A/n- So as a warning this is somewhat of an emotional roller coaster...

This is another pre S1 but the source material is pulled from S6 (and part 2 will be just after S6). This one-shot is full of my speculation on what might have happened with a long standing mystery in the show... long explanation a/n at the end

Libber walked in the house. Her knees shook slightly and she felt sick to her stomach. This wasn't supposed to happen now. He wasn't going to be happy with this information. Not when he had just gotten his big break and they had finally started working through some of their problems.

"Cliff? You home?"

"In the kitchen Libber! I brought home Chinese."

Libber walked into the room carrying a small piece of paper that would change everything. "How was work?"

"Fantastic! I know this is going to be a hit."

Libber smiled thinly. "That's great honey."

A waft of food came her way. Her nauseated stomach couldn't take the extra assault. She ran out of the room to the bathroom, barely making it in time.

"Libber you okay?" Cliff's voice called down the hall.

"Sort of?" It came out a question rather than a statement.

"What do you mean sort of?"

Libber slowly trialed back to the kitchen. "I have something I need to tell you."

He looked up at her, excitement from his day melting away at the worry on her face. "What is it?"

"I-I I'm pregnant Cliff."

Libber felt like she was back in the battle against the time twins. Cliff stood frozen, mouth open.

"Y-you're...?"

Libber looked down at her stomach. "Yes." She whispered.

"Are you kidding me!" He slammed his hands on the counter. "I thought we were going to wait for all that!"

The reaction she was expecting but hoping wouldn't happen.

Glaring at him, Libber folded her arms across her chest. "It's not like I planned for this to happen now either you know. And besides, it takes two to tango!"

Cliff scowled. "This can't be happening now. I just got my first big break- and you just got your first break in a long time with those time maniacs and snakes gone."

Libber sighed, rubbing a hand over her eyes. "I know but that doesn't matter now."
"Doesn't matter? You parading around in spandex doesn't pay the bills around here and I can't afford to be distracted right now."

Libber grit her teeth. "What I do makes it so it's safe for you to "pay the bills" as you put it. This argument doesn't matter because it's too late to change anything. This little one, our child, is on the way."

Cliff stared off into space. "Actually... we don't have to become parents now."

"Are you...?" Libber gaped at her husband.

"Just think about it! We can take care of it now and become parents later, when the time works better for us."

A spark materialized in her hand, growing until it coated her fist. "I- I cannot believe you!"

Cliff visibly swallowed and held up his hands in surrender. "All I'm saying is it would be better to wait until later for kids. I just got my first break and I don't want to risk that. Right now it'd be nothing but trouble."

Libber let out a wordless yell and released the electricity on the floor inches from Cliff's feet. "No. Just no!"

"Libber!"

Knowing she would actually let loose on him if she stayed a moment longer she turned back to the front door.

"Where are you going?"

Libber spun to face him, electricity crackling through her hair. "For a walk." She slammed the door behind her.

Outside she leaned heavily against the wall. That was so much worse than she had been anticipating. 'I can't believe the gall of that man to even suggest...!' Storming down the street she tried to calm herself. 'Probably not good for the little one to endure all that but, oh what am I going to do?' Libber walked on, not really paying attention to where she was going. Their suburban house was on the edge of the neighborhood and didn't get as much traffic like the roads on the city side.

Laughing and shrieking caught her attention. She had managed to walk straight to the neighborhood playground, at this moment filled with kids releasing energy from being stuck at school all day. Libber drifted to a nearby bench. She sat watching them play as other moms and dads chatted. Seeing the kids laugh, run, jump... The reality of what just occurred at her home hit her square in the chest.

Tears leaked out and she bent over trying to contain the sobs that poured from her soul. 'What am I going to do? This is my little one, my baby! I can't- I can't...' So lost in her agony the warrior was completely taken off guard when a soft hand touched her shoulder. She bolted upright arm ready to deliver a punch when she realized that it belonged to an older lady in glasses who had come up next to her.

"I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean..." The lady just smiled awkwardly and waved her off.

"It's alright dearie, I can see something's got you not quite feeling yourself."

"I-I suppose you could say that." Libber looked away, dropping back down to the bench.

"Do you mind if I join you?" She asked. Libber waved her hand at the bench. "Thank you sweetheart." She sat quietly for a few moments appearing to debate something in her head. "I don't want this to sound intrusive but are you okay? Do you feel safe where you currently live?"

Libber looked at her puzzled. That wasn't the first question she was expecting. "Yes of course, why?"

The lady looked directly into Libber's eyes. "I've just found that when most people's first instinct is to punch someone else, there's something deeper going on below the surface."

Libber let out a shaky laugh, and wiped at her eyes. The lady noticed and dug a tissue out of her purse. "Thank you. No, it's nothing like that. I've just trained in martial arts for years and when I get startled my brain goes into react mode." 'At least I kept my lightning at bay, that wouldn't have gone over well.'

"I see." She still sounded suspicious. "Sorry I just wanted to be sure."

Libber gave a watery smile. "Thank you, I appreciate the gesture."

"My name's Edna, what's yours?"

"Libber."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman... If you don't mind my asking what's troubling you? You looked like you have something bothering you pretty bad."

"I- It's nothing much, really."

"Libber tears like don't come out for nothing." Edna placed a gentle hand on Libber's shoulder.

She sniffed and glanced down. "Well I guess that's true." Libber fiddled with her wedding ring before returning her gaze to Edna. "I uh, received some news today that my husband didn't take too well. But it wasn't just his reaction, but what he suggested that I do about it..." Libber broke off as sob built up again. Edna rubbed her back letting her take her time. "Sorry, just, I don't understand how he could say what he did."

"And you don't know what you want to do?"

"Yes, no. I-I know I can't do what he suggested, but I don't want it to cost my marriage." Libber cradled her stomach.

"That's understandable. I'm sorry you feel like you have to choose."

"Mph. I wondered if something like this would happen someday. We haven't had the best relationship over the last couple years. We were both young and selfish. That hasn't changed much, unfortunately. My eyes have just been opened to the problems that are still there." She smiled sadly. "It could be worse I suppose. I could have done something I truly regretted. Thank you Edna, for listening to me prattle on."

"I'm glad to have been driving through when I was. There are times when no one should be alone." Edna hesitated. "Don't feel obligated but if you ever want or need another listening ear here's my number." She pulled a business card out of her purse and handed it to Libber.

"Ed and Edna's Scrap N' Junk?"

"A good place to find a new use for an old part." Edna smiled kindly. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

Libber nodded, confidence bolstered by their short interaction. "I am. Thank you again."

Edna gave her a quick hug. "Good. Hopefully I'll see you around." With one final squeeze she walked back to her waiting car.

Taking a deep breath Libber steeled herself for her return to the house. 'You can do this! He is wrong about our baby. He or she is not a curse.' Slowly she walked back. Cliff was still at the table, he glanced up at her.

"I'm keeping the baby."

Cliff grit his teeth but only uttered a short, "Fine."

Libber tried to steady her breathing as another contraction wracked her body with pain. At seven months it was too early for the baby to make his entrance into the world. Cliff was out of town, again, which left her home alone with this new host of complications.

It was almost like this baby was out to prove Cliff right- that all he was going to do was cause trouble. Libber's morning sickness lasted the entire first trimester only to give way to hypertension at the start of the second. The doctor warned that the elevated blood pressure could cause early labor if it wasn't managed. Apparently the medications given hadn't done much more than throw their side effects on her already wearied body.

She stifled a groan. The contractions' frequently had started to increase. 'This is not good.' Freaking out would only make things worse, but Libber was hard pressed to keep her thoughts in order. A water bottle sat next to her bed and she slowly drank half of it as she made her way to the car.

The sun was cresting the western sky painting everything with a pink glow. It would have been a beautiful sight if she could enjoy it. She resigned herself to a long night since even for a pregnant woman the emergency room wouldn't move quickly.

Five hours and two new medications later Libber wearily drove back to the house.

"Thank you blue jay for waiting, but do you have to make this journey so exciting?" She rubbed her belly just as he sent a kick into her ribs. "Opff, I'll take that as a yes." But she couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess I wouldn't have it any other way. Though I'm eager to meet you, if you could hold on just a couple more weeks it would be so much better for you."

Libber crawled into bed, thankful to be back home instead of still at the hospital. She sighed trying to remember what Maya had told her about her own pregnancy last year. Given how Cliff reacted Libber hadn't wanted to share the news with many other people, not even with her 'coworkers.' Besides Maya, Wu had been the only other elemental master she told- mostly as a way to explain her 'leave of absence.'

Beyond her emotional hesitance something she couldn't quite name was stirring among the masters resulting in high tensions... but Maya was someone she trusted. Her tips and encouragement helped Libber as Cliff grew more and more distant.

Their arguments hadn't gotten worse, but that was mostly because they barely talked any more. He'd been right about his break and landed a supporting role in a new film, with promises of potentially getting his own spin off series if this did well enough. Recording kept him away for weeks at a time. Libber didn't like having the house to herself, but it was better than the cold indifference Cliff showed her when he was home.

She was just drifting off to sleep when a faint tinkling came from downstairs. Instantly she went on high alert. For a long moment it was quiet, she was just starting to wonder if she imagined it when the sound of footsteps filtered up to her room. 'Oh great.'

Normally an intruder wouldn't be much of an issue, but between having a child to worry about and the side effects he was throwing at her, Libber wasn't in the best condition to fight off anyone. And that was if the person was just a robber. The master of electricity's identity wasn't a huge secret so there was the potential a more nefarious villain wanted revenge.

Libber winced reminded of her and Cliff's honeymoon- some of Chen's lackies wanted to make an example of her. It ended poorly for them, but Cliff was less than pleased at being used as a hostage for all of five minutes.

Even if she wasn't very agile at the moment she still had her electricity. Pushing herself up Libber slipped as quietly as she could (which was not nearly at her normal caliber) down the stairs. The lights were off but Libber's eyes adjusted enough to see movement on her periphery. Acting on instinct she sent a stream of lightning at the person. Not enough to kill but more than enough to stun them.

There was a startled grunt followed by a loud thud. Libber hastily flicked the lights on in anticipation of a second prowler. To her relief there appeared to be no one else. Her relief quickly turned to horror when she looked back at her downed victim.

"Cliff?!"

'Oh crap.' She tried to reach him but her bulging stomach didn't allow her much room to bend over. Giving up she debated on nudging him with her foot but decided against it as he started to stir. He looked around, but his eyes didn't focus on anything.

"Cliff, I'm sorry can you hear me?" His eyes finally latched onto her.

"What... the heck... was that?"

"I'm sorry! I heard noises downstairs and reacted. You didn't tell me you were coming home!"

"So this is my fault?" Cliff groaned as he sat up.

"What? No! I was just saying that I just acted on what I knew."

"I'll bet."

Libber put her hands on her hips. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Cliff shot her a glare and unsteadily rose to his feet. "Whether or not you knew it was me I know you've wanted an opportunity to use your lightning on me."

"Excuse me? Of course not!"

"Yeah, whatever."

Libber bit back the retort that was on her tongue. "I'm sorry. What brings you home? I thought you weren't going to be back for another week."

Cliff walked to the fridge and pulled out an ice pack. "We finished early."

"That would have been nice to know." Libber muttered.

A sudden wave of nausea rolled over her. She hadn't used her powers to that extent since finding out she was pregnant. Apparently the two didn't mix. Or maybe that was the meds. At this point it was probably anything and everything. Libber made a beeline for the bathroom. When Libber came back out the kitchen was empty.

Stifling a sigh, she made her way back up to bed. The light was on in one of the guest rooms, door firmly shut. 'Fine. Whatever. I didn't want to talk to you about how I'm doing. How you almost missed the birth of your son. That I bet wouldn't be intentional at all.'

Carefully laying herself back down Libber didn't bother to stop her tears. 'This isn't how I wanted any of this. I'm sorry Jay. It's not fair for you.' It took her a long time to fall asleep.

He had waited, barely, but there was no stopping him now. Thirty-six weeks was still pushing it, but not nearly as dangerous as thirty weeks. Libber moaned as the next contraction hit. This was the strongest one yet.

Nothing, nothing, in her years of protecting Ninjago, and getting hurt in the line of duty, compared to the pain currently riding through her body. Just as with the oral meds, her body reacted negatively to the IV options leaving tylenol as the strongest medication she could tolerate.

A nurse placed a cool washcloth to her forehead while murmuring encouraging words. Libber hardly noticed her. Every ounce of energy was focused on the effort to breathe. The contraction relaxed and Libber let out a shuddery moan.

"Good. You're doing great." The nurse spoke gently while checking the baby's position.

Exhausted as she was Libber couldn't help but feel a bitter resentment at her words. Yes she was doing great, bringing her son into a hospital room devoid of any family besides herself. A world where his father didn't want him, to the point she hadn't told him she was in labor. To a mother who's demanding inherited obligations to the city could easily her cost her life.

Her thoughts were abruptly cut off by another contraction. Something about this one felt different though. The nurse was already flagging the tech to alert the doctor.

Twenty long minutes later a small pink baby was loudly making his presence known. The nurse's assessment deemed him stable enough to keep from transferring him to the NICU immediately. Gently scooping him up she laid him on Libber's chest. Libber stared down in wonder at this little piece of her. This small being that she'd brought forth into the world.

"Hi there." She gently ran a sweaty hand over his tuft of brown hair. "My little blue Jay." Jay squirmed at her touch, his lips parting as he reflexively felt for something to suck.

Libber spent the next hour getting to know her son. It was interrupted by a brisk knock on the door, followed by the doctor coming in with a nurse behind.

"We know you want to continue to be with him, but I want to keep him in the NICU for a night just for observation since he was still a little early. Given how he's behaved I think it's unlikely he'll develop adverse symptoms but I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Sighing Libber nodded in assent. "I'll see you soon." She whispered in his ear before allowing the nurse to set him in a bassinet.

The doctor asked her a couple more questions and left the room. It was quiet, 'Lonely,' the word entered unwelcome into her thoughts. She didn't even have Jay to talk to anymore, not that he had been able to respond but it'd been a measure of comfort to know she had a captive audience.

Libber flopped back onto the pillows forcing her mind in a different direction. Every aching fiber within her body provided a much needed distraction. Allowing the exhaustion to overtake her Libber slept.

BOOM! CRASH!

Screams pierced the night. Libber jerked awake, momentarily forgetting the stress her body just endured. It was quick to remind her. Taking deep breaths Libber wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and pulled herself to her feet. Pain zipped through her but she forced her shaky legs on until she stood out in the hallway. Medical personnel and staff ran to and fro as alarms blared.

Libber didn't bother asking what was going on. These people probably wouldn't know. Fear and apprehension swirled inside her. Something in her gut warned this wasn't a random attack.

She had to get to Jay.

The NICU was on the same floor, only a few yards away. Lights flickered and went out for several seconds before the generator power kicked on. People ran by, many carrying/wheeling/leading patients and visitors toward the stairs. Libber ignored them all.

The doors to the NICU, normally locked for safety, sat wide open as people worked to get the babies out. A couple bassinets rushed past her, but quick glimpses assured her they weren't her Jay. Many of the babies were crying in chaos but one cry caught her attention. Though she'd only heard it for a short time a mother knows her child's voice.

Hurrying in his direction Libber found a nurse carrying him. She grasped the woman's arm, catching the nurse by surprise.

"Please!" Libber gasped out. "He's my son, I need him."

The nurse gave her a quick glance taking in Libber's hospital gown and unkempt appearance. Libber grimaced. "I know, please check our ID bands if you must but I have to get Jay out of here."

"Ma'am you're in no condition to-"

"Please!" Libber cut her off, growing more desperate. She let a spark of electricity materialize in her palm. "I can take care of him. I have to make sure he's safe."

Understanding dawned on the nurse's face. Quickly verifying the ID tags (which did match) she carefully placed Jay in his mother's arms.

"Be careful." The nurse nodded to Libber before running back to help others.

Libber hurried along with the stream of people to the exit as fast as her aching body would allow. Shrieks came nearby but Libber couldn't do anything, she was too weak once again. Tears, from both physical and mental pain, coursed down her cheeks. 'I don't know if I can make it out myself.' Still it went against everything she'd worked for as the master of electricity. Jays shrill cries rang in her ears. 'I'm still saving one.'

"Find her!" A cold voice sounded near her.

Libber's instincts flared. That wasn't the sound of someone looking for a loved one. She ducked in with a group of people beelining for the main doors. 'But who...?' Dread wormed its way into her heart.

Stumbling onto the street, Libber saw chaos everywhere. People were running, screaming, bleeding. Flames and smoke filled the night, covering everything in an orange haze. Firefighters and police officers ran toward the building trying to usher people to safety.

Movement came from above. Masses of people ducked and scattered as something, or someone(?), flew over the crowd. Streams of ice shot into the building, instantly turning to liquid in the intense heat. A large stream of water followed.

"It's the elemental masters!" A cheer rose from the onlookers.

Libber's sigh of relief was cut off as she felt eyes on her. Trying to look around subtly, she saw a man in black staring at her, recognition visible even in the dark.

'Well, this isn't good.' Pulling Jay to her chest Libber melted in with the crowd. Adrenaline momentarily masking most of her pain, Libber scoured the streets for somewhere to hide. Even at this early hour people clogged the walkways and roads, watching in horror as the hospital burned.

Slipping amongst them Libber tried to blend in. It wasn't as hard as she would have imagined it to be since many of the patients remained on the streets as spectators. Still something within her pressed hard for her to get away! That gut instinct saved her many times in the past so she didn't think twice before following it.

The crowd began to thin the further into town doing little to mask Libber's presence. Grimacing, from that realization and the pain building in her body, she looked around to find an alternative. None of the shops were open this early in the morning but even here, some seven or eight blocks away, several store front windows lay shattered from the explosions.

One such unfortunate front boasted several different types of athletic wear in the display cases. Hesitating for only a brief moment Libber hurried to the window. Glass cracked under her feet and she bit back a yelp of pain. The thin grippy socks from the hospital did nothing to protect her feet. Libber shook her head, she didn't have time for the luxury of pain.

Using the blanket she pushed some glass aside so she could climb into the window. No one seemed to notice, or care about, the bedraggled woman carrying an infant into a broken storefront. Libber let out a silent prayer of thanks. Then uttering a muted apology she snagged a loose sweat outfit from the display racks.

Slipping into one of the changing rooms Libber sat down realizing how much everything hurt. Adrenaline was an amazing thing but when it wore off... major payback. Both from having recently given birth and getting out of the burning hospital.

Libber studied herself in the dressing room mirror. Ash coated every part of her face and gown. Cuts oozed blood down her arms and gown- and now feet after walking through the rubble practically barefoot. It was the look in her eyes though that made her stop. Electricity danced crazily in them, though as exhaustion set in they dimmed back to their sky blue. Had she seen herself from a distance she wouldn't have wanted to get close. Jay gave a small squeak drawing Libber's attention back to him.

"Shh, shhh." She whispered, bouncing him slightly. "I know you're probably hungry but I don't think it's safe to feed you yet."

He managed to drift back off to sleep and Libber sighed in relief. "Good boy."

Planting a soft kiss on his forehead she gently set him on the bench next to her. Then, as fast as her battered body would allow, she changed into the clean clothes. They weren't the most comfortable for a postpartum woman, but it was better than walking around in a flimsy hospital gown.

She stepped out of the dressing room and looked around. Shadowed people still milled the streets, but no one appeared to be paying her particular store any attention.

"Alright Jay, we need to get out of here, but first..."

Libber looked at the phone near the register and grimaced. Cliff probably wouldn't pick up but he needed to know what was going on.

Hurrying over she punched in his number. As expected, it went to voicemail, but Libber tried to console herself with the fact she was using an unknown number and it was very early in the morning.

"C-Cliff it's me. I know you're filming on the other side of the island and probably haven't heard the news. For one you have a son. Two, the hospital we were in was attacked. I think- I think they're after me, but I don't know why. I'm going to try and get Jay to safety but I-I don't know how this is going to play out. If-if anything happens I'm sorry. Even with what we've been through I love you. Hopefully I'll see you soon."

Libber disconnected and rubbed tears from her eyes. "No time to waste."

Wrapping Jay snuggly in her arms Liber ducked back out into the streets. Smoke lingered in the air but only the flashing lights of emergency vehicles pierced the night. 'The others must have gotten the fire out.' That was a relief, though Libber still had to fight her growing guilt as she continued in the opposite direction. 'I have to get Jay to safety. If anything happens to me he might hold the future of Ninjago in a way I never could.'

She had only gone a block when angry shouts rose near the clothing store. 'There's no way...! Did they see me or is it possible they... tapped Cliff's phone?' Either way it didn't matter. Steeling her nerves Libber forced her legs into a run, ignoring the pulsing agony building within her. 'Get... Jay... safe.'

The familiar sounds of pursuit came from behind her. She'd been spotted. Libber didn't bother looking over her shoulder but ducked into a nearby alleyway. Go figure it was a dead end. Trying to calm her breathing Libber bit her lip knowing what she had to do.

Gathering up the remaining shreds of her strength Libber concentrated on the lightning within her core. 'Come on. Come on.' A blue light enveloped her. 'Yes!' Yet even in her elation she could feel her body rapidly deteriorating. 'Have to get out of range now!' Urging her lightning dragon into the sky Libber took off with no clear thought other than away. Not her best plan but she was running on empty- literally and figuratively.

Focusing her energy Libber forced the dragon to go faster. Building streaked by in flashes of light until they suddenly gave way to the desert. 'Desert. Sands... Sea of Sands!' The card Edna gave her all those months ago flashed in her mind. Though she hadn't reached out to Edna, not because she'd never thought to, she'd unintentionally memorized the information.

'I could- I could leave Jay with them. They have no affiliation with me. He'd be safe there...' Her heart clenched at the thought, but right now... she didn't have another good option.

"Please, please be there."

Shutting everything out beyond getting Jay to safety Libber accelerated to lightning speed. Five minutes later sprawling hills of junk lay below her. It was no small consolation to see an old jalopy parked near a small trailer within the property. Light peaked between the curtained windows.

Libber brought her dragon down behind one mountain of junk, stumbling forward when it abruptly dissipated on impact. The jostling woke Jay. His face began to pucker and Libber knew she only had seconds before he started crying.

"I'm so sorry little one."

Concentrating on his body's electrical pulses Libber carefully decreased the stimuli in his brain. Nothing that would harm him but enough to force him to sleep again. Sighing softly he nestled back into her arms. He would be ferociously hungry when he woke next but hopefully it would be in enough time for the Walker's to get something.

She looked back down at Jay sleeping contentedly in her arms. A feeling of dread rose within her, though she couldn't quite identify its source. Regardless she had to get away so if she was being tracked they wouldn't find him. And yet she hesitated.

"I'm so sorry son. So sorry that I don't know if I can be there for you. That- that I might not see who you grow up to be, but please don't believe I didn't love you." He was entirely too young to grasp such a concept, even if he was awake, but Libber felt the need to tell him anyway. "I know you can become a great man someday. I just pray you get the chance to do so."

With that Libber hooked her finger around the hospital tag on his ankle and carefully burned it off. It would be pretty evident that Jay was a recent newborn but the longer it took them, if ever, to figure out who's biological child he was the better. Moving to the blanket wrapped around him Libber pulled back a corner and relit her sputtering spark. Shakily she burned the word 'Jay' into the blanket. If worst came to worst all parties involved would at least know the name he was christened with at birth, even if that didn't stay his name.

Giving him one last, desperate hug Libber slipped toward the trailer door. Gently she set him on the ground out of the direct path of the door. Tears blurred her vision as she aggressively rang the doorbell for several seconds before stumbling around the corner of a junk hill.

Less than a minute later the metal door creaked open and a man's voice called, "Who's there?"

A salt and pepper haired man leaned out of the doorway, one hand gripping a baseball bat. Jay chose that minute to gurgle in his sleep. From where she crouched Libber watched the man whirl in shock at the small bundle near his feet.

"What in the world...?" He looked around but didn't see Libber in her hiding place.

"Edna! Edna, come here!"

"What is it Ed?"

Libber's heart clenched again at the woman's voice. It was her. Edna joined her husband at the doorway and a similar look of disbelief covered her face. Hurriedly she ran out and scooped up Jay.

"A baby?" She too looked around.

Jay began to fuss in his sleep. Libber watched with tears coursing down her cheeks as Edna gently pulled him close and began to rock him.

"Hey there..." Her eye must have caught the name etched into the blanket since she finished with, "Jay?" There was a longing that Libber couldn't describe in the way Edna looked at Jay.

Something inside Libber released itself. He'd be safe here.

Knowing her time was precious Libber forced herself to back away through the stacks of junk. She waited another minute before conjuring her dragon and rocketing away from the junkyard. If the Walker's saw anything, hopefully they'd just think it was a shooting star. But Libber couldn't worry about that now.

She had a posse to distract.

Directing her dragon further north she flew for as long as she dared push herself before heading back toward Ninjago City. Maybe they'd think she was just trying to double back on them, which in a way she was, but with them being none the wiser about what happened to Jay.

She'd just entered the city limits when something bright flashed in the corner of her eye. Even if she had the strength there was no time to dodge. Pain exploded in every fiber of her body. Her dragon vanished and Libber felt herself falling.

'NO!' It couldn't end like this! Pulling the scraps of her strength together she turned her body into the familiar twist of spinjitzu. She could feel her descent slow but would it be enough? A building rushed up to meet her and suddenly Libber's vision went black.

"-ere!- foun- her!" Fuzzy sounds filtered into Libber's brain but she couldn't make sense of them.

"I see 'er!" A gruff, not very friendly, voice came nearby.

'Who are these people?' Libber pried her eyes open. A pinprick of light shone above her, a hole? in the ceiling. Gray walls swam around her and light poured from one of them. Trying to see into the light Libber's heart accelerated when three blurry men suddenly appeared.

'I have to go...' But she couldn't move. Sharp pain flared in her head and back, and her legs bent at an unnatural angle beneath her. What worried her most about that was she couldn't feel them at all.

"You gave us a good chase, I'll admit that." One of the men bent over her and- was that...?

"K-Krux? I-I don't..." Libber stared in disbelief.

"My dear Libber you look... worse for wear."

Libber glared at him. "No tha... thanks to you. Why are... you here?"

"I was looking for you of course. I have special plans that need you. Well I guess I should say your element."

"No!" Her cry of rage came out a broken whisper.

"Oh don't worry, if all goes according to plan some of our other old friends will be along to keep you company." That sounded comforting.

He gestured to the other two men. They stalked forward and lifted Libber between them. Gasping in pain Libber tried to remain conscious.

"Let's go before anyone notices." Krux barked to the men.

Libber's legs dangled behind her as she was dragged toward the entrance. 'No...he ... can't...do... this.' But her body was completely spent. The last twenty-four hours, let alone the last three hours, had drained whatever reserves remained. Over the buzzing in her ears she just managed to hear Krux say,

"I've only been out of the time stream a couple months but imagine my shock, pardon the pun, at finding you pregnant." Krux stopped and turned to look at Libber. "Given how our talents run in the family I think he'd be a welcome addition to my ranks. What do you think?"

Rage Libber had never known rose within her. "You... leave my son... alone!"

Snarling Libber managed to wrench one arm free from the goons and aimed her finger at Krux. A concentrated burst of lightning lept toward his head. The look of complete surprise on his face quickly turned to one of pain when the electricity hit him head on.

Mentally watching the current travel in his brain Libber directed toward the hippocampus. With a final flare she burned the memory of her with a baby from his mind. Krux stumbled back several paces and fell to the ground. For a long moment no one seemed to know what to do.

Nausea rolled in Libber as the realization of what she'd just done, what she never realized she'd been capable of doing, sank in. 'But it's for the greater good.'

Whatever Krux had planned Libber couldn't allow it to happen. Her head lolled to the side and she saw a catwalk loaded with boxes above them. Heart pounding with with knowledge of what she had to do Libber thrust her arm above her head before her escort recovered.

Electricity sparked again. It was quiet for a second before a loud groan shook the room. Crack! The supports holding the walkway snapped.

Libber watched it fall in slow motion. A number of emotions flared within her; regret both in her relationship with Cliff and the fact she wouldn't get to see Jay grow up, sadness that being she was right- her elemental heritage would cost her her life, but hope was what won out.

Hope that Krux would be defeated.

Hope that this would make Ninjago safer for the people she loved.

Hope that Jay would have the chance to grow up loved the way he deserved.

With a smile on her face Libber let the darkness take her.

For the first time in eight months, Libber rested peacefully.

A/n- (length warning)

Well. That ended up being more sad than I thought it would be when I first sat down to write it. But the last line announced itself in my head and demanded to be released.

We don't know the circumstances that brought Jay to the Walkers so I thought through a few scenarios and landed on this one.

The idea was influenced by my family's involvement in foster care/adoption (I have 8 adopted siblings) Each story is unique but there are often common elements that can be seen, and, given Cliff's job, I took some stereotypical liberties. I also wanted Libber to meet the Walkers (or at least Edna) before dropping Jay off at their door.

However, after rewatching S6 it almost seems more likely that Cliff is the one who dropped off the key at the Walkers, if not Jay himself (given the lack of evidence of Libber in the mansion) so part 2 will address the key- though the timeline might be fudged a bit. There's potential in the future for an alternate one-shot following that train of thought, but only time will tell if I get around to writing one.

Also- side note- but when I named the chapter I didn't realize the episode after Jay finds out he's adopted it titled "On a WISH and a Prayer" until after I already decided on the name. Totally unintentional but it made me laugh.