Long Time No See (Ninjago post-Rebooted AU)

Chapter 28

It's been a while... again. I have a lot of reasons for not updating this book - Netflix, real life, some lack of motivation Netflix, finally finishing NvS, and of course the discovery that Netflix has my favourite shows from when I was a kid and I now have over 170 episodes to re-watch...

Anyway, I'm back now.

Most people who have replied to my question (on the message board) were fine with the chapter length but there have also been a few requests for longer chapters, so this part is sort of a compromise, at around 3.2K words (excluding A/N).

As most of you know, I'm German, and the Christmas Market in this chapter, especially the food, is what I am used to from home.

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Chapter 28 (Nya)

Seven years ago, Ninjago City Christmas Market

"Here's another one." Jay exclaims excitedly, as the six of us Ninja and Samurai stroll through the brighly illuminated city. "What goes Ho Ho Whoosh, Ho Ho Whoosh?"

"I don't know, and I don't care." My brother groans. "One more Christmas Cracker joke, and I'm outta here."

"Is that a promise?" I giggle at my boyfriend's sarcastic reply.

When Jay and I decided to spend our night off at the Christmas Market, it certainly wasn't our plan to have our brothers – especially not my overprotective biological sibling – join us.

"Yeah, why don't we split up for a bit and just meet up again at the concert?" Cole suggests. The Royal Blacksmiths are going to sing Christmas carols in front of the city hall later this evening.

"Good idea." I agree quickly, before Kai gets the chance to object.

"This is a reasonable suggestion." Zane states, then turns to our youngest team member. "Lloyd, would you like to help me choose some new decorations for our Christmas tree?"

"Can we get some candy as well?" The kid requests.

"Of course." The Nindroid nods.

"Uhm... I guess, I'm gonna see you later then." Kai mumbles, less than impressed how his earlier comment has backfired.

"Not that I don't mind spending some time with you without the others around, but is my sense of humour really that bad?" Jay asks as we watch them all take off in different directions. "I'm sure the Serpentine would pay a fortune for my secret Ninja Repellent..."

"I like your sense of humour." I reassure him. "And being a hero is hard enough, we can all use a good laugh once in a while."

Sure, Jay could sometimes take things – and me – a bit more serious, but hey, nobody's perfect. And even though we're carrying a huge responsibility on our strong shoulders, we're still teenagers.

"And I like making you laugh." He kisses my nose. "Now, what would you like to do?"

We first have a look around at the Crafts Fair, where Jay buys a little angel with a tambourine for his mum – as he informs me, Edna collects these kinds of wooden figurines (well, she seems to collect pretty much anything) – before we have some food.

"And now, to the best bit of every Christmas Market." Jay announces after we have finished our hot dogs. He wipes his fingers on his trousers – no, I'm not gonna comment on that – before he holds out one hand for me.

I raise an eyebrow. "And what is that?"

"The sweets stand." He grins as he pulls me to the pale pink van. "What would you like, milady?"