A new series following the life and times of Kimberly Harte, Tommy Oliver, Jason Lee Scott, Katherine Hillard, Aisha Campbell, William Cranston, and Rocky DeSantos
Spoilers: Everything up to PRIS, plus small spoilers for both PR Movies
Rating: R for now. NC-17 later.
Category: Romance, Angst, Drama, Humor, Growing Pains
Disclaimer: Saban Entertainment owns all of these character's. I'm just writing this for fun. I receive no money from these fics.
Feedback: You can write to me with comments and suggestions at: mrsinister@mailhost.chi.ameritech.net
Authors Notes: I would like to take the time to thank the following people for their support on this series. Lyn, Morgan, Christi, Bree, Didi, Destiney, Makulit, Matthew, Amanda <kisses>, Pam Mark, Jacks, Molly, Shawn <Gemini>, Bhotanni, Hannah, Somgbird2, Yuki Akuma, Chibi Bluestar.
Thank you all so much for your support on this new series. /font>

Chapter 3
By Ozmandayus

The Lace Room
Monday, January 18, 2001 8:35 PM
Angel Grove, Ca


The veal is excellent and the wine compliments the meal precisely the way it should. Soft music plays in the background as Kimberly and John eat dinner over candlelight.

Kim smiles as he relates another office tale. He has a great sense of humor and his timing is excellent. That's a must have when performing the art of story telling.

John cannot get over how beautiful she looks tonight and he tells her every chance
he gets.

Kimberly feels flattered as she continues making small talk. She knows the conversation is decidedly one-sided, but her mind is still reeling from seeing Tommy again.

She thought her feelings for him were locked away in a small box in her closet, entitled 'Fond Memories'.

That is how she has looked at things over the years since their breakup. Tommy 'was' in her life. She 'used' to love him. He 'used' to love her.

They 'used' to be each others soulmate.

Past tense.

Not present.

Never present.

Then she saw him. In the flesh, before her very eyes.

Kim has subconsciously rejected every attempt by John to hold hands again since the moment Tommy left the restaurant. A part of her feels like she is cheating, even though she is not involved with anyone.

"So, Kim. Tell me about your friend?" He knew there had to have been more between those two than friendship.

Kim looked up from her plate with a slightly surprised expression on her face. "You mean Tommy?"

"Yes."

Kim decides to tell John the truth. He deserved that. "I met Tommy towards the end of my freshmen year of high school," she said with the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

"That was a while ago."

"Yes it was." she replied in a low tone of voice. Kim took another sip of wine from her glass before continuing. "We started dating not long after that."

"How long, If you don't mind me asking?"

Kim wills her mind away from memories of stolen kisses in-between classes at Angel Grove
High. "We dated for a little over three years."

"Serious relationship?"

"As serious as can be for our age at that time."

John nodded, not wanting to pry, but still interested enough to press a little further. "You loved him?"

Kim exhaled softly. "Yes."

"Did it end badly?"

Kimberly took a deep breath. "It....I broke up with him."

John heard the regret in her voice. He tries to ignore what that could really mean. "I understand if this isn't something you want to talk about. I can see it still affects you."

Kim raises her hand up. "John, me and Tommy have been separated for a few years now. There is nothing going on between us."

"You do realize you said 'separated' and not broken up."

She didn't realize those words slipped out until he mentioned it. "I meant we broke up years ago and have seen each other only one time since. He and I were with other people at that time." Memories of Craig flash through her mind.

Bad memories.

"So you're over him?" John asked flat out.

"......I thought we are here to enjoy a romantic dinner together and not drudge up the past. After your twenty questions should I prepare mine?"

Kim has gotten a little wicked with age.

John sits back with a grin on his face. "I withdraw my last question and apologize for what must have seemed like a police inquisition."

"Apology accepted."

John chose his next words very carefully. "I just wanted to know that I have a chance with you. A real chance." He then leaned forward. "I could easily see myself falling in love with you, Kim. And if I have competition I'd like to know who he is."

She looked down at her lap briefly before looking up to meet his blue eyes. "There is no competition, John."

That is the truth.

In some form or another.

John sat back with a relived expression on his face. "Does that mean that I may be able to entice the lovely, intelligent, talented, unbelievably sexy Kimberly Harte into having dinner with me again?"

Giving him her sweetest smile, she replied, "Yes."


******


******


12359 West Cameron Drive
Monday, January 18, 2001 9:45 PM
Angel Grove, Ca


As the elevator rises to her floor, Kim realizes that her date is about to come to an end. She hasn't dated in a long time and the customary should I/should I not give him a goodnight kiss moment echoes in her mind.

The movie they went to after dinner was nice. It's been a while since she had someone to open doors and generally make a fuss over her. She feels she has his respect and he has made it known how interested in her he is.

The attention feels nice. Couple that with John's obviously good home training and gentleman ways, makes for a good change of pace.

As the elevator doors open, Kim feels John place his hand on the small of her back as he leads her down the hall.

It feels......comforting.

"I had a great time this evening, Kim," John said as they reached the door to her apartment.

Kim took out her key and opened the door to her apartment. "So did I," she smiled. She really did have a good time. That wasn't a lie.

John moved close to her, now standing face to face. His eyes are smoky, and completely focused on the lovely woman before him. "I would like to kiss you goodnight."

A gentlemen to the end.

"Then do it already. I've got work in the morning," Kim smiled as his lips descended upon hers.

She allowed the kiss to last around ten seconds, long enough for her to gauge if he knew what he was doing. His lips were warm and soft as he nipped and lapped at hers.

This is a very nice first kiss.

Maybe not Fourth of July fireworks.

But very nice just the same.

"Goodnight, Kimberly," John said as he backed away and gave a little bow for effect.

"Goodnight, John. Drive safety.


******


Dress and stockings, gone.

Heels, kicked off and laying in opposite directions.

Purse....somewhere.

Kim emerged from the bathroom, showered and ready for bed.

Curiously enough though, when she looked down, she realized that she was now changed into her casual clothes instead of her normal sleep wear. Her attire includes blue jeans and an old LA Laker sweatshirt she stole from her brother when she last visited him.

Kim takes a seat on her in the living room on the couch and turns on her 25 inch TV. <I'm not really that sleepy. Maybe I can find something to watch that'll knock me out.>

The wine she drank earlier in the evening gave her a pleasant buzz as she relaxed.

She flipped channels for a few minutes as the glow of her fish tank worked in tandem with her TV, casting the only light in the room.

Kim named her two fish Falcon and Crane. She never told anyone that and she didn't want to think about what it might mean.

Or at least she won't admit it to herself.

The wind picks up outside and the windows rattle a little. Kim grabs a blanket out of the closet. Her mother passed it down to her when she got her first apartment. She wraps it around herself, providing some old school warmth to this chilly night.

This blanket brings back fond memories and she smiles when they come to her.

It was just after the team defeated Ivan Ooze and saved Zordon's life. All of the Ranger's attended a fireworks show the city through in honor of the Power Ranger's.

<All Tommy did was put his arm over my shoulder,> she remembered with a arm smile. Their relationship was so new at that time. Neither really knew how to proceed and public affection made them both feel self conscious.

They were just testing the waters.

Later on that night Tommy took her hand in his and turned to the rest of the team. "We'll see you guys tomorrow," Kim remembers him saying as her surprised eyes caught Aisha's.

Kim thought her heart was about to jump out of her chest. This had been the first time Tommy made it perfectly clear that they are a couple and wanted to spend some time alone.

After the others walked off he suddenly turned shy and smiled away from her.

But his hand never left hers for the next two hours. They walked along the beach at night and didn't say much of anything. They just held hands and enjoyed each others company.

Tommy walked her home. She remembers not even realizing they were in front of her house until they were actually on her porch.

God how she loved this man. When she lost herself in him, everything else in the world faded away.

And he loved her too. Gone was the unstoppable teen-warrior who was as coveted by his enemies as he was hated.

On that night, Tommy was just another 17 year old boy standing on the porch with his girlfriend.

"My mom is staying with my aunt tonight. You can come in for a while if you want?" she asked with more courage than she had ever mustered up before.

Tommy kind of just stood their with his hands in his pockets. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea if I do."

Kim understood him immediately. Neither was ready to even kiss in front of their friends, much less make love. Still, for at least a little while longer, she wanted to be close to him.

When in battle, Tommy always made the first move. But in their relationship, it was Kim who drove the bus.

"We can watch a little TV. Nothing major." She hoped her tone of voice conveyed that TV and only TV is on tonight’s menu.

"Lead the way, Beautifull."

That nick name always, always made her knee's go weak.

Once inside, they sat on the love seat. Kim's grandmothers blanket laid over the couch and they sat back against it.

Something was on TV that night, but Kim doesn't remember what.

But she does remember her shoulder brushing against Tommy's. She remembers his laugh and how he smelled oh so good. She remembers when he moved ever so closer to her. She remembers the weight of his arm as it came over her shoulder.

"Is this okay?" Tommy asked. Kim could not believe how nervous he was over something as simple as draping his arm over her shoulder.

Of course she hadn't breathed since he did it.

"It's fine."

Biting her lip and praying that she could really pull this off, Kim lifted her left hand and laced her fingers with Tommy's. She didn't look at him and generally acted as if nothing happened.

But out of the corner of her eye, she saw his smile. She couldn't fight her own, either.

Tommy felt a little shiver come over her. He wasn't sure if the room was chilly or if he was the cause. Whatever the reason he used his free hand to pull the rest of the blanket from behind the couch and wrapped it around the both of them.

So there they were, his hand over her shoulder, fingers laced, wrapped in old blanket. Kim laid her head on his shoulder and he pressed his lips to her temple, leaving a small trail of kisses in his wake.

"I have to be home by eleven," Tommy whispered in her ear as he tucked an errant strand of chestnut hair out of her face.

Kim sighed, hating that he would have to leave soon. As far as she is concerned, they could stay together like this for the rest of their lives. "So after pulling the old yawn and stretch move, you plan on leaving me," she teased, feeling safe in his strong arms.

"I don't want to leave you. But there is that little matter about me living at home versus on the street. I better not upset the folks."

They leaned their heads against each other as Tommy's other hand sought out Kim's, repeating what she did earlier. It felt so good to be wrapped in each others arms and neither would have moved even if the house caught on fire.

Kim's eyes darted toward the clock on top of the VCR. It read 10:30 PM. <Good, at least we have another thirty minutes.>

"At least we have another thirty minutes."

He must have read her mind.

"You know the guys are gonna mess with you tomorrow," Kim smiled into his shoulder. "I bet even Billy will toss a tease here or there."

"They are all jealous."

Kim shook her head. "Of what?"

"What we have."

He didn't need to explain. She knew and felt it too.

"And I'm sure Aisha will have more than a few questions for you as well."

Kim looked up into his pretty brown eyes. She was about to say, "Aisha always asks a lot of questions."

Instead she said.

"I love you."

The world stopped spinning. Tommy remained motionless for about ten seconds.

The longest ten seconds of her entire life.

In the time since they have been dating the L word has never come up, at not least vocally. Kim was sure he could see it in her eyes and she saw the same in his.

Now she's thrown down the ultimate relationship gauntlet.

"That's my line," Tommy finally replied with a smile.

He leaned down as she leaned up. "How about we agree to share it," she said as their lips met.

Kissing Tommy was like experiencing the best feeling she ever had in her entire life. His strong arms wrapped around her body and pulled her into his lap. Her arms wrapped around his neck as they kissed.

Immediately, Tommy knew he would know no greater joy than to hold her in his arms, to hear her say those three magical words meant only for his ears.

Kim can't remember who broke away first, but for the next ten minutes she remembers Tommy kissing her cheek, nose, eyes, ears, and neck. With each new pass of his lips, a soft "I love you" followed.

Kim was in heaven.

"I love you, too. So much," she whispered against his lips.

Then the phone rang.

"Let it ring," Kim moaned as her fingers became tangled in his hair.

"Could...be...Could be you mom."

"I sincerely hope you're not thinking of my mom when you're making out with me," Kim teased.

"Get the phone, Beautiful. I've got to go anyway."

Neither moved as the phone rang three more times. It was obvious who ever was calling was determined to get someone to answer.

Without leaving her place on his lap, Kim reached for the cordless phone on the inn table in front of the couch. With phone in hand she laid back against Tommy, his arms wrapping around her waist. "Hello?"

"Am I interrupting the sex I just know you're having," Aisha joked on the other end.

Kim gave Tommy a smirk and mouthed a silent 'Aisha', letting him know who is on the other end.

"No, you are not interrupting any sex."

"Yeah, right. Then why are you breathing so heavy?" Aisha teased.

Kim felt a slight blush come on, but fought against it. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay, okay, get back to all the sex you're having."

Kim shook her head and pressed the end button. She began to feel a little tense. It now seemed obvious that most likely everyone will assume they 'did something' tonight.

Tommy saw the contemplation on her face. "Kim, don't worry about it."

"I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"Maybe a little."

"Our relationship is ours. It's no ones business."

Kim knew that it was time to ask him the one question that had been on her mind ever since they started dating. "Tommy?"

"Yeah."

"Are you okay with the fact that I am not ready for sex yet?"

"Of course. It's not like I haven't picked up on that. I respect you. And I love you. Whatever happens between us will happen when you want it to. No pressure from me."

She fell in love with him all over again. Her lips found his and they kissed like summer rain.

Now back in the present, Kim opens her eyes to her silent, lonely apartment. In this time, Tommy is not here, holding her and whispering his love.

She can't feel her connection to him.

Kim blinks a few times, then makes a decision. She has to see him.

They need to talk and she doesn't believe she will get any sleep until they do.


******


******


Kat's Condominium
Monday, January 18, 2001 10:25 PM
Angel Grove, Ca




Kim stood outside the door to Kat's condo. Her hands are shaking and she smoothes them down her jeans in an attempt to calm herself. <You can do this. You're just going to talk to him. Nothing major.>

Taking a deep breath, Kim's hand reaches forward and presses the doorbell.

Seconds later footsteps can be heard approaching the door. Tommy opens the door.

"Hi. Can I come in."

Tommy stood still for a second then moved sideways. "Of course."

Kat walks out of her bedroom. She smiled when she saw her friend. "Hi, Kim."

"Hey. Sorry I'm so late."

Kat waved her off. "No biggie." Yawning, she added, "I'm really tired so I'm going to hit the sack. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Kim."

"Okay."

As Kat exits the room Tommy and Kim stare at each other near the doorway. This is the first time in nearly three years that they have been completely alone in the same room.

They have no idea in the world how to proceed.

Tommy makes the first move. He steps forward and pulls Kim into a light hug. "I've missed you."

Kim fights back the tears and maintains her composure. "I've missed you too."

Missed this.

Your arms.

Around me.

Completing me.

They maintain their loose hold on each other a few minutes more before finally pulling away.

Immediately, Tommy missed the feel of her body in her arms.

"Come on. Let's sit on the couch," Tommy offered.

They both took their seats, each making sure the appropriate amount of space was between them.

"I just wanted to say again that I would have come here earlier when everyone else did. But my date with John had been made a while ago and I didn't want to stand him up."

"It's no problem. You're here now. That's what counts."

A few moments of silence.

"I hear you've given up auto racing?" Kim began, hoping to avoid the really deep stuff for a little while longer.

"You heard right. It's time for me to move on from that. I'm tired of the travel and everything that goes along with the life. I'm back to teaching, which is my first love." <Besides you.>

"So you're happy?"

"I'm getting there. I'm moving into my new apartment in two weeks. And I start teaching on Thrusday."

"Wow, that's great," she replied. "How's your girlfriend?" <Damn, where did that come from?>

<Moving right along I see,> Tommy thought top himself. "We broke up a few weeks ago. She wanted a stronger commitment than I was ready to give. We're still friends though."

Kim nodded as she toyed with the zipper on her purse. She felt......something, but quickly pushed it aside.

Was it relief?

"How was your date?" Tommy asked. That question has been burning in his mind all evening. The sight of her hand being held by another man still gets to him on a personal level.

"It was fine."

"Just fine?"

"We had dinner, then went to a movie. He dropped me back off at my place. Like I said, it was fine."

"You look good."

Her eyes rose to meet his. "So do you."

They share a tentative smile.

"How is the wonderful world of accounting treating you?" Tommy asked, feeling a little more relaxed now.

Kim sat back, feeling more relived herself. "It's boring, but the pay is great. I tried professional gymnastics for a while, but after the Pan-Globals, I lost interest."

"I never thought you would ever be an accountant."

"Me neither. But I was doing so well in math that one day one of my professors told me I should look into accounting. I did and it turned into my major. I found I was really good at it."

"And the money doesn't hurt."

"No, it does not."

Tommy decided now was as good a time as any for an over do apology. "Kim, I know this happened a while ago, but I'm sorry for not talking to you after the karate tournament. I was caught up in a lot of things and...my mind was really...I was trying to sort some things out."

Kim understood. She remembers siting in the stands, clapping and cheering her friends on. But when it was over and Tommy reached for Katherine she felt the bottom fall out from her heart.

Her loneliness led her back to Craig.

Again.

"I could have approached you, too," Kim offered. "We both are to blame."

"Well that's in the past."

Kim clears her throat. "Let's just kick the elephant out of the room, shall we?"

"Alright."

"The letter."

Tommy nodded while looking down. "The letter," he repeated.

"His name was Craig. He was a junior at the university of Florida and he was on the Pan-Global team for field hockey. The entire compound consisted of all the athletes in every sport competing in the Pan-Globals."

Tommy listens intently. He is about to hear how Kim fell in love with another man. The man she left him for. He readies himself.

"Craig's practice hours were similar to mine and I met him in the gym. I had no intention of falling in love with him. At first we were just friends. Nothing more than that. He was new to Florida, having joined the field hockey team from the university of Arizona."

"You both had a common bond I see."

Kimberly gave him a weak smile, dreading what was to come. "I have never been away from my family and friends for any real length of time. I was literally on the other side of the country. I was lonely. It seems that former 'Valley Girls' weren't exactly welcome among the inner circle of gymnastic hopefuls."

"You were froze out?"

"Completely."

"I missed you."

"And I missed you. More than anything and anyone."

Tommy nodded.

"Me and Craig worked out together in the gym. He didn't have a lot of friends either. We talked alot, about our families and friends. We started going to the movies together on our days off. There was still nothing romantic going on at that time. I never kissed him. Not one time."

"Then what did it, Kim?" Tommy asked with a hint of anger. "What changed everything? And please don't tell you about how you didn't want me to be alone or how you knew Kat was attracted to me."

Kim could feel his moody eyes on her. She owes him the truth and that's what he is going to get. "I had a very bad practice one day. I couldn't seem to stick any of my landings and Coach was breathing down my neck. I felt lonely and lost. I just couldn't find my bearings. Craig found me crying in the gym. He held me and I told him how I was feeling and everything that was going on. When I was finished we looked up at each other and kissed for the first time."

Tommy bit his bottom lip to control his emotions. His hand clenched on the other side of the couch, out of Kimberly's line of vision.

Craig was there for her and he wasn't. She cheated on him, no matter how you look at it. But she was suffering too.

She was only seventeen years old at the time.

She was far away from home, lonely and feeling like no one was their for her.

Tommy knows how busy he was with the Machine Empire at that time. He knew he wasn't available to her. With different time-zones and unpredictable hours, they couldn't seem to reach each other when they needed to.

"So, you fell in love with him?" Tommy asked, having made peace with the fact that their breakup was not all Kim's fault. All relationships are complicated and theirs was no different.

"Yes. I tried to fight it. I truly did. But he was their and you were not. It's not your fault and the whole situation was unfair, especially to you," she finished, amazed that she was not crying all ready. "About five weeks later I wrote the letter. I was in love with Craig and cheating on you. I felt awful."

"Not awful enough to stop."

Silence.

Tommy's accusatory tone of voice didn't surprise her. " Craig was kind and considerate and he was there. He was older and made me feel special. I really needed that at the time."

"Go on."

"So I wrote the letter. My tears are on very single word."

"Why did you compare me to a brother? Why did you belittle what we had?" These are question he has had for years.

She is not proud of her answer. "I needed to forget you."

Her words hung heavy in the air.

Kim continued. "I needed to write something that wasn't about our great love ending. In my mind at the time, I felt I needed to re-create what we had. I couldn't face ending our love, so I turned it into a friendship. I know that makes no sense."

"At least we agree on something."

More silence.

"The part about you being like a brother to me was to specifically hurt you."

Tommy never thought that he would live to see the day that Kim admitted she wanted to hurt him on purpose. "I think you need to explain."

"If I wrote the typical 'Dear John' letter you would have teleported to Florida in a flash. I know you. Better than anyone else in the world."

Tommy looks her directly in the eyes. "You obviously don't know we that well. Because if you did you would have kept calling until you reached 'ME'. Then 'I' would have come to Florida so that 'I' could be there for 'YOU'. "

Kim wanted to just get up and leave. Whatever she had hoped would happen between them tonight, she didn't want to fight with him. "I'm sorry."

"Not fucking good enough," Tommy snarled as he rose from the couch and started to pace the room.

"I know I hurt you, Tommy." Kim stood to her feet and moved behind him.

"The only thing that kept me going sometimes was the knowledge that I had your love. Everyday I saw death and destruction, but I knew that as long as you were still mine, I could make it."

She didn't know what to say. That was just about the most emotional thing he has ever said to her. "What can I say to make this right."

Tommy turned around. "I'm sorry. This all happened a long time ago."

"I know. But we never got closure."

"I never wanted closure from you," Tommy said as he approached her, closing the distance between them.

"Craig was a huge mistake."

Tommy moved closer.

Kim swallowed deeply and looked down. He is now right in front of her.

"How long did you guys last?"

"To long. We broke up and made up so many times I didn't know If I was coming or going."

The heat was quickly rising between them. The attraction is as strong as it ever was, even more so now that they are grown.

"Did you love him as much as you loved me?"

"That's not possible. For him or anyone"

Too much.

She knows she has said to much.

But his eyes and his lips are tearing at her senses. She came here tonight in hopes of rebuilding their friendship.

Still, it's hard rebuilding something that was never really there.

It's always been about love between these two.

Anything else between them would just be wasting time.

"We're cool."

Kim released a breath she forgot she was holding. With two words he has abolished the past, and cleared the playing field for the future.

All because she said, 'That's not possible'.

"So where do we go from here?" Kim asked with a raised eye brow.

"Where do you want to go," he replied, his voice dark and sultry. The hint of a grin on his handsome features.

"How about we start with a movie. As friends."

"You know that's not going to work."

"That's the way it is. Take it or leave it."

"What about John?"

"I'm dating John. You're my friend."

"Just your friend," Tommy said while leaning closer.

"Yeah, just my friend," Kim finished as Tommy's mouth covered hers in a searing kiss that felt like a complete out of body experience. His lips claimed her, possesed her, leaving no doubt in her mind that she belonged to him, and he to her.

Tommy pulled her so tight to his chest her feet left the ground. He kissed her with years of pent up passion, with need, want, desire that never went away.

Kimberly returned the kiss ten-fold, unleashing her heart. Allowing it to take what it desires most.

She whimpers when Tommy suddenly breaks the kiss. He takes two steps back and moves toward the guest bedroom door.

"Ask yourself if the man you are dating can make you feel the way I do. Goodnight, friend," Tommy said with a sly smile on his face. His bedroom door closed softly and she is left standing in the living room.

Her index finger rises to touch her lips. The faintest hint of his essence remains with her.

Kim turns with a smile on her face and leaves the apartment.

Billy is throwing a Bar-B-Que. this weekend and she has a feeling it will be most interesting.

The End.

Next Chapter. Everyone’s relationship takes center stage at the wildest PR party you have ever scene.