Chapter 31 (Nya)

One and a half years ago (set after the FB scene from chapter 9), Temple of Airjitzu

"She is gorgeous, Nya." My mum is unable to detach her gaze from my sound asleep daughter. Following our return to the Temple (and the obligatory nighttime snack), most of our teammates, including Skylor, retreated to their bedrooms, leaving Kai and myself (plus a four-year-old who refused to go back to her own bed) alone with our parents in the living room.

Mum and I share the sofa, Abby is curled up between us, her head resting on her grandmother's lap, and snoring lightly. Dad and Kai occupy the two armchairs flanking us.

Mum sighs. "I still can't believe that our little daughter is a grown-up woman who already has a child of her own."

"Our only twenty-one-year-old and single daughter." My dad adds sternly. "While our son is married – to the daughter of one of our biggest enemies..."

"My wife may be Chen's daughter, but she is also an Elemental Master and has chosen to be on our side." Kai reminds him harshly, causing Abby to stir in her sleep. "You have absolutely no idea what Skylor has been through, so don't you dare judging her by who her father is."

"You are right, darling, we don't know." Mum appeases her irate son. "So why don't you tell us? Like how and when did you two meet each other?"

"We first met almost four and a half years ago, during Master Chen's Tournament of Elements." Kai and I take turns as we recount the story of how Chen kidnapped me and used me as bait to lure the guys to his island, in order to take their powers.

"At that time, Skylor was still working for her father, until she found out that Chen was planning on taking my daughter's powers as well. She had never wanted to cause any harm to my unborn child, so she helped me escape and reunite with my team." I tell them. "I've made her Abby's godmother."

"She definitely deserves it." Mum affectionately strokes my daughter's tousled hair. "So, Abby's got our Element then?"

"No." I shake my head. "At that time, I didn't even know that I was the next Master of Water. She has... her father's powers."

"Her father is an Elemental Master as well?" Dad questions.

"He used to be a member of our team." I answer. "He left when we broke up – before I found out I was pregnant. I haven't seen or heard from him since then."

I really don't feel like telling the whole story tonight, and luckily, my parents don't ask for it.

"What is her Element?" Mum wants to know instead.

I swallow. "L-Lightning."

"Lightning?" Mum's eyes light up. "It must be Libby's son then. I remember that she and Cliff had a little boy."

"Would make sense." Dad mutters. "Sound like he's just as irresponsible as his mother."

"Ray." Mum cautions him.

"Libby? Cliff?" I wonder. "No, his parents are called Ed and Edna Walker. They're lovely." I still miss them a lot. They used to treat me just like their own daughter back when Jay and I were dating. "They used to help us out once in a while."

"What do they do?"

"They run a junkyard in the Sea of Sand."
"A junkyard?" Dad's interest has been piqued. "In the Sea of Sands? There can't be many of those..."

"Dad." I gasp. "Don't tell me you are thinking of confronting my ex-boyfriend's parents!"

"Of course not. I am just looking for a place to get rid of all that scrap metal from the swamp..."

"Promise me that you are not going to see the Walkers." I insist. If Jay doesn't want us to be part of his or their lives anymore, we'll have to respect his decision.

My father's features soften. "Alright, sweetheart. But..."

"Ray, honey." Mum interrupts him. "We really don't have to solve everything tonight. And I for one would love to hear the rest of our son's story now. So, when did you and Skylor become a couple?"

I flash my mother a grateful smile as Kai answers.

"I've had a crush on Skylor pretty much since the moment I met her." He admits. "But we didn't start dating until much, much later. She didn't even join the team right away. And then there were still quite a few obstacles to overcome – our responsibilities, her past, my reputation-"

"Kai used to be a bit of a flirt." I chime in. And that's rather mildly put. Who would have guessed that, between the two of us, my brother would end up being happily married while I'm the one with an illegitimate child.

"I guess I was." Kai blushes. "Anyway, even though she did like me back, Skylor was hesitant for us to be more than friends. But then... she got injured during a mission and she... almost died." He swallows. "It took almost losing her before she was finally ready to give us a try." He wipes his eyes.

My mum reaches out for his hand. "But in the end, you didn't lose her, right?"

That's actually not entirely true. Skylor didn't just 'almost' die – I will never forget the image of her lying in my brother's arms and, slowly succumbing to the effects of a deadly venom, whispering to Kai that she loved him and how she wished she had told him sooner – but when this timeline got erased through her dying wish, only the three of us were able to remember. And we prefer to keep it that way.

"Of course." Kai therefore says, straightening up. "And we've been together for two and a half years now, married for the best seven months of my life."

"I can see how much you love her." Our mother smiles at him. "We are definitely looking forward to getting to know our wonderful daughter-in-law better. And our adorable granddaughter, of course. Aren't we, Ray?" She shoots a stern look at our father.

Dad has no choice but to agree. "Of course, my love." He flashes her a little smile. "After all, they are part of our family now."

Dad then adds in a low voice. "Unlike certain other people."

Present day, Ristorante 'Toscana'

"Hurry up." Abby impatiently pulls at my hand, trying to make me go faster. "We're going to see granny and grandpa." She grins at Jay who has fallen behind. "You too, daddy. Aren't you excited to meet them?"

"Sure." He forces a little smile and quickens his pace to catch up with us.

I know he's everything but excited to finally face my parents, especially my dad, but we've been putting this meeting off for long enough now, so I grasp his hand with my free one and give it a reassuring squeeze.

"It will be fine." I whisper, probably just as much to myself as to Jay.

"I hope so." He replies in an equally low, but clearly more nervous, voice.

"I know so." I insist. "My father wouldn't say or do anything to you that might upset his beloved granddaughter."

Although he may still be struggling with the fact that I became a then-single mother at only seventeen, Dad simply adores Abby.

"That's true." Jay chuckles. "I got used to you saving my butt years ago when we were fighting the Serpentine, and now I'm hiding behind a five-year-old... but I'm glad Abby's getting along so well with all her grandparents."

I snort. "Getting along is such an understatement. She's got Mum and Dad wrapped around her little finger." I let go of his hand to nudge him. "Just like her dad."

"Yeah..." Jay sheepishly rubs his neck. "I guess she does."

I laugh. "You've always been the cutest when you are embarrassed." I say. "Now, c'mon. You don't want to make Abby wait, do you?"

We enter the restaurant to find my parents already there, engaged in a conversation with Michele, the owner.

"Granny, grandpa." Abby flies into their open arms.

"Sweetheart." Mum bends down to kiss her cheek. "Have you grown again since I last saw you? And look at you, you're getting prettier by the day."

"Thank you." Abby beams at her. "You're very pretty too, grandma. I like your dress."

"Charming as ever." Mum laughs. "But my dress is definitely not as lovely as your outfit. Is it new?"

"It is." I confirm. "You are absolutely right about her having grown again..."

"Nya, darling." Mum lets go of Abby to hug me. "So good to see you." She then smiles brightly at the man behind me. "And Jay, I'm so happy to finally meet you."

"Uhm..." Jay blushes. "The-the pleasure is all mine, M-Mrs Smith."

My mother ignores his outstretched hand and pulls him into her arms. "Please, call me Maya. And my husband-" She points at my Dad. "-is Ray."

"O-okay, Maya." Jay nods. "I-it's nice to meet you, Ray."

"Yes, very nice, Jay." The two men awkwardly shake hands.

"I'm hung'y." Abby whines, clearly she isn't used to not being the centre of her grandparents' attention. "Can we eat now?"

"Of course." Mum laughs, so Michele leads us to our table. As always, the small restaurant is very busy this Sunday noon, so I have asked to be seated in a quiet, slightly secluded corner.

Dad pulls out the chair for my mother while Jay does the same for me.

"Thanks." I flash him a little smile. Six years ago, I undoubtedly would have gotten mad at him for this, but I have come to appreciate these kind of gestures.

"Me too." Abby demands and her father complies.

"Con piacere, Signorina." Jay winks at her.

"Grazie, Daddy." Abby grins as she sits down between my mother and I. Jay then takes his seat to my other side – and next to my Dad. He takes a sip from his water before he opens his menu.

I notice that he's the only one to do so; the rest of us have been here so many times before that we already know it by heart.

I don't want him to feel 'left out' though so, ignoring the frown on my hungry daughter's face, I open mine as well and pretend to study today's special.

"What would you like to eat, sweetie?" Mum asks the girl in her brand new clothes.

No spaghetti. I plea silently. No spaghetti.

"I want pizza." She demands, much to my relief. "With olives." She bats her eyelashes. "Per favore."

"What are you having?" Jay asks me. "I just can't decide, everything sounds amazing..."

"It all is amazing." I say. "But the homemade pasta is by far my favourite; I'm having the mezzelune with pear and pecorino today."

Jay eventually decides on the Lasagne al Forno, Mum orders cannelloni with ricotta and spinach, and Dad has chosen Saltimbocca alla Romana.

As expected, our food is delicious, and - this is the more surprising bit - the atmosphere at our table is rather relaxed. By some kind of silent agreement, we carefully avoid discussing any more serious topic – namely Jay and I's past relationship and its consequences – during our meal and rather let Abby take over the conversation. Not that she would mind though, my daughter is more than happy to update her grandparents on her latest 'academic achievements'.

"We did a new sound this week, the long 'ee' – like in bee and sheep and tree." She is happily chatting along. "And we're makin' decorations for Christmas – but it's a su'pwise." At this, she temporarily pauses her narration to take a huge bite from her pizza.

"It's wonderful that you're having such a great time at school." Mum remarks. "And are you still sitting next to Olivia?"

"Mmh." Abby nods, currently unable to speak with her mouth full. So my mother turns to my boyfriend instead. "Jay, I've heard that you work at the same school, don't you?" She asks politely.

"Y-yes." He confirms. "I teach PE and STEM subjects for Primary School."

"An' my Daddy fixes eve'ything that's bwoken." Abby pipes up again. "Just like Mummy does at home."

Laughing, I ruffle her hair. "And who breaks all the things at home?"

"Dunno." Abby mumbles, plucking an olive from her pizza and looking at it with great interest.

"But I know who once broke a whole case of light bulbs." Jay smirks.

Abby looks up. "Who?" She wants to know.

"It was your Uncle Lloyd."

"Oh, I remember that." I laugh. "You were teaching him to control his Lightning powers. He was such a little brat..."

He joins in. "Yeah, I can't say that my first adventure in teaching was a particularly successful one."

And neither was the second... I'm pretty sure though that we've now finally left that time at Sensei Wu's Academy behind us.

"But I really enjoy being a teacher these days." Jay concludes.

And I've actually started to enjoy this family lunch: I am spending time with four of the most important people in my life together, and everyone seems to be getting along fairly well so far. Let's just hope I haven't jinxed it...

"My Daddy is the bestest teacher ever." Abby proclaims. "An' Miss Kathy."

Jay blushes "Thanks, Abby. Yeah, I guess I am a lot better now at it than I used to be – not that this was very difficult..."

And he is a lot more modest too. Well, overall he's simply a lot more grown up. And it certainly looks great on him.

I feel my face heat up as I watch my handsome boyfriend smile at our daughter. "And I'm honoured to share the title with Katherine."

"Yes, Miss Katherine is lovely." Mum states. She and Dad briefly met the kindergarten teacher on my daughter's first day at school. And, no surprise here, they've also heard quite a bit about her from Abby.

"She an' my Daddy are good friends."

My Dad suspiciously raises his eyebrow. "Good friends?" He challenges.

But Jay hold his gaze. "Very good friend. Kath is like a younger sister to me." He explains to remove any doubts my parents might have about their relationship.

Yet, my father is not impressed at all. "You know, my son always refers to you as as his honorary brother." He snarls. "And he even trusted you with his younger sister..."

"Ray." – "Dad." Mum and I exclaim simultaneously, while Abby just stares at him, her blue eyes wide open and visibly upset.

"Grandpa?" She eventually breaks the silence. "Why don't you like my Daddy?"