Jayden had wiggled himself into classes at the college. He had some work to do to catch up on what he missed at the start of the semester, but he was determined and ready to learn all he needed to know about running a business, leaving Lauren to finish up the dojo by herself.

Jayden and Antonio would come by after class or after fishing and selling stock, but the better part of their day was spent at their job or in class. Lauren did have some outside help with Ji and Kate, and though she was thankful when they stopped by and picked up a paintbrush or told her of their ideas for décor and design, they were doing a lot more flirting than anything else.

Mike had promised to come by after school, but today he had cancelled. After football practice he had to get home to make a big announcement to Emily's parents. He and Emily were slowly spreading the news of their pregnancy around the family and Lauren was eager for them to finally reveal the news to the others. She knew they were having a baby and promised to stay quiet. She had never broken a promise before and didn't intend to start now, but she would only be able to keep the secret for so long.

In spite of the mess, the dojo was starting to look like a dojo. The painting was done and Ji and Kate had dropped off some of the training equipment from the Shiba House. Lauren was trying to figure out where and how to set it all up so the room looked nice and felt like a dojo, without reminding her too much of her rough childhood. She wanted the dojo to feel more like the one at the Shiba House and less like the ones she had grown up in.

She couldn't recreate the Shiba House dojo. There had been some weapons and tools displayed that were Ranger specific for training and Lauren wanted to keep her identity a secret. She was an amazing Samurai, but when asked she would only say she had studied martial arts her entire life and had turned her passion into her career.

A knock at the door pulled her attention away from the mats she was setting up on the flood and she looked up to see a teenager standing on the sidewalk and looking in. She wasn't ready for students yet, but wouldn't turn a curious spirit away. She got up and greeted her possible future student with a smile.

"Hey!"

The teenager didn't seem as excited as she was, but he didn't back away. He gestured to the dojo.

"Place looks pretty cool."

"Thanks. I'm hoping to get it up and sunning soon. You interested in martial arts at all? Maybe a little sword training?"

"Very," the teenager answered with a little bit of a smile, "I've been studying it for a while."

"Really? So, you're probably pretty good, then?"

"I'm not terrible."

"Why don't you come inside?" Lauren offered and opened the door a little wider so the teenager would feel welcomed, "It's not exactly finished, but I can clear a space and we can spare for a bit."

"I guess it wouldn't hurt," the teenager walked in and set down his bag. Lauren noticed it looked like it was stuffed with notebooks for homework and gave a smile.

"What school do you go to?"

"For now, Panorama High," he answered with a little bit of a sigh, "My parents are thinking of moving again."

"Moving?" Lauren was a little disappointed. The first person to show interest in her dojo didn't sound like he would be around long enough to be a long-time student. It didn't stop her, though. A little teaching experience would be fun, and she could see if she was really suited to teach non-Samurai students. She gave the teenager a little smile, "I moved around a lot too. I'm sure you'll find a place to settle down eventually. Sometimes it just takes a little time."

"Hopefully this is the last one," the teenager said. He took off his sweater, finding it was easier to spar without the extra layer holding him back. Lauren pulled her hair back and gave him another smile.

"Before we get started, I'm Lauren Shiba. My brother and I own this place."

"Troy. Troy Burrows."

"Let's see what you've got, Troy."

-Samurai-

Emily rushed around the main floor of the house, cleaning up and hiding all the baby things that were in sight and that didn't belong to Terran. She was going to announce her pregnancy to her parents and didn't want the moment to be ruined because they spotted new baby clothes or newborn supplies.

She was also nervous – very nervous. The circumstances were very different from when Serena had to announce her pregnancy to her parents, but the day still haunted Emily, and a little part of her was worried it would be a repeat of what happened. While she and Mike were married, they weren't ready for kids. Mike had only just started working and no one was sure this was a long-term option for him. Emily had been thinking of taking classes, but had been so caught up getting her life on track and then with the pregnancy she hadn't been able to. Mike insisted they were going to be okay and Emily believed him, but her parents, her mother especially, worried her.

Terran watched her run around the first floor of the house with a laugh. Most days, he was a sweet, charming, and innocent young boy, but from time to time he reminded everyone he was biologically Dekker's son. Emily's panic was hilarious to him, and she was sure he was doing all he could to prolong it. After having just stuffed a pile of clothes under the couch, Terran was pulling everything out and giggling as he did so.

"Terran!" Emily scooped him up, kicked the baby clothes under the couch and glared at her nephew, "You think this is funny?"

Terran clapped his hands together. Emily groaned and set him down in his play pen.

"You won't be laughing for long," she gave him a few toys to keep him occupied and walked into the kitchen where her vitamins sat on the counter and stowed them away in a drawer for safe keeping, all while praying her parents wouldn't snoop around the house. Just as she hid away all the bottles for her vitamins the front door opened. Emily jumped almost a foot in the air and her heart raced.

"Em?" Mike's voice calmed her when she knew it was only him. She stepped out into the hallway and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You scared me. I thought you were my parents!"

"I thought you were excited for this," Mike chuckled while he hung up his jacket. "Once we tell your parents, the fun really begins."

"I am excited… I'm just… nervous. And Terran's not helping. I want to tell my parents, but he keeps trying to leave clues."

Mike walked to the living room and saw Terran standing in his play pen and looking over the top. He chuckled and turned to his wife, shaking his head, "You jailed him?"

"He's evil."

Mike lifted his nephew and held him in his arms, "Everything's going to be fine. Your parents are going to be just as happy for us as my parents were. Speaking of…"

"Eleven voicemails," Emily pointed to her phone which sat on the counter. Mike chuckled and took his from his pocket.

"Twenty-six. See, Em, they care. Everyone cares; everyone's going to be happy for us. It's going to be fine."

Emily nodded her head and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. Mike came over and wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.

"It's going to be fun."

The doorbell rang suddenly and Emily jumped and screamed. Mike chuckled, shook his head and went to answer the door.

-Samurai-

Lauren watched Troy hit the mat, but had to nurse her arm, positive she was going to have a nice bruise to show off to Jayden when she told him all about her potential first student.

Troy jumped back to his feet but the spar had ended. He bowed to Lauren and then gave her a smile, "You're really good."

"Thanks. You're really good too. I was worried for a bit that I was going to lose," Lauren walked to the bench where she had a couple of red towels. She kept one for herself and tossed the second to Troy, as well as a water bottle. As he wiped off his sweat and rehydrated, Lauren gave him a playful smirk, "Look, I know it's not much now, and you don't think you'll be in town for a while, but what do you say you help me and my brother get this place up and running, and I'll give you free lessons in exchange?"

"The deal sounds pretty fair," Troy nodded his head and smiled in return, "I'll take you up on that offer. What do you need me to do?"

-Samurai-

Just like with Mike's parents the night before, the first part of the meeting was a game of catch up. With her life being so busy, Emily had little time to keep in touch with her parents. They had told her about the farm and how life was going for them back home and Mike had told them all about his job at the school; how he was the assistant coach to the football team and how he was helping a few inexperienced male cheerleaders catch up with the rest of the squad.

The conversation was starting to die down and Emily knew it was almost her turn. Terran sat on her lap to hide the baby bump from her parents and she played with his toy more than he did, using it to keep herself calm until she got to announce the news and see her parents' reaction.

"Emily?" her mother looked concerned, "You've been quiet, is everything okay?"

Mike saw Emily was nervous and helped her out a little bit. He put his hand on her leg and smile, "She's just been feeling a little under the weather lately, haven't you, Em?"

Emily nodded and now it was her father's turn to look a little worried.

"You haven't caught that bug that's been going around, have you? Have you seen a doctor? Don't put it off like your sister did…"

"It's fine, dad. I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" Jack asked her, "I know the doctor's office isn't a warm space, but it's better to know for sure what's making you sick."

"I know, dad. I know exactly what's been… I know what I've caught. I'm fine."

"Is it contagious?" her mother asked and glanced worriedly to Terran.

Emily turned her attention to Mike for a moment, "I hope not."

"Just tell them, Emily," Mike chuckled. He knew this little talk could go back and forth for a while. Emily could speak in code to hide her secret for as long as her parents were willing to stay, and her parents didn't seem to be catching on in the slightest. Emily took a deep breath, hugged Terran a little closer, and looked at both her parents.

"How would you feel if Terran had another cousin or two to play with?"

"A… A what?"

"How many?" Jack's jaw hit the floor as he looked at his baby girl, "You're… are you? You're not…"

"I'm pregnant," Emily nodded her head, "and it's twins."

Her father jumped up from the couch, took his little girl and Terran in his arms and hugged tightly. Ellie sat on the couch and leaned into her seat. Her eyes were watering up with tears. Mike looked across at his mother in-law.

"Is everything okay?" he asked her. She turned to him and nodded her head.

"I'm just… yeah, everything's fine," she got to her feet just as Jack set Emily down. He took Terran in his arms to celebrate the news with his grandson and son in-law while Emily turned to her mother.

"Mom?"

"I'm really happy for you, sweetheart," Ellie pulled her daughter in for a hug, "And I promise, I'll be there for you every step of the way."

"Really?"

"Of course," Ellie promised and pulled away from Emily to show her smile, "And we can start by going out and getting you…"

"We have enough stuff mom," Emily chuckled and turned to her dad for a moment to ask him to put Terran down. As soon as Terran's feet touched the ground he took off running. He opened every drawer, pulled out every box, and yanked out everything Emily had tucked away. Emily turned to her mother and gave her a sheepish smile, "Serena kind of went overboard when I told her. I've got everything I'll need and possibly more."

"It… it looks like you do," Ellie laughed. "Is there really nothing left for the grandparents?"

"I am working on a rocking chair downstairs," Mike shrugged his shoulders and turned to Jack, "I'm finding It to be a bit tough."

"Let me have a look," Jack said and followed Mike down to the basement.

Ellie turned to Emily and looked a little disappointed, "I don't just want to sit back and wait for the babies to come out before I can start helping. Just name it, Emily. Whatever you need…"

"Just my mom," Emily leaned into her mother, "I'm terrified."

"I was too, sweetheart," Ellie hugged her daughter and kissed the top of her head.