A/n- Sorry to those of you who tried to read this yesterday. It was uploaded incorrectly. Here's take two:

Set some time before The Snake King. Christmas musings for my many traumatized ninja babies.

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Cole sat on the roof of the Bounty staring up into the starlit sky. Laughter and music spilled out of the bridge below him, but Cole couldn't bring himself to rejoin the festivities. So many years of loneliness and bitterness didn't know how to contend with a room full of joyful people- ones who wanted Cole to also partake.

That thought was both comforting and terrifying.

It had been years since Cole had given a thought to Christmas, other than to tune out chatter and turn a blind eye to lights and presents and trees, let alone celebrated it. The last time- the last time-

Cole grit his teeth. So what if he hadn't been part of a celebration since Mom died, so what if Dad went away every Christmas break leaving Cole in an empty house for weeks at a time?

Those below him had become his family. He called them brothers (and sister in Nya's case). Yet would they understand why he had such a prickling down his spine that only space would cure? Cole didn't want to ruin their fun so he'd slipped away not long after Kai had declared the party "on".

Moored just inside the Sea of Sands meant no snow for this Christmas, but the night air was much cooler than Cole anticipated. But to get to the bunkroom he'd either have to go through the bridge or pass by it for the entrance on the bow. A jacket, or bed, wasn't worth being seen. That would only lead to questions he did not want to deal with at the moment.

He turned his attention back to the stars. Even for being a down to earth guy, Cole loved the night sky. The stars had been some of his closest companions in the recent month when he struck out on his own. Their constellations watched over him when no one else had.

For as much as he loved his new family, Cole found part of him missing (some of) the quiet he'd had when it'd just been him. Or maybe the noise of six others took a lot longer than a few months to adapt to.

So lost in his thoughts Cole didn't notice that the music cut out. He didn't hear the creak of wood sagging under weight or the soft swish of footsteps. The hand that materialized out of thin air produced an unmanly squeak that Cole would later vehemently deny.

"Zane!" The white ninja's pale visage could be seen even in the moonless night, "What are you doing?"

"I came to ask you the same." Zane settled down on the roof next to Cole. "We were worried when you didn't reappear. I came out here while the others are searching below decks."

The others had- they'd put aside their celebrating to look for him? A warmth Cole had all but forgotten about wrapped around his chest. Then guilt hit a few seconds later.

"Sorry for ruining the night."

"You didn't ruin anything."

"But your Christmas-"

"Cole," Zane interrupted, "you are more important than any day or party."

"But it's- it's Christmas."

Zane's luminous blue eyes froze Cole in place. "I don't know if I've ever celebrated Christmas before."

'Right,' a flush darkened Cole's face, thankfully hidden in the night, 'Zane's amnesia.' At least Cole had memories of happier times, however curdled by the pain of recent years.

"Even if I did have my memories, my earlier statement holds; you are more important. As it is, I see you're up here instead of 'celebrating' with us."

Cole winced. He'd forgotten how perceptive Zane could be. "I- I don't-" Cole sighed deeply. "My dad stopped being around when mom died. He was even less around at Christmas. That was- that was mom's favorite time of year. I haven't really had a Christmas since right before mom got sick. I haven't had a reason to like the season since."

"I know I've never celebrated before," Cole jumped as Lloyd's voice came close by, his shadow followed by three more, "least since I was four. I don't remember much 'fore Darkley's."

Zero for three, Cole grimaced. He'd been so wrapped up in his own pain that he hadn't thought how his teammates had their own past hurts.

A soft glow lit the night. Kai draped the Sword of Fire across his knees. In the low light Cole could see similar somber expressions on all five of his siblings.

"Our parents vanished when we were three and five." Kai spoke softly, as he always did when speaking about his parents. "I don't remember much from before then-"

"-Even less for me-" Nya interjected.

"But there's a couple things I do remember from Christmas. One thing was Dad made spicy hot chocolate, with chili powder, on Christmas Eve. It- it's one thing I tried to do for Nya and me on Christmas Eves' since. We didn't- we didn't have much for a long time but, except for the first year we were on the st- completely on our own, it's been something I've kept up."

They fell quiet for a few minutes. Cole felt more than saw Jay fidgeting next to him.

"I- I can't really- that is-" Jay broke off with a sigh, uncharacteristically fumbling for words. "This is only my first Christmas away from Ma and Pa. Knowing they're safer if I'm not dragging danger to their door is something, but I miss them something awful."

Though each of his brothers had a different story, Cole didn't realize how much more they had in common.

"A merry bunch we are." Kai's statement was met with half-hearted scoffs and laughs.

"I believe we are getting there." Zane pointed out. "And I, for one, am glad to have my first Christmas in memory with you all."

Looking around, Cole silently echoed Zane's sentiments. The softening looks on the others' faces seemed to state their agreement too.

The ache of years past was still there but, as Cole's eyes swept over his new family members, maybe that would help him treasure this Christmas. This one and hopefully many more to come.

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A/n- Short but hopefully sweet (and a week late...). I can relate a little with the above sentiments. This Christmas season has been more bitter than previous ones, but I'm thankful for the hope Christmas reminds me of with the first coming of Christ. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!