Summary: Sequel to Just Want You To Know. With a phone call from Jason, Tommy returns to Angel Grove to comfort an old friend during a family crisis, and discovers that the truest of dreams do come true.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I don’t own Power Rangers, Disney does. I don’t own I Still..., BSB does. Sorry!

**
Who are you now?
Are you still the same
Or did you change somehow?
**

“Flight 2019 from Miami, now arriving at gate C8.”

Jason, Trini and Rocky walked into the baggage claim of Angel Grove International Airport and hurried toward the security gate where they could wait for their friends. The trio stood for a few minutes, before they began to shift back and forth anxiously as they waited on Kimberly and Aisha to come down from their gate.

“I wish they were coming back for a better reason,” Trini murmured. Rocky and Jason both nodded. A few days before, Kim’s brother had been involved in a car accident; he didn’t make it. Now, less than a month since the girls had been in town to visit, the team was gathering again, this time to support Kimberly during the funeral.

“I’m just glad they could get here on such short notice,” Jason responded, remembering the mess Kim and Aisha had found themselves in while trying to get last minute tickets.

“Wasn’t Tommy coming back from New York this weekend?” Rocky asked suddenly.

“Yeah. I called him before he left and he managed to reschedule his flight from Reefside to here. I figured Kim will need all the support she can get.”

“Does Kim know?” Trini asked softy.

“No, but Aisha does. Tommy’s flight was supposed to come in ten minutes before theirs, so he said he’d meet them at their gate and walk down with them.”

~*~

Tommy leaned against a pillar near Kim and Aisha’s gate, waiting for the duo to disembark from the plane. When he spotted Aisha, he set his bag down at his feet and stood a little straighter. Tommy watched Aisha turn to her companion, and finally got a glimpse of Kimberly for the first time in nearly nine years.

Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, she wore shorts and a nice blouse, but what struck him most were the tears in her eyes, and the telltale signs that she’d been crying steadily for some time. No matter what, he’d never been able to stand seeing her cry.

Tommy smiled when Aisha spotted him and waved. He tried to grin at Kim when she stopped in mid step, staring at him. He watched her hand Aisha her carryon before she surged forward and into his now open arms. Tommy held her close, feeling his heart break every time she sobbed or shuddered.

When Kim’s trembling subsided, Tommy moved his right arm around her waist and grabbed his bag from Aisha. With Kim tucked securely against his side, the former Ranger leader escorted the two girls to the security check and down to where their friends were waiting.

**
What do you do
At this very moment when I think of you?
And when I'm looking back
How we were young and stupid
Do you remember that?
Baby
**

Tommy sat on Jason and Kat’s couch, quiet amid the bustle of the Scott household. Adam, Billy and Zack were to his right, talking about Aquitar while Justin, Rocky, and Jason were to his left, talking about an upcoming tournament Justin had entered.

The girls, with the exception of Kim, were in the kitchen snacking and helping Kat cook dinner.

Kim, Tommy knew, was outside sitting on the tire swing. Jason’s parents had opted for a condo a year before and had sold the family home to Jason and Kat when the two had started their married life. Tommy knew from stories he’d heard, that Jason’s dad had built the swing for Jason, Billy and Kimberly because the three were always in the backyard playing as kids.

“Tommy? Where are you going?” Jason asked him.

“Out back; I want to see if I can get her to talk to me.”

**
No matter how I fight it
Can't deny it
Just can't let you go
**

She sighed in remembrance. How man times had her brother pushed her, Billy, or Jason on this swing? ‘Too many times to count.’ Her heart was breaking all over again, even if for a very different reason this time.

“Hey you,” Tommy greeted softly, coming to stand beside her.

“Hey.”

“You holding up alright?” Tommy asked, rubbing his hand up and down her back, hoping to soothe and comfort her.

“As best as can be expected,” she told him, blinking back the tears even as she looked over her shoulder at him.

Tommy felt his own heart break at the look on her face. “It’s going to be ok, Kim.”

“No, it’s not. Kenny shielded me from a lot of our parents’ arguments and problems. Now that he’s gone, it’ll only be a matter of time before everything goes to hell.”

Tommy refrained from commenting. Instead, he opted to move behind her and start pushing the swing gently. Instinctively, Kim brought her feet up from the ground and let Tommy push her. For the former Pink Ranger, to simply let go in Tommy’s presence, was as natural as breathing. She trusted him more than she trusted even herself.

“Relax,” Tommy murmured softly in her ear when he saw her muscles still tense. “Just close your eyes, Beautiful, and let me push the swing.”

Kim nearly cried out when she head the familiar nickname. It had been years since anyone had called her that, and made her heart shudder. ‘The last time was at Christmas, before I screwed up, and it was Tommy calling me that’ she though, closing her eyes again and leaning her chin against the top of the tire swing.

“I miss you,” Tommy whispered, causing Kim to whimper when she heard his words. “I miss spending time with you, sharing things with you no one else ever seems to understand. I miss my best friend.”

Kim’s eyes remained clenched closed even as she swallowed convulsively. “Tommy…”

The swing began to slow down until Kim felt it stop completely, Tommy’s warm breath caressing the back of her neck. “Yes Beautiful?”

Kim cried out softly, leaning back against his chest. “I’ve missed you too.”

Tommy smiled and laid his hands, palms down on the tire, on either side of Kimberly. “You’ll get through this; you’re stronger than you think. You also have all of us here to support you. All you have to do is lean a little, Kim. We won’t let you fall.”

Turning slightly, Kim looked up at Tommy, who had his face close to hers. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, how about we head into the kitchen and get something to eat before Rocky and Justin devour everything?” Tommy’s words broke the intensity of their conversation.

Kim giggled and let Tommy help her out of the swing. The pair went into the house and to the kitchen, amid the surprised gazes of their friends.

**
I still need you
I still care about you
Though everything's been said and done
I still feel you
Like I'm right beside you
But still no word from you
**

“You okay Bro?” Jason asked Tommy when the paleontologist came into the kitchen for breakfast.

“Yeah.”

“You and Kim were up pretty late last night,” Kat smiled, wiggling her eyebrows at her friend as she sat a plate of cheesy scrambled eggs and pancakes in front of him.

“We were talking about all the things we’ve done over the years. I told her about my latest stint in spandex. She wasn’t happy with me.”

Jason shook his head, recalling Kim’s reaction when she’d originally found out; it hadn’t been too long after Jason had found out, and that had only been a week or so after Tommy had gotten the Black Ranger powers.

“When she heard about the island explosion, she reamed me good.”

Jason and Kat laughed. “Good morning Kimberly,” Kat called in greeting. The boys turned and smiled at Kim.

“Morning.” Kim sat down between Jason and Tommy, smiling her thanks when Kat set a plate of food in front of her.

“You ready to face the day?” Jason questioned his baby sister, who merely shrugged.

“Morning!” Aisha chirped, rushing into the kitchen. The others rolled their eyes at her morning perkiness.

“If you need help dealing with your parents today, let me know.”

Kim nodded to Jason. “Trust me, I’m not going to deal with them if they start in with one another or with me. I just can’t deal with their shit today.”

The others winced but remained silent.

~*~

Tommy could tell she was suffering. Her parents sat on either side of her, angrily staring at one another and snipping back and forth just quiet enough that no one else could make out what they were saying. Tommy wanted nothing more than to comfort her, but he didn’t know what would be appropriate.

“Where are you going?” Aisha asked him as he stood up. Tommy had had enough of watching Kimberly’s shoulders shake as her parents argued. The service had yet to begin, but the former Rangers were already in their seats a few rows back from the family, and Tommy had finally decided his course of action.

“To save Kim,” Tommy told her, marching up to the front pew of the church.

Kim looked up in shock when she saw a familiar pair of black encased legs. Tommy stood before her, his hand held out. Blinking back tears, Kim placed her hand in Tommy’s and let him help her up. Before the former Pink Ranger had time to react, she was pulled into a warm embrace.

“Do you want to stay here or come sit with us? You decide, but either way they’re going to stop using you as a ping pong ball as long as I’m still breathing.”

“Actually, I want to go sit with Elaine. Will you come with me?”

Tommy nodded and to her parents’ disbelief, Kim moved to sit with her brother’s pregnant wife and his two young sons.

Kim picked up four-year-old Chris and placed him in her lap while Tommy sat on her right. One-year-old Scott was cuddled in his mother’s lap. Elaine looked at Kim and smiled through her tears. The two women had been extremely close, making up for both Kim’s mother and stepmother’s lack of interest in a relationship with the young blonde Kenny had married six years before.

“Crying isn’t good for the baby, and Kenny wouldn’t want you to cry for him, he’d want you to celebrate,” Kim whispered, snaking an arm around Elaine’s shoulders.

“Who’s that Auntie?” Chris asked, pointing to Tommy while he half hid his face with Kim’s arm.

“That’s Tommy. He’s an old friend of mine,” Kim told her nephew, cuddling her brother’s look-alike son.

“Hi Tommy. I’m Chris.”

Tommy smiled down at Chris. “Hello Chris. How are you?”

“Sad. My daddy went to heaven to be an angel and he can’t come back, ever. I miss him.”

Tommy’s heart lurched at the little boy’s comments. “My mom and dad did too, a long time ago. Don’t worry though, your dad will always watch over you and your brother and your mom.”

“And my baby sister? She’s in mommy’s tummy and won’t come out until September.”

“Yeah, and her too.”

Chris smiled. “Mommy says Daddy watched over Auntie when she was my age.”

Tommy nodded and smiled. “That’s what Jason told me too.”

“You know Unca Jason?”

“Tommy is Uncle Jason’s best friend,” Kim murmured to her nephew. “Time to quiet down, Pastor Brooks is starting.”

Christopher nodded and snuggled against Kim even though his eyes remained on Tommy.

~*~

Kimberly took little Scott from Elaine after the service was over and family and friends were giving their condolences to Kenny’s wife. The little boy had been terrified of all the people and Kim needed some air and time with her friends herself.

“Christopher Kenneth Hart! We don’t run in church!” Kim called after Chris, who was making a bee-line for Jason.

“Unca Jason!” Chris cried out happily, jumping into Jason’s arms.

Jason smiled and swung his honorary nephew into his arms. “C-man!”

“Uh oh!” Chris uttered when Kim approached carrying Scott, her eyes flaming.

“No kidding.”

“Young man, we do not run in church. Understood?”

Chris nodded then brightened when Tommy and Kat approached.

“Auntie Kat!”

Kat smiled and pecked a kiss to Chris’ forehead. “Hey sweetie pie.” After kissing Chris, Kat leaned up and kissed Jason on the lips before pulling back to look at Chris, who was chattering.

“Unca Jason, Auntie Kim says you know Tommy.”

Jason nodded. “I do. We’ve been friends since high school.”

Chris’ eyes grew wide. “What are we doing, Kim?” Kat asked softly.

“The graveside service isn’t until one. Elaine’s mom and my aunt made a lunch. I want to feed these two for Elaine, she needs to relax a little and grieve without worrying about the kids.”

“Well, how about we go eat and get the kids ready to go?”

Kim nodded. The group moved from the lobby of the church to the fellowship hall.

~*~

Tommy sat in a chair next to Jason, watching Kim and Kat get the boys something to eat. “She’s really good with them, huh?” Jason prodded his best friend.

The former Dino Thunder Ranger glared at his best friend. “Kim’s always been good with kids.”

“Just stating the obvious,” Jason grinned, noticing Tommy’s attention was once again on Kimberly.

**
Now that you're gone
Instead of moving on, I refuse to see
And I keep coming back
And I'm stuck in a moment
That wasn't meant to last (to last)
**

Kim stood near the back door, watching the gang play with her brother’s sons in Jason and Kat’s back yard. After the graveside service, the former Rangers had brought Elaine, Chris and Scott to Jason and Kat’s to let them get a chance to breathe. Even now Elaine was upstairs sleeping.

Jason was kneeling with Chris near a towel that was folded and laying on the ground, serving as home plate. Jason had his arms around the little boy, helping him hold the red and gold plastic bat in his hands. Aisha was a few feet in front of them, a white plastic ball in her hand. Trini, Billy, Tanya, and Kat sat in the grass not far away, Scott cuddled in Kat’s lap, watching the game. Rocky, Zack, Adam and Justin stood around the yard at the makeshift bases – all towels like home plate, or in Justin’s case, near Jason and Chris as next to bat.

“Beautiful,” Tommy whispered, coming to stand behind her.

“Yes Handsome?” Kim responded instinctively, using a nickname she hadn’t in quite some time.

“Come with me, there’s something I need to do.”

Kim nodded and the two went back through the Scott Household. Tommy had already cleared his plan with Jason, so he grabbed his best friend’s car keys off the table on their way out.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Kim’s eyes widened in surprise when she and Tommy pulled Jason’s car up to the curb of Angel Grove Park. The pair got out and walked for a while, both silent. Tommy had his hands in his pockets, silent as they walked, and Kim knew something was making him nervous.

For her part, Kimberly blinked back more tears - it seemed all she was doing lately was crying - when they found their way to a specific spot in the park, one that was incredibly special to the two of them. “Tommy, what are we doing here?”

Tommy shrugged, not really sure exactly why he’d chosen this spot that had been so special. ‘Yes you do! You started here, what better place to tell her!’ “When was the last time you were here?”

“During the reunion, the morning after I called you.”

“I haven’t been here since the Island accident.”

Kim’s tears finally managed to streak down her face, replaced by more when the thought of nearly losing him got to her all over again.

“Beautiful, I have a confession to make.”

**
I try to fight it
Can't deny it
You don't even know
**

Kim stopped and looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.

**
That I still need you
I still care about you
Though everything's been said and done
I still feel you
Like I'm right beside you
But still no word from you
**

“I love you, Beautiful. I’ve always loved you.”

Tommy could tell by the look on her face alone she was stunned by his admission.

“Oh Tommy,” Kim cried, closing her eyes, struggling to gain control of her runaway emotions.

“Kimberly, we were friends before we started dating. I want that friendship back, and if we’re lucky enough to move passed the friendship stage, then I’m willing to try.”

Eyes wide and brimming with tears, the former Pink Ranger smiled up at the man who had always held her heart in the palm of his hand.

“I never imagined you’d give me the chance to make things right with you.”

Tommy couldn’t help but smile down at her. “Beautiful, please, just tell me,” he begged.

The most brilliant smile he’d ever seen blossomed on her face. “I love you, Tommy Oliver. Lots of things may have changed, but I can honestly say that hasn’t. I’m willing to work just as hard as you to get back what we had.”

The former White Ranger shook his head. “We can’t get back what we had, because we’ve changed. What we can have will be new, different, and definitely better.”

Kimberly laughed before she stepped toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head against his shoulder.

“When do you go back?”

“Tomorrow. Aisha and I leave at eight in the morning from Angel Grove International.”

“Mind if I come see you off?”

“I’d love that.”

**
Ohhhh
Wish I could find you
Just like I found you then
Ohhhhh (can't live without you)

Though everything's been said and done (yeah)
I still feel you (I still feel you)
Like I'm right beside you (like I'm right beside you)
But still no (still no word) word from you
**

4 Months Later

“Hey guys!” Tommy greeted the four nineteen year olds who use to be his teammates. They were home on summer vacation and he’d had to reschedule meeting up with them due to his latest trip.

“Welcome back, Dr. O. How was Charlotte?” Ethan smiled at his former teacher and mentor.

“Pretty good. Weather sucked, but it’s that time of year.”

“How come your trip got extended?” Conner asked without thinking.

“I got invited to go see a couple of my friends who live in Florida.”

“Who?” Trent teased, not really believing their former mentor would tell them.

“Some of my old teammates.”

“Which ones?” Conner asked again, completely lacking in tact.

“The yellow bear and my pink crane.” That said, Tommy moved to talk to Hayley, who was standing at the counter shaking her head at them.

“Hey, who’s that?” Conner asked, his attention shifting from Dr. Oliver to the gorgeous brunette, dressed in a pink and black dress, who had just walked in the door.

“She looks awfully familiar,” Ethan muttered, wracking his brain for her identity.

“She should,” Kira laughed, finally joining the conversation. “That’s the original Pink Ranger.” Kira could never forget the face of the woman who’d original held the Pterodactyl powers. She may have grown older, but the Pink Ranger still looked enough like her younger self to be recognized.

The three boys stared on in shock as Kim approached Tommy.

“Hey there Handsome, know any good tour guides here in Reefside?” Kimberly asked calmly.

Tommy spun around in shock. He hadn’t been expecting her, not after the disagreement they’d gotten into a few days before over going into the next stage of their relationship. In the four months since they’d started talking again, things had progressed rapidly, but Kim was still reluctant to get serious, for fear of screwing up and hurting him again.

“Beautiful?”

“The one and only.”

“You’re here,” Tommy breathed, reaching out and stroking his fingers down her soft cheek.

“I hope the offer to visit and show me around gorgeous Reefside still stands?”

Tommy smiled and nodded at her, his speech failing him momentarily. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

Kim giggled before lunging into his open arms. “I thought about it for two hours after you left, and then I called Aisha at work and told her I’d be back in a few days. If they’d have had an earlier flight then the one I got, I’d have been here sooner.”

“Beautiful?”

“Handsome, I’m ready for all the things we talked about, if that offer still stands too.”

Tommy laughed and spun her around in a circle. “Kimberly Ann Hart, I love you, always.”

“Thomas James Oliver, I love you too, forever.”

The four teens and Hayley looked surprised but happy for their friend as he kissed the love of his life right there in front of them all.