Chapter Thirty-Nine
I'm Dreamin' of a White Christmas
The wheels of our plane touched down in California around 8 pm that night. The label was nice enough to lend us a flight on their corporate jet to provide me with some safety. Frank, Shayna, and I climbed off the plane and headed into the black SUV that was waiting for us. I felt awful that Frank had to come along. It was so close to the holiday season and he was with me instead of his family. He told me that it was part of the job but it didn't stop me from offering to fly his wife and kids out here for a bit. He turned me down, telling me he'd be down there to see them during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I was nearly tackled by Xander when I walked into Tommy's front door an hour later. Tommy wasn't able to pick me up since he had another night of construction at the dojo before the last inspection tomorrow. But Xander and Ethan had been waiting for me when Frank and I arrived. Xander hugged me tightly, talking a mile a minute about school and how things were at the house. Ethan grinned behind him at me, shaking his head at his little brother who seemed to have grown a full inch since I was here last.
"Dad said when we get to the cabin tomorrow we can go skiing! Do you like skiing? Ethan can't even stand up on ice skates." Xander chattered as I set my bag down on the couch.
"Take a breath, Xan." Ethan laughed, nudging him in the arm. "Let Kim come in and get settled before you yap her head off."
"Sorry," Xander said, smiling at me. "I was excited."
"It's okay. I'm excited to see you guys too. You remember Frank?" I pointed at Frank who shut the door behind me.
"Hey, Frank." They both said, waving at the bodyguard.
"Hey, boys. How's the band, Ethan?" Frank asked. He and Ethan talked for a little bit while I ran my bag up to Tommy's room. I saw his suitcase was half packed on the bed, his heaviest clothes in it for the trip to the mountains. I set my bag down on the floor on my side of the bed and sat down, breathing in the smell of Tommy's space. I felt lighter here, a calm sense of safety that I didn't have before I walked through the door. This could be my everyday norm soon, even if it was just when I came to visit or when he came to my house. This brought a smile to my face as I laid back on the mattress, hugging his pillow to my chest. I was excited to tell him the news but I wanted to wait until we were at the cabin as a way to surprise him. I hoped he would be happy with the news since I wouldn't be just moving myself in here. It felt like the first big step in the right direction for a future of us together and I didn't want to blow it by scaring him away. Rolling over, I buried my face into his pillow.
"Well, there's a sight I never get tired of seeing." Tommy's voice said as I felt the weight of his body climb onto the bed next to me. I smiled, lifting my head up enough so I could look at him. His hair was pulled back in a gelled ponytail, a green and black flannel over his torso with a black t-shirt. There was paint on his cheek and his shirt, the smell of it subtly coming from him. He wore a relaxed smile as he kissed my shoulder. "Coming home to you in my bed in something I could get used to."
"Well, for the next month or so at least." I replied, resting my chin on the pillow.
"Hey, beautiful." He whispered. "How was your flight?"
"It was good. How's the dojo?"
"As ready as it ever will be for the inspection. The lady comes in the morning and then we will be good to ship off for the cabins after that. I figured I'd leave the boys here with you while I run to the dojo in the morning. Of anyone I know, you will be ideal to get them all packed and ready to go before I get back."
"Well, Shayna will also be here and she is far scarier than I ever could be about those things. Those kids will be in the van waiting for you if she has her way."
"How'd the meeting at the label go?" He asked.
"Good! They are going to let me know about the contract and see where it needs to go from there." I lied, fighting back a smile. "But it seems like I will be in more control of my career now."
"That's fantastic, Kim! I'm happy for you." He leaned in and kissed me, nuzzling his nose against mine. "I'm looking forward to this weekend with you."
"Me, too. I've missed my boys." I whispered, laying my head on his shoulder. "And you."
"Thanks." He chuckled, the deepness of his voice seeming to vibrate with warmth in my chest. I could lose myself deep inside of this man and not regret any decision that led me there. "I'm going to shower and then head back downstairs. Xander has already talked Frank into setting up for a game night."
"Of course he is. What's the game of choice?" I asked as Tommy climbed off the bed. He groaned.
"Uno." He said.
"Oh, y'all are going down tonight," I said, jumping off the bed. "It's on now!"
The rousing game of Uno ended up going into the wee hours of the night, Tommy and I finally heading off to bed after I successfully beat Xander to regain my title of Queen of Uno around 1 am. We made sure the boys (and Frank) were aware of how early they needed to be up and getting ready to go before they headed off to their rooms. Frank made a joke about moving into Tommy before heading off to the guest bedroom. Tommy and I slid under the sheets of his bed and spent another hour exploring each other to prove how much we missed each other. I nearly collapsed in exhaustion when I finally hit the pillow to sleep.
The next morning was chaos. Tommy had left early to go to the dojo to meet the inspector. This left Frank and I in charge of getting the kids up and ready for the trip. Xander hadn't packed a thing like he had told Tommy he had and Ethan was trying to perfect breakfast before getting ready. Both of the boys quickly changed their pace though when Shayna and Billy rolled into the house. Shayna, being the drill sergeant I know she is capable of, marched Xander up to his room to assist him with packing while Billy helped Ethan clean up the kitchen. I made quick work of making sure all of Tommy and I's stuff was packed and near the door. I was dragging my suitcase down the stairs when a familiar face came walking into the front door.
"Mrs. Oliver," I said, smiling at Tommy's mother who looked surprised to see me standing there.
"Oh! Kimberly. How are you, dear?" She asked, smoothing her hair down. She was clutching her purse to her like she was fearful I would grab it from her or something.
"I'm fine. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine. Is Tommy home? He asked me to drop by before you all left for your trip this morning." She explained.
"Not yet. He should be here any minute though. Is there something I can help you with?"
"No, it's fine. I can wait for him. I heard you are here on break for a while from being on the road. I bet you're happy about that."
"I am. It's always good to get a break and I'm glad I can spend it here with Tommy and the kids. I know it's been hectic with the dojo and everything going on."
"Yes. Poor thing. I feel awful that happened. I am hoping they catch the person who did it soon. I can't imagine it's been easy for him to deal with, knowing some caused the damage."
"What?" I asked, confused. "I thought it was a busted pipe."
"Tommy didn't tell you? They found out someone had tampered with the pipes and removed some of the parts to it. That's what caused the flooding."
"No. He must have forgotten to." I said softly. She reached out and put a hand on my shoulder.
"He probably didn't want to worry you with all the crazy things that have been happening to you on tour. He told me about the creep taunting you. I can only speculate that Tommy didn't want you to worry about him and the boys any more than you already do."
"You're probably right." I breathed, nodding. "I hope they can get to the bottom of it."
"I'm sure they will. I know he's happy about getting back in there when everything passes inspection. Normalcy will be good for everyone, especially you."
"Thanks, Mrs. Oliver."
"Kim, call me Amelia. I feel ancient when you call me that." She gave me a warm smile, glancing at the chaos around us. "Need some help wrangling my grandchildren?"
"Yes, please," I replied.
It was calmer by the time Tommy pulled into the driveway. I watched from the window as Amelia met Tommy by the van where she had helped Xander bring some bags out. The two spoke for a moment before she gave him a big smile and a hug. She waved at everyone before heading to her car and driving away. Tommy headed inside, giving me a kiss on the cheek when he walked into the house. "Everything okay with your Mom?" I asked.
"Yeah. I asked her to come pick up the keys from me. She doesn't have the new set since I changed the locks. She's going to keep an eye on the house while we're gone." He replied, giving me a smile. "You ready to pack up?"
"Sure." I said, wondering if he was telling me the truth. He kissed me on the forehead before heading off to help with preparations.
The chaos kicked up again when it was time to load up. Since there were seven of us going with enough luggage to require multiple trips, it took some impressive organization to get everything to fit in the back. Frank and Billy managed with Xander's assistance, the three brains working out a system that allowed everything to fit and for Tommy to be able to safely see behind us. Xander, Ethan, and Billy climbed into the way back to allow Frank and his massive frame to sit in the middle section with Shayna. I took the passenger seat next to Tommy who kissed the back of my hand before pulling out of the driveway. It was going to be a three-hour drive there following behind Jason and Trini who were waiting for us at their house. The basket of snacks tucked into the middle between Shayna and Frank would hopefully provide some relief for the time.
The ride there was filled with listening to whatever music we picked up on the radio (mostly Christmas music) and playing various road trip games. The van grew quiet around the halfway mark, Xander and Ethan dosing off while Shayna and Billy quietly spoke to one another. Frank was reading a book, his glasses on the tip of his nose like an old-school librarian. It was such an odd mix of people in one vehicle but it really managed to sum up the people in my life, right up to Tommy who was stroking the back of my hand with his thumb as he maneuvered the roads. He seemed to be in deep thought at times, something that struck me a little odd since the dojo had passed its inspection. He'd be cleared to open back up come Monday. I wasn't sure what could be bothering him but I made a mental note to ask him once we were alone. Was he hiding more from me than just what had happened at the dojo?
We pulled into the seasonal road that led to Trini's family campgrounds a little after noon. Trini's parents bought the property shortly after Trini graduated high school as a way to fill in some of their boredom when she moved out. It's an old ski resort that had been broken up and sold off. They bought the cabins, a group of seven small buildings built identically together with a larger building in the middle that served as a rec center and kitchen for all of them. During their summer seasons, they employ a number of people here including room service that works out of the kitchen. The winter is a beast they don't like to deal with when it comes to upkeep so they use it for themselves and relatives to ski at when there is snow on the mountain. I could see that there was some snow, grass, and taller vegetation sticking out through the white here and there. I wasn't sure there would be much skiing this weekend.
Everyone filed out of their vehicles, Aisha and Rocky behind us with Adam in their vehicle. Zack had ridden along with Trini and Jason, the three climbing out of Jason's truck. He had the propane for the kitchen in the truck bed to last the weekend along with split wood for the fireplaces in the cabins. Trini waddled her little pregnant self around the truck, knowing that no one was going to let her help with the heavy lifting. Instead, she had a clipboard in hand as she looked around at the cabins.
"Okay, everyone! My parents told me that there are a couple of the cabins that need repairs so we won't be using them. In Cabin 1, I have Zack and Adam. In Cabin 2, Aisha and Rocky. Cabin 3 is Xander and Ethan. Billy and Shayna in Cabin 4. Jason and I will be in Cabin 5. Last but not least, Tommy and Kim in Cabin 7." She said, reading from the clipboard. She looked over at Frank. "There's an attached mother-in-law suite to that cabin for you. I figured it would be best for Kim's safety."
"I appreciate the thought," Frank said, nodding at her.
"Xander and Ethan are in their own cabin?" I asked, looking up at Tommy. "Are you sure you're okay with that?"
"Yeah. I think they will be okay. Plus, they will be right next to Billy if they need anything. They requested their own space for the weekend." He replied, shrugging his shoulder. "Apparently. It's the cool thing these days."
"Kids." I scoffed, shaking my head in a dramatic fashion that made him laugh.
Everyone got to work unloading the cars and getting things situated. It was muddy and slippery in spots, something that Rocky, unfortunately, figured out when he slipped and fell in the mud carrying firewood to their cabin. The guys howled in laughter when it happened after making sure he was okay, causing Rocky to sulk off to shower and change. We all agreed to meet in the rec area in about an hour to get things set up in there before it was too late. Tommy and I helped Xander and Ethan get into their cabin, a cute little two-bedroom that was a basic setup with a twin bed and a set of bunk beds in the other room. Tommy gave them strict instructions on how to use the fireplace and when to put it out to ensure they didn't burn the place down. Once he felt confident as he could about it, we grabbed our bags and headed to our cabin.
It was the biggest one in the line, something I felt unsettled by but I didn't complain. I knew there would be no outcome even if I did. Instead, I walked inside the cabin and looked around. It was log cabin themed, the walls made to look like a rustic cabin. The fireplace was red brick and there were little pieces of decorative art hung up around the one-room cabin. Frank's bedroom was attached but he had his own entrance and bathroom to give everyone some privacy. It dawned on me then why the boys had their own cabin. If it wasn't for me needing Frank, they would have been in his room. I felt guilty then, knowing I needed special treatment now too. I shook it off, remembering it wasn't my fault people aren't all there in the head sometimes.
On the far side of the room, there was a bed with red linens and a red couch at the end of it facing the fireplace. I guessed this was the cabin Trini's parents used the most when they were here to use the facility. It was the biggest cabin and pictures of their family were hung up around the room. Tommy set our bags down and I made quick work unpacking what I could. Since we were celebrating Christmas here as well for the weekend, I had brought a box of presents that were still in the van until the Christmas tree we were going to set up was all set to go.
"It's so peaceful here," I whispered, looking out the window that overlooked the mountains. Tommy walked over, snaking his arms around my waist from behind.
"It is. I'm glad we're here." He said, burying his face into my neck. "I can't wait to spend some quality time with you tonight." His lips brushed against the skin of my neck, goosebumps rippling down my arm from the close contact of his warm breath.
"I can't wait to hear what you have planned," I said softly, turning to face him.
"Oh, it'll be something to remember." He smirked, kissing my lips as he pulled me close. "Starting with that bear skin rug over there."
"Doesn't that bring back memories?" I teased, nibbling at his bottom lips. He swatted my behind, causing me to lean into him more and laugh.
After getting things set up (and a quick christening of the cabin floor between Tommy and I), we met everyone over at the rec building. It was close to the size of the Youth Center, a good-sized room inside attached to the restaurant-style kitchen. Jason and Tommy got the propane hooked up as Aisha and I unloaded the food we had brought. Trini had planned a full holiday feast for us tomorrow night with a turkey that she had resting in a cooler. While we did that, the rest of our group listened to directions as Trini led them to the supply closest to where the tree was tucked away. Her family usually cut down a real tree since the space was so big but since we were only there for the weekend, it felt wasteful. Instead, they guys fished out the artificial tree they use for decoration in the main cabin and set it up in the middle of the rec room. The floor was clothed in red carpeting, and matching chairs and couches covered in white protective cloth were set up in here. The tree was assembled and Xander and Ethan decorated it with Aisha, using the decorations she had brought with her. Rocky and Adam hung up the Christmas lights they had found, creating quite a cute little holiday scene in the room.
Lunch was served, a premade tray of sandwiches that Adam had picked up before coming up. Paired with some chips and drinks Trini found in the kitchen, we sat and talked about what to do that night. Tommy held my hand as the group discussed a possible game night, going for a hike, and watching a movie. Since no one could come up with one decision, everyone decided to break up into smaller groups of what they wanted to do. Billy, Shayna, Xander, and Zack decided to go for a hike while Xander, Aisha, Adam, and Trini opted for board games. Jason, Rocky, Tommy, and I decided to walk the ground of the campgrounds. While we did, we found an area set up for bonfires. The guys and I decided to get it all set up for a fire for that evening, dragged larger pieces of wood into the area, and set up the seating. The air was chilly but it felt good while we worked. Frank, diligent as ever, did frequent sweeps of the ground to make sure no one was watching us or trespassing.
Everyone had fun making their own personal pizzas for dinner, laughing and joking as we did. Jason told stories about when we were kids, Xander and Ethan hanging on to every word as he did. I even caught Frank listening intently as he made his own pizza and Jason spoke about the Power Rangers being from our area. We put all of our presents under the tree while the pizza was cooked, Aisha organizing it to make it appear as pretty as she could. We sat at the long table in the common area, eating our pizzas. I couldn't help but watch as Billy and Shayna sat together, him holding her hand between the two of them. It made me smile to see the two of them happy together. It was a perfect match, she was always on the go and always on the verge of snapping someone in half while Billy was more laid back and logical about things. It made perfect sense.
After eating, we made our way outside to light the bonfire. Those that could enjoy some wine and beer while others sipped soda. The fire provided the perfect amount of warmth as the sun set, embers flying up into the dark sky. I could feel my eyelids growing heavy from the lack of sleep and the amount of energy I had used throughout the day, mixing with my third glass of wine. I couldn't stop my yawn, causing Tommy to tell everyone that he was also tired and ready for bed. Everyone headed to their cabins around then, promising to meet up for breakfast in the morning.
In our cabin, I changed into a pair of flannel pajamas and brushed my teeth. When I came out of the bathroom, I found Tommy starting a fire in the fireplace to heat up the room. "Tonight was fun," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings."
"I'm glad we're here." Tommy replied, nodding. He sounded distant again like his mind was miles away from here.
"Is everything okay?" I questioned, recalling how he was in the car and what Amelia had said to me.
"Yes. Everything is okay. Why do you ask?" He replied, looking confused.
"I talked to your Mom earlier. Tommy, why didn't you tell me the dojo was sabotaged?" He sighed, scratching the back of his head. I could tell he was going to let his Mom have it when we got back.
"I didn't want to worry you." He replied, dropping his hand to his side. "I thought that if you knew someone did it, you'd try to blame yourself."
"We agreed that we wouldn't do this though. I understand your intentions but we need to be open and honest with each other if we're going to make this work." I said, standing up and walking over to him.
"You're right. I'm sorry, beautiful. I promise no more secrets." He took my hands in his, kissing the back of my right hand. "Cross my heart."
"Good. Don't make me beat you up, Mr. White Ranger." I smirked, nudging him with my hip as I walked away from him.
"Oh, we know you preferred the Green." He said, following me. Before I reached the bed, he wrapped his arms around me. "Especially that laugh." He whispered in my ear, letting out a little evil laugh along the lobe. It sent an excited shiver down my spine.
"That's cheating." I hissed, playfully glaring and swatting at him.
"Just using my powers for good." He said, turning me to face him. "I know you're tired though. I think some much-needed sleep would do us both some good." I let out a yawn then that I tried to stifle. "Point made." We climbed into the bed, Tommy cutting the lights out so that the glow from the fireplace gave a soft orange illumination around us. I rested my head on his chest, hearing the rhythmic beat of his heart under my ear.
"This is nice," I whispered, snuggling into him more as his arm wrapped around me. "It's been a long time since I've felt like this."
"Like what?"
"Normal."
Welcomed chaos greeted us the next morning as Tommy and I ventured to where everyone was eating breakfast. Jason and Rocky had opted to cook this morning, Aisha and Trini taking on the brunt of the cooking tonight. Xander and Ethan were goofing around with Zack and Adam, doing their best to balance styrofoam cups on their noses while we waited for food to be done. I sat next to Shayna who was sipping coffee, looking the most relaxed I had ever seen her. "Hey. How'd you sleep?" I asked.
"Good. It's so peaceful out here. I don't know how I managed without some kind of city noise but I was right out." She replied, letting out a content sigh that told me her and Billy had done other things prior to their bedtime. I made a mental note to grill her about that later as I watched Tommy join Jason and Rocky in the kitchen for some extra moral support. I noticed that Frank and Billy were talking off in the corner, Frank explaining something to Billy who was listening as he was deep in thought.
"What's the about?" I asked, nodding towards the pair.
"Frank thought he heard some kind of snowmobile or small engine around the property early this morning. He went out to see but all he found were tracks. He and Billy are trying to figure out a way to make things a bit more secure tonight. I think it was just locals but you know Frank." Shayna rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her coffee. I did know Frank but I also knew that a psycho had hacked up my tour bus looking for me. Could I have been followed all the way here? How would he have known?
"Maybe," I said.
Breakfast was served. It wasn't the prettiest thing to look at but everything tasted wonderful as the three served eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, and toast to us. Tommy brought me some coffee before sitting down next to me, resting a hand on my knee. He seemed in good spirits, giddy almost as he smiled at me. Everyone ate, talking about the plans for the day. Billy and Shayna had volunteered to take the boys out on the slopes nearby, hopefully finding enough snow to do some kind of skiing. Adam and Zack decided to join along, Adam hoping to take some wildlife photos on the trails in that direction. Trini and Aisha would be cooking the day away, Jason and Rocky sticking close by to help as needed.
"Looks like that just leaves you and me," Tommy said, smiling at me.
"And Frank," I replied, earning a snort from Frank from his place across from me.
"I think I make an excellent third wheel for any date." He said, batting his eyes in a playing fashion. "But I am actually going to be taking the afternoon off. I think you'll be in good hands with this guy."
"Really?" I asked, confused. Frank nodded again.
"I gotta head to the little town to make some calls and see if there's any updates at home. Unless you feel safer with tagging along."
"I think I'll be fine," I said, squeezing Tommy's hand. "What are we going to do?"
"I have an idea." Tommy grinned, wiping his mouth with a napkin. I helped him clear the table before heading back to our cabin. I had at first figured he had meant spending the day in bed but was surprised when he told me to dress warmly and to put on a thick winter coat he had found that belonged to Trini's mother. I got dressed and saw that he was bundled up too. I followed him outside and towards the back of the campground where there was a shed. Tommy opened the door and revealed a snowmobile parked inside, white and blue paint on it.
"That thing is ancient." I laughed, glancing at him.
"It is but Trini said it still works." He pulled a set of keys out of his pocket and walked over to the machine. Straddling it, he put the keys in and it cranked to life to my surprise. "Listen to it purr!" He called over the sound. I moved to the side to allow him to drive it out. He parked it out front and went back in, grabbing two helmets from the shelf on the right of the shed. He handed me one and together, we pulled them on and climbed onto the snowmobile. I gripped him tightly before he headed off on the snow-covered trail.
We zipped around the wooded area, excitement flooding me at the thrill of going fast but also not needing to have Frank protecting me every moment of the day. Tommy went out about fifteen or so miles, circling fields and paths that other riders had used before. There were fresh tracks and it made me wonder if Shayna had been right about it being a local on the property this morning. It would make sense. We saw rabbits, deer, and hawks in the tree lines as they watched us play in the snow. Tommy let me drive for a little bit, me opting to go at a slower speed than him but nonetheless still just had fun.
After a few hours, Tommy came to a stop so we could walk around and stretch our legs. He stopped next to a frozen pond, killing the engine. I climbed off, pulling the helmet off of my head and probably revealing an awful head of helmet hair. I fixed it the best I could while Tommy climbed off as well. He set his helmet on the hood of the snowmobile, looking around. "This view is wonderful." He breathed. I nodded, seeing the mountains and the rolling fields in front of us. It was mostly snow-covered and I wondered what it would look like in spring or summer.
"It is. I can see why millionaires buy vacation homes here."
"You are a millionaire." He teased, leaning against the snowmobile.
"True." I grinned. "But a financially sound one."
"Always a plus." Tommy slid his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "I'm glad we came out here. I actually have something I wanted to talk to you about."
"What's up?" I asked, running a hand through my hair to tame the locks. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. Everything is fine. We just haven't had much alone time and I figured that this might be the best way to get it." Tommy took a deep breath as he looked at me. "Kim, these last six months have felt like a whirlwind to me in the best way possible. I could have never believed that somehow, you'd just stumble back into my life the way you did and that we'd be here together like we are. It makes me question what I did to deserve this third chance and how to pay back the universe for this luck."
"I know what you mean. I feel the same way, Tommy." I said.
"I know before when you said something about us moving in together, I was hesitant. I also know I didn't come off the best way with my response. It wasn't that I didn't want to live with you. It was the fact that even though my heart was going 90 mph down the road with you, it was like my insecurities were tossing an anchor behind us to hold me back. I think I was holding on to the anchor too, making sure that I was playing it safe out of fear that history was happening again. So when you told me that you were worried about us drifting apart because I was being distant, I realized that I had made history happen again while trying my best to prevent it."
"It's not your fault. We have forces going against us at all angles it feels like. But we're still together." I said.
"I know." He took my hands in his. "But I shouldn't have done what I did and I'm sorry for making you feel that way. I talked to the boys and they said they would be willing to move if that's what we need to do." I looked at him, surprised.
"What?" He nodded.
"They were a little bit worried about moving to a new state or school but said they'd be willing to try. And I think Nashville will be good for them, especially Ethan's love of music and a possible career in it." I smiled, squeezing his hands.
"Tommy, I love you but you guys aren't moving to Nashville for me," I replied.
"No, it's fine. We will make it work for them."
"You're not moving to Nashville for me because I'm moving back home to Angel Grove for you," I said, smiling up at him. He looked confused as he gazed down at me.
"I thought the label said you needed to stay for now. You can't turn your back on your career for us."
"I'm not. The label has decided to start its own branch out here in California. Shayna will be helping with operations and I'll be moving here to be the founding artist for it. Everything won't be official until the new year but I was given the clear to start looking for some real estate. I was going to surprise you later tonight with my news. I've already contacted a realtor to start looking at some houses next week." He pulled me in for a hug, kissing the top of my head.
"That's the best news I've heard in a long time." He said. "We'll need at least a five-bedroom if Frank plans on moving in." I laughed as he released me.
"I'm going to assume you've changed your mind about the living together issue, then?"
"I want to wake up every morning so that I can be next to you. Kim, I-." Tommy was suddenly caught off by the shrill sound of an alarm. We looked around, trying to piece together what we were hearing.
"Is that a fire alarm?" I asked, the alarming noise reminding me of a smoke detector. It was coming from the direction of the campgrounds.
"It sounds like it." He replied, looking worried. "We should get back now."
We zipped back to the campgrounds, the noise growing louder as we came over the hill. Everyone was standing outside as we came into the parking area, Tommy turning the engine off. From the rec building, I watched Jason and Rocky standing in the doorway fanning the doors as some light smoke came from them.
"What happened?" I asked Aisha as I pulled my helmet off. I saw that the boys and the rest of our group still weren't back from skiing yet.
"We let Rocky be in charge of baking something," Aisha replied, glaring over at her husband.
"What? I thought it said 60 minutes, not 16." He said defensively.
"Is everyone okay?" Tommy asked. Trini nodded.
"Yes. The smoke alarm is a bit older and touchy. It'll turn itself off once the smoke clears. Thankfully, we only lost some cookies and now the turkey." I smirked up at Tommy who I had expected to return it but instead, he looked rather annoyed by the situation.
"Hey," I said softly, putting a hand on his arm. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine." He said, shaking his head. "Just glad everything was fine."
When the rest of our group returned, everyone headed to their cabins to get ready for our holiday party. Tommy and I dressed to match, him in a dark green button-up and black tie that matched his pants while I wore a dark green sweater dress and black tights. He seemed a little on edge still but reassured me he was fine when I asked him again. I chopped it up due to the fear of a possible fire from earlier and finished getting ready. Everyone was back in the rec area when we returned, the boys dressed in their sweaters Billy and I had helped them pick out before we had left the house.
Aisha had managed to save some of the sugar cookies that Rocky had tried to cremate and we had fun decorating them with some frosting and sprinkles. Zack manned the little bar set up in the corner, serving drinks for those who could enjoy them. Ethan tried his best to sneak on but was ratted out by his younger brother when he pointed out the fact he had a gross-smelling drink. He sulked off to hang out with Jason when that happened, Jason patting him on the back for the effort. We all sat down at the large table when it was time to eat, Json carrying the large turkey to the table for his wife. Everything looked and smelled delicious, much better than the last holiday meal I had eaten by myself on the tour bus. We all filled our plates with the offerings, my mouth watering at the sight of everything that piled on my plate. When everyone was fully seated with full plates, Trini stood up.
"I'm happy that everyone could join Jason and me this weekend for this amazing time together before the baby. It seems like it's been such a long time since we were all together like this and it's nice to see, even with new faces thrown in as well." She smiled at Frank and Shayna. "Friendship is so important and to ours last for this long is a beautiful thing. Especially when some old faces come back to us." She winked at me, gesturing for me to stand up as well.
"Yes. I am glad to be here with all of you guys. These last six months have meant so much to me, getting to know everyone all over again and remembering just why you all are so important to me." I took a deep breath. "I think it's why I have such a big announcement to make." I noticed that everyone seemed to lean forward a bit, Jason flashing a smile in Tommy's direction. "Shayna and I actually have some good news to share," I said, pointing at her. "My label is branching out to California. She will be helping with getting everything set up and I will be moving my base of operations here. I will be officially moving back to Angel Grove."
"That's great!" Aisha exclaimed. There were murmurs of excitement as everyone congratulated Shayna and me. I sat back down, gripping Tommy's hand. He smiled, returning the gesture.
"So, we aren't moving to Nashville?" Xander asked. Tommy shook his head.
"Nope. We're going to be looking for a new house here." He replied. Ethan's face lit up.
"Really? We're all going to be living together?"
"I think so," I said, smiling at the two.
After eating, we all moved to sit in the main room around the tree. I caught sight of Tommy talking with Jason and Rocky a few times, Rocky apologizing for something I couldn't hear. Trini ushered everyone into the room so that we could unwrap presents. It was fun and sweet, everyone got presents from each other. I had made sure to bring some extras for Shayna and Frank to open and was surprised that a couple of the guys had gotten Frank some things while Aisha and Trini bought Shayna some presents. The boys made out like bandits, something Xander was thrilled about when he opened a new telescope from Billy and Shayna. They busted it out and Billy went outside with him to try it out on the night sky. We sat, talked, drank, and enjoyed Christmas music next to the fire in the room, embers glowing.
A little around 11 pm, the group decided it was time to start heading back to the cabins. We helped to clean up a bit before Tommy grabbed my hand and slowly walked back to the cabin with me. I had drunk enough to have that delicious feeling of light in my head but not enough to be considered drunk. I laid my head on his shoulder as we walked, the smell of his aftershave covering me like a warm blanket. Inside the cabin, I pulled my boots off while he lit another fire. I sat on the couch, enjoying the warmth. Tommy grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses from the kitchen nook in the corner, handing me a glass before sitting. He draped my feet over his lap, rubbing one with his hand in a light massage.
"Tonight was fun," I said, sipping the wine. "I think the boys enjoyed themselves."
"I think they did. I know they are thrilled about moving in with you."
"Wait until they have to actually live with me and try my cooking." I teased.
"You know they would eat whatever they gave them." He said, setting his glass down on the table next to his side of the couch. "They really do love you, Kim. You're so good to them."
"I love them too. Sometimes, I forget that they aren't my kids." I smiled to myself, thinking of what Frank had said to me when he called me a Momma Bear.
"Well, what would you say if I told you that they'd like to become yours?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" I smiled. Tommy reached down and into the pocket of his slacks.
"I talked with the boys about this and they gave me their full permission." He said softly as he pulled out a white velvet ring box from his pants. My eyes widened as he popped it open with his finger, a white gold engagement ring inside. There were three diamonds on the band, a large circle cut one in the middle with a smaller one on each side. It glittered in the light from the fireplace, the cracking filling in the silence around us as my mind tried to process what I was looking at.
"Tommy…" I whispered, my hand moving to my chest.
"I can't keep living life in fear. And I can't keep denying something we knew to be true when we were fifteen. Kim, you've always been the second half of my soul. The boys and I love you so much and they would love for you to become their new stepmom. So," he shifted, dropping to the floor so he was on one knee. "Will you marry me?" I gasped.
"Tommy…" I repeated. "This is crazy. It's only been six months." A laugh escaped Tommy's lips as he nodded.
"I know it's crazy and sudden and unexpected. But it just feels right, Beautiful." He pulled the ring from the box and held it between his fingers. "This was my grandmother's ring. I asked Mom to bring it over before we left. It's the same ring I had planned to give you when we were kids and ready for that step. She held on to it for me since I never felt like Kat would have appreciated it like it deserved. I'm hoping you'll take it and accept."
"Yes." I said, tears welling up in my eyes. "Yes, I'll marry you." He beamed, slipping the ring onto my finger. I slid off the couch and into his lap, cupping his face in my hands to kiss him. His arms wrapped around my torso, holding me against his chest. A tear slid down my cheek as I smiled down at him.
"I love you." I whispered.
"I love you, too. Always have, always will. When I look into your eyes, I see forever. And I want to experience exactly that with you." He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "I wanted to ask you earlier but the fire alarm interrupted us."
"Well, that explains a lot." I rested my hands on his chest. "I was wondering what has been on your mind this whole trip."
"I was nervous." He chuckled, blushing slightly. "I didn't know what you'd say when I asked you. It's only been a short time."
"I would have said yes that first day. Which would have been awkward since we were at Kat's funeral. But that's beside the point." I shook my head. "But the answer would always be yes." He kissed me again, stroking his thumb over my cheek. When he pulled away, he grinned.
"You can stop listening at the door now and come on in." He called out. The door of the cabin bursted open and Xander and Ethan ran through it.
"Did you say yes?" Xander asked. I nodded, smiling at him. He ran over, barreling us over almost in a tight hug. Ethan knelt next to us, awkwardly glancing at us.
"You okay with this?" I asked him. He nodded.
"Yeah. It's just…" He trailed off, scratching the back of his head. "We've never had a complete family like this before. Feels a little weird."
"We will be a whole family now!" Xander exclaimed. "Just like how Mom always wanted. She'd be happy, right Ethan?" I saw a shimmer of tears fill Ethan's eyes as he nodded at his little brother.
"She sure would be." Ethan leaned forward and hugged us all tightly. I wrapped an arm around him and Xander, Tommy snaking his around us too. We sat on the floor together, just me with my three boys. This was everything that I would ever want again.