A/N: So this is a little fluffy in between, and also answers the question of where Mike gets the pink tutu for the next episode, hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 4

Mia walked into her room having finished in the bathroom and found Emily sat on her bed looking at a picture of her parents and sister.
"You okay Em?" asks Mia walking over and sitting down next to her.
"Yeah, I just, I had a dream last night, not a bad one of anything, but it just made me realise I missed them and home."
"That's totally normal Em," assures Mia, "I miss my parents and my brother and my home" she adds wrapping her arm around Emily. "I'm sure our moms missed us when they were here," she soothes.
"I'm sorry I'm trying not to be a baby."
"You're not being a baby, like I said, we all miss our family, the only ones who don't are Jayden and Evie, and that's because they're family is here."
"You think Mike and Kevin and Antonio miss theirs?"
"I'm sure they do," nods Mia, "and I'm sure our families felt the same here," she adds, "and I know we aren't the same but you have the rest of us. Don't feel bad about missing home Em."
Emily nods and puts the picture down before standing up and Mia hugs her, Emily hugging her back before they walk through to kitchen and grabbing some breakfast, joining the others in the main room. Evie eating a yoghurt while Jayden ate his cereal, Antonio munching on some toast and Mike sipping his coffee and eating his cereal.
"Morning," smiles Mike as he sees Emily reaching up and taking her hand.
Emily just gives him a small smile before sitting down next to him.
"You okay Em?" asks Antonio.
"Just feeling a little homesick," says Mia gently.
"We all get it Em," assures Mike.
"Yeah, knowing you'll have to do it and doing it are two different things," agrees Kevin.
Antonio nods. "Even when its choice."
"Nothing wrong with missing your family Em," says Jayden.
"Yeah, shows how close you are, I'm sure everyone gets bouts of homesickness sometimes, I'm sure your parents did too" adds Evie.
"Thanks guys," says Emily with a small smile.

Evie looks at Emily and idea forms in her mind.
She finishes up her yoghurt and walks into the kitchen where Ji was finishing up.
"Hey, you remember when you offered me some pictures of my mom when she was here?"
"I do, I also recall your response. I'm still not entirely sure where you learnt some of that language," snorts Ji.
"Do you have them for everyone? All their parents I mean?"
"I do, why?"
"Em's feeling homesick, figured maybe she'd like to see some stuff about her mom when she was here."
"I have a box with some photos and the like I think," nods Ji, "I'll get it out after training."
"Thanks."
"If it helps, it helps," says Ji.
"Hopefully it will," replies Evie before she turns and walks back out to the main room, "Ji's got a box of stuff from when you're parents were here, pictures and the like. He'll get it out after training and you can go through it," she explains.
"Really?" asks Emily.
"Mhm."
"I didn't know there were pictures," says Mia.
"Some, you can check through once we're done," smiles Evie.
"Thanks."
"Anytime," replies Evie as they all head outside and begin to train, Ji pulling out the box for them to look at, before heading out on his errands trusting Kevin, Jayden and Evie to keep everyone on track.

Kevin finished up his shower and was heading to living room to do his symbol power practice when he heard classical musical coming from it.
Confused he stuck his head in and found Mike, Antonio, Mia and Emily all sat on the couch watching what appeared to be a ballet.
"What on Earth are you four doing?" he asks.
"Come in, you have to see this," urges Mike.
Kevin does so and sits down, "why are we watching a ballet?" asks Kevin.
"Because take a closer look at who's dancing the sugar plum fairy" replies Mia.
Kevin leans closer and his eyes widen, "wait seriously?" he asks recognising Evie's red hair instantly.
"Yeah, according to the date Evie is 17 in this" nods Antonio.
"I still can't get over the fact Evie is wearing a pale pink tutu, in front of an audience," admits Mike.
"She's so graceful," smiles Emily.
As Evie spins on screen Mike lets out a whistle, "no wonder she's so good at spin kicks, girls doing it on a freaking block of wood" he says.
"Where did you find this?" asks Kevin.
"The box Ji gave us with the stuff from when our parents were here. Evie's tape must've gotten mixed up in it," replies Mia, "but you know once we realised what it was, we kind of couldn't stop."
"Evie was not joking when she said she did ballet, she's really good" says Kevin as he sits down next to them.
"The pink tutu people" repeats Mike, "can you honestly say anyone would've suspected our resident badass in black would be caught dead in a pink tutu?"
"Not until now," agrees Antonio.
"I always wanted to do ballet, but I was always too clumsy, I went to a few classes and I broke my ankle," sighs Emily, "but Evie was made for this," she adds as the music finishes and Evie executes a series of turns one after the other before finishing at a dead stop. She curtseys and smiles before disappearing off the stage.
"She's really good," notes Antonio.
"Evie always had a talent for it even when were children," agrees Jayden and the five of them jump and turn to see Jayden leaning against the doorframe.
"We weren't snooping, it must've gotten mixed up," apologises Mia.
"And once we saw it, we kind of didn't want to turn it off," admits Emily.
"Its fine guys, Evie isn't embarrassed about it," assures Jayden as he walks over and sits next to them. "This was the last full performance she was able to do before moogers started being a regular problem we had to deal with. She knew it wasn't fair to the rest of the performers so she dropped out once this performance was done. But she still dances on occasion."
"I've never seen her," notes Mike.
"She hasn't had much time lately," replies Jayden.
"So it's not because she's worried, we'll stop thinking she's a badass, cause it's one thing for her to dance with me in the kitchen, but this is a whole other level?" asks Antonio.
"I'm sorry may I direct your attention to this particular moment?"
Jayden takes the remote and rewinds it to one of Evie's turns where her leg is extended as she spins.
"As someone who has been on the receiving end of one of those kicks when she speeds it up. Would any of you like to think she is less of a badass for it?" asks Jayden pointedly.
"Definitely not," says Kevin.
"Yeah no way in hell," agrees Mike.
"She's beautiful as a dancer though, no wonder she has so much grace" says Emily looking at the screen. "Even if she isn't the typical build of a ballerina."
"She never intended to pursue it professionally, despite her teacher urging her too."
"Because of being a samurai?" asks Kevin.
"No, much as she enjoys it, she likes it as a hobby, the pressure to be a professional dancer is unbelievable, and you only get one in a thousand who have the skills to be a prima."
"A what now?" asks Mike.
"The lead dancer a prima ballerina, it's the most coveted spot in any ballet company, and is always the principal in performances, and always the best," answers Mia.
"She still has that costume actually," admits Jayden.
"Where?" asks Emily.
"Back of her closet I think, they gave it to her as a parting gift," replies Jayden, "Ji has a whole box of these actually."
"Wait what?" asks Antonio.
"Ji recorded every one of Evie's performances from the time she was ten, we have them all, along with every set of shoes she owned as she grew out of them, her first leotard and tutu, even the first costume she wore. There are pictures too," answers Jayden.
"That's sounds like something very normal for a parent to do actually" admits Kevin.
"Like Evie said, Ji was raising people, not robots," reminds Mia.
"Can we see them?" asks Emily.
"You might want to ask Evie first, she might not be embarrassed but I highly doubt she wants everyone seeing everything without her knowing," replies Jayden.
"Good point." agrees Mike.
"Yeah lest I receive a shoe to my head," nods Antonio.
"Why is someone receiving a shoe to the head?" asks Evie as she walks in and then her gaze lands on the TV, "did we go snooping?"
"No, Ji must've mixed it up, it was the old box of our parents stuff," assures Mike.
"You were so good," smiles Emily.
"Thanks, though I still don't see the Sugar Plum Fairy as my best," admits Evie.
"Jayden mentioned Ji recorded all your performances?" asks Mia.
"He did, he and Jayden came to every single one, though we have a difference of opinion our which ones we both prefer,." smirks Evie.
"I like the Sugar Plum Fairy best," shrugs Jayden.
"Which one is your favourite?" asks Antonio.
"Swan Lake," answers Evie.
"Who did you dance?" asks Emily.
"Who do you think?"
"Black Swan?" guesses Mia.
Evie nods, "yep, unlike the traditional, the swans were danced by two different dancers. I was the black swan, and a girl named ironically enough Odette, danced the white swan."
"Can we see it?" asks Emily hopefully.
"Ji has the box in the attic, I'm not sure exactly where, so when he comes back, then if you really want you can have a look. Though something tells me you'll get bored with seven years' worth of classes, skills, performances and the like," snorts Evie, "what have you guys found in here though?"
"Kevin is practically his dads clone; Emily and her mom are the same as well. And Mia looks alarmingly like her mom" replies Mike as he pulls out the pictures and Evie sits down next to Jayden and the two look at them.
Jayden having only seen photos of his own parents and for obvious reasons some of the earliest ones had been hidden years ago. And Evie had no interest in seeing her mother's time here. "Wow you do look alike," she agrees.
"My mom always said, but I didn't realise how much she meant," nods Kevin having not seen the pictures yet.
"Very," nods Jayden.
"They obviously weren't as close as we are though," notes Mike.
"Well in some cases I should hope not, given they were all married with children," points out Kevin.
"Not what I meant," replies Mike.
"I get what you mean, they might've been friends, but not a family," smiles Emily.
"No Em, not a family," agrees Mia.
"Well they had families of their own, lives they'd already begun to lead. We don't really," points out Jayden.
"True enough," nods Kevin.
They continue looking through the pictures, there weren't a huge amount but they did find one that surprised them. Their parents all stood together outside the house.
"Wow, Evie, you look just like your mom," says Antonio without thinking and immediately winces, "sorry."
"Its fine Antonio, but on the surface is where our resemblance ends," replies Evie.
"One hundred percent," agrees Jayden.
"But I do see what you mean, they really don't look as comfortable as we do," nods Mia as she grabs the picture from the mantle that Ji had taken after Jayden had beaten Deker and they compare it. Not only did it have Antonio as the obvious stand out, but the entire atmosphere was more relaxed in their picture compared to their parents.
While their parents were stood together none of them were touching, and the smiles weren't real, they were the usual photo smiles, that didn't reach their eyes.
Whereas theirs was far more relaxed. They were all sat on the grass together, Evie sat between Jayden's legs, her back resting against his chest, his head on her shoulder and their hands linked as they wrapped around Evie's stomach, both smiling. Emily was on her knees behind Mike her arms thrown around him and a beaming smile on her face, Mike's arms behind him where they'd wrapped around Emily and he was mid laugh. Mia had her arms wrapped around Antonio, her head leaning against his shoulder, and Antonio had thrown his arm around Kevin pulling him into the photo too and all three were smiling.
Overall, their entire photo was more relaxed and seemed warmer and more genuine.
"I like ours better", decides Emily.
"Me too", agrees Mia.
They continue looking and their eyes widen as they find the final photos taken, clearly the day they'd reunited with their parents. Jayden's father was noticeably absent and Evie laced her hand with his squeezing it comfortingly.
Emily's mother was on her knees hugging a toddler Emily and an older blonde who was obviously Serena. Her dad had his arms wrapped around all three of them.
Kevin's mom had her arm thrown around his dad, Kevin being hugged between them. Mike's mom had her arms and legs wrapped around Mike's dad, and Mike was hugging his dads' leg. Mia was clinging to her moms' neck, her entire smaller body plastered against her mother, her father sandwiching her between them. All clearly beyond happy to be reunited with their families.
No one mentions the lack of pictures of Evie's parents and for that she's grateful. She knew Ji had gathered them up when he'd offered them to her and likely kept them separate when he got the box out for the others.
"Your mom was obviously happy to see your dad again," chuckles Emily as she looks at the one of Mike's parents.
"So did not need to see that," shudders Mike.
"Wait, if Ji took all these, and the ones of Evie, where are the ones of you?" asks Antonio looking at Jayden.
"I have some, and a few others are in the albums in the cupboard, not to mention the few Jayden ordered me to hide when we knew you guys were coming," replies Evie.
"And the ones you stole to use as blackmail."
Evie just smirks.
"Okay we need to see little Jayden," decides Mike.
"Bottom cupboards of the bookcase," replies Evie.
Mike and Antonio rush over to it and open it up pulling out the albums before walking back over and setting them down.
"I'll go and get mine," smiles Evie as she walks back to her room and grabs the photo album, she heads back and sets it down, Mia and Emily grabbing that one and flipping it open immediately making cute sounds when they see Evie and her dad together.
Antonio is delighted to find some photos of him and Jayden when they were little and everyone marvels at how cute they both were.
Mia and Emily meanwhile continue to flip through Evie's photo album and they both let out aww, sounds when they come to the ones that essentially charted their relationship. "These are so sweet," smiles Mia as she sees the one of the two of them next to their bikes and locked in a kiss.
"Hot damn this one has some sparks," notes Mike as he glanced over at one.
Everyone looks at it and Evie smiles, "yeah that one was an accident."
"How did you even get this?" asks Antonio.
"It's a still, we were recording our sparring session to see any potential weaknesses, I found this afterwards and I edited it."
She and Jayden were stood barely millimetres apart, their swords crossed above their heads, where Jayden has just blocked Evie's attack and it was the look on their faces that made it so much more. The attraction between them palpable, their chemistry obvious to anyone with eyes.
"That is some sizzle," agrees Antonio.
They continue to flip through various photos, occasionally asking questions.
"I can't believe Ji kept these," admits Antonio as he finds his favourite of him and Jayden together in the garden.
"He might've thought you were a distraction, but he wasn't that mean," replies Jayden.
"I am seeing a whole other side to Ji here," replies Mike, "I'd never have thought he'd be okay with this."
"Well Ji was a bit more careful with how he dealt with me," answers Evie.
"What do you mean?" asks Antonio.
"To say I was a mess after everything was an understatement, and I was not a fan of the idea of trusting adults, Ji included. So, he was looking for ways to help and to bond," explains Evie, "plus my hobbies actually have transferable skills in regards to samurai training."
"Yeah I've been on the receiving end of your transferable skills," nods Kevin.
"Be thankful she wasn't wearing her pointe shoe when she did it," snorts Jayden, "I never snuck up on her while she was wearing them again."
"Okay, so new topic, worst injuries you've ever endured in training," urges Antonio.
"Caused by someone else, or yourself?" asks Mike.
"Either," shrugs Antonio.
"I broke my arm when I was 12 while practising with my mom, I tried something I'd seen on TV and the result was not as successful as I'd hoped, I was in a cast for 12 weeks," says Emily.
"Complete loss of consciousness when I was 17" says Jayden.
"How?" asks Mike.
A guilty look crosses Evie's face, "I hit him in the head with a bo staff, and it wasn't a tempered hit either."
"What were you doing?" asks Kevin.
"I tried something new, and I thought Jayden would be able to counter, or at least dodge it," says Evie.
"I was only half focused on what we were doing though, my mind was elsewhere" admits Jayden, "left me a great scar to remember to always focus in training." He shifts his fringe to the side to reveal a small scar just above his eyebrow.
"Damn," whistles Mike.
"Before anyone condemns me too thoroughly, Jayden broke my leg when we were 11," says Evie.
"How?" asks Mia.
"I landed on her, it was not my best moment, I mistimed a flip and instead of landing on my feet I fell over and landed on Evie's leg. I will never forget the sound of the bone snapping," admits Jayden with a shudder.
"I broke both my wrists," says Mia, "I fell and put my hands out to stop myself and they took the brunt of the force, both broken when I was 9."
"Ouch," winces Evie.
"I fractured my coccyx, I was 13, and I landed badly. I had to be careful for like 12 weeks, a literal pain in the ass" replies Mike.
"I broke my jaw" says Kevin, "I slipped getting out of the pool and my chin hit the side."
Everyone winces collectively, "what about samurai training?" asks Mike.
"I dislocated my shoulder, tripped and fell when I was 15," says Kevin.
"What about you Antonio, what's your worst injury?" asks Evie looking at him.
Antonio looks embarrassed, "I may have knocked myself out, came to a little while later. But yeah, I knocked myself clean out."
"Bet that was hard to explain to your dad," snorts Mike.
"Very," nods Antonio.
"Injuries happen in training we all know that," chuckles Jayden.
"Yes, yes we do," nods Evie.

As the evening draws in Ji returns and finds the seven of them chatting, the pictures all around them.
"Ah ha just the man we need" says Antonio.
"What did you do?" asks Ji suspiciously.
"Nothing, but we have been informed there is a box that contains multiple tapes of Evie in a tutu, and we want to see it," replies Mike.
Ji looks at Evie who nods from where she was leaning against Jayden's chest, "I've said it's okay."
"Very well, it appears we're having a day of nostalgia then," chuckles Ji.
"Yep," nods Mia with a smile.
Ji chuckles and disappears off to get the box.
"Why exactly does everyone want to see another ballet?" asks Evie, "you will get bored after the first one."
"She's right, you can't do them all back-to-back, not even Evie watches them all back-to-back."
"Then how about we just see the Swan Lake one, since it's your favourite?" suggests Emily.
"That works," nods Evie.
Jayden lets out a huff and Evie tilts her head to look at him, "really, even now?" she asks.
"What?" asks Mike.
"Let's just say it's not artistic differences as to why Jayden didn't like me dancing the black swan."
Ji brings in the box and Evie finds the right recording and hands it to Mike who sets it going while the girls marvel at the little tutus and shoes.
They settle in and watch the video, it was by no means the best quality, but everyone had to admit it was pretty good.
"So I don't get it, what was your problem with it Jayden?" asks Antonio.
"Give it a minute and you'll see," answers Jayden.
At that moment Evie appears on screen and it takes everyone all of a few seconds to realise why Jayden wouldn't have liked it.
"Okay that's pretty up close and personal," says Mike.
"That's the whole point of the dance, the black swan is seducing the prince, stealing him away from the white swan," replies Evie.
"But were you even together then?" asks Emily.
"Nope, we headed to the Ninja Academy two weeks after this performance," says Jayden.
"And I'll just bet that was the problem," snorts Antonio, "Jayden's repressing everything and then Evie's dance partner is up close and personal with her, bet this sparked some jealousy."
"Yes, I couldn't quite figure out why you were being such a jackass to him."
"Why not? You knew he liked you?" asks Mia.
"Oh small fact, Elias my dance partner, he's gay. And we all knew it, his boyfriend at the time was a lovely guy. But I didn't realise that Jayden was unaware of that fact," giggles Evie.
"Ah," nods Kevin.
"Yeah, that finally got sorted out at the after party when Elias boyfriend greeted his performance with a rather enthusiastic kiss," says Jayden.
"You were kind of hot while you were jealous, I mean I didn't realise it was jealousy at the time though," admits Evie.
"You called me a knuckle headed idiot," protests Jayden.
"Doesn't meant it wasn't hot thinking back," replies Evie looking up at him.
Jayden just shakes his head and kisses the top of her head, as they continue watching, everyone's eyes widening as the fouettés are executed.
"Holy smokes girl!" whistles Antonio.
"I spent weeks practising those, Quinn our choreographer offered to cut it for me. But I told her I could do it, and I did, most nerve-wracking moment of the entire freaking performance. Kat spent hours practicing with me," nods Evie.
"Well that was amazing," smiles Emily.
"It was my favourite," agrees Evie happily.
"I love your costume," says Mia.
"It was beautiful, and surprisingly easy to dance in actually," smiles Evie.
"You made it look far better than Odette made hers," assures Jayden.
"Yeah and you have a way better stage presence," nods Antonio.
"Black Swan suits you Evie," agrees Mike.
"Thanks guys," chuckles Evie.
They continue watching and just as it finishes Ji calls them into dinner.
"So did you have a good day?"
"We did, it was nice to see the stuff with our parents, but we noticed they seemed a little less, well comfortable with each other," notes Mia.
Ji nods, "you are one of the youngest teams called in recent generations, more often than not, the rangers have already married, or are in serious relationships, with children and have begun to live their lives as adults do. Your parents were no different, they were each waiting to get back to their own lives, their spouses and to all of you.
"But you are all younger, you have very few real ties to anything else. Only one of you left behind what would even resemble a serious relationship, none of you have any children, and leaving one's parents is never the same as leaving one's spouse and children. That is an inevitable that all of you expected even if you weren't samurai rangers" answers Ji, "but no, your parents did not bond as successfully as you all have you are unique in that regard."
"Family is more than blood," smiles Evie.
"Absolutely," agrees Mike.
"Definitely," nods Antonio.
Everyone else nods in agreement and Ji's smile grows. He was glad that they had bonded so strongly, unlike some previous teams, their own parents included, they weren't working together just out of duty.
They'd become real friends and they had become a family, and it warmed his heart to know they were happy here. And while they had their ups and downs as everyone did, they always came together.
His gaze settled on Evie and Jayden, both of whom were laughing at something Mike had said. And Ji couldn't be happier that they'd both settled so well with the team, initially he'd been worried they would have difficulty adjusting to others than it just being each other, and the obvious responsibility it would put on Jayden to lead five other people into battle.
And that Evie's own scars would've made her reluctant to bond and wary of getting close to people. But both had proven him wrong, and he was certain the bonds made here would follow the seven of them for the rest of their lives. Long after their duties were done.

Mia was cleaning up the living room, putting the photos, albums and other items back in their respective boxes, she smiled as she looked at the picture of her family reuniting, Terry would be born a couple of years later. Mia almost wished she remembered this.
"Need any help?" asks Kevin.
"I'm okay I think, nearly done," assures Mia, before looking at the picture of Kevin and his parents, he was older than her.
"Kevin, do you remember this?" asks Mia curiously handing him the picture.
Kevin looks at it, "I think I do, vaguely though, it's one of my earliest memories. But like I say its vague."
"I can't believe we've all met before and none of us remember it."
"I know, strange right."
"Do you think our paths would've crossed if we weren't rangers?"
Kevin thinks about it before shaking his head, "I doubt it, we're all from different places, different hobbies and interests. I don't see how, but I'm glad we did."
"Me too, even if at times I do wish I was normal, I wouldn't trade any of you for it."
"Me neither," nods Kevin wrapping his arm around her and hugging her.
Mia hugs him back and smiles.
They finish putting everything back and leave the boxes on the side before heading off to their own rooms.

Mia walks in and smiles when she sees Emily sat in bed, Evie sat on the end of it.
"Thanks for today, Evie," smiles Emily.
"Anytime, it was nice to reminisce without it being too heavy," assures Evie.
"It was nice," agrees Mia.
"I feel better now," smiles Emily.
"Good Em, but like Mia said you never have to feel bad about missing your family," assures Evie patting her leg reassuringly.
"Not at all," agrees Mia.
"Thanks guys," beams Emily.
"No problem," smiles Mia.
"Right, who knows what tomorrow will bring, other than Antonio's picnic at his stall. So I will bid you adieu," smiles Evie as she stands up dropping a kiss on the top of Emily's head and patting Mia's arm before walking out bumping into Mike who was wrapped in one of his blankets.
"Okay I got to know, how?"
"How what?" asks Evie.
"How are you wandering around like that without being cold?" demands Mike, "you do it in the mornings too, and I've seen your bed, no extra blankets, no heating. Nothing, so how?"
At that moment Jayden walks out of the kitchen.
"That's how," replies Evie pointing to Jayden.
"How what?" asks Jayden in confusion.
"Mike wants to know how I only wear shorts and a tank top as pyjamas while he wanders around in blankets and the like."
"Ah right, yeah as she likes to say, personal heater," chuckles Jayden.
Mike just looks a mix of disturbed and confused.
"He's the fire samurai Mike, he runs warm because of it," clarifies Evie.
"Oh, right" nods Mike realisation crossing his face.
"I don't need blankets, I have a fire samurai," replies Evie with a smile.
"Em sometimes climbs in with you right?" asks Mike.
"Oh hell no," answers Evie as she turns and walks away.
"Yeah no, I can deal with waking up and finding Em on Evie's other side. But not you, you I will maim," warns Jayden.
"But guys," complains Mike.
"Cuddle with your own girlfriend, don't even think about coming near mine," says Jayden as he turns and walks after Evie.
Mike just pouts and shuffles back into his room.
Jayden follows Evie into her room and shuts the door behind him.
"Mike is such a wuss," chuckles Evie.
"Isn't he just," snorts Jayden as they get into bed.
"Our strangle little family."
"But we love them anyway."
"Even when they drive us mad."
"Even then" chuckles Jayden kissing her shoulder as he wraps his arm around her and Evie settles against him, her back against his chest.
"It was nice today, just reminiscing."
"It was," agrees Jayden, "without it being too heavy."
"Mhm, I still think they're worried about upsetting me."
"They care is all, they tread a little carefully with me as well."
"I know," agrees Evie before yawning.
Jayden just smiles, "night."
"Night," replies Evie before shutting her eyes and within minutes the two of them are sound asleep.