Yyyoooouuuu ggguuuuyyyyyssss! I'm such a horrible person! I haven't updated since last year, July! WTH! I am so, so sorry! Since August, I've just been falling behind in everything. I don't know what it is. I'm a pretty organized person…just not with time. Ugh! I know…what a terrible excuse! Tisk, tisk…my most popular story on this website isn't done yet. My lovely readers, this story should've been done. If I updated this the way I updated the prequel, I probably would've finished this December 2013. I actually had visions to finish summer 2014 but that obviously didn't happen.

Sigh…well, here's a new chapter. I'm going to start making big jumps with when this story is taking place. It's funny how this story takes place in 2015 and I started writing this December 2012 and I never thought that I would actually end up writing this in 2015 because, like I said, this story was supposed to be done a long time ago.

Please review…at least tell me you still like me even though I suck at updating. JK! Seriously though…I'd like to know who's still reading :P

Plus, shout out to WriterOnTheRooftops for writing the 200th review :)

The next several weeks flew by for all of the samurais as October started to come around. Emily, Mia, Lauren, and Jayden were all hard at work in school. Kevin was still in training for the Olympics while Antonio was also doing his usual and running shifts at his parents' restaurant. Mike eventually got his class to perform with Cody's class, which went well even with Emily. Everything was as close to normal as it could get for them.

Except for Cody. Cody doesn't know what possessed him to drive up to the Shiba House during his lunch break from work. He never visited during lunch breaks. Lauren isn't there. He knows for certain she's not there. He just called her and found out she just left law school and is headed to Mia and Kevin's house to pick up Breezie. Now that Mia wasn't home all day, Breezie had no one to watch her sometimes. Even her grandparents couldn't sacrifice a little time. So, jobless and pregnant Auntie Lauren took up the responsibility since Mia and Kevin couldn't bother hiring a nanny. Cody just hoped he could slip in the Shiba House and out before she got home.

Once he found a place to park under a tree, he stepped out and was immediately greeted by the Kimura twins, Antonio, and Jayden. The red and gold rangers both had their guitars in hand and were laughing hysterically with the twins on the porch. To his left, he could see that they were all enjoying grilled hot dogs and soft drinks.

"Hey, Cody." Jenni said with a smirk. "We were all just talking about you."

"Good things, I hope?" Cody replied.

"Why would we do that? You impregnated our fragile older sister, Lauren. We're obviously planning ways to kill you without getting caught. We were thinking about suffocation, right guys?"

"Totally!" Everyone laughed. Cody let out a little chuckle since he knew they were just teasing him but he also felt a nervous feeling grip him in the stomach at the same time. Something about Jenni describing his girlfriend as "fragile" just made his mission harder.

Seeing Cody's sudden discomfort, Jayden cleared his throat to bring him back to reality. "So, what brings you here? Lauren isn't home yet. She told you she's been babysitting Breezie lately, right? You should join her someday."

"Oh, really?" Cody pretended as if he never knew. "It's a good thing I came to see you then."

"Me?" Jayden looked at the other samurai that just shrugged. "We were serious about that suffocation thing considering you escaped my wrath last time."

"Don't remind me." Cody frowned. "Just follow me. If this goes well, I won't need you for long."

Jayden excused himself from his friends and followed Cody inside like he had asked.

"Yes?" Jayden wondered what Cody could possibly want so secretive, he couldn't say it in front of the twins and Antonio. He gestured to his guitar that was still strapped on his back. "You're kind of interrupting something."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." Cody apologized. "Look…I really need to run something by you and Ji."

"If it's something you think will upset Lauren, then the answer is no."

"No! It's the complete opposite actually." Cody assured the younger red ranger. "It's just…"

Cody stopped mid-sentence and sighed. He began to pat down his dress pants until he found what he was looking for. He pulled out a small, red velvet box and opened it, revealing a ruby and gold ring. Jayden mouth dropped from shock.

"You're not serious, are you?" Jayden said once he collected his thoughts.

"Are you?" Cody heard Ji say from down the hall. "If you're going to propose to Jayden, I would expect you at least get down on one knee."

Cody immediately shut the box and made a look of disgust to Jayden. "Why would I marry this Grinch?"

"At least Jenni loves me…" Jayden grumbled.

"You swung your sword at me, bro." Cody held up his hands innocently. He turned his attention back to Ji. "I would like your permission to marry Lauren."

"Lauren?" Ji leaned heavily on his cane. "Hm…I wouldn't judge you if you were marrying Jayden. I promise…samurai's honor."

"Seriously, old man?" Cody groaned, not liking Ji's joke.

"Yes." Ji chuckled. He swatted the younger man on his butt with his cane. "Now, sit down!"

"Yes, sir!" Cody said while his face curled up in pain from the beating.

"Hurts, doesn't it?" Jayden laughed at him. "He does that to me all the time. He hates being called old."

Meanwhile, back outside, Lauren had just arrived home with Breezie. She seemed to be in all smiles as she carried the five months old on her hip. The three samurai that stayed outside were still there, except this time Zoey was playing Antonio's guitar as he instructed her. Jenni had drifted off on her phone since Cody stole Jayden from her.

"Hi, guys!" Lauren said as she walked up to the porch. Breezie babbled something after Lauren. "She says hi too."

"How are you three?" Antonio asked.

"We're fine." Lauren grinned. Her baby bump was barely showing but once her belly popped forward, Antonio has been referring to her as two people. "What's up?"

"Your boyfriend took my boyfriend from me." Jenni complained.

"Cody? He told me he was at work."

Jenni shrugged. "Apparently, they're talking about secret stuff."

Zoey nodded. "Yeah, he looked uneasy about something."

"Okay." Lauren took in the information. "I'll see you guys later."

Antonio politely opened the heavy front door for Lauren and Breezie and locked it behind them. Lauren let the diaper bag that was on her shoulder slide onto the ground as she kicked off her shoes. The red samurai could already hear the men talking in one of the living rooms. She bounced Breezie in her arms to quiet down her babbling.

"Shh…Let's go see what your uncles are up to." Lauren whispered to her. She took tiny steps down the hall. At the edge of the hallway, she stopped because the living room was wide open the rest of the way on her right. Lauren wished this living room had a door at the moment to make her eavesdropping easier. She trusts Cody and Jayden with all her heart but she has no idea what they could possibly be talking about.

"You've known Lauren for just nine months. What brought up this sudden action?"

Lauren was shocked to hear Ji's voice, especially so serious. Now, she really had a reason to listen. What action? Why are they talking about her? She turned to Breezie.

"What did I do this time, Bre?" Lauren asked quietly. Breezie stared at her aunt, almost like she was trying to answer her question. Then, she gave up and grabbed Lauren's nose to satisfy her curiosity. "I need that to breathe."

"Daaa…" Breezie replied to her aunt with drool running down her chin.

"Shh…" Lauren hushed her niece again. "I'm trying to listen."

Lauren peered over the corner just a smidge. She could see Cody sitting across from Ji and Jayden. They weren't smiling at all. She wondered if her boyfriend was in trouble or being forced into an agreement. Maybe Jayden decided to go after Cody again. Despite being the oldest, Jayden worried about her way more than she worried about him.

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Jayden said. "Is it because she's pregnant? Because the guardians at the Tengan Gate won't leave her alone?"

Ji nodded. "We're very old school. Having a child in wedlock is a must. Lauren has been ignoring them though. She said she wants to get married after the baby is born."

"Has Lauren even spoken to you about marriage? She barely knows what she wants to eat for breakfast these days."

"You mean she wants everything to eat for breakfast these days." Ji chuckled.

"Not funny. I'm eating for two!" Lauren thought.

"Yeah, I know what it looks like." Cody stated with confidence. "The typical 'my girlfriend got pregnant so now I have to marry her even though I don't want to'. Honestly, I wouldn't have thought about proposing if she wasn't carrying my child. And yes, I know those radical guardian dudes have been putting her under heat just to drag me to the courthouse to marry. Even my parents are saying the same thing..."

"Do your parents know about us…the whole samurai thing…saved the world?" Jayden asked. "Lauren told me you didn't say anything."

Cody bit his lip.

"CODY!"

"I didn't breathe a word! I was hoping they could know before our wedding though." Ji narrowed his eyes at Cody. "You know…if I can marry her. I really don't want a family member having a heart attack on the big day."

"Haha…" Jayden mocked Cody. "I could only imagine your mom's reaction to getting my sister knocked up."

"Jayden, behave yourself." Ji scolded his mentee. "Cody, I really don't want you marrying…my daughter."

Cody swallowed hard. "But sir…"

"Let me finish." Ji said calmly.

Lauren couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't believe she was hearing. This conversation obviously wasn't supposed to be heard in the first place. Her mind started racing as she started to walk away. As far as she knows, Cody wants to marry her and Ji doesn't approve. That's all she needed to know. The farther she got down the hallway, the harder it was for her to hold back her bitter tears. Lauren kept them in though as she heard the three men shuffling into the hall. Right on cue, she picked back up Breezie's diaper bag and slipped one shoe back on her foot to make it look like she had just gotten home.

"Hey, boys!" Lauren faked a grin. "Hello, Ji."

"Hi!" All three men chorused. After Ji embraced Lauren, he left the house. Jayden wasted no time and took Breezie right out of his sister's arms. Lauren left him to cuddle with their niece so she could speak to her boyfriend.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Ezarik?" Lauren crossed her arms over her chest. "You told me you were at the office."

"Aw, don't be like that." Cody kissed her forehead. "I just thought I would stop by."

"Okay."

"You're not mad, are you?" Cody asked with concern, not liking the blunt tone in his girlfriend's voice.

"No, not at all. You can come over whenever you want. It's nice to see you're finally comfortable around my family without me around."

"I guess…they're still threatening me." Cody told her while eyeing Jayden. Lauren laughed lightly.

"Cody, get out of here." She gave him one more kiss. "I don't want you to get fired."

"Will do!" Cody left, leaving Lauren with Jayden. Her younger sibling was still cooing at Breezie.

"Dadadada!" Breezie uttered out excitedly.

"Dada?" Jayden repeated. "Is that who everyone is to you now, cutie-pie?

"Go be adorable somewhere else, baby brother." Lauren shoved Jayden playfully. "Watch her real quick. Mini Cody is making me want to pee."

Lauren stepped quickly to the nearest bathroom. Once she got there, she locked the door and allowed her tears to start strolling down her face. The tears wouldn't stop pouring. She even had to bite her tongue to keep from hollering out. The only other time she could remember feeling this disappointed was when she failed at sealing Master Xandred away.