A Happy Birthday with scienceinblack

[melodiousyellow]

Birthday breakfast with Mom? Check. Cussing out Conner? Check. Hayley's would be the logical next stop, but instead she found herself driving down Valencia Road to see Dr. Oliver.

He was the only one she hadn't called ahead to let him know she'd be home, and hopeful no one had told him. She wanted it to be a surprise visit. He'd known her birthday was coming up, but the last time they'd talked she hadn't been expecting to be back. That had changed, of course, but the element of surprise would be fun. Not like she's going in without knocking.

She got out of her car and took a big breath of fresh air before heading to the door. It was so good to be back here again.

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[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

And he knows she doesn't. But that doesn't mean he wouldn't do something for her birthday. Which is why a case is brought out of the closet and set out for her. It's obvious what it is. What isn't obvious is the what's inside the smaller box (http://i44.tinypic.com/wufi10.jpg) laid inside of it.

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

When she saw it set out in front of her, her jaw dropped a little.

"You didn't."

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

"I did."

After all, he knew she liked to play. Now she just needed to get to the box inside of the other one. And before she can really say anything, he grins. "I know I didn't have to. I wanted to, Kira."

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

His grin brought one of her own, because his are always so contagious. She opened it up and saw that small box. She stared at it just a second before she picked it up to see what might be inside. And that brought another jaw drop.

"Tommy..." Her voice was soft, and her mind had left her a little. She didn't even realize she'd called him by his first name. It wasn't that it was the first time she'd called him that, just the first time she'd called him that in his presence. She just stared at that beautiful little necklace in awe.

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

He'd noticed the use of his first name. It seemed a bit odd that she'd even used it since he'd gotten so used to her and the others calling him Dr. O. But he doesn't correct her. In fact, he kind of likes it. Not that he'd say that.

"When I was looking around it caught my attention."

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

She smiled down at it. "It's beautiful. Thank you." It was all she could think of saying that the time. She was still a little in shock.

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome." Tommy tells her before moving over and sitting down. "Did you have anything else planned?"

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

She looked over when he sat. "I was gonna drop by Hayley's, then later me and Cassidy are having cake and ice cream." Not a full blown party, but it was how she liked it.

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

He gives a slight nod to that. "So no big parties to be had." Not that he blamed her. He wasn't one on having big parties either. Knowing him he'd have the rangers over and a few old friends but that was about it.

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

"Well, you know me. The only crowd I like is an audience."

As she spoke, she took the necklace from it's box and put it on. It really was one of the most beautiful things anyone had ever given her, maybe the most beautiful, and she didn't plan to ever take it off.

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

"I know. You're like me. You don't like huge crowds." He tells her with a grin, watching her put the necklace on. The tiger's eye within the yellow amber really looked good on her.

"With me it was always a couple friends at Ernie's and that was about it. I never had it any other way."

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

She tilted her head slightly, fiddling with the yellow charm. "Do you miss Angel Grove?"

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes. After all, it was home for the longest time." And who didn't miss home? Anyone that said they didn't would be lying. "But I wouldn't change coming here for anything." Despite the monsters... He wouldn't change it. Especially because of the people he'd met. Like Kira.

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

Somehow she knew she was part of the reason he wouldn't change it and a sweet smile spread across her face. "I'd hope not."

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

"Besides, who would teach you wayward rangers if I wasn't around?" He smirks.

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

Conner would have gotten punched for saying something like that, but she just chuckled softly to herself. "We would be so doomed."

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

Luckily for Tommy, he wasn't Conner. On top of that despite being the red ranger Conner wasn't exactly leader. Acting leader maybe but not their leader. "But you all got me instead."

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

She nodded. "We got lucky." Another smile. "They don't say you're the best for no reason."

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. I could argue that one and so could a few of my friends." But then again he'd argue it because there were a few others he saw as the best. He just hadn't seen them in a while.

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

"I hope this isn't one of those 'I used to be evil so I can't be the best' things. Even that experience you've used for the good of us." She rested a hand lightly on his arm. "I don't think you're the best because you're the strongest or the smartest. You just..." She bit her bottom lip a second. "You don't give up, and you have this wisdom about things. As long as you're around...I feel like no matter how bad things get, eventually it'll all work out."

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

Trust Kira to look past the fact that he'd been evil. Then again his whole team had looked past it. Even before Kira and the others, Jason... Kimberly... all of them had looked past it. Even Zordon and he'd destroyed quite a bit of the Command Center in the process. He doesn't remove her hand, he doesn't want to. It's a comforting gesture. One he's used to. Just not really from her. "Well, it would take something cosmic to get rid of me and even then they'd find it hard to do. And as for me, I don't see myself as the best because there are rangers that I've worked with that I see as the best. Jason, Andros... and many more."

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

She nodded. She could understand his reasoning. She'd worked with Adam for a short time, and she'd definitely place him high in the ranks too. That and if he'd actually thought he were the best, it would mean he wasn't. As long as it wasn't the evil thing, she could except it.

"You're the best I know, then," she grinned. "How's that?"

[scienceinblack.livejournal.com]

His philosophy was 'Never think you're the best. There might be someone out there who is better.' And he's stuck by those words for years. But then again he'd never thought he was the best. How could he with so many people out there that were just better than him?

Giving her a smile, he nods. "I can deal with that."

[melodiousyellow.livejournal.com]

She just smiled right back. Her hand had never left his arm and wasn't about to. It was at this moment that she remembered just how crazy she'd always been about him. It wasn't as extreme as it had been in her teenage years, but it was still there. She still felt that warmth that made her heart bubble over with joy, but it was more calm than it had been then. More mature, really.

She knew he could probably see it, because she'd always felt like his eyes could see anything. Years before she would have been afraid of it, but not so much anymore. He wouldn't judge her for it.