Seven.

(A/N: Responses to guest reviews:

Lya200: I don't know. It's just part of who Kai is, being protective. I think he secretly likes the idea of Jay and Nya being together, he just can't reconcile it with his desire to keep her close to him.

needaprofile: Thanks so much!

Fruit the Rollup: Haha, you're probably right.

Keep R&R-ing, guys!)

Lloyd's POV

"Mo-om? Dad? I'm hoooome!"

"Hello, Lloyd."

"Oh, hey Uncle Sensei. Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Lloyd."

I took a deep breath. "Okay, so there's this girl at Darkly..."

"Yes?"

"Her name's Natalia."

"What's she like?"

I thought for a moment. "She's about my age - but I can tell she looks up to me, probably because I'm the Golden Ninja, the Chosen One, the heir of the First Ultimate Spinjitzu Master, and all that."

"Mm, hm?"

"She's a tomboy. She's funny. She loves foursquare. Her dad work with Cole's dad, setting up all his shows and stuff. And she's really pretty. And...I kind of like her."

Uncle Sensei's face was as...normal...as ever. "Hm."

"Any advice?"

"Well...no, not really. You get to know a girl the way you get to know anyone else, Lloyd. Talk to her. Find out more about her. Get to know her. And once you've been friends for a while, then tell her how you feel, and, if she feels the same, then your friendship will eventually become something more."

"But that would take so long." Yes, I was perfectly aware of how whiny I sounded. And no, I didn't care.

"I know, Lloyd. When you fall in love for the first time, it's hard to learn how to wait on it."

"I am not in love with her! I'm just...okay, in love with her. Uncle, when did you fall in love for the first time?"

My uncle suddenly looked sad. I wondered if I'd brought up bad memories. "I was almost never in love. I devoted myself to my training as a ninja, and gave little else a second thought."

"Almost never, Uncle?"

"Well...there was one time."

"What happened to the girl? Did she leave you? Did you leave her? Did she...she didn't die, did she Uncle?"

"Oh no, no, Lloyd."

"Then what happened?"

"She decided she loved Garmadon more than me. She...married him, just days before he turned dark."

My mom? My mother had once had a love affair with my uncle?

Geez, I love hearing family stories, but I had the feeling now would be a great time to exit the conversation.

(Next chapter: Misako gets asked by Lloyd about her past with Sensei Wu.)