Disclaimer: I don't own them.

*Italic indicates thought

Chapter Thirty-Nine: United Pink Siblings

A/N: Hello my wonderful readers! I know it's been forever for this story, but I'm going to try and start updating this again. Read on!

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost

After she saw Emily and said good-bye to Kevin, Mia headed back upstairs. She had been at the hospital so much lately that it was a morbidly familiar place. She sighed as she traveled down the busy hallways. First Seth now Emily, she thought. I guess fate can be cruel. She heard her stomach growl and decided to go to the cafeteria real quick to get some food. Seth wouldn't be happy if he thought she was skipping meals, and she was trying to keep him from worrying about her. Her phone went off and she answered it. "Hello?"

"Mia," Terry said. "Do you happen to know why I just saw Kevin and Antonio leaving the hospital?"

"Yes," she nodded. "That's because we were all here together all night. Emily was in a car accident."

"Oh god. Is she ok?"

"Well, she didn't exactly get out unscathed, but it definitely console been worse."

"That's good at least. Are you going to see Seth today?"

"Don't I everyday?"

"That's true. Well, I'm just calling to warn you, because I overheard a conversation between mom and dad last night."

"About what?"

"You and Seth. I guess...I don't know. Just be aware of the fact that things are about to get really complicated."

"Terry, complicated is my entire life."

"I'm just warning you. I've gotta go. I'll talk to you later."

"Ok, bye."

"Bye."

Mia sighed as she put her phone back in her pocket. She could tell by the tone of Terry's voice he'd been hesitant about walking to her. Whatever it was that her parents had been discussing, it must've been important. She got down to the cafeteria and looked around, wondering what to eat. Hospital food wasn't the best, but it was better than not eating. And better than Seth parrying that she wasn't taking care of herself.

-Samurai Ranger Life-

After a questionable breakfast with what was probably supposed to be toast and eggs, Mia made her way up to Seth's room. She knocked on the door quietly as she walked in. "Seth?"

"Hm?" Seth moaned. He opened his eyes and smiled. "Morning...beautiful."

"Morning yourself, handsome. How do you feel?"

"Same as yesterday. Like death and more death."

Mia kissed his forehead, her affection blocked by the paper face mask she wore over her mouth. "How many times have I told you not to talk about death?"

"It's hard to think about anything else when I can't see your beautiful smile."

"You know the doctor said we need to be careful about exposing you to germs." Mia moved the mask down and smiled at him. "The scans are starting to look good," she said, sitting down.

"I know. It looks like I might actually live."

"That's good."

"Yeah it's..." Seth suddenly leaned over the edge of the bed and threw up into a bin. Mia rubbed his back until he was done. "I'm a loser."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am. I'm so weak that I can't even hug my girlfriend. And I keep throwing up in front of you."

"I work with small children. Don't worry. You're fine."

"I love you."

"I love you too," Mia said. Her phone buzzed and she sighed. "That must be my parents."

"Late for something?"

"According to Terry they want to talk to me about something." Her phone buzzed off again and she sighed. "I should take this. I'll be right back."

"Ok."

Mia got up and left the room. She answered her phone, brining it up to her ear. "Hello?"

"Mia, sweetie?" her mom asked.

"Yeah Mom, what is it?"

"Can you come by the house after work?"

"I can come by now if you want. We kind of had an emergency last night-"

"What happened?! Is everyone ok?!"

"Emily was in a car accident, but she's doing better now. Anyways, I'm calling out sick today. I haven't slept in over 24 hours at this point."

"Ok, well your father and I have something important we need to discuss with you."

"Alright, I'll be there soon." Mia hung up and went back in to see Seth. "I have to go."

"Really?"

"Really." She pulled the mask back over her face and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll be back later today."

"I look forward to it. I love you."

"I love you too." She left the room, throwing the mask out on her way out. She decided to stop in a see Emily again one more time before she left the hospital. She made her back down to the floor that her best friend was on and back down to her her room. She knocked lightly as she opened the door. "Em?"

"Hey Mia," Emily greeted. "Justin, this is Mia. She's a friend of mine. Mia, this is Justin, my boyfriend."

"Very nice to meet you," Justin smiled shaking Mia's hand. "Any friend of Emily's is a friend of mine."

"I'm glad to hear it," Mia replied, thinking that he seemed like a very sincere guy. "You're going to have your hands full with her."

"Hey!" Emily objected. "I resent that!"

"Look where we are Em," Mia smiled, sitting on the edge of the former yellow ranger's hospital bed.

"That's true I guess," Emily mumbled.

Justin chuckled and placed a hand on her cast. "Don't worry. I love all of you, including your clumsiness."

"That's a relief. Although this is hardly my fault."

"True," Mia conceded. "I have to head out and meet my parents."

"What for?"

"No idea, but my mom sounded pretty serious and it was bad enough that Terry had to warn me before hand."

"Oh."

"Yeah. But you don't need to worry. I'm sure everything is fine. I'll see you two later. Justin, pleasure meeting you. Keep an eye on her."

"Oh, I plan to," Justin replied.

"Bye Em."

"By Mia."

Mia heard Emily say something that made Justin laugh and smiled. She may almost died again, but at least she has someone her side who loves her. The thought made her think the same thing about Seth.

-Samurai Ranger Life-

Once at her parents house, Mia let herself in. "Mom? Dad?"

"Living room," her mom said. Mia walked into the room and found both her parents sitting, looking very serious.

"What's going on?"

"We need to talk," her dad answered.

"About what?"

"You and Seth," her mom told her.

"Me and Seth?" Mia asked as she sat down. "What about us?"

"Mia, you do know that our families are bound to produce heirs, right?" Mia nodded. She knew that every samurai family was required to reproduce to ensure the survival of their blood lines. It was pretty basic stuff. Even Terry knew it, as it was one of the few bylaws that actually applied to him. "And your do know that because of Seth's treatments, he may not be able to have children?"

"Yes."

"Do you honestly not see where we're going with this?" her dad asked.

"Are you saying I can't be with Seth?"

"In the short term, no. But long run? Yes, unfortunately," her mom said.

"Mom!"

"I'm sorry Mia, but the Kīpā are very particular. You must marry someone who can conceive children. And if Seth can't do that, then I'm afraid there's not a lot we can do. And there's the fact that he has cancer. If it runs in his family Mia he's not going to be considered a good candidate to marry you."

"But we don't need anymore Rangers!" Mia protested. She knew the bloodlines were strictly controlled to try and ensure healthy children to carry on the samurai mission. "Xandred and the nighlocks are gone!"

"I know that, Honey. But rules are rules."

"It's not fair."

"Life isn't fair," her dad told her. "I wish there was something more we could do."

Mia got up without saying anything and left the house. A second later she heard the door open and shut again. She turned around, expecting to see her parents, or at least her mom, but instead she saw Terry. "Terry?"

"I heard everything," her brother said. "Can they really keep you from marrying him?"

"The Kīpā have a lot of power and influence. They take their job very seriously."

"That sucks."

"These rules apply to you too Terry." He nodded. He knew the story of how their mom had become the samurai ranger and knew it was the reason he had to deal with this as well.

"It double sucks."

"You can say that again."

"There's gotta be something we can do."

"Why do you want to help me?"

"Because, you were gone for two years. Two years I had to listen to Mom cry at night and Dad try to console her. All you want to do is have a family. And I know you want that with Seth. You saved the world, God dammit these Kīpā shouldn't be keeping you from the things you want."

"What're we going to do?"

"There's gotta be a loophole. Some way that we can give them want they want, and you can still have what you want."

"Maybe we can go to the Shiba House. The archives might give us some sort of suggestion."

"That's not a bad idea."

Mia nodded. She loved Seth and wanted to marry him someday. She wouldn't let the Kīpā push her around and tell her who she could and couldn't marry. She gasped suddenly. "That make sense."

"What?" Terry asked intrigued.

"If the Kīpā are this strict with our families, can you imagine how strict they must be with the Shiba Clan?" Terry nodded. "I think I know why Lauren broke up with Antonio."

"Why- oh." His eyes widened in realization. "That makes so much more sense now. Well hey, if we find a loop hole, they won't have to worry about it anymore."

"You're right! Come on Terry! We have work to do!" Terry nodded as he followed Mia her car. "We saved the world and stopped Xandred, now we have to keep the Kīpā from running all of our lives."