Disclaimer: I don't own them.
*Italic indicates thought
Chapter Forty-One: Over You
A/N: Finally, an update! You can thank my ex for this chapter actually getting done, because the inspiration for it came from me getting over my break-up with him. Hope you like it!
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost
Kevin sighed and picked at his food with his fork. Antonio looked up at him. "What's wrong?"
"Besides the fact that I make terrible life decisions?"
"I wouldn't say terrible. You're pretty responsible. Recent actions excluded." He waited for Kevin to laugh or roll his eyes, but he just kept picking at his food without actually eating any of it. "Come on Kev, tell me what's up."
"I don't know if I want to put the baby up for adoption."
Antonio dropped his food off his fork onto his plate. He looked at Kevin. "What?"
"I don't know if I want to-"
"No I heard you, I just...are you sure?"
"I think so. I mean...I don't feel it's right to give it away. I mean, I'm the father. I created it so it should be my responsibility."
"Kev, having a baby is a lot of responsibility."
"Gee thanks. I had no idea."
"All I'm saying is your plate is full enough. You're training for the Olympics, your work almost non-stop just to keep yourself housed. Adding a baby it that would be crazy."
"So you don't think I'm ready?"
"What do I know? I'm just stating the facts. My parents weren't exactly ready but they did the best they could and gave me the best they could. I turned out ok."
"Minus a few loose screws."
"Hey!"
Kevin chuckled, then frowned again. "Part of me just can't stand the thought of not being in this kid's life."
"Then keep it. If any of us are ready to be a parent it's you."
"I just want to do what's right for the baby."
"Well that's the important part." Antonio's phone went off and he looked at it. "I gotta take this." He got up and answered. "Hola Gabriella." He walked away talking in Spanish while Kevin continued to pick at his food. Antonio had been having a lot of these conversations on the phone lately. He didn't know what it was about, but whatever it was, he seemed to be pretty interested in it.
Antonio wandered back to the table as he finished his phone call. "Sí. Adíos." He hung up and sat back down.
"Who was it?" Kevin asked.
"My grandmother, Gabriella."
"The one you just found out about? Who lives in Costa Rica?"
"That's the one."
"What did she want?"
"We were discussing some legal stuff about me taking over my grandfather's business."
Kevin had finally put food on his fork and was raising it to his mouth when Antonio said that. He froze and stared at his friend. (I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means.) "So you're doing it?"
Antonio nodded. "Yeah."
"But that would mean you're moving to Costa Rica."
"It does."
Kevin put his fork down. "That's pretty far."
"I know. But I don't really have anything to hold me down here. We're done being Rangers, Lauren broke up with me. It's time I really found something to do with my life."
"But I thought you always wanted to open your own fish restraunt."
"I did. But this is what I want to do now. You can understand, right?"
"Yeah. I'm just going to miss you."
Antonio smiled. "Hey I'm only a phone call away." He took a bite of his food. "Besides, if you decide to forgo adoption you'll have your hands full around here."
"True."
"And besides, I wouldn't be able to leave for a few more months anyways."
Kevin nodded. He looked at his food. His mind was spinning, trying to figure out what to do. He'd been so sure that putting the baby up for adoption was the right decision. For the baby and for him. He had his family's reputation to think about after all. But what could be more respectable than taking responsibility for this child and his own actions?
-Samurai Ranger Life-
Mike stood outside the house with his heart pounding. He rubbed his hand in his hair nervously. Ok, I'm going in...now. No, now. Now I will. He moaned and kicked at a stray rock. "Alright Mike," he told himself. "You were a ranger. You faced monsters, and you can face Emily." He took a deep breath and approached the small house carefully. He knocked on the door. A couple of seconds passed before someone answered.
"Yes? Oh, hi...uh..." Justin clearly didn't know who he was.
"Mike."
"Oh. Oh..."
"I'm here to see Emily."
"Well come on in then." Mike followed Justin into the house. He saw boxes in small piles in the entry way. They walked through a doorway on the left and into a living room. Emily was sitting on the couch, reading a book. She looked up as they came in.
"Mike," she smiled. "This is a surprise." She pat the cushion next to her. "Have a seat."
"Thanks." He sat down and Justin leaned down, kissing her head.
"I'm going to go keep packing up the bedroom," he said. "You two behave."
"Oh we will," Emily replied. She looked at Mike. One of her arms was still in a sling, but the month since her accident had healed the bruises and scrapes easily. "How are you?"
"I think I should ask you the same question."
"I'm fine. My arm is still on the mend, but almost everything else is healed up."
"Almost?"
"Yeah. My back has been giving me issues, but the doctor assures me it's nothing physical therapy can't fix."
"Oh. Well that's good."
"How about you? What've you been doing?"
"Well I'm opening my business."
"You are?"
Mike nodded. "Green Samurai Martial Arts Academy."
"You're going to run a martial arts school?"
"Yeah why not? I really like teaching at Green Dragon Dojo. It's a career, and I can take online classes and get business degree so I can be smart and everything."
"I think it's a great idea. But you don't think the name is a little obvious?"
"Obvious? Never. It was inspired by the samurai running around the city. Nothing obvious about that."
"I see what you mean. So is this in Reefside?"
"No actually, I'm moving back to Panorama. My boss is helping me get everything set up."
"Very nice. Are you going to be the only one teaching there?"
"No, actually. Uh...my girlfriend Fallon is going to be teaching with me. She's co-signing the loans with me."
"Wow. That's...huge."
"Yeah." Mike wiped his hands nervously on his jeans.
"So I guess everything is going well between you two?"
"Yeah it is. I'm going to be teaching her to fight with a sword for our sword classes. She's really looking forward to it."
"That's nice. I'm glad."
"Yeah. So how are things with you and Justin?"
"They're good. We're moving into the city as well."
"Really?"
"Yup. Justin got a job offer to work at a vet's office."
"Nice."
"I've been thinking of studying physical therapy."
"Really? That's exciting."
Emily nodded. "I mean it's a really interesting job. You get to help people too."
"Then it sounds like the perfect job for you."
"Thanks." They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes.
"Guess everything is going good for you then."
"Same for you."
Mike chuckled a little bit. "I feel kind of silly."
"Why?"
"Because I came here to tell you I thought I still had feelings for you." Emily opened her mouth, but couldn't think of s response to that. So Mike continued before things got to awkward. "But now that I'm here, I realize that I don't. For better or for worse, we've both moved on. And it's better off this way."
Emily nodded. "I think so."
Mike's phone went off and he checked it. "I have to go. I'm meeting Fallon at the place we're thinking about opening our school at."
"Ok. Well stay safe."
"Same. Don't miss any of those physical therapy appointments."
"I won't, don't worry. Justin would never let me miss it."
"That's good. Bye Em. I'll see you around."
"Bye Mike." Emily waved to him as he left. After the door closed behind him, Justin came downstairs carrying a box marked 'Em's stuff' and set it down.
"Did you scare him off already?" Justin smiled.
"Please, nothing can scare Mike off. He had to go meet someone."
"Ah. Well I've got almost all of your stuff packed up."
"I wins you would let me help."
"All you need to do is worry about getting better. Leave the rest to me."
"You're too good to me."
Justin simply winked and went back upstairs while Emily went back to reading.
-Samurai Ranger Life-
Mike got out of his car and saw Fallon standing in front of the building with the realtor. He smiled as he approached them. "You must be Zach."
"That's me." Mike and Zack shook hands. "Tommy said that you were looking to open a dojo."
"I am. This place looked great online."
"Wait unit, you see the inside." While Zack unlocked the door Fallon grabbed Mike's hand. He grinned at her. They entered the building and Zack turned the light on. The front room was separated from a lager one by a wall that could easily been seen over by standing. A giant circle shaped archway all woes them to energy the bigger room. This room had what looked like a potential office space off the left. "This could probably serve as the main dojo. Lost of space, ignore ceilings. And through here," he led them through a door against the back wall of the room on the right side. "We have another, very spacious room."
This room was nearly identical to the first. They walked in to the long, rectangular front portion that was separated from the larger room by a low-ish wall and a circle doorway. Mike nodded as he looked around. He could see a couple doors off the the side that he assumed were closets. He gestured with his free hand. "What do you think?"
Fallon nodded. "I like it. Plenty of space. We could put a wall connecting this front room to the other on to make a hallway."
"Some green on the walls and kanji added in. It could look great."
"You think this place is it?"
Mike nodded. "Yeah. I do."
"Couldn't agree more."
The former green ranger grinned and gave her a kiss. He heart no longer felt heavy with the weight of dead love. It was full of energy and vibrant new feelings. "You sure you want to open this place with me?"
Fallon shrugged. "What else am I going to do with my life? While we're getting it fixed up you'll have plenty of time to teach me sword play."
"So," Zack said. "You guys wanna talk price?"
Mike nodded, his hand tightening around Fallon's. "Yeah. Let's talk price."
