Nya rolled her eyes. Kai was jealous. Kai was so jealous. Lloyd and Jay had walked to school together and were thick as thieves, giggling and whispering and acting like the best of friends. And Kai hadn't moved in several seconds, just staring with a hurt look on his face.

Her brother could be soooo stupid sometimes. She shoved him forward while calling out, "Morning, little bro! Hey, Jay!"

"Nya! Kai!" cheered Lloyd, and suddenly her brother was all smiles again as Lloyd rushed up to them. "Did you know Jay's birth dad is Cliff Gordon?! I got his autograph! Look!" And he flipped open his sketchbook to a piece of notepaper carefully stored between two blank sheets. Sure enough, it was a note signed by the famous actor.

Of course, they'd kind of known that since that meeting at the warehouse with all their families, but Lloyd didn't need to know that just now.

"That's so cool, little bro! I'm so happy for you!" cheered Kai, obviously relishing that Lloyd felt a need to show off his treasure to them.

Only Kai could be jealous over his role of big brother for someone he'd just met last week. Of course, she had no competition for big sister. She preened a little at that.

Unfortunately, with big sisterhood came responsibility. Rats. She'd have to pop Lloyd's bubble.

"Um, kind of have something for you, Lloyd," Nya began, fumbling for the zipper on her backpack. Lloyd looked in confusion at the sealed envelope she took out of her folder and held out to him. His name was written in elegant script across the front.

"It's from, well, remember what our dad said yesterday? He offered to deliver it, but then you didn't stay over last night, so..."

Lloyd paled rapidly, staring in horror at the envelope like it was cursed or something. Jay stepped forward and whispered something in his ear, which made Lloyd gulp and nod.

Kai twitched. He really had to get over himself. Lloyd had three more big brothers now and there was nothing he could, or should, do about that.

Lloyd took a deep breath, nodded again, this time more to himself, and took the letter. He slipped it into the back of his sketchbook and shoved it into his bag.

Just then Lloyd's cell rang. He jumped. "Rats! Forgot to silence that!"

"School hasn't started yet," commented Cole casually. Zane and he had come around the corner during the letter of doom drama.

"We still have 15.3 minutes before the first bell rings and cellular phones are subject to seizure if they are being used and/or in a mode that could disturb others," added Zane.

"It's my dad," said Lloyd, and he clicked the regular phone button and held it up to his ear.

"Hey, Dad. Yeah, everything's cool. Spent last night with Jay. Yes, that minion, Dad! And that's a really rude way to describe him!"

Jay opened his mouth, probably to ask just what Garmadon had said, but Cole set a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Better not to know such things.

"Nope, no interest in coming home yet. Still working on, um, lots of evil plans and work and stuff. Uh-huh. Yeah, I'm gonna stay with Zane tonight. Yes, that one! Why does it matter, Dad?"

The rest of the group exchanged awkward glances, but not one person slipped away. After all, this way they had Lloyd in the middle of a pretty safe circle of all of them, cutting off any stares or gossip from other schoolmates.

"Oh. Um, crap. Yeah, just now actually. Nya gave it to me. No. No, I don't think so..."

Lloyd's expression abruptly shifted from uncomfortable to flat out confused.

"The golf tournament? Why would I care what time it is? You want me to be what? Your caddie? Do you even know what that is, Dad?"

Garmadon's caddie? That opened up all sorts of options, thought Nya.

"No, Dad. Caddie, not catty. They don't wear kitty ears and dress up. You know what, why don't you just ask Koko? I can hear her laughing at you from here."

How had they ever been afraid of Lloyd's dad?

"No, Dad! I won't wear kitty ears!" Lloyd shouted, then immediately blushed as he remembered he was in the hallway at school. At least his friends were still surrounding him, though he could hear some not so nice laughter coming from behind them.

He groaned. "Look, I'll think about it. But you have to find out what a caddie does before I agree to anything! Today? It's a form? Ugh, fine, you can put me down. But you have to find out what caddies do and no, it has nothing to do with cats! Seriously, why would they bring cats to play golf?"

Lloyd was hiding his face with one hand as the other held the phone to his ear. "Okay. Yeah. Love you too, Dad. Maybe, I've gotta think about it. Okay, bye."

He hung up and raised his eyebrows at his friends. "And you guys are afraid he has a chance of winning the tournament?"

"I admit the odds have shrunk drastically in the space of that last cellular transmission," admitted Zane, sounding slightly sheepish.

"I think you'd look cute with kitty ears," giggled Nya impishly.

All the guys took a step back from her. That was a dangerously thoughtful look in her eyes. And it didn't seem to be limited to Lloyd as her eyes swept over her fellow ninja.

~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~

[Dearest Lloyd,

I don't know what to write. I've always been hailed as a great hero, as the amazing Lady Irondragon, but I've never been anything like the legends say. They claim I'm great and wise and always know what to do and say. They couldn't be more wrong.

I failed you. Hurt you. I will never be able to apologize enough to you, but I am sorry. I am so, so sorry for ever making you feel unwanted or unlovable. That was never my intention. You are wanted. You are loved. But I can't blame you, even if you never read this letter. You probably hate me. You should. Often, I hate myself.

I wrote a travelogue on my journey. From the first day I left you and Garmadon. It is yours. I don't want it, but I always hoped you would read it one day. And maybe start to understand that it was always about you and Garmadon. The two loves of my life, my misunderstood husband and my precious baby boy. I will leave it on your nightstand for when you return.

But enough about me. Tell me about yourself? Is your favorite color still green? You always loved it. What happened to your stuffed dragon you got from your uncle? You named it Yu, because you couldn't say Wu at the time. Had the hardest time with the 'w' sound!

I don't even know you, and I'm supposed to be your mother. I want to know you. I want to be here for you. I want to know your favorite meal, favorite book, favorite movie, favorite subject. Do you prefer spicy or sweet? I bet it's sweet. Garmadon and I both have quite the sweet tooth!

You must be so smart. I couldn't believe you already are at such a high level of spinjitzu! You must study so hard. Garmadon says he's always been very serious about your education, as he promised me when I left. I'm not sure where he gets this idea that he promised me or owes me anything, but I am glad that he cares about such things.

Wu was supposed to be there for you after I left, but I suppose it is just as well. Your father needed you. Needs you. You were always the center of his world, from the day he set eyes on you for the first time. I could never have separated you two. It would have broken him.

I found out about how Ninjago City treats you today. Maya told me to run an internet search on your name. I don't know what to say, just please know that none of those hateful lies are true. You are special and good and wonderful. And your dad will be too. Good, that is. One day. We will make sure of it.

His heart is beautiful - it is the poison in his veins, the curse that taints his mind that leads him to seeking out what he calls evil. His love of you is proof that he is good. That he can overcome his curse. There has to be a cure out there somewhere. I can never apologize enough for not being able to find it.

But I can't leave again. I can't. Please, please, don't ask me to go. I've already lost so much time with you. Even if you don't like me, even if you truly don't want me here, please let me watch over you. Let me stay.

I love you.

If you ever want to text or call me, for any reason at all, my number is XXXXXXX.

Your mother,
Koko]

~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~

I carefully folded the note back up and placed it back in its envelope. Tucked that envelope in the back of my sketchbook, where it would be safe and hidden.

What am I supposed to think?

I had expected a long list of excuses and reasons. A whole spiel about the importance of the Green Ninja, his role in the Secret Ninja Force and his foretold achievements. Maybe something about how I was ruining everything by not accepting her with open arms. Hurting my father. Hurting her. Running away and hiding. Refusing to see or talk to her.

Koko wasn't supposed to be as confused and scared as I was.

She wasn't supposed to want... me. A relationship with me. To know me and watch over me and be there for me. To be my mother.

What am I supposed to do?

~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~

Author's Notes: Hope everyone enjoyed! I think Garmadon's caddie/catty mistake is hilarious, and I hope you all did too! And you can bet Nya's got PLANS involving kitty ears! As for Koko's letter - I wasn't sure about even including it here, but it made sense with Lloyd's personality that he wouldn't be able to stand it burning a hole in his backpack. XP Absolutely none of this excuses what she did, but it sets the stage for some more Koko and Garmadon scenes coming up later on.

Next chapter, Lloyd's sleepover at Zane's! And you guys totally called it that Zane is getting a special bonding moment with Lloyd as well.

Special thanks, as always, to Sunny Lighter for previewing this chapter and helping me out with her feedback and recommendations!

Also thanks to all my wonderful reviewers from last chapter: Dyphen, Sunny Lighter, Beaner97, Pitch'snieceanddaughterofMew, Carrie2sky, Watcher321, EMPFangirl02, MasterOfMusic139, Aster (guest), Little-BluWhale, and Bookkeeper2004! With all of your wonderful reviews, guys, we topped 200 last chapter! With this chapter, this should become my most popular story ever! Thank you all SOOO much!