Requested by: DragonHeart1798, CIRB

Request: Garmadon/Misako

Warnings: None

Garmadon and Misako watched from the front of their house as Lloyd left on the Golden Dragon. Even though it had been several months after the final battle, he was still being called from nearly every corner of Ninjago to accept an award of some sort, or to give a speech, or even just to be thanked for saving everyone.

The couple found it hard to believe just how much everything had changed since the final battle. Sensei Wu was planning on taking over at Darkley's and turning it into his own academy, with the Ninja and Nya as its teachers, and Lloyd almost never had any time to see anyone. As for Misako and Garmadon, their relationship changed quite drastically, with Garmadon being reformed.

Misako felt a bit nervous when he was turned good again. After spending so much time with Wu, and thinking she was in love with him, then remembering her feelings for Garmadon, she had no idea how he would feel if she told him what happened while he was still evil. She eventually decided it was in the past, and there was no point in bringing it up.

"So, what will we do today?" Garmadon spoke up, turning to his wife. "Now that Lloyd has gone off to another ceremony, we have the whole day to ourselves."

She chuckled. "You've been saying that for a few days now." She led the way back into the house, shutting the door behind them. "Perhaps we can run a few errands we've been meaning to do? We still need to buy groceries, you've been wanting to start on that new monastery for the children in this town..."

"I was hoping we would have more time just for ourselves today," Garmadon sighed.

"Weren't you the one who once said, 'never put off to tomorrow what can be done today'? I believe that applies here."

He rolled his eyes, hugging Misako from behind. "So I was." He picked up the list laying on the counter in front of them, looking it over. On it were various names of food items. "It doesn't look like this will be too hard, but it almost sounds like we're planning a feast!"

"Well, of course," she replied, taking the list from his grasp. "Lloyd told me he'll be home earlier tonight than he usually is. I thought it would be as good a time as any to hold a special dinner, just for the three of us."

Garmadon smiled, taking her hand in his and leading the way out the door once more. "Then let's not waste any time."

The couple walked down the path leading to the nearby village in a comfortable silence, occasionally glancing at each other with loving eyes. Misako was relieved that, now that the venom of the Great Devourer was no longer controlling him, Garmadon's eyes returned to a warm brown hue that Wu said they once were. Even so, she'd gotten so used to seeing him with red eyes that seeing him like this almost felt unnatural. She figured if she just gave it time, she would familiarize herself with his new appearance.

Garmadon, on the other hand, felt almost uneasy with the fact that his thoughts were no longer plagued by darkness or seething with hatred. He was in control of his mind at last, but his mind felt too empty, too barren, too blank. He needed to have something to think about, something to fill his mind with, something to help him escape the unending emptiness. He looked at Misako again.

The instant he did so, the emptiness faded. Images and memories of his beloved wife filled the empty space. From when they first met, to when they first decided to be together, to when they first had Lloyd, and to when Garmadon fell into the Underworld.

The memories continued. From when he saw Misako again on the Dark Island, to when she, Wu, and Lloyd confronted him at the beach on the far side of the island, to when he emerged from the rubble after being defeated by his son. Each memory was precious, and he made certain to hold on to each one.

In each memory, he took a note of what Misako looked like. From her kind eyes, to the way her smiles appeared to be lopsided, and to the soft, soothing sound of her voice.

"Garmadon?"

He was snapped out of his thoughts by said voice. "Y-yes?" he stammered, still a bit disoriented from being broken away from his memories so quickly. Looking around, he saw he was so deep into thought that he didn't realize they already made it to the village, and were now in the marketplace.

"I was just wondering if you wanted me to get that special tea you always liked," she replied. "It looks like there's a sale on it."

"Yes, that would be great," Garmadon answered.

It took them two hours to find everything written on the list, and several more to prepare for the dinner Misako planned for them and Lloyd. Garmadon did his best to help Misako with preparations, before he was shooed away, being told that he should just rest until Lloyd arrived. Though he was reluctant to comply, he did so, reclining himself in the armchair in their living room.

He slowly shut his eyes, which had been staring up at the ceiling previously, and thought about Misako again. Even while he was evil, he still thought about her, but this time was different. No darkness shoved the thoughts away. No hatred towards her or anyone caused him any pain. Instead, he felt nothing but a warm glow whenever he thought about their past experiences together.

When he thought about these experiences, of sitting at the peaks of mountains together, of talking together, of training together, he couldn't help but long for the joy those moments brought him. He wanted desperately to recreate those moments.

A skinny, yet muscular, pair of arms wrapping around his neck brought him out of his thoughts once more. He jumped off the chair, spinning around only to see Lloyd, still dressed in his golden gi, grinning widely at him.

"Hey, dad!" he said. "So, mom said we're having a special celebratory dinner together?"

"Yes," replied Garmadon, ruffling his son's hair. "We couldn't be more proud of your accomplishments, Lloyd. It's in your honour."

The blond grinned, the same childish grin Garmadon had remembered for years, and ran over to the table, sliding into a chair at one end just as Misako put down a plate carrying large hunk of steaming roast beef onto the tabletop.

Misako and Garmadon took their seats beside each other, along the side of the table, starting to dish out the food.

"Everything looks delicious as always, Misako," Garmadon complimented as he filled up his wine glass, then poured some of the alcoholic beverage into her glass.

She smiled proudly, then lifted her glass. "To Lloyd, our son, for everything he has done for Ninjago!"

"And to the greatest parents I could ever ask for," Lloyd added, clinking his glass with those of his parents, taking a sip of the water in his own before eating.

The family ate in silence, with the exception of the clinking of utensils against plates, Lloyd occasionally pausing in his eating to talk about what he did that day. Misako and Garmadon listened intently, since they likely wouldn't get another chance anytime soon to hear his stories.

"You know," said Garmadon suddenly, causing Misako to look up from her plate, Lloyd being too distracted wolfing down his own food to pay any attention. "We haven't had much time to spend together, just the two of us."

"We had today."

"Yes, but I mean to bond. Like we used to before I was sent to the Underworld."

Misako raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying?"

"Would you..." He searched for a location she would like. "Would you like to come with me to the peaks of the mountains we visited when we were young? Just for old times' sake?"

The grey-haired woman was thoughtful for a moment, giving him the impression she would say no. But she then gripped his hand gently, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek, smiling wistfully all the while.

"I would love that."

Thank you, DragonHeart1798 and CIRB for requesting! This is such a cute pairing :D

Stay tuned!