2- Pet Names

Nya rubbed her tired eyes and pulled Cole's sweatshirt tighter around her. Padding into the kitchen, she silently grabbed two coffee cups and poured herself and Cole a cup. Opening the fridge after she had set the cups down on the counter, she snagged the half and half, pouring a little bit in hers and a lot more in Cole's. She sweetened Cole's by popping a few sugar cubes in it. He hated bitter coffee, unlike Nya.

She took a sip of hers, then picked up Cole's and walked out to the deck of the Bounty, where she knew Cole would be. He was sitting against the pole supporting the sail, looking out at the sunset. Dressed in sweatpants and an orange hoodie with his hair in an unruly mess, Nya walked over to him and handed him his coffee.

"Morning, love," she said, handing him his cup and sitting next to him.

His eyes lit up when he saw her. He took his cup and smiled at her.

"Good morning," his grin got even wider when he added: "cutie."

Nya sighed. As much as she hated the nickname, she knew Cole had already fallen into the habit of calling her cutie. Plus, secretly, and way deep down where no one would ever find it, she liked it when he called her cutie. Only when Cole called her cutie.

"Thank you. Whenever you make my coffee, it's perfect!"

Nya smiled. "You're welcome, love."

She curled up next to him and put her head on his shoulder. He took her hand in his.

His gaze settled on the mess of colors in the sunrise. Underneath layers of orange and red were pinks and yellows. The sun rose behind the distant skyscrapers of Ninjago City.

Cole sipped his coffee, then he set his coffee down next to him and pulled Nya into an embrace. They stayed like that until the sky turned blue and fluffy clouds dotted the sky.

"I love to watch the sunrise. My favorite shades of orange are always in the sky." He said. When he got no response, he looked at Nya and saw that her eyes were closed. Her breaths were steady.

He smiled at the little smile on her face, brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes. He stroked her cheek, whispering:

"I love you, cutie."