want to talk about being terrible at something, you should watch yourself do martial arts. You are the worst student I have ever seen. Uncle Rocky could have done better after he hurt his neck!"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah really."

Everyone just stared at the two teenagers who they had just seen kissing by the lake. It was Jason who spoke first.

"What the heck is wrong with the two of you? We just saw you kissing by the lake, and now you're down each other's throats because of sports?"

"What are you talking about?" Ann and Ted said at the same time. They were a little worried. How did they know?

"You must be crazy." Ann said.

"I agree."

"I wasn't asking for your opinion Ted."

"Well I was giving it."

"And why, might I ask, am I crazy?" Jason interrupted.

"You must be crazy." Ann repeated. "If you think I would kiss big head boy over there."

"I don't think, I know."

"What has gotten into the two of you?" Kim said suddenly. "You were fine when you left fifteen minutes ago. What happened that you now want to start world war three?"

Ann smiled sweetly. "I want to start world war three because I think it would help Ted deflate his head a bit."

"My head doesn't need to be deflated."

"Yeah, it does."

"Does not."

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Does to-."

"ENOUGH!"

"Woah, mom calm down."

"Uh, yeah, that kinda wasn't me Ann." Kim said. "It was Kimmie."

Everyone stared at Kimmie. They knew she was really loyal to her friends, but they had never seen her really mad before.

"Both of you sit down." Ted and Ann obeyed the younger girl without question. Unfortunately for them, the only place available to sit down was one bench, and they had temporarily for gotten about their 'argument', and sat next to each other.

"OK, let's start right at the beginning. But before we do that, what is so wrong with the two of you that you can't bear to look at each other, but you have no problem sitting next to each other on a very small park bench?"

Ann and Ted glanced at each other quickly. "Uh, that's a really good question Kimmie. Did I ever tell you that I really like your hair?"

"I'm waiting." Ted glanced at Ann and she nodded.

"Yeah, um, about that argument. We were kind of faking it."

"You were what?" Kaylie said.

"We were faking it." Ann repeated.

"Faking it?" Kimmie repeated. Kim smiled, she knew what was going on here, but she kept it to herself.

"Yeah, faking it." Ted confirmed.

"Care to elaborate?" David said. "Cuz that argument looked pretty real to me."

"That's because you are a boy and oblivious to little things like people arguing with each other in the middle of a park."

"I'm still waiting."

"Jeez Kimmie. It's not that big of a deal."

"Then you should be able to tell me."

"Fine." Ann said. "Ted we have to tell them."

"Whatever."

"We're engaged."

"You're what?!"

a/n-nothing like a good cliffhanger.