Enemy Within: The Softer Side
He learns the meaning of serenity.

Note: I do not own Power Rangers Jungle Fury or its characters. I do own Kiran though and Jarrod's Mother for the time being.
Prompt: First Date (bigthingsinlife prompts)
Genre: Romance/Drama/Angst
Rating: T (Minor language)

I hear a soft knock on my door the following morning. The sun in streaming in my window and I'm instantly annoyed with the knocking. Who would be knocking? It wouldn't be my Dad. He hasn't stopped to see me once. It was probably my Mom; I don't know how she's going to take the present situation. Her 16-year-old son is in bed with his girlfriend, who is still bare. I've at least put on my boxers. Oh well. Kiran's still smashed to my side, snoring blissfully in my ear. I wriggle out from under her and she lolls into the middle of the bed and steals my pillow. I smile and shake my head. Reaching for the knob I open it to see my Mother staring up at me.

"You got so tall," She muses with a smile, something within me lights with the smile on her lips. She hugs me around my middle and I instantly find myself hugging her back. I can't deny her a hug, it's my Mother.

"That's what happens when you grow up," I tell her, trying to keep my tone level, trying not to let her hear the pain in my voice. I let her in and Kiran wakes up at the sudden sound of my Mothers arrival and watches her quietly. My Mother looks over to the bed and Kiran makes sure to cover every inch of her body. To my surprise my Mother doesn't look angry but more like a sudden realization swept over her face. That made Kiran shift uncomfortably, my Mother gave her a sympathetic smile and looked back to me.

"Your Father is out of town and I'm off work today. Did you have plans for today?" she asked. I certainly hadn't discussed anything with Kiran and she was sleeping until two seconds ago.

"I would like a date…" her small voice drifts to my ears, I look over at her and she's blinking sleepily at me.

"You want to go on a date?" I ask, she nods.

"I've never been on a date." She tells me, I smile softly.

"Me either." My Mother smiles at us and heads to leave.

"I'll be making breakfast for whenever you two are ready. Since you're Dad is gone I can actually make a meal and dessert if you'd like?" She asks smiling, Kiran's grinning on the bed and it puts a smile on mine.

"That sounds fine Mom. We'll be down shortly." I tell her.

"Ok dear," she says and closes the door behind her. Kiran looks at me and her grin gets bigger and she sprints into the bathroom and locks the door behind her.

"I win!" she yells, I laugh and shake my head. She's insane but I wouldn't have it any other way.

While she begins to shower, I head downstairs to find my Mom cooking or attempting to. She can't seem to reach the pancake mix; it's on the top shelf. Probably my Fathers doing, since I notice all the cake and brownie mixes are on the top shelf. I reach up and grab it, she jumps since I'm suddenly looming above her.

"Thank you!" she chirps hurrying to the counter, stopping as she began to open the box.

"Waffles or pancakes?"

"Uhhh. We like both but waffles sound good. Uh, I'd like to apologize for you seeing us in a state of undress. We meant no disrespect…it was unexpected…" I told her, it was awkward to say and probably awkward to hear but I felt that I had disrespected her in some way.

"Your young and curious. It happens." She said, waving her hand. "The only thing that concerned me…is that it sounded rather…animalistic…" I hadn't even stopped to think she had heard anything. My face lights in a blush and it makes her smile, apparently I am amusing while being flustered.

"That was due to our animal spirits…they tend to consume…sometimes…" I tell her carefully.

"That thing that burst from you when you were a child?" she asks tilting her head, I nodded.

"That would be him."

"What was it? I can't remember. Can I see him?" she asks. Right now, I feel in control and make the motions to draw him out. He stands calmly and at full height beside me. My Mother stops and stares in awe of him, the wonder in her eyes is new to me. She reaches out to touch him and I cringe but instead, he nudges her hand gently, I've never seen him do that before. "Its so beautiful…"

Kiran came into the kitchen, alarmed to see the Lion out and nuzzling my Mother's outstretched hand. She's just as shocked as I am and he moves from my Mother to Kiran. She stands erect and her face was masked, usually when an animal spirit was withdrawn it was to battle. We're conditioned be prepared. It stood face to face with her, then it rubbed itself against her hand, then curled her body before returning to me.

"Whoa…I've never seen him so…"

"Peaceful?"

"Yeah! Why did he nuzzle me though?"

"Marking his mate," My Mother supplied with a smile, making Kiran blush. "Go shower honey, I'll get to know your girl." Kiran grins and waves me off, I smile and kiss her on the head as I go by. I don't worry about leaving Kiran with my Mother. I trust her, and always have. I wonder if this is how a normal life is supposed to feel.

I quickly shower and hurry back downstairs as I smell breakfast coming together. When I come into the kitchen, Kiran looks visibly shaken and my Mother was rubbing her back. Oh God, what happened?

"What's the matter?" I ask immediately, my girl shakes her head but slowly parts from my Mothers comfort and clings to me. She's trembling beneath my hands. My Mother is frowning and studying Kiran.

"Nothing. Its ok. I'll be fine." Her voice sounded sincere but her eyes told me other wise. I just nodded, I didn't want to press, if I was going to be her support system, I wasn't going to bully her.

We all settle into eating a nice big breakfast and after cleaning up, my Mom heads to the store to get things to make for dinner tonight. Left to our own devices Kiran and I take the time to couple once more before heading on our date. I decided to take her up the road to the Fishers Farm-The Heartland. As they greet me with open arms, I remember why I loved this place so much.

Through the afternoon I show her the horses and taught her how to tend to them like Mr. Fisher had. I loved seeing the delight on Kiran's face as one of the horses named Sonny became quickly attached to her. I took her riding for a little bit, then taught her how to ride. She won over the Fishers like she had won over my Mother. It made me happy to see the people that had cared about me, liked her. It reassured me though I didn't think that would matter, but I felt better knowing they cared at all.

Once nightfall came, we bid our goodbyes to them and headed home where my Mother has prepared a feast. Apparently she misses cooking from the amount made. We sit down as a family and we tell her more about the Academy and what we've been learning. My Mother in turn, tells us about her job and how it's going. She's an OBGYN and is one of the tops in the state. She loves her job and her patients and apologized for not being there for me as a child. I understood better now that she was a Doctor, a well respected and highly sought after, her patients needed her. We all began to clean and she hugs us both goodnight and goes to her room, and we head to mine.

Kiran begins to get into her PJs immediately and I follow suit. As we climb into bed and lay together, I kiss the top of her head.

"Did you enjoy our date though we were surrounded by others half the time?" I asked, she nods and gave a happy sigh.

"Of course! I wanted to see the people you talked about! I wanted to see your Mom some more! And you were there the whole time, of course I enjoyed it!"

"Good, I'm glad." I tell her and I smile, her happiness gave me contention. I felt at complete peace for the first time I could remember. It was a good feeling. I never want to lose her or the feeling she gives me. I now know not only what hope is, but love and peace. Something I never thought I would have.