A little something new I whipped up.

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Dinnertime on the Bounty was a chaotic, but cherished time when Ninjago was at peace. Happy chatter and teasing and laughter filled the room, while everyone ate until satisfied and simply enjoyed being together. Of course, there was always the nights when a joyful evening was shattered abruptly by an unwanted turn of events.

Typically, alarms wailing would send the ninja into a frenzy, as everyone scrambled to find out what was going on. They'd fight some sort of battle and come home exhausted to cold, half-eaten meals.

And then this one particularly eventful night happened. Just not in the way any of them were expecting.

"Ha-Ha, Jay! You shoulda seen your face when I finally beat your time on the training course!" Kai boasted, jabbing the blushing blue ninja in the side.

Jay scoffed. "Well excuse me for not spending 7 hours straight trying to up my time like you did! And you only beat mine by like, what 0.2 seconds?'

The red ninja blushed a little himself. "0.4 seconds, there's a big difference."

"Yeah, right," Jay laughed.

"Okay, enough you two,' Cole cut in, tired of this topic of conversation, which had been going on for several minutes. "Why don't we talk about something productive?"

The two light elementals shot Cole a questioning glare, while Jay spoke skeptically,

"Since when has our dinner conversations ever had to be productive?"

Cole sighed. "Since I got tired of your and Kai's constant bickering. And why not make use of the-" A knock on the door cut him off. "Time."

"I'll get it!" Jay darted from his seat, glad to not have to 'talk about something productive.' He swung open the door, as everyone else continued eating, uninterested. Jay, however, was very intrigued.

"Hey, hey! Skylor!" Kai's head snapped up at Jay's exclamation of the name, fork clattering on his plate in shock.

Jay was still babbling, oblivious to everyone now staring at the visitor with expressions of all kinds. From curiosity, to embarrassment, to anger and disdain.

"I definitely wasn't expecting to see you tonight!" The lightning ninja said. "It's been months since we've seen you!" Then he mumbled, "And months since you broke up with Kai." But everyone heard it, of course. "What brings you here? Wait, don't answer that. Come on in, we're just eating dinner and there's plenty of food."

"Jay." Skylor's sharp and slightly harsh tone made him freeze. "Thank you, but I didn't come to chat and catch up. I need to speak to Kai. Immediately."

The red ninja tensed, gripping his fork in a vice grip. He surveyed the girl that used to have his whole heart, still feeling a twinge of that leftover pain. Then, he sighed. Might as well see what she wanted.

As Kai slid away from the table and stood up, he shot Nya a reassuring glance, noting the contempt hidden in her eyes. He almost smiled at the sight, knowing now that he wasn't the only overprotective sibling.

Skylor's gaze moved to the red ninja, eyes unreadable as she jerked her head for him to follow her outside. To which Kai complied.

It was wet and drizzly and cold when he stepped onto the deck, instantly feeling a chill go down his spine. He shut the door behind him, waiting for Skylor to say something. She seemed to be nervous now, as Kai could still right through the tough demeanor she had tried to maintain inside. Her hands were fiddly. She was still silent.

Kai shoved his hands in his pockets. "So, uh, you look good, Sky." Voice soft.

She smiled, almost bittersweetly. "You too."

"It's been a long time." He scratched the nearly invisible scruff at the base of his jawline. "But, I know you didn't come here to catch up. So, out with it."

Skylor sighed deeply, still not meeting his gaze, causing Kai's stomach to churn. Just why was she here, and so out of the blue, without even calling?

"Tox," she called softly. "Why don't you come out and show him why I'm here?"

Footsteps were heard travelling towards them, and the green-haired elemental master of poison, appeared from the shadows. In her arms, she held what looked like a small bundle of clothes. But Kai's heart stopped as the object moved, making a small, whiny sound.

Kai's eyes widened as he flicked his gaze back to Skylor. "Skylor, what...that's, uh, not what I think it is, I mean right? I mean, I mean, it's can't be…"

Skylor's nostrils flared as Kai stuttered. "What, you mean a baby?" She interrupted, marching over to Tox. She pulled back the blanket, revealing the soft, adorable features of a 1 or 2 month old child. "Yes, it is a baby Kai." She met his gaze. "Our baby."

Kai nearly choked. Our baby. No. No, that couldn't be possible. Skylor hadn't been pregnant when she'd broken up with him. But, but, right before-

"No," Kai backed away in shock. "No, Skylor, it can't be mine. I mean, I-I was so careful!"

"Oh, you were careful?" Skylor scoffed. "Well, it might be news to you, hotshot, but a lot of guys are 'careful.' That doesn't mean luck always goes your way, does it? And there was never anyone but you, so it has to be yours." Her gaze softened, looking from the baby to him, before taking the bundle from Tox.

Kai's hand went to his head, carding it forcefully through his messy spikes. "Ah, geez, I can't-I mean, I'm sorry, Sky. You know I never meant for this to happen, and I just-shit. Just tell me what you want me to do. I can help provide for it, or help you find a home or-or-"

"I want you to take it."

He froze, eyes wide as he stared at her. As if to see if she was serious, if he'd heard her right. "Skylor-"

"I can't care for it, Kai. I can't. But I also can't give it to some strangers, so just know it's your child, too. And since I'm not taking it, you have to." Skylor's eyes bore into his, a swirling mix of emotions that he was trying desperately to figure out. Pain, resolve, guilt, maybe longing?

"Skylor, I can't take a baby! Do you know what my job is? I'm a ninja! I'm practically begging for death on a daily basis, not to mention not actually getting paid for it! Even if I wanted to, I have no means to care for a kid! No money besides the small amount allocated to us by the government, no knowledge, no-no idea how to even frickin raise one!"

Skylor sighed. "I'm sorry, Kai. You have to take it. Don't you have like a sister or something? And Lloyd's mother comes around sometimes, right? I'm sure they can help you. And besides, there's no other option."

"What do you mean there's no other options?" Kai flared, hands waving wildly. "There's always something! I just-gah," Frustrated, he tugged at strands of hair. "Sky, I can't-"

"Please, Kai, just-just hold her!" Skylor shoved the child towards his chest, startling it awake. It started crying, and Kai was forced to take the outstretched bundle.

His heart was beating wildly, as his mind raced to try to figure out what to do. He couldn't raise a child-

Besides the fact that he didn't have the means to care for one, or that his job was too dangerous to have a kid grow up around...what would the team think? Would they judge him for getting a girl pregnant out of wedlock? It was a mistake, sure, but a big one. He hadn't meant for that moment to even happen, and he'd always felt guilty about it. But now…

The baby's cries had lessened, and Kai started as he realized he'd been gently swaying it to calm it down. A lump rose in his throat at he looked at the tiny face, his child's face. And despite all the panic and other negative things he was feeling, another unfathomable kind of emotion took over him. This was his child. So small and helpless, so innocent and unaware. It didn't ask to be born like this. It didn't ask to be born at all. But it had been, and-and it was his kid. His kid that he'd only learned about 2 minutes ago. His kid who he somehow already loved so fiercely.

Shaking, Kai stiffened as he felt two trails of moisture streak down his cheek. With one hand, he roughly brushed them away, appalled that he would show such weakness in front of his ex. But when he looked up, she didn't seem to be judging him. Instead there was a touch of softness there.

"Alright," Kai said, totally disbelieving what he was about to say. "I'll keep her…" He paused. "Her? You said her, right? It's a girl?" Skylor actually chuckled slightly, as Kai's face took on a lost-puppy-dog look.

She nodded. "Yes, it's a she."

"And her name?"

Skylor's slight smile faded. "I figured the least I could was let you name her."

There it was again. That lump in his throat, a tightness in his chest. But he had to finish what he was going to say before he lost his resolve. "Right, uh...well, like I said, I'll keep her. Under one condition." He took a shaky breath. "You stay with us."

Skylor's eyes widened, and she backed up several steps. "Kai-"

"No, listen," Kai said hastily. "I understand what we had before is gone. But if you stayed, it wouldn't be for me. Skylor, we brought this kid into the world. and she didn't ask to be born. She deserves to grow up with her father and her mother."

"But, Kai, you're asking me to fake feelings for you for the rest of our lives-"

Deep down, that stung a little, as if she was dismissing that she'd ever had real feelings for him. But he didn't let it stop him.

"I'm asking you to make a sacrifice for your kid, as parents are supposed to. Sky," his voice softened. "I know it wouldn't be what either of us had ever thought. But I don't want her to end up like Nya and I, without parents."

"She'd have you-"

Kai sighed, frustratedly. "That's beside the point. Sky, if you care at all about her, then you'll stay. That's all I'm saying." He took another breath, and steadied himself for her reply, knowing this could very well change his life forever.

Skylor met his eyes again, and now he knew for sure what he was seeing. Sorrow, yes. But most of all, longing. She wanted to accept...but she wouldn't. He knew that deep down.

"I can't, Kai," The redhead whispered. "I'm sorry." She glanced at Tox, who'd been staring between the two the whole time. "Let's go, Tox."

She motioned for the other to follow her, and they walked to the rail. Tox slid down the chain without a thought, as Skylor slowly slung one leg over. But she paused, seeming to not want to leave it like that. Looking at him, Kai looked so young and so lost, standing there alone in the mist, a whimpering child held awkwardly in his arms.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, again. Heart already aching with regret.

She disappeared over the edge.