A/n- So this is linked to the last chapter (hence the same name) but takes place after S6. It also pulls a couple elements from the earlier chapter "Days of Future Past" but it can be understood without having to (re)read the chapter.

20 years later

Jay still couldn't believe he was once again at Cliff Gordon's mansion. The elegant bronze gates loomed over him. He had certainly faced down far more intimidating villains, but apprehension built in his gut. This was a piece of him, of his past.

A gentle hand squeezed his shoulder. Jay turned to see Nya beside him. She gave him a small smile and pulled his hand into her own. Appreciating her silent support Jay took a deep breath. He could do this.

With trembling fingers Jay pulled out the key to the mansion. He traced the outline of it in his palm, more aware of its significance this second time he'd been given it.

Jay paced back and forth in the living room. He could feel Nya's eyes on him from her perch on the couch but he continued anyway.

"Jay-" She started.

"It's fine, I'm okay." Jay interrupted, sounding very much not okay.

"We don't have to do this today. It's only been 2 months since we got back. You can take more time if you feel you need to."

"No." Jay stopped and faced Nya, who was sitting on the couch. "The longer I wait the harder it'll be. And it's not like they weren't supportive last time, but last time they were the ones telling me. Not the other way around."

Clunking and rattling came from outside and an old jalopy pulled up into the junkyard. A minute later Ed and Edna walked in holding several grocery bags.

"Sorry sweetheart to make you wait. The lines took longer than I thought they would." Edna set down her bags and hugged Jay.

He gave her a half smile. "It's all good Ma."

With his and Nya's help the groceries were quickly put away and the four gathered back in the living room.

"Not that I don't love your visits but you sounded serious on the phone. Is everything okay?" Edna's face was calm but her eyes flicked back and forth between Jay and Nya curiously.

"Yeah everything's okay... I mean sorta... I mean-" Jay let out a frustrated grunt and took a deep breath. "So I'm just going to say it. During some of our recent ninja stuff I found out I'm adopted."

The silence was deafening.

Jay looked up to see Ed and Edna glancing guiltily at each other. That made Jays stomach clench uncomfortably.

"I'm not mad." He added hurriedly. "Confused and uh, maybe a little hurt, but not mad."

Ed pursed his lips. "We talked about telling you so many times over the years... especially when we saw signs of your powers appearing, but as you got older there never seemed to be a good time..."

"And we were afraid." Edna's soft confession felt like a sucker punch. "Afraid you'd look at us differently. That you'd be angry with us. But mostly that it would make you doubt yourself. You are our son even if it wasn't us who gave birth to you."

"I-I know." Jay let out a long breath. "It just made a lot of little things make sense, y'know? How there were never any pictures of you pregnant or us at the hospital. How there were times I just felt... different even before this," Jay held up his palm letting a spark manifest, "came into play. I never have- and never will- doubt your love for me but I just felt... off I guess."

"I'm sorry son. We didn't want to hurt you but I guess there's things even parents can't protect our kids from." Ed turned to Edna with a question on his face. She hesitated, then nodded and he addressed Jay again. "We actually were going to call you around the time you called us. A letter came for you that needs to be responded to, but this conversation had to happen first."

Ed excused himself and headed toward his and Edna's room.

"Mom I- I do sorta understand. I know you did it because you love me."

Edna gave a watery smile. "Still we should have been open with you from the beginning."

"Can-can you tell me how you found me?" Jay remembered what she said from the alternative timeline, but he'd been so freaked out about possibly causing Ed's death she hadn't gone into much detail.

"It was early in the morning. We had gotten back from a junk run a few hours earlier and were exhausted. Loud pounding at our door woke us out of a dead sleep. Since we've had people- and snakes- try to rob us for money or scrap, Ed took a bat with him to the door. No one was there but then you made a noise.

"Whoever brought you set you by our door, still in your hospital blanket. Ash, dust and blood coated you, though the blood didn't appear to be yours. The name 'Jay' had been, what looked like, burned on it. I ran to town to get formula for you and I saw news the hospital was attacked. That had to be where you were brought from.

"When the dust settled, so to speak, we went to the authorities with you to try and figure out what to do next. It's not that we didn't want you, but we didn't know the circumstances that brought you to us and it was possible your birth parents were looking for you. We knew you'd recently been born but most of the hospital's records were lost in a fire so we weren't able to find where you came from. No one ended up reporting a missing baby that fit your description so in a matter of months you became an official Walker."

Ed cleared his throat startling Jay and Nya who hadn't seen him come back in the room. "We realized a couple years ago someone probably knew who you were because this key and address," he held up said items in one hand, "were mailed to us not long after you became a ninja. We didn't say anything then... but I wish we had. This letter just came for you and, ah, it might be better if you saw it for yourself."

Jay recognized the official looking letter but was shocked to see it again. "That really was him who wanted it sent?" He muttered loud enough for only Nya to hear.

One of the first things Jay had done once time reset was look up what happened with Cliff Gordon. It became apparent Nadakahn wasn't the one who caused his death since the papers announced Cliff passed away a month earlier from cancer. That had been a blow for sure, since Jay knew he'd never get the opportunity to at least meet him. However he hadn't dwelt on that long before anxiety about approaching his parents with the knowledge he'd been adopted kicked in. Add in the lingering PTSD like effects of being Nadakhan's captive Jay had pushed the fact that it was Cliff who was his biological dad from his mind.

Seeing the letter changed that.

He was still a little miffed his parents hadn't told him until the letter came saying Cliff died. Though now they thought he figured it out on his own... Jay rubbed his temples. Stupid time travel. Nya squeezed his hand, okay maybe not completely stupid. Jay shuddered at the memory of Nya collapsed in his arms, green venom splattered across her torso... Nope he wasn't going there right now.

Now for the first (or was it second?) time Jay was actually here, at Cliff's house, but he still wasn't sure he could process it all yet. Sure he'd loved the Fritz Donnegan movies from the moment he first watched them, but knowing Fritz, well Cliff, was his dad...birth father... genetic contributor? (he wasn't sure what to call him)... it was just weird.

Jay stuck the key in the lock and it opened with a click. Together the two walked up the luscious yard to the mansion door. On the porch Jay froze as a thought occurred to him.

"Wu has to have known."

Nya cocked her head and looked at Jay. "Come again?"

"Wu and Garmadon told us our elemental powers were passed down from our ancestors. That means Master Wu knew the Walker's couldn't have been my birth parents. I doubt Cliff was the master of lightning, meaning I got my powers from my mom. She might have even been part of the elemental alliance. Why did he never say anything?"

"He probably figured if your parents hadn't told you, it wasn't his place."

Jay snorted. "Probably. You know how often he actually fills us in on what's going on."

Taking a deep breath Jay opened the front door. Their footsteps echoed in the large foyer.

"It's larger than I remember." Nya looked around at the memorabilia.

"You didn't even see everything. Here," Jay led her to the trophy display on the living room wall next to a floor to ceiling poster of Fritz Donagan, "check this out."

He pulled down the golden image of Fritz. Seconds later the poster slid sideways revealing the secret room.

"Nice." Nya smirked. It might not be as cool as the Samurai Cave, but still impressive for a mansion.

Jay stepped forward into the familiar sight of Cliff's dressing room, undisturbed from Jay's no longer existent scuffle with Nadakhan. The last time he was here he'd been too jumbled by wanting to win Nya's affection and the pressure of holding onto his wish to really look at what Cliff had in the room.

Original costumes from his various movies lined two of the walls, a large vanity took up the third, but the fourth drew Jay's full attention.

It was a Montage to him. Pictures of the Blue Ninja in action, newspaper articles featuring his various escapades, and sitting proudly in front was his ZX suit- one of his earliest ninja gis.

Jay stepped forward, subconsciously reaching a hand toward the suit. "He- he knew of me. Who I really am."

It was both slightly creepy and oddly comforting to know the man who was technically his father had taken an interest in him. 'But why did you never come see me? You obviously knew who I am and where I lived.'

"Jay, look at this." Nya softy broke him out of his reverie.

The pedestal next to his suit still held Cliff Gordon's Guide to Wooing Women, Jay grimaced at the sight, but Nya set it aside and started flipping through a smaller book that had been sitting underneath.

"I think this is for you."

Jay picked it up flipping open to the first page. Line after line of neat handwriting filled the space. Jay's breath caught. It was a journal.

"If you want, I have some calls I need to make..." Nya trailed off.

Jay nodded, not sure if he trusted his voice. Giving him a quick peck on the cheek Nya stole softly out of the room. He all but collapsed into the chair at the vanity, cradling the book in his hands.

Would it be considered an invasion of privacy to read the journal even if Cliff was dead? Torn for a few seconds Jay's curiosity finally won out. The first entry was dated just over three years ago.

The elemental masters have returned. There's a new lightning one. It made me wonder if she was one of them, but this ninja, as the group is calling themselves, is definitely male. I don't know what happened to the baby, could that be him? She said traits like that ran in the family.

Three weeks later he wrote,

They just showed the first pictures of the ninja's faces. It's him, it has to be. Other than his hair he looks just like her. I don't know what to do.

The next date was a couple months later.

Jay. That was the name she chose for him. Her little blue jay, I remember her calling him that before he was born. After some discrete questions I found out he lives with an older couple in the Sea of Sands. They're not her parents. I wonder how he ended up there. Maybe she took him there before she disappeared? Do I go to see him now after all this time? Would he want to see me? I have no idea if he has any contact with her. He certainly wouldn't want to see me if that's the case. And I wouldn't blame him.

Jay frowned. What had his dad done? At first it sounded like his birth mom had taken off abruptly, but the last passage made it seem like that was Cliff's fault. He kept reading. A later entry snagged his attention.

I mailed the address and key today. It was cowardly not to put my name on it, but the Walker's will probably understand what it's for. And I didn't want him to come just because actor Cliff Gordon wanted to see him. If he ever comes, I want it to be because he wants to meet me as his birth father. The ball is completely in the Walker's court now. I don't think I've been this scared since she and the baby disappeared all those years ago.

But Jay had found out too late. If he had known he would have come. There was only one more entry. This one from five months ago. A letter addressed directly to him.

Jay,

I hope you read this one day, though if you are it's too late for me. My recent doctor's visit didn't go as planned and I ended up being told I have stage 4 cancer. They weren't projecting a good, or long, prognosis.

I have so many things I want to say, but first I need to apologize. This isn't how I wanted to tell you, but it's mostly my fault you ended up being adopted. I was a foolish, selfish idiot whom your mother didn't deserve. She watched out for you in the way I should have. I wasn't there when you both needed me. After you were born she took you to a place you would be loved and protected in a way I couldn't at the time. From what I've seen your courage and determination matches hers.

It's probably not my place but I'm so proud of the man you've become. Seeing how the ninja have protected us and never backed down, you have become an amazing man in your own right. I'm sorry I was never there for you, but you're probably better off because of it.

Time is running short for me and I don't know if we'll get the chance to meet face to face, but I want to tell you I love you. I'm sorry it took me longer than it should have but I do love you.

This doesn't make up for the years you lost from your mother or I, but I've named you as the sole beneficiary of my estate. I hope it serves you, and any one you deem family, well. I'm sad I won't be there to watch you mature through manhood, but from what I've seen I have no reason to be worried.

Goodbye son,

Love Dad.

Jay set the book down feeling overwhelmed. His father hadn't wanted him at first. That admission stung despite Cliff saying that wasn't his final opinion on Jay. It explained why he didn't come to the junkyard. He probably feared the rejection he initially gave. And yet looking at the collage and the letter, Cliff had come to care for Jay in his own way.

Was it possible to feel grief for a man he didn't even know? For a what could have been? Jay didn't regret anything about growing up as a Walker, but what would it have been like to at least know where he came from sooner? He didn't want to delve too deeply into what if's, but he couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to be raised by his birth parents. With Cliff being an actor they would have been hard pressed to avoid the limelight.

Jay paused, realizing fully for the first time that none of the ninja had been really raised by their elemental parent- or donor in Zane's case. Kai and Nya's parents left(?) before they told their kids they were masters. Cole had been raised by his parents for several years before his mom died, but it didn't sound like she or Lou were entirely forthright about her side of the family having powers over earth. Maybe it had skipped a generation? For Zane the old master of ice had slipped in and out of his life with barely a blip. Jay wondered briefly how he went about relinquishing his powers to an android. Magic was probably involved. Then Lloyd... his childhood was a hot mess, having to get by without either of his parents but, unlike Kai and Nya, having to face the world alone for many years.

Shaking his head to chase away the dreary thoughts he turned his attention to the last paragraph of the journal. While the letter his parents gave him had said as much about Jay inheriting Cliff's estate, it seemed surreal. He agreed it didn't make up for the time lost, but it was a generous gesture. Judging from what little of the house and yard he'd seen, Jay didn't think he'd have to worry about relying on his not-really-existent ninja salary for himself or a future family. At least for a while.

Jay's gaze slipped toward the door. By now Nya was probably wondering how he was doing. That was a question he couldn't quite answer.

As if beckoned by his thoughts Nya appeared in the doorway. "Hey."

"He-y." Jay winced when his voice cracked but Nya didn't comment.

"Do you want to take more time in here?"

Pausing Jay thought a minute before answering. Did he want to? He stared into her calm gray eyes and something clicked inside.

"Y'know I think I'm good. What do you say to exploring the rest of the house?"

Nya gave a half smile. "I say let's go for it."

Taking her hand in his Jay felt a soothing warmth permeate his whole being. Theirs was a crazy life but with Nya by his side Jay wouldn't trade it for the world.