Disclaimer: I have never, nor will I ever own any part of Power Rangers, though the characters of Samantha, Rebecca, and Chris Travis are my own creations. This is just for pure fun.

Summary: Kim is married to the guy in "the letter" but she is miserable. Her husband ignores her mostly and she is stuck in the monotonous life of the suburban housewife. Is she stuck in this limbo forever, or can someone change her life for the better?

Pairings: Kim/OC, with mentions of Jason/Kat, Billy/Hailey, and Connor/Kira

Time: Post DT

A/N: hewhoreaps, that's a pretty good thought, and you may be right :-P. Again, thank you everyone for all the great reviews. You are the ones that give me the motivation to keep doing this! That, and the evil plot bunnies that haunt my dreams at night!

Chapter three: Clandestine rendezvous

Kim's POV:

Well, here we are, we finally made it to the party. For awhile, I did not think that it was going to happen, as Chris tried to get out of it at the last minute.

Flashback:

I had just finished getting ready, and had gone through a lot to look good. I guess that deep down in the back of my mind, I wanted to look good for Tommy, though I denied it to myself. I had just put in the last of my earrings when Chris walked into our large master bedroom.

"I've changed my mind. We are not going and nothing you can say can change my mind."

"Chris I just now finished getting ready!"

He just shrugged. "Not my problem, just change."

"Why are you doing this to me? You know how much this means to me. Billy is one of my oldest friends…"

"Save it Kim, I have heard it all before and it's getting old. I have had a long day and I am tired, I don't feel like going anywhere."

I scoffed, "Yeah, a long day of playing golf and drinking beer with your friends."

Chris got angry. "So what if I want to have a little fun with my friends? I work very hard to put food on this table, to provide clothes for you and the kids, very expensive clothes I might add, and what do I get in return? A wife who nags me constantly!"

Constantly? What wife is he talking about? Certainly not me.

Something inside me clicks; I am tired of being submissive. I will not back down from this.

"Damn it Chris, I need this! I stay here with your kids while you are out, either working or having fun with your friends. I can't remember the last time I had lunch with Hayley or one of my other girlfriends much less some time alone with my husband. I don't ask for much Chris, in fact, I have pretty much given up on getting any kind of affection from you, but I swear, you will go to this party if I have to drag your ass there."

He was silent. I think he was stunned that I had finally fought back for the first time in years, but the old Chris Travis attitude did not take long to come back.

"One hour, that's it, and I am only going to make sure that your old boyfriend does not try something."

Not that shit again. Fine, I take my victories when I can get them.

"That's fine Chris, whatever."

"Don't you take that tone with me Kim!" and he actually raised his hand as if to strike me. That is something that he has never done in ten years of marriage and it scared the hell out of me. I think he finally realized what he was doing, and backed down. I guess he too thought twice about it.

"Just don't stress me right now Kim, I have enough to worry about," he said as he started to get ready.

The whole scenario took only a few minutes, but little did I know, that it would have a huge impact in my life later on.

End flashback

So, here we were in Hayley's Cyberspace café. This is actually the first time I have stepped foot in the place. You know how it is, always meaning to do something, but never really finding the time.

We are quickly greeted by Billy and Hayley and I offer my congratulations while Chris just grunts. I start scanning the room, and see so many familiar faces. Sadness engulfs me as I realize that it has been so long since I have seen, much less talked to all of my old friends. Chris makes sure of that. I think he is afraid that I will have a good time without him; either that or he is insecure as hell. Whatever the case, I have not been allowed to have much contact with any of my old buddies in years. I want to go and great them, but Chris has a tight grip on my arm, guiding me to a far corner pretty much away from anyone. He is gripping me so hard it is almost stating to hurt. Then I saw him.

Tommy had not changed much since the last time I saw him at Trini's funeral. He had cut his hair short and wore it in spikes now, and he had grown a goatee, but other than that, he was the same old Tommy. I looked right at him and tried to communicate to him nonverbally that I wanted to talk to him. He must have seen that; or something else because his face went from looking shocked to worry in a matter of seconds. But as long as Chris was there, there would be no way I was going to get a chance to tell him that I was wrong, to apologize for the mistake of letting him go those many years ago, to ask for his help, and most of all, to tell him that I had finally realized that I still loved him.

Tommy's POV:

My entire world was turning upside down. As much as I wanted to hate Kim for that damn letter she sent, the site of her looking so miserable in the company of the man that was supposed to love and protect her banished all of those thoughts. Had she really left me for this guy?

She is in so much pain. She wants me to help or am I just imagining things?

It really did not matter, since judging by the way he was holding her, he would not be going anywhere anytime soon. I threw my hands up in frustration. I had to talk to her alone, if for no other reason than to hear why she left me for that ass. Just out of curiosity, I sized him up and wondered if I could take him in a fight. Sure, if things got ugly, Jason and about six other guys would come to help me, but I wanted to do this on my own if it came to that. Of course, this was supposed to be a party for my two best friends, so I did not want to do anything to ruin it if I could avoid it. Suddenly, I had an idea. I looked around for the first female I could find which happened to be Kat, and motioned her over. She left her spot on Jason's lap and came to see what I wanted.

"Kat, can you do me a favor?"

"I can try Tommy, what do you need?" I could tell that she already had an idea what I wanted judging by my expression.

"Can you go over to Kim and ask her to go to the bathroom with you? You know how you women always go there in groups."

Kat punched me on the arm, "Thomas Oliver that is so sexist! It's also true for the most part. What should I do when," she looked at how Kim's husband was still holding onto her even as they sat, "or should I say IF I get her in there?"

"I need to talk to her Kat, alone, and by the looks of it, it will not be here or tonight. I need you to tell Kim to meet me at the west side of the lake at Reefside Park at this time tomorrow night. Tell her if she cannot get away then, I will be at the same spot at the same time every night until she can."

"Wow Tommy, you really want to talk to her don't you?" Kat said in an impressed tone.

"You have no idea."

"I think I have a pretty good idea. Alright, I will do what I can."

Kat left and approached Kim and Chris. After a short exchange, I saw Kim leave with Kat and head toward the ladies room. Her husband did not look happy, but Kat must have seemed non threatening enough and he had let Kim go.

General POV. Inside the ladies room:

Kat had pulled Kim into the room and looked around to see if they were alone. Thankfully they were. Kim just laughed.

"What's with all this secrecy Kat? As glad as I am to see you and have you get me away from Chris for a few moments, this is not like you. So what's up?"

Before Kat responded, she took her old friend into her arms and hugged her tightly to her.

"God I have missed you Kim. I know we were not the best of friends and since I dated Tommy…"

Kim pulled away. "Forget about that Kat, I am so past that. I am just glad to see you and the others again. Chris keeps a pretty tight leash on me these days."

"I can tell, and I think that has something to do with my message from Tommy."

Kim's ears perked instantly. "Message from Tommy?"

"Yes, he knew that he of all people was not going to get anywhere near you tonight, so he sent me in to give you a message. I guess he thought that a woman would be less threatening."

Thinking of how her husband was, Kim nodded. "Yeah, but not much, so what is this message?"

"He wants to talk to you Kim, alone, and badly. He told me to tell you to meet him on the west side of the lake at Reefside part at this time tomorrow night, and if you could not get away then that he would be at that same spot at the same time every night until you could."

Kim almost collapsed. That was the Tommy that she remembered. The kind of person that would go out of his way to get his way and damn the consequences. It also told her that Tommy really wanted to talk to her, and she had a pretty good idea on what he wanted to talk about. It may not be a pretty talk, but it was one that she knew that they had to have. If nothing else, they could clear the air and get some closure in their lives. She did not think that they could ever be friends again, even if they both wanted it. Chris would make sure of that.

"Thank you for telling me Kat, really. I want to do this. Please tell Tommy that I will try to meet him tomorrow night. Chris has overnight duty again then, so it should be possible."

Kat nodded. "He still cares for you Kim."

"I don't know how he could Kat. I left him for a man that treats me like a second class citizen."

"You know Tommy as well as I do Kim. He has a loving spirit and a forgiving and kind heart. He will understand what you have to say, even if he does not like it. I also know this about him, he has always protected you and it has to kill him to see you in so much pain right now. I think given half a chance, he would happily beat Chris within an inch of his life for treating you the way that he has."

Kim looked her fellow former pink sister in the eye and said:

"If he did Kat, I would stand by and let him."

General POV. Reefside Park; The following night:

It was a cool night, so Tommy thrust his hands into the pockets of his black windbreaker as he paced nervously in front of the giant manmade lake in the park. He was as nervous as he had been in a long time. Kat had come back to him the night before to tell him that she had given Kim the message and that Kim had assured her that she would be here tonight. Still, Chris had looked mighty suspicious when he saw Kat go straight from his wife to Tommy. What if he deduced what had happened and tried to stop Kim from coming? Well, he would just be here every night until she did come. He had every bit of faith that his Crane would not let him down.

MY Crane? Where did that come from? Do I still have feelings for her? No Tommy, she is married, therefore she is off limits! But she is unhappy!

The inner battle that he was fighting with himself came to an abrupt halt as he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw Kim, dressed in pink sweatpants and a white windbreaker, and alone. They made eye contact again and awkwardly approached each other. For what seemed like hours, there was silence, each one not knowing what to say to the other. Finally, Tommy broke it.

"How are you're girls? Who Is looking after them now?" he had seen Kim's two daughters at Trini's funeral.

Kim, glad for some small talk first replied, "they are doing very well thank you. They seem to be growing more every day. I had to call our new babysitter in on short notice, but I don't think that Kira minded."

"Kira? Kira Ford?" asked Tommy, not quite believing his ears.

"Yes, that's her name. Why? Do you know her?"

"Yeah, she was one of my students last year, very good kid." He decided that now was not the time to tell her that she had also been a power ranger, or that he had been one again himself.

"That's right, you teach now. And yes, she is a wonderful girl and the kids love her. What a small world."

"Yeah."

Silence again. The tension in the air was so thick that Tommy doubted that any weapon that he had eve welded could cut through it.

"Kim I…"

"No, please let me start. I have to get this out, and you deserve to know. I am going to be brutally honest here. That letter was the single biggest mistake of my life."

He had a feeling that was what she was going to say, but it still made him a bit angry.

"Then why the hell did you write it?"

"Tommy please, please don't get upset with me, at least until I finish, then you can do whatever you want, but please let me finish.'

He nodded and indicated for her to continue.

"When I wrote you that letter, I was in the middle of some pretty intense training, and had little to no time for myself, much less you, seeing as you were so far away. I also knew that you were still involved with the rangers and I did not want to burden you with my problems when you quite literally had the world on your shoulders. I knew that if I told you that I was in pain that you would drop everything and come rushing to me. The rangers and the world would suffer and I told myself that I could not be that selfish. I knew that I had to set you free, not because I wanted to, but because I knew that you deserved a better life. I wanted you to be happy."

"My life was so much happier with you in it Kim. There is no one better than you for me."

Damn, he was making this harder. Still, she had to continue.

"Then Chris came along, and he was there when you were not. I think that was the final straw in me making my decision to break it off with you. I would not cheat on you, and I didn't. I did not start dating Chris until I sent the letter. And that Tommy, was the biggest of my mistakes."

"What do you mean Kim? Do you realize how long it took me to get over you? Hell. I am not sure that I am totally over you."

Now that threw her for a loop. He still cared for her?

"But the fact remains that you made a choice that day, and you married it. I have to know something though. Are you happy with him?"

Kim lowered her head, "No, and I haven't been for a long time," she whispered.

"I thought so. I could tell by the way you looked at me when you first came into the party last night." She looked so pitiful right now, the complete picture of misery, and despite not wanting to, knowing she was married; Tommy came over and took her in his arms. He was afraid to do it because he was sure that once he did, all of his old feelings for her would come to the surface again, and sure enough, that's exactly what happened. He just wanted to hold her, to protect her, to make sure that she was never hurt again. With great reluctance, he pulled away.

"I know how hard that must have been for you to tell me Kim, and I thank you for that. I forgive you for the pain and hurt that you caused me, and I also want to apologize to you for not coming to fight for you the second I got that letter."

"Tommy, you have nothing to be sorry for! It was my choice.'

"Still, if I had done that you would not be stuck in a marriage to man that does not love you.'

She knew she should defend Chris, but found that she could not. She took a deep hitching breath.

"Tommy, do you think that we can ever be the way we once were?"

He saw the tears in her eyes and said the words that he knew that he had to say, but still hurt him to his very soul.

"I would love that Beautiful but…"

Her sobs became louder as he called her by his pet name, as well as his use of the word "but".

"…but you are a married woman Kim, and I will not be a home wrecker. I will be as much as a friend to you as your husband will allow, but until you are single again, that's all I can and will be."

Tommy turned away and started walking towards his jeep, his heart breaking with every single step. He had done the right thing, he knew that, but he swore to himself that one day, he would find a way to be with her again.

Behind him, Kim had fallen into a heap on the cold ground; She was silently crying her eyes out. The one man that had ever loved her totally was now walking away from her, and she knew that he was right to do it.

So, what did you think? I know it was a bit longer than the other chapters, but you guys deserve it. The next chapter will be posted Wednesday, so look forward to that. I can tell you this, this story will be like a lot of Tommy/Kim stories out there but a lot different in other ways. I look forward to writing the rest and having you guys along for the ride. As always, reviews make my day!