A/N: Hey Y'all! Sorry this took so long.

He was whistling as he cut the wood with his ax. It was early in the morning and this man was chopping wood for his home's fireplace. His home was deep in the woods, far from modern civilization the way he liked it. He took the chopped wood inside his nearby house, started a fire in the boiler and opened the cabinets to prepare breakfast for two, since he wasn't alone in his large log cabin that he built himself along with a few neighbors.

"Daddy?" Murmured a tiny voice behind him. He smiled as he stirred the rice and glanced behind him. There was a small girl at the door frame, hugging her blanket and rubbing her eyes. "Morning, pumkin. Did you sleep okay? Any nightmares last night?"

The man turned off the stove and poured the fresh rice into two bowls. He listened to his little girl's reply as he cut up some pears and apples. "I slept okay Daddy, but I had another scary dream."

"You can come into my room and sleep with me anytime, Little Leaf, if those dreams are really bothering you. That's what daddies do."

"I know Daddy, its just I couldn't wake up and.. and.." She stopped. Her father looked up and saw she had tears rolling down her face. "Hey, hey little one. I'm here, I'm here." He took her in his arms and rocked her back and forth. She sobbed quietly in his arms and said in broken speech. "I-I dreamed about you, Daddy. You were in the woods running away from a monster. It kept on growling at you saying that you stole something from it. You said that you didn't know what it was talking about and kept on running. B-but you fell and the monster started to hurt you, Daddy. But then your hands started to glow purple and you knocked the monster away and you kept on running. Then the monster caught you again and that's when I woke up." She tucked her face deeper in her daddy's chest. He hugged her tighter and murmured comforts to her. "That's sounds like a frightening dream, Lily Blossom. I'm sorry you had to go through that. But there is one good thing about it."

She sniffled, wiped her nose and looked up at him in disbelief. "What's so good about it, Daddy?"

He smiled and brushed away her mouse brown locks away from her tearful eyes. "It was just a dream, sweet one. I'm here, nothing chasing me and nothing will ever take me away from you, I promise."

She snuggled him tightly. "Thank you, Daddy. I always feel better when you're with me."

"No problem, Milkshake." He gently poked her stomach and was rewarded with a small giggle. He gently tickled her armpits and she tried to squirm out of his reach, but to no avail. She laughed out loud and her daddy began to tickle her on her stomach. "Te-hee! Daddy! Pl-l-lease stop!" He stopped, grinning at her until she launched herself at him, tickling his chest, armpits and neck. "Wha-?! HAHAHAHAHAHA! NO! Not there! HAHAHAHA!" He thrashed and wiggled as his daughter sat on his stomach and tickled him silly. "Okay! Okay! Truce! Truce!" He gasped breathlessly. His daughter grinning brightly as he sat up. "I'm glad to so you happy again, Sunflower."

"Daddy?! Why do you keep on not using my name? Did you forget it or something?"

He shook his head, stood up and pick her up. "Of course not, sweet pea. I'm not that old yet!" He tapped her nose as she snickered. "Daddy just uses nicknames to show how much daddy loves you. But if you want me to call you by your name, Gwen," For that was her name. "I will if you want me too."

She wrinkled her nose. "Its better than 'Gwenifer'."

He chuckled at that. "Your full name is just as beautiful as your shorten name, Gwen." He placed her in her chair in front of a bowl of steaming rice. "I'll get your milk in a minute. Do you want some apples and pears in your rice?"

"Daddy, I'm seven and a half years old. I can get the apples and pears if you get the milk."

"Okay, Gwen. The fruit is chopped up in the bowl on the counter."

He was drinking his milk and was in the middle of a rice bite when Gwen spoke up. "Daddy, is Gabby gonna be my new mommy?"

"He nearly choked on his spoonful of rice. Oh boy, he thought to himself as he ran his hand through his thick gray hair turning white. "I don't know the answer to that sweetie."

Do you like her?" She asked.

"Well, yes," He started, wanting to continue but was interrupted.

"Then why don't you marry her so that I can have a mommy?"

He sighed, putting his spoon down. "Its… grown up stuff, honey. Sometimes when two people like each other there are problems that they have to work around."

"Like what problems, Daddy?" She asked as she finished her milk. "Doesn't she like me?"

"Oh she adores you sweetheart, we both know that."

"She likes you too, right?"

He sighed inwardly. "I'm gonna tell you something that stays between us, okay Gwen?" She perked up and nodded. "I-I'm not sure." He stopped, and wondered why in the world was he telling his daughter about his insecurities. "Why are you not sure Daddy?" She prompted.

"I'm not getting any younger and she's at least ten years my junior. I'm just not sure that she cares for me the same way that I do for her." Gwen scooted her chair closer to him. "I love you Daddy and I'm a lot younger than you. And I'm younger than Gabby! So if I can love you than Gabby can too!"

He smiled down at his daughter. "I appreciate that Gwen. Now finish your breakfast so we can walk to Jeanie's house for her birthday party."

"Yay!" Cried Gwen as she hurriedly scooped spoonfuls of rice into her mouth.

It was about nine in the morning when they walked out their front door and down the gravel path of the road to their destination.

"Daddy, why aren't we taking the truck to Jeanie's house?" She looked up at him as she held his hand.

"Because it'll only take us ten minutes to walk there and I thought that you would like to walk with me. Unless you want to take the keys and drive on ahead without me?" He added that last part with a smile and was rewarded with a small giggle. "I can't drive yet, Daddy! I can't even reach the pedals!"

"And thank goodness for that." He muttered loudly. Gwen gave him a playful shove and ran on ahead. "Oh no you don't, Little Missy!" He exclaimed, bounding after her. They played Shove, with her pushing with all her might to make him fall down and him playing along while using only a fraction of his strength all the rest of the way. Gwen rushed up the stairs to her best friend's house and knocked frantically on the door. A man with sandy blond hair opened the door with a smile. "Gwen! 'Gomery'!" We're so glad you came!" He knelt down to Gwen's eye level. "Jeanie's very excited that you came Gwen. She upstairs, if you want to go see her." She squealed in delight and rushed through the door to the stairs to search for her friend. "Thanks Uncle Ryan!" She called back.

The two men smiled in unison. "And how are you Ryan? The boys up at the mill handling things in our absence?"

"Oh fine, fine. Though some of them I hear are asking when you are comin' back."

'Gomery' waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Don't you worry about the others. I'll be back as soon as-" A gentle voice spoke, putting a end to want he was about to say. "Gomery? You came!"

A woman walked up to them and Gomery was taken aback when he saw her. Soft curling auburn hair with a few dignified gray streaks framed her brighten face, her eyes were those that changed colored from green to blue to brown and were filled with kindness. Her tall, full formed figure stopped in front of the door and proceeded to scolded Ryan. "Ryan! It is very rude to talk to your guest at the doorway of your own home! Come inside Gomery." She took his arm and escorted him into the house.

'She scolds just as well as my wife does!' Ryan thought chuckling. He looked after the pair. 'Gomery's gonna need to make his move soon otherwise SHE's gonna make the move!'

Gomery walked arm in arm to Ryan's living room and was greeting by the other adults. Gabby took him over to the refreshment table and they engaged in friendly conversation. "Well, Gomery how has it been since I last saw you? Not much has changed since two days ago, I hope?"

He shook his head. "Not much, no. I did some maintenance on the truck, bought some supplies for next season and spent some quality time with Gwen."

"And how is Gwen? Its been a while I've come over to visit."

I'd like to that to occur again, he thought privately to himself. Outwardly he replied. " Still as restless and as exuberant as ever."

"Is she still having those nightmares about you?" She asked, clearly concerned.

He nodded solemnly. "I don't know what to do Gabby. The most I've done is simply comfort her after her ordeals." He sighed. "I can't help but feel I could be doing more."

Suddenly there was a cry. "DADDY?!"

They both smiled. "Speak of the sweet pea." He said.

Gwen came running. "I forgot Jeanie's gift Daddy! Can we go get it?"

He nodded. "Of course."

"Can I come along?" Asked Gabby. "I didn't get to talk to you earlier, Gwen."

"Sure! If that's okay with Daddy."

He laughed. "Of course its okay with me. Now are you both ready?"

The two women in from of him nodded. "Let's go!"

Gabby and Gwen talked a lot all the way there. Gabby was good at keeping Gwen's interest, switching from subject to subject that Gwen was interested in. They talked about Gwen's drawings, exploring the woods and stuff at school. They walked up to the front porch. " I'll go get my gift Daddy! You can stay here with Gabby!"

She rushed into the house without another word and that left two adults in silence.

In an attempt at conversation Gabby asked Gomery what did Gwen get for her friend's birthday. "She had an art project from school that she created in honor of her friend."

"That's wonderful of her. When did Gwen meet Jeanie?"

"Oh right after we came here. Her family was very welcoming to our presence and even helped us with our house."

There was a pause and before Gabby could speak, a dark, menacing voice sounded through the air. "Yang." The voice was male and had a guttural vibration. They both looked at each other. Gomery motioned for Gabby to stay on the porch to guard Gwen while he frowned, pursed his lips and warily stepped down from the steps. " Whoever you are, come out."

"Yang." The voice repeated. It seemed to be echoing from the woods in front of him but Gomery couldn't see anything or anyone. "Who are you? And why do you say 'Yang'?"

There was a dark flicker as something moved unimaginably fast through the trees. Gabby heard the door open softly behind her. She turned around and tucked Gwen behind her. She took out her cellphone and tried to call Ryan, but she had no service. She tried to give Gwen a reassuring look as they both surveyed the scene before them.

"You are the Yang." The voice growled. "I've finally found you, Yang. And now, " A dark figure landed on the ground, inciting screams from the two people on the porch. "I will take back what you stole from me!"

The monster stood up to his full height and Gwen gasped. "That's the monster from my dreams!" She whimpered. The two adults recognized it from the attack on Ninjago City a few years back. The four arms were a dead giveaway along with the black skin, glowing red eyes, and the helm that filled the nightmares of all Ninjago's citizens. Gomery knew there was no hope for him, so he spoke to Gabby over his shoulder quietly, "Get Gwen away from here now."

Gabby could only look at the man and the monster in horror before scooping up Gwen, ignoring her wails for her daddy to follow them, and ran for the truck. Gomery, with his child and hopfully future wife out of eminent danger, he focused his attention and his terror on the creature that stood before him. "I have taken nothing from you. If you leave, I will ignore this occurrence and will never speak of it."

"Oh but you have, Yang. And I will have it back!"

"Everything I have was given to me or I worked for it! I have never been to Ninjago City that I can remember, and I have never seen or touched any of your evil tools!"

The monster suddenly launched itself at Gomery and he barely got out of the way. He landed hard on his side and he scrambled to get up as Lord Garmadon attacked him. "You don't know, do you? Well, I'll just have to show you what you stole!"

Gomery was so outmatched that he didn't even stay and fight. He did the only thing available to him. He ran. He ran as fast as he could through the deep woods behind his house. He hoped to draw Him away from Gwen and Gabby and somehow loose him in the woods. The monster gave chase, taunting Gomery as he pursued him. "I will take it back! There is nowhere you can run that I won't find you."

Gomery felt a blow to his back and was manhandled to the ground painfully. The impact of falling knocked the breath out of his lungs with a loud 'Oof!'. He tried to block the kicks and punches the monster was raining down on him but was beaten within a edge of his life. But then, as he managed one last attempt to fend off the attack on his life, his has started to glow purple. The purple grew to a point that small balls of that color light exploded from his hands, smacking Lord Garmadon back a considerable distance into a tree. In shock and disbelief, Gomery hurriedly got to his feet, stumbled, then ran away quickly from the recovering Dark Lord, but it was to no avail. "You know now what you stole from me and now I am going to have it Back!"

Gomery felt a strong hand catch him, spin him around and pick him up by the shirt. "Finally." The monster breathed. Gomery was choking and grasping at Lord Garmadon's arm in an effort to free his airway, but the only thing of the Dark Lord's that was moving, was his other hand reaching for Gomery's chest.

"Geronimo!" Somebody screamed above the twosome and Lord Garmadon was knocked over by a large black human shape which made him release his grip on Gomery. He fell to the ground, gasping for air and clutching at his throat. In the meantime blue, gray, red, white, sliver and a green clad figures all landed in secession and started to attack Lord Garmadon. In five minutes, they had beaten him back and he made a quick and fast retreat, but spouting threats as he exited. Gomery used a tree to sit up against it. He had a growing headache, he assumed from adrenaline and falling hard quite a bit. The chatting of his rescuers seemed to only made it worse the more they talked.

"Didn't that seem too easy to anybody else?" The black clad figure said flipping his hood up. Somehow, Gomery thought he recognized him when he saw that young man's face for an odd moment.

"Are you crazy?! Both Kai and I got tossed into trees! And only when Lloyd showed up did he back down! And you'd call that easy?!" Ranted the blue one as he flipped his also. The blue one also looked disturbingly familiar as did all the others except the green one when they took off their hoods and helmets. Gomery's headache seemed to grow tenfold whenever he saw their faces. 'Either I'm going mad or something is seriously wrong with me. How do I recognize the Ninja of all people when I have never met them?'

The green one suddenly spoke up. "Cole's right. That could have gone way worse. For one, why was he using his powers? He was certainly fighting hard enough to unleash them. And why now? Why the sudden spark of activity?"

The headache was getting worse in a way that Gomery didn't know was possible when the green ninja spoke. He grunted loudly in pain. 'At least to sun isn't in my eyes' he thought as the overhanging branches protected him from the direct glare. The grunt must have caught one of the ninja's attention when he heard a young woman's voice. "Over here guys! Someone's hurt!" She ran over and parted the branches partially hiding him from view, looked straight him and gasped, her eyes filled with shock. The other ninja filled in around her and had similar reactions. Gomery was in a lot a of pain but he was mildly confused as to why the ninja would be in such shocked to his presence. That is, till the green ninja stepped from behind the young woman and flipped his hood up. That's when the headache went from extremely painful to agnostic. He cried out in pain, and it was too much his tired, ragged, aged body could handle. But before he completely went under, he heard one small word that made no sense to him as he only had only one person that called him that and she was not there.

"Dad?"

A/N: Review please! Constructive criticism! It is the lifeblood of writers such as myself!