A/N:Phew so here we go, I can offer no explanations of excuses as to why this chapter has taken so long other than the simple fact that my muse took a hike and has only just come home for this story. I am so sorry I know how much I hate it when I have to wait ages for a new chapter, but I refused to post any of the shitty stuff I knew I'd hate later. I will try and make these more frequent, though I cannot promise clockwork.
Everyone winced at the sound of a crash followed by doors slamming echoed through the house.
"Should I go and talk to them?" Lauren offers, her training had not prepared her for this at all.
Another crash is heard and Mike shakes his head, "Not if you want to live."
"They haven't been like this since they found out Evie was pregnant," sighs Antonio.
"This is worse," corrects Mike.
"I'm sorry I'm causing problems," apologises Lauren.
"You're not," promises Emily resting her hand on Lauren's arm.
"You really aren't these issues predate you," agrees Mia.
"They do?" asks Kevin in surprise.
"It's been brewing since the island. Deker said he wasn't sure Jayden was a worthy opponent anymore and perhaps Evie was a better choice. Which has sent Jayden's already heightened protective instincts into complete overdrive. He's been looking for an excuse to pull Evie back for a while now, especially after she made that deal with Deker to beat Serrator," explains Mia.
"So, is he more worried about Xandred or Deker?" asks Antonio.
"Both, but Deker is a more immediate problem. He's already figured out Evie and Jayden are a couple. Jayden's now concerned he'll figure out Evie's pregnant, or worse chose her as his new opponent," replies Mia.
"Maybe he's got a point," notes Kevin.
"Dude, do you want to get yourself killed?" asks Mike looking around nervously.
"Well he's not wrong. I mean, Evie is more vulnerable right now. And while she might still be able to take us, Deker is a whole other deal. Never mind the other Nighlok. Not to mention you're now up a ranger compared to previous battles," notes Antonio.
"Seriously, do you have a death wish?" demands Mike still looking around like he expected Evie to leap out of nowhere.
Ji walks in then, looking somewhat frazzled.
"Both still breathing?" asks Antonio.
"Jayden has gone for a walk, and Evie does not wish to speak."
"And was that conveyed through words or action?" asks Mike.
Wordlessly Ji holds up a shuriken.
"That's what I thought," nods Mike with a sigh.
"I still feel like this is my fault," says Lauren.
"It really isn't," assures Mia.
"Mia is right, Jayden and Evie have always been protective of each other. Long before their relationship became what it is now. And the fact he is the red ranger as well. Believe me while the cause might be different, this argument is a far older one, and this is not the first time they've clashed on this particular issue," agrees Ji.
"And now with the baby he's losing the ability to control those protective instincts the way he usually does," finishes Mike.
"And Evie can usually rationalise and understand but her heads still a bit of a mess as well," adds Emily.
"So it really isn't you," repeats Mia.
"There is a lot more going on around here than I expected" notes Lauren.
"Believe me, it was not planned" says Ji before he turns and walks out of the room.
"You just need to let Jayden and Evie calm down a bit. They're usually pretty good at talking things out," assures Emily.
"Yeah usually but this is not a usually situation," interjects Mike. "It's not just protective boyfriend instincts, its daddy to be instincts and we all know parental instincts are pretty strong."
"Then shouldn't Evie be more protective of the baby?" asks Lauren in confusion.
"Oh she is, believe me she is. But her situation is a little more complicated, it's not just the baby those protective instincts cover, it extends to all of us. We're as much her family as the baby is," explains Mia.
"They're not mom and dad just because Evie is actually pregnant," agrees Mike.
"Either way, it's not you, and you should let them calm down. Evie especially," warns Antonio.
Lauren sighs and rubs her eyes; she had definitely not been prepared for anything like this. And she honestly had no idea what to do or how she could help.
Slowly the others filter out, and Lauren moves into the dojo, attempting to centre herself with some training.
Half an hour later Lauren walks out of the bathroom only to bump into Antonio.
"Oh sorry," he apologises.
"It's no problem" assures Lauren.
"Are you okay?"
"I never expected quite such a complex situation on my return. In order to keep the secret Jayden and I didn't communicate. And I have no idea how to help here."
"There isn't really a lot you can do, none of us can. Evie and Jayden are like talking to a wall when they're being stubborn about something. And this, this might as well be the Great Wall of China."
"My training didn't exactly cover how to deal with disputes between my baby brother and his girlfriend in regards to my unborn niece or nephew."
"I don't think anyone's does. They'll talk when they're ready, and maybe when Jayden gets back, you could just offer to hear him out or something?"
"Would that help?"
"It might."
"You know Jayden pretty well, right?"
"I like to think so, I mean I am his best friend, future godfather of his baby and all that," gloats Antonio.
"I'm glad he had you, that he wasn't alone. It's hard being alone, even if you know it's for a greater purpose," notes Lauren wistfully.
Antonio feels a pang of sadness at that, he couldn't imagine how it was for Lauren. She'd clearly lived a far less free life than Jayden had, and he could see her inability to help was upsetting her.
"Tell you what, until Jayden comes back, how about I regale you with some stories of our youth. I have some good ones?" offers Antonio.
Lauren looks at him and gives him a small smile.
"I'd like that."
"Good, then let us adjourn to the living room and I can tell you all the embarrassing stuff I have on Jayden" smiles Antonio.
Lauren's smile grows and the two walk inside settling down as Antonio makes a drink, soon regaling Lauren with tales of his time with Jayden.
Jayden walked through the forest angrily, why was he the bad guy here? In what worlds was this not the right decision? They had two extra rangers now, more than enough to cover for Evie, and if Lauren had the Sealing Symbol, then they were almost ready to lock Xandred away once and for all.
And Deker was circling as well, there was no way he was letting him get near Evie and the baby, the memory of her half folded above him, leaving her stomach completely vulnerable as Deker stood above her still plagued his mind.
"Why does she have to turn everything into a gods damn fucking battle, why do I always have to be the rational one?" he fumes.
"So it is not only I who has earnt the ire of the Black Ranger," comes a smug voice.
Jayden stills and looks up to see Deker stood a little way off.
"Finally, alone Red Ranger, free of that last burden of your secret. But it didn't bring the peace you expected did it, it never does, I would know," he smirks.
"We are nothing alike," insists Jayden.
"Yes, we are, I'll admit you do not wear your shadow as completely as the Black Ranger, but I can see in your eyes, right now, the same need to fight, the need to prove yourself worthy. To prove the choice, you've made is the right one. I was right to choose you as my opponent, both haunted by fates we didn't choose, and you, you wear the added pain of the fate of the woman you love.
You've finally realised that there is no scenario where you could sacrifice her for the world, a naïve and childish notion to be sure. So, I ask again Red Ranger, are you ready to give me my duel to the end?" he asks, drawing his sword.
Jayden's fists clenched, his body still ached but it had begun to fade, and if he defeated Deker here and now, it made Evie and the baby, and the rest of the team that much safer.
He draws his own sword, "to your end."
Deker smirks before launching an attack, Jayden doing the same. He was ending this, one way or another.
Lauren smiled at Antonio, letting out a laugh as he finishes the story about, he and Jayden falling into the lake.
Antonio's smile grows at the sound of Lauren's laugh, she had a really nice one.
"Well, you two definitely had a more eventful childhood than me," she nods.
"With Antonio around life is usually eventful," snorts Mike as he vaults over the couch and sits down opposite them, Emily settling into his side.
"Oh like you don't make life just as eventful, need I remind you about the incident with the beetle disk?" retorts Emily.
"Okay wow, so not the same thing," protests Mike.
Emily just rolls her eyes before leaning up and kissing his cheek, "I know, I'm only teasing."
Lauren glances at Antonio questioningly, gesturing between the two.
He nods, "yeah them too. On a somewhat less serious level."
"Kevin and Mia?" she asks.
"No, Kevin has a girlfriend back home, and Mia recently met a firefighter," explains Antonio.
"Lots of romance around here," notes Lauren.
"Yeah, well except me, totally unattached me," sighs Antonio.
And Lauren isn't entirely sure why that fact sends a jolt of pleasure through her.
"Has Evie been sighted yet?" asks Antonio looking at Emily and Mike.
"No, she hasn't, and I'd rather not get a shuriken thrown at me if I disturb her," answers Mike.
"So, what can we do? We shouldn't leave her alone, not when she's upset," counters Emily.
"We could always try offering her food?" suggests Antonio.
"This is Evie, not Mike, and the person we would usually send is the one she's currently mad at," reminds Emily.
"Well shouldn't we also be checking on Jayden?" asks Lauren.
"Best to let him stew, storm and then come back to try and talk some sense into Evie," answers Kevin as he walks into the living room.
Suddenly a distinctly unpleasant odour begins to fill the room.
"What is that?" asks Emily scrunching her nose up.
"Oh God where's Mia?" realises Mike.
She emerges from the kitchen then, "Come on every one I made some food to try and cheer everyone up, I'll plate some up for Evie as well."
"God no, not today," pleads Mike as they all slowly make their way to the kitchen, looking more like they were heading to the gallows than for food.
They each take a seat, "So Lauren what do you do for fun?" asks Mike.
"I train, pretty much just that, train, and practice the Sealing Symbol," she answers as Mia puts the plates down in front of them.
"So no dancing? Or movies? Or going out to eat?" asks Emily.
"Nope, just training," she says as she digs into the food with gusto, letting out a happy sound. "And as for going out for food, oh wow you guys must not need to with Mia cooking."
"What?" asks Kevin in concern, Antonio looking equally as concerned.
"This is so good," smiles Lauren as she continues digging in, a bright smile on Mia's face as well.
Mike leans over to Emily, "If she dies, we are so screwed," he mutters.
"Tell me about it," agrees Emily as she subtly starts sliding piece of the food into her napkin. Kevin, Mike, and Antonio also beginning their various techniques to try and stomach it.
Evie stared at the target on her door with narrowed eyes, before she flicks her wrist and sends the shuriken towards it, a satisfying thud echoing as it dug in.
How dare Jayden do this to her? How dare he takes this decision so unilaterally from her, it wasn't fair. It was her duty as much as his, she wasn't even out of her first trimester and he was acted like she wasn't still at almost full ability.
With an angry huff she throws another shuriken into the door, only for a distinctly unpleasant smell to suddenly invade her room, and she gags, racing to the bathroom as she throws herself at the toilet, emptying her breakfast and the burgers into it.
Gentle hands pulling her hair back as she wretched, and a cool cloth coming to rest on her neck.
"Easy does it, it'll pass," soothes Ji.
With a final gag Evie slumps down, resting her head against the cool porcelain.
"Mia cooking again?" she mutters.
"Afraid so, not entirely sure what she's done to create such a horrific smell though, but whatever it is we will tell her not to do it again."
She nods still leaning on the toilet, only for her entire body to curl in on itself as pain shot through her body, a surprised cry escaping her, as the image of Deker in his Nighlok form floods her, before she slumps back against Ji.
"Evie? Evie what's wrong? What happened?" he asks in concern.
"Deker, Deker's found Jayden, the duel, it's happening, it's happening right now," she explains trying to pull herself to her feet, only to sway.
Ji steadying her. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I have to help, have to do something," she says.
"Jayden has made his opinion very clear on that Evie, you're in no shape to go and fight Deker right now," chides Ji.
"We have to do something, he's still weak, still injured. Maybe I could open the bond?"
"No, Evie it is not your own strength you could be giving him, we don't know how the bond will affect you and the baby. You might pull from her, instead of just yourself," warns Ji.
"We can't leave him!"
"And we won't I'll go, the others will remain to protect Lauren, and to deal with any Nighloks that appear, but you are not going anywhere, and you cannot risk opening the bond. Tell me where they are," he orders.
"The old metal bridge heading up towards the Peak," she says.
Ji nods, before hurrying out of the room. He couldn't let Jayden do this alone, he wouldn't.
And without a word to the others he disappears out the front door.
Ji hurried through the woods, heading towards the old bridge that led to the peaks.
He kept checking behind him periodically half concerned Evie would ignore everything and follow him.
But she seemed to have listened for once, and he silently thanked Mia's terrible cooking for setting her nausea off enough to leave her unsteady. She was angry, she wasn't stupid.
Though he had left her samuraiser behind just in case.
His eyes catch something white on the ground and he picks up a bandage, and it didn't take a genius to figure out who it belonged to.
The sound of swords made him look up and his eyes widen when he sees a morphed Jayden and a Nighlok Deker looked in combat on the bridge.
"Damn it Jayden, I expected this from Evie not from you," he mutters.
Jayden blocked Deker's hit with the back of his wrist.
"Urumasa has thirsted for this moment since you broke her in two. My blade won't break this time and I will be free from my curse."
He twisted slamming the hilt into Jayden's chin.
Jayden is thrown onto his back, his entire torso igniting in pain as he impacts the metal of the bridge.
As Deker brings his sword down, Jayden holds his own up to block, and kicks the blade away in a move he knew Evie was very fond of.
Ignoring the pain he pushes himself to his feet and out of the way, pausing a moment and praying it would ease.
Before backing away as Deker advances, but he could feel the toll it was taking, and a voice that sounded suspiciously like Evie's calling him stupid echoed in his mind.
They shift once more into the forest and Jayden found the terrain far harder than usual, every step seemed to send a jolt of pain through him.
And when he failed to block one of Deker's attack it hurt more than he had even had words for as he landed on his back.
Knowing it was nothing short of a miracle he was still morphed, his only bonus being he'd managed to use the moment to knock Deker back as well.
Ji stopped next to one of the tress, but seeing Jayden on the floor broke his heart in a way he couldn't put into words.
And ignoring his own instincts he ran forwards dropping next to him.
"Jayden you're too hurt for this fight. You must stop now; we do not fight for the sake of fighting."
"Don't waste your breath, get out of the way old man, you'll stop nothing. And I doubt you are capable of putting up even half the fight the Black Ranger did. She I might accept an intervention from, but not you."
Ji simply stands, putting himself between Jayden and Deker.
"No Mentor don't," protests Jayden pushing himself up and trying to pull Ji behind him.
"You will not stop destiny," snarls Deker as Urumasa swings towards Ji.
"No!" yells Jayden shoving Ji with all his might, and he feel the slice across his torso, but he returns with a swing of his own, slicing across Deker sending him rolling down the hill. The blowback knocking he and Ji over the cliff edge.
And for a few moments all they feel is air beneath them as the cliff face rapidly disappears above them.
While Jayden calls on everything he has, a distant scream echoing in his mind as everything goes black.
Everyone in the kitchen jumps as a scream echoes through the house.
"Evie!" yells Mike as he throws himself off the stool the others following as they burst into her room and find her curled up on the floor.
"Evie, Evie what's wrong?" he demands dropping next to her.
"Evie, its okay we're here, how can we help?" soothes Mia.
"Not me, its Jayden, he and Deker, oh God," a sob escapes her as she all but throws herself into Mike's arms.
"Hey it's okay, it's okay. What do you mean Jayden and Deker?" he asks.
"Did Deker find Jayden while he was out?" Kevin keeps his voice calm.
"Ji went to help, but they both fell over the cliff and I can't feel anything," she cries.
"What does she mean feel anything?" asks Lauren.
Emily turns to her, "Jayden and Evie have a bonding kanji, have done since they were kids."
"They have a bond?"
"Pretty strong one too, we've used it to find Evie before," says Antonio.
"Amazing," whispers Lauren, there'd not been a successful bond in generations.
But her concern skyrocketed as she realised what Evie not feeling anything could mean.
Before anyone else could ask any questions, the gap sensor goes off.
"Oh for fuck sake why now?" snaps Mike.
"Mike," protests Lauren.
"If you're going to live here get used to it," he retorts knowing he and Evie were both probably the pottiest mouths in the house, and she was probably worse.
"What the hell do we do now?" asks Antonio worry for Jayden but worry about the Nighlok pulling him as well.
"You have to go to the Nighlok, Deker isn't near any other people, and he looked injured too. But the Nighlok will harm innocents and we have to stop that," says Evie.
"She's right we have to stop the Nighlok, we can't be derelict in our duties," agrees Lauren.
Evie goes to stand up but Lauren shakes her head, "Not you Evie, I'm sorry but you don't have your samuraiser and skilled as you may be, you're too vulnerable right now without it. And your bond with Jayden means if something happens to him it could affect you in the fight."
"She's right Evie, just like when you gave the team to me to lead last time Jayden and Deker duelled," nods Kevin.
Evie opens her mouth to protest, before sighing and slumping back against Mike.
"Fine."
"Do not do anything impulsive while we're gone Evie, you can't help Jayden, it'll be worse if you turn up and he's worried about you," warns Mia.
"Fine."
"You and that gods dam word Evie, lets settle this your way, pinky promise you will not leave the house while we are gone," Mike holds his pinky finger up.
Evie glares at him before lifting her hand reluctantly.
"Pinky promise," she mutters.
"Now rest up, stay safe and we will be back, then we'll figure out how to help Jayden and Ji," urges Mike as they stand up and move to the map.
"Corner of Fifth and Roslin, good hunting," she says as they race out of the door.
As the gate closes, she walks back into the main room and sits down, looking at the map. "You better be okay Jayden, or I'll bring you back just to kill you myself."
Jayden sits up with a groan, the sky, and trees above him instantly telling him he wasn't morphed anymore.
"Ow, fuck," he mutters, everything hurt.
But as his gaze lands on Ji that falls to the back of his mind as he scrambles over to him.
"Ji, Ji are you okay?" he asks shaking him frantically.
Ji lets out a groan as he opens his eyes.
"Ji?" asks Jayden again.
"I'm okay, just need to catch my breath, that was a pretty big fall," he soothes.
"Damn right."
"Thanks for the save."
"No problem."
"Well seems we've completed most of our part of your fathers plan. Of course he never could've seen Evie coming."
Jayden smiles, "We did and we did it well. But no, no way anyone could've seen Evie coming."
Only for his eyes to widen, "Do you have her samuraiser?"
"I left it at the house figured it was safer there."
"But if you're here, the only way you could've found me so fast was through the bond. And if she knows what's going on she'll do something stupid," he protests.
Ji rests his hand on Jayden's arms, "I checked behind me the whole way here, she's not following. Mia had gotten into the kitchen, I'm afraid I left her at the mercy of the toilet."
Jayden sighs, still not wholly convinced Evie wouldn't appear from behind a tree at any moment. And a small part of him almost wanted her too. He always felt better having her at his side in battle, about as much as he feared it actually. A curious conundrum he'd never quite managed to solve.
"Was she still mad?"
"Of course she was still mad, I got a shuriken thrown next to my head. But it was the right call."
"She doesn't see it that way."
"No she doesn't, but you are right in your reasoning, with Lauren and Antonio we are still up on ranger numbers. You've grown into an excellent leader Jayden. Though the storming off and throwing yourself into a battle with Deker doesn't demonstrate the best in terms of acting like an adult," chides Ji.
Jayden lets out a snort, "Suppose it doesn't. But thank you, you're an excellent Mentor, and you're a good parent too."
Ji smiles patting his arm, "You may not have the sealing power, but you are truly the Red Ranger. We both know Evie would never have settled for second in command if she didn't think you were capable of leading."
"No she wouldn't have, now you should go back and check on her. Keep her safe for me, keep them safe. I have to finish this." And they both knew the them he was referring to was the baby.
"Jayden don't fight him," pleads Ji.
"I don't have a choice, being a leader means being willing to put yourself in front of the people you lead. Deker is a threat that needs to be dealt with, and he won't stop until this is finished. You heard him, he's a hairs breath from choosing Evie as a challenger, and I can't let that happen. I have to defeat him Ji, once and for all. This is not fighting for the sake of fighting, this is fighting to prevent him hurting anyone else, including the woman I love and the rest of my team."
Ji sighs, "She's your greatest strength and your greatest weakness."
"I know she is, but it's too late to change that now. She has faith in me, I need you to have it too."
"I always have faith in you Jayden, I just wish it didn't have to be in this situation."
Evie was pacing in the map room when the door opens and she sighs in relief when she sees the team return.
"Not too bad then?"
"Same old, same old. Lauren is a badass though, official," says Antonio wincing as he sits down.
"She saved our ass," agrees Kevin.
The others make noises of agreement and Evie looks at Lauren who gives her a small smile.
"Thank you."
"Anything from Jayden?" she asks.
Evie shakes her head.
The door opens again and Ji steps inside looking worse for wear.
"Oh God Mentor," Lauren and Evie hurry over and help him to a chair.
"What happened? I saw you fall and then nothing?" asks Evie.
"Jayden landed us, saved us."
"Where is he?" asks Lauren.
"He's continuing the fight."
"But he's still injured and it has to be worse now?" protests Antonio.
"He wouldn't leave, and he wouldn't stop. Says he has to do, to protect everyone."
"You mean me, he's doing it for me, because after Jayden I'm the one Deker would choose as his opponent," finishes Evie standing up.
"He's doing it because Deker is a threat to everyone," counters Ji.
"Mhm, sure he is, whatever he has to tell himself to justify it. Men and their fucking egos," she turns and with an angry yell sends the throwing knife she'd been fidgeting with into one of the beams before storming back down to her room, the slam of the door echoing behind her.
"Well that went well," mutters Antonio.
"Is she right Ji, is he just doing this for Evie?" asks Lauren.
"No, much as it may seem it, he's right Deker is a threat. One that needs to be dealt with, we know he'll stoop to harm innocents. And his obsession is dangerous and a distraction from Xandred. Better he's out of the way before the final battle."
"Then the question is, what are we going to do?" sighs Emily.
"Yes, it is," agrees Lauren, and she felt the true weight of what Jayden has been feeling for years settle over her, she had to lead this team. And she had to decide whether helping her little brother was the best thing to do or not.
A/N: So yes I didn't do the fight scene with the Nighlok, given Evie wasn't present it wouldn't have been much more than a blow by blow of what you could watch to a far higher quality. Just assume Antonio didn't turn up early and thus wasn't as injured.
Lemme know what you thought.