A/N: Phew well here we go, time for the shit to hit the fan, this is a longer one and I hope you like how it turns out, enjoy :)

Chapter 24

Mike was the one who eventually decided to brave it and go and check on Evie, given he was the only one who knew the whole story.
He knocked on Evie's door.
A quiet come in prompted him to open it and step inside and he sighed at what he saw.
Evie curled up in her chair, her zord resting on her knee, her stuffed lion cuddled in her arms, and a knife being flicked open and closed in her other hand.
"I take it things aren't going well," guesses Mike.
"We don't know what to do, we can't decide, there are so many factors and right now neither of us seems capable of being rational," sighs Evie, she was exhausted from today. From the munchies to not sleeping the night before, to the sheer amount of energy mood swings seemed to take, and of course the tiredness that came from being pregnant.
"You'll figure it out, you'll cool down, let your heads settle and then you'll talk and you'll figure it out."
"How can you be sure, we have never fought like this before, not about anything?"
"E this is about the life of not just your baby, but the two of you as well. Will you be able to live with yourselves; will you be able to still be a couple if you make the decision to end it? Or will this haunt you for the rest of your lives?"
"I don't know."
"You do know E; you've known from the moment you calmed down enough to start thinking about being pregnant. You already want this baby, I know that. Jayden wants it, I know that too. There has got to be a way," replies Mike.
"I don't see one Mike, not one that doesn't have beyond far reaching consequences for everyone in this world, never mind the effect it has on you and the team, on my family," retorts Evie.
"Evie-" starts Mike.
"Please Mike, not now, just not now," pleads Evie.
Mike sighs but nods, he doubted he'd get anywhere if Evie didn't want to talk. Woman could be like a rock when she felt like it, and he doubted this was any difference. And he'd inevitably put his foot into his mouth and make it all worse.
"Let me know if you need anything," says Mike standing up and squeezing her hand.
Evie just nods and Mike walks out shutting the door behind him.

"Well?" asks Mia as soon as he re-emerges in the living room.
"She's got no interest in talking," answers Mike.
"Did she give any hints?" asks Antonio.
"Not really, but like I said, no desire to talk. Shut down faster than a drawbridge on a castle," replies Mike.
"There's got to be something we can do, I can talk to Jayden when he comes back?" offers Antonio.
"Might work, but if they're not willing to talk, we can't help," says Kevin.
"I think for now we need to leave them to it," decides Emily.
"What, why?" asks Mia.
"They're obviously both hurting about something, they don't want to talk to us about it. So, for now I think it needs to just be left to them without us prying into it. They will tell us when they're ready too," explains Emily. "But until they do, we hope no Nighloks attack and that they can work through whatever this is, together."
"Em's right, they're both too stubborn to cave if we push, and I'd rather not have my head bitten off," agrees Kevin.
"I'll check on Jayden, but I won't push him," nods Antonio.
Mia however hated the idea, but she knew the others were right. Evie and Jayden were both strong-willed and determined people. And if they didn't want to talk, nothing on Earth would make them talk.

Jayden arrived back a couple of hours later just as darkness set in.
He walked into his room and found Antonio looking at him expectantly.
"You want to tell me what's going on?" asks Antonio.
"Not really Antonio," replies Jayden dropping onto his bed.
"Not even a hint? Because something is obviously up? Honestly, I'm surprised Evie didn't kill you given the crash we heard as you left."
"She'd never actually try and hurt me, or you or anyone else in the house" replies Jayden, "at least not physically."
"So what did she do that's not physical?"
"She hasn't done anything. And I don't really want to discuss this, Antonio so can you please leave it alone."
"I just want to help buddy."
"You can't help with this Antonio, believe me."
"Well if I can, let me know. I'm here for you buddy, no matter what's going on." assures Antonio.
"Thanks" replies Jayden.
"You know whatever it is, if anyone can deal with it, I'd bet on the two of you" smiles Antonio.
"You think?" asks Jayden.
"I know, I might not have much experience with relationships but what you two have, its special," nods Antonio. "But on that note, you should probably be aware she hasn't come out of her room since you stormed out."
"Did anyone talk to her?" asks Jayden.
"Mike went in not long after you'd gone, he got kicked out PDQ," replies Antonio.
Jayden sighs, "leave it to me," he says as he stands up.

He walks through the bathroom and knocks on the door.
When he doesn't get a response, he opens the door anyway and steps inside.
Evie was sat on her bed, all the pillows tucked around her and Singing in the Rain was on the TV. One of her throwing stars spinning in her hand.
"I'm not really in the mood for this to escalate right now," she says.
"Neither am I. Things got heated and out of hand earlier, how about we just talk? Or hell how about we don't talk for tonight and tomorrow, hopefully with clearer heads we can figure this out?" asks Jayden.
"We can't keep putting it off," sighs Evie.
"We can for tonight," replies Jayden.
Evie looks at him, setting the throwing star down and then nods reaching out her hand wordlessly.
Jayden takes it and settles next to her wrapping his arm around her shoulders and Evie curls up against him.
"I'm sorry," murmurs Evie.
"I'm sorry too, neither of us exactly handled it the best. Then again how does anyone react to a completely unplanned pregnancy, in the middle of a fight for the world," snorts Jayden.
"When you put it like that," chuckles Evie.
Jayden smiles and kisses the top of her head, "I meant what I said today though Evie, you are nothing like Nia, not as a samurai, not as a ranger, not as a person, and you will not be like her as a mother."
"Can we just pretend I'm not pregnant for the night, that we're the same as before?" asks Evie.
Jayden looks down at her and nods, "Okay for tonight, but no one is going to buy that after today."
"We'll deal with it and with them and everything tomorrow, for now, just, just hold me," says Evie.
"For as long as you want me too," promises Jayden.
Evie just wraps her arms around him and hugs him tightly.
"Why are you obsessed with this movie?" asks Jayden.
"It is impossible to feel bad while watching this movie," answers Evie.
Jayden just chuckles and shakes his head before resting it on top of hers.

As the movie finishes Jayden looks down at Evie, "Do you want me to stay in my room tonight?" he asks.
Evie looks up at him, "No."
"Sure?" he asks.
"Positive" she nods, "Though judging by last night I didn't get much sleep."
"I think we're both entitled to not get much sleep with what we've got going on right now."
"I'm sorry Mike knew first" says Evie.
"He was able to help you, and figure out what was really wrong, and I'm glad you weren't alone when you found out." assures Jayden.
"Me too" replies Evie. "Because I think I might've done something rather split second if I had."
"Then remind me to thank Mike."
"I will, he'd probably want us to name it after him, boy or girl," snorts Evie.
"We said we wouldn't talk about it tonight, so let's not, how about we just, get some sleep. And barring any Nighloks getting in the way, tomorrow we deal with it," decides Jayden.
"Tomorrow," nods Evie. They sure as hell didn't seem to be any closer to a decision, they were still a mess, but at least they seemed to be a little calmer and back on the same page again. And maybe for now that was enough.

Antonio walked into the kitchen and found everyone but Evie and Jayden there.
"Well?" asks Mia instantly.
"Well what?"
"Did Jayden stay with Evie last night or come back to his room?" replies Mia impatiently.
"He stayed with her, went into her room, didn't come back out. Has no one seen them this morning?"
"Not a sound," replies Mike.
"Should we check Jayden hasn't been murdered?" asks Emily.
"Why do you assume Jayden would be the one to be murdered?" notes Kevin.

Everyone else gives him looks like he'd just asked the worlds stupidest questions.
"Out of the two who would you be more likely to expect to commit a murder, raise your hands for Evie," says Antonio.
Everyone raises their hands, Ji included and then Kevin nods and raises his as well.

At that moment Jayden and Evie walked in and gave everyone strange looks when they saw them all with their hands up.
"Did we miss a vote or something?" asks Jayden.
"Nothing important," replies Antonio quickly as they all dropped their hands.
Jayden walked over to the fridge while Evie moved to the coffee pot, the entire group watching them to try and get a read.
Jayden grabbed the milk for his cereal and threw Evie one of her yoghurts.
She caught it without even looking up from the coffee she was pouring and set it down. Before finishing off the two coffees and turning handing Jayden his.
They sat down and it seemed, to the others at least that things were for the moment, back to being status quo.
"Evie, do you feel up to training today?" asks Ji.
Jayden and Evie share a quick look before Evie nods, "Sure" she says.
"I've got a couple things I wanted to try, so we figured we'd pair up," adds Jayden quickly.
"Of course," says Ji.
Mike looked between them and he saw the single eyebrow raise from Evie as she looked at Jayden. He returned it with a pointed look of his own. Evie let out a small huff before nodding, and Jayden had a small smile on his face. The two using their incredibly annoying habit of having an entire conversation within a matter of looks.
Mia was also watching them, and while she could decipher the gist of what was going on, unlike Mike she didn't know what it pertained too. And she was determined to find out what had caused their fight the day before.
Evie glanced at Mike who gave her a questioning look and Evie just shook her head, and Mike sighed. They hadn't made a decision yet, but at the least they seemed to be back in sync which was good sign.

As lunch rolled in Ji called an end to training, because half of them were not paying attention at all. Kevin and Emily were doing their best to remain focused and Mike had also been surprisingly focused. But Mia and Antonio were both more focused on Jayden and Evie than on their own. And Jayden and Evie while seemingly training as normal. Ji knew something was wrong, he'd watched them train a thousand times over the years. He'd seen them playful; he'd seen them competitive; he'd seen when one was trying to prove a point. He'd seen them angry or upset, he'd even had the misfortune of seeing them flirtatious. Yet they always gave it their all. And today they hadn't, Jayden had been holding back, not obviously to anyone but someone who knew them as well as Ji did, but holding back none the less. And Evie lacked her usual fire, she was more restrained somehow, not pushing through with certain attacks that Ji knew full well she usually would've. Something was wrong, but he didn't know what. And he knew if neither wanted to talk, it would be like having a conversation with a brick wall.
But it was affecting the team as a whole, and right now he wouldn't want them anywhere near a battle with moogers, never mind a Nighlok. Because things felt off, the usual dynamic had been disrupted and despite the apparent reconciliation, things had not returned to normal between Jayden and Evie. And the others could tell as much.

Jayden followed Evie into her room, "We're going to have to do something."
"I know that, things are unsettled and its affecting the others," sighs Evie.
"But we still don't know what to do," finishes Jayden.
Evie runs her hand through her hair, "Even if we'd made one, they're still going to be pissed. Ji will be at least, and you know what something tells me our resident judgemental blue isn't going to be thrilled either."
"Mike handled it fine, he's been nothing but supportive," points out Jayden.
"Mike's the exception, not the rule."
"He's doing it because he cares about you, because you're his family," corrects Jayden.
"Exception, not rule," repeats Evie.
"Like you said, family Evie, and you know what Ji will probably be pissed, but let's be honest what parent wouldn't?"
Evie still doesn't look convinced and Jayden walks over and takes her hands, "We don't have any other option, regardless of what we decide to do Evie. We're going to have to tell them, and maybe they can offer some other insight."
"This will complicate things, not simplify them," argues Evie.
"We have to do it Evie, like it or not, regardless," repeats Jayden firmly, "They know something is up and we need to explain because right now we are not functioning properly."
"Fine, we can tell them later," answers Evie.
"Why wait?" asks Jayden.
"Because I'd like a few more hours where they don't all hate me," retorts Evie walking into the bathroom and shutting the door behind her.
Jayden runs his hands over his face before flopping back onto the bed.
"Get off the bed while you're disgusting!" shouts Evie through the door.
"Well she's got the eyes in the back of her head part down cold," he mutters as he stands back up.

He walks back into his room and flops down on his own bed looking at the picture he had of his parents, "I could really do with you right now," he sighs, and he meant it. Ji might've raised him, but he didn't have any children of his own, he didn't have any personal experience with it.
He covered his eyes with his arm and let out a huff, "Anything else you want to throw at me universe, maybe a life-threatening or degenerative illness, a new enemy, or some other kick in the teeth?" he asks.
"Well you sound optimistic," snorts Antonio as he walks in.
"Not feeling the optimism," replies Jayden without moving his arm.
"Maybe you would if you shared, a problem shared is a problem halved?" offers Antonio dropping onto his.
"Not according to Evie," answers Jayden.
"She isn't always right," notes Antonio.
"Don't tell her that or she'll make it a point to prove, and that won't end well for anyone," warns Jayden.
"Please do I look like I want to be murdered I'm not that stupid," assures Antonio. "But you get a say in sharing too."
"I know," nods Jayden but doesn't elaborate further. They'd tell everyone together, and he wasn't going to do it without Evie.
Antonio sighs but doesn't push, he felt like he was waiting for something to drop, but he didn't know what.

Emily looked around at everyone sat in the living room.
"Am I the only one who feels like the other shoe is about to drop?" asks Emily.
"Nope," replies Antonio.
Mia nods in agreement and so does Kevin, Mike keeping deliberately silent.
Ji walks in then, "Did they ask for everyone?"
"Yep, said they wanted to talk to us at once," confirms Kevin.
"What is this about?" asks Antonio.
Everyone shrugs and then Mia narrows her eyes at Mike who didn't look remotely concerned or curious. "Why don't we ask Mike, given he's been acting pretty weird for about as long as Evie and Jayden have, anything you care to share with us Michael?"
Mike winces at the use of his full name, pretty much everyone in his life reserved it for when they were angry with him.
"They're about to tell you, so you can wait and let it come from them," answers Mike crossing his arms.
"Oh my god you do know," says Antonio, "Why the hell do you know?" he demands feeling hurt that Mike would know before him, he was Jayden's best friend.
"Not, my, place," replies Mike simply.
Jayden and Evie walked in then.

"Okay what the hell is going on here, you've been acting weird for the last couple days, so spill it since Mike already seems to know?" asks Mia.
"I didn't say a word," assures Mike.
"We know, thank you" replies Evie before she and Jayden sit down.
Jayden takes Evie's hand as they look at the others, "We found something out, something that is going to change things," he says.
"What?" asks Mia.
Evie takes a deep breath, "I'm, I'm pregnant."
Antonio lets out a laugh, "Okay, real funny guys."
When neither Evie or Jayden laugh his expression sobers.
"Please tell me this is some bad attempt at humour," says Ji.
"I wish it was" replies Evie, "I took a test, it was positive."

For a moment silence reigns and then Ji slams his hands against the table causing everyone to jump, "This is one of the first things I stipulated to the both of you, the one thing I told you not to let happen. How could you be so careless, so selfish?" he demands.
"It was an accident, we were safe, it just happened," explains Jayden.
"Oh it just happened, a pregnant samurai is of no use in a battle for the world. This puts everyone and everything in jeopardy, how could you be so stupid?" snaps Ji. "This would not have happened if I'd thought more like a Mentor and been less sentimental, I should've stopped this the moment I discovered it. You have both been careless and unbelievably selfish, and I am especially disappointed in you Evelyn. You're supposed to be smarter than this, after everything you should've acted like a samurai and not some stupid teenager," he adds angrily.
"This is not just on Evie," protests Jayden.
Ji throws his hands up, "I can't look at either of you right now," he says as he turns and walks out slamming his door behind him.

"How could either of you be this stupid?" demands Kevin.
"Hey-" starts Antonio.
"No, this affects us all. How the hell are we supposed to function a ranger down, one of our best fighters who's now essentially useless. What the hell were you two thinking. We're in serious shit now, things are only getting harder and now you're telling us you let this happen? And you, Evie, how could you of all people let something like this happen, you've always understood your duty and now you're shirking it, you're failing at it. You've screwed us all!" yells Kevin.
Jayden comes up from his seat but Mike gets Kevin in with a solid right hook first, "Back the hell off man, this isn't something that happened carelessly, Evie didn't even know," says Mike angrily. "And this is anything but easy and she isn't screwing any of us, it was an accident. You're supposed to be her friend, so chill the fuck out before I knock you out cold."
Kevin narrows his eyes as he looks at Mike, "You did know, you've known the entire time and you never said a damn word," snaps Kevin.

The other three look at Mike sharply.
"I knew before anyone else did, I'm the one who brought her the test and the one who figured out what was wrong with her," answers Mike, "And unlike you I thought about Evie, and not about myself. So, who's the selfish one now huh Kevin, this isn't about you, it's about Evie, it's about Jayden and it's about their baby."
Kevin comes to his feet but Mia gets in front of him, "Don't, don't do or say anything else. This is a lot to digest, so let's all take some time and cool our heads," she advises gently but firmly, "come on, let's take a walk" she adds as she pulls him out of the room.
Evie turns and bolts from the room, the sound of her door shutting echoing through the house.

Jayden just sighs and runs his hand through his hair, god this was a mess.
Emily looks at Mike and can see he's still wired, taking his hand she leads him out of the room leaving Antonio with Jayden.
He looks over at the red ranger and rests his hand on his arm, "How long?"
"Evie found out a few days after she had to use the box on her own, Mike figured out what was really wrong with her and got her the test. She was going to tell me the next day, but then the Nighlok that gave us the freaking munchies happened and we had to deal with that. She told me that night," replies Jayden, "I've known for a couple of days."
"How are you feeling?" asks Antonio.
"You know I've always pictured my life with Evie, marriage, kids the whole nine yards. I just figured we'd be older, and the Nighlok would already be dealt with. Part of me is thrilled, part of me is terrified and part of me is angry," admits Jayden.
"At who?" prompts Antonio.
"At myself, at the timing, at the universe for slapping us with this now," replies Jayden.
"At Evie?" asks Antonio.
"It's not her fault, she didn't mean for this to happen neither of us did. But part of me, much I wish I wasn't, yeah Evie too," sighs Jayden.
"You're confused, you're under pressure and you've just had a life altering thing thrown at you. You're okay to be messed up buddy."
"I don't know what to do Antonio," says Jayden.
Antonio sighs and wraps his arm around his friend, he had no advice to give and he had no idea how Jayden was feeling. He hated the fact he couldn't help.

Kevin walked down the road with Mia, "How could they let this happen?" he demands. "Jayden is the red ranger, our leader the one we're supposed to follow and look up too" he adds. "And Evie, I never thought she'd be so stupid?" he growls.
"They're human Kevin, they make mistakes. They obviously didn't mean for this to happen," reminds Mia.
"So you're saying you're fine with this, fine with us being a ranger down? This puts us in a way more vulnerable position without Evie there. And you think Jayden's going to be able to think rationally?"
Mia looks at Kevin, "Are you angrier that this happened, or that Jayden who we all know you idolise and look up to has proven him just as fallible as the rest of us? Or that Evie's proven that even she can make mistakes that affect her duty" asks Mia pointedly.
Kevin goes to protest but shuts his mouth, was he angrier that the person he'd put on a pedestal and someone he'd come to respect had pulled off his rose-tinted glasses? He sighs, "I don't know," he realises.
"Then let's keep walking and you can just talk it out, and then we can go back and figure this out, as a team," smiles Mia resting her hand on his arm.
Kevin nods and the two continue walking in the fading light.

Emily pulls Mike into her room and shuts the door looking at him.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," sighs Mike looking at Emily as he sits down on her bed.
"I'm not mad Mike," assures Emily.
"You're not?" he asks looking at her.
Emily shakes her head and walks over, sitting down next to him and taking his hand.
"No, you were right when you said you put Evie first. You did the right thing," answers Emily. "How did you know though?"
Mike sighs, "My ex and I, we had a pregnancy scare when we were 17. She had symptoms like Evie's, turned out to just be a very bad case of the flu. But I figured it was better to be safe than sorry. I got her the test and she took it the day you were all out. She was going to tell Jayden privately the next day, then the munchies Nighlok attacked and obviously we were all a little preoccupied. She told him that night," explains Mike.
"That was really good of you Mike," says Emily.
"I'm sorry I never told you about the thing with my ex," he adds.
Emily shakes her head, "It was a scare, and what happened in the past doesn't matter now. We're together and we're happy, nothing else matters in our relationship. And it meant you could help Evie," soothes Emily.
"God Em you should've seen her when that test came out positive. She had a full-blown panic attack in the bathroom, she was terrified" sighs Mike rubbing his eyes. "And her biggest fear was how Ji was going to react. She was so certain it was her fault; she considered aborting it you know."
"She did?" asks Emily in surprise.
Mike nods, "She thought by aborting it she could fix her mistake before it affected anyone else. Obviously, she realised she'd have to tell Jayden first, but the look on her face when I saw her looking at it online, she wants this kid Em. But she was considering getting rid of it because she thinks it makes her selfish to want her baby. And she's scared she'll screw it up, the way her mom did her," says Mike. "And Kevin and Ji couldn't have done a better job of confirming that fear if they'd been fucking scripted," adds Mike angrily.
"Kevin was out of line, but you shouldn't have hit him Mike, even if you were defending Evie. I know why you did it, I really do. But this is something that needs to be talked about and figured out," says Emily gently.
"I know, but damn it Em, this has been chewing her up inside from the moment I gave her that box. She's terrified, I think they both are, and instead of getting support they both just got attacked, Evie especially," replies Mike.
Emily runs her hand along his arm soothingly, "She has you, she has me, and Ji and Kevin will come around. Emotions are running high and once we've calmed down, I think we can all be a little more rational," advises Emily.
Mike looks at her and smiles pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her head, "How did I get so lucky with you?"
"You just did," replies Emily, "you're a good friend Mike, and a very good boyfriend" she adds.
Mike chuckles and they sit together just holding each other.

Evie shuts her door behind her, sinking to the floor she covers her mouth with her hand as a sob escapes her.
She'd ruined everything, Kevin hated her, Ji, god the look on his face. She'd fucked it all up. Even Jayden, another sob escaped her and she buried her head in her hands as she cried. And the little voice that lurked in the corner of her mind crept forwards, Kevin had practically said it, she of all people, she'd tried so hard not to be her mother. And now she was even worse than her, she'd let everyone down. She'd put them all at risk, she'd put the entire world at risk. Because she'd been selfish, because she wanted a baby in the middle of a war for humanities very existence.
What if one of the others got hurt because she wasn't there, or got hurt trying to protect her. Even Mike would turn against her, if Emily got hurt, she'd screwed them all. Mike and Kevin were already at each other, and it was her fault, she was splintering the team.
Unable to stand the thought of facing the judgement, and the mess she'd made of her team. She quickly packed a bag before she popped open her window and slide out of it easily. She rolled her bike out of the gate and kicked it into gear before racing down the road, she couldn't be here. She didn't want to do any more damage.
She drove through the darkening sky as night fell around her, it took her a couple of hours to reach her destination and by the time she pulled up outside she was completely exhausted, and her emotions were all over the place.

Turning off her bike she walked up to house, knocking on the door.
It opened a few moments later and she was greeted by Tommy looking at her in surprise.
"Evie, what are you doing here?" he asks in surprise.
"I screwed up Tommy, I screwed up really, really badly and I just, I can't be at the house right now, and I just, I just, oh god it's such a mess," sighs Evie tears pricking her eyes.
Kat appeared behind him her eyes widening when she saw Evie, "Come in, you're always welcome here," she says guiding the younger woman inside and leading her to the sofa helping her take off her gloves and jacket and setting the bag down.
Tommy walked in after them and sat down next to Evie, Kat sitting on her other side.
"What happened Evie?" asks Kat gently.
"It's all my fault," murmurs Evie as tears slid down her cheeks.
"What is sweetheart?" asks Kat.
"I'm pregnant, and now Kevin and Ji hate me. Jayden's got enough problems, and it's all such a mess. I've fucked everything up Kat, I'm just like my mom. I've been selfish and I've screwed my team, and the entire world," sobs Evie.
Kat pulls her into a hug and Evie sobs against her while Kat runs her hand through her hair her heart breaking for her as Evie clung to her as she and Tommy share a look.
"What did Jayden say?" asks Kat gently.
Evie takes a shuddering breath but doesn't pull away, "He seemed happy, but he's scared too. And he's got everything else going on, and I've just heaped a whole new pile of shit onto him. Ji and Kevin were right, it's my fault, I should've been smarter."
"Did you mean for this to happen? Did you neglect to be safe?" asks Kat.
Evie shakes her head.
"Then it was an accident Evie, and it takes two to make a baby this is not just on you. Sometimes birth control fails, it happens. You're not to blame," assures Tommy.
"No I should've just, I should've just gone to the doctors and-" again she choked on the word.
"Did you consider aborting it?" assumes Kat.
Evie pulls back and nods, "Then I'd fix my mistake, but I couldn't, I wanted it, I want it. I was selfish and Kevin and Mike came to blows, the whole team is fracturing because of me, because I was selfish like my mom was. I picked what I wanted over the good of everyone else."

Kat looks at her and she can tell she means it, "It does not make you selfish to want your baby Evie. Not in a million years does it make you selfish. And there are times in your life where picking yourself is the right thing to do."
"But I'm supposed to protect the world, it's my destiny, it's my duty, I have to do this. How can I justify one life over everyone on Earth?" demands Evie tears flooding her eyes again. "I don't want to be like her."
"You are nothing like your mother Evie, never could you be like her," promises Tommy.
"I don't know what to do, I want this, but I know I can't have it. I can't pick myself over the fate of the whole world, I can't put myself in front of that. Ji's right, I should've been a samurai. I should've just made the appointment," says Evie her hand resting on her stomach.
"Evie, this is not a decision that should ever be made lightly. You might be a samurai but you are a person too. This is not just on you and it is not your fault. Of course, you want your baby, this baby was conceived in love. A perfect mix of you and Jayden, someone who would never leave you, who you could give everything you weren't," soothes Kat gently having picked up on what she figured was one of Evie's underlying reasons for wanting her child.
"But I can't have it Kat, no matter how much I want it. Mike and Kevin have already come to blows over this, I'm messing it all up" argues Evie. "I shouldn't have listened to Mike, I should've done it and told Jayden afterwards."
"What do you mean listen to Mike?" asks Tommy.
"I thought I had the flu or was trying to force myself to believe I had the flu, Mike figured out what was wrong with me. He got me the test and he sat with me and he said I should talk to Jayden, that I couldn't just make it go away. And part of me didn't want that, so I listened, I told Jayden and we told the rest of the team. Kevin was angry, Ji was furious, he hates me, he's right I should've been smarter," hiccups Evie.
Kat sighs, clearly Ji hadn't handled this very well either. "You and Jayden made this baby, together Evie, this is not just your fault. Not at all. And you are nothing like your mother, you want your baby and I know you will love it and make sure it never knows anything other than how much it means to you and to Jayden."
"I don't want to lose my baby, but they'll all start to hate me, and then they'll leave," murmurs Evie a she descends into a fresh round of sobs and Kat pulls her into her arms again. God, she wanted to murder Evie's mother right now, she'd messed Evie up so much she didn't know which was up and which was down in this situation. And Kat could tell from the look on Tommy's face that he was feeling exactly the same.
Eventually Kat feels Evie's sobs subside and she looks down and realises the younger woman had fallen asleep.

Easing herself out from under, she sets a cushion underneath her head, taking off her shoes before covering her with a blanket and brushing her hair back from her face.
Evie looked so impossibly young, and Kat couldn't imagine what she was feeling right now.

A/N: Now before anyone complains that I have heaped more blame onto Evie here, do not worry this will be addressed in the next chapter, until then lemme know what you think :)