DISCLAIMER: Not Mine. But I wouldn't mind having them around. A girl can dream can't she???????
SUMMARY: This is the sequel to Safe in the Arms of Love. I already have a good chunk of this one in my head. Now let's just see if it comes out the way I've pictured it.
A/N: This one is a little bit fluffier than it's predecessor. There's a lot of the Tommy/Kim dynamic and a huge amount of the Jason/Kim friendship. Hang on 'cause here we go again.
May 1, 2002 Angel Grove
"Tommy, man, you better move it! Kim's gonna kill us if we're late!" Jason yelled from the doorway to Tommy's apartment.
"Okay! Okay! I'm ready. I hope Kim's ready."
The two young men ran out the door and started their trip to Mariner Bay.
May 1, 2002 Mariner Bay
"Trisha, have they gotten here yet?" Kim was getting worried. Tommy had said they'd be here for this and they hadn't shown up yet.
"Kathy said she just saw Jason's SUV pull in. They're here." Kim heaved a sigh of relief. Now, she was ready for what would probably be the biggest day of her life.
"Are you ready?" Alex asked his daughter. He wanted to wrap her in his arms put knew better than to force her into that position.
"I am now. Tommy and Jason just got here." Alex looked at his daughter. She looked radiant. She was dressed in a billowy pink skirt and a white spaghetti strap top with a jacket in just the same shade of pink as her skirt. Her hair was pulled up in a green and white bow with a few stray tendrils framing her face.
"You look beautiful, sweetheart." He leaned in and kissed her forehead, making sure to move slow enough that she could back away if she wanted.
"Hey, beautiful, I thought we were supposed to be opening this place," Tommy said as he bounced into the room. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
She looked up at him. "I was worried. You two are late."
Tommy gave her that look; the one that she could never resist. "I'm sorry, Kim. I wanted to make sure that I looked okay for this."
She stuck out her lower lip in a pout that made Tommy smile. "I was afraid that…."
Tommy wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "No. No thoughts like that. Not today. Today is a happy day. We're here and we're fine. No bad thoughts today."
She buried her face against his chest and nodded. Taking a deep breath, Kimberly pushed herself back from the man she loved and straightened her clothes. "I think I'm ready to do this."
Tommy smiled at her as she stepped out of the building and up on to the platform that had been put up just for this. The crowd gathered outside went stone quiet.
"Today, we have come here to open a new chapter on gymnastics training for the West Coast. The Soaring Crane Gymnastics Center will be a beacon shining in the dark for those who wish to train at their own pace as well as for those who wish to train with a group. We have to remember that gymnastics is not only for those who participate, but those who simply enjoy watching it. Everyone is welcome here." Kimberly turned to the ribbon going across the door and, instead of cutting it, she did a back flip, catching the ribbon with her foot and tearing it.
The applause was almost deafening. Kim turned and smiled at the crowd. "Let the party begin!" she yelled with a smile on her face.
Later that night
Tommy stood outside the new gymnastics training center with Kimberly. Jason was in the car waiting on him. It would be a long drive back but Tommy didn't care. He didn't want to leave Kimberly.
"You've got everything ready? You're certain your apartment is secure?" he asked, brushing the hair back from her face.
"I'm fine, handsome. And shouldn't you be going? You have to leave for college in the morning don't you?"
"I just don't want to leave you. I don't want to go to college without you."
"I will be right here waiting for you when you get done. Besides, if I went with you, you wouldn't get anything done and you know it as well as I do."
"Just promise me that you'll be careful. Okay?"
"I promise. Now go. I think Jason's about ready to come over here and knock you out so you can get some sleep." Kim giggled as Tommy pulled her in close for one last kiss and hug before running over to the SUV.
They left and Kim headed back to her apartment just across the green from the center.