Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers: (Super) Samurai. This is purely fan-made.
Slowly, but surely, the Samurai were adapting to their new roles. While most of them hadn't changed, the switch with Emily and Serena did affect how they faced new Nighlok. One, already, had turned up, and the Samurai had found it difficult adapting to Serena in the yellow spandex. Fortunately, she had been able to take up her new role as yellow Samurai. Serrator was bound to turn up again soon, but he hadn't done so yet. It was a relief for the Samurai, but nerve-wracking all the same. When he had long absences, he usually came back with a devastating plan. They could only hope he hadn't noticed the shift in the Rangers.
Mike was also coming back from his concussion. He had missed the last battle, but had been cleared to fight in any upcoming ones, and was currently outside training with Kevin and Jayden. Now, as a father to be, he needed to do all he could to protect not just his family, but all his friends. Emily had made it clear she hated sitting on the sidelines because she couldn't stand the thought of being helpless while someone was getting hurt. Mike wanted to make sure she never had that guilt on her shoulders. Being a pregnant Samurai was tough enough on her, and the fact that Ji hadn't spoken to her since her announcement had also shaken her up. He didn't want her living with the guilt of knowing her friends were hurt because she had to step down from her role.
Speaking of Ji, he had distanced himself from Emily, largely due to disappointment. He wouldn't speak to her unless it was necessary. He still cooked meals for her, and catered her meals to suit her needs. Now that she was pregnant, she had to make sure she was getting all the nutrients she and the baby needed. He was still very much a caregiver in every way but emotional. A huge part of it was disappointment and shock, another part was Ji's own failure and guilt. It was his responsibility to look out for the Samurai and prevent theses life changing mistakes, and yet one of his very important, very young, only eighteen years old Samurai was now with child. There was a baby's life in danger, the Rangers' life in danger, and the world was in danger.
Emily watched Mike, Jayden, and Kevin train from the window, where she sat and played with Terran. Her new role now consisted mostly of jobs from the Shiba House. She would still sit in on team meetings and give her thoughts of what needed to be done to destroy the Nighlok, but when they went out to battle, she prepared the house for their return. Having real experience in a fight meant she knew what the Rangers needed most when they came home. It was a lot more than a few ice-packs and bandages. Emily made sure they had water, they had snacks, medication, bandages, gauze, and a nice, clean, comfortable place to sit down. More often than not, Emily remembered coming back home, only to remember she had been in the middle of doing the laundry, washing dishes, or some other chore which needed to be finished. Coming home after a long fight, only to find there was still more work that needed to be done was exhausting.
The Samurai insisted because of Emily's new job, battles were easier. Everything would be done when they got home, and everything would be ready for their rest, recovery, and relaxation period. Emily knew they were trying to help, but it wasn't the same. She wanted to be the yellow Ranger.
She didn't want to be the nanny. Another huge change in her life was that she was now Terran's main babysitter. James was still around while Serena trained and fought Nighlok, but when Terran cried for mommy and she was busy, Emily needed to step up. She felt like she was already a mother, and her own child wasn't even born yet.
"BA!" Terran stuffed a block in her face, trying to get her attention. They were playing his favourite game, where she would build a castle out of blocks and he would knock it all down. He never got tired of the game.
Emily looked away from the window with a sigh. She built up a castle and then gave Terran the signal to rip it all down. He swung his arms and beat the fragile castle until it was nothing but scattered blocks, and then looked up to his auntie Emy to see her laughing, only she wasn't.
"Good job, Terran," she said with no excitement in her voice, excitement Terran craved. Sensing there was something troubling his aunt, he did what he saw his aunts, uncles, and his parents did when someone was upset. He threw his arms around her. Emily hugged him and gave a little sigh, "I love you too. Sorry, Terran, I just don't want to play anymore."
It was almost like he understood every word. He dropped the blocks he was holding in his hands and then raced over to his box of toys. He pulled out a book and ran back to Emily. He loved it when she read to him. She always had funny voices, strange tones, and she made a lot of sounds. He sat in her lap, got comfortable, and then opened the book. Emily started to read, and tried her best not to disappoint Terran, though she really didn't feel like exaggerating anything in the story to make him laugh.
From the kitchen, James was drying the dishes and looking over to the common room. Emily had accepted her new role on the team, but it was painfully obvious she hated it. He never thought he would see the day she didn't do all she could to make Terran happy. It was a powerful sign that told him just how low she had sunk.
"I'm worried about her," James turned to the kitchen table, where Kate was trying to deal with the backlash of telling Mike's and Emily's parents about the pregnancy through an email. Unfortunately, the no-contact rule was still in effect, and in spite of the special occasion, Ji insisted the parents stay away from the Shiba House. Not only were Mike's and Emily's parents furious about their grandchild coming into the world at such a terrible time, but they were furious they couldn't deal with their own kids, and hated how they had to rely on Ji and Kate. Even Ellie, who had considered Kate a dear friend, and who had openly stated several times that she trusted her with both her daughters, no matter what, was enraged about leaving Kate in charge of Emily at this time.
The fact that this was an issue that could only be resolved through email made it worst. Kate massaged her temples and drank her coffee. She had been dealing with the back and forth from both sets of parents for a couple of weeks now and was thankful she didn't have any children of her own. They were a headache and a half.
"I'd help, James," Kate said, hardly paying him any attention, "but Mike's dad just called me the queen of all bitches because I'm enforcing the no-contact rule. He's also yelling at me because he has no idea who I am and I have no right to keep an eye on his son or future grandchild."
James walked over to the table and closed Kate's laptop, "They can wait," he said. "I'm worried about Emily. A happy mother equals a happy baby. You know stress isn't good for either of them."
"And this life is hardly stress free," Kate shook her head, "We're doing all we can…"
James sighed, "We need to do more."
"Like what?" Kate asked. "James, if Emily goes out to fight, who knows what could happen to her."
"Isn't that always the case?" James pointed out with a shrug of his shoulders, "I don't know what goes on in your head when you watch them leave, but my stomach starts to turn, my brain goes into overdrive as I imagine the worst. I mean, all it takes is one little mistake and I could be widowed before I'm even married. Isn't there always a risk?"
"But with a baby…"
"Emily's miserable!" James pointed to the common room, where Emily had given up on reading to Terran and now he was trying to cheer her up by reading (babbling) to her. James grew even more concerned. Terran felt responsible for cheering up his aunt. Terran wasn't supposed to have any responsibilities. "Kate, we need to do something."
"Do what you want," Kate opened up her laptop again, "I'm dealing with the parents."
"Kate…"
"I'm up to my elbows in profanities," Kate sighed, "I'm sorry, James, I want to help but I can't."
James sighed as he walked to the common room. There were enough people home, so he took Terran from Emily's lap and put the boy in his playpen.
"James…"
"We're going on a walk," James told her, "Just you and I."
"Why?"
"Just a chat. Have cravings started yet? I hear ice-cream is something pregnant women like."
"I don't feel like ice-cream," Emily shook her head. She started to clean up Terran's blocks. She didn't want the Samurai stepping on them. James grabbed her hand gently.
"I do. You and I need bonding time. You're Serena's sister, I should get to know you."
"I'm Emily and I'm a screw up."
"Stop it, Em. We're going out for the afternoon. We'll forget about this Samurai crap. Ice-cream, my treat."
"Will you leave me alone once we get home?"
James nodded his head, "Promise."
"Fine. I'll just tell the others. You know how crazy paranoid they are."
"Must be tough," James said. Emily turned to him with a curious look, so he elaborated, "I mean, no one's really been in your position before. Well, Serena's been pregnant, but it's like you always say, she wasn't a Ranger then. It's different."
Emily nodded her head, "It's always been different for her, for everyone. Do you know how hard I've tried to make my place here? It took me months to feel like I was worth everyone's time and effort. It took me forever to realize these people are actually my friends, and that I'm actually an important part of their lives. Now I go and screw it all up."
"That does sound rough," James said.
Emily looked out the window again. Mike, Jayden, and Kevin were all having a lot of fun testing new symbols out on dummies, while Serena, Mia, and Ji worked on Serena's fear of Serrator. Though she was a great Ranger, she was useless against Serrator, and therefore useless to the team if he decided to show his face. If she was going to be a Ranger, the yellow Ranger, she was going to have to overcome her fear. Emily sighed. They all said they understood life was getting harder for her. Mike even said he knew what she was going through because he was also having a baby, but expecting a child and being pregnant were very different. He would still have his body for nine months. He could still be a Ranger for nine months. He wasn't being coddled and checked up on every five minutes.
"You know my confidence was really bad when I came here, right?"
"I've heard," James nodded. "I also heard that kick-ass story about that insult Nighlok."
Emily shrugged her shoulders, "I had one goal for myself when Serena told me I would be the yellow Ranger: don't get anyone killed."
"Really?" James asked, "That's it? You didn't want to defeat a thousand Moogers? Single-handedly pilot the Megazord? Be the team hero at least once?"
"I just didn't want someone to die, and if someone did die… I wanted it to be me. I was just the replacement, right?"
"Em…"
"I don't feel that way anymore," Emily shook her head, "The team counts on me now. They care about me. They trust me. Now I feel like… I feel like I'm back to square one. I feel like I'm just wasted space, only this time I know I can do better. I know I can help them but… I can't."
James wrapped his arm around Emily's shoulders, "Then you definitely need ice-cream."
"James…"
"I insist, Em. You're dealing with a lot. We'll go to the ice-cream parlour and you can talk to me about it. I'll listen. I promise. I won't even try to make you feel better, unless you want me to. Just you and me. In-laws day."
He guided her outside and announced to the Samurai that they were going for ice-cream. Ji looked like he wanted to say something, but James held up his hand. Ji was doing nothing to help Emily bounce back, and therefore had no say on what anyone did to help her. James didn't care if Ji was the ruler of the planet, and made a law requiring Emily stay home where she was safe. He had no idea.
"We'll be careful," James promised. "Low-profile. The Nighlok won't even know we're humans."
James then lifted Emily up on his back, "Alright, munchkin, enjoy this ride, because before long, little munchkin will prevent you from doing this."
"Keep your Samuraizer on!" Mike called to Emily as James carried her off, "Don't stay out too late! Stay in public. Blend in with the crowd! If a Nighlok does show up don't be a hero! We'll be there to help you before you know it!"
"Mike, she gets it," Mia chuckled. Mike shrugged his shoulders.
"What? I worry. That's my wife and my baby leaving the safety of the house. It's a two for one combo!"
"She'll be fine," Jayden assured him. Mike nodded his head and got back to work. He wanted to master his constricting vines before the end of the hour. He knew the basics, but there was always something new he could learn about a specific symbol, and there was always a way to gain more strength and control. Right now, he needed all the strength and control he could get.
He trained until his muscles were tired, and until Jayden and Kevin had had enough and left him alone to finish off. Not wanting to train by himself, Mike called it quits, grabbed his towel, and wiped the sweat from his face. Picking up his water bottle, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Mia stepping outside. She had gone in to shower nearly an hour before, after Emily and James had left, and was just now coming back out. Mike saw she was headed his way and sighed. He sat down in the grass. She looked like she wanted to talk to him. She came over to him with a book and sat down next to him.
"I've gotten the speech," he sighed. "Serena really let me have it, you know."
Mia nodded her head and chuckled slightly. From the window, she had seen it. It was the night of the big announcement, after everyone had learned Emily was pregnant and all the decisions involving the pregnancy had been made.
"Why the hell is my sister pregnant and alone?" Serena wanted to slap Mike on the head but had to restrain herself. Unfortunately, Mia had taken that away from her.
"She's not alone. There's just something we don't agree on…"
"Is the kid yours?"
"I hope so," Mike nodded. Serena punched the fence behind him, just missing his head. Mike cowered slightly, "Yes."
"So then why aren't you at her beck-and-call and following her every command?"
"Serena it's…"
"She's carrying your kid, Michael. She's already as uncomfortable as any human being can get and for the next nine months it's going to get worse! I don't give a damn what you think, what you're going through, or what problems you have, you will support her, you will take care of her, and you are not leaving her side EVER!"
Serena punched the fence again. Mike did not feel safe.
"I want to do that! She's not listening to me!"
"Does this look like a face that cares about you?" Serena asked. Mike shook his head. Serena huffed loudly in anger and then stormed off. Mike could see, given how badly she was shaking, she had wanted to hurt him bad. He was suddenly very grateful for the beating he had received from Mia. Serena would have done a lot worse.
Mike gulped, remembering the talk. Serena still terrified him. No matter how long he lived, no matter how strong he felt, Serena would forever scare him. He turned to Mia with a thankful look on his face, "I owe you big. She'd have beaten me bad if you hadn't done it already."
"You're welcome, I guess," Mia sighed. She hugged her knees to her chest, "Mike, this whole baby thing…"
"I'll be a good dad, and a good husband. You know me, Mia."
"Yeah, exactly. I know you. You'll be a great father when you're ready for it, but…"
"I'm ready for it. I'll be ready for it."
"You know, it's a huge responsibility," Mia said, "What you did for Terran when he was born, that's nothing compared to what you'll have to do for your own baby. You won't have Serena to lean on. It'll be just you and Emily. You'll be tired, she'll be tired. Do you think you can do this?"
"Mia…"
"I'm serious, Mike, do you think you can do this? Admitting you're scared now is better than hiding it forever."
"I'm a little scared," Mike nodded his head sadly, "What if something happens, Mia? Whose genius idea was it to wrap wives and babies together? Everything I love is in one tiny package and if something happens…"
"You'll lose both of them. You know, you should have thought of that when…"
"We did us protection, Mia. We were smart. Fate's just screwing with us."
"Then here," Mia lifted the book she had brought with her, "I'll be now you're a little happy I'm so obsessed with happy endings. I saw this book in the store the other day, before this whole pregnancy thing, and I couldn't resist."
"Why your bundle of joy isn't always a little bundle of joy? You bought a baby book?"
"A prepared mother is a good mother," Mia nodded, "Reading it couldn't hurt. Certainly wouldn't get me pregnant. Scared the shit out of Kevin, though, when he first saw me reading it."
Mike chuckled and tried to imagine his blue brother's face, "This book should come with a camera."
"Be ready for what you know is going to happen," Mia tapped the book and looked Mike right in the eye, "You've been through this once with Serena, but it's a whole new game when it's your wife and when it's your own baby. Read it, memorize it, live by it. It'll cover everything from now until baby's first birthday."
"Thanks, Mia," Mike smiled and wrapped his arm around her, "You're really awesome."
"Are we even now? You know, because of the whole protect you against Serena thing and now the baby book, we're even, right?"
"Not quite," Mike smirked and whipped out his Samuraizer, "Hold still."
"Mike…"
"You could have killed me. Just one more thing. Hold still and it won't hurt."
"What are you…?" Mia looked down as the grass grew thick and tall and wrapped itself around her legs, burying the lower half of her body, "Michael."
"Don't move. Grass cuts hurt more than paper cuts."
"Mike!" Mia screamed as he got up and raced inside the house. She struggled to free herself from the grass, but it was stronger than it looked. Mike was getting better, to Mia's dismay.
Finally, he came back out with a bucket. Mia hoped it was an empty bucket and for a moment was happy when she saw she was right. Then Mike put the bucket on her head.
"Mike!" he voice echoed inside the bucket. She tried to lift her hands to take it off, but the grass grew around her wrists, holding them down. Mike then pulled a spoon out from his back pocket – a big, thick wooden spoon. He started banging it on the bucket.
"This is payback for giving me the worst headache of my life!" he shouted over the sound of his pounding against the bucket with a spoon. After a couple of minutes he stopped and removed the bucket. The grass returned to its normal size, setting Mia free. Unfortunately, her head was pounding so hard she couldn't get up and chase after Mike when he ran away.