If Jay knew he was coming home to a damn interrogation he would have insisted on staying with Cliff. The second his parents and Wu saw him they dragged him into the junkyard and forced him to sit on a stack of tires. The obnoxious light Ed was shining on his face wasn't helping. Seriously, enhanced eyesight was a pain sometimes. At least they had their good cop, bad cop routine down and ready.

"You should've called." Edna frowned as she checked him over for any injuries before he pushed her off.

"We don't have to let you know every move we make!" He scoffed and Ed scowled, unhappy with Jay's tone, but there was a bigger problem to deal with.

"Where is Cliff anyway?"

"He had to go." Jay shrugged, not seeing it as a big deal since they were meeting again tomorrow. Edna didn't share his opinion, however.

"He sent you home on your own at this time of night?" She screeched at Cliff's lack of responsibility but instead of understanding Jay rolled his eyes at her reaction. He knew his parents loved him and wanted to keep him safe, but he went to college in a few months. They seriously needed to stop treating him like a kid. He could make his way home just fine and it wasn't even that late.

"I've waited here all day to talk to him." Wu frowned and Jay glared.

"What? So you can scare him off again?" He spat, causing the old werewolf to flinch at Jay's tone but refused to back down. "We didn't 'scare him off'; he chose to leave you in Ninjago City because he knew he couldn't give you the proper care you needed."

"Why? Because he's human and I'm not? If that's the case then why'd you let Mom and Dad adopt me!"

"I didn't let them adopt you! They wouldn't-"

"Wu, I think maybe you should go." Ed suddenly said. Wu tried to argue but Ed didn't give him a chance and physically forced him out of the junkyard and all but slammed the gate in his face. After briefly calming his nerves, he turned back to his family and gave them a forced smile. "Did you have a good time?"

"The best! We're going out tomorrow." Jay grinned from ear to ear, ignorant of the pained looks his parents were giving him. Neither of them said anything and sent Jay to his room, promising to discuss things properly tomorrow. As soon as he got into his room he kicked off his suits and changed into his pajamas, hanging up the suit in his closet. It was a nice suit and he intended to keep it as pristine as possible for special occasions. He wasn't one for fancy clothes but this one had sentimental value and to him, that was more precious than all the money spent today.

Suddenly his laptop started dinging and when Jay opened it he found himself in a video chat with his friends.

"OK, spill," Lloyd demanded the second Jay's screen loaded in.

"I had a fantastic time! We went everywhere - we saw the whole of Ninjago City and had a huge meal at the best restaurant in the city." He grinned, practically buzzing in excitement.

"Cool suit," Cole said when he noticed the suit hanging in his closet.

"Yeah, Cliff's the best!"

"If he's so great, why's he leave you here?" Kai asked, getting loud shouts from the others and a smack to the back of his head from Nya. "What?! We're all thinking it!"

"Speak for yourself!"

"Well... that wasn't his fault and besides, the past doesn't matter, it's our future together we have to think of now," Jay replied, though he was less enthusiastic than he was at the start of the call. Everyone noticed and Kai winced in guilt.

"What future together?" Cole frowned.

"He's taking me out with him tomorrow and I hope it's a regular thing." Jay smiled at the thought. They continued talking for another hour until Jay noticed how late it had gotten. He said goodnight to everyone and ended the call. He then climbed into his bed with the biggest smile, excited for the morning...

Cole didn't get much sleep that night. His mind was filled with too many conflicting thoughts and feelings to let him sleep. All he could think about was Jay and his recent reunion. Yes, he was happy for his best friend, but he was also worried for him. Jay tended to jump into things without thinking sometimes, and he was overlooking the biggest, most difficult question here.

Cliff obviously knew about Jay's existence, so why did he wait all these years to meet him?

This question, plus many others, was the main thing ruining Cole's sleep, and, not knowing what else to do, he grabbed his keys and drove all the way the Smith's apartment and pressed the buzzer repeatedly until someone let him up. It was Nya and by the looks of it she had just woken up and she was not happy. She didn't get a chance to do anything though before Cole pushed her into the living room and made her sit on the couch as he paced around and told her everything.

"-if Jay leaves Ninjago I'd rather he goes with you to college." He finished, still pacing around the living room, but Nya didn't look too worried.

"Look, Cliff won't just take him like that and Jay wouldn't go along with it." She yawned, but Cole scoffed at that notion.

"You and I know how much Jay has wanted to know about his parents, so can you honestly look me in the eyes and say that if Cliff offered he wouldn't go with him?" He asked and Nya stared at him for a long time. She wanted to deny his claims. To say that there was no way that Jay would just up and abandon all of them, including his parents, for a person he had only known for a day. But deep down she knew this wasn't just any person to Jay.

This was his dad.

A man whom Jay had obsessed over ever since he learned they shared DNA. A man whom Jay would write mountains of fan letters to and used to pest the adults about for information for months after learning the truth. Even during their video call she could Jay was ecstatic to finally have this opportunity to bond with Cliff and get to know his dad better. So in a way, Cole was right to be worried and so should she because could she honestly say that he wouldn't leave with Cliff if given the chance?

"Does... Does Jay WANT to go with him?"

"Even if he does, you KNOW Cliff will just dump him again when he feels like it."

"We don't know that." She argued but she couldn't tell who she was trying to convince. Cole huffed and shook his head in disbelief.

"So, you're gonna just let him go?"

There was silence for a moment. They were both too scared of what the other might say to speak. That is until their gaze met and Nya's eyes hardened. With no warning, she suddenly grabbed Cole's arm and dragged him out of the apartment and down to his truck. They were going to the scrap yard and Jay was going to listen to what they had to say.

Whether he liked it or not...

Cliff was almost buzzing with excitement as the limo pulled up outside the junkyard, but he couldn't help but frown at the giant sign above the gate. To him, this was such a tacky place and he couldn't understand why Jay was working there. Don't misunderstand, he was thankful that the Walkers had 'employed' his son, but this kind of work was beneath Jay. That boy deserved the very best in life and Cliff promised to make it happen.

It was the least he could do after being gone for all these years.

He could only imagine what it must have been like for Jay growing up without a parent in his life to turn to in his terrible times. While Cliff was sure that the pack had done their best, Jay seemed like a nice young man after all, it wasn't the same as a father-son bond and Cliff was going to go out of his way to forge one. Because at the end of the day, Jay was HIS son, no one else's. Werewolf or not, Jay was his flesh and blood and he belonged to him. With that thought in mind, Cliff turned to Diana and kissed her on the cheek.

"Ok, this won't take long so wait here." He smiled but she didn't return the gesture.

"I still don't know why you're going to all this trouble for one kid." She huffed after reapplying her lipstick.

"MY kid, in case you forgot." He glared and got out of the limo before she could respond. After taking a moment to straighten his clothes and compose himself he strolled up to the gates and pressed the bell. When they opened he was expecting to see Jay or one of his employers. Instead, he was met with a stoic Wu.

"Hello again Cliff." He said and Cliff wanted to scream in anger. A part of him had hoped that this old bastard had died already but he should have known better. The old spiteful ones were always the last to go.

"I've got a limo waiting, so could you go and get Jay?" He asked, not attempting to hide the malice in his voice.

"This won't take long," Wu stated before he suddenly grabbed Cliff by the arm and dragged him into the junkyard. Cliff didn't get a chance to protest as he was pulled in and forced to sit in an old deck chair. He gritted his teeth and glared at the old man, but Wu waved off his animosity. "Not to worry, I just have a few questions so I won't keep you long."

"What questions?!" Cliff hissed. "Are you saying I can't take my son out?"

"No, we're delighted you've shown up, and we hope you'll stay and... bond; we just need to know where you're going today."

"Why? He's safe with me."

"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to insist you tell me." Wu frowned.

"And what if I don't?" He glared, but they both knew the answer and it enflamed Cliff's rage all the more. "I CAN DO WHAT I LIKE WITH MY SON!"

"Jay is not a possession!" Wu bellowed with a force one wouldn't expect, given his old age and frail-looking body. Even Cliff was taken aback but Wu didn't stop. "He's a person who needs care, attention, and love!"

"You people! I should've known it was a mistake coming here!" Cliff spat as he shot up from the chair so fast that it fell over. "How dare you all accuse and interrogate me! You've no right! You can stick your questions up your old ass!" He shouted at the top of his voice and stormed over to the trailer, believing his son to be there. Just before he reached the door, however, he suddenly found his path blocked by Ed and Edna Walker.

"I'm glad I caught you, I need to talk to you about Jay," Edna said, not noticing how Cliff's face was flushed with anger. Ed saw this though, and he gently tried to lead his wife away, hoping she would just leave it be. When it looked like the actor was about to tear into them the gates to the junkyard suddenly flew open and everyone watched as Nya and Cole came rushing in, with Nya making a beeline for Cliff.

"Hey! You and I need to talk!" She roared and got up in his face. "Who do you think you are?! You think you can just show up, buy Jay a few fancy clothes, and whisk him away without a care in the world?!" She screamed, physically shaking from her fury. Cliff opened his mouth the protest when the trailer doors suddenly opened and Jay came running out. He had been wearing his headphones and when the music stopped he heard the shouting.

"What's going on? Why are you all here?" He cried and forced himself between his girlfriend and Cliff.

"Jay, we have to talk about this." Cole insisted.

"No! No more talking! Jay, get your coat!" Cliff ordered, but Jay was too overwhelmed to move.

"Wait!" Edna exclaimed. "I wanted to ask-"

"You'll ask me nothing you old bag! Jay is MY son!" Cliff snarled and everyone, including Jay, gasped. Edna started and Ed's vision blurred with rage.

"And we have rights, too!" Ed shouted, looking seconds away from ripping that mustache off Cliff's face and beating him with it. No one talked to his wife that like and got away with it.

"Don't fight!" Jay pleaded, but he was ignored.

"Who are you?! What rights do you have?!"

"We're Jay's adoptive parents!" The couple said at the same time and everything came to a standstill. Cliff's expression morphed from anger to shock and he whipped around to face Jay, who flinched under his scrutinous gaze.

"Is this true?" He asked, his voice cracking ever so slightly, and Jay weakly nodded. In an instant Cliff's anger was back and he turned to Wu. "So not wanting me to be in my own son's life had fuck all to do with me being a human!?"

"It was in everyone's best-"

"Shut up! You people can't tell me what to do anymore! Come on Jay!" Cliff commanded, but Jay couldn't move. Everything was moving too fast. Everyone was fighting. He just wanted it all to stop. Jay's inner turmoil didn't even register with Cliff and he gave the teen a betrayed look. "Are you on their side?! Can't you see they're trying to split us up again?! They and your precious new family will never let me forget!" He shouted but when Jay still made no move towards him Cliff scoffed in disbelief and stormed out. Jay's eyes widened and he chased after him, but he was already in the limo.

"What took so long?" Diana asked when Cliff climbed inside.

"Shut up." He snapped and signaled for the driver to start moving. She frowned at his tone and noticed Jay wasn't with them.

"Where's the kid?"

"Shut. Up."

"Wait! Don't do it to me again! Please!" Jay shouted desperately but the car was moving too fast and was almost out of sight by now. Even with his enhanced speed, there was no way he could reach it now. "Why did you do that?! Why did you want to take him away from me?!" He screamed but none of them replied. "I'm never gonna forgive you, any of you!" He spat, barged past them, and ran back into the junkyard. They all flinched when they heard the trailer door slam shut.

Cole made to follow him, but Ed stopped him by grabbing his shoulder.

"Give him some time to think things out and calm down." He urged, but Cole didn't listen. He pulled away from the man and ran to the trailer. He went inside and headed for Jay's room where he found his best friend lying across his bed, using a pillow to try and muffle his cries.

"Go away." He growled when he saw who was in his room.

"Jay, listen, please." Cole pleaded and when Jay didn't tell him to leave again he continued. "I made Nya interfere." He confessed and in an instant, Jay shot up and glared hatefully at the larger teen. "I was scared Cliff would let you down again!"

"Well, you were wrong! He came back because he really wanted me!" Cole scoffed, and this pissed Jay off even more. "This is my Dad we're talking about, not your bully of a father!"

"At least I know where both my parents are and I'm not living in some stupid dream world!" Cole snapped. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open in shock. "Jay, I'm so sorry-"

"JUST GET OUT!" Jay bawled and when it looked like Cole was going to protest Jay suddenly shoved him out of his room and slammed the door in his friend's face. Jay stood there, staring at the door for a long while until he suddenly collapsed to his knees and started sobbing...

"OK, last at the table gets the burnt bits!" Ed shouted as he finished the breakfast, and sighed when it was just Edna who came to the table. It hadn't been 24 hours yet, but Jay was giving them the cold shoulder. Both of them knocked on the door several times but they didn't get a response. Edna wanted to barge in, but Ed stopped her. This was a difficult time for Jay, and they needed to be supportive. They were both teenagers upon a time. This was a right of passage, wasn't it?

Every teenager rebels against their parents in one way or another.

For Ed, it was stealing his father's car when he was fourteen to show off to his friends and landing himself in court. That wasn't a figure of speech by the way. He crashed into the courthouse. Thankfully no one was hurt and he was given a fine and lots of community service.

For Edna, it was smoking a cigarette in the girls' restroom at school with some of her friends. They were caught and after a lengthy lecture, Edna vowed to never touch the stuff again, which was a promise she had kept after all these years.

A sudden buzz at the gate signaled that there was someone outside, waiting to be let in. They froze, fearing that Cliff had returned. Whoever it was pressed the buzzer again and they knew they had no choice. Ed was the one to stand up to answer the call. When he opened the gate, however, he smiled with he saw it was just Kai and Nya. He quickly let them in, offering them some food, but they declined.

"Jay here?" Kai asked, his face mostly void of emotion but his tone firm. After Nya had explained what had happened the previous day he had all but dragged her back to the junkyard so they could all put this behind them.

"He's in his room, but I'm sure he'll be glad to see you both." Ed smiled and led them into the trailer. He knocked on Jay's bedroom door, but there was no response. "Son, Kai and Nya are here? Wanna try and make peace?" He called but still no answer. Kai didn't have the Walkers' patience, and after carefully moving Ed out of the way he opened the door. The bedroom was dark but they could still see a mass under the bed sheets. Ed sighed, thinking Jay was still asleep, and went to wake him up. He pressed his hand against the sheets, intending to shake him awake, but then his eyes narrowed.

Something didn't feel right.

He ripped the sheets away and screamed when he saw that instead of his son it was a pile of pillows. He ran from the room, pushing the twins away, and went to find his wife.

"Edna! Jay's run away!"

Everything happened after that. The entire pack was called and they all tried to find Jay but it was no use. He must have left hours before it was discovered because there was hardly any scent to track. The best they could do was conclude that Jay was heading into the city but that hardly narrowed it down. With no choice, Ed and Edna called the police. The officers investigated the trailer and found some of Jay's clothes missing along with the cash he was saving up for a new video game.

His having money and supplies made tracking him all the more difficult.

As the adults and the police discuss what should happen next, the kids are all banished outside. Not that they minded. This gave them the freedom to talk without their parents breathing down their necks the entire time.

"He must have gone to find Cliff." Zane deduced, but they all already knew that.

"He doesn't know where he lives." Morro pointed out.

"He knows where Cliff's friend works," Cole replied sombrely. "So what are we gonna do?"

"We're gonna let him find Cliff and just keep quiet about what we know, right?" Lloyd said and the others reluctantly agreed, though Cole refused to meet anyone's gaze. He couldn't help but wonder if letting Jay find Cliff was the right thing to do...

Jay winced as his stomach rumbled for the fifth time that morning. He regretted missing breakfast that morning. He probably should have packed some snacks, but it was too late to turn back now. He needed to find Cliff and he had no clue how to do that. The only clue he had was Gloria. He knew Cliff was staying with her and he could only hope that he caught the actor before he left forever.

That's what Jay was doing now.

He sat at the bar, waiting for Gloria to go on her break so he could ask where Cliff was. He had been waiting for nearly an hour now, and all this food was not helping. Soon though Gloria was approaching him, and she wasn't empty-handed. His eyes widened to see she was holding a plate with warm slices of toast covered in butter and grape jelly alongside two fried eggs, a couple of sausages, and some black pudding. It looked like heaven.

"Here you are honey, on the house." She smiled sweetly, even though she was a little weirded out by how quickly he devoured the food. Seriously, it was all gone in a minute. "You've got your mom's appetite alright." She chuckled and passed him a napkin.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I remember once when I had just started working here, she and Cliff came in on a date and she ordered at least one of everything from our meat lovers menu and it was all gone within the half hour." She laughed, remembering the look on Libber's face when she got the bill. "How that woman ate so much yet kept her figure I'll never know."

"Maybe she was into exercise?"

"Libber? No way! The only exercise she got was on that dance game in the arcade." She smiled, but it faltered slightly when she noticed her manager giving her the evil eye from the other side of the restaurant. "Right, I've only got five minutes, what brings you here?"

"I just need to know if Cliff told you where he was staying, that's all."

"Cliff went up north last night to work on the movie."

"Where up north?" Jay asked, trying and failing not to sound desperate.

"A town called Jamanakai, I think." She shrugged. "I dunno why he didn't tell you, but if you want my advice, you'll go back and get on with your life." She said and Jay's eyes narrowed in anger.

"Why are you saying that? Why does nobody ever give him a chance?!" He shouted and ran from the restaurant before she could stop him. He ran and ran until he was out of breath, which for a werewolf was an impressive feat. He sat on a nearby bench and fought to keep himself from throwing up. Note to self, never run as fast as you can on a recently full stomach. Once he was sure that he wasn't going to hurl he pulled out his phone and looked up how to get to Jamanakai.

Upon seeing there was a train due, he gathered up the rest of his strength and ran to the train station. He paid for a ticket and was loaded into a crowded train cart and seated next to a young woman holding a newborn baby. As the train started its journey, the baby suddenly woke up and started crying, loudly. A few patrons glared at the noise, but Jay didn't mind it too much. The woman tried to calm her baby down, but being stuck on a train there was little she could do. She looked over to Jay and smiled apologetically.

"Sorry, he's a little cranky."

"Don't worry, babies cry when they need to cry and sometimes there's nothing you can do." He smiled and cooed at the baby. "Is it hard, having to look after a baby all the time?"

"Too hard sometimes, but he's always worth it."

"Really? Seems like a lot of trouble?"

"Parenthood is one of the most challenging and most rewarding jobs a person can do; and yes, there are times when I ask myself what have I done with my life, but at the end of the day I know I can't live without this little one." She beamed as the baby finally started to settle. Jay stared at the scene in front of him and frowned in thought.

If parenthood was such a great privilege, then was he not worth it?...

NEXT CHAPTER: While preparing for his birthday, Jay is in for a pleasant surprise...