Thank you so much to everyone for being so patient while I finished this semester of college. I should be updating a bit more often for a few weeks.

So yes, things are a bit more awkward, but this fic is meant to be limited in the melodramatic department. Lots of talks will be needed and new friendships forged. But for now, let's get back to Justin back at the hospital.

Sadly, the absence of my wonderful beta is keenly felt, so any and all mistakes and typos are completely my fault. With that said, please see me down at the bottom.

Angel Grove Hospital

Justin hiccuped and rubbed his eyes again. "First Kat's d….gone and now Kimberly's back…and now they're together?"

Billy sat in the rocking chair and grimaced. "It's a very awkward situation. For me to explain everything, you need to know a few things."

Tanya who was sitting next to Justin on the hospital bed pulled him close. Justin nodded.

Billy glanced at Adam who was leaning against the wall. At the back of the room were the Space Rangers. Ashley was wrapped up in Andros' arms and he was looking stoic as ever. Billy looked back at Justin. "What's going on goes way deeper than the human level. Way back before you, Kat, and Tanya joined the team, there was the rest of us. Tommy, Myself, Adam, Rocky, Kim and Aisha were the current ranger team. You were around for that massive battle with Ivan Ooze; this guy was a very tough opponent. At the time, all we had were the basic Dino powers; he took us out humiliatingly easy. The Earth was very vulnerable and we needed new powers to save our city. Alpha 5 told us of the planet Phados. We went there in search of new powers and we were successful."

"However, the moment we became Ninjetti Warriors, something else happened. We formed a deep bond with each other and became one with Spirit animals. They had been within us all along, but with the help of the Master Warrior, Dulcea, they were brought out and given voices. I found it odd when everyone but Tommy and Kimberly had animals bound to the earth and the both of them had avians. After everyone had gone to sleep for the night, I asked Dulcea about it. She told me that it was because they were meant to be together."

She told me of the times before the fall of Phados, before Ivan Ooze took them out. Their race flourished and the Ninjetti were strong. She told me that back in the ancient times, the warriors with the avian spirits often found their mates among other avians, and the same went for the land animals and even the ones that were sequestered to the sea. Once in a while, and it was rare, two Ninjetti from different types were mated. And one from the earth would find its mate with a sea or land animal. But most of the time, the animals kept to their own.

It went like that with Tommy and Kimberly as the Falcon and Crane. When that team bond happened, we all felt that moment when the two birds bonded. Every one of us felt complete and our own bond was forged. Everything was good for a while, and then things changed. Kimberly and Tommy became closer and closer, and for a while, they were inseparable. Then something happened to cause a tear in the group bond and all of us felt it. When Kimberly left, we all felt a feeling of pain. But Tommy especially felt it. We all knew that he was acting out of love for his mate, so no one said anything…and we let Kimberly follow her dream."

"When that letter came and they broke up, it sent Tommy careening over the edge. We could all sense the balance of the team shift and we could all but feel his anguish. We were teenagers, we didn't know what to do about anything."

"Even when Tommy and Kat started dating, all we could do was try and be supportive. But we all knew that though Tommy appeared happy, that he was reeling from the separation. I don't know what really happened after I left for Aquitar. I had my own illness to deal with and was virtually cut off from my team and that connection went 'dead' but a few days ago, I was meditating and communing with my wolf spirit, and I felt such an intense pain and it nearly made me pass out. An hour later, I said good bye to my friends on Aquitar and they teleported me here. When I arrived, I called Rocky and was told everything. I would have been here earlier, but I was in such a state of shock from everything that I needed the night to process and get a clear head again."

"Before I left Earth, I had bought a used car. But I never got to really drive it. This morning, I went to Rocky's house and where it had been kept and then went looking for Tommy. I felt the moment that the Falcon and Crane were reunited. It was a rush of relief and flashes of joy, it surged through me and I contacted the other Ninjetti to make sure I wasn't imagining it. Then I went looking for them.

That's when I found you. I didn't need to see that little scene in the park to know what was happening. I know it sounds extremely cruel, but Kat wasn't ever meant to be with Tommy. He needs his mate, and that's Kimberly; one can't fly without the other. That is why I stopped you. In order for balance to be restored, they need to reconnect. It's going to be awkward for a bit and they need time to figure things out."

Justin still looked a little distraught, and he seemed to accept things, but he still had one question to ask.

"I don't get it, if they needed to be together so badly, then why did she break up with him?"

Billy sighed. "That's the billion dollar question. None of us know why."

"Kimberly, what happened before, why did you send that letter?"

The petite gymnast was stunned for a moment by the direct question; Tommy had never been one to tip toe. After their intimate moment, they realized that they needed more privacy, and so, after Jason had discreetly dropped off the red truck, they'd immediately driven to someplace more remote…and by remote, that meant the ruins of their beloved Command Center.

The rubble was everywhere and after a brief exploration, they had found a big smooth piece of rock that was big enough for the both of them to sit on. Tommy now had her wrapped up in his arms and Kimberly reveled in it.

"It's kind of complicated…but it has to do with an important talk between my mother and me, just before she left for Paris. It left me reeling and I was too scared to ask you about it."

"Kimberly, I've never given you cause to fear me…at least when I wasn't under a spell. What were you afraid of?"

Kimberly took a deep breath.

"You know that my mom has been through two divorces. Well, she got into a big fight with my birth father. I have no idea what sparked it. I guess it was because I turned 18 and the child support stopped. But she was really angry that night.

Tommy nodded silently while playing with a lock of her hair.

She asked me point blank if we were…you know…having sex. I told her we hadn't gone that far yet. And she for some reason launched into 'that talk.' She told me that I should never settle for the first man to kiss me, that to be absolutely sure that I was in love with the man I gave my v…virginity to. That he may say he loves me, but he could also be lying….that a man would say anything to get into….my pants.

Kimberly was blushing ever so slightly now. Tommy thought she looked adorable but he stayed quiet.

"It really made me think. What we have is so beyond what I ever expected to get when I started dating. This thing between us, it's so much more and so perfect that I was afraid it was all too good to be true. I didn't want to leave, but her words spooked me. That's why I agreed so readily when I was offered the place on the gymnastics team. I figured that you didn't need me and would move on when I severed our relationship."

Tommy's heart broke for hers, especially when he saw the tears falling down her cheek. He could sense her pain.

"Kimberly, I wish you'd just come to me instead of running. I could have set things straight."

"I'm so sorry Tommy! I thought that seeing another guy would confirm what mom told me, he was so sweet at first. After we had sex….he became someone else, and humiliated me. Mom's words came true and I left the team. I'm so ashamed of what I did. It should have been you that I gave myself to!"

"You're right Kim. He didn't deserve such a precious gift. He was a pig. But I'm no better. I never should have slept with Kat. It was as if some moron had written her in as a replacement for you. I was trying to bury my pain in our relationship. But she didn't stop me either. When I was kidnapped by Prince Gasket and Archerena, I was completely brainwashed. Kat was the one who was able to snap me out of it. I don't know if it was because she held the Crane powers or not, but she got through to me. After that, I all but fell into her bed."

"The only thing I don't regret is my son. I've only known him a few days but I love him completely. I'm a father Kim. Everything's changed. If we're going to be together you need to understand that. There's some junk we need to get through if we're going to revive what we had."

"You're not the only one that has changed. I made a major mistake and I paid dearly for it. Our old relationship is dead and gone. So it's more like that we need to build a new and better one. Tommy and Kimberly 2.0."

Tommy laughed softly and Kimberly gifted him with a beaming smile.

"Man is this going to be awkward."

"Don't I know it! I hope no one saw us making out in the park."

They were both quiet for a moment and then Tommy gave Kim a deep penetrating look.

"It doesn't matter what happened in the past. We both messed up and did things we're not proud of. I'm willing to let the past die if you are. But I need to know that my mate…you will fly with me. I can't fly solo anymore."

The statement blazed through Kimberly and she paused to let it sink in.

"You won't….not anymore. I'm done running away. I promise that the next time I have doubts about us, that I'll confess them too you. If I'm in…then I'm in all the way. I want to start over, and do it right this time."

That was good enough for Tommy and he leaned in pressing his lips to Kim's again. She wrapped her arms around his neck. When they came up for air again, Tommy felt the Falcon settle within him again, and the next words seemed to flow from him.

"I know that we both have difficult pasts and they didn't leave us unscathed, but with you by my side, there's nothing we can't overcome. You can trust me with your heart. I won't let anything bad happen to it."

Kimberly felt the truth of that statement and she tucked herself closer to him and felt his strong protective arms wrap around her. The heat from his body warmed her and all she felt was whole again.

"I trust you….let's do this."

Tommy paused and checked his watch. (Kat had managed to talk him into buying a digital watch) "It's been a couple of hours since I left the hospital to take a break. We can pick up drive through and head back to the hospital. The nurses have my son on a schedule, it should be just about time for his next feeding. On the way, I have a lot to update you on.

Kimberly waited for Tommy to stand up and hold a hand out to her. When she was on her feet again, they walked hand in hand back to the truck.