DISCLAIMER: Not mine. I wouldn't mind owning JDF and ASJ.
SUMMARY: Tommy and Tara are married and the reception is in full swing.
Tommy and Jason were sitting at the head table when Tara and Kim walked up. The two women sat down with Tommy next to Tara and Jason on the other side of Kimberly. Everyone was milling around as Hayley, Kira and Trent set up the buffet line for the meal.
"Everything okay?" Tommy asked Tara as he wrapped her small hand in his. She nodded.
"Is everything okay out here?" she asked in return.
"I shocked your brother." At the puzzled look on her face, he continued. "Remember the day of the invasion?" She nodded, biting her lower lip. "I told Jason that when he was growling afterwards I nearly knocked him for a loop."
"As if you could, bro," Jason interjected, laughing outright this time.
Tommy laughed too. "I think I could have done that day. But you would have paid me back later, I have no doubt."
"He'd have had to go through me." Jason just looked at his little sister, surprised that she hadn't stuttered at all. And the tone of her voice when she'd said it let him know that she really meant it.
"Sissy, you know that once Tommy had explained why, I'd have let it slide." Jason was chuckling and Kim was trying hard to smother her laughter at the image Tara's words had painted her mind. The picture of Tara fighting her much bigger brother was almost laughable and yet so poignant that she knew Tara would have done it to protect Tommy.
"No need to defend me, honey." Tommy squeezed her hand and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "I would have taken it if it meant taking care of you."
Just then, Hayley walked over and told the two couples that the food was ready. Tommy and Tara stood and walked over to the line. But before Tommy took any food, Tara looked up at him then leaned up to whisper something in his ear. He smiled and nodded. They split up, he walked over to his parents and she walked to hers.
"Mom, Dad, you're s-s-supposed to j-j-join us at the h-h-head of the l-l-line." Abigail's mouth dropped open as Tara held out her hands to her parents. She was definitely trying.
"We would be honored, baby girl," Daniel Scott said, taking his daughter's hand. Abigail smiled at her little girl and took the other hand.
Everyone smiled as they watched the bride and groom lead their parents to the buffet line. Before dipping into the first dish, Tommy leaned down to Tara. "Excellent idea, Tara. You just took a big step in restoring the relationship between you and your parents." He kissed her and they proceeded to get their food.
"Tara's trying so hard," Kim said, nearly in tears at the touching gesture. Jason just kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand before picking up a plate to serve himself from the extensive buffet that Hayley, Kira and Trent had prepared.
****
Almost an hour later, everyone was waiting for the dancing to start. The first song that started playing as Jason led Tara out to the dance floor for his one dance was "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks. On two large screen TVs, everyone watched as home videos of Tara dressed up as Cinderella started playing. The videos continued through her playing in a sprinkler with her big brothers and eating cherry Popsicles only to turn and chase her brothers with all of them wearing big Popsicle grins. The crowd gathered there watched Jason dance with his little sister as the videos continued, catching Tara and her oldest brother, Kevin, in a pillow fight as Kevin tried to get her to go to sleep. The younger version of the bride bounced on the bed, giggling and fighting her brother.
Tears were present in many eyes as the song faded out and Tommy stepped forward for his first dance with his wife. "Tara may be your wife, Tommy, but she'll always be my baby sister. Take good care of her, man. Don't ever hurt her."
"You have nothing to worry about. I'll never hurt her, Jason. I couldn't." Tommy leaned down and kissed his bride before taking her in his arms and starting to dance to the next song, "Lost in this Moment" by Big and Rich. "I love you, TaraLynn Oliver."
"I love you, Thomas James Oliver." She smiled up at him and then snuggled her head into his chest. She noticed Kimberly wiping a tear away from her eye. Jason had one arm draped around his girlfriend's shoulders and snugged her in a little closer as he watched the two of them dance.
After that, everyone else stepped up onto the dance floor to join the bride and groom.
****
Two hours later, Tara was getting tired but she knew that there were still three things left before the reception could end. They had to cut the cake, throw the bouquet and throw the garter.
The DJ, who happened to be a long-time friend of Jason's named Zack, picked up the microphone. "Okay. All the single ladies come out on the dance floor. Can we get the new Mrs. Oliver to come up on stage? It's time to find out which lady's getting married next."
As all the single women crowded out onto the dance floor, Tara turned her back to them and smiled at Tommy. The bouquet went flying over her shoulder and the crowd went wild trying to catch it. Tara had turned back to watch the scramble and couldn't help but laugh when the group parted to show Kim holding the bouquet.
"Okay, now it's the single guys' turn." At that, Zack found the microphone being taken from him by his one-time replacement, Adam Park.
"Zack, get out there. You're still single." Adam laughed as Zack tried to take the mike back. Tommy gestured to the original Black Ranger to get on the dance floor.
Tommy had already gotten the garter from around Tara's leg. He didn't want to embarrass her by taking it off in front of everyone. He showed the garter to the crowd before kissing his wife for what seemed like the millionth time that night. Then he let the garter fly.
The guys didn't fight as hard over the garter as the girls had the bouquet but there was a little pushing and shoving. Of course, Tommy laughed out loud as Jason came out the winner. Tara giggled even harder at seeing the blush that went across both their faces as the couple stepped onto the dance floor to have their required dance.
"Why are those two laughing so hard?" Jason asked her as they moved around the dance floor.
"I don't know about Tommy but when we went to the restroom at the beginning of the night, Tara asked me when she would get to start planning a wedding for us. I told her that we had only just gotten to the point of admitting our feelings for each other. I wasn't sure when a wedding would come into the picture."
"That little sneak," Jason laughed. "I don't know what it is about weddings but I swear almost every woman in here has that dreamy look about her."
"Well, we know why Tara has it. After all, she just married the one man in the entire world she never thought she'd ever have a chance with. And, in my case, it's that all of that planning paid off. Everything has been just so perfect."
"Kim, I really do love you. I know that someday, maybe soon, we'll be the ones having the perfect day like this. But I know one thing. Even knowing that I do want to marry you, I wouldn't upstage Tara by asking you today. I want my little sister to enjoy her special day."
"So do I, Jase. She and Tommy really deserve this. I'm so happy for them."
"Me too, Firebird." The rest of their dance passed only to have everyone else join them for the next song.
****
The reception was almost over and Tara was exhausted. Tommy was too but he was alert enough to notice Daniel Scott talking to Zack at the DJ's table. Zack nodded and he pulled out a disk.
Daniel walked over to where Tommy and Tara sat at their table and held out his hand. "Tara?"
"Y-y-yes, Daddy?"
"Would you dance with me? Just this one time?" The hope in his eyes was enough to make the young woman smile and place her hand in his. The two of them walked to the dance floor as the song "My Little Girl" played. He smiled at his daughter the entire time they danced.
When the song was finished, Daniel escorted her back to her husband and kissed her cheek. "Thank you."
She sat down next to Tommy who took her hand and kissed it. "I think maybe it's time for us to go. You look pretty tired and I know I didn't sleep much last night."
She nodded just a yawn snuck up on her. Covering her mouth with her hand, she ducked her head with a sleepy smile. Tommy smiled at her and the two of them stood up.
They walked over to the DJ table and Tommy picked up the mike. "Thank you all for coming to help us celebrate today but I think it's time for Tara and I to make good our escape and go get some sleep."
With that, Tommy set down the mike and, sweeping Tara into his arms, ran for the door. Before anyone even knew what was happening, the two of them were in Tommy's jeep and on the way back to the house.