Two years later

~Music cue~

***(Skylor's POV)***

I swirl my feet in my inground backyard swimming pool, feeling the April warmth wrap around me like a dewy fleece. The stress of the day wafts away like the ripples my pedicured toes create in the clear, chlorine-enhanced water.

Healing. Closure. I think I've finally found it. It's taken two years, but breaking off an engagement after your groom suddenly goes bonkers and closes everyone off from his life (and by virtue yours)...that's not easy.

But it was good. Necessary. And I'm better now and ready to focus on others and the greater good of the world. At twenty-two, I'm a millionaire who's sold her crook of a dad's business off and revamped her house into a home for teenaged girls.

It never would've happened if I wouldn't have ended things with Kai.

The late-afternoon sun warms my cheeks. They're just beginning to dot with freckles, signaling the onset of sunshine-weather, pool parties, and a school break. And graduation – three girls from my home will be graduating next month.

The thought causes stress to wriggle its way into my soul again. After those three leave, I'll need to hire more help around New Beginnings, the girl's home I run. They've been instrumental in recruiting girls, covering chores I can't quite finish, and emotionally supporting the others.

And who's around to support me?

I shake off the unwanted, selfish thought and lift my feet from the pool, tugging my knees to my chest. I wish I could just clear my mind for the few minutes I have left out here, but it seems my thoughts are a little unruly today. Kai, the unmet needs around the home, losing three of the people in life who mean the most to me – it's like everything's coming down around me.

I force myself to take a cleansing breath. It's been a while since I've stopped to reassess my mental and emotional state. I really need to take a day off to get coffee with a friend. Or do taxes. Or get my nails done.

And now I'm just stressing all over again.

Sighing, I rise to my feet and pad toward my towel rack. The girls are all eating dinner inside right now, and I know it won't be long before they finish and I'm placed on lifeguard duty for the remainder of the evening. Again, I could really use some extra hands around here.

I just don't know whom I could hire. I don't trust too many people enough to let them around these girls, and most of the friends I do have aren't interested in helping me run New Beginnings. That's part of the reason I'm stretched so thin – the only people I've felt comfortable bringing on are my former counselor and a cook my dad used to keep on. I have two friends who volunteer to help clean whenever they get the time.

Oh, and Cole Brookstone. Since the ninja team split two and a half years ago, he's helped the police and done some private detective work, but he's never really settled anywhere. About six months ago, though, he joined the New Beginnings team as lead of security. We hardly ever have issues with prowlers or the girls sneaking out these days.

Crime has surprisingly been at an all-time low around Ninjago for the past two years, so maybe I shouldn't be so worried about the girls. I can't help but be skeptical, though – Ninjago is sure to have an epidemic of underground crime even if it doesn't appear on the surface. It's always in some kind of trouble.

Especially without the threat of a team of highly trained ninja on your tail.

After the team disbanded and I founded New Beginnings, I offered the team (minus Kai) work around the home. Cole's the only one who accepted. Seliel's finishing high school this year (at twenty years old, thanks to starting school late and failing classes due to team drama). Though she actually lives here with Cole, she's too pressed for time to be of much help. Zane is studying medicine and working with Cyrus Borg and PIXAL for the greater technological good in his spare time. Lloyd's away at college for an undeclared major.

And Jay and Nya – though I don't see much of them, I know their fledgling relationship and scary-fast marriage has blossomed over time. They're now a crime-fighting duo who work with the police and teach self-defense classes when they're not exploring the world over romance and adventure.

Happy couple, happy couple, happy couple...

And then there's me. I like to consider myself an honorary member of the former ninja team. After all, somebody had to pick up Kai's slack.

I don't let myself keep tabs on him for the sake of staying sane, but last I checked, he'd dropped out of the wrestling business and left on some crazy mission to travel the world.

I guess we all have our ways of making it through.

"Skylor?" asks a familiarly sweet voice from in front of me.

I look up from the towel shelf, grabbing one and draping it over my arm. "Hey, PIX. What's up?"

She and Zane are over to cook dinner for the evening so the home's chef can have a night off with his grandkids. Honestly, the talented friends I have save the day more than they realize.

"I brought you a serving of the meal we prepared this evening." She smiles questioningly and holds a paper plate in my direction.

Her thoughtfulness causes a tender smile to tilt my lips. "Thanks, PIXAL. Would you like to join me out here for a few minutes?"

"I would be obliged," she nods, heading toward the poolside seating.

I pull my fuzzy white towel around my dry shoulders and plop down in one plastic chair. "I feel like I missed the chance to talk with you and Zane earlier when you arrived. I was filling out a scholarship recommendation for Maggie." Maggie's one of the graduates this year.

It hurts my heart to remember that. They grow up so fast.

"It's all right," PIXAL reassures me. "Zane and I are fine – better than fine." Her eyes drift down to the glittering amethyst engagement ring on her left hand.

Joy mingled with regret rises in my chest. "Have you set a date for the wedding yet?"

"We'd like to have a small destination celebration in August," she smiles softly, tracing her hand down the purple skirt of her sundress. "And I know you're incredibly busy, but I would still love for you to participate in the wedding as a bridesmaid."

I nod as enthusiastically as I can, my mind calculating. "I'll find a way to help you in the wedding, PIXAL. August marks back to school for the girls, but I could find someone to cover my responsibilities for a few days." I hope.

"I will help locate a suitable stand-in," she says encouragingly. "I have many philanthropic connections through my father's company. I'm sure I could enlist help from some of them as a favor."

My mind races. "Um...thanks for the offer, but..."

There's just one problem, and that's that I can't seem to trust anyone I'm not super close to with the girls. These girls need stability and protection, and the only people who can offer them that are going to be in PIXAL's wedding.

And besides, I have my own philanthropic connections should I ever want use of them. You get around socially when running a girl's home.

"Jay and Nya?" I blurt, my mind putting words to a thought. It's been – what, six or seven months? – since last I saw them. They started some self-defense crusade through Ninjago, and it seems like I haven't had time to keep up with them.

I guess they're not good options for watching the house, anyway – they'll both be in PIXAL's wedding for sure.

"I haven't asked them to participate yet," PIXAL confesses. "But Nya's arriving back in four days from her trip with Jay, and I really didn't want to bother her so soon."

"Four days?" I ask, mentally facepalming. "I completely forgot. How's the homecoming party coming along? I'm sorry I haven't been around to help with that. It's just that – "

"I understand," PIXAL consoles me. "I understand." She places her ringed hand on mine. "You really do need more assistance around the home, Skylor."

"I know," I sigh defeatedly. "I just...don't trust everyone I meet."

She nods sympathetically. "That's a valid fear, Skylor. But do remember that you don't have to search for possible new staff alone. Perhaps I can take a few days off of helping my father and assist you in advertising new positions and facilitating interviews?"

Uncertainty rises in me, but I simultaneously know that PIXAL's analytic mind and sweet nature would be invaluable in selecting new staff. And I can trust her – she's stuck with me through all the drama of the past two and a half years.

So I find myself shaking my head in agreement. "I...could use that."

"Wonderful," she beams. "I'll speak to a few individuals I know who might be interested. Would you like me to put an ad out on Borgslist? Or perhaps I could spread the news through the school, or through – "

But I honestly can't hear a word she says.

Am I really going to entrust the lives of my girls to strangers?

***(Kai's POV)***

There's nothing like the spray of cool ocean in your face as you stand, button-down shirt flapping open in the wind, at the helm of a wooden vessel like the Destiny's Bounty.

Light flashes in my face from multiple directions, but I keep my composure, staring off into the sunset like it'll give me answers I've long foregone seeking.

"And...cut!" my agent shouts. "Great job, everyone! It's been a pleasure working with you the past nine months, and I say we spend the rest of our last night at sea enjoying ourselves."

I break my pose, joining the camera crew around me in applause. I've spent almost a full year on a modeling gig for a travel agency, and it honestly hasn't been the worst employment I've ever held.

That would've been hiring myself out to a party-planning agency. I ended up running kids' birthday games, and that led to the human piñata fiasco.

Don't ask.

"Smith!" my agent calls, waving toward me.

I snap to attention. "Sir."

He jerks his head toward the deck. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

I nod, already running our looming conversation through my mind. He most likely wants to talk to me about future contracts or upcoming job opportunities.

I'll refuse whatever he has for me.

I rake a hand through my styled hair and can't help but feel sick. I had thought nine months of traveling would give me much-needed closure about the breakup of my team. And the breakup with my fiancée.

In the end, though, I didn't find closure. I grew up instead.

And I have guilt a mile high.

I shake off my melancholy, shove my hands in the pockets of my khakis, and join my agent at the deck railing. "What's up?"

"Your ratings, that's what," he grins, excitement glittering in his eyes. "The producers at the travel agency love the shots we've been getting on this excursion, Smith. Get this – they want you to be the face of the company."

My mind goes blank at that.

Face...of...the company?

"Like...like the mascot?" I swallow hard, blinking rapidly.

I'm actually wanted for something?

He nods enthusiastically. "Precisely. We're talking not only photoshoots like these, but commercials, Borgtube ads, cereal boxes, magazine covers!" He barks out a triumphant laugh, slinging an arm around my shoulders and spreading his fingers across the sky.

My heart drops in my chest, and I stare out toward the setting sun.

I told myself I'd refuse any more offers the agency had for me. I promised.

But there are no guarantees that I'll have any work when I get back home, and the fact that I'm obviously established and appreciated here...

My agent snickers and slaps me on the back. "Cat's got your tongue at that offer, eh?"

"Something like that." I release a heavy breath, rubbing my palms over my khakis. "Just...wow."

"I know, right?" he enthuses. "I'll set up a meeting with the producers tomorrow night. We'll sign a contract, and then you'll be on billboards and own the company slogan and be the face of luxury." He gives me a toothy grin.

"I...guess that sounds great." Hollowly, I step away from him and toward the staircase leading below deck.

"Where are you off to?" my agent cackles. "Come celebrate! Let's pop champagne and – "

"Not...not right now, okay?" I wave him off. Taking the railing of the stairs in hand, I descend onto the lower deck before he can protest.

What am I supposed to do now?