Wow, a Father's Day oneshot without Garmadon in it. ...or any fathers at all. NOT MY FAULT.

Seriously, I started writing this with a clear idea of what was going to happen, and then it went in a totally different direction. Again, wow.

Review replies:

KRR: I was curious, so thanks. ^ ^

AveXCninja11: Glad you like it. :D

Jayden: I plan to. ;)

NurseMedusa: xD Exactly.

Angel Star Ninja: I listened to it. Now I'm listening to it on a loop and have been for half an hour. It does fit that (and probably this) one-shot really well! ^u^ Nya kinda took over this one-shot, so... here ya go!

Samantha: There's more now! :D

TheMayorOfNinjagoCity: Oh my ghost, I know. Seriously Nya, watch what you're doing! lol.

By special request, Nya!

Lloyd stared out the window silently from where he sat on Cole's bed, listlessly watching the clouds float by. He could hear the other ninja from where they were talking and laughing on the deck, enjoying the warm weather. Lloyd hadn't joined them. He wanted to be alone. It was the third Sunday of June. Father's Day. Obviously, he wasn't celebrating it. His father had been gone for a while, and now he was dead. Mom and Uncle had urged him to think of the good times he spent with his father, instead of continuing to mourn his death, but thinking of the times they had together only made him miss him more. Why did his have to give himself up? Sometimes he thought that living in a world ruled by Chen would be better than his father being gone. Now was one of those times. Lloyd felt tears welling up in his eyes and sniffled, brushing them away with his sleeve. He hated his life. If only Morro really had been the green ninja. Then he could just live somewhere with his parents like a normal kid. Let someone else take care of Ninjago.

"Hey Lloyd, are you okay?" the blond boy looked up to see Nya standing in the doorway of his room, watching him with a worried look on her face.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." he rubbed his eyes again, hoping it wasn't too obvious that he'd been crying. " I-I just miss my dad."

"I know how you feel." Nya walked over, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Father's Day was really hard for me and Kai for years after our father's death. It's gotten easier as the years pass, but the pain never really goes away."

"That's what I was afraid of..." Lloyd muttered, letting his shoulders slump as he closed his eyes.
"Don't you want to come out on the deck?" Nya asked. "The sunset's really pretty."

"I don't wanna be around the others." the green ninja mumbled.

"Why not?"

"I don't know. I just wanna be alone."

"Should I leave?"
"No... I... I'd rather you stay."

"Oh Lloyd, I'm so sorry!" Abruptly, the water ninja hugged him tightly, catching him off guard. After a moment's hesitation, he hugged her back, his eyes filling with tears once again. "You don't deserve everything that's happened to you. You're still just a kid."

"...th-thanks Nya..." Lloyd whispered, shaking slightly as he buried his face in her shoulder. She hummed softly in reply, and they were silent for a few minutes as he cried on her shoulder.

"Why do you avoid us when you're sad?" she asked quietly after a while. "Don't you think we can help?"

"...I... I guess you can... I just..." the blond boy trailed off.

"Just what?" Nya prodded gently.

"I... I don't want everyone to s-see me b-break down." he mumbled into her shoulder. "I-I'm s-supposed to be b-brave and strong. I-I don't want them all to see m-me cry."

"Lloyd, none of them would think any less of you if you cried in front of them." the black-haired girl assured him. "You've been through far more than any of us have. You're only human, after all. I know I don't."

"...thanks..." he whispered again. Nya tightened her grip on him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Ka told me he promised to take care of you." She murmured.

"Yeah... I guess he's k-kinda my dad now, huh?" Lloyd smiled weakly."„...he can't replace my real dad, though..."

"I know." Nya sighed."I said I knew how you feel, but I really don't. I don't even remember my dad that well, I was so young when he passed. You must be hurting more than I even was." Lloyd didn't answer except to nod slightly against her shoulder as a fresh onslaught of tears streamed down his face. "Your father was a great man, Lloyd. I miss him too." That wasn't much comfort, though he was glad he wasn't the only one who missed him. For a long time, they were both silent, enjoying each others' company, before Nya finally pulled away. "It's getting late." She said quietly as the blond boy tried to calm his erratic breathing. "The guys will be coming to bed soon."

"Yeah." Lloyd nodded, sniffling. "Th-thanks again, Nya..."

"No problem." She smiled, ruffling his hair."

"Hey!" he pushed her away, a small smile lighting up his face. "No one messes up my hair!"

"Is that, like, an inside joke? Because Kai keeps saying it too." Nya put her hands on her hips as she returned his smile.

"I guess." Lloyd stood up from Cole's bunk, moving over to his bed on the floor. "...I-I'm going to try to get some sleep."

"Go ahead." The water ninja gave him a comforting smile as she left the room and closed the door behind her. Lloyd lay down on his pillow, pulling his thin blanket over him as he closed his eyes. Nya was right. He shouldn't shut the others out when he was upset. It would only make it worse. As the sun went down outside, Lloyd drifted off to sleep.

Again, I can't believe I wrote a Father's Day oneshot without Garmadon in it. :/ I blame Nya.

~FFF