Author's Notes: I'm enjoying writing this story so much especially with the kids growing up that I'm seriously considering writing a story that's more about the kids rather than the parents. It might be awhile before that story appears though because I am already in the process of starting the stories based on the other couples. I think the first one will probably be Tanya/Adam but I'm still undecided.
Purple Strobe: Thanks for the title suggestion. I didn't realize it was going to be so hard picking titles for the other couples. It's mainly hard because I'm trying to come up with something that reflects each couple and so far nothing's coming to me.
Ghostwriter: I know how life can get some times. I'm going to be pretty busy myself once school starts. Oh and Tommy didn't name the dog it was the kids idea but you'll see why they chose Zeo in this chapter.
PrettyDiva: Don't worry about the titles for the other stories. It was just my lazy way of trying to get out of having to come up with them for myself. Lol But thanks for trying.
GinaStar: I haven't really decided which or if any of their kids will become rangers. But if I do it'll be mention somewhere in the next couple of chapters.
Destiny45: I'm glad you finally found this story. It's nice to see a new reviewer and I'm sure you'll be pleased if I do decide that Tanya/Adam will be the next in the series that I right.
HarryPassionFan: If you liked the whole school thing then I think you'll love this next chapter or at least I hope you will.
Dancerchick17: Ah, thanks for saying that this story is your favorite. It's been fun for me writing it.
"Come on Mom, please, I only need a few more hours," Patrick begged Katherine who shook her head as she walked into the kitchen.
"Wait until your father gets home," she replied.
"But who knows how long his meeting will be," he told her.
"Is he begging to go driving again?" eleven year old Susan asked as she came into the kitchen for a glass of water.
"Shut up, brat," Patrick said as he glared at her.
"Patrick Joel Oliver, how many times do I have to ask you not to call your sister that name," Kat reprimanded him.
"She's never going to take you driving now," Susan said as she stuck out her tongue at her brother.
"None of that from you either, young lady," Kat said as she pointed towards the door signaling that she wanted Susan to leave the room.
"I'll bet Aunt Tanya and Uncle Adam, didn't give Adam this much trouble when he wanted to get his license," Patrick replied.
"Maybe not, but you still have to wait until your father gets home," Kat told him.
"Man, this totally bites," Patrick said as he left the room.
"Mommy, I can't find my ballet shoes," nine year old Lauren said as she ran in.
"Why do you need them we're not going to the studio today remember?" Kat asked.
"I know but I want to be perfect for the recital so I was going to go practice in the basement," Lauren replied.
"You probably left them in car, I don't remember you bringing it in after school," Kat told her.
"Ok, thanks Mom," she said as she left.
"Mommy, why is Patrick so mean," said youngest son Joshua who was seven.
"I'm sorry baby, he's just a little mad at Mommy right now, I'm sure he didn't mean to take it out on you," Kat said as she gave him a hug.
"Honey, I'm home," Tommy called and Katherine heard the garage door closing.
"Daddy!" Joshua said as he ran up and hugged his father.
"Hey sport," Tommy said.
"I made you a picture today at school, I'll be right back," Joshua said as he ran out.
"So what's going on around here?" Tommy asked.
"Patrick's in a pretty foul mood, he wanted to go driving but I didn't want to leave the other three kids here alone so I told him to wait until you got home," Kat informed him.
"Great, so you leave me to deal with all that teenage attitude," Tommy said in mock anger.
"What's this, the mighty Tommy Oliver afraid of an angry teenager," Kat teased and Tommy reached out to playfully hit her but she moved out of the way.
Leaving Kat in the kitchen, Tommy went upstairs and knocked on the door of his oldest son's bedroom.
"Who is it?" the sixteen year old asked.
"It's Dad," Tommy said as Patrick got up to open the door.
"Your Mom tells me you're pretty upset," Tommy said as he sat down on the bed.
"All I wanted to do was go driving so I could finish up my hours and get my license," Patrick told him.
"Yeah but you know how your Mom feels about leaving your younger siblings home alone, I don't appreciate your giving her attitude about it," Tommy said.
"I'm sorry but you guys have no idea what it's like for me," Patrick replied.
"Hey your Mom and I were teenagers once and believe me we had more to worry about than most kids our age," Tommy told him.
"Yeah but neither of your parents worked at your high school, and what about my martial arts competitions, I'm so sick of always getting compared to how good you were at my age," Patrick explained.
"I'm afraid those are just things you're going to have to deal with, look at it this way in two more years you'll be going off to college so you'll be as far away from us as you like, now go downstairs and apologize to your mother and maybe I'll consider taking you driving after dinner," Tommy said.
A few days later, Tommy and the kids headed down to Kimberly and Kat's studio where Lauren would be participating in a dance recital.
"Hey brat, how come you're not dancing in this thing?" Patrick asked once they arrived.
"Because dork, I'm not doing ballet anymore I'm on the gymnastics team," Susan replied.
"Can't you two just pretend to like each other in public?" Tommy questioned as they looked around for seats.
"Hey Tommy, over here," Jason called from where he was sitting with son JJ.
"Hi Uncle Jason," Joshua said as he sat down next to JJ.
"Hey Josh," Jason said as he stood up to shake Tommy's hand.
"Where's Jayne?" Susan asked looking around for her best friend.
"She's dancing in the recital," Jason answered.
Kimberly and Kat had often joked that they must have given birth to the wrong daughters because Jayne was more interested in ballet than she was in following her mother's footsteps in pursing gymnastics. The same could be said of Susan who instead of ballet like Katherine had found herself drawn to gymnastics. Rocky once joked that maybe there had been a mix up at the hospital which might have had some truth to it if Jayne weren't older than Susan by eight months.
"Are these seats taken?" Rocky asked as he held the hand of four year old daughter Sophia and twins Michael and Matthew followed. Emily entered a second later holding Rocky Jr. who was still a baby and their sixth child.
"Rocky, will you take him, I want to go back stage and check on Daniella and Renee," Emily said as she handed him the baby.
"Man Rocky, I don't know how you do it," Jason commented.
"Yeah having four is hard enough, I don't know how you handle six," Tommy replied.
"Yeah, it's tough sometimes but I couldn't imagine life without any of them," Rocky said.
"Shh, the show's starting," Patrick told them.
A few weeks later, Patrick ran excitedly through the door and began shouting for his mother.
"Patrick, what's all the yelling about?" Kat inquired.
"I did it Mom, I got my driver's license," Patrick told her as he showed her the paper that he held in his hand.
"Please tell me this is dream," Kat said.
"Afraid not," Tommy said as he joined them.
"So now can we talk about getting me my own car?" Patrick asked.
"We'll think about it," Tommy told him.
"If Patrick's getting a car then why can't I get a horse?" Susan asked.
"What's this about a horse?" Tommy questioned.
"She wants one for her birthday," Kat told him.
"And just where would we keep this horse young lady?" Tommy questioned.
"Dad, we could keep the horse at the Angel Grove Stables all we have to do is pay a monthly fee and I'll even give up half my allowance to help pay for it and I can use the money I've saved up from helping Aunt Kim teach classes," Susan replied.
"I don't know, a horse if a lot of responsibility and you'd have to go to the stables often to take care of it," Tommy replied.
"Well now that Patrick has his license you don't have to worry about that, he could take me," Susan suggested.
"Hey brat, don't think for a minute that I'll be driving you anywhere," Patrick told her.
"If you get a car your father and I are going to expect you to help out by driving your siblings places," Kat told him.
"Ah, man, I can't ever get a break," Patrick complained.
"Why don't you kids go to your room so your Mother and I can discuss this," Tommy said.
"Remember the good old days when all Patrick wanted was to build toy racecars and Susie was happy with a simple doll," Kat remarked as they sat down together.
"At least it'll be a while before Lauren and Josh start asking for things like this," Tommy said with a smile.
"Yeah, I wish Joshua could stay this age forever," Kat said as they both laughed.
"Wake up Susie," Kat said as she gently shook her daughter awake.
"But Mom it's Saturday," Susan whined.
"I guess she doesn't want her birthday surprise after all," Tommy commented.
"Surprise, where is it?" Susan asked as she quickly got out of bed.
"Get dressed and find out," Kat said as they left the room.
"Why do we all have to go?" Patrick asked as he too was woken up.
"Because it's your sister's birthday and we're going to celebrate it as a family," Tommy told him.
"Can I at least drive my own car instead of riding with you?" Patrick asked. Tommy and Katherine had finally consented and had bought Patrick a car which he was helping to pay for with money he earned from working for Jason and Rocky at the dojo.
"No, we're all going in your Mom's van but you can drive it if you like," Tommy told him.
"And risk someone seeing me, I don't think so," Patrick told him.
An hour later, after all the kids were finally ready, Tommy drove them down to the Angel Grove Stables.
"Your father and I thought you might enjoy going riding for your birthday," Kat said once they all got out.
"Good morning folks, who's the birthday girl," a man asked as he walked out leading a horse.
"That would be me, what's his name?" Susan asked as she petted the horse.
"Actually, it's her and she doesn't have a name yet," he told her.
"Why don't you give her a name Susie, she's yours," Kat replied. J
"Do you really mean it?" Susan asked.
"Hurry brat, you better names her before they change their minds," Patrick told her.
"I think I'll call her Wind Chaser," Susan said and both Kat and Tommy shared a secret smile.
"Up you go," the man said as he lifted Susan onto her horse.
"Can we ride too?" Lauren asked.
"Sure, I'm sure there are a few other horses around here that wouldn't mind giving you a ride," he said.
"Are you guys coming?" Patrick asked his parents as they stood watching them.
"You go ahead but watch out for your brother and sister," Tommy replied.
"You do know she named her horse that because of you," Kat told him.
"I'm not sure I get what you mean," Tommy said.
"It's the same reason we have a dog named Zeo and a cat named Saba because every bedtime story you tell them is about our days as rangers," Kat replied.
"Yeah but they don't know those stories are about us," Tommy told her.
"Maybe not, but it does make you wonder," Kat said.
"What's that?" he asked.
"If maybe one day our kids or even our grandkids will end up being rangers," she said as she grabbed his hand and they walked towards their kids who were all riding.