***(Skylor's POV)***

"I don't see any end to this, PIXAL," I sigh, shoving the papers on my desk aside. "I understand that some of these connections you have would be a great fit for New Beginnings, but...I just can't have them on." Not since Kai.

"We could set up follow-up meetings with them," PIXAL suggests. "You seemed to enjoy their company during the preliminary interviews yesterday."

I massage my forehead. "I've had time to think them over. They're not right for the home."

"Then whom would you prefer?" PIXAL frowns. "Skylor, I hate to lower your standards at all, but I hardly think you'll find better fits for help here than some of the interviewees we've hosted." She bites her lip. "Perhaps you could simply hire someone to help with the official work at New Beginnings? I'm confident you could find someone trustworthy to at least attend charity events for – "

"Dang it," I sigh. "I completely forgot about tomorrow's charity shindig at the mayor's home, and I'm pressed for time around here. Anaya tried to sneak off last night, and even though Cole caught her, I'm still keeping an extra eye on her. What if she – "

"I can watch over her," PIXAL suggests, eyeing me sympathetically. "You should attend the party tomorrow night. Perhaps you can secure help around the home while there?"

Fat chance.

Instead of voicing my thoughts, I clear my throat. "Are you sure about that, PIXAL? You've been hanging around the past two days to help with advertisements and interviews and – "

"I can handle it," she reassures me. "You could use a day off. Besides, I can enlist some aid from the girls in decorating New Beginnings for Jay and Nya's homecoming reunion. The whole team – er...everyone is grateful for your contribution of facilities for the event."

My stomach lurches. "Jay and Nya...gosh, what day is it?" I snatch my planner off my desk and flip it open.

"It's April the twelfth," PIXAL reminds me. "The party is the fourteenth."

"Right." I massage the bridge of my nose. "Right. I'm so sorry, PIX. I'm a mess these days."

"When have our lives ever been peaceful?" she smiles. "But in all seriousness, Skylor, you must find someone to help out around New Beginnings. Not everyone is out to use you or the girls. Your father was one bad apple."

What about Shade? Or Kai?

Shade would be my abusive ex from my sophomore year of high school. I was so careful after the way he broke me down, and I thought giving my heart to Kai was safe.

And it was – for a while. I've grown up enough to realize that Kai wasn't a bad guy when I first got together with him. Heck, he wasn't bad until Nadakhan messed up his mind with tea that caused him to go bonkers. And once he finally got his wits back, he was completely hardened to the world around him.

I spent six months trying to put up with him. I spent six months gently loving him and forgiving him, but the hardness in him wasn't something I could fix.

I shouldn't have to fix the love of my life.

But it doesn't matter now. He didn't trust me enough to let me in, so we're done.

That – and my soft spot for Nya – was our relationship's fatal flaw.

"Skylor?" PIXAL asks expectantly.

I blink. "I'm sorry?"

She places a hand on my shoulder. "Would you like to go shoe shopping with me this evening? According to my scan of your emotional state – I hope you don't mind – it seems you are too stressed to perform well at your professional tasks this afternoon."

I release a long breath. "I don't have time to take a break, PIX."

"You'll accomplish more after a few hours off," PIXAL encourages me.

A reluctant part of me knows she's right, but with all there is to do around New Beginnings, can I really risk a few hours away?

"Cole's already here for security this afternoon," she prompts me. "Anaya and the rest of the girls will be fine."

I stare down at my nails, defeated. "I...I guess I could use a manicure." And possibly a new life.

She beams. "Wonderful! You've had roots for weeks now, and it's taken all my restraint not to mention it." She gives a pointed look at my highlighted red locks.

I smile at the way she cares about things I long haven't had the time to be concerned about. "Let's make it a girl's day out then." I rise from my desk chair and pull off my spectacles, stuffing them in my ugly yet functional tote-bag-turned-purse.

PIXAL gets that Extreme Girl Makeover look I always used to get. It reminds me of when I went shopping for Nya and took her from tomboy to hot-tomboy four years ago.

Four years ago.

That was just a few days before Kai and I began dating. So much happened in so little time – Kai's house burned down, my dad tried to sell me into marriage, I saved Kai's butt, he saved my butt.

I try to block out crystal-clear memories of him wrapping warm, muscular arms around me as he scooped me up and carried me out of Sensei Yang's house of horrors.

How could that have felt so perfect when Kai turned out to be immature and...so not perfect for me?

I shake off the thoughts that plague me in bed at night. Instead, I shrug on my cardigan hung haphazardly over the back of my chair.

Still, I can't help but say a quick, silent prayer that Kai is safe...wherever he is.

***(Nya's POV)***

~Music Cue~

"Race you there!" Jay laughs behind me as I shove open my car door and practically fall out of the vehicle's driver's side.

"You're on!" I yell back with a fury, untangling myself from my spot on the street and rolling onto my feet. I blast water right at Jay's shoes, and he slips and topples with a squeal.

"Ha!" I yell in triumph, taking off toward our door in a sprint. I pass him up in only a few moments, and I train my gaze on the door handle, ready to yank it open and be home at last.

It's been months.

"No fair!" Jay shouts from behind me. I snicker as I reach the handle and tug.

It doesn't budge.

"Dang it!" I yell, panic seizing me. I shrug off my backpack, and in a flash I'm on the ground unzipping it so I can grab our house keys.

Jay snorts, his waterlogged form dropping down behind me on our cement steps. "Forgot we needed keys?"

"Shut up," I snap, trying to get a grip on my keyring.

"Nuh-uh-uh!" Jay uses nimble fingers to grasp the chain, tugging hard so I'll let go. Instead, I tumble backward into his lap, unwilling to release my prize.

"Give those back!" I order, prying his fingers off the keyring.

His chest shakes with laughter. "I don't think so!"

I growl and yank on the keys, managing to snatch them from his gasp.

"Ha!" I yell triumphantly.

I stumble to my feet, launching myself at the door. My body slams into it as I jab the keys all around the lock, trying to find the keyhole.

There!

I manage to shove the key in the right spot, and it slides right into its hold. I turn it in the lock just as –

Zap!

I feel my body tremble with a slight electric shock and jump, knowing Jay's just about to win.

Not gonna happen.

I feign falling to the ground, tucking my wrist under myself as I do. I let out an oof! just as I hit the cement, then roll over on my back, staring down at my hand in mock pain.

"Ouch," I moan, pasting on a hurt expression.

"I win!" Jay yells, not even noticing my act as he turns the doorknob.

Not yet, you don't.

"Omigosh," I sniffle, staring down at my hand. "I can't feel my wrist!"

He freezes mid-step. "Huh?"

I look up at him, drawing my best fake tears. And as the master of water, I can be pretty convincing.

His eyes light with concern. "Oh, Nya – I'm sorry. Here, let me look." He kneels down beside me on the doorstep, taking my wrist in gentle fingers.

Right where I want you, Sparky.

I blast his face with water using my free hand, and he sputters. I cry out in laughter, leaping up and taking the final victory step into our small neighborhood home.

"I win!" I shout between fits of mirth. "You so fell for that! That's, like, the oldest trick in the book, Jay!"

He rubs a hand over his wet face, narrowing his eyes at me. "I thought you were legitimately injured!"

"After years of fighting together, you should know I don't break easily," I grin. "You're just a pushover, Jay."

"I'll push you over," he growls, leaping to his feet and over the doorway. I try to get out of the way before he can grab me, but he accidentally knocks into my side. We both land in a heap of giggles on the floor.

Jay rolls onto his shaking side and places his hands on either of my cheeks. "I love you so much," he chuckles.

"I love you too," I whisper, a goofy grin twisting my lips.

Jay and I have struggled in our relationship at times due to our quick marriage and oftentimes different viewpoints, but learning to love him through thick and thin has been one of life's greatest blessings.

He plants a kiss on the tip of my nose, then releases his hold on me and sits up. "It's nice we managed to get back a few days early. We wrapped up that last self-defense session a day in advance, and with your erratic driving on the way back..."

"Whatever," I wave him off. "Speed limits are more like...guidelines." I sit up and wiggle my way over to sit next to him. "Do you want to order pizza for dinner in tonight?"

He shrugs, smiling down at me. "I was thinking we could surprise Skylor and company by showing up at her place. I've missed the guys." He clears his throat.

It's amazing how laughter can turn to tears in just the blink of an eye.

I nod in response, closing my eyes to offset the wave of sorrow that tries to rock me. "I have, too." Like Kai.

But he's made it clear he no longer wants to be involved in my life.

There's a moment of silence, then Jay punches my arm. "Hey, let's go unpack the car."

I open my eyes to see him offer me an encouraging smile.

"And then we'll head over to Skye's and crash dinner," he suggests.

I release a cleansing breath, smiling back at him. "Sounds like a plan." I rise to my feet and extend my hand to help him up.

"We make a great team," he bolsters me, taking my hand in his. Rather than allowing me to help him up, though, he pulls me down so I land on top of him again, laughing like he's some great comedian.

I puff out a breath. "Jay!"

He grins wickedly and launches his fingers toward my stomach, tickling me with a fury. "You should've expected this, Nya. It's the oldest trick in the book!" He imitates my voice.

I sputter. "Not...fair!"

"I'm not letting you go until you tell me that I'm the hottest, funniest, and most valuable partner in our ultra-crimefighting duo," he taunts, laughter of his own spilling over.

"I'm the most valuable partner," I argue halfheartedly, trying to get him off without dousing our house in water.

"Not what I wanted to heaaaaaaar," he giggles. "I'm waiting, Nya."

"I...could...do this...all day!" I chortle. "Stop!"

"I don't think – "

The whole house suddenly begins to tremble, and a rumbling sound ricochets throughout our house. Jay's tickling abruptly halts, and his gaze shoots up.

I roll out from underneath him, the floor shaking beneath me. "Earthquake?" I blurt, the only thing that makes sense.

"I guess," Jay says quickly, crawling down the hall. "Let's find someplace to shelter."

As he speaks, the house shakes even more violently, and I race to catch up with him. "What in Ninjago is going on? We never get earthquakes around here!"

"It's the only thing that makes sense," he replies, rolling under the dining room table. "Gosh, where's Cole when you need him?!"

"Probably at Skylor's." I join him under the table as our entire house rocks violently. Something shatters in the room behind us, and I wince at the noise.

"So much for a warm welcome," Jay complains, trying to hold us steady in his arms.

And then, as suddenly as the quake began, it halts to a silent stop.

I blink, looking around at our still house. A roll of paper towels lays strewn across the floor, and it's joined by a slipper that's somehow found its way into our living room.

Jay peers down at me. "Is there something I missed somewhere along the way? Has Ninjago City been having earthquakes while we were gone?"

"I doubt it." I cautiously crawl out from under the table, observing the still mess that is our house.

Jay sighs, crawling out from behind me. "I guess our outing to Skylor's will have to wait until tomorrow. You're not supposed to drive after earthquakes, right? Even if they only last for a moment."

"Yeah." I pick a marinara-covered bowl off the ground. "And it looks like the people we rented this place out to did a terrible job of cleaning up. We should probably get started on that."

Add the earthquake to our wrecked house, and the mess is even worse. Shards of porcelain decorate the living room floor from where a misplaced dish must've fallen.

"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us," Jay observes, kneeling down next to me. "You think we should call Cole and Zane over to help?

I debate this for a moment. "Would you rather surprise them at Skye's tomorrow or have them help us clean our place now?"

He glances around at the kitchen. "Um...I'm leaning toward getting help with the cleaning."

I smile and roll my eyes. "Let's try to build some pleasant rapport with the guys, okay? I'm pretty sure the last thing they want to do after not seeing us in months is clean. Plus, knowing you and Cole, you'd end up talking the whole time while Zane and I did the cleaning."

He sighs defeatedly. "Fine. But as soon as we finish the cleaning here, we're calling up Zane and heading over to Skylor's. Cole's the security manager there, right?"

"Manager? I think the only person he has to manage is himself. Skylor doesn't exactly hire a lot of people." I rock back onto my heels. "All right, fine. We'll head to Skye's whenever we finish cleaning, and I'll let you surprise her and the guys however you'd like."

On second thought, this could go very badly.

"Heck, yes!" Jay holds out his hand for a low-five. "This is going to be great, Nya. Just you wait and see!"