Thanks again for all the reviews! I really appreciate it! I really like hearing what you guys think of the story.
Here's the new chapter. Enjoy!
"So, where have you been since getting here?" Kim asked, manuevering her way out of the long driveway.
"Uh, airport, Jason's, grocery store, your house," answered Tommy. "In that order."
"So, what do you want to do?"
Tommy shrugged. "You're supposed to be the tour guide." Kim looked at him. "Let's start from when you first moved here."
"Well, you've already seen the airport, right?" Kim laughed. "That was the first place that I saw."
"Alright, well, you're driving. Wherever you end up, we'll go."
"Even if it's the mall? That's the second place I went to."
Tommy laughed. "Of course."
"I'm sure Jason and Rocky want to be the ones who show you guys the dojo. And Aisha would want to be the one to show you guys the clinic." She pointed around her everywhere. "We all live in the same area." She pointed down one street. "That's Jason's. But you already know that." She smiled at him.
"Where are your favorite places to go down here? Come on Kim, I want to get to know you again." Tommy smiled at her and took her hand in his.
Kim smiled. "I know where to go. It was the only place I could think after everything that happened. The only place that reminded me of home and you."
Fifteen minutes later, Kim pulled into the parking lot of a park. She looked at Tommy and nodded toward the park. He followed her out of the car and they walked past the kids in the playground, the teenagers on the basketball courts, and the joggers.
"My favorite spot is right down there." Kim pointed to a place and walked between a couple of giant rocks. She walked a bit more and settled on a giant flat one, overlooking a lake that was similar to the one in Angel Grove. She sat down and Tommy followed. "I like to come here and think."
Tommy smiled and put his arm around her. They both didn't say anything for a bit, just enjoying each other's company. "So, how did you start up in the music industry? Zack kind of interrupted earlier."
Kim laughed and leaned into him. "After the accident...well, a long time after the accident, it was a long time after Adam moved out here...I started writing and stuff. Adam was the only one that I really performed any of it for. For some reason, I just a felt a bit more comfortable with him about that. I don't know why. Probably because when I started singing it for him, he would always get on a piano or guitar, too, and play an accompaniment. I was just always nervous around the other guys." She took a breath and sighed. "Anyway, he encouraged me to keep on writing and playing. And then one day, I was sitting here by myself, under that tree over there," Kim pointed to a tree in the distance, "when some record executives overheard me. They were here with their children, I think on their way to Disney World. When they heard me, they asked for a meeting and I got a record deal. Six to seven months later, I was lucky enough to get a record out and...well, the rest is history."
"No offense, Kim," Tommy said. "I love you, but I cannot stand a couple of your songs." Kim looked at him in amusement. "Some of my students just yell your song during class. And they don't even know the words." Kim laughed. "Or even the tune."
Kim laughed some more. "Kira told me about some of the 'adventures' that you guys went on. You got stuck in your suit?"
"After I was frozen."
"And before the coma, right?"
Tommy glanced at her. "How much did Kira tell you?"
"A lot. It's been a long couple of weeks. And Kira and I usually don't run out of things to talk about. And that was before I found out she was a ranger. Much less a ranger with you."
Tommy laughed. "That coma...that coma was the weirdest thing. When I was out, I was fighting the green, white, and red rangers."
Kim smiled. "You were fighting yourself?"
"Pretty much," Tommy nodded.
Kim looked out onto the lake. She took Tommy's hand into hers. "I came here a lot after Jason started to let me go out on my own." Tommy squeezed her hand. "I found this place when I first moved here. It reminded me of home. I was really homesick, so I always came out here. When I first moved here, I was always either at practice, here, or by the phone, waiting for your phone calls."
"I'm sorry I didn't call more."
Kim shook her head. "It's okay. Everything's fine, now, right?" She looked up at him and smiled. "So, what made you guys want to come here?"
"We missed you guys." Tommy pulled Kim around him so he could stare into her eyes. "I missed you. I didn't go after you before and it took me about two seconds to realize that I didn't want to be apart from you. That week that we spent together was the best week I've had since you left Angel Grove. It took a couple hours to convince the others to come along, but I would've come with or without them. We've been apart for...how long...and I couldn't stand it. Especially after we finally got back together. So, I'm going to finish out the school year in Reefside and Principal Randall has already lined up a couple of interviews for the summer."
"What?" Tommy smiled at Kim. "Seriously?"
"Seriously, Beautiful."
"Doesn't this go under the category 'moving too fast'? What happened to us taking it slow?"
"Kim...we've been taking to slow for the past, what...ten or so years? I love you Kim, and I don't want to be apart from you anymore. Jason agreed to let me stay with him, so we won't be moving that fast. I do want to get to know you all over again."
Kim didn't say a word; she just turned away from him.
"Kim? Kim? What do you say?"
Kim turned back to him and grinned. "You know how I don't like to make it easy for you, Handsome."
Tommy smiled and cupped her face. He tilted her head upwards and both of them closed their eyes as they leaned in for the first kiss in what felt like forever.
"I love you, Tommy."
"I love you, too."
"Two weeks passed by too soon," Aisha said, lying on one of the couch's in Kim's living room. "I can't believe you guys are leaving tomorrow."
"Well, it has been a lot of fun," said Hayley. "Thanks again for the Disney World tickets, Trini."
"No problem," she answered.
"Yeah, thanks!" echoed Zack. "That was great."
Jason tapped Tommy on the back and grinned. He gave him a silent thank you. Since Kim's accident, none of them have ridden any roller coasters so she wouldn't feel left out and they had no problem staying away from the coasters for the sake of their friend. But this time, she preferred walking around the park with Tommy while the others were having the time of their lives riding all the rides.
"So, what are we going to do today?" Rocky asked.
"Well," started Trini, "we've already done the Florida things. You guys have seen the dojo and the clinic. We went to the beach. Disney World. Epcot. All that good stuff. What do you guys want to do today?"
"How about we just relax?" Tomy answered.
"There is that pool in the backyward," said Adam.
"And a grill," said Jason. "Great idea, Tommy."
"We'll go out and grab some food, then," said Kim. She stood up, followed by Hayley and Aisha. "We'll see you later, then."
About thirty minutes later, the eight of them gathered in the backyard of Kim's house, enjoying their last day together.
"Where's Amy today?" Tommy asked Adam.
"She has a surgery to do today," he answered. "I think she said someone's cat swallowed something and they have to get it out. And besides, someone," he glared at Aisha, "didn't let her off." He winked at Aisha.
She laughed and stuck her tongue out at him. "You'll see her tonight. You guys'll go on a date. She'll tell us about it, you'll tell us about it, and we'll laugh at how different your versions of the date was."
Adam rolled his eyes and ran and jumped into the pool.
-
"Last day..." Kim said, sliding into Tommy's lawn chair with him. "I'm gonna miss you."
Tommy kissed her forehead. "I'm gonna miss you, too. But it'll just be a few months."
Kim nodded. She sat there, thinking for a bit. She looked at her friends around her. Zack, Billy, Hayley, and Aisha joined Adam in the pool. Jasoon was fanning the grill, watching the hot dogs and burger patties while Rocky was hovering nearby. Kim laughed at the sight and snuggled in closer to Tommy. He gave her another kiss on top of her head. 'Life is perfect,' she thought. She was drifting off to sleep when she heard Zack calling her name.
Kim sat up and looked towards the pool. "What's up, Zack?"
He got out of the pool, wiping himself off. "Have you been writing anything for the show?"
Kim laughed. She shook her head. "I'm sorry."
Zack waved it off. "It's cool. I know it's been a busy couple of weeks." He laughed. "But if you can, I might need a demo by the end of next week."
"Well, I have been thinking about something...it's nothing new, but I've just been thinking about it since you said the show would be focused on the friendships between the rangers."
"Why don't you play it, then, Kim?" Jason called from the grills.
"Uhh...alright." Kim stood and grabbed her guitar. "You guys'll recognize it. I hope you guys like it and that it'll be okay for the show. There's nothing about the power rangers in the song, but..."
"Just play it, Kim," Zack said.
The others stopped splashing around the pool and hovered closer to the edge where Kim, Tommy, and Zack were.
"I don't believe it, guys, but I'm kind of nervous." Kim laughed.
Jason and Rocky sat down next to Zack.
Kim took a deep breath and started to strum her guitar. She looked up and smiled at Tommy. He, Jason, Zack, Trini, and Billy all glanced at each other, recognizing the chords and the tune that Kim was playing.
"Down on the road
We never know
What life may hold in store"
"The song Kim and Zack wrote for Tommy when he was losing his green ranger powers," Trini whispered to Hayley, Aisha, Adam, and Rocky.
"It was after we fought Guitardo," added Billy, whispering also.
"Winds of change
Will rearrange
Our lives more than before"
Tommy and Zack grinned at each other. Zack moved next to Kim. She smiled at him as they began singing together.
"But you'll never stand alone, my friend
Memories, never die
In our hearts, they'll always live
And never say goodbye"
Zack grinned. "That's perfect, Kim."
"I thought it would be fitting," replied Kim. "Especially considering that it would be kind of based on our experiences and stuff. I liked that."
Zack nodded. "Well, I'll keep you guys updated." He stood up, giving Kim a kiss on the cheek. "But for now," Zack pointed down towards the pool, "I'm headed back that way." He ran and jumped into the pool, splashing the others, who promptly began splashing him back. Kim followed them after she set down her guitar and Jason walked back to the grill, followed closely by Rocky. Tommy leaned back in the lawn chair and smiled at the sight of his friends.
"Don't worry, these next few months will pass by like nothing," said Hayley. "Besides, we would never miss out on yours and Rocky's wedding!"
"Alright, girl, we'll see you soon!" she replied, returning the hug. "You guys have a safe trip." She moved on to hug Billy, Zack, and Tommy.
Kim and Tommy held hands, walking through the airport. He had already checked in and they were on their way to the security gate. "Have a safe trip. Call me when you guys land." She leaned up to kiss him. "I love you."
Tommy hugged Kim for a long time. "I love you, too, Beautiful. I'll see you soon. Real soon."
"Bye guys!" Zack called. He turned to Kim. "The theme song'll be perfect."
The four retuning to California continued to wave to their friends, as they walked through the security line. Kim, Trini, Aisha, Rocky, Adam, and Jason stood there until Tommy, Hayley, Billy, and Zack went through the security gate.
There you go!
