If you know me from Wattpad you probably recognize this story, and the story behind it, so I shall save the rambles behind The Heartbreaking Guide To Being A Parent.

It's a post-Season Nine oneshot collection told mostly from the view of the ninja's parents/caregivers/adult friends. It's all post-battle oneshots because I am a sucker for those.

The intimacy, the vulnerability, the reflections, honesty, and just general mix of angst and tenderness. I eat that shit up.

Now without further ado; we start with Maya. Takes place 10 hours after the final battle.

Maya wanted to puke. She wanted to roll down the window and throw her head outside to puke. The former mistress of water turned her head away from the awful scene just outside the couple's old station wagon. The one Kai and Nya saved all these years. It was beyond driving when they finally came home, but the lightning ninja, Jay's, kindly adoptive father brought it back to its glory. Tears pricked in her brown eyes. That poor man. And that poor boy. What state were they in? Her eyes somehow found the road again, drawn as her husband made a pained hiss and took the detour. There was a colossal sized foot print near the road, and a white sheet just directly in the crater. Maya jerked her head back away. Ray quickly found her hand, though his palms were a little too hot, Maya didn't care. He was already burning his finger prints into the steering wheel. "We're almost there, love, almost," he soothed. Maya's eyes were hard, staring daggers into the seats. "Do.. do you think Kai and Nya are alright?" she asked. Ray never answered. All he let out was a quiet "we're here" as they pulled into the medical plaza.

Maya didn't know whether or not Garm- that thing leaving the largest section of medical and facilities in downtown unharmed was intentional. She liked to think it was, for comfort. The roads were filled with stations and EMT vehicles. Ray rolled down his window to ask an attendant where to park. He told them they could just leave it where it was; they were at maximum capacity anyhow.

"I'm sorry but all the rooms are full! We have tents outside and other hospitals on their way to pick up patients!"

A rushing nurse yelled at Maya and Ray as they entered, check on each patient with a beckoning call for help. Ninjago was in the chaos of the aftermath.

"No, we aren't patients, we're here to see our children," Maya caught up to the nurse as she bolted behind the desk. "Kai and Nya Smith, the ninja of fire and water."

The nurse stopped dead in her tracks, turning to stare at the two awestruck. "You're Fire and Water's parents?" she asked. They nodded.

The woman dropped her stacks of paper gently on the desk, her before mania subsiding a bit. "Right this way, Mr and Mrs Smith," she led them to double doors a few paces away. She pushed them open and held the door. "Cassia should still be on shift, she's the one you want to talk to. Just go straight down this hall and you'll run into the nurses' desk," she instructed.

Maya gratefully bowed to her. "Thank you."

The nurse returned the gesture with a smaller smile. "No, thank you. I know the city seems in ruin, but your children saved so many lives."

Maya and Ray rushed down the hall, just catching a few nurses working tirelessly. Before they could even voice their plight, a thick plea cut them right off. "Miss Smith, please go back to your room."

"Nya," Ray gasped quietly.

Standing in the middle of the hall, in all her injured glory, was their little girl. Well, typically she wasn't little, but standing next to the woman in scrubs and with Pixal's hands on her shoulders just made her seem so small. Her right arm was hung up in a sling, a slew of plasters and wrappings covering her body. Whatever skin was exposed from her tattered gi was turning an ugly shade of purple and yellow. Maya's arm tightened her grip on her husband's bicep, the sizzling of the soles of his feet barely audible. Their daughter's beautiful face was swelling, eyes red and puffy. "I- I just wanna check on Jay, please tell me how he's doing," Nya begged pathetically.

"The doctor hasn't even come by to check on you, Nya, let's go-" Pixal was cut off.

"But he's gonna be so scared when he wakes up! His parents aren't even here yet, an- Mom! Dad!" Nya's red eyes finally caught onto her parents figures, and she staggered over into their arms.

Ray wrapped his arms around her on instinct.

Maya physically felt her heart break. This wasn't at all like her daughter. She was typically so strong. That face twisted into absolute sorrow and pain. It was like Nya's face was taken and replaced by a different one with different expression.

"Water lily, calm down," Ray used his daughter's childhood nickname, as if that would make the small family feel better. "What's the matter?"

"They won't let me see Jay, Dad! He- he's hurt- a- and they won't let me see him!" Nya sobbed. "I have to see him! I have to be there for him!"

"How can you be there for Jay if you can't be there for yourself?" Maya quickly jetted in. The young woman continued to cry, hurting in so many ways. The mother gently brushed away her hair, the father giving her the most cautious of hugs.

"How about this, Miss Smith," the nurse offered gently, "Once the doctor sees you for an all clear, I'll personally arrange for you to see Mr Walker."

Nya perked in the slightest, wincing from the pain crying caused to the injuries on her face. "Really?" she asked quietly.

The woman nodded. "There, water lily, does feel a little better?" Ray soothed. He held Nya like she was cracking porcelain, which is almost what she felt like in that moment of time. Probably looked like as well, with her array of scars. "Now come, let's get you to rest."

"Right this way, Mr. and Mrs. Smith," Pixal smiled for the older couple, but they could see the pain in exhaustion in her eyes. There were dents in her flawless framework, scratches across her exoskeleton. "It is very good to see you, despite circumstances," she said. Maya smiled, pulling the girl in for a hug herself. She seemed as though she needed one. The way Pixal hugged back proved her thought to be correct. "It is good to see you too, Pixal," she smiled, "And please, Maya and Ray are perfectly fine."

They finally reached a small room tucked in a corner of the hospital, the door wide open. Maya and Ray were saddened to see some of the other ninja all huddled in the same room. Cole was fiercely trying to work around the neck brace tightly around him, and the restrictions of laying flat on his back, just to assure family he was okay. Zane sat in a chair, his arm separate from his body as he worked on it with a toolbox he must've borrowed. Ray led his daughter inside.

The ice ninja sighed, riffling around for bolts and nuts. "I wish you would allow me to inform your family, Cole, you're going to hurt yourself," he tiredly argued with his brother.

"Am not!" SMACK. "Ow!"

"I told you."

Cole rubbed his now sore face, sending a grateful wave to Maya as she quickly picked the phone off him. She handed it back to him, the poor boy. They all looked so poor, hurt, sad. Maya wanted to pick them all up and swaddle them. "Would you like me to call Lou for you, Cole?" she asked. All parents had previously met, and even had a group chat for updates; emergency and otherwise.

"I already called my dad, it's my extended family I gotta deal with now! Uncles, aunts, cousins! Even my grandma's freaking out, so I gotta call her up and calm her down. But she doesn't speak any English so she's just gonna tell me off for my shit Italian- oh! Sorry Mrs. Smith!" Cole cut himself off from his rant, remembering he was talking to one of his friend's mothers.

Maya smiled. "Curse all you want, Cole, you kids deserve it."

Nya's pitiful sniffling made the other two ninja turn away from their busy work to frown at her. Their little sister in arms. Maya watched, almost intrigued, as Cole and Zane shared a silent conversation between each other. The master of earth looked around, clearly growing frustrated with his lack of movement in the current time, which enabled his ability to be an honorary big brother. Finally his eyes caught the remote of their little tv. A lot of rooms had them, for patients.

"Hey, Nya," he plastered on a fake smile for her sake. This was his best friend too. "Care to pick the movie? Zane's taste is awful."

The nindroid flicked his thigh in retaliation, Pixel hiding a giggle in her hand.

That seemed to distract her mind, flipping through their limited number of channels to find something interesting. Eventually settling on the 80's cult classic movie about their predecessors. Ray gagged at his own actor portrayal, the scene of some fight on screen. This made Nya smile.

"Oh, your actor wasn't that bad," Maya jabbed him, "With what little knowledge they had of us they did good."

"I just can't believe they invented some love triangle with us and Libber, I mean who has a love triangle?" Ray complained.

"It was Hollywood, and the 80's, darling." The older couple just missed the looks of the kids in the room, splitting smiles on their faces as the inside joke resonated.

"Well my legacy won't be tarnished in front of me," Ray stood from his seat, rather dramatically. "Hungry, Nya? There's a burger place in the plaza right? Maybe it's open."

"Oh! If it is, can you grab me something?" Cole quickly spoke up.

"I could eat," Zane perked up, finally beginning to reattach his arm.

Ray was left agape, "Um- well-"

"That's nice of you, Mr. Ray," Pixel grinned, graciously accepting Cole's phone to look at the menu of the burger place. "I'll have.." She deliberated quietly.

Nya giggled, her charm and glow slowly beginning to come back. "Might wanna write this down, Dad."

Maya laughed at her husband's face as he had the realization of what he dragged himself into. These kids could eat a village. "Something small for me, dear."

"I can't just choose between the two of you!"

Maya raised her eyebrows as the movie hit its climax. The music swelled as the actor on screen perfectly captured the look of a man torn between love. For a silly film with an accuracy rating of about fifty, it was.. pretty good. Maya wondered what it's audience score got from that sight Kai always referenced when telling them about movies.

The mother's expression fell slightly at the thought of her only son and oldest child. She hadn't heard much of him.. Zane had informed her that his injuries weren't as awful as anyone elses, which was a blessing bestowed by the gods, but was still needed for surgery.

"I love you!"

"Ugh, I'd rather watch Zane's awful taste," Cole mumbled. His thigh was flicked again, making him drop his phone, again. "Ow! C'mon, man, c'mon!"

"Smith's?"

The door opened to interrupt everyone, a nurse poking his head through the door.

Nya gasped, standing as quickly as she could. She winced at her injuries. "Is it Jay?" she asked carefully. The doctor had made a pit stop here, while Ray had gone to get a mountain of food for all of the kids.

"No, sorry. I don't have any news on him, or when you can see him, yet."

"Oh.." Nya fell back into her seat.

"I'm actually here to inform you about Kai, Mrs. Smith," Maya's interest was immediately taken, "You can see him now if you like. His surgery just finished."

Maya stood, but hesitated. Could she leave her daughter alone right now? Kai had just gotten out of surgery, he wasn't even awake or aware enough to know whether or not his mother was there. Then again, he would want her there for when he was awake enough to know. Nya decided for her, giving Maya a little shove with her good arm. "Go on, Mom, I'll be okay here."

"Yes, Mrs. Maya," Pixel stole the woman's seat to ensure she did leave, to see Kai, "We have her."

"Your son's left femur was shattered, and a good portion of his hip bones on that side were fractured, with the sacrum and coccyx being mostly spared." The kind doctor met on the floor explained to Maya as they led her to her son. "There are pins placed along the bone, with some connecting to his behind and hip," Dr. Mendez let her know layout of their surgical place, pointing to the different places on their own body.

"He needs to rest for the next week or so, and then be placed in physical therapy from there on. Typically it would take longer, but elemental masters have been proven to have quicker recovery times. Your son should be on his feet within the next two months, Mrs. Smith."

"That is.. fantastic," Maya respectfully bowed to her, hands clasped tightly over her racing heart. "Thank you so much Dr. Mendez."

They shook their head, "Please, the pleasure is all mine. Your son saved my family."

The two adults slowed to a stop as they came upon the room of the famed fire ninja. Room 345. The room.. with the ajar door, and the empty bed.

The IV was missing it's previously attached patient, sheets spilling onto the floor in tangled waves. The television was playing some forgotten channel.

Maya's already heightened anxiety sky rocketed, frantic thoughts spilling into her mind. Dr. Mendez seemed to have similar thoughts. "Where's Mr. Smith?"

The passing nurse glanced up. Their eyes went wide, fumbling with the IV bag of vancomycin. "Shit."

A slew of nurses and doctors began to fan out the area, Maya left in a daze of worry and concern. Her brain wasn't thinking right. She stalked back into the room, dumbly looking around the bed, even opening the little closet and bathroom, as he somehow slipped back into being a little kid and thought hiding to scare his mother was funny. Her eyes caught sight of the television, and something clicked.

"Dr. Mendez!" She called, "There wouldn't happen to be a Chen on this floor, would there be?"

Kai's numb hands glided lazily across her face, whispering incoherent sweet nothings to her barely-conscious body. Skylor whimpered in response, eyelids twitching. She smelled heavily of dirt, blood, and even vomit. Had she puked at some point? Maybe. Not a lot of things were connecting in his mind right now.

"Kai, darling," someone whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder. Mom. "Come back to bed, you shouldn't be up."

The fire ninja's hands reached up to run them through Skylor's hair. Her previously braided hair was now undone, tangled and unwashed. He even noticed a few choppy cuts. "She would be upset about her hair, if she was awake," he slurred. His lips were numb too. And his face. His whole body, really.

"We can fix it when she wakes up," Mom offered gently, "And after you rest." Kai became completely defensive when he felt his mother try to pull him away, pathetically flailing his weak arms.

"No.. No! Someone's gotta be here, Mom! She'll need someone when she wakes up, Mom.." Kai cupped her hand in his own, though he couldn't find it in him to curl his fingers.

"An-an' everyone else. I gotta check on them, Mom, how are they? How are they?"

Maya squatted so that their eyes could meet. "Hurting, like you."

The mother helped her some to his feet with her strong arms, waving for the nurse standing by to watch the sad scene with a wheelchair ready. Kai didn't fight, too tired to. "M'okay.." he mumbled. The mistress of water took note to the dried blood surrounding his stitches all along his left thigh, hip, and small of his back. Her eyes lingered. "Clearly not."

Kai hummed, reaching for Skylor's hand once more. "Can I please stay, mom? She needs me."

Maya rubbed his shoulder, pushing him on towards his hospital room. He needed rest. "You can't take care of her unless you let me take care of you. Let me take care of you," she pecked that scar just notching his eyebrow.

Kai finally let his hands lay limp. "..okay."

Maya smiled, pushing her savior son through the halls. Her heart swelled as a few paused to clap for the ninja of fire. "You saved a lot of people today, Kai, do you know that?" she smiled bigger. The former mistress of water would be lying if she didn't say it was good to take care of her son like this. Though she would've never wanted it to happen like this. "The doctor even says you should be on your feet in the next month or two," she offered.

Her son hummed, twirling that hospital bracelet on his wrist. "Then could I take care of Skylor? She needs me, Mom, y'know."

Maya laughed under her breath. Why did her children seem to take care of everyone but themselves? "Sure thing, darling," she said, "Sure thing."

"Nya told me I would find you up here," the door to room 345 swung open with a squeal. Ray stepped inside, careful to keep quiet at the request of his wife. Kai was asleep, in bed, a gift from the gods, clearly. Ray paused a little at the thought. Was there son 22 or 2? He dropped the bag of food in her lap. Something small.

"It might be a little cold. They finally are letting Nya see Jay, so I had to take her and hand her off to Ed and Edna," he flopped down in the chair beside hers, "And you know how long talking to that couple can be."

Maya pulled the little meal from the bag and ate. She hadn't eaten all day. Ray reached over to pull hair from her eyes. "How's our spitfire?"

"Not much unlike our water lily," Maya rolled her eyes, "Wanting to sweep their loves up in their arms and not care about their own injuries."

"They get that from you, y'know."

"Oh, really?"

The couple laughed, relaxing against each other. This has been a hectic day, and if Maya were to guess, the next few weeks would be to.

I asked a friend what injury I should give Kai and they replied "shatter his ass" which I then misread as "shattered ass"