Lloyd gazed down at the newspaper in his hand as he sat down on the dummy platform in the training room. The photo below was of his friends and family after the final battle. They looked so happy that the Overlord had been defeated. So much for that…

"So how're you doing?" asked Kai, shutting the door behind him. He then joined Lloyd sitting down beside him.

"I'm okay…"

"Is that how you really feel?"

"It isn't. I can't stop thinking about what my dad is going to do now."

"What do you mean?" Kai tilted his head slightly. "You don't know what your dad is going to do? After that battle, your dad is your best friend again."

"Sure…" replied Lloyd. "But Yakunan's not in control anymore."

"What?" exclaimed Kai.

"Yakunan's his own person now. He's changed, just as my father has. But sometimes I can't help but wonder if they'll be able to cooperate. What if Yakunan turns on my father again?"

"I don't know," said Kai. "But if they're both willing to trust each other, I don't see what the problem is."

"That's the thing I hate," said Lloyd, his tone sad. "When you're willing to work together, the only thing that can separate you is hesitation. Decisions like that come down to a simple thing. How much are you willing to compromise?" he continued. He let out a sigh. "I'm worried Dad's going to turn against me."

"Lloyd," assured Kai. "Your father has a reason for everything he does. He wants to be a better person, and you know that."

"The only reason I agreed with him was because I didn't want to lose him, but I still can't trust Yakunan. I know I purified him but..." He let out a shuddering sigh. "It might get to a point where our whole team fractures because of this."

"Hey, you're blowing this out of proportion," Kai replied. "Your team won't collapse because of just one decision."

"Lloyd?" Another voice, Garmadon's, entered the room.

Lloyd tensed as his father called him. This was what he had been dreading since they had returned home.

"Yes?" he answered.

"Can we talk?"

Garmadon didn't sound angry. "I wanted to talk about what is going to happen now."

"I'll leave you two alone," said Kai, standing up. He gave a reassuring look to Lloyd before leaving.

They avoided each other's gaze for what felt like a long time. Lloyd wished he had been able to compose himself before they started this conversation. He was too upset to think straight. Garmadon looked at Lloyd's face. "Lloyd, what happened?"

"It doesn't matter now…" replied Lloyd, his voice barely a whisper.

"Well how can I help if you won't tell me?" continued Garmadon.

"I can't," replied Lloyd. He looked apologetically at his father.

"What?"

"I wish I could tell you," said Lloyd, his tone bitter. "But I can't."

"You don't trust me?"

"No, you're my Dad," replied Lloyd. "How could I not trust you?"

"So you are planning on telling me the truth?"

"If I tell you, you'll think less of me," said Lloyd.

"I won't," reassured Garmadon.

"I wish I could believe you." Lloyd continued. He was telling the truth. He wanted to believe his father, he really did. But with everything that had happened, he couldn't. "But… I can't."

"Why not?"

"It's about Yakunan... You trusted him so easily, and so did I, but I was only pretending. I didn't want to lose you if we disagreed again."

"Lloyd," said Garmadon, his tone concerned.

"I don't know if I can trust you again either." Lloyd couldn't look Garmadon in the eye. He stared at the floor instead. As upset as he was with his father, he couldn't bring himself to say this again. Not when his father was looking at him with such an apologetic tone.

"Son, please…"

"I'm sorry..." was all he could say now.

"Please, Lloyd..." Garmadon took a step forward and grabbed Lloyd's shoulder. Lloyd looked back up at him and saw that his father's eyes were watering. "I don't know what's going on right now, but I can't lose any more people I love. I can't lose you too... Please..." His voice broke like it had the first time. "Please, Lloyd… Can you... Can you tell me?"

Lloyd felt his heart break. He didn't want to lose his family either. He wanted it so badly, like he was a kid again. Now he had the motivation. The reason to be a better person. He didn't want to lose his family.

"Lloyd?"

"I can't tell you, Dad," Lloyd's voice cracked. "I can't."

Garmadon looked hurt. "Why?" he demanded. "Why won't you trust me?"

Seeing his father like this was almost unbearable. Lloyd was on the verge of breaking. "You wouldn't understand," he replied. Now he would be the one to break. What choice did he have? There was one.

"Lloyd." Garmadon's tone was pleading. He could tell Lloyd was about to break.

"No," Lloyd finally said, his tone weak. "I can't."

"Why?" demanded Garmadon, starting to lose his temper finally. "Why can't you trust me?"

"I just can't."

Garmadon looked hurt. "Why are you being so stubborn?"

"I can't trust you." Lloyd was beginning to lose control of himself. His father was about to leave and he wouldn't be able to tell him the truth. "You won't understand. You're always on his side."

"Lloyd, I'm not taking sides." Garmadon was attempting to get closer.

"You're always ready to take his side!" Lloyd practically shouted. He was upset and felt betrayed. Everything was coming out now. He allowed his raw anger to take over. "Yakunan is the reason why you left me! He corrupted you! Who's to say he'll do it again?! And now you want to help him get his son back?! How long do you expect me to put up with this?!"

"Lloyd, I'm not helping him for his son," replied Garmadon. "I'm doing this because it's what I need to do. I'm trying to make up for what I did wrong. I want to be a better person."

"You expect me to put my trust in a man like this?!"

"I can expect that you would give me a chance." Garmadon's voice didn't hold any anger now. He looked sadder than Lloyd had ever seen. "Lloyd, I can't lose any more family. It hurts too much. That's why I want you to be there if I fail. I want to be able to trust you like I used to. I'm sorry…"

Before Lloyd could ponder any more, he felt two arms wrap around his waist and pull him in. It was his father, taking him as his own in a time when he was finally able to be open with him. Only his father could be this caring with him. Only his father would understand that what he was feeling was so much more than just a betrayal.

Garmadon ran fingers through his son's hair and tried to comfort him. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. I'm not leaving you. Even if I do fail, I'm going to be here for you."

Lloyd was lost in his father's embrace. He felt calm. He'd never felt this close to Garmadon before. Never like this. Not since that conversation they had after his destiny as the green ninja was revealed. He let out a soft breath. It was like time itself was slowing down. Finally, Lloyd let everything go and gave in.

Garmadon still held him tightly. "Don't be afraid. I'm right here with you. Don't be afraid. I won't leave you like I did. I don't want you to be hurt."

"I'm not afraid," Lloyd replied, his voice muffled. "I'll be fine, because I have you. I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm not going anywhere either," said Garmadon. "I'll always be here for you."

"I know."

Garmadon couldn't help but smile. "Do you really trust me?"

Everything Lloyd had been holding back was finally gone. "I trust you more than anyone."

Garmadon smiled again. "You always did." He tightened his grip on Lloyd. "I love you so much."

"I love you too."