Aaand here's another update! Pretty much everyone seemed rather mad at Ray after the last chapter, so I didn't want to make you wait too long for the next part.

At just about 2K, it is a wee bit shorter than average, to wrap up this little subplot.

And yes, it's in Nya POV again, but I promise that the next chapter will have a different one (it will even be a 'new' one that we haven't seen in this book before!) 😊.

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Chapter 32 (Nya)

Five and a half years ago, Ninjago City Hospital

"Congratulations, Nya." The midwife smiles at me as she places the relaxed infant onto my stomach and covers her with a soft towel. "She is very healthy – and very beautiful if I may say so. I'll give you some time now, to get acquainted with each other, but if you need any help, you can just call me."

Directing my gaze towards my new daughter – my daughter! – I feel an immense rush of love for this absolutely perfect (although objectively she looks rather squashed and wrinkly right now) tiny person.

Despite being utterly exhausted, sore and in desperate need of a shower, I don't think I have ever felt happier in my life. I just wish that Jay was here with us...

But he isn't here. And I'm not going to let his absence ruin this moment for me, so I'll rather focus on the person who is – who has always been there for me.

"Thank you, Kai." I turn my head to smile at my brother who has taken a few steps to the back back and is quietly watching us from a little distance. "For supporting me through this whole ordeal. And-" I blush. "I'm sorry for screaming and shouting at you."

"You're welcome, sis." He returns the smile as carefully walks back towards us. "And don't worry. I'm a Ninja, I can take a lot more than those few little insults. Also, I know you didn't really mean it; you've made it quite clear that your anger wasn't actually directed at me."

That's true, I remember frequently yelling at the (absent) 'bastard who did this to me'.

"Still, I can't imagine having to go through all this with me was the most pleasant experience for you. It surely must have set your own plans back a few years." I wink at him.

"I don't think that's much of a problem." My brother sighs. "The only woman I could ever see myself having a family with has made it painfully clear that she isn't interested at all."

"C'mon, that's not true." I protest. "I'm absolutely sure that Skylor does like you. She just has to first put her own life in order before even considering a relationship with someone else." I look at him. "I know that patience isn't one of your strengths, but if you really want to be with her, you'll have to give her more time. And don't give up, okay?"

"I won't." He promises.

"Good." I say. "Now, come and admire your new niece."

"No problem with that. She is beautiful, just like her mother." He places a kiss on my damp hair. "I'm proud of you, little sis. Does she have a name?" He then enquires.

"She-she does." I reply. I haven't told anyone, but I've known her name since the moment that I found out I was having a girl. "Kai, meet Abigail Jayne Smith." I formally introduce them. "Abby, this is your uncle Kai."

"Hey Abby." Kai gently strokes her face with his finger. "Welcome to the family. You're gonna have a lot of aunts and uncles, but I'm gonna be your favourite, okay?"

"Your uncle Kai has always taken good care of me." I whisper to the rather unimpressed little girl. "And we're all going to take good care of you."

Present day, Ristorante 'Toscana'

"Grandpa? Why don't you like my Daddy?"

Needless to say, the rest of the meal was spent in awkward silence.

Despite a profound apology from my father (and to Abby only) as well as his not entirely convincing assurance that, of course, he doesn't dislike Jay, nobody really felt like talking anymore afterwards. For the first time since Kai and I had discovered this place, I simply couldn't wait until we would finally get out of there.

It didn't take long though, for Dad's outburst and the tense atmosphere that followed had made all five of us lose our appetite.

Even Abby was unusually quiet and more focused on stirring her half-melted ice cream with her little plastic spoon than on actually eating it.

As we finally step outside, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, inhaling the crisp and dry winter air. Calm down. I tell myself.

"Nya..." Dad starts. "I-"

"There's a park right across the street that has a nice little playground." I interrupt him, not very calmly at all. "Abby loves it, and I don't want to take her home like this, so we are going there now." I say, referring to my daughter, my boyfriend and myself.

"And we are coming with you." My mother states. "We've driven all the way from Ignacia to spend a nice Sunday with our daughter and her family." She shoots a glare at my father. "And this hasn't really happened so far..."

As soon as we arrive at the playground, Abby's mood changes instantly and she happily zooms off to the swings. Unsurprisingly, Jay volunteers to push her, while my parents and I sit down on a wooden bench to watch them.

"Jay is very good with her." Mum remarks, when we hear Abby squeal with delight as she soars through the air. "It's so nice to see them get along this well."

"It is." I glance at my Dad. "Just because he wasn't always there for her before, doesn't mean he can' be a good father now."

My Mum immediately understands that I'm not just talking about Jay here. "I bet he would do about anything for his little girl..." She adds.

"He obviously loves her very much." Dad mumbles.

I lean against him. "And she loves him too."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart." Dad apologises, putting his arm around me. "I-I just lost my temper earlier. But I never meant to upset you. And especially not Abby..."

"I know that." I say. "But I don't think you should be apologising to me..."

He blushes. "I guess so." He sighs. "Jay does seem to be a very nice young man, and I can see how much he cares about your daughter, but I just... want to protect my family. How can I trust him after what he's done to you?"

"Because I trust him." I state. "I promise, you don't have to worry that he's gonna abandon us again, that's just not gonna happen. Jay is really serious about this whole parenting thing. Why else would he want to redecorate one of the guest rooms at his house and turn it into a bedroom just for Abby, as her Christmas present?"

I chuckle. "And then there's Ed and Edna. If Jay ever tried to turn his back on their granddaughter again, he'd be in a lot of trouble with them."

He gives me a weak smile. "I like them."

"They are great. And I hope that at some point you'll like their son as well. What happened six years ago wasn't just his fault." I continue. "I made my fair share of mistakes. Jay was heartbroken when he thought that I had chosen his best friend over him, and he felt betrayed by both of us."

"That's still no reason to just run away and ignore all your letters."

"That's a very good reason, I can understand Jay's reaction quite well." My mother comes to my boyfriend's defence. "If you had left me for my best friend back when we were first dating, there's a good chance I would have done the same."

"Maya, love." Looking into my mother's eyes, Dad takes her hand into his. "That could never have happened. I would never cheat on you, and most certainly not with that annoying blonde blabbermouth..."

I think I have an idea who he is referring to.

Mum gives him a loving smile. "I know that, my dear. But-"

"But Jay didn't." I finish for her. "After what I had done to him, he didn't have any reason to trust me anymore, and not the other way 'round."

"Yet, when he was gone, you still who had to live with the consequences." Dad reminds me. "You were way too young to... well, you know..." His voice trails off.

"To do what?" I raise my eyebrows. "You mean to have sex?" I ask and he nods.

"Yes, I guess we were." I agree. "Just as we were too young to be teachers, to pilot flying ships, or to fight against Serpentine or Nindroids and save Ninjago over and over again... but we did all that – still do. And when you have all these responsibilities, you simply don't think about your actual age."

"And when you face death on a regular basis, you start to live more for the moment..." My dad adds understandingly, well acquainted with the dangerous life of an Elemental Warrior himself.

"You do." I confirm. "And it may not have been the smartest thing to do back then, but I wouldn't change a thing. It's a mistake I'm very happy to have made."

"So are we, sweetheart." Mum says.

"Can't really argue with that." Dad admits begrudgingly, his gaze shifting to his granddaughter who has abandoned the swing a while ago and is now proudly waving at us from the very top of a climbing frame.

"She looks better now, right?"

"She will be fine, don't worry." I assure him. "You know Abby, she's a very happy and very positive person. Very much like her father." I just can't refrain from adding. Although right now, Jay looks rather worried, he is standing just below our daughter with his arms wide open, to catch her just in case she should fall.

"But what would definitely help is for her to see her daddy and her grandpa getting along..."

"And I'll try my best." Dad promises. He sighs as he stands up, straightening his shirt. "I guess I'm gonna see if Jay could use my help. Two people watching her is probably safer than one."

"Don't worry about them, sweetie." Mum scoots closer and wraps her arms around me. "Your Dad can be a bit hot-headed sometimes, but he simply wants what's best for you and Abby."

"What he thinks is best for us." I correct her, my gaze fixed at the two men who are awkwardly standing next to each other. But at least they seem to be talking to each other, without arguing. "That's not always the same."

Mum laughs. "Have I mentioned he's also extremely stubborn? But he will come around eventually. You've done your part, now give him a bit more time..."

"Do I have a choice?" Like my brother, I'm not the most patient person. "It's just hard to see people I care so much about fight with each other. And even more difficult to know that it's about me..."

If only I had seen it this way six years ago instead of actually enjoying it.

My mother glances at me. "You love him very much, don't you?"

Feeling my face heat up, I turn my head away. "O-of course, I do." I splutter. "I-I mean, he's my father, and even though I'm still a bit upset about what he said..."

"I'm not talking about your father, Nya."

I slowly turn my head back. "H-how can you tell?" I demand.

"From the way you've just talked about Jay – defended him against your father." She replies. "Although I'd already suspected it earlier, just from those little glances and smiles you were giving each other." She gently brushes a stand of hair out of my face. "You look happy, sweetheart."

"I am happy. But also... a bit nervous." I tell her. "Are we that obvious?"

"No, you aren't." Mum shakes her head. "Not to anyone else, at least. I can just read you very well, seeing a lot of myself in you. But I don't think Ray suspects a thing."

"Are you going to tell him?" I ask, slightly worried.

"Most definitely not." She laughs. "That's something you'll have to do yourself - whenever you are ready for it. And your father may be a strong man, but even as a former Elemental Master and protector of Ninjago, that kind of news might still be a bit too much for him to take today."