Apologies for the slight delay in getting this chapter posted. Had a deadline at work - that I had completely forgotten about 😅...

A few people were asking to see Kai's POV again, so here you are. [It's only a little filler, but I promise there will be more focus on Kailor (also in the flashbacks) when their baby boy is born.]

And I've just realised that Sensei Wu hasn't really appeared in many chapters...

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Chapter 46 (Kai)

Five years ago, 24th December 2013 (between Possession and Skybound), Destiny's Bounty

Me and my friends, plus a couple of visitors, are gathered in the Bounty's sitting room – which seems to be getting smaller and smaller each year – when a happy squeal interrupts our conversation.

I turn my head to the door, just in time to see my little niece speed-crawling around the corner, followed by her mother – on foot, obviously.

Considering the seven-months-old's parentage – her father must be one of the fastest and most energetic people in all of Ninjago, while her mother is the most 'determined' (i.e. stubborn) person I know (okay, only surpassed by myself, I guess) – it's no surprise that Abby has so far hit all her developmental milestones early. And I will be very surprised if she does not start talking very soon.

Abby briefly stops in the doorway to take a look around the room. And a big toothless smile appears on her cute face when she spots her favourite uncle.

I smile back as I crouch down, while Abby comes crawling towards me – or so I think. Just before she's reached my open arms, she turns slightly to arrive at the person next to me instead.

"Hey, sweetie." Skylor beams at the little girl as she picks her up. "Oof, you've grown again since I've last seen you. Have you missed me?"

I certainly have.

Although Skylor has now become an official member of our team, she is still living in her apartment in Ninjago City and splitting her time between being a Ninja and running a noodle empire.

And just as she's hesitant to become a full time Ninja, she's still refusing all my advances. Well, not all of them. We've been on a few dates, and we've had quite a bit of fun together, but she just doesn't want us to become official.

And while I'm trying not to push her too much, I'm not giving up hope either. I strongly believe that I will eventually convince her that I'm serious – honestly, I haven't even looked at anyone else in the last year – and that the future reflection I've seen in the First Spinjitzu Master's tomb will come true eventually.

Unfortunately, Skylor has never seen it herself. She wasn't with us on that particular mission, as she was training with Nya instead.

While we were fighting Morro and his army of cursed ghosts, my sister was still recovering from Abby's birth just a few weeks previously. As not only was she adjusting to being a new mum, but also an Elemental Master... and as much as I admire my baby sis, I don't think she would have been strong enough to create that tsunami on her own.

My thoughts are interrupted by Abby's excited babbling as she reaches for Skylor's long red hair.

"No no, Abby." The Master of Amber tells her softly. "I know you love pulling your godmother's hair, but I don't like it as much, and – ouch! – your little handies are getting really strong."

Ever since she's helped my sister escape from Master Chen's palace, Skylor and Nya have become good friends: Good enough friends for Nya to make Skylor my niece's godmother. And good enough friends for Skylor to immediately agree to support my sister when we needed a Master of Water.

"Someone looks awake." Lloyd remarks with a grin.

"Took her long enough." Nya sighs. "I'm so sorry we are late again, but I had to wait for her to wake up from her nap. You know how grumpy she gets when she's tired."

I smirk. "Wondering where she's got that from." I pull my little sister into a hug. "How many times do we need to tell you that you don't have to apologise for putting your daughter first."

"Abby's nap is more important than being on time." Sensei Wu agrees. Luckily, his lesson on 'Evil Never Sleeps, and Neither Should you." does not apply to our youngest team member. In fact, she has Wu totally wrapped around her tiny pinkie, just like the rest of us. I can't wait for her to be old enough for the two of them to have a tea party.

"But now that we are all here, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our guests and friends and, of course, to wish you all a Merry Christmas." Sensei Wu begins his official Christmas speech. "It's been a successful year."

I guess you can put it this way. At least, we didn't lose anyone this time around.

Although, the drowning of the Cursed Realm has also destroyed any chance of Sensei Garmadon ever coming back. And we still haven't been able to locate Jay. He hasn't responded to any of our letters, not even to the news that he has a daughter now.

"We have once again saved Ninjago from a dangerous threat. And we have gained not only one but three new team members – Abigail, Skylor and Seliel."

Cole's girlfriend has been living with us for few months now. When they started dating about a year ago, Sel was still a full-time student at Nom University and would only help out in the bigger battles. But when her boyfriend got turned into a ghost this summer, the pink-haired Chemistry major immediately dropped all her pipettes and rushed here to support him. She's now switched to an online college, so she's been taking all her classes for this term remotely and will only have to attend two times two weeks of in person practical courses during the spring.

"We also have a new Elemental Master among our 'old' team members – Nya has become the new Master of Water, just like her mother was before her." Wu turns to my sister. "I must apologise for keeping your powers a secret from you for so long. Trust me when I say that I never meant to exclude you. On the contrary, I was very proud of how you had created your own way to be part of the team, and you just didn't seem to need your powers. Samurai X was a valuable member of our team. Just like PIXAL and Seliel are now."

As he keeps talking, Zane and Lloyd hand out little gift boxes to the three girls. I see Nya's eyes widen in surprise. Unlike Sky and Sel, my sister knows what's inside as PIXAL got the same kind of gift last year.

"No, that's not for you, sweetie." Skylor tells Abby who's already eyeing her gift box with far too much interest. "Can you take her for me please?"

Sky expertly hands the girl over to me before she accepts the gift.

Trying to distract my disappointed niece, I bounce her up and down, while watching the girls unpack their gifts.

They each have received a delicate Christmas bauble in their signature colour, with their elemental symbols (or, in Sel's case, her helmet) etched into it.

"Every member of the team has one of those." Lloyd explains. "C'mon, put them on the tree."

"Yeah, then we can finally have a glass of our famous eggnog." Cole agrees excitedly. "I suggest that next year, we'll get the drinks before the speech."

Or what about 'not at all'?

"Aww, It's beautiful." Skylor gasps next to me, she is holding up the orange-stained glass orb.

"Not as beautiful as you." I whisper to her.

"Oh, please." She snorts. "You're lucky that you're holding my precious goddaughter."

"Or what?" I wink at her.

Skylor huffs as she turns away, but I don't fail to notice the slight blush on her cheeks – or that she is putting her orange bauble right next to the bright red one.

Present Day, 24th December 2018, Temple of Airjitzu

"I remember that the Bounty got too small years ago, but I thought we'd never run of space here." Lloyd chuckles.

Now that all our guests have finally arrived, got settled in, unpacked and, in certain cases, calmed down, we're all gathered in our sitting room, which indeed doesn't look nearly as spacious anymore as it used to do when we moved in four years ago.

Not that I – or anyone – would mind, of course. It's wonderful to see our family growing bigger and bigger with each year. And I am especially excited for one more little person to join us very, very soon.

While Master Lloyd is giving his official welcome speech, Cole and his dad are handing out the drinks. I'm a little bit envious of my pregnant wife right now; she doesn't have to drink the Brookstones' (in)famous eggnog but can instead enjoy the alcohol-free fruit punch that Zane has prepared for the kids.

"Last year has been a relatively quiet one in terms of Ninja business. Just a couple of minor incidents, some of which were... related." Lloyd summarises.

I am well aware that he purposely avoids calling out the biker gang that's recently been causing some trouble around the city. He tries not to show it, but I know my little brother well enough to notice how much it pains him to see his father's name get dragged through the dirt.

"Of course, this doesn't mean we can just sit back and relax." He reminds us. "Experience has told us that a peaceful year is often followed by a more... eventful one – as my uncle always says 'Evil Never Sleeps.

Which brings me right to the next item. It's been 20 months now since my uncle was lost. We have followed many leads, but we still haven't found him yet. We're not giving up though. It may simply take more time, but I know we will get him back.

Just like-" He pauses to look at Jay, who is standing by the window. Nya is standing in front of him, he has his arms wrapped around her, his head resting on her right shoulder, their faces radiating with pure happiness.

It's really cute.

Lloyd swallows. "Just like our lost brother has finally returned to us." He concludes, his voice thick with emotions.

Luckily, we have Abby who doesn't get the gravity of the moment.

"That's my daddy." She yells excitedly, breaking the heavy silence.

"It is indeed." Lloyd chuckles. "Jay, Edna and Ed – welcome back to the family."

As everyone raises their glass, I hear a little sigh coming from the person sitting next to me on the sofa. I turn to my wife. "Are you alright?" I ask her. Is it the baby?

"Stop worrying, I'm fine." She sniffs, rubbing her eyes. "Just the stupid hormones."

I put my arms around her and gently pull her into me.

"I love you." I say into her hair.

"I love you too." She replies. "Even though it's all your fault."

Caught up in our own little world, we miss the next part of Lloyd's speech, but suddenly, something catches my attention.

"And finally," Lloyd says. "I would also like to welcome a new friend to our family." His gaze is fixed at the grey-eyed young woman standing at the back with Jay's mum and dad. He smiles at her. "Of course, I know you'd rather be with your own parents and brother right now, and I'm so, so sorry that your flight home got cancelled, but I... well, I for one am still really happy that you're here with m- uhm, with us, I mean." He blushes as he corrects himself.

Wow, I haven't seen Lloyd this flustered in a very long time, and never because of a girl.

Could it be that my little brother has an actual crush on Katherine?

Much to my horror, I realise that I must be growing up, because I'm suddenly feeling bad for teasing him about her yesterday.

"Anyway," Lloyd struggles to compose himself. "Now that we're all here together, it's time to light up the tree – no, not your way, Kai." He calls to me.

"But first, we need to add one final piece. Jay?" Lloyd calls my sister's boyfriend. "I need your help for that please."

"What's going on here?" Jay turns to my sister. "Abby's already put up the pieces that my parents brought..."

Nya smiles at him. "You'll have to find out yourself." She pecks his lips then gives him a little nudge. "Just go."

When Jay steps forward, Lloyd hands him a little box. "Welcome back... again."

"Thank you." With shaking hands, Jay opens the box to reveal his blue Christmas bauble. "Wow." He gasps. "This-this matches all the other ones." He notes, gesturing at the tree.

"But it's blue." Abby cries, running to her father. "And look daddy, it has our symbol. It's the best!"

"It is." Jay laughs.

And while I don't exactly agree with her comment, I can't help but join in.

"This one was actually part of the initial set. It was a gift from Shintaro, I got it on that Victory tour after the Final Battle." Lloyd informs him. "You just never saw it, because you left before, well, you know, we ever got to use it."

"We always put it up with the others," Nya, who has also joined her family, adds softly. "And Abby and I would always make our wish that you would come back to see it."

Abby grins. "And it worked."

"Yes, and I'm really happy it did." Jay picks her up. "Will you help me put it on the tree?"

"And now that your first wish has come true, you can make a new one, Abby." Lloyd tells her.

"What about a little brother or sister?" Skylor suggests cheekily.

As Nya and Jay turn deep red, it takes all my self-restraint not to turn around to see my father's reaction.

Dad may have somewhat calmed down following his little outburst, but that does not mean he's happy at all about what he found out earlier.

He's never been much of a talker, but he's been outright ignoring Nya and her boyfriend – and Mum (who has apparently known about them for weeks). He will have to get used to it though. There's no way they're ever breaking up again.

Luckily, I don't have to worry about my wife's safety – only the mother of his unborn grandchild can get away with a comment like this.

Abby contemplatively taps her chin. "Nooo." She replies after a little while. "I don't want a brother. I aweady have Luke and Sylvie and soon Auntie Sky's baby cousin. I want a doggie." She eventually requests. And I'm pretty sure I can hear a sigh of relief from the back of the room at this.

Nya's not too impressed with her daughter's request either though. "We'll see what Santa can do about that..."

"Do that." Abby nods.

Lloyd clears his throat. "Well, now that the official part is over-"

"I apologise for the interruption," Zane cuts in as he and PIXAL step forward, their hands entwined. "But before the festivities begin, PIXAL and I would also like to make an announcement."

"Zane and I, we have been talking a lot these last few days." The female Samurai states. "Over the last years, we have been very happy to be part of this family. However,-"

This opening makes me hold my breath. They're not planning on leaving us, right?

But PIX's next words immediately dispel my worries "We have come to realise that we both desire to also start our family."

Both relieved and excited, I break out into a smile, as a lot of "Awww"s can be heard from all over the room.

Yes, our two Nindroids have come very far.

Zane continues. "Unfortunately, is not as straightforward for us to achieve this goal. The only way of robotic reproduction would be to design and build our child."

His girlfriend nods. "We have therefore decided to apply for adoption. We want to give a home to a child in need of one."

Zane looks at us. "If you, our family, approve-" Which I have not the slightest doubt about. "We will contact the Ninjago Child and Family Office to make an appointment with them."

But just as I want to voice my excitement and support, PIXAL adds in a sad voice. "Of course, due to our... robotic nature and unclear legal status as well as our dangerous occupation, there is a chance that we our application will not be successful."

This is ridiculous. Nindroids or not, I don't know any two people who would make better parents than my dear friends.

And I will do anything I can to support them.

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Next chapter will be back to Jaya 😊.