Back at the fortress again.

Cole, Lloyd and Pixal made it back to the fortress just after all the others had returned. Cole blowing past the others without stopping to say a word.

"Cole...Cole!" Lloyd yelled as he tried catching up with Cole.

Pixal had landed the mech on one of the ramparts closer to the kitchens. So she was not trying to chase after Cole. Sensi Wu saw both running and called out for them to stop. Cole ignoring him and Lloyd behind him. Lloyd raised his arms in frustration. Cole heard Bree and Pixal in the kitchens. Talking rapidly to each other about what they had found at Cole's dad's house. That gave Cole a seconds pause. It was pretty odd to see the two women, well one young woman and one young nindroid talking so intently when previously they hated each others guts.

Turning to Cole Bree started to ask him what the hell had happened. Cole grabbed her by the waist and crushed her to him in a hug.

"Cole?" Bree asked in surprise. She sensed something was wrong. Cole was no longer as touchy feelie with her now that all the others had come to the fortress. Given the others poking fun at their relationship he didn't want to make her uncomfortable or embarrassed.

"That freak Clouse took my dad" Cole growled. He hadn't pulled back and growled into her hair and neck.

"In order to try and force us to give him Bree and Alanna in exchange for Cole's father Lou. Like that is remotely going to happen" Pixal interjected rolling her eyes at the very thought.

Lloyd had finally caught up to Cole and bent over huffing. Sensi Wu and the other ninja coming up behind him. Kai and Jay both sneering and elbowing each other at catching Bree and Cole embracing.

"Lloyd told us what happened. While we can't give Clouse what he wants how are we going to save Cole's father from Clouse? And why does Clouse think that Alanna is a boy?" Nya asked.

Bree pulled back enough to give herself room to speak. Holding onto Cole's hand still.

"That idiot just assumes I had a boy because he doesn't know when or where we have lived. And he absolutely can't see or know what happens in here at the fortress. He really must want me to be able to summon him a new or his old body. And there is no way I am doing that. However..." Bree said trailing off.

"What?" Cole asked hesitantly.

"What if we give him the appearance of getting what he wants? And then surprise him and just get rid of him?" Bree said slowly.

"How in Ninjago do you plan on getting the upper hand?" Harumi asked coming in the kitchen behind the others after Alanna. Alanna was playing and running through the room with Odel and Flora. Chasing them would be a more exact term.

"The same way I can disguise you or change your hair color" Bree answered with a smirk. "But I was thinking on a bigger scale".

Stepping back from Cole she held her arms out drawing up her elemental magic. Watching her it was obvious that she did the same but opposite hand and arm movements that Lloyd used to draw up his power. The magic blue purple and glowing it lit up the entirety of the kitchen. The glow causing the running children to stop a gawk at the glow floating in orbs much like fireflies. Quickly pushing the orbs forward Bree hit Jay and Kai with her magic. They both yelped in shock.

"The fuck did you just do woman?!" Kai yelled. His voice the same, but his appearance shorter and melting into a copy of Bree herself.

Jay squeaked in horror, pulling at his long curling pony tail with its decorated braids.

"Then Bree pulled her magic up once again and this time hit Lloyd with the glowing orbs. This time shrinking him both smaller and younger. Frowning and cocking her head to the side she changed Lloyd's hair to dark and his eyes to blue gray like Alanna's.

"Does he look enough like a Stone to you?" Bree asked Cole.

Cole giving him an appraising look and then leaning over and whispering something to Bree. Who laughed nervously and then with a wave of her hand vanished the simple glamours she put on the guys. Kai and Jay going back to their previous forms. However annoyed looking. Lloyd... didn't care and just flopped himself back and laid on one of the large tables and closed his eyes.

"Why don't we give Lloyd a chance to sleep while the rest of us plan?" Cole said.

The others agreed. While Bree snagged Alanna up from chasing her friends round the kitchen.

"You need a nap pumpkin doodle" Bree said nuzzling the top of her daughters curly back hair.

Squirming and wiggling Alanna tried to force her way out of Bree's arms. Only to have Cole swoop his strong arms in and start taking her upstairs for Bree. Wu nodded in understanding as Misako came up beside him with tea and a roll of the eyes for Lloyd's form sleeping on the table. Cole and Bree would be back down as soon as they got Alanna settled.

Walking and talking about inane things as they made their way up to their own rooms. Passing the other ninja and elemental masters. And family with the obvious exception of their own parents. Bree opened the door with a purple glow and closing it behind them in the same way. Alanna was already asleep in Cole's arms. He laid her down gently as Bree then tucked a quilt over her. Both parents watched over her lovingly before cautiously backing out of the room and shutting the door softly. Turning to each other they paused before both talking at the same time.

"What the fuck!?" Cole said in exasperation. While Bree said "What the hell are we really going to do?".

"Leave him there?" Cole answered in annoyance.

"Cole! We can't do that. At that I thought you got along better with him now" Bree said back to him.

"I do. I tried to get him to come here with the rest of the elemental masters families. I tried to get him to come to the air temple with me. And he stubbornly refused over and over. And now that decision on his part puts you and Alanna in direct danger. And the rest of my friends in danger because god knows we can't not save him" Cole replied. Scrubbing his face with his hands.

"I feel... restricted by what I'd like to do because of what all the others will say and do" Bree told him. Plopping down to sit next to the fireplace.

"What do you mean?" He asked. Sitting down beside her.

"I think using the glamour's is a good idea. But I doubt anyone else is going to put the effort into actually getting rid of this wraith monster. They are too... soft hearted to actually do it. When I know if given a fraction of a chance he'd kill any one of us. Even our children just to get his way. I'd rather just go myself" Bree said in frustration.

"But that's giving him what he wants! What if there is some way he can trap or hurt you. All your powers and talents aside. I mean look what happens when I grab a hold of you. None of your elemental magic works on me." Cole said before pulling Bree into his lap.

"Cole you never really figured out why our powers cancel out on each other do you. Or that we can just barely borrow each others powers for a moment." Bree asked him with a sigh.

"Well, I've seen it happen with the other guys a little. Never seen them try and use each others powers. But Sklyer is not affected at all by Kai's powers, and Nya isn't harmed at all by Jays" Cole replied. Looking into her face brushing a wild curl behind her ear.

"You goof" Bree she laughed softly.

Cole didn't get it still and he waited.

"They can't use, or more accurately their powers won't hurt each other because they are married, or are together in some close way in the future. It would't make sense for spouses to be able to hurt each other now would it." Bree told him.

"Did... you know that the first time it happened between us" Cole asked. No longer shocked or surprised by the random things he finds out about her. But thinking back to when he carried her off the bounty at the air temple.

"That is usually happens between spouses? No, no idea. I had never seen it before. And before you ask no it never happened between Slate and I. Nor did Rowena ever mention it. Which a huge power canceling thing is something she would have taught me about in the whole magical homeschooling thing. Which speaking of that..." Bree didn't finish.

"What other than vengestone can cancel elemental powers" He asked in apprehension.

"Vengestone works on every elemental master but the master of magic." She explained slowly and cautiously. Nervously to be more precise.

"And?" Cole asked. Sensing she was about to tell him something she really didn't want to tell him.

"A different type of stone can somewhat limit the extent of my abilities as the master of Magic. And if Clouse the dick is... or was from a different line of masters of magic he would know it too. Its knowledge that is only ever passed from parent to child. And never divulged to anyone else in case its used against one of us." She explained. Leaning her head onto his shoulder and taking a deep breath.

"Great. And he is just the person to use that wouldn't he?" Cole asked.

"Putting a hearthstone on me would be next to nothing compared to murdering how many people in cold blood" She replied softly.

"That's it?! Just a piece of hearthstone? Every single fire place here is lined with it. Anything someone wants to make heat resistant uses it. What the hell does it do?" Cole asked quickly. And dramatically to Brees thinking.

"It just slows my magic down. It wont halt it. In fact sometimes if a Child is struggling to use their powers safely we might even give them a hearthstone bracelet to practice in so they don't whammy any of their friends or siblings by accident" Bree replied.

"So it won't kill you? Or totally nullify your powers?" He asked.

"No of course not... Just slow me down enough to make fighting back difficult" She answered in annoyance.

"Can you stay here in the fortress and still hold a glamour on several people far away?" He asked.

"I can but I don't like the idea at all. And if its a full body glamour on several people its going to eventually tire me out" She told him.

"I just don't want to risk loosing you" Cole said holding her tight again.

"And how do you think I feel? I at least have a use, he'd kill anyone of you for getting in his way." Bree said with fear in her voice.

They sat like that for a little in front of the fireplace. Not moving and just thinking.

"I love you Cole" Bree told him softly.

He laughed. It earned him a disgruntled look.

"I just never thought you'd be the one saying stuff out of the blue like that" Cole laughed.

Bree shoved at his shoulder a little. Still frowning.

"Listen, I love you. A stupid amount. And I love Alanna too" Cole said kissing her.

This at least had Bree rolling her eyes and huffing at him. Granted it was softer and more sarcastically than before.

"Fine" he laughed again. "I was going to wait to ask you. But will you marry me?" Cole asked her.

Bree jerked and held still in shock. Before she tilted his chin to her face.

"Be serious Cole" She scolded.

"I am" He answered.

"You have terrible timing you know that?"Bree said to him.

Cole reached up and snagged a ribbon holding some of her hair back.

"And?" Cole asked again. Giggling the ribbon. "I don't know how this works".

"You just wrap it around both our wrists like this" Bree explained. "And you ask me again".

"That seems pretty simple for such a big deal" Cole huffed.

"Its the thought that counts Cole" Bree laughing softly this time.

Cole wrapped the ribbon around both their wrists snugly. The cording giving off a bright white glow.

"So will you?.."Cole asked her slowly.

"Yes" Bree answered cutting him off and kissing him.

The ribbon glowed brightly and then reshaped into two cords on their individual wrists. Neither took notice at this particular moment. Nor did anyone downstairs in the library notice that the family tree on the wall shifted and changed. With lines and symbols now connecting both their pictures and names.