All things Power Rangers belong to Saban and Disney. All things Carri belong to KJ, with many thanks. Demonking belongs solely to Daniel White and Teeg and Rexo belong to KS & me. The premise of the Coin Series was inspired from a story written by Terry, Chris, Daniel, Brice, Katey and myself, but has seriously digressed since then and bears little resemblance to the original.

Name change: Kanara is now Kemora

Power Rangers: The Coin Series
Something Old, Something New

Kim closed her cell phone hesitantly and had such a contemplative look on her face that Tommy stopped his work and regarded her curiously. “What is it?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She said, shaking her head and sighing deeply. She put the cell phone down on the side table and leaned back in her chair, staring out the small window.

“Kimberly…” He said patiently, “I thought we said we were going to talk things out more.”

She closed her eyes and smiled softly, shaking her head. “It’s honestly nothing, just a message from Carri’s brother.”

“And he would call you…why?” He asked, trying his best to keep the jealousy and irritation out of his voice. He honestly hadn’t given Katherine’s other cousin a second thought in the last few years, but he suddenly remembered all too well that he and Kim had dated pretty seriously a few years back. Katherine had been furious, although why, Tommy didn’t know. Even though he’d been living with Katherine at the time, he’d been crushed to hear that Josh had proposed and stunned when he later found out she’d refused him and the two had broken up.

“She apparently told him I’m getting married.” She said dismissively, picking up her empty coffee mug and stretching. “You want more coffee?” She asked, and he shook his head no. “I’m gonna go get more.” She said, walking from the room.

She filled her cup, adding milk and sweetener, but instead of returning to his small office, she opened the front door and sat down on the concrete and tile step. It was very early, not quite sunrise, and a cool breeze toyed with her hair. She watched the multicolored sky reflectively; an almost sad look on her face. Thanksgiving had been an emotionally draining day and today, although it had only just started, was proving no different. Why Josh would suddenly call her, she had no idea; they hadn’t even traded emails in more than a year. Carri had apparently told him she was getting married and he’d left an almost panicked message on her cell phone saying he still loved her and wanted her back and not to do anything until he could fly back with his sister on Monday and talk things out with her.

She laughed silently to herself. Josh had been nearly as hard to get over as Tommy. He’d been a fabulous lover and she had genuinely fallen for him, but she didn’t want him back. He was rich, and gorgeous, and a wonderful guy, but he wasn’t Tommy; never had been. She liked where she was, loved being with him again; they fit together better than any other relationship she’d ever had.

“You wanna tell me what’s up?” Tommy asked from the doorway, stepping out and sitting next to her. She sipped at the coffee again, but didn’t answer right away. He followed her gaze out into the lawn and noticed for the first time all the changes that she’d made to the landscaping. He’d known she liked to work out in the yard, which suited him just fine, and she’d often pass the time there when he was busy in his office. It looked well kept and happy, as if it somehow knew it was in the hands of an expert who would love and pamper it. Hell, he’d been pampered and well kept too since she’d come back, he thought. It didn’t sit well with him that another old boyfriend had called her out of the blue and caused this kind of reaction.

“Josh and I dated for a while.” She said simply, rubbing her coffee mug in her hands.

“Did it get serious?” He asked, even though he already knew the answer . He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear it from her, but he asked anyway. She shrugged and sipped her coffee again.

“He wanted to marry me.” She answered.

“And…” He pressed, jealously building.

“And…I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment…Hidden Adventures was just ending and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life…and Carri this huge problem with us being together; she had a fit about the marriage proposal and we got into this huge fight…and that was the same time my powers went into overdrive…it was a mess.” She sighed deeply, considering her words.

Josh had been her first “grown up” relationship. He was nearly five years older than she was and a lot more mature. He knew where he was going in life, had finished his education, had a great job, and was ready to settle down and have a committed relationship…and he wanted her. She didn’t exactly love him the way she’d loved Tommy, but she had started to write that love off as a silly teenage obsession and been at a point in her life where she was ready to love again and curious to see what would happen… and Josh had been more than willing to spoil her rotten. It had been a wonderful time in her life.

After her break up with Tommy she had floundered. She’d entered into a “show” relationship with a gymnast friend of hers geared more at squashing the rumors that the boy might be gay, and embarrass Gunter, who publically wouldn’t tolerate those kinds of relationships in his gym, rather than any kind of serious love. It was a safe relationship that gave her time to heal and get back on her feet again. It had ended well enough, she had been the best man at his wedding to a male sports photographer, and after that she felt like she was ready to seriously face the world of dating again.

Josh had just sort of happened. He was Carri’s brother and would fly out to meet them from time to time while they were shooting Hidden Adventures. For some reason they had ended up in the South of France alone together and, when one thing led to another, they suddenly found themselves in the middle of a little fling. To their mutual surprise, the fling lasted a good two years, at the end of which, Josh was very serious about marrying her. It wasn’t that she didn’t love him, she had, and it wasn’t like both families weren’t encouraging the match, she was just entering a really tough period in her life. It was the time when she realized her life would never be normal, that she’d never be normal, that the Great Power would always keep calling on her, and she’d desperately feared he would never have been able to accept her for what she was and what she was becoming. Tommy could understand that phase of life all too well and nodded quietly as she talked.

Carri blamed herself for the breakup, Kim added, but the reality was it had very little to do with her. She had reacted very badly to the news that her brother was dating her best friend and had made things difficult for them any time they were together. When Josh announced he was planning to marry her, Carri had gone ballistic and Kim had used the tirade to put him off and cool things down a bit, but the truth was she had needed time to figure out what was happening with her powers. Carri had felt horrible about the whole thing and flown out to Turtle Cove to apologize, but instead found Kim suffering from a high fever and that’s when they’d been thrown back six thousand years to fight Ivan.

“After that we emailed and kept in touch, but he’s dated at least a dozen women since then and I’ve been busy with my own life. I haven’t heard from him in over a year…now he suddenly calls and leaves a message on my phone?”

“Let me guess,” Tommy drolled, a bit nastier than he’d intended. “He didn’t exactly say congratulations.”

“No.” Kim answered, smiling slightly, but refusing to add that Josh had declared his love again and wanted her back. She was with Tommy and very happy where she was. She didn’t want Josh back and she certainly didn’t want to deal with Tommy’s jealous side this morning. She’d have to call Carri and get her to talk some sense into her brother.

“Just out of curiosity…” Tommy asked slowly, trying his best to keep his anger in check, “…just how many other ex-boyfriends are out there that still want to marry you?”

Kim looked up at him in surprise and then chuckled softly. Leave it to Tommy to quietly determine the truth of the matter when nothing had been directly said about it. She grinned, making a slightly shy and silly face, eyes watching the sunrise, which was now glowing in bright, bold colors across the eastern sky. “Not that many.” She said quietly. “I honestly didn’t have that much time for relationships over the past few years. Between the show I did with Carri and life after…I dunno, life just sort of slipped away.”

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“Josh?” She asked and he nodded. “I’m not going to do anything. I agreed to marry you Tommy, I want to marry you… despite what I said yesterday. I’m very happy where I am and I don’t want to go back.”

“Then why the long face?”

She shrugged, and smiled wistfully at him. “It’s not a long face. I was just thinking of a simpler time when all I had to worry about was remembering my lines and letting Josh spoil me rotten. There was no Teeg, no pressure over evil Rangers and captured coins, no one pulling me in ten thousand directs…I don’t want to go back, but it was very happy time for me.” She said honestly. “I kinda wish we had such a simple time to live through and get to know each other.” She added quietly.

Tommy nodded, but didn’t respond. They sat there for a while, each lost in their own thoughts and watching the sunrise until Tommy finally broke the silence. “Anton needs me to come to Reefside today.” He said.

“Today?” she asked, “But Billy and Trini’s wedding.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ll be back in time, I’ll transport over and transport right back.”

“I’ll make sure not to mention that to Carri.” She said with a giggle. Tommy had come down on her hard the few times he’d caught her using the transporter for personal use; now he was going to do the very same thing. Tommy grinned at her, then gave her a more serious look.

“This is a big deal, one of his distribution companies has a huge order for several thousand of the DNA machines Hayley and I created, but he needs to show them that he has the sole distribution rights to close it.”

“Who would order several thousand machines…and you gave him the distribution rights?”

“He has the rights to sell it in that particular country, yes…and you’d be surprised how big those orders can get. But going today means that I won’t need to go next week.”

“Well that’s ok, as long as you’re back for the ceremony.”

“I meant I won’t have the excuse to go to Reefside for what we had planned.”

“Oh.” She said, turning away and looking out across the small yard again. “Well, that’s ok…I mean, we have time.” It wasn’t that she’d forgotten he’d asked her to simply elope with him next week, she was just nervous about it. Her mother would be furious and his mother wouldn’t be happy either. If it didn’t work out to go to Reefside, then they’d simply keep the May date.

“I was thinking we could just go to the courthouse after my meeting with Anton today.” He said, watching her face closely.

“Huh?” She asked, eyes wide.

“I was thinking…”

“But Billy and Trini’s wedding…I have a hair appointment at two… we have to be at the manor by four thirty for pictures.”

“My meeting with Anton is at eight, even if it takes longer than the ten minutes he swears is going to take to get the paperwork signed, we can still be at the courthouse by nine.”

“But the Hart Family prenup thing…if it’s not signed beforehand I lose my trust fund…it’s not huge, but it’s mine and I don’t want to give it up.” She argued. It was stupid really, Tommy was worth twenty times what she was, if not more, but she didn’t want to give it up if she didn’t have to.

“My lawyer already has the copy your family attorney sent him and he’ll be at the meeting. I’ll tell him to bring it and he can notarize that I signed it…or Anton probably has a notary in his office somewhere.”

“But…”

“Kimberly…are you serious about this or not?”

“But…I don’t know what to wear.”

As Thomas watched the alternate Kimberly fight her first battle with her new team, a slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It had worked. Most importantly, no one had noticed why it worked. Transplanting people interdimensionally was done all the time. It was just that adults weren’t usually the ones transplanted.

Thomas had worked on this particular timeline for a very long time. He specialized in repairing the dimensions where the resident Kimberly had been killed by Kemora. The problem was though, there was very little he could do. In nearly all the worlds where Kimberly had been killed by the demon, the dimension eventually turned to a blue line; where evil reigned supreme. Although a green, or good dimension, was something he always strived for and was very happy to see, blue was not a bad thing either; it maintained the stable the balance of good and evil. For every dimension devoted to good, there had to be an equal and opposite devoted to evil. This was the core of the principles they operated under. Stability was the goal, not whether good or evil triumphed.

However, Thomas had been at this for a very long time and had a the distinct feeling that the other side, for lack of a better word, was cheating. This particular timeline, just before and after the Zordon wave, was particularly important. It was one of the few times in history that things could really go either way. It was just too convenient that all the worlds Kemora visited turned to evil. Things were just not that simple. Yet, as each Kimberly was removed, the tendency seemed to favor a darker outcome. He was almost positive it wasn’t Kimberly herself, but something associated with her. Her presence seemed to smooth things out, to inspire others around her, but it wasn’t solely her.

This particular period was a known cornerstone to turn the future decades in the direction they needed to go. Unfortunately, it had been manipulated on both sides to the point where he wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t, but he had a theory; especially in the timeline that involved Kimberly and Tommy. He had lived that timeline; had loved and lost his Kimberly and their son. It was a personal obsession with him to go back and watch the others progress.

Kimberly was always born a twin and Tommy was also born a twin… and both were born within a few weeks of each other. He knew, because he himself was intimately involved with the process, that Tommy and David were placements; which meant that they were specifically placed in a given time period for a given reason. But that still left the choice of which name to be given to which infant up to chance.

The Tommy always became a Ranger and the David always became a spiritual guardian. That was a given and because that was the desired result, no one ever looked twice at it. However twin A repeatedly always had a preference for Kimberly as a pink Ranger and twin B repeatedly had a preference for Katherine as a pink Ranger. That was a minor outcome that no one really thought twice about and had caused him a great deal of lecturing about his priorities when he’d mentioned it to his former mentors, but it had given Thomas quite a good reason to pause. He had lost his Kimberly and at first hadn’t been able to understand how the Tommys could love anyone else if their Kimberlys were still alive. That was what had initially spurred his investigations…if only to satisfy his own morbid curiosity.

However, after several centuries and too many dimensions to count, he’d mapped a pattern of sorts. Where Tommy fell in love with Kat, Kimberly died. A minor footnote, true, but those seemed to be the worlds that Kemora targeted most. It couldn’t be by chance.

With Kimberly, his findings were a little more difficult to decipher…until just recently. Kimberly was a twin who, in most worlds, lost her identical sister at birth. As all survivors were named Kimberly, no one thought anything of it. However the alternate’s twin hadn’t perished at birth, but had survived. This had given Thomas a chance travel back in time to study the two and mark their differences. Where twin A survived, she became a strong Ranger who was not unlike K or the alternate he’d transplanted. Those worlds faired markedly better than those where twin B survived to become Kimberly at birth. Twin B tended to be more self centered and far more prissy than twin A. Twin A also had a preference for Tommy, where twin B did not.

Those were minor facts, but he had the distinct feeling that those insignificant details played a big role in the larger outcome. If he was right, and he was pretty sure he was, the DG was being skillfully sabotaged from within, both through Kemora and in the placements of those twins. Proving it would be impossible, but, by watching how the alternate succeeded, he thought he just might have an equally subtle way of fixing the situation.

Trini was not having a good morning. She was beyond nervous and, for the first time in weeks, she couldn’t even look at her breakfast; knowing she’d throw up at any moment. She’d been nervous on and off from the beginning, but the last few weeks had seemed more surreal. Now everything seemed to hit her at once.

This morning it had started with Billy’s refusal to pick his mother and new stepfather up at the airport. Apparently she’d been forced to board a different flight when weather grounded her plane and was now re-routed through Chicago. He refused to hang around the terminal for hours on end wondering if she was actually on the new flight or had just decided it was too inconvenient to bother with. He would pick Aisha and her boyfriend up and drive them to their hotel, but he refused to make another trip back to the airport on his wedding day. Eventually, his dad had agreed to go pick her up, but that just left Billy ranting that his mother might force him to be late as well.

Her mother had also been fretting all week that her traditional Vietnamese dress wouldn’t fit on her wedding day and, sure enough, she hadn’t been able to zip it up. Whether the baby had a huge growing spurt or she’d simply over-eaten on Thanksgiving, she didn’t know, probably the latter, but the zipper was absolutely not going close. Fortunately, she’d spent the night at her parent’s house and her mother had made her try on the dress immediately after she’d woken up. Her mother had flown into a conniption fit and within a half an hour she had several aunts and cousins busily re-making the red silk embroidered dress so that it would accommodate her ever growing stomach.

The contractors re-modeling the house had also been driving her crazy demanding she choose everything from what kind of granite to put into the empty kitchen to where they should place the electrical outlets in every single room. She didn’t care, the house was a disaster and she just couldn’t envision a home by looking at the shell of a house she really didn’t want to begin with. The stress of it had actually gotten so bad that she snapped at the designer and asked her what the hell her husband was paying her for if the contractors were calling every ten minutes asking her to decide everything on her own.

The flurry of activity and Billy’s foul mood had done nothing to calm her own nerves and now she was seriously in danger of vomiting. To top it off, Kim wasn’t answering her cell phone and Trini had no way of telling her that everything had been moved up two hours to accommodate the photographers. She could, she supposed, contact them on their communicators, but using Ranger equipment for personal use was frowned on by Tommy and she just didn’t want to deal with him this morning either. All she wanted to do was get the day over with and go on with her life. She sighed deeply and paged Kim’s cell one more time, leaving her a text message that their hair appointment was now at noon and they had to be at the Manor by two. She told herself that was the best she could do and she refused to worry about it, but somehow that just didn’t help.

Carri was up way too early, for her anyway. In Angel Grove it was nearly sunrise, but in New York it was already past time to get dressed to hit the sales downtown, so she tried to wake up; despite herself. Quietly, she slid out from under the heavy arm and leg that were thrown across her and made her way to the tiny living room. The one thing she missed about New York, other than the shopping, was looking out over the city. The view from her apartment was incredible and she stopped on her way to the kitchenette to look out over the vista below. Reluctantly, she turned and to get the coffee started brewing, then walked back out toward the open window and laid down on the sofa that faced it.

As she curled up on the couch, waiting for the coffee to finish, she thought about the past day’s events and everything that had to be done this morning. If she was in New York the day after Thanksgiving, there was no way in hell she’d miss going to Filene’s. Her mother was mortified by her retail shopping habits, but she’d been quick enough over the years to steal more than one item she’d picked up. She wasn’t sure which location she wanted to go to, but she’d definitely hit at least one. It depended on what Rocky was going to do. He was bound and determined to go to her mother’s holiday annual, despite her protests, and if Josh took him to his tailor, then she’d hit the store closest to that. Then again, once Rocky figured out how much a tux at Josh’s tailor cost…she might as well just save herself the trouble and go where she wanted to. The boys could fend for themselves.

The only place they absolutely had to be was Billy’s wedding. It was one of the few times she’d known Tommy to easily agree to use the transporter. They were only going to be able to stay for the ceremony, but Rocky had refused to come to New York at all if it meant not being there. He’d known Billy for years and, even though they hadn’t really stayed in touch after high school, they were all friends and team mates now. She had easily agreed, wanting to go herself, but now that they had to be back for the annual, it was going to make for a fairly tight day; especially given the time differences.

Her stomach churned at the idea of introducing him to her old friends and her parent’s friends. Rocky didn’t embarrass her, that wasn’t the issue; rather, it was the other way around. She knew exactly what those people were like, knew exactly what Jason and Kim had thought of them, had tried for years to prove she was different, and she already knew that Rocky was not going to be well received. They had accepted Jason because her mother had…and because they didn’t know what he did; the mystery simply playing into it. But Rocky had a life that he’d built for himself that was very proud of. She was very proud of him too, but the others weren’t going to see it that way. They paid people to teach them sports, they didn’t teach it themselves. To them, she was doing exactly what the tabloids accused her of; having an affair with her instructor. That’s what her mother was hoping for, that he’d be intimidated or embarrassed by them or Carri would realize how he didn’t fit into that mold and come to her senses. Her mother was in for a big surprise on that front. She had no intentions of letting him go; ever.

There was a chance they’d accept him, but Carri doubted it. She was fairly certain they’d all follow her mother’s lead and do their best to trip him up, but it really didn’t matter. Rocky was right, he was Power Ranger, he could easily fend for himself and he didn’t need her protecting him. He’d been very angry with her last night for trying to weasel out of going. She didn’t agree that he understood what her mother was trying to do, but he was right that her dad and her brother were on his side. Hopefully Josh would be able to keep the worst of the pack at bay, but she really wasn’t sure and that concerned her. She’d finally acquiesced when he declared very firmly that he understood the situation and it didn’t matter; it was her he loved, not her past.

That was what was so different about him. He didn’t care about her background or how much money she had in the bank. He loved her for her; the events on Aquitar had proven that. She’d been very careful to keep her parents and her earnings from him. She was all too aware of the effect money had on most men; she’d learned the hard way that a bank account and trust fund made you very desirable. There were quite a few men who’d been willing to overlook her temper in hopes of gaining access to her current and future checkbook and so far only one who loved her just the way she was without having a clue what she’d inherit one day.

She knew he was aware that she was fairly well off, but she doubted he really understood how well off until this trip. She also now knew it wasn’t her looks that kept him around, otherwise why stay with her through the Aquitian treatments? Part of her was thrilled, but another part of her was terrified. Over the past few years, she had prided herself on being completely self sufficient, not needing anyone. But the longer she was with him, the more she loved him… and the more she loved him, the stronger the realization was that she needed him. He filled a massive void in her life, but she also didn’t want to be reliant on anyone. It was a difficult contradiction and one she wasn’t sure how to handle.

As she sat there, her cell phone beeped, indicating she had a new text message. She flipped the screen on and groaned aloud as she read the content. She had known from the look on Josh’s face last night that he wasn’t as ambivalent about Kim’s engagement as he pretended to be. She hadn’t thought he’d go so far as to actually call her though.

She cringed visibly. She hadn’t behaved well during that relationship and her brother had never really forgiven her for it. But it had been weird. Kim was a true sister of her heart and the idea that she had a very physical relationship with her brother gave her the creeps.

She’d been hopelessly immature about the whole thing and seriously regretted it now, but back then it had been more than she could take to watch them flirt back and forth, or worse, kiss and cuddle each other. One inopportune time she’d actually walked in on them having sex and had been nauseated for days.

She was sorry now that she’d acted so badly, but it was all in the past. Kim fit well with Tommy, but she wasn’t so sure she was the one to convince Josh of that.

“What’s up?” Rocky asked, rubbing his eyes and indicating the cell phone. He was stunned that she was up before him, but then again, it was the biggest sale day of the year and she was on her home turf.

“Kim…” She muttered, reading the short hand message one more time to make sure she’d read it right.

“Everything ok at home?”

“Yeah…just my brother stirring up trouble.”

“Why?” He asked, picking her legs up and sitting down on the small couch. He placed her legs back across his lap and threw his head back, eyes shut, still trying to fathom how she’d managed to wake up so early. They were both still on California time and it couldn’t be much past sunrise back home.

“Old news…” She said dismissively, but continued after he opened one unbelieving eye at her. “Josh and Kim dated for a while.”

“Is that why he acted so weird when your mom asked about her?”

“That’s why he acted so weird when I said she was getting married.”

“Ahh…so what kind of trouble did he manage to stir up in just the few hours since we left your parent’s place.”

“Dunno…” She said, tossing the phone on the side table and sitting up so she could snuggle next to him. It was cold. That was the one bad thing about New York in late November, it was cold and wet. California was much nicer in that respect. “She texted me to ask if I’d tell him not to fly out to Angel Grove with us. She says to say she’s happy and she doesn’t want him back.”

“Jesus…that could be trouble.” He said, coming more wide awake. “Tommy’s always been really jealous of Kim.”

“So I gathered.” She answered dryly. “Weird he wasn’t like that with Kat…or maybe he was and I just wasn’t around enough to notice.”

“I dunno.” He admitted. “Tommy had already pretty much already made it very clear to every guy in school not to hit on Kim before I met them and I had left the team long before he and Kat got it together. I still saw them from time to time, but I was going in the complete opposite direction they were …” He yawned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “I think it’s worse this time around with Kim, but Jase is arguing it’s the same old story... I don’t really care to be honest, he can figure it out….so were Kim and Josh serious?”

“Let me put it this way, mom and dad both adored her and he was bound and determined to marry her.”

“Christ… keep him out of Angel Grove Car…Tommy’ll go ballistic if he finds out she’s got another ex still mooning over her. Apparently he didn’t even try to be civil with Elemi…and he’s another red.”

“I agree.” Carri said with a sigh, jumping up as the last of the coffee gurgled through the filter.

“Not that I’m all that interested” He said, watching her pull mugs out of the cabinet and fill them. “…but what happened?”

“Between Kim and Josh?” She asked, turning and making her way back to the couch. He nodded and moved aside as she sat back down and handed him one of the mugs. She heaved a huge sigh and looked at him a little sheepishly, running one hand through her tousled hair. “Me…” she admitted guiltily.

“So now that we understand one another,” Teeg purred evilly, “Do you intend to join my forces or shall I destroy the body I made for you and place you back in the orb for the rest of eternity.”

“Do I have a choice?” Kemora growled.

“Not really.” Teeg admitted, “So glad you see things my way.”

Kemora scowled at the woman in front of her, if you could call her a woman. She was more feline than female; in an evil sort of way. She’d almost gloated as she explained the predicament Kemora was in. Teeg had created her an artificial, clone-like like shell from a DNA sample she’d obtained from K. How, Kemora didn’t know, but it looked like a real body and felt like a real body and she still had most, if not all of her powers.

However, if the feline in front of her was correct, it was synthetic and apparently wouldn’t wear out like a real body; even when Kemora drained its energy with her powers. The idea appealed to her, what didn’t appeal to her was the knowledge that the shell she was trapped in was apparently just as escape proof as the orb… and she was stuck in this dimension. If she didn’t obey Teeg’s every word, the witch would transform the body back into the orb and she’d be stuck; possibly forever.

Kemora wasn’t sure who she wanted to destroy more, K or the creature in front of her. Teeg wanted her to annihilate K, which was desirable, but if Thomas found out she was trapped in one dimension he would definitely come after her. But was that such a bad idea? If the shell she was trapped in was destroyed, or even cracked, then she’d be free again. It was a logical thought and that surprised her. She hadn’t thought logically in a very long time. Perhaps there was more to this new body that met the eye. Her eyes narrowed as she surveyed Teeg more closely. “And just what did you have in mind?” Kemora asked icily. “K’s not going to just roll over and allow me to cut her throat.”

“Kimberly has changed the dynamics of Muirantias.”

“In what way?”

“She’s connected it to the power chamber of Phaedos. Whichever power controls one, controls both.”

“Interesting… And this effects me how?”

“You’re Kimberly, just a polar opposite of sorts. I want you to take over the Muirantian chamber.”

Kemora laughed, openly and boldly. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t tried to get back to Muirantias before. As soon as she’d lost her body, she’d tried dimension after dimension, but she’d never succeeded in reaching it again. The problem was, Zordon had been faster than she had been. He and Lerigot had created the Nemesis Triangle, effectively shutting out, or shutting in, anything with evil power. The triangle stretched across dimensions, effectively keeping anyone from crossing it. She was banned, blocked from her own source of power. She could draw from it, but she’d never be one with it again. She told Teeg as much and the woman sneered at her as if she were a simpleton.

“Yes, it is impossible…” Teeg crooned. “Unless you have the key to open it.” She said, holding up what appeared to be Lerigot’s wand. Kemora lunged for the wand, but in a flash of light, it was gone. “Not so fast.” Teeg purred. “One thing at a time.”

Andros finished his morning exercises and collapsed gratefully down on the grass to meditate for a few minutes before the house began stirring. After watching him animatedly for the better part of an hour, his daughter was asleep again in her bouncy chair. He grinned at the way her head lolled to one side and wondered how she was able to sleep so soundly that way.

She was a good baby, sleeping almost all the way through the night already, but she still woke up way too early for her mother. He didn’t mind, he was usually up before dawn anyway and it wasn’t a problem for him to get up with her. Besides, despite the fact that most of the people in his culture would have given him a ton a grief over it, he kind of liked cuddling with her in the early mornings and giving her a bottle. It was the only time of day that it was just the two of them and he’d talk to her in Kaoan and tell her all the history and legends of his people.

As the morning sun began to creep towards them, he noticed that the last of the fine blond baby hair she’d been born with was finally falling out and the new, thicker hair was emerging in its place. The new hair was a slightly darker blond which would probably look more like he mother’s light brown hair when she got older, but there was also the beginnings of a dark brown, almost black, swatch of hair directly on the top of her head. The short, wispy strands flared out in all directions, looking almost like a little beanie cap.

He moved a little closer to examine the new pattern and grinned a little broader, eyes softening. Not that there was any doubt she was his, but it was kind of nice to see a little physical evidence of it. The bright blue eyes she’d been born with three months ago were darkening and she looked exactly like the baby pictures of her mother. He had one or two images of him and Karone as children, as well as the recording of Karone’s last day with them, but no pictures of himself or his sister as infants to compare; which kind of saddened him.

Part of it was cultural. Portraits were taken at specific times, but childhood wasn’t chronicled in nearly as much detail as it was on his wife’s world; life was harder there and it was considered frivolous and indulgent. Ashley’s whole life, as well as her little brother’s, was well documented in photographs and movies. In a way, it was kind of nice to be able to compare his daughter to his wife and see her develop the same way. It was one of the few cultural oddities he found pleasing. He moved his daughter’s chair slightly to one side and out of the light as the sun rose a little higher. Sighing deeply, he laid back on the grass and stared up at the sky before closing his eyes.

He didn’t know what to do. A huge part of him wanted to go home, but another part of him agreed with his sister. KO-35 wasn’t any safer than Earth. In fact, Earth was probably located in the more quiet of the two systems. It pleased him to no end that Ashley was willing to go. He’d been prepared for a bigger struggle, but he also didn’t want to make a move that big for stupid reasons. The truth was, it wasn’t completely safe anywhere.

He’d set up a conference call with Zane later in the day to talk things over with him. Zane was also seriously considering moving his family back to the colony on KO-35, but the difference was, his friend wouldn’t actually be living with them. Andros wasn’t all that surprised, Zane had never been exactly the domestic type.

His friend had surprised him six years ago by actually doing the responsible thing and buying into the government’s demands to increase the population. Despite his continued association with the new Astro Rangers, he’d gone back to KO-34 and allowed the matchmakers to find and contract him, short term, to a Kaoan wife. Five years and three children later, the contract was up and he was done playing the responsible patriarch. The association had ended amicably and Andros privately wondered if Zane’s wife was as glad to see it end as his friend was. Still, he had promised his newly ex-spouse that he would help her claim his family’s old homestead on KO-35 and had promised to stay connected with them until she and the children were settled.

It chaffed Andros a bit that Zane was the one to go back home and fulfill his obligations to their people. Andros had always been the steady, dependable one and Zane the immature wild card. The former silver Ranger now had three children, all of whom were purebred Kaoan citizens, while Andros had been incredibly selfish and accepted ostracism rather than give Ashley up. That wasn’t exactly true, he reminded himself. He was still considered a Kaoan citizen, something most in his position didn’t have in their favor. Andros was a hero to his people, a famous Power Ranger, a warrior who had seen his people through their darkest hours. It had been made clear to him that he was welcome back at any time…without his wife and child.

He frowned deeply and opened his eyes, watching the white fluffy clouds drift across the sky. Ashley was his whole world, his entire existence. He could never give her up; a huge part of him would simply shrivel up and die without her. It never failed to astonish him how deeply they were connected. A whole new universe had been opened to him through her; one few, if any, would ever understand.

He hadn’t wanted their relationship, had fought it at first. He’d known nothing could ever come of it, she was from Earth and, if he survived the war against Dark Specter, he was expected to marry a Kaoan female. But right from the start she’d been special and after a while he simply figured it couldn’t hurt to be together…if only while they were fighting together as Rangers. It had surprised him to no end how crushing it was to watch her return Earth without him. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think through the panic that had engulfed him and, in the end, couldn’t let the door to her ship close without jumping back in after her.

He’d never once regretted leaving his world behind for her. He’d been saddened, he’d felt guilty, but he would never, ever, regret being with her. It thrilled him to know she felt the same way and would give up everything to remain by his side too.

He closed his eyes again tightly, grinding his jaw at the next thoughts that came to mind. Karone was right, Ashley was going to hate it on KO-35. She might feel the same way about being with him, but the cold hard facts were that she was from a primitive backwater world and many of the other colonists would snub their nose at her. His daughter would fare a little better, because she was his, but she’d always be labeled a half-breed.

On Earth Ashley had her extended family who loved her and Sage without question. She was also just on the verge of actually becoming a famous designer. Before the fire, she had hired four more seamstresses and they were seriously talking about buying office space and hiring a bigger staff. Right now, her designs were all custom orders to the rich and famous, but she was just beginning negotiations to expand the line with several high end department stores. Did he really have the right to take her away from that?

On the other hand, if he didn’t claim that old homestead it would be lost to him forever. It was a last break from his old life, a final cut from his heritage. He didn’t know what to do. The thought of another family living there was too much for him. He desperately wanted it back.

Sage sneezed loudly and gave a short, indignant cry at being woken up so rudely. He smiled as her face scrunched up, promising a full fledged crying fit if something wasn’t done to remedy the situation immediately. He unstrapped her from the bouncy seat, nestling her between his neck and shoulder and rubbing her back. If they went home he’d be considered slightly perverted for cuddling her so openly. At best, people would sneer at him for spoiling her emotionally. Kaoans were tough; they learned very early to accept the physical boundaries of their society. Coddling a child was unacceptable and it had surprised him that parents on Earth did it so unabashedly.

It had taken Ashley years to break through his ingrained restrictions on open physical contact, but he enjoyed the openness now. He certainly wasn’t complaining that his wife preferred to be physically close to him. He enjoyed her affections, it spoiled him, and, once he got used to the idea, he didn’t think twice now about returning them. Yet another thing Ashley would have difficulty with and, if he was honest, something he’d have difficulty going back to.

Sage sneezed loudly again and began to wail in earnest. He lifted her up above his head and jiggled her. “I don’t think either you or your momma would be very happy to leave this place, do you?” he said, more to himself than his daughter. Sage responded by intensifying her cries and he sighed deeply, placing her back against her shoulder. “I don’t think either of you would be happy at all.” He said again, standing up and walking back into the small guest house in search of another bottle, “I’m not sure I would either.”

Just before eleven thirty in the morning, Kim found herself walking towards the elevator that would take them to the fifth floor of the county courthouse in Reefside. Although it had been nice to meet Tommy’s friend Anton Mercer, the promised ten minute meeting had taken well over an hour and Tommy was fuming by the time the final paper work was signed. Kim didn’t think he’d read half of what he’d actually signed, which concerned her, but he didn’t appear to care. Anton seemed surprised by both her appearance at the meeting and his friend’s agitated behavior, but didn’t question Tommy’s comment that they had a very tight schedule to keep today.

They had borrowed the conference room for a short meeting with Tommy’s lawyer, where the Hart Family pre-up was signed and notarized by Anton’s office notary and then he’d all but dragged her to a local jeweler to buy the rings; muttering angrily when they reached the shop and realized it didn’t open until ten.

She’d stalled things a little more than she’d intended by not finding anything she liked, but nothing seemed to look or feel good with her engagement ring. She liked her diamond ring, which was really an anniversary eternity band, and in the end had decided she’d just use that. Tommy hadn’t agreed, which kind of surprised her, and finally bought her a matching band to the one he’d picked out. He told her she could wear one or the other, but he was definitely buying her a wedding band.

They hadn’t gotten to the courthouse until eleven and, despite Tommy’s fear that there would be a huge crowd in the licensing office, they found themselves only third in line. Kim just knew, deep down, that there would be a waiting period of some sort, or at the very least they’d be told they needed an appointment for a justice of the peace, but, to her astonishment, they were told to take the elevator to the fifth floor and sign in.

As the elevator opened and the previous occupants exited, she took a deep breath and nervously slid her hands over her skirt. The suit she’d picked out had been one that she’d bought on a shopping spree with Carri before the reunion. She hadn’t intended on buying it, it was a fluff purchase, but it was one of the few outfits she’d tried on that day that fit her to a tee without alterations…and it had been more than seventy-five percent off. The silk suit was a sort of ashy pink and it had a pretty design throughout and she’d really liked it. She’d thought at the time that she could always wear it to one of her friend’s weddings, almost everyone she knew seemed to be getting married in the next twelve months, but she never dreamed the first time she’d wear it would be to her own marriage.

“You ok?’ Tommy asked calmly as the elevator doors slid shut.

“No.” She said, her voice sounding shaky, even to her own ears. “I’m scared out of my mind. This is nuts. You know it and I know it.”

“You’ll live.” He said casually and she fought the urge to reach out and smack him. He regarded her casually, only the twinkle in his eye giving his amusement away. She wasn’t amused at all and when the elevator slid doors open a few seconds later, she physically jumped. “Come on Beautiful.” He soothed, grabbing her arm and leading her out. “I promise it won’t be nearly as difficult as you think it is.”

Kim swallowed hard, her legs actually shaking to the point where she could hardly walk. Part of her was slightly embarrassed, she’d faced some of the worst villains in the galaxy, she was a trained master warrior of Phaedos, had been a Power Ranger for most of her life… people got married all the time, why was it so terrifying to her?

Tommy took his hand from her arm and slipped it around her waist, noticing her trembling. Part of him felt badly for pressing the matter and for a moment he almost relented and considered offering her a reprieve. But if she was this nervous about things now, she’d be far worse a week from now, let alone in a month or six months. He wanted it over and done with. He needed to take her with him on his next trip to Eltar and Triforia in a few days and he wanted to be able to claim her as his spouse and register that status in the Intergalactic community.

He was also, he admitted, more than a little jealous that another ex-boyfriend wanted her back. He’d seen the wistful look on her face this morning and, despite her protests, he knew there’d been a lot more feeling between her and Josh than she’d let on. He honestly believed her when she said it was long over between them and he didn’t think Josh’s visit in a few days would make any difference…but he wasn’t about to take any chances either. Anton’s call this morning had been providential and he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He calmly led her to the assigned window and signed them in, directing her to sit in the waiting area.

She slid into an open plastic chair, crossing her arms and looking nervously around her. There weren’t that many people there, which surprised her, but it was the day after a holiday and she supposed most people would wait until Monday. Above the scuffed up white door next the sign-in window was a number counter which ready twenty-five.

“What number are we?” She asked looking for all the world like a deer caught in the headlights of a Mack truck.

“Twenty-seven.” He said calmly, taking the seat next to her.

“Oh god…” she moaned.

Trini was beginning to panic. It was eleven-thirty and her maid of honor still hadn’t responded to her cell phone pages and text messages that their hair appointments had been moved up to noon. She could barely sit still as the nail technician applied the last coat of polish on her nails and directed her to sit under the lamps until they dried. All around her, her aunts and cousins chattered excitedly in Vietnamese, bantering and laughing with the technicians of the salon.

“Don’t worry so much.” Her Uncle Henry’s wife scolded her gently. “It’s not good for the baby. Everything will come out just fine and if your maid of honor doesn’t make it, you have a dozen cousins who will be more than happy to step in.”

This accelerated the conversations around her and Trini literally took the palms of her hands and placed them over her ears. It wasn’t so much that Kim wasn’t there with them, getting her nails and hair done, it was that she hadn’t responded to the pages. The last thing Trini wanted was a monster attack interrupting the ceremony.

“You have a text message!” Her cousin Jackie said, excitedly waving the phone and dancing up next to her.

“Don’t let her mess up her nails.” Her mother barked. “Just read it to her.”

“No, that’s fine, give me the phone.” Trini insisted.

“No that’s ok.” Jackie said, pulling back and keeping it out of her grasp. Trini groaned and prayed Kim wouldn’t send anything too revealing back.

“What does it say?” Trini insisted, concerned more than ever by her cousin’s frown as she read the text.

“Something’s come up…delayed..will be there soon…promise.”

Trini sighed heavily, relieved that Kim at least knew the time had been moved up, but fear also constricted her chest. There were too many monster attacks recently. Something was up, even Billy was concerned. Hopefully, whatever it was would be taken care of quickly and they could get on with the day.

Her eyes glanced at one of the clocks on the wall, Billy’s mother was due in at one. If she arrived on time and if she’d actually managed to make the flight at all, they’d have to take her directly to the manor to change before photos. Once again she regretted encouraging Billy to wait on his mother. If they had just gone ahead and gotten married when they originally wanted to, her own mother wouldn’t have had nearly the time to plan something so elaborate.

Her eyes re-focused on the bustling room and she noticed a short man in a business suit up by the front counter. The lady behind the counter pointed in her direction and the man looked up, meeting her eyes. Trini frowned, her stomach sinking, as he walked forward and stopped directly in front of her.

“Ms Trini Kwan?” he asked and she nodded dumbly. He took out an envelope and held it in front of her. “You’ve been officially served.”

As Trini took the envelope, he turned and left the salon, ignoring the protests and angry chattering of the women around him. She looked after him in astonishment for a few seconds and then turned her attention to the envelope. Ignoring the wet enamel on her nails, she opened it with shaking hands.

“What? What is it?” Her mother demanded, walking over to her, then tisked her and motioned for the nail tech to come back and fixed the smudged nails.

“I’m being sued.’ She said incredulously.

“By who?” her cousin asked.

“Geirge….I don’t understand it. He got re-married weeks ago.”

“Let me see that.” Her mother said, firmly snatching the letter out of her hands. She protested, but her mother ignored her.

“You’re divorced right?” An aunt asked her.

“I think so.” Trini answered numbly. “I mean, he’s already re-married. At least I think he is. She’s already had the baby.”

“I told you that was a disaster waiting to happen.” Another aunt fussed. She was talking to Trini’s mother and the two were bent over the document as if they could make sense of the whole thing.

Trini motioned to her cousin to give her the phone. Without really thinking about it, she pressed the speed dial to Billy’s phone in the lab. She wasn’t sure if he was there or not, but she knew he’d forward his calls if he left. On the third ring he picked up. Without any preamble, she burst into tears and sobbed into the phone, “I need you!”

As Andros walked into the communications and reception center on level eight he was struck by two things. One, it was unusually crowded and two, instead of waiting for him on the other side of a communications panel, Zane was standing there, in person, grinning like an idiot in front of him.

“What are you doing here?” He gasped, first greeting him with a non formal arm to arm touch and then grabbing him in a full fledged hug. Although they had kept in close contact, they rarely actually saw each other face to face. When work brought Andros back to KO-34, Zane was usually based with the Astro Rangers at the shipyard at KO-35 and Zane hadn’t been back to Earth since he’d broken up with Karone.

“I couldn’t resist.” Zane said unrepentantly. “The techs were delivering a new ship to NASADA and I jumped on board for the ride. Think you can take me back in a few days?”

“I’m not scheduled to go back to KO-34 for another three weeks.” Andros answered honestly.

“Works for me.” His friend answered casually. “Can you put me up or do I need to look for a bunk on base?”

“Better look for something here.” Andros said honestly, “Things at Ashley’s parent’s house are kind of tight right now, but I’m glad you’re staying.”

“So what’s this about you possibly moving back?” Zane asked, moving out of the way so several humans and Aquitians could move past them.”

“It’s a long story.” Andros replied with a wry look. “I’m not so sure now…Karone’s against it, Ashley will go but she doesn’t want to…I just don’t know what to do.”

Zane rolled his eyes and made a dramatic gesture which seemed to indicate he was expecting that answer. Slapping his back affectionately he said in an animated voice, “Why don’t you buy me dinner and we’ll talk it over.”

“It’s barely lunchtime here.” Andros laughed.

“Then you can buy me lunch.” Zane said with a comical face. “I’m starving... that ship might be the fastest yet, but it’s food synthetrons stink.”

Andros grinned at his friend. They might be older and have families of their own, but he still felt like a kid around Zane. His friend never changed. He was still the same easy going and carefree boy he’d always been. Andros envied him that. Life just didn’t seem to faze him.

“Come on, I think Bulkmier’s might be opening soon. If not, then I know Bulk will at least let us in early.”

“Oh my god, you didn’t…” Carri gasped as she dropped her bags at the front door and walked quickly over to inspect the rental clothes bag hanging on the frame of the master bedroom doorway. This was the last thing she needed to deal with right now. Those creeps who were following her around Angel Grove were watching her check out at Macy’s. She’d managed to get a picture of them on her cell phone, so Rocky would have to believe her now. Unfortunately, his cell was dead as a doornail because he’d forgotten his charger, and she didn’t want to send it through Josh’s, so she’d had to wait until she got home to show it to him. He couldn’t argue with her now, it might be a coincidence that they showed up in the same places around Angel Grove, but New York?

The photo, however, was quickly forgotten as she unhooked the bag from its perch and pointed an accusing finger at it. “What the hell is this?”

“It’s all right Carri.’ Josh said, standing up and physically moving between his sister and her boyfriend. “I went with him, it’s actually a very good tux.”

“A rental?” Carri nearly screeched. “My god Josh, mom’ll have him chopped to bits and served on crackers…she’s gonna have a hissy…you know she can spot those things a mile away.”

“I am not gonna spend four month’s rent on a suit that I’ll wear for a few hours at best.” Rocky said firmly, turning the TV on mute and crossing his arms over his chest.

Carri closed her eyes and groaned. She knew it was too good to be true when the boys insisted they could go shopping alone. She kicked herself mentally for not anticipating it; if Rocky was anything it was practical, but Josh totally knew better. She thought for sure Rocky’d either end up buying something or call the whole thing off and go back to Angel Grove like she wanted to.

“Carri it’s fine, Rocky found this place online that has some seriously nice stuff. I helped him pick it out myself and miracle of miracles they actually had his size. I might just keep it in mind for myself.”

“Let’s see it.” Carri said, voice deadpan but eyes ready to kill her brother. She tossed the bag indignantly on the couch and Josh picked it up, giving her a snotty look.

Rocky also gave her an impatient look and stood, moving her brother aside, and opening the bag to produce a very nice designer tux, vest and tie. At first glance, Carri was floored, and Rocky noticed smugly that it showed on her face. It was actually a real designer suit and the style was very current. Josh obviously picked out the vest, it was silver and totally wrong for Rocky’s personality, but it would pass her mother’s first look-over just fine. She combed it over, pulling the seams, examining the lining, checking for wear on the fabric… giving it every scrutiny her mom might. One of the pocket seams had been opened and there was some minor creasing where it might have been altered or repaired once, but on the whole it wasn’t bad. The make was probably about two, maybe three years old, and it was a rack version of the designer’s label, but on the whole she was fairly impressed. For a rental, it was a damn good suit.

“Where’s the shirt?” She asked, the hard edge still in her voice. Josh grinned at her. He knew his sister and knew if the tux could pass her inspection in daylight, it would more than pass his mother’s after a few martinis.

“Josh insisted I buy the shirt.” Rocky said, by his tone Carri assumed he felt he had paid way too much for it and she was right, it was a rack shirt from Josh’s tailor, but a really good one.

“Well?” Josh asked, one eyebrow raised.

“It’ll do.” Carri said gruffly. Josh gave a loud whoop and grinned at Rocky before she added, “If we arrive late and mom’s well into her martini glass.”

“Oh come on Car…admit it, we did good.” Josh pressed.

Carri gave Rocky a tolerant look, then nodded. “I’m impressed…I had no idea they had rentals like this.”

“Rentals about five times the regular price,” Rocky grumbled. “The tux I rented for my cousin’s wedding was only sixty bucks….what?” He asked as Carri’s hands came up to her sides of her head. Her fingers clawed into her hair and for a moment he was seriously concerned for her; they were only just back from Aquitar and he was always alert for setbacks.

“My head…the two of you…” She groaned. “Oh my god my head hurts…and it isn’t even three o’clock yet...” She pushed past them into the bedroom and flopped on the bed inside. “I’m not gonna survive today, ya know that?” She moaned.

“Does that mean you don’t want to come to the club with us for a couple of beers and a late lunch?” Josh asked, leaning into the bedroom and grinning at his sister. She responded by tossing a pillow at him.

“What’s with her?” Rocky asked her brother.

Shortly before noon on the opposite side of the country Tommy opened a glass door and held it open…for his wife to walk through. Kimberly was still in a daze and he had a good notion it hadn’t actually hit her yet. It had hit him, it hit him hard as they were walking out the door to the elevator. He knew he was grinning like an idiot, but he didn’t care. He’d won. It had been the most uncertain battle of his life, but he’d actually gotten her to the altar before she could change her mind again. Kimberly Hart was officially his and his alone.

“You alright?” He asked. It almost sounded like a giggle. He hadn’t been this happy in years. It was almost like the day after their first tryst at the lake, when he was walking to school and suddenly realized what they’d done the night before.

“That’s it?” she asked, squinting a bit as she walked out into the bright sunlight. “That’s all there was to it?”

“What do you mean is that it? We just got married!” He said animatedly and she simply stared at him like he was an idiot. “You’re officially Mrs. Oliver.” He added, genuinely laughing as that realization very visibly crossed her face.

“But…there was nothing to it…it was over in less than a minute.”

“You said you wanted it simple.” He said patiently, amused by her behavior.

“Not that simple…”

“Kimberly…”

“But, she didn’t even ask us to exchange rings.” She sputtered, referring to the officer of the court who had married them. “She just asked if we were there willingly, we signed a form…and that was it…”

“Which reminds me…” He said, taking her left hand and adding her new ring to the finger where her engagement ring was. He took his own ring and put into in her hand, holding his left hand out expectantly.

“But…there was no ‘we are gathered’, no ‘you may now kiss the bride’…just… ‘sign here...congratulations...next!"

I’ll gladly kiss the bride if you’ll put the damn ring on my finger.” He said expectantly.

“Huh?” She asked and he held his left hand up a little higher. “Oh…” she took the ring and added it to his fourth finger. Grinning like a mad hatter, he startled her by scooping her up and kissing her passionately, but despite her slight jump at the onset, he got the distinct feeling she wasn’t exactly in attendance. He pulled back and regarded her a moment, arms still firmly around her waist. She was just staring at him like she wasn’t entirely sure he was really there.

“You gonna cry?” He asked seriously and watched as her eyes met his and focused a little better.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.” He said firmly.

“That’s all we had to do?” She asked incredulously.

“That’s all we had to do.”

“And it’s really real? It’s over and done with..?” She asked as if she still couldn’t quite fathom what had just happened.

“Completely legal Beautiful.” He said with a grin.

“Holy shit…”

He couldn’t help it, he threw his head back and laughed, ignoring the stares of the other people going in and coming out of the courthouse. He tightened his arms around her, picked her up and twirled her around. She squealed and, to his delight, actually laughed as well.

“Oh my god…our mother’s are gonna kill us…” She giggled as he came to a stop and set her down.

“Know what?” He asked seriously, hands sliding down across her hips and pulling her into him.

“What?” she asked, tilting her head back and leering at him seductively.

“I really don’t care.” He whispered, leaning in and kissing her just as soundly as he had before. This time she threw her arms around his neck and responded heartily; while more than one person grinned at them as they passed by.

“So what does it mean?” Trini fretted. Billy had transported her back to the Command Center where he’d been working and quickly called her lawyer for her. She was so nervous, she’d begun to sweat and her stomach cramped painfully. Billy had immediately strapped her to a medical bed to make sure everything was alright with the baby and was waiting on hold for Mr. Shills to receive and review the copy of the document he’d faxed. “Can we still get married today?” she asked. She wanted to throw up. Her stomach knotted painfully again and she winced, eyes scanning the readouts to assure herself everything was really ok.

Billy rose from his seat at the communications board and checked various dials and levers. The baby was stable, but she was definitely having contractions. The computer seemed to have it under control though, but whether or not she should move and spend a long day up at the manor was yet to be seen.

“Sweetheart your divorce is final and Geirge is already re-married.” He said gently. “Nothing can stop the wedding today except us. Let Shills review the document and he’ll tell us what this is all about.” He answered her. He was going to strangle that ex-husband of hers. He didn’t understand yet what this was all about, but when he found out, he was going to go after that man until he was crushed into pulp.

“But why would he sue me? What does he want?”

“I don’t know.” Billy said honestly, “Probably just to ruin your wedding…and it’s working, you’re upset to the point of having contractions. You need to take some deep breaths and let me handle this.”

“But…”

“No buts Trini. I don’t care if this wedding goes on as planned or not. What I do care about is keeping that pregnancy stable and you healthy. That’s all that matters and that’s what you need to focus on.”

“Billy…I’m sorry.” She said, tears breaking free again. She was never one to cry, but the pregnancy had changed that. It seemed like that was all she did lately.

“What are you sorry for?” He asked, pulling up a chair and sitting down next to her.

“I’ve caused you so much trouble. You didn’t ask for any of this. All I’ve done is bring one drama after another into your life. It isn’t fair. You didn’t ask for me to turn your life upside down like this.”

Billy leaned forward and took her hand, bringing it to his lips. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” He said gently. “You’ve brought a lot more good into my life than I could have ever hoped for.”

“But I’ve saddled you with all my problems…and you’ve been so good me…and I’ve just sat back and let you handle everything over and over again.” She said, tears flowing heavily.

“I love you.” He said simply. “I’ve always loved you. Believe me, compared to everything else going on, this is nothing.” He paused and kissed her hand again, grinning a little. “And as for letting me handle things, that’s what I want to do. You’re responsibility is that baby; nothing else.”

She started to answer, but her lawyer’s voice came over the communications terminal. Billy rose and lifted the receiver so that she couldn’t hear what was being said and she shot him a frustrated look. She wasn’t a china doll that was going to break because of some bad news. Then again, she was lying on the medical bed sweating and fighting contractions. His responses were clam, but hard, and the look on his face was murderous.

“What is it?” She asked as he ended the call and walked back to her. “What’s going on?”

“It’s a frivolous suit and Shill’s is going to try and get it dismissed. Honestly Trini, it’s bizarre given the situation.”

“What? Tell me.” She insisted.

“Geirge is suing both you and me in separate suits under some bizarre adultery law. He’s saying that we owe him damages because you claimed to be infertile, leading him to dissolve your marriage in hopes of producing children with another woman, and then you immediately turn up pregnant with my child. He’s claiming that we’ve been having an affair for years and faked your infertility so he’d divorce you and you could still take half his possessions.”

“That’s insane.” She said incredulously. “He’s the one who’s been having extra martial affairs for years…his girlfriend was six months pregnant when he kicked me out.”

“I know.” Billy said, taking her hand and shaking his head a bit. There was a bit more to it than that, but all of it was bullshit and he wouldn’t stress her out with it right now. The pregnancy seemed stable enough, but Trini was already very upset and he wouldn’t ruin this day further. She’d find out the complete details soon enough anyway.

“Why? Why would he do this now? He has a new wife and a new baby and he walked away from me with practically everything. I got a tiny settlement considering…I didn’t even get the clothes or the photographs I left behind.”

“Don’t worry about it love.” He said gently. “Geirge obviously timed this to ruin the wedding. I wasn’t served yet because they can’t get close enough to me, but I have a feeling that once I show up at the manor, someone will be waiting for me. Let’s not let it bother us ok? Shill’s is putting a good team together and he’s going to get his associates in Geneva on it right away.”

“But what does he think it’s going to accomplish?”

“I’m wealthy. He doesn’t know how wealthy, but I think he’s looked into my public records and put two and two together.”

“So it’s money?” She asked, a deep frown developing on her forehead. Geirge’s parents were fairly well off and he was a good businessman. They hadn’t been rich, but life had been a lot more comfortable than with her parents.

“Basically.” He said dismissively. Too dismissively, he wasn’t telling her the whole story yet.

“How much does he want?” She said in a hard voice that surprised him a bit. In a way, it was good that she was getting angry again. If she got angry, she’d get her fight back and tackle the problem head on rather than sit and fret for hours on end.

“Fifty million.” He answered evenly.

“What?” She asked, sitting up and ignoring the alarms of the medical bed. Billy gave her an overly patient look and pushed her back down again. “I don’t have fifty million….dollars or anything else.” She said incredulously.

“I know, as I said, it’s frivolous and we’re going to try and get it tossed out. He’s obviously trying to make waves in hopes we’ll pay him off and be done with it.”

Trini laid back and exhaled an impatient breath. Billy understood and squeezed her hand in sympathy. Hopefully, they’d be able to get this thing dismissed and put their wedding day back together again, but he wasn’t so sure. Her ex was up to something; he just didn’t know what.

“So now you think you don’t want to do it?” Zane asked, breaking the silence that had fallen between them as Andros finished his ramblings. He really wasn’t surprised. Ashley would hate KO-35. He’d been stunned that his friend was even considering it, but it had been fun to think about living in the same city again.

“I don’t know what to do.” Andros said helplessly. “If we stay here, we’re targets, if we go, my wife gives up everything…but Sage would have all the benefits of a modern society.”

“But their building and intergalactic port city here right?”

“Yeah.” Andros answered, nodding his head. “That’s what Tommy’s trying to do, but it’s barely in the blueprint stage now…it could be decades before it’s finished.”

“But they’re building it right?”

“Yeah, they’re really going to build it.”

Zane leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms behind his head, hands coming to rest behind his neck. That changed everything. A city of Andros’s description would fast track Earth as a Federated world. A big city this far from Gruumm’s hand would be a powerful draw and make Earth very desirable.

He didn’t know Tommy. They’d met briefly right after the Zordon wave, but he’d never gotten to know the legendary Ranger like Andros had. The idea of an academy that would train all Rangers fascinated him. The Rangers all might be on the same side, but every team was very different and very secretive. It would be an awesome opportunity to be able to learn from more than one perspective. To be in on it from the inception, that would be priceless. He wondered if Andros could get him in on it.

“So what do you think?” Andros asked, breaking his friend’s chain of thought.

“Honestly?” He asked and Andros nodded. “I think you’re insane to want to go back.”

“Why?” Andros said with a slight edge in his voice, “Because I don’t want to give up my family’s prime real estate there and my daughter would grow up with the best education?”

“Because you already have a good life here.” Zane answered plainly. “If you go back, yes, you have the land, but I don’t know what gives you the idea that the infrastructure is still there. The colony on KO-35 has been a ship building yard for nearly a decade. Some of the roughest dock workers in the galaxy call that city home…it’s not what it used to be.”

“And yet you’re going there.”

“It’s Moirana’s idea, not mine.” Zane answered, rolling his eyes and giving his friend a frustrated look. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good mother and this new husband she’s signing with is a good guy…I like him and he’s good to the kids…but I’m not thrilled my children are leaving KO-34.”

Andros leaned back in his chair and stared at the pool area. It was unusually warm for November, but no one was swimming in it. Ashley would be elated to stay, but part of him was deeply saddened to have that land settled by someone else.

“Andros, you have a good thing going here.” Zane continued. “You’ve got a wife that adores you, the support of her entire extended family, you work with some of the most famous Rangers in the galaxy, you’re an ambassador for Earth to more than just your home world, …yeah, a couple of punks scared the shit out you, but I’m a hell of a lot more worried about my kids. If Gruumm turns and we’re not ready, my children are going to grow up working in the mines of some alien prison camp. You’re worried that Saegwyn is gonna get laughed at for her hair and called an alien. I’ll tell you right now, this city idea has me thinking. If I can get Moirana interested, I’d much rather bring the kids here.”

“Why?”

“Because the whole part of leaving KO-34 for her is that KO-35 is more desirable… less restrictive on what you can and can’t do. It’s a chance to start over, to make more for our kids. Right now you can’t even buy land in some areas on KO-34 if you don’t have the right pedigree. I can, because I was a Ranger and my father was who he was…but Moirana can’t….she can just hold it for my kids. That frustrates the hell out of her…and she’s got a damn good pedigree, just not good enough in some places.”

“But your children are still purebreds, you don’t have the stigmatism that we face.”

“You’d be surprised how attitudes are changing.” Zane said honestly. “I doubt it’ll happen in our lifetime, but the younger generations like us are tired of being persecuted for the isolationistic ways. We want to be part of the intergalactic community; not restricted from it. We’re so inbred…ahhh…it doesn’t matter. I doubt when my kids grow up they’ll tolerate being assigned spouses and living spaces. Kids just a little younger than us are already leaving in droves just so they can choose their own mate. Things are changing, the old guard isn’t as strong as it was before Dark Specter conquered us. Our generation had a taste of freedom during the rebellion and we’re not as willing to put up with the old ways.”

“And yet you submitted your name and contracted a wife.” Andros pointed out and Zane shrugged.

“I had my own reasons.” He said unrepentantly. “I don’t regret it, my kids are awesome…I love them more than I ever thought was possible…which was why we had three of them instead of two…but I won’t do it again.”

Andros nodded and a silence fell between them. He needed to talk to his wife again. She’d already said she’d go and they had told her parents they were going, but he didn’t think she’d mind at all if he warbled and changed his mind. Her parents had cried all morning that they were leaving and his sister wasn’t speaking to him. He said as much and Zane grinned at him.

“And how is Karone?” He asked, just a little of the light dimming in his eyes.

“The same.” Andros answered, well aware of how badly his sister had hurt his friend. Part of him was convinced the two still loved each other, but he stayed out of it; passing along information only when it was asked. “She keeps serving as an alternate on Ranger teams. I think she thinks it’s the only way to atone for things. In-between assignments she does who knows what for Tommy. I worry about her, but I can’t tell her that.”

Zane nodded and his eyes turned up a bit. “And people used to call me the wild card.” He mused. “Hey, do you think you could introduce me to Tommy?” he asked, changing the subject. Not that he wasn’t grateful for any information Andros could pass on about his sister, but he had another idea brewing around in his head.

“You don’t know him?” Andros asked, surprised.

“Only met him once after the Zordon wave and didn’t have a clue who he was until later.” Zane said shaking his head. “Do you think he might be interested in signing on another retiree to this project of his?”

“You’re serious?” Andros asked, genuinely surprised.

“Very serious.”

“But what about the colony and your work with the rangers on KO-35?”

Zane shrugged and pursed his lips together. The truth was he wasn’t traditional enough for the conservative young kids on the Astro team now. They were chosen by the government because they were upstanding young role models and he wasn’t considered a very good influence them. True, he’d married and produced three kids, but he still had too many controversial ideas. Those kids had no idea what they were getting into. Only the red had even been out of that sector of space. Zane had traveled the galaxies, he had a wealth of knowledge to share…the new Astros just didn’t want to hear it. They kept him around because he was who he was, but if he could jump ship and get onboard with this new city they were building….that could be interesting.

“The new kids on the Astro team seem to want to do things their own way.” He said, giving his friend and odd look. Andros frowned but didn’t press him on it. That was what he liked best about his friend. He’d only give out his advice if you directly asked for it. The rest of the time, he just waited and listened.

“I think Tommy would be glad to have you.” Andros said simply.

“What happened?” Kim asked, the concern evident in her voice as she walked over to the where Trini was lying on the medical bed.

“I’m fine.” Trini assured her. “Geirge’s suing me.”

“That’s what you mother said.” Kim responded. “I would have been here earlier, but she practically tied me to the chair and forced me to get my hair and makeup done.”

Trini smiled at the face she made and Kim relaxed a little. She and Tommy had transported back for her hair appointment only to be assaulted by Trini’s mother, aunts, and cousins at the salon. They had gone on and on about how nobody knew where the bride and groom were or if the wedding could continue, but no one would let her out of the salon to go find out until her hair was done and she was wearing her dress…just in case. Finally, Kim had sent Tommy out to find out what was going on. He’d returned just as the last of the six layers of hairspray were being lacquered to her half up-do with the news that everything was fine and they were still on schedule.

“So where’s Billy?” She asked, looking around the Command Center.

“I convinced him to let me rest and go to the airport with his dad to pick up Aisha and his mother.”

“How’d you do that?”

“I told him all his fussing was stressing me out even more.” She answered with a grin. “Apparently his mother made the connection in Chicago. She’s not on the same plane as Aisha, but the planes land very close to one another. They took two cars so they could make sure to fit everyone.”

“Sounds like a plan. You sure you’re ok with going ahead?”

“Absolutely. The contractions stopped after a few minutes and I feel fine. Trust me, Billy wasn’t about to leave until the computer cleared me… I just hope he doesn’t end up yelling at his mother.” Trini said with a sigh. “He doesn’t like her Kim. He calls her a fruit loop… and Billy never says a word against anyone…well maybe Dr. Franzstien. “ She added wryly. “I promised him I’d stay here and rest until he got back.”

“Aisha will keep him in check.” Kim said knowingly.

“I don’t know her all that well.” Trini admitted, “But Billy’s happy she’s coming back out for the wedding.”

“Trust me, Aisha is very capable of keeping everyone at the wedding in line. He’ll follow her marching orders.” Kim said wryly as she helped Trini sit up. “He knows she’ll pound him if he doesn’t.” She added with a grin.

“Geirge wants money.” Trini said evenly, breaking the jovial tone.

“If it’s not one thing it’s another.” Kim commented and Trini closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

“I thought I was done with him.” She said, opening her eyes and looking squarely at Kim. “He wanted me gone, I’m gone. Now I go on with my life and he’s not satisfied I didn’t suffer enough?”

“Sweetie it’s your wedding day. If you let him ruin it, he wins.”

“Tell me again why I’m getting married again?” Trini said in a frustrated manner. It was said in jest, but there was an undertone Kim didn’t miss.

“Because you married the wrong guy last time. There’s a very genuine, very loving man waiting for you who adores you more than life itself. It’s going to be ok Trini.” Kim assured.

“Did that crystal ball of yours tell you that?” Trini said flippantly.

“It’s right this time.” Kim stated seriously.

“I thought it was right last time.” Trini said sadly. “And I was very, very wrong.”

“Trini, we can never know for certain where our actions will lead us.” Kim said gently. “We can only determine the best course at the time and act on it. Sometimes it leads us down the right path, sometimes we get detoured. If you hadn’t married Geirge, you wouldn’t have that baby, don’t forget I know the truth on that matter, so you can’t ever say it was a wrong decision. Maybe it turned out to be a painful one, but you still got something very good out of it. Right now, you have a man who loves you very much and wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with you. The future’s never certain and never clear; it just is. Take the good and the bad together, appreciate them for what they are, and move on with your life.”

“Excuse me, but did that just come from the girl who refused to bowl at my fourteenth birthday party because you thought you might crack a nail?” Trini asked, a comically baffled look on her face.

“Yeah well…” Kim said, laughing with her and thinking privately that maybe she should listen to her own adive. “We all grow up sometime.”

“Thank you.” Trini said seriously.

“Anytime.” Kim quipped back, hugging her.

Bridgewell Manor was completely decked out by the time Trini arrived. It had been pretty last night at the rehearsal, but this afternoon it was like a fairytale garden decked out with toile and paper lanterns. Her family had worked very hard on it all through the morning and she was suddenly very appreciative. She hadn’t wanted a full ceremony, but she was glad now that it was happening. Her mother and her aunts had ushered her into the bride’s room where they had somehow managed to have the hairstylist waiting for her and she’d been dressed and combed and pampered until she felt very much like a princess.

There were only about fifty guests, and most of those were her family, but everything was nicely arranged and everyone seemed very happy. The photographers had been taking pictures of her and her extended family for the better part of an hour before Billy arrived. She breathed a sigh of relief that he didn’t appear to be in a bad mood and he confirmed that his mother had arrived, but she couldn’t get two more words out of him before they were both ordered to pose for their photos together. It wasn’t until just before the ceremony, when it was time to take photos with Billy’s family, that she actually first saw her future moth in law.

She looked frazzled and agitated, with frizzy blond hair and huge dark sun glasses. She wore an outdated dark blue jacket and a light purple skirt that was way too tight and didn’t even come close to matching. On the way to join the lineup, her heel warbled and she fell, her purse contents sprawling across the grass. With the help of her ex-husband and a man Trini assumed was her current husband, she was picked up and dusted off, only to fall backward again as she tried to sit in one of the white chairs set up for the ceremony. The folding chairs flipped over and five of six of them toppled as she tried to right herself. Eventually, she regained her balance, only to pull out the white toile lining the aisle and drag it with her towards the photographers. Several of Trini’s cousins scrambled to save it and in her confusion over what they were doing, she ended up wrapping it around herself several times.

“Oh my god…” Trini giggled.

“I know…” Billy said in a frustrated tone. “I told her no cigarettes, I guess the patch isn’t enough to keep her from getting jumpy.”

“No, it’s not that…” Trini giggled a little louder, watching her cousins fuss over and unwrap Billy’s mother. She had backed up and was now tangled in a line of paper lanterns as well. “That’s where you got it.”

“What?”

“I could never figure it out. You’d try your hardest…I thought it was just absentmindedness…it was genetic.” She giggled, leaning into him so no one could see her laughing at the scuffle.

“What are you talking about?” He asked, a deep frown developing on his forehead. He was relieved to see Trini smiling, but his mother’s behavior was mortifying.”

“When we were kids…you were so clumsy… you’d try so hard and the more you tried the worse it got.”

“I’m nothing like my mother.” He said firmly, the slightest bit of anger showing through his voice.

“Oh love…” Trini said, genuinely laughing for the first time that day. “It’s not…that’s not what I meant.” She said, trying her best to keep a straight face, but she just couldn’t. “I don’t mind…I never minded…I just didn’t know where it came from until now…I haven’t seen it in so long…” She put her hand over her mouth and tried her best to keep the giggles down, but it was no use.

Frowning deeply, he turned and marched over to his mother, who now had no less than ten of Trini’s relatives and both photographers trying to untangle her. He held her firmly still and eventually the tangle of toile, flowers, and crushed paper lanterns came undone. Freed at last and still wobbling on her heels, she was marched firmly back to the spot where they were taking the formal portraits.

“Mother…” Billy said in a firm, no nonsense voice. “This is Trini.”

Trini watched with amusement as his mother continued to dust herself off and straighten off her clothes. Pulling her white shirt tightly back into place and adjusting her thick prescription sunglasses back on her nose. She finally looked up and met her future daughter in law in the eyes, only to rear back once again in shock.

“Oh my god William” His mother all but screeched, eyes wide. “She’s an Oriental!”

Billy inhaled sharply, eyes rolling nearly into the back of his head, but Trini burst out laughing. She’d been so frustrated and miserable all morning and it felt so good to laugh now, that she simply couldn’t stop herself. She wasn’t offended or embarrassed by the comment, she’d been well prepared to meet this woman and already knew what she was like. What embarrassed her what that it was a huge, rude sounding bark of laughter; and very uncharacteristic of her.

Her hand came up to her mouth, but the laughter wouldn’t stop. She gasped for breath, but the sound came out like a snort and she laughed even harder. She handed Kim her flowers, covering her mouth with both hands and all but collapsing against the tree they were using as a backdrop as she snorted on the intake again. When Billy put an arm around her, she turned, mascara laced tears running down her face, and smiled mischievously at him. Unfortunately, Billy wasn’t laughing, and for his sake, she took a huge breath and forced herself back under control; trying her best to blindly wipe the tears from her face and adjust her eye makeup.

“Mother…” Billy said in a patient tone as he led Trini back over to them, “Carpets are Oriental. Trini is Vietnamese.”

Trini didn’t think her future mother in law was very happy, either with her son’s definition or Trini’s ill-concealed laughter. She dutifully shook Trini’s hand and exchanged a nice to meet you greeting, but as she released the hand, her eyes became even more impossibly wide behind the thick glasses and she stared, open mouthed at Trini’s belly. “Yes,” Trini said, nodding her head and wrapping a hand around her stomach. “I’m pregnant, you can say it.” She said with an amused grin.

“You might say it’s a two for one Oriental special.” He Uncle Henry quipped from somewhere behind her and Trini snorted again. She turned just in time to see her aunt pummel her uncle, but several other people were taking Trini’s reaction as their own cue how to handle the situation and were laughing as well.

“I need a cigarette.” Billy’s mother announced and turned to dig through her purse.

“Now Beth, you promised…” The man with her said.

“Can’t you at least wait until after the picture?” Billy growled.

“That’s ok,” Trini said, still giggling. “I think I need to fix my mascara.” She turned and kissed his cheek, placing her hand against the side of his head in a loving gesture to say she was fine and not to worry, then turned and walked back toward the manor with Kim. Barely half way there, the two burst out laughing again, and ran inside like giggling school girls.

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly, despite Trini’s mother fluttering around and Billy’s mother fumbling around. Trini swore up and down that she wasn’t the slightest bit offended by his mother, but both Billy and his dad were still beyond mortified. She did, eventually begin to warm up to Trini, but she also tripped during the parents dance and sent not only herself and Billy, but Trini and her father sprawling on the dance floor as well.

After suffering a fall that really wasn’t all that bad, Billy insisted, given the rest of the day and despite her protests that she was having fun, that they leave the reception early. The guests were encouraged to enjoy the music and the food, and the bride and groom left early for a short, but quiet, honeymoon in an undisclosed location. Tommy and Jason swore up and down as they left the venue that they would page him if anything happened while they were gone, then rolled their eyes behind his back and mutually agreed they would do no such thing.

Rocky and Carri also left early, mostly because they technically weren’t supposed to be there, but also because New York was three hours ahead of them and it was past be time to change and go to her mother’s party. Jason agreed with Rocky that he’d be fine, but he also gave Rocky a significant look and, even though he was only three beers into the night, told his friend in explicative details exactly what he thought of Carri’s New York friends and her mother’s social events in general. The rest of the Ranger crew in attendance split off into their own groups and simply enjoyed the evening; with Katherine and Kimberly quietly avoiding each other.

Not one person noticed that Tommy and Kim were wearing new rings; which surprised them. Kim had tried to take hers off for the evening, it was Billy and Trini’s wedding and she didn’t want to steal attention, but Tommy wouldn’t hear of it. They had exchanged several long and meaningful looks throughout the day and after their first quiet dance together, they stole away through the gardens to find some peace and quiet and simply be alone together for a while.

“Things are never simple with our group are they?” Tommy commented after a bit, directing her to sit down on a bench and sliding up next to her. He gathered her up in his arms from behind, pulling her onto his lap and kissing her neck and shoulder. “I have to admit, I thought the day was pretty much over when we transported back from Reefside. They pulled it off though.”

“It was a nice wedding.” Kim said reflectively, shivering a bit in the cooler evening and from his soft kisses. Her pretty, strapless gold silk dress had been way too warm for her earlier, but with the cool night’s breeze, she was sorry she’d left the little matching jacket behind on her chair.

“Yeah it was.” He said, rubbing her arms for warmth, then wrapping his own around her tightly. “You can still have one you know.”

“Kind of defeats the purpose.” She said, staring up at the moon above them. The skies had stayed clear and Rita and Zedd had thankfully taken a day off. It had been a good day and she wanted to enjoy every last second of it.

“No, I’m serious. We’ve got the hotel already booked, we can do it right next time.”

“We did it right the first time.” She said turning and facing him. “You would not believe how nervous I was walking down that aisle…and I was only the maid of honor.”

He grinned and couldn’t resist stealing a quick kiss. “This from the girl who won how many gold metals while millions watched the Pan Games?”

“Four.” She said, turning back around and snuggling back into him. “But it’s different…I dunno…”

“What about just a renewal of vows, no aisle?”

“You’re not gonna give up on this are you?” She asked, turning back around. “You already got what you wanted.” She said, lifting her left hand and waving it in front of him.”

“Yeah I did.” He said, grinning. He caught her hand and kissed it. “I got more than I ever hoped.”

“Charmer.” She said accusingly, turning back around and settling back against him and into his embrace.

They sat there quietly for a while, lost in their own thoughts and the simple peace of the moment before she sat up and faced him again.

“What did your mom say about your Aunt Libby’s behavior yesterday?” She asked. She had meant to ask the night before, but the question had been forgotten after her mom and Andre’s news about the new baby. “Libby said we’ve known each other since we were kids…what was that all about?”

“My mom’s little sister is about as harebrained as they get Kim.” He said in response. “I dunno, she’s always been like that. At first digging on me because I was adopted and not really family… then, as I got older and she got more scared of me…just embarrassing me like that. I wouldn’t let it worry you.”

“But you talked to your mom about it right?” She asked. Tommy had an uneasy look on his face, like he knew something he didn’t want to tell her.

“I don’t know if we knew each other or not.” He said slowly, choosing his words. “Libby makes things up and you can’t really tell what’s true and what’s fiction…I don’t think she can tell sometimes.”

“But..” Kim prodded.

“But apparently the reason my mom doesn’t like your mom is because your mom came barreling into my grandmother’s living room one day screaming for Libby to stay the hell away from her husband.”

“Oh god…” Kim moaned.

“Yeah…” Tommy sighed. “Apparently she was very pregnant with Michael at the time and Libby was only seventeen.”

“Shit.” Kim said with feeling.

“It doesn’t affect us Kim. It was almost twenty five years ago.”

“Oh I know.” Kim said, leaning into him. He put his arms around her and kissed the side of her head gently. “ I also know my dad…shit. No wonder my mom acts so weird around your mom. It’s gonna be a hell of a holiday season, you know that?”

“Then let’s make the most of the quiet time while we have it.” He said, leaning his cheek against her bare shoulder. “Let’s go home.”

“But it’s early and Aisha and Zack aren’t staying in town.” She protested weakly. She was honestly torn between going back and visiting with friends she didn’t get to see that often and just calling it a day. The music was still playing, she could hear it through the trees, and she kind of wanted to dance a little more. On the other hand, Kat was monopolizing Aisha and Tonya and she really didn’t want to hear anymore of her wedding talk.

“It’s also our wedding night.” He whispered suggestively.

“You’ve got a point.” She answered, standing up quickly and offering him her hand. He grinned at her as he stood up, then gathered her in his arms and pulled her close. They kissed, long and passionately for a moment before he pulled back a little, kissing her forehead gently.

“Come on Mrs. Oliver.” He said in a husky voice, “Let’s go home.”

She grinned at him, eyes twinkling in anticipation of the night to come, before both turned and walked quietly together towards the exit.

The End

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