Lego Ninjago Motherhood

by SGTheMagby019

Motherhood is a precious gift, but sometimes a mother must do things that take them away from their children, in order to protect them. Maya, Misako, Lilly, Libber, and two more have done just that. Some able to reunite with their children while one still waits for the time to reveal herself to her child. Enjoy these stories of a mother's love, dreams, strength, hope, and warmth.

Love

Sunlight filtered in through sheer, white curtains.

The half-way opened window allowed a soft breeze to slip in, ruffling the fabric gently.

The sweet aroma of wildflowers wafted throughout the sizable bedroom.

A songbird, perched at the windowsill bird feeder, warbled a morning tune, directly towards the slumbering form on the king-sized bed.

Stirring underneath the deep blue comforter, a head of blonde curls peeked out.

Followed by the rest of the figure, slowly revealing themselves from the warm cocoon they had formed in the blanket.

It was a young woman, mid-20s from her appearance.

Though her husband was constantly comparing her stunning, youthful glow, to the young models and actresses he saw at his day job.

Making her sound like she was still a teenager, which she could have very easily passed for 17-19 if she was being honest with herself.

Her hair was a mess of pale gold, bedhead ridden, curls.

Framing her face angelically, before roughly running her hands through the tangles turning it into, in all appearances of, a bird's nest.

A very morning fashion for herself.

The blanket slid from her navy-blue, pajama clad body, as she stretched upwards, yawning, and blinking the sleep away.

Raising her arms above her head lifted the pajama top slightly, displaying her well-toned stomach muscles, that had just the barest hint of softness to it.

The sun dappled her features as she stretched.

Making her seem, almost ethereal, in the light.

"A goddess brimming with energy." Her husband consistently whispered to her. In these quiet moments of the morning when they'd be waking together in bed.

And afternoon.

Sometimes even in the evening.

When they'd be sitting on the large, five-seater sofa. Snuggling with an old Ninja movie playing on the TV.

His constant comments about her looks were not far off, considering she was the current holder of the Lightning Element and always had an energy around her.

A raw power. Pouring out of every pore of her body.

The young Elemental Master's husband had such a way with poetry when he was describing her beauty for her ears alone.

Or when they were out with a few of his work friends, and he just had to put her in the spotlight during the conversation to make her feel included.

He was not one to brag too frequently about much in his life. Unless it was on the topic of his beautiful wife being an 'Elemental Master'.

Though that title tended to get mixed reactions on his buddies' faces, so she would have to take over and give a brief, at times simple, explanation on what an Elemental Master was.

Fortunately, she'd gotten exceptionally good at a shorthand method to telling his friends who she was and what her powers were.

Not everyone had been fully aware about what went on during those few years that humans and Snakes had been at war.

But Cliff had been invested day and night into her stories about her and her "family", fighting to protect Ninjago.

She did leave out a few details, but he never bugged her for them.

That reason, right there, was just one of the countless reasons she had fallen in love with the ordinary man, and not a fellow Elemental Master.

Setting her mind back on the task at hand, she began turning her waist.

Working out the stiffness she'd gained during sleep.

Feeling every satisfying crack as the joints slid back into proper alignment and the muscles loosened up.

"Mmmm that felt good." She murmured.

"4 whole hours of uninterrupted sleep, best I've had in about an entire year."

Sighing blissfully at feeling her body relax, she glanced at the bedside clock.

Its digital numbers beaming 8:15 A.M, which was exactly four hours since she last had to look at said clock.

Also, her reasoning for stating her few hours of undisturbed sleep, stood at attention right beside it.

It was a short, rectangular, hand-held monitor, with a row of small, clear, spherical orbs that would light up if it picked up sounds, which would come through the microphone portion of the device.

Decorated with little stars, indented in the off-white and pale blue, plastic covering, with a bunch of added little lightning bolt stickers she had found on a recent shopping excursion.

The young woman stared at it for not more than two seconds, when suddenly the dots lit up as it picked up a sound.

The tell-tale staticky gurgles and whimpers of a baby just waking up had the new mother throwing off the covers, revealing more of her silk pajamas. Which were embroidered with bluebirds.

Covering the garment from neckline to pant cuff in varying shades of blue.

Sliding her bare feet into a pair of Blue Jay slippers, she sped to the door and yanked it open, taking care to not use enough force as to dent the nice white wall behind it.

Going two doors down to the right, the woman opened a dark blue door with a star-studded name plate on it that one would find on a dressing room door to an actor/actress.

JAY was the name.

Written in light blue paint, in her husband's signature, flowing, handwriting.

Her own would have made a much less impressive announcementas to whom was in the room.

Opening the door released the full volume of the baby's cries, making their mother's heart break.

While, at the same time, causing a big smile to break out on her face.

Striding up to the electric blue crib, that was way more extravagant than she had planned on having her child sleep in, the new mother peered down at her wide awake 8-month-old son.

Who was thrashing about like he was fighting an octopus out in the stormy sea.

"Well good morning to you too, my hungry baby bird. You're ready for breakfast I see." The response from the baby was blinking his big, tear-filled eyes up at his mommy, before his lower lip trembled profusely and was promptly followed by a wail that could rival any thunderstorm.

His mom was not phased.

In fact, she let out a jovial laugh that rang throughout the room alongside her son's hunger cries, spreading out a wave of energy only she could feel.

Scooping her little boy up, and cradling him gently to her chest, almost immediately put a stop to his alarming cries, but left his cheeks red and tear-stained and his nose in desperate need of a tissue.

"Okay okay, eat first, talk later. And here I thought Lilly's boy was the constantly hungry one. Then again if you have my element, then you've also got my metabolism. Can you say meh-tab-oh-liz-um?" Chuckling at her own lame attempt at getting her son to speak, which did get a sweet, melodious giggle out of him, as well as replacing his "feed me" squawking's, she took a seat in a padded rocking chair.

The chair was electric blue, her favorite color for obvious reasons, and was so plush she could have fallen back asleep.

Having done so many, many times already, since she had to be woken up for late night/early morning feedings. Among other things that required her sleep schedule to be tossed out the window.

Shifting her top and cuddling Jay close, the mother and son fell into a comfortable silence. Enjoying the bonding moment that seemed to make time slow to a crawl.

Sometimes stop it all together.

After making sure Jay had a good latch, she let her eyes wander around the room.

All around, the amount of blue, in all its shades, with white and yellow accents made the room fit for a potential Master of Lightning down the road.

She considered the little toys, decorations, and still unpacked box of "hand-me-down" clothes from her friends Ray and Maya.

They had thought their new son Kai would end up liking blue, just like his mom.

Turns out, he was more like his dad and preferred reds and only reds.

That was what had been written in the letter that arrived with the box anyway.

Along with the story of the hilarious attempt to put Kai in a blue onesie, only for him to hastily spit up on it once it had been fastened.

"I wonder if Kai will inherit Maya's Water or Ray's Fire? It's always difficult to tell with two Elemental parents. Lucky for you, you don't have to worry about that Jay. Nuh uh. You, my sweet little blue jay, you only have one Elemental parent and that's your momma." She cooed and grinned ear to ear when Jay, still concentrating on breakfast, turned his head just so, looking directly into his mommy's eyes.

The Master of Lightning gently pulled her son closer, and nuzzled his wispy, auburn locks.

She kissed him four times on the forehead and he burbled a little before turning his full attention back to his meal.

She checked the rest of the room out as her son ate. A room she never got tired of looking over, as every new day with Jay in hers and her husband's life brought new memories.

And new nursery items.

Jay's former bassinet was being used as a stuffed animal bed, which was going to be put in storage soon anyway because Jay was amassing quiet the furry friend collection.

A hand carved, hand painted changing table was at the other end of the spacious room.

Complete with a little toy on a string that Jay could keep himself occupied with while being changed.

Picture frames, paintings, even a couple of movie posters, mostly from movies her husband had appeared in, in some capacity, were hung on the wall to make the room feel secure and not so big and scary for the infant.

The best thing in the room, aside from the rocking chair, was the mobile over Jay's crib.

All her closest friends had made a piece to put on it, each representing a part of themselves.

Some were small, like the delicate snowflake cut from glass that had facets inlaid in it to catch the light.

The plastic orb with water from the Endless Sea inside of it and a matching orb that was painted to look like it had a living flame inside as well.

Others were large, like the carved piece of rock in the shape of a lightning bolt, and the dragon that had to be attached to the top of the mobile, otherwise Jay would find it too tempting to pull down.

Plus, many more.

It was the only gift she received at her baby shower that made her burst into tears, and not because of pregnancy hormones.

Turning her gaze back to her son, she used her right foot to carefully push off the plush, sky blue carpet, into a gentle rocking motion.

Once Jay's stomach was full a few minutes later, he pulled off with a soft pop and was placed against a white cloth on his mommy's shoulder, whilst she alternated patting and rubbing his back to remove the gas pocket that had formed in his tiny tummy.

It took only a minute and a half before Jay burped. Not a big one, but it did startle him a bit from the sound.

As if realizing that the funny noise came out of him and not from thin air.

Bringing her son directly in front of her face, she giggled at his expression before moving to cradle him against her opposite side and fix her shirt.

Covered once more, she begrudgingly got up from the comfy chair as Jay began squirming in her arms, this time from another dire situation.

"Oh Jay, sometimes I think you're more wiggly snake than human baby." His mother cooed as she went to his closet and dug out a blue and white onesie.

Going to his dresser next, she snagged a clean pair of stretchy blue jeans before turning her attention on the changing table.

Laying her whimpering baby down she got to work removing his jammies, changing his diaper, and fitting him into his outfit for the day.

Jay's attention had been on his mommy at first, but was quickly preoccupied by the hanging toy above his head as he was changed for the first time that day.

His chubby hand shot up and swiped at the creature that resembled some sort of bird that looked like it stuck its wings in a wall socket.

Jay batted at the stuffed toy, mesmerized as it swung back and forth.

This gave his mommy the perfect time to get him dressed and lift him back up for more hugs.

"Eeeehhhhh!" Jay whined, reaching for the strange birdy.

His mom chuckled and patted the little bird toy's back.

"Can you say, 'bye bye bird friend'?"

"Gaba ga gaaab." Jay gurgled and started sucking on his fingertips.

Positioning Jay to sit right on the curve of her hip, the young woman left the nursery and headed for the stairwell.

Humming a merry tune, which her son tried mimicking around his slobbery hand.

Once again, her baby's antics had her giggling and snuggling him as she stepped off the final step and into the main entrance way.

Passing by a large pot, that held a tall, fake fern, plant within its plastic soil.

The mother and son duo walked through the living room into the small dining area that connected to the open area kitchen.

Sitting at the dining table, grapefruit slices on a plate and a script laid out in front of him was the up-and-coming actor, Cliff Gordon.

His dark hair was slicked back. He had on a plain white shirt, form fitting jeans, and his house shoes.

His well-trimmed mustache looked out of place on his face, but he said it gave him an older, more distinguished look.

Which his wife didn't care for all that much on him.

But she wasn't going to tell him to go shave off that caterpillar just so she could kiss him.

With a hop in her step and Jay cooing loudly on her hip, the young Elemental Master strode up to her husband, clearly absorbed in rereading lines for his newest movie part.

Which wasn't even a big part to begin with, just him saying a couple lines to the lead female and male role then running off with the other movie extras as some monster attacked 'Ninjago City'.

She kissed his cheek to awaken him from his trance.

"Morning sunshine." Hearing his wife's melodious voice, and his son's cheery squeals, took Cliff's attention away from the script to properly greet his family.

"Libber! My adorable lightning fairy!" Cliff wrapped his arms around Libber's waist, being careful not to pull to hard and make Jay tumble out of her arms and kissed her seven times.

Four on the cheek and three on the lips.

"And Jay, my sparkling lil' blue ball of energy! Did you wake mommy up again with your rooster calls? You know she needs her beauty sleep. Though she's beautiful even when she gets only three hours of sleep." The young father chortled making his son flail his drool covered hand and kick out his feet in glee.

"For your information, I was able to get four hours of sleep before Jay woke me up." Libber stated proudly.

"Well, that's even better!" The couple laughed together before gazing lovingly at Jay, who was looking back at his parents before nuzzling his nose into his mommy's collarbone.

"So, you have any filming today?" Libber asked, taking a seat next to Cliff, who handed her a grapefruit slice before answering.

"No, but I am meeting with a few of the cast to discuss our scene here."

"You mean the only scene you speak in? The only scene that shows your dreamy face. Full, front, and center?"

The actor nodded, a far off look in his eyes as he gazed wondrously at the beautiful woman before him.

Eating the juicy fruit while holding their young son, who looked determined to try and squish the grapefruit slice in his mommy's hand.

"Cliff. Cliff? Yoo hoo sunshine." Libber waved her now empty hand in front of the actor's face and snapped him out of his daze.

"Oh, sorry my dear lightning bug, I was just so taken in by your beauty again I didn't hear you." Libber's cheeks turned a rosy pink before handing Jay over to his father and getting back up.

"I'm getting my breakfast; do you need anything?"

"Just a cup of coffee, if you please."

Nodding, and blowing a kiss to her husband and son, Libber walked with a spring in her step and a whistle on her lips into the kitchen to whip herself up a healthy breakfast.

The kitchen was all white walls and cabinets, blue marble countertops, and chrome appliances gave the kitchen a vibrant atmosphere.

The Lightning Elemental had been happy when Cliff let her choose the kitchen colors, because if he'd had it his way there would be no blue, or any color really, to separate from the stark white he preferred.

Opening the two-door fridge, Libber grabbed all that she needed inside before moving over to the bread box and pan rack. She flipped the coffee maker on, knowing full well Cliff had placed everything inside already but had become too wrapped up in his reading to properly start the machine. Putting the pan on the stove and turning it on low, Libber began making her breakfast.

---

Upon returning with a plate of scrambled eggs, wheat toast with blueberry jam, milk for her, and coffee for her husband, Libber was somewhat surprised to see Jay sitting in his highchair. Something they only did when they could not eat with just one hand or had guests over.

Cliff had his nose deep in the script when his much-needed coffee was placed in his direct eyesight.

"Why aren't you holding Jay dear? You hardly ever put him down when it's just the two of us?" Libber wondered politely. Cliff took a long sip from his favorite white, blue, and gold mug. Libber waited patiently for her loved one's answer, setting the plate down on the table and picking Jay back up, who looked very disgruntled about being away from his daddy and that big stack of papers he was playing with.

When Cliff finally had enough of the creamy, cinnamon-flavored liquid, scalding his throat, he glanced up to see his wife holding their pouting baby boy again.

"Huh, Libber? I thought you were still making breakfast?" He questioned, not spotting the concerned look on his lovely wife's face.

"I was, I did, and I'm the one who brought you your coffee. Who did you think it was, Emma? Remember, you gave her the day off so the three of us could spend the day together?" Emma was Cliff's housekeeper, though she'd only been meant to stay while Libber was pregnant, and for the first couple months after Jay was born. But she stuck around, even though Libber could easily put Jay in a baby sling and do most of the house chores herself, with him close to her still.

In fact, it was doing chores that help her work off her 'baby belly', and it was relaxing too. After all, when you fight for almost 4 years, first the ancient Snake race that were bent on ruling Ninjago, then two Elemental Masters who thought they now deserved to rule, you kind of miss the mundane housework after a while.

"Oh right." Cliff started. "Guess I've lost myself in my work again." He laughed lightly.

Under normal circumstances his chortles, made even more sensuous in that deep voice of his, usually made Libber feel weak in the knees and had her sighing like a lovestruck farm girl.

But now, she just stared intently at her husband.

"Why did you put Jay in his highchair Cliff?" She asked again, this time with his full attention.

"Oh. Well Jay had grabbed one of the grapefruit slices and proceeded to try and touch my script at the same time. I told him not to. That it was daddy's paper not his, but he kept trying to anyway. That's why I put him in there."

"You put him in his chair, because he was interested in what you were looking at and wanted to play?" Libber looked from father to son incredulously.

Never had Cliff not played with Jay when he tried touching his scripts, or the newspaper, or even the newest issue of Ninjago Star. The local magazine that covered movies, actors/actresses, and all the big named celebrities in Ninjago. He would play keep away with Jay whenever the baby showed an interest in what Cliff would be reading.

Maybe it was all because this was the first role that Cliff was taking so seriously. With the star-studded cast she'd been hearing about for months, set to appear in this latest film, were sure to not only bring in a lot of viewers but also big breaks for some of the low-key actors and actresses.

Her husband went on and on about it ever since he got chosen for his part. That this was the break he'd been waiting for. It would take him far into stardom, and along for the journey would be his own two shining stars.

Still, this attitude was not normal for him when it came to spending time with his son. But, since he was dedicated to doing his best in this movie, Libber wrote off his behavior as just wanting to do his utmost best and get the big roles he'd always dreamed of.

The family of three ate in silence. Even Jay wasn't as animated as he usually was during family meals. He did get a small bite of egg and jam-covered toast. He loved the blueberry jam but wasn't too fond of the eggs. At least how Libber made them. Extra crispy.

Oh well. He was still young enough that he had all kinds of chances to try new things and figure out what he liked, or didn't like, when it came to foods. Though if Libber was being honest, she had high hopes that he'd come to love his food a bit more on the crunchy side. Just another quirk of the Element of Lightning bearers.

But, even if he didn't get her element, which she doubted he wouldn't, the two could still have fun making all sorts of recipes together. Something she had missed out on, growing up without a mother of her own.

She'd had her dad, who was the Master of Lightning before her, but his teachings didn't extend to the culinary sense. In fact, the only reason Libber could make food, that others, beside herself, found palatable, was because of the friends she made while training to fight the Serpentine Tribes.

Ray, Master of Fire, was the one who taught her the most about not making food so burnt it looked like she cooked it with her element.

I mean…he wasn't entirely off the mark. But it was one time.

And the oven wasn't working. And she did just discover she could make lightning appear in her hands, so what if it was more charcoal than cheese. She still thought it tasted okay. If not a bit dry. She also had to brush her teeth twenty times to get the taste out.

Yeah okay, she should just stick to deep frying training dummies, not grilled cheese sandwiches.

Once she proved she wouldn't try using lightning to cook things she wanted to eat, Ray showed her how to make food from his home village and First Spinjitzu Master he made the most delicious Ignacian dishes! From pastries to rice balls, even the best meat buns she'd ever had!

Next time she could, she was taking Jay, and maybe Cliff, to see Ray and Maya, maybe even have Lilly and her family join in, and have them all share a meal together. While their sons played and hopefully became friends as well.

The clattering of ceramics brought Libber out of her daydream. No longer was she in the Monastery kitchen but hers and her husband's dining room. Jay was gently tugging on her pajama collar, making her realize she was still wearing them. She also saw that the plate she'd brought in was no longer in front of her, but the glass of milk was. Flinging her head side to side, she saw Cliff making his way into the kitchen with a pile of their dirty dishes.

Quickly, Libber swallowed the last half of her milk, making Jay squeal with laughter at his mommy's funny drinking, before he was jostled a bit as she stood up with him. Clutched in her arms like a rag doll, which she instantly corrected her hold on once she was on her feet and followed her man into the kitchen.

"Here Libs, I'll take Jay while you go get dressed." Cliff held his arms out expectantly to hold his son, who immediately reached out to grab at his daddy's hands. Placing the squirming infant in her husband's arms, giving each male a quick kiss on the cheek, she set her glass in the sink and headed back to the staircase.

"Be down in a flash you two." She hollered as father and son made their way to the living room, stopping at the table so Cliff could grab his script. Inside the bedroom, Libber stepped into the huge walk-in closet, which could have been made into another bathroom or smaller guest room with how spacious it was.

She strode to her designated portion of the closet and grabbed an outfit consisting of a navy-blue tank top, dark grey capris, a clean, dark blue, nursing bra, and a well-worn jean jacket. Cliff had gotten it for her for their first Christmas together. She didn't plan on wearing the jacket unless she took Jay outside, which she might want to do anyway to check the pool and hot tub in case they needed to be cleaned. Thinking about house chores had her remembering growing up in what was nothing more than a small, one story house. In a poor village, way out in the countryside of Ninjago.

And, having an extremely strict training regimen from her father meant that for her, the household chores became her only get away from the stress that was put on her. Being the Elemental Master of Lightning was very tasking. So, when she was at the Monastery, and later moved in with Cliff, anytime chores needed to be done-that didn't include cooking-she jumped at the chance.

Another attribute that Masters of Lightning had, was an inexhaustible amount of energy. Even if their lightning was depleted, they still somehow managed to find a reserve, somewhere.

Some scholars, in the Elemental Masters' circle, found that if the Master of Lightning was near sources where electrical currents flowed, whether at the Floating Ruins or just around a group of people, they could literally yank the electricity out of the air. Also obtaining it from storms-sometimes up to 10 miles away-special animals, or by creating static electricity. Any of these ways would still give a Master of Lightning enough juice to keep going, mostly while fighting for long periods of time.

Libber was thrown compliments left and right for her boundless energy, though sometimes those compliments were a bit on the, "stop your story on how you zapped twelve squirrels into doing the electric slide and get back to your sparing" side.

Once she was fully clothed, she bounced, bare foot, down the steps, humming a song she'd heard over the radio yesterday, and twirled into the living room. Stopping at the entrance she found another, strangely peculiar, sight. Cliff was, once again, completely gone to the world as he focused on his script. While Jay was being kept occupied with a heap of stuffed toys. None of which he even touched.

Instead, he was solely focused on why his daddy wasn't down on the floor playing with him. Libber acted quickly, so as not to have her baby bluebird start crying, and swooped down onto him. Laying him on the rug and tickling his tummy with reckless abandon.

Jay squealed loudly, though not enough as to garner Cliff's attention away from the hefty booklet he was absorbed in. The little boy didn't care anymore, because he had mommy to play with him now. She tickled up and down his sides and tummy; simply brushing her fingertips over the pad of Jay's foot sent him into a burst of high-pitched squeals, bubbly giggles, and kicks.

"Oooh Cliff did you see that! I think Jay almost did a round house kick! Yes you did baby Jay! Oh look at you, now you're making a fist, you are going to make a great fighter one day!" Libber cooed loudly alongside her son, who kicked and wiggled his fisted hands about, making his mommy smile wider.

Libber leaned closer and blew loud, noisy raspberries on her son's clothed tummy, sending her boy in for another round of giggles and squeals. The pair continued playing while Cliff remained dead set on finishing going over the script, even though Libber knew her husband knew every line in there by heart. She always commented on how versatile he was with his acting skills. Able to make his voice higher or lower depending on the role.

He could even play a female role, if he shaved off that wimpy bit of fuzz he dares call a mustache. Pierce had more hair on his face than Cliff and that man never grew a full beard in the time she had known the Previous Master of Earth anyway.

Previous, because his daughter had gained his powers only a week after the sealing of the Serpentine. Then disappeared for a few more to who knows where. Leaving her father to fight the Time Twins without his powers. Luckily that man had been as strong as he was stubborn, with or without his Element.

Libber was tugged out of her musings, literally, when Jay pulled at a chunk of her hair.

"Ahh, owie there Jay Jay. Mommy's hair is attached to her head silly." Carefully, the Master of Lightning removed her son's vice-like grip from her golden locks. When she managed to pull her son's hand from her hair, she held the same hand in hers.

So tiny compared to her own.

Smooth with the softness of youth, while hers were calloused from fighting with either a weapon, she preferred Nunchucks over Katanas but could fight with either if the need arose, or from using her powers. Cliff may still say that her hands were as soft as velvet, but she gathered he was just making her fell less self-conscious. He'd even gone and gotten her the best hand creams he could find, which she did use before she fell asleep at night.

She kissed Jay's teeny hand while he cooed and attempted at rolling onto his stomach. Libber let his hand go and encouraged hers and Cliff's son.

"C'mon baby bird, you got this! Cliff, look at our boy, I think he's ready to crawl!"

Cliff shut his script, finally finished with the monstrosity, and watched with widened eyes as his beloved son managed to scrunch his legs underneath his belly. Reach a determined hand out. And set it right on Cliff's shoe-clad foot.

"Ahbagah!" Jay shouted in baby talk.

"Awww he's got you daddy." Libber laughed and sat up.

"Well lil' man, what'cha gonna do now that you've caught daddy in your tiny clutches?" Cliff chortled in his deep "actor" voice. Jay looked up at the beaming face of his dad, mimicking it, and showing off the two tiny teeth that were budding in his gummy mouth.

"Ahgagoo!" Jay lifted his other hand, scooched his knees closer, and slapped the little hand down on Cliff's other house shoe.

"Oh no, the fierce warrior has trapped me, who shall save me now?!" Cliff feigned a dramatic swooning pose as if he were on a stage, performing for a full house.

"I shall rescue you handsome, brave, fearless villager! For I am Libber Joules Gordon-Master of Tickles!" Libber proclaimed in an equally over the top title, as her husband had most recently done in one of his newest movies.

"Oh beautiful goddess, my fate is in your hands! Mistress of Tickles save me from this horrendous creature!" Cliff proclaimed in his finest 'damsel in distress' voice. Libber smirked at her baby, who was giggling wildly at his parents' funny voices, when suddenly, he was picked up and swung in a circle once. Before his mommy mercifully tickled him until he was nothing but a pile of cackles.

Libber plopped herself next to Cliff and both joined in the tickle fight. Cliff managing to sneak a few brushes to his wife's side, which sent her shrieking and hugging herself into a ball. Careful not to smoosh Jay, who wasn't bothered in the slightest.

"I see now that my savior's title of 'Master of Tickles' fits her so well, though my dear, you are quite ticklish yourself." Cliff remarked, as his wife and child were both still laughing and giggling their heads off.

"W-Well it-it's just another part of being a Master o-of an ElemENT!" Libber was poked in her side and erupted into another round of raucous laughter. Cliff chuckled and hugged his wife and son against his chest. Slowly, the family came down off their laughing high. Jay snuggled close to his mommy's chest while a hand grasped at air until he felt something collide with it. Holding his son's hand in his own, Cliff was filled with so much pride and love for these two.

It was unfathomable to him. Even after almost 10 years of marriage to the beautiful Master of Lightning. And, their beautiful baby boy. Who was just what they needed to make their family even better.

The Gordon family stayed in compatible silence for what felt like hours, but was a mere two minutes, because Cliff's watch alarm suddenly beeped.

"Do…do you have to go?" Libber asked sadly when Cliff pressed the off button on his watch's alarm.

"I do sweetheart. I'm sorry, but when I get back, we can go out to Ninjago City Park and take Jay for an evening stroll. Then, maybe get some ice cream?" Cliff let go of Jay's hand, who whimpered sadly at the loss of contact with his daddy.

Libber disentangled herself from her husband's warm embrace and sat Jay down on her knees, gently bouncing them up and down to mimic a pony ride. It didn't make the baby happy one bit, and he expressed himself by throwing a small fit. Reaching out for another hug from his father, Cliff bent down and only kissed Jay's forehead and ruffling his hair.

"Take care of mommy son, I'll be back before you know it and we can play all night long. Won't that be fun?" But Jay just opened and closed his hands while fat tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I should be back before dinner, maybe you could make that meat stew I like?" Cliff inquired at his wife, who was hugging Jay to her shoulder so he could cling to her and cry out his frustrations.

"Y-Yeah Cliffy, I can make that. I think we've got everything…." Libber ran over the ingredients she needed and what was in their house to make the dish her husband so loved.

"Great! I love you both, have a wonderful day!" Cliff grabbed his script, changed into a pair of normal brown dress shoes, grabbed his car keys and wallet, and was out the door. Libber bolted up, Jay holding her shoulder like a lifeline, and went to the door just in time to see Cliff's car pull out of the garage. She turned her son around so he could face his daddy and held his wrist to make it wave as the young man honked his horn at his two loved ones, the proceeded to drive down the driveway and out of the heavily wooded area. Towards the city where he was meeting his fellow cast members.

When Cliff's car was no longer in view, Libber headed back inside, shutting the door behind her. Jay immediately kicked up his fit to a full-blown tantrum. He kicked and screeched, reaching for the closed door. Tears and drool dripping down his cheeks and nose.

The Master of Lightning paced the length of the entrance way. Going into the living room, around the kitchen, and up to the second floor. All while bouncing and whispering soothing tones to her miserable baby boy.

"Oh Jaybird, I know. I know. You wanted daddy to stay. Shhhh baby. It's hard that he couldn't stay and play with you right now, but daddy has a big job to do, and we must be supportive of him. I know you don't know what that means right now, but you will. And I know he'll keep his word and play with you all night tonight. So, you just cry out all your frustrations because mommy's here to help you get through this." Libber's comforting words did not calm her child down like she had hoped. And to be honest, she wasn't feeling much better about the situation either.

After walking the length of the upstairs hallway three times, she went into Jay's room, sat down in the rocking chair, and fixed her hold on Jay so they could cuddle together while she rocked him. Holding onto his mommy's tank top, with her heart thrumming beneath his head, Jay slowly began coming down from his tantrum. He still sniffed and rubbed his nose and eyes on his mommy's shirt, but wasn't shouting and screaming for his daddy to come back. He slipped his thumb into his mouth which told Libber he was finally calming. She kept the slow, steady rhythm going on the rocking chair before deciding Jay needed a song to lift his spirits again.

"Let the skies rumble,

Let the wind tumble,

As the trees and the beasts hunker on down

Let the lightning flow through,

And become one with you.

Let the storm break,

Rain pelting

Earth softening

The sky may quake,

But you are the maestro,

In this lightning orchestra

So sleep and dream

As the storm travels on

Sleep tight my little Jaybird.

My sweet and tender son."

Finishing the words, Libber kept humming the tune to Jay, grabbing a nearby tissue box, she carefully wiped his nose clean and dried his eyes. Jay was resting against her chest, thumb abandoned. Eyes closed and breath even. Deftly, Libber stood, but instead of placing Jay in his crib for a much-needed nap, she went into his closet and pulled out the baby sling. Maneuvering it on herself with Jay in hand was a lot more difficult than she realized but she managed to get him into it put it on. All without waking her auburn-haired baby.

"Okay Jay, mommy's got some chores to get done, so you just nap away until lunch time alright?" He simply snuggled into his mommy's hair, making Libber smile before she got to work on the house.

Three Hours Later

Cliff's clothes were in the dryer. Jay's were folded and Libber had just put hers in the washing machine when her little boy woke up and alerted her it was lunch time. She moved Jay around, so he was against her front and not her back, making it easier for both to eat lunch. Libber had a turkey, cheddar, and tomato sandwich, with sweet potato chips, and blueberry granola.

Jay was happy with milk, though when he stopped for his mommy to burp him, she offered him a blueberry, which he smacked on with his few teeth before going in for more milk. The news chattered in the background as the duo relaxed on the couch in the early afternoon light.

"Temperatures will be in the mid to high seventies around Ninjago City, with a chance for a sandstorm on the outskirts. So, if you're making plans to head out into the Badlands, best bring an umbrella. Now, on to sports-" Libber shut the television off after the weatherman finished his report. She burped Jay a third time before fixing her bra and shirt and holding her son to eye level.

"Well now that we've had lunch, I've cleaned most of the house and laundry is almost done, what should we do now Jay?" Jay looked around the room, from his toys in their basket by the couch, to the tv stand where all sorts of fun looking "toys", that he was not allowed to play with, rested. He huffed a tiny sigh and reached out for his mommy to hold him closer again.

Happily complying with her baby's needs, Libber hugged Jay, pretending to squeeze him like a Constrictai. Running her hand through Jay's soft hair, she knew why he wasn't his normal bubbly self. He was missing Cliff. And to be fair, so was Libber.

He had been spending a lot of time with the cast on this movie, even when it wasn't a filming day. She understood all the hard work that went in to making these movies successful. A lot of the sleepless nights were not just from taking care of Jay.

Cliff would still be up, while he should have been sleeping right beside her, when she'd get up to give Jay his late-night meal.

Or, the one night around about 2 A.M. Jay needed a bath, badly. Cliff offered to give it to him so Libber could catch up on a couple hours of sleep, and so he could get some more reading done. This all had become routine in the Gordon household for the past three months. At least for this film.

When Libber had first been married to Cliff they'd had to put off their Honeymoon not once, but twice. Of course, the first one was unavoidable, because those terror twins of time decided that they should rule Ninjago. What kind of crazy thought process was going on in their heads that made them think they should rule?

Wu and Garmadon may not call themselves so, but they are the true rulers of all Ninjago.

Even the Emperor cannot go against them or fear he'll upset their father from beyond his grave. Which is why he's only a figure head and has no more power than a Village Council does. Even Ninjago City's mayor has more power than the Emperor.

But back to the twins. Libber, and her fellow Elemental Masters, suspected those human snakes, Chen and Clouse, had something to do with turning the Time Twins against them. Thankfully, Chen and his lacky were banished to a far-off island and the twins were lost in time.

And, if what Wu said was true, they would not return for decades. That would give the Master of Lightning plenty of time with her family. Train Jay in controlling Lightning, and finally have a relaxing, normal life. At least as normal as your life can get when you are literally the Guardian of an Element of Creation in Ninjago.

The second reason why they had to cancel their honeymoon was, Cliff got invited to play a small part in a movie. And, that minimal role had landed this slightly larger role that he was currently stressing over. But, they finally got that Honeymoon afterwards. Way down on the Southern Islands of Ninjago's South Coast, where the sand was both white and black and the breeze's sweet with the aroma of hibiscus blossoms.

Libber had been tempted to never leave there, but the sudden and jarring word of her father dying, brought her and Cliff back to her old home, where she was able to be there for the man's final breaths. He may have been strict, even ruthless at times, especially when her powers awakened. But he was all she'd had left of her closest blood family.

As the sun fully set on her father's life, Libber openly wept in front of his now lifeless body. Something she'd never done in so long, for him. Cliff stayed with her in her old home that night, and when morning came, she left for the Monastery, telling Wu and Garmadon, along with a few of her fellow Elemental Masters who were visiting, that the Previous Master of Lightning had moved on to the Departed Realm.

They gathered in the village of Libber's upbringing and gave Joules a proper Elemental Master Funeral. Tears and stories were shared by the Masters who knew her father when he controlled the Lightning Element. Namely the Masters of Ice and Gravity, who had been around to see her father, 'The Lightning Titan'. As he was so aptly nicknamed in his youth.

Both of these men had taken the roles of father and uncle figures to Libber when she first began her training with the Elemental Alliance, so their words were even more comforting. Once her father was buried safely in the ground everyone backed away, as Libber unleashed her full Elemental might above her. Turning the sky from sapphire blue to midnight black.

Villagers scattered for shelter as the Lightning Master's storm covered the entire area. Other Masters used their Elements to redirect the bolts of lightning that were caused by Libber's grief. And, perhaps some pent-up anger and frustration still bottled within her heart.

Libber forced herself out of that memory and came back to the present. Where she was a parent now. A wife, and no longer having to live up to her father's ways. In the end though, no matter the things he had done or said to her, she still loved and respected him.

"Amamama." Jay cooed and softly patted his mama's cheek, which had grown damp from tears she hadn't realized she had shed. Swiping away the wetness and cradling Jay against her, she smiled at her son as an idea popped up.

"Why don't we go out for a bit huh? Maybe find daddy and get some ice cream early, how does that sound Jaybird?"

"Dabbaa!" Jay squealed and nuzzled his head against his mommy's neck.

"Alright then, it's decided."

"Ayyyya!" Libber stood up as Jay babbled excitedly. Before going out to locate the third member of their family, Jay needed a change and his bag packed, so the pair went up the stairs. Jay jabbering nonsensical words in Libber's ear as they reached his room, where his needs were taken care of swiftly.

After her son was changed, the young mother packed a baby blue diaper bag that had a bird motif printed all over the fabric. Even the zipper was in the shape of a little cartoony bird. She also put Jay in a light blue jacket before going back downstairs and to the living room, where she'd placed his baby sling and her own jacket. Grabbing a bottle of water for herself from the fridge, and some extra blueberries to snack on while she and Jay searched for Cliff, the two were ready to go.

Locking up the Villa, making sure Jay was secured in the sling and his diaper bag wasn't in the way, Libber walked along the cobblestone pathway that wound through the trees, giving their home a nice, hide-away feel.

"It'll become useful once I'm a big star my glittering lightning bug." Had been Cliff's reasoning to buying this house so far from the city. But Libber loved it. Waking up to birds chirping at the window feeders. Listening to the rain pitter patter on the trees. And watching the moon wink at her through the foliage as it rose at night. Yes, Libber loved her little house hidden from view, but she needed wide open spaces too.

In order to effectively use her Lightning. And not just her Element, but her Elemental Dragon as well.

"Okay Jay, get ready to see mommy do some magic!" Libber giggled and Jay's bright eyes widened as he observed his mommy's hands crackle with pure electricity. She performed a strange kind of dance, mostly waving her arms about in a strange pattern. Gathering up the necessary energy she desired for what she was about to create. The Lightning Master stopped in the middle of the open road and let her element form itself into one of her best companions.

A roar like a cross between a thunderstorm and a lion sent a tingle of excitement up Libber's spine as Jay let out a cry of fear and hid his face in her hair, clutching the pale, golden strands tight.

"Ah, ahh there Jay Jay, easy on mommy's hair, okay? Look, he won't hurt you, I promise." Libber comforted, closing the gap between them and her Elemental Dragon and gently rubbed his muzzle. The Electrified beast rumbled a greeting to his companion, before his head tilted at the tiny human trying to hide from him. Seeing her dragon's curiosity peaked by her baby, Libber grinned.

"This is my son, Jay. He'll be able to summon you one day my friend. But be careful, he's only a baby." The infant cautiously peeked from behind his mommy's curtain of hair to see the huge scaly face staring at him. Jay started really crying now and the dragon baulked at the sudden noise coming from the miniature human. He studied his Master bouncing the baby on her back, quieting him with calming noises.

The dragon warbled lowly, assisting in reassuring the upset child, as well as showing his Master that he would protect her heir as he protected her. Hearing the new noise, Jay cracked his teary eyes open and found himself facing a massive face, with a deep blue dragon eye, staring kindly at him.

"See there Blue Jay, he wants to be your friend. You can pet him too. Here, watch mommy." Jay's eyes grew to the size of saucers as his mommy rubbed the bridge of the lightning dragon's snout. Cooing to her companion, much like she did with Jay. Only, less baby talk.

Tentatively, as he saw the blue monster wasn't hurting mommy, Jay reached a hand and the dragon held perfectly still as to allow Libber's offspring to touch him on his muzzle. Jay's hand barely brushed the great dragon's nostril ridge and a surge of electricity unleashed from his form. Washing over the two humans in a brilliant blue light. It lasted only a second, and when the sparks vanished Jay had the biggest grin on his chubby face.

"Ah-ga!" Libber laughed and mounted her dragon with Jay squealing and cooing loudly.

"Well boy looks like you helped confirm it, Jay's gonna be the next Master of Lightning. Now let's go find Cliff. Yah!" The current Master of Lightning took up her dragon's reins, gave them a hearty flick, and with a crack of thunderous wings, the trio was airborne.

High up into the azure sky. Not too high though, Libber wasn't about to give her son a flying lesson at 200ft. Just yet.

"Woo hoo! What do you think Blue Jay? You're flying as high as the birds now!" Libber shouted over the wind rushing past her ears. Jay peeked over his mommy's shoulder as the ground sped by in a blur of greens and browns.

"Ohhhh." He cooed and the Dragon warbled too, making Jay laugh with the great lightning beast. Within minutes they were over the central hub of Ninjago City.

"Okay boy, take us over the skyline, you can set us down in park." With a flick of her hands her Lightning Elemental Dragon shook his head gleefully and snapped his wings, creating a sonic boom-like noise. The pedestrians beneath him covered their ears and turned their heads skyward, wondering if a jet had just flown by. All anyone saw was a flash of blue sparkle in the afternoon sunlight.

As the random city goers went back to their everyday lives, the Lightning Master, her son, and her dragon, arrived at the park in seconds.

"Okay now bud, take us down nice and easy. I don't want Jay to fall out if I try parkouring off your back like I normally do." Libber double checked Jay's state securely in the sling. The baby boy was happily gurgling, blowing a couple spit bubbles and squealing as they popped. Her dragon landed on the downy grass, gentle as a feather, and turned his head around to blink his huge, stormy blue eyes, at his master.

Slowly, Libber hopped down from the saddle, onto her dragon's lifted leg-that was acting as a step stool for her-and was lowered to the ground. Jay not even moving an inch.

"Thank you, my friend. Rest now, I'll call you again soon." Libber placed a cupped hand against her companion's vibrating form, as he gave her a graceful bow of his head.

"Can you say thank you Jay Jay?"

"Adada!" He shouted gleefully. With a final farewell, the dragon disappeared in a spark of lightning and a roar like a freight train.

"Okay then, now that we've managed to chase off anyone within a five-mile radius, let's go look for daddy!" Libber shot her left arm up above her head. Jay copied with both arms and a high-pitched laugh.

"Uh oh." Libber suddenly realized one problem as she looked around Ninjago City Park. "I…don't remember where daddy was meeting those cast members."

"Gah, stupid Libber, ya should'a asked him before he left. But noooo, you were too content to just lie in his arms and bask in his strong grip and that cologne he wears. Okay, this isn't a problem Libs, you know that he was at least coming to the city so, logic dictates he and his work buddies must be at a café! Yeah! Since the studio is off in another city and he said he wouldn't be long. Which means he is here in Ninjago City because it's the closest to home." Jay listened intently as his mommy rambled on whilst walking back and forth on the path. He gave her shoulder a comforting pat, startling her slightly but she calmed down the instant she felt her baby move around.

"Thanks baby bird, mommy needed that. So, the cafés closest to the parking garage should be this way." Libber pointed to the northern entrance/exit of the park. Which headed into the heart of the city. Realigning the diaper bag and Jay, the mother and her child started off in the exact direction she had just been pointing. Hoping to find her husband and surprise him.

---

Jay was amazed at all the gargantuan structures that garnered his every attention. Every single noise was a whole new experience.

Some pleasant, like the street musicians playing an upbeat song with no words. Some pierced his ears and made him cringe, like the taxi drivers screeching and the bus horns honking.

"Ehhhhaa!" He cried out, but the cacophony surrounding him and his mommy was too loud for her to hear him.

"Ehhhh! Ehhhhhaaaa!" Jay tugged at Libber's hair and whined by her ear. Unable to really do much while walking, she cupped her arms underneath the baby sling and bounced it gently against her back as she flowed with the stream of people. Heading this way and that.

"This is why I don't like the city unless I'm above it." The Lightning Master complained as she stepped off the curb when the 'walk' sign lit up. Jay voiced his opinion, wanting to hurry this excursion along so he and his parents could go back to their nice, quiet, non-horn honking, tire screeching, general city noises, home. Finally, Libber came across the first of 12 cafes established in Ninjago City.

How any of them managed to keep open was beyond her, especially as there were four packed closely together.

"Guess so long as there's enough people buying coffee and sandwiches, all these cafes and coffee shops can keep open. Though I wish someone would put a tea shop around here, maybe I'll talk to Wu and he can ask Mistake to move her shop closer? Or probably not. Then she wouldn't be the "mystic tea lady" we all know and love. Or I know anyway, you Mr. Jay Gordon have yet to meet her. But you will, one of these days." Libber smiled at Jay from over her shoulder. Jay cooed, finally able to think and relax, now that most of the heavy traffic was gone and everyone on this street traveled by foot.

"Okay, which shop was Cliff going to?" Libber looked to the left, and so did Jay. Then, she looked to the right. Jay following right along, wholly baffled at this new game mommy wanted to play. But, if it would help find his daddy faster, then he would gladly join in.

Libber stepped off the sidewalk and onto a pedestrian cross walk, her feet deciding to go to the left where the first café on the block stood proudly between a shoe store and a music store. The decrepit building had been around long before Ninjago City was the gleaming wonder it became just a few short years ago.

"Hard to imagine it being anything other than this grand city that towers over everything from here to Jamanikai Village." Libber mused as she arrived at the foggy window. Stained with decades of grime, bird droppings, and some apparently new graffiti sprayed along the windowsill. Peering through the only clear spot, she couldn't see anyone resembling her husband. Only an old couple, the barista, and a busboy, who may have been a busgirl with that long hair they failed to tie back.

"Yeah, this isn't Cliff's, or his buddies, style of eatery." Libber quickly moved away from the window as a gentle coo above alerted her. Skittering back a few paces, the mother and son were spared an unwelcomed splatter by the pigeon that roosted overhead on an old flagpole.

"Always remember to be courteous to birds Jay Bird, unless you get an unwanted paint job in your hair." Libber educated Jay, who gave a somewhat knowing nod at this new information his young brain was now soaking up.

"Okay then, on to somewhere much more your daddy's style. Preferably high end and with coffee beans literally pouring out the front door." The young mother jostled Jay who giggled joyfully before continuing the trek to locate the missing member of their trio.

An hour and a half, two and a half blocks, a snack break for Libber, and a diaper change for Jay later, the pair reached their allotted destination and beheld the prize. The café was perched perfectly on a street corner, taking up half the block and positioned just like in those romance movie settings.

Curlicue metal chairs, with more intricate designs than Nickolas's snowflakes, were placed two to a table outside. The tables themselves were made of hardy wood and metal, equally stunning in their intricacy. Libber whistled lowly.

"Boy, would Ray love to see these. He'd probably faint, then go out and look for the maker of them just so he could get their design secrets."

Running her hand over the sun-warmed metal of an unoccupied chair the Master of Lightning felt Jay shift and squeal in her ear, breaking the spell she'd been caught in observing the craftsman ship.

"Adaada!" Flicking her head upwards and following Jay's grasping hands, Libber smiled as her husband's black hair caught her eyes.

"Cliff! Hey honey I-" Libber froze in mid step, in the direction to her husband's table. Which, he was not alone at.

The tables were mainly only able to accommodate two, but more people could gather around them by bringing chairs over, which is what the young woman expected to happen when Cliff went out to meet with his fellow cast members. What her eyes bestowed upon her was anything but that.

A woman about her age, could be younger or older it was hard to tell since she was clearly an actress, was sitting across from Cliff. They were so deep in their conversation that Libber could have lit up the sky with a slew of lightning bolts, and neither would've batted an eye. In fact, they looked like they had barely blinked, what with how deeply their gazes were locked on one another.

The woman laughed, a tinkling sound that reminded Libber of a small bell.

The type that may sound weak but carried with it a beauty that could move the strongest, most stoic man to tears. (Looking at you Pierce. When your daughter gave you that Christmas bell before you went off to join the Alliance in the Serpentine War) Cliff gave a small sigh when she did this.

That sigh. That exact sigh.

It was the same one he'd used towards Libber just that morning.

Was. Was he…flirting with his co-worker?

Jay was straining against the sling and was babbling profusely in Libber's ear, clearly trying to get her to move closer to Cliff. But the Lightning Master moved backwards instead. Jay was reaching over her shoulder, his cries for his daddy becoming louder. So loud, that Libber feared her husband and that woman would hear and turn and see the two of them standing there. Spying.

Now maybe Libber was wrong. Maybe Cliff was just pouring on his natural charm to this woman and she was the one mistaking it for him flirting. But then, Cliff touched her hand. Raised it to his lips, and Libber didn't stay to see him do what she knew he was going to do.

As swiftly as a ninja, Libber turned on her heels and ran for the other side of the street.

Jay watched as his mama ran from his daddy, who had finished kissing the strange lady's hand and placed it back down on the table. The woman, giggling and blushing even more, gently pushing against Cliff's shirt and he chuckled at her playfulness. He was confused and turned back to face the back of his mommy's head, who was running still, easily dodging pedestrians, fire hydrants, and newsstands. Her breath was coming out in short gasps and Jay was cooing in concern, but she couldn't hear her son over the blood pumping through her ears. Her head raced and her heart ached as the image of what she just witnessed wouldn't go away.

Finally, she stopped running. Hands on her knees, grasping at her pant legs as she gulped mouthfuls of air back into her lungs.

"Pardon me ma'am, are you alright?" A concerned voice overhead asked the panting woman.

Libber looked up at the stranger, her hair fallen over her face so they couldn't see the tears beginning to pool in her dark eyes.

"Y-Yes. I-I'm fi-fine." She puffed.

"Oh dear you should sit down, here take my spot." A second voice, this one feminine, spoke up and Libber brushed back her golden locks to see the woman, about ten years older than her, standing up and motioning to the seat she had just occupied. Unable to say no, as her legs felt like jelly after that run, Libber slowly settled herself onto the bench, which was for a bus stop.

Now that her breathing was getting under control, she could hear Jay's concerned babbles and whines, so she carefully switched her son's sling around, positioning him against her chest, and hugged him close. Biting back the tears that threatened to spill at any moment.

The bystanders waiting for the bus all asked if she was okay, if she needed a drink, or if there was anything they could do to help her.

There's nothing any one of them can do about what I just saw. Libber waved them off, reassuring them she and her son just wanted to get to the bus stop and go home.

The older woman, and her husband-who had been the first one to ask if she was okay-stood on the other side of her, constantly making sure she was alright and cooing over Jay, who was more concerned about his mommy not smiling than the new people around him. Jay patted her cheek and Libber kissed the top of his hand, nuzzling it with her cheek and looking into her baby's sweet face, that was twisted into a look of worry. And, perhaps fear for her well-being.

"Don't worry Jay Jay, mommy's okay." She whispered and kissed his forehead. Jay cooed lowly and snuggled against her as they both waited for the bus to arrive and take them home. Looks like there wouldn't be any ice cream today.

---

Once on the bus, Libber sat in the back, not wanting to be bothered. As the doors closed and the hydraulics kicked into gear, the bus lurched on into the bustling street as rush hour began.

Normally, Libber would be thrilled that Jay was experiencing another first in his young life, but she was too occupied with the thoughts of what she had witnessed still buzzing in her head. Like an angry swarm of Tiger Wasps.

Her somber mood was affecting Jay too as his normal, bubbly personality was replaced with concerned coos over his mommy's silence. Feeling her baby's grip on her shirt tighten, the Master of Lightning looked down and forced a smile. She pet Jay's auburn locks and kissed them, before turning her attention to the murky, bug smeared window.

Holding Jay snuggled to her chest, as if to assure herself she wasn't going to lose her little sparkler. Since it was clear she had lost her husband.

The bus ride was short, dropping Libber and Jay off about half a mile from their house, and as the pair watched the big vehicle lumber down the road, a new feeling filled the elemental master. She had to know if Cliff really was cheating on her. Holding Jay close and hefting the diaper bag up onto her shoulder again, Libber continued down the road to the cobblestone path that led to their front door.

Once her feet hit the stones, she gazed up at the beautifully crafted home, that now looked too flashy, and concealing. Jay let out a tired whine which made Libber happy in a way. She'd give him his dinner and put him to bed, then begin her investigating.

Moving deliberately up the walkway, Libber dug her keys out of jacket pocket, thinking for a split second if she should key Cliff's car once he went to bed, but shook that idea from her head and inserted the house key into the lock. The lock gave a smooth click and as soon as Libber opened the door, sunlight beamed through. Casting a golden yellow aura over the entrance way. Bathing everything it touched in a cozy, welcoming glow.

Libber only saw shadows hidden behind all that warmth, and when she shut the door behind her, the magical light dissipated. Everything now felt lifeless, almost like a museum at night. This was no longer a home to her, but a house, put on a display that her husband made to show off what a star he was.

"But stars burn out eventually." Libber mumbled to herself and made her way up the stairs and towards Jay's bedroom. Jay was cooing happily again, feeling safe and happy now that he was in a familiar place. Libber was glad he felt at home still, because of she found anything that proved Cliff to be not who she thought he was…this wouldn't be Jay's home for much longer if she had anything to do about it.

Inside the nursery, Libber actually felt better. In here everything was innocent, free of the coldness the rest of the house gave off now. Placing the diaper bag next to Jay's crib, she took the baby out of his sling and sat him down in his crib.

"Ehhhaaah AMaaa!" Jay whined, reaching his arms out to his mama.

"Hold on bluebird, let me just take my jacket off and I'll give you dinner." Libber chuckled as her son pouted cutely at having to wait. He was all her son, hardly any of Cliff had leaked into his personality. Yet. Once she discarded of the jacket, she scooped her grumbling boy up into her arms and settled back in the comfortable seat of the rocking chair. Lifting her shirt up and unclipping part of her nursing bra, she held Jay so he could latch on properly and chow down.

The sunlight that slipped into the room made everything feel warm and peaceful again, like it had been earlier that day. Even in the serenity of her son's room, with him hungrily nursing away, and giving off the cutest little noises as he did so, Libber was still too focused on what she had seen. And, if her husband, the very love of her life, who made her feel like she'd never felt before towards anyone, was now nothing more than a cheater.

Maybe even a womanizer.

But, she wasn't going to do anything rash until she had more evidence. For now, she turned her focus on her son, who's eyes were half-lidded as he enjoyed his warm, milky dinner in the glow of the setting sun, with his mommy's soft body and gentle heartbeat lulling him to sleep.

Libber hummed Jay's lullaby as she carefully burped him and switched him so he could have a full belly before bed. Her heart swelled with motherly love and protection for her little Jay. Like the day she found out she was pregnant. The first time she heard her child's heartbeat.

When she finally got to hold Jay after seven long hours of labor. She would do anything to protect her child. Even if that meant taking him away from his father. For fear his ideals would leech into Jay and he'd become exactly the kind of man Cliff seemed to be now.

Or, had he always been this way.

"No Libs, don't go down that path until you have clear cut evidence! Just, get Jay to bed then find your evidence." Libber heaved a heavy sigh and Jay whimpered at being moved.

"Sorry baby bird, you keep eating. Mommy's got to still make dinner anyway." Jay cooed and went back to nursing while Libber thought of what she could make for Cliff now, since she wasn't in the mood to give him his stew. Oh well, she'd figure out something. After she went on a different search.

Jay pulled off, signifying he was finished so Libber patted his back and chuckled at the burp that expelled from her son. Jay looked satisfied too, placing his head against his mommy's shoulder, belly full and ready for bed. Carefully, Libber fixed her bra and tank top before standing up, placing her hand under Jay's bottom and carried him to the changing table. She cleaned her son up and once he was in a snuggly nighttime diaper, she picked out a pair of plain blue pajamas. The young mother maneuvered her son's limbs into the one-piece pj's, which wasn't as simple as she'd hoped as her baby boy was very much limp with sleep.

"Guess it's not surprising you're so tired Jay Jay, you had a long day. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better for you pumpkin." Libber cooed and kissed Jay's cheek as she finished buttoning him into the pajamas and picked him up, hugging him tight. She felt his arms hug her shoulders, doing his best to mimic the hug, and her heart swelled with absolute love for her little lightning baby. She laid him in his crib, making sure he was comfortable, then closed the shade and turned on the nightlight, bathing the room in a gentle blue light, giving the entire room an underwater feel.

"Goodnight Jay, I love you. Sleep well my sparkler." Libber left the room, keeping the door open in case he awoke and cried.

"Now, to find out if my dear husband is truly the man I thought he was." With the determination of a detective out to solve a case, Libber headed to their room and began looking through anything that could prove she was worrying over nothing.

She checked the bedside tables, nothing but a reading light, a romance novel, that she bought for Cliff to help in his acting should he in a role that required him to act like he was romantically attracted to another woman.

Like he may have been with you.

Libber shut the draw and moved into the closet. She pulled open shoe boxes, because why would he keep the boxes when he had an entire shelf for his shoes. And, found nothing but dress shoes, dancing shoes, and sandals that she'd seen him wear for half a day when they went to walk along the pier of Ninjago City's harbor.

So far, she found no pieces of paper, or out of place "gifts" that would reveal him having a relationship outside of their marriage.

"I have to be overtired, that's why I'm thinking this way. Yeah, that's all it is. You know, I'll just ask Cliff about his meeting. He'll tell me the truth and my mind can be put to rest." Libber started downstairs, baby monitor from the master bedroom clutched in her left hand, her stomach growling from hunger.

"So, not up for making stew tonight but…looks like we have ingredients for lasagna! That'll make Cliff happy, and I can make the stew tomorrow. Maybe we can cook it together. Yeah, tomorrow things will be better." Libber grabbed a dish, the lasagna noodles, sauce, cheeses, and an assortment of veggies to add.

"Alright Libber, you can do this without turning it into charcoal, Let's cook!" And with renewed gusto, and faith in her husband's loyalty and love for her, the lightning master began making the delectable dish. Placing the ingredients in the correct order, with some extra cheese and sauce added for flavor, and because she loved extra cheese, she placed the dish in the oven, set it for the correct time, and double checking it was at the exact temperature, Libber left dinner to cook and went to relax in the living room.

The couch looked so inviting, so she crashed on it. Stomach first with the baby monitor and tv remote in her hands. She pressed the on button on the remote, turning on the evening news, while listening in on the monitor for Jay's gentle breathing. The news played on, going throughout the events of the day, which was fairly uneventful. A lot of things were, though with the Serpentine Sealed, the Time Twins lost in time, and Chen and his lackey banished to their own personal island, the world of Ninjago was definitely deserving some peace, and quiet.

Sitting up and stretching her back the young woman got off the couch and started turning on the lights, shutting the shades, peeking to see if Cliff was back yet, and just tidying up a bit. She walked to the long table that held family pictures, a flower vase that had been a wedding present from one of Cliff's family members, and a golden statue that Libber had always seen, but never gave her full attention to it. It looked like the awards that Cliff wanted to win some day for his acting, but it also seemed strange to her.

Slowly, Libber touched the statue. It felt, off to her.

She didn't have a lot of experience with awards and what materials they were made of, but if she was being honest, this felt like those cheap knockoffs you give your kids or family members on a birthday or Mother's/Father's Day. But, it also felt a lot more solid.

Wanting to get a better look at it, Libber grasped the figure in her hand and moved to pull it off the table, only for a something to click loudly and the wall next to the table slid open.

"A hidden passage?" Libber stared in wonder at the secret addition to the house revealed itself to her, and all because she wanted to see the award better. She walked towards the door and looked inside. What she saw, was actually not surprising.

"Of course he'd have a make-up room designed like a dressing room. Though, why keep it hidden?" Libber said aloud as she walked into the spacious room. There were replica costumes strewn over the floor, on the chair, and the make up table.

Pictures of him with directors, producers, co-stars, a few fans, and of course him and his lovely wife. Those were all over the sides of the mirror, on the wall-stuck with sticky tack-and attacked to some posters from movies he was an extra in but did not star in. The make-up table, aside from having it function as a dresser, had some of Cliff's concealers, colognes, and eyebrow pencils.

"I always did wonder why he never had more than his electric razor, cologne, and shaving cream in our bathroom, the rest of his stuff was all in here. Awww, he was being considerate. He built this place so I could have more room for my things in the bathroom. Though, I hardly have make-up, or anything that really takes up a lot of room. But still, this is pretty cool. Maybe I can help him organize it, especially these clothes."

Already Libber's mind was a flurry of wanting to help the love of her life keep his secret room looking professional, just like him. So, she decided to at least clean up and fold the clothes. Starting at a pile next to the table, Libber grabbed for a farmer's shirt, folded it perfectly, and laid it across the chair. Next were pants, followed by a puffy shirt she remembers Cliff abhorrently disliking, to the point every time he'd come home with it, he'd want to burn it.

Or have Libber rip it off him if he was feeling particularly frisky.

This one was just a replica of the shirt he wore in that TV special, but she guessed he bought it so he'd have it to remember his steps to becoming a full-fledged acting star. More pants, some looking like ones found in his closet upstairs, and a couple themed shirts from the gift stands at movie premiers he attended. There were also half a dozen socks, which luckily had their twin, so Libber rolled those up and tucked them in the legs of the pants.

Turning back to see if there were more clothes, she discovered what the pile of clothes were concealing. A book. On a smaller table. Bound in dark blue with a gold symbol at the top of the cover. There was more golden-yellow outline on the book cover as well as blue curls underneath the yellow sun-like design.

There were also words. The book's title. And, what Libber read, made her blood turn to ice and her heart sink.

"Cliff Gordon's Handbook and Guide to Wooing Women…." She shouldn't open it. She should put the book back, leave the room, go get dinner, and wait for her husband to come home so she could hug, kiss, and cuddle with him on the couch. But her hands had a mind of their own as they flipped the book open to the first page, which was the publishing information. Luckily, there was no dedication, just her husband's handwriting in the lower left corner. Cliff Gordon's Personal Copy.

Her hand flicked the page and staring her in the face was the first chapter's title, "Women love mystery. When talking to them, less is more." Something, deep in the recesses of her memory, told the Master of Lightning that Cliff had done something like this. But whether it was when they were first dating or lately, she couldn't recall.

She didn't bother reading all that was there in the chapter, in fact she should have closed the book then and there, but she had to see if there was more, considering how large the book was. When she flipped to the next chapter, not only did she regret it, but she felt her hands spark with little bits of electricity.

"Don't tell them the truth. Tell them what they want to hear."

"That son of an Anacondrai. That womanizing snake. That-that-that gah I can't even think of anything worse to call him right now!" Libber shouted as loud as she dared. Suddenly the oven timer went off, meaning dinner was ready. Placing the book back on its table, wishing she could singe it till it caught on fire but refrained from doing so, the charged-up lightning elemental left the not-so-secret room, placed the golden figure back in place, and stalked into the kitchen as the door closed.

Libber put on oven mitts and took out a perfectly cooked, gooey looking lasagna setting it to cool on the counter. She turned the oven off and paced the length of the kitchen, her hands drawn into fists that were sending off little bits of static electricity, which she kept under control as best she could so she didn't fry every circuit in the house. No matter how badly she wanted to.

How many. How many times had he not told her the truth?!

Was today just the first time, or were there others before. And, what about when she first met him, and as she gazed into his eyes, listening intently as he told her about himself, how was she now sure if those weren't more lies. For all she knew he was seeing another woman, or two, behind her back when they were dating.

Something flashed in the kitchen light and Libber looked down at her left hand. Her wedding band, gleaming pure gold in the bright light.

A feeling of tearing the ring off and throwing it in the garbage disposal crossed her mind. Or better yet, get Lilly to crush it. Yeah, then she could leave Cliff the twisted metal as a reminder of how he'd twisted Libber's heart. She wanted to cry now and had to stop pacing so she could scrub away the oncoming tears.

"Don't Libs, do not cry over this man anymore. That book proves it. He-he never loved you, you were just a new, shiny figure for him to shower with praise and love to boost his own ego. All those words he spoke in his vows, did they-did…they mean anything now?" Libber was tempted to grab the landline, dial Lilly or Ray and Maya's numbers, and tell them all what had happened. But, looking at the clock, the families would be sitting down to dinner at this moment, having just put their own children to bed. Just as she'd done.

And, her stomach growled hungrily. Her mouth watering as the aroma of cheese and sauce filled her nose.

"Okay Libber, eat something first then figure out what you're gonna do next about your husband." As quietly as she could, she got a plate, fork, and spatula out and dug into the mound of cheese, veggies, sauce, and noodles. She gave herself an extra big slice, filled a glass with milk, and ate at the counter, not caring the TV was still on in the background. Also, the baby monitor was back on the table where that mini statue was. She'd have to grab that before going upstairs. Not to mention she'd check on Jay-oh Jay.

Her sweet, innocent little baby.

One thing was for sure, whatever happened between her and Cliff, she was going to make sure Jay was not a part of it.

Finishing her dinner and downing her milk, Libber placed the dishes in the dishwasher, headed to the laundry room where Cliff's clothes were still in the dryer, so she folded them neatly. It would be the last kind thing she did for her husband until she got some answers out of him. Whenever that son of a Skulkin finally got home. It was almost 7 and usually, when cliff had gone out with his cast members, he'd be back around 5 or 6.

Once her clothes were tumbling in the dryer, Libber went to the living room, grabbed the baby monitor, and headed up the stairs to the bedrooms. She ducked inside Jay's room and found her little Blue Jay still fast asleep. That sight warmed her heart. She went back to hers and Cliff's room and decided to take a nice hot shower, hoping to get her thoughts straight on what she was going to do when Cliff, eventually, got home.

The water fell on her like warm rain in the summertime, casting away the days' aches and pains. If for the time being. She scrubbed at her body, hard enough that it stung but not so hard she took a layer of skin off. Like the feeling after you scratch yourself and run the area underwater, that's the feeling Libber wanted on her body right now.

As if by doing so, she erased the events and images she had the horror to stand witness to. But, it didn't help. She still saw the love of her life going in to kiss another woman's hand, and it wasn't a chivalrous kiss at that.

No.

This kiss, the way his eyes looked deep into hers. That was the exact same way he had ended their first date. The first date that had Libber head over heels in love with the small-time actor. Who, as soon as the Serpentine War was through, proposed to her.

They opted to elope instead of having a real marriage. Libber hadn't wanted to deal with the stress that came with the marriage ceremony and Cliff was alright not announcing he was tying the knot.

But, now with what she had seen, the jump at eloping on Cliff's part, may have been so other women wouldn't know he was off the market. She toyed with her wedding band, again feeling the burning desire to rip it off and send it flying into the forest. Or, bring it to Ray and have him melt it down and add the melted material to something else. Like the base of pot, a farmer's scythe, a metal toothpick! Yes, she had seen those, and it would be fitting, in a way.

The water was growing cold, so Libber shut it off, stepped out of the shower, and slowly dried herself off. Salty, crystalline tears dripped onto the plush towel and at last, she cried. She buried her face in the towel, muffling the sound, since she didn't need Jay waking up, and released all the anguish she'd been holding back from that afternoon.

The clock in the bathroom ticked by the minutes. Libber sobbed for 15 minutes straight before putting the towel around her shivering form, and turned to the bedroom to put on her pajamas. Once dressed and no longer cold, the master of lightning took a comb to her hair. Slowly working through the tangles, running her hands through the wet locks, watching them curl up at the ends.

The woman that looked back at her in the mirror was someone Libber did not know. Gone was the energetic ray of bubbliness, who loved her friends and family more than the entire Realm of Ninjago.

More than butterscotch ice cream. More than a lightning storm. More than….

Than her own pitiful life.

Placing the comb in her drawer on the bathroom vanity, the young woman pressed the palms of her hands into her eyes until she saw spots flash in the darkness. Her head was aching after all that crying she'd done. A glance at the clock showed it was 8:15. Still Cliff had not come home.

Because, when the actor did, he always made a booming entrance, even after they had Jay, he would announce himself to the entire household he was back home. Jay usually woke up crying but was quickly quieted by the sight of his daddy. A sight, Libber feared, would fade away. If she did what she had been thinking about doing.

Turning out the light in the bathroom, the young lightning master checked on her son. Still sleeping without a care in the world. She smiled and walked downstairs to the living room. Just as she had settled herself on the sofa to watch whatever mind-numbing thing was on the TV still, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway had Libber sitting up faster than a bolt of lightning.

Nearly tripping over her own feet to get to the front door, Libber peeked through the window just to see Cliff parking the car in the driveway and stepping out. Even from the angle she was at, she could see his lips pursed in a whistle. Like he was returning home from a day at work. Everything being peachy-keen.

Just as the Lightning master grasped the doorknob, a muffed cry came from upstairs. Jay was awake and more than likely in need of a change, so she released the knob and turned on her heel, taking the steps two at a time to get to her son's room and care for him. Instead of meeting her husband at the door and, hopefully, get some straight answers out of him.

Once she reached the second floor landing her son's cry were much more apparent, so she swiftly made her way to his room and once she was there her heart broke at the sight. Jay's face was redder than Ray's after a day in the forge. His tiny arms lashing against the padded side of his crib while his mouth was wide open in a howl. Spittle and tears mixed collectively on the baby's face and Libber wasted no more time in scooping her precious sparkler up.

Holding him to her chest she soothingly shushed him, trying to hum a merry tune but Jay's crying completely deafened her voice. She laid her son on his changing table, only for him to look at her with tear-filled eyes, hands opening and closing, wanting to be held more.

"Oh Jay, did you have a nightmare bluebird?" Libber cooed and picked her son back up, nuzzling the top of his head as she let him drip tears, drool, and some snot on her shirt.

"WAAAAAAAAHHHHAAHHHAHHHHHH!" Jay cried. Libber felt Jay's bottom and sighed. She couldn't put off changing him any longer or he'd get a rash and just cry harder while being in discomfort.

"I know you want to be held right now baby, but mommy's got to change your diaper, okay? Then we can cuddle." Trying to reason with the infant didn't go over well. His hands gripping her tighter, but Libber was still stronger and managed to untangle her son's grip and begin the process of changing him.

"Hello? Libber? Jay, where are you?!" Cliff hollered.

"We're upstairs in Jay's room!" Libber announced. The hurried padding of sock-clothed feet up the stairs alerted her that her husband had arrived. Looking into the dimly lit room, Cliff flicked on the ceiling light, causing Jay to shriek at the offending brightness and Libber to wince as her eyes had to immediately adjust as well.

"Oops, sorry about that you two." Cliff sheepishly apologized and turned on the lamp lights, after turning the brighter one on the ceiling fan off.

"It's fine honey, but could you find a toy for Jay to hold, I need to change him but he's being extra clingy right now." The actor nodded and perused his son's stuffed animal collection. Settling upon a blue horse-like one, the young father brought the toy over to his teary-eyed son.

"Hey there Jay Jay, look who's home, daddy! And he's got a friend for you to hold so mommy can get you all clean and dry." Cliff tickled his son's tummy with the plushie, and Jay hiccupped, watching the funny looking thing dance across him.

Whispering thank you to him, Libber finally got to change Jay's diaper as the love of her life kept their infant son preoccupied. Maybe it was the toy itself, or seeing his daddy again, either way Jay's mood blossomed back into its old bubbly self. Only now he was growing tired again. The baby gave a big yawn as his new diaper was snuggly tapped on, his belly given a kiss, and the warm pajamas readjusted. His mommy picked him back up, allowing him to snuggle into her chest, with the added pressure of the funny plush thing in his arms. Curtesy of his daddy, who smiled warmly as Jay's eyes shut again and slipped back into dreamland.

With Jay calm again Libber breathed a sigh of relief. Cliff spoke in a hushed tone so as not to awaken Jay again. It did startle Libber though.

"Sorry I took so long Libs. One of my coworkers and I just got to talking and we lost track of the time. Before we knew it, it was after 7. Hope I didn't worry you and Jay too much?" He brought his wife and son into his arms, holding them close. This was the exact same feeling that had washed over Libber just that morning.

Being held in her husband's arms, with their son cuddled in hers. It made her thoughts about Cliff being a lying, cheating, womanizing snake vanish from her thoughts completely. She pressed her nose into his shirt, only finding the same old cedar scent of his cologne. No unfamiliar perfume, or anything else that was out of place in her husband's natural aroma.

But, even still, a small part of her brain still felt the sting of what she had seen, and found, that afternoon.

Now that Cliff was home, and seemed to still love and treasure her and Jay with as much affection as he'd always had, did she really want to sully their relationship with subpar facts and probably meaningless interactions? No. The only reason she was being so paranoid was because Emma always had on soap operas when she was on her break from housework.

"I love you Libby, and I don't know what I would do with my beautiful powerful, and electrifying wife always in my arms." Cliff's smooth, baritone voice flowed like warm honey into Libber's ears. He kissed her temple to seal his love in her. Jay suddenly shifted and squirmed against her chest, attempting to find a comfy spot to sleep on. The couple chortled softly at their baby's boy's antics. Cliff pressed a multitude of kisses on Jay's soft head of hair.

"And of course, my adorable, strong, and fantastic son too." Jay cooed in his sleep and Libber sighed dreamily.

Placing a soft hand on her lower back, Cliff guided his wife back to Jay's crib, where, together, they placed him on his back. Watching his teeny, tiny chest rise and fall with each even, soft breath, that he took.

"He's amazing." Libber stated, softly.

"Yes. Just like his amazing mama." Cliff replied proudly. He kissed his wife's cheek and gently guided her away from the crib railing, so their precious gift could rest. Before his nightly feeding session began in the next two hours.

Leaving the nursery door open a bit, so the hallway light could trickle in the room, Cliff and Libber walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, where Libber had completely forgotten that the lasagna was sitting out still. And likely ice cold. It was but Cliff cut himself a slice, popped it in the microwave, while his wife wrapped the rest of it up and put it in the fridge for leftovers, and waited for it to warm up enough. Before the timer could go off, so as not to wake Jay, Cliff pressed the button to open the door and carefully took the dish out. Libber poured her husband a glass of his favorite sparkling, non-alcoholic-cider, and watched him from the kitchen island.

He really was like any other man getting home from a late shift at work. Instead of eating at the table like he did at breakfast, he was across from his wife, spooning forkfuls of veggie lasagna into his mouth like he hadn't eaten in days.

"Mmhm! Libby, you've done it again, though why lasagna and not the stew I thought you were going to make?" Cliff asked with a tilt of his head, that actually made him look years younger than he was.

"Oh, well, when you weren't home early I was getting a bit peckish, so I threw this together. I can make that stew tomorrow if you'd like?" Libber watched Cliff swallow another mouthful before he spoke.

"Actually, I got a call that they want to do some preliminary shooting of the scenes that my character appears in the background in, so I'll be heading out to the studio tomorrow. But maybe this weekend?" Libber's heart dropped, especially when her husband said weekend.

"I can't this weekend, I'm taking Jay to go and visit Ray, Maya, and Kai. Ignacia's too far out to make it home in time for dinner."

"Oh, yeah I forgot you did say something about that. Well then I guess next week we'll have to have your famous stew." Cliff grinned and Libber perked up, much like a dog being giving a toy.

"Yes, next week works perfectly! In fact, I'll make you all your favorites that week, how does that sound Cliffy?" Libber winked as her husband's face turned a pale scarlet.

"Liiiibs please don't call me 'Cliffy'." He groaned in embarrassment while his wife laughed behind her hand.

"If I can't call you Cliffy, then you can't call me Libby. Deal?" She held her hand out, her expression betraying her serious tone. Cliff grabbed her hand in his.

"Deal." And he kissed the top of her hand before placing his dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

"I'll take care of those tomorrow." Libber said as she observed Cliff reach for the dish detergent.

"Okay if you're sure. Shouldn't Emma be back soon though?"

"Yes, on Friday she said. She just wanted to spend enough time as she could with her sister and new niece before coming back." Libber recalled and Cliff nodded.

"Well then, shall I accompany you to the living quarters for our nightly cuddle on the couch with a sitcom playing in the background?" Cliff swept his arms out, bowing slightly, as if asking Libber to dance. Playing along, the Master of Lightning bowed too and held her hand out to him.

"Yes you may. Oh, don't forget your drink." She pointed at the half full glass still on the countertop.

"I'll finish this, you go and set up the show for tonight my lightning bug." Cliff kissed her hand once again, sending a swarm of butterflies fluttering in Libber's stomach.

How could I ever doubt Cliff's love for me? She thought as she made her way into the living room. On the coffee table she spotted her husband's script. It was still in pristine condition. Despite all the times he'd handled it.

As she changed the channel to the sitcom network, something small and dark caught the corner of her eye. On the table by the far right wall, where that secret mechanism to Cliff's secret dressing room was, rested a book. Checking to make sure her husband was still in the kitchen, which he was with his back turned away so he could look outside the window over the sink, Libber approached the strange object that had not been there when she'd looked earlier.

Cliff must have had it with him in the car and when he came in, he'd brought it with him, and dropped it off on the closest surface he could find before running up the stairs to find his family. Reaching for the plain book, like one might reach for a sleeping serpent, the Master of Lightning carefully moved it off the table and into her hands.

It was a black, leather-bound, book.

Her brain immediately went to it being a date book for his work, where he kept dates and times of script readings, filming, rehearsals, and meetings. Libber knew better than to look at it, without her husband's permission as he kept things like this, awfully close, on his person. So, she brought it to the coffee table and placed it on his script.

She was settling onto the five-seater couch as Cliff walked through the living room threshold. None the wiser to what his wife had found.

"Well my dear, ready to laugh?"

"Yes, very much so." Libber smiled softly and snuggled into Cliff's arms as the show on the tv began.

It was very entertaining, though not Libber's first choice in comedy, but Cliff enjoyed it and Libber loved seeing him laugh and smile. So, she tolerated the over-the-top jokes and plot, chuckling softly at an actual funny part.

---

The day's events were finally taking their toll on the young mother, and the night's were going to start up soon, which is why only an hour into hers and her husband's "quiet time" did she decide to turn in.

"Are you feeling okay lightning bug? Would you like me to give you a back rub? Massage your feet? I could sing to you too." Cliff asked worriedly and Libber kissed his chin, smiling at his compassion.

"Thank you, sweetheart, but I just had a really long day and I'd like to get at least an hour's worth of sleep before Jay wakes up hungry."

"Okay Libs, I'll be up in a little while. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Cliff." Libber blew him a kiss, which he caught, and blew one back to her, which she caught. Walking up the stairs the elemental master could not get that book out of her head.

Maybe it wasn't an address book, maybe it was a normal book. Maybe what she had witnessed earlier was Cliff and his coworker doing some acting. Yeah, that's all it was. She really was tired and wanted to get this day over with and have a fresh start tomorrow.

Going into the bathroom, brushing her teeth, brushing out her hair to remove a few more tangles, and flopping onto the bed, she started rolling around on it. Just for the fun of it. Breathing in deeply the scent of her husband's pillow, Libber felt relaxed at long last. Curling up on her own side, she dragged the comforter over her body, turned off her side table lamp, and let the quiet hum of the television downstairs lull her to sleep.

When Cliff came to bed, Libber was still awake. She'd tried for the last hour and a half to let her mind relax and drift off. But her brain wanted to keep her up, calculating all the conflicting information it had gathered over the whole day.

Was Cliff actually cheating on her? Was all the attention and affection he showered down just to cover up his trail so she wouldn't find out his lies. Was she so gullible to fall for the first guy who made her weak in the knees when she could have chosen-no, she wasn't going to go there. She couldn't afford to cry right now with Cliff in the bathroom, gurgling away with his spearmint mouthwash. Just thinking about that minty breath kissing her goodnight before he wrapped her in his strong biceps, tugging her to his chest, right against his heart. Letting the rhythmic beating soothe her aching mind into rest at last.

Why did she not approach Cliff back at the café when she had the chance.

Maybe…maybe she was afraid it would be like a soap opera, where the woman approaches her husband that she suspects is cheating on her, but it turns out the other woman is his sister and they just come from a very affectionate family. Then he'd turn on her and accuse her of not trusting him and divorce her anyway. Or, start cheating but she'd know about it.

Okay, now her head officially hurt and she needed some air.

Cliff was still in the bathroom, so Libber quietly untucked herself from the covers and slipped out of bed, not disturbing anything as she made her ninja-like escape. First, she checked up on Jay. He was sound asleep, his eyelids fluttering but there was no indication he was having a nightmare. With a gentle kiss and a light brush through his hair, the young mother let her child continue his dreams as she exited the room and made her way on the backs of her heels down the padded staircase.

As she made her way to the back patio, Cliff's script and that black book caught her eye again. Her heart told her not to, to just let it be, go outside, take some deep breaths, maybe even do some katas to clear her head, then go back inside and try and sleep before Jay woke up hungry. Her head told her to grab it and find out what secrets it kept hidden in its black, leather, bindings.

"Maybe just a look at the first page wouldn't hurt. If I knew what it was then I could stop worrying." Her head won over and she carefully picked the small, black book up. Feeling its weight and checking over the spine and back for any kind of indication as to what may have been inside. Nothing. It was plain, black leather.

Not even worn, which means Cliff had recently purchased it. Then again, his script was still in pristine condition. Whereas Libber, wore through a lot of her things faster. She couldn't help it, if she had a comfy shirt she'd wear it till it was swiss cheese. A good book, the binding would fall apart before the pages ripped. Those would be the next to go.

Suffice to say, she and her husband loved on things a lot differently. But now, it seemed Cliff had worn through their love while she still felt like she was seeing him for the first time each, and every day. The same way she felt with Jay now.

Book tucked under her arm she slowly, undid the patio door latch, and pulled it open just wide enough she could slip through with little struggle.

"Gotta get rid of this leftover baby belly. Maybe tomorrow I can do some work outs with Jay. I think I have a few workout tapes, or those might be Cliff's. I doubt he'd mind, and I can do them with Jay too. Yeah, that'll be our plan for tomorrow while Cliff's…out, again. Sinking into one of the porch chairs, Libber heaved a sigh. The cool air felt good on her face and started clearing her mind again. A bat fluttered by, on the search for breakfast no doubt. The trees nearby rustled musically, and the Master of Lightning felt she could go to sleep right here.

Her fist suddenly clenched around the book in her hand, and she knew she had to do this. She had to put her ill-at ease mind to rest. And learn if she had married a truthful, devoted, loving man who would never stoop so low as cheating. Her stomach knotted up as she brought the book up close to her face. She couldn't risk turning the porch light on, as it would undoubtedly attract Cliff, and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Notably with the scenario still playing out in her brain.

Trusting her eyes to quickly adjust, and for the writing not to be too sloppy, Libber opened the book to the first page. Snapping them shut in a moment of revulsion to what she was about to commit to, but slowly one cracked open, followed by its mate, and she gazed heavily at the text written before her.

This Address Book Belongs to: Cliff Gordon

An address book. Of course Cliff would have one of these. Even Libber had one, though she rarely used hers as she knew, or sort of knew, where all her friends were. Sadly, most didn't have decent phone service, or a phone at all. And now, she recalled that many of the Elemental Masters were wanting to keep their locations a secret, even though all the enemies that they had made were sealed away. In one form or another.

So really, her address book sat in her sock drawer with only three people in it. Ray and Maya, and Lilly. Even then she knew exactly where those three were. Safe in their homes with their families.

Cliff on the other hand had so many people in his life that having this book was way more useful. Now that she knew what the book was, she was still curious as to who was in it. Cliff hardly ever brought up his family, maybe Libber could help bridge any gaps that had formed between him and them. Who knows, maybe Jay could have cousins to play with.

Although to be fair, Kai and Cole were basically his cousins too. Plus a few more kids she knew were running around, like Dusk's son named Shade. Though, he was a couple years older than her boy. And she never was that close to the Master of Shadow.

But Garmadon had been. Maybe she could go find him and ask him about her whereabouts and arrange a playdate between the son of Shadow and her baby boy. As Libber thought this over, a light breeze flew by, rustling the pages and flipping through them like invisible hands. When the young woman looked down at the page the book now rested on, her heart leapt into her throat, pumping furiously, and her stomach knotted worse than ever.

Written in bold, black pen with half a dozen hearts surrounding what was there, Libber read a name. Vivian Tortalie. 3:00 P.M. South Side Café.

She could tear her eyes away, though they began to blur with oncoming tears.

It had to be a mistake. Maybe the hearts did mean a family member.

Yeah, the last name couldn't be a sister, or maybe it was. Actors and actresses changed their names all the time. It could also be a cousin or an aunt, or even just a really, really, really, really close friend who Cliff had known loooong before ever meeting the Master of Lightning. But the ink looked too fresh to be that old. As did the book. It even still smelled new. Slowly, her eyes followed the lined paper and her heart slammed against her chest now.

Coral Mona-Iann

Rebecca Corista

Rubie Alba

Naomi Fumikari

Yuki Satoshi

Ana Harte

And each one of them were dotted with red hearts. Some big, some small, some encircling the entire name. Next to each name were times and places too. And, from the list of casts members Libber would glance at on Cliff's scripts, they were all in movies he'd been a part of.

Libber's hands were shaking so badly the book threatened to fall from her lap. Tightening her grip, she closed it, stood up, slid back inside Cliff's house, closed the door quietly, and placed his date book, literally that's all it was.

She ghosted up the stairs, past the main bedroom, and practically flung herself onto Jay's bedroom floor. Her shoulders shook as she curled herself into a small ball. Tears pouring out as her body wracked itself with her silent sobs.

"It's true. It-it's all true. He never really loved me, at least not for a while. I-I-I was just another name to add to his, affairs." Libber's soul and heart broke into a million, tiny pieces. She was crushed. Like Pierce or Lilly had smashed a mountain on her happy life, turning it into a cold, dank, smelly cave.

Her presence awoke her son, who whimpered and peeked his eyes open. The room was still lit, by his nightlight and the glittering stars outside his window. Turning his head to the side he saw a blue-lumpy shape laying down. His mommy. With a bit of struggling, Jay pulled himself up onto his knees by the crib bars and babbled down to the sobbing form. A wet sniffle came from the blob as she tilted her halo of golden hair up to where her pride and joy was clearly awake.

"Jaybird. Oh honey did-did mommy wake you up?" Jay cooed worriedly and reached a hand towards her, wanting to comfort the woman who constantly gave him that feeling. Snuffling and scrubbing at her eyes to remove the tears, which by no means stopped as she did this, Libber walked up to her son's crib, reached in, and plucked him out.

"Sorry you woke up sweetie, I'd hoped you'd get a few more winks of sleep before you cried for milk. But, since we're both up, might as well start your nightly snack break huh?" Poking her son's nose elicited a sweet giggle that warmed and slowly mended her broken heart. Settling into their nightly routine, the Master of Lightning watched with bleary eyes as Jay drank his fill. Her mind a whirlwind of all the puzzle pieces that now formed a completed picture.

Even if she approached Cliff on this subject, would there be anything to salvage afterwards? Libber was very trusting. Always seeing the good, or potential for good, in others. But if they broke her trust, like two certain former Elemental Masters did, then she wouldn't hold back and wouldn't readily accept their apologies. She didn't want to hold grudges, but it was a personality trait her father ended up passing on to her.

Seriously, she'd been hurt to learn Acronix and Krux went against the Alliance, and right when peace had finally begun. Libber was married by that point, secretly though. Lilly was dating that singer guy in a Quartet, Lou and Ray had finally gotten up the courage to ask Maya to move in with him, only after they finished forging the Time Blades did he ask her to be his Yang. Now that ceremony was better than anything she could have imagined. Even Lilly and Lou's wedding was like holding a candle to a bonfire in comparison.

Putting those thoughts out of her brain for the moment, the young mother gazed at her sleepy son and knew what had to be done. Even if it meant Jay wouldn't like it for the first couple months. Maybe not even the next few years. He might grow to hate and resent her for what she was deciding to do. But she had to. Not just for her sake, but for his too.

After all, what mother wants her son growing up to be a miniature version of his womanizing father.

As Libber tenderly pat Jay's back she looked around the softly lit room, determining what she'd need to pack. She'd mostly need Jay's diaper bag, his blanket of course, and a couple changes of clothes. She didn't worry about herself, as once she and Jay were far from this house and with one of her friends, she'd get a job and buy them all new stuff. Hopefully, Lilly or Ray and Maya wouldn't mind two extra people in their home.

In fact, either family might welcome it, what with how Cole and Kai seemed to run their parents ragged for the most part. Though, on Cole's behalf, it was more his father who could not keep up with him, rather than his mother. That little 1 year old sure did like to get dirty. Not something the clean and polished Lou Hence particularly cared for.

Unlike his wife who embraced the mud and dirt as much as her baby boy.

"Yeah", Libber thought. "I'll go see Lou and Lilly first, their house is bigger anyway and they're far enough from Ninjago City that I won't have to see Cliff that often. And maybe Lou can help me find a job, though he may just pay me to babysit for him and Lilly instead." Jay was humming and babbling as Libber organized her thoughts about what she was going to do, now that her husband's dark secret had unleashed itself upon their happy family.

"To think, I'd kinda wanted to try for another child with him when you were a little older Jay. But I think he was already getting tired of you. I should have known that something was way more off this morning when he wasn't holding you as much. I-I'm sorry baby, I-I hope you don't hate me for what I'm going to do. B-But we can't stay here with your daddy anymore, not unless he cleans up his act and becomes the man I fell in love with, and the man who was the best daddy to you." Libber held Jay closer and the baby, not understanding much beyond mommy is sad, hugged her the best he could. Libber sniffled and smiled a watery smile.

"Thanks Blue Jay, mommy needed that hug." She looked him in the eyes and kissed his forehead, fixing her nightshirt, and standing up. Jay yawned, his eyes already closing again as he was laid back down on his soft mattress.

"Okay, time to pack and get us out of here."

It took an hour of going through clothes and toys, making sure there was enough powder, rash cream, and of course diapers. Sure this was going to be a short trip, but with a baby it's always better to have extra, just in case. Once Jay's diaper bag was packed to the point the seams might rip, Libber decided she needed some sleep. And she may as well spend one last night in bed with her husband. Soon to be ex-husband once she told Lilly what she had found, though she would hold back her super strong best friend should she decide he should be Libber's dead ex-husband.

She wasn't up for dealing with his vengeful spirit haunting her from the Departed Realm. Or even Cursed Realm. If people who commit affairs/are cheating are deemed "cursed souls".

Trudging back to hers and Cliff's room felt like the longest walk she had ever taken. Once inside the room, Cliff's form covered up under the comforter, Libber shut the door behind her. The man not even stirring a tiny bit, which was fine by her. Shuffling under the covers herself, the young woman gripped her pillow her head rested on and scooched as far out of Cliff's reach as she could. She really wasn't in the mood to snuggle after all that had transpired. So, the couple slept on their own sides of the bed. It may have been cold, and very lonely for Libber, but she was toughing it out. She wasn't going to be reeled back into the cheater's warm, loving embrace anymore.

---

Dawn was nearing and Libber was fully dressed in dark blue jeans, blue long sleeve shirt, dark jacket that had a hood on it, and a small bag she'd packed with food and a few of her personal items. Jay was still in his room, fast asleep and oblivious to what was about to happen. Thank the FSM for that.

At this moment, Libber was putting the finishing touches on a letter to Cliff. In detail she explained why she was leaving, why she was taking Jay and her house key, and asked, in the letter, why Cliff would do this to her if he genuinely loved her. Rereading it, she folded it up and placed it right on top of Cliff's little black book. She went up to the bedrooms and paused in front of Cliff's room, no longer hers and Cliff's. She wanted to kiss him one more time but couldn't.

If she did, she'd never live with herself if she turned around, ripped up the letter, and pretended for the rest of her days that Cliff wasn't a cheater and womanizer. Rubbing the beginnings of tears out of her eyes, she marched to Jay's room. Watching his chest rise and fall with his steady breath made her heart blossom with motherly love. She would do anything, and everything, to protect this beautiful gift. The only good thing that she now saw from hers and Cliff's relationship.

Carefully, she swaddled her boy up, making it easier to carry him and his bag, turned out the light, took one last look around the room, and left for good. As she and Jay quietly made their way out of the house and down the long stretch of road, Libber could feel herself growing lighter. This was a good thing.

Yes, she may be wrong, and she may have been rash to do this. But looking at the snoozing form of her little Jaybird, she just nuzzled him and carried on. Hoping that whatever road they took, led them to a better life.

Faster Libber, you have got to run faster! Was all that occupied Libber's train of thought as she ran through the Sea of Sand. That and keeping the crying and whining bundle in her arms safe. You'd think Libber would have known better than this, that when you feel like everything is going fine, turns out you have way more obstacles to fight through in order to get there.

Thunder rumbled and lightning blew up overhead of the figure, causing Jay to shriek and bury his face into his mommy's shirt to hide himself from the scary noises and bright lights. Libber couldn't blame him for being scared, she was too but for entirely different reasons. That was why she'd called up a Thunderstorm. To help stop whoever or whatever was now after them.

She'd been a few miles outside of Lilly and Lou's village when a strange feeling overcame her. The hair on the back of her neck prickled and dread settled hard in her stomach. Without a second thought she ran in the opposite direction. Through Ninjago City, out into the Badlands, until she was in the Western Sea of Sand.

A huge bolt of lightning hit the top of the nearby cliff face Libber was running towards, so she hung a hard right and avoided the chunks of rock that blew off from the strike.

"Where's Lilly when I need her!" Libber shouted over the thunder. Clutching Jay closer, who was clinging to her shirt even tighter than before, the pair continued moving. Chest and legs burning with exhaustion, the Master of Lightning looked behind her and threw out a series of lightning shocks in the direction of the thing(s) chasing her and Jay. Who or whatever was after them were stunned a bit, which gave the mother and child a bit more of a lead in their escape. But, Libber couldn't run for much longer. And whoever was after her would undoubtedly keep Jay and use him to get her to do whatever they wanted from her.

And she'd do it to protect Jay.

"There has to be a place we can hide, but where? Whe-" Suddenly, Libber spotted something in the distance. It wasn't that hot yet in the desert so it couldn't be a mirage. It looked like, no. It couldn't be. Could it? Yes! It was something solid. Pouring all her reserve energy into her legs, tightening her grip on her squalling bundle, blood pounding in her ears, Libber ran even faster than she thought they could.

As if ol' Griffin Turner, the First, had gifted her a momentary use of his Element of Speed.

When she finally slowed down, almost tripping on a small pile of sand, which had been covering a pointy rock that Libber was grateful not to have tripped over, she had to blink twice to make sure she was seeing things right.

It. Was a Junkyard. Ed and Edna's Scrap N' Junk was the name. Strangely enough, it sounded inviting.

Looking around, Libber had finally caught a break and whatever was chasing her was still catching up. So she had time to do the second hardest thing ever. Gazing down at Jay, whose snot and tear stained face had finally pulled back from her shirt, the young mother's heart broke all over again. She hugged her baby close and whispered in his ear, one last time.

"Jay, I love you to the moon and stars and back again. I love you beyond Ninjago too. You are my precious gift, my treasure, my little blue jay and jaybird. Promise me that…that when you inherit the Element of Lightning you will wield it with a strong and open heart. Never let anyone hurt you, for you are my son and laughter is in your blood and bones." She tickled her son, who giggled a little. The moment died off though as Libber carefully slipped her house key inside the folds of the blanket.

She then jotted down Cliff's address on a slip of paper. It too was folded up inside the blanket. Jay wasn't sure what was going on, so he tried reaching for him mommy again to hold him close. Once more, Libber hugged her son and whispered two little words that weighed on her heart.

"Goodbye Jay." She placed Jay on the Welcome mat in front of a bright yellow trailer, knocked on the door, took one final look at her boy, before turning her hood up and running out of the junkyard. Tears freely flowed down her cheeks, but she didn't dare to wipe them away as she ran.

She would lead these things to the ends of Ninjago, away from her beloved son.

Because, that is what a mother's love is to her.

In the junkyard a baby cried and a creaky metal door opened, thus beginning the new life of Jay Joules Gordon.