I'd never thought I'd ever make it to 40 chapters - and we're far from finished yet! 

In this chapter (one of the longer ones, yay!), we're gonna see Katherine meet the 'mums' 😉. Amy4Walker and myself were quite surprised (and very happy) to see how many people have requested her POV - she has 'won' the poll by quite a margin. (To those who voted for Nya, her POV will come in the next part!)

The flashback scene continues from chapter 37.

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Chapter 40 (Katherine)

One year ago, 23rd December 2017, Cliff Gordon's mansion

Soft knocking on the door wakes up me from my sleep. I blink, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, when the door slowly opens and Jay peeks inside. "Kath? Are you okay?" he asks in a slightly worried tone. "Uhm, ca-can I come in?"

"Yes, come in. I'm good," I mumble in reply. "Guess I've fallen asleep... I'm sorry."

"No need to apologise," Jay smiles at me as he steps inside. "You're supposed to get plenty of rest." He chuckles. "And it means that you must have been really exhausted if you didn't even hear my parents arrive..."

No, this actually means I've completely overslept. What a great first impression I have made on Jay's parents.

"I just wanted to check if you're alright. And if you would like anything?" My friend continues. "My mum has brought some homemade cake. I'm telling you, you don't want to miss that."

No, I really don't. And, now that I think about it, I haven't eaten anything since breakfast, still at the hospital...

"I'll be downstairs in a minute." I reply hastily, pushing myself up – and immediately regretting it when my head starts spinning. And I really have to remember not too put too much – or any – weight on my sprained wrist. "Ugh..." I groan.

"Careful, Kath." Jay immediately rushes to my side to catch me. "Remember, you need to take it slowly for a while. My parents – and the cake – can wait for a few more minutes."

And it does indeed take a few minutes before I am actually able to stand up and, on rather unsteady feel, go to freshen up in the en-suite bathroom.

As I brush my teeth and, very carefully, wash my face with a soft cloth, I try my hardest not to look at the mirror above the sink  – I don't need a reminder of what has happened – but I have no choice than to face reality (aka my reflection) when my comb gets stuck in my tousled hair.

The left side of my face is badly bruised, and the pure white dressing which covers the stitches on my left temple provides a stark contrast to the deep purple colour of my skin. To complete the image, my usually straight hair is a sticky mess, and there's really not much I can do about that right now, as the stitches have to be kept dry for 48 hours.

Great. I sigh. There's no way I'll be able to make a better second impression like this... but I can't hide in my room for the next few days either. That would be just plain rude. So, I'll better get it over with.

Letting out another sigh, I turn away from the mirror and head back to my room where I slip into a fresh T-shirt and leggings.

Jay is waiting for me in the corridor, just outside my door. "You're already looking a lot better, Kath." He smiles at me. "Here, let me help you."

He puts his arm around my waist, and I lean onto him as he leads me down the stairs, equally grateful for his support and nervous that someone might see us like this and get the wrong impression. It wouldn't be the first time that someone mistakes our friendship for something else.

But of course, his mum just happens to exit the kitchen as we arrive on the ground floor – well, I'm pretty sure it's no coincidence though, she's probably heard us come down and wanted to meet us right away – and immediately rushes over to us.

"You must be Katherine." I am enveloped in a careful hug by the shorter woman. "I am so happy to finally meet you, I have heard so much about you. And-" she pulls away to look at me through her spectacles, "you're even prettier than on the pictures I've seen."

I've never considered myself particularly pretty – and my current appearance certainly doesn't match that description – but the brown-haired lady gives me such a genuine smile that I have no choice than to actually believe her.

"Thanks, Mrs Walker," I return the smile as well as I can. "It is lovely to meet you too."

"Oh, please, dearie. Call me Edna," she insists. "We're practically family." First pictures, now family? I'm starting to worry what Jay has told his parents about me...

"Speaking of family," Jay interrupts her. "Do you know where dad went?"

"Ah, you know your father," replies Mrs Walker – Edna. "He couldn't wait to visit your garage. He's brought his tools to give all the cars a little service while we're here."

"Sounds like Dad," Jay chuckles. "I'll go get him."

"And I'll get the cake ready." Edna turns to me as Jay disappears through one of the many doors. "Do you prefer tea or coffee?"

"Coffee, please." I answer. "But I can he-"

"No, you can't." Edna states firmly. "You're recovering, and you're our guest. As if I couldn't see that myself, Jay has given me strictest instructions not to let you do anything until you're better."

Her features soften. "He cares a lot about you, you know?"

"I do." I confirm. "And I care a lot about him as well. But... we're not... like... you know..." I blush. That's probably not very convincing, but Edna nonetheless nods in agreement.

"Oh, I know that," she assures me. "The way he talks about you is entirely different from how he used to speak about..." Her voice trails off.

"Ah, never mind." She shakes her head after a brief pause. "Jay always refers to you as the younger sibling he's always wanted. Unfortunately, my Ed and I, we couldn't give him any brother or sister – we were very blessed just to have him."

I know that Jay feels the same about his adoptive parents, and I hope that they are aware of this as well.

Not expecting any more protest from my side after this, Edna grabs my arm to lead me to the living room.

"My dear Katherine, I know you're very upset that you couldn't go home to your parents for the Christmas holidays, but please be assured that, as my boy's 'honorary little sister', you'll always also have a place in this family." She tells me. "So, you're just gonna sit down now and let us take care of you, alright?"

Present day, 23rd December 2018, Temple of Airjitzu

As she drags me into the house and up the stairs, Abby keeps pointing out the different rooms and other features of the building to me – I'm pretty sure though I will not be able to remember even half of them.

"That's my woom," she explains when we reach the first floor. "My mummy's just acwoss the hall, an' now my daddy's sleepin' there as well." She puffs her chest. "I've helped mummy move his things, because he was in a diffe'ent woom before, but now he's with mummy so you can have his. But we didn't take Woofie, because Daddy now has Mummy to cuddle with, and..."

As the girl keeps talking non-stop, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement, I can't help but smile. Abby really is just like her father, and not just in her personality but also in her appearance.

I've always considered myself an observant person – just how could I have ever missed this connection between my student and my best friend? I had even, more or less jokingly, suggested to introduce him to her mother. But at least I was right about Jay and Nya making a great couple.

By now, we have reached the second floor and I have, at least temporarily, already learned where all the other guests will be sleeping as well as the location of the shared bathroom.

"An' this –" Abby announces theatrically as she opens the last remaining door and ushers me inside, "is your woom, Miss Kathy. Welcome and I hope you will enjoy your stay." She then breaks out into a wide grin. "Uncle Kai's taught me this."

"Very well done, Abby," I praise the girl.

"Yes, you're a real pro, Abs," agrees a voice from the doorway, "And that was definitely one of the more sensible things Kai has taught her," Lloyd winks at me as he steps into the room.

"Uncle Lloyd, whadda you doin' up here?" Abby asks bluntly.

Honestly, I'm wondering the same – not that I would mind his presence, but still...

"You ran off so fast, you've left your luggage behind," he explains. Only then I notice him carrying one of my bags in each of his strong hands.

"Oh," Abby's face falls, "Sowwy, Miss Kathy. Am I still a pro?"

"Of course, you did very well," I assure her, crouching down to her height. "You know, Abby, in the big, fancy hotels, guests never have to carry their luggage to their room, either. They have staff who do that for them."

Abby giggles. "That's Uncle Lloyd."

"Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon, at your service," he confirms. 

"I'll tell Daddy he can leave his bag outside then..." Abby zooms off before we can stop her.

"Oh, great..." Lloyd sighs, running his hand through his golden hair.

"I guess you're gonna be very busy the next few days," I wink at him. "Lloyd, the luggage boy."

"Probably," he answers. "Well, Miss Katherine. Where shall I leave your bags?"

I haven't really had the chance to look around 'my' room yet, so I take a quick glance around. It's a small, cosy room, with a single bed against one wall and a wooden wardrobe on the other side, and a matching drawer chest underneath the window right ahead.

Despite its size and location under the roof, the room is surprisingly bright, thanks to the large window straight ahead. The bed is freshly made (with a cute blue stuffed dog, presumably 'Woofie' sitting on the pillow), and I even notice a vase with fresh flowers as well as a small pile of folded towels on the drawer chest.

"Uhm... the big one could go... maybe over there?" I point at the area between the bed and the wardrobe. There really aren't any other options anyway. "A-and the laptop bag on the drawer chest, please."

Lloyd does as requested, then turns back to me. "So, uhm, I'm gonna head back downstairs now and let you get some rest then. Jay's probably already waiting for his bag... so, I'll see you later?"

As tempting as it is, I'm not gonna make the same mistake as last year and 'get some rest' – I can't risk oversleeping again! Also, I have no idea where exactly I'm supposed to 'see him later'.

"Lloyd, wait please." I thus call after him. "If it's okay with you, I'll come downstairs with you now. I-I'm not entirely sure if I'll find my way around here on my own. If you could maybe give me a minute to freshen up?"

"Sure," he nods. "I hope you don't mind sharing a bathroom with some of the other people, not until tomorrow though. All the guest rooms on the first floor are en-suite, like our own bedrooms, but we've just never got around to doing this floor. But then, we've never had as many guests as we will be this Christmas."

"No, it's fine, honestly," I assure him. "I'm really grateful that you were still able to fit me in at all. And I'm used to it. During college, I was living in a shared house with some friends." Before I made the stupid mistake of moving in with my then-boyfriend.

"That still doesn't mean you don't mind it," Lloyd retorts, "We'd never had much space before we moved in here, so I'm used to even sharing a bunkroom with the other guys. But I'd rather not go back to that."

I laugh. "I can't even imagine what that was like."

"Oh, believe me, you don't want to..." he deadpans as I open my suitcase to get my toiletry bag.

"Oh no," I mutter, realising I've only packed rather 'light' for the flight home.

"Everything alright, Kath?" the Master of Energy enquires – of course, nothing escapes his sensitive Ninja hearing.

"Sort of," I blush, "I thought I was going to my parents' house, so I didn't pack any shower gel or shampoo."

"Don't worry, with some many people living here, we always have lots of spares. Just check with Nya – or PIXAL when she is back from the shop. You have everything you need for now?"

"I do, thanks," I confirm. I take my small bag as well as one of the towels and head to the bathroom just across the hall.

Not wanting to make Lloyd longer than absolutely necessary, I brush my teeth only very superficially and quickly rinse my face with cold water before I put my hair in a simple ponytail.

"That was faster than Kai doing his hair in the mornings," Lloyd remarks, waiting for me a the staircase. He shakes his head. "Nope, definitely not missing sharing a room – or bathroom – with the guys."

We keep chatting as we go down the stairs, Lloyd even promises to share a few anecdotes about my best friend with me later (apparently, they get funnier the more people are around to tell them). And he also gives me some useful advice on how to find my way around the temple.

"This building can be quite confusing. But if you ever get lost or don't know where to go, just follow the biggest noise," my new – friend? – tells me as we reach the ground floor. "That'll usually bring you to the right place."

"I'll keep that in mind," I laugh. "So, this way?" I point towards one of the open doors, and Lloyd nods.

"Yep, that's the main living room." 

But as we are crossing the large entrance hall, one of the other doors opens, and an elderly woman steps through. She has thick, dark brown hair in a long braid right down to her lower back and is wearing a pair of spectacles over her brown eyes.

When she spots us, her kind face breaks into a bright smile and she walks over to us.

"I thought I heard our first guests arrive," she remarks. "Welcome. I'm Misako Garmadon."

"N-nice to meet you, Mrs G-Garmadon," I accept the offered hand while my mind is racing. Garmadon? That means she's related to Lloyd? They don't look alike at all. "I-I am Katherine Dashner, Abby's teacher."

Noticing my confusion, Lloyd comes to my aide. "Mum," he confirms their relationship, "Katherine is a colleague and good friend of Jay's. Her flight home got cancelled, so we've invited her to spend the holidays here with us."

"Yes, I've heard about that," she says. "Not purposely, but Abby was telling everyone earlier, right here outside my office, and it was impossible not to hear it. I'm very sorry you can't spend the holidays with your parents, but friends and family are always welcome here. And please, call me Misako."

"Thank you, Misako," I smile.

"Not at all," she returns the smile. "I am looking forward to getting to know you, maybe we can talk later at dinner? Unfortunately, I have to go back to work now. I need to submit this grant application before the end of the year, and I don't want to spend too much time working on it during the Christmas holidays."

"Mum's been trying to get the museum reopened," Lloyd explains to me. "The city council has tentatively approved her proposal, but the building has suffered quite a bit of damage, and they don't have enough money to get it fixed."

"The Museum of Ninjago History?" I ask, being quite familiar with the place.

"Yes, I used to work there before I found my son again and joined Wu's team," Misako informs me. "Unfortunately, it was closed down about 20 months ago, following a couple of incidents."

"Including the former curator turning out to be a rogue Elemental Master," Lloyd mutters. I remember that, of course - it was around the time when I started my internship at the school, and we had to change our field trip.

"After everything that's happened there, quite a few people consider the place to be cursed and don't want it to reopen at all." The historian explains. "So it's quite difficult to get any funding at all."

"But I know there are also a lot of people who would love to see the museum open again," I protest. Including myself, I should add. "Our school used to do field trips there, and everyone was very disappointed when it was closed."

"That's lovely to hear," Misako smiles sadly. "And all the more reason to get back to this proposal."

"But... if it's just a matter of funding, why don't you get the public to help?" I wonder.

She looks at me, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I'm sure the people of Ninjago City would be willing to donate money for this cause. You could for example set up an online fundraiser."

Misako looks slightly embarrassed. "I've honestly never thought of this before. Would you know how to do this?"

"No, but Jay does," I tell her. "We did this last year to get a new class set of laptops for the school. He set it up for us, so why don't you talk to him?" He also was the 'anonymous benefactor' who donated about 80% of the total amount raised, but that's not my secret to tell. Also, I'm pretty sure he will be more than happy to help out here as well, both with his expertise and his money.

"It's definitely worth a try," Misako agrees. "Even if we get just a small amount, we'll be one step closer to our goal."

"And if we can prove that the people of Ninjago City want the museum back, the funding agencies might be more open to supporting your applications." Lloyd throws in.

"You could also ask the big companies if they want to sponsor an exhibition." I add.

"Brilliant." Misako's face lights up. "I need to get to work on this right away. If you see Jay-"

"We'll tell him to see you." Lloyd finishes for her. "I need to find him anyway, he's probably still waiting for me with his bag."

"Well, let's go then so he can return the favour right away and help your mum." I say. "Which reminds me - I still owe the luggage boy a tip."

"Oh, keep it. If this works, I'm the one who owes you. It would mean so much to my Mum." He sighs. "This just makes me realise once again how completely useless I am when it comes to everyday things, like managing finances. Or keeping track of our supplies of shower gel... and the others would never send me to do our shopping on my own, because they know I'd only come back with rubbish."

"Don't make yourself smaller than you are, Mr Green Ninja." I nudge him. "You have bigger things on your mind, like... saving Ninjago over and over again. And taking care of our luggage, of course."