Summary – Tommy's birthday party.

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Another Year Older…Sort of

Jason

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(Day 2)

"Was that good?" Wiping off his hands and tossing the now empty paper plate in the trashcan we'd brought outside, Kat definitely has this parenting thing down pat. I don't think he managed to get any of the chiliburger or ketchup on himself with her watchful help.

Nodding happily and seeming content to stay on her lap, Tommy is certainly becoming attached to the blonde bombshell. Sigh, okay push that jealous flare aside now Jason, they're friends. Besides he's a kid again remember. Even if he was crushing on her he's not even a teenager.

"It's bad that I'm standing here thinking about how much I miss him isn't it?" Glancing at Kira who still looks more than a bit mournful, I give her what I hope is a reassuring smile.

"Naw, I miss him too. We'll get him back to himself guys, don't worry. After all he's still him, it's just buried there somewhere." Absently toying with Tommy's silver bracelet holding the black gem I'd put on my own wrist to keep safe, I'm not sure which of us I'm trying to convince more.

"Yeah he definitely still has some of his older self in him." What?

Glancing at Kimberly who is now looking to the slack-jawed child in Kat's arms it takes me a minute to realize what he's doing. Apparently thanks to Kat's divided attention, plus the fact she has a habit of not wearing a bra, it seems the tike has found himself an interesting sight to behold from his position in her arms. "Tommy!"

Looking up quickly at me in total innocence, the boy gives a little shrug. "What?" What? What indeed.

"What? Tommy you know what." When Kat gives me a confused look and Tommy continues to try to play innocent, I've had enough. "Tommy we do not go around looking down women's shirts, or dresses, or other wise." Okay someone has to set some rules around here.

"Um, Jase I think Tommy has already seen more than just a peek down Kat's shirt back in Angel Grove." Thank you for that reminder Kim, really and truly, thanks.

Smacking the first Pink Ranger in the arm, Kat gives her a stern but amused look. "Hush up Kim that was private girl talk." Shaking her head, but unable to help a smile as we are all aware how close the two ladies have become over the years, I think they're both missing the point here. "Honestly what am I going to do with either of you."

"Wh- never mind, I don't want to know. The point is we do not go looking down women's shirts or whatever even if they happen to be our best female friends with which we used to have benefits with." Honestly I'm not even really sure what to call what they had back in the day, and I certainly am not interested on dwelling on it either.

"What's so bad about it?" Voice confused and non-understanding I see the kid is actually being serious here. Okay so maybe his older self really is still in there as clearly he seems rather sure he has a right to look at that stuff.

"Tommy have you ever tried to look down any other lady's blouse before?" And if he says yes I will have no point and have to go ground him.

"I don't know, I don't remember…maybe." Frowning in frustration at not knowing how to explain whatever is in his head, the boy finally shrugs weakly, apparently still not seeing why I'm so upset by this.

"Alright Tommy, well we just don't do that alright? It's not nice." There that was simple and calm.

"Aw you scared him, Jason." Smacking my arm less then gently as Tommy is now once more curled up meekly around Kat, Kim is apparently still missing the big picture here. "Besides if he was himself chances are he'd be thinking up ways to see down her shirt anyways and would have before the night was over."

"Well that Tommy was old enough to make his own choices and do whatever it is they used to do in their spare time. Besides I wasn't taking care of that Tommy." Okay come on people cut it out with the shocked looks, am I the only one here that realizes he's a kid at the moment?

"Aw look at daddy Jason." Very funny Conner.

"Hey someone's got to be the adult here and it's clearly not going to be any of you guys." Growling as the group is still having a grand laugh at me, I give up, this is why I have no desire to have kids.

"How come it's not nice?" Looking at Kat with wide sorry eyes as the bickering seems to be centered around him, Tommy is clearly growing upset over the matter. Damn it, I was just trying to keep him from getting in trouble by doing that to other people who wouldn't be so amused, I didn't mean to make him nearly cry.

"Oh, it's just…well it's not nice because it's like when someone takes a toy from you without asking, that's not a nice thing to do right?" When the boy nods at this, Kat goes on. "Well just like it's not nice to take things from someone else without asking it's also not nice to look at things people have covered with their clothes without asking, cuz it's their body and they have the right to say if it's okay for other people to see parts of it. Understand?"

Nodding and apparently getting it when put like that, this boy is going to be the death of me and how does she do that? "Sorry, I just, I don't know, just wanted to see I guess and felt sorta right... I'm sorry I won't do it again though."

"It's okay, just make sure you don't do that again, you're young and sweet right now and I know you're not exactly sure about things, but well looking at those things isn't for until you get older." When this seems to peek Conner and Ethan's attention, Kat is quick to respond before they can. "Older then twenty."

Nodding and laying his head back down on her shoulder, Tommy is clearly still bothered by the matter as are the horny teenagers that look no happier they've been shot down. What is with everyone today?

Suddenly something seems to click in his mind however as the little Ranger's eyes are once more on me. Great, what now. "But he saw me without clothes and so did you when you gave me my bath."

"Who said he has a learning disability?" Thanks dad.

"I imagine somewhere inside him his older self is still able to pull up his skills of wit, but that's not what we're talking about right now." Turning to Tommy and sitting down beside him and Kat, my mom is going to spare me as she makes sure the boy is focused on her. "Now, while you're right they did give you a bath and you were undressed for it, it is however not the same thing as just seeing someone naked just because you want to."

Pouting and coming to the conclusion he isn't going to get to see what he is obviously now very interested in seeing, Tommy is too caught up in this to see the new people advancing on him until he's taken from Kat and picked up by Conner. "Hey!"

Handing the boy over to Kira who takes him in surprise, Connor slides down next to Kat as Ethan gets on her other side. Oh brother. "Just in case the little tike gets anymore ideas. So you were the Pink Ranger. Must have been hard to keep up with school, work, Rangering, and a boyfriend all at the same time." Conner I swear if I didn't think she could kill you I'd spray you with the hose.

Rolling her eyes and putting Tommy down, Kira points to the two teen boys before looking at the kid. "Don't ever grow up to be like them." Ha, don't think you have to worry too much about that.

Giving Kira an agreeing nod, the child sighs before turning his attention to other matters, namely the new girl now holding him. "We friends too?"

Smiling Kira nods in agreement. "Yep, you're one of the best friends I ever had." Aw, that's sweet. Guess he'd be a touch confused if she told him how much of a father figure and protector he was to her, so friend is probably the way to go for now.

"K. You're pretty. How come yer eyes are like raccoon eyes, that's neat? Can you do my eyes like that? I like your shirt, the net stuff is cool. You're hair is nice it's all kinds of different colors, how'd you do that? You're real skinny, is that because your ribs are small? I have small ribs. I can touch my tongue to my nose, wanna see? How come those boys are looking at Kat like that?"

Laughing and finding this the cutest thing ever, Kira is definitely putty in his hand as Conner and Ethan stare with their jaws on the ground. "You are so cute!" Yeah he is, well when he's not throwing a fit anyways.

"Hey when we say you look like a raccoon you beat us up, what's up with that?" Ethan all but demands as he watches the girl laugh and begin to tickle Tommy happily.

"Dude give it up, he's like a freaking girl magnet whether he's twenty eight just eight." That he is Conner, just accept it and move on.

"Because he meant it as a compliment, do you know what a compliment is Ethan? You should look it up and try it some time." Barely paying them mind now as she has Tommy on the grass and is tickling the laughing and squirming boy mercilessly, I can definitely see who is going to be his babysitter when I'm not around.

"K-Kira st-stop! No more! I g-give up!" Laughing so hard he's beginning to cry, Tommy is finally allowed to catch his breath as Kira stops in her attack and lets him back up.

"Okay kiddo, are you ready for your cake and presents?" Exchanging smiles with my parents as this sets him off on a hyper streak once more, I follow my mom back into the kitchen to retrieve the chocolate cake with the Power Ranger design on it. Hmm, now where are the candles?

"Hey does anyone know where the candles are?"

No sooner are the words out of my mouth then the three current Rangers are on me in a flash. "No candles!"

To be continued……….