Thanks to RealtreeGal for helping me finish this part. I don't know when I'll do part three but it is planned, Broken Creation will be updated either later this week or middle of next week depending on how things work out. I decided this story will be Glacier shipping, don't like it don't read it.

Zane woke up still in several pairs of warm, comforting arms. Gentle whispers surrounded him and there was a familiar hand running soothingly through his hair and another gently rubbing his back. He instinctively snuggled closer to the person holding him, he didn't care very much about who it was, only that they were there, and they were willingly holding him.

"Zane?" asked Cole softly "You awake?"

Zane just nodded and snuggled ever closer to the person holding him, the fact that it was Cole made it a bit easier, they had always been the closest of the team.

"We're here buddy, we ain't gonna leave you, not now, not ever," said Kai, running a gentle hand through Zane's hair. Jay came back into the room, the air around him buzzing with electricity, to the point where the lights were acting strange. He was carrying a mug of Zane's favorite peppermint tea.

"Jay did you try to charge your phone with your mouth again?" asked Kai with a light laugh as he saw the electricity crackling through Jay's hair that was sticking up all over the place now.

"No," said Jay curtly before setting the mug on Zane's bedside table and sitting next to his brother, his face softening as he looked at Zane who was still practically clinging to Cole.

"How is he?" asked Jay softly

"Clingy but I think he's doing better," said Kai

"Good, I almost blasted Lloyd, stupid entitled brat," seethed Jay

"Careful Jay, I think Kai is rubbing off on you," said Cole with a light smile before turning his attention back to Zane. Cole had always had a crush on Zane but it had been clear that Zane had feelings for Pixal so Cole gave up hoping, but now, maybe with time, Cole might have a chance. Of course that was not his main goal right now. Right now he had to make sure Zane knew he was loved, and valued and deserved all the attention and affection in the world. Cole just held Zane close to him.

"If Misako tries to make Lloyd think that this will just blow over then she is going to find out pretty quick what we really think about her," growled Kai.

"Go for it, I can take care of Zane, you guys deal with the adulterous bitch," said Cole before grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around Zane to compensate for the lost warmth of Kai. Zane had heard the entire conversation but had stayed quiet, preferring to just relish in the offered comfort for as long as possible, and it didn't seem like it would stop anytime soon. Cole had been the first on the team after Zane and they had become extremely close after a month of it just being them, Jay had come three months after Cole and Kai had arrived a month after Jay, needless to say the bond between Zane and Cole was stronger than the others and both Kai and Jay knew it so they had no issues with Cole being the one Zane trusted the most. Likewise, Cole trusted Kai and Jay to properly deal with the Mother Son duo. Eventually Zane sat up and Cole handed him the mug of tea that Jay had brought in.

"Here." Cole said as he helped Zane drink the tea. "Peppermint tea always helps me when I'm upset."

Zane took a sip, the warmth of the tea and the coolness of the peppermint creating a tingling sensation that soothed his throat, raw from crying. He sighed.

"Feeling any better?" Cole asked.

"You insist on taking care of me even when it's not necessary, and unless I do not remember correctly, you have been around me much more than what is normal of you. May I ask why?" Zane asked, glancing up at Cole with eyes, red and puffy from his tears.

Cole saw Zane's face and it took every fiber in his body to not break down into tears. He couldn't let Zane see him cry. He had to be strong. Right now, he was Zane's anchor. But Cole saw the broken, defeated look in his eyes, a look he had never seen in Zane before. His heart shattered to a million pieces. He couldn't bear to see Zane like this.

Cole said nothing, just pulling Zane closer to him and wrapping his arms tighter around the nindroid to assure him he was there.

"Zane, you never realized how important you are to me." Cole said. "You're such an important piece to everyone's life, even more so mine. You've done so much and you deserve the world. It hurts me that something like this had to happen to a person like you. You're the last person that deserves this."

"But it's okay." Cole continued. "I'm here now. And I always will be. Understand? No matter what."

Zane nodded. "No matter what." He repeated.

The two ninja fell silent, Zane remaining in Cole's embrace. But something was different about this one. It felt as if it was the most comfortable place on earth. As if nothing else mattered as long as he and Cole were together. As if the earth ninja's arms could shield the ice ninja from all the evils, injustices, and atrocities of the world.

Zane soon found himself falling asleep in Cole's arms again. And he wasn't too sure why, but he liked it.

…

"The AUDACITY of Lloyd! The AUDACITY!"

"I know Jay." Kai said. "I'm pissed too."

They approached the door of Sensei's room. Kai knocked.

"Come in."

Jay and Kai walked into the room. Sensei was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a few sticks of burning incense.

"Hey sensei, can we talk to you about something?" Jay asked. "Its kinda important."

"Kinda?!" said Kai.

"Is this about Zane?" Sensei asked. "I am aware of what Lloyd and Pixal did. I am quite disappointed in the both of them."

"Yeah." Kai said. "Right now he's with Cole. He seems a little better than earlier, but I'm not sure he's going to fully recover from this…"

"It's likely he won't."

"Look, we're gonna talk to Lloyd about this. But we just want to give you a heads up." Jay said. "And if Misako tries to defend Lloyd, he's off the team. Otherwise we're cold-shouldering him."

"That is...rather drastic…"

"Sensei, Lloyd had zero regards for Zane's feelings and broke his heart!" Kai cried. "How else do you expect us to act?!"

Sensei sighed, seeing Kai and Jay were not to be convinced otherwise. "Very well, if that's how you'd like to handle it…"

Kai and Jay walked out and went down the hall to Lloyd's room. Jay knocked the door.

"Lloyd, let us in." Jay growled.

Kai crossed his arms. "We need to talk."

"Look," Lloyd voice came from the other side. "I know you're upset with me and I know what I did…"

"Well, then tell us why!" Jay hissed.

"You knew Pixal and Zane were still together, you knew it would hurt him." Kai said. "What in the hell was going through your mind that made you think it was a good idea?!

"I don't know!" Lloyd said. "I don't know…"

"Yes, you do!" Jay snapped. "And if you can't pull yourself together and figure out a way to make it up to Zane, you're off this team!"

"Y-you don't mean that," said Lloyd shakily.

"Try us," growled Jay. "What you did to Zane-Lloyd you have to understand, what you broke him from the inside out. He may never fully recover from what you did! I don't know if he's ever gonna be able to love again!"

…

Throughout the next couple days, Cole had continued attending to Zane, who was still trying to recover. Also, Kai and Jay had reiterated their point to Lloyd that he would no longer be the green ninja in their eyes if he didn't make Zane realize how sorry he really was.

Despite suffering such a huge blow, Zane's condition had improved slightly over the course of a few days. He spoke a little more, seemed a little more energetic, and even offered to accompany Cole when the earth ninja was going for a quick walk outside the walls of the monastery. Cole was delighted that Zane did so, and so together they did, Cole wrapping a protective arm around the nindroid's shoulders when they passed Lloyd.

The two walked in silence for a time, taking in the sounds of the birds and the wind rustling through the trees. Finally Cole broke the silence.

"So, uh, Zane, how ya feeling?"

"I-I guess better…" Zane said. "You being around has definitely helped."

Cole's heart fluttered. Did he mean that in the way Cole thought he did?

"R-really? You mean that?"

"Well, yes, of course. Every time you are around I am calmer and more at peace. Everything just seems...better."

Yes, yes he did mean it in the way Cole thought he did. But he had to be sure.

Cole took a deep breath and decided to shoot his shot.

"Hey Zane."

"Yes Cole?"

"Would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight?"

Zane cracked Cole a smile, it was the first time he had since all this had happened and it made Cole's stomach do somersaults.

"Yes, I'd like that very much."

…

Cole had ended up asking Sensei for the evening off so he could take Zane out to Chen's Noodle House. The entire way there, Cole felt like he was walking on air. After all this time, he would finally have his chance to tell Zane how he really felt.

At first it was normal conversation, Cole didn't want to be too sudden or come on too strong and scare him away. But if he couldn't do it then, then he may never have this good opportunity again.

Their conversation dulled out, leaving them in silence. Cole saw his opening.

"Hey Zane?"

"Yes Cole?"

Cole gulped nervously as he tried to compose himself. Even if he was the ninja of earth and had faced plenty of enemies, this was by far the most nerve wracking thing he had to do.

"Cole, is everything alright?"

"Zane...t-there's something I need to tell you…"

"What is it?"

"I-uh- there's no easy way to say this but uh- I...like you...and have for a while…"

Zane gasped and his cheeks instantly turned beet red. "R-really?" He whispered.

Cole nodded meekly. "Yeah...It's okay if you don't feel the same way and I understand if you-"

"No. Cole, it's okay." Zane said. "Truth be told...I realized over these last few days that I like you too…"

Later on that evening, Cole and Zane returned from the noodle shop and found themselves holding each other close while watching a movie. Zane snuggled closer to Cole, breathing his earthy scent.

"Cole?"

"Hm?" Cole answered, half asleep.

"Are we...dating now?"

Cole grinned as he ran his fingers through Zane's silver hair. "Only if you want to."

"Well, my question is, do you?"

"Well, what's your answer?"

"It would be yes."

"And it's mine too." Cole said, pecking Zane's cheek. "I promise, I will never hurt you,"