Apologies for not updating anything in like a week, I just didn't feel like writing... also, please check out my new 'Opinions' book 😊!

Cole was the most requested POV for this chapter.

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Chapter 14 (Cole)

Six years ago, the day of Zane's funeral, Sensei Wu's Academy

"Kai." I call out to my fiery brother as I kick open the main door leading inside the school building. "Where are you?"

"I'm here." Kai's voice answers from the upper floor where our bedrooms are located. "Is everything alright?"

"Can you please come down?" I demand, glancing at the pale and crying girl I am carrying in my arms. "Nya's not doing well."

Hearing Kai's footsteps quickly coming down the stairs, I enter the teacher's lounge and gently lay the female Samurai down on one of the sofas. These are not the most comfortable pieces of furniture in the history of Ninjago but will have to do for now.

While I am getting a glass of water for Nya, Kai bursts into the room. "What's the matter, sis?" He asks worriedly. "Are you sick again?"

Assisted by her brother, Nya carefully sits up so that Kai can sit down next to her. He protectively wraps his arm around her as she rests her head on his shoulder.

"H-h-he's g-gone." Nya sobs.

"I know sis." Kai comfortingly rubs her arm. "And I miss him too. But we should never forget that Zane has sacrificed himself for us, and he'd want us to stay strong and keep fighting."

"I-I'm n-not t-t..." Her voice breaks as new tears come streaming down her cheeks.

"She wasn't talking about Zane." I inform the Master of Fire. "Jay just left."

"Yeah, he's visiting his parents for a couple of days." Kai says. "To be fair, it might be good for all of us – and especially you, sis – not to have this constant arguing around for a while, it's just adding to all the stress we've been through."

I know exactly that this last remark was also aimed at my direction. And it's true. Jay and I have been acting like two spoiled brats fighting over Nya like a toy. And just when I thought that we could finally put things behind us, things got even worse.

I explain to Kai what has just happened outside the school, including Nya vomiting into the flower bed following Jay's departure - and our worry that he might not return here after his break.

"So, you've finally made up your mind?" Kai looks relieved. "And this time you're absolutely sure about it?"

"Y-yes." Nya nods. "I-I g-gotta talk to h-him." She tries to stand up, but Kai holds her back.

"No, you've got to rest." The Master of Fire insists. "Cole and I will go to the junkyard and explain everything to him."

"We can take Zane's Ninja-Copter." I suggest. "But it's been a long day, and after all that's happened, we should probably give Jay some time alone with his parents."

"B-but..."

"Cole is right." Kai agrees with me. "I promise, we'll go first thing tomorrow morning." 

"O-okay." The Samurai reluctantly agrees. Of course, she'd rather go herself and right away, but it's two against one, and Kai can be just as stubborn as Nya is herself.

"I promise." I echo. "We'll find Jay, and we'll bring him home."

Present day, Temple of Airjitzu

As I am on the sofa, flanked on either side by Luke and Sylvie who are watching a cartoon, I can hear my friends entering the building. They briefly keep talking with Lloyd in the hall, before Jay, Nya and Abby take the stairs to the first floor while the Green Ninja stays downstairs.

I can't wait to see my old friend and finally introduce him to my wonderful family, but I understand that right now, his own family has to come first.

Abby has been very excited to show her room to her father. Yesterday, she has spent the whole evening tidying up – a very rare occurrence – and this morning, she even insisted on arranging her huge collection of soft toys on the bed.

It makes me very happy to see them get along so well. 

Luckily, the girl takes very much after Jay and is not as stubborn as her mother or uncle (although the Master of Lightning has undeniably been the most stubborn of us all these last six years, refusing any contact with his former team) so it has taken the child only a very short time to accept him as her dad.

On the other hand, it must have been hard for Nya to have Abby constantly reminding her of her ex-boyfriend – it certainly was difficult enough for the rest of us! – especially with a few other, more complete families around here now.

Seliel and I met again about five and a half years ago, at a party to celebrate the defeat of Master Chen and his Anacondrai cultists. It turned out that one of the Elemental Masters, Ash, is a good friend of hers, he had even helped her develop the smoke grenades used by the Phantom Ninja and had invited her to the party.

We have been married for almost three years now, and our wonderful children are two and a half. Sure, the twins can be quite a handful (or two), but we just couldn't be happier.

Of course, we're also Abigail's honorary aunt and uncle. As I told Nya many years ago when we found out about her being Samurai X – and then again during our conversation on the day of Zane's funeral – she is very much like a sister to me. 

I also made a promise to her that day, right after Jay had left, and it has taken six years to actually fulfil it.

Although the blue Ninja has not returned to the team, at least we have Jay back in our lives. And from what I've heard of their conversations, he seems interested in catching up on our new abilities. I just hope that working with young children has made him a less impatient person.

After what feels like an eternity - which means a lot coming from a patient person like me – he, Nya and Abby finally come back down the stairs.

"You've got to excuse me, I'll be back in a minute." I tell my children as I untangle myself from the four small arms and legs wrapped around me, before I get up to also welcome my old friend to our home.

I find him in the kitchen where he is talking to Lloyd again, Abby is right next to him, clinging to his arm and grinning widely. Nya is standing a bit to the side. She probably still has to get used to suddenly having to share her daughter with someone who has just turned up again after such a long time.

"Uncle Cole." Abby beams at me as she sees me coming into the hall. "Look, my dad's here." She announces proudly.

"Yeah, I see that, that's really great." I smile back at her. "Would you share him with the rest of us for just a bit? If your mum's okay with it, you can watch some cartoons with Luke and Sylvie in the meantime."

"Yay." Abby exclaims as Nya nods approvingly. "Maybe daddy wants to watch too?"

"Oh, sure. I looove cartoons." He replies. "But maybe you can go ahead, and we'll be with you in a moment."

"Okay." Abby skips to the main room.

"Hi." I give Jay a quick manly hug. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah." He nods. "Just had my first experience of Cyclon-Do." He must have heard that word from Abby.

"Ugh." I pat him on the back. "How was it?"

Honestly, even just thinking about my own first few go's at Airjitzu makes me already feel slightly nauseous.

"It was very... interesting." Jay smirks. "At least I didn't get sick. Unlike other people, as I've heard."

Bastard.

"It's really great to see you too." I say sarcastically.

"Jay was asking if we could teach him Airjitzu and how to unlock his Elemental Dragon." Lloyd chimes in. "We still need you, Kai and Zane to approve, but I see no reason why not."

"That's fine with me." I say. "Especially if that means you'll have to come over regularly."

"Oh, you'll have to ban me from here if you want to get rid of me again." He smiles happily.

"Shall we join the kids and continue our conversation in the living room?" I suggest.

"Before you came, I was working in the lab with Sel." Nya explains. "I'll quickly go help her finish up and then we'll be with you as well."

"Kai and Zane are in the training hall, I'll get them as well." Lloyd says, so it is only me and Jay who, after taking a glass of water each as well as some juice cartons for the kids, head to the sitting room where we find Abby curled up on a beanbag, her eyes glued to the telly, while the twins have lost interest in the program and are chasing each other around the table.

But as soon as we put the drinks on the table and sit down on the empty sofa, my children come over to us.

"Jay, meet the twins – or the terrible two's as Lloyd likes to call them – and joint future Masters of Earth, Luke and Sylvie." I tell him as I lift my son and daughter onto the sofa with us. "Kids, this is uncle Jay. He's Abby's dad."

Sylvie shakes her head. "Abby's no daddy." She states matter-of-factly.

I hope that my niece hasn't heard this, but luckily, she is completely absorbed in the program, just occasionally turning her head and glancing at us to make sure Jay is still around.

"Oh, she does." I explain. "He just wasn't here."

My children have never been shy, so Luke climbs onto Jay's lap. "Wheels onne bus." He requests, much to my friend's confusion.

"Me tooooo." Sylvie demands. I put her on my lap and start singing. Jay copies my movements, luckily it's not the most complicated activity, especially for someone who has mastered Sensei Wu' training course.

After three repeats, the twins finally go back to watching their show, not at all bothered that by now, they've missed about half of the episode.

"Phew." Jay says. "This is hard work."

"Consider this as part of your training." I laugh. "Mr Jay."

"I am not used to children of this size." He states. "Even Abby is younger than the kids I normally teach. I hope I won't mess up with her." He chuckles sadly. "Well, at least not more than I already have."

"You're doing really well so far, Abby likes you a lot and is very happy to have you as her dad. And as for Nya... all three of us were responsible for what happened six years ago." I tell him. "And I'm sorry for it, I really shouldn't have gone after your girlfriend."

"And I am sorry I overreacted and didn't trust my best friend." Jay says in a low voice. "I really hope that at least we can put this behind us."

I can see that they are trying to get along, for Abby's sake, but I can't help but wonder if Nya has ever apologised to him, as she did to me (and vice versa).

I know that she was going to before Jay left, but that just didn't happen, so now I just hope she's not trying to simply gloss over what happened between the two of them. No matter how difficult the whole situation has turned out for her, Nya still was the one who started – and to some extend enjoyed, as she admitted to me – the love triangle.

"I also wanted to say thanks for helping take care of Abby." Jay adds. "I've heard from Nya how much you and the others have done."

"Ah, not at all." I say. "She's a great girl."

"Yeah, she is." Jay smiles. "And she has a great family."

That's very true. We are a rather strange but wonderful big family here. And I think it has just become even better.