In MasterofCupcakes Secret Santa fanfic challenge, I got the ninja master herself! The request was kid Jaya at the Christmas market. So buckle in, this is a fairly long one, at a bit over 3000 words. All the Jaya goodness I could think of, and over a pound of fluff! Here you go, sorry it took longer than expected, and Merry Christmas!

The Ninjago-wide famous actor Cliff Gordon was taking his young six-year-old son to the Christmas market to find presents for their friends and family for Christmas on this very snowy day of the holidays.

Not only were they looking for very special presents on this chilly winters day, but so were two other kids.

Kai and Nya Smith, young siblings aged 7 and 5.

They weren't from the wealthiest family in the town of Ignacia, to be blunt, they were far from it.

They were the children to two blacksmithing ninja. And neither of those occupations pay well.

But they wanted to get something for their parents with their small sum of allowance money, and they lived nearby to the holiday marketplace, so here they were.

"Daddy daddy!" Jay bounced up and down in his puffy blue coat, excitable as ever.

Cliff flashed a warm grin. "What is it, my bluebird?" He remarked sweetly, before lifting Jay in his arms and over his head for a piggyback ride.

"Look all around!  Isn't it so pwetty? Lights are everywhere! So many nice twees, and decowations...." Jay listed extensively, as he was always quite the motormouth.

Ever since he spoke his first word, "Bequeath," at four months old, he had been talking nonstop.

Meanwhile, as the father and son looked around, Kai and Nya were surveying their surroundings as well.

Nya's eyes widened. "Wow, there sure is a lot here, Kai."

Kai took her hand quickly and remarked in reply, "Yeah, but I know just what we should get Mom and Dad. Come on!"

"Oh-woah-kay!....." Nya trailed off, as he rushed over to a stand nearby, bringing her along.

They skidded to a stop and Kai started up again. "I think we should get Mom and Dad a Scareskeleton, or maybe some new aprons!"

"I dunno Kai. They're not just ninja, and they're not just blacksmiths. They're our parents too. I think we should maybe find something else."

"But these presents are so good!" He whined, stopping his feet on the ground.

"Yeah....but we can't even afford them, Kai. Maybe we should just make them something...." Nya trailed over observing everything around her.

"We can't give up yet sissy!" Kai retaliated. "We'll find the perfect gifts, I promise!"

"Okay...." she murmured in response, before spotting something.

"Look, Santa!" Jay And Nya pointed out excitedly in unison.

Jay jumped up and down happily. "Daddy! Daddy! Can I please see Santa? It's right over there!" He gestured in the direction of the Santa's grotto area nearby.

"Kai, can I go see Santa, pretty pwease? It's only five dollars!" Nya pleaded innocently.

Kai groaned in exasperation. "Fine....you know I can't resist your baby doll eyes. Here you go." He reluctantly handed her the crisp bill. "But you better enjoy it. That's a fourth of our savings."

"Yay!!!!" She squealed in delight. "Thank you thank you thank you so much! You're the best big brother ever!" She hugged him tightly.

He responded softly, "I know. Now go have fun." He grinned.

"Alright, Jay." Cliff smiled and handed him the five-dollar bill. "Have fun. And come when you're done. I'll be right here."

"Yay! Thanks, Daddy!" Jay replied happily, before dashing away to the Santa's grotto line.

Nya raced off as well to get in line.

They paid their fees to get in line and did just that.

Jay curiously eyed the pretty raven-haired little girl who stood behind him staring off into space.

He mustered up the courage to talk to her and softly uttered with a shy smile, "Do you like bwue?"

She turned to him and smiled back brightly. "Yesh! It's my favorite color!"

"Me too." His smile widened slightly and he replied, "I'm Jay. What's your name?"

"My name's Nya," she answered with a twinkle in her big chocolate brown eyes.

"That's a great name!" He exclaimed joyfully. "What do you like most about Christmas?"

She rested her hand on her chin in thought. "Hmm...I don't know. Probably all the great food! And when me and my family sing carols together!"

"Cool!" He flashed a cheesy grin. "I like secret Santa! It's a fun surprise! And being with my famiwy of course," he self-assuredly replied, trying to act suave.

The two continued to chat as other children in front of them saw Santa. Soon enough, it was Jay's turn.

"What's your name, young man?" Santa asked with a wide grin.

"I'm Jay!" He excitedly answered, hopping up into the man's lap.

Santa nodded. "Good. And what would you like for Christmas?"

"I want a bwand new toolbox! Or an Xborg game system, those are cool too. I don't know!" Jay rambled frantically.

"It's alright son, don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll get what you want for the holidays," Santa reassured softly and helped Jay down off his lap.

Jay stood patiently next to Santa and gazed at Nya with admiration.

"Now what's your name, young lady?" Santa asked, smiling at her.

She smiled a cute small smile and responded, "I'm Nya." Then she slowly climbed up onto his lap.

"And what do you want for Christmas?"

She closed her eyes tightly in thought. Then she remarked, "I want true love, wike in the faiwytales. Or some welding goggles, Daddy says I need some if I'm going to watch him work and help."

"Alright little lady, I'm sure you'll be happy whatever you get," Santa remarked softly and snuck a quick wink at Jay.

Nya stepped down carefully and waved at the two of them. "Bye Santa! Merry Christmas! Bye Jay! See you later!"

Jay smiled to himself as he slipped happily back over to Cliff. He excitedly tugged on Cliff's pants' leg. "Daddy! It was great! Can we go look at presents for Mama now?"

"Sure, my little bluebird. You go on ahead. I'll be right behind you," Cliff responded with a warm smile.

And before Cliff could say another word, Jay had sprinted over to a book stand.

Nya found Kai at a jewelry stand and started looking around.

"It's pwetty Kai, Mommy would love these. But I don't know if they're in our budget..." Nya commented sadly, observing the sparkling wares.

"Yeah..." Kai mumbled grumpily. "Another perfect idea down the drain..."

Nya gently rested her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Kai, we'll find the perfect gift. Remember, you pwomised!"

"Okay sissy, we'll keep looking. I'm not a wimp or a quitter, so I'm gonna find something. You keep looking around too, Okay?" Kai confidently remarked, regaining his fiery attitude.

Nya nodded profusely. "Okay, captain Kai!" She saluted before cutely marching off to another stand.

Jay was browsing through the books. "100 recipes for asparagus?!" He made a disgusted face. "Mama wouldn't like that. She doesn't like to cook anyway."

He picked up another one. "What about.....Fritz Donegan and the astronomical adventure? Ooh! But I'll just share mine with Mama. She doesn't need one. Hmm."

Jay looked around some more, even spotting a familiar book on how to woo the ladies. He giggled boyishly to himself. "Mama said that if Daddy hadn't stopped using that book when they were dating she would have gone cwazy! But she already has a copy!" He groaned in annoyance and continued to look.

He was getting frustrated until he spotted an interesting book sitting up on the desk. He got up on his tippy toes and picked up the book, before getting back down on his feet to look in it.

He started involuntarily reading the book aloud, as he had only learned how to read recently, he tended to read almost everything he could.

"Why did the ninja cross the woad? To stop the evil time guys on the other side!"

A soft melodic giggle rang out behind him, and he flinched a little.

"That's weally funny Jay! Can I heaw another one?" Nya asked, a big smile upon her face.

"Uhm, sh-suwre," Jay stammered a bit, his face growing slightly red.

"Why did the water not stay on the shelf? Cuz it kept dwopping!"

Nya laughed even more. "I wike that one too!"

"Okay. Why did da dwagon lose his job? Because he got fired!"

Nya laughed some more. "Yay!" She clapped. "Whewe did you find dat?"

"Uhm, up on the countew. It's a joke book. I'm looking for a present for my mama," Jay explained squeakily.

"Oh! Cool! My bwudder Kai and me are looking for presents for ouw parents here too!" Nya remarked excitedly.

Jay smiled wide, showing the slight gap between his two front teeth. "That's funny! I think my mama will weally love this joke book! What are you getting your parents?"

"We haven't found da wight things yet, but I'm sure we will!" Nya exclaimed confidently.

"I KNOW we will! Kai the dragon master never gives up!" Kai appeared out of nowhere behind his sister.

Kai turned to meet Jay's confused gaze, and mirrored his expression, raising an eyebrow.

"Sissy, who's that?" Kai asked, trying not to sound annoyed, but failing.

Jay held his arms out in front of him in defense. "I'm J-J-Jay! And please don't huwt me! I come in peace!"

Nya smiled. "Jay's my new fwiend Kai! I met him in the Santa line! Jay, this my big bwudder, Kai!"

"That's Kai the dragon master to you, blue guy," Kai remarked, reaching out his little bandaged arm for a handshake.

Jay looked askance warily and when he looked back forward, he was slightly surprised at the fact that the intimidating-looking little boy wasn't trying to punch him in the face for even talking to his sister. He slowly and nervously reached out his arm and shook the red-clothed boy's hand.

Kai looked at him and smiled so Jay could see his eye scars, which made him slightly more intimidating to the freckle-faced blue cloaked boy.

"Nice to meet you," Kai remarked cordially, and unfamiliarly so.

"Nice to m-meet you too," Jay replied, gently letting go of the boy's surprisingly warm hand, given his lack of warm clothing and the cold weather.

Kai surprisingly suggested, "Would you like to help us look for presents?"

"Oh. I'm sowwy, I can't. That'd be too far. I gotta buy this joke book for my mama," he responded, gesturing to the book in his other hand.

Kai shrugged. "Your loss, blue boy. Come on sis. We gotta keep looking."

"Okay Kai," Nya reluctantly agreed, waving back at Jay. "Bye! I'm sure your mom will love that joke book!"

Jay waved back with a soft smile and a warmth in his eyes as they walked away, speechless by the young girl's charms.

He turned to the counter and got up on his tippy toes. He set the book down on it gently, and asked softly, "Could you keep this for me? I gotta go get my daddy, over there, so I can get it for my mama."

The clerk nodded. "Sure young man."

Jay smiled cheerily and ran off to the stand nearby where Cliff was looking. He waved. "Thanks so much, Siwr!"

Cliff looked down as his son made it in front of him. Cliff rose a curious eyebrow. "I presume you've found the perfect gift, Jay?"

Jay nodded profusely in excitement. "Yes yes, Daddy! I found the best joke book ever! It's at the book stand over there!"

Before Cliff could even get a word out, Jay took his hand and exuberantly guided him to the book stand.

Cliff sighed softly and smiled. "Alright." He looked up to the clerk. "How much is it?"

"Just twelve dollars sir," the clerk replied in a monotone voice.

Cliff handed him the money.

"Would you like a bag for that?"

"No thanks, I think Jay would be happy to carry it."

Jay responded with a lot of repeated jumps in delight.

The clerk smiled as well and handed the book to the small boy.

Cliff turned to look at Jay. "I still have a few more presents to get for people. Would you like to help me?"

Jay grinned widely. "Of course Daddy! Let's go!"

"Okay then, we shall," Cliff smiled as they continued.

Meanwhile, Kai and Nya were still searching for the perfect gift for their parents.

They were at a home decor store, with a bunch of eccentric thrift store type knick-knacks up for sale.

Nya groaned. "Kaiii," she whined. "This looks weally boring. How awe we gonna find the perfect gift for Mommy and Daddy here?"

"I don't know sissy, but I can feel it. We're really warm!" He responded surely.

"Okay, I'm gonna look over here." She hummed softly before stopping in her tracks as she spotted something hanging up. "Kai! Look at that! I think that's it!"

It was a piece of wall decor.  It had a semicircle of ground with little figures of the four main ninja on it.  The ninja of lightning, earth, ice, and fire, and it said on the top in big letters, "Home is where the ninja are."  It was slightly scuffed up around the edges, but it wasn't that noticeable.

"Sissy! It's perfect!" Kai exclaimed. He turned to the clerk. "How much is that ninja plaque up there?"

She shrugged. "Oh, that old thing? Eh, it's worth about thirty dollars at most, but I'll sell it to you for fifteen since no one else has offered for it all week."

The siblings jumped with joy. "We'll take it!" They exclaimed in tandem.

"Just pay for it, and it's yours, kiddies," she deadpanned, holding out her hand.

Kai slapped down the money into her hand before you could say, "Fiya!"

The girl quickly put the money away, before grabbing the wall decor, bringing it back to her table, beginning to wrap it up in tissue paper, and putting it in a gift bag.

She handed it to Kai with a smile. "Thanks for your purchase, and merry Christmas."

The two excitedly dashed off hand in hand.

On their way out, they spotted a familiar face.

Nya pointed. "Kai, It's Jay! That must be his daddy! Let's go say goodbye!"

Kai rolled his eyes. "Fine sissy, if it makes you happy."

"Yay!"

The two made their way over there, and Nya waved happily.

"Hi, Jay! We found it!" Nya commented cheerfully.

Jay sported a big grin as he saw her. "Daddy! This is my new friend Nya! I met her in the Santa line!"

Cliff's eyes widened playfully. "Oh. You must be the little lady Jay's been talking about non-stop for the last fifteen minutes," Cliff remarked with a smirk, before shaking her hand.

"Nice to meet you, sir!" She said sweetly.

"Yeah....." Kai murmured, looking away.

"Kaiii!"

"Nice to m-meet you, sir!" Kai stammered frantically.

Cliff smiled. "Nice to meet you guys too."

"Yep!" Jay bounced up and down happily.

Nya looked askance. "Yeah, I just wish we could be together longer instead of having to go home...."

"Me too...." Jay moped along with her.

"Wait," Cliff remarked. "How would you two and your parents like to come over for dinner?"

Nya's eyes lit up. "Really?!"

Cliff nodded in confirmation.

Nya turned to look at her brother. "Kai? Please!...."

Kai crossed his arms before reluctantly responding, "Okay, it sounds...pretty decent. As long as Mommy and Daddy agree."

Jay jumped excitedly. "Yay! This is the best day ever!"

"Yes! Better than when I made it to the top of the big tree!" Nya exclaimed in agreement.

"When though?" Kai asked, turning to look at Cliff.

Cliff looked at his watch. "How does six-thirty sound? It's about three-thirty now."

Nya butted in with, "Great! Let's go home and tell Mommy and Daddy!"

"Alright," Kai answered, taking his sister's hand. "Bye Mister!" He turned to glare at the blue-coated boy. "Jay."

They dashed off, and soon Jay and Cliff went back to their vacation home in Ignacia as well.

A little bit later, Kai and Nya made it home.

"Mommy mommy!" Nya rang through the small, warm, and cozy house. "I made a new friend in the Santa line when we were looking for presents and his daddy invited us all over for dinner!"

Their parents walked over with soft smiles upon their faces.

"That sounds great Nya!" Maya answered happily, bringing the girl into a hug and lifting her. "Do you know where their house is?"

Nya put her hand on her chin in thought and stared off into space for a second before impatiently remarking, "I think it's the one down the street. Can we go?"

Ray strolled over to peek in Kai's bag, "What've you got there Kai?" but Kai strategically turned away just in time.

"Don't look!" Kai whinily replied. "It's a surprise!"

Maya turned her head to look at her husband as she set Nya down. "I don't know, what do you think Ray? An extra Christmas dinner with a new friend?"

Ray shrugged. "Why not! And it's not like Kai's gonna let me look at his gifts before he wants me to."

Maya laughed. "That's true. He gets it from somewhere..." she turned her gaze back to Nya. "We're going Nya, can you go tell them?"

"Can I? Why do you even need to ask that mommy, of course, I can!" Nya exuberantly responded, dashing off to their house.

Kai ran into his tiny room to put the present away safe and sound while Ray and Maya returned to their blacksmithing work.

At the Gordons' vacation home, Jay was jittering in anticipation for the confirmation of his raven-haired sweetheart's attendance.

Cliff chuckled. "Jay, I'm sure someone will be here soon to see if they're coming or not. I know you're excited, but try to breathe."

Jay smiled wide. "Okay Daddy, I'll try."

And before someone could say another word, there was a rapid knock at the door.

Cliff opened it and Nya was standing there, waving excitedly.

"We're coming!" She exclaimed happily, shaking in excitement a bit herself.

Jay peeked around. "Yay! I can't wait!"

Nya smiled. "Me too! Okay, see you later! Bye Jay! Bye Mister!"

And with that, Nya raced back home.

Jay excitedly helped set the table, and stir the things that Cliff was cooking. Cliff explained everything to Libber, with some energetic additions from Jay.

Soon enough, it was six-thirty, and The Smiths arrived.

"Mama! Mama!" Jay excitedly remarked as he led her to the door to greet their guests.

She opened the door and there they were.

Kai, Nya, Ray, and Maya.

She stood there stunned for a moment. "Maya?"

"Libber?"

Libber smiled. "It's been so long! How have you been?"

"We've been great! I can't believe I haven't seen you in eight years!" Maya responded cheerfully.

Libber chuckled. "I know, you don't have to make me feel old. Oh! Where are my manners? Come in!"

Jay introduced his friends to Libber. "Mama, these are my new friends, Kai, and Nya!"

Kai unenthusiastically waved. "Hi..."

Maya turned to look at them with a smile.

"Jay, this is Mrs. Maya. She's my best friend!" Libber excitedly commented, showing her tooth gap.

Maya smiled wider. "And you must be Jay. It's so nice to meet you."

Jay gasped dramatically and turned to Nya. "Our mamas are best friends? What a coinkydink!"

Nya giggled. "I dunno what that means, but it sounds funny!"

Ray and Cliff did their introduction, and then everybody sat down to eat.

The dinner wasn't very eventful, except for some cute glances between the kids and some friendly small talk.

After it was over, they all gathered around The Gordons' Christmas tree to have a moment before The Smiths had to leave.

Jay was standing next to Nya, and he randomly remarked out of the blue, "I don't think I want an Xborg anymore."

Nya's innocent eyes widened. "Why?"

He smiled goofily. "Because you're a better gift anyways."

Nya smiled back sweetly and hugged him. "I think I got my wish."

The End & Merry Christmas