The Rangers, Serena and Stephen arrived back at the Shiba House, mercifully a little before midnight, and so it was still technically Christmas Eve for a little while yet. All of their parcels were already under the tree, only Ji's were missing. He had left before he had a chance to even wrap them, and no one wanted to go snooping around in his room without his permission.

"It sounds like you had a pretty wild journey." Jayden concluded with a slight chuckle as they arrived. On the way back, he had relayed the details of what had happened to him, including the events he had seen inside the Kin Vault. Although his family had kept that secret buried for centuries, he felt no shame in it any longer. Genkei's actions were not the responsibility of his clan as a whole. He saw no sense in having the power and not using it, especially as he had now seen that Master Xandred was indeed becoming considerably stronger. "I'm glad you made it back."

"And you couldn't have picked a better time to bust out those wicked moves." Mike complimented him. "I still can't believe that story you told us at Halloween was actually true."

"You will find that many legends contain at very least a grain of truth." Mentor Ji told him sagely. "Of course, that doesn't mean to say that with each retelling most of them become so embellished that it is almost impossible to tell what is true and what is not."

"Yeah, I heard that the guy Robin Hood is most likely based on only operated about thirty years before the position of Sheriff of Nottingham even existed." Stephen chipped in.

"Way to ruin one of my favourite stories!" Emily whined as she looked to him a little grumpily. Serena just chuckled.

"Emily, you never REALLY believed that story did you?" Serena asked her. Just then, Kevin looked to the clock.

"Guys, you might want to stop arguing right about...now! Merry Christmas!" He declared.

"Merry Christmas!" They all chorused, falling upon each other in a cascade of hugs, greetings, and even a few appropriate kisses. Mike made his way to the pile of presents under the tree.

"Alright guys, it's Christmas!" He called out, picking up the first brightly coloured parcel. "Kev, it looks like you're first up!"

He handed Kevin a parcel, and he read the tag, seeing that it was from Mia. He looked to her with a big grin on his face as he tore it open.

"A watch?" Antonio asked as he saw the box inside. "Wow Mia, that's roman..."

"This is amazing Mia, exactly what I wanted Thank YOU!" Kevin screamed excitedly, kissing her excitedly, before opening up the box and pulling out the watch in question. He looked to it with glee. "It's set by the Atomic Clock!"

"His old one is three seconds slow." Mia told them as he held her tightly, giggling a little. "Do I know my man or what?"

"Whatever floats your boat I guess." Antonio replied with a shrug. Mia pulled a little closer to Kevin.

"I shall just go and fetch my presents to you from my room." Mentor Ji replied as he made his way out of the room. Antonio reached for the next present.

"Alright, next we have Emily." He announced. Emily bounded over, taking her first present and beginning to tear off the paper.

Mentor Ji had gone into his room, and was just pulling out the gifts he had gotten for the Rangers, beginning to put the gifts into a large bag. He hadn't had the chance to wrap them, so this was really the best he could do at such short notice.

He couldn't help being overjoyed that he was home at this time. As time rolled on, and his quest had taken unexpected turns, he was starting to believe that he may be spending his first Christmas by himself. Jayden had been a part of his life since the day he had been born. Being in service to the Shiba Clan, Ji had been there on the day his parents brought him home for the first time. He had seen all the major milestones in his life, and even when his parents were no longer around, he had always been with him. He had always made an effort at Christmas, especially after Jayden's father, his best friend had died.

He made his way back through, finding the others all laughing loudly, the excitement of the occasion overtaking them. They were surrounded by mounds of torn wrapping paper, and discarded boxes as they all opened their gifts. Emily was in the process of hugging Mia in thanks for a scarf she was putting on. Ji just came in with his bag of gifts and put them down, while Antonio was in the corner, working on something with a small toolkit he seemed to have been given. Ji came over and sat with his charges, placing down the bag.

"Ji, this one's for you." Jayden told him, handing him a parcel. He nodded in appreciation, accepting the gift.

"Emily." Mike whispered to his girlfriend as the party continued. She just looked at him. "Emily, it's time for your present."

"OK." She replied, holding out her hand. Mike just shook his head.

"It's outside." He told her, jerking his head in the direction of the door. "Come on."

Emily looked around the others, seeing that they were far too busy with their presents to really notice. She and Mike got up, heading out into the back yard. He led her over to the bench in the yard and sat her down.

"This was where it all began." He told her. "Do you remember?"

"Of course I do." Emily replied with a little smile. "This was where we were sitting after that battle with Negatron. Where I stole that kiss."

"Yeah, that reaction wasn't my crowning moment of awesomeness I'll admit." Mike told her. "Still, that was when I knew for a fact that you liked me as much as I liked you. That was where it all started."

"So, what are we doing out here now?" She asked him. Mike reached under the bench, and pulled out an envelope, handing it to her. Emily just opened it, and looked at the document inside a little blankly.

"I don't understand." She told him. "What does this mean?"

"It's a star deed." He informed her as he reached under the bench again, pulling out a telescope. "I saw a stand at the mall. You see, new stars are being discovered all the time, and it's possible to buy the right to name them."

Emily checked the document again, and had to struggle for breath as she saw what was written under the name. It was both her and Mike's full names. She looked up to where he was setting up the telescope, and starting to adjust it.

"You named a star after us?" She asked him. He looked to her and nodded as he made the last few adjustments for the co-ordinates from the deed. He had memorised them when he set up the surprise.

"Here." He said, beckoning her over. Emily came across and looked through the telescope, marvelling at what she saw.

"That's our star?" She asked him.

"And it'll carry our name forever." He told her. "Just as long as I'll love you."

Emily just held him, kissing him passionately.

"I love it." She told him, parting from him far enough to look into his eyes. "Forever."

"You know it." Mike answered, pulling her in and holding her tightly.

Later in the day, after the residents had all had a chance to get some sleep, Mentor Ji came into the kitchen, finding Mia hard at work on the dinner. Kevin was helping her, or at least he was MEANT to be helping her, instead he seemed to be just standing with his arms around her, occasionally picking at the food.

"Kevin, leave it alone." She complained. "I'm sure the others would like it if there was some food left!"

"I thought Antonio was helping you." Mentor Ji stated.

"He just said he had something to do in the main room." She told him. "He said he was working on something for you."

"Yeah, he took your communicator." Kevin added. Mentor Ji just started to head for the main room. Kevin just reached for the stuffing over Mia's shoulder, only to get his hand smacked away.

"Kevin, I swear to God, steal any more food and I'll break your fingers!" She warned him.

"Have I ever told you that you're cute when you're grumpy?" He asked her sweetly.

"Then I'm about to get downright adorable!" She warned him. "Kevin, if you're not going to help, then just...get out of the way!

"I'll just check on the turkey." He told her.

"Why don't you do that?" Mia replied as he headed for the oven. It still had some way to go, so at least she was sure he wouldn't be stealing any more.

In the main room, Mentor Ji found Antonio working on his communicator with the tool set he had been given by Jayden. He came across, pointing to the communicator.

"Antonio, what are you doing with my communicator?" Mentor Ji demanded.

"I was working on a little something for you." Antonio answered. "To go with your new powers, I just wanted to update your tech to bring you up to speed with the others."

"My tech?" He asked in response. It was then he looked around, realising something else was missing. "Where's my morpher?"

"I integrated it with your communicator." He answered. "It took some tech magic, and a butt load of symbol power..."

"You tampered with my morpher?" Ji asked him incredulously. "Antonio, that was an ancient and powerful..."

"It's done." Antonio told him, throwing the communicator to him. "Here, try it out."

He flipped it open, before trying tracing a simple symbol. Seeing the glowing energy coming from the tip, he smiled. As he cast it forward, a paper clip suddenly straightened out, before tying itself in a knot.

"Now, try morphing." Antonio beckoned him. Mentor Ji just stood in as much open space as he could.

"Go go Samurai!" He called out, casting out his symbol. He morphed instantly into his Ranger form. He turned to Antonio, who just threw up his hands in victory.

"Who's the man?" He called out. "You have new powers, why not have a new morpher? I just brought you into line with the rest of the team. Welcome to the 21st century."

"It is impressive." Mentor Ji replied as he de-morphed. "Thank you Antonio."

"Any time." He replied. As he left, Jayden walked into the room.

"You really are amazing, do you know that?" He stated. Antonio just nodded.

"Of course." He answered. "I liked working on it. It gave me a better idea behind the guy that created the tech. I figured that it might help me with the Black Box."

"Has it?" Jayden asked him.

"I got a few ideas that might help." Antonio told him. "Hopefully I'll have it ready soon."

"You've really been great you know." Jayden replied, looking to him. "Not just with the tech and the fighting. I mean, with...everything else."

"You're welcome." Antonio assured him. Just then, Jayden looked up and noticed something hanging down. It was mistletoe.

Looking to Antonio, even though he was far from through everything the year had thrown at him, he could feel that same feeling in his chest once again, the one that told him that was where he wanted to be. He started to lean forward, at which Antonio started to do the same, meeting him in a long, soft kiss.

"I really can't tell you how important it is that you haven't given up on me." Jayden told him. Antonio just looked back to him and smiled.

"I never would." He replied.

In a corner, just out of sight, Mike was just putting away his morpher after using it to grow the mistletoe into view, and smiled. Emily was beside him, also beaming brightly.

"Do you think they're back together?" She whispered to him.

"I don't know." Mike replied honestly. "But it didn't hurt giving them a nudge in the right direction did it?"

Meanwhile, over in a hospital, in New Zealand, a man walked into the reception area, carrying a box. He stopped at the desk.

He was a tall, quite muscular man, with tanned skin. He was wearing a black Metallica T-shirt, and tight blue jeans. He had long, dark hair, and dark brown eyes. He looked to the receptionist.

"Hello, I'm here to see Jane Doe." He told her. Brad had been the surfer that had found the girl unconscious on the beach. She had no wallet, or any other form of identification, and so for now, she was still considered a Jane Doe.

"Can you be more specific?" She asked him.

"She was found unconscious on a beach a few miles from the mainland." He told her. "I brought her in."

"Ah, I know the one." She told him. "I'm sorry sir, but she is still in a coma. We're not allowed to let anyone into the room but family."

"But no one knows who her family is." He reminded her. "Hell, no one even knows who she is."

"I'm sorry sir, but..."

"Fine, then...please just give her this." He told her, handing over the package. "My cell phone's the emergency contact. Could you call when she wakes up?"

"What's going on here?" A doctor asked as he arrived. The receptionist just looked to him.

"This is the gentleman who brought in the Jane Doe in room 8." She told him. "He wanted to see her, but..."

"Well, normally it isn't allowed, but as long as you are supervised I can't see the harm." The doctor told him. "Just remember, this never happened."

"I understand." Brad replied with a smile as he took the parcel back from the receptionist. The doctor led him down the hall.

"Well, I know it's Boxing Day now, but no one should be alone for the holidays." The doctor replied. "So, what is the girl to you if you don't mind me asking?"

"I just want to know she'll be alright." He said honestly as the doctor took him into the room. There, lying on the bed, was the mysterious stranger that he had never met or spoken to, but that had suddenly become one of the sole thoughts on his mind since he had found her.

She had been cleaned up, and was under the blankets. Were it not for the machines keeping track of her vitals, anyone would have thought she was just sleeping. He came over to her, opening the package and pulling out a light brown teddy bear, with a red ribbon around its neck. He looked to her as he placed it on her bedside table.

"I know it's late, but Merry Christmas." He said gently, placing a hand on her arm. He didn't know why, but despite the way he had found her, he could just tell that she was strong enough to pull through. There was something about her that just told him she had someone out there that needed her. The feeling in his gut told him this was far from the end of her journey.

Fin.