AN: Thank you to Ghostwriter for reviewing chapter 5! I really appreciate it!
"What time are we supposed to meet up?" Julia asked as she frantically looked through their closet, trying to find something more fun to wear. Ever since she had moved over to teaching at the Ranger Academy- her wardrobe had markedly changed. While she wasn't much older than the average student, she felt like the last 3 years had aged her more than she wanted to admit.
"Five minutes ago- I texted them and said we'd be a bit late," Axel answered as she let out a groan before throwing another outfit on the ground. "J- you look amazing in anything you wear."
"I don't get to wear fun things anymore and I just…I want to have fun tonight," Julia replied as Axel smiled over at her and then walked over to their closet to see what she had left on the hangers. "Don't. I know I have plenty to choose from- I just…"
"I was just going to say that maybe you should look in the non-pink section," Axel suggested as she looked at the pile of clothes around her feet and then back up at him. Everything that she rejected was some shade of pink. It made sense that she was tired of how much being a ranger bled into her life. "I'm guilty with the green clothing too, but it just seems like you maybe want to forget about being a Power Ranger for the night. I've always enjoyed that black dress."
"You mean you've enjoyed taking it off of me," Julia said with a smile as she reached for the dress and he shrugged. He wasn't going to argue with her about that when he was already thinking through what that would feel like later on tonight. "Babe…I can feel you."
"We're already going to be late," Axel offered as she let out a groan and then shook her head. "Fine- I'm going to wait in the living room."
"Be ready in ten, promise," Julia whispered as she grabbed him and pulled him in for a fiery kiss. "I'll be just as glad as you to get back tonight."
"Axe say why they are running late?" Brandon asked as Kimberly just shrugged and shook her head. She suspected it had something to do with Julia getting ready, but was sure that would cause some relentless teasing from the rest of the rangers. "Oh finally."
"Sorry, I lost track of time," Axel said as they walked in and Kimberly glanced over to see what Julia was wearing and smiled. Axel forgetting what time it was would not have made them this late, but she wasn't going to point that out. When they had mentioned hosting a dinner party for the staff, she had seen Julia light up at the idea and knew it was something she desperately needed. After the rangers had told most of their friends that they were joining the academy classes and most of their friends had disappeared. They felt that it was too risky to be friends with them. Things like this were the little bits of normal life that they could give them in the isolation that was being a Power Ranger.
"We're ten minutes away, if you walk slowly and pay attention to all the traffic laws," Patrick pointed out as Kim shook her head and walked over to give Julia a hug.
"You look great," Kim whispered as Julia smiled at her and then looked up and down Kim's outfit as well. Her eyes widened before she glanced back up at Kim. "We're telling everybody after dinner."
"No way…" Julia whispered as she gave Kim another hug and then looked around the room for Dr. O. Tommy smiled over at her as she mouthed congratulations and had to hold in a squeal. "You know…your kids are really likely to be close to my kids."
"Have the two of you talked about…" Kim trailed off as Julia barely nodded and Kim glanced around to see Axel talking with Grant and Carrie. As the other soulmate rangers, there had been a bit of a standing bet on when they would actually decide to get married. The Command Center had decided to give them their own space when it restructured itself at the Academy and none of them had been surprised. While they still needed a lot of the common areas, they now had some extra space for just them. "I mean…it would be a bit weird, but…it would also be great."
"Thanks- I think Axe is a bit scared of what Dr. O will think about…" Julia trailed off as Kimberly folded her arms and glanced over at her husband. The only way that Tommy would be mad about any of it was if they weren't invited to the wedding. "I know. I think the guys are still a bit intimidated by him."
"Oh for Pete's sake. C'mon- we should go take a seat. I think Brandon and Patrick will lose it if they don't get to eat pretty soon," Kim stated with a chuckle as she looped her arm through Julia's and the two of them started towards the table. Kimberly watched as Axel's eyes focused on Julia and she smirked as she recognized that gaze. She glanced up and saw an identical one on Tommy's face and the smirk immediately dropped as she let out a calming breath.
"You good?" Julia asked as Kim plastered a smile on her face and nodded. She watched as Julia looked around the room and then saw the astonishment appear on her face. "Does that ever change?"
"It hasn't for me," Kim whispered as Julia just shook her head. She had always thought that Axel was the only man in the world who was so easy to read when it came to his feelings. She had caught glimpses that Dr. O might be the same, but it had never hit home the way that it was tonight. "We may have spent our time apart, but I've never doubted being with him when I'm with him. Just don't make our mistakes."
"We'll try not to," Julia said as Kim pointed to her name and she then noticed that Axel was not seated next to her. "Really?"
"He's right across from you, that way you both get a good view," Kim whispered before she moved to her seat and then the others quickly filled in. Julia shook her head as Axel sat down across from her and she then smiled down the table at Kimberly. She was right. This was definitely the best view in the room.
"I did not come here to get a lecture from you, Dr. Oliver," Carrie joked as Tommy stood up after dinner and moved to the head of the table. He then reached into his pants pocket and pulled out some cards which caused most of the table to groan. "You're serious? Kim…"
"It's not really a lecture, Carrie," Kim said as she placed her napkin on the table and Tommy then pulled her to her feet. "We didn't just want to have dinner with all of you, although that has been great. We've got some news."
"No…shut up!" Carrie yelled as the men at the table looked at her like she had lost her mind, but Julia just gave her a knowing smile. "Really?"
"Yeah, baby boy Oliver will be gracing us with his presence in about four months," Tommy said as Carrie jumped to her feet and then sprinted over to give Kim a bear hug. "Which does also mean that Kim's duties will be changing in the next couple months."
"That's what the cards are for?" Kim asked as she peeked around Carrie and Tommy gave her a sheepish smile and then nodded. "Babe- we can handle that Monday. I just want to enjoy tonight."
"Okay," Tommy said as she smiled up at him and he couldn't help the, slightly sappy, smile that he gave her back.
"Dr. O has a soft side?" Patrick mock-whispered and Tommy looked up at him with a shake of his head as the rest of the table started to stand up and walk over to give their congratulations.
"Congrats…I can't wait to be Uncle Asshole to another little Oliver," Axel joked as he gave Tommy a hug and Tommy laughed as he just shook his head. Jay and Kira struggled so much with his name and had been so proud of themselves when they had finally managed to say something even remotely close to his name. Nevermind that it did sound like exactly like asshole every time that they yelled for him.
"Thanks. And you know that you don't have to wait or hold off because of the ranger stuff," Tommy whispered as he shook Axel's hand and Axel glanced over at Julia. Tommy saw the anger start to rise and he quickly shook his head. "She hasn't mentioned anything and I don't expect that she'd talk to me about it, but I do have eyes."
"We…I…there's still a lot to talk about," Axel said and Tommy just nodded. "That's not pressure to get a move on, is it?"
"Absolutely not and if you need either of us to tell off some family members- we've got your back," Kim said as she walked over and gave Axel a quick hug. "Speaking of family- I think we need to go pick up Jay and Kira- we're already running half an hour late."
"Go on to the car, I'll be right out," Tommy said as Kim gave Axel one more squeeze and then headed out of the room. "We're also here if you need us to tell them that you are ready."
"Thanks, Dr. O," Axel said as Tommy shook his hand and then waved to the rest of the room before following after Kimberly.
"Hey you," Julia whispered as she wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled her cheek against his back. He slowly turned around in her arms and was met with a tipsy smile. "I'm ready to go home when you are."
"We should probably say goodbye first," Axel whispered as she pulled him down for a kiss and he let himself be lost in it. He ignored the catcalls as they continued to kiss and only pulled away when he felt someone spray the back of his head with some sort of liquid. He turned around and glared at Grant who just shook his head. "We're going to head out."
"See y'all Monday! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Carrie called as Axel flicked her off but continued towards the door. The other men looked at her and she glanced between all of them. "What?"
"Are you asking for more ranger babies?" Patrick asked and Carried shrugged. "Oh c'mon- we've got to stay in this until we're at least 27."
"If Papa Ranger and Mama Prophetess are busy making babies- there is zero reason they can't. It's only if they want to wait, really," Carrie shot back as Patrick and Brandon both gagged, but Grant just shrugged. "Speaking of- you ready to go?"
"Just waiting on you," Grant said as he grabbed her hand, nodded at Patrick and Brandon and watched as the two of them came to the realization that, yes- there was another couple on the staff.
"As much as I want Cam to be better- it's probably good that he didn't see this," Brandon said as Patrick nodded. "There's a new bar three streets up, wanna go?"
"Actually…" Patrick trailed off as his phone buzzed and he then quickly answered it. "Hey. Yeah babe, dinner went a little late, but I'm heading out now."
"Seriously, you too?" Brandon asked as Patrick gave him a sheepish nod and he just shook his head. "When do we get to meet her?"
"Him. And I'm not really sure- we're still working out how serious we actually want to get," Patrick stated as Brandon quirked an eyebrow, but nodded. "Before you ask- bi and no- none of you are my type…well except Jules and she is insanely happy with Axe- so that is a hard no."
"I wasn't going to ask, but thanks for telling me," Brandon said as they both headed for the doors and he just shook his head. "At this rate- Cameron will have found someone by the time he gets back."
"You're a good guy, you just haven't met her yet, man," Patrick said as he gave him a quick hug and then jogged off towards the subway. Brandon looked up and down the street before he headed towards the bar. If everyone else was going home with someone tonight, he might as well try his luck too.