Crash!
Lauren rolled her eyes and looked down the hall where Emily and Mike were trying to put back together one of Mentor Ji's bonsais. "You just came back and you're already breaking things?" Lauren asked them. She seemed annoyed at first but her expression quickly softened. "Welcome back."
Emily ran into Lauren's arms and almost knocked her off her feet. "We are never leaving for that long ever again!"
"How did you guys get into the house?" Lauren returned Emily's gesture but she couldn't help but notice no one got up to answer the door.
Mike held up his spare key. "You didn't think we would get rid of this, did you?"
"I guess not. Everyone is in the living room waiting for Mia and Kevin now. Go ahead and make yourselves at home while I go get you two some drinks."
"I'll come help you." Emily volunteered and walked to the kitchen with Lauren. That left Mike to find the other guys.
"What's up?" Mike asked them excitedly. He was pumped to be back in the house. He loves Emily with all his heart and she's super fun company to have around but he's glad to be back with some guy friends.
"Hey Mike." Jayden said. "How are you and Emily?"
"We're doing great. Emily is already buying a boat load of wedding magazines. I have never seen her so excited for something. It's an awesome feeling. How have you guys been?"
"I have been traveling to different countries." Antonio answered. "So far I've been to Costa Rica, Hawaii, Bahamas, Japan, and some places in Europe. It's was amazing…" He trailed off. "Did you say wedding magazines?"
Mike pulled out his phone and showed Antonio and Jayden a picture of a big diamond ring on Emily's finger.
"Whoa, that is huge. Where did you get the money?"
Mike just shrugged. "It didn't take much, just a lot of work and sweat." Not that he was kidding; he does work at a gym. "I've been planning it for a while then during Christmas last year, I asked the big question."
"So when is Emily getting a job?" Jayden asked Mike. He remembered reading the letter he got from his earth and forest friends and Emily mentioned she didn't have a job.
"Well, she graduated high school finally. Now she's saying she will be attending online college and is going to get a little job very soon. I'm not exactly sure when is soon though. Emily is a little strange when it comes to school."
Jayden nodded. Emily wasn't the best person in school because of the amount of bullying she received while she was enrolled. He hopes she's pass that now because he wants her to be successful.
"Hopefully she makes the right choices."
"What do you and Emily do for fun anyways?" Antonio questioned. If Emily isn't working, Mike has a small job, and they don't have any kids or pets, what did they do?
"You don't want to know." Mike chuckled.
"You seem happier." Emily told Lauren.
"Happier?" Lauren looked at Emily confused. "I have always been happy, Emily."
"I know but you seem…different." Lauren gave an even more confused stare. Emily giggled at her. "I mean that in a good way, relax. You smile more, go out more, and you even walk with a little more pep in your step."
"Thank you?" Lauren couldn't tell if Emily was insulting her or complimenting her. She didn't feel different but thinking about, she wasn't the same Lauren Emily met when they were rangers. Now that the nighlok are gone, she isn't under constant pressure. She was more relaxed. Happier.
"So, what's for dinner?"
Lauren scratched the back her neck awkwardly. "About that, I…I can't cook. Well, I can cook but not something really fancy. I was hoping maybe Antonio and Mia can team up and make something. And maybe teach me a few things."
Emily only nodded. Lauren leaned on the kitchen counter to get a good look outside the window. A minivan just pulled up in her driveway. When she saw Kevin step out the driver's seat, she smiled brightly and waved over for Emily to look. The two girls watched in amusement as Kevin opened the door for his wife. They knew Kevin was a gentleman but not like that. They raced to the front door to greet them. Mia waved at them but they didn't wave back. Instead, Lauren and Emily had smirks on their faces.
"What?" Mia asked them.
"I didn't know Mia couldn't open doors for herself." Emily said.
"You guys know Kevin. Chivalry still exists in his mind." She hugged Kevin and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Not that I mind, of course."
"Eww!" Emily stomped back into the house. "I just saw my sister kiss my brother!"
"Whose book is this?" Mia asked. She spotted a book on the counter while she placed food on the table. She was more than delighted when Lauren gave her the honors to cook a meal for her old teammates. She was still in the culinary academy but she has improved her skills over the time she spent there and couldn't wait to show her friends.
"Oh, that's mine." Lauren took her book off the counter. "I must've forgotten it when I was studying earlier."
"You're studying law?" Emily asked.
"Yes, I am." Lauren said sheepishly.
"I think that's so cool. I don't know what I want to be yet."
Mia gave a comforting squeeze on the shoulder as she sat in her sat next to her. "I'm sure you'll figure it out soon."
Jayden stood once everyone got settled in their seats. He raised his glass filled with a fruit punch, nothing too fancy. "I would like to make a toast." Everyone turned their attention to Jayden and held their glasses as well. "First, thank you guys for rejoining our little family. We are glad you all decided to come back. Just because our duties as rangers are done doesn't mean we can't see each other anymore. You all taught Lauren and I about family and friendship. Our parents died when we were young and we couldn't be any more grateful to have you all in our lives. We are all doing something different right now but we can make this work. Family together?"
"Samurai forever!" Everyone chorused. They all dove into their meals.
"How is it?" Mia asked.
"This is great." Mike said. He always hated Mia's cooking the most but not this time. This time he loved it. "I never knew you had in you, Pinkie."
"I agree." Jayden said.
"So, Kevin, I hear you're going to Rio next year for the Olympics." Mike said.
"I am. I have been training so hard." Kevin told them.
"Carnival babes!" Antonio chimed in. Jayden gave him a high-five.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." Mia rolled her eyes.
"Hey, no need to be jealous." Antonio teased Mia.
"I choose Mia any day over some girl in nothing but a bikini and feathers." Kevin wrapped his arms Mia's shoulders.
"Mmhm." Mia gave her spouse a stern eye. "You better keep on telling yourself that because if I ever hear you had an affair with a Brazilian chick, I will hurt you."
"Oh!" Mike laughed. He liked watching Mia take over Kevin.
Lauren shook her head. Even three years later, she was still trying to get used to the craziness. Seeing Kevin and Mia interact did make her giggle though until she suddenly remembered something Mia told her through mail. "Mia, if you don't mind, wasn't there something you wanted to tell us?"
Mia looked at Lauren, not too sure what she was talking about.
"You said something about a situation?" Lauren tried to jog her memory.
Mia smiled, glad she brought it up. "I..." She started then paused and took Kevin's hand. "We're expecting our first child."
Silence filled room. No one knew what to say. After a quick moment, Emily hugged Mia next to her and started to jump in her seat.
"Congrats! I get to be an aunt!"
Mia bounced with Emily until she noticed a shiny rock on her finger. She looked in Emily's eyes and her mouth dropped. It was her turned to be overjoyed. "Congratulations, it's about time you and Mike got married!"
Everyone at the table congratulated Mike, Emily, Kevin, and Mia. They spoke endlessly until it was time to go home.
Bonjour people of FanFiction and sparkly extraterrestrials. I am so glad I finished this chapter. I have so many ideas for this story! As usual, thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows! It means a lot. They make me feel warm and fluffy inside. Plus, no offense to Brazilians or anyone that celebrates the best time of the year next to Christmas (carnival). I celebrate carnival too. That was just my terrible sense of humor speaking :P
Like it? Hate it? Too rushed? Please feel free to express in that lovely review box below. XD