A/N: Hello all! I am alive and I have a oneshot to share with you! :D

So this oneshot has actually been floating between Astrid16 and I since my birthday in February. She came up with the idea and wrote the majority of this oneshot! We've edited it together, and I have her permission to post it here in The Fragments, as part of Whisper canon.

I sure hope you've read through ALL of Whisper by the time you guys read this oneshot! It contains major spoilers for parts of the ending.

Please enjoy! :3

[Lloyd and Zane both left. Zane comes back to the team after a few weeks, his soul finally at rest, ready to take on the next threat alongside his teammates.

But Lloyd remains unsettled. He stays separate from the Ninja team for a long time, trying to find himself... the real Lloyd, stripped of Shauto, stripped of his supposed "Elemental powers"—deprived of everything that he believed he was...

He does periodically visit, of course.]

Cupcake Oneshot

The sign above the shop read Julien's. Through the window, a handful of customers could be seen sitting at tables near the large front window, chatting over drinks and cupcakes. Large letters on the window read Grand Re-Opening in blue paint.

Lloyd gazed up at the sign.

Then he adjusted his knapsack strap, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

A bell jangled as he pushed the door open; sweet, warm smells accosted his senses, and he closed his eyes, taking another full inhale. Ohh, it had been too long since the last time he'd been here.

Of course, baked goods were not the reason he was here. But that was no reason to waste this opportunity... Lloyd trotted eagerly to the display case where dozens of cupcakes sat on shiny silver trays on the racks.

Yellow cupcakes topped with fresh sliced strawberries. Chocolate cupcakes swirled with light and dark brown frosting—the label for that one read Chocolate and Caramel. Other labels proudly declared their goods: german chocolate, cookies and cream, lemon, white cake with buttercream...

"Aww, get outta here!" Lloyd gasped, pressing a hand to the glass. He stared at a dark cupcake with rich, deep purple frosting swirled with pink and blue, topped with little white star-shaped sprinkles and shiny silver sugar pearls.

"Cool, isn't it?" asked a familiar voice.

Lloyd straightened, looking over the case at the teenager. He sported bubblegum-pink hair, multiple ear piercings, and a thick, black leather wristband that read Emberflower on his left wrist.

"It's my own special creation," he said. "Gahiji about had a seizure when I made the first batch last weekend. And this one..." He tapped the glass behind a cupcake with a lime garnish. "It's got cheesecake filling. Uh-huh." He smirked at Lloyd's astonished expression.

"Can I have them all?" the former Shauto Master asked in a small voice.

Azamat laughed, crossing his arms over his pale yellow apron. "It's good to see you, man," he said. "It's been, what, two months since you last returned to the land of the living?"

"About," Lloyd confirmed meekly, scratching his head.

"And you still haven't cut your hair," Azamat said, shaking his head in mock sadness at Lloyd's shoulder-length blonde waves.

Lloyd ignored the jab. "Sorry I didn't visit sooner." He gestured to the walls. "The place looks great."

Azamat's face fell. "Still don't know when you're coming back, huh?"

Lloyd shook his head.

There was a quiet moment. Then Lloyd sighed.

"Which one do you recommend?" he asked, drawing their attention back to the baked goods.

"Heh." Azamat pointed at the chocolate caramel cupcake. "Just depends on what you're in the mood for. That one's pretty rich. But if you want something with more subtle flavors, that strawberry one is great. It's got some strawberry jam hiding under the frosting, too." He winked. "If you can't make up your mind, feel free to get a couple different flavors."

"Don't tempt me, Azamat."

As Lloyd scrutinized the shelves, another customer entered the shop and walked right up to the counter, ordering the strawberry cupcake. As Azamat rang her up, he engaged her in some friendly conversation that made Lloyd think she might be a regular customer. She left a few minutes later, and Azamat leaned against the counter, absently drumming his fingers to the beat of an Amid pop song playing on the radio.

At last, Lloyd fished into his pocket for some cash. "Alright," he said. "You broke me. I'll get the german chocolate and that... that crazy galaxy cupcake."

"Okay—whaaat are you doing? Naw, put your money away, s'on the house."

"But—"

"Nope."

Lloyd eyed him, but Azamat only glared back good-naturedly.

"For here or to go?" Azamat finally asked.

"Ehh…"

Lloyd sensed the double-meaning behind his friend's words. He hadn't planned on staying long, but Azamat's expression made him change his mind.

"Why not. I'll eat here."

Azamat's face brightened.

He slid a glass plate across the counter and opened the case, selecting the two cupcakes and pushing the plate across to Lloyd.

"Have a seat," he said, gesturing down the counter towards the barstools. Lloyd took a seat, and Azamat leaned up against the espresso machine across from him.

Lloyd rotated his plate, admiring the two cupcakes.

The galaxy cupcake looked too amazing to eat. So Lloyd undid the wrapper on the german chocolate, broke off the bottom half of the cupcake, and smashed it onto the top.

"What are you doing?" Azamat asked as Lloyd surveyed his work.

"Making a cupcake sammich," he explained. "You've never done this before?"

Azamat shook his head, bewildered. "... 'Sammich'?"

"It's the only way to eat a cupcake," Lloyd smirked. "Cake, frosting, cake. Sammich. It changes the flavor, I kid you not."

"It's beautiful," Azamat breathed, unable to take his eyes away as Lloyd sank his teeth into the cupcake.

"Mmm…" Lloyd exhaled through his nose as he chewed. He swallowed, then gestured to the other cupcake. "Hey, you try it."

"What, me?" Azamat looked at the galaxy monstrosity. "Naww, these are yours!"

"Oh, whatever. Go ahead."

"Are you sure?"

"Azamat."

Azamat hesitated a moment longer. But he very carefully rearranged the cupcake's layers, his eyes bright and eager. Deep violet frosting squished out between the two chunks of thick, dark chocolate cake, and a couple sprinkles plinked onto the plate.

Lloyd couldn't help but grin as Azamat bit desperately into the cupcake. He came away with a mouth rimmed periwinkle.

"Wow!" he hummed, still chewing. "You're right. It's totally different."

Lloyd chuckled. "It's good, huh?"

"I am never eating a plain cupcake again." Azamat took another bite, his eyes lifted heavenwards. "Oh, man."

Shaking his head in amusement, Lloyd resumed eating his own cupcake. Rich chocolate and coconut frosting between two gobs of sweet, moist, fluffy cake.

It had been far too long since the last time he'd had a cupcake. Or any kind of cake for that matter. Not since before…

Lloyd's throat dried up, and it took a couple tries to get the bite down his throat. He stared at the dessert in his hands for a moment, then, with a small sigh, set it back on the plate.

FSM, he swore, looking away from Azamat's puzzled gaze. I only knew her for, what, a week and a half? It's been six months now.

Why can't I get over it?

Lloyd had seen and done many strange and mysterious things during his time as a Ninja. But, as time wore on, one of the strangest—and most mysterious—things he'd ever learned was that some people, no matter how short a time they spent in his life, could leave lasting imprints on his soul.

"You don't like it?" Azamat asked, setting the galaxy cupcake down and wiping his mouth on his leather wristband.

Lloyd snapped out of his musings. "Huh?"

"The german chocolate. It's not your thing?"

"No- no, no. It's great," Lloyd assured him with a somewhat forced smile. "I just... I dunno, my mind wandered. Sorry." He picked up the cupcake and took another bite.

There was quiet between them for a few minutes. Lloyd picked at the cupcake, frustrated with himself for allowing these unhappy thoughts to creep into his mind.

I should have expected this, though... Coming back, even for a little while, is bound to dredge up a few memories.

"So… you been keeping up with Starfarer?" Azamat asked.

Lloyd shrugged. "I kinda fell behind," he admitted. "I mean, I read a few issues after I left, but... I dunno."

He shrugged again, not knowing what else to do. He'd be the first to admit that he wasn't great with words. But even if he were, how could he make Azamat understand this pain?

Why would I want him to understand? Lloyd asked himself. What makes me think he would even care? No, he would keep his long-winded expositions tucked safely inside his head.

"Well, I started reading Starfarer in my spare time," Azamat said. "I guess I'll keep quiet." He shook his head. "There was a huge plot twist in the latest issue, and every time I try to talk to Gahiji or Amilia…well, you can guess how that goes." He groaned, throwing an arm in the air. "Let me know if you decide to start reading again. I'm still mad about it-"

"Azamat," A voice called from the kitchen.

Azamat grimaced. "Aw… shoot, I was supposed to help Gahiji frost the next batch of cupcakes. I'll be right back."

He stood, then paused. "Actually, why don't you just come into the kitchen with me?"

Lloyd hesitated only a moment before following Azamat. He couldn't help a thrilled grin as he entered the kitchen.

Gahiji leaned over a shiny metal table in the middle of the room, wearing an apron identical to Azamat's, carefully but briskly extracting white cupcakes from their tins and lining them up on a rack. To the side, a huge, industrial-sized mixer whirred and vibrated as it creamed the beginnings of a fresh batch of frosting.

Gahiji barely glanced in Lloyd's direction as he worked. "Since when was it store policy to let customers into the kitchen?" he said gruffly.

"Customer?" Lloyd repeated, slightly offended. "A 'Nice to see you' would be appreciated."

Gahiji paused, then turned to examine Lloyd fully.

"Garmadon," he said. "I didn't recognize you with that... haircut."

Lloyd touched the top of his head. So he'd let his hair grow a little long in his six-month absence from the team. But did everyone have to point it out?

"Tu quoque," Azamat retorted, looking to Gahiji's own long hair, which shone like a cloud at noonday in the bright lights overhead.

There was a moment of silence. Then Gahiji turned back to his work.

Azamat chuckled, and Lloyd dared to join him after deciding that Gahiji either couldn't hear them over the noise of the mixer, or had decided to just ignore them.

"Get that batch going," Gahiji ordered Azamat. "And Garmadon."

Lloyd immediately sobered. "Yes, sir?"

The Amidian nodded at the sink. "Wash your hands and put your hair up."

"Yessir."

Lloyd obeyed. In the meantime, Azamat added ingredients to the large mixer, and Gahiji went to the walk-in refrigerator to fetch something.

"So," Azamat shouted over the mixer. "What brings you here? Cupcakes, or company?"

"Cupcakes," Lloyd shouted back, and came up beside his friend. Together they watched the mixer's large whisks spin in the bowl. "And the company, I guess," he added with a grin.

Azamat didn't even bother to roll his eyes, shooting Lloyd a sly look.

After another few seconds, to Lloyd's relief, Azamat turned off the mixer. The kitchen was plunged into blessed quiet.

Azamat grabbed a clean spoon from a cup nearby and dipped it into the white, fluffy mixture inside. He popped the spoon into his mouth, looking thoughtful for a moment, then tossed the utensil into the sink about six paces off with a clatter.

"Hey," he said as Gahiji reemerged from the fridge with a large container of strawberries. "C'mere and taste this. What does it need?"

"More lemon," Gahiji said, without so much as looking into the bowl, and tossed Azamat a bottle.

Azamat stared at the bottle in his hand, opened his mouth indignantly, then shut it with a small sigh. He twisted the top and poured a few drops into the frosting mixture, flicking the mixer back on and turning to lean against it.

He smiled sadly at Lloyd. Then took a breath.

"Everyone misses you, you know," he said. "You should consider coming back one of these days."

"Aww, you miss me?" Lloyd teased.

"Well, sure I do," Azamat said defensively. "Everyone does. Even Gahiji, though he won't admit it."

They both glanced at the Amidian. Gahiji stood again at the shiny table, deftly slicing the strawberries, pointedly ignoring them.

"But when are you coming back?" Azamat asked.

Lloyd looked away, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I dunno."

His fingers closed around a bit of yarn. He fished it out with a start, staring at the green thread. He'd forgotten that was there…

"What's that?" Azamat asked.

Lloyd hastily shoved it back into his pocket. "Nothing," he said too quickly.

"Was that... yarn?"

"So what if it was?"

Azamat laughed. Gahiji glanced in their direction, one eyebrow raised.

The teenager was still chuckling as he turned the mixer off, tasted the frosting again, and tossed the second spoon in the sink, apparently satisfied.

"Seriously, though," he said to Lloyd. "What're you doing here, out of the blue? I mean, I'm happy to see you—but why now, of all times?"

Lloyd shrugged, a hand gripping the shoulder of his knapsack. "I just... I dunno."

"You sure are saying that a lot," Azamat remarked, slinging an arm around Lloyd's shoulders.

Before Lloyd knew what was happening, the pink-haired punk had slipped the knapsack from Lloyd's shoulder and was unzipping it.

"H-hey!" Lloyd cried out, trying in vain to snatch the bag back.

"What's this?" Azamat pulled out a blue-and-red-striped scarf.

"I made—" Lloyd caught himself. "I was going to give it to you, but now I'm questioning that decision."

Azamat flung the scarf around his neck and examined his reflection in his phone's camera. "Wow, thanks, man!" he said with a grin. "One can never have too many scarves. Aw, man, the blue looks great with my hair."

"Yeah. You're welcome." Lloyd made a futile swipe for the knapsack, but Azamat leaped out of reach and whipped the second item from the pack: a gold and mahogany knit cap.

"Heyy! This is nice!" He tugged it on his pink head with a cheesy grin.

"Yeah, I made—got that, too," Lloyd said, gritting his teeth. "Azamat, come on, give me my pack—!"

He leaned a little too far. They nearly fell into the mixer full of frosting—Azamat barely swerved to avoid it in time, and they both oofed into the counter.

"Careful," Gahiji warned, eying them with a mix of interest and disapproval.

"Azamat—" Lloyd tried.

Before Lloyd could reach over him and snatch his pack back, Azamat pulled the last item from the knapsack.

It was a large blanket, folded and tied with a length of yarn.

"Woah..." Azamat stroked the soft material. "It's like magical cotton candy. Is this for Amilia?"

"Em..." Lloyd froze, staring at the blanket. Woven from emerald, pink, aqua-blue, and gold.

Gahiji froze, too.

"No," Lloyd told Azamat. "The hat's for Amilia. I..."

Lloyd then turned to his taller friend.

"The blanket... it's for you, Gahiji."

Gahiji's eyes shifted from the candy-colored blanket to Lloyd's face.

For a brief moment, he looked lost.

Then he steeled his jaw and turned back to his work.

Azamat handed the blanket back to Lloyd, avoiding his gaze.

"Where do you want it?" Lloyd asked quietly.

Gahiji gripped a new strawberry so hard that it slipped, painting his fingers red as the bruised berry rolled across the table.

"Leave it by my coat," he said stiffly, snatching the strawberry back.

Azamat pointed wordlessly to the back of the shop. Holding the blanket close, Lloyd hurried to the small closet near the back exit, where Azamat indicated. He set the blanket on the shelf, next to where Gahiji's coat hung.

Lloyd paused to touch the soft material one last time.

He'd put many weeks into making this blanket for Gahiji. And sure, at first glance it seemed like an odd color combination for dear Grumphiji, but... well, he'd hoped that Gahiji would have been able to see the meaning behind it.

And maybe he had. It was difficult to tell.

Lloyd swallowed and squeezed his eyes shut.

"You have some to-go cups for those cupcakes, Azamat?" he asked. "The sun's gonna go down in a few hours. I should start heading back soon."

"Whaaat?" Azamat was scandalized. "Nonono, grab an apron! You can help me out with this frosting. It's gonna go on those cupcakes Gahiji's cooling over there."

Lloyd hesitated, glancing at Gahiji, who didn't return the look.

"I really shouldn't," Lloyd said. "I'll only slow you down. And—"

"Grab an apron, Garmadon," Gahiji said. It was more a command than a suggestion.

"Wh - y-yessir."

I guess a slightly longer stay won't hurt any, Lloyd acquiesced, accepting an apron from Azamat.

Gahiji and Azamat were welcomed home shortly after dark by Amilia. She raised her mug of tea to them as she sat at the kitchen table, studying.

"Guess what?" Azamat said, grinning as he shed his coat and draped it over the back of a chair. "Lloyd came to the shop today!"

"Really?" Amilia looked up, her eyes huge. "What was he doing?"

"Just saying hi, I think," Azamat answered. He pulled off his new scarf and dangled it for display. "Look at this! He got us all gifts!"

He fished the hat out of his pocket and handed it to Amilia. "Here, see?"

Amilia gasped. Gingerly, she pulled it over her head and down to cover her ears. "Oh, wow... it's so soft!"

"The scarf is soft, too! Feel."

"You're right, it is!"

Gahiji hung his coat up on the rack next to the garage door, listening to the twins ooh and ahh over their gifts.

"I love this hat," Amilia said, pulling it off again. She rubbed the gold and brown knit between her thumb and forefinger. "It looks homemade... Did he make it himself?"

"Yes," Gahiji said suddenly.

Azamat blinked. "What? How do you know that?"

"Green yarn in his pocket," Gahiji said.

"Oh!" Azamat put his hands on his hips, shaking his head. "Can't believe I missed that... oh... and that was the same color as your...?"

Amilia turned around in her chair. "Oh, did you get a gift, too?"

Gahiji did not answer. He dropped the package containing Lloyd's blanket on the counter and opened the fridge.

Amilia gazed at the package for a moment.

"Can I see it?" she asked.

Gahiji, still, did not reply.

Amilia and Azamat exchanged helpless looks.

Then Amilia turned back to her textbook with a longsuffering sigh.

"Studies took a bit long today," she admitted, flipping to a new page in her textbook. "So I brought home tacos. Hope you don't mind."

Gahiji grunted and grabbed one of two to-go boxes sitting on a shelf in the fridge. He retrieved the blanket, grateful that Amilia could not see it through the thick brown paper, and retreated to his bedroom.

The place was pristine. The burgundy covers on his bed were without wrinkle, the pillows as if they had never been slept on. The surfaces of his desk and dresser were kept so clean, they might have never even been breathed on.

Gahiji shed his coat onto the back of his chair and set dinner on the desk. He moved to place the package beside it.

Then he paused.

Took the package in both hands, weighing it.

He sat down on the bed, unfolded the wrapping from the item inside, and pulled the blanket gently free.

Baby pink and pale gold wove through rich, glossy emerald. These colors didn't muddy, but swirled together to form an undulant pattern. Resembling a cascading waterfall, or the leaves of a quaking aspen, or the serene slopes of clouds on the horizon. Gahiji couldn't see a single fumble in its craftsmanship; the knitting so precise, the yarn so smooth, as to make the blanket shimmer even in artificial light, like strands of bundled pearls.

The colors of December's soul danced in the stitches.

He gazed at it.

December...

The brown paper packaging fluttered to the floor.

I miss you.

I do.

Gingerly, Gahiji swept the blanket across his own shoulders, the layers of green, gold, blue, and rosy pink encircling him.

It was warm.