"So, what do you think?"
Jayden had a look around the room and he wasn't sure what to say. Lauren had called him around lunch time to excitedly announce she had found the perfect building to purchase for their dojo. Neither Lauren nor Jayden wanted to spend the rest of their lives sitting on the couch. They wanted to have something to do every day and Lauren had come up with the idea of starting up a dojo. No one was better qualified to train students than herself and Jayden, and after the disaster of the Nighlok Lauren was positive a lot of people would want to train in martial arts to defend themselves and their families. The Samurai were positive the Nighlok were never coming back, but the rest of the city couldn't be sure of that.
"The owner is selling it for really cheap," Lauren explained to her brother with a big, bright smile on her face. "This place could be ours today if we want it."
"A lot of work needs to be done," Jayden saw the paint chipping off the walls and some parts of the room and the building itself had been neglected for a while.
"I don't plan on opening up tomorrow," Lauren rolled her eyes, "but it'll be nice to have the place. I can work on it while you go to your classes and we can see how it goes from there. C'mon, Jay, we can do this!"
Antonio, who had tagged along with Jayden to see what Lauren had to offer gave a little shrug, "The place isn't that bad. I'm pretty good with my hands, and maybe James, Emily, and Mia will want to chip in with the renovations. They've got some spare time, and they'll be free help. Or cheap help, depending on how hard you want to work them."
"And Ji and Kate promised they would help with anything we needed," Lauren added. "Kate says she fixed up a barn once, so we'll have someone who knows what they're doing."
"And I've got my own business going. I may not have my own restaurant, but I do understand all that business lingo. I can help make sure you guys get started on the right foot. Dad can help too."
"You guys are making it really hard to say no," Jayden sighed. He gave his sister a smile, "Alright. I guess this place is pretty great. It's got the open space we need for a dojo and a couple of offices…"
"And a kitchen," Lauren pointed to a refrigerator and an oven in the corner of the room before turning to Antonio, "I know it's not exactly the restaurant you want, but maybe you could get your start here too. Part of training is eating properly. Maybe a couple times a week you can have cooking lessons or whatever for the students. Or you could just cook and get more people to try your fish."
Antonio wrapped his arm around Lauren's shoulder and gave her a squeeze as he smiled at Jayden, "I love your sister, Jay."
"I already said yes," Jayden chuckled, "This place will work. Get in touch with the owner, make sure you get a good deal for this place."
"Yes!" Lauren jumped up in excitement and then grabbed her cell phone to make the call.
-Samurai-
Emily grumbled as she was dragged around the store. Serena had found out that Emily and Mike were starting to worry about money and they wanted to be able to afford a place of their own. Serena wanted to do all she could to help out her little sister and so offered to go shopping for the new babies' arrival. It was still months before Emily would give birth but it was best to be prepared. Serena had started stocking up on diapers in the very early stages of her pregnancy and hadn't regretted it once. She had also bought clothes, toys, furniture, and everything else a baby needed before his arrival that way it was just the extra few things that she needed to get after he was born.
It helped to relieve some of the stress. A huge worry during pregnancy was the preparations. As a mother to be, Emily was going to be worrying constantly about whether or not she would be ready to have her kids. Knowing she had clothes, diapers, bottles, and even car seats put her ahead of the game and would calm her down.
Mike had promised to work on the bigger, more expensive pieces of furniture on his own. He had already built a crib which had been tested and could hold both Mike and James at once. It was sturdy enough to hold both babies until they needed their own space and with Mike's Forest Symbol Power, it hadn't cost them a dime. All that money saved would be money Mike and Emily could use to get their own place and get their lives started properly hopefully before the babies arrived.
"It's too bad we don't know what you're having yet," Serena said as she walked around the racks of clothes, picking out everything that she thought would look adorable on a baby. "I guess we'll stick to gender neutral for now. With twins, I would recommend knowing the genders before they come out. It'll help you feel a little more ready, and they'll be easier to shop for. Besides, it's not like you'll be ruining the surprise. You'll just be surprised a little earlier."
Emily tried to hide herself in one of the clothing racks, but Serena turned around before she could blend in. Serena was definitely the most excited for the pregnancy and it was all she talked about to Emily. The younger sister knew she was just trying to be helpful and she couldn't stop herself. Serena had been pregnant once before and it had been rough on her. Emily had also been pregnant once but the timing had been horrible and the pregnancy ended poorly. This one was much better off.
"When are you planning on telling mom and dad? Oh, and Mike's parents deserve to know. I wouldn't wait too long. They'll probably spoil you with gifts too. Between all of us, you might not have to buy anything. That'll be good. I can't wait to see mom and dad's reaction when you tell them, and when you mention its twins. Can I be there for that? Oh, breast pumps! I strongly recommend these, Emily. You know just as well as I do they come in handy! Just hide them from the guys. They play twisted games when they get bored."
Emily saw the fire alarm and imagined what would happen if she pulled it. Maybe that would shut Serena up.
"Aw! These little shoes!" Serena picked up a pair of tiny running shoes and put them on her fingers. She turned around and smiled at Emily, "Little feet go inside these shoes! Isn't that adorable?"
Serena walked the shoes across the display before setting them down and rushing back to the clothes. "Emily, it's yellow and green! Gender neutral and perfect for the little twins!"
"Serena…" Emily groaned loudly but Serena didn't hear her. Emily rubbed her stomach, "Auntie Serena's always been a little dense, guys. Do me a favour. When she babysits you, please be on your worst behaviour."
-Samurai-
"What about Shiba Siblings' Blazing Fists of Fury?" Antonio suggested as he and Jayden walked to what was now their dojo. Lauren had gotten in touch with the former owner who had been eager to sell. He, like most people who hadn't returned home to Panorama City, wanted to forget about everything in the doomed city and so selling the building hadn't been a problem. Lauren had offered a reasonable price to get things moving fast enough and was now the owner of the building, along with Jayden.
"No," Jayden shook his head and chuckled, "Look, Lauren and I are going to come up with a name. You're just going to help us with the renovations. Now, unless you have anything useful to say…"
"Shiba Dojo for Super Samurai."
"Don't say anything at all," Jayden groaned. He opened the door to what would be the dojo and saw Lauren, Ji, and Kate were inside having a look around. There were a few small paint cans on the floor with samples painted on the walls, as well as Ji's toolbox and a couple of Samuraizers. Jayden smirked, seeing the Samuraizers.
"What happened to getting used to our normal lives without powers?"
"This is just to speed things along," Ji promised, tossing Jayden his Samuraizer, "It's not cheating."
"We're picking out paint colours?" Jayden gestured to the strips on the wall, "Doesn't this place need to be fixed up first?"
"I thought I would get some inspiration."
"Gold?"
"I want nothing tacky," Lauren shook her head, rejecting Antonio's suggestion. Before Antonio could argue, the door to the dojo opened and Mike walked in. He had a look around.
"When you said renovations, I thought I would be fixing up a dump," he said, "This place isn't too bad."
"It still needs some work," Jayden insisted, "Are you here to help?"
"Yep. Just give me a job and I'll do it," Mike nodded eagerly and then spotted a hammer laying in the corner and he couldn't resist. "Ooh, demolition! I'll give it a shot. What needs to go?"
"You can talk to the others about that," Lauren said, "I'll go to the bank now so I have the money when you're done."
"Sweet!" Mike smirked. He turned to Ji and Kate with a grin, "I think we all know I'm great at demolition."
As Lauren walked off Jayden went after her. He stopped her at the door and groaned.
"We're paying Mike? Are we paying everyone?"
"Well, this is Antonio's place too," Lauren shook her head, "And Ji and Kate offered their help. Besides, I thought Mike would be more motivated if we bribed him with money."
Lauren's words were true, but bribery wasn't why Mike was helping. Lauren knew he and Emily were expecting a child and she wanted to help out however she could. She didn't know much about babies, having only been around Jayden and Terran, but she knew they were expensive to care for. Mike and Emily needed all the money they could get, so Lauren decided to chip in.
"I know we have a lot of money, Lauren, but businesses take a lot of money. We're not going to be a success right away. We do need to be careful. Mike's a friend. I don't see how it would be too much to ask him and the others to work for free and maybe thank them with lunches and a big dinner at the end of it all."
"Jayden, I know what I'm doing. Trust me, we'll be fine."
"Alright," Jayden sighed. "I'll trust you. I just don't want this to go downhill."
"It won't. I promise."
-Samurai-
"Serena, you don't have to buy all this," Emily shook her head as Serena started to walk to the check out with a cart full of clothes and baby supplies – two of everything. "Especially all at once."
"I know I don't have to," Serena gave her little sister a smile, "You were a big help with Terran. The least I can do is help you out now. We've already got most of the stuff on your list and you haven't spent a penny. You can relax a little more. With one of you and one of Mike in that tummy of yours, you're going to need all the rest you can get."
Emily let out a sigh as she looked to the cart. Serena stopped walking and turned to her sister, seeing Emily looked a little upset. She put her hand on her sister's back and smiled.
"Money or no money, you're going to be an amazing mom, you know that, right?"
"I don't feel ready for babies," Emily said. Serena let out a little laugh.
"Do you think I was ready? Or mom? I don't know what went through her mind when she was pregnant with me, but I know she wasn't ready. I also know she wasn't ready for you."
"Really?"
"We grew up with mom and dad telling us to wait for the right time," Serena said. "We needed to be married first, we needed a job, we needed to be ready. That's what we grew up believing, right?"
"Yeah. I've got the married thing, at least."
"To a good man. An amazing man. He built your kids a crib with his own hands. He's going to be a terrific father, Emily."
"Yeah, I know. He's really stepped up. I'm really lucky."
"And by the time those babies come out, you're going to be a ready as any parent can get. There's never a perfect time, Emy. You've just got to embrace it all and… enjoy it."
"What if we're not ready? What if we don't have our own place or some things just… don't work out for us?"
"Everything's going to be fine."
"Everyone always says that."
"Because it's true. You'll get your own place, and even if it takes a while, you're welcome to stay with James and I…"
"Thank you, but I don't… I don't want to rely on you anymore, Serena. I always have and…"
"I remember relying on you a few times," Serena said with a smile, "We're sisters, Emy, that's what we do. We'll be relying on each other our whole lives. When I got sick, I had to lean on you and I had to ask you to take my place as a Ranger. When I got pregnant, I was leaning on you and Mike for the longest time."
"I guess, but…"
"You're going to be an amazing mother, ready or not," Serena assured her sister while giving her a hug, "I promise, Emily, everything's going to work out. It feels like a lot right now, but it gets… we'll take it a step at a time, okay?"
"Do you really think I'm going to be an amazing mother? You're not just saying that because…"
"I wouldn't lie to you, Em."
"Yeah, you would."
"Not about this. I promise, Emily, I'm positive you're going to be great. You've always been great."
"You said amazing before."
"You've always been amazing," Serena gave Emily a kiss on the forehead before she took back the shopping cart, "Now, let me spoil my little munchkins."
"Mia!" Emily grabbed Serena's arm in a panic and then quickly let go and ducked behind a clothes rack. Serena watched her sister hide and then glanced across the store. Mia and Riley were in the shoe department and it looked like they were trying on fancy shoes for Riley – likely for the upcoming wedding.
"Emily…"
"I don't want to tell people yet," Emily whispered as she shook her head, "I especially don't want Mia finding out like this."
"Alright, well you can hide here and…"
"No!" Emily grabbed her sister and pulled her behind the rack, "Mia's not an idiot! She'll see you and the newborn stuff and she'll know something's up!"
"I found some cute stuff. We need to buy it now before someone snatches it up. I'll tell her someone at work is having a baby."
"And you're buying that much?"
"People will pay me back. I'm still the newbie, remember? Just relax."
"Mia! Look!" Riley cried and Serena and Emily looked over to see she was pointing at them, "Auntie Serena and Auntie Emy are here too! Hi!"
"I won't say a word, I swear," Serena promised and pulled Emily out of hiding. Emily made sure to zip up her sweater to hide the baby bump and tried to calm her breathing. She wasn't ready to tell everyone yet, and when she did announce the news, she didn't want it to be in the middle of a store. Mia was going to have to wait. In the meantime, Emily would have to suck it up and go along with whatever lie Serena came up with. Fortunately, Serena was a great liar.