This is a chapter I've been looking forward to writing since the start of the story. Not because I like to make my characters cry or because I enjoy writing season 3 flashbacks, but because I think that Nya needs to apologise to Jay for the love triangle (even if he doesn't want to hear it).

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Chapter 26 (Nya)

Six years ago, Ninjago City, NinjaStar Movie Theatre

"Fear? Fear isn't a word where I come from." The hero on the big screen proclaims dramatically, making me giggle.

I have to admit that I am enjoying this film a lot more than expected. Maybe this date wasn't such a bad idea after all.

And it seems I'm not the only one who thinks so.

"I looove Fritz Donnegan movies." Jay, sitting to my right, excitedly bounces in his seat, and I can't help but smile at his cute enthusiasm.

Yes, my heart definitely tells me that he's the one for me – even if things have been a bit tense since the students found out about us dating. At the same time, however, my mind keeps reminding me that Jay is not my Perfect Match and that I am wasting my time on a relationship that's most likely doomed anyway.

It's actually very unlike me to even consider staying with my boyfriend, for I usually don't see the point in trying anything if there's a chance of failing.

"Samurai in space?" Cole, to my left, questions loudly, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Really? Who writes this baloney?"

Objectively seen, the black Ninja is of course right. This setting is completely unrealistic, and the plot doesn't make much sense at all. Cole's a lot more sensible than the emotional Master of Lightning, no wonder we connect on a deeper level... argh, this is so difficult.

I just don't know what I'm gonna do. Why am I such a mess at the moment?

And I'm not the only one.

In our current 'love triangle', actually neither of the guys tends to act very reasonably either, so I'll better make sure they don't start fighting again, especially not in public.

I open my mouth, about to give them a little warning, when someone else does it for me.

"Could you please be quiet?" A guy in the front row complains.

Oh, this is so embarrassing. This is exactly what I did not want to happen.

But on the plus side, the two former best friends at least listen to him and instead focus their attention on the massive bucket of popcorn in my hands.

Ugh, how can they even eat this stuff? Just the buttery smell is making me feel sick. But as long as they keep quiet while munching, I guess I won't complain...

But of course, the moment of peace and quiet doesn't last very long.

"Ugh!" – "Aah!" They simultaneously exclaim when their hands accidentally touch each other.

"Ssh." Our 'friend' from the front row hisses.

This is the last straw. I admittedly have been rather irritable these days, but these two idiots aren't even trying to make things easy for me.

"Hey, it wasn't my idea to go on a double date to decide between you two." I snap. And a very stupid idea it was. If they keep acting this way, I don't want to be with either of them. "The least you could do is be on your best behaviour."

I slump back in my seat, balancing the popcorn bucket on the tip of my knees, as far away from my nose as possible.

I just can't wait for this date to be over. And I sincerely hope I'm gonna make it through the film without throwing up.

Present Day, Cliff Gordon's mansion

We have just finished our dinner, delicious homemade pizza, when my phone buzzes.

I quickly glance at the caller ID on the display to see it's Lloyd.

In my mind, I use a few words that I would never say out loud in front of my child.

Of course, I am a Ninja, so my duty as a protector of Ninjago has to always come first – sometimes even before my own daughter – but I was really hoping I would not get called to a mission tonight. I'd much rather also spend the rest of the evening here, together with Abby and Jay.

Unfortunately though, evil never rests.

I excuse myself and head to the next room to take the call.

"Hey Lloyd." I say. "What's going on? Where do you need me?"

"Oh, it's all fine." The Green Ninja replies. "There's been a situation in town earlier, but Zane, PIX and I have everything under control, so, unless there's an absolute emergency, you can have the night off if you want."

"Uhm, are you sure?" I try not to sound too excited about the news. Lloyd knows that I usually don't like to be left out from a mission. "We've just finished dinner and Abby's about to go to bed anyway." My little girl has almost fallen asleep into her pizza. "I could be with you in a few minutes..."

"No, it's fine." He declines my offer. "You deserve a break."

We keep talking for a few more minutes, which are filled mostly with Lloyd giving me a brief summary of on what has happened, before I return to the now empty living/dining room. The other two have probably gone upstairs.

And I indeed find them in Abby's room, she is already tucked into her bed, cuddling her teddy and listening to telling her a bedtime story.

"Mummy's gotta leave?" Abby mumbles sleepily.

"No, sweetie." I kiss her forehead. "Uncle Lloyd just called to say that I don't have to work tonight. And he wants me to say goodnight to you for him. Have you brushed your teeth?"

"I have." She nods. "An' gone to the toilet. Imma big girl."

"You are." I smile. "Love you, Abby."

"Love you too, mummy. An' daddy."

As Jay finishes his story – about a smart, funny and very handsome prince who was cursed by an evil two-headed witch; she turned him into a snake, and only his true love's kiss could change him back – I set up the baby monitor he bought this morning, at my request.

Of course, Abby has claimed that she doesn't need a baby monitor anymore, but this is a pretty big house and we wouldn't be able to hear her downstairs otherwise. I just don't want her to get scared in the new environment.

After wishing her goodnight, Jay goes downstairs to clean up the table, while I stay for a bit longer with our daughter, until she is asleep.

I then join Jay in the kitchen. "You need help?"

"No, thanks." He replies, switching on the dishwasher. "I'm more or less done."

I chuckle. "Seems like nobody wants my help tonight. Not that I would mind being off duty."

"What did Lloyd say then?' Jay enquires. "Or is it a secret Ninja mission?"

"It is, but I guess I can tell you anyway. You've probably heard of this biker gang which has been causing trouble all over Ninjago." I explain and he nods. "The police have managed to get some undercover agents with them, so we knew in advance that something was going to happen tonight, just not where and when exactly. Lloyd was out patrolling the city, while the rest of us – minus Cole, Sel and Skylor – just had to be on call. Turned out that the target was Borg Tower, so PIXAL and Zane were already on site as they were spending the evening with her father. And so the two of them plus Lloyd could then easily take out the intruders by themselves and everything is under control now."

"So, any grand plans for your night off?" Jay winks at me. "Do you want me to babysit Abby while you go out clubbing?"

"That's a very tempting offer." I reply laughing. "Unless you have a better suggestion."

"Well, we could simply stay in and watch a movie. Just like old times, you know?"

A much better suggestion indeed.

"Sure." I smile, fondly remembering our movie nights back on the Bounty – even though most of them sooner or later got crashed by our teammates.

"Great." He beams at me. "And if you are not on call anymore, would you like a glass of wine? I got a very nice French red for my birthday which I haven't opened yet."

"Sounds great." I nod. "Yes, please."

"Some popcorn?"

"No thanks." I decline. When I was pregnant, the smell of it would always make me sick, and I haven't been too fond of it ever since.

"Wine but no popcorn." Jay makes a mental note. "Coming soon, milady. Why don't you go ahead and pick a movie while I get everything ready?"

Back in the living room, I scan through the titles of Jay's huge DVD collection. He has a lot of animated movies, quite a few comedy classics, of course the complete Cliff Gordon Edition and... one title suddenly catches my attention. Wait, it this this... My suspicion is confirmed when I take the case from the shelf to look at the front cover.

Starfarer.

The very same movie I saw together with Jay and Cole at the cinema six years ago.

The horrible double date I've desperately been trying to forget...

And it seems that Jay has as well. Even though he used to be a big fan of the franchise, he hasn't watched this particular movie again, for it's the only one still in its original cellophane wrapper.

As I keep staring at the image of Fritz Donnegan, all my memories of that time come rushing back to me. How awfully I've treated both my then-boyfriend and his best friend. How I've even pitted them against each other. How selfish I was and I've never even apologised for it...

"Nya?" A concerned voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I detach my gaze from the case in my hands. Jay is standing in front of me, two wine glasses in his hands and a worried look on his face. "Are you alright?"

Feeling my eyes welling with tears, I shake my head. "I-" My voice cracks and my hand flies my mouth in an attempt to stifle my sob, but to no avail.

Jay carefully sets down the two glasses before he rushes to my side.

"Nya." He says softly, pulling me into a hug. "What's the matter?"

I let go of the DVD and wrap my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest

"I-I am s-sorry." I cry into his shirt.

"Why? What happened?" He questions, gently rubbing my back. "Please, tell me."

I try but all I manage to bring out is "I... am... so... sorry," as violent sobs wrack my body.

"Ssh, don't cry, it's all gonna be fine." He tries to soothe me. "C'mon, let's sit down."

He leads me to the sofa where we sit down, still clinging onto each other.

This is so wrong again. I was the one who's hurt him, and yet, Jay his now comforting me.

"Now, tell me, Nya. Why are you crying?" He asks again, and I eventually calm down enough to speak.

"I-I was so horrible to you."

Jay's brow furrows in confusion. "What are you talking about? You weren't hor-... oh."

He stops mid-sentence when his gaze falls on the DVD case on the floor.

"I-it's okay, really." He is quick to assure me, but the pained expression on his face tells me otherwise.

I shake my throbbing head. "It's not." I insist. "I sh-should have never listened to that stupid machine and..."

"Hey." His cradles my face and gently brushes my tears away with his thumbs. "It's okay. We were a lot younger and more naïve. And it wasn't just you, all three of us were pretty stupid in this whole affair..."

No. I've waited so long to finally be ready to apologise, and I'm not gonna let him take the blame. Even though he and Cole were driving everywhere crazy with their fighting, there's no denying that I started it.

Which is what I tell him. "And... up to a certain point, I kinda enjoyed the attention." I add in a low voice.

It's not something I am particularly proud of, but having two of the hottest and most popular guys of Ninjago fight over me did give my confidence quite a boost. Before it became nothing but annoying that is.

"Well, I certainly didn't enjoy any part of it..." Jay mutters.

I swallow. "I know. It was very selfish of me. I've hurt you so much and I am truly sorry for that. P-please forgive me..."

"I accept your apology, but there's actually nothing for me to forgive." He takes my hand into his and looks right into my eyes. "Nya, I was never upset with you."

Yes, Jay used to love me so much that he couldn't even blame me for the mess that I had caused. So he directed his anger at Cole instead...

"You should have." I state dryly.

"I know." He sighs. "I-I just couldn't... e-even when I thought that you had... ch-chosen C-Cole..."

I squeeze his hand. "But I didn't." I remind him.

He gives me a sad smile. "I really wish I had known that sooner... but still, even if you had picked him, I shouldn't have run away and ignored your letters."

"As you've said earlier, we were all young and foolish back then..." I nudge him.

"Hey, now you're making me feel old." Jay complains.

I giggle. "Well, it's Hallowe'en and we're here at home, minding our child and having a sophisticated glass of wine and a movie rather than going out... that sounds very grown up to me."

"True that." Jay nods.

He gets up to take the two wine glasses from the sideboard. "Here you are." He hands me one of them as he sits down again next to me. "To being older and wiser." He proclaims dramatically.

"To being older and hopefully a little bit less foolish." I correct him, clinking my glass against his. "And to having a nice glass of wine at home."

And nice company. I add in my mind.

"And as for the other bit, have you picked a movie?" Jay enquires.

"Not yet, I was just looking through your DVDs when..." I give a little nod in the direction of the Starfarers DVD still lying on the floor.

"I see..." Jay understands. "What about a sappy romance movie so that you can make fun of me when I start crying halfway though the film?"

"Just like old times?" I smirk.

He nods. "Just like old times."

When we start the film – in the end, we've picked 'Titanic' – I involuntarily lean against Jay, resting my head on his shoulder as he wraps his arms around me.

And it almost feels like old times.