Author's Note: I've given it a lot of thought and I think that after this story, I will be writing the Tanya/Adam story. You have PrettyDiva to thank for that one since I was inspired by her fic He Is, She Is. You should check it out if you haven't already read it. So that means I'm going to have to work hard at updating this fic sooner so that I will have time to begin the next one.
PrettyDiva: Like I said above, Tanya and Adam will be the first of the other couples that I write about. So thanks for the inspiration.
HarryPassionFan: I'm glad you liked Patrick's wedding. I hope you like this next chapter which will feature the birth of his and Amanda's newborn son, who will eventually grow up to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and become a ranger.
Dancerchick17: Yeah, I realized when I was writing it that there wasn't going to be much of a storyline in the last chapter. I just wanted to do a quick update. Oh and its Jayne not Susie who is away in Paris but more of that will probably be included in the Jason/Kim story. As for Susie, I do have something surprising planned for her in this chapter so read on to see what happens with her.
Lushiouschell: Here's another sweet family moment for you. Hope you enjoy it.
Purple Strobe: Your long reviews are back and I love it! You have no idea how much they help me. Yeah now that you mention it I guess it is weird for JJ and Lauren to still be calling each others' parents Aunt and Uncle. It's just that they've been calling them that since they were kids so it's hard to break the habit. The conversation between Kat and Kim was just a way for me to involve some of the other rangers into the story again because I thought they hadn't been seen much plus it helped to move the story along. And just for you, I've decided to put in a few details such as Kat and Tommy's age and the appearance of Tommy's hair you'll just have to read carefully so you don't miss it.
ULTRA SONIC: I know I'm updating quickly or at least trying to because I have so many stories that are just waiting to be written and I'd love to start on them soon. It's nice to know that even though I am updating quickly the chapters are still good to my readers.
"Katherine, honey will you please relax," Tommy said to his wife who was pacing back and forth across the floor of the New York hospital where they were anticipating the birth of their first grandchild.
"Honestly Tommy, how can you just sit there, I'm worried to death they haven't told us anything in hours," Kat replied as she continued to pace.
"These things take time, you of all people should know that," Tommy reminded her gently as she finally took a seat next to him.
"Of course I do, we did this four times," she responded.
"Yeah but not from this side of things, we've never been the ones waiting before," Tommy told her.
"I do wish Patrick and Amanda had changed their minds about wanting us in the delivery room," she said.
"Now Kat, don't you remember how we felt when it was time for Patrick to be born, we didn't want anyone in the room with us either," Tommy reminded her.
"I know you're right, I just wish someone would tell us something already," Kat replied.
"Did we miss anything?" Linda Reed, who was Amanda's mother asked. Amanda's parents had just arrived from the airport.
"Linda, John, it's so nice to see you again," Tommy said as he got up to shake John's hand.
"So far there's no news," Kat told them.
"Well, I'm going to go see if I can find anyone who will give us news," Linda said as she walked over to the nurses' station.
"I should go and call Lauren, I'm sure she and Josh must be wondering why we haven't called them with news," Kat decided as she walked over to the pay phones. They had left Lauren and Josh back in Angel Grove since both were still in school. Tommy and Katherine had decided to use some of their vacation time so that they could be in New York for their grandchild's birth.
A half an hour later, there was still no news and Katherine once again had taken to pacing the floor.
"Come on honey, why don't we step outside for some fresh air," Tommy said as he took Kat's hand and led her outside.
"Can you believe that at any moment we're going to become grandparents?" Kat asked her husband as they walked hand in hand.
"Where did the time go, it seems like just yesterday we were bringing Patrick home from the hospital and now it's his turn to bring his own child home," Tommy replied.
"It might seem just like yesterday but it certainly doesn't look like it," Kat remarked.
"What do you mean?" Tommy questioned.
"Just that we're not a young as we used to be, the lines on my face are enough to tell me that," she told him.
"Oh Katherine, stop it, you are still just as beautiful as the day I married you and you're in great shape, it's hard to believe that you've had four children," Tommy replied.
"Yes, well that's only because I've kept up with my dancing but it doesn't change the fact that I'm getting older," Kat told him.
"Fifty-two isn't that old and besides you're not the one with grey hair," Tommy said as he ran his hand through his hair which he was now starting to let grow long again.
"You only have a few strands of grey and I'm sure my hair will begin to turn eventually," Kat replied.
"Don't we make a fine pair, complaining about getting older when we've got everything in the world to be thankful for," Tommy said.
"You're right, we've got a son who's about to become a father, a daughter who's off at college breaking gymnastic records and two others at home who are doing just as great," Kat agreed.
"Come on, why don't we go see if we're grandparents yet," Tommy said as they walked hand in hand and back into the hospital.
"Mom, Dad, there you are," Patrick, who was now twenty-four said as he came running over to them.
"Well, what's the news?" Tommy asked.
"I have a son," Patrick told them proudly.
"I'm so happy for you," Kat said as she gave Patrick a son.
"Congratulations son, that's great news," Tommy said as he too gave Patrick a hug.
"What's his name?" Kat asked.
"I promised Amanda that we'd tell you together, let's go," Patrick said as he led them into Amanda's hospital room where her parents were already admiring their new grandson.
"Meet your new grandson," Amanda said as Tommy and Katherine walked into the room.
"How are you doing dear?" Kat asked her daughter-in-law.
"I'm a tired but happy, would you like to hold him," she said.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Kat questioned.
"Of course not," Amanda said as she handed the baby boy to his grandmother.
"You are just the most beautiful baby ever, you look so much like your father did the day he was born," Kat said as she held the baby.
"So now do we get to know this little guy's name?" Tommy asked.
"Amanda, why don't you tell them, it was your idea," Patrick said to his wife.
"We've decided to name him Thomas Patrick Oliver," Amanda announced.
"I figured we could call him Tommy for short if that's ok with you Dad," Patrick said.
"Are you kidding, I'd be honored to pass my name on to my grandson," Tommy told him.
"I think it's a perfect name," Kat commented.
A few days later, Tommy and Katherine reluctantly left New York and returned home to Angel Grove.
"So Mom, what does my new nephew look like?" seventeen year old Lauren asked.
"He has a head full of hair and big brown eyes just like his father, he looks a lot like Patrick did when he was first born," Kat answered.
"I can't believe Patrick is a dad now," fifteen year old Joshua commented.
"What I can't believe is Susie coming home in the middle of the semester," Tommy said as he looked over at his twenty year old daughter who had remained silent.
"Is it so wrong for a daughter to want to visit her parents?" Susie asked.
"Of course not but aren't you missing classes to be here, your mother and I don't want you falling behind," Tommy told her.
"And what about your training, surely your coach can't be happy that you took time off," Kat replied.
"Actually, I'm not on the gymnastics team anymore," Susie revealed.
"Did you get kicked off?" Joshua asked.
"No, I didn't get kicked off, I quit," Susie announced.
"What do you mean you quit?" Kat questioned.
"Susan, what about your scholarship," Tommy said.
"Well obviously if I'm not on the gymnastics team then my scholarship is no more," Susie told them.
"Lauren, Joshua I think you two should head upstairs now," Tommy told them.
"Ah man, we never just when it was getting good," Josh said as both he and Lauren headed out of the room.
"Susan, what on earth would make you quit gymnastics?" Kat questioned.
"I just wasn't happy competing anymore," she responded.
"But what about all the dreams you had of going to the Olympics," Tommy replied.
"Dad, I've already won a gold medal, I don't need another one," Susan told him
"Ok, fine your father and I have always had a college fund set up for you so you don't have to worry about losing the scholarship we can still pay for your school," Kat told her.
"That's the other thing I wanted to tell you, I'm not going back to school," Susan revealed.
"Please tell me that you didn't just say what I thought you said," Tommy said.
"Susan, quitting school is unacceptable," Kat replied.
"It's just not my thing, I wasn't happy there and I just don't see the need to continue with something that I don't want to do," Susan informed them.
"Well maybe Utah wasn't the place for you but there are still plenty of other great colleges right here in California," Tommy decided.
"No, I don't think it will matter if I go someplace else, college is just not for me," Susan replied.
"I can't believe you're actually saying this," said Kat.
"Look, I know you're both disappointed but I've made up my mind, I'm not going back to school," Susan told them.
"If you're not going back to school then what are you going to do?" Tommy asked.
"I'm getting married," she revealed.
"Married, your father and I weren't even aware that you were dating anyone!" Kat yelled.
"I was just waiting for the right time to tell you but everyone was so excited about the baby being born that I didn't want to say anything," Susan replied.
"I can't believe any guy would have the nerve to propose to you when he hasn't even met your parents yet," Tommy told her.
"Dad, we're not trying to disrespect you or anything, everything just kinda happened so fast," Susan replied.
"So who is this boy?" Kat questioned.
"His name is Nathan Stone, he's the older brother of one of my teammates, I met him when he came down to watch her compete, he's a graduate student and he just graduated from medical school," Susan informed them.
"Wait, he's already graduated from med school?" Tommy questioned.
"Yeah, he's a bit older than me," Susan admitted.
"How much older?" Kat inquired.
"He's twenty-eight," Susan revealed.
"Susan, you're twenty years old, you haven't even experienced half the things that he has, do you really think you should be rushing into marriage," Kat said.
"Mom, Dad, I'm not here asking for your permission, I love Nathan and we're going to be married whether you like it or not, I just thought that the right thing would be to come home and tell you in person," Susan replied.
"Then I guess there's nothing left to be said," Kat said as she got up and left the room.
"This is not what we wanted for you Susan, you just come in here and announce this marriage without even a second thought to how we might feel about it," Tommy told her.
"Dad, we don't always know where life's going take us, I didn't plan for this to happen it just did, we're not getting married until the beginning of next year, I wanted to wait until I turned twenty-one, but at least this will give you and Mom sometime to calm down, I'm going to be in town for a week, I'm staying at Aunt Kim and Uncle Jason's because Jayne is home for a visit, I'll be there if you guys want to talk," Susan replied as she headed for the door.
"Susan, your mother and I may not be happy with the decisions you're making, but we're your parents and we'll always love you," Tommy told her.
"I love you too," Susan said as she walked out the door.