Hey guys, me again. Hope y'all are enjoying this. I love writing these.

So like I said earlier, this one was kinda emotional for me to write. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

I do not own Ninjago or it's characters. I only own Lillie and Austin.

Captain Kai Flamey

Lillie was adding the finishing touches on her latest project when her son walked through the door.

"Hey honey," she called from behind her canvas. "How was school?"

Austin plopped down on the couch. "Meh." He groaned.

"Hey, where's that smile? Come on, I heard that you got to burn things in chemistry. You love doing labs like that."

Austin didn't answer. Lillie set her palette down, hung up her apron, and sat next to him.

"It's dad, isn't it?" She asked. He nodded, which prompted Lillie to pull her son into a hug. Lillie knew that when Kai left 2 years ago, Austin took it the hardest. He was so depressed that he hadn't spoken a word since then. She knew that he needed extra comfort for these things.

"Look, I know it's tough to know that he is risking his life, but he's doing it for the people he loves. He will come home once he feels he has done his part in protecting the country. I miss him, too, but he wants us to live our lives." Austin nodded again, holding back his tears.

Lillie pulled away from the hug, grasping Austin's shoulders.

"How about this: after I finish this painting over here, you help me with the delivery, then we go to Zarios for dinner. That okay with you?"

Her son looked up and smiled. He nodded.

"Great. In the meantime, get your homework done, young man."

While she was painting, Lillie got a call from her sister-in-law, Nya.

"Hey, Nya. What's up?"

"Not much. You wanna join us for dinner tonight? We're having barbecue."

"Wish we could, but I promised Austin we'd go to Zarios tonight. Maybe another time?"

"Sure. See you later."

"Bye."

Little did mother and son know they were in for a surprise.

That night at Zarios-

Lillie and Austin were sitting at their booth enjoying the basketball game while eating. Well, Austin was enjoying it.

"What just happened? Why are some three pointers and others two pointers?" Austin just silently laughed and shook his head. Lillie slumped back in her seat. "I live with two men. Why don't I get sports?"

She looked up to see a waiter holding a tray coming their way.

"Austin, foods here." He sat up.

"So, for the boy, barbecue bacon cheeseburger, and eggplant parmigiana for his lovely mother." The waiter gave each of them their food.

"Thanks, Alan." Lillie told the waiter.

"Don't thank me just yet. I have one other surprise for you." Alan left, but another figure, in his army uniform, came over to the table, holding a bouquet of lilies for his wife. Both Lillie and Austin got up out of their seats.

"Kai?" Lillie asked, holding back her tears.

"Yep. It's me." He told her.

Lillie leapt into his arms while Austin was still standing in shock. Finally, he came out of his stupor and uttered his first word since Kai's departure.

"DAD!" He, too, leapt into Kai's arms. Lillie cried out with joy when Austin spoke again.

The family stood there, holding each other like there was no tomorrow while the rest of the restaurant cheered, averting their attention from the tv to the family. Kai was back, and that's all that mattered.

So did you enjoy? I hope so.

Next one is Zane. And he and his kid will be human.

Til then, take care y'all!

Gold Medal Ninja