Hey, people! It's me with my quickly updating self. :-)

To all my readers and reviewers: Plz keep the support coming. I really appreciate it and you. :-)

Anyway, on with chapter thirteen. Hope ya like it.

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(Several hours later)

Kim turned onto her right side in bed and, a few seconds later, it registered in her brain that Jason wasn't lying next to her. Her eyes opened slowly and she sat up, turned on the lamp on the bedside table. The brunette got out of bed and waddled out of the bedroom.

After discovering that the bathroom, kitchen, den, dining room and living room were free of humans, the petite woman stood in the front hall, frowning in confusion. Then, she heard a little sound from outside, turned and opened the front door to find her babies' father sitting on the porch steps, staring straight ahead.

Kim's heart twisted painfully. She could only imagine what he was feeling at this very moment. She just felt horrible for him. The young woman sighed, exited the house, walked up to the steps and sat next to him.

He looked over at her and sat up a little straighter. "You should be sleeping, Kim," he said.

"I'm worried about you," Kim said, placing her hand on his knee.

"You shouldn't be worrying about anything," he said.

"Jason, will you, for once, stop trying to deal with everything on your own? Talk to me, Rex. Let me help however I can," she said. He hadn't spoken a word the entire ride from his mom's or during dinner. Jade, of course, had talked excitedly about her day at daycare.

He sighed and shook his head. "All I could see when I looked at him was Gina," he said in a low voice.

"Makes sense 'cause they're two of a kind," she said dryly.

"You said it," he said. "Has he spent some time in a loony bin or something? Rebuild, reconnect. It's a little late to be playing catch in the yard. A little late to help us with our homework or have the 'Talk'."

Kim nodded in total agreement. "You're right. I can't believe he actually came back," she said. It was just so weird!

"And for what? Is it really bonding or is he after something else?" Jason wondered. All kinds of wild and crazy thoughts had been running through his head since he'd left his mother's.

I'm so sorry, Jase. I'm just so sorry," Kim said, now rubbing the center of his back. All she could do was comfort and support him the best ways she knew how. She wished she could wave some wand and make all the hurt and fury vanish. Make him feel as protected and secured as he'd always, always made her felt.

"Yeah," he said quietly. Then, he cleared his throat after several moments. "You know what? Let's just talk about something else for now. Anything- even an awesome sale at the mall."

She smirked and smacked him on the arm, causing him to laugh. "But, while we're on the subject, I've got great news. Your mom came up with a fantastic idea. She suggested I get a job as a personal shopper," she said, grinning.

"That is great news, Pinky. And it's perfect for you," he said with a smile, taking her hand.

"I know! I'm just shocked it never popped into my brain, you know," she said. Then, her eyes lit up. "Oh! I meant to tell you last night that I've chosen names for the twins."

"Lay 'em on me," he said, grinning at her bubbliness.

"Well, I really love the names Amy and Austin," she said.

"A and A. Cool," he said, nodding. "What about middle names?"

"For Amy, I wanna use your mom's name. And for Austin, I wanna use my dad's name- Frank," Kim said.

"Works for me," he said.

"It better," she said in a mock threatening tone. He laughed, then, shook his head.

"Why is it that, no matter how bad a situation is, you always manage to make me grin like a geek?" he said, throwing his hands up.

"Because I'm a spectacular, one-in-a-million woman," she said with a wink.

"I couldn't have put it better myself," he said in a deadly serious tone, looking into her eyes. Kim began feeling more than a few tingles. Come to think of it, she'd always felt some sort of sensation whenever he really looked at her. It'd been that way since they were kids. Once again, it was like he was looking right into her soul.

And here they were now... sitting under a star-studded, velvety, dark sky... holding hands... gazing at each other. It was like a scene from a sappy, cheesy chick flick. Kim couldn't think of anything more romantic at the moment. Then...

"I love you," they said in unison. And they both knew exactly what manner the other meant it in. No need for wide eyes, open mouths, nervous laughter or questions. Not with them. Never with them. They just knew. Happiness and relief- that it'd been said- filled them both.

"Rex, I'm thinking this is an 'opposite of hugging' moment," she said, her eyes dancing.

"You read my mind, Firebird," he said huskily. Then, their mouths met in a long, searing kiss. It was like coming home for them both.

When it finally ended, Kim giggled. "We caused some wild reactions. The babies are kicking like crazy," she said, placing his hand on her belly.

Jason grinned as he felt his children's eager movements. They were obviously going to be energetic like their mother and uncles Zack and Rocky. "Oh, man. I can't wait to see these kids," he said, shaking his head.

"Neither can I," she said.

"Why don't we go on in and hit the hay? It's getting late and you need your rest. I want to take us all out for a little breakfast tomorrow," he said, standing and offering his hand.

She grinned and happily took his hand. The former pink ranger stood, then, they headed for the front door.

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(The following day)

"Why don't you come on in, Gary?" Ms. Scott said after opening the door to her house the next afternoon.

Mr. Scott walked into the house and she closed the door. "I have to say, Karen, I'm kind of surprised you even opened the door for me," he said.

"Well, I had to because otherwise it'd be hard for me to do it," she said softly.

"Do what?" he asked in confusion.

In reply, she slapped him hard across the face and shoved him backward as hard as she could. His jaw dropped and he looked at her in disbelief for she'd caught him totally off guard and almost knocked him off balance.

"Karen! What in the-" he began.

"Don't you dare ask me that!" she yelled angrily, her eyes full of fire now. She hadn't been able to say much the day before, but, she planned to let him have it now. "Where the hell do you get off showing your face here again after all these years?"

Mr. Scott sighed deeply. "Like I said before, Karen, I want a second chance with our sons. And I wanted to give you all the apology you deserved," he said.

"We deserve a hell of a lot more from you! And nobody gives a damn what you want! Nobody! You just left us! Just like that! I had to watch my children-" she was saying.

"Our children, Karen," he cut in.

"My children! They became mine and mine only the second you decided to throw in the towel. I had to watch them go through so much pain. I had to reassure them time and time again that it wasn't their fault that'd you'd left. I had to reassure myself that it wasn't my fault, either. You left me to raise three boys on my own. Three!" she raved, shaking violently with fury. Something had burst in her.

"And I will always regret-" he began.

"I'm talking!" she snapped. "I can't even begin to tell you how hard it is to be mother and father to three kids. Jason was an incredible help, but, he shouldn't have had to be! I'm amazed to this very day that he managed to have a decent childhood while doing your job with himself and his brothers!"

Mr. Scott just stared at her helplessly. She had no compassion for him.

"I'm truly grateful that they turned out to be nothing like you, you spineless, selfish bastard," she said in a venomous tone, tears of anger now streaming down her face. "I just hate that Jason had to go through a similar situation again last year."

Mr. Scott blinked in surprise. "He did?"

"Yes. His daughter's mother walked out on them months ago. Claiming the family life wasn't what she wanted for herself. Yeah. She abandoned her three-year-old daughter. You and Gina would have a lovely friendship," Ms. Scott said, her voice dripping with bitterness.

Mr. Scott rubbed his hands over his face. "I know I deserve everything you're saying-" he began.

"You deserve to rot somewhere. Get the hell outta my house," she said fiercely, opening the door.

"But, Karen, please. I don't expect the boys to be reasonable, but, as the other parent, I thought you'd at least-" he was saying.

"I'm not the other parent, Gary. I'm the only parent. Now, get out," she said in a brisk tone.

"Fine. But I meant what I said yesterday. This is far from over. I know we can't get the last seventeen years back, but, I do believe we can start fresh," he said in a solemn tone. Then, he exited the house and the door was quickly closed.

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The boy's middle name is in honor of a reviewer's late uncle. My sympathies, fallinidentity. Oh, and to those of you who knows PR like I do, you see what I did there with the twins' FIRST names? Wink, wink. ;-) Cya.