All disclaimers in Part One.

Letters Pt. 2
by Dagmar Buse

Rocky to Tommy

" ... We can't wait to have you here, man. Student enrolments for the fall are looking pretty good, and all three of us will be kept too busy to breathe. Jase is already making the arrangements for you getting your Karate Association License. Anyway, you just keep your car on the track, and your sorry butt out of hospital, you hear? We're counting on you to be here bright-eyed and bushy-tailed by September 1st."

With a grin, Tommy scribbled a quick reply to his friend and future business partner. It had taken nearly a year for him to fulfill his obligations to his uncle's racing team, but the plan he'd first conceived in London, to quit racing and go into business with Rocky and Jason, was finally coming to pass. To say that the other former Red Rangers were glad to have him join them was putting it mildly, and Tommy was looking forward to working alongside his friends, to teach karate much as they'd all done as teenagers.

His parents were pleased, too; while they had always supported his choice of profession, Tommy's mother especially had always worried herself sick during the races, and while he was touring the circuit. Not that she didn't trust her son to be careful, but ... Mrs. Oliver had tried not to let it show, but he knew that his decision to return to the martial arts scene came as a vast relief to her and all of his family.

And I can't say that I'm all that unhappy, either.

It hadn't been easy to turn his back on racing, especially not as during this last summer Tommy had managed to finally score a handful of victories, placing him fifth overall at season's end, but he figured it'd be better to get out while the going was still good instead of having to quit because of an injury or worse. Besides, a major sponsor had reduced his contribution, and John Rush's second driver had a wife and children to support; he needed the job more than Tommy. The young man got up from his motel room desk and started to pack his last suitcase. Most of what he'd brought with him on the road was stowed and ready to be shipped home from the crew's headquarters near Las Vegas; the rental van would be there first thing in the morning. And Tommy himself would be driving home in a brand new sports car - a 'going-away present' from his uncle, who certainly regretted losing so promising a driver, but supported his nephew nevertheless. After all, he didn't want Tommy to be discontent and thus less focussed in what was still a potentially dangerous job.

Half an hour later, the nondescript room was cleared of all things, looking as impersonal as the first time Tommy had set foot in it years ago. He checked the drawers and closets one last time; everything except his shaving kit and a change of clothes for tomorrow was packed to go. Suppressing a slight feeling of nostalgia - after all, he'd called this room home whenever he was at Team Rush headquarters - Tommy grabbed his wallet, barely remembered to pocket his keys, and let himself out, to say goodbye to the crew.

~*~

"The place looks great, guys!" Tommy beamed as Jason and Rocky conducted him around the recently opened school. It was really a superb setup - a large, airy room looking out onto the street through a wall-to-wall one-way window, the left-hand wall fully mirrored, served as the main dojo. The floor was covered with practice mats in an attractive shade of muted red - the color all three of them had shared as Rangers. Door- and window frames were painted a pleasant blue, light fixtures done in gleaming brass. A combat area was outlined in forest green, the walls were painted eggshell-white, and another wall sported flags - the Stars and Stripes crossed with Japan's Rising Sun in the center, flanked by the Korean and Chinese banners, to symbolize the origins of the martial arts styles they were teaching.

"It does, doesn't it?" Rocky grinned, opening the glass door to the hallway with a small flourish. The color scheme was repeated there. "Locker rooms and showers are over there, extra restrooms right here." He indicated two doors, each bearing one half of the yin/yang symbol.

In one corner, a small counter with four barstools was set up, together with a couple of tables and half a dozen chairs.

"We've set up a deal with AGH; deserving kids can work here for a small salary and free instruction," Jason explained, stepping behind the counter and taking three bottles of juice from the refrigerator. He offered them to his friends. "This doesn't compare to the Juice Bar, of course, but it's a place to meet before or after classes."

"It's a great idea," Tommy approved with a delighted look around. There were four more doors, one leading to a large office where he soon would have his own desk, a small lounge/locker room for the instructors, and two practice rooms, identical to the main dojo except for their lesser size, either for smaller groups or private lessons. Plus, the property was on a large enough plot that they could expand later on, provided they made a success out of it. "I've always enjoyed relaxing after training, or after a match. Much nicer than swigging water out of a bottle in the locker room."

"Our thoughts exactly," Jason smiled, opening his orange juice with a deft twist and raising the small bottle towards his friends. "A toast, guys?"

The other two followed suit, suddenly serious underneath their banter and lightheartedness.

"To success," Rocky ventured.

"To the Art," Tommy put forth.

"To our friendship," Jason concluded.

"And the Dragon Dojo!"

"The Dragon Dojo," Tommy and Jason echoed Rocky's words emphatically.

The bottles clinked together, and the three young men drank deeply, each vowing to himself and the others to do his best to keep the bargain they were sealing here and now. When they were done, they grinned at each other, a bit embarrassedly, but trying not to let it show too much. To that end, Jason put his juice into one corner.

"Well, Tommy ... now that you've seen the premises, what do you say to a little sparring session?" he suggested with a slight smirk. "We gotta see how much karate you've forgotten, driving in circles for so long."

"I've forgotten nothing," Tommy protested automatically, but privately he had a few doubts. Sure, he'd worked out as much as possible to keep in shape while racing for his uncle, but except for general fitness exercises and a couple of katas each morning and night, he hadn't had many chances to actually practise any form of martial arts. It just might be that he was possibly a little ... rusty?

But he was not about to admit that to his fellow ex-Rangers. So, all he said out loud was, "I'm game whenever you are."

Rocky and Jason exchanged amused glances, knowing their friend well enough to detect the bravado in his voice and stance. But they said nothing, leading Tommy instead into the men's locker room, where all three changed into sweatpants and tank tops. Together, they entered the smallest exercise room and went through a series of warm-ups, accompanied by a steady stream of friendly insults.

Just like in High School, Tommy couldn't help remembering as he hid a grimace over a particularly strenuous stretch Jason had suggested. He noticed out of the corner of one eye that neither Rocky nor Jason seemed much challenged, and he increased his efforts. Feels great. Ow!

When they were ready, Rocky retired to a corner, sat on a bench and picked up some weights. This way, he could keep limber while watching Jason and Tommy who were already bowing to each other in the center of the room.

For the next twenty minutes there was silence, interspersed only with dull thuds and sharp slaps as feet, hands and backs hit the mats time and again. The match seemed fairly even, but then, Tommy and Jason had always been equals in their sport. Only, when Jason bowed out, he was breathing maybe a bit heavily while Tommy's shirt was soaked with sweat. Nevertheless, he sent a challenging look towards his former second-in-command.

"You ready?" he panted.

Slowly, Rocky sauntered towards the mats, flexing his muscles just a little challengingly.

"I am," he drawled, brown eyes twinkling. "Are you?"

Stung, Tommy drew himself up to his full height. He stared down at the shorter young man with glittering eyes.

"For you? Anytime!"

With that, the bout was on. A flurry of kicks, punches and throws, circling, waiting for the other to make a move, a feint here, an attack there ... Tommy soon realized that this match was quite different from what he'd done with Jason. His best friend had unobtrusively led him through a demonstration of every technique and style they'd ever learned, and managed to surprise him with a few moves Tommy had had to work hard to counter. As usual, they had pitted Jason's strength against Tommy's speed, and it had been a close call - much too close for Tommy's liking. He was uncomfortably aware that, had it been a real match, under competition rules, Jason would quite likely have wiped the floor with him, equals or not.

Rocky, though ... he had almost as much speed as Tommy at his best, and was incredibly agile - even more so than when he'd joined the Rangers. Tommy knew that, and yet it took him by surprise. Rocky was going all out against him, sticking mainly to straight karate moves, but still Tommy was hard - very hard - put to keep up. Dammit, he nearly broke his back when we got the Turbo Powers! Shouldn't he be handicapped by that? Just a little, anyway? Apparently not; he barely managed to duck a sweeping kick that would surely have winded him for good.

During a lull when the two were prowling in a tight circle around the room, watched by an attentive Jason who had appropriated Rocky's weights and was lifting them with slow, measured movements, Tommy came to the rather sobering conclusion that he had far more work to do to regain his former prowess than he'd dreamed. Even tired out from the match against Jason, he should've been able to defeat Rocky easily. Instead, rallying all his willpower and the last reserves of strength he had, Tommy barely managed to achieve a draw.

"Aw man," he moaned, sinking onto the mat when Rocky signalled an end to the torture he'd put him through. "I don't believe this!"

Jason and Rocky just laughed heartlessly, which made Tommy blush in mixed shame and anger. He nearly bristled when Jason came over, pulled him up again and punched him gently on the arm.

"Hey, Bro, don't sweat it. All things considered, you did okay. To be honest, I kinda expected you to be somewhat out of shape."

"I'm not ..."

"Come on, Tommy," Rocky cut off the protest. "I had one devil of a time myself to get back up to speed after my injury - and if Trini hadn't sent me to a therapist she knows, I'd never have made a full recovery, even though it was only eight months I had to stop training. You've been on the circuit how long? Four years?"

"Yeah," Tommy grudgingly admitted. Had it really been that long?

"And how much did you train - seriously train - during that time?"

"Er ..."

When Tommy had no answer, Rocky just gave him a Look that spoke louder than words. "That's what I thought."

"It's no wonder you need to brush up a little on everything," Jason said in his no-nonsense instructor's voice, a tone Tommy knew quite well. "Tom, there's no need to feel embarrassed about this. You haven't lost all that much, just some speed and a few fine points. It won't stop you from getting your Karate Association license, and Rocky and I will help you get your form back, won't we, Rocko?"

"Sure," the former Blue Zeo Ranger smiled back, draping his towel around his neck. "Just like you did with me after my injury."

"Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" The two grinned at each other; they had gotten quite close since they started working together, despite Rocky's initial jealousy of Jason. Observing this, Tommy let go of his irritation and conceded their assessment with what grace he could muster.

"Right."

Jason laughed. He'd known that ultimately, Tommy would be too honest to deny what was so obvious to anyone who knew him as well as they did. "So, as our friend, will you let us help you?"

Chuckling almost despite himself, the tall young man nodded.

"Yeah."

"Great! I'll get the schedule and we can set up a timetable for you!" Rocky practically bounced towards the office. The other two sauntered after him, back towards the bar area to finish their juice before showering. About to drink, Tommy lowered his bottle once more and cast a sardonic look at Jason.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm going to regret this?"

Jason just shook his head and smirked. He was going to love the next few weeks until Tommy regained his former expertise.

~*~

"Mom, Dad ... no offense, but ... would you mind very much if I started looking for a place of my own?" Tommy asked his parents diffidently over dinner one night about two months after his return. He'd always enjoyed coming home, but after living more or less on his own for quite some time, he was rapidly finding out that he wasn't prepared any longer to conform to the restrictions his folks placed on him. Nothing unreasonable, it was just that he'd grown to like his independence...

Beth Oliver exchanged a look with her husband, who nodded slightly, then turned towards Tommy with a smile that was part sad, part understanding.

"Of course not, Tommy."

"To be honest, we expected something like this sooner or later," Jeffrey added. "After all, you're an adult now."

Relieved, Tommy rounded the table and hugged both his mother and father. "Thanks for understanding," he murmured. "I'd hoped you would."

"We love you and want to see you happy, Tommy," Beth said quietly, swallowing a few maternal tears despite herself. "And you'll always be welcome here. I hope you know that."

"Yes, son," Jeff Oliver confirmed. "Now, is there anything we can do to help?"

"Nothing I can think of at the moment, but I'll let you know ..."

"That's fine," Beth smiled. "Do you have an idea where you want to live?"

"I thought I'd ask Jason," Tommy replied, sitting back down and digging into his dinner with a gusto he hadn't shown for a long time. "It hasn't been that long since he moved out from home; maybe he can give me a few tips and pointers."

~*~

"Funny you should ask," Jason said when Tommy put the question to him a few days later during their lunch break. "As a matter of fact, I may be looking for a new place myself."

"But why? You only moved into your place ... what, six months ago?" Tommy wondered, surprised.

"Yeah, but word is the owners want to convert the apartments into condos; there's no way I can afford to stay there if it's true."

"That sucks."

"Tell me about it." Jason sighed, biting into his sandwich. "Just when I'd gotten everything straightened out, too."

"Well, we can go through the classifieds together, then," Tommy answered, waving to Rocky who breezed into the instructors' lounge just then. At his inquiring look, the two quickly filled him in on their problem. "Maybe we can even find something close to each other," Tommy proposed. "It'd be kinda neat if we could hang out together some nights without having to drive halfway across town."

Rocky snorted, knowing quite well how rare affordable singles' housing was in Angel Grove. His own apartment was in Stone Canyon, in a former neighbor's house; otherwise he could never have his own place. Not as long as he was still paying off the medical bills from his accident, anyway.

"You might as well move in together," he commented, only half jokingly. "From what I've heard, it's easier right now to find a family-sized place than something small enough for a single guy in a decent neighborhood."

Slowly, Tommy turned around from his locker where he'd been rummaging for a clean t-shirt. His eyes met Jason's dark ones, who seemingly had forgotten all about his lunch as he pondered the suggestion. Finally, the broad-shouldered young man remembered to swallow his mouthful of food, took a swig of gatorade to wash it down, and cleared his throat.

"Actually ... I've heard about an apartment with two bedrooms that's becoming available next month," he said quietly. "It wouldn't need much in the way of renovations, the rent is okay ..."

The hopeful look was unmistakeable, and Tommy met it with a somewhat bashful grin of his own. Strange as it seemed, he was more comfortable at the thought of having a roommate. Especially if that happened to be his best friend.

"I'm game, if you are," he tried for a nonchalance he didn't quite feel.

Jason barely suppressed a whoop of joy. "Well then - let's take a look soon, and if it's as good as I've heard, we can decide then. Okay?"

"Sure."

~*~

"That's it; I've had it. Let's send for pizza and call it a day," Tommy declared as the last box had been removed from the moving van and carried up to the third-floor apartment he now shared with Jason. He received enthusiastic agreement from his two colleagues, and while the three waited for the delivery guy, they quickly cleared the couches so they could at least sit down for dinner. Their bedrooms were set up, and unpacking the rest of the crates could wait for tomorrow. After ten minutes, the pizza arrived and they pounced on the boxes as if they'd been starving all day.

"Man, I never thought you two would have so much stuff," Rocky groaned as he stretched out his legs, munching on a slice dripping with melted cheese. "If I had, I would've been elsewhere today."

"Oh? Where?" Jason asked idly, biting into his own pizza.

"Dunno. Far. Like Edenoi, maybe. Couldn't you at least have gotten a place with an elevator?" he complained good-naturedly.

"Next time," Tommy promised with an evil grin. "After you've helped us carry everything down again when we decide to move out." He laughed at the groans and curses from both Jason and Rocky. Even strong and fit as they were, it hadn't been easy, and physically exhausting work. Both Mrs Scott and Mrs Oliver had agreed to come by the next day and help their sons get settled, but the bulk of the labor had been done by the young men themselves.

"Don't even think about it," Jason warned, settling back into his comfortable armchair, an heirloom from his grandfather. It fit him perfectly, and was just right to relax aching muscles in. "I've moved twice within a year now; no way am I doing it again any time soon!"

"I hear you on that, Bro," Tommy agreed, looking around at the light-grey walls and lightly-patterned carpet with a satisfied smile. They didn't have much in the way of furniture, but together they could furnish the place with a hodgepodge of items donated by both sets of parents that was quite sufficient for the needs of two bachelors. Rocky's girlfriend Sarah had promised to bring by some easy-care plants as soon as they were finished, and Tanya was going to try and coordinate their belongings into a pleasing whole with whatever came handy, scrounged from all of the former Rangers' families. Neither Jason nor Tommy was quite sure whether they should be excited or scared at the prospect.

As the three friends wound down from the day's strenuous activities, sharing a bottle of wine Mrs DeSantos had sent over as a housewarming gift, their talk turned to other things - their dojo, their friends, their whereabouts, world politics, local news and plans ... like the upcoming 75th anniversary of the very first commencement of Angel Grove High School.

"Anyone have an idea how many of our class are attending?" Tommy idly wanted to know.

"No, the Angel Club is handling registration," Rocky answered. "They may be a bunch of stuck-up scocialites for the most part, but you gotta hand it to them - organizing an event like this is right down their alley. They even found two surviving members of the first AGH graduates."

"Wasn't Kim an Angel Club member?" Jason asked without thinking, before he remembered that Tommy might not appreciate the reminder. But a quick glance showed no noticeable reaction on the lean features, and he relaxed again.

"Yeah - and Aisha, too," Rocky went on, seemingly oblivious to any undercurrents. "At least after that cat Veronica was sacked."

"And?"

"And what?" Rocky grinned, enjoying being the center of attention for once.

"And has Sarah - who I know was in the Club - given you any hints yet about who has signed up yet, or not?" Jason's deep voice dripped with exaggerated patience.

"Not yet, but she sort of promised to let me know as soon as she's got definite confirmations," Rocky said with a small huff that had his friends chuckling. "Are we going?"

Jason and Tommy shared a look, then shrugged somewhat sheepishly. "I dunno," Tommy mumbled. "I mean, we both missed Commencement; wouldn't it look kinda weird if we went now?"

"All the more reason to attend now," Rocky declared. "For that matter, I'm pretty sure Kat will attend; after all, she was our valedictorian."

"Oh, right," Tommy brightened. "I haven't seen her since I went to visit her in London; it'll be great to catch up in person. Letters just aren't the same."

And never mind that I'm not really all that fond of getting letters anymore, he thought to himself. Ever since I got the one from Kim ... Quickly, he shook off the memory. There were still too many unresolved issues between him and the first Pink Ranger, their brief meeting right after Muranthias notwithstanding. Something must've shown in Tommy's eyes, because Jason and Rocky didn't pursue the matter and tactfully changed the subject.

~*~

Aisha to Tanya

"...I'd sure love to come to the Anniversary, but unfortunately I simply can't afford to. Not if I want to make it to your wedding next year, anyway. You'll remember to let me know the exact date in time, yes? Please say hi to the guys - especially Adam and Rocky - I'm sooo sorry I'm going to miss seeing them!

Work on the animal plague is going well, and I've decided to go to Veterinary School . Dad is trying to pull a few strings; if all goes well, I might qualify for a scholarship, and if I get it, I'll make sure it's at Angel Grove University, or at least close by; I'm dying to see all of you guys again! ..."

"Pity," Adam remarked as Tanya finished reading the relevant passage of Aisha's letter at the friends' next dinner meeting, at Rocky's apartment this time. "I miss her, too."

"I think we all do," Tommy noted, with a slightly apologetic glance at Aisha's replacement. "Not that it wasn't great getting to know you, Tanya, but ..."

"I understand, Tommy," Tanya smiled. "I'm just grateful that you guys accepted me so readily when I took her place. Not only as a Ranger, but also as a friend. You made it all so easy; even when I practically kicked Billy off the team. I just wish he could've gotten a Zeo Crystal, too."

There was a brief moment of silence as the assembled former Rangers thought of their absent friend - the longest-serving of them all. How they missed his presence, his mind, his gentle support and often surprisingly astute insights! But, they were all agreed that it was a far better thing to know he was on Aquitar, happy and alive instead of having stayed with them and dying prematurely of old age - just because he'd selflessly saved his teammates' lives. Again. Then, just before the memories and nostalgic feelings became too uncomfortable, Rocky rallied himself and tried to lighten the mood.

"Maybe it's just as well you didn't give him your shard," he said to Tanya, straight-faced. "You look ten times better in yellow than he would've! HEY!!!" Laughing, he dodged the pillows the others immediately lobbed at him. When the ensuing laughter and mock-serious threats had subsided, Jason took a sip from his soda.

"You know ... Aisha's the only Ranger I've never met," he mused thoughtfully. "Except for that moment at the Command Center when Zack, Trini and I passed our Powers on to you guys." He nodded at Adam and Rocky, who sighed fondly at the memory. "Strange, really, when you consider that I even got to know Andros and his crew."

"When would you have had the time?" Tommy asked reasonably. "What with getting your records in order, passports, packing and everything? The Peace Conference folks were in such a blasted hurry, we didn't even have time for a farewell party!"

"Yeah, Ernie was complaining about that for weeks afterwards," Rocky recalled. "That guy sure loved to party!"

"He knew how to throw one, too," Jason remembered with a small grin, "even if things didn't always go quite as smoothly as he wanted."

"Oh? Do tell," Tanya demanded eagerly, sensing a story of the early days coming up. She just loved hearing those!

Jason laughed. "Well ... there was this one time when he bought a cake for a party and all he could get on short notice was one that said "Happy Birthday Mom". Bulk landed face-down in it."

"Now there's a surprise," Rocky chortled. The others agreed, laughing.

"And another time - that was before you moved here, Tom - Kim, Trini, Billy and I were throwing a surprise birthday party for Zack, and Billy had modified a microwave oven into what he called a 'cake-o-matic'; only the stupid thing wouldn't work like it was supposed to. Ernie ended up covered head to foot in cake mix at least twice. Wet cake mix. Definitely not one of Billy's finer efforts," he snickered.

The others laughed appreciatively. "You guys sure had some fun then," Tanya sighed a bit enviously. "Somehow, it seems my own time as a Ranger was much more serious. More work, less play, you know?"

"Don't let the stories kid you, Tanya," Jason warned, getting serious. "Sure, there's a lot of fun stuff to remember, but it wasn't all roses for us most of the time. For one thing, we were pretty young still when we got our Powers; Trini, Zack and Billy had just got their driving licenses then. We barely had any warning, much less somebody around to show us the ropes when Rita's dumpster crashed on the moon; if the Power hadn't given us most of the know-how directly ... " the former Red Ranger shook his head. "I really don't want to think about that!"

"You got that right," Adam added. "Zack managed to call me the night before you guys left, but obviously he couldn't get into too many details on a regular phone line, and as we were called into action almost immediately, it was just as well the knowledge we needed came with our coins. But it still helped to have the others to ask about things - like operating the Command Center machinery."

Rocky nodded his agreement, but before the ex-Rangers could discuss the matter further, the doorbell rang, and he jumped up to admit his girlfriend. The greeting between the two was such that Tanya couldn't help a speculative look or three; was it her imagination, or had a new intimacy developed between Rocky and Sarah lately? She hid a small smile. About time, too; they've been dating for quite a while now, and I KNOW Sarah just adores Rocky. If he could only see how perfect she'd be for him! Even Mrs DeSantos likes her. Just then, the oven timer went off, and a general scramble for utensils, plates and seats started, distracting Tanya from her musings as the hungry crowd descended on the paella Rocky had coaxed out of his mother.

After a fun-filled meal, Sarah settled on the comfortable couch next to Rocky, not quite across his lap, a position which the others good-naturedly pretended to ignore. She smiled at the group of friends who had so readily accepted her into their midst. "We have registered the 300th anniversary guest today," she gushed. "Isn't that great?"

"Awesome," was the consensus. "Anybody special? Rocky already told us about the two 'originals'."

Sarah grinned mischievously. "Weeeeell .... There are a few highlights; you'd be surprised to learn what successes - and what weird characters - AGH has produced in 75 years. Tommy's stock car racing is not the only unusual career. In fact, compared to some it's downright normal."

Tommy pulled a comical face. "Thanks. I think." The others chuckled, but joined him in asking questions about people they knew. However, the pretty Mexican wouldn't answer.

"You'll see at the opening ceremony," she hedged, knowing full well what information they were after.

"Oh come on, cara," Rocky cajoled, turning towards her with his best little-boy expression. "That's still four weeks away; can't you just give us a teensy little hint about our class? Please?"

She flushed a little at the endearment, but struggled to resist the pleading brown eyes. "I sort of promised I wouldn't tell," she murmured. "If somebody on the organizing committee found out I spilled the beans to anybody ..."

"You have our word it won't leave this room," Tanya reassured her, just as curious as the guys. "Besides, we only want to know about the gang - not everybody!"

Sarah could feel herself weakening. She averted her eyes from Rocky's soulful look, only to meet three more lost-puppy expressions sported by Tommy, Jason and Adam.

"Pretty please?" they chorused. Tanya smothered a laugh; that look had never once fooled her, but apparently Sarah was not as immune to the guys' charm. Well, she'd learn - if only to preserve her own sanity.

"I really shouldn't ... but if you all promise...?"

Adam spoke for all five. "Cross our hearts."

With a defeated sigh, Sarah reached for her purse and pulled out a list. "Okay, I guess I can trust you guys ... so what names are you looking for again?"

The ex-Rangers eagerly scooted forward in their seats. Jason was the first to begin the 'roll call'.

"Uh - you're going alphabetically by year, right? Let's see ... we're Class of '97 ... Aisha Campbell, Billy Cranston ... we already know they're not coming. Next is ... Kimberly Hart?"

Sarah had already flipped to the appropriate page.

"Hmm ... how do you spell Hart? With or without an e? Okay ... confirmed are ... Hansen, Jack ... Harrell ... Hart, Kimberly. Panglobal and Olympic medalist. Yes, she'll be here."

"Yay!" Rocky's grin was matched by Adam and Jason's, with Tanya and Tommy slightly less enthusiastic - if for differing reasons. "What about Kat Hillard?"

"Confirmed," Sarah smiled.

"Told ya!" Rocky crowed triumphantly towards his partners, who grumblingly conceded that for once, he'd been right.

"What were Trini and Zack's last names again?" Tanya wondered. Somehow or other, last names rarely cropped up in conversations about their predecessors, and she had yet to meet both in person.

"Trini Kwan and Zack Taylor," Jason answered quietly, seeing that Tommy seemed lost in thought all of a sudden. Probably fretting about seeing both his exes again at the same time, he realised. I just wonder who's making him more upset - Kim or Kat? Likely Kim. Too many things still unresolved. Well, he knows where to find me, or any of the others, if he needs to talk. Jason was abruptly recalled to the present when Rocky jumped up excitedly.

"They're coming, too? Man, I can't believe we'll be seeing everybody except Aisha and Billy in little over a month! It'll be like old times!"

"Actually, Rocky, it'll be the first time we'll be coming together like this," Adam tried to reason, but he was smiling as hugely as his childhood friend. "But you're right, it's going to be great!"

~*~

On the drive home, Tommy was still silent, and Jason wisely kept his attention on the road. However, he held his best friend back just before he could disappear into his room.

"What's up, Tommy?" he asked quietly, knowing full well what the other had to be thinking about.

It was on the tip of Tommy's tongue to reply with a flip 'nothing', but a glance at Jason told him two things - one, Jason was honestly concerned and interested and two, he wouldn't let him get away with it. Not this time. Sighing, he walked into their shared living room, coming to stand at the window overlooking the dark street outside. Tommy could feel the tension knots in his back muscles, but all his discipline couldn't make him relax. Grateful that Jason only sat in his favorite chair, giving him time to find the words he knew needed to be said, he gathered his thoughts with an effort.

"I ... I don't know if I'm ready to face Kim again. I thought I was, but ..." his voice, uncharacteristically hoarse, trailed off as Tommy fought down the old hurt.

"What do you mean?" Jason wondered, still using a subdued tone to match the mood. "You saw her after Muranthias ..."

"Yes, but we never were alone, never really talked, y'know? Things were so hectic then, what with the tournament, Justin, adjusting to new Powers ... I mean, Kim sort of hinted that she needed to talk to me, but there was Kat to consider ... I didn't want to hurt her, I was so damned busy all the time, with racing and stuff, then Kim had to return to Florida ..."

"What you're saying is, you chickened out of confronting her."

Tommy spared a quick look for Jason. "No ... no, it was just ... the time never seemed quite right, there were always other people around ... Kim didn't seem too wild about it, anyway ..."

Jason huffed exasperatedly. "As I said, you chickened out." Before Tommy could object further, he raised a hand in a stalling motion. "Tommy, stop lying to yourself. You know you did. Both of you, really."

The tall young man tensed even further, then deflated suddenly, almost like a balloon which had been pricked by a very sharp needle. His shoulders sagged, and slowly he sank down on the couch opposite Jason's armchair. It took a few minutes, but finally, he nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Yeah, I ... I guess I did."

"About time you admitted it, Bro," Jason commented softly. At last! Maybe now we're finally getting somewhere! He got up, collected two beers from the kitchen and wordlessly handed one to Tommy. They didn't indulge often, but this was one situation that demanded something a tad stronger than juice or soda. "Do you know why you never tried to get an answer from Kim? You gotta admit, even if she had found somebody else - and you know it happens, sometimes - it wasn't like her to send you a 'Dear John' letter. Calling you, or even coming home to tell you in person would've been much more her style. The girl writing that letter was not the Kim I've known since Junior High."

Tommy just shook his head, feeling as lost and confused as he'd done that long-ago day when a few words on pink stationery had shattered his world.

"I dunno. I don't know," he repeated, sounding completely bewildered. Jason's heart went out to his best friend, and he reached over to pat his knee comfortingly.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, but Tommy didn't hear him. Now that the dam was broken, the words just seemed to pour out of him - unstoppable as the tide.

"Why, Jase? Why did she do it? I just don't get it, even after this long." The brown eyes were troubled, clouded, as years of wondering came to a head. "I thought she loved me - she's always told me so. There was no warning, nothing ... in the last letter I'd sent her, I practically proposed to Kim, and first she left me hanging for over a week, then she breaks up with me with no rhyme or reason! In a fucking letter!" Tommy's voice rose as he relived the day his world collapsed, his uncharacteristic use of swear words a clear indication of his mental turmoil. "Why? Goddammit, WHY?!?"

We should've had this conversation years ago, Jason couldn't help thinking - and not for the first time, either. If I'd only been home then - or forced the issue sooner! He sighed, wishing he had an answer for his friend, but he was no closer to an explanation that made any sense now than he had been then. "I don't know, Tom. I wish I did, but I don't. None of us do. We only know that ever since, Kim has ... changed, somehow. I noticed it when we went on that diving trip and I really wanted to get her to talk, but you know how that turned out." Jason grinned fleetingly, his expression wry. "Trini commented on it, too, after they'd met in Geneva, but she's as much in the dark as everybody, including you."

Tommy laughed without humor. "Yeah, that helps a lot. Not!" Seeing the look on Jason's face, he sighed, took a long swig of his beer and closed his eyes wearily. "Sorry. That was uncalled for. I know you'd help me if you could." Losing himself in his thoughts for a while, Tommy was grateful for Jason's silence - it gave him support without demanding anything except he be honest with his friend ... and himself. At last, he started talking, almost as if to himself.

"You know ... we were always so close, right from the start. Kim and I ... even before we were Rangers together. That first day at school, I took one look at her and knew that Kim was IT. The girl I'd been dreaming of all my life. All the time I was under Rita's spell, what hurt the most was that I was being so mean to her. At some level, it disturbed me even when I was evil. Then, when you destroyed the Sword of Darkness ... to know that I almost made her cry ... it ate me up inside."

"But she forgave you. We all did - it wasn't your fault. You weren't yourself!"

"Yeah, but still ... it's one of the things I regret most. Next to hurting all those people, and to almost killing you." The two shared a long look of understanding. That was an issue they'd resolved long ago, and in a strange way, it had made their friendship even closer. "Then there was that time when we were both running for school president and Rita put us under a spell again ... although, looking back it was more funny than anything else." Tommy grinned at the memory. "I can't believe how childish we were!"

"I can," Jason smirked. "Billy and Rocky told me. Man, I wish I'd been here to see you painting a mustache on Kim's picture!" When Tommy blushed guiltily, Jason couldn't help laughing. It was infectious enough to make Tommy join him, and it cleared the rather gloomy atmosphere considerably. However, soon enough both young men sobered again.

"So, are you gonna talk with Kim when you see her?" Jason prodded. "'Cause if you don't, I might just have to lock you two into a room together until you do."

"Yeah, that'd go over real well with Kim," Tommy snorted. "If she doesn't get you first, I may have to kill you if you try."

"You and what army?" the one-time Gold Ranger queried drily. Tommy first sputtered, then blew a raspberry at Jason who grinned and flipped him the bird. The friendly insults soon gave way to seriousness again, however. "Will you do it?" The last was more a command than a question.

"I guess I'll have to, won't I?" his best friend mumbled, sounding about as eager as if he'd just been volunteered for several root canals.

"You sure do, Bro. At least if you both want closure, one way or another."

"Is that possible? Even after all this time?"

"I think so."

Tommy heaved a heavy sigh. "Problem is, how do I get Kimberly to talk to me? Will she even want to?"

The look he got in reply said 'Don't be an idiot' as clearly as if Jason had spoken aloud, and Tommy felt his cheeks grow hot.

"Uh, stupid question?"

"Very stupid."

Jason let that sink in for a moment, then gave Tommy an encouraging smile as both got up and made their way to their respective bedrooms. Everything that needed to be said had been expressed. Just before they parted, he clapped the other on the shoulder. "If you can't make her, come to me. We'll all help you. Between Trini and myself, I'm sure we can set things up so you guys get a chance to talk. Okay?"

"More than. Thanks, Bro," Tommy smiled back, not quite as convincingly as he wished. While he knew that Jason was right, he couldn't help feeling torn. What if she wants me to forget and forgive? Can I do that? Do I even want to? Saying a quiet 'good night' to Jason, Tommy stepped into his room and closed the door behind him. Getting ready for bed, his thoughts were in a turmoil as much as they'd been the day he'd received Kimberly's letter. I might have no other choice. Because if I'm as honest with myself as Jase - and Kat, for that matter - insists I should be, I've gotta admit that deep down, I still have feelings for Kim. The million-dollar question is ... what KIND of feelings?

It was a question that would haunt his dreams for quite a few nights to come.

The festivities at Angel Grove High had been going on all day, with guided tours around the school for the alumni, performances of the various clubs, speeches from the new principal, the mayor and several others. Now it was evening, and there was a big dance scheduled at the school's gym. Tommy drove up with Kat, who looked elegant and quite lovely in her coral pink sheath dress. Kat was supposed to have come with Tanya, but the former Yellow Ranger had had to cancel at the last minute and would join the group a little later. It had been the most natural thing for Kat to call up her former boyfriend to ask for a ride, and Tommy had agreed without a second thought.

There had been but a moment's awkwardness between them as Kat and Tommy met face to face for the first time since his visit to London, but their friendship and the deep affection they still shared took care of that almost immediately, and they'd greeted each other with genuine smiles and a warm hug. Now it was as if they'd seen each other only weeks instead of nearly two years ago.

As Tommy found a parking space and maneuvered his car into position, Kat looked at him sideways. When he shut down the engine and turned towards her with a smile, she returned it easily enough, but made no move to get out. He raised a questioning eyebrow, and she chuckled slightly. Then, Kat laid slender fingers on his forearm.

"Are you okay, Tommy?" she asked softly, concern coloring her accented voice.

"Sure I am," he answered blithely. Too blithely. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Tommy."

The dancer just gazed at him, her blue eyes warm yet serious. Tommy held the look for a heartbeat, then lowered his own eyes in resignation and sighed.

"Sorry." When Kat made no further sound, but was waiting patiently for him to stop hiding, he leaned back against the door. "I ... I think I am," he admitted finally. He knew what Katherine was getting at. Kimberly hadn't been able to get an earlier flight from Florida, but everyone knew she'd be joining the friends tonight. "It's gonna be hard to see Kim again after all this time ..."

"...and after everything that's happened," Kat interjected quietly. She'd always suspected that Tommy was carrying a torch for Kimberly deep down, even before they had broken up in London, and this only confirmed it. It hurt a little, but she cared enough about both her friends to ignore the small pang.

"Yeah." He swallowed. "But I think it's time I faced her. In more ways than the obvious."

His pretty companion breathed a silent sigh of relief. "I was hoping you'd realize that," she murmured. "There's still too much unresolved between you."

This was so close to what Jason and the rest of his friends had been telling him that Tommy couldn't suppress a slight start.

"Does everyone think that?"

"Pretty much. The only ones too blind to see it were Kim and you, it seems."

Tommy shook his head, caught halfway between amusement and exasperation. This was just too weird, talking about Kim like this. And not just with anybody, but with Kat - Kim's successor both as the Pink Ranger and his girlfriend; after all, she was the woman he'd dated for years and had at one point thought he would spend the rest of his life with. But then, I used to believe that about Kim and me, too, he mused. Until she broke up with me ... Pushing the old, old hurt back into the depths of his mind, where he'd stashed it all that time ago, Tommy made an effort to appear cheerful.

"Well, I've had my eyes opened. Repeatedly," he commented drolly. "Between you, Jase and the others, I could hardly help it."

"I hope so," Kat replied drily. The young man made a face at her.

"Let's get it over with, then," he said, and moved as if to open the car's door. Before he could pull the handle all the way to release the lock, though, Kat's next words held him back.

"Tommy ... if there's anything I can do to help you, you'll let me know, won't you? And I do mean anything," she murmured earnestly.

"You're saying that?" he wondered, genuinely astonished at Kat's generosity of spirit. "Even after we broke up because basically I couldn't get her out of my mind?"

"Of course. You know I love you. Maybe no longer as a ... well, as a lover," she blushed prettily, unable to find a better word for what they'd once almost shared, "but as a friend. You need to put this business with Kim behind you once and for all - one way or another. And for that, you need to talk with her. We all want to know why she broke up with you like that. If you get the chance to find your answers, I'm behind you all the way. Besides, if it wasn't me, I think Jason would be more than willing to step in." Kat's smile bordered on the impish as she said that; there was no need for Tommy to know that his friends were actively conspiring behind his back to make him do what needed to be done.

His tone showed that Tommy maybe wasn't quite as unobservant as they thought he'd be.

"Do I have a choice?" he asked plaintively, making Kat laugh.

"Not really."

Giving in with what grace he could muster, he got out and wandered around, to politely open the door for Kat. When she slipped out and stood before him, smoothing her dress and hair, Tommy couldn't help but follow a sudden impulse. He hugged Kat, hard, and brushed a friendly kiss across her lips.

"Thank you," he said huskily. "You're the best."

Katherine accepted the compliment with an easy, gratified smile and kissed his cheek. "Thanks. I know," she answered with a small grin. Then, the moment passed and they moved apart again. Reaching for Tommy's arm, the blonde nodded towards the building at the end of the parking lot.

"The gang's all waiting for us in there. So, come on! I'm dying to meet Trini and Zack at last!"

"All right." With a long-suffering sigh that evoked mock-heartless laughter from Kat, he ushered the former Pink Ranger into the festively-decorated gym.

The party was a hit; on that, all the former Rangers present agreed. Seeing Kimberly again had been much less awkward and painful than Tommy had anticipated, mostly because of the others' presence. Rocky had made a big show over swooning melodramatically when the petite gymnast showed up, dressed in the latest Paris fashion with exquisite makeup and a hairdo that was at once sophisticated and casual. When the general laughter over his antics had died down, Kim took her seat between Trini and Adam, looked around with shining eyes and smiled the smile that still had the power to make Tommy's heart miss a beat. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud.

"This is so great, you guys," she gushed, almost as if she were still seventeen. "And I thought I'd feel so weird, being here ..."

"Why would you?" Rocky wondered, pouring a glass of punch for her.

Kimberly gazed down at the tabletop momentarily, while the others held their breaths. Was she referring to her relationship with Tommy, or ... but, no. "It's just ... I know this is not a class reunion or anything, but ... after all, I didn't graduate with you guys. I was kinda thinking I didn't belong here, not really, you know?"

Jason spoke for all of them.

"That's nonsense, Kim. You're one of us, one of our class, just like Billy and Aisha. And even if this were our class reunion, you'd still belong here."

"Jason's right, Kimberly," Tanya added with a warm smile. "Because if you didn't belong, neither would I; after all, I only attended AGH for senior year. And I don't see anybody trying to kick me out."

"Nobody would dare," Rocky muttered under his breath with a sly wink at the Yellow Ranger, but wasn't quite quiet enough; his remark earned him snickers from the others and a hard - if friendly - wallop from Adam. Tanya had a hard time controlling her twitching lips.

"Watch it, DeSantos," she shot back. "Or else!"

"Or else what?"

"I'll think of something! Something involving ... hmm ... snakes, maybe?" Tanya replied with a wicked look.

Rocky pretended to recoil in terror, glowered at Adam and said indignantly, "See what I mean? This woman is dangerous, I tell you! Are you sure you wanna marry her?!?"

Adam was quite used to the bickering often going on between his fiancÙe and Rocky; he only grinned at his old friend, caught Tanya's hand and gently kissed her fingertips, transforming her fake scowl into a radiant smile. "Absolutely."

"Huh. Well ... it's your life you're gambling with," Rocky teased, winking once more at the dark-skinned young woman who started to chuckle. "Just don't come running to me for help. She scares me!"

Not for the last time that night, laughter branded up over the group's table, setting the mood for the evening.

There was much reminiscing and catching up between the friends during dinner and the inevitable speeches, and to the friends' mutual delight it turned out that Trini, Zack and Kim would be returning to California in the near future - the former Peace Conference delegates to finish graduate studies together at UCLA, and Kimberly to shoot an advertising campaign for her main sponsor - both TV and magazine ads. Hearing this, Kat revealed that she'd been thinking about taking a job at Angel Grove Conservatory as a dance instructor once her contract was up, and was rewarded with a very satisfying show of enthusiasm from the gang.

"That'd mean that all of us would be back together again!" Zack was jubilant at the prospect. "Not all in the same place, but close enough to meet ..."

"Everybody except Billy," Trini commented with a tiny sigh; she was still grieving over her lost chance with the one-time Blue Ranger. She had thought she would have time and enough to confess her feelings when they were a little older, only Billy had chosen to follow Cestria before she returned from Europe. And while Trini was honestly glad that he'd found happiness, she was still mourning the fact that she'd probably never see him again. If Billy had to fall in love with anyone else but her, she had hoped they could at least stay friends. However, with her living on Earth and Billy on Aquitar, that didn't seem likely. Her musings were interrupted by Jason, who gave her a compassionate look; he'd always known about her dreams.

"Yeah, but I'm sure he's thinking of us as often as we're thinking of him," the first leader of the Rangers said, raising his glass for a toast. "To absent friends," he offered quietly.

Glasses clinked together as the others at the table joined him.

"Absent friends."

"To Billy."

"And Aisha."

"Justin."

"Zordon," Tommy added in a hushed tone, and the nine fell silent, then drained their glasses as one. For a minute, all of them were lost in thought, remembering the ancient sage in his Time Warp who had so profoundly influenced all their lives; then they collected themselves, and conversation gradually resumed.

The official part of the evening passed eventually, and once the band started playing, Kat found herself dragged off to the dance floor by Zack.

"When do I have the chance to dance with someone who really knows what she's doing?" he asked rhetorically, and soon the two were the center of attention, dazzling the crowd with their extravagant moves.

Rocky had wandered off to look for Sarah, Jason had been caught by Vice Principal Mrs. Rodriguez and was deep in a discussion about the student employees at the dojo, and Trini was giving Tanya tips about how to integrate her own African heritage with the traditional Korean wedding ceremony the Parks wanted for their son. Adam listened intently, commenting occasionally on this or that. Which left Tommy and Kimberly sitting across each other at the table, in a silence that was becoming more strained the longer it lasted. Desperate for a topic - any topic - that would break the impasse, Tommy looked at the petite woman out of the corner of his eye while he sipped at his drink. They'd already covered the end of Kim's active career as a gymnast, him having found his brother, his change of heart about racing, Kimberly's stay in Paris ... what else was there to talk about?

Tommy knew what he wanted to ask Kim, but he couldn't bring himself to enquire about 'the letter' in public; that was a subject they needed to deal with without witnesses. Even ones as sympathetic and concerned as their friends. However, it seemed as if he wouldn't have a choice but to blurt it out ... just then, a laughing, out-of-breath Kat and Zack returned to the group's table. Eagerly, they reached for their drinks and drank thirstily.

"Oh, that was fun," Kat panted, fanning herself with a programme. Her hair was in very attractive disarray, a few loose strands escaped from her chignon now framing her face quite becomingly. "I haven't danced like this for ages!"

"Quite a change from ballet," Kim commented with a small grin, to find Kat nodding enthusiastically.

"Exactly!"

"In that case, how about some more fun?" Zack suggested, smiling broadly. "I think they're playing our song, pretty lady!" He drew Kat to her feet again.

"I didn't know 'we' had a song," she wondered aloud, only to have Zack bow grandly to her.

"Sure we do. It's this one!" The band struck up a Benny Goodman tune, and the couples still on the dance floor started to sway to the catchy music.

"Oh. Of course." Not at all unwillingly, Katherine followed her exuberant partner and curtsied deeply before being swept away with a flourish.

"Looks like those two have met their match in each other," Kimberly said, half to herself. "It sure seems as if they're having the time of their lives!"

The slightly wistful remark struck Tommy, and before he could think, he'd opened his mouth.

"Would you care to dance, too?" he asked, surprising himself. He wanted to talk to Kim, not hold her in his arms during a dance! Or ever! I'm not nuts! Or a masochist!

Kim slowly turned to look at him, her doe eyes going slightly distant. Memories rose, of other times when she'd danced with Tommy ... their first date, the Sadie Hawkins dance soon after Adam, Rocky and Aisha had transferred to AGH ... the Junior Police Ball. She could read the same in Tommy's brown eyes, and for a moment, they were as much in tune with each other as they'd ever been as teenagers. Then, the moment passed. From somewhere, Kimberly summoned a smile. Knowing she was courting danger, she nevertheless nodded at Tommy.

"I'd love to."

He reached out, she laid suddenly icy fingers in his palm, and simultaneously the two rose. Stepping onto the dance floor, they moved into each other's arms - most carefully keeping their distance - and started dancing.

I didn't think it would be THIS hard.

The same thought swirled through both Tommy and Kimberly's minds as they tried to lose themselves to the rhythm. However, both failed miserably. Knowing the other as well as they still did, each was painfully aware of the stiffness with which they kept separate, desperate not to let the other know how easy it would be to give in to nostalgia and lingering emotions and just melt into welcoming arms.

Their friends unobtrusively watched the couple as they danced, wanting to help but knowing that for once they dared not interfere; this was something Tommy and Kim had to work out on their own.

"If something doesn't give soon, they'll break," Tanya whispered to Trini, who nodded seriously. Almost as if the low words had reached the dance floor, suddenly the two ex-Rangers stopped moving, Kim seemed to say something, then turned abruptly and wove her way through the crowd towards the gym's exit. After a second's hesitation, Tommy followed, his expression as determined as when they'd prepared for battle.

"Showtime," Rocky muttered to no-one in particular.

"Yeah. And about time, too," Jason commented.

"I just hope they'll be okay," Kat hoped with a worried frown.

"The situation between them can't be any worse than it's been already; we just have to hope for the best," Tanya sighed and reached for Adam's hand, profoundly grateful that their romance had never sailed through such stormy waters. The group of friends then turned their attention back to the table, leaving Tommy and Kim to sort out their problem in reasonable privacy.

Kimberly moved her feet mechanically to the music, trying to relax enough to be guided in the dance's rhythm by Tommy's still rather non-expert guidance, but found herself unable to. There were too many memories assailing her, too great was the temptation to rest her head against that broad shoulder and snuggle against Tommy's chest.

Like I used to, before I sent him that cursed letter!

As a consequence, she was stiff and, contrary to her usual grace and agility, rather clumsy.

Tommy was facing much the same problems; they were compounded by the fact that he knew he was only a mediocre dancer. He simply didn't have the ability to make conversation while he was trying to remember the correct steps. Although she'd never breathed a word, when dancing with Kat he'd always felt as if he didn't quite measure up to her style and talent. With Kim, it had been different; somehow, his first girlfriend had never seemed to mind that he wasn't exactly Fred Astaire. Kim would just come into his arms, smile up into his eyes and music and feet had sorted themselves out almost as if by magic.

Man, I wish I could hold her like I used to, before she sent me that damned letter!

Right now, his coordination and what little dancing ability he had decided to abandon Tommy completely. Things took their inevitable course; when trying to perform a simple turn to avoid bumping into another couple, Tommy stepped on Kim's toes. She winced at the sudden pain, and paused. Hastily, he recovered his balance. "Geez, Kim, I'm sorry," he apologized as they came to a stumbling stop.

"No, it's okay, I ..."

Kimberly then made the mistake of meeting Tommy's eyes. He gazed at her concernedly, but there was a wariness at the back of the chocolate-brown depths that cut her to the quick. It was a look she'd hoped she would never have to see again - the way Tommy had masked his feelings when he was freed from Rita's spell, and once more when he'd lost the Green Ranger Powers and faced his friends as a civilian for the first time. Only this time, it was infinitely worse - because Kim was painfully aware that she had put that look there.

Abruptly, she let go of Tommy and took a step back.

Tears were gathering in her own eyes and threatening to spill over; hanging on to the last shreds of her composure, Kim swallowed hard to make her voice work. She succeeded only marginally.

"I can't take this anymore," she choked out. "It's too much!"

"Er ... what?" Tommy asked inanely, caught by surprise.

Idiot! he berated himself mentally. You know very well what she's getting at!

However, the petite brunette left him no time for further thought. Gathering all her courage, she forced out the words she knew she should've said years ago.

"Tommy ... we need to talk. Meet me outside." Turning on her heel, Kimberly lost the struggle against her tears and blindly rushed towards the exit as fast as she could.

"Kim, I -"

The young man raised a hand as if to hold her back, but reconsidered at the last moment. Kimberly was right, they did need to talk. Tommy slumped. This was not the time or the setting he would've chosen, but maybe it was just as well. The confrontation was way overdue. And maybe there just isn't a 'right' time or place... Inhaling a shaky breath, he squared his shoulders. Let's get this over with.

Feeling as if he was about to face Goldar, Zedd, Mondo and Gasket in battle all at once, Tommy marched after Kimberly.

He found her at the edge of the parking lot, near a street light. Far enough away from the gym to escape being disturbed by people just stepping outside for a smoke, a little less noise or a breath of fresh air, but still close enough to be seen and thus avoiding the appearance of doing anything clandestine or furtive.

Kim stood with her back towards him, arms wrapped tightly around herself as if to ward off a chill, although the night air was rather balmy. However, there was a kind of cold that came from one's inside; a sensation both young people unfortunately were quite familiar with, and that was what Kimberly was feeling now. Her back muscles were tight, her posture ramrod straight even though her head was bowed. A couple of steps behind her, Tommy waited for Kim to move, to say something ... even just to look at him. When that didn't happen, he waited some more, unwilling to make the first overture. This is all Kim's show.

Roughly five minutes passed like this, a stalemate between them that had begun one day in February six years ago when a certain letter had been delivered to the Youth Center. Finally, somewhat against his better judgement, Tommy felt he could bear the heavy silence no longer. Tentatively, he reached out and briefly touched Kim's shoulder.

"Kim ...?"

She flinched, although she hadn't been unaware of his presence.

"Y-yes."

Inhaling a shaky breath, she made herself face Tommy. When she lifted her face to his at last, he was shocked to see her eyes swimming with tears. He was about to say something, when she shook her head in protest.

"No. P-please ... let me talk first?" Kimberly barely waited for Tommy's assenting nod before continuing. "Before I lose my nerve." Her soft voice was deeper than he was used to, rough with emotions and the tears she was valiantly attempting to hold back. The slender throat convulsed as she tried to speak. After several hard swallows that made Tommy wish he could offer her a drink of water, she succeeded.

"Tommy ... I'm sorry. So, so sorry," she whispered. "I should never have broken up with you - at least not the way I did. I made the biggest mistake of my life the day I sent you that letter, and I wish with all my heart I could take it back. You deserved so much better than that."

Tommy felt his own vocal chords clog as he heard the words he'd been unconsciously waiting for all this time. Helpless in the grip of emotions he could scarcely control, he asked the question that burned foremost in his mind - had, in fact, been doing so for years.

"Why? Kim, what happened? WHY did you break up with me like that?"

The tears did start to fall then, trickling down pale cheeks in a silver rivulet Kim made no effort to stop.

"I d-don't know anymore," she sniffled. "Tommy, please believe me, I never wanted to hurt you ... not like this ... but at the time, it seemed like the only thing I could do." She swiped at her face with the back of her hand, in vain. "I ... I was so alone, and confused, and I needed you so." Her words were coming faster now, tumbling over each other as she continued. "I know now - if I'd never gone to Florida in the first place, I'd never have written you that letter. I knew at the time that I was hurting you, but I hurt, too, and I didn't know what else to do ... if you'd only been there, but you weren't, and I had to do something ..."

"Then why didn't you call?" he demanded, all the old pain and confusion he'd felt then coming back with a vengeance. "You know I would've been there for you - helped you with whatever problem you had - but you didn't even give me the chance! Instead, you blew me off in a letter! You couldn't even do it in person?!?"

Kim was crying openly now, but she no longer cared. She deserved every harsh word; they were nothing more than what she'd thrown at herself ever since, after all.

Tell him now! the voice Kim hadn't heard since that fateful night so long ago urged her. Now's the time to tell him the REAL reason you broke up with him - the truth, not some excuse! But she ignored it, telling herself that she was not going to be angling for sympathy because of her illness. Not when there had been other, far more 'important' reasons why she had done what she did.

"Tommy, please ... you were the Red Ranger. The world needed you; I knew you couldn't desert the team. Not even for me," she sobbed. "On top of everything else, I didn't want that on my conscience, too. It was bad enough that I knew I was going to hurt you, no matter what. I didn't want to do it. I never wanted to hurt you. I loved you!"

"Then why, Kim? Why did you? I loved you, too - you must've known I'd have done anything in my power to help."

Kimberly shook her head sadly. Impatiently, she dashed her tears away with unsteady fingers, not caring that her carefully-applied makeup was now smudged, leaving dark circles of mascara under her eyes. "That's just it," she murmured brokenly. "There was nothing you could've done, and at the time, I truly thought I was doing the right thing by letting you go."

Tommy was breathing hard, and had to fight the urge to run his hands through his long hair. He settled for rubbing his neck instead, unmindful that he was loosening the silver clasp holding his ponytail so that a few strands escaped.

"Okay. Okay," he muttered, forcing a calm upon himself he didn't really feel. "I ... I guess I can accept that; after all, we were three thousand miles apart, and we both had a duty to our teams." It was his mind saying this; his heart was still protesting the rationalization. "But why didn't you come to me after whatever crisis you went through was over and explain? You must've known I would forgive you almost anything. Even that you turned to someone else." And that had been hardest of all to bear.

Kim was tempted to confess to Tommy that there had never been anyone else, that she'd only made up a story about falling in love with another man. Or at least tell him that the mystery boyfriend had just been an excuse, a substitute for him, but she wouldn't compound her actions with yet another lie. Instead, she ignored that last sentence and focussed on something else he'd said - something far more important.

She sent a tremulous smile up at him. "I ... I had hoped for something like that when I came home that summer, but then Divatox happened, and ..." she couldn't go on, the memory of her behaviour while under Maligore's spell still filling her with shame and remorse. Tommy correctly interpreted her sudden hesitation.

"You weren't responsible, and neither was Jase," he said firmly. Of that, he'd always been sure. How could he think otherwise, after his own experiences as Rita Repulsa's pawn? Then, he came back to the subject at hand. "But why didn't you come to me afterwards?" he demanded to know. "After the tournament, we could have talked ..."

But Kimberly shook her head no, her eyes dry now but infinitely sad in her pale face.

"No," she whispered. "I couldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because of Kat," she answered simply. "When you hugged her after you'd won, the two of you looked so happy together, I just couldn't bring myself to hurt either of you in any way. Not after what I'd just done."

Tommy blushed; caught up in his memories and the emotional turmoil they evoked, he'd all but forgotten about the lovely blonde and what she had been to him at the time. Embarrassed that he could be so negligent, after all the things Kat had done for him to help him through that dark period in his life, he looked away for a moment.

"Oh. Um ... yeah." He sounded and looked so sheepish that Kim had to chuckle softly. It was a rather watery sound, but it helped overcome the sudden awkwardness.

"Exactly," she murmured, glancing at him shyly through her lashes. Timidly, she reached out and put a hand on his forearm. "Tommy?"

With an effort, he recalled himself to the present. "Yes?"

"Do you ... do you think you can forgive me one of these days?" Kimberly asked, rosy color tingeing her cheeks at the temerity. "I- I honestly didn't mean to hurt you like I did. And if I could, I'd undo it in a heartbeat."

Tommy looked at his first love for a long, long time, taking in the hope lurking in the depths of the doe eyes. He thought about what he'd been through when he received her letter, what he'd learned about himself and life since then, and about what Kim had just told him. Suddenly, he was beginning to feel very weary, and he sighed, shaking his head.

"I'm really, truly sorry," Kim repeated, mistaking his reaction for rejection. Well ... at least I've tried, and apologized properly at last. "I know this is maybe too little, too late, but it's what I wanted to tell you. No," she interrupted herself, "what I've been needing to tell you for ages. I hope you can at least accept my apology for the way I treated you, even if you can't forgive me."

"But I can," Tommy found himself saying, much to his own surprise. He'd been so certain he'd need time to think it all through, weigh whatever Kim might tell him against his own pain, but ... "I do forgive you," he said wonderingly, suddenly knowing it to be true.

Maybe all I really needed was to hear her say she's sorry, he mused, but that mattered little now in the face of the sudden joy lighting up the delicate features.

"Y-you do?" the petite brunette breathed incredulously. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Tommy smiled, feeling a burden he hadn't known he still carried lifting slowly from his heart. "You know I could never stay mad at you for long."

Kim gave a little squeak of pure happiness, and suddenly Tommy found his arms full of soft femininity - impulsively, Kim had launched herself at him much as she used to do when they still were a couple and very much in love. Instinctively, he caught her and the two hugged for a timeless moment. Then, Kim recalled herself and blushing hotly, she disentangled herself from an embrace she felt she'd lost the right to.

"Sorry," she mumbled, although deep down she wasn't. It had felt sooo good!

Neither was Tommy, but he would rather have cut off his ponytail here and now than admit it. "'S okay," he replied, his arms seeming very empty all of a sudden. Awkwardly, he retreated a step and cleared his throat.

"So ... um ... what do we do now?"

"What do you mean?" Kim wondered, not daring to hope he meant anything special by the question.

Get a grip, girl! Isn't it enough he forgave you? Do you have to wish for the stars even though he just handed you the moon? But she couldn't help herself; Tommy had always had that effect on her.

"Er ... do you want to go back inside, or do you want me to take you home?" Tommy fumbled, secretly wishing Kim would want to stay with him just a little longer. To do what, he didn't know nor cared; he only wanted to enjoy her company some more. Again.

"Oh." Hiding her disappointment, Kim didn't have to think twice. If nothing else, she wanted Tommy's company just a little longer. Like forever, her foolish heart suggested, but she pushed the thought away with regret and secret longing. "I ... I'd like to stay, if you don't mind," she answered. "Maybe ... maybe we could even have that dance I ran out on?" she ventured, holding her breath at her daring.

"I'd like that," Tommy replied, making no effort to suppress the relieved smile he could feel forming on his face. "I'd like that very much."

Glad to have an excuse to touch Kim again, if only very innocently, he offered her his arm. "Shall we go back then?"

"Yes, please."

Together, the two walked back towards the gym. When they reached the entrance, Kim caught sight of herself in a polished glass pane.

"Oh my God," she blurted, horrified, lifting a hand towards her black-rimmed eyes. "I can't go back in there looking like this!"

"Oh, I dunno," Tommy teased. "I've heard the grunge look is still quite the thing!"

Shooting him a look full of venom, and glad she could do so again with a clear conscience, Kim let go of Tommy's arm.

"Tommy Oliver ...!" she warned.

"What?" he said oh-so-innocently.

Kimberly had to laugh. "I don't buy that look any more today than I did seven years ago," she grumbled. "Wait for me while I visit the restroom, please? I won't take long." Her brown eyes were imploring and impossible to resist. How good it felt to be so light-hearted with each other again!

"Sure," Tommy answered and watched her scamper off with a smile.

True to her word, Kim returned in record time, her face free of mascara smudges once again and bright with joy. "I'm ready."

"Then let's dance!"

From their table, their friends watched the couple return with concern that soon turned to obvious relief.

"Well, it looks like those two have finally sorted themselves out," Jason grinned hugely, signalling a passing student acting as waiter for refills all around.

"And about time, too, to quote someone I know," Adam added with a relieved smile. He didn't like knowing that any of his friends were at odds with each other, for whatever reason. And ever since he'd been the one to read Kim's infamous letter to Tommy at the Youth Center, he'd felt an odd guilt about the whole affair, even though he knew it was a totally irrational sentiment.

"Who might that be?" Jason asked with a perfectly straight face.

"Nooooo idea," both Rocky and Tanya chorused, and that set everybody off laughing. Soon after, the conversation turned general again, and they only occasionally cast a caring glance towards the dance floor, still watching over their friends who were swaying to the music, oblivious to everything but the feeling of rightness they were experiencing right this instant. One single thought was paramount in both Tommy and Kim's mind.

I wish this night would never end.

Tanya to Trini

" ... Trini, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you guys throwing a bridal shower for me; and I'm truly glad that we'll be getting to know each other some more. You've been so helpful about everything to do with traditions and stuff! Thank you! Anyway, as Adam and I will be moving into a bigger place right after the wedding, my folks have offered to host the shower at their home; I hope you all won't mind my mom being there, too. I've told her so much about all of you, she's dying to meet you. ..."

"Welcome," Mrs. Sloane called as the four female ex-Rangers climbed out of Kim's car in the wide driveway. The girls greeted her and Tanya, then started unloading a number of mysterious packages from the trunk that made Tanya's eyes widen with curiosity.

"Are those for me?" she asked.

"No, for the Salvation Army," Kat quipped. "We always gift-wrap our donations. Of course they're for you, silly."

"Ooh ... let me see!" Eagerly, Tanya reached for a flat box tied with a big, shiny yellow bow.

"Later, Tanya," Mrs. Sloane recalled her excited daughter to her duties as hostess/guest of honor with a smile that was both indulgent and slightly reproachful. "You're worse than you used to be at age five on Christmas morning!"

"You mean she's changed since then?" Aisha deadpanned. Tanya pouted as her mother pretended to consider the question, then slowly shook her head no, and the six women burst out laughing, creating an instant camaraderie that transcended age. It was easy to see for the others from where Tanya had inherited both her down-to-earth ways and her charm. Mrs. Sloane led the way into the cool foyer.

"Let's see if my scientific training lets me get all your names right. Katherine I already know, of course," she winked at the blonde Australian, "Aisha is pretty obvious - how is Ashala, Dear? You must tell me everything about her and the village if we have a minute! Tanya's told me that Trini is the nice Asian who knows all about Buddhist weddings, so that means you must be Kimberly the gymnast," she concluded, grinning down on a delighted Kim.

"That's right, Mrs. Sloane," the petite brunette laughed, liking the humor. "Brilliant deduction!"

"Oh, call me Ella," the older woman offered to all, ushering the girls through a spacious living area onto the sunny terrace, where refreshments and canapÙs had been set out under a large umbrella. "What?" she twinkled innocently, as she noticed Aisha's incredulous look.

"I'm sorry, but ... but you don't really look like an Ella to me," the dark-skinned girl said apologetically. "No offense!"

"None taken," Ella Sloane chuckled. "You're hardly the first to think that."

"Mom's full name is Eleanor," Tanya stage-whispered with a grin, dodging her mother's half-hearted swat expertly. "Named after Eleanor Roosevelt. Only, she's always hated the name ... but loves jazz, and especially Ella Fitzgerald's music, so ..."

"Names can be awful," Trini nodded, instantly at ease under the friendly banter. She gently slapped Tanya's hands away from a gaily-wrapped package and put it under her chair for later. "You have NO idea how often I've been asked what my full name is; everybody always assumes that 'Trini' is an abbreviation of something. Like Katrina."

"You think it's easier with a name like mine?" Kat commented with a long-suffering sigh. "Katherine has to be the one name with more variations than any other. Well, maybe Elizabeth comes close, or Margaret, but ..." She shrugged. "There's Katy, Kathy, Kathleen, Kaitlin ..."

"Not to mention the really cutesy ones, like Kitty," Kimberly smirked, knowing how much Kat hated that particular diminutive.

"Don't remind me," the blonde shuddered dramatically. "Kat was definitely the lesser of many evils. Of course, now I have to put up with all the cat jokes ..."

"Well, we could always go back to calling you PC," Kim suggested straight-faced, only to squeal in pretend fright when Kat growled menacingly and took a swipe at her with her hands curved into claws.

"Mwrrroooooaaaarrrrrrrrrr!"

"HELP!"

"Tough luck, Kim; you're all on your own against the Pink Panther," Aisha snickered, then nearly fell off her chair when Kat turned towards her with a mock-ferocious scowl. "Um ... maybe not. Anybody got some catnip?"

"Try this," Tanya wheezed, nearly doubled over with laughter as she passed around a tray with filled champagne flutes. "I've heard say it soothes even the most savage of beasts!"

"Who're you calling a beast?!?"

Tanya's answer was lost as Ella Sloane went back to the kitchen for some cheese puffs; she shook her head in silent amusement. These girls! Grown, successful women each, and yet as silly as high school sophomores! Me likes! No wonder Tanya had been so insistent to have her friends at the wedding, even though Kat and Kimberly would be sticking out like sore thumbs among all the Parks, Kims, Sloanes and Henrys. Well, there's no helping it. Besides, with Adam's friends also there, they won't be the only Caucasians present. And it doesn't really matter, anyway. If there was one thing Adam and Tanya's families had in common, it was the lack of racial prejudice. It made for a very pleasant foundation on which to build a closer relationship; Ella was very much looking forward to discussing various Korean historical sites with Adam's great aunt Midori.

There was much laughter and plain girlish silliness as the women consumed the delicious food and sipped their drinks; they'd switched to non-alcoholic punch after that first glass of champagne because they didn't need anything else to enjoy themselves. The girls could reminisce to their hearts' content as Mrs. Sloane knew about their former 'day jobs', and she enjoyed the funny memories related by the longer-serving Rangers as much as Tanya.

At one point, she looked at the younger women admiringly. "You know ... ever since Tanya rescued us from Mysterio Island and revealed her identity to us, I've admired what you all did, but to get to know you like this ... it's truly been an experience. Let me say just this once that I'm very glad my daughter has found friends like you. I've always wanted that for her, and it's a privilege to see how much you all like each other."

There were a few pleased yet embarrassed smiles, but then Kat spoke up.

"Thank you. But if there ever was a privilege, it was really ours; I don't know if I'd be the person I've become if it hadn't been for meeting the gang and getting chosen to be a Ranger." Aisha and Tanya nodded; they, too had once joined the team as newcomers. Kimberly and Trini exchanged a look.

"Don't make us into anything more than we were," the slender Asian said thoughtfully. "Sure, Kim and I were friends, but I don't know that we would have grown this close without Zordon. Before ..."

"Before, we were typical teenage girls; concerned about boys, clothes, being popular ... well, Trini also cared about her schoolwork," Kimberly grinned. "I was ... kinda shallow. Doing, like, the Valley Girl stuff?" she drawled in an imitation of her former ways, making the others smile. "I had to grow out of that fast enough, and let me tell you, I don't regret it. Not for a second."

"None of us do," Aisha concurred. "I mean, I liked hanging out with Rocky and Adam, being one of the guys and everything, but I've learned so much through becoming a Ranger - I feel as if I've really changed into a better person."

"Which is something not many people can say of themselves, especially at such a relatively young age," Ella said. Once again, she marvelled at the quirks of fate that had led Tanya to Angel Grove and her friends. She felt that no matter what, her daughter would always have someone to count on. It made her own career as an anthropologist - which often meant going on expeditions into remote, and sometimes dangerous, areas - that much easier, knowing that Tanya wouldn't be alone if something ever should happen to her or her husband. Dispelling the suddenly rather somber mood with a bright smile, Ella refilled a couple of glasses, then leaned back in her chair.

"Isn't it time for the male stripper yet?" she asked nonchalantly, enjoying the looks of stunned disbelief on the girls' faces at her outrageous question. "That's sort of traditional for a bachelorette party like this, isn't it? Don't tell me you've forgotten to arrange for one!"

Blushing hotly, Kat cleared her throat. She didn't dare look at any of the others. "Um, well, I, ah, I guess ..."

"What a pity. And I was so looking forward to it," Ella said blandly.

"Mom! What would Dad say if he heard you?!?" Tanya gasped. She knew her mother could be rather unconventional sometimes, but surely she didn't believe ...

Ella grinned. "You really want to know? I think he'd watch the guy very carefully, then take him aside and lecture him about the significance of formal stripping of clothes and the tradition of related mating rituals among the natives of Papua-New Guinea. Or some other place like that. Thereby completely missing the point of the show."

Tanya suddenly began to giggle. "Yeah, that sounds like Dad, alright!"

Mrs. Sloane sighed melodramatically. "I love your father dearly, but sometimes ... he just doesn't have a clue." She shook her head in resignation.

Kim, Kat, Aisha and Trini had overcome their own surprise by now. They, too, started to laugh.

"You know, I bet I could probably name a couple of guys who are just like that," Kim smirked.

"Oh yeah," Aisha laughed. She started ticking names off her fingers. "Let's see ... in alphabetical order, that'd be Adam, Billy ..."

"...Jason, Justin, Rocky, Tommy ..." Kat added, and the others nodded sagely.

"Pathetic, as we used to say, right, Kim?" Trini concluded, then reached for the package she'd hidden from Tanya earlier. "Well ... maybe this will help you to make Adam less clueless." With a knowing smile, she handed the box over.

Eagerly, Tanya took off the lid and looked at the contents - aromatic oils, creams and massage lotions. As soon as she realized what was the likely purpose of the gift, she blushed.

"Oh my ...!"

With a naughty giggle, Kat produced the box with the yellow bow. "I believe this might go well with that!"

"Ooh-lõ-lõ!" Kim cooed as Tanya unfolded a lacy baby-doll nightie that clearly would leave very little to Adam's imagination. "NICE!"

"I'll say," Aisha put forth drily. "If you wear that, the poor boy won't know what hit him."

By now, Tanya's initial embarrassment had given way to laughter. "Don't worry, I've learned enough CPR to revive him if he has heart failure," she chuckled as she continued to unpack her friends' presents, which ranged from the useful to the silly. Comments and suggestions about their use were flying fast and furiously, when Ella excused herself and went inside to answer the shrilling phone. It took her quite a while to return to the patio, and when she did, her dark skin had a greyish cast, and her eyes looked terrified. It was such a contrast to the vibrant personality she had shown before that Kimberly, who happened to glance her way, couldn't suppress a small exclamation of surprise.

"Ella, what is it?"

Tanya looked up from admiring a pair of crystal salt shakers and nearly shattered them in her haste to rush to her mother's side as she noticed tears streaming down the usually strong, vital face.

"Mom!"

Carefully, she guided Ella to her chair. Trini quickly poured some leftover champagne into a glass and made the older woman take a sip or two. The others gathered around, anxiously waiting to see if they could help their hostess. Gradually, Mrs. Sloane calmed down enough to look at her daughter.

"Tanya ... oh my God, baby ..." Fresh tears spilled over, and Kat fumbled for a handkerchief, giving it to Tanya who was getting increasingly worried. The former Yellow Ranger dabbed lovingly at her mother's tears.

"What's wrong? Has something happened to Dad?"

"No ... no, your father's fine," Ella hiccuped. Something about the way she said it sent a shiver down Tanya's spine.

"Then what is it?" she urged.

With an effort, Ella made herself relax. Briefly, she considered saying nothing, but one look into the five concerned faces around her changed her mind. Having seen the close ties among the group of young women, she realized they'd learn about it anyway; they might as well hear it now.

"I ... that was my doctor's office who just called," she began haltingly. "You know I had a check-up recently, for that dig we're supposed to go on this fall? Anyway, the test results are in, and ... oh God, Tanya, they found I've g-got ... I've got cancer!" Ella started to cry once more. "We had so many plans still, Gabe and I ... now this! What if I'm going to die? Who will look after him, go along with him on the expeditions? And you." She lifted haunted eyes to her shocked daughter. "I had hoped to see you have babies of your own; who will be there for you if you need me and I'm gone?"

Tanya started to cry, too. Helplessly, all she could do was embrace her mother.

"Mom ... oh Mom, I don't know! It seems as if I've only just found you - I can't lose you again!"

The four young women exchanged looks. They all wanted to help, but how could they? An illness like this ... this was beyond their experience. Kat tentatively reached out to her best friend, trying to comfort her, but couldn't get through to Tanya, who held on to Ella as both wept, oblivious to their surroundings.

Trini, Aisha, Kim and Kat withdrew slightly, giving mother and daughter some privacy, but kept close enough to be there should their assistance be required. They exchanged uneasy glances, not quite daring to express their feelings at this unexpected and most unwelcome event, but finally Aisha could stand the strained silence no longer.

"God, I wish there was something we could do to make it easier," she murmured.

"There's really nothing one can do in a situation like this," Trini whispered sadly.

Kat nodded, her own voice tight with emotion. "I doubt anyone can, unless they've gone already through something like it."

"What do you think - should we leave?" Aisha asked.

"I'm staying," Kat immediately decided. "If Tanya needs me, I want to be here, not halfway across the city."

"Yes, you're right," Trini concurred.

Kimberly heard her friends, but remained silent, her expression shuttered and distanced. The brown eyes were fixed intently on the distraught older woman, her usually smooth forehead crunched up in a tiny frown as she just stood at the edge of the group. Her whole stance seemed to indicate she was waiting for something, but for what, nobody could say. When Aisha noticed her lack of involvement in their discussion and was about to comment, Trini stopped her with a small shake of her head. "Let her be," she suggested quietly. "Kim probably doesn't know what to say, either."

That brought the first Pink Ranger out of her apparent paralysis.

"But I do," Kat heard her say under her breath. "I do know."

The Australian thought she had misunderstood. I MUST have. How would Kim know ... and know WHAT? "Kim? What do you mean?" she wondered, but got no answer as the petite young woman slowly approached Tanya and her mother. Crouching before the chair, Kimberly gently touched Ella's knee.

"Ella?"

The older woman sniffled, then visibly tried to collect her wits. "I'm sorry," she choked. "I didn't want to spoil the mood, but ... " A sob caught in her throat.

"Mom's always been simply terrified by any kind of sickness," Tanya explained through her own tears. "She just has no control over her reactions, at least not right away."

"That's quite okay, Tanya," Kim gave her friend a quick, understanding smile, but brought her attention back towards Mrs. Sloane right away. "I'd just like to ask your mom a few questions, if she doesn't mind."

"Kim, I don't think this is the time -" Trini was about to interrupt, but Ella drew in a deep, shuddering breath.

"No, no, it's okay. Maybe that'll distract me a little." She attempted a brave smile as she ineffectually wiped her wet cheeks. "What do you want to know, Dear?"

Kim inhaled shakily. It took all her courage and resolve not to falter now, knowing that she was going to expose much more of herself, of her past crisis, than she'd ever intended, but she really liked Tanya's mother, and if there was any way, any way at all that she could help, at least a bit ... it'd be more than worth it. She needs my help. Just as I needed help then. And she couldn't turn her back now. Not when there was something she could do. It's little enough, after all ... Making her voice as gentle as she could, Kimberly took a cold hand between her own trembling fingers and waited until the dark eyes met hers.

"Ella ... what exactly did your doctor say? What kind of cancer do you have - where in your body is it, I mean?"

Surprised, Ella recalled what she'd been told. It was difficult; she'd been so shocked, but she made the attempt nonetheless. "The nurse said it was in my ovaries ... I have a tumor in my right ovary." She stifled another sob.

"And do they think they can operate?" Kimberly was speaking in a deliberately soothing tone. Her whole demeanour, asking quietly for information, had a visibly calming effect on Ella.

"Y-yes, I think so. Of course, they can't be sure without further tests, but Dr. Isaacs seemed to be somewhat optimistic about that."

"That's good. Keep that in mind," Kim requested, smiling reassuringly as she got up and sat down in a chair next to the other woman. Gradually, giving Ella all the time she needed, the gymnast got the details of her illness out into the open. The others wondered about this; while they knew Kim as compassionate and concerned, it was unlike her to press like this for obviously painful details.

Bad enough, but not hopeless, Kimberly thought when Tanya's mother finally wound down. Much like it was for me.

"Thanks. I know how difficult this must've been for you." Oh, HOW she knew!

She then reached for her purse and extracted a pen and a small notepad. From memory, Kim then wrote down a couple of 0-800 numbers and handed the note to Mrs. Sloane.

"You might give one or both of these places a call, when you feel like it," she said gently. At the questioning look she received, Kim explained, "They're numbers for support groups for women diagnosed with cancer - especially in the uterus and other female areas. They have nurses there, doctors, psychologists ... and most of all other women who have gone through exactly what you're going through now. Any questions you have, they'll give you answers, honestly and in detail. And most importantly, in terms everybody can understand. You'll get no Latin phrases from them.

"Trust me on this? I wouldn't give you these numbers if I didn't think it might help. You can give my name as reference, too."

Bemusedly, Ella took the piece of paper and turned it over a few times in her hands. Her mind, recovering from the initial shock, was already coming up with any number of questions she desperately wanted answers to.

"Th-thanks. I think I will give them a call - tomorrow, maybe, when I've calmed down a little."

"That's okay," Kim smiled, relieved her offer hadn't been rejected out of hand. "Just do it whenever you're ready to get your answers."

Tanya also gave her friend a grateful, slightly wobbly smile. For her, it was enough to see her mother not quite so distraught anymore.

"Thanks, Kim."

Then, a thought struck her.

"But say - how do you know about these help lines? You didn't even have to look them up; did someone in your family have cancer, too?"

Kimberly briefly closed her eyes, echoes of the agony she'd gone through seven years ago shadowing her mind.

This is it.

The moment she'd dreaded had arrived at last. She'd never wanted her friends' pity, but knew that the time had come to reveal her secret. A look into the haunted eyes of Tanya's mother decided her. For Ella. For every woman in the same situation.

Drawing a deep, fortifying breath, Kim shared her truth.

"Not 'someone in my family'. Me."

There was a stunned silence, broken at last by Trini's incredulous whisper.

"WHAT?!?"

Meeting her oldest friend's shocked eyes with painful honesty, Kim's voice was brittle but quite calm.

"Yes. I had cervical cancer."

Aisha, Kat, Tanya and Trini looked askance at their friend, then Aisha and Trini surged forward as one, enfolding her in a fierce hug. Kat wasn't far behind; only Tanya stayed with her mother, but reached out to the first Pink Ranger as well.

"Good God, Kim, when? What happened? Why didn't you tell us?"

The questions tumbled over each other; it was impossible to tell who asked what, but Kim didn't mind - because in the eyes fixed on her she didn't find the pity she'd feared, but compassion and deep concern instead.

How stupid and wrong I was ... then ...

Accepting the comfort she'd so longed for at the time but hadn't dared ask for, Kim felt a few tears roll down her own cheeks. She wiped them quickly away.

"It's okay, guys. I'm okay. Now."

Reaching for composure, Trini sat back, but kept an arm around Kim's slender shoulders.

"What happened?" she repeated. "Can you tell us?"

Kimberly nodded, suddenly relieved that she could tell everything at last. Swallowing the lump which had formed at the back of her throat, she started to speak.

"It was a few months after I'd started training with Coach Schmidt; during the team physicals, the doctor found some irregularities ..."

Haltingly, she recounted everything - how she'd hoped against hope that the diagnosis was wrong, but was disappointed in that. How she'd decided to keep silent, not wanting to worry her friends and distract them from their duty as Rangers. Although she tried to hide it, the others knew her well enough to read between the lines how afraid and lonely she must've felt, dealing with this blow all by herself.

"God, Kim," Trini whispered, hugging her. "I wish you would have told me. Or any of us, really."

Thankfully, Kimberly returned the embrace. "I couldn't. Not at the time," she replied. "It was all I could do to call my mom."

"I think I understand," Kat said softly. "If it had been me ... maybe I would have done the same." Slowly, with dawning recognition, she turned towards her predecessor as something clicked in her mind.

"Kim ... does Tommy know?"

The question hung in the air as the significance seeped into the girls' consciousness. With bated breath, they waited for an answer they already knew deep inside. And it came as no big surprise to any of them when Kimberly's pale face colored a delicate shade of pink as she shook her head.

"N-no."

"So that's why she broke up with him," Aisha said to Trini and Kat during a three-way phone call later that night, after they'd all gone home. "I've always wondered."

"Yes," Trini commented. "It always seemed so out of character for her ..."

"They were so much in love; even a blind person could see it. I mean, it's not all that unusual for a couple to drift apart through separation." Kat recalled how her own relationship with Tommy had ended, absurdly pleased that she could do so with only a small, wistful smile. "But for Kim to fall for someone else? I couldn't really believe it."

"You weren't the only one," Trini concurred. The three young women discussed the startling revelations of the day a while longer before they determinedly turned their thoughts back to more pleasant events - namely Adam and Tanya's wedding, which was only a few weeks away. It was quite late before each of them found rest.

Kim talked to Ella Sloane a few more times in the days after Tanya's bridal shower, pleased that the older woman would seek out her advice. Sharing her own experience with her was far easier than she'd thought it would be, and in doing so found a measure of gratitude that she could finally pass on some of the help she had been given while still a teenager.

Tonight, she was planning on spending a quiet evening watching TV; she'd had an exhausting day at Angel Grove University, where she was doing course work to obtain her coaching license. Now that there were fresh 'stars' coming up on the gymnastics scene, Kim had decided to fall back on her old dream of teaching. She still enjoyed minor celebrity status, but knew it wouldn't last, so it was time to see to her future.

Maybe it'll even be marriage one day, she thought with a wistful smile, determinedly pushing an image of Tommy's lean features to the back of her mind. She'd buried that particular dream a long time ago - which was why she had refused to date him again since their reconciliation last year. No use stirring up something that will hurt us both - again.

Carrying a glass of soda into her small living room, she was just about to sit down when the doorbell rang.

"Who the heck is that?" she grumbled. A quick glance at her watch showed her it was past 9 pm; hardly the time for a social call. Unless it's one of the gang ... or an emergency. The thought propelled her to the door. Pressing the buzzer without thinking, she waited at the spy hole for her visitor to come out of the elevator. When the sliding doors opened and a tall figure walked purposely down the hall towards her apartment, Kim suddenly went weak in the knees.

"Oh God."

It was Tommy. And his hard, anguished expression and the stormy brown eyes told her exactly why he had come.

He knows.

Kim closed her eyes briefly, wanting nothing more right now than to be able to flee, to run away as fast and as far away as possible, but she stood her ground. Her time for running was long past.

Instead, she slowly opened the door to her apartment. It took every ounce of willpower she had, but she managed to meet Tommy's eyes. What she read in them formed a cold ball of dread in her stomach and bled all color from her features. God, he's so mad ...! But Kim admitted to herself that Tommy had a right to be, after everything she'd put him through and kept from him. Sighing inwardly, she tried to steel herself against the explosion she was sure was coming. A seeming eternity that may have lasted just a few heartbeats passed, then she stepped aside, mutely inviting him in.

Tommy controlled himself with an effort; his emotions hadn't been in such a turmoil since the day Kim had sent him her letter. Which apparently had been one giant lie. Right now, he couldn't even say what enraged him more - the fact that she'd hidden her illness from him, that she'd lied about it, or that she'd apparently used it as an excuse to dump him. Once again, all he could think was 'Why? Why did she do this?', and it wasn't making him any happier the second time around.

Striding past the petite brunette, ignoring her pale face and scared expression, Tommy entered the cosy living room and stopped near the window, staring into the gathering darkness while he waited for Km to follow him. Subconsciously, he heard her close the front door, the soft 'click' of the light switch being turned off, her muted footfalls on the wall-to-wall carpeting as Kimberly came after him. She stayed near the door, and when he finally turned around to look at her, she was leaning against the jamb, her arms crossed behind her back as if she needed the wall's support to hold her upright. Kim's skin looked whiter right now than Kat's ever had; her brown eyes were frightened, but at the same time it seemed to Tommy as if there was also a hint of relief in their depths. Forcing his vocal chords to operate, Tommy blurted out what was foremost in his mind.

"How could you?" he rasped.

Kim didn't answer, just flinched slightly and averted her eyes.

"How could you do this?" he repeated, more forcefully this time. "To me? More importantly, to us? And why did I have to hear it from Rocky - who got it from Adam, through Tanya? That's not even second-hand, that's ... that's ... Hell, I can't even count that far tonight!" he fumed. "Dammit, Kim, stop hiding already and tell me the whole truth! I think I deserve it, after all this time and everything you put me through!"

"Yes, you do," Kimberly managed to choke out, on the verge of tears. "Tommy, I ..."

She had to look away again, or she would've broken down there and then. Shakily, Kim breathed deeply a few times until she was able to continue.

"I did what I thought I had to do, at the time," she said wearily. "There was nothing you, or Zordon, or any of the others for that matter, could have done. I knew that all too well. And I also knew I couldn't bear your pity."

"Pity?!? Kim, did you really know me that little?" Tommy exploded. "I loved you! I all but asked you to marry me! I would have been there for you, through thick and thin - just as we used to do as Rangers. But you ... you couldn't wait to kick me out of your life. You didn't even give me the chance to prove that to you!"

"I didn't have to," Kimberly replied, so softly Tommy nearly didn't hear her. "I knew."

He started as her words registered, but they didn't do much to calm him.

"Yeah, right. If you did, you had a damned funny way of showing it," he muttered, still angry. Wrestling his injured feelings back with difficulty, Tommy scowled. "Okay. Let's say you did know. Call me dumb, but I don't get it. Spell it out for me if you have to. If you really knew I wouldn't leave you, why did you dump me?"

Kim opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Tommy held up a cautioning hand.

"Don't give me some crock about my duty to the team again," he warned. "I had responsibilities, yes, we both did, but we could have worked something out. If we'd both tried. You didn't even do that. So, one more time, Kim - why?"

The petite brunette finally let go of the wall and wandered across the softly-lit room, to a sideboard which held an array of pictures - the 'first' team, the 'second' one with Aisha, Rocky and Adam, her family, her team at the PanGlobals ... the moment her medal was placed around her neck ... she fingered the frames nervously, shifting and rearranging them senselessly until she'd gathered her thoughts. Then, Kim looked over her shoulder at Tommy.

"I wasn't exactly being very rational at the time," she confessed. "There was too much getting piled on top of me, one thing after another. My reasons ... then, I thought I had some. Not very good ones in retrospect, maybe, but they were all I had." Kim paused for a much-needed breath. "Why didn't I call you? Or anyone else, aside from my mom? Because of a number of things." She started ticking them off the fingers of one hand, one by one.

"Because I was seventeen and had just been diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness. Because I was all alone, thousands of miles away from everything and everybody I loved. Because I was overworked and exhausted, both physically and mentally. Because I missed you and needed you and didn't dare ask for your help." Here she paused, gulped and lowered her head, staring at her hands which had returned to the picture frames, grasping a photograph of herself and Tommy hand in hand in the park - a reminder of the time when they'd been young and carefree and so very much in love. Incidentally, it was the one Kat had stolen a copy of while she was still Rita's pawn. Kim had never been able to tuck it away, along with all the other mementoes of their time together. Quietly, she admitted to the last reason she'd had for writing the 'Dear Tommy' letter.

"Because I was afraid that over time, when you'd realize that I ... that I wasn't a whole woman anymore, you would stop loving me and leave me."

Tommy had halfway expected the other reasons Kim had enumerated; the rational part of his now-adult mind had already supplied him with them. But he hadn't expected to hear Kim say this.

"That's the most idiotic thing I've heard in my life," he exclaimed. "Kim, how could you be so damned STUPID???"

The one-time Pink Ranger laughed humorlessly, bitterly.

"How? By tearing my heart out, piece by piece." Suddenly angry, she whirled to face her ex-boyfriend.

"You think it was easy for me to write you that letter? Yes, it was stupid, yes, I regretted it almost the second I dropped it into the mailbox, but trust me, you weren't the only one who was hurt by it. I needed you, Tommy! I needed you so much it scared me almost as much as the idea of having cancer. I almost called the airport to take the next flight home, but what good would that have done? I still would have been sick, you still couldn't have done anything, and I still had some sense of duty left."

Her anger left Kim as quickly as it had come.

"After I'd written that letter, duty and responsibility were the only things I had left," she murmured tiredly. "That, and ... I didn't want to die. I needed to concentrate what strength remained with me to get through the games and face the operation afterwards. So, I broke up with you. I knew I was hurting you; heck, I was hurting so much myself, I could barely see straight. I just thought ..." The doe eyes closed, trying to hold back the tears. Anguished, Kim bit her lower lip.

The mannerism moved Tommy like nothing else could have done. As in the days of their romance, it made him want to kiss away the faint teeth marks on the rosy lips, to soothe the small hurt. He moved towards Kim, stopping a few feet away from her - not quite ready yet to forgive everything and take her into his arms, although something within him told him in no uncertain terms to forget about all else and do just that.

No. Not ... not yet.

"Thought - what, Kim?" he asked, his own voice rough with emotion. Tommy sensed, deep within, that Kim's answer would give him a necessary piece to the puzzle that had evaded him for so long.

Suddenly weary of hiding, Kimberly dropped the last of her defenses. Raising her gaze to the chocolate eyes, she gave him that final truth. At last.

"I thought ... if I hurt you a little by sending you that letter, I could keep you from being hurt even more later, when you found out I wasn't whole anymore," she whispered. "All I wanted was for you to be happy. And if I couldn't make you happy, maybe you'd find someone else who could ..." her ragged voice trailed off at the look of mingled exasperation and anger.

"You hurt me more than 'a little'," Tommy said sternly. "And you should have known that it was you who made me happy - not somebody else!"

Kim sighed.

"A part of me did know, but ... I couldn't believe anymore."

"Why, Kim? Didn't you trust me at all?" Tommy asked, fresh pain evident in the question.

"Yes ..."

"Then WHY?!?" he demanded again.

"I don't know anymore, except for what I just told you," the gymnast sobbed, literally at the end of her emotional rope.

The choked sound proved to be too much for Tommy. Kim rarely cried, but when she did, he couldn't stand it - not then, nor now. With a curse muttered under his breath, he closed the remaining distance between the two of them and pulled Kimberly roughly into his arms. Where she belongs.

"C'mere," he said simply.

Kim stiffened as she felt those strong arms she'd longed for so often and so long in the depths of her heart close around her back, then lost the fight against her tears. Pressing her face into a muscular shoulder, she wept, her slender body shaking with the force of her sobs.

"God, Kim," Tommy murmured as he held her. "Sshhh."

Kim only cried harder.

"Don't," he begged, but she didn't hear him. So, Tommy looked around, locating the two-seater couch against the near wall, and tried to maneuver Kim towards it. However, the young woman seemed incapable of any movement but to clutch harder at his shirt. Without thinking, Tommy did what he would have done seven years ago - he simply scooped Kim up and carried her over, sinking into the soft upholstery with Kim still held in his arms. He leaned back and waited for the emotional storm to pass, feeling curiously as if Kim's tears were washing away most of the anger and pain still lingering in his own heart. When the racking sobs finally started to subside, Tommy stroked the so-soft caramel hair, crooning nonsense words that calmed her down even further.

At long last, Kim relaxed with a tired sigh. Her eyes closed, she nestled against his chest, trustingly like a child as her tears dried on her pale cheeks. She couldn't remember when she'd last felt this content, safe and protected ... yes, she could. The night before I left for Florida. When we promised each other that nothing could tear us apart. Ever.

Fate had compelled her to break that promise; it was a mistake Kim vowed never to make again, if she was only given one last chance to make things right. For now, she would enjoy being back in Tommy's arms for as long as it lasted; this was just so right, somehow ...

For his part, Tommy continued to rock the slim young woman gently, memories of other times spent like this uppermost in his mind. There was still some anger, but it receded gradually, to be replaced by a sensation of ... rightness ... that felt like nothing ever had before. Not true. The first time I kissed her... or the day I told her 'I love you' for the first time. Deciding to just go with the flow for now, Tommy deliberately blanked out the world. Nothing mattered but the two of them. Like it was meant to be.

Perhaps it was.

Lost in their thoughts, Tommy and Kim continued to sit like this for a small eternity. Sniffling a little, Kim finally dared to lift her eyes to Tommy's.

"I'm so sorry," she hiccuped. God, this is SO lame! But she had no other words to express what was in her heart. Would it be enough? His next words allayed her fear.

"It's okay, Kim. I understand," Tommy replied. Much to his surprise, it was. And he did. The look of surprised gratitude he received was a more than ample reward. So was the feeling of peace flooding his being at that moment. From the tiny sigh Kim emitted and the way she melted into him, she was experiencing pretty much the same thing.

Both fell quiet again, savoring their re-found closeness, until something that had been nagging at the back of Tommy's mind demanded attention. He debated silently whether he should bring it up at all; after such a long time, it wasn't really important anymore, but ...

As long as we're clearing the air, we might as well go all the way, Tommy decided. He cleared his throat.

"Kim?"

The gentle question brought Kimberly out of her pleasant, dream-like state in which Tommy would go on holding her like this for forever.

"Yes?" she answered.

"In that letter you sent me ... you mentioned you had found another guy," Tommy murmured, feeling slightly foolish about asking this after what he'd learned tonight. But he couldn't help it; although he suspected strongly by now there hadn't been anyone else, there was an unease he finally identified as ... jealousy. Uh-oh.

Tommy swallowed surreptitiously.

Does that mean I still care about Kim? More than that, that I'm still in love with her? Amazed at himself, he shook his head. Who am I kidding? Of COURSE I do. Am. Oh boy.

Before the young man could deal with this sudden discovery, he was distracted by Kim starting to squirm somewhat uncomfortably as she blushed a really quite becoming shade of pink. Pleased, he noted that she didn't try to move out of his loose embrace.

"I, um, I sorta made him up," she confessed haltingly, very much not looking at Tommy.

"Why would you do that?" he wondered, honestly confused, while some long-dormant part of him exulted. YES!!!

Kim sighed. "I ... this is gonna sound really weird, I know ... I was sure that if you believed I was happy, if I'd truly found somebody else, you wouldn't come for me and ask for explanations I couldn't - well, didn't want to give," she explained. "By telling you that, I knew I would crush not only your feelings, but your pride, too. If I did that, you wouldn't confront me or call me; you'd just let me go. It was the only way I could come up with to keep you at a distance." She blushed guiltily. "It worked, too, didn't it?"

"Better than you probably expected," Tommy admitted, chagrined. He'd reacted exactly as Kim had predicted he would.

"I did know you pretty well after all," Kim said shyly, sneaking a peek up at the lean features. Tommy didn't look too angry, did he?

"Yeah." He exhaled gustily. There was a strange dichotomy in the situation - that on the one hand, Kim could have played him so well, and on the other that she could have assumed even for a second that he would have left her for something that wasn't her fault. He turned his head slightly and caught a hopeful look Kim dared send his way.

"I'm sorry," she repeated. "I promise I won't do it again." The childlike phrase surprised a small snort of laughter out of him.

"Promise you won't do what again?" he asked, unable to suppress a tiny smile.

"Lie to you. Not trust you. Hide stuff from you. Leave you."

That last promise was scarcely more than a whisper, but Kimberly might as well have shouted at the top of her lungs, it echoed so in Tommy's mind and heart.

Cautiously, Tommy surrendered to the feeling, opening his heart just a crack.

"Kim ... to do that, you'd have to come back to me first ..." he murmured.

"I ... I know ..."

Is this what I want? Yes.

"Would ... would you want to?"

Kim sat up slowly, kneeling on the couch and gazing deeply into Tommy's so-serious eyes. She could hardly believe what she'd heard.

"W-would you want m-me back, then? Even after everything that happened?" she breathed, hope and fear warring in her expression.

Suddenly, Tommy was very sure. Firmly, he nodded.

"Yes."

Kimberly began to tremble as new tears spilled down her cheeks, coursing down the smooth skin in silvery tracks. Her lips quivered as she vainly tried to form words that wouldn't come. But her eyes lit with such joy from within that Tommy didn't need to hear anything; he just reached out a not-quite-steady hand and tenderly brushed the salty droplets away. Both his arms and his heart were opened wide, to make room for the one who belonged there.

"I love you, Kim. I never really stopped. Please come back to me."

"T-tommy," she whispered. "I love you, too ..."

She leaned forward. He drew her towards him.

Their lips met in a very gentle butterfly kiss, hardly enough to let their breaths mingle. It was enough, though, to chase away the last doubt either had. Laughing and crying at the same time, they fell into each others' arms and kissed again. And again ...

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3