Part Three

For her 7th Christmas, Ally asked for her dad and still nothing. Kimberly was worried. She feared her daughter would stop believing in Santa.

"Ally, sweetie," she said New Year's Eve night. They were watching Home Alone, Allison's new favorite movie. It was the 10th time they've seen it since the little girl discovered its existence three weeks ago.

Ally turned her dark brown eyes to her mom.

"Do you still believe in Santa Claus?" Kim asked.

"Yeah," Ally said.

"Even though, he doesn't bring you everything you want?"

Ally nodded before saying anything.

"Santa can't always bring everything. A daddy is a big wish and I'm sure it's just taking him a long time to bring him."

Kimberly kissed Ally on top of her head. She was so happy that her daughter still had her childhood innocence.

That year, Kimberly asked for everyone to help her and with their help, she was able to get in touch with a friend of Tommy's Hayley. She left a message and her number with the woman to give to Tommy.

The former White Ranger didn't call for two whole weeks. It was summer and Kimberly was busy packing away her apartment to move back to Angel Grove. Her old gymnastics school needed a teacher and Kimberly jumped at the chance to move back to a city that was always home to her.

"Hello," Kimberly said answering her phone without checking the Caller ID.

"Hi, Kimberly," Tommy's voice said.

A lump formed in Kimberly's throat and a chill ran down her spine.

"Kimberly?" Tommy asked. "Are you there? I got your message."

"Umm… yeah," Kimberly said snapping out of her state of shock. "I'm here."

"So, what do you need to tell me?" Tommy said and Kimberly remembered her message was for him to contact her as soon as possible because she had something she had to tell him.

"Yeah, uh," Kimberly said nervously. "You remember the last Christmas we spent together?"

"Yeah," Tommy answered.

"Do you remember what we did after the Christmas party?"

"Yeah," Tommy said again.

"Well, I got pregnant," Kimberly finally told him. "I had a girl. Her name is Alison Ann Hart. She's beautiful and smart. She's a ball of energy."

Kimberly couldn't stop herself from babbling about their daughter and all the while, Tommy remained silent. She almost thought he had ended the call.

"Kimberly, stop," he ordered. "Just stop."

Kimberly listened.

"It's been almost nine years and you're telling me now," Tommy said and he sounded angry.

"I've been trying to reach you for two years," Kimberly explained.

"What about the other seven? Don't you think I should have been told when you found out you were pregnant? God, Kimberly, how could you not tell me? You had more than one chance to tell me and if you wanted to tell me in person, you could have told me after we rescued you and Jason from Divatox."

"So much was happening in both our lives then," Kimberly tried to explain. "You were still a Power Ranger. I didn't want to be a target. I didn't want our daughter to be used to get to you."

There was a long pause between them.

"Was there even another guy? The one in your letter?" Tommy asked in a shaky voice.

For a moment Kimberly thought about not telling Tommy about Julius but felt that she had kept enough from him.

"Yes," she whispered into the receiver.

She heard Tommy groan.

"I've got to go," he said and hung up.

Kimberly didn't hear from Tommy again until after she and Alison moved to Angel Grove. He called her randomly one night.

"Are you still angry?" Kimberly asked cautiously.

"No," Tommy answered quietly. "I thought about it and I can't waste any more time being angry at you."

"If it makes you feel any better, I've felt guilty every year since I found out I was pregnant," Kimberly admitted.

"It does, a little," Tommy said. Then, he sighed. "I want to meet her."

"I want you to meet her," Kimberly said. "She wants to meet you. She's asked for you every Christmas since she was four."

There was a pause and Kimberly could tell he was thinking.

"I will be busy until Christmas," the former Green Ranger said. "We could meet then."

"That would be perfect," Kimberly said. She was relieved.

That Christmas Kimberly took Alison to Ernie's Juice Bar to meet Tommy for the first time.

END

END OF CHRISTMAS WISH.

CONTINUED IN HOME FOR CHRISTMAS