A/N: the next chapter of secrets…the long awaited next chapter. Thanks to all my reviewers, both new and old. You guys are amazing and you're reviews keep me going. Lol.
Disclaimer: I still own nothing….damnit. Oh well…on with the show
The next morning, everyone woke to the sounds and smell of food coming from the kitchen. Meeting at the top of the stairs, the gang looked at each other before heading down.
"Who's cooking?" Eric asked as he held onto to Taylor's shoulders.
"I don't know but it smells good," Jordan (from now on, that's how Connor's brother Eric is going to be called) said.
"Hey where's Jen?" Wes asked around a yawn.
"Don't know," Cole said.
"Let's just check the kitchen," Rocky replied. "All that smell is making me hungry."
"When are you never hungry?" Adam teased. The others laughed as a blush spread across Rocky's face.
"Shut up," he retorted. Still laughing, the group made its way to the kitchen. When they got there, they paused and watched as Kim, Connor, Trini, Aisha and Jen moved around preparing breakfast. As she was turning back from the fridge, Jen spotted them. "Hey guys."
"Hey," they answered. They looked around at the food that was on the table and what was still being prepared.
"Well don't just stand there," Aisha said. "Come in and grab a seat. We're just finishing up."
"Question," Trini asked as she turned from the stove. "Who here doesn't drink coffee, besides Kim, Kira and Angela?" Cam, Hunter, Danny, Tori and Cole raised their hands.
"Ok," Trini nodded before she turned back to the stove to finish up the tea. "We weren't sure, but Kim said we should make enough just in case." Connor moved from the toast and turned on the radio. He and Kim started humming when they heard a familiar song come on. It was in French, so the others didn't really know it; they were content just to sit and watch as the others finished up breakfast. The song finished and another one started. Kim laughed and moved to Connor and nudged him. He looked at her and watched as she cocked her head to the radio. He paused and listened to the words and smiled. The two worked side by side, moving when they needed something, humming along to the song. After awhile, Kim started singing along softly before she went louder.
I'm here alone, didn't wanna leave
My heart won't move, it's incomplete
Wish there was a way that I can make you understand
But how do you expect me
to live alone with just me
'Cause my world revolves around you
It's so hard for me to breathe
Kim picked up a spoon and held it like a mike. She danced around the kitchen as she sang the English version to the song. The others laughed as they watched her sing and dance.
(Chorus)
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
Can't live, can't breathe with no air
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there
It's no air, no air
Got me out here in the water so deep
Tell me how you gonna be without me
If you ain't here, I just can't breathe
It's no air, no air
No air, air
No air, air
No air, air
No air, air
As Kim was passing Connor she bumped him with her hips. He laughed and took the 'mike' from her.
(Verse 2--Connor)
I walked, I ran, I jumped, I flew
Right off the ground to float to you
There's no gravity to hold me down for real
Kim smiled as she took the spoon back from Connor and walked over to Tommy. Tommy smiled as she came to a stop in front of him.
But somehow I'm still alive inside
You took my breath, but I survived
I don't know how, but I don't even care
Connor, following Kim's lead, moved over to Kira and pulled her into his arms. Kim and Connor looked at each other and smiled before turning back to Tommy and Kira.
(Pre-Chorus)
So how do you expect me
to live alone with just me
'Cause my world revolves around you
it's so hard for me to breathe
Kim wrapped an arm around Tommy's neck to bring him down to her level. She kissed him before pulling back.
(Chorus--both)
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
Can't live, can't breathe with no air
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there
It's no air, no air
Got me out here in the water so deep
Tell me how you gonna be without me
If you ain't here, I just can't breathe
It's no air, no air
Kim and Connor moved from the respective partners and went to each other. Kim put the spoon down as Connor took her in his arms. Trini and Aisha laughed as they finished up the breakfast. They passed it around to the others and watched as Kim and Connor danced around the room.
No air, air
No air, air
No air, air
No air, air
No more
It's no air, no air
(Chorus x2)
No air, air
No air, air
No air, air
No air, air
As the song finished, Kim laughed as Connor dipped her. The two came up laughing and bowed as the others cheered.
"You guys were amazing," Krista smiled.
"There's nothing better than a little entertainment with breakfast," Zack laughed.
"You guys are welcome," Kim smiled. "Now let's eat before all this food gets cold." They agreed and everyone grabbed a plate. Breakfast was a very lively affair. The entire group was talking about past battles and monsters though none came close to the original rangers.
"I'm telling you guys," Zack said. "Rita had the worst monsters ever. She made a monster out of Kim's purse; she made one out of a lipstick; her monsters were always the funniest."
"Yeah well," Kim said. "They might've have been funny but they weren't any less dangerous."
"That's true," Jason agreed. Trent opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Caroline's arrival in the kitchen.
"Hi Caroline," he said. The others looked up and saw her. "Morning mom," Kim, Connor and Eric called. The others called out a good morning as well.
"Morning guys," she said. She looked around the kitchen and let out a soft whistle. "Whoa that's a lot of food."
"It's a lot of us," Tommy said. "Do you want anything? As you can see, we have plenty."
"Thank you," she replied as she moved in. Pierre came in a few minutes later and grabbed a plate. The talking grew again and the kitchen was filled with noise as before. The breakfast was finishing up and everyone took part in cleaning up. With so many people, within minutes, the table was cleared, the dishes went in the dishwasher, what couldn't fit was washed by someone, everything that was used to make breakfast was returned to its original spot. Everyone moved to the front room and was relaxing. Caroline looked at her kids, silently wondering if she should tell them everything now or if she should wait until later. So into her thoughts, she didn't notice Kim looking at her.
"Mom, are you ok?" she called. Caroline jerked her head up to look at her, and everyone looked at Caroline.
"I'm just wondering," Caroline said.
"About?" Kelly asked.
"Mom," Jordan said. "What is it?"
"I think it's time I tell you guys everything that happened between me, Jordan, Sandra and Ken all those years ago," she said. "But I'm not sure how you guys will react after you learn everything."
"I think we have a right to know," Connor said.
"He's right mom," Kim added. "So tell us."
Nodding her head, Caroline grabbed Pierre's hand in her own and said, "Alright, if you guys are sure…."
"We are," Kim, Connor and Jordan spoke as one. "Tell us everything mom, even if we already know some things," Kim said. "Just tell us everything."
"Ok," she said. "Well, Kim as you know, you're dad and I used to fight a lot. Sometimes it would get so bad that we wouldn't speak for a few days. Because of the new job that he got, he would travel a lot, so it made the whole 'not speaking' thing easier. Back in the summer of '86, we were kind of on trial break; that was when I met Jordan. See, I had just found out that Ken was cheating on me and I was thinking about what to do….
Flashback
summer of '86
Caroline Renoir-Hart had just dropped her seven year old daughter off at one of her best friends' house. Alicia Scott had been kind enough to take Kimberly for her. She just had to get away from it all. It was now June, and the place was clear and beautiful; but she couldn't even enjoy the warm summer breeze or the sunshine. She had just found out that her husband of eight years was cheating on her. She had always suspected it, but she never had any proof. 'Well walking in on them surely qualifies as more than enough proof,' she thought to herself. It didn't surprise her in the least. They fought all the time. Sometimes she wondered why they stayed together for as long as they did. She was glad that she had enrolled Kimberly into that toddlers' gymnastics class when she was younger, and was glad that she had friends. At least that way, her daughter wouldn't be subjected to the fights that were a constant thing in the house. Right now, she and her husband, Kenneth Hart, were on a trial separation. Caroline sighed and started walking again. She had her head down, so she wasn't paying attention and walked into someone,
"Oh I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't see you there." she raised her head and gasped softly. Looking back at her was a very handsome man with brown eyes that reminded of warm chocolate.
"Are you ok?" the man asked. He looked into the woman's eyes and saw how beautiful she was.
"I'm fine," she said, "I wasn't really paying attention like I said."
…
Jordan McKnight was walking through the Angel Grove Park. He and his wife Sandra were having problems and he just needed to get away. They had a huge fight two days ago, and he stayed away for fear that he would do something that he would regret. He got in his car and drove straight from San Francisco, until he had finally stopped in Angel Grove. He rented a hotel room to try and think about his marriage and where it was going. This morning he got up and decided to walk around. He stopped at the local youth center to grab a bite to eat, and then he headed out to the park. He walked and walked until the one thing he didn't want to do, he ended up doing; thinking about his wife. 'What am I going to do? Sandy's been so angry lately. Ever since she found out she couldn't have kids. We fight all the time, and we haven't had sex in weeks, not since that doctor's visit. I want my wife back, but I don't know how much more I can take.' He sighed. He looked around, and then started walking again. His head down, he didn't see the woman coming, the next thing he knew he had walked into her, and she was already apologizing, "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see you there."
"Are you ok?" he asked, then looked at her face and was surprised at how beautiful she was.
"I'm fine," she said, "I wasn't really paying attention like I said." Caroline looked everywhere but the man's face. She felt a blush rise in her cheeks and felt heat where his hands rested on her hips. Jordan was struck silent by the woman in his arms. Her dark brown hair hung just below her shoulders and her eyes sparkled, despite the fact that she seemed so distracted.
"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked again.
Caroline giggled as she looked at him, "Yes I'm fine. I'm just a bit clumsy that's all."
"Ok," he said, "I'm Jordan by the way, Jordan McKnight."
"Caroline Renoir," she said. 'I wonder why I didn't say my married name.'
"Sounds French," he smiled.
"It is," she said, "My parents came from France."
"Well Caroline, I hope you don't mind, but I was wondering if I could buy you lunch," he said, "As an apology for bumping into you." 'What am I doing? I'm married. But in the few seconds that I've met her, I don't seem to really care.'
"Sure, that would be good," she said with a smile. The two turned and started walking in the opposite direction, back to where the youth center was. On the way they talked about everything. She found out that he was a construction worker from Reefside, and he found that she was an Interior Designer. They talked all day and at the end, were sad to see the other go. They made plans for the next day, and went their separate ways. Caroline entered the Scott's home with the most genuine smile on her face for the first time in a while. Alicia looked up from making the kids something to eat, and watched as her best friend came into the house with a smile on her face. She smiled and said, "Wow, haven't seen that smile on your face in a long time."
"Hey," she smiled, "Was Kim good?" she knew she didn't have to ask, but sometimes she did anyway. Her daughter was not only hyper, but she had a temper as well.
"Are you kidding?" Alicia said, "Of course she was good, besides she's my little helper." Alicia knew all about the little girl's temper. It only comes out when she gets really angry.
"What do you mean?" Caroline asked. Alicia looked up and pointed to where Jason, Zack and Billy were sitting. Caroline turned and saw the three boys sitting there. Billy looked a little scared, whereas Jason and Zack looked beat and torn. Caroline shook her head and turned back to Alicia, "What happened?"
Alicia laughed as she looked at the boys, "Well apparently Jason and Zack thought that it would be fun to pull Kimberly's hair and then throw her doll into the small mud pit at the back."
Laughing and shaking her head, Caroline turned back to her, "I swear Lish, those boys don't learn."
"Tell me about it Carrie," Alicia said, "So, are you going to tell me what put that smile on your face?" at her words, Caroline couldn't stop the smile from coming on her face. She thought about the day she had had with Jordan. 'I had more fun today than any other day with Ken. I wonder what we'll do tomorrow.' She was broken out of her thoughts by Alicia's voice, "CARRIE!"
"What?"
"Where were you girl?" Alicia asked with amusement shining in her eyes.
"I was just thinking about today," she sighed.
"What about today?" Alicia asked curiously. Her best friend looked like she was troubled over something. She hoped that it had nothing to do with Ken. Caroline gave pause as she thought about what she wanted to say. She looked over at her best friend. She and Alicia had been friends since she first came to the United States when she was eight years old. They hit it off instantly when Caroline was being teased on for her French accent, and Alicia came to her rescue. Ever since, they've been close. There was nothing that she couldn't tell her. She was scared that she would be angry, but remembered that Alicia was always there for her, no matter how bad she messed up. Sure she was close to the others, MaryAnn Taylor and Shiori Kwan, but in truth she hadn't met them until high school, and she hadn't met Aileen Cranston until she moved here with husband David and son Billy when Kim and the others were starting kindergarten. All four were like sisters, and they had mourned together when Aileen had died from cancer earlier this year, but she knew Alicia longer, so she knew that whatever she told her would stay between the two of them. "If I tell you something, will you keep it strictly between us? No telling Preston?" she asked, referring to her husband.
"Carrie, you know I won't tell," Alicia said, now getting scared at the thought that something was wrong, "But I promise anyways if it makes you feel better."
Caroline took a deep breath and asked, "Have you ever felt something that was so new and it made you feel amazing, but it wasn't from where you thought it would be?" taking one look to make sure that the kids were ok, Alicia grabbed her friend's hands and led her to the back porch.
"Car, what's going on?" she asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I met someone," she said.
"What do you mean, you met someone?"
"Well at the park," Caroline said, "I literally ran into him when I was walking. He was so sweet Lish. He offered to buy me lunch and I did, and we talked." Alicia looked on as Caroline talked. Her best friend's eyes sparkled as recalled her day. The only other time she had seen her eyes sparkled like that, was whenever it had something to with Kimberly.
"Oh Lish, we had so much in common," Caroline said, "We talked about everything. And you know what? For the first time in a long time, I felt special; like I was the only thing that mattered."
"Oh Carrie," Alicia said.
"Do you know how nice it is to feel special by someone other than your daughter?" Caroline asked as she looked her in the eyes, "My daughter is the most important thing to me, and I love how she makes me feel special, but sometimes…"
"Sometimes it would be nice to feel that from someone that can relate to you," Alicia finished.
"Exactly," she said, "And that's how he made me feel. I don't know how else to explain it Lish, I don't know why he makes me feel that way, but he does."
"Oh honey," Alicia said. She could see the emotions in her eyes and could see that her friend was staring to have some sort of feelings for this guy. "I was always told that the heart wants what it wants, and you can't help who you like, and as your best friend, it's my duty to let you know when you screwing up."
"Of course," Caroline said, wondering where she was going.
"But it's also my duty to stick by you, no matter what," Alicia said, "So if you like this guy, then be honest with him and be sure this is what you want. Remember that what you do, affects not only you, but that sweet seven year old girl in there that is counting on her mom."
"I know," Caroline sighed, "I'd die before I do anything to hurt her, but I can't help how I feel. I know it's only been a few hours, but…"
"I'm in no way condoning adultery, and you know what happened with Ken, all I'm saying, all I'm asking is for you to think about this."
"I will," Caroline said, and then moved to hug her.
"So tell me," Alicia teased, "Is he cute?"
"Alicia!" Caroline laughed.
"Well that answered that question," Alicia said as she hugged her again, "Remember, be careful. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I will." True to her word, Caroline told Jordan everything the next time she saw him. He was very understanding and told her about his problems as well. Over the next few weeks, they spent most of their free time together. Jordan would drive down from San Francisco and they would spend days together. It was in September, when she found out that she was pregnant. She was scared and excited at the same time. Alicia, of course, was the first one that she told. Ken was overseas on business, had been ever since she caught him with his co-worker, and was due back in October. She wasn't sure how to tell Jordan. With Alicia, she went to the doctor and found out that she was only two months pregnant and she was due in April of next year. Because of his construction job, Jordan was now on the road a lot, so it was easy to keep it from him. As her pregnancy went along, Alicia helped her hide it well so that no one would know. It was around thanksgiving, when she had gone in for a sonogram, that she was told she was expecting twins. Alicia had been worried at how big she was getting for just four months and had convinced her to get checked out. She had also convinced her to tell Jordan about the pregnancy. Around the same time, Ken Hart had come back into town, wanting them to try to reconcile after everything. She was confused as to what to do, being that she still loved him. She had told Jordan, and he was very excited about becoming a father as well. She told him about Ken, and was shocked when he told her the exact thing about Sandra, his wife. Ken understood that she had a daughter to think of, and that she was still in love with her husband, because he was still in love with his wife. It was around New Year's when everything went downhill. Ken had decided to surprise his wife by coming home early and taking her out to dinner. He entered the bedroom, and was shocked at the sight. His wife, his six months' pregnant wife was standing there in nothing but a skirt and bra.
"What the hell?" he asked outraged.
Caroline turned towards the doorway in shock, "Ken, what are you doing home?"
"I came home to surprise you, but I guess the surprise is on me," he said, "You've been cheating on me?"
"Ken, it's not like that," she said.
"Oh it's not?" he snarled, "You're pregnant Caroline, and I know it's not by me. Which means you've been cheating on me, how could you?"
That made Caroline angry, "How could I? You cheated on me first Ken. You fight with me all the time, you're never home. My God, your own daughter sees more of Preston than she does her own father."
"Don't put this on me," he said.
"Why shouldn't I?" she asked, "Don't play innocent. I never set out to cheat on you, but you set out to cheat on me. You hurt not only me, but Kimberly as well."
"Don't bring my daughter into this."
"Your daughter?" she asked, "You know nothing about 'your' daughter."
"I do."
"Oh really?" she asked, "Do you even know what her favorite color is? Do you know the reason why she was in the hospital after Easter, after Aileen died?"
Ken could say nothing. But it seemed that she wasn't waiting on him as she continued talking, "She had a meet, and she had heard us fighting nights before it happened. She was also sick but didn't say anything because she thought that we would be angry at her if she didn't do the meet. She thought if she did the meet, then we would stop fighting. Our daughter put her health at risk because of you, because of us." She would never forget how she had felt when Alicia had told her that. It had hurt to know that she was partially to blame for her daughter being hospitalized.
"So what?"
"So I met someone," she said, "Someone that made me feel special; special in a way that I hadn't felt in a long time."
"Well no wife of mine is having some bastard's kid," he said.
"I'm not having an abortion," she said, shocked at the thought.
"Who said anything about that?" he sneered, "Well obviously it's too late anyways. No, I have an idea." And with that he walked off, leaving his wife very much confused and dreading what his idea was. She called Alicia and Jordan and told them what had happened. Two weeks later, Caroline was sitting on her couch, her daughter chattering away about her upcoming birthday. She heard the doorbell and moved to get it. As she opened the door, she stood there in shock. Standing on the other side was none other than Sandra McKnight, Jordan's wife.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure," she said, "Kimberly could you go to your room please?"
"But mommy, I'm not done," Kimberly whined.
"Kimberly Annabelle Hart, don't you dare throw a tantrum and do as I say," she said sternly. She did not want her daughter to witness whatever was going to happen.
"Fine mommy," Kim said as she picked up her doll and made her way up the stairs to her room.
"What can I do for you?" Caroline asked.
"Oh cut the pleasantries," Sandra said, "You know why I'm here. Apparently you've been seeing my husband since last summer."
"How do you know that?" Caroline asked confused.
"I think you know," Sandra said. Caroline looked at for a minute before it dawned on her, "Ken told you."
"Yes, he also told me that you are very pregnant," she said, "And I can see that."
"What are you doing here? What do you want?"
"Your baby," she said with a small smile.
A chill went up Caroline's spine. There was no way she heard her right, "What?"
"You heard me," Sandra said, no smile on her face now, "I'm sure you know that I can't have kids, and I know that Jordan would love it, you already have a child, so I think it's only fair."
"Fair? How is that fair?"
"Because I want kids and you are pregnant with my husband's baby," she said, "So either give me the baby, or…"
"Or what?" Caroline asked.
"Or lose your daughter," she shrugged. She stood up and walked to the door, "You have until March to decide. Be happy that I'm giving you time." And with that, she walked out the door. Caroline sat there, long after she left. She kept going over the conversation in head. In a daze, she stood and walked to her daughter's room. She opened the door, and watched as her daughter was playing house. Her heart ached at the thought of losing her and at losing the twins. She didn't know what to do. She went to Alicia's place and cried on her shoulder as she told her what happened. Her daughter's birthday came and went. She was still seeing Jordan and had told him what happened. They talked and as much as it hurt, she decided that she couldn't lose her daughter. She had decided to give him the twins. She had also thought about Ken. She didn't want her kids to grow up being hated by him, or even calling him dad. She thought about her marriage; the fights, the angry words, and decided that raising one child was bad enough; she didn't want to put two more through it. And she also knew without a doubt that they would always be the target of Ken's anger, and she didn't want that. Jordan had understood when she told him. March came and went and it was now April. Her due date was fast approaching. She was standing around at a barbecue that the Kwan's were having when her water broke. She was rushed to the hospital immediately. Alicia called Jordan discreetly and let him know what was up. Afterwards she went to be with her friend. When the twins were born, they didn't have a name yet, so they were called baby1 and baby2. The doctors had shoved everyone but Alicia out of the room, saying that they could visit tomorrow. As soon as the other left, Jordan came.
"Hey, how are you?"
"I'm fine," Caroline said, "Come meet our sons."
"You mean our sons?" Sandra asked as she came in the room. Caroline shook her head, not wanting to fight after just giving birth, "So have you decided?" Caroline looked down at the sleeping boys in her arms. She loved them with all her heart, and it would be hard to let go, but she knew she had to. "Yes I have."
"Well?"
"I'm going to let the boys go with their father," she said with tears in her eyes. "Better him than some stranger. And I know that despite our differences, you will love them as your own. Would you like to hold them?"
Sandra was shocked. She honestly hadn't expected her to do what she was doing. As she took one of the boys in her arms, she felt joy go through her, "What are their names?"
"They don't have any yet," Alicia said as she watched the woman. She didn't trust her, but she did seem to be genuinely captivated by the baby.
"Actually I have an idea for names," Jordan said.
"What?" Alicia asked.
"Well I was thinking that baby1," he said referring to the baby in his wife's arms, "Is going to be called Eric Jordan McKnight, and baby2 is Connor Jayden McKnight." Caroline and Alicia both gasped softly at the names. Eric was the shortened form of Caroline's middle name, Erica; and Jayden was a combination of her parents names, Jamison and Dennica. 'So that's why he asked me my full name and that of my parents.'
"I know that you love these babies, but I do have one request," Sandra said. Every looked at the auburn haired woman.
"What is it?" Caroline asked.
"You are to stay away from the twins," Ken said coming into the room, startling them.
"What?!"
"You heard me," he said, "I let you give birth to them, now if you want to see your daughter then you agree."
"I already agreed to give them up, why can't that be enough?" she asked.
"Because I don't want them confused as to who their parents are," Sandra said calmly.
"Now wait just a minute," Alicia started only to be stopped by Caroline's arm, "No wait Lish. It's ok."
"What?" she said incredulously, "You can't be serious."
"I am," she said, "I can't lose my daughter. It sucks to have to choose, but I can't allow them to be brought up in that house, where they might feel Ken's anger. Kim's his daughter so she won't feel much, but the twins aren't."
"You're braver than I am," Jordan said.
She gave a tiny smile and looked at Sandra, "Just promise me something."
"What?"
"Promise to love them and be there for them," she said as the tears flowed down her cheeks, "Always put them first, and let them know every day that they are loved."
"I will," Sandra said, "And I know it may not seem like it, but I am sorry." The nurse came in and wrote up the birth certificate with the names. The twins stayed in the hospital overnight, and then left along with Sandra and Jordan. Caroline cried in Alicia's arms as she watched them leave. Later at her house, after many explanations as to why she didn't have the boys, she sat in her room silently crying. Her door pushed opened and she looked up to see her eight year old daughter looking at her, "Mommy, why are you crying? Did you have a bad dream?"
Caroline gave her daughter a watery smile. She leaned over and pulled her onto the bed with her, "Yes sweetie, mommy had a bad dream." 'One I wish I could wake up from.' "But you know what?"
"What mommy?" young Kimberly asked.
"I'm going to be fine because I've got you," she said as she kissed her, "Now let's get some sleep. Mommy's tired."
"OK," Kim said, "I love you mommy."
"I love you too baby." They fell asleep in each other's arms. Weeks went without word from Jordan. She heard from him in June, one year after they met. He had told her why he chose to name the kids after her, saying that by doing that, she would always be with them, even if they didn't know it. She knew that he and his wife had moved from San Francisco, but to where she had no clue. Months turned into years, as she went on with her life. She still thought about them, but knew in her heart they were ok. She had finally divorced from Ken and had gotten remarried to French artist and art dealer, Pierre Dumas. Pierre knew all about what had happened, and had been there when she finally broke down and let out the emotions that she had been holding inside since she gave her boys up. She moved to Paris, her homeland, leaving her daughter behind. She was sad, but knew that she was well taken care of. As it was, her mind would wonder about her three kids, but she knew deep down that she would see them again and couldn't wait for the day when it did.
End flashback
The room was silent when she finished. Tears were in her eyes as well as the other girls. Caroline wiped her tears and looked at her kids. She gave them a few minutes as she knew that what she just told them needed to sink in.
"Why?" Jordan asked. "How could she do that? How could she look at us and smile at us for our whole lives knowing what she did?"
"Mom?" Kim called tears in her eyes.
"Yes sweetie?"
"Was Ken really going to take me away from you?"
"Yes he was," Caroline replied. "Just because he didn't want me to raise the twins or to show that I had two other kids, he was going to take you away. I didn't want to lose the boys but I didn't want to lose you either."
"You know," Kim swallowed. "It really shouldn't surprise me, I mean after everything that he did, I shouldn't be surprised. I thought that there was nothing else about him that could make me hate him, but I guess I was wrong." She let out a bitter chuckle. "Now I know how much I meant to him." Tommy, who was sitting next to her, pulled her into his arms.
"I can't believe this," Connor said. "I can't believe her. How could she be so cold-hearted? She took delight in separating a mother from her kids. I mean, it wasn't enough that she took us from you, but she didn't even allow you to see us. What kind of a woman is she?"
"I can't imagine how you coped with what happened Caroline," Taylor said.
"If it wasn't for Alicia, I'm not sure if I could have handled it," Caroline said.
"I can't believe my mom knew," Jason said.
"Alicia was my best friend," Caroline said. "She's been my best friend since I was eight years old. With my brother Carson in high school, I didn't really have anyone to protect me. On my first day of school, I was teased a lot because of my accent and she stood up for me. I needed to tell someone and she knew me better than anyone else. I made her promise to never tell anyone, especially your father, and she didn't. She kept my secret."
"Caroline wanted to keep in contact, despite what Sandra and Ken said, as did Jordan," Pierre said. "But they couldn't. Sandra threatened to help Ken take Kim if either one of them made contact with each other. Not wanting that to happen, Jordan decided to move to Reefside. Caroline only knew that they moved, but she had no idea where. She didn't even have a clue that they only moved about a half hour away."
"This is…this is a lot to take in," Connor said. "The woman I thought of as my loving mother for the past nineteen years is actually a cold-blooded kidnapper."
"What are you guys going to do?" Kira asked.
"I don't know," Jordan shook his head. "The only thing we can do right now is wait. We're here and she's still in the U.S."
"What do you guys plan to do?" Ethan asked. "When you see her I mean?"
"To tell you the truth," Connor said. "Right now I'm glad that we're in Paris. If she was in the same room as I was….what she did was despicable. I can't believe she has the heart to call herself a mother. She basically stole us from our real mom and even went so far as to threaten to take away Kim just to get what she want. Trust me, when we go back home she's going to tell us exactly why she did what she did. And then I'm cutting her from my life."
"Same here," Jordan said. "For her to do something like that, it tells me that she's not someone that I want in my life anymore. You know, I always thought she was a good person, I mean, she was my mom. I trusted her."
Kim turned to Connor, "You'd think we'd be use to betrayal by now. I mean, first Kat and now this."
"What do you mean 'first Kat'?" Tori asked.
"Who's Kat?" Shane continued.
"Kat or rather Katherine Hillard was the second pink ranger," Aisha said. "She was our friend but she betrayed us in the worst way possible."
"How?" Cole asked.
"I'm sure guys heard about the infamous letter, right?" Kim said.
"You mean the letter that was written to Tommy?" Wes asked. "Yeah, we heard of it. We also heard of more letters that was written."
"Yes well all those letters were done by none other than Kat," Tanya said.
"Except the one that Tommy got," Kim injected. "I actually wrote that one."
"But if it wasn't for Kat," Billy said. "Then you never would have written it in the first place."
"What happened?" Jen asked.
"Kat was really jealous of Kim and her relationship with us," Adam started. "She was also in love with Tommy and wanted him for herself."
"So she decided to send a letter to Kim saying how no one cared about her anymore because we didn't tell her that her boyfriend was cheating on her," Tanya said.
"When Kim got the first letter, she called Tommy's cell phone to find out what was going on," Rocky said.
"But Kat answered and she made me think that she was pregnant with Tommy's baby," Kim continued. "I hung up and I didn't call Tommy again. After that, I got a few more letters and some pictures as well."
"Kim had no choice but to believe that I was cheating on her," Tommy said. "So she wrote me the letter."
"A few days after the letter," Kim said. "I felt like I should try Tommy once more, but I didn't want to talk to him personally. So I had a roommate call his place and she was told that he went skiing with Kat. But that wasn't the last time. The same roommate convinced me that I should hear everything from Tommy's mouth, he at least owed me that much."
"So she contacted Zordon and he allowed her to teleport to Angel Grove," Zach said.
"Which would have been a good thing except for the fact that she came after everyone else got letters as well," Rocky said. "We thought that Kim wrote them but it was actually Kat that did. She wanted to make sure that we would hate Kim and want nothing more to do with her."
"When Kim came to look for us," Billy said. "We were all angry over the letters. We were talking about them and trying to figure out why she wrote them as they were very hurtful."
"We didn't know that she was close to us and she heard us say a lot of things," Adam said.
"When I heard them sounding angry at me," Kim said. "I left without telling them I was there. I walked around town for a few hours and ended up back at the youth center."
"Which was a bad thing," Tommy said. "Kat had tried to set me up on a date, and the girl didn't show up so she ended having the date with me. Kim came into the youth center and saw us. Now I didn't see her, but Kat did."
"When I saw them," Kim said. "That's when I actually and truly believed that the letters were true. I went back to Zordon and asked him to teleport back to Florida and to tell no one that I was there."
"Kat did all that?" Alyssa asked. When she saw them nod, she shook her head. "Damn. Why would she do that? How could she do that?"
"She was really jealous of Kim," Jason said. "She felt that everyone was treating Kim better than they were treating her. She even blamed Kimberly for it. She felt that Kim didn't deserve being a ranger or being our friend."
"Hey Tommy," Eric called.
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you go after Kim?" Eric asked. "I mean, if it was me that got a letter breaking up with me from my girlfriend, then I'd want to know. If Kim came after you, then why didn't you go after her?" all eyes turned to Tommy. That was actually an answer that they all wanted the answer to.
"It was because of Kat," he replied.
"What do you mean?" Jordan asked.
"At first I didn't want to go on the ski trip," Tommy said. "But I changed my mind and I did. A few days later, Kat stopped by the house. I told her that I couldn't believe that Kim would break up with me like that and I wanted to talk to her…to hear it from her mouth. But she stopped me. She told me that she had called Kimberly and that Kim had told her about her new boyfriend and how she didn't want to talk to me, that it would be better if we cut all ties to each other. I can't believe I believed her."
"It's ok Tommy," Tanya said. "She was very convincing. I mean, she fooled all of us. Even me, and I was her best friend."
"Kat and Sandra sound like sisters," Jordan said. "Two hateful bitches that care nothing about anyone else but their own self."
"Jordan, language," Caroline said, though secretly she agreed with the description.
"I'm not going to apologize mom," Jordan said. "She deserves that and everything else. She is nothing more or less than a bi-….I mean, a female dog." He had changed his tongue at the glare from his mom. The others laughed.
"So what now?" Danny asked.
"Whoa déjà vu," Ethan laughed.
"What do you mean?" Hunter asked.
"Last time someone asked that it was just after we found out everything that Kat did," Caitlin said. "It's turning into a motto for what you say after hearing bad news." Everyone laughed at that.
"Well," Hayley said. "This is only the second week of our little reunion, and everyone can only stay for another week, right?" At this, everyone nodded.
"So how about we finish out this week and we can head back home three days from now on Saturday?" she said.
"That sounds like a plan," Kira said. "I mean, if everyone wants to?"
"We have no problem with it," Tori said. "Tay, what about you guys?"
"Hello?" Taylor and Alyssa said. "We're in Paris. Do you think we would give up three more days of this? No way."
"So it's agreed?" Hayley said. "We're going to spend Thursday and Friday in Paris and leave on Saturday?"
"HELL YEAH!!!" the entire group cheered.
"Well," Caroline said. "It looks like I'm going to have to go shopping." The group's laughter echoed throughout the room.
A/N: so that's that. The others finally know exactly what happened between Caroline, Sandra, Ken and Jordan al those years ago. Now all that's left is to 'talk' with Sandra and Ken. Connor, Jordan and Kim's reaction might not be what you expect but bear in mind that Ken and the others are not there. They do feel angry, but they can't really express it, at least not yet. They have to wait until they get back to the U.S.
yes, Caroline telling them is actually the flashback chapter. it made no sense to re-write when i already had everything she was going to tell them as a separate chapter. Next chapter should be up by weekend.
A/N 2: this is only the first part of the 'confrontations'. like i said, Connor and Jordan still have to talk to Sandra and maybe Kim will talk to Ken. Kat still has an appearance to make.
Song: No Air by Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown.