Part 2

Tommy shouldered his carry on, readjusting the strap as he followed the debarking passengers at the Miami international airport. He'd traveled light, bringing nothing more for luggage than what he could carry in his duffle, figuring Kim could help him shop for what he'd need in France - and it would give her a much needed distraction. Kimberly, he'd been told by Jason, had never lost her love of shopping even if she was on a tight budget.

Secure in his pocket were the two tickets to France he'd bought at the same time as his ticket to Florida and the small velvet box he'd dug out of storage.

Passing through the gates and out into the hallway towards the main meeting area for arriving passengers, he scanned ahead as the people in front of him stepped through the doors, looking for Kimberly. She'd said she'd be there to meet him and an eerie kind of calm had settled over him the moment he'd stepped off the plane.

Nerves had come and gone as he'd spent his last, distracted day at the school for the year, suffered through the third degree from Haley, a lecture on his luck with Kimberly Hart and finally a hug and admonition to be careful. Haley hadn't liked his solution, but then she'd never liked the effect Kimberly had on him. As one of his best friends, the super genius has a vested interest in his continued well being and she'd been firmly against his plan of action. Tommy hadn't been swayed; Kimberly needed him and nothing anyone could say or do - shy of making him a Ranger again, with the world in imminent danger - would keep him away.

A glimpse of a petite figure bouncing from the ball of one foot to the other, an impression of a heart shaped face framed by caramel colored hair he still remembered in his dreams caught his attention as one of the doors opened. But it was the pink in her ensemble that really grabbed his attention. Kimberly would always be associated with that color in his mind and it suited her.

The door closed before he could get a good look at her face - he was too far away to see her clearly anyway - but that familiar warmth that had always accompanied the sight of her spread through his chest, leaving him without a doubt as to whom waited beyond the doors. If she'd recognize him had yet to be seen. His physique hadn't changed much since they'd last seen one another, but Tommy knew his physical appearance was different; his hair in particular. In all the fuss, he'd forgotten to tell her about it - it had so completely slipped his mind he hadn't even thought about it until the plan was coming into land in Miami

Stepping onto the escalator which led down towards the doors, Tommy kept his eyes glued to where he'd seen that splash of pink and was rewarded as the doors were opened by passengers exiting before him by another glimpse. This time, Kimberly wasn't facing his way, but pacing back and forth. A grin crossed his lips; she was nervous.

Unable to help himself, he stepped a few paces forward, passing the passengers who didn't want to use the escalator as a staircase, and stopping behind a couple who were blocking it.

Closing once more, the doors barred his view - but Tommy knew how Kimberly walked, he knew how she moved - and ten plus years hadn't changed that. There was no doubting who waited for him beyond the doors. The couple ahead of him moved off the escalator and Tommy followed but at a slower pace to put some distance between them. Kimberly knew he was coming alone - it didn't make sense any other way - and he wanted to be sure she recognized him.

Pushing open the doors, heat assailed him as he stepped through - not unlike the heat he was accustom to in California. His gaze went immediately to the woman in pink and white and he almost laughed. Kimberly looked like the teenager she'd been when he'd last seen her. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was dressed in a white leotard with a pink and blue track suit over top emblazoned with the name of the school on it.

Her gaze skimmed over him without so much as a hint of recognition and looked beyond to the doors through which the passengers were coming. Amused, Tommy headed her way, knowing the exact moment she realized it because her gaze darted back to him - and their eyes locked. Hers widened as sudden recognition kicked in and Tommy was absurdly pleased as he watched her take inventory of him - starting with his face and hair.

He was standing in front of her by the time she was finished, her gaze lifting back to his in astonishment.

"Do I pass muster or should I click my heels and march for you too?"

She laughed, her cheeks turning a shade to match her track suit. "Hello Tommy."

"Hey Kim," his smile was teasing, well aware that she was more fragile than she seemed. "See something you'd like to take home with you?"

Her gaze had fastened on his hair again. "I'm seeing something I don't quite believe," she told him honestly, meeting his gaze again. "You once swore you'd never cut your hair."

"I once swore a lot of things. You're looking good Kim."

"So're you. Really good. It suits you."

"Thanks." He adjusted his shoulder strap again, side stepping to avoid being run down by a gaggle of girls who weren't watching where they were going. "Shall we get out of here?"

"Don't you have luggage?"

Hefting the duffle he watched her eyes widen in disbelief. "I traveled light. I figure you can help me shop for whatever I need before we leave for France."

"You want me to take you shopping?!" Staring at him, her mouth slightly agape, Kimberly didn't appear to be capable of processing the information - until she laughed. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with Tommy Oliver?"

They shared a grin.

"Is that a no?"

"No, that's an 'I don't believe you just asked me that' - not a no." Looking at him curiously, Kimberly eased away and began walking towards the entrance without really looking where she was going as he fell into step beside her. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"I thought you swore to never shop with me again?"

"Like I said," he shrugged almost self consciously, glad that none of the awkwardness he'd been expecting had appeared yet. "I swore a lot of things back then; a decade is a long time."

"No kidding. I feel like I know you, but talking to a stranger all at the same time." Getting her bearings, Kimberly led Tommy through the exit and towards the parking lot. Kimberly directed her attention to the machine to pay for her parking time, letting Tommy examine her at his leisure as she bent her head to sign the screen.

She looked the same - but different. Her hair was longer for starters, almost falling to her waist even when pulled back. She had the same nimble and sleek physique she'd always had in high school, but was rounder in places she hadn't been back then. There were new stress and laugh lines on her face when she smiled or frowned - but the biggest difference was in her eyes. Kimberly had accomplished so much at such a young age, she'd always felt the world was hers for the taking and that confidence had reflected in those brown orbs.

The illness that had stricken her mother had shaken that confidence and the knowledge that you didn't always have as much time as you'd once believed now shone in their depths. That, in of itself, was causing stress he could practically feel. He'd also heard it in her laugh earlier and was determined to help shoulder that burden.

"See something you'd like to take home with you?"

Her cheeky echo of his question was supposed to make him laugh, he knew, but Tommy couldn't. Instead he dropped his bag at his feet. "I see someone I'd like to give a hug to - if she'll let me."

Kimberly's teasing smile faded as she stared at him. Tears flooded her eyes and Tommy opened his arms in silent invitation. She practically jumped him, her arms sliding around his waist in a death grip as she buried her face in his chest. Tommy held her, wrapping her securely against him as he tucked his chin to the top of her head.

"I'm here," he told her softly. "You can lean on me, Kim; I'm not going anywhere."

Her whole body shuddered with his words, her shoulders heaving in silent sobs as she seemed to want to burrow into him - or steal his strength. He let her cry, knowing she probably hadn't given into the urge since hearing the news, and also knowing the release would allow her to be stronger afterwards. It wouldn't, he hoped, stop her from leaning on him through the trip they were about to make, but it would help her now.

She needed this.

Tommy had come prepared. He whispered soft assurances, letting her know she was no longer alone and that he would be with her for every step of this difficult journey. Kimberly's eased her hold on him after several minutes, the crying jag having left her face and eyes slightly swollen and red - and Tommy produced a handkerchief from one pocket to offer to her.

She untangled herself from his arm and accepted the kerchief. Tommy busied himself collecting his duffle as Kimberly composed herself. Only when she was ready, having turned to face him again, did Tommy push back to his feet.

"Feel better?"

"Yeah, thanks." Kimberly brushed a stray tear from her cheek and found a smile for him. "I didn't mean to lose it on you in the first ten minutes you were here."

"Twenty, maybe?"

"Maybe." She understood what he was doing - and Tommy saw the appreciation for it shining in her eyes. "What do you say I take you home so you can drop your bag?"

"This is your show," Tommy told her honestly. "I just bought he tickets."

Impulsively, she reached out to grab his hand and squeezed, a touch shyly. "Thanks Tommy. Thanks for being here."

"You'd do the same for me," the words popped out before he thought about them.

Kimberly smiled - and didn't drop his hand. "In a heartbeat."

----------

Tommy was standing in front of Kimberly trophy case in the small apartment she shared with Ali. The other coach was working, as Kimberly had been before coming to get him, and wouldn't be back until late. Kimberly, he'd learned, had taken the rest of the day - and month - off.

"Did you want anything in your coffee, Tommy?"

"Straight black is fine," he told her, examining the three gold medals with her name on them. "So... you're coaching now?"

"It's not the teaching I wanted to do - here," she offered him a mug, which he took with a smile of thanks; you couldn't get a decent cup at any airport he knew. "But it pays the bills and it seemed like the thing to do once I was a decorated gymnast. People hear my name in the business and they want their kids to train with me because I did something their kids dream of doing."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Most of the time." He arched his eyebrows in silent inquiry as he settled onto one end of the couch, Kimberly on the other. She curled her legs beneath her and cradled the mug in her hands. "My students are great, but it's the parents that get to me most. Some of my students are only in gymnastics because their parents are pushing them in that direction and they'd rather be doing something else."

"Sounds like you'd prefer to be doing something else."

"Sometimes." She took a sip of her drink. "Now, with mom's illness, I think I'm noticing the pressure to deliver a lot more. Before I was simply teaching a sport I love, over the last few months it's been getting more and more difficult to get out of bed at three in the morning. I guess it seems more like a job than a passion."

He didn't know what to say to that. Having found a passion in something he'd never been remotely interested in as a teenager, it was an area he couldn't relate very well too. Kimberly's passion stemmed from a love of something she'd been doing since she was a kid - like his martial arts - except she'd turned her passion into a career.

"I think," he offered slowly, considering his words. "Maybe you need a break."

"This trip is France will give me that."

"That's not what I mean," He pinned her with a look - something he knew his fellow ex-Dino Rangers called his 'teacher's look'. "I mean a real break; one where you do something else for a while. There is such a thing as too much of something."

"Says mister multi-colors himself." Her tease was friendly - and she didn't yet know about his latest stint in spandex.

"Speaking of France, I think I've figured out an easy story for how we got back together," Tommy took a sip of his coffee - and almost purred with pleasure. Kimberly made a mean cup of joe.

"I thought you said for me to do that."

"Did you?"

"Parts of it - but I still don't know where we would have met again."

"Here in Miami." Tommy reached into his pocket and pulled out a ticket stub, offering it to her. "I was here less than six months ago for a Paleontology conference. The hall where it was held is less than a block away from the gym's complex."

"Paleontology?"

"My field of expertise. It's a long story."

Kimberly accepted the ticket, looking at it - and then burst out laughing. "I was invited to go to this but had to turn it down because of trials for one of my girls."

"You missed some fascinating speakers."

"What, did you touch on a topic?"

"Of course I - hey! Just what is that supposed to mean?"

With a giggle, she grinned at him and Tommy didn't mind her tease; it was simply wonderful to be there and bask in her laughter again. He could see the wheels turning in her head and wasn't disappointed when she slowly began to extrapolate a story from that ticket stub. "I was still in town during the meet. We could have easily bumped into each other. I'm rather surprised we didn't actually," frowning, Kimberly flicked the ticket and then handed it back. "So let's say we did and we went for coffee," she held up her mug, "and we talked about what we've been doing for the last decade since we lost touch. Renewed our friendship-"

"It never lapsed."

"It did," Kimberly contradicted. "And that's my fault and for that I'm sorry. But anyway, over coffee we renewed our friendship and decided to give things another go."

"Simple - I like it."

"Was it at all close to what you came up with?"

"I figured dinner instead of coffee, but coffee makes more sense." He took another sip. "And you make a damn fine cup of it."

"Thanks. Anyway, then after coffee we traded phone numbers and kept in sporadic touch."

"So how'd I propose - or did Kimberly Hart become liberated and propose to me?"

She laughed softly. "I don't know; how did Tommy Oliver propose?"

"Over the phone."

Her eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"Over the phone." he repeated, his eyes twinkling. "I couldn't make it out, so I tracked the FedEx package that held your ring and called just minutes before they arrived. I asked you to marry me as you were opening it up."

"That's... quite the proposal, especially since its all fabrication."

Tommy put his mug aside and reached into his pocket again, pulling out the other items inside. The letters she'd sent him - both the recent ones and the one he'd received ten years ago - were put beside the ticket stub on the scarred coffee table. Beside them went their plane tickets to France and, finally, a small velvet box. Kimberly stared at it.

"You didn't have to..."

"I know."

"This whole story is just for show."

"I know."

Seeing she wouldn't reach for the box, Tommy did and flipped back the lid. Butterflies were crawling through his stomach, almost as if he was proposing to her for real. Inside the box was a platinum and gold interwoven band with a single, rare rose colored diamond nestled comfortably within. On either side of the square cut stone - it was a half carat at least - were four gem chips. An emerald, white diamond, ruby and sapphire - so dark it looked black.

"Show or not, you should have a ring."

Kimberly paled, one hand going to her throat in surprised shock. "Tommy..."

Lifting the box, he held it out to her solemnly, managing to keep his hands from shaking, and his voice from cracking as he explained - and sternly told himself this wasn't real. "I've had the diamond for a while, even since David gave it to me for safe keeping."

"David?"

"My brother - but that's a story for later. This ring was my mother's."

"Your..." Kimberly couldn't tear her gaze away from the band. "She's not...?"

"No, no; my blood mother. David is my brother by blood; he had all of their possessions because they'd been put in storage for him until he came of age. He figured I should have the ring since he was already married."

"Tommy... I can't accept this."

"Sure you can - your mother will love it when you tell her it's one of my family heirlooms and traditions."

How could she argue with that kind of logic? Tentatively, Kimberly extended her hand, palm up to accept the ring. Tommy shifted forward on the couch, reaching forward to relieve her of her mug before she spilled it all over herself.

"Here, let me."

He could swear she wasn't breathing as he turned her hand over and carefully slid the ring onto her finger. It fit, as if made for it, and a shiver skirted down Tommy's spine. This felt too real, too much like the real thing. He knew Kimberly felt it too when his gaze lifted from the ring, his thumb brushing across where it fit her so perfectly, to meet hers. A flash of sudden insight told him that Kimberly would be the only woman to wear that ring in his lifetime; he couldn't imagine asking for that ring back at the end of this trip. She was supposed to have it - and he knew he'd let her keep it.

"Perfect fit." Nodding at his murmur, almost as if she couldn't find her voice, she watched him with wide eyes. Tommy lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed the back of it. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful, Tommy... I never thought... I didn't expect..."

"I know," he shrugged, collecting his cup and easing out of her space to give her a chance to collect herself. He wasn't about to take advantage of her in this vulnerable state. "But I figured if I was going to play the part, we should have the trappings. We can get something else if you'd rather."

"No!" Her vehement denial surprised them both and Kimberly blush. "I mean, no; it's perfect - a little too perfect it feels kind of surreal."

Tommy wasn't about to tell her that the square slots on either side of the main stone had been empty when he'd been given the ring and his Friday afternoon had been spent getting the new stones set in place. A little something that made it just hers - and his. "In a good or a bad way?"

"Both," her lips twitched. "My sense of humor has turned a little morbid in the last few years and it's finding quite a bit of humor in all of this. That it took my mother's illness to bring us back together and for you to finally put a ring on my finger. Real or not," her tone dropped and he almost missed her next words, "this is what my dreams have been made of."

Tommy tapped the letters on the table. "That we can talk about later, when we're not trying to figure out how to convince people you're my fiancée, okay? I'm here for you Kim; this isn't about me and I have every intention of making this as easy as possible for you."

"Nothing is going to make this easy Tommy," she sighed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. "But having you here helps far more than you'll ever know. I can't thank you enough for just being here."

"You don't need to thank me," his smile was easier now that they'd passed the first hurdle. "Though - if you want to - you can take me on that shopping trip I need."

"You're serious about that?"

"As a heart attack. I think I'll need more than two pairs of jeans and a couple of t-shirts for the length of time we'll be in France."

"We could always shop there."

And he had every intention of taking her, but that was a surprise for later. "We could, but I'd rather not worry about clothes in our first few days on the ground. Just help me find a few things here for now - we can always add to my wardrobe later."

Kimberly tossed back the last of her coffee. "Just let me change and grab my runners, I know just where to take you."

Watching her dart away, Tommy knew he'd done the right thing. Shopping with her was always a chore, but it was a burden he was willing to shoulder knowing it helped her relax. What she didn't yet know was that this little excursion wasn't just for him. She'd protest, he'd insist and in the end he'd win because she was vulnerable - and Kimberly would feel somewhat better equipped to deal with her mother's illness.

That he was looking forward to.