A/N: So this one focuses more on some personal stuff for Evie, warning for abandonment and hopefully this works and people like it. Lemme know.

Chapter 8

Ji was tending his bonsai when the phone rings, answering it quickly so as not to wake the rest of the house.
"Hello," he answers.
"Hey Ji, its Tommy," comes the reply.
"Tommy, how are you, how are Kat and JJ?" asks Ji.
"Good thanks, on all fronts. JJ's loving spring break, but I think he misses his friends," answers Tommy.
"You didn't call just to exchange pleasantries and check in did you?" guesses Ji.
"No, I didn't. I found her Ji, properly with just about everything Evie might have questions about."
Ji takes a deep breath, "how bad is it?"
Tommy sighs, "her new husband has two sons from his previous marriage, he and his ex-wife share equal custody of them. And, it appears she and her husband have a son."
"A son, another member of the Kai line?" asks Ji in surprise.
"No, he's adopted, not a trace of samurai blood in his veins, but they adopted him as a baby and he is now 7," answers Tommy.
"She's been raising another child" realises Ji, "this could break her," he sighs sitting down.
"She asked Ji, she's strong, and she wants to know. She won't give up until she gets her answers. I know you want to protect her Ji, but lying to her won't do anything but piss her off when she inevitably finds out," reminds Tommy.
"I know" says Ji rubbing his eyes, "when can you stop by?"
"Today if you're not doing anything, now I know her team knows, but do you want to find a way to get them out before I come?"
Ji thinks about it, "no, Evie will need their support, and it may help her to be reminded that while Nia abandoned her, it does not make the others think any less of her."
"Alright, I'll stop by before lunch then," says Tommy.
"I'll give them a heads up, thank you for doing this," replies Ji.
"Anytime" assures Tommy. "I'm sorry I don't have better news," admits Tommy.
"She'll know, maybe, maybe it will give her some kind of closure," hopes Ji.
"Maybe," sighs Tommy before hanging up.
Ji puts the phone down and his gaze lands on the picture of his team together.
He hoped this didn't backfire, he really did.

Shaking his head Ji stood up and walked down to Evie's room, he knocked on the door.
"Come in," calls a sleepy voice that Ji knew full well was not Evie's.
Opening the door Ji walked in and found Jayden looking bleary eyed and only Evie's hair and hand were visible.
"Ji, what's going on?" asks Jayden.
"Well given this isn't actually your room, I'm not here to talk to you," answers Ji.
"You said it yourself, he's moved in here, and if you hadn't know that you wouldn't have been so cautious about knocking while we were sleeping," comes Evie's voice from under the blanket.
Ji just sighed, "Evie I need to talk to you," he says as he sits down on the chair.
"So talk," answers Evie.
"Evie this is serious," says Ji.
"Do I need to go?" asks Jayden rubbing his eyes.
"No."
Evie emerges from under the covers pushing her hair out of her face and looks at Ji, "what's going on?" she asks and then her eyes blink into clarity, "my god you found her didn't you."
Jayden sits up sharply at that, "what?"
Ji looks at them both, "Tommy called me, he has everything, and he's stopping by to talk."
"What did he say?" demands Evie.
"He'll tell you everything when he arrives. Now would you like me to ask the others to leave, or stay?" asks Ji.
Evie runs her hand through her hair, wincing when it snags on a knot.
"Stay," says Jayden.
Evie looks at him with narrowed eyes, "I feel that question was pointed at me."
"Evie, they all know, and this way you don't have to tell them again. And it means that if this does show you something you don't like, you will have the entirety of our weird little family there for you," points out Jayden, "but if you want them to leave, we can do this just you and me, or just you if you prefer."
Evie sighs, "no, I don't want to have to rehash this if they can all just hear it at once" she admits, "and maybe I could use the support."
Jayden nods, "when does he get here?" he asks looking at Ji.
"Lunch, you can train as usual and go from there," replies Ji.
"Alright," says Evie, "how much is this going to suck for me?" she asks looking at Ji.
"It will not be easy," answers Ji carefully, "Tommy can explain it better than me," he adds before standing up. "We can still stop this, if you like Tommy can give me the file and we can put it in a draw?"
Evie shakes her head, "no, I asked for answers, I meant it," she replies resolutely.
"Okay, but I need you to remember, your mothers choices after she left you with us, they are no reflection on you," says Ji resting his hand on her shoulder.
Evie sighs, "sure."
Ji nods and walks out shutting the door behind him, he hoped this didn't do more harm than good.

Jayden looked at Evie, "talk to me."
"I said I wanted answer and when Tommy told me she remarried and she was a doctor. It hurt, but it was easier to move past, to just file away in the dark corner of my head I label my mom. But this, this is letting the genie out of the bottle, and I can't put it back in. I'm finally going to know what she's been doing for the last 12 years, see what she left me for, and why she stayed away. I don't know how I feel," admits Evie.
Jayden sighed and ran his hand her arm lacing his hand with hers on the bed, "and you're perfectly entitled to that," he assures.
Evie looks back at him, "I don't know what I want to find, either way I doubt I'll like it. But maybe finally knowing, maybe it'll help, or maybe it'll just make me feel even more shitty about her," shrugs Evie.
"Nia is always going to complicated area for you Evie, and even knowing this might not be enough. The only person who can give you the answers you want, is her, and maybe after today you'll know where she is to do that. Or this might be enough to at least have the option of knowing. This is not going to be easy whatever Tommy has found, but I need you to listen to me carefully. Whatever she has done, regardless of who she now has in her life, it changes nothing about how much you mean to me, to Ji and to the rest of the team. We love you, and we all think your mother was an idiot to ever give you up. That will not change with what you learn today, so when that little voice starts creeping forwards, you remember that I love you. And so do the others, this will change nothing," promises Jayden.
Evie nods, "thank you."
"Always" smiles Jayden leaning forwards and kissing her forehead.
Evie sighs, leaning back against him, Jayden wrapping his arms around her, "she is not the one who matters, and whatever she's done with her life. We love you, and it was her loss to ever give you up."
Evie just shuts her eyes and lets Jayden hold her.

As they finish up with training Evie turns to the others, "Tommy is stopping by before lunch, he says he has finished the file on my mom. And he's bringing it over, I have no idea what is int it, but since I doubt, I'll want to rehash it afterwards, would you all please be there?" asks Evie.
Emily walks forwards and hugs her, "of course we will."
Everyone else nods and Evie smiles, "thanks guys," she says.
"Anytime," assures Mike squeezing her hand.
"Whatever you need," says Mia.
"Thanks," nods Evie.

Evie had just finished getting dressed when she heard the doorbell, taking a deep breath she walked out of her room and towards the main room in time to see Ji opening the door for Tommy.
"Hey Ji," he greets shaking his hand.
"Tommy" nods Ji.
Tommy's gaze settles on Evie then, "hey Evie."
"Tommy."
"You sure you want us here for this, I'm sure Jayden could fill us in afterwards?" asks Emily.
"No, I want you here," replies Evie.
"Then let's take a seat," suggests Ji.
Jayden sits down on one of the stools, pulling Evie down with so she was sat between his legs, partly for comfort and partly in case she lost her temper.
Ji stands by the door, the others all sitting down, save Kevin who felt more comfortable standing.
"What did you find?" asks Evie looking at Tommy.
"As you know she remarried and she is now known as Dr Nia Jackson, and she worked in Silver Hills. Wes was able to find out a lot about her for me using his resources at Silver Guardians," explains Tommy.
"Isn't that technically stalking?" asks Kevin.
"No, they never watched her or anything, it was just getting the information together, most of it is publicly available if you know where to look," answers Tommy.
"And?" prompts Evie.
Tommy sighs and hands her a manila folder. "Her husband Emmett Jackson is a mechanic he owns and operates his own garage. He has two sons from a previous marriage, Matthew and Vaughn Jackson, aged 17 and 15 respectively. He and his ex-wife share custody of them, and she lives here in the city. Nia and Emmett also have a child of their own, Elliot, aged 7."
There's a collective intake of breath and Jayden holds Evie tighter.
"She has a son? Another samurai?" asks Kevin.
"No, Elliot is adopted he isn't biologically related to either of them, he's not a Kai," answers Tommy nodding to the folder and Evie flicks it open her gaze instantly landing on the pictures.
"How perfectly normal they look," she says as she takes in what was clearly a professional family photo. Nia had her arm wrapped around Emmett, Elliot stood in front of them Emmett's hand on his shoulder and Nia holding his hand, bright smiles on all their faces. A couple others included the older boys and Evie's hands shook as she looked at the one of Nia hugging Elliot to her, he looked so comfortable in her arms and so happy. And Nia looked just as happy.
"Just like she always wanted, Dr Nia Jackson, mother to a perfectly ordinary little boy who will never be expected to take up a mantle that has run through 18 generations of our family," says Evie not bothering to stop the bitterness creeping into her voice.
Jayden takes the file from her hand and sets it down, the others looking at it.
"Is there any indication they're even aware of her previous life?" asks Evie.
Tommy sighs, "no, nowhere listed on any documents is you Evie, I'm sorry but it looks like she completely left her life behind as much as she could. She was going by Nia Phillips before she married Emmett."
Evie scoffs, "of course she was."
"Does that name mean something to you?" asks Mike.
"It was my dad's last name, my mom offered to hyphenate her name and mine to be Kai-Phillips, but he insisted ours held so much more importance and so much more weight. Meant more, because he was proud of the legacy he had married in to," replies Evie as her gaze lands on the wedding picture of Emmett and Nia, so different to her own parents wedding photo.
"When did they get married?" asks Jayden.
"They've been married for 9 years" replies Tommy. "Elliot was a new born when they adopted him and he came 2 years later."
"What kind of doctor is she?" asks Jayden.
"Family Physician" answers Tommy.
"Nice nine to five, comes home to her perfectly ordinary house and husband and her perfectly normal kid. Probably asks for help with his homework, and gets read bedtime stories, and knows mommy will come to all his soccer games. The ordinary life she always expected to have" sighs Evie slumping back against Jayden.
"There's really no mention of Evie anywhere?" asks Emily.
"Nothing I could find, looks like she really did try and get as far from her life as a ranger as she could. She saw a psychiatrist for a few years, but the medical files themselves are sealed and it would be breaking the law to get them," explains Tommy.
"When did she go back to medical school?" asks Evie.
"About a year after she left you," replies Tommy, "like before she flew through, she already had her undergraduate degree which meant she only needed to do the four years of residency work."
"She really has moved on then, it wasn't just a choice not to contact me, she actively has tried to erase any and all evidence that I ever even existed in her life," realises Evie. "What about my dad, did she erase him too?"
"No, he's listed on certain documents."
"Just me then, any and all link to Kai name and the samurai life. Took a new name, ensured she adopted a child so there was no chance of it possessing any symbol power. The Kai bloodline really does end with me," says Evie the reality that her own mother had so wanted away from this life she'd erased her only daughter, her flesh and blood settling over her and she shuts her eyes for a moment as she feels tears prick at them.
"I'm sorry Evie," sighs Tommy.
Evie nods and wipes away the single tear that slips down her cheek before opening her eyes. "She's dead," she says the decision made for her instantly.
"What?" asks Antonio.
"My mother is dead as far as I am concerned, she wanted away from this life and she has succeeded, completely and utterly. She does not want anything to do with me. From now on if anyone asks my mother is dead, because Nia Kai is dead, buried and gone. I don't know Dr Nia Jackson, I am of no relation to Elliot Jackson, I don't have any siblings, step or otherwise. And the Kai line resides in me, I'm the last. And my family is right here in this room with me," replies Evie looking at them, "our strange little family," she smiles.
The others smile and nod, "absolutely," agrees Emily.
"One hundred percent," nods Mike.
"We know we're family," smiles Mia.
"A very strange one, but yes," says Kevin.
"And I put way too much effort to not be," smiles Antonio.
"Never any doubt," replies Jayden with a smile kissing her temple.
Ji smiles and so does Tommy.
"Thank you for telling me Tommy, my mom is gone. And now I know, it'll take some time, but I'd say I've turned out pretty good without her," says Evie.
"Very," smiles Jayden.
"Absolutely," agrees Ji.
"Then its time I buried her, let the ghost haunt how it may," sighs Evie as she gathers up the file and closes it with a sigh, "she got what she wanted, and I got so much more than she can even fathom," says Evie as she looks at Jayden.
"Her loss was our gain," nods Jayden.
Evie smiles, she'd always known in her heart her mother had chosen not to come back. She'd already felt the gut punch when Tommy told her she'd gone on with her life. And she knew her nightmares would remain, as would the shadow of doubts that lived in the corner of her mind. But at least now she had the answers, even if they hurt and told a very sad truth.
"She turned her back on her legacy, on her duty, on her family and on the 16 generations who fought before her. She's not a samurai, and she's not a black ranger," decides Evie.
"Definitely not a patch on you," smiles Mike.
"Not even close," nods Emily.
"Even if you do scare the living daylights out of me at times," says Antonio.
"You clearly understand your duty and your destiny in a way she never could," nods Kevin.
"And that wedding dress is hideous compared to the one she wore with your dad", agrees Mia and everyone laughs.
"Of course you focus on the wedding," says Emily.
"We'll let her off, we all know Mia is a glutton for weddings," smiles Jayden.
Everyone slowly filters off, Tommy becoming the new source of information on previous teams and previous colours.
Evie looks at the file before handing it to Ji, "do what you want with this, burn it, keep it. I don't care."
"I'm sorry Evie," replies Ji.
"I know, her loss, though, right?" asks Evie.
"Her loss," nods Ji.
"And my gain," repeats Jayden.
"And you had no idea how much you'd gain," smirks Evie.
"Not a clue," agrees Jayden as he kisses her.

Ji takes the file and walks into his office, sliding it into a draw in his desk and he takes a moment to look at the pictures of Nia, "I hope someday you realise what you gave up, and I hope it hurts you half as much as it has hurt her," he says before shutting the draw.
He'd been surprised by how well Evie had taken things, but she'd never been one to shy away, she faced it head on, weapon in hand. He doubted it had healed any of what Nia broke, but at least she knew. And he hoped that was some small piece of peace for her. Though something told him, further down the line, this would hit Evie harder than it was at present. But as he well knew, family didn't need to be blood to be family.

Tommy walks towards the front door with Ji, "thank you for doing this Tommy," says Ji.
"I was happy to help, I'm just sorry I brought what I did," sighs Tommy, "do you really think she'll be okay?"
Ji sighs, "the damage was done the day Nia left her here, I doubt Evie will ever fully heal from it. But at least she knows, and maybe she can accept it now there are no more what ifs for her to ponder. Her nightmares will remain, but they've become less frequent over the years, and each day with her team allows her to continue to heal."
Tommy nods, "she's strong, she's resilient and she's a survivor, she'll make it through this. And when she does have kids, she's going to love them like nothing else," says Tommy before he pulls a card out of his pocket, "this is Nia's number and her address, I know Evie said her mother is dead. But if somewhere down the line she changes her mind, she'll have this at least," he adds as he hands it to Ji.
"I'll give it to her" nods Ji, "give my best to Kat and JJ."
"I will. Keep me in the loop, and let me know if you need anything," says Tommy.
Ji shakes his hand and waves him off before walking back inside.
He found Mike and Antonio playing a game, Kevin and Mia were playing chess, Jayden was sketching and Emily was making little braids in Evie's hair as she sat on the floor in front of her giving Antonio directions on the game.
They were a strange little family, but they were a family none the less. He knew this wasn't over, at some point it would rear its head for Evie, but until then, they were content and they were happy and that was good enough for now.