Author's Note: Wow this took me a lot longer than I thought it would to redo. Then again I just haven't been in the mood to right a sappy romantic piece as of late. Oh well, better late then never.
It's been so long since I updated this story, I'm not doing any shoutouts like I have done in previous chapters. But I want to thank everyone for sticking with me through this story and I hope you like it. It's been a long time coming. There's still an epilouge, but this is the last full length chapter. Enjoy!
Kat stared at herself in the mirror trying to calm herself down. She had been on edge all morning, well in truth she had been on edge all week. Yet no one said anything or even seemed to mind. After all, most brides got a "little" crazy just before the wedding.
"Oh Kat you look amazing!" Tanya chimed from across the room. Kat turned to look at her best friend with a grin.
"I'm glad that we talked you into a church wedding instead of that beach wedding, you would never have gotten to wear this dress." Kimberly grinned as she straightened the back of Kat's dress.
"Well all it took was one look at this dress… it was 'love at first sight'." Kat giggled. "I just knew that I had to have this dress." The dress in question was a very elegant ball gown dress with a sweetheart cut and off the shoulder straps which revealed Kat very delicate and feminine shoulders. The corset part of the dress hugged Kat's slender frame and ran down to her waist where it belled out and flowed down into the train. Across the back were pale pink roses in which to attach the bustle to.
Kimberly had pulled Katherine's hair up into a French twist, then Casey had fastened small pale pink roses all over her hairdo. Her veil was then fastened at the crown of her head and flowed down her back to just above her waist. Tanya had done her makeup in light pink pinks and neutrals.
"You never told us what Tommy said when you told him you wanted to move the wedding inside." Casey commented as she tied the sash on the back of Tanya's pale blue dress. Kat had opted for staying away from their ranger colors other than hers and Tommy's, pink and red. Tanya wore pale blue, Kimberly wore lavender, and Casey wore pastel green, while the guys all wore black with a red boutonniere except for Tommy, who wore a dark red bowtie.
"He said, and I quote, 'You want to turn our wedding into a big traditional shindig, don't you?' I just grinned and nodded and he said that whatever I wanted was fine by him. I just had to make sure to tell him where and when to show up."
"Speaking of big shindigs, have Trini and Billy decided where they're having their wedding?" Tanya asked.
"Not sure." Kimberly shrugged.
"At the marina." Kat replied. "It's where Billy's dad proposed."
"Oh that's so sweet." Casey said.
"How did you know that?" Kimberly asked as she placed her hands on her hips. "I'm Trini's matron of honor and I didn't even know that."
"Billy told me that yesterday when he stopped by to check on me."
"Check on you?" Casey asked.
"He knew how hard this is for me not having mum here with me." Kat sighed as she choked back tears.
"Oh baby girl!" Tanya cried as she rushed over to her friend and wrapped her arms around her.
"I'm fine Tan. Thanks." Kat smiled shrugging off all sadness at the loss of her mother. Kat grinned as she felt the baby move against her. Gently she placed a hand on her friends swollen belly. "Why can't you just tell me the sex of the baby?"
"You can't wait just two more months Kat?" Tanya smirked. "Besides you didn't tell us the sex of the twins."
"But I didn't even know… I know that you know."
"You'll just have to wait like everyone else."
"Come on Tanya, suspense sucks." Casey groaned from across the room.
"Oh you should talk!" Kat exclaimed, pointing her finger across the room at her friend.
"What are you talking about?" Casey tried to play innocent.
"Oh come on, you're what two months, three months? "
"How did you…? Oh what am I saying, you're Kat the ever too observant for anyone's good."
"So how far along?" Kat grinned knowing she had just won.
"I'm ten weeks." Casey beamed.
"And you've yet to tell Rocky." Kimberly giggled.
"What makes you think that?"
"Because the rest of us didn't know yet." Tanya added with a laugh.
"I'm not sure how to tell him. I want it to be special."
"You could always do what I did." Kimberly suggested.
"And that was?"
"I put the positive test in Jason's lunch box." Kimberly grinned as Kat gave her friend a disgusted look. "What? I taped the lid on!"
"That's still gross." Kat scrunched up her face and shook her head.
"No thanks, I think I'll do something else." Casey giggled. "I was thinking about taping the ultrasound picture to the top of his briefcase."
"I like that idea." Kat grinned at Casey. Suddenly she looked back at Kimberly with a look of confusion. "I don't remember you ever telling me about putting the test in Jason's lunchbox. I thought you told Jason over dinner."
"I did." Kimberly grinned knowing that her friend was finally catching on. "I only did that last week."
"Oh my! Kimberly that's awesome!" Kat squealed. "Wow it's baby season around here! Just stay away from me though… I don't wanna catch the baby fever."
"Oh come on Kat, if you and Trini jump on the wagon all of us will have a baby fairly close together." Tanya laughed.
"Just me and Trini? Is Aisha…?"
"Oh yeah, I knew I forgot to tell you something." Kimberly shrugged.
"Good grief. Definitely stay away from me now." Kat said as she took a step back making a cross with her fingers.
"Oh come on Kat, don't you want anymore kids?"
"Someday yes, but not now. No no no!"
"Tommy wants more." Kimberly argued.
"Well unless he can carry and deliver them himself we're not having any more kids anytime soon."
"You're a spoilsport." Casey pretended to pout crossing her arms over her chest and slouching down like a five year old..
"Oh that's cute." Kat giggled.
"The limo's here, you ready Mrs. Oliver?" Kimberly cut into the laughter as she spotted the white limo pull up the house.
"I'm not Mrs. Oliver yet, so let's get me to the church so that I can start using that name." Kat grinned. The other women giggled and began singing 'Going to the Chapel' as they gathered up their things.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tommy stood at the front of the church next to the minister, waiting for the door to open revealing the wedding party. Calm down Tommy boy! This time you've got it right, it's Kat walking down the aisle! Tommy told himself as Casey and Adam walked in. They were followed by Kimberly and Rocky, then the matron of honor and the best man, Tanya and Jason.
Tommy sucked in a deep breath as the music changed and the crowd stood. Finally his angel walked in, her blue eyes shinning and a smile plastered on her face. Her slender arm wrapped around her father's. Katherine was the definition of beauty. Then again she always was to Tommy.
His eyes locked with Kat's as she continued down the aisle with her father. Tommy found himself barely able to breath as she finally stood just a few feet away from him.
"Who gives this woman into marriage today?" The minister asked causing Tommy to jump at the sudden voice.
"Easy bro." Jason whispered to him.
"I do." Mitch said before he gently placed Kat's slender hand into Tommy's. "Take care of my baby." He whispered to Tommy before going and sitting in the front pew next to Tina and George, who were holding the twins. Alexis was dressed in a white fluffy dress with a light pink jacket, a pink bow tied in her dark blonde hair, and shiny white shoes. While Aidan was dressed just like his daddy in a little black tux, with a red bow tie, and fancy little black shoes.
"We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Thomas James Oliver and Katherine Lynn Hillard. Does anyone have any reason as to why these two should not be wed in holy matrimony?" The room fell silent as Tommy and Katherine stared at each other. Their love shinning brightly in each others eyes. "Thomas and Katherine step forward." Tommy guided Kat up the couple steps so they were standing right in front of the minister.
Tommy barely registered anything the minister said, all he could focus on was the lovely woman standing next to him about to take his name. He still couldn't believe how lucky that he was that she gave him another chance. How lucky he was that she gave him Aidan and Alexis. Just how good his life was with her in it.
"Thomas and Katherine have written their own vows for today, I will let them share their own words now."
Katherine reached back and handed Tanya her large bouquet of red and pink roses. They held hands and faced each other. Tommy took a deep breath and began his speech. "Katherine, I can't say how lucky I am in life to have you. Years ago you came into my dark world and brought me light just when I thought I would forever be consumed by the night. You gave me a second chance when there should have been no way you wanted to even talk to me. This last year has been incredible with you. You gave me the greatest gift any woman could ever give, you made me a father. I thank God everyday that I have Aidan and Alexis and that he was kind enough to send you back to me. When I thought I had lost you, I felt broken, shattered, and hopeless. I know now that if I didn't have you with me everyday the world would cease to exist. I would forget to breath without you. I love you with my very being, and I promise you from this day to the end of forever, that I will spend everyday proving to you just how much you mean to me. I love you, Katherine. Thank you for marrying me."
Katherine swallowed hard and choked back the tears shinning her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Tina sobbing into George's shoulder. She smiled at her future husband and took a deep breath. "Tommy, I can't believe that we're finally here. Today I'm marrying the man of dreams, the man who stole my heart years ago and never gave it back. You keep saying that it was me that saved you years ago, but it was the other way around you know. You saved me first. You taught me to forgive myself, you taught me the value of teamwork, you showed me that everyone deserves a second chance no matter what they have done. It seemed only natural that you would claim my heart without even knowing that you did. It was second nature to follow you, it become instinct to know when you needed a shoulder, it became as easy as breathing to love you. Thank you for coming back to me Tommy, for giving me our children, and for marrying me. I swear to you that for the rest of your life I will be there, loving you, supporting you, cherishing you, and honoring you. To the end of time my love, I will be yours."
Tommy took a shaky breath as he stared into Katherine's sapphire eyes, how could he ever love this woman any more than he did now?
"May I have the rings?" The minister spoke breaking the couple out of their trance. Jason and Tanya handed him the rings he quickly blessed them and handed them to Tommy and Katherine. "Tommy and Katherine have also chosen their own vows for their ring ceremony."
Tommy placed the ring on Katherine's finger and held it there. He gazed into her eyes as he spoke. "This ring I give to you as a token of my love and devotion to you. I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will forever be as your husband With this ring, I gladly marry you and join my life to yours forever."
Katherine did the same with Tommy. "Tommy, I give you this ring as a symbol of my undying love. As a circle it has no beginning and no end, just as my love for you is. Wear this ring and know that I am always with you no matter what. I am honored to call you my husband." "Now by the power vested in me, I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride Thomas."
Tommy smiled widely at his wife before pulling her to him and crushing his lips to hers, conveying to all witnesses his pure joy at that moment. Kat seemed to melt into his arms and the world ceased to spin. There was nothing at that moment except for them and their kiss, sealing their vows and making them as one.
As he released her the minister placed one hand on each of their shoulders and looked out over them. "It is my great pleasure to be the first to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas James Oliver."
George and Mitch stepped forward and placed Aidan and Alexis in Tommy and Katherine's arms. The newly married couple smiled at their seven month old children before starting down the aisle.
After the guests had left for the reception hall, the wedding party gathered once again for final pictures. Kat and Tommy made sure to take plenty of pictures with the twins as well before leaving for the reception.
"Ladies and Gentleman, I give you… the Oliver's!" Rocky nearly sang into the microphone as the happy couple walked in the door with the their kids. Jason and Kimberly were the first to approach them.
"Rocky!" came a chorus of groans.
"Who gave that man an amp?" Kat whispered to Tommy as Casey grabbed hold of Rocky's collar and drug him away from the mic.
"Casey turned her back for just a second." Kimberly shook her head. "Her husband sure is good practice for the future."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jason asked. "Oh wait a second… are they… no way!"
"Yes way, and he doesn't know yet. So shush!" Kimberly scolded.
"What's Jason have to shush about?" Zack said as he and Aisha made their way over to toward the small group.
"Can't tell you man." Jason shrugged.
"You could tell me, but then you would have to sleep on the couch for the next year or so." Zack laughed.
"Is everything a joke to you Zack?" Aisha asked with raised eyebrow.
"Pretty much." Zack smirked. "So really, what's going on?"
"Rocky and Casey are having a baby." Jason replied which earned him a smack from Kimberly.
"No way!" Zack exclaimed. "That's awesome!"
"Yeah, Rocky's going to be a great dad." Kat replied as she rubbed her nose against her son's forehead causing the small child to squeal with delight.
"I've gotta go talk to him!" Zack said before slipping away.
"No!" Tommy, Kim, and Kat hollered, but Zack had a one track mind and made a beeline straight for Rocky.
"Hey Rocky, congrats man!" Zack clapped a hand on Rocky's shoulder. Casey glared at Zack willing him to go away.
"Huh?" Rocky replied.
"I just heard the news, I'm happy for you."
"What news?"
"The news that Zack is going to be a dead man." Casey seethed. Aisha made her way over to her fiancé and grabbed him by the collar.
"Come along boy!" She growled. Rocky looked over to Casey as Zack was pulled away.
"What's going on?" Rocky asked.
"It's nothing. Let's go talk to Tommy and Kat." Casey replied trying to take Rocky's attention off the subject.
"How about you tell me what's going on, and then we go talk to them?"
"You ask to many questions." Casey smirked as she tried to walk away. Rocky reached out and pulled her back to him.
"What's going on?" He whispered in her ear before he gently bit the lobe of her ear. Casey involuntarily let a shiver course down her spine.
"I'm pregnant." She whispered without thinking. Her eyes suddenly flew open and she spun around to face Rocky, whose eyes were wide and mouth hanging open.
"Really Casey?"
"Yes really." She replied. "We're due January 24th."
"That's the most amazing thing I've ever heard in my life!" Rocky grinned before hugging Casey in a tight embrace. He released her before running back up to the microphone. "I just wanted everyone to know that, I'm going to be a father!" A chorus of congratulations and hoorays filled the room,
"Geez, think he's a little excited?" Kat joked as she moved next to Casey.
"Not the way I wanted to tell him, but the look on his face… I'll remember this forever." Casey sighed.
"Congratulations Casey. I'm happy for you two."
"Thanks Kat. And congratulations to you too. You and Tommy make such a lovely couple."
"Thanks." Kat beamed as she searched the crowd for her husband. That was going to take some getting used to.
"Hey Kat!" Hayley greeted as she walked toward the two women.
"Hi Hayley."
"You look gorgeous." Hayley complimented.
"Oh thanks Hayley. I'm glad that you could make it. It wouldn't have been the same without you here. Did the 'kids' come?"
"They're around here somewhere." Hayley shrugged. "Conner probably waiting around the buffet waiting for the food to be served…"
"Tommy just went to tell them that it's okay to set out the food."
"Oh that'll make Conner and Rocky very happy." Casey giggled.
"Yeah, not to mention Zack-man." Kat added.
"You, Kira, and Aisha certainly have your hands full with those three." Hayley said to Casey.
"No kidding." Casey playfully rolled her eyes.
"Ladies and Gentleman, and Rocky, dinner is ready." Tommy announced in the microphone. Rocky glared at Tommy as he jumped in the front of line, causing the people nearby to chuckle.
"And you think Rocky is bad." Casey smirked at Kat. "Tommy can be one of the 'pranksters' just as easily if he wanted to."
"That I know." Kat sighed, still with a smile on her face.
"Well, I'm going to go find my bottomless pit of a husband." Casey grinned. She quickly joined Rocky in line for the buffet. Kat spotted Conner and Kira behind Rocky. Kira was rolling her eyes as Rocky and Conner were chatting.
"If Kira gets annoyed with Conner, why are they together?" Kat asked.
"Opposites attract?" Hayley shrugged. "Conner can actually be very mature when he wants to be. Same as Rocky."
"That makes sense. She likes him for that hidden part." Kat laughed.
"Kira's putting on a show. She doesn't actually mind his antics."
"What for?"
"Because then he thinks he made her mad, and he spends the rest of the night trying to 'make it up' to her."
"Oh she's good." Kat smirked. "She plays that boy like a fiddle."
"Precisely." Hayley nodded. "Well I'm going to go get some food. It smells delicious."
"I'll see you later Hayley." Kat smiled as her redheaded friend walked away. Strong arms suddenly wrapped around her waist and a forehead leaned against the back of her head. "Well hello to you too, handsome."
"Mmm-hmm." came the muffled response. Kat smiled as she leaned back into his embrace.
"Not even married three hours and you're already moving onto the next guy?" Tommy laughed from her side. Kat's eyes flew open wide as she pulled out of the arms of…
"Billy!" Kat gasped.
"Boy did you fall for it!" Billy laughed.
"You… you're not supposed to be a jokester!" Kat argued.
"Anyone can pull a prank." Billy smirked.
"You! Don't! Pull! Jokes! On! The! Bride! At! Her! Wedding!" Kat exclaimed as she smacked his arms with each word. Billy backed away from her, holding up his hands in surrender.
"I give up Kat! Zack paid me to it!" Billy said as he finally managed to get away from the angry blonde. People nearby were chuckling and a few, full out laughing.
"How much?" Tommy laughed as he took Kat into his arms to calm her down.
"Fifty bucks." Billy shrugged.
"Billy, you make more than that in an hour." Tommy shook his head.
"Does that have a point in this?" Billy smiled. "Zack asked me to do this because Kat would have realized he wasn't you right away. Skin pigmentation and all that jazz."
"You're evil Billy." Kat pouted.
"Oh it wasn't that bad Angel Eyes." Tommy kissed her temple. "It was really funny to see the look on your face as you realized it wasn't me."
"And I got it on camera!" Zack shouted as he raced past Billy with a video camera in hand.
"Zack! I swear to God you better give me that camera!" Kat shouted as she tore out of Tommy's arms. "Kimberly! Get the camera!"
"Why? That's a job for the matron of honor!" Kim retorted with a smirk.
"Is this pick on Kat day?" Kat whined causing more people to laugh.
"Relax baby." Tommy said as he once again came to her side. "Let's eat and forget Zack and his jokes."
"But… He got Billy in on a joke! Who else has he conned into helping him?"
"Our wedding is truly eventful." Tommy grinned as he guided Kat toward their table. "Give me time and I'll come up with something for his wedding next month."
"Ask Rocky to help." Kat beamed as she practically skipped away from him.
"Copy is in the mail." Zack whispered to Tommy as he snuck up behind him
"Thanks man." Tommy grinned as he slipped a twenty dollar bill into Zack's hand.
"You're an evil genius Dr. Rainbow. Pranking your own wife at your wedding." Zack grinned. "Too bad it cost me fifty to get Billy involved. I'm in the hole thirty for your prank."
"But it was worth it wasn't it?" Tommy smirked.
"Oh yeah! Love the wide eyed confusion on her face." Zack grinned again.
Dinner went quickly and thankfully uneventful as everyone ate. After dinner Jason took the microphone with Tanya by his side.
"Everyone have a drink?" Jason asked and the room filled with a chorus of yes'. "Well it's time to toast the happy couple. As the best man I'm supposed to give a big long speech, and so I've prepared…" Jason paused as he took out a rolled up piece of paper. He unrolled it to reveal a two foot long piece of paper. "Just a little something here."
"Ya'll might want to just drink your drinks now." Rocky called out from the back of the room. "Except you Casey! No drinks!"
"Thanks for the commentary Rocko." Jason grinned. "Ah what the heck I'm just gonna wing it." Jason crumbled up his paper and tossed it over his shoulder. "Tommy, you've been my best friend for years. I can't be happier that you found happiness with Katherine. She's everything that any man can dream of… except me, I dream of Kim… Kat, you give Tommy every reason to keep living. I can't say how happy I am that we're all here with you. Or better yet, that you're here with us. I can't imagine Tommy without you now that he has you back. I wish you both nothing but the best. Love, honor and cherish each other forever. Love you guys!"
"Oh that's sweet Jason." Tanya smiled as he took the microphone from Jason. "Kat, girl, you've been my best friend since high school. We've experienced so many things together. From your not so secret crush on Tommy, to your first date with him, to your falling in love with him, to engagement, to heartbreak, and then all over again. We've been on this roller coaster from, what?… Fifteen years now? Girl, I am so glad you're finally married so I can get off. Tommy, if you send her on that roller coaster ever again I swear you're gonna have one angry momma on your tail. Seriously now, I can't be happier for the two of you. Treat her well Tommy, and Kat teach that boy a thing or two." Tanya winked toward her best friend as she raised her glass of sparkling cider in the air. "To Tommy and Kat!"
"To Tommy and Kat!" the crowd repeated and downed their champagne or sparkling cider.
"Now the bride and groom will have their first dance." Tanya announced as the DJ stepped back up the booth. The slow melody of "Endless Love" filled the room as Tommy and Kat made their way to the dance floor. Tommy wrapped his arms around Kat's waist and pulled her close to him. Kat looped her arms around Tommy's neck as they began to sway and twirl in time to the music.
"Thank you Kat." Tommy whispered.
"For what?" Kat asked in surprise.
"For marrying me. For giving me the twins. For sharing your life with me." Tommy replied.
"Oh Tommy, you don't have to thank me for it."
"I know, but I want to. I'm going to spend the rest of my life, thanking you everyday for everything that you've given to me." Tommy gently pressed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you Angel Eyes."
"I love you too Tommy." Kat replied with a smile. Tommy released her waist and cupped the back of her neck before pressing his lips to hers. The world seemed to fade away once again and all that remained was them. The sweet taste of the other clinging to their lips. The thumping of their hearts in synchronized beats. Even time had to no meaning to them as they continued to kiss and twirl on the floor, even as the music ended and a new song started.
"Geesh you two! Save it for the honeymoon!" Conner called out, breaking the magic spell they had fallen under.
"Nice one man!" Rocky exclaimed as he patted Conner on the back.
"Those two!" Kat rolled her eyes. "Is it too late to pack up and move away?"
"Do you really want to?" Tommy laughed already knowing the answer.
"No, not really. Then I'd miss the big jerks." Kat laughed.
"Our life wouldn't be complete without our friends."
"Mind if I cut in?" Mitch asked he approached the couple.
"Sure Mitch." Tommy nodded as he placed Kat's hand into her fathers and leaving to find his mother.
"I'm happy for you Katty." Mitch said as he danced with his daughter. "I only wish Sophia could have been here…"
"Oh Daddy, she's here. She all around us." Kat replied with a sad smile.
"You look so much like her." Mitch said before placing a kiss on Kat's forehead. Kat looked over her father's shoulder and spotted Rocky and Conner on the floor playing with Jams, Alexis, and Aidan. Rocky was really caught up in his game of peek-a-boo with Alexis, while Conner was rolling on the ground with Jams with Aidan clapping his hands as he watched.
"I sure hope Rocky and Casey have a girl. He's so good with Alexis." Kat said.
"He's going to be a good father whatever their baby." Mitch replied as the song ended. "And that other boy hanging around him…"
"Conner?"
"He's a handful. That girl better know what she's got herself into before things get too far."
"Kira knows how to handle Conner Dad." Kat shrugged with a smile. "They'll be fine."
Kat danced with a few friends a couple songs, while Tommy did the same with their female friends. Finally they both decided they'd had enough dancing for a while and headed for the cake.
Katherine stood in front of Tommy, with his arms wrapped around her. Both their hands holding the knife as the gently cut into the delicate three tiered cake. They both picked up a small piece to feed to one another.
"Tommy! Fifty bucks if you smash it in her face!" Zack called out.
"I'll chip in another fifty!" Rocky exclaimed. Tommy shook his head as he gently placed the piece of cake in Kat's mouth. "What a wuss!"
"Tommy's too much of a gentleman to do that to me." Kat explained. She looked to Tommy as she began placing her piece of cake in his mouth. "But I'm not!" Kat smashed the last part of the piece across Tommy's face, leaving a streak of white and pink icing from his lips to his ear.
"Yeah Kat!" Conner, Rocky, and Zack whooped at the same time.
"Oh come on Kat!" Tommy pouted. Before Kat as time to react Tommy had pulled her to him and rubbed his cheek against hers. "Now we match."
"Tommy!" Kat shrieked.
"What? Just returning the favor!"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Cause I'm a lady!"
"You're no lady."
"Oh yeah then what am I?"
"My wife!" Tommy grinned as Kat stared at him with an open jaw.
"Here are you Kat!" Zack cut into their bantering as he handed her two fifty dollar bills.
"Thanks Zack." Kat grinned as she took the money from him. "I can get that new dress I saw at the mall."
"More clothes?" Tommy groaned. "You do remember we have to share a closet, right?"
"Yeah, maybe we need a bigger place." Kat shrugged. "A guest room just for my clothes!"
"You're dreaming aloud again, Kat." Tommy chuckled.
"Oh someday we might just get a place like that." Kat replied. Jason and Kimberly approached the couple with a sleepy looking Jams tucked in Jason's arms.
"Headed home?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah man. Small fry here is getting pretty tired." Jason nodded before adding, "And so is Jams."
"You're lucky you're the father of my children." Kimberly glared at her husband. "Just remember I know where you sleep."
"Yeah the couch when you're grumpy." Jason grinned.
"Like tonight?" Kimberly raised an eyebrow.
"Hormones!" Jason groaned. "Why did you have to get pregnant again?"
"It take two to tango mister!" Kimberly placed her hands on her hips.
"I love you!" Jason grinned sheepishly.
"Love you too, but you're still in trouble."
"Daddy in trouble!" Jams half sang as he picked his head up off Jason's shoulder.
"That's right baby, Daddy's in trouble. He's being naughty." Kimberly nodded to her son.
"Oh you love it when I'm naughty." Jason waggled his eyebrows at his wife.
"Too much information!" Tommy shook his head. "Thanks for coming and have a good night."
"Trying to get rid of me?" Jason laughed.
"No not at all." Kat replied sarcastically. "Get your son home and do something nice for your wife."
"Yes ma'am." Jason nodded before leading his wife away. "Congrats again you guys!" he called over his shoulder.
"Have fun on your honeymoon!" Kimberly added.
"Where are we going anyway?" Kat asked.
"Can't tell you." Tommy smirked. Tina was the next to come up to them.
"Well kiddos. We're going to get the twins home. They're getting pretty tired." Tina said before hugging each of them.
"Thanks for taking them for the week Mom." Tommy said as he mother released him.
"If you need a break from them Rocky and Casey…"
"I already know they've volunteered to baby-sit as well. But between George and me, and Mitch we've got it covered. No worries you two. Have fun."
"Thanks Tina." Kat smiled at her new mother-in-law.
"Not a problem Katherine. You know you can call me Mom now if you want to." Tina grinned. "If you don't want to I can understand."
"I'll think it over." Kat replied. "It's kind of a foreign word to me."
"I know dear. Call me whatever you're comfortable with." Tina patted her arm as George and Mitch walked over with the twins. Tommy and Kat said good-bye to their children and the grandfathers.
It wasn't long before most of the guests had gone home. All that remained was Rocky, Casey, Zack, Aisha, and Tommy's former students. Hayley had left earlier since she still had to open the café the next morning.
The small group sat around a large table exchanging stories and laughing. Zack and Rocky were having an eating contest with some of the leftover cake, while Aisha and Casey stood back just shaking their heads. Kira had refused to let Conner take part in the contest saying that she wasn't going to be the one cleaning up the car when all the sweet icing came back up.
"Five pieces for Rocky and four for Zack!" Ethan cheered. "Come on Zack he's beating you!"
"I'm thrying, buth thish cake ish prethy dry!" Zack mumbled with his mouthful.
"Got milk?" Conner joked.
"Conner!" Kira groaned.
"Oh you love me Kira!"
"Some days I wonder why." She shook her head.
"Because I keep life entertaining, because I'm devilishly handsome, or maybe because I'm just so totally awesome, or…"
"Or I feel sorry for you." Kira beamed as Conner just stared at her with wide eyes.
"So what time does you're plane leave?" Casey asked as she walked away from her chipmunk looking husband.
"Oh, maybe two hours." Tommy shrugged.
"Maybe?" Kat raised an eyebrow. "You mean you can't remember?" Kat could feel herself slipping into panic mode.
"No!" Tommy quickly protested. "The plane will leave whenever I want it to."
"How'd you managed that?" Conner asked in amazement.
"Cause he's borrowing Dad's jet." Trent answered for Tommy.
"How come you never take us anywhere? You know we like to fly too." Conner crossed his arms over his chest.
"Cause it's my dad's plane." Trent shrugged.
"Come on man, there's got to be some perks to being friends with the rich guys son." Conner complained.
"Conner! We're friends with Trent because he's Trent! Not because he's dad is rich!" Kira said before smacking him upside the head.
"Ouch! I know that!"
"What is with all of you women and hitting us men?" Rocky asked as he finally took a break from his attack on the cake.
"Because you men are numbskulls and need us women to knock some sense into you." Casey replied seriously.
"Oh I get it, knock." Ethan laughed.
"Lesson number one, never ever cross a female ranger." Tommy explained. "They're mean to the core." Kat smack the back of his head as if to prove a point. "See?"
"Casey's not a ranger." Trent argued.
"Casey is the exception to that rule." Tommy shrugged.
"Darn right I am. I can be just a mean as any one of the rangers."
"She should have been a ranger." Rocky grinned. "The purple cougar!"
"Cougar?" Conner raised an eyebrow.
"Purple?" Trent questioned at that same time.
"Please explain how you've come to this conclusion." Ethan commented.
"I've always called Casey my cougar." Rocky leaned forward then, as if to tell a secret. "She's older than me." He whispered. The group nodded in understanding and made small o's with their mouths.
"How much older?" Ethan asked.
"Dude, you never ask a woman's age." Conner scolded.
"For once soccer brain is right." Kira nodded.
"Eh. She doesn't mind." Rocky grinned. "She's got two years on me."
"Oh that's not a cougar!" Conner scoffed. "A forty year old with a twenty year old, that's a cougar."
"This I know Conner. It's been a running joke since I met Casey." Rocky smiled at his pretty wife.
"And the purple part?" Trent cut in, trying to refocus the group.
"Simple, I think she looks great in purple." Rocky beamed. "Really goes with her grey eyes."
"Gotta love Rocky-logic." Kat laughed.
"Yup, you got that right Kit-Kat."
"Oh Kit-Kat! Like the candy bar!" Conner laughed.
"Easy Rex." Kira said as she smacked him upside the head again.
"We're off topic again." Casey shook her head. "Why is so easy to mislead you all? I swear, I can't see how you people were the heroes of Earth. All a villain would have had to do was change the subject."
"Oh come on Casey. That's not nice." Rocky pouted.
"You know, it's a wonder Rita never tried that." Tommy laughed. "We do get off subject a lot."
"Can you imagine that?" Zack cut in. "Go to the battlefield and Rita suddenly starts talking about shopping for new clothes or something. We would have lost Kim to the evil side our first week."
"And us boys would have run away in terror at the thought of taking Rita shopping." Tommy laughed.
"Aisha would have fallen too." Rocky joked as he grinned at his long time friend who glared back.
"Boys!" Kat shook her head.
"Can we please get back on subject here?" Casey sighed.
"Sure, what were we talking about anyway?" Tommy chuckled.
"Your honeymoon." Casey raised an eyebrow.
"Oh right." Tommy nodded. "So anyway, I've got Anton's plane. The pilot is there waiting for us whenever we're ready to go."
"Sounds like you've thought of everything Tommy." Zack grinned. "Memorex no more!"
"Memorex?" Ethan questioned.
"Tommy has a faulty memory. Forgets things all the time, runs late, you know… the usual brainless stuff." Rocky jokingly explained.
"You have a bad memory yet you made me memorize the entire skeletal diagram of a dinosaur!" Conner exclaimed.
"Had! Had, a bad memory." Tommy argued glaring at his friends. "And you never did memorize it Conner. You failed that test three times."
"Oh yeah, that's right." Conner sunk into his chair defeated.
"Okay, so anyway. The plane is ready whenever we are, how about a cab or limo to get to the airport? Are they waiting for us too?" Kat cut in. Tommy's face went white as his eyes grew large.
"Forget something Tommy?" Zack laughed.
"Crap, crap, crap!" Tommy muttered. "I was so busy taking care of the plane arrangements I forget how we were getting to the plane."
"Memorex strikes again!" Rocky hooted.
"It's okay Tommy, you did a lot of stuff right." Kat patted his arm. "You only forgot a very important step that makes all your other plans useless."
"Oh way to rub it in Kat." Tommy shook his head.
"I love you baby and that's all that matters." Kat grinned. "Besides it's not like we can't call a cab last minute. It's really not that big a deal."
"We can give you a ride if you want." Casey offered.
"Actually that sounds like a marvelous idea." Kat replied. "Thank you Casey."
"Whoa wait a minute, my car is now the get away car for the happy couple? Who's side are you on woman?" Rocky asked Casey in mock anger.
"Thiers." Casey grinned.
"Well, it's getting late and we've got a long drive ahead of us." Conner said as he stood up from his chair. "Congrats Dr. O and Mrs. O."
"Congratulations." Kira nodded to the couple before following Conner out the door. Ethan and Trent did the same before rushing off to join Kira and Conner in Conner's car.
"Shall we take off then?" Tommy looked to Kat, who just smiled.
"Alright you hitchhikers. Let's get a move on." Rocky pretended to be angry, which only caused the remaining people to laugh.
"Do we need to pick up some luggage or something?" Casey asked.
"Nope, took care of that already. It's all onboard the plane." Tommy explained.
"Wow, he really did take care of almost everything." Aisha laughed.
"Ha, ha, ha!" Tommy faked a laugh.
""We'll see you when you get back man. Have fun." Zack said before giving both Kat and Tommy a hug. Aisha did the same and they left as well.
Tommy and Kat left with Rocky and Casey. The foursome made small talk as they drove to the airport where Anton Mercer's private jet was parked in a hanger. Rocky and Casey congratulated Tommy and Katherine once again and said their farewells.
Once on board the small plane Katherine and Tommy finally collapsed into a seat as the plane prepared for take off.
"What a day." Kat happily sighed once the plane was finally in the air. "We're finally married."
"Yeah I know. Isn't it great?"
"Yes it is."
"Oh hey, a gift basket, let's see what we have here… chocolates…"
"Where from?"
"Sweden."
"Oh, mine!"
"Not going to argue with you." Tommy laughed as he handed his wife the small box of Swiss chocolates. "Some more champagne… mmm strawberries."
"Anton sure knows how to treat his guests huh?" Kat grinned before stuffing a sweet chocolate into her mouth.
"That he does." Tommy nodded. "Oh, Kat I hung up a dress in the bathroom for you to change out of your wedding gown."
"Oh that's so sweet of you Tommy. You really did try to think of everything." Kat cooed. Tommy received a light kiss on the lips as his reward before Kat disappeared into the bathroom. Tommy opened the champagne and poured two glasses while waiting for Kat.
Soon she emerged from the bathroom wearing a baby pink strapless gown. It clung to her slender frame all the way down to just past her knees. A dark red sash wrapped around her waist and tied into a perfect bow with the ends trailing down her back side to just under her butt.
"When did you get this dress for me? It's the one I saw at the mall last week." Kat beamed.
"I bought it a couple days ago." Tommy replied as he offered her a glass. "Now you can spend your 'cake' money on something else."
"I'll have to think of something good." Kat giggled. "How about new shoes to match my new dress?"
"If that's what you want." Tommy laughed. "We can have breakfast at some little outdoor bistro over looking the Eiffel Tower, then go shopping for your shoes."
"Eiffel Tower? Paris? You're taking me to Paris?" Kat squealed.
"Yup." Tommy grinned proudly.
"I can't believe you kept this a secret all this time!"
"I can keep my mouth shut when I have to, thank you very much." Tommy pretended to be hurt.
"I wasn't meaning that, but I just… I had no idea what you were planning."
"I'm good." Tommy grinned again.
"Yes you are." Kat nearly purred like her namesake.
"There's one more thing."
"Wow you really did go above and beyond."
"Take a look at these." Tommy handed her two tickets. Kat's eyes grew wide as she stared at the pieces of paper in her hands.
"Tommy! You're the best!" Kat threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek over and over again.
"Wow, if I had known you would have reacted like that, I would have taken you to a ballet a long time ago."
"It's not just any ballet Tommy. It's the Paris Ballet! I've always wanted to see them in person. Even living in London I could never make it to a performance. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome Kat." Tommy said. He raised his glass in a toast. "Here's to us."
"Forever and forever."
"Till the end of time Kat. Till the end of time."