Guest: Thank you for your review, I am glad you liked the result! Thanks again for the idea.
This one-shot was suggested by Light and Thunder (I know I am doing the requests out of order, but it's simply a matter of having the right ideas for them – I definitely haven't forgotten about the other ones!).
I've made up the bits about Jay's birth parents, so these are NOT canon. His birth mother's name is going around on Twitter and such, so it might be the real one (or not). Obviously set after Hands of Time.
Meeting the Parents (times two)
Wednesday afternoon
"Okay, I'll ask them, no problem. I'm sure they're gonna love the idea." Nya sat at the kitchen counter, a steaming mug of coffee in front of her and the phone at her ear. "Love you too. Bye."
She put the phone down and rested her head on the countertop.
Kai, who was just passing by the open door, saw her. "Are you alright?" He asked in a concerned voice.
"I was just on the phone with mum and dad..." Nya told him.
"Is there anything wrong with them?" Her brother sounded even more worried now.
"No, no, they are fine." Nya quickly reassured him. "They've just invited us to come over on Sunday for lunch and then spend the afternoon with them."
"Sounds great." Kai replied. "Ugh, but I've already arranged to meet Skylor in town..."
"They were actually not asking about us. They want to see me and Jay..."
"They really like their future son-in-law, huh?" Kai grinned.
After a slightly rocky start – it had taken Ray a while to accept that his three-year old 'baby girl' was now a young woman in a committed relationship, and Jay to stop blushing and stammering every time he met the blacksmith couple – Jay and their parents were now getting along very well, especially after Ray and Maya had discovered that Nya was dating the biological son of their old friends.
The Water Ninja didn't even react to Kai's teasing words. "... and his parents." She continued.
Kai burst out laughing. "Mum and dad want to meet Edna and Ed?" He laughed. "Oh, that's gonna be great. Maybe I can still cancel my date with Skylor. Or, even better, bring her as well."
"Kaiiiii." Nya whined. "This is not funny. What if they don't get along? What if they hate each other? Or, even worse, love each other and start exchanging embarrassing childhood stories... or what if..."
"Shhh." Kai pulled her in a firm hug. "Don't worry. Everything's gonna be fine." He told her, gently rubbing her back, just as he would always do, when he needed to comfort his upset little sister. And, again as always, Nya immediately started to calm down.
"I would have expected this kind of reaction from Jay, but not from you." Kai said. "You really want this to work out, huh?"
Nya nodded. "I do."
"And I am sure mum and dad do as well. They just want to meet the people who play an important role in your life. Because they care about you."
"I-I guess you are right..."
"Of course, I am." Kai stated, letting go of her. "Are you feeling better now?"
"I am." Nya smiled at him. "Thanks, Kai. You're the best."
"And so are you, sis."
"Well, I've promised mum and dad to ask the Walkers about Sunday and then call them back. So, I'd better tell Jay. Do you know where he is?"
"Hmm, let me think. Where could your techie boyfriend be...?"
"If you put it that way, he must be either in the workshop or in the game room. Probably the game room."
"He is." Kai confirmed. "I'm just coming from there. And I'm actually going right back with you."
Nya raised an eyebrow. "Why that?"
"Because I need to record Jay's reaction when you tell him..."
Sunday late morning
"Do we really have to do this now?" Jay asked his girlfriend, nervously fiddling with the buttons of his light blue shirt. "Can't we just go to... ugh, dunno, anywhere else?"
"No, we can't." Nya stated firmly. "Everything's been arranged, and everyone's looking forward to this meeting."
"Not everyone..."
"Stop whining, it's gonna be fun." Nya would never admit how agitated she had been – and actually still was – herself. "Besides, you wouldn't want them to meet each other without us, would you?"
"Ugh, no."
"Then, let's go. We don't want to be late."
"Alright." Jay sighed. "By the way, how are we getting there? Shall we take the motorbikes?"
"Maybe better use our dragons. My mum doesn't like me riding the bike without a helmet."
"But she's fine with you riding a dragon?" Jay was surprised.
"Yeah, that is a bit strange, I know." Nya admitted. She smiled. "But it's just so nice having my mum around to tell me what I should do and what I shouldn't..."
"Believe me, you will stop appreciating it after a while. But I don't mind going by dragon. Do you maybe want to fly our hybrid dragon, then I can take the flowers for your mum?"
"Sounds good to me. C'mon."
Together, they conjured their elemental water and lightning dragon and Nya skilfully piloted it to Ignacia and landed right in front of the Four Weapons blacksmith shop. Her parents came outside to greet them, just as they were dispelling the dragon.
Maya embraced her daughter. "Welcome home, sweetheart, I've missed you. Oh my, have you grown again?"
"Mum, I was here just last weekend. And I've stopped growing almost two years ago..."
"I still can't believe what a beautiful and strong young woman you've become." She then turned her attention to the young man next to Nya. "No wonder that you have found such a nice and handsome boyfriend. Jay, it's great to see you." He, too, was pulled into a tight hug.
Jay blushed. "Th-thank you. Good to see you too. Uhm, these are for you..." He handed Maya the bouquet of fire lilies.
"Oh, how pretty. Thank you." She smiled at Jay. "We are really looking forward to finally meeting your parents. Aren't we, Ray?"
"Yes, we sure are." Her husband replied, albeit a bit less excited than his wife. He then also got to embrace his daughter and her boyfriend.
"My parents should be here in a few minutes." Jay said. "I spoke to my mum just before we left the temple and they were already on their way."
"Excellent. Lunch will be very fast. We have prepared everything and just need to put the fish on the grill when your parents are here." Maya replied. "But maybe you would like something to drink after the flight?"
Nya and Jay nodded. "Yes, some water would be nice, please."
"No problem, sure we have plenty of that." Maya laughed. "Now, let's get inside while we wait."
She and Ray then led their guests into their house. Before they followed her parents, Nya gave Jay a quick peck on the lips. "Relax. They love you and they will love your parents" She encouraged him - and herself.
"And I love you." He kissed her back. Jay chuckled. "And I am so glad to see that your mum is nervous, too."
Nya laughed. "I know. But don't forget that all this 'family life' is still pretty new to them..."
Just a few minutes later, the familiar sound of the Walkers' jalopy could be heard from outside.
"I think we need new front suspensions, Edna. That was a bit of a bumpy ride." Ed was telling his wife, as the others came out of the house. "Will you take a note for me, sugarplum?"
"Of course, Ed." His wife replied. "Pixi, please take a note to replace the front suspensions." She said to her phone.
"Hi Mum, hi Dad." Jay waved to his parents. "Glad you've made it here safely." And he was very relieved that he could not spot any photo albums or keepsakes from his early childhood in the car.
"Oh, look, there's Jay. And Nya. And this must be her parents." Edna excitedly jumped out of the car and embraced both her son and his girlfriend at the same time.
"Jay, Nya. How are you? It's been a few days, so let me have a look at you..." She pulled away. "Nya, you seem to become even more beautiful every time I see you." She kissed the younger woman's cheek.
"Thanks, Edna." Nya blushed. "You're looking great yourself. And you too, Ed."
Edna was wearing a flowery blouse over a plain black skirt, while her husband was dressed in brown cord trousers and a blue – and to Jay's big surprise not oil-stained for once – shirt.
"Oh, thank you, sweetie. Have you heard that, Ed?" Edna called to her husband. "Nya also thinks you look nice." She shook her head. "Oh, you wouldn't believe how long it took me to get him to wear this instead of his grubby blue overall."
She then directed her attention to her son. "But you are looking a bit pale, honey. Are you not feeling well? Nya, is he not eating his vegetables?"
Jay groaned. "Mum, I am fine. Really. And you haven't come here to talk about my vegetables, right?" He gestured towards Maya and Ray who were expectantly standing in front on the blacksmith shop.
"Oh, of course." She grabbed Ed's hand and pulled him towards the building and the two people in front of his.
"It's so nice to finally meet you." She greeted them. "Jay has told us so much about you. We were so sorry to hear what that horrible man did to you. Separating you from your children, I cannot imagine that... But what a wonderful surprise it must have been for Kai and Nya when they finally found you. And for you, of course."
"Yes, it was." Maya smiled at the Walkers. "And the pleasure is all ours. Please come in."
Soon, all six were seated around the chabudai and enjoying their lunch, grilled teriyaki salmon with rice and pickled cucumber salad.
"What a lovely place you have." Edna remarked. "And it's so tidy."
"Thank you. Yes, the children took good care of it, while we were... away." Maya replied.
"Did you make all these weapons yourself?" Ed enquired.
"Yes, Maya and I made most of them, but a few were also done by Kai and Nya." Ray explained. "And there are still plenty of Vermillion helmets and weapons back at the swamp..."
The elderly inventor's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, if you need to get rid of any scrap metal..."
"Ed, darling." His wife reminded him. "This isn't a business meeting. This is about Jay and Nya."
"Ah, as always, you are right, my sugarplum. I don't know what I would do without you. And that's why I married you."
"We actually would be glad to get rid of those things, we will never be able to use up all that metal ourselves." Ray replied happily. "But yes, we'd better discuss this at another time." He added after receiving a stern look from his wife.
Edna took the phone from her pocket. "Pixi, please take a note to arrange a meeting with Mr and Mrs Smith." She said.
"Oh, please call me Ray." "And I am Maya." Ed and Edna introduced themselves as well, and the four older adults shook hands again.
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you have a smartphone, Mum?" He asked.
"Oh, this isn't just an ordinary smartphone, sweetie. This is the new BorgPhone 8.5. Mr Borg himself gave them to us, to say thank you after you kids saved him from those nasty snake people. Your father took his one apart [that's what my dad normally does lol], but we wouldn't need more than one anyway."
"Yes, we got some as well." Ray told them. "And a BorgBook, BorgWatch, and BorgTV. Mr Borg said we need to catch up on all his latest developments..." Maya added.
"How come we didn't get those things?" Jay whispered to Nya, as their parents were excitedly talking about their new gadgets.
"No idea." Was her reply. "Maybe we should just ask him, he's been a bit forgetful lately..." She smiled. "This is going great so far, isn't it?"
"Yes, let's hope it stays that way." Jay agreed.
"Oh, and do you know what the best thing is about this?" Edna asked at that very moment. "Ed has used some components from the other phone to build a photo scanner, and now we have all the pictures of our boy on this little thing and can take them with us wherever we go."
"Oh, I would love to see them." Maya exclaimed.
Jay face palmed. "Great, we've totally jinxed it... again."
After finishing their lunch and clearing up the table, the two families sat down again. Ed and Ray discussed the quality of different metal alloys, and Edna and Maya looked at the Walkers' BorgPhone, gushing over Jay's baby pictures.
Nya and Jay awkwardly sat between the two groups, without saying a single word and taking great interest in the pattern of the Smiths' tatami mats.
"And this is Jay's first potty time." Edna proudly announced. "He wouldn't go anywhere without his Mr Cuddlywoomp, not even there."
"Aww, this is sooo cute." Maya replied. "I think we have almost the same photo of Nya, she also took Sparky with her. I'll be back in a second." She stood up and walked into the next room. She reappeared after a few minutes, holding an old photo album as well as a shoebox with cards and unsorted pictures in her hands. "Sorry it took me a bit longer, we are still getting used again to where everything is in this house." She placed the album on the table and flipped through the pages.
"Let's see. Nya sucking her toes, Nya's first time having carrots – ugh, that was a mess! – Nya asleep in her high chair, Nya playing with her baby tool set... ah, here we are." She pointed at a picture showing a small girl on a sea blue potty. Her black hair was done in two cute pigtails, she was clutching a little dragon plushie and smiled brightly at the camera.
"This is one of the last pictures we got to take of our baby, before we were taken by Krux." Ray explained, smiling fondly at his daughter. "And look at her now..."
"Yes, we were very lucky that Kai and Nya took such great care of each other." Maya added.
Jay perked up his ears when he heard his girlfriend's brother's name being mentioned.
"Uhm, speaking of Kai, you don't happen to have a similar picture of him, do you?" He asked. Nya placed a hand to her mouth, trying to suppress a giggle.
"Oh, of course we do. Here." Her mother handed him the album.
"Wow, even as a little child, Kai already had the same hairstyle." Jay remarked. And if he ever makes fun of me again, I'll remind him of his fire truck potty...
"Yes, he was actually born that way." Maya laughed. "See this one."
"Unfortunately, we have no pictures of Jay as a newborn." Edna said in a sad voice.
"Actually, we might have one..." Maya remembered and started looking through the content of the shoebox.
"When we and the other Elemental Masters all settled down and had our own families, we weren't as close as we used to be. But we would still send each other Christmas Cards." She chuckled. "And quite a lot of Birth Announcements..."
Maya pulled out a baby blue card and handed it to Jay. "You can keep this one if you want." She told him.
Jay looked at the picture on the card. It was a professionally taken photo showing a small family. Despite lacking his signature moustache, the blue Ninja could easily recognise one of the persons on the picture as his childhood hero and birth father. Cliff Gordon had his arm wrapped around a beautiful young woman with long wavy blonde hair and electric blue eyes. Between them, they were holding a sleeping infant. The baby had a few auburn wisps of hair on his head and was wearing a blue all-in-one with a cute bunny motif.
Nya put her arm around her boyfriend's back and snuggled into his side while gently rubbing his arm in a comforting way. "Wow, I can't believe how tiny you were..." She said softly. "Look at those little fingers..."
The Lightning Master passed the card on to his mother. Edna put on her reading glasses to take a close look at the photo. "Aww, what a lovely family. They all look so happy – and proud. I-I really don't understand why they would give him up just a few weeks later..." The elderly woman wiped a small tear from her eyes.
The room fell silent.
Jay swallowed hard. Ever since he had found out that he had been adopted, Jay had been asking himself this question and dreading the answer. But he would probably have to face the truth at some point. "D-do y-you know w-why they d-did it?" He finally asked in a shaking voice.
"We've only heard about it second hand, so unfortunately, we don't know all the details." Maya started. "Apparently, your parents were very worried about something and, in order to keep you safe, were planning on hiding you in some kind of remote location. Of course, they wouldn't tell anyone where that was. And when Libby disappeared shortly afterwards, Cliff cut off all contacts with the Elemental Alliance..."
"We never found out what exactly happened... but we are sure that your parents didn't want to give you up." Her husband added.
Jay gave them a weak smile. "Thank you." He said.
"You're welcome." Maya smiled back. "And we are so happy to see that they found such wonderful adoptive parents for you."
A rather eventless (except for Ray proudly demonstrating the results of Kai and Nya's first blacksmithing attempts and Maya tripping while carrying the homemade gateau) and very pleasant afternoon passed very quickly and soon it was time for Nya, Jay and his parents to leave.
"It was lovely meeting you." Maya told the Walkers. "We should definitely do this again."
"Ah, that would be very nice indeed." Edna agreed. "Why don't you come visit us at the junkyard? We couldn't bring any of Jay's early inventions in the car today, so we can show them to you next time."
"That sounds great. I'll see if I can find those pictures I told you about by then. You know, the ones Nya drew as a glitter-obsessed toddler."
"And maybe we can discuss our 'business arrangements' then?" Ed suggested and Ray nodded eagerly in reply. "By the way, my Edna makes the best crumb pie in all of Ninjago."
"Aww, thanks. But you're just saying that, Ed..."
"No, it's a simple fact, my sugarplum." Mr Walker stated firmly, planting a loving kiss on his wife's cheek.
"Alright, I'll put up a doodle poll to find a suitable day." Edna told he others, waving her smartphone. She then addressed her son. "Do you kinds want to come as well?"
"Wha-what d-do you mean?" Jay stammered. The two Ninja were quite surprised that their parent were actually planning this without them.
"Oh, you don't have to come if you're too busy saving Ninjago or something like that, we'll manage just as well without you." Maya explained.
"Uhm, sure. We'll see how busy we are..." Nya told her mother, before turning towards Jay. "And we thought that them not getting along with each other would be the worst that could happen today..." She complained, although still wearing a happy little smile on her face.
Embarrassing or not, in the end they all were part of her family now.