There were three things that would always stay the same, regardless of where the ninja lived.

Sunrise exercise was non-negotiable, someone would drag their feet to said sunrise exercise after missing breakfast because they had been playing video games the night before, and Jay's side of the room was always in need of cleaning, despite how much he insisted that he "had a system".

Sure enough, when Zane made his way into the sleeping quarters with a basket of his clean laundry, Jay had clothes tossed haphazardly around the room, along with bits and pieces of various models, it was the normal that they had all grown used to.

But what he hadn't expected was to see Jay putting his various items like his blankets, his nunchucks and the stuffed zebra that he slept with every night into a dark blue suitcase, all while humming a song that he was unfamiliar with.

"Jay?" Zane questioned while setting the basket next to his own bunk and starting to fold the clothes inside, waiting until Jay stopped humming and looked over at him with a blank stare before quickly smiling.

"Oh, hey Zane."

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, to visit my parents," Jay shrugged as he walked over to the dresser and pulled out his casual clothes, "just for a couple days, to ring in the new year and all."

"Ah, I see," Zane nodded, before a thought popped into his head about the others and their plans for the holiday that was rapidly approaching, "do you know if the others are going anywhere?"

"I don't think so," Jay shrugged as he shut the suitcase, "Cole said his dad is really busy around New Year's, and I invited Kai and Nya to come with me since my mom said that I could bring any of my friends if I wanted, but they said no. So it's just gonna be me and my parents, unless you want to come."

As nice as the invitation sounded, to spend a few peaceful days away from the ninja stuff, Zane knew he couldn't accept. 'Not when the Pythor may use the opportunity to unite the tribes.'

"I should stay here, to keep The Bounty in order and look out for any threats," Zane couldn't help but wince when he saw Jay's hopefulness deflate, "but you should go and spend time with them."

"Yeah, you're right. I already told the others to call me if anything pops up, that was the only way Sensei was okay with me going," Jay explained before his familiar smile creeped onto his face again, "you think I should take Lloyd with me, give you guys a break?"

They had only brought Lloyd in, kicking and screaming, a week ago and even though Sensei insisted that the young boy was no longer a danger, all of the occupants of The Bounty were well aware that the sudden appearance of the plastic covering the opening of shower products and the sugar in the salt shaker incident during dinner the night before.

But as tempted as Zane was to agree, he knew that Sensei would be displeased with his actions.

"I don't think your parents deserve that level of mischief during the holidays, Jay."

"I guess you're right, we're lucky that the worst thing he has access to is super glue," Jay agreed as he shut the suitcase before lifting it off the bed and tucking his pillow under his arm, "but maybe you should make him useful around here, teach him how to do laundry or something."

"Are you just saying that because you hate doing laundry?"

"You know me so well," Jay grinned before walking out of the room with a "see ya", leaving Zane alone with his half folded basket of laundry and the beginnings of a plan.

…

"I'm sorry! I was just trying to have fun!" Lloyd's shouts echoed through the hallway as he ran at a speed that seemed impossible for someone who had much shorter legs than the rest of the occupants of The Bounty.

"Lloyd, you misunderstood me," Zane insisted as he ran after the black-clad figure, "you're not in trouble, I just would appreciate your help with something."

"I'm not falling for that one agai-whoa!" Lloyd was cut off from his running by tripping over his own feet and catching himself on his wrists, which aided and worried Zane.

"Are you alright?" Zane asked, reaching a hand out to help the eight year old off of the wooden floor only for Lloyd to scoff and push himself back to his feet with no sign of injury, much to his relief.

"Do you REALLY want my help?"

"Of course," Zane insisted, "I cannot do this on my own, and Jay has already left for the junkyard."

"Do what on your own?" Lloyd asked with crossed arms and a question eyebrow raised.

"You and I are going to help the others, Sensei, Kai, Nya and Cole, ring in the new year."

"Why?"

"Well, because it's a holiday," Zane started to rattle off an explanation, "the others tend to struggle this time of year so we'll need to get their minds off of it, and it's our first holiday with you."

"Well, what if I don't want to celebrate your stupid holiday?"

'He came from Darkley's, his father is Lord Garmadon, he's had it rough,' Zane had to remind himself as he pulled in a deep, calming breath before making eye contact with the child, "because there will be candy involved."

"Well, what are we waiting for, snowball?" Lloyd grinned, all of the anger and suspension melting away from his face with a simple bribe almost allowed Zane to forgive the strange nickname he was just given, "let's make this the best new year's eve EVER."

…

It hadn't taken long to get The Bounty ready.

Zane had to go shopping as soon as Lloyd was on board, but after sunrise exercise and his training had concluded for the day, he put the child to work on decorations; with help from a chair as well as Zane occasionally lifting him up closer toward the ceiling, the bridge was soon decked out in streamers, confetti and balloons all in white, black and gold.

When he wasn't lifting the hoodie-clad boy closer to where he insisted on taping something, Zane busied himself with preparing dinner; he didn't want to make anything traditional, knowing that himself along with Sensei and Cole would be the only ones to touch it.

So, he focused on making their favorites instead, and a vegetable tray so he could at least try to encourage the others to get in some necessary vitamins.

It didn't take long for him to finish making the feast and set the table that sat in the bridge, even making sure to fill the large punch bowl with bright red Kool-Aid and turn on what Jay had ceremoniously dubbed "the disco lights" which encased the room in reflective, bright, spinning lights.

"Whoa!" Lloyd shouted, his smile wide as he already started to make a dash for the glass bowls filled with various types of candy, "it looks awesome in here!"

"You did most of the work," Zane affirmed, "I'll go get the others, you stay out of that candy until I get back."

He could hear Lloyd's annoyed grumble as he made his way to the bunkroom, but he knew that he would have a much more pressing issue to deal with once he made it into the room; Zane knew what to expect, but every time he saw Cole curled up on his bed with the picture clutched tightly in his palm, his heart never failed to sink.

"Cole?" Zane found it in himself to speak which resulted in the master of earth wiping his face on his sleeve and sitting up to meet his eyes, "dinner's ready, if you are feeling up to it."

"I-I'll be there in a minute, thanks," Cole sniffled as he set the creased photo on the small nightstand while he stood up and opened the drawer of his personal belongings.

And yet, Zane couldn't bring himself to leave.

Maybe it was because he had lost his own family long before he could form his own memories of them or maybe it was just because it pained him to see the others struggle with the loss of those who were dear to them.

Regardless of what it was, Zane continued to stand there long after the photo of Cole's mom was shoved into the nightstand next to the scrapbook that he had brought with him until his voice was free of tears and he asked, "what are you waiting for, let's go."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He could see Cole's back go rigid at the idea of talking about his mother and Zane couldn't help but worry that he had pushed too hard and that the master of earth would yell at him for trying to dig.

But, his back relaxed quickly and he turned back to meet his eyes with glassy eyes and a fake smile, "no, but thank you."

"You're welcome, Cole."

And with that, the two of them made their way to the bridge only to find Sensei, Kai and Nya already in there and Kai was even dancing to the holiday music with his plate in one hand and his glass of Kool-Aid in the other all while Nya laughed at his horrendous dance moves.

Zane, however, let Cole join in with the giggling crowd and moved over to where Lloyd was sitting in the corner with various types of candy on his paper plate.

"You should eat something other than candy," Zane insisted as he sank down to the floor to steal a Hershey Kiss off of his plate, the chocolate melting on his tongue before he finished speaking, "a poor diet can lead to scurvy."

"Why are you being nice to me?" Lloyd huffed and in the occasional sparkle of the disco ball, Zane could have sworn that he saw tears in his brown eyes, "all I've done this year is be a big jerk."

"That's not true," Zane shook his head as he watched Sensei join in on the ridiculous dancing which made Nya laugh so hard that she sounded like she was unable to breathe, "last time I checked, "big jerks" don't help someone they've only known for a week plan an entire New Year's eve party to cheer up their friends."

"Well, you bribed me with candy."

"That I did," Zane nodded, letting his head rest against the cool wall, "but I must admit, you didn't leave me any other choice."

Lloyd offered him a cheeky smile as he continued to suck on a candy cane, only pulling it out of his mouth to ask, "so, what's your New Year's resolution? Your goals or whatever."

"I must admit, I haven't thought about it much," Zane spoke as he continued to watch Nya and Cole laugh hysterically at Kai's sorry attempt at what he called "moonwalking", his drink sloshing in his cup and onto the floor as he did so, "I would like to continue to challenge myself, however."

"That's boring." Lloyd snorted, which had Zane prying his eyes away from the party with a raised eyebrow, "mine is to get you to wear something other than white."

Despite how strange Lloyd's goal was, Zane couldn't help but smile at how juvenile it really was and slipped a few celery sticks onto the boy's plate, making him scowl with annoyance.

"That sounds like a worthy goal, Lloyd."

Zane would severely regret encouraging the young boy a few weeks later when all of his ninja gis had been dyed neon pink as a result of Lloyd hiding Sensei's lesson book.