A/N: So this will be the last chapter dealing with the immediate reveal of Evie's pregnancy, the next one will take us back to the episodes from the series.

Chapter 27

Evie walked into the kitchen, stopping when she saw Ji. They hadn't actually talked since the previous night and despite his apparently being on board with the baby, she still wasn't sure where they stood.
Ji just smiled, "I'm making some tea, would you like some?
"Thanks, Mia's already threatened to limit my caffeine intake," replies Evie.
"Alison said that was the most unpleasant aspect of being pregnant for her. The monitoring of her caffeine intake, though unlike you she had more severe morning sickness" recalls Ji. "But your mother said you were a very easy pregnancy for her."
"She did?" asks Evie sitting down.
"She did, said you saved all your energy until after you were born," nods Ji.
"How did that come up?" asks Evie.
"She was talking to Nathan, I overheard."
"Well hey she said it herself, pair me up with Jayden and pop out the next one when the time came. Even if that isn't exactly optimal right now," she mutters.
Ji sets the tea down in front of her before taking a seat opposite her with his own.

"I'm sorry for how I reacted, for what I said, and for the fact I blamed you more than I did Jayden. As Mike so eloquently pointed out, it takes two to make a baby. I never should've placed more fault on you than I did on Jayden, and I am sorry that it didn't even occur to me that I had until it was pointed out," apologises Ji.
"Figured you'd be pissed," replies Evie taking a sip of her tea.
"Still, I should not have reacted so unfairly. You should never have had the concern of whether or not you would have my support. You needed a parent and I was not one, but I meant it when I said I will help however you need me too. And despite what I or Kevin may have inferred, you will far outstrip Nia in terms of being a mother," assures Ji.
"Have to make it through the next seven and a half months first" replies Evie, "Not to mention taking down Serrator, Xandred the obsessive nutjob that is Deker and Dayu as well," lists Evie counting them all off on her fingers.
"If anyone can do that and still bring her baby to term it will be you."
"I hope you're right" admits Evie as she sips her tea.

"I'm sure I am," replies Ji. "And if at any point it has ever felt like I placed more blame on you than I did on Jayden, then I am sorry."
Evie snorts, "Let's be honest, most of the time I was more to blame" she admits with a smile.
"You won't be smiling when it's your child running around doing it," retorts Ji.
"My child is going to be a menace, mini me, could be fun, could be a disaster. Guess we'll see," shrugs Evie with a chuckle.
"Yes we will," agrees Ji squeezing her hand.
Evie looks at him and smiles, "Thank you."
Ji smiles back, content at least that he was on his way to mending any injury he'd caused the previous night. And he would do all he could to help her through what was to come. And Jayden as well.

Evie was lying against Jayden while they watched a movie in her room, when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," calls Evie, neither shifting from their current position given how comfortable they both were.
Kevin opened the door cautiously, "I was wondering if we could talk?" he asks.
Jayden glances down at Evie who nods and Kevin steps inside leaning against the door as he closes it behind him.
"I wanted to apologise, again for what I said. I was out of line, I was a complete ass, neither of you deserved it. And Evie I am really sorry if I implied you were anything like your mother, and for everything I said. I had no right, and if I can I will make this up to you however I can. I mean anything, like midnight weird craving runs, or someone to throw something at. I was judgy, I was a dick, and I am so genuinely sorry for it," apologises Kevin.
Evie looks at him, "I'm holding you to that."
"So am I forgiven?" hopes Kevin.
"For now, but if you're a dick again, this time it won't be Mike who punches you, and it will not be your face," warns Evie.
Kevin gulps and nods and then looks at Jayden questioningly.
"What she said."
"I really am sorry."
"As long as you are not a judgy ass again" says Evie.
"Never again" promises Kevin, "About that at least."
"Then you are forgiven" says Evie, "But I am holding you to the midnight craving runs and the like. And also, no more sharing the fact I'm pregnant with people."
"Not a word," promises Kevin as he backs out of the door shutting it behind him.

Evie sighs and laces her hand with Jayden's, both resting on her stomach.
"So do we actually forgive him?" asks Evie, "Since you told him to go away last night?"
"We did kind of spring it on him, and to be honest Kevin was always going to be the one who had the most difficulty with it. Besides I think he's sincere, and hey means I don't have to make the midnight runs if you do get weird cravings," adds Jayden.
"And you know even if I don't, we can still make him go," giggles Evie.
"I like how you think," smiles Jayden kissing the top of her head. This was going to be anything but easy, they knew that. But they had their team and that gave them both more comfort and hope than either wanted to admit.

Kevin walked into his room and found Mike laying on his bed playing a game.
"Can't you do that in the living room?" asks Kevin.
"Nope," replies Mike, he was still pissed on Evie' behalf.
Kevin notes his tone and sighs, "I apologised, and Evie and Jayden have said they forgive me."
"Yeah well they're mom and dad, they have to forgive you, even when you're an absolute prick to them," retorts Mike.
"Why exactly are you pissed at me Mike, you're the one who punched me remember?"
"Yeah, well better me than Jayden because after what you said, you're lucky he didn't flatten you, hell you're lucky I stopped at one, and really lucky Evie wasn't up to her usual form. And it's great that you realised what a colossal jackass you were, doesn't mean anyone else is going to forget," retorts Mike.
"And what exactly is your problem here? Evie and Jayden have a right to be pissed, yet they're not."
"They're riding on a high of figuring out how to make this entire situation work. Which would've been a hell of a lot easier if you hadn't acted the way you did," answers Mike standing up.

"I don't see you laying into Ji."
"Because much as he was an ass about it too. He's like their parent, any parent would've been pissed at finding out their children were expected a child in this situation. But you, you had no right at all to even get pissed at them. And you sure as hell had no right to verbally attack Evie the way you did!" snaps Mike.
"And I have apologised!" yells Kevin.
"Doesn't erase how much of a prick you were. You have no idea how terrifying something like this is. And despite what you say about Alyssa pulling your head out of your ass sometimes I find it almost impossible to believe you know how to function as anything other than a samurai ranger robot!" shouts Mike. "You were a selfish, self-centred, judgemental prick last night. And just saying you're sorry doesn't change that fact. Did you even stop to think of anything other than yourself, did it even occur to you to think about how terrified and confused Jayden was, never mind Evie?"
"No okay, I know I didn't, I know I was an absolute ass to the both of them, and I know I was unfair and judgemental. This has already been pointed out to me, and you know what Mike, you're not perfect either. Cause I remember you taking the beetle disk from Mia and then blaming Evie because you were a selfish prick. So you don't get to occupy the moral high ground here."
"Actually, I do, because I learnt from my mistakes, I owned up to it, and this time, when it really mattered not once did, I ever think of myself. I thought about Evie and about Jayden and I made sure my words and my actions never did anything to hurt either of them. I am learning, but you, last night proved you can still be as much a judgemental prick as you were when you arrived."

"I owned up to it, and since it wasn't even anything against you, I don't get why you won't let this go. You don't see me dragging up every stupid or hurtful thing you've ever said or done," argues Kevin.
"Oh right of course because Kevin can't handle being told that he's the one in the wrong. Mr perfect blue ranger, the samurai perfectionist who clearly needs to get the stick pulled out of his ass," retorts Mike.
"You're being a child, but you know what if you want to be petty and hold a grudge, over something that didn't even happen to you, then fine. Guess you haven't learnt as much as you claim!" snaps Kevin.
Mike just drops his controller down and storms out of the room slamming the door behind him.
Kevin just groans and drops onto his bed, "And we've got an actual child on the way," he mutters covering his face with his pillow.

Mike storms out into the garden and angrily kicks the bench before beginning to pace and then kicking the bench again. But this time it actually hurts and he groans in pain.
"Well that was smart," notes Mia from where she was leaning against the doorframe.
"Yeah well it was the bench or Kevin's face, again," answers Mike.
"He does have a point though Mike. I'd get Evie holding a grudge over this, but I don't get why you are?"
Mike huffs before sitting down, "I've been there Mia, I remember the absolute terror I felt when Arianna told me she thought she was pregnant. The repercussions I knew would come with that if she was. Honestly, I think that scared me more than any Nighlok, Serrator and Master Xandred included. And you know what we got lucky that it wasn't the case, but I remember that fear, and I saw that exact same fear in Evie's eyes when she saw the positive test.
And I could see it in Jayden's as well once Evie had told him. And then for it all to be made worse by how Kevin and Ji reacted, I knew my parents would be mad, so I can get why Ji was pissed off. Even if his blaming Evie more was way out of line. But Kevin, Kevin didn't even stop to think of how this was affected Evie and Jayden personally, he just attacked. With no thought, not even a moment to consider something other than how he was affected," explains Mike running his hand through his hair.

Mia walks over and sits down next to him, "You're right none of us can imagine how scary the prospect of being a parent is in our current situation or when we were younger. But Mike, are you sure you're not just projecting a little here? I mean think about it, much as Kevin was an ass, he has apologised, are you sure you're not putting your own feelings about when this happened to you, into this situation?" asks Mia gently.
Mike sighs, he hadn't thought of that.
"Tell me about it, tell me how it felt when she told you she thought she was pregnant," prompts Mia in a soothing voice, she was pretty sure, like Kevin he didn't actually realise what his real issue was.
"We were 17, and despite what you probably assumed we were always careful. But I guess we weren't careful enough, or like Evie and Jayden we just got caught short. She had the same symptoms, dizzy, headaches, though her morning sickness was worse. I'd come over to see her and she told me, that she thought she was pregnant. And honestly, I was completely terrified. Not only was I 17, but I knew eventually I'd have to leave to come here. And then it occurred to me that if this was my kid, then it would be the next forest samurai, and Ariana had no idea about any of that. And I'd have to try and explain it all and then tell her what, that I'd have to send our kid off to fight a war when it was older. I knew my parents would be beyond angry with me, and what was worse was how disappointed they'd be.

And it also made me realise that I didn't love her, I didn't want a kid with her, and I thought I'd just tied myself to a girl I was not that attached too for the rest of my life. I thought my life was over, and that the world had literally ended. I actually threw up I was that upset about it. And then she started talking about what we'd do, and then she said that I'd have to help her and I was just in shock. The relief I felt when those pregnancy tests came up negative, I cannot even put into words how happy I was, how relieved. But before then, I was terrified, I had no idea what to do, at the time it was the worst I had ever felt about anything. It is a completely different kind of fear, never mind when you're not in a healthy and stable relationship," explains Mike with a shudder.
Mia nods and pulls him into a hug, "I cannot imagine how scary that must've been for you Mike. But that is not what is happening here, and I do think you're projecting a little. And while that is perfectly natural, it's unfair on you, on Kevin, on the team and especially on Evie and Jayden. One of the things Evie was worried about was splintering the team and right now, that is probably how it feels. And while it is admirable how protective you have been of Evie, and how considerate you have been for her. As we all know, she is more than capable of holding her own grudge if she so desires. Kevin has apologised, he has even promised to go on midnight snack runs if she gets cravings further along. He knows he was wrong and he understands that, and like you he was projecting a little, because he held Jayden and even Evie to a higher standard than the rest of us, without even realising it. And I think you're doing the same, you're projecting how you felt about your own situation rather than just about Evie's.

And I know you and Kevin do not see eye to eye, and to be honest you likely never will on a lot of things, because you're two very different people. But Kevin knows he was an ass, he has apologised and he will do is best to help Evie and Jayden however he can, and you will do the same. Because we need to think of Evie and Jayden, like you said. And we both know neither of them is a pushover when its crunch time. They'll let us know if something is up, but they do not want you holding a grudge on their behalf. So go back inside, you and Kevin can apologise to each other, and then you can apologise for hitting him, regardless of how well deserved it was. You two have been doing so much better lately, don't throw it all away on something like this Mike, because it is not worth it. He is your roommate; he is your teammate and he is your friend. And you are being a little childish Mike," replies Mia with just the right amount of reproach, but also concern and genuine caring in her voice.

Evie might be going to be the actual mom but Mia had dealt with Terry and had a little more practical application, plus her mom had done it for her and for Terry on a number of occasions, her grandmother doing the same as well. And once again Mia thanked the universe for how good a family she had.
Mike looks at her, "He drives me up the wall sometimes Mia."
"And you do the same too him Mike, it's called being a family. You fight like cats and dogs but when it matters you realise the deeper things are more important. Now go and be the bigger man, and the one who has learnt from his mistakes as he so claims," orders Mia firmly.
Mike sighs before nodding and standing up.
"Thanks Mia," he says.
"Anytime," she assures.
Mike nods and heads inside, Mia following after him before diverting into her room while Mike walked into his.

Kevin looks at him as he walks in.
"I'm sorry I punched you,"
"I kind of deserved it."
"And I'm sorry I yelled at you" adds Mike, "It wasn't actually about you."
Kevin nods, "I'm sorry I got snappy as well, you have grown up a lot, and you have learnt from your mistakes."
"Maybe not as much as I thought," admits Mike.
"How about we just draw a line under this whole thing?" offers Kevin.
Mike looks at him and nods, "Okay" he agrees holding out his hand for a fist bump.
Kevin smiles and returns it. Things weren't necessarily as good as they could be, but they'd manage.

Mike walked up to Evie and Jayden's room, because if the whole house was perfectly honest it was their room now. Even Ji had accepted that fact.
He knocked and hearing a call to come in, open it and stepped inside. Finding the couple in question curled up together on the bed, but he was surprised to see Emily there as well.
"Done yelling at Kevin yet?" asks Evie without moving from where she was lying on Jayden.
"You heard?" he asks.
"We heard some of it," nods Jayden.
"Don't worry, I apologised and we've sorted it out, mostly," sighs Mike.
"You and Kevin are very different people, you were always going to clash," replies Evie.
"Well this time, I may have been projecting," admits Mike.
"As long as you've realised that," smiles Emily.
"Mia did," corrects Mike.
"Mama Mia," chuckles Evie.
"Did you just make a pun?" asks Jayden.
"I think I'm getting pregnancy brain," replies Evie.
"Doesn't usually kick in that fast I don't think," smiles Jayden.
"You can't prove that," answers Evie.
Emily just giggles.

"So what are we watching?" asks Mike.
"Stardust," answers Emily.
"Never seen it," replies Mike.
Emily glances at Evie who nods and she smiles patting the spot next to her.
Mike drops down and Emily cuddles up against him.
"How do we all fit on this thing comfortably?" asks Mike.
"Might have something to do with the fact Evie is pretty much lying on top of me," notes Jayden.
"Please, you, me and Emily fit on this bed when we're lying side by side," reminds Evie.
"Evie has a big bed, and its comfy too," smiles Emily.
"Very," agrees Mike.
"I'm aware, there's a reason we usually sleep in my bed," replies Evie.
"Why do you have such a big bed?" asks Mike.
"To fit all her shoes into the draws underneath it," answers Jayden.
"Seriously?" asks Mike.
"Yep, Ji got annoyed with how many shoes I owned and despite my requests I was not allowed to turn one of the other rooms into a closet. So, Ji told me I either came up with an alternate storage method, or I had to get rid of some. My response was, I came up with this," replies Evie leaning down and hitting the button so the draws opened up.

Mike looks over and nods, "that's pretty ingenious actually."
"Evie loves her shoes," giggles Emily.
"So I see," chuckles Mike as Evie closes the draws.
The movie was almost done when the bathroom door opened and Antonio came in.
"Okay, I think I've done it," he smiles though his eyebrows go up when he notes Mike and Emily.
"Did I walk in on something I shouldn't have?" asks Antonio suspiciously.
The four of them all give him identical disgusted looks.
"Okay guess not, but here, one upgraded samuraiser for our momma to be," smiles Antonio as he hands it to her.
Evie takes it and smiles, "thank you, we can test it tomorrow, because I'm too comfy to move now."
"What we watching?" asks Antonio as he drops onto the end of the bed lying across it.
"Stardust," answers Emily.
"Love this movie," smiles Antonio.
"Okay if we're all going to be in here we really should not be excluding Mia and Kevin," notes Jayden.
"We have a TV and a big couch in the other room," reminds Mike.
"Yeah but now I'm comfy," replies Emily.
"But where do you intend to put Mia and Kevin?" asks Evie, "My bed isn't that big" she adds.
"Okay finish this, then move to couch and we can all watch something together?" suggests Jayden.
"Sounds good" nods Antonio.

The movie finishes twenty minutes later and they all untangle themselves and walk out, grabbing Mia and Kevin as they did so. And re-arranged themselves on the couch.
Evie once again curling up almost on top of Jayden. Emily snuggling up to Mike, half sat in his lap. Antonio, Kevin and Mia fill the space between them.
"What are we watching then?" asks Mike.
"Tomb Raider," replies Evie.
Everyone else nods in agreement and they set the movie up.
Ji finds them an hour later, all seven of them sound asleep and he smiles, they really were a very strange little family. And despite how much they sometimes drove him mad, he was extremely fond of each and every one of them. And he desperately hoped that he would have all seven of them coming home when Master Xandred was finally defeated. Or rather eight as the case now was.